#it’s literally 4 in the morning goodnight

[absolutelyinlove]

castles crumbling

— 4.8k words, rated teen

[plexippusangel]

About to hand weave this man a potion carrying pouch in his character colors. I was already thinking about it. And then was like no. It's too early. I'll just give him a bit of the yarn my pouch is woven out of that I hypothetically would use as one of the components as a favor to wear for the tournament. I will be normal. So normal.

AND THEN HE GAVE ME A HANDMADE POTION CARRYING POUCH IN HIS BLUE THIS MAN MATCHED MY FREAK AND I TEMPORARILY SCALED BACK

gonna stay at 100% freak going forward

[blakeshaw-oracle]

This is just gonna be a ramble drabble since it’s currently 4:30 in the morning for me but...

Finney being aware of The Ghost Boys’ presence

 [ THIS IS NSFT/W SO MINORS AVERT YOUR EYES ]

  Thinking about Al fucking Finney down into that disgusting ass mattress a few days after the initial kidnapping. Finney has already talked with some of the ghost boys, so he knows that they can see him. They can see as the older man grabs Finney’s ankles and presses his thighs up tight against his chest. They can see the way Finney doesn’t even attempt to fight it. They can see the exact moment The Grabber thrusts his hips just right and nothing but pure bliss spreads across Finney’s face.

  They can see. They can see. They can see.

  Worst of all, they can hear too.

  They can hear the pathetic little mewls and whimpers that Finney lets out as The Grabber fucks him within an inch of his life. They can hear that wet, slick plap plap plap sound of skin against skin. They can hear the almost animalistic way in which the older man above him lets out growls and grunts of approval. They can hear both of their panting. Maybe they can even hear the way Finney unconsciously lets out a stream of “yes, yes, yes” under his breath.

  Finney’s sure they can even smell the stench of sex that has undoubtably taken over the entire dingy basement.

  He knows he should feel ashamed of himself. This man has tormented and killed multiple young boys. His friends.

  For some reason, though, he can’t seem to hold it against The Grabber as the man makes sure to hit a particular spot deep inside the boy that sends stars to his vision and shivers down his spine. Much less think about the consequences of letting the man touch him this way--nothing but aggressive want and lust. How the ghost boys may react afterwards.

  Finney doesn’t remember what led to him being in this position, clutching at the soiled striped fabric of a decaying mattress lying underneath a child murderer. It doesn’t matter, though. Everything is slowly melting away as the burning sensation of nothing but him him him takes over the boy’s mind. Soon, he won’t even remember why he was so hesitant to allow it to happen in the first place.

  Not until he hears the distant, distorted sound of a phone ringing.

- εϊз

[mrsnancywheeler]

i’m actually giggling and kicking my feet rn

Finnick and his sweet girl are at the beach together, just relaxing in the warm sands of District 4. we all know Finnick LOVES to plat readers hair, so of course, that is what he is doing. he is plating a strand of his sweet girls hair, one of the front pieces if that makes any sense. Reader is just fiddling with some shells as he finishes up that small little braid, but he had to add a finishing touch.

One of the sea shells he found for you.

it is one of the ones that’s kinda swirly and pointy if that makes sense (i’m so sorry it’s actually 1am rn). he somehow finds a way to make it fit perfectly at the end of the small braid without it falling off and it looks absolutely ethereal on her😭

all he can do is just stare at his sweet girl in awe and with a massive grin as he’s now found his favourite hairstyle on her.

every. single. morning. he would ask to do that hairstyle, because she just looked so perfect. it was bonus that he also got to sit real close to his sweet sweet girl and let his fingers work his magic in her hair. he’s so proud of himself every time <3

(i’m also convinced that platting/braiding her hair is the only thing Finnick doesn’t teach reader. he will happily teach her knots, but hairstyling? no. that’s his job. it’s his job so he can sit so close to her for a long time and do one of the many things he is good at. so he can stare at his gorgeous girl and appreciate her beauty to the fullest- thanking the stars that he was blessed with an angel who shines brighter than all of the stars combined in the universe <3)

goodnight yall im actually a bit too in love with him for my own good😭

stop this is adorable, I'm so obsessed, and so deeply in love with him 💕💕💕

finnick is someone who always needs his hands occupied and so being able to do plait his sweet girls hair just makes him so giddy. the first time he's able to, it's a guarantee he will never stop. he's got such precise, nimble fingers that it barely feels like he's there at all except how relaxing it is. when he's got that shell in, he's convinced she's actually some beautiful sea goddess he's been blessed with, she's so radiant to him.

he's peppering her face with kisses and would spend all day on the beach getting each strand of hair if allowed. which is so tempting with how sweet and eager he is. and yes literally every morning-

reader is getting all ready for the day and about to leave the bedroom and finnick's looking at her confused from the bed

"what's wrong finn?"

"can I do your hair, angel?" he's got those big puppy dog eyes and she lets him which instantly has him grinning. he gets to see every small detail of her as he goes and be so close, it's like heaven to him. so it just becomes a daily routine.

"you know, if you like it that much I don't mind learning, love, I'll be able to do it so you don't have to-"

"no," he's so quick and defensive about it because he just loves it so much. it feels so intimate and blissful to him. "I do it because I love too, sweet girl, I want to."

"so you're seriously not going to teach me?"

he's kissing her on the nose, "just need you to sit there and be my pretty girl, which you need no lessons on."

I'm so in love with finnick odair y'all, he's so sweet and warm and literally perfect 💋💋💋

[peterpparkrr]

Banter (ch. 5)

Series: Banter

Pairing: Roy Kent x f!Reader

Summary: Keeley gives you some much needed advice. You and Roy finally talk about your feelings.

A/N: Sorry for the delay with this chapter! Motivation is a fickle mistress and this chapter is a bit shorter than I’d like it to be, but thank you for your patience!

(Ch. 1) (Ch. 2) (Ch. 3) (Ch. 4)

series masterlist

The next morning you wake up to a text from Keeley insisting on a coffee date to debrief the night before unless quote-unquote “Roy already made you breakfast in bed.” 

You ignore the joke and tell her you’ll meet her at your favorite cafe near the stadium.

"Did you and Roy talk all night?" Keeley asks before your butt can make contact with your seat. 

Keeley already has your latte and croissant sitting in front of you which would be a kind gesture from your friend if it wasn’t coupled with Keeley literally bouncing up and down across from you, leaning in as if she’s worried she’ll miss anything.

"Yeah," You reply. "I don't know, it was weird," You admit with a shrug.

"Good weird or bad weird?" She asks with an eye wiggle.

"Well we stayed at Ola’s until Sam kicked us out and so I asked him if he wanted to go for a drink so we could keep talking, right? And then we were at the pub until late, still talking. And he walked me home, but then I was like standing outside my flat, waiting for the goodnight kiss and he just... left?" You explain.

"I made eyes at him and everything," You tell Keeley with a groan. "God, it was so embarrassing."

“Woah,” Keeley murmurs as you place your head in your hands.

It’s not until your shoulders start to shake that Keeley pushes out of her chair and comes to crouch beside you.

“Hey! Hey! You’re alright!” Keeley consoles you as she rubs her hand on your back. 

You laugh mirthlessly as you look up at her and Keeley breathes a sigh of relief when she  realizes you’re laughing and not crying.

“I know I just, I think I’m really starting to like him which is just… shit,” You tell her.

“Remember what we talked about?” Keeley asks you as she grabs your hand and squeezes it tightly.

“You need to be upfront and honest with him about your feelings. Roy’s not a mindreader. Obviously,” She points out. “So maybe you just need to ask him what’s up.” 

“I can’t do that I-” You stammer out in mild panic.

It’s one thing to be rejected in the sense that you’re left at your door, kissless, it’s an entirely different thing to explicitly state your interest and be brutally rejected with words. You’re not sure you can handle the latter.

“Yes you can,” Keeley cuts you off. “You are a strong, capable woman who can do anything she puts her mind to, and Roy would be fucking lucky to have you.”

“I’ll ask him,” You reply with a nod as you set your determination.

“Good girl,” Keeley replies.

“I’ll go ask him right now,” You say as you move to stand up.

“Oh,” Keeley murmurs, her eyes widening as she watches you stand up and collect your things.

“Why not? Right?” You offer her with a shrug.

“Yeah,” Keeley replies. Though she’s suddenly wondering if she’s possibly too good at motivational speeches. “Um, do you want me to come with you?”

“I think I have to do this on my own,” You tell her. “I’ll let you know how it goes.”

“Roy!” You shout as you march through the AFC Richmond hallway, trying to catch up to the dark-haired man striding down the hall towards the coaches' offices.

“Hey,” Roy greets you as he turns to see you headed in his direction.

“Do you want a croissant?” You ask as you push the bag into his hands before he can even respond.

“This croissant has a bite taken out of it,” He points out as he pulls it out of the bag. “I know, I got hungry while I was walking over here,” You tell him. 

“But that’s not why I’m here,” You tell him as you try to get yourself back on track before you lose the sudden burst of self-confidence that carried you the four blocks here.

"Do you like me or don't you?" You ask him.

"Of course I like you," Roy replies.

Oh.

Your chest deflates significantly with relief. That was way easier than you thought it would be. And the ideal outcome. 

Except you’re still confused.

"Well, then why didn't you kiss me last night?" You ask him as your brows furrow again with the reminder of why exactly you’re so confused by this man. “The hot-and-cold, mixed signals are doing my head in.”

"I like to take things slow," Roy tells you. “And I don’t want to rush into things before I understand where you’re at.”

"But you do? Like me, I mean?"  You ask.

"Of course I fucking like you," Roy replies. "Even after you brutally fucking rejected me I liked you."

"You rejected me!" 

"No I fucking didn't," Roy replies, shaking his head. "You walked out of that restaurant before I could even say anything and then told me that being seen with me was a fucking embarrassment."

"That's not how-"

"If either of us is hot-and-cold and impossible to read it's you," He tells you

"But-"

Roy cuts you off.

"I fucking like you, (Y/N), and if I need to keep telling you that every fucking day until it sinks in I'll do it, but only if you admit that you have feelings for me too."

"I-I do,” You reply. "Like you," You tell him.

"I like you a lot, Roy," You tell him.

"Well, there we go," Roy replies. “That wasn’t too hard now was it?”

"But what does that mean?" You ask. "What do we do now?"

"I have one idea," Roy says as he closes the gap between you two and moves forward to cup your face in his hands. 

His lips are pressed against yours and the hand curls around to cup your neck before you can get your brain firing on all cylinders. 

Roy Kent is kissing you. 

Roy Kent is kissing you in the middle of the hallway in your place of work. 

His place of work.

You break apart as quickly as you were pulled together. 

"I..." You stall as your brain struggles to form the words you want to say. 

"What are you doing tonight?" Roy asks you in a low voice as his thumb traces over the curve of your cheek. 

"Normally I'd say something like, you," You reply as you gaze back at him. The heat of that kiss still fresh in your mind. "But apparently you want to take it slow."

"Fuck slow," Roy growls. 

God, he's the hottest man you've ever met. 

"Come over to my place, I'll make us dinner," He tells you.

"As long as you kiss me like that again I'll go wherever you want."

"Tonight," He promises. And you don’t know if it’s about the date or the kiss or the unspoken thing you’re definitely both thinking about right now as you can feel Roy’s eyes tracing down your body.

“Tonight,” You agree before you take a step back and turn to head out before you do something truly reckless.

Like shagging a football coach in a closet.

You’re halfway down the hallway when you realize you’ve forgotten something.

“My croissant!” You shout as you turn around.

“My croissant now, you gave it to me, remember?” Roy replies before he pulls it out of the bag and takes a bite before heading into his office.

Tonight. You remind yourself as you walk out of the training facility. You just need to keep a handle on yourself until tonight.

[th3-c0rps3-r0gu3]

shadows

chapter 4.

Pairings: Natasha X Wanda, Natasha X umbrakinetic teen fem!reader, Wanda X umbrakinetic teen fem!reader, Avengers X umbrakinetic teen fem!reader.

Warnings: swearing,

3rd person.

"hey has detka have you seen y/n it's been four hours. She's not in her room."

Natasha says to her girlfriend concerned. It's way past the time y/n should be in bed but Natasha can't find the girl to tell her that.

"I took her to the library."

Wanda responds. She seems less concerned but she hadn't seen y/n exit the library so she assumed she was still there.

"I'll go check. Thanks mylashk."

Natasha says heading for the library.

Natasha enters the library and starts to look around. Someone is definitely here as there are books missing from shelves everywhere. Whoever y/n is no where to be seen. After about thirty more minutes Natasha is about to give up. That is till she sees a mountain of books surrounding a beanbag. A bean bag that held y/n.

Y/n pov.

I don't know how long I've been in here but in all honesty I don't care either. I've been able to read so much! And no one has tried to stop me or yell at me like other bookstore customers. Then a voice breaks me from thought.

"there you are y/n I was getting worried."

It's natasha. She standing Infront of me but she doesn't look angry.

"oh.. sorry."

I am still way to quiet. I was better with Wanda. Not that I should say that. I'd offend Natasha and that would lead to.. I don't think about it.

•red head seems worried.•

•why worried? Nobody worries for us.•

•red head relieved now though.•

•did we relieve her?•

•yes.•

I drown out the shadows again. Natasha just looks at me concerned. I really need to get used to that look being aimed at me. It's.. unsettling.

"you need to go to bed now. It's late. You need sleep y'know."

Natasha says. She seems calm.

"ah.. ok. Sorry."

I say quieter. I really need to get better. Speaking to solely shadows is getting to me. Natasha nods at me.

"if it's ok but have you read all these books?"

Natasha asks. That surprised me.

"only half. The right side is ones I've read and the left I haven't."

I'm louder this time. Still quiet but louder. Good. Natasha looks at the piles. Granted the right side has more books than the left but y'know it's not that bad. Natasha then nods again.

"ah ok. Goodnight y/n."

Natasha then leaves. I get up and walk down to my room. It's quiet. Thank god. I enter my room and sit on the floor again. I'm not ready for a bed yet. Not after the years of sleeping on concrete.

It's morning. And it's bright out. I really need to darken this room.

•bright!•

•too bright.•

•tone it down!•

I try and block the shadows again but their too loud and I cant.

•make it dark again!•

•white bright too!•

Right. I need black paint. I'll find a way to get that. But I should visit the book store and see Sandra.

I walk into the main area and see Wanda and Natasha talking to a blonde woman who I assume is carol. All three turn to me.

"morning y/n."

Wanda says smiling. I'll need to get used to that. Sandra is usually the only one who smiles at me.

"morning.."

I say quietly. Damn I thought I made progress at being louder.

Wanda starts to introduce me to the blonde woman. I half don't listen. Anything I miss the shadows can tell me. Eventually Wanda stops rambling and America smiles at me. Still unsettled by the smiles.

"hey uhm.. can I go back to the bookstore. I help out there and stuff.."

I murmur nearly silent. I really really need to be louder.

•ohh visit Sandra?•

•who's Sandra?•

•friend!•

Natasha's voice breaks through the shadows muttering.

"course you can kiddo. We can walk down now if you want."

I simply nod.

The walk was quick and quiet. Thank the gods. I enter the bookstore and greet Sandra while Natasha walks away.

"hey kiddo how is living with literal superheroes?"

Sandra asks grinning while she pulls out boxes of books that need shelving.

"it's ok. Better than I expected. But I need to darken my room.. it's too bright."

I say. Here at least I speak normally.

•room is definitely too bright.•

•see Sandra again!•

•ooh yes Sandra!•

•hello Sandra!•

I let the shadows rumble their greetings as Sandra explains where the books need to go. I already know where they need to go. I've done this so many times now.

3rd person pov (with Nat and Wanda)

Natasha returned to the compound and sighed as she walk through the door to her and Wanda's level.

"well? How was the walk?"

Wanda asks from the kitchen. Natasha comes up behind her hugging her.

"quiet. She really doesn't like to talk."

Natasha responded.

"what are you cooking? It smells heavenly detka?"

"it my paprikash Nat you should know this by now."

Wanda responds giggling. Natasha smiles.

"ahh silly me."

°three hours later°

Natasha and Wanda have been watching sitcoms for the past hour now but Natasha is starting to worry about y/n.

"detka is y/n coming back alone or am I going to pick her up?"

Natasha asks the red head snuggled beside her.

"I dunno. If your worried we can walk down to find her."

Wanda sits up and turns off the tv.

"and now that you mention it I am starting to worry."

Y/n pov.

I finished shelving ages ago and now I'm reading. After about a million questions from Sandra and the shadows screaming in my ear holes I finally have some peace. And a bonus is the Sandra supplied me with black paint. So there's the brightness issue half fixed. Next is to get light blocking blinds. If I can gather the courage to ask for them that is. But that's an issue for future me to deal with.

"hey kiddo. You will still visit me despite the fact you live with heroes now right?"

Sandra's question confuses me. Why would I stop coming here?

"of course I'll keep coming. Why would I stop?"

Sandra seems a little guilty looking now.

"well you live with heroes. You hardly need a bookstore owner backing you up now. I'm half surprised you came in today."

The older woman explains. I frown.

"I live with heroes but honestly they scare the hell out of me. Besides. Your my friend. I trust you."

I easily explain. At least with Sandra I can speak normally. Then two red heads walk in. Two easily recognisable red heads. Why in Satan's name is Wanda and Natasha here?

•why they here?•

•shhh that's rude!•

•rude but good question.•

"shut up...."

I mumble to the shadows who finally listen to me and quiet. Wanda sees me and smiles. God I need to get used to that. Or she could stop doing it. Though I doubt she will.

"hey y/n. We were just wondering when you were going to be back?"

Wanda asks me. Natasha is talking to Sandra. Wanda then consequently notices the black paint.

"what's with the paint?"

The Slovakian asks.

"oh uhh.. my room is a bit bright and um.. I decided to darken it by painting it black... if that's not ok I won't and I'll just give this back to sandra..."

I murmur. God I'm still too quiet. I'll work on it.

"oh sorry. I never stopped to think if the rooms as bright. I can help paint if you want. It'll be fun!"

Wanda responds.

"and if it's still too bright we can get light cancelling blinds so then you won't need to deal with sunlight too much. You didn't seem the type for bright spaces anyway."

I sit there surprised by Wanda's response. I was expecting a scolding but this is better.. I think. Then Natasha comes over.

"alright you two let's go. Before it's dark out."

The Russian grabs Wanda's hand gently and waits for me to get my stuff before we leave.

"bye Sandra! I'll come back and I won't forget you! Promise!"

I call out to sandra.

"I'll hold you to that kiddo!"

She responds. I then follow Natasha and Wanda out and back to the compound.

Me and Wanda have just finished painting my room black while Natasha put up the sun block blinds.

"there we go. Now your room isn't so bright."

Wanda says proudly looking over our paint job.

•ooh finally not bright.•

•better much much better•

•no sun! Black everywhere!•

•we in heaven?•

I struggle to drown the shadows out. The joy I feel combined with them is too much. Oh well their rambles can go on I suppose. Natasha moves next to us and kisses wanda. I cringe internally. Is this how couples are meant to act?

"brilliant job detka. The paint looks brilliant."

Nat says and Wanda smiles.

"I'm glad the curtains didn't fall on you."

Wanda responds. Is that how your supposed to respond to that? Natasha doesn't seem unhappy...

"yes well how about we go shopping tomato fill the room up."

Natasha proposes. I perk up. Does that mean book shopping? Or drawing shopping? Will I get a new sketchpad?

"that's sounds like a brilliant idea. Y/n how do you feel?"

Wanda turns to me.

"oh.. uh yeah sounds good."

Still to goddamn quiet.

A/n: I honestly thought I posted this ages ago. Then I go to Wright chapter five and what's in my drafts? This. Oops. Sorry for those who actually like this series for the late post.

[ohmotherwhereartthou-if]

The Baby question ask😂😭 I like these kind of questions, it fleshs out the characters even more and really gives them individual identity, great job author!

With that being said, since I love asking authors what if parents ask….RO reaction to their baby’s first is Mama/Papa?🥺

Hello,

I'm glad you like them! I got a backlog of asks I need to work through so hopefully I can get through a couple more today.

I don't know who baby is referring to for their first mama/papa moment since it wasn't specified so I will make it up as I go along.

Cassandra: I see her kid calling MC mama/papa first for some reason, she's loving to her baby but I feel like the baby will be more attached to MC. She is only a little miffed but overall she is very happy when it actually happens. I see it happening in the kitchen early in the morning. She is making the morning coffee with the baby in her arms and it's when MC walks into the room and that's when it happens. Baby reaches for MC and she whips her head around and looks at baby in shock, is happy baby said first word but will smack MC in the back of the head if they rub it in that the first word was for them.

Valeria: I think baby would call her mama first and it would happen when she is working with baby strapped to her chest in a sling (whatever those are called). She is rolling dough and dangling something in front of baby to keep them entertained when they yell baby babble and interject a 'mama' somewhere in there. She is squealing and trying desperately to make them do it again, she fails and literally nobody believes her because baby is so young and there was nobody else there to witness it.

Tomás: I think baby would talk for MC first and he is okay with that.

...Unless MC is a guy, then it's war. Will claim baby was talking about him and from then on work with baby saying 'dada' everyday. Otherwise, he's okay with baby recognize their mother. Makes his heart very warm and he is enjoying family life with every fibre of his being.

-

Ludovica: Baby woke her up by touching her face gently, (baby is sleeping with her and MC until they are like 4 and even then she will whine that they should be able to sleep with them as long as they want). She smiles, asking if they were saying good morning to mama, baby says mama back. Shocking her and making her cry, waking up MC beside her and confusing them as to why she is uncontrollably crying and baby is laughing for like 5 minutes.

Aurelio: Man was so sleep deprived that he was putting baby to bed and when baby said 'dada' he was just like "Yeah?". And when baby obviously said baby babble after he said goodnight and went to bed. Did not even properly realize what happened until it happened again days later.

Elio: Baby talks to MC first and when MC is super excited, and he in typical Elio fashion just like, "So? It barely talked, that's not much to be excited about". MC rolls their eyes but little did they know that this was surprisingly a very rare moment of genuine jealousy from Elio. MC catches him later holding baby up to face and asking why would they talk to MC first if he talks to them the most? Do they not like the philosophy books he reads to them at night?

[yourmomni]

Fix You

A/n: hi guys🥰 I hope you enjoy this I literally was so excited to write this first part of this story and can't wait to continue it ( and actually finish a series). Their will be 4 parts of this series that will be dropping every Sunday ( or if I'm feeling generous) every Friday. I have school through out the week so please be patient with me. @loveyouselfalways thank you for the request i cherish you in my heart 🥰🥰

The comments on the life were popping up rapidly on the screen as I rocked in my gamer chair that was in my room.

" Guys, what song should I play next."

I smiled as the requests were all over the screen within seconds of me asking. I was live on Weverse after our comeback on Music Bank.

" Oh I like Maroon 5, let's play Sunday morning."

I typed the song in and turned my speakers that were on my desk up. I swayed to the song bobbing my head and singing along.

Jay popped his head in as I looked up over my monitor at him. " Jake wanted to know if you've seen his black cap, and I also bought you some ramen." I shook my head. " no he probably left it at the studio but do you wanna come say hi." He smiled rushing into my room sitting the bowl down beside me, standing behind me waving. " Hi ENGENE thank you for supporting us today." He began humming the song and reading the comments.

" no, I'm not joining the live I just stopped by to say hello…now I'm leaving so goodnight I love you." He waved bye rustling my hair and then running out before I could hit him back.

" He's so annoying guys, I swear he's really like a big brother to me." I fixed my hair grabbed the chopsticks and ate a little bit of the ramen

Hoonies wife: You’re the annoying one

Jaybm: I want to see him not you

I squinted at the comment

" He's not really annoying, it was just a joke guys."

Dweakicake: look at how she's eating. What a pig

Skyhon: fat bitch

Lilsim: I can't believe they chose her as the last member, what a waste of space. Literally lol.

Jewelgold: did you guys see her outfit for comeback? They should have covered her up more, she looked like a dancing cow

You stared blankly at the camera reading the comments appearing on the screen one by one.

"I'm sorry if you guys didn't like my outfit for the comeback, maybe next show you'll enjoy the next one."

You faked a smile, your heart felt like a needle was going in and out of it, and your stomach felt like there was a zoo inside of it.

The song finally ended and you slid the bowl to the side.

You were too sick to eat

" Okay, guys I'm not feeling well so I'm just going to end the live here."

Y/Nfairy: Don't pay attention to the mean comments we love you

Enha4L: Don't go I'll miss you too much

You smiled " It's getting late and I promised Sunoo I would do face mask with him tonight so I gotta go. I love you engenes until next time." I blew a kiss and waved bye to the screen ending the live.

I exhaled, groaning, laying my head on the desk. Jay walked back in smiling holding his own bowl

" I came to- hey what happened to the live I was going to surprise them" I quickly lifted my head to face him

"Oh, I ended the live it's getting late." I got out of my chair, grabbed my bowl that was on the desk taking it to the the kitchen.

Jay was taken aback by the sudden change of mood you had. You were all bubbly and excited to get on live just a second ago.

Jake was sitting at the dinner table on his phone, probably ordering a new black cap.

" Someone needs to clean the dishes I did it last night and this morning, and they keep piling up," Jungwon said, walking in from the living room and setting his bowl in the sink.

I dumped my food in the trash sitting my bowl down beside his " I did it last week it's sunoo turn." Jay said leaning on the island

" I did it the week before," Sunoo yelled from his room.

" Hey, you didn't eat all your food," Jay whispered as I stood beside him on my phone.

" I wasn't hungry." I moved before he could ask me anything else. The living room was empty even though the T.V. was on. I sat down on the couch scrolling through Twitter trying to see if anyone posted the highlights of my live.

Enhypenlover: Y/n looked so pretty today on her live as she played songs by Tyler the Creator, Frank Ocean, Steve Lacey, Beabadoobob and Maroon 5. She even had a special appearance from Jay. Sadly she left in a hurry but I can't wait to see her again soon. What did you guys think about her live?

You pushed the comment section and saw over 2.5k people reply to her tweet

There were a lot of comments about how they liked your taste in music, or about how they enjoyed seeing you. Then you scrolled too far.

User183752890: why didn't they make her diet before coming back? So embarrassing

You sharply exhaled as you read it over and over again

You knew you weren't the skinniest person in the world, you had thighs that doubled every time you sat down, your fingers weren't skinny and Dainty like the other girl idols and your belly was nowhere near flat. It would spill out from under your shirts and poke out when you tried to hide it in your jeans.

It was nowhere around how you looked. You knew you were fat.

After I-land aired and the last 7 members were picked to be in enhypen everyone was so excited to see the new group, well until they decided to add you into it.

The boys were nice, sweet, and caring towards you but the fans were a different story. Always commenting on how you looked or saying you didn't match the boy's vibes. Telling you to leave the group every chance they got.

A tear fell from you're eyes and onto your cheek, as you gripped your phone in your hand. " You okay." You quickly whipped it away. " Yeah just got something in my eye no big deal."

Niki was standing there watching as you wiped your tears away for the 5th time that week in silence.

He walked over to you, snatching your phone out of your hand. " What are you reading?" I gasped hopping up trying to grab my phone back. " Niki stop it." He started scrolling eyebrows frowning as he continued to read all the comments

" Niki give it here." He turned his back to me, blocking my phone from me. I tried going in front of him but he ran to the other side of the room.

" Niki, this isn't funny, just give it back." He scoffed. He was still reading silently. Niki was beyond angry at all of the things he was seeing.

People who claimed to be fans hated you for no reason. It was pissing him off.

"How long has this been going on?" He asked, finally looking up from your phone. " It doesn't matter, just give me my phone back." You reached for your phone but Niki moved it out of the way.

"It doesn't matter? Y/n you were literally crying 5 minutes ago reading this trash." "It isn't trash," I yelled at him. He bit the inside of his cheek. " When did this start y/n." I crossed my arms looking away from him

He shrugged, "Fine, you don't wanna talk." He brushed past me and into the kitchen where I followed him. " Niki, what are you doing?"

Everyone was gathered in the kitchen which was just your luck.

" Jungwon, look at this." I gasped as I watched him hand my phone over to our leader. Jungwon raised his eyebrows as he received the phone.

Oh no

The one thing about getting hate was that you tried your best to hide it from your other members. You knew if they saw it they would try to protect you or worse agree with the people about you.

Everyone crowded behind Jungwon to read what was on your phone. you felt like you were living a nightmare. Your hands started getting sweaty and your legs turned to jello.

Jay was the first one to look back up at you sadness all over his face. You quickly looked away from him and down at the ground. You hated seeing them sad especially if it was over you.

You clenched your fist all of a sudden and anger filled you. " When did this Start?" Jungwon asked, breaking the silence. I couldn't look up at him. " Y/n answer me when did-" " None of your business." I spat. Everyone looked taken aback.

" Y/n watch how you talk," Heeseung said glaring at me. I walked over and snatched my phone out of his hand. " This is none of your concern I can handle this alone."

" Oh, so that's what you call crying at night in your room. You call that " handling it" because it doesn't seem handled." Niki yelled back just as angry. I pushed his chest " fuck you.".

" Y/n that's enough," Sunghoon interjects. " Niki was trying to help and-." I cut him off ." He wasn't trying to help me he was trying to embarrass me…I don't have time for this." I stormed to my room " Come back here, we're not done talking to you." Jay said following me.

" I don't want to talk to any of you EVER." I slammed the door in his face.

" teenagers." Heeseung groaned throwing the rag he had in the sink and whipping his hands on the apron he had around his neck. Niki dragged his hands across his face. " Why didn't she tell us," Jake said with frustration all over his face.

Niki's leg was bouncing so hard the table began to move with it." I don't know but I'm going to fix it." He got up from the table storming to his own room slamming the door.

[deathwhoregutfucker]

Kirk Hammett SFW Alphabet

these hc's are pretty old, but i thought i'd post them here for you guys to read!

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?) - kirk would be soooooo affectionate. like, pda *everywhere*. always kissing you, touching you, always had at least one hand on you. 

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?) - he would be a killer best friend. the friendship would start at a record store, he would notice that you were looking at some bands that he likes and he’d suggest only their best albums.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?) - kirk would be the biggest cuddler ever. usually, you’d lay on his chest, but sometimes he would want to lay on yours so you could play with his hair, especially when he’s was in a bad mood. 

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?) - i feel like kirk would want to settle down with you after a few years of dating, and i feel like he would loveeee cleaning and lighting some candles after he’s finished with everything. 

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?) - UGH i don’t even wanna think about breaking up with him, but i feel like he would have a sit down talk with you and see if you can hash everything out before resorting to breaking up. i feel like he would value communication a lot, i don’t think he would want to break up unless he absolutely *had* to. 

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?) - i feel like he would want to get married after about 4-5 years of dating, but i feel like he would also talk about marrying you about a month or two into your relationship. he would always fantasize about a beautiful but intimate wedding with only a few of your close friends and family members.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?) - kirk is arguably the softest guy in metallica. i feel like he would be very emotionally vulnerable and he would always make sure to share his feelings with you whether they’re good or bad. and physically? literally so gentle. he would always rub your hand with his thumb or rub your thighs when you guys lay down together to watch a movie or something. 

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?) - oh he would love hugs. whenever you guys would spend any amount of time apart, he would always run up and give you a big hug and tell you how much he loves you <3

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?) - i feel like he would say it a few months into your guys’ relationship, and he would also be very nervous to say it to you. he would probably say it while you guys watch tv or listen to music or something like that.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?) - i don’t think he would be too jealous unless, but if someone else hit on you he would say something for sure. 

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?) - he would love kisses, especially kissing you goodnight. before you guys go to sleep, he would always kiss your forehead and both of your cheeks before you lay down on his chest and drift off to sleep.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?) - i feel like kirk would be awkward around kids, but still ultimately good. 

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?) - mornings would be so sweet with kirk, just imagine waking up with him with the sun coming in from the window, slowly starting a nice relaxing day of lounging around and just spending time with each other. he would wake you up by kissing your forehead and your cheeks (like he does when you guys go to sleep) and saying ‘wake up baby’ and stuff like that.  

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?) - nights would be good too. i feel like he would be a night owl too. whether its just staying up and watching tv or having a night out on the town, kirk would love staying up to spend ore time with you.

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?) - honestly, i don’t know. i feel like he would be open with his feelings, but some things i think he would be pretty hesitant to talk about (like his past relationships).

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?) - he would have the patience of an angel. it would take a lot to get him pissed off, i really don’t think that he’s that hot headed.

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?) - oh 100%. kirk would be soooo attentive with you. remembering you and your family's birth days and always making sure to get them a little something for it, he would remember all of the details about your first few dates, absolutely everything.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?) - his favorite moment would probably be your guys’ first date. a few days after you guys met, he would call you and ask you to go to a little coffee shop down town with him. you guys would just sit and talk to each other before the manager kicks you guys out so they can close at the end of the day.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?) - he would be very protective of you, he wouldn’t let anyone bother you as long as you were with him, and if you were alone in a dangerous part of town, he would make sure you had mace or a knife or something to protect yourself with. 

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?) - he would always go above and beyond with dates and everything. on your one year, he would buy you a bunch of gifts and spell out ‘i love you’ on your guys’ bed with rose petals and run you a nice steamy bath and put some candles and light some incense in the bathroom.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?) - i feel like a bad habit of his would be drinking too much when he’s with his buddies. i’m sure you’d get plenty of drunken calls asking you to pick him and the rest of the band up from the bar after a night of partying with them. i also feel like he’d be super clingy when he’s drunk too. 

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?) - i don’t think he would be *too* concerned about his looks, but i do think that he would take a lot of pride in his hair. he would have a whole schedule for the days he washes his hair, and he would have a daily routine for styling it as well. even when it’s short, he would still take extra care of it.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?) - oh 100%. he doesn’t even like spending more than a day without seeing or talking to you. it would kill him when he would go on tour when you wouldn’t be there, but he would always make sure to call you whenever he was free. 

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.) - i feel like he would love watching cat videos. he would always send you videos of cats throughout the day and he would always ask you ‘babe when can we get a cat?’. i don’t know, i just think he would be such a cat person. 

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?) - probably someone who was bad at communication. he would be very open about his feelings, so he would expect the same from his partner. 

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?) - like i said before, complete night owl. i mean, you would have to fight him to go to sleep before 12:30, and it would be even worse on the weekends and when he had nothing to do.

[livvyliveslife]

what’s on my mind?

why can’t i sleep? my body is aching and my mind is exhausted. but why when i try to sleep i just fill myself with thoughts about how i wish i could wake up and be literally anyone else, have different experiences, be able to regulate myself better, not have to battle with the feeling of knowing i cant bully myself into becoming better but only ever being bullied into becoming someone im not. i lost my formative years to not understanding why i can’t be myself and why i feel like i have to pretend to be other people just to inevitably fail and burn out. its disabling. i fear that tomorrow i will just wake up to feel the same. i blame it on my period but when its 2/4 weeks of the month i fear that i think its just me. anyway i have work tomorrow so the mask cant slip just yet. let’s hope for a better morning. x

i’m sorry for being so down btw i just don’t really have anyone other than my boyfriend to talk to. i’m so grateful for him but i can’t burden him anymore than i have so ur turn i guess. i know there’s a lot of you who read this. i’m not sure how many of you feel like this but i know i mustn’t be alone. i know there are people going through worse, which only works to invalidate me. anyway i’m rambling goodnight x

[preciadosbass]

30/7/24 [draft from yesterday, again]

woke up at 9 and didn’t end up going back to sleep because my parents kept on talking about how i couldn’t as my provision/keyworker’s coming round. i know i usually get sleep, even if it’s in small amounts, but i never feel like i do. i scrolled through a few pictures of patrick stump until i had breakfast. i honestly felt so exhausted today following how my sleep and eating is at the moment.

my provision [person i have to see instead of going to school] came round almost immediately after i got up so i got dressed listening to escape the fate and then i obviously have to see her. i was about to say good morning to boris on the driveway when she pulled up so i ran off into the living room and waited for her to come in. i think she could tell that i was not having it today so we just awkwardly played uno for an hour. it’s hard to explain stuff like this without sounding ungrateful, i know it’s better than being at school, AND i know it makes me sound stupid, but i’m so scared of her. i really don’t like having to see her.

after she left i went outside and cuddled boris. he was literally the most affectionate id ever seen him in the four years we’ve had him. he usually just goes back and forth and brushes his head on me but today he wouldn’t leave me alone [in the best way.] i took a few videos of him rolling around on the floor and being playful because he’s just too cute. after being out with him for around 35 minutes i went back inside and finished watching tv from yesterday.

my dad came into my room at some point with something behind his back and i assumed it was some weird ass bug because he does tend to hand me stuff like that a lot. i didn’t believe that whatever it was wasn’t alive so i looked away and he put it behind my pillow and walked out. turned out it was a FALL OUT BOY CD!!! he got a deal on ebay and thought he might aswell get me something he knew i like. i love him so much.

after talking to my dad about fall out boy i went back to my room and carried on watching tv. while doing so i made another collage [shown at the end]. i’m not entirely happy with it but i knew it’d be a little iffy as i don’t have anything too interesting to stick into my book. i also didn’t have enough receipts/stickers [etc] to finish it anyways, but at least i liked making it.

i watched tv up until 4 when started collecting pictures of chris drew and other people like that to print out sometime, and then at some point i went upstairs to play roblox with my sister as we haven’t had one to one time in ages — or time together whatsoever for that matter. we played pierce the veil obby, natural disaster and fashion famous. it was really nostalgic playing roblox again.

my phone battery got low so i went back downstairs to the driveway and cuddled boris for like 30/40 minutes. mum came back from shopping so i had a couple grapes and watched a few videos on roller coaster crashes. after that i went on a walk with my mum to this abandoned well i haven’t been to since like 2018. [couple of pics also at end, the rest are at my insta @//iloveechicheng]

when i got home i looked for boris at his favourite spot [perched under my dads car] and when he wasn’t there i momentarily freaked out and as i looked up i noticed him on the windowsill looking out at me from the kitchen?? he’s literally never sat on a windowsill, at least not to my knowledge.. it was so cute OMGG

at this point it was about 9:30 so i stayed awake for as long as i could until i had a 20 minute nap and then went up to my parents to ask them questions about boris because they were still awake [1am i think]. we didn’t argue as we were all just so tired. afterwards i went downstairs intending to have another 20 minute nap but i woke up at 2 so i rushed to say goodnight to boris before i fell asleep again.

* ignore how weird the collage looks, i had to blur out most of the stuff on the receipts

have a good day/night -_<

[4townie]

Road to 4☆TOWN

part 41 | part 42 | part 43 | part 44 | part 45

“Sean, honey, are you ready yet?” Selina knocked on the guest room door.

A second later, the door opened. Sean stepped out and adjusted his suit jacket. “Yep. I’m ready.”

“What the hell?” Jesse looked him up and down. “I didn’t dress that fancy for our prom.”

“That’s because it wasn’t a first date. We’d already been together for a year.” Selina nudged him. “You look great, Sean.”

“Thanks, Selina.” Sean played with his hair a little. “I’m pretty sure I’ve been subconsciously crushing on Alex since ninth grade so I need this night to be perfect.”

“How perfect?” Jesse narrowed his eyes, earning a smack to the arm from Selina.

“I mean, if I could get a hand hold, maybe even a first kiss, that would be great.” Sean said casually before blushing. “Not that it’s any of your business.”

“Ooh, Seanie’s got a boyfriend, Seanie’s got a boyfriend.” Danny teased. “Say it with me, Marcel.”

Marcel just shook his head quietly.

“Awwww, you’re no fun.” Danny pouted. “I thought I had a new teasing buddy.”

“He’s not on that level yet.” Selina shook her head. “He once thought Jesse was teasing me when he was really just talking to the baby. Marcel wouldn’t talk to him for twenty minutes.”

Jesse scoffed. “I bet his sister’ll be a real party guy.” He rolled his eyes. “All those kicks while I was talking probably meant she thinks I’m funny.”

“OH MY GOD EVERYONE SHUT UP!” Sean yelled, backing away from the door. “I think I can hear his footsteps.”

“Sean, that could literally be anyo—”

There was a knock at the door.

“Don’t you ever get tired of being wrong?” Sean gave Jesse a smug look.

“I still have the video tapes of Mom potty training you.” Jesse squinted in retaliation. “Don’t think I won’t show them to your little crush.”

“Okay okay, fine.” Sean rolled his eyes. He put his hand on the doorknob and paused. “Selina, do me a favor and keep him in check until I leave.”

“I’ll do the best I can from the couch.” Selina stretched her back as she went to sit down. “Momma’s got a little back pain.”

“Okay.” Sean took a deep breath. “I got this.” He opened the door. “Hey, Alex.”

“Sean, hi.” Alex nervously tucked some hair behind his ear. “You look great.” He leaned in and kissed him.

Sean’s eyes went wide and his entire face turned bright red. His eyes rolled to the back of his head as he started to fall over, but Jesse caught him.

“Get up.” Jesse nudged his brother. “I’ll grab one of Marcel’s diapers from the garbage.”

“Actually, I think you have a fresh one right here.” Danny made a face of disgust as he held up his nephew.

“Okay, I’m up.” Sean got up immediately.

“Sorry about that.” Alex chuckled awkwardly. “I didn’t actually mean to kiss you, I’m pretty sure I was possessed just now.”

“No, no, it’s fine. I liked it.” Sean offered a crooked smile. He turned to Jesse. “Well? Pictures?”

Jesse stared at him for a second. “Mommy, I made an oopsie in the—”

“OKAY, SHUT UP!”

———

Selina walked over to the couch and crossed her arms. “All three of you need to go to bed.”

“Not until Sean’s back.” Jesse groaned. “What if he needs me to pick them up?”

“That’s what I’m here for.” Selina said firmly. “I’ve got a license, I know where the keys are. It’ll be fine. Now go to bed.”

Jesse started whining, and Selina rolled her eyes.

“Hey, Danny.” Selina gently shook his shoulder. “Dan—” She paused and grabbed his wrist when he started flailing his arms.

“Huh?” Danny squinted up at her. “Selina?”

“Go to bed. It’s late.”

“But what about Seanie?” Danny asked as he got up and started heading to his room.

“Your brother will be fine, you can ask him how his prom was in the morning.” Selina waved a hand. “But you should look out for the—”

“AH!” Danny walked right into the wall and jerked back. “Oh. Okay, now I’m up.” He rubbed his head. “Goodnight, you guys. If I can even fall back asleep with this headache…”

“You should go to the room before you start walking into walls, too.” Selina nudged Jesse.

“But this show is so interesting.” Jesse squinted at the TV. “I wanna know who the murderer is.”

Selina stared at him. “Babe, this is a rerun of The Nanny. And it’s “The Chatterbox” episode. You hate that episode.”

“Yeah well…I was just giving it another chance.” Jesse shrugged. “Still sucks. Not enough Fran.”

“Well, if you’re going to keep watching reruns, at least let me take the baby to bed.” Selina reached out to grab Marcel, but Jesse blocked her. “Oh my god, not this again…”

“He’s more comfortable with me.” Jesse hugged Marcel. “He’ll be fine if he stays out here for a little longer. I mean, how much longer can Sean b—”

The apartment door opened and Sean stumbled in with a look of ecstasy. “Hey, guys.”

“Hey, Sean.” Jesse waved. “I’m glad you made it home alive.”

“What’s with that look?” Selina looked Sean up and down. “I know that look. Your brother does it all the time.”

“Is it after he has the most amazing night with his boyfriend?” Sean said with a lovesick sigh.

“No, it’s usually after—” Selina paused and started to smile. “Did you say boyfriend?”

Sean nodded. “We called it official after everyone kicked us out. We figured if they were gonna treat us like boyfriends, we might as well give the people what they want.”

“Awww, what a cute—they kicked you out?” Jesse sat up, a bit more awake than before.

“Yeah, all my old friends were calling us names and laughing, but we hardly noticed. Well, we noticed, that’s why we left. But then we went on an after prom date and it was pure magic.” Sean sighed again. “What a night. Sweet dreams, guys.” He headed into the guest room still in a euphoric daze.

Jesse and Selina stared at him, wide eyed.

“So are we gonna talk about that or—”

“Nope, not a word. I can’t knock him off of cloud nine.” Jesse shook his head. “Especially not when I have my own cloud nine to get to.”

“Are you finally taking him to bed?” Selina asked with a small chuckle.

“Yeah, it’s past my bedtime.” Jesse finally got up and adjusted his grip on Marcel. “Plus my teddy bear is getting heavy.”

“Oh, then let me—”

Jesse held Marcel away from her. He narrowed his eyes as he walked past her.

“Well damn. Okay.” Selina crossed her arms. “Boy is out of his mind if he thinks he’s getting breakfast in the morning, but whatever…”

[dearabby1990]

Chapter 20: Prom preparations

You & Eddie had an amazing morning together you made him your stuffed French toast with fresh berries & bacon he told you he’s starting to feel spoiled eating all the homemade food you’ve been feeding him. You’re just glad to have someone other then yourself and occasionally robin & Steve for movie nights enjoy your food. In fact your so good at cooking both robin & Steve have you making them something at least once a week. Eddie found out the theme of the prom midnight masquerade now you both need to hope you can find the appropriate accessories for your outfits. Eddie heads home because he has a short shift at the shop covering for another worker & you & Robin decided you’re going to head out on the town to try to find the perfect masquerade masks. Falling upon a costume store mostly known for renting character suits for children’s birthday parties window shopping throughout the whole place robin finds the perfect mask for herself white with emerald gems around the cat eye shaped eye holes you see a phantom of the opera mask knowing damn well it’s literally screaming for you to get it for Eddie so you do not finding one for yourself you start to get nervous until Robin comes running through the aisle stumbling over her feet & trying to catch her breath “think-I-found-something” taking a breath between each word you follow her to the glass case in the front inside is an arrangement of costume jewelry brooches & you then see it a black lace mask with littered with rubys the same rubys that are on the tie clip you got for Eddie 2 satin ribbons attached to the sides your eyes light up in excitement especially when you see a few accessory pieces to add with it. On the ride back you both pull in the McDonald’s drive thru for a quick lunch before heading back to your house to check out everything you bought. Robin eyes your haul “that headband is cute!! I have no idea how to do hair or makeup so I’m gonna need your help jame OHHH I love that necklace!! We should definitely put some extra gems on your headband well looks more like a crown but still it’d make it pop more” she’s talking a mile a minute & you love that she feels comfortable enough to ramble away when she’s with you. You both are wondering how you’re all getting there beings robin & Steve are going as friends & you & Eddie are going as a new couple so Robin decided to talk Steve & Eddie both into leaving as a group hoping you all didn’t have to pile in the van in such nice clothes although you love hanging in the van with Eddie it’s certainly not the kind of vehicle to take 4 people out in dress attire. You & Robin dig through all your makeup & hair accessories pulling the perfect pieces for robin to set aside & yourself you’re quite proud of yourself with all you’ve accomplished today. Everything’s set to go with just a day and a half left until the big night. You just hope it’s the magical night you’ve always dreamed of & not the hellish nightmare you experienced at your own but knowing you’ll be with someone who wants to be with you as much as you want to be with them keeps your heart content. If you could control the way things went you’d have Eddie forever & hope he wants to have a forever with you. He’s been calling you almost on a schedule morning hellos and goodnights & sweet dreams you couldn’t ask for anything better. He even invited you to band practice next week & to the Hideout for his next show with his band you’d be lying if you said you weren’t excited you were buzzing with energy lately not wanting this feeling to ever go away. You & Robin decided it’s best to have a girls night tomorrow so you both could spend the whole day getting ready. You gave Eddie the mask you found for him he was elated eyes popping out of his head “princess it’s PERFECT!” You hug him nestling your face into his shirt “you know me so well this is exactly what I was gonna go out & try to find to go with everything I just hope Wayne’s here to help me with my tie I’m used to clip ons” you giggle & you both spend the day watching horror movies together snuggled on the sofa.

[xfang-is-deadx]

Ari was so real because Nicole you're a severely deranged cold heartless bitch literally the most sadist fucking whore I wouldn't be surprised if you like Killing animals you don't even get mad at the idea you're extremely twisted manipulative and insane but that doesn't mean I don't wan you every moment of my sad fucking life you show every sign of an abuser and I don't give a shit you're the kind of girl who would choke me goodnight the kind of girl who would walk in on me cutting and take the razor blade and do it for me I don't want a girlfriend to marry I want a girlfriend who helps me plan my own suicide you're that girl Nicole and I need you bad

Anyway it's 4 in the morning and I have 0 thoughts in my brain

[uzumaki-rebellion]

"Black Boys Bloom Thorns First: Volume 4, Chapter 74 (Finale) Part 2

Find Part 1 of Chapter 74 HERE.

Masterlist HERE.

"Years I have known I am living in a war zone

Poison of my enemy blatantly attacking me

War goddess arouse your power

Know this is indeed your hour

Dying to be heard literally

Constant screams convincing me

War"

Caron Wheeler – "Beach of the War Goddess"

"Hand me your beads."

Disa stretched out her arm toward Joba and waited for her daughter to slowly, and reluctantly pass over her kimoyo beads.

"Little girl, it is three-thirty in the morning. You know better."

"I wanted to see the blue butterflies with Riki," Joba said, crawling under her bedcovers in the hotel suite.

"They'll still be migrating when we return. Goodnight."

She kissed Joba's forehead and tugged on her hair.

"I'll give these back after I talk to your father. We have to keep all lines open."

Disa slipped the beads over her left wrist where they lined up with her own kimoyo. Turning off the lights, she cracked the door and moved into the living area to take a bottle of water from the mini fridge. Swiping her hair back she moved to the far side of the suite where her bedroom door was closed. She slipped in quietly. Adebiyi waited for her in the king-sized bed.

"Everything fine?" he asked.

He lifted up his nude body, ready to scramble out of her suite if needed. Disa snuck him into her room hidden from Joba and under the nose of the Kingsguard assigned to them. Adebiyi pretended to be checking on them under the instructions of the king. He just never left the room hours later.

It took Disa twenty minutes to fully relax into making love to him with Joba across the way. She wanted her daughter asleep. The thought of going to his junior suite crossed her mind, but she didn't want Joba to wake up in the middle of the night with her mother gone.

Being with Adebiyi made her giddy, reverting back to a teenage innocence of being on a first date and worrying about everything being perfect. She was a grown woman with a child, and so was he…two adult ones. His affection toward her had grown into love and she matched his energy and desire. Having him above her with her heavy thighs spread wide felt like the return of heaven in her life. He took his time. There was no need for switching positions or trying to impress each other with lovemaking tricks. They simply wanted a bonding, a spiritual connection that proved that what they felt for one another was real.

His soft grunts rained down on her ears and she gasped when he held her breasts, squeezing their weight and stroking her down deep. She liked the sprinkles of gray in his pubic hairs and she appreciated the thickness and stamina of Jabari men. He made her cum quickly before he spilled into her. She bit into his shoulder to stifle loud moans. That's when she heard Joba's voice. Her daughter and Riki had a habit of whispering together, but then their voices would get loud from the excitement of communicating together.

N'Jadaka's voice had her jumping out the bed and throwing on a hotel robe to check on the family. Now she slipped it back off and climbed in next to her lover.

Wait.

She touched the pillow that had once been bare when she left to check on Joba. A four-stranded layer of silver and lavender waist beads sat waiting for her.

"What is this, Adebiyi?" she asked, palming the beads.

"I'm asking for you to allow me the honor of claiming you as my woman."

She clutched the beads to her chest and sat down hard.

"Will you take me as your man, Disa? Can I call you my own?"

"I…Adebiyi…"

He reached for the beads to take them away. She jerked her body away from his grasp.

"I want them! I want you!"

Disa jumped on top of him and the older man chuckled and ran a gentle hand over her hair. She snuggled into his neck.

"I will have to follow the proper procedures of the palace. Ask for your mother's blessing…and the king's—"

"I'm a grown woman. I can accept on my own behalf—"

"I said blessing, not permission."

"Well okay then."

"In the past, a widowed royal could marry within noble bloodlines. But you and King N'Jadaka were never married—"

"And he's still alive."

"Yes. This will be a delicate courtship."

"Your sister will love the idea of two powerful families uniting," Disa clucked, tickling the beard hairs under his chin.

"We must plan a time for our children to meet. They have been waiting years for me to find someone of my own. There will no longer be name-calling from them."

"What kind of names?"

"Old meanie on his porch. Grouchy mouth homebody. Solo Joy killer."

"Ouch."

He tilted her chin.

"If you do not think I am worthy at any time, you may end our union before it goes further, Disa."

"I want a full-on courtship, the way the Jabari do it."

"Dear Hanuman, that will be a long and arduous process. I was hoping to do it like the Wakandans."

"As long as we do this right, I really don't care."

Disa crawled on top of him, allowing the peaks of her breasts to brush against his lips while she rode his dick.

By mid-morning she was holding back tears staring at N'Jadaka's face, terrified of the unknown coming down from the sky. Her feelings for Adebiyi notwithstanding, N'Jadaka was always going to be her heart, too. He looked so brave and strong. Even Yani appeared powerful standing next to him. Something was different about her chosen little sister. A new confidence rested within her and it was visible to everyone.

When it was time to go walking in Central Park, her conversation with Yani stayed at the forefront of her mind. Her kimoyo beads notified her that a half cruiser had reached the Atlantic and would be arriving off the coast of the Hudson River in a few more hours. She sent word to her family, then gripped Adebiyi's strong hand and stepped into harsh sunlight and humid temperatures. Joba walked in front of them, exploring the hedges and scuttling sounds of wild rabbits and squirrels. While they were meandering around the park, Wakanda was in the midst of a battle that the rest of the civilian world was unaware of.

"Are you and Uncle Adebiyi dating?"

"What?"

Disa halted in front of a large black tupelo tree to enjoy some shade in the southern part of the park in billionaire's row. Joba looked up at her with questioning eyes. Adebiyi squeezed Disa's hand.

"Are you getting married like Umi Yani and Baba?"

Disa swallowed dry air with nervous energy. Releasing Adebiyi's hand, she threaded her fingers together.

"Yes, we are dating."

Joba pointed to the beads around Disa's waist.

"Adebiyi has asked me to start a courtship with him. At the end of that, we would like to consider marriage. What do you think of that?"

"You love each other?"

"I love your mother very much, little one," Adebiyi interjected.

Joba waved her hand at him to make him get on one knee so she could be at eye level with him. Adebiyi obliged, lowering himself the way N'Jadaka always did to speak earnestly with his children.

"Mommy loves my Baba…"

"I understand that," Adebiyi said.

Joba's eyes darted between the two adults, assessing the situation thoroughly in her own special way.

"Will Baba get angry?"

"No honey, Baba has no say in this really. We'll become a bigger family, that's all."

"Where will we live?"

Disa sensed the tense nature of Joba's voice. She hadn't spoken of moving or any fundamental changes yet with her daughter.

"For now, we'll stay in the palace until I speak with the rest of the family."

"And then?"

Joba poked at her cheek and her brows knitted together.

"We'll decide all together on what happens next," Adebiyi said. "I know you are close with your siblings and I want to know what you think about us dating. I have a lot to prove to your mother that I am good enough for her, Princess Joba. This will take some time…lots of planning and talking."

Joba inhaled deeply and nodded her head. Letting her know that they weren't rushing into anything calmed her. A small smile lifted her lips.

"Shall we continue walking, little one?" he asked.

Joba grinned and Adebiyi grunted when he lifted back to his feet. Her daughter helped him and he patted her head.

"I need to walk more. My knees need to be oiled… they are creaking so loud," he joked.

"I will help you," Joba said, grabbing his fingers and pulling him toward a small, rocky bridge that crossed over dirty brown water.

Joba walked between Disa and Adebiyi admiring the foliage that would turn color in a couple of months. New York seemed so dry and drab compared to Wakanda, and the urge to return tickled the back of her neck like a soft nudge.

Joba halted, refusing to take another step in the middle of the bridge. She touched her stomach.

"You okay?" Disa asked.

A scream ricocheted throughout the park and Disa immediately picked up Joba and held her close to her chest. The two Kingsguards that followed discreetly around them wearing dark suits and sunglasses stepped closer from behind. The Dora further ahead of them glanced around and released her sonic spear from its hidden sheath.

People west of them began to run in a stampede as more blood-curdling cries rang out in the air.

"What's happening?" Disa shouted to the Dora.

A white man running with his female companion fell on the ground and disintegrated in a cloud of grayish-black ash. His companion shrieked hysterically and flailed her arms before turning into a dark cloud of dust.

"We must return to the hotel!" the Dora shouted.

She ran forward three steps throwing out a vibranium shield to protect them and collapsed into fluttery ash. More people ran their way in a rush of terror. Adebiyi wrapped his arms around Disa and Joba to push them toward safety with the Kingsguard, but his face froze in horror. The color of his skin rippled and drained into sooty patches.

"Adebiyi!" Disa shrieked.

"My love," he gasped, pressing his forehead against hers.

Disa's chest compressed and the air in her lungs felt like liquid sand filling her up.

"No!" she hacked out with a raging cough.

Her eyes connected with Joba's whose solid flesh slipped out of Disa's flakey grasp.

"Mommy!" Joba shrieked.

Disa's skin fragmented away with the breeze and mixed with Adebiyi's and the Kingsguards behind her, floating up into the sunlight and through the tupelo and elm trees as their consciousness mingled. Despite the terror of loss, Adebiyi's love energy became a mixture with hers and then they were all gone…leaving Joba to fall from their arms on the hard stone bridge.

Alone.

N'Jadaka exhaled onto his arm as he rested his head on his desk.

The half cruiser they deployed to standby off the coast of the Hudson crashed into the sea with the disappearance of its entire crew. Luckily the aircraft was equipped with autopilot and a soldier from the Wakandan Air Force programmed it to stay put under the ocean halfway to its destination. He had to assume that Disa, Joba, and Adebiyi had vanished with their security team. His heart ached and he exhaled again into his arm.

Yani's parents had disappeared as did most of her extended family back in St. Thomas. In Wakanda, the Avengers lamented their losses among the Wakandan people. Throughout the streets in Birnin Zana, N'Jadaka listened to the wailing and ululations of grief. Four billion humans snapped out of existence. He had done everything in his power to save them, but he failed because of the Scarlet Witch. The bitch got dusted too before he could kill her with his bare hands. They wasted time giving Vision a window of a chance and it cost the world. His rage salted deep in his bones. He ordered the Avengers to leave Wakanda before he ripped Roger's head off for not destroying the mind stone the moment they knew what was coming to Earth.

"Kumkani, you must rest."

Okoye and W'Kabi watched him from the door of his office. He sat up and rubbed his eyes.

"I'm good," he said, checking his kimoyo beads. Yani, Sydette, and Riki were in their home safe.

He couldn't push away thoughts of Disa and Joba. Rage coursed through him again. Okoye brought him hot tea and herbal pills to sleep. He took the tea and pushed away the pills.

"We can handle the status reports and updates without you. Kumkani…please. You fought in a battle and have been up for over twenty-four hours. The golden jaguar you may be, but you are still human," W'Kabi said.

"What about you two? You're in the same boat as me."

"We are trained for this," Okoye said.

"So am I."

"Go be with your family. Elder Zinzi will make a statement to the public within the hour. We will contact you after you have slept for at least ten hours, nothing less," Okoye insisted.

N'Jadaka drank his tea and carried the small cup with him out of the office. In the grand halls, the hem of his oyster gray jalabiya dragged on the floor. Ahead of him, a palace attendant wept while waiting to receive him at the private elevator to his home.

"Hey now," he said.

Holding his arms out, he hugged the young woman who stood stiffly in his royal touch.

"Forgive me kumkani," she said.

She pulled away from him and took his empty tea cup.

"I told the evacuation wardens to release everyone except for essential workers still here for the night shift," he said.

"I know, but I wanted to be here when you finally came home. To give you comfort for your loss of Lady Abdullah and Princess Joba."

"Don't you have a family to tend to at home?"

"My parents are fine. Some of my family have vanished but it is easier for me to be here, serving your family."

"Go home. We will be in a state of national mourning and we are still figuring things out. Be with your own, okay?"

"Thank you, kumkani. And thank you for protecting us."

"Go on now."

She scurried away and he turned to his Doras and Onyx squad.

"You all do the same. Split your shifts and go check on your loved ones," he said.

None of his protective duty left him.

"Stubborn like me, I see."

Ayo approached from the rear, her spear held tight.

"You fought bravely before the decimation took people away King N'Jadaka. Many of us fought beside you or watched the battle from behind the defensive line in the capital. We will stay on duty to watch over our protector."

"I will relieve Aneka so you can see her," he said.

"No need, kumkani."

Aneka's voice chimed in from behind him on the elevator. She stood tall with Noxolo. N'Jadaka reached for her, giving her a hug.

"Thank you for watching over my family," he whispered in Aneka's ear.

Noxolo didn't even give him a chance to release Aneka before she hugged him tight with one arm, her other hand never letting go of her spear.

"Listen everyone. We have been through the wringer and this isn't over yet. Stay strong and please take time for yourself if you need to," he said.

All heads bowed as he entered the elevator with Aneka and Noxolo. He noticed Ayo blowing Aneka a kiss, her eyes shiny with unshed tears.

The ride up was quiet and entering his home was like walking into the silence of an ancient tomb. Elana and Zora rose from the couch cradling their hands and watching his face.

"Yani?" he asked.

"She is asleep in your bed, kumkani," Elana said. "I gave her a sedative with tea two hours ago."

"The children?"

"With her," Zora said.

"Noxolo and Aneka, go rest in your quarters—all of you. Please rest. I'll call you if needed."

Aneka and Noxolo tapped their spears and departed to a lower floor below his living room that was kept for in-house staff.

"We saw you," Zora said.

She pointed to the screen on the wall that played an emergency Wakandan broadcast. He caught a glimpse of the Royal Talon Fighter swooping past a giant death wheel ripping the land to shreds. He shot at it in a vulnerable spot and it exploded, ripping into several of the monstrous outriders. Someone on the front line leaked the images for the Wakandans to see. He flew low to the ground and his cousin T'Challa leaped onto the aircraft for a lift to kick some more ass on the battlefield.

N'Jadaka groaned when he watched his cousin slam his fists together directing his built-up kinetic energy to destroy a giant alien. Elana ran to him and gripped his hand. Zora rubbed his back to comfort him, their tears springing forth making him feel worse.

"Go to her," Elana said, pushing him toward the stairs.

He climbed his way up two long flights and wandered down a long hall to reach his bedroom. Yani had the children nestled under each arm, their heads on her chest fast asleep. Or so he thought.

Riki sat up, bleary-eyed, but awake. He rubbed his eyes and crawled over N'Jadaka, climbing onto his lap.

"Hey, Lil Man."

Riki clutched him tight, pressing his face into N'Jadaka's chest like his mother did when she was scared or needed comfort from him.

"Are the monsters gone?" Riki breathed into the center of his chest.

"They're gone."

"Will they come back?"

"I don't think so."

"Why did they have to kill people? I saw them come apart, Baba…like smoke."

He held up his small wrist. His kimoyo beads were there again.

"I can't get Joba to answer me, Baba."

"She's gone, Riki—"

"No! I feel her…right here."

Riki touched his chest.

"We've tried calling Umi Disa, Joba…their security people. They're gone, Dumpling."

"No!"

A deep cry erupted from the boy's chest.

"We have to go there and find her!"

Riki jumped down from his lap and pulled N'Jadaka's arm to leave the bedroom. Yani stirred on the bed and Sydette woke up.

"What's going on?" Sydette asked.

"Go back to sleep Sweet Pea," he soothed.

His oldest wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed her face on the back of his neck.

"I can't," she said, the warmth of her breath a comfort for his internal anguish.

Riki tapped his beads and called out Joba's name in a high-pitched tone.

"Please…answer me," Riki murmured.

"She didn't have her beads anyway. That's what her grandmother said," Sydette said.

"You spoke to Grandma Theresa?" he asked.

"Mama did. She said Umi Disa took away her beads so she wouldn't sneak-talk to Riki while you were away fighting."

N'Jadaka stood up. He stared at both of his children and pulled away the collars of their pajama tops. Touching their necks he moved away from them fast, dashing down the hall and to the stairs. He took them two at a time and ran toward Yani's bedroom. Flinging open one of Yani's jewelry boxes, he searched for three necklaces. One drawer after the other he looked until he shouted for Yani on the intercom system.

"Yani, where are Riki and Sydette's unvikeli necklaces? The ones T'Challa gave them?"

Yani mumbled, the sedatives still clinging to her consciousness. He ran back up the stairs and gently shook her.

"Baby…wake up…please…I need your help. There's a chance Joba is still alive and here with us somewhere in New York."

Yani sat up groggy with a scrunched-up face trying to figure out what was happening.

"Joba?" Yani said.

"Yes. Where are the unvikeli necklaces?"

He helped Yani step off the bed and she shook her head, following him back down to her bedroom. She walked into a separate dressing room where a long glass jewelry case housed enough necklaces, earrings, and finger trinkets for each day of the year. Many were family heirlooms given to her from Baba Z and Umama's bloodlines. Sliding open a bottom case, she pulled out a corral pink satin jewelry box. N'Jadaka took it from her and opened it. Three necklaces rested there. An adult one that once belonged to T'Challa, and two smaller ones that went to Riki and Sydette.

"Thank you, Bast," he said.

The king lifted the one precious adult necklace that glowed. There was no communication access on it, but the tracking device would locate his youngest child. Only her fingerprint could access the security touch needed to activate the adult necklace. If Joba had disappeared, no life could call out for help without her personal signal. Tears burst from his eyes and he cradled the necklace against his forehead.

Breathe. Release the tension in the shoulder muscles. Breathe deeper. He kissed Yani on her lips, thanking her for saving the necklaces.

"I have to go find her," he said leaving the dressing room.

He rang the alarm with the staff he had left and called Okoye on his kimoyo.

"Bring the Royal Talon fighter to the king's port right away. I'm going to New York. Joba is alive. I have the unvikeli necklace T'Challa owned and it's lit up with her signature. I'm sending you the coordinates now!"

"We're going with you," Yani said.

"You and the kids stay here, I will bring her home."

Riki grabbed his hand with a tear-stricken face.

"I want to go too," Riki said.

Sydette stared at him with pleading eyes too.

"Okay, go get dressed and meet me at the king's port in ten minutes," he said.

N'Jadaka leaned his left temple against the glass partition of the king's port waiting for Yani and the children to join him. Okoye stepped down from the ramp of the Talon Fighter with Ayo. Behind them were four members of the Onyx Squad assigned to his family.

"We can retrieve her for you," Okoye offered.

He shook his head.

"I want her to see me. I have to be the one to get her. I know what it's like to lose a mother and only I can comfort her properly after something so traumatic."

"Then you must sleep while we travel. You look like you will collapse on your feet. Forgive my bluntness," Okoye said.

Yani and the children hurried to his side with Elana and Zora in tow. The two Ladies in Waiting wept, their keening moans piercing his soul. He escorted his family on board, insisting that they ride in the back. The sleeper couch extended into a flat comfortable bed and Yani helped Sydette and Riki onto it. Ayo brought them soft Border Tribe blankets and they all hunkered down in a pile.

The Royal Talon Fighter lifted and rotated with an array of stinger escorts. From the side viewscreen, he and Yani regarded the destruction down below as Wakandan military crews led a coordinated effort to burn up dead alien bodies and cart off the last remains of their own soldiers. Two of the giant earth destroyer wheels smoldered while embedded in a rocky hill looking like giant monuments. N'Jadaka commanded that the wheels would stay as a testament to the war they had fought valiantly for and lost.

"Oh, God," Yani murmured.

The land below smoldered and bore scars of a great battle. The wide swath of ruin brought tears to her eyes. He comforted her in his arms. She clung to him and buried her face in his neck. Her gentle fingers rubbed his bicep, occasionally squeezing it as if to make sure he was still with her.

"What happens next?" she whispered, the horror below stuck in her throat.

He glanced at his side where Riki and Sydette were bundled.

"Sleep, Yani. Right now I can only think about Joba and getting her back with us."

She patted his chest and he rubbed her back. Closing his eyes, he tried to rest so he could have the energy for rescuing his baby girl.

Ayo woke him up with a light shaking of his arm.

"Kumkani, we have arrived above Central Park. Okoye has tracked the location of the unvikeli necklace on the southern perimeter."

N'Jadaka sat up, disturbing Yani's sleep.

"We're here," he said.

They left Sydette and Riki sound asleep under the watchful eye of Ayo. At the bottom of the ramp, Yani touched his wrist.

"Would you prefer me to stay here and wait? I don't want to overwhelm her," Yani said.

N'Jadaka threaded his fingers with hers.

"I need you with me."

"Okay."

Okoye and the Onyx Squad guards spread out and sealed them all inside a protective spectral camouflage shield. The setting sun shrouded the park in the growing shadows of creeping darkness. Okoye kept her gaze on the tracker image on her wrist.

"Over by that bridge, kumkani," Okoye said.

The Onyx Squad fanned out toward the bridge and N'Jadaka picked up his pace with Yani.

"Joba!" N'Jadaka called out.

They ran onto the bridge, eyes darting about.

"Joba!"

All of their voices sprinkled the hollow air. Disheartened, N'Jadaka ran to the north end of the bridge.

"Joba…daddy is here. Where are you?"

Fear laced his voice.

"Please…please…," he mumbled, biting back the terror welling up in his chest.

He ran down the side of the bridge where the Onyx squad checked the water with scanners.

"The signal is here, kumkani," Okoye said, her voice ready to crack from disappointment.

A pile of leaves under the arch of the stone bridge moved. He jumped back thinking a wild animal was about to pounce on him, but he noticed small brown hands pushing the fallen foliage away. He reached for the hands and pulled Joba free from the covering.

"Joba."

He cradled his daughter's trembling body which felt cool to the touch.

"Mommy and Uncle Adebiyi disappeared, Baba," she said.

Her voice was weak from dehydration and her head lolled forward. Okoye brought her water and helped her take small sips. He lifted his child and carried her out from under the bridge. Yani ran to them and caressed Joba's forehead.

"Get her back to the Talon Fighter," Yani said.

He raced back to the ship, holding Joba close to his heart. Once on board, he handed the girl to Yani who placed her on the makeshift examining table she turned his war table into. She had brought along a medical bag and injected Joba with fluids to hydrate her faster. After cleaning her up and changing her into some fresh pajamas, N'Jadaka picked her up and cradled her on the converted couch next to the still-sleeping Riki and Sydette. Yani moved to lay next to him and stroked Joba's hair.

"I got you Sunshine," he said.

His youngest fell asleep in a matter of minutes, her small form warmed up by his body heat. He touched the necklace T'Challa gave her when he was her protector, none of them knowing how true that sentiment had become. Without the necklace, he may have lost Joba forever in the panic of the new world order because of Thanos. Or a nefarious American government agency could've taken her and used Joba to get to him. His baby girl was smart enough to hide and trust that her own people would find her. But she sure did take a chance staying out in the elements all alone without seeking an adult authority figure's help. They were very lucky.

Yani helped him move Joba over next to Riki and covered them both with another blanket before curling into N'Jadaka's side again.

"We're heading across the Atlantic Ocean, kumkani. Ayo and some of the Onyx Squad can go aboard the half-cruiser hidden five miles away if you wish to bring it home," Okoye said.

No one from Disa's immediate side of the family had contacted him about anything. If there were any members of that family left, he wanted them to have the option of coming to Wakanda.

"Leave it for now. Have a reconnaissance team in the lower Atlantic take care of it for now."

"As you wish," Okoye said.

N'Jadaka closed his eyes and clutched Yani's body tight against his. He'd have to face dark days in the morning, but at least he had all of his children. He cried softly for Disa and was thankful that Adebiyi was with her in the end.

Wakanda passed through a sorrowful month assessing the total missing and then another month of mourning and rebuilding their lives. They resolutely transitioned through the decimation and adjusted to the loss of life in order to stay focused on the future. Memorials and public commemorations were the daily norm and N'Jadaka spent his time comforting Joba.

His youngest daughter and baby boy said strange things.

While most Wakandans cried and lamented the loss of life, Riki and Joba declared to him that the missing billions weren't truly gone. He sought therapy for their entire family as most Wakandans adjusted to the trauma, but Joba and Riki insisted that they could feel the presence of the disappeared citizens.

Shuri understood it to mean that there was hope for their lost loved ones, but they kept the chatter of the children to themselves. False hope was a detriment to the mind, and N'Jadaka couldn't afford to tease a mentally stretched population of mourners. However, it appeared to give some solace to Joba, even though she cried on and off sporadically for weeks, missing her mommy's physical presence and going through spells of silence that worried him and Yani. To her credit, Yani smothered the girl with love and helped her transition into a new life without Disa. It wasn't easy. Yani wept privately when she thought he didn't know. She missed Disa, her parents, and all the people she loved in Wakanda who had winked out of existence. Yani barely slept and he made Elana and Zora give her sedatives to force rest upon her. He stayed strong in front of them all, especially the nation, his stoic mannerism hiding the sadness in his soul.

World leaders called on him for details of the Infinity War, but he left the Avengers to that. Fury never returned calls and N'Jadaka stewed in the knowledge that his insider track into U.S. intelligence was gone.

The final day of public mourning arrived and he dressed to address the nation outside the ancient gathering temple where he brought his late parents. Yani dressed herself and the children in the same colors of his pale blue royal robes to usher in the continuation of life. There were rumors of war in the outside world as other countries quietly pressured America to force Wakanda into sharing vibranium simply because they all experienced the madness of Thanos. Even in the midst of entering a third month away from the events of the global disaster, America and her lackeys commenced with their daily fuckery. He refused to be shamed into sharing any resources or technology with people not aligned with his agenda. If Wakanda had to fight another battle, there was no fear of them failing this time. No nation was a match for them. If a bit of otherworldly sorcery hadn't happened two months ago, they would've no doubt conquered Thanos.

World War Three with outsiders was the least of his concerns. Healing his family and Wakanda were the only items on his actionable tasks going forward.

They arrived at the formal ending of public mourning to much fanfare from the people. His children walked in front of him and Yani showcasing the Wakandan way of centering their children as the future. Yani kept her head covered the way Disa used to in public appearances paying homage to the woman whose child was now in her care for life. Yani fretted often about raising Joba up in the way that Disa would've wanted, and he had to reassure her that they were going to be fine. Even his grandmother and Ramonda put on confident faces to help their family make it through the pain. He worried about Umama the most but his grandfather Dante kept her spirits up. They had to move the country forward as a solid unit.

"There are still a lot of people, Baba," Joba said.

She clasped his hand and looked up to him, her head covering making her face look even smaller.

"I know. They look to me to make sure we are alright."

"We are," she said.

She patted his hand and leaned her head into his hip.

"The other people are still here… we just can't see them."

N'Jadaka stared at her.

"What do you mean? What people?"

"The ones that disappeared."

Joba held her hand out like she was feeling something invisible.

"Kumkani, step this way please," Elder Zinzi said.

N'Jadaka placed Joba's hand inside Yani's and walked to a floating podium that adjusted to his height. Thousands of faces gazed at him, hopeful and expectant. He wasted no time getting to the heart of the matter and did his best to provide comfort and future agency for the people. His eyes latched onto Mpilo's. The young man beamed from his seat, eating up every syllable N'Jadaka uttered. He glanced at Yani and his children, then observed the audience before him. This was not a time to appear uncertain or weak. Drastic changes in societies often precipitated hostile takeovers by those who needed a significant catastrophe to wedge them into power. He was ruling during a dangerous time and all of his Special Ops senses told him to be wary of the political challenges to come. He moved his hands from the podium and stepped in front of it, going off script. A king had to appear in control and he wasn't going to give off a whiff of uncertainty to his enemies watching. He felt his mama's energy building up within and he spoke the way she would have to the people. Bold. Fearless. Encouraging.

"Who are we to fear the unknown ever again? We stood our ground and Wakanda still stands. This battle looks bleak but the war for our sovereignty is not over! The days ahead may still look dark for some, but I promise you, Wakanda will always stand. We are the light of the world and I will never let it dim. Never!"

Mpilo leaped to his feet with more than half the people joining him in a rousing display of support. Others still seated clapped, and he knew he had to prove his convictions to them in the months ahead. Joba jumped up and down with her hands clapping above her head. A warmth filled his heart. If his baby girl believed in him, then who could indeed doubt him?

"All hail King N'Jadka, the Golden Jaguar!" Mpilo shouted.

A chant started up and overwhelmed the exterior of the temple with amplified voices. The sound washed over him and he closed his eyes for a second just to feel the sensation. He had fulfilled his life goal. The moment he uttered the words at eleven years old, his life trajectory was a rocket-fueled ride to a speech in front of his father's homeland. His homeland. His people.

A final chapter of his past life closed. A new one was being written right where he stood.

"Wakanda Forever!" he shouted.

The nation affirmed his place by shouting back to him, "Wakanda Forever!"

W'Kabi rushed forward and pulled N'Jadaka aside as the Council of Elders concluded the event with a prayer. They stepped behind a wall of security.

"This was left on our shores. A witness stated that someone looking like a Talokanil female came on land to deliver it."

W'Kabi thrust out a giant conch shell with a pale salmon coloring so distinct that it didn't come from their African waters. He tapped his kimoyo bead and an image of a young water woman with a feathered headdress appeared dropping the conch shell on the sand. She spoke in Talokan and the person recording the image kept stating they didn't understand her. W'Kabi replayed the image again with a translation.

"K' uk' ulkan wants your king to speak with him. Blow on this shell after your mourning period finishes and he will come to your ruler," she said.

"Who made this vid recording?" N'Jadaka asked.

"A fisherman hauling in shrimp. What will you do?"

"He can wait. They don't know when our mourning period is over so I'll act as if it is ongoing until I see what else is happening beyond our borders. It's only one woman so I will not take this as a threat or anything urgent."

"We have stayed out of their territories and have not pried into their lives. What can they want from us?"

"Perhaps intel on the surface world from our perspective since the war. I will see to him later. Keep our navy informed of the intrusion on our land. If they can slip through our coast easily, then we have to tighten up."

W'Kabi left his side and N'Jadaka held the conch shell. Namor could be a potential ally or an enemy. He wasn't in the mood to speak to the flying god. Not anytime soon. He gestured for Mpilo to come forward.

"Mpilo, take this to my office. Do not blow into it and let no one else touch it on the way there. Understand?"

"Yes, King N'Jadaka."

Mpilo covered the shell with his overshirt and left the temple.

N'Jadaka's family joined him and they walked toward the transportation that would take them to an outdoor celebration of music and poetry. His mind wandered amidst the chatter of his loved ones. Riki and Joba whispered together in the seats behind him and Sydette focused her attention on his face while sitting between him and Yani.

"Baba, will we ever be happy again?" Sydette asked.

"Yes, Sweet Pea. We are all getting better. Today we're celebrating happiness again. For all of us still here, we will live a good life."

Sydette nodded and picked at her dress. Her eyes looked wary.

"I wish we could go to St. Thomas. I miss it there," she said.

"When I get things settled here, we'll go for a couple of weeks."

Sydette grabbed his hand in excitement. Twyla and Bibi had gone there a month ago on Yani's behalf to help with any family who needed assistance. They were all grateful that Aunt Leona had been spared. He glanced behind his seat to check on the quiet. Riki and Joba had both nodded off, their heads touching in their slumber.

Attendants greeted them stepping out of the royal SUV. Yani carried Riki and he lifted Joba in his arms. She woke up and wrapped her arms around his neck. They were all guided to a private platform to observe the musicians and other artists scheduled to perform. The younger children stayed on his and Yani's laps while Sydette watched from her own seat.

Dancers, singers, poets, and aerial ballet performers entertained the enormous crowd in stadium seating. He rested his chin on Joba's hair when she fell asleep again. Riki was knocked out also and snoozed on Yani. All of the lengthy ceremonial rites exhausted the children. Sydette's ability to stay awake surprised him.

Talented Wakandan artists lifted the hearts, minds, and spirits of the people. Yani leaned over and kissed his lips. Her beautiful eyes gave him peace. He thought of making love to her once they returned to the palace. It had been too long since they'd been intimate. The stress of the last two months doused his arousal and hers. Their lives centered on keeping the children mentally well and working through their collective grief despite her job and other royal responsibilities. The reduction in hospital staff at the birthing centers created a medical crisis and Yani filled in where she was needed. Birthing babies didn't stop in the middle of a national emergency. Yani worked long hours and maintained her composure even when he knew she was worn thin like him. She made the curious observation to the national census bureau that not one pregnant woman registered to give birth had vanished throughout Wakanda or the Jabari mountains. He wondered if it was the same in other countries.

The music helped remove the gray in his mood, and looking at his fiancé brought back the desire for her touch and some alone time. He reached over and fondled the soft curls she cultivated letting her hair grow out. He kissed her again and she took the hint that he needed a more intimate connection later.

The palace had been cleaned from top to bottom with the Bashenga mountain priests blessing the halls and walls with divine incense and burned bundles of lavender and chamomile leaves mixed with the precious dried petals of the udomo flower that was only used for ceremonies releasing the dead. Nakia wore them in her hair during the family dinner as Toussaint suckled from her breast. The Council of Elders had been invited with their families to dine in the hall named for the great queen herself, Shuriya, and it filled with genuine laughter and grasping at closure from the decimation.

But not Nakia.

Despite her winsome smiles and small chuckles at jokes about the baby, a wound festered unhealed in her heart.

"I have something to say," she announced abruptly in the middle of dessert and coffee.

N'Jadaka glanced at Yani as if she knew something was up, but Yani only flicked her eyes over toward Elana and Zora who only shrugged at the outburst. The richly brocaded table seated forty people in their inner circle.

"Speak," N'Jadaka said.

Nakia looked at him and then at Ramonda.

"T'Challa and I were married. Before Toussaint was born. We wanted a small ceremony just for ourselves once we knew the baby was coming. Our nuptials were in America, right before we told the family about the pregnancy."

"Eh eh," Ramonda clucked, tilting her head back with a delighted smile on her face.

"Forgive us Queen Mother Ramonda, Umama…we didn't want any big ceremonies. T'Challa doesn't…didn't like them. We planned on having a small party instead when Toussaint reached six months."

"You are officially family…even though you have always been my daughter in my head since you were a little girl," Ramonda said.

Umama chuckled and nodded her head.

"I wanted you all to know that. I would also like to say that this trying time has made it difficult for me to be in Wakanda. Everywhere I go, I see him…I hear his voice…I feel his presence all over the palace. It hurts. Lately, I have been able to laugh again because of my son, but I cannot live here anymore. I want to go to Haiti again. Raise Toussaint away from the palace and the pressure of being an Udaku. I want a regular life for us where I can rebuild my heart and move forward as a mother."

"Nakia, no…" Ramonda said.

"Daughter Nakia, I understand how you feel. Losing my life partner, my best friend…my beloved husband has bruised me on top of all the other losses I've endured in this family. If you need to leave in order to heal yourself, you have my blessing. I will miss you both," Umama said.

"I will be selfish and say I do not want you to leave us," Ramonda said. "You need family around you to get better. Please give yourself time to think this through."

"I will stay until after King N'Jadaka marries Princess Yani. This will give me time to prepare for our new home."

"What will you do there?" Yani asked.

"Run a school…teach… raise Toussaint up to be a good person that Wakanda can be proud of."

"Will you stay there forever?" Sydette asked.

"I don't know."

"That's not fair!" Riki interjected.

He slammed his fists on the table.

"I promised Uncle T'Challa that I would be Toussaint's big brother. How can I do that when you go?" Riki blurted in a rage.

"Riki…" N'Jadaka said, leaning over and covering the boy's left fist.

Sydette chimed in.

"But it's true, Baba. Uncle T'Challa told us we were very important to Toussaint. He expected us to help teach him how to be a prince and love him as if he were our little brother. If Auntie Nakia leaves, we can't keep our promise," Sydette said.

Joba kept silent and watched her brother's face.

"None of this will happen for a while, so there's no need to get upset now…here, raise your glasses everyone…let's congratulate our new Princess Nakia of the Udaku clan and the Panther tribe," Yani gushed.

N'Jadaka raised his glass next to Yani's. All the adults at the table did the same. Riki jumped down from his seat and ran away from the table. The patter of his feet struck the marble floor becoming a resounding slap to the joy Yani tried to muster. Joba slid from her seat and dashed after him, calling Riki's name with aching clarity.

Shuri ran after Riki and Joba and consoled them both outside of the dining hall.

Umama glanced at N'Jadaka and he waved a hand down to keep her from leaving her seat.

"It's okay, Umama," he said.

"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset everyone. I just wanted to share how I feel and tell you that T'Challa couldn't wait to get married. He wanted me to be his wife for so long and I guess he was afraid I would change my mind again."

Umama chuckled and stood up from her seat. She walked over to Nakia and hugged her. Ramonda joined in the hugfest. Sydette lowered her head and picked at her dessert fork.

"May I be excused to check on Riki and Joba?" Sydette asked.

Yani nodded and Sydette slid down from her seat and walked away.

"I should go check on them too," Yani said, folding away her linen napkin.

N'Jadaka lifted a hand out toward their guests.

"There will be more coffee and cake in the Tea Room. Enjoy the rest of your evening everyone. We will take our leave," he said.

Everyone else stood up as N'Jadaka clasped the fingers of Yani's right hand and escorted her out of the dining hall with her Ladies in Waiting following behind. Riki stood outside kicking a pillar and fussing with Shuri about the unfairness of everything. Joba and Sydette stood near him with fretful expressions.

"Lil Man," N'Jadaka said.

Riki stopped kicking the pillar and kept his bottom lip poked out, his eyes downcast.

"Let's go home," Yani said, holding out her free hand.

Riki reluctantly dragged his feet over and took her hand.

"Stand like a prince," N'Jadka commanded.

Riki raised his head and straightened his back. That bottom lip stayed put. The urge to tell him to fix his face the way his mother used to tell N'Jadaka as a child percolated in the king's mouth, but he allowed the boy to feel his disappointment. Sydette and Joba fell in line beside him and they strolled to an awaiting elevator.

"Do you think I should've stayed with Nakia?" Yani asked Elana and Zora back inside their home.

Elana lit up a cigar for him and Zora poured Yani a glass of wine and they all sat together in plush chairs watching the moon rise above the river lagoon surrounding the palace. Zora puffed on a thin cigarillo filled with the sickly sweet pungent odor of a Wakandan mind-altering plant. She passed it to N'Jadaka and he puffed before passing it to Yani. The effects were immediate, relaxing them all in a dull buzz of serenity. He appreciated the company of Yani's Ladies in their guest parlor. They had all grown closer in the trying times and their deference to Yani was duly noted by the nobles who envied their positions and the leeway N'Jadaka gave them around him. The rumor mill had also started up during the mourning period that he had taken them on as low-tier consorts for himself. Traditionalists took it as a sign that he had gone old school and watched his every move with wry smiles and others who knew it wasn't true vied for Elana and Zora's attention with their accomplished sons eligible for marriage. Their stock had gone up and being baddies already gave them a wide variety of high-quality men to choose from. They ate it up and shared all the juicy details with Yani and him. The insular social media of the elites adored the glimpses of photos taken of the four of them visiting parts of Wakanda to boost the morale of the nation. He had to acknowledge that they all looked amazing stepping out into the public together, and he was grateful that they carried the emotional burden of the difficult times Yani experienced mothering Joba and feeling the guilt of stepping into Disa's missing shoes. The sisterhood encouraged Yani to release that guilt. Zora constantly reminded her that Disa would've stepped up without worry if the roles were reversed because the children had been raised to see both women as their co-mothers.

"Lady Nakia is in a delicate place right now. She looks at you and King N'Jadaka and wishes her family unit was still intact. That will crush any woman with a newborn child. It is better to leave her to Queen Mother for now and seek her out after a day or two. This long celebration day was too much for her. I believe she will go away in a year and come right back once she sees that life goes on and she will miss all of you," Elana said.

N'Jadaka patted his lap and widened his thighs. Yani left her seat and sat on his lap. He rubbed on her backside and nuzzled his face in her bosom.

"It is wise for her to leave here after all that has happened? And why Haiti? She could go live in the mountains with the Jabari if the palace brings on too many memories. Her parents would love to have her back in the River Tribe territory," Zora said.

"Many people have a hard road to walk still. That evil alien stole lives and every one of us here has been touched by that. None of us can hold up a family lineage blanket and not see the holes in it from all the ones missing," Elana said.

The cathartic smoke lingered in the air like thick perfume, relaxing their minds in a glorious haze of pink smoke the color of the burning plant. A house attendant brought them small puff pastries filled with chocolate and covered in powdered sugar. He fed one to Yani and she licked warm melted chocolate from his index finger.

Yani cradled his face and licked powdered sugar from his lips. Zora turned on music from their sound system and Elana kicked up her heels, puffing on a fresh cigarillo, and linking her pinky finger with Zora's as they danced around the room, swirling their long skirts.

"Tired?" he asked Yani.

She cuddled up closer to him and sighed into his neck.

"Happy to have you like this…away from everyone."

"Everyone?" he said, glancing at her Ladies.

Yani waved a dismissive hand at Elana and Zora.

"They are so far gone. Look at them. They've smoked more, drank more…the entire nation seems to breathe again…like a new door has opened and we can all see some light finally. You've worked non-stop since the decimation. We should drink all night and get higher than that moon," she said.

She slurred her words and her glassy eyes held love within them. Her lips trembled.

"Baby?" he whispered.

Tears swelled and fell from her eyelids.

"I want to feel like them," Yani shuddered.

N'Jadaka wiped away her tears, kissed her nose, and pulled her onto her feet. He rocked against her in time to the soothing music. A Wakandan woman with a passionate alto voice sang of having fun and loving life. The beats had them stomping their feet and clapping their hands above their heads until Yani found her smile again. After an hour, he turned the music off and summoned attendants to clear away their snacks, empty wine glasses, bottles, and ash trays filled with refuse.

Zora and Elana lowered their heads to them.

"We bid you both a goodnight…finally," Zora teased, eyeing his hand squeezing Yani's backside.

N'Jadaka pretended to shove Zora away. The two women left them for their own quarters on the lower floor. Yani passed him the last cigarillo as he mashed his cigar in an empty ashtray on the end table. Sitting cozy together once more, they smoked down the cigarillo and continued watching the evening sky together, the intimacy he craved satisfied with Yani's heartbeat thumping in time with his.

"Does it feel the same?" Yani asked.

N'Jadaka took a deep breath as his eyes adjusted to the brightness of the sunlight striking the water of the cove.

"Nothing has changed," he said.

The place where it all began for the two of them looked the same and his soul rejoiced at the peace that came over him. He shucked off his swim trunks and followed his naked woman into the sea.

Their children were preoccupied eating conch fritters, grilled hot dogs, and chicken roti with Aunt Leona back up at the front house, so he and Yani had that part of Our Lady's Manor in St. Thomas to themselves. Yani splashed water on him and he grabbed her by the waist, lifting and throwing her into a gentle wave. She laughed and beckoned him to swim closer, his Black mermaid back in her realm. Her breasts bounced as she shook them to tease his eyes.

They had been on the island for less than an hour before the kids were stuffing their faces with food and he was palming titties in the pristine liquid paradise. He scanned the waters to his left where the craggy rock formation led to the place he lost Yani and his children that first time. N'Jadaka had been so frightened for them and thinking about himself as a mercenary brought a chill down his royal spine.

The past was no longer prologue, and the seeds he dropped on the island had brought forth fruits to his new future. Next spring he would marry Yani and maybe a few years down the road she would let him put more babies inside the soft belly he splayed his fingers on. Lifting strong hands north along her body he gripped her breasts and played with them. She pressed her backside into his groin and his thick dick plumped up between the cleft of her ass.

Deft fingers trailed down the supple skin of her torso until they found her jeweled clit. Yani whimpered as her slippery folds were played with by an expert. They tilted their necks so that he could kiss her while he rubbed slow circular motions on the tender parts of her body. To hold and caress his future queen ignited a flame in his heart. He made a sacred vow to himself to love and honor Yani for all of their lives in that world and the next.

Their lips smacked with wet friction and he stopped tonguing her down in order to watch his fingers grow slick from her wetness. He held her breasts again, enjoying the weight in his hands. That's how it all began so long ago between them. Him asking to touch her nipples as milk ran down her breasts. He groaned thinking of touching her that first time. She had been ripe and ready for his plucking and he took Yani for himself understanding implicitly that he would never know a love like that again. Ever. All of the gods converged on that day knowing the wheels were set in motion to unite them for life.

His dick grew long and strong enough to part her folds without help from her, and he packed his dick inside her walls and pumped her pussy with harsh grunts. That first time he could only masturbate and watch her play with her pussy. Not anymore. He took what he wanted.

Another wave brushed against their legs, but not enough to push them off their footing. Yani widened her stance and he thrust harder, gripping her elbows to keep their balance in the sifting sand under their feet. The warm water made him feel like he was inside another pussy while fucking and listening to her cheeks clap.

"Fuck that dick," he gasped

Yani moaned and dropped her head forward. Her pussy was a sweet throbbing on his fat dick. Ain't no way Bast didn't form Yani's pussy to fit around his girth like that.

"Oh my God, this the best pussy….baby…fuck this dick…oh you're fucking it so good Yani…'

A nigga wasn't afraid to cry like a bitch with pussy that sugary on a big dick that knew how to work all the angles. N'Jadaka shed thug tears while talking that talk to get her to squeeze her pussy muscles the way he liked. How many dudes fought over her to have access to the pot of gold he dipped his meat in? Only N'Jadaka was the big stepper to claim his rightful ownership of the walls gripping him. A surge of boastful pride flooded over him even as tears flicked away in large droplets into the sea. This woman loved him and showed out on the dick. His toes curled over lumps of sand. How could pussy be that fucking exquisite? He couldn't even breathe anymore as the life was sucked out of him because of the gushy walls snug around his length.

Water and tears fell on Yani's ass. He gripped her hips and wrote love poems in her depths, the tip of his dick a master at transcribing scripture on tight wet walls. He grabbed her arms and pulled them back further, pumping faster, his eyes on the waves coming in. His first nut coated her walls fast and hot before he pulled her out of the ocean and forced her to bounce on his dick in reverse cowgirl on a beach blanket warmed by the honey-yellow sand. Yani rode her king, looking over her shoulder at him with a slick smile on her glossy lips. The second time he came he screamed her name as loud as he pleased while bucking his hips. No one would hear them from the front house so far up on the hillside.

Yani slithered across his chest and switched directions so that he could taste her pussy after he fucked it well. She came in his mouth and he had her on her back before his cum flooding her pussy ran back out.

They learned to work out a system to handle his stamina, so the rest of their time on the sand was spent with his dick between her breasts hard fucking her tits and cumming all over her chest. He let her swim and rinse off and then afterward he fingered her clit. Watching her face during her loud release pleased him.

After a short nap, they dressed and returned to the main house. Yani snuck off to their master bedroom to rub their special cream on her folds and inside her pussy. They walked up a familiar path to the top of the compound and ate leftover lunch with the children and Leona sharing the events on the island and the remnants of old gossip about remaining family members. He observed Yani nourishing her body heavily for more pounding after the children were put down for naps. It was good to catch up with Aunt Leona. The world was different, but she was still the same, which was what the royal family needed. Joba took an extra shine to her and the older woman had her laughing and feeling loved into wholeness.

After they ate, the children scattered before Yani could catch them.

"Come with me for a minute. I want to show you something," he said.

Yani walked with him back down to the main house. They entered the coolness and sauntered into the room where Ulysses Klaue once tried to shoot him with his arm and where greedy mercenaries attempted to end his found family. Next to the collection of ancient drums, he picked up the conch shell left to him by Namor.

N'Jadaka sat Yani down and told her everything about the ocean dweller. She listened and asked no questions until he was finished.

"When will you call him?" she said.

"Maybe after we go back to Wakanda… I dunno. I really don't want to. As long as he stays down there and we mind our business up here…I'm not itchin' to get tangled up with that dude."

"Is he more dangerous than Thanos was?"

"Thanos had a distorted sense of purpose…sympathetic righteousness. At least that's what I got from the Avengers. Imagine the biggest liberal white vegan with a magical power screaming about saving the planet. He thinks he's saving people from future ills. That's Thanos. Namor…there's no compassion for surface dwellers. He had the most 'I don't give a fuck' energy I have ever witnessed. That man does not care. He only accepts Wakanda because we act the way his people do. As long as we continue to mind our business, I don't see us being a threat to him."

"Then let's do that," Yani said, holding his hand.

He put the conch shell back on the drum shelf and checked his kimoyo beads.

"Let's get the kids," he said.

Strolling hand-in-hand to the middle house, they ran into Twyla and Bibi.

"Go get your wild children and we'll catch up later. You two look worn out," Twyla said.

She held onto Yani as N'Jadaka shook Bibi's hand.

"How are you liking island life?" he asked Bibi.

Twyla's husband grinned and touched his forehead.

"So much to see, but Aunt Leona makes me eat so much. I think I will be twice my size when I go home."

"Are the kids with you?" Yani asked, looking behind them.

"No, they were in the middle house a few minutes ago. We gave them gifts before coming out here. We're going swimming. Want to join?" Twyla asked.

"We did that earlier," he said.

Twyla looked over Yani's shoulder.

"I can't believe you brought that hellion back here on vacation," Twyla said.

She pointed to Jerome who had lodged himself comfortably in an overgrown flamboyant tree. The burnt orange foliage made his mottled green and pink skin stand out on the hanging branch.

"We couldn't come back here without him," N'Jadaka said.

"Just leave his old bossy ass here. He can keep Auntie company. See you guys later," Twyla said.

"No, no," Leona said walking down the path to hand N'Jadaka freshly washed bathroom towels. "That boy loves living his rich life in the palace. He won't want to stay here anymore. Him spoiled."

She looked at Bibi.

"Bibi, are you allergic to shellfish? I'm making us a sweet and sticky shrimp tonight for dinner."

N'Jadaka stared at Leona as a sense of déjà vu washed over him.

"I can eat anything, Auntie, as long as it isn't too spicy," Bibi said, rubbing his belly.

Leona patted his arm and shuffled back up toward her domain to prepare a lavish spread for her family.

"Bye!" Twyla said pulling Bibi toward the main beach down below.

Waving the couple off, N'Jadaka threw an arm around Yani's shoulder and entered the middle house.

"Where y'all at?" he shouted into the house.

Toys were spread on the living room floor unattended. He placed the towels on the couch and looked around more.

"Shh…"

Yani stood in the doorway of the master bedroom and wiggled her index finger to get his attention. He joined her and peeked into the bedroom. All three of the children were fast asleep on the bed. He kicked off his sandals and moved around to the side of the bed they shared. Riki and Joba were curled into twin balls facing each other and Sydette was on her stomach.

A lump lodged in N'Jadaka's throat.

"This is where it all started, Yani," he said.

"Hmm?"

"Here…this bed. You put Sweet Pea to sleep and I found her. Look at my baby now. She'll be nine next year."

He reached down and touched the frazzled curls let free from the humidity on Sydette's head. From one child to three. He gazed at Riki and Joba. A gust of hot wind flowed through the open door and tickled the back of his neck. He touched it and closed his eyes thinking he could smell the aroma of Disa's perfume riding on the wind too, reminding him that her love would surround their daughter.

Yani climbed on the bed next to Joba and he curled around Sydette. They held hands across the bodies of all three children creating a protective arc.

"We'll be okay," Yani said, reassuring him with the dulcet tones of her melodious voice.

"I know," he answered.

He watched his loved ones sleep and listened to the sounds of the sea and their calm breathing until he joined them in the bliss of slumber and sweet dreams of family.

N'Jadaka was finally rooted and free.

The Golden Jaguar rested as the world waited for his next move.

A.N.

Hey faithful readers, it's done!

The next book in the series will start next month. It's called "King Killmonger: The Golden Jaguar"

[pigeonqueen13]

Rtc Alive AU Headcannons - Nischa Dates

I dunno I thought this was a cute concept and again, idk what the au is actually called, but it's the one where they all come back not just Jane/Penny.

They alternate planning/hosting dates every week and they both look forward to it as their favorite thing all week

Everyone knows how Noel's a romantic, but what nobody knows is how much of a romantic Mischa is (I mean, have you heard the song Talia?)

So his are normally extravagant and tailored to Noels fabulous (and kinda expensive) tastes

However, because they are high schoolers, Mischa doesn't have much of a budget, but he works with what he has, and it's normally a nice picnic or a movie or a night out on the town

But when he does have some money, the dates go like this

He refuses to tell Noel what it is, but tells him to dress up nice and fancy

Mischa picks him up in the evening and Noel looks absolutely gorgeous with nice make up that's not too over the top and a stunning tuxedo

Mischa has like a million gay panic attacks in a row and literally stumbles over his words at the beginning of the date

Mischa then takes him to his favorite fancy restaurant

The two enjoy the romantic ambiance and Mischa tries to show off at every possible moment by tipping extra or buying something really expensive

After dinner Mischa takes Noel to the theater and it's some dramatic Greek tragedy that Mischa cries during or a musical about something sad

Noel keeps the playbill/cast list of every single one and starts a collection

After the theater Mischa drives Noel home and kisses him goodnight, but one other thing happens before it's over

Warning, this part is kinda sad

Before it ends, every time, on every. single. date. starting with the very first one, without fail, Mischa gives Noel a little card

It says "Rate the Date" and has 5 big stars on it you're supposed to fill in, and a spot below saying additional notes

He got the idea from something he saw on Pintrest and got a member of the choir to design and print them out

Noel finds it cute and always gives 5 stars, except for once when they got into a fight and he gave 4 and a half stars

Flash forward to when they're old, they're the only members of the choir left, along with Penny

78 year old Noel is very sick and in the hospital

He somehow recognizes he's going to die and as Mischa sleeps in the chair next to him, holding his hand, he does something extra special

The next morning, Mischa wakes up and can't feel his husbands pulse

In his hand however, is one of his date night cards, completely filled out with 5 stars scribbled in for the rating

What makes him full on cry however is the additional notes section

It says "It was best 61 years of my life, all thanks to you. I would do it all again if I had the chance. I love you mon amour"

It has a little heart next to the message

Mischa treasures that card until his own death, and whenever he feels like giving up because his friends are all gone, he looks at the card and keeps living for Noel, and for their whole family

That's all :) Sorry if it's a bit cliche