#anyway off now so this has been my answering asks half an hour i won't spam your dashboards now

[tuiyla]

I wonder sometimes if glee was one of the last gasps of TV that wasn’t primarily streaming driven. The another anon made a doctor who comparison and I think that’s apt - that being a show who’s ratings have been so changed by the shift to streaming, something fans never stop arguing about. Game of thrones, maybe, is another? But glee was *so* huge, mainstream wise for five minutes.

Yeah that checks out. Coming to think about it, streaming got bigger and bigger just as Glee ended. Sometimes I think about season 6 and how different the world already was, a contrast to the first season's 2009 immediate post-Obama election vibe.

Doctor Who is a fascinating example because of its longevity but also the fact that it constantly changes, and fans often conflate the reasons behind (lack of) viewership with the show's content. Sometimes it's just the world changing around the show. You'd think something like Doctor Who is uniquely equipped to adapt to that but, well, depends on your perspective how successful that has been.

I think the main reason Glee is hard to compare to another media property is because it was, by all means and despite initial intent, a teen show. GoT with its explicit violence and high fantasy is literally a different world, and so was everything else even nearly as popular. I don't know if I'd say Glee was the most popular teen show of the 2010s but it certainly... occupied a unique space in the mainstream, in the zeitgeist. One that the likes of Gossip Girl or PLL or The Vampire Diaries could never. Maybe it was the musical thing, maybe the dramedy, maybe just this unique cocktail. But it was so insanely ubiquitous and though it did drop off a lot people's radars in later seasons, there's a reason it is still talked about in the mainstream today. The tragedies, yes, the scandals, sure, but also because the grip it had on pop culture never really went away.

Like, when Pitch Perfect came out? Everyone went "oh like Glee." Rachel Bloom, when doing initial promo interviews for Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, had to clarify again and again that, not exactly like Glee, these were original songs. Can't imagine what branding Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist must have been like. And then, of course, the teen show right of passage of being compared to Glee in some way or another.

[hyuuukais]

heyllo :3

can i request reader x chan? reader is overwhelmed but keeps it in because that’s what they see chan doing a lot of the time. but eventually it builds to a breaking point where the stress causes them to completely shut down. chan doesn’t know exactly what’s wrong so it might be cute if he just sits on the floor in front of reader and plays clips from a song he’s working on and asks for their opinion (by basically talking out loud to himself) and then after reader calms down they are able to verbalize they just need a human weighted blanket and to be told they are doing amazing and their efforts are not going unnoticed.

im fine. 🥲

just hold me, tell me you love me

pairing : chan x reader

notes : me vs the long title. anyway thank uuu for being my first request! i hope this lives up to ur expectations and can provide u some comfort 🫶 sending u hugs and love 🫂💙 sorry it's taken a bit long to get back to! kind of was getting this feeling myself and have been unable to write, but i think i'm getting back

warnings : reader is overwhelmed, mentions of anxiety, fear of opening up to someone, reader is called pet names (love, baby), reader breaks down

wc : 1.4k

All week there's been a growing pressure in your chest threatening to spill all over the floor and leave you a mess, lying on the ground with nothing else to give. Give, you've given all you can, and now that you're home, you can't do it anymore. You seek peace in the quiet of your shared bedroom, your boyfriend still at work in his studio.

Your boyfriend, who works hard day and night. Your boyfriend, who's loving and caring and sweet. Your boyfriend, who you're scared to open up to when things get really hard, because he doesn't share with you either. Although the relationship isn't fresh, going on a year and a half, there are still things you don't talk about. You don't want to burden him with your struggles when you've always been able to power through by yourself.

Fisting the sheets under you, you can feel the need to cry in your body, the hollow feeling in your chest and the tightness in your throat, but nothing comes. It's like your body knows you're too tired for even that simple of an action, for even one tear to slip. So instead, you sit the the blanket over you, face peeking out to stare at the wall with tired eyes. You can't sleep. If you close your eyes, you know you won't drift off and wake up feeling better, you'll just lie there for hours.

"Baby?"

Something spikes in you when you hear Chans voice ring out through the apartment, curling into yourself more. He shouldn't be home this early and yet, here he is, calling your name and wondering where you are; you're never in bed this early. Chan continues to call out for you until you hear the bedroom door opening quietly.

"Love?" Chans footsteps get closer, and you can feel the edge of the bed dip with his weight as he sits down. "My love..."

His hand brushes over your shoulder, but you can't face him. When you bring the blanket over your head more, he seems to get the hint, shifting to lean against the headboard next to the statue that is your body, unmoving and heavy. You can feel him fiddling beside you, and soon, a soft melody fills your ears. It's enough to distract you temporarily from the raging storm in your head, focusing on the beats, and when Chans voice comes through, it's like you can feel a sense of comfort washing over you. Although it's not enough to completely take these feelings away, you're grateful for what he's doing.

"This song has been giving me trouble," Chan comments over the music, sighing heavily. "I can't figure out if I like the chorus or not, and it feels like it's missing something in general, but I don't know what. What do you think, baby?"

Unable to answer verbally, but still wanting him to know you're listening, you roll around so you're facing him. He chuckles as you bury your face under his thigh when you see he's sitting cross-legged, the pressure on your face oddly comforting. Chan places a hand on your back, his arm resting behind your head as he rubs small circles over your thick layer of blanket. Another song starts playing after a while, another soft one, too. You relax under his touch, feeling the vibrations through his body as he hums along to this one and makes occasional comments about changes he'd like to make.

Exhaustion hits you like a ton of bricks, your eyes fluttering shut as he keep playing different songs and telling you all about them. Both of you are aware that he shouldn't be playing so much unreleased music, but all Chan cares about in this moment is you, helping you, calming you, loving you. The company will never know anyway.

"Chan," You whisper, voice barely audible. His humming stops and he pauses the music, looking down at your limp form with furrowed brows. Moving your head slightly, you're able to look up at him on an angle, the cool air of the bedroom breaching your blanket cocoon.

"What is it, baby?" Chan moves some hair from your face, leaving this palm to rest on your cheek.

"Can you just-" You clear your throat, one hand coming up to play with the hem of his shorts at his knee to calm you more. "Just hold me, tell me you love me?"

Without words, he shifts down to your level and nods. Carefully, Chan guides you to face away from him and brings you close to his body, your back pressed tightly against his chest. His chin rests on your shoulder, now enveloped inside your blanket as he holds onto you tightly, scared that if he let's go, you'll fade away. The thought of you being in so much pain, whether physical or emotional, is something he can't bear; he can't sit on the sidelines and watch you wither away. Neither of you speak as you lie there for what feels like hours, although it must only be a few minutes. The feeling of Chan's breath on your neck is oddly comforting, your own hands finding his arm around your waist and holding onto him.

Something about the way Chan is holding you, comforting you without the pressure of being asked what's wrong, has you finally breaking down. It starts small, holding back a few tears, but a few escaping despite your efforts. Then Chan shifts closer, pressing soft lips on the skin behind your ear.

"I love you, you know that? So, so much," He whispers, inhaling the scent of your shampoo as he buries his face into your hair. "You're doing amazing, baby, and I mean that. I thought... I thought something might have been wrong, but I didn't know how to go about this. I'm sorry it got to this point, I should have asked. I want you to know you can always turn to me, okay?"

His words have the dam breaking and soon enough, the sobs ripping from your chest have you gasping and hiccupping like there's no tomorrow. You don't register the way Chan tries to soothe you as he pulls you around and into his chest. Subconsciously, you wrap your arms around his shoulders and roll his body onto yours, his head sitting in the crook of your neck. The weight feels nice, grounding, and you can finally hear Chan speaking again.

"Shhh, it's okay, you're okay." Chan whispers into the skin of your neck, one of his hands smoothing back your hair. "You're okay, I'm here, now breathe, alright? Breathe, baby."

He inhales deeply, and you do your best to mimic his movements. It's shaky, but you're doing it.

"Good job, you're doing great," Chan keeps his voice low as he speaks. "Keep breathing."

It gets to the point where you don't need to think about breathing anymore, your head throbbing slightly from the sudden outburst of emotion. Chan's body stays on yours, but he props himself up enough to look at you, his palm on your cheek and his thumb wiping away any remaining tears. You can barely look him in the eye.

All he does is stare at you with those pretty, dark eyes, but you realize there's a dampness under them matching yours. You open your mouth to question it, but he shakes his head, a soft smile on his face.

"I don't want you to be in pain alone ever again." His thumb continues to caress your cheek, even though the tears have dried. "I love you too much to let you go through that. Whatever's going on, tell me when you're ready, yeah? For now, just let me gush about my beautiful partner until they're feeling better."

You can't help the small laugh that escapes you as Chan surges up to pepper your face in kisses, saying praises in between each one. With every kiss, you can feel your face heating up until you try and cover it, but he just grabs your wrists and pulls your hands away. Eventually, he slows down, pressing one last kiss directly on your lips, and settles back onto you.

"Let's stay like this for a while," Chan suggests, knowing you need it, but so does he. "My favourite place is in your arms."

-

─── taglist : @chaeryred @toplinelix @channie-143 @staysinbloom

[itiswormtimebaby]

Time

You're beginning to question why Bucky won't sleep with you, but you ask the wrong person

Pairing: Biker!Bucky and Bug (+Brother’s best friend Bucky, Plus sized fem reader) (Steve is reader’s adopted brother) CW: Friend’s calling each other “bitch”, references to sexual acts

“I don’t know if I should call you a stupid bitch, a dirty bitch, or a lucky bitch.” Cilla, the platonic love of your life, stares at you from the passenger seat of your car. “Straight out the gate and he’s already hitting it raw, I guess I’ll go with all three you stupid, dirty, lucky, beautiful” she tacks on the end to soften the blow, “Bitch.” Stupid was probably fair, dirty was a compliment, and lucky was factual so you let the comment ride without protest. There was one thing that was bothering you about her statement though, “I don’t think it’s fair to say he hi-”

“Bitch,” She cuts you off, “be so fucking for real.” 

“He turned you into his own twinkie- cream filled.” The voice comes from the backseat where McKenna, the third member of your friendship trio is devouring a nerds filled grape slush. Cilla groans in disgust at the bad joke while you pull a face in the rearview mirror, refusing to break eye contact with the man until he cracks first, slowly lowering his plastic spoon back into the sticky purple treat; “I, uh, I really regret saying that.” “Good! That was fucking weird, and now we all have to live with it. Sit in your shame.” Despite your admonishing tone there’s no real upset behind you words as you carry on;

“But as I was SAYING, it was just the tip so I don’t- like it doesn’t feel like that counts. Don’t get me wrong, it was amazing, I just…” The silence sits heavy in your ears but you can’t find it in yourself to continue, suddenly embarrassed despite being in the presence of the two people you’ve trusted with damn near every dirty little secret you possess; why hadn’t it progressed past that?

“Fuck it! Who wants to lose their virginity on a Monday, anyway?” McKenna’s outburst breaks the silence and blessedly removes the spotlight from you, “Yeah,” you acquiescent with a half-hearted chuckle, “you’re probably right.” The conversation moves on quickly enough, though the thought is persistent in your mind- why hadn’t it progressed past that? 

Hours later, McKenna returned home to his husband, sun dropped beyond the horizon, you pull to a stop outside of Cilla’s house, the dark-haired woman making no move to exit the vehicle; “How are you actually feeling about it?” There’s clearly only one situation she could be referencing but in truth you’re not sure how to answer. She was the first call you’d made after coming down from your chocolate-brownie-hell-high, after Bucky finally showed back up in the aftermath, after dates one through four, and especially after five, she’d heard details even McKenna hadn’t, every salacious little tidbit. But you hesitate now, a bond forged in college deadlines, all nighters, stress induced coffee comas, movie marathons and evening walks had blossomed into a beautiful friendship with two main tenets; you burn I burn, and no bullshit. You knew she would listen and take it all in without judgment, but part of you hesitated, worried that her honest take, because she would be incredibly honest, wasn’t something you were ready to hear. 

“I’m confused,” You finally settle on. She doesn’t offer acknowledgement besides a small hum, no pushing, no rushing. “Everything has felt so good.” At that Cilla does let out a little snort, raising her eyebrows suggestively, though makes no other move to interrupt; “I wasn’t actually talking about that, though he does make me feel amazing. I just mean…Bucky’s been in my life since I was pre-pubescent, he may actually be what jump started puberty for me,” Cilla’s eyes roll at your joke as you pause again to gather your thoughts. “He was this larger-than-life presence, cocksure, the muscle to Steve’s mouth and I just- oh my god I was so in love with him. I’m sure there’s still notebooks floating around where I waxed poetic about his eyes, wrote Mrs. James Buchanan Barnes over and over again in the margins…”

You peter off before taking a steadying breath, suddenly thirteen again and trailing along behind Steve and Bucky, the latter of which was the epicenter of every girlish daydream you had. “He had this girlfriend when we were in High School, Dot? I was so fucking jealous of her, she had everything I wanted because she had him. I know Bucky cared about me, in some way, but it wasn’t the same as he cared about her and it broke my heart.”  You can still picture her; pretty red curls, shy smile, hand wrapped in Bucky’s anytime he was within arms reach. 

“Once he enlisted, once there was some space between us, I realized there was a lot of naivety I needed to tear through-” You hesitate, fearing the explanation will be muddy but push on anyway, “like, the love I felt was real- but I also built it up a lot in my head? In a way I think it was probably unfair to him, projections from a kid who was newly navigating the difference between romantic and platonic love, but everything just felt so big and all encompassing.”

“He was your first love.” 

“He was,” You nod in agreement, picturing  Bucky at fifteen, knuckles bloody, Steve behind him with a bruised eye and busted lip, the body of your latest would-be-bully crumpled on the floor, “but that’s not- that’s not how he felt about me.The romantic love, or infatuation, or whatever- it was one sided, very obviously so. I used to wish it was different, dream of a day where he’d drop Dot’s hand and reach for mine but then I realized-” You squeeze your eyes shut, thankful for Cilla allowing you to set the pace of the conversation as you ruminate over the relationship, “I realized after he’d left how shitty that was, just because he wasn’t in love with me didn’t mean he didn’t care, what we did have wasn’t a consolation prize.” 

Your friend rests her hand gently on your forearm, nodding her understanding; “Life went on, he and Steve were deployed, I was in school, they came home, they joined the club, he dated other girls, I dated…But I never really got over that feeling of first love, it just- deepened?” You nodded your head at that, happy enough with the explanation, “It sprouted new roots, more substantial ones, I fell in love with him all over again, a different version of him in a way.” 

You were getting to the part you didn’t want to say, the part that worried you most, “Like I said what we had wasn’t a consolation prize, Bucky’s always been one of the best people in my life, even when I probably annoyed the hell out of him. I’d made peace with knowing that how we felt about each other didn’t line up and then, well…” 

“Then he showed up on your doorstep with flowers begging for a date?” 

“He showed up with flowers after I accosted him with my feelings.”

“Don’t forget the FINALLY.” She prods you pointedly at that, having been driven half mad over your analytical obsession with the word, when I FINALLY fuck you, “he clearly had thought about it, and he even said that’s not all he wanted, don’t go where I think you’re about to go.”

“Where am I about to go?” You ask her. 

“Questioning his intentions, whether he really likes you, wants to be with you…HE asked YOU out, that means something. Just because y'all aren’t having sex doesn’t take away from everything else.” 

Everything else. Cilla was right of course, it’s not like Bucky was running around acting disinterested; he brought you flowers, took you on dates, kept you fed, ran errands with you just for some extra time together, gave you mind blowing orgasms, made you laugh. But then why…

“But then why won’t he sleep with me? He clearly cares about me, thinks about me, but why not- his body count is high, why not one more?” You deliver the last line like a joke, but no part of it feels funny. “I know he cares about me, truly I do. But I guess I just worry- like he’s cared about me since we were kids, so maybe he doesn’t want to sleep with me because he’s figuring out that romance isn’t what he really wants between us and that’d be harder to walk back having-”

“Don’t,” Cilla cuts you off, “do that.” You look at her a bit helplessly as she pushes on, “Has he actually given you any indication he doesn’t want to date you? Aside from not sticking it in?” 

It was crude but she had a point, and you knew Bucky, knew he wasn’t one to string people along. 

“No.”

“Exactly, it’s just dick, don’t let it ruin something special.” 

“I just- I’m all in, so why is he holding back?”

“It’s still a new relationship-”

“I’ve known him forever-”

“But not like this. This is new. He may not be exactly where you’re at but clearly he has feelings for you. My advice would be to hop out of your head and just enjoy things as they progress.”

You nod once in acknowledgement, still not quite ready to move on from the topic;  “Should I just ask him why?” 

Cilla mulls it over for a minute, “I… wouldn’t, not yet. Give it some time.” 

Time, right.

But you couldn't help the worry that persisted, what would Bucky be figuring out in that time?

All things Bucky and Bug found here: to be loved Main masterlist: here

[harryforvogue]

hello welcome back to me writing out some ideas that will never become actual full stories. this was super fun because i've never written the bodyguard trope. i won't be writing more for this, but isn't this so fun???? hope you like it! (if the French is wrong, that's on me) 2.5k idk

***

France, 1843.

The tavern will do for the night.

It’s inconspicuous, a perfect hiding spot. In fact, now that she’s been in her room for the past three hours, it’s safe to say that if anyone were to come looking for her, they’d be long gone by now. That’s why she changes into a fresh outfit (provided by the very nice hostess who got teary eyed by the story she made up.) She’s now in a simple dress, much better than the other outfit. After all, it would be weird to be traipsing around in a wedding dress.

Her family went all in for the dress too. She’s going to hold on to it, see how much money she can make from it.

She comes down the stairs quietly. At nearly sunset time, the bar is starting to get crowded. She can definitely get mixed into the wave of people, giving her more cover. She expected several people to come in around this time anyways. Despite it being 4 in the afternoon, the winter allows for the sun to retreat earlier. The visibility outside must be terrible, and with a snowstorm on top of that, the only people coming into the tavern will be loyal customers and those sheltering from the weather. 

Of course, her family is too highly opinionated to stop at a measly little tavern like this.

She skips off the last step and looks around. She's picked an excellent spot.

When she sits at the bar, it takes only a minute for the bartender to catch her eye. “Une bière.”

He retreats to pour her drink, and then slides it across the wooden bar.

She catches it and smiles sweetly at him. Then relaxes into her seat and listens to the music.

What a disaster of a day. The whole town will be talking about it tomorrow: the runaway bride. Well, maybe not this town. No, this place is smaller, and less wealthy. They care little for the problems of the rich folk.

The minutes pass by in silence and peace. That is, until the bartender comes by with another drink that she definitely did not ask for.

“Ça vient du monsieur,” the man says.

She looks over to where he's gesturing.

Sitting at the end of the bar is a man she’s all too familiar with. His curls aren’t wet with snow, nor are his clothes, which suggest he’s been here for a long time. Has he been waiting for her out? Did he follow her the moment she left the chapel, or was it that his guess was just correct? Pure luck maybe. Regardless of the how, what matters is that he knows where she is, and he answers her scowl with a smile of his own, lifting his glass in the air as if to toast her attempts at escaping him.

“Merci,” she grits to the bartender. She turns back to her drink, trying to come up with a plausible story before Harry makes his way over. The thirty seconds it takes Harry to show up, though, is simply not enough. 

He sits on the vacant seat beside her. He slides his mug over and lightly taps hers. “Fear not,” he says in English, grinning with his dimples on full display, “I’m here alone.”

Harry’s been her guard for several years. He’s young, barely 3 or 4 years older than her. He rarely speaks with her, but he’s always there when she goes out, even when she’s with her fiancé. He was posted with her years ago when her father gained some political opposition, out of fear she’d get in harm’s way. Thanks to Harry, that’s never happened.

Suffice to say, she’s less than happy to see him here.

Normally, he’s a nice face to look at. All handsome and diligent. He stands nearly half a foot taller than her, always dressed in nearly all black. He has women fainting over him. She, too, can admire his beauty. 

But she’s not going to tell him that.

“As if an army of my father’s men would frighten me,” she replies back.

“Aren’t you glad to see me? Out of all the guards that could have been here searching for the runaway bride, aren’t you happy that it’s me and not another?”

“I’d be more happy to see my fiancé.”

Harry raises an eyebrow. “Is he still your fiancé?”

“I mean, I still have the ring on my finger.”

“Would have figured you’d pawned it off by now.”

She narrows her eyes at him. “Are you going to force me to go back? Because let me tell you, I’m going to put up a fight. I will scream bloody murder if you touch me.”

Harry looks amused now. He rests his chin on his palm.

“That is quite a plan. It’s easy to see how you could be so creative about running away too. Let’s talk about it because I do feel the need to give you kudos, mademoiselle. Not only did you persuade your father to have a winter wedding, but you also picked out the most expensive fabrics and gems for your big day. You convince your fiancé that you love him and then leave him in the church where everyone is supposed to witness a holy union. You thoroughly humiliated him. Excellent scheming.”

He actually does seem impressed.

She doesn’t say anything.

“And to answer your question,” he continues. “I don’t plan on forcing you to go back. In fact, I was actually anticipating this.”

“Anticipating this, how?” She doesn’t want to be on the defense, but he’s acting strange. Too comfortable. 

He rolls his head back and looks at her incredulously. “You may not see me at all times, but as your guard, I do keep my eyes on you. And it’s a wonder how other people didn’t notice. The way your smile dropped at the mere mention of him, the way you had to leave the room with a pitiful excuse every time he showed up. The way you refused to let him kiss you after he very kindly walked you home all the time. Almost difficult to watch.”

She feels her face burn. “You’re not supposed to spy on me.”

“That is my job. I get paid for it, so I might as well be thorough, no?” He’s smiling again.

“All those things mean nothing. It was a last minute decision to run away.” She tilts her head back and finishes her ale.

“Ah, that I know. It was the most surprising part when you didn’t show up. I knew you would pull something like this, make an excuse of some kind. I anticipated that – but I didn’t anticipate it happening on your wedding day.”

“I wasn’t going to wait for an annulment. Don’t know if that would even be possible. And who'd want to marry me after that anyways. Running away was my best option.”

“He’s absolutely distraught, by the way. He’d be very unhappy if he knew we were talking like this. We’ve become friends of some sort.”

“Why would he be upset about us speaking?”

The incredulous look comes back. “It pains me that you don’t know how jealous your little fiancé is. You have such little awareness.”

“Jealous?” She suddenly laughs. “Oh please. As if he has anything to be jealous about.”

Harry finishes his drink and then orders another round for them. As he does, she takes him in. He’s in his black vest, white long sleeved shirt, with an undone white cravat, his jacket tucked away somewhere in the bar. He taps his perfectly polished boots against the floor, pristine black trousers fitting nicely around his strong thighs. His trousers are always perfectly fitted, unlike the rest of her guards. Or maybe she’s just spent a lot of time looking at him.

“He has plenty to be jealous about, mademoiselle.”

“All my attention has been on wedding planning and such for weeks now. I haven’t had the chance to even talk to another man.”

He glances back at her when she’s looking down at his thighs. He’s silent for a moment, but then says quietly, “Not all jealousy has to come from interacting with a man. It could just be from the way you look at one.”

Her eyes jump back to his face. His eyes are narrowed as if trying to figure her out. “He has nothing to be jealous about,” she repeats.

“He doesn’t?”

“As horrible of a woman I am for leaving a man at his own wedding, I’m not the type of woman to betray him, even though I don’t feel any particular affection for him. I respect him and myself.”

“I don’t think it has anything to do with respect, mademoiselle. It’s about desire. After all, you should desire the man you’re marrying, is that not true?”

“Yes, and that’s why I’ve run away.”

“And if you were to desire someone else, it wouldn’t be betrayal, given you’re no longer his intended.”

He says it so casually, but she sees the way his eyes slip down to her mouth for a brief second. 

“I still have the ring.”

He glances at her hand. “Will you keep it?”

“Not planning on it.”

“And until then, you’ll stay faithful to a man you have no intention of marrying? Forgive me, I can’t seem to make sense of this logic.”

She thinks about how much she should tell him. He’s had it figured out, it seems. Maybe she wasn’t as good at hiding her true feelings about the union. Or maybe Harry’s just watched her too closely.

She says, “Are you really not going to take me back?”

Harry shakes his head. “What good would that do?”

“My father would appreciate it.”

“Your father has overlooked many things that I think have been worth appreciating over the span of my career as your dutiful guard, mademoiselle.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

Harry doesn’t say anything. He simply watches her, as if she’ll understand him just from his expression. She doesn’t.

“Tell me,” she demands.

“I’ve done things that deserve recognition, that is all.”

“Like what?”

He narrows his eyes. “Like keeping you alive for the past four years, you ungrateful wench. With all the stupid decisions you make on a daily basis, I should actually be getting a fucking medal for managing to keep all your limbs in tact.”

The way he says it is so sudden and harsh, she can’t help but laugh. 

“Funny, is it?” he grumbles.

“Hilarious. So, what type of recognition would you even have liked for keeping me alive?”

“It doesn't matter now, I think. Surely I’ll lose my job for not getting to you in time and bringing you back.”

She sits up straighter. “If I were to be brought back, what do you think you’d deserve for it?”

He sighs. “I shouldn't say.”

“I want to know.”

“You’ll hate me.”

She smiles real wide. “So what?"

He contemplates it for a moment. Finishes his second drink and then drums his fingers on the bar top. His knee gently brushes against her skirts beneath the table. “Did you know that before your father picked him to marry you, he had one of the other guards draft a list of eligible men?”

Her expression sours. “There was a list? How disappointing.”

“Mhm. It wasn’t a very long one.”

“What does this have to do with my question?”

He looks at her, unblinking. “If I were to bring you back to your father, and you still had to marry, I would like to be considered on that list.”

Everything falls away. Her smile drops, and her heart beats hard in her ears. Harry doesn’t look away from her, watching every expression take over her face. Surprise, worry, and then…

“Oh.”

The corner of his mouth twists. “Right. And a part of me wishes I’d throw you over my shoulder and drag you back to him. Just to be considered, even for a mere moment. Long enough for there to be a mental image of you and I at the altar in your father’s head. I’d be pleased with even a mere thought if it’s the only time we'd ever be together. But that wouldn’t be fair, would it?”

“No.” Though the thought of being draped over that shoulder is more than enough to get her knee bouncing under the table. Her leg jostles his.

“And of course,” he says, smiling tightly, “you are loyal to your man because of that ring.”

They both look down at the gem. It gleams in the light. 

Harry’s eyes dart back up to hers. He watches her for several long seconds before he reaches out.

With slow movements, he takes her hand. “Unless…” he murmurs, resting her hand on top of his knee. He gently twists the ring off her finger and drops it into his pocket. She keeps her hand on his leg.

Could he be trying to get her to make a move? She’ll be truly guilty if she advances first, but he doesn’t seem to be pulling away either. She holds her breath.

What she ends up saying is, “You said that as my guard, you’ve always needed to keep your eyes on me.”

“Yes.” His gaze is heavy. Dark.

“Even when I didn’t need you to?”

“I always looked out for you. I always will. It’s become second nature to me.”

That makes her feel a certain way. A way she’s never felt in her life. Her breath catches. 

"You do deserve something for that," she says softly. She carefully squeezes his leg, right above his knee.

His jaw visibly tenses.

Harry leans in, and this is when she realizes he’s moving first. He takes a hold of her chin and tilts it up, eyebrows drawn together as if he’s really trying his best to stay away but can’t. He brings his head down. He whispers her name and her body caves, leaning into him.

For the first time in her life, she's excited about kissing a man. Her impatience suddenly surpasses the limit. She puts her other hand on his knee and pushes herself upwards to meet his kiss.

Just before his mouth touches hers, the bartender returns with a gruff, “Il est tout à fait inapproprié de le faire ici. Allez dans votre chambre.” 

Harry pulls away, just barely, and looks down at her through his eyelashes. He keeps a hold on her face. “Shall we?” he asks her, ignoring the bartender. 

She swallows roughly. His eyes are drenched with desire, her heart pounding away in her chest. She licks her lips, enjoying the way he follows the movement.

He whispers, “I’ll be nice, darling.”

Excitement spreads through her like wildfire. She balls her hands into fists and takes a deep breath. “Come.”

He smiles then, and it takes her aback. As he stands, he genuinely looks pleased. Relieved even. As if he’s been waiting for this chance. He takes her hand and tells her to lead him to her room. 

And when he presses her against her door, hands tangled in her hair, a searing kiss placed onto her mouth, she realizes this is what it’s supposed to feel like.

[heeliopheelia]

"two years was not enough to get over you" (heeseung x reader)

genre: angst word count: 1.2k requested by nonnie <3

warnings: toxic relationship, mentions of cheating, reader got absolutely hammered, swearing

a/n: i know angst is not your favorite genre but i absolutely ITCHED to post this one for you guys lmao 💜 decided to post the fics less often not to drown your fyp with my drabbles!! anyways, thank you guys for all the appreciation i've been given during this event so far!! love you all <33

masterlist

You don't remember the party all that well which should be concerning considering the fact that you've only arrived here two hours ago.

The ungodly amount of alcohol you've been pouring into your body ever since your eyes met your ex's across the room start to take a toll on your system. Hence why you're kneeling in front of a toilet, spitting your guts out into it as the mentioned ex boyfriend holds your hair out of your face.

"Damn, 've never seen you this shitfaced, doll," he murmurs, collecting your locks into a makeshift ponytail.

When the gentle touch of his fingertips starts to make your already buzzing head even more hazy, you turn around and push his hands away from you. Pulling yourself back to your wobbly legs, Heeseung grabs you by your waist to stop you from tripping over your own feet and knocking half of your teeth out.

"Let go of me," you mumble quietly and he does just that, slowly inching his hands away from you.

Trying to leave the bathroom as quickly as possible, you stumble again and have to balance yourself by bracing both of your arms on the sink. Everything around you is spinning so you shut your eyes tightly, not even reacting to the feeling of his warm hand resting over your bare shoulder.

"Let me take you home," he says and you know he won't take no for an answer. When you don't respond, he asks again, "Please?"

He's always been hard to resist even back when you were dating - now, with you in such state, he's practically irresistible. So you nod your head and let him lead you out of your friends' house, hand firmly wrapped around your waist. He puts you in the passenger sit of his car and buckles you up, trying not to lose his mind at the fact that your shameful eyes never met his even once.

You drive in silence. He peeks at you from the corner of his eye every couple seconds, checking up on you that's slouched over the window.

And he just has to talk to you. He can't waste such longed for opportunity, even if that means getting his heart broken by your rejection. "You've always been a lightweight, YN. Did the masochist in you take over your senses tonight?"

You huff, slowly opening your blurry eyes. It's not easy – sitting this close to him, pretending as if everything is okay between the two of you. Like he hasn't broken your heart all those years ago. You've tried to convince yourself you healed yourself out of Lee Heeseung months ago but one stupid smile of his completely toppled down your certainty of it, and now you're not so sure after all.

"'s all your fault," you scoff, finger tracing random patterns on the window. "That's how much just seeing your stupid face riles me up."

Heeseung bites his lip, pulling up beside your apartment and shutting off the engine. He jumps out of the car, then unbuckles your seat belt and helps you crawl out of your seat. You don't even fight him when he asks for your keys, knowing it'll take him three times less to actually fit the key to the lock.

The both of you strip your shoes off and he basically carries your dead weight to the living room. He sets you down on the couch and walks off to the kitchen.

With a heavy sigh, you throw your head back on the headrest and close your eyes. This is probably the worst case scenario for tonight. Getting yourself stupidly wasted and ending up with your ex in the same apartment with you. You fucked up big time.

"Here, drink this," he says and nudges your knee with his.

You take the glass from his hands and empty the glass with three large sips. "Fuck, didn't realize I this was thirsty."

Heeseung chuckles lowly. "That's what happens when you gulp down vodka like it's water."

"What do you want from me?"

With an unamused smile, you turn to him slightly, taking in his face. You don't even try to lie to yourself anymore about how much you've missed him.

And he voices your exact thoughts after couple beats of silence. "I missed you. Two years was not enough to get over you."

You let out a loud scoff, an upset scowl making its way on your features. "You gotta be kidding me."

"I'm not, though," he argues, looking you straight into the eyes, gaze unwavering. "Never thought losing you would leave such an impact on me, you know? I just feel... empty. It's lonely out there without you."

"Should've thought of that before you fucked that chick on your birthday party," you nearly snarl at him, attempting to stand up from the couch but his hand holds you down from doing so.

His eyes are screaming with desperation. "Don't you think everyone deserves a second chance? It's been such a long time – more than enough for me to think everything over. I won't take you for granted again, YN."

"Everyone deserves a second chance, except for cheaters like you."

"I'm sor-"

"I'm tired, Heeseung," you interrupt him, hand running over your exhausted features. You notice how he swallows hardly, so you continue before he can, "Can we just not do it? I'm fucking wasted, Heeseung. Do you really think this is the right time to talk about this shit?"

With a sigh, he nods at end of it all. "I guess you're right."

"I'm always right," you mumble before leaning your heavy head on his shoulder.

The feeling is so familiar that you feel tears beginning to push on your eyes mercilessly. But the both of you say nothing. You sit in silence, eyelids refusing to open from the exhaustion.

And it's alarming how much comfort you still soak from his presence alone after everything he's put you through. One would think that you'd want nothing to do with the one who cheated on you and broke your heart into pieces, ruining every other man for you. Yet you can't help but relax in his touch as his smooth fingers graze over your arms. You just... let him wrap yourself around his finger all over again.

You let the first and the last tear drop down your cheek.

"Please, be gone by the morning," you whisper into the silence with a tight throat, face pressing to the crook of his neck. Just this one last time.

And he listens, like he always does. And when you wake up, the only thing assuring you that last night wasn't a dream is door of the top cabinet in your kitchen left barely ajar yet still not properly closed – Heeseung's habit that used to annoy the living hell out of you.

The sudden flood of memories start hollering in your brain and you close your eyes, pressing your palms roughly to them.

Despite all of the voices in your head telling you against it, you reach for your phone laying on the coffee table. Your fingers automatically dial his number that you had memorized by the time of your fifth date and you dig your nails into the flesh on your thigh as you wait with anticipation to hear his voice again.

No matter how much you hate Lee Heeseung, you're self-destructive enough to love him even more. And as much as it hurt to admit to yourself last night, two years was not enough to get over him either.

permanent taglist: @bambisgirl @arizejkt19 @luvmura @milisabunny @cathy-1997 @satoruskitchenrag @ramenoil @jenjnk

[artsy-hobbitses]

Just finished watching X-Men 97 Ep 7 (I love having a series to look forward to on a weekly basis again! Excited to get a good dinner and sit down for half and hour of getting WHIPLASHED by all the new reveals and emotions. It's such a nice thing to look forward to inthe mid-week slog as well)!!!

Thoughts and spoilers below!

They REALLY went all out with Gambit's funeral, and it was nice seeing Nightcrawler carrying out priest rites for the brother-in-law he could have had. Jubilee's anguished anger at Rogue not being there HURT

Holy shit ROGUE. VERY Rogue-centric episode, and it's pain pain PAIN evbery other minute. Her absolute disdain for Captain America not wanting her to be on his team to check out Gyrich because of the tense situation/'optics' is 100% understandable, I stand by women's rights and Rogue's Wrongs in this case. Also her backhanding him with the "America's Top Cop" label, she taking no prisoners this week.

Beast gently but sternly calling out Trish the reporter about how 'tolerance' simply isn't enough anymore and it was a low bar to set for mutant-human relations to begin with, and how he's aghast at the idea of having to give a calming/professional sound byte or something to try and quell mutant protests and demonstrations worldwide after what happened, after MILLIONS OF THEM DIED is. Very relevant. To certain current events. He's been trying SO HARD to be the sweet, professional one, but he is tired and he is sad and he doesn't have it in him to ask for the bare minimum anymore or tell his people they don't have the right to feel the way they do.

We get Diamond Emma! No clue as to whether the massacre has changed her outlook on life since her appearance was during a brief rescue moment where Cyclop's hopes that Madelyne could have survived (Jean said she could feel a telepath under all the rubble) got crushed, but hopefully that'll be answered in the next ep!

Sunspot finally coming clean to his mum about him being a mutant! She seems like a very sweet lady who clearly loves him and takes it VERY WELL, but immediately she's like "Our family is established and in the spotlight, your father's business can't afford this sort of publicity. The world won't accept you, especially given what happened, so we have to find a way to hide this from the public, and that includes cultivating a list of people you can associate with". Which feels like it could be relevant to today's queer acceptance where it's like "On a personal basis I love you and accept you for who you are, BUT..." as an evolution from the X-Men movie's "Have you ever tried... not being a mutant?"

There is a LOT of talk about 'optics' in this episode, which feels VERY TIMELY. And VERY POINTED. How President Kelly apparently wants to send aid to Genosha, but doesn't do it to the fullest extent because he's worried about the political optics from 'normal humans' who are now afraid of an all out human-mutant war, and argues that he's doing his best here and that he needs suppport to stay in office to ensure a 'worse' person for mutant advocacy doesn't step in (I'm not going to lie. Very Democrat argument for why their man should stay in office---look at the boogieman who might be there if they aren't, instead of dealing with issues head-on) . And Cyclops's civil but seething rage at that because this is NOT a time for subtleties or politicking MILLIONS OF MY PEOPLE ARE DEAD.

Nightcrawler comforting Rogue and letting her just bawl openly in his arms during Day of the Dead ;; My heart.

Rogue kills a man. Or, helps him to his death, I'm not sure how you categorize this when Trask was already attempting to jump off a building out of guilt anyway, and she stepped in to stop him, only to let go when he said he had no other info for her (she had initially told him to help them to redeem himself). Again, 100% understandable, I support Rogue's Wrongs, and I LOVE how dark they're taking this, watching our girl step closer and closer to the abyss from her rage and grief and just plunging into it. Also her screaming that Trask deserved it for killing a great man, "MY MAN!!!!!". Whoof.

KNEW Mags wasn't dead. Going to be fun seeing WHAT Bastion plans to do with him now.

Again, STELLAR episode, a good 9/10 from me!

[lazyneonrabbitt]

Witch hunt

Daryl Dixon x reader

Thanks to an emotional slip-up you almost risk your home in Alexandria

🐺 🐺 🐺

Rose was born four years ago.

Alexandria was thriving and had slowly begun to accept your daughter being a part of the group.

You were pregnant with Daryl's child when you came in with the group, but when she was born it was clear she wasn't human. She had inherited Daryl's curse and was born in her shifted form that she kept for the first few months.

You had kept your personal relationships quiet until you all felt comfortable enough but when the community learned the truth about your daughter you and Daryl agreed to never speak of your relationship and pretend to just be close friends.

Carol had taken up most of the co-parenting tasks in public and making sure to pass by wherever Daryl was working repairs and enforcements so he could say Hi to his 'baby niece'.

There had been a large disagreement about wether to let you and your daughter stay, but the ones wanting you both gone lost against your support party's arguments.

Rose had been fussy all morning. She had tried to steal the leftover meat from the fridge, complained her tummy hurt and whined about her head being loud.

You made sure she ate and drank properly, asked about her head and tummy. Trying your best to get a useful answer out of her but you couldn't seem to ask the right questions.

You guessed the hurt was just a stomach bug and the loud head was something resembling your active mind when you were uncomfortable, but the last hour she had started crying and whining out loud. Her whines were close to those of a hurt animal and it scared you more than any shrieking human wail she ever let out.

Picking her up and getting her noises down to sobs and hiccups you were close to tears yourself as you got to the new lot Daryl was building on with a team.

Daryl had sensed you coming from a distance and made his way off the roof in progress to meet you down on the street.

"Yo Dixon!" A voice called from up on the structure. "Who said you could take a break yet?"

Daryl called back a quick excuse and turning his attention back to you. He had noticed both your discomfort and took Rose from your arms as you ran him through your morning.

"Dixon!" The man called again. "How about you stick to women your own age."

"Shut it! She needs help." He had no time for bullshit.

A shaky breath left your lips when you continued. "My baby's sick and I don't know what to do." Sniffling you went on and a hand reached for your arm and squeezed softly. "I don't even know how to be a good mom I don't want her to be hurt.." with his one available arm he pulled you into a half hug, still holding sniffling Rose in his other arm.

"Come on, man! Quit flirting with the girl, she won't fuck you." You could feel Daryl's quiet growl rumbling in his chest. "Besides, you shouldn't stick your dick in crazy anyways. Her and that monster kid shouldn't even be here!"

Something inside you snapped right then and there, stepping out of Daryl's embrace and facing the man on the roof.

"Go the fuck back to work and let him deal with his sick child for a moment you useless piece of walker bait!" Tears were streaming down your face as panic set in. Ugly sobs escaping your lips as Daryl stood behind you, frozen with a now again crying child in his arms.

The man stopped all of his activities and stomped down to you.

"I'm sorry, his kid? I thought your monster brat didn't have a daddy and now you're calling Dixon its father?" He was all up in your face now and you recognized him as one of the people voting the loudest to kick you and your daughter out after learning she wasn't human. “So it turns out Crazy,” he called out for everyone around to hear. “-has a thing for older men. And dogs.”

He got real close to you for this last bit. “Did he fuck you as a dog, too?”

You now stood face to face with the man and were fuming with rage. He was clearly waiting for you to talk yourself out of the slip-up you just screamed at him and in turn gaining the attention of many bystanders who heard it all too.

Instead of answering you took a deep breath in and head-butted him. You could feel his nose crack under the impact and heard it crunch before he fell to the asphalt. On your turn to leave you looked back down at him and spat to add to the humiliation. You wanted to scream and curse at the man, but a large hand stopped you and pulled you away.

"We're going home. Now." He wasn't angry with you but he also didn't want to cause more trouble than already formed and Rose kept fussing so he just wanted to go and lock his family inside the walls of his home and calm down. Someone was gonna be knocking on their door about this later anyways.

The haunting stares of all bystanders felt like burning holes in your skin the whole way back to your home.

When all three of you passed the front door Daryl took no time locking it behind him and moving over to the living room to close the curtains.

He had placed Rose on the couch so his hands were free to grab you and place you next to her.

Rose had been fussing and crying so much she had tired herself out and had fallen asleep in Daryl's arms close to home. She still stirred every once in a while, small whines leaving her and a frown on her sleeping face.

Daryl softly stroked her head as he looked her over, seeing if he could sense something from his daughter and quickly found the issue.

When he sat up you immediately swarmed him with questions.

"She aint sick. She's just changin'. Hurts real bad the first time." He kept softly caressing her as he sat himself between you two. "We can't do much except make sure she's comfortable."

You sighed at the less than good news of not being able to help her. "How do I make sure she's good? Do we build her a nest?" An arm snaked around you and you were pulled to lay in Daryl's lap. "Just feed her enough n' giver her lil' rubs like ya give me after a long workday. Helps her hurt muscles." His hand moves over to rub comforting circles on your lower back. "Yer doin' great, momma. Ya were really hot defendin' us out there an' crackin' tha guy's face open."

You scooted over and rolled onto your back to look him in the eyes. "Really? I kinda regretted making an even bigger scene.." Your not so little outburst really didn’t help your already looked down upon status in the community. Daryl’s hand moved to your cheek and he smiled down at you. “Believe me, if ya let me I’d have another kid with ya without thinkin’ twice after what ya did for us today.” You looked up at him, hoping he’d continue his sweet words. “Yer always callin’ me yer guard dog but yer the one who’s protected me in here since day one.” Your hands reached up to hook around his neck so you could kiss him properly, showing him how much his words meant to you. “You have no idea how hard it is for me to say no to that, but we really have to get through this shit first before we can even have that conversation, don’t you think?”

The argument was agreed with and quickly dropped so you could focus on the closer issue of lying to the entire community and injuring someone in the middle of the street.

When the first knock on your front door came you jumped up in panic, sending Daryl a fearful look before going to see who it was.

Rick, Carol and Deanna stood at your front door, with a group of angry residents further off on the streets, no doubt ordered to stay back by Deanna herself.

You grounded yourself with some deep breaths before unlocking the door and allowing the people in.

Carol was quick to pull you into a hug as she saw you shaking and guided you back to the living room with the other two right behind you.

Rick was quick to put a hand in front of Deanna to stop her from getting too close to Daryl and Rose, knowing although he wasn’t a threat but he could still easily snap when threatened. She shot him an offended glance but had to remind herself she was in unknown territory and the two who accompanied her were familiar with the issue at hand.

“I believe you already know why we’re here, so we can go straight to the point.” Deanna had her stern leader voice on, but Daryl could feel her uncertain energy and decided to call her out on it. “Ya aint got no point so why’re ya really here, huh? To please tha’ crowd out there?” Deanna stood there in the middle of your living room, not knowing what to say. “The people want you gone. The ones that wanted the child gone back then are back to almost rioting about this issue. Now that they learned you have been lying for so long there’s nothing I can do to stop them..” She sounded sad, like the words were forced out of her and truly they were. She knew no matter what she’d say to the angry crowd of people, they weren’t gonna listen.

“And what do you want? Just you. Not them.” Your question surprised everyone in the room and Deanna had to give it a short moment before she found the right words.

“You’re different, but no threat.” She gave you the kindest smile she could pull, but was met with your unamused look in return. “Don’t try to sweet talk me, I’m the human one here.my partner and our daughter are the ones your people are threatened by.” You stepped closer to her only to be held back by Rick so you didn’t have the option to repeat this morning’s actions. “We’ve been living by your rules since day one.” You snapped at her. “We had to fake our entire lives to make sure you would let us stay. So we wouldn’t be judged for our odd relationship. Yeah it sucks Rose was born the way she was and risked everything going to shit but if she was born human no one would have known so where the fuck is the problem?”

This time it was Rick who chimed in with some supporting words.

“She’s right. Daryl’s been part of our family ever since we met him years ago. He’s always been protective of us and never threatened to hurt anyone.” He gave his brother an apologetic look, letting him know he wished it never had to come to this. “And quite frankly I don’t think these people have a say all of this.

Deanna took an instinctive look at the covered front window, as if to read the thoughts of the people waiting for an answer outside.

She was taken off guard when Rose stirred and started crying as she woke up, kicking everyone except her in gear, dropping the entire situation and moving to tend to the child. Daryl picked her up as you were at their side in a second. Carol moved to the kitchen and called over if you had any food prepared for her, fishing it out of the fridge and heating it. Rick stood by, ready to take over anyone’s task if needed.

Deanna watched the scene in front of her, seeing a caring side of Daryl she hadn’t seen before. He sat with the child in his lap, calming her down and carefully showing you how to relieve her aches. When her cries died down to just soft sobs you accepted the bowl Carol had brought and tried to feed her. When she didn’t accept any your heart broke and it was clearly visible on your face that you were hurt by her reaction.

“Sweetie, she’ll eat when she feels good enough. You shouldn’t worry too much.” Carol’s sweet words had Daryl chuckle. “Ya can tell her tha’ till ya drop dead, I tell her she’s an amazing momma every day but she’ll still cry to me when Rose fussed about not wanting to wear a sweater in winter.” His loving smile towards you didn’t go unnoticed.

Everything seemed to be going the right way when a loud scream caught your attention and frantic banging at your door sounded through the house and for a second you feared for the lives of your family before Michonne came barging in, out of breath and yelling about walkers and a breach in the wall.

“This continues later. Walkers first.” Deanna turned to make her way outside but was stopped by Daryl.

“What section?” Michonne quickly answered and followed closely behind him. You stood in the hallway spotting his knives and crossbow left at the door. “Dee, what are you gonna do?” You called out, already having a bad feeling about his plans, but you guessed it was the only thing that would help see the people who he really was.

His winged vest was dropped at the bottom of your porch steps and his boots laid toed off in the yard. “Showin’ em the truth.” And with that he stalked his way over to the breach, through the swarm of people that hadn’t gone off to fight.

The crowd raved and howled at him to leave them be, to get out and take his offspring with him but he only ignored them as he kept moving.

With the first walker in sight he snarled and rolled his shoulders before hunching over and easily shifted into his large creature form and tearing into the lone walker that got past the defense line.

“Retreat!” Rick and michonne had caught up with him and got all the survivors to pull away and help with prep work for the wall as Daryl tore through the herd that thinned out within minutes as he drove them all to the ground and back into the hole in the wall. Glenn and Maggie had set themselves up at the front of the gate repair crew, seeing as they weren’t afraid of Daryl like this and got the hole closed up quick enough so the others could start reinforcements as the cleanup group got rid of the remains of the dead.

Daryl had shoved the last of the walkers out of the community and followed through the broken wall to thin out the large buildup that had started forming. Loud snarls, aggressive sounds of the dead and bodies dropping to the floor was all you could hear on the safe end of the wall after the initial reinforcements were placed.

Deana had shown up to assist with the aftermath, you at her side carrying Rose in your arms. “It seems your partner did an outstanding job getting rid of the dead.” Her calm observation gave you a small sense of relief as the chattering voices around you all voices different sorts of opinions. “I hope it changes their minds.” Was all you could say, trying to block out the negative thoughts of being in the middle of so many people with your daughter right now.

The crowd had dispersed after the sudden walker intrusion. The ones left behind were either cleanup crew or ones with strong negation opinions even after Daryl just helped them without thinking twice. You stayed close to Deana while you waited for Daryl to return, who after it al quieted down beyond the wall, climbed back over and back down to greet you. He trotted down the street, head held low and and steps small as he tried his best not to scare anyone off while he remained in his non human form. He had almost made it to your side when you saw someone run in from beside him and throw something. It glimmered in the sunlight and wrapped around Daryl, clinging to his fur. A loud howl sounded through the street as he dropped to the ground, pawing at the thing around him but it felt like all the strength had left his body. Pained yelps and whines left him as he shook around trying to get the thing off. You ran up to him, setting Rose down next to you and grabbing at item that appeared to be a jewelry chain. You wrapped your fingers around it and pulled it off him, but not without being knocked on your ass when the chain caught on something and he thrashed around again.

When you got it off him you took a good look at the chain. It was in fact silver jewelry chain, a bunch if them clipped together to form a makeshift lasso. With your attention so focused on the pieces of jewelry,

You hadn’t noticed Rose waddling over, wanting to go to her daddy but getting distracted by the shiny thing and grabbing onto it with both hands. The whole world around you faded away as she shrieked in pain, letting go of the chain and dropping down crying, clutching her hands to her chest. Daryl shot up and moved his head to nudge at her, now cradled in your arms. You rocked her as you apologized what felt like a million times, trying to get a look at her hands but she wouldn’t open them for you. You managed to get her arms stretched do Daryl quickly nudged his snout against her little fists and lapped at them, wringing his tongue between her fingers to lick at her palms. The good thing about her being a little kid was that she’d heal from almost any surface injuries, and him licking the wounds would help speed up the healing so she could use her hands again hopefully soon.

Daryl let out a content grumble as his daughter sniffled and looked at her hands with a funny look, squeezing them together at the tingly feeling of the burns slowly fading away. He gave her a careful lick to the cheek to wipe away her tears before laying back down exhaustion.

You turned your daughter around in your lap to get a good look at her. “Does it still hurt, sweetie?” A little shake of her head helped you calm down a little bit as the world around you slowly came back into focus. A few mothers that stood around with concerned looks on their faces and children of all ages begging to pet the big dog. One of the younger women came up to you with some sweets in her hand, looking at you before continuing. “Can she have a candy? To help with the shock.” You gave Daryl a look, who nodded yes so you did as well. Some candies wee held out for Rose to pick from, but before she could grab some you chose the lollypop for her, making sure she wouldn’t take the chocolate and thanked the lady for the kind gesture.

There was some ruckus going on behind you, voices you recognized as Rick and Maggie and some others you didn’t.

“She’s a psycho!” You heard a woman’s voice yell. Sinking back into yourself as you immediately knew you were the topic of that fight. “She broke my husband’s nose! She has a child with that.. That monster over there!” Daryl only let out a huff of air, telling you to ignore them and their annoying words.

On the other side of the street parents were trying to hold back their kids who were begging them to let them pet the cool big dog. You shared another look with Daryl who let out a chuckle and a soft nod. Waving at the parents you waved to get them to come closer with their kids. “He says they can pet him, only a little bit.” You start, raising your hand and pointing at the kids. “But. Don’t pet on his neck. He’s still hurt there.” The kids excitedly huddled around him and put their hands in his fur. “Woah!” “He’s so warm.” “Sooofft!” The children loved him and you couldn’t help but wish you had a camera right now to capture this sweet moment. One of the fathers sat down next to you in front of Daryl and apologized. Admitting he had been part of the group who voted to kick you and your daughter out those years ago but saw now he had made a mistake then, acting out of fear instead of taking the chance to really speak with you as s person.

It seemed Daryl’s act really did help to change at least some peoples’ minds. You thanked the man for his honesty and took a moment to tell the children they pet the big dog enough.

Daryl took the opportunity to sit up and immediately Rose went to climb off your lap and onto his, grabbing at his fur and nuzzling it, enjoying the softness and warmth. “Looks like her hands are fine again.” You laughed at how she tried to hide herself in her father’s fur. Daryl out a large paw around her, holding her close as you informed you were going to talk to Deana.

Taking the bundled up silver chain in your hands you moved towards the woman and inform her of the thing someone used to hurt your partner.

She took the jewelry from your hands and inspected it, informing you she would do her best to find out who did this and make sure they were punished. From behind her that same woman from before spat curses at you before being cursed out herself by Denise, who threatened to halt the medical care for her entire family if she couldn’t be more accepting of the people who had to hide away their true selves for so long. Denise was the only one not from your original group who knew about the relationship between you and Daryl, and thus also about his condition although she had never seen any of it in person. You couldn’t help but let out a laugh at Denise’s harsh comeback and loved all the support your family was getting.

More women joined your side, letting you know how brave they thought you’ve been all this time going out with your child, knowing there were people out to hurt her. And some nudging you and pointing towards Daryl, suggesting you wee brave for …other things as well. You turned beet red at the implication of you sleeping with Daryl like that, which no, you hadn’t. They all giggled along with you, chatting about how your kids should play together some time to which your face dropped again, sadly having to explain about Rose’s current issue and not feeling comfortable having her around other kids for now. You were happy to learn they all respected your decision albeit not entirely understanding it. You were a relatively young mother with a child you yourself also still had to learn a lot about.

Daryl had gotten up from his spot, making sure Rose walked with him to your group. When something grabbed at your leg you were quickly pulled from your conversation to pick up your daughter and greet Daryl with a pat on the head. “Feeling better again?” He nodded and grumbled, sitting down to close the circle and suddenly getting all kinds of stares from the ladies which had him tilt his head in confusion and stare at you. The ladies giggled again as your beet red color returned making Daryl nudge you with his nose. “They ehm.. Made some assumptions about us ..together..” Fumbling with the fabric of Rose’s shirt you stumbled over your words and Daryl quickly seemed to realize what you were getting at. He let out a content hum that had the ladies crying with laughter, patting you on the back and wishing you good luck with your boyfriend before walking off to find their own families and head back home. You looked back at Daryl who still sported a smug look and gave him a light pat to get the idea out of his head.

Rick came up to you two, informing you the people who were causing a scene earlier got taken care of. One of them also confessed to using the silver jewelry to hurt Daryl.

The realization of people being out to hurt you for real freaked you out, but the confirmation of them being taken care of made you feel a lot safer, knowing there were always people around who were on your side.

“Hey, Dee. Wanna head home? I think Rose is tired.” You glanced over at the child currently drooling over your shirt as she slept in your arms. “Besides,” a nudge with your elbow had him make a curious noise at you. “We solved our issue, so we should have that second kid talk right about now.”

Another content hum left Daryl’s throat as he happily nudged you along, leading you home with an eager tempo.

Once back home you went to put Rose to bed and fetch Daryl a new set of clothes while he shifted back into his human form. When you rounded the corner you threw his clothes at him so he could get dressed while you grabbed something to drink for you both.

Daryl had just finished dressing and pulling his hair up in a messy bun like he always did in the privacy of his own home. You set down the glasses and walked over to your boyfriend, kissing him to celebrate your victory today.

“Those burns aren’t healing well, huh?” You put your hands on his jaw, moving his head to get a better look as he shook his head. “Nah. Silver burns scar most of the time.” Your stood on your tiptoes to kiss the wounds and took his hands in yours. “Come, drink and nap. Both of us.” He accepted the drink and kindly waited for you to finish yours while he gulped his down in seconds.

The second your glass hit the table he had hauled you over his shoulder and made his way up the stairs.

“We aint nappin’ just yet, bunny.”

[mypoisonedvine]

I hate hate hate having to talk about this stuff because I know 98% of y'all are not the problem, and the remaining 2% are probably not going to care in the slightest. but I need to set some boundaries and explain why I'm getting frustrated before any more resentment builds.

I've been writing for cillian murphy characters since july 26 when I posted 'thoughtless', since then I've released well over one hundred thousand words of content for him. I'm not exaggerating, I counted. it's been five and a half weeks and I've posted 14 full-length one shots which means I'm posting more than twice a week. that's not even including drabbles/requests.

I'm getting concerned that this has set a precedent that people are holding me to and I'm getting annoyed by the entitlement in some of my asks and comments.

first things first, and I know nobody means anything bad by this but it's pissing me off: stop using the phrase "full smut" in your requests, it's driving me crazy. this started abruptly after I posted a bunch of drabbles in one sitting based on y'all's ideas and requests. I did that as a way to try out new ideas and appease people who hadn't had their concepts written about yet. instead of people being happy with what I wrote for them, people got frustrated that the drabbles were drabble-length and not thousands of words long like my full fics (which take me several days to write, rather than an hour or less which is the point of short requests). ever since, people won't stop coming into my inbox talking about making a "full smut" for a certain character or idea as if they're terrified that I'll only post something short. I usually don't post short things. I feel now like those drabbles were a colossal waste of time because all they did was make people afraid I wouldn't write longer stuff; I wanted to open requests again because I had fun, but now I feel like it's a bad idea because it'll just leave people frustrated when they see it's not whatever a "full smut" is and then tell me it's incomplete and I need to write more. a short drabble can very well be a complete story. stop asking for "full smut" PLEASE. just tell me what you're interested in reading and trust that, as the author, I will tell the story in the correct length of time.

secondly, the way people are asking for stories about new characters is getting out of control. I think you guys don't realize that I only post less than half of the asks I get, because they are so repetitive and constant. I have literally over 2000 unanswered asks currently. if I answered all the asks I received, I would lose followers because it clogs the dash and half of them are the same questions.

and I'm just gonna say this one explicitly: please stop asking me to write for cillian's character in the movie 'anna'. I'm not saying that I won't or that I don't want to. but I need you to understand that I get easily 3-5 asks a DAY about this character and I am exhausted. I'm not particularly interested in watching the movie. not only does it look like it's probably just not that good, but on a very personal note, I am in recovery for an eating disorder (and relapsed recently) and I just... don't wanna watch a movie with a runway model in the leading role right now. I'm sorry if that feels like body shaming or something but I've been waiting until I feel like I can watch it without feeling sick or enraged. it should come as a surprise to no one who is familiar with my work that I'm not a particularly mentally healthy person. but that's only part of it; I answered asks about this character for a while saying I wanted to write for him eventually, but I had to stop because people just asked about him every day anyways without reading my very recent posts with the same question. I'm still not ruling it out. I'm just warning you guys that it will be a while.

people are now commenting requests for new characters ON MY CURRENT FICS FOR UNRELATED CHARACTERS. how entitled and dense do you have to be to do that? I can't believe this has to be said, but comments on my fics should be... related to the content of the fic you're commenting on.

to be clear, I'm not mad at anyone for doing this stuff (except that last one, that's unforgivably ridiculous) because I think the intentions are pure. but now that I've explained why this stuff bothers me, I'm asking you to put a little more thought into how you phrase your questions and comments. to be clear: for the most part I feel incredibly supported and appreciated here and I've been very impressed by this fandom's ability to not be morality police and manage their own content consumption. a lot of you have reached out with concern about the speed at which I was producing and I totally understand and value that. I honestly think I can keep up that pace for a little while longer... I just wanted to explain why I'm getting a little irritated and hopefully decrease the amount of asks I get repeating the same two or three things.

so, tl;dr -- I've been having a lot of fun writing and I plan to keep doing it as much as I can. some people are spoiling the fun for everyone by being (usually unintentionally) entitled and impatient. I don't mind you guys showing enthusiasm for things you'd like to see from me, in fact it's helpful because it tells me what might get a good reception. but please be thoughtful in how you make these requests and please support what I've already written if you want to see more. I think non-writers have a hard time understanding how inspiration works (hell, even writers don't really understand it in ourselves lol) and so it kinda just seems like if I can write about one thing I can write about any thing. but I only write so much and so fast because I write what speaks to me and not other people's ideas. again, thank you so much for all the love and support this past month!!

p.s. I also get asks multiple times a day asking when I will post a fic, especially if I've announced it. I always post fics between 4 and 5 PM central US time. I would recommend calculating when that is for you and I promise you'll find me posting very reliably at this time on days I have fics announced. hopefully this saves us all some trouble in the future lmao

[weepingfoxfury]

The man on the radio is throwing all manner of tunes in our general direction, says there's birthdays for the man and his year of the cat plus we may just head to Barcelona for the other one. Weatherwise things are a little on the damp side, there may be hints of sunshine between the showers or showers between the hints of sunshine ... all things considered, a day for keeping 'the umbrella' close. The traffic lady seems to mention somewhere called Roaches Town where things are bumper to bumper and she may just get thrown off the bus ... somebody call Grace Jones and the Men In Black!

Today's groaner: The owner of a wine shop answers his phone in the middle of the night. A slightly panicky voice on the other end asks, "It's kind of an emergency. When does your shop open?" The owner replies in an exasperated voice, "I just closed half an hour ago. So it won't open till tomorrow morning." Sometime later the owner is woken up with another call, " How long till you open? My need is urgent.", says the same, but slightly inebriated, voice. The slightly puzzled owner replies, "I told you, it won't open till morning." A few hours later there's another call, "When will your shop open?", shouts a drunk voice. The owner, now at the cusp of righteous wrath, shouts back, "For crying out loud! I told you - in the morning! And you don't sound like you need any wine by the way your night's been going, anyway." A slightly puzzled, but heavily intoxicated voice replies, "I've plenty of wine. What I need is a way out from your shop." ;-D badoom tish ... here all week!!

Mostly off planet at this point. You wouldn't believe how much my technology has been against me this morning! Some days I really shouldn't approach my laptop ... or maybe I should just approach it from a completely different angle ... or maybe I just need more coffee. Either way, I'm now going to head away from this little screen and just keep looking out of the window instead. No buttons to press, no notifications, no messages telling me that me and my passwords don't exist. "I'm sorry Dave, I can't do that" ... looks like HAL 9000 has found me. ;-)

Thursday, Thursday, Thursday ... Biggest Dog had a good night's sleep and so did we all ... ciao until tomorrow ...

[canirove]

Granada | Chapter 3

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Masterlist

"You look beautiful, Rowena."

"I hate it" she replied while looking at herself in the mirror. It had been a few days since her attempt to run away and she hadn't tried to do it again, but after seeing the wedding dress the Queen had chosen for her, the idea of giving it another go was very tempting.

"We were told this was the fashion in your country" the seamstress said.

"A century ago, maybe" Rowena sighed. "I look like one of those cupcakes your mother used to give us."

"You actually do look a bit like a cupcake, yes" Anne chuckled.

"Can we… can we change the skirt?" 

"We could take off some of the layers" the seamstress suggested.

"Wait, no. I think I have an idea."

"Rowena, where are you going?" Anne asked.

"Our room. I just remembered this illustration from a book I read that may help us do something with all… this."

"But you can't leave while wearing your wedding dress! What if the Prince sees you?"

"I'll be fine. He probably is somewhere doing something he shouldn't" Rowena said.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━          

"What are you wearing?" someone laughed behind Rowena.

"A dress" she answered as she kept walking.

"You look… I don't know how you look" Prince Rúben laughed.

"Like a cupcake."

"A what?"

"A cupcake. Don't you know what that is?"

"Never heard that word before" he replied, now walking next to her. Him and his stupid long legs, always catching up to her despite walking as fast as she could. Though on that dress, it wasn't too fast. 

"A cupcake is like a small cake with cream. The Queen used to get them for Anne and I when we were kids, and that's what I look like."

"Oh… I see. Do you like them?"

"I like eating them, not wearing them."

"Understandable" he chuckled. "Where are you going dressed like that?"

"Why do you care?"

"Well, you are about to be my wife, and you have this habit of wanting to run away."

"It only happened once."

"But you've definitely thought about doing it a few more times" he smirked.

"Whatever."

"So, where are you going?"

"My room."

"Why?"

"Don't you have somewhere else to be? Something else to do?"

"I actually don't, no" he shrugged.

"Urgh" Rowena groaned, rolling her eyes. "I'm going to my room to fetch a book. It has an illustration of a dress I want to show to the seamstress."

"Wait… Is this your wedding dress?" 

"Not if I can help it" she sighed. "Though maybe I should actually wear this one."

"Why would you do such thing? It is horrible, and you definitely look uncomfortable wearing it."

"Because back home they say that if the groom sees the bride wearing her wedding dress before the ceremony, it brings bad luck. So maybe, if I wear this one, we won't have to get married" Rowena smiled.

"Or maybe the bad luck will be that you actually end up marrying me" Prince Rúben replied with a matching smile.

"That's… urgh" she groaned again, making him laugh. 

"Anyway, I better leave you alone to fetch that book. Now I'm curious to see what dress you will be wearing."

"Great" she said as she picked up her skirts and kept walking, leaving him behind.

"But Romina" the prince called.

"It's… what now?" 

"Make sure it has an interesting back. If you run away half way through the ceremony, at least let me see those hips of yours moving one last time."

"You are so lucky I can't reach one of my shoes right now" she said, making him laugh once again. 

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━          

One week. 7 days. 168 hours. Kind of. That was the time Rowena had left before she had to marry Prince Rúben. And it kept being an idea she wasn't looking forward to. She had managed to convince the seamstress to make her the dress she wanted, so that was something. And she was going to get married in the gardens, now her favourite place in the palace, which made things a bit better too. But just a bit.

As she walked through them, she heard people talking behind some trees, someone laughing. And that laugh was one she had already gotten very used to. 

"Can you do it, then?" Prince Rúben asked to a maid. 

"Of course I can, my prince" she replied. 

When she saw them, they were talking very close to each other. Too close if we keep in mind that they were a Prince and a servant. 

"Afternoon" Rowena said, making both of them jump.

"My lady" the maid replied before quickly leaving, her cheeks bright red.

"You know, you could at least be more careful" Rowena said as she started walking away. 

"What do you mean?" Prince Rúben asked, showing up at her side like he always did. 

"Your lovers. You should be more careful next time, meet with them where people can't see you. You are about to get married, remember?"

"Jealous?" he smirked.

"Of course not" she snorted.

"Then?"

"If someone who wasn't me had seen you, you may had gotten that poor girl in trouble."

"I see… So you aren't jealous, you just care about that maid."

"Exactly. If an unmarried woman is seen alone with a man, and behaving the way you were, her life will be over. Even more if he happens to be a Prince and she is just a maid. You will walk away unscratched while she will be left with nothing. That's how unfair life is to women."

"It actually is, yes.”

"Well, if you agree with me, then you know what to do next time."

"I'll meet her in the kitchens."

"You what?" 

"She works in the kitchens. Next time I want to ask her a favour, I'll do it there."

"You… you…"

"Look at the colour of your cheeks" Prince Rúben laughed. "She isn't my lover, Romina. Relax."

"Rowena" she whispered. "But if she isn't your lover, what were you talking about?"

"I was asking her a favour, I already told you."

"What kind of favour?"

"Not the one you were thinking about" he smirked, making her cheeks feel warmer. 

"Then tell me."

"I can't, it's a secret."

"What?"

"A secret" he repeated. 

"My prince, you are needed in the stables" a servant said, interrupting their conversation.

"Duty calls” Prince Rúben sighed. “See you around… cupcake" he smiled at Rowena before walking away with the servant.

━━━━━━❃━━━━━━          

"My lady, may I come in?" a maid asked after knocking on the door.

"Of course" Anne replied. 

"Prince Rúben has sent this for Lady Rice" the girl said, leaving a covered tray on the table.

"For me?" Rowena asked, finally looking up from her book. That maid… She was the one she saw him talking with.

"For you, my lady" she smiled.

"What is it?"

"I can't tell you, my lady. He said that you should see it for yourself."

"I don't like the way that sounds."

"Oh, Rowena. Stop being so distrustful and check what it is!" Anne said.

"Alright, fine" she replied as she slowly lifted the lid that was covering the tray. "No way."

"Cupcakes!" Anne laughed. "Those are cupcakes!"

"How… why… he…" Rowena mumbled, too stunned to say anything coherent.

"The Prince said you liked them and he asked me to make them for you. That was what we were talking about the other day."

"You were talking about cupcakes?"

"Yes, my lady" the maid said. "If I ran away like that, it was because I didn't want to ruin the surprise."

"Oh. I see."

"Isn't it cute, Rowena? He made you cupcakes! Well, not really, but you understand what I mean" Anne chuckled.

"I hope they taste good. I followed a recipe from a book Prince Diogo bought for the kitchens after your engagement was announced. He wanted us to learn some traditional meals from your country so you wouldn't miss home too much."

"Did he?"

"Yes, my lady" the maid smiled.

"Aww, that is so thoughtful! Isn't it, Rowena?" Anne said. But she was still looking at the cupcakes. Prince Rúben had asked someone to make her cupcakes. He had paid attention to what she had told him when they had met. He had remembered. And that also was why he had called her cupcake. "Should we try one?"

"Uh?"

"The cupcakes, Rowena. Should we try one?" Anne asked. "I'm sure she is dying to know if you like them or not."

"I actually am" the girl said. "If you like them, the Prince would like to serve them on your wedding day."

"He… he said that?"

"He did, Lady Rice" she smiled.

"Then we must try them" Anne said. "Looks like he isn't as bad as you thought, uh?"

"Yes... looks like" Rowena replied, her eyes fixed on the small cakes.

[imzsuzsis-blog]

"Famous... Of course... Location... It's not bad there."

I distributed autogarms to the fans and enjoyed them as much as they did. So I'm a little calmer at sixteen weeks pregnant, I'll be seventeen tomorrow, if I've been able to keep the driving from bothering me, they won't now either.

"MR Norris we should talk."

"About the loose clothes? if it comes to that, these are the ones that come in these days."

I smiled and continued on my scooter.

,,No."

One of the leaders pulled me aside, I recognized him, I used to talk to him on race weekends.

"Take off your top."

"Why am I so sexy?"

I asked him with a sexy laugh and raised my eyebrows just like that.

"No, you put on a few kilos and that's not allowed... I just want to measure your weight."

"I'm not going to take it down anyway, leave it alone!!!!"

I ran away from there with tears in my eyes, many times they found me saying that I'm not fit, I'm muscular or I've just gained weight, who cares, they have nothing to do with it.

,,Come back!"

"No, leave him alone!!!!! Well, I've finally put on a few kilos and I'm feeling good like this?! Huh?”

,,Obligatory."

,,Absolutely not!!!! You found the wrong person!!!!”

I stood in front of one of the motorhomes with my palms spread wide open and sobbed with this shit for half an hour or so.

"Lando, Lando!!!"

The paparazzi were screaming, I couldn't bear to listen, especially since it was about one of my competitors, I also heard the original situation, it was stupid, in my heart, I would have shot the guy on the spot.

"Lando, come on, fucking whore, the Paparazzi want you again, and they want to eat you alive."

I jerked away from him when he noticed them, he closed his eyes and screamed in an unintelligible voice and covered his ears.

"Charles!!!"

He screamed my name and opened him beautiful eyes.

"Is it over?"

"I don't know, this is Monaco and we're full of celebrities and more will come tomorrow..."

He closed his eyes again and started screaming again, terrified of the paparazzi.

"Loki, help..."

"What... Lando?"

He waved to him but he was still terrified, we can't do anything with him.

"Come open those beautiful eyes of yours, my beauty."

"No, they won't go away!!!"

I caressed his face but he didn't calm down, he became even more grumpy.

"Take it easy, little ones will leave."

,,When?!!!!!!"

He became more and more hysterical since yesterday, since we were caught kissing again.

"I know it sucks to be on the front page of the newspapers, but we can't do anything now, they caught us."

"Fuck, I know, and that's not the fucking point, but the fact that I'm pregnant. If it turns out, I'll be on the front page of even more newspapers, I don't want that, understand."

He went more and more into hysterical sobbing because yesterday those flashbacks really clicked on our sorrow, the questions also came in Lando's pregnancy category, we are still denying it as long as possible, then we will bring this to the public where possible, for the time being we are treating it as a private matter.

"It doesn't work Loki, I have to tell the public that I'm pregnant, but I don't know how, can you help me?"

"Yes, very welcome."

Now we had a quiet minute, I held him little growing belly together, I looked him right into him eyes by the nape of him neck, he smiled at me and finally we shared a faint kiss.

,,They're so cute."

I got my cell phone in advance and I took a picture of them in a stick, and instead of putting it on Instasorty, they came to my message. Also the answers to the questions, Lando is pregnant. I knocked him down against my will.

"Fuck it, I fucked it up."

I ran and accidentally dropped my mobile right in front of Charles.

"Eternal bet, my brother, what would you do?"

"I posted something by accident..."

"What are these on your Insta messages, oh my God, Lando is pregnant, who is pregnant, how long has he been pregnant... Answer me, brother."

"Good, but Lando is gay like that, but since when?"

"You abnormal Australian animal!!!"

Lando came behind me, I turned around I shouldn't have and he slapped me.

"What the hell did you put this on the internet for?"

"By accident, I meant it in my story, not here."

"You are a very Koala, many people see it there too."

I slapped him again, but this time so hard that a wound appeared on his mouth.

"I'm sorry, it wasn't intentional, I'm not like that, you fucking know me, I wouldn't post something like that anywhere."

"Oscar, this isn't your first time like this. When you came here, you posted that I was kissing another boy in the park of the paddock, and even then you wrote how cute it was."

Shaking my head, I tried to put my hand on my hip, but there was nowhere to go, so I just stood there facing him, not too happy about the matter.

"Or when you were still in Formula 2, I miscarried and secretly sobbed for several days and even weeks. You shouldn't have exposed it, you should learn to handle the mass media, Oscar."

,,Where is?"

He's fighting over there and he'll come."

I smiled at that I knew, then I saw what happened the whole social media freeze from Oscar again.

"Fuck the spit again."

,,What do you mean?"

"When he did it once, the whole X and Insta froze, which you can imagine, then because he said his teammate was gay, and now because Lando is pregnant."

I showed it to him, but I knew that he must be following him somewhere and knows that he posted this and that he shouldn't have.

"I'm too damn involved in this, just like you think the little one is from me."

"Screw it, I know, he said it was some kind of Ollie, but I wasn't too excited about a popular name."

"Fuck Oscar where he is!!!"

He became an angry scorpion in a moment when he came back and chewed his fist, he does it when he's nervous and now it's because Oscar pulled his brain up, but really.

"Baby, would you like a kiss of peace?"

"I'm not nervous, come on."

"Good, okay, not even a kiss of peace..."

"What?"

“Shall we… Comforter?”

"Yes, it's comforting."

[cherrychonk]

The Transfer Part 17 Previously Part 16

* Hey guys! Sorry I’ve been a ghost, life has been busy af and now im finally getting back to normal. I’m not giving up on this story but I’ve had to re-read it to know where I left off. There’s a few mistakes/inconsistencies/errors in this story. English isn't my main language so I’ve had a bit of an issue. Anyways, thank you all for the support and for reading this little story. Without further ado, I present to you ‘The Transfer’*

“Tank?!”

This was a call you weren't expecting, you were surprised, confused and worried all at the same time.

“Tank you need to surrender into police custody right now, you can’t keep running.” You said gripping the phone tightly.

“No, I’m not coming back. They know I was the one to spill the information so they will hit me next.”

“Why are you calling Tank?”

There was a pause before commotion could be heard from the other side of the line. “Y/N they are coming after you. You may never hear from me again but-”

“Where are you?!” You asked frantically

You heard a crash and men yelling. “The docks… Watch your back Y/N”

The line went dead after those last words. You sat in your chair trying to digest everything and thinking of what to do. You decided to tell Lin about this. Standing up you almost crashed into Mako who had heard your distressed voice and came to see what was up.

“Y/N are you okay?” Mako asked, brows furrowed

“I- I need to talk to the Chief” You said moving past him

“Was that Tank?” He asked following you

‘Watch Your Back’ Those words keep ringing in your subconscious as you continued walking. “Yes, I need to tell Li- the Chief” You corrected yourself, your feelings were all over the place making your mind blurr and your anxiety rise.

Quickly you both walked towards Lin’s office and barged in without knocking. The Chief looking up from her paperwork to stare at you and Mako angrily.

“What the hell do you two think you’re d-” Lin stopped talking when she saw the worried looks on your faces.

“What’s going on?” She asked, standing up and quickly approaching.

“Tank called, he was at the docks and I don’t know if he’s alive but… I think I’m in danger?” You said the last part almost in a whisper and not making eye contact.

Lin nodded. “Let’s hurry, we might catch them if we move now.” She marched out of her office and stood in front of everyone. Calls were coming in from people around the docks, a fight and a fire had formed. Lin decided to address the situation and take action.

“I will choose a team to take to the docks with me to examine the scene and see if we can apprehend the people responsible. We move now, I will send the closest patrols to the area and we will be there for back up.” She pointed to a few officers including Mako. “Let’s go!”

You quickly followed Lin only for her to stop you. “You stay, they made it clear that you are the next target. I won't take that chance.” Her intention was to sound harsh, but you could see the apprehension in her eyes as she spoke.

“Should I go home?” You asked

She pondered for a moment. “Stay here, other officers can have your back if anything happens.”

“Okay” You said sighing

She nodded in relief and continued to move on. “Stay and receive the calls with your fellow officers, if more threats come through let us know. We'll call for backup if it’s needed.”

“Yes Chief.” You said, already planning how to escape and go to the docks. You couldn't help it even if you tried.

_________

The docks were a mess of fire and ash. The fire team was already putting out what was left active and the paramedics were on the scene helping the injured bystanders. Cops were searching every inch of the place looking for signs of the perpetrators, the fire making collecting evidence a hassle. Vendors and people were crowding around looking for answers while the press took pictures and interviewed anyone and everyone. Everything was making the investigation difficult. Lin had spent half an hour looking around in different stores and talking with civilians to see if she could find Tank or at least any evidence he had been there.

“Chief!” An officer called

“Yes?” Lin said approaching

“We found something”

Lin walked towards the group and into a burnt shack, everything around was black due to the fire and the floor was nothing but ash. There was a smell of burnt meat and she continued walking only to find a human body absolutely calcified. The body looked like it was laying face down, in its back was a knife pushed in the middle of the shoulder blades. Lin crouched down and took a better look, she hummed.

“Call over the forensics team, check if this body belongs to the fugitive.”

“Yes Chief!”

Lin stood up from her place. “They want the message to be clear. This is what backstabbers get.”

___________________

Back at the station calls were still coming in and you had to explain to many civilians that the issue was being looked into and the Chief was working on a resolution. Some were content with the answer while others kept badgering and calling to complain about the smell and smoke. Besides that, everything was dying down and regular calls were coming in as officers were dispatched to different scenes.

“So he told you they were after you?” Jia asked as she handed you a cup of coffee.

“Yes, I still don’t know how to feel about it.” You hummed while taking a sip of the drink.

Jia looked at you bewildered. “Ummm hello? You just got told a mob boss was after your ass and you just feel unsure?”

You chuckled “I’ll be fine, I always am”

Jia opened her mouth to comment when the whole floor started buzzing with calls again.

“There goes the peace.” Jia said leaving and running back to her desk.

You answered your ringing phone and listened to the caller. “RCPD Officer Y/N speaking, what is your emergency?”

“Our building is on fire!” The caller yelled

“Are you safe or inside the building?” You asked keeping calm

“I think everyone is out! The’re were just a few of us inside.” The man said, trying to sound calm and coherent.

You sighed in relief “What is your location so we can send help?”

Your whole world stopped as you heard the address. “We will send everyone available to help. Stay Calm.” With that the caller hung up and you took a breath. It all came crashing down when you relayed the information. It was your building, everything was in slow motion as you stood up and made eye contact with a fellow officer. They gave you a weird look before you started to run, they soon followed.

“Y/N?” One yelled

“My place is on fire!” You yelled

“We got the call too, If it’s the one on lion turtle street they're already units on their way! Go!”

You kept running and didn't stop until you got into a patrol car. You quickly radio Mako.

“Officer Mako Spea-”

“My place is on fire!” You yelled as you sped out of the headquarters.

“What?!” He questioned

“Mako it’s Y/N! My building is on fire, I'm on my way there!”

“Y/N go back! This could be a trap!”

You hung up as soon as he finished the sentence and continued on your way.

______________

Lin was speaking with a detective when Mako came running to her side.

“Y/N’s place is on fire!” Mako’s voice was shaky but firm.

“Where’s Y/N?” Lin spoke, her voice laced with anger and stress

“She’s on her way there, I couldn’t stop her.”

“Dammit!” Lin cussed “Get there and stay with her, don’t let her out of your sight.”

“Yes chief!”

Lin quickly called a small group and asked them to stay with the small group of firefighters as the rest left with her. She couldn't help how she felt, the fear eating her mind as she envisioned Y/N dead by the hands of people she hadn’t been able to apprehend. Fear that quickly turned into anger as she pushed the gas pedal and the sirens roared through the streets.

___________________

After searching around the building for the men responsible, you fell to your knees as you saw the fire eat away all you had leaving you with only the clothes on your back and your aching heart. Your only consolation was the fact that everyone managed to evacuate as soon as the fire started. Tears streamed down your face as you felt a hand on your shoulder and you looked up to find Mako staring at you and handing you his hand for you to take. You did and he helped you up.

“We’ll be here for you okay?” Mako held your hand tight.

You nodded, not trusting your voice to not break as your emotions raged in your chest. You hugged him and he returned the gesture, holding you tightly.

“Y/N!” Lin called as soon as she got out of her patrol car.

You looked back at her and couldn’t help but burst out in tears. She rushed to your side and placed her hand on your back. “We will find them, I promise.”

You nodded. You wanted nothing more than to hug her but didn’t want to put her in an uncomfortable situation.

After hours of putting the fire out and looking if anyone was left in the building you were allowed to see your apartment. Everything was gone, from your clothes, most of your jewelry, family pictures to trinkets you were gifted by coworkers and friends. As you moved to your bedroom and looked around, you found something under the bed, you crouched down and grabbed what you realized was the plushie you were gifted when you were at the hospital. It was partially burned in some places but otherwise in okay condition. You grabbed it and held it close to you as you walked down the apartment and out of the building. You felt defeated and scared, you didn't know what to do. Walking towards a nearby telephone you called your father and he answered as normal.

“Father, something happened” You said, your heart on your throat

“Do I have to kill someone?” His voice was low and serious.

“I wasn’t hurt, my building was burned down by criminals.”

He hummed. “Do you want me to go get you?”

You looked at the building and sighed. “No, I know where I'm going to stay.” You lied.

“Are you sure? I could send the boys to you right now.”

You smiled thinking of your old coworkers. “No, I’m okay. I just didn't want you to worry once the news spread.”

“Okay. I’ll be here if you need anything Y/N.”

“Yes father, thank you.” You said

He said his goodbyes and you hung up. Once the call ended and you went back into reality and started stressing, where were you going to stay now?

“Y/N” Lin called

You turned around to see Lin walking towards you.

“Chief” You said sighing

“I can't believe I allowed this to happen.” She said upset.

“It wasn't your fault, if anything, it was a good idea I stayed at the office. I would've been a human kebab if I had left and gone home. I just don't know what to do now.”

Lin stared at you for a moment, contemplating. “Well you could stay with m-”

A loud roar sounded from above as a sky bison landed close by and Tenzin, Jinora and Ikki got off and ran to you.

“Y/N! You're okay!” The girls said, hugging you.

“Safe and sound.” You said smiling

“We came to make sure you were okay! And to tell you that you will be staying with us now!” Ikki said excitedly.

“What?” You asked surprised.

“We want you to stay with us if that's okay with you. We heard everything through the police scanner. '' Tenzin said approaching.

You smiled in relief. “You guys have saved my life.”

The airbenders smiled and nodded.

"We will be waiting for you at temple island after your shift. Don't worry about anything, we will help." Tenzin spoke

You smiled, feeling your heart burst with thankfulness. You bowed, said your thanks and they left.

"Well that problem solved itself." Lin said in an indifferent tone.

You chuckled and looked at her. "You were saying something?"

"Forget it. Let's head back so we can see what clues and evidence the team has collected."

You nodded and made your way to the station. You wondered what Lin wanted to tell you.

___________

A few hours later on Air Temple Island

The news had spread and the whole gang came to see and check up on you. Asami, Korra, Bolin, Kya and her wife and literally every nomad in the island was asking about you. Lin accompanied you like always and you both arrived and sat down for dinner as you told the story.

“-And we still haven’t apprehended the people responsible for the two arson cases that happened today.” You finished telling today’s events to everyone surrounding the table.

“Wow, can’t believe that you’re homeless now…” Bolin said with little decorum

“Bolin!” Mako scolded

You laughed “It’s true though!”

“What are your plans now? Are you going back to Ba Sing Se?” Asami asked

Lin stiffened and looked at you. You didn't notice her reaction and continued.

“Nope, not going anywhere. My life is here now. My father knows and he’s calm so that’s all that matters right now. I don't want him to worry at his age.” You said as Pema took your empty plate.

“We are all just glad that nothing happened to you physically and you didn't end up in the hospital again.” Kya said, Amara nodding with her

“Don't worry, I've learned from last time.”

“Barely” Lin commented, making the group laugh.

“Hey!” You swatted her shoulder and she snickered before catching herself and changing her face into a blank one. You felt your heart… flutter?

Asami and Pema catched the reaction but stayed quiet.

“So… Is there a special someone that is making you stay? Because we know you aren’t staying out of the kindness of your heart.” Korra said, smirking.

Your face turned red. “No! I just want to catch these guys before things get worse.”

“Sure, and the fact that your face looks like a tomato has nothing to do with my honest question.”

“Korra, leave her alone” Asami warned.

“I’m serious!” You defended yourself. The more you spoke the redder your face got.

Lin’s face turned in curiosity.

“If I had someone I would've told you guys.”

“Why do I feel like you are lying about that?” Jinora said, sipping her tea.

You huffed. “I don’t, I just want to be there and help the Chief catch these people.”

Asami and Pema shared a knowing look.

“Sureeeee” Korra mocked

“She’s telling the truth” Lin said as she leaned back in her chair.

“See! She’s a truth seer, she would know.” You beamed

“I am not, but I don't need to be. You are always at work, you don’t go out and even if you did know someone, It would be from the station and Jia is already talking to someone. And I know for a fact that you wouldn't mess with someone that already has a partner.”

“Maybe you don’t know them yet, maybe it’s a secret! Maybe it’s not Jia! What if…” Korra scanned the room and soon found her target. “WHAT IF IT IS MAKO?!” Korra said scandalized.

Lin and Mako rolled their eyes.

“I’m gay! I like women!” You yelled

Korra laughed. “Ok, ok. Serious now.” She looked around again. “Guys help me. It must be another cop so if It’s not Miss blondie then who is it?”

Lin stared at Korra and then looked at you.

“Describe things about her without telling us her name.” Asami said, leaning into Korra.

“I have no one!” You fought back

“Just, imagine you had. How would they be?”

You thought for a moment and immediately Lin came to your mind. Your cheeks flushed and you sighed. “Well… She would be kind, selfless and a hard worker.”

“Be specific!”

You grunted. “Metalbender”

“That’s literally 98% of cops in RCPD Y/N” Korra said annoyed

“She has green eyes.” You blushed

“And?” Asami asked intrigued

Lin was now in full attention. You were definitely describing someone you knew. Did you actually like someone? Someone that wasn’t her? Was the kiss something you didn’t mean?

“She’s taller than me.”

“Literally everyone.” Ikki said chuckling

You huffed. “Well she’s a total badass.”

“How’s her personality?” Amara asked, Lin looking at her in confusion

“She’s bossy, but very sweet.”

“Hair?”

“Short… I think?” You said thinking. Lin always had her hair up in a neat hairdo

“Color?” Kya asked

You crossed your arms “Natural”

“What is her rank?” Mako asked

Lin felt her heart beat out of her chest as she waited for the decisive moment.

“I’m not saying that.” You scoffed

Bolin chimed in “Come on! A detective? A supervisor? A Chie-”

“No!” You yelled, feeling your heart drop to your ass. “I’m not saying! Next question.”

“Is she pretty?” Pema asked

“No, She’s drop dead gorgeous.” You said trying not to look at Lin.

Kya looked at Amara and Asami looked at Pema. Noticing the looks, Amara, Kya, Pema and Asami nodded.

“Tell us something about her that no one would know but you do.” Kya asked

You smiled. “She likes her coffee light with cream and a few spoons of sugar.”

Lin’s eyes went wide with realization and her heart felt like it was going a million miles an hour.

“Lin knows!” Korra yelled

“W-What?! No! I just-” Lin tried to speak feeling her cheeks redden

“Who is she?!” Korra asked repeatedly

Lin crossed her arms and huffed. “If she doesn't want to tell, then we must respect her wishes.”

“Awww come on!” Bolin groaned.

You looked at Lin with a smile and crossed your arms huffing. “That’s right.”

“Come on guys, drop it. She will tell us when she’s ready.” Asami said smiling

“Thanks Asami” You smiled softly as she nodded

The engineer stood up and signaled you to follow her outside. You followed behind her as everyone continued to talk and Lin watched you leave.

“Everything okay?” You asked as she turned to look at you.

“Here, this is for you.” Asami said handing you a piece of paper

You opened to find some bank information. You looked up at her with a confused look. “You want me to look into this?”

Asami laughed. “No! It’s a gift. That’s a bank account I made for you. It has some money so you can buy some clothes and even a first month's rent somewhere.” She smiled

“Oh Asami, I can’t accept this. You’re too kind.” You said handing the paper to her.

“No, I want you to have it. It’s a gift and the least I could do in these hard times.”

Your eyes welled with tears and you gave her a tight hug. “Thank you.” You whispered.

She hugged you back and smiled. “Don’t let her go, she’s quite a catch.”

You let go and looked at her confused. “Who?”

“Lin, don’t let her go. She’s amazing and I know you two are going to make an amazing pair.”

You felt a blush go from the top of your head to your toes. “SHE’S NOT-”

Asami laughed. “I can keep a secret Y/N, just treat her well okay? She deserves all the love she gets and I know you could give her plenty.”

You nodded in defeat and smiled. “I guess I do like her… a lot.”

“I can see… be good to her okay? She’ll be good to you.”

You nodded as Korra came out of the temple. “Ready to go Sami?”

“Let’s go babe. Bye Y/N”

“Bye girls” You said waving.

Your heart felt so content and Lin flooded your mind. This had been such a horrible day and it had turned into something so beautiful quickly. It felt freeing for someone to know and to finally know what you felt regarding Lin. You sighed and saved the paper in your pocket, as you turned your back you bumped into someone.

“Oops! Sorry I-”

You look up to find Lin staring at you.

“Y/N…”

[electrasev5nwrites]

Ninja Daily: Vapors 18

"I can't believe you," Sasuke hissed, disgust coloring his words. He valiantly resisted the urge to throttle his teammate. "I left you for two hours- two hours, and when I come back you're calling that woman 'Grandma' and have agreed to learn an S class jutsu in a week. I don't know if I think that you'll fail by blowing yourself up or that she will snap and kill you, but either way you're dead meat."

Naruto sniggered. "Wanna know something?" He ignored his teammate's eye-roll. "The technique she bet I couldn't learn… it's the one the old man started me on. I have a week head start on it." He grinned mischievously. "She's going to have to come back with us and admit that I was right about being Hokage." Sasuke looked spectacularly unimpressed.

"All I've seen you do is make a mess with water balloons," he said shortly. He smirked at his now-fuming teammate. He set down his chopsticks, more interested in baiting his teammate than choking down whatever the hell he'd been served. "The jutsu he's teaching me is much better." That arch tone always pissed his teammate off, even if he wasn't actually sure he believed his lightning technique was better than the Rasengan. 'Lightning is a better element than wind anyway.'

The blonde shoved his teammate, cheeks flushed red with anger. "Nuh-uh! Wind is way better than some stupid lightning bolt."

"You don't have to pretend you're not jealous. I know I'd be depressed if our places were switched." The brunette was back in his element, taunting Naruto. The blonde really needed to work on how easily he was provoked. He was helping the idiot. Really.

"Me too," Naruto snapped back. "Your hair is stupid!"

"Are they always like this?" Shizune sighed, chin propped up in her palm, half-heartedly watching the back-and-forth interaction. Jiraiya shrugged distractedly, one hand inching towards her rear end.

'Just… a little closer'.

Jiraiya yelped in sudden pain, falling off his stool at the bar where they had stopped for lunch. Shizune gasped, big dark eyes communicating disappointment with her mentor. "Tsunade-sama!" She really needed to reign in her impulsive violence. It was frightening the civilians, for one thing.

She stopped and wondered if scaring them just a little might get them some real food.

"Oh, lighten up." The older blonde scanned the menu, giving a lopsided smirk to the short blonde when he noticed her and scowled. The boy pushed away his empty dish and stalked off, leaving his fellow genin sitting awkwardly by himself. 'What an idiot. There's no way he'll master Minato's technique. Then I can be free and clear, and it won't even look like my fault. Shouldn't have made a bet with me, brat.' Tsunade accepted a glass of ice water and took a sip. "Where's the idiot going?"

Her old teammate gave the boy's back a distracted glance. "Who, the brat? He's doing his training outside of town. Hey, shortstuff," he barked. The Uchiha who had been staring into his soup as though it held all the answers to the universe bristled like an offended cat. "Go work with your teammate. Make sure he doesn't get carried away by wolves or something."

The other boy gave him a positively scathing look and stalked off with a prissy little hip movement. Tsunade didn't hide her snicker.

"Are you really worried about Naruto-kun?" Shizune asked, poking at her food with her chopsticks. She had thought she was used to cheap roadside food stands, but the place Jiraiya had led them to was in a league of its own. The older man shook his head, sending his ridiculous hair flying.

"Nah, he'll be fine. I just can't eat with that little stormcloud hanging around." He made a face. "I'd forgotten what a bummer Uchiha are."

Shizune sighed, pushing her food away mostly uneaten. 'I didn't think the kid was so bad. At least he has the excuse of acting his age when he picks a fight.' She eyed her two companions, who were already on the verge of coming to blows again.

The hospital room was cold, clinical, and smelled far too strongly of the bouquet that blonde Ino girl had dropped off, arranging blossoms into apparent perfection in between trading insults. Karin had no idea what the hell a 'hibiscus' was, but it sounded like fighting words to her. "This sucks." Karin gave in to her urge and threw her book across the room, letting it collide with the wall. It flopped over accusingly.

"I can't take it anymore!" she outright yelled. "That's it." She clenched a fist. "If you're too stupid to wake up when you should, I'm going to go home where I'm comfortable!"

That wasn't entirely true. With both of her cousins unavailable, she felt a little out of place. The Hokage had welcomed her, but he was dying. Karin's position in the village was precarious—whoever ended up in charge might not be so lenient and right now she was totally without friendly support. Maybe it was time to seek out some of the people her cousin had introduced her to, like the weird couple in the green spandex. Karin had seen enough to know that politically inconvenient people could disappear without a trace. If no one was looking out for her, she might be better off out of the village if nothing changed soon. She felt a shiver up her spine, but she ignored the fear. Her cousin was going to wake up soon.

"Karin-san," one of the attending nurses sighed, poking his head into the room. "What have we told you about volume in the hospital?"

Karin gave him a disparaging look. "She's in a coma," she said flatly. "So is her sensei in the room to the left, and the room to the right is empty."

"Yes, but I'd have to be in a coma not to hear you from the station," he mumbled sotto voice. When she frowned, he hastily added, "Please control your volume. I'm afraid you've been disturbing other patients."

"I was leaving anyway." She pretended not to see his relief, packing up, grudgingly taking even that stupid book she was starting to hate. The introductory section on poisons in her apprenticeship was boring her to tears. What was the point of memorizing the parts of hundreds of plants and their effects? She'd just have the injured party bite her. That'd solve the problem, right? When Karin had suggested that to Mito-sensei, the older woman had actually gotten a bit upset and sent her to work reading case studies. Apparently she shouldn't be letting strange people get their bodily fluids in her blood, especially if they were poisoned. Who knew, right?

"Oh! I am sorry!"

"Don't worry about it," Karin waived off the girl who had been outside the room when she opened the door. Then red eyes narrowed in recognition. "Hey, I know you."

The girl blushed, looking like a porcelain doll with those huge, unnatural looking eyes. "Ah, yes. Uzumaki-san, right? I was going to…" She trailed off, awkwardly holding up her bandaged arms as if to put up a barrier between the two. She cleared her throat. "I wanted to see how Aiko-san is doing," the girl finally managed to squeak.

'What is with this kid? I didn't think she was this much of a mouse when she was kicking the stuffing out of enemy genin.'

Actually, Karin had enjoyed a riot of a good time fending off the weak losers sent to retrieve samples of Konoha's bloodlines. Weeks of training under her cousin's supervision had paid off more than she'd realized. Plus, there was something really awesome about reminding herself that she wasn't just a useless little med nin. The little brunette girl had been cool too- at one point, she had knocked a boy out by kicking him in the throat, apologizing all the while. It was pretty amazing. Of course, the shrinking violet in front of her didn't have much resemblance to the girl in business mode.

Karin sighed, closing the door behind her. "She's still in a coma. We have no idea when she'll be up, although apparently some specialist is supposed to be coming here. Mito-sensei says that if this woman can't fix her, no one can." At the way the other girl fidgeted, something about her incredibly long convalescence finally made sense. "You too? Your hands must be bad if no one here can fix them. You busy?"

The girl looked up, surprised. "Ah, no. Not really."

"Alright then. You're coming home with me. I need someone to eat ice cream with and commiserate, and I bet you have as much to vent as I do." She started off down the hall. "Well?"

The little brunette hurried behind her, looking uncertain but reluctant to tell her no. "I don't think I'm supposed to leave the hospital, Uzumaki-san!"

"Pft." She waved a hand dismissively. "Why not? If Aiko wake up or if the specialist shows up, someone will get us. There's no reason to be miserable until then. I'll be sad if you don't come with," she threatened idly. This girl seemed like a bleeding heart. Her acquiescence implied that either Karin was right or that the girl had actually wanted to come with anyway. They traveled most of the way in silence, just enjoying the nice weather. The sunshine and healthy breeze were a marked change from the stuffy hospital.

They paused for a moment at the door, Karin struggling to pick out her key from inside her shorts pocket. The other girl seemed to be looking around, something strange in her expression. "You have a lovely home."

Karin took a second to examine Uzumaki Manor (Naruto's insistence) from an outsider's perspective. The garden out front was riotous, ignoring pretty much all conventions about tasteful decorating despite Ino's best efforts. It had been made with a little too much youth and orange in mind. The house itself looked fine, though. Relatively nondescript and clean. "Thank you. Uh, by the way." She glanced at her companion. "What's your name again?"

The girl smiled shyly up at her, slipping off her shoes in the entryway. "Hyuuga Hinata. Please, call me Hinata, Uzumaki-san."

Karin grinned in response, flipping on the lights and stuffing her feet into fluffy houseslippers. "Then you should call me Karin, Hinata-chan. Chocolate, strawberry, or vanilla? Naruto made something really terrible with vanilla and packets of ramen seasoning if you feel adventurous."

Pain.

Pain to the point where the questions had long since become white noise. She had enough sense to be grateful for that. If she remembered what he wanted, she probably would have told him, even though she knew she had thought it was important not to tell.

Important even though it didn't make sense. He was gone, right? He didn't know what was going on in her genjutsu couldn't wouldn't know. Not the way genjutsu work.

Never even heard of such a thing. Ridiculous.

Then again, everything is ridiculous. And why would he do this if he couldn't find out? He must. Mustmustmust. Shush. Shhhhhh.

It's so light. Never gets dark, the only shadows come from the moon. Want to just sleep or die. It wouldn't make much difference at this point. Can't die in here. Everything is backwards, only black and white and redredred, killing doesn't make you die. Does living make you dead? No, that's not the parallel. Thinking is hard but I know this. Yes. Does giving life make dead? Healing.

I should ask.

Aiko coughed up blood in the illusory world (I know it's not real, not real, but just one quick question, yes) and casually asked something she didn't hear. Maybe he didn't either. "Pretty eyes," she tried, placatingly.

And then it changed.

The moon flickered, then was white. Ridiculous, the moon is made of cheese should be yellow. It painted pale light instead of dark. The ground became pockmarked with shadow instead of smothered in a thick coat. She became aware of a whimpering sound.

Itachi left in clinical light. She didn't have time to say byebye before he was replaced with the top half of a blonde woman, frowning.

The moon was gone.

Aiko frowned, not even trying to move a muscle in her hospital bed. Something was wrong. She had just been upright.

"Where did the moon go?" is that my voice? Raspy like a smoker.

"Hush," the woman snapped, doing something she couldn't see. "Get out of here, you idiots. If I want a circus I will personally come and find you clowns." She shone a light down, and Aiko yelped, moving for the first time to escape it. "Stop that. Follow the light. Are you with me? Good."

Bewildered but willing to accept this change in the situation, Aiko obediently followed orders. Orders were good. She was used to orders.

"How are you feeling? Any unusual pains?"

That was a harder question. "Unusual?"

"Oh, never mind." The woman gave a heavy sigh. "Do you remember what happened?"

"…What happened?"

"I will take that as a no." Blonde lady picked up a clipboard and wrote something on it, a tiny crease between her eyebrows. "Ask your sensei about it later, then. I don't know what the hell happened either. I'm going to go wake him up now. Any questions?"

Aiko shook her head. "You're really pretty."

Pretty lady barked a laugh. "You've got better taste than your brother." The woman left the room without another word, which stymied Aiko for a moment. She frowned—at the light outside the window, at the door that led to the hallway, and then down at her bare feet when she swung them over the edge of the bed and tottered across the cold tile to follow the older woman like an errant puppy. She was taking orders and hadn't been told stay.

Naruto and Sasuke didn't seem to understand that, though. The old man with them tried to stop her, putting an arm in front of the door the pretty lady had gone through.

"Hey now, miss. Shouldn't you be in bed?"

Well, that wasn't right. "Shouldn't you, old guy? I'm following." Then she stopped to frown, registering his face. "You're familiar. Good job." She patted his head, and then ducked under his surprised arm and into the room.

Hey, sensei's here. Sensei was taking a nap, but the pretty lady was waking him up. Like Sleeping Beauty.

She stopped in the middle of the room. That wasn't quite right, was it? That would make Kakashi the princess. Aiko toddled over to investigate, wondering if her sensei's face was uncovered. Nope. Still. "I bet you're a pretty princess," she said loyally, watching as he blearily turned his one open eye to her instead of at the little light. Then she turned to investigate the sound of choking behind her. It was the old man. Aiko felt concerned. "Pretty lady? The old man sounds bad."

"That sounds about right," the blonde lady said distractedly, going through the same questions she had with Aiko. Then she jumped a little, turning to glare. "You should be in bed."

Aiko looked around the room. There was only one bed, but orders. " 'kay." She clambered beside her sensei, who looked downright alarmed. Then she went the fuck to sleep.

The next time she awoke was a good nine hours later, and she felt much more rational, despite the ache in her head. Her groan must have alerted someone, because the light flicked on and she discovered Karin's face uncomfortably close to hers.

"Ugh, haven't you ever heard of the Geneva convention?"

Karin frowned, sharing more of her morning breath when she asked "What are you talking about?"

"Nothing, nothing." She blinked blearily, drawing one hand up to wipe at her eyes and using the other to prop herself up to survey the room. It was relatively late in the evening—at least eight. She frowned. 'Definitely past visiting hourse.' She could understand Karin being here, but her sensei? It seemed just as strange that Naruto wasn't. Was he hurt?

"What's going on?" She flexed her muscles, feeling unusually weak. Aiko transitioned into a stretch, getting a feel for her body's deterioration. "How long was I out?"

Karin backed up to give her some space, stealing a glance at the other person in the room who had yet to speak. "Uh, a little over two weeks total. More recently, about nine hours since you first woke up."

Surprised, Aiko furrowed her brow. "I woke up before?"

"You were slightly more incoherent than usual," Sasuke drawled as he pushed open the door, closely followed by Naruto. "You helpfully informed us that Kakashi was a pretty princess."

"Neechan!" Naruto practically leapt onto the bed beside her, throwing his arms around her middle. "Are you okay? You won't believe what happened while you were out."

She absentmindedly patted his arm, snaking one of her own around his shoulders and squeezing reassuringly. "I'm fine."

"Don't tease, Sasuke," her teacher reprimanded lightly. Something about his posture seemed very serious. "Essentially, she went almost three weeks without sleep. I think she can be forgiven a little delirium."

"And you still haven't slept," a new voice said dryly. The figure it belonged to was ringed in light from the doorway, but easily identifiable as a woman. "Well boys, you did it. You dragged me back here and into four surgeries, three of which were brain operations. I hope you're happy." She sauntered in closer, revealing long blonde hair tied back in twin ponytails.

"Is Hinata-chan going to be alright, then?" Karin asked curiously, surprisingly Aiko. 'I didn't even know she knew Hinata.'

The reply was a withering glare. "Of course she is. Physical therapy is going to be a pain, but she seems to think it's a fair trade for the use of her hands."

Something connected in Aiko's brain, and she hastily sat the rest of the way up. "Tsunade-sama?"

"Yepp." Tsunade smirked at her, an expression that was all feline grace and trouble personified. "Although the last time we spoke, you called me 'Pretty Lady.' "

Instead of blushing, Aiko faked confusion, turning to Sasuke. "I thought you said I wasn't making sense when I first woke up, Sasuke-kun?"

"Don't flatter." The woman lightly hit her upside the back of the head, then took the opportunity to run a scan with fingers that glowed green. The reprimand didn't sting, light as it was. "You seem much better now. How do you feel?"

"Perfectly fine, but with a bit of a headache," she said honestly.

"Mmm." The light flickered into something a shade lighter. "This better?"

Aiko sighed contentedly. "Yes, thank you."

"Good." Then she hit her upside the back of the head, with some force this time. "That was for trying to fight an S-class criminal within village borders. Idiot. That's the most sickeningly Uzumaki thing I've ever heard of. We have plenty of Jounin and ANBU." She ignored the grumbling from Naruto and Karin's confused "Eh?" at the slur against their last name. "As your new Hokage, you are now forbidden to do anything so stupid. Clear?"

"Clear as crystal," she mumbled, feeling a little wronged. She hadn't had much of a choice.

"As for the rest of you morons… Naruto, Jiraiya was right. It's unsafe for you to be in the village. You're going to be leaving with him tomorrow, so say your goodbyes."

He stood up so abruptly that the bed moved back with a screech against the floor. "What? That's unfair!"

She grabbed him by the front of the jacket and practically snarled into his face. "Fair doesn't factor into it. Those men were looking for you, idiot! You want to lead them to your friends?" With that thoroughly unfair emotional manipulation out of the way, she added, "Besides, I'm your Hokage. Don't question my orders."

"Not Hokage yet," he mumbled a little bitterly, jerking out of her grip.

Tsunade turned her attention to her next victim. Sensing that this situation wasn't going to get any prettier, Karin gave a hasty wave, mumbled something about Hinata, and started edging towards the door. "And you, brat. What the hell were you doing, running off into ANBU the moment something went wrong? You had three students left. Clearly you aren't in your right mind. I'm putting you on light duty- no ANBU, no genin team, and no missions over B-class until you straighten out your head." Her tone changed to something more sympathetic. "You'll be meeting with Shizune to sort out the genjutsu aftereffects twice next week. If you try to skip, I'll assume you're trying to say that you don't think they're necessary for your little apprentice either."

Aiko cringed. 'Low blows,' she thought miserably while Tsunade tore her teacher apart.

"Hold on," Sasuke interrupted, looking pissed. "If Naruto is leaving with the old pervert and Kakashi can't teach genin, what am I supposed to do?"

Tsunade rolled her eyes. "That's not my problem right now. I'll figure it out. Surely there's some genin team out there who can take an extra."

"That's not good enough!" he snapped. He gave her his highest level bitch-face, the one that actually made Chuunin uncomfortable back in the Academy. Aiko had always suspected it reminded people of his father. "Weird or not, Kakashi's one of the best Jounin in the village. I won't be dumped on some idiot when I need to get stronger. You teach me."

"Like you could keep up with me," she scoffed, turning away and making for the door.

"Coward. Do you always avoid responsibility?"

Tsunade slowwwwly turned around, a shit-your-pants-terrifying smile on her face. "Fine. You can try my training for a week." She left. Sasuke smirked, and then seemed to realize what had happened. She could practically see the moment he wondered if he really had won or not. In the silence that followed, Aiko moved to squeeze her sensei's hand.

"You should get to bed. Training in the morning, sensei?" She gave him a hug around the waist. Mechanically, he fluffed her hair, already messy and floofed up in the back with bedhead.

"Well, that was pleasant." He backed away from his students and uncomfortably put his hands in his pocket. "I suppose this is goodbye for a while, Naruto."

"Yeah." The blonde hung his head and swallowed hard. When he looked up again, his expression was steel. "I'll get strong enough that it won't matter if those jackasses come around again."

"I believe it," their teacher said quietly, fondly. He didn't quite manage to look at any of them. "Well, look at the time! I should take my cat for a walk." None of them was really surprised by the shunshin that followed.

"Turns out she may have earned that title," Sasuke groaned, lethargically picking at his vegetables from the hot pot.

Aiko tried her best not to snicker, pulling out another piece of meat with her chopsticks. At her side, Karin actually managed a sympathetic look. "Medical stuff is way harder than it looks," she commiserated, looking irritatingly pristine next to her filthy and battered dining partners. They exchanged dirty looks. Karin obliviously tapped her fingers on the tabletop.

"I haven't learned a single jutsu," Sasuke said flatly, staring at the table as if he hoped it would leap up and kill him. "She beats me around for about an hour, gives me a list of exercises and then hits me with a book to read before the end of the day. Then she saunters away to drink. (Tsunade was enjoying her last days of freedom before the hat was officially hers.) The best part is that she occasionally sends a minion to attack me while I study."

'He really should have expected she would make his life hell,' Aiko thought fondly. She was cranky like that. Of course, she had been ridiculously full of herself since she had re-entered Konoha… but not without reason.

Tsunade had reason to be smug. She had managed to bring the third Hokage out of his coma the day before she had tried to help Hinata, Kakashi and Aiko. He was infirm and would likely never be able to so much as take the stairs at a decent clip again, but it was a small price to pay for his life. Granted, he was elderly and probably didn't have that much time left anyway, but better to die on his own terms than due to a former student's treachery. Once he caught up on the situation, he was actually happy enough to cry, Naruto had related solemnly. And why not? His village was saved, two of his wayward students had returned (if only for a while in Jiraiya's case), and he finally had a successor he could trust the village to. It was almost an unnecessary bonus that the near-death shock had thawed the worst of the hostilities between him and his only living family.

Omake

"What are you doing?" Ino screeched, rushing across the field of wildflowers to stop the travesty against nature she had barely caught in time. Lee blinked, confused, switching his gaze between her and the bouquet he had assembled himself.

"What do you mean, Ino-san? You told me to pick out flowers. These are the most youthful!" He gave her a thumbs-up. "I thought the colors were lovely, and I have a certain fondness for lotuses!"

"Lee… That bouquet…" She shook her head, struggling for words. When she started again, her tone was clinical. "Lotuses mean 'Love from afar', orange lilies mean 'hatred' and 'revenge'; and white carnations are for engagements," she hissed, not nearly as calm as she had been when they started. "What message, exactly, are you trying to convey? Because right now, you will terrify the person you inform that you love and hate them even though they don't know you because they wronged you, possibly by being engaged. Or possibly that you are now engaged, which may surprise them just a bit."

He examined his pretty pink, orange and white bouquet uncertainly. "Ano, Ino-san… do you think Gai-sensei's rival is familiar with flower language?"

She took a moment to process the implications of that statement, remembered how Naruto had loudly complained that the man seemed to know everything, imagined how said man would react, and gave an enormous, fake smile. "I bet you're right! When we're done here, I'll get you the perfect vase before we go over to the hospital."

'I have to remember to tell Asuma-sensei. He'll enjoy this.'

"Come on, Lee. Art and Crafts time isn't over. I still need hibiscus and spider lily. Then we can go to my house and I'll teach you how to arrange them."

[darkhorse-javert]

A meet 'Queue-te'

When the Queue for the Lying in State was going on, someone suggested the idea of a, meet cute in the Queue- a meet 'Queuete' as it were (Their name, not mine.) -

if anyone can find this post, please let me know, I'd like to attribute this idea properly.

I thought I'd give it a go, for Sam and Andrew, it is distinctly less disasterous than their meeting in Canon.

"So where have you come from?" She addresses the man- about her age- queued in front of her. It seems a safe enough question to ask, an easy touchstone of politeness, while breaking the very British silence and reserve.

“Anglesey,” he answers as he turns towards her- and yes, thinks Sam that is an RAF uniform, there’s a flash of silver from his flying-wings as the lapel moves-  "Although I'm from Hastings." He tips his head, eyes on her, possibly looking her over. "You?" 

"Lyminster- it's a little south of Arundel, just off the coast." Sam hurries to place it in context, at the slight blankness on the young man's face. Lyminster, little village with a knucker hole that no one has ever heard of. 

"Ah," he says, "Then we're neighbors by coast, of a sort." He smiles, a fun, rather boyish smile.

Boldly she holds out a hand and he shakes it neatly, politely, not stiffly. “I'm Andrew Foyle."

"Sam Stewart,” She replies Samantha really, but I like Sam." His brown eyes sparkle at that, something close to fellow feeling, or certainly understanding.

“What do you fly in Anglesea?' Her curiosity won't be contained, even if she is guessing that he flies.

"Planes- Fighter Jets, F22- and no, I never met Prince William, he'd left before I was posted, before I even had my commission. Anyway we were in different sections. He was air-sea rescue

There’s an air of recitation to the second bit, and she nearly laughs at it,"You get asked that a lot then?”

The man, Andrew, rolls his eyes heavenward dramatically "You have no idea. It seems to be the main fact civilians have retained about the RAF in Anglesea. Now if they asked me about running the Mach Loop, that would be another matter.

"The Mach Loop?" Mach is something to do with speed, the speed of sound she thinks

“Oops, he drops his head a little, a slight bashful twist to his face smile "It's part of the Welsh valleys where we practise low flying, the photographer-lot love it.” his eyes gleam "So do I."

“It sounds,” she says slowly trying to keep her words sensible, Manners, Samantha “Rather dangerous…”

“You mean you think we’re utterly mad.” Andrew says easily, “It is dangerous, but then so is anything with one of those Jets, they’re so quick and powerful. The Brass don't let you run it until you're trained enough.”  His eyes are distant for a moment, caught somewhere. The Welsh valleys probably, or elsewhere in the sky, then his expression clears and he glances along the flow of people, ahead of them and back down the river. Then shakes his head ever so slightly.

She knows what he’s thinking, So many people, so so many people come to pay their respects. It’s not a surprise, not really, but the sheer scale of it in reality is something else. She was loved, and a part of all our lives forever, something we could  be sure of, through all the changes the world threw at us. And yet, now she’s gone- and we'll never see her again. 

“Not sunk in yet?” Andrew says softly

She shakes her head slowly, “No.” Her voice is slightly unsteady to her ears  It should have, surely, we’ve known for a week now, prayers memorial and the condolence book in the church, Dad out at all hours consoling people. “Not properly.”

“Me neither.”

They stand there in quiet silence, a dull humm of chatter, the rush of the wind, noises around them. In the distance, a flag pole, it’s contents at half-mast, shifting slightly in the air, then move forwards with the shuffling flow of the queue.

“Did you ever meet her?” She asks quietly.

Andrew shakes his head sharply once “Nope.” But his face curls into a smile. “One of my mates did though, just after he’d got back and been given his DFC. Said she made you feel like you were the one that mattered, even in a room full of people… and that she teased him about how he fitted into a cockpit-” Sam threw him a look, but Andrew was already carrying on, heedless “Which given Rex is 6’ 2” in his socks, never mind his dress shoes, is a fair question to ask.” 

“What did he reply?” Sam felt her lips turning up in a smile at the mere thought, the mental image of the fairly diminutive queen with a much taller RAF man.

“That he was very good at folding up.”

The laughter splutters out of her, even though it feels undignified in this circumstance, and when she looks at her new friend, his eyes are alight too, “Apparently Her Majesty found it quite amusing as well, she had a good sense of humour.”

“That’s what you’ve heard isn’t it, in all the comments, in all the stories people have told; her sense of fun, her kindness…” Her smile, the brightness, in all the pictures, even to the very end, last Tuesday…  She gives herself a little shake, tears can wait until later. 

They shuffle a few steps further forwards, and the wind off the river nips her cheeks sharply with its ice.

“Would you like some coffee?”

Andrew’s head swivels, that’s really the only word for it, towards her,. “You have hot coffee?”

Sam opens her bag, and tugs out the battered old thermos from the side, holding it up triumphantly. Andrew’s eyes widen, focusing closely on the flask “Yes… Please.”

She has to pass the Thermos over in order to rescue a spare plastic mug from her bag, glad she had thought to pack them.  Andrew passes it back, and takes the mug instead, holding it out to be filled. She watches around her own rim as he curls his fingers around the mug, and takes a long sip.

“MMmm… Ten times better than the Naafi stuff, and that in the Mess.”

“Naffi?” Sam queries 

“‘Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes’, they run the base shop, run most of them in the country actually.” Andrew takes another sip of the coffee, looks back at her with a slight frown, his tone careful “You do realise you’re going to lose that Thermos at the Bag Check, don’t you? It’s clear bottles only.”

She nods with her mouth full, then swallows as soon as she can, to answer “It's the oldest, most battered Thermos in the vicarage, we’ve got half a dozen others. That's why I brought it… it doesn’t matter.”

Andrew’s nod seems to be approving,with a little humm in his throat, “The coffee does though,” he toasts her with the mug, “Thanks.”

Sam finds herself smiling broadly at his enthusiasm “You’re welcome.”

[starchildren220]

Eyes Don't Lie V

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Eyes Don't Lie Masterlist

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Severus Snape x OC x Lucius Malfoy

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Being dismissed from the class Charlotte packed her things quietly. She has been giving George the cold shoulder the rest of the class, mad that he got her in trouble. Standing up she left the class hearing Snape telling her to be here after dinner but the two red heads felt bad so they couldn't let her leave without apologizing.

They caught up with the girl, slinging their arms on either of her shoulders. "Get off, both of you." She gritted out, the boys raised their hands in a mock surrender. "Let us make it up to you." She ignored them and the twins continued walking next her. "Pleeeeeease." Fred added.

"And what would this apology entail?" Charlotte asked. "You'll have to find out." Fred started. "We'll meet you at your common rooms after your detention." George finished, then the two ran off.

"What have I gotten myself into." She groaned rubbing her eyes.

✮

Her insides ate at her the whole dinner, she didn't eat anything until Draco spoke up . "You good?" Draco asked noticing the empty plate. "Yeah, I'm just not hungry." She smiled at him.

"Eat something, you'll be hungry later tonight. I'll show you how to get to the kitchens after hours this weekend." He put a bread roll and fruit on the plate. "Thank you Draco, but I'm not hungry." He saw it in her eyes he had done it a few years prior he had so much pressure on him and he was anxious all the time resulting in him not eating.

"Eat it or I'll make you. You don't have to eat all of it but try to, for me please." Charlotte smiled, placing a hand into the boys hair ruffling it under her hand. "Aw you care about little old me?" She stopped and laughed at Draco desperately fixing his hair. "Don't make me regret it please." A laugh came from Charlotte.

She looked up at the gloomy teacher she'd be spending her night with, the a loud guffaw caught her attention looking over she saw a man with curly golden locks.

She remembered meeting the man while at work. He had hit on her, and after she rejected him he continued trying to get his way. She ended up pushing him away and slapping him for not taking no for an answer.

✮

After dinner Charlotte headed down to the dungeons, she ended up eating some fruit and half the roll, she thank Draco in her head for making her eat it.

She stopped at the wooden door, lifting her hand she knocked gently. A muffled 'come in.' was heard and she twisted the doorknob and pushed the door open. "Took you long enough." Snape gritted out. "Sorry." Charlotte smiled sorrowfully.

Snape's hummed. "We will be going to the enchanted forest for ingredients." Snape motioned to the two baskets on his desk. Charlotte sorrowful smile turned into one of excitement. "Really!" She exclaimed happily. He looked at her confused. "Why are you happy about this?"

She was all giddy almost bouncing off the walls. "Who wouldn't! And no take backsies because I like the punishment." She snatched one of the baskets and rushed to the door. "Hurry up we need to go now to get more." She rocked back and forth on the balls and heels of her feet.

He grabbed his cloak from the back of his chair and one of the baskets. Following her out the door, this time it was he who was failing to catch up with someone.

✮

They were standing at the brink of the forest. "Now before we go in you must stay close to me and listen, we can't have you getting injured on my watch." Charlotte nodded frantically exited to go inside the forest. "Can we hurry this up the ingredients won't be here all day."

Snape sighed and nodded. "Ok follow me." He started to walk into the brooding forest. "I will if you don't walk as if you and elderly man." She laughs to herself. "What are we getting anyways?" She looked at him. "I've forgotten to get Acacia flowers, Maranta Arundinacea Leaves, and Quercia Alba, when preparing classes." Charlottes foot got caught on a root and she almost fell, her other foot stopping the fall.

"Foolish girl." Snape scoffed. "Now I don't expect you to be able to find them, you are her to mainly help hold them and bring them back." This time it was Charlottes turn to scoff. "Of course I know what they look like I'm not stupid, Acacia flowers are yellow and bunch up together and the leaves make raindrop looking patterns, they help with divination. Maranta Arundinacea Leaves come from the ground and have separate flowers, they are used to thicken, and finally Quercia Alba are mainly green leaves with a few acorns, their use is for healing and protection." Snape had not expected the girl to know this especially by heart.

✮

"We're leaving, I do not want to have to escort you to your dorms because it's after curfew." Snape turned around and started out of the forest. Charlotte followed behind him nat quite able to catch up to his long strides.

"We didn't find nearly enough though." Charlotte protested not wanting to leave. "That is why I'm coming back." Charlotte rushed to get in front of him, turning around she walked backwards. "Can I come?" She looked up to Snape with hope. "No." He shot it down immediately.

"Please." She begged, "I'll be quiet the whole time. I won't bother you." She tried to convince him. "No, that's final." Charlotte groans and tilted her head back. "Gosh you're so mean to me." She stuck her bottom lip out in a mocking way.

Snape rolled his eyes and walked faster. "You won't be able to get away from me." Charlotte walked faster too. "I'll always be around the corner." She waved her fingers for added effect. "Has anyone ever told you how insufferable you are?" Snape sneered.

"Yes actually many times by dear old dad. He was drunk tho so I don't know if it was a lie to get me to leave or if it's that drunk word are sober thoughts thing." Charlotte had her pointer finger up in a matter of factory way. Snape looked at the girl with sad eyes but masked the feeling quickly.

They arrived to the potions classroom before anyone could say anything. "Good night professor." Charlottes nodded her head, handed the basket over and walked off.

Charlotte got lost, very lost. Each hallway looked so similar, it didn't help that it was dark too. She's mad at herself for not paying attention when she and the group left class earlier that day. She tried going into a different direction which only earned her a spot back in front of the cold dark potions classroom.

It took a lot of convincing herself to knock not wanting to both the already grumpy professor. She lifted her hand to knock, her fist hesitated before leaning back and coming back to hit the wood. Charlotte's hand never made contact with the door though.

The door open to a surprised and annoyed Snape. "What are you doing Ms. Bren?" Shit she thought. "Uh, I don't know the way back to the dorms." She tried to lighted the mood by giving a small chuckle at the end, this did not help as it made Snape look even more bothered than when he saw her at his door.

She twisted and turned her fingers with her others, pulling and popping in a nervous fashion. "And how long have you been at my door before you even tried to knock?" He knew the answer, he could hear her thoughts screaming at her to just knock telling her what's the worst that could happen. He even heard herself saying it out loud hyping herself up.

He easily got tired of it and decided to end both of their misery. "Not too long." Charlotte elongated the 'too' in her sentence giving it a less believable tone. She smiled awkwardly at her mistake. "I'm sorry," She started. "You already said how you didn't want to escort me to my dorm cause it was past curfew and I got lost and I didn't want to get in more trouble and I ended up back here and-" Charlotte realized that she was rambling and Snape definitely didn't want to hear it.

"Sorry I was rambling. Anyways can you show me to the dormitory please, if it isn't too much trouble." Charlotte smiled again to try and lessen the tension. Snape scoffed and rolled his eyes. "You're lucky I'm going that way for my rounds." He was not scheduled to do rounds that night, he didn't want students to think he does nice things from what's left of his heart.

Snape pushed past Charlotte and started walking to the dormitory. It took Charlotte a good jog to reach him but once she did she could just walk.

It was a quiet walk and Charlotte couldn't stand the quiet she always need something to fill the silence. Music, talking, hell tapping her foot, she needed something there. She pulled her headphones and Walkman out from her bag she placed the headphones around her neck and clipped the Walkman on the waist of her black skirt.

Pressing play No More ?'s by Eazy-E filled the hallway. Snape slowed in surprised and just a quickly speed up again. Charlotte steps matched up with the beat of the song, her head nodded along too. When the song started picking up she hummed too.

Snape found this annoying and wanted it to stop, the music was a little too loud and he was too tired to yell. He pushed the girl to the wall and ripped the Walkman from the waistband of her skirt, pausing the music he snatched the headphones too.

Charlotte was taken aback not expecting the sudden attack. Though when she found out why it happened she got mad. "Give that back. Now." She snapped at him. Their faces inches away Snape pulled his back at the sudden anger but his body didn't move.

"And why would I do that?" He sneered smirking. Charlottes frown deepened, she just kept staring at him, her hand slowly pulled the wand out of her robes wand pocket. It got taken from her though. She waved her hand and the items got pulled out of Snape's hand.

Distracted by the floating Walkman he turned his head giving Charlotte the chance to slip out of the space between his body and the wall. He looked back to where Charlotte just was, he looked around when he noticed the missing girl.

Looking over his shoulder he saw the girl grabbing the floating object from in front of her. "Wandless magic, quite skilled aren't you?" It was her turn to smirk. "Thanks sweetheart." Snape's eyes narrowed at the nickname and Charlotte turned and stated the dormitory password and she left his vision. He groaned loudly in annoyance and started his walk back to his office

✮

[creativeflowers87]

FEBUWHUMP 12

CW: Illness

AN: how is this my first actual sickfic

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If Calixto is pretending not to be sick, it is doing a godawful job at it.

Even from across the room, with her terrible eyesight, Emery can see that her crush— no, friend is definitely struggling. It is a few tones more flushed than usual, and every time it thinks no one is looking, it presses its forehead up against the window, or on the kitchen countertop, or on their glass of water.

Still, it is Calixto, and Calixto knows how to take care of itself.

Reassured, Emery strolls over to where Calixto is sitting on their couch. Well, sitting is a loose term to describe the way that Calixto is flopped across the arm of the couch and leaning on the wall, somehow.

Emery gets the feeling that Calixto has no idea what it's doing either.

"Hey, Calio!" Emery says, using Calixto's head as an armrest.

It takes a second more than usual to respond. "Oh, hiya Em," it says.

Emery grins. "Nyxie's out doing her own thing," she says, "and that means we can cook whatever."

Calixto turns to her, a tired smile on its face. "Yeah?"

"Consider: Ice-cream for dinner."

Calixto huffs, turning away a bit. "We know how you get when you have sugar," it says, "Terrible idea. Also, I'm not even hungry for anything."

Emery has already started to walk off, about to get the ice-cream anyways, when she spins back around, confused. "You're not hungry?" she asks.

Calixto shrugs. "I dunno, just not feelin' like anythin' today."

Emery stares for a moment, then shrugs. If Calixto thinks it's fine, it's probably fine.

Right?

---

Calixto is definitely not fine.

It coughs again, its throat feeling like it's half-closed up from whatever's stuck in it. It shivers again, pulling the thin blanket covering most of its body up to its chin, before kicking the sheets off its legs. It's cold, then hot, then cold again...

Calixto closes its eyes for a moment, before blinking them open. Really, it's spent way too long in bed, it should probably get food, something like that.

It tries to sit up, but the world spins and it feels so heavy that it has to slump back down with a whine, tears forming in its eyes. Why is it crying?

Calixto rolls over onto its side, trying its best to get rid of whatever icky feeling got in it. It sniffles. If it was feeling just a tiny bit better, it would be up and ready to actually get things done, or something. Possibly. Okay, definitely not. Still, it's the thought that counts.

It twists again under the blankets, the sheets seeming almost to scratch under its skin. It blinks its eyes open for a moment, but the light of what Calixto thinks is the lantern on their desk burns the back of its eyes.

It curls up as far under the blanket as it can in a feeble attempt to conserve body heat. As its senses start to fade, it can vaguely hear the screech of the front door, then, silence.

---

When Emery peeks inside Calixto's room, she doesn't fully expect to see it curled up under a blanket, shivering like it's been stuck outside for hours. For all she knows, that could've happened. It's been a while since she'd been home, after all.

Emery enters the room and sets herself on the edge of the bed, taking in Calixto's overly flushed face and its slightly pained expression. She sets a hand on its forehead, pulling away when she feels how warm she is. Her face creases in concern. "Hey, Calio?" she whispers, even though she already vaguely knows that it won't answer.

To her surprise, Calixto lets out a scratchy hum and shifts slightly closer to Emery, head pressing up against her hand. Like a cat, Emery muses.

Emery shakes her head, forcefully removing herself from that train of thought. She has someone actually under her care now. Somehow.

She heads over to the bathroom, grabbing what she's pretty sure is fever medicine and returning to Calixto's room. She places the bottle on Calixto's bedside table and stares a bit at Calixto. Surely it wouldn't be able to sit up to take the meds properly. Emery would have to sit it up herself. It does seem to be sleeping mostly peacefully, though, and she would hate to stop it from having a good rest that might be the first it'd had in a while.

Emery thinks for a bit, before coming to the conclusion that it can probably go back to sleep okay if it takes a sleep potion first, and grabs that first before starting to try to wake Calixto up.

It takes a couple good shakes, but after a second, bleary eyes stare back up at her. Emery gives it a smile. "Hey, Calio," she says.

Calixto stares almost through Emery, as if it either can't see her or doesn't believe she's there.

Emery doesn't know which option is more concerning.

Emery shakes off these thoughts. " 'Kay, Calio," she says, "Uhm, so, just... drink this, please?" She holds out a small, carefully measured dose of liquid fever medicine to Calixto's lips. It makes no sign of comprehension, but starts to sip it anyways.

Calixto, to its credit, drinks most of the medicine, but at some point, makes a strange face and seems to be trying to spit it back out.

Emery frowns. "No, uhm, please don't do that?" she says, picking up her sleep potion-spiked water and holding it to Calixto's mouth again.

This time, Calixto downs the water concerningly quickly. Emery does not want to know how long it's gone without water for it to down the glass this fast. Still, there is water in its system now, so it should be at least mostly okay.

Sure enough, as she looks over Calixto, it seems to already be falling asleep again. Emery breathes a sigh of relief and starts to leave, not wanting to relive that experience ever again. However, as she stands, Calixto seems to try to pull Emery back to the bed. With a huff, Emery kneels down next to it. "What's it?" she says.

Calixto starts to move its mouth, no sound coming out, and tears are forming in its eyes.

Emery furrows her eyebrows, concerned. "Hey, hey," she says, "what's wrong?"

Calixto's silent for another second, before whispering, in a tiny, broken, voice, "...fuckin' ostriches..."

Emery is so taken aback by this statement that she starts to laugh, but stops herself. "Uhm, what do you mean?" she says.

Calixto just shrugs.

Emery shakes her head and pulls back, but instead of leaving the room, pulls a chair over to the bedside, and tries to get comfortable.

This is going to be a long night.