#how can anyone NOT see every child you've ever known in these children

[soryualeksi]

-

[itshype]

Like and Survive! (DC x DP)

Everyone knows who Phantom is. He was one of the very first heroes though he inexplicably chose to dedicate his life (metaphorically) to micromanaging the hell out of some random town no one has ever heard of. He's a specialist hero, only really useful for ghost stuff. He comes every time someone contacts him for help but it's only happened a few times in all of his years of operation.

Then, kid heroes become a thing. Robin, once perpetually hidden beneath the shadow of the bat emerges into the metropolis sun just in time to make the front page.

When Batman's child-raising skills are called into question, Kid Flash is brought out at a press release by Flash to show that these exceptional children are around. They just aren't common knowledge for their own health (aside from the villains - being a child star wrecks your brain).

A few villains do come forward and say "no, the sidekicks will go out on their own if their hero doesn't let them. And they have all the powers and none of the restraint. Please don't separate them."

(Batman and Robin are both very flattered that all their rogues think they have powers. Robin is ✨glowing✨ with pride.)

Cyborg calls Robin at 3am. He asks if he's seen the new 'BooTube' page.

Phantom has set up his own website. It's a dark and moody ripoff of YouTube with 1 channel. His.

Introduction Video: Transcript Hi guys, I can't lie to you, I was as up-in-arms as anyone when I saw what people are now calling "The Robin Reveal". But then I remembered that I started my hero work when I was mentally and physically fourteen years old...

Danny doesn't mention he was also chronologically 14 at the time. Secret identities and all.

...and I had no mentor, no training and no backup. It was just me and two humans, neither of whom even had powers at that time. I understand the call, in a way that none of the non-hero people criticising you could ever hope to comprehend. I'm glad to see most of you fellow child-heroes have an experienced adult watching your back. But if you don't. If there's even one of you out there who need a mentor, consider Amity Park open for business, and consider adding my number to your speedial. I'm not like those people in interviews saying "Oh, someone needs to help the children!" I am helping you, I am helping you whenever you need with whatever you want.

The ghost swallows and seemingly forces down his brimming sincerity.

And for those of you who do already have backup? Consider checking back here. I'm going over my old reports from my first few years on the streets to see what I most needed to hear, and what I wished I knew sooner. Hopefully no one else will have to learn what I know the hard way.

You know how to fight, this channel won't be for that. This is about coping with secret identities, and the messed up situations that can only happen to a vigilante or hero.

Anyways, the first video is already ready to be edited so in a few days I'll be back here to discuss what you do when you've been cloned. How to deal with that emotionally and physically. My clone isn't very well known outside of my town but I think she'll add a great perspective!

Within weeks, without his knowledge, Danny is somehow remote-mentoring heroes of all ages.

[senanatheskenana]

Sorry if this is weird but I haven't seen anything like this before but could you maybe do some sort of headcanon for genshin characters with a s/o that had a cryptic pregnancy. Like they leave for one day or come home after a couple hours and s/o is just like "yeah I didn't know" while holding a newborn. Again sorry if it's weird

Sure, this sounds super interesting! Also sorry if this took a while i haven't been as active recently but ill try to get more into the fandom soon <3

(Ill only be doing the male character since the nature of this would be a little hard to plan out for the female characters, hope that's ok)

Genshin Men Reacting to Cryptic Pregnancies

Kaeya

Kaeya looks at you like you're crazy. He legitimately believes that you've just picked up some newborn orphan to baby-trap him without getting pregnant.

Well, at least that's what he believed until he saw what the tiny child looked like up close.

There was no room to deny that the child looked strikingly similar to him; dark blue hair and tan skin. The only difference between them was that this tiny baby had your eyes.

And as his tiny fingers grab the air in front of Kaeya, he becomes increasingly aware of what has happened.

You were pregnant for nine months. You gave birth.

And he wasn't even there when you did- he was drinking like his social life depended on it at the tavern.

"I'm a terrible husband," he laughs, incredulous of himself.

He couldn't turn such a child away, even if he wanted no children. It would be obvious who had fathered one of the two blue-haired people in Mondstadt.

Diluc

Diluc is at a loss for words.

He doesn't doubt you, he's known you so deeply that he can see in your eyes and in your body that you've been through something.

So when you hold the tiny infant out towards him, he carefully takes her into his arms as if she were a treasure so valuable he could not bear the idea of tarnishing it.

He presses her warmly against his chest and looks at you in such a way that you know he is not at all upset with you. In fact, he then looks away and places a triad of light pecks on her short red hair.

"I wish i had known" he says ruefully- and for a moment your heart sinks as though you think he was disappointed in such an outcome.

"If i had known sooner, we could have prepared a nursery"

Venti

Venti isn't quite sure whether he wants to run away from you or towards you.

It wasn't that he didn't like you anymore, or that he didn't want children.

He simply worried that he would not be a good parent, staying late into the night in bars playing music and over-drinking. He could see those days flying away from him in the eyes of the child.

But still, he could not harbour resentment for such a young, uncomprehending thing. Something that depended on him so greatly- far greater than any normal mortal had ever depended on him as an archon.

No, to him this was special.

He thought about it. Yes, his days of drinking every day were behind him. But something new would soon replace them. He traded wine for a son who loved him like no other would.

Venti surely had never planned on this, had he known you were pregnant he would have tried harder to break his ugly habit of day drinking.

But what is done is done, he thinks.

Now he just had to raise a child. How hard could it be?

Albedo

He sums it up as a curiosity, rather than sentimentality. He admits that yes he loves you, but this thing, surely he was only keeping it alive- feeding it, burping it, changing it- to satiate his curiosity of how it came to be in the first place.

Firstly, he was under the impression that he was infertile, let alone thinking you were pregnant. It simply wasn't something he accounted for.

But you see it differently to him. You can see that what Albedo is denying as intrigue was really paternal love. You weren't quite sure whether he was trying to deny it, to keep the child at arm's length, or whether he was just dense. That wasn't something anyone had really associated with Albedo.

He supposes that, in a way, the baby was rather cute. It abstained from taking on many of his attributes, which he found himself thankful for. If he was honest, the baby was more similar to you in appearance. The only thing he theorised may be a piece of him showing was the fact that the child seemingly could not take their eyes off of their surroundings.

Its a gradually thing, a feeling that develops over weeks of caring for it. What started out as wonder at how it happened slowly melded into the realisation that he no longer cared, and the point was that it did happen, and he was content with that answer for once.

Xiao

Xiao very nearly drops off the earth after you show him the child. It could not be his- or yours- he's sure he would have been able to sense the pregnancy if you were.

The weeks after are filled with worry and Xiao's absence. He sits atop the roof of Wangshu Inn, looking out at the city in the distance, wondering if you and, by extension, 'your' child is still there.

He's desperate to take another glance, to put his guilt to bed, to prove to himself that the child could not be his. He's also terrified it could prove the opposite, leaving Xiao in more guilt than before and with more responsibilities.

Xiao may have never seen you again had it not been for Zhongl's insistence that he appear to him. With you sat beside him.

At first glance, he comes to realise that it is undeniable that the child is his. He could feel it, stronger than any feeling he had ever felt before. He felt his heart clench painfully inside of his chest as though it were crying for the moments they had wasted.

But he still can't bring himself to touch his child, too afraid to stain it with his sins.

He cries against you that night, sobbing apologies into your shoulder and muttering promises to his son.

Tartaglia

Bro straight up does not even question it. He's heard of such things before and he's so sure and secure in your relationship that the idea that it isn't his or yours doesn't even cross his mind.

If he's honest, its obviously his. The ginger hair was a big hint.

Ajax is honestly incredibly happy- he's always wanted a family of his own and he feels as if this was a gift from the archons. A child that no one outside of him and you know exists yet. He's aware of how good a position that is given how high his place in the fatui is.

He cannot resist telling his family, asking them to keep if close to their chest for the baby's sake.

He didn't get the chance to look after you during the pregnancy, so he's making up for it now. He won't let you do anything in the first few months.

"Stay here gorgeous, I'll feed her!", "You worked so hard you deserve an hour where you aren't looking after our child", and "I just found the CUTEST little outfit in the boutique- look!" are all common things to hear now.

He hasn't brought it up yet, but he really, really wants another one. One that he can help you with during the pregnancy and anticipate.

Zhongli

I feel as though there is no way for you to be pregnant and have him not know at some point.

In fact, he tries to hint it to you in the beginning and later outright asks you if you're pregnant. When you deny it, he's astoundingly patient, waiting for you to realise it yourself.

He understands that it must be absurd to hear that you were pregnant when you have no symptoms of it.

So he makes it a point to always be close by, or to have someone (usually Xiao) keep an eye on you.

It's just an average walk through Liyue Harbour when you drop to the floor and groan in pain. Your husband is immediately there to steady you, offering his strong hand for you to crush.

People gather around you both in concern, encircling you like you were some spectacle. Zhongli tells them to step away, and as people start to realise the gravity a green-haired doctor slips past the crowd.

You give birth in the street, never realising you were pregnant before leaving the house.

Kaedehara Kazuha

Kazuha has always been fairly good at going with the flow and this was no exception.

If he was honest, he knows that even if it wasn't related to you both, and you just picked it up off the street he would never refuse it.

He does his best to accept things and help you with things after, to make sure you heal well.

He's never cared for a child, let alone his own but he's willing to try his best in doing so.

And he's an outrageously good father given he had no time to prepare.

He fashions a baby bed on the crux, sleeping with the baby on his chest every night before finishing it.

It's you who finds out that your child will only sleep when sung to, after Kazuha has been doing so for the first few weeks.

Kazuha hadn't expected this but he has to admit that having a child has made him feel at home in every place as long as it is with you.

Thoma

Immediately Thoma panics. Though not for the reason you expect.

"Now I have to give short notice when asking for paternity leave"

Of course, he doesn't make it your fault, he's aware it's half of both of you.

When the Kamisato siblings find out, Ayaka is extremely excited. Thoma is given paid paternity leave, and Ayaka gets to coo at your tiny baby, marvelling at how it managed to occur.

Thoma is a wonderful father and he always volunteers to get up in the night for feeds and changes.

Fatherhood suits him well <3

He may have one moment of apprehension about the pregnancy, briefly questioning whether you had really given birth.

Before he reigns himself back in and realises that he knows you would never do something like that.

Arrataki Itto

Cue five minutes of pure silence while he tries to understand what you just said <3.

Bro didn't even know that was possible, like no way.

But at the same time, he understands that you wouldn't joke about this sort of thing. Plus the baby has horns just like her father.

He's in a state of shock for a few hours, a dumb expression painted on as he sits down cradling the baby oni.

And then finally he responds.

"Wait so this is like mine? I have to keep it and like look after it and stuff?"

Gorou

Gorou could smell something different with you from the beginning but with nothing to go on he didn't press it.

And at some point he just stopped noticing it, there was no reason to assume when he saw no real change in your behaviour.

Until he sees two resistance members charging towards him and beckoning him to follow them as they run off once more.

And that's when he finds you, sat low against the wall of a hut, sweaty and tearstained.

And then he hones in on the babe tucked between your arms and chest.

And then the guilt hits him. He could have known this might be the case, surely he should have made you leave just until he was sure of the outcome.

"I- I forced you into battle... And-and you were pregnant."

Kamisato Ayato

Ayato is very sure that you would never lie to him but he knows that the circumstances will be suspicious to many and that those who doubt may spread rumours given your unmarried status.

He loves you and he'd sooner die than have people spread vicious lies about you like you were some harlot.

But he really can't bear the idea of giving up your son.

So he bites the bullet and he, you, and Ayaka make a public appearance when you both introduce your child and the godmother, Ayaka <3.

People talked about you both but he couldn't care less when he had something so beautiful to look forward to now.

Tighnari

Tighnari is also there to watch you suddenly give birth. However he remains calm, easing your pain with herbs and scents.

He kisses your forehead and squeezes your hand to reassure you of how well you're doing.

He has never had experience with one in person but he knows of them, and he takes the subsequent weeks observing you and the baby, all while caring for you both.

He hadn't expected a child so soon but he had desire for a whole family someday so he took it in stride.

He takes great pleasure telling Collei, knowing how excited she would be.

Cyno

Cyno feels his whole heart thump when he comes home from a week of work away from you to see you in a chair, rocking a baby back and forth.

"Are you babysitting for a friend, sweetheart?"

You jump as if you didn't hear him enter and then relax when your eyes find him in the doorway.

"Not quite," you murmur as you play with the baby's tiny hand/

He grows curious and gingerly steps closer until he is beside you, looking down at the child.

He'd recognise that hair anywhere. And those eyes.

He felt as though he was looking back at himself from his past.

Instinctively he reaches out to gently caress the small face that peers up at him.

And then he looks back at you as if asking for an explanation. How did this happen? Surely, he would have realised you were pregnant.

Scaramouche

No. He's unwilling to even entertain the idea that you were pregnant with his child, to begin with. He was sure he was infertile. there was no way this thing was his.

And its that simple to him, you think. He leaves and you never meet again.

What you don't know is that Scaramouche, now Wanderer, is none the wiser to your existence, and the child you share.

Sorry, that's quite a sombre ending. I would like to mention that with Scara, he would ultimately return to you if he knew you <3

[loveydoveymonsters]

An Unlikely Match - Part 1

Manticore x fem!reader

⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚۰˚☽˚⤹⋆⸙͎۪۫｡˚

Hunting monsters is easy. From werewolf to goblin to vampire you hunt them all and you're damn good at it. You've made a name for yourself, over the years the monsters have started calling you Nightshade, the name of a deadly poison. You're a nightmare to most. You're mean and uncooperative and you refuse to work with anyone else let alone connect with them. You're damn good at your job though and you make your money in the thousands every single job you do. You accept no less than ten thousand each job you go on and regardless of the client's request, you always kill the monster you're hunting. It's easier than dragging around a deadly monster that's trying to escape and fighting you every step of the way. One silver bullet, iron arrow, or steel blade to the heart is enough to kill a monster instantly.

This job is the easiest thing you've ever done. You've never really had many emotions, you're probably considered a psychopath. Your lack of empathy scares people and they label you a monster yourself. You don't see the problem with killing threats, things that have harmed people, or rather things that have harmed humans. If a monster hasn't done anything you don't kill them, but there's always a reason a client will come to you and you hardly ever turn down a job. You didn't turn this one down either. In the cold of a forest, late at night, you're hunting a manticore, a small manticore that killed three families in a nearby village. You're following the extremely obvious tracks. They're rushed as if they're running from something, probably from you. You always hear the monster out even though people think you don't, you're purely logical if the monster hasn't harmed anyone or if they had a reason to harm someone then you don't kill them. You don't kill until they become a threat. But this manticore killed a child, four children to be exact. It probably just got hungry. 

You're aware that it's not their fault, their blood lust can become uncontrollable, unmanageable, and maybe the manticore didn't mean to hurt those families but regardless, twelve people are dead and it's this manticore's fault. You haven't fought very many of them, the few you did nearly killed you. You know that manticores aren't beings to be trifled with. They're smart, they're deadly, and they're very very dangerous, especially to humans and people like you who are foolish enough to go hunting them. You're not stupid though, you've fought many monsters and you know how to handle yourself. You have several hidden weapons on you as well as several hidden poisons, the poisons will certainly kill you if you accidentally ingest it but you figured if you're going out you may as well take the monster with you. You lack a sense of self-preservation for sure and it's well known amongst monsters and men that you'll do anything to complete your task including sacrificing yourself, your limbs, your once scarless skin, everything, and anything to get the job done.

The forest is quiet, save for the sound of crickets and the ambient noise of the bushes and branches brushing against each other as the wind whips around you. It's hardly a calm night, but none of your nights ever are. You enjoy it though, it reminds you of home, the chaos that your family brought. They weren't wealthy nor were they poor, they also hunted monsters although they weren't nearly as good at it as you are. You lost family members so easily. Your brother to a werewolf, your mother to a ghoul, your father to a basilisk and finally your sisters to a vampire and succubus. You think you have some family left on your father's side, a few uncles and maybe an aunt. Perhaps you have cousins who could share in your passion for hunting down the creatures that killed your family. ‘It's their own fault’ That's what you tell yourself. They shouldn't have been hunting monsters that they couldn't kill. You started small and worked your way up to the big beasts. You didn't just dive head-first into the deep end which is how your brother died. Werewolves aren't a joke either. You think about them a lot when you're in the wilderness, you lived in a small cabin with them in the middle of the woods. It was beautiful and peaceful, and as your family members slowly died all you could think was that you enjoyed the quiet more than anything.

The sound of a twig snapping pulls you out of your thoughts as you lazily glance in the direction of the sound. You catch sight of a scorpion tail, large and intimidating. Intimidating to those who have no experience in dealing with manticores. You saunter over to the noise and you watch as the tail swipes at you, dodging it easily. It's scared. It's smaller than the other manticores you've fought, it must be a baby or adolescent. It hisses at you and you raise your gun to it, firing a silver bullet into its spine. Stopping it from running. It continues swiping at you with its tail and paws which makes you roll your eyes. Hunting monsters has become boring, there's never any challenge, never any urgency. Its small mane is standing upright, signifying the young manticore's distress. This is so annoying, so frustrating, you don't understand why you don't feel anything for this creature. This poor creature that's unable to move since you've severed its spinal cord. You raise your gun to its lion head but just before you pull the trigger something catches your attention. 

A low growling makes the hairs on the back of your neck stand up that's never a good sign. For the first time in a long time, you felt fear as claws were suddenly embedded in your side and you were being pushed to the ground by Khavak. Another manticore, a large black and red mane surrounding his large scarred lion head. His scorpion tail swiping and violently flicking around in the air before embedding itself in your spine pumping his venom into you as quickly as possible. Trying to kill you in the span of seconds. Blood began pouring out of your wounds the moment he pulled his claws back…Wait a second…You've never seen this manticore before, you've never interacted with him before, yet you know his name? How is that possible? The feeling of his tail digging into your spine as his venom pours into your body clouds your judgment, clouds your thoughts…’No way…No fucking way.’

“No fucking way.”

Khavak pulls away after he growls that out. He stares at you wide-eyed, hyperventilating. He shakes his head, checking on the young manticore you nearly killed, and gently slung it over his shoulder. He was about to leave you, let you die. You deserve to die at least in his eyes, monster slayer, Nightshade. There's an issue though, one both of you seem to immediately acknowledge. You're his soulmate and he's yours. He hesitates for a long while, standing opposite your bleeding body as his venom flows through your system rapidly. He growls and slings you over his shoulder as well, much the protest of the young manticore already in his arms. He whispers something in his own language before spreading his large leather wings and lifting off into the sky. You don't know if it was the venom or the feeling of your organs shifting in the air that gave you butterflies. Maybe it was being your soulmate's arms. Starting to pass out you tie yourself to his arm making sure he can't drop you easily since you know you're going to lose consciousness. Once you wake up though you suspect you'll be safe. 

“Nightshade…”

“...Yeah?”

“You are my soulmate, you are under my protection now. I may not agree with you or what you have done but you're my mate and I am yours. So rest now, I will keep you safe.”

“I don't…want…a….soulmate”

You lose consciousness before you're able to see the palace in the sky or rather the city in the sky. Full of flying creatures and land creatures that have been ferried up by their lovers or friends. Khavak lands and hands both you and the baby manticore off to be healed. He stays by your side troubled by your words. He always dreamed that he'd find a soulmate although that dream didn't consist of his soulmate not wanting him. It didn't consist of his soulmate being a well-known monster killer either. He sees how they stare at her, they all know who she is, and she's in danger if she's left alone. Somebody will try to kill her, will try to avenge their family member that she has surely slain. Yet no one will try if he's near her, nobody will interfere with his affairs and if you're involved in them then they will leave you be. He stays by your side as the healers treat your bleeding and gaping wounds as well as the poison traveling through your system. He did what he had to do to save the baby manticore but he doesn't appreciate the fact that he harmed his soulmate. His soulmate who doesn't want him. His ears flatten against his head…He'll just have to win you over then. He can do that…He's quite charming…He promises. Just wait you'll want him in no time.  He sits beside your bed, starting to groom himself, licking over his bloody claws…Your blood tastes sweet to him, alluring. Blood never usually does that to him. 

“It must be because you're my soulmate. You little minx your blood is so alluring it's not fair. You're scent in general is driving me insane”

He speaks to your unconscious form placing his large clawed hand over your small human one. His paw completely covers your hand ten times over but he's gentle with yours when he holds it gently moving to lick over your knuckles. He knows humans don't court or mate the same way manticores do or any monster for that matter. It also doesn't help that you've already expressed you don't want him, but he refuses to let that get to him. He will win you over. When you finally wake up and he gets to show you this beautiful city in the sky. When he's finally able to break that hard shell he knows surrounds you. When he's finally able to bulldoze through your walls and get you to open up to him, he knows you'll fall for him. He's always wanted a soulmate and even if you don't want him, he wants you flaws and all. It doesn't matter if you've killed a hundred monsters or a thousand, he can forgive it all, and he'll do his best not to hold it against you. You just have to wake up so he can get to know you. He wants his soulmate to have the longest most relaxing life they could. So he's going to make sure that happens for you when you wake up so please wake up for him so he can see your beautiful eyes. He didn't get to fully appreciate them when he attacked you, he's sorry about that, he remembers they were empty though and he finds that unique, perhaps a bit unnatural. Just open your eyes, let him see you again and he can finally start winning you over.

[acosmicblizzard]

Child reader survivor hcs

Is this self serving and probably not interesting to anyone else? Yes. Do I care? No. Also possible ooc since there's no way i can remember every bit of the lore and everything about every character including personalities.

Warnings: None

Wanna check out the other stuff i do? Here's my masterlist!

It was always a massive shock to see children in the manor, the only children here were Memory, Robbie, and few others. But in no way was anyone expecting another child to be brought into the manor. However the mysterious host of the manor seemed to not care the ages of those who were brought into the games. All that was known was that you had most likely died and had been brought back to play these games.

It was very strange getting use to life in the manor, however some of the survivors were welcoming right off the bat. Wanting to make you feel comfortable here knowing it wasn't likely you'd ever be returned to reality. One of the first of the survivors to approach you was Emma, the gardener wanted to know more about you and help you get accustomed to life around there. After you and emma got acquainted it didn't take much longer for more survivors to try and get to know you. Just after a few weeks of living in the mansion you had somehow managed too basically befriend most of the survivors in the manor.

Learning how to play in games was another difficult task, you accidentally completely lost other survivors a few matches because you were getting use to things that were completely new too you. Though they all had their unique ways of trying to teach you how to things you could tell they cared and despite some of them getting irritated sometimes you know they had the best thoughts at heart. Though i do know a very certain survivor cough cough edgar- may have yelled at you a few times for messing up. Some of the killers were willing to go a bit easier on you in matches compared to the others but some of them went the no mercy route and would specifically go right for you, thinking that the experience of losing would help. And i mean i guess it helped but getting chased around and getting downed constantly wasn't very fun. At the end of matches though both the survivors and killer of the match would sometimes check up on you.

After a few months of being in the manor the favoritism of you starts showing a little bit, had a particular rough match with a certain killer? Welp now 4 stun survivors have made their way into the same match and have decided to bully the hell out of that said killer. And some of the killers are less willing to chair you as soon as the match starts and will go slightly easier on you. However that's not to say they're not gonna chair you, a match is a match and their job is kinda to rocket chair people.

You sighed as you made it back to your room in the manor, todays matches were exhausting but also somehow fun. Maybe it's because you get to work with the people you're closest too, it sort of feels like maybe, just maybe, you've found a new home and family here.

[kingsdespair-if]

Hi there, hope you're good!! Love the game and ESPECIALLY Veldon my beloved- Since you mentioned that he loves children, I was wondering- since he's usually the playful charmer, would he act any different around a MC who's pregnant by him? Maybe softer and vulnerable, more protective, and ready to pounce on anyone who even looks at MC wrongly, haha? And also, how'd he react to MC telling him about the pregnancy+how'd he react to the birth and holding his child for the first time? Thank you and have a lovely day!!

Hello, dear. Thank you so much. 🥰

I'm glad that our little jokester has managed to capture your heart!

Veldon is definitely the type of guy who would make a great and protective father. He would attend to your every need and shower you with affection, food, massages, and of course, lots of care and protection. He would fuss over you like a mother hen. It's truly adorable.

Now, onto the rest of your question…

Alright, I have written something special just for you, dear anon. Let's see…

~

You pace nervously in your room, your palms sweating with anticipation. Kaellë said you couldn't be pregnant for more than 5 weeks, and you know the baby is still just a grain. But you swear you can already feel their little body starting to grow. You have an overwhelming amount of love for your unborn child.

But that's not what you should be focusing on right now. You asked the maid to fetch Veldon for you. You've known about your pregnancy for about a week now, and today you woke up with a little morning sickness. It's time to tell him.

Sitting on the edge of the bed you share with your husband, you notice the bedside table on your side filled with the little flowers Veldon likes to give you every time he returns from his morning training. You smile sweetly, thinking about how he always presents you with a flower and a tender kiss on your forehead.

The door to your room opens, revealing Veldon. His charming smile plays on his lips, as always.

Hello, darling. Did you call for me?" he asks, closing the door behind him before approaching you with another small flower. As always, you take the flower in your hand, and he kisses your forehead.

"I did. I… I have something to tell you," you say, feeling your hands tremble, forcing yourself to keep your voice steady.

He notices your state, a worried look on his face. "What's wrong, darling?" he asks, sitting on the bed and pulling you along to sit by his side. Veldon grabs your still-shaking hand and watches you with concerned attention.

"I… I'm pregnant, Veldon," you whisper.

His eyes widen at your words, and he freezes, looking at you as if trying to figure out if you're joking or not.

When you see the expression on his face, you can't help but let out a small chuckle.

"I'm not kidding, silly. I'm actually pregnant… Kaellë mentioned that our baby is approximately 5 weeks now," you gently squeeze his hand, feeling that he is trembling as much as you are.

His eyes now sparkle as a wide grin appears on his face. "You… You're truly pregnant?" he asks, his tone filled with hope.

"Yes, I am."

"I'm going to be a father?"

"You certainly will," you respond, lightly laughing.

Veldon embraces you, overflowing with love and tenderness. Even your unborn child can surely feel the love radiating from his father. His face is buried in your shoulder, and you can feel his shoulders trembling slightly. Your shirt becomes damp from his tears of joy. Smiling, you return his hug and gently stroke his back.

When Veldon lifts his head, his green eyes sparkle like a sunset-lit lake.

"You are the best thing that has ever happened to me, my love." His hand drops to your belly, and he traces circles on the area while kissing your cheek. "You bring me nothing but joy. Even in our darkest nights, you have never left me hopeless. And now…" He pauses for a moment, then kneels before you and tenderly rests his head on your belly. "Now, you are giving me my own family, my darling. I love you." He plants a kiss on your stomach. "And I love you too, little one. Daddy is already so proud of you."

"I'm sure they love you too, silly - just as much as I do," you tell him, twirling your fingers through his hair.

He looks up at you, his eyes filled with excitement.

"I will be the best father ever! I'll teach them how to make you roll your eyes with stupid jokes, just like you do to me," he says, a smile forming on his face and a small laugh escaping his lips.

You can't help but laugh along with him. In this moment, you feel complete and incredibly happy with the man you love. And soon enough, you'll have a child of your own.

[thisselflovecamebacktome]

Okay so now that I'm back home (no pun intended), here is my contribution to @stood-onthecliffside's love letters event!

In short, the prompt of 'home' really reminded me of a written piece I wrote up when I changed psychologists in 2022. I have put the written piece below (because it's quite long) but have also made a playlist which you can listen to here that compliments it for the event.

Thank you for holding the event

Home is a four letter word. So is jail.

Too often, they are one in the same. For prisoners, both physical and within their own mind, the walls around them feel like a tomb. A child raised in chaos may not see much difference between a prison riot and the shouting matches within their own house. Likewise, the disinterest, disdain or overall lack of respect and grace society shows both groups while still expecting their loyalty and respect makes them more alike than anyone would like to admit. It is no wonder we live with an oxymoron in which most released prisoners are re-incarcerated and many of the children who wish to leave home most stay the longest. Society says that actions speak louder than words, but when the great escape and happiness feels like a pipe dream compared to all you've ever known and no clear course to change that, home can be a loaded term.

Forgiveness is an eleven letter word. So is passiveness.

Too often they are confused with each other. Growing up, I was taught that “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonour others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.” and that Harley Quinn and the Joker were a love story. It seemed to be this all encompassing force that overcame all. And at the centre of that? The idea of the home; the physical representation of love held up by the foundation of respect and forgiveness. And yet for so many years, I felt I never received either. Worse yet, that the lack of either was my fault for not speaking up or acknowledging the habit. For forgiveness meant allowance of a clean slate and not using past discretion that had been 'dealt with' against others, right? To love was to not keep records, to and forgiveness is a pillar of love, so how could it not?

Change is a six letter word. So is choice.

Too often people think the two are conflated; that if change is not happening that is because they have no choice. Or worse yet, that someone never had the choice to change. I've spent so much of my 20s being the first and giving my power away to those who are the second. Time has made me realise that we control both. By making choices we make change and by making changes, new choices will come to us. Furthermore, love changes over time and is not an all encompassing force, it is a choice we make over and over. So when push came to shove, I made the biggest change of my life; I chose to love myself over and over again and never let anyone disrespect me again.

Apprehension is a twelve letter word. So is convalescent.

Too often people thought that you cannot have both. That to have apprehensions was a sign that you were venturing down the wrong path. During the early days of my estrangement from family, I became 'worse' in every way to the point my loved ones feared how much longer I'd be around. Their fear spread and interventions were being had about how they were wrong to encourage me to leave and they should be sending me home; so much so that I almost agreed with them. Years later, when I could finally talk about what happened, my psychiatrist sent me several studies showing that it's common for people to fall apart when they first left toxic environments, and in fact was a sign they finally felt safe enough to start the grief and healing process. Knowing I was a swiftie, he paraphrased her quote that being fearless is not the absence of fears, but to have them and move forward anyway. He noted that healing was much the same; you never really stop missing people and times, you just keep moving forward and doing the best you can, even if you have to do it alone.

Independence is a twelve letter word. So is relationship.

Too often I thought that I could not have both. Before my mid 20s, most of my relationships consisted of others taking too much and me letting them. Those that didn't were held at arms length to avoid the 'gotcha' moment where they could do the same. If love is always selfless, independence is always selfish, and in my case, was deliberately so. I felt that relationships were compromise. and compromise was the death of independence, and with it, my hopes and dreams. I was proudly an independent woman and had accepted that relationships just weren't for me. But the more time passed, and the more my loved ones and their loved ones uplifted each other and myself, the more I realised that they were kind, patient, trusting, proud rather than envious, did not keep score and perhaps most importantly, never were self-seeking in ways that cut down the other's needs; even when I was not so towards myself. And so simultaneously slowly, yet all at once, I realised that at least some of the ideals I had been taught all along weren't wrong, just simply happened with the wrong people. My family had tried their best with the misguided extremes they were taught, but it wasn't enough. Balance is required and though it still feels fake, you really can have it all with the right people. I'm still not as good as I'd like at being in any kind of relationships. But when I look at the smiles of my loved ones, I realise that I've finally made the great escape right to where I wanted to go; home.

Home is a four letter word. So is jail. But then again, so is love.

[batmanisagatewaydrug]

reading update

what's up gamers, the odds are very slim that I'll be finishing another book before November is over, so let's do a roundup! I've you've been following me literally at all you probably saw me reblog my public shame TBR list at some point, and now we get the #reviews.

what have I been reading?

Histories of the Transgender Child (Jules Gill-Peterson, 2018) - this book is a really incredible piece of historical research, exploring the existence of transgender and gender non-conforming children in the first half of the 21st century. Gill-Peterson threads a great needle of both laying out ways in which trans identity and specifically trans youth were understood in the early decades of trans healthcare, establishing that young transgender people are in no way a modern phenomenon, while also making the strong case that trans youth have been able to exist without complication or medical intervention throughout American history. It's an engrossing medical history, and I would say intensely valuable to anyone who has a vested interest in protecting trans kids' right to autonomy and joy.

Batman: Bruce Wayne - Murderer? (Greg Rucka et al, 2002) - this, to me, is peak Batfamily content. everyone is miserable and nobody is communicating about it because they're all too depressed and bitchy. Bruce gets accused of murder and sent to prison and he decides the only reasonable thing to do is break out and never be Bruce Wayne again, with seemingly no concern about how horrific the consequences will be for his family as long as he gets to keep being Batman. the dysfunction is... fucking delicious. cannot WAIT to read Bruce Wayne: Fugitive, I must know how Brucie baby gets himself out of this one. also, hey, have I mentioned that I miss Babs as Oracle every single day? god, she's just... she's so much cooler as Oracle.

Alive at the End of the World (Saeed Jones, 2022) - Jones is so so so so so so SO good at writing layers of pain and hurt into his poetry. the imagery of apocalypse and protest is infinitely striking, and I was particularly shaken by the recurring series within the book that ended each segment, in which Jones finds himself in his apartment after a reading speaking with a doppelganger who turns out to be his own personified pain. chills!!!! CHILLS!!!!

Elatsoe (Darcie Little Badger, 2020) - I wanted to make a point of reading something a little lighter, because we've been a little #heavy lately, and Little Badger's debut YA novel was perfect for that. while Elatsoe isn't what I'd call flawless - in particular, I have to say that the main characters seem VERY young for 17 year olds, feeling more like middle readers protagonists in most ways - it's an extremely charming book with a lot of really cool ideas. the world is one very like ours but suffused with mythology; ghosts, vampires, and fairies are well-known facts of life integrated seamlessly into the story. it's very cool to see an urban fantasy where the protagonist's parents are totally in on the supernatural and fully supportive of the teen sleuthing without any sketchy ulterior motivations, and I think the tidbit that Lipan folks are able to banish vampires for coming into their home - the entirety of their ancestral lands - without an invitation is one of the coolest twists on vampire lore I've ever seen.

Nature Poem (Tommy Pico, 2017) - I LOVE Tommy Pico's epic poetry (that's a literary term, not an outdated compliment), and I read Nature Poem in what I believe is the way that was intended: all in one evening, still wearing a cute little bodycon dress, glitter, and fishnets after a Halloween party, a little tipsy. as always Pico's voice is impeccable, dry and witty and observant and so, so tired of so much bullshit. the preoccupation of this poem is the idea of nature, specifically writing a poem about it, and Pico's railing against the idea that white poets can write countless poems about nature and only be seen as writing a poem, while he, as a Kumeyaay man, can't write a poem about nature without it being seen as a woo woo magical Native American thing. but it's not just that; no Pico poem is every just one thing, but a smart and circling conversation to drive a point home. I still don't know if I'm liking poetry right but man I know I love Tommy Pico.

The Trouble With Normal: Sex, Politics, and the Ethics of Queer Life (Michael Warner, 1999) - full disclosure: I ordered this book in a feverish haze after it was recommended at a conference by a speaker who was so stupid hot that I nearly had a panic attack about it. we don't have time to unpack all that, but I will say that this was as eye-opening a read as nearly all historical queer texts are. the two things that jumped out at me most were 1.) Warner's well-written argument against the concept of marriage as a whole, with the then-ongoing fight for gay marriage necessarily included, and 2.) the scathing critiques of gay individuals who throw ~weird sexual deviant~ gays under the bus to further their own social standing. INSANE that that's still topical in 2022; can't wait to be quoting a 20+ year old book at people when the kink @ pride discourse starts in 2023.

A Dowry of Blood (S.T. Gibson, 2021) - that's right, it's the TikTok book about Dracula's brides being in a polycule! I figured with a description like that this was either going to be pretty good or bad in fun and interesting ways, and I wasn't disappointed at all. Dowry was a fast, fun read, with a heavy gothy ambiance all the way through. it carries more weight than expected by depicting Dracula himself as a surprisingly realistic abusive partner, a boyfriend from hell who keeps his partners on short leashes with a thinly-veiled threat of death if they ever displease him. if you like your vampires depressed, horny, and wrapped up in deeply unhealthy psychosexual mindgames you will LOVE this.

Into the Riverlands (Nghi Vo, 2022) - this is the latest novella in Vo's Singing Hills Cycle, which I cannot recommend enough to anyone. I didn't initially adore this entry quite as much as When the Tiger Came Down the Mountain or Empress of Salt and Fortune, I think because it felt less immersive. the Singing Hills Cycle tells stories within stories, framed by a cleric named Chih travelling to gather stories across the fictional kingdom in which they live. the first two novellas were much more immersive in their storytelling, and I think I missed having that in Into the Riverlands, but there was a certain reveal near the end that cast the whole thing in a very different light and made me like the setup a lot more. it's also worth noting that given the way this novella deals with larger-than-life martial artists and the way their legends are distorted across time, it reminded me VERY much of The Girl Who Kept Winter - a spectacularly fun read, one that I can't recommend enough.

The World We Make (N.K. Jemisin, 2022) - god DAMN, N.K. Jemisin! I was a little unsure about The City We Became, willing to rank it as my least favorite of Jemisin's books, but the sequel really knocked by socks off. I could hardly put it down, and I'm sad to see the duology ended already - if I'm being totally honest I think this book could easily have been fleshed into two for a trilogy, given how much capital-p-Plot is introduced, but I also really respect how much story Jemisin was able to so slicky introduce and resolve in under 400 pages here. on the whole this is a thriving, fast, fist-pumping love letter to New York City and the power of community in the face of all kinds of evil, and one of the few sequels I feel completely confident calling better than the original.

[indigo-flightly-falls]

Just a little thing for the War Of Wings AU!

Ft. Scott and Xornoth!

Gonne be honest I thought my first piece of writing for this AU would be the main characters and not two side characters that are barely mentioned.

Slight warning for the following:

Implied child abuse, past child abandonment, past child sacrifice. It's mostly just mentions of Scott and Xornoth's pasts and how messed up their village is, nothing super explicit.

"Do you really trust me that little?" Xornoth asked, raising their eyebrow at Scott.

"I don't know." He replied. "You've done nothing but hurt Empires for years, why should I trust you?"

Xornoth smiled, just a little bit. Their expression seemed mournful at the same time, as if they were reminiscing on the past. Which, Scott assumed they were.

"Because you and I are not so different." They said, a hint of fondness leaking into their voice. "We share something that can never be replaced or lost, our family."

While Scott was processing the bombshell that had been dropped on him, Xornoth continued.

"You and I are brothers, born of the same parents. But unlike you, I was cast aside to the dragons when you were born." Their face darkened. "I was only eleven."

"Our- our parents did what?" Scott whispered in horror, wanting to not believe the rider in front of him, but he couldn't deny it.

"You know it's the truth." Xornoth shrugged, their voice the only giveaway that they weren't unbothered by everything. "You've always known they could abandon you without a second thought, and that the only reason you are still here is because they cannot have another heir."

Scott brought a hand up to his face, moving to touch the scar from the nadder from all those years ago. From the time his parents had left him alone in the cold for a night after he had broken a plate.

"I- I never thought they'd actually carry out on their threats..."

Xornoth huffed out a laugh, bitter and resentful.

"Neither did I," They confessed, "But here we are."

And there they were. Two brothers, two heirs to the clan seat. Two riders of seemingly untrainable dragons. Two mirrors of each other.

"So... you've been attacking the island, because you want revenge?" Scott said slowly, putting the pieces together.

"Yes, and no." Xornoth answered. "That is certainly part of the reason, but not all of it."

"So what are the other reasons?"

Xornoth smiled. "You didn't think I was the only child sacrificed to the dragons, didn't you?"

Pieces begin to once again fit together in Scott's head. The kids who were said to be eaten by dragons after they had rebelled and run away, they were all sacrificed. By people like his parents.

"I am the only one who lived to see the tale, and I will make sure that ever last adult in that village will see it burned, so that they know the fear of running for your life, to be hunted by dragons." Xornoth said darkly, in a voice that seemed like they were making a promise.

"And I will let you." Scott whispered. He knew in his heart that Xornoth--his brother--was telling the truth. "Just let me ask for one thing."

"Anything for you, brother." Xornoth replied, the remnants of a surprised look on their face.

"Spare the lives of my friends, and all the kids younger then us." Scott asked, the feeling of determination flowing through his veins.

"That was always the plan." Xornoth smiled warmly when Scott looked at them in shock. "Any person below the age of twenty two will be spared, as they are innocent in this fight."

So anyone aged five years older then Scott (or younger) would live to tell the tale.

"Then I thank you for that."

"Of course, I may be a 'demon', but I'm not heartless." Xornoth said, making air quotes around the word 'demon'. "You will have three months to get all the children to a safe place, and then I will attack."

"I believe that is fair." Scott said, a smirk faintly on his face. "Is there a way to contact you in the future?"

"Just leave me a note, I often check on this island every few days." Xornoth replied, moving to mount their dragon.

"Well then, I believe that is all, now go back to your friends before they get nervous."

Scott smiled at Xornoth, whistling for Poppy, who burst from below the ground, her teeth rotating.

"Hey girl, glad to see you."

The red whispering death nudged his side, and he took the signal to get on.

"A whispering death?" Xornoth asked. "I'm impressed."

Scott shrugged. "Found her wounded a few months ago, and she wouldn't leave my side. Now she's mine."

"Ah, I get that." Xornoth reached down to scratch Corruption, the deathgripper's wings flapping happily. "Found this beautiful guy when I got dumped here, and now we're the best of buds."

"The best friendships are the ones not planned." Scott said, floating above the ground on top of Poppy. "Goodbye Xornoth."

"Goodbye, brother."

[dancingwiththefae]

I saw your post a few days ago about chords and someone being unkind about it to you and I wasn't gonna say anything (cause I don't have kids) but it's been on my mind ever since. I don't think it's wrong to relate to it as a parent. It's like telling Joey and Madeleine they shouldn't write about parents struggling. Idk. It feels stupid to me. They write songs for people to relate to them. To put yourself on someone's else shoes. I can relate to it and I don't even want kids. They don't have any and they wrote it. Why would they if it was for nobody to relate to it? Admitting you understand what it is about because you've had a difficult time as a parent is not bad. It's pretty brave actually. Parents struggling is kinda taboo and it's very stupid that more people can't speak about how difficult it is to be responsible for the life and health of another human being. I don't get how anybody could fault you for relating to that song and those who do need to fucking grow up and learn that people aren't perfect.

I was debating whether or not to reply to this, not because I don’t appreciate this message, I totally do. But you know what? Let’s talk about parenthood. Here is the original post that I made when the album came out. This is ending up being a long post so I’m going to stick a lot of it under a read more and then anyone who is not interested can scroll on by. Seriously, just scroll on by. And anyone who purposefully misinterprets anything I say, I will not engage with you. I am not talking about abusive parents, never have been. I’ve been there. I know.

I would like to say though, that it is not necessarily having a difficult time as a parent. More so that almost every parent has felt like they are not good enough, even if they are (I am). I don’t for a second think that I am in any way special for having a child, nor do I think anyone who doesn’t want one should have one. It doesn’t unlock some secret understanding to human existence. It’s simply a part of life you may engage in. At the same time, no one who isn’t a parent understands what it is like to be a parent. That is just a fact.

Also, TW for post-natal depression, near death experience and injury.

Let’s start with a story. Yesterday my child hit their head pretty badly and we spent all of yesterday in hospital. Mostly waiting around, keeping him happy and calm (and distracted). I felt like a failure. I went to bed at 1am and I felt like a failure. It was a total accident. Nothing could be done about it. I couldn’t stop feeling like I could have prevented it. Should have prevented it. It’s conditioned within you to believe that you should bear the sole responsibility of their lives, even the things that nobody has any control over. In actuality, I did pretty well. And so did they.

On to the song. The song depicts a pivotal moment in a parent-child relationship when the children are grown up and move out of the family home. The song is from the perspective of the parents. I find it a little jarring that I do not see anyone analysing their thoughts and feelings even though the song is about them. But rather taking it solely from the perspective of the children who are absent from the song. (Any other parents who feel things about this song make yourself known). The most I see is that madeleines character may or may not have mental health issues. To me that’s a bit of a cop out. “Mental health issues” covers such a wide range of things and sticking that phrase on the character of a mother and moving on is a little undeserving. Did she suffer post-natal depression? Was she supported? Was the father?

Post-natal depression is extremely serious and frankly there are not enough resources out there to help those struggling. I suffered badly. Note: my child did not. But it ravages your body and mind until there is nothing left of you. What nobody will ever talk about though, is that years later, those feelings of guilt over not being good enough stay with you. Doesn’t help that everyone and their dog love to tell you it too. Unwarranted parental advice that is actually saying “you’re not doing this well enough and I think you should change”.

And this is on top of the fact that I actually almost died having them. And not even having a second to myself to recover because immediately I am feeding a baby every 2 hours, changing them, holding them and soothing them as I attempt to come back from almost the dead. Me and my husband slept in 2 hour shifts for weeks after because they would not settle unless they were in our arms. I won’t lie to you, it was hell. But then of course you can’t say that because how dare you have any negative feelings about this life changing thing that will take up all day every day for the rest of your life that you chose to do (side note: NEVER say this. Some people did not have the choice). Those were the “winter nights”.

I am not at the stage the parents in chords are. My child is still young. I miss the baby they were, even though it was hard. Is that so bad of me? Is it so bad of Madeleines character to miss her children being small? Would Joeys tell her she was loved and enough if she was so terrible?

At the end they come together to wish their child well, also to say that they are welcome to lay all the blame at their door and they will not love them any less. Hasn’t everyone bad mouthed their parents to their friends? Even if It wasn’t wholly justified? Hasn’t everyone had arguments and disagreements with people that they live in close quarters with for years? The way I personally understand it is that my child can think of me as the worst person in the world because I can take it. I can take it from them. One day I hope they see me through their adult perspective, not simply through being my child (as many people do when they grow up). If they don’t, that’s fine. I know that I did everything I could for them. I have no maternal instincts for other children. I am autistic and struggle to relate to kids. I would move heaven and earth for my own. In the midst of lockdown when I was mostly on my own all day with a baby and then a toddler, I taught him to talk and read, to play football (I hate football, they love it), to dance (I am dyspraxic), sign language (I learnt it for this reason. We learn together), the list goes on. I am confident that no one on this earth can tell me I am a bad parent. I am a FANTASTIC parent.

I wish people could have a little more nuance than “every parent has to be perfect in every way and if they are ever not then they are bad parents.” You simply don’t understand parenthood. People are still people just because they have children. I didn’t stop feeling like me when I had a baby. I still feel like a child amongst adults who doesn’t know what they’re doing (like everyone else). I’m still winging a lot of parenthood (like everyone else) because raising a child is not in a book. I’m not raising a dog or a robot or a textbook “baby”. I’m raising a human being with their own unique thoughts and emotions who is going through the frankly awful time of working out who they are and how they fit into this world.

Chords is about parents. Please respect parents. But I have still deleted the song from my library and have it blacklisted. I simply cannot engage with that guilt anymore. 

[gregorygerwitz]

You've mentioned before that thelma has trauma of her own regarding expectations. Was it a conscious choice to push those expectations onto the next generation or did she actually believe that was okay?

Is she actively malicious or just someone who couldn't break the cycle of abuse?

How does she feel about 💖🎉💫✨therapy✨ 💫🎉💖, bestie?

Is she one of those rich people who pays a therapist to tell her what she wants to hear or could she potentially get something out of it if she went?

In the au where Kim is adopted, does she hate Kim because she's proof that Thelma herself is the infertile/barren one?

How did you arrive at the name Thelma?

I love questions. Also thank you for these, the part of me that almost became a psychology major is having so much fun. I love this for her, specifically.

Honestly... I think about exactly this on a regular basis.

(also, to get the less essay-relevant question out of the way: the name was suggested by @kitthekazoo and I liked it and so it stayed)

warnings: emotional abuse, implied homophobia, ptsd, mentions of death (absolutely no details), drug use, implied alcoholism, brief mention of infertility

under a cut because it got... so long

This is like the only area where I'm willing to be somewhat sympathetic to Thelma. Because, no, she wasn't actively trying to push her trauma and her complete inability to cope with it or any of her failures onto Mouse. That is simply the only kind of life she's ever known - behave as a child, grow up comfortable, marry someone else wealthy, raise a family, the cycle continues. I don't even think she realizes anything about how she was raised was traumatic. It was how she was raised, how her friends were raised, how her mother lived, how her grandparents lived, and so on. It's not necessarily that she thought it was okay, that was just how things were, and she hadn't seen anyone try to change it, because why would they? Shouldn't everyone want that? To have a comfortable life with money and no worries? To raise the next generation in the same world so that they don't have to worry, either?

It's a very logical progression, to her. She did everything right, and she's still not happy, so there must have been some flaw. Someone, somewhere, made a mistake. A mistake was made, so she isn't living the perfect life she's supposed to have. She has one child instead of the 3+ she was aiming for (don't even get me started on the added pressure that came from both her and Gregory III being only children and both sides telling them they need more than one heir so that the family can grow again), she has a husband who she doesn't love and who is unfaithful to her (whether or not she knows about that part depends on the universe anything is set in), and the one child she did manage to provide him is... rejecting the same plan that every generation has?

As awful as it sounds, and it really is awful, she sees the life that she has as a failed one. She didn't do enough, and she has to live with that failure. She sees pushing that kind of life on Mouse - pretty wife who comes from money, 2.4 kids, white picket fence, running the family business - as a way to defy her own personal failures. If he succeeds in those things, maybe she hasn't failed. If she can produce a success, can't she count that as her own?

And then he drops out of school, and comes out, and that plan - not even her plan, just one that each generation has inherited for over a century - is shattered. He doesn't want a wife, he doesn't want kids, he doesn't want the family business. He has become, in her eyes, another failure. Except he wants that. He is choosing this life that she views as failed and is actually happy with the choices he's made in it and all the things that make it a failure.

and how dare he be happy doing everything wrong when she did everything right and doesn't get an ounce of happiness from it

I think about this a normal amount

So, when it comes to therapy... the short answer is she doesn't believe in it? It's not like astrology (which she also doesn't believe in) where she's like "oh, that's obviously fake and means nothing," it's more like... another carry over from the trauma that she doesn't realize she even went through.

If someone needs therapy, she honestly thinks they should seek help and get it. I maintain that Mouse got a few sessions when he and Jay first got back after their medical discharge because like... he's been through an obvious trauma? He almost died? Some of the people he knew did die? Like, he needs a way to recover from some of that, and she sees it, and understands it, and hires a therapist for a couple weeks until his nightmares about it "stop" and he "doesn't need it anymore."

That's kind of her take on it? Therapy is for people who obviously need help, not for people like her. People who live in nice big houses with a rich husband and a war hero for a son don't need therapy. That's ridiculous. It's very much so an extension of that public image she was raised to have. If her life is perfect, at least on the outside, she doesn't need help behind the scenes.

In theory, she could absolutely go to therapy and pay them to say whatever she wants to hear and be done with it. She could also potentially get a lot of good out of it if she went. She just... isn't going to. That would mean admitting to the failure she's still in denial about.

She turned to prescription meds (usually Xanax, otherwise whatever is being passed around by her book club friends at fundraisers and events, at one point she probably stole a bottle of Mouse's pills when he got home and passed those around herself) and too much wine at dinner, like a normal person at her place in society.

In that AU, in particular, I think all of that feeling of being a failure is just compounded. She was already feeling that way, and then she finds out, the same way as everyone else, that Gregory III has been cheating on her through virtually their entire marriage. She finds out through gossip magazines and stupid tabloid articles, and then he's saying he wants to bring one of his children from those affairs into their home (and yes, there's more than one child out there from all of that) and act like everything is fine?

Listen... the fact that she tried to turn Mouse (at age 16) against this newcomer and paint Gregory III as the bad guy in the entire situation makes complete sense to me. The one and only time I will look at Thelma and say "mood" like yeah, I hate her more, but Gregory III isn't innocent in any way, shape, or form. Fuck that guy.

But the idea that she did the right thing - I know, this is a strong theme in this essay, bear with me - by giving him a child, a son who can carry on the Gerwitz name to the next generation, even, and then... Mouse was one and a half when Kim was conceived. And yeah, she was an accident, the affairs were never supposed to result in kids, blah blah blah, but Thelma absolutely gets it in her head that what she did wasn't good enough. She already sees Gregory III stepping out on her as a personal failure. She wasn't good enough to keep her husband at home and in their bed and with her and all that. The fact that he is willingly taking in this child, giving her the family name, giving her the life that was supposed to be for their children with all the comforts that came with it...

The anger and frustration that she feels has less to do with her inability to have more kids, and more to do with the fact that her failure is being pushed back into her face every single day. Her failure sits at the same dinner table. Sleeps in their house. Goes to school with their son. Her failure even shares their last name.

[always-andromeda]

just some thoughts that I've been having as of late; or, reflections on the passing of time and a ghost story.

it's strange how trauma works. it will continually tell you that you are stuck in the dark ages. it will insist that the little ghoul you used to fear is still there in the corner or right underneath the bed or behind the coat you've worn since sophomore year. it convinces you that you still need to strengthen your wardings. it makes you a paranoid skeptic for the foreseeable future.

I don't like thinking about it for too long, but sometimes I really hate that ghost. because what I once thought was terribly romantic has become a horror. a ghost tale recounted between friends in a kitchen as I make dinner. a teary eyed hug because I never thought anyone else would have seen the same things I did. because that's the other thing about ghosts, everyone else thinks you're fucking crazy when you say you've seen one.

they tell you that you're being dramatic. you felt too much. you got too invested. you should've known better. how do you know better when you don't know anything? you don't blame the child in horror movies for touching a possessed doll. that's just what children do.

I think that's the most difficult part sometimes. I really was just a child when I knew him. I had seen spirits before, of course, and I had built my walls decently high to protect myself. but something about the shape of him, the cadence in which he spoke, the way he made me feel like I was the only person he'd ever want to haunt, even though I knew full well that I wasn't. the way I used to consider that a privilege.

while he drained the life from me, I got tiny pieces of him. I heard whispers here and there that sustained me long enough to believe that maybe one day I'd feel a gust of wind. maybe he'd realize how much I cared for him and he'd close the door. he'd settle beside me, every step creaking horribly with the weight of the things he'd been and done. and in those moments, we'd finally be flesh and blood.

but no matter what I did...he'd always leave. all of the kindness in the world couldn't have made him stick around. you can't feel the warmth of an embrace when hands just go right through you. but you can keep siphoning adoration and affection from the well. you were never quite satisfied but you did a wonderful job at making me feel useful.

so useful that I worry that the second I stop being useful, I will lose it all over again. but I'm trying. I'm trying so hard to see that the house isn't haunted anymore. I've decorated the walls with as much color as I can and invited all of my friends for dinner. I've become quite good at distinguishing the real and the fake (or so I tell myself).

but sometimes in the quiet of the night, I will hear that familiar creak and that whistle of wind. for a split second, I will experience the soul shattering fear that it's starting all over again. until nothing follows. the night melts into silence again. it's just the house settling. just the foundation settling into the soil. just the soft breathing of walls that had to hold it in for far too long.

I will fall asleep again soon. I will feel warm and comfortable in my own bed, my own flesh. but, for now, my eyes are open. staring at the cracks in the ceiling and remembering how he used to push through them. and how I used to thank him for breaking in. how I used to thank him for being my biggest nightmare. and how the day I banished him was the day a large part of me died and went with him too.

he'll always have that remnant of me. I hope that I haunt him too. I hope I'm a wailing ghost girl in his closet, always reminding him that the love he steals is fleeting. the sheet that covers his tangle of an existence is paper thin and flaking away. I hope that ghost girl tears him apart.

I will fall asleep again soon, I promise. I have to craft a bedtime story. to put myself at ease. because the house is just settling. I will be okay.

[troublesometrollhunters]

I have this au in my head that Belloc has a daughter and I was wondering if you could do some headcanons or your take on it? Please and thank you.

🔥 Bellroc having a child includes...

Very Protective Parent. Bellroc has been around since the beginning of time. They've seem how humans can be and they refuse to let anyone harm you. You are their bond, their brood, their responsibility. But mostly your their life.

You were either given to Bellroc as an offering or you were left somewhere and they found you. Bellroc is not a fan of humans but babies and children do no harm. They are too young to know how to do harm. They are naive and full of life and know not the pain of this world. Bellroc takes you in the hope that you will not become like your kind, they take you with the hope you will never know what it means to be unloved or treated with cruelty.

That being said Bellroc doesn't actually know how to take care of you... you are human. Bellroc is not. You need to eat, drink, sleep. You need to be entertained and cared for. You can not be too cold nor too hot. You are fragile, delicate. It takes time but Bellroc thankfully is able to handle it and adapt as Bellroc always does.

Bellroc is a very authoritative parent. They care about your happiness and the ability to expand your creativity and mind but Bellroc wants you to be safe as well. Their rules are to be followed but they make sure there's plenty of time for love and fun as well. You are a very intelligent, strong, talented, and independent. Bellroc raises you to be the very best version of yourself and is so proud of you.

You have a very doting aunt and uncle. Skrael and Nari absolutely adore you. When Bellroc introduces you they instantly fall in love with you and welcome you into the family. Well Nari does. Nari takes you to play as Skrael stays behind to talk to Bellroc concerned.

Nari plays games with you keeping you enterained and making you laugh. Bellroc smiles softly watching as you enjoy yourself with their sibling. Nari grows plants and vines to play games in and you both jump in and out of bushes as you hide from each other. Nari enjoys having a playmate very much and when you get hungry they make fruit for you to snack on.

Skrael takes awhile to get used to you and like you as your human but when they see how you are with Nari and Bellroc they decide to help Bellroc raise you. You are not your race, you are the Orders child and Skrael refuses to let anything bad happen to you ever. Very protective but also distant Skrael watches your progress from afar. If you ever seen bored or unhappy with Bellroc away he will summon snow just don't tell anymore that they have gone soft.

You weren't originally magic but now you are. Living with the Arcane Order had its benifets and magic happens to be one of them. Bellroc is a good teacher but a strong minded one. Bellroc has known magic for years and they will decide what you are ready for and when.

However Bellroc is always so proud when you get something right and every new spell is a celebration. Bellroc may be strict but they are fair and they will always have your best interests at heart. The Order is very happy with your progress and are always ready to praise your work. Nari loves when you do magic and appreciates when you show them any new spells you've learned. Skrael always leaves you little presents in your room as a nod towards your progress. Meanwhile Bellroc is just a proud parent who's beaming.

Nari likes sleeping with you after a long day of training. As a human wizard you need sleep and although Nari doesn't they enjoy curling up next to you. Bellroc and Skrael will often watch fondly before attending to their duties of keeping the balance.

You may not be like them but that does not matter. Family is never what one expects. Bellroc does not regret taking you in and they never will. They love you. All of them.

[hotchley]

For your 500 thing: 4 from the angst list with Hotch and anyone else, platonically? I like the prompts you've chosen too. Very angsty haha

Hehe thank you! I chose Reid, because it worked so... yeah. This is not to be seen as me infantilising Reid or as H Crit because it's not. People say things they don't mean when they're hurting. There will come a time when Reid doesn't hesitate and Hotch forgives himself. It's just not written here.

It went over 1.5k... let's just ignore that. Umm... Set sometime between Nameless, Faceless and Haunted. There's no real comfort.

4: "shut up! please. just shut up."

Trigger Warnings: past child abuse, intrusive thoughts, references to canon-typical events and violence

read on ao3!

With hindsight, moving Spencer to the same hospital as Aaron was not the smartest idea the BAU had ever had. Not when traumatic and painful events caused them to react in opposite ways. When Spencer was hurt, he didn't stop talking, so terrified that if there was even the slightest indication that he was weak, everyone would leave. And when Aaron was hurt, he completely shut down, still scared that making his existence known would lead to hurt.

But at the time, they had only been thinking of Derek. He had been running himself ragged, trying to manage the BAU in Aaron's absence, and caring for both his teammates who were in different hospitals, because he was coincidentally, the only person that either of them would listen to.

Perhaps they were more alike than anyone gave them credit for.

So Spencer was moved into the same room as Aaron, because when the team came, they came to see both of them, and it was apparently good for the two patients to socialise with each other and try to maintain their bond. At least, that was what everyone said to them. In reality, it was just easier to only have to have certain conversations once. Especially the ones about Foyet.

Because even though both of them would be out of the field for a while, and had lost so much of the independence they prided themselves on, the situations were not the same and they never would be. Spencer had been shot in the leg trying and succeeding in saving a man, and the perpetrator had been arrested. He had gotten justice.

Aaron had been stabbed nine times in his home, the place he had a right to feel safe in, by a man so evil that there was no chance of ever reasoning with him. Foyet had gotten away, and he'd taken Haley and Jack with him. The only people Aaron seemed to live for, were gone. He hadn't gotten any sort of closure. Nobody seemed to understand that, because everyone kept saying him and Spencer could relate to each other. But they couldn't. And he was sick of hearing it.

But he tried to hide that bitterness. Spencer wouldn't have been shot if he had been there. He would have been the extra set of eyes needed to finish the letters, and they would've worked it out sooner. They would've all been fine, if he had done anything other than frozen when the bullet wedged itself in the wall beside his hair, close enough to make his ear ring painfully. His anger was irrational, and the result of trauma. Everyone else understood his emotions were all-consuming and overpowering, but he didn't. To him, the anger and resentment were just another sign he was becoming his father.

He wasn't. But he would never allow himself to believe that.

Spencer knew that his and Hotch's situations were different. That Hotch blamed himself for what had happened to Haley and to him. That Hotch was hiding how he truly felt, probably to protect him. That things were going to explode sooner rather than later. He just didn't know how much sooner than expected it would end up being.

Rossi had swung by in the morning, and that visit had set Aaron on edge. Rossi was trying to help, he was, but his method of doing it wasn't helpful. It never had been. Not for someone like Aaron, who needed something that was not his best friend telling him how the BAU had been fine without him. Or how the children seemed to be fine. Or how victims could recover.

When Rossi left, Reid took the crutches beside his bed and hobbled over to sit in the chair that he'd vacated. They had both been encouraged to try and be mobile without going beyond their limit. Only Spencer had listened.

"If you want him to stop talking, you can always tell him," he said gently.

Aaron turned away. "He's just trying to help."

"But he's not. I think we can all see it."

"Spencer, I don't know what you're trying to do but-"

"I don't care if you resent me. I care that you're lying."

"I'm not lying."

"Really? So if I asked you whether or not you resent me, you could look me in the eye and say you don't? If I asked you whether you blame yourself for my injury, you would say no, and mean it? If I asked you who was responsible for Haley and Jack going into WitSec, you would say Foyet? If I asked you how you feel, would you say hopeless and angry? Would you?" He snaps.

Aaron stares, and Spencer feels the heat rise to his cheeks. Hotch is still his superior.

"I'm sorry, that was out of line."

"No, it's- you're right. I am lying. But-" he swallows, unused to being so vulnerable, especially with someone like Spencer, "I have to. Lie that is. I can't be honest. Not about this. Not with these feelings."

"Why? You've been put through horrific trauma. I think you're entitled to feel like shit. I feel like crap."

Aaron looks at Spencer, in all his hopeful innocence, and understands the subtle invitation to be honest for once in his life. To let someone else save him. To have a normal conversation, with no ulterior motives or secret conditions. To have someone just care for him because they love him, not because they want anything in return. It's that final realisation that makes him take a leap of faith.

"Because if I let myself feel the anger, I will never stop, and then I will never be any better than my father." The words taste like failure, and he hates himself for saying them as soon as they leave his mouth. Who is he, to do this to a subordinate? To make someone else take responsibility for his issues? He wants to take the words back as soon as realisation dawns on Spencer, but he can't.

All he can do is close his eyes, and pretend he is somewhere else where whatever comes next cannot touch him.

"You know those thoughts don't determine who you are," Spencer says, and nothing about his tone has changed. He still cares about Aaron. Aaron, who has to blink back tears because he always forgets how many terrible things this boy has seen.

He tries to tell Spencer to stop, that he doesn't deserve to be called a good person, but the words won't come.

"I can tell you don't believe me. Well let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, there was a FBI agent that panicked so much during their gun qualification that they failed. And the man that had been practicing them, who had every right to lash out, just nodded and asked if it was his fault. If there was anything he could do to help. And then he trusted that agent with his life. Without hesitating," Spencer said. It felt like he was talking to Henry.

Aaron needs him to shut up. He cannot hear this story. It is his life, so he knows how it ends, but he cannot hear that ending right now. Not when the loss of his family is still so raw and painful. Not when it consumes his every waking moment.

"And after the case was over, he raced to the hospital, and he stayed in the waiting room until his son was born because he refused to leave his wife for a second longer than necessary, even though she had given her blessing multiple times for him to go save people. She said that he changed more nappies during his paternity leave than most men do in their lives."

"Spencer-" Aaron manages to say.

"Abused children can break the cycle. They have broken the cycle. They continue to do so. You said that once. Do you remember? You told Vincent Perotta that not every victim goes on to become a killer. Because some grow up to catch them and you are one of them, you just-"

"Shut up! Please. Just shut up." He doesn't mean to shout. He doesn't mean to make Spencer flinch. He doesn't mean to sound angry. He doesn't mean to say the words. He doesn't mean to do any of those things, but he does, and he won't ever forget how terrified Spencer looks.

He did that. He did that, with nothing more than his words, and he cannot believe what he has done, but he has, and it's a terrible thing. And everything Spencer just said has been disproved. Everything.

"I'm sorry," Spencer whispers, turning away.

"No. No, please don't be sorry. You've not done anything wrong. Spencer, look at me. Please. I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said that. I didn't mean-"

"Yes you did. Don't lie to me."

And Aaron has lied about enough. He won't lie anymore.

"I am sorry," he says, even though it won't ever be enough.

Spencer smiles slightly, but then he goes over to his own bed. He closes his eyes, and pretends to sleep. He carries on pretending when Aaron walks over for the first time in three days, and kisses his forehead, much like he always does for Jack. He carries on pretending as Aaron sighs, and whispers an explanation too honest for repetition.

Aaron truly is sorry. Spencer truly does forgive him. The words are never said again, not to him, but that's the worst part. No matter what either of them do, Spencer will always remember and hesitate, and Aaron will never forget or forgive himself.

[mistaeq]

The Jobros: Finding out their s/o is Pregnant with Twins

TW // none

Original Request: Can you do the jojo's reaction to their s/o being pregnant with twins after a long time of trying? You can find this here.

The sweet @serenityblaze44 asked for this same prompt with the Jobros, so... here it is! <3

WORD COUNT: 2.6k

ROBERT E. O. SPEEDWAGON

As soon as you tell him, his eyes widen, like a cat who saw his favourite toy. It's almost as if he was a kid, and you were telling him that Santa was gonna bring him his favourite gift ever. No wonder, he'll be speechless for some seconds. Not only one baby, but two? This sounds all the way like a dream becoming reality. Living in the street like he did years ago, he could only dream about having a family.

You've been trying so hard to have a baby, you both felt ready, and after all the danger he went through along with Jonathan, Robert wants to settle down and have a family, finally starting something serious. But you had a lot of problems with getting pregnant, and he was losing his hope. Until you told him you were expecting a baby. And now, you were telling him they were two, two angels of his growing in your stomach. This feels crazy.

Speedwagon won't force you and won't get angry, if you don't feel like you'd like something like this, but he'd love to name one of the twins Jonathan or William if there's at least a boy and Erina if there's at least a girl. These people mattered so much in his life, and would be the happiest if he could bring these names with him forever. If you don't like the idea, he will respectfully accept it, and he's open and ready to hear your own ideas, too!

He wants everything to be completely organized, when the twins will come to the world. Every parent buys furniture and clothing for their baby, even before the birth, it's a pretty common thing. But Robert more or less behaved like Joseph buying stuff for Shizuka with Josuke's money. Speedwagon almost bought an entire baby store out of happiness and excitement. He's enthusiast and nervous. Bear with this loving gentleman.

"What do you mean I don't have to buy six cribs for the babies? What their two ones break and we need to change it?" he groans, handing you a bag, you looking at him with questioning eyes. "Nevermind... y/n, will you hold these fifty pacifiers for me while I get the twenty pairs of baby shoes out of the car?"

Speedwagon can't keep the news to himself. He'll call Erina before everyone else, and then all his friends, like immediately, to tell them the good news. He looks calm and rational, but he spent most of his life in London's street, and few years won't erase his loud and impulsive attitude. It's probably a good thing, after all. Even gentlemen can be excited. A little sudden, but hearing it makes Erina so happy, she'll be like an aunt for your kids!

He would enjoy reading books to your stomach during your pregnancy. He would have done it even if they weren't twins, but he claims that being them two, he'll need to work twice the amount he did before to teach them stories and literature. Robert is an amazing man, but still a too grown baby, he'll never stop his ideas about how to teach the children something. He just thinks about what he'd like to do or hear if he was a child.

CAESAR ANTONIO ZEPPELI

He stops practicing with his hamon for some seconds as soon as you tell him. Funny, he was so focused on his training that he swore he started hearing things. You didn't just tell him that the baby bubble growing in your stomach are in reality two baby bubbles. He... oh, forget it Caesar, you must have dreamt it. But you're right next to him, and almost immediately repeat what you just told him, making him realize what he heard is true.

It takes a while for the italian boy to realize it, but when he finally does, you can tell he's happy. Mamma mia. The adrenaline and excitemente in his body won't stop flowing, this is why, when Caesar will hug you, pick you up and jump around, hamon bubbles will still be coming out of his fingertips, and you find it the cutest thing ever. It's the physical proof of how happy you make him, there's no way to deny it. Family is all he ever wanted, over his flirting habit. You're the right one for him and he knows.

Prepare your kids and your stomach to get a whole load of opera music during your pregnancy. Caesar is a great lover of opera, and will care about his kids to be as informed on it and respectful of the genre. Either he'll put on some of it, of he'll straight up sing it for you and your future children. His singing voice isn't actually so bad, you notice, and this is how he earns the task of singing them the lullabies when they'll come to the world.

"Hey! What do you mean I get to sing them the lullabies... I'm good at opera... not baby songs..." he whines, almost sounding like a baby himself. "Fine... but at one condition. You change the diapers and I sing the lullabies. Take it or leave it."

He cares a lot about his family's traditions to go on. Being the flamboyant italian he is, Caesar prides himself on the love for his close family and relatives. He doesn't have a huge request for you, but he cares about what he's gonna ask. The father-to-be would be happy, if one of the twins is a boy, to give him Antonio as a second name. Like his own second name, and his grandpa's too. He secretly hopes the twins are a boy and a girl, he's always wanted a baby princess.

The young Zeppeli will grow twice more protective and caring of you. This translates in him not letting Joseph get closer to you than three meters away. This is how you learn to speak even louder to talk with people. Your loving boy will always be in front of you to keep you safe. You appreciate it, but sometimes he's exaggerated.

He'll probably beg you on his knees, for you to allow him to teach the children how to master the hamon technique when they'll grow up. You can't really deny it, sometimes it's useful. During your pregnancy, Caesar and his calming waves helped you coping with pregnancy pains and cramps, massaging your belly and leaving some bubbles around to soothe and distract you. Oh, your caring italian love.

NORIAKI KAKYOIN

When you told him the good news, his heart exploded with happiness and excitement. However, Noriaki is known for being a pretty calm boy, and he tried his best to keep calm after your words, too. You had to tell him to let go and don't worry about wanting to hug you, or pick you up and kiss you, or even cry, if he felt like letting it all out.

Before you even got pregnant, Kakyoin and you had been trying every single way on Earth to have a baby. Take count of your most fertile phase, buy a lot of pregnancy tests, using different positions, praying, making rituals, crying and asking Siri, in tears, why Noriaki couldn't manage to get you pregnant. Did those ways work so well that you got twice more pregnant than you expected? Nevermind, all you know is that you and your loving cherry boy are gonna have two beautiful babies.

"Listen... why do you think I can't get my baby pregnant? We've been trying every single way... do you have any advice?" as soon as Siri answered, Kakyoin's eyes widened, and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, don't give me the 'Sorry, I'm not sure what you said' treatment!"

One of his first thoughts, is that there's a small - but now it's higher because the babies are two - percentage of chances your babies might be stand users. Yes, it's not the highest percentage ever, but it's still there, and Kakyoin is pretty afraid of it. Stand users' lives are never calm and quiet, he had the occasion to prove this himself. They often go towards almost deadly experiences. He's gotta be a good dad and protect his children.

Hierophant Green is overjoyed! Noriaki and his stand worked hard, to create some decorations for the babies' room with emeralds. Green is a neutral color, since you don't know whether the twins will be boys, girls, or both. Still, you don't think colors like pink and blue are gendered, that's some stereotypical bullshit. But you had the luck of having green decorations, perfect for anyone, from Hierophant's power.

Kakyoin secretly hopes that at least one of the babies, no matter whether it's a boy or a girl, will have his hair color or hair noodle. Think about it, wouldn't it be funny, cute and incredibly special to have a small version of your husband/boyfriend walking around the house? Oh god, what if they're identical twins? Three Noriakis? Oh my.

Even if this might embarrass him a little, you'll often get to see his parents during your pregnancy. First of all, to give them the good news about the baby being in reality two babies, and second of all because mrs. Kakyoin would be on cloud nine, getting the chance to give you some parenting advice. That's also how you get to know some interesting information and curiosities about your man's childhood. The cutest things ever. But this... is another story.

NIJIMURA OKUYASU

Okuyasu.exe has stopped working. What do you mean two babies? He thought the shocking news were finished, after the pregnancy announcement. He's gonna ask you a billion times, on the verge of tears, if you're joking or messing with him, knowing how much these news matter to his heart. When he gets you're serious, Okuyasu just lets go and cries. He feels so damn happy.

He learnt to hate your period as much as you, honestly. Because everytime you got it, it meant another month in which he had failed in getting you pregnant had passed, and this made him feel useless and disappointing. You never thought anything like this about him, but making him understand this is pretty difficult, he wouldn't have forgiven himself until he succeeded. You wanted a baby and Okuyasu wanted so too, so he would have given it to you, no matter what.

"Oi... did you... you know, bleed this month already?" Okuyasu asked, with the eyes of someone who was afraid of asking. But you shook your head. "This is good, love... but let's not get our hopes up, shall we, y/n?"

He doesn't really have any special requests or ideas for your babies' names. Or better, he does have one, but will never tell you, as he thinks for sure that you'll never agree with doing it. Okuyasu would have liked the kanji "兆" ("chou": trillion) to be in at least one of your babies' names, to remember his brother. But your boy is pretty sure you'd hate it, and he'd never suggest this. You'll probably feel there's something he's not telling you and find out anyway.

Expecting two babies is tiring, and you'll need to rest a lot. Okuyasu would like to join you and hold you in your sleep, but he also wants to be awake to take care of you, get you something to eat or drink, or put in order his messy house to make it look at least decent for when the babies will come. This is why, while you take your naps, he works around the house and lets The Hand cuddle with you. It's always him, after all. He feels the way you hold his stand.

This leads to the father-to-be being often pretty tired, too. He overworks himself. At night, when he finally joins you in your bed, happens to fall asleep in a matter of seconds, wearing his ordinary clothes instead of his pajamas. You can tell he's gonna be a good dad. Some mornings during your pregnancy, if you happened to wake up before him, you'd quietly turn off his alarm clock for him to rest more.

Okuyasu's dad is on cloud nine too, as his family is going to get larger. Mansaku totally wants to take a photo with you two and his grandchildren, as soon as they'll be born. He accepted you and behaves with you the same caring way he does towards his son. He's changed in a better man, despite his appearance. But the first person Okuyasu told the good news to, was Keicho. He purposely went on his grave, because he knew his brother would have been proud.

BRUNO BUCCIARATI

You tell him the good news while he's working. Not only it'll make his day better, but it'll also hopefully get his mind off of that giant bunch of papers on his desk, for once. The capo suddenly stops, moving his gaze towards your eyes, then your stomach, then your eyes again. You'll have to repeat, or he'll be sure he's imagined what you said because of the too much time spent working. But there's no joke or dream, you're pregnant with twins.

Screw all the papers and all the work that's left. He's gonna get you in a so tight and warm embrace of his, and never let go. Libeccio's for dinner that night? Guaranteed. He's usually a calm man, but whatever is related to his family, gets celebrated. When you announced your pregnancy, you had a dinner with the whole gang at the restaurant, but this time Bruno would rather have something more personal and private with you. Make the dinner romantic.

When you were still trying to have a baby, Bucciarati was the one who managed not to lost his temper when every attempt of yours resulted in a negative pregnancy test. But when you weren't around, I won't say he cried, but was pretty close. He was afraid of not being able to give you what you wanted, and usually ranted about this with Abbacchio. Bruno wanted to be the shoulder you could cry on, and couldn't breakdown too.

You both decided to wait some time before telling the gang about the baby being in reality two babies. They were still excited for your pregnancy itself, Mista and Narancia above everyone, and giving another shocking news would have probably brought the peace to say arrivederci. They still managed to get you confess, the look in Bruno's expressive eyes was too happy not to notice.

Just like Giorno would do, Bruno wouldn't be happy if his two angels ended up being involved in Passione's business. He totally will let the gang around his babies, as he trusts them, but during your pregnancy you both decided that the one of you taking care of the babies on a certain day, wouldn't even think of getting close to Passione's headquarters with the children. And you agreed with Bucciarati, for your little ones' safety.

"You'll agree with me that our children's safety is the most important thing, tesoro mio..." Bruno murmured, caressing your cheek. "Let's not bring them close to this place ever, I beg you. I'm sure you'll understand."

He would enjoy talking and interacting with his babies by laying his head on your stomach, kissing it and listening to them moving in the last weeks of your pregnancy. Sticky Fingers is in love with you too, and Bruno won't ever lose the chance to close you in a cuddle sandwich between his body and his stand's to make you feel protected and let you know how proud of you he is. Bucciarati will be a special dad, indeed.

[prodtrouver]

C A N N O T

Last goodbyes now untold, bad memories remain unfold. He stood and watched you burn to crisps, music coming out of your favorite disc. What he wanted to do cannot be done, that is until the time will come. Now, he opened the book, full of hope; you will be with him and elope.

Pairing: Time Traveler-vampire!Lee Heeseung x witch!fem reader

Genre/TW: forbidden love, fluff, angsty, the 17th century era (vampire-witch era), time travelling, mentions of murder, blood, poison, knives, self-harm

Word count: 7,256 words

Tall trees, sounds of the birds' wings flapping, and the strong wind blowing the leaves; it was absolutely perfect. The weather was perfect and so were your feelings.

No negativity that tenses your mind into something you don't want it to be. Your fingers gently stroked the leaves of the apple tree your family grew. The softest smile rest on your glossy lips as you picked out a perfectly red apple.

"Y/n, big sister!" You turn your head around to look at your little brother. His hair blown by the wind, so it looked like a bird's nest- this made you laugh. Although, it is utterly adorable.

"Look at this spinning top mom bought me! Isn't it interesting!?" Your brother shouted at the top of his lungs. He jumped around you for you to pay attention to his new toy. You kneeled a bit and patted his head.

"It's looks nice- why won't you play with it inside? You don't want it getting lost, right?" He gasps at your words and immediately runs inside your home.

You let out a chuckle before you continued to pick all the apples from the tree. Your careful figure tried not to stumble because of the wind. You brush your hair out of your face before you head back inside your home.

You placed the basket on the table before you took a small pouch. You attached it to your dress before you come face to face with your mother. "Heading out so soon again?"

"Yes, mother- I need to go to the village. We are running out of food supplies. All we have are fruits, I'll be back soon, don't worry." You grabbed your cloak.

"Be careful, my child. Don't let anyone suspect you," her last words made you nod. Soon, you left the house and made your trip to the village. Your heart beats in anticipation like usual when you head to the village.

The nervousness and fear of getting caught fills your stomach with pesky flies. Your hand gripped on your cloak tightly. You never intended for someone to find out you are a witch.

Therefore, your family has remained far away from the village. No one would have made dark magic and dark spirits roaming around their homes- that's why they eliminate people who practices witchcraft immediately.

When you made it to the village, you tried to act normal. A soft smile on your face as you bought food for your family. So far, no one has really suspected you as a witch. You were so distracted in buying food; you flinched when you felt a hand on your shoulder.

You turned around; "hello, miss- I apologize for scaring you, but I believe this is yours?" He reached out his hand with a familiar red pouch on top of his palm. Immediately, you checked your bag, and the red pouch is gone!

"Oh- um- thank you. This is awkward, I'm not this clumsy." You take the pouch from him. You smiled sweetly before you continued to walk away.

Your grip on your cloak tightened again. Your feet have never walked away this quick, ever. Other than that, you turn your head around to look at the boy.

His brown hair that looked like chocolate. His glossy and soft lips that glistened. His eyes that sparkled under the sun... He looked gorgeous!

He must be someone wealthy, well- at least, you assumed him to be. His clothes don't scream noble or poor. He looked like an average boy that was blessed with gorgeous visuals.

You turned around and walked away; oblivious to the fact the boy was staring at you. As he was captivated by your beauty and mysterious aura.

You continued to walk through the village like usual. Nothing more could catch your attention as time passed by. Your interest getting less and less until you figured it is time to leave. You have a lot more to do, better not waste time, you thought.

You turn around to head back to the village's entrance. Your basket full of food as you walked pass the shops and booths once more. Everything was alright until you heard a woman's screams and a child's cries.

You turn your head to the side and saw a crowd forming. Excited and angry men and women chanting the same word all over again; burn. 

You look- your feet walking towards the crowd where you could see what is happening. Your eyes widen as you felt your stomach drop. The woman was tied to the wooden pole that stood in charcoal. 

"Burn the witch! Kill her!" The villagers continue to chant. Suddenly, the child's cries turn into laughs. The woman tied to the pole cries and screams for help, for mercy. However, it it known for people to be merciless in this horrible world. 

They set the charcoal on fire; the woman catches on fire. Her screams of agony and pain echoed throughout the village. The cheers and laughs of villagers muffled by the roaring sound of the burning woman. 

You covered your mouth; you stopped yourself from crying; how can people be so cruel?

You were scared, terrified that one day, this could be you or your family. The pain from watching is immaculate. How much more if you're the one on fire?

Suddenly, you flinched when you felt a hand on your shoulder. You slightly jumped whilst your heart skipped a beat and your mind full of visions of death. You faced the person and saw the boy from earlier.

A clear frown appears on his lips when he sees your state. Your pained and scared state hurt him, even though he barely knows you. His thoughts filled with pity because you had to see all of that.

He knows nothing about you, so why does he care so much?

"Let's get out of here-," he dragged you away from the ceremony. His warm hand fit perfectly with yours.

You don't know why, you probably will hate yourself for letting a stranger drag you away, and possibly kill you after. You felt anxious, however; you feel you could trust him. 

You ran out of the village; his hair blown by the wind as you ran. He looked very alluring under the shadows of the tall trees. His eyes actually sparkling because of the glimpses of the sun.

The warmth of his hand hugged your chilly hands. Once you both are far from the village, he stopped running. He turns around and looks at you. A soft and inviting smile on his pink lips.

"I'm sorry for dragging you all the way here. You just looked terrified and I know how aggressive it will be after the burning." He stated and your eyes widened- there's more?

"What will they do after the burning?" A pitied sigh left his mouth.

"They will blow the ashes away, find and kill whoever is left in there family, including the children." He muttered, your heart dropped. What if that happens to you and your family? Is that the reason your mother wanted to live far away from the village?

"That's terrible..." Is all you could say. With your mind full of thoughts and predictions, you cannot say any more words. You cannot feel any other emotions, other than fear.

"Yeah... At least, you won't hear the screams and chants of death here. Where is your home?" He asked as he sat under a tree.

The rays of sun that went through the gaps of the leaves shown upon him. His sparkling eyes stared at you.

You were never one for face features or one to feel confusing feelings, so why are you suddenly feeling this way? Why do you feel so attracted and confused towards this man?

"Far away from here... Oh yeah, I never got your name!" You said, suddenly feeling a little more cheerful. The boy smiled and patted the ground beside him.

Your face showed hesitation, but he was patient. He kept the smile on his lips while you slowly sit beside him.

"My name is Heeseung, I'm a regular human boy from that merciless village." He gives you a small flower he plucked out. You let out a soft chuckle and accepted the flower.

"My name is y/n," you mutter. The wind soon turned into a soft breeze. You and Heeseung spoke softly to each other. Your comfort zone letting him in as you laughed at his jokes.

Heeseung smiled at your beauty and grace. His eyes landed on you as soon as you walked pass him. Luckily, the gods were on his side and made him approach you.

Soon, time passed quickly, and you realized you have to head home. You get on your feet, your basket on your arm.

"I need to go home-,"

"Do you want me to accompany you home?" Heeseung stood up as well. You shook your head softly, although you feel safe around him, you don't trust him very much yet.

"I can go home myself, I know the way back very well. I will see you soon, Heeseung," you smiled widely. You bid your goodbye and walked away from him.

Heeseung bid him farewell as well, his eyes glued on your figure. Your figure getting farther and further away from him until you disappeared.

He pressed his palm against his chest, feeling more than he should have. He hoped to see you again. 

Your return to the village was a week after your last visit. You hesitated to return after what you've seen last time.

However, the village looked a bit more peaceful. No fights, no chants- everything looked fine. There are fewer people, maybe because the others are very busy in their homes.

Your basket slowly getting filled with food whilst you walked down the path. Children were running around, their toys in their grasps.

A soft smile appears on your face. It's not every day to see children playing, villagers working, and food selling out quickly you live in the woods after all; away from the chaos, this village masks.

"May I get 2 loaves of bread?" You reached out the coins to the baker. He flashed a smile before he gave you the 2 freshly baked loaves. "Thank you," then you left.

After your experience that time, you aren't so sure if you want to stay longer in this village. That's why you're in a hurry whilst acting normal. Although, you want to see him... To see Heeseung again.

"Hey, you," you turn around to see a stranger pointing at you. Your heart races quickly, your mind, once again, filled with visions of your death. He suddenly grabbed your wrist, and you tried to pull it back immediately.

"You need to come with me or else, you will end up like those nasty witches!" The man shouted, his arm raised as if he was going to hit you. You shut your eyes, terrified of what the man will do.

However, you didn't feel pain. You heard a low grunt instead, followed by a heavy thud. You felt your basket taken away from you and you opened your eyes.

Heeseung stood protectively in front of you. Instantly, he turned around and held your wrist tightly before he dragged you out of the village.

He never looked back while you guys ran to the woods. The voices in the village were disappearing, and that made Heeseung stopped. He let go of your wrist,

"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did that man hurt you?" He asked and moved closer to you. His eyes scanning places where there could be injuries from that man. You smiled and held his hand. His concerned and panicked self was silenced.

"I'm okay, Heeseung... Thank you for helping me," you let out a chuckle. You swore you saw his cheeks turn pink before he looked away.

You tilted your head and asked; "are you blushing?" His eyes widened when he turned his head to face you. He immediately shook his head, and you laughed. You quickly caressed his hair,

"You're cute... By the way, can I have my basket back?" You asked and pointed at your basket. He let out a soft gasp before quickly returning your basket. You thanked him and turned around.

Your eyes on his flustered figure whilst he stared at a bird family. The parents feeding their young one. Suddenly, a thought popped into your head, so you ask him.

"How did you find me, though?"

"A-ah, I just saw you in the village when that man suddenly grabbed you. Luckily, I was nearby and immediately ran to you. I even left my friend to help you!" He laughed when he remembered the shocked and concerned expression of his friend.

You laughed along with him before you remembered to head home again. You suddenly stopped laughing, another thought popped into your head.

"Heeseung, can I trust you?" You softly said and Heeseung instantly nodded his head. His silence whilst he stared at you almost spilled the truth from your lips. You walked closer to him, but he didn't step backward.

"What if I tell you I'm a witch?" You asked, scared. You don't know if you're making the right decision, you don't know if this will lead to something bad or good. However, you feel you could really trust Heeseung.

You felt your world freeze; you felt like time stopped when he smiled. He let out a chuckle before his warm hand patted your head. "I don't care about that, y/n." Your eyes widen at his words.

He sits on the leafy ground, his sparkling eyes stared at you. His smile has disappeared and his gaze gave you butterfly... A lot of butterflies.

"I don't care about witches or anything- honestly, I think they're really cool. I'm sure not all witches are bad, I'm sure a lot of them are very nice too. If you are a witch, I wouldn't give a damn. You're you and you're gentle... Well, from what I've observed so far, but yeah! I don't care," he smiled widely.

Immediately, you felt your heart skip a beat once again. A smile unconsciously makes its way to your lips as you sat beside him. He chuckled and patted your head once more. "You're you, you have a delicate heart. That's what all it matters,"

You swore you have never met someone as sweet as Heeseung. Your heart always in a rush whenever you talk to him. This may only be your 2nd meeting but you feel you've known him for a long time.

"Heeseung, if I come to this village every other day, will you wait for me?" You asked, instantly he nodded. He grabbed your palm and clasped it.

"I'll even wait for you every day," you laughed and softly smacked his shoulder. He laughed along with you. You sat beside him and rest your head on his shoulder. You both admired the clouds, even though they are covered by the tall trees.

"Are you really a witch?" Heeseung asked, and you nodded. You faced him and ruffled his hair. It was soft. It reminds you of the hair of your younger brother.

"Do you want me to prove it?" He nod his head and you took something out of your pocket. It was small charms, very hidden, but it was beautiful.

The charms were made of purple wood, and they were carved as sun and moon. "These are charms that bounds 2 people together, hence the reason it's the sun and moon." You held his other hand.

You freeze for a minute. Should you give it to him? After all, your mother stated you must only give this to your loved one. You sighed and placed it on his warm palm before you wrapped his fingers around it.

"When you show this to the sunlight or the moonlight, it's shadow will be the same shape as the charm. If the shadows of these two charms meet or overlap, they will be together forever." You muttered and Heeseung stared at the sun charm on his palm.

He reached it out to the sky and both of your pair of eyes widened when you saw a shadow. You did the same thing, and you became more shocked. The shadows overlapped...

"Looks like we're bound to be together forever," Heeseung laughed and you softly smack his shoulders.

"I can't believe this... Wow... The shadows didn't overlap when my mom and I tried it! This is magic! Wow!" You were impressed. The charms work... Just with someone who is perfect for you. Heeseung laughed at your cheekiness and ruffled your hair once more, you pout.

"We're bound to be together?" Heeseung whispered, and you nodded. You both stared at each other, both of your sparkling eyes staring at each other. He smiles as you lean closer to his lips. He didn't move, he shut his eyes and let you take control.

Soon, his lips felt warm the next second. Your small hands on top of his large ones. You both melt into the kiss, the warmth embracing both of you whilst you enjoy each other's presence. You break the kiss and immediately hid yourself on his chest.

"I'm sorry... I don't know what came over me..." You were flustered- it was just your 2nd meeting and you did that! How would he feel? Did he feel weird? Creepy? Ah, you were ready to shout at yourself when you get home.

"Why are you apologizing?" Heeseung caress your hair while you continued to hide in his chest. He laughed when you incoherently mumbled.

"I don't know! Maybe, it's because this is just our 2nd meeting and I already kissed you and that I feel like we aren't supposed to be doing this-," Heeseung kissed you once more. Your hand on his chest while his are on your waist. He pulled you close to him as you value the time you both have together.

Birds chirping, the wind has gotten softer- you feel special. You feel loved and protected with him. Despite this being your 2nd interaction, you feel like everything is fitting in the puzzle piece.

"Don't apologize- I really like how your lips feel on mine," Heeseung whispered. He chuckled when he saw your tinted pink cheeks before you looked away. He pulled you closer to him.

"I need to head home, Heeseung," you whispered, saddened since you didn't want to leave yet. He let out a sigh but didn't move.

"Let's stay like this for a minute before you head home," Heeseung pecked your forehead, resulting in a chuckle coming out of your mouth. You wrapped your arms around him whilst you melt into each other's arms.

Heeseung raised his charm in front of the moonlight. His eyes stayed glued on the ground, full of hopes you would raise your moon charm too. You have been doing this for weeks, letting the other acknowledge your presences, even when you aren't with each other. Heeseung loves doing this with you.

You let out a chuckle when you saw Heeseung's charm's shadow on your wooden floor. Instantly, you grabbed and flashed yours. The shadows overlapping immediately.

You grab your cloak from your hanging rank and quietly exit the house. A paper and quill pen in your grasps. You sat on the leafy ground; the pen met the thin paper as you wrote a letter for him. Although, it is very late in the night; you hope a lovely letter can ease his thoughts.

You let your owl deliver the letter to Heeseung. A smile danced on your lips whilst you watch the owl fly away to wherever Heeseung is. You were staring at the full moon that was shining brightly for the night. You turn around when you heard the door open.

"Mom," you become nervous instantly. She stared at you with the soft features on her face. Her hand on the wooden door frame, her dark chocolate brown eyes bore into yours. "Sending a letter to a boy? Is it a human boy?" She asked seriously.

You looked down and bopped your head. You shut your eyes, ready for her angry nagging about how unsafe you are being. It's very well known that humans despise witches.

If they were to find out, your entire family will die, including yourself. However, Heeseung kept your secret safe. He's willing to protect you and your family, even though he hasn't met them yet.

"Y/n, you know why we keep ourselves a secret from those terrible beings! They are ought to kill us, to eliminate us. And you're here sending letters to a human boy!?" She fumes, you shook your head, which silenced her. You stared at her with the same look on her face.

"Heeseung is not like those evil humans! He loves me and I love him. I know humans are terrible and I fear them too but Heeseung... he's different, he's willing to keep our secret." You spoke seriously and bravely. Your mother sighed in disbelief. Do not want to believe that you re standing up for a human.

Your mother rubbed her bridge as she let out another sigh, heavier than the first one. You both stared at each other, not one bothered to look away. Her angry eyes bore into your brave ones. Not wanting to fight with her daughter anymore, she looks away. "Bring that boy here and no one else. Just that boy," she heads back inside.

You sigh in relief, your heart ready to jump out of your chest. You were sure she's hesitant, as if she'll stop you from talking with Heeseung. You turned around and saw your owl come back with a different letter. A hurt smile appears on your lips as you reached out your arm for your owl to sit on.

"Good job, Niki... Thank your for delivering this to me. You may go back home," you murmured. You watched your owl fly back to his tree before you head back inside. You opened the letter and read it.

Hello, lovely y/n.

I've received your letter and you don't know how happy I am. I'm delighted that you even write letters for me. I love how you described your home, in hopes to visit soon and meet your family. I have a few presents made for you and I really hope you will like them. May I know when you'll visit the village again? I'm excited to give you these gifts. Other than that, I hope you have a good sleep and sweet dreams.

You smiled and folded the letter. You put it in your red box, a box where you keep all your valuable papers and writings. 

The next day, after your slumber, you quickly get dressed.

Your littler brother sat on the wooden floor, books surrounded him whilst he writes on his book. Your mother comes out of the kitchen,

"Don't forget what I told you," she said before she took the empty and dirty plates from the table. You felt uncertain, but it must be done. You don't want her to see Heeseung as an evil person...

"You're going to the village again, sister?" Your brother turned to you, you bopped your head as an answer. He ran up to you and showed you a drawing.

"I don't know who you will love, sister, but I made a drawing! This you, mommy, and the boy who you will love! I know we'll be a happy family after father died!" He smiled, and you carefully took the paper from his grip.

You smiled widely and embraced him. "I love it... big sister will be back with a guest, so why won't you draw something lovely for him?" You asked, and he smiled widely. He didn't waste any time to run to his study place and begin drawing.

"I'll be back shortly," you left the house. You closed the door and head to the village.

Amid your trip, you admire your surroundings. Birds flying above and below the trees, the leaves being blown, the flowers in perfect bloom of spring... Everything is lovely.

You were excited to meet Heeseung, but you also felt nervous. First reasons, take him to your home. Second, you're afraid Heeseung would be nervous because it's so sudden. Third, he's meeting your mother- the witch who raised you!

You clasped on your cloak as you saw the village nearing. You looked around by the entrance and saw Heeseung, already there. He was playing with a puppy that has been following him.

You remember he talks about that puppy a lot. You let out a soft chuckle when Heeseung picked up the puppy and start peppering it with kisses. You come out from your spot and slowly walk towards him.

"Why don't you ever kiss me like that?" You said, he immediately raised his head, embarrassed. He put the puppy down whilst it ran away from him.

"Well, if only you come over more often than sure," he ruffles your hair. Suddenly, his expressions brightened; "follow me! I'll give you your presents!"

He takes your hands in his, then drags you to his home. You've been in his home couple of times; its simplicity really pleased you.

"I got this music disc for you! It's like one of a kind and very rare! I know you love the music this village plays and I think you would love this too!" He plays the music disc to your pleasure and you gasp. The sound of the violin and organ in perfect harmony.

"Wow... How did you even get that?" You asked him while he sat beside you. He placed a soft peck on your cheek.

"If magic is love, then it probably is love," he said. You let out laugh but that didn't last long when you remembered what your mother said.

"Heeseung, do you think you could accompany me home?" You asked and his eyes widen. The shocked expression on his face puzzled you.

"Are you sure? Wouldn't that mean I would meet your brother and mother too?" You bopped your head. Heeseung bit his lip as he jumped on his bed. He hummed for a few seconds before he faced you with a smile.

"Of course, I would actually be delighted to meet them." Heeseung kissed you on your lips. You both burst into giggles when you jumped on him on his bed.

And so you both went to your home together. Both extremely nervous, but you swore you were close to death.

Heeseung even had to assure you everything will be alright. Once you both nearest your home, you saw your mother outside, hanging the clothes.

"Mom!" You ran to her, and she immediately turned to face you. Her eyes, however, landed on Heeseung who stiffened at the sharp glare.

"Mom, this is Heeseung-,"

"The human boy... What are your plans, you human?" Your mother sharply said, and you panic. You placed your arms around her to stop her.

"Ma'am, I plan on loving your daughter until our eternal lives meet." Heeseung courageously answers, which surprised you.

"Do you plan on exposing us to your kind? You know those humans hate us and they're probably burning a witch as we speak right now!" Your mother bursted, but Heeseung remained unfazed.

Heeseung stepped forward and placed a hand on your shoulder. You turned around to face him, but his eyes were glued to your mother.

"Ma'am, no- I do not want to do that nor have plans to do that. I love y/n with all my heart despite not knowing long! I do not want the girl I want to spend my life with to die," Heeseung spat.

You and your mother were frozen in your places. Your eyes bore into Heeseung's chocolate eyes. His determined expression and his large hand stayed on your shoulder as if he's afraid to let go.

Your mother let out a sigh which made you look at her.

"Protect my daughter, Heeseung. My children are the only family I have after the burning of my husband. I don't want them to go through the same," Heeseung smiled and intertwined his hand with yours.

"I promise, ma'am-,"

"Call me mom, I don't trust you fully, so I need to observe you more. However, if my daughter loves you a lot, then you are welcome to join us for dinner." You smiled widely and embraced her instantly. Thanking words come out of your mouth whilst your mom laughs.

"Come inside."

Heeseung jumped when his bedroom door was kicked open. He turned around to face his fuming father.

"I cannot believe you would be a traitor, Heeseung... Why would you be with a witch!?" His father shouted, his eyes widened. How did he find out?

"You bring that witch in this village and you will watch her burn!" His father kicked his chair to the side. Heeseung kept a serious expression on his face.

"Who says I'm with a witch?" He bravely said. However, all his feelings and emotions went down in the drain when his father showed him the charm. The sun charm you gave him.

"Does this not explain? This is a witch's charm, Heeseung! Why would you have a witch's charm with you!? Are you studying witchcraft now!?" His father throws the charm to the side.

Heeseung felt his world crumble when the charm split in two. That was when Heeseung was finally getting annoyed. His angry eyes bore into his father's angry ones.

"Get out of my room," Heeseung said.

"What?" His father muttered.

"I SAID GET OUT!" Heeseung raged. Suddenly, the windows slammed open, shocking both of them.

"A WITCH! I FOUND A WITCH!" He heard the villagers shout in excitement. Heeseung's eyes widen and immediately, he rushed out of his home.

There he sees you being held by a man. A terrified expression on your face as the man dragged you to where they keep the other witches. Heeseung immediately ran to you.

"Let go of her," Heeseung kicked the man and took your hand into his.

"Heeseung! Stop this instant!" His father ran up to him. The other villagers surround them both. Heeseung's arm protectively around your waist.

"Let go of that witch or we kill you both," the villagers raged in anger. You looked into Heeseung's eyes; his chocolate brown eyes once full of love are now full of anger.

"I will not let go of her! Kill me! Do not kill her!" Heeseung bursted, and you felt your heart break. Tears fall from your eyes whilst you think about your nearing death.

"Heeseung, play my favorite music later, okay?" You muttered, loud and clear for him to hear, he freezes.

"What? Why?" He looks at you; his angry eyes now full of concern and sadness. His heart shattering into pieces when he watches the tears fall from your gorgeous eyes.

"I want to hear the music when I die. I want it to be the first thing I hear when I enter my eternal life. You'll do that for me, right?" You caressed his cheek, his eyes turning glossy.

"No! I will not let you die in the hands of these terrible people!" Heeseung glared at the surrounding villagers.

"Heeseung! I love you, you know that! I cannot escape what is called a witch's punishment. I cannot escape this, Heeseung! I feel like my date has been written already and a witch and a human cannot be together." You cry even more in his arms. You stood on your toes and kissed him.

"I love you," you whispered before you removed his protective arms around you.

"I will go with you, but you must not kill Heeseung. I spelled him to fall in love with me. Once I die, the spell will be broken." You like which shocked Heeseung. He was about to protest until he felt a hand on his wrist.

He looked down to see your brother, your mother, behind him. Both have a sad look on their faces as they have to pretend they are not related with you.

The sad eyes of your brother while he tries not to cry pained Heeseung. This is your family, his family as well.

"I must be killed today at midnight for the spell to be broken," you stayed strong.

"Very well then- get her," a villager said. Immediately, a man grabbed you and drag you to the prison. You turned around and flashed a smile.

Heeseung falls to the ground; tears falling from his eyes while your brother ran back to your mother. Both try not to cry, knowing another family member will be burned to death. Later that day, Heeseung entered his room.

His father stayed with the villagers for your burning. Your mother and brother in his room as well. Both in each other's arm as they grieved for your upcoming death.

He could hear the villagers' chant to burn you. He looks out of his window and sees you being tied to the pole. At that moment, he plays your music disc.

"Let the witch burn!", "Burn her!", "Eliminate all witches!" echoed in the village. Soon, he could hear the soft sounds of fire.

He turns around to face you. Your eyes looked at his home, which wasn't far.

"I love you," you mouthed before the fire eats your body. Heeseung bursts into tears, his loud sobs echoed in his room.

The dark sky and bright light of the fire met in the air. Your ashes blown by the wind until nothing was left.

Your body long gone as the day finally ends and you enter your eternal life.

"Go back to the before, change your lore, however, you cannot change what was bound to happen."

Heeseung caresses the book with a dejected expression. His hand trembling with guilt and regret. How can he just let you die like that?

He watched his townspeople burn your body. Your body that turned to ashes and soon, get blown away by the wind. Your favorite music disc playing in the background of Heeseung's room.

You didn't deserve it; you didn't deserve death just because you are a different kind than them. Just because you're a witch and he's a human, it doesn't mean that you shall be killed.

Your family, isolated and briefing over your tragic death. Heeseung's thoughts only blamed himself for the death of his innocent loved one.

He ought to sacrifice himself for you. He ought to see you once more and spend an eternal life with you. His heartbeat incredibly fast as he sees the vision of himself marrying you.

Your beautiful figure wearing a white dress that symbolizes purity. Your hair styles beautifully as you both are ready to make a commitment to each other. A commitment that you and Heeseung would gladly accept; Marriage.

That is how Heeseung got there.

He sat under the tree before he looked around. Such feeling of deja vu hit him before he get on his leather boots. He looks around; the peaceful sound of the woods echoed in his head whilst he looked around for any signs.

Immense amount of pain coming from inside his mouth. He slowly and gently brought his finger to his teeth- his eyes widen when he felt a sharp part of his tooth pierced his finger.

He turns around, his body suddenly stopped responding. His body invisible on the mirror that stood in front of him.

"Heeseung? What are you doing here?" He turns around, shivers on his arm as the confusion clouds his thought. He turns around and he comes face to face with your very alive self.

"y/n?" He muttered your name and you made your way towards him. You tiptoed and pecked his cheeks, you noticed a mirror behind him and tilted your head.

"Why would a vampire need mirrors? You can't even see yourself!" You laughed, you made your way to the mirror and fixed yourself. Heeseung figure not visible at all but you could tell he was confused. You turn around to face him, confused to why he's so confused as well.

"What- what do you mean I'm a vampire? I was born human!"

"What are you talking about? You've always been a vampire." You patted his shoulder and held his hand. "Come on, mother is waiting for you! Also, I don't think you can stay under this sun." You smiled, and drag him to your home.

He remained confused but silent. It happened all so sudden. What confused him even more is that he's a vampire and the last time he remember, vampires don't exist...

"Why are you so quiet? Did you hurt your head or something?" You turned around to face him, a pout on your lips before you both continue to head to your house.

"Y/n, do you believe in time or universe travelling?" He asked, still confused, but curious to what you think. A soft pout appeared on your lips.

"Not really? I mean, witches and vampires exist but I don't think things like that exist- oh, we're here!" You opened the door, immediately greeted by the embrace of your mother and your brother.

"Welcome back, Heeseung! We really missed you both!" Your mother hugged him as well.

"Thank you for having me, mother," Heeseung muttered. He sits down and watched you play with your younger brother.

His head still full of memories from the future or whatever his original time was. He knows you'll get caught, he just knows because no matter whatever happens, it cannot change.

That's what was written in the book he read. That's why before the day comes, he'll turn the tables.

Night has come; the moon shines brightly once more. Thoughts run around Heeseung's clouded mind as he stared at you.

Your eyes tightly shut, little whimpers coming out from your mouth while you stir around in your sleep. Your arms wrapped around the pillow you love cuddling at night.

He smiles before he slowly gets up. He cannot change your past; the villagers burning you then he can change the village's fate.

He quietly loves your home which is now his. The cabin hidden in the endless woods, away from the bloodthirsty villagers. The villagers who loves to ignore innocence go pleasure their own.

The night was peaceful, however, he notices the sky being covered with gray clouds. The bright and glowing moon was no longer visible to the eye.

Heeseung felt anger and greed. He cannot let his love die on him again, it cannot happen again. He ought to protect you and he will keep it.

His feet drags him to his previous home, his cloak touched the leafy ground. Leaves being rustled by his heavy steps and blown away by the occuring strong wind. The village comes to his sight.

The eerie and dark feelings it gave him. Many lingering souls walk around the village they despised so much. Although, Heeseung couldn't see them, they were dreading for him to set them free.

"And that's why I'm here," he muttered. He stepped into the village, the strong wind blows the gray ashes of a human and fire from the ground.

He goes to the place where the burning happen. It seemed much more heavier at night, where everything stays, and goes around the hateful place.

Heeseung takes some a torch on the side and lights it on fire. Heeseung felt himself sweating, not from the fire but from what he was about to do.

He looks around the village, his previous home for the last time. He moves closer to a certain place; the place where they keep the so called witches are.

"This is much sadder..." He mumbled when he saw a torn stuffed bear on the dirty ground. He moves to the side, the cells empty, indicating every witch has been burned during the time of his traveling.

Everything affected him- his feelings is on a roller coaster, and his emotions is in some kind of tornado. However, Heeseung knew what he has to do, and that will be to destroy this village. No more harm will be done if the village itself disappears. Heeseung lights up another torch.

The mesmerizing fire that moved along the wind on the wooden stick. Charcoal keeping the fire alive and steady, despite the wind. He puts some coal around a few houses to make the fire last longer.

Arson, arson seems to be the only thing in his mind. Arson and you, his love, and the people who were killed because of his horrible kind.

Before the wind could get any stronger or before the clouds begin to drop some rain, he quickly throws the torches on the houses. The fire begins to spread, people starts to come out of their houses, full of terror and worry on their faces.

It was a wildfire; the fire spreadt from house to house. The wind only made it stronger, it was as if nature was on his side. His plan was being supported by the dead souls around him who could not rest in peace.

Heeseung stepped out of the village. The black smoke that spreadt the sky was obvious from miles afar. He watches people scream and cry for help as they were getting fewer and fewer.

He turns his head to the side to see a mother and a child. Both had burn marks on their bodies. Both were transparent, you could see right through them.

They faced Heeseung; a much happier smile plastered on their face. "Thank you," the mother muttered before they both disappeared. Heeseung looked up, stars begin to appear. He assumes they're the people who finally gets to rest in peace...

"Heeseung?" He turns around, your shriveled state made him chuckle.

"What are you doing here? I thought you were asleep," he reached his arm out. You slowly made to his side and let out a gasp. The village was on fire... Its people screaming for help whilst Heeseung watched.

"What happened?" You asked, your eyes glued on the burning village. The rays of orange and red looked like they could touch the stars.

"I'm not sure... I just saw the smoke and I came to this," he lies. He holds your hand and pulls you close to him.

"At least, they won't do any more burning ceremonies or something." Heeseung said, you gripped on his cloak you made for him.

You were glad to say the least, however, your mind was debating whether you should tell him the truth or not. The truth of you witnessing what he did.

However, you immediately understood why; he travelled time. With the book he left and you found, it was obvious. You were killed in his world, so he did this.

Although, you were disappointed that you couldn't visit the village anymore, yet you're also glad you're given a second chance to spend time with your love with no more problems or worries.

"Let's go home?" You softly asked him, to which he smiled instantly. He nodded and you both left the freed place.

He cannot lose you again, therefore, he had to do sacrifices. After all, it's either lose you or take the chance. And he chose latter. It was based off a simple word that he fears; "Cannot".