#he's making sure that Adrian sees him so that he can prove a point

[wolfanddragon98]

@dreaming-for-an-escape

Adrian: *hisses out* What do you want from us? If you think you're good at hiding then you're doing a very poor job. I saw you following me to my place of work. I saw you standing outside the school when I was picking the girls up.

Aemond: *shrugs* I want to see my lovely wife and beautiful children. As a husband and a father I don't think I'm asking for a lot.

[loosescrewslefty]

Important question: What do you think all the Hexsquad's love languages are? You seem like the kind of person who could answer this question well.

Going to phrase this answer into two parts for each character; First covering the way that they SHOW love, and then by their preferred method of RECEIVING love.

Luz: Words of Affirmation, Physical Touch

In terms of showing love, Luz SHOWERS the people with compliments, praise, admiration, and encouragement. She is determined to make sure that everyone knows how amazing her loved ones are, especially her loved ones themselves. Even when she can't talk properly, she still tries to find ways to tell the people she loves that she adores them.

But when is comes to receiving love, Luz prefers that her loved ones show, rather than tell her. Hand holding, embracing, kissing, physical touch is something Luz CRAVES from her partner, and she is always her happiest when she gets it.

-

Amity: Acts of Service, Words of Affirmation

Amity is a very goal oriented person, and when she loves someone she becomes hell bound on making sure that THEIR goals come to fruition too. She is determined to prove her love by helping the ones she cares for, sometimes even to the point of overstepping, because in Amity's mind helping someone accomplish things is the best way to show you love them.

When receiving love, however, Amity is a sucker for Words of Affirmation. She didn't get compliments or verbal affection much from the places where it most mattered growing up, so hearing someone tell her that they love her, that they appreciate the things she does, and that they still love her even when she fails or messes up, makes Amity an absolutely giddy mess, as we clearly saw when Amity was told that Luz thinks she is "Cool, Classy, and Smart"

-

Willow: Quality Time, both ways.

Willow likes to give and receive love the same way; through spending time with one another, making happy memories together, having meaningful talks, and shows of support and comfort. That why, to Willow, it doesn't matter when things go wrong or plans don't work out so long as the people she loves most are there with her on the journey, and they can look back at those moments later together. Willow is at her most miserable when she is all alone, or when those around her won't listen to her, and really appreciates being treated like her presence is important to her partner. She likes to know that they will take the time and effort to include her in moments of their lives, no matter how big or small, because she is important to them and they want her there, and she in turn goes out of her way to make sure that the people she loves know that she always has time for them, no matter what.

-

Gus: Acts of Service, both ways

Much like Amity, Gus believes that the best way he can show that he loves the people in his life is to prove himself useful to them, and much like Amity not being able to be useful to the people he loves makes him feel frustrated and depressed.

But Gus has deep seated anxiety about being used/lied to that make it hard for him to trust that people are being honest to him, and often feels stressed that others expect him to do or know more, since he is so advanced for his age. So having others who see him struggling and stop and take the time to help him back up is something he cherishes deeply.

Hunter: Gifts, Quality Time

Hunter has long been taught that actions mean very little, if they do not get results. So, for Hunter, the best way he thinks he can show his love is to give the people he cares about things that they want. It doesn't matter how he gets them, as long as he can give them something that'll make them happy. We saw this early in his determination to give Belos the Selkiedomus, Palismen, or the Portal Key. We saw this in Hunter's determination to win the Flyer Derby match for his teammates, and then protecting them from Darius. And then again, when he helped save Gus from Adrian. His intention is typically less about providing aid like you see with acts of support, and more about making sure that the people he cares for receive whatever they want, gift wrapped with a ribbon on top.

But when it comes to receiving love, Hunter most appreciates Quality Time. His entire life, Hunter has been made to feel replaceable, ignored, or unwanted. Being around people who not only want to be around him, but even PRIORITIZE him in their lives and enjoy doing silly nonsense with him means more to Hunter than words could possibly express.

[starsofmilos]

The Five Times (Adrian Chase x reader)

Synopsis: The five different times Adrian proved he wasn’t like your toxic ex.

So I’m in need of some fluff and smidge of angst and this came to me last night and I immediately whipped out my laptop and got to work! I hope y’al like this and these are experiences of mine. I know not everyone is the same, but this kinda my coping mechanism. 

Masterlist

Warnings: mentions of past emotional abuse, mentions of trauma, mentions of toxic relationship, angst, fluff, mentions of sex, mentions of pressuring to have sex, insecurities and mentions of weight gain

Adrian Chase was deeply in love with you.

He always made sure to say it at least once a day and he always made sure to prove it in anyways he could. 

But there were five times you could pinpoint that he truly made you feel loved. Even though he didn’t directly say it those times. 

Number One

The relationship was still new at this point. Adrian came over to spend the night as he had been doing for about a good month now. 

You hummed as you brushed your hair gently trying to look as presentable as possible before Adrian showed up. Even though at the moment you’d rather do anything than do your makeup.

Groaning a bit, you grabbed your washcloth wiping your face. Would Adrian even care if you had make up on? 

‘I’d expect for you to put effort in your looks if you really want me to stay!’

Your ex’s words played out in your head as you grabbed your foundation pad. Adrian would care. Most guys do.

“Hello my love!!” You jumped hearing his voice ring through. Glancing at yourself in the mirror, you tensed up once he walked in the room.

“There you are!” He approached you tilting your head back. You pouted a bit as he kissed your lips. Adrian hummed in content turning your chair around so your could face him.

“What are you doing? Why you putting on makeup? Did we have a date tonight?! I’m so sorry! Did I forget?! Oh shit! I didn’t bring nice clothing unless you count these stupid jeans here!”

“No! No!” You laughed a bit, “I was just putting it on so you didn’t have to see my stupid ugly face all natural.”

“Oh..wait! Your face is not stupid or ugly! Your face is very pretty!” He kissed you pulling you away from your makeup. 

“But I need to put it on-”

“Why though? It’s not like we’re going anywhere plus in all the time we’ve been spending together I noticed you get irritated having to remove it every night so come on! We have some cuddling to catch up on!” 

“You don’t like when I put on makeup?”

“No I do. I love your face with or without though and I can kinda tell you didn’t wanna put it on.”

“How could you tell that?”

“For one you were pouting and you usually never hesitate to do something unless you really don’t wanna do it.” You smiled a bit as he grabbed your face.

“Besides you look so beautiful right now and I just wanna lay down and watch some cartoons with you.”

“Can I put pajamas on?”

“We’ll put pajamas on together...Hey real quick though why did you think I’d care if you had make up on?”

“Well...to be honest my ex kinda did..had to make sure I looked presentable at all times so he could stay..glad he didn’t though you came along..”

“Yeah he sounds like a douche nozzle. I’m glad he left so I can show you that I don’t care how you look. You’re not getting rid of me at all. I mean at all. I just wanna make sure you are comfortable. If you wanted to never wear make up again I’d still be here.”

“Do you really mean that?..”

“Yeah. You are beautiful with or without make up and you should only put it on only when you want not because you think you need to please me. Now can we please watch the scooby doo live action movies and wear pajamas. I’ll order a pizza.”

You couldn’t possibly be more in love with him.

Number Two

It was going to be a great night. 

You friends birthday was today and she invited all of you for a small party at her place. Thing was she planned it last minute.

Fidgeting a bit, you cautiously approached Adrian as he washed the dishes. “Hey honey...whatcha doin?”

“I’m washing the dishes.” He laughed a bit turning around.

“You look nice...and smell nice..”

“Yeah..I was wondering if it’s okay with you my friend is having a last minute hang out for her birthday and I wanted to know if I could go? I promise to make it up to you! I’ll figure out a ride home in case I decide to drink! I-I just would really like to go-”

“Hey hey! Calm down! Of course you can go dude.”

“Really?”

“Yeah why would I say no? Go out with your friends have a good time.”

“Okay..” You smiled at him giving him a small kiss. “Do I look okay?”

“You kidding me? You look incredible. Also about what was said before if you need anything and I mean anything please call me. Be safe.”

“Thank you Adrian! I promise I’ll make it up to you-”

“You have nothing to make up to me buttercup. You also don’t have to ask for my permission to go out either you know that right?”

“Really?”

“Yes really. All you gotta do is let me know that you’re gonna go out with some friends. I’ll say that’s cool just keep me updated so I know you’re safe and to please send me your location. It’s like when I go on patrols.”

“Oh..I never thought of it that way..You sure you’re not upset with me?”

“I promise you I’m not. Now you should start heading out. Message me when you get there so I know you’re safe and call me if you do end up needing a ride.”

“Okay thanks Adrian! I’m gonna finish getting ready!” You cheered a bit running to the room. 

Adrian made a small promise afterwards to always make sure you felt reassured and safe enough to not feel the need to ask him for permission for simple things.

Number Three

It was your one year anniversary. Adrian had officially moved into your home and you had wanted tonight to be special.

So you ordered pizza and rented out his favorite movies for the night. Adrian was already home as you walked in carrying the pizza. 

“I’m home!”

“Oh hey!! I’m in the shower. Give me a minute and I’ll be out!” 

“Okay!!” You sighed a bit getting dressed in more comfy clothes looking around once you heard a small chirp.

It was Adrian’s phone.

Grabbing it, you tensed up once realizing what you were doing. Quickly dropping his phone you backed away from it feeling scathed and guilt rise in your throat.

Why did you grab his phone and look at his messages? Adrian is gonna be so mad. They always are.

It was their business not yours.

“Y/N! You okay? You’re being kinda quiet!”

“Oh sorry!” You nervously replied. Hands fidgeting against your will, you groaned a bit knowing you needed to tell him.

“Adrian!”

“Yeah?!” Adrian peaked out behind the curtain seeing you enter the room.

“Your phone buzzed. You got a message. I’m sorry I touched it-”

“Oh! What did it say? Who is it from?!” 

“What?...”

“My phone? Who messaged?” You tensed up thinking the worse. Was he testing you? Was he was just waiting for you to do it to yell?

“Y/N? You okay? You look pale?” Adrian grew concerned turning the water off to step out.

Adrian would never do that.

“It’s Emilia she said your guys mission was moved to this Friday instead of next week.” You read off his phone quickly and anxiously.

Adrian hummed, “Oh okay can you respond back to her for me?”

“What?”

“I’m gonna dry up and change can you please respond back to her?” Adrian shot you a questioning smile.

“What would you like me to say to her?”

“Just type okay for me! Add a mermaid emoji!” Adrian approached you quirking an eyebrow as you tensed up. “Y/N?..You okay?”

“I’m sorry I touched your phone. I know it’s your business. I already let Emilia know, but if you’re gonna yell at me can you do it now so we could get it over with..”

“Woah woah! Yell at you? Why would I do that?” Adrian laughed a bit shaking his head. He planted a wet kiss on your cheek grabbing his shirt off the bed to begin dressing.

“Because I touched your phone?..”

“So what you touched my phone? Big deal. You’re allowed to do that Y/N. You can go through my phone anytime you want.” Adrian booped your nose walking around you to grab his sweat pants.

“I can...” He turned around seeing the uncertain small look on your face.

“Yeah honey you can..Are you okay?” You nodded looking away. Adrian shook his head grabbing your face to stare at you.

“What’s going on in that pretty brain of yours?” Adrian hummed waiting for your response.

“My ex..almost all of them would get angry if I so much as placed their phone somewhere else, but you just let me message someone and said I can go through it anytime I want.”

“Yeah you can..God I hate that piece of shit you dated. Look I have absolutely nothing to hide from you. Go through my phone anytime you want.” Adrian placed a small kiss on your pouting lips.

“You smell good.” You smiled as he pulled away.

“Thanks it’s your shampoo.” He grinned pulling you away. “Now let’s go relax.”

Number four

“Shit..” You groaned out feeling Adrian move his lips down your neck. 

Adrian moaned out grinding down onto you as he fiddled with your pant buttons. He kissed you once you grabbed his face whispering his name softly.

“Adrian..” 

Adrian glanced at your face for a small moment taking you in. His hands roamed along your sides sliding them under your shirt. “Yes honey..”

“I love this a lot, but I’m not really in the mood..” Adrian stopped his movements freezing on the spot.

“I’m sorry. I probably should’ve mentioned it earlier, but I just really wanted kisses and cuddles..”

“Oh..”

“Yeah..please don’t be upset! I’ll make it up to you! Or maybe if we can keep going I can get in the mood-” Adrian shook his head kissing you quickly to shut you up.

“You have nothing to make up for and we are not continuing if you’re not up for it.”

“But I’m your girlfriend. I know sex is kinda a big deal and I don’t want you to think I’m stuck up. Or think that I’m not interested in you. I’m your girlfriend I know I should be willing whenever.”

“You are not stuck up and I know this doesn’t mean you’re not interested in me. You’re allowed to not be in the mood” Adrian shook his head kissing your forehead. 

“Okay I’m sorry Adrian..”

“You have nothing to be sorry about..Who said anyways that you always have to be ready for sex!” Adrian tried to joke but grew quiet seeing your eyes grow watery.

His eyes darkened once he realized.

“I will never and I mean never pressure or force you to do anything you do not want. If you are not in the mood for sex, then we don’t have sex. Instead we cuddle and kiss just like you wanted.”

“But-”

“No more buts. You are my girlfriend and my equal half. I give you the respect you give me. My heart is yours. I think it’s always been yours and it breaks my heart when you think that I wouldn’t treat you in a way you deserve to be treated.” 

You felt a couple of tears fall down your face as you jumped up throwing your arms around Adrian. He smiled kissing you gently as you thanked him. 

“You deserve to be treated good and I promise I will always be the one to spoil you and be the one care for you.”

Number five

You groaned throwing down your clothes frustrated at the fact that what was once a cute pair of jeans now were a unwearable cute pair of jeans.

Your favorite pair couldn’t even make you feel better. Nothing felt right. 

“Fuck me!”

“Don’t mind if I do!” You screamed a bit throwing a nearby pillow to the door where Adrian stood.

“Nice..you do that to all the intruders or am I your loving boyfriend just lucky?”

“You’re the lucky one.” You smiled sheepishly as you turned back to face the mirror.

“I look gross...” You sighed dejectedly as Adrian approached wrapping his arms around your waist resting his head on your shoulder. 

“You’re not gross? You look just as beautiful as ever.”

“No..I just look bad..”

You gave Adrian a small pointed look. Adrian smiled running his hand down your sides. “You look great..”

“But my body feels bloated and I look weird and I gained some weight!

Adrian groaned, “There’s always a but with you! Most of the time they don’t even make sense! Who cares if you gained weight? Or if you’re bloated! I can reassure that you do not look weird.” 

“Don’t you care if I gained weight?”

“Fuck no! You kidding me!” Adrian groped your ass grinning as you jumped. “I love your body. I love it so much! I could care less if you gained weight or if you’re bloated. As long as you’re healthy and happy I do not care!” 

He lifted you up tossing you on the bed. “You say that now-”

“And I mean that now. Look Y/N I love you. I’m so fucking crazy about you that I don’t even understand it myself. I love you very much..”

“I know you do..I just worry sometimes I wanna be enough for you-”

“No shut up. In the nicest way possible shut up. You are way too good for me.”

“No I’m not-”

“Yes. Yes you are. You are so much better than me. You say you wanna be sure you’re good enough for me? Y/N I kill people for fun and fight aliens on a daily basis. I am a fucking busboy and nerd who still plays dnd but alone so no one judges me. You are way more than enough for me. You are everything.”

“I’m everything for you?..”

“Yes. Look you are my first love and the very first person I have ever said I love you too. I know you don’t have the best experiences with past relationships, but I am not those guys.”

“I know you aren’t..I’m sorry Adrian-”

“You have nothing to apologize for. Now let me finish.” He jabbed your sides causing you giggle. 

“I know I’m not your first I love you like you are mine. I know I’m not the first person you’ve ever caught feelings for again like you are mine.”

You laughed a bit as he kissed your cheek blowing a raspberry giving you a look of what you could only describe as adoration.  

“What I do know is that I would love and would do anything to be the last person you say I love you too. The last person to keep you happy, safe and loved. I know I don’t say it often enough, but I love you.”

“I love you too and believe me..you are and will be the last person I say I love you too..”

“Good...now get dressed and let’s go out for some of your favorite.”

“I hate you for being so good Adrian..”

“Well that kinda stings.”

“Shut up and kiss me dork.” He rolled his eyes kissing you softly.

“Since you insists..I mean it though if you ever feel insecure or you need me to reassure you then I will always be more than happy to do so.” You nodded grasping his face.

“Hey just to clarify..You’re my everything too..”

“Good..I will never let you go.”

There were five times that Adrian proved that he loved you. 

You have to say the fifth one and the day you got married were your favorites..

[powerfultenderness]

Dare

Rated: T+

Pairing: gn!Reader/Adrian Chase

Summary: Inspired by [this post ​]: “What would you do if your fave was dared to kiss the prettiest person in the room and without missing a beat they came to you?” 

Warnings: Some smooching. 

Word Count: 2553

A/N: Big shout out and thanks to @pretendfan​ for helping bounce ideas around and for encouraging me after I got critically hit with impostor syndrome while writing this. ❤

[Masterlist]

[Line Divider]

“Well, Harcourt thinks I’m pretty!” Chris bragged with a smug look on his face winking at said blonde.

She rolled her eyes, “that’s not what I said.” 

“Pretty, handsome, same thing. And that makes me the prettiest person here!” 

Everyone protested his assessment. You can’t even remember why Peacemaker started this conversation, but everyone was bored and tired of work and a little fun conversational break was good for morale. 

“Why don’t we just vote?” Leota suggested over everyone telling Chris to shut up. 

You shrugged, “it would prove Chris wrong.” 

Economos agreed for the same reason as you, and Harcourt , admitting only to herself that she didn’t want to be left out, made a show of rolling her eyes, “whatever.”  And Chris was confident he’d win, so he readily agreed. 

Leota tore off pieces of scrap paper for everyone to vote and place in a hastily dried coffee mug.

Once all the votes were cast, she spread them on her desk and attempted to count the votes but…

“Well, that was a stupid idea.” Economos was the first to reply after seeing the names.

“Hey!” Leota sent a weak glare his way.

“Did everyone vote for themselves?” Honestly, why was Harcourt even surprised?

“Hey guys! What’s up?” Adrian just happened to walk in at that moment, still clad in his civilian clothes but no doubt his Vigilante gear was in the duffle he carried.

Peacemaker grinned and pointed at Adrian. “Tiebreaker!”

Everyone groaned again, knowing Adrian would just pick Peacemaker.

“He’s not really an impartial tiebreaker.” Economos started an argument with Chris.

“Uh…what’s going on?” Adrian sidled up to your other side, as you were currently leaning against the desk where Chris had taken a seat. 

You rolled your eyes at Chris before turning to Adrian with a smile. “Oh nothing. Chris is just being stupid again.” “But Peacemaker’s one of the smartest guys here.” 

“See! Not impartial!” 

You shook your head at the argument Economos, Chris and Leota were still heavily involved in then looked at Adrian again. “Go gear up. Harcourt doesn’t look like she has the patience to wait much longer.” He smiled and thanked you before quickly scampering upstairs to change.

“Alright! Drop it, Smith.” “But-”

“And if you ask Vig when he gets back I’m leaving you off of this mission!” “What? You can’t do that! You need me!” “Me and Vig can pick up your slack.” You smirked, especially because Harcourt nodded in agreement. “Exactly.”

“Fine! I won’t ask him!” “Ask what?”

“Nothing!” 

You felt a little bad, Adrian did not deserve to be yelled at by everyone. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll fill you in later.”

Adrian smiled at you again, and not for the first time just seeing him smile warmed your face and made your heart flutter. Yea, you might have had a little crush on the local vigilante, but thankfully no one on the team noticed, or cared enough to comment. For his part, you were pretty sure Adrian thought that you were just a nice person, which wasn’t entirely untrue, it’s just that you were especially nice to him because of that crush.

“Hey, Vig! Truth or dare?” “Smith!” “Dare!” 

“What? I said I wouldn’t ask! I knew he’d pick dare, he always picks dare!”

Harcourt, Economos and Adebayo were all yelling at Chris as he turned to Adrian, “I dare you to pick the prettiest or most handsome person in the room!” 

Adrian didn’t know why the others were yelling at Chris over such a simple little dare, but kiss the prettiest person in the room? That was easy! Always one to follow through with a dare, he crossed the room, ignoring the argument that seemed to get more heated the closer he got to you. He stopped in front of you, and since you also thought he was going to pick Chris, you leaned back out of the way as you had been expecting Adrian to tap Chris or something. 

Adrian meant to simply give you a small peck on the cheek, but when you leaned back, he had to lean forward and over adjusted, resulting in his lips pressing against yours. 

You both immediately froze, your eyes shooting wide open. For some reason he also seemed surprised by his actions and his eyes were just as wide as yours as he, and you, stood perfectly still. 

Although technically a kiss, it wasn’t much of one. The two of you remained locked in place, staring at each other, lips touching but no movement, no anything really. Not that the lack of passion did anything to still your racing heart, or the butterflies in your stomach, or the blush that burned its way from your face to your chest. 

The whole room fell into an awkward silence that stretched on for far too long, until Economos broke that silence with a confused, “what the fuck?”

His question was quickly followed by Chris. “Dude, what are you doing?”

It was at this point that Adrian seemed to realize that you were already leaning back as far as you could without falling over. He quickly pulled away from you, panic flashing across his face as he looked at Chris, “you said kiss the prettiest person in the room!” 

“I said pick the prettiest person!” 

“How’d you even hear ‘kiss’?” Economos questioned.

“Well, everyone was yelling!” 

You quietly cleared your throat, “You think I’m pretty?”

“No!”

Oh! Of course not. You knew he’d made a mistake when he chose you over Chris.

“I think you’re the prettiest. Not just in the room, but in the world. Even though I haven't seen everyone in the world, I don't think there can be anyone prettier than you!" 

Adrian couldn’t help the smile that crossed his face as he answered. From the moment he first saw you he thought you were attractive, sure, but then you giggled at one of his jokes that no one else thought was funny and from then on he made it a personal mission to make you laugh. To him,  you had the most stunning smile and quite the contagious laugh. And when finally you were paired up on a mission, he got to see how incredibly well you handled your weapons, how easy you made it look to fight hand to hand with someone twice your size. He was hooked the moment you threw an uppercut that had a butterfly seeing stars! 

Oh. 

As if you weren't blushing hard enough! Hearing him just casually admit that he thought you were the prettiest person in the world had your stomach flipping and heart pounding in your ears. 

"Really? I just, everyone just thought you'd pick Chris." 

Adrian tilted his head and smiled softly, "yea, really. You're-" Whatever else he was about to say was cut off.

“Ha, that means that Chris lost!” Economos pointed at Chris and started chuckling, prompting the others to join. Even you and Adrian, though the laughter from you two was more nervous laughter than anything else.

Chris, not one used to being bullied, quickly attempted to shift attention back to Adrian. “Yea but did you see how bad that kiss was! Dude! Have you ever kissed anyone before?” 

Adrian's face heated up as he frantically looked between you and Chris. “That’s not! I mean! I wasn’t trying to-”

“Hahahaha! Fucking Thimble! What’re you a virgin too?” 

“What! No! You know I’m not!” Then he looked at you again, eyes still wide as can be, “I’m NOT a virgin!” 

“O-k...” You squeaked out, unsure how to take the information he just desperately supplied, or what to do with it. 

Chris was still laughing at Adrian though and Adrian apparently couldn’t take that. “Dude! You know I’m not a virgin! We had a threesome! You saw me-”

“Ok! That’s enough! We don’t need to hear the rest of that story!” Harcourt stopped his rambling.

“But!” 

It took a lot of yelling and glares from Harcourt for the incident to be forgotten, mostly. Adrian kept looking over at you, and you just knew it had to be because of that little kiss. 

Once all the gear was packed and everyone loaded in the van, Adrian had sat directly to your left, things finally seemed to be back to normal. Until, while the others were caught up in an argument about the music, Adrian leaned over to you and whispered, “I really do know how to kiss. And I’m not a virgin!!” 

You nearly choked on air! At least he had the decency to be quiet about it this time! The way he was so close to you, the way his body heat radiated off of him and the way he lowered his voice to whisper in your ear, had your face ignited in another blush. Still, you plastered on a polite smile, “ok, Adrian.” 

He pouted, “I’m not!” Well now he had everyone’s attention.

“Let’s just focus on the mission.” 

Chris once again started laughing at him, but thankfully before another argument could break out, Economos parked the van and Harcourt started to remind everyone of their roles. 

Things never go according to plan though, and the next thing you knew, you were trapped in a supply closet hoping that the mess of butterflies you managed to escape didn’t find you.

Harcourt’s voice over comms nearly sent you jumping, but luckily you were able to keep quiet. 

“Trapped. No ammo. At least ten butterflies. Northwest corridor.” You tried to give as much information as you could in as few words as possible.

“Oh! I’m close! Be right there!” Vigilante sounded way too eager to run into what may very well could be an ambush. 

Harcourt had the same thought and warned him to be careful. 

In just a few minutes you heard gunshots and running from outside of your hiding spot. A few more shots and Vig was calling your name over comms, “where are you?” You peeked out of the closet and sure enough, every single butterfly was distracted by Vigilante. At this point they were starting to surround him, though he managed to keep them at bay long enough for you to leap out and run to his side. “Cover me!” He shouted once you were near enough for him to toss his gun to you, quickly drawing his sword in one swift motion.

You stayed back and behind him, firing at butterflies out of reach of his sword, and he kept any from reaching you.

The two of you worked so seamlessly together that he chanced a pause while there were still a few butterflies left, these staying back and under cover, presumably waiting for backup.

“I’m actually a really good kisser!” 

You rolled your eyes and sighed, for whatever reason he just couldn’t drop the subject. “Ok, sure, I believe you.”

Maybe you rolled your eyes a little too obviously, because he seemed to think you didn’t believe him. “I swear, I’m not a virgin!” 

“Whatever, Vig! Now’s not the time!” 

Again, he didn’t seem to believe that you believed him. “But-” 

“Just kill those guys!” You finally snapped as you fired on the group, forcing them out of cover and into Vigilante’s blade.

You and Vig were surprisingly the first two to make it back to the van. Adrian decided that since there was no immediate threat that it was a good time to talk. He pulled you to the side of the van before you could even open the door. 

Normally you would have crossed your arms and given him a deadpan stare to let him know that he was acting a little inappropriately. But you so suddenly found yourself pushed up against the side of the van that you were a little lost for words. He leaned in closer, his right arm propped by your head while his left hand ghosted against your hip.

He'd taken off his Vigilante mask and stuffed it in his waistband but hadn't put his glasses on, so you found yourself staring into his bright green eyes with no barrier blocking the intensity of his gaze.

"I never got to finish what I was going to say back at HQ." 

You swallowed thickly, trying your best to calm your rapid pulse. Still, no matter how close he was, or how warm and fuzzy he made you feel, you couldn’t help the mischievous smile that flitted across your face. “Let me guess, you’re not a virgin?”

He actually pouted at you, eyebrows scrunched down and nose scrunched up, lips drawn in a tight line. “No,” he started, but frowned as soon as he answered, mostly because of the little laugh that escaped you. 

A rosy blush spread across his face before he dropped his head onto your shoulder, “stop it! I fuck!” He whined into your neck, sending your heart racing and quieting your little giggle with a silent gasp, at least, you hoped he hadn’t heard how much he affected you.

He pushed closer to you, nudging one of his legs between yours so that his hips were pressed against yours. It was only the padding of his Vigilante gear that kept you from feeling his chest against yours. After a few silent moments, in which you swore the entire world must have stopped just so he could take off his gloves and drop them to the ground, he looked up at you, face covered in an even darker blush. 

He brought a hand up and gently caressed your jaw, slowly bringing your face close to his. “I didn’t get to tell you, that you’re all I ever think about.” 

“W-what?” 

He moved his left hand firmly against your hip, his thumb caressing up and down as if attempting to get under your shirt. “I think about you when I’m at work, I imagine how you’d laugh at all my jokes.” 

You hadn’t even realized your mouth was parted just slightly until his thumb softly brushed against your lower lip. 

“When we’re on missions, I think about how hot you are when you fight.” 

You could feel his breath against your lips as he spoke in a low gravelly tone that had you holding your breath. “I think about you,” he paused and licked his lips, voice dropping to a whisper, “when I’m alone.” 

His eyes drifted down to your lips before sliding shut as he slowly pulled you in for a kiss. It was gentle at first, hardly more than a tentative peck before he pulled away to stare into your eyes once again. 

He wanted to know if you were ok with this. You were more than ok with it. As if a line snapped, the slow deliberate atmosphere turned nearly frantic. His mouth on yours, teeth nipping at your bottom lip as you pulled him impossibly closer with one hand clutching at his chest piece and the other tangled in his hair. 

Soon you were both panting but though you pulled away, his mouth continued to seek contact with you anywhere, your mouth, your jaw, your neck.

“Alright. You’re a good kisser." You gasped quietly, "but that doesn’t exactly prove that you’re good at sex.”

He grinned and once again inched his face close to yours. “Well then maybe I should prove that too!”

[anxiouslyfred]

Water for the Fires

Summary: Virgil and Remus grew up playing with fire. At least Virgil remembered to keep it contained and something to extinguish it on hand.

/\/\

It had started when they were kids.

Remus had always loved fire. He'd stare entranced at the flames, and get as close to bonfires as possible, not caring if he got burned and waiting until whichever adult was asked to make sure he didn't try climbing into it got distracted just made him enjoy it all so much more.

And upon reaching an age where they could use matches, well, everyone is still uncertain how Remus's family home didn't burn now completely through his teen years.

This just proves how much the reason that it didn't is overlooked or usually seen as an enabler to the schemes and impulses of Remus, rather than a friend all too scared of losing his friend to hare-brained ideas. The reason is Virgil Adrian Storm.

“Okay, I've got the water now, so what are we -” Virgil entered the room carefully carrying two bowls of water before leaving the caution against spilling them at the door.

Remus already had a match and something that Virgil didn't immediately identify burning, immediately rushing over to grab both items and push them into the bowls hastily discarded on a side table. “Veeeee, It looked so gruesome and pretty seeing the face melt like that. Why'd you have to stop me?”

“I told you to wait until I was back with the water before burning anything! I'm not driving you to Logan for first aid for the seventh time this week!” Virgil snapped, finally recognising the object as a Barbie doll now bald with her features melted into an unrecognisable blackened form.

“But he claims it's good practise and helps him remember his lessons better.” Remus whined, already reaching for another match.

Virgil gave him a dead glare. “And when he does a workplace safety course next, I'll invite him to hang out with us so he can see just how you keep getting injured.”

The matchbox was placed down and Remus's arms behind his back instantly. “Nope. He'll eviscerate us. Not just me and you know it.”

“Says someone expecting me to admit to being anything other than a quick ride to a first aider and friend trying to keep you alive.” Virgil countered with a smirk. “Why on earth would Logan expect me to be doing this?” He added, lighting a match and holding it to an old cuddly toy over the second bowl of water.

“Damn you for constantly pointing out dangers to our friends and never giving away your danger loving side.” Remus laughed, leaning closer to the burning toy until Virgil dropped it into the bowl and he got splashed.

Laughing together was easy, easier for Virgil when the danger they were playing with wasn't active. “And damn them for thinking I'm some soft boi who just wants everyone to be safe.”

“Such an oversight, seriously.”

*

“Charges of arson.” Virgil's tone was dead, his expression unreadable, and Roman expected a full on rant to be launching any second.

Remus was beaming back at him however. “I actually got the entire bathroom to catch fire! I told you I could do it!”

“You got invited there to receive honours for contributions to science and instead come home with charges of arson. Why did you take Roman as your plus one again?” Virgil's voice was still carefully calm, and as relaxed as Remus remained, Roman was taking slow steps back to the door.

“Because I thought we'd have more fun and make the night much more of an experience.” Remus cheerfully repeated. The speed he said the words spoke over how much he'd had to share the reasoning to Virgil in the lead up to the event.

Virgil pinched his nose, glancing over to Roman and finally letting a smirk begin to form. “You knew you'd be more likely to get away from Roman to get criminal charges than you would be to escape me.” He corrected, the smirk growing when Remus exhaled heavily and pouted at him.

“You already knew why I invited Roman, didn't you?”

Virgil started snickering now. “Remus, I knew the minute you got that invitation that you'd make sure it was anyone but me who was your guest.”

[vro0m]

You know what no one’s talking about?? if Red bull will keep perez without Newey. I don’t imagine they’ll decline immediately but there’ll definitely be effects(the grid might become closer firstly if Newey decides to go to another team) I know people try to downplay Newey’s involvement, ofcourse it’s a team effort but the thing about being the best is you’re also able to select the best/extract the best from the people around you. Hard as it is to believe atm, Mercedes has great engineers, I personally don’t think (and people can’t talk critically without someone saying you’re being a hater but i digress) Antonelli, however good he is will blow us away right off the bat. it’ll be great if he proves me wrong but everyone needs to be serious a bit. my point is if he goes to merc, Adrian would have great engineers with a guaranteed driver 1 and 2 which is imo the best recipe for success (some may disagree but i think so plus Newey loves a politics free, or as little involvement as he has to, environment and you get that in a 1-2 pairing). Red Bull will have only Max. Ferrari has momentum atm, he’ll again bring out the best from what they have going and they’ll have 2 great drivers in lewis and Charles. Again Red Bull will have only Max.

Red bull atm are not fighting anyone but themselves, their goal is to get as many 1-2 finishes as possible. Max dnfd in Australia and Perez couldn’t win the race. If Adrian decides to build a replica of RB20 for merc or Ferrari, red bull is going to have a problem with the current pairing. unless of course max leaves and they have to reshuffle everything, still perez is the one in the most danger.

(Now Adrian, I personally roll my eyes at location being a serious factor, if he really wants ferrari and vise versa, and that’s his problem, they’ll build him an office right there in UK, they did it before with John Barnard. Elkan broke the bank for Lewis, i’m sure he can search under the couch for some change to build that office… newey has allegedly turned down big Saudi money of Aston Martin so that’s not his problem, i think it’s all down to comfort to build and race his other cars, challenge/satisfaction for him, bring glory back to ferrari or prove yet again and again that you’re invincible when you go to merc and inevitably turn things around. And gardening leave, pshhhh, in the age of face time and virtual communication will adrian really sit for months with no “delete that front wing”. he may sit for a while with his boating and racing as he went to do some weeks ago with ferrari and i think Mclaren and decide “hang on i actually like not doing anything, I hate the traveling”. That’s why i think he’s retiring. if not, I’m leaning towards merc simply cuz)

P.S I think I should also add this is not me looking down on perez or something, I think Adrian likes Perez in his own way, just the way he liked Webber and webber couldn’t even drive his own car like Seb did. Heikki also couldn’t drive same car as lewis. Controversial maybe but imo, Daniel and Lando. Doesn’t mean these guys aren’t good drivers, it’s just easier for the public to dismiss drivers. Perez did well in force india. He’s a solid driver he’s just not in the right position imo. Wherever Newey goes, it’ll be Max following him and Perez being in danger.

I'm gonna be honest Anon I don't really see what Newey leaving or staying has to do with Pérez leaving or staying. If Newey moves he allegedly has to spend 1 year out before he can start working with another team and even then changes he could make wouldn't happen overnight so the potential effect on the grid of Newey potentially changing teams would take a looong while to manifest. And despite what you're saying gardening leave isn't something you can just otp out of to jump on zoom to work with another team. It's a legal matter.

I also don't think a driver 1vs2 type of management is politics free AT ALL + how do you know Newey likes a politics free environment??? Like I'll admit I'm not as well informed on the RedBull dynamics as I think I am on Merc but do we really know him like that? + I don't think he is as involved in the politics as some of you seem to think btw because he's. An engineer. He's not managing the team. He's not making the political decisions? Newey's opinion of the drivers is irrelevant.

Btw you're not talking about that here but I've received a few asks linking him to the supposed internal struggle between Marko and Horner but uhhh he's not at all on the same decisional level as these two guys. I've seen and read nothing that implies he wants anything to do with that battle except allegedly getting far away from it. This really has nothing to do with him tbh.

Anyway. RedBull won't only have Max? They'll have two drivers like everyone else. Even if one of them isn't as good as the other that's still two drivers.

Yeah idek how to answer this anymore it's just. You have a lot of opinions, I guess. Not too sure what they're based on to be really honest with you.

[allinmycorner]

Dancing With the Stars celebrated Disney's 100th anniversary with a night dedicated to the music from the company's first century. We opened with a performance of "Bare Necessities" that accompanied the pros all riding in Hyundai IONIQ 5 SUVs which come with a Disney100 edition. We even got a glimpse of Val and Jenna's son Roman and he is adorable. Of course Mickey and Minnie dropped by to help our stars celebrate and the audience was even given special light up Mickey ears to wear in the ballroom as well.

On a somber note, the show paid tribute to former contestant Suzanne Somers who died over the weekend. They showed a picture of her before the show and Alfonso gave a little speech toward the end that was accompanied by a picture of her and partner Tony. It was a sweet moment.

Alfonso also had another sweet moment at the very end of the show when he wished former partner Witney Carson a happy birthday.

So who had a happy ending and who had their Disney Dreams crushed? Let's check it out!

Adrian and Britt: I'm not very surprised that Adrian got eliminated this week. His Viennese waltz to Dumbo's "Baby Mine" was nice but it didn't really standout. I always make it a point to really watch every dance and not let myself get distracted but even when this one ended, I knew I wasn't going to remember it. And I didn't. The most memorable thing was that he was accompanied by pianist Chloe Flowers on a special edition piano made by Steinway to commemorate Disney's 100th anniversary. So that didn't bode well for him and his elimination proved it.

Xochitl and Val: Xochitl landed at the top of leaderboard by herself this week with her paso doble to "Un Poco Loco" from the movie Coco. It was an unusual choice for a paso doble, which was acknowledged by the judges. The song is faster than the traditional paso and is more of a silly song while the paso is a rather serious dance. But Xochitl handled it like a pro and showed why she is a serious contender for the Len Goodman mirrorball trophy. I think this will be a routine that goes down in DWTS history.

Ariana and Pasha: Fun fact - Ariana used to work at Disney World after graduating college. It sounds like she may have been a princess based on Julianne's comments during Ariana's skybox interview. I can see it. Anyway, Ariana channeled Elsa for a contemporary routine to "Into the Unknown" from Frozen 2. And while it was a beautiful routine, it felt a little too safe for me. I wish Pasha had given Ariana some more complex moves and really let her act out some of the angst of this song, stuck between wanting nothing to change but knowing that there is more out there. Hopefully we get to see Ariana do another contemporary so she can really wow us.

Charity and Artem: Charity closed out the show with a waltz to "Part of Your World," paying tribute to this summer's remake of The Little Mermaid. She talked about how it felt to see a Disney princess who looked like herself and how she hopes to inspire girls who look like her too. And she continues to be technically proficient but she's still not topping the leaderboard. I still think her lack of emotional connection to the songs is what is holding her back. "Part of Your World" is an "I Want" song but Charity danced it with the biggest smile on her face the entire time. I think if she had played it more wistfully, it would've really elevated her routine and she could've placed higher.

Jason and Daniella: I loved Jason's foxtrot to "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. I'm not sure why it didn't get scored higher. I guess the judges might now expect more from him. Or I wonder if they saw something through the fog on the dance floor that we couldn't at home. But I think if he continues the way he's going, he's a lock for the finals - barring any surprise eliminations.

Lele and Brandon: I'm not sure why I didn't like this routine as much as I've liked Lele's other routines. She seemed to handle the rumba to "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" from The Lion King well enough. But it lacked something. Maybe it was a spark? Maybe Brandon played it too sweet that it lost the sultry? I don't know but it was something.

Harry and Rylee: There was some buzz that Rylee had stolen big sister Lindsay's choreography because Lindsay danced the quickstep to Toy Story's "You Got a Friend in Me" with partner Sean Spicer. So I watched Harry's and Sean's routines back-to-back and while there is one sequence that looks lifted from Lindsay's routine, they are still different enough to consider it an homage than outright copying. Though maybe the producers should've given them a different song and/or dance style. Either way, Harry did handle the quickstep well enough and I would say he was better than Sean - Rylee added some more complicated moves that he pulled off well. Harry may end up being this season's dark horse - we're just going to have to see.

Mira and Gleb: Mira danced a waltz to "A Dream is a Wish Your Heart Makes" from Cinderella and it was gorgeous. She finally let herself be lost in the dance and the music, which I think really helped her. Again, like most creatives, she is likely her own worst enemy. Once she stops standing in her own way, she'll really start to soar.

Mauricio and Emma: Mauricio opened Disney night with a paso doble to the "Sorcerer's Apprentice" sequence from Fantasia. With Emma dressed as a broom, they danced across the floor with ease. The paso doble isn't an easy dance but he did well with it. Was it at the same level as Xochitl's? Of course not. But it held a charm all its own. And it's clear that Mauricio has fan support so I think he'll have a few more chances to continue to improve.

Alyson and Sasha: Alyson danced a jazz routine to "Be Our Guest" from Beauty and the Beast, though she was honoring the Broadway version and the start of Disney on Broadway. It was a nice routine but I feel it could've popped more. The judges gave her props for dancing with her hair done up to mimic Lumiere's top candle but I wonder if her performance would've been better if she didn't have to worry about it.

Barry and Peta: Barry talked about working with Bob Freakin' Fosse in the Broadway production of Pippin, so Peta hoped it would give him a leg up in their jazz routine to "He's a Tramp" from Lady and the Tramp. And it seemed to be going well until a trick went wrong. At first, I couldn't tell who messed up - Barry or Peta - in their lift but it seems it was Barry. That through them off but he seemed to catch up, though a little too late. But he's still fun to watch and hopefully the audience keeps him around a little longer despite sending him to the bottom three this time.

So that was Disney Night! Break out the tissues because the next show is Most Memorable Year night, which always promises to be a tearjerker. The show will also have a special tribute to Len Goodman as the current pros will be joined by past pros to perform a Viennese waltz to "Moon River" in his honor. For a moment, I worried that by "past pross" they just meant Julianne and Derek but no, they mean several past pros! Kym, Tony, Anna, Edyta, Karina, Maks, Louis and Mark will be joining in this tribute. So it will be nice to see them again and it see their tribute to Len.

See you all then!

[outercrasis]

An Easy Explanation

Pairing: Vigilante (Adrian Chase) x F!Reader

Word Count / Rating: 3.7k / T or M (call it PG14?)

Warnings: Alcohol, language, mentions of canon-typical violence, Adrian is bad at expressing emotions (but he gets there). very unbeta'd

Summary: You're trying to drown out a bad week at the bar. The last person you expect to see finds you there.

A/N: So I binged Peacemaker and now I'm in love with Adrian. Don't be surprised if I write more for him lol

It’s been a long week. You’re exhausted and while nothing sounds better than curling up in bed and sleeping forever, your mind won’t quiet long enough to let that happen. So instead you’re here, at the bar, trying to drink your thoughts into silence. It’s not going well. If anything the alcohol is only making them louder. Another might do the trick though.

You flag down the bartender for another drink. Logically you know you should stop, but if this guy isn’t going to cut you off, who are you to say no to another long island? Tomorrow is a mission-free day anyway.

You’re focusing hard on the condensation rolling down your near-empty glass when someone takes the seat next to you. You’re ready to tell this person to fuck off, that despite being drunk you won’t be an easy lay, and that if they try anything they’ll end up with your fist down their throat, but then you turn and your voice catches in your throat.

For a moment you think you’re hallucinating, your drunken thoughts making the main object of them appear before you. Weirder things have happened. But then he’s waving his hand and snapping his fingers in front of your glossy eyes, an exaggerated “Heellooo,” coming from his lips and you know he’s real. Even your brain isn’t that good. Now you just need to figure out why the fuck Vigilante of all people is here in the first place.

Irritation and your overall melancholy get the better of you. “You stalking me or something?”

What you don’t say is that you wouldn’t actually mind if he was. Not that you want to be stalked, it’s just if anyone were to do so, Adrian would be at the top of your list. It’s probably a little fucked up to think that, but then again your job directly involves murdering people so what do you know about normal. He probably wouldn’t be very good at it anyway. He’s terrible at finding cover and actually staying hidden behind it.

Adrian laughs at your suggestion, those stupid cute laugh lines framing his smile. It makes your stomach twist. “No, Harcourt sent me to find you. Wanted to make sure you weren’t off doing something dumb or something like that.”

You snort. Great, so now Harcourt thinks you need a babysitter. You have one bad week and kill one person one time outside of a mission and suddenly that makes you the bad guy. Okay- you can see the point there but still. Bullshit. And sending Vigilante after you? Total bullshit.

“So she sent you?” you ask indignantly.

He glosses right over your hardly disguised insult. You’re not sure he picked up on it. “She was going to send Adebayo but then she didn’t want to, so I said I would, and then they all stared at me a bit, but then Harcourt kinda like, sighed and let me go. I don’t know why they were so weird about it.”

You do. First and most obvious is that if you had gotten into some dumb shit he wouldn’t have stopped you and instead joined in. Sending him to stop violence is like telling Eagly not to fly – it’s against their very nature. Second and more importantly is that as much as Adrian Chase can hate anyone, he seems to hate you.

That fact is a larger contributor to your loud thoughts and drinking tonight than you’d like to admit – it’s just that you don’t understand why and even worse, why you want him to like you so badly.

There had been an adjustment period for everyone when you joined the team. Dynamics had to shift, your skills and personality having to work into an already tightly bonded group. It took a little time, but after a couple missions and chances to prove yourself everyone seemed to think of you as one of them – everyone but Vigilante that is.

From the very first day he’s hardly said a word to you, almost always gets in your way on missions, and has never sought you out one-on-one. In fact, this might already be the longest conversation you’ve had with him. Ever. You hate how much that bothers you.

You’ve seen Adrian angry and annoyed. You’ve seen him hurl insults at people, openly express distaste for them, and gleefully stab people that he doesn’t like. Part of you almost wishes he would just stab you and get it over with instead of the weird freeze-out thing. At least then you would know for certain where you stand with him.

The bartender brings over your fresh long island and you desperately hope this one is as strong as the others. You need the numbing pleasure of alcohol now more than ever. Moving your straw over from your empty glass, you quickly drain half of the drink, eyeing Adrian while you do. Why the fuck is he here?

“Because I wanted to be,” he answers cheerfully. Fuck, you definitely said that out loud then. “Why the fuck are you here?” he tosses back.

“Shit week.”

“Aw come on, it wasn’t that bad. We found out that John still sleeps with stuffed animals, Eagly let me pet him without biting at me, and we took out that gang. And you didn’t even get hurt- I got stabbed instead of you!” Adrian cheerfully lifts up his bandaged arm as he speaks, as though that’s supposed to make you feel better.

That knife should have sliced into you. If you had been paying attention, it never would have come close to you or any other member of your team. Instead you had gotten distracted and Vigilante stepped in like an idiot, his arm getting stabbed before blowing the attacker’s head off. He was lucky the knife missed anything important. Worse was that he didn’t say anything to you about it after it happened, making you feel like a bigger dumbass than you already did for missing the gang member in the first place.

You take another long drink. This still isn’t making sense.

“Are you fucking with me?” you ask.

Adrian looks very confused. You try to not get distracted by how cute of an expression it is for him. “What? No. Why would I do that?”

“I don’t know, man. The fact that I’m the reason you got stabbed?”

He’s really reminding you of a lost puppy now, his eyebrows all knitted together, looking between his arm and you. “But I let that happen on purpose?”

“You what?” Now you’re convinced you drank too much. There’s no way you heard that right.

“Well, I mean, I didn’t want to get stabbed but I didn’t want you to get stabbed more. There weren’t a lot of options in the moment so I stuck my arm out to block you. I really should have turned my arm so it would have hit my armor, ooh wait- maybe I should add more armor to the inside and then I can’t get stabbed there again-” Adrian keeps rambling while your slow, alcohol-soaked brain tries to catch up.

You have no idea where he’s trailed off to when you interrupt him. You speak slowly, more for yourself than him, trying to process the information he just dropped on you. “Hold on, so you let yourself get stabbed. To save me?”

“Yeah, have you not been listening?”

“Why?”

“Because I like you.” He says it like it’s the most obvious fact in the world. As though he’s stating that the sky is blue or that after a mission Chris’ foot stink could clear out an entire room. If he said it with any less honesty or sincerity, you'd be completely convinced he’s fucking with you.

You pinch your arm to be sure this isn’t a dream. Alcohol has numbed the pain, but it’s certainly still there. You pinch Adrian too. Just to be sure. His cheek is really soft.

“Ouch! What the fuck?”

You ignore his complaint. “This is real? You’re serious?”

“How much have you had to drink?” He asks, leaning in to look deeply into your eyes. His sudden proximity should probably make you a little more uncomfortable. All you can focus on is how clean his glasses are and what a nice shade of green his eyes are behind them.

“I thought you hated me,” you reply, very confused by this entire night’s turn of events.

“Why would you think that?”

His question opens the inebriated floodgates. “You never talk to me outside of missions. I’ve watched you deliberately leave rooms when I enter them. You’re always hanging around me on missions, like you think I can’t do my job right. I mean, I guess you’re right or you wouldn’t be injured but still. If I fuck up that should be on me.” Adrian opens his mouth to interrupt, but you keep going. “And then I watch you with everyone else and you joke around and laugh, but not with me and I don’t get it because I didn’t do anything to you but you won’t even give me a chance. You’re really cute when you smile and I don’t know what it’s like to be the cause of it and for some reason I don’t even really understand I really, really want to.”

When you look up at Adrian again, you’re surprised to see him smiling like a lunatic.

“What?”

“You think I’m cute?”

You feel your lip wobble and you know you’ve officially crossed the line from angry confused drunk to sad confused drunk. The latter is significantly less attractive and possibly more volatile than the former. The realization only upsets you more. “That’s all you got from that?”

The grin is wiped from Adrian’s face and he quickly stands, looking wildly uncertain of what to do with himself. “No, no, I’m sorry. Please don’t cry. I’m not good with crying. Let’s go somewhere else, okay? You don’t want to cry in a bar anyway, they're like one of the depressing places to cry.”

You wipe under your eyes, willing tears to not fall while Adrian scoops up your purse. He offers his hand and you hesitantly take it before he leads you to the door. Somewhere behind you the bartender is shouting about your unpaid tab, but you really don’t care about that at the moment. All you can focus on is how warm Adrian’s hand is in yours and not tripping over your own two feet.

Adrian's confession is playing in your mind on a loop as he leads you down the street. Because I like you. Since when? For how long? You still think this might be one big, terrible joke. You’re torn between crying and stabbing him again yourself if it is.

The walk is quiet and you’re not entirely sure where he’s taking you until you’re standing outside of your apartment. You look over at Adrian, confused and slightly amazed. “You know where I live?”

For once in his life, he looks a little sheepish. “Sometimes I follow you home. Just to make sure you’re safe though, not for any weird stalker reason.”

It’s weird for sure and you have half a mind to remind him that you’re more than capable of defending yourself, but it’s touching too. It’s an acknowledgement that he cares about you in the off-hours and not just during work. “Can you open the door?” you ask him. “I don’t think I’m capable of using keys right now.”

Adrian opens the door with ease, helping you stay steady on your feet as you take the two flights of stairs up to your apartment. Stupid always broken elevator. The only positive is that you get to wrap your hand around Adrian’s bicep as you make your graceless climb. You really hope you’ll get to feel those more in the future.

Getting into your apartment, you plop onto the floor, tugging off your shoes. You’re shocked when Adrian toes his sneakers off as well. You must be giving him a very obvious look because he glances down at you and says, “What? I’m not an animal.”

He helps you off the floor, staying quiet as he follows you into the kitchen. You find a plastic cup, not trusting yourself with glass, and pour yourself a drink from the faucet. Adrian is busy looking around your apartment, taking everything in. You don’t have it in you to be embarrassed about any of the mess. You have far more pressing emotional concerns than the dirty dishes you didn’t get to before the last mission.

“So um, I’m still confused,” you tell him.

Adrian stops playing with the Super Mario magnets on your fridge. “I like you. And I guess I’m sorry I made you feel like I didn’t?” he offers. It doesn’t clarify much.

“You’re really going to have to spell this one out for me, Adrian.” The cool nighttime walk and water are helping to sober you up a bit, but you’re still a little too drunk to figure this out yourself. It doesn’t help that you’re pretty sure he’s been operating under his own off-color logic, meaning figuring this out stone-cold sober would already be a huge task in and of itself.

You walk over to the living room, curling up on the corner of the couch. Thankfully, Adrian doesn’t take any prompting to join you on it.

“What part are you confused about?”

“Like all of it, dude.” He looks incredibly lost. Despite your limited personal interactions you’ve been observant enough to notice that emotions aren’t exactly his wheelhouse and you decide to help him out. “You let yourself get stabbed for me, could we start there?”

He looks grateful that you’re leading the way. “Yeah, right. Stabbing. That one is really simple, I didn’t want to see you get hurt so I got hurt instead. Then I killed the asshole who tried to hurt you in the first place.”

That one you’re pretty sure you can follow. It remains a little bit insane, but you can see how he got from point A to B. The next part actually manages to click into place for you on it's own. “Is that why you’re always hanging around me on missions?”

“Yeah, I thought you knew that. Chris does, he’s always making fun of me for it which I told him wasn’t cool but that only made him do it more. He felt really bad about it after the stab wound though so it’s all good now.”

What the fuck? So Peacemaker has some idea of Vigilante’s feelings towards you then. You can’t imagine anyone else on the team does. No one else seems to really understand how Adrian’s head works. With Adrian and Chris being best friends you imagine they share secrets all the time. Chris is going on your shitlist for not saying anything to you though.

“What about you never talking to me then?”

That part has yet to come together for you. From what you’ve seen, Adrian isn’t afraid to speak with anyone about any topic. You’ve watched him chat with an old man about hemorrhoid cream and recommend a new brand, discuss the merits of rule 34 art with John, and once he came out of the bathroom to announce that he was deeply concerned for whoever used and clogged the toilet before him, describing what he'd seen in the toilet and his subsequent WebMD search in great detail. His avoidance of any conversation with you doesn’t make sense.

“Don’t laugh at me.”

"Why would I?"

"I don't know, but I feel like you might so just don't."

You truly have no idea why you would. This isn't something you're taking lightly. "I promise I won't."

"I was nervous to talk to you. I didn't want to say something stupid and have you not like me because of it."

"Why would I-"

Adrian cuts you off. "I weird a lot of people out. It doesn't bother me because I know that I'm like, super cool and they aren't, but I didn't want you to not like me too."

His reasoning is unexpected to say the least. Gun to your head, you would have never guessed that was his reason for never talking to you.

“And what about walking out of the room when I enter it?”

"Uh, would it gross you out if I said I was trying to hide my boner?” Adrian says. That you would like to laugh at, but you keep your promise. Instead you just smile.

"No, actually. I think it's kinda sweet knowing you react to me like a teenage boy."

There's a beautiful flush across Adrian's cheeks, a look of embarrassment you don't think you've ever seen him wear before. He normally deflects when jokes are thrown his way, his silence now acting as admission.

You're still far from sober, but even in your partially-inebriated state you think you get it now. In Adrian's own, weird and incredibly endearing way, everything he was doing was in an attempt to make your life easier. Protecting you on missions and otherwise leaving you alone. It's sweet, but so incredibly misplaced.

You finish your glass of water, setting it down on the coffee table before placing your hand on his knee. Adrian is looking away from you, trying to seem engrossed with the threads of his jeans. His eyes very obviously flicker to your hand, but he makes no move to pull his leg away.

"Hey, Adrian?" you say.

He finally looks back over at you.

"I don't know where you got advice on how to talk to girls, but I want you to throw everything you know out."

"Everything? Because Peacemaker told me-" You cut him off right there.

"Everything." Adrian nods his head in understanding. "I'm going to give you some new advice that won't work on every girl, but I do know at least one girl it will work on."

You stare at him pointedly, making sure he understands who you're talking about. Spelling it out will ruin the effect you're trying to have, but you're willing to do it if you need to. His eyes widen slightly as realization dawns and you know he's on the same page as you.

"What you want to do is go up to her, introduce yourself, flash her that cute little grin of yours, tell her what you like about her, and then ask her on a date."

"That's it?"

"Yeah. That's it."

Adrian suddenly launches himself backwards over your couch, walking towards your door. Your stomach bottoms out, horror-struck as you think you somehow read all of this wrong. Is that not what he meant? Was he just fucking with you this entire time? And then a step from your door he spins on his heel.

"Turn around, you're ruining the effect!" He demands. Your own anxiety got the better of you – he's not leaving at all. He's doing exactly as you instructed.

You turn around, doing your best to hide the ridiculous smile you can feel plastered across your face. This feels absurd, but your heart is thudding, excited at the prospect of finally getting to interact with the Adrian everyone else gets to talk and joke around with. It’s all you’ve wanted for months at this point.

Playing along, you do your very best to act casual. It involves a lot more inspection of your nails than you would typically do, but it’s part of the game.

Adrian jumps back over the couch, bouncing on the cushions as he lands, and wraps his arm around your shoulders with a smoothness you didn’t even know he possessed. It’s surprising to see the cockiness he typically displays more of in his suit so out in the open. You can’t say you don’t like it though.

He offers his other hand out to you. “Hi, I’m Adrian. Super dope people know me as Vigilante.”

You shake his hand, offering your name and codename in return. His hand is still so warm. Right on cue, he grins and your heart melts. There’s a chance it was a mistake letting him know how charming you find it, but that’s a problem for later.

“I saw you from across the living room and I couldn’t help but notice how beautiful you are.” If he asks tomorrow, you’re definitely blaming the giggle that escapes you on the alcohol. “I also noticed how crazy smart you are and how fucking sexy you look when you’re killing people, and how shockingly nice you can be to people. You’re probably the most badass person I know.”

“You noticed all that across the room, huh?”

Adrian bypasses your joke. “I mean, that’s not really all of it, but I still don’t want to freak you out.”

You adjust yourself under Adrian’s arm, throwing your legs over his lap. “Is there anything else you want to ask me?”

“Do you want to go on a date with me? I know a really sick arcade place and I also know how to get the jackpot every time on at least five of the machines.”

There is a small part of you that wants to mess with him. Tell him no just to see his reaction, but with the way he’s looking at you there’s only one possible answer. You lean over slightly, pressing a kiss against his cheek. “I’d really like that. I’ve always wanted one of those top shelf prizes.”

“Babe, I’m going to get you all the top shelf prizes you want.”

You sit there for a little while longer, wrapping yourself further into Adrian’s body. You’re slowly sobering up more, reminding yourself every few minutes that this is real and actually happening. Adrian’s thoughts must be someplace similar.

“Hey, so you’re not going to suddenly deny all of this happening tomorrow, right?”

You pop your head up from his chest, looking at him in surprise. “No. Not if you aren’t.”

“Okay good because I was kinda getting worried there for a minute because you’re drunk and all, but I trust you.”

“Good," you say, settling back against him. "Because I think I like you too."

Tagging people who expressed interest/mutuals that I know like Vigilante: @green-socks @moonlight-prose @pettyprocrastination @skeletonstwins @anaaaispunk

My taglist is updated to include him now, so if you're 18+ and want to be tagged for this character please fill that out <3

[torifeelslikewritingagain]

Can’t Take My Eyes Off of You

Pairing: Fred Weasley x Slytherin!Reader

Summary: Fred and you have never been sure of your feelings for one another.

Word Count: 7,823

Warnings: A bit of bad lenguage, and slow burn(?

A/N: This is the first thing I’ve written in 6-7 years, so let me know what y’all think, I’d appreciate it a lot:) Also, forgive any grammar mistakes, english isn’t my native lenguage, haha

GIF credit: @fgweasley​

Fred liked looking at you from afar.

He liked the way how you were different from all the other Slytherins even though you actually were like the rest of them.

Since your first year at Hogwarts, he’d taken a liking towards you. Of course at the beginning that liking was just friendly, he liked that he didn’t feel the need to punch you in the face, he’d never admit it tho, not even to George since they’d been taught to mistrust those in your house; but during that first year he’d always notice how you were the only Slytherin in the room who wouldn’t talk in class unless you were asked to by the teacher, he liked that you didn’t look at him or at George with despise. Of course, there were also times where the thought of you quietly and discretely planning a mass murder would cross his head, but you never gave a reason to worry that his suspicions were actually true.

Fast forward to your 3rd grade, after the winter break, he noticed in the platform how much your parents would actually show you their affection, that was also weird for the majority of the Slytherin kids he could recognize, and it wasn’t until that moment that George noticed him looking at you that he said:

“Oi, we’ve never pranked her, have we? Maybe we should pay more attention this year”

Fred felt terrible in that moment for having put you on George’s radar, he didn’t want to pull a prank on you, right? Although, to say the least, he was curious at how you’d react, after all, you weren’t insufferable like the most of your house, but you also weren’t the quiet mouse that you were during your first year, he’d seen you become more social, he’d notice how you would actively participate in Divination class asking Professor Trelawney real questions instead of mocking her like the rest of the students. He’d also see you talking to Abigail Rosier during dinner and often times he’d see you walking around the castle with her, so he concluded she must have been your best friend.

One night after dinner, when your fourth year was beginning,  he was sneaking away from Filch, until he overheard Malfoy yelling at someone:

“… keep defending them?”

“Because you insist on being a bloody cunt to them for no goddam reason!” It was the first time he had ever heard you say bad words, or even angry, you’d usually keep a neutral aura that was sometimes disrupted by your friends being funny or by him and George who had gotten a like to pull little harmless pranks on you. “They’re wizards too, Malfoy. Their blood status shouldn’t matter to you or anyone, that’s none of our business, they are just like us”

“Speak for yourself, I’m nothing like those blood-traitor weasels or that mudblood…”

“You’re right, the Granger girl is smarter than you could ever dream to be” In that moment he picked up what was happening, you, (y/n) Lafington, were defending his little brother and his friends, and you weren’t even friends. Were you? Did you think that them pranking you was being friends?

“My father will hear about this”

“Well, make sure to send him and your mother my love” He saw Malfoy starting to walk away “You’re children Malfoy, you don’t have to do this, leave them alone” He heard that last phrase with a smile on his face, now he could actually tell George that he liked you.

…

After the hallway incident, he rushed to tell George and Lee, who didn’t believe him; so he saw himself forced to subject to his brother the question if you were in fact, trash or not.

“Lafington?” Ron asked George back

“Isn’t she the girl who is always talking back to Malfoy?” Inquired Harry “You know, the one who is always around the chaser… eh.. Pucey!”

“Yeah! She is! I’ve talked to her in the library, we’re trying to convince McGonagall t…” At that point Fred had stopped listening, he was just happy to prove George and Lee that what he had seen was real, but he wasn’t so happy to hear that you were hanging around with someone as despicable as Adrian Pucey.

A few days later Fred noticed himself paying more attention to you, George did too.

“Just go talk to her”

“And say what? I was walking around the castle and decided to spy on you and Malfoy so now I want to say thank you for looking out for my brother and his friends when I couldn’t?”

“That’s not so bad, actually” George smirked, Fred felt immensely stupid, he couldn’t figure out what was it that he found so difficult about talking to you. “But if you’re not going to do anything, I guess that Adrian Pucey will” With that said, George walked away, making sure to bump into you, he apologized and smiled to you, as he kept walking, he turned to Fred to make sure he was watching, so he decided to seize the opportunity his twin created for him and approached you.

 ...

By the start of your fifth year, you had kind of developed a friendship. You liked the twins, you liked how at the end of last year they had sticked up for you when everyone turned against the Slytherins because of the Chamber of Secrets thing, you grieved the disappearance of their sister and celebrated when she was found, you liked how they didn’t take life too seriously and would always be there to make you smile.  

You liked how George would give you sweets when he had any on him, you also liked how much of a good listener he was, he was always there to hear you ramble about astrology, Slytherin’s gossip or a random book you had found at the library, out of the two of them, you were closer to him since Fred always seemed to have a weird face on when you were around, but it didn’t bother you that much, so you paid no mind.  You also liked how both of them didn’t make fun of you when you told them that you liked quidditch even though you didn’t know much about the teams, you liked playing it mostly, not watching.

Fred liked that about you too, so when you told the twins that Pucey was helping you train to try and join the Slytherin team that year, he felt his chest shrunk in relief, you weren’t flirting with Adrian, you were just being mates, after all, Slytherin is the most loyal house, and you all looked out for each other.  

You made your way into the team as a chaser, the twins were happy for you, and you were thriving! Quidditch had come sort of therapeutic for you, you loved the rush it brought when you were riding your broom so far from the ground, the sensation of danger when you knew that one the bludgers might hit you, you also loved the idea of getting out in an accepted way the rage that was always boiling inside of you.

Honestly, quidditch was the best thing that could have happened to you, it helped you to finally ditch what was left of your shell, as the season advanced everyone could notice how you were becoming more outspoken, more assertive, more popular; that didn’t mean that you were immune to the dementors watching around the castle, though. You just felt the need to express everything you were feeling, whether it was good or bad. And having those creatures around did affect you, despite to what everyone might have thought, you could be spotted arguing with Malfoy more often, you wouldn’t wait to keep things in the Slytherin common room anymore, you would just explode at any given moment. Professor McGonagall was worried about you, you’d always been one of her favorite students in your year, Snape on the other hand, was watching your character development rather amused, he told McGonagall that it was just matter of time that you actually started behaving like a real Slytherin, to what she refused to believe that he was right, so she decided to take the matters into her own hands.

“Professor, I swear on Merlin’s beard that we haven’t done anything punish-worthy in the last three days” Fred said while he and George sit at Professor McGonagall’s desk.

“Yeah, whatever happened to Filch has nothing to do with us this time” The professor looked at George in confusion to whatever it was that they had done this time, she hadn’t called them in for any of that matters.

“Mr. Weasley” she started “I actually called you and your brother for a different reason this time, although I would very much like to know what you did this time in order to automatically be defending yourselves. I wanted to speak to you about Miss Lafington”

“(Y/n)?” Asked Fred

“Yes, Mr. Weasley. I’ve noticed that you are rather close to her, and well, since she is one of my best students, I feel a little bit concerned about her attitude and mood lately”

This year you didn’t share your favorite classes with Gryffindor, which meant that the twins would often see the more reserved version of you in the classroom when the topic wasn’t of your particular interest, so Fred started to worry a little when Professor McGonagall said that; where you skipping class? Were you failing? He and George sat there in silence.

“Nothing unfixable, I want to assume, so I ask you both to remove that awful look from your faces. My guess is that the presence of the dementors, those terrible creatures, has been affecting your friend, as you may notice, a good portion of your classmates. So, as your head of house, I’m asking you to keep an eye on your friend and one of my dearest students”

“So, you want us to prank her more often” George asked with a smirk on his face.

“Mr. Weasley, please, be serious. I’m asking you to not let these things affect that girl more than they should. I’ve noticed that quidditch has become and outlet for her but it can only last so long, so maybe try getting her out of the dungeons and the aura that surrounds her house for a little bit. Distract her, put some positive thought in her head”

“I understand, Professor” Fred nodded, he felt that McGonagall was overreacting a bit, you all were growing and asserting your characters after all, but he did notice you a little more irritable than usual. “Count on us”

“Good” She concluded “Now, go to class” The twins went for the door and just when they were about to close it “And know that you both have detention today for whatever you did to Mr Filch”

…

Fred had no idea how to approach you without spilling the conversation he had with Professor McGonagall, so he let George do the wonder while he just kept looking at you from afar as he always had. He didn’t know why, but every day he looked at you, he swore that you looked better than the day before, sure, you had eye bags and looked tired from all the training, but he found you mesmerizing even when you had your hair up in a bun that looked like a bird’s nest. And he could notice all the boys were noticing you, too, now he didn’t only have to worry about Adrian Pucey, no, now he’d also had Lee, who found you extremely badass, Cedric Diggory, who was on the Hufflepuff team and had been asking about you to some of the younger Gryffindor girls, knowing that Fred & George would talk about you in the common room, even Oliver had taken an interest towards you because of how you played; the quidditch boys in general,  he didn’t worry about Marcus Flint, though, he knew that he was too ugly for you.

So he kept his distance, as a friend could, of course. You’d hang out with him and George more often as Fred tried to sort out his feelings for you. Was he still just curious about you? Or had he actually started developing something more than platonic? He knew that you were amazing, and he was glad that people had finally noticed you, but he’d also feel bummed out by that sometimes, he felt that one day you might stop talking to him and George. He worried about what you thought of him, mostly, because he knew that he wasn’t as good friend to you as George was, but it was because he didn’t want you to look at him just as a friend, did he?

Meanwhile, you were enjoying the extra time with the twins, by the end of the school year you had even helped them come up with some ideas for the joke products that they had started designing, you still liked having them around among most of the new people in your life. You felt infuriated when you didn’t win the house cup, Fred reassured you that your game was good, it just was Wood’s last season and no one loved quidditch more than he did. So one week before going on summer holidays, they asked you if you wanted to come to the Quidditch Cup with them and their family, you weren’t sure, so you said that you missed your parents and went home.

During the summer you wrote to both of them, and Fred insisted that you joined them on their trip, but you didn’t want to be a bother, what if you didn’t fit it? What if their parents didn’t like you? What if all of their family hated you because you were a Slytherin? They assured you that you wouldn’t have to worry about a thing, that their mum would love you and their dad would, too.

On the other hand, you were nervous about even asking your own parents, they didn’t hate the Weasleys or any other “blood traitors” in particular, they didn’t care about those things, but they hated drama, that’s why they would keep low profiles and had taught you to do the same. You hanging out with the Weasleys at school? No problem, teens could always be spreading rumors, but you knew that showing up with them at an event like the Quidditch World Cup would be interpreted as an statement, and you knew how delicate things were getting politically, so you obviously felt uneased to say the least, you loved your parents, and you knew the values that they had taught you, but you also were aware of the kind of world were you grew up in, a world where people like the Malfoys would find themselves trying to be pleased by everyone out of fear.

You didn’t respond to the twins for three weeks while you meditated your next move, you were dying to see them, but was that urge stronger than your loyalty to your family?

…

Turns out your mom had seen you so down that she decided to go around your stuff and found the twins’ letters. When you came home from spending a few days with Abby she welcomed you with the letters in hand at the tea room. “Well, that’s it. It was fun while it lasted” You thought to yourself, but much to your surprise your mother encouraged you to go with them.

“There was only one boy who wrote to me like this, and that boy grew to be the man I married and turned into your dad. -Pay no mind to the blood status- I believe that’s what your father and I have taught you” She said taking her tea cup in hand.

You didn’t know why she was acting like this; they had also taught you to avoid big conflicts, yet, here you were. “Sorry mom, I don’t think I follow”

“Do you know why you feel like standing up to Lucius’ son? Because it is in your blood. During my time at Hogwarts I was friends with some muggleborns, but unlike you, I let myself get carried away by my house peers, don’t make the same mistake, much less when it’s about love” You remained silent after she spoke, you didn’t know where did she get this idea that you loved Fred, because she was talking about Fred, right? He was the one who wrote to you more constantly. “I’ll talk to your father; we’ll discuss it over supper”

Confused was short for how you felt. But at least you’d get to spend some time with some of your best friends, so that night you wrote to Fred that you were, in fact, joining them in a few weeks. You felt your stomach sink the moment your owl left. What if him and George now hated you? What if they thought that you not responding for weeks meant putting an end to your friendship? As these questions wondered your brain, the doubt of why your mom started talking about love came, too. Cause she was talking about Fred, wasn’t she? Why was Fred the one who came to your mind for this matter? Maybe she was talking about George, you were closer to him, essentially. But it was the mystery that drove you back to Fred, because sure, you were friends, but he had that face when you were around, and you also felt that there was this barrier, not in a hostile way, but as an aura of, well, mystery. You knew that he was the one to like you first, George had told you that story about the hallway and you defending Ron, and how Fred basically ran to tell him, yet, you always seemed to feel it odd since Fred was a little distant. At first you thought it was just his personality, you had thought “maybe George is warmer” but you’d often see him hang out with other girls, too. He’d hug Alicia Spinnet and Angelina Johnson, just like George would, but he wouldn’t even let his arm brush yours unless George had started play-fighting and he had to intervene, so you just had thought that maybe he liked you, but he didn’t quite trust you. Until now.

What if your mother was right? What if Fred liked more as more than a friend? You couldn’t even begin to make sense to that idea, you had seen Fred around other girls, he was a master at flirting, he’d swoon them over. The thought of him fancying you didn’t add up to how he treated you, did it? You refused to give your heart false hopes and dismissed those thoughts quickly, you just went to sleep happy to create memories with your friends.

…

On the other hand, Fred thought that he would spend the most amazing time with you during these holidays, he had even started talking to George about his feelings for you trying to figure them out, but then his father told him that his friend, Amos Diggory and his son would also join the group, at least for the trip, and he felt like cursing the entire world. How could he define what he felt for you when Pretty Boy Diggory would be around? George knew, that Lee knew, that Tori knew because Annabelle had told her, that Cedric was interested in you, he was curious, too. The difference was that Diggory knew that he could charm anyone he wanted, he just had to play his cards right, while Fred couldn’t even begin to admit that he wanted to play his cards too.

You arrived at The Burrow a few days before the Cup, you got to spend time with the Weasleys and even Harry and Hermione, you knew Hermione from your late night study sessions at the library, but you had never actually had a conversation for Harry, you found him rather plain, not in demeaning way, but you could see that this boy had barely an idea of what he represented, he was just like any other boy his age. Molly loved you, even when you found hard to call her that instead of -Mrs. Weasley-, and Ginny liked you too, she liked having another girl who liked quidditch around to play, she was good, you bonded over the game. And she was kind enough to tell you that everyone noticed the small tension that was going on between you and Fred. At first you thought that she was just messing with you, after all, she was the sister of Hogwarts´ most prolific pranksters, but then one night Hermione joined the girl talk, luckily, the subject changed to Ginny’s crush on Harry, but you were left wondering, if people were repeating what your mother said, it might as well be truth, right?

You spent that night thinking about Fred, you liked how he snorted while laughing after a prank he had been planning for long turned out brilliantly, you liked how he would talk you out of pulling an all-nighter to study so you could go wander the castle with him and George. You liked how he would look out for you during the Gryffindor vs. Slytherin matches, much to Oliver’s dismay…

You loved how competitive he was. You loved how before each game he’d tried to place a bet, whether you both were playing or not. You loved how you two would exchange challenging looks from one side to the other of the field. You loved how defensive he got when it came to someone offending you or talking trash to your back. You fell asleep while thinking in all of the things that you loved about this boy, maybe you did have a crush on him…

The next day everyone was super excited, it was the game day, so you all got your bags and started walking into the forest. You were walking with a twin on each side when you saw a man with glasses come up to Arthur and greeted him. You heard Fred sigh and murmur something beneath his breath, but whatever he said was eclipsed by George saying “Now, the fun begins” with a huge devious smile on his face, you didn’t get it. Was this man someone that Arthur didn’t like that much? Were they work frenemies? Then your thoughts were interrupted by something falling from a tree, a someone, actually. Next to the man talking to Arthur was now standing the Hufflepuff’s team captain, Hogwarts’ golden boy: Cedric Diggory. You turned around for a brief second to look at Ginny and Hermione, who you could already see were starting to get a little face-heated from just looking at the boy, you didn’t blame them, every girl at school had a crush on him, and you weren’t the exception, you just were more discrete when it came to showing an opinion, plus you hadn’t been officially introduced to him, sure, you had played against him, but you had never crossed a word, so you felt that showing even the slightest hint of heart eyes for him was inappropriate, plus, now you had come to terms that you liked Fred more than just a friend, right?

He quickly noticed that you were all standing there looking at him so he came up to say hi.

“(Y/N), this is Hufflepuff’s team captain: Cedric Diggory; Cedric, this is (y/N) Lafington, Slytherin’s newest chaser” George introduced you after greeting him.

“Yes, I know exactly who she is” Cedric shook your hand firmly while he answered to George. Fred was silent. “You were the talk of all teams last year, how come no one had noticed you before?”

-Well, I noticed her since our first week at school, thank you-Fred thought to himself.

“I just…” You smiled at Diggory while shrugging your shoulders “I guess I wasn’t that interested in sports before, I’m more of a library mouse, actually”

“Oh, okay, so you’re smart, too. I get it. I like that” Oh Merlin, you liked Fred, but so did you liked having the most eligible man at school looking at you in the way he was.

George was having a blast mentally, he knew Fred was bloody pissed, but he thought that this was for his own good, Fred had to realize that you wouldn’t wait for him forever, so mayyyybe George actually had encouraged Diggory to hit on you. He felt like he was doing his best work as a best friend and as a brother.

During the rest of the walk, Cedric joined you and the twins, you all chatted a bit about school, and when you arrived at the game you went to the girl’s tent. Hermione and Ginny were craving details about Diggory, but you really didn’t have much to give them. Later, when you went looking for the twins, you didn’t find them, Cedric found you, though. You decided to take a walk around with him, while you were talking you got to know him a little better, he was a good guy; you picked up that the flirty smiles and eyes between you two were just denial when he mentioned Cho Chang, Ravenclaw’s seeker. This boy didn’t want to admit that his playboy days were over, you thought that was funny. Yeah, you still had a crush on him, but you realized that it was a platonic thing, you liked Cedric, as a friend.

After placing a bet with Ludo Bagman, Fred had gone back looking for you, when he saw you laughing along with Diggory he felt his stomach shrink and the bile rising through his chest to his throat, maybe Angelina was right, maybe you knew that he liked you but you just chose to ignore him, but he also George’s voice came to his head in your defense, how could you even begin to imagine what he felt for you when he could barely look you in the eye? Those beautiful (y/e/c) eyes. He took a deep breath and approached you, telling you that it was time to go to your seats, you said goodbye to Cedric and followed Fred.

“So…” You started while trying to keep with him “I was hoping that you could tell me a little bit about the teams that will be playing tonight…”

“Didn’t Diggory tell you any of that? Or was he just trying to get in your pants?” You stood completely frozen at what he had just said, Fred had never said anything mean to you, in fact, he’d go after anyone who mistreated you.

“Excuse me?” Was the one thing that you managed to express. Fred turned back to look at you and he crumbled a little on the inside when he saw the hurt in your eyes, the shock, he thought how cute you looked with your eyebrows furrowed like that, but he quickly realized that he had fucked up.

“Oh… I-…” He didn’t know how to apologize; he wasn’t used to get carried away by his emotions in that way. You didn’t say anything, you stood there maintaining eye contact, you were waiting for a proper apology. “Look, I’m sorry, that came out in a completely wrong way” He waited for a response but you gave him nothing “Fine” he sighed and walked over closer to you “I’m sorry, I really am” Nothing. “Hey, Lafts, I’m now begging for your forgiveness” He used your nickname, which you felt relaxed your forehead. “Pleeeaaaase…” In that moment you felt him taking your hand and putting to his mouth to kiss it while giving you puppy eyes.

“Okay, I accept your apology” You said with a small smile in return, and taking your hand away from his. “But what in hell has gotten into you?” You asked as you started walking again.

“I just don’t like that he thinks that he can have you that easily, I don’t want you to get hurt by one of the most famous playboys at school. That’s it” Fred knew that he had to be cautious about what he said, he didn’t want to sound like a complete lunatic, but he also didn’t want to confess his feelings for you in the middle of the scenario that you were standing right now in.

You also didn’t want to keep going with this fight, so you accepted his excuse and kept going, even though on the inside you were still upset about him talking to you that way. When you arrived at your seats you placed yourself between Ginny and George, avoiding Fred. George resumed the season to you before the game started, you saw Draco and his dad, who offered you joining them in the box, but you refused politely with a simple “Thank you Mr. Malfoy, but I’ll stay with my friends for this once” which made everyone look at you with inquire, you explained that Lucius Malfoy was one of your father’s oldest business partners, so it was better to keep things light with him, Draco was different story; that last part relaxed the tension and made everyone laughed.

During the game you could occasionally feel Fred’s gaze on you, you’d sometimes look back, letting him know that you weren’t angry, but still you didn’t want to engage a conversation with him yet.

You had a good time, even though you still liked playing better than just watching, the twins and Ginny were really happy that Ireland had won. After you exited the stadium Arthur told everyone that you’d have dinner an hour later, so you returned calmly to the tents, while you were walking you started hearing people screaming and some even running, you looked at the twins but they were just as confused as you.

“Spread!” Arthur yelled at you “Spread! Hide! Fred, George, watch your sister” at a not so long distance you could see people with some weird masks marching forward and destroying the tents around, then it hit you.

“Death Eathers” you barely mumbled. You turned to see Harry, Ron and Hermione already running “Go” you said firmly now to the twins, you pushed them and Ginny in the opposite direction where the Death Eaters came. “Go. They won’t hurt me. At least I think so, go, hide, protect Ginny” George nodded and took Ginny by the hand, the started walking.

“Oi!” Fred called them, but they didn’t listen, he turned to you, and grabbed you by the arm “I’m not leaving you here, let’s go”

“No, Fred. You’re a blood traitor” you got rid of his grip

“So are you!”

“Yes, but my family never talks about this publicly, no one knows. I won’t put them at risk” You knew that the words were hurting him, but he knew that it was truth, your parents’ business depended on them remaining neutral, no one really knew about your family’s blood status views unless they were close to you. “Look, Fred” You could hear the chaos closer and closer “You know I love you guys, and you know I value your friendship, but right now I really need you to go and look for George and Ginny, I can take care of myself” Just like he did with you a few hours earlier, you could see the hurt in his eyes, you knew your mother liked him from the letters, but you couldn’t bare the idea of putting her in danger for a simple crush. “I promise I’ll look for you guys when this is over, I’ll go help your dad” You kissed his hand and pushed him away “GO!”

You barely could see him running away because you turned around and started casting transfiguration spells on yourself, if you were getting into this fight, you’d make sure that no one behind those masks could recognize you.

When the dark mark was casted onto the sky, the Death Eaters started vanishing, everyone remained shook, when you made sure that none remained there, you started waking back to the party’s tent, there you returned your appearance back to normal, when you came out you saw Arthur returning, he recognized the clothes you were wearing and hugged you. “Thank you” he said as soon as you broke apart, you put your hand on top of his on your shoulder “No problem, Mr. Weasley. I just wish I could have done it without wasting time putting a costume on”

“You helped innocent people, and that should be enough” He gave you and honest smile and went inside the tent. Later when everyone had returned, you all returned to The Burrow, where you all were warmly welcomed by a worried Molly Weasley, who had heard everything from the news.

“Oh, dear, I assume your parents must be worried about you, you should write to them” She said to you as soon as she had the chance, and you agreed, so you thought that the best was to return home the next day.

…

Your parents weren’t that worried about you, actually, they knew that you were a fighter, but they did look worried about how thing would start changing from here on in, you told them that you made yourself unrecognizable when the Death Eaters showed up, which your father thanked you.

Over the next few weeks you wrote to the twins and your other friends, you even exchanged letters with Cedric Diggory (to whom George had felt the freedom to give your address) You just wanted to go back to Hogwarts and get away from all of the political problems going on, you wanted to go back to normal, where you could actually be you and give zero shits about blood status, you couldn’t wait enough for your 17th birthday, the day your freedom would came; if you were seventeen your parents would get excluded from all of your personal decisions. But for now, you could just keep on dreaming.

During the first week of class of your sixth year, you looked for the twins, they greeted you with the warmest of hugs, especially Fred (which surprised you) and you offered them an apology for bringing up the blood thing the day of the game, they were really understanding.

“Don’t worry, dad was amazed at how feisty you turned out to be, he didn’t see it coming, he snitched on you with us” George words made you giggle “Changing your looks to kick ass? That’s clever”

“Yeah, maybe you could help us perfect those spells so Snape and Filch can’t know who came for them” Fred added with a wink.

That same week you learned that this year you wouldn’t have quidditch because Hogwarts would be hosting the Triwizard Tournament, those were terrible news for you, but still, you felt excited about having exchange students over, and the twins had the idea that you could still play quidditch on your free time during the weekends, it wouldn’t be the same, but you were okay with it.

Fred wouldn’t admit it, but he really wanted you to accept the idea of weekend quidditch, because that was the first step on his plan to conquer you. When he heard his dad speaking so highly of you, he was certain that he was totally in love with you, the fear of losing you that he felt the day before, the way he reacted when he saw that Cedric could make you laugh too; the way his tummy felt when you kissed his hand, the way he suffered every minute while he hid knowing nothing of you and dreading the worst, he scolded himself mentally for letting you go, he should’ve gone with you, he shouldn’t have left you alone in a situation like that; All of that made  sudden sense to him while his father kept telling the story, he didn’t just have a crush on you, he wasn´t just curious, he was head over heels in love with you. So he asked for Charlie’s advice, and he designed a plan to ask you out  s u a v e m e n t e, the original plan involved hanging out after quidditch practice, so when quidditch got cancelled he had to improvise. He also had an advantage this year, you guys shared Potions class, which Fred knew was one of your favorites, so he would be able to talk to you during class because of Snape’s favoritisms towards Slytherins.

The weeks passed and you started noticing how George would always disappear when the tree of you were supposed to hang out, leaving you alone with Fred, you didn’t mind, you loved the way his red hair would look at night with the dim lights of the castle at night, and he loved the way your eyes lit up when you looked at the stars. Truth is that you two were getting closer, closer than friends, none of you said a thing about it, but you both could feel the connection growing. When the Yule Ball was announced you were sure that Fred would ask you to be his date, so you and Abby went dress shopping, she really didn’t like the idea of you getting with a Gryffindor, much less a Weasley, but she was happy that you had someone just like she had her Durmstrang student.

When you got to the shop Hogsmead and started looking at the fabrics, you noticed that other girls were already there, between them you could notice the girls of Gryffindor’s quidditch team, you paid no mind to them nor to their whispers and dirty looks. Abby went away for a moment to try on a dress that she liked, when she came back she had an annoyed look on her face.

“You didn’t like it?” You thought it was the dress “You know that’s just the sample one, they can make it for you in a different color”

“It’s not that” she said, putting the dress back “I liked the dress”

“Then why the face?”

“Look” she started “I know that you like the Weasley boy, much to the house’s dismay, and I’m trying (y/n), I’m really trying to keep my nose out of this because I like seeing you happy” she paused for a second before going, you could see that her mind was working trying to say something.

“Abby, it’s okay, I can take it” What could it be? Had he gotten in a fight with Adrian again?

“When I was in the changing room I could hear Angelina Jhonson talking about how excited she was to be attending the ball with Frederick”

“Well, that’s a shame for her, he’s going to ask me”

“That’s the thing Lafts, he asked her already, not you, her.” You could see that Abby was trying to hold it together, she was quite protective of you, but you did recognize that she was trying to not hate Fred. “I know it sounds terrible and I don’t know, maybe those twits are tryin’ to play mind games on us, but you should definitely check that out; I don’t want this night that we’ll probably remember forever to be ruined for you by some stupid scumsucker”

You were speechless, you didn’t know what to say, you were certain that Abigail wasn’t fond of the twins, but you also knew that she just wouldn’t lie about it, so when she had her order on her dress made, you two returned to the castle.

That night at dinner you had a hard time spotting Fred at the Great Hall, you also had a hard time spotting him anywhere in the castle, when you went to George for answers he responded with a simple “Love you both, I’ve done plenty trying to help Fred. I’m not getting in the middle of this mess” And walked away, which left you feeling even more confused and angry than before, why were they shutting you down? You wrote to your mom to know if anything big had happened outside the school, but she said nothing had really came up. You were left with nothing, the next few days George made sure to let you know that he was still there for you, but he drew the line when it came to talking about Fred. Something inside of you said “See? You were right, Fred didn’t really like you, it was all in your head; if not, then how come only George is here now?” And you didn’t want to give this voice the reason, but it was the only thing in your mind. 

The days passed and the ball came, you ended up attending it with Adrian, after all, you and him were really good friends. You were having a great time with your friends, you even danced a piece with Cedric, then George came to you, too. Fred remained far away, you could see him on the dance floor with Angelina, as Abby said; you felt your heart break a little more every time you looked at him, you were angry at him, but you were also angry at yourself, how could you had let yourself think for a minute that someone like him could fall in love with you? You were opposites, and everyone knew it, and everyone made sure you were reminded of it at all times. A slow song came on and Adrian said to you that he would try to dance with some girl from Beauxbatons, so you went to sit down for a bit. You watched all the couples dancing with a bit of longing, you saw that Ginny was there with a boy and you felt your heart melt for a moment, not everyone was having a rough night.

“Not having fun?” You heard George’s voice behind you.

“Eh” you shrugged your shoulders “I’ve been better” you turned your head to look at him.

“Well” He hunched over to be at your level “I see Pucey dancing with someone and my date blew me off too, wanna go wreck someone’s make out session?” That last part with wiggling eyebrows. He made you chuckle.

“Fine” You said rolling your eyes. You took your clutch and followed him through the hallways, you walked quietly, trying to spot any couple to scare. Suddenly George came to a stop in front of a door. You looked at him with questioning eyes, he nodded, letting you know that there was someone in there.

“You go first” He whispered. You smiled, excited. You got your wand ready. When George opened the door, you pointed your wand but before you could say anything you were surprised by Fred Weasley standing in front of you. Well, he was actually pacing, but still, he was in front of you. You turned to George.

“I thought you said t-“

“I know what I said” He cut you off. “But I’m doing this for you, not for him” He looked at both of you before closing the door and leaving you there.

You stood there in silence for a couple of minutes, you didn’t even want to look at him, you were hurt.

“So, I saw you dancing with Diggory…”Fred finally broke the silence.

“Really? Are you seriously bringing that up?” You decided to look at him and when your eyes met you felt the world freeze. You stared at each other. Fred had been watching you from afar, too. But now that he had you close, he was taken out of breath of how good you looked. The way your dress made your skin pop, the way your eyes were glowing thanks to the make-up, he could also see the lip gloss that you had been reapplying all night.

“Fred?” Your voice brought him back from his mind. “You know what? I don’t even know why I decided to stay, I should’ve left with George” You headed for the door but he quickly got up and stood before you.

“No. You know why” You got chills, you didn’t know if they came from the cold of the classroom you where standing in or from the look in his eyes. He took off his jacket and tried to covered you with it.

“No” You said stepping back and putting your hand in front of you. “You don’t get to play prince charming with me, not after you ignored me for a month… Why did you do it..?”

Fred didn’t know what to say, he knew that the moment to confess his feelings to you had arrived, but he felt too dumb to say something.

“You know Fred? If you didn’t like me you could’ve just been straight forward about it.” You started talking trying to keep your voice neutral. “You didn’t have to pretend to be my friend all these years, the worst part of it is that these last few months I felt like something beyond a friendship was growing between us” That was it, you gulped, your voice broke “You didn’t have to make me fall in love with you and then break my heart” Fred rose his head. You crossed your arms over your chest trying to keep all your feelings in.

“Wait a second, love, rewind a little bit there” He was in shock, he walked towards you. “You’re in love with me?” You could hear the surprise in his voice. Was he now laughing at you?

“You’re impossible, Weasley” You headed for the door again, but Fred grabbed your arm and pulled you to him. “Let m-“ You felt his lips crash on yours, shutting you up. You responded to his kiss, you could sense desperation in it.

“I’ve liked you since our first year” He said when you finally broke away “I’ve always felt keen on you. I love you. I shut you out because I was too scared of my own feelings, I’ve never felt this way for anyone else. I figured out that if I just cutyou off, all the feelings would go away, but they didn’t.” You looked at him mouth-opened, not knowing what to say, you both had been feeling this way but you were too scared to admit it.

“You’re an idiot” You finally managed to say. He kissed you again.

“Yes, I am, I am the biggest idiot ever” Kiss “but please say you won’t pay mind to the all the bloody talking and you’ll be my official girlfriend” He pecked you on the lips again.

“Yes, yes, okay” You laughed.

You stood there for a while, laughing at how obnoxious you both had been the last few years. You were in love with Fred, and Fred was in love with you. You weren’t waiting for you 17th birthday anymore, you were making up for all the lost time, everyone else could go to hell.

[redassassin]

no amount of freedom gets you clean

for @thepurpledragon4444 in the smgh/hive mind/masquerade gift exchange!! have some angst michstie

“Adrian, stop! We don’t know if he’s lying and we can’t risk making the wrong decision!”

The cathedral around them shook with the sounds of battle around them. Nova was pulling against Adrian’s arm, trying to keep him back as he raised the gun, pointing it at Ace. Nova forced all of her weight against his arm, pushing it down against his side, pushing Adrian back a step. The gun wouldn’t do anything against Ace, not with his powers, and they couldn’t risk losing the deal that could save them all. Or destroy them all. Nova wasn’t sure, but the wrong decision would end in the annihilation of them all.

“You’re just as power-hungry as the rest of them,” Adrian snarled. “You never wanted to help, you just want the throne. You’re blind to your Uncle’s lies and deceit. I thought you were different from them but you’re just like the rest of them.” The malice in his voice knocked something loose inside Nova. He’d never believe her, not until she could prove to him that she wasn’t on the side of the anarchists anymore. She wasn’t on Ace’s side. But she wasn’t on Adrian’s side either. She may have thought she could be someday, until now. He didn’t trust her to make the right decision, just like she didn’t trust him to make the hard decisions. “I knew I should never have trusted you. You betrayed us once, of course you’d do it again.”

“The cost of getting this wrong is too great. You know that, Adrian. I can’t take that risk. I can’t be the cause of more unnecessary violence and bloodshed.” Still pushing against Adrian, she lowered her voice. “I know you don’t trust him, and I don’t either, but I have to trust that whatever solution he might have is safest for everyone.”

“If you believe that then you’re just as brainwashed and naive as the rest of them,” He paused, eyes darkening. Adrian stepped in front of Ace Anarchy, pulling the gun out again and raising it at Nova. “You’re still holding on to what was never there. He never cared about you. He used you, Nova. I don’t want to see him hurt you again, and I won’t let him go free. If you want to leave here alive with him, you’ll have to go through me. This decision comes at a price, Nova. Because as long as I’m alive, I’m going to stop you. It’s me or him.”

Nova took a long, deep breath. “I don’t want to hurt you, Adrian. I really don’t. But I need to know what he meant by this.” Her body tensed, fists balled up behind her back, her knees slightly bent, preparing for the fight that she knew was coming.

Adrian lurched forward, heading straight for Ace. Nova launched herself at him, and although she weighed less than him, the sheer force of her body hitting him as hard as she could sent them both tumbling to the ground. He was knocked forward, his own momentum used against him as she landed on his back, her legs gripping his sides. Her gun was pressed against the back of his head in a feeble attempt of intimidation, although they both knew she couldn’t shoot him. At least, she wouldn’t be able to deliver the fatal blow. Adrian sat up quickly, his back arching as he rose from his knees to force Nova off of him. She rolled to her feet, spinning quickly to block a punch to her stomach he threw at her. They went back and forth, throwing hits and punches and kicks, leaving the guns out of the picture. They’d had enough bad experiences with those. Plus, Adrian was a terrible shot and they both knew it. Despite all the threats and taunts and glares, they weren’t aiming to kill each other. Nova was just trying to stop Adrian and Adrian was just trying to get past her. They were silent, the only noises coming from them were the grunts and hisses of emotionally charged combat. Adrian spun around, sweeping his foot out in an attempt to trip her, but Nova jumped out of the way, landing a kick to the back of his legs, his knees crumbling beneath him. She reached for his hand, ready to release her power through her fingertips, but he wrenched away from her and stumbled to his feet, his fists balled and face fuming. “Why can’t you see that he’s lying, Nova? I’d think that you’d recognize a lie of this sort when you hear it. You’ve certainly told enough of them.” Nova scoffed. “I lied to survive, just like I’m listening to him now. For survival. For my own, and for Gatlon’s survival.” She lurched forward, her fist aiming for the soft skin of his stomach and he sidestepped, clipping her on the shoulder and making her fall to the ground. She hissed and lashed out with her leg, aiming once again for his knees, but he had her cornered.

“Don’t they deserve to make the decision themselves?” He offered her a hand and she took it, out of habit. They’d helped each other up countless times in training and on the battlefield. She’d forgotten her place. Adrian twisted her around, pinning her arm behind her back. Nova cried out in pain, hissing through her teeth, “They’re not here. No one is. Someone has to make the hard decisions and I don’t trust anyone else to do it.” She writhed in his grasp, but his grip was too strong. Her feet were barely still on the ground, his height and tight grip lifting her off the ground with a slight movement.

“Would they trust you to make the decision for them? After all you’ve done? Do you really think anyone in this city would lay their life in your hands?”

His words cut deep into her heart. She was so used to being Insomnia, so used to being the decorated Renegade that killed the Detonator and saved so many people that night at the park. But that wasn’t who she was. She was Nightmare. And just as she trusted no one, no one trusted her.

“I’m the only one who can make it.” She reached out, her hand inching towards the exposed skin of his wrist. He let go of her, and she fell to the floor, grunting at the impact. She climbed back up to her feet, moving as far away from Adrian as she could, placing herself between him and Ace. She rubbed her wrists, the skin feeling raw from his iron grip.

“Just trust me, Adrian. I don’t want any more harm to come to this city or it’s people.” He walked towards her, slowly, hands outstretched. He was inching his way between Nova and Ace, and she stepped forward to stop him. Her fist lashed out towards his stomach and her other arm spun her around in the rebound to land a kick at his side, but his arm blocked and she was sent tumbling to the ground. From the ground she layed back on her back and kicked her legs up, and Adrian tumbled to the ground too. Nova bounced up, using his momentary distraction to center herself. She leaned against the wall, breathing hard, and waiting to see Adrian’s next move.

The cathedral around them was crumbling, the stone foundation weakened by the clash of so many powers, and dust and smoke coated her lungs as Nova gasped for air. Adrian had managed to land a hit to her stomach, knocking the wind out of her as well as forcing her back a step. Adrian sprang forward, towards Ace, who grinned, seemingly enjoying the battle before him, not at all concerned for his life. Adrian was 10 feet away from Ace, his arm outstretched to use the cylinder embedded in his arm. Nova coughed, struggling to her feet, gripping the exposed bricks to help herself up. Growling, she ran at Adrian, launching herself up onto his back and wrapping her legs around his neck, swinging up to straddle him. Adrian thrashed under her weight, Ace momentarily forgotten as he struggled to get her off. Nova’s hands reached down to cup his face from above, preparing to let her power flow through her. Adrian reached up to rip her hands from his face, his fingernails digging into the back of her hand.

“Nova, don’t. Please.” His voice was soft, and even a little fearful.

Nova scoffed, but before she could respond, or let the knot in her chest that was her power forming flow out from her fingertips, Ace began to laugh. That slow, mocking laugh that had haunted Nova in her childhood. “Please. Pathetic. My niece has a soft spot for you, and always has. That may work on her, but not on me.” Ace waved his hand, and a dagger flew from his belt towards Adrian. Nova ripped her hands away from his face as the dagger pressed up against Adrian’s neck, dangerously close to cutting into his skin. “What happens now?” Nova asked, her voice a little shaky. “What’s the deal?”

“The deal, my little nightmare, is that you join me at the throne. We kill him, kill all of his family, kill all the Renegades. We start over. Start the city from new, rein together, and ensure that no one can stop us. No one will threaten us or challenge us, Nova. Gatlon will be ours. And then, the world.”

Nova’s mouth fell open, the gears in her brain spinning faster than the teacup ride at Cosmopolis Park. “You said we would save people. That we could start over, as a family. This- this is not saving people. This is destruction, with an end goal to only benefit you. You want power.” She paused. “Adrian was right. I should never have listened to you. I wanted things to be like they used to, when I meant something to you. When I was more than another pawn in your game, your niece instead of your minion. But I suppose I was never family to you, not really. The moment that you realised I had powers I became nothing more to you than any of the other Anarchists. A toy. You kept me around to manipulate and train me and turn me into your little killing machine. The only reason you ever cared about me was because I was useful to you. I was young and naive and impressionable and you used me. You used the only family member that you have left like a toy in your game of hurt feelings and inferiority. You LOST. You lost, Uncle. You have to give it up. Because as long as you’re here, and as long as you’re in power, people will always try to stop you. There will always be people like the Renegades, who will risk everything to stop people like you. I thought that my time in the Renegades meant nothing, that I would always be an Anarchist, but they taught me something. They taught me that raw, callous, need to help. To help the society and the people that you left broken. As long as we’re both alive, I will never stop trying to stop you and put an end to you. You stole my life from me. I would rather have died that night as long as it meant that you were stopped. And I would die a hundred times more to stop you again and again and again.” She was still straddled across Adrian’s shoulders, glaring down at Ace. He floated up, his telekinesis lifting everything within a small radius up a couple of inches with him. Adrian was still beneath her, the dagger still against the skin of his throat. It hadn’t moved, Ace seemingly enraptured by her speech. And then he laughed. The dagger clattered to the ground. Nova was shaking, her hands gripping Adrian’s shoulder, fingers gripping the fabric of his clothes.

“Even now, you stand beside the Renegades. They hold you up, protect you, blind you with their promises of help and change. They’re just as bad as me. I don’t pretend to care. I don’t pretend to want anything other than to rule.”

“You really don’t learn, do you.” Nova climbed down from Adrian’s shoulders, and although he was silent, he gave her a look that told Nova everything that he wanted to say. The conflict behind his eyes matched her own. They knew what had to be done.

“I- we will do anything to stop you.” She took Adrian’s hand, and the warmth of his fingers grounding her. The familiarity of his hand in hers reminded her of everything they’d been through together, the pain they’d endured, everything they’d gone through, and everything that had brought them there.

But this was her fight. Not Adrian’s. Hers alone, her job to finish. She took both of his hands in hers and pulled him closer, close enough Ace wouldn’t be able to hear her whisper.

“This isn’t your fight, Adrian. Let me end it.” His grip on her hands tightened. “No. Let me help. He’s too powerful- I can’t have you getting hurt.”

“Then I’m sorry, Adrian. I can’t let you do this.” She leaned up on her tiptoes, kissing him gently, and released her power through where their lips met. Adrian crumpled, and although Nova tried to slow his fall, he still hit the ground with a thump that made Nova’s heart ache. She didn’t want to hurt him, not like this.

But it was what needed to happen. It was her fault that Ace rose to power again, her fault that Adrian was here in the first place. She had been stupid enough as to not check the skies for the Sentinel. He had snuck in behind her, begged and yelled and screamed for her to stop, to not go back there, but she had to hear what Ace had to day. The least she could do was to end it herself. It’s what she’d trained for. Not to end the Renegades, but to help the city, to rid it of evil, no matter what that evil was, and no matter the cost.

[moonlightchess]

I’m an atheist. I used to be extremely religious, mostly because I was thoroughly brainwashed, conditioned and indoctrinated since before I could really talk to be terrified of my grandmother’s church’s hell and demons (whom I was told were responsible for everything from my childhood epilepsy to my birth parents abandoning me, usually because of some grievous sin I’d committed. At like, 4 years old.) This post isn’t about my incredibly traumatic history with organized religion so I’m not really going to get into that, but the point is that I have long since lost all ability to accept anything I can’t prove or see, touch and hear. And believe me, I MISS it - I miss the security and comfort of faith, the fulfillment of feeling like I’m part of something so much bigger than me, the warmth of love from a god I used to be absolutely sure existed. I miss the sense of purpose and mission, I miss the identity. I can never go back and find those things in religion again, but my friend Adrian has. 

He’s a Catholic priest now, officially, he finished seminary recently. We met when I was in college and he was part of an outreach program from his church to help mend relationships between the local church presence and my college’s LGBT support group. Adrian is one of the kindest, gentlest, most optimistic and compassionate people I’ve ever known. He’s shockingly (at least to me) progressive for a priest, and I fully admit to grilling him when we first met, trying to root out his hidden conservative shittiness that I was sure lurked under the surface of his patient smile. I would try to trick him into admitting that he secretly thought gays were going to hell, or black people didn’t belong in the priesthood, or even things like his opinions on American borders or healthcare reform. Adrian shamed me with how incredibly understanding and tolerant he was of my constant barrage of attempts to prove he was as awful as the people who raised me and saw me in church every Sunday.

Once, when I was doing just this, he laughed and said, “Teddy. Jesus was black, science is real, and god loves gay people. There really are those among the clergy who know this to be true, and I promise I’m one of them. I completely understand why you’re suspicious though.” The thing that gets me is, knowing him makes the loss of faith hurt more than it would otherwise I think. I might have become someone like Adrian, had I not been exposed to the horrors and lies slithering under the shiny surface of religion early on. I wish I could know Adrian’s religion, his faith that clearly brings him so much peace and serenity and love for the world and everyone in it, even the worst of us. 

Getting to know him has scraped that old wound raw, one I thought I’d healed by embracing only the proven and logical and dismissing anything that demanded blind faith. If god were real, I told myself, he or she or they or it wouldn’t need or want to demand blind faith. Nothing worth believing in requires you to close your eyes and stick your head in the sand and ignore rationale. The justifications always grated on me too, the easy and convenient defense that “well, if my prayers aren’t answered it’s because god had a different plan, and if they were then that was also god, hooray!” It smacked of deliberately tailored comfort, a defense mechanism to protect our fragile human brains against the vast meaninglessness of reality.

But sometimes Adrian will text me and ask if I want coffee, he’s always up early in the mornings because that’s who he is and I usually am because I sleep like shit and I often have early work shifts. And when I meet him, sometimes it’s cool and brisk and pearl-gray and we’re in knitted scarves and boots and his collar isn’t visible under his layers but it is, it radiates all around him like a halo of his own and he sips his dark roast and tips his head back to look up at the quiet dawn blooming like he knows something I don’t, something he’s aching for me to find on my own because it’s the only way I will. In those moments, I remember the stirrings of faith, how it felt to wonder if maybe the violent, furious, terrifying god of my grandmother’s was a complete misinterpretation of the kind of god who was really out there, sharing those dawns and that coffee and that peace with us. I used to look for that quiet god in between all the screaming and shrieking in tongues and judgment and hellfire and horror and hatred of my family’s church, but I could never find them and finally I gave up. I told Adrian about this today, on my day off during our early coffee run.

“Of course you did,” he said. “They didn’t just demand blind faith of you, they yanked a blindfold around your heart and made you stumble through all their hellfire desperately looking for the living god. They had no right, and no one can blame you for escaping as soon as you could. They were screaming in your ears so loudly you couldn’t hear the quiet god whispering, calling you. That’s the tragedy of it all, really. They took god from you and left you deaf and blind in the cold, lost and scarred. God doesn’t scream or swing fists. God whispers, and waits.”

[bellakitse]

The Future Holds

“You’ve come so far,” she says softly as she reaches for his hand, holding it between her warm and loving ones. “I still remember the day you told me you liked boys.”

*

Carlos and his mother share a moment as they celebrate his engagement.

Written for @carlosreyesweek - Day 4: “You’ve come so far.” + Future

I mentioned it on AO3 but, today is the one-year anniversary of the day I published my first Tarlos fic and joined this fandom and I just wanted to say thank you for all the love and kindness this beautiful fandom has given me. 💗💗

Carlos Reyes sits on the back porch of his mother’s house. He watches with a smile as his family and friends mingle about the backyard, laughing and talking as they eat the feast his mother has prepared for the occasion. His eyes run over the collection of people he cares most about in this world before landing on the love of his life. He feels his heart expand as he takes him in across the yard, chatting away with his older sister with a smile so bright Carlos can see it from here.

“He looks good like that.”

Carlos looks up to find his mother behind him, a smile of her own as she watches her daughter and her future son-in-law. She pulls her gaze away from them to give him a mischievous smile that has Carlos snorting and shaking his head at her lack of subtlety. He turns back to TK just in time to see him blow raspberries into the neck of the baby in his arms, Adrian, Valentina’s nine-month-old, causing the little boy to let out a delightful high-pitched giggle that echos through the place. The baby had taken a liking to TK from the very first time he saw him, reaching out for him from his mother’s hold. It’s been like that every time since. If TK is in the room, Adrian wants to be held by him.

“He’s going to make a wonderful dad,” his mother continues shamelessly, causing him to huff in amusement.

“Mami, we literally just got engaged,” he reminds her, his stomach flipping at the words. He’s engaged to TK Strand. He’s still not sure how he pulled that off. “How about you wait till the wedding day before you plan for more grandchildren?”

His mother rolls her eyes playfully at him as she sits down next to him on the loveseat. “I’m just moving things along,” she protests with a grin on her lips. “I’m not getting any younger, Carlos Reyes.”

Carlos gasps dramatically. “Are you calling yourself old, Carlota Reyes?”

“Watch it, smartass,” his mother answers with narrowed eyes. “Just because you’re an engaged man doesn’t mean I can’t ground you.”

Carlos throws his head back as he laughs, the giddiness he’s been feeling since TK said yes to his proposal bursting out of him as it has for the last week since it happened. He keeps reliving the moment, how beautiful TK’s smile was as he went on one knee. The way he’d bobbed his head up and down in agreement before getting the words out. Laughing and crying as he finally said yes and let Carlos put his ring on his finger, before also going to his knees to kiss Carlos, smiling the whole time. They hadn’t made it off the floor and instead made love right there, letting the dinner Carlos planned get cold.

“You’re getting married, nene,” his mother whispers, pulling him out of the wonderful memory. Looking at her, he shakes his head at the tears he finds in her eyes.

“Uh-uh,” he scolds her softly. “You cried when we told you, and you cried earlier when we came into this party. We still have months of planning the wedding and the wedding itself. You have to pace yourself woman, or you’re gonna dehydrate.”

His mom lets out a chuckling sniffle that makes Carlos grin. “Bandito,” she says with fond amusement before the humor leaves her face for something more serious. “You’ve come so far,” she says softly as she reaches for his hand, holding it between her warm and loving ones. “I still remember the day you told me you liked boys.”

Carlos smiles at her words even as he feels a lump forming in his throat. “We were in the kitchen making pozole, and I just blurted it out. I couldn’t hold it in for a second longer.”

Carlota nods in agreement. “You looked so scared,” she says remorsefully. “I had never seen you look like that, and I hated it.”

“I wasn’t scared of you, Mami,” he whispers, feeling his eyes sting at her sudden sadness. “Deep down, I knew you would love me no matter what – I just didn’t want to disappoint you.”

“Oh, my love,” his mother breathes out, and Carlos can’t help the tear that breaks free, sliding down his face. “You have never in your life, not even for one second, disappointed me, ever,” his mother lets go of his hand to run her fingers through his hair before cradling his face. “My beautiful son, you have been one of my greatest blessings, and I’m so proud to be your mom. You hear me?”

Carlos gives her a shaky nod, the tears rolling freely before he’s pulled into a tight and fierce hug by her. He sinks into it the same way he did when he was fifteen years old in their kitchen, freshly out of the closet.

“I love you, mi corazón,” she whispers into his ear, and all Carlos can do is squeeze her tighter as he tells her he loves her too. He’s not sure how long they stay like that, but they only pull away when they hear a clearing of someone’s throat. Separating, they find a pair of green eyes looking at them with affection.

“Hey,” TK says softly with a hesitant smile on his face. He’s still holding Adrian in his arms as the little boy plays with the collar of his shirt, trying and failing to pull it into his mouth. “You guys okay?”

Carlos is still wiping at his face when his mother stands up in front of TK.

“We’re good,” she says to him with a smile. She reaches out to touch TK’s face like she did just moments ago with him. Carlos feels his heart fill at the way TK leans into the touch. “You promise to love and take care of him, mijo?”

TK looks over at him. The love shining in his eyes takes Carlos’ breath away.

“Always, ma’am,” TK says to his mother with the utmost seriousness. “I’m going to spend the rest of my life making sure your son feels safe, happy, and loved, I promise you.”

Carlos feels his heart slam against his chest at TK’s conviction and the absolute devotion he hears in his words.

“That’s my favorite white boy,” his mother teases with a wide grin, proving she spends too much time with his sisters. He rolls his eyes when it makes TK laugh with delight.

Carlota goes to her tiptoes as she tugs TK forward, kissing him on his brow. She takes Adrian out of TK’s arms, cuddling him when he whimpers a bit. “Yes, yes, we all know TK is your favorite,” she says to the baby, kissing his hair as he settles in her arms. “But it’s your uncle’s turn to cuddle with him for a while.”

She flashes them a smile as TK comes to sit next to him. “My son is too chicken to tell you, but I’m not,” she starts, smirking when he urgently shakes his head at her. “I want more grandkids, soon.”

“Mami,” he groans deeply while TK stammers as he tries to answer.

“We – ah – I mean, we’ll try our best, Carlota,” he finally says, his face a shade of pink.

Carlos sighs deeply while his mother smiles widely. “See,” she says, pointing at TK victoriously. “Getting in good with the in-laws. He’s a smart one.”

Carlota gives them one last smile before she turns from them to join the rest of the party.

“Please don’t listen to her,” he says once they’re alone. “She’s a meddler.”

“It’s fine,” TK assures him with a soft smile. “It’s early, sure, but I love that she’s excited about us having kids in the future. She and my dad are going to spoil the hell out of them.”

Carlos feels his heart race at the casual way TK mentions their future children, he might not be ready to talk about it, but it doesn’t mean his mother is wrong. He dreams on the regular about what having kids with TK will be like. The thought fills him with warmth and happiness.

“We have time,” he answers instead, getting a smile in return.

“We have the rest of our lives,” TK assures him, reminding Carlos of the promise TK made moments ago to his mother.

“So you said,” he says quietly. He lets out a soft exhale as TK leans in, rubbing the tip of his nose against his before he presses his lips to Carlos’ mouth. He lets TK kiss him, soft and slow, taking his time as he steals Carlos’ heart for the millionth time with one of his kisses.

“I meant it,” TK whispers as he breaks the kiss but doesn’t pull back. This close, Carlos can see every emotion in his stunning green eyes. “Every day for the rest of our lives, I’m going to wake up with one purpose. To make sure you are happy and that you know just how much I love you.”

Carlos presses his forehead against TK’s, overwhelmed by his words. “Me too,” he promises back. “Every day, sweetheart. All I want is to make you happy and keep you safe.”

TK smiles; he gives him another gentle kiss on his lips, and then another on his cheek, followed by a third across Carlos’ jaw before he rests his head on his shoulder. Carlos wraps an arm around his waist, holding him close. They stay like that, quietly basking in their love and the future they have to look forward to, while around them, the rest of their combined families continue to celebrate with them.

Holding the love of his life, Carlos can’t help but agree with his mother. From that scared 15-year-old in their kitchen to now. How far he’s come.

[mascwhump]

Chapter 2 - Strike a Deal

Hello everyone! Sorry this took so long, rough times here. It’s pretty short but I hope to have the next chapter out quickly. Lots of dialogue here.

TW: interrogation, injuries, mention of kidnapping

Tag list: @whatwasmyprevioususername @milk-carton-whump @whumpasaurus101 @whatwhumpcomments @mnmlover2002 @ashintheairlikesnow

-

Charlie awoke to the sound of rattling metal. In the dimly lit room, he could just make out a figure standing opposite of him, dangling something. As his eyes adjusted to the light level, he realized it was a man leaning against the wall.

His head and shoulder ached. Clean bandages were wrapped around his shoulder and chest, a good sign that he had been stitched up at some point. His arms were bound behind the back of a chair, keeping him seated in place.

“Who’s there?” He spoke, voice cracking.

The man approached, stepping into the light. He wore a dark grey suit. His hair was neatly combed, and he was clean shaven. Far different from any of the soldiers he had seen.

“Hello, Charlie,” the man spoke.

“How do you know my name?” Charlie questioned.

“Says it right here on these tags,” he replied.

He had the chain of Charlie’s dog tags wrapped around his hand. He let the tags sway in front of Charlie’s eyes for a moment before putting them in his coat pocket.

“Nasty wound you’ve got there. But don’t worry, we’ve got you all patched up,” he said, starting to pace.

“Who are you?” Charlie asked, cringing as his head began to throb.

“My name is Mallory Jacobs. I’m the CEO of ZETA,” he replied.

Mallory continued to pace for a moment. Charlie observed his face, noticing that he appeared to be in deep thought.

“So, tell me, Charlie. Why did you and your team break into my base and kill my men?”

He turned on his heel suddenly, facing Charlie with his arms folded.

“I’m not telling you anything,” Charlie spat.

“I thought you might say that,” Mallory replied, “so, I’ll make you a deal.”

“I don’t make deals,” Charlie argued.

“That’s a shame, because it involves releasing your team.”

Charlie thought about his next words carefully. He chewed on his lip, trying to focus on the conversation rather than his pain.

“What are you proposing?” He asked.

“You tell me everything I want to know, and I’ll let your team go,” Mallory said.

“I can’t trust you to do that.”

“That’s smart. But you can trust me, Charlie. I don’t make promises I don’t intend to keep.”

“Prove it.”

“I’ll let you watch them depart on the security feed. I’ll have someone fly them out, and you can be sure that they make it to their destination.”

It was too good to be true. Charlie knew that agreeing to this was stupid, but it could be his only chance to get his team out. Something told him that Mallory was telling the truth.

“Okay, I’ll do it,” Charlie said.

“Excellent,” Mallory replied.

He pulled his phone out of his pocket and dialed a number. He told them to get a helicopter ready to transfer the team, and to keep the security feed on. After he hung up the call, Mallory opened the feed on his phone and showed it to Charlie.

Adrian, Ethan, and Crow were blindfolded and taken out of the cells they were held in. They were escorted down a hallway and outside to be loaded onto a helicopter. Mallory switched the feed to inside of the helicopter, showing the three inside.

“When they’re getting ready to disembark, I’ll show you,” Mallory said, “now, are you ready to uphold your end of the deal?”

Charlie nodded. Mallory stepped behind him for a moment, and reappeared with a chair of his own. He set it about 2 feet in front of Charlie and sat down. He took a cigar from his coat pocket and lit it.

“Let’s begin,” he said, taking a drag from the cigar, “so, who sent you?”

“Our governments,” Charlie replied.

“How come?”

“We had reason to believe that ZETA was posing a threat to our nations.”

Mallory laughed. “How so?”

“Based on your track record of kidnapping innocent people for ‘experiments’. I think that’s enough to warrant some fear,” Charlie answered.

Mallory didn’t like the shred of sarcasm and Charlie could see it on his face. He exhaled smoke in Charlie’s direction, making his eyes sting.

“We don’t kidnap anybody, Charlie. Everyone was a paid, willing participant,” Mallory said.

“We have intel that says otherwise,” Charlie argued.

“Is that so?” Mallory replied.

Mallory stood and paced around.

“You wouldn’t need an army if you weren’t doing anything wrong,” Charlie said.

“That’s simply not true. You see, Charlie, when the government doesn’t like something, they try to destroy it. What we’re doing here at ZETA will improve the lives of billions. The government doesn’t want that, because with our creations, people won’t need them anymore.”

He tapped the cigar and ash fell to the floor.

“So what is it you’re doing here, then?” Charlie inquired.

“You’ll find out, soon. Because once you’re healed, you’re going to help me, help us, change the world.”

“I want no part in this,” Charlie protested.

“You have no choice.”

The words sent chills down Charlie’s spine. He could feel the color drain from his face, and hoped that the light was dim enough that Mallory didn’t notice. Not another word was spoken between them. Mallory left the room, and Charlie was left to himself. The only thing that provided comfort was the fact that his team would be safe.

[acciomalfoy]

fool’s gold (cedric diggory x reader)

summary: you’ve been best friends forever, and valentines hasn’t meant much until now

a/n: GO FOLLOW @fromashescomephoenixes THIS IS YET ANOTHER COLLAB WITH HER!!!!! FOLLOW NOW AND CHECK OUT HER FICS!!!

-

“I’m still not happy with you,” I said, and Cedric only laughed. “Stop laughing!” I scowled, and he swung an arm around me.

“The tournament is well and truly over, Y/n, and you never have to go in the Black Lake again.” He grinned at me, and I only scowled.

“You could’ve gotten killed, or worse, lost the tournament!” As a member of Slytherin, winning is absolutely everything. Maybe Ced dying was a tad worse.

“But I won.” His shit-eating grin said it all, and I whacked his shoulder. 

“Get off of your high horse.” I shook my head, and he stood up. For some reason he had taken to sitting at the Slytherin table during meals, not that I was about to complain. 

“Look’s like Sprout’s about to charge me, I’ll see you in potions?” He asked, and I nodded. Potions was definitely my favourite class, and it had nothing to do with a greasy haired git, but everything to do with the golden boy I sat next to.

“See you then.” Not a second after he left Eleanor Flint clutched my shoulder.

“You’re totally dating! When did he ask you out? Was it right after Chang dumped him, or did he wait a while? Waiting is totally more classy, but I can see Diggory not wanting to wait.” Eleanor babbled, and I stared at her.

“We aren’t dating, and nor does he want to.” I said, but as soon as the words left my mouth I knew I had made a mistake.

“But you want to.” El screeched, and I quickly covered her mouth with my hand.

“No! Cedric still likes Cho, I’m certain of it.” I said, and El pushed away my hand.

“Rumour has it she broke up with Diggory because you were in the lake and not her. If Diggory liked her more than you she would have been in the lake.” El was batshit crazy, I was positive.

“I was in the lake because I’ve been best friends with Ced since first year. I’m not listening to this, El.” I stood up quickly, and before she could continue arguing with me I speed walked my way out of the Great Hall. Good thing too, since I realised that I had left my advanced potions textbook in my dorm. 

The dungeons weren’t too far from the Great Hall, and I made it there in what I would consider record-timing. My textbook was on my desk, and it wasn’t until I was leaving did I see the note on my bed. 

I gingerly picked up the note, all too aware of how the Weasley twins had it out for the Slytherin house, and froze.

I’m like a crow on a wire, you’re the shining distraction that makes me fly.

I spun around the room, as if the writer of the notes would be standing in front of me, but the room was still, void of life aside Eleanor’s plant that was bordering death anyway.

I shook my head and stuffed the note in one of my robe pockets. I really didn’t have time to contemplate shit like this. With my potions book in my bag, I turned and left the dorm, soon entering the common room and eventually the hallways of the dungeons. I didn’t have to go far, since the potions room was only a couple corridors over. I slid into my seat seconds before Snape swept into the room, and I looked at Cedric who was already staring at me.

“What?” I whispered, and he looked at Snape before replying.

“Where were you?” He asked, and I pulled out my quill, ink pot, and finally some parchment.

My dorm, why?

You left the hall in a rush. Why’d you go to your dorm?

I forgot my potions book. Besides, El was killing me and I had to get out of there.

He nodded thoughtfully, and I decided to listen to Snape for once in my life. Anything to keep my mind occupied.

Later that afternoon, we were sat in the dark, stuffy tower for divination. The scent of lavender and peppermint was already overcoming my senses to cloud my mind and make me feel extremely sleepy. According to Trelawny peppermint was meant to sharpen seeing abilities, however I’m not sure anything can sharpen the non-existent...

Luckily, this was another class with Cedric. Merlin knows why we chose to continue it after OWLs, but I suppose that’s the Slytherin in me again: proving I can do it, and do it best.

Right as I’m preparing to drift into my sleepy daze, Ced nudges me. 

“Trelawny. Five o’clock,” he mouths, nodding his head in the direction of my left shoulder.

“Hello dears!” She springs up, slightly like a jack in a box. I entertain the thought of telling her so, but she cuts me off as I open my mouth.

“Have you seen anything in your teacups yet?” She questions, staring at us in a way that is a touch too dramatic for my taste. 

“Erm, yes.” I respond, trying to save Cedric’s skin since he just saved mine. Grabbing his emerald green tea cup, I grasp the golden yellow handle, and twist it three times. I’m not sure why... it just seemed right.

I glance at my book, but decide to wing it. 

“I see a knight- or er. Perhaps a hero?” Trelawny nods, her eyelids fluttering as she rests them close and furrows her brow. 

“No, it’s a knight in shining armour.” I nod, settling on this seeing. Cedric glances up slightly at the word ‘shining’ but shrugs it off quickly. He smirks at me,

“Oh, and what does that symbolise y/n?” His eyes flash slightly with mischief.

“It means you should keep your big mouth shut!” I glare at him, but can’t help cracking into a smile after a moment in his laughing gaze.

“Well dears,” Trelawny chirps at us, grabbing for the cup. “Indeed! I see...”

She gasps as I lazily flick my wand to float the cup off of the ground. I still wish I had remembered this trick when we were working with crystal balls...

“Oh Professor!” I groan miserably, despite the traces of thick sarcasm. “Please don’t say I’m due to die,” I throw myself back in my chair while Cedric tries to hold in a snort.

“I’m afraid you are my dear, in a most unfortunate incident involving a revolving door and a popsicle...”

—

“Charms is the worst.” Cedric groaned from beside me, and I nodded. Charms was fucking boring is what it was.

“Flitwick said it was a practical today.” I remembered, and Cedric brightened up considerably.

“About connecting minds?” He asked, and I nodded.

“I think so, partners?” I answered and asked, but I already knew what Cedric was going to say.

“Howdy.” He tipped an imaginary hat at me, and I sniggered.

“Attention seventh years! I’d like you all to get into pairs, and I will form the mind connecting spell. It will last for just one minute, and there may be minor discomfort as the minute comes to a close. Jordan and Berg, you’re first up.” Flitwick began the charm on the first Hufflepuff and Slytherin duo, and they laughed excitedly as the charm went into effect.

“Diggory and L/n, let’s get to it. Face one another and stare into each other’s eyes.” Flitwick instructed, and Ced beamed at me as we stared at each other.

“Now hold each other’s hands, please.” I felt myself growing sweaty at the thought, but Cedric took my hands with ease, and without breaking eye contact.

His grey eyes were more startling than ever, and I couldn’t help but wonder what the hell the pretty boy was thinking.

“Ut copulare,” Flitwick began murmuring until out of the corner of my eye I watched a flying wand hit the professor. “Oh!” Flitwick let out a startled cry, and Cedric and I nodded simultaneously as we broke eye contact to stare at him.

“Uh oh.” He tittered nervously, and I swallowed. The last time I heard a professor say uh oh was when Slughorn brewed a de-aging potion and it exploded on one of my classmates, rendering them to infancy for a good three weeks. Rumour had it she still used the pacifier from time to time.

“Do you feel okay?” Flitwick asked, and I nodded.

“I feel fine, Professor. In fact, I’ve never felt better.” This was a lie. I had woken up with a knot the size of a rats nest in my hair this morning, as well as having forgotten to do the potions homework last night. However, my teacher looked relieved, so I smiled at him.

“Same here.” Cedric added, and Flitwick sighed.

“Just in case the spell worked, I won’t be able to perform another one on you until at least a week from now.” Flitwick said, and with that he moved to another pair.

“Well I’d say that went well.” Cedric said, and I snickered.

“About as well as your date with Cho.” I was talking about his final date with Cho, which ended in her pouring a milkshake on his head. 

“You’re going to be the death of me.” He pinched the bridge of his nose, and I stuck my tongue out. 

—

“Salazar, what’s the reasoning for all these decorations?” I asked as we left charms. Pink and red decorations hung from ceiling to floor, and it was then that I realised it was Valentines next week.

“Every year the house elves go overboard. We should talk to them about it sometime.” Cedric wrinkled his nose, and I nodded. This was just too much.

“What’s going on over there?” I pointed to a circle that had formed, and it looked like two people were in the centre of it.

“Only one way to find out.” Cedric said, and we slowly approached it. Adrian, a fellow Slytherin, nodded at me.

“What’s going on?” I asked him, and he gestured to the pair inside the circle.

“They’re trapped until they kiss, because a rose fell from the ceiling right in front of them. It’s magically binding, so we could be here a while.” Adrian explained, and I tugged on Cedric’s arm.

“Did you hear that? It’s like mistletoe, they can’t leave til they kiss. It only happens when two people are in love.” I repeated, and Cedric nodded as we walked away from the circle.

“I barely survived the mistletoe.” Cedric said with a shiver, and I laughed as I remembered the girls that had chased Cedric down while waving mistletoe. It had been a sight for sore eyes.

“It’s okay, Ceddie. Time for lunch!”

—

“Could we maybe eat by the lake?” He asked, already having dodged three eager third years. The Great Hall was as busy as ever, and I noticed I myself was subject to several glares.

“I suppose.” I dramatically consented, grabbing two pumpkin pasties and some carrots with hummus from the nearest table. “Let’s go,” I led the charge. 

A particularly determined looking Goyle stood directly in my path, stationed by a suspicious rose. I debated how best to get around, when I felt my feet lift off of the floor altogether.

“Cedric!” I shouted as I was levitated a good ten feet across the hall towards the door. I could only hear Cedric’s laughter as he ran below me, and I ducked as I saw the doorway coming straight for my head.

“Mr. Diggory!” McGonagall was heard shouting across the hall, however we were already halfway to the lake.

Dissolving in a fit of laughter, we sank onto the bank of the lake. 

“Ah, back where it all began.” Cedric grinned towards me. I could think of a great deal of memories surrounding this lake, but I wasn’t entirely sure of any that had marked the beginning of something.

“What began?” I nudged him with my elbow and took a rather ‘unladylike’ bite of my pumpkin pasty.

Cerdric shrugged, and responded by taking a large mouthful of his own. He then grinned with a pumpkin paste covering his teeth.

“Ugh, you’re disgusting!” I threw a pebble at him gently. He simply transformed it into a golden finch. And so, another calm, sunny day was passed by the lake.

••••

After lunch, I took a quick trip to the dorms while Cedric was in quidditch practise. I needed to finish this potions essay, and only one person could save me.

“Come on, Y/n! You’re so slow.” Pansy teased as she speed-walked to the dorm, and I only huffed.

“These legs weren’t made for walking!” I shouted as she entered the portrait, and the only response was the faint echo of her laughter.

By the time I stepped through the portrait, the common-room was empty aside a few stray kids from the years below. I walked through the short hallway to our dorm, and Pansy was staring directly at me as I came in, a note in her hand. 

“I’m the first to admit that I’m reckless, I get lost in your beauty and I can’t see two feet in front of me.” Pansy read it aloud, and I froze.

“What the fuck is this?” She asked, and I shrugged.

“I don’t know. I got another one yesterday, I kinda forgot about it.” I explained, and Pansy raised an eyebrow.

“That’s sus, but whatever. Come on, let’s get to the library!”

—

“Holy Hippogriff!” I jumped as I felt a hard impact in my lower back. 

“You okay y/n?” Pansy frowned as I rubbed my back. I frowned back, puzzled by this unexplained pain.

“I think so? Something just hit me in the back,” I explained, glancing around for the remnants of a prank of some sort. None appeared. Pansy shrugged and returned to her potions work. I gathered my stuff, and debated where to head next. 

It was the end of the day, and I had completed all of my homework. So I was blessed with some nice free time. In a last second decision I veered towards the Quidditch pitch to meet Cedric after his practice. 

“Hey y/n!”  A sweet voice called out as I was about to duck out of the entrance hall.

“Hello Holly!” I spun on my heel. Holly was always quite nice to me, even though most of the Gryffindors avoided me. “How are you?” 

“Swell thanks,” she nodded. “Just wanted to say congrats to you and Diggory! You two are so cute together!” I blushed all the way up to my ears.

“No I-“ she was already speeding down the hall back towards the tower. I sighed and continued towards the pitch.

••••

“Y/n!” Cedric waved across the field towards me. I noticed him limping slightly, but didn’t think anything of it. 

“How was practice Ced?” I asked, and he only shrugged.

“Managed to take a bludger to the back, but it wasn’t too bad.” He said as he approached me. 

“Doesn’t look good if you’re limping. Want to go to Pomfrey’s?” I gestured towards the various windowsills side by side that was the infirmary, and Cedric shook his head.

“I’m fine, Hooch said it would be worn off by tomorrow. Did you get all your homework done?” He asked, and I saw his face flinch.

“That’s it. We’re going to the infirmary. Give me your arm. Besides, my back has been aching since the library. Maybe I can get it checked out.” He held his arm out curiously, and I wrapped it around my shoulder so I could help him put less pressure on his leg.

“Thanks, Y/n.” He said sheepishly, and I smiled at him.

“I got all my homework done, by the way. Pansy even helped me with the last part of the potions essay that we struggled to do, so I’ll explain it tonight or tomorrow.” I said, and Cedric nodded.

“Sounds good, let’s go.” 

—

“For some reason you’ve both bruised the exact same area in your lower back. Do you two have anything you’d like to share with me?” Pomfrey stared at us, and Cedric laughed.

“It's a complete coincidence!” He said, and I nodded, but I was mentally frowning.

There’s no such thing as coincidences.

—

“One day you’re going to spill the boiling water all over yourself.” I said as I watched Cedric in a feeble attempt to pour the water from 15 inches above into his teacup.

“I’m not the quidditch captain for nothing-ow!” Cedric yelped at the same time I hissed, and I quickly inspected my wrist.

“Some of it just landed on me!” I glared at him, and he stared blankly back.

“It landed on me, Y/n. You’re across the table it couldn’t have splashed you.” Cedric said slowly, and I realised my wrist was bone-dry.

“I swear to Godric I felt it hit me.” I said earnestly, and Cedric nodded.

“I don’t doubt it. Shall we go back to Pomfrey?” Cedric asked, and I shook my head.

“It’s probably nothing. Lighten up, Ced, we’re fine. We’ve got the lovely class of charms next, followed by Sprout’s endless herbology lectures.” I nudged Cedric with my elbow, but he still seemed upset.

“Hey, what’s up?” I leaned closer and murmured, and he leant his head on mine.

“What if it’s not nothing? What if we’ve been cursed somehow?” I wished I could erase the worry from his face.

“I highly doubt that. Hogwarts is one of the safest places ever, and if someone was going around cursing people we would definitely know about it.” I tried my best to reassure him, and he sighed.

“Okay, dipshit. I guess I trust you.”

— 

“Odds on you asking Sprout what the word sex means?” I asked, and Cedric laughed.

“Ten.” I looked at him in surprise. 

“You sure? That’s pretty low.” He nodded.

“Why wouldn’t I be sure?” He asked, and I snickered.

“No reason. Three, two, one!”

“Eight!” We both shouted, and I screeched with laughter. Ced was done for.

“No! Rematch!” He said desperately, and I tried to control my laughter.

“Nope! Go ask!” I put my hand over my mouth in an attempt to control my laughter again, and Cedric reluctantly raised his hand.

“Professor? I have a question.” Cedric called out, and Sprout turned around to face us.

“Yes dear?” She smiled at him, and I nudged Cedric’s leg.

“What’s sex?” The entirety of the Hufflepuff-Slytherin class erupted into screams, and Sprout gasped.

“Mr Diggory!” She exclaimed, and I genuinely thought I was going to piss myself.

“Well, as my head of house, I thought you would be the best teacher to ask.” He said, and I noticed his cheeks were bright red. He shot a glare at me before smiling innocently at Sprout. 

“If you stay after class I might be able to explain, however, we are currently in a herbology lesson!” She looked like she was about to cry, and I slapped Cedric’s arm as I laughed.

“You’re insane!” I said, and the smile he gave me made my breath get caught in my throat.

-

The next day I ran into Cedric just before potions. He was about to trip right over his own two feet, when I caught his hand. 

"Morning, clumsy!" I smirked slightly as he brushed off the imaginary dust he had acquired during his slip. 

"Morning, y/n," he mumbled, lacking his regular enthusiasm. After chatting for a minute or two he started to back away slowly. 

"Hey, I just have to run to the bathroom. I'll be back in time for class though!" He yelled over his shoulder now. He started to run down the stony corridor, however I realised after a moment that he was heading the wrong way. 

"Wait! Ced, you're heading towards the common rooms!" I tried to yell after him, but figured he'd learn it in a moment anyway. It's not like he hadn't learned this before either. He came to the Slytherin common room almost as much as I went to the Hufflepuff one. 

I followed his footsteps, figuring I would be able to talk to him on his way back. What I didn't expect was to see a single slip of parchment fluttering to the floor, and Cedric nowhere in sight. 

I bent down quickly to pick it up, crinkling the hard corners with my anxious movements. 

I’m like a boat on the water, you’re the raise on the waves that calm my mind.

It was in the same, scrawling writing as the other notes I had received, and the paper was exactly the same to all of the other's I had received. 

Was it Cedric? I flipped the paper over and looked at the blank back. He couldn't possibly love me. Could he? 

I smiled at the message, remembering when we met up over break once. We had taken his father’s boat sailing, and had somehow managed to capsize on three different occasions. I heard footsteps coming down the corridor, and I shoved the message in my pocket.

"Hey!" Cedric called out as he came near.

“Hi, Ced. Or should I say boat on the water?” I twirled the piece of paper around my fingers as he approached, and I watched as his face fell.

“That’s not mine.” He said quickly, and I raised my eyebrows.

“Hmm. If that’s true, then I better go search for my secret admirer.” I grinned as he took the bait and grabbed my hand, tugging me closer to him.

“How long have you known?” Ced asked, and I shrugged.

“I had my suspicions on Finch-Fletchley, but you proved me wrong with this note,” I laughed at Cedric’s reaction. “I’m joking of course, Ceddie. I had no idea who it was, but I’m glad it’s you.”

“Wait, really?” He seriously was the cutest. The way he was looking at me right now made me feel like the luckiest girl in the world; then again, I just might be.

“Of course I am. In case you hadn’t noticed, I’ve been trying to drop hints for four years.” Cedric laughed at my confession, and I elbowed him.

“Oi! I was only laughing because I’ve been dropping hints for five. I figured in our last year at school I may as well confess that I’m in love with you.” My breath caught in my throat, and he raised his hand to my face only to brush a piece of hair out of my eyes.

“You’re in love with me?” I asked, and he nodded.

“It’s practically impossible not to be. Now that you know it’s me, I was wondering if you wanted to be my valentine?” Cedric asked, and a rustling from above made us look up.

A red rose had just bloomed.

-

It was valentine's day. Of course, just about everywhere was packed with starry eyed couples. We had opted to stay at Hogwarts, and have a sweet picnic together. Cedric had taken care of the setting, and I had found all of the food. 

It wasn't a bad effort. In my opinion he went slightly overboard with the pink, but I did appreciate the various hints of green he had added with the plates and napkins. Plus, I had brought plenty of food from the kitchens (which Cedric had shown me in my fourth year) 

We settled down on the edge of the lake, and I took a moment to appreciate the sunny day, and the time I could finally spend with Cedric not just as friends, but as a couple. I laid down, and gently rested my head of Cedric's lap.

"We should have done this a lot sooner," I joked, but I meant it as well. Knowing I could have been dating Cedric for months before now was a little bittersweet. I tried to remember that at least we were here now together. 

I wasn't exactly sure if I believed in soulmates, but I knew that if I had a soulmate, it would be Cedric. 

"Thank goodness you found the note I was going to hide the other day," Cedric smiled.

"That's true, you're no Gryffindor," I teased. "Thank goodness!" I stuck my tongue out in mock disgust. 

And that's when things took a turn. I watched as Cho came up to us, with a nasty frown on her face. Her frown darkened our picnic almost instantly.

“Fuck.” I breathed under my voice. What in Merlin’s name could she possibly want with me and Cedric? Obviously we were about to find out.

“Ceddie, honey!” She sang sweetly as she came closer to us. Cedric shot me a look and quickly set a reassuring, soft kiss on my lips before getting up.

“Cho. What are you doing here?” He asked, sounding incredibly confused. He rubbed his hand through his hair, anxious about her mission

“I came to rescue you!” She grinned innocently. As she reached for her hand I couldn’t help myself.

“Hey! Back off!” She shot me a burning glare, and sent a stinging spell at my wrist.

“Shit,” Cedric and I spoke in unison as we both grabbed our wrists. I muttered a healing spell or two as I glared towards Cho.

“Look, Cho, go away. Okay?” Cedric tried to kindly shoo her away. “I’m perfectly happy with y/n!” I smiled softly, glad to here Cedric say that.

“It’s okay Ceddie! I realised exactly why it was her in that lake and not me!” Cho chirrped. She sounded quite proud of herself, and I was curious what on earth she had come up with.

“Yeah, it’s because I love her!” Cedric explained. Cho let out a shrill laugh, and patted his arm.

“No silly!” She smiled sweetly, as if explaining to a young child. “You THINK you love her!” She shot another laser like look towards me.

“I’m pretty sure I know who I love Cho!” Cedric’s face began to harden as he realised this wasn’t going to be easy to brush off.

“She used a love potion on you!” Cho screeched, grabbing hold of Cedric.

“I said let go of him!” I got up off the blanket and walked over.

“She’s best in our potions class, she’s loved you since we were 13, and she’s a fucking Slytherin!” Cho explained desperately! She had small, glistening tears in her eyes now. I almost felt pity for her, but I couldn’t.

I walked over slowly, deciding exactly what I should say.

“Being a Slytherin doesn’t make me evil Cho, just like you being a Ravenclaw doesn’t make you smart!” I frowned. I hated how much the stereotypes of our houses defined us. “People aren’t able to be perfectly categorised between four groups!” Cho glared and jabbed her wand at me.

Before I realised what was happening, Cedric jumped between me and the flash of white light, but it couldn't stop the spell for some reason. I doubled over in excruciating pain that hit right around my belly button. It was as if my stomach had turned inside out and began to burn the surrounding flesh. I glanced over, and Cedric was in obvious pain as well. 

I couldn’t contain the whimper that escaped from my mouth, and Cedric met my eyes.

“How the hell did you hit Y/n with that?” He spat out, while Cho only stared at us in shock and what looked like panic. After Cedric let out what sounded like a painful groan, Cho waved her wand and relief flooded me.

“Tell me! How did you do it?” Now that he was able to stand up without pain, Cedric got incredibly close to her, towering over her. 

“I-I don’t know! You jumped in front, she must have been faking it!” I watched as Cedric lowered the manicured finger she had pointed at me, and whispered something in her ear. The effect in had on her was instantaneous; she slowly stepped away before turning tail and bolting away.

“We need to go to Pomfrey.” Cedric spoke without looking at me, though when I clasped his hand he squeezed mine tightly.

-

“I don’t know what to tell the pair of you. Have you been hit by an unknown spell in the past month or so?” Pomfrey looked tired, I noticed.

I wondered how often she slept.

“Not that I can think of.” Cedric said, and I nodded. 

“Unless someone’s hit us without us noticing, then no.” I added, and Pomfrey sighed.

“I don’t know what’s wrong with the two of you. I’ve only heard of cases like these, never seen one myself. I think there’s only been four or five documented.” She explained, causing Ced and I to exchange glances.

“Well, what happened to those people?” I asked the obvious question, since my lovely boyfriend clearly wasn’t going to. Pomfrey shifted slightly.

“One person in each pair died before a full analysis and case study could be completed.” I almost laughed at the look on Cedric’s face until I realised that one of us was totally going to die soon.

“Well, my darling, it was lovely knowing you.” I patted him on the back, and he wrapped his arms around me, encasing me with love.

“What can we do?” Cedric asked, and Pomfrey shook her head.

“Not a whole lot. Try and remember if the pair of you have been struck by a spell in the past though.” 

-

It took fourteen seconds after we left the infirmary to Cedric to slap his forehead.

“I think we’re stupid.” He said, and I raised an eyebrow.

“Speak for yourself. Personally, I’m the smartest person I know.” He snickered, and I frowned. Where was the joke?

“Flitwick hit us with that spell, remember? And the spell was interrupted halfway through, which created a new spell entirely.” Cedric explained, and I sighed.

“I think we’re stupid too.”

-

We'd spent another lovely 10 years being stupid together. Sure we'd had our ups and downs, but we always knew that we were soulmates.

 Since we had found out about the spell, we've helped Flitwick research whatever charm had put us in the situation of feeling each others pain. It was actually quite strange when I was pregnant with our son, Cedric had noticed the contractions first. 

 After spending a couple of years with Flitwick researching the spell, we'd moved to Scotland and gotten married. Life had been quite pleasant. We owned a small farm where we raised cows and hippogriffs alike. Our son was now 6 years old, and had already decided that he wanted to be in Slytherin 'Just like mummy!'  

Currently we were sitting in our favorite wizarding restaurant. I gazed over towards Cedric's kind face as he helped our son go through the maze on the children's menu. I grinned over at my two lovely boys, and nudged Cedric with my foot under the table.

"Hm?" He looked up, and our son copied him. I smiled towards them both, and silently thanked Merlin that I had these two lovely boys in my life.

"What do you want to eat?" I held up the menu, and raised my eyebrows. Cedric and our son looked at each other and then looked back towards be in sync. 

"PIZZA!" They said together. I giggled and they quickly joined in. 

Just as we share pain, Cedric and I share the multitude of joys that have bloomed in our lives. And that made the joy all the better.

[acesydneysage]

A Sydney and Eddie retrospective

@vablappreciationweek Favorite familial relationship: The Melrose Twins

Part 2, Books 4-6: The Heartbreaking Trilogy, Why Are You Doing This To Me This Is So Sad

Part 1 here

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney and Eddie definitely already love each othe like siblings. By the end of the book they prove that in the most painful way possible, but let's ge through some cuteness first while I steel my heart.

We get Adrian's perspective on this book, so it's nice to see Eddie talking about Sydney when she isn't around:

“Because it’s Sydney,”said Eddie from the backseat. In the rearview mirror, I could see an easy smile on his face, though there was a perpetual sharpness in his eyes as he scanned the world for danger. He and Neil had been trained by the guardians, the dhampir organization of badasses that protected the Moroi. “Giving one hundred percent to a task is slacking for her.”

When Sydney wants to soften Zoe's extreme opinions on vampires, she picks Eddie to be Zoe's driving instructor because she wants "someone approachable and friendly who’d show her not all dhampirs were evil creatures of the night."

When Sydney is being a sappy romantic and describes what love is to the group, Eddie is the one who lingers looking at her the longest, he can tell something is different about her. They really know each other by now. When Eddie let's Zoe drive outside of the parking lot, he knows Sydney so well that he knows what she's going to say, and what to say to make it better:

“I can’t believe Eddie of all people would do that. It’s irresponsible.”She nodded. “He said you’d say that and that I should tell you, ‘At least it wasn’t Angeline.’”I couldn’t help it. I laughed at that. “That’s true. He does have limits.”

Later when she tells Zoe frivolity might not be such a bad thing, they have a sweet little moment:

“Sometimes frivolity isn’t a bad thing.” Eddie, who didn’t seem put out about the dance, grinned. “Sydney, when we first met, I never would’ve thought those words could come out of your mouth. What happened to you?” Everything, I thought. I met his grin with one of my own. “We all need some fun. We should forget that dance and go out and see a movie that night. When was the last time we all did that?”“I think the answer is ‘never,’” said Jill.

When Neil comes up with his crazy plan to test the Stigoi vaccine, Eddie is very shaken up by the similarities to the event in Spokane that lead to Mason's death. While Sydney thinks that "if Eddie was involved, one Strigoi seemed feasible", what finally convinces Eddie to go is her magic. Although Neil puts her on the spot, she does ultimately make the choice to trust him with this dangerous knowledge about her:

Eddie wasn’t swayed, and there was a look on his face I’d never seen before. “I’m not denying the principles, but it’s too dangerous. And not just to you. I did something like this once . . .” A pain so intense that it tore at my heart crossed Eddie’s features. “Me and some friends. We thought we could take on Strigoi . . . and my best friend ended up dead. No matter how prepared you think you are, even against only one, the unexpected can happen.” [...] The more this got out, the more trouble I was in. And yet, as I looked into Eddie’s steady gaze, I was reminded of our friendship and all we’d been through. In a world of secrets and lies, there were few I could thoroughly trust anymore, but I knew then, without a doubt, that Eddie was one I could. Taking a deep breath, hoping I wasn’t being a fool, I held out my hand. A nervous glance around confirmed we were alone, and I brought forth a spark of fire in my palm that soon grew into the size of a tennis ball. Eddie leaned over and gasped, the orange flames reflecting off his face. “Maybe . . . maybe our odds have gotten better,” he said.

During the fight with the Strigoi they go after, we get a little more about their similarities, how they're both so dedicated to helping others, and they both seriously admire each other so much. You get a bit of that from Sydney's perspective,and how much she cares about Eddie:

I knew what agony Eddie had to be in because I shared it. We both wanted to help Neil. Doing nothing, even for a handful of seconds, went against every part of our beings. [...] For his part, Eddie was magnificent. It had been a while since I’d seen him fight, and I’d nearly forgotten that the adopted brother I joked and ate lunch with was a lethal warrior. [...] I had to act. I couldn’t just stand by and let Eddie be annihilated, not if there was anything I could do.

After the fight, Sydney is caught up in the euphoria of surviving a near death experience, and she makes pretty much zero effort to hide her relationship with Adrian from Eddie:

As soon as I was on the road with Eddie and Jill, I told them, “I need to see Adrian. Drop me off and take my car. He’ll give me a ride back.” Eddie looked totally surprised by that. “Why do you need to see him?” “I just do.” I didn’t feel like attempting an excuse, and Eddie wasn’t the type to badger me. The most I got was a curious look when we reached the apartment. His curiosity turned to panic when he realized I’d be leaving him alone with Jill. “Good luck,”I said as I got out, not entirely sure who needed it the most.

When Eddie figures out that they're together she tries to avoid the conversation, expecting condemnation, but he's very supportive. This is the last conversation they have before everything falls apart, and everything I tried to remove to shorten it felt like an important character moment, but the most relevant parts are bolded:

“Sydney . . .”Eddie’s light mood vanished, and even with my eyes on the road, his tone tipped me off that something serious was about to happen. “About that. About you going to Adrian’s . . .”I felt a tightening of my throat and couldn’t answer immediately. “Don’t talk about that,” I said. “Please.” “No, we need to.” Eddie knew. Eddie knew, and if the subject wasn’t so dire, I would’ve laughed. He was oblivious to his own social affairs, but guardians were trained to watch and observe. Eddie did that, and no doubt he’d picked up all sorts of little things between Adrian and me. We tried so hard to hide from the Alchemists, but hiding from our friends, who knew us and loved us, was impossible. “Are you going to lecture me?” I asked stiffly. “Tell me I’m breaking taboos that have been in place for centuries to preserve the purity of our races?” “What?” He was aghast. “No, of course not.” I dared a look. “What do you mean ‘of course not’?” “Sydney, I’m your friend. I’m his friend. I’d never judge you, and I’d certainly never condemn you.” “A lot of people think what we’re doing is wrong.” It felt strange and oddly relieving to acknowledge my relationship with Adrian to another person. “Well, I’m not one of them. If you guys want it . . . that’s your business.” “Everyone’s suddenly very liberal about this,” I said with wonder. “I just heard a similar thing from Trey and Angeline—about their own relationship, that is. Not about . . . other people’s.” “I think my ill-fated time with Angeline may be part of it,” he said, with more humor than I expected, considering she’d cheated on him. “She talked enough about her people that after a while, it didn’t seem that weird. And, well, my race exists because humans and Moroi got together and had kids way back when.”I felt a smile start to grow on my lips. “Adrian says it wouldn’t be fair to the world if he and I had kids, what with the overwhelming power of our collective charm, brains, and good looks.” Eddie laughed outright, not something I heard very often, and I found myself laughing too. “Yeah, I can see him saying something like that. And that’s the thing, I think . . . the real reason I’m not that weirded out by you two. It goes against all sound logic, but somehow, you two together . . . it just works.” “‘Against all sound logic,’” I repeated. “Isn’t that the truth.” A little of his amusement faded. “But that’s not what worries me. Or the morality of it. It’s your own people I’m worried about. How long are you going to be able to go on like this?” I sighed as I took the exit for the meeting spot. “As long as the center holds.”

Eddie thinks Sydney and Adrian make sense. Obviously I agree that they absolutely do, but on a surface level it doesn't look like it. You have to know them and have a better understanding of their personalities to figure out how they actually fit together. What he's worried about is the Alchemists. Of course, by this point, since the ending of TFH is a sadistically drawn out torture, we already know from the ending of the last chapter that she's about to be captured.

I made it the door first... and found Eddie. His clothes were dirty and torn, and the right side of his face was swollen and red. There was a wild, half-crazed look in his eyes I’d never seen before. A feeling of dread settled over me, and the darkness and despair and fear that had left me alone for so long began to rear their collective ugly head. I knew, even without Eddie saying a word, what had to have happened. I knew because of that terrible look of pain on his face, a pain similar to when he hadn’t been able to save Mason. [...] “Adrian,” he gasped out. “I tried, I tried. There were too many. I couldn’t stop them.” He came forward and gripped my arm. “I tried, but they took her. It was a setup. I don’t know where she is. She tricked me, damn it! I never would have left her if she hadn’t tricked me!”

When they figure out it's a trap and he tells her to run, her first instinct was that she couldn't leave him behind. When they're running together through the woods the Alchemists start shooting at Eddie, specifically. He's running at Sydney's pace and she knows he would never leave her, the he would die to save her. And she knows she could not let him die.

Eddie won’t leave me, I thought frantically. He’ll never leave me. They want me, but they don’t care about him. He can live or die, and it won’t matter to them. But if he’s what’s keeping them away, they’ll shoot him and destroy his body. “Eddie,”I said, panting. “We need to split up.” “Never.” That answer wasn’t a surprise. What was a surprise was that out of all the things rattling around in my mind, Abe Mazur’s words popped up in the forefront:. Don’t think for an instant that I wouldn’t do terrible, unspeakable things if it could save someone I love. Because it was Abe, I’d naturally assumed he was talking about doing terrible, unspeakable things to other people. But as Eddie and I held on to each other, the words took on a whole different meaning. In that moment, I knew I would do anything to save Eddie—my friend—whom I loved. Even if it meant doing something terrible and unspeakable to myself.

The first thing established in the first paragraph of Bloodlines is that re-education is Sydney's greatest fear, literally her worst nightmare. But she faces that, she walks right back and turns herself in in order to keep Eddie safe. She tricks him into spliting up by claiming that it's part of a spell, and he believes her because he's seen her do extraordinary things.

“I tried,” he whispered. “Adrian, I tried. I never would have ever left her if I’d known. I would have stayed with her to the end. I would have laid down my life and—” I had to forcibly hit the pause button on my own feelings as I dealt with his. Eddie had lost another person. It was bad luck, that was all. He was one of the most badass , capable guardians out there, but he couldn’t believe that about himself, not when he kept seeing these failures laid at his feet. Looking into his eyes, I recognized the intense self-loathing consuming him. I knew the feeling well because I was carrying around a fair amount of it myself. “I know you would have,” I said. “There was nothing you could do.” He shook his head and stared off with a haunted look. “I was an idiot. I never should’ve bought into that spell stuff. After what I’d seen her do with fire, it just seemed so . . . well, real. I believed her. It made sense.” I smiled without humor. “Because that’s what she does. She’s trained to make people believe things. And outsmart them. You didn’t have a chance.” She also was willing to trade her own life to save her friend’s, but no one had trained her to do that. It was just something within her. Eddie wasn’t going to be swayed so easily, and I left him to his grief as I huddled with mine.

When Sydney's captured, Eddie feels like he failed her, just as he'd failed Mason in Spokane, and Jill when the rebels killed her. But still, he has faith in her, that she can hold on to herself:

“How much can they really change her, though?” asked Eddie. “I mean . . . she’s Sydney. She’ll be the same . . . right? She can fight them.”

In Silver Shadows,Sydney is in re-education, and she still finds it in her to be worried about her friends on the outside. Eddie's humiliation and guilt over having lost Sydney killed the kindling romance he had with Jill. There isn't much he can do to help find her at this point.

Once they find a lead on where she is, going to her rescue is very important to Eddie, but he also feels conflicted about leaving Jill with less protection. When the time comes, Jill convinces them to take Eddie because he needed to be part of her rescue, he'd been consumed by guilt this whole time, and that might be the only thing that would allow him to feel redeemed.

With some urging from Jill, he leaves her behind, and goes off to break into a prison again, to rescue a much worthier prisoner this time. After getting mostof the prisoners out, Eddie and Adrian go back into the burning building to get Sydney and the remaining people. After they bring her out to freedom, they have this moment where they hold each other and cry, it always makes me so emotional:

Eddie came last, and as we sized each other up, the tears hovering in my eyes finally spilled. “Eddie, I’m so sorry I lied to you that night.” He shook his head and pulled me to him. I heard tears choke up his voice. “I’m sorry I couldn’t stop them. I’m sorry I wasn’t protection enough.” “Oh, Eddie,” I said, sniffling. “You’re the best protection. No one could have a better guardian than you. Or a better friend.”

I hope Eddie did feel redeemed, because Sydney pretty much immediately tricks him, and gives him the slip again. She does take the time to try to nudge his love life again first. Then she goes off with Adrian, going against the plan, because she thinks the other fugitives will be safer without her.

"Eddie shot me one last parting smile that nearly choked me up again." “I never thought I’d see Castile brought to tears,” said Adrian as he started up the Mustang. “This really hit him hard. Hell, it hit all of us hard, but he really beat himself up for it. He never forgave himself for you giving him the slip.” “Let’s hope he can,” I said, putting my seatbelt on. “Because it’s about to happen again. We aren’t meeting them at the safe house.”

Eddie was furious about this, but at least this time she didn't get captured. And soon enough he had something else to feel bad about, since Jill went missing right after he got back to her. She disppeared without a trace in the middle of the night, and there's another failure laid at Eddie's feet.

He's not in a great state in the beginning of The Ruby Circle:

Eddie appeared in the doorway. Seeing him almost always brought a smile to my face. In Palm Springs, we’d passed ourselves off as twins, sharing similar dark blond hair and brown eyes. But over time, he’d truly come to feel like a brother to me. I knew few others with such courage and loyalty. I was proud to call him my friend, and as such, it hurt me to see all the pain he felt over Jill’s disappearance. There was always a haunted look about him now, and sometimes I worried whether he was really taking care of himself. He hardly ever shaved anymore, and I had a feeling the only reason he bothered eating was so that he could keep training and stay in shape for when he located Jill’s abductors.

Sydney isn't doing all that great either, stuck in a hostile environment while she deals with her trauma and worries about Jill. When Sydney and Eddie sneak out of court to look for Jill, the power of Raptorbot can make him smile:

“It couldn’t have been that unexpected,” I argued. “I mean, why did he build a dinosaur body for her? Why not something more human? Or at least a more friendly animal?” “Because then there wouldn’t have been much of a movie,” said Eddie. “There’s still got to be a plausible backstory …” I said. A wry smile crossed Eddie’s features, and although the entire topic was absurd, I realized I’d hardly ever seen anything but a grim expression on his face since Jill had been taken. “I don’t think you can really sit down with a movie called Raptorbot Rampage and expect a plausible backstory,” he said. The attendant looked offended. “What are you suggesting? It was a fine piece of film. When the sequel comes out, people will be lined up out the doors to see this exhibit!” “Sequel?” Eddie and I asked in unison.

I love it when the twins talkin unison, even if they probably had opposite tones. And I really love Eddie being a fan of Raptorbot I'm sorry. He and Declan have matching Raptorbot pajamas, you can't change my mind. This is another exchange that screams siblings to me:

“We were probably his only customers today,” I remarked. “That’ll make us memorable—that and having someone who’s actually seen and liked Raptorbot Rampage.” “Hey,” warned Eddie. “Don’t judge until you’ve watched it.”

Later Sydney tries to tease him about it again, but he's focused on the search so his good humor doesn't come back. I think it's very sweet thet she saw something that had made him momentarily happy through the pain, and tried to press that button again.

Eddie is understandably very protective throughout this book. It's not paranoia if they're really out to get you, they actually run into Sydney's family, while they're trying to stay off the Alchemists' radar:

“Then get out of here. Hurry—before he comes out. Both of you.” I was stunned at this complete reversal in her behavior, but Eddie didn’t need to be told twice. He took hold of my arm and nearly dragged me to the car. “We’re going—now,” he ordered. I caught one last glimpse of Zoe before Eddie shoved me in the car, where Ms. Terwilliger sat waiting for us. A thousand emotions played over Zoe’s face as we peeled out, but I could only interpret a few. Sadness. Longing. As we quickly got back on the road, I found myself shaking. Eddie was driving and kept anxiously checking the rearview mirror. “No sign of pursuit,” he said. “She must not have been able to see which direction we went to tell him.” I slowly shook my head. “No … she didn’t tell him at all. She helped us.” “Sydney,” said Eddie, in a stern-but-trying-to-sound-kind voice, “she’s the one who turned you in the first time! The one who started that whole re-education nightmare.”

He doesn't really belive that Zoe had a change of heart, and he tries to be so gentle with Sydney, while anxiously trying to get her away.

With how sad he is in this TRC (he even has broody beard to show it), the bits where he gets excited about things are really adorable. He's very enthusiastic about meeting Malachi Wolfe:

“Are the Chihuahuas really trained to attack?” he asked. I couldn’t help but grin. “That’s what Wolfe claims. We’ve never seen them in action, though.” “I can’t wait to see his nunchucks.” “Do not touch them,” I warned. “Or any weapon, without permission. If he approves of you, he might lend you something too.” [...] “Oh, man,” breathed Eddie. “There really is a herd of them.” I’d seen Eddie fearlessly face down an attacking Strigoi, but he took an uneasy step back at the sound of the canine charge. I grinned and turned toward the door, waiting for Malachi Wolfe himself to answer.

There's a lot of hugging after Sydney leaves re-education. Sydney and Eddie hug a lot, but just in general. Good for her it's what she deserves. "“Eddie,” Sydney exclaimed, running to give him a hug. He grinned back. “You guys okay?” "

When Sydney and Eddie are preparing to infiltrate the Warriors of Light as recruits, she gets a super strength spell while he gets super excited about it, and they have the cutest arm wrestle in history:

“And how much stronger?” asked Eddie eagerly. “Like lift-up-a-car stronger?” Maude smiled. “Sorry to disappoint, but no. [...]” She glanced between Eddie and Sydney speculatively, her smile growing. “I’d say you’re strong enough to hold your own with a dhampir in an arm wrestling match.” “I would kind of love to see that,” I admitted. Eddie’s face said he would as well. Sydney groaned. “Really? That’s so barbaric.” Eddie leaned over and propped his arm up on the table that had previously held the canteen. “Come on, Mrs. Ivashkov. Let’s do this. Besides, if you’re squeamish about arm wrestling, how are you going to handle going head-to-head with the Warriors?” [...] Ultimately, Eddie pushed his strength to its limit and finally defeated her, but not without her holding her own for a while. I held up her arm triumphantly, like a victor at a boxing match. “My wife, ladies and gentlemen. Beauty, brains, and now brawn.” “Awesome,” said Eddie, in a rare moment of delight.

He's really excited about human magic in general, such an adorable nerd. And again, they really do admire each other so much. Following Sydney's blackmailing the Alchemists: "I hung up, and Eddie regarded me with awe. “That was pretty badass. But do you actually think it’ll work?”"

In the epilogue, Eddie pulled strings to live with Sydney and Adrian as a Guardian, and he's one of the people who's in on Declan's secret. He even chooses to sleepin Declan's room.

I sprinted out of the room and up the stairs, to the bedroom that doubled as both a nursery and Eddie’s room. I had high enough royal rank to finally be assigned my own guardian, and Eddie, in that noble way of his, had pulled strings to be assigned to us. I’d initially protested because I wanted him to stay at Court and have a semi-normal dating life with Jill. Eddie, however, felt obligated to be with us—both out of friendship to Sydney and me and for all the times Neil had helped him. We’d offered to turn the house’s small study into Eddie’s own bedroom, but he always ended up sleeping in Declan’s room anyway.

I'm really glad they didn't get separated by the end, it always makes me happy to think about them living together.

[bagadew]

The Great Ace Attorney Playthrough: The Case of the Unbreakable Speckled Band (Part 3b)

Last Time: After being discovered in Miss Pavlova’s cabin, things didn’t go as badly for us as we thought they would. In fact we got to dance around with Herlock Sholmes the Himbo Detective and discovered that Susato (and presumably someone at Capcom) really knows a lot about snakes, Nikolina has a pet kitten called Darka, and Kazuma apparently died by tripping over said kitten in a tragic accident. However, while it would probably be the best explanation for everyone involved, I’m not entirely sure it’s true as it still doesn’t explain the fact the crime scene was clearly tampered with.

Well it seems that, like me, Susato’s not entirely convinced Nikolina’s telling us the truth.

In fact, it looks like she’s sure of it.

You know, I didn’t expect to feel conflicted about finding Kazuma’s killer, but I kind of do...

Like, I came into this fully expecting to feel hatred and anger towards whoever did this. I was expecting to confront some hateful villain on a par with Miss Brett or Manfred Von Karma and to take satisfaction and vengeance in taking them down... but this isn’t that. There’s no conspiracy, no big untouchable threat, there’s just an abused and scared little girl who probably killed Kazuma because she thought he was going to kill her.

I don’t expect to feel good about taking Nikolina down. I think it’ll feel like when we had to go for Adrian Andrews... only this time she’s actually guilty.

I don’t have anything to add to Susato’s speech, other than it feels important to put it up, and it seems like a good show of who Susato is as a person.

You know, I’ve had a little difficulty pinning Susato down until now, but I think I’ve finally got her. Susato Mikotoba is a woman who believes in truth and justice, and will go to great lengths to reveal it... even if it hurts far more than the lie ever did.

Herlock’s been quiet for a while now, and I don’t think he’s still reeling from the snake business. It’s difficult to read his expression with his hat like that, so I can’t tell if he’s running through the crime scene in his mind, or if Susato’s words have struck a cord with him.

Wait WHAT?

Ah, ok. Herlock basically been using this whole thing as a distraction, and was planning to give everything over to Scotland Yard once we arrived home so they could deal with any ‘outstanding issues’.

(Also he’s handcuffed us again)

It hadn’t quite clicked before, but no one’s actually considered what Ryunosuke must be feeling. His best friend has just been murdered, and all almost everyone has done, has been to accuse him of killing him. Even among Hosonaga, and later Susato, Ryunosuke hasn’t got to really talk about his feelings, and I’m not sure if anyone’s actually given him the opportunity to do so.

With the next stop looming ever closer, I know we don’t exactly have the time to talk right now, but I hope Ryunosuke gets the chance once this is all done.

Ok, let’s do this.

Let’s run through what we know doesn’t fit so far:

1) The writing in Russian: not only is it in the wrong language but Kazuma died instantly, meaning that there’s next to no way he wrote this himself, and absolutely no way he did it if he died tripping over a kitten.

2) The ships log has been left blank from after 2am, meaning that who ever was probably in on it.

3) Half of Darka’s bell somehow found it’s way in Nikolina’s bin, meaning someone must have taken it from the crime scene.

4) If someone went into the cabin (which they must have done) they have to have pressed the emergence alarm after they left.

Let’s start with the biggest contradiction shall we? The photographic print.

Oh Nikolina, that’s not the issue here.

Ryunosuke’s got it.

Well done Ryunosuke.

I’m trying to work out what this could be. The bell half perhaps? But that’s something that was taken away surely.

Ok, so just something that proves it wasn’t an accident. Well I’m not too sure if it’s what I’m supposed to be looking for here, but I’ll present the mark on the floor and see what happens.

Oh thank god!

Well, not exactly Hosonaga, while it’s true that the tripped kitten explanation does explain how the bell was broken, it doesn’t explain why half of it made its way out of Kazuma’s room and into Nikolina’s bin.

Exactly Ryunosuke!

So, now that we’ve successfully proved someone was at the crime scene, let’s start working out who could have done it.

(TBH I still think that, while Nikolina killed Kazuma, Stroganoff was the person who tampered with the crime scene. The writing just feels a bit too calculated to be Nikolina, especially if she killed Kazuma out of fear.)

Ah, I was wondering when you’d have enough Stroganoff.

He’s basically saying that we already know I (Ryunosuke) was in the room, and that if what I’m saying is true then it has to be me as the door was bolted from the inside.

However, as I (both Ryunosuke and me) have zero knowledge of Russian, it’s impossible for me to have written the message. What we do have however, is knowledge as to how the door was bolted from the outside, which we must be getting close to revealing.

That’s... a really good question actually. Why didn’t they just take the whole thing?

Ah, I see. I was looking at this from the eyes of someone from the modern era of electric lights, rather than with the eyes of someone who lives with jolly old Victorian lighting. The floor wasn’t visible enough to make out half of a cats bell.

Shit... she’s their kid...

You know, while we still don’t know exactly how Nikolina came onboard this ship, I’d kind of assumed that the sailors (or perhaps someone affiliated with them) had found her trying to stow away or hiding down by the docks, and taken pity on her and decided to help her out. Because, I thought, there was no way Nikolina would reach out to strangers for help, given how scared she is. But the answer is that they weren’t strangers. They were family.

That’s why they’ve all been ready to risk everything without hesitation, even if it means covering up a murder. She’s their kid, and I’m about to make them watch it all be for nothing.

Yeah, Ryunosuke... it is...

(I love the way these spirits combine together. Nikolina looks even smaller and younger next to Stroganoff, and her hiding behind him while his fighting stance partly shields her does a good job of showing how things are for them right now. It makes me think of images of cornered animals protecting their young.)

Because he’s lying, but then I think you’ve already figured that out.

My time has come.

Susato, it’s ok. I’ve got this, you don’t need to make us look bad by suggesting things you know aren’t true.

DON’T PASS THE BUCK TO ME!!!

(Again, me an Rynosuke operate on the same wavelength now)

OH MY GOD, THE HIMBO DETECTIVE MADE A PROPER DEDICATION ALL ON HIS OWN!!!

HELL YEAH I DO!!!

Look at him go! He’s even using Susato’s fancy words to explain it!

And there goes the bolt on the door!

Now we’re explaining that the emergency stop button can be pressed at various different points around the ship, including, crucially, just outside these two cabins.

Oh Susato, you know as well as I do that this whole things had Herlock’s fingerprints all over it.

(Important information, along with not being trusted with a pet, do not trust Herlock Sholmes with any machinery or control panels)

To be honest this is the appropriate reaction. We’re at sea Herlock! Don’t mess with the thing that stands between us and drowning!

Herlock ‘But Did You Die’ Sholmes: Now lets not lose sight of the fact I got us evidence.

And the worst part is that he’s right.

Not if you drugged everyone!

I think it’s finally time to bring up the blank ships log.

Ok team, Herlock’s in charge of our excuses from now on!

We’re going through the fact that the log was blank, which with Stroganoff’s meticulous ritual of writing: Nothing to Report, every half hour on the dot, means that there definitely was something to report.

We sure are suggesting that Susato!

Not if you were drugged Hosonaga!

HE MADE ANOTHER PROPER DEDUCTION!!! I’M SO PROUD!!!

Ok, have the drugs finally worn off on Herlock’s brain, because he’s saying really smart things now. Or is it just that he’s taking things seriously rather than using this whole thing as a distraction?

Susato’s got it too!

So, because it’s such a large scale job, it couldn’t have been pulled off by any one person, meaning that the entire crew must have been in on it.

(Poor drugged Hosonaga, they really identified you weren’t one of them the second you set foot on this ship didn’t they?)

Now see, the problem with this strategy, is that while Bif might not be happy about the rest of his crew getting into trouble, I feel like this is a Murder on the Orient Express scenario, in the sense that everyone involved fully acknowledge the risks and came into this prepared to go down if necessary.

Yeah, he’s not happy, but he’s not cracking.

In fact, I’m not sure anything could cause him to crack. He is the one person’s standing between Nikolina and (potentially) death. I can’t see any way he’s going to back down.

I understand now, Herlock wasn’t aiming for him. Because they’re Nikolina’s family too.

It seems to be just like we suspected. Nikolina asked them to help her escape, and so, as one, the crew agreed to help her. They put sleeping drugs in the chicken so no one would notice what was happening, and got one of their comrades on the shore of Shanghai to take her to the ship at midnight.

Here’s the problem we have now though. Now she’s covering for them. Even if I’m wrong about Stroganoff or another member of the crew writing the message, the ships log means that they either knew or found out, and I can’t imagine they would have sat by and done nothing.

Wait a second though. We met Nikolina in her cabin, which means she must have got back inside some way or another. She couldn’t have done that if she was the one who pressed the alarm. I think this could be a way to establish someone must have helped her.

They’re still fighting, and to be honest I didn’t expect anything else. They’re both protecting each other now and it’s going to take nothing but evidence to make them budge.

I’m going to be perfectly honest Herlock, you’ve kind of lost me.

In fact I think you’ve lost most of the room...

ITS TIME FOR DANCE OF DEDUCTION 3: I WAS HOPPING I’D HAVE UNTIL THE NEXT CASE TO THINK UP A NAME!

Ryunosuke, don’t play dumb. We must dance!

(Or observe, that’s good too)

Right, well we’ve worked out Stroganoff was the one who did the fabrication, so we should probably focus on him first.

Got you.

To be honest I’m at a loss as to how he got some of the ink round there. Perhaps he knocked the ink over when he was sorting the crime scene out.

Or perhaps it was on his finger and he accidentally rubbed it over when he held his hands like this?

... I thought so...

:(

So, just after one in the morning, Bif was patrolling the corridor when a scared an pail Nikolina came up to him desperate for help. He followed her to Kazuma’s cabin and found him on the floor. Apparently the event before went on like Nikolina said, only instead of luring Darka through the vent, she went next door because she was worried about the sounds she’d heard through the vent.

... he’s still shielding her isn’t he?

I think Susato knows it too.

The problem is, that Nikolina’s following Bif’s lead. Perhaps if we had the chance to talk to her alone we’d know we were getting the truth, but not with Bif there. And to be honest I’m not sure I can really blame either of them for that.

I’m not 100% sure to be honest. And I don’t think I will be until this case is closed.

I’ll take that as not being done then.

I have no idea...

(His fist was closed, could that be the issue?)

(Thank you god of video games!)

OPEN WITH THAT NEXT TIME HERLOCK!

Yeah, we’re not going to be able to guess!

Nikolina’s earring!

Which he couldn’t have had if he was dead when she came in!

(Stroganoff’s face seems to suggest that we’ve reached the final curtain.)

I don’t think either of them can explain away this.

(Again, lead with the earring next time Herlock)

Things are in the right order now.

He let her in. He thought she was Hosonaga so he let her in.

It’s all going fine right now, but we know how this ends.

Of course he did, just by looking at Nikolina you can see she’s been through a lot, and besides, Kazuma has a secret all of his own.

Here we go. Whatever it might be, the thing that triggered Nikolina’s survival instinct is coming.

Ah shit...

You know, since the moment Darka disappeared through that vent, I’m not sure things were ever going to end differently. Kazuma was always going to open the door, he was always going to help the frightened girl he found there, and being the incredibly quick man that he was, he was always going to recognize her.

And Kazuma was always going to want to look into the situation, and that was always going to tip Nikolina into a panic. And then sooner or later she was going to lash out in what seemed to her to be necessary self defence.

Here it is.

Oh!?

So this wasn’t the trigger. But then what was?

Oh no. He was going to get Ryunosuke from the wardrobe. The wardrobe Nikolina couldn’t possibly grasp the significance of, but that was right next to the bell cord.

(Also didn’t I say the captain was somehow to blame?)

(What do you guys say we chalk it up to him and put this whole business behind us?)

(And yes I do know that I’m stalling again)

... in a panic you struck out... and he stumbled... and hit his head on the way down...

I see, so Darka put him off balance first. And so when you pushed him he he hit his head on the bedpost.

Fear, adrenaline, and a lack of judgment due to stress and trauma. Perhaps if this had happened on any day other than the one where you’d just fled things would have been different, but maybe not. It’s hard to tell.

And we know the rest...

Stroganoff cleared away as much of Nikolina’s presence as he could find, and in doing so found Ryunosuke asleep in the wardrobe. It must have seemed like fate was giving him a stranger who could take the fall instead of his kid.

So Nikolina was the one who ‘cleared away’ the bell. That explain why some of it was left behind, and why it ended up in her bin. Stroganoff would probably have thrown it overboard.

What’s that?

I see, that’s a good question.

What he said about the inspector...

Oh dear.

Hosonaga, you were literally drugged at the time, and I’m still pretty sure you were set up to fail (which does raise the question of what would have happened to Kazuma if Nikolina hadn’t killed him)

Susato?

I see, she’s realized that he was going for Ryunosuke, thus slotting the final piece of this whole tragedy neatly into place.

(These two cases are really going all out in very different ways. The next one better let me relax and have fun Maskqu de Masque style. I’m not sure I can take much more of this.)

Here it comes, the unnecessariness of the whole murder.

:(

Yeah...

:((

Ryunosuke’s best friend has been murdered because of the misunderstandings of a child, and he’s been raked over the coals because of that. While it might not be the kindest thing to say for Nikolina, it’s an important thing to say for Ryunosuke, and I feel he’s justified in saying it.

In fact it would probably be a bad sign if he didn’t say this. He’s as much of a victim in this whole affair as anyone. I’m glad he’s at least getting an apology from Nikolina, even though it’s unfortunately gone past the point where that would be useful.

It’s finally over, and just as I predicted it doesn’t feel good.

HOSONAGA SATURO YOU HEAL LIKE A CHAMP!

‘It’s just a scratch’, you said.

‘Go to a hospital’, we cried.

‘No need, just give me a few hours to click my face back into position and pass me back my glasses lenses and I’ll be fine’

Hosonaga, you are unkillable and this is exactly why you’re superiors had to resort to shipping you out.

Ok, enough fun declaring Hosonaga to be our new god. Let’s go back to the serious and depressing business of Nikolina.

So, it seems like Nikolina will be handed over to Scotland Yard, and Herlock will sort things out with the immigrations office so she doesn’t have to go back to Russia.

Also the way they’re talking about her future means that she’s not going to be executed (thank god), which makes sense given that she committed manslaughter rather than murder. Whether or not she goes to prison will probably depend on the judge as, while she has the fact that she’s a white female child, she is also not English and speaks with a strong accent, and therefore, is going to be subjected to a lot of Xenophobia.

Hm?

Ah.

Again, I’m glad Ryunosuke’s getting these apologies.

Wait, are you sure Stroganoff? Like yeah, you’re not going to get done for murder, and the whole defending a kid thing will  play of pretty well in court (plus the man you accused wasn’t English and has a less white skin tone than you). But you are also a Russian man with a strong accent and you won’t be able to fall back on being a child or let the evils of sexism and xenophobia fight each other.

Well at least we’re free again, even if we’re in a worst place than when we started.

You know he will Ryunosuke. And given how well he was defending her till now, I think he might just succeed.

But we have to get to England to make Kazuma’s dream come true!

Herlock, can you come to us again in our hour of need? I know we have a lot of them but...

:(

:(

(I swear to god this game is shooting for my jugular)

We’re holding Kazuma’s sword, aka, his spirit. Please don’t make me let it go game.

Is it too much to ask for them to hug? I think they both need it.

Hold us Hosonaga.

(Though not me (Eleanor). Instinct tells me we must remain two meters apart so our weird lungs don’t accidentally take each other out.)

(I cannot be the person who killed Hosonaga)

(And yes I am trying  to lighten the mood with my talk of genetic lung conditions because I’m aware it’s only going to get sadder)

(Told you)

There was nothing you could have done Hosonaga, and it’s become my own private mission now to find a way to prove that to you.

:(((

Game are we going to have to sail to England on Hosonaga’s guilt?

I’m aware that you’ve got a whole fun game lined up over there, but is this really the only way?

Can’t we just go to Japanfornia instead, track down Amy Fey (if she’s even been born yet) and get Kazuma back on our team?

No... ok...

Exactly!

WHAT! WHY AM I BACK IN HANDCUFFS!??

HERLOCK SHOLMES COME OUT HERE RIGHT NOW, THIS IS ONLY A LITTLE BIT FUNNY!

He’s amusing himself at least...

(You know what, I’ve decided right now that this is a family friendly blog, so no, I’m not going to say what I’m thinking. You can’t make me.)

Also read the room Herlock, the three of us were having a moment!

Nice save.

Ryunosuke’s trying to throw himself under the buss and send Susato and Herlock and Hosonaga off to go live out the rest of the game without him.

Sorry Ryunosuke, but you’re the protagonist. We can’t leave without you.

That’s it! Ryunosuke, you’re naturally good at lawyering! It’s time for you to take up Kazuma’s mantle!

Am I chopped liver to you Susato?

Are we doing a studying montage on the ship over?

Yes Ryunosuke!

Training montage Hosonaga!

You can help! Teach me how to be the crime scene thief and not give a damn!

(Actually on second thoughts, maybe you should sit this one out and offer moral support instead)

Said Hosonaga, knowing that I wasn’t.

(*Eye of the tiger starts to play*)

I CAN LEARN ENOUGH TO WING IT HOSONAGA!

HELL YEAH!!!

Oh good, I’d forgotten about Kazuma’s morally ambiguities loose end.

(Probably because every character I fancy has one of them and it’s no longer anything to write home about.)

Let’s do this Susato, me an you all the way!

Hosonaga? You cool too?

Wait, now is not the time to be sensible Hosonaga! Remember when we got Miss Brett? That was against protocol and it meant we got to see her take off via her big hat! (Although we didn’t get justice and it ended with you being shipped out, but let’s not dwell on that.)

Hosonaga normally (while shovelling three tables worth of crockery into his bag): Nothing will get in my way! I’ll lay my life on the line if I have to! I will strait up ignore the rules if I think they are unjust!

Hosonaga when Herlock is present: I have never broken a rule in my life, nor would I ever do so. I am the most sensible and down to earth man you will ever meet, please ignore the way I am dressed right now.

What happened Hosonaga, did you watch me and Herlock doing our dance of deduction and immediately decided someone had to be the adult and it might as well be you?

Or... did watching Herlock roll around on the floor and cling like a limpet to the walls make you wonder that this is how you come across?

Because to be honest you were loudly declaring yourself the Crime Scene Thief just last trial... so I don’t think you’ll ever be able to create too much contrast in our eyes.

Come on Crime Scene Thief!

Herlock’s aiming right for Hosonaga’s canonically shit schooling with those words.

Remember who you are Hosnaga! You’re the badass who lay his life on the line for us!

(I like how much Herlock’s talking Ryunoskue up, I guess this makes up for the fact he handcuffed us again for the asthenic)

Hooray!!! Hosonaga’s taking us to Disneyland England!

“Hello, this is Saturo Hosanaga. Just calling to say that I’ve done it again... yes I understand that my breaking the rules makes you sad, but I simply will not stop... well you see, they’re unfair and heavily biased in your favour. Also we both know if you could have stopped me you would have done so long ago. Goodbye.”

Capcom! Stop trying to make me get to England off of Hosonaga’s guilt!

Allow me to come with you, or at the very least please borrow the KBS (Kazuma’s big sword) for protection.

Goodbye Hosonaga... until we meet again...

But (and I need to make this very clear Capcom gods) not my mentor!

The KBS!

We will guard this with our lives!

(Karuma huh? That name sounds faintly familiar.)

(Ok Google, now play Eye Of The Tiger)

WE ARN’T DOING THIS AGAIN CAPCOM! PUT THOSE DEATH FLAGS DOWN!

Oh thank god, she just wants to be even!

Ryunosuke, are you sure you’re even able to do that?

You heard the lady Ryunosuke. (And no this totally isn’t because I want to see if you’re even able to do it.)

Booo

Herlock, I love you, but...

KICK HIS ASS SUSATO!!!

WHY ME!!!

Poor sweet Ryunosuke...

Ah, I see it’s time to be sad again.

Oh Kazuma, what were you up to?

Anyways, that’s it for The Adventure of the Unbreakable Speckled Band. Join me next time for The Adventure of the Runaway Room!