#elliot is like im the walking proof of that

[darkravens-blogs]

Basketball player AU!

Elliott x reader “fake” dating

Summary you and Elliott are both basketball players and you start to “fake” date because of your fans always asking y’all to date but lil did you know he actually likes you

Ps don’t mind that there in different uniforms there the same person let’s just say that he onto be in one team but switched to another one also I wrote this at 5am on a school night and I ain’t finna count it so this is not proof read it so if there’s any typos just let me know.

You and Elliot have been pretending to date for about four months now.Elliot was at his house as he had just go outta the shower when you suddenly get a texted from him saying”I miss you❤️” you smile as you read it before responding”you know for a fake boyfriend your pretty clingy”. He sends you another message saying”say that again baby” confused you reply”say what again??”.”we’ve never fake dating remove that word from your vocabulary” he put his phone down and went to turn the light off in his room as you replied with”yes we have we’ve been fake dating for like four months now?!”.he gets back into he’s bed and replies”come over now” “ok”.

(Time skip cuz imma lazy bitch)

I get to his house and walk up to his rooms as he pats the spot next to him.yo I sit down and he sighs softly before turning to face you and intertwining your fingers”I need to tell you something” “ok what is” “I like you y/n I like you a lot”. He says and he’s mind can’t help but go back to the thought of what it would be like if y’all actually started dating.you look at him in shock before you say”so you do like me for real your not playin with me” he smiles and simply says”yea I really like you” you looks at him confused”but why”. He shrugs “I don’t know I guess I just do I mean your funny,smart and on top of all that your an amazing basketball player” he says as he looks at you with so much love.” So your not playing with me” he chuckles and shakes his head”no I’m not playing with you or just saying it to hurt your feelings or because your my “fake” dating I actually like you”.you chuckle”so how did you go from I hate you to I wanna fake date you to I will never love you to I love you” he chuckles nervous”yea to be honest I always loved you even when I said I hated you but I was scared to admit it you know your just so strong and independent and I wasn’t sure if you wanted someone like me in your life” he says looking away from you your gaze but looks back quickly “as for the fake dating thing it just kinda happened we both needed a cover story so our fans would leave us alone and before I knew it I found myself liking to spend time with you even more then before”.he says getting closer to you “ mhm prove it to me then” I say”alright I’ll prove it to you how about I take you in a date tomorrow night” he says”actually I was thinking something else”. You say as you move to straddle his lap.

Ok so that’s it fo dis part im workin on da next part now always im using different grammar in this authors not cuz this is how i talk.anywho im so sorry if it takes me forever to get part two out just bare with me also requests are open if yalll wanna suggest anything

[dontforgetabtme]

A Metaphor for Fidelity.

i’m back.. my first post did so wel i’m going greatful for all the support i love you all!!!

Elliot x reader, 18+

this is sad lol, I wanted to do something completely different to my first fic I posted so here u go🥲 ITS ALSO RLLY SHORT IM SO SORRY XXXX

“Fuck baby, doing so fucking well.”

His moans sounded like a piano to me. A melody that flowed so effortlessly and with such ease that it was simply intoxicating. His words kept me going, praises coming out from the confines of his lips every second that his mouth was not busy on mine.

These praises made me go just that bit harder, bouncing on his lap while he filled me up. My fingers found his hair and pulled his neck backwards to expose the empty flesh that I would soon go on to claim with my marks. Sex with Elliot is indescribable. He knows what to do. He knows how to make me squirm, but he also knows how to make me relax. He has the ability to make me beg for more, even when my body has been pushed to its absolute limit; he is something else all together.

And then, when I can feel the elastic string in my stomach slowly reaching its breaking point, I go faster. Running my hands seductivly down my stomach, grasping my breast on the way to my clit. Tracing harsh circles, it was the thing that brought me to the near edge. I was so close, so near my optimum pleasure. So close when..

“Oh god, fuck, Jules.”

It didn’t even register at first. So I kept going until I was done. Thinking back on my actions I was an idiot for blocking it out. It was only until I saw his face while holding myself up on his shoulders that it fully clicked what he had just done.

My face dropped first, then my heart. The feeling was new, it wasn’t anger or jealousy. It wasn’t sadness either. Making my way off of the man I can’t believe that I had actually slept with, I rushed to put on my clothes. Taking extra effort to blank out the noises surrounding me. A blur of ‘baby please’ and ‘wait, let me explain’ is all I was able to catch during his shitty attempt at making the situation any less embarrassing.

He grabbed my face and that’s when I lost it. The thing is, that I didn’t know how he wanted me to react. “Don’t you fucking touch me.” Was all I managed to say before I just starting balling. All of my emotions pouring out in the form of small droplets of water. The water on my chin failing to fall down and instead sliding down along the hickeys on my neck; the irony of the tears he caused aligning with the pleasure he once placed upon my skin.

My mind begged the question, did he sleep with her? Was he thinking of Jules while inside of me? But my heart begged me to leave. To place a bandage over my valves and arteries to prevent any further damage. I have always been a more logical girl.

“Have you had sex with her?”

Moments pass and the only thing that could be a kind of considered an answer to my question was a man I front of my lowering to his knees, hugging my thighs and saying sorry. I had never been cheated on. I didn’t know how people owned up to their sins. Reflecting on this experience I should’ve known what had happened by his whole show he put on. However, I had to get the verbal clarification I needed, I needed proof that I wasn’t going crazy.

“Answer my fucking question Elliot, I swear to g-“

“Yes.”

I released the breath I held in my chest and started to leave. My chest rising and falling at the same rate that my feet were walking. I swiped my phone and my keys off of his night stand, purposefully knocking over an full ashtray while I was at it, and swore to myself I would never step foot in his room again. I refuse to be treated like this.

He trailed after me like a lost puppy. Burying his face in his palms. I ignored every word he had said, none of them meaning anything to me anymore.

When discussing the touchy subject of infidelity, I believe that it should be brought up more that the culprit will always be caught at a time they are least expecting it. That there might not be a day that it all ‘just clicks’, that sometimes it’s a shock to your entire system that someone so in love with you would decide that you are not enough. That their greed is more important than your being. It’s infuriating.

Getting home was not a time a recall. I don’t remember leaving his house, I don’t remember entering mine, and I certainly don’t remember texting Jules. Not that it was anything bad, if my mind was alive and in the state it is now in I think I would’ve done the same.

To ‘Jules’ : whore

[klaus-is-the-real-number-1]

I wanna be yours (Number 5 x Reader)

ASK: where Five has feelings for the reader and she was stranded for some months in Dallas, she is happy to see him and gives him a tight hug which makes Five get emotional because it's been so long since someone showed such affection towards him

A/N: this is uh, short, but kinda cute?? could potentially be made into a pt2 but like yeah im sorry i havent written in so long this also hasnt been proof read i am sorry

Words: 825

Tagged: @cherry-ki-d​

Laughter and chatter drifted in from the streets as the people grew ever more excited for the president's visit that was mere weeks away, more money was being spent than ever before, new clothes were being bought, decorations and buntings and even TV sales were through the roof. Even through all the excitement, rumours still drifted through town about the new employee who worked for the estranged TV shop owner, almost as if she appeared from thin air, never seen before with a glint of sadness in her eyes and a smile that could kill. 

As if it was yesterday, you could remember the cold chill that wracked through your body as your eyes adjusted to the darkness around you, the blue light faded away and then you were alone. Before you could call out for any of the Hargreeves a flash of light cut through the darkness, instantly your eyes snapped to the top of a building where a curtain of a window quickly closed. Wiping yourself down, you make your way over to the building and trying the door knob to a back entrance and as if luck was on your side it swung right open.

An eerie atmosphere filled the corridor, footsteps echoed, bouncing off walls caked in dust that hadn’t seen a single person in months. At the top of the stairs you lay 3 sharp knocks on the first door that you saw, only for it to swing open before you could finish the third knock. 

“What?” A timid man spoke aggressively, eyes darting around with nervousness.

“It’s rude to take pictures of people without permission.” You smirked, his erratic movements made you more confident. Rather than answer, he simply closed the door but you were one step ahead, quickly placing your foot in the doorway. As he stepped back in shock, or fear, you pushed past him and walked all the way into his apartment, eyes finding the photos he had already taken of the siblings and all the other conspiracy theories he had pinned up.

“Who do you work for?” He said, brandishing a kitchen fork in your direction.

“I’ll tell you everything,” You say, taking a seat on his couch. “If you give me a job and a place to stay.”

Months later, there was still no sign of where the siblings were and to make matters worse, when Diego and Vanya landed in the 1960′s you were nowhere near Elliots shop. Vanya just disappeared where Diego landed in a mental institute, the others were somewhere in America, getting on with their own lives, only one person was missing, Five.

But as the days passed, and the weeks rolled over you slowly started to lose hope of ever seeing him again and simply accepting the ever increasing worry that seeped from your core that was accompanied by a heavy heart. Dread taking over as the thoughts of him having pushed himself to hard and getting stuck in an apocalypse again or just not quite making it with the rest of the siblings. 

Yet you had to move on, having responsibilities with this new life of yours as well as helping Elliot get his TV shop back up and running even if he was still obsessed with the extraordinary. Aimlessly, you swept the floor, hips swinging to the 60′s music that were being played on the radio, Elliot nowhere to be seen. 

Suddenly, you could hear people loudly talking from the upper level of the shop before Elliot desperately called your name out, you dropped the broom and begun to ran up the stairs. “Elliot?” You called out, only stopping dead in your tracks on the sight that greeted you.

Five.

His sharp green eyes widened as he saw you, mug falling from his hand, within a second he was embracing you and receiving an even tighter hug from you. Tears flowed from your eyes and fell freely from your face and he let go but kept you in his arms examining your face before shakily bringing his hands to your face and wiping away your tears with his thumbs.

“I like your hair.” He said, almost breathlessly, causing you to quietly laugh as your hand went to your hair, playing with a strand.

“I missed you, Five.” The muffled words spilled from your mouth as you embraced him again, words dulled as you pressed your face into his shoulder, not wanting to let go. 

A large smile adorned his face at your reaction to seeing him, a range of emotions flashing through his mind until he became overwhelmed, one tear turning into two which then turned into a stream down his face. With a smile, you wiped the tears from his face, watching closely as his eyes closed at your touch.

“Whats going on here?” Elliot cut you both out of the trace you were in, causing both of you to laugh, Five never leaving your side. 

[boo1a4]

11 question tag!

Hey guys so I was tagged by 5 of my fav gals to do the 11 questions tag (THATS 55 QUESTIONS WHY ARE YALL LIKE THIS) but anyway I was tagged by @s-lay-ing @sambashua @achuu-nice @indiepoptime and @yongpal-i (this tag is fucking eternal help me)

Cloud’s Questions!

Do you know a ksong by heart? (bc I don’t :x I can hum a trillion tho)

Blackpink’s As If Its Your Last, Heize’s Star, Day6 I loved you and You Were Beautiful, most of seventeens title tracks and most of their ballads, lastly  Pristin’s Aloha! I'm sure my pronunciation is way off but those are tho the ones that I've taken the time to actually sit down and learn!

When it comes to friendships, are you low or high maintenance? (As in your friends gotta talk everyday with you or you’ll feel like the friendship is dying OR if you can spend days without talking to them yet you still remain close)  

Ummmm I think it depends on the friendship? also I think I can tend to be a bit of both (cause I'm an insecure ass binch), tho I don't ever feel like my friendships are dying lmao

Do you have a secret that you will take to the grave? (Ofc I’m not asking you to reveal it)

not that I can think of?? like I'm sitting here thinking if there is anything and like honestly no????

Recommend me 5 songs (not necessarily kpop songs)

Dracula Teeth - The Last Shadow Puppets(honestly cloud just listen to all of their music is so great) Daydream In Blue - I Monster (this is honestly one of my all time fav songs I love it too much) No Way Down - The Shins (you know I can't go 2 mins without mentioning them, some great lyrics right here tho also give September a listen in beautiful) Beechwood Park - The Zombies (I'm assuming you know the zombies cloud but on the off chance that you don't BINCH THEY ARE MY ACTUAL FAVORITE well beside cream and zeppelin but they are up there) Kimbra - Miracle (kinda of a random one but this song just never seems to leave me!) Big Bird -Hyukoh (oh that was 6 BUT THIS SONG IS SO GREAT also listen to wing wing!!)

What do you prefer?: first, second or third gen kpop songs?

I generally prefer second generation??? I think????? I like a bit of all of them tho. but like there is no definitive answer to when each of the generations start and end so like I don't even know??? but most of my fav groups as far as music goes are older around 2nd gen but a fair amount of them are gen 3, I have a really strong love for kpop that was released between 2009-2014.

What’s the cheeeeeeeeeesiest thing you’ve done? (one time a former friend of mine was telling me about a problem she had and at the end of our convo I kissed her in the forehead bYE)

girl idk just my whole fucking life tbh, but my family members and irl friends will all tell you I do this thing where I yell sing songs and change the lyrics to their names this includes badly sung kpop songs IM SCREAMING THO CLOUD WHO ARE YOU AHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHA

If you were asked to participate in a variety show, which one of the following would you pick and why? (Pick two!): problematic men, master key, hello counselor, weekly idol, one fine day, law of the jungle

um probs ofd?? id say weekly idol also but damn the hosts would literally be like who is this weird binch!

Your top 10 kpop songs of 2017?

In no order but 1. Would U - Red Velvet 2. Let’s Hang Out - SF9 3. Night Rather Than Day - EXID 4. Aloha - Pristin 5. Missing You - BTOB 6. I Loved You - Day6 7. Teenager - Got7 8. Habit - Seventeen 9. As If It’s Your Last - Blackpink 10. You, Clouds, Rain - Heize

Would you rather live in a huge mansion or a compact studio house?  

Im a real messy binch so definitely compact studio

Tell me a fun childhood story (I’ll start! One time an aunt gave me money to buy ‘papas’ (potatoes) at the grocery store so bc I’m obedient af I went and asked the counter lady how many of em could I buy with the money I had so she went ‘uhh, not many tbh’ so i ended up getting like two and when I returned to my aunt’s house she laughed her ass off and said: I meant ‘papas fritas’ (potato chips) Not those! - and uh yeah this is funnier in Spanish but it proves that I’m such an innocent angel I mean wow)

ok so I spent a lot of time at my aunt Lori’s house when I was a kid (like summers, and after school) and my cousin was the BUG queen so she hand made leashes for her pet toads (that she caught) and we walked them around on leashes for like a week but I was always so afraid of them and also hurting them so I WAS NOT ABOUT THAT ahahaha dumb story but it makes me laugh alsoalsoalsdo they had this bench swing in their back yard and my cousin my sister and I would swing on it together for hours at a time and one time we were swinging real hard (REAL HARD) and the links?? or whatever that held it to the ceiling it was hanging from snapped and the three of us of us flew off of it and we all collectively blacked out??? it was so weird but I woke up to my cousin stuggling to get me off of her and then there lays my sister underneath the bench just blacked out chilling (she was fine) then my aunt came running out cause she had just heard the loudest crash ahsdfasdf not long after my uncle put stronger links on it and that bench is still there! From time to time when the three of us get together this story gets brought up its still the most hilarious thing ( ALSO CLOUD YOU ARE SO PURE I LOVE)

If you were offered to start a band, would you accept?

yeah I love music so much why not! not sure I would be able to contribute much  lmao

Mir’s Questions!

If you could travel anywhere, but were completely by yourself, where would you go?

hmmmmm do you mean like I wouldn't be visiting anyone and just traveling alone?? or like going someplace where I know no one?? ok cause for the first I would book it straight to az TO SEE YOU MIR!! AND SISTER!! but for the second I would love to go to Japan (my cousin lives there tho so that also doesn't technically count lmao)

What inspires you?

Music, books, and tv shows! Also really well written characters or just interesting people I guess! but on like a ??spiritual?? level my mom?? she's just that binch you know ( like seriously Ive never met anyone kinder or more driven and hard working in my life she's wild)

How many pets would you have in your ideal future? Any specific names or types in mind?

47 KITS, no realistically I want 2 kittos and they will be named Bellamy and Murphy cause I got too also lowkey want to name a cat rami or Elliot or also kaz or Inej damn all the good names wow. Also the name Calloway is my fav name of all time and I WANT SOMETHING WITH THIS NAME

What are you opinions on fedoras

um eww?? what other opinions are there?? what is this question mir I'm???? but like ngl when worn in a none cringe manner then can look nice!

how many spoons can you balance on your face at once (picture or video proof preferred (i’m trying to get someone to do it pls anyone))

girl I've done my time (lowkey did you put this on her cause I told you about my gravy spoon today???)

What is your favorite type of tree?

I like Birch trees!

If you could convince one person to like kpop who would you convert?

damn MY MOM cause then she might listen to something other than bruno mars once in a while

What are three things you are normally associated with and/or what are three things you want to be associated with?

art, sleeping, reading and um idk?? tbh??? like maybe not being shitty and being funny??? idk??? like I don't know????

If you were in a kpop group what position would you hold (ie. leader, main vocal, moodmaker, etc) feel free to tag your mutuals and who they would be!

um hm im a moody binch bonch so probably moodmaker?? mir is main dancer cause yes duh ivy is leader cause she's the only sane one kennedy I feel would be a great rapper like she got that chic thing going she could do it I feel??? and cloud would be our talent tbh??? nom would be the maknae cause she's small I feel! Jeddy would be my happy virus bud cause she's a fun and funny gal ( I love) Jamie ALSO ONE OF OUR TALENTS wow yes I feel a main vocal here she’d go solo and be singing ballads left and right! JESS WOULD BE THE SWEET MOTHER MEMBER THAT EVERYONE LOVES AND IS JUST THE SOFTEST,,,A SUNSHINE GAL.

If you could have any wild animal as a tame pet what would it be?? (i’m ocelot loyal all the way)

damn idk I'm like horrible at taking care of things (including myself) so like honest id just stick to the kit kats

What is your opinion on mint chocolate chip ice cream? (for maj)

The best ice cream (tho I can't eat it anymore and its very cursed)

Nom’s Questions!

how are you? :D

I’m good Nom thanks for asking!

sad ballads or happy upbeat songs?

Im a ballad ho these days they are honestly all I listen to anymore, but I do love me an good upbeat song I'm just slightly more picky about them!

fave anime movie?

ok tie between Whisper of the Heart and Howl’s Movie Castle, I honestly need to see more that arent Ghibli!

dogs or cats?

Cats! (my dog is practically a cat tbh)

do you keep stuffed animals in your room?

I have one! its a portal companion cube! its not technically an animal BUT I LOVE IT ANYWAY ITS ALL IVE GOT!!!! also if you count tsum tsums I've got a few big hero 6 ones!

someone you miss?

My dad, its been especially hard lately.

describe your phone case?

its like rainbow watercolor! I have a pop socket that matches

favorite lore/myths?

Not technically myth or lore but Beowolf! I've seen the movie at least 40 times and I've read the epic! generally I find northern european mythology/literature to be more interesting than southern. but if we’re going for like ubran myths tbh not really my thing ahahaha.

eardbuds or headphones?

both for different things! but when I first listen to an album I like to listen with my headphones!

can I steal your heart?

you already have ~~~~~~~

favorite thing about your ult bias?

His sensitivity and kind heart! I love a sweet boy! Also I'm really here for Boo’s cheeks!

Jamie’s Questions!

If you could only listen to one song for the rest of your life what would it be and why?

ohhh there are a few songs that I really really love, Heize’s Star is a song that I listen to daily and I feel like I could listen to it for the rest of my life! also September by The Shins! Miracle Aligner by The Last Shadow Puppets also. Idk man I just really love songs with a mystical quality to them.

If you were in a kpop group what would your group be called and what would your fandom name be?

BINCH AND OUR FANDOM NAME WOULD BE BONCHES

If you could acquire mastery over ONE skill instantly, what would you pick and why?

Singing!! its just about the only kind of musical talent I think I’d be any good at! Im a vocalist ho I just want to be like my favessssss

First reaction if you spotted your favorite celebrity on the street?

I would literally hide so fast omg

First reaction if your favorite celebrity followed you on your favorite social media site?

SCREAMING ALL THE LOVE FOR BOO SEUNGKWAN 24/7 and literally only doing art of him and nonstop posting it

Snap your fingers and you get to steal your favorite outfit off of a kpop idol. What outfit do you pick, off of whom, and why?

OK literally all of Soonyoungs airport looks cause damn that boy does not get enough credit for his fashion (he's the best dressed in the group fite me)

If you were to get a painless tattoo that you could remove with the press of a button, what would you get and where would you get it?

umm probably something really pretty? and colorful? I'm not sure what put I like  arm tattoos!

What is your most prized possession?

probably my laptop?? also my collection of sketchbooks!

What’s a YouTube/online challenge that you have always wanted to try?

Im always interested to try those youtube art challenges, I've done the three marker challenge before and the draw this again challenge also!

You get a guarantee that your favorite celebrity will see your social media post but you only get 100 characters. What do you say to them?

I would literally just send my art to them! I feel like it says more than 100 characters can!

You wake up in your dream room. What does it look like?

LITERALLY A LIBRARY AND LIKE NICE AND DARK AND WARM BUT NOT TOO WARM LOTS OF BLANKETS

Kennedy’s Questions!

Make a 10-song playlist for your current mood.

it is here

What vine do you quote the most?

what is that?? who you fighting?

What do you value most in a friend?

I like people who are good listeners! but also people can keep a conversation going! But really tho just genuine kindness and openness.

If you could learn any kpop choreography instantly, what would you learn?

DAMN THIS IS HARD, so many great ones that I love a lot but probably Red Flavor?

If you go to your Tumblr activity page, who does it say is your “number one fan?”

damn Idk them so I'm not gonna like tag them or something lol

What is your ideal clothing style?

I like simple dark clothing that is comfortable.

What is your favorite Snapchat filter?

I really like the ugly ones tbh I don't use them enough

What subject would you like to study, but wouldn’t necessarily want to make a career out of? (for example: I really want to learn about botany!)

psychology, I really love learning about how people work.

Would you rather be constantly half an hour early to everything, or constantly 15 minutes late?

early of course, I hate being late

Would you rather have a single day to spend with your top bias or a week to spend with your number 2 bias?

damn neither??? ahahah no a day with boo would be very blessed!

If you could bring back any disbanded OR inactive group, who would you bring back?

F(X) BINCH I NEED MORE MUSIC

My Questions!

if you had to chose one kpop stage outfit to wear for the rest of your life which would you choose?

favorite music video aesthetic?

Group you are most excited for in 2018?

Recommend me some underrated kpop songs/groups?

If you could join any group other than your bias group who would you join and why?

Favorite soloist? and some song recs?

Childhood Story? (thanks Cloud)

Were you in any fandoms before you got into kpop, if so what were they?

Favorite Comeback/debut of 2017?

astrological sign? Myers Briggs type? Hogwarts House (I'm a Gemini, infp, and Gryffindor)

Random question but what are your favorite names?

Tagging : @s-lay-ing @sambashua @achuu-nice @indiepoptime @yongpal-i (y'all can do mine if you feel like it!) @forgetjunnot @babybyuny @kae-popx @kiheehyunie @jeonwoooo @trbldean130 @howcaniwait @joshhjs @maetaamong and if you’ve already done this you don't have to do it again ahahahaha I feel like everyone has done it already lol

ok thats it do it if you want!

[roseamongroses]

W.A.L: (30) “The Last Ending” (ii)

s u m m a r y

Eden was the lowest of the low, a monster, hardly human, and was set to be executed. Roman was on trial, perpetually stuck in time until it was time to atone for his families sins.Neither cared much for staying trapped.So when a Stranger offered freedom, offered peace, offered power, it was hard to say no.Even if it put them on the wrong side of history.

v i b e s

time is irrelevent, homophobia who?, magic and beasts, demigods

w a r n i n g s

Imprisonment, Mentions of execution, Blood/ injuries,  Mentions of past Death, repression, cursing, some  dissociation

c h a r a c t e r s

Deceit(Eden) Sanders, Remy Sanders, Logan Sanders, Virgil Sanders, Patton Sanders, Roman Sanders, Emile Picani, Elliot, Kai, Lauren, Dot

Ship: Roceit

1) (2)   (3)  (4) (5)

(6) (7) (8) (9) (10) (11)

(12) (13) (14) (15) (16) (17)

--

Roman picked himself up slowly, feeling those ghostly fingers dig into his skin, dragging closer and closer to his-- He swallowed thick, shaking off that train of thought. It wasn’t that bad. The only proof of what had happened was the loss of sensation around his shoulders. It was a minor blessing that he couldn’t see it. Somehow he knew The Stranger wasn’t lying when he said it was permanent, but for now Roman needed to believe that it wasn’t.

He walked towards Janus, feeling something close to relief as he slid against the wall next to them tucked underneath their still chained hands.

“Are you…” Janus asked, craning his head to better see Roman.

“I’m fine,” Roman mumbled, pressing his face into their side, hands just barely tracing the now healed wounds. Janus managed something comparable to a snort and Roman forced a laugh, wincing at how brittle his voice sounded, “Like you're one to talk,”

“How are you really?”

“I’m fine as this shit can be,” Roman snapped, still trying to will those fingers away from his mind with Janus’s terrible, disgusting, but wonderfully safe stench,” We can still figure a way out of here, especially since that dumbass left us in here alone so we should get you out of those chains first and formos--”

“Roman,”

“What--I’m fine Janus, he didn’t put that curse on me, I’m fine,”

“He touched you.”

“I…” Roman swallowed, “It wasn’t a big deal, you heard him--Sanders are just sensitive--”

“Yes, I know --He tried to touch your wings Roman,”

“He does shitty things, but... some shitty things are worse than others I--” Even though Janus couldn’t see their face he could hear their pain, “He’s trying to wipe out everything I think almost getting a---” Roman stuttered on the word. He couldn’t even say it. It would be too real if he did.

“We need to get you out of those chains,” Roman finally mumbled, reaching for the metal, “--and a plan--I don’t even know how close midnight is what if--”

“We’re not going to do anything,” Janus said.

“What do you mean?”

“We’re not going to try to escape,” Janus said more resolutely, shaking his hair out of his eyes to meet Roman’s gaze squarely.

“You’re not suggesting we give up,” Roman hissed, “I’m not letting you die and I’m certainly not letting that facist fucking weirdo--”

“Roman,” Janus said and Roman quieted, “I’m not saying that I’m just...Right now we can’t do anything,”

“But right now is all we have,”

“I know but…” Janus knew time was a luxury, but right now he felt like the time to rest was a necessity, “I’ll think of something, I promise. But right now I don’t think either of us are in a good enough state to do anything that won’t get us killed,”

“But…” Roman’s forehead pressed against Janus’s, defeated as his hands cradling their cheek, “I don’t like this,”

“Please... do whatever he says tomorrow,” Janus mumbled, letting their breathes sync with his, “I’m not planning on dying, but I need to make sure you get out--just in case it does go to shit,”

Roman sighed, lips pressing lightly against their cheek, “You’re an asshole,” he said, against their skin, “You’re a self-sacrificial asshole and if you think I’ll just leave you,”

“It's not leaving, it's not being distracting,” Janus retorted, “He knows he can use you to get me to do what he wants,”

“Am I...” Roman’s face flitted between pleased and distressed, “Do I distract you that much?” Definitely pleased.

Janus didn’t answer that, knowing that it was the closest thing to agreement he’d get from Roman. Instead, Janus twisted his face quick, meeting Roman’s lips. Janus ignored his sore body as Roman braced himself against his chest, the gold scales pliable under their warmth. Roman’s hand had slipped from Janus’ hair to cradle his face, not quite touching the scales there. And Janus realized that he didn’t care anymore if they did.

It was one of many desperate, tired kisses.

---

It was Larry who had entered the cell to take off Deceit’s chains.

His cheerful demeanor dampened as he unwinded the blood soaked, metal cuffs from around Janus’s wrists, only murmuring apologies when patting the wounds down with alcohol and tightly wrapping them.

When Larry was finally done, Janus sagged all at once, only being caught by Larry’s steady hands. Janus wasn’t sure if he was just unused to his tail or if his body forgot how to sit upright all together. Larry had only left to let Roman change into some actual clothes, but quickly materialized to lead them to the ceremony.

The tomb was silent, it always was silent, but Janus could feel the Misrae’s presences’ pushing against his mind. Some were curious, some seem frantic, some seemed…. tired. As if they’ve seen this before and know that nothing would stop the Stranger from attempting it again.

Janus distantly wondered about all the shifters who’ve walked down this hall before.

Some who looked and spoke like him with strange accents and jagged scales, some who forgo language completely--embraced their anonymity and lose themselves to the shadows, those with feathers that glittered in the sun and voices that always seemed familiar. Theshifters who’ve never left their family, the shifters who had no choice but to leave, so they could survive.

Were they scared? Did they fight or did they take one look at all the promises laid out before them and simply submitted themselves?

Was it the best alternative? Was it the only alternative? Did they feel that rising dread towards the future that only seemed to quiet with a few simple, distant promises, “it’ll all be over, it'll all be gone, you will not suffer, you will grow beyond suffering, you will be more,”

Janus wasn’t sure exactly when this promise of eternal peace, of unfathomable power, became so menacing. He didn’t know when that outstretched hand stretched into claws.

He had been so afraid of becoming a monster that he became willing prey.

Larry had led the two of them down the winding halls of the tomb until the path widened and they reached a gaping cave. Snatches of light seemed to filter from the rocks, making each drop of water glisten, and the muddied path before them shine of clean marble.

“You’re late,” The Stranger said, not looking up as he scanned through some papers.

Janus squinted in the light, a sharp pain encroaching behind his eyes. He tried not to stumble when Larry let go of him. Uneasily, Janus slithered forward towards the center of the room, feeling Roman close by.

The Stranger took a step back, revealing the strange sight behind him.

The rock at the center of the tomb was rubble and twisted amongst it was a single tree. A tree of paling grey that seemed to shine just as much as it waned. The weight of it’s branch thich with thin leaves and dotting, white fruit.

Roman froze, dropping to his knees at once.

At that The Stranger smiled, “So the Sanders does have manners,” he mused, looking up from the papers, “Don’t worry hun it takes a bit getting used to,”

“What’s…?” Janus frowned, glancing down.

Roman caught his eye and gave a grimace, “You don’t feel it?” he said and Janus recognized the tone. It was the tone Roman used when he didn’t want to make assumptions, but was pretty sure he was right. It was the tone Roman used when Janus fascinated him, it was the tone Roman used when Janus concerned him in all the ways that were good.

“Of course he doesn’t,” The Stranger rolled his eyes, “Did you even listen to a word of my plan you im--”

“Yeah, yeah genocide, I got it,” Roman bit back, head still down, hands flat on the ground beside his thigh.

The Stranger’s cool smile seemed to have frozen, the page tight in his hand, “Genoicde is such a human word--”

The cave splintered under Roman’s hands, “Last time I checked, you are human you di-”

“Roman,” Janus pleaded, and Roman fell silent.

“Well, well, well,” The Stranger asked, amused, “You've trained him. I’m almost impressed,”

Janus schooled his expression, forcing himself to look away from Roman, “He respects my decision,” he said evenly.

“So he does,” The Stranger muttered, quickly becoming disinterested. He picked out a page out of the stack of papers, letting the rest fall useless to the ground as he shoved the page in Roman’s face, “Sing,” he said.

Roman raised his head as if it laboured him, curls falling painstakingly slow to the side, and his hand trembling as he grasped the page between his fingertips.

He opened his mouth, but no words came out.

“Sing,” The Stranger snapped.

And Roman did, clumsily, in a broken mismatch of spanish that seemed to cause trembling to move up to their shoulders.

The Stranger only grew more impatient, “In. English.”

Roman whimpered and Janus could imagine how their chest shuddered trying to keep it all in, trying to keep the tightness in his throat locked away, hoping the tears laid dormant in his eyes. How their eyes would cloud and their skin would burn in protest.

Janus forced himself to stay still. He had to betray Roman once more, he had to turn away only once more. If he did turn around, if he did turn to them, he knew he’d get desperate to make Roman okay again. But if he got desperate then it wasn’t guaranteed they’d both be okay together.

“Roman,” Janus spoke, words thick on his tongue, “Please sing,”

Roman cursed and while the silence that followed was thick with The Stranger's agitation, soon enough Roman’s sniffles quieted.

Roman took a breath.

And sang.

---

A Sander’s song was a lullaby, it was a wake-up call, it was the cold distance between stars and the lights that promised you a home.

It said look up, come here, I am waiting for you.

I miss you.

Follow me--take my hand, stay a little while longer, kiss me a little harder.

Let my warmth hold you until you are well rested again.

The lullaby tamed the tomb’s thunderous presence, all the prying minds of the Misrae now gone, even the Stranger looked a little lost.

In this thoughtful daze, the silver tree unfurled.

It’s lanky branches didn’t shoot up, instead the branches to the ground, an intricate pattern that covered the walls and floor. Most of its silver fruit now shriveled and dusty.

Only one dripping fruit remained, it's molten red calling.

Janus slithered across the tangle of branches, Roman’s voice a distant hum that seemed to circle his neck and bind his throat. As if saying “I am here, I will keep you a float”

Janus plucked the fruit, crushing it in his hands and letting the red drip freely as he raised it above his head and opened his mouth for a taste.