#had an encounter today at work where someone finally asked me about the flag on my lanyard

[gottagobuycheese]

head against wall head against wall head against wall

[stephspurs]

A Family Affair | Euro 2020 Football Fanfiction

My loves, this is the end of AFA & I can't tell you how sad I am for this little story to be over :( There are a couple of people I need to thank so bear with me...Amy (@footballffbarbiex) for making me believe I could write this and that people will want to read it, thank you forever. Em (@emwritesfootball) for being my fabulous proof reader and always being there for me to bounce ideas off of, thank you. And to allllllllllll of you who read, like, reblog and message me - THANK YOU I LOVE YOU!!! Ok enough with my Oscar's speech, please enjoy la parte finale. Love always, Steph xx

Part 12 | la parte finale

warnings; none - except maybe tears because this is the final part :( word count; 2367 writing tools; third person until dashed line, first person thereafter. tags (as requested by users); @footballffbarbiex @obsesseds-world @abysshaven link to fic masterlist here

The end of the international break had approached both squads with rapid speed, before they knew it the 3 weeks was up and it was time for their final friendly match before returning to club duties. It was a rematch of the European final from just a few months earlier, only this time - it was being played in Rome. Preparing her team to meet their opponents had been a bit trickier than last time. Of course, the boys were fired up and raring to go, but the bitterness and anger that drove her to push them harder last time wasn’t there. They were now going up against some of her closest friends as well as her family.

In a strange moment of deja vu, Amelia looked down the tunnel as both teams lined up side by side to walk out onto the pitch together. Just like the last time, her father passed her and gave her a reassuring rub to the back of her neck and made his way down through the centre aisle with his staff. Following him, and just like last time, she made her way down whilst pressing a kiss to both cheeks of her Italian men. Reaching her brother, she pressed a kiss to his cheek also, however unlike the last time he gave her a wink back. The atmosphere was different this time, it was a friendly game and there was no title at stake here - only pride. This time, however, as she passed the Three Lions Number 21, her right hand found his left one for just a moment, before giving it a gentle squeeze and continuing down her own line. He had maintained his focus forward, didn’t even blink at the girl’s actions, and by the time she got to Fede who had been watching the encounter she had made her mind up that he wanted nothing to do with her.

This friendly-match had Amelia in a bundle of nerves, dissimilar to the euro final, Amelia was confident in her ability purely due to the fact that she was well prepared. This time however, whilst she was just as well-prepared as last time, she also knew that a fair few English players had adopted her playing style as their own and knew the kind of tactic required to stop the Italian attack and penetrate the great wall of Rome: Chiellini and Bonucci. This, coupled with the fact that both sides seemed to be playing with a touch more aggression than she expected, led to her being on the edge of her seat for most of the game. A late first half goal from Jorginho had her up out of her seat, cheering for the midfield maestro. However, it was a late second half goal that had her smiling from ear to ear, whilst trying to remember to keep her bum in her chair - she wasn’t supposed to be cheering for the enemy after all. How could she not though? Ben Chilwell had scored the equaliser. Using the play they had spent so many hours perfecting, just the two of them out on the pitch at Cobham. Scoring his goal, celebrating with his team and the away fans, she had clapped with an appropriate level of enthusiasm until she noticed him look her way, pull the centre of his jersey toward his face and give it a kiss. She moved her hand to touch that spot on her own jersey. Fingers running over the embroidery that she had stitched into every one of her official matchday tops, a memento to keep her family close to her heart - the embroidery featured the word ‘WHITE’ followed by the colours of the italian flag. For this match however, she had something extra added. Did Ben know about her newest addition?

After the match.

“Chilwell! Wait Up!” Federico Bernardeschi called down the tunnel whilst jogging to catch up with his opposition player.

“Can I give you some advice? Don’t let her go. I did, and whilst it was the right thing for me to do, it's something I regret deeply. You don’t realise just how much she adds to your life until she's gone. You’ll come to realise that she is the sunshine after any storm, but she is also the storm itself. Any day without her is a little less bright.”

In a moment of vulnerability, Ben decided to open up to the man that he didn’t know more than a bar of soap, who was coincidentally the same man who knew all there was to know about Amelia.

“She really is sunshine personified, isn’t she?” Ben smiled at the thought of the girl, thinking back on all of the laughs that they shared together in Mykonos.

“Normally yes, but these past few weeks that she has been without you she has been a little less bright. You complete her, whether she has realised yet I’m not sure but I am sure that she misses you. I think more than she ever missed me.”

“Ben, there are two kinds of compliments you can give a woman. The first, something she already thinks about herself but needs reconfirmed. The second, the things she doesn’t think anyone else notices about her. The second kind matters more.”

“You like because, and you love despite. Think about that Ben.”

“I don’t know if I love her, yet.”

“I think you do know. Otherwise you wouldn’t have asked the kitman for a little something extra on tonight's jersey.”

“What are you talking about? How do you know?”

“Ah, Benjamin, a good spy never tells his secrets” With that, Federico continued his walk back to the changerooms. “She’s out on the pitch, Ben.” He called without looking back, confident that the player was already making his way out there.

Walking up to the centre circle, where Amelia was currently sitting down on the pitch with her arms behind her and her legs stretched out in front. Taking in the atmosphere of Stadio Olympico in Rome, her favourite stadium in the world. What surprised her the most was just how quickly Stamford Bridge had crept itself up the ranks and into the second spot of her heart.

Without wanting to startle her, Ben started talking to her from a few meters away - not bothered about the few lingering souls out and about. This was his time to make her his, and nothing was going to get in his way.

“You know, a wise person once said to me that you like someone because, but you love them despite” He called out to her.

Turning around, she was surprised to see him. After the cold shoulder she received earlier she hadn’t imagined she would have the opportunity to talk to the blue-eyed beauty any time soon.

“What person was that?” She asked back, softly, not wanting to spook him off.

“Fede”

She tried to hide the shock on her face, what on earth had told her ex-lover she wanted him to talk to her current lover...if you could even call Ben that. Maybe it was more appropriate for him to be referred to as Amelia’s almost-until-she-fucked-it-lover. That was a bit long winded...maybe-lover should suffice. Whilst she was having this internal struggle, all thoughts swirling around her head, Ben had reached the centre circle and sat to the left of the girl, close enough that she could see the calmness behind his eyes.

“He’s right you know, he’s not always right but this time he definitely is. For example, he was wrong to let you go. There would be no chance in hell that I would let you slip away from me as easily as he did.

“I like you because you’re smart, so unbelievably beautiful and just as confident as anyone I've ever met. But I love you, despite the fact that you drive me mad with just how brilliant you are even if you don’t acknowledge yourself. You are destined for greatness, Amelia White. And I just hope that when you do get to where you want to be, that I'm still right there with you.”

Looking at him with tears in her eyes whilst his own were telling her that there wasn’t an ounce of hesitation behind his words. He loved her. And that's all she needed. Standing up, she pulled him up by his hands and pulled him in so close that she could feel the muscles in his back contract as he wrapped her up in a hug of his own, these were the hugs that she wished could be reserved for her. No one else needed to know the power behind these hugs, they could make her fall for him over and over again. One hand across her shoulders, the other palming the back of her head and pushing her into his chest so she could feel his heart beat - after all it beats just for her.

“Ben, why did you kiss your shirt today after you scored?” She asked the taller man as he continued to enjoy the feeling of having her back in his arms, where she belonged for all of this time.

“I wanted to feel close to you, and I thought maybe you were onto something with your superstitions”. Regrettably pulling himself away from her, he pulled off his shirt to reveal the toned skin of his chest, but also the small embroidery on the inside fabric that resembled her own...except this time it read MILS with a small Italian flag. Feeling her heart swell inside her chest, she beamed up at the man who was patiently waiting for her reaction to the gesture of love.

“I think it worked Ben” Pulling her shirt away from her chest enough that she could stretch it and show the inside fabric to him, hers reading WHITE with the Italian flag, but also a small BENJ with the British flag next to it. Her way of keeping him, and her family, close to her heart where she felt them the most.

He could only imagine that Amelia felt when reading his shirt was only a fraction of what he was feeling at that moment, for it was impossible for anyone to love someone the way that he loved her. His mum always told him not to fall for the girl who gives him butterflies, because he would be addicted to the feeling and would constantly be on the chase for it, but to fall for the girl who calmed him down, made him feel secure and like he needed her air to breathe. Butterflies were warning signs, but the sight of Amelia reminded him of seeing the light on in the hall after an away match - he was home. She was his home.

Pulling her back to his chest, except this time he was shirtless. Amelia ran her hands down his back whilst his hands settled at the base of her spine, she rested her chin on his chest and stared up at the man that her heart had grown to love. Ben moved his hands upwards until he tangled them in her wavy hair, moving his lips to cover her own. The kiss said everything they needed to share with each other. I miss you. I love you. Never leave me again.

“Oi! You two! Break it up! There are kids here!” A quick yell broke the two out of their bliss, looking over to see none other than Kyle Walker standing at the end of the tunnel, looking towards them with a mischievous look on his face.

“Kyle, cover your eyes, you’re too pure to be exposed to such adult behaviour!” And just as though God had been listening, from behind him walked out Federico, to cover the eyes of Kyle Walker. Amelia and Ben didn’t realise that the two were even remotely friendly, however they had found a mutual interest - annoying their two friends that had finally admitted their feelings to each other.

“Pipe down you two” Ben joked as the pair of them walked hand in hand towards the jokesters, Ben eventually lifting his left hand to move their entwined hands to Amelia’s left shoulder, her own right arm moving to wrap around his waist. A way he could bring her physically closer to him. Amelia not resisting the gesture, anything to feel his smooth skin against her own.

“Fede, I hope you know that I'm going to be Amelia’s maid of honor at the wedding. That's not going to be a problem for you is it?” Kyle began to seriously discuss the future event with his new Italian partner in crime.

“No Kyle, that's fine - I'm the flower boy though. Jorgi is going to pull me down the aisle in a red cart while I throw rose petals at everyone” Fede joked back, the two of them pretending that the new couple couldn’t hear them as they walked down the tunnel back to the changerooms.

“What are they like?” Ben laughed into the top of Amelia’s hair, still maintaining his grip on the girl he had been without for 3 weeks. With a grin from ear to ear, and an overwhelming feeling of love about her, Amelia stopped Ben in his tracks before the two had to go their separate ways to rejoin their respective teams.

“Just so you’re aware, I love you too. And I am so sorry for everything that I put us through these past weeks. I want you to know that i’m all in, and i’m all yours...if you’ll have me”

“Stop being a silly muppet, of course I'll have you, all of you. Even the parts that drive me insane. There is no way I am letting anyone else have you. You’re all mine, Mils”

“Glad to know the feelings mutual, Chilly”

“Oi, what did I say about that! Only friends call me Chilly...and you are not my friend”

Bursting into laughter as she tried to pull away from him, only to be pulled back and wrapped up into his arms, her head against his chest.

“I love you, Benj”

“I love you right back, Mils”

finito.

BONUS #BAMELIA MOMENT - Champions Again | di nuovo campioni

[writingtoforgetreality]

Professionally Unprofessional (Sam Wilson x Reader)

Request: Samuel wilson x reader, reader is an interviewer who is on the ground when wilson speak with the senator, they had a huge fight before but wilson is like grab her and kissed her and then like "fuck this shit, cmon lets get married gurl" (by anonymous), [Marvel-Masterlist]

Summary: You were everything but average. As a reporter, people expected you to be laid back, professional. You were all those things, you simply added a bit of spice into the mix to lend your interviews something special.

Words: 2,696

Warnings: language, humor, sarcasm, fluff (?), arguments, female pronouns used, REQUESTS ARE OPEN!

[Thanks @shmaptainhotchner for helping me out with this one! <3]

If you like my work & wanna support me: a coffee would be highly appreciated ❤

You were part of a local news station, usually the one doing interviews & all of that sorts. The viewers liked you so much because you did not ask typical, boring questions. Whenever you had someone in front of your microphone, you went out of you way to create something special that entertained the people. Much to your boss’ dismay. But then again, she would never fire you because your views would drastically sink if she did so.

Thanks to your job, you had interviewed most of the Avengers throughout the years. That was how you met Sam in the first place. You somehow made yourself appear mysterious enough for him wanting to get to know you better. Mainly because of your odd approach at asking questions. It made you stand out. It did not take all too long for you guys to start dating. Your personalities harmonized perfectly together & whenever you two were out, shit was about to go down.

“You working today?” Sam asked as he stripped on his new suit that Bucky gifted to him.

“If someone’s worth interviewing.” you shrugged mindlessly. “You know, someone with a metal arm for example.”

“Yeah?” he approached you. “What about Captain America?”

“Meh.” you answered absently, not even looking in his eyes. Simply to mess with him. “That guy’s too boring. Literally nobody wants to see him.”

“Is that so?” Sam came to a halt right in front of you. Just as he stretched out his arms in your direction did you spin around & distance yourself from him. “Hey!”

“What?” you turned to glance at him again, an innocent expression on your face. “Something the matter?”

“Baby.” he spoke in a warning tone & you had to hide your giggle. “What are you planning?”

“Damn, you’re really thinking the worst of me, huh?” one corner of your lips lifted slightly.

“I know you, (Y/N).” Sam shook his head. “You’re trouble when it comes to interviews.”

“Well, the trouble ensures for my income. Not everyone is an Avenger, alright?” you crossed your arms over your chest & pretended to be angry at him.

“Maybe you should ask your boss for a raise.” Sam pointed out.

“She’d fire me before she’d give me more money.” you laughed at the absurdity of it. Because honestly, you really believed every day could be the last at your current job.

“What if I end up ignoring you amongst all other reporters?” he was kidding, of course he was. Usually, it was the other way around. You were the only interviewer he ever paid attention to & therefore he knew about your quick changes in questions. No matter how much you had prepared, in the end you were always straying far from that.

“Then it would mean no money at all. Sam, come on. It’ll be fun.” you sent him a big enthusiastic smile.

“Come on, baby. Not this shit…” he sighed loudly. So you were planning on messing with him later today but you were not enlightening him. There was no way he could possibly prepare for the chaos you would put him thorough.

“Oh, so my creative, well thought-through profession is shit but you risking your life flying around like a fucking bird while throwing a metal frisbee isn’t?” you looked at him expectantly but no answer came. Sam simply approached you, leaned down & pressed a quick peck on your cheek. It brought a sweet smile to your face. While the playful banter & arguments between you two were pretty much a constant, you always made sure to say goodbye properly. Though, if you were honest, you already had some questions in mind that would bother the shit out of him. Oh, this would so turn out in your favor.

Being Captain America’s girlfriend was not necessarily easy. Especially when his life was at risk almost daily. And Sam did give you a scare or two (or maybe even a thousand) ever since the Flag Smashers had been doing their things. Of course you loved joking around & pretending that none of this truly faced you but if you were to be entirely honest, you probably were the one who worried the most. More than Sam & Bucky combined. You were not as successful as you hoped to be when it came to hiding your feelings. Luckily, your boyfriend read you like an open book & he never teased you about it. Not about something as significant as this. So, without actually addressing the topic, he cheered you up & eased your mind without you even realizing it in the first place.

You had been awaiting the phone call for a while now so when it finally sounded up, you felt relief washing through you. Not Sam was calling but your boss.

“(Y/L/N). Heading to the main event soon?” she asked without greeting you first. Simply getting straight to business. As you were used to from her.

“Yeah, sure. Just waited for your call. The team is already on its way I guess?” you inquired & already walked over to your closet to pick an appropriate outfit.

“They are…Can I trust you?” she hesitated & you rolled your eyes at her stupidity. You two were not the best of friends if that had not been clear yet.

“You can always trust me, boss. Otherwise you wouldn’t have called me.” you concluded & smirked when you heard her sigh on the other end.

“I wanted to sign Brock up for this one, actually.” she took a deep breath before she continued. “But we all know what the viewers wanna see & it ain’t your colleague.”

“I’ll be on my best behavior today.” you straightened your back though nobody could see.

“That’s what I’m afraid of…This is a big deal, (Y/L/N). We really need a good interview.” she informed you. Your boss was aware that every task you handled ended up being successful so you did not quite understand her worries.

“I’ll be there in 15.” was all you said before you ended the call & tossed your phone on your bed from across the room. It was frustrating to have your boss calling you with the same plea every time. By now she should perceive your take on interviews & the views spoke for themselves. You believed her biggest concern was you messing up big time. That big, in fact, that your news station would go bankrupt afterwards. But each time you finished talking to someone in front of the camera, your popularity only increased. Maybe you were not an average reporter but who cared for average in the 21st century? It was no secret that you were a master of your profession, collecting tons of people who envied you over the years & delivering accordingly when needed. Without you on their team, your station would have gone bankrupt. You were the only one keeping it alive & every member knew that.

You smoothed out the material of your pantsuit, checking if everything was ready for the live interview that would happen soon. The cameras were already working & your sound man fiddled with the microphone attached to your fabric one last time before he left you alone to do your job. When you first started here, your heartrate picked up its pace whenever you were about to interview someone. Nowadays, you simply relaxed, took a few deep breaths & went for it without too much overthinking. The fact that your boyfriend was on the other end of your microphone aided your calm demeanor as well.

Tons of people surrounded you & you scrunched up your nose at their attempts to stand in the front row. Your team had arrived pretty early so your cameras focused on the main area where the real deal would happen. Honestly, if it were not for you actively working as a reporter, you would have loathed that profession. Then again, you differed from the others. That kind of excused the ugly side of that job. Voices grew more frantic which meant that something was brewing. Your eyes flickered up & there he was. Your boyfriend. Captain America in all his glory. In his new suit that simply took your breath away. When you first caught a glimpse of it & even now.

Stupid & boring questions were fired at Sam’s way but he sidestepped them like a pro. The microphone in your hand was moved around from one side to the other. One thing you had learned in this job was to have patience. And to stand out because then, people tended to approach you more often than the rest. So you ordered your camera man to film Sam’s encounter with the Senator before you would interrupt. Your smirk was wide when you watched Captain America clapping back at the higher-ups who believed the entire world revolved around them. Seemed like he finished his speech because his back faced them & he made his way over to the swarm of reporters. But his eyes only trained on one. You.

“Captain America.” you nodded as you stretched out the microphone in his direction. He rolled his eyes at you trying to stay professional. The first words & you were already failing. “Mr. Wilson. Let’s keep it simple, shall we?” you corrected yourself.

“Sure thing.” he nodded, not once breaking eye contact with you.

“All of America is wondering about one thing.” you made a pause for dramatic effect. “Have you lost it?”

“What?” Sam was confused yet at the same time, he was used to the perplexity that came with you interviewing him. It was the same old.

“Your sanity.” you stated without batting an eye, appearing as serious as ever. He tilted his head backwards & could not hold his laughter in any longer. Success for you.

“Everything is as it should be.” he brushed you off but you were better prepared than this, of course.

“Yeah? Then explain this…Imagine your worried girlfriend sitting at home, simply waiting to receive the news of her boyfriend getting his ass kicked.” it was no secret to the world that you two were dating but you were not allowed to include that in your interviews. But when did you ever follow rules?

“Well, she can’t be that worried. Since she’s standin’ here & all.” he pointed out & you had to admit that he did have some good comebacks today. People would love the bickering between you two.

“We were lucky enough to watch your encounter with the Senator.” you quickly changed the topic in order to keep the conversation alive & interesting. “Don’t you think it’s time for you to give credit?”

“Credit for what?” he inquired with furrowed eyebrows. You had him again.

“Generally, when someone gets inspired or when they had help, for example with coming up with a speech that leaves everyone stunned, it is only fair to give credit.” you saw how deep he was in his thoughts to process what you had said but it seemed useless.

“Baby, you’re literally making no sense.” Sam shook his head, one of his hands raising to his face to brush over his chin. He just called you by your nickname during a live interview, the media would go crazy over that. It was the very first time because, again, you were not allowed to mix work & private stuff. You needed to figure out a reasonable excuse to tell your boss later on.

“While that speech was remarkable, it is everything but fair to skip the fact that your girlfriend was the one helping you create it in the first place.” only after your explanation did he understand what you were trying to say. But you were literally selling your viewers bullshit.

“Improvisation doesn’t need credit.” one of his eyebrows perked up as he chuckled.

“I agree with you on that, Mr. Wilson.” you contemplated his words, acting as if you were giving in. But you were not. “And we’re totally even if you give me credit for your speech there.” you then turned around so you were looking straight into the camera. “It was me who wrote little cards for him to memorize every day during breakfast. You’ve gotta know that I have the brains in this relationship so-“ Sam interrupted you, came up right next to you & nudged you with his elbow. It earned him a little grunt & an unhappy look from you.

“Who the hell watches this?” his question was directed at your team behind the camera who only shrugged in return.

“A lot of viewers expect quality content, Mr. Wilson. So if you could please occupy your previous position so I can finish this interview in peace, that would be very much appreciated. “ the camera angle changed once more as you shoved Sam back to his place. He let it happen but in the back of his mind, a plan had already started forming. Just as your mouth started opening, Sam snatched the microphone from your hand, ripping off the one that was connected to your pantsuit in one swift movement. You were too shocked to reply right away. Seemed like your team was experiencing similar emotions because nobody moved or said anything. When you were free, he grabbed your wrist & dragged you away from the scene. Your mouth opened & closed a couple of times yet no words were coming out. Hundreds of interviews & never had something like that occurred before. There was a first time for everything.

“The fuck?” was the first thing you breathed out after Sam pretty much shoved you into an alleyway.

“Yeah, likewise.” he laughed, his eyes holding the softness that were reassurance enough that nothing was wrong & that he was not mad at you. His lips pressed onto yours in a fiery & passionate kiss. One that caught you completely off guard. That was a…different reaction to you teasing him during an interview. A pleasant one at that.

“Should I ask?” you almost whispered after you two had to pull apart for air.

“Damn, let’s get married, baby.” he said it so casually, as if there was nothing special about it. Your bewilderment gave you away. You had discussed marriage before just not that straight forward.

“What, you got a ring?” your head tilted to the side & the look on his face was priceless. He did not expect your answer to be as bold as his suggestion. “I’m kidding, Sam.”

“We could go buy one.” he shrugged & made you laugh. Honestly, that was such a typical move of him.

“You wanna marry me even though I literally messed with you back there?” you questioned. Sam held out his hand for you to take & you intertwined your fingers with his. A gentle smile played at the corners of your lips.

“I didn’t expect anything else from you.” he commented after a short pause.

“You gotta admit, though…I was on fire today.” you nudged him & widened your sparkling eyes at the genuine smile he gave you.

“If on fire is another word for annoying, then hell yeah.” he sighed loudly, the sarcasm clearly detectable.

“I didn’t remember you to be this rude, Mr. Wilson.” you emphasized the last part & loved watching his body tense up. His grip tightened & his steps fastened.

“Come on.” he urged you on but you wanted to keep this game alive for a little while longer.

“Where are we going?” you glanced at him with innocent eyes.

“Home. We can buy your ring another time.” so you two made your way back to your shared apartment. Throughout the entire walk there, you fought the urge to bite your lip at your clever approach for this interview. If that was what you got out of it, then you were fine with being fired as well. Because, truthfully, you did not believe your boss would keep up with you any longer after today. But she did not fire you, no. The views were skyrocketing & she needed you to keep their station alive. You got your well-deserved raise, finally.

Published (05/13/2021) by Cathy

✨MY Ko-fi PAGE✨

Tags: @zestyemby, @met4no1a, @missroro, @bibliophilewednesday, @msmarvelsmain, @weareironmanbitches, @patricexirene (thanks for your support <3)

[sturchling]

Salt prompt where there are a few transfer students from Italy attending Francois Dupont for three weeks and as soon as they see Lila one breaks down in tears, another starts screaming at her, and the last one stares at her in horror and hatred. Reasons why are up to you.

Here you go! Sorry it took a while, things got kind of hectic for me these last few days. Anyway, hope you like it!

Marinette thought this would just be another day in class. She had given up trying to expose Lila to the class. The class wouldn’t listen to Marinette, so she would just wait until Lila exposed herself. In the meantime, Marinette just avoided hanging out with the class when she knew Lila would be around. Things in the class were still ok. Marinette was still friends with the class and they all got along. Things only got tense when Lila came and tried to turn everything Marinette said against her. Marinette was looking forward to the day that Lila would be exposed. Little did she know that today would be the day that began Lila’s down fall.

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Marinette actually arrived to school early for once and was flagged down by Mrs. Bustier. “Good morning Marinette. I wanted to let you know we are going to have some foreign exchange students join us today. They will be studying here for a month, and three of them got assigned to our class. Since you are class rep, I will expect you to be a good example for them and help them get used to how things work at the school.” Mrs. Bustier walked towards Mr. Damocles’ office, probably to talk with him about these exchange students, and Marinette went to the class room to wait.

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When Marinette walked into the class, she saw that Lila had already started her show for the day. Today’s headline lie is how she helped the president of Italy pass a law to improve the carbon emission rates of the country. Marinette just walked to her seat and ignored the nonsense the Italian was saying. While Lila continued to entertain the class, Marinette wondered about the new exchange students. Mrs. Bustier walked in a few minutes later and got the class’ attention, “Class, I have some exciting news. For the next month, we will be joined by three exchange students from Italy.” That made Marinette pause. It was a very small chance, but what if these kids new Lila? What if they know she is a liar? Would Marinette gain some allies for this month?

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Lila was terrified. She was hoping that these students weren’t from her old school. If they knew her, this could ruin everything! Mrs. Bustier continued, seemingly not noticing the shift in the mood, “I expect you all to make them feel welcome here, and help them if they need it. Their names are Emilio, Carina, and Alessa. You three may come in now!” Three students walk into the class room. One is a taller boy with black hair and brown eyes, who must be Emilio. The girl standing in the middle is a shorter girl with blonde hair and green eyes, who introduced herself as Carina. Finally, there is a tall girl with auburn hair and blue eyes, who must be Alessa. Everything seemed normal, until the three new students see Lila. Then all hell breaks loose.

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The moment that the three new students see Lila, chaos descends on the class. Carina bursts into tears the second she spots Lila. Alessa starts yelling at Lila in rapid Italian, that the class couldn’t understand. Emilio pulls Carina behind him and just glares at Lila with eyes full of venom. The class is beyond confused. It is obvious that Alessa is yelling at Lila, but why do these three seemingly not like her? Mrs. Bustier is trying to gain control of the class again, but it takes a while. Finally, Alessa pauses in her tirade long enough for someone to speak. Alya speaks up, “Wait! Why are you so angry at Lila? And why is she crying?” Alya asked, gesturing towards Carina. Alessa turns to Alya, “Mad doesn’t even begin to cover it. I despise that girl for what she did to Carina. She used to attend our school. She bullied Carina horribly. Constantly tripping and threatening her. She even tricked the school into suspending Carina by saying that Carina had destroyed her project for science class. She tried to ruin Carina’s life, all because Carina was the first to realize she was nothing but a liar.” That is when chaos descended on the class once more.

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The class began yelling at the new students, trying to defend their friend. The class was sure that the new exchange students were lying. Afterall Lila wouldn’t lie to them. Carina, Alessa, and Emilio quickly realized that this class was completely under Lila’s control. They all believed Lila’s every word. It was too much for Carina, who rushed from the room. Alessa, and Emilio followed after her to try and help her calm down. Lila took this opportunity to bust out the crocodile tears, and come up with a story about how those three were actually the bullies. “They used to be mean to me back in Italy. They were part of the reason I was glad to leave. They tried to frame me as a bully because I couldn’t get them tickets to a Jagged Stone concert.” While the class comforted their friend, no one noticed Marinette slip from the room. She walked into the hall and saw the three exchange students sitting on a bench. Carina seemed much calmer, now that they were out of sight of Lila. Marinette definitely felt empathy for Carina, she had gone through almost the exact experience. She approached the small group, and when they noticed her approaching, they seemed to tense up. Emilio was the one to break the silence, “What do you want?” he asked defensively. Marinette smiled kindly at them, “I just wanted to make sure you were ok. I know how rough things can get when dealing with Lila.” The group of three looked shocked. Carina quietly asked, “You know about her?” Marinette nodded, “That she is a liar? Yeah. She did the same thing to me. When she realized that I knew about her, she started harassing me too. It is nice to have other who also know about her. Adrien, the blonde boy in the front row, also knows she is a liar.” The group seemed to relax, knowing that Marinette believed them. Marinette returned to the classroom for a moment to let Mrs. Bustier know that she was going to show the new students around the school and then left to rejoin Alessa, Emilio and Carina.

  ----------------

Days went by, and Alessa, Emilio, and Carina stuck closely to Marinette. The rest of the class was still treating them coldly, but they were happy to have a friend in Marinette. While the small group wished Lila had been exposed in the initial encounter, they knew it would take some more time. They didn’t realize it, but Lila was about to make a major mistake and expose herself. Lila was nervous that the class would start listening to the new Italians in the class. Lila decided that she had to make sure the three would keep their mouths shut this time. She waited until she saw the weak link go to the restroom alone. Carina was just about to leave, when Lila walked in and cornered her. “Hello, Carina. I just wanted to make sure you still remember our little rules from Italy. If you dare breath a word against me to anyone but your loser friends or try to expose my lies to the class, I will destroy you here, just like I did back then. I already destroyed Marinette, and she was their best friend. So, they will obviously believe me, their close friend, over you, a stranger that just joined the class. They will believe whatever I tell them. Be sure to mind what you say.” Lila didn’t waste anymore time on this loser and went back to the cafeteria where her court awaited.

  ----------------

What Lila didn’t know is that Alessa had spoken with Rose earlier. Rose seemed the kindest of their new class and Alessa thought she would be safe to approach. She asked Rose if she would just humor her, for the first 15 minutes of lunch. Alessa knew that Lila wouldn’t be able to resist the opportunity to approach and threaten Carina, if she saw Carina alone. She told Carina, Emilio, and Marinette the plan and they all agreed. Alessa, and Rose waited inside the stalls in the bathroom. Carina made sure to leave the cafeteria alone, in full view of Lila. Lila took the bait immediately. Alessa had also made sure to hide her phone to record the whole interaction, so they had proof for the class, in case Rose’s testimony wasn’t enough. Rose was shocked by what Lila had said. She couldn’t believe their sweet friend could sound so mean. When she and Alessa emerged from the stalls and went into the locker room, they saw Carina sitting with Emilio and Marinette. Rose teared up, thinking of how Lila had mentioned Marinette. She quickly apologized, not just to Marinette, but Carina as well. Rose got the video from Alessa and sent it to the rest of the class, except for Lila of course.

  ----------------

The class was horrified by what they saw. How could Lila do that? Lila was really a liar? Marinette had been right all along. The class went back to the class room, looking for the lying Italian who had left the cafeteria earlier to ‘work on her newest proposal for Prince Ali’. Lila had been sitting alone in the classroom for about five minutes. Mrs. Bustier was still out for lunch, and Lila was looking at some official looking fake documents, in case someone came in. Little did Lila know, the class was already on their way and they were furious. As soon as the class walked in, Lila felt a chill go down her spine. She looked up into the venomous glares of her classmates, shocked that they were looking at her like that. What had happened? The class started yelling at her, everyone at once, and Lila couldn’t make out what they were saying. She looked behind the mass of angry faces to see Marinette, Emilio, Alessa, and Carina smirking at her. She knew instantly they had done something to cause this.

  ----------------

Lila eventually found out exactly what had happened. She had no idea that anyone else had been in that bathroom. If it had just been Alessa, Lila could have done something, but the group had thought ahead in recruiting Rose as a witness. A teacher eventually heard the commotion and came to figure out what was happening in Mrs. Bustier’s room. Alya showed him the video and he immediately took Lila to Mr. Damocles’ office since the video showed her obviously threatening a student.  Lila’s mother was called and was horrified to hear what her daughter had done. Mr. Damocles’ spoke with Carina, as well as Emilio, Alessa, and Marinette. When everything Lila had done to the group came to light, Mr. Damocles’ was speechless. Since threatening and bullying other students is a major violation of the student code of conduct, Lila was expelled. The rest of the class apologized to Carina and the others for believing Lila. They also apologized profusely to Marinette. They may not have turned on her, but they also didn’t believe her. They felt horrible that they didn’t even listen to Marinette’s concerns. Everything was forgiven and class became very close once more, happy that the lying Italian was gone from their lives for good.

[its-ya-boi-autumn]

Alright look-

My little Cells At Work phase is likely going to be short-lived and I'm probably only going to manage to get 2 or 3 works out before it ends but I'll still add it to the Masterlist, though I'm not so sure of making its own section rather than just putting like "Other Animes" or like "Phases", I don't know just yet, but I'll figure it out.

Requests for this anime are also accepted for whenever, even after the phase passes I'll still write for this one~ Though I'm not so sure about smut because, well, they're cells, and they're asexual. I just find it strange and out of pocket since they're not necessarily 'human' (I have nothing against like mythical creatures or folk lore/legends and sexual content, I just think cells are different, it'll depend on my mood I suppose)

In the meantime have some neutrophil 1146 content because I was gonna write some killer t stuff but decided it would be best to start with someone easier (plus 1146 is the reason for this whole thing in the first place)

Word Count: 1455

Warnings/Contents: RBC!+GN!reader

This was the day you dreaded. The thought of carrying carbon dioxide through the heart to gather oxygen had been crossing your mind for ages, your superior warning you of the difficulties you may encounter. Though your concern wasn't getting lost or any sort of infection. It was simply other cells. You'd think being a red blood cell, you'd get used to all of the other cells around you. That wasn't quite the case however, still feeling anxious around large groups of cells you'd never met, which of course was often. This left you in a state of constant alertness, ready to move or take cover at given moment.

You continued staring at the map in front of you, wasting time. Though you couldn't wait much longer. Sighing, you folded your map up and scrunched it into your pocket along with your notes. You rolled your cart forward towards the inferior vena cava, trying to use some grounding to calm yourself. Your superior warned you of the crowdedness of the area beforehand so you'd be somewhat prepared.

Before entering though you figured getting some sort of energy would probably be best. You hadn't even been through the first trek and you were already exhausted by just the thought of having to transfer through just the first wave. There was a little vending machine nearby, you could probably get some glucose before the trip no problem.

Standing in front of the menu presented in bright lighting you browsed your options for a minute before just choosing the cheapest option. The pink and purple swirls caught your eye. You gave the vending machine its exchange before the glucose fell into the slot. As you bent down to pick it up however, someone bumped into your behind.

Upon the contact you immediately stumbled over, falling onto your hip with a pang of an ache shooting through your side.

"Ouch! Hey watch where you're-" you looked up at the perpetrator only to be met with a plane of white. His skin, his hair, even his combat gear, was all stark white.

"-going..." you trailed off, taken aback at the sight of him. He was unfamiliar, you'd never seen him before nor anyone like him. The grey shadows of his hair shaded the light blush on his cheeks.

"Oh, my bad." he said, reaching a gloved hand out to you. You took it, allowing him to haul you up and back onto your feet. You caught a glimpse of his hat. White Blood Cell 1146. You blinked a few times, the embarrassment and anxiety setting in.

"Yeah... It's alright though, I probably should of made sure no one was behind me before just bending down." you averted your gaze, eyes back onto the glucose still sitting patiently in the slot. I checked behind you again before reaching down to grab it.

"No, really, I should of been paying more attention." he refuted your response, tipping his hat to you a little likely to hide the pink on his face. A part of you felt kind of bad for nearly yelling at him, though he was right. It was totally his fault. You sighed, unwrapping the glucose and taking a few bites. The cold rang through your teeth though it was refreshing, replenishing your energy a lot more than you initially expected.

"Look, I told you, it's fine. Just be careful is all. I've got a delivery to make now so if you don't mind I'm pretty sure you're in my way. Please excuse me." you hadn't meant to come off so rude, though you really needed to get going. You were sure it didn't matter anyway, you likely wouldn't see him again. Pushing past him you carted your carbon dioxide out to the inferior vena cava. You could feel his eyes on you, though you didn't bother turning to meet them.

~

A little later on, after exchanging your carbon dioxide for that of oxygen, you made your way back around the heart to deliver it, finally done for a little while and able to catch a break. Your own heart was racing, your fingertips and toes throbbing with the adrenaline of being around so many other cells at once. You caught sight of the platelets heaving and ho-ing around the corner. You smiled, deciding to see what was going on.

"This vessel is currently under construction! Sorry about the inconvenience!" the little girl waving her flag announced to the other nearby cells, alerting them of their work.

"Hello little platelet! What's going on?" you asked, kneeling down to meet her eyes. She stopped waving her flag and gave you a smile.

"There was a minor abrasion a little bit ago, we're fixing it up though, so it should be good as new in no time!" she spoke excitedly, emphasizing her enthusiasm with a little hop and a toothy grin. You found this adorable, standing back to full height." Hopefully everything runs smoothly, see ya~" you gave her a wave, which she returned. You couldn't help yourself when it came to platelets. They were just so cute and they always worked so hard. You knew you did your part as well, though sometimes it didn't feel as good as theirs.

You heard a sound, a sort of rumbling from somewhere to your left. Your brows knit together, confusion scattering your previous thoughts. You turned your attention to the ground, the rubble bouncing around the tiles. You took a few steps back as you felt the ground shift below you. The sound made its way over to where you stood, directly in front of you. Other cells around you had begun to notice as well, their attention all on where you stood. Stunned, you continued to step backwards, not wanting to face whatever it was. Your eyes widened as the ground started to give, feeling the lurch downward.

Just as the floor cracked right under your feet and you sucked in a breath to scream out for help, you felt a force collide with your left side, shoving you to the right just in time for the ground to sink into a wide opening. The mouth of the hole gaped at you, scrambling to get up. You didn't even think to say thank you to whoever had saved your life, slightly feeling bad for not checking to see who it was. Though you didn't much care since they likely wouldn't of listened to you. Almost immediately, entities you'd never seen before started floating into the area. They're eyes scanned over their new surroundings, landing directly onto you.

"Ah, what have we here? A little red blood cell all cooped up in the arms of their savior?" the entity chuckled, it's voice possessing a feminine twinge to it. Its figure was covered in yellowish grape-like coating except for its hands, arms, and face. It had mentioned a savior. You turned your head up to notice the same white blood cell from earlier, glaring up at the germ.

"Oh- white blood cell-" he dropped you before you could finish, your head colliding with the tiles on the ground. You would have complained though you noticed him beelining directly for the entity, immediately slashing through it's body. Your eyes grew wide in shock, watching it's blood splatter across the other cells and the tiles in front of you. The white blood cell turned to face you, walking over to you as if he hadn't just murdered whatever that thing was.

"Hello again, are you alright?" he asked, his hand outstretched to you. You tsked, swatting his hand away and getting back up onto your own feet, brushing the dust off of your pants. Your hands set firm on your hips, brows knitted up at him.

"I'm fine, thank you." your harsh words threw him off guard. The white blood cells' cheeks flushed in embarrassment. You were being brash again, and in front of a large group of others after he had just saved you. Your expression softened and you sighed.

"I'm sorry, I don't mean to come off rude sir." you rubbed the back of your neck, soothing the annoying ache of guilt. He drooped his head, avoiding eye contact.

"It's alright, I didn't really expect you to thank me. I did push you over twice today." he mentioned the event from earlier, cheeks blushing harder.

"Hey, it's alright. You were just doing your job. No hard feelings." you admitted, offering him a hand as some sort of awkward reassurance. He took it, his hands larger than yours and covering the majority of your palm. A smile crossed his face in appreciation of the gesture.

"Glad you don't have any negative feelings towards me then."

[btssmutficslovingfan01]

Friendly Encounters- Chapter Two

𝒮𝓊𝓂𝓂𝒶𝓇𝓎: A friend challenges you to go out of your comfort zone and talk to one of the cute boys at the café. However, after attempting to flirt with one of them, they reveal that they are in a relationship with each other. It’s fine, though, because you’re all friends now!

𝒢𝑒𝓃𝓇𝑒: Romance

𝑅𝒶𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔: Smut

𝒲𝒶𝓇𝓃𝒾𝓃𝑔𝓈: Erotic Dream, Masturbation, Accidental Voyeurism, Sexual Tension, Food Play

𝒲𝑜𝓇𝒹𝓈: 7k+

𝒫𝒶𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓃𝑔(𝓈): Jimin x Yoongi x Reader

Masterlist

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                         ______________________________ 

You don’t have much time to react, as you jump back and run into Yoongi half-way down the hallway.

“Hey Y/N.” He scratches his ear. 

“Hyung, did you know she lived here too?” Yoongi puts a finger on his chin.

“Well, I noticed her pictures on the walls, and then after we officially met at the cafe, I put two and two together. Sorry for not telling you, baby mochi.” He kisses his cheek and you blush from the adorable interaction. These guys look really cute together.

“It’s not your fault, I was in a rush last night. We moved in on a whim, really. We saw this place on an ad and we wanted to stay here, even if it’s temporary.” Jimin turns his attention back to you, after being squeezed by his boyfriend. 

“That’s fine, it’s the weekend so I should’ve just slept in.” The two men chuckle at your response.

“I forgot you were in high school. We have to work on weekends, so we never get an off day. Except on Sundays, we close earlier. And our hours vary, we aren’t the only employees there,” Jimin boops your nose, and you blush.

“We have off days, but we normally take them in sync, as we need some time for our relationship. And some days, we take separately, for some space. You know how stuffy things can get when you’re living with your boyfriend and you need some alone time.” He continues.

“Hey, where’s Yoongi?” He shrugs, and you turn around towards the stairs.

“Morning guys! Oh, Y/N, you’re never up this early during the weekend.” Your mother exposes you, and you blush as Jimin and Yoongi give you an endearing smile. 

“Some eggs for Chim, some bacon for my new friend, and some toast for the lady of the house.” Yoongi gives your mother the brightest smile you’d ever seen; you can tell why she let them in so easily. He is charming.

“Thank you.” She blushes, digging into her food with a fork. “So, do you have any girlfriends?” Your mother’s question causes you to spit out your water, and for Yoonmin to share a look of doubt. You can read their minds, it’s almost like they are saying ‘should we tell her?’ but your mom is an open minded person, so she wouldn’t make a big deal about it.

“Actually, we’re dating.” Yoongi gestures between the two of them and your mother clasps a hand around her heart.

“Awww, how sweet. Okay, time for some more food, who wants pancakes?!” Her reaction must’ve seemed unexpected, as Jimin’s eyes are as wide as an owl's, and Yoongi’s normally blank face has a look of shock. You giggle to yourself, amused at the entire situation. Yoongi quickly jumps to his feet, helping you and your mom with mixing the batter and adding proper ingredients while Jimin makes himself some coffee.

“You are so cute!” Your mother pinches Jimin’s cheeks as he digs into his pancake, stuffing big pieces into his mouth as well. She loves feeding people, even when they are perfectly capable of it on their own. Jimin doesn’t protest, and you predicted he wouldn’t, since he seemed like a kind and gentle soul.

“His real mom was never that close with him. It obviously makes him very happy when your mother showers all that love and adoration on him that his real mother never gave him.” Yoongi speaks in a low voice. 

“But how could someone neglect such a sweetheart? He’s so...kind.” You couldn’t find the right words to say, watching them be happy together.

“It’s as much of a mystery to me as it is to you. Look at him, he’s so happy right now.” You manage to catch his gaze, smiling back at him, widely.

“Oh, I gotta go. See you later, hyung.” Jimin grabs his wallet and car keys, running outside frantically after giving Yoongi a kiss on the cheek.

“Looks like I’ve got some spare time. Do you wanna watch a movie or something?” He asks, and you nod, making your way into the loft upstairs. 

“Oh, Y/N, can you come here for a second?” Your mother calls you as you are halfway up the flight of stairs.

“Sure,what is it mom?” You ask.

“Are these the boys you were stuck with in the food pantry?” She folds her arms together.

“Fine, you caught me! Yes, it was them.” She harrumphs mockingly, putting her hair in a ponytail. “Yoongi tells me everything. He told me this morning.” She dismisses you subtly, and you go meet Yoongi in the loft.

“So, you completely won over my mom,” You tell him in a calm manner. He gives you his signature gummy smile, before turning his attention to the t.v and picking out a movie for you to watch.

“When do you have to go to work?” You ask, the thought crossing your mind as he scrolls past the romcoms.

“In three hours. My shift is only six hours today, though.” You look at the clock. It’s still pretty early. Your phone chimes just as Yoongi lands on a title, and you both look down at the screen.

You want to forgive her so bad, but then you remember Jungkook’s tears, and how he had no idea what was going through her mind. And then you think of what happened in school. How he told those boys that you went over to his house to fuck him. Considering the circumstances, these people don’t deserve a second chance. Jungkook, maybe, but Jasmine’s personality is literally sleeping with anything that has a dick and over 5’9. 

Maybe you’re being petty, but all of the red flags were there. Like how Gianna Burgess made fun of you in class and then Jasmine said something to them which made them laugh even harder. You thought she had changed but the whole time you were a victim, and she was a bully. All of the times when you stuck up for her in kindergarten. What changed? For starters, she got her period when you were 11 years old. And when you entered middle school, she lost a lot of weight, making you look fat in comparison to her new body.

She not only made fun of you behind your back, you found out she was telling all of her “friends” about your personal problems and aiding the teasing. She helped bully you, and you thought you would never forgive her after that.

By the time you entered highschool, she was a cheerleader, and instead of openly sharing your problems with the entire school, she became a lot more sincere, and someone you grew to trust. But clearly, your friendship wasn’t valuable enough because she still slept with your childhood crush and best friend.

Jungkook has almost completely fallen off the grid now, as he hasn’t texted you since you comforted him in his house. You wish you didn’t hear him and that things could be normal, but obviously, that isn’t going to happen now. 

Your doorbell rings halfway through the movie, and you hear your mom walk to the door. You can’t see who it is because of the huge roof blocking your view.

“Y/N!!!” Your mom calls you, as Yoongi pauses the movie and stares up at you.

“Is it him?”

“I think so.” He gives you a small nod of good luck, before sending you downstairs. He’s also very worried about you, as you nearly trip on your way down. He has the overwhelming urge to hold you in his arms and protect you, but he can’t do that, not when he has Jimin. How would his boyfriend react if he told him he wanted to hold someone else? Actually, on second thought, he’d probably be fine with it because it’s a normal thing for him to do. But Jimin is the touchy one in the relationship, not Yoongi.

“Finally, I caught ya. Okay, can we talk?” You nod, as your mother leaves the room to give your privacy and Yoongi behind the couch in the living room. It’s pushed up against a wall, so that’s where they’d least expect him to hide. “I know you’re mad, so I’m just going to speak. Just listen to me, and don’t say another word,” You nod slightly as he takes a deep breath and begins speaking, “I was an idiot when I told those guys we were sleeping together, and an even bigger idiot when I decided to hook up with Jasmine, even though I knew what the consequences were. I also wanted to say I’m sorry, because you cared for me and I treated you like shit.” You feel content with his apology, but you expected more. Yoongi knows you deserve a bigger apology, since he saw how much you cried over him.

“I don’t know if I can accept your apology, but you just used me as a cover to make it seem like you were cool to all those freshmen. Jungkook, I don’t know if I can be friends with a user.” You start getting hostile, and that’s when Yoongi decides to make his mark. He expertly crawls out from behind and sneaks into the kitchen, hiding behind the wall that separates the two rooms.

“Please be my friend again, and if not, just let me kiss you one last time—”

“No!” You struggle against his grip as he traps you between his arms, gripping your wrists tightly. You’re in pain, blinking back the tears as he assaults your lips with his own, in an aggressive, forceful manner. You hate it, and he won’t stop. “Stop,” You whisper hoarsely. “Stop!” You say it a bit louder, but he continues abusing your already red and bleeding lips.

“She said stop.” Yoongi’s voice takes dominion of Jungkook, as he quickly scrambles to his feet and avoids eye contact with either of you.

“Who the fuck are you?” Yoongi smirks, putting an arm around you lazily as if he always does this.

“I’m her boyfriend,” Jungkook turns pale white, as Yoongi chases him out of the house with bloodlust in his eyes. Meanwhile, your arms are folded on your chest as you stare at him, disapprovingly. “What? Didn’t that help?” His eyes are wide and as cute as his little pout is you can’t get distracted.

“No, it’s just the fact that you lied to my best fri-”

“He’s not your best friend anymore. It’s okay, you’re too good for him anyways,” He makes a good point, leading you back up the stairs and racing ahead of you. “What? Don’t tell me you’re mad. I just saved you from an awful situation.”

“So? It’s not like I didn’t want him to touch me!” You lie, halfheartedly, not wanting to tell Yoongi the full truth.

“You told him to stop. You verbally said ‘no.’ What gave him the right to kiss you like that after you clearly said you didn’t want to?” You’re stumped. Yoongi makes a valid argument. And frankly, you don’t know why either. Maybe it was the adrenaline rush after he pinned you down on the couch and you couldn’t break free from his grip. A possibility, but not a strong enough argument. Jungkook was so overcome by his lustful urges and grief after losing Jasmine, that he decided to take it out on his last remaining friend, you. But after you told him that you didn’t want to be friends anymore, he panicked and tried to distract you. He wanted to gain you back, in any way possible.

“We’ve been friends for a long time, Yoongi. Besides, all of the pent-up sexual tension was there. I could feel it in our kiss.” Your cheeks are tinted pink as the words fall out of your mouth. Yoongi cocks his head and stares at you with amusement.

“So you did want to kiss him,” You turn your body towards him, now focusing solely on the older man in front of you. He has a gentle look in his eyes, with a small down curvature on his lips. He has a natural sexy pout which makes him all the more attractive, and the smallest glint of mischief in his eyes doesn’t go unnoticed. You’re infatuated with him, and you can’t do anything about it. This must be the Yoongi effect. You’re falling for his spell, his subtle brown eyes, his bleached blond hair, and his adam’s apple. “What are you looking at?” He asks you, finally taking his attention off the t.v.

“Sorry, what?” You snap yourself out of your little trance, still a bit disconnected from the rest of the world.

“I asked you if you still wanted to kiss him after everything that happened.” Yoongi’s question burns a hole in your mind as you rack your brain for the correct answer, but there are none. Your feelings for Jungkook have become hollow, you no longer feel any pain. At least, it’s not as bad as before.

“God, no.” You turn your head to look at him, admiring his features again. And then you start thinking about how his lips would feel on yours and snap yourself out of it again. 

“That’s good. I know how it feels to have a crush on someone only to find out that they’ve been a huge ass the entire time. It sucks, but it gets better over time. You’ll get over him, and find someone even better. I know you will,” Your cheeks are burning with a familiar heat as you look up at Yoongi, the fiery sensation becoming even hotter when he puts a hand on your cheek.

“Are you okay? Your cheeks are a bit red and you seem to be burning up,” You nod, shifting your weight and crawling away from him, despite all your senses screaming for you to curl into him. You’re afraid of cuddling him because of what you might do next. 

He’s a very attractive man, what can you say? But it's really the way he takes care of you that’s amazing, the tender and loving nature in his touch is enough for any person to fall for him. You can see why Jimin is dating him now. He came off as aloof and standoffish when you met him at first, but now you can see him for who he is. “105, that’s what I thought. You have a fever, stay here, I’ll get some medicine.” You hear him speaking to your mother outside, but you’re already drifting away, your mind a million miles away.

Yoongi takes good care of you while you’re sick, and in total, you miss a week of school. He didn’t take any time off work, but he did make sure to bring you food and hot water when he visited. Jimin very rarely came near you, because Yoongi warned him about catching your  fever. He said that since he was around you for a very long time since you were sick and he didn’t get sick, he was immune to it, so he spent all of his waking hours with you, making sure you were properly nursed back to health. He checked up more on you than your mother, and you were very thankful but you felt guilty. You didn’t want him to be more concerned about you than Jimin. Even though you two had minimal physical contact, you still texted daily and got to know each other better through text. You even learned that he was helping Yoongi prepare meals for you and that he was learning how to make rice cakes, the decorative kind.

After you recover from your fever, you’re surprised to find that Yoongi hasn’t caught your sickness. Your friend, Jessica from Pre-calc texts you daily and Jungkook has stopped talking to you almost completely. Yoongi reassures you that it’s a good thing, but you can’t shake the feeling that there’s something horribly wrong. 

The following night after school, you curl up in your bed, getting ready to pull an all-nighter. You want to desperately catch up on your favorite t.v show, so you spend the night underneath the covers. Your mother is working late, and your father is halfway across the world, so there’s really no one else home. 

No one except the hot baristas who rented the guest room next to yours.

“Ah, hyung~” You hear a purr from the other room, but you evade it, focusing more on your phone screen.

“J-Jimin!” You hear Yoongi’s voice, and a warmth rushes through your body. Your cheeks are hot as you hear a couple thumping sounds soon after, followed by groans. Long, sexy groans that make your pussy wet. You’re already drenched from hearing the noises. You don’t know what to do, putting your phone away and letting your hands wander. You need relief, and these men are not making the pain any easier.

You start envisioning Jungkook between your legs, kissing the spot where you need him the most. And then your eyes flutter shut, as you get lost in your imagination. Suddenly it’s not your hands that are moving freely down your body; it’s Jungkook’s. 

His fingers leave a tingling sensation as he trails down your cool skin, and you shiver from his touch. Slowly he brings his hands down and gently circles your clit, before pushing his finger in and taking it out, putting the slick-covered digit in his mouth, tasting your juices before proceeding. You look down at him, a fear building up inside of you that he thought you were disgusting, but instead you are met with a familiar fuckboy smirk. His smile turns you on, and with a few words, your fears disappear.

“You taste so good, baby,” Jungkook’s face warps as he leans in, now savouring your taste with his tongue directly. You grip his hair, tugging a bit too roughly. Of course, being the little bitch he is, he gives you a lopsided grin. “Fuck, I knew you wanted me, but I didn’t think you liked it rough.” Your cheeks flush as he parts your thighs even further, and you let him, as he removes the last few barriers of clothing between you. And then his face changes.

“Ah, Y/N!” You didn’t think hearing Jimin moan your name would sound half as good as Jungkook doing it, since you actually had a crush on the guy. But holy guacamole, did it sound heavenly. You felt the heat of a thousand suns as Jimin’s hips collided with yours, and a climax that lasted for a long while. After your body shakes with the aftershocks, a third face appears, his long pianist-like fingers cupping your abused clit. Yoongi. He peers up from your glistening clit, waiting for some sort of response from you before feasting on your pussy.

“Please don’t tease me!” You cry, encouraging him as he slides his tongue up your wet slick. You groan his name like a mantra, gripping his soft blond locks tightly and yanking his head further, and further. You finally orgasm, seeing three men staring back at you.

“We want you so bad, Y/N.” They chorus in a creepy harmony, completely in sync.

You wake up right then, with your hand between your legs, your shirt rolled up, and your shorts are on the floor. You forgot what you were doing before you fell asleep, but you assumed it was something along the lines of trying to get ‘it’ out of your system. You sigh in frustration, rolling over and reading ‘3 am’ on the clock. Your memory is hazy, but you do vaguely remember hearing Yoongi and Jimin moaning back when you were trying to watch reruns of old episodes to catch up on a show. And then your fingers slid into your panties. It makes more sense now, as you can faintly hear panting from the other side of the wall. 

3 am and they’re still going at it? Damn, they must have stamina. You blush at the sudden flash of the dream in your mind, and how Jimin was basically singing as he came, the euphoric false memories comfort you, as you try to lull yourself back to sleep. You know it’s very unrealistic and the possibilities of you being in a situation even faintly similar to that with Jimin is very low. Not unless Yoongi consented to it, but you aren’t even going to get into that topic this early in time. You’ve only known them for 14 days, and they’re your housemates. On top of that, they are probably significantly older than you, but can’t a girl dream?

You shake off your thoughts, resting your head back on your pillow and thinking about other things, like catching up on school work, and how characters in stories don’t go to the bathroom, and then being aware of your own breathing. It works as you are instantly out like a light.

Meanwhile, Yoongi and Jimin are back in their room, exhausted after a very steamy late night session which lasted about 4 hours. It’s honestly normal for them on the weekends, but they tried to be as quiet as possible, since they didn’t want to disturb you, who was sleeping in the room next to theirs. Or so they thought you were asleep.

“So, how does pingu sound?” Yoongi asks his boyfriend, after he changes into some comfortable pajamas.

“Ah, you spoil me, hyung. It sounds amazing. And some cuddles.” Yoongi happily opens his arms up, allowing his boyfriend to slide in between him and his laptop, and he rests his head on his chest, breathing in his scent and just...existing.

“Aftercare is essential, Jiminie. If I didn’t take care of you properly, what kind of a boyfriend would I be?” The slightly shorter man responds by looking up at him, still snuggled deep into his chest.

“A bad one, that’s for sure,” Eventually, their seemingly innocent affair turns heated quickly as the two engage in a passionate makeout session. And then they hear you, through the thin walls.

“Jimin….!” It comes out as a strangled cry first, “Jimin~ah yes…” And then the little pressure in his chest disappears when he hears you moan. His unguarded behavior is noticed quickly, but Yoongi doesn’t point it out. He trusts Jimin’s intuition, as the man is wholly expressive when it comes to feelings. Much better than he is. Not that he’s apathetic, Yoongi is actually very emotional. He dabbles in Public Displays of affection, but it’s not like his hands are on his boyfriend 24/7, he has a life too.

“Jungkook…” They hear you panting the two names alternatively, imaginations running wild. “YOONGI!” The last name makes Yoongi freeze.

“Oh my gosh, what is she doing in there?” His nose crinkles in disgust as he thinks of the possibilities. Yoongi was starting to actually look at you like a little sister, but after hearing your cries of pleasure, it was becoming increasingly hard for him to contain himself. He didn’t feel uncomfortable, and that’s what shocked him. If anything, he felt more flattered than anything.

“Don’t you understand the science behind dreams, Yoongi? She obviously heard us earlier before falling asleep and since we were the last things on her mind she was probably dreaming about it too.” Instead of pushing the matter any further, Yoongi accepts his boyfriend’s explanation, looking at the door with a dry mouth.

“I need some water.”

                      ༻• The Next Day, At Your School •༺

Expecting there to be rumors circulating about you, or any other signs of negativity, you’re surprised to find that no one is talking about you when you walk into your first period class. Apart from a couple people coming up to you and saying hello, no one really mentions anything about rumors, only helping you catch up on work.

“Y/N! I missed you so much.” Jessica wraps her long arms around you, pulling you into an embrace as you look at everyone with paranoid eyes.

“Spill the tea, I wanna hear everything that I missed out on.”

“Oh sweetie, you’ll never believe it. You were the talk of the school after Jungkook Jeon proclaimed you were the best lay of his life, but literally three days after, while you were out sick, everyone got the news that Paris Sharp is pregnant with Mr. Ritz’s baby. The worst part is, he has a wife and kids, so he was already kicked out by the end of the day.” As Jessica catches you up with the latest gossip, you see Jasmine out of the corner of your eye, looking at you with remorse. She’s such an idiot. And even though you’re fighting, you still love her. Your phone chimes with a text.

As you put your phone away, Jessica decides it’s time for her to be a little shit.

“Ooohh were you texting your boyfriend?” You blush as you vividly remembering the amazing sex dream you had about him and Yoongi (and Jungkook).

“No, I was texting Jimin. I don’t need a boyfriend when I have plenty to work on myself.” She harrumphs, folding her arms as you reject her suggestion.

“That’s only what lonely people like you say so that they can sleep soundly through the night.” You grimace. Jessica can be very sweet at times, but she can also be a bitch. She has a boyfriend, who she constantly breaks up with and gets back together with all the time.

“At least I don’t break up with the same guy every week.” Your comeback isn’t the best, and the cringe on your teacher’s face says it all.

“Yeah, that wasn’t a good one.”

“Alright everyone, put your phones away. It’s time for class.” 

After a long day of school, you drive back to your house, expecting some peace and quiet.

When you walk in, Yoongi is holding a wireless mic, struggling to sing the Opening of “Naruto” in the right key. Your mother and Jimin are sitting on the couch, their eyes wide as they get sucked into the quality entertainment that is Yoongi.

“There you are, I left a snack on the counter.” Jimin is the first to notice you, opening his arms wide so that you can hug him. You open the kitkat and break it for the two of you to share. Yoongi doesn’t like sweets, just like your mother, so you and Jimin finish it up. You pick up the small tin of chocolates and tuck them away in your pantry.

“Thanks. I’ve been craving all kinds of things lately, it must be my single and lonely ass trying to cope with not getting some, if you know what I mean.” You mentally slap yourself for bringing up such a cringey topic with the guy who you had a crazy sex dream about.

“Yeah, I know. I’ve been single before, but after meeting this guy I have this constant feeling of fulfilment in my life, like that void of loneliness is just gone, you know?” As he sets his gaze upon your face, his huge grin drops, he sees the sadness in your eyes.

“Not really. But why should I mope about it? I have amazing grades, I’m in my last year of high school, and I have two new amazing friends!” Jimin finds his heart rate increasing as you throw your arms around him for a warm hug. He hugs you back, of course, but your scent is becoming more and more alluring to him. He’s starting to enjoy it a little too much, hugging you a bit longer than friends normally hug. He snaps back to reality, suddenly letting you go with a tiny blush tinting his cheeks.

“Sorry about that, I guess I got a little carried away.”

“No worries.” You skip away to your room, dumping your backpack on the floor and getting your phone out to check for any texts. 

You ignore his texts, as you scroll through Jasmine’s instagram, seeing that she has a new boyfriend it’s none other than Jungkook himself. You spiral into a depression of sorts as you see all of the dates they went on, all of the memories they’ve made through the course of one week. It looks like it started right after you pushed him out. Your heart has been ripped in two, and you’ve decided that you want nothing to do with your childhood best friends any longer. You burn the old photos of the sleepovers you all shared, and surprisingly, you find the courage within yourself to keep Jaehyun’s photos, since you had a better relationship with that drug dealer rather than the people you thought turned out right. 

You might even take up his offer of joining him and his gang in a rave, or something. But then your mind wanders back to Jimin and Yoongi. They are two people that you think you can trust. But you can’t let your guard down, they might be hiding their true identities from you as well. You pray that at least Jimin, sweet Jimin won’t turn out to be a cruel person, casting you aside when you need him the most. Not to mention Yoongi, with his swagger, you hope he won’t do a full 180 and decide that he’s too cool to be friends with you.

“Y/N?” Speaking of the devil, there he is, knocking on your door while resting his arms on the doorframe.

“Hey Yoongi, what do you need?” You don’t want to come off as rude, but you hope he will get the message that you want to be alone for a while. Your phone is vibrating with incoming texts as Jungkook attempts to reach you.

“That better not be who I think it is,” You shrug, making room on your bed for your short friend. He picks up your phone and his eyebrows furrow in a manner that you could only describe as annoyance. “Why don’t you just block him?” You frankly don’t know either.

“I don’t know. Every time I bring my finger to the giant red block button, I chicken out. I can’t just do it.” You sigh. You know what you decided, and with your decision you never imagined blocking his number. Jungkook was your best friend. Now...he’s been reduced to another notch on Jasmine’s belt. The same Jasmine who ruined your friendship the moment she decided to jump into your crush’s bed. Or….crushes’. 

She did this all the time, claiming she ‘didn’t know.’ Yet somehow the boys come crawling back to you, coaxing you to talk to her. It was exhausting, convincing them to pick themselves up and be better men for their future girlfriends. You couldn’t bring yourself to do the same for Jungkook, who was naive and didn’t know shit about dating. It’s funny how their relationship has passed the three-day mark, though. You just wish you could sink into your bed and disappear. Away from the horrible world.

“Unlock your phone.” You reluctantly enter your password before handing it back to Yoongi, who blocks him with no extra thoughts.

“Yoongi! Did you just block him?!” He waves the message-free phone in your face before throwing it on the bed.

“He’s an idiot. Don’t listen to Jimin, just ignore Jungkook and forget him. He doesn’t deserve you.” His words make you feel butterflies in your stomach. Your heart rate is also noticeably increasing. You punch him playfully, trying to calm yourself down. He just told you what you needed to hear. No more obsessing over boys that don’t give a damn about you. “I came to call you for dinner. Your mom made meatloaf. And surprisingly, it tastes good.” You giggle as he pulls you out of bed, slightly blushing when you notice your short shorts hiking up your thigh, a bit too high for comfort.

“Let’s go.” You both make your way to the dining room, as Jimin has already started scarfing down a generous amount of his meal.

“Sorry, I need this for my dancer diet.” He says after swallowing a big piece of tomato.

“Does your dancer diet also include a tub of ice cream?” You offer as you pull out the heavenly cookie dough ice cream from the fridge. Your mother giggles after you pull out the scooper and get a cone for yourself.

“Not at the moment, but maybe I can make room?” Yoongi gives his boyfriend a smooch on the cheek before helping me clean the table.

“I forgot to tell you, your dad is returning. He said he wants you to meet the son of one of his colleagues, we’re going to dinner at their house on Saturday.” 

Your face falls when you hear your mom’s words. Whenever your father comes home, the only thing he cares about are your grades. And now that you’re 18, he is probably going to arrange a marriage for you. Yoongi’s the first one to notice your expression changing.

“Okay.” You say in a monotonous tone, completely not in the mood for ice cream.

“Hey, you okay?” Yoongi grabs your shoulder, but you shrug him off.

“I’m fine. You can have my ice cream.” You sigh, making your way upstairs. You want nothing more than to live your life, and enjoy your youth, but some people just want you to settle down and end your life before it even starts. You know your parents will say ‘it’s a part of your culture’ and that ‘you have to marry someone in a good social class’ like they live in the 1900s. Your mom won’t protest, since she, and her mother before her, and her mother’s mother all had arranged marriages. 

She told you constantly when you were younger that she’s never subject you to the same fate that she had, but look at you now, basically forced to meet your “fiancé” and engage in a sham marriage all for the money. You’ve always dreamt of marrying for love, and even dating but it looks like it’s all for nothing. Besides, who says the person you date will be the person you marry? Couples break up all the time, it’s a natural thing. You even hoped to find the love of your life, but no boys ever approach you, They only go for the pretty ones, like Jasmine, or Jessica. You’re just...ordinary.

“Knock knock, I have a tub of ice cream with your name on it,” Jimin slowly walks over to you, and right when he sees the glistening tears in your eyes, his voice drops an octave. “It’s okay...shhh.” You pull him in for a hug, burying your face in his striped black and white polo shirt. Who the fuck even wears polo shirts at home? You feel so comforted in his embrace, that you don’t even care to think. You’re mourning your loss of life before it’s even officially begun, and Jimin is here with you. It wasn’t forced, he doesn’t give a shit about Jasmine, this time he’s here for you. You cry just from realizing that fact as well. Jimin is here for you as long as you need him to be.

“Can we watch anime?” You ask after a long moment of sniffling.

“Sure.” You don’t let him go for a minute as he turns the t.v on before going onto hulu. He actually rests his arm on your shoulder and you lean down into his chest as you both dig your spoons into the ice cream. After a while, you both start crying from witnessing a sad character death. 

“Sh-she was just trying to protect her master!” Jimin wails, smearing ice cream all over his chin. 

“And the guy called her a mutt!” You clutch his shirt, your fingers sticking together as you get covered in ice cream from his cheek. Oh god, his cheek...is so sticky! “I think we need to get cleaned up.” You blush slightly from how suggestive that sounded, but Jimin just keeps his focus on the t.v, not realizing what you just said.

“Come back here!” Jimin grabs you from behind, pulling you on top of him as you squeal from the sudden cuddle attack.

“I’m going to be-” Your mother opens the door, and after seeing you and Jimin in a compromising situation, she freaks out. “Oh I didn’t realize I was interrupting, continue!” You and Jimin share a look as she shuts the door, and then you quickly scramble to your feet, scampering after her down the hallway.

“It’s not what it looked like! We were just watching anime!”

“What’s not what it looks like?” You scream, as Yoongi scares you from behind.

“O-oh um, Jimin just kinda cuddled me because I was sad and then when I was going to the bathroom he pulled me on top of him for a monster cuddle and then my mom walked in and thought we were doing something else…” You trail off, embarrassed at the entire situation. Yoongi ironically laughs, amused by how on-guard you were.

“He’s got some grip, right?! Oh I love him.” He pauses, staring off into space with a slightly dazed look in his almond-shaped eyes. He blushes when you wave your hand in front of his face.

“Ah, sorry, I must’ve gotten carried away. Jimin, babe, I’m going to bed!” He sticks his head into your room and is surprised to find his boyfriend is drowning in a tub of ice cream. You both crowd into the room, and for no reason in particular you shut your door. It’s not like you’re still afraid of demons in the dark...even though you’re an adult. Haha.

“Okay...goodnight...baby.” Jimin tilts his head up and you almost UWU out loud because of how adorable he looks. 

“Oh, you have a little bit on your nose…” 

“I’ll get it,” Yoongi surprises you by leaning over and licking the cream off his boyfriend’s nose. And instead of looking away like any respectable human being, you find yourself unable to tear your eyes away from the intimate scene. They look so perfect, absorbed in each other, silently renewing their vows within their gazes. It’s all so romantic. And you’re so jealous of the love that you can never have. “Silly baby, you have some on your neck too.” At this point, you should really look away, but the temptation wins.

“Oh, you missed a spot.” You notice a little splotch of cream on his cheek, dripping dangerously close to your lavender bed sheets.

“Really? Then how about you get it?” You’re surprised at Yoongi’s suggestion, but even more surprised when Jimin hums in agreement.

“Clean me up, Y/N.” You reluctantly bring your lips to his soft cheek, your tongue sneaking out to pick up the excess ice cream. You close your eyes, slightly sucking his cheek before you know it, making him purr under you. And boy, do you love the sounds that come from his cute little lips.

“Doesn’t he taste good?” Yoongi’s suggestive words just irk your inner beast, as you feel like a lioness towering over its prey. You want more, and you even let yourself forget where you are just so you can treasure these moments that you can never get back. Before you know it, he’s smeared a good amount of ice cream over his boyfriend’s body, not hesitating to remove his shirt even a little bit. “Go ahead, lick,” He says with a dominant voice. You normally don’t like being ordered around, but something about his tone just tells you maybe it’s for the best. “Lick.” He repeats again, with a more established sternness in his voice.

You immediately attack Jimin with your mouth, your tongue exploring every inch of his smooth chest and abdomen as he shivers beneath you. You know it’s all wrong, that despite them being gay and you being yourself, you would never work out, in reality. But oh, does he feel good as the ice cream sticks more towards you than his entire body. At some point he lets out a moan, as your tongue accidentally flicks across his right nipple, and heat rushes down your core. Or rather, your core pulsates with the thought of him moaning like that for you in a completely different context. There’s nothing sexual about this, you’re just licking ice cream off your friend’s body. While his boyfriend watches.

“Fuck, I can’t stand this anymore.” Yoongi is suddenly hovering over you, and Jimin, but primarily you as he holds the half-empty tub of ice cream with shaky hands.

“Your turn, hyung. Lick her clean, like a good boy.” Holy shit, they’re switches.

                   ༻• The Next Day, At Your School •༺

“Ooooh, look at you all smiley today, spill the juice sister, I wanna hear everything.” You roll your eyes at Jessica. Who talks like that these days? Only authors with lame sense of humor and no idea what teens actually talk about in school say that shit. But Jessica is an interesting character. She’s actually pretty cool.

“I don’t wanna talk about it.” You groan, recalling the events of the night prior.

“Did you get dicked down?” You slam your locker, walking ahead of her so you can just get to class and be done with this conversation.

“Ugh.” You groan again when you see that there is a substitute teacher sitting where your regular teacher normally is.

“Oh you nasty girl, you got two?” Your eyes widen and your cheeks turn pink as she basically hints at Yoongi and Jimin. “Who was it?” She clasps her hands over her mouth, overdramatically. “Don’t tell me it was Yoonmin. I thought you said they were gay?” You give her a side-smile, more to be sarcastic than to lead her on. Even though she was half correct about what happened…

══ ˢᵗᵃʳᵗ ᶠˡᵃˢʰᵇᵃᶜᵏ ══

“Yoongi, watch where you put your mouth. Don’t wanna scare her off.” Jimin sounds so bossy, it makes you want to pounce on him and really show him who’s in charge. But of course, you can’t do that when his boyfriend is hovering inches away from you, about to lick off a dollop of sticky cookie dough ice cream from your collarbone. 

“Just do it already, it’s about to drip into my bra.” You awkwardly tense up for no reason, as Yoongi’s breathing becomes heavier and he seems like he’s more detached as well.

“I don’t think I can do it, Jimin.” He stops breathing for a moment as his eyes meet yours. You see the lust, curiosity, but most of all...fear. 

“It’s fine, you don’t have to force yourself. It was just a little game, is all. Besides, you don’t have feelings for me, right?” He purses his lips, averting his eyes before answering you, in a hushed voice. “I don’t know.” And with that encounter, you call it a night, biding the two men goodbye before turning off the t.v in your room before crawling into your bed and hugging one of your pillows.

══ ᵉⁿᵈ ᶠˡᵃˢʰᵇᵃᶜᵏ ══

Your phone chimes with an unexpected text from Jimin, just as you are wrapping up the first period with 0% of your assigned work done. You’re a straight-A student, you can definitely manage one measly class assignment before your teacher notices. Once, you forgot to do one e-learning assignment and you turned it in two days later with no explanation, and the teacher gave you full credit because she didn’t grade your work until the weekend. Piece of pie.

You consider your options. A.) Go with Yoonmin to the concert and pretend like nothing happened, or B.) Lie and say you’re meeting a good friend at the mall on that same day. And then there is option C, which is to come clean about how you feel about the two of them and how each of them give you good butterflies in your tummy and make you feel wanted and loved.

Yeah right, as if you’re gonna do any of those things.

You wait patiently.

You roll your eyes before typing out a rushed response.

You tuck your phone in your pocket, ducking into your next class without being noticed. But the same thought was ringing in your head: Why the hell would Yoongi want me to third-wheel him and Jimin?

[worryinglyinnocent]

Fic: Very Real Worries About Black Holes

Summary: Rushbelle. Rush and Belle are both dealing with the challenges of being teachers trying to organise remote learning in the pandemic, but they find that there are some perks to working from home.

Written for the @a-monthly-rumbelling February random prompt: Education AU.

Rated: G

Very Real Worries About Black Holes

If there was one thing that Belle had never expected to encounter when she had first become an elementary school teacher, it was the challenges of teaching a class of seven-year-olds remotely. The last few months had brought with them more technical challenges and Zoom misbehaviours than she had ever thought she would have to deal with in her entire lifetime.

Still, needs must, and she knew that Nicholas was having just as many issues with teaching his college classes online. The difference was that her students’ mishaps tended towards the unintentionally amusing, and his more towards the exasperating.

She checked everything meticulously one more time. No food in her teeth, nothing weird happening in the background – just the bare kitchen wall. All her notes and materials were in place, and she’d emailed the kids’ worksheets to them the previous day. She was ready to enter the virtual classroom.

“Good morning, class.”

“Good morning, Miss French,” came the tinny chorus in her earphones. She did a quick headcount; there was a good attendance this morning, although Billy Fields appeared to have been replaced by a golden retriever panting happily at the webcam.

“Our first lesson today is science, and we’re going to be learning about the solar system. Does everyone have the worksheet that I emailed you yesterday?”

Of course not. Belle didn’t think there would ever be a day when all her students were fully prepared, just as there would never be a day in their real-world classroom where someone hadn’t forgotten their pencil case, or their gym kit, or their lunch money (Belle kept a slush fund – no child went hungry on her watch). She resent the worksheets and started up her PowerPoint presentation.

“The sun is at the centre of our solar system… Yes, Katie?”

“Miss, how big is the universe?”

Belle was slightly taken aback by the question. “The entire universe?”

“Yeah. I know that the solar system is only a little bit of the universe. My brother’s studying it at middle school, and he says that the universe is at least… three times as big as the solar system. And it’s getting bigger!”

“I don’t know exactly how big the universe is, but it’s mind-bendingly huge… Yes, Aaron?”

“Miss, are we going to get eaten by a black hole? I saw a show on TV last night about them, and I’m worried. I don’t want to get eaten by a black hole before I’ve had the chance to taste every single flavour of ice cream at the Blueberry Farm ice cream shop.”

Belle sighed. She could do with an entire tub of Blueberry Farm ice cream herself right now. It was a shame they’d closed due to the virus. “Aaron, we’re not going to get eaten by a black hole. The nearest black hole is thousands and thousands of light years away.”

“What’s a light year?”

“It’s a very, very long way. Can we get back to the worksheets, please? The sun is at the centre of our solar system, and… Yes, Aaron?”

“Miss, how do we know that the nearest black hole is really far away? I mean, black holes are black, right? And space is black, right? So how do we even see them and know where they are? There might be one sneaking up on us right now!”

Katie screamed in terror at the thought of this and dived under her desk. The golden retriever sitting in for Billy seemed unperturbed. Belle rubbed her forehead and sighed. This was absolutely not how she had intended this lesson to go. Looking up, she saw that Nicholas had come into the kitchen for some more coffee, and he was giving her an amused look.

“Trouble in paradise?” he asked lightly. Belle just glared at him. Then she smiled as a thought struck her, and Nicholas’s expression changed to a worried one.

“Class, hold on for a moment.” She muted herself. “Nick, when’s your next class?”

“If I say right now, will you believe me?”

“No.”

“Fine, it’s at half-ten.”

“Perfect.” Belle returned to her own class. “Class, you can forget the worksheets. We have a special guest joining us for our science lesson today. He’s a scientist who knows all about space, and luckily, he happens to be my fiancé.” She beckoned Nicholas over and he groaned, taking the seat beside her at the table and giving an unenthusiastic wave to her students.

“This is Dr Rush, and he’s going to answer all your questions about the universe.”

“I hate you,” Nicholas mouthed to her.

“Now, now. There are children present. Ok class, one at a time. Yes, Maisie?”

“Dr Rush, do they have coronavirus in space?”

“Probably not.”

“So, the moon people don’t have it?”

“The moon… There are no people on the moon.”

“What about Neil Armstrong?”

“He’s not still on the moon, we didn’t leave him there after he planted the flag.”

“Oh.” Maisie paused. “What about the Martians? Do they have coronavirus?”

“There are no Martians.”

“Oh. Won’t Percy and Curiosity get lonely with no Martians to talk to?”

“Erm…”

“Dr Rush, how big is the universe?” Katie had come out from under her desk. “And are there any black holes sneaking up on us?”

Nicholas was in far more comfortable territory here, and soon enough the questions veered away from the weird and into the genuinely scientific and insightful. It was nice to see him in his element, even if she did have to keep reminding him that the kids were seven and did not have an entire lifetime’s worth of astrophysics vocabulary at their fingertips. Belle was somewhat loath to put an end to the discussion.

“Ok class, we’re at the end of lesson time now, we need to move on to math. Do you have one final question for Dr Rush?”

Billy’s voice came out from behind the retriever. “Dr Rush, are you really, absolutely, completely sure about the black holes? I mean, I already have to worry about coronavirus and the weird mouldy tomatoes at the back of the fridge. I don’t want to have to worry about black holes too.”

Even Nicholas had to stifle a laugh at that. “I am one hundred per cent certain that there are no black holes sneaking up on us, and I promise you that NASA has people monitoring for them. We’ll all be safe.”

“Good.”

Belle put the class into recess for five minutes to allow for bathroom breaks, and she turned to Nicholas.

“That wasn’t so bad now, was it?”

Nicholas raised an eyebrow. “Hmm.”

“Oh, come on, you enjoyed it really, and some of them had really good questions.”

“I’m a bit concerned by their collective obsession with black holes.”

Belle just laughed and double-checked that her webcam was covered before leaning in and kissing him.

“Thank you for humouring me anyway.”

“Anything for you. Although now I’m going to get you to come and act as my glamorous assistant in one of my lectures.”

Belle laughed. “What will that involve, holding your dry-wipe markers?”

“I’m sure I’ll think of something.” He kissed her again and left the room to go and prepare for his own classes. Belle smiled. There were some upsides to remote teaching after all.

[purplesurveys]

1248

Your ex taps you on the shoulder and says, “I still love you.” You say?  I feel like I’ve answered a similar situation recently, but I would assume it was a drunk text or wrong text, inform them about it, and move on.

Do you play video games?  Nah. I do feel a sort of connection of video games since I grew up surrounded by them, though; but I’m more of a watcher than anything. I like watching playthroughs of video games I’ll never play. Do you spend a lot of time with family?  No. We used to, back when the quarantine was still a relatively new thing – we hung out in the living room all the time. But now that we’ve settled in this new normal, we’re back to our normal routines and I usually like staying in my room.

Is your house more than two stories tall?  Technically, yes. We have a rooftop that serves as the ‘third’ floor.

Have you ever hit your significant other? Has he/she ever hit you?  My ex and I never hit one another; that’s a gigantic red flag even I would notice, considering I ignored most of the ones I saw hahaha.

What makes you an attractive person? (Talk about your personality too!)  I’m not sure if I’ll be able to answer this question directly, but I like my generosity. I’m not sure if I can call it attractive, though. But if we were focusing on physical features, I like my smile.

What color is your hairbrush/comb?  Pink.

What snacks do you have available in your household atm?  My dad splurged on chips in his last grocery run so we actually have quite a lot of junk food in the pantry at the moment. He also bought several packs of cookie sandwiches, wafers, sunflower seeds, and garlic-flavored peanuts.

Has anyone recently told you that they like you, or find you attractive?  Neither.

Are you attracted to the last person you Facebook messaged?  No, she’s just a good friend of mine.

Do you care about anyone that doesn’t care about you?  I guess I don’t, because I’m not even aware of them.

Was your last Facebook friend requests from a male or female?  Guy. It was another reporter, so I just ignored it and luckily he didn’t PM me just to ask to add him back, which others have already done. I really hate when work people try to make their way into my personal accounts.

Which one of your relatives is most likely to embarrass you?  My parents, especially when they are rude to service crew. Gen X-ers are impeccably talented at that, apparently.

When was the last time you ate a bar of chocolate?  Around two or three weeks ago when I had dinner at Angela’s. Her dad gave me a bar of Crunch so I can have something sweet after our meal.

Do you play any games on Facebook?  No, I never did hop on that trend.

What would you like to get a degree in?  I wanted a degree in journalism, and graduated with such. At the end of my college stint I didn’t want to pursue it anymore, but I pushed through with it anyway because it was too much of a hassle to shift and start all over.

Do you wake up a lot in the middle of the night? Technically not, because I stay up until the middle of the night anyway. It’s been a while since I fell asleep anywhere between 8 to 10 PM.

Would you prefer to read a book, watch a movie or TV show, or play a video game?  Watch a show.

Do you usually get popcorn or soda at the movie theater?  I don’t like either; I get fries instead.

What genre of films do you like the best?  Drama.

How many bank accounts do you have?  Two but I haven’t been using the other one in months. That was the bank account I initially opened when I first started ~adulting~ but when I got employed I was required to enroll in this other specific bank, so that’s what I mainly use now.

Have you ever had the flu?  Not really. I just get the occasional fever that pop out of nowhere.

What is your goal for the next few months?  Start saving FOR REAL, and also prioritizing furniture over merch for a while so I can finally fix up my room, which is quickly starting to look and feel like just a warehouse and not very homey at all.

Have you ever had some kind of sleep-disorder? How did it affect your life?  Nope.

Have you ever had food poisoning before? Describe the experience.  Yeah, it was from barbecue that apparently went bad, even though it tasted nothing of the sort. I woke up at 3 AM sweating profusely and with the most excruciating stomachache; I was feeling hot, cold, and nauseous all at the same time, and it probably lasted for like an hour or so.

What are two things that you have no problem paying full price for?  Sealed albums and my pets’ vet expenses.

Funny, charming, cute, romantic, smart - choose only 2 for the opposite sex.  Charming and smart.

Have you ever let somebody use you? Why did you do it?  It felt nice to help people.

You can go back in time & change something in your mom’s past - what is it? Good question; I’ve never encountered this before. I would let her live a more comfortable, privileged life, where she didn’t have to staple her shoes to keep them closed or have to choose between eating at a fast food restaurant or being able to commute back home.

Do you know anybody who is around the exact same size as you? Who? I’m not sure, actually. Everyone’s always slightly taller than me.

Ever been to a haunted house? How scared were you?  I haven’t.

Been on any websites today you wouldn’t want your parents to see?  Tumblr, I guess? My survey blog isn’t for any irls to see.

Which is worse: dusting or mopping?  I don’t really do either often, but I’ll go with mopping.

Would you marry somebody who was intensely religious?  Not for me.

Did you pull a senior prank?  No, that’s not a thing here. Did you graduate?  Yeah, elementary, high school, and college.

Have you ever been unfaithful in a serious relationship?  Nope.

What was the last song you listened to?  It’s a song called Epiphany.

Are you one of those lucky people with 20/20 vision?  Not ever since I was like 9 lol.

Is fashion one of your interests?  I’m way more interested in it now for sure, mostly because the celebrities I’m into these days put a lot of effort when it comes to their style; so it makes me more aware of the trends that come and go, as well.

Do you think you’ll eventually find that special someone?  I’m keeping it as a possibility, but it’s not a priority for me now.

Do you care what people think?  To an extent, I would say. My life doesn’t depend on it, though.

Is acting something you enjoy?  Never been.

What was the last thing you broke/sprained?  Do you mean a thing or a body part? Anyway, I’ll answer both. The last thing I broke was my BTS Mic Drop pen of V looooooooooool the figurine came off the pen :(( It was pretty cheap though so I’m fine with it; I can always get another one. Last body part I sprained was my ankle, when I had a bad fall a couple of years ago.

Have you ever fought with a friend because of their boyfriend/girlfriend? Because of yours?  Either hasn’t happened.

Has a stranger ever yelled at you for your language?  I don’t think so.

Whose house, other than yours and your families', are you most comfortable at?  Angela’s. Also JM’s, just because their family doesn’t hover and that vibe can sometimes be nice whenever I’m at someone else’s place.

Has any of your friends’ family ever yelled at you?  Never.

Did you ever play a sport as a little kid? Did you enjoy it? Not as a very young kid, but I took up table tennis starting when I was 12. Did you ever watch the show Full House?  Nope.

Is there a celebrity you are just DETERMINED to marry?  Now that’s just delusional haha. I’m pretty obsessed with some celebrities, that much I can admit; but thinking of them in the context of marriage is so many steps overboard.

Have you ever burned someone’s picture?  No. I could, but I am scared of fire and will probably just think of other ways to express my anger, like tearing up the photograph. What’s the longest hike you’ve ever been on?  Total length was probably like 3 hours. I haven’t gone too far when it comes to hiking.

Would you ever get a lip tattoo?  Not interested.

Who is the first person of the opposite sex that pops into your head? Hans.

Do your parents smoke cigarettes?  My mom tried it once in her life, I think. My dad has never smoked.

What does one of your T-shirts have written on it?  “Hope right here!”

Name a pet you definitely wouldn’t want.  Anything that’s supposed to roam freely in the wild, like squirrels.

Would you prefer your partner smaller or taller?  Taller, since I’m already quite pint-sized to begin with lol.

Do you enjoy going through old pictures? Sometimes. Other times, it's too painful. It also depends on the era of the pictures. < Agree, especially with the eras. Childhood photos are always fun to look at, but I have had to delete a CHUNK of photos from years ranging from 2014 to 2020 because I’ve lost a handful of friends from that period.

Do you believe people when they say they don’t judge people?  It’s hard to for the most part, but I’ve noticed very few people people really don’t. Most of the time it’s bullshit though.

What did you love the most about the town you grew up in?  That it’s pretty close to the metro.

What’s a movie that you laughed the hardest during?  Hmm, I prefer TV shows if I’m craving comedy.

What’s a movie you cried the hardest during?  Life Is Beautiful.

What’s your favorite restaurant?  Omakase for my sushi fix; School Tteokbokki if I want Korean; Yabu if I’m looking for a generous rice meal.

Is there a dessert you don’t like?  Anything with fruits.

Favorite album?  After Laughter by Paramore.

What’s a book that you read because everyone else was reading it?  I can name authors instead of books – John Green and Haruki Murakami.

Underwater or outer space?  Outer space.

Dogs or cats?  Dogs.

Kittens or puppies?  Puppies.

Bird watching or whale watching?  Whale watching. I don’t get to be in the water as much, so I would jump at the opportunity.

What is your spirit animal?  I dunno if I have one but let’s just go with dog and elephant, I guess? They’re my favorites.

What was your best subject in school?  History.

What was your worst subject in school?  Chemistry.

What is one thing you wish you knew in high school?  Don’t waste your time.

Who is your fashion icon?  Audrey Hepburn.

Diamonds or pearls?  Diamonds.

What color dress did you wear to prom?  For my own prom it was cream-colored/beige. When I went to Mike’s ball, I went with a royal blue gown.

What’s your favorite plot-twist?  I don’t think I’ve found my favorite yet.

Honestly, are you jealous of someone right now?  Not actively.

Honestly, what’s the worst thing you’ve done when you were mad?  I dunno...road rage, maybe?

Honestly, ever made anyone cry when you were mad?  It’s very likely.

Honestly, when was the last time you REALLY cried your heart out?  Sometime in the last week.

Ever pop someone else’s pimple? No thanks.

Do you need to return anyone’s phone call?  Nope.

Who are you closest to?  Angela.

Have you ever had a bad concert experience?  No, all the ones I’ve been to have been amazing experiences.

Are you currently sad about anything?  Not really. I can’t complain.

Have you had any form of exercise today?  Nah.

Can you handle blood?  Nope, I will feel faint if I see it 100%.

Has any place hired you underage for a job?  No.

Have you ever carried a concealed weapon?  I haven’t.

Are you currently searching for a job?  No, I like the one I have.

Does eating breakfast make you sick?  No?

[dumbwaystodeviate]

Connor deviating because cyberlife included an experimental feature in his coding that makes him ticklish and Hank or Gavin finds out, thinks it's hilarious and adorable, and tries it out. He is Very Displeased And Embarrassed.

One of the blessings about being a prototype was that should there be features to their models, most of the time they are hidden. Connor was blessed with the knowledge his could only be found out by trial and error or if you had his manual, a second blessing considering Hank didn’t bother reading it, just finding out as he went along or asked directly. It saved face and kept things relatively calm.

Hank occasionally figured things out on his own, when he bothered to get curious about it, and so did others sometimes. Like how wireless connections worked with Androids, when you could just kinda tell when they did it. The fact humans could figure that out had actually spooked a number of androids and impressed the hell out of Connor himself.

All in all, learning things about Connor didn't bother him a bit, sometimes even he was surprised by what was in there seeing as he wasn’t really given the chance to check it. Well, until his manual went missing.

“Con? Do you know where that damn tablet of your’s went?” Despite the lack of reading, Hank had kept it just in case. And because it was Connor’s. “Had it in the drawer but it’s like it up-ed and walked off...”

Personal effects going missing in the DPD wasn’t a normal event, causing his led to spin a bit of yellow. “Lieutenant, inanimate objects don’t walk off.” He supposed he must have been too literal considering Hank’s groan. “Perhaps it was borrowed by mistake? Thinking it was a work tablet?”

A quick scan of the office found it on officer Miller’s desk who was no where to be seen, so Connor made a note to ask about it later as he went to retrieve it. The last thing anyone needed was someone snooping in his manual.

It was a mishap that was long forgotten after a week, both of them too busy to care. Busy until Hank got sick with a stomach bug and had to stay home, leaving Connor to be stuck with whoever was available. Sadly today it had been Gavin.

Connor couldn’t help but keep an eye on him, the overly ‘pleased with himself’ grin and mostly pleasant attitude setting off red flags for the RK. He still did his work, tried to not let on what he thought of this as he gave the man a coffee, as he always did with Hank.

“Well hell, tincan, thanks.” Despite Gavin giving thanks he seemed to smug about it and it was baffling.

“You are welcome? Detective, are you alright? You are acting strange...” Damn his curiosity.

It was the first time that day the man leered at him, if only halfheartedly. “What? Want me to throw it at your or something? That what gets your motor running?” Of course, he couldn’t keep himself from laughing at that. But before Connor could reply the human was up with his cup and heading out the door. “Come on, got work to do.”

The RK took the out, trailing after him like the good bot he is. Whatever the man had going on, Connor hoped it would last until Hank was back.

Thankfully they were just out for questioning at the moment, so it wasn’t really a rush and the task was finished fast enough that Gavin took a detour to get food. Connor could only be thankful Reed was better about his diet than Hank, not by a great margin but it didn’t make him wanna hide the humans lunch.

While the Android waited he took time to look though statements and evidence remotely, mostly ignoring Gavin even existed. Turns out this was never a good move with the man. Not ten minuets later he felt a sharp feeling he couldn’t explain, perhaps like static, run up his side that caused him to let out the most silly snort.

A noise soon followed by laughing. “Holy shit! You really ARE ticklish! Guess that manual was right. Wild ass phucks at cyberlife...”

Connor could only look at him like he had a second head, but any move to protest was followed by Gavin quickly poking him again, the feeling causing the RK to jerk in his seat. His led went red as he saw the grin on the man’s face, and even Connor couldn’t predict the human that apparently hated him would jump across his own seat to tackle him.

Where Connor expected a actually fight, he found himself letting out confused, staticy noises as human danced his fingers along the android’s sides causing him to squirm and jerk from his touch. And though the haze of touch and sparks the RK came to the realization that yes, Gavin was right, and he was ticklish and WHY ON EARTH WOULD THEY MAKE HIM LIKE THAT?

He was as indigent as he could be with his systems going nuts. Why on earth would this be a reasonable addition to his programming?! What, did the Programmer have a kink or something? Connor didn’t wanna know the answer to that. Right now the overwhelming sparks and embarrassment from it all had his programming frizzing out until it finally failed, a event marked by the sudden change in noises from static to actual full on laughs. 

Gavin kept at him a bit longer, the deviation taking only a matter of seconds in his eyes, before he finally stopped messing with the poor android as he breathed a bit harder from his own laughter.

Connor wasn’t in any better state, hair all a mess as well as his clothes as his internal fans kicked on to cool him off in the form of panting. This, perhaps, was quite a suggestive scene with how after a few seconds the man jumped off him with a red face.

“So.. You were the one that grabbed my manual?” 

Gavin wouldn’t look at him but shrugged. “Thought it was Hank’s, needed files and what not.”

Such a little thing had made the man so happy and pleasant to be around, and for the first time they’ve had a nice encounter. “... I think we should look more into what else is hidden in my programming.” This could be fun. As long as it isn’t tickling.

[pidayforpi]

“Flickering Flames”

Two waterfowls stood in front of a castle. A duck and a goose, to be exact.

Though it was already spring, the highlands of Scotland beckoned cold wind from all directions.

The green duck stood unfazed, but his yellow goose companion was shaking from the chilly wind, despite the goose wearing twice the amount of clothing of the duck.

Seeing his friend trembling in the cold, the duck reached out for the goose’s tiny palm. Although, their hands were equally cold.

He might not be able to warm his body, but he could at least warm his heart.

——————————————————————

Duckula put down the heavy bag of golf equipments, and knocked on the castle gate. He tapped his feet impatiently, hoping to quickly get this chore done. He believed Heinrich would like the same, as he was visibly very, very cold.

How Duckula wished he could understand his feeling right now. Vampires were permanently cold. No matter it was in the scalding summer, or the snowy winter, Duckula could only feel...nothing at all.

Perhaps there really was a difference. Duckula had been trying to be empathetic, but there were still a lot to learn.

Through the air current, he could hear grunting, wheezing, mumbles and footsteps. The resident was awake. Or, woken up. At least he knew he didn’t have to knock again. The least he wanted was to annoy the already grumpy old duck inside.

The huffing and puffing got closer and closer to the entrance, while the footsteps got louder and louder. Eventually, the wooden gate creaked open, and the master of the castle inquired after a cough.

“Where are ye frae? Where are ye fr- Oh, it’s ye lads...” Rory spoke from behind the door of his home, with only his crimson eyes visible to both guests outside.

Heinrich slightly tightened his grasp on Duckula’s hand in the presence of another vampire, while the older duck greeted his relative playfully.

“Good mornin’ Unca Rory! We are here to return these golf-“

“Get in!” Rory shouted from inside the building, interrupting his nephew.

“Huh?” Duckula was a bit confused, but continued nonetheless. “We will be dropping these golf equipments you-“

“Get in and we’ll talk!”

“R-really! We are just going to return these thingies you lent us for preparing the Highland Games. Won’t take you a min-“

“GET IN THE BLOODY CASTLE! YE TRYIN’ TO KILL ME, LAD?!”

Rory screamed at the top of his lungs, jumping up and down the stone floor grumpily. The shouting caused him to cough afterwards, and the two younger birds to stand still in shock.

Duckula felt wronged. He was just trying to give his uncle back his golf tools, and now he was overreacting hysterically, as if Duckula had placed a bomb in the bag. He believed none of the people present would want to prolong this meeting: Duckula was bored, Heinrich was freezing, and Uncle Rory was...well, stingy, even with time. He just wanted to say hi, drop the bag, and go home. How was this killing his uncle?

Just when Duckula was still processing and feeling bad for himself, Heinrich tugged his sleeves to gain his attention. The shorter gosling pointed up, signalling the green duck to look up. He did so, shielding his eyes from the morning sunlight-

Oh. Sunlight.

Duckula suddenly remembered not all vampires were immune to sunlight.

In fact, he’s the only one.

Duckula sheepishly grinned, sticking the tip of his tongue out. “S-sorry, Unca Rory...” Heinrich, despite innocent, also bowed his head in apology.

Rory grumbled lowly, controlling his temper with a deep breath. “It’s alright, nephew. And don’t call me that.”

——————————————————————

The two youngsters followed Rory into the castle. He lit the candles on the dining table, the torches on the wall, and the fireplace opposite of the gate.

“Take a seat.” Rory signalled his two guests to sit down at the long dinning table situated in the living room, even pulling out two chairs himself. The two felt a bit uneasy, but sat down with a nod of gratitude nevertheless.

After they had settled, Rory proceeded to what they assumed to be the kitchen or the pantry. Duckula and Heinrich looked at each other in confusion as sounds of running water, clanking utensils and liquid boiling echoed from wherever the host was. Their questions were soon answered, however, when Rory returned to the living room with a tea pot and three cups on a tray. The smell of camomile tea filled the area, giving the spacious room a homely feeling.

Both the mallard duck and the gosling were surprised. They were just here to return some stuff, and now they were treated like  old friends from afar.

“W-woah! Unca...I mean, Uncle Rory, that’s...very kind of you...!” Duckula exclaimed. Even his butler wouldn’t serve him (pure) tea without him asking in the first place. Not to mention Rory was his senior.

“I have to live up me name as the ‘Scourge of the Glens’!” Rory proudly said as he put down the tray. He poured some tea into two of the three cups, and put them on top of two circular plates, before serving them to the two guests.

“S-s-so...y-you are g-going to p-p-poison us...?” Heinrich whispered, looking at the yellowish-green liquid suspiciously.

Seeing his good intentions were not well-received, Rory again hopped up and down, throwing his hands, along with his wooden cane, in the air.

“Then don’t drink it, I dare ye!”

And the two guests really did not touch the two cups for half a minute.

Not wanting his freshly brewed tea to go to waste, Rory eventually gave in.

“It’s not poisoned, I promise.”

Seeing that both cups were filled from the same tea pot, Duckula took the initiative and drank his cup first. Hopefully whatever poison (if present) worked for both vampires and mortals, so that he could be a viable test for toxin.

Of course it wasn’t toxic.

After witnessing his friend drinking his cup without appearing sick afterwards, Heinrich slowly picked up his and took a sip. Still hot. Perfect for his freezing body.

“S-sorry for doubting y-you, Mister McDuckula...” Heinrich looked at Rory shyly, regretful for mistaking his hospitality for hostility.

Rory’s expression softened when he heard the gosling’s apology. “It...it’s fine, laddie.”

“Heh. You should have seen Heinrich’s reaction when I handed him a Bockwurst sandwich!” Duckula beamed, recalling his first encounter with his little goose friend.

Heinrich blushed with embarrassment. “D-D-D-Duckula! I h-haff s-said I vas s-s-sorry!”

“Oh? What was it about, nephew?” Rory leant onto the table with a curious grin.

“Same as what happened just now, only it took him waaaaaaaay longer to get used to.”

Rory chuckled, crooking his already crooked back. Duckula scooted closer to his friend. “Sorry, Heinrich. It just reminded me of that day.”

Heinrich was still pouting a bit, but his cheek had returned from pink to yellow.

“Don’t blame yerself, kiddo. Ye’re a vampire hunter, after all. It is a foolish act to accept food or drink from a vampire. Ye never know if that meal will be yer last, before ye become one yerself!” Rory reassured Heinrich with a pat on his head, who smiled nervously in response.

“So, err, what are ye two here for today?” Rory finally questioned his two uninvited guests about their intentions, while pouring himself a cup of home-brewed tea.

Duckula remembered why they were here, and quickly put down his cup. “Oh! We are here to return these.”

Duckula picked up the heavy bag from the floor, jogging to the other side of the table, while Heinrich followed.

“Thank you for lending us your precious golf equipments! We won’t disappoint you in the coming Highland Games!” Duckula handed the bag with a smile.

“Lemme see...Three flags, five golf clubs, seven golf balls...Yes. Exact amount. Learnt yer lesson from the last time, hm?” Rory glared at Duckula, who let out an anxious chuckle.

He then turned his focus onto Heinrich, before smirking mischievously.

“Say, nephew. Ye do know how to please an elderly. So nice of ye to bring me...breakfast.” Rory stared at the gosling straight in his eyes, causing the latter to cling closer to his friend.

Duckula understood his uncle’s “joke”, and sighed. “He’s not your breakfast, lunch, dinner or midnight snack.”

“Then why are ye bringing him to me lair? Ye do realise...I am...a vampire!” Rory hid his face behind his cloak mysteriously, before revealing himself, showing his sharp, white fangs with an evil smile. Heinrich gasped, rushing to hide behind Duckula.

On the other hand, Duckula was visibly unamused. “So am I, uncle. He’s just accompanying me. And his name is Heinrich. You know that.”

Rory laughed to himself, before questioning his nephew again. “I think he is with the doctor?”

Duckula rubbed his forehead. “That’s a long story. Goosewing got to attend an inventors’ conference today, and Vanna also got lessons at the university. So I am taking care of Heinrich for the day.”

“And before you ask, no. I won’t leave him behind at the castle. I can’t guarantee I can return his assistant alive to Goosewing. He would definitely be killed, intentionally by Igor, unintentionally by Nanny.”

“Then why didn’t ye send yer dear butler Igor to do the chore? Ye’re a count, for heaven’s sake!”

“This is a small task. I can handle it myself.”

Rory raised an eyebrow at Duckula’s response, obviously not buying his explanation. Duckula saw the suspicion in his uncle’s red eyes, and let out a big sigh.

“Okay, you got me. Igor is on strike.” Duckula confessed.

“For?”

“For...him.” The count moved to the side, gesturing the young vampire hunter behind him.

“Even for a year, he still can’t accept Heinrich and his family. That stubborn old vulture...How can I possibly entrust Heinrich to him? I can’t even let Heinrich out of my sight at the castle! Might as well take him with me...”

“...Even someone else’s castle is safer than mine...”

Duckula sulked, looking down at his webbed feet. Heinrich also lowered his head with a frown, feeling sorry for Duckula, and even more guilty for worsening the relationship between the count and the butler.

After ten seconds of hanging his head down, Duckula snapped out of his thought. He realised the awkward situation he had made. He just vented out his family conflict all of a sudden, making Heinrich extremely guilty and Rory rather uncomfortable.

“I...I am sorry...” Duckula’s eyes darted between his friend and uncle, desperately trying to reverse the situation. But he didn’t know what to say other than apologies. “I am sorry...I am sorry...”

Rory took a deep breath, and sighed quietly. He also didn’t expect the just-warmed-up room to freeze again in a mere minute. But if the atmosphere had turned serious, he might as well go along.

“C’mere, kids.”

He placed all the tea utensils onto the large rectangular tray, and picked it up. He turned around, inviting the two to join him.

The elderly walked towards the fireplace, while the two youngsters followed in silence. He placed the tray onto the coffee table next to the fire pit, and sat down on one of the two sofa chairs facing the fire. He gestured his hand to the other chair, asking the duo to sit.

“Y’know, ye aren’t the first Duckula-Von Goosewing friend duo I know.” Rory looked at the cracking flames, seeing memories of the past emerging from the burning firewood.

“I may be a hermit, but news comes and goes. And this bag o’ feathers has been around for who knows how long.”

“I have even met one pair in person - more than one pair, actually. Usually, the drake count would be introducing his new gander friend to this  relative of his, perhaps a symbol of genuine friendship.”

“Sometimes the goose would be angry. Sometimes he would be scared. Sometimes he would be rather easy-going. Whatever their first impression, we would always have fun while we could. I always served them camomile tea on their first visit. They say camomile tea can calm ones’ nerves, whether it is fear or agitation.”

“They might visit once, thrice, five times, ten times...”

The old vampire stared at the flickering flames: Sometimes roaring, sometimes dying. His pleasant smile changed to a melancholy frown, his pupils dilating from sorrowful reminiscence.

“But they all stopped coming, eventually.”

“Perhaps they were tired of me, or they never intended to visit me regularly. But no. They stopped visiting anyone. Not together. Not anymore.”

“And before long, I would hear from the newspapers, that a member of the Von Goosewing family managed to vanquish another reincarnation of the foul Count Duckula, granting peace to the people of Transylvania for a century.”

“Or maybe, during family reunions, I would hear from the current Count Duckula himself, that he managed to trick a Von Goosewing into having his neck bitten, making a meal out of him and a humiliation out of his family.”

Rory turned his face away from the two and towards the fireplace. He sniffed gently as he looked into the flames of destiny. Life really was as fickle as fire, wasn’t it?

“And then a pair of duck and goose would visit me again. And another, and another, and another...”

“I would always welcome them with a smile and a pot of camomile tea. But I knew: There could only be two endings, both of which were tragedies.”

“I should had warned them. I should had told them the cautionary tales of their ancestors. But I was such a coward. But I was such a selfish person. Who am I to intervene with the relationships between Counts of Duckula and the Von Goosewing?”

“I didn’t want trouble. I didn’t want responsibility. I kept me beak shut. I witnessed tragedies after tragedies. I faced this punishment again and again.”

Rory took off his red tam o’ shanter, holding it in front of his chest. He closed his eyes, praying quietly.

Duckula and Heinrich looked at the elderly in awe. Surprised that they weren’t the first, sad that they weren’t the first as well. They could only imagine what tales of woe had happened in the past, and the feelings of regret the old vampire had been experiencing.

After a minute of silence, Rory put his cap back on, turning to face the two friends.

“Pray, I beg of ye. Pray don’t let this relationship end with a stake through the heart. Don’t let this friendship end with a bitten neck. Let it end with a genuine smile. No...”

Rory leant closer to the two, his crimson eyes filled with sorrow, his hands held tightly together.

“Pray, never let this friendship end...”

He freed his right hand, extending its pinkie.

“Promise me...Promise me...”

Rory looked at Duckula and Heinrich with utmost sincerity. It must be a request like no other, when the “Scourge of the Glens” practically begged and resorted to such childish promise-keeping ritual. Neither the mallard duck nor the young goose would understand how Rory felt, but they knew it must had been truly devastating for him.

This time, Heinrich took the lead, and stretched out his pinkie to hold onto the old duck’s. Duckula was a bit surprised at his normally cowardly friend’s initiative, but he understood once he saw the empathy in the gosling’s yellow eyes.

Duckula looked at his uncle with determination, and extended his pinkie.

A pinkie promise, but a promise stronger than any other.

“Thank you, lads...”

Rory hugged the duck and the gosling, tears flowing out of his crimson eyes.

For once, the flames in the fireplace did not die out.

——————————————————————

“Sorry, boys. Must had been embarrassing seeing this old duck weep.”

Rory settled back in his seat, wiping away traces of tears with his sleeves.

“It’s o-okay, Mister McDuckula. I c-cry all ze time.” Heinrich beamed, his smile spreading onto Rory’s face.

“Ye really are a kind child, Heinrich. The doctor is blessed to have ye as his assistant.”

“T-t-thank you so much, Mister McDuckula!”

“And ye too, nephew.” Rory smiled at Duckula. “A thoughtful and responsible young man. I am honoured to have ye as me guest at ‘Glen Sparrows Hotel’.”

Duckula blushed at his uncle’s compliment. “Aw, shucks...”

With another deep breath, Rory got up from his seat.

“Thank you for hearing this geezer’s mumbling. Shall I see ye out?”

Duckula exchanged gazes with Heinrich, who affirmed with a nod.

“Actually, if you don’t mind...” Duckula stood up, holding the tray in his hands and a smile on his face. “We would like another cup of camomile tea.”

Rory blinked a few times, feeling his heart getting sour again. He held back his tears, forcing a grin.

“Then ye better have some interesting stories up yer sleeves! This tea ain’t free! And I have told ye so much, ye better have something equivalent!” Rory took the tray to the kitchen, teasing his nephew and his friend.

“You bet I do, Uncle Rory!”

And so, a blood-sucking vampire, a vegetarian vampire and a vampire hunter’s assistant spent a day at the castle on the highlands of Scotland.

Windy the mountains might be, the stone wall kept the castle a homely abode. Quiet the wilderness might be, the laughter of its occupants kept the castle a joyful place.

The flames in the fireplace were still burning, forever sincere and pure.

(28-12-2020 ~ 31-12-2020)

———————————————————————

- The “Bockwurst Sandwich” incident is a part of Duckula’s first encounter with Heinrich (and vice versa). This will be included in my coming long story detailing the start of their friendship. Bockwurst sandwich is the favourite food of (my) Heinrich, by the way.

- I had thought for some time about where to end this story. I usually end my stories with a conversation, so I was thinking with the “We would like another cup of camomile tea” or “You bet I do” sentences. Eventually, I decided to end this with the fireplace, with “fire” symbolising “friendship”, and also use it as the story title.

[jokerfan99]

Curiousity (Almost) Killed The Cat (RWBY/RVB) by Necroceph

*RVB Opening Theme*

Flying above a barren desert.

Fuel's at 9%. It's not enough to keep this thing flying in space in another few hours. Luckily for Xenotarian Four, she spot this M-class planet on the way with man-made structures with functioning electricity says the scanners. She should reach a base in another few clicks. The residents there should provide her the fuel needed to reach Menagerie Prime. There have always been risks of xenotarian aid but who would've thought that flying a longsword in low fuel would be one of them. Through the windshields, she spots structures in the distance and begins to slow the ship down for landing. She attempts to contact the base's denizens to have their permission to land and refuel.

???: This is Xenotarian Four, calling to whoever's in charge of the base. I wish to have permission to dock my ship there for refueling. I would appreciate the help, over.

No reply, yet they did not give any warning to her. There is an empty landing pad where the ship can land on. The thrusters switched to vertical mode and carefully lands on top of the pad smoothly without problems. Time to fuel up this baby. She couldn't wait to get back home to her kids. They're probably waiting for her at her parent's doorstep ready to pounce at her with one big hug. Before she left, her father was against the idea of her taking this assignment because she's the mother of two litters and can't just leave them orphaned if anything bad ever happens to her. But who's better at delivering xenotarian aid beyond the border without being spotted by the Jiralhanae fighters? That's her. Unless she finds somebody with better skills to take her place. She exits the ship and awaits for the fueling crew, but no one seem to came. And that's not the only thing that surprises her, she looks around and doesn't see a single soul at sight. Don't tell me I landed in an abandoned facility, she thought. If this place is abandoned, then why are there still lights functioning here?

XF: Hello!

Beside the howling desert wind, no one called back. Guess she has no choice but to walk around and find somebody. This place appears to be a military base and human in design. She's not sure whether it belongs to the UNSC or Insurgents due to the lack of any known military insignia at sight. There is one she spots on a wall along the way but not one she's familiar with. It is a black trifoil logo. There's no title or anything written around it, could be just a random graffiti or maybe not.  As she examines it, a smell that's described to be rotten fish, stung her senses. Good God, what is that awful smell? It stinks of high heaven! It's coming from that nearby archway leading to an opened field. She crosses through the archway, with nose pinched, to investigate the source but what she found is something she'll regret seeing.

XF: Oh... my... God.

Her curious expression turned to shock for right in front of her are the bodies of soldiers lying on the dirt. Their armor is riddled with bullet holes with blood seeping out through them. Some have been burned to black charred husks and others still clinging onto their exposed rotten guts. Not a single movement can be seen from any of them. It looks like a huge battle took place, no, a massacre. They didn't seem to have a chance at fighting back. She has never seen soldiers like them before but they do have the same logo on their armors she has seen earlier. They could be part of some paramilitary group, but that's just a theory. She tuned in her cochlear implants, adjusting to the right frequency to hear any heartbeats from any of the soldiers just to be sure if there's any alive. Not a single pumping of blood can be heard from any of them. From the concentration of the pungency they emit, they must've been dead for over three or four days. Good thing if it'd not for her experience in the field, she wouldn't be able to hold out her lunch much longer. What happened to these poor souls or more importantly, what happened here?

TING TING TING

A repeating sound can be heard from nearby. It's coming from one of the buildings, with the blown up radio tower on the roof. She stealthily walks into the building and observe the contents inside. Inside contains a variety of computer terminals, most have been destroyed by gunfire, except for one with a blinking red button on the console. It's as if it's calling out to her to activate it. She approached the terminal and presses the blinking button. The machine activates followed by a Macintosh boot up before a voice synthesizer spoke out through the speakers.

???: Hello. I am the Freelancer Integrated Logistics and Security System, abbreviated F.I.L.S.S. You may call me, Gary. XF: Did you just talk? Gary: Of course I did. What were you expecting, a blue naked babe? XF: Not at all. What is this place? Gary: This is a top secret ONI training facility to train new Spartan soldiers through experimental augmentation and cybernetics. I am the computer system responsible for maintaining this facility to excellent capacity and assist all staff member to easily perform their duties, and daily military reports. I have no record of you in the data banks. Please identify yourself, for you have five seconds to live. XF: Pvt. Blake Belladonna from the White Paw Xenotarian Aid. I'm here because I stopped by to fuel up my ship. Gary: I see. Then why are you in the communications room? Blake: Well nobody came to help so I walked around to try find someone. Gary: And have you encountered the staff? Blake: No. The ones I found are lying dead outside. Gary: Dead? Explains? Blake: The ones lying outside this building. Don't you know about it? Gary: No. I have been offline for... what day is it today? Blake: Tuesday. Gary: Nine days ago. Please let me check the security cameras... oh. They really are dead. What a pity. But at least Jameson Locke's dead too, so that's good news. It would seem that I have missed out what had transpired here. Blake: That's like a week ago. Computer- Gary: Gary. Blake: Sorry... Gary. What happened here exactly? Gary: I do not know, I only remember the events before my deactivation. Blake: Well we just have to go with that first. Starting off, who attacked this base? Was it the Jiralhanae, Insurgents? Gary: No. And if it was those damn dirty apes, I would've detected their ships' signature in orbit before they attack. From what I examined from outside, it is likely that the soldiers killed one another. Blake: They killed each other?! Why? Gary: Did you see any bodies from any opposing forces you mentioned? Blake: Now that you mention that, no. They're all wearing the same uniform and color. Gary: That is correct. No doubt it's connected to the strange events that happened before my deactivation. Blake: Strange events? Gary: Yes. This can be easily explained in the form of a knock knock joke. Knock knock. Blake: Who's there? Gary: You are a dirty dirty Shisno. Ha Ha Ha. Blake: Please I'm not here for jokes, this is serious. What's a Shisno? Gary: Don't ask. It all happened with a blackout three days prior to my deactivation. Every electronic equipment was shut down when one of the base's generators overheated beyond recommended levels. The engineers have no idea what caused it to heat up like that but have concluded there was a computer glitch within the system, so there was nothing to worry about. However, strange things begin to happen the day after. There have been numbers of violent cases reported throughout the facility. A private tried to strangle his drill sergeant with the UNSC flag and an hour after that, the same drill sergeant stabbed the mess hall's chef through the eye with a plastic fork. Blake: Please no jokes. Gary: I'm not. See it for yourself.

Gary opens up a window in the terminal. The video shows the footage of a soldier, probably the drill sergeant Gary mentioned, standing on a table, trying to scare away the other soldiers with... a plastic fork?! And EW, is that an eyeball at the end?!

???: Sir, please put the fork down. We don't want to hurt you. ???: BACK YOU WORTHLESS UNGGOYS! Come any closer and I will use this fork to eat your intestines like spaghetti, with a pinch zucchini and mozarella! HAHAHAHAHAHA!!! ???: NOW!

The soldiers quickly grabbed him. He tried to fight back but the plastic fork broke in the process.

???: GAAAAH! GET OFF ME YOU FOOLS! I WILL DESTROY YOU ALL!!!

End of video.

Blake: Okaaaaay? Gary: There's more if you like. Blake: No thank you. Continue. Gary:  In the third day, the staff have been ordered to remove the radios from their helmets and destroy, deactivate or dismantle every military asset within the facility. Landlines, cellphones, vehicles, radio towers and finally me. That is all I remember. Blake: Thank you for telling me this. Sigh, guess I got more work to do after all. First I'll need to get back to the longsword and report Command about this. Gary: Uh oh. Blake: Something wrong? Gary: You might want to have your gun ready. Blake: I didn't bring a...

Suddenly, her implants detected heavy breathing six meters behind her. She turns around and sees a soldier, magnum in hand, looking at her through his broken visor with raging eyes. A survivor! Except it doesn't look like he wants any help. From the way his eyes are looking at her with hate, something bad's about to happen in this room.

Blake: Are you okay? ???: Who are you?... Are you from Recovery... or maybe a Freelancer agent? Blake: (whispers) Gary, what is he talking about? Gary: He's talking about a rescue team. Blake: Well he's got one. Hello, sir. I'm from the White Paw Xenotarian Aid. I've come here to help if you can just put that gun down.

Blake slowly approaches the unstable man and attempts to take the gun from his hand.

???: STAY BACK!!!

But was too late once the soldier aims it at Blake.

???: DON'T YOU LIE TO ME! OH NONONONONONONONO, NOT THIS TIME YOU'RE NOT! I'M NOT GETTING BACKSTABBED AGAIN. YOU'RE JUST LIKE AAAAALLLLLL THE OTHERS! 'HELP ME WITH THIS, HELP ME WITH THAT' UNTIL THEY SHOOT YOU BEHIND THE HEAD! PARANOIC BASTARDS, THEY DESERVED IT!!! Unless... he's inside you... Blake: Inside me? What are you talking about?

BANG!

The soldier fires but the bullet misses her, passing through her ebony hair.

???: YOU THINK I'M THAT STUPID, OMEGA?! I KNOW YOU'LL GET THE CHANCE OF SURPRISING ME WITH THAT INNOCENT ACT OF YOURS AND DON'T YOU DARE ABOUT TRYING TO OUTSMART ME, YOU GODLESS AI! Blake: Sir, wait! Put the gun down, I'm not here to- ??? DIE YOU SON OF A-

BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

The soldier frantically fires at Blake again. She manages to jump behind a nearby pillar, giving her cover from the little pellets of death. He's not going to stop until he kills her! She'll have to wait until he runs out and try to knock him out. However, there's a high chance he'll anticipated her move and strike her. She'll need a distraction, something to keep him off his guard enough for her to strike.

Blake: Gary, do something! Gary: What? Blake Talk to him, I have a plan! Gary: Ahem. Hello. I am the Freelancer...

BANG BANG

Two 12.7×40mm armour piercing bullets pierce through the terminal, one making a large cracked hole on the screen and the other on the console.

Gary: Ow. ???: WORKING WITH, OMEGA EH GAMMA? TOO BAD, YOU'LL DIE WITH HIM TOO!!! Huh?

Now the opportunity's open. She gets out off cover and dashes toward the soldier. He quickly notices her but was too late to fire another shot when Blake swings her fist and punches him to the broken face plate, giving him a nasty bloody nose before falling unconscious to the ground. She quickly takes the magnum from his hand to prevent any further use from him. With the crazed soldier taken cared off, Blake turns to, Gary who has been badly shot. The terminal's screen is beginning to glitch out violently and the buttons on the console are popping up sparks like popcorns in a microwave.

Blake: Gary, are you okay? Gary: No-no-no-no. Hu-hu-hu-hu-hurry please remove the-the-the-the-the-the data chip from the sto-sto-sto-storage bank beneath the co-co-console.

Blake rushes to the bottom of the console. She spots a panel and removes it to find the data chip. It wasn't so hard for her to spot it as there's a yellow arrow with a writing which reads: 'Data crystal chip. DO NOT YANK IT!!!' pointing at a chip in a slot and yanks it, despite the warning. She was relieve to get him out before the console catches on fire. To check whether Gary is still intact, she inserts the chip into her armor to see if it's functioning well without problems. Good thing whoever designed the MJOLNIR added an AI slot. Not long after the insertion, a blue ghostly projection flickers in front of her, taking the form of a blue humanoid in standard UNSC uniform. This is something Blake has never seen before.

Blake: Okay this is new. Gary: System diagnostics at 100%. Ah... much better. Blake: You okay? Gary: I am working in perfect condition, thanks to you. I owed you your life twice. Blake: Hey, I'm a xenotarian aid member after all. AIs also qualifies as a life. Anyways.

She turns to the unconscious soldier.

???: Hi, I'm Utah... like the state of Utah... uuhhh. Gary: We should leave before that maniac wakes up.

Gary's got a good point. The man's too mentally unstable to be brought back with them.

Blake: Maniac, yes. But we can't just leave him here. Gary: He manage to survive this long alone, I think he'll be alright by himself. Blake: Gary, this man has gone through a lot over the last six days. He deserves to be in a medical care. We'll bring him along once we find someone who can help him. Gary: I don't like this.

Three minutes later

It's a good thing she found this cart to carry the unconscious wacko, no way she can carry him with her fragile frame. She even tied him up in wires for his own good too. On the way to the longsword, Blake discuss a thing or two with Gary about the base.

Blake: I wonder why ONI needed to develop more Spartans. I thought the UNSC already can handle itself without them ever since the Sangeili traded us Covenant weaponry. Gary: ONI is still paranoid for another interstellar war in the future, so they decided to make more Spartans in case flying spaghetti monsters start attacking the galaxy. Blake: And what does this have to do with that 'omega' this soldier said? Gary: I'm not sure. I have no record of any 'omega' in the files. Maybe he was speaking gibberish. Blake: Well it had something to do with the event you explained. Maybe a secret military weapon, ONI developed. From what I heard , ONI will go beyond ethical restraints to get what they want. Ship's just around that corner, we should... you have got to be joking.

It's no joke. The whole longsword's on FIRE! This is no doubt the work of their friend here.

Gary: Now what? Blake: I don't know. That ship's our only way out off here and without the radio, we can't call for help! Gary: No need to panic. There is another nearby base we can look for assistance, it might still be vacant. Blake: Well that's a relief! And how long will it take us to reach there? Gary: By foot, seven days. Blake: Seven days? Gary: Unless you like walking. ???: HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!

Uh oh, his conscious again. The soldier starts writhing in the trolley as he tries to wiggle himself out off these wires.

???: YOU'LL NEVER LEAVE HERE, OMEGA!!! NEVER! NEVEEEEEERR!!! HAHAHAHAHA!!! Gary: Will you just shut up, you dirty Shisno? Blake: Gary, are there still any functioning vehicles we can use? Gary: The staff have disabled all of them to prevent any use. Blake: Well they're still our only ticket out of here. I know a thing or two about repairing a Mongoose. So if I can fix one, we can finally get out of here. ???: YOU WILL NOT! Blake: Shh! Gary: Since you're confident about that, it's worth a try. There's one Mongoose over there.

Gary points his holographic finger to a nearby Mongoose. Blake looks into the engine. There's some disconnected parts, so it isn't a hard fix but the problem is that the handle bars have been removed. She can't drive this thing without steering. She'll need to find a new handlebar. However Gary has a plan.

Gary: Hold on for a sec. Blake: What?

Gary went silent all the sudden. Suddenly, the engines of the Mongoose sprang to life on it's own, almost made Blake jumped from where she stood.

Gary: 76% of the Mongoose is in working condition and fuel is now 79.3% capacity. Blake: Oh my God, how did you do that? Gary: I am also programmed to take control of vehicles in case of emergencies. Blake: Heh, guess I won't have to drive after all. Not bad for an Artificial Intelligence. Gary: Thank you. Alright I have scanned what you need to fix, first get a toolbox... ???: NOOOOOO!!! YOU CANNOT LEAVE! Gary: And second, shut him up.

Blake presses the helmet's mute button finally shutting him up.

Gary: Ahh... finally. Blake: So this base you mentioned, what's it called? Gary: Blood Gulch.

Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/necroceph

[enthusiasticsobrietyabuse]

Parent Manipulation Part 1 - Originally posted in 2005 OnTheEmmis.com, a Meehan Program Survivor Website and Discussion Forum. (ICECAP is the former incorporation of enthusiastic sobriety programs, it has since dissolved due to the effectiveness of OnTheEmmis.com)

Part of ICECAP’s selling point is just HOW unorthodox they are. Counselors are trained to peddle the ‘shock’ value of a non-traditional program. It makes sense to many parents, because they see the professional community pathetically limping in the dust of young drug addicts in America today. Then they see ICECAP. Within its walls are dozens of young souls who are just absolutely ecstatic about being there. Where else is this happening in the world of rehab? While I am sure these places exist, my experience has been that they are few and far between.

ICECAP milks that point to no end. On the surface, I can see it being very difficult to deny that any ICECAP facility is producing some kind of positive results. Desperate and nearly to the point of hopelessness, many parents are willing to cloud their better judgment for the sake of something…ANYTHING that will help their children recover from their current nightmares. To these parents, ICECAP is a godsend. They see something different…that is apparently working, and they submit to the fever of potential miracles.

Even the skeptical parent will have a hard time denying the lure of ICECAP. Eventually they become involved with the parent group, and there they meet average Joe Dad and Jane Mom, who are just like them and are saying all these wonderful things about ICECAP. All the red flags are carefully lowered and the cautious and suspicious parents are disarmed through a process that involves the meticulous coordination of staff/parent group/younger group/client and then finally parent…though not always in that order. They have an answer for everything…from the late nights and no school, to the smoking and irresponsible lifestyle. All the answers make sense and seem so logical…

If I may, I would like to take some (a lot of) posting space to poke some holes in this seemingly infallible construction of moral high ground and loving happiness that ICECAP claims to be delivering from.

To begin, ICECAP is in fact extremely attractive. Not just because of the reasons I pointed out above, but for many reasons. Walk down the hall and through the doors of an ICECAP meeting. What do you see? A bunch of cool guys wearing slick clothes, hot girls adorned in the latest fads that the mall has to offer, rock star counselors and smiling suburban parents. Wow.

What you don’t see is the ugly sight of a genuine crack head detoxing. You don’t see the sickness of heroin withdrawal, or the brutality of the world that real addiction and drug abuse/alcoholism has to reveal. Rarely, if ever, will you find in ICECAP the wild madness and insanity that drug addiction has to offer humanity. When these unfortunates do happen to stumble through ICECAP’s door, they almost invariably do not recover there. I know, because I have seen it, but more on that later.

I find it interesting that ICECAP targets white middle/upper middle class families almost exclusively. There is absolutely no effort by ICECAP to reach beyond this demographic at all. Why? When you think about it, wouldn’t someone who comes from the depraved background that Meehan claims to come from be at least slightly interested in helping those whose stories are more like his? How many ICECAP clients are repeated felons, heroin junkies, or murderers? Almost none of them are. In my opinion, this set up is the first element of being disarmed that a parent encounters.

What wealthy, or semi wealthy parent wants their kid in a place where a bunch of ex-violent criminals hang out at? My guess is that when presented with the ICECAP pitch, which at nearly every ICECAP facility includes the line about how they do not accept insurance; your average suburban upper tax-bracket parent takes a silent sigh of relief. If they don’t accept insurance, then they know that the place does not harbor certain ‘undesirables’, because those types of people would never be able to afford ICECAP treatment. In that there is a certain mutual agreement of ‘silence’ going on between the parent and ICECAP. ‘We won’t ask why this facility is full of white suburban kids as long as you keep my kid around safe white suburban kids’.

That would be fine except for one thing: the reason there are so many ‘attractive’ kids from well-off families in ICECAP is because ICECAP primarily does not target true drug addicts. If they did, you would certainly see more of those ‘ugly’ cases that I mentioned above. The truth is; ICECAP primarily targets kids who have quite commonly and naturally stumbled into experimentation with mind altering substances. Left to their own devices, I am of the opinion that most of the kids that become involved in ICECAP would have gone through their adolescence just fine, despite some dabbling in the drug and alcohol culture.

I realize that it may sound as though I am condoning the use of drugs and alcohol by adolescents to some extent. Believe me; I know there are kids out there, even particularly young ones; that need some sort of intervention and rehabilitation when it comes to drugs and alcohol. However, there are few of those kids in ICECAP.

To put what I am saying into perspective, let me share with you an experience I had when I was 15.

I was at a party full of teens from my high school. There were perhaps 50-60 kids at this get-together. Every one of them were drinking and/or smoking pot, many of them were participating in sexual activities, and every single one of them WANTED to and was trying to do all of the above. This was not a party exclusively for ‘dope fiends’ or ‘freaks’ or anything like that. Most of the kids at this shindig were truly just your average high school teens, and many of them were at an identical party just a week before. Many of them would be at an identical party the next week.

Tell me, what seems to make more sense to you: That EVERY ONE of these kids was in need of being yanked out of school and subjected to an outpatient rehabilitation facility, or that they were for the most part kids being kids? I can’t say that I’ve kept up with each of those teens at that party, but I find it really hard to believe that they are every one of them sitting in gutters right now with needles hanging out of their arms.

The truth is that almost NO PARENT likes the idea that THEIR kid is in fact one of those kids at that party. However unfortunate it may be, chances are your kid IS one of those kids. ICECAP knows this, and knows it well.

The truth is that as far as ICECAP is concerned, every single one of those kids at that party IS fit for and IN NEED of their $6,000 outpatient program.

Of the 50-60 kids that were at that particular party, each one of them has one of two kinds of parents that could potentially find themselves in an ICECAP intervention: The ‘worried sick and hopeless parent’, and the ‘clueless’ parent. ICECAP has a brilliant line for both of these types of encounters.

For the worried sick and hopeless parent, they are already full of fear; so that is one obstacle that the given ICECAP counselor does not have to overcome, and can proceed directly to its exploitation. After meeting for over an hour with their child, the counselor then asks the parent/parents to then sit down with him, without the child. They are usually first presented with the structure of ‘enthusiastic sobriety’, and then carefully guided through the counselor’s ‘diagnosis’ of the child, at which point the fear they walked in with is thoroughly taken advantage of. He tells them, ‘first of all, to what extent you THINK your child is using, you can safely double or triple that. Your son/daughter has been for quite some time falling into the pitfalls of a very attractive and powerful drug and alcohol counter culture. It is nearly impossible to wrench young people today from the grip of this diseased phenomenon once they are into it to the extent that your child is. I know this because…’ At which point the counselor shares a true or untrue account of his own experiences with drugs and the drug culture. By the time he is finished, thanks to all of that plus clever little catch-phrases such as ‘true, Billy/Jenny may not be shooting heroin today, but at his/her rate of progression, you can bet on that nightmare down the road’ the parent has gone from being terrified to utterly mortified. The hook has been cast at this point, and it is here that the counselor begins to discuss the ‘solution’.

A recap of how brilliantly ‘enthusiastic sobriety’ competes with this vaunted ‘counter culture’ is usually in order here, followed by a description of outpatient. Another testimony by the counselor involving his own experience with IOP is conveyed, and then the cost.

If the parent is reluctant, or can’t afford it, emotional blackmailing goes into overdrive here, and is perhaps the most insidious aspect of the ‘intervention’. The parent/parents is told in so many words that their son/daughter will DIE if they do not get the ‘intensive level’ of ‘necessary treatment’ that outpatient provides, that the support group alone cannot hope to accomplish.

If the parent continues to flounder after this underhanded attempt to ‘guilt’ them into paying for IOP, then the counselor will usually back down and explain that while he feels the support group (just meetings and functions) is at this point a ‘disservice’ to the child, if that is all they can do then that’s the route they’ll go. He convinces the parent to attend parent meetings and functions rigorously for at least 30 days (same commitment as the kid), and thanks them for their time.

None of this ends here, of course. After the parent has left, this is what a ‘good’ counselor does:

He offers the name of the parent to either the ‘parent coordinator’ or a trusted parent on steering committee. He tells them that he felt as though the kid really needed IOP, but Mom/Dad couldn’t afford it or was skeptical of the idea, and that he would like this ICECAP parent to ‘work on them’. As the ‘intervention’ parent continues to attend parent meetings, they are relentlessly pushed by other parents at the direction of the parent coordinator to figure out a way to get their son/daughter into IOP.

Meanwhile, the kid is going to meetings and being told by other kids that he/she should go into IOP…that it is the ‘coolest’, and you really get the ‘gnarly’ shit about the group in IOP. This will turn from innocent prodding to downright peer pressure very quickly, and eventually the kid is going home and asking, sometimes begging mom/dad to get them in IOP.

If by now the parent is still not willing to do the $6,000 dollar shuffle, what usually occurs is sad and much of what continues to anger me about ICECAP’s tactics. The counselor will keep tabs with the parent, keeping them updated and developing a ‘relationship’ with the parent. Often, this is what goes down: The kid feels so much pressure from both staff and peers to attend IOP that he/she will quickly realize (usually with the help of the counselor), the reasons why he/she cannot go. Kids aren’t stupid, and Billy knows that either mom doesn’t think his problem is serious enough, or she just isn’t willing to call up grandpa for the dough. So he goes out and gets high one night.

The counselor, of course is ALL OVER THIS ‘relapse’, and schedules an appointment immediately with the family. After 30 minutes of what pretty much amounts to ‘I told ya so’ from the counselor, the parent takes out a second mortgage or calls up grandpa or takes out a line of credit and coughs up the $6,000 for outpatient.

ICECAP staff would argue that these are merely ‘imperative measures’ to take in order to ‘help this kid get better’, to ‘save his/her life’. I argue that this is a carefully constructed sequence of manipulation to paint a false picture of a fairly normal kid as a ‘dope fiend’ in order to sucker well-off families out of six grand.

The ‘clueless’ parent is dealt with in almost the same way, except the counselor must first instill the fear into the parents who have ‘no idea’ that their kid is so ‘sucked in to the world of drug and alcohol abuse’.

I challenge anyone to tell me the story of the family who was told: ‘Your kid really doesn’t have much of an issue. He/she could probably be a bit wiser about what friends they choose, maybe come to some meetings and see a more positive lifestyle…but really they don’t need intensive treatment from us…’ by ICECAP.

The only instance that I can think of in the ten years I was involved with ICECAP, was that of a young man who convincingly conveyed to everyone that he truly was a non-abuser, and that he simply went to a meeting to see a friend. IOP was not pushed on to this kid or his family, but being on staff at the time, I can tell you that the idea to somehow worm this kid into treatment was definitely kicked around.

I went into this aspect of ICECAP as the first part to a series about the structure of ICECAP and its functions. The intent is to provide sound knowledge and information to potential or current clients of ICECAP. The reason I wanted to expose this particular area of ICECAP’s doctrine first is because I believe that there are more clients there who fall into this school of thought than any other. These are the kids who aren’t quite ‘non-abusers’ as ICECAP would like to call them, but certainly aren’t ‘dope fiends’ as ICECAP would have you believe.

Next I intend to focus on the consequences of these manipulative tactics. Where’s the harm? If they never are at one of those high school parties ever again and spend the next two to five years of their lives steeped in the principals of love, patience and understanding…then what’s so bad about it?

PLENTY.

To be continued…

[tinyanimelover]

Red Flags

(Part Four)

Part One, Part Two, Part Three

What the hell did he do in his past life to have such shitty encounters? Of all people, he ran into the said brother of the roommate. "You're the burger guy!" Suzo chuckled "What're you doing here? Wait--you're with Hinami, right? I remember my sister telling me Hinami had a boyfriend now. Congrats man, she's--uhh, a lot to handle". "I'm not her boyfriend, just someone I mess around with when I need to" Grimmjow corrected, tilting his head a bit to sow he was annoyed "..what're you doing here?". The man's eyes widened slightly before a sad smile graced his lips "Ah, just came to check up on my sister and take care of whatever she needs...". This was the third flag. "..what she's got a cold or something?" He pressed, crossing his arms. Suzo chuckled nervously, "Ah...well, I should get going...hey, I know my sister can be quiet at times and stubborn when she needs help..but, if you can..take care of her, yeah? I know she's not really your business but..I'm quite selfish when it comes to her, so please..look after her when you can". "Suzo?" Hinami interrupted as she stepped out of her room "What're you doing here?". "Hinami!" Suzo grinned "Just here to check up on my sister. I was heading out right now". "I thought she was at your place, didn't know she came back" Hinami said surprised. "Yeah well...a-anyways, about the rent..thank you for being so patient with me and I'm so sorry but can you give me some more time? I'll be paid at the end of the week. I'll come straight here after work" the man bowed apologetically "I'm really sorry". "It's fine. But I really can't keep putting off the rent, Suzo. The landlady's getting really annoyed, she's threatening to kick me out if I keep it up with the late rent" Hinami sighed "So after this, you're gonna have to figure something out...sorry. She still doesn't want to go with you?". "No..she doesn't want to burden me.." the man shook his head with a smile "I'll try speaking with her again. Until then, please call me if anything goes wrong". "Sure" Hinami let out, watching the man leave. "..the hell was that" Grimmjow finally spoke up. "Nothing important. Weren't you leaving?" She asked. "Whatever" he walked away "See ya".

"Why do you look constipated?" Grimmjow's co-worker asked lazily as he glanced over at him. "Why do you always look like you have shit in your pants?" He retorted "Seriously wear pants that actually fit you. No wonder you can't get a girlfriend". "So mean..." The male half-whined "But seriously, that's the third customer you've pissed off today and its not even noon yet". "I'm fine, just didn't sleep much last" Grimmjow let out with a frustrated sigh. "Whatever man, just stop yelling at the customers or else the boss is gonna chew us both out again and I can't have my pay docked this week, I promised my mom I'd help with rent" the co-worker said as he yawned, leaving Grimmjow alone. Why was he so irritated? He was fine up until he ran into Suzo, unable to get his mind off of what Hinami and Suzo spoke about. Was Hinami going to kick the roommate out? Over rent? Even he could tell that the Suzo guy felt bad about the situation, why would Hinami just kick her out? Wait! Grimmjow closed his eyes as he gripped the edge of the counter, "What the hell?!". Why the hell was he even thinking about those two?! "Can I please have the combo number 7?" The customer asked as he walked up to the counter "Without the fries though, can I have potato wedges instead?". "Can't you read?! No substitutions!" He snapped "Get the damn combo or get outta here!". "What the hell's your problem?!" The guy scowled "Just get me the damn combo with potato wedges! I'll pay extra!". "Are you deaf?!" Grimmjow yelled back, "You're not getting potato wedges!". "Grimmmmmjowwww!" The boss yelled as he stepped out of the kitchen "I'm docking your pay! Give the customer what he wants!". "You do it old man!" Grimmjow yelled back. "You stupid brat, I'll fire you!" He yelled. "Try it!" Grimmjow scoffed.

Grimmjow blinked a few times, surprised. He'd shown up to meet Hinami, but instead he was met with the roommate in the living room, drinking some water and watching tv. It was quiet and awkward but he couldn't leave since he was waiting for Hinami to get back. Where was she anyways? He glanced over at the girl, obviously he sat on the other couch, but seeing her up close now for the second time, she looked sickly. "Where'd Hinami go?" He asked, trying to get rid of the awkwardness. Or maybe it was just him who felt this way? She looked over at him, quickly lowering her gaze as she looked away "She said something about work..". "Work?" He mumbled, throwing his head back gently and staring up at the ceiling "She could've called so I didn't waste my time coming over". The silence began to settle in and for some unknown reason, Grimmjow felt an urge to learn more about the roommate. And before he knew it, his lips parted and words were already coming out. "You're brother seems like a cool guy" he found himself saying. "Huh?" She let out, surprised he was speaking to her. He furrowed hie eyebrows. You're brother seems like a cool guy. What the fuck was he even saying? It was too late to back out now though. "Your brother. Met him this morning" he continued, lifting his head a bit to look at the tv "He's cool". "Yeah..Suzo was always able to get along with people easily.." She said with a smile. He looked over at her, "He said he was here to take care of you...why do you still look like shit? There's medicine for colds and stuff, you know that?". Her eyes widened, "C-cold?..I..don't have a cold.." She attempted a smile but failed miserably. It was obvious it was a pined smile, she looked away "A-anyways, Hinami should be back soon...I'll be in my room". "..whatever" he let out, looking away as she got up and went towards the stairs. An itch again. That stupid urge. And before he knew it, his lips did what he didn't have the courage to do, "What's your name?". "My name?" She asked, halting at the bottom of the stairs. "Hinami just told me you were her roommate, nothing about your name or anything so...yeah?" he explained, looking over at her again. His eyes widened as he did so, she smiled so he kinda forgot what it was he was doing. Damn? "(Y/n)" she informed before waving and leaving him alone. "..(Y/n)?" He whispered as he looked back at the tv. (Y/n). (Y/n). It rolled off of his tongue just as easily as it invaded his mind. It fit her. Like really fit her. Then he deadpanned, "What the fuck did I ask her that for?".

[mrzdankworth]

Making Magick - Chapter Four

Dean looks out of place in the attic, all shiny and new among the old musty clutter, but where else can bright, loud magick be done? Camilla has placed him in a chair in the center of the room, facing the Soricelle Grimoire. There is no need to tie the boy down, for he’s too dazed to move at this point. 

The first spell they cast was a simple Reversal, so that whatever enchantments or protections he might be under (besides the binding of the property, of course) might simply fall off. But that didn’t work. Then they tried a Mental Clarity Potion along with the Truth of Tongue Draught. But it appeared whoever’d worked their magic on him before Rose was a powerful and secretive caster. Dean didn’t even know he was meant to retrieve information about the Soricelles.

“It could be a love potion…” Camilla taps her chin. “Let’s try a freedom spell to break whatever unauthentic bonds exist.”

“We’ve tried so much,” Rose sighs.

“Are you tired, Rose? Would you like to take a break?” Dean asks, suddenly invested once more.

“No, Dean, I’m fine,” she snaps. 

The only words he’d said, between asking whether the room was spinning for anyone else, had been regarding Rose’s happiness and comfort. Never before had a sexual encounter cast this type of attachment, though she’d mainly kept her experiences to one night stands so as not to complicate friendships at college. 

Esme interjects, also tired from practicing careful magick for hours on end. “Why don’t we let him rest? We can do the Breaking Bond Spell tomorrow, or just stew up an elixir overnight. That might be easier on his body. I mean, he still seems human and looks very much alive.”

“Knock knock,” Iris says, entering the attic. “Your grandmother has absolutely no plan of action. She figures if he means enough to someone, they’ll retrieve him, and she can confront them then. Otherwise, if they send more people to watch us, she’ll have a whole staff for free.” Iris shakes her head, exasperated. 

The girls fill Iris in on their findings, or rather, their non-findings, tacking on the bit about Rose bedding the young man at the last. 

“Always the last to know,” Iris sighs. “Well, I think you’re right in wanting to resume tomorrow. Mortals can only take so much. Girls, can I trust you to return him to the guesthouse unscathed?”

Rose rolls her eyes only when her mother has turned her back.

“I saw that,” Iris sings as she exits the attic. 

Esme offers to take Dean to the guesthouse, though he doesn’t want to leave Rose.

“I have to go to work,” Rose mutters, eager to get away. 

Rose is telling the truth. She has a shift at the restaurant to get to. And Esme is telling the truth, or most of it. She does want to stop practicing magic on the human man. She doesn't, however, want to let him rest. 

Once in the guesthouse Esme begins making him some rejuvenating tea with full moon water. As he sips it he asks her how she thinks Rose’s shift is going. Did she always want to be a waitress? He bets she’s so good at it. He wishes they’d gotten to work together longer at the restaurant. 

“Okay, Romeo, calm down,” Esme mutters. “You know,” she begins. “Rose did mention she’s going to have a hard time focusing today…”

“Why is that?”

Esme bites her lip, well aware she should not be doing this. 

“Well, apparently, a girl stole something from Rose. She needs it back.”

“What is it? What girl?” Dean is perched on the edge of his seat.

She’s placed him at the farmhouse table while she shuffles about the tiny kitchen. This used to be the landscapers cottage but Iris and Camilla turned it into a guesthouse despite the enormity of the main house. They’d kept it in as good a shape as any BnB in New England, had hosted many the wayward soul and lost magickal creature over the years. Now they were keeping a hostage.

“I think she said it’s an amulet?” Esme mutters, her eyebrows cinched in focus. 

“I must return it to Rose!” Dean shouts, standing so abruptly his chair topples over. He places a hand to his temple and shakes his head, righting the chair to return to it.

Esme rolls her eyes before continuing the facade. “Oh… You couldn’t.” She sits the tea before him then lowers herself into the nearest chair.

“See, the girl goes to school with me. And I sensed it in her locker. But everyone is gone for the summer now…”

“I’m sure I could get into the school. Maybe tonight? After dark? If you tell me the locker number I will return Rose’s amulet to her!”

“Well, that’s another thing. She’d be so upset if she knew I put you in harm’s way…” Esme focuses on the mortal, her eyes squinting slightly as she watches a tendril of delicate light twist and sway towards his temple. It had, of course, come from her own.

“Hey!” He realized. “Why don’t we just put it under her bed or something? Make it seem like she just lost it? She wouldn’t have to know either of us were involved. We never have to mention it!”

Esme nods, smiling. “That might work.”

Dean has just as much energy after dark when Esme returns to the guesthouse. He’s wearing jeans and a black hoodie, and a vacant expression. She walks him back by the house to Rose’s jeep, loads him into the passenger side, and listens to his endless swooning over Rose.

Doubt and guilt crawl around inside of her stomach, but they're nothing compared to the feeling of revenge and closure that will come when she finally holds that amulet in her hand once more. Besides, if Rose can fuck the gardener, then ask for help putting his dead body in the lake, Esme can take back a necklace that actually belongs to her. Yes, she tells herself, it’s no comparison. 

The cool sea breeze calms Esme as she drives through the quaint little town of Crescent Hollow. The school parking lot has just one flickering light, but she pulls instead onto a side street, where the houses hang flags to support the football team. When she parks, she gives Dean a few instructions, then sends him off, watching as he flips up his hood like turning the first page of a book, and slips into the darkness. 

Dean crosses the field like a stray cat, heading towards the cafeteria doors. Esme stares hard at those doors, which open for him easily. Esme shuts her eyes. If the door between the cafeteria and the hallways was previously secured, she’s confident it is now ajar. She can almost feel him slipping through the opening… counting the lockers… She can practically hear his footsteps echoing, feel his chin on his own chest in the way she suggested he keep his head down…

The clicking of Aimee’s locker opening for Dean causes Esme’s eyes to flick open. He can grab the amulet now. He can get out. But does the locker still smell like apple blossoms and strawberry chapstick?

A breeze sweeps through the car, brushing Esme’s short brown hair against her cheek. She startles, turning to face the dark slit between two houses, where she could swear she smells something familiar and rank. It is the scent of decay and mildew, like a basement. And something else… spices of some sort? Yes. There is definitely something between those houses… watching her - the tall figure of a man.

Esme places her fingers on the door handle but before she can get out and investigate the person Dean startles her by opening his own door. 

“I got it,” he drops the cool gold object into her palm. 

“Yes!” She holds the amulet to her heart. 

“It’s just a locket?”

“No, it isn’t just a locket.” She smiles to herself and puts it on. “I’ll put it somewhere Rose will find it,” she lies.

“You’re a good cousin,” Dean smiles.

Esme isn’t so sure about that.

Before they leave she examines the place between the houses once more, but the smell is gone, and the darkness emptied.

That night, after Esme deposits Dean in the guesthouse she tucks herself into bed and falls asleep solidly, happy to be reunited with her keepsake. The moon shines bright despite being just a fingernail. It kisses the waves and dances through the windowpanes of The Soricelle House. It tries to wake Esme, blinking through the swaying treetops, flashing wildly on her papered walls. It tries to show her the black and purple ribbons of glittery dust which escape the amulet. But Esme does not stir. The black and purple particles inhabit her room, watching her sleep, slipping under the door to watch the other Soricelle Women. Each leaf they curl around in the sunroom immediately shrivels and falls to the floor. 

It isn’t until the chain of the amulet has begun to tighten around Esme’s neck that her dreams thicken in her head, pooling where they should flow steadily. The chain is cutting into her neck by the time her eyes pop open. She sits straight up, coughing and sputtering, ripping the chain off of her and throwing the amulet to the floor. She can feel the deep, red groove in her skin.

Her first thought is that this is not her amulet; it has been replaced. Her second thought is that this is definitely her amulet, but it carries with it a dark magick she did not cast or invite. 

“Bitch,” she spits, staring at the necklace on the floor which appears so harmless now. “You think you can curse a Soricelle Woman?”

She crawls to the amulet. It sits in her palm as heavy as the answer to a question. She uses her short plain nails to pry the locket open, and as she’s expected, the pictures of her parents are gone. They’ve been replaced with some ground up black and purple powder that falls onto the hardwood. She uses magick to lift every particle into a spare glass bottle on her desk and seals the amulet in another. Then she curls up and tries once more to fall alseep, wondering where that pictures had gone, and why Aimee would hate her so much that she would take that one precious thing away and replace it with black magick. What had she done to the rotten girl besides love her? 

Rose mentions the feeling a storm is coming to Rhonda when she arrives for her double shift that Wednesday afternoon. Rhonda is already busy bossing everyone around, but takes a moment to listen to her employee, who has predicted these things before.

“From where I stand the tourists are already flowing in,” Rhonda tells Rose. “I don’t know if I can close the outdoor dining till we’re sure. But… tell me when you… know more.” Rhonda has been a friend to Rose and the other Soricelle Women for long enough to trust the way they just know when it will rain, or when the phone will ring, or whether a person might turn on you suddenly.

The sky remains clear and blue through Rose’s lunch shift and the beginning of her dinner shift. She takes a moment to herself, stepping outside before the rush. How could her mother think of opening the shop while they harbor a spy in their guesthouse? She can’t take her mind off Dean, who is doing someone else’s bidding, and perhaps only bedded her for that reason.

“You look deep in thought,” Jason says, taking a long drink from his water bottle and hanging his apron over the railing.

“Do I?”

“Is it about the cop that’s here to see you?”

“What?” She turns abruptly, her hair whipping around in the warm wind.

There is Officer Alex Lopez, sitting at one of the outdoor tables, his sunglasses hiding his gaze.

She wrings her apron in her hands as she enters the little gate to the dining area. She nears him, readying herself to pull him away from the restaurant to practice magick more safely.

“Officer Lopez?” she greets him. “How can I help you?”

“There was a break in - Oh, would you sit?”

She sits across from him, her heart aflutter. 

“There was a break in at your old high school last night.”

“I’m sorry to hear that. But I’m in college now… Why are you telling me?”

“Because a neighbor spotted a black jeep parked outside her house around that same time… she said a person was in the driver seat and a person was in the passenger seat. The passenger got out of the car and we believe he took something from the school. He wore a black hooded sweatshirt but we have some footage that looks an awful lot like Dean Row.”

“Lots of people look like Dean Row. And lots of people have black jeeps.” Rose stares into her own reflection in The Officer’s glasses, noticing how worried she looks.

“I got to speak to your mother the other day but I didn’t really get to speak to you much… you don’t have anything else to tell me?”

“No. I don’t.”

Officer Lopez smacks his steering wheel when he returns to his car. Why can’t he force himself to return to The Soricelle House? Why can’t he seem to properly interrogate these women? His mind just turns to mush! It doesn’t help that the paperwork is mysteriously being shredded at the office, or crumpled up and tossed into other people’s trash cans. Good thing his superiors have very little resolve to hunt down Row or else his ass would be on the line. He just can’t shake the feeling Iris Soricelle did something to him, besides the obvious… He still can’t think clearly when it comes to these damned women and their house full of secrets. But something inside him just knows Dean is there - he just knows it!

A fat drop of rain falls onto Officer Lopez’s windshield. He looks past it to see Rose staring at him from the dining room. Another drop. And another. The sky opens up and it begins to pour. He can hardly see to exit the parking lot. 

He drives by the B&B on his way home. There is a light on in Room #33, yet he can’t quite remember why he’s been watching Room #33 in the first place. Something to do with that missing Row boy. Something to do with the lady who saw Rose’s jeep outside of the school. Something to do with the Soricelles? 

A dark figure comes to the window and peeks out, moving the curtains aside. There are broad shoulders, and a lanky quality to the shadowy shape. 

Lopez’s foot lifts from the break pedal. He finds himself heading home before he’s even decided to do so.

Esme is unpacking boxes and lining the products up on the shelves of the little storefront when the rain comes. It darkens the shop and the whole street outside, turning dusk to midnight. She watches it for awhile, thinking about the locket on her desk. 

“I knew I smelled rain,” Camilla says, watching the water streak down the glass.

Gwen sits on the front porch of The Soricelle House watching the storm pelt the roses, loosening petals until they fall, beaten, to the dirt which is quickly turning to mud. A car has clambered up the drive. She watches a young woman with cropped black hair step out of the drivers seat, then dive into the back to extract a little girl. Besides the child having bare arms she closely resembles the young woman, who is covered in tattoos. The mother runs towards the porch, noticing Gwen only when she’s climbed the few steps and sought the shelter of the roof.

Gwen smiles at her youngest daughter, who smiles back.

“Welcome home, Honey.”

“Thank you, mom.”

The two women embrace in a hug which seems to dry the daughters instantly.

The little girl shivers. 

“Bath time, I think,” Gwen offers, kissing her granddaughter on the forehead. “You girls go on ahead up. Use my tub. You know it’s the best in the house.” 

“You aren’t coming in, mom?”

“I’m waiting for someone.”

Gwen wraps herself tightly in her afghan and watches the roses and the angsty sky and the sea beyond, and then another car arrives. The rain has slowed a little - just enough so that The Reverend can use a small black umbrella and arrive to the porch steps relatively dry. Gwen would offer to peel the raindrops off him, but she knows he wouldn’t stand for even a sparkle of magick for his personal gain. He shakes off his umbrella and nods to Gwen. She doesn’t attempt to invite him in, nor does he attempt to explain why he cannot accept an invitation. They just sit together in the rocking chairs as they have done so many times before. A steaming cup of tea miraculously waits for him beside the woman, but he doesn’t ask where it came from.

“Always so hospitable,” he smiles, good-naturedly. “It is almost as if you knew I was coming before I’d even decided to start my car.”

“I am just an old woman.”

“And I am just an old man. Gwendolyn, I’m here because there’s something amiss. And I’ve made the mistake of investigating odd occurrences without asking you ladies, before. A waste of time, in my opinion.”

“True enough,” Gwen smiles, knowingly. “What is amiss, Johnathan?”

“I am a man of good and evil, as you well know.”

She did know.

“And there’s something in our town at the moment that is… not good. There is a surveillance of sorts I’ve noticed. Are you girls inviting something here? Enticing something?” 

“I don’t care for that implication,” Gwen says, passively. “It takes light to cast shadows.”

“You know nothing of these shadows?” The Reverend probes.

“I sense them,” she nods. “I sense this surveillance of which you speak. I do not know who watches, but I know of the watching.”

“Will you promise to call upon me if you should need my kind of assistance? Or when you discover the dark force that has entered Crescent Hollow?”

“I promise,” Gwen smiles. “You’ll do the same?”

“I promise.”

The two people smile at each other in a meaningful way, but The Reverend does not finish his tea before he goes. He knows she’ll only try to read the leaves. 

Rose fills Esme in on what Lopez said, then prompts her. “Would you know anything about that?” Her stare bears into her cousin. Of course, she knows Esme did this. After all, she hasn’t forgotten the sigil work she attempted to help her with.

Selene and Sasha have arrived during a chaotic time, but Sasha is simply snacking at the breakfast bar, while the whole family gathers in the kitchen. 

“I needed that amulet back and - ”

“The locket?” Iris realizes, eyeing her niece’s empty neck. “But no one can take that from you. It’s been blessed to protect you.”

“Well, she didn’t exactly take it - ”

“She?”

“You gave your amulet away?” Camilla exclaims. “That’s unheard of! You know you shouldn’t do that, Esme!”

“What were you thinking?”

“You used Dean to get it back?”

“I’m sorry, I’m sorry!” Esme covers her face and shakes her head. “I didn’t mean for anyone to find out. I didn’t mean for anyone to get hurt.”

Everyone falls silent. The only sound to be heard is Sasha munching loudly on the snacks. She gazes up at her cousins and aunts and grandmother not quite sure what’s happening. 

“I gave it to Aimee and she wouldn’t give it back. And now there’s something wrong with it. I think it’s cursed.”

“Aimee Aldridge?” Rose inquires. “She’s not magickal. So she hired someone to curse your amulet? Why, and who? We’re the only magickal beings in Crescent Hollow, or for miles around.”

“Not anymore,” Gwen says. “Reverend McKinnon came by. He’s felt it too… a watching. A presence. We aren’t alone here anymore, and someone knows a hell of a lot more about us than we know about them.”

Everyone falls silent.

“Go get the amulet, Esme,” Camilla demands. “Perhaps we have a way of tracing it back to whomever, or whatever, would be dumb enough to attempt to harm a Soricelle Woman.”

[femalechibiblogger]

My 15 Favorite Isekai Manga

1. That Time I Got Reincarnated As A Slime

Satoru Mikami is an ordinary 37 year old corporate worker living in Tokyo. He is almost content with his monotonous life, despite the fact that he doesn't have a girlfriend. During a casual encounter with his colleague, an assailant pops out of nowhere and stabs him. While succumbing to his injuries, a mysterious voice echoes in his mind and recites a series of commands which he could not make sense of.

After regaining consciousness, Satoru discovers that he has been reincarnated as a Slime in an unfamiliar world. At the same time, he also acquires new-found skills, particularly the ability called "Predator," which allows him to devour anything and mimic its appearance and skills. He stumbles upon Veldora, a Catastrophe-level 'Storm Dragon', who was sealed for 300 years for reducing a town to ashes. Feeling sorry for him, Satoru befriends the dragon, promising to help him in destroying the seal. In return, Veldora bestows upon him the name Rimuru Tempest, to grant him divine protection.

Now free from his stale past life, Rimuru embarks on a quest to prove his worth. As he starts to get used to his current physique, word of his weird accomplishments start to spread like wildfire across the world, changing his fate completely.

2. The Scholar’s Reincarnation 

A martial artist, claiming himself to be a “murderer” is defeated by a suicide attack in battle and is reborn as a first born child to a local lord. Having a fresh start, a warm family and a little sister to protect – he decides to become a better person in his new life.

3. Tensei Kizoku no Isekai Boukenroku ~Jichou wo Shiranai Kamigami no Shito~

Shiina Kazuya, our protagonist who got killed by a stranger when he tried to protect his childhood friend and little sister, reincarnated into Cain Von Silford as the third son in the world of sword and magic. Cain grew up being surrounded by Gods who doesn’t know self-esteem, the upper noble and the girls who are swayed around him. Being given so many protection from the gods, He overcame any obstacle (aka Flags) while hiding his unbelievable status. The noble path fantasy story of a young boy who sometimes wicked and clumsy.

4. They Say I Was Born A King’s Daughter

After spending most of her youth fielding the attention of countless wealthy suitors, Suhee Kim finally finds true love with a steady boyfriend named Jinsu Han. But then tragedy strikes, and Suhee is murdered in cold blood. To Suhee’s surprise, she is immediately reincarnated as a baby girl named Sanghee Kim, who just so happens to be a princess! Plus, she is fully conscious of her past life. 

There’s just one problem: In this society, women are seen as totally inferior, even princesses. Appalled by the treatment of women, Sanghee is determined to change the kingdom’s patriarchal ways. Will Sanghee be able to succeed, or will she be stuck living her second life being treated as a lowly woman?

5. Parallel World Pharmacy

A young pharmacologist and researcher in Japan died from overworking, and was reincarnated in a Medieval Parallel Europe. He was reincarnated as a 10-year-old apprentice to a famous Royal Court pharmacist, had attained an inhuman skills of ability to see through disease, material creation, and material destruction. In a society in which dubious medical practice are rampant, price gouging thru the monopoly of the pharmacist guild, and good medicine aren't available to the commoners. He was recognized by the Emperor at that time and opened a Pharmacy at the corner of the town. He will wipe out the fraud that has swept the world, and deliver to the commoners a truly effective medicine that was developed using present day pharmacology. Thus the boy pharmacist will cheat by using his previous knowledge to create innovative medicines while helping the people of the parallel world, a story about living his new life to the fullest this time.

6. I Am A Child Of This House

“Pink Eyes” has always lived a relatively normal (?) life, with two exceptions: first, she has gained memories of her previous life as Seo Young, and second, she is someone’s illegitimate daughter in I Am a Child of This House Manga.

One day however, when she turns 11 years old, her prostitute mother takes her to the empire’s sole duke and claims her as his child. Although he seems to not believe her, he nevertheless buys “Pink Eyes” for 20,000 gold. With that, her new life as “Estelle” starts.

But what truly awaits her? And is she really a child of this house?

7. Daughter of the Emperor

Ariadna Lereg Ilestri Pre Agrigent. And so my life begins with this ridiculously long name, born to royalty and the center of attention — all because of one dangerous man; the veritably insane tyrant king, ruthless conqueror of ten empires, nightmare of all continents… and my father?! Will I be able to survive this maniac?

8. The Cute Little Granny Hinata-chan

Worldly knowledge and artistic refinement! Hinata-chan is on a completely different level to your average toddler. But she has a secret... that she's the reincarnation of an 88 year old grandma, with her memories intact! Enjoying green tea on the veranda, a taste for pickles, and an old-fashioned dialect! Why has she been reincarnated? A comedy full of old-wives wisdom.

9. Isekai de Mofumofu Nadenade Suru Tame ni Ganbattemasu

After various things happened, I got an ability from God and reincarnated to another world! While being watched over by my high-spec family, the super ordinary me fully enjoyed other world life. Using the ability I received from God, I had a daily life of just fluffing and petting fantasy animals. There are some shady movements too, but while being led by the nose by God, I’ll do my best at various things with my cheat-like comrades!

10. In Another World, I’m Called: The Black Healer

One day, 22-year-old Kanzaki Misuzu is suddenly transported to a strange world. Based on the pop-up screens she can access, it seems she's entered some kind of RPG as a magic user! Luckily, she can use the gaming skills she acquired as an otaku to make her way in this new world. But before she knows it, people start calling her "the Black Healer"!!

11. The Youngest Princess

The archmage who ruled over a magic kingdom. One day, she was reborn as the youngest daughter of the empire! “I’ll just play along and pretend to be a baby. ...But don’t you think you guys like me a little too much?” They won’t leave her alone. The youngest princess is tired today as well.

12. Freeter ga Jimini Isekai Teni suru 

Meet Tanaka. He’s a 26-year-old freeter - a guy who makes his living on various part-time jobs. He works in warehouses, directs traffic, and generally does whatever work he can find in order to get paid. However, recently Tanaka has had a problem. He occasionally is transported into another world, usually in front of people who need help. Knowing nothing, can Tanaka add another part-time job to his repertoire?

13. The Small Sage Will Try Her Best In The Different World From Lv.1!

Kujo Yuuri, who had been playing Elysia Online, finally changed her occupation to the sage of her desire. Then, she was asked whether to go to the true Elyasia or not and selected [Yes], and somehow went to another world. Furthermore, she became a small child.

The small sage Yuuri and her companions’ love and adventure fantasy.

14. Beauty and the Beasts

As soon as she fell into the world of beast men, a leopard forcibly took her back to his home. Indeed, Bai Jingjing is at a complete and utter loss. The males in this world are all handsome beyond compare, while the women are all so horrid that even the gods shudder at their sight. As a first-rate girl from the modern world (she's even a quarter Russian), Bai Jingjing finds herself sitting at the center of a harem filled with beautiful men -- at the very peak of existence.

15. The Beast and His Pet High School Girl

On the way home from school, Kashiwagi Aki is kidnapped and finds herself in a world populated entirely by beastmen. She ends up in a pet store where the overzealous and impulsive wolfman Zinovy becomes infatuated with her and buys her on sight. Thus begins their strange and chaotic, albeit incredibly cute life.

[chameleonwritess]

Feels Like Home (Ch 1)

Myriad of Stars

Not-So-Secretly in Love

Feels Like Home (Ch1 | Ch2 | Ch3)

Forever Starts Today (Epilogue)

Extras:

Infirmary Duties

Fandom: Percy Jackson

Pairing: Nico di Angelo/Will Solace

Nico's summer has been amazing thanks to Will but he isn't ready to face the following year when it ends. He knows there are going to be a lot of changes this year and that frightens Nico. Luckily, Will is there for him through everything.

Word Count: 7446

Read the whole Myriad of Stars series on AO3

Chapter 1- Demigods and Parents

Nico di Angelo was pretty sure that he’d had the best summer of his entire life.

Minus almost being destroyed by Gaia, of course, but he was grouping that with the rest of the year which had, quite frankly, been dreadful.

Still, as soon as the impending threat had vanished, Will Solace had stepped into Nico’s life and suddenly everything seemed to make sense. Nico had found not only a place where he belonged and could be himself but a person with whom he belonged and could be himself with. As the son of Hades, that in itself was a miracle Nico had never seen coming.

The fact that Will was attractive, funny, caring, utterly charming and the most infuriating demigod Nico had ever met just made everything so much better.

Of course, summer didn’t last forever, though. Nico knew it didn’t and yet he’d somehow hoped it would, causing reality to crash down around him during the last week of the holidays.

“My mom’s picking me up from Camp next week,” Will announced very suddenly one afternoon whilst the two were sitting inside Nico’s cabin, playing with some of Nico’s old mythomagic cards for the sake of nostalgia and because the two of them were huge nerds.

Nico’s eyes snapped up immediately.

“You’re going home?” he asked in a slightly strangled voice. So much for concealing his emotions.

“Not exactly,” Will said. Nico raised an eyebrow at him, wondering what that was supposed to mean.

“Meaning?”

“Well, I go to school but not properly,” Will started to explain, “We need a healer at Camp all the time and now that Lee’s dead, I’m the best healer we’ve got.”

“How does that work, then? I thought school was a full time thing?” Nico asked. He knew he’d been to school in Italy but the memories were very faint. He hadn’t even thought about going to school since; he’d always been too tied up in monsters, Titans, giants or whatever else was deciding to destroy the world.

“It usually is. My mum has a special agreement with the headteacher, though. I go to school for a few weeks each term so that I can collect all the work and then I return to Camp so that no one dies from falling off the lava wall or getting a leg sliced off in Capture the Flag,” Will explained.

“So you won’t be gone for long?” Nico checked. Will chuckled.

“Why, you gonna miss me?” he teased, nudging Nico’s leg with his own. Nico rolled his eyes.

“I was just thinking about how peaceful Camp would be without you. No Jackson bugging me, no Grace bugging me, no you bugging me,” he said wistfully.

“Hey!” Will complained, “we only bug you because we love you. Besides you were totally upset when I said I was going home after summer.”

“Was not,” Nico spluttered.

“Was too,” Will retorted.

“Not.”

“Too.”

“Alright, shut up, of course I was going to miss you,” Nico finally relented, shoving Will, who had decided to lean his body right over Nico’s, in the chest. It was suddenly dawning on Nico just how much he would miss Will, though.

Even before they’d started dating, Nico had still spent the majority of his time with Will and over the last month or so the two had practically been inseparable. Now he was going to have to go for weeks without seeing him. Nico already felt suffocated. Never had he expected to become so reliant on one person.

“Ha, that’s pretty gay,” Will smirked in retaliation to Nico pushing him. Nico inhaled deeply.

“I changed my mind, can you leave today?” he deadpanned. Will laughed and flopped down on his back besides Nico on the bed.

“I’m bored of mythomagic,” he stated.

“You get bored easily,” Nico shrugged.

“True, but I wanted to ask you something,” Will replied, looking up at Nico from the bed from what Nico assumed was not a very flattering angle on his behalf.

“Go on, then,” Nico encouraged with an unenthusiastic eye roll to accompany it.

“It’s going to be weird spending time apart after we’ve spent all summer together so I was wondering if you wanted to come over and stay at mine during the first weekend? My mom will love you, I can sense it, and she’s always happy to let my friends stay over,” Will offered.

Nico swallowed a lump in his throat. Meeting Will’s mom had not been something he’d ever even considered and being new to the twenty-first century, never mind just dating, made Nico panic a little that he had absolutely no idea how he was supposed to act around a mother.

The only parental figure in his life was Hades and Nico doubted he could just nip down to the Underworld to pay his dad a visit and ask a few questions about his love life. It wasn’t really the father-son relationship they had.

“Don’t worry,” Will jumped in, noticing Nico’s hesitance, “it’s just an offer and I don’t want you to feel like you have to. I know you’ve probably not done anything like that before but just so you know, my mom is lovely. She’s the kindest woman I’ve met. She already knows I’m gay and will be so thrilled to meet you. I can already tell she’s going to love you.”

Nico raised an eyebrow. People didn’t exactly have a habit of ‘loving’ him upon first encounters.

“Really?” Nico asked, surprising even himself at how weak his voice sounded. Will sat up on the bed and placed his hands on Nico’s shoulders, forcing him to look into his dazzling blue eyes.

“I mean it. I’ve never disliked you and people say the two of us are pretty similar. She’s also one of the most stubborn people I know. When I was younger she’d keep me quarantined if I got a slight tickle in my throat so if you think I’m bad, wait till you meet her,” Will reassured Nico. He smiled slightly at Will’s anecdote.

“It’s hard to imagine anyone more stubborn than you,” Nico smirked.

“I’m not just Apollo’s good looks and charms, y’know,” Will teased, sending Nico a wink. Nico laughed at the action and allowed his head to fall against Will’s chest.

“I’ll think about it,” Nico agreed. Will wrapped his arms around Nico’s chest and kissed the top of his head.

“Thank you,” he said, “it means a lot to me.”

Nico still felt anxiety bubble up inside of him at the thought of spending a weekend with Will’s mother but after everything Will had done for him, this was the least he could do in return, especially if it meant a lot to Will.

He just wished it didn’t feel like such a big deal to him.

Will had to return to his own cabin before long (ever since it was confirmed that the two were together, the Apollo cabin had taken to threatening Will in order to ensure he returned back each night) and Nico was left to his own thoughts.

He knew how much Will’s mother meant to him. It wasn’t really school that Will was going home to- it was Naomi Solace. He always spoke so highly of her which just made Nico even more anxious. Normally, he didn’t care what people thought of him. The first time he’d realised he cared about what Will thought of him was when he’d begun to realise that he viewed Will as a little more than just ‘that annoying healer’.

Still, he hadn’t exactly gone out of his way to ensure Will actually liked him. Never before had he felt the need to make a dedicated effort to ensure someone didn‘t dislike him..

It was terrifying.

Nico also had literally no clue how he was supposed to interact with his boyfriend’s mother. The only adults he ever even spoke to were Chiron, Mr D, Hades and occasionally Persephone if he was in the mood for an argument. All of whom were immortal beings- definitely not mortal mothers.

Feeling Cabin 13 growing gradually stuffier as his panic increased, Nico stood up abruptly and decided he needed to take a walk outside to calm his nerves and get some fresh air. It was still half an hour until curfew so luckily, the cleaning Harpies wouldn’t be around to tear his flesh apart just yet.

Instead of wandering to Nico and Will’s usual spot, Nico continued further down until he was sat by the far edge of the canoe lake where few campers ever seemed to go. Nico himself rarely sat by this side of the lake, despite its proximity to the Hades cabin.

If Nico had been hoping for some brooding time to himself, though, he was severely disappointed as a tall, dark figure appeared from the darkness of the trees and made his way to Nico’s side. Nico had recognised him immediately.

“Father,” he greeted, sounding distinctly unimpressed with Hades’s sudden appearance.

“Hello, son. It’s been a while,” Hades commented. Nico looked at him sternly.

“You closed off the Underworld so I couldn’t enter,” he pointed out. Hades chuckled nervously, a sound that seemed utterly strange coming from the Lord of the Underworld.

“That I did. I apologise. It wasn’t to prevent you or Hazel from entering, I assure,” Hades said awkwardly. Nico let out a sigh.

“What is it that you want?” he asked. Whilst Nico knew he saw his Dad far more than other demigods saw their Olympian parents, Hades still only tended to appear when he wanted something from him. Either that or he was going to gift him a skeleton chef to go with his skeleton Chauffeur, Jules-Albert.

“I just wanted to catch up with you, Nico,” Hades said simply. Nico raised an eyebrow.

“That’s unnerving,” he commented. Hades sighed.

“I still can never tell if you’re being sarcastic or not,” he complained. Nico shrugged. He wasn’t entirely sure whether he was or not, himself.

“Anyway,” Hades continued, “the Apollo sprout.”

Nico’s cheeks flushed, “Wait, this is about Will?”

“Oh, that’s his name. I couldn’t remember if it was Bill or Will. Yes. You seem… infatuated with him, correct?” Hades asked. Nico groaned and placed his head in his hands. The last conversation he’d ever wanted to have with his father was about his love life.

“Do you have to talk to me about this?” he asked.

“I’m not allowed to get involved with my son’s personal life?” Hades questioned. Nico nearly willed the ground to open up and swallow him. He was tempted to do it had he not known that Hades would just follow him anyway.

“Fine, yes, I’m happy with him. If you have a problem with it I don’t care,” he snapped. Hades looked almost taken aback.

“I have no problem. In fact, I’m quite relieved. He isn’t Jackson or Grace and he has a good sense of humour,” Hades said in an almost approving tone. Nico’s father’s words suddenly sunk in. How did Hades know that Will had a sense of humour?

“Have you been watching me?” Nico spluttered. If Hades skin hadn’t still been so deathly pale, Nico would have thought he was going red.

“Not exactly. I just like to check up on you sometimes. I noticed an abnormal amount of laughing so wanted to assure you were okay,” Hades explained. Now it was Nico’s turn to go red.

“Yeah, well, he does have a good sense of humour,” he mumbled. Hades nodded thoughtfully.

“Invite him down for dinner,” Hades suggested, “I’d like to meet him personally.”

“Please don’t threaten my boyfriend,” Nico begged, thinking how strange it was to refer to Will as his boyfriend in front of someone else for once.

“I would never. I simply want to get to know him better. If the Apollo sprout is important to you, he should be important to me, too,” Hades stated.

“He can’t eat food from the Underworld, y’know,” Nico added.

Hades glared at him, “Do you take me for a fool, Nico? I am well aware of that.”

“Of course, sorry,” Nico apologised, rolling his eyes, “I’ll have to discuss it with him. He- er- might be a little apprehensive about nipping down to the Underworld just for dinner.”

Hades nodded in understanding and if Nico didn’t know better, he would have said Hades almost looked hurt by his comment.

“I hear you’re going to visit his mortal mother,” he finally added after a moment of silence. Nico groaned again.

“Do you listen in to all of our conversations?” he asked, wondering exactly what his father had overheard.

“No. Just that one. I was planning to pay you a visit but noticed you were preoccupied,” he said. Nico flushed and tried not to think about what Hades had overheard or accidentally observed.

“I don’t know if I’m going to visit her or not, though,” Nico explained, “I’m… nervous.”

“Naturally,” Hades nodded, “my own relationship with Demeter has not been ideal over the years since I married Persephone.”

Nico didn’t point out that there may well be a reason for that. He also didn’t point out that Hades was definitely not helping his nerves calm down.

“Right,” Nico stated, “any helpful advice or were you just here to interrogate me?”

“I just wanted to see that you were happy,” Hades said, “I know it isn’t easy being my son. You deserve a good life.”

Nico had had this sort of conversation with his father before. Last time, he’d thought to himself that there was no way he’d ever be truly happy. Now he felt as though his old self really had been wrong. Life felt pretty great for Nico right now.

“Thanks,” Nico said, allowing a genuine smile to cross his face, “you don’t need to worry. Will does make me pretty happy.”

It felt weird to say so to his dad but it was the truth.

“I can tell,” Hades smiled in response, “I think the Harpies are coming. I should probably let you get back to your cabin.”

Nico nodded and got to his feet again. Hades had already turned around and was walking away back into the darkness.

“Dad,” Nico blurted out on impulse, before his father walked away. Hades turned around in shock. It was the first time Nico had referred to him as anything other than ‘father’ or ‘Hades’. “Thank you for checking up on me,” Nico finished.

Hades looked at him and gave a warm smile, something that looked so foreign on his usually cold and stern face.

With that, Hades vanished into the darkness and Nico was left alone again to clamber back up to his cabin before the cleaning Harpies swooped in to eat him for their dinner.

He’d made his mind up about what he was going to do- he was going to visit Will’s mom. Family was important, after all.

It was the last day of summer before Nico knew it and there was a very melancholic feel around Camp. Whilst some campers never went to school, instead staying on at Camp year-round like Nico planned on doing, there were an awful lot of people leaving for the year, some of them for good.

Percy and Annabeth were the first to say goodbye to Nico.

“We’re going to go to college in New Rome,” Annabeth explained to Nico when they caught him wandering past the big house, “but Percy needs to pass his SATs first.”

“It’s going to be a painful year of studying,” Percy added with a grin. Nico huffed a laugh. He couldn’t remember what going to school was like but from what he’d heard, studying was not a fun activity.

“Yeah, I don’t envy you,” Nico said. Percy shrugged.

“Don’t worry, I’ll be back to visit soon. Probably sooner than I want knowing how things tend to go at this place. I don’t doubt that gods will have some new problem that needs fixing soon,” he added.

“Don’t you miss the days when you were told not to go on a quest and snuck your way onto it anyway?” Annabeth asked with a nostalgic sigh.

“I would gladly go back and smack my younger self. What was I thinking?” Percy laughed. Nico could sympathise with that.

“At least you didn’t go crazy and start raising dead spirits,” Nico pointed out. Percy laughed harder.

“True, true,” he said and before the three of them knew it, they were laughing about all the ridiculous trouble and near death experiences they’d had over the years.

Nico had never considered using humour as a coping mechanism considering laughing was something he rarely found himself doing, but as he found himself recounting tales with Percy and Annabeth, he realised the memories didn’t hold quite as much sting as they usually did. Nico absent-mindedly wondered if that had been partly Will’s influence on him.

“Remember the time I gatecrashed my own funeral?” Percy asked Annabeth. She burst into laughter again.

“I was about to go saying all this nice stuff about him and then he just wanders over like it was no big deal,” Annabeth said.

“Oh, Nico, what about that time you came over to my house on my birthday to tell me to take a swim in the Styx but got distracted by cake,” Percy reminded him.

“What was I thinking?” Nico asked with a laugh, “at least the cake was good.”

“Sally’s blue food is the best,” Annabeth agreed as Percy wrapped an arm around both her and Nico, squeezing them into a group hug. Nico reluctantly complied. He didn’t mind it anywhere near as much as he pretended to.

“I’m gonna miss you a lot, Nico. You’d better visit us in New Rome, too,” Percy said, “don’t pretend you don’t know me this time!”

Nico smiled sheepishly, “Yeah, sorry about that.”

“Hopefully this time you won’t be losing your memory,” Annabeth scolded as she gently smacked him on the arm.

“I never forgot you, Wise Girl,” Percy said fondly and Nico averted his eyes, already knowing what was about to happen. He scanned the inside of the Big House as he looked away, peering into the infirmary to see if he could spot Will. Will hadn’t said goodbye yet so Nico hoped he didn’t plan on leaving without doing so.

Percy and Annabeth didn’t kiss for long due to Nico’s presence which he was grateful for. He was also glad to notice that he didn’t feel any twinge of jealousy towards Annabeth at all anymore. Percy was just a normal guy to him now. A friend, even.

“I really am sorry for all the trouble I’ve caused you over the years,” Nico apologised. Percy shrugged.

“Don’t sweat it. I’ve caused you trouble, too. Besides, it’s what friends are for,” he grinned, using his knuckle to mess up Nico’s hair as Nico attempted to bat his hand away. Annabeth laughed.

“Look after everyone at Camp for us, Nico,” Annabeth smiled, “I trust you to make sure everything stays orderly.”

“As orderly as Camp Halfblood can get,” Nico pointed out as an appropriately timed fight broke out behind them on the volleyball court between an Ares and an Aphrodite kid.

“Don’t go breaking Will’s heart,” Percy added with a wink. Nico rolled his eyes and flushed red.

“Shut up,” he complained, “I will miss you guys, though. Camp will feel strange without you here.”

Percy and Annabeth smiled so widely at Nico’s admission that he almost regretted it. He regretted it even more when the two engulfed him in another huge hug.

“Goodbye till whenever we next see you, then,” Percy said. Nico nodded.

“Enjoy college,” he greeted. Annabeth smiled.

“Oh, he’s going to love it,” she smirked a little evilly. Nico chuckled and gave them one last wave as the two made their way over to the top of Halfblood Hill where they would undoubtedly be swamped with even more Campers wanting to say goodbye.

Camp really was going to be weird without Percy and Annabeth there. Nico had never really stayed without them there since the time he sent Percy off on the quest his sister died on. All of that felt like aeons ago to him, now.

“It doesn’t seem real, does it?” a familiar voice came from behind Nico. Will had snuck up on him and wrapped his arms around Nico’s waist which he’d usually complain about in such open view of all the camp but it was Will’s last day before he went home for a while and his arms were warm. It wasn’t because Nico actually liked when Will held him like this or anything.

“Percy and Annabeth have just always… been around,” Nico agreed, “I guess I can visit them but it just feels like they’re going away.”

“Jason and Piper are going to New Rome for the year, too, aren’t they?” Will asked. Nico nodded, hoping Will could feel the movement of his head against his chest.

“And you’re gonna be gone. Camp’s going to feel pretty lonely,” Nico pointed out. Will released his arms around Nico and grabbed his shoulders instead, turning him around to face him. His face didn’t look mad but Nico could sense a certain anger behind his eyes.

“That doesn’t give you an excuse to shadow travel off anywhere you like,” Will said, “you’d better still be here when I return each holiday.”

Nico rolled his eyes, “I know, I’ll stay here, I promise. I might go and visit Hazel once or twice but other than that-“

“Good,” Will interrupted him with a sigh of relief, “I think you have some visitors that want to talk to you, though.”

Nico turned around to see where Will was looking. Piper and Jason were stood at the other side of the Big House, observing the scene at a distance. Nico could already tell the two had been spying on them and sent a premature glare in their direction.

“Go on, I’ll wait here,” Will promised with a smirk. Nico nodded at him and made his way over to them.

“So,” Jason started, “this is it for a year.”

“Don’t say that,” Piper accused, “you can still come and visit us. Reyna, Hazel and Frank would want you to visit too.”

“I know,” Nico agreed, “I will do. I hope you both have a good year.”

“I’ll miss you, Nico. Stay safe at camp. We’re only an Iris message away,” Jason reminded him. Nico nodded and felt the beginnings of tears prickling his eyes. He quickly blinked them away but Piper was doing nothing to hide her tears.

“Aww, Neeks,” she sobbed and then threw her arms around him. Nico almost fell back from the impact but slowly embraced Piper back if slightly awkwardly.

“Don’t call me that,” Nico complained but there was no annoyance in his tone. Jason sniffed loudly and Nico glanced over Piper’s shoulder to notice that Jason too was getting teary-eyed. Nico lifted one of his arms and Jason took the invitation, enveloping Nico in a hug too.

As both Piper and Jason were taller than him, he found it difficult to breathe pretty quickly and had to stretch his neck to free his mouth.

“Guys, you’re kind of crushing me,” he spluttered. Jason and Piper released him immediately with apologies rolling off their tongues.

“We will really miss you,” Piper said.

“Yeah,” Jason added, “you’ve changed a lot in just the short space of time we’ve known you. I’m really glad.”

“Well, I think you know who to blame for that,” Nico smirked, throwing a look over his shoulder at where Will, as promised, was still standing.

“Take good care of him,” Piper said with a wink, “have you made up your mind yet?”

Nico took a deep breath in and nodded.

“I know what I need to do,” he said, “and Jason, Will may have helped me but you were the catalyst that set the reaction off. You accepted me when I felt like no one could and I- just- thank you,” Nico managed to stammer out.

Jason looked like he was going to cry again and before Nico knew it, he had been enveloped in yet another hug. Feeling left out, Piper joined in again, squeezing the two boys tightly.

“You really need to stop trying to kill me,” Nico gasped for breath, “There’s still plenty of monsters left to do that.”

Piper and Jason laughed as they relented their tight grip.

“Don’t die whilst we’re gone,” Piper instructed. Nico gave her a wry smile.

“I’ll try not to. Make sure Jason doesn’t get himself killed, too,” Nico said.

“I can look after myself!” Jason complained. Piper laughed and Nico gave a snort.

“Yeah, that’s what I’m worried about,” he said dryly. Jason rolled his eyes and pouted before taking Piper’s hand.

“We’d better go and say our goodbyes to Percy and Annabeth before we take off,” Jason said, “we’ll see you soon, Nico.”

Nico lifted a hand in a half-hearted wave.

“Yeah, I’ll see you.”

And with that, he departed and made his way back up the hill to Will. This was his next goodbye and he knew this one would be the hardest even if he’d only be spending a short time away. Luckily, he had until that evening. Whilst most campers left in the afternoon, Will’s mom worked a day shift at the hospital so could only pick him up later on in the day.

“You okay?” Will asked with a concerned look as Nico approached. Nico wiped away any stray tears that may have been remaining at the corner of his eyes.

“Yeah,” he lied, “just going to miss everyone.”

“Aw, you’re such a softy,” Will teased, hugging Nico from the side, “help me clear up in the infirmary before I leave? It needs to pass inspection.”

“You’re the one inspecting it, you nerd,” Nico complained with an eye roll. His complaints ended when Will pecked his cheek and grabbed his hand, pulling Nico inside the Big House.

As soon as they stepped inside, Will switched straight over into Doctor mode, something Nico was pretty used to by then.

“I need all the thermometers back in the tub on the second shelf up and bring me some latex gloves whilst you’re there- someone’s left medical waste on the table,” Will instructed. Nico nodded and turned around to go to the back before adding,

“Is that a shelf I can actually reach this time?” recalling an incident only a week or so ago.

Will raised his eyebrow in response as he turned around with stethoscopes in his hand.

“I doubt you’d complain much if it wasn’t,” he said pointedly. Nico blushed and muttered a quiet ‘Shut up’ before marching into the back.

Nico was pretty sure Will hadn’t been the last person in here because the boxes were a mess. Will was such a perfectionist when it came to organising the infirmary that Nico knew he’d probably need medical attention himself if he came in and saw the state it had been left in.

With a sigh, Nico shoved the thermometers in the box on the second shelf and started work sorting through the other boxes, attempting to return everything to their correct place.

Nico hadn’t remembered about bringing Will the gloves until a pair of hands tickled his waist and caused him to make an embarrassingly high pitched squeal, dropping the packs of gauze he was holding.

“Sorry,” Will chuckled quietly in Nico’s ear, sending a shiver down Nico’s spine, “what’s taking so long?”

Nico picked up the gauze and stood on his tiptoes to put it back in the box before turning around to face Will.

The son of Apollo was stood closer than Nico had realised and his hands were still hovering over Nico’s waist, ready to pull him even closer. Nico’s heart caught in his throat as he felt his breath catch. Will still had an uncanny knack of taking his breath away. It was very infuriating.

“It- mess- decided to sort it,” Nico said intelligently. If he’d been hoping to disguise from Will how much his sudden presence and closeness had affected him, he was doing a pretty lousy job.

“What?” Will asked, having not understood Nico, not surprisingly. Nico took a breath in and tried to remember how to compose comprehensible sentences as he looked up at Will’s blue eyes.

“Someone messed everything up. I was trying to sort it out again because I know you don’t like it disorganised,” Nico finally managed to say without sounding completely stupid.

Will looked down at Nico with a soft smile on his face. Nico was glad that it seemed he’d actually done the right thing.

“Thank you,” Will said quietly, leaning down so that his nose bumped Nico’s gently. Nico’s breath was taken away once again as Will’s hands tightened around his waist. He wondered if there was such thing as dying from spending too long too close to your boyfriend. Nico at least hoped his father would take pity and resurrect him if that did happen.

After what felt like way too long, Will finally tilted his head and captured Nico’s lips. Letting out a sigh, Nico reached up, wound a hand in Will’s hair and pulled the blond against him hungrily. Will was far too much of a tease and Nico wasn’t going to let him get away with it.

Will didn’t seem to be complaining as Nico kissed him back harder, though, instead letting his hands move from Nico’s waist to his back, one of them slipping underneath Nico’s black t-shirt and tracing the bare skin on his spine. Nico shivered at the touch, despite Will’s hands being as warm as always. Will was permanently warm. Nico suspected it was because he was Apollo’s son but he didn’t really care- he only cared about whether those hands were touching him.

Nico pulled back to take a breath for a second but Will had other ideas, chasing Nico’s mouth with his own and pressing their bodies together again. Nico felt his back touch the shelves behind him and he removed his hands from Will’s hair to place them on the shelves and push the two of them off. He hadn’t just spent all that time organising them for Will to ruin it, no matter what his tongue was doing as it slid into Nico’s mouth and elicited a gasp from him.

“Don’t ruin my tidying,” Nico murmured against Will’s lips.

“Nico, shut up and let me kiss you, I don’t care about the tidying,” Will muttered in response, not giving Nico a chance to respond further as he kissed Nico again, the hot press of his lips making Nico finally give in and decide that the shelves really didn’t matter all that much.

He allowed Will to push him back against them this time as the taller boy’s tongue returned to his mouth. Whilst Nico did like to be the one leading the kiss, drawing small noises out of Will and leaving him a blushing mess, he definitely was not about to complain if Will wanted to push him up against a wall and kiss him senseless.

“Nico,” Will moaned lightly, the sound of his name on Will’s lips causing blood to rush straight to Nico’s cheeks and possibly other places he was trying hard to ignore. Nico just pulled Will’s lips back to his.

The sudden sound of a horn caused Nico and Will to jump apart in shock, Nico’s head hitting against the shelf above him and Will’s nose bumping into his a little harder than anticipated.

“Ow,” Nico said, not entirely sure his mouth was capable of forming any more than a sound at that moment anyway.

“I guess it’s time for dinner,” Will said breathlessly, “I can’t believe I didn’t manage to clean the infirmary.”

Nico rolled his eyes at Will’s pout.

“Don’t blame me, I was trying to help. Besides, you’re the inspector so it doesn’t matter,” he shrugged. Will scoffed.

“It’s basic patient hygiene, di Angelo,” he said, sounding scandalised, “and don’t feign innocence, you were being too distracting.”

“I was literally just tidying a cupboard,” Nico pointed out.

“Exactly,” Will teased, draping an arm over Nico’s shoulder as they made their way out of the Big House and to the mess hall, “distracting.”

Nico blushed and rolled his eyes.

“Catch me after dinner- I don’t want to leave without saying goodbye,” Will ordered. Nico nodded in agreement.

“Me neither,” he said. Will gave his shoulder one last squeeze before releasing Nico and going over to the Apollo cabin, now consisting of only Kayla, Austin and Will.

Nico sat himself down at the Big Three table that was feeling even more vacant. Percy and Jason had both left, leaving Nico alone. He hated sitting alone to eat. He never would have admitted it to Percy and Jason but it did really help having them there when they’d first suggested the idea.

When Nico sat alone to eat, it brought back memories. Memories of buying Happy Meals in desperate attempts to speak to his sister. Memories of sitting trapped in a jar, surviving only off pomegranate seeds and thinking that no one was coming to save him- he would die alone.

They weren’t exactly memories Nico wanted to dwell on, especially now that his life was looking up for once, but the scars ran deep and no amount of happiness would ever truly dispel the nightmares and feelings of hopelessness that occasionally threatened to overcome Nico.

Absent-mindedly, Nico wondered if it would be at all possible for him to convince Chiron that he needed to sit with other people to stop his powers from playing up. Maybe Chiron would let him sit with Will if the son of Apollo played his ‘I’m a doctor’ card.

For a second, Nico was tempted to raise skeletons right there and then but thought better of it. Will would be leaving Camp in about an hour, anyway.

Distracted from his own memory with thoughts of Will, Nico happily bit into his pepperoni pizza.

Despite Will’s promise that he would say goodbye to Nico before he left, Nico spotted the son of Apollo leaving his cabin with a packed bag and heading in the direction of Halfblood Hill- not in the direction of the Hades cabin.

Luckily, Nico had been paying attention so muttering to himself in aggravation, Nico shrugged on his aviator jacket to guard against the cool evening breeze and stormed out of his cabin, not caring that the door slammed shut behind him.

Due to Will’s naturally larger strides (curse his long legs), Nico had to jog to catch up and finally reached him just as he arrived at the top of the hill.

“Going somewhere?” Nico asked pointedly. Will jumped at the sound of his voice.

“Ah, Nico!” he gasped, “uh, sorry, I was going to come and say goodbye but, well-“ Will broke off with a shrug and Nico raised an eyebrow at him. With a glance down the hill, he spotted a woman with curly brown hair, blue eyes as clear as Will’s. Her face was smattered with freckles and she wore a smile Nico would recognise anywhere. She was Naomi Solace- unmistakably Will’s mother.

“Oh,” Nico muttered, drawing his attention back to Will. He’d felt a hint of panic rise up inside him at the sight of Naomi accompanied with the disappointment that Will hadn’t intended to say goodbye to him. Nico was going to be spending a weekend with just her and Will way sooner than he was prepared for.

A thought suddenly hit Nico as to why Will hadn’t been going to say goodbye and it was completely and utterly Nico’s fault.

“Oh!” Nico repeated in realisation as he grabbed Will’s arms, “Will, I forgot to tell you- I made up my mind. I want to visit you at the weekend. I mean, if the offer still stands.”

Will’s eyes lit up immediately.

“Why didn’t you just say so, you idiot?” he asked and before Nico could even respond, Will dropped his bags and picked Nico up, spinning him round. Nico had to try hard not to shriek in shock as he grabbed Will’s shoulders to steady himself.

Still laughing, Will placed him back on the ground and hugged him.

“Of course the offer still stands,” Will promised, “do you want to meet my mom now? She’s heard a lot about you through Iris messages.”

Nico didn’t even think before he answered.

“Yeah, sure!” completely forgetting to panic. Will grinned and grabbed Nico’s hand, picking up his bags again and pulling Nico down the hill with him. They were through the magical Mist barrier before Nico knew it and he was faced with the most daunting task of his entire life. Talking to Will’s mother.

“Will!” Naomi Solace squealed as soon as the two demigods stumbled past the magical barrier. Nico didn’t even complain when Will released his hand so he could engulf his mother in a huge hug.

He was easily taller than her, resting his head on top of her’s as he hugged her. Nico guessed she was about the same height as he was.

“I’ve missed you so much,” she said, “you haven’t been overworking yourself, I hope. If you have a single blister on your hand from over-healing then I swear-“

Whatever Naomi Solace had intended to say next was forgotten as she pulled her son in for another hug. Nico couldn’t help but smile slightly as he observed the scene, despite the panic still rising inside him. At least Will would be in good hands away from camp; Nico doubted he needed to worry too much about Will overexerting himself.

Still, if there was a monster-

Nico shook the thought out of his head quickly. Will had always been fine in previous years. He was going to be fine now. His scent wasn’t as strong as Nico, Percy or Jason’s anyway- he wasn’t a son of the Big Three.

“Mom,” Will whined in complaint, pushing her away, “I’m fine, honestly.”

Despite his complaints, Nico knew how much Will had actually missed his mother. He never shut up about it.

Just then, Naomi happened to look up over Will’s shoulder and her eyes connected with Nico’s. He felt his heart rate immediately pick up in fear. She was going to hate him already.

“Will, I think there’s someone you might be forgetting to introduce me to,” Naomi said, raising an eyebrow at her son expectantly in a way Will so often did to Nico whenever he forgot to look after a wound or help out in the hospital. Nico was already starting to realise exactly why Apollo had been so taken with her. She had a lot of similarities to her son.

“Oh!” Will seemed to realise as his eyes shone. He grinned and walked over to Nico again, grabbing his hand and pulling him towards his mother. Nico allowed himself to be pulled and stood there in shock. “Mom, this is Nico.”

“So you’re the guy Will won’t shut up about when he Iris messages me,” Naomi Solace said with a sly smile. Nico felt his cheeks heat up. He was supposed to say something now.

“Um,” Nico started, “it’s nice to meet you. Will talks about you a lot, too.”

“Oh, does he?” Naomi Solace asked, turning to Will.

“Pfft, as if,” Will pretended but his mom just tackled him in another hug.

“You big softie,” she teased, “you do love your old mom after all.”

“Mom, stop, you’re embarrassing me in front of Nico,” Will complained, attempting to flatten his hair again when his mom released him. Nico fought the urge to run his fingers through it. Will’s mother was right there.

“It really is lovely to meet you, though, Nico. I’m really glad Will’s found someone as good to him as you,” Naomi turned to Nico again, still smiling.

“Good to me?” Will huffed. Nico elbowed him.

“Thank you, Miss Solace,” he said, “I do my best to keep him in check.”

“Please, just call me Naomi. Or mom if you want- anything’s fine by me!” Naomi said. Nico thought he would have felt a little bit awkward calling her ‘mom’ but it didn’t seem like she completely hated him so that was a good thing at least. “I don’t know how you manage- he really is a nightmare.”

“Trust me, I know,” Nico smirked, surprised at how easily he was managing to have a conversation. He hadn’t messed up. He could do this.

Will was apparently not as pleased with his achievement.

“Nico! Mom! I didn’t introduce you to each other so you could gang up against me,” he complained.

“You should have expected this, really,” Nico pointed out.

“Honestly, it’s like he doesn’t even know us,” Naomi shook her head in offense.

“Mom!” Will whined.

“Sorry, did you hear something, Nico?” she asked in a sly tone.

“Nothing at all,” Nico agreed with a shake of his head.

“I changed my mind, you’re uninvited this weekend,” Will huffed.

“You agreed to come?” Naomi asked suddenly, turning to Nico excitedly. Nico had never seen anyone look so glad at the news that he was going to be somewhere.

“Oh, um, I-I’d like to if you don’t mind,” Nico stuttered. Naomi grinned.

“Of course I don’t mind! The more the merrier. I’m sure you’ll help me wind up Will, too,” she said.

“I wouldn’t ever pass up the opportunity,” Nico promised. The tenseness of first meeting Naomi Solace was slowly easing away and he felt his shoulders relaxing. He wondered what he’d ever been so worried about. Naomi was lovely and she shone just as brightly as her son. Maybe Will hadn’t received his sunny disposition from his father, after all.

“Right, I’m leaving,” Will huffed, folding his arms stubbornly. Nico nudged him with his hip.

“So I really don’t get a goodbye?” he asked.

“Will, were you really about to leave without even saying goodbye to Nico?” Naomi asked in shock.

“I wasn- no- I just-“ Will stammered.

“Yes,” Nico interjected. Naomi looked at him sternly.

“It’s a good job your boyfriend actually cares about saying goodbye to you, then, isn’t it?” she pointed out. Nico’s cheeks flushed at the words. It felt weird for Will’s own mother to say that. Weird in a not entirely unpleasant way. “Go on, I’ll wait in the car and I promise I won’t look.”

“Mom!” Will protested, “that means you totally will.”

Naomi shrugged her shoulders and took Will’s bag, taking them back to her blue Honda.

“So I’ll see you this weekend,” Nico said after a moment’s silence. Will smiled at him.

“Thank you. I know this isn’t easy for you but you’ve already done such a good job just talking to her. She really likes you,” Will said.

“All I’ve done is insult you,” Nico muttered. Will laughed and put his hand on Nico’s upper arm.

“I know, but you’ve made an effort to find something in common with her and talk about it. You think you’re bad at talking to people but you just did a really good job of it,” he explained. Nico chewed his lower lip as he considered Will’s words. He hadn’t even been thinking about it like that.

“I suppose you’re right,” he conceded, “but I couldn’t have done it if you hadn’t been there.”

“I’ll always be here if you need me,” Will promised in a soft voice, pulling Nico even closer to him.

“Your mom is watching,” Nico reminded Will although he wasn’t really sure he minded, Will’s closeness sending a frenzy of incoherent thoughts scattering around his brain.

“I don’t care,” Will said, his breath dusting over Nico’s lips. Nico didn’t care either as he closed the distance between them, raising himself onto his tiptoes to plant a gentle kiss on Will’s lips.

Will pulled away way sooner than Nico would have liked but it was still enough to leave his head feeling fuzzy and his lips tingling with warmth.

“Goodbye,” Will said.

“Goodbye,” Nico repeated, releasing Will’s top from where he’d grabbed hold of it to kiss him. Will smiled softly as he trailed his hand along Nico’s arm, releasing it, before walking away towards where Naomi Solace was waiting for him in the car. Nico smiled and waved as he watched Will go before turning around and heading back through the magical border and up Halfblood Hill.

He only had to wait until weekend.