#be free grainy monster girl i love you

[z0mbiefrank]

BONUS GIF: Gerard Way during I'm Not Okay, Tokyo [25.03.23]

[p-artsypants]

A Gift from Mr. Blanc

Marinette's worst nightmares were of Chat Blanc. But that's all they were: nightmares. Until one day where in the stone cold light of day, Chat Blanc walked into the classroom, with a gift in hand. "This will make you love me again, My Lady."

Ao3 | FF.net

Everyone is on this Chat Blanc train, so I bought a ticket and got a window seat. 

--

“Yes, Timestreamer, find me the best Akuma ever created!” Shadowmoth raised a manic fist as the images appeared before him. 

The woman who was once Nathalie Sancoeur stood next to him, now transformed into an Akuma with thick glasses, which almost looked like VR goggles. 

In a fit of artist’s block, Gabriel Agreste had vented that he had run out of ideas for Akuma. He had to keep going, and the villains couldn’t slack less Ladybug and Chat Noir get the upper hand. 

To which Nathalie had said, “well, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel.” 

She had meant it to be cheeky, but he took inspiration from it in a whole new way. Why invent a new villain when one from a different time is sure to work? Timetagger, an Akuma from the future, had seemed to almost win. Perhaps there were more like him out there. 

He only needed someone to see the timelines so he could pick his champion. 

So here they were, scanning through endless time streams, looking at massive successes, and massive failures. There really was no telling which one would do the job, but unless Timestreamer’s Akuma was taken or, heaven forbid, the Butterfly was taken, they could send villain after villain after villain. 

Yes, this was a good plan! 

“That one!” Shadowmoth pointed, the stark white catching his gaze. 

“That one?” Timestreamer asked, feeling unease looking into his soulless blue eyes. 

“That has to be Chat Noir’s akumatized form. He’s perfect.” 

Following orders, Timestreamer summoned the Akuma forward. 

From the static images appeared a grainy figure, slowly solidifying into a solid white boy. His expression was one of confusion and disorientation.

“Chat Blanc, I am Shadowmoth,” he began. 

Immediately, Chat Blanc snarled. “You! You monster!” And he leapt. 

Suffice to say, neither Timestreamer or Shadowmoth were prepared for a full on fight this early in the conversation. 

Shadowmoth did have training in fighting, and successfully blocked the incoming swipe at his throat with his arm. However, the claws cut right through his suit and into his flesh, making him cry out in pain. 

The next swipe hit true, and knocked the butterfly Miraculous from its place on his collar. 

Chat Blanc then plucked the Peacock from his lapel while Gabriel Agreste tried to put pressure on his grievous wounds. 

“Why?” Asked Gabriel, “don’t you know I made you? Don’t you know I can give you everything you want?” 

Chat Blanc didn’t respond, only snapped the goggles off of a shell shocked Timestreamer. He then touched the black butterfly with his claw, and it crumbled into dust. 

Nathalie ran to Gabriel and looked at his wounds. “You need to go to a hospital.” 

“No!” He protested, pushing her away. “Answer me, boy! You’re easily the most powerful Akuma ever made. Once you get the Miraculous of Ladybug and this timeline’s Chat Noir, we can make the ultimate wish! Whatever your heart’s desire, it’s yours!” He reached a hand out to the boy. 

Chat Blanc, who Gabriel knew as the exuberant and emotional Chat Noir, just looked at him with a sharp, emotionless stare. 

“You already took everything from me, Father. This is my one chance to get things back to where they are supposed to be.” 

“Adrien?” 

The gaze didn’t change, but he did raise an eyebrow. “In my timeline you knew. You knew, and you still hurt me. You hurt her. You turned me, and you forced me to kill. You left me alone in that world for months. Left me to mourn. Cursed me to this form—“ he snarled. “That can’t starve, that can’t sleep, that can’t thirst or drown—“ a tear fell down his cheek. “You left  me in a prison where I couldn’t die, and would continue to suffer because of your mistakes.” He gave a hint of a bitter smile. “Does that answer your question, old man?” 

Maybe it was just the blood loss, but Gabriel felt some remorse. “I’m sorry, son. Give me back the Butterfly, and I’ll set you free.” 

“Not a chance. Ladybug will fix me. And when I give her these, she’ll love me again. And I’ll have all the family I ever need.” With that, he summoned his baton to break through the window, and launched out into Paris. 

Gabriel laid still on the ground, holding his chest with one hand while Nathalie gripped his wrist with the other. 

“I…what am I going to do?” 

“Well, you know Adrien has the ring—“ 

“No doubt Chat Blanc will tell him everything before we can get to him. I don’t think that’s an option anymore.” 

“Then…what would you like to do?” 

He spent a long time just breathing and thinking. 

Choosing. 

“I guess, apologize. And then hope that I haven’t done enough damage to lose the only family I have left.” 

“Maybe, if he is Chat Noir, and you explain the truth to him…he’ll tell Ladybug. Maybe she’d help.” 

“I doubt she’d do anything to help me, after all I’ve done.” He leaned back and stared at the ceiling. “I could just bleed out here. Save him the pain.” 

“I won’t let you do that, Sir. As upset Adrien will be, he still loves you.” 

“But for how long?” 

“I think you should live and find out.” 

—

Chat Blanc had never been so happy. He should be upset, angry, sobbing even, but he wasn’t. 

He was getting his second chance. Paris was full, alive, teeming with traffic and swearing and smoking and everything foul that wasn’t there in his wastelands. 

Hawkmoth was gone, and he was on his way to Marinette. With these, she had to love him, she just had to.

Francois DuPont never looked so pretty. The windows showed bored expressions of dozens of students. 

Students that were alive and not submerged under water. 

He dropped down in the courtyard, letting muscle memory take him up the stairs to his old classroom. The door was closed, but not locked. 

Did he knock? Or did he just walk in? It had been so long…did he introduce himself? Did he apologize for interrupting? 

He decided to forgo knocking, and pushed the door open on his own. 

All eyes turned to look at him, but his attention was only on her. 

Though he did get a glimpse of his own horrified face. 

“Chat Noir?” The teacher asked. 

“No.” He shook his head. “Not anymore.” He never stopped looking right at Marinette.

“I must be dreaming,” the girl in question said aloud. “I must have fallen asleep, and now I’m having a nightmare.” Tears were filling her eyes as her voice crumbled. “Please tell me you’re a nightmare, Chat.” 

“No, My Lady. I’m real.” Did she know him from somewhere? Or was she just assuming he was an akumatized Chat Noir? “But this shouldn’t be a nightmare, Marinette.” His steps were slow and soft, trying not to spook her. “I’m your dream come true. Because it’s over now, and we can be together.” 

She stood abruptly, smacking her knees on the desk and almost tumbling. “What are you talking about?” 

He placed the Miraculous on the desk. “It’s over now. I won. Hawkmoth is no more, and there’s nothing that can hurt us. This will make you love me again!” 

“Holy shit…” Said Alya. 

Marinette just stared at them, and then at Chat. “How—?” 

“He brought me here. Somehow, an Akuma I guess. He plucked me out of my time, and brought me here. This is my chance to start again, you know.” He grabbed her wrist. “Now our love won’t ruin the world! We can be happy again, My Lady! We can be happy and nothing will tear us apart!” 

Adrien, who had up until very recently, by reveal of a certain nickname, thought that Marinette was only just Marinette, grabbed Chat Blanc and yanked him back, forcing him to let go of Marinette. 

“Don’t touch her!” He snapped. 

“And you—“ Chat Blanc grabbed him by the throat and lifted him into the air. “A little liar with too much self preservation! Why didn’t you act sooner?! Why couldn’t you save her?!” 

Adrien clawed at the hand on his throat. “I don’t—know what the hell—you’re talking about!” 

“Don’t play stupid, Adrien! It’s not going to work on me, and you know that!” 

His voice was just a whisper now, as he attempted to meet Chat Blanc’s gaze. “Whatever, man. But you think outing her is smart? You think that’ll make her like you?” 

Chat Blanc crushed harder, suffocating him. “It doesn’t matter with Hawkmoth out of the way! And once I kill you, there will be no competition! She’ll love me for sure!” 

Marinette had stashed the Miraculous in her purse once Chat Blanc had turned his back. She was going to attempt to talk him down, but at his threat on Adrien’s life, she realized he was beyond talking. 

“Tikki, Spots on!” 

Chat Blanc whirled back around, only to get a fist to the face. 

Adrien fell on the floor, gasping. 

“Are you alright?” She asked, helping him up.

He rubbed his neck sheepishly as he nodded. He knew she was Marinette, but the mask still turned his legs to jelly. 

“Why do you protect him, Ladybug? Don’t you know you can just be happy with me?” 

Marinette pushed Adrien behind her. “I might be able to be happy with my Chat Noir, but never with you. I love Adrien, and I’ll fight to protect him, even if he doesn’t love me back.” Though it was a brave declaration, she still blushed. 

“Ugh, don’t you get it? I am him!” 

“What?” 

“I’m Adrien! Adrien is Chat Noir! We’re supposed to be together! And we were! We were happy, Marinette! And then—and then you told me you didn’t love me anymore. You almost got akumatized over that…but I saved you.” He snarled. “But he kept us apart. My father knew who I was, and he turned me into this…” 

“Wait,” Adrien rasped. “Father turned you into…an akuma?” 

“Because he’s Hawkmoth, Adrien. He always has been. Mother is alive, in a coma, in the basement. And he never let you see her, because he doesn’t trust you.” 

“Shut up!” Ladybug shouted. 

“Even after he knew who I was, he still hit me. He beat me, Adrien, because he doesn’t love us!” 

Adrien held a hand over his face, willing his sobs to stay silent. 

“We’re just a pawn for him. But…I can make it better. Let me destroy you, and everything will stop hurting. I’ll take care of Marinette, I promise!” 

“That’s enough!” Ladybug lashed out and snagged his bell, ripped it from his throat, and smashed it on the floor. 

Then she caught the butterfly as it emerged, purified it, and let it go. But she didn’t call for a cure, not yet. 

Chat Noir, sans bell, glanced around the room in confusion. “Ladybug? What’s going on? Why are we here? Where’s Hawkmoth?” 

She met him with tear streaked cheeks. “You’re in the wrong timeline, Chat Noir.” 

His eyes flicked to Adrien, who was clearly shell shocked. “That would make…some sense.” 

“You were akumatized, and our Hawkmoth brought you here…probably to recruit you.” 

“Did I hurt anyone?” 

“You beat him. You beat Hawkmoth.” 

“And you tried to take my place,” Adrien hissed, showing his bruised throat. 

Chat Noir gripped his hair fiercely. “Oh crap! Oh crap crap crap! I’m so sorry! He’ll be all better once you do the cure, right Bug?” 

“Yeah. Physically, at least…but you did say some things that will hurt for a long time.” 

“I didn’t mean any of it! I was an Akuma, they lie and say all sorts of things—“ 

“You told me about Father. And mother.” 

“Oh…” he sighed. “Unfortunately, that’s too fresh in my mind to be a lie. I saw mom. He wanted to use the Miraculous to bring her back, but he was so unwilling to listen to me, to even think about working with us—that’s how it happened. He got me.” 

“I’m so sorry, Kitty.” Ladybug lamented. “I’m sorry you had to go through that.” 

He shook his head. “It’s over now. If I defeated him, then you don’t have to be subjected to it,” he told Adrien. “I don’t mind taking one for the team.” 

“Did you kill him?” Adrien asked. 

“I don’t know.” 

“Even if he did, casting cure would fix it.” Said Ladybug. “There might be hope for a happy ending.” 

Chat Noir took her hand and kissed her knuckles. “My Lady, will you send me back? I have to see her again. My Marinette. I have to see her and make up with her.” 

Ladybug patted his cheek fondly. “Knowing me, she probably still loves you. But something happened to make her put distance between you.” 

“You’ll be happy together, right?” He asked, pouting. 

Adrien slipped an arm around her waist and held her. “I think we’ll manage.” 

Ladybug hugged Chat briefly. “Thank you. For all your trauma and suffering, you helped us.” 

“You also revealed both of our identities to the class, but that’s the kind of mistake I would make as an Akuma…” Adrien winced. 

Chat Noir looked at all the shocked and concerned faces around him. “Wow, look at all these comforting, understanding, and loyal friends you have. Where’s Lila?” 

“Out sick today,” provided Sabrina. 

“Perfect! Don’t ever ever tell her what happened here. She’s a liar and would tell our identities in a heartbeat for a chance for fame.” 

“Not a problem, Kitty Cat,” said Alya, with a wink. “Some of us are pretty good secret keepers.” 

“You knew!?” Adrien cried, with betrayal in his voice. 

Alya winced. “Ah, yeah…”

“Adrien.” Ladybug took his face and held it with trembling hands. “My kitty, my partner, my best friend, what I’m about to tell you is going to suck and you’re going to hate it, and that’s why I haven’t told you.”

“I’ve already had a lot of bad news dropped on me today, lay it on me.” 

She glanced at the rest of the class and then Chat Noir. “Let me send him home, and then we’ll talk in privacy.” 

He nodded, not really fond of how much the class had already learned about him today. 

Ladybug threw her yo-yo up in the air. “Miraculous Ladybug!” 

In a wave of fluttering red, Chat Noir was gone, and so were the bruises on Adrien’s neck. 

“Spots off.” 

Now, the class started whispering. Up until that moment, shock held them in silence. After all, it's not everyday you find out your classmates are superheroes. 

“Miss Bustier, are you okay if we leave for a while?”

The teacher stammered a second, unfreezing from her complete and total shock. “I think it would be a crime to make you stay here today.”

Marinette smiled gratefully, before taking Adrien’s hand and leading him out into the hall. He was silent, rightfully so, and Marinette could only be happy there was no chance of him getting akumatized. 

Finally, they took a seat on a bench, and waited for the other to speak. 

“I…didn’t think this was how our identities would be revealed,” he breathed. 

“I always wanted to tell you.” Marinette insisted, “even though I said otherwise. Tikki and Master Fu were so adamant that I not tell a soul.” 

“So why does Alya know?”

She rested a hand on his. “I’ll get to that. But first…Chat Blanc.” 

Adrien sat attentive and quiet, holding his accusations for later. 

“It started about three months ago, when I gave you that Beret.” 

“Beret? The one from the Brazilian fan club?”

“Yeah…except it wasn’t. It was from me. Originally, I left it in your room, with my name on it. My real name. A little while after I left, Bunnix came to me, and explained that she needed my help. She took me into her burrow, and led me to the future…the future where you were akumatized.” 

“As Chat Blanc.”

“Yes.”

“That same akuma, that same Chat Noir?”

“I assume so. The moon was destroyed, the city flooded. You were all alone, everyone was gone.” 

“Where…where was that Ladybug?” 

She hesitated to say it, but admitted, “I found her underwater…cataclysmed.” 

“No…I wouldn’t have—“ 

“I know, Adrien. Chat Blanc was upset about it too. He cried. He wanted my Miraculous to make the wish and fix it.” 

“Sounds like an Akuma alright,” he said bitterly. 

“At the time, all I knew was that you knew my identity, and you said that our love destroyed the world. So…I assumed that you became akumatized by finding out who I was…and that the beret had something to do with it. So I erased my name.” 

“Oh…but Chat Blanc said he was akumatized because of my parents.” 

“I didn’t know that back then. I wish I had. As it stood, I was certain an identity reveal would end up with an Akuma.” 

“I understand your reasoning…but what about Alya?” 

She sighed, the guilt toiling around inside her. “That wasn’t…it was a spur of the moment thing. I was back into a corner and people were getting really worried about me. Worried and nosey…and so I told Alya. Rena Rouge.” 

“Ah. I see.” 

“I should have told you. I should have told you so you could have told someone. It’s not fair to think I was the only one that needed a confident.” 

“If I had to pick someone that wasn’t you, it would have been Nino. So I get it. Really, I do.” 

Tears welled up in her eyes regardless. He was hurting so badly, but what could she even do to help? 

“I’m sorry.” 

“You don’t have to apologize.” 

“Yes! Yes I do! Adrien, you’re my partner. Yes, keeping secrets can keep us safe for a while, but eventually we’ll run out of trust and then we’ll be in danger again. I don’t want to lose you!” 

He gave her a little smile. “I might be upset, but you aren’t going to lose me. I promise.” 

She squeezed his hand. “No more secrets. We train as guardians together. I’ll tell you all the auxiliary heroes, and all the formulas and—“ she stopped, blushing. 

“What?” 

“Ugh…I have to tell you something, since I said no more secrets.” 

“Is it bad?” 

“…no?” 

He turned his hand to squeeze her back. “Okay. Well then, let’s hear it.” 

She looked away, too nervous to look at his face. “Gah! This is just as hard as it’s always been!” 

“I’m not going to judge you.” 

“I know! I know!” 

Pretend this is just Chat. She goaded herself. 

“I…I’m in…love with you?” She squeaked out. There. The deed was done. She shyly turned to look at him. 

Wide, sparkling eyes full of tears, but a big smile on his face. “You mean it? You said as much to Chat Blanc, but I didn’t know for sure…”  

“Ugh, right. That.” She nodded. “You were the boy I kept turning…well, you down for. I’m sorry…” 

“I’m not!” He chirped. “Marinette, if anyone was going to have a crush on me as Adrien, I’m so glad it’s you. You really know me! You’re special to me, and I always considered you as a friend.” 

She sighed, hearing the magic words. “As I’ve heard.” 

He frowned. “What’s that supposed to mean?” 

She blushed again. “It’s just…whenever we had a moment, or I tried to do something special for you, you always remind me that you feel…nothing for me.” 

“Wait, what? That’s what you got out of that?” 

“That you want me as a friend and just a friend?” 

He actually laughed at her and pulled her into a hug. “Marinette, I thought you were nervous around me because you were uncomfortable. I said that stuff to let you know I treasured our friendship. I love you so so much, My Lady. I was deeply in love with Ladybug, and completely in denial with Marinette.” 

“Can confirm!” Shouted Plagg from inside his jacket. 

“So having you be the same? I’m…I’m so happy!” He hugged her tightly. “Today has thrown a lot of bad things at me, and I’m so worried about what comes next. But with you, I’m sure I’ll be okay.” He pulled away slightly. “You…will stay with me for whatever happens, right? I know Hawkmoth being my dad is kind of a deal breaker…” 

Marinette wrapped her arms around his neck and leaned up into him, kissing him right on the mouth. 

He stiffened briefly, before melting against her and pulling her tighter into the hug. 

The kiss was perfect, not in execution or performance, but because of the love they felt. Adrien nipped at her lip, and Marinette hummed as she twined her fingers into his hair. 

They pulled away begrudgingly. 

“You and me against the world, right Kitty?” 

“You know exactly what to say to make my heart swoon, my lady love.” 

“I’m sorry I hurt you.” 

“Kiss me and I’ll get over it.” 

“I’m serious, Kitty.” She touched his cheek. “I knew it was going to hurt, and I foolishly and cowardly put it off, hoping it would go away.” 

“Marinette, from what you said…it wasn’t just painful for me. It scared you, didn’t it? You said…when Chat Blanc appeared, that you thought you were having a nightmare. Do you dream of him?” 

“Sometimes.” 

“I’m so sorry.” 

“It’s not your fault, Adrien.” 

He considered his next move, and decided to scoop her up into his lap. “So, here’s my idea. If you have another nightmare about him, you call me, and I’ll be there in a jiffy.” 

“And do what?” 

“Hold you. Kiss you. Reassure you. Cuddle with you until you fall asleep. Whatever you need.” 

She snuggled closer to him, resting her head on his shoulder. “I love you.” 

“I love you too, bugaboo.” 

Silence lapsed between for a while, as they just sat together, enjoying the warmth of their bodies, and the open air between them. 

Marinette sighed. “We should probably go confront your father.” 

“Yeah. We should…” 

“Could…I offer you a reward if we go through with it?” 

“What could possibly motivate me?” 

“Once we’re done, and everything is put away…we can find a random, secluded rooftop and…make out for a while.” 

Adrien stood, with Marinette still in his arms. “You know how to motivate a man.” 

“I’ll be with you every step of the way. Just think about later.” 

“One peck for the road?” 

“One.” 

Adrien held her tightly before dipping her and pressing a sinful, toe-curling kiss to her lips. When he finished a few minutes later, she breathlessly huffed, “that was not a peck.” 

“No, but I need the strength.” 

“Somehow, it’s a lot harder to stay mad at you. You can put me down now.” 

“Nah. Plagg, Claws out!” 

“Tikki, Spots on!” 

The closer they got to the mansion, the faster Chat’s mood tanked. All the surface level happy feelings had bubbled away, and now he was filled with dread and apprehension. 

“I…I don’t want to send my dad to jail,” he said, as they landed inside the walls. 

“I know Kitty. I can do the talking.” 

“You’re so good at it, Princess.” 

She knocked twice, but didn’t wait for an answer before entering. 

It didn’t matter. Gabriel and Nathalie were sitting in the lobby, waiting, as it appeared. 

“Hello son,” said Gabriel, with not a trace of malice in his voice. 

Chat halted, paling considerably. “You know?” 

“Chat Blanc revealed as much. What did he tell you?” 

“He said that…mom was still alive. You wanted the Miraculous to wake her up.” 

“That’s right. But…” he sighed. “Can I humble myself and ask for your help, Ladybug? Can you look at her? Can you see if there’s any hope?” 

“I would love to.”

[kasienda]

Right Behind You - Chapter 1: Scandal

An Adrino Story - Friends to lovers Maybe the person you need is not the one you’ve had your eye on, but the one who’s been right behind you supporting you the whole time.  Chapter 1: Scandal Nino was awake.

Which was a crime.

His gig the previous evening hadn’t ended until well past four in the morning, and glancing at the glowing clock next to his bed it wasn’t even eight yet. He had managed maybe two hours of sleep.

And he could feel it everywhere in his body. The light peeking through the edges of his blackout curtains felt like an assault on his dry and irritated eyes. His left knee ached from a week-old injury caused by a bad landing during one of Carapace’s patrols. Even his thoughts felt like they were smothered in a thick cold fog.

He hated when the all night events hit on back to back days, but he needed the double pay at least a few times a month to afford his downtown Parisian apartment and without fail the requests for such events tended to land on the same weekend. No doubt, it would be worth it in a few hours. Once he had a cup or three of coffee. 

Or another five hours of sleep.

But his phone clearly had other plans as the blasted digital brick wouldn’t stop buzzing every few minutes. 

Nino left it in the other room every night to avoid this exact scenario, but he must have left it on some plastic container because the vibration was loud. And whoever this was, they were very insistent.

He sat up with a groan, very aware of the dull ache that stretched from one temple to the other. He let his head hang lifelessly to his chest.

The phone went off again. He glared through the open doorway. 

“I’ll make coffee.”

Nino tried to smile at the tiny green floating kwami, but it came out more like a grimace. “Thanks, Wayzz. You’re the best.”

He gave himself five minutes of just sitting with his blankets still wrapped luxuriously around him protecting against the chill of the morning. The phone had mockingly gone silent after almost ten minutes of near constant buzzing. He contemplated letting his head fall back to the pillows. But it was probably too late. Despite his fatigue, Nino was rarely able to go back to sleep.

He reached blindly to the small table beside his bed for his glasses, and then stumbled through his small apartment to the kitchen. Wayzz was already pouring black coffee into a cup.

Nino smiled at the ridiculous sight of the floating green creature handling an object twice its own size. It didn’t even look strange to him anymore. Really, Nino was unsure how he had ever gotten by without the constant support of the ancient kwami. 

He stepped forward to accept custody of the steaming beverage. He added a spoon of sugar and creamer. Before he could take his first sip, the blasted phone went off again.

Alya’s gleaming smile lit up his screen. He frowned at the device and immediately answered, even as he continued mixing his coffee. 

“What’s wrong?” he asked.

“How do you do that?” her synthetic voice demanded from the other end of the line.

“Al, except for my birthday, you haven’t called me in two years,” he stated flatly. Why was she even asking? They texted quite often, and whenever she was back in Paris they usually would have lunch or hang out with their mutual friends. But ever since their break up, she had not called. 

Well, except for his birthday.

“And today is not my birthday. And it’s barely morning! You know that I’m never up before ten at the earliest and twelve is really a better bet. And you’ve been blowing up my phone clearly trying to get my ass out of bed. So I ask again, what is wrong?” he said slowly, emphasizing each word before he licked the spoon he was using to mix his coffee.

“Have you talked to Adrien lately?” 

His stomach dropped. This must be really bad news. Alya didn’t usually beat around the bush. She was more like a bulldozer that went straight through things. And if this was about Adrien… “Like three days ago. Why?”

His phone buzzed against his cheek immediately. He pulled it away to see the headline she sent him. 

Supermodel, Adrien Agreste, batting for the other team?

Keep Reading on Ao3

He already hated it, but that didn’t stop him from tapping on the link. Nino sucked in air at the sight of the picture. Nino has seen a lot of professional shots of Adrien over the years. This picture was gorgeous. Or, it would have been in absolutely any other context. 

The picture captured three quarters of Adrien’s face, but only a bit of his partner. His hair caught the light and gleamed gold, not quite as perfectly in place as it would have been in the morning. Like he had run his hands through it just a few times. His normally peach cheeks were dusted with pink and his eyes were closed. He was pulling away from a kiss with a fair-skinned man wearing glasses. But Nino’s eyes focused on his friend’s mouth. Adrien’s lips were upturned in the slightest little smile - the dopey one he had whenever he was talking about the mystery girl he loved.

And that was the only difference between all the professional shots Nino had seen over the years and the front page tabloid. In this picture, Adrien looked… happy. Genuinely so.

And now, that beautiful private moment was now plastered all over every gossip rag from one side of France to the other. 

Likely without Adrien’s permission. 

How unfair that one little moment of indiscretion outed him to all of Paris. 

Nino’s gut twisted painfully. 

All of Paris included Gabriel. Adrien had never told his father about being bi, and it was no wonder as the uptight bastard was an ice statue of propriety with absolutely no feelings. 

“It wasn’t at an event, Nino,” Alya explained. “It’s around the corner from that pub we used to frequent after lycee, almost in an alley outside a club. But the photo’s too good for some random person to have just seen him walking by at this time of day. The lighting should have been terrible and the photo grainy.”

“So?”

“The photographer knew Adrien was going to be there and that there'd be something worth taking a picture of.”

“Shit,” he cursed, his free hand gripping his own shoulder. “I gotta go.” 

“Yeah, I figured.”

“Thanks, Al, for calling. He never would.”

“I know. I might be terrible at keeping in touch, but maybe we could schedule a catch up?”

In spite of the circumstances, he found himself smiling. “I would like that. When are you back in Paris?”

“I’m here now actually. When else do I read trashy gossip rags?”

He laughed. “Fair. How long are you in town for?” 

“Just the long weekend, but I wasn’t going to tell anyone because I didn’t have a whole lot of time and I’m going to be back for like six months in just a few weeks. Then, I read this, and well…”

“Yeah, thanks for the head’s up.”

“Sorry for waking you up so early.”

“You already know this was worth it to me. Thank you.”

“Of course, Nino. Anytime. Now, go track down a certain unfairly attractive supermodel, and make sure he’s okay. I’ll start researching who this bastard is and see if I can ruin his day.”

Nino laughed. Alya was protective of her friends, and positively vindictive. It was a scary combination. But Nino had always loved that about her.

“Nino?” 

“Yeah?” 

“Tell him I love him, too. He’s not alone.”

He smiled again. “I’ll tell him. Thanks again, Al,” and then he ended the call.

He drained his coffee though it was still too hot. Because he definitely didn’t have time to nurse it, and he definitely was going to need the caffeine rush today. He then immediately called Adrien. 

His friend didn’t answer, so Nino called again because there was no way in hell Adrien wasn’t doom scrolling through feeds obsessing over this story.

And again.

On the fifth try Adrien finally answered.

“Did it ever occur to you that when someone doesn’t answer it might mean they don’t want to talk?”

Nino shook his head, put the call on speaker, and thudded back to his bedroom to find clothes he could wear in public. “Never in your case, dude! Where are you? I’m coming over.”

“You don’t have to,” Adrien objected. “What are you even doing up? Didn’t you have an event last night? I was counting on you sleeping until noon!” 

“It went late. I never went to sleep,” Nino lied. He didn’t want to mention Alya’s call or plan for revenge yet, or admit to a monster headache. If he did, Adrien wouldn’t let him come over. 

“You don’t have to come listen to my sob story,” Adrien insisted. “Get some sleep. This isn’t important. It was my own fault. I was stupid.”

Nino rolled his eyes. “Shut up. Where are you?” He pulled a white t-shirt over his head, and placed the phone back to his ear. 

Adrien remained silent on the other end. 

“Dude, if you don’t tell me where you are, I’ll call Chloé and Kagami for back up in tracking you down.”

There was a sigh over the phone. “I’m at the hotel.”

“Room number?”

“427.”

“Be there in fifteen,” Nino promised. He jumped into a pair of khakis, kissed the brim of his red hat before slipping it over his head, and went straight out the door.

“Fifteen minutes is cutting it a little close, young master,” Wayzz chided from his left shoulder.

Nino had long stopped trying to get Wayzz to drop the title. The creature was as stubborn as he was old.

“Not if we take the superhero express.”

Wayzz’s disapproving frown did nothing to dissuade Nino from his plans.

Adrien needed him.

…

The door whipped open barely a second after Nino’s knuckles had knocked. For a second, neither of them spoke. Nino studied Adrien’s face carefully for signs of upset. His friend’s eyes were bloodshot as if he’d been up all night, but they weren’t puffy, so he probably at least hadn’t been crying. And his lips were curled into a relieved smile.

Nino returned the expression before pulling Adrien into a hug.

“How did you get here so fast?” Adrien mumbled into Nino’s shoulder.

Nino pulled away, and followed Adrien into the small hotel room. “Trade secret,” he deflected, hoping the humor had Adrien rolling his eyes instead of insisting on an explanation.

Maybe Wayzz’s paranoia was somewhat justified. Not that Nino had any regrets. Adrien didn’t push, and instead immediately fell backwards on the pristinely made bed. His friend clearly hadn’t even attempted to get any sleep last night. His green eyes stared blankly at the ceiling.

Nino flopped on the bed next to him, lying perpendicular with their heads side by side. 

“So why the hotel?”

Adrien snorted. “The studio has paparazzi.”

“You could’ve crashed my place.”

“But you weren’t there.”

Nino’s head rolled towards his best friend. “So? You have a key.”

Adrien’s gaze remained glued to the ceiling. ”Maybe I’m just embarrassed and didn’t want to explain anything.”

“You don’t have to explain anything,” Nino said. “If you don’t want to talk, fine. But I’m here. And if you do want to talk, I’m here for that, too.”

And then Nino just waited, listening to Adrien’s uneven breathing. He suspected Adrien did want to talk. But it remained silent longer than Nino would have expected under the circumstances. And Nino was blissfully comfortable next to Adrien’s warmth and familiar presence and Nino’s caffeine boost was fading fast. He quickly found himself nodding off. 

“Promise you won’t judge?”

Nino started awake. 

“Nino?” Adrien rolled onto his side toward Nino.

“Yeah?” Nino responded, trying to disguise the crack in his voice. 

“You fell asleep, didn’t you?” Adrien observed dryly.

“No!” Nino denied for all he was worth.

Adrien sighed, returning to his back. “I told you that you didn’t have to come.” 

Nino shook his head. “Come on! Admit it. You wanted me to be here.” 

Adrien sat up on the bed. Nino met his green-eyed gaze easily. “Yeah…” Adrien admitted. “I did.”

Nino gave a slight nod. “So, I’m here.” 

Adrien rubbed the back of his neck. “I just… I hate being high maintenance.” 

“You’re not high maintenance,” Nino said gently for what had to be the millionth time over the last ten years. “Your asshole father just has you brainwashed into believing you have to handle it all yourself. But you don’t. And today, you’re having a bad day, so I’m here.”

“A horrible day!” Adrien agreed. “And it’s only just started.” 

Nino sat up, spun his legs to be at Adrien’s side, and then shoulder bumped his friend. “So, let me make the rest of it better.”

Adrien grinned. “Thank you. Thank you for being here.” 

“You don’t have to thank me for that, mec.”

“I know, but I want to.”

Nino scooted closer. “So, do you want to talk about what happened? Or do you want to be distracted?” 

“How about I tell you what happened, and then you can distract me?” 

“Sounds good, mec.”

“I met him at the university library,” Adrien began, his gaze on the far wall, and not on Nino. But Nino gave him his full attention anyway. “I was doing research for my thesis. And when he saw me fumbling with a stack of textbooks he just offered to help me put my reference books away. And he started talking about physics and when we were done, we just kept talking. We ended up downstairs in the student union just having coffee. It didn’t seem like he recognized me.” Adrien tugged at his blond locks. “I’m such an idiot! Of course, he recognized me. How can anyone not recognize me? My face is on every other billboard!” 

“It makes me feel like you’re always with me,” Nino joked.

Adrien responded with a flick from his middle finger to the brim of Nino’s hat, sending the red keepsake snapping off his head. 

“Hey!” Nino objected. “Anything but the hat.”

“Right. Sorry.” 

“It’s fine, mec,” Nino soothed. If there was one person Nino actually trusted with his older brother’s hat, it was Adrien. “So, what happened over coffee?” 

“Nothing really. Like I said, we just talked. It was nice. Or… I thought it was. We almost split there, but then he whirled back around and asked me out. He seemed genuinely interested, and I had really enjoyed talking to him, I thought maybe it was worth a shot! Especially after…” he trailed off. And yeah, Nino knew Adrien was still pining after this mystery girl he worked with after years of her saying no. “It just felt nice to be wanted.” 

And god, if it wasn’t always the same story.

“We went to dinner at this little cafe. You know, even if he was acting the whole time, he really was a fantastic conversationalist. It was just so easy! And I thought… we had a connection? It was just one kiss. But apparently, the whole thing was a set up. I knew as soon as the flash went off. They had a screen for lighting and everything.”

He must have been good, Nino surmised. Adrien hadn’t been tricked by one of these looking for a moment of fame since they were seventeen.

“But I should have known better. Nathalie always says to never go out the same day they ask.”

“What?! You didn’t give Nathalie time to write a twenty page report on your potential suitor?” Nino asked mockingly.

Adrien barked a laugh. “Twenty? Try forty!” Then his mirth faded. “But I hate it, Nino. I hate being so suspicious and cynical.” 

Nino clamped his hand onto Adrien’s shoulder and squeezed in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. 

“And I hate it more when she’s right,” Adrien added in a whisper. 

At those words, Nino pulled him into a hug. “I’m sorry, dude. Wish the world was filled with more genuine people and less opportunists.”

“Yeah…”

It was silent again, and Nino was at a loss for how to fill it. But he definitely didn’t want Adrien spiraling in his thoughts for too long. 

“How’d your father take it?” It wasn’t the question Nino wanted to ask, but it was always best to get the Gabriel rant out of the way.

Adrien’s whole body went rigid in Nino’s arms. “I haven’t actually talked to him yet.”

Nino just hugged him harder. “How many times has Nathalie called?”

Adrien pulled away, and tossed him his phone. Nino unlocked it with practiced ease. Missed calls - three. Spaced exactly thirty minutes apart. Nino shook his head.

“That’s not that bad.”

“Bet she texts or calls you before she makes it to call number five,” Adrien countered.

Nino laughed. “You’re on. She’ll try you at least three more times. Anything in particular you want me to negotiate for?”

“I don’t want to talk to him today. Tomorrow is fine.” 

Nino waved his hand dismissively. “That one’s obvious, dude. I was thinking more like your working conditions in general?” 

“I would love it if we could move my fittings to early morning. Like super early. Five am? I’ve requested it before, but it costs extra to have a team there that early.”

Nino made a distasteful face. “I don’t know why you’d want to get up so blasted early.”

“I just want to get it over with so I have more time to study or hang out with my friends during the rest of the day. Is my company not worth a dawn wake up in your world?”

“This is my dawn! And here I am!”

Adrien’s grin faded. “Yeah. Sorry.”

“None of that!” Nino waved his arms dramatically. “We already established that when you need me, I am here!”

Adrien’s lips curled up into a soft smile. “Thank you.”

“So, are you okay?” Nino finally asked the question he had been wanting to ask since he arrived. Adrien had just been outed publicly.

Adrien shrugged. “Just embarrassed… mostly. You know I am comfortable with my sexuality. I was really only keeping it under wraps for father and the company.”

“Are you really okay?”

Adrien chuckled darkly. “How do you do that?”

Nino shrugged, his body going limp. “It’s my superpower, clearly. So you’re not okay, I take it?”

Adrien sighed. “I don’t know. I guess I was ready to be out with my friends, and the important people already know, but being outed publicly is terrifying. I feel so exposed. Like more than normal.

“And apparently, I do care what people think. But I hate that I care!” Adrien bit out, the bitterness and self-reproach clear in his tone. “I thought I didn’t, but I definitely do,” he added, his voice softer. “I wish I was brave enough not to.”

“Dude!” Nino objected. “You’re being too hard on yourself. It’s normal to not want to be judged. I know I wouldn’t want to be. Not when it wasn’t by choice.” Nino was out only with his closest friends. He had never talked to his parents. They weren’t exactly traditional, but they grew up in a country where homosexuality was met with prison time. Nino didn’t think they would disown him or anything, but he didn’t expect them to be thrilled. And he didn’t want to risk it. Not unless it was necessary.

Noël didn’t know either. Nino didn’t think his little brother would care, but Nino wasn’t confident Noël would remain discreet either. 

“Know that I’m with you every step of the way,” Nino promised. 

“Thanks, dude.” Adrien didn’t say anything more, but his blond eyebrows scrunched together so he was clearly thinking about something. “I definitely fantasized about my public coming out at some charity or something. Some event that could help the LGBTQ cause and community. And now it just feels so… tawdry. Like it’s just another sex scandal. And I feel like that possibility was stolen from me.”

Nino was quiet. “I’m sorry, mec. This wasn’t cool.”

Adrien shrugged. “And I’m maybe a little heartbroken. But I’m used to that.”

Nino’s chest tightened. It wasn’t fair. If anyone on this earth deserved love, it was Adrien.

“Anything I can do?”

“You’re doing it!” Adrien looked up and genuinely smiled, his green eyes impossibly bright. “You always do.” 

Nino smiled. “That’s because I love you, dude. You know that right?” 

“Yeah, man. Of course I do. And I love you, too.”

“What do you want to do for the rest of the day? Do you just want to hang out just the two of us? Or shall I invite the girls over?”

The girls meant Marinette, Kagami, and Chloé. But maybe Nino would include Alya as well since she was in town. 

“They will tear this guy to pieces.”

Nino nodded. “Exactly. He deserves it.”

“Do you think Marinette will actually come?” 

“I mean, I think if anything will bring her out of her cave of isolation to make you feel better, it would be that headline.” 

Adrien hesitated, another hand on his neck. “I don’t know… I don’t know if I want to face them. I’m so embarrassed. Chloé is going to give me hell for not seeing through this guy.”

Nino didn’t agree on that assessment. Chloé would definitely give him a hard time. But she’d do it at some point weeks or months in the future. She wouldn't tease him today. “If she does, remind her of the Antonia disaster!” 

Adrien laughed. Thank all the kwamis that that relationship had only lasted six months. Six long excruciating months. They had all hated Antonia, and not only because the feeling was mutual, but because she had torn Chloé’s sense of self worth into shreds. 

“Seriously mec, there’s nothing to be embarrassed about. We’ve all had colossal misjudgements in relationships. Like all of us.” 

“When has Marinette screwed up?” 

Nino’s laugh exploded from his chest. “Mec, you have no idea. Unfortunately, I am not at liberty to say.”

“What?! No fair! Why do you get to know, and not me?” 

Nino just shrugged. He probably would have had no trouble gossiping about Marinette to Adrien if so many of her secrets didn’t involve the blond in question. “I don’t make the rules. I just follow them.”

“What about you?” Adrien asked. “When have you screwed up in a relationship?” 

“Does a drunk hook-up count?” Nino asked.

“Depends! Were they cute?” 

“Not as cute as you,” Nino snarked back. 

Adrien actually blushed, and then just threw his arms around Nino again. 

“Thank you,” he said sincerely.

“For?”

“For being here despite my protests, for making me feel better.” 

Nino squeezes Adrien tighter. “Always, mec.”

“You can invite the girls, but can we do it at my place?”

“I thought your place had paparazzi.” 

“Just a van.”

Nino winced. That was almost worse than a crowd. A team on stakeout would be more invasive and they’d stick around for longer. 

They rolled to their feet. Neither had anything in the way of belongings and exited into the hallway.

“Which room is the gorilla staying in?” 

Adrien jerked his thumb towards the adjacent room. 

Nino knocked with a complicated staccato rhythm. The door swung open a few seconds later. 

“Morning, Big G!” Nino greeted enthusiastically offering a fist, which Adrien’s protector reciprocated, though his expression remained devoid of feeling. 

“We’re heading out,” Nino explained. “Back to his place. I’m ordering breakfast on the way. What do you want from Tom and Sabine’s?” 

The stoic man nodded and signed animatedly. 

Nino nodded. “Sounds good! We’ll meet you out front in fifteen.” 

Adrien shook his head as the door closed. “How is it that you know how to talk to him better than I do?”

“Sign language isn’t that hard, man. And I had motivation to learn!” 

It was hard to bribe a man if you didn’t speak his language.

…

Chapter 2

[fightevilandthengetblownup]

FIC: With Wax Melted III

---

The table was somehow not crowded at all as the sound of cutlery scraping, requests for platters to be passed and the quiet background music filled the kitchen. It had been a while longer before Jo announced dinner was prepared and she’d gently coaxed the group into moving. Grey was almost certain she’d made the table bigger somehow but that was a thought for later, when he wasn’t having to negotiate exactly how to fit everything on a plate together.

“Hun,” Jo murmured as she leaned over his shoulder to take the bowl filled with the home made pasta dressed in the pesto and fresh rocket leaves and dish out a small pile onto his plate. About half the size he had been trying to negotiate onto the plate. “You realize the bonus of family-style is that you can take seconds, right?”

“Oh, true.” Grey let out a quiet laugh as he sat back in his seat. His plate could be filled again if he wanted it to, and as he took a forkful of the zesty pasta and enjoyed the slight lemony finish, he knew he’d be taking a second helping of pasta if not everything. “This is so good, Jo.”

He wasn’t kidding though - the taste was just right with the pesto he’d been talked through tasted like a truly basil bliss. The lemon offset it perfectly and the pasta itself was al dente and Grey was going to never get over how quickly and efficiently Jo had whipped up the fresh dish. The yellow strands were beautiful and were delicate in a way he’d never attempted to make of his own nor were they as thick or too perfectly made as the store bought where it lacked the rustic and obvious care and love that these ones did. It was perfect.

“Of course it is, you helped.” The blonde chided him back, tapping the back of his head with the handle of the serving spoon before she rounded the table to help the other blonde in the house sort out her meal. “Hey, lemme help, Ombre!”

“You helped make the meal?” The question came from Grey’s right, and the curious look on the elder’s face was veiled slightly more than the curiosity in his tone. Amon glanced between his plate and the shadow before giving a slight nod. “It’s very well made.”

“Oh, well, I helped. Jo did a lot of it.” “Really?” “She’s definitely under playing how much is her work-”

“Multitalented, hmm?” Amon turned from looking towards Grey down towards the other end of the table where the two blondes were talking and Jo was dishing up not only the pasta but encouraging the younger girl to try a little of both the vegetarian and meat options - “If you haven’t tried meat, you should and see how you feel, Ombre” - before he turned back towards the man beside him. “I have to stop underestimating her, perhaps.”

“Don’t do that,” Grey grinned a little, taking the plate of caperese salad that Harry handed him to add a few of the fresh tomatoes onto his plate. “She likes being underestimated.”

“Yeah, and she also likes shooting you in the back when she gets the chance.” The researcher piped up as he let out a laugh of his own, tucking into the crumbed beef parmesan that had both the gooey cheese layered on top and the thick tomato sauce Grey’d made layered between the still crisp beef schnitzels. Jo must have only heated that through enough to brown the cheese under the griddle so that the crumb wouldn’t get soggy, and if the eggplant version wasn’t so delicious, Grey’d be tempted to give it a try himself. The sauce had been thick when he’d last seen it, and he almost had thought when he left it it had been a little chunky still - but the sauce that filled the layers between the umami-rich eggplant slices was instead thick in a silky way with no graininess. The béchamel white sauce and golden brown cheese on top had the right level of gooeyness to it, pulling in a long string of golden deliciousness with each slice. That Jo’d made both options was going down well, as both Grey and Shada appreciated the meat-free alternative and Harry and Ombre both had a bit of each on their plates, while Amon had been advised with a sly look from Jo she’d made sure to make their beef version a little bigger. Harry grinned around his mouthful before adding. “I mean, it’s good when she’s on your team but sucks when you play for the opposition.”

“I’ve seen that being on her bad side is not a good idea.” The slightly deeper tone in Amon’s voice piqued Grey’s interest before he found himself blushing to realize exactly how true that was, and the veiled intent behind the man’s words. That was something they couldn’t see eye to eye about, but Grey found himself appreciating that the other had put that aside, as usual, on his behalf. There was a pause before the older man asked carefully, the cool tone disappearing from his words. “But what do you mean by team?”

Grey half listened in as Harry appeared to go onto one of his famous, disjointed stories explaining the whole concept of first-person-shooters and gaming; eyes darting on occasion to see that Amon seemed to have known exactly what he was doing getting the other distracted and babbling away. It took the pressure off both Grey and Amon to do more than nod or mumble encouragingly while getting to enjoy their meal, and Grey did always find Harry’s passion for their shared hobby to be fun to experience second hand.

As he chewed on a piece of his garlic breadstick (which was somehow pillowy and held a sweet nuttiness from the browned garlic, and he almost felt proud at his contribution to this part of the dinner at how well the garlic and herbs had been balanced), Grey turned his attention past the two other men down to the other end of the table where Jo had finally sat down and was now caught between his two sisters talking about some shopping trip they hoped to do. It was fast paced, and Grey watched on as Jo’s eyes darted back and forth between both other women like a tennis match trying to follow the flow of conversation and getting horribly lost. After a few moments of observing, the blonde finally seemed to notice his observation - brown eyes fixing onto his instead for a moment before he could see her cheeks turning bright red around a bite of her dinner at being caught and the wink Grey delivered her. Jo quickly swallowed her mouthful and jumped right into the middle of the conversation, a tiny twitch to her lips letting Grey know it was just as amusing to her.

“Brother?” “Hmm?”

“Can you please tell Cupcake that I will entirely behave myself this year for Christmas. Please?” Shada’s voice singsonged across the table as she had spotted his watching the three women’s conversation. “I won’t even try to sit in Dean’s lap if he forgets to ask me to.”

“Oh like I believe that, Shada.” Grey chuckled, shaking his head at the other. “Anyway, if we’re having Jo’s family for Christmas then-”

“Then we get to come too, right?” Ombre chirped up happily, tossing her hair in a hilarious mimic of her older sister. “Oui?”

Grey shook his head for a moment and found himself sighing deeply as Jo chimed up with that teasing look on her face. “Oh, I don’t know. I’m not sure we’re doin’ anthin’ for Christmas. At least, not with anyone else.” The eyelash batting from the blonde did nothing to stop the embarrassed groan that got from him. “Just kiddin’, but I really don’t know if everyone will be around this year.”

“Perhaps we’ll have a relaxed one this year.” Grey added, shrugging a shoulder at the deflated looks he was receiving from both sisters. It was still a month away, they could work something out closer and perhaps they’d be distracted or busy anyway. The approving look he was receiving from the man beside him helped a little, as did the way Harry quickly jumped in to explain his plans for the holiday season and changed the topic along with it.

Dinner flowed well though, and Grey found himself in awe at just how comfortable it felt for him to be sat there surrounded by the group that had assembled. Even Amon was convivial and Grey had watched eyes wide when Ombre had tried to convince the demon to ‘do the pretty eye trick’ only to have her distracted by Jo’s suggesting they go feed Nana her dinner since they’d finished early. The look of relief on the demon’s face though at nobody else daring to use the phrasing or to bring it up was priceless though, and a gift of itself to Grey.  That it was comfortable for three monsters, a demon, a hunter and a hunting researcher to be sharing bread - quite literally when Harry and Shada squabbled over the last roll before Jo offered half of hers to the loser, Harry - and it feel like a regular family occasion felt both surreal and perfectly normal for Grey. Normal was whatever his life with Jo was shaping up to be after all, it was normal for the sun to rise in the east and for his world to warp itself to neatly match with her rising times that perhaps it should feel equally normal for her world to wrap and bend itself to match his.

---

When the idea of dessert had been brought up originally, with everyone splayed around the lounge room in different levels of satiated from the amazing meal already served, there had been a round of denials and claims that another mouthful would make them explode. Jo had tutted quietly behind her teeth and suggested she’d just bring in a little something in case anyone got pekish - and with the arrival of the large serving platter covered in delectables, those denials got far far quieter.

There were the small pastries from earlier of the salted caramel tartlets that were so perfectly sweet but bitter with the mix of salt and dark chocolate cutting through the sugary sweetness of the rich, buttery caramel, lemon meringue pies that had even been decorated with small pearls of ruby red pomegranate seeds that added to the sweet tartness of the cirtrus bites and meringue kisses which had swirls of colors both blue and yellow throughout to make small flowers of sugary whiteness that Grey had seen crafted beautifully, and that tasted like heaven the moment he tried any of them. There was fresh fruit with strawberries and blueberries and delicate mandarins sitting beside lovingly prepared slices of plums and pears, with halved figs that appeared to be drizzled with honey sat proudly next to walnuts, and almonds, and grapes. There was a small pot of what looked to be whipped, sweetened ricotta for dipping right beside another bowl of melted chocolate also awaiting the dip of a delicious morsel. There were cut up pieces of waffle and tiny doughnut balls sitting and waiting for their time to be enjoyed, and finally what looked to be a few shards of very quality chocolate decorated throughout. The whole platter was as vibrant and inviting as breakfast and dinner had been, and while Jo disappeared back into the kitchen in search of drinks, Grey was surprised that everyone held back enough for her to get out the door before the first few pieces picked and enjoyed.

“Ah ha!” Jo cried proudly as she came back in, a tray held in one hand that held the drinks for the group like the seasoned bartender she was. She pointed a finger around at everyone, not missing at all the sticking fingers or the half eaten evidence of their snacking already. “I told you you’d all find room, didn’t I?”

“It isn’t our fault,” Harry was the first one to speak up, licking the cinnamon sugar from his doughnut ball from his fingers before grabbing one of the serviettes that Jo’d left out. “You made it look all pretty. And I, for one, know what it’s like to miss out on your baking. So I clearly had to eat something.”

“Oh clearly.” The sarcasm rolled off Jo’s tongue quickly but it was obvious she was as amused as everyone else as she handed the researcher a milky looking glass with his Bailey’s and milk. “What are the rest of your excuses?”

“I never claimed I was full!” Ombre chirped up from where she’d opted to sit on the floor between the coffee table and television facing everyone. She had floofed her skirts out and was extremely excited that Nana had come downstairs during dinner and was laying on the rug nearby her. Grey’d watched the cautious look the dog gave the newcomer and was so proud to see how little reaction she had given other than an uncertain tail flip. “Besides, the tartlets are si doux - so so cute! I must try!”

Shada leaned forward from her spot on the couch beside Harry’s armchair with a small smirk all her own as she popped a grape into her mouth. “Can’t let it go to waste when you’ve put so much work in, Jo.” The smile Grey caught from her slowly shifted as if an idea had crossed her mind and he felt himself shaking his head right as the brunette added, “Surprised there aren’t any cupcakes, Cupcake.”

“Made them the last few times, and I had pastry on hand.” “Oh? So bought then?” “Nah, just made a pumpkin pie last week and made a double batch.”

The cups of tea were sat down quickly in front of the two other women from her tray as Jo shrugged a shoulder, before she moved around to the large armchair that the eldest in the room had taken up. Grey had happily suggested that his friend have the comfortable armchair nearest the spot on the couch that he’d taken for himself beside his sister, and watching as Jo handed off the glass, Grey had been amused at how accommodated for the demon had been. As well as everyone else. There’d been Guinness available as well as the regular beer line ups Jo kept about for hunters and herself, there had been a bottle of Baileys cooling in the fridge to make Harry a creamy after-dinner-drink, there had even been some specifically chosen Irish whiskey and liqueur that was what filled the glass that Amon was swirling carefully with a considered look. Grey couldn’t help the rush of warmth he felt realizing how much Jo’d taken everyone’s preferences in mind with even the dessert platter and the bourbon and coke she slipped into his hand; his sunshine making sure that everyone felt the same amount of warmth and hospitality throughout the whole night.

“And you, hunny, what’s your excuse?” Jo caught his attention from his musing with a wide smile as she perched herself on the arm rest beside him. Grey blinked uncertain what she was asking for a long moment, before she took pity on him. “You said you were full, and I come back in to see you dippin’ three waffle bites into the fondue.”

“Well, you know me. I fondue.” “Do you? Fondue?” “Sometimes.”

“Oh stop flirting you two.” Harry chuckled, breaking the joke as Grey tugged on the end of Jo’s hair playfully before turning back towards his friend. “Didn’t you spend enough time doing it today, huh?”

Grey found himself shaking his head as he laughed and tried to fight the blush from making itself known on his cheeks. “Hey, there’s company around, Harry. Besides, we were busy with preparing dinner all day.”

“Oh, totally,” Jo gushed on top, and Grey saw her shifting to sit on the rug between his end of the couch and Amon’s armchair with the same bright red threatening her cheeks. “We were slavin’ over a hot stove all day, ain’t nobody had time for anythin’ else.”

“I find that hard to believe.” The growled comment from the other end caught everyone’s attention before the blush came rushing up full force as Grey caught the knowing look in the other man’s eye. Amon’s brow jerked up for a moment in a way that was so familiar to the expressions possible from him usually, and Grey felt himself letting out an awkward but amused laugh at recognizing exactly that look. “Though I do hope you had an enjoyable day, Grey.”

“Thanks, Amon.” Grey murmured the response out as he scratched at the back of his neck and tried to fight the blush down. It wasn’t hard to appreciate the at least jump from Harry’s teasing, but it didn’t escape him that the same was still happening.

He was saved from trying to work out how to change the topic as he watched in almost sickeningly slow motion as Jo’s hand moved from popping a meringue in her mouth to hitting out at the demon’s calf. “Oh, don’t you start teasin’ him too.” Jo chided around the mouthful of sweets, and tossed her head back to pin the other with a look. “He’s been very busy day - we took Nana for a walk down by the lake to chase the ducks and got lunch out. Ain’t nobody got time for much else when the pup wants somethin’ - as you know very well.”

“Ah yes, you did seem to raise a very demanding pup.” “She is a goddamn princess - she can be demandin’ as she wants.” “That says so very much.”

“Why thank you.” The glowing smile that was directed up towards the other from the blonde made Grey laugh at how carefree it was before Jo’s look transformed into a smirk and she crawled around the edge of the coffee table to sit next to the pup in question and give the slowly wagging dog a large amount of happy pets alongside the other blonde. “You’re such a good girl aren’t you. Don’t listen to grump ol’ Amon, he forgets what it’s like to be young like us.” The cooing was as gentle but clearly loud enough for everyone to hear and get a good laugh out before Jo and Ombre disolved into a quiet conversation over the dog.

Grey leaned forward to rest a hand over his friend’s forearm though, the corner of his lips twitching into an uncertain smile. “Jo just spoils her, I guess.”

“You might have to watch out for that one day. Unfortunately if you let your... pup make too many calls early on, you’ll have trouble helping them make good choices later.” Amon’s words sounded more bemused than annoyed, and the slight worry that Jo’s teasing might cause a problem disappeared at catching the other man’s eye as he took a sip of his drink thoughtfully. “Though perhaps you too will luck out.”

Grey swallowed a sip of his own drink trying to loosen his throat as he smiled across at the other, before his attention was grabbed by Shada demanding he explain some movie plot line Harry was talking about but couldn’t remember the name of the film for. That took almost everyone to work out that the researcher had completely mixed the plot lines of Venom and Upgrade which turned into an argument on which was better, and then why posession is so over used in Hollywood and before Grey knew it, Ombre was shouting loudly while Harry was teasing her about living out the intention of the Lazarus Effect, and everyone was laughing in their own way at the ridiculousness before diverting into just how wrong movies are about practically everything which lasted late into the evening.

---

“Thanks again for coming, Harry,” Grey said as he pulled the other man in for a quick hug and back pat before they stepped apart. Harry was smiling wide and Grey met it equally pleased as he’d accompanied the other to the door. It had gotten very late, and Grey hadn’t even known where the time had gone. “We’re catching up Sunday for brunch?”

“Yeah, man. There’s a burger joint down the refurbished docks I wanted to check out.” “Burgers sounds good. They got outdoor seating?” “Totally. You can probably walk Nana down and then we can actually have beers.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Grey nodded repeatedly and wasn’t surprised to be pulled in for another quick hug from the other before Harry made his way down the steps and towards the van parked out front. It always felt good to catch up with the other, and getting to find somewhere new to enjoy in town would be good for both of them. “See you!” He called out a little quieter than needed as he waved a hand after the other.

“We’re headed off too,” Shada said, getting a jump out of Grey when she and Ombre appeared to pop up behind him without his having noticed. The cheeky grin at catching him off guard was printed across both women’s faces as they moved in to hug him in conjunction. “Tell Jo we’ll be around to get her next week for shopping-”

“If she doesn’t have a, uh, for her it’s called a hunt right? Not a job?” “That’s right, Ombre.” “Ah, droite! I got it right!”

“I’ll make sure to remind her, but what do you mean tell her?” Grey smiled widely at both his sister’s as he pulled them both in after a moment for a hug each. Ombre swished her skirts as she shrugged a shoulder and waved a hand at the other to talk when Grey and Shada finally pulled back from their tighter hug. “Sis?”

“Your gal tired herself out. Again.” Shada replied with a smirk, dark eyes glittering with amusement as she jerked her head back towards the lounge. “You left for all of two seconds with Harry, and she did a repeat of last year.”

“Huh?” Grey frowned in confusion for a second before he shook his head and couldn’t help the impulse but to get a third quick hug from each of his sisters instead. When Ombre wiggled in against his side, an amusing feat given not only her height but her chunky heeled shoes, Grey finally held his hands up in surrender. “Alright, alright, you two stay safe and have a good night, yeah?”

“Totally. It’s just in time for breakfast croissants in Paris after all,” The brunette said cheekily as she ushered the youngest out the front door, sharing a roll of the eyes with their brother as Ombre let out an excited squeal at the idea. “I do hope you’ve have a good day, brother.”

“With you guys, and Amon, and Harry, and Jo?” Grey said gently as he held onto the door and saw the blonde dash off down the steps excitedly before he caught his sister’s eye again. “How could I not?”

There was a pause as the dark haired woman seemed to pin him for a second, as if trying to discern if there was something she had missed, before the smile on her lips grew wider and almost as bright as his favorite kind of smiles. “Oh good. We’ll be around soon, Grey. I love you.”

“Love you too, Shada.” Grey couldn’t help the impulse then to quickly tug her into another hug, bringing a loud laugh out of the other at the tight squeeze, before they both finally pulled back and gave a gentle wave as Grey shut the door and Shada ran off after their younger sister.

He had completely forgotten Shada’s confusing commentary until he made his way into the lounge and had to bite back the laugh at spotting Jo’s head dropped where she was leaning against the side of the armchair, seemingly fast asleep, with their dog’s head laid equally asleep over her lap. In the chair, Amon was seated but seemed to be completely ignoring the dozing pair as he simply held his glass, staring at it considering.

“Oh no,” Grey finally managed to get some words out without laughing as he moved around the back of the couch towards the small group. Nana’s head slowly lifted, showing she had been merely dozing and her tail began to thump softly and sleepily against the floor. “Sorry that I left you with the boring pair, Amon.”

“It’s fine, Grey. I am sure that you’ve had a very eventful day, and she was-” There was a pause as the other appeared to pull his attention out of the slowly melting ice in his glass to look between Grey’s face and where the hunter was clearly fast asleep. Amon appeared to take a moment to select his words, brows creased slightly as the words took time to come to him. “-clearly very attentive and stressed this evening.”

“Stressed?” “Perhaps not, but she was far less relaxed than your usual evenings.”

“Oh.” He found himself nodding as he moved closer to sit back into his spot on the couch, eyes not once moving from looking towards the dozing blonde. She did seem to have deeper bags under her eyes than usual that evening, and Grey had noticed she had had a relatively small dinner - more on her feet fetching this or that for others, or focused on adding to conversation and including everyone than on her own meal - and hadn’t even finished her whiskey and coke given it was almost entirely full in it’s spot on the coffee table, water floating atop where the ice cubes had melted. “Well, she... Jo does like to be a good hostess I guess.”

Amon quirked a brow up as he took a long sip of his drink, and Grey found his eyes darting from Jo’s face up to the other’s knowing look but unable to meet it for long. “She cares about you, boy. At least in that she has improved.” Amon growled the words out quietly as he swirled the last of his drink in his glass. “If she did not care for making you happy, do you think she’d have made the effort it takes to include myself?”

Grey couldn’t help the warmth that spread to him thinking about that. The other was very correct in that his very presence, sitting as he was in the form he was in the space he was, was something that required time and thought. And on top of that, coming from the blonde hunter, something extra to make that choice and trust - let alone the extra care to accommodate the other’s tastes for dinner and drinks. The amount of effort in that alone blew him away without even taking in that, as was slowly becoming tradition, she had trusted Grey’s trust in the demon enough to lower her guard such that she’d dozed off again in his presence. He shook his head sharply to try to stop the prickling feeling he felt in his eyes at looking at the image before him that tugged at something sharply inside.

“Well, I’m very lucky then.” He finally found the words himself, the depth of meaning only barely scratching the surface as he finally looked up to catch the other’s eye. Shrugging a shoulder as he finished his own drink, Grey sank back, boneless, into the couch with a sigh. “I.. I really have to say thank you, not just to her, but you too Amon. This was... a fantastic surprise. I really, really have to thank you for coming.”

“No need, boy.” The demon said carefully as he lifted his drink to his lips and finished the last of it with a worn sigh - the honey-infused whiskey the traditional post-dinner drink but one less common on this side of the pond - before he slowly pushed himself to his feet careful not to disrupt the sleeping hunter even as the dog got to her feet with a wag of her tail. Amon let out a quiet, warning growl as the dog moved to step onto Jo to jump at him and held the pup’s eye until Nana sank back down into a sit. “It was a pleasant evening. Far different than the last few times I had taken such a form up here, at least.”

Grey tilted his head to look up at the other as he set his empty glass down on one of the coasters on the coffee table. “Oh?”

“Definitely. However, I do find this a lot more restrictive so I will be heading off.” “Oh. Yeah, let me walk you out.” “Of course.”

The pair both slowly moved out of the lounge quietly, and Grey was not surprised to see Nana shuffle along quietly behind them as intrigued as she was by seeing the wolfish friend as he was that evening. He gave a gesture towards the stairs towards the dog as they reached the hall, and was pleased to see that with only minimal bouncing and weaving between his and Amon’s legs that Nana headed off to her bed without a fuss.

“Don’t forget to repaint those traps before bed tonight, Grey.” The taller man said quietly as he moved through to the threshold, looking up at the ceiling carefully. “Most was left in tact so it simply requires a touch up on the scratched areas.”

“Thanks, I’ll get to it right away.” Grey nodded as he glanced up and could thankfully see clearly even in the dim lighting the exact spot that needed repainting, before he moved forward to wrap a tight hug around the other for a moment. It was somehow strange to do this when it was a hard, human chest he had his face pressed against rather than thick, black fur, but it was as comforting and felt almost as natural before he pulled back with a smile at the same on the other man’s face. “Thanks again. For... For everything, Amon. I hope you know the importance you have, especially today of all days.”

There was a pause before the other man gave a nod, his eyes veiled but obviously aware of the significance despite the time since. Grey wasn’t sure if it was because he remembered specifically dragging him almost kicking and screaming from under that burnt out wreckage or not, but even if he didn’t - Grey was glad to acknowledge it to the other. That as much as Jo had given him on that day, she hadn’t been the only one nor was she the one that had been there with him the longest in that darkness. She was the sunshine that broke through the rain, but the demon shrugging a shoulder before him had been the rock that he’d clung to to avoid being washed away. At the thought, Grey quickly jerked forward to deliver another, brief but tight hug, before he pulled back.

“Again, thanks.” Grey smiled widely as he got a firm nod from the other, before Amon turned and began to step off the stairs, following the same rules to get away from the house before disappearing as Grey closed the door.

The rug was quick to replace, and as Grey turned about he moved as quickly as possible to replace and protect the house again before he headed back into the loungeroom. Jo was right where he’d left her, slumped up against the armchair and still fast asleep, her hand curled softly around where Nana’s paw had been.

He moved quietly over, and sank down to a knee beside her. “Jo, pretty one, wake up.” Grey gently shook her shoulder, softer than he probably need to to rouse her but enough that she should wake, only to have two hands reach out to grab his shirt instead. He tilted his head but could see her eyes still closed over and with a sigh, he shifted to slide a hand under her legs and his other around her shoulders. It took a moment before he moved to lift her, letting out a shocked breath when her arms went around his neck and he could feel the warm breath on his cheek. “Okay fine, we’ll get you upstairs then, huh?”

“Nuuhgh?” The vague noise came from the other before the hands around his neck held tighter and wound their way into his hair, before Grey gave his own sigh in response. Holding tighter, he slowly made his way out of the lounge, closing the door behind him and glad that Jo’d cleared away the dessert tray earlier in the night that he didn’t have to worry about anything but the lights as he slowly made his way upstairs. “Huungh?”

“Bed time, Jo.” “Uuh?” “Don’t worry, everyone’s already gone home, pretty one. Now its time for bed.”

“Mmmmokay.” Jo groaned the word out quietly, tucking her head against his chest as they got up the stairs and Grey navigated through the bedroom door. This was possibly the most unexpected end to the evening for him, but as he laid the other out on the bed and moved to tuck her in, he was unsurprised to find the two hands holding him tug gently to pull him down too. “Mmnoo.”

“Okay, Jo, but jeans off.” Grey chuckled quietly at her fussing and fighting to keep him near, shifting to kick his jeans down quickly before stripping hers off her legs too before climbing into bed behind her.

Tucking in against her back, Grey found himself tugging Jo back against himself and curling in against her to relax. It had been a long day, but as the other twisted around and tucked her face into the crook of his neck, Grey couldn’t hold back the laugh knowing that the day had been practically perfect for him, and his night was setting up to be just the same watching over until the sunrise and his sunshine would wake up.

---

[365daysofsasuhina]

[ 365 Days of SasuHina || Day Eighty: Dilemma ] [ Uchiha Sasuke, Hyūga Hinata, Yamanaka Ino, Haruno Sakura ] [ SasuHina ] [ Verse: Of Monsters and Men ] [ AO3 Link ]

Her day’s off to such a good start. First, her one and only class (a morning one) gets cancelled, leaving her with a day to chip at anything she should be working on (and given recent happenings, a few projects are a little behind schedule - that tends to happen when you accidentally get involved in a world no human believes exists). Breakfast is relaxed, the typical student haunts a bit more empty than usual as most other classes in her block stay on. She even manages to brew a nice cup of tea before settling herself down at her laptop and opening her current in-progress essay.

...that’s when her phone gives a small jolt against her desk.

Hinata’s not one to get texted often - she’s a bit of a wallflower even now in university, and the few friends she’s managed to make seem to just...well, forget about her.

And she really wishes they’d have forgotten about her now.

It’s a demanding text from Ino. And reading it makes Hinata’s stomach sink.

Who was that guy outside the other night?!

Pale eyes stare widely at the little digital words that make her blood go cold with panic. Someone saw him. Someone saw Sasuke. Someone saw Sasuke with her.

And just like she feared, he’s attracted attention. Because no one that attractive would give her attention.

Picking up the phone and twiddling her thumbs over it, Hinata considers her answer, and jumps as another message arrives. This time, it’s Sakura.

Hey, Ino says she saw u with a hottie - scoop plz?

Crap oh crap oh crap -!

She fires off two general replies, one each, doing her best to deflect. But before she can even put the mobile down, more accusatory texts arrive.

Who is he?

How’d u meet him?

Is he single?

ARE YOU DATING?!

Can I meet him?

“Augh!” Tossing her phone on the too-firm mattress in her dorm, Hinata hears it softly buzzing against the blankets as more and more demands fly in. Folding her arms and resting her brow atop them, she groans and sighs. She knew this was going to happen - she knew it! She never should have let him drop her of, she never -

Wait! She has his number! Why berate herself about it when she can berate him? He got her into this whole dilemma, he can figure out a way to get her back out!

Picking up the phone and ignoring her friends, she finds the short message he sent to add his number and fires him a reply.

Hey! I’ve got 2 friends who won’t shut up about you! I tried telling them to drop it, it won’t work. What do I do?

Several minutes pass before she gets a reply she actually wants.

Make something up

Her lips purse tightly.

I tried that! They’re demanding to meet you and to know who you are! I’m not a good liar, Sasuke!

On the other end, rather rudely interrupted from his sleep, Sasuke drags a hand down his face. This girl is hopeless…

Tell them I’m a cop that took you home. It’s true enough, and should kill any interest.

She scoffs. Well...he’s sort of a cop. Just...not human, and...more protecting monsters than humans. Hinata’s just a weird in-between exception.

Opening Sakura’s tirade to reply, she nearly jumps out of her skin as someone pounds a fist against her door.

“Oi, Hina! Open up!”

...oh crap.

Opening it just a crack, she spies both girls looking expectant. “Guys, p-please - I have a paper to write, and -”

Completely ignoring her, the pair barge their way in, looking around as though expecting her to be harboring him somewhere. “Okay Hinata, you’ve got some explaining to do.”

“N-no I don’t!”

“Who was that guy? Tenten snagged a pic on her way in and this guy is drop-dead gorgeous. She’s been sending it to everyone and it just reached me - why didn’t you tell us?” As if presenting evidence of a crime scene, Ino shoves her phone in Hinata’s face, displaying said picture. It’s dark, and a bit grainy...but you can clearly see her and Sasuke in it, just after he took her back to her dorm.

“He looks like a model!” Sakura insists. “What were you doing with this guy?”

“I-I -!”

“And it was, like...super late. Were you hooking up with him, or -”

“H-h-he’s a cop!” Finally cutting in with a shrill shriek, Hinata stuns them both to silence. “I...I got mugged on my way home a few nights before, and -”

“Holy shit, what?!”

“Why didn’t you say anything?!”

“Cuz it w-wasn’t a big deal!” Well, it sort of was...she used her witchcraft for the first time, watched a vampire kill another vampire, and was almost drugged. But that wasn’t the night in question. “A-anyway, he’s the one who...who saved me. And then when I lost you guys? On the train? He -”

“Oh yeah, I remember that!”

“He just...t-took me home.”

Looking skeptical, Ino crosses her arms beneath her bust. “So you’re saying this super hot cop saved your ass, twice, and drove you home...and there’s nothing important about that?”

“N-no, there’s not! I’m not exactly p-planning on seeing him again. If anything, I’d like to s-stay out of trouble so I don’t have to!”

“Do you know his name? Anything about him?”

“N-no! Why would -?”

“You have to know these things, Hinata! If not for yourself, then so you can help a girl out! He’s so pretty - I’d kill to get his number!”

Hinata can’t help a small blanch. Oh, if only she knew how dangerous that would be…he’s a vampire! But...they can’t know that! If they did, they’d be -!

“Ugh, I can’t believe you let him get away without getting his number,” Sakura pouts, taking a seat on Hinata’s bed and cradling her chin in her palms, elbows on her knees. “I mean, he looks about our age...there wouldn’t be anything illegal about it, we’re all adults!”

“I’m not sure that’s -”

“Well, if you ever do run into him again, you have to tell us!” Ino insists, brandishing her arms. “Cuz if you’re not going to make a move, I’d certainly love to -”

“I’m not going to run into him again! It’s just...coincidence! He’s a cop - he was just d-doing his job! Neither of us were…were looking for each other!” Technically that’s a lie - he’s sought her out twice now, but...well, she’s not about to admit to that.

There’s a lot she can’t admit to right now.

“Ugh, fine - but you better let me know if you ever see him again! At least snap a better pic, okay? This one’s not that great.”

Hinata pouts. “...I’ll be sure to do that...now can I please get back to my homework? Some of us prefer to use our free time studying rather than gossiping.”

Clearly disappointed, both girls abandon the room, and Hinata shuts the door behind them...and makes sure to lock it before flopping face-down on her bed with a sigh.

...sure, this isn’t nearly as bad for her as nearly becoming vampire food, but...well, it’s still a huge pain. They’re doing to dog her for a while about this, if she knows them at all. If there’s one thing Ino and Sakura take seriously, it’s scouting the campus for attractive men.

Which, typically, is the last thing on Hinata’s mind, but...well, now she can’t help but think about Sasuke and how much trouble he’s getting her in!

Rolling over, she sends him one more text, expression sour.

I just got raided by two lusty ladies and it’s all your fault!

Checking his phone one last time, Sasuke snorts.

I’m afraid that’s outside my jurisdiction. You’ll have to handle them on your own.

Some great cop you are.

I don’t make the laws, witchy woman. I just enforce them.

     A bit early for once! My "summer" job is starting soon, so I've got to adjust my sleeping habits, haha - I'll (hopefully) be posting earlier from now on!      Aaanyway, more witchy Hina and vampy Sasuke. As Hinata feared, he's attracting unwanted attention. Sure, he can't help his looks, but...SHE'S the one who has to deal with her friends drooling over him! And keeping them away from what they can't even know is a lot of danger is harder than it looks. Hinata hates lying! Which is why she's so poor at it! So, half-truths it is, then. That TOTALLY won't come back around to bite her!      ...of course, we'd rather something else would ;3      But yeah, that'll do it for tonight! Thanks, as always, for reading!

[grailacademy]

Welcome To Grail Academy - Chapter Twenty: Dreamy Bruises

“I’m leaving.” Esmerelda stood in the doorway to her father’s office. Ardan didn’t look up from his work, continuing to write things down on the papers on his desk.

“I know.”

“I won’t be coming back for a long time.”

“I know.”

“I’ll be in very dangerous situations. Fighting grimm.”

“I know.”

“Do you have anything you want to say, before I go?” She set her luggage, all Versailles brand leather suitcases, down on the floor. The ink in Ardan’s pen clumped at the tip and made a dark stain on the paper, so he stopped writing. Looking up from his work at his daughter, he noticed how much she’d grown. Not only in height, but in maturity. “....Make sure you’re wearing the new fall line if they take any pictures, the tops from the summer collection don’t fit you. They make you look rectangular.” With that, he went right back to his work, a lock of golden hair falling over his shoulder. “Hmph,” she said, the sound dry and lacking satisfaction. Esmerelda didn’t know what she expected, she was hoping for ‘I love you’ or ‘stay safe’ or ‘goodbye’. Instead, she pulled the sheer pedaled overcoat from their summer line off. She tossed it onto a chair in the corner of the room, opting for a large green fur coat hanging on the coat rack next to her. Her father was only interested in having her attend Grail Academy because of the publicity it would gain for the company. He would much rather be grooming her to inherit the Versailles title, but sending her away to Calicem would keep her out of his way.

As everyone climbed up the side of the hill to the lighthouse, a force of waves pushed Nico the rest of the way out of the water and onto shore. Further off in the lake, it seemed like some of the islands were....moving. Gliding across the water, surfacing and diving below rhythmically, causing large waves to lap at his feet and the edges of the surrounding landmasses. The islands moved closer, until they were circling the clearing. “Guys!” Nico waved his arms to call attention to the gyrating knolls that started to pull the water into a whirlpool, the lighthouse sitting in its center. Beau waved it off, clambering up to the door of the lighthouse and retorting, “It’s just fish or something, hurry up!”

The behemoth-like creature continued to circle the island. It sped up faster and faster until it completely resurfaced. Rising up, 20, 30, 50 feet high above the water, the monster reared its head towards the students before letting out a ground-shaking screech, baring its multiple rows of teeth and tusks. This got the rest of the group’s notice. Vert moved backwards and away, while Esmerelda and Beau instinctively placed their hands on their weapons. Bernard shrugged in surprise at the sea feilong, muttering  “....Big fish.”

It lunged at the group, and everyone sprung into action. Vert ripped two canisters off his belt and quickly chucked them in the grimm’s direction, exploding in a violent burst of sparks and gas. “Hold it off while I fix the beacon!”, he shouted, diving into the lighthouse. The two shots that Vert placed definitely landed, but they had little to no effect, bouncing right off the armor that plated the creature all along its back and up to the top of its head. Bernard made the first move to get near the creature, cracking his whip against the exposed underbelly to push it back. The grimm swung its large tail to skim the water, not only sending waves in the student’s direction, but barreling straight towards Nico. Without thinking, he leapt into the air, narrowly avoiding the tail’s sharp fins. But when he landed, he realized that he was no longer standing on the safety of the island. The slimy end of the monster was what he was clutching to for dear life, getting flung around like a hot pink ragdoll as he screamed like a little girl. “AAH! SAVE ME, BERNIE! I’M TOO PRETTY TO DIE!” While he rode the scaled rollercoaster, Bernard flung his other whip out to wrap around the beast’s neck.

Activating his semblance, he weighed himself down until he sunk into the sand, his new body mass creating a small pit in the ground that made him an anchor while he wrangled the creature. It tugged against the braided whip as Beau ripped her shephard’s scythe off its harness and swept the blade across a portion of its underbelly. The attack drove the sea feilong to break free of its bindings and flick Nico off its tail end, launching him into Bernard’s arms, which were already open and ready to catch his partner. The two of them shared an awkward glance before Nico smiled, “My hero.” Bernard gave a roll of his eyes, attention snapping back to the scaled monstrosity. The grimm writhed around in the water, wading back and forth and puffing billows of steam from its flared nostrils. It was waiting for the students to make a move, patiently, biding its time. As it reared up once more, lifting almost all the way out of the water to loom over the island, it bared its fangs with a menacing snarl, diving straight down with its maw wide open, aiming to catch a few hunters in its mouth.

Esmerelda grabbed Beau by the back of her vest and pulled her out of harm’s way, brushing a clump of dirt off her pants before cracking her knuckles with an audible ‘pop’ and got to work. She dug her claws into the side of the creature’s long neck as it slithered past to strap herself in for a wild ride. She was lifted high off the beach when it rose back up, and she began to climb up its side, claws burying themselves deep in its hide as she started her ascent. Reaching the head, she clamped down with one hand, and tore into one of its beady red eyes with the other.

The sea monster cried out in anguish, distracted by the pain that struck its stomach, neck, head, eye, all of it seemingly all at once. It lost its target of the two hunters that dodged out of its reach, just in time for it to plunge its snout into the sand and kick up a cloud of grainy dust. This proved to be an advantage for the grimm, now that anyone on the island or near its head would be temporarily blinded. Aggressively, it sent Esmerelda flying across the beach like a shuffleboard piece. She rolled to a stop on her side, coughing up some sand as she stumbled to her feet. Nico shielded his face from the dust, protesting with a shrill “Yo, watch it!” He spotted something glowing between the creature’s jaws, growing brighter and louder, like a cannon preparing to fire. He quickly twisted the handle on his bat that released the rows of spikes, and smacked it over the nose with a loud crack, forcing its mouth shut and preventing it from shooting off its lightning breath. Bernard lashed at it again with his whip, the blades sprouting forth and grating against its plated scales like barbed wire wrapped around a wounded animal’s throat. The lacerations did little to no damage, but Bernard managed to hold it in place long enough for Esmerelda and Nico to run out of its range.

It slunk across the shore of the island and began to twist, winding its body around the lighthouse like a snake. With its gigantic form wrapped around the building, the grimm raised its head to watch the students as it started to constrict and tighten, squeezing the structure until a few bricks shifted, and a low crunching sound could be heard. Inside, Vert stumbled at the sudden shaking that overtook the lighthouse. He fell back on a railing for balance and reached out to continue the progress he made on rewiring the beacon, completely ignoring the reptilian form spiraling around the windows, cracking the glass.

“Vert!” Beau exclaimed, “Get out of there!”

“Hang on, I almost got it!” He tied two wires together by the metal portions, and slapped his scroll onto the beacon’s censor.

Esmerelda pulled her coat off. The green fur fluttered to the ground, and she rolled the sinupus muscles in her shoulders. “I can buy you some time, darling.” She nudged Beau, who was ready to pounce on the monster to defend her friends. “Go, help him.” With that, Beau nodded and rushed into the lighthouse that was close to collapsing. Bernard was still snapping his whip at the grimm, trying to push it off the building. Esmerelda took note of his efforts as she called out to Nico, “I’m about to do something extremely stupid. Be my backup if things go wrong, okay?”

“What? Why? How come I can’t do the extremely stupid thing?”

“Because if you tried it, you’d die.”

“....Fair point, carry on.”

Nico waved Bernard away from the sea creature and allowed their team leader to strut into the center of the clearing. The monster eyed the lone girl, weaving its head back and forth, estimating her movements silently. She just stood there, staring back at it with a fierce gleam in her eyes. Abruptly, it let out a screech and dove down at her, mouth agape. Instead of running or defending herself, Esmerelda waited. Bernard and Nico watched as their teammate was swiftly devoured by the sea feilong. Both of their jaws dropped, absolutely slack in shock.

Nico shrieked, “NO!”, grasping his hair in clumps in a frenzy.

“Mierda.” Bernard’s coattails whipped behind him from the gust of wind sent out by the beast.

“WHAT JUST HAPPENED!?”

“I-I don’t know.”

“WHAT DO WE DO!?”

“I don’t know!”

“WHAT THE HELL!”

The creature gulped happily and continued to constrict around the lighthouse. The bulb at the top started to flicker, the electricity flicked on and off inside to signify Vert had fixed the beacon. A white beam of light shot out, turning and flashing rhythmically in the grimm’s damaged eyes.  Avoiding the bright irritation, it slowly uncoiled and slid into the water. For a moment, Bernard and Nico were convinced that their leader was going to be carried away in a sea feilong’s belly, but they stopped their mourning when the monster’s body shuttered. It stopped in its tracks, straightening out and throwing its head back while it made a strange noise. It was….gagging? Was it actually choking on the snack it made out of the huntress?

It was about to roar, they could hear the sound building up in the back of its throat, but it was cut off before it could release the cry. A pair of bladed claws burst out from the sides of its throat, whirling from the inside until the two deep wounds connected. The head of the sea feilong toppled off its neck, revealing Esmerelda in between the severed halves, arms outstretched and claws brandished. Its body plummeted to the ground, sending up another cloud of sand while its head crashed into the lake and rippled the water with a giant splash. As its mass began to steam and smoke away, the lighthouse stopped shifting on the brick foundation that the grimm had disrupted. Though it was on a precarious angle, it didn't seem to be tipping or falling over. Esmerelda trudged through the water back onto the beach with her team, picking up her coat from where she left it. “That. Was. Vile.”

“Estas loco….” Bernard scrutinized over his friend, looking for any injuries.

“Oh, jeez--you smell nasty!” Nico plugged his nose and laughed, turning his head away from the girl. The scent of monster guts on her was definitely more pungent than her previously pleasant perfume.

The airship veered around and drifted across the purple sky, following the lighthouse like a moth to the flame. On the ride back to the school, the vehicle was a bit off-balance, taking the fact that everybody sat on the opposite side as Esmerelda to avoid the stench into account. As the ship landed back in the courtyard of their academy, white speckles of snow began to shake down from the sky like powdered sugar.

[haltandcatchfiretothemax]

Headcanon that Cameron and Donna's first April Fools' Day as a married couple devolves into an impromptu prank war

[CN: food]

It starts late that morning, when Donna stirs what she thinks is sugar into her coffee, tastes it, and then spits it out into the sink. She looks at the sugar again, and realizes that it's salt. Cameron, sitting at the kitchen island, laughs into her own mug of coffee. "Really?" she yelps at Cameron. Cameron gets up, puts her mug in the sink, and puts her arms around Donna's waist. "Just wanted to wish you a happy April Fool's," she kisses her cheek. "A perfectly good cup of coffee, ruined," Donna pouts. "Well, I made plenty, so it's okay," Cameron says, breaking away from her.

Cameron goes to take a shower, and when Donna realizes she's in there, she huffs into the bathroom. "Hey," Cameron says, "I was thinking we could --" when Donna flushes the toilet and the water is suddenly ice cold. "Jesus Christ, Donna!" she jumps. "That's not even a good prank, that's just being a dick!" Sarcastically, Donna replies, "Aw, really?" before flushing the toilet a second time. Cameron jumps again, banging into the wall with a thud. "Ow, HELP!" she cries. Donna forgets how annoyed she is at her wife and rushes to the shower stall. She slides the frosted door aside, and gets a large cup of cold water directly in the face. Donna sighs heavily, and says,"I take it you're all right then?" Cameron stifles a laugh. Icily, Donna says, "I know when I've been beat." With a forced and frankly frightening smile, Donna says, "Happy April Fool's Day, Cameron." She slides the shower door shut and retreats from the master bath.

It's a couple hours later when Cameron and Donna are relaxing downstairs, Cameron is on the couch with a book, tv on, and Donna is on the computer, answering emails. After a little while, Cameron half hears the printer, and then Donna says, "Oh, wow, this is unexpected, I need you to look at this." Before Cameron can get up, Donna is handing her a sheet of paper. Cameron sits up, looks at it, and sees a large if grainy photo of Pennywise the clown. Cameron shrieks, throwing the piece of paper, and then says, "Oh G-ddamnit, Donna!" Shutting down the computer, Donna coolly says, "That's for making me think you'd collapsed in the shower." Exasperated, Cameron says, "I didn't mean to scare you, I was just going for mild irritation. I'm sorry." Donna glides over to the couch and leans over to kiss Cameron. "I forgive you," she says, before continuing on her way. "Where are you going?" Cameron asks. "Oh, I just thought I'd make a little lunch," Donna smiles over her shoulder. "All this clowning -- sorry -- has made me hungry."

In the mood to do something nice for both of them, Donna happily spends the next half hour grilling fresh ham and brie sandwiches, slicing pineapple rings, and mixing homemade iced tea and lemonade into a crystal pitcher, and gets so caught up that she doesn't notice Cameron sneaking around before she joins her in the kitchen. She sits down at the island, waiting patiently, and Donna smiles at her as she places two small bowls of potato chips and dill pickles on the counter, and then sets their sandwiches down. She sits, ready to eat, only to hear (and feel…) the unmistakable of pbbththth of a whoopee cushion, purloined from Haley's collection of vintage gag gifts and joke shop staple. Cameron stifles another laugh when Donna glares at her silently, and then closes her eyes, as if praying for strength. "Would you like to explain to me," she asks, hands visibly tensing into fists on the counter, "why this holiday requires all of these affronts to my dignity?!" Before she can even finish this melodramatic exclamation, Cameron is absolutely howling with laughter. Snatching up her plate and glass, Donna snaps, "This isn't over!" before going to eat by herself at the farthest end of the dining room table.

In the early evening Cameron goes up to the bedroom to grab her favorite sweater before going to sit out by the pool for a little while. After she pulls it on, she notices that the stuffed comfort doll that she made with her dad, which guards her side of the bed during the day, is missing from its spot in front of her pillow. She throws back the covers, checks under the pillows, looks under the bed, and starts to really panic for a moment before remembering the last thing Donna said to her, and striding angrily out of the bedroom.

"Donna!" she yells. Donna, on the couch, turns to see Cameron running toward the living room, and springs up, about to run around the farther end of the couch, but it's too late, Cameron is screaming, "I'm gonna destroy everything you love!" and hurdling over the couch, only to trip over her own gigantic feet and semi-accidentally tackle Donna to the ground. When Donna tries to get up, Cameron wrestles her back down, smashing her face into the carpet, and Donna cries, "Have you lost your mind?! What's wrong with you?!" Cameron answers, "I married a she-wolf who doesn't have a sense of humor, that's what's wrong with me!" Still trying to wriggle free, Donna says, "Well I married an adolescent giraffe girl, how do you think I feel?!" Just after Cameron demands, "Where is it? What did you do with it you monster?!" the front door opens and shuts, and Haley and Joanie come up the stairs, just returned from a day of hiking and picnicking with their girlfriends.

Sharply, Joanie says, "Mom! What are you doing?" Donna and Cameron both look up, and see the utter bewilderment on the girls' faces. "Oh my G-d," Joanie says, "is this some kind of weird sex thing?!" "What? Oh, no, no, sweetheart!" Donna answers, "we're just…." She and Cameron look at each other, unsure of what to say. Haley, who has made her way to the kitchen and found her whoopie cushion curiously sitting on the counter, starts to laugh. "Um. Happy April Fools'?" Donna says, for the last time that day." Cameron and Donna start to laugh too. With an affectionate eye roll, Joanie says, "Why am I still the only normal person in this stupid family?" before stalking off to her room. Cameron and Donna call a truce -- and then avoid each other for the rest of the day, eyeing each other suspiciously whenever they cross paths.

At 12:01 am on April 2, Cameron goes into the bedroom, where Donna is reading a magazine, with her hands up. "Can I come in?" she asks. "Yes, of course," Donna says, putting the magazine on her nightstand. Cameron notices that her doll is back in its place, tucked under the covers in front of her pillow. Exhausted from their long day of hijinks, Cameron puts it in its nightly spot on her nightstand, and climbs into bed. Then she says, "I'm sorry I tackled you." Donna grins, "It wasn't so bad. Do you really think I'm a she-wolf?" "Yes," Cameron nods. "And I'm really into it, usually. Do you really think I'm a adolescent giraffe girl?" "Yes," Donna nods solemnly, "one that has brought immeasurable joy into my life, and who I can always find in a crowd." Cameron thinks of all the crowded rooms she and Donna have been in, and how Donna does always find her, and smiles.

Donna says, "Thank you for being the most fun I've ever had. I mean that." Cameron's chest aches with the nostalgia that she still feels for Mutiny, for the coder monkeys, for Dallas even though she kind of hates it there, and the early days of her partnership with Donna. "Yeah," she says. "You too, boss." Noticing the sadness suddenly on Cameron's face, Donna teases her, "Man, I saw you lose your temper more than once at Mutiny, but wow...’I'm gonna destroy everything you love!’" Cameron snorts into her pillow, "Did I really say that? I can't believe I said that. Or, actually, I can…" and then mimics Donna, 'What's wrong with you, have you lost your mind?!'" Soon they're both wheezing with silent laughter. After a little while, Donna says, "I move to ban April Fools' in this house from now on." "Oh, I second," Cameron agrees. "We can't handle it." They both drift off to sleep, not for the first time, after reminiscing about their funnier arguments.

'Is this some kind of weird sex thing?' becomes a running inside joke between Cameron and Donna, that one of them will say when they're both confused by something. The first time Cameron says it, later that week at work, in a perfect imitation of Joanie's brooding valley girl accent, Donna laughs so hard that the seltzer she's drinking comes out her nose.

[rfsak2]

Cactus, Part VI

I hope you like this! If you are leave me a like so I know people are reading and enjoying this! Thanks so much guys!!

Cactus, Part VI Summary: They had expected this after all. Harry/Jamie Warnings: Not really

It wasn’t, strictly speaking, unusual to see paparazzi outside of a recording studio in LA. Usually Jamie could just skirt the crowd and make it to her Jeep without too much of a fuss. It was only really inconvenient when they blocked the parking lot.

So when Jamie saw the accumulating vultures, she sighed, said a prayer for the poor sap they were waiting for, slipped her sunglasses on against the hot LA sun and tried to plan the best way around them.

She pushed the door open and cheated to the left, making for the parking lot with unhurried, ultimately unworried steps.

After all they weren’t there for her.

“Hey!”

She kept walking. Maybe someone got wind of the newest teeny-bopper working in the studio. Sometimes said teeny-bopper’s media team was astute enough to start the buzz early.

“Hey!”

“Are you Jamie Schwartz?”

She almost stopped, but something in her told her to keep walking, to pretend like she hadn’t heard them.

A hand grabbed her arm and she spun with the jumpiness that living in LA ingrained in you. “What?”

“Are you Jamie Schwartz?”

That same intuitive voice, who was beginning to sound like Harry, told her to say ‘no,’ so she shrugged, feeling conspicuously nonchalant. “No.”

The pap didn’t seem too impressed with her and bought the lie with ease.

“Shit! Did she leave already?”

She shrugged again. “You sure she works at Columbia?”

The man shrugged helplessly.

Then she turned and left, forcing herself to be calm, to resist the urge to peel out of the parking lot like a mad woman. She stowed her guitar safely away in the back seat and calmly walked around the car.

She backed out, slowly and calmly, thanking the powers that be that she had never let her mom put a monogram sticker on her car. As she shifted into drive, she waved cheerily at the paps who were still waiting and left, driving to the restaurant where Harry and the tour band were going to be getting dinner before going to rehearsal.

She pulled in next to Harry’s Range Rover and peeked around her car as she was getting out, making sure that she hadn’t been followed.

Satisfied that her little cloak and dagger game had worked, she smiled and made her way into the restaurant.

She set her sunglasses on her head and smiled at the hostess. “Hey, I’m with a party-“

“Mr. Styles told us to expect you, Ms. Schwartz. This way, ma’am.”

She nodded and followed the girl through the restaurant to a private, back dining room where the whole band and the roadies were waiting on her.

“Sorry, I’m late.” She popped Mitch lightly on the back of the head and dropped a kiss on Harry’s hair.

“It’s fine, love. How was the studio? I went ahead and ordered for you.” Harry grinned and reached over to pull out her seat.

“Perfect.” She hung her purse on her seat and scooted the chair under the table, accepting Harry’s chaste kiss. “Studio was fine.” She smiled. “The girl’s got talent. Be interested to see how it turns out.”

Clara smiled and sipped at her water. “What are you working on?”

“Columbia wanted me to help write some guitar parts for a new talent’s demo. I delivered them today.” She smiled at the waiter when she set a cocktail in front of her. “Now I am free and clear for the tour!”

She waited until the food got there to lean over to Harry. “So… I had my first experience with the paparazzi today.”

Harry stiffened. “What?”

She smiled. “They were waiting for me outside of the studio, but I don’t think they really recognized me. One of them asked if I was Jamie Schwartz.”

“What did you say?”

She shrugged. “No.”

He grinned. “And they bought it?”

“Yep. I kept expecting one of them to follow me but the didn’t.” She laughed.

“Well done you.” He wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “Just started and already trollin’ the media.”

She kissed his cheek.

**

She nodded at Mitch. “Kiwi is yours and Carolina. I’ve got Woman and Only Angel.”

Mitch nodded, scribbling some notes on a piece of paper. You wanna split the covers?”

“Yeah, that’s good. Do you have a preference?”

“I’ll take The Chain and Stockholm.”

She grinned. “We’ll have to fight over The Chain. That leaves me with That’s What Makes You Beautiful and Just a Little Bit of Your Heart.” She looked over a copy of the setlist and filled in names next to each song. “Sign of the Times? Should we just switch off? It’s the finale after all.”

Mitch smiled. “Whoever doesn’t do The Chain gets Sign of the Times.”

“Oh! Yeah that works. I’ll take Ever Since New York and Two Ghosts. Then, if you’re cool with it, take Sweet Creature and Meet Me in the Hallway and I’ll take From the Dining Table since you’ll probably end up doing Kiwi at least twice a night. Sound Good?” Mitch nodded and she scribbled it in, smiling as she felt Harry sidle up behind her. He set her mug in front of her, having been cleaned of the remnants of the three cups of tea she had drinking over the course of the rehearsal. “Hello, dear. Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” He chuckled and reached under her arm to turn the setlist so he could read it. “Your handwriting is ‘orrible.”

“You’re dismissed, Mr. Styles, thank you.”

He pressed a kiss to her shoulder, laughing. “I love that yeh decided to wait to like a day before the first show to decide this.”

Mitch grinned. “We waited to finalize it, but this is what we’ve been doing anyway.”

“Does it meet with your approval, boss man?”

He nodded. “If that’s what yeh two want, then that’s fine with me.”

“Then it is finalized. The instruments are packed, The equipment is stowed, the setlist is finalized, the wardrobe is packed…” She turned and slid her arms around Harry’s waist. “Seems like we’re ready to go.”

He grinned, reaching out to pull Mitch into the hug as well. “It’s happening! We’re goin’ on tour!”

He laid a smacking kiss on Mitch’s temple and leant down to kiss her. “Thank yeh both. This wouldn’t be happenin’ without yeh.”

She grinned up at him, arms tight around his waist. “Nah, it would, Haz, it would. It just wouldn’t sound as good.”

Mitch chuckled and high-fived her. “Jamie-Wamie for the win!”

Harry laughed. “Whatever the case may be, thank yeh. I love yeh both.”

They both hugged him, the three of them rocking each other gently back and forth.

“Shall we then?” She yawned, still leaning against Harry. “I need some sleep if you want me to wake up well at that ungodly time in the morning.” She put her papers in her purse and swung it over her shoulder.

Harry shook his head. “Love, I know yeh. There is no waking up well.” He pulled her against his side and together they started their way to the front of the practice venue.

“Ain’t that the truth. You’re like a living fairy tale, Jamie-Wamie.”

She frowned. “How so?”

“Evil, angry little monster in the morning and-”

“A beautiful, princess in the morning and the whole rest of the day!” Harry beamed.

Mitch made a face. “I wasn’t going to go that far. I was thinking ‘passably tolerable human being’.”

She mimicked his face. “Look here, Bitchy-Mitchy, you’re no peach either. They should make you into a bloody Snickers commercial.”

“Bite me, Jamie.”

“Children.” Harry made a placating gesture. “I’m gonna make you a get-along shirt.”

“Yes, Dad.” Mitch pushed the door open, with a grin, and waved. “Anyways, I’ll see you in the morning, lovebirds.”

“See ya.” She stuck her tongue out at Mitch and went to follow him out of the door.

Harry grinned, hand low on her back. “Did you want me to wake you up early enough that you have enough time to wake up? Or would you rather I just let you sleep on the plane?”

Hand on the door, she turned back to Harry. “I’ll have you know that I’m an ad-” She pushed open the door and gaped, letting it close again. “Harry?”

“Shit.” He paused and looked back, motioning for one of his security guards. “Love, yer stayin’ at mine tonight?”

She nodded and watched as yet more people rushed the doors, shouting for Harry.

Harry grabbed her hand gently and turned her toward him. “Would it be okay with yeh if I have one of my guys drive yer car to mine? Yeh can ride with me. I don’t want yeh driving through all this alone. Feel better if yer in me car wi’ me.”

She nodded. “Yeah, that’s probably for the best.” She dug her keys out and passed them to the closest guard. “Be careful with my baby.”

The security guard grinned and nodded. “Will do, ma’am.”

Harry kissed her hair. “We knew it was going to happen eventually.”

She reached up and pulled him down for a kiss she was sure they were photographing on the other side of the glass. “Yeah, we did.” She smiled. “It’ll be okay. We can handle this.”

He nodded and pushed open the door, his other hand squeezing hers. He glanced back at her. “I love yeh, monster.”

“I love you too, baby.” She threaded their fingers together. “Let’s do this shit.”

**

“Who is Jamie Schwartz?”

She paused and looked up at Harry who was frowning, eyebrows down over his eyes as he passed another shirt over to Lou.

“‘Scuse me, Lou.”

Lou nodded and followed Harry and Jamie as they made their way into the living area of their suite.

The tv had been set to the local news, now a grainy paparazzi picture of her, complete with sunglasses and a jacket she hadn’t worn for at least six months, dominated the screen.

“Back in July, at the London premiere of Dunkirk, Harry Styles, singer and former One Direction heartthrob, revealed that he had a girlfriend, rather cryptically referring to her simply as ‘My Girlfriend,’ despite repeated questions from the Press. Last week it was revealed that the mystery blonde woman seen at the premiere, was the same woman who’d been gracing the stage as one of the guitarists in the singer’s band. The question now is: Who is Jamie Schwartz, how’d she meet Hazza and how long have they been dating?”

The picture faded out and the camera panned over a small panel of entertainment news ‘correspondents’. A blonde woman smiled at the camera. “Here’s what we know: Jamie Schwartz is an twenty-two-year-old studio guitarist with Columbia records from San Antonio, Texas. Her work has been featured in the works of artists as varied as Daft Punk and Willie Nelson to John Legend and John Mayer. She is also the lead guitarist of a indie country-rock band called Spike and Devil and one of two harmonic guitarists in Styles’ tour band.”

Another ‘correspondent’ smiled. “That’s rather impressive.”

The original woman smiled and nodded. “I agree. She is rumoured to be rather well-known amongst the music industry in LA and Nashville and is apparently an in-demand talent.”

“This isn’t too bad…”

Harry sat and pulled Jamie into his lap. “Let’s wait til the end, love. These things have a tendency to get a bit out of control.”

“She is listed among the writers on Styles’ new self-titled album, apparently co-writing guitar parts with Mitchell Rowland. Since we know that most of the album was written in Jamaica, we can assume that the couple met there. We know that despite playing guitar at every one of Styles’ promotional performances in the Spring, no one seemed to put two and two together when she was photographed at dinner and kissing the singer in June.”

One of the panel members, a brunette woman, laughed. “Who dropped that ball, am I right? Like how do you miss that a curlyheaded, tattooed blonde woman seems to be everywhere that Harry Styles is especially when there are pictures of Harry effin’ Styles kissing a curlyheaded, tattooed blonde woman. Someone done messed up.”

Harry grinned against her shoulder. “I did always wonder how they didn’t figure that out.”

“They weren’t there to look at us, they were there to look at you.” She kissed his forehead. “That they didn’t notice me means I was doin’ my job and not distracting anyone from you.”

“We also know that she is going to be a media troll. Watch this video, taken last week in LA by paparazzi:

‘Are you Jamie Schwartz?’ ‘No.’ ‘Shit! Did she leave already?’ ‘You sure she works for Columbia?’

Harry laughed against her shoulder as the brunette on the show hit the table in front of her. “I don’t blame Harry for wanting to date this girl. I want to date her. That was the living embodiment of that ‘deal with it’ meme.”

“When confronted by the same paparazzi and asked why she lied, she apparently shrugged and said ‘Do you blame me?’ What we don’t know is how long the couple have been dating. They very easily could’ve started dating in Jamaica, which would mean that they are nearing their first anniversary, or at any time since. They were, of course, seen getting cozy in a Tex-Mex restaurant in LA in June, good on Haz for embracing his lady-love’s culture. Any thoughts?”

The man on the panel, the only who hadn’t spoken yet, decided to give his opinion, a vaguely sour look on his face. “I just don’t get it. He could have anyone he wanted. He’s dated models and probably had sex with some of the most attractive women on the planet and he’s dating edgy alt-Taylor Swift?”

The brunette frowned. “What are you? An idiot?”

Harry nodded. “Yes, he is.”

“Oh I’m sorry! Short, fat alt-Taylor.” The man shrugged. “She must be good in bed.”

“Why does anyone want to spend their time talking about this shit?” She turned to face Harry. “Who wakes up in the morning and says to themselves, ‘I think it’s a good day to opine on the lives of people I’ve never met and then sit and criticize them? I don’t understand.”

“I don’t even know.” He kissed her softly. “Don’t listen to it. Yer beautiful and I love yeh…” He tried for a grin, trying to cheer her up, make her smile. “Yeh are good in bed, I won’t argue with that but that’s not why I’m with yeh and I know yeh know that.”

She kissed his forehead. “I know, baby. I love you, too. I’m just a bit shocked, is all. I expected something like this but...fuck.” She leaned against him, her chin against his hair. “I hate that you had to go through all of this alone.”

“Alone, love?”

She nodded. “I have you, so this is unpleasant but I have you and I can handle it. I just can’t imagine.”

“Yeh are a fantastic human being.” Harry kissed her. “I am so in love with yeh. Truly. I’m sorry he’s a dickhead, love.”

“It’s not your fault. I want to find that man and punch him.”

“I want to help yeh.”

**

“So it begins,” she whispered to Mitch as she checked her connections and made sure her pedals were in easy reach.

Mitch chuckled, doing the same, and then grinned at her. “Nervous?”

She shrugged. “I don’t want anything to distract from this. I’m worried that all this shit about our relationship will.. will- I don’t want people to come here expecting some sort of relationship side-show. I want them to be here because they love Harry and they love his music. I don’t want to be a distraction or for it to seem like this relationship is some media plow on either of our parts.”

Mitch reached over and squeezed her shoulder. “No one who really knows either of you or has ever been in the same room with you two, can possibly think that. It doesn’t make sense. You two are some of the most genuine people I have ever met and anyone can see how much you love each other. It won’t be a distraction. There will be some fans who bring that stuff in here but he has an established fanbase and they were coming whether he was in a relationship or not. Just do good work and it’ll be fine.”

She nodded. “Thanks, Mitch. Love ya.”

“How many times have you said that exact same sentence to me?” Mitch shrugged. “‘Just do good work and it’ll be fine.’ ‘Don’t worry, Mitchy-moo, just do good work.’ ‘You can do it. Just do good work.’ I’m just reminding you of your own advice, Jamie-Wamie. Also love ya too.”

She smiled and got set, eyes on Harry’s back as he took his spot on the stage. This is really happening.

Harry turned and blew her a kiss and she caught it before returning it. “I’d say break a leg but you’d take it seriously and you’ve got eighty-something tour dates to keep.”

He laughed, hand over his mic. He mouthed ‘I love you’ and she mouthed it back.

He turned and counted off quietly. They started Ever Since New York and the lights lit him up against the screen and they could hear the crowd go wild. She smiled against the riot of emotion and pride and sheer love she had for the man at the microphone. The screen fell and the crowd exploded.

They performed the first few songs and then Harry took a break to chat with his fans. Her and Mitch shuffled around, changing guitars.

“What is #TeamHarmie?”

She ignored it, grabbing a hollow body electric for Sweet Creature while Mitch picked up his electric.

“Monster!”

She turned suddenly, staring at Harry confused, and leaned into her mic. “Yes, baby?”

The crowd aww’d and she blushed, having forgotten what exactly was happening.

Harry smiled, still at his mic. “What do yeh think Team Harmie is?”

She shrugged, adjusting her guitar on her shoulder. “Dunno. What is it?”

“Harmie is our couple name apparently.” He grinned. “And Team Harmie are the people who ship us, I think it’s called.”

She chuckled. “Okay. I dig it.”

He grinned. “I love that. I also want to put forward #TeamJarry, because of equality, and #TeamShoeObsession, because she’s as bad as me and don’t let her lie to yeh.”

Part V Part VII

[iamwhelmed]

Win One, Have Two: Chapter 1

Hey hey hey, guys! It’s Book Two! Now, I hope I can have each chapter ready on time each week, but know I will always try my best! This story has been my favorite one yet to write <3

Here it is on AO3 and Fanfiction.net!

Summary: With Isaac gone and Ed sent away to train, the club struggles to find some sense of normalcy, but so do Suzy and Collin-- and the rest of the school; the monster attack on Mayview Middle has some interesting consequences. Isaac, meanwhile, struggles to atone for betraying his loved ones, and the mission is not without difficult and pain, not that he was expecting any less. It's just more than he counted on.

“...Just Home and Love! it's hard to guess

Which of the two were best to gain; Home without Love is bitterness; Love without Home is often pain. No! each alone will seldom do; Somehow they travel hand and glove: If you win one you must have two, Both Home and Love...”

- Home and Love by Robert William Service

It was a grudge, but it was small, and even in all its feral glory, it was easy to catch. Isabel watched as it flicked its tail in irritation, little claws tapping about the bubble she'd formed around it, running in circles like a hamster in a cage. Part of her wanted to keep it, because it had a tiny face like a squirrel and a bushy round tail like a rabbit with a tummy as round as it was fluffy, but it would be frowned upon and she knew that. Besides, how was she to keep it home? It clearly wanted little to do with her and Dimitri, even as they bent to the forest floor and set the little guy free. It didn't so much as wiggle its nose at them before it was off with two other spirits equally as small and cute, presumably its family.

"There" she stood up and wiped the sweat from her brow. The hike up the grassy hill was more difficult than it would have been had she not been expending so much spectral energy. Dimitri raised a hand and high-fived her, turning on the way back to the clubroom. It was a half an hour walk, but it'd be easier the second time around. "It's nice to have you back!"

"Glad to be back" he grinned that sly way he always did, behind lidded eyes that seemed to be up to no good, which Dimitri certainly was. "Think we mighta spared that poor creature a real but-kicking back there. Had Max not accidentally stepped on its paw-"

"Hey!" They both jumped at the grainy voice in the walkie-talkie she'd nearly forgotten they'd had. "I had an arm full of books and it picked the wrong time to cross the hall!"

"Quite frankly you're lucky it didn't bite you." Dimitri snickered, one finger scratching his top lip.

There was a pause, and then: "Do… can spirits have rabies?"

Isabel tossed her head back and cackled, holding her sides and leaning into Dimitri, whose shoulders were trembling as he stifled his own bout of laughter.

"Good job, children!" Spender's voice was over the walkie talkie then, though Max's disturbed musings carried on in the background, faintly dying out as Spender was taller and the talkie was well above his mouth at that point. "Return to the clubroom so we can call it a day. Stay safe."

Max blinked up at Spender, who set the talkie aside on his desk, looking a little too pleased for his liking. He got it, he guessed, it'd been a month, but it still didn't sit well with him, and he was having a hard time seeing the world continue turning as though nothing had ever happened. Sure, there was a heaviness over the student- and teacher- body, and he felt that in the air and saw it in the wide, dull eyes of his peers, but nobody lost sleep because they felt like he did. "Does that happen often?" Spender hummed, smiling at Max, taking a seat, one hand reaching for a red pen, likely to grade tests. Max sat up from where he'd taken to slouching, propping himself up on the armrest. "How often do we take care of spirits and they don't end up in a tool?"

Spender tilted his head, smile softening in the way any adult's would when they were about to explain something they didn't think a child was ready to hear. "Well, it's more rare than one would hope, but not rare enough to make us the bad guys or anything!"

Silence fell over the room, companionable, at least more than it had been when he first started seeing shades and human-spirit-mad hybrids.

Max cocked an eyebrow. "That sounds like something a bad guy would say."

"I heard it."

Spender's smile flattened, and Max could almost see a level of exhaustion, even behind his glasses, but he turned away to mark off papers before Max could really catch a glimpse of it. He sighed and leaned further into the couch, crossing his arms over his chest and hoping that his hat hid his eyes, because he might have been projecting.

"We should arrange another search party this weekend." Spender's voice was perfectly level, like he'd rehearsed it thousands of times. "I want to be perfectly certain we've covered the entire forest."

Max nodded, then mumbled "Yeah."

He couldn't exactly tell him Isaac wasn't in Mayview anymore. It'd raise too many questions, questions he knew he couldn't-- wouldn't-- answer.

He plopped on the couch, legs splayed across Zoey's lap against her many (many, many, many) complaints, and took the remote in one lazy hand. Even the weight of that was a burden on his arms, which felt like dumbbells for some odd reason, and he guessed it was because he hadn't been sleeping well. He wasn't quite awake all hours of the early morning, but he more often than not awoke periodically, maybe two or three times, a night.

He yawned. All he wanted to do was kick back, watch some TV- if he ever managed to find a channel he felt like watching-- and nap at his sister's expense. She was hitting his calves, but softly, enough to let him know she didn't want his feet on her, just not enough to actually, ya know, hurt him or have much of an effect at all. Then again, she was, like, seven; he doubted she could if she wanted to.

Nature? Boring. Paranormal? Extra boring. Sports? Max squinted. Nah.

He flipped through channel after channel, taking a moment each time to decide whether or not he wanted to kill his brain to the screams of a horror movie or the equally as grating screams of reality TV. He was starting to wonder if he really wanted to watch anything. Max yawned again and stretched, pressing the down button on the remote.

"In other recent news…" Blegh. Local news station. No, definitely not. He raised his hand to cut to a different channel, but a flash of orange caught his attention. "Missing child Isaac O'Connor is yet to be found." Zoey yelped as he swung his legs to the floor, leaning forward, edged to the front of the couch, turning the volume up as high as he could take it. The woman on screen shuffled her papers, chestnut hair bouncing over her shoulders as she turned to her partner. "Now, after forty-eight hours, the likelihood of catching the culprit drops significantly, right?"

Zoey frowned, lips pursing. "They haven't found him yet?

"Yes, Jan, it does, and unfortunately for this kid, it's been a month." The man, tall, dark, soft instead of brooding, set his forearm on the newsdesk. "Now, that's not to say there's no hope. There have been missing kid cases that have lasted years and they turned up."

Max swallowed hard. He shouldn't have been worried so much. It wasn't like Isaac had been kidnapped or something equally as horrific. Max knew he'd left of his own volition. To do what though? Doorman wouldn't tell him, wouldn't say a word, and that scared him like nothing else.

"Now, Mark, in a situation like this, what is the probability that this kid is alive?"

His heart dropped. Zoey leaned forward with him, crossing her legs and adjusting to lay more comfortably on the cushions. "Not likely."

Max punched her in the arm, harder than usual. She yelped and rubbed at the sore spot, nose scrunching up.

"I wonder what happened to that boy…" His dad moved into the room, hulling a large basket of laundry into the living room. He balanced on one leg, shutting the laundry room door behind him. Had his interest not been elsewhere, Max might have been impressed all of the clothes still looked their regular non-shrunken size. He'd been more careful about that lately, about everything. He plopped down on the couch, setting the basket down at his feet, and looked at the screen as he reached for the first piece of unfolded laundry. "Hey, Max, that boy was your friend, wasn't he?"

Was? Wasn't? The past tense did nothing to settle the growing pit of unease sifting through his stomach. His hand tightened around the remote. He couldn't meet his dad's eyes. "Uh, something like that…"

"Hah!" Pinning people was fun, Ed had decided, especially when they were older and weren't expecting him to knock them over like speeding locomotive. The kid below him had three years on him at Hashimoto's dojo, at least, and wasn't looking too pleased about his abdomen being under Ed's knee if the red of his face and the blood vessel threatening to pop at his temple were any indication. Ed gave his best grin as consolation, peeling back at Hashimoto's order.

"Finish. Well done, Ed." It wasn't rare to see the old man smile, but it was certainly contagious. The corners of his mustache-- because you couldn't very well see his upper lip-- would lift, and the crease of his brows, usually furrowed in concern, would have a lightness that matched his amused eyes.

Ed rubbed the back of his neck, tittering to himself. He still wasn't used to receiving praise. The whole be an effective student thing was still shiny and new to him. "Well, it's 'cause I have something to fight for!" His smile dropped. "Also I had, like, a lot of soda before the match, like, so much soda. My bladder is about to combust."

"Aw!" Another student, who'd won the sparring match before his, a small but beefy girl who stood as tall as his waist (counting the volume of her pigtails) took a water bottle from the mini fridge one of the older kids had set at the foot of the staircase. (Hashimoto had been originally against the installation of such a cumbersome-- his words-- appliance, and now accepted it with grudging assent). She readjusted the white towel around her neck with one hand and smiled his way. "That's cute! Who is she?"

"Isabel!" He'd answered before he'd taken the flowers and hearts in her eyes into account, before he realized exactly what he was answering to. "She's my best friend!"

"Yeah," she hummed and let her head fall back to take a few large gulps of her water, then shook her head like a wet sweaty dog and went for the staircase. "That's how my dad fell for my mom, too."

He froze, and if his cheeks hadn't already been flushed from the workout, they would have been as red as Isabel's aura, anyway. He rubbed desperately at either side of his face, trying in vain to wipe away the evidence. "I-I'm not in love with her!"

The other student giggled and carried her weight up the stairs. "Not yet, maybe."

They'd been out on the streets of Mayview, in every district imaginable, he was sure, since school let out, and it would have been longer had the Vice Principal not caught Suzy snooping around near the front entrance during lunch. Collin sighed, moving his arms and the papers in them so that the pile wouldn't hit the ground and go flying in the wind. She'd kill him, and he knew it. "Hey, um, quick question?"

"Yeah?"

"What the flip is this actually accomplishing?" He motioned to the poster she was currently hammering into a telephone pole, trying not to pay attention to the face he knew was plastered to each one. Isaac's face. Under big bold text that read "Missing", like it wasn't already all over the news. Isaac's parents had money- a lot of it, and they were putting it into action. That's why Suzy, in all of her rare good intentions, wasn't really accomplishing anything. Well, one of the reasons. Suzy ignored him, and he took another breath and continued. "Max said he's not even in Mayview anymore. How is this helping anyone?"

She didn't respond again, and he chewed on the inside of his cheek to keep from making another remark. She never made any sense, no matter how hard he tried to unravel the mess that was the bane of his considerably short existence. He didn't even know why he tried anymore, let alone why he took the challenge in the first place. He fixed the pile of missing posters in his arms again, pressing one palm up on the bottom of the stack, but still felt some pieces sliding out of his grip regardless. He went to say something again, but Suzy chose then to finish her handwork and admire it.

"Fall break is coming up, right?"

"Huh? I, uh, I guess--"

"And other people have families outside of Mayview that they may be visiting," She gestured to the missing poster, hanging, though crooked. "Thus, posters."

"Suzy--!"

"There's a chance that somebody could see him. Not everybody watches the local news, Collin!"

He opened his mouth to argue with her, but for once? He sighed. It wasn't worth it. Suzy hadn't been so passionate about something important, something personal, in a long time. Somebody, eventually, might rip it from her, but he would not be the one to tear up her sole force for good. She continued on her way down the sidewalk, seemingly unaware of the setting sun drifting over the horizon and kissing their chance to make curfew goodbye. "Suzy, stop."

She whipped around, arms crossed, cheeks puffed, like a child throwing a tantrum. "Why?"

He fixed the papers in his arms again, but it was less about convenience and more about her attention. He smiled and held them up a little higher. "We should probably print more of these."

He didn't enjoy doing it, in fact it went against his moral code in some aspect, probably, maybe. Isaac reached up from the side of the trashcan, fingers gracing the food tray that the tall, skinny, lanky man beside him was disposing of. His attention was away for the moment, eyes latched to his newborn daughter who was sitting-- er, standing-- a few feet away on the table he'd taken for his wife and child. His wife, as attentive as a mother had to be, might have noticed Isaac slinking around a trash bin, or the hand he reached to the piece of bread sitting atop the otherwise devoured plates of food; she was too busy holding their toddler, keeping her wobbling legs steady in the face of a potential fall from a table top only a few feet off the ground. Both parents laughed, one urging the other to hurry and record it, because their baby was going to be a dancer and they were sure of it. Isaac took the bread in a shaking hand, then bolted down the windowless side of the restaurant before the man could notice his uneaten bread had somehow disappeared.

Sometimes he wondered if Doorman would be mad at him, if the way he'd gone about feeding himself the last month was, in any way, an act of aggression. Probably. Maybe. He tried not to think about it. He took a bite of it as he sat himself under the roof of a bus stop, lounging and spreading his legs out so he was more comfortable. It wasn't like he'd taken it from a plate not-yet finished. The bread would have been tossed anyway. Even so... Isaac exhaled, leaning back, settling his head, watching each passing car in his peripheral.

He didn't know where he was, what time it was-- aside from the stars going on for yards and miles and lightyears over his head-- or the month, week, day. It didn't really matter. There was no timeline for his mission, and no end to it, not a foreseeable one, anyway. He swallowed the first bite. Stale. He looked down at it and shrugged. He wasn't expecting much else. That was the way life on the road worked. He was surprised nobody had caught him yet, tried to drag him back to his home, not that anybody would have known where that was. He didn't try to buy things, and the baths he took were often in fast food joint sinks a little past midnight, so it wasn't like he'd had a lot of interaction with any adult that might have their suspicions about the dirty thirteen-year-old roaming around the country on his own. He wondered how far he was, sometimes, not often, but he never let himself linger on it. Distance, like how long he'd been gone, didn't matter. He wouldn't be coming home.

There was a scream, a squeal, something not quite human fighting something also probably not human. Isaac sighed and stuffed the rest of the bread in his pocket for later. He had something to atone for.