#if you want me to write a longer version lmk!!! i have started it

[tiny-pun]

Fool-ish

Hero, surprised: You killed that person too? When? Villian: After you’ve met them and before now. Hero, gritting their teeth: Obviously. When exactly? And why for that matter as well! Villian: A foolish reason; now that I think about it. They threatened you. To expose you. To let your little secret slip out. Hero, shocked:...

[a-rat-who-writes]

Cove's Alphabet SFW

The safe-for-work version of Cove Holden's Alphabet is finally here! Enjoy my lovelies. (Took so much longer to write because it has over double the word count than the NSFW one <3) ALSO! This version is for all genders, so if you find something that is tailored specifically to a woman or male, lmk and I'll correct it :)

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?) Cove loves to hold your hand and do the little thumb thing where he rubs it against the side of your hand. He often holds your hand whenever you two are around each other, no matter the circumstance. You two are walking to a beach? He’ll hold your hand. He’s kissing you? He reaches for your hand. It’s a little intimate act that doesn’t make him embarrassed, and it means a lot to be able to stay within arms reach of you at all times. He also has a thing for placing his lips somewhere where you did or eating a portion of food where you also ate part of it. For example, if you two are out on a little date night and you both get different desserts, he will ask to try whatever dessert you’re eating only because he likes the idea of indirectly kissing like this. If you offer him any food, he will almost always put his mouth not directly, but on half of the area you already bit out of rather than on the opposite side of the food, like a sandwich.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) You two met when you both were very young, obviously, and you two bonded more over how Cove didn’t know how to deal with his trauma with his family's divorce and moving to a new place. If we are sticking with this idea, he grew fond of you very quickly because you were the first person he met in Sunset Bird, and you always tried your best to include him in different activities or to spend one-on-one time with him to learn about his interests; he naturally also began doing that with you too! If we are wanting to be a bit annoying and say you two really became friends in step 2 or 3, he already knew you since he often saw you when he went to the beach and because you lived right across the street. He made small gestures like offering you a drink (A Caprisun or something) and you would accept it. Or.. he would ask you something about school since you two went to the same one, like: "MC, um… do you happen to know how to solve for x?" or "I’m stuck on my fourth quote. Can you help me find something to use? I looked so many times, but nothing fits with my topic sentence." Of course, you would always help him because you either had no clue yourself or because you were better at the subject he asked about, which allowed you two to bond more often. When helping him with something, he always got sidetracked by pointing something out about your room or telling you something that went on in his day and wanting your opinion about it. Regardless of when you both became friends, he always had little inside jokes with you, and you both often wore them out too quickly, or he would always tell you random facts he learned about the sea, like: "Did you know jellyfish are just floating blobs and they don’t think?" or: "The male seahorse actually gives birth instead of the female one, so do you think that means they still have the same lower regions like humans or do you think it’s swapped?" Regardless, there is always something stewing in Cove’s mind that he is more than happy to ask you about.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) Cove is an absolute sucker for cuddling—just not in his bed. You two have cuddled on multiple occasions when you were both friends, such as when the two of you watched a movie together, he often sat next to you, and somehow you both ended up falling asleep, his head resting on yours. If the two of you are dating, he often gets too flustered to sleep next to you in his bed because he can get very flustered when being absolutely alone with you and in such intimate proximity. He often lets you cuddle him when the two of you are just relaxing at his house on a couch, or if he is exhausted from his work shift, he will make a beeline for your house after work and rest his head on your lap while mindlessly telling you about the random shenanigans of his work day. (Bonus points if you put Cove’s front hair into a ponytail or if you just thread your fingers through his hair, which often makes him blush due to how good it feels.)

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) At some point, he wouldn’t be against moving in regardless of you two being friends, dating, or engaged. He won’t ever tell you he is a bit of a messy person, and you will find out the exact day you move in that he is a little bit of a slob. He doesn’t leave random dishes around, but he has random shirts strewn across his room, and sometimes he’ll leave dishes unwashed for days, but he eventually gets to doing it. He also barely uses his closet. He often just picks out shirts and pants from the basket he threw them in after washing his clothes, rather than putting them away like a civil human being. (You’ll just have to deal with the sand problem because somehow, regardless of whether he was going swimming that day, he tracks sand into the main entryway.) He also cannot cook for shit, but he can prepare miscellaneous foods that his mom taught him to cook, like chicken or tacos. His cooking abilities are very limited, but if there is a food you really enjoy, he will take the time while you are out to figure out how to cook it and eventually master it and cook it for you one night to impress you.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) Cove would always try to fix any problems between you two, but if things just became too much to bear, i.e: you constantly cheating on him or you doing something he’s told you make him uncomfortable too many times, he will find a way regardless of what you did to be nice until the end. He would sit you down wherever you live and have a genuine calm conversation with you, and when it gets to the point where he has to say the five words (We need to break up), he begins to tear up himself. During the whole conversation, he will hold your hand to try and comfort you, but really, it’s him coming to terms that it will be the last time he will be doing something like that with you or whoever he is breaking up with. After the conversation is done, which probably takes an hour and a half because he often beats around the bush, he will leave and beat himself up for the next couple of days before he gets over it.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?) Cove would definitely love to make you his wife/partner/husband at some point after you two are somewhat stable. Depending on when you propose to him or he proposes to you (If step 3), he prefers to stay engaged to you for a couple years before marrying you, then wait a little while longer before having kids. If you have issues or you just prefer not to be married, Cove totally understands, and he is willing to treat you like his forever partner, even if you both aren’t engaged. Ideally, Cove would like to marry you on the spot because you have such a chokehold on him, but, realistically, you two get married when you canonically would, so around 24. Regardless of when you get engaged, he will wait a couple years or whenever you are ready to settle down.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?) More often than not, Cove is a gentle person over a rough one. Especially when the two of you are getting intimate, he will always stay really gentle—more so the first couple of times—but he will treat you with respect. Physically, he always tries to gently hold your hand or caress your cheek gently before you two kiss to make things not only more sensual but also more comfortable. Emotionally, he will often not directly address an issue between you two but instead hint at it, trying his best to not hurt your feelings, even if he is the one annoyed by whatever.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) Cove loves hugs. He isn’t an overhugger, but he won’t ever turn you down if you ask for one. Especially if he is sad about something, he will cling to you like a sloth to a tree, crying into your shoulder, because we all know he is a bit of a crybaby. (In the best way possible, of course.) He often goes under rather than over, so he can hold your waist and put his face down on your shoulder. If you are sad and need a hug, he will always tightly hold you (especially if you have sensory issues) and keep you pressed against him while gently rubbing circles with his palm into your back. If you two are being intimate, the first thing he will do after you two finish is hug you tightly, even if it was a quickie and you needed to leave ASAP.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) He didn’t want to spring the three words on you too quickly in case you weren’t comfortable with admitting that to him yourself, so he waited, but also because he was a little nervous himself to admit he had such strong feelings for you. After 1 to 3 months, he will accidentally let it slip once. The very first time he said it to you was when you two were having a mini movie night at his house and the two of you were cuddled up on one of the main floor's couches, sharing a fleece blanket. At some point during the movie, you two end up kissing, and after he pulls away he rubs your cheek with his thumb gently and looks into your eyes before whispering under his breath: "God, I love you so much…". Your eyes almost popped out of your head when he said that, and when the words processed in his head, his hand that caressed your cheek instantly went to his mouth. You look a bit anxious yourself, reassuring him that it was adorable (Bonus points if this is when you also tell him you love him for the first time). You put your hands on either side of his head, sitting on your knees now, and you tell him how you are so glad he told you, and it means so much to you that he was finally able to say it. This makes you wonder, though: how many times before did he think about saying I love you in his head but never verbally?

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) Cove is pretty good when it comes to jealousy, so he won’t ever get nervous when you have any guy or girl friends (Depending on your gender and your sexuality). He believes in loyalty and faith, so he puts his full trust in you, but when someone flirts with you and you play into it a little, whether you’re aware of it yourself or not, he will shift over to you and put a hand on your waist, or he will pull a: "How’re you feeling [insert pet name you enjoy], good, I hope?" and he gives you a kiss on the forehead. This is usually enough to shut whatever down, but if it isn't, he will begin glaring at whoever is flirting with you, and he will insert himself into whatever conversation, acting a bit passive-aggressive because whoever wasn’t taking the hint.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?) Usually, Cove gets nervous with PDA, so the kisses you share are often short and sweet, such as quick pecks on the lips or a few seconds, but he makes up for it by following up with a kiss on your cheek. When the two of you are alone, the kisses are usually more lengthy, and he likes giving you quiet praise after you two finish (exactly how he accidentally let ‘I love you’ slip because it was natural). He likes to be kissed anywhere, honestly. On his head, hand, arms, chest, stomach, and, if you’re feeling a bit risque, on his inner thighs. Every kiss you give him, he cherishes, regardless of the placement. He often likes to kiss your cheeks, forehead, and the back of your palm. If he is feeling a bit risque, then he likes to give you kisses on your ankles (Bonus points if you are wearing an anklet).

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) You’d think he would get flustered around kids, but he is surprisingly good with them because Derek would sometimes bring Nico and Jorge over to Cove’s place, or Cove would go over to help watch them. Derek showed Cove the different tactics Nico often pulled to get his way, and he made sure to tell Cove all the important details about children, such as how to entertain them and what things to keep away from them. Cove can often handle children, even when they do gross things such as pick their noses or poop in their diapers, which he often takes care of himself, and if you two choose to have a child, he will be the primary one to take care of that. If you two have children or adopt, he is definitely the type to cry when you point out how old they're getting, even if they are 2.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?) Cove will often wake up a bit late, such as 10–11 am if he isn’t needed to go out anywhere, and he likes cuddling with you even while you both are awake in bed. He could spend a whole day just not getting out of bed and shifting positions with you in bed because he enjoys your warmth. If you are more of an early bird, he will often tighten his arms around your waist and keep you close to him, nuzzling his nose into the crease of your neck until you shake him off. If you two don’t spend the night together, you often go over to his house and wake him up by tugging at his hair, to which he will grab your hand and pull you closer to him if the two of you are dating. He won’t realize what he did at first, but when he does, he will get flustered and turn over, apologizing. He is slow to get out of bed and to brush his teeth, so his hair often goes unbrushed until after breakfast, unless you decide to brush it for him (Bonus points if you give him head kisses while you brush his hair).

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?) If you two are dating, he won’t bring up sleeping next to each other but instead ‘cuddle before you go home’. You don’t tell him, but you love it when he is so nervous about this because if he had just asked you directly, it wasn’t as if you’d turn him down anyway. He tries to stay up as late as you do, so if you go to sleep early, he will often watch a show or something while playing with your hair and giving you the occasional head kiss. He also loves nuzzling your nose when you’re sleepy, don’t ask him why, he just does. If you often stay up late, then he will try his best to stay by your side, whether he falls asleep in your bed or is sitting down beside your desk on the floor and falls asleep with his head against the seat of your chair. You will wake him up when you’re done, and he groggily gets up, clinging to you until you get in bed. Even if you need to change into pajamas, he will often just lend you his shirt, regardless of whether he has a spare, so you can lay down quicker with him. Or, if you need to brush your teeth, he will have his hands across your stomach and his head on top of yours / on your shoulder until you're done, and then he gets a little giddy when you tell him you’re done, laying down with him.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?) You two were friends before you both began dating, so you already knew a lot about him. If you ask him anything, he doesn’t mind telling you (especially if you ask him when you’re making/getting him a gift, he’ll pretend he has no idea why you’re asking him the question just to see your happy face when you give it to him). He isn’t a closed-off person; instead, he is more of an open book, but he is a bit nervous to tell you about what he likes intimately (Canon), but he will tell you in a quiet voice. Don’t ask him to repeat what he likes in intimate scenarios after he tells you once or twice in the same conversation because he will get too flustered and shut down. It’s a bit of a turn-on for him when you know all the little things about him, so he often mentions if he likes something mid-conversation if you two are on the topic about it.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) He is a pretty patient guy. Obviously, if you don’t understand something he doesn’t mind re-explaining it to you, and he actually finds it funny if you need something repeated more than twice. He is also patient when you get ready for dates if you’re the type to take over an hour to get ready. He enjoys sitting in the bathroom with you and watching you put on makeup (If you put it on) or style your hair / put it up. (If you do.) If you two are meeting up for a date, then he will wait all day for you, but how could you ever leave him waiting?

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?) For Cove, it’s a mix of it all. There are weirdly specific things he memorizes about you, like if you don’t like a specific condiment or if you put your hair behind your ear / tie it up when you are looking down at something, but he can’t remember your favorite color some days. If you bring up a music artist you often listen to, he will silently remind himself to keep it in mind, and he will write it down on his phone’s notes app so he doesn’t forget. He won’t tell you, but it got to the point where his notes app had too long of a list, so he switched over to Google Docs, and he has over 3 pages worth of information about what you like/dislike and why. Things he specifically memorizes are physical stuff about you, like your favorite jewelry or how you like to dress. When the two of you go out and spend a day together or go on a date, he, for some reason, counts the number of different pieces of jewelry you wear (if you do), as if you’ll ask him at the end of the night.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?) Every day with you is something special to Cove, so it would be hard for Cove to choose a specific moment, but back when you two were younger (Step 2) and you two went on that road trip, he’s really fond of the entire trip because he not only enjoyed the get-together and mix of your families, but he also likes that you specifically wear anklets for him now on because that was when you first found out he liked them. Despite him hitting his head on the top of the RV, he finds it funny now, and he can make fun of his little self for how flustered he was. (Bonus points if you tell him he isn’t any different currently.) (Bonus bonus points if you do something that makes him extremely flustered to prove your point.)

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) Typically, Cove would prefer to handle things with words rather than physically needing to deal with someone, so if someone were to badger you or annoy you, he would put his arm in front of you and be straightforward with a stern voice. Cove believes you can handle yourself for the most part, but he will always step in if you give him a glance or if you seem overwhelmed by someone. Typically, when Cove talks about something important, he beats around the bush a bit, but he won’t ever stand for someone disrespecting you. He will make sure you feel safe, and after everything is dealt with, he'll give you many kisses.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) Cove is definitely dedicated to any and all relationships he was/is in, so no matter what, he will remember your birthday, the time you two had your first date, and your anniversary, making sure to give you something or take you somewhere on that day. Just as it is important to you, it’s important to Cove to celebrate the days you both start a new beginning with each other, even if it’s a small step like when you two first kissed. (A little HC is that on your birthday he had a small gift he gave to you when the two of you were alone, and it was an anklet in your favorite color.) If there is something you typically need as an everyday thing, such as a hug, compliment, kiss, or even simple good morning/goodnight texts, Cove will make sure to pick up on those habits and do them as much as possible.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) Canonically, Cove often wipes his hands on his shorts, so multiple of his shorts have tiny stains on them. Staying on the food topic, Cove definitely is also a bit of a messy eater, leaving crumbs around his lips and on his shorts/pants after a meal. (Bonus points if you wipe it off for him.) (Bonus, BONUS points if you wipe a condiment off the side of his mouth and then lick it off your finger.) Cove also gives off naive vibes, so if you lie about something such as, "Cove, did you know that if you sneeze with your eyes open, they’ll pop out of your head?" Cove at first didn’t believe you, but the more he thought about it, the more he freaked out about it, and he now makes sure to always close his eyes.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) For the most part, Cove is pretty laid-back about his appearance, but he always makes sure he is wearing matching clothes. Somehow he never wears matching socks, but that’s beside the point. Something that he is a bit more strict about is his hair, though. He can spend roughly 10 minutes just trying to make his hair sweep around his cheeks properly because the night before he slept on it funny. He groans when it doesn’t look normal in the mirror after the first initial brushes, and then he increasingly feels the need to make it perfect before his dad or you usher him out of the bathroom.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?) Nope. Plain and simple, if he ever lost (as in died), he would never be able to forgive himself if he ever moved on from you, and he would spend the rest of his life indulging in the things you liked and weren’t able to do yet. On a less intense note, though, he doesn’t like to go more than a week without speaking to you, especially when he goes to visit his mom. As you are his childhood best friend, you are probably—no, definitely—the most important thing in his life, regardless of whether the two of you end up dating. He often spends a lot of his time just thinking about you, if not hanging out with or talking to you. He has a life outside of you with other friends and his parents, but a lot of his life is surrounded by you, and he wouldn’t have it any other way because you’ve made such an impact on him.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) Cove is the type to overload you with different memes and tiktoks. Even if the two of you are sitting next to each other, he will either text you a tiktok or send it to your account and watch your reaction. At the end of the day, if you don’t avidly keep up with his messages, you’ll end up with around 30 messages—if not more from Cove just consisting of tiktoks that are the ones that say ‘Us’ and then a picture, or a tiktok of a random fact if you are a girl, and ask "IS THIS TRUE???" and then send a tiktok of a girl peeling her skin off, explaining that she needs to shed her old skin on her period.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?) Canonically, Cove dislikes people who often push back plans or don’t follow through with them, such as pushing a date back multiple times because you wanted to hang out with your friends. He also dislikes people who won’t accept help and who are adamant about not accepting any sort of gift from him. He is the type to spoil his partner, and if you won’t accept any of his gifts, that will often put him down and make him uneasy. Something else that would irk Cove, since he is a bit of a messy person, is if his partner was someone super strict about cleaning or organization and pushed their rules onto him, he would be reluctant to date you, knowing his habits would make you frustrated and him too.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habit of theirs?) Cove love, love, loves to cuddle when he finally gets comfortable sleeping in the same bed/area with you. He ideally likes to cuddle where the two of you are facing each other or where one of you has your head in the other's chest while holding each other. If he is having a rough day, he definitely sleeps on his stomach and tends to shift positions a lot at night. He also has a habit of quietly snoring if you two do a lot in the day or after the two of you were intimate. Don’t ask me why, but Cove definitely is a blanket hog, but after you wake him up to have him give you some of the blankets, he will sleepily and excessively apologize.

[puella-1n-somn10]

🍁🍂 Fortress Magica [ A TF2 / PMMM AU Concept ] 🍂🍁

...Welp; I caved. Someone had to make a Team Fortress 2/Puella Magi Madoka Magica crossover someday, and that someone had to be me. The brain maggots worms were too strong.

So, before I open this can of concentrated ramblings and bullshit, I do have to write down out the groundworks of this AU in order for it to make sense in the context of both universes and to make it easier for both myself and my remaining sanity left. As such, the rules are as follows:

Outside the help of incubators, humans are still able to gain magical abilities from other sources, so Merasmus and the Bombinomicon aren't necessarily connected to Kyubey and the likes. Akin to the elements of the air we breathe in, however, they all function under the same label of what we deem as "magical", so these different systems of magic do tend to coincide with one another.

Girls are not the only ones who are able to contract with Kyubey, though they are the most common demographic. I have a long-ass rant on why I chose to say "fuck canon" on these grounds, but now is not the time for it.

The history and worldbuilding of Team Fortress 2 stay mostly the same; the Blu vs. Red team, Grey Mann taking over, Australium, Saxton Hale- all the likes, baby.

Since we were not given the definitive end of the comics, I'll leave it up to ya'll on whether the AU takes place after Saxton takes over Mann Co. and diverges the timeline from there, or that, somehow, everything was back to normal after that cliffhanger of an ending is all up to you. This WILL be important later down the line, especially when we get to Medic's part.

I will be referring to the masculine individuals who have contracted Kyubey as either Puer Magi or Mahou Otoko (Magical Man), the masculine version of Witches are called Hellerunes, and the plural version of those who have contracted are Magicae. If there are any errors with these decisions, please PLEASE lmk so I can correct them accordingly.

Building upon the above point, a Puer Magi's equivalent to a Witch's Kiss would a Hellerune's Touch; both being common types of love languages that have been twisted for the purpose of causing despair amongst mankind.

Ah, now that we got all that out of the way, I also need to point out that I, admittedly, have no clue on what I should do with Sniper, Soldier and Engineer; I still need to look up the foremost former's lore and character writing, Soldier's a wild card, and we weren't given a lot of info about Engi. On top of that, be prepared to realize that some sections are WAY longer than the others; I am still catching up on TF2 lore and the comics, so I apologize in advance for missing info, apparent character favoritism, etc.

Lastly, if you guys have your own tips, interpretations, or even whole-ass AUs surrounding the topic, please do share them!! I really wanna know and see ya'll's takes on a PMMM AU- it's so fun!

And with all that said and done, let's get down to the meat and potatoes of this topic, starting with....

--

Scout

Ah, the literal gift from God to straight ladies everywhere, and, no, that is not hyperbole. With a fate like that, a backstory of being the underdog amongst his family, and familiarity with bloodshed, you bet your ass that his karmic potential would be off the charts; possibly moreso than either Tart's or MADOKA'S.

When you look at his character, it becomes increasingly evident that he is prime candidate for being a Magi; outside his karmic destiny, he is the most, let's say, volatile of the mercenaries- the most likely to actually burn himself out due to sheer cockiness and pride alone - one second he believes that his soul gem is fine and dandy, then the next he sees how dark it became and goes "oh shit" -.

This is also without mentioning the potential reason why he would contract in the first place; deep beneath his egotistical exterior, you can see that he wants to keep bettering himself- to get stronger and faster, and for what? Well, either to impress the dames, or to protect his mama. After all, we all know that the "disappearance" of his father is such a painful memory to him that he dropped the tough guy act just to tell Heavy that he would rather not talk about it, period. So his wish would be related to wanting to keep his family safe- by becoming stronger.

--

Spy

Now you see him, and now you don't. We don't know much about the Spy outside of the barebones, evident details; he hailed from France, possesses technology that allows him to become invisible at will, is able to seamlessly, successfully disguise himself as any person in mind, and is Scout's mom's...buddy. True to his profession, the Spy is an enigma through and through, so the difficulty of properly placing him in this jigsaw puzzle of a universe is inevitable....

or is it? In the Naked and the Dead comic, he's disguised himself as Tom Hones in order to make sure Scout passes on peacefully, and admits to having hooked up with his mother- and conceiving him as result. As Scout closed his eyes, Spy reverts back to his real form, telling him how he was so proud of him- his own son.

A traumatic disappearance, immense karmic potential, the themes of gifts, and the spy's ability to be a literal chameleon...

Now, personally, I am unsure about Spy's wish that not only ties into his traumatic disappearance and Scout outright refusing to talk about it, but it should be tied to his canonical powers- whether it's his ability to turn invisible, him being a master of disguise, or both. I'd also wager that he's a veteran Puer Magi- and, as we all know, a magi gets weaker the older they get (the witch Roberta is one such example), so, over time, he's begun relying more on his intellect and deception than raw strength alone in order to win a fight.

--

Demoman:

He can see the Incubators even to this day. He claims to have killed the Loch Ness Monster. He has a possessed eye socket. The Eyelander is a sentient weapon, so you bet your ass he knows most of the rudimentary details about magic-

He is not a Puer Magi.

After he had lost one of his eyes and was returned to his biological family after accidentally killing his adoptive ones, a deep pit in his heart was formed and hollowed him out- from the expectations of him parents to the traumatic incident causing his eye to be removed, he was aimless, and, soon, fell into the hands of a witch-

Yes, yes, I know that this is similar to how Madoka met Homura, but remember: he had at least some skills as a demolitions expert at that time, on top of the whole possessed eye socket thing (which may or may not have a certain effect when wandering through witch domains). This is Tavish fucking Degroot we are talking about, so, even as a wee tot and influenced by a witch's kiss, you bet he's managed to blow that witch into smithereens right before whatever group of Magicae got to it. If Homura was able to do it with non-magical weapons, so could the iron-willed Tavish.

(either that, or he did get saved by a bunch of Magicae- it all depends on your interpretations, and I personally wanted throw him a bone here)

As the barrier dissipated, a grief seed slowly fell from the sky nearby the exhausted child. Whether he was curious as to what it was or saw it as once of his very first spoils of way, he took it. Whatever research a child like him at the time was able to do yielded barebones results; ranging from only talk and scraps regarding unresolved tragedies, to the unexplained runes that he was sure he's seen in that barrier.

So many threads, but very little leads - if any -. Tavish looked at the grief seed in his hands...

If he was going to get some answers, he was gonna hunt them down himself.

It wasn't tough to find another witch- or, rather, it was no challenge for another witch to come his way; with his eyesocket and that grief seed in his hands combined, he's practically become a magnet for all things magical. This time, however, Tavish was more than prepared if things got too nasty...and he wasn't alone in the hunt-

In the midst of debris and shifting magic, the silhouettes of multiple Magicae - and an odd, mishappen fox thing - came into view. Both sides had their fair share of questions; the context and absurdity of it all on Tavish's side, and the inherent impossibility of an ordinary human being able to take down a witch on that of the veteran magical people. Considering the pros and cons, the group made an alliance with the young boy, as an ever-curious Kyubey looks on- intrigues by Tavish's peculiar abilities.

Over time, the young lad and the veteran magicae grew closer, even if it was still odd to them that Tavish didn't contract. It wasn't that he didn't want to be a magical boy - he'd be lying if he said he wasn't curious over the idea of having any wish he desires come true, and he was damn close to contracting several times, too -, yet experience with magical artifacts have left a sour taste in his mouth, so he had his suspicions. He'd wave his hand at the ferret thing and say "Probably another time."

Despite the apparent ups of the Magicae life, there were also the many downs in this rollercoaster. Though he was closer to the sidelines, Tavish was able to witness all the downfalls that come with this duty of becoming bound by Kyubey's sick rules.

By the time he was a teenager, the last member of their group fell - shattered their own soul gem in order to spare themselves the inevitability of becoming a witch -, and all he was able to do was...walk away with their body in his arms between tears; a noble person like them deserved a proper burial.

Without much consideration into his emotional strife, Kyubey inquired the demolitions expert whether or not he considered bringing the team back. He had all these chances to change all this handed to him on a silver platter, and he almost caved in numerous times - whether from guilt or the pressure from his "teammates" -; so why the hesitation? It wasn't as if he didn't need any additional magical abilities- so why couldn't he help his friends?

Help? Help them by bringing them back into this shithole of a life they fell into? A vicious cycle of betrayal, backstabbing, and inhumanity?

What befell each and every one of them was terrible, but it was outright selfish if he were to "save" them by dragging them into this endless samsara of horror.

Bitterly, the Scot scoffed at the alien beneath his feet.

"If I've got one wish..."

SQUASH

"Then I'd wish for ya to go back to whatever hell ya came from."

Nowadays, outside of his experience working with the Magicae and his knowledge of the incubators, he is still our lovable, honorable, sword-wielding drunkard. He eventually joined Mann Co. participated in the Gravel War, and the rest was history. The lives of the mercenaries were on the way of reaching a familiar beat and tune they were all comfortable with...

That was, until his eye caught the glimpse of something fuzzy and white.

His blood ran cold- and he was damn sure it wasn't the alcohol poisoning his senses this time.

--

Medic

(TW: mentions of Antisemitism, N-zis, unsanitary topics)

"It's the sound of progress, mein friend."

Our lovable quack doctor himself. Much like Spy and Pyro, we weren't given much information surrounding his backstory aside from his dialogue in Meet the Medic - in which he reveals that he has stolen a patient's bones and had his medical license revoked - and the subtle yet shockingly plentiful nudges towards his Jewish heritage and the, uh, considering the time period, he's had to escape his home in Germany due to All ThatTM. Yes, he has little to no respect for the hippocratic oath and the human dignity, but one can't help but wonder whether or not his apparent insanity did come from somewhere.

So, where can we go with the Medic? You remember when I said that the timeline will affect how we're gonna go with him? Because we are going the Hellerune route 100%.

Medic's obsession with his sick idea of "medicine", studies, and experiments will be his downfall, and I believe his wish has something to do with his advanced surgical techniques. After all, he's managed to fully heal Soldier without having to separate the blood types and by using his fucking underwear to get all the blood in the first place. It wouldn't be a stretch to already call him a witch in human form, not only due to said obsession, but also the fact that he has 8 souls sewn into himself sans his own.

Here's where the problem with the timelines starts to show; I am personally of the opinion that the souls Medic has were that of the Classic team's, because, if it were his teammates' souls, then not only would that not make much sense chronologically, but Sniper and Scout would have been barred from Heaven had it been the case. After all, Medic did sell one of those souls to Satan just for his pen.

If we were to go with the Saxton timeline, then the souls must have come from someplace else- since we also need a valid reason for Kyubey to target Scout; it wouldn't be in his best interest to target someone who is running around without said soul, after all.

So why am I blabbering on about the whole soul deal? Because, my dear friends, not only will they boost his Hellerune's powers - if we're going by the logic that the reason why Walpurgis is so stupidly powerful is because she's a fusion of several other witches herself -, but they'd also influence one set of his familiars.

Yes, I am aware that a witch's familiars are reflective of the witch's inner thoughts, their desires, and even goals; while Oktavia's Holgers exist solely to provide music for her, the Clara Dolls openly mock and berate Homulilly as she endlessly marches on towards her death sentence.

HOWEVER-

Holger was not Oktavia's only familiar throughout the timelines Homura went through; the first time she's ever seen Sayaka become a witch, the familiars that Oktavia had manifested in that timeline were the Klarissas, who were tasked to dance behind the witch as she focused on defeating the magical girls in her sights without giving a care for their wellbeing. Do take note that Holger and Klarissa both represent the two individuals who have aided in Sayaka's descent into despair; Kyosuke and Hitomi. Plus, let's not get into Walpurgisnacht's familiars, especially in the manga.

Besides, even if that wasn't the case, the souls have to manifest in some way. So whether his Hellerune's familiars look like random patients or the Classic team heavily depends on where this AU takes place in the TF2 comics' timeline. Either way, they ain't gonna be looking pretty.

Going back to Medic, I am certain that he seeked out the incubators himself; though his domain primarily focuses on human physiology, human experimentation and "medicine", he did showcase his fair share of intrigue towards magic whenever Merasmus is around, and even states that he has chosen the wrong field to study- that magic was the way to go. That's also without mentioning the wish-making aspect in all this- even if he would probably try and experiment on the incubator whenever he could, you bet that this would pique his interest from the get-go.

I'll be going by the possibility that Kyubey, whether prior to or during contracting, figured out that Medic had more than one soul within him- thus, multiple destinies. Status as a hivemind be damned, whatever Kyubey that Medic ran into hit the jackpot with that one.

Medic was already deep into immorality and obsession; while he would look for less-than-moral ways to keep his soul gem constantly functioning, all he'll be doing at this point was delay the inevitable- perhaps even unknowingly increasing his own karma in the process (whether or not this means even more souls being sewn into his system is up to ya'll). His fate was sealed as soon as his and the incubator's eyes met.

Aside from the familiars, the additional souls have also boosted his Hellerune's power and sentience- that, or it was his already-fleeting sanity that allowed him to stay aware in this new form. If Walpurgis achieved such strength via fusion, Medic was like this as soon as his Hellerune hatched.

His memories and moral standing as a Hellerune...wouldn't really change much. He's already caused more than enough despair as a human (just ask the classics and look at the money he blew just by siding with them /j); I bet he's still our old medic, just in a new body...and, boy, he's LOVING it.

And, yes, Archimedes would be another one of his familiars; he'll find a way to drag that bird into his barrier.

--

Pyro

So, remember when I said that though the kinds of magic Merasmus and Kyubey utilize are vastly different, they are still interlinked and are under one label? There are many a factors and intersections that come between these two systems, and, as we are going to dive into, Pyro is one of those links that tie them all together.

Depending on your own interpretation of Pyro, whether or not they are under Pyrovision 100% of the time, and how their Pyrovision manifests in the first place is all up to you. I will simply be talking about how this ties into the Madokaverse and try to make as much sense of it as I could, but, as I said earlier, I am all open for interpretations and suggestions.

You see, in this AU, Pyrovision kinda functions like the evert mechanic present in the game Eversion- that everything is somehow real and not just to Pyro; that Pyrovision is simply another "layer" or perspective of reality. As such, the logic of non-magi being unable to see witches, their familiars, or even the incubators does not apply to Pyro because their perception is vastly different from that of a common person.

Whether they've contracted or not and their perspective on the witches+familiars+kyubey+etc., again, it all falls on one's own interpretation of Pyro's character. I could start going on about mine, but that would lean too much into hc territories and this post was getting too long, anyway. ^^;

--

Heavy

Finally, we end it all with the big man himself, the face of Team Fortress 2; Mikhail. The stone-cold killing machine with a sound mind and soft soul (who else would willingly starve themselves just to keep animals alive? Much less personally name his own guns?).

Just like Scout, there are many a reasons as to why Heavy would be a target for contracting; much like Tavish, his backstory is riddled with tragedy- upon his father's death, Heavy, his mother, and his sisters were sent to the North Siberian Gulag due to said dad being a counter-revolutionist. They were there for 3 months, but it was still approximately 91 days of being trapped in a heartless, frozen hell- until a fire consumed the camp, the soldiers there perishing, and the prisoners - heavy and his family included - running free from the disaster.

A...frankly fucked up story so far, and let's not get into the implication that he might have had something to do with the burning of said gulag; that he risked his life for the chance of his younger sisters and mother to be set free. This speaks volumes of Heavy's role as a guardian figure to those around him, and as one of the most understanding and empathetic of the mercs next to Demoman and Engineer.

Above all else, the Heavy's duty revolves around the safety of his teammates, both during gameplay and in-lore. He values the lives of those around him, human or otherwise, and, like Tavish, has a sense of duty- in his case, it is towards his surviving family and the comrades of his team. What better wish would fit a giant like him than wishing to ensure the safe escape of his family and the other prisoners?

Yes, this does fit in rather well with the rules and present themes of karma and sacrifice PMMM is so well-known for. The contrast between his and Medic's destinies is evident; in which Heavy's empathy and the specifications of his wish have assisted in allowing him to live on for so long- to stay still and strong to keep on for his loved ones' sakes, while Medic's fervent fascination with his unorthodox experiments in the name of discovery, progress, and satiating his sick curiosity was eventually his downfall.

--

I wish I was able to write more here, I really do (especially Heavy's reaction to Medic witching out, and said Hellerune not only recognizing him but also calling out his name). Alas, it is 2 in the morning where I live atm, so I'll leave it all here for now. :'D Sorry!

[little-ortist180]

Okay having a small crisis here.

I have two Lego Monkie Kid OC’s. Both of which I want to ship with Red Son and MK. Originally, i had planned who I wanted to ship with who, but I was reading through some prompts and I started getting second thoughts.

—

OC#1: ChuangZao Zhe—Only daughter of a rich and well-respected family. She was supposed to be married off, but on the day of her wedding she ran away, ending up arriving at Megapolis. And if you’re reading my fanfiction “The Princess Servant” on AO3, then you’d recognize her a bit. She just has a different backstory since it’s an AU. Her development and overall concept took a lot longer to come up with and settle on.

Originally, I wanted to ship her with MK. I already started writing a fanfiction for the two(their ship name being something that had to do with jewels and noodles because the fanfiction was going to be called “Jewels and Noodles”). It starts off with ChuangZao Zhe(or Zao for the sake of not saying long names) entering the Tuk-Tuk in her fancy-dancy clothing and MK notices how much she sticks out. He tries getting her name, but he says that the order had nothing to do with her name, only her “brother”(she doesn’t have a brother), Zhe. Later on he sees her at a park feeding pigeons, except she isn’t in her silk and jewels, only a hoodie and jean. i haven’t gotten much further than that, but I plan on making her spill her personal shit sometime. Or, well, planned.

See, when the concept of ChuangZao Zhe first came to mind, she was a LMK AU of my sona(at the time). My sona was called Crea Torr, and by the name you could assume that her actual name was Creator, which is more of her race than anything. When an ex-friend of mine and I wanted to put our sona’s into this AU, I had to come up with a new design and name for her. Chuangzao Zhe means “Creator,” however I shortened it to Chuang Zao,Chuang for short. She was in the place of Red Son, so I basically womanified Red Son, and made the character represent Crea. After a while, and after that friend and I had a falling out, I revamped her. So now, her name was ChuangZao Zhe(the full translation of and she had a new design. However, I paired her with Red Son. I changed her personality to be more motherly, but I made a swapped version so I could still have that old design and personality, just a little more yassified. And only recently have I decided to scrap that idea and change her character completely, as well as ship her with MK instead of Red Son.

OC#2: Jengji Tengwan—Tengwan for short, a plant demoness who majors in biology, botany, and biochemistry, essentially a mad scientist. Her sinister goal is to make a new race of organisms to repopulate the Earth, this race being part plant, part animal. She started this goal due to her devastation of the world being taken over by technology and modernization. Translating to “Vine of Thorns” or “Thorny Vines,” she’s my newest OC and already I love her personality, her design, and her character over all. I sort of based her hair off of ChuangZao Zhe’s, but I based one of her outfits entirely off of the Red Son version of Zao’s outfit. However, that would only be her lab uniform. Her main outfit is different. Since I decided to ship Zao with MK, I decided to go “Hey, what if villain x villain” and shipped her with Red Son. I thought it would be a good concept because they are both mad scientists, they’re both demons, and both of them are evil(well, Red Son isn’t evil evil but you get the point). There wasn’t much development for this one, since she’s new and all, but I was able to come up with her backstory and stuff.

—

So now that I’ve cleared that up, it’s time to talk about my crisis.

While looking up “enemies to lovers” prompts, I stumbled across. . . this:

So then, I was like “Oh who could i do this with?” Then it hit me and that’s when things came crashing down.

MK and Jengji Tengwan. MK, a hero. Tengwan, a villain. So now, I’m having trouble deciding which tropes I wanted.

—

MK/ChuangZao Zhe: Dorky hero/Stoic rich girl trying to run away from her family—Strangers to lovers trope. I’ve already explained much of the plot that i wanted to use for these two, but I like the idea of MK wanting to meet someone who looks new and “cool” in his eyes, eventually making friends with her but also developing feelings for her. He also seems like a very dependable person when she will open up to him, probably relating to her since he was given a on he’s now found trouble accepting.

MK/Jengji Tengwan: Dorky hero/Unhinged biochemist villain—This one was the enemies to lovers trope that I find a lot of interest in. I can think of a scenario where maybe MK and Tengwan are fighting and the conversation goes something like the one in the prompt. Tengwan, being surprisingly easy to fluster, would say something more like “No!. . . What. . . Gave it away?” And she would say the whole “Can’t you just kill me instead?” part. I was debating if things could actually get intimate between the two, but I feel like that could always be open for debate later since I’m not too much of a spicy writer. As enemies, MK would do whatever to keep people safe from Tengwan abducting them for experiments. As lovers, I feel like it could take a while for Tengwan to settle down. This could provide sort of comedic scenarios between the two, like maybe she invites him to her lab and she wants to show off her collection of plant/animal hybrids and mutants. Or maybe Tengwan visits the Tuk-Tuk and orders noodles, asking for some pretty unusual stuff and MK would have to justify her weirdness.

Red Son/ChuangZao Zhe: Hot headed and short tempered kind-of-hero/Stoic rich girl trying to run away from her family—They would definitely grow impatient with each other. Red Son would be easily annoyed by her blandness, smart mouth, and lack of communication. Zao would get annoyed by his temper, but would definitely get mouthy with him. I’m not sure if this would be enemies to lovers or what, but they’d probably meet each other through MK an his friends. These two would have more comedic scenes due to their constant bickering with each other. They wouldn’t fight very physically, but if they ever would then it would end up in an awkward situation, like Red Son makes the first move and somehow he’s pinned her on the ground(oopsie). There would also be a lot of name calling, mainly by Red Son.

Red Son/Jengji Tengwan: Hot headed and short tempered sort-of-hero/Unhinged biochemist villain—I’m not sure how i feel about these two. On one hand, scientist meets scientist could he fun, but on the other hand one scientist would probably want to turn the other into some plant/demon abomination. Honestly, I don’t have much to say about these two, but from their personalities you could come up with some stuff in your head.

—

And that concludes this post. While writing this, I’m sure I’ve already started making my decision. But chances are I’m gonna do all four of those tropes, mainly Red Son/Zao and MK/Tengwan. But if you wanna give some feedback about your opinions, then I’m open to suggestions.

[heroes-of-olympus-next-gen]

I have a few more questions if you don't mind!

Since poor Jason *spoilers for TOA* is dead (in canon, he's still alive in my heart and headcanons) do Robbie and Nellie no longer exist?

Are Collin and Winifred demigods, legacies, or mortals?

Since Reyna and Malcolm are no longer a thing, what happened to Alex and Ivy?

How old is Emily Zhang II compared to every one else?

(Sorry for asking so many questions lol)

Don’t apologise for asking questions! It’s always a pleasure talking with all of you!

So, let’s start with the easier questions. Colin and Winifred are both legacies from both of their parents, like Octavian was in the books. Meaning: they come from families that have been linked with certain Gods. I am not 100% sure which Gods they are related to but as of today Colin is a legacy of Dionysus and Winifred of Aphrodite.

My girl Emily is the same age as Ryder and Theo. She’s one of my favourite characters that I haven’t gotten the chance to write more about as she lives in New Rome (or maybe Vancouver? Haven’t made up my mind about that either)

I started writing about all of these characters (or different versions of them) since 2017. I was still in denial from the Burning Maze and I thought that there was a chance that Jason was alive. Thus, I kept Nellie and Robbie. But last summer, while I was writing the main story (that is getting rewritten) I decided that I liked the pairing of Piper with Shel or with another woman so I technically tossed aside Robbie and Nellie. They aren’t anymore (for now at least) part of my upcoming WIPs, but I might write about them in the future or if I get a specific ask or prompt about them. But you won’t see them in works like “that’s how you get the girl” or any similar pieces. Even when I’ll rewrite Heroes of Olympus next gen on Ao3 they will have their own work but most likely won’t be in all of the chapters. (For ex. Robbie was originally Charlie’s best friend as you may have noticed after Junior Year they drift apart and stop being friends)

What I wrote about Nellie and Robbie is the same thing that happens with Alex and Ivy. I had an idea but when I got a bit older it didn’t seem that good. Ivy was Hylla’s daughter and I haven’t made up my mind if I’ll keep her as a side character or just delete her. But in any case she’s not part of the plot line from now on. With Alex on the other hand, I have some ideas that I’m really tempted to write (lmk if you want explaining to do) but like the other three I’m still thinking about it.

I hope what I wrote made sense and answered at least some of your questions. Don’t hesitate to ask me anything you want! This blog is a safe place for everyone and I’m here to answer your questions about the characters only I really know everything about. Plus, your questions are what keeps this blog alive! Can’t wait for your next ask❤️ take care :)

[string-cutters]

Headcanons - Various

A post for various headcanons for this blog, let’s gooo!

The Mayor/Zimo

It is really hard for Zimo to stop smiling- borderline impossible. He’s still trying to get better at it, but he’s been smiling near-nonstop for centuries, so he’s quite used to having a creepy grin plastered over his face to hide how he’s actually feeling.

Zimo’s power is cumulative- every single soul he’s cut down over the centuries, he’s absorbed the life force of. He gains more power the more he kills.

He is morally gray, wanting a better future but still more than willing to kill to get it. Zimo’s early life is all but an echo now- but faint rings of it can still be felt in how he carries himself in combat, and around royalty/gods. While he is out from under LBD’s control.... He’s still very much permanently changed by her command. If you dare try to harm what he cares about... Prepare to suffer.

Due to the amount of power within him, Zimo is now slowly (and trust me when I say ‘slowly’), constantly disintegrating. The cracks in his skin glow a rather brilliant white with undertones of blue, but he does his best to use a glamour to hide these cracks from mortals’ sights.

When he is powerless, his eyes are a rather muted green.

Zimo can speak and write any known language in his world.- He’s had centuries to do whatever, so for a time, he lent himself over to learning as many tongues as possible.

In my AUs, Zimo is, in fact, the mayor of Megapolis- he’s just usually very quiet and rarely seen in public, although that flipped on its head as LMK began.

He still struggles from time to time, trying to get around the built-in wording to call LBD ‘my lady’ or ‘my mistress’. It... Irks him every time he does.

Zimo can contort his body in any way, shape, and form with no harm to himself. However, he usually doesn’t do as such due to how... Unsettled it makes those around him.

Writer of Worlds/Doll

They have a new ability in this version of LMK.- They can access the power of Nature, one of the darkest Writer alternates. This power is on par with the Samadhi Fire (capable of ripping the universe itself asunder), yet they showed a great degree of control over it when they were using it in their battle against MK and crew (and Zimo). This ability can only be accessed when they are flooded with power, and is controlled almost entirely by emotion.

Unlike their other alternates in the LMK area of the Writerverse, Doll has no item on them to signify what variant of Writer they are. They view the scars in their skin as evidence enough of their version of reality.

Due to the Mayor advocating (for a time) for a more livable minimum wage, Writer (in this universe) is able to afford more than they can in other LMK Writer-verses.

Both/String Cutters

The tropes this couple generally follows are: patching up wounds and worrying about losing the other, light combat couple vibes (with Mayor slowly showing Writer how to actually fight), acquaintances to friends to lovers, ‘the world’s shit but we’ll find the beauty in it anyway’.

Looks like a cinnamon roll (and is a cinnamon roll) x looks like they would kill you (and would kill you), ‘has never gotten in trouble’ x ‘gives no shits’.

The scars the two have from Zimo’s power start around the heart, and go outward- Zimo has less despite having his powers longer, simply due to his powers only recently growing unstable. Writer has more scars due to their body not having been prepared for that amount of power.

Writer tends to call Zimo ‘Z’, regardless of if they’re in public or not. Zimo usually calls Writer by name in public (at least, when reporters are around) and refers to them as ‘Sunflower’ when there are no reporters present.

The two are running on very limited time, as far as they know- and yet, they have very little PDA outside of potentially holding hands while in the general public.

[clairecrive]

can u make a nikolai x reader based on the song mr perfectly fine by taylor swift?

Mr Perfectly fine

A/n: Ahh, thank to you friend, I've been jamming to this song every day lmao Hope I've done it justice x Also, I've left out some parts of the lyrics to make it better fit the story.

(if you want, you can add yourself to my taglist here)

for my other masterlists, you can find them on my navigation page

Word count: more than 7K (ikik it took a life of his own, what can I say)

Warnings: bit of fluff, angst (like a lot), character's death, spoiler if you haven't read Siege and Storm

Tagging: @jupiterandbutterflies (Thank you so much for your comment! I saw it and it made my day✨)

(I don't remember where I took this from so if you know pls lmk)

Most people knew of Nikolai Lanstov. He was a prince, the second born and the most charming. Most people knew him thanks to the countless rumours that went around at court: supposedly he was not of royal blood. "Sobachka" was what they called him.

No matter how though, everyone knew of the last Lanstov prince. But very little knew him.

Meeting him wasn't difficult. Since he had been of age, Nikolai had always been out of the Grand Palace and among people. He’d also volunteered to enlist in the first army, refusing any kind of special treatment and fought beside his brothers in arms in the infantry. That was part of the reason why everyone outside the court loved him so much.

Being Grisha meant that fighting in the Second Army was mandatory. Not that you minded. There was nothing you wanted more for your people than to finally be free. Also, that Shadow Fold needed to go and as the Darkling has always said, all efforts are necessary.

That’s how you met Nikolai the first time. Generally, the First and the Second Army were stationed in different parts of the campsite. Numerous quarrels between oprichniki and Grisha had rendered the separation necessary. However, you never liked crowds much and living in the Little Palace meant that you were always surrounded by people. So, every chance you had to draw away and be by yourself for a while, you took it. Also, being a Healer meant that you’d spent more time in your assigned tent taking care of soldiers than among them.

Word had gone around that everyone in need could come to you. Usually, you had been instructed by the Darkling that your powers were reserved for Grisha. However, what good was it to have the ability to cure people and only take care of a selected few that very rarely got seriously injured? Meanwhile, soldiers of the First Army often suffered from severe injuries, fatal gunshots or knife wounds. You could help them and possibly save their lives so why shouldn’t you?

That was why Nikolai found you one night. Sure at that point it was just another nameless soldier to you. He had never been in your tent before so you had never seen his face before. The boy whose arm he had draped on his shoulders though, was a usual visitor of yours.

“Oh, Petyr, what happened this time?” gesturing to his blond friend to lay him down on the table, you started gathering everything you needed. Not that you needed much but you had found out that Petyr was absolutely incapable of bearing having his bones or injuries in general repaired without having some kind of pain reliever before.

After a few tries, you came up with a herbal composition that dulled the pain but didn’t make him unconscious. Using kvas would mean that Petyr would be knocked out for a couple of hours. That would put him in trouble with his superiors.

“He’s a fool, that’s what happened.” The explanation came from his friend after he put him down gently. Despite his words, you could hear in his tone worry and guilt?

“If saving your life makes me a fool then go ahead and call me one,” Petyr huffed in pain.

“Who knew you were so brave, uh?” After quickly shredding the herbs you needed, you poured hot water on it and brought the cup to Petyr’s lips while helping him keep his head up.

“He’s the bravest of us all,”

“If I knew it took a bullet wound to make you hand out compliments so easily, I would have done it sooner.” Scoffed Petyr after sending you a thankful look.

“See? What did I tell you? A fool,” his friend said dramatically and you smiled amused at their playful banter.

“Let’s see what we’re dealing with, shall we?” You said out loud to warn both Petyr and his friend. Letting them know what was about to happen was best, your experience taught you. Both for the person on the table that could brace themselves for what was about to happen and for the person with him that was filled with worry and cautiousness. Oprichniki didn’t trust Grisha that much.

After assessing the damage, you let out a relieved sigh as the bullet had gotten through and it had not hit any major artery. It had already got infected though, so you knew it would be a painful one to treat.

“So, did you receive any letters lately, Pety?” You ask, suggestively wiggling your eyebrows while your hands cover the wound. You had your eyes closed to better focus but you were sure that he had rolled his eyes.

“Only from my mum.”

“Don’t tell me you didn’t write her back,” you said, opening your eye just in time to send him a glare.

“Ugh, not this again, y/n, please. Have mercy on me, I’m bleeding all over the table.” Petyr moaned making his friend snicker.

“You’re not bleeding all over the table and if you didn’t notice, I’m already taking care of you, am I not? That doesn’t excuse you for being an idiot, though.”

“Are you two in cahoots or something? It’s not fair. Wounded man over here.”

“Oh shut up.” Both you and his blond friend said at the same time. Petyr moaned once again and you sent a little amused smile to the blondie.

“Should I leave you with a cool battle scar? Maybe acting like a war hero will give you the balls to write to her.” You harmlessly threatened him but your hands were already reconnecting the tissue of his skin without letting it scar.

“I’ve told you, y/n. She deserves better than what I can give her. I am, who knows if I even make it home? I’d be only stringing her along.” Now Petyr was dead serious. It was true, you had talked about this often since he was a regular you got to know him better and he had soon told you about his sweet Katia.

While his friend chanted “fool” like a mantra in the background, you took his bloodied hand in yours, his wound fully healed.

“Petyr, how do you think she’s gonna react when she learns that there hasn’t been any delay to her letters but you’re just ignoring her? Besides, you should let her make this decision too. Who knows, she’ll surprise you.” Squeezing his hand you turned to let your words settle and to put away your utensils. You knew you had given him so much food for thought so you didn’t address the subject anymore. His friend helped him off the table and that’s when you noticed that he was injured too. He had a pretty nasty cut on his lower lip and there was already a bruise forming on his temple.

“Petyr, you can sit on my chair while I take care of your friend. You should be fine but for at least a while don’t stress your body.”

Mentally making a list of the things you need to tend to this kind of wound and where you kept them, you started collecting before heading back to them.

Petyr had sat down but his friend was still standing.

“You don’t have to lie down if you don’t want to, but unless you don’t want me to go take a ladder or something, it would be best if you sat on the table.” You gave him your best reassuring smile as you mixed the healing paste. Sometimes, men didn’t like to put themselves in a vulnerable position with someone they didn’t know and had learned to fear. He wasn’t that badly hurt and it would only take a couple of seconds to fix but not every oprichniki was comfortable with being healed by Grisha power. So the paste would do your job for you. It would take longer, sure and it would also sting a lot more but at least he’d be healed at last.

After looking at you for a little while, the blond man did as you instructed, giving you a dazzling smile in return when you settled between his legs to fix his cut.

“The name is Nikolai or handsome if you prefer.” It was not the first time a wounded soldier tried to flirt with you. IT didn’t bother you, you found them amusing more than anything and you knew it was the allure of someone taking care of them speaking more than any real interest.

“Let’s hope you won’t be around here much for me to learn your name.”

“I’ll have to find another way to make myself unforgettable then.” He winked at you before hopping off the table.

You didn’t address his words, only gave them the paste you had prepared. It would prevent any wound from being infected and would be able to cure small cuts and bruises if applied for a couple of days. With that, you sent them both on their way. Petyr waving you goodbye while Nikolai sent you another wink.

And so this was how it all started.

Mr. "Perfect face"

Mr. "Here to stay"

Mr. "Looked me in the eye and told me you would never go away"

Everything was right

Despite your fellow Grisha, military life could be a bit alienating. Which sounded like a paradox, sure, but everyone had their own way of processing trauma and emotions and of course there were plenty of those during the war. If the best way to come to terms with everything that happened was to distance yourself from others and try to find the solution in solitude, it could get to the point where you’d feel alone in a room full of people.

To get a little respite, you’d usually go on a long walk or resort to stargaze. Sometimes, depending on where you were posted, it wasn’t safe to leave the campsite. So, that’s how Nikolai found you one night. Even he had to take a breather once in a while. Being a different version of yourself based on who you’re interlocutor was must be exhausting. Of course, you didn’t know this. You knew nothing about Nikolai at that point if not that he was Petyr’s friend and a socialite, according to other soldiers.

He seemed to be at the centre of gossip no matter what group of people you found yourself with and there also seemed to be a consensus about him. Everyone liked him. Even if it was rare for some Grisha to appreciate oprichniki, you knew they somewhat respected him because if they didn’t praise him out loud, they didn’t speak ill of him either.

“Not a fan of crowds, are you?” he announced his presence before sitting down beside you.

“I love them, I really do. It’s just that sometimes it gets too much.”

“Yeah, I know how you feel.”

“You do? Everyone seems to think you’re a socialite.”

“It’s what I want them to think but alas, I enjoy being more complex and multifaceted than that.” He lightly bumped your shoulder with his, eyes aflame with mischief.

“I bet.” you simply smirked. Despite how everyone seemed to think they knew him, you got the peculiar vibe from him, like there was a lot more to him than what he let everyone see.

“No one seems to know much about you.”

“Maybe you’ve talked to the wrong people.”

“Well, then I guess it’s better if I got straight to the source, don’t you think?”

“That will surely be a better start. Not sure you’ll find what you’re looking for though.”

“We’ll see.”

That night had been the first of many. It had become a sort of an unspoken arrangement between the two of you. While it didn’t last long, you sensed that you got to know him better than everyone. There was something about late nights meetings under the stars that prompted deep and meaningful conversations. It wasn’t hard to form a solid bond with him after a few nights.

The conversations weren’t always personal in the conventional sense. You’d often stray and talk about the most bizarre things. Like why something had the name it had or how cool it’d be if it was possible to pass through surfaces, which led to imagine all the uncomfortable situations one could find themselves in if they were to simply go into a room through its wall.

Nikolai was witty, overly confident and ambitious and he knew a lot of things. You always wondered how he had learned them since he was so young and been in the army for a couple of years already. But Nikolai was never too forward on certain topics, his family and childhood being some of those. You understood, those were sore subjects for you too. So you never insisted. It was much more interesting to listen to him rumble about impossible future projects of his, like a flying ship.

"When people say impossible, they usually mean improbable." He’d say whenever you’d point it out to him. Somehow, despite the absolute absurdity of them, the sheer confidence that he seemed to constantly exude, made you consider the possibility of his success.

You got the distinct feeling that there was nothing this man couldn’t do.

But that was when I got to know Mr. "Change of heart"

Mr. "Leaves me all alone," I fall apart

It takes everything in me just to get up each day

But it's wonderful to see that you're okay

But, alas, as all things do, these encounters of yours also got to an end. You knew it would happen, you were both soldiers so your lives were both heavily characterised by uncertainty after all. However, you were not prepared for it to end so abruptly though. And without an apparent reason. Because Nikolai’s unit hadn’t been posted elsewhere and he hadn’t been fatally wounded. You would have heard of it were that the case. But it wasn’t.

You thought that he had come to cherish your nightly encounters too. Some of those had been full of his promises. How he’d love for you to be around when he’d eventually find the time to work on his ideas. How you had been a nice surprise, a most interesting person among so many dull idiots you were surrounded by every day. How he’d come to value your opinions and presence in his life and that he was going to find a way to make sure that that would never change. Promises that turned to be empty.

You had never allowed yourself to fully believe him. It wasn’t the first time that a boy had made the same kind of promises but Nikolai looked sincere. Honest enough to be believable. But, of course, you had been wrong.

You didn’t realise just how much you had come to rely on him until he was gone. You tried to keep your mind off him and luckily the perfect distraction came your way. The Darkling had scheduled an attack on the enemy’s army and had posted you to be on the field to take care of everyone promptly. You had never been more grateful to the man, even after he had given her a home and a purpose.

Ever since your first encounter with Nikolai, you had thought it had been a blessing. However, you had soon changed your mind and now considered a curse more than anything. Why? Because as soon as you got to the field you couldn’t help but scour the troops for a familiar mop of blond hair. Many looked like him and being this far you couldn’t be sure that he wasn’t one of them but you certainly despised the leap your heart made every time though. That was a distraction you couldn’t afford. Besides, it wasn’t smart to let your heart get involved in times of war.

The battle began, Inferni and Squallers were working together to impair the enemy’s visual so they couldn’t shoot or use their cannons while the First Army marched after them to swap in as soon as the air cleared to catch the enemy by surprise. While your role wasn’t active per se, you were a Corporalki after all, and even if you had been specifically trained as Healer, you had also got one of your friends to teach you the basics of an Heartrender’s work. You weren’t a powerful one but you could hold your ground in a fight. Especially since they weren’t expecting you. And you were still far from any real threat.

The battle dragged on and soon there were wounded soldiers that needed your attention. You hated this kind of work, it was messy and dirty and had to be quick because spending too much time on one soldier could mean dooming another to death. You were accustomed to it by now and soon found a rhythm focusing on ensuring everyone’s survival and not bothering with the aesthetic side of healing. That could be taken care of later if they wanted to.

As soon as your eyes fell onto a crouched figure you sprinted towards them. It was dirty and you didn’t recognize them but you got the feeling it was a life or death situation. Oh, how you wanted to be wrong.

The person crouching turned out to be Nikolai and he wasn’t alone. He was kneeling beside someone, Petyr.

“Where are you hurt?” you hurriedly asked as you tried to assess the damage. His uniform was dirty and full of blood but you couldn’t figure out where it was coming from. Trying to answer you, Petyr opened his mouth only to let out the most gruesome gurgling sound as his respiratory tract was flooded by blood.

“He got shot in the gut.” Nikolai offered.

“Is the bullet still inside?” Opening his uniform jacket you tore a piece from his shirt to use it to put pressure on the wound.

“It’s too late,” Nikolai uttered.

“No.” You strongly refused as you removed the cloth and focused on the wound. His heart was straightening and he had already lost a lot of blood. If the bullet was still inside that it was going to be a problem, if it wasn’t then you still had a fighting chance.

“I removed it earlier.” So that was why he had lost so much blood. Nodding your head to show that you had heard him, you set out to stop the internal bleeding. Slowing his heartbeat so that it was pumping less blood and thus eased your endeavour. You were still in the middle of the field and while you were keeping up with the warfare but in the back of your mind, you registered the sounds of screaming and of gunshots getting closer. A bullet hit you in the shoulder propelling you forward over Petyr’s body. Grisha’s kefta were bulletproof so you weren’t worried for your incolumity but for the harsh movement you had made.

Leaning back, you heard Nikolai calling for you but your eyes were trained on Petyr. You tried to listen for his heartbeat but could only hear two instead of three. Nikolai, who had never left your side, immediately understood what had happened by the fall of your shoulders and the tensing of your hands.

He kept calling for you but the only thing you could focus on was that you had let your friend down. Now there will be one more family crying for a loss, another girl mourning a lost loved one. And it was all your fault. It was because of you that Petyr wouldn’t live to see another day, to write another letter or to fight another battle. It was on you.

The details of what happened next were a bit blurred. Someway you must have found your way back to the campsite. Whether you did on your own after tending to everyone else, you didn’t know. Your memories picked up after you woke up in your tent. Someone was calling your name, saying that the Darkling wanted to see you.

Mechanically you raised and made your way to the Darkling’s tent but your mind was elsewhere. Your thoughts were plagued by Petyr’s face, by that godforsaken sound he made when he tried to speak. The realisation that he was gone hit you like a wall of brick that would have made you stumble if you weren't’ sat in front of the Darkling’s desk. Whether he was speaking and stopped after seeing the forlorn look in your eyes or he hadn’t been speaking at all, you didn’t realize. You did hear him say that you were going to be posted somewhere. Under different circumstances you have said something, anything to not let him send you away. Your mind immediately went to Nikolai. You’d be leaving him behind along with the campsite.

However, you now realised that you had already lost him. Losing Petyr had been the last thing that had completely severed your bond. There was no turning back now and part of you was grateful.

Hello Mr. "Perfectly fine"

How's your heart after breaking mine?

I've been Miss "Misery" since your goodbye

And you're Mr. "Perfectly fine"

You couldn’t know, of course, but Nikolai had left not long after you did. Albeit for a different reason. He had finally earned the Major rank and as such, he took a step back from military life deciding that his skill would be better suited for a life on the sea. Assuring Ravka the supply she needed but in ways that weren’t exactly suitable for a prince but worked just fine for a privateer. And thus Sturmhond came to life.

As for you, you kept doing your job at your new post but were relieved when a letter came from the Darkling instructing that you were needed at the Little Palace. Part of you had relegated Nikolai to that part of your mind where the unmentionable was, however, a traitor thought whispered that maybe there was a chance that you could see him at the royal grounds. Sure, the possibilities were close to zero but it was still possible, right?

No.

You already were ashamed of the fact that you’re still suffering because of him. And yes, you missed him but you weren’t going to indulge the pathetic hope of seeing him again.

He doesn’t want to see you. If he did, he would have already found you. Or write you a letter if he couldn’t, but he didn’t.

You were right. You knew you were, nonetheless, the thought only brought you a bittersweet feeling.

You found the Little Palace just how you’d left it and yet it seemed changed in a way. The insane amount of work you found there waiting for you helped you drown the feeling that it was you that had changed.

Months passed this way, sometimes the Darkling would post you with him or outside the Little Palace. All in all, you’ve kept busy. When news of the little prince leaving the Palace reached you, you let it wash over you. It wasn’t like it mattered much, whether he was a few feet away or in another nation, Nikolai wasn’t part of your life either way.

When the whole expansion of the Fold happened, you were stationed at the Little Palace. Chaos and terror ensued as soon as the news reached the capital making most of the Grisha flee. Most of them went looking for the Darkling while others simply ran away and hid. You were amongst the first group.

Soon, your life was radically changed. The shift in the Darkling was palpable and it didn’t have anything to do with the scars on his face. You had tried your best to heal them and Genya to tailor them away but somehow, they could not be removed. It was an unsettling thing to realize that they didn’t take away his beauty. One could even say that they enhanced his attractiveness.

He was certainly more powerful. None of you knew what had happened in the Fold that day, just that the Sun Summoner had fled and that there were no survivors apart from him. However, as your journey in pursuit of Alina dragged on, you were soon witnesses of his newfound power.

The nichevo’ya, he called them.

He had always been immensely powerful. One of a kind. But this- this was different. And as dread settled among your group as you watched them in action, realisation sat heavily on your shoulders.

He soon found a trail and traced Alina in Novyi Zem and set out to reach the island by hiring Sturmhond’s crew. He was a famous pirate after all and despite his unreliability, the Darkling was sure that as long as he got his money, he wouldn't be a problem.

In the round trip, you didn’t see much of the captain anyway. Some members of his crew were amiable enough, particularly the Yul-Baatar twins. You had even asked Tamar to spar with you from time to time. Your lessons with Botnik were a distant memory and you knew that mastering combat training skills could increase your chance at survival.

When Alina and Mal were held captive though, that’s when Sturmhond made an appearance. He looked younger than you’d thought and there was something oddly familiar in the way he held himself. Still, you didn't talk with him much. Your job was to take care of Alina and so you spent most of your time in her room.

It wasn’t until the Darkling asked Mal to track Rusalye and consequently spent more time with Alina that you had a chance to talk with him. It was during one of your night shifts when he approached you, the Darkling had wanted some of his to always be patrolling the ship.

“What could possibly make a little thing like you be amidst this wretched company?”

“It’s all a matter of perspective, I guess.”

“The thrill of adventure?”

“There’s plenty of it everywhere you go if you’re Grisha, even if you just go on a stroll.”

“Is that why you follow him?”

“I owe everything to him.”

“I’m sure you realize your role in this.”

“Of course I do. I’m not some naive girl who has a crush on her general.”

“Ah, so who, pray tell, do you have a crush on then, beautiful lady?”

“You’re certainly noisy for a pirate.”

“Privateer,” he corrected you, “there’s not much to do around here is it?”

“Not if you have everyone taking care of it, no.”

“Amuse me.”

“It isn’t wise to let the heart get involved in times of war.” That was all you were willing to share. Yes, he was handsome. Yes, the twinkle in his eyes was oddly familiar but he was a stranger. A dangerous one.

“Those sound like words spoken from experience.”

“Maybe.”

“Well, I’d say it’s no fun to only think about war. Life is so much more.”

“Believe me, if I could, it’d be the last thing on my mind. But, alas, l don’t have the privilege to do so.”

You had already lost too much time speaking with him. If someone were to see you or tell the Darkling you’d be in trouble. And you had made it your goal to never put yourself on the path of the Darkling’s anger. So you excused yourself and went back to your rounds.

If only you had stayed and talked to him more maybe you would have understood what was about to happen. Maybe you would have had an enkindling of Sturmhond’s plans. Instead, you were taken by surprise, just like everyone in your group, when Rusalye was spot and a shot was fired. You had found yourself in the uncomfortable position of having to fight against people you had grown to like.

“I don’t want to hurt you, y/n,” Tamar warned you as you stood face to face on the sinking ship dock. Her trusted axes in her hands while your hands were raised ready to attack.

“I don’t want to hurt you either.”

“Then you don’t have to. Come with us.” Her proposition made you gasp.

“That would be treason,” you whispered hoping that the Darkling wasn’t around to hear you. A shiver ran through you as you thought of the punishment he’d give you for even thinking about leaving his side.

“Then you leave me no choice.” She said lowering her arms. Was that guilt you heard in her voice?

Before you could voice your question though, she shouted for her brother and not even a second later, you felt your body grow still. Your eyebrows faltered as you felt your heartbeat slow down.

They were Grisha.

They must have seen you realise because you heard Tamar apologize before everything went black.

Mr. "Never told me why"

He goes about his day

Forgets he ever even heard my name

Well, I thought you might be different than the rest, I guess you're all the same

You didn’t stay out for long though. As soon as Sturmhond’s crew had left the Darkling’s ship and had safely made it onto the Volkvolny, the privateer had asked for you to be awakened.

There wasn’t enough light for you to realize you were on another ship, what alerted you of your new situation were your hands. They had bound them behind your back. Immediately you started to struggle, hoping to wiggle out of the restraints. To no avail though. Huffing out in frustration, you settled for looking around you and see if there was something you could use. That’s when you noticed him.

“Release me- this instant, or else-”

“Or what? You’re a Healer. Not exactly a violent job, is it?” Sturmhond interrupted you, a smirk on his face since he had the upper hand.

“I don’t need my powers to kick you in the ass, do I?” He laughed but didn’t look remotely threatened. Rather amused, actually.

“Please, you have to let me go. He’ll kill me if-” Panic started to build as you realized that there was no way you could successfully escape.

“He won’t touch you.” A solemn glow took over his eyes. “He won’t ever hurt you again, you have my word.” He promised, looking subtly at your left shoulder. You winced as you realized that he must have seen your scars. The ones left by the Darkling’s niche’voya.

“How can I know if you’re trustworthy? You don’t exactly have a good score, you know?”

“You’re going to find out soon enough. Don’t worry.”

Of course, he didn’t bother offering further explanations. He’d left it at that. You weren’t a captive per se but he left your hands bound, only freeing them when you needed to eat or relieve yourself.

Fruitless were your efforts in making you tell more. He often ate with you and would check in at least twice a day but that was it.

It wasn’t until after you had landed after that forsaken vehicle of his had gotten you through the Fold that you understood. His coming out as Nikolai Lanstov, prince and second in line for the Ravkan throne, had shaken you all to your core. However, you doubted that it had sent a pang to the others’ hearts as it did with yours.

Nikolai Lantsov. The man you had been dreaming about, the one that had left you behind without any sort of explanations, the one you missed so dearly, had been by your side all this time.

You weren’t sure how you felt. It made sense now why his eyes looked familiar and his posture. You then connected that the vehicle you had used in the Fold had been one of the many projects he used to geek about with you. It tasted a lot like betrayal. Not because he had lied to you about his name but because he had tried to get close to you again and had managed to somehow break that growing bond again.

'Cause I hear he's got his arm 'round a brand-new girl

I've been pickin' up my heart, he's been pickin' up her

So dignified in your well-pressed suit

So strategized, all the eyes on you

Oh, he's so smug, Mr. "Always wins"

So far above me in every sense

So far above feeling anything

Even if his secret had been outed thus causing some shift in the dynamics between Nikolai and the two new members of his crew - you suspected Mal was closer to punching him every second that passed- not much had changed for you.

On the outside, you pretty much looked like a prisoner. Albeit a very clean one. You rode with them, hands still bound, scowl ever-present on your face.

Nikolai had not come to see you ever since that night after the Fold. And now it had been almost a week since you had started your journey back to the capital. Whether this was all part of his plan to make you look the part of the captive even more or he was just gutless, you didn't know. It was working either way though.

You liked to think that his reason was simply that he didn't care. He had far too much on his plate right now as it was. Going back to court after years of absence while also making claims to the throne and trying to sway the Sun Summoner your way. It was no easy feat. But hadn't he always liked to say that impossible often meant improbable? A lot of things had changed since that night but even so, you'd still pose your bet on him that he'd be able to achieve anything he set his mind to.

It wasn't exactly that thinking this way brought you actual comfort. Of course, not. But it was better than foolishly hoping for him to still care about you the way you did for him. After all, he had sent plenty of signals that pointed in the other direction.

But then why did he kidnap you? Why take you with him? You weren't that close to the Darkling to be of any use to Nikolai in that way. And, as a matter of fact, no one had come to interrogate you regarding his plans or whereabouts. Then why?

You still couldn't figure it out.

Some days your anger shifted more to frustration and you were ounces away from asking for him yourself. Almost as if he had heard you though, he gave you the final push.

It was the usual day, Nikolai and Alina were riding in the carriage, stopping in every village we passed to meet with the locals. However, this time, before climbing back into the carriage, they kissed.

You were too far to figure out who started it and the details. The gist of it was enough though.

You most certainly were a fool. Still thinking about a guy who didn't give two shits about you, who had kidnapped you putting you in a dangerous situation and you were still wondering whether he felt something for you or not? Pathetic.

You had to do something about your situation and quickly too. Officially, you were a traitor. You had fled and joined the Darkling, that wouldn't make you look good in front of the king. He was a lousy bastard anyway and will probably sentence you to death to set an example. You hadn't survived so much shit to end up at the end of a rope.

So, even though you had initially thought against it since you were so close to home, you decided to escape. You were already headed towards certain death so what was the worst that could happen?

Your hands were left unbound when you were in your tent. One less problem to solve. Closing your eyes, you focused on listening for any nearby heartbeats. You heard two, those of the guards posted outside your tent. Maybe you could find an excuse to call them inside, put them to sleep and then slip away.

That was not exactly what your powers were for but you were desperate. You had to at least try.

And so you did. You called them in and immediately set out to slow their heartbeats. You had almost succeeded in putting them under when someone else slipped in. The last person you wanted to see.

"Am I that bad of a host?"

You didn't meet his ruse though, you knew it would make you lose focus.

"I'm afraid I have to ask you to release my soldiers." As soon as he said it though, they fell unconscious at last. Your chest was heaving by now, using so much power in such a different way was costing you. But you couldn't back down now. It was one on one and you were Grisha and a woman scorned. He stood no chance.

"Move out of my way, your highness."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

"You can or I can make you. Your choice." The venom in your voice was unmistakable and it took him by surprise. He gave you a curious look tilting his head to the side like he was seeing you for the first time over again.

"I didn't realize ruthlessness was one of your personality traits."

"You know nothing about me," you seethed. The tip of your fingers flexed, the tension in the room could be cut with a knife and you were already weary.

"It may have been a while y/n, but I like to think I know a good deal about you."

"And I would like to completely erase this last year but you don't hear me yap about how shitty it has been, do you?"

"You never did like opening up much."

"I'm well past the point of sentimentalism, Nikolai. It is coming far too late anyway. And whatever my feelings for you may be, I won't let you put my life on the line." Your posture straightened, stance ready for battle.

His eyes flashed, jaw clenched. His hands closed in fists and he almost looked hurt. But why would he?

"Is that what you think all of this is?" Nikolai always acted aloof. He was always composed and dignified. You had thought it was for his insane amount of self-confidence but now you understood it was for how he was raised. But you recognised the pout on his lips. It was the expression he’d always have whenever he tried to get something from getting to him. To prevent himself from showing emotions.

"You're holding me captive while you go around Ravka parading your latest conquest, flashing your return everywhere. I don't know why you're doing this but I don't care. I've stopped waiting around for you and I certainly won't let your father put me to death."

"You think I'd let him?"

"So you want to do this?" you threw your hands up in exasperation, "Fine. You really want to know what I think?"

"Be my guest."

"I think that the Nikolai I knew would have left out of the blue without so much as a letter. I think that the Nikolai I knew was ready to go to any length to achieve what he believed in. However, I thought that the Nikolai I knew cared about me and what we had but look at me now. So maybe, I know nothing at all."

"You certainly do seem to know a lot of things. But you’re not wrong."

"If this is the way you care about me," I gesture to my tent, "then I'm not sure I want this Nikolai to care for me."

“This,” he said, emulating your gesture, “is to keep you safe. This is my way to ensure that if the Darkling got news of your whereabouts, he’d be sure not to think you willingly left his side and betrayed him.”

“That’s because I didn’t!” You raised your voice in outrage. The nerve of this man.

“Spare me your indignation. I know you hate being at his beck and call, to do his dirty work and be constantly surrounded by warfare.”

“Do not presume to speak for me.” You snapped. You knew it was best to keep a cool head but his cockiness was getting on your nerves.

“Didn’t you? Hate it, I mean.”

“We’re at war, Nikolai. Being away or close to the Darkling won’t change that. At least with him, I was safe.”

“You can’t be that delusional to think that he was protecting you.” He scoffed at your words as if they were the most absurd thing he had ever heard.

“And you can’t be that delusional to think that bringing me back won’t result in your father killing me.” You fired back shifting on your feet. He winced as if you had physically hurt him.

“You have so little faith in me?” His voice was just above a whisper and you knew that your words had struck a chord.

“How can I have any, Nikolai?” your voice softened a bit. “One day you’re telling me how much you value my opinion, you promise me a future where I’d be the first to see your project come to life and then you left. You just left, Nikolai.” And when I was starting to make my peace with it that’s when you come back? Also, let’s not forget about my abduction and your flirting with Alina.”

“So yes, I don’t trust you.” You concluded, crossing your arms on your chest with finality. He just stared at you for the longest time. If someone would come in now, they’d think you were in the middle of a staring contest. Then he sighed and started talking.

“I had to go away. I had already pushed my parents’ limits when I said I wanted to be part of the infantry. So, one day I got a letter written by my father personally and I knew that my time was up. I had been Nikolai for too long, now I had to start being a Lantsov prince.” His eyes were on the ground now, shame making her way in his words.

“So that’s what I did,” he went as he started pacing,”I went to Kerch to study, just like my father wanted. I did what he asked, he couldn’t reproach me anything now. I could never stay too still though, a life of adventure was calling me and I could not ignore it. It was only then that I realized that I could do so much more than sitting in a class, to realistically help Ravka.”

“I couldn’t take you with me. You had such a larger role to play in the army and besides, there wasn’t much I could offer you. So yes, I left. I left thinking that I would find my way back to you eventually.” He had stopped by now, regret was swirling in his shining orbs as he looked at you.

“You could have told me.” You contestated, taken back by all the information he gave you. “I would have waited for you.” A whispered promise for something that would never be now.

“I was afraid, y/n. That’s not my best moment, I know and no number of apologies could ever make it right. But I was afraid of your answer. I knew I’d be asking for a lot and let’s be honest-” the desperation in his tone was evident now, he had unconsciously started to lean towards you but you knew what he was about to say.

“You weren’t sure if the future you were offering me would just end up with me being your mistress, am I right?” Your tone hardened but despite the insulting implication of what you said, you weren’t made at him.

“I’m a prince, y/n. We do not marry for love and this country cannot afford to disregard the advantages that a political union could bring.”

His honesty was as refreshing as it was unsettling. He was right. As soon as you had learned he was a prince, you realized just what kind of future you could have with him. But then he left and that problem did not exist anymore. Neither of you spoke, both of you were seizing the other. You had laid it all out, defences were down putting you both in a vulnerable position.

And someday maybe you'll miss me

“You should have talked to me, Nikolai. We could have figured it out together. If it came to being your mistress to stay with you, then that was my decision to make.” You said softly after a while. It pained for you to say this, you would have never thought that getting closure would hurt this much.

Tears streamed on both of your faces, in front of you had been laid what your future could have looked like. It was everything you had wanted, you could still do your job and have the man of your dreams. You were surprised to find that you wouldn’t mind sharing him with his supposed wife. You had been at court for enough time to know how most marriages went. If he assured you it was only a diplomatic affair but that his heart was yours, that would have been enough. Who knows, maybe she’ll get a lover too.

But now… now you didn’t know if you could ignore everything that happened. You did not trust him nor could you ignore how hurt you were by his lack of communication and thus of trust in you.

But by then, you'll be Mr. "Too late"

[divinefireangel]

I've Got You.

SF9 Youngbin x GN! Reader Fluff.

SF9 LEADER BEST LEADER

Disclaimer: This is just a work of fiction. If this piece of fan fiction is offensive to any celebrity, fandom or culture please let me know so I can take it down. Also note that this is my version of a character or celeb, which will vary from person to person.

Author's Note: Okay so I've included what happened at my uni and they way they conducted classes this semester and stuff. I hope that's okie 🥺 and it turned out shorted than intended 💀

Copyright: Please note that this is my work and if you want to publish this on any other platform, take my permission before doing so. Taking an author's work and posting it somewhere else without any intimation is just disrespectful. I readily welcome suggestions and criticisms. That being said, Happy reading! 🤍

Warnings: 13+ ages and all readers (nothing specified with respect to gender, appearance, etc of reader). Mentions of not sleeping properly. That's it ig. Lmk if I need to add anything. Binnie being supportive BF 🥺

Requested: Yes. By a cutie anon 🥰

hellow! can i request youngbin comforting you at his car (he pick you up) after you're getting sad because of something. thank you

0.9k Words.

Yes. Finally the ending bell.

" Okay write down this problem. It's a small problem only. " Y/N's professor said, as soon as the bell rang. Huffing in disbelief all the students continue to write what's being dictated. 'Let us go you monster' is all that's going through their head. It's 4pm already, they've been in campus since 8am. This is hell. But alas it is the last day of class for the week. All Y/N wanted to do was go home to their dream of a boyfriend.

It's a difficult transition from online classes to offline classes with all safety precautions and new rules to follow. It is for the students' safety, truly, but they would much rather have online classes than offline ones as the pandemic isn't completely over yet. And they're in a bloody pandemic. Feeling helpless and having to work to get a degree when there is no guarantee of a job? Would shake anyone to the core with fear.

Eight hours of sitting in the same place made Y/N tired physically, and mentally, they were literally hanging by a thread. Staying up late to finish assignments and then waking early to get to class, barely getting sleep or food, made the situation worse. And extending class just made the thread come down to a string. How much longer can they do it? Is it worth it? Are the not strong enough or capable enough? Everyone else seems to be alright. Is it so bad to want to take a break?

After ten extra minutes of class everyone leaves the room, going down to get ready to go to their home or temporary homes. Walking down the stairs, Y/N felt light headed. Was or overworking or under sleeping? Does it matter? Making their way down slowly, dreading the fact that they have to get on the bus to go back home, Y/N sighs. Walking slow as a tortoise towards the campus gate, Y/N notices a familiar figure, standing near his car in a comfy white hoodie, a soft smile adorning his cute face, waving to them.

Oh no. Not now tears, just hold on a little longer. Sprinting through the scattered mass of students, Y/N makes their way towards Youngbin. Throwing their arms around him, Y/N buries their face in his neck, standing on their tippy toes as Youngbin laughs with his chest. Fisting his hoodie in their palm tighter, Y/N clings to him, trying their best to stop the tears of frustration from falling down. Hiding their face in his neck, Y/N just gives up on stopping the tears, allowing them to fall on their boyfriend's hoodie.

Kissing the top of their head, Youngbin rests his head on theirs, shielding their face from the walkers passing. Rubbing the back of their head, Binnie removes their bag and places it on the ground near his leg, so that he can hug them completely.

" It's okay. I'm here now. Just breathe slowly. I'm here. Really here. You can let all your worries go now. I've got you. My hardworking baby. " He praised sincerely, cradling their head gently, the pair stand there for a few minutes. The cool wind blowing doesn't affect Y/N, who's in the warm embrace of their perfect boyfriend. The setting sun on this fine spring day, makes the whole scene look like it jumpes right out from a drama. Romantic, comforting, and just perfect.

They love how unbothered Youngbin is with so many people just walking around them, probably giving them weird judgy stares. But he doesn't care about them really. All he cares and worries about is his lover. His lover who has gone through so many changes recently, it gets hard sometimes. And having someone who understands what you are going through, even when they don't experience it hands on, is such a blessing. They can finally take rest tomorrow, knowing that he'll be there, right next to them, holding them in his arms as they sleep their tiredness away.

Pulling away from him, Y/N wipes their tears. Looking up at him, he's still giving them that soft smile, the smile that never fails to make Y/N feel like they're home.

Opening the passenger side door, Youngbin takes Y/N's hand and leads them to sit down in the car. Closing the door he grabs the bag, placing it on the backseat, he goes around to the driver's side and starts the car. After making his way to the main road, Youngbin grabs Y/N's hand, bringing it to his lips, a delicate kiss, shooing all their worries away.

" You know, I am so very proud of you, and how you are managing to do everything. Although I don't condone to the less sleeping, it's amazing how you get through so much. You'll be top of the class with how much you're working. " He glances at Y/N, a soft hidden smile playing at their lips. Nodding their head, they lean their had back on the headrest, looking out the window at the passing scenery. Continuing to hold their hand in his, Youngbin drives them home, making sure to take a detour to their favourite cafe, getting them a hot chocolate and a sandwich. Definitely the best way to end a tiring day. Adding cuddles in bed too.

[lucysometimeswrites]

Awards Season

sup! this is an idea i had that i just had to write. it’s more of the reader’s experience and her thought and her moment than tom, but i still hope you like it. feedback accepted and have a good day :)

Y/N is playing ciara bravo’s role in this, and yeah, enjoy! also lmk if u want a latina version of this or tom winning the award cuz i have it

--------------------------------------------------------------

“And here to present the award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role we have previous winner of the very same award: Anne Hathaway!” the host announced. Anne appeared from the left side of the stage, expertly walking and smiling towards the microphone while everyone clapped and cheered for her.

“Thank you! Thank you, you are too kind” she said cheekily, earning a laugh from the audience. “Tonight, we are honoured with the presence of many talented and passionate actresses, and by that I mean me, of course,” she continued, the audience loving her humour more and more. Anne started her small speech about the characters the actresses nominated in the category portrayed, commenting that I portrayed a troubled character who becomes a drug addict for love. I felt a warmth touch my hand, and I turned to Tom, who was sitting right beside me. He gave me a reassuring smile and squeezed my hand, knowing that I felt a little anxious about this award. It was my first Oscar nomination, and after working my ass off for Cherry where I co-starred with Tom, even I thought I deserved it. I didn’t care much about winning, though, because I felt I won the moment I got nominated. Yes, it is very cliche and almost everyone says that, but now I can see how true it is. This is probably the biggest moment of my career yet, and I was loving every second of it.

Tom and I stared at each other with a smile for a bit longer, until we heard Anne say, “Here are the nominees for Best Actress in a Supporting Role”:

“Emma Stone, Him and Her,” Ooo I loved that film.

“Anya-Taylor Joy - Emma,” Her range is insane.

“Y/N Y/L - Cherry,” I gave a big smile and a wave to the camera as it focused on me, simultaneously squeezing Tom’s hand again because he knew how the cameras made me a little awkward and uncomfortable. “You did great.”  he whispered in my ear, and I gave him a small smile back.

“Jennifer Lawrence - Don’t Look Up,” My literal idol.

“Taraji P. Henson - At 38th Street,” She’s so talented.

“And the Oscar goes to...”

Those five seconds she took to open the envelope were the shortest and longest of my life. I felt as if the world had stopped, along with my breathing, and Tom and I were squeezing each other’s hands to the point where I was sure we’d cut each others circulation off. I loved how excited and nervous he was for me, and he’d made sure to tell me plenty of times before the show that he’d be there for me whether I won or not and that we would celebrate until we couldn’t feel our feet anymore. He had been my literal rock through--

“Y/N Y/L, Cherry!” Anne exclaimed.

...What?!

I looked up astonished to Anne, and even mouthed Me? to her. She happily nodded, and that’s when it clicked that the entire theatre was clapping for me. Shock and confusion and amazement ran through me, making me lose sense as to what to do next. I slowly rose from my seat, looking around and my eyes landed on Tom, who sported the biggest smile ever and helped pull me up. We stood in front of each other for a millisecond before he engulfed me in a big, strong hug and I, still in shock, slowly put my arms around his neck and reciprocated the affection.

“You did it, darling! You did it!” he proudly said in my ear.

“I did it...I can’t believe I did it. I’m so freaking shocked and confused I don’t know what to do” I answered and pulled back to look at him. He cupped my face in his hands and pressed a big kiss on my forehead. “Go get your award!” he laughed, giving me small push as a start.

I laughed, still in disbelief, and looked around again, spotting the Russo’s who went to give me a big hug.

“You did it Y/N! You deserve this so much” they each said, and I whispered a Thank you back.

I finally turned back and slowly made my way up the stage, constantly looking towards the audience so that I could really take the moment in and never forget it. Turning to Anne, she held the Oscar in her hands and gave my a big smile, hugging me and saying, “Ugh you did amazing Y/N, you deserve this so much honey, congratulations!”

“Thank you so much, oh my gosh, you’ve literally been one of my idols ever since I was a kid.” I told her breathless.

“Aw you’re so sweet,” she laughed, “Go! You have about a minute to thank everyone.”

I went to the microphone and looked across the audience, spotting many celebrities who were still standing up and clapping for me, even when we hadn’t worked together. My eyes dashed to Tom, who was also wooing and cheering for me, and gave me a thumbs up, silently saying You got this, as had said to me many times before.

“Oh my God, I can’t believe it” I laughed in disbelief again, everyone still clapping for me. Soon, they settled and I continued “I can’t even-- let me catch my breath for second.” I stepped back a little and put my hands on my knees as if I’d just finished running a marathon, making the audience laugh a little.

I went back up, “You guys have absolutely no idea how much this means to me,” holding the Oscar a little higher, “I dreamt of this ever since I started to really get into acting and to actually have it in my hands is a dream come true. I wanna thank the Academy for this incredible honor. I honestly felt I won the moment I got nominated alongside these amazing and talented women,” I gestured to my fellow nominees who I could spot in the front rows. “When I say that you all deserve this award just as much as I do, I’m not kidding. Jennifer you have been such an icon to me ever since The Hunger Games and ohmygoshicantbelievethisisreal,” I quickly said with my hand near my mouth, earning a laugh from her and the audience, me joining them. “Emma and Anya your performances were ridiculously good and Taraji P. Henson I absolutely adore you.” They laughed once again, sending me kisses and smiles.

“A minute is not nearly enough to be able to thank everyone I wanna thank but I’ll do my best. Thank you to my amazing and incomparable directors Joe and Anthony Russo,” a wave of cheering ensued for them, “Thank you for trusting me with bringing this story to life, for guiding me along the way and never giving up on me even on the days when I was unbearable” I said with a small laugh. “Thank you to the screenwriters Angela and Jessica for writing this beautiful piece of work and to Nico Walker for telling his story and allowing us to bring it to the cinemas--cinemas? Wow, sorry I’ve been spending a lot of time with Tom so I’m starting to turn a little British” I chuckled and turned to look at him to find him laughing as well.

“Tom,” here it goes, “I have no words to express how grateful I am for you. You have been my rock and my best friend throughout this entire journey and for that I love you so much. Thanks for putting up with me and my craziness and sharing the good and bad days with me. There is no one I would rather have shared the screen with and I love you so so so much.” I said, from the bottom of my heart, and saw him tearing up while sending me a million kisses with his hands and mouthing I love you more. The audience awed and clapped once more.

“I also wanna thank Victoria- you beautiful woman- for taking me in and always believing in me even when I didn’t believe in myself- aw you’re crying! Oop, sorry I’ll shut up, um-” I said as she waved her hand for me not to expose that she was crying, the theatre laughing at our banter, “Thank you Lizzie, Monica and all of my team, thank you to all of the cast and crew who made this happen.” I continued, moving to thank my family and more emotions hitting me like a truck again, feeling tears pool in my eyes. I shook my head and looked up so as to prevent them from falling.

“I- I’m not gonna cry, that’s stupid.” I said into the microphone but mostly to myself, everyone laughing and clapping once again in a comforting manner. “Sorry,” I laughed, “I’m gonna thank my family, but they unfortunately couldn’t make it here tonight so--” everyone awed in sadness, and I jokingly waved them off, “Oh shut up, whatever.” Another chorus of laughter, “I wanna thank my family all the way back home. You guys, you’re the best thing this life has given me and I’m eternally grateful for your support. Although, I did say that if I ever won an Oscar I wouldn’t thank you because you didn’t believe I could do this, l would not be able to forgive myself if I didn’t. Thank you for always being there for me and teaching me everything I know. For the unconditional love” my lip trembled, “and for showing me that you can do anything with hard work and passion. I love you--Please wrap up--sorry! Okay I’m going.” I nervously said. “I also wanna thank all of my friends for their support and finally I dedicate this award to all the girls out there with big dreams that scare you. Follow them, don’t let anyone stop you or tell you you’re not worthy because you sure as hell are destined for great things. Um, thank you so much!” I finished. The audience clapped and cheered and wooed once more and I gave them one final smile and amazed look, catching Tom’s eye and receiving a wink, then following Anne backstage where I would be taking pictures and answering questions.

I wonder how we’ll celebrate now that I’ve actually won...

-------------------------------------

disclaimer: these are all fake names and fake movie titles i made up for the purpose of the fic

[bigbrainblue]

hiya!! if you're comfy with it and if its ok could i have some cc!wilbur fluff x reader where its just wilbur and reader cuddling and just kinda simping for each other? thank you so much i hope that's ok! also your writing is very swag :] /gen -🍩 anon(do you have anons? idk)

after stream cuddling

note: YES OH MY GOD PLEASE I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE YOU AS MY ANON!! WELCOME 🍩 ITS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU HERE

includes: cc!wilbur x gn!reader

genre: fluff

warnings: pet names, unedited

note part 2: this is SUPER short but if you want a longer version just lmk :)

“mind if i join you?” was the first thing you heard as you were woken up from mid-day nap

as you opened your eyes and realized what was going on, your boyfriend, wilbur, crawled into bed next to you

“how was your stream baby?” you said, facing wilbur as he pulled you in closer so you could rest your head in the crook of his neck

“it was good, i had a lot of fun. i streamed with some new people today too, i really like them. i hope i can stream with them again sometime soon” wilbur said

“i’m so glad you had fun streaming” you yawned

“i’m glad i got to sleep for a bit too, i don’t know why i’ve been so tired recently” you said, finishing your previous sentace

“it’s cause you’ve been working so much, you need to rest more. plus i miss seeing your face around the house during the day.” wilbur said, using his hand thats wrapped around your body to draw shapes on your back

“i know i wish i could be home more too. quitting my job and staying home with you all day sounds like a dream.”

“well, why can’t you?” wilbur said

you thought he was joking at first but wilbur’s serious tone made you realize he wasn’t

“what do you mean?” you said, sitting up so you could look at wilbur’s face

“i mean that i’m making enough money from streaming now that i would be able to support both of us which means you could stay at home with me. plus maybe you could give streaming a try? you could join my streams for the first few times then maybe we could set up a twitch account for you. obviously you don’t have to if you don’t want to if you don’t want to but i ju-“

you cut wilbur off by kissing him softly

“i would love to start streaming, and if you really think we could do this, then i’m in. and if the plan doesn’t work then i’ll go back to work. we’ll be okay, wilbur” you said

you leaned down to hug wilbur but when he didn’t let go, you accepted your fate and laid on his chest.

“of course we’re going to be okay. i love you, y/n” wilbur said

you could feel the vibrations of his words as you laid on his chest

“i love you too wilbur, so much. now, do wanna watch a horror movie?”

“of-fucking-course i do” he said, placing a final kiss on your head before getting up to set up the movie.

[captainhandsome45]

Looking for an RP partner for an 18+ Stony roleplay!

So picture this: the year is 1991, Tony is 21 and has just lost his parents to a car crash mere days before Christmas. He was in the midst of finishing his last PhD, but now he's suddenly been thrown into the responsibility of not only needing to bury his folks, but also needing take care of the looming giant that is Stark Industries.

The start of this RP would take place during/right after the funeral, where Tony's clung to Steve for comfort as the man is (sort of, but not really) an unofficial godfather, but he’s really more akin to a family friend than anything else. Looking for a slow to moderate burn of Steve taking care of a grieving Tony and encouraging him when he gets around to finishing school and manning SI, and falling for one another in the process. The starter is below the cut, please feel free to PM me if you have any questions about it, are interested, or are interested and want to switch up the starter a little bit!

Looking for 18+ people who can respond with well written, longer responses (a paragraph or more) that are in the third person, aka Steve’s POV. Hoping to continue on Discord, and as a side note— I do write in present tense!

Please PM me or interact with this post and I’ll message you! ♡

[Noncanonical AU, Young Adult Tony (21), the year is 1991; Stony is the endgoal. TW: talks of death and funerals. | After the incredibly sudden and brutal death of both his parents, Steve offers for Tony to stay with him while he grieves and hopes to eventually get back on his feet, as Obadiah runs the company for now. Steve’s sort of an unofficial godfather, but he’s really more akin to a family friend than anything else.

Steve had been in the ice for twenty five years before scientists found him again, and he and Peggy had married— marriage simply hadn’t been on her mind until he returned. However, they've since divorced, having fallen out of love, and Steve's been burying himself in his work since. He's lonely, up until Tony loses his parents and Steve invites him to stay at his house for as long as he needs to. Steve is 48 years old, not including the years in the ice. Please lmk if you have any questions!]

Tony's held it together for much longer than anyone else had anticipated. During the call from the police at four in the morning that sent him into shock during his study session with Rhodey, and on the silent drive home when Jarvis picked him up from Cambridge. He kept it together for the following two days afterward that it took him and Jarvis to painstakingly pick out his parents' coffins and gravesites that Howard hadn't done himself, because his father had evidently assumed that he would live much longer than seventy-four years.

Astoundingly enough, he even had a stone face during the service. Every word from the priest was like a punch to the gut, every glance to the two beautifully decorated coffins and his own eulogy to the hundred-something people in the room had made him nauseous. And regardless of the fact that he hasn't seen Steve in almost two years, Tony had stuck to him for the entirety of the viewing, the service, and the burial, becoming more and more high strung with every flower and bouquet tossed onto the surface of his parents' final resting place.

After all was said and done, Tony is tightly arm in arm with Steve: familiar and strong and warm in the drizzling winter rain. Peggy, Jarvis, and Ana lead them toward the awaiting two blacked-out Bentleys that'll take them wherever they need to go. He and Steve take the second one alone, having briefly discussed Tony staying with him before the service began, but he isn't sure of its certitude yet. Tony doesn't realize he's shaking and shivering until the driver closes the car door behind them, and it's like something shatters in him-- heavy breaths turning shaky before he lets out a whimper and shoves his face into the crook of Steve's arm as the sobs violently wrack his body, his grip on the other man vice-like.

[I also have another, more self-indulgent and *spicy* version that involves Steve and Peggy still being married but being currently unhappy with their relationship. Let me know if you're interested or want to talk more to see if we'd be a good fit! Thanks!]

[that-one-girl-behind-you]

jgm soulmate anon, and I maaaayyy have started writing a version of this myself but I a b s o l u t e l y wanna hear more 👀 how would you bring Gerry into their lives?

Aaaa Anon i’m excite!! Lmk if you post it, I’d love to read it!

Thanks for letting me ramble a bit more haha, here comes the brain vomit.

First off, I want it on the record that if I’m writing the AU, Gerry (and lbh the rest of the crew too) is alive bc they deserve to be happy and well, and I will give it to them if it kills me. All on board? All on board. 

Onwards to the headcanons!

Sasha and Tim are soulmates too, but since Sasha I’m feeling Sasha as Aro in this, they keep it platonic. They love each other and they belong together, whatever way they choose to go about it.

Jon reconciles with Georgie earlier, in fact, he calls her the very same day he meets Martin, panicking.

“Georgie remember how my first soulmate was a murderer well my second one is my bumbling, incompetent employee, Georgie what do I DO?!”

Georgie laughs herself silly, of course.

I want to say Jon is a bit nicer to Martin in this AU but who are we kidding, he probably doubles down on keeping it “professional” and ends up being a douche.

He still drops every statement that mentions Gerry on Martin’s desk, simply saying “He’s in this one too,” before going back to his office.

Martin has a split second to regret having discovered his soulmates before he flees Carlos Vittery’s building, because the bright red of Jane Prentiss’ dress is seared in his mind, probably for the rest of his life.

Jon does his head out of his ass when they’re trapped during the invasion, averting his eyes in shame and regret, before muttering, “I’m- I apologize, Martin... I was- you were not a bad soulmate to have.”

Maritn doesn’t even care that he’s about worm’d, he’s living his romance moment, and he’s gonna live it right. He stretches a hand to lay it on Jon’s shoulder-

And Tim breaks through the wall like the Kool-Aid man.

Sasha does see the table, it does call to her, but when she takes the first step towards it, her vision starts going grey, and she books it before it can enthrall her.

With Sasha being Sasha and having accepted that Martin is solidly an firmly on his side, S2!Jon is considerably less paranoid, which of course, causes less frictions with his team. All four of them are focused on finding out who killed Gertrude, and who might be coming for Jon next.

BUT you asked specifically about Gerry so everyone hold my hand it’s loving Gerry hours.

He has conflicted feelings towards the concept of soulmates. He knows they exist, he knows he has one. He also knows he’s possibly the least suited for a life with one, what with hunting Leitners and getting into life-or-death situations parctically every day. It doesn’t feel fair, for whoever it is he’s bound to.

“Did you have a soulmate?” he asked his mother once, when he was younger. “Yes, your father,” she responded, and Gerry knew even back then that she was lying.

“Did you have a soulmate?” He asks Gertrude once, during their travels. “No,” says Gertrude, her eyes somewhere far away, and Gerry knows she’s lying too.

He does die of cancer in America (he gets better)

Gerry comes back to London as a fully realized avatar of the Eye, looking for Gertrude with the intention of giving her a piece of his mind for leaving him behind like a broken toy.

He practically bursts into the Archives, ignoring the confused stares and calls of the two assistants outside Gertrude’s office, and shoves the door open roughly.

“Gertrude, what the ever-loving fuck is wrong with... you?” Gerry freezes at the door, staring down at the man sitting behind Getrude’s desk. He’s got small, round scars all over his face, his glasses are pushed up over his messy hair, and he’s looking back at him like Gerry’s a ghost (which he guesses he kind of is).

But more importantly, Gerry realizes, he’s wearing a blue sweater vest, Gerry can see the blue, and he doesn’t think he’ll ever be able to think of anything else, doesn’t even care that the grey remains in his vision, he-

He’s promptly corrected when the door to the office opens again, and a soft, confused voice speaks behind him. “Jon? What’s going... oh.”

Gerry turns towards the third man in the room, and his vision practically explodes with color, every remaining gray blown away by vibrant greens and yellows.

“I- can I take a seat?” Gerry asks demurely, feeling like his whole world has been turned on its head.

“...Please do,” the man behind the desk says, his voice strained. “Martin? Could you close the door?

Gerry quickly explains to his two soulmates -his mind keeps hyper focusing on the words. His. Soulmates.- that no, he did not, in fact, kill his mother. Or Gertrude, he clarifies when Jon -His soulmates’ names are Jon and Martin, and they sound so well together, so right- asks with a suspicious glare.

It takes a while for them to fall in sync. Martin is over the moon at having them both there, and Gerry finds it immediately endearing that Martin swears up and down he always knew he wasn’t a murderer. Jon takes a bit longer to come around, still nervous, still paranoid, until Gerry sits him down and tells him, very seriously, that if anyone tries to come after him, they’re going to have to get through Gerry first.

Gerry’s with Jon when they find Letiner at the tunnels, and he wants to, he desperately wants to kill the man, especially since he’s found out why Jon bears the mark of the Web, but Jon is overwhelmed, and Gerry steps outside with him because he can’t be certain he won’t strangle Leitner if he stays alone with him.

Gerry takes the blame for the murder, I think. Elias still tries to frame Jon for it, but Gerry goes and confesses to it because “what’s one more suspected murder in my record?”

This means he’s pretty much out of the picture for the entirety of S3, but it also means Jon doesn’t have to go hide at Georgie’s and his powers grow a bit faster because he can keep at the Institute.

Speaking of Georgie! She and Melanie don’t have soulmates, but fuck you if you think that’s going to stop them from falling in love and making a happy ending for themselves.

Gerry gives Elias a smug smile as Basira escorts him out and past his cell, and he’s immediately unnerved by the fact that Elias responds in kind.

Then he finds out Jon is in a comma and Martin is cavorting with Peter Lukas, and Basira and Daisy have to pretty much hold him back from going right back in and beating Elias to death.

That’s gonna have to be it for now, might make another post about the rest of season 4 if there’s interest when I have a bit more time!

[bravomckenzie]

rules: answer 30 questions and tag blogs you are contractually obligated to know better

tagged by: @admdmrtn and @agentsunshine thanks bitches 😌

tagging: mmmmmm lets do @venueska, @bagledere, @bobbyboops, @powerberry, and @mistyeyedbi and i won’t tag all my friends who alicia and chrisha tagged but i am in spirit. no pressure tho lmk if you want me to remove you!!!

i’m gonna use the version i was tagged in idk if theres others i’m just copy and pasting mama

name/nickname: presley but y’all be calling me mama in return sometimes

gender: female, she/her 

star sign: scorpio sun, aquarius moon, and sag rising

height: 5′5

birthday: november 8

lucky number: 3! and all numbers divisible by three so 6, 9, 12, 15, etc.

when did you create this blog: march 2020 oof i can’t believe it’ll be a year soon

what do I post: bullshit??? SIJDFHJI idk mostly litg and twc! and some random nonsense mixed in.

last thing googled: "how to write a 30 day notice” bc i’m moving soon SKJDBFKJEBFGJKBFG

do I get asks: i do!! mostly anons, but also from some of my friends!! i luv my frequent fliers and my randoms who have random shit to ask me

why I chose my url: i was ready to leave the litg fandom to move to twc with all of my friends but realized bobby is still and will always be number one in my heart!!!! so bravomckenzie it was. 

my current projects/wips: ciwyw although not for much longer, cruel summer sort of but it won’t be out for a long while bc i need a break in general but especially from litg, i’m dabbling in twc shite but idk if i’ll ever post it, and then i’m working on an original work!

favorite bands: one direction and what about it?, my chemical romance, mariana’s trench, all time low, *nsync

favorite solo artists: taylor swift, halsey, demi lovato, george strait, harry styles

song stuck in my head: i’ve had ‘much too young (to feel this damn old)’ by garth brooks stuck in my head on and off for months now

favorite song: of all time? my love is like a star - demi lovato! currently? champagne problems - taylor swift

last movie: i think i rewatched going clear last if that counts

last show: the late show with stephen colbert!! or maybe late night with seth meyers? idk i watch both every night idk which order i watched in last night

favorite food: steak or salmon 

food I hate: i rather die than eat cooked cabbage

favorite color: red!!

favorite animal: pigs and frogs/toads

what I’m currently wearing: a t-shirt and pajama shorts at 2pm it be like that sometimes

dream job: a cast member at disney world, ideally i’d like to be a fairy godmother in training at the bibbidi bobbidi boutique! or i’d like to be a character attendant. but i’d be happy lichrally cleaning the toilets i don’t care i just want to be where the magic happens

dream trip: if you would like me to not say disney world again considering how many times i’ve been, i’ve never seen a clear water beach so wherever i can find one would be nice! also i wanna go to DC real bad bc im a history nerd but........ perhaps not anytime soon. oh and i wanna see ireland it’s so pretty

currently reading: i just fucking finally finished going clear but i haven’t started anything new! i’m planning on starting obama’s new book a promised land soon.

currently thinking about: no thoughts head empty

nationality: american unfortunately 

fun fact: uhhhhhhhhhhhhhh i can juggle

top three fictional universes: honestly i don’t even have an answer i mean i guess twc by default? maybe the teen wolf universe? and idk i don’t have a third i don’t consume a lot of media that has alternate universes or whatever i tend to like things that are modern and current in this universe in some way idk im sorry im boring mama. 

[hoe-doroki]

I'm tryin to work up the courage to post a fic, but every time I even think about writing it I'm overwhelmed by paralyzing humiliation. It's not even pr0n or slash or anything. Any advice?

I do! Look, as grammarly tells me every time I watch a youtube video writing’s not that easy. I tried writing fanfiction for about two years before I ever finished anything, so I get it. The first story I finished was a Pokemon version of The Princess and the Pea and I sent it to an author I admired and they never responded. (And thank goodness, because it was awful.) Majorly awkward.

I’m going to bold everything I think is most important, btw.

So the most important thing is to be forgiving of yourself. The first words that you put down might not be that great, and that’s okay! Because not only is it your first story, but it’s your first draft! Among writers, there’s a phrase called: “shitty first drafts.” Because we all know that whatever you start with, to some degree, is going to be crap. Even now, after 8+ years of experience, I post stories that I’m like...well, that’s not the best. But who cares?

Next is to start simple. Don’t start with the actual narrative writing--start with a plan. Blank pages are terrifying, so just jot down some bullet points. You’ll discover as you write more if you’re--as NaNoWriMo has coined--a planner, pantser, or plantser. That is, if you tend to write with a whole outline, if you wing it or if you’re kind of in between. (I’m a plantser.) But, since you don’t know your style yet, I’d recommend starting with some kind of notes, just so that you have something to refer to when your thoughts start to get tangled, and so that there are some words on the page. Even if just a few bullet points is as far as you get with your first idea, that’s fine! We all start somewhere!

Oh, and start small. For god’s sake, don’t make your first attempt a huge, expansive multi-chap. 99% chance you’ll never finish it. Start with a oneshot or a drabble. Because the knowledge that you can finish something changes everything. The first thing I published was a drabble series that, yes, was multiple chapters, but every chapter was independent and short. The plot was loose. Drabble series are great to test out different genres, characters, and start feeling out your style. But an old fashioned oneshot is always good too!

Gonna continue below the cut, because your girl can talk.

Next is that you don’t have to do it alone. Sometimes it’s really helpful to be able to chat out your idea with someone, even before anything reaches your blank document. It can help you get excited! Reach out to someone on here--I’m always down to talk! And a lot of other folx are too! We can be your hype team and brainstorm buddies!

Look, nonnie, it sounds like you have a fear of failure. We all know what that’s like. But the good news is that this isn’t something that you can fail at! This is writing for writing’s sake. You don’t have to send it off to agents and receive a bunch of rejections. You can do whatever you want. And even if you write something that makes you wince and cringe, you still did a good thing! My first multi-chapter makes me cringe so hard every time I think about it, but I never would have written my next, better stories if I hadn’t given that one a go! Plus, I still get the occasional review on it saying it was well-received. 🤷 Everyone’s different. Whatever you write, whatever you think of it, someone is bound to like it or glean something good from it. Those are simply the odds, my friend.

Now advice about posting. First of all, beta readers! You can always have someone look it over before you post. Not only might their comments give you a little confidence boost, but they also might help your story better, which, in turn, will make you feel better about posting. And it doesn’t have to be someone irl, of course. You can just ask someone here on tumblr or search beta profiles on ffnet. I’d read it!

But, understandably, you might be nervous about that too. So I’ll let you in on the advice that always helps me when I’m posting a story that I feel less confident about. It’s a little bitchy, but so be it: whatever you post isn’t the worst thing out there. It just won’t be! I promise! Especially if you can take care to make sure that your grammar and spelling is in pretty good shape. Heck, it goes a long way just to have regular paragraph breaks. Just those little things mean that you’re already a step above where a lot of people start out.

Really, I could talk about this forever, but the longer I make it, the less likely folx will read it, haha. So I’ll cut it off here and say, nonnie, I’m so proud of you! Thanks for sending this message--it shows you already have the courage and the stuff to do this. You can do it!! Lmk if you have any more questions, because I love talking about this stuff. Obviously XD

[theperksofbeingbarbie]

Circuits (Part Two)

Summary: Diego finally goes out with his childhood crush. But at two different points in their lives, is it sustainable?

WARNINGS: Language

Word Count: 2,531

Paring: Diego x Female Reader 

Part One

A/N: So I kinda have another idea of where this can go.... Would y’all want another part? Should I make it a series? Should I stop avoiding the one post y’all followed me for in the first goddamn place? lmk

 As always, feel free to hit me up with requests. Sometimes I’m a little slow but I love writing For The People. I’m also willing to write for HP, Mauraders (omg Wolfstar is my JAM), GoT.... If I post about it, I’m pretty much down. Holla at your girl.

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

Diego stared at himself in the mirror. This was happening. He was finally going to get to know the beautiful, brilliant girl he had liked since he was a kid. It wasn’t a date, there was no reason to be so nervous. Oh, fuck, he was nervous. 

After digging through the clothes he had at the Academy, he found a black button down shirt. He was going to lunch with The [Y/N] [L/N], the brilliant and kinda rich and gorgeous [Y/N]; he didn’t want to embarrass her if they were seen together. Diego rolled up the sleeves to his elbows, leaving it untucked with a pair of jeans. He took another quick look at himself in the mirror before leaving his room to find [Y/N] downstairs. 

Diego smiled when he heard her talking to his mom, knocking lightly on the door before letting himself in. 

“Oh, Diego!” Grace said cheerfully as she continued to do the little diagnostic tests. “[Y/N] told me you’re going out to lunch! I hope you have fun!” 

Diego smiled a bit, nodding at his mom. “She looks good,” he complimented [Y/N].

It was like she was pulled out of her trance when he complimented her work. She looked up with wide eyes, smiling when she fully processed what he said. “Thanks! It looks like you’re all set, Miss Grace!” 

Grace let out a pleased sound, cupping [Y/N]’s cheek fondly. “You’re always so sweet. I wish you were one of my children.” 

[Y/N]’s smile was so kind and loving, Diego wanted nothing more for it to be directed at him. “I wish I was your daughter too.” 

Grace removed her hand as she turned to leave, kissing Diego’s cheek as she went by. “Have fun, darling.” 

Diego sighed softly as he tried to gather his thoughts, not wanting to think too much about how gorgeous [Y/N] looked when she smiled like that. He turned back, smiling a bit at her. “Ready?” 

“Give me a second to clean up!” She nodded, starting to reload the things she brought into her bag. “How have you been?” she asked as she started to shut down her computer. 

“Uh... I’ve been... Good. Yeah, good. Just a lot of family drama,” Diego answered awkwardly, leaning against a workbench. 

[Y/N] snorted at that. “Five told me about the end of the world. Thanks for saving us all.” 

Diego recoiled at that bit of information, shaking his head as he tried to comprehend. “You talked to Five?” 

“He broke into my office. Does spatial jumping into someone’s office count as breaking in, technically?” 

Diego and [Y/N] shared a laugh, shaking his head as he imagined his brother appearing in this woman’s office on a calm day. 

“But it’s not like he and I had a nice chat,” she continued, zipping her bag up. “He was very, ‘How much do you know about time travel?’ and ‘Can you reverse engineer this time travelling briefcase for me?’ So...” She chuckled, motioning for Diego to lead the way. “Where do you wanna go for lunch?” 

Diego considered that for a moment. He was a broke vigilante who mopped floors and got a cut of bets on him during his fights. She was a world renowned scientist with a penthouse in Manhattan. Their ideas of nice places to go for lunch were probably very different. “You pick,” he decided. 

She hummed as she considered that, thinking of all the places in the city she knew. “Do you have any allergies or diet restrictions?” 

Diego raised an eyebrow. “No...” 

“Perfect! Then I know the perfect place. I’m never on this side of town so I never get to go. Let me toss my bag in my car and we can actually walk.” Diego nodded, following [Y/N] out of the Academy to her car. 

“A Tesla?” Diego asked with raised eyebrows. 

She rolled her eyes, using the key to pop the trunk. “A bribe from El. It didn’t work but how do you ask for a car back when you made such a spectacle out of giving it?” That mischievous smirk returned and Diego felt a jolt of electricity course through him. 

“You call one of the most famous billionaires of our lives ‘El’?” 

[Y/N] just laughed as she shut the trunk. “He really hates it when I call him Ellie.” 

Oh fuck. Oh fuck. Oh, Diego was quickly falling in deep. Not only was she cute and kind and smart, she was funny and sassy. He silently wished he had broke into her office when he wanted to. Maybe he would already be kissing her in the back of her Tesla... 

Diego snapped out of his day dream when he heard a car horn honk as they walked down the street together. She probably wasn’t even interested, there was no point in imagining what they could do in the back of her fancy car that cost more than his entire life. He quickly traded places with [Y/N] so he was on the side of the road, an old habit he was taught young. 

“So what did you end up doing for work?” she asked, glancing over at Diego. There was an appreciative look in her eyes when they switched places and he was glad she wasn’t offended. 

“Uh, I currently work at a boxing gym. S-sometimes I train kids, sometimes I box, usually just clean,” he answered nervously, thankful there was only a slight slip up. 

“I’d love to see you fight sometime.” 

Diego felt a blush rise up his neck, nodding a bit. “Y-yeah, that would be cool.” 

“You can’t tell me that’s all you do,” she prodded, bumping her shoulder into Diego’s. “You don’t wear that leather harness and throw knives just to clean a gym.” 

Diego scratched the back of his neck. “I may offer my... Expertise and talents to the police when it is needed.” There was that beautiful, heartwarming laugh again. “What?” 

“I just like how you phrased, ‘I’m basically the non-blind version of Dare Devil’. It’s cute,” she answered, scrunching her nose in her amusement. 

Cute. 

Cute. [Y/N] thought he was cute. He forced himself to not get too excited, taking a deep breath hidden behind the sound of a large truck passing by. 

“Here we are.” 

Diego looked up at the restaurant, raising his eyebrow. It was a little greasy spoon diner that he often found Klaus in when he was high out of his mind. 

“You coming Hargreeves?”

Diego’s attention was brought back down to [Y/N], nodding a bit as he followed her inside. 

“This place has the best fries,” she gushed as she slid into the booth. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?” 

Diego just shook his head as he looked at the woman across from him. She was as complex as the circuits in Grace and all he wanted to do was learn every bit that he could. “I just thought you’d pick somewhere even further uptown,” he admitted, grabbing the laminated menu from behind the napkin holder. 

“I go to the little bistros and pretentious restaurants enough for business. I like these little places.” [Y/N] shrugged, grabbing a menu herself even though she knew what she was going to order. “Unless you were expecting-” 

“No! N-no, this is great,” Diego assured with a smile, nodding a bit before looking down at the menu. 

The waitress came a few moments later to take their orders and left glasses of water behind, leaving the two to their own devices for a bit. 

“Can I be honest?” she asked softly, swirling the slice of lemon in her water with the straw. “I’ve had a huge crush on you since... Probably that day you were being creepy in the hall.” [Y/N] chuckled as a blush rose to her cheeks, using her other hand to cover her face. “It’s so embarrassing. I had a picture of you from one of those teeny-bopper magazines on my wall when I was like... thirteen. Next to Jonathan Taylor Thomas and the Backstreet Boys.” 

Diego stared in disbelief before laughing at the absurdity of it all. “I had a crush on you too,” he admitted. Shaking his head, he looked around the diner, imagining what would’ve happened if Reginald hadn’t caught him in the room when they were fifteen. “You were the first girl I had seen that wasn’t my sister and I thought you were ridiculously pretty.” Diego’s smile brightened when the pink in her cheeks darkened a bit. “I still think that.” 

“Diego Hargreeves, you’re going to get me in trouble, aren’t you?” 

“Depends on the kind of trouble you’re looking for.” 

------------------------------

Diego couldn’t stop smiling after that sort-of date with [Y/N]. They exchanged phone numbers after he walked her back to her car with promises to catch up to each other again. She left him with the lingering feeling of her lips on his cheek and he wasn’t sure if anything made him feel like that. 

It had been two weeks since Diego saw her. Trying to date an accomplished scientist who constantly had meetings with other accomplished and brilliant people was almost impossible. But the flirty texts reassured him that she was actually interested, just busy as hell. 

“Not to add to that giant ego of yours, but you got this in the bag,” Al assured as Diego bounced from foot to foot. “Shaw always favors his left side. Use that to your advantage.” 

Diego just nodded, trying to focus on the sound of the crowd as the announcer began. He smirked when the locals loudly displayed their dissatisfaction with the interloper. Al clapped him on the shoulder and he began his walkout, keeping his head high to add to his cocky persona. Diego scanned the crowd as he climbed into the ring, his eyes locking with a familiar pair of curious eyes. He was definitely surprised to see [Y/N], remembering that she had some sort of benefit dinner or something and couldn’t come out to see him fight. Diego gave her a wink as the ref started his spiel about a fair, clean fight. 

The fight went on longer than Diego expected, Shaw even managing to get a few decent hits in. Diego sighed as he collapsed onto the stool, rolling his eyes as Al chastised him for not keeping his guard up. 

“If I have to get that girl out of here-”

Diego took one last drink of water, glaring at Al as his mouth guard was pushed back in. He nodded toward the ref as he stood back up, tapping gloves with Shaw again. Diego spared a glance at [Y/N], silently deciding he wanted this fight over with so he could get dinner with her. 

It was over within a minute, Shaw knocked out cold on the mat. Diego huffed as his arm was raised as the winner, smiling a bit when he could make out [Y/N]’s cheering. He climbed out of the ring, mumbling his thanks as Al helped him out of his gloves. Diego’s head whipped around when he felt a hand on his back, a smile forming on his face when he saw who it was. 

“You were great!” [Y/N] was grinning so wide Diego’s heart sped up again. “I started to get nervous before that last round but I should’ve known better.” 

Diego slowly realized one of her hands was still on his hip, the other was gently wiping blood off his brow. Maybe it was the adrenaline or some repressed fantasy from when he was fifteen, but suddenly Diego leaned down to crash his lips against [Y/N]’s. Once his mind caught up to the rest of his body, he quickly realized what he did. He started to pull away but that was when she started to kiss back, the hand that was on his face moving to grasp the back of his neck. Diego wrapped his arms around [Y/N]’s waist to pull her close, the moment falling apart by her hands pushing on his chest. 

“You’re sweaty!” she complained, laughing as she continued to wiggle out of his grasp. Diego chuckled once he processed that she was only pushing away because he was sweaty and not because she wasn’t happy. “Go take a shower!” 

“You could join me,” he suggested with a smirk, a bit of pride swelling his chest when it looked like the woman seemed to consider it for a second. 

“Go! Get! I’ll patch you up when you’re done.” 

Diego did as he was told, taking a few steps backward to get one last look before turning all the way around to get to the locker room. 

He made his way back to the boiler room once he was done with his shower, raising an eyebrow when he saw [Y/N] playing with one of his knives. “Don’t sue me if you cut yourself,” he warned, running the towel over his hair again as he descended the stairs. 

“You really think that little of me?” she questioned from where she was perched on the little table in the middle of the room. 

Diego walked over with a smirk, gently pushing her knees apart so he could stand between them. “Of course not,” he promised, leaning foward to rest his hands on either side of her thighs. Diego’s heart thudded hard in his chest when she set the knife down to wrap her arms around his neck. 

“I like your place,” she whispered, her eyes starting into his own like she was breaking him down to his core like she did with gadgets. 

“I bet it’s no where near nice as yours,” Diego replied, his heart dropping into his stomach for a completely different reason now. 

“I don’t know. You’re here, that’s a big plus.” 

Diego shook his head, standing up straight again. “I’m not...” He felt his mouth go dry, it was only a matter of time before his tongue got heavy. “I c-c-can’t k-” Diego groaned. “I c-can’t k-k-ke-keep up.” 

“Diego.” [Y/N]’s voice was soft and reassuring, but Diego didn’t want her pity. “Look at me,” she said forcefully, causing the vigilante to do so. “I’ve had a crush on you since I was a little girl. And now, you’re... A giant dork but I really like you.” Her smile was hard to ignore, his feelings of doubt starting to subside. “And you look like this.” Her eyes trailed over his still naked torso, shaking her head in disbelief. “None of the men in my field look like this that’s for sure.” [Y/N] reached out to take Diego’s hand to pull him back to the position they were previously in, wrapping her arms around his neck once more. “We might not work out, but it sure as hell isn’t going to be because you live in the gym you work at. I want to give this a try, if that’s okay?” 

Diego wasn’t sure if the words would come so he just pressed his lips against hers as a silent acceptance. He felt the tension release from his shoulders when she kissed back. 

Maybe they wouldn’t work out, but they definitely wouldn’t if he didn’t let himself try. 

.✫*ﾟ･ﾟ｡.☆.*｡･ﾟ✫*.

@reblogserpent @knifeboydiego