#even though it dooms us both. what if i refused to let you leave even though i knew i would have to leave soon instead.

[glitchydyke]

AKIANGEL 💥💥💥💥💥💥💯💥💯

[doitforbangchan]

sorry if it's a little long. I love to come up with plots more than the smut part

you were just supposed to meet them backstage after a concert and get a picture. but hyunjin was obviously interested so chan asked you to stay behind, offering to drop you off since you were there alone. while they were waiting for the fans to leave, hyunjin kept talking to you and managed to get you to accept going with them to the dorms with them to chill after the concert. not the type to be able to say no easily, you accepted. you ended up drinking with them. the members tried making conversations but a tipsy hyunjin was doing all he could to keep your attention on him. after a while, the others left to sleep and since it was too late for you to go home, you had to stay over. hyunjin wanted you to sleep on his bed so you'd be comfortable and he'd be in the living room but it didn't seem fair to him. that's how you ended up in the same bed. the two of you were just talking at first but as you sobered up, things escalated between the two of you...

After party - Hyunjin

Masterlist

Idol!Hyunjin x Fan!Reader (Afab)

The pics are formatting weird and I dont know why :(

CW: Light smut, kissing, grinding, thigh riding, drinking, softdom!Hyunjin, sub!reader, cursing, anxiety (Lemme know if i missed any) Not proofread :) to my requester- I hope you enjoy please let me know what you think lovey <3

WC: 2.4k

Hyunjin was enamored by you. The second you walked backstage for your VIP picture with the group he knew he was doomed. Not only were you beautiful but so kind. You were all smiles as you greeted them each, handing them each little figures you had created for them of their Skzoo animals.

For you, this was the greatest thing to ever happen to you. You had waited so long for this, counting down the days since purchasing your ticket and backstage pass. You only expected it to be a quick meeting, get a picture maybe a hug and then be on your way. You were honestly shocked when Bangchan had invited you to hang out with them for a while.

"Did you come alone?" Chan had asked you when he noticed nobody was with you.

"Yeah, I did." You answered sheepishly, "I don't have any other friends into K-pop so I'm pretty used to attending events and concerts alone."

"It just means you have good taste." Hyunjin winked at you, and you felt the heat rush to your face as you mumbled a 'thanks'.

Hyunjin was sat next to you with his arm slung over the back of the couch you were both sitting on but he wasn't touching you. He just wanted to be close to you without being weird.

The two of you sat there for over an hour as he asked you questions about yourself, of course the other boys would chime in every now and again but generally they liked watching Hyunjin try and be cool with you. It was entertaining.

It was nearing closing for the venue and they had to leave soon, but Hyunjin didn't want this to end. He looked to Chan for a quick second with pleading eyes before he looked back at you and blurted "Do you wanna come home with us?"

You were thrown off by his sudden inquiry, "Huh?"

"Not in a gross way!" He panicked as Jisung burst into laughter watching his friend struggle. "I mean, we're headed back to our dorm and we planned on having a few drinks and hanging out. Our version of an after party. Would you like to join us?"

"Oh uhhh" you looked around at the encouraging looks from Felix and Chan, ignoring the snickering from Jisung and Seungmin. "I mean, I guess if you want me too, maybe an hour or so wouldn't hurt." You were a people pleaser and couldn't say no on a regular day, but especially not when your favorite idol asks you too.

"Perfect" He smiled brightly.

The ride over was more luxury than you were used too, even being shoved into the back of the black SUV. Perspective really was everything huh?

Once back at the dorms the boys wasted no time in getting acquainted with the bottle of tequila Minho had slyly taken from the venue. Though you kindly refused to do shots, you couldn't say no when Felix offered you a mixed drink he made you with some juice from the fridge.

Time felt like it was flying by. Before you knew it, it was nearing midnight. It was easy to loose track of time, though. Since the moment you got here Hyunjin had take it upon himself to keep you company. He had only taken two shots but he was clearly tipsy; his mild slurring and glassy eyes being a dead giveaway.

Not that you were any better, being a lightweight yourself. That's probably why it took you so long to notice the latening time.

"Shit" you cursed after checking your phone, only now noticing how late it was. "It's getting really late, I think I gotta head out."

Hyunjin looked around and noticed you two were the only ones left in the living room, the other members seemingly having gone to bed or to their own dorms. "Damn, how did we not notice how late it was?" He knew exactly how he didn't notice. You were too mesmerizing for him to want to pay attention to anything else.

"I should probably try to call an Uber." You sighed, opening your phone and praying you could get an available ride. Most Saturday nights were impossible to get a ride, since it seemed like the whole city tried to get one at the same time.

Hyunjin spoke before his brain could catch up. "Sleep in my bed tonight." He backtracked at seeing your eyes widen at his proposition. "Uhh what I mean is, it's really late and getting a ride might take hours anyway, so you could just stay here tonight if you wanted.."

"Oh umm." You bit your lip, nervously. "I don't want to be an inconvenience for you."

He shook his head in disagreement, shaggy hair bouncing at his vehement action. "It's no inconvenience, hon. Really, it would even make me feel better knowing you were here safe instead of waiting for a rando or walking home in the middle of the night."

"Aren't you kind of a rando, Hyunjin?" You had a slight tease to your voice.

"A rando who you came home with, yeah." He giggles, standing up and putting his hand out for you to take. He looked at you expectantly when you hesitated to grab his hand in return. "Come on, y/n. You can take my bed and I'll take the couch tonight. No objections!"

You shyly took his hand in yours, giving up on trying to leave knowing he was right.

You found yourself unable to sleep. It has easily been 40 minutes since Hyunjin had made his bed for you and wished you goodnight, and you couldn't stop thinking of just how you ended up in this situation.

You only meant to get a picture with your favorite K-pop group- nothing more nothing less. It's what you had paid for, at least. Never in your life would you have imagined this is where you would be at the end of the night. In Hwang Hyunjins bed. The sheets smelled of him, the silk holding onto both his natural scent and traces of his expensive cologne. Honestly it was quite sobering, your buzz fading by the minute.

As if his ears were ringing, the bedroom door slowly creaks open to reveal Hyunjin, peeking in curiously. The only light in the room was the soft glow of the moon shining through his window. It was just enough for him to be able to make out your still figure in his bed.

"Pssst" his voice was a whisper, "are you awake?" He didn't want to wake you if you were sleeping so he kept his tone low.

"Yeah." You whispered back, equally as soft. "Are you ok?"

He shuffled close to you in the room, "Uh yeah, it's just that.. the couch is really uncomfortable."

"Oh, uh" You stammed, "I can go to the couch so you can have your bed back."

You went to remove yourself from his bed but he stopped you, his hand finding your shoulder to keep you in place, "Well I was thinking, if you didn't mind, I could just stay in here with you."

You blinked in surprise, contemplating it for a moment. He wasn't slurring his speech anymore so you knew his tipsiness was wearing off. " I guess that would be ok." You slowly scooted further into the bed, giving him space to climb under the covers with you.

He situated himself under the warm blankets and turned his body to face you. Now you were both looking at each other through the dim light.

"I do appreciate you coming and hanging out with us tonight." He breathed out, breaching the silence.

You balked, "Are you kidding? You brought me into your home, and now you're letting me in your bed! This whole night has been incredible, really. I should be the one thanking you." You said in a hushed tone, fighting back the urge to word vomit your appreciation.

Hyunjin chucked, "No need to thank me." He closed his eyes for a moment and took a deep breath, gathering his nerves. "If I'm being honest, something about you had immediately caught my attention the second you walked backstage to meet us. You were so... Captivating. And sweet. Those little Skzoo minis you made for us are so cute and I can tell you took your time to make them for us. I knew I wanted to know you more." He reached for your hand in the dark and you tentatively let him grab it and laced your fingers together.

Your face was burning hot at his confession. Honestly you were at a loss for words. You hadn't considered yourself special in anyway. Sweet- maybe. But captivating? Never. It was a whirlwind of emotions. You didn't doubt that he was speaking his truth, more so your heart didn't want to believe it.

As if sensing your inner turmoil he gave you a shy grin to ease your mind, "I understand if you don't feel the same. I know it's crazy to spring that kind of thing on someone you just met."

"No its not that!" You protested louder than intended, before sheepishly lowering your voice back to a whisper. " This is all very surreal to me, right now. This isn't how I imagined my night would be, but I am so glad it did. I really liked getting to know you guys, especially you... Who may or may not be my bias." You hid your eyes behind your hand.

You tried to tug your other hand from his grasp but he held on, tighter now after your confession.

"Oh, I'm your bias, huh?" You could hear the smirk on his face as his confidence grew exponentially. You turned your head at buried it into the pillow, unable to meet his gaze.

"Don't be mean." you mumbled.

"I would never dream of being mean to you, sweetheart. You're the one who can't even look at your bias. So really you're the mean one here, angel."

You took a peek at him to see his signature pout gracing his features, the dumpling shape of his lips making you want to bite them.

"You're lucky you're pretty" You huffed, feeling his other hand reach for your waist and pull you closer. You held back a squeal at his action.

"You think I'm pretty?" He abandoned his pout for a boyish grin.

"Mhm" you responded, so quietly he almost missed it.

"Well, between you and me, angel," He leaned in closer to your face, eyes flickering back and forth between your lips and eyes, "I think you're prettier."

The singer left you room to deny his advances, but when you made no move to get away he gently pressed his soft lips against your own. You felt your eyes close on impact, and sighed into him as he swept his tongue along your bottom lip, asking for entrance. Once you parted for him and allowed him entry into your mouth he let out a low moan; the sound coming from somewhere in the back of his throat.

You fisted his shirt when he let go of your hand, instead his found purchase cupping your cheeks as he deepened the kiss even further. His body pressed as close to you as he could get, letting himself get drunk on your taste as he sobered from the alcohol.

You whimpered when he wedged one of his thighs between yours, the strong muscle creating a friction on your clothes center.

"Mm I liked that sound. I wanna hear you sing more pretty melodies for me, angel." He retracted his lips from yours, choosing to instead pepper smooches down your neck. He ground his thigh into you, eliciting another whimper.

Hyunjin sucked a mark onto your flesh, the extra stimulation causing you to buck your hips, seeking more. "Hyuuunnee"

"That's it baby, ride my thigh. Fuck, I can feel you soaking through both of our clothes, angel." He really means his clothes, as he had given you a pair of sleep shorts to wear. He sped up his movements, the grinding getting harsher against your core.

Your clit was rubbing so deliciously against your panties, and you definitely knew with how much you were dripping for him that he was telling the truth. You couldn't believe how worked up you were getting, already on the verge of cumming and you hadn't even been really touched yet.

His hand traveled down to the hem of your shirt, and he pushed it up to reveal your braless chest. He let out a groan of his own at the sight. "You not wear a bra for me, angel? Being a naughty girl?"

You moaned when he latched his mouth onto the skin of your tit, "Mmmmm, no Hyun. Jus' can't sleep in it." one of your hands found his hair.

"I don't think that's true, angel." He said it between nips to your flesh, "I think you wanted me to come in here and ravish you." He nipped particularly hard and you gasped. "Bet you were laying here, soaking in your panties waiting for me, huh?" He switched to your other breast.

Your panting was getting harsher, getting closer and closer to cumming on his thigh. "Hyune, m' gonna..gonna..."

"Gonna cum, pretty girl? Gonna make a mess for me, hmm?" You nodded as best you could, "Go ahead, angel. Hyun's got you." At his permission you let go, a soft cry escaping you as you shook against him. The whole time he kept steady in his grinding, working you through your orgasm. "Fuck, you're even prettier when you cum, oh my god. Prettier than a painting."

When the shocks of pleasure faded into over stimulation you tried to give him a light push to signal him to stop. He took the hint and slowly ended his grinding. Your breathing was heavy and your pupils were blown wide, the sight enough for him to crave you even more if that was possible.

Keeping eye contact with you, he gingerly reached into the front of your (his) shorts, his long fingers finding your dripping wetness and collecting some of it onto the pads of his fingers. You bleated a moan at the contact of him sweeping through your wet folds.

You almost came again when Hyunjin removed his fingers from your pussy and brought the shiny digits up to his mouth. He groaned and his eyes rolled to the back of his head when he sucked your essence off his skin.

"Fuck angel, you really are sweet." He was quick to flip you onto your back, causing you to squeal. "Gotta be quiet, sweet girl." He scooted down your body, pulling your bottoms and panties down with him. "Can't have the boys coming in here while I'm eating my new favorite treat, right angel?"

A/n: Yesssss I know its not full smut, but honestly i liked the it this way. i think it fits better :) I hope you enjoy please let me know if you did

Comments and reblogs are very much appreciated!

©doitforbangchan

[petrapalerno]

Submitting to the Alien Barbarian #7

Alien x fem reader, a dom/sub erotic short.

TW/CW: rough consensual sex, primal play, knotting, breeding, aliens, dominance/submission, blood play, spanking, pregnancy, overstimulation, anal play, gagging and violence.

MASTER POST

PREVIOUS

You and Drohako have gotten into something close to a routine over the past few weeks.

When you wake, he stuffs you full of weird alien food. There must not be a polite way to decline a meal for the Volkroth because anytime you've wrinkled your nose or pushed a bite away, he refuses to accept no for an answer.

He wants you stuffed in more ways than one.

Once you finish eating, Drohako fucks and uses for hours. You can’t even keep track of how many times you’ve had to use your safe word for overstimulation alone.

The big purple alien barbarian, to his credit, listens even though he made a sour face at your refusals.

Then, once you’re spent and slick with seed, he carries you into the healing spring. The planet’s blood, as he calls it, and tends to your wounds.

There’s this dichotomy inside of him. The brute who wants nothing more than to rut you raw, and the mate who needs to make sure you’re alright.

It makes each side of your encounters all that more intense, to know that he’s capable of both.

You chew the rough textured meat, turning your head only catching him staring at you.

“Do I have something on my face?” you joke, wanting to break the tension.

“No,” he mumbles.

There’s a terse few moments where his eyes stay locked on you, something you can’t read behind his eyes.

It’s cut short when Grasyi whines, ready to be let out to hunt.

Despite its terrifying appearance, the big yellow cat has grown on you. You often wake up to him dropping some giant half dead bird at your feet. The act isn’t one you particularly enjoy, but you understand the sentiment.

“Good boy,” you wince as you kick the headless turkey sized thing off your feet.

It sits back on its muscular haunches, and pants. The feline face contorts to something almost like a smile. If a smile could be so...toothy.

“A small one today, eh?” He eyes the carcass that is anything but small to you.

Drohako loves the beast for as much as he complains about it. You witnessed some of his deep and guarded gentleness when you watched him tend to the creature’s injured paw. With careful extraction, he removed the large thorn that caused it to limp, with little reaction.

When the creature nuzzled Drohako’s face, you were in damn near shock to see him smile.

It's not a smirk or a cunning smile, but a smile filled with warmth. A smile of affection.

He walks over to the creature with a sigh and holds the flap to ‘home cave’ open.

With one firm slap of its muscular rump, he sends it off into the brutal red world that is this planet.

You take another bite of the massive bird. Drohako roasted it over a skewer earlier today, yet another of the Grasyi’s fresh kills.

“He cares for you, you know,” he tells me before sitting down next to me.

“I suppose.” I’m preoccupied with chewing through the gristle heavy meat. While I have no complaints about the alien dick here, the food leaves much to be desired.

“Think he’d ever let me ride him?” I ponder, remembering the few times I’ve seen Drohako ride him to fetch water or supplies.

“The bond between a Grasyi and rider is a spirtual one, I don’t think it’s possible,” he frowns at your request.

“Even though I’m your ‘mate’?” You ask, wiggling your fingers in the air as if the word mate is magic.

The corner of his mouth ticks up in amusement.

“That, I’m unsure of. The last volkroth mated pair was long before I was even born,” He says, a bit more wistfully than I expect.

“What happened to them, the mates?”

“The female Volkroth?” He muses. “They died out, we adapted. We’re lucky our young gestate outside a womb, otherwise my species would be doomed.”

“So you’re telling me that every Volkroth female just…died?” I’m so confused about how that would even be possible.

“Yes, fewer and fewer females were born until there were none left. Then the males whose seed refused to take in other species lines died too,” He tells me quietly, trying to look unaffected by information he’s conveying. “The spawning pits were a necessity, to breed females, and to introduce genetic diversity. It’s the only way we could continue the volkroth way of life.”

“And you mated me, some human from a space station that’s a glorified hunk of space junk?”

I’m flabbergasted. What would make me so special?

“You’re the first human I’ve ever seen in the pits,” his voice deepens as he puts his huge square hand on your thigh. The muscles of your body instantly stiffen, the anticipation of what’s coming quickly heating your core to liquid magma.

“I think I knew what you were when I saw you in the dirt, eyes wide and wet,” he whispers, leaning closer to you.

"Knew what?" You ask, almost salivating with anticipation. He has your body trained to crave his touch.

“That you were different, you were a worthy opponent...you were mine,” he growls, clasping the column of your throat.

Your eyes roll back as he squeezes the sides of your neck. He pulls you forward against the fur hides you sit on. His body swivels over your own and suddenly your face down. His thick limbs are caging you in.

There’s a flame lit shadow spreading out on the floor in front of you. Drohako’s a silhouette is one of pure power. It gives the illusion of some ripped shadow demon dancing with the crackling fire.

“Mine to do with as I please, to fill every hole as I wish too,” you hear a squelching noise as he speaks, then something slick and warm being slathered in the cleft of your ass.

“Drohako...” you warn, “I’ve never put something there before, let alone something as big as you,” you’re nervous at the thought of him fucking your ass with his monster cock.

“You have your safe word,” he mutters as he works the tip of his finger past your tight ring.

“Oh okay,” you breathe, adjusting to the new nerve sensations that he’s found.

“I don’t want to put both my cocks inside your tight hole,” he growls, "just one, so I save the other for your sweet cunt." He acts like it’s no big deal. But just one of his cocks is still the most massive thing you’ve ever had inside of you.

“Fuck Drohako,” you press your hips back, and he slides further inside, the muscles of your ass resist as he breeches it deeper.

“I want to stuff you full,” he says, adding a second finger slowly inside your backdoor. His other hand finds your clit, stroking it with long, firm strokes. The pleasure he creates at the apex of your legs has things feeling more relaxed around back. You breathe deep, willing your body to accept the fingers he’s feeding into you.

It feels...better than you thought it would. It’s an entirely unfamiliar sensation than when he fucks your pussy, but not a bad one. The sensations grow more pleasurable with each passing second.

“I’ll stretch this taut bud until it’s good and ready for my cock. It’ll fit,” he says confidently. “You’re made for me, you’re my mate,” He tells you before pumping his hand more roughly. Spreading his fingers wide, stretching you further before a third finger works past your subconscious resistance.

There’s a burn, but you like it.

Drohako raises your ass up and notches his shaft at your pussy’s entrance.

He is not gentle with this familiar hole, and you don’t think you’d want him to be. He slams deep, grunting with the effort it takes to keep his other cock from entering the promised land as well.

You claw at the dirt as the combination of his fingers on you clit, inside your ass, and his thick manhood buried deep in your pussy is fucking decadent.

He throbs inside you and your channel clenches.

“I will not go slowly. I need to fill you completely,” he groans with about as much warning as you’re liable to get from him.

You are unprepared for the feeling of him stuffing your ass. He has you arching your back like a cat at the burning stretch of his cock. A reflexive hiss leaving your  lips.

Drohako, savoring the tightness of you around him, stills his hips as he rakes his hands down the skin of your back.

“Made for me,” he growls as he withdraws both cocks nearly completely before slamming himself home again, all while furiously working your clit.

As he fills you, the air leaves your chest in one big hiss.

“Drohako,” you sob, unable to parse the current of sensation that’s running through you.

Deeply, he dives back in. You can feel the dual friction of both sides of the thin strip of flesh that separates your channels. Having his cock pounding into your ass makes the shaft in your pussy grind against your g-spot. The impact has you curling your toes.

“So tight, so perfect. Choke my cocks,” his voice huffs ruthlessly.

You’re being fucked into a gasping silence as your face is pushed against the ground. Your nerves fire at all once, the intensity of which is almost too much.

You’re clenching your ass tightly as you feel the thrum of approaching oblivion.

The slap of his heavy balls against your cheeks as he picks up his pace.

You feel yourself draw up tightly, and with a final flick of your clit you come apart into a seizing storm of pleasure.

“Fuck!” Drohako growls, releasing your clit only to grab you by the hips. He lifts you off the ground as he bounces you on his cocks, one hand pressing hard on the small of your belly while he uses the other to grab you by the throat.

“Do it,” you choke out, “empty yourself into me,” you’re sobbing, his pounding pushing your orgasm further. The edges of your senses fuzz and blur.

You feel the cock in your ass fire first, pumping thick loads into the uncharted territory. The throbbing shaft in your pussy is quick to follow, and the staggered sensation of both dicks exploding inside you is enough to push you over the edge again.

You shake, as he places you face down on the ground again. His cocks futilely search for each other. They seek to knot like they do in your pussy, but their division just lets them probe deeper. They hit new pleasure centers you’ve never imagined before.

There’s a suction as both of his shafts leave you. Your ass gapes, and both holes drip with hot cum as he does.

“Good girl,” he tells you, stuffing a thick knuckle at the entrance of your pussy.

You’re a mewling, wiggling. Words lost to some snapping pleasure.

“So good for me, so tight and greedy for my cocks,” he coos, laying it on thicker than normal.

He’s softer when he needs to be, you remind yourself. Gentle even, for a barbarian.

You don’t hate it.

He gathers you up, slipping both your bodies into the warm planet’s blood. You’re not even sure you need it, despite the new experience today.

Drohako made sure your ass could take him. He took his time. But as the warm waters wash over, you don’t mind the comfort they provide.

He cradles your body as you let your eyes close, trying to ride the wave of endorphins as long as possible.

BEEP.

You snap your eyes open. The digital noise is distinctly out of place in this primitive setting.

“What was that?” You look up to Drohako’s forlorn face. His hand cups your cheek, a finger straying to trace your ear.

“You’re pregnant, you’ll be retrieved to go to the nesting grounds soon,” his eyes shimmered with some unspoken pain.

You raise your hand up, feeling the metal cuff. It was punched into your cartilage before your arrival. A safety measure, they said.

You forgot about the tracking device.

BEEP.

It sounds again, shrill and sharp. An orange light flashes from it, casting a sickly glow on the purple face above you.

“Do we go now?” you ask him, your expression dazed.

“They will come for you,” he says, his voice cracking.

“I...We knew this time would come,” you say, nervous about the next step in your journey.

“They will not take you from me,” he growls, gripping you even tighter.

“Drohako,” you pry at his hand as his nails bite into your skin, “calm down. I’ll be back,” you tell him, cupping a hand to his cheek.

“You will not, they will ship you to a different spawning pit in the name of genetic diversity,” the barbarian’s breathing is becoming frantic."I will kill anyone who dares to take you from me," He drags us from the pool quickly, grabbing one of the many blades stashed through the cave.

“Come and you shall meet death!” he screams toward the entrance.

NEXT

[hotteoki]

relationships with txt as negative tropes

pairing: ot5 txt x reader (no pronouns used)

genre: angst, breaking up, lovers to exes

cw: none afaik (not proofread)

wc: 1.5k

taglist [open] - @weird-bookworm @junebug032

please consider reblogging as it boosts writers' works!

©️ gyusangels | do not repost

yeonjun (연준) - INSTA LOVE

insta love : giving up anything and everything for love before actually finding out anything about them

"yeonjun, don't you get it? you don't love me, you never did!" you ran a hand through your hair. you had been debating having this conversation with him for a while now, and now that it is finally here, you regretted bringing it up in the first place. "what are you talking about? of course i love you!" he was visibly confused. wasn't everything okay? why were you suddenly claiming your relationship wasn't working?

"you text me and bring me on dates and all, but let's be honest. we've been together for a few months and you know nothing about me," you explained, stressed. you hadn't prepared for this conversation and you were sure it was going to end in tears. "that's not true," but even he sounded uncertain of himself. "really? when's my birthday?" you crossed your arms. "i- i don't-" yeonjun stuttered, racking his brain, yet nothing came to mind. "see?" you held back your tears, "you're not the only one to blame though, i don't know much about you either."

yeonjun sighed, defeated. he knew you were right. "we only love the idea of each other, maybe after a few years later, when we're not so eager to get into a relationship just to prove other people wrong, maybe we'd work out," you rubbed your eyes, feeling a stray tear roll down your cheek involuntarily. "so what does this mean?" yeonjun's voice was barely above a whisper. "i don't know," you allowed his arms to wrap around your form, "i don't know."

soobin (수빈) - STAR-CROSSED LOVERS

star-crossed lovers : any lovers whose affection for each other is doomed to end in tragedy

"we've decided that a relationship between the two of you is just not possible at the moment, not when both your groups are right at the peak of popularity. a single hint of your relationship and it'll all go crumbling down," your manager crossed his arms, a serious tone lacing his words. "but surely, if our success never drops, and say we'll be in the eyes of the media for years, that would mean..." soobin trailed off, eyes darting to you. "look, i'm sorry it has to be this way," his manager sighed, unhappy with the situation as well.

"it's really unfortunate, but that's the life of an idol," your manager responded blatantly. "he's right, though," you murmured, "we shouldn't let our relationship affect our members, it's not fair on them." the managers, sensing they were overstepping a private conversation, stood, "we'll let you two have some time." once you and soobin were left alone in the room, he broke down into tears, taking you in his arms.

"it's not fair." you sniffled, "i know." "it's not fair," soobin repeated, resting his chin on your head. "we don't have another choice," you tried to stay strong, knowing as soon as you allowed one tear to drop you wouldn't be able to stop crying, but your wavering voice betrayed you. "i'll always love you. one day, i'll find you again, i swear on it," soobin said firmly, leaving no room for disagreement.

beomgyu (범규) - UNREQUITED LOVE

unrequited love : love that is not openly reciprocated or understood as such by the beloved

"you said you'd get over him." you forced your eyes away from him, "i said a lot of things, dayeon, and so did he." she sighed, hating to see her best friend wallowing over the boy who refused to contact or even acknowledge your existence after a spontaneous night where he called you, claiming he had developed a huge crush on you for months, leading to an all-nighter of a series of flirting back and forth from the both of you.

"i don't know what happened between you guys that night, but you can't dwell on it forever. it's been almost a year, and he's about to get a girlfriend too," she paused, following your returning gaze on beomgyu and kazuha, sitting a little too close for your liking, "he only called you because he was craving for something to feel, or maybe because it was midnight, you know? the time when your emotions are at their most vulnerable. and i think you know this, deep down, you just don't want to admit it yet, you're still hoping that eventually, something will happen between you two again, but the harsh truth is, nothing will."

you swallowed thickly, choking back the lump threatening to jump up your throat, "i know, dayeon, trust me, i know. it still hurts, though. how he can just move on like nothing happened? like he didn't play with my feelings and practically confess his dying love for me. he made me embarrass myself in front of him, all because he felt like it." you continued to stare at beomgyu, praying that even for a second, he would turn to catch your eyes, understanding your desperation and need for him. he never did.

taehyun (태현) - RIGHT PERSON, WRONG TIME

right person, wrong time : when two people who are supposed to be together aren't

"i love you." you stopped stirring the hot chocolate you held in your hands. oh how long you'd been waiting for taehyun to say those very words. years of thinking you were never enough for him, never standing a chance after seeing his girlfriends come and go. you weren't even sure when you had started loving him, to be honest. the heart palpitations and shaky hands whenever his fingers brushed against yours seemed to have lasted for as long as you could remember.

but it didn't feel right. it didn't feel right when he was just about to celebrate his four month anniversary with yujin in a few days. you sighed, "no you don't taehyun." "no but i do. i have for the past two years. i kept trying to get girlfriends to get over you, but none of them ever made me feel the way you feel," he paused to wait for your reaction. when you gave none, he continued, "i never told you because i thought you didn't like me back, i thought it was just me."

"well, at least you know how i've been feeling for the past, probably five or six years," you laughed humorlessly. "six?" taehyun paled. "yeah, six." there was a silence. "well, i mean, we can try now, right? we can-" "no, taehyun, just, no. you can’t leave yujin for me, it’s not fair for her," you refused to look him in the eyes, even when he approached you, his figure drawing closer and closer from your peripheral view. "so you won’t even try?" taehyun sounded defeated. "maybe in the future, but, just… not now. you can’t sacrifice one person’s feelings for another, it’s not fair on either." his form slumped, "yeah, you’re right."

huening kai (휴닝카이) - THE 'I LOVE YOU' STIGMA

the 'i love you' stigma : when love is not returned because the word "love" makes the recipient uncomfortable

"kai," you called for his attention from the bed. he hummed, turning his head while his eyes were still fixated on his set-up screen. you hesitated, nervous about his response. kai finished shutting off his game, switching the device off before making his way to sit next to you, "what's wrong?" "i know what i'm about to say is going to sound so, immensely, selfish, but i don't think i can keep it to myself any longer."

he took your fidgeting hands in his, smiling warmly at you, "i doubt that." it was times like this when you wished life worked the way you wanted it to. "i don't," you began, breathing in deeply, gathering up all the courage you have, "i don't think you love me the way you think you do." kai's grip on you loosened slightly as he seemed taken aback, "what?" you played with the edges of your blanket, "i just, i have a feeling that you think you love me the way a boyfriend would, but you're actually not even sure of the concept of 'love' in general."

"what made you think this?" he finally asked after careful consideration. "i don't know. i mean, i feel like you treat your friends the same way you treat me, and whenever i show a bit of love to you you just kind of stiffen up and avoid me for a while. i get that maybe i can come across as overbearing, but-" "hey, no, it's not like that," kai insisted gently, "i've just, i've never been in an actual relationship before, and i'm not used to the idea of someone actually, well, loving me." you nodded, a bitter tone lacing your words, "you have to love yourself first to love someone else."

[arealphrooblem]

Terms of Surrender Part 2

synopsis: The queen of a doomed city makes the deal her husband refused to make with the conquering warlord outside her city's gates.

TW: mentions of suicide (the husband)

Words flew up to her lips and died, leaving them in strangely awkward silence.

“Shall we sit?” the warlord offered, gesturing at a pair of couches off to the side.

She nodded stiffly and followed him. Her hands began to shake and she gripped the silk cushion to hide it.

“My condolences for your husband,” he began. “I am disappointed that I won’t meet him on the battlefield tomorrow.”

His accent rolled musically of his tongue.

“My husband threw himself from the castle tower,” she told him, unable to keep the bitterness at bay. “There are no condolences needed.”

His face hardened. “Indeed. A coward’s way out. And he left you holding the reigns of a doomed city.”

She swallowed down the bile of despair. “Six weeks ago you had offered terms for a peaceful surrender. I have hope that we can revisit them.”

“You mean the terms your husband sent back with the heads of my diplomats.”

She winced. “What my husband did was cruel and stupid. He made reckless decisions with an arrogance that refused to consult anyone. Whatever his faults were, my people do not deserve to pay for them. They don’t understand war or politics, they are just trying to live their lives.”

The warlord looked at her, face passive and unmoved. She mustered up the last dregs of her pride and courage and looks him dead in the eye.

“You terms were generous. He was a fool to throw them away. I am not a fool. Would you please allow me and my city to reconsider them?”

Again that stare — somehow both blank and penetrating. The look of a man used to being underestimated and using that to his advantage. She could relate. It was dangerous to let your face show your true intentions. She leveled him with her own blank and penetrating stare.

You are his equal she reminded herself. Though her husband had tried his hardest to make her feel inferior, she never forgot that she had grown up in the palace, the only child of the emperor, and he had not.

“And what authority do you have to negotiate?” he asked finally, gently. As if afraid of disappointing her.

Pride surged in her, made her chin jut up defiantly. “I didn’t marry into the royal family — that was my husband. I am the last king’s only heir, not him. If anyone should have had authority over this city, it should have been me.”

His eyebrows rose at this new information. “Is that so?”

“Yes.”

The hint of a smile twitched at the corner of his mouth. He leaned forward, elbows braced on his knees. The lantern light glints in his dark eyes.

“Your city is the jewel of this continent. I used to dream about it at night. I am not conquering it for the sheer challenge of it, or to sate my bloodlust. I want to expand it’s potential. I offered your husband my terms because I do not want to rule over rubble and the broken spirit of your people. And so, I will grant your request.”

Hope fluttered in her chest, so fragile that it frightened her. But there nonetheless.

“You will?”

“Unlike your husband, I keep my word.”

Relief sapped her of all strength, her knees like jelly. She found herself slipping off the couch and onto the carpet, a pose of supplication, to thank God or the warlord she didn’t know. All she knew was the feeling of hope expanding painfully in her chest. Of Relief that made her want to sob.

“Thank you,” she whispers to the floor.

A hand reaches out and tips her chin up.

“You have too much dignity for this. Stand up.”

The hand flipped over, palm outstretched, and she took it. He lifted her effortlessly to her feet. Standing so close, she was surprised at his stature. Her husband had towered over her, tall and gaunt like a whip. The warlord stands only a few inches taller than her, his build lean but powerful, a heft to him that her husband never had.

“Do you even know what will happen to you?” he asked her, head cocking to the side.

“It doesn’t matter what happens to me,” she replied dismissively.

He looked contemplative at that.

If he wasn’t a fool — and he wasn’t — the warlord would execute her quickly and quietly after cementing his hold on the city. She could inspire too much loyalty to be left to her own devices, or held as a prisoner. The queen accepted such an outcome — it was not personal. Just the rules of succession. All she needed was a death quick and dignified, which she trusted him to give her.

“I will give your city two days to evacuate anyone who wants to leave. They will have safe passage so long as they do not attack. Your army must stay within the walls and give up their weapons. They will either join my ranks or imprisoned until execution. After a term of imprisonment, where I will judge and sort them, your court may join them. As for you . . . Stay away from the tower roof.”

That tiny twitch of a smile again.

“I will follow your terms,” she promised.

“I know. My spies will make sure you do. But I will say, for the sake of posterity, breaking my terms will result in the complete annihilation of your people. Make sure they understand that. Any idiot who wants to make themselves a hero is one thing. But an organized effort is another. You will not have my mercy a third time.”

She swallowed, suddenly dry mouthed. “I understand.”

The warlord led her to the entrance, where three guards and the general waited.

“My general will escort you back,” said the warlord, as the general stepped forward. “He’s very interested in finding the way you escaped.”

The secret of the tunnels was a fair price to pay, but she mourned it all the same.

He gave her one last heavy look. “I will see you in two days’ time.”

Part 3 Here

tagging: @cesspitoflove and @aprilraine

[star-shapedfruit]

Alright lets talk about THAT scene

Honestly I'm still processing all of it and I don't even know if this is even gonna be coherent or more like

This is long. LETS GO

So it's still very much up in the air as to whether that was really Hiyori or not because of the whole illusion thing that Father has going on in this domain but I'm going to assume this is actually her. It just seems kinda weird for Adachitoka to pull that and then go 'Haha SIKE! Jk!' in the next update. Like, if you're gonna pull a scene like that- you gotta commit to the bit ya know?

So let's assume it's all real. Cord snapped. Kapow. She's dead. Now what? God I wish I fucking knew because Adachitoka LOVE to throw curve balls at us so no matter what we predict it'll probably be wrong 🙃

But I think this might have something to do with it.

Kofuku was the one to originally tie the plaques together (uh oh) but then Ookunushi was the one to place them back and bless them with happiness. So you've got a disaster god dooming them but a god of fortune blessing them. Those poor plaques are so confused lol. But either way, Yato and Hiyori are bonded for life and that's an already pretty strong bond they've got. They're two idiots in love and call it silly and cliché but perhaps it's that bond that will save them.

Hiyori is a special case. She's a half-Ayakashi with ties to both the Near Shore and the Far-Shore and we have no idea what happens to someone like that when they die. Do they lose their memories? Will she forget Yato, Yukine, and everyone else from the Far Shore? Will she forget her name? Again, a tricky one but since she treads the lines between the two worlds and her soulmate is a god, maybe not. It could be possible that she retains all those Far Shore memories and forgets a lot of the Near. She remembers her name but can't recall her parents or friends faces.

(That then brings up the huge elephant in the room of what other shinki will think of that and then start to ponder their own deaths leading to the GGS (the likes of Daikoku, Bishamon and Ebisu's shinki etc) but let's just put that to one side for a minute. I can only have one panic at a time)

I think one thing is for certain at this point though. Noragami won't exactly have a happy ending. Either Hiyori somehow lives and Yato is forced to cut her ties and she forgets everything or she dies and permanently joins the Far Shore, leaving her life, ambitions, friends and family behind. And yeah, neither of those are good. But it looks like they're the only options. Now shoot me for this but I seem to lean towards the latter. I really hate endings where someone forgets the entire journey they just went on and it ends up in a sort of 'it was all a dream' ending. They just make me angry lol. Person has this amazing story and adventure and it ends with a literal I forgor meme? Lame. It's more impactful if both parties suffer 😈 (Why I always get more emotional watching the S2 finale of Doctor Who than the S4 finale. I hate that Donna had to forget everything to save her. But that's a completely different kettle of fish).

I went on a tangent there oops. ANYWAY. If we go down the route that Hiyori is dead then it seems like only two things can happen; she'll become a shinki or she'll be deified. She can't be dead dead I refuse to believe that 😤 Not only because she's my favourite character but I really can't see Adachitoka killing her off for good.

Now call me a hopeless romantic (and my Yatori brain going ding ding ding) but the immediate answer that came to mind when I saw this passage at the end of the chapter is love. Perhaps it'll be Hiyori's love for Yato (and Yukine of course) that will be the Deus ex machina that will ensure that she can come back and that she comes back with her memories in tact, maybe even bypassing the GGS. With that, she may be the secret weapon to destroying Father (did Ebisu and Take even destroy the shrine? Honestly can't remember). Whether that means Yato will name her and the three of them will completely whoop his ass or something else entirely, but I think that post-death Hiyori will be the final piece needed to end Trash Dad and the crisis on earth.

Horrific as it is, It would be fitting for her character to make that sacrifice. She's always been brave and selfless and if she knew that in order to save everyone she loves on earth and the rest of the population by fighting by Yato's side, even if that meant that she had to die, she'd do it.

Yes this isn't the perfect ending but there is no perfect ending. Hiyori has been doomed ever since she jumped in front of that bus.

[wodania]

What are some of your favorite quotes from the main series? And what are some from Dunk & Egg?

A lot of the asoiaf quotes are gonna be A Storm of Swords because it’s the book I read digitally the most, meaning I was actually highlighting as I went along. So lots Storm representation oops. Rule of five per series so I don’t get carried away.

Dunk and Egg (this one is long because I love discussing these novellas):

Something something the wealthy huddle beneath lavish roofs and tents and leave the poor to sleep in the rain and mud, but the wealthy have created for themselves gilded cages while the poor can watch the stars fall and claim the gift of luck that comes with it. Thanks George I eat stuff like this up like I’m a starving man.

Feel like we need to mention a dragon dream if we’re discussing Dunk and Egg. My favourite dragon dream in the D&E series. Everything about it is correct: Dunk will be a Kingsguard, he’ll be famed throughout the land, he’ll live for nothing but to serve his King. Though Daemon gets one big thing wrong and that’s that he is not going to be King. Second hand embarrassment. As Bloodraven put it, “The fool just got the colour wrong.” Literally Daemon’s entire character. Spitting facts but he can’t tell red from black.

Defending myself by saying this isn’t a dragon dream. Uhhh so! King Aegon V was killed in a massive fire that burned down Summerhall on the night Rhaegar was born. Duncan the Tall, the Lord Commander, died trying to save both King Aegon and the other party guests from the fire. In this scene, Dunk dreams that he’s digging a grave and people, dead or alive, are appearing in it and speaking to him. The last to appear is Egg, who is buried in the sand even though Dunk tries to pull him out. Dunk falls into the grave and suffocates in the sand. It’s obviously supposed to represent the smoke at the fire of Summerhall. Literally wtf George?

The context is pissing contests by the way. Ignore the pissing part there’s a metaphor there I promise. Dunk is super interesting to me because his raising of Egg makes Egg the small-folk loving King that later rules Westeros. Dunk is wise in his life experience, yet he knows nothing of the struggle of women in both noble and peasant settings. Rohanne let’s him know just how difficult it is for a woman to claim any power or influence in Westeros, using the metaphor of a pissing contest, that classic male bonding activity (a woman needs to piss twice as hard).

This does a really good job of putting into perspective how notable Aegon’s kingship was. “Kings do not heap honour on the likes of you and me,” yet King Aegon V named Dunk his Lord Commander and solidified Dunk’s place as a legendary knight. By ASOIAF, Dunk is spoken about admirably. Another King might not have ever given a man like Dunk the opportunity, but Aegon did.

Asoiaf (shorter because I feel like these have been talked about way more):

Daenerys Targaryen:

Makes me tear up. I feel like it’s obvious why. Also after this she tells Jorah that the people will not hurt her, for she is their mother. And then she rides her Silver throughout the crowd while laughing because she’s so happy and in love with the world!!! This is probably one of the only quotes here that isn’t going to be miserable.

Beric Dondarrion:

“Are you my mother, Thoros?” propaganda I think about this quote so much. Beric and Thoros aren’t even on my top ten list but their conversations and dynamic is absolutely heartbreaking. Beric omg how you rot my brain.

Catelyn Tully:

Not “Ned loved.” Instead, “Ned loves.” Because perhaps in her grief and panic, she forgot her husband had even died. I’m dead.

Jon Connington:

He’s so doomed. He’s so bitter and angry. He loves his son so much and that’s exactly why he’s so doomed. Because he refuses to give his son anything but the best, even though the best is going to kill them both.

Maester Aemon Targaryen:

I am a loyal Egg girl so this killed me nine different times :)

[pumpkinmagekupo]

Anamnesis

In-between what tomorrow will bring,

and the past that it leaves,

You're caught in loneliness again ...

Now arise, go and open your eyes,

face the dark you despise -

Don't fear the shadows that lurk in night

For the sake of others, I came to see myself a weapon. A blade to vanquish evil and a shield to protect those in need.

Why did I come to think this? Was being labelled hero not enough?

Nay, I was afraid of dying.

Splitting myself in two. The Human and the Hero.

The Hero, not afraid of the cold clutches of death. Strove through the fires and flames to protect everyone.

Let us rise,

Through the void we despise,

We'll refuse to abide -

to the cruel fate that still dooms us to die.

Lurking just beneath - there's another me,

Drowning in a sickly love that still traps her heart so tightly it hurts..

Which one of us is false?

Is it me - or her?

You call to me. Finally accepting our fate. Still afraid of death. Afraid of moving forward.

But we will live. Embracing our selfish desire to live.

We can be both the hero and the human, even though the pain it will cause us will be great.

Since it's just us two,

Shall I tell the truth?

Honestly, I want to survive this so badly but I feel it's no use ...

But you already know the truth, don't you?

Lyric parts: Kyomu Densen

Finally got the pvp gear I wanted. Silly little feet. Silly little ideas.

[i-did-not-mean-to]

J - Jewellery

Written for @maglor-my-beloved <3

Words: 900

Pairing: Celebrimbor x Maeglin, Bilbo & Yavanna

Warnings: Sadness & Trauma

Yavanna sat on a tree and hummed to herself.

“Lady,” Bilbo Baggins called up conversationally, “do you think that it was wise to let your husband participate in the healing efforts? Lady Estë seems out of sorts; she’s very worried about this.”

“Ah, dear Bilbo,” the lady of all things growing and flourishing replied in a voice as soft as rustling leaves, “you—of all people—must know best that Aulë and his creatures wither and die when they have nothing to do. Their heart is in the right spot, and they truly want to help, even if their way of going about it seems unconventional at first. Care to join me?”

She winked conspiratorially for—even though she evidently did support her spouse’s involvement—she intended to survey it from a safe distance to be able to intervene if necessary.

“So,” Aulë started grandiloquently, “I have opened my forge for you to…process some of the trauma you have sustained before your…demise.”

This was not going very well, judging by the unconvinced faces in front of him; he wondered how Manwë always managed to find the right words to sway people and move their hearts. Worse, he even pondered Melkor’s singular talents in that domain for a second.

“Have fun,” he finished in a much less powerful tone and returned to tend to his own forge in silence; the two who were here today knew their way around a workshop anyway, and they didn’t need his input—healing or otherwise—just yet.

“They work well together,” Bilbo commented in a soft voice as they watched the scene through the wide-open doors of the forge.

Lómion had only been coaxed out of the Halls of Waiting by the promise that there was one who would join in him Aulë’s new reinsertion program who was just as reticent to talk about what had happened to him as he was.

Celebrimbor on the other hand, had been desperate to get out, but—once reembodied—he had struggled considerably to get used to his hale flesh and the omnipresent shadow of guilt and resentment that haunted his family.

They didn’t speak about their parents—too daunting was the idea of unravelling the tight knot of mutual distrust, disappointment, and visceral resentment that had festered and hardened during the time they had spent apart.

One day, they well knew, they would have to face the truth and work their way through the family tree of the perpetually absent Finwë in their quest for forgiveness and healing—but they were not yet at a point where they could even consider this without shrinking back in dismay.

In each other though, they found a quantum of peace—they were kin in more aspects than could be counted and their souls recognised each other in the flickering reflections of the ever-burning fires of the forge.

Doomed by birth, they had rebelled against their parents—maybe even driven them to some of their most reckless and gruesome acts inadvertently—only to die alone, free or robbed of their protection and love. Such self-inflicted isolation and deprivation had marked them in ways few could even begin to understand.

“Beautiful,” Celebrimbor praised as he apprised the gem his kinsman brought over to set in the pendant he was crafting from thousands of metal tendrils, thin and flexible as single hairs and strong and enduring as mountains.

His eyes wandered from the polished stone to the pale, stern face of his collaborator and he repeated his previous assessment in a breathless, awed voice.

Both had found—to their surprise and relief—that they still delighted in the making of intricate jewellery, but they would refuse to devise rings or set stones into coronets and crowns—too deep was the trauma and too fresh the wounds for such designs.

Moreover, the name of that fallen Maia, who had almost ruined Middle-Earth, was never spoken. Each nurtured his grievances with the one who had pretended to be a friend and who had turned out to be a cruel torturer in private.

“In time,” Yavanna whispered, feeling that Bilbo’s own heart clenched in anger and pain at the thought of the one he had only ever known as Sauron. “You’ll learn the whole story. He was charming, you know? At the very beginning and almost until the end, he was an apt liar and a devastating seducer.”

“I guess,” Bilbo muttered, massaging his hands to dispel the phantom pain of a ring he had not worn nor even seen in a long time. “Will they be okay?”

Yavanna nodded at the forge where the ancient magic of skill and ambition was revived by deft hands, made anew by the grace of the Valar, blending techniques and ideas that had come from another world and another time.

Even as they spoke, Celebrimbor had lifted the delicate pendant off the table and presented it to Lómion in the brash, mute manner of a man who no longer trusted his words.

“It’s…a mole?” Bilbo breathed, amazed by the extraordinary skill the elf displayed. “Incredible! The style…reminds me…”

As Yavanna witnessed the choked sob of recognition and gratitude tearing itself from Lómion’s throat—he was a Nolofinwëan, and thus an ugly crier by nature—and hummed under her breath as her soul shivered in compassion.

“Hmmm, it has a dwarven flair indeed. That, my dear Bilbo,” she murmured, “is also a story for another day though.”

@fellowshipofthefics Here's another one :D

Lots of love from me

-> Masterlist

[riahlynn101]

"When I'm Gone" (30).

Chapter Thirty (Last chapter)

Author's note: Thank you guys for reading <3

Also, for those that don't want to scroll back four-plus months to find the rest of the story: When I'm Gone - Chapter 1 - Riahlynn101 - Five Nights at Freddy's [Archive of Our Own]

--

After five surgeries, a combined sixty stitches, and some physical therapy, Elizabeth was released from the hospital. Vanessa, Samuel, and Gregory were the ones waiting to take her home. Or, she should say, take her to their home. She wouldn’t put it past her landlord to demand rent even though she’s been in no position to pay up. Not to mention none of them know where she lives, or at least she hopes they don’t. 

The drugs they gave her are still wearing off and are making her a bit paranoid. 

The car ride home is tense, filled with Gregory’s excited rambles about the new house they had built with some of the money from the settlement. Not that she can focus on anything beyond her daughter’s obvious discomfort. Vanessa is pointedly refusing to make eye contact, and is instead staring out the window, and making small talk with Gregory (when she can get a word in edgewise). 

The car pulls into the driveway, a shiny number fifty-seven plastered on the mailbox. Gregory squeals, bouncing in his seat.

“C’mon! C’mon!” 

Samuel gives her a knowing look. “Hey, kiddo…?’

Gregory pauses, still buckled in. “Yeah?”

“How about we give your mom a second, okay? I think she and Vanessa need to talk.”

Gregory hums, considering that. “Oh, okay. But,” he turns to his sister, “don’t take too long.”

Vanessa makes a sound more fitting for a frightened mouse than a grown woman. She looks at her brother for help. But it’s no use, because Gregory is already half-way out the car. He falls, somehow managing to land on his bottom. Shaking it off, he scrambles to his feet and up to the porch. Samuel sends one last apologetic look at them both before shutting the car door. 

They sit in silence for all of three seconds, before the image of her brother falling on his bottom gets to Vanessa. She laughs, trying to muffle the sound with her hand. 

Elizabeth makes an amused sound. “He is quite clumsy, isn’t he?”

Vanessa stops laughing, clearing her throat. “Not usually, no.” Which is a huge lie. God gave Gregory two left feet and no directions. “Must be an off-day.”

Elizabeth turns in her seat to see Vanessa. “I think we both know that’s a lie.”

Vanessa blanches. What is she, a witch?

“Besides, if he's anything like your uncles, then that kid was doomed from the start.” She imitates the sound of an explosion. “Walking disasters they were.” 

“I hate you,” Vanessa says, hating how she was forced into this. “And I don’t like that you’re here. I know you, and I know you’ll leave again.” She leans forward in her seat, finally making eye contact with Elizabeth. “I don’t know what your end game is, or what you’re planning but rest assured I will hunt you for sport if you break Gregory’s heart. Poor kid’s been through enough,” she mutters the last part to herself, crossing her arms and averting her eyes. 

“Fair enough,” Elizabeth says. “And I don’t plan on leaving anytime soon. For what it’s worth, Vanessa, I really am sorry.”

She scoffs, opening the car door. “Words mean nothing to me. Prove it.”

-x-x-x-

Elizabeth gives her daughter a five minute head start, just in case Vanessa wants to avoid her. Perhaps forcing Nessa to interact with her was a bad idea right from the get go. But eventually she pulls herself out of the car, holding her stomach. The stitches still hurt if she moves too much, so she has to move extra slow. 

Thankfully the driveway is a short walk to the porch. She leans against the railing, as she heads up the stairs. Gregory must hear her, because the second her foot lands on the top step, he’s rushing out the front door. 

“Here, let me help you,” he says, linking his arm with hers. “Now,” he pulls away, helping her lean up against the wall closest to the door, “don’t be alarmed. But we might have gone a bit overboard.” He assists her in the final step-up into the house.

“What do you-”

“Surprise!” 

Elizabeth jumps, startled, but quickly gets over her shock upon seeing her guests (are they the guests? Or is she the guest? The world may never know). Across from her stands: GlamRock Freddy, GlamRock Chica, Monty, and Roxy, that weird sun-shaped animatronic that saved Gregory's life, a wide-array of S.T.A.F.F. bots (including a map bot, which Gregory is glaring angrily at), a small, adorable Freddy-esque animatronic similar in style to Funtime Freddy, and a bunch of caution signs-that are currently doing circles around her. Her family, Gregory, Vanessa, Evan, and Michael (and she supposes Sammy as well, to a degree), are there, hidden partially behind the hulking robots. Cassidy is there as well, looking happier than Elizabeth ever remembered her looking while they were kids. 

Flustered and a bit taken back, all she can manage to say is a soft-spoken, “thank you.”

[rosestthorns]

I want you to know that you expressed a ton of the same thoughts I had about the Epilogues and post canon in general in that post. I thought it was well put, and honestly covers the biggest scope of their issues especially making cheap drama out of resolved character arcs or ignoring original arcs to add in cheap drama. I had a really good friend quote it well too. "The only way you can engage with hs2 is to make excuses for it."

Honestly I didn't even really cover my two biggest gripes with the comic, besides the absolute character assassination of literally everyone. Both the flagrant misuse of the narrative as a story telling tool and the absolute wasted potential of it all.

Let's start with the wasted potential; There are so many stories that have been told by fans in the Homestuck universe, but also plenty of really good official content that delves into stories we didn't see in the comic. I absolutely loved the paradox space comics, I thought they were clever in their use of doomed timelines or showing stories we only ever got the quick anecdote for in the main comic.

Telling short stories like these are not only funny but it doesn't contradict what we already know! Not only is the paradox space comics an amazing example but so are the games. Friend sim, pesterquest, and Hiveswap are other official examples of better told stories that either don't involve the main cast or tell a story through the lens of a different character. There's absolutely no need to "Go back into Cannon". Just tell a different story, there are so many interesting things within this universe that could lead to hijinks and conflict naturally without forcing characters to generate conflict for the sake of it. I mean hell, I'd even read a story about a second game starting post cannon! It would be so fun to see the descendants of the characters we loved so much go through similar trials, or even having the previous gods being able to guide them along to help save the world they worked so hard to create. There are so many places they could've gone and they chose the worst option.

And moving on to the misuse of the Narrative as a story telling tool. Homestuck as a story is insanely meta, but it's meta with a purpose. Everything in Homestuck serves some sort of purpose, from Doc Scratch, the website, the many iterations of Jack Noire, even Andrew Hussy himself and the MSPA reader serve a purpose! We were all part of that story and that served to push the narrative forward, same with Hussy. The thing about the Narrative though is it's not just some nebulous thing you can take control of if you're "Strong willed" or "My God powers let me", it's literally a physical item. The Narrative is a computer console that very few people have access to, and it's not all powerful.

The MSPA reader literally names John and he tells you to stuff it.

Not to mention the numerous instances of shit like this that the characters themselves refuse to do.

At one point WV took control of the narrative and tried to command John. It seems the narrative just appears as suggestions or thoughts being pumped into your head. Through these panels where WV is commanding John to "DO THE WINDY THING" John actively doesn't know what he means, or where these commands are coming from.

Even Claiborne takes control of the narrative after talking with Hussy and basically stealing the terminal. But because he doesn't like the story being told, he tells his own story leaving the main story to be told through the "Intermission" of his epic tale.

The point being is: Any time anyone has control of the narrative, they also have access to the computer that's required to control it. Neither Dirk or Jade-Calliope have access to. It completely spits in the face of an established mechanism in the story.

Homestuck was a masterpiece of its time and it still holds up in places. The epilogues and HS^2 don't even try to carry a fraction of the spirit or depth of its predecessor. We deserved better and Viz Media dropped the ball hard and just ditched when the project failed. We lost so much thanks to HS^2 and epilogues. You can't find official Homestuck merch anymore, For Fans by Fans delisted almost all of it. And because of that, I can't help but hate both.

Thank the gods Homestuck fans are dedicated enough to fill the void left behind by HS^2. You're all the real GOATs

[robinegreenwood]

VI - 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝚗𝚒𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚖𝚊𝚛𝚎

[oc x sirius black]

｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆　　 ｡･::･ﾟ★,｡･::･ﾟ☆

Eden opened her eyes to a surrounding, impending darkness. A terrifying scream was ringing loudly in her ears and she doubled over in pain. A faint light appeared somewhere in the distance and she found herself standing in the middle of a seemingly endless body of water. She heard a scream leave her throat as she felt herself suddenly sinking deeper into the water. Her eyes stayed wide open as the water enveloped her like the cold earth welcoming a corpse. Desperately she fought to get to the surface, but she had lost control of her body; endlessly she sank deeper and deeper into the abyss.

Staring out into the water, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. She was not alone, something else was out there with her, something slithering in the dark. She opened her mouth but she could no longer scream, she had lost all control. Closing her eyes, she tried to escape the madness around her, tried to make it all go away but the sound of an all too familiar voice had her eyes snapping back open.

"You are a silly little girl," the voice spoke, "a hopeless, silly little girl wouldn't you agree?"

Eden opened her mouth to respond but found no voice to use.

"You think you can escape me but you can't, you can run from everyone else but not from me."

Eden swallowed thickly, her pulse beat down in her brain.

"Are you frightened little girl? Frightened of what I can do?" the voice broke out into a hideous laugh.

Eden's body, against her will, began to shake, her eyes stayed peeled open.

"You wonder what I am, don't you, wonder why you can't seem to see me, well I'll give you a hint."

Violently, Eden twisted her head around to find the source of the voice, but her eyes were met with only the looming darkness.

"Ready for the hint… you're looking in the wrong place." The voice broke out into its hideous laughter.

The sound of the laughter boomed relentlessly in Eden's ears and she felt its weight throughout her entire body, she felt its doom. Eden suddenly felt her hand clamped over her mouth and her body filled with horror as she was hit with the dark realisation, she was the one laughing.

Eden's eyes snapped open as her body shot up in the bed.

"Hey, hey are you alright?"

Eden looked up to see Camilla and Lily both knelt at her bedside, their eyes wide with fear. She stared at them confusedly.

"You were, you were screaming in your sleep, we weren't sure whether to wake you or not," Lily explained worriedly.

"Oh."

Realisation hit her, another nightmare, "Oh, I'm so sorry, I'm sorry I woke you guys up."

Camilla shook her head fiercely, "No don't apologise, you have nothing to apologise for, we just want to make sure you're okay."

Eden managed a small nod, it was then that she became aware of how hot she was, of the sweat webbed in beads across her back, of the tightness of her muscles, and of the pounding in her head.

"Well that was real convincing," Camilla said sarcastically.

Lily lightly smacked Camilla's arm, "Is there anything I can get you, glass of water?"

Eden quickly wiped sweat from her brow, "No, that's alright thank you, I'll just go for a walk or something and I'll be fine."

Lily eyed her sceptically.

"I'm being honest, I'm good, it's' not the first time I've had a nightmare and it probably won't be the last, I'm just sorry I woke you guys up." Eden said with a sad smile.

"Would it help to talk about it?" Lily offered.

"I-no, no I can't even remember what happened," Eden admitted truthfully.

"Alright, just let us know if we can do anything." Camilla spoke with a firm persistence.

Eden nodded, refusing to verbally lie to the two girls who, though they hardly knew her, were ready to do anything to help her. She was grateful for them, but she felt their kindness would be better shown to someone more deserving.

The two girls returned to their beds after Eden promised not to take too long of a walk. No doubt they were in need of more sleep as the sun had yet to show its face. Eden guessed that it was around the wee morning hours, maybe 3 or 4 am.

Consciously feeling that the wrap had slipped off her wrist, Eden pulled a blanket around her body before reaching for her wand and getting herself out of the bed. Her body ached having been tense for so long, and she found herself leaning against the wall for support as she made her way to her wardrobe. Aware of the girl's eyes upon her, Eden pushed away from the wall and willed her body to support itself. Even as she walked she could not cease from shaking. Reaching her wardrobe she swung open the door so that she was hidden from her friends view, it was only then that she pulled her nightshirt off. Immediately she set to wrapping her wrist, that was always her first priority. After that she fished out the softest set of a sweatshirt and sweatpants that she could find and pulled them over her body. She didn't bother using magic to rid herself of the dark circles she knew would be under her eyes, by the time it came for classes she would have to recast the spell anyways. Casting a quick look back at Camilla and Lily, Eden slipped out into the staircase.

Shutting the door quietly behind her, Eden turned to walk down the stairs, but she immediately froze as spotted two figures in the common room below her. In the dark she could not make out their faces, but they were most definitely asleep. Sneaking, slinking, whatever you may want to call it, Eden normally had no troubles at it, she was actually skilled when it came to hiding in the shadows but her body was still recovering from its debut in her night terror and she was fearful of her tired limbs giving her away. Pressing herself against the wall, she began to slowly step down the stairs, willing for silence, and thankfully, she was given it. Gaining a bit of confidence she began to move more quickly, but that was her first mistake. Almost at once her leg locked and she stumbled to catch herself against the railing, causing the boards to creak beneath her. Frightened, she slowly lifted her head to see the two figures had not stirred, it seemed, luckily, that nothing would disturb their slumber. Letting out a breath she didn't realise she had been holding, she made her way down the rest of the stairs. Stepping out onto the wooden floor reality slapped her in the face, she was a witch, she was a witch with a wand that could cast silencing spells. Quickly, Eden nonverbally cast the silencing charm on herself, and snuck her way towards the door. Passing the sleeping pair, her curiosity peaked as she recognized Sirius Black, he was tangled up with a girl that she did not know. Her brows furrowed in befuddlement but telling herself that it was none of her business, she left the two to continue sleeping.

The castle was dead. If Eden had thought it had been silent the morning before, it was even quieter now, though she supposed it was because it was earlier now than it had been the day before. She was, for the most part, at peace with the silence and began to wander the castle. Every so often she would imagine that she heard something and her heart would race and her hand would tightly clutch her wand, but every time it turned out to be nothing. An after-effect of the night terror, she knew it, but even though she was aware there wasn't anything she could do about it. It was time that she needed for her body to recover, and it was also sleep, but sleep was the one thing she could not seem to give it. As she continued walking Eden felt her body starting to tire, it was no longer the weak feeling in her legs, but a full body exhaustion. Thinking quickly, Eden recognized the area around her, and discerned that she wasn't too far from the library. She could rest there. Pressing herself on, she continued down the corridors until she reached the library. Entering inside, she was too tired to appreciate its beauty like she normally did. Its tall wooden arches and floating golden chandeliers had no effect on her. Even as she passed through she didn't feel the usual gravitation towards the many, full, oak bookshelves. Eden did not stop until she reached the roped off section of the library, the restricted section, a place where she would not be bothered. Casting a spell she temporarily turned a wooden table into a mattress and kneeling down, she heaved herself onto it, allowing her muscles to finally relax as she sunk down into the heavenly softness. She dared not to bother worrying about forgetting to wake up, as there was no way on earth nor in hell that she would fall asleep. A conscious rest would be the only thing she could give herself.

1578 Words

[bratz-kitten]

random thoughts on the rising signs

aries risings are completely different when in a day-to-day basis compared to when in a position of power. when you’re with your friends, you’re this fun, energetic, loud person, but when you’re in a position of power... terrifying. you’ll completely switch to someone very serious and intimidating, with a very intense aura. i think it’s because you understand you have a very youthful aspect to you, both in appearance and energy, and you don’t want that to keep you from commanding respect. also because you’re very attracted to leading so that’s when you’re at your most focused. you’re very easy to irritate; as an aries rising, my friends always tease me because they know i’ll immediately doom them to an afterlife in hell. SO explosive, impulsive and chaotic, but that’s what makes you fun.

cancer risings you have such a delicate beauty to you. very sensitive to others’ emotions. people probably baby you a lot without even noticing it, they just want to protect/mentor you. you do very well with older figures like teachers and your friends’ parents. you also ooze maturity. a lot of the cancer risings i’ve met had to learn to be the responsible one in their families from a very young age, so now you take it upon yourself to take care of everyone around you – that’s probably why many people talk about cancer risings as being the “mom friend”. you have the chubbiest cheeks, i wanna bite them lol they’re so cute.

gemini risings look like literal models. VERY good with people, you can probably make someone do whatever you want by just staring into their eyes and telling them pretty words. but i’ve noticed how your communication can be easily misunderstood, you might come off as having certain intentions when you’re trying to convey the exact contrary. probably the alfa of your friend group and the one who has the most reckless, unhinged plans.. yet you’re never caught doing anything bad. you require a lot of stimulation so you’ll do whatever it takes to scratch that itch in you. you remind me of that phrase “i might be a bad influence, but you can’t tell me i’m not fun.” it’s impossible to ever be bored around you.

scorpio risings have this thing where people are absolutely intimidated by you, yet are very attracted to you and just need your attention. the type of person that has random people flirting with you on the streets just so you’ll make eye contact with them for one second longer. you also look lowkey terrifying, you just have massive resting bitch faces and always look pissed off when on the inside you’re just thinking “hm, what am i going to eat for lunch?” very intense gaze and look straight out of greek-mythology, you persephone ass bitch.

libra risings look so well put together. every color on you works in perfect harmony with one another – from your clothing to your hair to your skin tone to your makeup. you’re always sporting a smile and you look so composed, but baby i know you’re close to comitting sporadic murder LMFAO no one can convince me that libra placements are the exact contrary from peaceful, you’re the most unstable people in the world, in the best and most fun way possible – and sometimes in a downright toxic way, ease with the passive-aggressiveness and confrontational nature when it comes to personal relationships.

aquarius risings have the biggest crackhead energy ever. you’re very intimidating at first, and it’s easy to misunderstand you because of that – many think you’re serious and stuck up but you’re just observing and waiting to feel comfortable around them. when you do get comfortable, you’re just funny as fuck – you’ll talk about the most random things and make them sound so interesting, you say the most hilarious things; honestly, you’re a walking meme. also you look like you disassociate so much? you’ll be in the middle of a conversation and then you’ll just start staring into the distance for fifteen whole minutes, but the whole time you were actually listening to the other person.

leo risings i just.. love you. it’s like you’re born to be the center of attention without even trying. literally so expressive and charismatic even if you’re very shy at first, great storytellers, and you’re just so loyal and the amount of support you give to your friends is unmatched. you do very well in a tight friend group where there’s so much trust and supportive energy. if you don’t have one, you probably fantasize a lot about it. how’s that winx obsession going? literally so authentic and raw in everything you do too. people call you egotistical and self-centered because they can’t stand a headstrong person like you. please don’t take insults so much to heart and let them shatter your perception of yourself, and understand that if someone mocks your appearance they’re just projecting their insecurities.

virgo risings you refuse to leave the house if you’re not absolutely perfect. i know someone with a virgo rising who simply refuses to do video-calls before taking a shower and drying their hair. VERY intimidating, will give judgemental stares and look at you in the streets like you’re the ugliest thing in the world but will probably not even realize they were staring at someone in the first place. i have so much fun teasing you, you get annoyed SO fast and it’s so fun because i practically have a degree in being annoying. you also find it shocking when someone teases you because most people are too scared to do it. you’re the most fun to talk shit with because you can be so critical and you just love some drama and gossiping. please stop complaining about things though or i’ll be forced to commit a hate-crime. your luck that i can’t help loving you.

sagittarius risings give sagittarius energy the stereotype of being so freedom-loving and adventurous. you’re very approachable and easy-going, the type of person that people will meet once and already consider you their friends. you’re up to whenever wherever, no matter how dumb the idea might sound, because you know first-hand that the weirdest, most last-minute plans make the greatest memories. i also notice that you’ll use going out as a way of avoiding your feelings. instead of allowing yourself to process your sadness and heartbreak, you just call your friends and go out so you won’t have to sit with your own, scary thoughts.

pisces risings look like they they breathe and create art with every breath they take. literally ooze emotional and artistic sensitivity. very sensitive to others’ energies and that can really take a toll on your mental health – being surrounded by negative people will literally drain you. please remember to take some me-time to recharge and process all those emotions. pisces risings literally look so ethereal, out of this world, with your sparkly eyes when you talk about your dreams and your strong sense of individuality cultivated in all your appearance, from your clothing to your makeup to you hair.

capricorn risings go through so much in their life and for what?? i swear you have so many hardships always coming your way and it angers me so much because you don’t deserve it at all. at least you always learn a lot from those experiences, which just makes you stronger and more undefeatable. you have a very melancholic gaze to you. very doll-like. naturally command authority and respect. unlike taurus risings, you thrive in situations of change – you practically seek them, knowing that learning to adapt to all situations and to work with them so they work in your favor is a gift. you turn so many heads in the street, i’m always in awe at your beauty.

it’s no wonder that the most beautiful celebrities constantly have taurus risings. you’re very strong and fixed in your ideas, making people often describe you as the taurus stereotype of “stubborn”. taurus placements just have so much difficulty accepting change and seeing it as an opportunity of growth instead of a painful process. you need to learn to let go and that good things might happen when you allow yourself to evolve and and outgrow your old self. you have a very grounded presence, while also having such a distinct sense of humour. very well-put together.

[erodasfishtacos]

It’s Just Me (mini blurb)

if you enjoyed this fic - PLEASE reblog, rec, like, and come chat with me about the fic!

if you like my work and can donate as i do this for free - please consider donating to my ko-fi.

———————

It was a terrible twos kind of day. The kind of day when YN can’t tote Ivy along to a charity organization brunch because she would meltdown.

Harry had her in his office with him, she was sitting on a blanket Harry had laid out, and was quietly playing with her stuffed animals (mostly seals.)

Occasionally, she would babble to herself and get pissed of at her inatimate playmates, ending in her tossing it to the side.

He caught himself just staring at her, smiling as he watches the little human he and his soulmate created right in front of him.

When his phone rings, he automatically picks it up, professionally stating, “Styles.”

“Hi, this is Dan from Payroll,” The guys voice was already shaking and Harry knew he was about to get really pissed off.

“How can I help you?” He asks in a tone that’s was definitely did not sound like he wanted to provide any assistance.

There is a pregnant pause before Dan nearly stutters, “Er, I accidentally missed reviewing the marketing departments hours and they did not receive their last paycheck.”

Harry takes a very deep breathe because he wants to do what he normally would - scream through the phone at this idiot.

However, he can’t because his curly haired little baby is playing with her toys in the middle of the office with a smile.

“Please come up to my office,” Harry replies curtly before hanging up.

He gets up, goes over to his daughter, and squats in front of her, “Ivy, baby.”

She looks up at him with a toothy grin before reaching over to hand him a stuffed seal, “Play, daddy.”

Harry thumbs over a stray curl on her forehead, “Daddy can’t, my love. I need y’to go with Granny Dor for a little.”

Ivy had been very clinging to both YN and Harry recently. She had a fit when YN dropped her off, despite how happy she was to see her dad.

Her brows furrow, lips purse, and Harry has to laugh because she looks like a carbon copy of him with the sour face.

“Oh, no mean looks t’daddy,” He hums with his own frown, “S’just for a moment, m’dove.”

“No.”

“Ivy, y’need to listen.”

And Harry knows it coming, she sucks in a huge breathe and then just lets out a scream in protest of him.

“Ivy Elizabeth Styles, y’do not scream. Y’know better. Are we going to have to take a timeout or are you going to go sit nice with Dor?” Harry’s voice is still softer than he’d use with any of him employees but extremely firm to her.

“No timeout, daddy,” She mumbles, her volume decreasing significantly as she lowers her gaze from her father’s.

“Alright, then c’mon. Thank you for listening,” Harry praises, gathering up her toys for her and leading her into his waiting room where Dorothy is typing away on her computer.

“Dor, Dan is coming up and I need to have a private meaning. Will y’watch her for a little?”

Ivy is already clambering up into her lap, into the warmth of her arms, and nuzzling in - because Granny Dor spoiled her silly.

Harry rolls his eyes, muttering, “And you and YN say I spoil her too much. Bloody ridiculous.”

Dorothy just shoos him away, readjusting Ivy’s bow, and combing through her hair softly to simmer her down a little.

Dan trails in solemnly soon after to face his inevitable doom.

He sees his boss’ daughter perched on the secretary’s lap and he wonders how such a sweet little thing could be created from the demon of a man.

As Harry and Dan meet, Ivy gets wriggly and squirms off of Dorothy’s lap.

“Stay close,” She murmurs to the toddler as she picks up her phone to answer a call for Harry.

Of course, Ivy doesn’t listen, and she noticed that the door to her father’s office is cracked open just the littlest bit.

It’s enough for her to slip through the space between the heavy doors and toddles on, she’s blocked by the leather couches so Harry can’t see her.

“I have givin’ you so many fuckin’ chances!” Harry seethes angrily at his employee. His tone was more like a growl than anything else.

Ivy pauses, eyes widening in fear as she hears her dad speak in a frightening manner she’s never heard before.

“I…There was a coding error that I had been distracted with, it won’t happen again,” Dan insists, knowing he had actually committed a fireable offense.

“You are absolutely correct because you’re fucking fired,” Harry replies, no wavering in his raspy register.

“That’s bullshit and you know it!” Dan explodes, “It’s unfucking fair treatment! It was one mistake, you fuckin’ asshole!”

There’s a moment of silence.

“I can fuckin’ show you unfair treatment. Get the fuck out of my office and learn how to do your goddamn job,” Harry retorts, his voice rising as well.

Ivy is stuck in her spot, frozen in surprise at hearing the arguing and how mad her father sounded, voice echoing through the room.

“You listen to me-“

“Get the fuck out of my office!” Harry booms furiously, this employee managing to get a rise out of him.

“I was ju-“

Both the men pause when they hear a wail from behind the sofa and the sound of Ivy plopping herself on the ground.

Harry instantly is out from behind his desk and going to round the sofa in a flash with a rose of panic in his chest.

His heart drops when he sees his baby looking up at him with fear in her watery eyes and she’s literally shaking.

“Oh, baby. Did y’hear daddy bein’ loud?” Harry murmurs in his sweetest, comforting voice - uncaring of his employee hearing him.

Harry expects her to nod sadly and ask for a cuddle but she instead wriggles backwards when he goes to reach for her - out of his reach.

“Ivy, little dove, s’just y’daddy,” He tries again, sitting down in front of her - doesn’t even look up as Dan leaves quietly.

She’s scared though and has had never felt worse in his life as his daughter backs away from him until she’s getting to her wobbly feet.

He tries again, reaching his arms out, “Ivy Elizabeth, s’just daddy. M’sorry I scared you, bub.”

Ivy doesn’t budge, crying loudly with her face pinched up as hot tears run down her soft chubby cheeks.

Dorothy appears with a worried look, “I apologize, I thought she was by the table.”

“S’not your fault I’m a shitty father,” Harry mutters, standing back up and roughly brushing off his trousers.

“Oh Harry, she’s just a little frightened,” Dorothy hums, picking the girl up when she toddles quickly over to her.

Her dad trails over, “Ivy, m’love. Can you look at daddy?”

She refuses, digging her face into the woman’s shoulder, curls bouncing fiercely as she clings onto her.

Harry loved to be feared. Not like this though. Not by the child he’d literally jump in front of a train for without a second thought.

He would rather have her screaming, pitching fits, throwing toys rather than this. She was so scared that she wouldn’t even look at him.

“Let me take her on a little stroll, okay? See if I can calm her down a bit.”

—

Harry waits patiently for Dorothy to arrive back but he automatically hears his daughter’s steady stream of sniffles and whimpers.

He goes out to the waiting room to see her reentering the room, she sighs, “I think it’s time to call mummy.”

Harry had no idea how he was going to explain this to his wife. He was I trouble and he knew he deserved it.

“Hey H, is the bab okay?” YN greets warmly, chattering in the background.

“Er, she’s okay, just upset. Ivy accidentally walked in on me flipping out and firing an employee. Now she’s scared. Dor tried to calm her down and she doesn’t want to be near me right now.”

YN’s next words were calm, Harry however did not miss the sharp edge when she replies, “I’ll be there in fifteen.”

Then she hangs up on him.

Which she really never does unless she is really really upset.

—

When YN arrives, Ivy is sat on Dorothy’s lap with puffy eyes and her thumb tucked between her full lips, popping it out when she sees her mother.

“Mumma!” Ivy shrieks, tears beginning streaming down her face as she impatiently waits for her to cross the room and gives her a soft kiss to the forehead.

“Hi baby, give mummy one minute and then we’ll leave okay?” YN murmurs soothingly, thumbing of some of the tears.

Ivy nods but is standing next the secretary’s desk, waiting patiently with her thumb going right back between her lips again.

Harry’s sitting at his large oak table, looking like a guilty puppy as his wife comes in with a disapproving look on her face.

“Baby, m’sorr-“

“What the fuck, Harry? Why is our daughter out there terrified right now?” YN demands, crossing her arms to prove her anger.

“Some fuckin’ idiot messed somethin’ up and Ivy walked in while I cursed him out and fired him. She was hiding behind the couch. It was an accident,” He defends, bristling a bit.

“Even if the door was shut, she would have still heard you. You knew better than to act like that around our daughter.”

“I had to fire him,” Harry makes the lame excuse because he knows he’s in the wrong and he’s not always great at admitting he is.

“You were supposed to have Ivy for two hours and this happens. I have her all day everyday and I’ve need had an issue with controlling myself in front of others!” YN yells (quietly) at him.

“What the fuck is tha’ supposed to mean? Y’calling me a bad father? Y’have her all day with her because I work so that you can stay at home with her.”

YN rolls her eyes, “Well thank god for that, she’d be cursing and screaming at people all day everyday if she was with you all the time.”

Harry is thoroughly pissed at his wife and she is equally just as furious with him - it doesn’t happen often but when it does it’s bad.

“Y’got some fuckin’ nerve. Our baby is polite, well-mannered because of me too! Not just you, fuckin’ claiming all her good qualities,” He replies with a snarl.

“Don’t talk to me that way,” YN bites back, “I’m not one of your employees. Neither is Ivy despite you talking like that in front of her.”

Now she was just trying to push his buttons and it was well onto it’s way of working.

“Y’bein’ fuckin’ ridiculous! It was a accident and you’re acting like I did it on purpose! Fuckin’ hell!” He raises his voice in frustration.

“I don’t know who the fuck you think you are raising your voice at me but I’m leaving,” YN tells him, giving him one final glare before storming out of the office.

“Fuck!” He grunts, smacking cup of pens from his desk before slamming his fist on the desk.

—

Ivy was waiting patiently, whimpering when she sees her mum, and gesturing to be picked up, “It’s past your nap time, Vee.”

“Nap,” She lisps sadly, instantly curling into then familiarness that is her mother. Eyes instantly fluttering shut.

“Thank you, Dor,” YN whispers, blowing her a kiss, before trekking out of the office with the exhausted little girl.

—

Harry can’t handle the rest of the day, wants to go home, and make amends with his wife which leads him to heading out only an hour after them.

He finds YN in the den with the baby monitor propped on the coffee table, she’s watching a horror movie with a smoothie in hand.

“Hi, m’heart,” Harry murmurs cautiously, loosening up his tie until it falls limp around his neck.

She glances over at him, sarcasm lacing her tone,“So you do know how to talk without yelling at me, hmm?”

His face falls, frowning, “Hey, lovie - don’t be like tha’. Y’gonna let me apologize?”

“Come scratch my back and I’ll hear you out,” She hums, keeping a serious face.

“Y’drive a hard bargain, m’heart. Show me y’tits,” Harry begins to smile, striding over and getting her no time before he’s pulling off her shirt and sports bra.

He sits down then gently lays her down on her tummy and she rests her head in his lap, cheek pressed against his thigh.

“I shouldn’t have done that, I wasn’t thinkin’. Now I’m worried she’s gonna hate me forever,” Harry mumbles, using his blunt nails to trace up and down her back.

“You’re her favorite person. She’ll always love you more than anything,” YN tells him seriously, arching when he scratches an extra itchy spot.

“I hope so. I love her more than anythin’. A little mixture of how much we love each other. How much we worked to get her,” He sighs softly.

—

YN dozed off and Harry tucks a blanket around her bare chest.

When the baby monitor alerts that Ivy had woke up after quite a long nap, he takes a deep breath before walking up the staircase to his fate.

He’s preparing himself for her to scream and cry when she sees her monster of a father because he’d scared her so horribly.

But his mini just widens her green eyes and he looks at his world with bated breath, waiting for the scream or tears.

Instead, she just dimples happily at her father, and squeals with excitement, “Daddy! Hi Daddy, miss you!”

And just like that….

They’re best friends again.

—-

Enjoy! Come talk to me!! 💕❣️💕❣️💕❣️

[cazimagines]

Perfectly exasperating

Synopsis: You really disliked Zemo, but one person you disliked more? John Walker. After bonding over how you disliked him with Zemo, you have the unfortunate situation of running into John. He flirts, insults, and hurts you and Zemo is ready to put him in his place.

Word Count: 3.6k

Warnings/Tags: Use of swear words, John Walker being a dick, soft Zemo, protective Zemo

Author’s note: I was not intending this fic to come out as long as it did. This was one of the ones I had been putting off to write other stuff till I finally pulled myself around to writing it and ended up getting really into it. Funny how that happens.

Masterlist

Sequel

Part 3

Part 4

“Would you care for a Turkish delight?”

You bite the inside of your mouth in annoyance, refusing to even look at him. Instead of forcing your eyes to focus on a spot in front of you, not moving them in the slightest. Zemo waited for a few moments before sighing and turning away from you.

“You’ll eventually have to talk to me, y/n” he exclaims as he walks over to the kitchen side of the room. You were sitting in the safe house Zemo had provided. There wasn’t much to do, just sit and wait till the funeral started. Zemo sought to communicate to you to keep you two occupied, but you didn’t want to talk with him, so you didn’t. You just sat on the settee, staring at the sofa opposite you while Zemo walked around looking through the cupboards for food.

You were pissed when Bucky revealed he broke Zemo out of prison.

The avengers had been your family. Whenever you needed them Steve would be there to offer you advice, Tony there to make you laugh. Nat there to beat up whoever required it. Everything was wonderful in your life. For once. And he had ruined it.

He caused the family you loved to split, hate each other, and that left you alone. So alone. Losing both Tony and Steve made you more mad at Zemo. He robbed the last years you could have spent with them, so yeah, no wonder you refused to talk to him.

He loved to annoy you, though. Any moment he got he was beside you, creating sarcastic remarks about what was happening, trying to joke around with you. Trying anything to communicate with you. The worst of it was when he insisted you had to be his date on the mission in Mandripoor. Feeling his arm wrap around you, a kiss to your temple, the smell of his cologne flooding you, drawing you in. It pissed you off knowing how easily you fit into the role of his date. Yet you knew deep down why. Every time he made a snide remark, you had to bite your tongue to stop making one back. Every time he tried to joke with you, it took all your effort not to snort. You hated him and everything he does, yet you could sense a fondness growing for him, just a slight one, in the deepest corner of your heart. Left there to be locked away. Never acknowledged.

“So, the new Captain America, huh? What’s he like?” you hear Zemo ask, leaning on the counter of the kitchen table, his eyes burning into the side of your head.

You feel bile rise to your mouth as he spoke.

John Walker.

John fucking Walker.

If you hated Zemo, you despised John Walker. Just thinking of him brought a scowl to your lips. Steve meant everything to you. He was a father figure to you. He stood for all you believed in. He was your hope, your light in the darkness. And John Walker seemed to tarnish it. You wouldn’t have minded him if he was a different mascot for America. If he became America’s new hope. It was the fact that they called him Captain America. That he had the shield. The title belonged only to Steve. He claimed he wasn’t trying to replace Steve, but that is what he was doing. Him being called Captain America felt like a spit on Steve’s memory. People would forget him, everything he did for the country he loved. They would only focus on John Walker, and you detested that.

You didn’t blame Sam for giving away the shield, unlike Bucky. You could understand why he did it. That shield held such a responsibility, such a legacy it seemed impossible to ever live up to. No, you blamed the people who took the shield away from the museum. Without Sam’s permission. They should have asked Sam. But of course they didn’t care. They didn’t care at all.

“I see by your reaction that your impression of him isn’t a pleasant one,” Zemo says, bringing you out of your thoughts and back to reality.

“Have you met him?” he asks

You try to hold back your opinion, but John Walker made you so frustrated, you knew if you didn’t rant about him you would burst.

“Yes. He’s a dick,” you spit out

Zemo quickly straightens up, surprised you actually answered one of his questions.

“Oh? Are you finally speaking to me.” he inquires, walking around the kitchen counter towards you.

“Don’t push your luck” you mutter, side eyeing him as he sits down opposite you. Sam and Bucky were out leaving you alone with Zemo. At the moment you were all waiting till the funeral. Zemo claimed there were a few hours to kill before everyone had to gather. Sam and Bucky decided to check out the town, make sure they knew it well in case a situation occurred where we had to dash. They had forced you to babysit Zemo.

“No, no, I like to hear you talk. Please, if talking about how this new Captain America is a dick is how I get you to speak to me, then let’s continue.” Zemo says, pouring out a glass of whisky for you and him. He holds the glass out to you, an eyebrow raised. You sigh, grabbing the glass out of his hand and drank, feeling the warmth creep up your throat. Zemo chuckles as he watches you, leaning back on the sofa, his arms resting on top of it.

“My, my. The man must be terrible if just the thought of him is making you talk and accept drinks from me,”

“He’s so infuriating! He thinks because he is Captain America he can stick his nose in other people’s business!”

“Ah, so he is one of those people. Doesn’t understand boundaries. How rude,”

“And get this, he got annoyed at us! Telling us we should stay out of his way when he is the one getting in our bloody way!”

“No” Zemo fake gasps

“Yes!” you exclaim, going into a rant, “I can’t even bear to call him Captain America. He doesn’t deserve to be called that. His actual name is John Walker. He claimed he wasn’t trying to replace Steve, but that is exactly what he is doing! And how he talks to me as well. He’s so condescending, treating me as if I am a kid while trying to compliment me and act like he’s all that in front of me,”

Zemo’s eyes narrow and he places the glass down on the table between you two, “You mean he flirts with you?”

“If you could call that pathetic excuse flirting. I suppose. It pisses me off though,”

“I can imagine. He sounds nothing like what Steve was. Nothing like his legacy,”

It was your turn to narrow your eyes, watching Zemo curiously. “I assumed you hated Steve”

“I never hated him. No. I can admire what he stood for, I just find unrealistic. All superheroes are flawed. Innocents will consistently be collateral damage while superheroes are allowed to exist.”

You stare at Zemo, amazed. Not realising the silence you were making. You had always thought he hated Steve. It always seemed that way. Yet he didn’t? Knowing he didn’t hate the guy you always viewed as a father figure mattered to you. And you don’t know why.

Zemo stared back at you. He was studying your eyes, trying to figure out what you were thinking. He didn’t realise what he thought about Steve would have affected you, but it appears he was wrong.

“Don’t worry y/n we’re back and guess what! We found your fav-” Sam shouts, opening the doors of the room and strutting in but he pauses, noticing you and Zemo staring at each other from the sofa’s. “What’s going on here?”

Zemo is the one to pull out of the eye contact trance, smirking as he looks over at Sam, “We were just discussing John Walker.”

Bucky who had followed Sam in grounded at hearing Zemo utter that name. “Perhaps you two would like a drink and join us in considering how much of a dick he is?” Zemo asks, raising his glass to them.

A few hours later you walked down the street following Zemo to find his associate. You didn’t appreciate how secretive he was being, but you understood it. He had many people who wanted to get him, and the second he wasn’t useful to us. He would be doomed.

“It’s too dangerous for you guys to be pulling this shit” you hear a whiny voice shout. Peering up, you notice John Walker and his sidekick ‘Battlestar’ or whatever jogging down the steps towards you.

“Ah! How did you find us now” Bucky shouts with his arms raised, striding towards them.

“Come on. You really think three Avengers can walk around Latvia without drawing attention,” his friend responds.

“No more keeping us in the dark,” John mutters angrily

Zemo, who you were walking besides, turns his head to you, “I understand what you mean by infuriating”

You chuckle as John looks angrily between you two, “You can start by telling us why you broke him out of prison,”

“He did that himself technically” Bucky replies, and Zemo grins at you, as if bragging about it.

“Aw, this better be an unbelievable explanation-” John Walker exclaims, reaching up to you.

“Hey take it easy before it gets weird,�� Sam suggests, interrupting John.

“I know where Karli is,” Zemo reveals to John Walker, his seductive accent sticking out from the rest of them. He tries to walk past John. You, Bucky and Sam follow, but John stops him, placing a hand on his chest.

Zemo glares ahead, disgusted at John for even daring to touch him.

“Well, where” he says, getting into Zemo’s face

“All we know is, it’s a memorial so we are going to intercept her there,” Sam adds, trying to defuse the tension.

Zemo grabs John Walker’s hand and pushes it off him, striding forward again, and you jog to catch up with him.

“See why I call him a dick now,” you whisper

Zemo smirks, looking back at you, “Yes. He’s perfectly exasperating”

“What? No. Wait. No! No! Stop. Hold on. Stop. Okay?” John exclaims running forward and stopping you all in your tracks again after something Sam had said. “I think we are way past reasoning with her”

Zemo just stares ahead, fed up with John while you groan in annoyance. Not being able to even bring yourself to look at the man in front of you.

They argue for a few moments while you and Zemo stand idly to the side, Zemo glances at you rolling his eyes making you giggle. You smack his arm slightly trying to get him to stop making you laugh, but that only makes Zemo chuckle along with you. Eventually they calm John down but he glares over at Zemo, “We will deal with you later.”

“I’m sure it will all come to an agreeable conclusion” Zemo says, gesturing with his hands. He walks ahead, searching for his associate while John Walker moves beside you. You try to pick up your pace, but he keeps up.

“So working with a criminal now. Not very avengery like. I thought Zemo hated Steve. I wonder what Steve would think of you working with him,” he mutters peering at you.

“Need I remind you-you are also working with him now,”

“Come on, darling, don’t be like that,” John responds grinning, placing his palm on your back.

“Get your hand off me” you growl scowling at him

“Most women would fawn over me” John cockily resorts, still not removing his hand

“She asked you to remove your hand” you hear Zemo state, glancing over you see he had stopped walking forward, turned around and was now glaring at John. “Do I need to remove it for you?” he says angrily.

John frowns at Zemo. Finally, taking his hand off you and striding up to Zemo. Zemo tilts his head, his jaw clenching in fury as he stares at John.

“You are nothing but a dirty criminal. Don’t think for a second you can talk to me like that,”

“I will when you are being rude and disrespectful towards a lady,”

John scoffs, peeking over to you, then back to Zemo. Everyone else was standing to the side, not sure if they should intervene or not.

“What did she suck you off or something?”

Chaos ensured.

Bucky and Sam had to leap forward to stop Zemo from launching onto John while Battlestar had to hold John back. “Too far man, too far” he muttered to John

Zemo was snarling at John, his teeth bared in rage. His hair had fallen loose from their usual position and was hanging down over his forehead, giving him a more wild look. The vein in his neck stood out, twitching. His eyes were raging with fire as he looked at John. He kept trying to push past Bucky and Sam to get to John, but eventually gave up knowing it was futile.

You were standing at the side, shocked that John would have the ego to say something like that and at Zemo’s rage towards John for saying it. John adjusts his head. Not looking you in the eyes, but looking in your direction. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t of said that”

Pulling your senses together, you walk up to John, glaring at him. “Yeah, you damn well shouldn’t have. You’re a dick. Nothing like Steve. You never will be,”

John wrinkles his nose in anger, frowning at your remark. You walk over to Zemo now that Bucky and Sam had let go of him. You give him a nod, showing your appreciation, and he nods back, though still glaring at John.

“Who I choose to associate myself with is none of your business. Who I choose to suck off is none of your business. Perhaps you can go fuck yourself and learn a bit of decency,” you spit at him.

A brilliant thought crosses your brain for another way to twist the dagger of your dislike into John. You reach out and grab onto Zemo’s hand, clasping it.

The action causes everyone to turn wide eyed to you. Including Zemo. He glances down at your hand in his then back to yours, surprise in his gaze but he immediately covers it up turning back to John smirking. He turns to behind himself, then back to the group.

“My associate is up ahead,”

You all turn to look forwards and see a little girl staring at you. Walking forward again, gripping his hand, Zemo nods to the girl as you all approach.

“Hello my friend,”

He holds out some money, a lot by the looking of it, and says to her, “This is for your family”

The girl hastily snatches it, obviously in need of it, and you can’t help but feel your heart warm a bit, seeing how kind Zemo was being to her.

“Can you show us the way?”

She beckons with her hands and walks forward. Zemo looks back at you, nodding to make sure you were okay, then follows her.

“What the hell” John murmurs from behind.

Following the girl, she leads you to a building. She turns, pointing inside a doorway, and runs inside not to be seen again.

“Karli’s in there,” Zemo tells the rest of the group. Sam replies and heads inside to talk to her while John suddenly grabs Zemo’s arm and yanks him against the machine on the wall.

Zemo moans as he is shoved into it, the hard outer piece hitting into his chest roughly.

“Hey. You’ve got ten minutes” John shouts to Sam as he takes out a pair of handcuffs and attaches them to Zemo.

“Really” Zemo mutters as John cuffs him to the machine.

“Then we are doing things my way,” John declares ignoring him

“Aggressive” Zemo jokes, though from his eyes you could still see the anger he harbors towards John.

He twists his head to watch John stride forward, staring at Sam, then back to him. “But I get it”

You wander over to stand by Zemo as you wait for Sam to talk to Karli.

“This day has brought a lot of changes. This morning you refused to say a single thing to me and now just moments ago you were holding my hand,” Zemo speaks quietly to you.

You shoot him a glare, “I did that to agitate John,”

“Sure, that was the only reason” but you knew from his eyes he didn’t believe you. They sparkled with amusement as he looked down at you.

“That cuff must bother you” you mention glancing over at them.

“I don’t mind. I quite enjoy cuffs, in the right setting of course,” he quips.

You turn on your side, looking at him, your lips curling into a smile. If we are going to play that game, you thought.

“Oh, what setting would that be?”

Zemo’s smile deepened, enjoying seeing you play along, “I’m sure you would like to know”

“Do you have to do this here!” John exclaims, glaring at the two of you. You quickly step back from Zemo, forgetting that you two had company. Your eyes snap to Bucky’s with worry, but he wasn’t looking at you. He glared at the ground, not seeming to care what was happening between you and Zemo.

After that Zemo tried to engage you in conversation again but you effectively ignored him, going back to how you were treating him earlier, which you knew was frustrating him.

John was looking down at the shield, then squeezed the bridge of his nose with his fingers, panting. Both you and Zemo glanced up, watching him cautiously. You glanced at Zemo and he stared back, confirming you were both thinking the same thing about Walker.

He got up and started shuffling towards the doorway. Both you and Bucky eyed at each other for the first time with the same recognition in your eyes. You leave Zemo’s side to walk over to where John was.

“No, no, no. This is a bad idea,” John mutters as he paces around. Zemo watches him like a hawk while you and Bucky stand side by side, arms crossed.

“It hasn’t been ten minutes, John. Sit tight,” Bucky replies.

“Don’t do that. Don’t patronize me,” he spits back, pacing around.

“He knows what he is doing,” you reply

There’s silence for just a moment. You watch as John turns towards you and walks fast, hitting his fist against the shield, “I’m going in”

Bucky walks forward and places his hand on John, stopping him from moving further.

He tries to antagonise Bucky, trying to make him guilty for what could happen to Sam. And you could tell his words were influencing him.

“You will not be going in till ten minutes are up,” you state sauntering over to them

“Oh, so the whore has something to say,” John spits out

In the back, Zemo growls, tugging on the cuffs that connected him to the wall. You feel the outrage prick up on you as John’s remark.

“Don’t call her that” Bucky says, glaring at John

“She’s been openly flirting with the terrorist over there, so yeah, I think it’s appropriate to call her that,” John bites back

You rush forward, attempting to punch John in rage, but he was able to sidestep you and brings the shield up, connecting it harshly to the side of your head. Pain soars across your face as you fall down onto the ground. You groan, your eyesight going dark around the sides and black patches covering parts of what you could see.

“BASTARD” you hear someone shout with a beautiful accent. From the floor, you can’t make out much of what is going on. Someone with a metal arm attacking another guy. A man with a shield being attacked by a man in a trench coat. It was all too confusing for you. You just wanted to sleep.

You could feel yourself fading in and out. Your eyes begging to close. You could hear shouting. Someone talking.

Your head was raised. Someone was holding it in their hands. Your vision is blurry but as they get nearer your eyes could focus on them. Beautiful brown eyes, messy brown hair, cute thin lips. It was him.

“Y/n!?” Zemo shouted at you, “Y/n stay with me”

“My head hurts” you mutter to Zemo as he lifts you up, placing you against the wall. Slowly your eyesight came back, and you could see your surroundings. Only you and Zemo were left.

“Zemo, where is everyone?” you ask turning your head, but in doing so it makes you feel incredibly dizzy. You groan as Zemo places a hand on the side of your face to stop you moving.

“They went after the Sam,”

“I need to help them!”

“No, you need to stay here and recover,”

You look over at the wall then back to Zemo, “How did you get out of the cuffs?” you ask

“Ah well…” Zemo says and glances down at his hand, your eyes follow and widen seeing his hand, bruising covering it, his thumb sticking out at an odd angle.

“You broke your hand to get out!?”

“Well, I couldn’t let him get away with saying those things and hurting you,” Zemo mutters, smiling slightly but you could see the pain flickering in his eyes, “I gave him a well-deserved punch in the face”

You chuckle at the thought. Leaning forward, you kiss him lightly on his forehead, a gesture of you wanting to ease his pain. You move back just in time to see him looking at you, surprised, before your vision faded.

Taglist: @multiyfandomgirl40 @ineffablebean @freyjasamael @avgravy @huntheimpossible @checkurwindow @there-goes-thefighter @bunniwritesx @montypythonsholysnail @yallgotkik @wonderwoman292

[wormstacheangel]

Suptober Day 1: Harvest

wc: 1.7k tags: fluff with the side of tiny case fic, established relationship, spoilers but cw they are drugged with cider,

It was a long hunt. One that they accepted as their last one, but, of course, they can never sit still enough not to take an easy local hunt. By local, he means a two-day trip away, but still, they saved a couple of old folks from a ghost, which was fun. Dean sure enjoyed getting thrown around until Cas finally burned the dentures.

Like he said, long hunt.

They stayed at a nice little Airbnb overnight. During breakfast, their waitress told them of the Harvest Festival a town over. Cas was still a little bruised up, but Dean convinced him to go, at least to try their famous apple cider.

“We’ll make a day of it! Just me and you.” With that, Cas agreed, taking Dean’s waiting hand across the table.

The festival was lively when they arrived in the afternoon, with more people than they expected considering the small town they were in but apparently when they say famous they meant it. The tents lined up with food from funnel cakes, donuts, chicken, and some pumpkin spice beer that Dean chugged down even though it tasted like shit.

They eventually ended up with bags filled with treats and souvenirs to take home to the kids--Sam and Eileen fall into the kids’ category. They each held a bag while Dean held Cas’ hand tight in his own, dragging him around from seller to seller, buying and tasting as he went.

“We should start heading home, or soon you’ll be too full to drive.” Cas teased as Dean finished off their bag of apple crisps. “You think we’re feeding an army.”

“Considering how Jack eats, we might as well be.”

“He gets that from you, you know.”

They continued their banter as they made their way out of the festival and to the parking lot.

Then they were stopped by a woman wearing a volunteer pumpkin shirt, “Aw, leaving so soon? Don’t ya wanna stay for the fireworks?”

That quickly took Dean’s attention, brightening up his whole face so much that once again, Cas couldn’t find it in himself to refuse. Instead, earning himself a small kiss on the cheek as a thank you before being was dragged to the car to drop off their items.

Once back in the festival, they walked around until another volunteer told them about the amazing view of the fireworks at the middle of the corn maze.

“It’s a small maze, but in the middle is a little hill. So it’s usually first-come, first-serve. But I haven’t heard of anyone taking it as of now.”

Once again, Dean was easily hooked in and took Cas along for the ride. Not that he was complaining. He enjoyed watching Dean get excited over small things, things he wouldn’t have permitted himself to get excited for before. Of course, it helped when Dean hooked his arm around Cas’s waist to tug him close, whispering, “Ever kissed someone in a corn maze, Cas?”

“You know I haven’t, Dean.”

That did it for Cas. A promise of a spectacular kiss that will put the fireworks to shame.

At the entrance of the maze stood a cider cart, and Cas made a beeline for it. “I at least wanna be warm if you are going to make me walk around in the cold.”

“On the house.” The saleswoman winked at them, and something uneasy passed through them, but they ignored it as she motioned them to go right on in that the fireworks should be starting soon.

They took their hot cider and walked right in, taking hold of their hands as they walked through the maze in comforting silence. Watching the sky above them change from orange and pinks to the dark night sky.

When the maze opened up to a clearing, Dean started to run—taking the small space on top. It was tall enough to see over the cornstalk and watch the lights twinkle from the festival up ahead. They could even see groups of people exiting the maze from their left, and for a second, Dean wondered why they didn’t run into anybody on their walkover. It looked like a lot of people were going through the maze, but nobody passed them.

That thought was quickly dismissed as the first firework lit up the sky, cheers from the crowd echoed the loud boom, and Dean felt secure with an arm hooking around his shoulders to bring him in closer. So they sat there watching the firework show and polishing off their now cold cider until Cas couldn’t wait another second.

Gently, he turned Dean’s face just enough so they could start the kiss slowly. The snap crackle pop of the fireworks above their heads just kept lighting up the fuse between them until Cas asked for them to find another place to spend the night.

“Should we go now?” Dean kissed down Cas’s jaw, feeling the hastily nods instead of seeing it. “Okay. Okay, let’s go.”

They both stood up and took one last look at the view before they got down. Turning left, where they were sure they saw the other folks exit from before. Every few steps, they pulled each other for another kiss-- smiling into them like giddy newlyweds--until they started to realize they’ve been walking for way too long.

The fireworks had long been over, and they soon realized it was their only source of light. It soon became so hard to see anything that they didn’t dare let go of each other’s hands. They tried to go back to the hill to see if maybe they could see the trail from there, but it was like it never existed in the first place.

“Fuck!” They turned the corner to find another dead-end. “Isn’t this shit for children!”

“You know we haven’t seen or heard anyone in a while. Not since-”

“We came in here. I know. I was thinking the same thing earlier when we were on the hill.”

“Why didn’t you say anything then?”

“Cause you stuck your tongue in my mouth and impending doom took a backseat.”

They started to run, calling out for help as they did, but it only felt like they were going in circles.

Then Dean yelled, “Hallelujah!” When a flashlight shined into their faces.

“There you two are. It’s time to go.” The old man sounded so relieved to find them. He didn’t look sinister. He didn’t even make it sound like they were gone for that long. “You two okay?”

“Yeah. Yeah. We got lost, I guess.” Dean shrugged, watching as Cas stared ahead of him.

“Many people do. But they always find their way out, though.”

They followed the man out of the maze while Dean’s knuckles brushed alongside Cas’. They were listening to the man recite a memory when suddenly Cas tugged at Dean’s arm.

“Dean.” It was a shocking gasp.

“Cas?” Dean turned around to watch; Cas’s eyes rolled to the back of his head before dropping like a ragdoll. “Cas!”

And just like that, Cas was out to the world.

Dean fell to his knees to take Cas into his arms, but it was useless. He was heavy, and Dean’s body was starting to tingle, his muscles becoming weaker with every passing second.

“Don’t you worry about your little friend.” The man flashed his light on Dean’s face. Blinding him, but Dean kept glaring up at him. “Just like you, he won’t feel a thing.”

“What did you do to him?” He tried to growl, but it came out too breathless for it to be threatening.

“Same thing we did to you. Same thing we do every year to a couple of tourists.”

Dean could feel himself slipping out of consciousness, but he kept trying to shield Cas from whatever was coming.

“Don’t fight it, boy.” The man walked over to him, raising his flashlight high above his head. “Hate it when they struggle.”

And with a single hit, Dean was knocked out. Falling over Cas. Hoping that at least he gets killed first this time around.

Dean woke up again when he felt someone kicking his legs with little to no effort. His arms were numb, and he realized it was because they were pulled back and tied around some huge boulder.

“Dean?”

Dean recognized the voice and happily groaned out a complaint. “Hate small towns. Creeps. All of them.”

Cas chuckled in relief. “Glad you’re okay.”

Dean blinked a couple of times before his eyes focused, looking across from him to find Cas in the same position as him. Cas looked dirty, a few scratches on his face from being dragged, which made Dean furious—tugging at the ropes that hold him back from checking for any more injuries.

“Fuck! Shit! You okay? They hurt you?”

“Not as much as they did you.” Dean didn’t feel much pain besides the stretch on his shoulders and a raging headache. “I guess that’s not true. You have a swell on your head.”

“Yeah, well, I went down swinging. Unlike you.” Cas didn’t look amused, but he looked concerned. Dean followed his gaze, looking for an explanation or a way out. “I guess we’re either bait or dinner.”

“I’m used to being bait.”

“And I’m used to being dinner. Well, aren’t we a match made in heaven?” This time Cas glared, and weirdly enough, it made Dean relax a little. “Okay, so what’s the plan?”

The plan was simple, while Cas may not be a full-powered-up angel, he was still an angel. And he was stronger than an average human. So with a little more force, Cas had his arms free, rubbing his wrist while shrugging at Dean, “I always see humans do this.”

“Yeah, cause it hurts, so if you can just-” Dean motioned for his arms and Cas quickly reached to untie him. Then, when they were both free, they once again started to look around the empty cornfield. “I say leave now and call for backup; come back in the morning.”

“Considering we have no weapons, I think that would be for the best.”

“So much for date night.” Dean took Cas’s hand, and they quickly started to get themselves out of there. Running like maniacs as they pushed through the endless corn.

“I actually enjoyed myself today. You know, before the whole being drugged and left for dead part.”

“Really? That was my favorite part.” Dean joked, squeezing Cas’s hand as they made their way to safety. “You think all the stuff we bought was drugged?”

“Won’t stop me from having another donut.”

“Man, I love you.”