#bittersweet fluff

[nomoreusername]

A Bittersweet Reunion

Pairing:Gally x female reader

Summary:Despite the way reuniting with Gally should be only happy, you both end up going through every kind of emotion.

You didn't know you had missed the official reunion of your dead boyfriend. To be fair, being stabbed by some random person because you got a little too close to someone in a crowd probably does require some medical attention. Still, you had gone more than half a year grieving over him and swore you were every other second. You were just one stage away from acceptance that he was actually dead.

Apparently, you never even had to. While that would admittedly be quite an annoyance when you found out, it would be a happy one.

Gally had been pretty anxious about seeing you all day. While he still listened with full attention to the more than dangerous reason everyone had traveled all the way to the very last city (Denver), the back of his mind was filled with you. Were you okay? Were you safe? Had anything extreme happened to you while he was gone? Did you hate him with every part of you? Did you move on?

So many questions and no answers. Not until he was able to get back to the Right Arm base and see you. Would you punch him in the face the way Thomas had? Would you want to see him? Who knows? Certainly not him.

You were waiting on a bench, your arm wrapped in fresh bandages. While it was now a numb hurt, it was definitely painful. Any idiot would know be able to tell.

It was getting late. You didn't know exactly what time it was since there weren't any clocks or windows near you, but you were certain of that. Nobody had given you any information about anything. You weren't informed of why or where your friends had vanished off the face of the earth. Nobody was aware that you're Gally's lover so they didn't bother to tell you about that. As far as they knew, you were less than a stranger on the street to him.

He wasn't sure if Thomas had only said you were here to hurt him more. He wasn't sure if Thomas had lied to make sure he would have hope torn away from him. He wasn't sure if Newt had confirmed it because he wanted to cover for him. He wasn't sure if Fry had said it too out of frustration at all his actions the last time they had seen each other.

Apparently, you're right behind the door standing in front him. That's what everyone told him before they left to eat.

He couldn't eat. If he did, he was sure he would vomit. His stomach was twisted in knots, threatening to suffocate his organs.

Taking a deep breath, he told himself to be strong and get it over with before he opened the door.

You looked up from the floor you had fixated on for almost an hour. When you found yourself staring at your love that you thought you lost forever, you froze.

He didn't know what to do. He didn't know what your reaction meant. He didn't know if you were shocked, afraid, angry, or any type of emotion.

You hadn't found your voice, but you were able to stand.

He was still your Gally though. He had to be. If he moved on while you were staying loyal to someone you thought was dead, that would be a new kind of betrayal.

He had grown almost an inch taller, making the height difference just a little more obvious. His brown hair was now completely buzzed. His coffee eyes held this certain softness that you had never seen from him before.

He was still here.

All he could do was look at you. Your hair had grown a little since he last saw you but was still the same Y/H/C color. Your Y/E/C eyes still held this gentleness that he didn't think he could ever have. Everything about you just seemed better despite almost nothing having changed. Better than he ever had been. Better than he could ever be.

In his mind at least. In yours, your other half was right in front of you.

“Gally?”You whispered, eventually remembering how to speak.

“I’m sorry,”He whispered back, not knowing what exactly he was apologizing for. Killing Chuck? Waiting so long to go with you? You living your life believing he was dead? Every one of those and more?

Slowly walking over, you stared at him for a moment. Just as he was staring back you threw your arms around him, the tears pouring from your eyes no matter how much you squeezed them shut. Silently sobbing into his chest, you hugged him as tightly as you could, afraid that if you let go this would be another dream.

He was never a crier. He hated it. Nobody had ever seen him cry. Not even you.

He didn't care about that right now. The love of his life was sobbing at the realization that he was alive despite the way he had stayed up for nights thinking that you hate him now. The love of his life was breaking down with emotion.

Holding you back, he rested his chin on your head as the tears dripped down his cheeks. Shutting his eyes, he repeated apologies. Each one made you cry harder as you realized he thought he had something to be guilty for.

“I missed you,”You mumbled into his shirt, firmly gripping it in your hands.

“I missed you too. I missed you everyday,”He promised, his voice cracking. As he tried to pull away you shook your head and pulled him as close as possible. You didn't want him to disappear yet. Something like that had to be some sick dream. There was no way this was real. “I’m here. I’m right here,”He soothed, rubbing your back.

Knowing that the longer you stayed the more it would hurt when you awoke you quickly pulled away, wiping your eyes. With your face buried in your hands, you waited for your heart to ache again in a way that put you two steps back.

Instead, you felt his hands in yours. Slowly pulling your hands away, you kept them in your sides as he cupped your face.

Suddenly, a group of people ambushed you. While some of them tore Thomas away from Chuck others were grabbing you, forcing you from your lover's body. Shouting for them to leave you with him, you tried to hold on, reaching for him.

This was real.

“Gally.”

“Y/N.”

A small smile creeped onto your face despite the tears falling from your eyes. Wiping them with his thumbs, he smiled back as his own spilled.

Pressing his lips to your temple, he kissed your forehead. Feeling your heart flutter in your chest, you gazed at him with nothing less than love. Looking at you the same way, he thanked every higher power there may be that you had found your way to him.

♡ - - - ♡

It was wrong. Maybe. Maybe it was disgusting that as everyone else cried over Chuck as he slowly died you had run over to Gally. Clutching his shirt on your hands, you let out silent yet pained screams. Bowing your head, as you found your voice you demanded that he wake up. You had already had to run through the Maze thinking you would never see him again. It wasn't fair that he would leave just as you had him. It wasn't fair.

“Wake up!”You demanded, shaking him.

He wanted to. He wanted to say that he was just barely holding on. He wanted to say that this on top of the sting meant he was paralyzed.

He couldn't though. He just had to watch you sob as you believed it was over.

He couldn't. He didn't think his mouth would even allow him to say those words. He didn’t want to hurt you all over again.

There were more of them, and they were stronger than you. That meant that no matter how much adrenaline you had and how much of a fight you put up they were able to drag you out the door.

As he watched you leave a single tear dripped down his cheek.

Sitting straight up, you gasped for air as sweat ran down your entire body. Putting your hand over your chest, you tried to take deep breaths.

You had had that dream more times than you could remember. It had haunted you, had made you afraid to sleep for months. You avoided it until you were sick and passing out standing up.

You thought reuniting with him would surely fix that. It only made sense for you to feel okay again.

You don't. Not in the slightest.

Gally had heard you wake up. It was impossible not to since you had both fallen asleep on the floor right outside the medical room, you being held in his arms.

Leaning against the wall, you put your knees to your chest as you kept telling yourself that he’s right beside you.

It had been so long though that nothing seemed real. Absolutely nothing.

“It's okay,”He coaxed, sitting in front of you. Slowly pulling your hands away from your face, he pressed his palms to your cheeks as he looked at you. “It's okay,”He repeated, not knowing and not needing to know what was going on. All that mattered was that something made you cry.

“Please don't leave again?”You begged through shaky breaths.

He didn't know how to tell you that he had to stay here. Maybe. How could he possibly explain that he pledged his allegiance to Right Arm? How could he ever tell you that now that you're here he didn't know what was right? That he didn't know how he could explain it? That he didn't know if there was any getting out of this? That maybe your only chance of being together forever was you staying here instead of going back with your friends?

All he wanted was to savor this time with you. No matter how short or how long it was, he just wanted to take in every moment, to burn every second into his head.

“Thomas-”

He was worried that if he spoke he would spill everything he couldn't yet. That he would admit all the things he didn't want to.

Making sure no words could escape, he firmly pushed his lips against yours. Shutting your eyes, you wrapped your arms around his neck, letting yourself get lost in the kiss. Depending it, he let his hands travel down your waist and to your outer thighs, keeping you close to him. Not wanting to pull away anyway, you separated to breathe for only a second before crashing your lips back against his.

As you were falling into the other's touch, the door opened, making you both pull apart. Standing there and staring at you with wide eyes, was a dumbfounded Thomas.

“How could you?”He sputtered out.

“He’s a killer. You can make all the excuses you want-”

“He killed Chuck. How could you sit there and kiss a murderer? How?”

“It wasn't his fault,”You said firmly, standing up to be on his level.

“But he still did. He killed him. He pulled the trigger.”

“It's not an excuse. It's the reason. He would never, ever hurt Chuck. Ever.”

“Yeah. He was aiming for you.”

“Excuse me?!”

“How does that fix it?”He snapped, his glare turning sharper.

“If I was stung and remembered how much you hurt us, I would probably try to kill you too.”

You couldn't avoid it forever though. You both knew that.

“This was your fault, Thomas! You set it up! You made the Maze! You trapped your friends in there! You can pretend you didn't, but it doesn't change it! You! Are! Guilty!”

“I fixed it!”

“No you didn't! Minho is missing! People are dead! You didn't fix shit!”

“I never killed anyone!”He denied, ignoring the pang of hurt it put in his chest. The guilt of all the people he lost would still strike him out of nowhere. The fact that one of his friends would think the same only made it worse, though he covered it up with anger.

You didn't believe that, but you couldn't let him insult Gally. If that meant reminding him of the indirect blood on his own hands, so be it.

“Chuck jumped in front of you so you wouldn't die. You didn't move fast enough, and now he's dead. You didn't push him away, and now he's dead. You were a Runner, and you still weren't fast enough. He’s gone. He’s never coming back. He cared about you so much that he gave his life. If you didn't exist, he would still be here.”

With a scowl and tears pricking his eyes, he left, slamming the door so hard it shook the hinges.

With a frustrated groan, you slid down the wall behind you, running your hands through your hair. Sitting beside you, Gally let the silence fill the room as he ran out of things to say. He just placed his hand on your knee, promising that he was still here.

For now.

♡ - - - ♡

Thomas was still furious at you. He felt betrayed. He felt as though you genuinely hated him.

Gally was just supposed to be showing them Teresa. He was only supposed to be explaining the plan.

As Thomas’s coldness chilled the air though, it was obvious he would have to say something.

“I know that you don't like me. I know you hate me. I know you think I hurt you, that I hurt Chuck, out of anger,”He tried, leaning against the railing. Looking at him with a blank expression, Thomas let him speak. “The thing is you don't have to like me. You don't have to want anything to do with me. You don’t have to be my friend. I don't expect that from you,”He sighed.

Thomas was positive that was true. That he would never like him.

“If you care about Minho, if you want to rescue him, you do have to trust me though. If you don't, this won't work. It will only lead to arguing and no communication. It will ruin the entire thing.”

Pursing his lips, Thomas felt his stomach drop as he realized the truth to his words.

“So until this is over, can we be civil? Can you trust me? When it's done, you won't ever have to see me again. Until that happens though, can you do that?”

Sighing, Thomas leaned against the railing further away, nodding as he knew it was true.

“Okay. Until this is over,”He accepted.

“What do you mean we won't ever see you again? Aren't you going back to be with Y/N?”Newt asked slowly, picking up on the words.

With guilt flooding his chest, Gally bowed his head, looking at the concrete ground miles below him.

“Gally, she's been a wreck for months. This morning is the most fine she's looked since you were gone. You can't do this to her again.”

“I . . . I don't know what I’m going to do,”He confessed.

“Y/N needs you. You don't understand how hard it's been on her. You can't abandon her again,”Newt kept pushing.

“It's not that simple.”

“How is not that simple?”

“I have a job here.”

“You told her you would always be loyal to her. She had plenty of options to pick from. She had people she could have been with. She could have been with so many others, but she still chose you. She thought you were dead, and you still came first.”

At his words, Thomas felt remorse for the fight last night. He realized he had let his emotions overtake him. You loved Chuck too, but Gally had been your world. You couldn't just move on. It didn't work like that. No matter what he did, you two loved each other in a way most people would never understand.

If he could still love Teresa, why couldn't you love Gally? She had done it on purpose yet his heart still yearns for her. Why would it be fair to not let yours yearn for him?

“I know. I just don't know what I’m going to do yet. For now, just don't tell her? I need to figure out what comes next, and then I will. So please just don't say anything?”He pleaded.

Newt knew all about secrets. He was great at keeping those.

“Yeah. Okay.”

♡ - - - ♡

You and Thomas hadn't really spoken. Neither of you had the courage to talk about what had went down. Not yet.

“I’m sorry. For getting mad at you about being with Gally. And for calling him a murderer. I don't . . . I’m not really over it, but I know he means a lot to you. He makes you happy. You're my friend so I love you, and I want you to be happy.”

He was nervous and admittedly still a little hurt. At the same time, he knew he had hurt you too. He had essentially accused you of betrayal as if he didn't love someone on the other side.

Needless to say, you weren't the most excited when he had pulled you aside to speak to you.

Of all the things to leave his mouth, you didn't expect that.

“I know you didn't kill anyone. It's not your fault. It never was, and I shouldn't have thrown that in your face. I wasn't angry, but I was hurt. At the end of the day though, you are my friend too. You paid your debt so long ago, and you don't need to anymore. You shouldn't be reminded of it. Nobody's deaths were your fault, and I'm sorry.”

He thought about the promise last night. How Gally made them say they wouldn't tell you he didn't know why to do yet.

It was going to suck when he did, and it already sucked to keep the secret.

“So we're okay again?”He clarified.

You had all slowly left when Thomas followed him, trying to process it. None of you were stupid. No matter how in denial you were, you knew the truth deep down.

“Yeah. We are.”

Hopefully, you still will be when this is over. Or hopefully you never find out that he knows.

♡ - - - ♡

You had all watched Newt push Thomas against a wall. You had all watched him scream in his face. You had all watched the regret in his eyes when he pulled away. You had all watched him leave holding his arm.

You stared at the wall, your face blank as everything became too real. Gally was beside you, his hand on your knee as he took it in himself.

♡ - - - ♡

“This sucks,”You whispered, breaking the tense silence.

“Yeah. It does,”He nodded, not knowing what else to say. Then again, did anything need to be said? No words could change Newt becoming a Crank, and it did in fact suck.

“We fixed Brenda. Somehow. We can fix him,”You mumbled half to yourself and half to him.

“What do you mean?”

“Brenda got bit but a Crank a few months ago. Mary gave her some kind of shot, and it cured her,”You explained.

“So we need to get him to Mary.”

“Janson shot and killed her,”You said simply. There was no other way to put it. That was what happened.

“Oh.”

“Yeah.”

Going back to silence, you placed your hand on top of his. Both of you were still staring straight ahead, trying to decide what comes next.

“If you can't even decide-”

“Why would you keep this from me?!”

He should have known better than to think you wouldn't find out. He should have realized that somehow, someway, someone in Right Arm would spill everything. They didn't even mean to. They weren't aware that you weren't supposed to know yet here you are.

“I didn't know how to tell you,”He repeated, saying the same thing yet again. With that only frustrating you more, you tried to shove past only for him to grab your hand, desperately pulling you towards him.

“I don't want to talk to you!”

“I’m sorry. I just wanted to be with you.”

“Why the hell would I want to be with you when you were just going to leave again?!”

“I’m not leaving. I don't know what I’m doing yet.”

“Well, do it without me!”

“I don't want to do anything without you!”He yelled back.

“You clearly do! You can pick Right Arm! I won’t be a second choice! I will never let myself be that!”

“You're not a second choice!”

“I understand if you don't want to be with me anymore. I really-”

“I love you!”

Both of you froze at his words. For as long as he could remember, he has never told anyone that, even you.

This was a hell of a way to say it.

“What?”You whispered, your anger slowly fading into disbelief.

“I love you. I have loved you for almost as long as I can remember. I feel more for you than I ever have for anyone. You, it's always been you. For so long, it's been you. For so long, you have been my everything. I thought this would be hard. I thought I wouldn't know what to do. I thought I would be too focused on taking down WCKD to actually know, but it's so obvious now. You are the right decision. You are what matters to me. Not revenge, not forgiveness, not proving myself, not a cure. As long as you love me, as long as you still want to be with me, my life is complete. I know that now. I know what the only right choice is.”

Gawking at him, you tried to figure out where this soft-spoken boy came from.

“I love you too,”You promised through heavy breaths as you pulled away.

Cutting him off, you slipped your hand out of his to hold his face before smashing your lips against his. Freezing for a moment, he tried to comprehend that you still wanted to be with him. When it did sink in, he wrapped his arms around your waist, gently kissing you back. Pushing him against the wall behind him, you frantically deepen it, desperation practically radiating off of both of you. For as long as you were capable of, you put off oxygen, deciding that this was much more important. Not the kissing. Being so close to each other that you were practically one.

You kissed until you inevitably ran out of air.

Kidnapping Teresa and getting inside of WCKD had gone off without a hitch. To be honest, there wasn't a real reason for it not to. Everyone had gone over the plan more than enough times, and she had reacted exactly the way Thomas said she would.

“I love you. I love you, and I always will,”He repeated, the words easily rolling off his tongue as though he said them everyday.

This is good. Right now is okay.

How the people he works with will take it is a different story.

♡ - - - ♡

“No,”Lance said simply.

“No? What do you mean no?”

“I mean no. You can't quit to be with some girl.”

“This isn't some girl. This is my girl,”He said firmly, putting both his hands on the table as he looked him in the eye. Literally.

“You made a deal. Your loyalties are here now.”

“I was loyal to her first. I can't not be.”

“You can, and you will be,”He argued.

“No. This is my Y/N. This is my girl, and she comes first. Nothing you do will stop me. Nothing,”He spat, turning around to walk out.

“If you leave, we’ll take her instead.”

Stopping in his tracks, Gally slowly turned around. Lance simply nodded, his hands behind his back.

“What?”

“We’ll take her and not to take your spot. If you leave, we’ll kill your girl.”

“That's not fair. You can't do that.”

“Life isn't fair.”

“No. You don't get to touch her,”He scowled, storming up to him. With the coldest eyes a person has ever had, he glared at him.

“But we will. You know very well we can get to anyone we want.”

“You're a monster.”

“Of course I am.”

“No. You can still think. You're an actual monster. You're heartless.”

“Yes. I am.”

“I won't let you take her.”

“I will.”

“No. Nobody will put a hand on her. You understand? Not while I’m around.”

“Then, I guess we’ll make sure you aren't around.”

Going completely speechless, his heart dropped to his stomach.

“You can make a choice. You either break it off with her tonight or we’ll take her tomorrow. Your choice.”

With that, he went back to tending to his roses as though he hadn't just ruined Gally's only chance of happiness.

♡ - - - ♡

“I don't actually love you.”

The words were simple yet somehow the cruel ones your ears had ever heard.

“What?”

“I lied. I don't love you. I barely even liked you,”He deadpanned, keeping his face expressionless as he looked into your eyes.

“What the hell are you talking about? We’ve been together for years. Now all of a sudden it meant nothing?”

“It never meant anything.”

Looking at him, at his calm demeanor, at his emotionless face, at the empty shell of a person, you swore this was a stranger.

“How? How could you be with me since the Glade, wait for me, kiss me like I’m everything, call me your first choice, and tell me you love me, only to not mean it?”You asked in disbelief.

“I was hoping you would have given it up, but you're taking too long. I never felt anything for you.”

It was the most despicable excuse he could think of. It was the coldest, most humiliating reason he could come up with.

That's what he wanted. If he made himself look like the worst person to exist, you wouldn't miss him. You wouldn't want anything to do with him. You would hate him instead of being hurt by him. You wouldn't blame yourself.

The more it stung now, the sooner you could heal. You could move on and find someone better, someone that isn't him. You could be happy.

All he wanted was for you to be safe and happy, even if that means losing you.

“Are you fucking kidding with me? We had four damn years together just because you wanted me to give it up? Are you fucking serious, Gally?”

“Why wouldn't I be?”

With nothing less than hatred burning in your eyes, you shoved past him. As you were in the doorway though, you said something that may as well kneed him in the gut.

“I wish you actually died.”

With that, you turned out, wiping the tears streaming down your cheeks.

With a devastated sigh, he shut the door before leaning against it. Putting his head in his hands, he felt the regrets of everything he had ever done in life hit him all at once.

♡ - - - ♡

Taking slow steps forward, the others dropped to their knees as well, the shock of it all hitting them like a gunshot. Gripping the cure, you held it to your chest, to your heart, the once light object now being the heaviest thing you had ever held. It was his one shot at life, now nothing but a worthless liquid.

You hadn't spoken a direct word to him. You hadn't even spoken about him. You just pretended he was some random stranger on a mission with you and silently cried yourself to sleep only to repeat the cycle the next day.

He wanted to say something when he heard you covering your mouth as salty tears flowed down your face. He wanted to tell you that he had only hurt you so you wouldn't be killed. He wanted to come clean. He wanted to be with you after months of separation.

He knew he can't though. Not yet. Not until he can fully get out of the city.

The plan was organized before the break up, and you didn't want anyone to know what you currently believed was the truth. That meant you had accepted your original position of being amongst the WCKD guards for longer than the others the way Gally was.

You debated shooting him with the weapon in your hand. Watching him go down and struggle seemed worth it right now. It seemed deserved. Even if you missed him, you’d get to shoot an actual WCKD guard, though you’d admittedly prefer for your shot to be right on point. You had never hated anyone with this kind of fiery passion until now.

In the end, you held back. When this was over, you would never have to see him again. You could go back to pretending he was dead.

You both watched as Thomas, Newt, and Minho jumped through a window. Under your mask, you grinned at the way he had been rescued. It has taken almost forever, but it happened. He was basically officially out of WCKD. As soon as you all left the city, that would be it. Everything could go back to normal.

You looked as they landed in the swimming pool under them. With that same wide smile, you came out of your position with the other WCKD workers and Gally. Making sure your gun was drawn and out, you allowed one of them to talk so you wouldn't blow your cover. As they were in the middle of demanding your three friends to surrender, you turned and shot him. At the same time, Gally took down others, being sure to avoid you. He had already caused you enough pain. Your heart would physically ache, and you had still barely been able to stomach anything. The last thing you needed, that you deserved, was more hurt.

When they were all unconscious you and Gally jumped down the small steps. When he pulled his mask off, he simply nodded and made a remark about them being nuts. You on the other hand ran straight up to Minho.

You didn't throw your arms around him. The last thing you wanted was to hurt him. Instead, you carefully hugged him, keeping your grip loose. Tightly hugging you back anyway, he stared at Gally with wide eyes as he did. This was definitely something he didn't expect.

Keeping his face neutral, he pushed down the lump in his throat at how close you two seemed again. He had already been worried about your relationship before, but now that he had to break your heart there was no guarantee that you two wouldn't be more. Even after he explained, you taking him back felt like a dream that he would spend the rest of his life chasing.

Shaking his head, he started walking away. Everyone else followed, prepared for the next step of the plan. Even if Minho didn't know what that was, he knew it was better than getting caught again.

♡ - - - ♡

You were all so close. You had run straight through bombs and gunfire for Newt. You had kept the cure in your hand, ready to save his life.

You didn't.

As you sprinted up, your heart shattered yet again in a brand new way as you looked at one of your best friends, dead on the floor, a knife penetrating his chest. Your body locked up as you met Thomas’s eyes that were full of something you couldn't decipher. There was some kind of guilt and maybe even blame. They were numbed over, done with everything.

Tears streamed down your face as he got up and walked away. Still focused on your best friend, you didn't even notice that the others had arrived beside you.

You couldn't meet their gaze. Not when you had the cure that would never be used, the cure that could have saved him, the cure that you hadn't gotten to him quick enough in your hand. Not even able to walk, you fell to your knees in that spot, the needle still tightly clutched between your fingers.

The Safe Haven didn't feel the way you had imagined, the way you thought it should. You didn't feel thankful to be there. You didn't feel happy. You just felt tired, drained, like a shell of a person.

You all stayed in that position, mourning not only Newt, but everybody that you had all lost. Ben, Alby, Chuck, Jack, Winston, and all your friends you hadn't had the time or energy to while in the Glade. It wasn't until Jorge had come with his Berg that you had been forced to get up.

You couldn't. You still felt trapped, as if you were watching from someone else's eyes. Knowing that you had to go, Gally laid a hand on your shoulder. Looking up at him with tears in your eyes, you shook your head and silently begged to stay here and die in the city. Shaking his head back, he reminded you that even now it wasn't over. In far too much distress to argue, you shakily got up. When your legs almost gave out, he caught you. Letting you lean against him, he led you to the Berg with everyone else and now Vince as well. When he got here, none of you knew, but none of you cared either. It would never change anything.

It would never bring Newt or anybody else back.

It would never get rid of your guilt.

♡ - - - ♡

You didn't cry. You couldn't find it in yourself to. You just sat by the shore, writing all their names in the sand over and over until you couldn't even feel your fingers.

You didn't celebrate being alive and well at the bonfire. How could you when you didn't even feel alive? How could you when so many people weren't? How could you when almost everyone you knew would never make it here?

You thought back to the moment he had broken your heart, and something clicked in your head. You hadn't noticed it at the time, too drunk on fury, but his voice has cracked. He was close to tears, and he had dark bags under his eyes.

You thought about everything. Not just the people that were gone but the people that were here. Thomas who you had made up with. Frypan who you had never fought with. Minho who you had helped rescue.

Gally.

“Y/N, I’m sorry. I know what I said was messed up. I know that I hurt you, but I didn't want to. I never would. I-”

His words had been lies. You were sure of it now.

Gally hadn't gone to the celebration either. He was too busy looking for you. Somehow, he had to fix it. Now that Lance was dead and you weren't in danger, he had to make it right. He had to explain it so at the very least you would understand that you were and had always been his world.

It took him an hour to find you, in which he had rehearsed what he wanted to say. He had to get the words exactly right. He couldn't afford to mess it up any more than he already has. He couldn't afford to destroy your feelings and heart all over again.

Time seemed to freeze as he saw you by the ocean, your back turned to everyone.

Taking deep breaths, he took slow steps towards you, each one having a new kind of purpose. He made sure his shoes crunched on the sand so you wouldn't be caught off guard.

You heard, but you didn't turn around. You didn't need to. You already knew who it was, you knew why he was here, and you knew that he would sit by you. You knew that even though you were in shambles, you two had time to be fixed. After losing everybody, how could you bear to lose someone alive? How could you make yourself grieve for someone who was breathing? How could you ignore one of the only people in your life who was actually in it?

He took a spot beside you. Staring out into the abyss, you allowed the silence to fill between you two as he stared at you, pleading for you to look at him. While you wanted to, you couldn't find it in yourself to actually move. You just sat there, gathering your own jumbled thoughts.

It was enough though. You were both just barely okay to know that you would be strong enough to survive the rest of your lives here, side by side.

“I don't want to know what happened. I don’t want to know why. I just know that you didn't mean your words, and I just want you back,”You whispered.

Taking another breath, he nodded in understanding despite the way you weren't looking at him. While that wasn't what he expected, it was something good. It was one of the only good things actually. Even though he had a feeling you would want to know later, that was all he needed to hear to be quiet now.

When he faced the open sea the way you were, you took his hand, gripping it the way you had the cure. Tightly holding your hand as well, he ran his thumb over your knuckles as you both sat there, trying to figure out what the journey would be from here.

You both didn't know. None of you ever had, and it was likely none of you ever would.

Right now was bittersweet though. It wasn't happy. It wasn't alright.

[queenie-ofthe-void]

Immortal Vampire Eddie Munson (bittersweet)

Inspired by a Steddie post by @steviewashere where Eddie is an immortal vampire and Steve is just a normal regular guy. This pushed me out of my writer's block so THANK YOU!!

Find the hurt/no comfort version of this fic here!

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Steve's there to help Eddie through every death, starting with Wayne and ending with El. Each one is as hard as the last. Every funeral, Eddie notices just a few more wrinkles on Steve's face: crows feet and laugh lines, the furrow between his eyebrows.

But as he continues on, and his loved ones leave him, he's always reminded he's not alone. Over the years, the Party's gotten bigger. Dustin and Suzie alone had 5 kids, plus Mike and El's twin girls, Nancy and Jonathan's son, Will and Gareth are working on another adoption. Eddie's family has grown larger than he could've imagined. He's going to have nieces and nephews through generations.

Their watchful protector, their Gandalf. But it still won't be Steve.

The Party are celebrating Robin's 38th birthday when Vickie pulls Eddie into the kitchen where Robin and Steve are waiting. They hand Eddie a printout. He doesn't know what he's looking at.

He understands what a sonogram is, but why is Steve the one giving it to him? Why is Robin crying? They're hugging him and everyone's crying except Eddie because he won't let himself believe what they're desperately trying to explain.

Steve knows he can't be with Eddie forever. He's always wanted to be a father, and who could ever be a better mother to his children than his soulmate. They had the doctor's appointment months ago. Vickie was practically bursting at the seams to tell Eddie, but the three decided to wait just to make sure. 

It hits him like a train.

Steve and Robin are having a baby. Steve and Robin and Vickie and... and a baby.

Because now it won't just be descendants of The Party. It'll be Birdie and Steve. His Stevie and their child and grandchildren and great grandchildren. The man he loves has given him the gift of life, his own piece of immortality. Now he'll never be alone, living through the ages surrounded by love.

[ormspryde]

A mother's love

Something I've had on the back burner forever; Schwann visiting his mother in his dreams, and then Raven and Yeager visiting her together.

[itty-bitty-sunshine]

Bored days

[cameronsbabydoll]

do the kids have a good relationship with rafe once they’ve grown up and moved out? like i’m sure they have a good one with their mom for sure but what about after rafe retires? did he do too much damage or is he slowly getting their trust back now that he’s calmed down some?

first off this is such a good question anon!! — because the answer is messy, the way it would be in real life.

the kids all love their mom. that’s never been in question. she was their warmth, their softness, their home. she was patient even when things got loud, comforting even when she was clearly hurting. and they love her for that — but also because they saw her. saw how she was treated. saw what she gave up, how often she swallowed her own emotions just to keep peace.

and for years, even if they couldn’t articulate it, they resented their dad for it.

so no — they don’t leave for college and instantly become besties with rafe. not even close. the eldest is probably the coldest; he remembers the most. he remembers the way their mom never spoke up. remembers the fights, the heavy silences, the way she used to shrink when Rafe walked in the room.

but over time, once rafe retires, they see bits of change. subtle things, at first:

he’s around more.

he asks about their lives — not in a performative way, but genuinely.

he’s... softer with their mom. not just touchy or flirty, but tender. carrying bags, rubbing her back, letting her talk without interrupting.

he laughs more. smiles more. actually tries.

and while it doesn’t erase the past, it does start to crack the wall.

the youngest son is the first to fold — because he was always rafe’s “baby boy,” and he wants to believe his dad has changed. he starts inviting him to things again, even lets him meet a girlfriend or two. he teases his dad, calls him “old man,” but you can tell the love is real.

the daughter is cautious — fiercely loyal to her mom, but softhearted. she doesn’t forget, but she wants to forgive. especially once she sees how much their mom smiles when they’re all together. she’s the one who starts organizing little family dinners, testing the waters.

[prettygirl-gabi]

Through the Lens series Masterlist

Most to all dividers used in this series was made by @bernardsbendystraws

Thank you again!! Rose

Rating: General Audiences (for most chapters but ratings will be updated each chapter also along with warnings being updated as well)

Warning: none^

Paring: !Super Senior Paige Bueckers x !photographer fem reader (reader is intended to black, but anyone can read it)

Fandom: Women's basketball

Tagline: Capturing every moment, even the ones that break us.

Brief Description/Intro:

When Y/N’s professor encourages her to use UConn Women’s Basketball as her muse for her final project, she never expects to find herself drawn to one player in particular—Paige Bueckers. As a junior with a passion for game photography, Y/N captures Paige’s every move, but their connection takes an unexpected turn during a game when Paige’s block shatters Y/N’s favorite camera, dueing her first night with the team. What begins as a series of chance encounters quickly grows into something deeper, despite the looming uncertainty of Paige’s final season as a super senior before heading to the WNBA. Can they navigate the lines between passion, distance, and dreams—or will their connection remain a fleeting glimpse into what could have been?

Moodboard pt.1

Questions?

Official Playlist

Moodboard pt.2

Moodboard pt.3

Moodboard pt.4

Prologue: A Shattered Beginning

Chapter 1: Through the Lens of Dreams

Chapter 2: Caught on Camera

Chapter 3: Focus on Us

Chapter 4: Holding My Breath

Chapter 5: In the Spotlight

Chapter 6: Sidelines and distractions

Chapter 7: Homecoming

Chapter 8: Unspoken but Understood

Chapter 9: Just Us

Chapter 10: Under Pressure

Chapter 11: Silence and Reconciliation

Chapter 12: The Storm We Needed

Chapter 13: Trust The Process

Chapter 14: The Raw Moments

Chapter 15: The Final Cut

Chapter 16: Marking Her Territory

Chapter 17: Court-Side Love and Matching Jerseys

Chapter 18: Family Photo Shoot

Chapter 19: Stormy Nights

Chapter 20: Breaking Points

Chapter 21: Timeout

Chapter 22: Crossing Lines

Chapter 23: In Focus

Chapter 24: On Different Courts

Chapter 25: Birthday Surprise

Chapter 26: Granny’s Slip-Up

Chapter 27: Ghosted and Launched

Chapter 28: Family Ties and Fresh Beginnings

Chapter 29: Ghost Of The Past

Chapter 30: Past Shadows and Present

Chapter 31: Distraction and Comfort

Chapter 32: Crashing Out Respectfully

Chapter 33: Let Me Be There

Chapter 34: A Promise

Chapter 35: All That Mattered

Chapter 36: Homeward Bound

■■■■■■■■■■■■��■■■■■■■■■

-Thank You For Reading!🩵🩶

-prettygirl-gabi🎀✨️

[gomzdrawfr]

[content warning:MCD, afterlife]

Back in your arms

[muqingslover]

[ I've bullied my lovely Sylus' fans with my last post so here's my apology <3 ]

Mornings with you are one of his, if not the most, favorite things. Sylus believes he is beyond blessed when he sees your slumbering form next to him after the long, tortuous years he endured of refusing to fall asleep at night because waking up without you was too much for him to bear. Now, as you laid safely in his arms again, his heart felt as if it was overflowing with all the love he held and he wanted nothing more than to give it all to you.

His lips gently press right under one of your eyes, followed by a few other soft kisses to your cheek while one of his large hands carefully wrapped around your throat, guiding your head back towards him. "My love," He'd call in a low voice, almost a purr against your ear. "Mind sparing me a bit of attention?"

You stirred awake but not quite. There was some sleepy mumbling under your breath before one of your hands lazily raised and pat his face, which you had intended to be his head, so he'd be satisfied and let you sleep some more. Sylus could only smile, oh absolutely smitten by your every action was the man. His hand gently grasped the one that was tapping him and brought it to his lips, planting small kisses on each of your fingertips, then the palm of your hand, making his way towards the inside of your wrist where he paused, pressing only a little harder against the pressure point to feel your steady heartbeat.

"I've missed you..." He whispered like a prayer. Those words are something he'd always say, though he'd never elaborate on the real meaning. 'How could you miss me when I've been here the whole day?' You'd raise the question at him sometimes, but the man would do nothing except smile at you, playing it off as mere tease 'Am I not allowed to miss you? How strict you are.' Sylus moved his kisses upwards on your arm, basking in the comforting scent your body had and the warmth you provided him. His heart longed to spend every moment, of every day, connected to you. Until the very last stars burned out and even then, he knew, your souls would stay intertwined, sacredly laced by the promise the two of you shared.

"So peaceful..." He kissed your neck, allowing his lips to linger once again where he could feel your heart beating so he could soothe his own. 'Alive', yes, that's what matters the most to him. "So beautiful." He whispered oh so very quietly against your skin as to not disturb your slumber any further. Instead, he lowered his body to nuzzle his forehead against you, his nose brushing yours in a old, affectionate gesture. Only in moments like these would he allow himself to momentarily forget about how this sweet dream would eventually come crumbling down, as it did once before, and focus on the feeling of security that you, only you, could give him.

'My heart is so full of you...Can it even be called my own anymore?' He silently wondered as his eyes fluttered closed, following you into a quiet and peaceful sleep.

[cherryyluvs]

Late Night Lessons

There’s just something about Mark being soft and sweet..🥲

It was late. Too late to still be studying.

The glow of the lamp barely reached the edges of the room, casting a soft shadow over the mess of open textbooks and scattered notes on the floor.

Mark sat across from you, legs stretched out, a crease forming between his brows as he has been staring at the same page for the last ten minutes.

"Mark" you sighed, nudging his leg with your foot. "You're not even trying anymore."

Mark sighed

“You know," he said, voice low, "studying's is kind of overrated anyway." You rolled your eyes, but the heat in your cheeks betrayed you. "We have a test tomorrow."

Mark’s gaze softened as he shifted, moving closer, his knee lightly touching yours as he leaned in a bit.

A flicker of something playful in his eyes. "I know," Mark whispered, His fingers brushed the side of your face, sending a shiver down your spine. "But right now.." His eyes flicked to your lips, then back up. "I think I'm learning something more important."

"And what's that?"

Mark smiled, so close you could feel his breath.

“You're the only thing I want to get right.”

Neither of you moved for a moment, your heart pounding against your chest.

Slowly, Mark leaned in, his nose lightly touching yours. And his lips met yours - soft, slow, careful - it felt like the sweetest distraction.

And maybe you should've cared about the test tomorrow - but with Mark kissing you like this, you couldn't seem to remember why you would.

[juniper-clan]

Moon 14: Birth of Venus

(AKA the twins!)

PREVIOUS l NEXT

[e-therealife]

Either way, We're not Alone

warnings: a bit of touching, so slightly nsfw, mention of guns (not actually any guns), mention of slut-shaming to nat word count: 1,957 pairing: natalie scatorccio x reader [romantic] description: before nationals, you take a moment to hold onto what you have with your girlfriend. tags: fluff, bittersweet, coming of age, pre-crash, foreshadowing the crash and wilderness

Hidden behind some trees that border the trailer park, you and Nat are lying on a blanket, trying to see stars through the light pollution. Nat's lips are messily dyed purple, a mixture made from a red, white, and blue popsicle bought from the ice cream truck she tracked down.

After a final suck to clean the stick off, she holds it out and reads the joke printed on it. "What can you steal and not get in trouble?"

You furrow your brows in thought. "Um… I don't know. What?"

Nat grins. "Second base."

"What? Can't you steal the other bases, too?"

She laughs, placing the stick into the takeout bag filled with wrappers of food you'd gotten earlier. “I don't think this is just about baseball.”

You roll your eyes, but still smile. "These are for kids, though."

"We bought 'em."

"Yeah. We did." Your tone falls, Nat's words making everything feel more real. You weren't kids anymore. You never would be again.

Nat's playful grin falls, her expression becoming understanding. Mournful.

She presses a kiss to the top of your head, then slips her hand into yours, interlacing your fingers. Nat gives your hand a squeeze, which you return. She relaxes her hand slightly after a moment, but still keeps a firm grip. It's comforting, the way she's so focused on you.

You look back up to the sky and squint at the darkness. There's some distant conversation you can hear, which you assume is being held around the bonfire you're smelling, and the warm air is filled with the chirps and hums of bugs around you.

"There." You outstretch your arm, index finger pointing to a small, flickering white light.

Nat squints at the glimmer, catching it slightly moving. "Plane," she corrects.

You drop your arm and click your tongue in disappointment. "We'd have an easier time seeing lights from New York than stars here."

Nat sighs. "Yeah, we would." She sounds upset. Nat wasn't necessarily one for nature. She was certainly caring toward it—you've seen her stumble drunkenly to help some baby birds whose nest had fallen, and she'd stop to pick up litter. But she wasn't the type to go for a hike or eat organically. Late nights of cigarettes and gas station snacks were much more her thing.

What wasn't her thing was the incoming unknown for you both. Despite the way she constantly cursed how shitty Wiskayok was, on the verge of everything changing, she'd developed some weird appreciation and begun to wish for more of the same. Nat had never really gotten to be a kid, but now, she's feeling like she's about to lose her chance. So, tonight, she's trying to enjoy this moment, looking up at a sky that never really seemed to watch over her and attempting to appreciate it.

Next week, you'll play your last game before Nationals. Soon after, you'll both graduate. Maybe you should be excited, but it just feels bittersweet. You can't help but think there's some impending doom awaiting you, and the upcoming weeks are a last hurrah.

The burden of more responsibilities and leaving this period of your life behind was weighing on you before it even became a reality. Bills, work... less time for this.

You know Nat feels the same. She's spent her life thinking she would never make it this far. Despite all she's gotten through, it's hard for her to believe she'll be able to handle what's coming, whatever that may be.

After a moment, Nat continues, "We should go somewhere with a better view sometime."

A trip would mean more moments like this, where you both can forget about meaningless responsibilities and just focus on one another, on actually living.

You turn your head to her to agree, but before you can, a loud sound cracking through the air interrupts you. You jump in surprise, ending up pressed against Nat's arm.

She smiles fondly, releasing your hand to pull you into her. Nat wraps her arms around you, then rubs a hand up and down your back soothingly. "It's okay. Just a firework," she tells you. Nat never liked to see you scared or hurt, but she did like knowing you were comfortable showing some vulnerability to her. She liked feeling like this—needed, or at least wanted.

You knew it wasn't a gun—you heard people fucking around with both guns and fireworks by Nat's trailer enough to know the difference easily. Didn't mean you weren't surprised by the sound. Didn't mean you were making any move to leave Nat's side, either.

Given Nat wasn't pulling you up to get away, like last Summer when someone had almost started a wildfire from a firework here, you trusted you were far enough away to relax.

You look back up to the sky, seeing the remnants of some bright red and orange fireworks. They look like flickers of flame. Then, you hear a fizzing sound, those champagne-colored fireworks that spin in the sky bursting and raining down.

"I wish things could stay like this forever," Nat murmurs. It's so quiet and low in her chest you barely hear it. Her words seem ironic, especially in this moment. You're lying on the bumpy ground, lathered in bug spray and sunblock you forced Nat to put on earlier. The bug spray made you both smell of bitter chemicals while the sunblock still felt a bit oily on your skin. A few hours ago, you both had to swat flies away from your food, and someone had yelled "slut" out their car to Nat when you were walking back to the trailer park.

Things were far from what Nat would usually consider perfect, both in this moment and in Wiskayok, and Nat seemed like the type of person who'd love nothing more than to get the hell out of here.

But she doesn't need anything else. Whatever she has to deal with is worth it, because she could never get bored of moments like this, with you. You felt the same way about her.

So, you agree. "Me too."

"We'll stay together," Nat says. You can tell her words are meant to be confident and sure, but you hear the weakness in her voice, that part of her that's afraid of being abandoned. "Then, it'll be the same. We can always feel like this."

Being around Nat always made life feel like each moment held you in some snow globe or film reel. Somehow, with her around, it was as if things were more just. Like you were truly important. Maybe the world didn't actually treat you better in those moments, but being around Nat made life feel much more worth living.

You still couldn't help but worry in the back of your mind, would things feel the same in a few months, years, decades?

With Nat, it had to.

So, you respond, "We will. Always."

Nat turns her head to press a kiss to your forehead. How could any moment around her—having her—ever not be perfect?

She lets her lips linger for a moment, then just leans her head onto yours. Something about this makes you want to cry, and you think Nat's feeling the same way.

After a while, she pulls you closer, your face now lightly resting on her neck. You lay your arm over her stomach and press yourself into her side. Although you're the one being held, it feels a lot more like she's seeking out comfort from you.

You can still hear fireworks going off, and now, someone's dog is barking. But the sounds seem to be drowned out by her body against yours.

"You cold?" she asks.

She did this a lot, asked how you were. 'You hungry?' 'Tired?' Sometimes, it was, 'You mad at me?' You knew she wasn't asking these things just to win you over. Nat wasn't like that. She cared.

"'M fine." It was true. It was a warm night out, and you could handle the occasional breeze.

Still, Nat gently lifts you off her and slips off her zip-up. Then, she pulls you close again and wraps you in it.

"I don't want you to be cold," you protest.

"You're warming me up just fine. Actually, I might be warmer if you got a little closer…"

You laugh. It wasn't possible for you to be much closer unless you laid on top of her. Still, you tangle your legs with hers.

You hear Nat sigh quietly in satisfaction, and you lift your head to peek at her. The corners of her lips are slightly upturned, twitching as she holds back a smile. She knows you're watching her, catching your gaze with blushing cheeks and a laugh. "Stop staring," she tells you, voice a little higher from being flustered.

"Why? You nervous?"

"Shut up."

Relenting, you cuddle back into her. You lay like that for a while, appreciating every area of contact between you two, before telling her, “I love you.” You only had said it to each other a few times before, usually when things were shitty. Now, it's like you're preparing for things to go wrong. It's not a goodbye or an end, though. Somehow, you know Nat is sticking with you. Despite how hard life made it to believe, you felt like you were bound to her. 

You make sure your words come out clear and strong so she knows exactly what you said. So she knows you're sticking with her, too.

"I love you," she replies. She squeezes you a bit, then adds, "More than anything, y'know." It's somewhat of a question, her making sure she was doing "enough" again.

“I know. I feel the same way about you.” You press a light kiss to her neck, and you notice the way she shivers slightly from the contact.

Then, Nat's shifting, moving out from under you gently before leaning over you. Right after she's close enough, she quickly looks over your face, licking her lips before kissing you. It's hurried, but not rough, fully loving in her neediness. You can slightly taste the sugary popsicle she'd eaten earlier.

She runs her hands up your stomach, then to your chest, mapping out your body. Her touch feels familiar; Nat always paid attention to your reactions, figuring out exactly what you liked. Clearly, with how easy this is, the way you both seem to melt into one another, it's paid off.

Tonight, Nat's both trying to memorize you and assure herself that she has you. She doesn't have to do this. She's touched you like this many times before, and you've never done anything to make it seem like you'd leave. But she's still anxious about what's to come. It's not necessarily about how you might change—she'd always love you—but how she might. Would you still love her?

You hold her by her hips for a moment before moving your hands to the back of her body. Nat's wearing some loose shorts, so you're able to push up the ends of them and run your hands over her ass.

She smiles, pulling away. You see the way the dye on her lips has smeared further, and it's a bit less pigmented. You're guessing there's a little on your lips now, too.

"You trying to steal third base?" she teases.

You roll your eyes, laughing. "I mean, I want to. You want me to?"

She moves her lips to your neck, sucking on the skin. You tilt your head to give her more room, and she runs her tongue along your neck before peppering a few soft kisses, her lips wet. She pulls back to say, “Keep going. I want you to."

author's note: hi guys! hope you like this. it took me forever to edit for some reason. also, joke inspired by a real popsicle stick. thanks for reading!

[nomoreusername]

Two Secret Saviors

Pairing:Newt x female reader

Summary:After you unknowingly give Newt a reason to stay, he ends up saving you just a few months later.

She saved me.

She saved me, and she doesn't even know it.

She was up early the day I planned to take my life. She had run with me through the Maze, where we talked basically all day.

I had asked for a sign the night before. I asked for a sign on whether or not to go through with it, and she just that. The fact that she was up at the same time as me told me everything that I needed to know.

It took a very short time for me to fall and an extremely long time to do something about it.

Still, I somehow did. I asked her to come out one night and look at the stars. So, right there on the watchtower, we had our first date.

Now we go there every Friday. It's always something to look forward to.

"Do you think we'll get to learn the constellations one day?"She sighed.

"Yeah. When we get out of here we can learn as many as we want,"I promised.

"Yeah. I just wish that we knew their names now,"She shrugged.

"We can make our own?"I suggested.

"I don't think we can just change science,"She tried to reason.

"Why? If we're stuck here in our own world there's nothing stopping us from,"I pointed out.

"Okay. Then you name the first one,"She urged.

"I will,"I agreed, sitting up to find one that felt right. Focusing only on the sky, I carefully observed them until I found a small cluster hidden amongst them almost covered by the wall. "Freedom,"I stated simply.

"Freedom? Why freedom?"She asked, sitting up as well and slightly leaning her head against me.

"Because they're the closest things here that have it. Just for now,"I explained.

"Freedom,"She quietly recited. "I like that."

"Now you look for one."

"I don't have to. I already found mine,"She whispered, keeping her gaze on me.

"I love you too,"I promised, kissing her temple and wrapping my arms around her. Not saying anything, she just hugged me back, giving me another small moment that made staying actually worth it.

♡ - - - ♡

Waking up early used to freak me out. It used to trick my mind into thinking I was going to attempt again.

Now though, it's not so bad. I'll just have a quick breakfast, grab my Runner's bag, and get ready to go in the Maze with my partner. Today, I got to be with Y/N which was always nice. We would get everything done that we could, report every last detail, and get ready to either eat or collapse from exhaustion. Both options are pretty good.

Stopping for lunch, I leaned against the wall as I finished my sandwich. Doing the same, we stayed there in complete and total calm silence as we put the sandwich bags back in our Runners pack and stretched for a moment to actually get back on track.

"Are you ready to go?"She asked after twisting her back.

"Yep,"I agreed, quickly stretching my other leg before jogging next to her. Because despite the job title a lot of it is just memorizing details. The actual running comes from when the Maze changes (an often occurrence), the walls are almost ready to close (an occasional occurrence), or there's a Griever out in the day (which we don't talk about).

As the only sound to be heard was our footsteps against the ground, everything suddenly just went too quiet. Every background noise just seemed to vanish. No birds, no crickets, no anything. Just silence.

"Something's off,"I whispered, putting my hand out to stop her from continuing. As she just gave me a strange look I told her to just stay while I peaked around the corner to find out just why everything was so off.

I also quickly found out why.

Because we were standing less than two feet away from a Griever. While it has its back turned, the second a Beetle Blade ratted us out it was over.

As I slowly crept backwards I noticed the red, glowing light on the walls. Focusing its attention on me, the second it got a clear view the Griever turned around.

Not bothering to think and fueling myself on straight adrenaline and the strange human want to live, I turned around and ran for it, grabbing Y/N's hand to take her with me. Starting to run beside me, she didn't even question it as she looked straight forward, turning a corner with me. Because she already knew what it meant. She wasn't dumb.

But surviving this isn't a question of being a dumb. It's how fast you can go and how fast your mind can think.

Hearing its screech fill the air as it got close and closer, when we were out of sight around a turn for barely a moment I shoved her against the wall with me. Covered by the vines, we stayed there, completely pressed against it, even as it rolled past us. Keeping my hand in hers, we just stood there, knowing that it's never really over with these things.

Even when the sun started going down, we only left to get to the Glade when the Runners watch told us we had half an hour left. Taking a breath, we just stepped out, staying close as the coast was officially clear. Not speaking the entire time, we just made it to the Glade. Still not greeting anyone like usual, I just went with her to her hut and laid down next to her on her hammock.

"You're a quick thinker, you know? Really quick,"She whispered.

"I was just trying to keep us alive,"I shrugged.

"I know that you don't like how others are faster than you are, and it's true. There are some people who are just barely able to be speedier, but they don't have the most important thing. They don't have a mind like yours. Nobody ever could, not even me,"She told me.

"I was just keeping us safe,"I reasoned. Sighing, she put her head on my chest. Laying my hand on her back, I rubbed her shoulder as I closed my eyes.

"You don't take credit for what you do. I don't know why. You have so many incredible traits, do so many wonderful things. You deserve to know that. You deserve to be told that."

"Loving you reminds me that someone thinks of me like that every day. You just have the best soul, and I don't know how I'd make it without you,"I kind of admitted.

"You'd make it just fine,"She yawned, her breathing falling into a pattern as the day's events just drained us of energy.

She'll never know that she saved me. Nobody will.

Nobody will ever know just what these two lovers always do for each other.

Nobody will ever know about the two secret saviors.

[katsu2ji]

a/n: moving out of college for the summer rn. lots of change.

i don't think katsuki would be a huge fan of change. he liked school as a child for that reason—the same routine, seeing the same people, having the same classes. even after college, into work, he'd carry that same attitude. he gets up every day at the same time, has the same breakfast, follows the same schedule to lead him into his day. this is man of routine.

i think he would struggle a bit during big, long breaks where his routine is disrupted, like long school breaks, for example (MY TWIN!!!!). just the aspect of time shifting and the change in his days, the usual schedule he has falling off for a while. it would just generally take him a bit to feel like his normal self when his routine is disrupted, and until then he may feel a bit...off.

he does not like change. not at all.

katsu2ji © 2025. please don't copy, modify, or do anything of the sort with my work! i work very hard and you simply do not have my permission.

[nomercyforrafayel]

Title: Till Sea Dries

Pairing: Rafayel x non-MC Childhood friends, fluff with angst, bittersweet

Summary: You and Rafayel were childhood friends, bound by a promise to remember and wait for each other. There were tear-filled goodbyes—because that’s just how life flows in the ocean. Don’t worry, they’ll totally remember each other… until the starfish decides to bail.

Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3

Chapter 1

As you stroll through the castle halls, a mischievous smile tugging at your lips. No matter how many times your parents have scolded you, warning you to stay away from the southern tower—the tall, looming structure on the edge of the palace grounds—you can’t seem to resist its pull. Curiosity has always been your greatest weakness.

As the fourth child of a noble lineage, you are often overlooked. It doesn't bother you much; in fact, it gives you the freedom to explore without constant scrutiny. You’ve always loved visiting the palace. It is the heart of Lemuria, a place where history lingers in the walls. The coral-stone pillars shimmer under the soft glow of lanterns, and delicate seashell mosaics line the floors.

Even now, your mother still tells you bedtime tales of Lemuria’s golden age and the Old Gods of the Sea. You know the legends by heart—the mighty deities who shaped the ocean and the lost cities swallowed by the tides. Yet, nothing fascinates you more than the forbidden tower, standing silent and untouched.

And today, you finally decide to see it for yourself.

You chuckle as you sneak through the castle, carefully avoiding the guards. The thrill of slipping past them unnoticed sends a rush of excitement through you. As you wander, you take your time admiring the rooms, gazing at the grand statues and intricate paintings that line the walls.

But then—voices.

You freeze. From somewhere within the tower, you hear hushed whispers, sharp and urgent. A sudden jolt of panic grips you. If someone catches you here, they might report you to your parents. Heart pounding, you quickly duck behind a pillar, pressing yourself into the shadows.

Moments later, the door creaks open. You hold your breath, expecting a stern-faced guard. Instead, a young boy steps out, his expression twisted into a pout.

You nearly gasp. His hair is purple. Only nobles have purple hair.

Your mind races. You should know him—your parents have introduced you to every noble-born child your age in their desperate attempt to help you make friends. Yet, you don’t recognize him. He must be from a lesser noble family, one not worth mentioning.

A grin spreads across your face. If he’s here, sneaking around just like you, then maybe he’s different from the other noble children—the ones so strict with rules, weighed down by their endless lessons and proper etiquette.

Excitement bubbles up inside you. Finally, someone who might be like you.

Silently, you creep up behind him, your grin widening. Then, without warning, you leap forward and yell—

“BOOO!!”

A loud scream echoed through the hall. The boy jolted forward, stumbling as he tried to hide his face.

You burst into laughter, the sound bouncing off the walls. But just as suddenly, the boy froze. Slowly, he turned to look at you.

That’s when you saw them—his eyes.

They were unlike anything you had ever seen, caught in an endless battle between pink and blue, shifting and blending like the meeting of two tides. For a moment, you could only stare, mesmerized.

But your amazement was short-lived.

“You! You shouldn’t be here!” the boy yelled, his face turning as red as the sunset filtering through the high windows. “How! What… no.”

The boy murmured, his face flushed with embarrassment as he tried to hide his shame.

“Relax, I’m just like you,” you said quickly, trying to ease his nerves. He must be worried about being caught by his parents, you thought. “And don’t yell. What if someone hears us?”

“You’re the one who yelled first!” he shot back, his voice rising.

“Shhhhh!” you whispered urgently. “We’re partners in crime now. You can’t let them find us.”

“I-What?” he stammered, completely confused.

“Anyways,” you said with a dismissive hum. You glanced around, knowing you didn’t have much time. You needed to return to your room before your parents started looking for you. “Listen, I need to get back before sunset, so I don’t have time to waste.”

The boy blinked, still dumbfounded, trying to make sense of what just happened.

“You—partners in crime?” he repeated slowly, as if the words didn’t quite add up.

“Exactly,” you said, brushing off his confusion. “Now, let’s get moving.” You started walking toward the tower, eager to explore more.

He hesitated, then finally caught up. “But… you’re serious?”

“Shh! We don’t have time for questions. Follow me if you want to see the tower.” You motioned for him to stay quiet, your excitement growing as you neared the entrance.

The boy looked at you, still unsure, but something about your confidence seemed to settle his nerves. “Just what happened,” he muttered, but he followed anyway.

You and the boy move quietly through the rooms of the tower, your curiosity pulling you deeper into its mysterious halls. You glance at the boy, noticing his eyes darting around, trying to keep up with you.

“What now?” he mutters, his voice low but tinged with a mix of annoyance and amusement. “This isn’t exactly how I imagined sneaking around.”

“You’re just following me, aren’t you?” you tease, not slowing your pace. “I thought you were the one who didn’t want to be seen.”

He rolls his eyes. “I don’t want to be seen with you,” he snaps back, but his tone softens as he follows you into the next room.

The walls are covered in old tapestries, and the scent of dust fills the air. You’re about to reach for an old book when the sound of footsteps echoes through the hallway. You freeze.

“Guard!” The boy hisses, grabbing your arm.

Without a second thought, you both sprint, weaving through the corridors, the sound of your feet echoing in the silence. You can hear the guard shouting in the distance, growing closer with every step.

Just as you turn a corner, you glance behind you—and to your shock, the boy isn’t there anymore.

“Hey!” you call out, but there’s no answer. The hallway is empty, and the only thing you hear now is your own breathing, heavy and rushed.

The next time you saw the boy, a week had passed.

You’d barely managed to slip away from your parents’ watchful eyes, but finally, you made it back to the tower.

You swam around the base carefully, scanning for any guards. The sea felt quiet—as if it was guiding you. With a breath of excitement, you slipped through the large doors and swam inside.

The moment you entered, everything felt… different. The water turned colder, the silence heavier. The deeper you went, the eerier it became.

Then suddenly—

“BOOOO!”

A sharp scream tore from your throat before you could stop it.

But then came laughter. Loud, familiar, and maddening.

You spun around. “YOU!”

The boy was floating nearby, grinning so wide it almost hurt to look at him.

“You should’ve seen your face!” the boy cackled, barely keeping himself upright in the water. “I swear, if I had a shell to draw that—priceless!”

You crossed your arms, cheeks burning. “You nearly scared the scales off me!”

“That was the idea,” he snorted, wiping a fake tear from his eye. “I told you I’d get revenge.”

You swam up closer, glaring. “You waited a whole week just to jump out and scream at me?”

He gave you a smug look. “Of course. What, you think I forgot?”

You huffed. “You have too much free time.”

“And you scream like a startled shrimp.”

Your jaw dropped. “Excuse me?!”

He grinned, spinning lazily in the water. “It’s a compliment. Shrimp are fast. Impressive reaction time.”

You rolled your eyes, trying to hide your embarrassment. “Whatever. I wasn’t scared, just… surprised.”

“Oh really? Then why did you flail like—what was it—some noble jellyfish having a meltdown?”

“I did not flail.”

“You totally did.”

You flicked a splash of water at him. “You’re insufferable.”

He chuckled, dodging easily. “And you keep coming back to find me. So who’s really the fool here?”

You tried to stay annoyed—but your lips twitched anyway. “Still you.”

“I came here for the tower,” you said coolly, flipping your hair back like it was no big deal. “I’m going to conquer it.”

“Puh-lease,” he groaned, floating on his back. “There’s nothing in there. Books, more books, and—guess what—even more books.”

“You talk like you’ve lived your whole life in this tower,” you replied, rolling your eyes.

He opened his mouth to argue, but you cut him off, “I’m going in to investigate. Are you coming or not?”

He gave a dramatic sigh and placed a hand over his heart. “Hmmm… I can’t just let you wander off alone. What if the little Starfish here gets lost?”

You blinked at him. “Starfish?”

He smirked. “Yeah. You’re tiny, kind of clingy, and scream when touched.”

You glared at him, deadpan. “Wow. I love that. So original.”

He gasped with mock drama. “The Starfish speaks back!”

You muttered under your breath, “This is going to be the worst expedition of my life…”

He just grinned. “Lead the way, Commander Starfish.”

And with that, their... friendship—or whatever it was between them—began to bloom. You found yourself sneaking away to the tower whenever you could, and, almost like magic, the sea always seemed to guide you straight to him.

One day, you couldn’t help but share this little miracle with Rafayel.

He raised an eyebrow, grinning. “Oh, really? The sea’s playing matchmaker now?”

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not like that! It’s just... weird, okay?”

But deep down, you were glad to have someone to spend time with, someone who made the time pass faster. There weren’t many children your age, and the ones you did get along with were always far from your house. More than once, you wished you could just live closer to them. But, as luck would have it, you heard whispers about their families coming to the capital for some kind of meeting.

You couldn’t contain your excitement. The idea of introducing them to him—to Rafayel—made your heart race.

Looking back, it was a little embarrassing that you didn’t even ask his name until the fifth time you met. He never let you forget it, of course, grinning like the cat who got the cream. He teased you relentlessly, and the only way to stop him was to bribe him with food.

“You’re lucky I’m so nice,” he’d say, before happily accepting whatever snack you’d offer.

One day, you found yourself sitting on the edge of the tower’s balcony, staring out at the sea. Rafayel was leaning against the stone railing, his arms folded.

“You know,” he said, breaking the silence, “this place really isn’t as exciting as you make it out to be.”

You rolled your eyes. “You’ve only ever complained about it. You’re just spoiled.”

“Spoiled?” He smirked. “And who’s the one who sneaks in here like it’s her second home?”

“Touché,” you muttered, but you couldn’t help but smile.

There was something about being with Rafayel that made everything feel lighter, easier. You didn’t have to pretend to be anyone else when he was around.

“You ever think about leaving?” you asked, your gaze still on the water below. “I mean, like, running off to somewhere else… I don’t know, somewhere far from all this?”

He didn’t answer immediately, his eyes fixed on the horizon. Then, with a quiet laugh, he said, “I don’t think I could ever run far enough to escape you.”

You turned your head, a little caught off guard. “Me? I’m the one who’s been sneaking around behind everyone’s back!”

“Yeah, but you’re fun to be around.” He grinned, then added with a mock sigh, “You’re also a troublemaker, but I suppose I’ll live.”

“Troublemaker?” You shot him a playful glare. “You’re the one who scared me half to death last time we met.”

“Ah, but you screamed so beautifully,” he teased, his grin widening.

You rolled your eyes, but the laughter in your chest was hard to hide. It was funny—everything felt so natural with him. There was no pretending, no hiding. Just the two of you, exploring, laughing, teasing... and sometimes, talking about things neither of you had the words for.

The day finally came. Your friends, Kaia and Tide, were visiting the capital, and you had to be on your best behavior. Unlike the usual rags you wore when sneaking off to the tower to meet Rafayel, today you were dressed in your finest noble clothes.

Your eldest brother stood on your left, his expression as serious as always. The second and third daughters were next to him, chattering amongst themselves, while you stood at the end of the line, your younger twin brothers at your right. They were only seven, but they were already running around, tugging at your sleeves and making noise.

Your parents, as usual, were fussing over all of you. Your mother’s gaze was sharp, watching for any small detail that might go wrong, while your father checked the final arrangements with a quiet, business-like air.

“Remember what I told you,” your mother said, her voice firm and commanding, as if the day’s events were a test you could not fail.

You gave her a small nod, but the nerves in your stomach twisted. Today wasn’t just about your family meeting your friends—it was about showing that you could be a noble, just as they expected.

Your father, barely looking up from his notes, added, “Stay composed. Keep your manners. This isn’t a casual gathering.”

You wanted to roll your eyes, but you held back, knowing better than to show any sign of rebellion today. Today was about playing the part they expected.

Finally, the moment arrived. You could see the familiar figures of Kaia and Tide stepping out, their parents following close behind.

Kaia, a year older than you, stood tall and graceful, her dark hair flowing in waves down her back. She smiled warmly as she caught sight of you, though her expression was always composed—just like the daughter of one of the eldest noble families should be.

Tide, on the other hand, was a little less formal. At 11, he was already tall for his age, with a mischievous glint in his eyes. He waved at you excitedly, his usual carefree energy impossible to hide even in the presence of his parents.

Their mother, with her elegant posture smiled politely at your family, her eyes scanning the room. Tide’s father, tall and stern, gave a curt nod to your parents. 

Kaia stepped forward first, her smile widening when she saw you. “I’ve missed you,” she said, her voice a little louder than necessary, but still polite.

Tide rushed up next, his grin mischievous. “Hey! I hope you didn’t forget about me.” His tone was playful, and you couldn’t help but laugh at his usual lack of restraint.

You smiled at them both, your heart feeling a little lighter. Being around them felt different. 

It didn’t take long before your and Kaia’s parents disappeared into a room for a quiet, hushed meeting, joined by your older siblings. Meanwhile, the younger twins were probably causing more chaos for the staff.

You, Kaia, and Tide quickly slipped away to your room, eager for some time away from the formalities. The three of you whispered and chatted, enjoying each other's company.

Kaia stayed calm as usual, a bit more reserved than the others. But talking to Tide was easier—he always had a quick response, a joke, or a laugh ready. With him, everything felt natural, like you could say anything and he'd just roll with it.

You leaned in closer, lowering your voice as you whispered your secret to them—Rafayel. Both Kaia and Tide’s eyes widened with curiosity.

Kaia looked nervous, fidgeting with her sleeves. “Are you sure about this?” she asked, her voice tense.

Tide, on the other hand, was practically bouncing with excitement. “This is going to be so cool! A secret tower and everything!” His grin was as wide as ever, his enthusiasm impossible to miss.

And just like that, the three of you made your way toward the tower. Kaia was hesitant, her nerves clear.

When you finally reached the tower, Rafayel was already there, lounging near one of the windows like he had been waiting all day.

As soon as he saw you, he stood up straighter—but his eyes narrowed when he noticed Kaia and Tide behind you.

“You brought guests?” he asked, voice flat.

Kaia gave a polite nod, but said nothing. Tide, however, stepped forward with a grin. “So you’re Rafayel? The mystery boy in the tower?”

Rafayel raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. “And you are?”

“Tide,” he replied, still grinning. “I’ve heard so much about you.”

You chuckled, tossing a glance at Rafayel before turning your attention back to Tide. The conversation flowed easily, with Tide keeping things light. But you could feel Rafayel watching you, his gaze heavy.

As you and Tide joked around, Rafayel’s eyes narrowed slightly. It felt like an unspoken competition for your attention, and it was clear he wasn’t too happy with how easily things were between you and Tide.

As Tide and Kaia moved ahead, you and Rafayel stayed behind, lingering near the wall where the paintings were displayed. Rafayel turned to face you, his expression unreadable.

“Really?” Rafayel muttered, his voice low enough for only you to hear. “You’re getting along with him now?” There was a hint of annoyance in his tone, though he quickly tried to hide it, shrugging it off as if it didn’t matter. But you could tell from the way his eyes lingered on you that it did.

You shot him a teasing smile. “What’s the matter? Jealous?”

Rafayel shot you an almost indignant look but didn’t say anything. Instead, he sidled a little closer, positioning himself just between you and Tide. “I’m not jealous,” he said, though the tone in his voice didn’t quite match the words.

“Oh, is someone jealous?” Tide teased with a smirk.

You could see Rafayel’s irritation growing, but before he could say anything, Kaia stepped forward, her voice steady and calm as always. “Alright, enough.” She looked at both of you, then at Rafayel. “Let’s not do anything we’ll regret, okay?” Her gaze softened, but it was clear she was trying to play peacekeeper. “We came here to explore, not fight.”

Rafayel looked like he was about to argue, but Kaia’s gaze stayed fixed on him, almost daring him to push back. Instead, he huffed and moved aside, though he still didn’t look pleased.

You couldn’t help but laugh at the awkward tension. “See, Rafayel? Kaia knows how to keep us in check. Don’t worry, you’ll get used to it.”

Tide, ever the troublemaker, winked at you. “I don’t know if Rafayel can keep up, but he’s welcome to try!”

Kaia let out a small sigh, but a smile tugged at her lips. “If you two don’t stop teasing him, I’ll be the one to drag you both back to the palace.”

Rafayel, who had been scowling at you both, shot a half-smile, clearly appreciating the back-and-forth. “Alright, alright,” he muttered, clearly annoyed but also strangely amused. “Let’s see who’s actually good at exploring, then.”

It didn’t take long for the four of you to become friends. Well—Rafayel was still a little cold to Tide, giving him side glances and pretending not to care whenever he made a joke. But still, you all got along well enough.

The tower became your secret playground.

You’d sneak in when the grown-ups were too busy talking politics or fussing over traditions. The guards were easy enough to avoid—you knew their routines by now. Sometimes Tide would distract them by knocking something over in the garden, while you and Kaia slipped through the lower gate.

Inside, the tower was like a forgotten library of secrets. Dusty rooms filled with old maps, books, strange tools no one could name, and doors that creaked like they hadn’t been opened in years.

“Look!” Tide once whispered loudly, holding up what looked like a cracked sea compass. “Bet this leads to treasure.”

Kaia raised an eyebrow. “It’s broken.”

“You’re broken,” Tide replied, sticking out his tongue.

“You’re both broken,” Rafayel muttered, flipping through a book as he leaned against the wall.

You laughed, pulling open another heavy door. “Come on, broken or not, let’s find out where this one leads.”

There were close calls, like the time a loose tile almost knocked Tide on the head, or when Rafayel accidentally set off a glowing crystal and swore he heard whispers in the walls. Kaia kept a steady head through it all, reminding everyone to stay quiet, be careful, and to not touch anything too cursed.

Even Rafayel, with all his sass and dramatic eye rolls, started to smile more—especially when he caught you laughing or when you dragged him by the wrist to explore another floor. He still glared at Tide a little too long, but sometimes, when he thought no one was looking, he joined in the teasing too.

Those days in the tower felt like your own little world, far from court manners, family duties, and expectations. Just four kids, chasing secrets, daring each other to go one room further.

And for a while, that was enough.

Kaia and Tide stayed for a little while longer, but soon it was time for them to return home. You knew you’d miss them—you always did when they left. But this time, you wouldn’t be alone. This time, you still had Rafayel.

The night before they left, the four of you met at the tower one last time. The water shimmered softly in the moonlight, lighting the stone walls with a gentle glow. It was quiet, just your voices and the sound of the sea outside.

Rafayel, like always, stayed inside the tower. He never came out. You’d asked him before, half-joking, why he never left. But he’d only given you a small smile and changed the subject. So you stopped asking.

That night, though, he looked different. Quieter. He didn’t make a single sarcastic comment when Tide poked around the shelves or when Kaia reminded everyone to be careful. He just sat there, his arms resting on his knees, watching.

You noticed the way he glanced at Kaia and Tide, like he was already missing them—even Tide, even with all their bickering.

“Are you okay?” you asked softly, swimming closer.

Rafayel looked at you, his eyes not as sharp as usual. “I just… I wish I could go with you all. Even just once.”

There was a small silence. Kaia and Tide didn’t say anything either. No teasing this time.

You gently bumped your shoulder against his. “We’ll come back,” you said. “You won’t be alone.”

Rafayel smiled a little, but it didn’t quite reach his eyes. Still, it was something.

When Kaia and Tide finally swam off that night, waving goodbye and promising to write, you stayed behind in the tower for a while longer—just sitting next to Rafayel, watching the sea.

Even if he didn’t say it, you knew. He was going to miss them too.

Then he asked—so softly you weren’t even sure if he really said it or if your mind just made it up.

“Will you leave me too?”

You stopped. He was sitting on the cold stone floor, eyes tilted up toward the open window, watching the whales pass by in the distance. Their shapes moved like shadows, slow and calm in the deep blue.

You looked up too, then spoke quietly.

“My mother says we all say goodbye. To friends, parents, partners, even our children, sometimes. That’s just how life is. Like the ocean—it always moves. It never stays still. We meet others along the way, but most of them are only with us for a while.”

Rafayel didn’t say anything. You continued.

“Even the mother who gave birth to you can’t stay forever. So nothing can. But that doesn’t mean it’s the end. It’s just… goodbye. Not all goodbyes are sad. But they do hurt. And even if it hurts for a long time—maybe a hundred years—it won’t hurt forever.”

You looked back at him.

“So all we can really do is remember. And forgive.”

He sat there, thinking. Then he asked, almost in a whisper, “Will you remember me?”

“Till the sea dries.” You smiled. “Will you remember me?”

He looked at you, a small grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Till the starfish leaves the ocean.”

And then the day came.

You begged your parents not to go. You cried and clung to them, promised to behave, promised anything—just not to leave the capital. Not to leave him.

But you couldn’t stop them.

You were leaving for another city, somewhere far, for your parents’ duties. And you couldn’t even say goodbye. You were too afraid. Afraid to see his face. Afraid he’d be angry, or worse—he wouldn’t care.

Days passed. A whole week. The guilt sat like a rock in your chest. Until finally, you couldn’t take it anymore. You went back to the tower.

The moment you swam through the cracked stone arch, you froze.

Rafayel was there. Curled up by the doorway, asleep, arms crossed tightly like he was trying to stay warm. His body shivered slightly in the water.

You frowned, heart twisting. He had been waiting for you.

You rushed to him, gently shook his shoulder. “Rafayel… hey, wake up.”

He stirred, blinking blearily. When he saw you, his brows scrunched, and he snapped, voice hoarse and angry, “Where were you?”

But then he saw your red, teary eyes.

He stopped.

His mouth hung open for a second. Then he looked away, jaw tight, like he didn’t know what to do with your sadness.

You didn’t say anything either. You just sat next to him in silence, the water still and heavy around you.

And maybe that was enough—for now.

Rafayel didn’t look at you at first.

You sat beside him, close enough that your shoulders almost touched. The cold stone beneath you, the quiet hum of the ocean, the faint echo of distant whale songs—everything felt too still.

Finally, he spoke. “You left.”

You nodded slowly. “I was scared.”

He frowned again, but softer this time. “Scared of me?”

“…Scared you’d be mad. Or… not care.”

Rafayel let out a slow breath, bubbles rising gently. “I was mad.” He paused, then added quietly, “But I still waited.”

That made your chest ache. You turned toward him. “I’m sorry.”

“I know,” he said.

You sat like that for a moment longer. Then you turned to face him fully. “I have to go. We’re leaving tomorrow morning.”

He didn’t speak. Just looked down at his hands.

You reached into the little bag you carried and pulled out a small shell. Soft pink, spiraled, the one you two had found near the cliffs weeks ago. “I wanted to give you this. So you won’t forget.”

Rafayel took it, turning it over in his hands. “It’s just a shell.”

You smiled, though your eyes burned. “It’s our shell.”

He looked up at you, finally meeting your gaze.

“I don’t want you to go,” he said. Voice flat. Honest.

“I don’t want to go either,” you whispered.

A long silence.

Then he stood up, holding the shell tightly. “If you don’t come back, I’ll find you.”

You stood too, wiping your eyes. “Then I’ll wait.”

He didn’t hug you. He didn’t cry. But as you turned to leave, he called out softly—

“Till starfish leaves the ocean.”

You turned and smiled through the tears. “Till sea dries.”

And then you swam away.

You didn’t look back.

But you knew he was still standing there, watching, until you were gone.

[vivilvr]

The Red Means I Love You

✧ Pairing: Lara Raj x Fem Reader

Your wedding is crashed by a past lover, she was the right person but at the wrong time. Perhaps the right time has arrived now? It cant hurt to give love a second chance.

✧ An: God bless gabriela mv for letting me witness lara cutting of danielas finger with an axe, didnt know I needed to see that so badly. Second half of this fic was giving me major Thelma and Louise vibes.

✧ Wc: 0.9k ✧ Status: Completed

✧ Tags: Fluff, Bittersweet, Happy Ending?, Wedding Crashed, Violence, Death

♫ Now Playing: The Red Means I Love You ♫

The roses were white. White like surrender. White like forgetting. White like the pages of blank letters you never had the will to write Lara’s name on again.

Your mother had chosen them, of course. You hadn't picked a single flower, not the dress, not the cake, not the man. Everything had been arranged for you, a display of a life that wasn't yours to live.

The ceremony was held in the countryside. An old vineyard turned luxury venue. Guests fanned themselves beneath silk parasols, murmuring pleasantries and ignoring the truth that lingered like smoke: you weren’t happy and you weren’t even pretending well anymore.

You stood under the canopy of white roses, the veil light against your skin, yet heavy with silence. Your parents beamed beside you, proud, oblivious; or maybe just will fully blind. You were marrying a man you barely knew, but who ticked all the boxes your parents had wanted: Rich. Educated. Polite. But most importantly he was not a woman. He called you “darling” as if love were a business transaction, and you smiled back because that was your job. A good daughter. A good wife. A good lie.

Your parents hid the truth that once, years ago, their ‘perfect’ daughter Y/n had loved a girl named Lara Raj with all the fire and softness first love demands. That they had planned to run away. That she had cried herself hollow the night her parents had separated the two lovers, dragged their daughter away and erased Lara from every photo, every word.

And then-

The gate to the venue slammed open like the crack of thunder.

A hush swept the vineyard. Guests turned in their seats, mouths ajar.

Lara Raj walked in like a storm finally arriving after years of drought. Chaos didn’t wait, it arrived in a black dress accompanied by golden roses, black heels, and her hair wild with wind. Her eyes locked onto yours instantly. And in her hands, Oh God, in her hands, was an axe ripped straight from the emergency case outside.

Gasps became screams. Chairs toppled. Phones raised.

The groom turned. “What the fu-”

He didn’t finish.

Lara’s swing was clean. Brutal. Blood bloomed like ink on satin. The white roses now dipped in red. Finally, your wedding decorations were chosen by you. Your 'meant to be' husband fell at your feet, a grotesque offering.

Time fractured.

Some people ran. Some froze. You stood still until Lara reached out and held your hand, breathing hard, eyes desperate, not crazed, not cruel; just full of a love that had waited too long.

“Come with me.”

You didn’t ask questions. You didn’t cry. Your fingers found Lara’s like they had in secret school hallways, under desks, behind locked bedroom doors.

And you both ran. You leapt into Lara’s car. It was a beat-up, growling sports model you two had dreamed of driving across the country in, once, back when you were girls and thought love alone could be enough. The tires screamed as they peeled off down the dirt road, clouds of dust swallowing the wedding behind them.

The silence between you at first wasn’t awkward. It was thick. Sacred. Everything unsaid pressed into the space between like a held breath.

Then you laughed. A sharp broken sound mixed with a sob, you couldn’t help it everything was just so overwhelming. “You really killed him.”

Lara glanced sideways smiling. “Would’ve killed the whole guest list if it meant getting to you.”

You laughed again, but this time softer. You leaned your head back against the leather seat, tears tracing down your cheeks, kissed away by the wind.

“I thought you forgot me,” you whispered.

“I never stopped waiting.”

The sky blazed around you both, amber, violent,, colours that defied the boundaries of naming. It wrapped around the car like a promise that wasn’t meant to last, but still meant something.

You didn’t talk about the cops that would come.

You didn’t talk about prison.

You didn’t talk about how you can’t build a life on blood and gasoline and stolen time.

You talked about nothing and that was everything.

Lara reached over to grab your hand again and placed it over her heart. “You feel that?” she said. “That’s yours. Always was. Always will be.”

Sirens would follow. Headlines would scream. The world would call it madness, a crime, a scandal. But in that stolen hour with the wind in your hair and hearts pounding in unison, it was none of those things.

It was love. Raw, wrong, and real.

You didn’t know how far you’d get. Or if you’d even see the light of tomorrow. But as the sun dipped below the horizon, bleeding gold across the American highway,

It didn’t matter if you got caught.

It didn’t matter if you never made it out of the state.

It didn’t matter if these moments of bliss burned too fast.

What mattered was this: In the end, you didn’t walk down the aisle. You walked away from it and into the sunset with the only girl you ever loved.

[aealzx]

As he opened the door, Manic made a tiny sound. Ferrell froze, dropping his gaze to the green bundle in his arms. Manic’s pink eyes were open, squinting up at Ferrell. He didn’t look like he was really awake, blinking slowly and tilting his head ever so slightly. He opened his mouth to try and say something but all that really came out was a weak croak.  “Shh, sh,” Ferrell cut in, shouldering his way into the room the rest of the way. “You’re okay. You’re okay, now.” Another Tuesday in Robotropolis by HappyFoxx

And then something a lil more sweet and soft compared to the other one I just posted X'D This one I doodled a few days into the insanity and Happ SPOILED ME by adapting it into the fic itself weh QVQ