#hes simply a sleepy guy your honour...

[birchclancomic]

Part 9

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[magewritesstories]

[ ꜱᴀᴛᴏʀᴜ ɢᴏᴊᴏ ] ᴛʜᴇ ᴍᴀɴʏ ɴᴀᴍᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ꜱᴀᴛᴏʀᴜ ɢᴏᴊᴏ

summary: i honestly don't even know how i got this idea, but it's literally just toothrottingly sweet fluff. domestic!gojo, domestic!gojo,domestic!gojo trigger warning: none this is pure fluff, no pronouns used note: just testing the waters to see if anyone's interested in jjk fics, also i was today years old when i learned that 'huffy' is a word. words: 2592 i have so many thoughts about this overgrown paintbrush man jujutsu kaisen masterlist

SATORU GOJO HAS BEEN CALLED MANY THINGS BY MANY PEOPLE. The strongest, the honourable one, arrogant idiot (that one was courtesy of Utahime and Nanami), etc.

But he has to admit, the things you call him have to be his favourite. And by now, he can easily tell the difference between the names.

GOJO was the first thing you called him, all the way back in your first year at Jujutsu Tech. Nowadays there's rarely an occurence where you call him that name. But when you do? Oh boy, he knows he's screwed up big time.

"Eh, I don't know, Shoko," You said, using your hand as a cover for you eyes, "I think the first Human Earthworm was better than this one."

The two of you were sitting on the podium next to the basketball court as Gojo and Geto play around.

It was midday at this point and you were already feeling sleepy from the sun shining in through the windows. Eventually, both Geto and Gojo got tired too and walked over to the two of you.

"You guys wanna get some drinks from the vending machines?" Geto asks, grabbing his wallet out of his bag.

You shake your simply shake your head and lean back, laying down on the podium floor, "Nah, I don't wanna get up."

Gojo declines as well and hops onto the podium next to you. "I'm good—bring me a coke though."

"Seriously?" Geto asks annoyedly at his friend, a vein popping on his forehead.

Shoko grins and grabs a pakket of cigarettes before hopping off the stage, "I'll go with you. I need a smoke anyway."

The two share some form of secret glance and grin like maniacs before making their way out the door.

You quickly sit up. "Oh! Suguru, Shoko, get me a coke too!" You shout after them, only getting a thumbs up from Geto as confirmation that he heard you.

"Ah, I'm so tired," You yawn, laying back down as Gojo stares at you, "By the way, Gojo, how'd you mission go? Suguru told me you spent half a day at the infirmary."

You turn to him with curious eyes and he quickly looks away.

"Eh, it was fine," He shrugs, "Suguru's exaggarating—the mission was a breeze, I just didn't have time to buy the cake I wanted."

"Of course that's what you're annoyed about after breaking three ribs," You chuckle as he turns towards you with a smug look on his face, "Don't try to hide it from me. Shoko told me all about how you got your ass handed to you by that special grade."

Gojo let out a another playfull scoff, "Oh please, that's a huge exaggartion."

"Whatever you say, Gojo," You reply with a smile before placing an arm over your eyes again.

A couple of minutes of comfortable silence pass when Gojo decides to speak up again. "By the way, since when are you on a first name basis with Suguru?" He asks, trying to sound as casual as possible.

You turn to him with a surprised look in your face, "Huh?"

"Last I checked you still called him Geto," He replies, using the palm of his hands to lean back, "Did I miss and episode on Y/N' Life?"

"Not really. We've just been friends for almost two years now, I figured it was time to stop calling him Geto," You reply simply, not noticing the annoyed look on his face.

But, Gojo has never been one for beating around the bush anyway so it's fine. "We've known each other for the same amount of time."

You sit up slightly and raise your brows at him teasingly. "Is this a complaint that I don't call Suguru Geto or that I don't call you Satoru."

He's pretty sure that if he hadn't been sitting his knees would've given in right then and there.

"Neither," He huffed haughtily, "I don't care."

You smile at his childish nature before leaning back down, "Okay, sure, whatever. Satoru."

From your position on the stage floor you have a clear view of his red ears as he continues to insist that he doesn't care.

SATORU is for when you're at your wits end with him. Which happens quite often. You call him that in that exasperated tone with your hands on your hips and he knows he's in for a huffy lecture. He'd never admit it to you (he knows better than to do that) but sometimes he likes to do something stupid just for the sake of hearing you say his full name.

"Babe," You call out from the kitchen, head stuck in the fridge as you try to find a specific thing. Finally, you give up and let out a sigh walking into the living room.

Satoru sits on the sofa, legs widespread as he surfs through the channels on the flatscreen hung parallel to the him.

You hang in the doorway next to the TV, "Babe, do you happen to know what happened to that cupcake Utahime gave me yesterday?"

"What cupcake?" He asks, feigning ignorance as he kept staring the TV. "Maybe Megumi ate it."

The blue-haired boy sat at the dining table not far from the sofa looks up from his homework. "Don't drag me into this."

"Well than maybe, Tsumiki—" He starts but you're quick to cut him off, "Tsumiki is allergic to strawberries, I know it wasn't her."

You're standing in front him with your arms crossed now, brows raised as you stare down at him.

Satoru just gives you a dopey grin as he looks up at you. "Well then I'm sorry, sweetheart, but I really have no clue what happened to the cupcakes Utahime brought you."

"Really? You have no idea?" You ask again, "Are you completely sure about that, Satoru?"

"Mhm, yep, not a clue," He replied, "But hey, why don't you forget about the cupcakes and come sit down—this is the best part of the movie."

You roll your eyes, "Satoru, if you ate my cupcakes just admit it."

The white-haired man continued the innocent charade as he patted the seat next to him. "Don't know what your talking about, babe." He puts his arm on the back of the sofa so that you can snuggle up next to him.

Finally, you roll your eyes and sit down, placing your head on his shoulder. Satoru smiles victoriously as his arm moves from the back of the sofa to your shoulder.

The victory is short, however.

About halfway through the movie through the movie, Tsumiki walks into the living room. "Hey, Gojo, do you have any more of those cupcakes you were eating this morning?"

Uh oh.

You turn to your boyfriend with a raised brow as he scratches the back of his neck sheepishly.

"Well the thing is..." He trails off, trying to come up with an excuse. You just sigh and return to your previous postion of cuddling into his side, "What am I gonna do with you, Satoru?"

'TORU is one of his favourite nicknames. For the sole reason that he's the only one that gets to hear you say it. That one is reserved for those lazy sunday mornings where you're still half asleep and cuddling and neither of you want to get out of bed.

The sun shone through the window as the curtains of your bedroom fluttered along with the soft summer breeze.

The ticklish feeling of soft kisses being placed on the nape of your neck stirrs you out of your sleep.

"Hmm, morning," You hum, smiling as you turn towards Satoru, who is wide awake at this point.

He pulls you closer until you face is buried in his chest, and tangles his legs in yours. "Morning, beautiful," He replies, in that low morning voice that makes your heart skip a beat.

The moment of peace is short, though, because not soon after the white-haired man jumps up. "C'mon get up, we should get coffee from that new place down the street."

You groan and pull the covers that had fallen off of you pack up to you.

"Aw, Y/N, get up," Satoru whined shaking you a little.

You just groand and grab his shirt to pull him back down. "Shut up, 'Toru," You mumble, "I'm tired, 's too early for this."

A small laugh reverbrates through his chest as he grins down at the sight of your grumpy face and messy hair.

"But it's to 10 o'clock?"

"On a sunday morning."

"So?"

"So, 's too early."

"That makes no sense." You groan and shuffle closer to him, if that's even possible. "D'you really wanna chose right now to be logical, 'Toru?"

Another loud laugh resonates through your room as Satoru finally gives in and lays back down next to you.

One arm slung over you waist and legs tangled into yours as his wolfish grin turns into a soft smile, he says softly, "I love you, Y/N."

"I love you too, 'Toru."

BABE is a pretty basic nickname and he knows it, but Gojo loves it anyway. Especially whenever he remembers the first time you called him that and he almost had a heart attack from cuteness overload.

You skip ahead of Gojo as the two of you make your way through the night market.

The sound of people laughing and kids running as they played was enough to put you in a cheerful mood—and the added fact that you were on a date with Gojo just made it all that much better.

The many stalls lit the area around you as you happily looked around with a wide smile on your face. Satoru following behind you like a good boyfriend.

In the few hours that you'd been here you'd almost tripped over your kimono three times and each time your boyfriend had laughed his ass off.

"It's not funny," You groan, red blush coating your cheeks as you pull yourself out of his arms. He's saved you from the embarassement of falling flat on your face four times now.

Satoru shakes his head as he tries to muffles his laughter.

It was funny to him though.

I mean, this guy had seen you efficiently and ruthlessly taken out a special grade curse without fumbling even once, but here you were tripping over your own feet.

Plus, he got a little bit of an ego boost everytime he managed to catch you in his arms.

You dust yourself off as you turn away in a—failure of an—attempt to hide your embarrassed blush.

"You're so cute," Gojo laughs as he pinched your cheeks, which only made you go even more red.

Thankfully you see a ice-cream stall not to far from your position and quickly change the subject.

"Satoru, c'mon—" You grab his hand and start walking towards the stall— "I want some ice-cream."

He smiled and followed you, continuing to tease you as you stand in line. Which is very long by the way.

Eventually you manage to get some ice-cream. And hey you got two scoops just because you stood in that line for so long.

The two of you make your way to the docks hand-in-hand for the fireworks show which has already started.

Staring up at the dark night sky as it's filled with bright, beautiful colours you don't notice the small chip in the wood of the dock.

Your shoe gets stuck in the small hole, making you fall over.

Thankfully, Satoru manages to grab you by the waist and pull you into his chest. You don't have time to thank him though as you stare at the depressing sight in front of you.

One of the scoops of your ice-cream had flown away and landed a couple feet away from you.

"Why me, God, why me?" You whine as you stare at the fallen ice-cream.

Gojo—who still has a hand wrapped around you waist—starts laughing loudly, burying his face in the nape of you neck to muffle the sound.

You groan as he continous to laugh. Finally he manages to straighten up and wipes away a stray tear form his eye.

You stand in front of him, arms crossed and an adorable pout on your face as you mumble, "It's not funny, babe."

And in that moment—as the fireworks light your annoyed face—Satoru Gojo knows he's a goner.

HONEY. Of course I've saved the best for last. If he had to pick, Satoru would say that this is his favourite nickname. Again, it's a simple one, nothing creative or out there but that's exactly why he loves. It sounds so simple and domestic that it makes a warm fuzzy feeling rise in his chest every time.

Gojo is tired. Really tired.

He searched his pockets and finally manages to fumble out the keys to the apartement.

As soon as he enters it, he drops his dufflebag on the floor and lets out a loud groan.

"I'm home!" He announces, stretching. This mission took way more out of him than he'd expected.

The house is surprisingly quiet, nothing but the sound of your footsteps echo-ing through the halls.

You round the corner of the kitchen and run towards him, knicking him back a little as he catches you in his arms.

"Hey, honey, how was the mission?" You ask, arms wrapped around his neck as you look up him.

He smiles down at you and places a chaste kiss on your forehead. "Boring—didn't even take me ten minutes to exorcise that curse," He brags in the same boisterous tone as always.

You pretend to not notice the tiredness in the way his entire body is leaning into you. For now, alteast.

"Yeah?" You kiss him again, "Well, you need to be quicker next time—I got bored waiting for you so I decided to bake and now our entire kitchen is a disaster."

He laughed as you both walked into the kitchen, eyeing the frilly kitchen apron that said 'Kiss The Chef'.

Well, it used to say that. A couple days ago Tsumiki had used a needle and some yarn to sew it so that it said: 'Do Not Kiss The Chef (Unless You're Satoru Gojo.)'

Of course, the white-haired male had complained about the fact that he couldn't kiss himself.

Megumi had retorted that Gojo wasn't allowed in the kitche anyway. (You set fire to the kitchen while trying to make tea one time...)

Satoru smiled as he rounded the counter and placed a kiss on the top of you head.

"Oh, by the way," You remember as you tell him about your day's events, "I need you to talk to Megumi's teacher again—apparantly he got in another fight."

"Did he win?" Satoru asks, pulling a slightly. You frown as you playfully shove him, "And then you ask why I told the school I was the kids' primary guardian."

The kids.

Something about that phrase warmed his heart, washing away the coldness he'd felt as residue of his mission.

He kissed you again. "I'll go tomorrow," He smiled, wrapping an arm around your waist. You smiled at the action, raising your hand to run a hand through his hair—wedding ring glinting in the kitchen light.

"Thanks, honey—" You tip-toe to kiss him— "I love you."

Satoru pulled you as close as humanly possible. Taking in the peace of the moment, the peace he was feeling right now. "I love you too, Y/N."

[imaginingmultifandom]

Ugly Sweaters (12 Days of Christmas)

Fred Weasley x Reader

Summary: Your boyfriend Fred Weasley questions how hard it can possibly be to knit Christmas sweaters like his mother does. A playful competition between him and you ensues, and neither of you want to lose this bet. 

A/N: This is the Second Day of 12 Days of Christmas

Prompt →  Ugly sweaters

It was quite early this morning at the Burrow, and you still felt rather sleepy as you sat at the table having breakfast with your boyfriend Fred. It was the day before Christmas, and it certainly wasn't time for any gifts yet. Still, Molly came over to you with a neatly wrapped gift in her hands as soon as she spotted you.

"Oh Y/N, I'm glad you're both awake already. I thought it would be good to give this to you early so you could wear it in this cold," She handed you the package with a smile, and you opened it gratefully.

"Thank you, Molly," You grinned whole-heartedly at the woman in front of you as soon as you had opened it, holding up the knitted sweater with your initial on it that she had just gifted you, "It's so beautiful. But you really shouldn't have-"

"You're welcome, dear." Molly interrupted you gently, "You're part of the family now, of course I made you one too."

"Thanks so much," You had only been in a relationship with Fred since the beginning of the year, so the fact that she already welcomed you into the family meant a lot to you, "I'm sure it must have been a lot of effort."

"It's really not, Mum uses a charm to knit most of these sweaters-" Fred interrupted your conversation rudely, munching on his breakfast in between words.

"I'm sure it's still a lot of work," You interjected, and Molly backed you up in front of her son.

"Fred Weasley- I don't think I've taught you to be this rude to your mother," She scolded him, but Fred only grinned at her, "If you think it's that easy, why don't you try and make them next Christmas? For the whole family, of course-"

"Why wait till next year?" Fred prompted, seemingly enjoying to scolding looks you were both giving him and wanting to tease you further, "I can make one today and still have a relaxing Christmas,"

"I'd like to see you try." Molly huffed at her son, and you grinned at his cockiness.

"I'm sure Y/N could, too." He added, "We could even make it a competition."

"Don't try and pull me into this," You rebutted, even though you were quite sure that it was already too late for your refusal. Fred always managed to pull you into his pranks and ideas, which was part of why you liked him so much.

"Come on darling, are you that scared to lose?" Fred smirked at you, knowing that he could count on your competitive streak.

"What would the competition even be?" You questioned, your curiosity taking over.

"We'll both try and knit a sweater, with or without magic," Your boyfriend explained, "And whoever's sweater looks better by this evening, that person wins. The loser has to do the dishes over the Christmas days."

"That's a huge bet," You figured, knowing how many dishes would pile up just today with how many people were here, especially with the holiday feast would prepare.

"That's why it's fun," Fred shrugged his shoulders, "I already know you can't resist a competition like this, darling,"

"Fine, I'm in." You grinned at him, "Let's do this."

"You two really are quite a match," Molly said after having observed this interaction, and walked towards the kitchen with a laugh, "Knitting needles and wool are in the cupboard over there," She pointed out, before returning to the stove and continuing to cook.

Both Fred and you got up at the same time, rushing over to the cupboard to be the first to start on their sweater.

"I've got no time to lose," Fred playfully lifted you up just as you opened the cupboard, turning you away from it and letting you down on the ground again just so he could be the first to grab some utensils.

"You're an arse," You teased him, but your loving tone made it clear you didn't mean that. You grabbed some needles and wool after him and made your way over to the couch so you could figure this all out. You had heard Hermione use a charm to knit some hats for house-elves once before and you tried your best to remember it.

Meanwhile, Fred sat down at the dinner table again. He had seen his mother knit these sweaters lots of times before, surely it couldn't be that hard?

Both of you took your time to try to remember the exact charm, all while making sure the other didn't eavesdrop on you to get a clue.

You quietly muttered what you thought were the right words to your knitting needles, but they didn't move at all.

"How's it going over there?" Fred's voice called over to you.

"Perfectly," You lied, sounding as self-assured as possible, "I'll be finished in no time, I'm sure."

"Same over here," Fred returned your words, all while his needles weren't moving either.

It took both of you a bit more time until you finally remembered the charm, and even then things didn't go smoothly.

Almost an hour later, as most of the others had begun to wake up too, you had at least managed to get the knitting needles to start the sweater. You wondered how it was going for Fred, but you didn't have to question that for long.

"What are you trying to do there?" George had woken up as well and you could hear his deep morning voice coming from where Fred was, even as you sat on the couch.

"I'm competing with Y/N. We're trying to each make a sweater by tonight and have the best one win," You could hear Fred explaining, and you tell from his tone of voice that he was concentrating intently.

"That doesn't look anything like a sweater," George commented, and you couldn't contain a quiet laugh, "In fact, that doesn't look like anything at all, Fred."

"I'm working on it," You could hear Fred answer, "Watch and learn, George."

You laughed again and then decided it would be best to go back to concentrating on your own work.

By the time Molly called everyone together for lunch, you had only managed to knit one arm. Nevertheless, as you sat down next to Fred to eat, you were making sure to sound triumphant.

"You were right, this really is easier than I thought," You teased him, and Fred simply smiled at you.

"Exactly," He rebutted, "I feel the same." You didn't believe him at all, you were sure he hadn't managed to get further than you with his sweater.

After lunch, you immediately went back to your spot to knit. The others only laughed and shook their heads at both of your competitiveness, finding your contest rather amusing.

George, Ron and Harry even volunteered to be judges on your sweaters this evening, and you happily accepted them.

As the evening arrived, and you had finally finished your work. You had only been interrupted by some snack breaks, and eventually by Fred who had sneaked up to you to steal some kisses. You had hurriedly hidden your sweater then and hoped he hadn't caught a glimpse of your progress.

After dinner, it was time for the judging. The Weasley Family and Harry all gathered in the living room, which was already beautifully decorated for the upcoming holiday.

You went out of the room and quickly pulled over your self-made sweater. It was falling apart at some seams and looked way messier than any knitted fabric you had ever seen. But, it was a completed sweater. Somehow, at least.

As you stepped into the living room, and the others made a point of cheering for you loudly. Fred stepped into the room after you, and you saw what he had made for the first time.

His sweater was only holding together very loosely, and there was only a huge hole on the right side where an arm should have been. Fred had simply shoved his arm through the hole, with no fabric covering it up.

On his chest, there seemed to be some embroidered letters, but you couldn't tell what they said even as you squinted your eyes at it. It was even messier than his usual handwriting.

"What in the bloody hell have you tried to write on there?" Ron asked his brother, while Harry and George were still laughing at the missing arm.

"Isn't it obvious?" Fred grinned, and swung his uncovered arm around your shoulders to pull you close, "It says: Y/N+Fred."

"God, that's so cheesy," You teased him, trying to cover how touched you were by his sweet gesture.

"Oh, I know you like it, darling." He pressed a quick kiss to your cheek before letting go of you, turning around to reveal a drawn on heart on the back of his sweater that no one had noticed yet, "Even the judges have to admit that this is true fashion,"

Everyone laughed out loudly, and you felt your heart flutter at Fred's suaveness

"You don't even have a whole sweater," Harry laughed, "The embroidery's lovely, I suppose. But Y/N has my vote,"

"Good decision," You gave him a thumbs-up, and Fred mockingly huffed.

"I have to agree," Ron said, and George nodded as well, "Nice try, mate. But Y/N at least managed to make something that's wearable. She wins,"

"Thank you, thank you," You bowed down jokingly, "I'm honoured to win this contest,"

"Oh, come on," Fred remarked sarcastically, "You guys just don't have any taste. At least I showed my love with this sweater,"

"And it was very sweet," You turned to Fred, wrapping your arms around his torso, "But still, that doesn't change the fact that you'll be on dish duty all Christmas," You stuck your tongue out at him, and he rolled his eyes. He couldn't pretend to be mad for long though, and a grin quickly appeared on his face again.

You all shared another laugh at Fred's awful sweater and he joined in with some jokes about the practicality of a sweater with an armhole.

After the others had scattered around the house again, only Fred and you were left in the living room. You sat down on the couch and your boyfriend joined you, swinging his arms around your shoulders and pulling you against his chest.

"Just so you know, your sweater would have gotten my vote," You remarked gently, "The embroidery was a nice touch, I have to admit. It was quite romantic actually,"

"Only for you, love," Fred whispered and leaned down to kiss you softly.

Just as you wanted to kiss him back, he pulled away slightly so his lips were hovering over yours.

"You'll help me with the dishes, right?" He murmured against your mouth.

"Never." You teased and quickly closed the distance between your lips again to kiss him before he could have the chance to complain.

Of course, you ended up helping him, proudly wearing the sweater he had made. Turns out, a missing armhole really comes in handy when washing up.

[pocket-luv101]

Summary: Mahiru wants to invite Kuro to the lantern rite. (KuroMahi, Genshin Impact AU)

Kuro was an adeptus with many titles. He was once a servant of a cruel Count and people called him The Silent Demise. He was ordered to kill anyone who would oppose his lord’s rule. He hated fighting but he couldn’t disobey the Count without endangering his siblings. During the years he served him, a karmic debt accumulated within his body for each life he took.

Then he met Rex Lapis and he was offered a path to freedom. The Geo Archon would give him the power to kill the Count and free his siblings from their contract. In exchange, Kuro would become one of his yakshas and protect the land from demons. He gained a new name, Sleepy Ash, the Conqueror of Demons. He fought to defend the country under that name but he couldn’t seem to escape his past. Most feared him due to his time as The Silent Demise.

Recently, he gained a new name that he cherished.

“Kuro, I have a delivery for you!” A voice called to him and Kuro rolled onto his side. He wondered how Mahiru was able to find him sleeping on the roof. Kuro leaned over the roof ledge to take the tray of food from him. He didn’t expect Mahiru to be floating next to the roof and their foreheads bumped together. Mahiru flinched slightly at the impact and he almost dropped the tray he held.

Kuro placed his hand beneath the tray to keep it from falling. With his free hand, he gently took Mahiru’s arm and he helped him regain his balance. Mahiru was surprised by how quickly he reacted because he would often find him lounging on the roof whenever he visited the White Rapids Onsen. He felt more confused by how happy his action made him. He had a vision and he could’ve easily rescued himself.

He created a gust of wind beneath him and he formed it into a platform he could stand on. Once Kuro was certain he wouldn’t fall, he let him go and he returned to his sleeping spot beneath the sunbeam. Mahiru stepped onto the rooftop and he placed the tray of ramen on the clay tiles. “The kitchen was out of chicken so I replaced it with beef stripes. The flavour is a little different but I think you’ll like it.”

“Tetsu should’ve told you that you can leave the ramen bowl on the shrine. You don’t need to bring the bowl to me directly each time.” He protected the land so people felt obligated to give him offerings. People were afraid to approach him so they would leave food at a shrine dedicated to him. “I have a contract with Morax to protect Liyue so you guys don’t need to give me offerings. Adeptus don’t require food either.”

“But you’re still eating it.” Mahiru said with a teasing grin. Kuro couldn’t argue with him when he had a mouthful of noodles. He found human food bland and the only exception was Mahiru’s cooking. He remembered the first time Mahiru cooked him a bowl of ramen. He couldn’t have predicted a friendship would start from the gesture.

Mahiru sat next to him and he stared at the vast view before them. The autumn hue of the trees complimented the blue lake. He watched the clouds reflected in the water. “You didn’t ask the people of Liyue to leave you offerings but it’s their way to thank you. I wish I could thank you with your actual name though.”

The day that they first met, Kuro assumed he wouldn’t see him again so he didn’t bother to tell him his name. Mahiru decided to give him a nickname based on his mask that resembled a black cat. He continued to deliver food to him and they would eat lunch together. They shared several meals already and he treated him as if he were a normal person rather than The Silent Demise or Conqueror of Demons.

With Mahiru, he was simply Kuro.

“I want to stay longer to talk but I heard the town will be holding a festival called the Lantern Rite. Tetsu said the festival is to honour heroes who died to protect the country. It sounds like a big event.” Mahiru looked away from the lake so he could smile up at Kuro. Kuro wondered why he saw a hint of loneliness in his brown eyes. “Will you be going, Kuro? This year is dedicated to the yakshas who passed away.”

“I don’t like crowds.” As truthful as Kuro’s answer was, it was equally an excuse to avoid the festival. The negative karma he had accumulated throughout the years weighed heavily on him. The curse would feed on human’s distrust at the festival and it could worsen his condition. He had seen his fellow yakshas fall under the burden of their karmic debt until he was the only one who remained to fight. “I can’t go even if I wanted to. I have to patrol the border.”

Kuro closed his eyes and he thought of the previous festival where he almost lost himself to the darkness. Outside of the city, he had fought an endless torrent of monsters from dusk to dawn and the battle left him exhausted. He didn’t have the strength to fight his own karma. Then, he was saved by the song of someone’s flute. Their flute created a lull in his heart. He never learned who played the song but he would occasionally hear the flute at night.

“That’s a shame.” Mahiru’s words trailed off and he bit his lip. “I have a brother named Tsurugi and I’ve been searching for him. I’m planning to hand out missing posters at the festival. With so many people visiting for the Lantern Rite, there must be one person there who has seen him somewhere. I was hoping I could go with a friend just in case… If I don’t find anything, I can still have fun with you at least. The day won’t be a complete waste.”

“Your clothes aren’t from Liyue. Did you travel here to search for your brother?” Kuro had always found it strange that Mahiru didn’t seem to know the country’s history nor their deities. He could sense that Mahiru was a good person so he never questioned it.

“My brother and I are not from here. We fell into this world. It’s difficult to explain.” His answer was confusing but he knew that Mahiru wasn’t the type of person to lie. “We tried to go back to our world but this strange god blocked our path. Everything was a blur from there and I don’t remember what happened after she attacked us. I woke up on a beach in Mondstadt.”

Mahiru’s hands trembled around the paper as he remembered the day that he lost his brother. He didn’t expect Kuro to wrap his hand around his fingers. His warmth soothed him and Mahiru felt the tension leave his body. “Tsurugi is strong so I know he couldn’t have died in that fight. He must be somewhere looking for me as well. I’ve been visiting each god to ask for their help.”

“You’re from another world?” He echoed the words and he lifted his hand from where it laid over his fingers. Mahiru understood the shock in his voice and he couldn’t blame him if he didn’t believe his story. Yet, he felt a little disappointed. He turned back to Kuro when he said, “It must have been difficult for you to live in a different world.”

“I was lucky enough to meet a few knights at the beach and they helped me.” He cradled the pale green brooch he wore on his cloak. At first glance, Kuro thought it was a vision but he sensed a strange power within it. Mahiru noticed his gaze and explained, “This is an heirloom from my mother. When I visited a statue, it glowed and gained the power of Ameno.”

Mahiru allowed the vision to slip from his fingers and it fell back into place against his chest. He questioned why his mother had a vision, an artifact from a different world. He worried it could be connected to why he and his brother were transported to Mondstadt. “Father gave one to Tsurugi as well. I hope it’s protecting him.”

“If I see your brother during my patrols, I’ll tell you.” Kuro promised. He folded the missing person folder and he slipped it into his pocket. In the corner of his eyes, he noticed how Mahiru’s smile had a hint of loneliness. He thought the offer would’ve made him happy.

“Thank you, Kuro.” Mahiru stared at the sea before them and he couldn’t help but feel intimidated by the unknown world before him. He would never give up his search for his brother but he wished he had someone to travel with him.

While others enjoyed the night at the Lantern Rite, Kuro fought abyss mages at the edge of town. He swung his claymore down onto the mage and its body crumpled into dust on the ground. He lifted the heavy sword with ease and he faced the remaining enemies. They started to retreat but Kuro blocked their path with a wall of ice. His element transformed the area with the walls into an unforgiving winter and it slowed the mages. He was unaffected by the cold and he effortlessly dodged the abyss mage’s attack.

He killed the final mage and he stabbed his sword into the ground. Kuro leaned against his sword and his breath was haggard. His exhaustion wasn’t caused by the battle but the karma that followed each time he used his weapon. A dark aura rose from the ground and it clung onto his sword. He dreaded the next time he would have to lift the heavy sword. However, he knew it was inevitable.

He wanted to take a moment to catch his breath and gather his strength. He fought alone because his powers endangered everyone around him and he feared he would unintentionally hurt someone he cared for. Most considered him a monster and he doubted they would fight with him. Kuro caught his reflection in the ice and his yaksha mask stared back at him. Sometimes he saw himself as a monster as well.

In the reflection, he saw one of the mages rise again and he groaned to himself. “Can’t deal.”

Kuro gripped his sword to protect himself. A bright light distracted both him and the abyss mage and he looked towards the night sky. At first, Kuro thought the light was a falling star and he instinctively jumped backwards to avoid it. The abyss mage wasn’t as quick as him though. The impact of the falling object caused the ground to shake and dirt flew into the air. He saw a shadow through the dirt and he shifted into a defensive stance.

“You’re not hurt, are you, Sir? You look strong but it’s dangerous for people to go into the forest while it’s dark. Thank goodness, I was able to save you.” Kuro recognized the man’s voice and he lowered his claymore. The dirt cleared and he found himself facing Mahiru’s bright smile. A spear was stabbed into the ground and Mahiru stood on top of the wooden pole. He questioned how he was able to keep his balance.

He stepped off his spear and Kuro instinctively reached out his hands to catch him. A breeze Mahiru created slowed his fall though. Once he was standing on the ground, he pulled the spear from the dirt and he casually placed it over his shoulder. “I’m here to look for my friend. Have you seen a man with light blue hair?”

Between the darkness of the night and his mask, Mahiru didn’t recognize him immediately. Kuro couldn’t think of why he would save him if he thought he was a stranger. It was clear from his words that he had seen the fight. Everyone who had witnessed his power in the past would run away from him yet Mahiru continued to smile at him.

Kuro didn’t respond to his words and Mahiru peered closer. He recognized the design of his mask and his eyes widened. “Is that you, Kuro? I heard that adeptus were strong but I never imagined you would be able to fight abyss mages on your own. You’re always sleeping on the roof or lazing about like a cat.”

“You were looking for me? I thought you planned to go to the lantern Rite.” Kuro said with a nonchalant shrug. Next to him, Mahiru shivered and he knew that it was caused by his element. He didn’t have a jacket to give him so he placed his hand on the small of his back and led him away from the cold. “You should go back to the inn.”

“Only if you’re coming with me.” Mahiru added. He took out a napkin from his pocket and he wiped the blood from his mask. Then, he slipped his finger beneath the cat mask and lifted it off his face. The darkness couldn’t hide how beautiful his red eyes were. “I was at the Lantern Rite earlier. I remembered how you mentioned that you would be too busy to come. Thinking simply, I can help you finish your commissions early and we can go to the festival.”

“I also said that I dislike crowds and neither of us can fix that problem.” Kuro countered but Mahiru’s determined eyes didn’t falter. He wondered why he would try so hard to make him participate in the Lantern Rite. His brown eyes held a mixture of disappointment and resolve and his expression almost caused him to change his answer. He reminded himself that it was better for him to be alone.

“The festival is to honour you and the other yaksha so I thought you should be there to enjoy it.” Mahiru stood in front of him and their gaze met. “Also, I thought the Lantern Rite will be more fun if we go together. They haven’t released the lanterns yet. Do you want to see them with me?”

Kuro found that he couldn’t say no to him while he was looking into his eyes. He relented: “I don’t sense any more dangerous enemies. But I need to leave if one does appear.”

“I’ll fight with you in that case.” Mahiru took his hand and squeezed it gently.

“Hurry, Kuro, Liyue Harbour is over this hill!” Mahiru held Kuro’s hand and he pulled him up the mountain’s path. They started to crest the hill and they were met with a million floating lanterns. Even from a distance, the collage of soft hues was beautiful and it resembled a sunset. He stood spellbound by the sight before him. He couldn’t feel saddened that they didn’t reach the festival in time when he watched the lantern float through the sky. “Aren’t they beautiful, Kuro?”

“Yeah.” He answered in a breathless voice. Kuro’s focus wasn’t on the lantern but Mahiru. His cheek had a rosy glow and he knew that it was caused by the warmth within him rather than the reflection of the lanterns. He was reluctant to follow him at first but he was glad that he decided to go to the festival with him. He was able to see the beautiful lanterns with him.

Mahiru sat on the stone steps and he stretched his legs. He felt a little tired and sore after walking from the inn to the harbour. He hugged his legs to his chest and he rested his chin on his knees. While Liyue wasn’t as cold as other countries, the night was chilly. When Kuro sat next to him, Mahiru shifted closer to him for warmth. He used ice so he wasn’t accustomed to someone leaning on him for warmth.

“I’m sorry that you missed the festival for me.” Kuro said.

“There’s always next year.” Mahiru brushed aside the concern in his voice with a warm smile. “Hopefully, we can go with my brother too. I really miss. As kids, he would play the flute to help me sleep. Would you like to hear it?”

Mahiru opened his bag and he took out a flute. He brought the instrument to his lips and the simple flute created a divine song. Each note rang through Kuro’s heart and he recognized it immediately. The night he almost died, he heard the song and it had quelled the karmic debt that followed him. His flute had the same effect now as he listened to him play.

The song summoned the image of slow dancing in a sea of flowers and lights to the tune of his flute. He had always longed for the day he could wear the mask and dance rather than fight demons. However, he kept himself from hoping when he knew it was impossible. He couldn’t help but become hopeful while he listened to his song.

After he played the final note, Mahiru lowered the flute onto his lap. He turned to Kuro to see his reaction and he saw a small tear clinging to the corner of his eyes. He reached out to him and he caught the tear on his thumb before he gently brushed it away. “Are you okay, Kuro? That song is supposed to be a lullaby, not something sad.”

“It didn’t make me sad.” Kuro reassured him. He doubted he could explain the relief and peace his song gave him. “I haven’t seen my siblings in two hundred years. Sometimes I think about visiting them but I don’t know what I would say to them after I… I understand how you feel.”

Kuro rarely spoke about himself and his past and Mahiru hoped it meant they were beginning to be closer. He always wanted to know more about him but he didn’t want to push him. He unconsciously leaned closer to him. Kuro said: “The Geo Archon watches over the region and he might know something about your brother. He only descends from the heavens one day a year but I know a way to visit him.”

“Thank you, Kuro!” Mahiru beamed happily and he hugged Kuro before he could think better. With his arms still around his neck, he smiled up at him. “Will taking me to see Rex Lapis cause you any trouble? I know you have to protect the country.”

“There are other powerful adeptus who can patrol in my place while I’m travelling with you.” He reassured him. “Anyways, I get to eat your ramen everyday if we travel together. That can solve any problem I have.”

“I’m not sure about that.” Mahiru laughed. He let him go and he sat beside him again. “There is one more thing though. I don’t know your name. I should know your know if we’re going to be proper travelling partners.”

Kuro was silent for a moment and he turned away. Mahiru worried that his question had hurt him without meaning to. He searched the area around them to make certain that they were alone before he explained: “As an adeptus, I can’t give people my name easily. I am compelled to follow any order given to me by someone who speaks my true name. The last person who knew my name used it to control my family.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t know.” Mahiru couldn’t imagine how terrible the memory must’ve been for him. He placed his hand over Kuro’s and tenderly squeezed his fingers. “You don’t have to tell me.”

Mahiru started to pull away but Kuro closed the space between them. His warm breath brushed over his ear as he whispered, “My name is Kuro of Sloth.”

His heart was beating so loudly that it almost drowned out Kuro’s voice. Neither of them moved for a moment because both of them were surprised by his confession. Mahiru was the first to speak. “When I asked you to come to the festival with me, was it because I used your name?”

“You didn’t know that Kuro was my true name so your words weren’t a command to me. My master also needs to use my name with the intention to force me to follow them.” Kuro looked down at Mahiru bathed in the light of the lantern. “I trust you. Whenever you’re in trouble or need me, you can call my name and I’ll hear you no matter where I am. I’ll run to you.”

A/N: I didn’t post a fanfic yesterday because I wanted to post this for the anniversary. I know it’s ironic to post a crossover for the anniversary but I really liked this concept. Since the main storyline isn’t complete and we don’t know the answers to all the mysterious, I decided to make my own spin on the mystery. I don’t know if I’ll continue this or keep it a oneshot.

[eorzean-tale]

Temporary Escape

Menphina still dominated the sky when he woke, and he rose silently as to not wake the ever vigilant Sahali from her own slumber. They had chosen to sleep just outside the town’s borders, the oppressive stone of the city being too much to bear after two moons of it already in Ishgard. He hadn’t bothered taking off most of his armour the eve before, so it only took him minutes to be ready. Minutes he’d definitely need if he was to be gone before Azeyma rose from her slumber - the moment when all Golden Vipers would wake to greet her. The entire two of them that were left. All the older serpent would find of him was the note he left behind - one promising he’d be back in a few suns.

He knew he shouldn’t go at all, knew his duty was here even if he still did not understand why. Rkah had expected an organized band of adventurers, of troublemakers, but they only seemed loose-knit at best. Like strangers to one another, who didn’t stand for anything as a group. The tia had to admit that the Conjurer who set their feet on this path probably got exactly what he wanted - now that they were away from the place that had bound them in a common purpose, the Unsung seemed to have lost all sense of cohesion, no longer forming any kind of threat to the status quo with just the occasional strong opinion the only exception. Those opinions weren’t worth much though, without anyone else to back them up.

And yet, something still gnawed on him, ate at his resolve from the inside out. He wasn’t one to linger on feelings of rejection and regret, but with nothing of note occupying his mind he found himself more and more the victim of uncharacteristic bouts of melancholy. The Seeker man had always felt things with unbridled intensity, but on occasion that passion for life turned against him. Rkah had felt it when the Elezen lord he had grown fond of, admittedly more than he should have for the short time they had known each other, had shut him out, and he felt it again when the Hyur woman he felt a kinship with had rejected a part of him he couldn’t change even if he wanted to.

The cities were just a stop on his journey, but they were not his home.

Except, maybe… He made it to the aetheryte, paying its fee to a nearby sleepy-looking attendee, then focused his being into the stream. Travelling like this didn’t sit well with him, though he could not really explain why. Perhaps his superstitious side couldn’t fathom coming out of the sea of aether without leaving at least something behind, or maybe it just felt a bit like cheating to a man from a nomadic tribe. Back when he still had his own people around him, their journeys took more than a Twelvemoon to complete. Only to then be taken again in the other direction. Rkah remembered spending more time on the road than anywhere else, and it was where he still felt most at home. 

Unfortunately he couldn’t spare the time it would take to go on foot, or even by chocobo. He appeared in the dry heat of Camp Drybone just as Azeyma rose up from her slumber, ready to welcome to Goddess with his arms outspread. And then all he had to do was find a comfortable place in the warm sun, and wait.

Cocoshan arrived first. The old Lalafell preferred to scout things out before the rest of them had a chance to catch up, but seeing Rkah standing there being his usual smug self, arms crossed as he lazily leaned against the wall, a shit-eating grin on his face made him curse.

“Well toss me over your shoulder and marry me off to a goblin,” he grumbled. “You were still listening to the linkpearl then?” The man did his best to look gruff, but Rkah knew him well enough to know that he was glad to see him. Instead of answering, the Miqo’te tia took a few brisk steps to close the distance between them, to clasp the small man’s arm in a brotherly manner. 

“If I married you off to a goblin, every Lalafell lass twixt here and the known world would weep in sorrow, old friend. It’s good to see you.” 

Cocoshan was about to warn him, but the whip crack voice of Blazing Horizon beat him to it. Their Roegadyn Flame Captain had arrived, and she needed no explanation to know what was going on.

“You shouldn’t be here.”

L’rkah visibly flinched, and his black-tipped ears lowered as he turned to face the imposing woman, her eyes as blazing as her name as she looked down on him. Shit, he thought. He hadn’t expected her to be on this mission. The tia had been pretty confident that his buddies would need little convincing to let him come with them - the chatter over the linkpearl had been grim with tales of most of his squadron being too wounded to be on active duty after their last assignment had gone awry. 

“You need me,” he countered as the two others under her command still able to fight arrived. Wyat - an Ala Mhigan thaumathurge that only looked small when standing next to Blazing Horizon’s imposing form, and Lina - a former Conjurer who had left the Fane behind her a long time ago. The both of them looked both surprised and happy to see him, though one glance at their commander told them that this was not something she had ordered without telling them, and the mood shifted to awkward shuffling as they waited for her to chew his ears off.

And then all eyes were on her, as she sighed and simply nodded. “Very well.”

Wyat whistled low, the sound conveying the sense of shock they all felt much better than words ever could. They’re in more trouble than I thought, Rkah silently thought to himself, a pang of guilt clumping around his heart. He was just one guy, and even had he been present he couldn’t have prevented the odds turning against them, but he couldn’t help but feel like it was his fault somehow. If he wasn’t out there frolicking with the Unsung, then maybe…

There was no time to wallow in misplaced feelings of guilt, though. After a short but warm welcome by his fellow Flames they were off.

---

Several days later, a group of tired men and women returned to Drybone. The nature of their particular work never really left them with a feeling of pride or victory after one of their missions, but someone needed to do what they did. There was honour in that duty, even if it left them with no joy, and there was camaraderie in their shared experiences. Lina was walking between Rkah and Wyat, her arms hooked into theirs, while Blazing and Coco walked a little ahead of them. 

The tia closed his golden eyes and sighed. He was tired, dirty, and his heart was heavy, but he felt good. He felt like he belonged, that he was a part of something. It was over too soon for his liking, but there was nothing he could do to keep them here. Hugs and well-wishes were exchanged, and before he knew it Rkah was alone with his captain, who had crossed her arms to make her glare look extra intimidating.

The man tried one of his grins, which earned him a quick slap on the back of the head. It hurt his pride more than anything, but the message was still clear: cut the crap. 

“Tell me why you came here, and none of this ‘you need me’ crap or so help me,” she ordered briskly as she looked him up and down. Over the years she had learned his body language well, and Blazing knew that his ears and tail would always betray his lies. At best, he could omit truths, but outright lying to his insightful captain was an exercise in futility.

“It’s driving me up the curtains,” Rkah started, but paused again. She wasn’t the type of woman who would respond well to what she deemed as whining, so he had to make sure his tone was neutral. “This mission of mine is a farce. The Unsung these suns aren’t the same as those that got in trouble - for the most part, and a Moogle could deliver these let..”

Blazing Horizon cut him off: “That was the duty you were given, and so you’ll see it through.” The woman kept talking, not giving him a chance to argue. “You need to step up, L’rkah. And think - if what is out in the open isn’t worthy of a Flame to waste his time on, then what else might be going on?” 

Rkah didn’t need to ponder that question, he had already done so many times in the past few moons. “Either I did something so heinous that they want me out of the way - which I would know about. Or..” He sighed, closing his eyes. “...Or they are testing me.” Blazing didn’t nod or give any other indication that she thought he was right. He already knew that. 

“And if I don’t want to be groomed for command? I like serving under you. I’m… happy here.”

That made her take her turn to sigh, the sound full of regret and resolve at the same time. “Doesn’t matter much, does it? Do me proud, Rkah,” she urged him in as gentle a tone as she ever spoke, clasping his shoulder. “Show these arsehats that you’re worth consideration, or screw it up so badly that they’ll hang you for being an embarrassment to the uniform or some such blabber.” When she grinned like that, she was the most beautiful woman he knew, Rkah thought as he mirrored the expression. The moment was short lived, and she briefly petted his shoulder before walking to the aetheryte. 

“No more sneaking off, Flame,” she commanded in a tone that would tolerate no backtalk, and just like that she was gone again. “Yes, ma’am,” he whispered to where she had been, before he focused and vanished himself.

[star-spangled-steve]

His New Partner

Chapter 32: The Baby Blues

Series Masterlist

Previous Chapter

Pairing: Steve Rogers x Reader

Words: 1429

Warnings: Angst, postpartum depression, self-deprecation, cussing, some tears.

A/N: Why not throw in a little Spidey here and there?

Little Anthony got rocked from side to side, distressed whispers in his ear. “Shh, shh, don’t cry, baby. Please don’t cry.”

Tony and Pepper watched in pity as their godson bawled in his mother’s arms. They could see the emotional distress on Y/N’s face and wished that they could help, but knew that it would take more than just quieting her son to fix the long-term issue.

Y/N had postpartum depression. Everyone in the Compound was aware of it, except she herself of course. They all saw the bags under her eyes, the tears that seemed to never stop staining her cheeks. They all noticed how she’d only eat once a day, and how she’d be awake most hours of the night; even if her baby was sound asleep. They all heard the faint mutters under her breath of ‘You’re doing horrible, Y/N’, and ‘You’re being a terrible mother’. Everyone around her knew how much pain she was in, but the girl never actually acknowledged it.

Whenever anyone would ever ask her how she was feeling, Y/N would just brush it off. She’d say that she was ‘doing fine’, or that she was ‘honestly just a bit sleepy’. All of her friends were trying to help, but were really not sure what to do at this point.

“Hey, N/N, do you need me to take him off your hands for a little while?” Tony asked the girl, approaching his namesake with open arms. He hoped that if Y/N would have a bit of time to herself, she could calm down on her own.

“Thanks, Tony, but we’re okay.” She turned her head back to her sobbing son and continued to bounce him, patting his back lightly. “Come on, baby. Shh, shh, please quiet down for mommy.”

The billionaire faced his girlfriend and shrugged, silently asking for her to do something.

Pepper nodded before stepping forward and placing a hand on the girl’s back. “You sure he doesn’t want to spend some time with his godparents? Tony and I can play a mean game of peekaboo-”

“He’s fine!”

The room went quiet at Y/N’s yell, everyone focusing on the tears that sprang into her eyes way too suddenly.

“We’re fine.” She subtly sniffled, hoping that nobody would notice how easily she began to cry. “Okay?”

Pepper nodded. “Okay, sweetie. Okay.” The woman turned towards her boyfriend and frowned, hoping that together they could come up with some way to figure this all out.

*****

“Goddamn it!” The new mother shouted after spilling her son’s bucket of toys all over the floor. She quickly put him in his crib before crouching down to pick them up, more negative thoughts filling her mind.

‘You make a mess out of everything.’

She was just finished placing them back in the bin when she noticed that baby Anthony was fast asleep, and she sighed in relief. “Finally.”

The girl walked over to her bed and flopped right onto it. She pinched the bridge of her nose, something that she did when she was stressed, and stared up at the ceiling. It was almost as if she was asking it for answers, but knew that she wouldn’t get any. Nothing was giving her answers anymore; not when she refused to accept any, subconsciously or not.

‘There, he’s asleep. At least you can do one thing right.’

Y/N had no idea why her brain worked like this. For a while during her pregnancy, she was actually doing great. Barely any self-deprecating thoughts, complete faith in her abilities as a mother, no ideas of turning back or running away. But after the baby was born, everything just hit differently. She began to focus more on the smaller details, critique herself every minute, feel as though she couldn’t do this anymore. She just wished that all the horrible thoughts would disappear, but all that they continued to do was grow. 

‘You’re an awful mother.’

‘Anthony would be better off without you. Hell, everyone would.’

‘No wonder Steve left.’

A knock on her door broke Y/N out of her depressing spiral. “Uh, um, come in.”

Pepper poked her head in the room. “Hey, honey. You okay to have a little talk?”

“Uhm, ya, sure.” The girl sat up on her bed, allowing the other woman to sit down beside her. “What about?”

“We just wanted to make sure that you’re feeling okay.”

“We?”

Pepper gave her a small smile. “All of us. We know that you’ve been feeling down lately, and we want to help you as best as we can, but you’re not letting us in.”

Y/N shook her head, trying to fib her way out of this. “Who said that I’m feeling down? I already told you guys, I’m fine.”

“N/N,” the strawberry blonde sighed, “it’s kind of obvious that you’re not.”

“Honestly, I-”

“And before you try to deny it,” she held up a finger in the younger girl’s face, “we’ve already talked to a professional about your symptoms, and they agree with us as well.”

Y/N dropped her head in displeasure. “You didn’t have to call a professional. It’s not a big deal.”

“Oh, so your postpartum depression isn’t a big deal?”

“It’s not-!” The girl stood up from her seat and brought her hands to her head. “Jesus, Pepper. I don’t have postpartum depression. It’s just a small case of the baby blues.”

Pepper shook her head, feeling quite bad for the stress that this was putting Y/N through. “The baby blues aren’t supposed to last more than two weeks. You’ve had Anthony James for over five months now.” She stood up as well and brought the young mother into her arms. “It’s okay to admit that you have a problem, N/N. The faster you acknowledge it, the quicker we can solve it.”

Y/N nodded into her shoulder, beginning to sob too; not out of sadness, but out of relief, and something else that was much like hope. “Thank you, Pep.”

“Don’t thank me.” The woman stated lovingly. “You deserve the have someone look after you.” She rocked her friend back and forth, feeling her relax in her embrace. “Would you be okay with going out to see someone? Maybe a counsellor?”

“G-Go out?” Y/N questioned with slight fear.

“Okay, okay, not go out.” Pepper chuckled. “What if someone came to you? Would you be okay with that?” She felt another nod against her shoulder and smiled, patting the girl’s back. “Awesome, N/N. That’s taking the first steps right there.”

*****

Y/N was sitting on one of the Compound’s many couches, baby Anthony placed on her lap, when a teenage boy came by. He continued to walk for a couple of seconds before doing a quick double take, noticing that a woman who he’s only ever seen through the television screen was right there in his presence.

“Y-You’re-” he stuttered while pointing at her, “You’re Y/N R-Rogers. Oh my god. Uh, hi. I’m Peter.” He came forward and stuck out his hand. “It’s an honour to meet you. I love your work.”

The girl chuckled before accepting his hand shake. “Aw, thank you, Peter. You’re sweet. Though I have to wonder what you’re doing around here. You seem a bit young.” She looked at him confusedly.

“I can say the same thing about this little guy.” He waved to the baby, seeing Y/N laugh in response. “I-I was talking to Tony Stark about this… um… internship thing.”

“Ah, nice.” She nodded.

“Ya.” The boy, Peter, smiled. “Um, w-what’s his name?”

Y/N bounced her son up and down on her lap, watching him giggle and gurgle at her. “This is Anthony James. We call him A.J.”

“He’s adorable.” The teenager spoke, crouching down to the baby’s level. “Is he yours?”

The girl nodded, rubbing her boy’s tiny back.

“S-So this is Captain America’s baby?” Peter asked in astonishment.

Y/N inhaled a breath at his words, before quickly covering up her anguish. “Yup.”

“Wow.” The young man marvelled. “Kid’s basically American royalty. I’m honestly surprised I’ve never heard of him. Wouldn’t the press have been all over thi-? Wait a minute. What about Steve? Isn’t he-?”

“Gone? Yes.” Y/N answered, trying to hide any sadness. “It’s okay, though. We’re making it work.”

Peter nodded, suddenly feeling guilty for ambushing her. “Oh goodness, I’m sorry. I just met you and I’m pestering you with all of these personal questions.”

Y/N simply smiled and waved it off, glancing down at her six-month-old son with contentedness. “No worries. I’ve actually been told that it’s healthy to vocalize this stuff.”

Next Chapter

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[bechloe-are-acadorable]

Bathroom door

Beca bounded down the stairs, arms full of her things she was packing up to leave the Bella house. She crashed into someone and her stuff went flying everywhere. She glanced up to see Aubrey’s slightly smirking face “What the hell are you doing standing at the bottom of the stairs like that?” She yelled at the older girl “In fact what are you even doing here? You don’t live here anymore!

Aubrey pulled a face "In a few hours neither do you!" She retorted. "Yeah well I still live here now and you don't so why don't you just do us all a favour and get lost! We're all trying to pack away and don't need you around making everything ten times harder!" Beca ducked down to retrieve some of the things that she'd dropped.

Aubrey scowled "So much for Bellas for life" she muttered and stormed up the stairs. Beca sighed and collected the rest of her things before deciding to make amends with Aubrey. After all Beca wasn't even annoyed at Aubrey, she was snappy simply because she didn't want to move out. She didn't want to leave all of the Bellas behind. She didn't want to leave one Bella in particular behind anyway.

Sighing again Beca trudged up the stairs to Chloe's room (the room that had once belonged to both Chloe and Aubrey) and opened the door ready to apologise to her. She frowned when she saw that Aubrey wasn't here until she heard someone in the ensuite bathroom.

Beca sat on the foot of the bed next to the bathroom door. Apologising wasn't something Beca found easy nor did often so not having to actually do it face to face with Aubrey relieved her slightly.

"Look Bree" she began before taking a deep breath "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to kick off on you and you know this house will always be yours as much as it is ours I just... have other things on my mind." Beca paused waiting for Aubrey to reply but when she didn't she figured she must still be pissed off with her.

"I just... I don't want to leave. I don't want to move away yet and be without the Bellas, you guys truly have become my family and I guess I'm just scared of losing that. I've made friendships in here that are so much stronger than anything I've ever had before. Like Amy she's a pain in the ass but she's such a laugh and a great mate to have and Chloe..." Beca sighed upon saying the redheads name.

"Well anyone with a working pair of eyes can tell Chloe and I have such a strong bond. I've never felt anything like it before and I don't want to lose that. She's the best and if I'm being honest that's 90% of the reason I'm dreading leaving so much, I don't want to leave Chloe. She makes everything okay and safe and exciting and I know now that she's going to move away and get a job and a boyfriend and a new life and forget about me totally. I just... I don't want that to happen"

Beca looked down, trying hard to stop the tears in her eyes from rolling down her cheeks "I'm in love with her" she managed to squeak out before the first tear rolled down her cheek. God she was being stupid! Why on God's earth would she tell Aubrey something like that. "Bree please don't tell her any of that"

Beca sniffed before she got up and headed towards the door.

Beca turned the door handle and jumped upon seeing Aubrey walking up the stairs towards her. Becas eyes widened as she turned around to see Chloe at the now open bathroom door. In that moment Becas brain short circuited and she stood there dumbly looking at Chloe, mouth slightly agape.

Chloe looked at Beca with a soft smile "I think we need to talk" she said in barely over a whisper. Beca closed the door behind her and quickly wiped her eyes before taking a deep breath and nodding slightly. "Well come over then I don't bite" Chloe giggled softly as she sat on her bed.

Beca shuffled towards Chloe and sat on the opposite end of the bed, rolling her eyes playfully Chloe scooted towards Beca. "Um, how much of that did you hear?" Beca muttered looking at her hands in her lap. "All of it" Chloe admitted truthfully. Beca nodded slightly "I'm sorry" Beca mumbled.

Chloe frowned at this "You have nothing to be sorry for Beca" Chloe replied softly, gently placing a hand on Becas leg. "I do. I've damaged the whole dynamic of our friendship" Beca groaned out in frustration. "It'll be okay" Chloe tried to soothe her but Beca shook her head "You'll always look at me differently now" Beca sighed. "Look I'm sorry Chloe but I have to go" Beca stood up to leave. "We can work through this Beca" Chloe tried but Beca shook her head as she exited the room.

______________________________

It had been 3 months since Beca had confessed her feelings to Chloe and three months since Chloe and Beca had last spoken. Chloe had tried, really she had but Beca wouldn't answer the phone to her or reply to her barrage of texts. Beca had completely isolated herself from all of the Bellas and moved to New York, working at a record label and living in a tiny crummy apartment.

Beca was well and truly hating her life. Living without the Bellas was hard but living without Chloe was almost unbearable. Her heart ached and she was lucky if she smiled once a week. She hadn't made any new friends and was just going through the motions, even mixing music didn't make her feel any better.

Chloe on the other hand was in a much better position. She had moved to Florida and was working as Ariel in Disneyland and loving every minute of it. She had always loved Disneyland and now it seemed her dreams of being a princess in real life had come true. She loved interacting with the children and ensuring that their visit was filled with awe and wonder like her trips had been as a child.

Chloe being Chloe had made loads of friends already and kept in regular contact with the rest of the Bellas. The only thing that would have made her life better would have been having her best friend back in it. She missed Beca dearly and felt a stabbing pain in her chest every time she thought about her scrappy little friend who had once inadvertently confessed her love to her.

She wished that Beca would answer the phone or text her back. She so desperately wanted to make things right between the two of them. Just because she didn't have the same feelings for her didn't mean they couldn't remain best friends. She missed Beca more than she'd ever missed anyone before and had begged and pleaded with the younger girl to talk to her to no avail.

Chloe woke up from a lovely dream, in the dream The Bellas were performing at Disneyland, all dressed as different princesses to an adoring crowd. Chloe and Beca were performing a short duet and Beca grinned at her with that smile she reserved especially for Chloe. The alarm clock jolted her awake and the sleepy smile remained on her lips for a second before remembering that she hadn't seen that smile in 3 whole months.

Chloe sighed and got her phone out to text Beca, knowing that she wouldn't get a reply. For all Chloe knew Beca had changed her phone number but text her anyway 'Hey Becs, you were in my dream last night, The Bellas were performing together at Disneyland! I miss you... please text me back x' Chloe quickly got changed, ready for another day in work.

Chloe got there slightly early as she always did, a smiling Chicago came over in his Prince Charming attire "Good morning Ariel" he laughed "Good morning to you too Prince Charming" Chloe laughed back. The pair had gotten closer over the past weeks and Chicago had started flirting heavily with the redhead.

He dropped to one knee and took Chloes hand in his "Would you do me the honour of accompanying me on a date tonight?" He asked already in character. Chloe giggled at the goofiness of him "Of course my prince" She replied. "Splendid" he stood up "Your chariot will await at 8" he kissed her hand before walking off. The other princesses gathered around her to talk to her about it before their shift started.

As soon as her shift finished, Chloe rushed home to get ready for her date, pausing only to alert the Bellas group chat of her date.

Stacey: You're literally going out with prince charming!

Aubrey: You're living every girls fantasy!

CR: Not EVERY girls fantasy

Fat Amy: Well every straight girls fantasy

Ashley: What are you going to wear?

Chloe pondered this for a second before getting up and looking through her wardrobe and picking out three options and sending pictures of each to the group chat.

Aubrey: Number 2

Jessica: 1

Ashley: 1

CR: Nah deffo 3

Emily: They're all nice!

Stacey: I have to agree with Bree number 2

Fat Amy: I'd say 3

Flo: 1 or 3

Lily: I killed someone in an outfit like 2

Chloe: Okay...

Chloe: You guys were no help

Chloe: What do you think @Beca?

Although Beca was still technically in the chat she hadn't spoken in it for 3 months and as suspected, she didn't break the silence. Chloe sighed and went with number 2 and got ready for her date. She was ready about 15 minutes before he was due to pick her up and decided to text Beca. Even after all of this time it wasn't any easier without her.

Chloe: Hey Bec, I tried calling you again yesterday but you didn't answer. Are you okay? Is this still your number? Please don't hate me forever, text or call me whenever you want and I'll be here x

Chloe heard a knock at the door and smoothed her hair down before answering the door. "Well hello there Chloe, you look amazing" Chloe smiled back at Chicago, "Looking pretty handsome yourself" Chloe replied. The pair set off in Chicago's car to a nearby Italian restaurant. Chicago was a perfect gentleman opening the door for Chloe and such.

The date went well and Chicago was as charming and funny as ever, he even walked Chloe back to her door after driving her home. "I had a great time Chicago" Chloe told him "Me too" Chicago smiled and leant in and kissed Chloe.

Chloe kissed him back briefly before pulling away "Well goodnight, thanks again Chicago" Chloe smiled before letting herself into her house and kicking off her heels. Chloe got undressed for bed and considered the entire date.

She had had a good time, it was fun and the two would make a great couple she mused but couldn't put her finger on why she didn't feel like she thought she would. She just didn't have that spark with him, she didn't feel for him what she'd expected to. What she'd hoped to.

Chloe flopped into bed and considered the problem some more. He was the third guy she'd been on a date with since moving to Florida but she had expected more from him. It was chemistry that she didn't have with him.

For example if she was out with Beca then the conversation would have never ceased. There was always ease between the two girls relationship. She always felt like she could be 100% herself when she hung out with Beca.

Then again that was a friendship, a relationship is something different altogether. If her and Beca had ever been romantically involved maybe she would have felt the same way around her. Almost immediately Chloe dispelled this thought from her head, she knew that she'd always act the same way around Beca no matter what capacity their relationship was.

It was a true conundrum. For some reason Beca was always in her thoughts when dates didn't work out. It was probably because she missed her friend Chloe reasoned. And she did. She missed Beca dearly, it was almost as though her right arm had been chopped off that's how integral Beca was to her life. Chloe sighed before settling into bed for the night.

Chloe woke up to a knock at her door. She got out of bed and opened it to see Chicago dressed in his Prince Charming suit. "What are you doing?" Chloe mumbled "Well I'm your Prince Charming aren't I?" He replied in a voice that wasn't his own. Chloe cocked her head and it took a second or two for her to click onto who's voice it was.

"Beca?" Chloe gasped "Yes m'lady?" Chicago replied still in Becas voice before magically transforming into Beca, still wearing the princely attire. Chloe threw her arms around Beca and hugged her, right before pulling away and looking at Becas grin. She pulled the shorter girl into a searing kiss before abruptly waking up to the sound of her phone ringing.

Chloe sat bolt upright in bed, panting slightly from shock and surprise before shutting off the call from Chicago. Chloe took deep breaths, trying to calm herself down. Why was this happening? Why was she dreaming about kissing Beca? Why didn't it feel wrong?

She picked her phone up and called Aubrey, 3 rings in she answered "Hey Chloe what's up?" Chloe inhaled deeply "I um... nothing" Chloe didn't know what to say, she was probably just being stupid after all. She didn't actually have feelings for Beca. Or did she? "Chloe what's up?" Aubrey asked again.

"Nothing" Chloe repeated, slightly more convincing than the last time "Don't make me ask again" came Aubrey's stern voice from the other side of the line. Chloe sighed "Well... um... have you ever had a dream about kissing someone that you shouldn't have been kissing?" Chloe managed to get out.

"That I shouldn't have been kissing? Like who? Trump? Ew fuck no!" Aubrey chuckled. "No I mean like a friend" Chloe sighed out "Not really no" Aubrey replied truthfully. "Yeah no me neither" Chloe laughed weakly "Well who was it?" Aubrey questioned her. "No one. It doesn't matter" Chloe added hoping she'd drop it.

No such luck. "Well you have to tell me now" Chloe groaned at this "It was Beca wasn't it?" Aubrey asked. "How... how did you know?" Chloe stuttered "You've always been a bit gay for Beca" Aubrey said nonchalantly. "What? No I haven't!" Chloe squeaked out.

Aubrey laughed at this "You definitely have! All that hand holding and cuddling up during movies and not stopping going on about her and how beautiful she is" Aubrey stated. "I... I'm an affectionate person that's all!" Chloe protested. "I was supposedly your best friend and you weren't that touchy feely with me!" Aubrey argued.

Shit. She was right. Everything was always... different with Beca. A stronger bond. A bit more tender. A deeper love. "Oh my god" Chloe breathed out "And the penny drops" Aubrey deadpanned. "I... I think..." Chloe gulped loudly "I think I love her" she managed to get out.

"I know you do" Aubrey said quietly. "Why... why didn't you ever say something to me?" Chloe questioned her "Its the kind of thing you need to figure out for yourself Chlo" Aubrey said softly.  "Yeah I suppose you're right, thanks Bree... I have to go now" Chloe whispered out. "Let me know how it goes!" Aubrey called out before Chloe hung up. Chloe quickly text Beca.

Chloe: Becs we need to talk, call or text me please?

No reply, not that Chloe was expecting one really. She had no idea how else to contact Beca. She didn't know where she lived or worked or anything, all she knew was that she was in New York and working with a record company.

Chloe searched for hours and hours online for Beca until eventually she found her name listed on one of the record companies. Well if Beca wasn't going to talk to her then she was going to have to go and see her.

Chloe rang work up and took a few of her holiday days off and quickly packed a bag. She got a taxi to the airport and booked the first available plane to New York.

Not even 6 hours after waking up from that dream and Chloe was aboard a plane ready to fly her to New York. It was scary. Terrifying really. She was going to see Beca for the first time in such a long time and tell her how she felt about her.

One step at a time though, she knew where Beca worked but not where she lived and the working day would probably be over by the time she arrived. Chloe thought long and hard for a while but eventually decided to just turn up to her work and hope she was there.

The plane ride, although relatively short in duration, seemed to drag on for an eternity. Chloe was getting more nervous by the second and by the time the plane landed she was a ball of nerves. Grabbing her bag she hurried through the airport and hailed a cab to Becas work.

She got there at 6:15 and entered the building hoping that Beca hadn't left yet. The reception desk was empty so Chloe scouted round, unsure of what she was even looking for. "Can I help you?" Chloe wheeled round at the words and was greeted to a perplexed looking woman. "Um hi I know someone who works here, Beca Mitchell and I don't know if she's here or if she's gone home yet"

The woman raised an eyebrow at her "Beca will have left over an hour ago, as soon as it's 5 o'clock she's out of the door" the woman chuckled. "Ah yes that does sound like her" Chloe giggled "You see the thing is is that I don't actually know where she lives..." the woman frowned slightly.

"How well do you know her?" She queried. "Oh very well. We're best friends" Chloe said confidently. "You're best friends but you don't know where she lives?" Chloe laughed nervously. "We went to college together, we lived together and we were co-captains of our college acappella group but she moved here and I moved to Florida. I have pictures, do you want to see them?" Chloe got her phone out "No I believe you" the woman laughed.

"It's a surprise you see, she didn't know I was coming" Chloe explained "I see" the woman nodded "Is there any chance you could help me out? Have you been to her apartment?" Chloe asked hopefully. "Me? No. As far as I'm aware no one in this place has" Chloe's face dropped at this "Well is there any way you could find out where she lives for me?"

The woman chewed her bottom lip contemplatively "I dunno, it's against policy I could get into trouble" she muttered. "Please? Pretty please? You'll be doing me a massive favour and no one will ever find out" the woman thought for a couple of seconds, assessing the situation.

She seemed harmless enough and hopefully a visit from a friend would cheer her moody coworker up. "Wait here I'll be two minutes" she said "Oh my god thank you so much I owe you one big time!" Chloe beamed.

She waited anxiously for the woman's return, when she arrived back she handed Chloe a piece of paper with the address written on it. "Honestly I can't thank you enough for this!" Chloe gushed "It's nothing" Chloe engulfed the woman in a quick hug. "Thanks again!" She said before leaving and hailing another cab.

Before long she was stood outside Becas apartment door. She must have been standing there for a good 15 minutes working up the courage to knock on it. She didn't know what to say.

She almost bottled it, she almost turned around and left for the airport to get a flight home. But she couldn't. She couldn't leave when she was this close to seeing Beca again. Chloe took a deep breath before wrapping her knuckles across the door.

She heard a muffled "Finally" through the door before it was opened. There she was. Becas mouth dropped open at the sight of Chloe in front of her after all these months. Chloe smiled awkwardly "Hey Becs" she whispered.

Beca remained mute and unmoving, she couldn't quite comprehend what was happening. Surely this was a dream? Why else would Chloe be stood at her door? Tears welled in Chloe's eyes upon seeing Beca after so long and she could no longer help herself, she hugged the smaller girl tightly.

Beca stood there, almost frozen but engulfed in Chloe’s arms. She breathed in Chloe’s scent that she hadn’t realised she’d missed this much before clearing her throat slightly. Chloe released Beca and took a slight step back “You better come in” Beca managed to get out. Chloe nodded and followed Beca into her apartment.

Chloe looked around the tiny place as she followed Beca to the couch. Beca picked the remote up and turned the TV off before offering Chloe a seat. Chloe sat down but Beca remained on her feet, pacing slightly.

Chloe glanced up at her nervous friend “I missed you” she said sincerely. Beca ran a hand through her hair “I missed you too” she admitted quietly. “Can you sit down so we can talk?” Chloe asked softly, Beca paced a few more times before reluctantly nodding and sitting down next to the redhead.

Beca bounced her leg nervously as she struggled to look at Chloe “Bec can you look at me please?” Chloe almost begged. Becas eyes drifted up to Chloe’s face where Chloe spotted the tears threatening to escape. Chloe exhaled deeply “Why did you shut me out?” Chloe whispered as Beca shook her head.

“You know why” Beca glanced down at the floor again. “No I don’t” Chloe said softly as Beca ran a hand through her hair again. “It was too much. I said too much and I couldn’t take it back” Beca croaked out.

She began to pick at the chipped black nail polish on her fingernails. “Beca I’m so sorry” Chloe began, a stray tear falling from her own eyes “I never wanted you to feel like you had no choice but to cut contact with me. It must have been horrible for you, feeling the way you did. I’m so sorry Becs” Chloe choked out.

Beca glanced back up and her heart broke upon seeing Chloe cry “Please don’t cry Chloe” she pleaded. Chloe dried her eyes and took a deep breath “I just... I missed you so much and I thought I’d lost you forever!” Chloe croaked out.

Beca sniffed “I’m sorry Chloe it’s just... you don’t know what it’s like loving someone who only sees you as a friend. It’s crushing. It almost feels like you can’t breathe any more” Chloe’s heart broke a little bit more knowing she’d caused Beca to feel like this “And I just didn’t know what to do. I thought running away would help but all I do is think about you. I’d rather have you in my life as a friend than not at all Chlo” Beca added quickly.

Chloe steadied her nerves and made sure she locked eyes with Beca before continuing. “Beca I don’t want to just be friends with you anymore. I think I love you” Becas mouth dropped open at this “What?” She squeaked out. “I think I love you Beca” Chloe said plainly. “Like love me or love me love me?” Beca asked quickly Chloe smiled at this. “Love you love you” Beca could hardly believe her own ears. “You do?” Chloe nodded as a small smile appeared on Becas lips, widening until it almost engulfed her whole face.

“So... can... can I kiss you?” Beca asked as Chloe nodded vigorously. Beca pulled Chloe in for a kiss that was half-ruined by Becas inability to stop smiling, Chloe however found it absolutely adorable. “Promise you’ll never leave me again?” Chloe asked as she broke away from the kiss “I promise” Beca replied sincerely before leaning in for another kiss.

[arlome]

From your prompt list, I chose 1 from each category, you can decide if you want to use them all in 1 fic, or several 😜 Angst - 8 Fluff - 3 Random - 4 Kisses - 6 😎

Okay, so, because you’re being a greedy bitch (:P), I’m taking the mother of artistic licenses here and writing for three different ships! Here we go!

1. No’ 8, angst ( “Nobody’s seen you in days.”) + no’ 4, random (”If I die, I’m hunting you first”) - Deckerstar: 

- 1. The penthouse is silent and dark when she arrives, the eerie stillness causing her low heels to echo loudly across the marble floor. There are no dust sheets thrown over the furniture, so she takes this as a tentatively positive sign and ventures further into the luxurious apartment.

“Lucifer?” she calls out, craning her neck and bending a little forward to try and glimpse his silhouette on the bed, or leaning against the railing; he’s not standing at the bar or reclining in his chair, and she has a brief flash of panic rush through her entire system at the thought that he’s disappeared again, after all. 

A few extra steps bring her to the foot of his bedroom steps, and, at last, she spies his long form spread-eagled over his ridiculously expensive silk sheets. 

“Lucifer!” She climbs the three stairs hurridly and enters the open room. “Are you alright? Nobody’s seen you in days!”

The sight that greets her isn’t pretty, for a change. 

His face looks like it’s been used as a punching bag; his left eye is swollen, upper lip split and oozing blood. She gasps loudly at the bloody image he makes and drops on her knees at his side.

“What happened?” she demands to know, her fingers fluttering over the black-and-blue bruise on his forehead; he flinches and winces at the contact and she withdraws her hand, an apology ready on her lips.

“My brother came to visit, Detective,” he rasps, and she blanches.

“Amenadiel did this?” she asks, horrified - she knows the brother’s don’t always see eye to eye, but this is excessive! 

He shakes his head and winces again. Her heart clenches a little at the sight; he must be in considerable pain.

“My other brother,” he clarifies. “I have many, Detective. This little punch-up is courtesy of my brother Michael.”

“Would you like to report him to the police?” she asks softly. 

He laughs quietly, but there’s nothing soft or funny about the sound. The mirthless laugh is followed by charged silence.

“What can I do, Lucifer?” she asks gently; her knees begin to ache due to the unnatural position, but she pays them little heed. 

His hand on hers is warm and surprisingly strong.

“You’re here,” he says simply.

And it’s enough.

- 2. He presses his hand tightly against the gaping wound in her abdomen and curses all the powers in the universe and his Father, most of all. 

“Try not to move, darling,” he pleads with her, pulling her further into his lap. She winces at the movement and blanches in pain, and he starts cursing his own name inwardly.

“If I die,” she croaks, her slick fingers brushing over his in an attempt to distract him, “I’m haunting you first.”

Her attempts at feeble humour are completely lost on him.

“That’s not how it works, Detective,” he grouses, the fingers of his other hand digging into her shoulder, “and you’re not dying.”

She laughs softly and winces in pain.

“Sure feels that way.”

He curses again, this time aloud.

“Hold on, Chloe,” he pleads with her again. “Help’s on the way.”

2. No’ 3, fluff (”Have you seen my hoodie? noooo, You’re wearing it, aren’t you?”) - Carolight:

Dr Dwight Enys is a busy man. He’s a young, overworked ER doctor at Royal Cornwall Hospital, volunteers at a women’s shelter as an on-call physician and works for the Navy veterans program in his very little spare time. He barely has time for social life and leisure, as his rather neglected girlfriend never fails to remind him, but there is one practice he can never pass upon - he runs.

Every morning at five o’clock - even when he’s on call at hospital and should really be sleeping - he dons his suit of sporty armour and goes flying; a 10 km run for both body and soul. He greets all cats and dogs on his way, welcomes the morning ahead of the birds, and arrives back exhausted but happy, ready for the bracing day ahead.

This morning, however, is slightly different. For starters, it’s five-thirty and he’s yet to leave the house. Upheaving sofa cushions and banging wardrobe doors, he curses quietly, trying very hard not to wake Sleeping Beauty up. 

“Dwight?” 

Well, fuck; he didn’t mean to wake her.

“I’m sorry, love,” he calls from the bathroom, head buried in the wash bin. “Go back to sleep?”

“What is it? Why are you making so much noise?”

Her voice is sleepy and husky, and for one long second, all he wants to do is crawl back into bed with her.

“It’s just - have you seen my hoodie, Caroline? I can’t seem to find it...” 

There’s nothing but silence for a few seconds, and Dwight almost thinks that she’s gone back to sleep, but the sound of her stirring in bed convinces him of her alertness.

“Noooo?” comes the high pitched reply.

Dwight sighs and rises from his kneeling positing in front of the bin. He makes his way slowly to their bedroom, only to find Caroline cocooned rather comfortably in a fuzzy duvet.

“You’re wearing it, aren’t you?” he asks, resigned and not a little fond. 

She smiles at him cheekily and throws aside the heavy fabric, flashing him a glimpse of his stolen hoodie.

“Come back to bed, Dr Enys,” she murmurs enticingly and he smiles.

After all, sometimes staying in bed is good for your health. 

Doctor’s orders.

3. No’ 6, kisses ( needing to kiss to hide from bad guys) - Phrack:

The thudding of heavy feet is getting louder and coming closer. There’s two of them, one pistol between them, against 10 thugs from the docks, all heavily armed.

“We’ll never outrun them, Miss Fisher,” Jack pants, almost doubled in half, bracing himself with one palm against the brick wall in the alley they’re currently hiding in. “Where are your red-raggers?” 

Phryne is leaning with her back against the same wall, chest heaving, and shakes her head. 

“Too far away; they’ll never make it in time.”

Shouts and bullets fly close enough to be almost upon them, and Jack straightens and takes a step closer, no doubt seeking to do the honourable thing and try to somehow shield her with his body.

Dear man, she thinks and yanks him forward by the lapels of his coat.

Jack looks at her in astonishment as she tugs both hats off their heads and throws them far out of sight.

“Phryne?”

She smiles almost wickedly at the poor man, as she pulls him downwards to her level.

“All part of the job, Detective Inspector,” she purrs and crushes her lips to his slightly open mouth.

It takes a few moments for him to realise what’s happening, but when he finally clues in, his reaction sends a jolt of pleasure down Phryne’s spine. His arms come to encircle her as he pulls her to him rather enthusiastically, his lips urgent and insatiable against her delighted mouth. He actually moans into the kiss, tasting her with relish, biting at her lower lip with great ardour, as if they are alone in the world and not being chased down by a small mob.

They’re making quite a scene, there’s no doubt about it; one of his hands migrates from her waist and is trailing up her thigh, one of his legs is pressed tightly against her centre. Phryne trembles and shakes in his arms with a force that has very little to do with adrenaline, and everything to do with their waltz. Slow and close indeed.

The thugs pass them by with little notice, except some half-hearted jeers and wolf-whistles, and continue on their goose-chase down the docks. Jack’s lips trail down Phryne’s throat and his fingers slip up her skirt.

“Jack!” she gasps in delight and arches into him. She always knew he was a very passionate man. “Jack!”

But the sound of his name pulls him from the lustful haze and into the present, and he starts a little at their position and takes a step backwards, flushed and a little horrified.

She reaches for him before he can get too far away from her.

“I’m sorry if you think I took a liberty, Inspector,” she throws at him, smiling mischievously, the sound of her voice breathy with need. Jack recognises her jab and smiles ruefully.

“Let’s call a spade a spade, Miss Fisher,” he replies, and Phryne’s is delighted at the gravely sound of his voice. “You kissed me.”

“You kissed me back.”

Jack smiles and leans over just a smidge.

“And I’m not here to apologise.”

She pulls him back to her and pushes her fingers into his coifed hair.

“Come back to Wardlow with me, Jack,” she breathes in his ear and he shudders. “We can discuss the case over drinks in my private parlour.”

His strong hands are warm against her blouse and she flexes a little against his lovely fingers.

He smiles his crooked little smile, his eyes dancing.

“How can I refuse, Miss Fisher?”

AND THAT’S ALL SHE WROTE. PHEW.

[msbeccieboo]

Arrow 7x18 brain dump

And we’re back from hiatus! Unlike a few that I see, I really enjoyed this episode! Sure the main story was clunky, and a lot of the dialogue was cheesy as hell, but the theme and notion behind it of women coming together to save the day was just everything that Arrow, and the whole Canary concept up until now has been missing. As usual, this got long, and gif-heavy, so apologies if you get bored haha!

Felicity

Yes of course we’re coming to Felicity first! Our (Smoak) Queen absolutely ruled the show this week! I still remember the fandom reaction when we heard the episode title…it was something along the lines of:

(gif from my gif keyboard-sorry no link!)

And then the episode rolls round and it’s awesome (mostly) and Felicity is at the centre of it!! Amazing! In fact, it was so hard to separate this review into character/theme sections this week, as Felicity was intertwined so closely with all of them.

Felicity was at her finest this week. We saw her both as Overwatch and literally saving the day in the field. We had wifey Felicity, loyal friend felicity, mama Felicity, flirty-flirt Felicity….the list goes on!! And in an episode called Lost Canary??

Continued under the cut

It was Felicity’s heart and famous empathy that really shone through for me this week. From start to end she tried her best to win Black Siren back round, to clear her name, and save her from herself. Our girl literally reached across time to help her friend. Now whether or not BS had earned/deserved that much effort on Felicity’s part is another thing altogether, but one thing that prevails is Felicity’s huge heart, her compassion and her unwavering belief in those she calls her friends. Her ability to see the good in people, even at their worst, is probably my favourite thing about her. And whereas Dinah was right to an extent about Felicity having ‘blinders’, she just wants to see the best in people. This is why she is the heart of the team. This is why Oliver fell in love with her. This is why I fell in love with her. The moment where she shouts at Dinah “we should be helping her not hunting her”, just epitomises Felicity for me.

It was ultimately Felicity’s stalwart belief in her that made BS turn ‘good’ in the end. Our girl literally put her and her unborn child’s life out there and dared BS to kill them to prove she was evil. In doing this, Felicity ultimately saves the day! Sure, we see Felicity being a badass every week, but watching her lead a team of women in the field was super emotional for me to watch.

Source: smoaktechs

This did start to feel like a goodbye to Felicity, especially with the Sara scene, reminiscing and commenting on how far she has come. I imagine the timing of Emily’s announcement was planned to precede this last run of episodes for this reason. I’m still coming to terms with Emily leaving, and I haven’t been able to write anything about it yet (and not sure I will tbh), but episodes like this make me realise just how different (and by different I mean shitty) this show would have been/will be without her in it and I’m simply not ready still 😭😭😭

Olicity

We only got two Olicity scenes this week, which was actually far more than I thought we would get, and they bookended the episode so beautifully!! I still don’t think I’m over the cuteness this week!!

In the first scene we got a beautifully babbly Felicity; “Are you sure that you are ok, now that you know that your sister is evil and tried to kill you? Too soon?” 😂😂, along with a little of her own horn-tooting haha:

Source: felicitysmoakgifs 1 and 2

Oliver’s little smile after that was just 😍😍

We had a cute little smooch, and touching!! It was so nice to see them being truly affectionate and comfortable around each other again!

Source: olicitygifs

Then Oliver being all Protective Daddy!Oliver, asking Felicity to take it easy and look after her PRECIOUS CARGO!!!!!

NVJDFNVJDKVNFDVKND!!!! Honestly this will go down as being one of the great Olicity quotes for me! His little belly gesture, and then her adorable “I know” I can’t handle the cuteness guys!!!!!!

Oh and then there was the cutest Olicity scene everrrr!! Felicity returns from her bird adventures to find a sleepy adorable Oliver laid out on the couch 😍🔥😍

Source: lucyyh 💗

OMGGGGG her face when she sees him, and tells him she’d missed him….hgfidsbodsnfv!!!

Source: olicitygifs

The mystery remains as to just why Oliver is that exhausted…as I talk about in the next section, he and Dig didn’t do an awful lot this episode. The only acceptable answer is that they spent the rest of their time in the episode putting together an endless amount of baby furniture…I now decree this as FACT!!

Anyhoo…back to snuggly Oliver. Ughh this man does not stop being adorable (even with this hair)! He sits up and pulls Felicity into him by the bum (we all see you Oliver 👀) and smushes himself into her chest for a hug, kissing her shoulder, telling her how he will take care of her 😍😱 😍😱, then Felicity promptly asks for a foot rub, to which he happily obliges.

Source: 1-crazy-dreamer 💗

I AM DECEASED!!!!

Combined with the ending of 4x08 this confirms that the Green Arrow is a cuddleholic, and I will watch this scene on a loop FOREVER!!! I could seriously watch the rest of this season/show just of them being affectionate and domestic like this. Your OTP could never!!

Oliver/Dig

Oliver goes on a little boys trip with Dig to try and find the killer of Emiko’s mother. I’m sooo glad they didn’t waste much time on this, and gladder still that they wasted no time at all on Emiko! Turns out the responsible party was one of the Longbow Hunters (yes them again), that Felicity found for them.

Source: ebett

I love how Dig/ARGUS/NTA spent the first part of the season trying and failing to capture these guys, then Oliver rocks up and takes him out with a tranq arrow in 2 seconds flat, and has no clue who he even is haha!

Source: feilcityqueen

They work out pretty quickly that Dante hired him, then promptly leave and that’s the end of that! I really like how the men weren’t minimised or side-lined entirely (except Rene *shrugs*), they just weren’t that significant in the episode. Boss Beth and her team did a great job here of not taking away from them in order for the women in the episode to shine, something that previous writing teams on this show have done over and over again in the reversed situation *cough* MG *cough*.

Sara

Sara frikking Lance is back!!!!

That entrance though...it was everything!! The way all the glass shattered was reminiscent of her first cry scene where she saved Oliver at the DA’s office in 2x03.

Source: supercanaries

I do think though that it was absolute bullshit that BS could beat Sara in a fight!

Then we got the previously teased Sara/Felicity scene. OHMIGOD I loved this scene so much!! I really miss Sara in Arrow, and this scene was just so perfect!! I loved their little friendly flirty-flirt!!

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

Putting together the two people in the Arrowverse that have killer chemistry with everyone was an inspired choice here, and it just makes me long for the Smoakingcanary friendship that we never really saw fully developed! We have a lighter Sara now, so they could not have had this level of friendship in S2, or even S4, but I always loved their relationship, even back then.

Source: eloquence-of-felicities

Sara has grown so much since she left for the Waverider, she is so much more reflective and a wiser woman now. I like that she doesn’t acknowledge BS as LL, but sees herself in her and still wants to help, and to honour Quentin. Lance sister scenes were always my favourite of Laurel’s, and the Sara/BS scenes have the same energy about them. I loved Sara’s speech to BS at the graveyard about redemption. Sara still doesn’t see herself as completely worthy, but acknowledges that she has grown into a hero, through her years of trying. So I cheered when she told BS “You think you deserve a medal for trying to be good for 5 seconds? Redemption isn’t a destination it’s a journey”

Source: canarygifs

Oh, that’s just the theme of the entire series!! Yaaaaassss!! Go Sara! I really hope we get to see her again this season.

Black Siren

Straight up, I was worried when I saw the opening scene…the overacting, yelling, annoying music, ridiculous unbelievable ass-kicking and then that title card?? 😬😬 ‘Evil’ BS is so campy in the worst way…I like ‘good’ BS, so that opening?? Yeah I had my doubts haha!

I enjoyed Black Siren’s struggle within the episode; what she really wants is to be seen and accepted as the good person she is trying to become. As soon as she was doubted last episode, her instinct was to revert back, an ‘if they think I’m evil, I’ll just be evil’ mentality. The problem is, as Sara told her, she was trying to be a good person for like a few months? She has a long way go to redeem herself and earn back the trust of people who know what she did as Black Siren before (see: Dinah 😬). Her beacon of hope (see what I did there?) is Felicity. She has been ever since she approached her at the start of the season. BS saw in Felicity an opportunity to avenge Quentin initially, and eventually, through falling for Felicity’s friendship charms (doesn’t everybody?), do good, and be that better person that Quentin and Felicity thought she could be. And despite Sara’s (awesome) talk with her, it’s Felicity in the end that persuades her which side to fall on in the end.

In the end, Black Siren realises/decides that in order to continue on her redemptive path, she needs to go back to where she started, Earth 2, and do some good there. How this fits with her appearance in later episodes in the season (spoiler pics) and her apparently large storyline next season is yet to be seen. Felicity’s face when she hears BS is leaving is heart-breaking 😭😭 Their friendship has been one of the unexpected highlights of this season for me; it has been so nice to see a female friendship on this show! I also liked how through all of her short-lived evilness, she never revealed Felicity’s pregnancy, even covering for her back in the lair at the end of the mission!

Extra BS moments:

BS pushing Felicity out of the way in the final fight scene 😍

Shadow Thief: “Which one is Felicity?” BS: “The chatty one” 😂😂

Source: minibetta

Source: plotbunnyshipper 

Dinah

*Dramatic sigh* Ugh Dinah. She continues to drive me mad! She has some real moments of warmth (but I think that’s just Juliana shining through), but for the most part she’s just super annoying! She has a constant condescending tone, a terrible attitude, is massively hypocritical, and is so back and forth with her standpoints that she leaves me with whiplash most episodes!

I hated the way she talked down to Felicity throughout the episode, for believing in Laurel. Dinah believed in Vinnie, and the Team had her back (until BS killed him 😬). Dinah MURDERED PEOPLE TOO, and the Team had her back. She should have empathy for BS, having been in the exact same situation, but she doesn’t see it that way. I loved Felicity serving her up the tea in the bunker scene, it’s about damn time!

Felicity’s overall snark at Dinah this week was on point!  Her “Please hold�� and “Good chat, really love our chats” 😂😂 our girl really knows how to deliver a burn and still look cute doing it haha!

Flash Forwards

I have missed my flashforwards baby OTA!! Unfortunately we were missing William, Connor and Roy this week, cos Girl Power ✌ and all that jazz! But we did get to see some more Mama Felicity. Future Felicity is definitely more stoic and detached than our Felicity, but that changes when her kids are around; I loved the mother-daughter hug when Mia returned!  

Source: felicitysmoakgifs

I’d forgotten about the whole helmet thing to start with, when I first saw it I thought it was Dig!! But helmet guy basically shows up at the start of the FFs and kills a boatload of Canaries. Did I giggle at the notion that anyone can be a Canary in the future, and that therefore they are totally interchangeable and dispensable in nature? Yes I did 😂 Anyway, Mia’s determination to track and take down helmet guy, to honour the dead birds, led to more Oliver (and later, Felicity) comparisons, which I am always here for!!

Dinah later actually gives Mia a really inspiring speech about the Canaries. That they are girls taking care of girls; a support system for women, so that they are there for each other when needed most. Dinah references a time when she did not do that (for Black Siren, presumably), and that that following that she changed how she worked. I’m hoping this means that Dinah will become more likeable in the present timeline for the upcoming episodes, but I’m not holding my breath.

Mia still isn’t used to relying on others, but she does ask Dinah for help and is refused, so her reaction to Dinah’s talk was just ‘yeah….no’, pretty much, with the line “Too bad I’m not a Canary”….and the Smoak burns keep on coming this episode 😂 😂

Source: amunetblack

At the end, as Mia nearly meets her end taking down helmet guy (as if he could have taken her!) she is saved by…Future Black Siren!!! Who is obviously alive still, back on Earth 1, and a goodie!! Yay!! I love that BS ‘saves’ Mia in both timelines in the same episode, nice touch! She gives Mia the helmet for Felicity, along with some sage advice:

Source: jaces-clarissa

I’d have liked to see her and Felicity interact, but you can’t win them all!

Bonus moments

Felicity: “Fake heat signatures? That is devious and impressive!” Lolololol!

That table slide!

Source: seeing-red-arrow

Source: smoaktechs

(I love that Felicity delivered the birds line 😂😂)

“To ladies taking down ladies”

And that’s it! Four episodes left 😭😭😭 I AM NOT READY!!

Thank you to all the wonderful gif makers! This episode has yielded SO MANY amazing gifs, so thank you for sharing them with us all! 💗💗💗

[band--psycho]

Sirius Black x Reader-Out Of My League

Summary: An imagine where you have a huge crush on Sirius, but you're too afraid to tell him.one night there's a Gryffindor house party and you get 'slightly' drunk and admit your feelings to him, you have no recollection of this until Lily(your best friend) reminds you.

Y/Ns POV

"Rise and shine sleepy head,' I heard Lily say as she began shaking my body, disturbing my sleep. My head was killing, it felt like I had a whole rock band performing in my head.

"Come on Y/N/N, we'll be late for potions,"she said, shaking me harder this time, but then I no longer felt her shaking my body, I finally thought she'd given up, however I then felt freezing cold water being thrown on to me. Instantly I bolted up from my bed, glaring at Lily as she chuckled away innocently, acting like she'd done nothing.

"What the hell,Lil?" I groaned, grabbing a towel from my suitcase to dry myself off.

"Well,it was the only way I was gonna wake you up,"she replied. I just rolled my eyes, and threw the towel that I was using at her.

"Hey!" She yelped "it's not my fault you were so drunk last night, that you passed out,"she scolded me,instantly memories of last night came flooding back. It was just a 'casual' Gryffindor house party,to celebrate us beating Slytherin in the Quidditch final. Of course,like any Gryffindor party, there was some alcohol around...at first I was taking it slow, hardly drinking at all. But then I saw Sirius...flirting with a group of girls and I couldn't stop the jealousy that I was feeling. As soon as I saw him flirting with the group of girls, I began to drink more and the next thing I actually remember are the events of this morning.

Sirius and I had been quite good friends for about four years, I'd had a crush on him from about three years, not that I'd ever told him.

"Earth to, Y/N/N,you in there?" Lily said, snapping her fingers infront of my face.

"Sorry, sorry,"I said snapping out of my own thoughts.

"Thinking about last night were ya?" Lily chuckled.

"Actually,Lil, I don't really remember much of last night..." I signed,running a hand through my now dryish hair.

"Well, I'm not surprised given the amount that you drank," Alice chirped in, walking into the dorm ; I gave the two of them a questioning look, wanting them to explain what happened last night.

"Guys, what did I do last night?" I asked, worried about what they were going to say.

"Y/N/N, you kissed Sirius," Lily said with a huge smirk on her face.

~~~~~~~~

I'd spent the rest of the day embarrassed and hungover, I avoided Sirius and pretty much everyone that I could for as long as possible.

I was currently lying in bed,my eyes shut, trying to block out the world and get rid of this hangover-luckily, I had a free period, so hopefully I wouldn't be missed that much. And just as I was drifting off to sleep, I heard the door to my dorm open.

"Lil, just let me get some sleep," I groaned, thinking that it was probably Lily who entered the room, but that thought was proven wrong when I heard a chuckle...a chuckle that I'd know from anywhere...it was Sirius.

"Oh,Sirius,what are you doing here?"I questioned,trying to stop the blush from creeping up on to my cheeks.

"I came to check on you, Lily said that you were very hungover from last night," he said, walking closer to my bed.

"I tried to catch you after potions, and at lunch, but both times you vanished before I could talk to you," he continued, he was standing directly next to my bed.

"Oh,you didn't have to, Sirius, sorry, I haven't really been in the mood for people today..."I stated simply. There was a silence for a few minutes, I could feel him staring at me as I tried to avoid all eye contact, still embarrassed from last nights events.

"Y/N/N?" Sirius asked,sitting down infront of me on my bed.Hesitantly, I looked up at him,worried and nervous about what he was going to say.

"About last night-" He began, but I interrupted him before he could finish what he was saying.

"Sirius, I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to do what I did, I didn't know what in was doing. I was drunk and I know that you don't feel the same way about me, but-"I was cut off by what I was saying when he crashed his lips onto mine. I was shocked by what he was doing, but within seconds I realized that I was kissing him back. The kiss was intense and full of passion,which confused me greatly. We soon broke away from the kiss, our foreheads now pressed against eachothers.

"For someone who is so smart, you really are clueless about some things," he whispered against my lips,causing me to give him a quizzical look.

"I like you, Y/N/N, I have done since the start of last year,"he continued. I was stunned by what he said, so stunned that I could!don't form any words, all I could do was blush.

"Why didn't you say anything to me?"I asked after a few moments had passed. He chuckled and smirked at me, kissing my nose lightly.

"I could ask you the same thing,Y/N/N?" He responded.

"Because, you're so out of my league," I answered honestly.

"Oh,Y/N/N," he sighed,pecking my lips softly but lovingly.

"You are an amazing, smart, caring and absolutely stunningly beautiful girl, if anything, you're the one who's out of my league," he whispered to me, causing my already red cheeks to become an even deeper shade of red, which just caused Sirius to chuckle again.

"Y/N/N,would you do me the honour of being my girlfriend?" Sirius asked,hope filling his eyes as he did.

"Yes," I said almost instantly, before kissing him again, he started to kiss back but then we were disturbed by clapping, both of us broke away from the kiss, and we saw our friends, all standing by the door with smirks on their faces.

"Told ya all they needed was a helping hand," James chuckled, causing both Sirius and I to look at him with pure confusion written all over our faces.

"He told Sirius that he needed to make you jealous, so that you wouldd admit how you really felt about him," Remus explained to us.

"And when you saw him flirting with the others girls, I knew you'd need to drink, so I just kept giving you drinks until you went up to him,"Lily continued, with a proud and triumphant look on her face. Sirius and I looked at eachother and then back at our friends,a huge smile plastered on both of our faces, because in that moment the both of us were indescribably happy.

Tag list:

@buckyypotter

[teamfreewillstuff]

It’s A Wild Life

Word Count: 1002

Authors Note: Hello all, its been a while since I have written a fic and am really nervous about posting it. Its just an idea so far by I would love your feedback and I would absolutely love to continue it if you want me to. 

 Warnings: Infertility  

Reader and Sam moved away from the hunting life to pursue the perfect apple pie life, reader as a nurse and Sam as a lawyer. Sam and the reader have been struggling with infertility. But what happens when Dean shows up at their New York apartment?  

You had the perfect life. It was like something you could have read in a romance novel, you came from a wealthy and respectable family, you had the perfect childhood, graduated from both high school and university with honours, found the perfect job as a neonatal nurse in the best hospital in New York City, and were engaged to the perfect guy. Life was good, and could only get better. Right?

On the morning of June 6th, 2018 your day started out as any other Monday morning would, next to the love of your life, Sam Winchester. You had met Sam through a mutual friend almost 10 years ago to the day. You were both young when you met, only 15, but the moment you both laid eyes on each other you knew it was meant to be. Again a moment you would read in some romance movie, but this was your life and not some fictional tale.

It was only after 3 years of dating that Sam finally came clean about his past as a hunter, or rather helping his father with hunts. Much to his surprise you had already known about such things as your great great grandmother was a hunter, and every generation after her carried out her legacy. That is until you. Your parents agreed to raise you learning the skills needed to hunt but never encouraged the lifestyle, simply teaching your the skills needed in case of an emergency. But you and Sam both agreed to move away from the life and start the life you both wanted, the perfect apple pie life.

 Anyways back to the morning. As you rolled over to turn off your alarm you were met by a sleepy Sam inching his way over to you, craving your radiating warmth. “good morning sleepy head” you said as you felt Sam drape his arms around you. He let out a soft moan as you struggled to get out of bed. 

“Stay home today, we can stay in bed all day.” Sam knew there was no use in asking but he figured he would try his luck anyways. You loved your job too much to miss a shift, after all he knew that today one of your patients, a little girl born at 28 weeks was finally going to be held by her parents, how could you miss that? 

You laughed just as you managed to displace yourself from Sam’s arms. “Its going to be a good day baby, I can just feel it” you said as you made your way through your 2 bedroom apartment toward your kitchen, but on your way you passed the empty room where someday you hoped a baby of your own would be. And just like that your mood changed, that room was a constant reminder of the perfect life you had yet to have. You stopped in the doorway examining the lonely room, as you imagining the possibility, the echoing of your own childhood and the memories you hoped to share with your hypothetical little one. 

You and Sam had been trying for a baby for the last 10 months, originally it started off as a crazy idea after drinking a little too much with friends, but it soon became something you wanted almost as badly as you needed to breath. After a year of trying to conceive infertility was a large possibility and you were quickly approaching that date. As these thoughts raced through your mind you felt Sam place his hands on your shoulders. “It will be okay, everything will work out” Sam tried to be helpful but the worry was almost too much to bare. One of the first things you learn in nursing school is not to give false hope, and its funny how thats exactly what you wanted to hear right now, the false reassurance that someday you would be able to care for a child of your own. 

You examined the room one more time before finally continuing your way down the hall to the kitchen where you and Sam ate breakfast and then not long after both went your separate ways for the day. About an hour later you arrived at the hospital where you would start your shift for the day. Your shift seemed to drag on for years as the events of the morning weight on you. All you could think about was that in another week you would take another pregnancy test, one that you wanted so badly to be positive. Finally your shift ended and you returned home to a sleepy Sam and an empty room. 

You laid awake thinking about the events of the day, not only your problems but your patients as well, some days it was hard to not bring your work home with you, well today it was impossible. As you watched your patient finally held in the warm and safe arms of her parents the feelings of both joy and resentment flooded your body. They had what you wanted oh so badly, a family. Of course their situation wasn’t perfect, or even close to it but they had a baby, a beautiful family. As these thoughts raced through your head you struggled to sleep. When suddenly a series of seven anxious knocks sounded on your apartment door, with the hunting world long behind both you and Sam your first thoughts were innocent, while monsters were not your first thought knowing your past lives you kept a couple of hidden guns around the apartment. You raced to the door as Sam hurried to the end table nearest to the door removing a gun that was safely hidden beneath. He was immediately behind you within seconds.  You waited for Sam’s okay to open the door, he stood with his gun pointed towards the momentarily closed door, when Sam gave a nod allowing you to open the door you opened the door inch by inch slowly revealing your soon to be brother in law, Dean.  

To be continued? 

Please let me know if you want me to continue this fic, I have enjoyed writing it so far and would love to continue it. 

[daysswithyou]

Slowly, Quietly, Falling

Characters: DAY6 Jae x OC

Genre: 50% fluff, 29% slice of life, 10% romance, 10% humour (or so I hope), 1% angst

Words: 4.1k

Description: roommate!jae AU

---

The first thing you noticed was the shoes. There was not a single pair that was matched – the most intriguing one had to be the pair of flip flops, one black and one white.

This shoe size is really big; it’s almost twice of mine.

Closely the door silently behind you, you observed the space quietly. To your left, there was a kitchen with an island counter top. It looked clean, but you suspect it’s because nothing ever been done in that space. The space right in front of you was the living room and by a corner of the wall, you found an electric and acoustic guitar, the earth tones of both complementing one another. Down the hallway on your right, you found two rooms on the left, the first was occupied and the second was not, automatically making that your room. The space was clean and cosy; just like how you liked it. You decided that the first order of matters would be to unpack. Heading to the bathroom with your toiletries in hand, you found male cleaning products lining the entire place from shampoos to shaving cream.

Calm down Y/N, don’t be silly. You can’t possibly be rooming with a male. Maybe she just has a preference for male products? Anything’s possible right?

And yes indeed, anything was possible.

Before you could do anything else, a voice came from behind you.

“Excuse me, who are you?”

“Hi, I’m – ”

You didn’t manage to complete your sentence, simply because your suspicions have been confirmed.

You were staring back at a topless male with a sleepy look on his face that suggested you were conversing with someone that was not fully functional yet. Reality had just slapped you in the face. Your roommate was really going to be a male. That was when you let a scream tear from your throat and all hell had broken loose. 

-

After much screaming back and forth, here you were seated on the couch in the living room with said male sitting on the floor in front of you with some clothes on. Even then, he was almost at your eye level. 

He's so ridiculously tall it's unfair.

After an intense staring game, he finally broke the silence. 

"I'm Jae what's good?" He then stuck out his hand, which you took. 

"Y/N"

"So tell me what you're doing in my apartment again?" 

"You mean OUR apartment. As I have so kindly mentioned 10 times before, I am your new roommate." 

He then let out a scoff, which you took to great offense. 

"I must be dreaming." Jae then closed his eyes, pinched his arms before opening his eyes again.

"Surprise Jae! I'm not gone yet and you're not dreaming."

You then crossed your arms as you watched him groan. 

"There must be some mistake!"

"I would like to think so too, but unfortunately no."

"I'm going to be stuck with you? Lord have mercy." 

"I think I should be the one saying that. Let's just strike a deal ok? It's really simple: just keep this place liveable and I'll leave you alone. Deal?" 

"Deal."

But of course, you can't trust the devil when you make a deal with him.

Jae was an absolute pain to live with. It was almost as if he made it his personal life goal to make your life a living nightmare. There was not a single day when you could be spared from his teasing or torture.

 “Jae, where's the coffee sachets?”

"On the top shelf."

“Goddamnit.”

"Good luck reaching it shortie."

 “Stop walking around the apartment topless!”

“Why? Can’t deal with a little hotness sweetie?”

“Don’t make me stab you with my fork.”

“Feisty~” He then threw you a wink, causing you to lose all your appetite.

 “You used all my soap.”

“Of course I did, they smelled so good.”

“I just bought this huge bottle last week and it’s all gone now!”

“That cannot be helped; taller people naturally have bigger bodies that require more soap. Besides, sharing is caring.”

 “What is that sack that you’re wearing? You look like a grandma from the 50s!”

“It’s just an oversized shirt! WHAT IS YOUR PROBLEM WITH IT?”

 “CASTLE ON THE HILL!” Shouts of pop lyrics would be followed by the aggressive strumming of Jae’s guitar next door, causing you to slam your pillow over your ears in a futile attempt to block out his singing. It was taking you all your willpower to not go over and strangle him.

 No matter what you did, Jae would always have a sarcastic, unsolicited comment hanging on his lips to be hurtled at you later. He was out for blood and you were wearing thin.

 Today had been a terrible day. First of all, your alarm didn’t go off, causing you to be late for your lecture. By the time you got there, it was over, causing you to get an earful from your lecturer. In the next class, you found out that you got a failing grade on an important assessment for the most ridiculous reason: your lecturer didn’t like what you had written. You were, of course, frustrated but you knew better than to argue with her. You had also gotten a call from your mother saying that your grandfather had a really bad fall and was now in the hospital. And for the last cherry on top, someone had to spill coffee over your new white shirt. The series of misfortune that continuously wrecked your day finally spilled out and you had spent a good half an hour stuck in the washroom trying to wash off the stains before breaking down into tears.

Why do I always have such bad luck? First I get a shitty roommate and then now I also have to deal with this nonsense!

Another half an hour was then spent crying. By the time you were done, you dragged your tired body back to the apartment, praying with all your might that Jae would not be there so that you could be spared. Of course, no such luck. He was sitting on the couch strumming his guitar when he caught sight of you, launching into another verbal assault.

“Gosh you look horrible, like some ugly fish.”

And, that was the end of your fuse.

“Yea I get it Jae, I GET IT! I’m ugly, short, incompetent! I am a mixture of all these undesirable things in the world… but I…” By now you were choking on your words from all the tears threatening to spill over and behind that blurry screen you could see Jae’s shocked face; he had finally realised the severity of the situation. The last part of your sentence came out as a whisper, your vulnerability showing through the crack.

“But I don’t need to be reminded of it daily, it hurts, it really hurts”

Turning around, you slammed the door on your way out and for the rest of the night, you spent it at a 24 hour café where Brian had found you.

“Oh Y/N? What are you doing here so late at night?”

Sweet Brian. You knew him from business lessons and he was an absolute joy to be around. Both of you had quickly became friends and you also found out that he was the bassist for the band DAY6 which Jae was also a part of.

“Hi Brian. I’m working on some urgent assignment.”

“Is Jae being too noisy again?”

“No, I just wanted a new place to work on things to think better.”

“Ah~ We’re actually having a gig at Evening Luna tomorrow, do you want to come and hear us play? He’s actually a pretty decent guy when he plays the guitar; I don’t know why he’s such a prick to you.”

I would love to hear you guys play but I don’t want to face Jae so soon…

“I can’t… I’m really sorry Brian.”

“Oh… it’s alright then, there’s always another time! Also, are you ok? Did Jae upset you very badly?”

“It’s... I had a really terrible day. Both academic and family problems are coming at me from both sides and I just need some time away from that apartment and our school grounds in general. But, I’ll be fine I guarantee.”

“Ok, I respect your space. Well, you have my number; call me if you ever need someone to talk to. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you.”

You waved as he left the café, wondering why Jae can’t be half as nice as Brian is.

 The next day before the gig, Brian confronted Jae about you.

“What did you do to Y/N Jae? She looked really miserable last night you know?”

“I didn’t do anything to her!”

“Well then, I guess she finally snapped. I don’t know what you’ve been doing to her, but I don’t think she deserves that sort of treatment from you. You should apologise if you know you’ve done something wrong.”

That night, Jae left you your favourite strawberry cheesecake in the fridge (courtesy to Brian) with a note saying “I’m sorry – Jae” attached to it.

The next day, the cake was gone and so was the note, and Jae knew he had been forgiven.

-

Since then, your relationship with Jae has significantly improved. He stopped annoying you and sometimes you’ll have breakfast together. It was during these moments where you began to unravel the real Jae; the one that had brilliant thoughts to share and a cute infectious laugh. The first time you asked him to play a song for you, he seemed rather unwilling but after much spurring from you, he had finally agreed.

“What song do you want me to play?”

“Better Man.”

“Why do you want to hear that song?”

“Just because… it’s something coming from you, it’s your own story. I want to hear that.”

“Ok then. Be honoured because I’m playing this for the first time live, and it’s for you only.”

“Ok Jae.”

Testing out the strings first, he then started singing and you watched him with a smile of your face. He does this thing where he enters this special zone when he’s performing and you like watching him when he does it. He becomes a different man entirely – a little softer around the edges and his voice seems so much more soulful as compared to his peals of laughter.

“Stop staring at me and focus on the song instead Y/N.”

“I like watching you sing, it’s really nice… and thank you Jae.”

Jae’s singing would soon become the remedy for your sadness or stress. It had gotten to a point where you didn’t even have to ask; the moment he saw your deflated shoulders, he would play till he saw a smile on your face. Dropping by on their band practises became common too and you’ve never missed a single gig of theirs. Once, on his birthday, you were challenged to make a board for him to show your support for him. Jae was sure that you were never going to do that but you really did and as embarrassing as it was, Jae was smiling a little wider throughout that night as they rocked out at the gig. Taking a little tour around the city on foot with him later, he’d let his true feelings show.

“I didn’t actually think you’ll do it.”

“Why would I not? Besides, it was a challenge and I’m never one to lose.”

“But seriously though, thank you for doing it.”

“You’re welcome roommie.”

“Tonight’s a good night isn’t it?”

“Hmmm?”

“The gig. The ice cream we’re having now. Me and you talking normally without trying to kill one another. This is all a nice change.”

“It is. Let’s keep it up?” You held out your fist and he gladly fistbumped you. Under the cool summer night, Jae finally saw the beauty behind you.

Was it just his imagination, or does his heart speed up a little whenever he sees you now?

-

“Jae? What are you doing here?”

“Hi Y/N.”

His voice came out as a croak and the next second he was a coughing mess.

“Looks like someone is not going to be singing anytime soon~”

“Shut up, you’re not making me feel better.”

“Just kidding, do you need anything?”

“Maybe some hot water.”

“Coming right up!”

For the entire weekend, Jae was stuck in bed with a fever, leaving you to upkeep the entire apartment on top of rushing out assignments. You were worried about both and you kept muttering under your breath about deadlines. You rushed around the house so much that it was making Jae dizzy and finally on Sunday evening, he couldn’t take it anymore.

“Y/N stop worrying! Not doing the laundry today wouldn’t matter.”

“Ok…and erm…what are you doing?”

In his hazy mind that was still clouded by the medication, he didn’t understand the purpose of your question until he realised what he was doing. His arm was wrapped around your shoulder and his head was directly beside yours as he pulled you into his chest to restrain your arms. He was, essentially, backhugging you.

“Oh I’m sorry… ahem…”

“It’s ok…”

“I’ll go back to my room.”

“Ok.”

He then made a dash for his room as you turned as red as a tomato.

-

Winter break came by but neither of you were going home. So this holiday, it was just you and Jae. Everything was going fine until the heating went off in your apartment.

“Work.You.Cranky.Machine!” With every word, you slammed your palm onto the heater. It whirred for a little while before sending a puff of dust into your face, as though it was mocking you.

“Just leave it Y/N, it’s not going to work.”

“Can’t we call services?”

“Not gonna happen, you require school approval but the student services centre is closed on weekends.”

“Great, now we will freeze to death over the next 2 days with this thick snow falling outside.”

“We won’t, relax. Let’s just bundle up more.”

Bundling up that night like he said, you snuggled into the warm duvets until you felt your bed dip beside you. Turning around, you found that a certain someone had gotten into bed with you.

“Jae what are you doing?”

“Getting more heat.”

“What?”

“Look Y/N, it’s cold, really cold. I don’t think I can sleep without any extra warmth. Let’s just share the bed to keep warm for tonight ok? I’ll put a pillow between the both of us for your protection.”

A pillow was then wedged between the both of you and with your backs facing one another, you drifted off to sleep.

 The next morning, for some odd reason, the pillow was gone and when Jae woke up, he was facing you instead. The first thing that came to his mind was:

Wow she’s really adorable when she sleeps. And she frowns even in her sleep? Cute.

Jae watched for a few moments in silence at how you’ve squeezed your eyes shut and the way lines formed on your forehead before he smoothed his thumb over the lines and your eyes. Responding to his touches, you relaxed your facial features in your sleep and he chucked a little at your reaction. In the spur of the moment, he leaned forward to kiss your temple and when he pulled back, he found that you were now wide awake.

“Morning.”

“Morning Jae.”

By now, he was furiously wishing that you hadn’t noticed what he had done but it was too late, you were well aware of it even though you didn’t voice it out.

“I’m going to wash up first so that we don’t have to argue over the washroom later.” Throwing the covers over yourself, you bolted from your room and for the rest of the day, you tried to expel conspiracy theories of what his actions meant from your head. You were sure he didn’t see you in that way.

-

Things returned to normal the next few days with the heater finally working again and both of you were thinking about what to do for Christmas when you pitched your idea to him.

“Hey, ever been to an orphanage before?”

“Nope. Why’d do you ask?”

“I volunteer at one regularly and we could go down on Christmas Day to do something for the kids. You know, since we’ve got nothing to do on that day either. You can bring your guitar and play for the kids, I’m sure they’ll love it.”

“I’m in, let’s get it!”

That Christmas night, both of you spent time interacting with the kids and all of them immediately fell for Jae. They were all ears when he started playing and when he was done playing; they all erupted into cheers and called for an encore, which he gladly gave. For the next 2 hours, he had a karaoke session with the kids and even you sang during the last 30 minutes. Your initial fears of him not liking the kids were immediately dispelled when you saw how gentle he was with them.

 One particular incident stood out to you. 2 year old Ella had crept up on Jae and began pulling on Jae’s face to vie for his attention. You were about to run over to pull her off him when he beat you to it. From a few feet away, you could see him gently picking her up with a smile on his face and when she began to make bubbly faces at him, he returned the favour by pulling silly faces and tickling her by her sides. The sight was shocking to you nonetheless. She was notorious for having a temper: she wouldn’t let anyone else hold her except you and some other staff members. The fact that she readily went up to Jae for his affection left you staring at the sight in awe and the beams shining off Jae’s face really made your heart swell. He was putting in so much effort to make the kids happy and you were genuinely touched.

 “Thank you.”

“What for?”

“For making the kids happy. I haven’t seen them so happy in the long time and I think the credit has to go to you.”

“Nah the kids were the real gems. Bring me over more next time; I’ll love to see them again.”

“Sure thing.”

Smiling, you began to think about what a great dad he would make.

I just found another reason to love this man; I’m sinking deeper and deeper, Lord help…

-

Jae wasn’t looking for trouble at all, trouble found him instead. Over the past few months, he had become fiercely protective of you anything or anyone else that said otherwise didn’t sit well with him. So of course, when he heard someone making rude comments about you, it got him all riled up.

“What did you say about her?”

“You have a problem with it Jae?”

“Yea I have a big problem with it, lay off her.”

“How about you mind your own business instead?” That’s when the first punch landed on his stomach and all hell broke loose.

 “Y/N! Help me out here!” The frantic tone in Brian’s voice caused you to rush out of your room and the sight of all of them bruised and battered made you gasp. Jae was looking the worst with blood seeping out of little cuts in his face and hands.

“What happened?”

“He got into a fight with someone then the punches began to fly.”

“Getting into a fight? He’ll never do that unless he’s been provoked.”

“Yea he was. Someone made some rude comment about you and then he just got so mad.”

“Why would he do that?”

“You can interrogate him when he’s conscious. I think I better get some ice on my cheek before it swells more.”

“Thank you for bringing him back.”

“Don’t worry; we’re not going to let him die.”

With that, the other four left the apartment, leaving you to deal with Jae.

“Jae can you hear me?”

“Yea.”

“Where are you hurt that I can’t see?”

“My stomach.”

“Ok, can you get out of that shirt on your own? I’ll go get the first aid kit.”

By the time you came back, Jae was leaning back against the sofa topless, revealing the huge ugly bruise on the left side of his stomach. Standing on the ground between his legs, you began to clean his facial wounds.

“You idiot, why did you get into a fight?”

“Do you want to know why?” He was now staring at you with a giddy smile on his face, the alcohol making its appearance.

“I know why you idiot, because of me. I’m asking you why you couldn’t have just walked away; you didn’t have to fight them.”

“Can I ask you a question Y/N?”

“Go ahead.”

“Have you ever seen a man that didn’t protect the girl he loves?”

“No.”

“Then there’s your answer. I love you Y/N, that’s why I fought for you.” Your hands stilled in their ministrations, your ears not believing what they were hearing.

“What?”

“I said I love you Y/N.”

“You’re drunk Jae, you don’t understand what you’re saying now.”

“I’m not.”

“Just hold still and let me finish this ok?”

“Ok.” True to his word, he lay still as you picked up from where you left off, trying to forget what he just said to you and ignoring the close proximity between you and him. You then sent him off to bed as you entered a sleepless night, his words playing over, and over, and over again in your mind.

When you woke up the next morning, you were surprised that he was up. He was leaning against the counter sipping on some coffee when you saw him.

“Oh you’re awake. I thought you’d be resting.”

“The ache woke me up.”

“We’ve got some painkillers.”

“I already took them.”

“Ok.” You then walked around the entire kitchen making your own cup of coffee, refusing to look at him and trying not to squirm under his watchful eye. Cup in hand, you were about to make your way to your room before his words stopped you.

“I wasn’t kidding when I said those words to you last night.”

“I…I didn’t think you’d remember.” You absent-mindedly stirred your coffee as you looked him in the eye properly. When you didn’t see that glint of mischief, you knew he was being real.

“I do remember Y/N, and I did mean what I said.” Crossing the space between the both of you, he removed the cup from your hands before replacing the warmth of the coffee with his own hands.

“Over time you had silently crept into my heart and before I knew it you were already living there. Being mean to you before was me trying to block out my feelings for you but ultimately it didn’t work. I might have been drunk last night, sure, but I clearly remember looking up into your face as you patched me up when I said those words. In case you still don’t believe me I’ll say it one more time: I love you Y/N, I really do.”

Very slowly, he brought his lips down to meet yours and that’s when you closed your eyes and surrendered your heart to him. Apart from the coolness of the stainless steel fridge on your back, all you could register was the feeling of his lips on yours. They were soft, sweet and perfect for you. Everything was going fine until you placed a hand on his face.

“Ouch Y/N! That was a bruise!” Even though he was in pain, he was still laughing and that’s when you laughed along with him.

“I’m so sorry Jae oh my – ”

Catching you off guard, he gave you a quick peck on your lips before pulling back.

“Thank goodness my lips aren’t bruised, if not I won’t be able to kiss you even if I wanted to.”

“Stop it geez!”

“What? Am I not allowed to kiss my girl?”

“Excuse me Mister; I’m sure I haven’t said yes yet.”

“Judging by the way you were so hungry for my lips just now, I’d take that as a yes.”

“Just shut up and kiss me already.”

Bringing his lips to yours once again, both of you indulged in the moment. Just you and him, raw and in love with one another.

[darkwatercomics]

~ Issue # 3 ~ Book One: Chapter Three: Nobody Believes In The Magic Bullet Anymore ~

PAGE 1, PANEL 1

SPLASH: Full shot of Tom, looking a few years older than we‘ve seen him before. He’s walking down a long, wood panelled, carpeted passageway. He’s dressed entirely in white, his hair brushed back. There’s something sinister about the way he looks here, almost like he’s not himself, like he’s almost an alternate version.

ARTIST NOTE: The panels on pages 1 and 2 are off kilter and overlapping.

PAGE 1, PANEL 2

Three panels on this bottom tier. Similar to the previous panel but now it’s a head to waist shot of him as he continues along the passageway.  

MAGELLAN ( O.P ): Ah, Ladies and Gentlemen, if I’m not mistaken our guest of honour is here at last. He has travelled far to be with us tonight, further than I think even he thought possible.

PAGE 1, PANEL 3

Head and shoulders shot of Tom. Something about him is certainly different. In his eyes is the slightest tinge of yellow, of Dark Magic.

MAGELLAN ( O.P ): He has suffered more than most, but rest assured those who have opposed him will soon suffer more at his hand.

PAGE 1, PANEL 4

Head to waist shot of Tom from behind, stood outside a pair of study doors.

MAGELLAN ( O.P ): If not for him this war would have been lost. So please, my friends raise your glasses to a true hero, the young man who saved the Masque of Magellan, destroyed the Byzantine Academy, and who restored magic to its rightful place in the world.  

PAGE 2, PANEL 1

FULL PAGE SPLASH: Interior shot of the study. Arched mullioned windows, wood panelled walls, mirrors and paintings, with a long wooden dining table at its centre. Sat at the far end is Magellan. Late 30’s in appearance, dark eyes, brushed back dark hair, with a thin, clipped beard. He is also dressed entirely in white.

On each side of the table are sat six figures, also in white, some wearing masks that are tribal in design, others wearing the kind worn at a masked ball. Each of them is holding up a wine glass and are turned to Tom, toasting him. Magellan is the only one without a glass. He simply sits there, watching them with satisfaction.

ARTIST NOTE: The speech bubbles for each member can either be represented as individual dialogue or singular in the centre of the panel.  

THE TWELVE: All Hail Thomas Hyde.

PAGE 3, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of Tom waking from the dream. His head rising up from the pillow, his forehead dripping with sweat, his eyes wide open with shock of it. He’s about 15 years old, a few years into his time at the Byzantine Academy. On the wall behind him is a calendar, instead of dates the words ‘Way Back When.’

TOM: No!

PAGE 3, PANEL 2

Three panels on this bottom tier. Exterior shot of the Academy’s clock tower, with its roof and spires, and the Manhattan suburbs and the blue of the morning sky seen in the background of the panel.

ELIJAH (O.P): I thought I’d find you up here. You missed assembly.

PAGE 3, PANEL 3

Closer shot of the tower now with a full shot of Tom and Elijah on its balcony.

ELIJAH: Zek and Zoe said you were up pretty early. Bad dreams?

TOM: How did you know?

ELIJAH: Let’s just say I recognise the signs.

PAGE 3, PANEL 4

Full shot of them from behind, with the inner side of the clock face on the left of the panel and its interior workings in the foreground.

TOM: I dreamt about Magellan.

ELIJAH: Well, I suppose that shouldn’t be so surprising, he killed your parents after all. Frankly, I’m surprised it didn’t happen sooner.

PAGE 4, PANEL 1

Three panels on this top tier. Similar shot of them to page 3, panel 4.

TOM: I’ve dreamt about him before.

ELIJAH: You have?

TOM: Yes, but it was more like memories then, from when I was a baby.

PAGE 4, PANEL 2

Full profile shot of them standing on the balcony with Tom in the foreground.

ELIJAH: But last night was different?

TOM: Yeah, I was older, well, a few years anyway. And I wasn’t really me.

ELIJAH: What do you mean?

PAGE 4, PANEL 3

Similar to the previous panel but now it’s a head and shoulders shot.

TOM: I think I was the bad guy.

ELIJAH: The bad guy?

TOM: It felt like I was on Magellan’s side.

PAGE 4, PANEL 4

Two panels on this bottom tier. Similar to panel 3 but a head to chest shot.

ELIJAH: But that would never happen.

TOM: No, never.

PAGE 4, PANEL 5

Overhead shot of them with a raven flying in the foreground of the panel.

ELIJAH: Well then, it’s a good thing it was just a dream.

PAGE 5, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of Jeremiah waking up in the Plymouth. P.O.V is through the glass of the passenger window. Written in the dust on it is ‘19 Years Later.’

JESSE ( O.P ): Hey sleepy head, you dozed off. We’re here.

JEREMIAH: Here? Here where?

PAGE 5, PANEL 2

Page width panel. Full shot of the Plymouth in the parking lot of a rundown looking motel, on the outskirts of a typical small town. The vertical motel sign is in the foreground on the left of the panel.

JESSE: Sweet Water, been kind of home for a while now.

JEREMIAH: What? You were supposed to just drive north.

JESSE: I did, Sweet Water is north. I just thought a little stop off on the way wouldn’t hurt. You know, for a bad ass you sleep like a baby.

JEREMIAH: I am not a bad ass. I’m just efficient. We need to keep moving.

PAGE 5, PANEL 3

Two panels on this bottom tier. Head to chest semi-profile shot of Jesse in the foreground looking out the window with Jeremiah in the background of the panel. P.O.V is from outside through the glass.

JEREMIAH: Have you forgotten what happened at the diner?

JESSE: I ain’t forgotten nothing, if anything it remined me what’s important.

PAGE 5, PANEL 4

Similar to the previous panel but now a closer head and shoulders shot.

JESSE: Shouldn’t be too much of a problem though. I just drove through the entire town, right down main street and no one’s home.

PAGE 6, PANEL 1

SPLASH: Head to waist shot of Jesse and Jeremiah now stood in the town’s main street, both of them stood in the middle of the empty road, the Plymouth parked nearby. Behind them are empty shops, a gas station, a church, as well as bill boards and a water tower.

The title Book One, Chapter Three: Nobody Believes In The Magic Bullet Anymore is written on the bill board that’s the closest to them.

JESSE: This is wrong. This is very wrong.

JEREMIAH: Maybe you agree now that this wasn’t such a good idea.

PAGE 6, PANEL 2

Two panels on this bottom tier. Head to chest semi-profile shot of Jeremiah.

JEREMIAH: Jesse?

PAGE 6, PANEL 3

High view of Jeremiah in a full shot stood alone in the empty street.

JEREMIAH: Damn it.

PAGE 7, PANEL 1

Three panels on this top tier. Exterior shot of the front of the Byzantine Academy with the main gates in the foreground. It’s snowing and the words ‘Way Back When‘ are written into the snow.

ZEK ( O.P ): I can’t believe this is happening.

ZOE ( O.P ): Me neither, it’s just … it’s so awful, Zek.

PAGE 7, PANEL 2

Full shot of Tom with Zek and Zoe, with Jobe nearby. They’re stood in one of the Academy’s snowy courtyards, dressed in winter coats.

TOM: What is it? What’s wrong?

ZOE: Didn’t you hear?

TOM: Hear what?

PAGE 7, PANEL 3

Similar to the previous panel but now it’s a head to waist shot of them.

ZEK: They planted a bomb in the London Academy, killed a whole bunch of people.

TOM: Who did? Why?

ZOE: We did, well Magic Kind anyway. Some say they were supporters of Magellan, others think that it was Normals who did it.

PAGE 7, PANEL 4

Two panels on this bottom tier. Over head shot of them in the courtyard.

TOM: They didn’t say anything at assembly.

ZEK: It only happened last night, Ministry’s probably figuring things out.

ZOE: I’m sure they’ll tell us when they know what’s going on.

PAGE 7, PANEL 5

Head to chest shot of Tom now turned away with a head to waist shot of Zoe behind him. It’s clear he’s troubled by this turn of events.

ZOE: You okay?

TOM: Yeah, I just thought they would have told us something.

PAGE 8, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Exterior. Wide shot of the Academy’s frozen lake and the surrounding snowy grounds. On the left of the panel is a full profile shot of Tom and Jobe. On the right of the panel is Michael Valentyne. He is early 30’s in appearance. He’s based on how Stephen Dorff looked like as Deacon Frost in the original Blade. He’s wearing a dark blue trench coat over a black shirt and trousers.

CAPTION: Later.

TOM: Professor Valentyne.

VALENTYNE: Hello Tom. Can we speak?

JOBE: Tom?

TOM: It’s okay, I’ll catch up.

PAGE 8, PANEL 2

Page width panel. Full profile shot of them now only a few feet apart, facing each other with Jobe walking away in the background.

VALENTYNE: You know it was inevitable, right.

TOM: What was?

VALENTYNE: The attack on the Academy in London. This isn’t something new Tom, this is something that’s been coming for a long time.

PAGE 8, PANEL 3

Two panels on this bottom tier. Full profile shot of their reflections and the morning sky distorted in the frozen surface of the lake.

TOM: They knew it was coming?

VALENTYNE: The signs were there for years. They chose to ignore them.

TOM: When you say years, how long do you mean?

PAGE 8, PANEL 4

Forehead to chin semi-profile shot of Valentyne, his expression thoughtful.

VALENTYNE: Decades, centuries. This fight has been going on ever since the Normals first became aware of our kind. It’s never stopped.

PAGE 9

FULL PAGE SPLASH: No panels on this page, instead it’s a series of borderless images, each are depicting just how much Magic Kind has been used and marginalised throughout history by the Normals.

ARTIST NOTE: Images 1 to 5 are to be read in a clockwise direction.

CENTRE IMAGE.

Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of Valentyne in the centre of the page.

IMAGE 1.

Full shot of British soldiers in World War I charging across the muddy flats of No Man’s Land. Some hold rifles but others are Magic Kind and have the familiar blue magical light in their palms.

VALENTYNE: Ever since the first of them knew we existed it’s been the same thing, over and over, time after time, an endless cycle.

IMAGE 2.

Full shot of two adults and a child stood behind a barbed wire fence, their figures draped in deep shadow against a foreboding grey sky.

VALENTYNE: We have been constantly marginalised by the governments of the world. They‘ve used us in their wars, then abandoned us.

IMAGE 3

A Magic Kind is stood before Joseph Stalin, a ball of blue fizzing energy in her hand as she consults with him in a regal looking setting.

VALENTYNE: They abused their power as we retreated from society, little better than refugees as we live on the fringes of their world.

IMAGE 4.

Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of a government agent, mostly in shadow, dragging on a cigarette. He’s stood outside an observation window looking into a room beyond with a young Magic Kind firing a blue blast of energy at a body shaped target at its end.

VALENTYNE: We will only ever be lesser to them, Tom. They will never see us as equal.

PAGE 10, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Full shot of them stood by the frozen lake, the P.O.V now from the opposite side, looking across at them over the ice.

TOM: I haven’t really seen much of it to be honest, all I know is our world.

VALENTYNE: Yes, Elijah has kept you protected, but I wonder has he kept you insulated too. His intention is commendable but with each passing day our worlds grow ever closer. We can’t avoid it.

PAGE 10, PANEL 2

Two panels on this tier. Head to chest shot of Valentyne from behind, with a full shot of Tom facing him and the grounds behind.

VALENTYNE: You have a question?

TOM: Who do you believe planted the bomb at the Academy, them or us?

PAGE 10, PANEL 3

Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of Valentyne looking upward.

VALENTYNE: Them or us? An interesting turn of phrase. In the end it doesn’t matter. We hurt them, they hurt us, and so it goes on.

TOM: Has it always been this way?

PAGE 10, PANEL 4

Two panels on this bottom tier. Full profile shot of them now stood on the edge of the frozen lake and turned toward the ice itself.

VALENTYNE: Mostly, though there’s a few times when it almost changed. Tom, what does the date November 22nd, 1963 mean to you?

TOM: It was the day John F Kennedy was shot, wasn’t it?  

PAGE 10, PANEL 5

Similar to the previous panel but now a closer shot of them. No border on this panel, the snow merging with the white of the page.

VALENTYNE: It was. It was also the day our best hope for peace died.

PAGE 11, PANEL 1

Half page panel. Exterior shot of an old bookshop on the main street of Sweet Water. Full shot of Jesse stood in front of the partly open door. There’s litter in the road and an abandoned bicycle. In the foreground is an empty car. On its windscreen is a flyer under the wiper, and written on it are the words ’19 Years Later.’  

JESSE: What the hell happened here?

PAGE 11, PANEL 2

Three panels on this vertical tier. Full shot of Jesse coming through the front door. The interior is draped in shadow. In the foreground is a counter with an open ledger on it and a mug of coffee. On the right of the panel is a wooden spiral staircase just in sight.

JESSE: Hello, anyone home?

PAGE 11, PANEL 3

A overhead view of her now cautiously coming up the spiral staircase.

JESSE: Mrs Peabody?

PAGE 11, PANEL 4

Full semi-profile shot of her on the landing, opening the door to her room, which is basically just a bed, a wardrobe and a dresser/ mirror.

JESSE: Home sweet rented home.

PAGE 11, PANEL 5

Two panels on this bottom tier. Full profile shot of her stood before the dresser. The top drawer is open and in her hand she’s holding the same NASA base ball cap we saw her wearing in issue # 1.

PAGE 11, PANEL 6

Close up of her holding an old photograph in her hands. In it she’s 10 yrs old, her parents stood with her, pulling her tight to them. With them in the photograph is her 16 yr old brother, Lincoln.

PAGE 12, PANEL 1

Three panels on this top tier. Full shot of Jesse reflected in the dresser mirror as she plucks a photo of her and Clara off it. She’s now wearing a baseball jacket, plaid T-shirt, along with the NASA cap.

PAGE 12, PANEL 2

Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of her glancing behind herself as she hears someone speaking her name, her eyes narrowed. The disembodied word balloon is a transparent grey in colour.

VOICE: Jesse.

JESSE: Hello?

PAGE 12, PANEL 3

Full shot of Jesse at the top of the staircase, looking down into the shop.

JESSE: Mrs Peabody? Is that you?

VOICE: Jesse.

PAGE 12, PANEL 4

Insert.

ARTIST NOTE: The panel 4 insert is in the top left hand corner of panel 5.

Head to waist semi-profile shot of Jesse as she cautiously opens the door.

JESSE: Okay, okay, I can hear ya. Where you to? Just show yourself, will ya …

PAGE 12, PANEL 5

SPLASH: In the foreground are the spectral, transparent figures of the town’s people. They’re pale and a ghostly blue in colour. Men, women and children, and even cats and dogs too. All of them walking along the street as they speak her name. In the background is a full shot of Jesse in the doorway of the bookshop, holding the door open, her expression a mixture of shock and confusion.

JESSE: Ah okay, what the actual fuck?

TOWNSPEOPLE: Jesse. Jesse. Jesse …

PAGE 13, PANEL 1

Two panels on this top tier. Full shot of Tom and Valentyne from behind, now walking away through the snowy grounds with the lake in the foreground. Written in the snow are the words ‘Way Back When.’

VALENTYNE: Have you heard the single bullet theory, the theory of the magic bullet?

TOM: We did it in history.

PAGE 13, PANEL 2

Head to waist profile shot of them passing a fountain with frozen water.

VALENTYNE: Then you know the Warren Commision postulated that only three shots were fired and one of those bullets, Exhibit 399 apparently wounded Governor Connally and killed Kennedy and in order to do so somehow defied the accepted laws of  physics.

PAGE 13, PANEL 3

Page width panel. Full shot of them walking up a flight of wide stone steps. Our view of them looking down from a veranda. In the background are the snowy grounds with students stood about.

TOM: You don’t believe Lee Harvey Oswald shot the president?

VALENTYNE: Oh no, he shot him alright. I’m simply saying he had help.

TOM: Help? From who?

PAGE 13, PANEL 4

Two panels on this bottom tier. In the foreground is a head and shoulders shot of someone watching them as they enter the Academy.

VALENTYNE: From us.

TOM: What?

PAGE 13, PANEL 5

Head to chest semi-profile shot of Elijah watching them, clearly concerned.

PAGE 14, PANEL 1

Three panels on this top tier. High view of them walking along a wood panelled corridor, sunlight falling in through high arched windows.

VALENTYNE: In 1963 Kennedy was about to push a major Bill of Rights through regarding all Magic Kind. This wasn’t widely known but he was sympathetic to us. This Bill of Rights proposed that Magic Kind formerly be given equal rights in all aspects of society.

VALENTYNE: Needless to say there were powerful elements within his administration that were greatly concerned by this. It would have changed everything. So, they used our fear, our distrust.

PAGE 14, PANEL 2

Head to chest profile shot of them with Tom in the foreground. They are passing the open doors of the Assembly Room, with its long tables, raised altar area, high arched windows and hanging chandeliers.

TOM: How?

VALENTYNE: They convinced the more radical among us that Kennedy was actually pushing for the use of magic to be outlawed and that every one of us would have to register as Magic Kind by law. They planted just enough evidence to suggest Kennedy was the enemy.

PAGE 14, PANEL 3

Full shot of them walking up a wide wooden carpeted staircase. Our view of them is looking down at them from the upstairs landing.

TOM: Are you saying they recruited Oswald?

VALENTYNE: Not exactly, Oswald was a whack job. He always had his own agenda. They just nudged him along, helped him achieve what he needed, positioned him just right, tweaked the circumstances just enough to make sure that bullet found its target.

PAGE 14, PANEL 4

Three panels on this bottom tier. Full profile shot of them facing each other at the top of the stairs with an historical portrait behind.

TOM: So the Magic Bullet was actually magic?

VALENTYNE: After a fashion, yes. Oswald fired that shot but we helped it along. Not that anyone believes that anymore. It’s been officially denied so many times its become just one more theory among many.

TOM: Are you saying the Ministry has been keeping all of this secret?

PAGE 14, PANEL 5

Head to chest semi-profile shot of him looking back at Tom as he departs.

VALENTYNE: I’m saying it is built on a foundation of lies. Nothing is ever what it seems, Tom, trust your own counsel, not theirs.

PAGE 14, PANEL 6

In the foreground is a full shot of Tom from behind in the foreground as he watches Valentyne walking away down another corridor.

PAGE 15, PANEL 1

Half page panel. In the foreground is a full shot of the ghost like figures of a woman and her child and stood on the sidewalk in the background is Jesse. ‘19 Years Later’ is written on a lamp post fly poster.

JESSE: What the hell is this?

PAGE 15, PANEL 2

Two panels on this vertical tier. Full shot of her reacting as another ghost like figure, an old man in lumber clothes and cap passes through her. Her expression is a mixture of surprise and disgust.

JESSE: Eww, Je-sus.

PAGE 15, PANEL 3

Head to chest shot of her reaching out and putting her hand into his ghost like figure, his image shimmering like water as she does so.

JESSE: God damn it, I hate this weird shit.

PAGE 15, PANEL 4

Two panels on this vertical tier. Full shot of her stood in the middle of the street, looking at a trail of the figures passing in the foreground.

JESSE: Where ya all going?

PAGE 15, PANEL 5

Full shot of her from behind, now stood near the trail of figures, who are gathering as they head toward something at the end of town.

PAGE 15, PANEL 6

Half page panel. In the foreground is a head to waist semi-profile shot of the figures gathered together, looking up at something, with a shot of Jesse behind them in the background, also looking up.

JESSE: Ah crap …

PAGE 16, PANEL 1

FULL PAGE SPLASH: Full shot of Jesse from behind with a wide view of the edge of town and the desert beyond. Just up ahead of her are the massing ghost like figures of the townspeople. Against the morning sky is a huge mist like veil that looms over them as they are walking into it freely. In the mist of the veil are the blurred shadowy images of more people already within, some of their faces and fingers pressing against what appears to be some kind of membrane, their faces distorted, mouths open and clearly trapped.

JESSE:  … What the god damn fuck is that thing?

PAGE 17, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Full shot of Jesse stood among the ghost like people, who have now grown in number and she’s pretty much surrounded.

JESSE: This is all kinds of wrong.

PAGE 17, PANEL 2

Page width panel. Similar to the previous panel but now in the foreground is the familiar form of Mrs Peabody, an elderly, mid 70’s, frail looking woman, dressed in old fashioned clothes with spectacles.

JESSE: Mrs Peabody? Mrs Peabody, hey, wait up!

PAGE 17, PANEL 3

Page width panel. Head to waist shot of Jesse close to her, reaching out to put her hand on her shoulder, but it goes straight through.

JESSE: Damn it, whole place is like Spooksville.

PAGE 18, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Full shot of Jesse now stood in front of Mrs Peabody, stood in front of her, walking backwards, trying to dissuade her.

JESSE: Just hold up, I gotta feeling going in there ain’t gonna be anything good.

PAGE 18, PANEL 2

Page width panel. Similar to the previous panel but now it’s a head to chest shot of them. Jesse hasn’t noticed the mist just behind.

MRS PEABODY: Jesse.

JESSE: Yeah, it’s me, Mrs Peabody, it’s Jesse Miller, I live above the shop, remember. If you go in there I’m pretty sure you’re gonna end up …

PAGE 18, PANEL 3

Page width panel. Full shot of Jesse on her own now stood in the middle of a vast white void, looking insignificant and small and lost.

JESSE: … trapped.

JESSE: Shit.

PAGE 19, PANEL 1

Half page panel. Tom is stood on a small stone bridge that crosses over a frozen pond. Snow is gently falling. On the right of the panel Elijah is stood on the path that leads up to the base of the bridge. Written in the snowy bank are the words ‘Way Back When.’

ELIJAH: Good morning, Tom.

TOM: Morning.

ELIJAH: Correct me if I’m wrong but did I se you talking to Professor Valentyne the other day. I didn’t realise he taught any of your classes.

TOM: He doesn’t.

PAGE 19, PANEL 2

Two panels on this vertical tier. Similar to the previous panel but now Elijah is stood next to Tom and both are looking down at the pond.

ELIJAH: I see, how did you get to talking then?

TOM: I’m not sure, we were by the lake. I was worried about the bombing in London, we just got talking, I think he was trying to help.

PAGE 19, PANEL 3

Head to chest semi-profile shot of Elijah, in thought, frowning heavily.

ELIJAH: Tom, perhaps you should …

PRESTON ( O.P ): Professor Snow?

PAGE 19, PANEL 4

Two panels on this vertical tier. Head to chest shot of Preston, a student, from behind, stood on the snowy path that leads to the bridge, with a full shot of Elijah and Tom on the bridge facing him.

ELIJAH: Yes, what is it, Preston?

PRESTON: It’s Magellan, sir. It looks like he’s attacked Washington.

PAGE 19, PANEL 5

Head and shoulders face on shot of Tom, his face full of shock and concern. TOM: What does this mean?

PAGE 19, PANEL 6

Half page panel. Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of Elijah, partly in shadow, covering half his face, illustrating the darkness he feels.

ELIJAH: It means, Tom, things just got a whole lot worse for all of us.

PAGE 20, PANEL 1

Page width panel. Full shot of Jesse approaching through the  wispy like mist of the veil. Written in the mist are the words ‘19 Years Later.’

JESSE: This, Jesse Miller, was not one of your better ideas.

PAGE 20, PANEL 2

Page width panel. Head to waist semi-profile shot of her in the mist, in the background a desert landscape has begun to faintly form.

JESSE: Yup, not one of your better ideas at all.

PAGE 20, PANEL 3

Two panels on this bottom tier. Head and shoulders semi-profile shot of her glancing behind herself as she hears a very familiar voice.

LINCOLN ( O.P ) Yeah, ya always did like to jump in feet first, J.

PAGE 20, PANEL 4

Face on head to chest shot of her, now looking at the source of the voice, her shock at looking at the impossible is palpable in her expression.

JESSE: No … You’re dead. It ain’t possible.

PAGE 21, PANEL 1

FULL PAGE SPLASH: Jesse’s P.O.V. We’re on a hill now, overlooking Jesse’s old home town as seen in issue # 1. It’s the past though and it’s lit up under the night sky. Stood in the foreground is Lincoln Miller, Jesse’s dead brother, looking very much alive, 16 yrs old, wearing the same NASA cap as her, an old LA Lakers T- shirt, denim jeans and trainers and holding a base ball bat, his figure ethereal against the town, the desert and the sky of stars.

LINCOLN: Well, that’s kinda the thing when ya step beyond the veil, little sis, the rules about what’s possible and what’s not really don’t apply.

[ohpapiseo]

the ways in which i show i love you [V]

@taetaetrashhh

Hi Momo! I’m your Secret Santa from the fic exchange hosted by Kait and Candi! I’m so sorry I’m a day late, but I have written you a small(ish?) story that I hope you’ll like! It’s cute, heartwarming, slice of life, it has it all. I hope you like it! Merry Christmas <3

pairing: V x Momo (reader) genre: romance, college!au, christmas with bts, slice of life, baking cookies, christmas trees, i tried to do most of the prompts

22nd December, 2017

Momo and Taehyung were at the place where the Christmas trees were sold. This year, the both of them wanted a tree that was slightly bigger than last year, one they ended up having to pull through the snow to get to Hoseok’s truck that was at the other end of the street.

“Oof! This is- too- heavy-” Taehyung wheezed as the rope began to burn through his gloves and cut into his fingers. Pulling a tree for almost half a mile down to their ride was not a good idea.

“Babe, can’t we just call Hoseok to come over or something?” Taehyung had muttered as he dropped the rope, his arms already feeling so tired.

“No, where the heck would he park? Look at all the cars!” Momo looked at him as she gestured to all the cars parked along the sidewalk. There was no way Hoseok could park his truck here, and Taehyung sighed as he realised that she was right.

“Come on, just a little further, Taehyung!” Momo whined, her breath coming out in white smoke. It was far too cold for them to be having this conversation, and they had heard of a snowstorm approaching during the Christmas weekend, but they hoped that it would ease up.

With the current rate of snowfall, though, that possibility seemed slim.

As the two reached the orange truck, Hoseok stepped out to help them load the tree onto the back, the three of them grunting as they lifted it. Thankfully, some people on the street were kind enough to give them a hand.

“You’re definitely going big this year, huh?” Hoseok helped Taehyung tie the tree into place, and Momo laughed, patting his back.

“Are you working again, Hoseok?” She asked, and Hoseok had nodded but with a bright smile on his face.

“Yeah, I’m going to stay at the retirement home with a few others so we can take care of them and help them have a wonderful christmas.” He smiled kindly, as they got into the vehicle. “That snowstorm seems very likely and I don’t want it to be a situation where staff can’t get in so we’re all going tonight.”

Taehyung smiled at him as he fastened the seatbelt. “You’re very kind for spending your Christmas with them, Hoseok.” “They need someone too, if their families can’t come and take them home. Sadly, that’s the case for a lot of them.” Hoseok smiled wryly, and the car was filled with silence as they pulled out onto the street.

“I guess you guys need to go to the supermarket to buy some stuff?” Hoseok had asked, and Taehyung nodded, instructing them to pull over at the superstore once they passed it.

Now armed with a week’s worth of groceries, Momo and Taehyung were ready to take the weekend head on. They were hoping that it wouldn’t snow as bad as the weather station was telling them, but it was always better to be prepared.

“I really wanted to go to the ice rink, it had better not get worse.” Momo huffed as Hoseok drove them back home.

“How come you both waited so long to put up a tree? Most people do it at the beginning of December.”

Momo sighed - it was only because the both of their courses had become so demanding that there wasn’t any time to properly prepare for Christmas. Now that university was over for the holiday, they had some more time to relax.

“Uni.” They both replied monotonously. Hoseok could only laugh.

“You’ll miss it when you’re both working for yourselves.” Hoseok chuckled as he turned into the road that went up to Momo and Taehyung’s house. “Or you won’t. I love my job, so…” “Perhaps.” Taehyung chuckled, and the conversation ended there as they reached the house.

Once Hoseok had helped the couple to get their tree inside their house, he left quickly, saying he had no time to waste and really needed to get a move on. Momo thanked him for his help, sending him off with some muffins she had baked that morning.

“Well, looks like we’ve got a tree to decorate.” Taehyung grinned down at Momo as he put an arm around her, the both of them watching the car disappear into the main road.

“How does a hot chocolate sound before we get down to business?” Taehyung bent down to kiss Momo’s cheeks, cold and turning pink from the chilly weather. “Let’s get inside and warm up, muffin.” “Yes, Taetae, let’s.”

A few minutes later, they got to decorating the tree, carefully (or in Taehyung’s case, clumsily) putting up the tinsel and fairy lights, and other decorations. A lot of this involved wrapping tinsel around their necks and belting out to christmas classics that were bursting out through the stereo. Taehyung even had the brilliant idea of putting some of the hanging decorations around his ears, which he forgot about until they both sat down for dinner.

(Momo promised to never let him live it down).

“Who’s going to put this up on top?” Momo asked, holding onto the angel figure in her hand. Taehyung rolled his eyes, before turning to her with an obvious look.

“Of course you are. Because you’re my angel.” He laughed, and Momo turned towards him with a blush on her cheeks.

“Don’t just say stuff like that!” She hit his arm in embarrassment as she looked away.

“But it’s true. Come on, baby, do the honours.” Taehyung nodded at her eagerly, and Momo smiled as she walked closer to the tree, standing on her toes to be able to put the angel on top.

“What a beautiful sight.” Taehyung held his hands out to make a frame with his fingers, focusing on the tree and the sparkling lights, before he moved his hands to capture Momo, admiring her through his ‘lens’.

“Stop being so silly…” Momo turned away, the blush on her cheeks more prominent. “I-It’s getting really warm in here, I’m going to turn down the heating!”

Taehyung simply chuckled as his girlfriend rushed out of the room on the pretext of ‘heating’ problems.

Christmas Day, 2017

It was a cold morning, which was no surprise. Taehyung got out of bed, immediately looking for the jumper he wished he had worn to bed the night before. He picked up the present he had bought for Momo from under the bed, trying to noiselessly carry it out of the room and place it under the Christmas tree.

As he opened the curtains of the living room to look outside, all he could see was snow, more snow, the faint outline of the houses and trees and… more snow.

“This was supposed to get better today, it’s still the same as last night.” Taehyung sighed, knowing what this meant - him and Momo were basically boxed in for Christmas.

But knowing his girlfriend, she would be cheerful and optimistic about it, imagining it now he knew she would say something like “Oh, don’t worry, Tae, at least we’ve got the heating on!”

“Taehyung?” He heard her sleepy voice, and the sound of Momo coming down the stairs. With a sleepy grin, she walked over to him, standing on her tiptoes to peck his lips.

“Merry Christmas, my angel.” Taehyung smiled, kissing her forehead gently. With a shy smile, Momo wished him back, before she turned towards the window, seeing the storm outside and falling quiet for a minute.

“Looks like we’re stuck in here, babe.” He mumbled, glancing towards her with a frown, however, like Taehyung had predicted, she was not upset, and decided to take it as a positive experience.

“We still have the electrics working. Let’s make some cookies today.” Momo’s eyes lit up. Taehyung knew how much she loved baking. With their busy university life, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity for Momo to make cakes and the likes, but now with the holiday season, Taehyung knew she wouldn’t pass up on the chance.

“Gingerbread?” Taehyung grinned, and Momo nodded excitedly.

“I even bought piping bags and icing sugar to decorate them! If they turn out nice, we can give them out to the kids on the street.” “Woah, there. If we work on the cookies, then who’s going to cook the turkey? And the vegetables? We’re supposed to go all out this year, right?” Taehyung raised his brows, wondering how they would do everything in such a short time. It was nine already.

“Taehyung, why are you being so pessimistic?” Momo frowned. “You’re usually the one that says ‘It’ll be okay’ first…”

Taehyung pouted, holding his arms around her as he pulled her close to him. “I just wanted this to be a perfect Christmas, baby. I know how excited you were to go skating on the ice rink, and now there’s so much snow we can’t even open the windows.” “Taehyung.” Momo shook her head, slowly kissing him. As they parted, she gave him a loving smile.

“It’s alright, darling. You’re here with me, and that’s the most important thing right now. I’m most happy when I can spend Christmas with you.”

Now it was Taehyung’s turn to blush, but he soon smiled the familiar boxy smile that was unique to him.

“There we are. You’ve been too stressed out over a perfect Christmas. Loosen up, okay? Let what happen, happen.” Momo grinned, before she turned to make her way upstairs. “I’m gonna take a shower. You should get the stuff out and start prepping.”

That morning was spent baking the cookies - Taehyung was insistent that he was following the recipe to the dot and that Momo shouldn’t worry so much and trust him a little. Taehyung had also learned not to burn the cookies after the first batch came out awfully wrong.

Once the icing was ready, Momo decided to leave Taehyung to do the honours while she prepared the turkey for stuffing. She almost regretted the decision upon inspection, but Taehyung looked like he was having so much fun regardless, it looked like he had become a little kid again and he had an intense determination in his eyes.

Momo couldn’t bear to take the fun away from him. Her heart warmed at the sight of Taehyung, and she went back to preparing the Christmas dinner, a smile on her lips as she thought again about how much he was enjoying himself.

However, Taehyung surprised both her and himself at the end of the decorating the cookies, the last five batches were much better than the first five.

“You did good, Taehyung. Do you want to try some?” “I thought you’d never ask.”

Momo snorted as Taehyung took a couple of the cookies and began to munch on them, his face lighting up as he looked at his girlfriend with bright eyes.

“Wow, this is delicious. You’re amazing, Momo. I almost don’t want to give them to the kids and just eat them all myself.” He looked at her pleadingly. Momo firmly shook her head, holding her hands on her hips as she frowned.

“Don’t be selfish, I’ll make more of these tomorrow. We have so much dough and icing left anyway.” Momo suggested, and Taehyung agreed with a small smile, though she knew that he’d much rather keep these for themselves nonetheless.

Later that evening…

“Dance with me, angel.”

Taehyung held his hand out to Momo, who looked up at him in surprise. After about an hour of just dancing to and singing Christmas songs, Momo was quite worn out. She wasn’t expecting to have to dance so soon

A slow number began to play through their music system, and Momo remembered it to be the first song her and Taehyung had ever danced to together, when he had taken her to the Christmas ball in high school, as his date. The same song to which he confessed his love to her, and dance that consummated their relationship to one another.

Taking Taehyung’s hand, she stood up and brought herself to Taehyung, putting her arms around his neck as he waltzed them around the living room, moving gracefully to the song and losing themselves in each other’s eyes.

“Momo.” Taehyung mumbled, gathering her attention. “I love you, you know?”

She let out a hesitant laugh. “Of course I know? Why are you telling me this again, baby?” “So there won’t come a time where you don’t feel like you are loved.” He kissed her forehead, his lips lingering. Taehyung was quite sombre during moments like this, as opposed to his generally eccentric, excited self. This was a side to Taehyung only a handful of people, including Momo, got to see.

“You are loved. And you matter to me, so much, and I love you, Momo, I can’t say it enough. I do.” Taehyung whispered, now bending down to kiss her lips. Momo’s eyes shut slowly, and she kissed him back, the both of their hearts, their never ending love overflowing into their kiss.

“With all the horrible things that happened in the world. With people not understood, people in despair, in pain, who feel like they have no one… I want you to know you have me no matter what, baby. Okay?” Taehyung said quietly, reaching out for another kiss.

Momo nodded, her heart swelled with affection for her boyfriend, who had matured beyond his years, it sometimes felt like. They were both still young, though adults. And Taehyung by her side was only proving to be a strength, someone she could rely on, someone that loved her no matter her imperfections. To him, Momo was beautiful, inside and out.

And Taehyung was beautiful to her too, for the same reasons. He never failed to bring a smile to her lips when she was down or thought too hard.

“I love you too, Taehyung.” Momo said back as they slowly danced to the music, now nearing a close. Her mind flashed back to their first dance once more. She had fallen so deep for Taehyung by that point, and that day had proved her wrong in thinking that she could not possibly fall any more in love with this wonderful boy.

And today, on Christmas Day again, Momo was proven wrong. As they danced and laughed, Momo found herself falling in love all over again.

[rainforestforapaladin]

He's hungry, right ?

Hunk and Lotor fluff. Lotor falls silent after a few weeks in the castles prison. After Hunk realises how poorly he's being fed, he decides to take Lotor to the kitchens one night.

"I'll have to keep the cuffs and the shocker implant obviously but, um, if you just follow me you can have some you know, actual food."

The prince's nose twitched. He didn't say anything, but he nodded. His hair was tied back, his armour gone and replaced with a navy robe. The purple sewn into the arm kind of reminded Hunk of Keith's Mamora, oddly enough.

Hunk sighed in relief and led the way. The castle halls were quiet, save for the gentle thrum of the castle, the lights dimmed. With the holo-map on his wrist, Hunk led the way past the sleepy rebel guards. Right to the kitchens. All the way, Lotor followed quietly behind. He walked with long, gracious sides, the way Hunk would expect a prince of the Galra empire to walk. Yet his arms remained folded over his chest, his yellow eyes cast downwards. But honestly, what else should he expect? He was the enemy, trapped, bound and stripped of his honour. Despite the fact that he’d...saved Keith, no one trusted him. Every paladin, every soldier, every rebel. They all looked down on him with utter disgust. It was probably why the rebels had been feeding him scraps. 

He wasn’t a great guy, obviously. But. There was a part of Hunk that simply felt...guilty. The Prince had saved one of his closest friends - well - Lotor had saved his brother, a fellow paladin. Keith was still breathing, because of the prince. 

Finally reaching the kitchens, Hunk closed the doors behind them with a few taps of the holo-pad. While he went and busied himself in the kitchen, Lotor remained awkwardly standing in the middle of the room. 

“Uh. I mean, sit down man. Can’t imagine your holding cell is all that comfy,” The Yellow Paladin invited the prince, motioning to the stool chairs before the counter. Lotor blinked, a stroke of suspicion and a guarded look returning to his yellow eyes. And yet, he sat down. 

With a slightly nervous sniffle, Hunk poured the prince a glass of water. Wait, do Galra need water...? I mean, probably. Keith drank water. But he was kind of weird about it. He kept doing this thing where he would walk in to just get a glass and then walk out when he realised there were others in the kitchen. He’d just...back out. So Hunk had taken to leaving bottles of water outside his quarters. 

Thankfully, Lotor had no qualms with drinking in front of him. While he drank, Hunk prepared a sandwich. And the prince watched him all the while. He even came to stand beside him, watching Hunk as he worked with the relishes, tomatoes and cold meat. With a curious look, the prince leant forward and rested his elbows on the bench. His pointed ears wiggled as his eyes followed Hunk’s hands. He was close to the Yellow Paladin, but obviously made a conscious effort to not accidentally touch him. 

You know, if it wasn't for the fact he was the son of a blood thirsty eternal emperor, I can’t help but find that he’s kind of...cute? 

As Lotor ate, Hunk busied himself with cleaning up. 

“I think it’s time...we talked,” he said, putting down the sandwich. Hunk was slightly taken aback. 

“Uhh...talk about what?” The paladin stuttered, his mind in scrambles. “Well, peace talks that is. The Black Paladin has been insatiable and irritating with his constant attempt to garner information from me. But I’ve been bidding my time, until I could find a respectable diplomat to hold talks with. The other paladins are welcome at these meetings, but my only condition is your presence. And uh, more of these...human meal things. Maybe even a relatively comfier quarters,” Lotor seemed to decide. 

“So you’ll talk with Shiro then?” Hunk asked, smiling despite his many, many reservations. 

“Well, yes. You heard my conditions,” He replied, taking another bite of the sandwich. 

“If it makes things easier for all of us, then I’d be happy to make you as many sandwiches as you want. I’m not sure what room I could find you though - ” Hunk began. “Your quarters will suffice,” Lotor interjected, casually enough. Hunk felt his neck and cheeks begin to warm. “I, uh. I mean, at least tonight. I just - until Shiro and Keith return from their mission. You can, have my bed. But you have to be cooperative for all the talks  - and be polite.” Hunk decided himself. 

Lotor seemed taken aback for a moment, but his ears twitched and his face returned to what looked to be natural once more with a sly grin and needle fangs bared. 

“I promise.” 

Thanks for reading !! :) 

http://ko-fi.com/bellemayas

Feel free to buy me a coffee ^^ if you want to help me keep writing and doing what I love ! 

[sserpente]

A/N: MAY THE FOURTH BE WITH YOU!

Words: 2768 Warnings: slavery

The planet you had been born on was anything but pleasant. With humanoid creatures trading humans like mindless animals, like obedient pets and an alien ruler who despised your race to his very core, your chances of survival were miserably little.

“Creatures” like you, they didn’t get to live normal in this rotten place. They were born into families whose owners had instructed them to produce offspring to ensure a never ending existence of unwilling slaves to then carelessly dispose of those they were fed up with or even worse, those who were unlucky enough to suffer from their demolishing anger. A natural trait of the humanoids.

Once in a while, however, something extraordinary happened to the human people on your home planet. Once, maybe twice or thrice a decade, they were born, unknowing of their peculiar fate. Force sensitives. And you were one of them.

You had found out by coincidence, the hot rage surging within you whenever you had to face your masters, those ugly humanoids demanding your loyalty. Light bulbs burst, lights flickered and then, when you had imagined squeezing that fat little throat of those disgusting aliens, you had choked them with nothing but the strength of your mind.

Force sensitives like you were valuable, priceless even. Your powers were beyond imaginable and they sold for a quite descent prize. So here you were. Rotting in a tiny cell and waiting for the next auction which would take place any minute and where creatures and humans from uncountable planets would come and examine you like an object. If you got lucky, the person buying you would show mercy, treat you like a person even.

All of your hopes were crushed, however, when you saw a bunch of soldiers enter, dressed in white armour. Even you, lacking of education and knowledge about the universe, knew instantly they were dangerous. And certainly, they would bring no good.

Followed by a figure clothed all in black, they respectfully stepped aside and made room for their leader—she… or he looked eerie, intimidating and powerful. Black robes and leather gloves and, what scared you the most, a black mask hiding… what? A face? A shudder went through you when you thought about what could be lurking under those very clothes.

“Commander! The First Order! To what do we owe the honour?” Your master bowed so low his nose almost reached his toes. The First Order. You had heard of it. A powerful organisation, by all means, a threat to the humanoids that held you captive.

“Spare me the false loyalty,” he spat in reply, making you flinch. He was male, his voice distorted by his horrifying helmet. “I have been told you habour force sensitives.”

“I- uh, uh, of course, we have one… but I’m afraid she is not… she is very expensive, you must know.”

“Is she?” Raising his voice a bit, the stranger tilted his head. Only the fraction of a second later, you could literally feel his burning gaze on you, even if you couldn’t see his eyes. Swallowing thickly, you shifted in your tiny cell.

What he did next surprised you at the very least. Terrified, you jumped when he pulled a metallic weapon from his belt and turned it on, drowning the auction room in a creepy red light as it crackled loudly and seemed to surge the air around him. Was that… a lightsaber? Was he a force sensitive too? Maybe that’s how he could tell it was you your master had been talking about.

The humanoid being screamed when he rammed the glowing weapon into his chest, turning and twisting it to his ear-piercing screams. Then, it was over. Silence spread in the room as the Commander returned his lightsaber to its rightful place and then clenched his fists.

Danger was radiating off him like heat and fire, making you breathe in sharply and recoil to the back of your small cell when he started walking towards you, your gaze fixed on the now dead body of your former master.

He knelt down in front of you and mutely ordered one of his soldiers to open the cell, which they did by simply firing a blaster at the lock. It shrieked when it fell open, broken, and eliminating the last protecting barrier there was between you and him.

Please don’t kill me, you attempted to say, but no matter how hard you tried, no sound would escape your lips.

It was then you heard a smooth and throaty voice in your head. His voice. Without the impact of his eerie mask.

I won’t. I came to save you.

Grunting, you turned around, burying you face in a pillow when you heard the doors to your quarters open to rouse you from your slumber. Other than the cleaning droids, there was only one person who could access your private rooms.

“Five more minutes,” your voice was muffled, dull from the sheets you had wrapped around your whole body.

Kylo’s footsteps got louder, his tread threatening and intimidating.

“No. Get up.” Usually, whenever the two of you were together, undisturbed and alone, the Knight of Ren would remove his helmet. Today, however, he seemed to be in a hurry. You rolled your eyes, turning once more to face him with sleepy eyes.

“Are we having a stare down contest, I can’t tell.”

“Get up, (Y/N),”

“I’m training every fucking day, can’t you give me a break? Just… five more minutes, alright?” It wasn’t like you weren’t respecting him—quite on the contrary. You were dedicated and grateful; not only had he saved you from slavery but also given you a home, a purpose and training to become a powerful force user.

He had taught you everything, from your enemies, The Resistance and the Jedi to Supreme Leader Snoke’s demands. The First Order was your family, Kylo Ren was… the man you could never have. You had been stunned the first time he had removed his mask. A beautiful face with even more beautiful dark eyes, full of pain and determination was what you’d been confronted with, causing you to do the one thing you weren’t supposed to do—fall in love. From that day forth, you had started practicing frantically, making sure he wouldn’t be able to see inside your head and sense your feelings.

“There’s no training today. You will join me on a mission.” He boldly interrupted your thoughts.

“A mission? Wait, are we… are we… I mean, are we actually leaving Starkiller Base?”

His answer was a brief nod, barely visible because of his helmet. A gasp escaped your lips. You nearly knocked him over as you jumped out of bed, careless of the fact you were wearing nothing but a thin tanktop and your panties. Despite the fact you wanted to pull off a show for him, that man right in front of you had been inside your head numerous times. Therefore, there was no reason to be shy about your body.

“Yes, we are. Get dressed, we’re leaving in ten minutes.”

“You seem particularly grumpy today, something the matter?” Innocently, you put on a black and long-sleeved shirt and equally black pants, followed by black boots. Kylo had insisted on dressing you in his colour so everyone would show you respect and know what you were capable of. Thus far, it had worked perfectly, besides, you liked black anyway—it was way better than the dirty grey you had had to wear as a slave back in the days.

“Hux will be joining us.” Kylo simply gave back as you walked into the refresher, his fists clenching angrily in the process. A silent giggle escaped your lips.

“I really don’t get how you hate him so much.” In fact, however, you knew exactly why he despised the ginger General. He fancied you—way more than a General should fancy an apprentice of Kylo Ren and despite the Knight of Ren himself had never approached you in a romantic way, he acted awkwardly jealous whenever the three of you were together. It was hilarious, really.

“You know very well why. Now let’s go.”

Grinning, you saluted. “Yes, sir.”

It was even better than you had expected. Although Kylo hadn’t told you what exactly the mission was about, you enjoyed the fresh air. The planet you had landed on was beyond beautiful, with billions of green plants, bushes and trees, despite it was inhabited by the very same humanoids that had enslaved you, only they had been quite friendly towards you thus far. Apparently, Hux was going to recruit their people to join the First Order, for that cause, the disgusting aliens had even offered you accommodation which you had rather reluctantly took. With Kylo by your side, however, you figured you’d be safe.

The best part of this though, was how Hux and Kylo were constantly quarreling. Fighting over the littlest things, it ended in your master force pushing the General into a nearby tree, inflicting a bleeding cut right on his forehead.

Screeching, you rolled your eyes.

“That’s enough! If I knew you brought me to be your babysitter today, I wouldn’t have come in the first place, damn it!” You rushed over to Hux, gnashing your teeth as you did, and pulled some clean bandages out of one of your pockets.

An injured General was a mad General and as much as you both hated to admit it, he was still in charge of your living conditions on Starkiller. For all you knew, he could make you sleep in a broom chamber.

You could literally feel Kylo tense and squirm as you patched him up again. First, you assumed it must have been your connection through the Force. Hux disapproved of that theory when he spoke up and caused all hell to break lose.

“What’s the matter, Ren, are you jealous?”

His response was a judging tilt of his head, a split second later you could hear the General choke. Frowning, you looked at him, watching his skin turning a light blue colour in his face.

“Kylo! Kylo, stop it, Kylo! Are you fucking insane?! Stop it. Grow up. Both of you.”

“Maybe…” Hux started, panting heavily.  “We should call it a day so the Commander can cool down. You can join me in my tent, (Y/N).”

The Knight of Ren clenched his fists. “She sleeps in mine.”

“Ren, are you aware that…”

“She is my apprentice, she sleeps in my tent.”

“Guys…” Breathing in and out loudly, you massaged your temples. The tension between the two of them was tangible and what made it even worse was that one of them was awfully jealous, the other liked you more than he should. You were right in between a testosterone-driven kindergarten brawl.

Why can’t you fucking see I love you, Kylo Ren? Never had you been happier about the fact the Knight of Ren couldn’t read your mind anymore—unless you let him, that was.

“Is there anything we can do for you? General? Commander?” The humanoid interrupting you was a little taller than the one who had enslaved you. He was still ugly though and he didn’t speak English—his rough language pestering your ears like hot needles.

“They’re fine, leave us!” You answered tetchily, feeling the sudden urge to wash your mouth for speaking in their tongue again. Trembling, he backed off, leaving both Kylo and Hux turning their heads to you, a confused expression on their faces. Well, on Hux’ face, for your tutor was still wearing his mask.

“How are you able to understand them? Hardly anyone speaks their language.” The General spoke up, almost disgusted all of a sudden.

“I grew up speaking their language, Hux. You seem to forget that English is not my mother tongue either.” You growled, sensing how Kylo sent waves of angry energy towards you.

“Yes. I tend to forget that a lot. Your language skills are beyond exceptional.” And that was a compliment? That wasn’t even worth a try. The Commander chuckled darkly in your mind.

“You tend to forget a lot lately, General. Perhaps it’d be wise for you to study your acquaintances more precisely.” He said out loud then.

Bloody hell, here we go again. You could practically see him frown behind his mask.

“You go to bed, now. Good night, General.” And with that, he firmly grabbed your arm and yanked you with him. His grip was so painful you yelped, hot rage washing through you as he pushed you into the tent and then reached up to his helmet to take it off.

“Are you mad at me now, what have I done?!” You complained.

“It’s the General. If it wasn’t for the Supreme Leader, I would have long pierced his throat with my lightsaber. He is into you.”

“Right, and you’re jealous.”

Having these kinds of conversations was always dangerous. Both you and Kylo knew that he liked to lash out on occasion, destroying everything and everyone in his environment. You couldn’t have that, not here. Not over you.

The Knight of Ren said nothing. Instead, his gaze was so menacing you felt the urge to take a step back. You could feel the Force gushing around him, drawing you even closer to presence.

“You’re jealous,” You repeated. “You’re jealous of Hux. God damn it, Kylo, I don’t want Hux, I don’t know why you’re so fucking worried. You’re the one who saved me, you’re the one who’s teaching me, you’re the one who gave me a home and you‘re the man I love!”

Stopping dead in your tracks, you tensed, swallowing thickly. You had not meant to say that last bit out loud.

Kylo frowned. His lips parted in confusion. For once, you could hear millions of thoughts tumbling inside his head. Your head was buzzing when he finally spoke up and started at you, stopping mere inches before your stature so you had to lift your chin to face him.

“You can’t love me. You’re my apprentice, I am your master.”

It was like he had ripped your heart out.

“Is that all you have to say? You told me the Force was all about passion and power. What stronger power is there than love? I fucking fell for you the first time you showed me your face. I fell for your eyes, the way they looked at me. You’re my hero.” You admitted. Biting back your tears, you settled for chewing on your lower lip instead.

I’m not a hero. I’m one of the bad ones, you heard his voice in your head.

“You’re a hero to me.”

“Am I?” You could feel his breath on lips, inviting you to kiss him.

So you did. You leaned forward, grabbing ahold of his hair so he couldn’t escape your assault and then pressed your mouth against his. It wasn’t a gentle kiss, nor was it a rough one. But it was passionate and it grew more so with every second that passed. It was like your power connected, mixing like blood and water and tangling in each other like dozens of thin ropes.

“Let me. Please. Just let me. Fuck Hux. Fuck everything else. Just let me.”

“Let… you… what?” Kylo whispered out of breath after you’d pulled away, pressing yourself against his muscly chest.

“Let me love you.”

His strong arms wrapped around your body. You could feel the cool leather of his gloves on your back as he held you close, resting his chin on your head. His eyes were closed, you could tell.

“If I do, then will you promise me that it won’t hurt? Ever?”

“It won’t. It won’t. You’re everything I have, Kylo.”

You didn’t need a response, for you could feel it, sense it in all of your cells. Your body was linked to his, like it couldn’t exist without his presence.

Maybe that stupid mission had been a good idea after all. Maybe Hux’ scornful remarks augured well in the end, for after as long as you had known the restive and stubborn Knight of Ren with a bad temper, he was lonely and lost. You had been inside his head, you had felt the pain that he had felt. Maybe there was no one else who understood him, no one else who could comprehend his actions. But you could. You were there for him and he was for you. To hell with all those who thought him evil.

Kylo was good, you thought peacefully. He was whenever he was with you.