#and you were so right what is a better bonding experience than sharing your ice cream 😩

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[myladysapphire]

His Sapphire Princess (X)

After the night in the brothel Rhaenyra is married to Laenor Velayron to protect the birth of her child. who in the years to follow is the only one of Rhaenyra's children that is believed to be his, she is loved by all in the red keep, even queen Alicent adores the girl, so when Rhaenyra proposes a marriage between Aemond and Rhaenyra's daughter Visenya, Alicent happily agrees.

The children having been best friends in their youths are more than happy to be wed but when the incident at drift mark occurs things change, will it be for better or worse?

word count: 4.127

CW: MDI, 18+, oral (f reciving), violence, angst, incest, not proofread!

Fem!oc x Aemond Targeryen

Masterlist | series masterlist | previous part l next part

disclaimer: i do not own any of claim any of the A song of ice and fire characters, all rights belong to GRR MARTIN, all characters are his except for my OC

(smut is between the dividers by @zaldritzosrose)

The reminder of that week Aemond rarely strayed from Visenya’s side, at first it started with daily dragon rides. Vermithor and Vaghar riding side by side.

It had been the first time they had flown on their respective dragons, when before Aemond had claimed Vaghar, Visenya often took Aemond on the back of Vermithor, and now seeing him atop his own dragon was a strange experience. He looked so strong and proud. He was born to be a dragon rider.

Long gone was the shy and nervous Aemond, who feared never riding a dragon of his own, the boy who would hold his dragon egg over the fire day and night in hopes it would hatch. Now he seemed to share a deep bond with Vaghar, though she had joked that perhaps the old dragon had mistaken him for her first rider, Queen Viseyna.

“It would make sense, you both had long silver hair, Valyrian features-“ she had started as they walked the halls of the keep, having returned from their dragon ride.

“I am sure she doesn’t think me to be the conquer” Aemond dismissed, shaking his head, “ as much as I am flattered at the notion, I am sure Vaghar can tell the difference.

“Really? She is what, 150? Surely riders blur together after a time” She jested.

He hummed “And how are we sure Vermithor does not mistake you for old King Jaehaerys?”

She gasped in shock, “are you calling me and old man?” She laughed, “no offence to our great grandsire but, I highly doubt we had much in common, bar our Valyrian features”

“Was that not your driving point for me being mistaken as Visenya?” He hummed.

She scoffed in jest, “It was a compliment!” She insisted, walking towards Aemond, “Do you not remember our lessons? How you said if you were to have a wife you would have one like Visenya, a fierce warrior?” She hummed.

“I do, and tell me, sweet Visenya, have you become a fierce warrior?”

“You think I would have spent years in the north, where woman are encouraged to train with shield and sword, or with Daemon on Dragonstone and not be taught at least the basics?” She asked.

“I suppose I should have guessed” he said as they approached the entrance to the training yard, “mayhaps you could show me your skills?”

She smirked, leading the way.

Luckily she wore her riding leathers, allowing her more movement than her typical gown, with trousers and tunic she was offered the same mobility as Aemond, though he was much taller than her. As they stood sword in hand ready to face the other, he seemed to tower over her, and even his steps seemed more graceful as they began to curl each other, waiting for the other to make a move.

He eventually acted first, his sword clashing with hers as her quick reflects deflected his attack.

Their swords clanged against one another, neither making a move as each attack was deflected or treated with its own attack in kind. It wasn’t until Visenya decided on a new tactic that an attack (though with training swords) was truly struck. She stepped back, circling him before turning her body in a quick flourish, her sword bashing his, and her swords tip pressing against his chest.

He hummed, seemingly impressed, though not for long as he quickly regained momentum of his sword and attacked her sword with his own, the sword nearly flying from her hand and she once again moved in a flourish, this time to defend rather than attack.

They circled each other once again, their swords drawn, waiting for the others next move.

An audience had gathered now. Sending him a smirk she started  her next round of attacks.

Their swords clanged loudly thought the courtyard, their bodies swerving each attack, barley dodging each others sword.

They seemed to circle the other for hours, though only minutes passed. Their eyes locked, their glaze seemed taunting, teasing. She bit her lip, causing his eye to be drawn to her lip, his gaze heated.

She used this opportunity to knock the sword from his hand, and bring in her her own to his neck.

Applause sounded around the courtyard.

She laughed, lowering her sword.

“I hope you do not wish to join our wedding tourney with those skills.” She joked.

He hummed, “you are impressive” he mused, taking their swords and placing them on the rack. “Mayhaps you should enter the tourney”

She laughed “and loose the chance to win the queen of love and beauty? I think not”

He smiled, “I shame I hate tourneys, or I would have assured you the crown”

“You do?” She asked, face dropping a little, “I always thought them romantic”

They started to walk back through the keep, set to return to their chambers before their engagement feast tonight, “I suppose Cregan will at least enter, and he shall crown me upon his victory.”

“Cregan? Cregan Stark?” He sneered the question “you still talk to him?” Jealousy clear in his tone.

“Of course, he is my dearest friend”

“But your mother wished to marry you both.” “So? He has had a wife and a son since then, and I, in case you have forgotten thought to stay betrothed to you!” she glanced at him, his face was set in a sneer, jealously clear in his features. She laughed “the love I have for him is simply platonic, I can assure you”

“Hmm…perhaps I shall enter the tourney, it is only right I crown my betrothed personally”

She laughed “of course, Aemond.” She said once they reached the door to her chambers, “I shall see you at the feast”

That nigh the halls of the red keep were packed full of lords and ladies from throughout the realm. The feast was grand, with food from the best cooks from throughout the realm, no expense was spared, with the most famous bards playing her favourite songs, and the ladies and lords dancing and laughing as they all filled their stomachs with food and wine.

And yet as she stood saying pleasantry after pleasantry, answering the same questions again and again she did not find any joy. She had not eaten or drank a thing, despite the feats being hallway through, and Aemond had still yet to arrive.  

The few moments she had spent escaping her quests were spent comforting Heleana as she had quickly grown overwhelmed with the noise.

Heleana had tried to stay as long as she could, but the second the first hour ended, Visneya saw it fit for her to leave. She loved her aunt, her sweet friend and though she hated the lack of her presence at her ceremony, she hated seeing her discomfort more.

She felt a sense of loneliness with her gone. Finding her eyes dancing around the room in search for a friendly face, for Aemond’s face.

And yet the closest she got to Aemond, was Aegon.

Aegon’s eyes always followed her, words always seeming to be on the tip of his tongue anytime she neared him. He had quickly gotten drunk, sat in a corner with his friends, Leon she believed one of them to be called. And yet she could feel his eyes on her. Watching her.

For years he had been the closest she had gotten to Aegon, having become a dear friend and confidant, but seeing him in person, he was entirely different to the Aegon she knew.

He was still obsessed with her, more than ever. His eyes always on her. Or Always finding her when she was alone.

But Aegon had changed drastically, he was a drunk and a terrible husband. Ignoring Helaena in favour of whores and wine, she had not seen a nice word shared between them. Her was a good father though, with the twins often in his company, when he was sober that was.

And though his eyes seemed to invite her over, she stayed put. Continuing her endless conversation with some Redwyne lord.

“Senya!” she heard a voice boom, and suddenly she was turning around the see Cregan Stark.

“Cregan!” she boomed back, excusing herself from lord Redwyne. “I thought you would not be here till tomorrow!”

“aye, we were meant to arrive later this evening, but decided to rush here. Couldn’t miss your feast now could i?” he spoke, smiling.

“I am glad, I have missed you.”

“aye, as have i.” he said, before starting to look around the room “nowhere is this betrothed of yours? About time I made an introduction.”

She scoffed, “I do not know!” she shook her head, “he hasn’t shown up yet”

Cregan send her a confused look, “and here I thought I was late! How can he be this late to his won feast”

“how should I know?”

“well I suppose this means you have yet to take to the dance floor then?”

She smiled, “why is Cregan Stark asking me to dance?”

He laughed, “aye, about time I did.”

She laughed taking his outstretched hand.

“tonight has been dreadfully dull” she spoke up, as they took the floor, “I was hoping for some kind of commotion”

He laughed, “well from the look on your uncle Aemond’s face I would say one might be coming soon.” “oh, Daemon always looks like that, always looking for a fight” she laughed, as they continued their dance.

The pair caught up, though with their constant letters there was little to catch up on, though Cregan seemed happy with her and Aemond finding away to reconcile. He had known her angst, her years of feeling alone and had hated how she had been forced to leave the north. She seemed to fit in perfectly in the north, with her snow kissed hair, she seemed to blend in to even the summer snow.

As the dance came to an end, the doors opened and Aemond finally strolled in. Visenya slowly separated herself from Cregan, as Aemond approached her.

Her carried a gift with him, and a smirk.

“betrothed” he said in greeting.

“Aemond” she greeted in return, “you are late” she scowled, moving them away from the prying eyes of the gathered lords and ladies.

“Apologies, I… I had something to do.” He presented her his gift, a jewellery box “here, one of the many gifts I plan to give you.”

She looked unsure as she grabbed the box from his hand, opening it she saw a sapphire necklace.

The necklace had five layers, the last three encased with sapphire jewels. A  large sapphire lied in the centre, with smaller sapphires placed side by side it, encased in their own ring of gold.

She gasped as she opened it, “its beautiful”

“just like you, my Sapphire” she smiled shyly, motioning Aemond to place it on her.

She had forgone a necklace tonight, finding little need for it, but as Aemond placed this necklace on her next her attire felt complete, as if she had forgone the necklace in preparation for Aemond, though he had left to hints to gifts.

“come” she motioned Aemond, gripping his arm as she led him to the table. As always their family sat on one long table, facing out onto the crowd, her grandsire sat in his chair, adjacent to the iron throne. On his left sat Alicent, and on his left sat her mother Rhaenrya.

As the family all moved to sit, though Heleana’s seat was left empty. Her grandsire stood to speak.

“I am most joyous to welcome you all here today.” He smiled, looking over to where she and Aemond sat. “today we celebrate the betrothal of my granddaughter, Princess Visenya, the future heir to the iron throne, and my son Prince Aemond, her future consort.” Applause sounded, as the king continued “today we celebrate the start of their celebrations, before they marry at the end of the week!” more applause sounded, “tonight we feast and fill our bellies and tomorrow the tourney shall start!”

Aemond looked over to where Cregan sat at the news of a tourney. He sent him a smirk, though not that Cregan seemed to care as he simply laughed at the princes jealousy.

“Aemond” she started, grabbing his hand as the room once again filled with music, dance and laughter, “do you wish to dance?”

“no” he spoke quickly. Causing her to thrown.

“oh” she said dejected. He looked over at her, frowning at her own frown.

“I do not like to dance, my Sapphire”

“of course” she said, as she started to fill her plate.

She turned to face Jace, who wore a scowl.

“is something wrong brother?”

“no, just I had thought the wedding celebrations were to happen over a moon”

“no, you are staying a moon, but I marry at weeks end.”

He sent her a dejected look, as if he had some plan that was now ruined. He quickly replaced his frown with a smile, “would you like to dance?”

“yes!” she said gleefully, sending Aemond a look as he scowled.

She and Jace must have danced for five songs before finally retuning to their seats. She was out of breath as she started to speak to Aemond. But Aemond wasn’t listening.

No, his attention was solely focused on the pig that had been placed before him and the laugh on Lukes face.

He slammed his fist against the table.

“Aemond” she whispered, “please don’t”

He looked at her, sneering. Though it was not directed at her, at least she hoped not.

"not in front of all these people Aemond, please"

He ignored her "I would like to make a toast to my family, for today we reunite after years apart, I hope our bond will grow...hmm.. Strong" he stopped, looked at Luke and Jace, then continued'' I have missed my nephews, I hope that we will once again be able to rebuild a strong... bond we shared in our youths"

Naive to what had just happened her Grandsire cheers, happy at Aemond seeming making amends.

Her brothers were struggling to keep calm knowing a public reaction could be all the confirmation the court needed for the rumours to become the truth.

Jace flinched, realising what Aemond’s speech was saying and how the court could take it, so he declared his own toast "thank you, uncle. I cherish the memories we shared in out youth, and now in honour of your betrothal to my sweet sister" he stops, stares at her, thinking his words through " i-i raise this toast to you to wish you and my sister congratulations, may your marriage be fruitful, and your bond remain strong" he sneered the last word, hating the very word.

She stood up "thank you dear brother" she says to Jace before turning to the hall "today is a joyous day, and it is only the beginning of what I can only hope will be a marriage of unity for our house” she seemed to displace the tension that was building in the room, with a small round of applause sounding.

Glares were sent around the table, and though their guests acted naïve to it as they all went about continuing in the festivities, they all seemed to be waiting for a fight.

She looked down, a nervous look filling her face as she started to pick at her food.

Dread filling her body as she saw Aegon move down the table, wishpering something in his ear. And before she knew it Jace was punching Aegon square in the jaw.

Gasps were sounded from the crowd, bets being placed as she saw the exchange of bags of coins between tables.

Aemond stood up, pulling Jace of Aegon, only for Jace to turn around and punch square in the jaw.

A chuckle escaped him, unbothered by Jaces punch and simply pushing him to the floor.

The guards move forward, separating the pair as Luke attempts to get to Aemond

She scoffed as Aemond laughed at the state of her brothers.

She looked around the room, many of the guests had started their own fight, many were trapped, trampled, punched and kicked. Guards trying their best to separate them.

If Visenya had bothered to stay longer, perhaps she could have seen the outcome of the night. But the second the king dismissed the hall, she had left. Not bothering what had happened or was going to happen. The only thing she cared about was going to sleep and dealing with the problems in the morning.

She was awoken a dawn to the sound of a wall being pulled open.

Sitting up in her bed, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes she came face to face with Aemond, a sheepish look on his face and a bouquet of Azaleas, her favourite flower.

“Aemond?” she asked, trying to wake herself up “what are you doing here?”

“i- I came to apologise” he looked down, almost sheepishly, “my actions…I regret them. I acted in jealousy and anger and I have come to beg for your forgiveness.”

“What you did last night, in front of all those people…It was reckless and idiotic.” She shook her head “I would have expected such a thing for Aegon, but you? I cannot say it didn’t hurt. To hurt my own brother, to tease their legitimacy, it was ridiculous and i… I know you have changed but I did not think you cruel”

“have I not told you I have grown cold? I did not jest when I said it, and though I do not harbour kind feelings to your family….i shall not act upon them again, though my behaviour, I can not say it will not happen. I am jealous and reckless. If I am offended I will not sit by and let myself nor you be insulted.” He moved towards the bed.

“I- I understand that Aemond, but please keep your anger away from the prying eyes of the realm”

“I will, I am sorry, truly” you reached for the flowers in his hand, sniffing them and smiling at the gesture.

Her duvet had fallen to her waist, leaving her chemise on show. With the hot weather she had worn a thin, near sheer chemise to bed, one that made no efforts to hide her from.

She blushed as Aemond looked at her, his eyes drawn to the outline of her breasts.

“Aemond?” she asked, trying to capture his attention, he looked up, a blush of his own on his cheeks as he moved forward and kissed your lips.

It was the first kiss you had both shared, though it was clear that he had more experience than she did, as his mouth quickly dominated hers, his tongue pushing into her mouth, causing her to moan softly.

She fell back in the bed Aemond falling with her.

The kiss was soft and yet full of passion.

“Visneya” he whispered against her lips as her pulled back from her. “I need to taste you”

She hummed, “i- you wish to…”

He smirked, pulling the covers of the duvet fully back, and moving to position him self down her body. He looked up at her as he played with the hem of her chemise.

She smiled, moving to lift it up and bare her wet cunt to him.

He moaned at the sight, and quickly buried himself between her thighs.

He licked her slit teasingly, realising in the moans he let out at the feeling of his tongue against her slit. She grew wetter and wetter with each motion of his tongue, her moans increasing as he started to focus his attention on her clit. Gripping her hips he started to  gave small yet fast licks at her clit, his eyes meeting hers as she gripped the bedding, moaning in pleasure.

He started to move his tongue faster, moaning at he taste of her.

“Aemond” she moaned as she reached forward and gripped onto his hair, grinding her hips into his face, causing him to groan.

Her movements became erratic, her peak fast approaching.

Aemond buried himself further into her thighs, determined to make her cum all over his face.

And soon enough he felt her legs squeeze his head as she finally peaked.

“gods” she moaned, lying back.

Aemond smirked, look over her pleasure ridden face, “Am I forgiven now?” he asked teasingly, his own response was a slap on the arm, causing him to laugh.

He had left her rooms once her maid came to wake her, promising to return for breakfast. Where he once again brought her a bouquet of Azaleas.

Breakfast had passed quickly, and before she knew it she was making her way to the royal box for the first day of the tourney.

She had made a favour in hopes Aemond had meant what he said about entering the tourney and crowing her the queen of love and beauty.

She had chosen blue and white ribbon, she herself, though not the best with needle and thread, had embroidered dragons across the fabric, trying her bets to capture the likeness of Vaghar and Vermithor.

The Tourney was to be a three day affair. With men from throughput the realm filling the lists. The winners of each round would go against the other winners the following day, and on the third and final day the winner the winners would once again face one another until a victor was declared.

The first day was often long and uneventful. That was until it was Aemond’s round. He was pitted against his own brother Aegon.

Aemond had galloped into the arena, atop a white horse, his armour black and red, with the Targaryen crest carved across his chest.

Her rode up to the royal stands, Visenya sat front row with Heleana on one side and Belea then Rheana on her other. The rest of the family sat behind them, Deamon was not there however, having entered the tourney himself.

Aemond approached them, his horse stopping before Visenya, "my betrothed, I am sure to win this tourney with your favour".

She sent him a smile as she walked over to him placing her favour on his lance. “of course, I wish you luck, my prince”

"I do not need luck, my sapphire, not with your favour”

Visenya knew of Aemond skill, and Aegon’s lack thereof. He did not need skill for this joust, but for tomorrow he would.

He charged at Aegon, and though they both new Aegon cared not for the tourney, having been forced to entre by Alicent once she heard of Aemond’s entry, he was not expecting Aegon to try, and yet it seemed he was. As Aegon charged at him, aiming for his torso.

Their lances clashed one another’s as Aemond was forced to bend back to avoid being hit, and direct his own lance at his brother his lance flung to the side, Aemond’s grip was weak, but stayed he manged to stay in place.

They circled back, charging each other once more , this time Aemond’s lace, aimed under the horses head, causing the horse fell back and Aegon to fall.

Defeated and unbothered Aegon simply lay there, waiting for his brother to drag him up, laughing at his loss.

Aemond continued to win, having been victorious against Loren Lannister and Damion Veleryon as well as many aspiring knights. He eventually found himself in the final round, the last day of the tourney. And his opponent, Creagan Stark.

Aemond was fuelled with jealousy.

He had heard Visneya cheering for Cregan, her compliments of his skill and her teasing on how he would surely crown her if Aemond was not victorious.

Aemond had charged at Cregan, and Cregan, never one to back down from a challenge only acted with the same force as he did.

They were both thrown from their horses, before calling for their swords and declaring one on one combat.

The arena held a bated breath as the pair faced off.

Unlike when Visenya had spared with Aemond their was no circling, not waiting for the other to make a move. Instead Aemond simply attacked. His movements were fast and relentless, but Cregan was undeterred, easily defending himself against Aemond’s strikes.

In fact it was Cregan who disarmed Aemond, knocking him to the floor.

But Aemond did not accept defeat, pouncing on Cregan landing punch after punch.

With Cregan pinned, it was declared Aemond to be the winner, though it took the guards dragging Aemond away to stop the fighting.

He smirked as he once again took to his horse, grabbing the crown of love and beauty and riding up to Visneya, crowing her and pulling her down for a kiss in front of the crowds.

“you were a bit brutal, where you not?” she whispered as they broke apart, looking over to Cregan, who despite the broken nose seemed fine, and unbothered with his loss. In fact he had even joined the cords in the cheers.  

Aemond looked over to Cregan, shrugging “he seems fine to me”

She laughed, moving back to sit back in her seat.

NEXT PART

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[anniebeemine]

the proposal- s.r. x reader

Part of ITAV. Can be read as a standalone, but doesn't have to be :)

As Spencer watched you glide effortlessly across the ice rink with Naomi, he couldn't help but feel a deep sense of appreciation and admiration. Naomi was beaming with joy, her laughter ringing out as she skated beside you. She wore the purple gloves you had made for her, her tiny hands barely visible as they gripped the sides of the rink for balance. Her beanie, a thoughtful gift from Penelope, added a touch of playful charm to her outfit, and had her name embroidered on the front.

Spencer’s heart warmed as he took in the scene. You had a natural way with Naomi, a patience and kindness that went beyond anything he’d experienced before. He could see how much Naomi adored you, how she looked up to you with a sparkle in her eyes that he had rarely seen. You had become a part of her world in a way that made him rethink everything he thought he knew about relationships and parenting.

The way you interacted with Naomi, your gentle encouragement as she wobbled on the ice, your easy laughter, and the way you seemed to instinctively know how to make her feel special—Spencer realized just how right you were for both of them. He’d never brought someone into his life who fit so seamlessly into it, someone who was not only good for him but exceptional for Naomi. It was in these moments, watching you with her, that he felt a profound shift in his understanding of what he wanted for his future.

Meanwhile, as you skated hand-in-hand with Naomi, you found yourself reflecting on your own feelings. You had never imagined yourself as a parent. The idea of having a child seemed like an anchor, something that would tie you down and limit your freedom. You had always viewed children as a responsibility that came with constraints—an endless list of needs and demands that would prevent you from living a carefree, spontaneous life.

But Naomi was different. From the moment you met her, she had subtly changed your perspective. She had a way of drawing out a side of you that you hadn’t known existed—a nurturing, caring part of you that was willing to embrace the responsibilities of parenthood. The joy you felt in making her smile, in watching her grow and experience new things, was something you had never anticipated. Naomi had transformed your view of what it meant to be tied down. She made you see that being there for someone, supporting them, and sharing in their happiness could be profoundly fulfilling.

As you skated with Naomi, her playful call of “Buttercup!” echoed through the rink, a new nickname she had given you with a beaming smile. It was a reminder of how deeply she had come to care for you and how much you had come to care for her. The nickname, though simple, was a sign of the bond you had formed—a bond that was growing stronger with each passing day.

Spencer watched from the sidelines, his mind racing as he considered the future. He knew that you were not just a passing part of his life but a significant presence who had brought an unexpected joy and stability into both his and Naomi's lives. The love and care you showed Naomi made him realize that this relationship was something more than he had ever anticipated. It was something worth holding onto, something that made him think about a future where you, Naomi, and he were a family in the truest sense of the word.

And for you, as you skated with Naomi and felt the warmth of her hand in yours, you began to understand that perhaps the life you had once viewed as restrictive was now filled with a new kind of freedom—one that came from love, connection, and the joy of sharing your life with someone who meant everything to you.

-

In the stillness of the night, Naomi woke up feeling restless. She sipped her water and turned over in her bed, only to notice a faint light coming from the living room. Curiosity got the better of her, and she tiptoed out of her room, her small feet padding softly on the floor. As she approached the living room, she saw you and Spencer, both asleep on the couch. 

The movie was still playing, casting flickering shadows across the room. You and Spencer were asleep on the couch, leaning into each other, the blanket draped over you both in a comforting tangle. Her gaze drifted to the bowl of popcorn resting on Spencer’s lap. The popcorn looked too tempting to resist, so she carefully approached, trying her best not to wake either of you, knowing she’d be sent back to bed. Gently, she slid the bowl from Spencer’s lap, her small hands gripping it securely. As she turned to head back to her room, she accidentally stepped on something hard and small.

Naomi glanced down and saw the little red box, now slightly askew on the floor. She knelt to pick it up, her curiosity getting the better of her. She set the popcorn down and opened the little box. 

Inside was a beautiful ring. A thin gold band with a sizable rock on it. She rubbed the velvet lining, moving the entire box so she could see the light bounce off of the diamond. Naomi reached out, taking the ring between her fingers, and slipped it onto her own finger, though it was still too big and slid right off. She giggled softly, the sound echoing in the quiet room.

Naomi decided right then and there that she liked the ring too much to leave it behind. She stood up, cradling the ring in her hand, and made her way back to her room. Quietly, she pulled open the drawer of her little pink jewelry box, a cherished gift from you, and placed the ring inside. It sat there among her collection of plastic rings from vending machines and toy necklaces, a new treasure added to her stash.

Feeling a sense of satisfaction, Naomi climbed back into her bed, hugging her stuffed animal close. She drifted off to sleep, the ring now safely hidden away in her room, where it would remain her little secret. As she closed her eyes, she thought about how she’d tell you about it tomorrow.

-

Naomi stirred from her sleep, feeling the gentle touch of a hand softly caressing her cheek. Her eyes fluttered open, adjusting to the dim light of her room, and she saw you standing over her, a tender smile on your face. The warmth of your hand on her skin was comforting, but there was something different about the way you were looking at her.

"Hey, sweetheart," you whispered, your voice soft and soothing. "I'm sorry I woke you up. I just wanted to say goodbye before I left for the day."

Naomi blinked, still groggy from sleep, and pushed herself up slightly in bed. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice small and curious. She rubbed her eyes, trying to shake off the sleepiness.

You brushed a strand of hair from her face, tucking it behind her ear. "I have to go run some errands, just a few things to take care of," you replied, your tone gentle. "I'll be back later, okay?"

Naomi nodded, but she wasn't quite ready to let you go. "Can I come with you?" she asked, her voice carrying a hint of hope.

You smiled, leaning down to kiss her forehead. "Not today, sweetie. But how about we do something special when I get back? We could go to the park or watch a movie, whatever you want."

Naomi nodded again, though she couldn't shake the feeling that something was off. She watched as you stood up and made your way to the door, your footsteps quiet on the carpeted floor. She slipped out of bed, her tiny feet padding softly as she followed you down the hallway.

As you reached the front door, Naomi tugged at your hand, looking up at you with wide, sleepy eyes. "What are you going to do?" she asked again, her curiosity not yet satisfied.

You knelt down to her level, taking her hands in yours. "Just some things I need to get done. I have to find some new shoes, return some things, nothing too exciting. But I promise I'll be back soon, and then we can spend the rest of the day together, okay?"

Naomi nodded, feeling reassured by your words. She wrapped her arms around you, hugging you tightly. "Okay. I love you," she murmured.

"I love you too, Naomi," you whispered back, holding her close for a moment before finally letting go. You gave her one last smile before you opened the door and stepped outside.

As the door closed behind you, Naomi stood there for a moment, feeling a strange sense of unease. She turned around to head back to her room, but then she heard a noise coming from the living room. It was the sound of something being moved, followed by a muffled curse.

Curiosity piqued, Naomi tiptoed toward the living room, peeking around the corner. She saw her dad in the middle of the room, tearing through the cushions on the couch, his movements frantic and desperate. He was searching for something, his usually calm demeanor replaced by a sense of urgency.

"Dad?" Naomi called out, her voice small and unsure.

Spencer looked up, his eyes wide with surprise as if he hadn't noticed her standing there. "Naomi, hey," he said, trying to keep his voice steady, though she could see the worry in his eyes. "What are you doing up, sweetheart?"

“Buttercup woke me up on accident,” Naomi yawned, plopping down on the couch and rubbing the sleep from her eyes. She glanced at the mess around her dad, her curiosity piqued. “What are you looking for?”

Spencer hesitated, his gaze flicking to the floor as if searching for the right words. "I'm looking for a very important ring, Naomi," he finally said, his voice soft but filled with a weight that Naomi didn't fully understand.

Naomi's eyes widened, a pang of guilt tugging at her heart. She thought back to the little red box she had found the night before, the ring she had slipped into her own jewelry box, thinking it was just another pretty trinket. "Who’s it for?" she asked, trying to sound casual as she shifted on the couch.

"It’s Y/N's," Spencer replied, his voice barely above a whisper, as if saying the words out loud made the situation all the more real.

Naomi’s heart sank even further. She didn’t want to get in trouble or see her dad upset, so she bit her lip and shook her head. "I haven’t seen it," she mumbled, avoiding his eyes.

Spencer let out a sigh, running a hand through his hair. "Okay, sweetheart," he said, though the tension in his voice was unmistakable. He gave her a small, tight smile before returning to his search, his movements now more methodical but no less urgent.

Throughout the day, Naomi noticed how tense her dad was. He seemed distracted, constantly checking drawers, opening and closing cabinets, and even going through the laundry, all in a futile effort to find the missing ring. The worry lines on his face deepened with each passing hour, and the lightness that usually filled their home seemed to have vanished.

When you returned home later that evening, the atmosphere was noticeably heavy. But as soon as you walked through the door, Naomi felt a small surge of relief. You greeted her with a warm smile, and she couldn’t help but feel comforted by your presence. After catching up on your day, you and Naomi settled down on the living room floor to work on a new puzzle you had surprised her with earlier, the colorful pieces scattered around you.

You noticed that Naomi seemed quieter than usual, her little brows furrowed in concentration as she carefully placed each piece. "You okay, Naomi?" you asked gently, glancing over at her.

Naomi nodded quickly, but there was a flicker of something in her eyes—something that told you she had something on her mind. You decided not to press her, instead focusing on the puzzle and enjoying the quiet moment together.

Naomi suddenly stood up. "I’ll be right back," she said, her voice soft as she darted off to her room.

You watched her go, curious about what had sparked her sudden departure. Moments later, she returned, clutching something small in her hand. She walked over to you, her steps hesitant, and then slowly held out her hand.

“I found your ring,” Naomi said quietly, her voice laced with guilt as she opened her palm to reveal the delicate piece of jewelry. 

You felt your breath hitch. “Naomi, where did you find this?” 

She bit her lip, her eyes welling up with tears. "I… I found it last night in the living room, in a little red box. I didn’t know it was important, so I put it in my jewelry box. Daddy said it's yours. I’m sorry," she whispered, her voice trembling with fear of what your reaction might be.

You smiled softly, wrapping your arms around her in a comforting hug. "It’s okay, Naomi," you reassured her, stroking her hair. "I’m just glad you told me. You did the right thing by bringing it to me."

Naomi sniffled, burying her face in your shoulder. "I didn’t want to get in trouble," she mumbled, her small voice muffled against you.

You pulled back slightly, looking into her eyes. "You’re not in trouble, I promise. I know it can be confusing sometimes, but it’s always better to tell the truth. Thank you for being honest with me, okay?"

Naomi nodded, feeling a weight lift off her shoulders. She glanced at the ring again, her curiosity returning. "Is it really for you?" she asked, her voice tinged with wonder.

You nodded, smiling as you held the ring between your fingers. "Yes, it is. And it means a lot to me—and to your dad, too."

As if on cue, Spencer appeared in the doorway, his eyes widening in disbelief when he saw the ring in your hand. "You found it?" he asked, his voice thick with relief as he rushed over to you both.

"Naomi found it," you explained, smiling as Spencer knelt down beside you.

Spencer looked at Naomi, his eyes softening as he pulled her into a hug. He looked at you, his eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "I’m so sorry, Y/N," he began, his voice soft but earnest. "This isn’t how I planned any of this. I had a whole evening planned—a special dinner, maybe even a picnic under the stars—but then I couldn’t find the ring, and everything just fell apart."

You held out the ring to him. “Then we can wait.” 

Spencer let out a soft chuckle, his tension finally easing as he looked at you with a mixture of relief and love. He gently took the ring from your hand, his fingers brushing against yours as he slid it onto your finger. The simple yet profound act felt like the culmination of everything you had been through together.

As the ring settled onto your finger, something clicked in Naomi’s mind. Her eyes widened as she looked between the two of you, her mouth forming a small “O” of realization. "Did you just… propose?" she asked, her voice filled with a mixture of surprise and excitement.

You and Spencer exchanged a quick glance before turning back to her with matching smiles. "Yes, sweetheart," Spencer said, his voice warm and full of affection. "I just proposed."

Naomi squealed with delight, her little feet kicking excitedly as she launched herself into your lap. "Can I be a flower girl? Please, please, please?" she begged, her eyes shining with hope and happiness.

You laughed, wrapping your arms around her as you shared a joyful look with Spencer. "Of course, you can be the flower girl," you assured her, ruffling her hair playfully. "We wouldn’t have it any other way."

Naomi’s squeal of excitement filled the room again as she hugged you tightly, her arms around your neck. Spencer reached over, wrapping both of you in his embrace, and for a moment, everything else melted away. The three of you were wrapped in a cocoon of love and happiness, the promise of a future together solidified in that one small, unexpected moment.

The grand plans didn’t matter, nor did the perfect setting. What mattered was that you were together, ready to take on whatever came next as a family. And as you held Naomi close, Spencer’s arms around both of you, you knew that this was just the beginning of a new and beautiful chapter in your lives.

[oumaheroes]

hi do you have any writings about the bothers bullying (brotherly bonding) england? like any type of pranks from a fake snake tied to his shoe to an ice cube down the back of his shirt. I really have a craving for them to just really push him around bc he's the youngest (not counting northern Ireland ofc) please and many thanks if you have any

I don't I'm afraid! (Kinda)

I don't think they're generally a fun kind of pranking family, or aim to do anything planned like that. They're more the type to verbally take the piss out of each other and are very opportunistic when it comes to pranks- if a possible attack point presents itself, they will use and abuse it. Things can quickly escalate, something is taken seriously, and before you know it they're scrapping on the floor only to be sharing a beer down the pub the next hour. Very quick and non-lasting swings and round-abouts

So they do, but they won't go out of their way to plan to be pranky or anything really so light hearted. They mostly bicker or fuck about

I have written them as being shits to each other many times but they're usually part of stories, rather than whole stories in their own right.

Here are some examples:

From Odd Socks:

Alasdair pressed a hand to his chest mock wounded, ‘My love, you sound surprised.’ ‘Arthur attempted to convince me that you’d planned to wear jogging bottoms.’ ‘Oh that’ll be Patrick’s idea, they had a dare on.’ ‘Ah. It almost worked.’ ‘I’m offended. But also not surprised.’ ... A muted crash and a cackle came from somewhere in the crowds and they both looked over to find Arthur, half staggered into a chair and scowling, and Patrick bent double with laughter nearby. Their mother turned and made her way over to them and Alasdair hissed in sympathy.

From I.C.E:

‘My nose is already half fixed, I’m surprised they’ve not noticed.’ ‘I could break it for you again, if you’d like.’ ‘Ha ha.’ Alisdair sighed and rubbed awkwardly at his eyes with his free hand, ‘I wish they’d turn these bloody lights down.’ ‘Concussion?’ ‘No, I just want to sit in the dark for fun.’ Alisdair closed his eyes and grimaced. He was obviously tired, face drawn and weary easy to spot even amongst the fresh bruising. Arthur wasn’t surprised. No matter how many times they had died or been hurt, no matter how long they had lived or how much they had endured, a primal, human fear of dying gripped them as much as it did any mortal man. A desperate, wild panic for life that overrode all logic, ignored all past experience to burn right through to that still human core of them. It was exhausting, and trialling death as blithely as they did not dull its sting or make it any easier to bear. He absentmindedly picked a few pieces of dirt and stray glass out of his brother’s hair and began to update the group chat they shared with Rhys, Sean and Patrick. ‘You the closest?’ Arthur pursed his lips, ‘Not your first choice I know, but I stayed in Meriden; Rhys went back to Cardiff.’ ‘With that attitude you’re certainly not.’ Alisdair thumped him gently in the stomach, ‘What time is it?’ ‘Three in the morning.’ Alisdair let out a soft whistle, ‘I got to Newcastle?’ ‘Just passed Middlesbrough. You’re in Newcastle now though; better A&E and I assume they thought you were critical.’ ‘I thought you sounded like less of a twat. Thank God they didn’t take me to Middlesbrough; a right shithole that is.’ ‘Stop it.’ ‘How are you getting on in here?’ A doctor opened the curtain and approached the bed. She introduced herself with a quick smile to Arthur and then leant forward so that Alisdair could see her properly, hands going to his neck brace, ‘Right, we can take this off; nothing concerning on the CT scan.’ ‘That’s a surprise.’ Arthur quipped. ‘Please ignore my brother, he gets antsy when he’s tired.’

The entirety of Afterparty, but particularly:

‘What’s the hold up?’ Scotland called from further down the little garden, the yellow light from the street lamps behind him obscuring the details of his face, ‘Come on I want to get in; he’s heavy.’ ‘I’m not fucking heavy,’ England hopped wildly on his one good leg as Scotland moved abruptly sidewards, the other ankle now noticeably swollen, ‘You’re just weak; I’m barely putting my weight on you.’ ‘Do you want me to throw you over to next door’s garden? Cos I bloody well will.’ ‘Oi, stop it a sec,’ Ireland called to them, putting his hand on Wales’ shoulder and giving it a light squeeze, ‘What are you doing, get us in.’ ‘You can piss off, you’re the reason my ankle’s fucked up.’ England wasn’t finished. ‘It wouldn’t be so bad if you didn’t insist on walking on it for two hours,’ Ireland shot back. ‘What else was I going to do? Drag myself across Cardiff?’ ‘I thought it was a pretty clear hint that I wanted to leave you behind.’ ‘Oh, so it was intentional, then?’ ‘You’ll be fine.’ ‘Of course I will but that’s not the point, is it?’ ‘If I had known you were going wilt like a tight-laced Victorian noblewoman, I wouldn’t have tried to move you aside.’ ‘You pushed me down a bank!’ Ireland gave a casual shrug but his grin grew wicked, ‘You were in the way.’

The entirety of Road Trip. Too much to quote haha

Whenever they all appear together in It's All About the Delivery:

‘What the bloody hell are you two doing here.’ In the doorway to the room was Lord Kirkland looking somewhat harried. His accent was different than it had been when the PM had spoken to him last at the manor, vowels distinctly sharper and more pronounced than before- glass cut and Eton grown rather than the roughened and gentle burr of yesterday. The PM made a note to ask Mr Williams about the change later. ‘Took you long enough,’ Alisdair said, cheerfully. Kirkland narrowed his eyes in suspicion and Alisdair’s expression grew sly, ‘We noticed that you’d left your guest alone so we thought we’d step in to lend a hand. Terrible manners that, turning up so late.’ ‘Why are you here. We’re supposed to be meeting at Downing Street (2).’ ‘We are, we are.’ ‘Were we supposed to be?’ Rhys looked confused. He turned to Alisdair, ‘You said we had to meet England here.’ ‘Did I?’ Alisdair feigned a look of exaggerated surprise, ‘Lord knows what happened there. Where on earth were you anyway.’ Kirkland’s jaw was clenched tight, ‘A sudden and unexpected diversion that I now have a feeling wasn’t the result of miscommunication at all.’ Alisdair tutted, ‘Ach, a shame.’

and, of course:

‘I told you about Mr Marchand’s problem, didn’t I?’ The PM opened his mouth to interject but promptly shut it again, recognising that there was no point, ‘Besides, if you’d have known what I was planning, you’d’ve told him.’ ‘”Him?” I do have a name.’ ‘Aye, I’m told it’s “Dirt”.’

...

She shooed him off and the PM crossed the room, noticing how both Alisdair and Rhys immediately paused their conversation at his approach. ‘Good afternoon,’ he greeted them and Mr Williams, ‘Where’s your brother?’ ‘You mean Dirt? Or is he mud pile today. I’m fond of ecological wasteland myself.’ ‘Alisdair.’

Lastly, there are also a couple of quips in Reset that are too small and numerous to many any particular one

[saiilorstars]

Ch. 7: The Chase for the Unknown

Pairing: Barry Allen x OFC  // Fandom: The Flash

Story Masterlist • Previous Stories: Rise Up • It Had To Be You • Belén’s Masterlist

• Can also be found on Fanfic and Ao3 •

Taglist: @ocappreciationtag​​​​ @arrthurpendragon​​​​ @anotherunreadblog​​​​ @maaaaarveeeeel​​​​ @stareyedplanet​​​​ @foxesandmagic​​​​ @frostandflamesfanfic​​ ​​

Caitlin took in a deep breath before she entered a high-class building. Her heels clacked against the squeaky clean floor as she made herself steadily walk towards the reception desk where a brunette woman sat.

"I'm here to see to see Dr. Tannhauser," she informed the receptionist.

The receptionist was quite uninterested in the new visitor. She didn't look up from her computer. "Do you have an appointment?"

"No, but I'm pretty sure she'll see me. You can just tell her Caitlin Snow is here—"

"Dr. Tannhauser's a very busy woman. I'm sure you can understand—"

"I appreciate the diligence, Jackie, but Caitlin's always welcome here, even if I wish she'd call first," an older woman claimed both Caitlin's and the receptionist's attention. Dr. Tannhauser stood at a second level railing and was smiling curiously at Caitlin.

"Nice to see you too, Mom." Caitlin felt a shaky breath leave her. This wasn't exactly her best idea but she was getting desperate. It was only a couple days ago when her powers had truly manifested and nearly caused her entire hair to change into a while silver. Caitlin tried to forget the blue lips that were Killer Frost's trademarks. But the accidental icing of her shower, the white streaks in her hair and the blue lips weren't what scared Caitlin the most. The following morning, Caitlin had began to hear...her voice.

It's time to wake up…

Caitlin had dropped her favorite coffee mug on her kitchen tile floor. Killer Frost had spoken to her. It was only a brief sentence but it was all Caitlin needed to get scared for the rest of her life. If Killer Frost was "awakening" it meant Caitlin was one step closer to losing control like Belén already had on small occasions.

It was for that very reason that Caitlin decided to share her experience with Belén just before announcing her idea to visit her mother. Belén understood Caitlin completely and of course promised to cover for her at STAR Labs so the others wouldn't suspect a thing. She just wanted Caitlin to be at peace, even if she didn't agree with Caitlin's latest decisions of not using her powers.

Caitlin remembered her friends just as she walked into her mother's office. The warm family bond they had was something far better than what she and her mother would probably ever have.

Carla Tannhauser didn't seem to suspect a thing as she calmly took a seat at her desk and began to work on her computer like Caitlin was any other visitor. "So what brings you here? I didn't forget your birthday, did I? I'm pretty sure I sent a card."

Caitlin drummed her fingers on her crossed arms while she watched this carefree behavior. You'd think being her daughter she would pay just a little more attention. "You did...in April. Thank you. Look, I read your new paper on applications in cryo-medicine, and I think you might be able to help."

"I had no idea you kept up on the literature over at S.T.A.R. Labs. That's still what it's called, right?"

"Yes, and I have a patient who could use your help."

"Well, if you want to send over the file, I'll be happy to take a look when I have a chance, but right now, I have a shareholder meeting to prepare for and…"

Caitlin felt an anger — that didn't belong to her — rise up until it pushed her to slam her hand against the glass desk. "Mom!" her voice seemed to acquire a vibrate tinge. "I'm the patient!" Her hand involuntarily released a frost that spread across the desk.

Carla slowly removed her glasses, revealing widened eyes. She slowly leaned to her phone and put in a call to her assistant. "Cancel my appointments, and have Nigel meet me in the bio-lab."

Caitlin gulped as she pulled her hand off the desk. She turned her palm over and closed it into a fist as if more ice was about to shoot out from it.

That was fun. Killer Frost could practically be seen grinning.

~ 0 ~

Barry zipped into the cortex and left his suit in its display. He turned to the desk where Belén and Iris sat. "I couldn't find her again." The tired sigh he released was beyond him. Nights had been sleepless for days again.

"I performed the tracker of speed just like you said Flashpoint Caitlin did—" Cisco came out from a side room with a similar weary face as Barry, "—and nada. Girl's not coming up."

"Okay, well, Anais Mjorkland isn't your typical speedster," Barry pulled his hands behind his head, letting out another heavy sigh. He would kill to close his eyes for a full five minutes. "She's not a metahuman. She's an alien."

"Your alien adoptive daughter from Earth 38…?" Iris repeated in a one go just to make sure she'd gotten the backstory right. She turned her chair in Belén's direction, but the ombre-blonde knew just as much as Iris did.

"Yeah, run that by me again," Cisco spun his hand in a circle at Barry.

Barry dropped his hands to his side and resigned to telling the story again. He wasn't surprised that he had to repeat given its unique situation but he didn't really like the awkwardness of it at all.

"The Anais Mjorkland I originally met was on Earth 38 and she is Supergirl's partner. She's known as Solar to National City but her civilian name is Anais Allen." This is where the awkwardness came back. Barry bit on the inside of his cheek for a moment before continuing. "She's half alien, half human and she was adopted by my...doppelganger...and Belén's..." At the mention of her name, Belén's head ducked to hide her instant flush. "On that Earth, Belén and I are older. We're Anais' adoptive parents and she has our last name."

"You two are really just doing the most, huh?" Cisco looked between the pair in question. "Should I say mazel tov?"

"Shut up!" Belén snapped. "Barry?"

"Right, um..." Barry cleared his throat. "So, Earth 38 Anais is an alien speedster, basically."

"Okay, but this girl definitely did not come from that Earth," Iris said, thankfully taking it much more seriously than Cisco.

"Yeah," went Cisco sourly, "I specifically vibed for Earth 19 and that is where that girl jumped from."

"Her name is Anais," Barry said rather argumentatively. Belén sensed a protectiveness in her boyfriend that she hadn't really heard in another time. It was strange but if Anais was truly like a daughter then she supposed she could understand. She might even feel guilty that she didn't feel the same protectiveness but she tried to remind herself that she had no idea who this woman was. Anais was a stranger.

However, Belén didn't think that Iris nor Cisco would understand that feeling and it was proved a moment later.

"Barry, she stole someone else's passageway to this world," Iris reminded Barry and took the subjected glare. "Cisco vibed for a Wells. That girl had to have known—"

"Her name is Anais!" Barry snapped again.

Iris nodded, deciding to give him that for now. "Anais took that passage. How do we know she didn't hurt Earth 19's version of Wells?"

"I don't know, okay? But what I do know is that Anais looked very afraid when she came out of that breach," Barry spoke fast, "And that means she could've been running from something."

"Or it means she might have done something bad on the other side," Cisco shrugged.

"Cisco—"

"I'm just saying!" Cisco exclaimed. "She did look at you like she knew you, Barry."

"Maybe she knew my doppelganger from there! I don't know!"

"Okay!" Belén cut in before things got heated and that was the last thing they needed right now. She got up from her seat, hands in front of her to show that she was trying to be a neutral side. "Can I give my two cents now?"

"What, as the mother?" Cisco's comment wasn't appreciated in the least by said mother in question. "Sorry."

"I don't know Anais," Belén began, slowly lowering her hands, "I've only heard the stories that Barry told me about when he first went to Earth 38. I do think that she looked kind of scared coming out of the breach but you know what? None of our guesses matter until we actually find her. It's been five days since Anais came out of the breach and ran and until we find her, we can't assume anything. So, can I suggest that we all get back to work on that instead of arguing?"

"I'll just go continue running more scans, I guess," Cisco mumbled and started leaving.

"And don't touch Caitlin's pizza pockets!" Belén warned but Cisco waved her off. He might have been a little annoyed at her.

"Sorry," Iris felt the urge to say after a moment. Her eyes flickered between Belén and Barry. "I guess it's a little strange having this situation...given who she is."

"Don't look at me, I don't even know her," Belén gave a meek shrug of her shoulders. "But I do think we're better off just waiting until we can get her back here. Right, Barry?"

"Yeah," Barry said quietly.

"Well, I'll tell you what, this would go quicker if we had all hands on deck," Iris moved behind the computers, "Where's Caitlin?"

"She said she was taking care of some things," Belén said purposely carelessly. She'd worked on the simple excuse over and over in front of the mirror to say as perfectly as she had. "

"Alright," Iris nodded, "I guess we can keep running scans," she said to Belén. The latter agreed.

"We've been running all information we can on her," Belén told Barry, "Since you said she's originally from National City, Iris and I thought that was our best shot of finding her."

"But you didn't," Barry presumed and he sighed seeing the two women nodding.

"Nothing," Belén was sad to report. "We found a ton of stuff on the latest events over in that city."

"Yeah," Iris crossed her arms, "CatCo. says flared jeans are out. The Luthor family has had another spat — oh, did you hear?" Iris glanced at Belén. "Rumor has it one of them finally split. Left the city and all."

"No way," Belén snorted. "That family's beyond insane but I guess that's what happens when you're stupid rich."

"Yeah, that's why we don't get rich," Iris said, prompting a mutual laugh between the two reporters.

Barry rolled his eyes at the pair. "Okay, "I've got to get to work." He moved over to pick up his jacket left on Belén's chair. "Julian's been on my case for being late all this week and I just…"

"Please don't start," Belén gave him a hopeful glance for him to — for once — just keep a civil relationship with Julian.

"He does not make it easy, Belén! With you, he's all walking-on-sunshine but once you leave he's like a different person!"

Iris shook her head and discreetly turned away from the two. It was a sure way to start an argument...as it typically did.

"You guys clash, but...deep down you're the same. You're both nerdy, you're both funny—"

"He is not funny," Barry made that clear, perhaps with a bit too much jealousy.

"You're both passionate about your work—"

"He's stingy about his work—"

"—and you both just want to help people," Belén took Barry's hand and smiled encouragingly. She knew she was talking quicker than usual and not in the usual cute way Barry often said she did. "Why can't you just get along?"

"Because I am pretty sure he likes you—"

"Oh my God!" Belén pulled her hand out of Barry's as she laughed sourly. "No, he doesn't!"

Barry scowled. She was dismissing him...just like that. "I know from your perspective I've been saying this for a year—"

"Yeah, you have!"

"—but from where I stand, it's only been two weeks and it took me only two days to figure out that he does," Barry had spoken slowly to make his point.

Belén shook her head, smiling at nothing in particular but with obvious annoyance. "You want to start that again, I see..."

Barry rolled his eyes. Why was she being so naive about this? Was she just faking it to avoid problems? Whatever the answer was didn't matter because he was tired and upset from the whole Anais case that if he kept going, he would say something he shouldn't. "I am going to work," he decided, "I'll see you later."

Belén nodded silently and let him go. She rubbed her forehead but dropped her hand when she saw Iris watching her with a face that...wasn't exactly on her side. "What? You think he's right?"

Iris' shoulders pulled up but her answer wasn't definitive either. "Barry is not the jealous type. That, I know."

"Iris, c'mon..." Belén sighed. She pushed all her hair back from her face. "This is ridiculous!"

"It might be to you but it's important to Barry and given his recent mistakes, I think he might be a little insecure about...where you two stand..." Iris wished she could be anywhere but here right now.

"Well, he shouldn't be!" Belén exclaimed. "We already talked about it. We're good."

"Okay, but, that doesn't mean he's not insecure that you might change your mind."

"Iris—"

"Just clear things up with Julian and you're good," Iris suggested quickly and just as Belén went to say something, Iris cut her off, "You say you're close so it shouldn't be a big deal and hey, if you're right, then you can at least make Barry see it. And if not, then…"

"I would owe Barry the biggest apology of my life," Belén said bitterly.

~ 0 ~

Caitlin followed her mother's closest employee, Nigel, into a high tech lab. The first thing that got her attention was the cylindrical structure glowing brightly orange and yellow. She could feel its intense heat radiating towards them.

"What's this?"

"It's to test how your ability affects molecular motion," Carla moved around the structure. "That shaft is solid tungsten, and it's heated to over 2,000 degrees centigrade. I want you to cool it down, and when we determine how you can do that, we can figure out the best way to help you. Best we could do in such little time."

"So this is where you've been for the last hour," Caitlin bitterly said. She wouldn't hide her disappointment that even when she exhibited the full range of her problems, her mother still didn't make her a priority.

"I had to reschedule my day for this, Caitlin. A lot of things around here require my attention."

"I remember," Caitlin said curtly.

Carla and Nigel both stepped backwards to allow Caitlin some space. "Whenever you're ready," Carla nodded Caitlin to get a little closer.

Caitlin wiggled her fingers as she stepped forwards. Her heart beat wildly as she raised her hands towards the structure. This time she didn't even have to consider how much power she should put into it. The ice just came out.

Carla and Nigel both gawked as the cylinder became crystallized in ice.

The gulp Caitlin took afterwards was involuntarily and made of pure fear.

~ 0 ~

When the alarms started going off in the cortex, Belén thought they finally caught site of Anais...but they found something else just as interesting.

"Cameras are shutting off in a ten-block radius," Cisco said without a clue of its purpose as he read off the computers.

"So...even if I tried to get there…?"

"Forget it," Cisco waved her off, already dialing for Barry's number.

"And could this be Anais?"

"I would doubt that girl could cause this but then again since she is alien and unknown...ha," Cisco gave only a small sarcastic laugh to answer them.

"Alright, I'm here," they soon heard Barry's voice through the comms.

"Settle our differences and tell us who exactly is causing the commotion?" Cisco asked him.

"Uuh…" despite Barry being dead silent, the others could hear the rowdy noises from the street he was in.

"Barry? What is it?"

"It's...a monster…"

The two in the cortex looked at each other with the same confusion.

"Guys!? Did you hear me!?" Barry called them back to his attention. "There is a monster in Central City!" Because he was facing a gigantic, brown alien with claw-like arms and a tail. It was the screaming of it that caused most of the noise, that paired with the humans'.

"Are you...are you that scared?" Belén blinked. She wished they could see exactly what they were dealing with.

"No, I mean it's an actual monster!"

"Cisco, anyway to see it?" Belén watched the scientist quickly working on the computer.

"S.T.A.R. Labs satellite, show me something," he pleaded just before the computer up ahead on the wall showed them what Barry was staring at.

"Oh...kay," Belén rubbed her eyes just to make sure she wasn't being fooled.

~ 0 ~

Barry saw how multiple cars crashed, including a bus, along with several live wires just sparking out. He rushed to the bus that was threatening to tip over and came to the surprise of finding Iris already there, trying to open the stuck doors for the frantic people inside.

"Iris, what are you doing here!?"

Iris paid no attention to his overly shocked self as she kept trying to open the doors. "Working on a story, and last time I checked, you don't need super-speed and a red suit to help people!"

Perhaps she spoke too soon because the doors simply would not budge.

"Okay, step back," Barry was about to vibrate the doors off when a golden streak came forwards and easily yanked the double doors off. Barry barely had time to blink when he saw the familiar figure. "Anais…"

The woman behind the golden mask only inhaled and took a step backwards.

"Did you do this?" Iris went with the only logical presumption at the moment. Her demand startled Anais enough to make her backtrack more steps.

Anais' blue eyes flickered from her to Barry. The latter recognized the flash of fear in her eyes. Without saying a word, she sped off again.

"No, wait!" Barry made to move after her when Cisco called him to stop.

"Monster — priorities!

"Where'd it...go…?" Iris blinked when the monster disappeared before her very eyes.

"What?" Barry spun around to find the monster completely gone. He looked up at the sky to see if the thing managed to pull itself up and fly. "Cisco?"

"Got it! Hold on!" Cisco made a motion for everyone to just wait on him, despite the fact that only Belén could see him do it. "Cameras are still off but the car alarms make it easy to track the direction the monster's heading in. Head north three blocks!"

Barry followed the instruction.

"Cisco…" Belén was the one confused when the map on the computers also had the monsters disappear. "Did we just lose it?"

"Yeah — what the hell!?" Cisco dug his hands into his hair, completely outraged.

They weren't the only ones who lost the monster.

~ 0 ~

"It was...it was a frikin monster just...just rampaging through the streets and we-we lost it," Barry was in the same state of confusion as the others were. He honestly felt like he was explaining some video game.

"And Anais?" Belén couldn't help but be curious about the mysterious woman who'd gone and helped him out of the blue. All this time they've been searching for her and she just comes up to them instead.

"Gone," Barry shrugged, equally upset about that too. "I searched for her afterwards and she was just...gone."

"But she's still in the city," Iris expressed her trouble with that fact. "Now why would she do that? I mean, if she's scared then she would run and, I don't know, leave the city?"

"Maybe she wants to go home?" Cisco said, honestly not as interested in the mysterious woman at the moment. He wanted to get that monster!

"No, that's not right," Belén said. She leaned against the desk, her fingers drumming over the top. "If she had wanted to go home, then she would've come back already. If she wanted to leave the city, she would've done that too. She's staying here for a reason."

"She's hiding," Barry said as soon as he made the conclusion. Everyone, including Belén, looked at him. "If she had been our enemy, she would've attacked us from the start. If she wanted to leave, then she would've done it too, but she hasn't. She's here. And she helped. She's watching us."

"So why doesn't she come on over and say 'hi'," Cisco muttered but the others still heard him.

"She's scared," Barry said easily, "I saw it again in her eyes. She's afraid of something."

"Okay," Belén nodded to herself. She glanced over at Cisco who had taken a seat behind the computers. "Maybe we can keep an eye out on the breaches in case something else tries to get through. In the meantime, I think we should discuss this monster..."

"Also not a meta," Iris chimed in, "Are we looking at another alien?"

"I don't know," Barry shrugged, "But it just vanished.

"Well, maybe we shouldn't focus on the 'how' and instead look at the 'how to stop it'," Cisco fell back into his chair, hands getting together in thought.

"First of all, you need to find a way to keep that thing from hurting people," Belén said, beginning easy. "Like a field? You guys make those, right?"

"We could," Cisco gave in. "Maybe like...a rope...or...you know what, I will come up with a good name for it."

"There was something else that was weird, though," Barry admitted after more thinking on the event. I... I saw a transformer explode as this thing passed by it."

"What's weird about that?"

"Monster didn't even lay a finger on it. It exploded before it got to it."

"And we're sure it wasn't Ana—"

"It wasn't," Barry settled a sharp look on Iris, not forgetting the fact it was because of her that Anais fled the scene before he could ask her. "And maybe next time, we'll also take it a little easier on the accusations?"

Iris had nothing to say on that matter. She merely asked what was most obvious at that moment.

"Barry, is there anyway I could look at the transformer?" asked Cisco. "The beast had to emit some kind of electrical pulse."

Barry almost scoffed at the slim chance of that. "No. The whole place is a crime scene now with Julian in charge of it." He saw the face Belén was making at the desk and groaned. "I'm not saying anything!"

"I didn't say you were!"

"You didn't have to!" Barry stopped himself before he said anything else that could ensue an actual argument between them. "I'm just gonna go back to the lab and see...what there is…"

~ 0 ~

Barry walked into the lab where Julian was already packing away things for the latest case. Just seeing Julian put Barry into a worse state. He was causing yet another rift between him and Belén, and for what? For someone who was plain rude.

"Is there any point in me asking where you've been for the last hour?" Julian broke the silence try didn't even spare Barry a look. "Or should I just assume the rules still don't apply to you?"

Yup anger was there again. It killed Barry not being able to tell just what he was doing which was probably more helpful than whatever Julian was doing. He could just tell him off, tell him to mind his own business and that would be that. But then he thought about Belén, and how much he knew she wanted them to get along. He put herself in her shoes for a second and wondered what it would be like if she never got along with Iris. What would he want then? Well, definitely for the two to get along since he loved both of them.

Dammit, he thought.

"Look, hey, man, so I know that... you and I, we got off on the wrong foot. We never managed to find the right one, and I'll take that," he forced himself to say, knowing that half of it was true. "That's probably my fault, but I just... I don't want things to be like that anymore, you know? I... I'd... like it if things changed."

Julian's smile indicated something was amusing and that was definitely not the goal. "It's funny, 'cause I remember you saying something similar to that right before you stole the case from underneath me. Do you have idea what it's like to work side by side with someone with such little regard for the rules? You may very well be contaminating my work."

Barry had to actually bite his tongue for a moment or else he probably would have gone off. "That's exactly why I want to learn from you. I don't follow. I just... you know, whenever I read your reports, it's clear that your evidence collection techniques are far superior to mine."

Julian considered this line of compliment with curiosity. "Go on."

"I don't know; I mean, if I could just shadow you for a day, maybe ask a few questions, I think that you could really help bring my skills up to... snuff. What do you say?" Julian gave a shake of his head. "What if I gave up the lab? There's a storeroom downstairs that I could convert, so if you let me follow you on this case, lab's yours."

See, he should have just started with that.

"Deal," Julian grinned. "You can't slow me down, though."

"I would never," Barry raised his hands. He couldn't believe he'd actually done that.

~ 0 ~

Belén entered her last stop before returning to STAR Labs. She figured she should have started with Jitters and worked her way across the city, but trying to find Anais was harder to do considering she was an alien speedster. With Cisco's help, they'd managed to crop a picture of Anais' face from the breach room. It was a long job of going through placed asking if they'd seen the girl, but since they had no other plan as of yet it was their only option.

Plus, both Cisco and Belén figured that if Anais was a speedster she needed to eat something, somewhere. If they were lucky, she would've stopped by and paid with something and not just sped in and out like a crook.

"Have you seen this girl around?" Belén asked the barista after making it up the line. She brandished the picture of Anais and hoped for the best.

The barista narrowed her eyes on the photograph for a moment, trying to recall the customers she'd met with all day. "Yeah, I think I have. Yeah! She's the one that ordered a lot of food." She gave an apologetic smile at Belén. "I mean, I know I shouldn't be but...kinda jealous. She ordered like three course meals and it doesn't even look like she gains what she eats. I'd kill for a metabolism like that."

"Has she been here before?"

"I think so, yeah. I don't work in the mornings but I remember one of my co-workers saying something about this girl. Same thing - wishes she could have that weight luck."

"So, she's been here a lot, then?" Belén saw the chances of a pattern about to establish. The excitement was inevitable. "Co-workers had to see her!"

"Yeah, I guess so. Why are you looking for her? She's not a criminal is she?"

"No, she's just...a potential source for an article I'm writing," Belén waved it off. "Thank you so much." She figured now they could keep an eye on the place if Cisco hacked the security cameras from STAR Labs. She made to leave when she spotted a familiar blonde eating at one of the tables on his own.

She didn't know exactly what she was going to do but she sure hoped she figured it out on her way to Julian's table. "Eating all alone?"

Julian gave her a languid point of his fork. "Better than being badly accompanied."

"Swallow before you speak," Belén playfully pushed his fork back to his plate.

"Where's your little reporter friend?" he reached for a napkin to clean his mouth.

"Iris had to give a witness testimony for the earlier incident on the street so it's just me."

"No golden boy boyfriend either?"

Belén's face contorted to near annoyance, just like it would have if this had been Barry. She gave him a long look to which Julian merely continued eating. He was quite used to them.

"Julian, you know that I love you right? Like, you're one of my best friends kind of love?"

"Sure, why?" Julian spared her a strange look before he reached for his drink. "I don't need reassurances of anything, you know. I'm secure."

"Yeah, you always have been," Belén smiled softly. "You are incredibly strong despite your family and your losses."

Julian made a face at her out-of-place words. He put his fork down and cleared his throat. "Belén, what's this about?"

"Uum…" Belén felt her face warmed up with embarrassment. She was horrible at these talks, she knew. She could remember how terrible she was with Barry before they got together. "You remember when we were kids and...you stayed for the summer with Mrs. Andrews for the first time?"

"Ah yes, I believe that was the summer you told me I had to stop trying to show you bugs or you would throw me off a swing. You're lucky I didn't tell my grandmother."

Belén laughed at that memory. "You knew those bugs made my skin crawl! Mrs. Andrews would've sided with me anyways!"

Julian let Belén have it. "Anyways, I don't suppose you wanted to talk about old times, did you?"

"No, but that was funny," Belén admitted as she sobered up. "Anyways, it was also the summer that...well…"

"I told you, you were going to be my girlfriend," Julian remembered straight off the top and didn't look the least embarrassed by it. "Yeah."

Belén had long ago lost her surprise when it came to Julian's bluntness. "I know. You, um, you said you had a crush on me." If she ever told Barry that, he would completely lose his mind. "But...that was, like, ages ago. Nothing worth...talking...about..."

Julian's eyebrows rose and Belén didn't know whether to be relieved that he was smiling so easily or be concerned that he wasn't taking her seriously. "Are you concerned that I'm going to talk about those moments with Allen?"

"Umm..." Belén innocently looked around, "I mean, I wouldn't see any point to it. I certainly haven't mentioned it."

Julian rolled his eyes at her. "Yeah, well, seeing as I would have to actually to have a conversation with him, I don't think I'll be doing it either."

Belén swallowed hard. Do it now already. "Um, Julian, Barry and I are having a hard time right now—"

Julian snorted. "There's a surprise."

"Julian—"

"Allen lives to make things harder for others and then he has the audacity to pretend that he does nothing wrong."

"What?" Belén laughed. She took a seat across Julian, genuinely curious to hear this ridiculous idea out.

"I'm not joking, Belén!"

"Yeah, I got that," Belén assured Julian, "But I just want to know why on earth do you hate my boyfriend so much?"

"I don't think you'll like to hear it—"

"No, I need to hear it," Belén said adamantly, setting her finger down on the table, "Because Barry and I have argued about it way too much for me not to be aware that you are rude sometimes and I've no doubt that you've been like that with him. I, of course, try to defend you and hope that sometimes your rudeness is just your bluntness getting mixed up but you know what? I know Barry. He's not mean — he's literally incapable of being mean. Trust me, I have the full scoop from Iris."

"So then what?" Julian raised an eyebrow at Belén. "I'm the bad guy?"

"No, I..." Belén sighed, "I'm just going to be frank, alright? What you told me when we were kids...is that...does that have any standing today?"

"Are you kidding me!?" Julian scowled so deeply that Belén wondered if it would mark his face afterwards. "Look, Belén," Julian began in a stern voice, eyes hardening for a second, "Yes, it was true that I did like you as a child. But that, as I said, was during a time of childhood. It passed. I see you as a very close friend, the only friend that I entrusted my entire secrets to so forgive me if I feel like we're close."

"We are..." Belén said softly, now feeling terrible she even brought it up. But now you know, she told herself. Now she could argue with Barry knowing that he had no standing. "I'm sorry," Belén felt the need to say. "I-I didn't mean to. I thought maybe, it was, I don't know, a reason…"

"That I dislike Allen? Yes, well that would probably have been a first guess, I suppose," Julian leaned back on his chair, his eyes making Belén squirm in her seat. "But rest assured, it is not. You can ease his thoughts now."

"If that's not it, then...why do you hate him? Help me understand, Julian, because maybe I can help. Because I don't want to keep this cycle going. I love Barry and I don't want to have an argument every day because you and him can't get along." This time it was Belén who stared hard. "I don't want to ever have to pick, alright? So tell me something valid. Now."

"You want to know? Alright. But you'll probably end up defending him. He's late — always late — and he never has a reasonable excuse as to why. He lies and disappears. For someone who worked his way up to his position, it certainly doesn't seem like he cares."

"He does care," Belén corrected but left the defenses for the tardiness out. It was terrible, really, because it wasn't like Barry chose to be late for no reason. At least not anymore.

"Of course you would say that," Julian rolled his eyes.

"Because I've seen it ever since I met him. And if I recall correctly, you two are on the same team both wanting to help those victims. Now if that's the case, then why can't you just work civilly?"

Julian released a sigh and crossed his arms. "He did ask if he could shadow me in the case of this monster. Says he likes my work."

Belén's lips twitched into a smile. "He said that?"

"Yeah, course I also get the lab so…" Julian shrugged and Belén rolled her eyes. "It was a win, win."

"Okay, then, use this day to actually try to get along?" Belén asked as kindly as possible. "It would make me really happy…" Julian gave a small nod to her plead. It made her beam and feel confident enough to get going.

"But you also know a reason why I don't like him?" He stopped her just as she got up. "It is because of you…"

Belén blinked nervously. "Oh, really?"

"It's because if he's someone who has no regards for rules and other people, I wouldn't want you to end up with him. For your own good, Belén."

Belén softly smiled at him. "Believe me, if there's someone who cares a lot about people it's Barry. It's one of the reasons why I love him. That's how we met actually, officially." Her smile spread. "He helped me with my brother's case."

Julian shook his head. "He's hiding something, Belén. Behind all those tardiness and lies…"

"I will be just fine, Julian. Thank you," Belén offered one more smile as she got up from her seat to leave.

~0~

Barry walked into a pretty solitary side of a street - right on time this time - where Julian had called him to. It was the same street where the transformer had exploded due to the monster, or so they thought.

When Julian spotted him, he paused with a certain degree of confusion. "I said get here quick, but that was...quicker than I expected."

Barry cleared his throat and jerked a thumb over his shoulder. "Oh, no, yeah, it was a... crazy Uber driver."

Julian shrugged it off and returned his attention to the transformer in front of them. "Well, the blast pattern and the scoring on the insulation suggests that it was a power surge that blew it out."

"So it's a coincidence?"

"I highly doubt it. But I'll figure it out," Julian went around to get his briefcase from the ground, mumbling, "Someone in this city has to do something about these metas."

"What do you mean? We have a whole police force working to stop these metas," Barry's strange looks were missed.

"No, you have the Flash," Julian had no hesitation in showing his dislike. "And the Azalea, the Tempest...and so on…"

Barry's face went sour at the mention of his and his friends' names. "So it's not just bad metas you don't like. It's all the metas."

"I'm just saying that because of them, the police department has got lethargic. I mean, why do anything at all if these metas are gonna save the day every time?" Julian spared him a glance, but only to say, "It's a bit like you with rule breaking... a momentary fix, and now you're lazy, sloppy."

Barry purposely looked somewhere else because he was sure if he didn't the words would just tumble out of him. "I think the Flash, the Azalea and the Tempest are actually sources of inspiration for the city. I think they kind of provide hope."

"They're not even consistent with their appearances," Julian remarked, and didn't need to go further on what he meant.

The Tempest had stopped making an appearance nine months ago, and the Azalea was beginning to fall into the same tract. Once again, it was many of the things they could clear up if only Julian know the truth.

Barry put those thoughts away when he noticed Julian staring at a building behind him then to another one at the opposite end of the street. "What? You see something?" Barry turned the same ways in hopes of catching whatever Julian was seeing.

"A pattern," Julian mumbled while he thought. "The creature's movements, they seemed random at first, but they were contained to a prescribed area. You know, like the creature was stuck in an invisible fence."

Barry remembered their biggest problem at STAR Labs when the monster first showed up. "Traffic cameras were down, right? Maybe it was being watched or controlled by somebody that needed to keep it in visual range the entire time? Constricting the creature's movements to the line of sight."

Julian blinked at him. "That actually makes sense. Maybe there is a brain in there after all, Allen."

Barry playfully rolled his eyes. "Well—" some of the wires in the streets snapped all of a sudden, shooting sparks in different directions.

The cars parked blared their alarms as if they were being broken into. Both men turned to see the monster once again going down the intersecting street up ahead. Barry took a couple steps forwards while Julian called for backup. He looked around for a place to leave Julian by so he could deal with the monster. However, Julian grasped his collar and yanked him towards an alleyway.

"Hey, maybe we should split up…" Barry tugged his collar back into place now that they'd hidden behind a dumpster.

"That's a terrible idea," Julian reached for something on him.

"Yeah, but we got to do something, right? We - woah!" Barry blinked with wide eyes, stunned at the polished gun Julian had revealed.

"Don't worry, I have four years' training in the military," Julian said calmly as he stocked said gun.

"Uh, even still, since when does a CSI carry a gun?"

"Since there were monsters in our city!"

Before Barry could refute that statement, a force of wind hit them in passing. Barry recognized the golden light trail and immediately poked his head out into the street.

Anais, in her hero guise, had stopped at the end of the street and was gazing up at the monster. There she was again, just...trying to help. Barry didn't understand her movements.

"A new speedster in the city? Really?" Julian's sigh from behind pulled Barry back to the present, and just in time.

There was a small explosion right above them and caused an advertising sign board to drop down towards them. Anais whirled around but before she even thought about returning, Barry pulled out his quick thinking and pulled Julian into a sloppy jump backwards. The two rolled to a stop on the ground and just as Barry looked up to see Anais the blonde alien shot up into the air and disappeared.

That's right, she flew.

~ 0 ~

Caitlin finished putting on her blue blazer and grabbed her bag to leave when she bumped into her mother's assistant. "Sorry," she sheepishly smiled and went around him to the door.

"You're leaving us?" Nigel called after her, making her stop.

Caitlin sighed as she came to a slow stop. "Yeah," she turned sideways and gave a sad smile. "Things between my mother and me are... complicated." Truth be told, she expected her mother to show at least a little regard for her feelings about this situation and yet...nothing.

If Killer Frost was cold, what did that make her mother?

"We can help you," Nigel attempted his hand at persuasion, but Caitlin shook her head.

"I don't need your help with the science. I can do that on my own. I came here to get something from my mother that I realize now I'll never get."

Nigel sneaked his hand into his pocket where he held the controls of the doors. He activated them and locked the doors behind Caitlin. The woman heard the clicking of the locks and frowned at him.

"What are you doing?"

"Sorry, Frosty, but you're not going anywhere."

"Let me out of here. Open these doors!"

"I said no! I am sick of working day after day, night after night, only to have my work benefit your mother.. With the information I can get from you, I can finally get out of this place, so you're gonna stay here until I get everything that I need!" Nigel latched a hand onto Caitlin's bare arm and pulled her towards the desk.

Oh he is not getting away with that, Caitlin heard Killer Frost. Her fear easily allowed Killer Frost access to the controls of her body.

Caitlin's eyes flashed a silver white and moved her hand of the arm Nigel was grabbing so that she now held his arm. "You are not going to test me!" her voice reverberated with Killer Frost's.

Before Nigel knew it, Caitlin's hand emitted her deadly frost that spread to his forearm.

"Wait, let go! Let go!"

Caitlin's lips started twitching into a devil smirk. "What's the matter, Nigel?"

"Caitlin!" her mother came running into the room with her own door controller. "Don't do this! This isn't you!"

"You don't know anything about me, Mother," Caitlin said this time, her voice less of Killer Frost. This was the anger inside flourishing and joining everything Killer Frost once held.

"I... I know I wasn't much of a mother, and I know I have a lot to make up for, but I know I didn't raise a killer," Carla shakily reached to touch Caitlin.

Caitlin gasped and felt Killer Frost be pushed back behind that blue door where only she stayed. She blinked and looked around, immediately letting go of Nigel when she saw what she'd done.

"For whatever it's worth, I am so sorry," Carla's voice pulled Caitlin to her.

"It's worth a lot," Caitlin admitted.

"Now go," Carla nodded to the open door.

"What about…" Caitlin stared down at the man on the ground.

"I... I'll take care of him. No one will ever know about this. I promise!"

"Thank you," Caitlin backed away slowly, still horrified herself. She turned around and practically ran out of there.

~ 0 ~

"Every time there's been a sighting of the monster, multiple transformers have blown," Julian checked over the reporting of the monster incidents so far.

Barry leaned back against his desk, partially thinking about the incident and then to Anais. He'd left that for Cisco and Belén in the meanwhile. "Hmm, so it's definitely feeding off electricity."

"Mm-hmm, and see, I mapped out all the streets that it's been spotted around. Never leaves a ten-block radius," Julian shook his head at the computer and pushed his chair away for the moment. "You know, this is exactly what I was talking about. Some meta's been gifted this incredible power, and this is the very best thing they can do with it... terrorize a city. It's pathetic."

"Why exactly do you hate metas so much?" Barry now find the time to wonder.

"If you think I'm gonna break down now and tell you that one killed my parents and that's why I have to do this job, I'm not, okay?" Julian missed the once again sour face of Barry, and went on. "I don't need a deep, personal reason to hate metas, Allen. I just need to see person after person transformed, given these extraordinary abilities, and watch them be squandered. Robbing banks, hurting people, spreading fear. It's just... well, it's not just a crime. It's an absolute waste. I mean, can you imagine what it would be like to have those powers? I mean, I would be helping people! I would be improving the world!"

Barry couldn't help remember Belén's words that sounded almost exactly like Julian. Barry supposed there was, apparently, a nice side to the man…

"I guess I wasn't one of the chosen few, was I?"

Barry raised an eyebrow at Julian. "That's it? You're mad at them because you weren't chosen?" Julian shot him a suspicious glance. "Sorry, I mean, I'm just saying, it can't be easy being a meta-human, having your life... their lives change in ways that, you know, neither one of us could possibly imagine. It's got to take some adjusting."

"Right. So now you're defending them?"

"Well, no, I mean, I'm... I don't think that…" Barry could see he'd chosen the wrong words to say to him because Julian was now packing his things.

"This internship thing we're doing is completely over," Julian warned him to stay put as he walked out of the lab.

~ 0 ~

"All I'm saying is that she's going to eat - paying her dues - and she's attempting to help us? That doesn't sound like a criminal to me, Cisco," Belén followed the man around in the cortex. She was relaying to him everything she found out about Anais from the baristas at Jitters.

"Yeah? Then why doesn't she stay and explain herself to us?" Cisco made a passing gesture at her as he crossed the cortex to the computers. "And have we forgotten that she probably stole Harry's doppelganger's passage here?"

Belén rolled her eyes at him for that one since she knew he wasn't as upset as he portrayed to be about that matter. "Cisco, if you really wanted to bring over the doppelganger you would've vibed again."

Cisco opened his mouth to retort but then pointed at her instead, giving her the point. "Fine. I like Harry and I don't want someone else. What if we get an evil Wells again?"

"Nobody wants that," Belén leaned her hands on the back of the desk, peering over the computers to see what Cisco was doing. "But why'd you let Harry go on with the plan, then?"

"Because it looked like he wanted it—"

"Which he didn't."

"Yeah, we know that now."

"Okay, back to my point that I was making, we should really find Anais and bring her in."

"I've kept an eye on the Jitters cameras all day and there hasn't been any sign of her," Cisco gave a light shrug of his shoulders. "My best bet is that she'll show when the monster does."

"Yeah, and then she'll run off like she has the past two times."

"So we don't let her," Cisco said like it was the easiest thing. "We need to take her by surprise."

"You mean knock her out? That's original and clearly the best kind of welcoming," Belén smiled sarcastically at him.

"She came in unwelcomed! And she ran off!"

"Well—"

"You two arguing is never a good thing," Caitlin surprised them both with her presence. Belén especially gave her a scrutinizing stare, wondering how her visit to her mother's had gone.

"We were just disagreeing on how to best deal with our speedster-breacher," Cisco waved it off. "And where've you been?"

"Just...out," Caitlin shrugged then set her hands on her hips. "So how are we doing over here?"

"Well, we're no closer to getting the monster nor Anais—"

"What monster—?"

Cisco's meta app started ringing in all three of their phones. The creator immediately whipped out his phone and pinpointed the location. "Thank god for the app with GPS!"

"What's going on?" Caitlin asked.

"It's the monster," Belén headed for her suit and missed Caitlin's blinking eyes.

"What monster?"

"You've missed a lot," Cisco distractedly patted Caitlin's arm while he got in contact with Barry.

"Cisco, I'm gonna follow your plan - I think," Belén called. "But how exactly do I knock out a speedster? Not to mention a flying speedster?"

Cisco opened his mouth but soon shut it and swayed his head to Caitlin for a fresh idea. The brunette brought a hand up to her cheek and thought about it. She went through multiple scenarios and ultimately came up with something, just something that she wasn't quite sure of. It hadn't been tested properly.

"Moon," she said the one word and hoped Belén would understand.

Cisco did not. And he showed it by scrunching his face at Caitlin. "Moon? What does that—" But Barry sped in and out for his suit and stopped just beside Cisco, startling him back.

"Don't do that!" Cisco shouted in Barry's face.

"Rope! Did you get the rope!?" Barry motioned his hands.

While Cisco showed Barry to the rope, Caitlin took the opportunity and rushed up to Belén to better explain her idea. "It's wrong for me to put you in that situation but you have moon manipulation powers. With that you can maybe do some gravitational pull attack."

"I-I've never done that in my life," Belén blinked. "And I think Datura said she never figured out how to do that."

"Moon abilities also allow you to redirect a reflection - stunning! Light manipulations—"

"So I'm gonna have to stick a hand in my bag of siphoned powers and see what works," Belén released a big breath. "Oh boy."

~ 0 ~

With Barry's help, Belén arrived at the site with him and immediately set to search for Anais. The woman's golden suit would make her stand out in the night amongst civilians.

"Oh my God…" Belén was first taken aback by the monster's appearance. This was the first time she'd seen it in person. It was a lot bigger than what the cameras showed. She gaped and turned her head at Barry.

"I know," he could see his first reaction on her face. "Cisco? I'm here."

"Please tell me there was a plan to catch this monster…" Caitlin let her concern show.

"Alright, so we fashioned just a carbon fiber rope, but correct me if I'm wrong, we never actually discussed how he was gonna use that rope, did we?" Cisco slapped a hand at his face when he realized his error.

"Cisco…" Caitlin couldn't believe it.

"I know," the man groaned. "Okay, so we...so...um...oh!" he snapped his fingers, startling Caitlin with the motion. "Barry, we're gonna do 'Empire'. Just take it down like it was an AT-AT. Just like an AT-AT!"

"I've no idea what that means," Belén wasn't afraid to admit.

Barry smiled at her. "Let me handle this." Belén motioned it was all him. She, on the other hand, spotted a golden streak zigzagging at the other end of the street.

"And I see our alien," she told the others and rushed off.

While Barry tied the carbon rope around three distinct street poles to keep the monster restrained, Anais was busy getting people away from it.

"Run to safety! Go on!" She urged many of the civilians and was just about to speed off when she saw tendrils of vines swirling in front of her. "Aah…" she retracted a step and raised a hand to her face.

The vines disbanded to show Belén. "You have explaining to do, Anais."

Hearing her name made Anais gasp. She lowered her hands from her face, revealing wide blue eyes. "You know me?"

"I don't. But my boyfriend does," Belén pointed at the red speedster across from them.

Anais followed the pointed finger and gasped again. Her head flipped back at Belén. "You're — you and him — here too?"

Belén tried making sense of that chopped-up question but given the circumstances, she didn't have enough time to sort it all out. "You need to come with me right now."

Whatever Anais thought, it was hidden behind her golden mask. Still, her eyes blinked rapidly in confusion when she saw the monster across them walk through the rope the Flash had put around it. "It's...a hologram…"

"What?" Belén followed Anais' gaze.

"The city's not a threat, then," Anais said with relief, but Belén knew exactly what that meant.

"You can't leave again!"

Anais got smug and wiggled her fingers at Belén. "Watch me." She turned around and even stretched her arms upwards for show.

You going to let her be smug? Let her taunt you? Terra will not allow it. Belén shivered when that same voice's owner pushed through her mind.

Just as Anais started off, Belén extended a hand forwards and thrust up an actual chunk of road into a wall that Anais hit face-first. The alien speedster groaned in terrible pain, her hand flying to her broken nose.

"Belén? What happened?" Caitlin was thankful for the cameras being shut off. Her guess was that Belén was using the moon powers she was instructed to.

"Yo," Cisco also called in. "Barry's just gone to 2nd and Fulton to warn the police not to shoot! I'm trying to disrupt the signal for the monster but Belén you need to get over there!"

Anais detached herself from the road and angrily punched a fist at it, making it crumble down. Belén, not as her, pushed her hands upwards to rebuild the structure but instead Anais came directly for her. It was easy to throw Belén down with her incredible strength.

"I don't want to hurt anyone!" Anais exclaimed at the groggy woman on the ground. "Please! I-I can go!"

HitHerHitHerHitHerHitHer, the voice screamed in Belén's head. She scrunched her face and sat upright. "I am in control," she mumbled to herself and opened her eyes again. Anais was watching her with incredible fear.

Belén took in a deep breath and faced Anais. The blonde woman backtracked a step as Belén got back on her feet. Her hands wielded light beams in her hands in case Belén attacked again, but something different happened instead.

Belén's mask disbanded and revealed her face. "Please tell me you recognize me."

Anais' face said it all. The light around her hands disappeared. However, seconds later she burst into sobs.

~ 0 ~

After stopping the monster - and discovering the evil culprit was just a fifteen year old boy - it was time to call it a night. At least, that part was over…

Anais was given a pair of normal clothes courtesy of Caitlin - though Caitlin took notice of the way Anais stared at her as if she were afraid. In her golden suit, Anais sat on a stool in the middle of the cortex with her arms around herself and the clothes on her lap. Her blue eyes briefly flickered to the entire group staring at her like hawks, probably waiting for her start explaining herself.

It was hard.

"Could you just please start with your name?" Barry was the only one who took more of a hands-on approach with her. He couldn't help it. "You're still Anais, right?"

She gave him a small nod. "Anais Mjorkland. And you're still Barry, right?"

"Yeah. You knew me on your Earth?"

Anais nodded again, her eyes then flickering past him to Belén. "I knew her too."

"Were we...friends…?" Barry didn't want to ask if they were also adoptive parents on that Earth for fear of freaking Anais out.

"We were a team," Anais' voice was barely heard by the others. She sighed and let her head hang. "I am so sorry. I didn't mean to...to take that guy's place."

"Dr. Wells?" Cisco called from the desk.

The blonde nodded once again. "He runs STAR Labs - well, that's what he used to do before they discovered it was a farce."

"Ha, see, we would've gotten another liar Wells," Cisco nudged Caitlin who rolled her eyes in return. "I'm not vibing again."

"How did you steal his place?" Belén asked Anais.

"I-I...I lost people, okay?" Anais put her hands together in front of her face. "On my Earth, there was this war against metahumans - World War M - and there was a final battle...and a lot of people died." Her eyes filled with tears as she looked between Barry and Belén. "I tried my best, I really did, okay? But I lost them."

"We died…" It was easy for Barry to see that truth in Anais' face. She quickly looked back down at the clothes on her lap. Her long blonde hair draped in front of her like a curtain.

"Oh, that's…" Belén shook her head, unable to even complete that thought. It didn't make her feel any good.

"So you knew their doppelgangers—"

"When they discovered I was a speedster too, they helped me train. Them and all the metas who wanted peace, but then…people started discovering that I was neither meta nor human...and that's a big rule," Anais bit her lip. "Aliens are prodded and experimented on to enhance human life."

"Were you being hunted for that?" Caitlin gaped in horror.

"Yes, and people tried to protect me and instead it just got them killed…" Anais' eyes once again drifted to Barry and Belén, guilt riddened. "I am so sorry," she said to Barry who was closest. "I shouldn't have let him try, I shouldn't have but I was a coward and now he's dead and she…" she trailed off when she met Belén's horrified face. "I'm just sorry."

"Hey, it's okay," Barry rubbed Anais' back, not attempting to hug her since she barely wanted contact with them or anyone in the room. "If we chose to try and protect you it was because we were friends."

"Yeah," Belén came forwards. "It's what we would've done for our friends here."

"But they died in vain!" Anais exclaimed, sniffing loudly. "Because people still went after me! I had to escape so I took my chance with STAR Labs. I watched and I waited for a breach to open and I went right through! I can't go back there. It's against the law to do inter-dimensional travel. They'll kill me if I go back. I have to stay here."

"We're not sending you back," Barry reassured her and helped her stand on her feet. "You can stay here as much as you'd like."

"Do you want a cup of coffee?" Caitlin walked around the desk towards the trio.

"Coffee?" Anais blinked at her. "You still have coffee on this world?"

"Uh, yeah…"

"You don't?" Cisco asked, exchanging confusing glances with Caitlin.

"Humans' coffee supply was wiped out by blight. I don't know what coffee tastes like."

Caitlin offered a sweet smile at Anais. "You're going to love it. And, you can also stay with me if you'd like." She heard the story about Anais and she honestly couldn't see a reason to distrust the woman after hearing her awful story.

"Our place is also up for offer," Belén raised a finger, making Anais glance back at her and Barry.

"You two are…?" Anais pointed between them. "You're…married too?"

Barry cleared his throat and shook his head. "No." Although it was rather interesting hearing of another world where he and Belén were married. It's just too bad this particular Earth also killed them off.

"Oh…" Anais half smiled, "Sorry. I just assumed..."

"No problem," Belén said quickly, "Um, maybe you'd like to get changed?"

Anais nodded. "Yeah, it's been a while since I took my suit off." Caitlin offered to bring Anais to a more private room to change in, followed by the offer of coffee.

"Well, that was interesting," Cisco gave the Belén and Barry a pointed look. "Why is it always you two?"

"Shut up," Belén rolled her eyes at him.

"What exactly are we going to do with her, though? For real?" Cisco asked.

"She's too shaken up for any more questions," Barry said, still thinking about this other world Anais was from. "But she's not a bad person and that's what matters. Let's just give her a couple days to...process things."

"Alright, fine, but you two—" Cisco pointed a warning finger at them, "—get to explain to the others about this alien girl. Please let me be there when you tell Joe and Veronica."

"Whatever," Barry playfully rolled his eyes at him.

"Actually, I think I should see my Mom and forewarn her about questioning," Belén gave a hopeful look up at Barry. "Lift to the precinct wouldn't come by bad."

Barry smiled and gave a little salute to Cisco before speeding away with Belén. "You know if you could go ahead and let Joe know that would be great too…" He whispered as they walked into the elevator.

"Ha, ha, and you get Iris-the-reporter-full-of-questions all to yourself," Belén grinned.

"Now wait a minute—"

Belén stuck a hand out for him to stop talking. "Nope, too late. Oh, and you get Nina and Elliot too."

Barry knew a lost cause when he saw one. The elevator dinged open and allowed them into a rather quiet reception.

"You know, about Julian…" Belén stopped when she realized she had yet to tell Barry what she and Julian talked about earlier that day.

"He nearly shot a child, Bells," Barry revealed, leaving her mouth-open in shock. "The monster culprit? He hadn't realized it yet, but...give it a few more seconds and he would've done it."

"He's not...he's not bad," Belén tried to argue for his defense, but Barry didn't need it. As rude as Julian was, and annoying, he was no killer.

"I'll see you in a bit, okay? I'm gonna grab my things from the lab," he kissed her then hurried up the staircase.

Belén sighed and started for the offices where she could already see her mother and Joe working on no doubt the monster case.

~ 0 ~

Barry nearly jumped in his spot when he found Julian still in the lab, in the dark. Add creepy to the list, Barry made the mental note. He went straight to his desk and picked up a box he left beside it. Placing it on the desk, he started gathering his things to for the move out.

A promise was a promise after all.

Julian didn't even look at him. He was staring directly out the window, but he was disheveled like he'd been working all day. "I nearly killed a kid tonight. The monster we were chasing, it turns out it was just a hologram, operated by a 15-year-old boy. Flash came to save the day. And he saved me from doing something…" he shook his head, still unable to believe it.

Barry gave a small nod. "I heard."

"You know what's sad? That kid, he's just acting 'cause he's scared, you know? He wants everyone to be terrified and to run away from the monster so he can feel powerful. I know what that's like."

"How do you mean?"

"I come from a pretty wealthy family…" Julian rubbed his forehead, shaking his head as the words just came out. "Back in England. It's a long line of generations of old money, tradition... nonsense, really. And I was the heir. I was their firstborn son. I was supposed to inherit the lot. But I was the odd duck. Who would rather go in the garden and collect samples of insects...rather than learn how to tie a Windsor knot or which fork to use first at dinner." At the same time, Julian pulled off the tie around his neck that was already on its way to falling off. "Yeah. No, I wanted more. You know? I came here to do the one thing that they couldn't stop me from doing. Becoming a scientist... becoming a great scientist. And then just as I got to the top of my field, poof-" he snapped his fingers, "-the world changes overnight. Meta-humans. I don't know a single thing about meta-humans. I don't know how they talk. I don't know how they walk. I certainly don't know the first thing about stopping them, so... rendered useless. I suppose that's the monster that I'm running from now, just feeling powerless."

To say Barry was stunned was a rude understatement. This was the first time Julian ever spoke more than a sentence stringed together. It was the first time Julian looked like an actual person. "Yeah, I feel the same way some days, Julian. I lost my mom when I was a kid. Lost my dad recently. It's a scary world. People die. Trusts are betrayed. Things change. But change can be a good thing, you know? It can bring new experiences, new opportunities, people. You can treat 'em like a potential enemy or like a new friend. Just trust that everything's gonna be okay."

Julian gave a meek shrug of his shoulders. "Yeah, maybe you're right." It was then that he noticed Barry's push to get all his things cramped in the box. "You can stop. You can stay," he saw the surprise on Barry's face and sighed. "I was really wrong about the Flash, so I could be wrong about you too." Barry kept his hands hovering over the box, waiting for Julian to snap back and say it was a joke. But instead, Julian just grabbed his jacket and started heading out. "Good night, mate."

"Julian?" Barry suddenly called, not even sure what he was doing. "You want to get a drink?"

This time the shock was evident on Julian, but he decided to just let it flow. "Yeah. Yeah, I'd like that."

~ 0 ~

Belén's eyes flickered from Veronica to Joe in a manner that would make someone dizzy just watching. Veronica rubbed her temples, wearily, while Joe just stared at his screen.

"You mean to tell me this girl isn't your daughter—"

"Adoptive daughter, Mom," Belén clarified but received a harsh gesture to stay quiet.

"She's your friend from another Earth - an Earth where you and Barry died trying to protect her?"

"Uh, yes…" Belén gave a nod of her head.

"No, no matter how many times I think I've seen and heard it all...it never stops," Joe dropped his hands to his desk.

"I...I'm not…" Veronica pushed herself up out of her seat. "Goodnight Detective. Goodnight Belén."

Belén knew better than to argue with that smile. She chuckled to herself and waved goodbye to Joe as well. She started on her way out and saw both Julian and Barry coming down the staircase.

"Hey…" she greeted with caution. "Ready to go?"

"Actually...I…" Barry looked at Julian who shrugged with the same motion. "We were going to get some drinks…"

Belén blinked and quickly looked around. "Am I being punked?"

"You're so funny," Julian said flatly, making her smile.

"This is real?" she asked, her smile widening when the two nodded their heads. "Then go! Go! Don't let me interrupt!" she waved her hands she was leaving.

"You need a ride home—"

"Mom's on her way out," Belén cut Barry off. "Don't even worry about it! You just...you just go!" she beamed.

"Belén? Hold on," Julian quickly hurried up to her just as she pushed the button for the elevator. "You didn't happen to mention our conversation to him...did you?" he whispered.

"Uh, no. I was going to but I never got the chance. Why?" Belén blinked and looked at the confused Barry waiting for them.

"Just...wanted to know," Julian said, confirming this was not just because the other man had dissuaded his doubts.

Belén beamed. "Have fun!"

~ 0 ~

Late at night, Caitlin locked the door to her bedroom and went to open up her laptop with a blinking notification of a video message. She had waited until Anais was asleep in her guest room before opening the message of her mother.

"Caitlin," Carla's face soon appeared on the screen, "I've been going over the data we collected, and I found some disconcerting results. Your body's chemistry is changing in ways that I don't fully understand, but one thing is clear. These powers you have, the more you use them, the more difficult they're going to be to reverse. I'm sorry, honey, but listen to me. You must not use these powers under any circumstances."

Caitlin clicked the message to stop, but her frustration was already seeping through her skin. With silver-white eyes she gripped her laptop and froze it to an icicle before throwing it to the ground.

Just like that, she blinked away the silver and realized what she'd done. She crawled to the edge of her bed to see the crushed computer and...definitely feared for her sanity.

That was fun, Killer Frost echoed in her mind.

[eclipsecrowned]

🗒 — what is/are your favorite genre(s)/theme(s) to write? //@griefbringers

One of the things I genuinely compensate for as a writer is that I rely very heavily on tropes. Not played straight, mind you, but I have recurring character concepts/themes/threads that I revisit over and over again, whether pigeonholing them, subverting them, or amplifying them. I have to keep diversifying those that I rely on so I don't become a one trick pony, while still satisfying the itch in my brain that has me coming back to these themes.

That said...

Let's start with genres. I'll list my top three.

I keep returning to a lot of urban fantasy/fantastical themes in my work, something probably apparent in the fandoms I venture into on this blog. Even my fandomless muses are pretty stacked towards historical-to-modern fantasy, from Roman immortals to early 20th century werewolves.

I'm also into a good spy/modern conflict setting. I have a real love for spy fiction, and love the actual methodical, cunning tradecraft, not the big guns blazing spectacle of film. It gives me and my partners a lot of opportunity to explore problem solving IC and build layered narratives, I feel. It probably helps I wrote a spy character for over five years in the past, across a variety of espionage-based fandoms.

No matter what genre I write in, I'm a big fan of horror elements. If there's fridge horror to be found in a setting, I will suss it out and bring it to supertext. It might be a bit edgy of me, but a good horror genre or flavoring will get me obsessed like nothing else -- especially if there's untapped potential for me to delve in fleshing it out.

A few favorite themes are as follows. Top Ten.

Themes of morality. There are acts that are unequivocally good. There are acts that are unequivocally evil. And any character I write lives between the two poles, some dancing closer to one end than the other, but always able to change -- for better or for worse. With the right character development, a victim can become a villain, and a monster can claw his way into Heaven. I like exploring what makes characters do what they do, what built their world view, and how they express it. We're built by our experiences and our perceptions. Our behavior is as much innate as it is learned. What makes someone balk at their base instincts? What makes someone forego being the better person? I love finding that out, and how to find the good in a devil and the evil in a saint.

Build Your Own Family. And I don't mean in the way 'found family' has been co-opted to foster traditional nuclear family dynamics among those who do not share blood or upbringing. I mean the traditional queer lens of 'family is what you make it.' Friends, companions, those who survived trial by fire, those who are just trying to survive a shit situation, anything goes for me. I love seeing bonds develop naturally and fiercely independently of traditional definition and without being devalued by the idea all important bonds must be romantic or those of blood.

By that card, I'm also a fool for an adoption/blood isn't the end all be all of family narrative. Most of my mother's family is pieced together from odd kids out who got taken into families that were made whole for their inclusion, and so it's a subject that is very dear to me. A lot of my muses are either adopted, have or are step-parents, or have sibling bonds that are built on love and responsibility rather than shared bloodline.

Othering, outsiders, the child who is not embraced by the village. Many of my muses fit this mold, but no two react the same to their isolation and rejection. Some are made villainous by it, some rise above it, some lashed out and are now trying to make amends, and try to convince themselves they are happier in what they know. This is probably a theme where I project heavily and turn it over and over trying to g lean some insight about myself.

I have a tendency towards examining ships that... IDK? The best way I can sum it up is 'we met in a difficult place as mutual outsiders and fell in love despite our shared struggle, but the journey ended, and I followed you home, and now I'm the stranger in a strange land while you are the newly returned and revered prodigal child, and now I'm not sure about any of this without calamity and commonality overhead.' I don't consciously go in saying 'that's how this is going to go,' but it's recurred with enough frequency in my writing that I must be fond of it for some reason.

Horror, especially the gothic or psychological. I'm a big enby. I can admit it. I was raised on 19th century literature and more cerebral horror movies, and that's not just a statement to build credibility. I said before if such a thread does not exist outright in a narrative, I will find the first place I can shove it in. Several OCs are really thinly veiled attempts to explore fridge or glossed over horrific implications in a canon -- and what characters do when confronted with these truths.

Parental relationships. How parents shape their children, how no one ever really leaves their childhood home behind no matter how far they are from it. Did muses have good parents? Did they have bad parents? Is their parents touch mere fingerprints on pristine glass, or the hole left where a bomb detonated? What sort of parents do my muses who are so inclined become? Were they loved? Did it save them? Did it matter in the end? Did it make it worse if they were? Again, not something I mean to insert into my ouevre, but it keeps happening.

Doomed love. There was love. There is also grief. Is it easier if they die, or is the real burden knowing they are out there without you? Or are you still there, two splintering pieces of wood holding up the shell of what was once a beautiful home? Was it inevitable, or was it circumstantial? Did they think they could change? Were they too soft, or too rough? Is there closure, or is it the wound that will not heal? Did you love them more in the moment, or in their absence? What's the aftershock of it on those around you?

Duty and tradition as a chain used to beat everyone. I play several rulers or nobles who would rather be anywhere else, but who due to pride, loyalty, or being so broken by the system, are unable to move on. Characters of any class who would be a thousand times happier as anything other than what their society tells them to be. Those hurt by the system and those who enforce it into pure villainy. Those who fight the system and those who manipulate it to their own aims. It really revs my engines.

Prophecy and predestination as bullshit. Your choices are your own, so long as you have the autonomy to make them. Like duty and tradition, prophecy is a flawed system that destroys everyone involved. Your choices are your own. The future does not absolve your present. It's an excuse to do worse in pursuit of a tomorrow you might not even see.

[trunk-travel-blog]

10 Great Things to Experience in Thailand

I was earlier asked to write my top ten things to do whilst in Thailand. I can tell you that is not an easy task. There are so many more that I wanted to include (Khao San Road, the national parks, Kanchanaburi province to name a few more!) but as the guy asking me had a gun to my head I suppose these are my top ten. 

Originally I hadn’t planned to put them in any order, however having written it and looking it over, this could well be my order of priority. Now I take no responsibility if you try any of these and they suck. For me, they’re all great fun and things I’ve enjoyed on several occasions. I’m sure you’ll disagree with some and have your own ideas but hey, you’re not writing this, are you!

10. Take a boat tour through the canals of Bangkok – James Bond Style! This is awesome fun and gives you a completely new perspective of the city. View from below as the city passes you by and swap from boat to boat at the easy to use boat taxi stops. Seriously, you can get around the city easily, cheaply and without the insane traffic that Bangkok has in abundance.

9. The Stunning North – Yes, I know that Thailand has more than its fair share of idyllic sandy beaches but it also has so much more to offer. Take a cheap flight or comfortable overnight train to Chiang Mai. Clean air, stunning mountains, friendly people and great accommodation await you. From Chiang Mai it’s easy to discover the forgotten Thailand.

8. Hug an elephant – Unfortunately there are many camps in Thailand that are there to train the elephants as performers. If you’re considering taking in a day or more with an elephant please do your homework and search out those who let the animals thrive in their natural surroundings. Possibly the best place to do this in Thailand is in the north eastern province of Surin, known as The Elephant Province.

7. Koh Samui – this is a tourists island dream. Unspoilt, uncrowded beaches. Excellent value backpacker accommodation to the best 6* resorts. Easy to reach and fun. Make Koh Samui your island getaway if you’re looking for the ‘real’ Thai island escape.

6. Markets – Thailand has them everywhere. They’re fun, interesting and lively, offering everything from the latest DVD copies to fake brand name clothing to, well you name it and you can get it. Bangkok is also home to the worlds largest outdoor market – a bargain hunters paradise!

5. Street food – in this authors opinion, the best food you can buy is something that tastes good and won’t cost you a ridiculous sum of money. I give you the Thai Street Food Industry! On almost every street corner you can sample anything from deep fried scorpion to BBQ’d fresh fish, all for less than the cost of a Mars bar. What’s stopping you?

4. Full Moon Parties – OK, not for me anymore, too old now. But for anybody who likes to party, this is it. The original all-nighter with beach bucket (if you don’t know what one of those is, think sandcastle bucket full of a concoction of ice, alcohol and a mixer!), fluorescent paint, fire-breathing acrobats and the best sound systems on the planet! 50,000 people a month can’t be wrong. Right?!

3. Overnight Train – if you want to travel on a train, take an overnighter. Better still, take one close to a national holiday (if you can get a ticket!) Night trains are fun, comfortable and a great way to meet fellow travellers. They’re safe and clean, cheap and pretty much run on time. One of the best is the night train from Bangkok to Chiang Mai as it reaches the mountains of the north just as the sun’s beginning to rise. Unforgettable!

2. Tuk Tuk – Yes, they’re extremely clichéd, but hey, as a traveller aren’t you supposed to experience the culture and history of a country? Well tuk tuks, until recently, were the mode of transport. Still in operation but numbers are dwindling so ride one while you can. Oh, and fix a price before you get in it and accept a ride! NOTE: if a tuk tuk driver offers you a full day trip for a ridiculously cheap sum of money, it’s a con. Don’t accept!

1. The Grand Palace and the River of Kings – these are both a must-do in Thailand. Even if you ignore, or disagree, with the previous 9 points, you can’t disagree with this. The Grand Palace is a spectacle to behold. As it’s located so close to the River of Kings (or Chao Prayah to give it it’s real Thai name), to complete your day take a river boat taxi and watch one of Asia’s busiest shipping lanes in full swing.

[glorified-red]

What is the boys go to method of persuasion (read: manipulation) and how would someone persuade them in turn?

This request took wayyyy too many of my brain cells, thanks fish, you’ve killed me

Batboys Method of Persuasion

word count: 1390~

warnings: none

I’ve been wanting to write angst for a few days now and I am so close to diving into Nightmare and never coming back until the whole series is written.

Dick Grayson

Dick uses social influence consciously and subconsciously all the time

Social influence is how we are all wired to believe that if the people we admire are doing something, then that behavior is normal and we should act that way as well

He uses this to his advantage whenever he leads the titans or any of his siblings

A role model of sorts

Dick acts like the perfect vigilante and people subconsciously follow

It started with Jason when he was first learning about Robin, then with Tim, and eventually with Damian

Going out to patrol with Jason and being very careful about what he’s doing in front of him in the off chance that he picks up the habits Dick has

Knowing Tim watches him so closely so Dick might as well take advantage of it to keep his brother safe with protective patrol actions

Seeing Damians adoration for Dick and genuinely trusting what his older brother says, so why not slowly show Damian how to assimilate into the family through his actions

Theres plenty of different ways this affects Dick however

The constant pressure of needing to be perfect and make the right choices

The feeling of everyone and no-one watching him at all times

And even people pleasing tendencies, because what else is left of his self-importance without admiration?

Which is exactly why the easiest way to persuade Dick into doing something, is making sure he likes and trusts you

He couldn't care less about what strangers think of him, but those close to him? Those inside his circle of influence? Dick wants them to love him

Thats exactly why he tries to keep the family together; exactly why he takes every argument with his siblings to heart

The Liking Principle: we are more likely to comply with requests made by people we like

Ask Dick to do something and he will cross a valley for you not only because he loves you, but because he feels like he has to go through with it to make sure you still love him.

Jason Todd

Jason loves to use reciprocity

He exploits it every chance he can when he’s the Red Hood, how else would he have gotten so powerful?

Reciprocity is how we feel obligated to give back to others what we receive from them, especially if there was no cost to begin with

Jason spared plenty of criminals as Hood to use them for deals or favors later, always bringing up the fact that he could've killed them and could kill them now

He’s not afraid to say to those criminals, “Remember when I did this for you? Yea, I want compensation now.”

He doesn't use it much to his family aside from the typical sibling drama of Jason driving to get Tim food and then bringing it up again to get a few pop tarts during patrol

The more the time passes though, the less he can use reciprocity since it'll lose its draw

So he tends to use it within a few days or weeks

Jason keeps tabs, especially when it comes to crime lords or mob bosses

With his family he kinda just remembers? He’ll see a cookie and automatically remember that Dick owes him a pint of ice cream

But reciprocity works both ways

Jason knows this, so if anyone is smart and cunning enough to see through his manipulation and do it back? He’ll comply

The best way to do this is through consistency and commitment

Make Jason commit to his morals or word by bringing up statements he’s made in the past

His word means a lot to him so twisting it or holding him to it will definitely make him cave

Especially if his word was public and other people were there as witness

But be sure to reward him and reciprocate so that he keeps doing it ;)

Tim Drake

Tim’s method of persuasion is so meticulous 

Anchoring: the tendency to rely heavily on the information presented first when making a decision

He mostly uses this at work because it works better with numbers

Having a point value presented for the company so he can appease the snarky board of directors

Twisting and manipulating how the stock market values look by prefacing inflation or previous values from months past 

Or maybe shifting employee percentages around to make it seem more successful than it really is, not by a lot but enough that Tim can get them off his back

It’s not lying, he’s just presenting the information a different way that makes it seem more pleasant for his side

Since Tim is well aware that information can be tweaked or presented in a bias manner, persuading him can be a bit tricky considering he’d much rather do his own research

The Ellsberg Paradox, a wonderful experiment that showed people tend to lean towards things they know about rather than take a chance on unknown factors

Like the true introvert he is, Tim needs to know every detail before he makes a decision on something instead of going in blind and regretting it

Want to persuade him into going to a party? He needs to know exactly who's going, what to wear, what’s being served, what’s the earliest time he can leave—the list goes on

Trying to persuade him into doing something risky? Give him the details and he’d have no choice but to sigh and go through with it

Damian Wayne 

Damian and the hot-hand fallacy

When someone experiences a success, they’re more likely to continue that streak

He uses this to his advantage when it comes to Robin

Showing his father that he is self-sufficient because Damian busted this ring by himself and took down this villain too

Setting down a steady foundation of success to persuade more privilege and independence with the cape on

It’s a way to prove he belongs as well as keep the line of success for Robin going, purifying the colors so to speak

Dami also uses it on his siblings, especially when Dick took Batman’s role

Taking a weak, low point and showcasing the success that was brought to the mantle through him rather than previous Robins

It’s his confidence, his drive, the passion to maintain success lest he break that streak and tarnish his name

He's also used it to present new tactics or weaponry to the family, stating the success rate or how it has been used in the family before

However, with the inflated importance of Robin’s role, it doesn't take much to persuade Damian back into line

That’s where his weakness of persuasion comes in, The Authority Bias

Authority figures are perceived to be correct and have a stronger influence on others because of this

Damian not only grew up being forced to respect Ra’s and Thalia, but its so deep rooted in him that it is very rare for him to speak out against someone of higher authority than him

Hence why he respects Dick so much as Batman, or even Bruce because he is Damians biological father

So the easiest way to persuade Damian into doing something is to assert authority or dominance over him

There has to be merit behind it however, or he will call your bluff and not take you seriously

Bonus

All of the batboys share one method of persuasion that can also work on them: Mimicry

Its natural for us to respond more positively to people who act, look, or sound similar to us

This comes in handy with survivors on patrol, each of the boys mimicking body language or softening their voices to appear less threatening

In Jason’s case, he likes to appear more human by taking off his helmet so his voice doesn't sound as intimidating, it sounds similar and soft

For Tim, he sometimes takes off his cape to seem less like a super hero and more like an ordinary guy, especially for younger kids

In general though, it’s an unspoken bond between them all that they can tell exactly who each brother likes just by watching mimicking body language or adaptation of speech—very easy to tease each other about it

And of course, mimicry works on each of them as well

Makes them all—in their own way—feel less outcasted

Taglist ♡

@anothertimdrakestan

@bungunz

@red-hood-redemption ​​

@missredrobin

[antariies]

Visions of the Past: The Departing

Summary: The Commander never told Braham about their first death at the hands of Balthazar. Years later, he finds out in the worst way possible.

Characters: Pact Commander, Braham, Aurene, Balthazar

Notes: Commander’s POV (2nd-person); set before Jormag Rising; fluff, angst, hurt/comfort; 5.6k words, CW: blood, gore, character death, anxiety attack; the departing is and will always be one of my favorite instances and it sucks that we never got an emotional confrontation about it between braham and the commander. hope i did it justice. enjoy!

—

“Commander, can I use the Scrying Pool to view your memories?” Braham asks one day, apropos of nothing, sliding into the seat across from you.

You slam your glass of water back down onto the table with a loud smack, screwing your eyes shut and leaning forward as you choke on your drink. After a few seconds of intense coughing and waving away Braham’s apologies, you finally clear your throat enough to be able to speak.

“I’m sorry,” you croak, squinting at him in confusion, “you want to… what?”

“Uh, use the Scrying Pool to view your memories?” he repeats, rubbing the back of his neck sheepishly. “Only with your permission, of course.”

“…Ah,” you nod slowly, letting the question fully sink in. You bring the glass of water to your lips again as you search for the right words. “That’s…”

A complete and total invasion of my privacy, your mind supplies helpfully.

“...a strange request,” you mutter into the cup. The only thing stopping you from shutting him down on the spot is the fact that it’s Braham. He wouldn’t ask this of you without a damn good reason. “And you want to see them because…?”

At this, Braham lights up, squaring his shoulders. “I’ve been thinking a lot about what the lost Spirits said. About how I need to be a better leader if I’m going to beat Jormag, y’know? So I figured, since you’re the best leader I know-”

You can’t help the fond eye roll you give him.

“-if I got to experience some of your memories, then maybe I could learn from them,” he finishes, nodding once in determination.

“It’s definitely an unconventional way of learning,” you remark coolly, resting your chin on your hand as you level an even, challenging stare at him. You’ve cowed countless soldiers and politicians with this look alone, honed to terrifying perfection over the years.

Undaunted, Braham sets his jaw and meets your gaze dead on. “I know nothing can replace first-hand experience, but I think this would be a good way for me to practice without, uh,” his eyes flicker down for just a moment and he swallows hard. “Without the risk.”

You quirk an eyebrow at that, but you don’t miss the way he absently fiddles with something small and wooden in his free hand and-

Oh, you think, recognizing it and finally understanding. Oh.

It’s been months, but the memory of your first day in Bjora Marches stays fresh in your mind.

It had been freezing cold in the barracks of Jora’s Keep when you and Braham had gotten locked in, but the ice that froze in your veins when you watched him stumble upon the mangled body of his former guildmate was colder still.

“Alva,” he’d whispered, stricken with grief as he sank to his knees beside her body.

“I’m sorry, Braham.” The words sat like ash on your tongue, tasting the same as the first time you had ever offered your condolences and every time after that. You never really got used to it.

“Garm… used to rest his head in her lap.” Braham had pulled her head into his lap then, smoothing her hair out of her face with the utmost care. You turned away to give him as much privacy you could, but the dead silence in the barracks meant you heard every hitched breath and muttered prayer to the Spirits. When he returned to your side after a few minutes, he was clutching a small wooden figurine.

“It’s Wolf,” he explained softly when he caught you looking, “Alva made one for each of us, but I gave mine back when I left, I… I had no idea she’d kept it all this time…”

.

.

.

He carries it everywhere now: a constant, physical reminder of his failures as a leader and as a friend.

You know the feeling all too well.

Unbidden, an acrid tidal wave of bitter jealousy swells up inside you. It’s not fair. You never had the chance to practice leadership because you were thrust into your rank, your title, in the middle of a war. You had no one to guide you. Every lesson you learned was written in blood and people paid for your mistakes with their lives.

The wave reaches a roaring apex, then swiftly crashes and breaks against the rocks of your guilt and better judgement.

It’s not his fault, you tell yourself, that you were given the short end of the stick. If you had had the opportunity to practice, to learn from someone else’s mistakes without risking the lives of anyone under your command, wouldn’t you have taken it too?

Of course, you think, picturing the Pact Memorial that still stands in Caer Aval to this day, of course I would have.

“Of course,” you say, gaze and voice gentle, “I think that’s a great idea, Braham.”

“It’s okay, I wasn’t expecting- wait, what? Really?” He stares at you incredulously, the beginnings of a disbelieving grin tugging at the corners of his mouth. “Are you sure? Because I honestly didn’t think you would say yes so-”

“Well, now that you mention it,” you start mildly, before stifling a snort and shaking your head in amusement as he scrambles to retract his words. “Yes, Braham, I’m sure. C’mon, let’s go before I actually start having second thoughts.”

As he helps you clean up the remains of your lunch, you can’t stop your mind from dredging up every embarrassing thing you’ve ever done in the past eight years. You shut your eyes in a fruitless attempt at blocking out the memories, a long-suffering sigh trapped in your lungs.

It’s okay, you reassure yourself, you’ll be in control of the memories you show him. What could go wrong?

.

.

.

“Hey, Aurene- oh. She’s not here.” Braham says, stopping at the entrance of Aurene’s lair.

You walk past him, a smile stretching across your face as you look around the room. It teems with plant life. Curtains of ivy hang from the tops of the room’s arches while giant Maguuma lilies and dozens of other flowers grow out of cracks in the floor, reaching toward the sunbeams that stream in from the open skylight. Clusters of Aurene’s iridescent Brand crystals cover the walls, filling in the holes left by years of neglect.

In the middle of the room, the Scrying Pool gives off a faint light of its own, its waters swirling lazily as you approach. The spot where Aurene normally sits is vacant, though, just like Braham said. Closing your eyes, you reach out to the bond you share with her. It hums at the edge of your consciousness, quiet and comfortable when you’re not actively talking to her. You give the slightest tug.

‘Just checking in. Where are you?’

A few moments later, a familiar sight flashes in your mind. A vast stormy sky, filled with blue-tinted thunderclouds and stretching as far as the eye can see. The Mists.

Then, Aurene’s voice in your head, clear as day. ‘Trying to figure out what Jormag is up to. So far… I still have no idea.’

“Are you talking to Aurene?” Braham asks. You nod. “Tell her I said hi!”

‘Braham says hi.’ you relay.

‘Hello, Braham!’

‘Alright, we’ll let you get back to it.’ You smile inwardly, a rush of affection warming your chest. ‘Be safe. I love you.’

‘Love you too, Champion.’ Aurene croons happily in your head.

“Aurene says hello,” you say, opening your eyes. “She’s keeping an eye out for Jormag in the Mists right now. I don’t think she’ll be back for a while.”

“Oh,” Braham says, slight disappointment coloring his tone, “Does that mean we can’t use the pool?”

“I’m not sure. Wouldn’t hurt to try, though,” you answer, walking over to it. Kneeling as close to the edge as you dare, you lean over to look into the waters. Your reflection wobbles with every ripple from the pool’s constant, self-sustained swirling and you study your distorted face until you catch some movement above your mirrored shoulder that doesn’t seem to be from the pool.

“Don’t even think about it,” you warn lightly, tossing a flat, unimpressed glare over your own shoulder.

Braham, to his credit, looks sorry for maybe half a second before grinning in a way that is decidedly far from it. Still, he concedes and backs away from you with his hands slightly up in surrender. “Oh, like you wouldn’t do the same?” he asks, raising an eyebrow at you.

“I would never,” you lie, turning back to the pool so he doesn’t see your smile. You make a note to push him into it at the first chance you get. “I’ve used the Scrying Pool a few times now and I can tell you that it’s way easier to view your own memories rather than someone else’s. Feels different too.”

When you first used the Scrying Pool to view Ryland’s memories, it wasn’t anything like Kas’ glamour during the All-Legion Rally. You weren’t just wearing his face and spectating from inside his head, you were Ryland. You felt everything, including his thoughts and his emotions, as if they were your own. It had felt so real that after waking up, it took a few seconds for you to realize that you weren’t him. Aurene had to calm you down as you scrambled around for a flamesaw that was never yours and shouted for a warband you were never a part of.

You can only imagine the state you would have woken up in if you had overstayed your welcome in Ryland’s memories.

It was different with yours, though. Those were easier to fall into, like slipping into a dream, and you always woke up from those with complete clarity.

Speaking of your own memories…

“I think I know the perfect one to start with,” you say, dipping a hand into the pool and focusing on a memory you’ve already used it for. You’re not sure if you’ll be able to access a memory without Aurene here, never mind control it. You don’t even know if two people can go in together, or whose body Braham would end up in. So you start off easy. Something you both remember. The leather of Braham’s armor creaks as he settles down next to you and does the same. He watches on in awed silence as the water glows brighter, swirling faster and faster until a small whirlpool forms in the center and pulls at the lily pads closest to it.

A familiar darkness crowds the edge of your vision and you let yourself fall backwards into the memory.

.

.

.

It’s not hard to spot Braham when his blood-red hair contrasts so starkly against the bright, white snow that covers the land and comes down heavy from the sky.

That, and he’s also waving at you from where he stands outside the gates of Cragstead.

“Hey!” he greets once you’re in earshot, shouting over the wind, “Hey, thanks for coming.”

You glance around. “Just us, huh?”

Braham grimaces. “You heard what Brimstone and Whitebear said. I tried sending out notices too, but…” he shakes his head, determination hardening his features. “Nevermind that, we have to go. My friends are in there.”

Turning your eyes upwards, you catch sight of billowing plumes of dark smoke as they start to pour into the sky. A strong gust brings the stench downwind and both you and Braham wrinkle your noses in distaste at the same time.

“No time to waste,” you nod. “Let’s go.”

You tighten your grip on your weapons and follow closely behind Braham as he leads you through the driving snow to the heart of Cragstead, cutting a path through the strange alliance of Flame legion and dredge along the way.

This is an evacuation mission, first and foremost, you remind yourself. Your gaze sweeps over the empty lodges and homesteads, searching for people. It’s not so different from the evacuation missions you used to do with your order when Zhaitan was still alive and a threat, its Risen minions encroaching further and further into the homes of Tyria’s minor races.

You find the villagers soon enough, all rounded up into small groups in the center of the town and trapped inside shimmering domes of fire magic. An equal number of charr and dredge guard each dome, their mechanical weapons whirring and spitting the occasional flame.

Braham growls at the sight and hefts his mace, rolling his shoulders in anticipation.

“Wait,” you caution, throwing an arm out to stop him from charging in. “We can’t just rush in. We’re way outnumbered.”

“We took care of those other guys just fine,” he argues.

“Those were just stragglers we picked off,” you gesture at the domes scattered around. “Here? There’s a dozen of them and only two of us. We can’t take them all in an open fight-”

Braham makes a frustrated noise and you hold up your hand.

“-which is why we switch tactics,” you finish, flashing a sharp grin at him. “They haven’t noticed us yet. Here’s the plan.”

The thing is, you’re no stranger to being outnumbered. Your entire time in Orr was spent leading handfuls of people on high risk, high reward missions, after all. It was kind of your specialty.

So it’s with practiced ease and calm authority that you explain your plan now, laying out a classic divide-and-conquer strategy that’s gotten you and your small squads through countless skirmishes against all odds.

It’s a flawless ambush, all things considered.

You and Braham hit them hard and quick, fighting in tandem as you push the offensive and give them no time to react or warn their allies before you cut them down. And with the help of his protective guardian magic, you two manage to free everyone without a single casualty.

“Where are the others?” Braham asks immediately as he helps an older man to his feet.

Despite his clearly injured arm, the man pulls him into a quick hug before answering. “They were chased up the mountain, to the shrine. I wasn’t- I wasn’t fast enough…”

“It’s okay, Haslo, I’ll go. Will you be-”

“We’ll be fine, thanks to you.” Haslo claps him on the back. “You and your friend be careful!”

When Braham looks over at you, you nod. Of course I’m coming with you.

The trip up to the shrine is shorter than you expected, but you think that might have something to do with the lack of flaming charr or dredge along the way. That only puts you more on edge and you ready your weapons, wary.

You don’t hesitate for a second at the entrance of the cave, charging in to catch the massive Flame legion charr and his grunts off guard. You’ve only known Braham for a few days and fought alongside him for less, but you two fall into a steady rhythm almost instantly, barely having to exchange words. You make quick work of the goons, letting him take care of the hulking charr. Braham doesn’t even let him get a taunt out, stunning him with a shield bash before swinging his mace into the charr’s snout with a brutal, deadly uppercut, spraying blood across the cavern walls.

With the threat taken care of for the time being, you and Braham free the rest of the villagers and escort them down the mountain, dispatching any stray Flame legion or dredge who tried to escape in all the chaos. While there weren’t any casualties, fortunately, there are still plenty injured, so while he talks to some of the other villagers, you help tend to the wounded as best you can. They have a long walk to Hoelbrak ahead of them, and you don’t envy them the trip.

You’re tying off a bandage when you hear him call your name.

“There you are,” he says, stopping in front of you. “Hey, thanks for everything. Really, I mean, I don’t know if things would’ve turned out as well as they did if you hadn’t shown up.”

“Glad I could help,” you say, tilting your head at him. “What are you going to do now?”

“After we get everyone to Hoelbrak, I’m gonna find out where all these Flame legion and dredge are holed up so we can track them down.” He pauses, then rubs the back of his neck with a nervous laugh. “Uh, that is, if you still wanna come along…?”

You smile and cross your arms. “Guess I’ll see you soon, then?”

The pleased grin Braham gives you is warmer than any hearth and twice as bright.

“See you soon!”

.

.

.

“Oh no,” Braham mutters, the first thing you hear as you blink away the last of the memory. “Oh, Spirits, noooo.”

“Something wrong?” you ask, keeping your voice light even as you eye him up and down in concern. It was his first time using the Scrying Pool, after all. Had it affected him differently?

He shakes his head. “No, I’m fine, I just… I just can’t believe I used to wear my hair like that.”

You keep a straight face for an admirable three whole seconds before bursting into snickers. When Braham groans and buries his face in his hands, you only laugh harder.

“For what it’s worth,” you say, smiling, “I thought it suited you.”

He glowers at you. “You’re just saying that.”

You make a non-committal noise and wiggle your hand in a “so-so” gesture. He groans again, falling backwards onto the floor.

“That was really cool,” he says after a while, staring up at the vaulted ceiling. “Being in your head, I mean. I felt so… in control the whole time. Like I knew exactly what I was doing.”

“You weren’t so bad yourself.” Leaning backwards on your hands, you tip your head back and close your eyes. “You were impatient—well, you still kind of are—but you handled yourself better than some soldiers twice your age. And you’ve only gotten better since then. Give yourself a little more credit, Braham.”

Out of the corner of your eye, you watch him flush at the praise, sitting up abruptly.

“Thanks,” he coughs into his fist, fighting a grin. “So, uh, any more memories you feel like sharing?”

You hum. “Several, actually. Ready to go again?”

.

.

.

You, grabbing the handles of a cannon with both hands and holding on for dear life as The Glory of Tyria lurches to the side, sending Destiny’s Edge, Pact soldiers, and Risen alike sprawling flat on the deck. When the airship finally rights itself, you waste no time, bracing your shoulder against the cannon and shoving hard until you have Zhaitan directly in its sights. The Elder Dragon is on the verge of death, pieces of its own body sloughing off itself as it clings desperately to the side of the tower. You take a deep, steadying breath and fire.

You, the only thing standing in between a crowd of fleeing civilians and a swarm of cutthroat Aetherblade pirates as they drop down from their airships. Lion’s Arch can be rebuilt, but lives can’t be replaced. You do a quick headcount, zero in on the weakest-looking one, and leap into the fray.

You, tracking down your teammates one by one as you tear through the dark, vine-twisted labyrinth under the Silverwastes, an undying behemoth of a Mordrem wolf hot on your heels. You lead them all safely through the maze, driven by the fierce desire to protect your friends. You will not lose anyone today.

You, the legendary Pact Commander, at your best.

After a few back-to-back trips down memory lane, you both decided to take a short break. For his part, Braham had opted to swing his legs over the edge of the pool, dipping his feet in. When he asked whether or not it was okay to do so, you just shrugged and told him you had already cannonballed into the water before. Multiple times.

“How are you feeling? No headaches or anything?” you ask after a few minutes of rest.

“Nope. I do feel pretty commander-y, though.”

You snort. “Commander-y?”

“Mhm. I’ve been in your head too long. Any second now, I’m gonna start spouting a bunch of your expert advice.” Braham clears his throat and puts on an exaggerated voice that you swear sounds nothing like you. “‘Remember, it doesn’t matter how long the hog’s been dead. It doesn’t matter that it’s been sitting in a toxic cloud. You can always try to eat it.’”

You roll your eyes and swipe your hand through the water, splashing him. “Okay, that’s it, I’m revoking your pool privileges. We’re done here.” You pause, expression turning thoughtful. “Actually, I think we are done here. I don’t think I have any more memories to show you. None that would help, anyway.”

“Hmm, what about your time in Elona? I wasn’t there for that.”

“Uh, you definitely were,” you say, shooting a quizzical smile at him. “Or do you not remember storming Joko’s palace with me?”

“No, no,” Braham laughs, waving dismissively, “I meant before that. I wasn’t there for… ugh, what’s his name again? Balthazar?”

For a brief, blissful moment, you only recall the part where you killed him.

Then your free hand flies to your chest on instinct, ghosting over a wound that no longer exists.

“What about him?” you ask, a little louder than necessary. You cringe inwardly, but Braham doesn’t seem to notice.

“Well, everyone told me you somehow took control of Joko’s Awakened army and got them to fight on your side,” he shakes his head, chuckling. “I didn’t believe them at first, but that sounds exactly like something only you could pull off.”

You can hardly hear yourself over the frenetic pounding of your pulse in your ears. “Did they… tell you anything else?”

“Not really,” Braham frowns, finally turning to face you. “Why, is there- woah, hey, are you alright?”

You open your mouth to answer, but nothing comes out.

“Commander?” His voice spikes with worry.

Swallowing hard past the lump in your throat, you try again. Still nothing.

You’re so preoccupied with trying to force yourself to speak that you don’t even realize your other hand is still in the pool until you feel the tug of an old memory on your consciousness.

Ripping your hand out of the glowing water in a panic, you can only stare in horror as that does nothing to stop the ancient, powerful magic from pulling you helpless back into the dark.

.

.

.

Everything hurts.

You wish it would stop.

It doesn’t.

You throw yourself to the side, narrowly dodging a fireball as it blazes past your head. Ducking behind a crumbling pillar, you press your back up against the stone and try to catch your breath.

You’ve bought yourself some time, at least.

This is a fight you know you can’t win, but the walls of flames surrounding the spire prevent your escape, so your only hope is to keep Balthazar distracted until reinforcements arrive.

“Any second now,” you mutter, and you don’t know if you’re trying to reassure or convince yourself.

You grit your teeth as another wave of pain wracks your body. There’s a nasty gash in your side, larger and deeper than the rest of your cuts, and it oozes sluggishly, soaking your armor in blood.

It’s bearable for now, but you can’t afford to be slowed down.

“Are you hiding, Commander?” Balthazar sneers, “How pathetic.”

Your answer to that is to dart out from behind the pillar, launching a flurry of attacks along his flank and back. When he twists around to send a volley of fireballs your way, you just tuck yourself into a neat dodge-roll, avoiding them all with ease. If you wince and stumble on the landing, you pretend not to notice and hope he didn’t either.

“Aw, you missed!” you taunt, sounding way braver than you feel, “How pathetic!”

Balthazar’s face contorts in fury. “Enough!” he shouts, and both the flames surrounding him and the spire seem to burn hotter than ever.

Before you can react, the ground beneath your feet erupts in a column of fire and you scream as your world is engulfed in a white-hot inferno. When the initial blinding agony finally passes, you find yourself sprawled out on the ground, pointed stones digging into your back and your weapons flung too far out of your reach.

Get up.

You only manage to twitch your fingers.

Get up. Now.

Your throat burns raw. When you try to speak, the only thing that comes out of your mouth is a pained whimper.

GET. UP. BEFORE BALTHAZAR-

You sense Aurene before you see her.

“Ah, the scion, finally come here to defend her champion.”

Finally…?

It clicks. Your heart stops.

Balthazar’s been toying with you this whole fucking time.

It’s impossible for you to form words, let alone make any sort of loud noise, so you try to warn Aurene through your shared bond instead, panic rising with every passing moment that she doesn’t respond.

‘GET AWAY,’ you practically roar at her, ‘TRAP. IT’S A TRAP. YOU’RE FLYING RIGHT INTO A TRAP, TURN AROUND, PLEASE-’

And Aurene roars right back at you. There are no words you can hear—you don’t think she’s old enough for that yet—but she can convey her feelings through the bond and right now she’s drowning out your desperate warnings with them. She refuses to abandon you. You are her guardian and her champion and she loves you and you promised over and over to protect her so she promised the same and weren’t you the one who taught her about loyalty in the first place?

It takes one self-sacrificing idiot to know one. You would laugh if you weren’t so fucking terrified of losing her.

Your vision swims and you only catch glimpses of Aurene’s skirmish. She’s a bright blue blur, swerving expertly in the air as she dodges fireballs and lets loose her devastating dragon breath every time Balthazar tries to swat her out of the sky. Snarling, he launches some sort of phantasmal chains at her and-

No.

No, no, no, nonono-

“Aurene!” you scream. The exertion sends you into a coughing fit, but you don’t care.

You’re crying now, too. You don’t care.

Balthazar is saying something, but you stopped listening to him ages ago. It’s a monumental effort just to crane your head towards Aurene, your vision clearing long enough to see her staring at you, eyes blown wide in fear as terror rolls off her in waves.

She tries to apologize and you rush to soothe her.

‘It’s okay, it’s alright,’ you reassure, ‘you have nothing to be sorry for, I love you so much, it’s not your fault, never your fault.’

Maybe you’re projecting a little. Whatever.

You only stop when a giant metal boot steps squarely into your line of sight, blocking her from view. You glance up.

Balthazar towers over you, his giant, flaming greatsword hovering menacingly by his side.

The fear that lances through your gut is primal.

You can’t die yet. Not here. Not now.

He notices the way your wide eyes trace his sword and bares his teeth in a humorless grin. Oh, he’s enjoying this, relishing the power he has over you.

“I thought you would put up more of a fight, given your reputation,” Balthazar remarks casually, circling you. With a lazy wave of his hand, his sword floats over and suspends itself in midair right above your chest.

Your already labored breathing dissolves into short, shallow gasps.

You can’t die. You’re not ready.

He lets the sword hover for a few more seconds before grabbing the hilt with both hands, raising it higher over your body. His face twists with hate, eyes blazing molten gold as they bore hungry and vengeful into yours.

You don’t want to die.

The edge of the blade glints orange from an indifferent sunset.

Please.

There’s a sickening crunch as he swings it down hard into your chest, punching through your armor and sternum and crushing most of your ribcage in the process. Then the blade severs your spine and you lose all feeling in your lower body.

Distantly, you think you hear someone scream, high-pitched and anguished. Was that Aurene? Or Taimi? Maybe both.

Certainly not you, although you’d tried to. What remains of your lungs are filled with more blood than air at this point, and it pours out of your mouth when you open it.

I’m sorry, you think, but you can’t remember what you’re apologizing for. Or who you’re apologizing to.

You’re so tired of blood. Tired of pain. Tired of feeling.

Everything hurts.

You wish it would stop.

It does.

.

.

.

The only reason you don’t wake up choking back a scream and clutching your chest like Braham does is because you’ve relived this in your nightmares far too many times for it to rip that kind of reaction out of you anymore. Still, it takes you longer than normal to push yourself into a sitting position and even longer for your pulse to even out. Fighting the urge to curl up and disappear from the world, you rush over to where Braham sits hyperventilating.

“Hey, Braham, hey, look at me, you’re okay, you’re okay. You’re here, you’re alive,” you reassure, and you’re surprised at how calm you sound. You work on getting him to match your breaths, counting out every inhale and exhale.

“Oh, Spirits,” he chokes out after his breathing steadies, his voice nearly cracking as tears prick in the corners of his eyes, “that was… how- h-how did you survive that?”

Your mouth shuts with an audible click. Biting your tongue, you look to the side, carefully avoiding eye contact.

You could lie.

Lie and tell him the airship made it just in time and the medics brought you back from the brink with a miracle. Another close call, but you pulled through like you always do. Spare him the pain, the grief. It’s been years, and there are more important things to worry about right now. It would save you both so much trouble.

“Commander?” he asks softly, earnestly.

You squeeze your eyes shut.

“I didn’t,” you admit, barely above a whisper.

Deafening silence, for a beat.

Two.

Three.

“That doesn’t make any sense,” Braham says eventually. When you finally bring yourself to look at him again, his brows are furrowed in confusion. He stares at you in concern, scrutinizing. “You’re… definitely still alive.”

“I sure am.” Neither of you miss the tired bitterness that bleeds into your sarcasm. You wince and sigh, running a hand over your face. “I’m sorry, it’s just… It’s a long story.”

And to this day, you still haven’t told anyone all the details. You’re not sure if you ever will.

“Who knows?” Braham asks.

The question catches you off guard. “Uh, Rytlock, Canach, and Kas were there when it happened. Taimi… overheard.” You don’t know which is worse: being the one to hear you die, or finding your body after the fact.

They’re not the only ones who know, but they’re the only ones who matter. Even then, you swore them all to secrecy.

“Taimi called me around that time,” he says.

Your eyes widen. “Did she…?”

Braham shakes his head. “She was crying too hard,” he says, speaking slowly as he focuses on remembering. “She said something about you, but she couldn’t get the words out. When I tried to ask her what was wrong, she just hung up on me. Then she called me back a day later to say it was nothing and to pretend it never happened.”

“Huh,” you say, because you can’t think of anything else.

“I always wondered what she was trying to tell me,” Braham smiles sadly at you. “Guess I know now.”

You swallow hard. “You’re… taking this a lot better than I thought you would.”

“I’m not the one who died,” he shrugs, even as his hand comes up to brush across his chest absentmindedly.

But you know how it felt, you think, How I felt.

The thought hangs in the air, unspoken.

“Are you okay?” Braham asks after a while.

“Yeah,” you answer quickly, automatically, “I’m fine.”

He raises a disbelieving eyebrow. “Are you sure?” He looks pointedly down and you follow his gaze.

Your hands are shaking where they rest in your lap. Gritting your teeth, you clench them into fists. They don’t stop.

“I’m fine,” you repeat, more to yourself than anything. “I’m fine.”

The shaking travels up your arms until your shoulders are trembling as if under an invisible weight. This is so embarrassing, so humiliating. You’re pathetic. You-

You don’t resist when Braham pulls you into a warm embrace.

“It’s been years,” you mutter, blinking rapidly against the itchy heat behind your eyes. “I thought I’d be over it by now.”

“It always hits you when you least expect it,” Braham says quietly, “I’m sorry, Commander.”

The noise that comes out of you is somewhere between a laugh and a sob. You know he knows you hate pity, but this is the farthest thing from it. “When did you get so wise?” you tease.

“Learned it from you,” he says, voice tinged with pride, and now it’s your turn to flush. He squeezes you tightly once before letting you go. “Are you okay?” he asks again.

“Yeah,” you say, and this time you mean it. You breathe in deep, feeling lighter than you have in ages. “I’m okay. Thank you, Braham.”

“Glad to hear it,” he grins, and promptly shoves you right into the Scrying Pool.

His boisterous laughter echoes off the walls and drowns out your indignant spluttering. When you pull yourself out of the pool, drenched and dripping water everywhere, he scrambles to his feet and breaks into a dead sprint down the hall.

You chase after him, smiling, and leave your memories behind you.

[kurowrites]

Soulmate!au + fake dating +you confuse me.” OR “if you’re happy, then so am i.” because I couldn't decide lol. Love everything you write, like somehow your writing style is exactly to my taste, you know? So thank u for sharing your work with us.

They have reached terminal dumbassery, I’m sorry to say.

(Also, thank you!!!)

---

“Lan Zhan, Lan Zhan!” Wei Ying cried when he caught sight of Lan Zhan. He was quick to catch up to him, huffing and puffing with the exertion. “You haven’t found your soulmate yet, right?”

Lan Zhan looked at Wei Ying with a frown, wondering what the sudden question was really about. It was a rather personal question. Still, he dutifully answered in the affirmative. The answer was obvious, anyway. Lan Zhan did not have anyone he was particularly close with, other than his brother, and family rarely led to soulmate bonds. Not to mention that his brother already had a soulmate.

“Excellent,” Wei Ying breathed, and beamed up at him. “Wanna date me, then?”

Lan Zhan’s heart stood still for one moment, and then started beating impossibly faster at the words. Had Wei Ying noticed his feelings? Wei Ying hadn’t found his soulmate yet, either, and Lan Zhan had found himself quietly hoping…

“Not date date, of course!” Wei Ying was quick to add, immediately crushing Lan Zhan’s quiet hope. “I just need someone to play my lover and then break up with me in some kind of horrible way, so my family will finally get off my back about finding my soulmate. It’s such an outdated concept, too. Waiting for your soulmate. Mine is probably a hoard of cats, anyway, so there’s nothing much to look forward to.”

It hurt a little to hear Wei Ying talk like that. Lan Zhan had always hoped that he and Wei Ying would turn out to be soulmates, and that romantic hope had sustained him through his teenage years. But it had never turned out to be the case. He and Wei Ying were barely friends, and obviously not meant to be. Still, he thought, it was better if Wei Ying committed himself to a hoard of cats instead of waiting for his soulmate, who would probably turn out to be an abuser or some other kind of ghastly individual.

A hoard of cats and Lan Zhan as his friend sounded like a much, much better option.

But then, Wei Ying’s offer…

It was bad to accept it, underhanded probably, but it would be his one chance at dating Wei Ying. And even though it would be a fake relationship, Lan Zhan found himself wanting to know. How Wei Ying would be, as a partner. As a lover. As a soulmate.

That… that would be enough.

“Hn,” he said, therefore. “I will do it.”

Wei Ying looked at him with evident surprise on his face, as if he had never expected Lan Zhan to actually agree to his request.

A moment later, a big smile spread over his entire face.

“Lan Zhan!!” he cried. “You truly are the best!”

If Wei Ying truly thought that, Lan Zhan thought a little uncharitably, then Lan Zhan would be his soulmate. Alas, he was not.

Still, he accepted the offered hug from Wei Ying, who always was enthusiastic and far, far too tempting to refuse. He listened to Wei Ying’s excited rambling about the things they needed to plan to make it ‘realistic.’

He already regretted his decision. Because now, he wouldn’t have to dream up scenarios any longer. He would actually know how it was to be with Wei Ying. He would know, and he would inevitably lose what he had.

A suitable punishment, probably.

---

If Lan Zhan was honest, nothing much changed after they ‘got together.’ They talked about the same things and went to the same places they always did, only now they were holding hands while they were doing it. When they had a movie night, Wei Ying would cuddle into Lan Zhan’s side and laugh when Lan Zhan went all stiff because he got nervous whenever Wei Ying was in his vicinity. Sometimes, when they were in public, Wei Ying would even lean in and peck him on the lips.

Lan Zhan would never admit it, but it was the best, sweetest torture he had ever had. This was everything he had ever wanted, and he got to experience it, only all of it was fake.

It was a hell of his own making.

He wondered again and again how it could be that Wei Ying and he were not soulmates. Wei Ying was everything that he wanted. He could not imagine how anyone other than Wei Ying could be so exactly what he wanted. Any possible soulmate that came after this would just lose out against Wei Ying.

Which was also unfair, he felt. Towards his potential soulmate as well as towards Wei Ying. He was not required to like Lan Zhan back the same way as Lan Zhan liked him, after all. That was why he decided that after this all ended, there would be no one else. Even if he should one day meet his actual soulmate, he would have to let them down gently and give them another chance at happiness. Because for him, there was no one but Wei Ying, soulmate or not. There was no way he was going to involve another person into this.

When Wei Ying told Jiang Yanli that he was dating Lan Zhan, she was overjoyed by the news. She congratulated them both with tears in her eyes, saying that she was so happy that they both had found each other, and how romantic it was that they had been friends for so long before discovering that they were soulmates.

Jiang Cheng, on the other hand, threatened Lan Zhan physical harm if he were to hurt his ‘asshole of a brother.’ Not that Lan Zhan worried that he wouldn’t be able to take Jiang Cheng on, but he felt terribly guilty about the idea that he would inevitably ‘hurt’ Wei Ying once they ‘broke up.’ That was the last thing he wanted to do. Both break up with and hurt Wei Ying.

But it was all fake. The separation would come eventually.

The more people kept telling him what a good couple they made, the more it hurt. But no wanting of his would ever turn his idle daydreams into reality.

---

When it came, it still felt far too soon.

Lan Zhan and Wei Ying had been out all day, taking a walk in the botanical garden that was full of the most beautiful flowers of spring. They had bought ice cream (or rather, Lan Zhan had bought them ice cream after Wei Ying had pestered him about wanting to eat ice cream for too long) and ate it as they walked around the part hand in hand. All in all, it had been a wonderful day.

He had looked at Wei Ying and thought how much prettier he was than any of the flowers blooming at the wayside. He had been happy.

Which was why it came as a shock when Wei Ying suddenly turned towards him and smiled shakily.

“Lan Zhan. We should probably end this.”

Lan Zhan was brought back to earth with a heavy jolt.

This was it. This was the moment where he needed to say goodbye to Wei Ying.

And then the rest of his life would be the same: just him and the rabbits he was inevitably going to buy in order to combat his heartbreak.

Wei Ying still smiled up at him, shrugging a little helplessly.

“You must be pretty fed up with me by now,” he said. “And you probably want to go back looking for your actual soulmate.”

“There will be no one.”

Suddenly, it seemed very important to Lan Zhan that Wei Ying was aware of that.

Wei Ying looked up at him with big eyes.

“Lan Zhan?”

“There will be no soulmate. Not for me.”

“But, you haven’t-”

“Wei Ying. I have decided that there never will be a soulmate for me.”

Wei Ying was silent for a moment.

Then, with sudden speed and ferocity, he hit Lan Zhan in the chest.

“Goddammit, Lan Zhan, why are you so frustrating? Why would you rather be alone than with your soulmate? Why couldn’t it be me?”

He turned pale, evidently shocked at his own words. Without another word, he turned around and ran away, quick as a deer.

Lan Zhan stood there for far too long, trying to figure out what had just happened, and then ran after Wei Ying with all his might.

Wei Ying would not, could not slip through his fingers now. Even if he was as slippery as an eel when on the run.

When Lan Zhan finally caught him, Wei Ying let out a deep breath that almost sounded like a shudder. He refused to look at Lan Zhan.

“Why?” he asked with a small voice. “Can’t you let me suffer in peace?”

“I wanted it to be Wei Ying,” Lan Zhan found himself saying, desperately. “I always wanted it to be Wei Ying. There will be no one else because I have already decided.”

Wei Ying finally looked at him, his eyes full of unshed tears. And then he started to cry in big, ugly sobs.

“You dumbo,” he blubbered. “It’s always been only you. Just you. I just wanted to see how it is being Lan Zhan’s soulmate.”

Lan Zhan could not remember when exactly Wei Ying ended up in his arms. But it was good. Very good. And Lan Zhan was not going to let go a second time.

---

Two days later, Wei Ying showed him his soul mark. His real one, hidden among the many tattoos on his skin.

It was a little rabbit, perfectly rendered in black and white.

Exactly like the one that stared at him from his own reflection in the mirror sometimes.

[hatterstan-shameblog]

💫✨💕send this to ten bloggers you think are wonderful. keep the game going 💕✨

Have a nice day/night/dance battle with the peacocks! :D

Alright, since you are a) very cool and fun and b) you took the time to send such a lovely message, I’m going to give you a part of a fic series I started many moons ago and abandoned for other things

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Hatter Has Definitely Kissed Every Executive At Least Once And This Is How It Went:  Ann Edition 

🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸🌸

Rating: PG-13

Tags: Alcohol, shenanigans, everyone’s cutting loose, mild reluctance (but these people don’t turn down dares so y’know)

Summary: As a “team building” exercise, all of the Executives have met for a little get-together; and with alcohol and a rousing game of “truth or dare” involved, what could possibly go wrong?

“Ann,” Chisiya says, “truth or dare?”

Ann sighs.  Her red-lacquered fingernails tap rhythmically against the green of a beer bottle, the glassy sound barely audible above the chatting of the half-drunk executives.

“I already told you, I’m not playing.”

“The fuck you aren’t,” Niragi snaps, grip on his rifle tightening as he downs another shot of vodka, “no skips, that’s the rule.”

“If I had to do it, you have to do it,” Keiichi offers mournfully, taking a sad sip of bourbon from a crystal-cut glass, “it’s only fair.”

Ann turns her attention towards Hatter.  He’s taking a healthy swig from—ew, is that a bottle of peppermint schnapps?  She wrinkles her nose in disgust as he raises his eyebrows in a suggestive arch.

“This is a terrible idea,” she tells him for the fourth time in the last hour, “and you should feel bad for making us do this.”

“Ann.  Sweet, darling,” Hatter takes note of her unimpressed grimace, “angry Ann.  This is all an exercise in trust.  A way for all of us executives to bond.”

“And because he loves the drama,” Aguni adds.

“I really do,” Hatter says wistfully, “So, come on.  One round and then you can go back to summoning demons or whatever you do in your little basement crypt.”

Ann sighs.  Everyone is looking at her with expectant eyes.  She finishes the rest of her beer and puts the empty bottle on the table.

“Fine,” she says, “One round, and then I’m leaving.”

“The ice queen giveth in,” Chisiya says, the corners of his mouth turning up onto a mischievous grin, “So, pick your poison.  Truth...or dare?”

“Dare,” Ann says coolly, and the room erupts.  Even Last Boss, who had been lurking in the corner until now, gasps.  In a rare show of camaraderie, Niragi slaps Chisiya on the back and tells him to ‘give that bitch a good one.’

Imbeciles.  All of them.

“Everyone gather ‘round the table,” Chisiya purrs—yes, purrs—as he looks her with a twinkle in his eye, “because this particular date involves each and every one of you.”

“Even me?” asks Last Boss.

“But of course,” Chisiya says, “we need everyone if we’re going to play...spin the bottle.”

Ann feels the blood drain from her face.  Oh, this little blond twerp is despicable.  He is evil and terrible and—

“No re-spins.  No backing out.  The kiss must last a minimum of five seconds, but it can go longer if you feel so inclined.”

“I won’t,” Ann answers curtly.  There is not a person in this room she could ever want to kiss.  (Except for Mira, but.  Well.  That’s a thought for another day.)

“I don’t know,” Niragi says with an exaggerated flick of his tongue, the silver piercing winking at her in a supposedly seductive manner, “once you get a taste of a real man, you might find yourself hooked.”

“Perhaps Niragi wouldn’t be so bad,” Mira muses with a serene smile, “his oral fixation is off-putting on the best of days, but it might translate well to a more intimate experience.  That is, until he starts talking again.  Then it’ll be terrible.”

Niragi’s face twists into a sharp scowl as he tries to sputter a comeback; drunkenness and embarrassment have apparently robbed him of his mental faculties, so he crosses his arms over his chest and pouts.

“Alright, let’s get this over with,” Ann says with a huff.  

She places her empty beer bottle, label-side down, on the long wooden table.  For the first time this evening, everyone is silent.  Honestly, it’s kind of nice—it would be better if she didn’t have to end up kissing one of them, but, beggars can’t be choosers.

“You know,” Ann says, “there is a possibility it could land on me.  Does that mean I don’t have to kiss anyone?”

“That means you get to choose,” Chisiya says, “which...well, that will most certainly add some spice to the night, wouldn’t it?”

“Very evil,” Aguni concludes with a nod, “I like it.”

Hm.  Well, it was worth a shot.  

With one final, annoyed sigh, Ann places her hand on the bottle and gives it a powerful spin.  Maybe it’ll spin right off the table and shatter on the floor.  She wouldn’t have to do anything weird, and then she could just go back to her room and take a long bath.  Alone.  The way the universe intended.

It’s impossible not to watch the bottle spin, light refracting off the glass and casting flickering spots of light around the room.  It’s just a kiss.  She’s kissed people before.  Many people.  At least two.  

Friends kiss each other all the time.  Not her friends, but other people and their friends.  And these people aren’t really ‘friends,’ but they’re...acquaintances.  Colleagues.  Does that make it better or worse?

It’s slowing down now.  With each passing second, her fate is being decided by the neck of the bottle.  Mira, Last Boss, Keiichi—oh, God, please don’t let it be Keiichi, they have a meeting in the morning, that would be so awkward...

But, luckily, the bottle does not land on Keiichi.  It does not land on Niragi, nor does it land on Chisiya.  Last Boss has also been spared, as have Aguni and Mira.  That leaves only one candidate...

“Oh, Ann,” Hatter says, clapping his hands together and looking entirely too pleased with this very strange turn of events, “I always knew there was something between us!”

The thing he’s talking about is tolerance—she tolerates him because it is both sensible and beneficial to be on his good side.  He also, surprisingly enough, defers to her expertise on certain matters, which is more than can be said for her previous employers.  They are friendly, certainly, but most certainly not friends.  

And...lovers?  

Out of the question.

But Fate (and a smug little blonde) have decided that they share a moment of passion. Could she have spun worse?  Yes.  Could she have spun better?  Absolutely.  100%.  Without a doubt.

But Ann is a woman of integrity.  When she commits, she commits.  And so, as she walks to the other side of the table, she keeps her spine straight and her head held high.  She refuses to let these people see her falter.

“In addition to the parameters already given, I’d like to establish some rules of my own,��� she says coolly, barely resisting the temptation to roll her eyes when he takes another gulp of alcohol.  Yep, that’s definitely peppermint schnapps he has—she can tell by the stench of it, the way it’s sharpness burns at her eyes.

She’s always hated peppermint schnapps.

“Fine, fine,” Hatter says with a wave of his hand, “as long as you promise not to fall completely in love with me in the process.”

That gets a laugh from everyone—and even Ann considers cracking a smile at the thought of someone like her ever feeling something for someone like him.  

“No tongue.  No teeth.  And,” Ann tell him firmly, “if you want to leave this room with your balls intact, I suggest you keep your hands to yourself.”

The group ooh’s at that.  Ann doesn’t look at them.  She keeps her gaze focused on the man in front of her, watching him intently for any signs of weakness.

All she gets is a smirk.

“I would expect nothing less of you, Ann,” he replies, “however, you’re more than welcome to put your hands anywhere on my person.”

He leans in slightly, almost as if he’s letting her in on a secret.

“I could even give you a few suggestions, if you like.”

What a perfectly hideous thing for him to say.  It doesn’t help that he’s fluttering his eyelashes at her like some kind of lovestruck cartoon character.  

It’s annoying.

He’s annoying.

With a roll of her eyes, Ann grabs Takeru by the silk of his obnoxious robe and crashes her mouth against his-- because she’ll be damned if he’s the one kissing her.  

Five...

The group gasps-- Takeru included, the noise muffled by the seal of their lips as she kisses him fully and firmly.

Four...

And it’s...not as gross as it could be, but it’s still a very odd experience.  His lips are soft enough, and his beard-moustache-whatever-the-fuck is scratchy in a way that is.  Well, it’s interesting.  Not good, but...interesting.

Three...

“This is fucking weird,” Niragi shouts, sounding very disgusted.

Two...

“It’s like watching my parents,” Last Boss adds, “when they were still trying to convince my sister and I they were still in love and weren’t going to get a divorce.”

One...

And done.

“Okay,” Ann says flatly as she pulls away and swallows a grimace at the sight of her favorite shade of lipstick on Takeru’s lips (and is actually a very nice compliment to his skin tone, frustratingly enough) “Can I go now.” 

For good measure, she releases his robe with a disdainful flick of her fingers and subtly brushes her hands off on her shorts.  It’s not enough to get the scent of peppermint schnapps and awkwardness off of her skin, but it can’t hurt.

“A deal’s a deal,” Chisiya concedes, his eternally mischievous smirk stretched across his cheeks, “And I must say, I didn’t expect you to fulfill your end of the bargain so...enthusiastically.”

“That’s because nobody can resist me,” Takeru gloats, bottle of alcohol back in his grip as if it had never truly left, “It’s not her fault I’m so delectable--”

“Detestable,” Ann corrects under her breath.

“--And, even though you’ll try to deny it,” Takeru continues, disregarding her comment, “both of us know that there’s a part of you that liked kissing me.”

“I liked the part when she stopped,” Mira chirps cheerfully, “In fact, I think we all did!”

“You have no idea,” Aguni murmurs solemnly into his drink, his eyes darting towards Takeru with an unimpressed look.  That’s...hm, there’s clearly some kind of story there, although Ann isn’t sure she wants to know about it. 

Everyone begins talking amongst themselves once again-- Niragi has offered to spin the bottle next, and there’s a small argument breaking out over whether or not the group should continue with their original game of ‘truth or dare’ or pivot to this new one. 

And, Ann?

Ann doesn’t stick around to find out. 

[natromanxoff]

Record Mirror (July 14, 1979): 119/?

THE QUEEN BACKLASH ENDS HERE

WITHOUT DOUBT Queen are among that elite number of bands universally hated by the rock press.

The rancour is, make no mistake, mutual which is understandable. If you find yourself on the receiving end of an inveterate dislike at the outset of your career and watch it being nurtured and carefully cultivated over the next six years you’re bound to retaliate.

Queen’s hatred manifests itself by their continued habit of ignoring the music press i.e. refusing to give interviews. There is the occasional token “chat”, pointless as it is innocuous, but in the main it amounts to a blanket “No.”

One of the last interviews Freddie Mercury gave was the last nail in the perspex coffin. Under a headline which boldly asked ‘Is This Man A Prat?’ the king of the leotards was demolished by one of the old school Queen haters and Freddie obviously came to the conclusion, in its wake, that interviews in future would be both superfluous (he was popular enough) and detrimental.

The curtain, velvet naturally, closed.

Roger Taylor, a little wary, a little weary, sits stiffly in an armchair. The juggernauts rattling the Chelsea Street outside create a sonorous buzz bomb hum in the room.

You expect a member of Queen to look elegant. In fact Roger is only wearing a wine colour mohair jacket, black shirt and blue jeans.

He apologises for being a little late and explains how he went to the wrong address. Roger seems to be the only member of Queen left who is prepared, albeit rarely, to open his mouth in the presence of a hack. A question springs to mind . . . why?

“We all sat around a table before I flew over from Munich to discuss the press situation and we agreed I should be the one to represent the band. Freddie is very uncompromising and refuses to have much to do with journalists.

“Obviously, he’s had a few raw deals with them in the past,” observes Taylor.

Roger himself has a rather low view of the music press.

“Most of it is rubbish. There was something I liked recently, a piece on Malcolm McLaren, but in the main I think I’m the only one of Queen to actually read the music papers.”

Why does he think the band are systemically slagged?

“I think it’s because Queen have always come across as being a rather confident band. We seemed, to other people at least, to be very sure of ourselves. I think the press may have misconstrued the confidence, mistaking it for a form of arrogance. Hence they became wary of our motives which bred a dislike for our music.”

Now that’s what I call a neat conclusion.

At the risk of being sent to Coventry by my colleagues I’d like, if I may, to come clean. I love Queen (you’re fired, Ed).

I think it all began with a simple pre-packed but indisposable line – “Dynamite with a laser beam” and has continued uninterrupted (despite the occasional flaw) right through to ‘Queen Live Killers’.

A combination of reasons, Freddie Mercury’s lascivious lisp – the most attractive intonation known to man . . . Brian May’s reel ‘em off rococo riffs that would, in his capable hands, transform the theme music for ‘Waggoners’ Walk’ into a meisterwork . . . John Deacon’s almost stoic stance, incongruous yet integral . . . Roger Taylor’s intense power, so unexpected from one so slight . . . the ability to go over the top without failing into the trap of caricature . . . a desire to give the punters what they want without pandering . . . that cast iron confidence . . . those nine glorious winter weeks of ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ which kept the cold away from my soul . . .

Yes, I love Queen.

Roger explains the story behind ‘Killers’ which features just about every Queen classic which ever found its way into a silk lined memory bank.

“We always knew that one day we would make a live album. I think it was well planned. About 90 per cent of our last European tour was recorded on a mobile unit and we then spent weeks sitting through the songs in the studio.

“The result is a 100 per cent LIVE album. Nothing has been touched up in the process of selection, I think that’s pretty rare these days. Many ‘live’ albums are tampered with.”

The choice of single is unusual – ‘Love Of My Life’. “It’s not so unusual when you hear the way it came out. The song seems to have such a wide appeal. Everywhere we go the reaction to it is the same. The audience are just bursting to sing along.”

The result is Queen’s best single since ‘Don’t Stop Me Now’ (that was their LAST one crawler, ED)

As I mentioned earlier the band are currently residing in Munich where they are “experimenting” in the studio.

“We are recording in a totally different way for us,” says Roger who speaks with a delicate London accent only typical of cockneys with dramatic training and David Essex.

“Every time we entered a studio in the past we had a good idea of what we were going to do. This time we started from scratch and the result is amazing. The music is nothing like anything we’ve done before, I guess you could say it’s much simpler.”

And this novel approach to their music also extends to their shows. On their next British tour – in the late Autumn – the band will be playing much smaller venues than they are accustomed to.

“In London for example we went to play to audiences of about two or three thousand in different areas. I think it’s much fairer to the fans.”

But won’t this affect their stage show which is after all a crucial factor for any powerpomp outfit?

“Not really. We will just scale down the show accordingly. Besides,” he says taking another bite out of the biscuit, “we haven’t used dry ice in years.”

The monkey on Queen’s back, as corpulent and cantankerous as ever, has been put there by those who firmly believe the band can never emulate past achievements. Roger is cognizant of its presence but refuses to unpeel its bananas.

“That all began after ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’. When it stayed at number one all those weeks we were kindly informed that we would never be able to make another single to rival it both artistically and from the point of view of sales.

“Yet ‘We Are The Champions’ sold a great deal more and has since become the biggest selling single in the entire history of Elektra Asylum – our label in the States.

“We don’t do the amazingly complex things any more because we’ve moved on from that. We concentrate on the music we are doing now and we intend to do it the best we can, it’s ridiculous looking behind and and what you’ve done.

“There’s nothing like going back on the road to re-unite the bond between the four personalities and strengthening our belief in the band. We are a real working unit and, in my experience of the music business, one of the most democratic bands around today.”

A statement like that cries out to be expounded.

“People think every member of all the bands, not naming any names, are treated equally that is get the same money as their colleagues. That’s rubbish. In many bands there are a couple of guys that get all the money. The rest are on wages. Queen share the profits equally.”

And they don’t have a manager taking his cut either, John Reid departed a couple of years back and now the band themselves make all the major policy decisions. Why did they decide to dispense with the services of a manager?

“Basically because we were fed up with giving other people money. Y’know it never ceases to amaze me how naive those guys are in bands who have just had their first hit. After all this time I’ve forgotten just how naive we must have been at the beginning.

“I mean, everything seems so great when you get into the charts for the first time. You’re living on cloud nine and nothing else matters. But in truth that hit means absolutely nothing. So few people achieve any amount of financial success in this business.

“Oh, you think, you’re really living . . . for a while. Somebody gets you a flat in Chelsea and it’s all free. But one day the rent stops being paid for you and you realise you’re skint.

“Since John Reid has gone the four of us have always made a point of discussing everything together. We have various people working for us but all the important decisions are made by us alone. That way we get freedom of choice – and financial independence.”

My attention is suddenly diverted.

“FORTY-LOVE!” Wimbledon, the Persil White opiate for the hoi polloi squashed in a strawberry crush wrings out its perspiring petticoats on the TV in the next room.  Roger’s girlfriend, an extremely attractive French girl called Dominique, is engrossed. The couple have lived together for two years. Crippled old marriage questions permeate the air.

“I don’t believe in marriage,” says Roger. “It’s simply a contract and the fewer contracts I enter into the better. If you get on well with someone then there isn’t any harm in living with that person – but marriage is something else again.”

They live in a six bedroomed Victorian house just outside London, which is set in 20 acres. Roger has a “tiny” town house in Barnes as well. What’s it like having a bank full of money at the age of 29?

“I don’t hide away from life. Queen have never been one of those ‘being grabbed in the street’ type bands. It may happen when the four of us are together – but when we are out alone we are seldom bothered. That gives me the opportunity to enjoy myself. I go to clubs a lot. I like having a good time. I don’t think you could describe any of the band as leading sheltered lives.

“But I have completely lost touch with how much things cost. When you find yourself living in hotels for so long you never really deal in money as such. Everything is available whenever you want it – but you never see the cash actually being handed over.

“I’ve forgotten what it was like to be penniless which Queen were for years. I guess that must happen to many successful rock bands.”

Another thing that happens to many successful rock bands – they quit the country. But not Queen it appears.

“We have always based ourselves in England and I see no reason why we shouldn’t continue to do so. We could leave at any time but we choose to stay. People believe we are tax exiles because we spend a lot of the time out of the country recording in studios all over Europe and touring.”

And what will happen when the band finally trudge wearily down the road leading to that  ivory strewn elephants’ graveyard . . . ?

“I know it’s bound to happen one day. I suppose I’d take a long, long holiday . . . and then make a solo album.”

[amonrawya]

The Greatest Gift of All

(Inspired by^ for the people who asked :D hope it was worth the wait!)

*

Long before the war, before Captain America or the Winter Soldier, there was simply Bucky and Steve. At least, that's what history says. But they missed out one very important person, a girl called Y/N.

Women in those times often found themselves with little opportunity, and only two easily attainable pathways in life: wife and mother. But Y/N carved out a life for herself that defied all expectations, and it all started in Brooklyn.

She dived headlong into scuffles, usually next to Bucky in defence of Steve. Regardless of the opponent, Y/N stood by them both, and often held her own quite impressively.

Her dress style borrowed from more masculine cuts, and Y/N was never seen without her cap. A lot of people had a problem with this, but she shut them up fairly swiftly.

Everything about this girl drew Bucky in, a battle he fought with little effort. They reveled in each other, flaunting their love at every opportunity. More than a few were jealous that the rough and tumble girl got the best looking boy in town. 

In a way, before even coming of age, they started an adult life together. The three of them moved into a flat. Y/N and Bucky took hard labour jobs, or anything they could get. They had little room to be picky. 

Both managed to hook steady summer jobs at the local docks. They used most of their money to keep a roof over their heads, buy food, and pay for Steve's medical needs. He attended art school, and sold his work every now and then; but physically, he was in no condition to work.

The war appeared on the horizon, just as they started to pull themselves an inch above the poverty line. Y/N saw it coming, the inevitable. She treasured every second they spent together, and dreaded the day when the draft came.

A lot of the older women she worked with were disrespectful, looking down on her pre-marital relationship with Bucky. They claimed she couldn't possibly understand their grief, despite the fact Y/N had seen Bucky off at the docks that very morning. 

In truth, they already planned on being married, but at the time, they simply didn't have the funds. Bucky promised, once the war ended, that ring would be on her finger.

Except, he never came home. Not properly. The person Hydra gave back to Y/N was damaged and jaded, angry at the world, angrier than she ever saw. But still, they loved each other. Though she never forgave them for stealing away his innocence, for trying to snuff out the light in his soul. A part of him would always belong to them, and she hated it.

Refusing to stay home while they risked their lives, never knowing, Y/N trained as an army nurse, working specially with the Howling Commandos unit.

Then one day, she went out to welcome them back from a mission. Every face looked devastated, but none more so than Steve. His eyes, red-raw and streaming, seemed incapable of rising from the ground. At first, the realisation didn't process, the idea simply incomprehensible. He promised.

Dugan was the one to finally break through and catch Y/N as she fell, holding her as the tears poured. Once he shook off his daze, Steve took his place, sharing in her grief.

Her world fell apart so quickly, with no warning and no mercy. Their commanders celebrated the capture of Arnim Zola, while Y/N and Steve sat, staring at an empty place at their side.

Everyone mourned Bucky, and swiftly after, began to mourn Y/N, too. The loss took a part of her...the sparkle, the happiness, the laugh that lit up her face. It all vanished. She worked hard, looked after them all, but only Steve was able to make her smile. Even then, it looked pained.

So when Steve went down with the plane, the very last shred of Y/N died with him. No tears left her eyes, no screams ripped up her throat. A cold numbness took over, freezing the woman from the inside out. 

V-Day came and went. The Commandos stood and drank to their lost comrades, and Dugan silently drank another...for the loss of a bright, fiery girl who had virtually nothing to lose, and still lost everything.

She spent her days as a robot, doing nothing but going through the motions of badly imitating life. The flat was empty and quiet, yet somehow, bursting with the ghosts of her loved ones. Nightmares plagued her, terrible images of Bucky's body, forever trapped in a freezing hell, nothing but food for the birds. And Steve, his body...was it cast adrift in the ocean? Or destroyed, burnt to ash in the belly of a metal beast. 

They were simple folk before the war turned them into soldiers, into weapons. Before symbols and flags stole away their names, driving them to sacrifice their lives for a greater cause.

Y/N knew their fight against Hydra was important...knew the honour behind their sacrifice. But when it's you left sitting at an empty dinner table, it's much easier to be angry and bitter.

She never married, never settled, bouncing around countries working as an army nurse. The Commandos slowly died around her, each one fading to grey as the curtain drew the show to a close. Each death, each funeral ripped open her wounds, bigger and deeper each time. Until eventually, Y/N let the blood flow freely.

Or at least, that's what would have happened. But one choice, one decision, made by a boy she thought dead in the far future, changed it all.

*

Bucky Barnes struggled to find himself again. His memories were mostly all returned, if a bit hazy and fragmented. He had Steve there to right any wrong recollections, and connect with on their shared experiences. But something always seemed to be missing, a piece of the jigsaw that hadn't been found.

He remembered Y/N. He remembered her clearer than anything. She was glowing like honey in the sun when Bucky closed his eyes and brought her back to mind.

Face covered in muck, hair tousled and streaked with grease from the boats, soot on the very tip of her nose and a cap perched jauntily on her head; wearing the deepest expression of concentration as she aimed a hanful of rotten fish guts at the sleezy Connell boy from Fifth, who decided his opinion on her backside mattered. The image shone crystal clear. Her laughter, rolling out from between curved lips, beautiful and full of mischief. 

It never failed to make him smile. Or cry. Or sometimes, both. He missed Y/N than he thought possible for a human being. 

Bucky often wondered about her life, whether she went on to marry, or maybe even have children. Was she happy? Did she bury him and move on? If they met today, would Y/N even recognise the man he was now? 

More importantly, in his mind, something he both feared and longed to know: would she still love him?

Unbeknownst to Bucky, Steve saw all this. Understood, to a degree, his pain. But he and Peggy never got the chance to bond so strongly. He knew Bucky needed him, but Steve also knew he needed Y/N more.

So once his goodbyes were said, he looked one last time at Bucky, and smiled beneath his suit as he vanished into time.

*

The living room looked exactly the same as he remembered. Bucky's coat, slung over the back of the chair, his sketchbooks strewn around the desk. Every rip and chip. His heart swelled with nostalgia, and pain, thinking of the life they were supposed to have.

What must have been in their heads...running off to fight, so eager to throw everything away. And who was left to stare at empty beds and eat breakfast alone every morning? Y/N.

His chest constricted, hearing the keys in the door, the lock rattling three times before letting her in. His nerve faltered for the briefest second, wondering if he was ready to see her again.

"Who the hell are you?!"

Time's up.

Slowly, he turned, and watched as Y/N's eyes widened, all the bags in her hands falling to the floor with a crash.

"...Stevie?" The name came out as a whisper, nearly inaudible.

He grinned, laughing as tears stung his eyes. "Hey, spitfire. Long time no see."

"Steve!" She launched herself at him, arms wrapping around his neck and clinging on for dear life. 

Catching her by the waist, he swung Y/N around, burying his face in her hair. They held onto one another as if they might vanish if they let go. But after a minute, Steve gently pushed her back.

"How? How are you here? What are you wearing? I don't understand, Steve, they said you died! Your plane went down in the ocean," she stammered, hand on his forearm with a grip like a vice.

"I survived. The serum kept me alive in the ice for seventy years," he said, questioning his own sanity momentarily; standing in the flat again made everything that happened seem like a distant dream.

Y/N frowned, brows knitting together. "What? Did you hit your head? Steve, this is 1945."

"I know, I came from 2023. I'm alive," he said, and saw her mentally backing away, so added, "I'm alive, and so is Bucky."

Her head snapped up, eyes immediately filling with tears. A dozen emotions whizzed through them in a second; disbelief, pain, hope. It shone clearly in her face as she stepped closer.

What did you say?" She asked, voice choked as she brought her shaking hands up to her mouth.

"Bucky's alive," he repeated softly, "and I can send you to him, in the future. But we don't have a lot of time. You need to listen to me, carefully, and do what I say."

She spluttered, struggling for words. "I, but...what about you?"

"I've made my decision," Steve said, and gently took her hands in his, "now, please, listen."

*

Bucky watched the machine, feeling a wave of numbness wash over his insides. Nothing was a better deal than the pain, the cruel sting of betrayal fighting to be felt. But he beat it back, unable to allow those thoughts validation.

Steve gave up so much for him, he fought for years to get him here. Steve deserved this. And no matter how wrong those words sounded in his head, he resolutely stood by them. 

The seconds ticked by, noted by Bruce's countdown. A flash of guilt almost made Bucky explain what was going to happen, explain that Steve left them. Left him. But he possessed no energy to speak, they'd see in a second, when no one appeared-

Zap. A blinding flash of light.

There's someone there.

Bucky frowned, hands falling from his pockets. Did Steve change his mind? Did he...

All the thoughts in his head stopped as the figure stepped down. Too small, too lithe for it to be Steve. Bucky's heart rate quickened, something in his unconscious already registering his recognition. 

The suit fell away, and if he weren't frozen in place, Bucky wouldn't have been standing. A quiver shot through him, nearly buckling his knees. Shock, fear and pure disbelief all delayed his reaction.

Y/N looked around, amazed, but turned to stone as she set eyes on him. Her face went utterly blank, a strangled sound leaving her lips.

Wearing her yard slacks, with a small bag on her shoulder, her face covered in dirt, hair streaked with grease, cap perched on-top, slanted to one side...she was everything he remembered, and his heart tried to leave his chest to go to her. To be whole again.

But fear held him back. She didn't know the things he'd done, the person he became after the train accident. What if-

"Who is she?" Sam asked, glaring as he stalked towards her, an accusation rising on his lips.

Bucky answered without hesitation, or thinking; the question had been asked countless times over the years. It always recieved the same reply. "My doll."

Sam stopped short, glancing between them, the way neither took their eyes off the other. He nodded, brows still closely knit, and backed off.

Slowly, Y/N approached, encouraged by the sound of his voice. She reached out carefully, when she got close enough. Trembling fingers brushed his cheek, and a shudder ran through her. 

"My Bucky..." She said quietly, eyes roaming over his face, a small smile tugging at her lips, "...you're here, in front of me. Alive."

He swallowed dryly, heart thundering away beneath his skin. "I'm different...you don't know..."

No sooner had the words left his mouth that her eyes found the cold metal where his flesh used to be. In reaching to hold it, she'd been taken by surprise.

Gently, Y/N took the hand in her own, examing the limb with a careful gaze. Moments passed, and she met his eyes again. Bucky steeled himself for rejection, for the disgust and horror.

Her hand went back to his cheek, and he involuntairly leaned into it. The warmth seeped into his blood. She stood on her tip toes, the smile on her lips blossoming into a bright beam of sunlight. "You've always been my Bucky, and always will be. Metal appendages and all."

He fell apart and dove down to capture her lips, clutching her to him with the hunger of a starving man. She pulled herself in, hands tangling in his brown locks, and both tasted salt on the others' lips.

So filled with joy his heart could burst, Bucky revelled in the feeling of holding his girl again. Laughing through the tears, he buried his face in her neck.

Thank you, Steve, for the greatest gift of all.

[everythingthemoontouches]

Hiii Jahn!🌙 I’m just a new follower. I discovered you while searching for D9 asks. I was amazed by your in-depth explanation on each placements. 🤍 I’d like to send in my D1 & D9 charts also for future spouse reading to understand more about it.Thank you so much!!🤍 Please take your time. I’ll patiently wait. 💕 Hoping you’ll have a lovely day/night! 🌹

Hello there

This, my love has been a longtime coming. First off I'm gonna introduce you to an intuitive read and then present it in a more formal, bulleted manner. You seem to ha e chosen quite a challenging path in this lifetime. Props to you for bravery. And a hug + some tea to help you brave it 💕 your life could be a beautiful movie on love, healing, growth, spirituality and personal power.

Future BAE seems to be stable, practical reliable with service being his love language. He is down to grow together, and help you walk in your power.

Taurus rising.

Scorpio 7th house. + Pluto + moon.

Wow. Lots of shadow work involved when it comes to close personal relationships. You need to turn that critical eye inwards.

Untill you work at managing or integrating your inner child issues, any partners you end up with will continue to trigger you. At its best, this is someone who helps you work through your feelings. Breakdown. Confront reality. Breakdown and rebuild yourself stringer than ever. A hades and persephone kind of love. Lots of sexual allure. Strength, protectiveness, passion, push and pull, makeup sex? Specially since the ruler of the 7th house (Mars) is in the 5th house. You're not the kinda person who'd be happy to marry just for stability. Passion and mutual attraction, love is a must.

Mars and rahu. Service. Over exerting for those you love. Days spent in bed. Service kink. Lady in the streets, freak in the sheets.

You're definitely attracted to people who help you better your place in the world. They have to have a little bit of ' I wanna do good / change the world in them'. A friendly leader kinda figure. Disciplined.

Your darakarka Mars is retrograde. Controlling. Dominant. Future BAE is definitely gonna overthink themselves into a worry when it comes to dating and wooing. Or they could think that only their way is the right / best way to do soemthing. Poor lil baby( I say baby, but as a Virgo Mars they're probably the person who takes charge, plans, overanalyzes things has a set way of doing things.) this could be someone who is an advocate for universal free education, teaches children for free or some such. Could second guess themselves when it comes to taking action.

Mars Rahu conjunction: sub kink. They'd want a lot of adulation. Could be from a different culture from you or have studied in a very different environment.

I think your fs gets better at dealing with overthinking after you guys tie the knot. They learn to be more at peace with themself, letting their intuition guide them instead of focusing too hard on trying to do the logical thing. Okay with being messy. May like to act and arrange things behind the scenes. Imagine coming home tired to find that they've already called the restaurant, arranged for your favorite food to be dropped off, warmed, alid out on the table. Gives me the vibes of a puppeteer(katputli - a rajasthani folk dance)pulling the strings. You can't see them, but the show goes on.

From being ficusssed on accumulating wealth your focus goes towards doing things that boost your sense of Self confidence. You could also grow more tactful as you learnt to seek out harmony. You probably become more direct and assertive as a result the peopep you attract are more easy going / Libra like.

I'm seeing a house for a wedding present? Or moving into your spouse's ancestral home. They could also come from a matrilineal lineage.

Your household could be supported by one or both of you working in tax, insurance, financial industries. There could also be soemthing related to life insurance.

Pluto and Saturn in the 7th is a tad concerning. There's a very heavy sense of some kind of karmic duty. Saturn is exalted in Libra.

Way too controlling. Narcissism. Moon Mars mother. Karmic ties. Moon 8th house.

U must learn to stand up for yourself.

If you're meant to have any babies in this lifetime, they'd probably visit you in a dream or a psychic trance before they come down to earth. Call it mothers intuition. This is just a gut feeling wrt your moon in 8th house in Scorpio in the D9. I say this because the moon rules the 4th house of home, and children are an important part of the house if you're a mom. The 4th house is also the home/ heartland what you'd protect.

You suppress your emotions. Emerges as a volcano. But a cold one. U turn to ice and grow aloof.

Out of body experiences

You need to learn to be more dominant and combative. I'd suggest watching the teal Swans video on creating a zero sum game in relationships. Strengthened by Aries ascendant in d 9. This life u gotta learn to fight for yourself, and not sit quietly because people attacked u or kept u under their thumb when u were younger by a strict dad.

OK, now let's look at the placements and aspects

D1 lagna (ascendant) VS D9 lagna

You go from comfort stability minded to taking more risks and initiative. Self Confidence increases. Assert your needs better.

Vargottama Moon

The moon is quite dominant as it does not change signs between d1 and D9. You're super cooperative and hate to disappoint people. I'd suggest reading up more on Anuradha Nakshatra.

Moon - Pluto - 7th house

Could indicate karmic ties or past life connections to FS. You work through a lot of your own inner insecurities, self doubt, lack mindset related issues in close romantic relationships. There could be some mother wound related issues. You can only love as deeply as you allow yourself to love yourself. In order to attract people who inspire positive growth in you, you must first sit with your shadow, examine why people trigger you, and make peace with yourself or, perhaps your mom?

Mars Rahu - sextile moon

Mars and Rahu are both impulsive action oriented Planets. Them sextile your Pluto and moon could lead you to feel quite triggered and attacked by the slightest hint of advice or suggestion from someone else. Sex with the wrong people can really mess with you. In a better manifestation good sex has you feeling liek you can change the world and also that you're super safe and secure.

Venus combust - 10th house

You need to feel appreciated for your uniqueness. Ego battles could arise and get in the way of finding, expressing love.

Saturn- Ketu Pisces

The ruler of your 7th Nakshatra this is someone who loses themself to community service, could do too much for the wrong cause. Money could come in from fish farming. Seduments or other aquatic culture.

Anuradha 7th house

This is a Nakshatra that focuses on achieving success by working with a group. Your fs is collaborative and good at managing people. Someone who shares success. And is hence likely to go far ahead in life. Major success may come later in life.

Mars 7th house

Expect healthy amount of frank, direct communication. Some arguments with FS. But there's also protectiveness, concern, and the will to do the best by someone. Mars and moon aspects indicate a healthy sex life. They're probably enamored by you. You in turn would find them super sexy.

7th Nakshatra lord and Ketu

Your fs and relation with FS is a highly spiritual one. You could both be looking for a soulful connection. There is love, there us duty there is a need to help each other value time, focus on the future. They could have been a strict disciplinarian figure Ina past life. You both probably have a knack to look down at your phone just in time tos ee an email / message alert from them? Perhaps you two run or help/volunteer at an institution for the mentally challenged.

7th house relation to pieces

OK, so this is where we have a lot going on. Mars opposes saturn. And is placed with Rahu. Mars here feels restrained. Your fs could feel blocked in their creative gifts. In the sense that all they want to do is focus on it, create, post, gain fame but saturn and Ketu try to restrict their creative time. They could be perfectionists. Having to redo things. Since Rahu is also in virgo there's a focus on creating things with the hands and fine tuning every single detail. Directed towards you, this is someone who is always encouraging you while trying to micromanage a lot of details because they think they're being helpful. This is sosmrhtinf you two could have in common so

Mars Darakarka: they teach u to fight for you. Opinionated. Honest. Perfectionist. Service before self. Hardworking. Have integrity. Very active mind.

Mars conjunct Rahu-venus D9 creativity

The 5th house rules creativity and with your venus in the 9th house in D9 your fs is someone who encourages u to be more creative and follow or take up a course to be better at your hobbies. It's like full creative freedom to be you and do you.

D9 Exalted Saturn

Justice. Duty. Not very affectionate but they make sure you have everything you need. Balanced approach. Someone thoughtful. They're fair in a fight.

Libra, venus ruled 7th house

Beauty, peace and harmony in thr relationship. You're not gonna feel like you're being taken for grated. They will treat you to nice things and probably have a schedule for dates and other such romantic leisure activities.

Jupiter rules 9th, in 2nd house

Philosophy. Art. Culture. Museums. Travel coudk be a key focus in your married life. This is something you two bond over. Could also strike God fortune when u do travel or go on pilgrimages. Luck and money via foreign sources.

Rahu in aquarius

Social media influence or you get better at making friends just make sure that they're not provoking you into taking uncalcukated risks or actions that are wya too bizarre. Could denote some kind of breakthrough with technology, a love for a high end gadget driven spaces. An interest in Photography. Any couples pictures posts would be well received. Like you're the couple that looks exotic in their photos. Radiant. Aloof, intellectual, stimulating and even more appealing together.

Jupiter Taurus in 2nd house of D9

Debilitated Jupiter 9th house- religious issues - venus 9th house - conversion?

You may have struggled with religious ideologies being forced on you, or the one you were born into didn't quite feel right. Your fs may follow a different religion or show you that being religious does not mean you feel bad about some of your lifestyle choices.

Pisces Mars d9: he is either tactful and charming or a bit manipulative. You may feel like you prefer to act behind the scenes. It may be a little hard to be recognized for the things you do untill you get really really angry.

D9 Cancer 4th house: the home is a serious source of pride. Beautiful interiors and you'd be quite guarded about who you invite over. The best meals. Soothing interiors.

Pilgrimage within the 1st year of becoming a mom ( Jupiter's aspect on the 9th house)

Venus in Sagittarius D9: future BAE is gonna love his freedom. He could be a workaholic.

Alrighty, that's all I've got today. I hope this helps. I wish you the best on your healing and integration journey

[gleefanfictionfriday]

July & August Masterpost

Between the months of July and August, we have 5 posting days. Below, you’ll find links to each of the stories posted, divided by author. We would LOVE to have more of you participate! It’s always awesome to have more authors and more new stories to read. Remember, you can fill any prompt any time after the prompt is posted, and you can post your fill any time after the posting day for the prompt. Please consider joining us!

Meanwhile, if you haven’t had a chance to yet, please check out the works that have been posted for our prompt fills! They’re amazing! Enjoy!

Stranger Than Crackfiction by @gleefulpoppet Multi-Chapter work: Chapters One through Five (Chapter Six now available) Summary: [AU] In the magical land of Hollywood where dreams come true, there’s an adage that states, "It’s impossible to tell what is real and what is fiction." It’s even harder for Kurt Hummel and Blaine Anderson to separate as they were thrown into stardom overnight six years ago, and their show, His & His, is still the hottest thing on TV. Add to that being head over heels in love with each other, addicted to fanfiction, and have a propensity for roleplaying, and it’s got everyone buzzing as fans try to decide what these Hollywood stars are up to. Because sometimes, reality is stranger than crackfiction. Read it now on AO3!!!

Braid of Gold by @jayhawk-writes​ (In Every Lifetime series Part 16) Multi-Chapter work: Chapters One through Four (Chapter Five now available) Summary: Kurt and Blaine ask Caphriel to make the decision about where they go next. He chooses a lifetime where Kurt and Blaine will have to navigate a situation they've not yet been in. They'll have to work through loss and betrayal and ultimately, their bond will be stronger as a family because of it. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Stargazing Memories by @jayhawk-writes One-shot Summary: Kurt reminisces on some of his experiences here in Cassville while waiting for Blaine to show up. This is one of those memories. (This story was inspired by KB.Ellen’s Summer Story.) Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Nerds by @jayhawk-writes One-shot Summary: Kurt decides to move away from home for college to a much more liberal town than Lima. So what if it happens to be the same place his favorite team is? That’s just icing on the cake. He fully expects to go to classes and make friends. What he doesn't expect is to meet the love of his life in the most unexpected of places while wearing the most unlikely of outfits. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Poppet’s Standards of Communication by @jayhawk-writes One-shot - Part of the Outlined on My Finger ‘verse Summary: Kurt and Blaine are excited to read and learn from Poppet as she releases her first book into the world. Their communication is already pretty good. How much better will it get after reading her advice? Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Could I Have This Dance? by @jayhawk-writes One-shot - Part of the Outlined on My Finger ‘verse Summary: This wasn't exactly what Blaine had in mind when he told Kurt he fantasized about lap dances. He loves it just the same, though, and he'll never think of science the same way again. (Directly follows Poppet’s Standards of Communication) Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Crimson Yarn by @teddyshoney​ (In Every Lifetime series Part 15) Multi-chapter work - Complete Summary: Back from New York, Kurt has just purchased a lake house in need of fixing up to keep him busy while he tries to heal from his past relationship. Back from LA, Blaine reluctantly takes a job from his father while he mourns the loss of his dream. Will red yarn, coffee, and some heavy conversation be enough for both boys to realize that there may be an answer to their healing right in front of them? Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Do You Have A Moo? by @teddyshoney One-shot - Part of the Klaine Goes to Daycare series Summary: Four-year-old Kurt is excited to get to daycare. Why? It's "'magination Friday," and they get to play dress-up. But thanks to having to eat breakfast before playing, Kurt doesn't get to play the part he wants to play. Blaine, however, is determined to make it all better for him. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Five Letters and A Geronimo Lily by @teddyshoney One-shot Summary: Letters slipped under doors, flower delivery, showers, and singing. Shared apartment walls are typically so annoying. Not this time. This time, they're a blessing. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

Football and Gaga by @teddyshoney One-shot Summary: Kurt and Blaine have been dating for nearly 18 months when Blaine comes up with the perfect plan to surprise the love of his life. However, he missed just a few important details, and now he needs Burt's help—complete with codenames and phrases—if he's going to pull this off and give Kurt a magical 18 month anniversary. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

The Poetry Marathon by @teddyshoney One-shot Summary: Blaine's set himself a goal: 24 poems in 24 hours. He's focused, and he's going to complete his challenge. Kurt, on the other hand, would really like just a couple of moments to distract him because he NEEDS Blaine. Read it now on AO3 or FF.net!!!

[kurt-nightcrawler]

How to know if the lost girls have a crush on you

𝐆𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫 𝐒𝐰𝐚𝐩! 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐁𝐨𝐲𝐬 𝐱 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Warnings: mentions of drug use and language

Word Count: 1.9k

A/N: I know requests aren’t open jddndjdj but I enjoy writing for the lost girls so enjoy!!

Darcy

Darcy is a sucker for romance

She’s a bit shy and awkward, despite her semi-scary looking demeanor 

(She’s 6’0 and has resting bitch face)

Darcy isn’t going to be super obvious or up-front about her feelings at first though

It will be the cliche “we’ve been friends for 10 years and everyone knows we like each other except us” 

Darcy will always have a hand on you. She wants to feel your presence 

subtle touches, little “pinky holding” or her playing with strands of your hair

Her poking any freckles you have when she first discovers them

You’re one of the few people she let’s mess with her hair. Which is a telling sign

“Your hair looks nice Darce” “thanks, (Y/N) did it” “oh worm? 👀” 

She loves having you run your hands through her hair, it soothes her

Sometimes, if you can’t make it to the cave— bad weather, car trouble, etc.— shell come over and you guys watch a movie together

Darcy’s got an extensive tape collection of rom-coms, so she’ll pop one into the tv and snuggle under covers with you

She’s probably going to ask to borrow your clothes if she’s “really cold” since she exclusively wears sports bras and her leather jacket

Also she likes that your sweaters and sweatshirts smell like you 

But you’ll definitely have to have been friends for awhile before she even CONSIDERS telling you how she feels

“I live forever. I have to be sure about my feelings and what if I get rejected?” “Anyone who rejects you is stupid. Almost stupid as Michelle—“ “HEY!” 

But overtime she’ll try to make things more obvious— to the point where Pauline and Marcella are teasing you both and then she kind of HAS to come clean

But you find it sweet! 

And a bit shocking, someone as powerful and strong and amazing and gorgeous as her, has feelings for YOU??? damn okay babe 

Dominique 

Dom is going to be a bit cold at first

It’s not necessarily intentional, but she just has this aura of mystery around her

Those icy blue eyes that peer into your soul

And anyway she wants to get to know what you like and if you like her

If not, she can’t exactly force you 

Cough cough Michelle cough cough

 Anyway, Dominique will try to learn about the things you like so you have something to talk about

Even if they aren’t her cup of tea. She’s a good listener and likes seeing your face light up and you so passionate about a subject/hobby

Dom is going to steal buy you things she thinks you’d like

“You said you liked cherry chapstick. I got you some.” “I got you some chips and your favorite soda in case you’re hungry” “Here. I saw this giant care bear and thought of you.”

It’s sweet, but you feel a bit flustered and embarrassed, not giving her anything in return

“Seeing you smile is enough, Kitten”

Speaking of! Pet names! 

Dominique finds using your full/actual name too personal

So if you have a nickname she’ll use it. If not she’s given you pet names— most notable are Kitten and Pumpkin

She’s not big on physical touch but sometimes she’ll put the idea of it into your mind so you want it

She won’t manipulate you, but she wants you to come to her. She’s had too many bad experiences where she confessed first, and she doesn’t want another one

So when you do finally confess to her she’s all smug and knowing

“I um… I really like you… and uh well—“ “I know.” “Oh…” “I like you too.”  “Oh!”

 Marcella

She’s going to be playful and flirty with you but quick to deny anything the other girls accuse her of

“No I don’t have feelings for (Y/N)! Shut up!” “Haha you so do!”

She’s rowdy and high energy but also more quiet than Pauline

So she’s not going to just blurt it out or recite sonnets for you

Instead she’ll give you a patch she was going to put on her jacket. Or make you a cool little pin

She’ll constantly hype you up if you’re wanting to try new fashion styles or wear something out of your comfort zone

“You look amazing! Better than any girl out on the boardwalk” “You really think so?” “I would never lie to you. Honest.” 

She’ll let you braid her hair and stick all kinds of colorful little clips and barrettes in her curls 

(I know they weren’t popular until the 90s but imagining covering her hair in hundreds of little butterfly clips!) 

Honestly she’ll be like those movie scenes where “do you like it?” *it’s hideous* “if not you don’t have to wear it!” “No. I’m never taking it off.” 

She asks you to help care for her pigeons so you guys can bond together more

“Does Pauline or Sebastian usually help you feed them?” “No. No one does. I don’t let them.” “Oh…”

If someone upsets you she's ready to go and have them as her meal for the night

Sometimes you have to stop her

“Look! Cathy from my work is a total bitch but you can’t kill her! I won’t have anyone to cover my shift tomorrow”

“Fine… You're lucky I love you”

“What?”

“What?” 

She’d probably accidentally tell you and then act like she has no idea what you could be talking about

“Well I like you too. But I dunno… Dom’s pretty cute too—“ 

“Oh that’s it!” She’s definitely smothering you in little kisses and tickling you, getting you say you’re sorry and say you think she’s the cutest

 Pauline

She’s just going to blurt it out point blank. 

Why wait? If Pauline likes someone, she likes someone! She may be immortal but she’s also immortally impatient 

She tells you she likes you so much you start to think she’s kidding

But she’s not! 

She’ll bring you baked goods edibles and take you out to concerts and maybe steal your shoelace to wear on her wrist

Sometimes you’ll have little “sleepovers” and you’ll hangout at the cave. Usually this means sharing a joint and watching her play songs on her guitar

She’s definitely not exclusively playing romantic songs for you

One night she’ll get high and just pour her heart out to you

“And I think you’re one of the coolest people I’ve ever met, and I’ve met a lot of people, babe… And sure, I’m definitely a bit ditzy but I’m not completely stupid! I know you don’t believe me, but I really really like you! I think about you a lot and I hate when you have to leave right before the sun rises. And on nights you can’t hangout with us it’s so boring! We do the same things every night, but you always make them special. I really like you babe… I really really like you…”

She’ll wanna take you out on a little date to one of the small bands playing on the boardwalk and you’ll both dance together and she’ll be real giddy and excited and probably kiss you but it’s really messy and quick because she was just so wrapped up in the music! 

 Michelle

She’s really obvious

Like, staring at you with heart eyes when she first sees you out on the boardwalk

She’ll try to not-so-subtly follow you around. She’s not being creepy, but she just wants to admire your beauty 

She thinks she’ll never see you again

Imagine her surprise when she sees you again! 

“Told you! She probably lives around town” “Shut up Sam!” 

You’ll eventually confront her and ask what her deal is

“Oh! Uh, um, well, I just— I... like... your outfit?...” 

She’s bad at coming up with an alibi

“thanks. I get most of my clothes at the thrift store away from the boardwalk. Wanna join sometime?” “Uh yeah! Sounds good!” 

She’s going to do some dumb things to impress you— racing on her bike, getting more piercings, dressing in lots of leather, offering to buy you food— but you think it’s cute

She’ll follow you around like a lost puppy at times, partially cause she’s new in town

Sam likes you though!

When you and Michelle hangout, you’ve usally got the braincell and you don’t tease Sam for liking comics so much

“No Samantha, I’m not taking you to the comic shop” “Aww Sammy I will!” “Thanks (Y/N)! You’re the best”

Honestly you knew the whole time she liked you! You had moments of doubt but she’s always so obvious about it. Once you even swore she drooled over you

A bit gross, but you were also eating ice cream so…

Visiting her at work! She’s a lifeguard down at the beach! She’s definitely trying to get you visit her ;) and go swim and sunbathe ;) maybe have her “perform cpr” on you ;)

But you’d still have to make the first move if you wanted it to go any further 

 Sebastian 

He’s got this aura of mystery around him 

But he’ll steal glances if he spots you in the crowd, thinking you’re cute

The lost girls will want him to bring you back to the cave

He will, but not for awhile

It will be small one on one hangouts and dancing together on the boardwalk 

Walking in and out of shops, saying you’ll buy things but you never will

Sebastian will offer to pierce your ears and paint your nails 

Night swimming together! 

Sebastian definitely has really floral swim trunks, almost like tacky dad Hawaiian shirt print 

He’ll do the thing where he’s under water for a long time and then jump up and scare you

Once you meet the girls you’re all playing games together like sharks and minnows, chicken

Sebastian always wants to team up with you though. Even if teams aren’t a part of the game

He likes to read. He’ll spend a good amount of time at the bookstore on the boardwalk, staying there for hours reading books, and leaving with a whole stack

If YOU have a book he wants to read/borrow he will definitely maybe leave a little sticky note in it as a thank you

“thank you! ur sweet :D <3” 

Laura will love you!! 

She’s very close to Sebastian and everyone thinks they’re siblings, and they most definitely have the dynamic 

So if Laura likes you, Sebastian will definitely like you. I mean, he already does, Laura just kind of seals the deal, ya know?

Dominique and Pauline will be the most blunt about Sebastian’s feelings for you

“He’s like Darcy. Not necessarily the most obvious but you can tell” 

“It’s so obvious. He like, talks about you all the time when you aren’t around and he’s got this real love sick look in his eyes”

Dominique is going to interrogate you to see if you’re “worthy” or not of Sebastian. 

“Sebastian is my— our friend— like a brother almost. Hurt him and I will kill you :) that is a promise” 

Once she deems you good enough she’s going to push Seb into asking you out. “You guys already go on enough ‘dates’ just make it official” “no” “-_-“ “hhh fine”

Sebastian is going to be really simple with it but also kind of coy and shy. He’s nervous. He’s much rather you asked him out or confessed your feelings but he’s willing to go first. He finds himself trying to compete and keep up with the girls. He’s the only boy, and while it may not matter he doesn’t want to seem weak and pathetic while they’re big strong vampires

Anyway once he tells you how he feels he’s all red in the face and nervous!! Poor boy

He’ll constantly ask to kiss you all the time, worried maybe you don’t want him to but you’re always reassuring “yes, Seb. you can have a kiss” “thank you”