#i hope i can write a proper fic soon but drabbles are fun in their own way haha

[popponn]

Seeing the esteemed Duke of Meropide eyes a pair of decorations curiously is an amusing experience, turns out. Even when your relationship with him is pretty much an unsaid ‘almost lover’ situation.

“So,” leaning against his working desk, you try not to smile too wide, “do you like them?”

Wriothesley continues to stare and blink at the black and white dog miniatures—intended to be placed on flat surfaces, however, your creativity is your limit, or so the craftsmen of Liyue said. Straightening his sitting posture, he then leans towards the objects that sit on his desk. “…this feels like a series,” he finally says after a long while, taking one of the two dogs. He once again takes in the merry dog figurine in his hand. Slightly bigger than his thumb, carrying a ball with a tail that is depicted to be in the middle of a swishing motion.

“It is. There are actually another eight dogs,” and also another twenty cats that are a story or, perhaps, a gift for another time, “but I don’t know if you will like it… or do you even have the space to keep all ten, so I just buy you two this time.”

“Hey, hey, since when do I seem like the sort of person who is unappreciative of something people give me?” Wriothesley put down the dog, only to take another one up. In between that, a smile and a glance are addressed to you humorously, yet as softly as always. “And also…”

You realize he purposefully trails off. “And also?”

With how entertained he is at the handcrafted woods, you think he will praise the craftsmanship. Or perhaps, it is time to recall that musing of his about wanting to keep a pet and how these two will be a perfect replacement. Or maybe, he will make another unpredictable joke one would never thought would come out from his mouth.

Yet, instead of all of that, Wriothesley merely reaches out a hand to take yours while his other hand and focus remain on your present. His tone is far from anything—as if he is simply stating a fact. Despite all that, the squeeze he gives as he intertwines his fingers with yours says enough.

“This is from you,” he states, finally shifting his attention to fully land on you. “There is no way I would dislike it.”

[ciaossu-imagines]

If you're feeling it, Day 5 prompts but for your favorite personal OC/self-insert? :)

Okay, but please excuse me everyone for taking a break from the actual writing I’m trying to do to answer this (the ideas are so there, but it’s tweaking them into proper words)! I promise I will have fic/requests being posted soon (hopefully quite a bit put up tomorrow and Wednesday– just as a head’s up, I’m not going to be on the blog at all Thursday and Friday because I have some real life stuff that needs to be taken care of, but will be back hopefully on Saturday to resume my regular writing and answering messages and PLEASE KEEP SENDING IN ALL THE REQUESTS because they are the best part of my day and I get so excited with each new one sent in and there is no such thing as spamming me with asks or asking too much). But like, I never actually spend too much time talking about my own OC’s or the writing I do just for me because this blog is focused more on ya’ll, and I love that, but it’s also kind of exciting to dive into this topic. I didn’t quite use a prompt and just fucking rambled and hope that’s still okay! Because this will be a hella long post, I’m going to use a read more, especially since this definitely will not interest everyone! For those who do read it…I’m kind of curious on who will pick up on what and who will pop in to my ask box or messages or replies to lovingly call me out!! I look forward to it, actually!

Okay, so I’m going to set the stage here because this is a little convoluted and complicated because the one I imagine the most, the one I drabble for the most and daydream about and have the most fun with is an absolutely gigantic crossover/AU!

There’s a land called The Ever Young, where all the characters from all my fandoms reside. The Ever Young is broken, stuck with time permanently stopped and nobody new can be born and death has no hold. It’s separated into different warring factions between and within the different claimed lands or regions, with each fandom kind of being its own region. Every region blames the others for the magic on the land and each believes that, by winning control and eradicating or subjugating the others, they can force time to restart. Also, with it being an obviously magical world, there are different fantasy species, and everyone has some sort of magical ability, though, with the world the way it is, the abilities don’t work right. There are kickbacks to using them…they cost you your life-force, your ‘youness’ and when you use up all the power you have, you’re gone. Your body remains, but it’s for all extents and purposes just a shell and nobody knows quite what happens to the people’s minds and souls.

There’s a Record-Keeper for each land, one canon character from each fandom, who not only keeps the record of the life of these different regions but have some precognitive abilities that they can use to try to forewarn their own regions of coming events. They’re identified by the pocket-watches they all woke up one day with. Each pocket watch has a crystal heart in it that gives the holder their abilities and all the Record-Keepers do occasionally meet up and are the only true neutral parties in The Ever Young.

On top of all this going on…there’s a legend, a story that by now everyone is convinced is just a fairy tale for children, of The Thirteen. The legend states that The Ever Young was first created by a witch of great power who could create something from nothing, who could bring life and prosperity as well as death and darkness, all in perfect harmony. And at one point, The Ever Young flourished and all was peaceful and idyllic. But then sorrow came…it’s said that something caused the Witch such great sorrow that her heart literally broke, shattered into thirteen shards that flew far and wide across the land she’d cherished so deeply and that she retreated far from the world, never to be seen again. To get back to the days of peace and happiness, these shards must be found by those to whom they call, The Thirteen Heroes who have the power to set the universe right again and heal the Witch’s heart and mind. Only then, the legend says, will time start to flow, and life begin to start anew.

So, obviously, aside from the wide, wide variety of canon characters, it’s obvious my OC’s, not all of whom I have, are the Thirteen, plus one oddball so I’ll start going into them now that the scene is all set.

First up, there’s Tea! Branded ‘The Shadow Warrior’, beautiful and fierce, this woman has a fearsome reputation. Often seen with The Kokuyo Gang, her name is whispered along. Powerful, strong, but also just and kind, Tea is also fair, never hurting those who don’t deserve it or who leave her no choice. She’s someone you want at your back; a trustworthy companion and just as fierce in friendship and love as she is on the battlefield. Her natural ability is that of being able to transform herself into a shadow, able to remain unseen and seemingly disappear and reappear at will. However, she also finds the seventh shard, resembling a smooth piece of turquoise glass in the shape of a serpent that she wears as an amulet. This shard not only makes her one of the legendary Thirteen, but gives her an additional ability, where she can control others through the force of her voice, at the cost of losing her voice for a full sunset afterward. My personal face-claim for her is Teresa from Claymore, if anyone is curious.

Next up is Mari! Most often seen beside the Cavallone family’s boss, she comes across as alluring, mysterious and quiet, but this woman is incredibly sweet, kind and has a huge heart. She wants nothing more than a quiet life, with those she loves safe and sound, but with war raging around her, it’s not quite that easy. But she works for it, quietly slipping through the different regions, playing diplomat and trying to foster peace wherever she can. Once you know her, she has this incredibly fun, playful side and her smile disarms all but the most hard-hearted. Her natural powers help her in her diplomatic missions, as she has the ability to judge others true natures and desires correctly. However, she also finds the sixth shard, a smooth piece of green glass in the shape of a heart, which she fashioned into a hair barrette that she wears, which gives her the power to manipulate the emotions of those around her, at the cost of leaving her feeling hollow, lazy, and pessimistic until the next sunrise. My personal faceclaim for her, if anyone is wondering, is Chiyuki from Death Parade!

Next up is Marta! A dreamer, she sees all the potential in what the world could be. Sweet, kind, and encouraging, with eyes you get lost in and a face as expressive as her boss's is neutral, she’s fiercely loyal to those she loves and cares about and the sort of friend that keeps everyone happy and together. With her tireless creativity and curiousity, she seeks to create a better world and works alongside Hibari’s group to explore all the secrets of The Ever Young, slipping quietly in and out of the various regions, accompanied either by Hibari himself or Kusakabe, trying to find ways to leave the world a better place for her family and friends. Though she prefers not to be in the midst of battle, she’s more than able to hold her own, with the help of her magical paints and paintbrush, which she can use to imbue life into anything she paints temporarily – at least long enough to allow her or others to escape risky situations. The holder of the ninth shard, a violet piece of glass in the shape of a bird, which she wears as a brooch, she also has the ability to heal others, at the cost of having to feel all the pain of the injuries herself. For those curious, the face claim I have for her is Michiko Malandro.

Up next is Dell! A charming rogue blessed with the gift of shapeshifting, they breeze in and out of the regions, trying to prevent out and outright war from breaking out wherever they can, working with god only knows who (and they prefer it that way, thank you very much). Though their silver tongue and fearlessness may leave you with the impression of a trickster or someone only out for themselves, Dell is actually ride or die for those they care about. They take care of those that matter to them and everything they do is to ensure the safety of their loved ones. However, very few are lucky enough to see that soft, sweet side of theirs, often getting either that charisma and fake niceness or the sharp tongue that Dell possesses. Another thing they possess? The second shard, a red piece of smooth glass in the shape of a house, that allows them the ability to manipulate nature itself, at the cost of the use of their limbs until the sun sets next. For those curious, I picture Akito Sohma for Dell!

Then there’s Amber! The very definition of big-titty goblin girlfriend, Amber has a huge personality and, while she can be a (very bitey) handful, she’s friendly and charming and makes friends wherever she goes. Often found with Hiruma, who is holding secrets of his own, Amber is social, sarcastic, and the life of the party. But all that charm and charisma? It’s the sweet front to the spice and steel she hides from most people. With her own moral compass, she’s a force of chaotic good aiming to end the war in The Ever Young, viva revolution style, come hell or high water. A living lie detector, she’s also the holder of the fourth shard, an smooth orange piece of glass that she wears as a pendant, that allows her to make herself absolutely irresistible to anyone she touches, to the point that the person would abandon all reason and do anything to make her happy. However, she can’t just turn it off at will and the person remains obsessive, at times murderously so, until they see the moon.

Next up is Nina! Don’t let the cute face and tiny size fool you…not only is this girl unafraid of a battlefield, but she actually finds them exhilarating! Blessed with super strength, her heart is always in the right place, whether it be squishing a friend in a hug that might make a few bones pop or throwing a tree at someone threatening the piece of her region, she lives honestly and does her best to keep things safe, both for those she loves and all those friends she hasn’t met yet. Disarmingly sweet, sincere, and small, she is another renowned warrior who simply wants to be fighting only for fun, instead of to prevent outright war from disrupting lives. She found the first shard, a smooth piece of black glass in the shape of a square that she wears as a tie clip, which gives her the ability to freeze time temporarily, with the drawback of erasing her memories of everything that happens during that time. For anyone curious, the face claim in my head for her is Azusa Nakano!

Then there’s Brooklyn! She’s almost always found with the boys of HOMRA, where her water manipulation powers can cool the hotter heads around her. Though quiet and often overshadowed by the louder, brasher personalities around her, she’s friendly, smart, and cute, the quintessential good girl to the bad guy. But when you get to know her, she’s got street smarts and a surprisingly naughty side to her that keeps you guessing. And, though the idea of war terrifies her, because she can’t stand the thought of another of HOMRA’s boys just never coming home again, she is more than capable of defending her found family, with a temper that is slow to ignite but deadly when needed. The holder of the third shard, a smooth piece of light pink glass that literally gives her the powers of Cupid at the result of losing the memories of one of her loved ones, she’s bound and determined to bring about that peace that her family deserves, no matter what. For those interested, I see her face claim as Lenalee Lee!

Moving on to Lou, a reformed pickpocket who now runs an orphanage on the border of the regions between those with the K Project characters and those with the KHR characters. Changeable….literally, given that their natural ability makes them change between male and female from night to day, they’re a bit of a trickster but one with a huge heart and a desire to keep any children from a dark past like the one they had to go through. To protect the children of The Ever Young, they’re more than willing to stand on the battlefield. I’m still kind of getting this OC down, as they’re a relatively new one, but they’re the holder of the fifth shard, a smooth yellow piece of glass that they carry in their pocket and which gives them the ability to make someone psychically live through their worst nightmare, at the cost of them going temporarily blind until the code-word is said…though don’t they wish they knew what that code word was. For those interested, it's the Kagamine twins (Vocaloids) that I picture as face claims!

Then there’s Whisper! A mute, selectively so, who wanders throughout the regions. Rumors say that she can get you anything you want though and her ability to slip through the cracks and remain unnoticed because of her disability means she deals in the all too dangerous area of information brokerage. Always moving under the cover of darkness, Whisper (who looks like Taiga Aisaka to me) manages to stay one step ahead of a past that she’s trying desperately to escape from. She doesn’t care much for the war, or what happens – she’s trying to get through each day and find a safe place to land, which isn’t easy when you’re literally seeing inside people’s minds whenever you touch them. She finds the eighth shard, a smooth indigo piece of glass shaped like a person, which heightens her own psychic abilities to include telekinesis and telepathy, but at the cost of her health deteriorating.

Last and least, the one OC who stands in a class of their own, wandering in and out of everyone’s stories in the background, yet always appearing where she needs to be, when she needs to be. An amnesiac who calls herself simply Mirror, she exists outside the factions, with ties to no one. She fears people a little and is terribly shy and socially awkward, until it comes time to explain the things she knows….and oh, the things she knows. While who she is remains a complete mystery, even to herself, she sees all – all that was, all that is, and all that could be, fragments of multiple possible ever-shifting universes that hold her at their whims and mercies as she frantically tries to stop every worst case scenario from happening.

[freyito]

I’m so sorry if this is rude, but do you ever plan to update your queue post? I think some of the stuff on it might be stuff you’ve posted, but I’m not sure

ik u said to ignore this anon but ACTUALLY im gonna use this to my advantage. this isn't me like yelling at you lol just so you know. just to reiterate a couple things

the first is i am missing a couple asks on my queue post and i do essentially queue everything the minute i see i got an ask or i get an idea. normally i delete them off my queue or on my pinned post when i finish them (unless they were never on there which kinda happens a lot ((fics and ideas that just. hit me and dont let go)), but i do post a lot late at night and normally when that happens i update my queue and my masterlist the next day over cause i am too sleepy!!!!!

second is since im getting a lot more followers (like a lot more than i thought id get for such self indulgent pieces lol and even as a m! writer in general tbh) i want everyone to know what i said above!!!! BUT ALSO i dont rlly have a set schedule and i try and write when i can. i did JUST get a job so im still kinda learning to balance my writing and stuff like that since they haven't really given me a consistent schedule. so lowkey half the time i'll be like "new fic tomorrow". and then there is NOT a new fic that day. sometimes i just get rlly excited to post a fic and then i space out for a while, that happens a lot when youve got mad adhd and like sooo many things you can do and want to do!! that you just . do nothing.

i also tend to be overambitious (those who have read my fics since i first posted know lol and also my moots) so i'll like load up my queue with all these ideas and then a month later i'll delete some cause i like. totally forgot.

i also have had a couple of gripes with asks i get... which i hope i dont sound rude T_T. LIGHTNING ROUND THO!!!

i've had a couple of anons (before AND now) drop essentially the same ask (same anons), and i know i don't outright say which ask is which cause i try my best to give fics genuine titles, but just know i dont rlly delete asks !!!!!! unless they are against the rules

ON THAT NOTE!!! i urge everyone to pleaaaase read my rules waghhh!!!! i've gotten a lotta asks about a pregnant reader (specifically!!!!). i'm not here to yuck anyones yum at all but i myself am uncomfy with writing pregnancy (simply cause its a huge fear of mine lol). genuinely that is like the ONLY rule people gloss over (granted i need to update my rules uber soon). that doesn't mean i wont write stuff where reader and character adopt kids or whatever, just no pregnancy nothing like that

i've also had anons/people in my inbox ask "when will x fic come out" or ""check up"" on fics. please know that i am working on everything on my own time!!!! i try my very best to drop fics in order of my queue and i do prioritize requests!!!! but there are days where suddenly i am not feeling an ask or a fic i'm writing so to avoid burn out and fatigue and just overall producing a soulless piece i work on a different piece.

i'm also currently switching from headcanons & drabbles to mainly oneshots, cause i've just had a lot more fun writing bigger and proper pieces!!! that doesn't mean i won't write hcs/drabbles when i see fit ofc, but due to this lowkey like 80% of my asks went from "haha silly little drabble" to full on oneshots (and some even full on fics!). so my writing and ""production"" time has been significantly increased.

also another thing of note: over time i've kinda just slowed down if not halted completely on writing fics for fem readers... the Robin one will most likely be my last x Fem! reader simply cause it feels odd for me to write fem reader all of a sudden. mainly cause i am . a boy lol and i did start this account to write for male readers (cause especially after coming out several years ago it was just so hard to find x male readers yk??). I won't be deleting x fem reader requests cause lowkey they are all kinda bangersss so most of the time I will default to gn reader or switch to male reader as i see fit..

also lowkey circling back to the queue and masterlist in general, all my masterlists have a date at the very bottom for when i updated them o7

That was a LOT I AM SO SORRY.... but lowkey had to get a couple things out there T_T i think it's kinda cause i just switched up on mk and went into hsr so fast so my asks def have a different vibe in general lol...

[jenojaemssss]

happier

synopsis: in which mark was happier with you.

pairing: mark x reader (i attempted to write the mc as gender neutral, so lmk if there are any tips on how to be more considerate! i wanna be able to write as inclusively as possible heh)

genre/category: angst, exes!au

word count: 2.4k

a/n: i have an assignment due in like 20 minutes (so i did not get a chance to proofread!!) but i got distracted thinking about mark while listening to my 2017 simp playlist :D so here's a mini-fic (that was supposed to be a drabble) based on this song!

I saw you walk inside a bar.

When Mark looked up from the almost-empty bottle sitting in front of him, he didn’t expect to be greeted by the sight of you. But what caught him even more off guard was that you were entering the bar hand in hand with someone new.

You, not yet noticing your past lover's hunched figure, walk towards a set of empty bar stools, another man's arms wrapped around your waist like possessive belt. Mark began to stare then. He stared at what used to be his reason. What used to be the one who'd wake him up in the morning, who used to be his reason for coming home when the days were too long, yet somehow eventually bled into nights. He continued to stare at what had been his true source of happiness.

In his eyes, you still were. You were his only radiating source of light that made him feel warm. You were his comfort, like a warm blanket during a rainy day, or an iced tea when the weather was too hot to do anything else but lounge around the house with all fans on full blast.

He said something to make you laugh.

Mark noticed how the one that accompanied you looked at you with a small spark in his eyes as you cover your mouth in attempts to shield your erupting laughter. That was a cute habit of yours when you laughed, and he used to stare at you the same way; he was staring at you almost identically as he's sat across the bar at that moment. The only difference now was that Mark stopped being the reason for your bright smiles and warm laughter.

I noticed how both your smiles were twice as wide as ours.

The first encounter between the two of you would forever be engraved in the mind of Mark Lee.

He was walking around a lake during a camping trip with a few of his friends, mindlessly swinging his arms around to cool off. Mid swing, though, he made contact with something he later found out was your face. He apologized so many times that you had almost busted a lung laughing at the poor boy's terrified features.

Soon, Mark joined you, laughing in harmony because apparently being smacked in the face by someone was the funniest thing to the both of you. Mark proceeded to awkwardly ask for your contact information, hoping to make up for the mishap, and you complied because the man was so darn cute.

One meet-up (he never specified it as a date) turned into two, which turned into three, and soon, you were seeing each other everyday in a small cafe hidden within the corners of your shared campus.

The two of you attended the same university, but due to being in different departments, there was never really a chance to come across one another while running to your next classes, but this cafe was the one spot you two had in common.

The cafe meetings soon turned into cafe dates (he clarified this time that they were in fact, dates), and soon enough, you were both head over heels in love, moving in together as you approached your final years of college.

Mark and your's relationship wasn't perfect, but it was always so much fun. Mark was always able to make you laugh because of how awkward he was, and one time you to left him behind on a trip to the grocery store because he was so embarrassing, making stupid puns at the poor worker just trying to stock the shelves of the cereal aisle. That day, you bought a watermelon the size of both your heads combined to make up for leaving him behind.

Mark bitterly smiled at his recollection. That was one of the last times he and you were able to smile together.

You looked happier.

The last time Mark saw you, it was on a sunny, Saturday afternoon. You were on your way back from a trip to your local convenience store, bags of chips, a tub of ice cream, and boxes of candy spilling out of the watermelon themed reusable bag he had left behind after moving out. You were still wearing his hoodie, then. He left that behind for you too.

It made him smile, knowing that you kept it.

Ain't nobody hurt you like I hurt you.

You felt as though you couldn't breathe. When you entered Mark and your shared apartment, you sensed that something was wrong; that something was missing from your normally warm environment. Mark and you have been arguing more frequently recently, and the night before, it was the worst it had been in years.

Mark had been going out later into the night, sleeping on couches of friend's houses more than in his own bed. Your shared bed. You more often than not woke up to nothing, the radiating warmth missing from your side.

You'd had enough of it, and confronted the man when he walked into the apartment at 2 am. Words spewed from either side, along the lines of "I'm sick of this" and "What is there to be sick of?" Mark ended up sleeping on the couch that night while you cried yourself to sleep, clutching Mark's pillow and attempting to hold onto what used to be the warm, delightful love of your life.

The next day when you woke up, he was gone. He texted you saying he had to leave early for work and that you should go ahead and start your day without him, and you did. You began planning ways to talk things out, to fix things with Mark over a nice dinner.

You set your plan to action and made your way to the local market. When you returned home and stepped foot into the kitchen, though, your eyes landed on a small note placed right in the center of the dining table. Written on that note in Mark's sloppy handwriting were the words, "I'm sorry, but I need to clear my head."

You dropped the note and ran into your bedroom, only to see that Mark had taken almost half of his belongings from the cramped space, along with one of the suitcases the two of you placed behind the closet when you first moved in. He was gone.

But ain't nobody love you like I do.

He'd been gone for about 10 days when you receive a call from Donghyuck. The brown-haired boy informed you that Mark has been sleeping on his couch for over a week and would be stopping by within the next few days to take up all of his friend's belongings he'd left behind.

You hummed, almost numbly, and before hanging up, you mustered up the courage to ask Donghyuck if Mark was currently there with him. He hummed in response, and you mumbled a good before dropping the line completely, falling to your knees and sobbing until you no longer had tears to let fall.

You were broken, and it was all because of Mark, yet a piece of you continuously hoped and prayed that he was safe. That he was living in a proper home with a place to sleep, and that he wasn't too cold because he often got cold very easily.

Mark, on the other end of the line, was silently holding in his cries as his best friend hung up the phone, disconnecting him from his one true love. Mark never intended to hurt you the way that he did, but in his mind, because he loved you so much, too much, he had to let you go.

He was noticing how much he was holding you back, from job opportunities to your social life, he believed he was the reason. He was the reason you declined the job offer in the neighboring city because that meant you'd have to either move out or drag Mark with you, and you chose on neither and stayed. He was the reason you never left the house on weekends because only then was he ever home. He was the reason you had bags under your eyes, he soon realized.

You'd been staying up night after night, waiting for him to come home. You'd been crying because he would come home with bags darker than yours. You'd been losing sleep because you spent too much of your time worrying about him.

He was holding you back by loving you.

So he decided to let you go.

Promise that I will not take it personal, baby.

A few months have passed and Mark's finally settled down in a new place in the town you had rejected the job offer from all those months ago. A part of him wished that moving away would offer you closure, knowing that Donghyuck explained his side of the story to you. Mark wanted so badly to be the one who spoke to you that day, but he was afraid of the confrontation. He was scared he'd break and hold you into his arms and promise to never let you go, bringing himself and you back into the endless loop.

So he left. He moved away and had Donghyuck clean up the mess he'd made. Mark owes him one.

The other part of him, though, hoped that you contacted the agency that offered you the job all those months ago. The selfish part of him prayed that the agency granted your request and offered you the job you passed up on in this new city. He hoped that you and him could start over in a different setting, and maybe a few years from now, run into each other again. You'd be in better places in your lives and the two of you could start over.

He knew he was hoping for too much, but oh a man can dream.

If you're moving on with someone new.

Mark was brought back to the present when he hears a loud shattering of glass. He averted his eyes towards the source of the ruckus and landed his eyes on you. He noticed how your eyes grew into large saucers when he displayed similar shocked features.

Shit.

He quickly and clumsily packed up his belongings as he waved down one of the waiters, asking for the tab. Noticing Mark's shaken composure accompanied by the glares being sent in his direction from the other side of the bar, the waiter sympathetically printed out the bill as fast as he could and didn't let out a peep when Mark underpaid about 10 bucks.

Mark rushed out of the bar, only to be caught by the sound of your voice calling out to him.

"Don't you dare run away." The voice was cold.

"Not again, Mark." It was almost shaking.

You caught up to the man. He turned around, slowly, wishing that this was all just a messed up dream, and the alcohol was only playing tricks with his mind.

Indeed, though, this was his reality. Mark remained silent, only staring at his feet as you approached him.

"Look at me," your voice was softer now, but he noticed the stern edge laced within your words. You were never one to raise your voice, not even when Mark would spew incredulous things at you during an argument. You were always calm.

Mark shifted his gaze from the ground towards your face and noticed you looked wiser. He noticed how your soft features were now more sharp. He noticed how you wore your hair differently. He noticed how you'd ditched your casual jeans and a shirt for something more business-casual. He noticed how your aura had changed into something more serious. He noticed every little change about you.

He also noticed how, beneath all the physical changes, you were still you. You still had the same stars in your eyes. You still had his favorite scent. You still had the same quip in your lip when you spoke. You still had the same smile.

You were smiling at him.

Mark finally managed to meet your eyes, and as you opened your mouth to speak, he cut you off before you could get a sound out.

"You look happier."

Your smile dropped a bit at his observation. He was right, you were happier than you were after the breakup. But you were happier when you were with him. Using other men to distract yourself from Mark worked for a while, but it was never the same.

It's been over a year, and you still missed him. You missed everything about Mark; his smile, his laugh, his posture when he was furiously typing away at his keyboard because he had an essay due in 10 minutes. You missed the way he'd sing to you at night when you woke up from a nightmare, and the way he'd pet down your hair when the two of you wake up in each other's arms after a nap.

And although you missed him, a part of you was still angry at him. Angry that he left without an explanation, and had Donghyuck be the bearer of bad news that he wanted you to be happier. That he wanted you to have a life not revolving around him and his actions.

A part of you hated how he was so selfish, and how he never looked to you for his decision. Yet the other, wiser, part of you was thankful. Thankful that he cared about you enough to let you go, cared about you enough to put your priorities above his own feelings for once. Most importantly, you were thankful that he was your first heartbreak.

Before he was the boy who broke your heart, he was a friend.

You tilt your head a bit sideways, plastered another smile and nodded in response.

"It's a process."

He smiled back, toothy grin warming your heart. "I'm glad you're doing okay."

Maybe it was the universe finally hearing Mark's wishes of starting over, or maybe it was just a mere coincidence that you ran into each other that day. But nonetheless, the encounter made him realize one thing.

"I was happier with you."

[jayteacups]

Writing update!

Hi! Just wanted to let you guys know where I’m at with writing right now.

Uni is still pretty hectic right now and I’m still frantically trying to keep up let alone catch up so I haven’t had the time or energy to write in recent weeks! But I promise I am working on things. So here’s a list of things for you guys to look forward to I hope! (It’s 90% Levi, the grip this man has on me is unreal 😩)

Things that I am currently writing when I can:

Florist Levi headcanons- some lovely anons sent in prompts and alskdkfkfkfkfjfk YES (I feel like everyone ends up having a certain niche within the fandom, is florist!levi going to be my niche? 😂) (anyways I just wanted to let the anons know that their asks have gone through and I’m not ignoring them, and also to say thank you for sending them in!) (as a side note I am not taking requests but feel free to send me thoughts and stuff because that does make me feel inspired to make headcanons and fics)

Flatmate Levi one-shot - yeah I’ve been teasing this for a while lol sorry it IS being worked on 😂 it’s half done but I haven’t touched it in a while lol but I’m determined to finish it off!

Post expedition Levi x Reader, emotional hurt-comfort. Again about a portion of the way through - this one I’m winging it with no plan whatsoever 😂 but yeah I started writing it when I was just in my feels about levi and how much this man has suffered i want to hug him so bad 🥲😭

I have several Levi x Reader canonverse fluffy drabbles/one-shots based off a prompt list too - Between the Pages was actually one of them! Some of these ideas could definitely be used for Levi x OC stuff too…

Things that I have ideas for/planning an outline for:

Songbird: Opera singer Reader x Erwin (canonverse) - likely to be a long-shot. I’ve had the vague idea for a while but now I’m getting more specific ideas as to what I’d actually write in it 😂

Love’s Philosophy - Masseuse Reader x Levi (canonverse) - I have an outline for the first out of the five total chapters yay

Gambit - Levi x OC (Canonverse) - oh man I keep changing my mind and getting new ideas and this was supposed to be canon compliant but the way I’ve set things up I’ve decided to go down a canon divergence route - but literally it’s just half-baked ideas lmao so planning things is going very slowly 😂

A few other Levi x OC one-shots and aus- my brain the other day came up with an au of my au lmao it’s au-ception 😭😂 including: a strangers-to-lovers musician OC and tea shop owner Levi au, and just tooth-rotting fluffy one-shots

Also cheeky plug: my sideblog @jayteacups-gambit contains Levi x OC content - there’s not much there but if you’re interested pls check it out thank u! <3

Stuff I want to write but have no specific outlines (as of yet!)

More florist/plant dad Levi - considering that it’s becoming my niche I feel like I gotta write a proper one-shot or something 😂 and also I’ve been wanting to write something like that based on my headcanons and the anons submissions!

No specific ideas but I really am in the mood to write something for Jean, I really do love him too!

I’d like to write some more NSFW pieces too, Embrace of the sun was hard but really fun to write! I do have to be extremely inspired and in the write mindset to write smut tho it does not come naturally to me 😂

I love how these fics that aren’t even near finished with the outline have titles but the flatmate levi oneshot which is like halfway done doesn’t 😂

My WIPs list has other ideas that I’d like to write some day, this list is just the stuff that’s been on the forefront of my mind 😅 but yeah! No promises that these are going to come soon - but this is just a peak into what I’m working on and what I want to work on 😁

[3rensgf]

pls ignore if you too many babe :) but may i request a drabble abt eren w a bunny girl ? <3

bunny girl eren yeager x reader

word count: 897

warnings: hybrid!au, fluff, nothing really this is a cute fic, not edited

notes: i wasn't sure if you wanted y/n to be erens gf or if we were going down the hybrid!au approach, so i made a wild guess and did the whole hybrid thing. if you'd like me to rewrite it to fit ur wants more, i wouldn't mind! hope you enjoyed <3 i had fun writing this one!

main masterlist

Usually after a long, hard day out and about in the real world, all anyone ever wanted to do was go home and relax. No worrying about bills, chores, schoolwork or returning Mom’s worried calls because she had another bad dream about you dying for the 60th time. As soon as you stepped into the comfort of your home, all your worries melted away. At least until you needed to worry about them again.

Same went for Eren, who currently stood in front of his apartment, head slumped against the cool door to ease his headache. Work drained away any life that was left from him and then some. Luckily for him it was Friday, and he didn’t have another shift until Monday. Slowly, he lifted up the hand holding his key to unlock his door. He barely even had any energy to unlock his front door.

The quiet click of his lock unlocking filled the empty halls. The pounding headache in his head made it sound even louder, making him wince. Twisting the knob, he started to open the door. All he had to do was open the door all the way, get changed into his sleep clothes and wind down for the weekend--

“Rennie!” a soft voice called out to him. The pitter patter of feet filled the hallways, and a bunny lunged at Eren to engulf him into a hug.

Eren grunted and stumbled back a couple of steps in surprise. His hands came to wrap around your frame to keep you steady. “Hey, Bun. Didja miss me that much?” he chuckled, petting your soft ears.

Untucking your face from his chest, you looked up at him with sparkly doe eyes, nodding eagerly. “Miss you much! Lonely alone. (Y/N) no like,” you said clumsily.

Adopting you had been one of the best decisions in his life. Couple of months ago, he had mentioned being lonely to his friends, saying the empty apartment felt suffocating sometimes.

“Well, you could always adopt a hybrid,” Armin shrugged, drumming his fingers against the can of his iced tea. “They could always use a good home. Just do your research first, ‘cuz they can be a big responsibility.”

Right as he went home, he started reading up articles on hybrid care. How to adopt a hybrid, what to feed certain hybrids, how to keep them safe and happy at home, proper etiquette to take them outside, you name it. Eren wanted to be as prepared as possible to bring a new friend home.

He had gone to the shelter to adopt a dog hybrid, thinking it would be the best fit for his personality. However when he passed your pen going down to the dogs, he fell in love right away. Seeing your shy form huddled up in the corner nibbling on a chew toy made his heart melt. Right then and there, he told the volunteer he was going to take you home.

You didn’t know much English at first, only knowing a couple of words. Eren had worked tirelessly to teach you how to communicate, and his lessons paid off. Although you could only speak in broken sentences, you could still speak. Eren always patted himself on the back when he would hear you mutter random English phrases under your breath to practice.

“Awe, I’m sorry, Bun,” he cooed, leading you inside the house and locking the door behind him. “Hey, I have good news. Rennie’s going to be home for the weekend! We can spend as much time as you want together,” he cheered, watching your wide eyes grow even wider in excitement.

Your nose twitched and a quiet purr came from your throat. You tried your best to contain your excitement, you really did! But you knew your Rennie came home tired from work, and you wanted to make it easier for him.

“Rennie,” you said, tugging his shirt. He hummed and petted your ears more, urging you to continue. “Bun-- Bun dinner. I make. For Rennie!” you said, bouncing in his arms. Eagerly, you squirmed out of his arms to lead him to the kitchen. “Rennie no work! Rennie relax! Bun take care Rennie!” you chirped excitedly.

Oh, what a sight the kitchen was. Plates and pots were thrown carelessly around, stains he couldn’t identify were splattered everywhere, and half the pantry was sitting outside on the floor. On the table were two plates, filled to the brim with various leafy greens and hay, your usual meals. He could see that both plates had some bites taken out of it. You probably got hungry while “cooking” dinner and couldn’t resist sneaking in a bite or two.

With the state the kitchen was in, Eren knew he wouldn’t be able to relax right away like he wanted to. Already, he could already see himself on his knees scrubbing away at the mess you made.

But when he turned to look at you, all his tension faded away seeing your excited face stare up at him, waiting for his praise for doing such a good job.

Eren smiled softly and brought a hand to pet your head again, pressing a quick kiss to your forehead. “Thank you, Bun. I appreciate it,” he cooed. Seeing your elated face stare back up at him made his worries melt away. He could worry about cleaning some other time.

taglist - @liaxxx109

3rensgf © 2021 ; do not repost or translate my work.

[flamehairedwritings]

hey, i really love your Hopper fics and your writing ❤️ and if the hc requests are still open, could you write one about Hopper and Age Gap? that would be awesome, thank youuu 💕

Hello, lovely!! I’m so sorry this has taken so long, I hope you enjoy! And thank you so, so much!! ❤️

S o ... this kind of turned into almost a drabble, maybe even a fic, because this is a long one, pals. Maybe also a touch angsty?

—

It was the one thing Hop didn’t want to do after his divorce: date a younger woman.

It was cliché, it was classic, it was stereotypical, it was just... Everyone would frown at it, he thought anyway.

After moving back to Hawkins, he dated women close to his age, other  divorcées who were looking for a one time thing, nothing serious. And he liked it perfectly fine that way. It was ideal, it worked, and it meant he couldn’t hurt anyone, and no one could hurt him.

And then he came to remember just how small Hawkins is, and how word gets around.

Divorcées would come looking for him, having heard from their friends that it would be a one time thing, but a damn good one time thing, and those looking for something more turned him down when he approached. It was a system that worked for everyone until Hopper started to realise the playing field was getting smaller and smaller.

So he branched, taking women who wanted more on a couple of dates, sleeping with them and then just letting it fade out. He knew he was an ass for doing it, he knew he was but... they deserved more and he just wanted to feel good for a short time.

And then he met you.

As Chief of Police, Hopper likes to know everyone, or at least be familiar with faces, so when he sees you, as an unfamiliar face, you catch his attention... and you’re beautiful, but he only let’s that passing thought stay for a couple of seconds because you’re obviously younger than him, maybe by about 15, 20 years, maybe more, you could possibly actually look a little older than your age.

He finds out from Flo a few days later, because she seems to always know everything, that she found out through a friend of a friend’s niece that you’re new in town and you’d just got a job at the diner.

On a usual day, Hopper gets up half an hour before work, showers sometimes, eats sometimes, changes, then heads to work. There he’ll grab something to eat if something’s there, have coffee, then work. He’ll either work through his lunch break and Flo will bring him something, or he’ll head out to the diner or nearest fast food restaurant with one of his colleagues. After getting the information from Flo, he decides to get lunch out. Powell comes with him as they both have to discuss a case, and Hop will suggest the diner and they’ll go there.

Selecting a booth, he’ll sit so he can see the counter, because there you are. You’re in the diner uniform, smiling and laughing with one of your colleagues, and he’ll wish that you’ll come over, and also hope you don’t.

You do, and you give them both a wide smile... and he won’t say hello. He’ll just say his order. You’ll still be smiling, nodding, confirming his order and Powell’s, and your smile will only widen further as you tell them it’ll be out soon. Then you’ll walk away and he’ll want to kick himself.

Could’ve at least asked her how her day is going, you idiot.

He won’t really know why he’s feeling so weird about talking to you. Yes, he thinks you’re attractive, but... Ooh, he absolutely doesn’t want to go there because, cliché. And you’ll definitely not be interested in an older guy like him.

When you bring their order he’ll just mumble his thanks and focus on Powell while they eat and talk... but his gaze will slide over to wherever you are every now and then, watching you talk to other customers, talk with your colleagues, stand at the counter, bite at your lower lip, check your watch when you think no one’s looking.

He’ll pay you afterwards as Powell goes outside to bring the Blazer round, and when you thank him, he’ll leave a tip and mumble, ‘Have a nice day.’

The smile you give him will make his jaw clench slightly, especially when you say, ‘Thanks, you, too.’

... But he’ll start going there regularly for lunch, every second day nearly. You’ll almost always be there, and he’ll sit in the same booth which he works out must be your area because you’ll always come over and serve. He’ll always bring someone with him, too, almost as a buffer, and you’re always smiling.

You’re just smiling and being polite because it’s your job, he tells himself, and he always tips more than he usually would, which he then tells himself is why you beam when you see him. It’s just because he’s a good tipping customer.

Then, one day, two weeks or so later, he’ll go with Powell, and just as they’ve both finished and Powell goes to get the Blazer and Hop finds himself paying again, silence falling as he gets his wallet out and you wait patiently, he’ll be saying it before he can stop himself.

‘So, uh, you havin’ a good day?’

If you’re surprised that he’s finally saying more than ‘yes’, ‘the usual’, ‘thanks’, ‘bye’, you won’t show it, just nod and smile.

‘Yeah, thank you, I am. How about you?’

‘Well, you know. Work’s busy.’ Is that even a proper answer?

‘I bet. Will you be out tonight, though?’

He’ll look at you, blanking. ‘Huh?’

‘At the fair?’

Ah, shit, he’d forgotten about that. It’s his night off and he’s going to... not do much actually, crack a few beers open, watch whatever is on TV, fall asleep on the couch, the usual.

‘Uh... I don’t think so.’

‘That’s too bad. I hope you change your mind.’ Smiling, you’ll thank him for coming in and then walk away... and he’ll be staring at you, unmoving.

Did you just... No... No, you couldn’t have... No. No.

He’ll dismiss it. You absolutely weren’t flirting or coming on to him in any form or way, you were just being polite.

But when he heads home after his shift, your words return to him, lingering. He dissects them, the way you said it, the way you’d smiled and... had you lingered slightly before saying goodbye?

Why am I thinkin’ like a fuckin’ teenager.

Back at his trailer, he’ll open a beer, sit on the couch, and... think about the fair. And you.

...

...

...

An hour there wouldn’t hurt.

He’s changed and out the door in less than ten minutes.

The fair is in full-swing when he arrives, and the moment he’s out of his Blazer, hands in his pockets and walking towards it, he feels like an idiot. What the hell is he doing here?

Luckily, he’ll run into some of the guys from work, though, here with their kids and he’ll talk to them for a while, get a beer. Then he’ll see Joyce and her two boys with some of the other kids they hang out with, and he’ll walk around with them, trying to help Joyce keep them in order. When they’re all demanding a hot dog and a drink, they’ll all manage to find a free table and sit at it while Hop offers to pay (why am I always paying for things) and he’ll head over to the already large queue.

Hands in his pockets, he’ll be lost in his thoughts, muttering under his breath every now and then at how slow the queue is moving, and then he’ll hear it.

‘Chief?’

He knows that voice. Turning, he’ll find you behind him, arms folded, smile wide.

‘Oh, uh, hey.’

‘You came.’

‘Yeah, yeah, I did.’

‘Are you having a good time?’

‘Uh, yeah. Kinda. I’m kinda babysittin’, though, so.’

‘Oh, right. Who are you here with?’

‘Them, over there.’

He’ll point and you’ll turn to find a brown-haired woman trying to keep a group of boys in order as they argue over... Well, you can’t really understand much of what they’re saying but it sounds cool.

‘That seems like a lot of fun.’

He’ll smile at how genuinely you say it, shrugging. ‘Yeah, I guess. Who are you here with?’

‘Some friends. Well, people from work, but I think we’re friends now.’

‘That’s good.’

‘Yeah, I think so.’

Then, there’ll be a silence that he’s dreaded since the moment he heard your voice. So he’ll just say the first thing that comes to mind.

‘Can I buy whatever it is you’re gettin’?’

You’ll blink, then shake your head. ‘Oh, no, don’t worry about it, it’s fine, thank you, though.’

You idiot, of course she’s fine.

‘Yeah, sure, don’t worry about it—’

‘You can buy me a drink another time, though?’

He’ll stare at you, before realising he needs to actually answer. ‘Oh, uh... Yeah, sure.’

You’ll beam, then nod, releasing a small breath. ‘Good. My number is... Oh, shit, do you have any paper and pen?’

He’ll be patting his pockets like his life depends on it. ‘Uh, shit, no, I—’

‘Hang on, here we go...’ You’ll both be at the front of the queue now, and you’ll ask for a napkin and a pen from the server, and you’ll scrawl your number down before handing it to him.

‘Call me,’ you say with a soft laugh, and he’ll carefully tuck it into his pocket before saying he absolutely will, ordering what he needs in almost a daze, and then bidding you goodbye as he returns to Joyce and the boys.

The next day, he’ll call you and ask you out to dinner, because that seems classier to him, and you’ll arrange it for the day after that.

He’ll be nervous. Very, very nervous.

You’re not young but you’re younger, and he so didn’t want to fall into a cliché. He’ll have to pep-talk himself manically throughout the day.

No, he’s not going to cancel because he wants to do it, yes, you’re younger, but that’s not a bad thing, you had asked him to ask you out, and all it was was one date. One date. It didn’t even have to go beyond that. It was just going to be dinner with someone and getting to know them... which is a date.

Flo will catch wind of it, like she always seems to do.

‘You’re going on a date with Janice’s friend’s niece’s friend?’

‘Don’t start, Flo—’

‘Don’t mess it up, Hop, she’s nice.’

Great, more pressure.

The evening will come and he’ll get there early, sick of pacing in his living room. You’ll arrive a few minutes before the agreed time, and he’ll pause at the sight of you.

Beautiful. God damn beautiful. You always are when he sees you, but...

He’ll rise from his chair and kiss you on the cheek because that’s what’s expected on a date, right, and then the night will begin.

... And from that night on, well... Things and feelings develop and progress very quickly.

He’ll love it, he’ll love spending time with you, talking with you, going out with you, you’re incredible to him.

It’s just... sometimes thoughts will creep into his mind when you are out in public. Was that person staring? What are they thinking? In fact, what do his colleagues think? Flo’s happy, but he thinks at this point she’d be happy with anyone he got close with.

When you are out, either at a bar or at dinner or one of the many fairs Hawkins puts on, his arm will drop from where it was around your shoulders, or his hand will release yours and slip into his pocket. He doesn’t even realise he’s doing it. You don’t really think much of it at first, thinking he just isn’t a huge fan of PDA, even though you don’t think hand holding is in-your-face, but, hey, if that’s his preference.

But then you start to notice it a lot more in different ways. You’ll eat in more than out, and if you are out he seems tense, almost rushing through the meal. He won’t touch you in public, maybe hold your hand a little, but if you wrap your arms around him and kiss him he’ll just smile slightly and return it quickly.

It’s starting to become so obvious to you because when you’re at his trailer or your place, he can’t keep his hands off of you. You’ll be on his lap, curled up beside him, cuddling him, he’ll have his hands on you, he’ll want to kiss you every few minutes, he’ll caress you, having sex with him is incredible and frequent.

So, wanting to give him the benefit of the doubt, you do a few tests before you say anything. You’ll be out shopping, and you’ll slip your hand into his. He’ll let it go a few moments later and pick something up which you think, fine, we’re browsing, he needs his hands.

Walking down the street you’ll slide your arm around his waist, and a few moments later, he’ll suggest you both cross the street, twisting his body to check if any vehicles are coming and it’ll just so happen that your arm will fall from him.

Stopping for a drink, you’ll reach over and place your hand on his and he’ll squeeze it lightly before sitting back, his hands falling into his lap.

And then you’ll go for your final test. Walking down a street, you’ll turn to him and kiss him, the type of firm, lingering kiss that usually, in private, would have him gripping at you and groaning.

Now, though... he pulls his head back after a second and smiles slightly before asking where you want to go to next.

Home, you’ll say. Alone.

He’ll frown, not quite understanding, but as you walk away he won’t call after you because he doesn’t want people staring any more than he already is telling himself they are.

He’ll go straight home and call you, but you won’t answer. So he’ll wait a little while and call again. No answer.

Then he’ll just grab his keys and head over.

When you answer the door and let him in because you know he won’t go anywhere, with your eyes shining and jaw tight, his heart will sink.

‘Baby, what’s wrong?’

‘What’s wrong’? you’ll scoff, arms folded, staring at him in your hallway. ‘I’m gonna ask you something and you’re gonna tell me the truth.’

‘Of course.’

‘Are you embarrassed to be with me?’

He’ll stare at you.

‘... What?’

‘Are you embarrassed to be with me?’

‘Embarrassed? What, no, baby, of course not—’

‘Then why won’t you let me touch you in public? Why won’t you touch me?’

As you list off everything he does, his heart will sink further.

Shit.

‘No, baby, I... I just... I’m a little self-conscious ‘cause you’re younger than me, by quite a bit, and I worry about what people think about me, and... if anything, sweetheart, I thought... I sometimes think... you’d be embarrassed to be with me.’

You’ll let out a long, incredulous breath as you look at him, shaking your head. ‘Hopper... No one cares. I don’t care. We’re happy together, right?’

He’ll nod.

‘Then that’s all that matters.’ Dropping your arms, you’ll take his hands, a small smile pulling at your lips. ‘Of course I’m not embarrassed to be with you, Hop. I think you’re so fucking sexy and so funny and kind and smart and you’re just everything that I want.’

He’ll pull you closer as his smile matches yours. ‘You’re everything that I want, too, baby. I... I’m sorry, I was being an ass.’

‘Yeah, you were,’ you’ll agree as you arch an eyebrow and he snorts, your arms wrapping around his waist. ‘... but it’s okay, I forgive you.’

‘Good. Thank you.’

After that, he’ll be more relaxed with you in public. It’ll take a little while for all his insecurities to go away, but he’ll get there, and soon he’s holding your hand, kissing you, wrapping an arm around you, even making out with you on nights out at the bar.

And very soon, Jim Hopper will be very proud to show the world that you’re his, and he is yours.

—

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[crest-in-pieces]

Snow Day

A/N: This fic Idea has been in my head for a while now but I just haven’t had a chance to write it out until now. Figured it’d be a cute little drabble for the holidays. It’s pretty short, as It’s like 1am while I’m writing this, but I really wanted to get this out.

Takes place just at the start of ‘The Tragedy’, but instead of going directly to Tython, Din changes his mind for a bit and takes Grogu on a small fieldtrip for some father and son time! :D Hope you all enjoy!

~~~

Din still didn’t know how well to believe it.

He’d seen the kid do unexplainable, and incredible things several times now, but it still seemed so unreal.

But as the silver shifter ball slipped from his own fingers and landed perfectly in Grogu’s little grasp, he knew it wasn’t a figment of his imagination, and he couldn’t keep running from the truth any longer.

“Dank Farrik!” He cursed aloud, but instantly regrets it as Grogu tosses away the ball in fear at his outburst. 

"Hey, No, I’m not mad at you. You did good.. I Just...” Din speaks much softer now before pausing, trying his best to find the right words to say.

“When the nice lady said you had training I just...” 

He sighs in defeat, picking up the ball, turning it over in his gloved fingers, and pushing it gently back into Grogu’s hands.

“You’re... Very special Kid.. We’re going to find that place you belong, and they’re going to take really good care of you.”

Din turns back to look out at the planet Tython, as a weight starts to settle upon his heart. He does his best to push it down, but the idea of loosing Grogu hurts.

He’d been so alone before... He didn’t want to go back to being alone again.

“I agreed to take you back to your own kind, so that’s what I need to do.”

He starts to prepare for landing, but stops himself.

This could be very possibly their last mission together... Maybe coming straight here wasn’t such a good thing.

“I’ll tell you what... Let’s go on one last little adventure together first... Then we’ll come right back... Not like the plant’s going anywhere... Right?”

The kid coos back, tilting his head in a curious manor as Din starts pressing more buttons, and typing in coordinates.

Several moments later, after a quick hyper-jump, Din found himself looking up at the very same snow planet he’d crashed on several days earlier with the Frog lady. 

Thankfully this time, there wasn’t two X-Wings on his tail, and he was able to calculate a proper place to land. One that wouldn’t cave from the weight of the Razor Crest setting down.

Once landed, he sucks in a nervous breath under his helmet, before turning to Grogu again.

“Alright Kid... Lets go have a little fun for a bit, yea?” He hums, picking him up in his arms, and carrying him out of the ship.

The snow was packed down hard enough from weathering, that Din found it easy to walk ontop of it without falling through the drifts.

Setting Grogu down, he let out a small chuckle, as the kid started chasing after several snowflakes that had started to fall from the sky.

The Mandalorian knelt down, and started packing a ball of snow into his hands.

He makes it small, only the size of Grogu’s silver ball, hoping that he’d catch on quick.

“Grogu.”

“Guu?” The little one coos, turning quickly at his name.

“Catch?” Din wiggles the snowball in his hand for him to see, before tossing it gently, in hopes that Grogu would use his powers to catch it.

He doesn’t. Instead, it lightly hits his chest, and disintegrates back into powdery snow.

“Huh, well it was worth a shot..” Din sighs, but he still smiles at the confused tilt of Grogu’s head. He lightly rubs the child’s ear for a bit, before making another ball of snow, intent on making a snowman for Grogu’s amusement.

He get’s pulled out of the thought, when he feels something heavy smash against his beskar.

Looking down, he sees snow plastered against his chest plate, and hears Grogu let out a stream of giggles.

He can’t help but smirk under the Helmet.

So he can be taught...

“Wanna try again?” He chuckles, lightly throwing his newly formed snowball at Grogu again.

This time, it yields the wanted results!

Grogu held up his hands, and used his force powers to catch the ball, just before it got to him.

“Great job Kid!” Din exclaims, watching the snow hover in the air for a bit. It shouldn’t have surprised him as much as it did, but he soon let out a yelp of shock, as the ball flew back at him, hitting him right in the visor.

After pushing the snow away with gloved fingers, he was able to see again, and saw Grogu looking up at him with worried eyes.

“You did great! I’m not mad.” Din encouraged, picking him up and settling on the snowy ground so he could hold Grogu in his lap. “I’m really proud of you... I want you to know that Kid. No matter what happens on that Seeing Stone, I will always be thankful I met you.”

Grogu cooed back, snuggling into the warmth of Din’s hold. Using the force had made him tired, and the mandalorian’s fingers petting at his ears was putting him to sleep.

“Looks like it’s nap time.” Din chuckles, tucking Grogu into his left arm, and rising to his feet, using his free hand to dust the snow off. 

“Let’s get some sleep, and in the morning, we’ll figure all this jedi stuff out.” He hums, making his way back up the ramp of the ship, letting it close behind them.

[mycupoffanfiction]

I’ll Be There For You

Biker!Tattooed!Steve x Reader

Summary: Biker!Tattooed!Steve admits his feelings when he sees you outside on a chilly night.

Warnings: Just pure fluff, mentions of no family for the Reader, though I never specify how or why.

Word Count: Approx 1600

Masterlist

A/N: @buckysknifecollection inspired me to write a Stevie fic! I’ve been in such a Steve mood recently. This went from tiny drabble to full fic, so there we go! Hope you all enjoyed your weekend, lots of love 😘💖💖

_____________________________________

Steve plopped down next to you on the front step of your static trailer, the cool Autumnal breeze gently shifting your hair as Steve draped his leather jacket  around your shoulders, Howling Commandos embroidered on the back. His smile was soft and sweet as you glanced across at him, his large hand reaching out to offer you a warm drink, which you took gladly, giving him a wordless thank you.

 He remembered the day he met you and smiled at the memory, remembering that he had once been someone you found intimidating until he’d shown you how soft and gentle he was. “What are you doing out here so late?” He asked, glancing down at his phone to check the time, seeing that it was close to two in the morning. “Couldn’t sleep.” You shrugged, gaze meeting his. “What are you doing out?” You turned the question around on him. Steve gave you a soft smile and shrugged. “Saw you from my window, had to come and see if you were alright.” He explained, causing the smile on your lips to grow.

 Steve always seemed worried for your welfare and to be honest, it wasn’t misplaced. You didn’t exactly live on a good side of town and the trailer park you both resided in wasn’t the safest place around. But despite how unsafe it was, especially with your creepy neighbour around who seemed to enjoy making you feel uncomfortable and the crazy woman who lived two trailers behind you who liked to threaten everyone with putting boiled meat in their mail boxes, Steve and his group of bikers made you feel exceptionally safe.

 He ran his group with Bucky Barnes, his long-time best friend and the pair of them had met you a few months ago when they had set up shop in the area and moved into the trailer park with a couple of their friends. They created a sort of community that felt like a family and they were so warm and welcoming, despite their initial impressions that left everyone on edge, thinking they were another lawless biker gang.

 At first you had avoided the group like the plague, especially Steve and Bucky. They were both extremely strong and tall, leaving you to question your safety. Perhaps you had been too quick to judge though, because as soon as you got into trouble with your creepy neighbour one morning and he began to harass you, Steve was there to help you out as soon as he saw what was going on.

  After that, you had invited him in for coffee as a thank you, your trust in the tall, tattooed biker suddenly growing and blossoming the more you talked. As the days passed after your first proper meeting, you spoke to Steve almost daily on your way to and from work. Then it evolved from small neighbourly chatter to hanging out together in the evenings, sometimes he’d invite you for breakfast on the weekend or for drinks on a Friday night.

 At first you hadn’t felt like you even fitted in with their crowd of mismatched bikers, but Steve insisted you were part of their family now whether you were tattooed, a biker or neither at all.

 “What were you doing up so late, anyway?” You asked, breaking Steve’s train of thought and bringing him back to reality. “Hm? Oh, just… Been thinking.” He nodded to himself. “Wanna tell me what’s on your mind?” He asked, directing the conversation back at you rather than himself. You considered it for a moment as you sipped the drink he’d given you in one of the mugs Steve had stolen from Sam. It had purely been a joke, just to rile Sam up but when Steve and Bucky had realised how much fun it was to see him complain about his missing ‘world’s best pilot’ mug, which he had only because there were no biker mugs, they kept it up a little longer.

 “I’ll tell you if you tell me what’s kept you up so late.” You nudged him in the side gently with your elbow. A soft puff and a smile across his lips practically melted your heart when Steve looked down at you. He mulled over it for a second as he scratched at his arm, drawing your attention to his tattoo sleeve. He made you so damn weak. His slightly grown out hair, thick stubble that was now close to a beard, his biker style turned lumberjack with his tattoos and his old black Harley he had fixed up. He was the epitome of handsome.

 Steve mulled it over for a moment as he drank deeply from his mug. “Alright.” He nodded, agreeing. “But you have to go first.” He nudged you back. You suddenly saw Bucky poke his head out of Steve’s trailer door and smiled smugly. The pair shared a trailer and were roommates, despite the fact that they could easily afford two separate places to live, they chose to stay together, like they always had, as brothers. Bucky nodded at you, taking in the scene of you wrapped up in Steve’s jacket, the front lapels that were absolutely covered in patches and badges from bike shows, rallies and the bands he liked.

 You took a deep breath as you watched Bucky shrink back into the trailer, your attention turning back to Steve, who looked rather ridiculous. He was perched on the top step of your trailer porch, hunched over and squeezed in to fit next to you. While you didn’t exactly take up much space, he was taller and more muscular than you, his broad shoulders taking up most of the room. Bucky had once made the comparison of you both being like a kitten and a huge guard dog.

 “I lost my family, it hurts sometimes.” You huffed. “Today was one of those days where it hurts.” You explained, resting your chin on your hands. “Oh.” Steve said so softly, it was almost a whisper. He was possibly the softest person you’d ever met, despite his appearance making the townsfolk think differently. Steve wasn’t quite sure what to say to comfort you, but his arm found its way around your back and rested on your shoulder, pulling you gently against his side. The warmth of him was comforting in itself and you sighed with content. You felt safe and calm in his presence.

 “Sometimes I don’t know where I even belong, if I even fit somewhere. Sometimes it just feels overwhelming.” You admitted, Steve squeezing you a bit tighter. “Right here.” He spoke just above a whisper. “You belong right here, with us. We might not be the most conventional family, but we’re a family.” Steve smiled down at you. “We’re your family.” He added, his free hand coming up to gently brush some of your hair back and behind your ear.

 You felt yourself blush, his touch was so gentle and sweet and it made you automatically lean into him without even meaning to. “What were you thinking about?” You asked quietly, Steve’s eyes studying your flustered features. He huffed out a soft laugh from his nose, hand gently coming to rest on your jaw, his fingers pressing against your neck softly. “Is this okay?” He asked, his hot breath fanning against your flushed skin. Giving him a slight nod, Steve kept his slate blue eyes on yours for a moment longer, drinking you in.

 “Can I kiss you?” He asked, the question catching you off guard and you gasped a little, cheeks warming even more. “Sorry, that was- it wasn’t right of me to-.” Steve rambled but you cut him off, a streak of confidence kicking in and before you could stop yourself, you had brought your hands up to turn his face towards yours, your lips brushing against his ever so slightly.

 Steve made a soft moan of surprise, his hand falling to your waist as he leaned into to the kiss more, his lips moving gently against yours. His lips were slightly cracked and dry, but still soft and so addictive. Your heart leapt when you felt his grip tighten on your waist and your hand came down to run your fingers over his exposed arm, fingertips trailing over his artwork. Steve’s tongue gently slipped over your lips and you welcomed him, his tongue eagerly, but still so gently caressing yours.

 Steve pressed a few kisses against your lips and your cheek before he pulled away, eyes blown wide and dark with excitement. His lips glistened slightly, a soft smile stretching them a little, creasing around his eyes as he kept his gaze locked onto yours.

 A comfortable silence loomed for a moment as you both enjoyed the moment. So many feelings were now out in the open and Steve wanted to do it right. “Was that what you were thinking about?” You asked, voice soft and quiet as you broke the silence. A smirk grew on Steve’s lips and he nodded slightly. “That and a question.” He murmured. You gave him a questioning look, while he paused to take in a long and slow breath, his fingers scratching at his beard before carding through his hair.

 “Will you go on a date with me, sweetheart?” Steve asked the question with such care in his voice, as if he was afraid to push you too far or ask for too much. You felt your heart leap and soar, cheeks warming again and you grinned at him, his fingers reaching to fiddle with your hair a little as he studied your reaction. “I’d love to.” You nodded.

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Permanent Taglist (OPEN):

@shygirl-00 @swanlakemikey @scuzmunkie @paintballkid711 @lovelylilia @mapreza1 @love-bucky-3000 @cals-cigarette @scarlett-berserker @2407zzz @mercurybarnes @mywinterwolf @geeksareunique @fairislesheets @wendaiii @mochibarnes @anyasthoughts @miamua-posts @megantje123 @sideeffectsofyou @veganfangirl5 @a--1--1--3 @loving-life-my-way @xapham

[jadeile-writes]

Fanfic Progress Update 57

Hello, people and other creatures! Let’s take a look at the Fanfic Progress Update, as we do every Saturday. Stay tuned to the end of this post for a spoiler-y glimpse into the next chapter of Adventure gone Mini BUT this time not Hah! Our afterlife is the most hilarious bushwa, dearest. I’ll explain.

This week hasn’t been kind to me. I’ve had a bout of random apathy for days now (happens sometimes, nothing to worry about), which has made me mostly unable to do things like writing fanfics. So, I don’t have anything to post the next week, as I haven’t finished anything postable. I’m hoping this apathy abates sometime during the next few days so that I can resume my schedule for the week after next week, but I suppose we’ll have to wait and see. You’ll get news on this next Saturday, as per usual.

In the meanwhile, the next week is the Radiohusk week (as decided on in the Radiohusk Discord server), so there should be plenty of fics and art from other shippers for you to enjoy!<3

Current WIPs:

Adventure gone Mini

Fandom: Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild / The Minish Cap

Summary: Sidon is given his very own Sheikah Slate, the first replica Purah has managed to make, and sets out to travel with Link with the intention of registering warp points for convenient travel in the future. However, when a malfunction shrinks them down to the size of bugs, and they meet little people called the Minish, they have to change their plans from “fun adventuring” to “getting out of this mess”. Not that those two have to exclude one another. Link/Sidon.

Progress: Chapter 36 is the current latest chapter and was posted on 18th of March. Chapter 37 is about 3/4 done and is scheduled for 8th of April. This hasn’t been hindered by the thing above at this point of time.

I post a new chapter every three weeks on Wednesdays. These updates always include a sneak-peek for the next chapter, slowly getting longer over the three weeks waiting period.

—–

That month of the year

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Summary: Every year, for a single month, the Radio Demon gets… emotional. His antlers are in velvet and he’s pumped full of hormones that make him behave quite unlike himself: suddenly, everywhere he looks, instead of seeing fellow demons all he sees are helpless little fawns that nobody is taking a proper care of! Solution? Adopt them.

Husk, Niffty, Camille, Honey, and the rest of the older Fawns put up with their Mom/Dad’s nonsense every year, but this time there’s a new, rotten apple in their midst and they have to protect Alastor from this crook. Without Alastor knowing about it. As Husk likes to put it: “This is fucking bullshit. …I mean fudgy nonsense.”

(Crack taken seriously. Gen)

Progress: The first two chapters are finished (with some heavy editing still required for the second one). The third chapter has been started. I want to have at least three chapters written before posting anything, preferably more than that because I don’t know how long this fic is gonna be. I can tell it’s longer than the originally planned five chapters tho, since we’ve barely gotten the ball rolling with the first two chapters!

This fic is co-authored by Maximillian!

—–

Hah! Our afterlife is the most hilarious bushwa, dearest

Fandom: Hazbin Hotel

Summary: This is not a stand-alone story! This is a oneshot/drabble collection in the universe of “Shit, the Radio Demon is a part of my afterlife”. Read the main story before bothering with this one.

I decided to give my readers a chance to throw Radiohusk prompts at me, and had the Afterlife-verse as an option to set the stories in. Everyone liked that, so this fic is now a thing. Enjoy the extra mischief from these two dorks!

Progress: Chapter 9 is the current latest chapter and was posted on 27th of March. Chapter 10 is about halfway done. This story will have at least seven more chapters, but who even knows at this point. Additional prompts are not accepted at this moment.

This fic receives a new chapter every Tuesday and Friday, unless something comes up. I’ll post a sneak-peek for Tuesday’s chapter on these updates, and one for Friday’s chapter in a separate post on Wednesday.

This fic will not be updated during the next week; see the info dump at the top of this post.

—–

Other WIPs I’m not currently working on but intend to get back to someday:

PoE Drabbles (Pillars of Eternity)

DC Drabbles (Justice League)

Diaphanous Relations (Forgotten Realms, R.A. Salvatore’s books)

Rolling with it (Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild)

Possibly worth staying for (She-Ra and the Princesses of Power)

Experiment in Romance (Hazbin Hotel)

—–

That’s it for the WIPs! Here is the promised sneak-peek into Adventure gone Mini. (Note: the text may end up slightly different in the fic itself due to more editing happening before publishing). Enjoy!

Mini

Misteri led the two of them through the Toadstool Town, as it was called. The town wasn't very large, especially compared to the capital, which was the last city they had been to, but she used the little time it took for them to walk to the town hall to animatedly talk about her home. She explained how they, indeed, used magic to keep the toadstools preserved, and in some cases even alive if it was known that the building would need more space in the future – the Minish who wanted large families would start with a small house and then let it grow bigger as they had more children. It was very fascinating and practical, and Sidon looked like he wanted to stop and observe the growth with his own two eyes, as silly as that was. Also, turned out that the local Minish were called Mist Minish, while the "regular" ones were Forest Minish. Rumor had it there were Mountain Minish around the mountains, and Field Minish in the Hyrule Fields. Misteri didn't know if there were Desert Minish in the Gerudo lands, Water Minish in the Zora Kingdom, Jungle Minish in the Faron region, and maybe some specific kind of Minish around the Hylian and Sheikah towns, but assumed it to be so. Link suddenly felt like their mini adventure was woefully inadequate now, since there was so much more to the Minish world to be seen all over Hyrule. He wanted to explore all of it one day. Maybe with Sidon, maybe with Zelda, maybe with both. It didn't seem like he was going to be running out of adventures anytime soon. Good. They arrived to the town hall before they could get too deep into their speculations, which may have been for the best.

Said hall was very small. In fact, it seemed more like a-

That’s it this time. See you next Saturday!

AO3    FFnet    Purple Crayon    Ko-fi

[afterhours-bnhazine]

After Hours: Writer App Guide!

Hello and welcome! Thank you for your interest in After Hours: An 18+ Heroes/Villains BNHA zine! We figure you might have some questions about the writer applications and we want to help you as best we can, so below we’ve included some info we think you’ll find handy. This will cover questions about the application itself, writer responsibilities, judging process, and more! When you feel good and ready, hop on over to the writer apps here. If you have more questions, feel free to hit up our inbox!

When judging writer apps we will be looking at the following:

1. Flow

How well does the writing read?  We want a good variety of sentence structure and something that we can get through easily.  The writing should fit with the type of story you’re telling and create an appropriate atmosphere.

2. Grammar/Spelling

Basic rules of grammar and spelling will apply. That said, we will not worry about differences caused by geography (color versus colour, for example).

3. Characterization

Characterization varies between people, we understand that, but we’ll look for a consensus among mods that the situation and characterization are plausible. We’ll be curious to see how much characters “feel” like themselves and make sense for their setting (especially important for AUs).

4. Realism and Safety

Specifically for NSFW pieces, we’ll be looking at safe and proper sex. We’re asking that writers have a NSFW sample (because we have to see how you write it!) so we’re looking to see how realistic the scenarios feel, as well as how safe they are. How does the writer handle a NSFW situation and make it feel sexy? Are they gonna tell us engine oil counts as lube?

What kinds of samples should I have?

The important thing is to look at the general guidelines above and selecting pieces you think best represents your writing style and skill while meeting these general criteria. With that in mind, we would like at least one NSFW piece and one BNHA piece. These can be the same piece or different ones! If you don’t have these pieces, that’s okay! It doesn’t hurt to apply anyway and we are willing to change samples in apps while apps are open, should you write something you feel is a stronger piece!

We’re doing things a little differently here, so it’s very important to pay attention to the samples we’re asking for! The mods want to make sure we get a good idea of a writer’s skill while also having enough time to read closely and give every app the attention it deserves. For this reason, we are asking for ONLY 3 samples: one 2.5k word sample that depicts a complete story or scene, and two 500 word samples of your prose or descriptive writing so we can see how you write. Accepted writers will get around 2.5k words, so we want to see your ability to create a complete scene in that time. It’s okay if these two samples don’t have context. What matters is your ability to create a vivid, enticing scene.

How will apps be judged?

Transparency is important in this process, so we want to detail how we’re going to be judging apps. An application eval sheet has already been set up that will be filled with most of the information from each app. The mods have anonymously chosen their own columns and marked it with something they recognize but isn’t identifiable by anyone else. As apps come in, we will all be using a simple y/n/m judging system. This is not the final step of the judging process. Artists who receive unanimous yeses will be automatically accepted, while those with all nos will be automatically rejected. Artists with a mix will be discussed in the mod discord server in more detail after apps have closed, and voted on using a 1-10 scale. Those with the highest points will then be accepted.

How many writers are you taking?

We plan to take up to 8 writers, including guest writers. That said, we’ve left ourselves a little wiggle room with the page count in case there’s an applicant we really love who we otherwise wouldn’t have room for.

What will be expected of writers?

Basics:

Fic writers will be expected to write a 5-6 page fic (about 2.5k words) for the zine. We will have templates for writers to use to see how their fic flls the space so that we don’t have any dead space on pages in the final zine. All works will be beta’d by the mods throughout the creation process.

Collaborations:

We hope to hold all our collaborations in a “rebang style”, where the artists chosen for collab work draw up a prompt and then the writers chosen for collab work will choose from the prompts, so minimal wait times for artists! Of course, this is only an option and not a necessity. We have a claim system in place so no one goes with unclaimed prompts nor sees how claims unfold. Writers only need mark their interest in collaborating with artists and will be notified when results go out as to whether they have been chosen to create collaborative pieces.

Supporting Funding:

This zine is for-profit and we intend for it to be worth it. We’re not gonna leave anyone hanging. In fact, we’ve got a Ko-Fi and a Patreon soon to be set up to help assist in the making of this zine, and anyone who does help gets bonus rewards on top of their payment. We’ve even got an actual accountant on our team to make sure everything makes sense. Contributor participation will involve doing quick one-shots and drabbles to fulfill prompts and requests. Nothing too labor intensive! Participation in fundraising activities is not required and will not affect your chances of acceptance. We do strongly encourage participation and hope to make it as fun as possible for contributors!

[genesisarclite]

Writer’s Reflections: Tag Meme

Rules: answer the following questions about your own writing, whether fanfic or original. If you can’t/don’t want to answer a question, just put N/A. If you don’t have that many posted works, tell us about your WIPs or individual chapters/drabbles or even your ideas! Then tag as many writers as you like :)

(oh, boy, this should be interesting!)

AO3 name and link, if applicable: GenesisArclite (FF.Net: GenesisArclite)

What’s your most popular fic, by whatever metric is most relevant to you (hits, kudos, comments, reblogs, some other trait)?

By raw stats, my most popular existing fic is “Hearts in Chaos”. It was the first of my fics to exceed 200 reviews, and despite the often excessive melodrama (or, maybe, because of it?), people absolutely loved it. I had posted it on deviantArt first, then cleaned it up and put it on FF.Net. On both sites, it got a lot of love, but far more exposure on the latter site.

What’s your favourite fic that you’ve written?

Of my longfics, “Final Fantasy Suscitatio XIII” is still near and dear to my heart. It took me four years to write, and that was at a roughly nonstop pace (except for about 1.5 months when I first got into Mass Effect 2). It’s also the first thing I’ve ever written in my life to exceed 300k words. The sense of finality and closure I managed to convey in the last ten or so chapters, and typing those two words, “The End”, is something that’s still stuck with me, and something I still hope to one day replicate with my MD sequel fic. It was a project that left me satisfyingly hollow when I finished and moved my readers through all sorts of emotions, tears included.

Of my shortfics, I’m inclined to say “Sanctuary”. It was the first time I had written from Adam’s POV, and what was intended to be a brief introspection turned into a 10k+ fic about his mind and his heart, of reluctant love and healing. Is it sappy? A bit, sure, but even I reread it once in a while.

I also have to add a section for oneshots, of which I have tons, from different fandoms. While I am proud of a lot of them, I’m inclined to say “Lord of Valhalla” is still my favorite, edging out a couple. The imagery and raw, visceral emotion involved was so harsh when I wrote it that even I was reduced to tears.

What’s your best fic, and is it different from your favourite fic?

Much as I enjoyed writing “Suscitatio” and still think it’s good, I also think it’s dripping too heavily with melodrama. I think “Sanctuary” is a far better balance of emotion and quiet language without going overboard.

Do you have a fic whose popularity surprised you?

Honestly? “Prism”. Four comments and thirteen kudos thus far on a fic about the rarest of pairs, that is more character drama and study than a “proper” storyfic, which startled me to the point where I decided that for that alone, I would continue the thing. I’m really sorry to anyone who’s waiting for chapter two, speaking of which. This month has just really sucked. But I’ll get back to it soon!

Do you have a fic you wish more people would read?

“The Stars Bear a Heavy Burden”. I might post it on AO3 at some point to get a little more exposure, because I’m certain it got buried right away on FF.Net. It was more or less a freewrite, hence the unusual structure, but I liked how it turned out.

Is there a ship or fandom you haven’t written, but really want to?

Zack Fair x Lightning for FF7/FF13 respectively. I first got into them years ago and have ever since toyed with an idea that even provides an explanation for how he got into her world (I have a special love of FF13′s world; don’t get me started on  the Vallis Media or Gapra Whitewood or Edenhall or...). I’ve just never sat down to write it beyond a half-page I started years ago.

Tell us a random fact about your writing process.

I have been writing literally my entire life. A lot of my paranoia of how my work is coming out (and my depressing need to get feedback) comes from a lot of years spent in bad fandoms. I also wrote tons of Mary Sues and Self Inserts masquerading as Mary Sues, so I’m exceptionally paranoid about that. I will literally comb over and obsessively edit things to try to take any implications of that out, and publishing things like “Intermezzo” or “The Golden Knight” can be downright mortifying. I constantly go back and try to make sure I’m not gushing about a character’s appearance too much (original work included), even if it’s part of the story. I just have problems letting myself write purely for fun, and I’m not sure that will ever change.

Tagged by: @trulycertain

Tagging: @ultrasomnia84 and whoever else wants to!

[kttendrama]

Bts @ the skating rink au

OK - so a lot of beautiful people have inspired me to write more because their writing is so AMAZING (seriously check out @joy-bangtan @narika-a @thedarkbathtub )

And this is a little Drabble that I wrote in my head and then kinda put on a page and now I guess I'm posting haha! So just... be nice, this is my first time writing fic and I am nervvouuusss :D

BTS @ the ice skating rink au

Namjoon is the most prepared team dad anyone's ever seen. Before they even get in the front door he's organising that each of the boys get the proper sized skates. (Jimin, I don't care if you want the sparkly pink skates but they have to actually fit. No, J-Hope, you can't wear a penguin costume onto the ice. Jin, stop admiring yourself in the glass - yes, I know you look handsome in your new skates but can you help Yoongi over to the gate? V! Stop taunting Yoongi. He can't help it if he's never skated before! J-Hope! What did I tell you about the costume!?)

Namjoon is helping Jimin tie up his skates when he jabs a finger at Jungkook. "Double tie those laces, Jungkook. Or you're not going out there."

Jungkook freezes with his hand on the ice rink gate. His bottom lip juts out in a typical maknae pout. "But hyunggg-"

Namjoon carefully finishes off Jimin's laces and stands up, hands on his hips. "And who's the one who'll have to go to the hospital with you when you trip over and break your arm?"

Jin throws his arm around Jungkook. "Come on, idiot. Let me show you how to tie them up properly."

Namjoon finally looks around at everyone. "Now is everyone warm? Jimin, do you need another jacket? Jin, here's a scarf. And you all know where the first aid kit is?"

"Yes, hyung," the boys chorus with a roll of their eyes. (But they're secretly glad there's someone there just in case)

And then they're out on the ice.

Jimin is giggling like a fairy princess. Arms wheeling, cheeks bright pink from the cold. He's having so much fun staggering across the ice pushed by a cheerily singing J-Hope who of course is wearing the most horrifyingly tacky santa jumper he could find and massive fluffy reindeer antlers. ("But it's not even Christmas," protests Jimin between giggles. "Hyung, wouldn't let me wear the penguin costume so I had to improvise," replies J-Hope launching into an enthusiastic rendition of DNA accompanied by strangled whistling and half stumbles, half dance moves.)

Jungkook is skating like a dare devil: leaping, spinning, skating backwards. He rushes around the rink lapping his friends once, twice.

"Daebak, Jungkook," shouts Jimin. "How long you been skating?"

Jungkook executes a perfect pirouette and lands in a graceful bow. He grins cheekily. "About twenty three minutes."

J-Hope laughs. "Figures." (Then he's panting because Jimins pouting and wanting to go as fast as Jungkook.)

Jungkook is off again racing past V who's shamelessly flirting with a group of pretty girls. They're giggling at something he's saying. He winks at one of the girls. He's determined to get her number before they go home.

Jungkook circles around them. "Hyung! Look what I can do! Hyung!"

V doesn't even look away from the pretty brunette he's got his eyes on. He flaps his hand at Jungkook. "Looking great buddy!"

"HYUNGGGG! You're not looking!"

"I am looking!"

"HYUN-"

V grabs Jungkook and spins him around. "Don't mess me up now. I've almost got her number. No, don't speak. Don't turn around. Look! There's Namjoon! Why don't you show him what you've learned?"

With that V shoves Jungkook across the ice and turns back to the girls with a charming grin. "Now, where were we ladies?"

Jungkook races over to Namjoon who's showing a bunch of kids the basics of ice skating. "That's great, guys! Now, remember, one foot in front of the other. Yep! You're doing awesome! And what do you say if a producer tells you he wants to have full control of your songs?"

"Hyung!" Shouts Jungkook. "Catch me!"

Namjoon just manages to stop Jungkook from launching into a full-air leap into a bunch of kids by catching him in a friendly headlock. "I got you, buddy."

"Hyung! Don't mess with the hair!"

"I want a hug!" Shouts Jimin making grabby hands as J-Hope pushes him across the ice. (One of his reindeer antlers is hanging half broken where Jimin stumbled and grabbed for the closest thing to keep him upright).

Jin appears at the edge of the rink with a massive tray of steaming drinks. "Hey, kids! Hyung got free hot chocolates!"

Jimin latches into Jungkook who drags him, squealing, across the ice. They grab the tray and are instantly fighting over the best cup and who has the hottest drink.

Namjoon takes a drink and lifts an eyebrow. "Free?"

Jin grins sheepishly. "The lady at the counter said I was too handsome to pay for food."

This sends Jungkook and Jimin into a heap of snorting giggles. Jungkook laughs so hard he spits hot chocolate on Jimin's designer shirt.

J-Hope tears open his fifth sugar packet and pours it into his drink. "What else did you get?"

Jin preens a little. He can't help it. It's hard being the most handsome man in the world. "Fries and a hamburger."

Jungkook tugs on Namjoons arm. "Hyungggg, I'm hungry!"

Jimin grabs Namjoons other arm. "My shirt is ruined!"

"I've got a spare in the car. Jungkook, you're going to dislocate my arm. Fine! I'll tak you out for food as soon as-" Namjoon freezes and looks around, counting heads. Jungkook. Jimin. J-Hope. Jin. V. "Hey, where's Yoongi?"

There's a high pitched squeal from the group of girls. They almost bowl a surprised V over as they rush acros the ice to a guy barely hanging onto the rink rails.

Yoongi is white knuckled. He grits his jaw so hard it hurts but he's going to make at least one lap around the rink even if it kills him. Which it might if these damn skates don't stay under him.

The girls swoop around him, giggling and blushing. "Oppa, are you okay? Do you need any help?"

Yoongi glares at them. "I'm fine." (There's no way he's going to admit he's absolutely mortified at being unable to skate)

The girls casually link arms with him and haul him off the rails. "Don't be silly! We love helping handsome guys. Don't we, girls? By the way - want to get a drink with us later?"

The girls push Yoongi across the ice. His stiff body soon relaxes until he's able to determinedly skate with the girls rather than being dragged reluctantly along. They skate past the boys and Yoongi shoots a smirk over his shoulder at V.

"Close your mouth, V," says Namjoon.

"But-"

"Face it, Hyung, you lost," snickers Jungkook.

"Shut up, Jungkook!"

J-Hope pats him on the shoulder. "Don't worry, you still have us."

V looks after the pretty girls and pouts. "Yeah, great. Someone give me a damn hot chocolate."

[guksthighs]

Treasure Hunter

Group: BTS

Pairing: JUNGKOOK X READER

Requested: honeycutelove said: So I wanted to request a Jungkook fic, because out of all the ones I read, I always loved coming to read your works especially your tattoo artist au! So can you do a Egyptian Jungkook ? I kinda said it on my page 😅 and it hasn’t left my mind since.

Summary: Jeongguk and Taehyung are just looking for a treasure but they find you instead; sentenced to be locked away for thousands of years due to a deal you made. 

Genre: angst, fluff, egypt au, treasure hunter au

Length: 3.4k

A/N: this was such a lovely request and it gave me a writing itch that was hella powerful. and now we have this hella long drabble but i hope you enjoy it!!

The darkness was an old friend, but although it felt like it was all you had ever known; there had been a time when the orange sun would greet you through the thin linen drapes of your room before the maids would bathe and dress you.

But you had sacrificed everything, all the riches and jewels to see your brother again, who had been poisoned leaving you his successor. Your brother who had raised your people with no guidance from your parents, killed by a mad man leaving you the unwilling Pharoah, and you refused to believe your decision was unwise.

The tears you had shed the following months to his death would have been enough to fill the Red Sea, and you often found yourself seeking solace in the paintings that lined the palace walls, colourful depictions of your brother’s life as he rose from the death of your parents to provide life and order to his people.

But one night there was something dark waiting for you, having been drawn by your grief. As the shadows moved, collecting in one corner of the room where a figure was formed and instantly you dropped to your knees for the God of death, Anubis.

“Young Pharaoh, your grief seems unable to cease and your leadership has been weakened,” his black ears twitched slightly as the wind whipped through the room, and you felt almost hypnotised by his liquid gold eyes that came more into view as he tilted his head slightly.

“My God, Anubis, he was taken too soon. I would do anything to see him again,” you fell to your knees, your hand trailing down the wall and the painted version of your brother’s smiling face, you knew you were playing with fire as he began to approach you, his feet silent against the stone floor.

“Anything?” His voice was low, and you could hear the threat in it but you still nodded fiercely watching as with an elegant action of his hand, he produced a long, old, black knife and held it out to you, “If you grasp this knife, you will see your brother again,” your hand lunged for it but he let out a deep chuckle before holding it up and out of your reach, “I will take your body as a payment.”

The torches all blew out, casting the room into darkness as he watched you with interest as you still reached for the knife, wincing as it cut your palm, instead of the usual blood that would bubble to the surface the injury turned pitch black and the surrounding veins carried the colour down but when you looked back up, your brother was standing in front of you with his arms spread and all thoughts of the mistake you may have made disappeared.

The torches relit and you could see the bright smile on his face as you stepped away to look at him, “I love you Y/N,” your eyes welled with tears as he pulled you into a hug, and you were surprised he still smelt like honey and sage as you rubbed your face into his shoulder. However, when he continued to talk you found yourself remembering him telling you stories before bed, “but you’ve made a mistake. Anubis will destroy our people, you must run,” his hands were on your shoulders as he dug his fingers in so tight you were forced to wince away, shaking your head in confusion.

But as he began to melt away into the shadows, you lunged forward to grab him, but your hands gripped onto thin air and you felt your eyes welling up with tears as you felt his absence even harder in your heart. But as a hand ran through your hair, you remembered the deal you had made; turning to face Anubis, who chuckled at your tear streaked face before running a finger over your cheeks, collecting the tears before licking his finger clean, “humans are so frail.”

Then your body was engulfed by the shadows as your veins seemed to fill with ice, and when you caught your reflection you suddenly realised maybe you hadn’t made the wisest decision as liquid gold eyes stared back at you.

The feeling of losing control scared you, you could feel him under your skin trying to take over and without thinking you let out a scream as you threw yourself against the wall trying to get him to leave, but the hollow laugh in your head had you clawing at your skin to rid yourself of the invasion. The clink of gold as it fell to the floor along with your screams and grunts alerted the guards to your struggle, the rushed in to find you on all fours surrounded by torn clothing and jewellery.

“Get the priest,” the rest of the guards focused on holding you as they dragged your kicking figure towards your chambers, but as you slid away you felt yourself losing the fight and you began to worry what Anubis would do if he got control of your people.

The priest rushed into your chamber, halting when he saw you secured to a chair, and when your head snapped up to look at him,  he backed away before glancing towards the other people of authority in the room waiting to hear if you were okay, “She is dead, however as Anubis resides in her body we cannot proceed with a proper burial, we must deal with this swiftly.”

You heard his words as if you were underwater, like when you dunked your head in the bath and you knew you had lost control as you felt yourself being carried somewhere, and then darkness.

***

“My Egyptian isn’t as rusty as you think it is Tae, stop translating everything for me like I’m a kid or an amateur,” Jeongguk pushed his hair out of his face before securing it with his red headband, whilst desperately trying not to fall off the camel that was swaying relentlessly.

“Someone asked you what your name was and you said ‘yes, I’m a treasure hunter’,” Taehyung laughed as Jeongguk let out a loud exhale, he hadn’t been to Egypt for a long time having had a tip about an old shipwreck and after discovering the riches, he had basked in the sun of wherever he wanted for almost a year, not having to crawl into small spaces or learn new languages.

But Taehyung was an old friend, and he couldn’t say no when his friend had mentioned a treasure more valuable than those usually found in the ancient, at , crumbling pyramids. But as the sweltering heat made sweat roll down his temple, he tried not to think of the penthouse in Dubai that he had stayed at, the one with the infinity pool and a view that would never be beaten, overlooking shiny buildings and a bit further the cerulean coloured sea.

Now his horizon showed him a very different picture; in the distance loomed the pyramids and Jeongguk felt like he was hallucinating due to dehydration as he looked at the architectural brilliance, almost five thousand years old. The pyramid they were heading to, the locals described as haunted, a promising start if there ever was one Jeongguk thought to himself.

The hieroglyphics surrounding the entrance apparently promised a fate worse than death to those who entered, but that wasn’t unusual as he remembered the first pyramid he had entered with Taehyung, almost ten years ago promising that they would encounter endless bad luck, instead they had found riches beyond their comprehension. Jeongguk reached for the gold knife that was secured in its sheath around his waist ever since Taehyung had found it abandoned in a pyramid and given it to him as a present, the knife that always reminded him of his past and to stay true to who he was.

The pyramids became larger as they got closer, Jeongguk’s camel was becoming increasingly uncomfortable as his knees rubbed against the tough fabric atop the hump, Jeongguk had always hated camels. So when they finally reached the pyramid, he didn’t wait for the guides to help him off; deciding instead, to hurl his body off the camel and into soft sand, to the amusement of Taehyung as Jeongguk scrambled to avoid being trampled.

“Amateur,” Taehyung coughed, and Jeongguk turned to his friend with a smirk about to throw a handful of sand in his face, before the elder pulled out his journal. Jeongguk decided to forgive him this once as he followed Taehyung to sit in the shade provided by the looming pyramid. Taehyung had decided it was a good time to discuss the plan, but Jeongguk wasn’t one for plans as he ran his fingers through the grains of sand, before standing to trace the engravings surrounding the entrance in interest, “are you even listening?” Taehyung growled, before standing and slamming his book shut, reaching into his back to grab a lighter and his torch.

“I prefer raid first, plan later,” Jeongguk replied, pulling his lighter from his pocket and following Taehyung inside hoping there would be an old torch he would get to light, because those always made the experience way more fun. With a smile, Taehyung picked up one from the wall and handed it to Jeongguk, before lighting his own as they both turned to look at each other with large smiles of excitement.

But a large gust of wind ripped through the entrance, howling as it travelled down the corridor and Taehyung shared a confused look with Jeongguk, usually the wind would be completely silent due to objects and treasures absorbing the brunt of the force, but it seemed maybe this place had already been ransacked; but that didn’t stop them from tentatively continuing to walk down, Jeongguk jokingly brushed his hand against TAehyung who leapt into the air, “you scared TaeTae?”

Taehyung scoffed, as he glanced down at the usual structure of the pyramids in the area continuing to walk forward, “No but I bet you are, little Gukkie.” If there was any nickname that would piss Jeongguk off this much, Taehyung had stumbled upon it a few years ago and was relentless in his use of it.

Their pace sped up as the sandy walls of the corridor seemed unending, and they both noticed the lack of decorations on the wall and how new all of the stones looked, compared to the worn down passages they were used to travelling from years of locals and explorers, in general, there was something off and Jeongguk didn’t like it as the hair on his arms raised.

“Guk, can you see that?” Taehyung nudged him before signalling to the end of the corridor where the dark shadows had collected unnaturally as if something was blocking the light. As they approached, tiptoeing although they knew it was stupid, quickly they realised it was the solid gold coffin that had been creating the shadow, and Jeongguk dropped his torch in surprise as it glittered in the light.

Although the local’s belief had been correct, the boys were still on edge as the journey had been too straight forward, and there had been no jewels, clothing or even boxes of decayed food leading up to the coffin. This would have been normal for any death, but the coffin was made of solid gold meant the corpse was a Pharaoh and therefore to be without any treasures, something was definitely wrong.

Taehyung circled the coffin slowly, inspecting the unscratched gold with a wide smile, but Jeongguk was more intrigued at what was inside as he reached into his bag for his crowbar, and slotting it between the openings in the coffin he applied enough pressure making it pop open, “You fucking idiot!” Taehyung screeched but the words didn’t reach Jeongguk’s ears as he was too busy inspecting what looked like black liquid leaking out of the coffin in interest.

But soon the leak, had caused the coffin lid to fall on the floor with a heavy clatter before a swarm of what looked like shadows emerged from the coffin as the boys stumbled back, Taehyung reaching for Jeongguk who had taken the brunt of the attack and when it finally cleared up, Jeongguk felt a weight on his chest, opening his eyes to see a girl sitting on his stomach, liquid gold eyes clearing up as she stared at him in shock before collapsing onto him with a gasp.

***

“What the fuck are we meant to do?” You watched the boys pace back and forth, and noticed that had been a phrase repeated ever since they had found you. When you had landed on Jeongguk’s chest and revealed you were, in fact, a Pharaoh of Egypt, was the first time you had heard the phrase. It had been repeated multiple times, as they lifted you onto the back of the camel and taken you to their camp.

You knew they were not speaking Egyptian anymore, yet your understanding of what they were saying was perfect, and you realised all the time locked up with Anubis had given you the power of language.

They had repeated that phrase again when you squirmed out of Jeongguk’s arms to run to the exit, before collapsing on the warm sand, tears streaming down your face as you looked at the sun that you thought you would never see again. The warmth that beat down on your skin and the soft scratch from the sand that had you digging your hands into it and enjoying the feeling and sight of anything other than darkness.

That was probably when they believed you were delusional, Taehyung, the boy with the sandy hair and kind eyes had given you water and insisted that you travel back with them so they could find your family. They had decided that you had been locked up by someone as a practical joke, but you knew who you were and why you had been locked away; punishment.

When you had insisted on sitting on Jeongguk’s camel, Taehyung had laughed when he had begun to complain, before he smiled at you and sent a glare to Jeongguk whilst helping you up, “Guk, people who are saved form a connection with their saviour. You saved her, therefore, she’s your problem now,”

You had frowned, “I am a problem?” The boys had looked at you in surprise when you had spoken, astounded that you had understood what they were saying as before Taehyung had translated you claiming you were a Pharoah.

But Jeongguk had enjoyed your company, you could tell by his blush and a small smile as he followed the group, and you wondered why he felt so familiar to you, why when your arms wrapped around his waist to hold on, you slotted perfectly in with his body.

When the boys had finally stopped complaining about their situation, you stopped looking back at your past day, looking up at Jeongguk who was holding something black and shiny in his hand and staring at it intently, “What is that in your hand?” Jeongguk glanced down at you in surprise.

“It’s a phone,” you raised an eyebrow as you tilted your head to look at it better, before he bent down to show you it. You had never seen anything so amazing, grabbing it from his hands as you mimicked what he had done, tapping on the screen and watching the picture change in amusement,

“I like this,” he smiled at your almost childish side before brushing the sand off of his shirt, making you glance at it in interest, “your style is awful, why do you cover your chest and why do you wear sleepwear on your legs?”

Jeongguk laughed, looking down at his trousers and trying to absorb what you had said as you sat opposite him wearing a borrowed white dress from one of the women staying at the camp, “It is bad manners to walk around without a top now,” you nodded in understanding.

Taehyung assumed you had suffered a concussion of sorts and had decided you were a Pharaoh, but Jeongguk agreed only to stop himself from being teased. But he believed you were telling the truth, you had told him about your life whilst sitting behind him on the camel, and there was something regal about you and for some reason, he felt like he knew you, that you would never lie to him.

“Jeongguk, get in here and help me file this necklace,” Taehyung shouted from inside a tent and as jeongguk leapt u, you followed him in interest to see the necklace. The tent was dimly lit and as you looked around for Taehyung, you noticed a very familiar object on the table, your necklace. Without a word, you walked over to it, picking it up in your hands as you felt your eyes begin to water at the remembrance that you had outlived everyone you had ever known and loved, your fingers traced the back of the sun shape and with a click, it unlocked to reveal a small portrait of your brother.

“Y/N?” Jeongguk’s hand landed on your shoulder, as he turned you slightly so he could see your expression, confused that you knew how to unlock it before realising it was yours, “Taehyung, I think the necklace is Y/N’s.” Taehyung grunted in acknowledgement, and you realised he didn’t believe you before you ran out of the tent, necklace clutched in your hand.

Jeongguk found you sitting in the sand, watching the sunset streak the sky with colours of orange and pink as you stroked the necklace lightly, he set the glass of water next to you, before sitting across from you and waiting for you to talk; which you did, “I have no place here anymore, no brother, no people to lead, no purpose. Thank you for releasing me from that hell, but I think it is time for me to join my people.”

You finally looked down from the sky, meeting Jeongguk’s eyes and as he tilted his head with a smile, you suddenly realised why you felt a connection to him, he looked exactly like your old fiance. jeongguk noticed your smile and shifted so he was sitting next to you, as he admired the view, you let yourself lean your head on his shoulder.

Jeongguk felt a sense of content, as he stroked your hair slowly, happy to see you relaxed and smiling instead of feeling out of place and as you looked up locking eyes with him, you felt drawn to his chocolate eyes, leaning forward until with a shout Taehyung interrupted the moment.

“Holy shit! I’ve made a huge discovery,” Taehyung shouted, he was holding his phone and as he came to a halt in front of you both, he stuck the device in your faces and you realised it was art form the palace walls, depicting your marriage to your fiance, that looked exactly like Jeongguk, “Guk, tell me that doesn’t look like you and the girl like Y/N! What does it mean Y/N? Are you married?”

You shook your head, thinking of the life you had left behind was still painful to you when you felt like only days had passed, when really it had been thousands of years, but you still wanted to explain. “It was foretelling the future of my marriage, I never was married and yes Jeongguk is the spitting image of my fiance.”

Jeongguk looked down at your interlinked hands, before pulling them into his lap and looking into your eyes, “Do you think I’m a reincarnation of your fiance?” Jeongguk had always believed in myths and it wasn’t too much for him to believe that destines soulmates would find each other in their next lives, so when you pursed your lips and nodded slowly, his heart began to beat in excitement.

Without thinking, he leant forward and pressed a swift kiss to your lips, before pulling you into a bone crushing hug, “I have always felt incomplete, but right here with you in my arms. I finally feel like I have found my missing piece, and I loved you even before I knew who I was to you.”

You smiled at him, before leaning back into a kiss, laughing as he complained about the sand that was all over your cheeks, but he still kissed them before kissing you on the lips in a kiss that had you seeing stars, and finally freeing you from the shackles the shadows had once controlled.

If you enjoyed this, please do not hesitate to like, reblog and comment~

And tell me your thoughts in the comments/ask box <3

For my masterlist: click here

[smoke-eyes-fic]

April Fool’s Drabble

Sorry folks cucu and I are still working on the new chapter. Getting schedules and brain meats lined up in the proper times to get stuff done has been a rather insane venture.  So as a sort of apology, and in observation of April Fool’s I give you an old drabble from my folders of long ago. It sadly doesn’t have an end cause I was never sure where to cut it off. Feel free to create the rest yourself.  Timeline wise - this is after all the whatever-goes-down in the fic. A happy ending with a house and a dog. And hi-jinks ensue. This is based on an old joke I made ages back. Many apologies to those who don’t get the gag. 

It had been an uneventful dusty summer day.  The few chores around the farm had been done in the early morning before the Texas sun started beating down. There was some minor maintenance work that needed to be done on Sam's tractor. But Engineer would get to that when the sun wasn't so high. In the mean time he'd been dozing on the couch watching a Western on the television with Fleabag the hound asleep on his feet. Spy had declared he'd seen enough John Wayne in his lifetime and was in some other part of the house reading.  The Spook was getting restless again, soon he'd start insisting they leave the farm and go traveling.

The doorbell rang startling the Texan awake, Fleabag bayed loudly running to greet whoever was at the door. "Better not be another salesman" he muttered darkly as he slowly rose from the couch, he had hoped they would have learned after the last time. "Just a minute" he called stomping to the door. "Dangit Flea!" he grunted grabbing the dog by the collar dragging him back so he could open the door. "Can ah hel-" he froze as he squinted at the figure through the screen door. 

It was a young girl in a red dress and a beat up red sun hat that threatened to slip over her eyes. "Hullo" she said quietly pushing her hat back to peer up at him. She looked to be no older than six he guessed, too young to be out by herself. Something about her made him doubt she was here to sell cookies. Girl scouts didn't usually bring suitcases with them. He wasn't sure why, but he had a sinking suspicion he knew who to blame for this.

His suspicions were confirmed as she finally added  "I'm looking for my Papa."  

This was a bad dream, he tried to tell himself, closing his eyes for a moment. He would open them and he'd still be on the couch with his movie.  He opened his eyes and the girl and her red hat and suitcase were still standing on the doorstep with no sign of disappearing into thin air."Spah!" he yelled into the house "Git out here!"

Unable in good conscience to leave the child on the doorstep he opened the screen door and gestured for her to come in. Quietly she stepped inside, she turned to her suit case but the Texan had already picked it up. He noticed it was battered but well made, labels from all over the world covered the scuffed leather.

"Who was at the door?" Spy asked walking into the room."Relative of yours?" he asked glancing at the girl, his eyes seemed to avoid looking at the suitcase.

"Actually-"

"Papa!" the girl cut the Texan off walking towards the Frenchman.

A choked sound emitted from Spy's mouth instead of words as he stood rigid in the doorway.

"-She says she's one of yours." Engineer finished lamely.

The child stopped in front of him oblivious to the fact the man was turning a rather unpleasant shade of gray.  She placed her chubby hand into her dress pocket and pulled out a small sealed envelope and held it out to him. Quickly regaining composure Spy accepted the letter, ripping it open. His eyes darted across the papers, narrowing with every line before his hand lowered  and glowered at the girl.

"What's it say?" the Texan asked but neither the girl or Frenchman offered any explanation.

Brushing past the girl he took the letter from Spy's slack grip. It was elegant stationary, the message itself was French written in neat flowery feminine hand writing.

"This is a trick." Spy insisted loudly to no one in particular. "Putain de menteur,"

"Don't use language like that with kids present."  Engineer scolded him as he tried to translate the letter but was having trouble concentrating, his mind reeling through too many things at once.  Who was this girl? Where was her mother? Who was her mother?  How did she come to be here in the middle of Texas?

"Merde! -I'll use whatever language I feel lik-" the Frenchman found himself silenced by one of the Texan's hands over his mouth.

"Hush." he hissed, looking at the ceiling and began slowly counting to ten, trying to organize his thoughts.

He never doubted that Spy had children. From his understanding of the man and his past misadventures, he was willing to guess the snake had fathered at least three or four. Though that was a rather conservative guess he told himself. He never expected to meet any of them. Let alone for one to end up on his doorstep.

He hoped this wasn't the start of a trend.

Finally reaching ten he lowered his hand from Spy's mouth hoping the idiot would have the sense to stay quiet for the time being. Looking back down at the girl he noted the resemblance between her and Spy. The same eyes, dark hair, thankfully she seemed to have been spared the man's nose.

"Where's your Mama  sweetie?" he asked kneeling down to look her in the eye.

"Dunno, she dropped me off at the gate." the girl informed him simply as if this was the most normal thing in the world ."She told me I was staying here for a while with my Papa and his friend while she worked." Well that explained the suitcase, and why he hadn't heard a car drive up. Or why the girl didn't seem confused to see him in addition to her father.

"She's not staying here!" Spy insisted to no one who was listening.

"What's your name?"  

The girl's eyes darted up at Spy and back to him, "Carmen" she responded, not the least bit shy.

"Ah tell yah what, Carmen. Let's go to the kitchen, get you some cookies and milk while your Papa and I talk. Would you like that?"

The girl eagerly nodded and followed him into the small kitchen. He sat her down at the table and pulled a couple of cookies out of the cookie jar. He nervously bit into one of the cookies, hardly tasting it as he chewed into dust,  before putting the entire ceramic jar in front of the girl. Glaring at Spy who had tried to palm a cookie for himself,  he poured the child a large mug of milk and left the jug out where she could hopefully reach it.

"Now you stay here, while we talk in the other room.  Alright?"  Carmen was too occupied with her mouth full of crumbs to do much more than nod. With a wide forced smile for the girl's benefit he grabbed Spy's arm before he could slip away and dragged the protesting man out of the kitchen to the other end of the house, hopefully out of ear shot.  

"That girl and her putain mère are liars!" Spy insisted to Engineer who leaned on the door that was only escape from the room.

"Who's her mother?" he asked irritably.

"It was a long time ago." the Frenchman answered defensively. "Years - before you and I-"

"-That's obvious. So who is she?"

"I was trailing her for BLU, they suspected she was courier for an exchange of Austrailium from a black market source. Then one thing led to another and-" the man shrugged pulling his cigarette case out of his pocket.

"So who is she?"

"She was an agent for Reliable Excavation. One of their spies, our paths had never crossed before. Never crossed after. It was a- one night tryst."

"Yah slept with an enemy Spy?!"  

"I slept with you!" Spy pointed out.  "Still do," he added.

"T-that's-" the Texan sputtered. "t-that's neither here nor there!" he insisted feeling his ears burn. "B-but an enemy spy?" He shouldn't be surprised that the man had affairs with others from RED. He'd known that the Frenchman had little regard for rules or boundaries. At least that explained how the woman had tracked Spy down here. He imagined that only another person in the same line of work could manage that. He held the letter over his face and skimmed the letter haphazardly translating the French writing in his head.

Dear [what the hell does she call him - his name - his alias? Spy? Shithead? Idiot?]

I see you and your pet cowboy have settled down for now. You do like to make yourself difficult to find don't you?

You've had your fun, now it's time to take responsibility for past mistakes. I'm sure you don't remember much of me or that night we fought in Las Vegas. Or what came after. I wouldn't have thought much of it myself, if it wasn't for the end results. Her name is Carmen by the way.  

I've been called away to a job - I'll be away for an unknown amount of time and it seemed it was high time the two of you got to know each other. I'm sure you'd agree with me that a child should know their parents. If only to see what poor life choices look like.

Before you start calling me a liar I have included some lab work you should see. My Medic owed me a couple of favors-.

Curious Engineer flipped to the next page. It looked like some sort of lab chart, "She included a paternity test." he said quietly.

"What?" the chart was yanked out of Engineers hands roughly. "How did she even…" Spy trailed off muttering profanity darkly under his breath.

The Texan sighed and went back to reading the letter.

- I expect you to take good care of her since she is your own flesh and blood. I will be back to collect her. Do not think you can dump her in an orphanage for your convenience. If you do, or if anything else happens to her be assured I will hunt you and every alias you ever used down and make you suffer. The same threat applies to your pudgy companion as well.

"Pudgy?" he repeated - rubbing the back of his neck.  

  "This has got to be a fake!" Spy fumed on, the floorboards creaking as he paced, "Where the hell would she even get a sample?"

Engineer sighed, half an hour ago he had been dozing on the couch, planning repairs to a tractor not worrying about some kid that got dumped on his doorstep. "Spook" he pinched the bridge of his nose. "Spook" he repeated again "Could'ya- Could'ya stop pacin' for a sec?"