#f course this is only once everything is unloaded and set up and blocked or whatever

[pimosworld]

would you be able to write something about santi and frankie making a tree house for the reader's kids?

her kids have always wanted one and there's a perfect tree for it right in the center of the back yard, but she's never had the time to make it herself or get a professional to make it.

one day, at a neighborhood barbecue, pope is talking to reader's kids (trying desperately to be their favorite uncle) when they inform him of their plan of how to get their mom to make their tree house.

he tells them to draw him up a plan of their dream tree house and tells them he'll see what he can do. with the help of fish, they draw up a real plan of action from the drawing and set out finding materials. reclaimed wood, an old slide that really just needs a fresh paint job, a carpet to go inside, and some old moroccan style tiles for the roof.

they show up, truck bed full of supplies, unannounced and get to work unloading and constructing the thing. how can the reader be so mad when her kids look so happy helping them build it and playing in it once it's built?!

(new anon, sorry that this was so long.)

Pairing-Triple frontier boys x f!reader

Summary-Your kids find a way to get what they want both for you and for them.

CW-SFW, Fluff, angst, mentions of parent loss, mentions of spouse loss, tf boys being protective, tf boys being great uncles, mentions of insecurities, kids being menaces, dating, cursing, inaccurate descriptions of tree house build time because this is my world and we can build tree houses quickly, so much fluff. The boys being good with their hands.

WC-2.7k

A/N- I’m sorry this took me so long anon. Writers block sucks but it’s only fitting that the anniversary of my first ever fic COMPANY that came up a few weeks ago featuring the tf boys is kicked off with your request for some Frankie and Santi being amazing. I made some adjustments but I hope this is everything you wanted and more.

[Triple Frontier Masterlist][Main Masterlist]

If you build it

“I can tell they’re up to something.” Santi shoots you a look as he flips the burgers on the grill. 

  “They’re kids of course they’re up to something. The question is what.” Santi closes the grill as he looks across the wide expanse of yard at his niece and nephew playing in the sandbox. 

  It looks like the childlike version of an ops mission happening. To someone else it may just look like a little girl playing with a stick in the sand but Santi knows better than that. 

  ****

  It’s such an odd feeling, you should still be grieving right? You most certainly shouldn’t be looking at Santi and his chiseled jaw as he watches your kids play. Or watching the way his muscles flex in his tight tee shirt as he crosses his arms. You’re so distracted you don’t even realize he’s speaking to you. 

  “Can you watch the grill for a second?” He raises an eyebrow at you and you feel flushed for all the wrong reasons. The sweltering heat does nothing to hide your embarrassment. 

  “Ya of course but don’t be gone too long. I’ve been known to burn anything on the grill.” 

  “I’ll make it quick then.” He winks at you as he walks across your lush green yard. Swiftly dodging a football that Benny throws deliberately at his head as he flips him off in return. 

  “You’re gonna burn a hole in his pants if you keep staring.” You jump at the sound of Frankie’s voice and he has the decency to look apologetic at your reaction. 

  You hadn’t really noticed how much they’ve all aged in the last few months. His hair is a little longer as it curls around his cap. His worry lines are just a bit deeper than you last remember them being. Yet he still smiles at you all the same as he pulls you into a deep hug, kissing the top of your head. 

  “I didn’t mean to scare you cariño, I was only joking.” 

  You shove him off playfully as you open the grill again. “I wasn’t staring.” 

  He bumps you out of the way as he grabs the spatula from your hand. “Sure…whatever you say. Your secrets are safe with me.” You watch him as he effortlessly dispatches all the burgers to a plate and sets them aside. 

  You bite your lip as you wait for him to say something but you know he’s giving you time to think. Something he’s always done for you, knowing that your mind is going a mile a minute and if anyone interrupts that train of thought it might be gone forever. 

  He’s just standing beside you like a steady weight as he glances around the yard at some people he barely knows and others he knows like the back of his hand. Now it’s mostly close friends and one or two neighbors, compared to several months ago when he couldn’t pick out a familiar face among the crowd. People tend to forget that your grieving continues even long after you’ve decided not to show up. 

  He shouldn’t feel bad for you because you’re a strong woman. More resilient than any of them could ever be. 

  “Frankie, can I ask you something?” You say with a nervous smile. 

  “You’re allowed to move on.” 

  You glance up at him and it’s intense the way he meets your eyes. “I didn’t ask the question.” 

  “You didn’t have to…my answer is still the same.” 

  ****

  As Santi approaches the sandbox he can see some kind of intricate drawing. Lexi is using a stick practically the size of her to draw it out while her brother Liam watches from the corner. She looks so much like you, especially with her focused face on as she draws another detailed set of lines that he still can’t quite make out. 

  Liam glances up at him and gestures with his fingers to stay quiet. Santi takes a seat at the corner of the box near him as they patiently wait for her to finish. He looks so much like him that Santi has a hard time not getting choked up, he’s grateful that they both have your personality. 

  “Okay.” Lexi throws the stick to the side and dusts her hands off on her white skirt. “I think it’s done.” She looks up and flashes a toothy smile at Santi and he can’t help the way his heart melts. 

  “Can I ask what exactly this is?” 

  The little girl lets out a deep sigh as she looks over at her twin brother and he just holds his hands out in silent communication that she needs to take the lead. 

  “Well…this is a tree house.” She pauses briefly and Santi thinks that’s cool that she can draw but then she starts. In great detail for several minutes animatedly explaining the process of her vision coming to life. 

  Santi has to get up and stand from her perspective to really get a grasp of what she’s talking about. He tries to follow along as she explains the duel ladder system, one on the trunk and another hanging down from the middle entrance of the house. Two doors, one for entry and the other for the slide,that lets out perfectly into the softest patch of grass in the yard. Her and her brother evidently couldn’t decide on carpet or tile so they opted to split it down the middle. Her half would be tile and his half would be carpet. They would obviously need enough room for arts and crafts, the kitchen and naps. 

  He’s never been so impressed with an eight year old in his entire life. 

  He’s so enthralled with the design that he doesn’t notice the little girl standing there staring up at him expectantly. 

  “So what do you think?” She’s wringing her little hands together as she glances over at her brother with an equally curious look on his face. As if a lightbulb goes off in his head Santi is suddenly aware of what exactly they were up to. 

  “Mija…are you asking if I can help?” 

  She nods her head as she rocks back and forth in the sand. 

  “We both have allowances if that helps.” Liam chimes in from the corner of the sandbox and Santi has to try to disguise his smile behind his hand. 

  “Foods ready!” You yell from across the yard and Santi meets your eyes. A look of what are you up to written all across your face. 

  He crouches down waving Liam over and the little boy carefully avoids the blueprints in the sand to join them. “Okay…here is what I want you to do.” 

  ****

  Your kids are being uncharacteristically good. They finished all their food, they haven’t bothered you in over an hour and even offered to help clean up the table after everyone ate. 

  Most everyone has cleared out from the barbecue besides for the boys who seem to be enthralled with something over by the sandbox. Frankie keeps glancing over his shoulder at you and Will has shot you a thumbs up twice. If they thought subtlety was their strong suit they are sadly mistaken. You often wonder how they managed to be special ops and keep things a secret when it’s so obvious they’ve all got something up their sleeve. 

  ****

  The something they had planned despite your initial worry was in fact a much needed day for yourself. Benny was going to take the kids to the zoo and despite wanting all the credit Will assured you he would be accompanying them so that an adult would be present. 

  Over the last several months various repairs around the house had gone undone in the chaos of being a newly single mom. Frankie and Santi volunteered to spend the day getting your house in order while you had a full day planned with Will’s wife Jenna. Brunch, pedicures, shopping…you couldn’t remember the last time you treated yourself to a day that wasn’t centered around your kids. As much as you loved them you knew that at times it felt like the person you used to be was long buried underneath a world of stress and hurt. 

  Dating was completely off the table at the moment…especially since your current situation was all but off limits. Taking care of yourself for once could be a great start in the right direction. 

  ****

  “I told you to get half inch screws Pope.” 

  “Those are half inch!” Santi says as he hears Frankie grumbling under his breath. 

  “These are definitely a quarter inch and that explains another problem.” Frankie chides as Santi flips him off. 

  They’ve been at this for a few hours having completed the tasks in your house in a matter of no time. All this a ruse to get the tree house completed before you and the kids are back from your day out. 

  It’s been awhile since they’ve done something like this. Not just the physical labor but the reward at the end being something that they know is going to brighten a lot of days. They may bicker and fight like brothers but at the end of the day Santi knows how much they both needed this. To have their minds occupied with an intricate task. 

  Intricate doesn’t even begin to describe what’s unfolded before them. With their niece's original design in mind and a few additions when they got to the store this is turning out to be better than some places they’ve slept while in the service. 

  Frankie is putting the finishing touches on the bug screen that he decided would be a good addition to the entryway for the balmy summer nights. Santi’s never felt so large while he sits on the wooden bench that doubles as a reading nook. The wood matching the same structure that he knows could withstand any storm or hurricane. The sun is setting, casting a shadow along the bright yellow carpet they found on clearance at the back of the home decor store. 

  The leftover Talavera tiles Santi had from his home remodel fit perfectly on the half that would be the makeshift kitchen. 

  There are three exits and two entries. The trap door with a knotted rope, the wooden plank stair steps and the slide that leads to the softest patch of grass in the yard. 

  Santiago’s thoughts are interrupted by the sound of car doors slamming and children’s laughter. 

  “We should head down.” Frankie grunts as he shuffles over to the slide, reaching for his standard heating oil cap placed on the bench nook. 

  Santi raises his eyebrows at the man taking in the scene about to unfold. 

  “What? How else are we supposed to get down?” 

  “Oh I don’t know the stairs or the rope maybe?” He says sarcastically. “We don’t need you breaking the slide before they even get a chance.” 

  “Fuck you, this slide was built to withstand a hurricane.” 

  His nieces squeal from across the yard interrupts their fifth squabble of the day. 

  Frankie flashes him a wide grin. “Last man down has to ask their mom on a date.” 

  “What?!” 

  “Byeeee.” Frankie slides away, throwing him the middle finger on the way down. 

  Santi had already talked to him about this ad nauseam. It always felt like the wrong place at the wrong time. 

  He opened the latch to the trap door, opting to climb down to spare him the embarrassment of using a children’s slide in front of you. 

  ****

  You pulled up to the house at the exact same time as Will and Ben. You don’t remember the last time you’d felt this refreshed. Your hair and nails done, way too many bags piled in the backseat of Jenna’s car with a new wardrobe. It was exactly what you needed and a much needed conversation with another woman to reassure you that you were perfectly capable of making your own decisions about your love life. You shouldn’t feel guilty about moving on and doing what’s best for you and your children. 

  You half expected your kids to be happy to see you but they both gave you light hearted waves as they raced each other around the side of the house, leaving you in the driveway with Will and Ben with amused looks on their faces. 

  “What’s gotten into them?” You say as the boys shoot each other a look and Jenna takes your hand on hers to lead you around the house. 

  “It’s better to ask for forgiveness than for permission right?” Ben says from behind you and now you’re really starting to worry. Your daughter's screech has you pulling away as you run into the backyard. 

  The sight you’re met with is one that completely knocks you off your feet. Your children are jumping up and down in front of a beaming Frankie and the largest tree house structure you’ve ever seen. This is something out of an outdoor life magazine. 

  You don’t realize you're frozen in place as the rest of the gang join him on the lawn. Santiago perhaps on purpose opted to make your life that much harder by effortlessly climbing down the rope ladder. In all the years he’s been out of the service the man still has an impeccable physique. You will your feet to move as you take in the thing that your kids have been asking you for since they could talk. The thing your husband didn’t make time for and the daunting task seemed impossible for you on your own. Paying someone was out of the question and you were too prideful to ask the boys to help you out anymore than they already did. 

  You don’t even realize you’re crying until Santiago approaches with the most worried look you’ve ever seen on his face. 

  “Look, I’m really sorry if we overstepped. I know we should’ve asked and it wasn’t our place…but the kids-“ 

  His ramblings are cut short when you throw yourself into him. He instinctively hugs you tight as he feels the wetness from your eyes soak into his shirt. 

  It’s embarrassing to admit how long it’s been since a man has held you and right now you can feel your resolve breaking as he soothingly rubs his hands down your back to calm your tears. 

  “I don’t know how to thank you Santi.” You mumble into his chest as you try to calm your beating heart. 

  It’s a moment before you break apart and he really gets a good look at you. Even with fresh tears in your eyes you look stunning. The most relaxed he’s seen you look in ages and just as beautiful as the day Tom introduced you to the boys. 

  With the group and the kids thoroughly distracted he figures now is as good a time as any. He’s far enough away that if you reject him he can slink out of the backyard and disappear to another country for three to six months while the shame dies down. 

  “Listen, I have to say something before I lose the courage to say it.” He nervously rubs the back of his neck as he focuses on some inanimate object behind you. “I understand if you’re not ready or you think this is highly inappropriate and in that case I’ll pretend this never happened.” 

  You can feel the hairs stand up on your arms and you dig your nails into your palm to keep from passing out at this very moment.

  “I know it’s wrong to say but I’ve always thought you and the kids deserved better. You know I loved him but it killed me to see the way he treated you and in another life perhaps I met you first and things would look a little different. I just can’t help but think maybe this can be a second chance and if you’re willing, I’d like to take you out sometime.” 

  The silence is deafening as you try to form words and Santi looks as though he wants to spontaneously combust at your lack of response. In all honesty you were never really good at flirting and now you’re spiraling because what do you say besides. 

  “Yes.” 

  He lets out a huge sigh of relief as he looks up at the sky thanking whoever is watching that he didn’t just make a complete fool of himself. 

  You both turn around to see Benny helping your son climb the rope and Frankie sliding down with your daughter in his lap as she claps her hands. Will and his wife made it inside at some point and they wave to you both from the large open window. 

  “It looks like I may be able to take you up on that offer tonight.” 

[starr-fall-knight-rise]

Humans are Space Orcs “The Riot”

Alright guys, here is another long one for all the people that have been encouraging me to do so. You guys are the best.

I need you to understand something before you read this. It is not a political commentary on today’s social or political issues,this is completely in-world and my interpretation of how things would play out. I just wanted to address an inevitability in this universe as I have made it. It was an interesting dive into politics and some other things. It does get rather violent and some of the content may be upsetting, so you may not want to read it, but hopefully it will be a realistic addition to the universe that I have made. 

Commander Vir marched down the hall with swift footsteps surrounded on all sided by a clamoring group of crewmen, “No, not on her life, Tell Captain Young if she lets that Tesraki go, than she’s not going to see him again. And get a Comm to Captain Kozlov, if he goes into the Cobalt nebulae, he’s going to get his entire crew killed. Reroute him back to the GA, they can debrief him and give him his orders there. I want all the cargo sectors from A-D inventoried and the manifests in my files by the end of the week.” He took a sharp turn, and the rest of the crew members were forced into a half jog to keep up. The mechanical leg was one of the most powerful pieces of military hardware ever created, so it wasn’t a surprise that the rest of the crew had trouble keeping up especially when the commander got into one of his moods

The group of them clattered up the steps and marched onto the bridge where they dispersed suddenly like a wave breaking over rocks.

“Commander on the bridge!” One of the crewmen barked. At his call, the bridge crew turned to acknowledge their commander before turning back to their work. Commander Vir acknowledged them briefly in return before taking his seat in the captain’s chair conjuring up a Holo-projection to examine a cosmic, projected map of his fleet. He grunted satisfied and pulled up the shipping manifests for bays F-J. He looked them over with his one green eye flying critically across the image.

Since the introduction of humanity into the Galactic Community, intergalactic trade has risen tenfold requiring large shipments of cargo across wide swatches of space, however pilots were limited, and most, if not all, civilian pilots were just now coming out of the academies wet behind the ears and not ready for such large assignments. That put much of the burden on members of the UNSC to ship needed materials from one area to another. At this moment in time, they were at full-bay capacity and would need to dock-off soon to unload cargo. It was a real annoyance, considering their actual orders revolved around searing the known galaxy for additional sentient life and making peaceful contact, but he would keep that particular opinion to himself.

Commander Vir swiveled sharply in his chair, “Systems report, Lieutenant.”

The young woman leapt a little in her seat at the sudden barked order before turning to her screen, “All systems at 100% capacity sir, though, I would advise refraining from taking on any more cargo, for fear of putting too much stress on the warp core.”

Commander Vir nodded, “Thank you lieutenant.” The moment those words broke from his lips, the man slumped down into the captain’s chair to throw his legs over one of the armrests. The commanding faced was dropped as easily as a dog shook off water, “Corporal, How’s my time?”

“Two hours and fifteen minutes, Commander.”

The man’s grin grew wider, “New record, look at that, who said Commanding a fleet was supposed to be difficult.” He crossed his ankles and lazily rested his arms behind his head stretching luxuriously in the glow of his success.

Just then, one of their new Drev officers turned in his seat, “Incoming Comm for you commander. It’s the president of the galactic assembly.”

Commander Vir sat up quickly adjusting himself. The black long-sleeve T would be fine enough, and he left the eyepatch on. Aliens weren’t yet versed in human customs enough to know that the bit of finery was an odd eccentricity, “Put her on my channel he ordered.” Wiping the grin from his face to be replaced with a mask of stern professionalism.

The Holo-projection jumped to life in front of him to reveal the face of the chairwoman of the galactic Assembly, a Rundi, standing in her ceremonial black robes.

“Your excellency, how may I be of service?” The Commander said leaning a little forward in his seat.

“Thank Sanctum’s rings I was able to contact you.” She said breathlessly

“Is everything alright.” He captain wondered, worried.

“Yes, yes personally, but I am in dire need of a favor.”

Commander Vir lifted his head in a nod, “Of course ma’am, anything.”

She took a deep breath, “Well, as you know by now, since the introduction of your species into the galactic assembly, we have seen interplanetary travel and commerce increase by at least 600%.”

He nodded, “As to be expected.”

“Yes, of course, of course. Well this influx of human “tourism” has created some strange questions within the galactic community. The Assembly has been attempting to keep the laws up to date on such matters, but as always there are competing factions. A mixed coalition of humans and other species are coming together in a week’s time at one of the convention centers near Assembly headquarters. There to protest a decision the Galactic Assembly was forced to make not so long ago. Of course, while they are protesting against the Assembly, other humans have come forward to protest the coalition itself. Protests on earth have already turned violent, and none of my soldiers are equipped to deal with a crowd of angry humans no matter what side they are on.”

“So you want us to come in and help.” The Commander said, not bothering to make it a question.

“It would be most appreciated. As the one being in the galaxy that knows the most about both human and non-humans, I trust your crew to manage the issue. Can you be there?” She looked worried, or, at least, he thought she looked worried. The Rundi weren’t known for having particularly expressive faces, but then again she wouldn’t have called him if it weren’t required.

“I estimated that we are about two days out from a warp zone. Barring no complications, we should managed to make it in three days’ time.”

The relief was almost palpable, “Thank you commander. The Galactic Assembly is in your debt once again.”

The commander waved a hand, “It’s only our job your Excellency.” Before minimizing the holo-projection and looking to the navigations officer. He closed his mouth before speaking when he found the officer already plotting a course to the nearest warp-zone. Pleased, he turned away and called down to the equipment desk and ordered them to put together as many non-lethal tactical security kits as they could. He stood and paused for a moment in the doorway getting that far-away look that he did when communicating with the Starborn, Conn.

He shook himself like a dog shedding water, and then made his way off the bridge.

***

Commander Vir pulled the straps of the bullet-proof vest tight around his chest and then buckled on his utility belt over that. He leaned down to straighten up a loose lace one of his boots, and checked the extra pockets of his pants for his emergency equipment. He adjusted the straps on his knee and elbow guards, and then did a quick inventory of his utility belt, packed with all the non-lethal goodies one could hope for. Tasers, pepper spray, CS canisters, flashbangs, and (perhaps the most useful) the central spinal blocking Device (CSBD). Any one of the devices was enough to at least slow down a human, and most definitely, incapacitate any other alien if they decided to get feisty. After that, he pulled on his, open faced helmet with retractable visor and synched the strap around his chin. That in place, he reached down, and secured waffles to a carabiner clip at his belt by way of bungee clip. The dog wasn’t a tactical measure, or trained for combat, but she was intimidating, and known for her ability to keep people away from him in a pinch, besides, the crowd didn’t have to know that, and there was no telling when an attack might strike him.

Then he turned to his last line of defense, and his only lethal measure, the handgun in its biolocked holster on his right side. No one would be able to use it if he didn’t want them to, including himself. The last thing he wanted to do was to pull his weapon, and he hoped that the CSBD and other measures would be enough to make anyone think twice. He had never actually killed another human being before (he didn’t see psychopathic cannibals as particularly human), and he didn’t want to start now.

All around him, the rest of the crew was gearing up as well dressed in the same tactical gear stitched with bright white UNSC letters. A few of the men held collapsible riot shields on their backs while others held short-term force devices on their belts. More than a few of them held rifles with nonlethal options. They would be set up in stationary positions at height to watch what was going on. Honestly, were they over prepared and overdressed, likely, but if Commander Vir knew anything about human protests, he knew they could get violent better safe than sorry. The president of the GA may have been over exaggerating about the importance of the laws, but then again, she may not have been.

Off to his other side, Sunny was gearing up with her team. Each of the Drev had been outfitted with the “Buddy pegs”, which would allow them to carry one, or, if necessary, two humans in full gear weapons aimed over the shoulder. Someone like Cannon could potentially manage three humans at once, and could e outfitted as a walking tank if such precautions were necessary. Sunny was only large enough to carry a single human, but Drev as big as Cannon could easily manage two and then some if he really needed to. As far as weapons went, they had most of the same equipment as their human counterparts minus some of the armor, usually opting to use their own gear.

He stood at the head of their formation barking orders for team officers to take command of their detachments. They would meet up with commander Kozlov at the 100 yard perimeter of the convention center and determine what was to happen from there forward. He stood towards the back as the teams moved out in groups of ten before attaching himself to his personal team of bridge officers and Drev, Sunny and Cannon included. Waffles trotted next to him at pace nose sniffing at all of the new smells on the alien air.

Marching through the streets of the capital city, he was surprised at how dead the streets were. What movement he did see flickered from behind inside widows and behind buildings. Those creatures that WERE here moved quickly eager to distance themselves from the convention center.

As they got close, Commander Vir could hear Captain Kozlov’s barked orders as he directed the men into predetermined positions. The Drev members of their party had a rough time understanding the man as his moderate Russian accent shorted the translating algorithms. In the past thousand years, business practices, and the internet had made English the almost-universal language of Earth. It had the sad consequences of causing many beautiful languages to die out in wake of the stilted, amalgamation of junk that English was, but a few languages had managed to hold on. Mandarin had failed to spread past western countries as the western powers refused to adopt it, and with the influence of pop culture in the west, it had little chance though it still remained the primary language of Asian countries. Spanish still survived in one form or another as isolated as it was from the east and despite influences from its northern cousins. The great European Breakdown had caused the melding of many languages and cultures, and the Latin-influenced romance languages had eventually devolved into an almost incomprehensible underlanguage with the grammatical sense of English and the spelling sense of French. Eastern Europe, under the watchful eye of Russia, had separated themselves from much of the mess, and was eventually forced to adopt Russian as their main language after the war. Some pockets of original language survived, but if was few and far between.

At their approach, Kozlov turned from his command position at the staging area and snapped a smart salute. The man was terse, and professional, but he respected the Commander, and Vir felt he could detect a deep sarcastic streak running through the man, a feature that he appreciated. He stopped by the small, plastic table on which Kozlov had spread multiple maps of the area and the convention center.

“I made a few adjustments to your plan.” The man said motioning towards the map,

Commander Vir took a look at the changes ad had to admit that he had overlooked some of those issues in his original plan thanking Kozlov before offering to take the inside of the convention for the first few hours. The man agreed seeming uninterested in moving from his position at the command center. Commander Vir ordered the last of his men into position and then called Sunny to his side.

“Ready?” he asked

She nodded and fell into step beside them as they headed towards the main building.

***

Walking through the massive front doors and into the large atrium, they were immediately assaulted by a myriad of colored booths and bright eye-grabbing banners with the acronym LFIL plastered all over them. Where there weren’t banners, there were massive stylized flags, a white border with a large dark circle in the middle with galaxy coloring (blue and green fog over a black background sprinkled with stars) cutting through that, there were two silhouettes, one of a human hand and the other of an alien hand touching at the fingertips.

Captain Vir leaned towards Sunny, “What do you think this is all about?”

“Guess you should have asked the president when she called instead of just taking the job.” Sunny muttered sarcastically.

He nudged her with his elbow as they made their way further in. It was rather weird to see civilians off Earth, but there were quite a few of them, and all taking the time to help set up for the convention. As many humans as there were, Commander Vir was surprised to see how many aliens there were. The largest group of them were, surprisingly, Drev. Following them were the Tesraki, and the Finneri  there were one or two other species in there that Commander Vir was only familiar with in passing, but all of them were wearing one of those shirts, or some other merchandise. Sunny and Vir glanced at each other in confusion.

Over to the side, a human was fiddling around with the sound system. Pleased, she stood and dusted her hands off leaning in to plug her device in. As they walked past, she scrolled through her list and picked a song. Sunny seemed pleased the electronic opening and simple drumline.

They were walking past just in time for Vir to catch wind of a conversation between two people helping to set up. They weren’t wearing T-shirts.

“Is this Katy Perry.”

“I don’t know man, I think so.” One said looking towards the speakers, “Damn this song is old.” He tilted his head, “What the hell is she talking about?”

The other guy shrugged, “About being in love with an alien I think. Either that or F***ing one.”

The other man snorted, “Didn’t see also sing about kissing girls?”

His friend laughed, “Ha, guess you’re right. Who would have thought, she was a prophetess. Calling it in advance.” The two men laughed before moving on.

Vir frowned in confusion. What the hell?

“Come on, Sunny, let’s go figure out what this is all about.” He said, breaking into a jog and heading towards one of the tables. Boots thudding on the floor, the alien and human looked up at their approach. The alien shrunk back, while the human took up a defensive stance. Vir came to a stop and raised his hands; the two of them must have looked intimidating. Sunny coming to a halt behind him. People were beginning to filter into the hall now, voices raised to echoing heights towards the ceiling.

“It’s alright, I just wanted to ask what all this is about.” He motioned around the room, “Afraid I took the job before I heard about the convention.”

The woman frowned at him, “Aren’t you the captain of that space ship?”

“There are a couple of those, but probably….”

She tilted her head about him, “I thought you of all people would know about this.” Before he could explain himself she waved it off and motioned to the banner, “Lifeforms for Intergalactic Love, and this.” She motioned towards her alien friend (A Ved, about five feet tall, furry, large eyes, sort of reminded him of a bat, “Is my partner.”

He stared at her blankly. She rolled her eyes at him, “We’re dating.”

“OH….. Oh ok…. Wait dating? Like dating dating?”

She frowned at him and pulled the alien closer, “yeah, you got a problem with that.”

He held up his hands, “Woah, woah I didn’t say that. I just, didn’t expect it.” He left quickly after that head reeling a bit intending to find someone a little less defensive. The next group they talked too seemed very interested in telling them all about it. The two of them were in for a surprise.

The woman grabbed her Drev partner by the hand, “We met at fight club, got pared in the ring, it was love at first fight.” Her Drev partner nodded his huge head in agreement. Sunny and Vir glanced at each other in shock. The others went around the circle telling their own stories. There were meetings of chance, running into each other off world, traveling together etc…..

“So, let me get this straight, you guys are…. Lobbying for….. Marriage rights and-“ He paused here, “A lift on certain laws that prohibit…… sexual…. Stuff.” He finished this last part a little awkwardly as the group of them nodded rather enthusiastically, “Um….. not to be rude or anything but…… well, you guys aren’t even the same species…. And well you know…..it would be hard to… do anything.”

The group laughed and waved their hands at him, “You’ve never been in love have you? It’s not about just the physical, is about the mental, the emotional, and yeah things are different for us but we are all consenting adults and there are other ways to do things, so why can’t we?”

Sunny and Vir glanced at each other again before thanking the group and excusing themselves. Soddenly, everything about the room, the convention and their orders was making sense. Vir rubbed he back of his head, “Ok, I guess I should have seen this coming from humans, but from aliens too. That’s just hard to believe.”

Sunny tapped her claw on her upper arm and then shrugged, “Perhaps it is because they find humans strange and intriguing plus, if you haven’t noticed humans tend to spread their humanness to others…. Just look at Krill, look at me, cannon or Conn, all of us more human than we should be and you, no less human than you ever were.”

“Eloquently put, Sunny.”

Overall the first half of the convention was almost surreal as they patrolled the convention, they heart multiple stories about chance meetings, about people coming to terms with their new identity as Extrasexuals “as the term had been coined”, and now there were stories about being detained, and even imprisoned for what was considered “Lewd” actions in a public setting.

Sunny and Vir stood at the back of one of the discussions just staring at each other as the hour continued onwards. It was only when his mike was keyed that he had to turn away and respond, “This is Alpha 1.”

“Commander, this is Alpha 2, you need to get out here, we need backup.” It was almost impossible to hear the man through the static and roaring of what must have been hundreds of voices, and all of them shouting.

“Copy that Alpha 2.” He turned to a different channel and ordered all but three of his units outside before heading towards the door. He heard them before he saw them. It was the roaring, loud roaring, like the waves of a stormy sea crashing against a rocky cliff, or a raging wildfire. The two of them sped up the pace readying their gear as they pushed into the lobby. The front entryway was packed with armed security officers from Kozlov’s ship watching as people entered through the doors carrying picket signs and wearing their white T-shirts.

Commander Vir slipped through one of the doors with Sunny and pushed into the daylight and were hit by a wall of noise that almost bulled them over backwards. Screaming, roaring, incoherent shouting from all sides, signs being waved I the air, lines of riot police, and security officers doing their best to keep protesters outside, as they watched a fistfight broke out, and two security guards had to step in to pull the people apart.

“BEASTIOPHILES!” Someone shouted from the crowd.

Hey keyed his mike immediately, “Delta Unites to the front of the building, Delta units to the front now.” The two of them were jostled from one side to the other as the crowd churned around them.

The white-shirt protesters had taken up a new chant “LOVE IS LOVE, LOVE IS LOVE, LOVE IS LOVE.”

The crowd on the other side of the barriers booed and screamed. Riot shields had to be used to push some of the humans back into the crowd as they attempted to leap over the barriers. Captain Vir deployed his nerve block with his left hand and snapped open his riot shield with the other arm.

Drev soldiers, or, Delta units were marching onto the square. Sunny barked a couple orders over the crowd with her powerful Drev voice, and the Units fanned out to make a perimeter.

Sunny cleared her throat, and Commander Vir covered his ears. She took a deep breath, and bellowed her war cry. The noise was so loud it made the ground shake and his teeth vibrate inside his skull. The Drev soldiers took up the call beating back the sound of the human crowd who were throttled into silence by the bigger-louder and more intimidating looking aliens. You average human had no understanding of what the galaxy thought of them, and may went silent in fear and shock.

There was nothing but the shifting of the crowd as the Drev bristled towards the edges of the crowd.

A solider handed Vir a megaphone and he boosted himself up onto the buddy pegs on Sunny’s back. Waffles leaped up after him sitting with her back paws on the shelf paws resting around his legs. It probably wasn’t too comfortable, but she took it like a good girl. Commander Vir keyed the megaphone before the protesters could start up again, “This is a PROTEST and NOT a riot, so let’s keep it that way. Be civil with each other or we WILL detain you, we don’t care what side you’re on.”

The crowd shifted, voices started murmuring. Someone took that moment to take a stand on some platform or another hidden by the crowd now towering over them by a good four feet, and produced his own megaphone, “We have the right to speak here.”

Vir lowered his mike raising his voice instead, “Than SPEAK, but you do not have the right to HIT anyone. If you want a debate than do it, but the moment it gets violent is the moment we intervene.”

The man in the crowd nodded. Vir could now see the black T-shirt he was wearing. A human and alien silhouette covered with the universal red circle and slash of disapproval. “Alright, does any one of you want to defend yourselves, to speak for the group of you.” His voice was and posture was clearly hostile.

It took a moment, but finally one of the supporters took the megaphone offered from Vir and took a stand on a provided chair. He was a young man wearing the white T shirt with scruffy, dark hair.

Commander Vir glanced around at the crowd and muttered Sunny to keep an eye on any problems areas which she could identify. She nodded, and together they scanned the crowd.

“So why do you hate us so much.”

“Because what you’re doing is disgusting. It’s bestiality. Which is on par with incest and pedophilia.” He turned to look at his supporters who murmured their approval.

“Bestiality is wrong because they are animals, they aren’t sentient, they can’t consent, but THEY ARE sentient, they aren’t animals, and they DID consent. It’s a really disgusting thing to just call someone an animal when they are right there and they can hear you.” His half of the crowd murmured their agreement.

“They aren’t even your SPECIES.” More supportive shouting

“So, what does it matter, it’s not harming you.”

“I don’t want my kids seeing that.”

“That sounds like a personal problem. I don’t want to see people in happy relationships while I’m alone, but I got over it, so why can’t you just let us be happy.”  The crowd started to churn a little bit. Commander Vir pressed the transmit button, and all of his men rattled their equipment. The crowd died back just a little bit.

The man in the dark shirt turned back, “And while we’re on the subject, how dare you consider this a sexuality ‘extrasexual’ it’s an affront to our history, all those thousands of people who fought to have GOOD HUMAN relationships and see them recognized without persecution. What you have is NOT a sexuality it is a fetish, a philia. Just like how pedophilia is not a sexuality and a foot fetish is not a sexuality. How dare you compare yourselves to people with HUMAN RELATIONSHIPS?” Commander Vir could see the anger in the crowd. Hot tears streamed down faces shoulders were hunched hands out in preparation to fight, blood rushed into skin.

The boy’s voice was shaking, “Thousands of years ago, they said the same things about same sex attraction, and they were WRONG just like YOU are wrong. You arguments are nothing, its not bestiality because they aren’t animals, it’s only disgusting because YOU don’t find it attractive and for no other reason. You have to justify yourself.  No matter what you do you are just making excuses for your pointless hatred. There is nothing ANYWHERE in human history that even says it’s MORALLY wrong. There is no text, no ancient law, no biblical manuscript. Humans have depicted relationships with aliens since we THOUGHT they might exist-“

“BECAUSE THEY LOOKED HUMAN!”

“SO YOUD BE FINE WITH IT IF THEY LOOKED HUMAN?”

The crowd erupted.

“BEASTIOPHILE” The man screamed

People surged forward from all sides. Commander Vir quickly threw the signal catching the two men on either arm as they lunched at each other across the barrier. He caught one by his riot shield, and the other young man by his upper arm. Sunny roared a command, and the Delta Units created a line creating an impenetrable wall of massive armored forms and multiple arms. Nerve blocks were deployed by riot guards forcing the hostile crowd to the ground paralyzed.

With a button on the front of his shield, he applied a quick electrical current to the one and forced the boy to his knees with his off hand. He was skinny and easy to control. Just as soon as the crowd had churned into action, it was on its knees.

“BEHAVE.” He shouted, “This is absolutely disgusting behavior of both of you.” He glared at the white shirt side, “You are only proving that you are emotionally volatile and cannot be trusted as a group.” Then he turned to the black shirts, “and you are proving yourselves to be aggressive militants.” He let go of the boy as the other man slowly crawled to his hands and knees.

He glowered up at him, “You’re only doing this, because you agree with them.” He jabbed an accusing finger at him, “You and that Drev.” He motioned to Sunny, “You two are together aren’t you, you’re biased.”

Commander Vir felt his mouth drop open “What-“

The boy cut him off looking up, “What is your opinion, Commander?”

He kept forgetting that some people knew who he was. He should have seen this coming. And as he went to answer, he found that he couldn’t. He didn’t know what he thought. He was caught unable to think, unable to come to a conclusion on the subject. The grounds were silent as he struggled with his answer. People watched him from all sides. He squared up shaking himself back to balance, “It is not my job to give an opinion. I am a neutral party here, and either you will demonstrate peacefully or not at all. Which will it be?”

***

Some people had to be detained, others held themselves together as they protested. A few more fights had to be broke out and dealt with. Commander Vir worked to keep the crowd at bay that nagging question still in the back of his mind. He stood next to Sunny as they watched a crowd of angry, but peaceful, protesters roll and churn with the power of their emotions. Sunny glanced down at him, and he wondered what she was thinking. Did she agree with what her kin were doing…. Did he agree?

Camera crews had moved onto scene hours ago, but now the entire crowd was turning their attention towards a single point. Camera crews and reporters moved themselves upwards, and he dispatched a group of his soldiers for security at the behest of the council, who had made their decision.

The entire crowd went quiet, and from where he stood next to the podium, he could look out at the crowd. He saw human and aliens alike leaning forward in anticipation for the news. Strange, unusual pairs held hands for comfort, others hugged each other despite the glowering from the other side.  A line of his men separated the crowd from the podium their riot shields at the ready. Cameras flashed from all sides as they waited with bated breath for the announcement. Commander Vir found himself holding his own breath before he realized it. A couple of the cameras seemed to be looking in his direction, so he let the breath go, and did his best to maintain a stoic face. Sunny stood to his side, and waffles sat at his feet.

The Rundi messenger, a short creature with long spindly legs, and a set of the council’s ceremonial black robes cleared his throat. And the crowd grew silent. The crowd held its collective breath.

“The council has voted, and in accordance with majority ruling, it has been determined that interspecies relationships-“

Was he holding his breath again?

“-are hereby and forthwith illegal in all assembly jurisdictions.”

He didn’t make it past that noise as the crowd exploded. Screaming and cheering at such a volume that Even the Delta units could not make themselves heard. Humans and creatures alike fell to the ground on their knees. As he waded into the crowd, Commander Vir was hit by the expressions on people’s faces. The malice and glee of those who had one, and the teary agony of those that had lost. Some knelt on the ground unmoving allowing themselves to be trampled below the feet of the crowd. Others fought as if for no other reason than to demonstrate their pain. A pair of unfortunate souls were dragged from each other’s arms and thrown to the ground. Sunny and he were forced to intervene and pull bodies apart.

Waffles snarled and growled, placing herself between him and anyone who dared get close. The protest had grown into a full blown riot.  At a certain point the scene was so violent, that he unclipped waffles and ordered here away for her safety.

She refused to leave.

His crew just barely managed to bring the situation back into control and reduce the damage to the convention center itself.

At the end of the day, two people died, trampled to death under the feat of angry protesters. He felt terrible, but knew his crew managed to save a lot of lives that day. On the other hand 200 + and counting had been injured in the resulting melee. All those involved in the fighting were ordered off world immediately and shipped back to earth despite their protests. The alien assemblies had never seen anything like it, the anger of the humans towards themselves, towards others. They had never seen the horrible emotion as humans sat on the steps of the convention center bloody and weeping.

White shirts were stained red.

Aliens had now experienced the full force of human political opinion, and they were afraid. The good natured stumbling of Captain Vir and his crew had only heralded what was truly to come. Humans changed everything they touched, and now the members of LFIL had pledged they would not rest until the laws were overturned. Members of the GA were scared and panicked though they had called to thank his crew for their work in quelling the riot. He didn’t feel a particular pleasure in that.

He didn’t know it yet but suicide rates across the galactic community would skyrocket. Creatures that had never been known to participate in such drastic measures would follow their human counterparts into darkness.

By the end of the day, Commander Vir sat on the convention stairway in his riot gear helmet next to him on the steps holding an ice pack to his face. The ground was littered in trash. Torn banners and shirts, strange stains from spilled drinks, or something worse. None of the protesters still milled here, only the limping security and crewmembers finishing their assigned duties. Waffles sat on his other side holding one paw delicately in front of her licking at the bandage about her foot. He patted her side as he watched the last of the emergency vehicles ride away without so much as a siren. At some point, Sunny came to sit next to him, just a few feet away. She said nothing staring out at the greying sky absently playing with one of the torn and discarded flags the LFIL starry logo sitting dispassionately against its stained white background.

Captain Kozlov came to speak with him for a few minutes and then left once his orders were received. No one said anything more than necessary. As he was contemplating getting up, his Comm gave off a sharp chirp, and he answered it with a tired, “Commander Vir.”

“Hey little bro.”

In surprise He sat up “Jeremy? Is that you?”

“Yeah, it’s me…..”

“I…. wasn’t expecting your call.” He limped to his feet and took a few steps away from where Sunny was still sitting. “Did you need something?”

There was a pause, “No, I…. I just heard what happened.” Long silence, “I’m sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry?”

 I would be interested in your guy’s opinion on this in world-social issue. Which side do you think you are or would be on? How did you like the story etc.

[blankdblank]

Anaticula Pt 55

*

Showered and changed again it was time for lunch, donning your bolero hat and passing students along the way you helped to point a few first years in the right direction. As the hurried along on your right Draco and Neville came up in your sides asking, “Going well?” Both stealing glances of the bag of Chinese take away tucked in your right arm.

You nodded, “How was Slughorn’s?”

Neville, “He has us brew Draught of Living Death in a competition for Felix, um, F something. Hermione called it liquid luck.”

“Ah. Interesting.”

Draco, “Not really. He likes to share stories. Really old ones. Sort of like a mix between Lockhart and Professor Binns, effective but not the most able to keep my attention at least.”

“Well here’s to hoping that it gets better.”

Neville caught a glimpse of Snape, saying, “I don’t think it was what he was expecting.”

“Most likely not.”

Draco have you a half hug, “Go eat at your special table.” Rushing off to go sit by Astoria over at the Puff table.

Neville chuckled and did the same, “Can’t wait to hear what the first years have said about you. Been talking all morning. You and Tennant mostly, though some are excited to meet you.”

Giggling softly you said, “No doubt they’re more terrified of my monsters than my lessons.” Making him chuckle and turn to head to sit by Luna.

Strolling along between the tables you stopped to talk to Harry, Ron, Hermione and the rest of the DA, who all were sharing what they’d heard so far until you felt Snape’s robe brush along the back of your leg. The first years looked him over and began to whisper at his pulling an odd leaf that had blown into your hair passing one of the courtyards. The leaf was then tucked into the pocket of his robe and you stepped back to join him with Barty right behind you smirking at the whispers of you both starting up again.

Once in the seats you glanced at Snape in his deep sigh to hear him say, “End of the year we’re trading.���

“Oh it can’t be that bad.” You said unloading your slightly ridiculous seven plastic and cardboard containers of food.

His expression at you made you giggle as he said, “I assumed it was just Potions that parents neglected to ready their children for. At least in Potions you can train students without them hurling themselves into the wall.”

“Ah, body bind mishap?”

“Troy Tulsen sneezed while using his wand to brush his eyebrows. Now, he has no eyebrows and two other students have concussions. You cannot govern these creatures.” Making you giggle again. “One year.”

You nodded saying, “I’ll see what we can manage.”

Barty in a smirk your way asked, “How did you manage? Fourth years first, right?”

You nodded, “Not too terribly awful according to Opal and Idris.”

Lowly he chuckled, “You will be marvelous.”

Snape, “Please tell me you are changing RoR club to your days off practice.”

“I’m not certain if-“

They both stated, “They will allow it. Why else have a skilled dueler such as yourself and not utilize that.”

They both looked on as you drew out a pair of chopsticks from the protective sleeve and you giggled at their smirks, “Troy bought lunch.”

Barty smirked accepting the egg roll you passed him with the chopsticks in filling your empty plate, “No doubt you’ve earned the feast. Store up on strength, can’t have you passing out.”

Snape stole a piece of your broccoli chicken along with his egg roll and said, “Feel free to bring your own lunch every day so we can steal some.” Making you giggle again.

“Well I always do bring plenty to share and leave for later.”

..

Study hall came next and after you were back in your class readying for the next lesson. From third to first years you had managed and instead of the first aid kits you had a different set of potions for the new Potions students. The reason for your hat became clear at the raining of tiny leaves and petals from the floating plant racks from above.

In front of your desk you asked, “How many of you are afraid of snakes?” A few timid hands rose and whispers spread through the students in your largest class to teach. “Well, as many of you may know I come from a long line stemming back to all four founders of this school, including Salazar Slytherin. Through that bloodline I have inherited the ability to speak to snakes. I understand some of you may be uncomfortable with the handling of snakes, however, there are a great many potions involving snakes and their venom. Through the year you will be handling and aiding in milking snakes. I will be here to monitor you in doing so. My snakes are not vicious creatures and I would expect you treat them with the utmost care and respect. I will not tolerate any cruelty to animals. A tip for those uncertain of being able to trust snakes, follow the Muggle Golden Rule, treat others as you wish to be treated.”

A hand popped up and a young girl asked, “You know about Muggles?”

You nodded with a grin, “My mother was adopted by a Muggle family. Our home is in London surrounded by Muggles. Trust me you will find a great deal more pure blood wizards are accepting or friendly with Muggles than you would assume.” You caught the harsh stares of a group of Slytherin students and said, “And if any of you wish to try and claim me as a blood traitor feel free to do so,” whispers began then ended when you added, “Just enjoy your year of detentions to strengthen your convictions. Blood can’t save you when the world goes up in flames, allies do and pure bloods are a dying breed. Live to let go of your hate or die from it. Our families had the choice to take sides, so do we. I suggest you choose wisely, both who you are choosing to attack and fight along side.”

Shift of your hand to the side brought their attentions to the snake on the tree reaching out to you in your hushed whisper in Parseltongue, “Who can tell me the name of this snake?” Heads shook and you smirked strolling between the desks showing each of the students both leaning in and inching away, “Take a closer look, notice the telling umbrella shaped dots along her sides between the blue zebra like stripes. The orange eyes.” A timid reach up from one student had you pause allowing them to stroke her side, “The oddly warm scales giving an almost numbing sensation to the skin?”

A boy in the far corner raised his hand, “Balbarock Boa?”

A smirk eased onto your lips and you said, “Exactly. Of course you would recall this one, I believe your father was on the trip my uncle found her mother on for me. Very rare, docile among humans, can anyone tell me what a bite from this beauty would do?” You asked in her opening her jaws revealing the five fangs the breed has making the confused students lean in as she released a dose of venom into the vial you levitated under her top jaw releasing the magenta colored venom. “No one?”

You glanced around then led her back to her tree saying, “This venom has been known to stop bleeding, heart attacks, even in rare occasions aneurisms from bleeding out.” Lips parted at that, “Snake venoms can do anything from reversing blood loss, halting and preventing seizures, all the way down to giving an uncontrollable craving to eat whole blocks of cheese, not even mentioning what they can do for Lycan products. You just have to know how to use them. Snakes like any other creature in our world can be helpful for both good and bad, just like people, and when treated fairly are more than happy to assist in healing others. You don’t speak the same language, they are afraid and don’t understand you or you them.

It sounds too simple to be true, but a pinch of kindness can get you miles past an ounce of fear. Do not mistake kindness for weakness, and do not mistake that charms or spells can be your only defense, Potions, Herbology, even History can save your life if you know where to look. I will push you, I will give you books you imagine to be absurd in my recommendations, but when you find yourself stuck, it’s not the common items you’re going to find around you. I do hope that if you do get stuck you could remember one of my odd recommendations. We have a library for a reason, and it is the greatest arsenal we have. This venom especially is very potent and is where we will start.” A recipe was written across the black board to aid in blood loss for possibly mortal wounds.

In its sitting to brew you began to instruct them on another venom based recipe for mending broken or fractured bones Idris aided in supplying tears for stirring out grins when they handed over their finished vials you would test and send along to Madame Pomfrey. From 5 to dinner at 7:30 you recorded your first set of grades for the day on the potions of the day from your notepad from each class giving you a good hope for how the year could go. A note from home had you aware that both Bill and Fleur had settled into their new rooms and joined your family for dinner sharing their new jobs interweaving in Gringotts.

Strolling through the hall from your classroom up to the Great Hall for dinner a young girl called out, “Professor?”

Continuing on you paused at a point from a fifth year smirking boy making you turn your head at the repeated, “Professor?”

Looking at the girl it clicked in your head, “Hmm? Oh, right, me, sorry,”

“Chelsea,”

You nodded, “Yes, Chelsea, what can I help you with?”

“Professor Binns, we were curious, he mentioned that if we find ourselves stuck in his class we might speak with a Professor Evans? For tips?”

Your smirk made her voice halt and you let out a weak chuckle then replied, “I must apologize on the mistake Professor Binns has made,”

The girl beside Chelsea said, “See, told you there was no Professor Evans.”

“My mother’s maiden name was Evans. Professor Binns calls me Miss Evans from time to time.”

The girls both said, “Oh.”

You nodded and said, “How I handled his lessons was to have a self writing quill copy down everything he says, then you split that up into various columns.” You filled in the various ones you used and they nodded with the second girl taking notes on all you said making you grin, “If you need any help or want any tips on spare books to read to learn more let me know.”

Chelsea, “You did well in his class?”

You nodded, “Straight O’s all the way up to my NEWTS.” Dropping their jaws in your giggling turn to continue on.

“Professor!” Turning again you rolled your eyes giggling at Barty’s trot up to your side in a half circle to keep on going as he pushed his hands in his pockets stirring up whispers around you both in his spreading smile in looking at you.

“Not you too. I will get used to it.”

Barty chuckled in a nod, “Of course, of course. Only took me a few months when I started. Heard great things, Love.”

That word stirred up a whirl of gossip behind you in his side pressing to yours in the interlocking of your hands behind your back, “I do miss bouncing from class to class though. I think I should try to drop in on Trelawney this week too, one of my lunches.”

He nodded, “Good idea. No doubt she misses your company in class. One of the few Seers to grace these halls.”

Reaching the Great Hall you grinned at Slughorn in his own greeting nod to pass you heading to his seat, “Miss Black, Mr Tennant.”

“Evening,” you said then you added, “Professor Slughorn,”

He paused, “Yes, My Dear?”

“I was just curious, you mentioned teaching my Mum,” a glimmer of pain flashed into his eyes and you blurted out, “I was only asking, because I was wondering if you’d heard about the Ice Bird she had spotted.”

He nodded and grinned widely in relief, “Oh yes, yes My Dear, very well done and spotted. Took quite a fancy to Care for Creatures if I recall correctly. It is lovely to see you taking after her so, twelve perfect O’s, I hope you don’t mind my adding a portrait of yourself to my collection.”

You shook your head, “Not in the least.”

Widening his grin, “My plans for a dinner are being finalized and you shall be added to the top of my list, for now, a certain brisket seems to be calling for me.”

You giggled softly and said, “Of course.” Watching him go making Barty glance down at you in your nip at your lip and turn to follow a few wide strides behind Slughorn, lowly you whispered to Barty, “I have a very loose plan forming. One requiring his trust.”

Barty nodded seeing that Albus was staring between you and Slughorn with a narrowed inquisitive gaze, “Yes, it seems our Headmaster has one of his own.”

“All the more reason.” Making him nod again. “For now, that brisket does smell wondrous.”

.

Once dinner was through you were back to your home to wash your face, change and climb into bed to drift off to sleep. A trio of wakings and more snatchings in the night led up to the mooing of your alarm. Hat in hand and changed into another jean and blouse combo you plopped into your seat at the breakfast table still trying to blink awake as the pitcher filled your glass with juice. Percy beside you grinned saying, “Morning.”

You nodded saying, “Morning Perce. Oh, Bryce Btondt will not be in.”

Percy nodded, “Another snatching?”

Lifting your glass as Remus set your plate in front of you, “Yes.”

Percy nodded again, “Might have to do with Umbridge’s list on pure blood members. Fourth one crossed off as half blood this month.”

“Of course she’s behind this.”

Percy, “I’ll try to get a copy of the list.”

You shook your head, “No need, to do that would only cause up a stir in warning everyone on it.” Your eyes shifted to the side when Fleur came into view with a wide grin and gave you a side hug and greeting peck on your cheeks you returned gladly.

“Good morning, Fleur.”

“Good Morning.” She answered then paused, “I seem to be speaking well. How is teaching going?”

“Well, better than I had assumed for my first day. How was the bank?”

“Good. A lot of paperwork, sorting, filing. Good use of my English.”

“Well if you need a refresher I have gotten quite good at language sharing through mental links.” Easing a curious grin across your lips you watched Bill steal a glance at Fleur in his taking the seat across from her she returned with a quick grin making you look away to not get caught by the awkwardly grinning pair, “Perfectly painless should you wish to try.”

Bill nodded, “Ah, yes, taught most of us our languages that way.”

Her grin deepened looking across at him saying to him rather than you in your father’s entrance and lean in to kiss your cheek to pretend not to be watching the pair, “I shall consider it.”

.

Noon had come after your 9 am class for Fourth years with the Puffs and Ravenclaws that they took to swimmingly and cherished your notebooks thoughtfully as to what they stood for in the news breaking of more snatchings. Alongside the DA you strolled up the steps to the Room of Requirement gaining a crowd of curious First Years along the way. The bowl of topics was offered and you strolled around helping to aid the younger students through the chosen topics. At your side however Ron snuck saying, “Steady on Sis, but, thought you ought to know something.”

“Hmm?” You caught his eye and he leaned in to continue.

“Heard a fair bit of whispers bout you and Tennant. Don’t seem to be dying down what with all the Loves and Darlings floating around.”

In his step back to the lesson at hand in his chance Hermione took your side saying, “Well I for one think he is an amazing choice.”

Making you grin at her, “Thank you. Even though it’s just talk.”

She smirked at you playfully before her own turn at the spell, “Maybe you should give it a go? He seems quite playful with you, must feel something for you.”

You nodded and nipped at your lip stepping aside to miss a wayward spell from a First Year you turned to help aid through the spell you dissipated before it hit Nigel behind Hermione.

.

Straight to the very Professor himself you made your way and waited in the doorway of his office as he searched for something, knowing he’d no doubt drop one of the various bobbles in his arms if you startled him. Putting it all down on his desk he huffed and scratched his head glancing around until his eyes popped up to you, “Ah, lunch time, Love?”

“It is, though I had a, bit of a warning for you.”

Walking around his desk his hand extended and in his seat on the end of the desk your hand in his was gently pulled to bring you closer to him, “What is wrong?” His hand waved to close the door blocking the sight of the students peering in through the classroom door.

Sighing softly you said, “Apparently rumors about us are going around.”

Across his face his grin spread and he tried to shorten his chuckle in his shifting his legs a bit wider to bring you just a tad closer, lifting his free hand his fingers curled under your chin raising it to catch your eye, “I know your exes tossed you through the ringer. And no doubt you’re uncertain of how I would take this news. It is one thing to play around the others, your aunt especially, I understand you may not feel the most worthy of candidates of my affection, but you very much are. And trust me when I say that there are no strings, no expectations, if you enjoy playing couple until you are ready for a relationship again I’m your man. And I would be honored to play the part for you. For you see, you are, in quite plain terms, a catch, and any man would be honored for a moment of your time, friend, lover or likewise.” After his lean in to kiss your cheek you nodded and he couldn’t help but smirk at your glance from his eyes to his lips.

Remaining still he let you move in and it wasn’t until your pause an inch from his lips his fingers met your chin again and you closed the distance making his slit eyes close fully for the mere blink it lasted. In your pull back at the uncertainty in your expression he cradled your hands and pressed them to his chest. “Love, you don’t have to look at me like that. I know how heavy times are right now. I am not oblivious, though no matter how hard I try to forget, that I am no longer 19 but over 30 while you are nearly the opposite. I feel very much the teenager I once was before it all went south. However, do not doubt this is very much at your leading. No matter what you need I am here. No pressure, I shall always dote on you endlessly even should you choose another. Until you do, I am very much at your disposal.” He stood up and at your next glance to his lips he leaned in and then was the one to pause allowing you to complete the kiss he melted into.

When you pulled back he whispered lovingly, “See, the world didn’t explode.” Making you giggle and shake your head in his low chuckle, “Until it does,” he stole a quick peck on the tip of your nose, “Time for lunch Love.” Turning to guide you down to the Great Hall draping his arm around your shoulders after a stolen peck on his cheek and hushed thanks widening his grin.

.

After lunch your note to Draco had him meeting you up at the Room of Requirements where inside the crowded room of random objects he followed you. “What is all this?”

“Where you can hide something. Over the years we’ve been going through it seeing what’s what. Categorizing and making note of all we found in a sort of inventory. One in particular will help us.”

Curiously he followed you to the familiar cabinet you revealed by pulling back a sheet, “A Vanishing Cabinet!”

You nodded saying, “I found a series of books on them, we can go through to bind this one and the one your dad got for us. Just a few minor adjustments to the door looks like all it’ll take structurally, but without the link there’s no telling where you’ll be sent to.”

“I’ll get studying then.” Mentally planning on taking a long time at doing this.

…

Two more days of practice days sat between your days filled with RoR practice and your place in monitoring the Study Hall. Friday however had you taking lunch with Trelawney to consult about your dreams as she felt a weight around you in your passing in trading watches of Study Halls.

…

Montrose Magpies vs Kenmare Kestrals, the titles of the days papers read.

The Magpies being the most successful in League history, having won the League Cup thirty-two times and the European Cup twice. The team colors of the Magpies are black and white, and their playing robes are black and white with one magpie on the chest, and another on the back. Cormack McLeod their manager eyed you all in your entrance to the stadium from a tall window. The usual worst team against the usual best, though for the past two seasons the Kestrals had reached and held the top spots with mostly the rookies, of which you were a part of, making up the team Cormack along with most of their fans took it as a sign that they would be coming back to the top of the top again with an easy win.

Anxiously since your first fitting you pulled on your new uniform, clad entirely in emerald green with two yellow K’s across your chests back to back, not counting your black pads and boots.

Out to the other side of Scotland you had traveled and alongside the team ignoring the pouch of cards and notes from the school, who had split into favoring sides for the two days prior, you focused on securing your braided ponytail splitting from four braids to one while Troy and Moran shared some thoughts on plays and tactics the Magpies might start off with. The roar of the crowd both for and against your team grew louder in your broom clutching stroll to the entrance box. All of a sudden the box opened and you caught sight of your father, Bill, Fleur and Barty in their place in your team family box between those there for the Veterans and Amos beaming with camera in hand. Mounting your brooms you kicked off and made your entering flight around the pitch and took your places in they dying of the leprechaun dancing above at the flocks of magpies leading the other team.

Looking them over you inhaled again and felt your hair ripple to a midnight blue when their thief locked his eyes on yours. A toss of the Quaffle and the roars of the crowd never died since your stealing spin avoiding the man trying to get it first, turning on his broom he watched you spin under your broom and back upright to pass the Quaffle to Moran avoiding the bludger you bent back to do so with it barely missing your cheek. Sharp turns and hard throws later the man double your size gawked at your hidden strength in your dainty frame in his eyes and struggled to keep up, not with your broom because his was faster, but he couldn’t seem to master where you were slyly sending the Quaffle off to.

The signature move of your first game however came in your front dive between the twins who both did barrel leaps around you to swap brooms back after a swap from earlier avoiding collisions with the other teams Chasers. Rolling to land feet first on your broom you knocked the Quaffle from the other Thief’s arm you then caught and soared, still on your feet to hurl the ball through the center hoop after faking a toss to the left hoop in a sharp turn. The cheers and walls of flashes left little else to be heard, not even the whipping of the wind as you dropped down to sit again bringing the sight of the stunned Magpies still gawking at you and the twins flanking you again in your move to take your positions again.

Five hours the match stretched on in a near unscoring bout for the Magpies landing you with a bloody cheek and badly bruised ribs matching Fred and George’s black eyes from thrown elbows and Oliver’s swollen knee from a hard collision from one of their Beaters. Cedric got through mostly intact after his miss of the Snitch, which helped their team get the score up to 600 to 180 in your favor.

The press box ran wild and after your showers you changed to jeans and a post game jersey for the interview following you strolled to still smoothing healing creams on one another in an awkward chain until you all flashed sideways smiles at the first flashes starting. Two hours of press and a meeting of the lines of guests and considered notable fans present and you were off again through your door to your team apartment where you all collapsed waiting for the delivery of your dinner as Bill and Fleur continued chatting on their love of the match and both settled on going again the next week in an excuse to keep spending their Saturdays together.

…

Wk 3 - Pride of Portree vs Kenmare Kestrals you faced off with also in Scotland.

Fans of the Pride of Portree commonly refer to the team as the "Prides", and their playing robes are purple with a gold star emblazoned on the chest. Pride of Portree have won the League Cup at least twice.

All week you had gotten a stream of letters from a group of die hard Kenmare fans now adding you and the other new players to their weekly mailing lists. All of them gaining letters in return inflating the number of letters coming in by your next game with hopes that you could have a second win to get back to the top of the league again.

500 – 240 in your favor was the verdict and along with a braced arm from a hard crash with a Beater that soon ended up on the ground after George ‘accidentally’ slammed into him in return. The resilience of your mood and giggling personality in the interview after eased any worries about your being out for the next game in two weeks time.

The night after gave you little chance to sleep between your painful sprain and the string of dreams sending you knocking on the door of three of your muggle born students families to hide them away in your island hideaways. Letters to their children were drafted and you had them sent up to their dorm rooms with a wave of your hand so they would not be worried. 

Steadily whispers spread that families were going into hiding left and right in alarming numbers to their children left with questions at school. Questions being asked of you, Snape and Minerva while Dumbledore seemed to be taking more and more time traveling for some odd reason. All while you tried to mentally map out the letter you would draft to the Pears after receiving the last of Suzsienne’s jewelry through Lucius.

**

“Harry, you got my message. Come in. How are you?” Dumbledore asked showing him into his office.

Harry answered, “I'm fine, sir.”

“Enjoying your classes? I know Professor Slughorn is most impressed with you.”

“I think he overestimates my abilities, sir.”

“Do you?”

“Definitely.”

“What about your activities outside the classroom?”

“Sir?”

“Well, I notice you spend...a great deal of time with Miss Granger. I can't help wondering if...”

“Oh, no, no. I mean, she's brilliant, and we're friends, but, no. I’m dating Ginny.”

“Forgive me. I was merely being curious. But enough chitchat. You must be wondering why I summoned you here tonight. The answer lies here. What you are looking at are memories. In this case, pertaining to one individual, Voldemort or, as he was known then, Tom Riddle. This vial contains the most particular memory...of the day I first met him. I'd like you to see it, if you would.”

.

Back to a sleek and lifeless tiled building forming the orphanage in which Riddle was raised Harry watched Dumbledore being given a tour, “I must admit there is some confusion upon receiving your letter, Mr Dumbledore. In all the years Tom's been here, he's never once had a family visitor. There have been incidents with the other children. Nasty things. Tom, you have a visitor.”

Dumbledore, “How do you do, Tom?”

Tom seated by the window asked, “Don't. You're the doctor, aren't you?”

Dumbledore, “No. I am a professor.”

“I don't believe you. She wants me looked at. They think I'm different.”

“Well, perhaps they're right.”

“I'm not mad.”

“Hogwarts is not a place for mad people. Hogwarts is a school. A school of magic. You can do things, can't you, Tom? Things other children can't.”

“I can make things move without touching them. I can make animals do what I want without training them. I can make bad things happen to people who are mean to me. I can make them hurt if I want. Who are you?”

“Well, I'm like you, Tom. I'm different.”

“Prove it.”

His wardrobe lit on fire and Tom walked over to it, “I think there's something in your wardrobe trying to get out, Tom.” Tom removed the cigar box inside full of items he’d stolen, “Thievery is not tolerated at Hogwarts, Tom. At Hogwarts, you'll be taught not only how to use magic, but how to control it. You understand me?”

In Dumbledore’s turn to leave Tom stated, “I can speak to snakes too. They find me. Whisper things. Is that normal for someone like me?”

.

Shaking his head adjusting to coming out of the memory Harry asked, “Did you know, sir? Then?”

“Did I know I'd just met the most dangerous dark wizard of all time? No. If I had, I... Over time, while here at Hogwarts... Tom Riddle grew close to one particular teacher. Can you guess who that teacher might be?”

Harry, “You didn't bring Professor Slughorn back simply to teach Potions, did you?”

“No, I did not. You see, Professor Slughorn possesses something I desire very dearly. And he will not give it up easily.”

Harry wet his lips, “You said Professor Slughorn would try to collect me.”

“I did.”

“Do you want me to let him?”

“Yes.”

.

Blankly Harry stood at the base of the golden staircase leading to the Headmaster’s office and he huffed realizing just where he needed to take his questions. It was after dinner but he knew that a comment from lunch pretty much guaranteed you would be grading the tests you had given earlier. A glance up to the opening door and he flashed you a grin closing it behind you then stole a chance to peer around at the changes you had made to the room. “Nice. Cozier. Still cold though.”

You smirked at him adjusting the shawl draped over your bent arms and back, “I have a warm shawl.” Flipping over the final graded test you recorded the score to in your ledger you then shut. “You look troubled, something happen to your broom?”

His lips parted, “Why? Did you dream something about my broom?”

You shook your head, “Nope. Just recognize the look. What’s up?”

With a sigh he pulled a stool over and set it on the other side of your desk saying, “I just got back from a meeting with Dumbledore.”

“Ah. What mischief is he up to? He seems to be avoiding me, passed off my evals to the Bloody Baron, twice now. Who simply votes in my favor.”

Harry chuckled at your giggle to yourself as you raised your heat sustaining mug of tea to your lips for a sip. “He showed me a memory. Riddle being met by Dumbledore at the orphanage, being told he’s a Wizard.” You lowered your mug, “He’s got a whole cabinet of memories on Riddle. Said he wants me to get close to Slughorn, says he has a memory he wants.” A deep sigh left you and your hand rose to rub your forehead with a grumble from you making him ask, “What?”

Looking up at him you said, “He’s after a memory on Horcruxes.” Harry’s lips parted, “I’ve told Dumbledore Regulus and I found all the Horcruxes. He doesn’t believe me apparently.”

“If you’ve already told him-, why ask me?”

“Because he has no reason to question your loyalty.”

“Why-,”

“Because I’ve been taken to speak with Riddle several times now. Because when it comes to choices in matters of doing what is right or kind we often differ on opinions. No doubt in it now, since Azkaban he has no trust in me doing what he can predict. You did, in the Ministry, you interfered, he knew you would let him take over the duel, what he didn’t expect was for me to take his place in the duel.”

Harry, “But, Riddle’s being fought, why does it matter?”

“Because he knew Grindlewald, he knew Riddle, knew them both well spent decades befriending them and he missed or ignored their turns. I’ve struck a few chords it seems.”

Harry shook his head, “But you’re not evil! You died! Several times for me! And in the States, the Lycans-!”

“And he knows that, along with everything else, how terrifying would that be after all this I turned and he was wrong, again.” You lifted your cup and his eyes narrowed looking you over seeing how tired all this was making you.

“How much sleep are you getting?”

Your eyes looked him over in lowering your cup, “Sleep?” you shook your head, “Never heard of it.” Smirking at him again.

“I’m being serious, Jaqi, you look exhausted!”

Nodding again you replied, “Oh you haven’t seen me exhausted yet.” You glanced at the clock on your desk then said, “You should head to bed.” A slip of paper was brought out and you scribbled a note across it and passed it to him, “Congratulations, my first out of bed note for the Prefects. Get some sleep, I hear you have practice tomorrow.”

“Try to sleep,” he said getting up to leave making you smirk and prop your chin in your palm.

“Easier said than done,” you mumbled to his back and you sighed looking your desk over to put up your tests and ledger before heading to the doorway behind you collecting Opal along the way since Fawkes and Idris were out flying with the Giant Phoenix. Across your bed you slumped and felt your eyes dropping shut, though instead of terrifying dreams it was another with your dream blondes. The pair of them, curled around you in a massive bed whispering to you in a language you couldn’t place.

Pt 56

[yehet-me-up]

A Series of Missed Encounters

Pairing: Youngjae x Reader

Word Count: 2,265

Rating: (F) - fluff. it’s soft o’clock up in here.

Summary: For months you’ve almost met the sweet man who works at the local florist. Eventually you decide to take matters into your own hands.

Part 6 of the GOT7 colors series of oneshots! 🌈 Color: Yellow.

Crap, crap, crap, you think, dashing out from work in a rush. Self, how did you forget Mother’s Day gifts? Epic fail. 

You pull up Google Maps and search the nearest florist. Thankfully, working at a bookstore you were able to pick up the latest book from your mom’s favorite mystery series on your break.

But you always bring her flowers, and in the insanity of the store’s Mother’s Day sale weekend, you’d forgotten to get any yesterday. Ugh, things are probably going to be insanely expensive today. 

With a groan you open your car and get in, scrolling past several shops with fancy names that are definitely out of your minimum-wage, starving college student budget.

Your eyes light up when you see Choi’s Florals and the single $ next to the name indicating its affordability. ‘Best chance I’ve got,’ you sigh.

After several minutes filled with colorful swearing at slow moving cars in front of you, you pull into the parking lot and snag a spot a few spaces down from the shop. 

It’s simple, yet well laid out, you think as you squeeze inside. Just after six pm on Mother’s Day and it seems you’re far from the only person to wait until the last minute.

Dodging fellow shoppers you manage to find the peonies and choose a nice looking bouquet. There’s a long line waiting for the two cashiers and you tap your foot while you wait, trying your best to be patient but feeling the minutes ticking away. Your family is definitely going to be wondering where you are if you aren’t home for dinner soon.

Finally, you’re the next one in line. When you look at the cashiers you notice that one of them is a handsome man around your age ringing up a pair of women

He smiles brightly at you, his eyes crinkling in an adorable way. You turn, looking behind you, but the man behind you is at least eighty. Heat rushes to your cheeks when you turn back and realize he’s looking at you in between ringing up the customers at his station. You return his smile and hope you’ll be called up to his station.

‘Helloooo. Next!’ comes an insistent voice.

You turn and notice the other cashier, an older woman with long black hair and very similar features to the good looking guy. She’s pursing her lips and motions you forward with an impatient wave of her hand. 

You think about waiting for the guy, letting the man behind you go first. But that would be too forward, wouldn’t it? And crap, I have to get home or I’m dead, you think sadly.

With a sigh you step forward, paying for your flowers quickly. 

By the time you’re done the old man is being rung up, loudly yelling about not being able to find the flowers he wanted. The sweet cashier meets your eyes again, giving you another smile and a wink. With an amused shake of your head you finally turn and dash out of the store.

Finally, a pause in the day, he thinks as two girls run out the front door, their hair and makeup done up, but wearing tee shirts and sweatpants. He sighs, leaning an elbow on the glass counter and resting his chin on it.

Prom night at the high school three blocks away is always insanity. No matter how many pre-orders and day before pick up options they’ve tried, the afternoon of the event is always a madhouse. Teenagers coming in various states of dressed up to procure boutonnieres and corsages.

With a tired laugh he grabs a few more corsages and fills the display on the counter. He can hear his mother in the back ranting to his aunt with amusement about kids these days who leave everything to the last minute. The front bell dings and he looks up to greet the customer.

You walk quickly up to the counter, blowing a hair out of your face. He grins at the unexpected surprise, he didn’t think he’d get to see you again.

‘Hi. Do you have any corsages left?’ you ask with a laugh, resting your palms on the counter and looking stressed.

He blinks, frozen for a moment, his eyebrows pulling together. He’d pegged you at his own age, and is momentarily thrown off by the request. A second later he snaps out of it. 

‘Oh, yes. Yes. Of course. We have some right here, in a couple different colors,’ he says, motioning to the display.

‘Umm.’ You consider the options briefly and then grab the yellow one, setting it on the counter and pulling out your wallet. ‘This one, thank you.’

‘No problem at all, thank you for your business,’ he says politely.

He still smiles at you, though perhaps a little less animatedly than before. When you came in the first time he was blown away, anxiously trying to wrap up with his customer so he could be the one to talk to you. He tries not to feel disappointed while he rings you up, but fails miserably.

‘Have a great day,’ he says with a tight smile, handing you the container.

‘You too,’ you say brightly, walking back towards the door.

With your hand on the door you pause, hesitating a second even though you’re obviously in a rush.

‘It’s for my younger brother, by the way,’ you say with a lopsided grin. ‘I volunteered to get it for him cause he’s trying to get toothpaste off the lapel of his jacket right now.’

He laughs, relief and renewed excitement flooding him. ‘Ah, poor kid. That’s very nice of you.’

‘I’ll see you around,’ you say with a wink, pushing out the door and disappearing.

He returns to his restocking and starts humming.

‘What else do you want to get? Lunch maybe?’ your friend Becca says, putting the box with the earrings she just bought in her purse.

‘Hmmm, let’s wander and see?’ you say, weaving through the crowds of the farmer’s market.

‘Sounds good,’ she replies, linking her arm in yours to avoid being separated in the Saturday morning crowd.

You stop to look at another jewelry table and narrowly avoid buying an amethyst necklace that’s way out of your price range. A man with an orange mohawk tries to convince you to buy an antique mirror he’s restored. 

Becca talks you into getting fair scones and you happily agree. The flaky pastry and jam creations are a staple of the fair every year and you wouldn’t miss them for the world.

After another couple of hours you’re just about ready to go, when you spot a familiar face in the crowd. 

Through the mass of people you spot the handsome man who works at the florists. Choi Florals has a small stand and is selling bouquets at the market. From this far he can’t see you, and with a hint of alarm you notice he’s waving to the man at the stand and turning to walk the other direction.

‘I’ll be right back,’ you say to Becca and start working your way through the crowd.

Unfortunately, by the time you emerge he’s nowhere to be found. With a sigh you drop your arms. It seems that the two of you will never meet properly, you think with a laugh. The customer at the stand finishes paying and you approach the young man working there.

‘Excuse me,’ you ask and he smiles warmly at you. ‘Is the man that you were just talking to coming back?’

He looks off in the direction your mystery man went and smacks his knee. ‘My cousin? Nah, he’s done for the day. He’ll be very sorry to hear there was a pretty girl asking about him though. Do you want to-’

‘Why’d you run off? Everything okay?’ Becca asks, coming up to you with a confused expression.

You turn back to the man at the stand and nod your head. ‘Thanks so much for your help.’

He laughs and shakes his head. ‘No trouble at all.’

You slip your arm into Becca’s and steer her off back to the rest of the farmer’s market. ‘Oh it was nothing.’

‘Hurry up with those Youngjae, we’ve got two more weddings to get to today. No time for slacking,’ his mother calls, heading into the venue to find the wedding planner.

He laughs and wipes the sweat off his forehead with the back of his hand. The July sun is unforgiving, beaming down as he unloads crate after crate of table displays. 

With his cousin’s help he manages to unload and position the two enormous vases that frame the arch at the end of the aisle. Finally, the only thing left is the bouquets for the wedding party.

‘Youngjae, run those inside to the big table by the couches,’ his mother instructs with a point of her finger.

He nods and gathers them up in his arms, heading off in the direction she pointed. With the enormous lilies in the bride’s bouquet his vision is severely limited. Finally, he finds the door to the room she’s talking about. With a groan he realizes that the door is shut, and he has absolutely no space to get a hand free.

‘Here, let me help you,’ a pleasant voice says from inside.

The door blessedly opens and he maneuvers himself inside with all the bouquets. As carefully as he can he lays the flowers out on the table. He turns to thank his rescuer and you both are surprised to find each other, yet again. Instinctively he reaches a hand up to fix his hair.

‘Thanks for the help,’ he says with a grin. ‘Nice to see you again.’

A flush comes to your cheeks and you let out a laugh, smoothing a hand down the pale pink of your bridesmaid’s dress. ‘You too. We’ve got to stop meeting like this,’ you joke.

‘Right? I’m -’ he starts.

His attempt to finally introduce himself, to ask your name, to get your number, or to say anything other than a cursory greeting is interrupted once again.

‘Time to go, what’s taking so long?’ his mother says, peeking her head in the door. ‘Two more weddings to go, remember?’

She purses her lips and strides off to the car. He opens his mouth to quickly speak again, but another woman wearing the same dress you are comes down the hall.

‘Oh, awesome! The flowers are here. Perfect timing. Help me grab these, we’re about ready for pictures,’ she says, not seeing Youngjae there.

You both sigh, looking at each other with amusement.

‘I’ll see you around?’ he says with a laugh, moving to the door.

‘Definitely,’ you reply, hoisting several bouquets into your arms, following your friend down the hallway.

A week later you park your car out front of the shop. Drumming your thumbs on the wheel you hesitate. What if he was just being nice and he’s not interested in you at all? You bite your lip and consider your options.

Eventually, his handsome face, smiling at you comes to mind. ‘Better to know than to keep wondering,’ you say to yourself decidedly and get out of the car.

You push into the shop in a rush, as seems to be the general trend when the two of you meet. Blessedly, there’s no customers in the store, and no family members in sight. As you approach the counter he comes out from the back room with an armful of yellow sunflowers. 

He jolts in surprise when he notices you. ‘Oh, it’s you again,’ he says with a grin, setting his flowers on the counter.

‘Yep. It’s me,’ you laugh, coming up to the counter. ‘I decided it’s time we finally meet.’

With a considering look he nods his head. ‘That sounds like a fantastic idea.’ He looks dramatically behind him, around the store, and out into the parking lot.

‘What are you doing?’ you say in amusement and join him in looking around.

‘I’m just waiting to see what’s going to interrupt us this time,’ he deadpans and you laugh.

You both stand there waiting with grins on your faces. Once it’s clear nothing is coming you stick your hand out to him and introduce yourself.

He takes your hand and shakes it, his warm palm sliding against yours. ‘Youngjae. Since this might be a limited opportunity… will you go out with me?’

‘Absolutely. We’d better act fast,’ you say mischievously, pulling out your phone.

He does the same and you exchange numbers, leaning close over the counter. A beat later and a noise is heard in the back.

‘Youngjae, where are you? Come help me unload this delivery?’ a male voice calls from the back.

You both sigh in amusement. ‘I’ll see you soon, okay?’ you ask, turning and sliding your hair behind your ear.

‘Deal. Wait, take one of these with you. On the house,’ he says warmly. When you turn he’s holding out one of the long, uncut sunflowers. ‘They’re so bright and happy they remind me of you.’

With a blush you reach out and take the flower, your fingers touching his briefly. ‘Thank you,’ you reply, holding the flower delicately as though it might break.

‘Anything for you, sunshine,’ he counters with a wink, heading into the back.

By the time you get back into your car you already have a text waiting. How does tomorrow sound? Better get in a date while we can ;)

You laugh and start typing out a response.

[atomic-thomas]

4 Friends, 1 Extreme Behemoth. (Part 2)

Caden grabbed his Wyvern Ignition build & headed down to greet his friends in the third area. Behemoth was in the Volcanic Zone.

Upon arriving, he saw Behemoth perform a Geyser Punch on Thomas but he I-Framed dodged it perfectly. Caitlyn was performing Aerial Attacks on it's tail & finally managed to sever it. "YES! This just got so much easier!" She said with excitement. That excitement soon faded however when Behemoth pinned her to the ground, grabbing her in it's fist, slammed her repeatedly & threw her against a wall. She then gained the Behemoth's Enmity when she shouldn't have. "HAAAAALP!" She yelled. Acting quickly, JD threw a Flash Pod & canceled the Enmity to which he then proceeded to heal her Bleed Blight & use a Mega Potion.

The Quartet continued to do their best in damaging the Behemoth. Attacks were dodged, TCSes & SAEDs were landed, songs were played & items were used all while the timer kept ticking. They were on pace to pass the check.

And pass it they did. After a few minutes, the Behemoth made haste towards the final area; The Hottest & Most Dangerous Room in the Elder's Recess without casting Ecliptic Meteor. Thomas assessed the situation. "Whew. Alright. You guys remember what to do for this phase, right?" Caden & JD confirmed. "Yyyyyep!" "Already restocking."

Caitlyn & Thomas went back to camp as well. Phase 4 was gonna be ruthless. They wanted to eat another meal & also restock as well. Caden switched back to his Gunlance Tank set.

The group headed down into the lava pit. On the way, Thomas explained "Enmity is more crucial than ever in this phase. We cannot have it constantly casting Charybdis in an area with lava geysers. As for JD, I don't recommend engaging with Behemoth at all in this phase. We need you to have full focus on Healing & Buffing us so just stay far away from Behemoth." JD Was eager to agree. "You don't need to tell me twice." Thomas continued. "Caitlyn... Whatever you do... Do NOT try to mount Behemoth in this phase. It'll only summon one Comet per each of the three Ecliptic Meteors that it casts in this phase. If we exceed two Ecliptic Meteor thresholds then we'll be forced to jump one of them which I'm doubtful that you know the timing. Just stick to ground combos."

Everyone understood the plan. They arrived in the final area & Behemoth immediately started casting Charybdis without hesitation. Thomas lead it off to side because he anticipated the spell. Behemoth charged shoulder first across the zone & bulldozed everyone over. One of those people was JD who couldn't immediately heal everybody. Unfortunately, Behemoth instantly followed up with a paw slam & shoulder check. Caden was able to block it but JD was sent back to camp on a cart. "F***!!!!" He cursed at the screen. Their Support was absent for the time being. Meanwhile, Caden was luckily able to gain the Behemoth's Enmity. "Okay. I'll hold him right here. Beat it's stupid face in or something!" Thomas unloaded another SAED & said "Just one problem. If he summons a Comet on you, we won't be able to hide behind it because you're at an edge." Caden sheathed his Gunlance. "Shoot..." He said bluntly as he started running towards the middle of the zone. Just in time to because Behemoth summoned a Comet right on top of him just then. He avoided placing it directly in the middle but wasn't foolish enough to place it to far off to the side either. Thomas unloaded one more SAED causing Behemoth to flinch. He then said "I think it's gonna happen right now." Caden replied with "Wait... Where's JD?"

JD Was halfway through the tunnel & his heart sank when he read the ominous text on the right side of the screen. *The Behemoth is casting Ecliptic Meteor*

"NO! I REFUSE TO CART TWICE TO THIS S****!" He said angrily as he quickly ran back to the previous zone. JD Saw the bright red flash & quaking impact emanate from the pit. The other three were protected by the Comet. Behemoth instantly followed up with a Geyser Punch as JD re-entered the zone to re-apply the Attack & Defense buffs as well as spam Mega Potions.

Thomas & Caitlyn let loose on it's soft arms. Caitlyn Paralyzed Behemoth once again. "I'm gonna really try to get another KO." Thomas said as he discharged as many Phials into Behemoth's head as he could. As soon as the Paralysis subsided, the KO took effect & the four of them showed Behemoth no mercy. "Beat his arms. Beat his f***ing arms in! Put a hole in his arms, Gog Damnit!" Behemoth got up & summoned a Comet on Caitlyn. She was already in a good spot so she didn't need to move much.

Behemoth started casting the 2nd Ecliptic Meteor. The Comet was right next to it so the team was already in position. "I'm shaking so much now." Caitlyn said looking noticeably stressed. Thomas reassured her that everything was gonna be okay. "We're almost there. Just one more."

After the explosion went off, Behemoth followed up with a paw slam which caught Thomas completely off guard & one shotted him. "OH MY GOD!!! STOP!" He yelled at the screen frustrated with such a surprising cart as everyone else dispersed. Only one faint remained. It was gonna be close.

Caden regained the Enmity for the last time. Until Thomas got back, Caitlyn was the only one doing significant damage. "Focus, Guys. We can't afford to to lose this now. We've come this far." JD said. Thomas re-entered the zone & went crazy with his Temporal & Rocksteady Mantles. He unloaded SAED after SAED with no letup. "Die! JUST DIE!! COME OOOOON!" He yelled furiously.

Behemoth summoned the final Comet on JD. Unfortunately, he was too close to the center & thus accidentally placed it in a bad spot. And then... Disaster struck. Behemoth comboed spins into punches into slams all in one spot shattering the final Comet.

In a panic, Thomas said "Alright! It's come down this. Just Farcaster out. I'll finish the last of his health & jump. I can time it. It's not worth everyone attempting this jump by themselves." They all agreed that this was the best course of action & let Thomas do the rest.

One more SAED later & it was time. Thomas & Behemoth were alone. There were no Comets. The Behemoth stood up to begin the cast. They both silently stared at each other in this final moment. Thomas's thumb was ready. All he needed to do was press the button at just the right time.

A second after Behemoth casted the Ecliptic Meteor, he went for it. Thomas rocketed towards the sky. The blast wave blew across the zone.

Everyone was silent.

...

He did it.

Thomas careened back down to the ground & crashed onto it's head putting the final nail in the coffin as the Behemoth dropped dead.

*Final Fantasy Fanfare Plays*

Everyone let out a collective sigh of relief. It was over. The struggle, the time investment, the blood, the sweat & the tears finally paid off. They were victorious.

The others came back down to carve as they conversed with each other. Caden said "So... Can we agree to never do this quest again?" JD, Caitlyn & Thomas all responded "Yep." "Totally agree." "Yeah. We're definitely good. And now we all celebrate with Layered Drachen Armor!"

*Duty Complete*

.

The End

[minorillusions]

A short fic for a friend about a supernatural Fake AH Crew. 

Warning: Crude language, violence

Jeremy had never meant to join the Fakes like this.

He’d always been a B-Team; putting out their fires while dreaming of holding the match. Sure, occasionally Trevor would insult some other mob boss and they’d have to fight in an alley, or Matt and Lindsay would come up with a crazy hacking scheme. But they never had the notoriety, the immortality, of the Fakes. Jeremy had been fine with it.

It took four days for the Fakes to find them in the warehouse. The so-called ‘wolf pack’ had been encroaching on Fake territory for months, but the main crew had been in the midst of planning a major heist – the B-Team thought they could handle it.

Lindsay was the least injured – they found her struggling and tied to a pole, hands raw from trying to escape. When they took off her gag she told them what had happened, and showed them the blood under her nails with a wicked smile.

Trevor and Matt were together, bruised and broken but alive. The restraints on Trevor’s chair were cutting into his broken ribs, but he and Matt were still throwing sarcastic jibes as Geoff untangled them. Matt’s arm was shattered in two places – he told Geoff proudly that he never talked.

It was Jack who found Jeremy in the back. None of the crew was sure why they’d chosen him, except that he had been the loudest; cracking jokes and lightly veiled threats. “’The Fake’s will get you’” Lindsay recounted when they asked her later, “He said it with a grin that sent shivers down their spines.”

Dried blood caked the side of his face and neck, his breathing shallow. Jack tried to wake him, but the slash running down his side threatened to open every time it was jostled. Ugly puncture wounds ran down his arms, his throat – scars he would have for the rest of his life. The wolves had bitten him, the bastards; and yet Jeremy had managed to hold on for four days, dying in a small room.

They put him in Ray’s old apartment. Gavin thought it was an ironic twist of fate that the penthouse had an open bedroom right when they needed it most. The crew waited, nervous, as Geoff and Jack brought Jeremy back. Even with their supernatural help it took weeks. Enough time that when the moon came about, none of them were ready. Michael managed to seal the door, but when they entered in the morning Jeremy was bleeding again, the room torn to shreds.

Jeremy came into his new self slowly. It took a while for him to accept he wasn’t human any longer. As he healed, the rest of the Fakes slowly resumed heisting. Gavin and Michael even returned one night weeks later, bloody and grinning, to drop the sunglasses of the wolf pack leader at his feet. As Jeremy’s strength returned Geoff let him help on preparation, and then let him tag along for their next raid on a nearby gang. Jeremy ended up providing cover fire as the Fakes retreated, saving Ryan from a headshot by the gang’s kappa sniper.

Perhaps that was why Geoff assigned him to Ryan for a small mission in silencing an informant gone rouge. They sat for an hour on a rooftop, waiting for the target to show themselves. Jeremy was delighting in the wind, savoring the moment as Ryan stepped back from the scope and sighed.

“You’d think a criminal mastermind who have the decency to show up on time”. The mask muffled his voice, but Jeremy could still hear the annoyance about his target’s punctuality.

“Why do you wear that thing?” Jeremy nodded towards the dark skull covering most of Ryan’s face.

He shrugged. “Why do you wear that thing?” he retorted, waving towards Jeremy’s cowboy hat and brightly colored clothing. Jeremy looked down at himself, confused.

“Because it’s cool as hell?”

Ryan snorted, turning back to the scope on the roof. “Little ostentatious, don’t you think?”

“Said the man in the skull mask and clown makeup.” Jeremy muttered under his breath. “And you didn’t answer me.”

“I don’t have to tell you anything.”

Jeremy huffed and sat down on the edge of the building, looking out over Los Santos. The day was extraordinarily clear. He closed his eyes and breathed in deeply. That was one thing he was certainly taking advantage of – his sense of smell was eons beyond his human nose. He could catch the exhaust from the cars below, and the barbecue shop two blocks down. If he really concentrated, he could almost locate the underlying scent of blood from the safe house ahead of them.

“Enjoying yourself, wolf?” Ryan’s voice snapped him back to the present, where the man was giving him a curious side eye.

Jeremy shrugged. “Bored, mostly. Also, please don’t.”

“What? It’s what you are.”

“Yeah, but I don’t call you ‘human’ when I want to get your attention.”

Ryan turned around, but Jeremy could feel the smirk on his face. “What? Did I guess wrong?”

“You really don’t know?” Ryan asked. He sounded slightly surprised. “I thought our attributes would be common knowledge of the B-Team.”

Jeremy shook his head. “We’ve got some guesses, but you guys are surprisingly hard to pin down.”

Ryan was still watching the building, thoughtful. “Such as?”

“Well we’re pretty sure you’re all effectively immortal, given the amount of explosions you’ve survived.” Jeremy started. Ryan chuckled, but denied nothing. Jeremy plowed ahead with slightly more confidence. “Matt and I thought Gavin was a drake for a while there, ‘cause he’s obsessed with gold. But Lindsay insists he’s some sort of fae. Says he’s too flighty for a dragon, and it explains the… well, everything."

Ryan chuckled. “Yeah, he’s flighty alright. You should see his elytra.”

“He’s got wings?” Jeremy asked, incredulous.

“Yeah. Pretty well kept secret – you didn’t hear it from me.”

“Next you’re going to tell me Michael’s really some sort of fire spirit.” Jeremy grumbled, glancing towards the building. “Trevor insisted he turned to dust once, but we’ve only seen him use flames when he fights.”

When he looked back, he could almost feel the grin below Ryan’s face mask. “Seriously!?”

“You’re close; he’s a jinn.” Ryan was now leaning on the side of the building, only half paying attention to the scene below. “He’s got a great grandparent or something that passed it along to him. Pretty neat stuff.”

“That explains why he and Lindsay get along so well.” Jeremy said. “Or, well, the general love of chaos.”

He kept guessing, trying to pin down the rest of the crew. With each guess, Ryan seemed to grow more and more amused. Jack was not a mage, or a dryad, or a kappa. Geoff wasn’t even close to a kelpie, and it had the Ryan almost in tears, laughing. And then there was Ryan himself….

Finally, Jeremy leaned back; frustrated. “Can’t you just tell me?”

“Where’s the fun in that?” Ryan smirked, sitting comfortably against the roof’s edge. “You haven’t even guessed any of the Gents yet.”

“Can I have a hint?”

Ryan seemed considered. “Well, Jack mostly works with earth and magic dampening.” He looked at Jeremy like it was supposed to be obvious. “Also, very hard to kill.”

Jeremy opened his mouth to begin guessing again, when he saw something out of the corner of his eye.

“Ryan!” he hissed.

A car was pulling into the drive of the abandoned safe house. Ryan started to his feet and rushed to the sniper set-up, trying to compose himself as he looked through the scope. But he hadn’t been paying attention - there wasn’t a clear shot as a woman walked straight into the high-rise.

“Damn it!”

He quickly began to disassemble the weapon, kicking over his duffel to Jeremy. “We can’t let her leave the building.” Ryan said in a low voice, snatching a small pistol out of it before turning back to his work.

Jeremy opened the bag to find an absurd number of weapons and explosives. He smiled to himself and took a share, strapping whatever he needed to himself.

They eventually cornered her at the top floor, a line of unbroken windows looking over the Los Santos skyline. Unfortunately, she had been ready for them. Rough hands restrained Jeremy and knocked his sunglasses to the floor with a crack. Ryan did not struggle as another thug held his wrists.

“You Fake’s think you’re so smart.” The informant hissed, pulling out a pistol. She got up into Ryan’s face, detailing plans Jeremy had never heard of. He, meanwhile, continued to squirm, trying to find purchase on his captor. He only stopped, horrified, as the woman leveled a gun at Ryan’s head and calmly pulled the trigger.

Jeremy didn’t remember if he cried out as his crew member stumbled backwards, but he did remember gasping as Ryan slowly stood back up, putting his hand to his forehead to feel the wound. He remembered the woman’s terrified face as Ryan, bloody and smiling, began to laugh.

“Geoff sends his regards.” He said, leveling his own weapon at her and taking careful aim. “And, of course, so do I”

The woman panicked and began to unload. Each bullet ripped through him, jerking him backwards and leaving a bloody hole. The other men dropped Jeremy. They tried to make for the door, but Ryan was faster and it closed with a wave of his hand.

It was this fight that Jeremy learned he could force a half transformation. Claws were a hell of a lot more effective in close quarters than hands. He took the goons as Ryan quietly interrogated the woman, not at all phased by the holes she’d put in him. In fact, he looked almost pleased by the end of it as Jeremy slid against a wall, relocating the pistol he’d dropped earlier.

He watched the Vagabond surveyed the scene. The man’s wounds still bled, most startlingly the one from his forehead, but Ryan didn’t seem to mind. He made no move to staunch them as he checked the still figure on the ground.

“Nice work” he said in Jeremy’s direction, indicating the broken window to his left that Jeremy had knocked a man through. Served him right for cracking his glasses.

He watched as Ryan slowly drew off his mask to reveal the painted skull beneath. With one hand, he wiped his blood from his eyes before checking the makeup on it. Ryan frowned at the red on his fingers, seeming to not notice the trickle that still ran down his face.

“What are you?” Jeremy panted, tired. Magic apparently took a lot out of you.

Ryan looked over at him and grinned. “Luckily for you, on your side.” He turned as sirens began to wail down the street. “Shit. Geoff wanted this to be done quietly.” He glanced over at Jeremy as he slowly put his mask back on. “You wouldn’t be able to survive a six-story drop, would you?”

The ride home was remarkable only in the fact that they pulled up to the Fake’s warehouse in a heavily damaged police car. Geoff was livid, and made Ryan take it down to the waterway to burn it. Jeremy watched later as Ryan was verbally berated by Jack for taking so many wounds, which Ryan waved away.

Jeremy, on the other hand, sat patiently while Jack examined his own wounds. He was astonished when she declared that the bullet wound in his shoulder was already half healed. 

“Yeah, you’re pretty hardy now.” Ryan said from the corner, straightening. He led Jack and himself out of the room, before turning back with a final smirk. 

“Welcome to the crew.”

The door shut behind them. Jeremy took another second to touch the mostly healed wound on his shoulder. It had felt like fire, bursting onto the scene filled with policemen. He’d never been so scared. But there was something alive there, something that thrilled and shocked him all at the same time. It felt like lighting a match.

A few minutes later, Jeremy slipped out of the room and headed back to the torn-up bedroom in the penthouse. Back towards his home.