#ive been to um other kinds of clubs

[stepfordgoth]

I've never really been clubbing. Like to a..... I guess dance club? Or night club? I don't really know if there's a difference even. I don't know if these things even really exist anymore and if they do they are almost definitely not in my area. But if I can find one maybe I do that next weekend for my birthday. I think I kinda wanna go dancing.

[rafeandonlyrafe]

virginity

words: 3.2k

warnings: 18+ only!, smut, virgin!reader and virgin!rafe, kind of bullying at the beginning, very cute and fluffy rafe, reader is implied to be a kook, first date, female receiving oral, fingering, p in v sex, protected (for once! yay) sex

taglist: @drewstarkeyslut @thelomlisrafecameron @f4ll-for-you @dilvcv @drudyslut @dreamingwithrafe @jjmaybankswifes-blog @rafescokenostril @jjsmarijuana @jjmaybankisbae @seeingstarks @angelofcigs @cece45450 @babygorewhore @vanessa-rafesgirl @michelleisheres-blog

“oh my god, bridgette, you'll never guess who asked me out!” you squeal, flopping onto her bed.

“ooh, umm… kelce?” she guesses, but you just shake your head no, the smile on your face growing.

“rafe!” 

bridgette sits up instantly. “rafe as in rafe cameron?” you can tell by the look on her face that she's skeptical.

“the one and only.” you nod.

“but um… he doesn't date?” she says, genuine confusion in her voice.

“i thought you said he was basically a rich frat boy?” you sit up, now thinking over the interaction, but there's no way to confuse “will you go to dinner with me tomorrow night?” as anything other than asking on a date.

“well, yeah, he parties and stuff but he doesn't… date. he's never had a girlfriend.”

“well, ive never really had a boyfriend.” you shrug. “and don't say jonathan because he does not count.”

“yeah, but you have an excuse, y/n. your parents moved you all over the country, you didn't have time to date until your parents settled here a few months ago.” bridgette counters, and she does have a point. you've never been in one place long enough to form a true relationship. “i think rafe just doesn't date because he doesn't like any girls enough.”

you frown, thinking over her words. “well i guess that means he likes me enough to ask.” you say quietly.

bridgette shrugs. “good for you. he better take you somewhere expensive, boy has MONEY!” she says, causing you both to erupt into laughter. “oh…” bridgette suddenly quiets. “i wouldn't tell evelyn. she has the biggest crush on him, she'd get so jealous if she knew you asked him out.”

-- the next day --

“hey dad…” you say in a sweet voice, fluttering your eyelashes at him.

“oh god, y/n, what do you want?”

“can i borrow your credit card?” you ask with a whine.

“y/n, you are an adult! you can’t keep borrowing my credit card! what do you need anyways?” “a new outfit… for a date tonight.” you whisper the last part, but your dads eyes still bulge open.

“a what?” “come on dad, all my outfits are so revealing, don’t you want me to buy something more covered up? or should i wear that pink skirt mom got me-” “no!” your dad cuts you out, fishing his wallet out of his pocket, slapping the credit card into your hand. “something that doesn’t show too much skin, y/n.” he warns, and you nod and run out to your car before he can lecture you or ask you any more questions about the date.

--

you look through the rack of dresses, trying to find one that you like and would feel comfortable in tonight with rafe. you don't want to give him the wrong idea by showing up wearing a dress that's more suited for a club or party.

you have some hangers already in your hand of dresses to try on when you hear a shout of your name. you look up to see evelyn and her two best friends following her. 

when you moved to the outer banks, you quickly assimilated into the social scene and learned that evelyn was the queen bitch, super wealthy, but not at all likable, with an insane amount of possessiveness over rafe, despite him never even showing interest in her. evelyns first words to you were to stay away from him, but you won't let her intimidate you away from this date.

“what are you shopping for?” evelyn asks, her lips smeared in a bright red shade of lipstick that contrasts her light hair.

“a date tonight.” you reply, keeping your eyes mostly on the clothes, trying to convey that you're not interested in whatever show of dominance she's attempting.

“i heard about that. how did you scam rafe into taking you somewhere?” she asks, her friends snickering behind her.

“he asked me, actually.” you hum, keeping your body language disinterested, despite feeling your heart start to beat faster. “I guess he likes me.”

“that's real funny, y/n.” evelyn says, placing her hand on the rack to stop you from looking. “because rafe is mine.”

“should i call him right now?” you look her in the eye, your temper reading on your face. “should I have him tell you what you already know? that he's not interested?”

“you are such a bitch!” evelyn yells, and the storekeeper finally becomes aware of the situation, heading out from behind the counter and towards you. “i will ruin you for stealing him.” evelyn states before turning and stomping out of the store, her entourage falling in step behind her.

“miss, are you okay?” the shopkeeper asks.

you hum and nod, knowing that whatever they plan on doing won't work, evelyn may have popularity because of her money, but everyone knows not to trust a word out of her mouth. “can i get a dressing room to try these on actually?” you ask, picking up a dress that you think would be perfect for tonight.

--

the doorbell rings and you give your father a glare, already having warned him to stay in the living room and let you answer the door. the last thing you need is your father scaring rafe before your date has even begun.

you open the door, letting out a breath of relief when rafe is also dressed up. you realized while buying the dress that you didn't actually know where you were going for dinner, you just assumed it would be on the fancier side.

“wow.” rafe let's out a gasp, “you look beautiful.”

you blush, smoothing out the front of your dress, giving you an excuse to break eye contact and look down at yourself. “you look really handsome too.”

“let me help you down the stairs.” rafe extends his hand, and you subtly wipe your palm against your dress before placing it in his, accepting his help out the front door as these are new heels (you couldn't resist when your dad gave you his card).

rafe keeps your hands locked together as he leads you towards his truck, of course opening the door for you and helping you in.

you smile at rafe as he gets into the driver's seat. “im excited.” you tell him honestly.

“me too.” rafe grins, keeping his eyes on the road as he takes off but reaching over your tangle your fingers together again. “im nervous too though.”

“rafe cameron did not just admit he is nervous.” you gasp, making rafes smile grow as he shakes his head.

“i really like you.” he explains further, making you smile and lift his hand to your face, pressing your lips to it in a kiss. 

--

“how's your food?” rafe asks, taking a bite of his own. you ordered salad, too nervous to eat anything else in front of rafe. since he admitted how he felt about the date, it felt all the more real.

“it’s really good!” you say. “thanks for taking me.”

rafe smiles at you, his eyes containing a warmth you haven’t seen before. “so, where did you live before moving to the outer banks?”

you had told rafe before that you moved around a lot, but never got into the specifics, so you spend most of the dinner telling him all the states that you’ve lived in and responding to his questions while asking some of your own.

rafe accepts the check and pays for you without question, brushing off your thanks before leading you out of the restaurant, his hand firmly placed on your back.

“do i need to get you home by any time?” rafe asks when you get back in the car.

“no.” you shake your head. “i don’t want to go home yet either.”

rafe smiles at you, reaching over to place his hand on your thigh as he drives towards his house. you hum softly to the music, glad for the short drive before you’re walking into tanneyhill. rafe informs you that everyone else is gone, so it’s just you two.

“should we watch a movie?” rafe asks, gesturing towards the couch in the living room.

“sure! you pick though.” you say, not wanting to have to make the choice. rafe sits down on the couch and picks up the remote, navigating to some comedy you haven’t seen before. you sit down next to him, close enough for your thighs to be touching.

rafe wraps his arm around your shoulder, letting you get comfortable against his side.

the movie is decently funny, but you’re far more focus on being tucked up against rafe. at a funny scene, rafe lets his laughter loose, and you can’t help but turn and look to him, watching his face light up.

rafe notices you watching him and his laughter softens into a smile. “can i kiss you?” he asks.

you nod, turning to face him as rafe places a hand on your cheek, bringing your mouths together in a kiss that quickly turns more passionate as you deepen it. you shift again so that you straddle rafes lap, placing your hands on his shoulders as you continue to kiss, your dress pooling on his lap.

“y/n-” rafe gasps when he pulls away, realizing both of you went a little overboard when your lips first touched.

“i have to tell you something rafe.” you say, realizing the compromising position you’re in and not wanting to give him the wrong idea.

“what is it baby?” rafe questions, his hands falling to rest on your hips.

“i’m… i’m a virgin.” you admit.

rafe lets out a sigh, like he’s relieved, which causes your brows to scrunch together in confusion. “i never thought i’d say this to you but i am too.”

“what?” you question. “i thought you were known for partying and flirting and stuff!” “yeah, i used to flirt a lot but i was never serious enough with anyone to sleep with them… not until you.” “oh my god.” you coo, leaning forward to press your lips together again. rafe wraps his arms around your waist, pulling your chests closer together.

“i would lose it with you, baby. if you want.” rafe says.

“i-yes. i want that.” you nod.

“tonight? now? only if you’re sure.” rafe says. “i know we’ve only gone on one date, but it feels… right.”

“i agree.” you nod. “i’m not saying we are going to be together forever based off one date but i want to lose it with you. together.” 

“let me take you upstairs then.” rafe stands effortlessly, with you clinging to his front as his arms hold you steady. you press soft kisses to his neck as he carries you, feeling equal parts nervous and excited for what is about to happen.

rafe sets you down on the end of his bed before stepping back, admiring you in his bedroom, especially knowing what you are about to do together.

“can i take your dress off?” rafe asks, and you nod, letting him come up and grab the bottom of your dress. you lift your hips so he can pull it up and over your head, and you let out a silent thanks to god that you wore matching underwear.

“you’re so gorgeous.” rafe says, looking down at you with glossed over eyes. you can tell from the tightness of his pants that he’s not unaffected by seeing you like this.

“sit down, let me take your shirt off.” you tell rafe, grabbing his hand so he sits next to you on the bed. you tug his shirt off, admiring his muscles as you run your hands over them. rafes hands stay on his knees, waiting for permission to touch you now that you’re scantily dressed.

“do you… do you want to take your pants off?” you ask, glancing down at his crotch. “it seems painful.” you giggle.

“yeah, the zipper hurts.” rafe admits, unzipping his pants and pulling them down his legs so he’s in just his underwear, his cock straining against the fabric, a small patch of wetness already growing.

“do you wanna lay down? i want to kiss you some more.” rafe asks.

you nod, moving up the bed until you can rest your head against the pillows. rafe crawls over your body, his eyes mesmerizing every inch of bare skin until he can press his lips against yours, the kiss is passionate but slow and deliberate, building up gradually until you’re moaning against rafes lips.

you reach behind your back, unclipping your bra before taking it off, flinging it somewhere in the room to be picked up later. rafe gives you a final kiss before looking down at your bare chest.

“oh fuck.” he groans, reaching with one hand to grip the underside of your breast, holding it in his palm as he slides down, his mouth falling open onto your nipple. you let out a moan as rafe explores your chest and what makes you moan the loudest.

he plays with your nipple with his tongue, then teases around it before ultimately sucking it into his mouth before switching and repeating on the other side.

“is that good?” rafe asks, and you give an enthusiastic nod. “really good.” “should i…” rafe looks down at your underwear, and you give another nod.

“you’re going to have to um… finger me. to open me up for you, ya know?” you cringe at your words, but you know it’s true and don’t want your first time to hurt.

“yeah, yeah of course.” rafe tugs at your underwear, his eyes staying between your thighs as he tosses the fabric to the floor. you take a deep breath before spreading your legs, putting your cunt on display for him.

“so sexy.” rafe praises you, moving so he’s lying between your thighs. he spreads your folds open with two fingers before using his other hand to rub his pointer finger over your pussy.

he traces around your clit before bumping it, making you flinch at the sudden pleasure.

“was that good?” rafe asks, and you just let out a moan in response when he doesn’t wait, rubbing over your clit again.

rafe smiles, moving his finger lower to your entrance before circling around that as well. he presses against your tight ring of muscle, thankful that you’re already quite wet as you relax and give way, letting his finger slip inside.

he begins to thrust it in and out slowly, building up speed as it becomes easier for him to move.

“try to add a second.” you tell him after a minute.

rafe nods, managing to work a second finger inside of you, but he can tell by the way your forehead scrunches that it’s not as comfortable as one, so he leans forward and presses his tongue against your clit.

“oh fuck!” you scream out as he flicks the tip of his tongue over and over, allowing you to focus on that instead of his fingers thrusting in and out of you.

rafe even makes a point to separate his fingers some, widening them to open you up even more. you don’t even flinch this time as his tongue stays playing with your clit.

“i’m ready.” you pant. “i’m ready, i need you rafe.”

rafe nods, moving to kneel between your legs, not sure what the best position to put you in is, but you seem to have it already thought out as you take a pillow and put it under your hips to raise them so he can stay kneeling on the bed.

rafe works his underwear off, and your eyes widen when his cock is revealed, regretting telling him you were ready after just two fingers. he grabs the condom he must have tossed onto the bed earlier and rips it open, sliding the latex down his length.

“if you need more time…” rafe trails off.

“just go slow.” you say, knowing he will stop at any point if you really need him to.

rafe moves closer, holding himself in his hand as he lines up with your entrance. his head pushes in easily, but the further forward his hips move, the more you struggle, but rafe sees it and slows down until he’s finally fully seated inside of you.

something sparks in that moment, realizing that you have both lost your virginity and it has rafe bending down over your body to press your lips together. you appreciate the kiss as it gives you even longer to adjust before rafe starts rocking into you slowly.

“that feels good.” you reassure rafe, all feelings of pain now gone.

“you feel good.” rafe says, unsure how he’s able to keep so much control over himself to not go feral in this moment, but he likes you too much, cares too much to move any faster and potentially cause you pain.

he keeps up the slow movements, moving from just rocking to actually thrusting as he starts to pull further out. 

“faster.” you whimper, eyes sliding closed as you focus on his length inside of you.

rafe doesn’t question you, needing to move more himself as he begins to speed up his thrusts, pushing his hips forward harder as well.

“i-i’m sorry i don’t know much longer i’m going to last.” rafe admits.

“it’s okay just touch my clit again.” you say. you would do it yourself but your body feels weightless right now, and you’re not sure if you can raise your arms up.

rafe nods, gripping your hip with one hand but letting the other roam to your cunt, rubbing his thumb over your clit as he tries to hold back his orgasm as long as possible while still pushing his cock into your heat repeatedly.

you let out your moans with freedom, knowing that there is no one else in the house to hear you. rafe begins to grunt and you feel him swelling inside of you and you know that he’s close.

rafes body falls forward, his thumb still moving on your clit but his cock stilling as he cums, filling up the condom as he pants heavily.

“y/n!” rafe finishes with a call of your name. you are so close to your orgasm, and you surmise rafe must know as he stays inside of you, rubbing faster until you cum, your body arching off the mattress, even underneath rafes weight as your high hits you with a shout.

you manage to reach to push rafes hand away, needing the overwhelming pleasure on your clit gone as your orgasm works through your body.

rafe curses when your cunt pulsates around him, but waits until you’re done to pull out. he flops to the side, pulling the condom off and tossing it into the trashcan next to his nightstand.

“how does it feel to no longer be a virgin?” you ask.

“felt good to finally use that condom i’ve been keeping in my wallet since i turned 16.” rafe laughs, reaching his arm out to pull you closer to him. “but seriously, i’m glad i lost it with you.” “i’m glad too.” you smile, pressing a quick peck to his lip. “and maybe i should have asked you this before we had sex but… will you be my girlfriend?”

“oh my god, yes!” you squeal.

[interpolanticssuperfan]

nothing natural | ken x fem!reader | part 4 | 18+ only

hey everyone!!!! thanks so much for your patience in my getting out this next chapter, ive been incredibly busy with life stuff and finishing a different fic of mine on ao3. (if you're a fight club fan, i'm @snottys on there. LOL) thank you for the kind words and the messages, they mean SO much to me. i hope this chapter is alright, and i can promise some mounting sexual tension in the next one; im just hoping to build up successfully to it so it feels organic and fun. i love you all and thanks for reading <3

tags: @heyareyoulistening @itsametaphorbriansblog @alyeria

The tight snap of the glass sliding door jilted you, and you should’ve guessed that Ken wouldn’t leave you alone, even if it meant deliberately ignoring your request for some space. With a heaving sigh, you studied your hands, the lines of your knuckles to try and see if your skin could explain what was wrong with you. What could possibly be wrong with you. 

Inward thoughts tapering off, you couldn’t ignore the way Ken’s presence was making you feel, searing butterflies in your stomach, which made your shame even more complex and frustrating. To be pinned by his gaze, it made you feel important, uninhibited. Flittery and excited like a child. It was invigorating.

It was nothing but a bad idea. A dead end. Done and dusted before you should have ever let it begin. 

A breeze rolled through your hair, welcoming and cooling. Ken’s atomic aura lingered behind you. He didn’t bound right up, didn’t affix himself to your side emphatically like he’d been doing all day. 

With a puff and a flick, you heaved yourself away from the curled metal railing, not meeting Ken’s eye. 

You hid your waning cigarette like you were about to get in trouble for it, as if you were back in school, ducking administrators under the bleachers, wrapped in thick lined coats with your friends. How simple things had been back then.

The mention of school brought back countless unsavory memories and left a bad taste in your mouth, flashes of arguments and self-doubt, so you ignored it in favor of waiting for Ken to speak. 

Back then, you weren’t afraid to approach any boy you wanted. It didn’t matter if he was the head of the football team or a shrinking, shy kid in the back of the study hall. Where this fearless bravado originated from, you couldn’t necessarily identify. All you knew was that it had eluded you into adulthood.

You reveled at how much you’ve changed since graduation.

“Willa’s in her green bed-thing,” Ken murmured a decent ways behind you, and you felt instant appreciation for him. After being such a freak and making a fool of yourself, he only kept choosing to help you, looking out for your belongings, the things you cared about. He had no reason to do them for you, but at this point, you didn’t want to question him.

“Thank you, Ken. You didn't have to do that.” You replied softly, picking at a fingernail absentmindedly.

“She got pretty antsy when you left. Ran in circles. Don't worry, (Y/N); once she gets to know me a little better, she’ll trust me in no time. What does she eat?” 

Ken finally appeared at your elbow, voice still gentle, taking in the hanging potted plants, the other identical slim patios of your neighbors that lined the lower units. He seemed nervous to get too close, so he laid his hands down on the railing, blinking rapidly when the sun peeked out from the clouds and shone directly on him like he wasn't used to its intensity. 

If you weren’t walking on eggshells, unable to trust yourself to talk with him normally, you might’ve tipped a warm, toothy smile up at him, allowed yourself to just… enjoy his presence. Express thankfulness for the change to your humdrum everyday life. 

“Lettuce. Different kinds of vegetables. Um… these special pellets I have to order online that take weeks to get here.” And that cost double what they should… the things you do for Willa. If only you could tell her ‘you're welcome.’

“Can you show me how you feed her? When we go back inside?” So hopeful. So unaware. Ken’s request sent shockwaves of emotion through your body. Your heart couldn’t help but do cartwheels over his sweet comments, the uncomplicated way he interacted with you.

“I don't know what to do.”

Ken paused, cocked his head as he furrowed his brow at you. He'd buttoned his jacket back up and taken his boots off. Just standing out here in the real world like he wasn't worried about what would happen to him.

A vein worked in Ken’s throat when he swallowed, Adam's apple bobbing, gilding the beautiful slope of his neck, and you had to tear your eyes away from him, the sweat on your chest collecting rapidly. Too tight, too sweet, too painful to look at.  

Of course he buttoned his jacket up, you scolded yourself. What else was he supposed to do after you humiliated him like that, reduced him to nothing but his looks? If he’d done the same to you, you’d have probably kicked him out.

(Or not.)

“Sure you do. You feed her every day, don't you? Actually, you should let me do it, that way we can build a rapport and –”

Exhaling through your nostrils, you took another long drag from your cigarette, and shook your head, still unable to meet Ken’s pleading eyes as the smoke tendril crept upwards and billowed away. 

It didn't bring you enjoyment to cut him off before he could lose himself on a tangent, but the day’s events had left you no choice; and you had to own up to your behavior, your unwarranted comments that Ken didn't even register as irresponsible.

“That's not what I meant. I know how to feed Willa. This has been a very, very long and… strange day. And it's only three in the afternoon.”

“I wasn't keeping track of the time.” Ken offered kindly.

“I wasn't expecting you to.”

“That smells bad,” Ken upturned his nose at the cigarette as the cloud dissipated over his face, shifting his body away from the direction the smoke carried. “I saw people with those in Venice Beach, but they walked so fast that I didn't get a proper whiff, you know? I'm telling you, everyone in Venice Beach acts like they're late for something.”

“That sounds more like New York to me.” A sneer formed on your face, which Ken noticed immediately. 

“They have those smoke sticks in New York, too?” He questioned innocently, side stepping every wave of tobacco residue that fanned out into the air, engaged in a bizarre dance of bob and weave. 

“They have these everywhere.” You counter, lifting your eyebrows curiously.

Ken scowls. “Yuck. What are they for?”

You mulled over an explanation in your mind, a little grateful to be addressing anything besides your brazenly lustful comment that Ken seemed to have entirely forgotten about. That Ken had glossed right over, not even batting a significant (irresistible) eyelash at. 

“When you breathe them in, it makes your head feel light for a few seconds. It's a pleasant feeling. But over time, they hurt your body and… essentially poison you.” Is this how you'd explain smoking to a child? It would have to do; you were no teacher, no professional, regardless of how hungrily Ken searched your eyes for answers and succinct explanations on everything. 

This information horrifies Ken, who makes to grab the burning cigarette right out of your hand. Pinching it between his fingers like hazardous waste, he flings it as far as he possibly can off the balcony with a grunt of exertion, and you both watch it spin gymnastically before landing a very long distance on a far sidewalk, ashes snowing and dying on the ground. 

It's impossible to delay meeting his gaze after that, so you look right up into his eyes, and Ken thaws under your attention, pupils still raging and wild and heavenly cerulean blue. 

Good arm, you think to yourself moments before breaking into a grin. 

“Sorry (Y/N), but that was for your own good. I can't possibly let you do something that's going to poison you. Not on my watch.” Smug, and a little bewildered, the smile that Ken gives you is flustered and determined.

“You're not even wearing a watch.”

“You don't know that.” Ken lulls, peeking at the sky, trying fastidiously to appear unbothered.

“I'm quite literally looking at both of your wrists.”

“Oh, (Y/N). You bemuse me. You see, a prepared man doesn't need to rely on worldly inventions such as watches. And numbers. He only needs his intuitions. Of which I have so many.” Ken taps intermittently at his temples, still avoiding your direct gaze. Calm and collected. Or, his best imitation of someone relaxed. And educated.

Had anyone else done this, especially on a frustrating and confusing day like today, you’d have probably kneed them in the groin. Maybe hurl a few expletives. Because where would you get off snatching a smoke straight out of someone’s hand? That you'd spent your own money on?

But all you could manage to do was laugh, fold over forwards a little bit with it, and the sound of it eased Ken’s nerves, eventually joining in with you to test the temperature of the conversation. 

“So… are you done being mad at me now?” He scrubbed at the back of his neck.

“I was never mad at you, Ken. I just needed some air, I needed to… clear my head. I really meant it when I said you didn’t do anything wrong.” He leaned over the railing a bit, tapping his foot against the welcome mat you’d placed outside.

“What I said wasn’t – well, it wasn’t nice, and I realized that I haven’t been handling this situation appropriately. That’s what made me feel upset. I was mad at myself.” Confessing this had you feeling twenty pounds lighter. 

“But it made me feel nice,” Ken affirmed, and you had to soldier yourself mentally not to grab him by the shoulders and kiss him or something equally as unwise. “I liked it. Is that so bad?”

In your peripheral you could make out the lines of his flawless blonde hair falling into his eyes as he watched the grass below, the bright orange “For Rent” sign, the pomeranian sunbathing on the second floor end unit. He seemed to be taken with every new sight that he laid his eyes on. So eager to learn, eager to please you, to help release your nerves. 

You considered that you didn't deserve even an ounce of it. His newness. His charisma, the spark in his eyes when you smiled at him. Any of it, there was no reason it should be directed towards you. 

Sobered, you attempted with great willpower not to let this falter your resolve. The best way to handle this was with honesty, and you knew that lying to Ken would only further complicate your already complicated friendship that had been forged only a handful of hours earlier. 

“To be fair, it usually feels nice to be complimented.”

“And that’s something friends do for each other – they say nice things about the people they like. So I think you should stop being so mad.” Ken sustained, lightly biting at his plush bottom lip, swelling under the tension, the exactitude of his discomfort manifesting. 

“Listen. Ken,” you dug your nails into the back of your hand, at the susceptible skin there, leaving imprints as you tried to assert yourself. If Ken noticed the tremble in your exhale as you slowly blinked, he didn’t point it out.

“I’m going to be forthcoming with you, because you seem like someone who… I don’t know. Deserves it. You’re funny, you’re. Fascinating. You’re easy on the eyes, I mean, you're. You’re.”

Ken flushes a deep shade of pink at your words, speechless, the spread of it so clear and unbidden on his lower neck that you have to nearly kick yourself not to look. He's got no idea how to answer you. When Ken finally receives the attention he angles for, it seems that he doesn’t know what to do with it. Stands and sways and stares, waits for the next beat because he isn’t sure of what comes after this, what could possibly be waiting for him on the other side of affection, the words that make him bow his head and drop his listless eyes.

You’re a solid few feet away from Ken, but he smells like sunlight – smells like happiness. His eyelashes dance in the shadows the setting sun casts over him in streaks of oranges and deep reds, painting him like an immortalized work of art.

He glimmers like an angel. Something made from clay. It makes your stomach twist. For some reason you miss your little sister. You miss when your days had structure. When decisions weren’t hard to make, when they weren’t even your responsibility. 

When you were only a child, and being alive didn’t sting. 

When none of this was your job. It was only dusk and popsicles, running until your ankles scraped against your shoes so bad they bled. When it was just sidewalk chalk and trading cards and homemade dinner. Homework and awful bathroom haircuts. Long walks and skinned knees.

Not a single part of you had ever felt ready to be an adult, and it was hitting you outside on your balcony, washing over you in disconcerting waves that Ken couldn’t read, couldn’t make sense of.

“You don’t know me that well. And. We only just met today. You know? So, what I’m trying to say is, there’s a lot you don’t know about me, about… what I’ve been through and. What I’m looking for. Out of life, out of. Relationships, friends, things like that. What I want to become. And until this morning, I hadn’t really been that inspired to evaluate any of it. My days are essentially just this, every week over and over, exactly like you’ve seen. I work at the library. I say hi to Pat. I rent a magazine that I forget about and then return without even having picked it up or read it, like some loser. I feed my guinea pig. I smoke and then sit out here, watch my neighbors. It’s just.” 

Your throat feels constricted, fighting against twangs of distressed emotion that bubble up and cradle within you, threatening to release at any moment. Threaten to betray you. You’re reticent to accept that any display of weakness could turn Ken off.

Could have him turning tail and going back to… wherever it was he said he came from. Barbieland? Jesus, what a day.

Since when had you become such a sap? So ready to let it all out over the smallest event, something as mundane as meeting someone who expressed interest in you?

Ken wasn’t just someone, you scolded yourself. Wasn’t just some guy you’d bump into at a bar, someone you’d match with on a dating app or strut up to at a baseball game drunkenly and emboldened with false courage. He couldn’t fit into a box of superlatives. Refused to be defined so easily.

He didn’t even have a heartbeat.

It’s too much out here, and you want to cry. Want so desperately to cry. To let it out, to experience the way you’d feel in front of someone who would never judge you for it. Who probably doesn’t even know what crying or sorrow or regret or loneliness feels like.

But Ken stills himself and listens. Fiddles with his hands like he’s never been bored before and listens to every word, hangs on them like he’s getting something out of this, like he needs to listen to a human being speak about what it feels like to be a human being. Like this is valuable information to him.

He’s so beautiful and bright and burning like the sun and he listens to all of it.

“It would be the easy thing to just keep you here. I know you have no idea what I’m talking about. I’m sorry about that. It would be so easy to. Accept this, accept you and. Not even question it. I mean, Jesus. You came out of nowhere. Introduced yourself to me. Not afraid of anything. You didn’t even know who I was, not really. And the easy thing would be for me to take you – take it. Not even. Not even worrying about what it said about me to do that.”

Your throat is rubbed raw, the honest and vulnerable tears tugging at your eyes, but you can’t do that right now. Don't want to turn over and show your dark, clingy underbelly to Ken when he's only just met you and only thinks shining, sweet things about you, like you could never be capable of letting him down.

Not when it matters, when someone is pegging you as their lifeline, their sole source of connecting themselves to humanity.

Ken just squeezes his pink, worry-chewed lips into a thin line and continues to listen. He has nowhere else to be. Why would he? He’s pale and shining and gorgeous.

Swells of his arms filling with the afternoon sun. There’s nowhere else he wants to be but right here, barefoot and open and accepting of what you need to get off your chest, like there’s the perfect space right in his heart to fit it all in, to understand it even if he’s struggling to get what you mean. 

“I don’t know. I’m sorry. I think that there’s. I think there’s something about you that makes me want to be careless. And that’s not like me, at least not right now.”

“But I don’t feel careless when I’m with you.” Ken states, like it’s easy, like it’s the most obvious thing in the world. Something breaks deep inside you, it's thick and presumptuous, and you feel pressure thickening in the base of your gut, like you might puke or scream or maybe a combination of both.

“I’ve been careless of you. You might not realize it, but. I have been. It’s not cool. I don’t feel that I’m doing the right thing.” 

“Well. What can we do that will make this better?” The question that’s been dancing on his lips, that’s been tearing him asunder finally comes to light. 

You wring your hands in front of you, already craving another cigarette, craving liquor, craving an out from this. The urge to scrape something sharp against the meat of your arm comes to you. You ignore it. Swallowing down the urge to punish yourself.

It’ll be alright. Just approach this logically. Do the right thing.

Do the right thing.

And don’t mess it up.

“I think I would feel better if you went back to where you came from.” 

The words smolder between the two of you, more fiery and loaded than you intended, and Ken bristles at your words. Expecting rejection. Waiting for a slap to the face.

"You want me to leave?"

“Hold on. Not like that, I mean. I think I would feel better if you went back to… you know.”

“Barbieland.” Ken states, and it’s too small, it’s puny. It’s not how you want him to sound. So beaten down and insecure.

“Right. And I think you should really consider whether or not you want this. Living in the real world. Because it’s tough, and. Ken, it’s difficult, it’ll rip you apart from the inside out. People are unpredictable. They can be loving and gentle, but… not every moment you spend here will be fun. Not every friend you make here will have your best interest at heart. They’ll take advantage of you and bleed you for what you’re worth. They’ll toss you around and spit you out and not think anything of it.”

The twirling light in his pupils dies out then, fizzles in a way that's tangible, like you could reach out and touch it to feel how real it is. Ken seems to not understand what you’re saying, but stares at you still, picking at the ends of his sleeves with great effort.

"Is it... you're sure it's not me? Because (Y/N), If I did something, I hope you know you can feel free to let me know. I won't get upset." It twinges at your insides. Makes you clench and tongue at the roof of your mouth. There isn't anything that gets past Ken, is there?

"No, that's. That's not it."

"Okay."

“I’m not saying I will do all of that to you.” You turn then to face him, waving your hand in general as if summarizing everything you'd just said, fighting the instinct to pull another cigarette out of your purse, to hide from what you’re feeling. The truth you need to communicate to him so real and regrettable and honest.

“I just want you to gather as much information as you can before you decide this for yourself. Your life. I don’t know what it was like for you before. Maybe. I don’t know. Maybe our world seems like a sanctuary compared to where you’re from. Maybe it seems like a hellhole.”

Ken doesn’t say anything, just watches your every move intensely, watches your back as it contracts and spreads out with anxiety. Working to pick the right words, the intricacies of what you wish you could articulate.

“But that’s how it is here. I think you should be aware of what you’re getting into. I don’t have all the answers and I need you to understand that. I’m not perfect. I’m not. Not… what you probably think I am. But if you speak with your friends, and others who can build on what I’m telling you, and after everything you still want to come back, I promise you will have a place here, I promise that you can stay with me and that. That I’ll do my very best to show you the ropes and show you everything I have learned.” 

Ken appears deep in thought, tendering his hands fretfully, doesn’t speak for a moment. When the silence continues for minutes, you wonder if he’s given up entirely on speech. 

But then he finally announces, with a measure of confidence you’ve never seen before, “Okay. I will accept this ultimatum, (Y/N). I will go back to Barbieland and ask all the Kens and Barbies what they know about the real world. And when I come back, I can even ask Barbie what she thinks. If she thinks I can do it.”

There’s a tepid, unsure quiver to Ken’s voice when he says this, stumbling over his words like they weren’t ready to come out, not yet. “But you should know something about me, too.”

“What’s that?” You reply, stomach churning with a wistfulness, an aching that isn’t familiar. Might not even be yours to feel.

“When I come back, I want to see you smile. I want you to show me your neighborhood. And what Willa eats. There’s no way I could forget about her. Do you accept my terms?” Somehow you get the impression that Ken isn’t talking about your guinea pig – not entirely, not all the way.

“Yes. I accept. I promise.”

“Promise?” Ken sticks his thin, golden hand out to clutch onto yours, and like it’s burial rites or heartfelt wedding ceremony vows or something precariously in between, and you reach your hand out right back and shake on it. It's real now. Set in stone. Something Ken won’t soon forget. Would never back down on.

"Yes, Ken. Yes."

When he leaves your apartment, you’re reeling, basically unable to look at Willa, the tiny living thing Ken’s connected with so deeply. She sniffs at the air like she's missing something. It hurts. Pathetically, you find it difficult to open your laptop and answer another email. To pretend to be sociable. Capable.

Ken doesn't ask for the address to your apartment, doesn't ask for your phone number, your last name or anything. He seems to believe that he can find his way back to you on instinct and willpower alone.

You think of Ken asking you about bananas of all things. Caring so much about your wellbeing that he threw away your cigarette. An otherwise complete stranger, so blisteringly entrancing that it makes you numb.

Dejectedly, you curl up on your couch, inhaling the smell of Ken so present and dominant in your apartment, that fresh smell, and you bite your fist with a sharp gasp. Shutting your eyes with extreme force, you fight the tears that spill unceremoniously down your tired, tired face, confused and spun around from the inside out.

[enchantedrose]

Louis Tomlinson ~ Remember Me?

warning: quite literally nothing lolllll. (but ive been back in my 1d era sm lately it’s crazy lmaooooo. i love louis sm brooo).

————————————————————————

Y/n: “Thank you.” I say as i take the drink from the bartender’s hand before walking away from the counter. I take a sip of the drink as i look around for a moment, my eyes coming in contact with my ex’s, making my eyes widen a little before trying to quickly walk away from him, knowing he’s following me. When i make it close to the end of the bar table, i quickly tap a guy’s shoulder desperately, only to come in contact with my other ex. The one i had before i started dating Noah. Seeing Louis again makes my eyes widen again but then i remember my situation, making me come back to my senses. “Help me please.” I say to him desperately. “Pretend to be my boyfriend again. Please.”

Louis: “Why?” He asks confused before i feel a presence behind me, knowing it’s Noah.

Noah: “Y/n.” I hear him say from behind me, making me hesitantly turn around with a fake smile. “Hey can we talk?”

Y/n: “About what?” I ask even though i know exactly what he wants to talk about.

Noah: “Well you know. I might have realized that i still love you and i was wondering if maybe you’d get back together with me.” He asks rubbing the back of his neck a little.

Y/n: “Um Noah I-“

Louis: “Uh sorry lad,” he cuts me off as he stands up off of his chair, “but she’s with me.” He says wrapping an arm around my shoulders. “And speaking of, i almost forgot i wanted to take you to my favorite restaurant tonight. Shall we go, love?” He says making my heart wince a little.

Y/n: “Yeah. Bye Noah.” I say before me and Louis both walk away, walking outside of the club. When we get outside, Louis takes his hand off of me, both of us stopping our act. “Thank you Louis.” I say sighing a little.

Louis: “Yeah no problem.” He says as he shoves his hands in his pockets. “Why did you ask me to help you?”

Y/n: “I was desperate so i was just gonna ask someone random. It just happened to be you…”

Louis: “Oh…” I hear him say, kind of sad sounding.

Y/n: “What? What do you mean ‘oh’?”

Louis: “I don’t know… I guess i just was hoping it meant something more…”

Y/n: “What do you mean?” I ask even though i think i know.

Louis: “Nothing… It doesn’t matter…” He says looking down just a little. I just sigh again before speaking again.

Y/n: “Louis I still think about you too…” I say making him look at me again. “I’ve never stopped… And I’m so sorry for back then…” I say as i look at the ground a little, feeling a couple tears fall. “I was so mad I just… broke up with you… without listening to you first…” I just stay silent for a moment before I feel a hand on one of mine, softly caressing it with his thumb.

Louis: “I wanted to talk to you so many times, but I thought you hated me.”

Y/n: “I could never hate you Louis…” I say softly as I look into his eyes, his hand still holding mine. We just stare into each other’s eyes the silence overtaking us for a moment before I feel Louis lips on mine, kissing me softly. After we kiss for a moment, I feel him wrap his arms my body kissing me deeper as I wrap my arms around his neck. As we kiss, I feel the nostalgia coming back to me again, remembering the times back when we were together. It makes me hope that no matter what happens, we continue to be together, unlike before.

[lavenderarts]

Um.. this isn't supposed to be hate or anything, i just think that you while having the right spirit of support, are like, kind of having a bit of terf retoric yourself..?

I definitly agree that a trans man should not, EVER feel the need to identify as lesbian to be valid. Thats definitly right!! Nobody EVER should be forced to appease the terfs.

But also,

lesbianism should be about love of women, not about the exclusion of men.. THATS the terf retoric..

Sometimes peoples gender identity is more complicated than you think. Sometimes people are men and men adjacent, but identify with labels for their own identity for how they FEEL they are. And i think, it is like, its not nice to try and police labels.

Lesbianism historically has been more inclusive than just "'only-women' who like 'only-women'", it is more mixed then just having NOT-MEN in it, it is only of the recent decade that the discourse of lesbianism has become so esclusive, so vehamently avoidant of anything "man", because of, you guess it, terfs. Terfs are so hateful of men and trans men espcially.. its all messed up, please research it up i can not even come close to saying everything here!

other peopls should identify as they like, even if it makes little sense to others, yes we are all lgbt+ but that doesnt mean specific labels are not important to those who use it! Everyone is indiviual !

Ive been seeing weird lesbian discourse this week and it makes me sad, this is not your fault, but, please be careful, don't fall into your own policing of identities..

Also I apologize for the long ask, I genuinly only want everybody to be more open minded. Thank you for reading ;;;

Y'all hate lesbians so fucking god damn much. You think we're all TERFs and everything we say about our own identity is TERF rhetoric automatically because YOU associate US with those hateful hags. Me saying men aren't lesbians isn't TERF-adjacent because men does not automatically refer to trans women, and if you assume that's what I'm saying it says more about you than about me. Me saying lesbianism excludes men isn't TERF rhetoric, it's fact. Lesbians telling you that our sexuality is the only fucking one in existence where men are not welcome in any way isn't a TERF thing at all. The fact that we have to qualify everything we say about ourselves with "don't worry I'm not talking about trans women :)" because otherwise you think we're TERFs is a you fucking problem, not me. Not all TERFs are lesbians and not all lesbians are TERFs, and saying the completely normal, rational, and correct sentence "Trans men are men and men cannot be lesbians and people who are attracted to men cannot be lesbians" is not hateful or wrong. I don't care how cool you think the word lesbian is, sometimes it doesn't apply to you and you need to get a grip on that, we aren't some secret exclusive club that needs to be opened and made more accommodating. Lesbianism IS about loving women, and it is also the only sexuality that has nothing to do with men in any way, shape, or form, and the rest of you just cannot handle it and are constantly trying to hammer the definition into something that doesn't sound like a dirty word to you because you have some internalized shit you need to work out on your own away from dykes

Genuinely shut the fuck up I am not here to hold your hand and make you feel better because you're sooooo sad that lesbians are talking about issues that affect us. Take your condescending dumb ass elsewhere PLEASE I'm so sowwy I made you feel bad bc I wasn't Nice :((((((

[walkawaytall]

WIP Wednesday

This is a thing, right? I’m still figuring all the stuff out.

Um, this is from Purpose of Heritage, but it won’t be in chapter 6 (which will be posted this Friday!); it should however be in chapter 7 (disclaimer: everything not yet published is a potential casualty of later editing, but I don’t think this’ll be removed fully or altered much).

_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-

“Everything hurts.”

“You talkin’ about your skin?” Leia nodded. The stabbing sensation all over her body was duller than when she first woke up, but it was still there, causing her pain. “That’s good. Means you’re warming up.”

“Yeah,” Leia said softly. “Does everyone else know where we are?”

“We told ‘em to stay put and commed ‘em when we found you. Said we were staying here at least ‘til morning.”

[Cub was about to commit murder, so separation is probably best], Chewie added.

“I wasn’t gonna kill anyone,” Han muttered.

Leia furrowed her brow. “What happened? What does he mean?”

Han shook his head and shrugged. “Had a disagreement with Coy is all.”

“Join the club,” Leia said weakly. “I was thinking of getting us matching jackets.” She squeezed Han’s hand. “What happened?”

He sighed and shook his head again. “When we were startin’ to get worried, he said something—It doesn’t matter. I’ll play nice the rest of the trip, I promise.”

“I doubt that,” Leia teased. “Really, what happened?”

Han looked at Chewie, then shifted his gaze to the sealed shelter entrance. “We were talkin’ about how worried we were when you didn’t come back and Coy said he was worried, too, because, and I quote, ‘we can’t lose our blood bank’.”

Leia stared at him quizzically, head tilted slightly in confusion. “That all?” she asked when Han fell into silence.

He jerked his head in her direction and looked her in the eye. “Yeah, that’s all. Pissed me off, talking about you like that.”

She shrugged. “It’s true, though.”

Han appeared somewhat confused. “I don’t get it.”

Leia shifted her weight a bit so she rested on her side; her back was killing her. “I’m a—the medics call us ‘walking blood banks’. I’m a universal donor with low levels of antibodies in my blood. I’m our best option for a donor if someone needs a field transfusion. I have a transfusion kit in my pack.”

He squinted at her. “You’re okay with that?”

“The name or the expectation?”

“Either. Both.”

Leia shrugged again, attempting a calm and collected air even though merely imagining sitting with a needle in her arm in order to extract the blood necessary for a transfusion caused her chest to tighten and her head to swim. “The name could use some work. The expectation isn’t any different than any other. I’m dedicated to the cause. That means helping my fellow soldiers.” And because he’d been so kind, because he’d gone after her and warmed her and tried to cover the IV when he thought it would bother her, she added, “And our loyal contractors as well of course.”

[stardustanddaffodils]

hi hi hi rain do u remember my weekly oneshots. what a time amirite. anyways how are you!! miss you!!

aww man i do !! i havent read your writing in a while cuz whenever i get the notification my brain is like mmm no i do not think i can consume words rn and then i. forget :(

i also have not written for a while. cries.

that Was a time !! i m doin alright i am. "doing my english homework" except its sort of kind of maybe coming along ! i just have to write abunch of bs about a poem and hope it earns me a good grade ALDJFJ typical english class

im also SICK. summer this is HORRIBLE im in MISERY. WHY. :(((( i have a colddddd and im very upset about it

i miss u too :( god i . i have been missing a lot of ppl lately right because. the thing about online friends is u gotta make that effort to stay in contact youre not just gonna randomly join a club together or pass each other in the hallway and so when we move on from different fandoms different places or just. forget to reach out and say hi, arent online as much or at the same time, etc.... man. :(((

but. yeah. i miss you <3 we should talk more. i say this always and then we dont because i never know what to say </3

skyy and my other friend vee got me into the artist the crane wives and their music is SOOOO pretty

ive also been listening to chloe moriondo a lot !! good music love them sm :]

ALSO do u know the song Ryan Reynolds by OGR-Scintilla? jackie and tobin and jamie and i accidentally found it because jackie was being a silly little guy in vc one day and it like. it should be a universal meme in my opinion. it should be as well known as a meme song as the rick roll. like. this song.... /pos /neg /ADJFJFHGJFHDHGFHGH it got stuck in my head the other day and now its on my playlist cuz i was listening to it to focus on homework and now whenever i shuffle my playlist i get jumpscared by IM AS HOT AS RYAN REYNOLDS YOU AITNT MET A RAPPER BETTER..... help.

yeah um. i think you need to know the song ryan reynolds. youll get a kick out of it

[nboob]

i was sobbing so loud i think the case manager could probably hear me across the hall and my therapist told me i need to find just one thing to keep me strong for the rest of this week and then she canceled her staff retreat to meet with me next wednesday. she asks me if theres a history of alcoholism in my family at the end of our 50 minutes and i rofl my fastest copter out of there with a big XD. i spent my session trying to explain to her that yearning activates my gag reflex, that it doesnt feel like depression because everything im soy about is true, and that ive seen this play out before. then when i leave i log online and type out in chat that theres an extreme lack of bpd in my discord server  the fact that weve collected 20+ online poongays and only like 1.5 of them have bpd is some sort of natural anomaly... stop treating me like IM crazy when YOU GUYS are the outlier cuz bpd and transexualism go together like… Um well you get the picture

the worst thing ive done out of unrequited love i was probably around 15, when i developed this online relationship with a guy who would send me pictures of him digging his finger into his eye or his cut up face and shit, like joker shit... our relationship pretty much was built on a basis of just fucking being terrible to one another in ways that i wasted at least a couple hundred thousand hours on in high school. like he had this private vent account on instagram that i would stalk because hed change the bio intermittently to different messages for me in morse code that id have to manually translate with like, morsecodetranslator.com dot com, and wed just communicate like that when hed block me. anyway he broke up with me just before i turned 17 after maybe two years of developing this tumblr #yancore #actuallyobsessive relationship of fantasizing about killing each other. i took it really fucking hard so i cut his entire legal name into myself and then sent it to him after making a callout post on kinstagram, and then i took a couple handfuls of SSRIs in a desperate attempt for attention i mean suicide and spent a night throwing up foam into a bathroom sink and groaning

i mean nothing really came out of that and in my opinion its not a novel outcome of an e-kindating t4t relationship with some guy with DID from portland no less, albeit a mental decision, but like nine months later he sent me a DM on discord and it was his littlespace alter of honey from ouran high school host club being like Haii XDD do you remember me? I know you’re not talking to NAME REDACTED but I would really like to talk... and i answered him but it was, like, the wrong answer. i dont think hes ever going to reach out to me again and its whatever, hes engaged to some trog that he cosplayed stridercest with in middle school now and it at least forced me to start learning the gentle art of not responding 

i spent the last four years on a spiral staircase until the enormity of my desire started to disgust me. i dont think about my past relationships much but i spend a lot of time now thinking about what i should or should not say to you. yearning activates my siken complex and i almost always opt for silence, always kind of feel like too much and thats because i historically have been, but damn itd be nice to just give someone everything in some universe where i have some semblance of respect for myself. not circumstances where youre integrating yourself so deeply into the other person that the amount of self hatred you have inside of you becomes easier to carry when its directed at them. because like, the worst things ive done have been in love that’s requited and that makes it scary to start caring, right? now id have to describe my love language as a secret sixth thing that i dont feel comfortable succumbing myself or others to anymore, like a zit you have too deep in the skin to pop but hurts REALLY FUCKING BAD and seems like its never leaving. You gotta doctor pimple popper that shit with some Tito’s or like some pentobarbital

[whomst-art-thou-whomst-whomst]

Texts from the Lost Tomb, part 5.4

I swear folks once I get this and the last part up I’m gonna condense it all

But yeah couldn’t resist some <3

Zhang and Wu Chat

Wu Xie: Um. I’m all done with the shower if you want a turn.

Zhang Qiling: I’m alright without one.

Wu Xie: sooo are you pissed at me still?

Zhang Qiling: ? I have not been angry with you since the ladder incident.

Wu Xie: you’ve barely said anything since the necklace thingy

Zhang Qiling: I believe it is a long-running joke amongst my friend group that I do not, in fact, say much.

Wu Xie: okay but there are multiple gouges in the tea house walls that would suggest you had somewhat strong feelings today

and I kinda caused the events that sparked said feelings

so just checking in you know

Zhang Qiling: I was not angry so much as I was afraid. More afraid than I’ve been in a long time.

Wu Xie: ??? But it has worked out fine??? Everyone made it out alive and Uncle Erbai gets to feel morally superior to the Zhang family for a while so today was a win overall

Zhang Qiling: I heard you scream. I didn’t know what had happened. I couldn’t get to you right away. Therefore, I was afraid.

Wu Xie: ohhhhh. oh, Xiao Ge. It’s alright now—hey the necklace was actually helping u look out for me:) It’s not like those ppl were actually trying to hurt me, really. Your family isn’t so bad, at least you don’t have any uncles you know of

today was just some big misunderstandings wrapped in some poor life choices. Tbh my memoir title

I feel kind of stupid for screaming but when a glowing necklace wraps itself around your neck it’s a little uhoh moment lol

I did like the design tho def my aesthetic.

Zhang Qiling: I am pleased that it was able to protect you when I was not.

Wu Xie: Uh no you are not allowed to get all emo abt this it’s only like 3pm

damn time flies when it’s flashing before your eyes lol

Are you on the roof? You’re def on the roof. I thought I heard the tiles moving over my head. Come down or I’m coming up.

Zhang Qiling: I will be down in a moment. Do not come outside, it’s cold and raining.

Wu Xie: you know, Zhang Rishan said he thinks the necklace might be linked to you, somehow

something from long ago, even though you wouldn’t remember it.

It’s lucky that it liked me, huh:)

Zhang Qiling: Yes. Quite lucky.

Babysitters Club Chat

Wang Pangzi: AWW LOOK AT HIM NAPPING ON YOUR SHOULDER SO CUTE. BEBES HAD A BIG DAY. YOU TWO ARE PRECIOUS. BE GOOD AND POSE FOR THE PICTURE NOW.

Zhang Qiling: No. Also, I am considering what steps I should take with Zhang Rishan. Regardless of his concern for the Zhang family line, his actions were unacceptable.

Wang Pangzi: HES DROOLING A LITTLE ON YOU WHICH IS LESS CUTE BUT I CAN CROP THAT PART

LOOK I KNOW YOURE STILL PISSED. IM NOT EXACTLY CALM MYSELF, I JUST HAVE WAYS TO SKIRT AROUND TIANZHENS BULLSHIT FILTER THAT YOU LACK

GET ON MY LEVEL

WU ERBAI WILL HANDLE IT, THINGS HAVE SETTLED I THINK

BUT ABOUT THAT NECKLACE

SO INTERESTING HMMM

Zhang Qiling: I am the patriarch of my family. The necklace behaved as I would, apparently, to protect a vulnerable family member. Wu Xie’s bad cold last week activated it, and it responded to a perceived danger to him today. Simple enough.

Wang Pangzi: UH HUH

A FAMILY MEMBER

THE NECKLACE REALLY SAID LOVE WINS

TOLKIEN COULD NEVER

Zhang Qiling: It protected him on a technicality. But I will not allow him to bear the burdens of my family ever again. It has taken so much from him already.

Wang Pangzi: YEAH SURE BLAH BLAH DESTINY BLAH BLAH ANGST

“A TECHNICALITY” WOW WHO SAID ROMANCE WAS DEAD

ANYHOO IM SCREENSHOTTING THIS FOR UR WEDDING RECEPTION SLIDESHOW

YA KNOW DURING MY SPEECH

Friends of Wu Xie Support Group Chat

Hei Yangjing: you’re welcome for everything today<3 I accept PayPal, although of course it is always my honor to assist my friends:)

Wang Pangzi: WE ARENT PAYING YOU SHIT

Zhang Qiling: You did absolutely nothing.

Hei Yangjing: whoa whoa maybe I wasn’t threatening family members or busting up load-bearing walls like some undying divas I could name but I totes helped

or at least I was there for moral support maybe?

Zhang Qiling: The only reason I knew you were there at all was that as I lowered my blade from Zhang Rishan’s neck, I heard the camera click and saw you were taking a selfie making a peace sign, angled to have the two of us in the background.

Xie Yuchen: I saw it on social media just now. The caption is “#greatdaycatchingupwiththelads #blessed”

Wang Pangzi: TBH KIND OF JEALOUS I DIDNT THINK TO DO THAT

Hei Hangjing: okay yeah you see Xiao Ge that is a modern kind of help I should’ve known you wouldn’t be aware

It’s called performance, you wouldn’t understand

it’s a ‘Gram thing

Also it means I’m a great person

Bc letting you handle the situation was my gift to you

Zhang Qiling: Wu Xie mentioned there is something called “blocking ppl” that gets them out of my phone.

Hei Yangjing: nah

Can’t trust that Wu Xie, bae can’t tell a coffin from an urn amirite

it’s not a thing, blocking

Xie Yuchen: It is a thing. I’ll show you later, Zhang Qiling.

Wang Pangzi: YOU BOYS GO GET CLEANED UP AND COME BY AROUND 9 I SNAGGED SOME OF ZHANG RISHANS BOOZE ON THE WAY OUT

Bonnie and Clyde Chat

Hei Yangjing: you looked pretty comfortable in those handcuffs earlier ;););)

Xie Yuchen: Go to sleep, idiot.

Hei Yangjing: You’d have to do something to tire me out ;););)

Xie Yuchen: Are you like this around Wu Xie? Not that I care, I’m just asking.

Hei Yangjing: uh that’s a big nope

First off all Idk when I’ll die but Id prefer it to be on my terms and not at the hands of those other two

Secondly there is a part of me that remembers how adorable he was when he was younger and that makes it weird

(No offense but u were not adorable. He was bebe luke skywalker, you were bebe princess leia I am obvs Han Solo 4lyfe)

Also I’m a little scared that if i flirted with him and he flirted back he’d be better at it.

Xie Yuchen: All valid concerns.

Hei Yangjing: as cute as he is I don’t really wanna tap that.

Xie Yuchen: I see.

Hei Yangjing: do you tho

Main Chat

Wu Xie: okay folks who wants cocoa to top the evening off? I picked some up today:D

Wang Pangzi: UH YOU SPENT YOUR DAY BEING KIDNAPPED AND PLACATING A SENTIENT NECKLACE WHEN DID YOU HAVE TIME TO GET GROCERIES

FRANKLY THATS INTIMIDATING

Wu Xie: the tea house gift shop:)

Wang Pangzi: …YOU BOUGHT COCOA FROM YOUR KIDNAPPERS. FROM THEIR GIFT SHOP. DURING YOUR KIDNAPPING.

WU XIE

WU XIE WHY

Wu Xie: I mean we were there the whole day, it felt impolite not to buy anything.

Wang Pangzi: OH RIGHT GREAT POINT ID HATE TO BE RUDE TO THEM AFTER THEY WENT TO THE TROUBLE OF ABDUCTING US

LISTEN WHEN PPL STEAL YOU IT BECOMES FREE REIGN ON THEIR SHIT

UGH YOU PROBABLY GOT A RECEIPT AND EVERYTHING

WAS UR LITTLE SHOPPING TRIP BEFORE OR AFTER THEY STUCK U IN A DUNGEON TO EXPERIMENT ON YOU

WAIT NVM I DONT WANT TO KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT

Wu Xie: look, let’s focus on the positives/ we are all okay, and we learned something new, that necklace is still active! It’s really quite nice-looking when it isn’t moving of its own volition.

Wang Pangzi: YOU AND YOUR RELENTLESS DUCKING OPTIMISM

ZHANG QILING ARE YOU SEEING THIS

Zhang Qiling: I would love some cocoa. I’ll come to the kitchen.

Wu Xie: I have special marshmallows for you!!

Wang Pangzi: I SEE

WE ARE SUBSCRIBING TO THE PRESTIGIOUS “FUCK IT WHY NOT” SCHOOL OF THOT TONIGHT

LOL SURE LETS GO COCOA IT UP

IVE GOT SOMETHING STRONG TO POP IN IT

Wu Xie: Still thinking about that design… I’d love another chance to examine that necklace under less Zhangy circumstances.

Kinda sad we couldn’t borrow it to use for illnesses and dangerous missions :/

ah well it’s for the best, a family heirloom should be treasured, preserved and protected<3

Zhang Qiling: I put it on your dresser.

Wu Xie: ???????

Wang Pangzi: AND THATS WHY YOU AND I ARE FRIENDS, XIAOGE <3

Wu Xie: I—

Zhang Qiling: Are those bunny-shaped marshmallows for me?

[mde1011]

when i got into the dsmp i started a note and wrote down any quotes or moments i thought were funny, and im bored at 3 am so enjoy some of them

how is being arrested real? just walk away!!!”

⁃ “once an american always an american. go...go protests masks...or something”

⁃ “...yEAH BUT DID YOU HAVE WAP” “what’s...whats wap?” “...WORSHIP AND PRAYER”

⁃ “HOW DO YOU LIKE POLITICS MOTHERFUCKER”

⁃ “i’m naked” “...no you’re not” “i can be...”

⁃ “uhhhh i’m in a high stress situation....i deal with these poorly”

⁃ “i should go first i’m naked”

⁃ “yEAHHHH WE KILLED AN OLD MAN WITH HEART PROBLEMS”

⁃ “what are you going to do?” “i...have no idea i think i’m gonna start out by punching a tree”

⁃ “tOmmy...did i just hear you say shit ass looking mofo?”

⁃ “i aM gOinG to gEt nAkeD to iNtiMidAtE HiM”

- “...i want freedom !” “you want BALLS.”

⁃ “...down the line. yeah that’s where we discover the art of cannibalism” “oh it’s an art?” “it’s an art”

⁃ “oh there’s some logs here. wonder what they’re saying to me. uh huh. uh huh. oh yeah that’s very racist” “tommy you gotta burn those logs.” “burn ‘em before they spread their racism to other logs”

⁃ “are you pooing?” “*whisper* i’m charging up-““ “he’s ejaculating on the tent.” “he’s WHAT?”

⁃ “he’s sPEEDING. LOOK HOW FAST HES GOING” “i’ve taken so many drugs. someone tell badboyhalo”

⁃ “we should make a pact. and that pact is, uh, we make a book...and in that book...we declare that saying ‘muffin’ is a, is a slur”

⁃ “i was thinking what if one day your bladder just,,,,stopped working.....AGGGFFFFF i was tHINKING ABOUT THAT THE OTHER DAY IVE GOT TO PREPARE IVE GOT YO PREPARE thisiswhydiapersaintthatbad”

⁃ <sapnap> i think i was ordered to um

<tommyinnit> boobed

<sapnap> kill you

<tommyinnit> boobs

<sapnap> if this happens

<tommyinnit> think about boobs man

<sapnap> tsk tsk tommy

<tommyinnit> iM DISGRUNTLED

⁃ “why is this deadman so good at making drugs”

⁃ “i just learnt that a girl hero is called a heroine and it freaked me out”

⁃ “memento memento me-“ “that’s actually the worst word i know so you can’t keep saying that” “oh, really.....? have you ever heard the term ‘racist’?”

⁃ “the person who invented the phrase ‘be yourself’ hadn’t met you!”

⁃ “you seem like the type of guy whose dad would throw him overboard as a joke but he would just drown”

⁃ “shout out to dream for twerking!”

⁃ “let’s talk......let’s talk about sex” “wonderful. what do you think about sex, lazarbeam?” “i ain’t saying SHIT in front of a sixteen year old”

⁃ “what the- i think i’m seeing things” “....tommy i told you not to drink the sea water” “well i DID drink the sea water because it TOLD ME TO”

⁃ “it’s like the movie when that guy gets stranded on an island and has sex with a coconut” “whAT?? dream- dream, you vastly misinterpreted this” “it one hundred percent does”

⁃ “oh mastICATE.....isn’t that when a fish turns inside out?”

⁃ “what are some bad words YOU know, clay?” “i don’t-“ “what about ‘terrorist’?”

⁃ “my mind has to be on the same frequency as jesus when he walked on water”

⁃ “you wanna know why i was late?” “no i really do-“ “i was having a MASSIVE poo. really just a HUGE poo”

⁃ “jUST CUZ YOU TALK ABOUT POO ONCE AND THEN YOU SEE A BIG GREEN BASTARD AMD YOUR LIFE IS FLASHING BEFORE YOUR EYES AND THEN YOU CANT REMEMBER- YOU CANT REMEMBER IF IT WAS YESTERDAY OR TOMORROW YOU HURT THAT WOMAN”

⁃ “i love america. mmmmm patriotism

⁃ “LIFE IS NOT A HAPPY SONG KERMIT THE FROG”

⁃ “please stop taking the cock”

⁃ “two four six eight who do we appreciate? not the government let’s gooooooo”

⁃ “oooo look at the dogs😍” “wHAAAAAT. WHAT. THERES ACTUALLY LIKE. A MILLION DOGS HERE. WHAT THE HELL.”

⁃ “yeahhhhh bitch i stab- i don’t stab women-“ “woooooooah tommy you stab women?” “heyyyy sapnap”

⁃ “do you know what happens whne you reach the top of the ladder? there’s only one place to go.” “.....side to side😨” “down.” “...i really thought you were gonna say side to side🥺”

⁃ “one last time.” “just like in hamilton😓”

⁃ “you don’t know how many times i’ve mistaken trees for hot women”

⁃ “ i don’t feel better i just destroyed penis”

⁃ “i’ve never seen a snail with bad morals”

⁃ “awwwwwwww😢 i’m doin’ drugs🤧 just like the good ol’ days😓” “.....define the ‘good old days’” “back when i did drugs”

⁃ “have you ever fought a baby? i have and it was trivially easy to defeat, phil.”

⁃ “the only other i egg i know about was the one i learnt about in school....not allowed to say which one....”

⁃ “did you know one of my new years resolutions is to be more like 2010 justin bieber?”

⁃ “apparently cats don’t lay eggs”

⁃ “thinking about trees- if i saw a tree with a beard mmmmmm...holy shit id hit it”

⁃ “we’re in hell dude. science doesn’t matter here”

⁃ “i cant die i cant die i’m GOD”

⁃ “hey pig your letter is the same as pussy, hmm?”

⁃ “are we cool are we COOL guys? CRYSTAL COOL like CRYSTAL METH”

⁃ “he- he’s crying because - because i killed his mother isn’t that right? mother dearest mother deadest mother gonest”

⁃ “bro ive been drinking since i was six and let me tell you...it’s not good to be drinking that young. led to some poor life decisions when i was 8” “what did you do” “i cant say” “...who did you hurt” “....only myself”

⁃ “je suis” “ay i know what that mean you prick” “what does it mean” “it means you’re racist dickhead”

⁃ “i’d never poo in the presence of a women- which is why i’m scared to get a girlfriend i think i’d just explode”

⁃ “biff tannen is one of my idols”

⁃ “black widow died and i thought ‘wow it should’ve been the man’ because he’s a man”

⁃ “there’s a character called captain america and i think he’s stupid”

⁃ “i’m a GOOD LAD i’ve got GOOD MORALS and if i’ve DONE SOMETHING WRONG it WASNT MY FAULT I JUST GOT A LITTLE EXCITED”

⁃ “sam....what’s the longest you’ve ever wiped your arse? for me it’s 48 minutes”

⁃ “why are you standing in the shitter?” “....that’s a SINK” “uhhh welllll” “hAVE YOU SHAT IN THE SINK?????”

⁃ “you’re like a living ghost” “...i think that’s called a human, tubbo”

⁃ “maybe i accidentally kill ranboo and we just never see him again *laughs* ay? and then i go ‘april foooools!!!’ and then i kill their child. i kill him”

⁃ “you built a penis” “it’s a PENIS OF SAFETY”

⁃ “i saw the penis of safety and i pressed mouse button four my friend”

⁃ “the penis on the other side of the river is larger” “ive heard that before....”

⁃ “you’ve turned the penis into a wall” “a wall of safety is better than a penis of safety” “i think the penis was better”

⁃ “if you wanna make a penis i know where we can make a penis and i know how big we can make it”

⁃ “i don’t conceptualize death but i think i just saw it!”

⁃ “yeah i- yeah i know i’m- my first impression on eret was making him read a shrek fan fiction so- i’m not one for first impressions”

⁃ “i-i’m scared for him- i’m scared OF him. yknow the first thing he did when he saw me was imMEDIATELY strip down then jump off then immediately die?”

⁃ “where are you?” “getting stabbed, one second”

⁃ “you’ve seen the joker?” “yea-“ “i resonate a lot with that man” “...oH. oh. that’s- that’s not-“

⁃ “he bURNT DOWN MY HOUSE” “out of LOVE”

⁃ “ohhhh my god stop making me play with the neighbor kid” “o-okay if you don’t go play with him i’m kicking you out of the house-“ “wHAT THE FUCK???”

⁃ “there’s a STRIP CLUB” “oh yeah for wood!” “are you into strippers?” “i mean all it does is make the wood look different so....yeah it doesn’t really do much”

⁃ “no no we have categories, we have the poo-saster- you might have to take a shower after-“ “no, no i’m gonna stop you right there”

⁃ “as i was saying you can have a 1-to-3 wiper, that’s an A-tier poo, my friend”

⁃ “i want you to eat your sock”

⁃ “you know i’m a child- i’m a minor” “sO AM I DICKHEAD”

⁃ “everyone is calling you dresus” “yeah i am”

⁃ “ayyyy ayyyy los DROGAS LOS DROGAS” “no no big q- she’s thirteen- how does this happen with every 13 year old girl you meet?”

⁃ “my poo has muscles like i do”

⁃ “i cant hear the words among us without crying they’ll say there are aliens among us and in the back youll just hear me *choking noises*”

⁃ “tubbo...tubbo is like...tubbo is like mary” “.....did you just call me the Virgin Mary?”

⁃ “i’m just saying, have you ever seen me and jesus in the same room?”

⁃ “do you smoke sam” “all the time”

⁃ “i thought you were talking about the- the speeeeed drug”

⁃ “have you ever sold drugs to kids sam?” “......no”

⁃ “we can’t let the girlboss rule because she will gatekeepe my feelings” “that would not be good”

⁃ “THEY DIDNT INVITE ME TO KILL ME???? NOW I HAVE FOMO”

⁃ “you have obviously taken part in scientology-“ “i have not-“ “you’ve donated to tom cruises cult shit”

⁃ “....am i worse than david dobrik?” “are- are we worse than david dobrik?” “oh- oh god”

⁃ “he has broke one of the rules of the hit best seller ‘the bible’- this kind of looks like a cock”

⁃ “well i’ve moved now, KING”

⁃ “what is an angsty teen and am i one? because when i USED to hang out with my friends they use the word angst a lot”

⁃ “yeah yeah yeah i bench”

⁃ “sam i think i’m angsty i think i’m an angsty tik tok teen looking for a community to help me out”

⁃ “i don’t think you’ve followed the train of logic all the way-“ “there’s a TRAIN INVOLVED????????”

⁃ “i’m like the orange fucker from that animated rom com”

⁃ “i’m under the influence of big cock”

⁃ “it’s meeee big cock man”

⁃ “i cant look away” “sam please use your twitter alt for this” “he’s horny on maaaainnnnn” “and what’s wrong with that?” “.......”

⁃ “you’re a FUCKING IDIOT” “IM NOT A FUCKING IDIOT, BIG COCK”

⁃ “i’m gonna call you ‘cockity’ big cock” “sHUT THE FUCK UP SHUT THE FUCK UP-“

⁃ “STOP LOOKING AT IT” “ITS SO VIBRANT”

⁃ “at least this guy doesn’t have a cock-“ “itS NOT A COCK” “horny on main jesus-“

⁃ “is that a cock” “SHUT THE FUCK UP”

⁃ “.....i wanna see the inside of it again do a split”

⁃ “okay sam-“ “tommy that guy wants your cock-“ “no- no he doesn’t sam”

⁃ “sam, sam and i need you to hear this....dont. act. up.” “i don’t act up-“ “you were acting up-“ “i-“ “you were caught in 8k.” “but- but we both agree it’s not a tie-“

⁃ “please don’t tell me to kill cockity i am overwhelmed”

⁃ “why is there an anus in my tie?”

⁃ “what are the legal implications of this?” “...i mean besides hell you’re good”

⁃ “whatre the legal implications?” “i mean usually that’s a no-no but today, today it’s fine” “yeahhh lets go murder his family”

⁃ “i’d be an antivax landlord”

⁃ “jesus never does drugs” “well- well you turned water into wine king and wine is alcohol”

⁃ “can you put on pants i can’t- i cant stop looking at it- sorry tommy i know you said-“ “yeah sam i know you tried-“

⁃ “you know i fuck with satan”

⁃ “i’m sorry jesus lucifer is just such a good man-“ “oh you- hold me BACK FROM THIS FUCKER HOLD ME BACK ILL SEND HIM TO HELL YOU LIKE HELL-“

⁃ “are you jesus or just a man who grew a beard and put on a suit?”

⁃ “even the guy with his cock out is telling you to stop-“ “oh jesus, and i mean jesus-“ “shUT THE FUCK UP MAN”

⁃ “the best best way to slander him is to stop his offspring; we need to kick him the balls.....no? not a good....? alright us four each take a ball-“

⁃ “......why did jesus give him four scrotums man🙁🙁”

[fragmentedink-archived]

Hell to Pay: Chapter Fifty-Seven

I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X, XI, XII, XIII, XIV, XV, XVI, IX, IX, XX, XXI, XXII, XXIII, XIV, XV, XVI, XVII, XVIII, XVIIII, XXX, XXXI, XXXII, XXXIII, XXXIV, XXXV, XXXVI, XXXVII, XXXVIII, XXXIX, XL, XLI, XLII, XLIII, XLIV, XLV, XLVI, XLVII, XLVIII, XLIX, XLX, LI, LII, LIII, LIV, LV, LVII

cowritten by @lux-scriptum

Hey all! It’s been a very long time since we updated and it’s partly because we’ve been hella busy, but also partly because we’re approaching the very end of Hell to Pay. We’ve only got one more part after this! (Nerve wracking! Terrifying!!) But never fear! We have good news. While Atlas (fragmentedink) and I (lux-scriptum) were talking about where to end HtP we hammered out the transition to the next series, because SURPRISE :D we’re not leaving this universe alone for a good long while. The next “book” will be about Eden and one of the future children, but don’t worry, we’ve got a segue series to ease you all into the newer characters and world building, as well as childhood plot points that don't fit in either “book”. Thank you all so much for following us on this journey and for your patience as real life gets in the way of our writing. 💙 - lux-scriptum

Zareth pulled his truck to a stop in the ridiculously long drive in front of Cameron’s ridiculously large house. It was more manor than house, practically one or two steps beneath a castle. Which- he supposed was rather appropriate considering Cameron's position.

Sometimes he forgot that Cameron’s actual title was far larger than that of just a club owner.

He grabbed the casserole that he had made the night before and made the trek to the large house. He carefully situated the casserole and knocked on the doors. He patiently waited the minute that it took for someone to answer the door.

Though he nearly dropped the casserole when it was Lev to answer the door… holding Eden. “I thought you were dead?” was the first thing that came out of Zareth’s mouth.

“I- oh. I was.” Lev shifted Eden, who grabbed at his shirt collar and tried to shove it in her mouth. “It’s a long story- do you want to come inside?”

Zareth schooled any expression off his face other than a pleasant smile and followed Lev back to the kitchen. He watched Eden gnaw on Lev’s shirt, though her hazel eyes were trained on him.

Carefully sitting the casserole on the counter, Zareth eyed the kitchen and noticed a particular staple was missing. “Where’s Cameron?”

“Probably in his office,” Lev said, sitting down. “Or maybe with Darius.”

“I- Darius?” Zareth frowned. “Is that a new employee…? Or a new partner?”

Zareth had not once ever heard of a Darius- not that Cameron was ever one to enlighten anyone about anything. Let alone something regarding his personal life.

Lev somehow managed to look even more uncomfortable. “Darius came back from the dead, too,” he said carefully. “Um- and- I’d- if you could not tell anyone that we- people aren’t supposed to know.”

“Sure,” Zareth said, leaning against the counter. “I’m guessing all the sentries working here have some kind of gag order. Is Nik still here? He seemed to be doing really rough the last time I saw him. I hope he’s okay.”

Lev shook his head. “Nik went home. He’s- he’s, um. Pregnant. So he’s spending time in angel territory right now.” He kissed the top of Eden’s head, and then blinked at Zareth. “He’s not in trouble or anything, but- things are complicated. He’s better though. I think. It’s hard to tell.”

“Nik’s pregnant?” Zareth blurted out.

He and his wife had spent the better part of the last two decades trying to conceive and Nik managed to get pregnant, likely by accident.

“Um,” Zareth tried. “Congratulations. I’m sure he’ll make a great parent.” He eyed Eden. “Not that he wasn’t one already.”

“I’m sorry,” Lev said, most likely automatically. He reached out and patted the top of Zareth’s hand, before looking down at Eden. After a moment, he held the baby out slightly in offering, adding, “Careful, though. She’s uh, her venom came in a couple nights ago.”

Zareth gladly took her and very skillfully kept her tiny hands away from his hair. “She does seem about that age,” Zareth agreed. “I’m sure it was not fun finding out what her venom was.”

Lev winced. “She bit a sentry,” he said. “It’s, um. Pain. Just- pain.” His golden eyes had gone blank as he stared past them both. His “Like Destris,” was almost mumbled.

Well. Zareth didn’t know what to say to that. “I’m sorry,” was all he really could offer.

Lev blinked again, rapidly. He gave a self conscious laugh. “I didn’t mean to say that,” he said. “Ah- how have you been?” He clearly didn’t know how else to change the subject.

“I’ve been alright,” he said. “A little stir crazy with no work, since Cameron decided to… remodel the club. I decided to do some remodeling of my own. Didn’t have much else to do.”

“Oh- oh right. He burned the club down.” Lev rubbed his face. “I remembered that. Darius and I were there.” He wrinkled his nose. “Amara burned my house down too.”

Zareth frowned. “Is arson the only form of grief your family is capable of?”

Lev shrugged. “Arson and necromancy,” he tried with a small, uncomfortable smile.

“Therapy would do wonders,” Zareth said, bouncing Eden lightly. She shrieked and smacked her head into his shoulder, her tiny claws fisted in his shirt. “But I’m glad that everything seems to be getting back to a… somewhat normal.”

“Somewhat,” Lev echoed, avoiding his gaze.

Zareth bit back his wince. He was just a bartender and an ex-soldier. He wasn’t supposed to be caught up in whatever the hell it was Cameron was ankles deep in. Though perhaps that was why Zareth was paid as handsomely as he was. “I, uh, made you guys a casserole,” he said, lamely. “Cameron seemed to be losing some weight and the gods know he’s weird about food. I thought it might help.”

This time Lev looked up sadly. “He is,” Lev confirmed. “He lost a lot of weight. He’s not taking care of himself. He’d rather take care of everyone else.”

Zareth sighed. “Caretaker is a hell of a word to describe Cameron Luain,” he said. “Though it is a good one. I’m sure he’d say otherwise.” Zareth eyed him. “Are you taking care of yourself? If you need any help, I have plenty of time on my hands, I wouldn’t mind.”

Lev’s cheeks flushed gold. “I-” He plucked at his shirt, which hung uncharacteristically loosely off his still soft frame, and then shrugged. “Probably not as much as I should,” he admitted. “And it’d be nice to see you around. I’m... kind of on house arrest, at least until Biela says otherwise.”

Zareth did wince at that. “The queen is rather big on the security of Razya. But I’ll do what I can. I’ll stop by more often. I don’t need my boss keeling over from exhaustion when I can offer my service. I kinda owe him.”

---

As soon as Bay learned that Raziel had gone to demonic territory- specifically to Cameron’s house, Bay had summoned her. He waited patiently in his office, watching Lucas sitting on the floor, chewing on his yellow blanket blissfully.

When he heard the knocking, he told Raziel to come in and take the chair across from him. Lucas squealed around his blanket at her, making grabby hands. She had moved to sit down, but hesitated at Lucas’ request to be picked up. She gave Bay a questioning look to which Bay stiffened.

He looked back down at Lucas who was still rather insistent about being picked up and was trying to crawl in their direction.

“Drop him and I’ll pluck your feathers out,” Bay said, resigned.

Raziel scooped up Lucas with exaggerated care, settling the baby on her lap. “You wanted to see me?” She asked, bouncing Lucas carefully on her knee.

Bay sighed sharply. “It hasn’t been more than a few months and I find out you’re in Cameron Luain’s house. Do I need to remind you what the penalty is for disobeying edicts.”

“Mizra commanded me to pass a message along to Cameron. I didn’t see Levant once, nor do I intend to. I’ve been tasked with...” Her face twisted here, in the mildest distaste, “Guiding Cameron along his spiritual route to his god.”

Bay bit back his snort at the thought of Cameron having a single spiritual bone in his body. Bay didn’t care for the gods in the slightest. Luckily, they had left him alone for the most part. Even if he did have magic that he wanted nothing to do with.

“I want reports on every time you are in Cameron’s house,” Bay said. “I also want to know everything you do. This feels like cheating in spirit, Raziel, though I suppose I understand you cannot deny your God’s commands. I don’t have the patience to deal with insubordination on your end too. It’s too messy and quite frankly, I already hate this job.”

Raziel dipped her head. “I’ll be checking in on him weekly until Mizra is satisfied, but I won’t speak to Lev.” Her silver eyes never left his. “I won’t acknowledge him,” she added. “I’m sure that will cause him enough distress to be a suitable addition to his punishment.”

Bay’s eyes narrowed. “You know, I’m not trying to be some hard ass,” he said. “I am doing my job and what I think is best for my people. I do not like punishing people, least of all someone like Lev.”

Raziel considered that for a long moment. “I know,” she finally said. “I apologize. It’s been a very stressful few months, and I should keep a better control of my temper.” After a few seconds, she said, “He shouldn’t have come back. As much as I missed him, necromancy is not the proper response to losing a family member.”

“I agree,” Bay said, leaning back. “With an eons long war we just got through, there are plenty of people who have lost loved ones. Grief is not something taken lightly, and I understand it intimately, but Amara was out of line, and from what I can tell, there has been an unspeakable toll to Razya due to her inability to let people go.”

Grief was etched on Raziel’s face. “The cost was too great,” she said. “And Amara seems to have escaped from this mostly unscathed.”

“Kinda funny how Amara never seems to be the one to pay for her own mistakes,” Bay said, flatly. “Her lack of accountability is one of the reasons why I am not a fan of her company. Last I looked, her mate bought them a house in my territory. I’ll have to make my stance on her residency clear. Her extracurriculars will not be tolerated.”

Raziel simply gave a sigh. “Admittedly, her extracurriculars, as you put it, are all she was trained for. And, given how little hand I had in her raising, I cannot tell you if she’ll be smart enough to know if you don’t tell her.”

“I’ll be sure to fill her in,” Bay said. “I don’t need to worry about killers for hire killing my people. She can get a regular nine to five job like the rest of us.”

“Like the rest of us,” Raziel agreed with a small, ironic smile.

Bay ignored that smile. “Is there anything of me you need while you’re here?”

Raziel gave a tired shake of her head. “I’ll keep you updated on my visits with Cameron.” She paused. “Don’t be surprised if Mizra reaches out to you.” She bounced Lucas once, listening to him giggle, before she set him down so she could stand. “Your baby is beautiful, by the way. I’m not sure if I ever sent you congratulations or not.”

A sharp chill ran down Bay’s spine at the thought of Mizra making a damned appearance. He did not have the patience to have beings make his life all the more chaotic than it already was. “Thank you,” he said, tersely, eyes softening when they landed on Lucas making his way back to the discarded blanket and giraffe on the floor. “He takes after his father.”

Raziel nodded. “If I have your permission, I’ll be heading home.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Bay said, rubbing his forehead. “You can leave. Just don’t go see Lev, I guess.”

Bay waited for her to close the door behind her before sighing once more and going to pick up Lucas. He brought him close to his chest and went to sit on the couch and closed his eyes briefly, letting the weight holding him down fade away.

---

Cyrus flexed his brown fingers, watching the light catch on his rings. It felt strange, to not be able to sense where magic once resided under his skin. In the years since his magic had manifested, he’d become surprisingly reliant on it.

That wasn't the only drawback, though it was the one that irked him more often than not. Without his magic, he could not perform important spells, not just the frivolous bits of daily magic he used to reheat his coffee.

Which was why he’d messaged Celeste, the only witch he could think of to help him. She’d agreed to come, now that he and Sorin were moved into their new house.

As if thinking about her had summoned her, he heard a quiet knock on the front door. Before Sorin could fuss and get to it first, Cyrus levered himself up out of his chair, opening the door with a small smile.

He’d never actually met Celeste; he had no expectations for seeing her, and found himself looking down at a slender red-haired woman with warm silver eyes. She had an equally ginger baby in her arms.

“Hello,” Cyrus said, backing up and holding the door for her. “Come in?”

Celeste offered him a slight smile and stepped around him. She looked around his house, taking it in calmly while she rocked her baby. “It’s nice to finally meet you in person,” she replied. “I’ll try to help however I can.”

“I just need a memory spell,” Cyrus said. “I promised Ash and Cameron that I’d wipe all knowledge of the spells I performed to get Lev and Darius here. I didn’t know I’d lose my magic before I could, and I don’t need the details of how I brought them back floating around in any of our heads.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “I’d imagine the intimate knowledge of necromancy getting into the wrong hands would not bode well for you or Asmi’s good graces. Are you wanting just the spell removed or the entire knowledge of Levant’s death removed as well?”

Sorin’s ears flicked up from where he was on the couch. Cyrus hesitated. “As much as it’d be useful,” he said carefully, “I feel like that would be a step too far without consent. From the general populace, maybe? But I assumed Amara kept what happened pretty well under wraps. The only person who publicly grieved was Nikolas.”

Celeste sighed tiredly. “Very publicly and very loudly. Though, luckily, I do not think he had told anyone about whomst he was grieving. I think a simple mind-wipe would be sufficient for the general populace, yes. That way there are fewer threads left unraveled.”

Celeste moved closer to the couch towards Sorin and gently placed her baby down next to Sorin. “He isn’t too wiggly when he’s sleeping,” she told him. She brushed her fingers along Sorin’s fur. “Please watch him for me.”

Sorin shifted, looping his large form around the infant before blinking at her patiently. His fluffy tail curled around protectively.

“Thank you again,” Cyrus said. “Sorin’ll take care of him.”

Celeste smiled and started twisting her hair back into a braid, likely to get it out of the way. “It’s no problem,” she said. “I don’t converse with many witches, so it was nice to have you reach out to me.”

Cyrus smiled. “I try to stay away from most witches; beyond that, you’re already close to the situation. I know you won't pull a fast one over on me and fudge with the spell. Or gossip about it later.”

Her smile turned rather dry. “You sound like Ash. I am sure he would be pleased with the comparison.”

Cyrus grimaced. “I’m not sure I like the comparison myself.” He flicked her a look. “No offense.”

“None taken,” she said, following him back to his study. “I am aware my husband can be… a bit much sometimes. Or most of the time. However, it doesn’t mean he’s usually wrong.” She gave him a look. “Some prices are rather heavy to pay.”

Cyrus scooted a box out of his way. “I don’t mean to judge. I just have one high strung ginger in my life already. A second one is... tiring.”

“Well,” Celeste said, “for the time being, I would suggest meditation. Or some other form of stress relief. We gingers, I suppose, can be a handful.”

Cyrus puffed out a laugh. “It’s less the ginger part and more the high strung part, but I’ll be sure to look into meditation.”

She looked around his less than set up study. “I assume you have candles?”

“Oh. Yeah, somewhere.” Cyrus sat down heavily, and pulled a box towards him. “I’ve been unpacking as quickly as Sorin will let me; he tends to fuss.”

“As a good partner does,” she said, solemnly.

“He is good for me,” Cyrus agreed. After rummaging around, he smiled. “Would you like white candles, golden candles, or purple candles?”

“Two of each? An even pairing of all for a circle should suffice.”

“Right,” Cyrus agreed, handing them over. “Matches?”

“If you want,” Celeste said, moving to carefully place the candles around them. “I was just going to use magic.”

Cyrus shrugged. “It's the only thing I have to offer to help at this point,” he said ruefully.

“Right,” she said, the color rising in her cheeks. “If you wish to light them, I’ll wait.”

Cyrus shook his head. “You’ll be faster,” he added, managing a smile. “I’m not exactly moving quickly these days.”

Celeste nodded before lighting each candle, one by one. Each flame danced on their own, as if following the lull of her magic. She carefully flipped her braid back and closed her eyes. She quietly muttered the incantations, light weaving through her fingers effortlessly.

Cyrus watched her, a little saddened at what he had lost, even as the candle light flickered higher and brighter before each candle snuffed out simultaneously. She let out a breath and opened her eyes, turning to face him. “What do you remember?”

After giving it some real thought, a small smile crossed his face. “I still remember what I did,” he said, “But- I’d have to start from scratch to figure out how.” His smile faded somewhat. “It’s a blank. And it’s going to drive me crazy, not being able to remember it. Kind of like when you lose a tooth-” His gaze flicked to hers. “Not that I’ll go looking. I’m sure Sorin will keep me busy.”

She cocked her head slightly. “If you are in need of a friend,” she said, “I could always use the company. It has been a long time since I was close to another witch. The last was my twin.”

Cyrus hesitated, before forcing himself to relax. “I’d appreciate that,” he admitted. “I don’t get much interaction with witches, and I've been informed that my education is lacking.” He paused. “I also don’t have many friends, so...”

“Well,” she said, helping him to his feet, “I am old and well versed in many things. All you need to do is ask.”

“Thank you,” Cyrus said warmly. “I appreciate it.”

“Of course.”

---

It took Nik a few days to get settled in one of the rooms in Bay’s… castle? House? Something? He didn’t care. He supposed Bay was sure to be rather irritable at the idea of the king actually living in a castle, like kings were supposed to. Not that Bay had ever wanted to be King in the first place.

He decided to take the nearest bedroom closest to Silas, if only so he could irritate Silas when he inevitably grew bored of this place, or just homesick in general.

Nik had called ahead to set up FaceTime with Lev once he had everything put away. Or rather Bay’s lackeys had everything put away, as Nate didn’t want Nik to do too much work. Like he was some kind of invalid.

He almost felt sorry for Bay for having to endure nine months of an overbearing, overprotective Nate.

Almost.

He had the computer set up and was pleasantly surprised that Lev actually knew how to set up a computer and everything. He even had Eden with him, sitting in his lap, chewing on Lev’s shirt.

“Nik!” Lev said, looking pleased, both with himself and in general. “We miss you.”

“Of course you do,” Nik said. “The only other company you have is Cameron and a mute. And the sentries who are too afraid to breathe.”

“Nikolas,” Lev scolded. “Be nice.”

Nik rose his brows. “I am being nice. I’m sure I could have said something far nastier. Besides, I’m a cast out pregnant omega living with my brother and his mate. You be nice to me.”

“I’m always nice,” Lev said primly.

“Yeah, because of trauma,” Nik said. “Not because you’re actually nice.” At Lev’s puppy dog look, Nik rolled his eyes. “It was a joke, Levant.”

At Nik’s very factual statement, Eden screeched and lurched forward in Lev’s lap, trying to obviously crawl through the screen to him. He gave her a small lopsided smile. “Just can’t keep your hands off me, can you, tiny demon baby.”

Lev huffed out a sigh. “She dropped a sentry last night,” he said morosely. “Her venom has come in.”

Nik leaned forward. “Oh really? What kind of venom? It isn’t like Cam’s is it?”

“No. Just- just pain.” Lev swallowed visibly. “Like Destris. Though- I guess I shouldn’t be surprised.”

“And why is that?”

Lev blinked slowly, and then guilt flickered across his face. “I thought Cameron would have told you,” he said, voice annoyingly soft and gentle. “Eden isn’t Cameron’s child. She’s Destris’.” He stopped, and made a face. “She’s ours,” he corrected himself firmly. “Yours mine and Cameron’s, but Dest- Destris fathered her.”

Nik felt himself go cold all over, especially when he unwillingly turned his eyes to Eden, who decided to smack Lev’s face for not giving her an efficient amount of attention. “Oh.” He bit his lip ring. “Well- I mean- I don’t know. I guess that makes sense.”

He still had zero intentions of ever telling any of them that the baby he was carrying was also because of Destris.

“I don’t care,” Lev said. “And Cameron doesn’t seem to, either. I guess that’s why he didn’t say anything. I told him- I told him because Destris told me before he... you know.”

“Right. Of course that didn’t bother Cameron,” he said. “Nothing ever does. Um. How do you know Destris wasn’t just lying?”

Lev looked pained. “He said I was making his bastard soft. That was part of why he- why he was-” He shrugged, and kissed the top of Eden’s head. “I believe him. And it’s not like we can ask him to do a paternity test now.”

“Fair enough,” Nik said, uncomfortably. “Um. How’s everything with Cameron? Is he still being reclused in his office?”

Lev nodded, clearly relieved at the change of subject. “When he’s not with Darius he is. I don’t think he’s doing so hot. He’s still losing weight, Nik. Or at least not gaining any back. I’m worried about him.”

“Can you force him to eat anything? He’s going to end up fainting and splitting his head open again,” Nik said, frowning. “Narc to Ash and Celeste to see if they can mother-hen him to health.”

“I’ll try to get him to eat more,” Lev said, and then added musingly, “What’s the worst he can do? Kill me again?”

“Don’t joke about that,” Nik said. “Besides, it's not like Cam isn’t already one bad day away from killing someone. I don’t want that to be you.” He paused. “And anyways, who else is going to keep me entertained when Cameron’s too busy being a workaholic.”

Lev shrugged. “He won’t kill me,” he reassured. “It would waste the effort he put into me coming back. And also, he likes me. He just doesn’t know how to say it. And that’s okay. But I will get him to take care of himself. One way or another.”

Nik sketched a brow. “Sure,” he said. “Good luck with that.”

Lev frowned. “How are you,” he finally said, clearly trying to change the subject to avoid a fight.

“Bored,” Nik said. “I have no one to keep me company other than my overbearing brother and your ex. I’m probably going to go raid the kitchen later to see what I can find.”

“I wish I could be there to keep you company,” Lev said apologetically. “Maybe you can go swimming later? I know the house has a pool.”

“I guess,” Nik groused. “Still like Cameron’s pool, though.”

Lev made a sympathetic sound. “Soon,” he encouraged. “You’ve only got a few more months!”

He sighed loudly. “I guesssss. This little leech better be worth it. The sheer amount of inconveniences I have had to deal with the last few months are quickly adding up.”

“Nikolas,” Lev chastised, more out of habit it seemed, than actual annoyance.

“Well?” Nik said. “I’m not wrong.”

“It’s a baby, not a parasite,” Lev said, resting his cheek on Eden’s head.

“Same thing,” he said. “One’s just kinda cuter.” He smiled at Eden. “Isn’t that right, my tiny baby parasite.” Eden babbled at him through her fist. “I told you so,” he said, to Lev.

Lev sighed, loud enough to compete with Nik’s earlier one. “Do you want to know what the gender is?” He asked. “Or is it going to be a surprise?”

Nik blinked. “I hadn’t even thought of that,” he said. “I’m sure Ash knows, though. Go bug him and find out.”

“He’s gonna ask if I have permission. I can tell him I do, right? And do you want to know or do you want me to not say?”

“No, I wanna know. I mean, I might as well. We gotta gender code the baby, clearly. All the blues and pinks and stuff. I guess.”

Lev frowned. “You’re mocking me, aren’t you?”

“No?” Nik said. “Unless you want me to mock you. I can do that.”

Again Lev sighed. “No,” he mumbled, half whining. After a beat, he added, “Did you want me to go ask now? I can bring the laptop with me.”

He leaned forward. “Yeah. I’m sure he’s not too busy, with him being next to useless without his magic and everything. I’m sure he’d be thrilled at being able to help me.”

“Nikolas, that was uncalled for,” Lev scolded, but he did stand, juggling Eden and the laptop both. “There’s no need to be mean.”

“It’s not mean if it’s true.”

“Yes it is, and you know it.” Lev pursed his lips primly, but he didn’t go on, even though it was clear he wanted to.

Nik hummed, watching the computer shake wobbly while Lev made his merry way down the halls to wherever it was Ash was lurking.

“Ash?” Nik heard Lev call. “Nik and I had a question for you.”

Nik heard some scuffling from behind a door and a thud before the door being yanked open. He could almost see the annoyance on Ash’s face. “Yes?”

“Did you know what the gender of Nik’s baby was?” Lev asked, either unbothered or not noticing Ash’s annoyance.

“Oh,” Ash said, his tone shifting rapidly. “Yeah, I do. It’s uh, a boy. I’m very sure it’s a boy.” He could hear Eden’s disapproval: whether that was towards something else or the fact Nik was apparently having a boy, Nik wasn’t all too sure. He was sure, however, that she was going to have a few well placed words, or, well, babbles about another baby stealing the attention from her.

Lev hefted the laptop, shifting it so Nik could see Eden and Lev again. Eden was yanking on Lev’s messy waves, babbling away. “A boy is good, yeah?” Lev smiled brightly. “It’d keep things even!” He was clearly trying hard to give Nik something to be excited about.

Nik smiled at him. “Yeah,” he said. “It makes sense. We’re all boys in my family. It’ll be nice carrying on that obligatory tradition, I suppose.”

Lev’s face fell a little, confusion and a little guilt on his face. “Yeah,” he said, uncertainly. “I can let Cameron know; I mean, we can still get dresses and skirts if you want to let him have the option, I guess. The baby?” Lev blinked, the other emotions on his face fading into thoughtfulness. “It might make changing diapers easier, honestly.”

Nik snorted. “I’m gonna dress him up as a baby beluga. It’s what I deserve, honestly.” He leaned back, pleased with himself and put a hand on his belly. “I’ll even get him a little silly sailor hat.”

“I���ll pass that on to Cameron,” Lev promised, oblivious.

“You do that.”

“Was there anything else you wanted from me,” Ash said, annoyance returning in full force to his tone.

“Oh. Um. No, I don’t think so. I’ll see you at dinner?” Lev said sheepishly.

“At least one of us will,” Ash deadpanned before shutting the door in his face.

Nik bit back his wheeze. “Don’t take it personally. He’s always like that.”

“I’ve lived with Cameron long enough to not,” Lev assured, juggling Eden again as he shuffled back to his own room.

Nik waited for Lev to get settled once more before he said, “I really do want to come home. Especially if Cameron isn’t doing so hot. I could… annoy him into taking care of himself. We could get Zareth to bully him into forking up all the paperwork and shit for the club like we did when he was injured. I’m sure Soldier Boy won’t mind.”

“I don’t think annoying him into this will do any good this time,” Lev said apologetically. Carefully. “I think it’ll take more... subtlety and patience. A lot is changing and you know how much he hates when his schedule is interrupted.”

Nik sighed irritably. “Yeah, fine. Whatever. I’d still rather be home than with Nate. He didn’t even let me bring anything in. He had the sentries do it all.”

“Cameron would do the same,” Lev said logically. “But you can probably come visit soon. Maybe next weekend?”

“That’s because Cameron’s annoying,” Nik muttered. But still, he said, “Yeah. Cam said I could come home a few days out of the week. So that’ll be nice.”

“Mmmhmm,” Lev encouraged. “I want to snuggle when you do. Cam... Cameron’s not really in the mood lately.”

“I don’t think he ever really is,” Nik mused. “I think he just does it because it’ll shut us up faster.”

“Oh,” Lev said, blinking a few times. “That, um- I hadn’t noticed.”

“You know, sometimes I don’t think he’s even attracted to us? Which is honestly ridiculous as you have seen myself, but? I dunno. Maybe it’s just not important to him? Though I don’t know why else he’d have me there when I annoy him all the time,” he said, with a bit of a smile. “I think he enjoys it.”

Lev frowned back at him. “I’ll have to think about that,” he eventually said. As if in response, Eden screeched in his ear. “And on that note, I think it’s time for her nap. I’ll call you tonight?”

“You better,” Nik said, before logging off. He scrubbed his face and decided to go wander to the kitchen, where hopefully, he could make something to eat.

---

Silas flopped down on his bed, throwing an arm across his eyes. The house Bay had inherited from their dad was massive, and yet it felt very full with both a baby and Nikolas inside.

As if summoned, Nik walked inside, flopping down beside Silas. “What are you sulking about?”

“Speak of the devil,” Silas grumbled, not lifting his arm. “What do you need, Nikolas?”

“Okay first of all, that title belongs to Cameron,” Nik replied. “Second of all, I need to be entertained and I would prefer to be entertained by my pretty boy brother in law who has no choice but to humor me.”

“I would prefer to take a nap right now, and yet here we are.”

Nik clapped his shoulder. “Well, Silas, it sucks to want now doesn’t it?”

“Please go away,” Silas tried. “Aren’t pregnant people supposed to be sleepy all the time?”

“Is that why you want a nap so badly,” Nik mocked. “You’re pregnant and want sleep as compensation?”

“No,” Silas sighed, and lifted his arm. “What do you want, Nik?”

“I want to be entertained, dumbass,” Nik said. “Be my dancing monkey. Please,” he added with a teasing smile.

“I don’t dance, nor am I a monkey, so I’m not sure how to help you there.”

Nik scoffed. “Of course you don’t dance you pasty white boy. You can make it up to me by connecting two neurons in that big head of yours and figuring out something that we can do. Do you swim or something? Surely even you can do that.”

“Unfortunately that might be beyond me,” Silas deadpanned. He was lying... mostly.

“Well,” Nik said, pulling his legs up to cross. “Your bones are hollow so that should help with the unfortunate drowning circumstance. Are you going to tell me you have no hobbies other than being a lackey.”

Silas grimaced at him. “Have you tried... looking up baby names or something?”

Nik opened and closed his mouth. “You know,” he said. “I have not. I think that might be the first useful thing you have ever told me, Silas.”

“Why don’t you go do that then?” Silas suggested. “You can probably ask Bay. I’m sure he’s got a baby name book somewhere.”

“That just defeats the purpose of me coming to bug you.”

“What was the purpose of annoying me, again?”

Nik mumbled irritably in Spanish. “For you to entertain me, stupid.”

“I gave you something to do,” Silas offered. “What more do you need? That’s entertaining enough, isn’t it?”

“By the stars, Silas. I don’t want to do solitary things by myself. When I said I wanted you to entertain me, I meant for you to keep me company and distracted enough I don’t have to have yet another person blow me off.”

Nik got up from the bed and decidedly stalked out of the room, slamming the bedroom door behind him. Silas counted to three, before heaving a very loud sigh, and shoved himself up to track down the hormonal omega before Nate or Bay gave him an earful for upsetting Nik.

He found Nik in the kitchen, rummaging through the fridge and muttering in Spanish still.

“Would you like me to find the book for you?” Silas offered, trying not to sound as annoyed as he was.

“What I want is to go home, back to where my boyfriends are where I’m not treated like some fucking inconvenience for you.” Nik kept rummaging angrily. “Do you bastards just not have any peppers?”

Silas grimaced. “You ate the last of them this morning.” After thinking about that, he added, “Do you... want to come with me to go buy some more?”

Nik looked at him irritably and a little suspiciously. “Did offering that very selfless suggestion burn on the way out?” Nik started for the doorway. “I’m driving, dickhead.”

“Yes it did,” Silas grouched, grabbing his keys from the counter. “Crash my car and Nate will kill both of us. And then Ash will do so again.”

“I am a great driver.” He yanked the keys out of his hand. “Do you know how many times I’ve driven while drunk off my ass and didn’t crash? You’ll be safe, you big baby.”

Silas glowered at him. “You are a bossy omega. Is this a pregnancy thing, or are you always like this?”

Nik scoffed. “You care to open a book or am I to be subjected to outdated stereotypes?”

“I can’t read,” Silas deadpanned again.

“Oh tell your sob story to someone who cares,” Nik snapped. “Neither can Adrien but you don’t see him making his dyslexia a core piece of his personality. Sometimes you can’t read and sometimes you can’t sit in a damn closet for a minute before you start to feel like you’re suffocating. Learn to get over it like the rest of us or go to therapy or something.”

Silas paused with the car door open. “I was kidding,” he said. “Didn’t mean to touch a sensitive subject. Sorry.”

Nik flinched slightly but just climbed in the front seat and slammed the door.

Silas got in slower. “I’m sure Ash would prefer you to get organic peppers. There’s a fancy store about twenty minutes from here. If you’re driving we could make it in fifteen.”

Nik hummed a little, starting the car and rolling down the windows. “I’m sure Cameron would too,” he replied. “That man has definitely skewed my palette with his very high standards. I don’t particularly care where we go as long as they got my peppers.”

Silas just set up the navigation on his phone, letting the tinny masculine voice direct Nik to the store.

Nik shot him and his phone an amused look but followed the directions to the store. He obeyed the rules of the road to a T and easily slid into the parking spot. “Come along, puppy, we’re here,” he said, sliding out of the car.

“You know, maybe I’d be more enthusiastic if you weren’t such a dick to me.” Silas followed anyway. “Lev seemed to imply we’d get along, but you’ve done nothing but antagonize me since the day you met me.”

“Not my fault you’re sensitive,” Nik replied. “If you didn’t react so easily I wouldn’t feel the need to dig in deeper. Besides, you have done nothing to prove to me that you have even the slightest inclination of ever wanting to be my friend so why should I bend over backwards to be yours.”

“Why should I try to be your friend when the first thing you ever said to me was a dig?” Silas shot back. “I’m not even giving back the energy you’re giving me at this point, I’m just- existing as your punching bag.”

“Then stop pussyfooting and do something about it,” Nik retorted. “You’re acting like a sad little puppy because Lev actually found someone to be happy with that isn’t you. I don’t believe that you have ever actually wanted to get along with me or be my friend. Why would you even want to?”

“This may shock you, but I was mopey before Lev got in a relationship with you. Oddly enough, I was still attached to my asshole of a father, and sometimes people take a while to finish grieving their parents, even the shitty ones.”

“My condolences on your loss,” Nik deadpanned. “I was five when my mom died so I guess I just don’t know the intricacies of parental deaths. I’ll be sure to be more accommodating in the future.”

“I’m just saying not everything is about Lev. Despite what Amara says, he’s not the center of the universe.” Silas grabbed a basket. “Yeah, I miss him, but I’d rather him be happy with you and Cameron than hiding in that stupid little house he bought himself.”

Nik didn’t say anything and started for the vegetables. He spent a solid few minutes surveying each pepper before adding each one to the basket. When it was full, Nik started back for the registers, still quiet.

Silas considered the situation, decided somehow he was in the wrong, and snagged a couple chocolate bars to add to the peppers. “Don’t tattle to Ash, and I won’t either,” he told Nik, pulling out his credit card before Nik could pay.

Nik flicked him a wary look but nodded slightly before scooping up the bag of food and waited for him to finish so they could walk to the car together.

Silas decided to give him space, and followed him right to the car. Byt that point, though, his need to say things won. “Do, uh. You want to go anywhere else?”

“Dunno,” Nik said, sliding into the car. He peered up at Silas. “I thought you wanted to take a nap though?”

“Perks of ADHD, I guess. I’m distracted from naptime now.”

“Hm.” Nik seemed to think on it for a few seconds before he looked back up at Silas. “Can we go to the beach? I haven’t been back for months and it’s September so it’s not going to be like this for much longer.”

“Sure,” Silas agreed easily. “You want to stop home and get trunks or you good getting sandy in your jeans?”

Nik looked down at his clothes, like he had nearly forgotten what he had been wearing in the first place. “Uh, yeah. Um. We should probably put the peppers away too. I also wanna grab that book… if that’s okay?”

“Sure,” Silas said again, shrugging. “I uh, can pack you some food to bring with us while you find the book?” At least Nik wasn’t snipping at him anymore.

“Yeah, that’s fine,” Nik said, getting situated in his seat before shutting the door. Nik fiddled with the radio while Silas got in. Nik seemed to go through a few radio channels before settling on one. The ride back, at least, wasn’t dead silent.

---

Cameron had spent the last several hours on the phone with many different hospitals and medical teams. He could not have Nik giving birth in Demonic territory- or angel territory… which left the humans. But the humans were also horribly inept at literally anything other than being an appetizer.

Which meant that Cameron had to create a team of doctors to do his bidding for him.

After hanging up with the last one, Cameron palmed his eyes and took a slow, deep breath. The migraine that had been building steadily over the last few days had been doing it’s damndest to not give him a moment of peace.

His vision had started to blur at the edges and Cameron had done his best to work through it. But it had been growing steadier and worse with each passing moment to the point he was seeing through pin-points of light.

The sound of Levant opening the door wasn’t that loud, but Cameron grimaced anyway. “Cameron? Ash was getting antsy with teaching me so I kind of might have told him I was going to ask you if you needed help with dinner, so- do you?”

“I do not need help with Dinner,” Cameron irritably replied.

Lev was quiet long enough Cameron was quite sure he was wringing his hands anxiously. “Can I help anyway? Not because you need it but- because I want something to do.”

“Yes, fine,” Cameron snapped. “Is there anything else you want?”

“Are you okay?” Lev finally said.

“I am fine. Just a migraine.”

There was a beat of silence, and then, “I’ll, um. Meet you in the kitchen?”

“Alright.”

Judging from the lack of a door clicking shut, Lev had made his escape without bothering to close it.

Cameron growled low in his throat and slowly slid out of his seat to start for the kitchen. It probably was most likely dinner time. He had the house nearly memorized to a T, but it was still rather disorienting making his way to the kitchen.

Cameron had barely made it into the kitchen before Lev said, “Are you sure you’re okay?”

Cameron held his hand along the edge of the kitchen island and made his way over to the sink. “I said I was.” He could sense the worry radiating off of Lev and it did nothing to improve his mood.

“Okay,” Lev said eventually. “What do you want me to do?”

Cameron raked a hand down his face. “Wash the vegetables. I’ll get everything else out.”

If nothing else, Levant was efficient. Cameron could hear him bustling around, humming half of a tune under his breath. He went about carefully feeling which pans and utensils to use and placed them on the counter. “Make sure they’re clean,” he then said, using the island to guide him to the refrigerator to grab the fresh meat he had meant prepared for today.

If it wasn’t the soft footsteps that told him Celeste was coming, then it was surely Ash’s large mouth complaining that made their entrance clear. “And like a coward, he just made up some stupid excuse about helping Cameron.”

He heard a soft, tired sigh, most likely from Celeste. “Hello, Levant,” she said, pointedly enough that it was clearly directed at Ash. “I am glad to see that you’re helping out around the house. Sometimes we need study breaks.”

Ash scoffed but said nothing.

“I like helping in the kitchen. I miss cooking sometimes,” Levant said.

“Ash enjoys cooking as well,” she replied. “I’m sure sometime he could give you some recipes.”

“Sure, if he actually gets through a single study session without some pisspoor excuse to take off,” Ash said irritably. Celeste sighed even deeper, but Cameron could imagine the apologetic glance she made at Lev.

“Sit down and shut up,” Cameron snapped.

There was a beat of silence before he heard everyone moving to their assigned seat. When he heard Lev moving, Cameron cut him a glare, ignoring the sharp pain. “Not you.”

“Oh.” Lev shuffled back to the sink. “Right. Sorry.”

“Is everything alright?” Celeste asked cautiously.

“It’s Cameron,” Ash said, annoyed. “Do you think he has ever been alright a single day in his life.”

“Ashwyn,” Celeste hissed.

“Alright, I’m sorry. Stars above.”

“You don’t sound sorry,” Lev mumbled as he scrubbed vegetables.

“That’s because I wasn’t,” Ash muttered.

He heard a thud and knew that Celeste had smacked him upside the head. He was sure the only reason Ash didn’t say anything else was out of sheer preservation not only for his life, but for his marriage as well.

But he could still feel Celeste eying him, analyzing him the way healers did. He turned his back to her and went back to prepping the food. He had but a few moments of silence before he heard her footsteps approaching him. “I told you to sit down,” he said, irritably.

“The only person I answer to is myself,” she retorted. “Anything you tell me to do, I take as a suggestion.”

He growled when her delicate fingers curled around his wrist, trying to get a better look at him. When he didn’t budge, she said, “What are you hiding?”

That seemed to pull Ash’s keen attention their way- Lev’s as well.

“Sit down before I sit you down myself,” Cameron said, coldly.

Celeste seemed unfazed. “If I wanted to be bullied by a centuries old man I would have sought out Michael. Now turn around.” When Cameron didn’t move, Celeste’s quietness seemed to take on a contemplative edge. “I suppose I could ask Sazra her opinions instead?”

Cameron turned to face her, forcibly removing her hand from his arm, snapping her wrist back just enough to not break the bones. “I said sit down. There is nothing wrong that I cannot handle myself.”

“Just like you handle being severely underweight?” she said, callously enough, he heard Ash suck in a breath. “Or how about how you have hid yourself away in your office because the lights are too bright and the sounds are too loud and because you cannot cope with anything else you work yourself into the ground. I would wager that you cannot handle anything yourself.”

Cameron spent a split second heavily debating snapping her neck. He felt the warmth of her magic under his hand, burning him to the point he let go. “I think you need to sit down before you wear out your welcome.”

“You can’t see, can you?”

“I can see just fine.”

“How many fingers am I holding up?”

“Seven,” he deadpanned.

“Incorrect. You need to go lie down.”

“Your entire family irritates the hell out of me.”

“I am aware of Ash’s abrasive personality,” she replied. “However I am correct. Overworking yourself like you have been is taking its toll on your body.”

“I can finish dinner,” Levant offered quietly. “And bring you some tea and something to eat later. That way you don’t have to be in here when Eden’s ready for dinner.”

“I can finish it myself,” Cameron snapped.

“Will you stop being such a raging pain in the ass,” Ash said. “Your attitude is making everyone else as miserable as you are. Just go lie down so I don’t have to go into your creepy basement and get your creepy demon healer.”

“Sazra isn’t creepy,” Lev muttered pointedly.

“The lack of pupils and claws suggest otherwise.”

“Sazra does not need to be disrupted in her studies to deal with a migraine.”

“Stars above, you pretentious, autocratic bastard. Just go do it and stop wasting everyone’s time,” Ash said. “We get it, you’re too much of a control freak to let anyone else help you. But if you’re not going to help yourself then I guess we have to resort to other methods.”

“Ash,” Lev said, his tone even more pointed.

“You going to tell me I’m wrong?” Ash said. “Your alpha is standing in your kitchen, trying to cook blind and emaciated. You all are more concerned with holding his hand than making sure he doesn’t destroy his eyesight. But sure, I’m the one out of line.”

“Your attitude isn’t helping,” Lev said simply. Not that that stopped him from adding to Cameron, “Please go lay down. Or at least sit in your office? I know you can finish dinner, but arguing is only going to make your headache worse, and I can cook well enough for tonight. I know you have your schedules, but- it’ll be more messed up if your migraine gets worse.”

“Fine,” Cameron said. “I’ll be in my office. The kitchen better be spotless when you’re finished.”

Cameron made his way back to his office and locked the door behind him. He settled in his chair behind his desk and put his head on his arms. He was going to make that annoying ginger regret the day he was born.

---

By the time Nik came to visit for the weekend, the whole mood of the house had been affected by Cameron’s migraines. At least he could see again, but Lev still found himself stepping in often. As much as it certainly frustrated Cameron, Lev was relieved he could actually be of help for once.

Nik’s arrival was a welcome distraction to Cameron’s brooding and Ash’s crankiness, though. As soon as Nik walked in the door Lev wrapped his arms around him, burying his face in Nik’s neck.

“Well, glad to see you too, Princess.”

Lev huffed against his neck, backing up while keeping ahold of Nik so Nate had room to come inside. He gave Nik a critical once over, before cupping Nik’s face and kissing his nose. “I missed you,” he said simply.

“Missed you too,” Nik replied, wrinkling his nose. “Nate’s house is boring.”

“Is it boring or is it stable,” Nate said, giving his brother an exasperated look.

“Boring. Very boring.”

Lev gave Nik a solemn nod. “Is bullying Silas getting old?” He asked dryly.

“It’s no fun if he just takes it,” Nik complained. “Just acts like a kicked puppy. More pathetic than anything else.”

“Then maybe you should leave him alone,” Lev said, poking Nik’s nose before sliding his arm around his mate. “I hope it’s boring here this weekend, though. Cameron’s headaches are still... lingering. I guess.”

“Quite possibly because Cameron is a headache,” Nate mumbled, starting down the hallway towards Nik’s bedroom.

Nik frowned at his brother’s back. “I mean he’s not wrong, but I also kinda feel attacked on Cameron’s behalf.”

After debating his response, Lev settled on the more diplomatic, “I’m hoping to keep tensions and crankiness to a minimum this weekend.”

Nate seemed to offer no words, as they followed after him, but Nik said, “You literally just described 98% of Cameron’s personality, Lev, I don’t know what else to tell you.”

Lev sighed. “I think we have time to get your stuff settled before Eden realizes you’re home. Celeste was keeping an eye on her while Dakota naps.”

“Can’t wait for our regularly scheduled screaming from our one year old.”

Lev didn’t really have much to say about that. He couldn’t even apologize. In the end he made some noncommittal noise and nudged Nik into the bedroom after Nate. “I’ve got to help Cameron make dinner tonight but we’ve got a little bit before then.”

There was a beat of silence while Nate went to unpack Nik’s clothes. Nik seemed unable to keep quiet for too long, though. “Is Ash still being a melodramatic dickhead or has he actually learned any tact since the last time I spoke to him? You know what, nevermind. I’m sure Celeste smacked some common sense upside his head.”

Nate snorted softly, but offered no input.

“Ash is still a bit cranky, but that’s understandable,” Lev allowed. “Are you staying for dinner, Nate?”

Nate finished carefully placing the folded shirts on the bed before facing them with amusement etched on his face. “Sure,” he said, after a beat. When Nik snorted, Nate gave his brother a look. “What?”

“Nothing,” Nik replied, holding up his hands.

Lev bit down on his shoulder, before smiling hesitantly at Nate. “Let's go see Eden before I have to help in the kitchen.”

Nate seemed rather pleased with the idea, though Nik snorted once more. “I’m sure she misses me,” he said, confidently, starting for the nursery.

Lev held back, falling in step with Nate as Nik forged on down the hall. “How has he been?” Lev asked hesitantly.

“It’s been fine,” Nate replied. “Nik has been kept out of trouble, for the most part, and my mate has been hard at work like always. Lucas is doing well, too. He’s sitting on his own.”

“He must be getting big,” Lev said, trying to keep the twinge of sadness from reaching his tone. Even if he hadn’t been exiled, he had no real claim to seeing Lucas. He was the king’s son, after all. Lev chalked it up to his own constantly simmering baby fever, and added with a touch of enthusiasm, “Soon he’ll be crawling around. I know Eden gave Cameron a lot of stress when she started.”

Nate was quiet for a bit. “Soon,” he said, eventually. “Though, I do imagine there will be some difficulties.”

Lev also let the silence stretch, unsure of what to say as he remembered that Lucas had been born missing part of one leg. “Right,” he said guiltily. “I’m- I’m sorry. I really don’t know what to say.”

“It’ll be fine,” Nate said. “We have the resources to make sure Lucas is well taken care of. Plus there’s Ash and his big head- I’m sure he’ll take it as a personal failure on his part if Lucas isn’t.”

“Of course,” Lev was quick to reassure. “From what I remember, Lucas was- is? A very bright and happy baby.”

A fond smile curled on Nate’s lips. “He is,” he said. “I think he will be just fine. His father is a very resilient man, and I’m sure Lucas will take after that- hopefully with a bit more optimism, though.”

“With you as a role model I don’t see how he wouldn’t pick up on some optimism,” Lev said, stepping aside so Nate could enter the nursery first.

They found Nik leaning over the crib blowing raspberries at Eden, who was sitting up, chewing on her latest stuffed victim. Nate seemed rather amused to see what new stuffed animal it was that Eden was destroying. “Glad to see not much has changed.”

“If I didn’t know she’d be deeply upset to not have one, I’d not give her any stuffed animals,” Lev said sadly. “They never seem to last long. Surely even Cameron’s endless supply of money can’t replace them forever.”

A frown tugged at Nate’s mouth. “Well we wouldn’t want to disrupt her brutal assault on her stuffed animals.”

“She takes after me,” Nik said, proudly.

Nate’s frown deepened. “Nikolas, you have never chewed through a stuffed animal in your life.”

Nik pointed at him. “You don’t know that. I very well could change that easily, if I so chose.”

“I am absolutely sure you would,” Nate said, “if only to prove a point.”

“Let’s not give him ideas,” Lev suggested, before looking to Celeste. “Thank you for watching her,” he said sheepishly. “Will you be alright with them while I go help with dinner?”

Celeste was watching Eden with small, mild horror at Eden fully decapitating the stuffed bear. Though her expression shifted into a fatalistic acceptance with a small sigh. “I am sure everything will be quite alright,” she replied, turning to face them. “If I can handle Ash in one of his moods I can handle a one year old ripping through a stuffed bear with her teeth.”

“Nate and Nik are here to help now,” Lev said, trying not to be too worried. “And dinner shouldn’t be too long. I’m not letting Cameron plan seven courses for us.”

Celeste rose a brow at Lev’s tone, likely reading the worry he tried to suppress. “Well I’m sure I’ll appreciate the help.”

Nik leaned over the crib and poked her nose. “Hi baby.”

When Nik went in to pick her up, Nate moved faster. “Here, let me help.” He hoisted her out of the crib and put Eden in Nik’s arms, ignoring the poisonous look he was giving Nate.

“Thanks,” Nik deadpanned.

Lev surveyed the room, and found himself pleased that Nik was being herded to a rocking chair to sit. Deeming that good enough, he ducked out of the nursery. It didn’t take him long to make it to the kitchen. Ash was there, trying to feed Dakota. Judging by the silence, the pot on the stove, and the pointed look Cameron angled in Ash’s direction, there’d been more than a few sharp words exchanged over how the bottle got made and ended up in the baby’s mouth.

“I’m here to help with dinner,” Lev said, hoping his tone left little room for argument.

Cameron’s glare moved from Ash to Lev. “Wash the vegetables.”

“Okay,” Lev said, keeping his voice deliberately cheerful. “Nate is here, Ash. He and Nik are keeping Eden entertained while dinner is getting ready.” He got right to work, but added to Cameron, “I told Nate he could stay for dinner.”

“Of course you did,” Cameron said, ignoring Ash’s snort. “I will make sure there is enough for all of us.”

“I figured it wouldn’t be a problem. We have plenty of food.” Lev set the vegetables on the cutting board and reached for a knife without being prompted. “Your kitchen is practically a grocery store in itself.”

Cameron seemed to ignore the observation and moved to wash his hands and prepare the rest of the meal. He didn’t seem to find any problem with Lev’s skill and stayed silent as he began to prepare the chicken for the enchiladas.

Lev handed the vegetables over as soon as they were done, neatly organized for Cameron’s sanity. “We still have sour cream, right?” Lev asked, when the silence stretched too long.

“We should,” Cameron replied.

Ash said, “Does your house ever not feel awkward?”

“Only when unwanted guests aren’t here,” Cameron said, moving to look over the vegetables.

“It's a little awkward sometimes,” Lev said, before he could think it through. He glanced at Cameron apologetically, but then added, “Though I can’t speak for when I’m not here. I’m not exactly a suave person. Cameron’s just quiet and I don’t like... quiet, and Nik’s not here to chatter for me.”

Cameron seemed to frown, but didn’t say anything. Ash seemed amused, though, and said, “Cameron? Quiet? Or is it Cameron just doesn’t like anyone in the kitchen with him?” He carefully put the baby bottle on the counter and rested Dakota on his shoulder when he started to get fussy.

“I think Cameron doesn’t like you in here, but that’s no reason to poke at him for it.” Lev did his best not to sound... prim, but he could hear it anyway as he added, “It doesn’t help the levels of animosity in this house at all.”

“I have no idea what you are referring to,” Ash said, rubbing his baby’s back.

“I’m not an idiot, Ash, and neither are you.” Lev sighed. “It’s not helping anyone’s stress levels. And I know you don’t care if the rest of us are cranky, yourself included, but Nik’s going to pick up on it. He’s good at that.”

Color rose in Ash’s cheeks, but only kept his focus on Dakota’s growing fussiness. He carefully got up from the stool and walked out of the kitchen, likely going to check his diaper.

As soon as Ash was out of earshot, Lev stepped closer to Cameron, hovering just close enough to take a very deliberate sniff. He avoided making eye contact, and instead watched Cameron's every move. “How’s your headache,” he finally asked, because Cameron was too good at keeping pain out of his movements and scent.

“It’s fine.”

“Did you eat the snack I brought earlier?” Lev pressed anyway.

Cameron was placing the shredded meat in the sizzling skillet to cook. “No.”

“You should be eating more,” Lev said, frowning deeply. “I don’t think it’s just stress giving you migraines.”

Cameron promptly ignored him and began skillfully applying spices to the meat. Silence stretched long enough, Lev was sure he wasn’t going to get a response.

“I’m worried about you,” Lev tried quietly. “You’re really thin, and with these headaches- I’m just worried, is all.”

“I’m fine,” Cameron repeated, flipping over the meat and applying more seasoning. “We’re having dinner in less than an hour.”

“I know. But you don’t eat enough even then.” Lev frowned deeper. “I know I sound like a broken record. But you need to take care of yourself like you take care of the rest of us.”

“I do take care of myself,” Cameron replied, flicking him a warning look.

“It doesn’t look like it,” Lev said, holding the warning look levelly. Even so, he held his hands up in surrender and turned away to gather the other supplies Cameron needed for dinner.

---

It was five minutes past six in the morning when Cameron flicked on the bedroom lights. Darius was still winding around Cameron’s ankles, purring, when he said, “Get up, now.” He moved to the closet and selected five days worth of outfits for Lev so he would at least have different clothes with him when Cameron shut him in the south end of the house for the next week.

Lev was sitting up slowly; it was obvious he wasn’t fully awake, even as he reached for a squawking Eden, who did not appreciate the lights being on. “Is- izit morning?” Lev managed between yawns.

“I’m moving you and the others to the other side of the house for the next week,” Cameron replied, already moving for the door where Darius was chirping for him. He still was not fond of Darius’ demonic form being a cat of all things, but he supposed it could be worse… he guessed.

Cameron didn’t wait for Lev to ply him with even more useless questions and started for the other end of his rather large, expansive house to set up Levant’s room. He had the clothes put away in the closet by the time Lev and Eden graced them with their presence.

“What's going on?” Lev asked, setting Eden down on the bed and offering her a new stuffed animal to decapitate. “Is everything-” He broke off for another yawn, “Okay?”

“It’s fine,” Cameron said. “I’ll bring you both food at the regular times. If you leave the room, stay in the south end of the house. If I smell you I will lock you in the room and you can be trapped with the teething baby.” He frowned Eden eyeing him, as if she were tempting to test the boundaries of his warning.

“What’s going on?” Lev repeated, finally sounding somewhat coherent. Per usual, a frown of worry was wrinkling his forehead.

Cameron didn’t bother replying before shutting the door behind him, Darius still on his heel.

He detoured to the kitchen to get a pitcher of ice water before starting his way for the rooms Ash had demanded his way into. Not bothering to knock, Cameron went in and turned on the lights. Celeste instantly woke up, but Ash, as Cameron expected, was still dead to the world and asleep on his stomach.

Celeste blinked blearily at him, a concerned frown etched on her face as she looked between Darius and Cameron who was moving towards their bed. She had opened and then promptly shut her mouth when Cameron dumped the entire pitcher of water on Ash’s head.

Celeste ushered closer to the edge of the bed while Ash thrashed awake. “What the absolute hell,” Ash rasped, sitting up in the bed, trying to pull the long, red damp locks away from his face. “Are you incapable of any form of civility or manners?”

“About as capable as you are, I’m sure,” Cameron said. “You all are moving to the south end of the house.”

“And why, pray tell, would I do that?” Ash snapped. “I do not take orders from you.”

Celeste chided at him, before scooting out of the bed. “Of course,” she said, moving over to the crib where she carefully picked up the babe that was still asleep. “Is everything alright?”

“You have ten minutes to get your belongings,” Cameron said, flicking a quick look at his watch and then down at Darius rubbing up against his leg. There was going to be cat fur on his slacks and he wasn’t happy about it.

“I will bring you meals at their appropriate times, if you need anything else,” Cameron said, “you can send me a message and I will bring you what you need.”

“Cool,” Ash said, “I’m still not going.” He rubbed his nose and sneezed. Ash’s irritable frown deepened even more. “Is there a damned cat in here?”

A small meow came from Darius who was sitting on the floor, licking one of his paws. Ash’ growled and flung his legs over the side of the bed. “Stars above,” Ash said. “You can’t just annoy me like a regular person, you have to get a cat involved? That’s just lazy.”

“All the more reason to move to the other end of the house, or better yet: Leave.”

“I can’t leave,” Ash said, crossly.

“Nikolas hasn’t been in this house for the last two days,” Cameron said, flatly. “At this point the only reason you are here is to annoy me.”

“Incorrect. I am here to annoy you and to make sure you don’t starve yourself to death and to help Nik.”

“Two of those things are already being done by Lev,” Cameron retorted.

“Clearly not well enough.”

“Nine minutes,” Cameron said, flicking Celeste a warning look before leaving the room.

He spent the next five days with Darius in his demonic form for nearly the entire time, curled up against him, purring in some way. The others managed to follow the simple rules, sticking to the southern wing of the house without issue while Darius napped through his heat. Cameron was rather pleased that Darius seemed to prefer his heats while in his demonic form, much to the same way Cameron preferred his ruts. It kept things simple. Though Lev was sure to be pleased that Cameron had been forced to rest while Darius laid claim to his lap.

At the end of the week Cameron found himself placing a cup of tea in front of Darius, who was now sitting rather properly at the counter in comfortable silence. He carefully watched Darius bring the cup to his lips to make sure he didn't end up heaving all over his countertops. When he didn’t, Cameron relaxed.

“Are you going to let the others know they can come out?” Darius’ voice, though rusty, was stronger now that his heat had passed, and strength returned to his limbs somewhat.

“No,” Cameron said. “Not yet. I haven’t had to hear Ash’s irritating voice in the last five days. I’m curious to see how long I can keep him locked away so I don’t have to deal with him.”

“Hm.”

Cameron raised a brow and frowned at him. “What.”

Darius splayed his long, brown fingers along the countertops. “I suppose the other option is to see if he just comes out himself,” Darius mused. “He has to be aware that five days have past.”

“That is if he can find the door,” Cameron replied, moving to the counter where he had prepared fresh foods to begin cooking everyone’s lunch.

tagging:  @incandescent-creativity @solangelo3088 @lil-miss-red @halstudies @littleyellowdinosaur @caelisis @idreamonpaper

[kurt-nightcrawler]

And I figured out we’re dating in this Chili’s tonight

𝐖𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐧 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐱 𝐌𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞! 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫

Request: Mother Nature and warren have my whole ass HEART!!!!! I loved flower so much. I know you’re gonna write lil dates one day I wonder if you’ll write something of how they officially got together?? Like who asked who to be each other’s girlf/boyf . Would be so cute I know you’re busy but either way all your fics are *chefs kiss* —(I think this was from an anon!)

Blurb: Mother Nature and Warren are officially dating! They figured it out!

Warnings: some language and mentions of sex

Word Count: 7.6k

A/N: the timeline is kind of all over. This is set before Decay but I posted it way after! Anyway! Enjoy!

Warren was on Instagram as Scott explained the plot of Fast and The Furious 7 to Jean. 

“It’s not good— but my dad loves them— mostly for the cars— but it’s supposed to be the last movie in the franchise. I think…” 

Warren rarely posted— on his story and his main page— but he looked at what his friends were up to. 

He tapped on (Y/N)’s profile icon to view her story— the highlight of his lunch period. She wasn’t around for the time being— she had mentioned a test she was retaking, which made Warren sad. He wouldn’t get to sit next to her and share whatever fruit she grew for lunch, but he also wanted her to do well and get good grades. 

(Y/N) had posted a photo of a movie poster with the caption, “OHMYGOD!! ” followed by a blue and yellow shocked face emoji and a heart-eyed emoji. The movie poster in question was for the animated Addams Family movie. 

“Is there a new Addams family movie coming out?” Warren asked. 

“Yeah, (Y/N) watched the latest trailer during class. She’s really excited about it,” Jean told him.

Warren felt himself get shaky with nerves and excitement. He could ask her to go see it with him. Just him. Not with the whole group, or Jubilee third-wheeling, or Jean and Scott with them, making out in the seat next to them. 

Wait. 

Am I going to ask her on a date? Is that what this is? A date? 

“You good?” Scott asked.

“What?” Warren glanced at him. “Oh, yeah… Yeah, I’m good.” 

“Okay.”

Warren went back to his phone, pressing reply to (Y/N)’s story post about the Addams Family movie coming out. 

He started to type out a message. 

“Hey. Would you want to see this together when it comes out? We could also go out for dinner?” Warren then promptly deleted the entire message. 

No, no. That makes me sound like a lonely middle-aged mom. He thought to himself.

“I think it was fine!”

“Ah!” Warren flinched. “Did you read my mind, Jean?” 

“No…” Jean denied.

Warren frowned. 

“I was curious as to what you were doing, and you were really nervous and your thoughts are loud anyway.” 

“What?” Scott asked. 

“Warren’s trying to ask (Y/N) out on a date to the movies,” Jean explained.

“It’s not a date!” Warren tried to defend.

“When is it ever going to be a date?” Scott asked. “It wasn’t a date when she slept over in your room and you watched Phineas and Ferb and ordered pizza. It wasn’t a date when you spent three hours at the library studying together. It wasn’t a date when you spent the afternoon together and she told you her secret brownie recipe! When is it ever going to be a date?”

“I… I don’t… Those were not dates...” 

“They kind of were,” Jean admitted. “That’s what people do on dates. Scott and I do stuff like that all the time…” 

Warren blinked. 

“You’ve dated people before, right?” Scott asked him.

“I mean “date” is a loose term but, yeah…” 

 Scott decided he didn’t have time to unpack that sentence. “Okay. What did you do with them to like, spend time together, and stuff?”

“We mostly just got drunk and hooked up…” 

Scott sighed, “You sound like my brother after he got out of jail.” 

“Warren, have… you… never been on a real date before?” Jean asked.

“Well, um, I mean, my last “girlfriend” and I went to clubs and stuff in Germany, but we’d usually go with some friends…” He admitted.   

“Oh my god…” Scott mumbled.

Warren panicked. “Wait, did— Did (Y/N) think we were dating this whole time?” 

“I don’t know,” Jean shrugged.

“Everyone else thought you guys were,” Scott muttered. 

“So we’ve been dating this whole time?” 

“I mean, kind of…” 

Warren paled. He had no idea what to do. Were they dating? Were they not dating? What was he supposed to do as a boyfriend? Or not a boyfriend? 

“Just ask her, ‘what are we?’ That should clear things up.” 

Warren gawked at Scott. “What are we? That’s the cliche that makes guys run for the hills! I can’t ask her that!”

“(Y/N)’s reasonable,” Jean reminded him. “If you ask her that, she won’t run away.” 

Warren didn’t say anything back. 

“Just ask her what you were originally going to say on Instagram.”

Warren whined. 

“Do it now.” Jean advised. “Before Jubilee makes plans to see the movie with her.” 

Warren paled at the possibility of (Y/N) not being available. He quickly typed out another message and sent it. 

“Oh my god! Oh my god, I just did that! Hhhhh…” Warren quickly threw his phone on the table and refused to look at it. 

Jean chuckled and rolled her eyes, taking his phone to see if (Y/N) replied.

—

(Y/N) finished her test early and decided to check up on some of the plants in the attic greenhouse before her next class. 

She had been focusing on a baby caladium, making sure it had plenty of sun and water and was growing at a healthy pace. 

(Y/N) named it, Warren Worthington IV, but she told no one and would take that piece of information to the grave.  

 As she was poking Warren the Fourth’s soil to see if it needed water for the day, she felt her phone vibrate against her thigh in her pocket. 

She pulled it out to see that Warren— the Third— had replied to her Instagram story. Her eyes turned pink just by reading his name on her phone screen.  

“Do you want to see this together Friday night? We could go to Chili’s before and get dinner?”

(Y/N) read the message over at least ten times. Dinner and a movie? Was Warren asking her on a date? 

Her eyes were orange in confusion and purple due to nerves. 

She took a few minutes but finally responded with, “Yeah! There’s a showing on Friday at 9 at the theatre by the mall. Does that work?” 

Warren immediately hearted the message and said, “Yeah :)” 

(Y/N) hearted his message. Excited and a bit nervous for Friday, she left the attic and headed to her next class. 

—

(Y/N) ignored any work she had after class and immediately went through her closet, rummaging for clothes.

“Whatcha doing?” Ororo asked, setting her books on her bed. 

“You’ve been on plenty of not date dates,” (Y/N) began. Ororo gave her a curious look. “What would you wear?”

“Are you going out on a date?” Ororo asked. 

“Well, not exactly…” (Y/N) confessed. 

Ororo smirked as she opened her notebook and started working on an assignment, “Is it with Warren?”

“Who else would it be?” (Y/N) asked.

“I don’t know… Dylan from math class? Ruby from my yoga class? The handful of people from Bayville you’ve kissed at house parties before you even knew Warren? There are options.”

(Y/N) was not amused. 

“Are you and Warren going out on a date? Or is this a ‘we’re just hanging out… alone together… but just as friends! Because we are friends! Who like each other very romantically! But we refuse to do anything about it!’”

(Y/N) sighed. “Okay, so he didn’t explicitly say it was a date, but we’re seeing the new Addams Family movie and going to Chili’s.” 

Ororo blinked in shock, Warren asked (Y/N) to see a movie about one of her favorite franchises and go to one of her favorite go-to restaurants, and he didn’t clarify if it was a date or not? 

What a dumbass, Ororo mused, tearing herself away from her work to go on her phone.

 Ororo

Are you and (Y/N) going on a date?

 No response. 

Ororo went back to her homework, glancing at (Y/N) every so often to give feedback on the numerous items she pulled out of her closet. 

“Is a dress too much?” 

“Definitely,” Ororo stated without looking up. “I’ve only worn a dress twice since I came here and one I borrowed from Jubilee.” 

(Y/N) sighed and kept looking for options. Ororo’s phone screen lit up, and she quickly grabbed it, checking to see if Warren responded.

 Warren

I think so???

 Ororo

What do you mean? “i tHiNk So” 

 Warren

*not amused emoji* 

I’m not sure if we’re dating or not. We were gonna talk about it at dinner.

 “Are you and Warren dating?” Ororo asked. 

(Y/N) froze at the question, unsure what to say. “I mean… no… but like, we like each other— or I like him. I think he likes me. Sometimes I’m not really sure—”

“—(Y/N),” Ororo interrupted. “He likes you a lot. Assume this is a date.” 

“Assume— What?” (Y/N) gaped.   

Ororo looked at her phone again, seeing five text messages from Warren in panic, asking why she didn’t respond.

 Ororo

Calm down!

You should thank me

 Warren

Ro…

What did you do?...

 Ororo

You have to trust me… ;)

 Warren

*Not amused emoji*

 Ororo left Warren on read and continued her assignment. Until someone barged into the room, unexpected.

Jubilee came in, bubbling with enthusiasm. “I heard from Jean! Oh my god, I have to help you pick out an outfit! This is huge!” 

“It’s not a date…” (Y/N) awkwardly tried to explain.

“Oh, no— it definitely is!” 

Ororo and (Y/N) were both confused. 

“We all know Warren is a little… emotionally hesitant…” Juilee carefully stated. “But like, if it was anyone else they would have literally said, “Wanna go on a date with me and see The Addams Family?” Warren’s just scared you’d say no— which you’d never do.” 

“Is he— I thought he knew I liked him?”

“He’s a guy,” Jubilee explained as she looked in (Y/N)’s closet for something she could wear. “They never know what they’re doing.”

(Y/N) sat on the floor, with more questions than answers from everything Jubilee had said.

“This would be perfect!” It was a black skater skirt. “Skirts are your best friend in times like these.” 

“Huh?” 

“Incase anything happens… Duh!” Jubilee stated it like it was the most obvious thing in the world. (Y/N) didn’t respond, causing Jubilee to groan. 

“From That 70s Show? Skirts are your best friend for sex. Zip, zip, bim, bam! You’re done, you’re dressed, you’re back to whatever you were doing. Nobody suspects a thing!” 

“Jubilee, they’re seeing a kids movie, not having sex,” Ororo told her.

“Hmm…” Jubilee crossed her arms. “You should still wear the skirt. You look really pretty in it anyway.” 

(Y/N) sat there, eyes wide and purple, mind reeling, trying to process what Jubilee said.

“We’re… We’re not going to have sex, are we? I’m not— I don’t think— I don’t even know if we’re dating or not!” 

“Hey, hey— Jubilee’s just messing around.” Ororo moved from her bed to sit next to (Y/N) and rub her back. “She’s just used to Scott and Jean’s shenanigans. Plus, Warren’s a good guy! He won’t pressure you into doing anything you don’t want to and he’s too nervous to do anything like that anyway.”

 “Warren’s like, obsessed with you, in a good way. And if he doesn’t respect your boundaries I can snap his neck for you.” Jubilee innocently smiled and batted her eyes. 

“Thanks… Do you think my soft dark green sweater would look good with the skirt?”

  “Oh my god yes!” Jubilee grabbed it out of the closet and set it on (Y/N)’s bed. “And with your Doc Martens? Goth little plant goddess vibes. I love it.”

“You think I’ll be warm enough? Should I bring a jacket?” (Y/N) checked the weather on her phone. 

“You should be fine! Besides, if you’re cold…” Jubilee smirked. “You can always cuddle with Warren in the movie theatre.” 

Ororo smiled and rolled her eyes, while (Y/N) decided to humor her, “I’ll keep it in mind.” 

—

Friday couldn’t come soon enough— Warren kept thinking about how (Y/N) said, “Yes.” And about what might happen, how he would bring up the question that would change everything. He was distracted during training, nervous, and lost in thought. He constantly talked about his weekend plans with some of their friends. 

Some found it annoying at first, but most had never seen Warren so passionate about something before. It was sweet.

“I dunno, I just want things to go well. But what if I make things awkward? I say or do something really stupid? What if I spill my drink all over my crotch and then it looks like I peed myself?”

“That’s not going to happen,” Ororo reassured him. 

“What if our server flirts with her?”

“Just glare at them. You’re scary enough.” 

Warren sighed, wishing time moved as fast for him as it did for Peter.

“Just be yourself and have a good time. Open doors for her, tell her she’s beautiful, if she’s cold give her your jacket, walk her back to her dorm room— things like that.” Ororo told him. “Those will make it obvious that it’s a date. Because you guys do date activities all the time, and you refuse to admit it’s a date.” 

Warren huffed at her. Ororo stuck out her tongue.  

—

It was Friday.

(Y/N) had been antsy in all of her classes, just wanting them to end so she could get ready for the night. 

She had her outfit picked out and ready. (Y/N) planned on light makeup— a little eyeshadow and lipgloss— and she had a small little purse packed with a few things. 

 (Y/N) started to doubt herself. “Maybe a skirt is too much… It’s dinner and a movie… Maybe I should just wear jeans…”  

She huffed as she held the skirt up to her waist. “But I wanna look cute… Screw it!” 

(Y/N) slipped the skirt and sweater on, doing a french tuck, and then started to apply makeup. She was done in under thirty minutes, and then looked over her hair in the mirror, trying to hastily pluck out leaves and shove flowers into different areas of her head and strategically place them under specific sections. 

Once (Y/N) was satisfied with how she looked, she checked the time. It was 5:30, and (Y/N) and Warren weren’t leaving until six. So she had time to just sit around and wait.

(Y/N) pulled her phone out and opened Snapchat, choosing to take at least a hundred selfies with different filters. 

Holding her phone from different angles, making different faces, posing in slightly different positions, and choosing a new filter every five photos, almost like a mini-photoshoot in the palm of her hand. Some selfies got posted to her Snapchat story, others were sent to Jubilee and Ororo, and the remainder were saved but would probably never see the light of day. She huffed and tapped through people’s Snapchat stories to kill more time.

Warren asked Jubilee for help. 

Well, he didn’t exactly ask, she just texted him, “I’m helping you get ready.” And he thanked her. 

“One of the hottest things a guy can do is have good hygiene. You, surprisingly, already have accomplished that—”

“Hey!” Warren frowned as he pulled his leather jacket out from his closet. “Did you, like, think I didn’t?”

“No! I’m just surprised you know what exfoliate means… Do you have a different jacket? That one is cute and everything, but it’s a bit much.” 

“It’s the easiest one I can get my wings out of,” Warren explained while slipping on a black shirt.

“Why? Also, do you only wear black?” Jubilee complained.

“In case (Y/N) gets cold…? Also, no, I have that one yellow sweater you made me get and some white shirts.” Warren defended.

Jubilee almost scoffed, “(Y/N)’s not going to get cold. You’re going out to eat and the movies.”

“Well, Ororo said I should give her my jacket in case she is cold.” 

“Fair enough,” Jubilee mumbled. “I was supposed to hang out with Ororo tonight… We were going to make Tiktoks and watch Wonder Woman.”

“I thought she went stargazing with Kurt?” Warren asked as he laced up his boots. 

“Yeah! And they didn’t invite me!” Jubilee flopped onto Kurt’s empty bed and huffed.

“Jubilee— I don’t think—”

“I’m a fucking delight to be around!” 

Warren’s eyes widened, “I didn’t say you weren’t.” 

“It sucks because Kurt’s got the accent, he can sword fight, he likes movies but hates Tarantino, he’s respectful, god and he’s just as hot as Ororo.” 

“Um…” Warren furrowed his brows. “Do you think, maybe— maybe uh, Ororo thinks you like Kurt?” 

Jubilee looked at him with a deadpan expression. Warren panicked, thinking he said the wrong thing. 

“I like both of them, Bird brain! It’s the fact they haven’t expressed liking me at all and probably don’t want that. Also like half of the girls at Bayville think Kurt’s hot and try to kiss him at house parties.” 

“Oh…” Warren hadn’t considered that. “Um… I uh, I had a threesome once—” 

“Oh my god! Stop!” Jubilee cringed. “I don’t wanna hear about that right now! Go get your girlfriend, and like, yawn, and stretch your arm out over her while Gomez confesses his undying love for Morticia for the millionth time.” 

“Okay, okay.” Warren grabbed his phone and wallet. “Don’t spend all night in here,” He advised, leaving Jubilee alone in his room. 

—

Warren sent (Y/N) a text, asking if she was ready. She said yes, and asked him to meet her in the common room area. 

Warren found her sitting in a lounge chair, talking to a student. (Y/N) turned her head and saw Warren. She got up and smiled, bid the other person goodbye, and then walked over to Warren. 

“Hey!” She greeted him. 

“Uh, hey.” Warren tried to discreetly check her out. She looked nice. “You look really nice.” 

“Oh, uh, thanks.” (Y/N)’s pink eyes shifted to a slightly purple hue. “You do too.”   

“Thanks… Are you ready to go?” 

(Y/N) nodded, “Yeah. What car are we taking?”

“Um…” Warren realized he didn’t decide on which one of Xavier’s numerous cars he was taking out for the night. Not that it mattered, but he was a bit frustrated with himself on that one. 

“I don’t know…” 

(Y/N) snickered to herself. “That’s fine. It doesn’t matter. Jubilee and I do have a rule though.” 

“What is it?” 

“Whatever car Scott and Jean took last, don’t even touch it.” 

Warren blinked, “I don’t get it.” 

(Y/N)’s eyes turned purple completely. 

“Um, uh, it’s cause um— it’s not... clean...”

“Oh…” Suddenly, everything connected in Warren’s mind.  

“Oh!”       

(Y/N) nodded, “Yeah...” 

“Scott likes the Oldsmobile rocket. Maybe we should avoid that one…”

“Yeah. Yeah…”

They picked a different car. Warren didn’t get a chance to open the door for (Y/N), but he told himself the night had only just begun, and he’d get another chance. 

 “Want me to play some music?” (Y/N) asked.

“Sure! Play whatever you want.”

“You don’t have a preference or anything…?” She questioned, while her thumb hovered over the play button of a playlist. 

“Not really… Besides, I can pick next time.” 

(Y/N)’s eyes flashed purple and she mumbled in agreement and started a playlist. 

Warren cursed internally to himself. Why would I say that? Why did I say that!? As if I’d have the privilege of going out with her again after that dumbass sentence. 

Warren made a lame attempt to change the subject. “Are you excited about the movie?”

 “Yeah! They announced the cast like a year ago, and I thought it was going to be live-action, but animation is probably better for The Addams Family. It’s supposed to be really good! Oscar Isaac is voicing Gomez—” 

“—Who?”

“Poe from Star Wars…”

“Finn’s boyfriend?” Warren asked.

(Y/N) smiled, “Yeah, yeah. Him.” 

“I haven’t seen anything else he’s been in, but Kurt and Scott say he’s a really good actor.”

“Hmm…” I wonder if she thinks he’s hot… I mean Oscar is, but I doubt I can compete with that. 

No, no, Worthington. Remember what Jean said, “No self-deprecating thoughts.”

“Pugsley’s voiced by Finn Wolfhard. He was in Stranger Things…”

Warren nodded, he knew what Stranger Things was. He watched it with Jubilee, Kurt, and Ororo over Labor Day weekend.  

“He plays Will, right?” 

“No. Finn has curly hair…” “Dustin?...” Warren was unsure about his answer, but he knew Dustin had curly hair. 

“Mike. Eleven’s boyfriend? Black hair?” 

“Oh… Okay… I feel really stupid. I should have known that.” 

(Y/N) scoffed, “You’re fine. There’s like seven of them, and that’s not even including the adults and the characters our age.”

“Yeah, that’s true, I guess. I might rewatch it…” 

An idea came to (Y/N), “We should have like, a marathon with our friends! We could also play D&D.” 

“I never played before,” Warren admitted. 

“I haven’t either really… but I kind of know how to play… Scott’s played before! He was really into D&D before he came to Xavier’s.” 

Warren chuckled quietly, “That doesn’t surprise me.” 

“Yeah, he’s kind of a dork, but just because you play a board game doesn’t mean you’re lame.”

“Yeah— Do you see any parking spots?” Warren asked.

(Y/N) shifted in her seat, looking for an empty spot, “Yeah, right there.” 

 Warren slowed down and started to pull in. “God, I’m so bad at parking. Please don’t judge me.” 

(Y/N) laughed, “You can’t be bad as Jubilee. She tried to park at the mall and ran over a curb. We thought the tired popped off!” 

“No!” Warren gasped. 

(Y/N) nodded, “The car was fine, but Jubilee had Jean drive home.” 

Warren snickered as he put the car in park and then turned it off. 

(Y/N) got out before Warren could open the door for her. He bit his lip in frustration. 

“Oh, the sun is so pretty!” (Y/N) cooed. “I love golden hour sometimes.”

 “I don’t… What?” Warren wasn’t too sure what golden hour was. Jubilee had mentioned it before, but he never asked what it meant. 

“Come here—” (Y/N) pulled out her phone and held it horizontally. “Get in the frame and smile!” 

Warren obliged, smiling and doing an awkward peace sign. (Y/N) grinned, also doing a peace sign, with her eyes closed and tongue poking out slightly. 

“Let me see how it turned out— Oh my god! We look amazing.” She was practically gleaming as she angled the phone towards Warren so he could see the photo. 

Warren smiled. 

“Want me to send this to you?” (Y/N) asked. 

“Yeah, sure.” 

“There!” (Y/N) smiled. “I sent it.” Warren thanked her and they headed into Chili’s.  

He managed to open the door in time for (Y/N). 

“Oh…” Her eyes shifted to a slight violet hue, the nerves of is this a date or not? Coming back to her. “Thanks…” 

“You’re welcome.”  

The hostess greeted them and asked how many were in their party. 

“Two,” Warren responded. 

“Alright, follow me.” She grabbed two menus and had them follow her to a booth.

“Here you guys are. Your server will be with you soon.” 

“Oh my god, I’m really hungry…” (Y/N) unfolded her menu and buried her nose in it.

“Uh, me too…” Warren browsed his menu.

“Hi, I’m Ariana, I’ll be your server tonight! What can I get you guys started with to drink?”

“I’ll have a Coke Zero,” Warren told her.

“I’ll have a strawberry lemonade,” (Y/N) answered. 

“I’ll get those right out for you.” 

“Thanks!”

She walked off, leaving Warren and (Y/N) alone. 

“Do you know what you’re gonna get?” (Y/N) asked. She was eyeing the nachos and the chicken crispers.

“Uh… Not really…” Warren awkwardly admitted. “The fajitas look good, but that’s a lot of food.” 

“Yeah, they’re good though.” 

Their server came back with their drinks asking if they needed more time to look at the menu. She smiled and said she’d be back. 

“You’ve been here before, right?” (Y/N) asked Warren. She swore he had, but perhaps she was wrong.

“Once, with the guys. We were comforting Peter after another failed Tinder date. I think I got... nachos? I don’t remember.” 

(Y/N) chuckled to herself. “Peter needs to try another dating app.”

“He’s got like three.” 

“Oh, jeez— Jubilee almost downloaded tinder but she doesn’t need it.” 

Warren furrowed his brows, “Huh? Isn’t she into that one dude from Bayville? And Ororo?”

(Y/N) nodded and took a sip of her lemonade. 

Warren jokingly rolled his eyes. “I don’t think I’ll ever understand her.” 

Ariana came back, asking if they were ready to order. 

“Yeah, um, I’ll have the nachos with chicken,” (Y/N) told her. 

“Nachos with chicken,” Ariana repeated. “And you?” She asked Warren.

“I’ll have the Santa Fe chicken salad.”

She wrote it down on a little notepad, “Santa Fe chicken salad. Alrighty! Those will be right out.” 

“Thanks.”

“Thank you.” 

(Y/N) took another sip of her lemonade, letting it fill the silence. 

Warren was suddenly very nervous. “Um…”  “You okay?... Is there something on my face? Do I have lipstick on my teeth?” (Y/N) started to worry. 

“You don’t have any lipstick on…” Warren stated a bit dumbfounded. 

“Oh…” 

“Um, anyway, I um— I like— I want, no. Um, is this— Is this a date?” 

“Um…” (Y/N) froze up for a moment. “You asked me out.” 

“Um, yeah, if you don’t want this to be a date, it like, isn’t then, you know? I mean, I didn’t really specify.”

“I kind of thought this was a date,” (Y/N) admitted.

Kind of… That’s good— Wait. Does she not want this to be a date?

“Do you want this to be a date?” Warren asked.

“Uh, yeah. I wouldn’t mind if it was, but like, we’re just friends so if you didn’t mean for it to be a date then that’s cool. Pretend I didn’t say anything.” 

(Y/N) avoided eye contact as she drank more lemonade, her eyes fully purple.   

“No, no! Um, I do want this to be a date. I um, I really, uh, I really like you.” Warren nervously confessed.

God, I hope I die here, right now, He silently pleaded. 

“Uh, yeah… I like you too… That’s kind of why I’ve been like, hanging out with you, alone, um, a lot…” 

“Me, um— me too.” Warren awkwardly took a sip of his soda. 

“Great.” 

“Great.”

“...”

“...” 

“Are— are we... dating?” Warren asked.

“Uh… I guess so?” (Y/N) wasn’t too sure how to respond, but when she saw Warren’s face fall slightly she quickly changed her words. 

“I mean, I think we are. I hope so. Um—”

“—We’re dating then?” Warren asked.

“We’re dating!” 

“Great!”

“Great!”

Soon as they figured it out, Ariana came in with their food. 

“Alright, I’ve got the Sante Fe chicken salad,” She set the plate in front of Warren. “And the nachos with chicken!” She set that plate in front of (Y/N). 

“Do you guys need anything else?” 

“I think we’re good for now,” Warren told her. “Thanks, though.” 

“Let me know if you need anything!” Ariana left the couple to eat their food. 

“Oh my gosh, yours looks really good,” (Y/N) commented.  

 “You can have some if you want,” Warren offered. 

“Oh, thanks!” 

“Yeah, of course.” 

The conversation died down a bit as Warren and (Y/N) focused on their food, but Warren was internally stressing.

I have no idea what boyfriends do. Am I doing a good job right now? What if she tells Jubilee and then Jubilee murders me because so far I’m a shitty boyfriend? 

Maybe I can hold her hand while we watch The Addams Family… How do I initiate that? What if she doesn’t want to hold my hand? 

Why do I want to hold her hand?... Warren almost visibly shuddered at the feeling of love. Ew… feelings…

Warren snapped back into reality for a moment, watching (Y/N) spill a piece of chicken into her lap. 

“Shoot!” 

Warren didn’t need his eyes to turn pink to show he was awestruck by her. She’s adorable… I’m so lucky to be her boyfriend…

—

Once they had finished, their server Ariana came back asking if they needed to-go boxes and if they wanted the check.

“Do you want it separate or together?” 

“Together,” Warren told her. (Y/N) furrowed her brows for a moment, eyes a bit orange, as Ariana left to go get the check. 

“I’m paying,” Warren stated nonchalantly as he got his card out. 

“Oh, okay.” 

Ariana came back with two to-go boxes and the check. 

Warren handed her his card and she walked away. 

(Y/N) started to put her leftover nachos in her box. Warren scooped his leftover salad into his to-go box. 

“Alright! Here’s your card and receipt,” Ariana handed those to Warren. “Do you guys need anything else?” 

“I think we’re good.” 

“Alright! Have a good night!” 

“You too!”

Warren was figuring out how much to tip. “Is like, $10 good?” 

“What?” (Y/N) asked.

“To tip…?” Warren awkwardly said.

“What’s the total?”

“Uh… $28.76.” 

“Warren, that’s like a 35% tip, right?” (Y/N) asked.

Warren shrugged. “Look, servers don’t get paid enough.” 

“You’re right.” 

Warren finished filling out his receipt, then he looked at (Y/N). “Are you ready to go?” 

“Yep! I’ll get the boxes.” (Y/N) picked hers up and reached over for Warren’s.

“No, I got it. I can carry them.” 

“No, I can carry them,” (Y/N) insisted. 

“I’m your boyfriend, let me carry them,” Warren insisted. 

(Y/N)’s heart did a flip at the fact he said, boyfriend. 

“... Fine…” She let Warren carry the to-go boxes. 

He also managed to open the door for her when they left. 

(Y/N) was still trying to process the fact they were dating. 

What’s the date? I should write it down. So I can remember for our first anniversary! 

Will we last that long?... I hope so… I really like Warren… Maybe I should tell him?

No… That’s kind of embarrassing…

“So…” (Y/N) trailed off.

“Yeah?” Warren asked, eyes on the road.

“I don’t know…” She admitted.

“Oh…” Things were starting to get awkward. Warren didn’t want things to be awkward. Awkwardness would ruin the relationship.

But Warren was bad at small talk. He was bad at socializing, period. And while he had improved, he still got nervous. He hated being nervous— scared. He didn’t want to come off as weak or vulnerable. 

But he didn’t want to come off as scary or cold-hearted either. 

It was a hard scale to balance. 

“Okay, I don’t want to be rude, but who taught you how to drive?” (Y/N) asked.

“Sean…?” Warren stated. 

(Y/N) face practically lit up in realization, “That explains a lot.”

”What do you mean?”

“You were taught how to drive by someone who originally learned how to drive on the other side of the road!”

“That— What does that have to do with my shitty parking?” Warren asked. “I drive on the “right side of the road”. 

(Y/N) laughed. 

“Look,” Warren explained. “If I’m bad at parking that’s on me. The lines caught me!” 

“Haha! Yeah.” (Y/N) laughed. “At least you don’t hit curbs like Jubilee.” 

Warren laughed, “Yeah!” 

“Come on— I want to get good seats!” Warren put the car in park and turned it off. (Y/N) and he both got out and walked towards the theatre. Along the way she (not-so) discreetly slipped her hand into Warren’s. He blushed and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. (Y/N) did her best to not grin her face off. 

Warren had to let go of (Y/N)’s hand momentarily, so he could open the door, causing her to frown a bit and her eyes to go a bit grey. 

This is a crime! I don’t want to let go of his hand!

Warren slipped his hand back into (Y/N)’s once they were inside, and her eyes went back to their “normal” pink shade. 

Warren paid for their tickets and they picked out seats in the back row. They weren’t in the center, but sitting in the back row was best due to Warren’s wings. 

“Auditorium three is on your left!” The ticket ripper told them as she ripped their tickets in half and handed them back. 

“Thanks!... Do you want any snacks?” Warren asked (Y/N) as they passed the concession stand to auditorium three. 

“Nah, I’m not hungry,” (Y/N) said. “You?”

“No, not really.” 

They walked into auditorium three and looked around for their seats. 

“Wow, it’s really crowded,” Warren observed. He was a bit nervous, folding his wings back tightly as he could. 

“Yeah, it’s opening night,” (Y/N) reminded him. “Row G is up this way.”

He was used to the stares for the most part, but he hadn’t been exposed to many kids and soccer moms outside the mansion— not that there exactly were any soccer moms at Xavier’s. 

Luckily, Warren didn’t see anyone glare at him or (Y/N). They both got into their seats without any problem. Their seats were recliners, where if you moved the arm up, you could almost be on top of each other. 

Warren thought this would be perfect for him to maybe wrap his arm around (Y/N), but he was far too nervous. Their hands were still intertwined, which was good enough for him, but Warren was trying with all his might to not have his hand get sweaty. 

That would be so embarrassing…

Once they got situated, and the movie trailers began, (Y/N)’s eyes were focused on the screen. Warren glanced at her for a moment, once the lights dimmed, but his gaze quickly flickered to the screen as to not get caught.

“That movie looks good!” (Y/N) whispered into Warren’s ear. He nodded, not exactly sure what he should respond with. 

Halfway through the film, while Gomez was saying something stupidly romantic to Morticia, Warren did something risky.

Well, not necessarily risky, but if Jubilee or Scott caught him doing it, they’d tease him relentlessly.  

Warren yawned, not very loudly, and then stretched his arm out and over (Y/N)’s shoulders. He fiddled with a leave that dangled from her head. 

His heart was racing. Oh my god, she’s going to think I’m a weirdo. Why did I do that? Who even does the yawn and stretch move anymore? Literally no one!

(Y/N)’s heart started racing when she realized what he had done, Oh my god! Oh my god… This is happening! Oh my god! Just relax, (Y/N), just relax. Be cool. Warren’s cool… he’s being effortless at this “dating” thing… 

They were both too nervous to initiate any further and decided to get reabsorbed in the plot of the movie.

—

As the credits rolled and the lights came back on, Warren and (Y/N) gained space between them awkwardly pretending like nothing happened. 

(Y/N) filled the awkward silence by raving about the film. 

“I loved it! I thought it was so cool, you could see all the family members in the background and like, the backstory they gave them was really creative, and just oh my god the animation style was super neat too! I liked what they did with Ophelia’s design, even though she wasn’t in it very long.”

“Who’s Ophelia?” Warren asked. 

“So she’s Morticia’s sister— they look almost the same, except Morticia is goth and Ophelia is more like me. She has flowers growing on her head and stuff— she was in the background, you probably missed her.”

“That’s cool,” Warren mused. 

“Yeah, she was more in the TV show… What did you think of the movie?” 

“Oh! I thought it was really good! I liked it. The story really, like, reaches out to modern issues and stuff…” 

“Like how everyone was rude to the Addams family because they were gothic and a little different?” (Y/N) asked as she pushed open the door. 

“Yeah. I think if the Addams were real, they’d be mutants,” Warren said as they walked out on to the parking lot.   

“Oh definitely!” (Y/N) agreed. 

Warren smiled as he fished the car keys out of his pocket, and unlocked the car. 

(Y/N) and Warren both got in the car and put on their seat belts. Warren then backed out of the parking lot and made his way onto the main road to drive back to Xavier’s. 

“So uh… Are we gonna, like, tell our friends we’re dating?” (Y/N) asked.

Warren blinked. 

“Yeah? Did you— do you not want to?” Warren felt like he had just seen someone kick a puppy.

“No!— No, I do!” (Y/N) clarified.

Whew!

 “I just— I don’t know how I guess? Jubilee walked in on Jean and Scott making out in her room and then she told everyone and then Scott was all, like, super awkward about it, but then they admitted they were dating.”  

“Sounds stressful,” Warren decided. “We could just like, text the group chat?”

“Yeah,” (Y/N) shrugged. “That works.”

 X-BABES

 (Y/N)

So… Warren and I dating

 Jubilee

Finally!

 Scott

^^lol. Congrats.

 Kurt

Weren’t you already dating?

 (Y/N)

No?...

 Kurt

…

……….

 (Y/N) laughed quietly to herself. 

“What’s up?” Warren asked.

“Kurt thought we were dating this whole time,” She explained.

“Oh… Oh?” 

(Y/N) nodded, “Yeah.” 

“I didn’t— I didn’t tell him anything— that like, wasn’t true. I don’t know why he thought that—”

(Y/N) giggled. “Ren, it’s fine. We’ve shared a bed before— in your guys’ room no less— he’s gonna assume stuff.” 

“Still…” 

“Well, we’re dating now… So, it doesn’t really matter,” (Y/N) pointed out.

Warren couldn’t hide the blush on his face at the fact they were finally dating. He hoped it was too dark for (Y/N) to see it.

“Do I turn left here?” He asked.

“Yeah, then you turn into the gates.” 

Warren did so and drove around the X-Mansion, into the garage.   

“I’ll grab the food and put it in the fridge,” (Y/N) told Warren as he turned the car off. 

“Okay.” 

They both got out of the car— (Y/N) opening the back door to grab the white to-go boxes.

Warren followed her into the mansion. 

They stopped in the kitchen and (Y/N) set the boxes on the counter. “Do you see a sticky note or a pen or something? I need to mark these as ours.” 

“Uh…” Warren looked around the room before spotting a marker. “Here,” He handed it to (Y/N). She scribbled their names down and shoved the leftovers into the fridge.  

 “Now what do you wanna do?” (Y/N) asked Warren.

“Uh… we could um… like, go upstairs maybe?” 

“Do you want to?” She asked.

“I mean if you want to, yeah.” 

“Oh, um, okay.” 

Warren panicked a bit. “If you don’t we don’t have to. We can, like, just kind of chill and see what our friends are doing.” 

“No, no, it’s fine.” 

“Oh, okay.” Warren avoided awkward eye contact as they headed upstairs. 

“We could, um, go to my room…?” (Y/N) offered up. 

“Uh, yeah, that sounds good,” Warren was nervous. He wasn’t sure why— He had no reason to be. He’d been in (Y/N)’s room before. Alone. They’d also spent loads of time together alone doing “couple things” as Scott put it. 

So why was he nervous?

Warren didn’t have time to linger on the thought as he walked into (Y/N)’s room. 

It was a bit cluttered, but he wouldn’t consider it messy. With plants strewn everywhere— floor, walls, ceiling— and some books, posters, and other things you’d expect in (Y/N) and Ororo’s room. 

Ororo wasn’t there though.

“Um, I had a really fun time tonight,” (Y/N) said. Her back was facing Warren for a moment as she doted on a small potted plant. 

“Me too… um… what are you doing tomorrow?” 

“Uh, nothing? I mean Jubilee mentioned going to the skate park tomorrow to take pictures… but she didn’t really say when…” (Y/N) trailed off and turned around to face Warren. 

Their eyes met. (Y/N) stepped forward, towards him.

She glanced at his lips for a moment too long. 

Warren gulped. 

“Can I kiss you…?” (Y/N) murmured. 

Warren’s mouth gaped. “Uh, yeah.” 

(Y/N) leaned in to kiss him, her hands cupping his face. Their lips met. (Y/N) shifted her head a bit as her lips pressed onto his and kissed him. She hooked his bottom lip with her teeth, lightly biting it for a moment. Her hands grabbed the hair near the nape of his neck. 

Warren’s arms were wrapped around her waist, his hands resting on the small of her back. 

(Y/N)’s tongue snuck into his mouth, their lips still pressing together. Warren could feel her smiling. Warren had to break away, for a moment, and regain compulsion. 

(Y/N)’s eyes flashed grey for a split second. She didn’t want to stop. She had become ravenous for Warren’s lips, his tongue… for him in general. It wasn’t exactly a new feeling, but it was foreign, and she liked it.

She blinked. “Sorry, um, I didn’t mean— um, never mind.” 

Warren’s jaw was practically slack. He was speechless. He was not expecting that. At all.

“Warren?” (Y/N) asked. “Are you okay?” 

“What? Yeah, I’m fine!”Warren tried to seem chill.  “I’m fine.” 

“Oh… Well, um, I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable or anything.” (Y/N) started to worry a bit, thinking maybe she went too far and he didn’t like it.

“I’m— I’m’ not uncomfortable— uh, far from it actually— um, it was, it was really nice, actually.” Warren hoped she wouldn’t look down. 

“Oh, okay. Good.”    

“Um, it’s kind of late—“ 

“—Yeah, definitely.” (Y/N) agreed. 

“You said you were going to… Ulta?... With Jubilee tomorrow?” Warren awkwardly asked.

(Y/N) nodded. 

“Um, I should probably go then… You don’t want to oversleep or anything…” Warren mentally scolded himself for being so awkward. He was usually better than that. 

“Oh, yeah… I’ll see you tomorrow though…” (Y/N) reminded him. “We live here…” 

“Right! Right…” 

“...”

“...” 

“I’m going to go to bed. Goodnight.” Warren quickly kissed (Y/N)’s cheek and headed out the door to his dorm. 

(Y/N) stood there, still processing what just happened. 

“Oh my god… Oh my god! OH MY GOD!” (Y/N) let out. 

She buried her face in her hands. “HOLY SHIT! I like— Oh my god! I did that. I kissed Warren with force and passion and with tongue!” She exclaimed. 

“I kissed my boyfriend with tongue. I cannot believe I did that! Oh my god!” 

Unbeknownst to her, Warren had heard most of her excited screams as he left her room. He was ecstatic by her enthusiasm. 

Warren went down the halls to the boys’ dormitory. Kurt wasn’t in their room, leaving Warren alone. He wanted to be alone. Alone with his thoughts for the first time in a long time. Warren wanted to lay in his bed and have the night’s events replay in his mind as he fell asleep. 

Warren was officially dating (Y/N). 

He didn’t have to assume things, dance on eggshells wondering if he was doing too much, he no longer had to wish he was her, and Warren didn’t have to admire her in secret. 

Warren wanted to text her, but he wasn’t sure what to say. He sighed, and slipped into some pajamas, and brushed his teeth, leaving his phone open. Hoping by some miracle (Y/N) would text first and he could spend the whole night overthinking what to say back. 

(Y/N) hadn’t texted him. 

Warren got under his sheets and settled into bed, lying on his back and looking up at the ceiling. 

He grabbed his phone and decided to text her. 

Warren looked at the last thing (Y/N) had sent him. It was the golden hour selfie they took together in the Chili’s parking lot. 

Warren thought he looked rather silly, but he liked the photo nonetheless. He saved it to his camera roll and turned it into his lock screen background. 

Warren couldn’t take it any longer, despite it only being a few minutes, he decided to text (Y/N). 

 Warren

hi 

 (Y/N)

heyyy I thought u were going to bed *side eye emoji*

Warren

Couldn’t sleep

 (Y/N) 

ohhh

whatcha doing right now?

 Warren

Laying in bed. not much really

 (Y/N) 

lol, me too. I just finished spraying the ivy hanging above my bed and my air plant, Clark

 Warren’s heart swelled and he smiled at (Y/N) being so passionate about her plants. 

 Warren

Is that the one in the llama pot?

 (Y/N)

Yea! he’s grown a lot since I got him *bug-eye emoji*

 Warren

That’s good! :)

 (Y/N) 

Yeah!!! 

I hate to do this but I’m really tired, so I’m going to go to sleep

 Warren

That’s okay!! I’m going to watch some YouTube or something to fall asleep. 

 (Y/N)

Okay

Goodnight! *kissy-face emoji with closed eyes and blush* *smiling and blushing face with closed eyes with three hearts around it*

 Warren

*bug-eyed emoji* night, flower

 Warren set his phone off to the side and shifted to a more comfortable position before drifting off to sleep. 

[oikawaplssteponme]

𝑨𝒍𝒘𝒂𝒚𝒔 𝒀𝒐𝒖

“It’s always been you. Has it always been me?”

pairing: Tobio Kageyama x fem!reader

rating/warnings: E for everyone :) [if there ever are warnings, they will be posted before reading]

synopsis: You liked him. He liked you. Easy right? Well, maybe not as easy as you thought.

a/n: hii💓 i can’t believe that im finally posting this. this is the first two chapters but it is in one post. ive been writing this for a while so im super excited to share it :)) enjoy XX

•

one: sweater

“You do realize you have to talk to her in order for her to notice you, right?” said Tsukishima. Kageyama turned to him and growled.

“Of course I know that!” huffed Kageyama. He couldn’t help but stare at you. You weren’t even doing anything. Just standing there, talking with your friend seemed to be interesting enough for him.

“I can’t just go and talk to her. What would I even say?”

“Just ask her out!” squealed Hinata. Kageyama rolled his eyes.

“No one asked you,” he said. Tsukki chuckled.

“Well I hope you enjoy staring then, because that’s all you’ll be doing if you don’t grow a pair and talk to her,” Tsukki chimed in.

Kageyama has liked you since he laid eyes on you. There wasn’t one thing he didn’t like about you.

“Give her your sweater,” said Yamaguchi suddenly.

The group turned to him.

“What?” questioned Kageyama.

“Look at her, she’s cold.” Kageyama turned to look at you again.

You were only wearing a short sleeve button up with a skirt and uniform socks. You rubbed your hands up and down your arms to warm yourself up. It was fall turning to winter and the school’s AC has been full blast all day. You didn’t remember it was going to be colder out.

“Uh...” Kageyama looked down at the sweater he was holding. It was his club one.

“That’s a great idea Tadashi!” said Hinita, practically jumping for joy.

“So what, I'm supposed to just give her my sweater and leave? That’s so stupid,” Kageyama grumbled, trying to think of any excuse possible not to go over to you.

“If you go over to her, I won’t bother you during practice,” Tsukki said. This sparked Kageyama’s interest.

“Just do it,” said Tsukki, pushing Kageyama.

He stumbled on himself, but surprisingly kept walking towards you. Your friend had already left so you were alone by your locker. He walked slowly, practically starting to shake in his shoes. He could hear Tsukki’s laughs behind him, only making him more nervous. Kageyama swallowed the lump in his throat.

“Uh... h-hi Y/N,” he managed to stumble out. You jumped, as if you were startled.

“Oh hi Kags!” You smiled.

You had the most beautiful smile Kageyama had ever seen. Kageyama was so tall, you looked small as he looked down at you. You were the only person in the world that called Kageyama ‘Kags’, and that made him like you even more.

“I saw that- well I don’t mean that I saw, I just happened to notice- that um, you looked cold. So um, here.” Kageyama reached out his sweater. You looked stunned. Your shock turned into a smile.

“Oh my gosh, thank you. I was so stupid and left my jacket at home,” you chuckled. You took the sweater with care, lightly brushing against Kageyama’s hand with your own. You put the sweater on. It hit almost to the end of your skirt and the sleeves passed your hands, so you pulled them up, holding them in the center of your palm, like sweater paws. Kageyama couldn’t help but smile. You looked so perfect in his sweater, as if it were made for you.

“I-I wouldn’t want you to be cold,” said Kageyama. Even he was surprised he could form a sentence.

“That’s so sweet of you,” you smiled. Kageyama started to drift off into his own world just by looking into your eyes.

*RING*

Kageyama snapped back into reality when he heard the final bell ring, signaling the end of the day.

“Well nice talking to you see you later,” Kageyama spoke, a mile a minute, as he rushed back to his friends as they headed to practice without him.

You stood there, with a confused smile on your face. You sighed, realizing you REALLY were wearing his sweater. You hugged yourself, smelling the sweater. You grabbed your backpack and headed to the locker room with an overwhelming smile.

two: backroads

“Aw, little Kageyama getting flustered over a pretty girl!” laughed Noya. Kageyama grumbled to himself.

“I never said I wouldn’t tell everyone,” said Tsukki, enjoying this torment of Kageyama most of all.

“I didn’t know Kageyama could like anything as much as volleyball, let alone a girl,” Daichi chuckled.

“Oh I’m pretty sure Kageyama is in lo-“ started Hinata, before Kags threw him across the gym with full force.

“Shut up Hinata, you moron!” The whole team laughed before getting shushed by Ukai to start practice.

Kageyama couldn’t focus at all. All he could think about was you in his sweater. He wasn’t in sync with Hinata, he couldn’t score with his usual line shot, and he even missed 2 serves.

When hitting lines started, he asked Suga to start. Kageyama went over to grab some water and outside for some air. Little did he know that right there was the cheer team practicing.

“Omg Y/N, isn’t that Kageyama?” said Koi, the friend you were talking to earlier. Your head did a 180, seeing that it really was Kageyama. He stood at the foot of the steps of the gym, drinking his water. You felt your face start to get hot.

“Uh yeah it is,” You said. You were still wearing his sweater, since it was chilly out, but now with leggings.

“Hey Ka-“ began Koi, before receiving your hand over her mouth.

“Say another word and I’ll kill you,” Koi laughed under the pressure of your hand. Kageyama looked up before spotting the scene before him. His eyes widened, before rushing back into the gym. You sighed.

“The last thing I need is for you to embarrass me in front of him.” You said. Koi smiled.

“Kageyama is so hard to read sometimes but one thing is for sure. He likes you.” replied Koi, giving you nudge. You smiled.

“I’m not so sure. I think he was just being nice with the whole sweater thing. I’m sure anyone would have done the same.” Koi shook her head.

“But not anyone did. He did.” Those words felt like a slight punch in the gut to you. Kageyama might be a scary and slightly unapproachable guy but he still was nice. You shook off the comment, putting your focus back on practice.

•

“Come on Kageyama! Get it together!” yelled Coach Ukai, after Kageyama shanked his second ball in a row. Kageyama has been off all practice. You clearly were the only thing occupying his mind.

“Sorry Coach,” said Kageyama, as he finally passed a ball right to target.

“Alright, shag up balls and go home,” said Coach. The team replied with a strong “right” and cleaned up.

“Wow Kageyama you really sucked today,” cheered Hinata. Kageyama sighed, knowing he was right.

“He was occupied with other thoughts-” Tsukki started before getting cut off with a punch from Kags.

“Whatever. See you guys tomorrow.” Kageyama grabbed his things and headed out the door. This was probably one of the first times he actually left practice early instead of practicing hitting with Hinata. Kageyama started to walk home. Now he was the one who was cold. His sweat cooled him off, causing him to shiver as he walked home.

“Kageyama?” He heard a voice call behind him. He turned around and there you were. His heart stopped.

“Oh, hi Y/N. What are you doing here?” He asked, trying to keep his cool. You ran towards him to catch up. You still were wearing his sweater.

“I thought I’d take this route to get home,” you replied. That was a total lie though. You knew that Kageyama always took the back roads to get to his house, which was on the street next to yours.

“Oh...” he smiled. You two walked together in silence for some time. Neither of you had the guts to say something. All your bubbly energy had left your body due to being so close to Kageyama. He was the only thing in the world that made you nervous. Suddenly you remembered.

“Oh Kags, do you want your sweater back?” you asked. You of course wanted him to say no. If you could, you would keep the sweater forever. Plus, you were cold.

“Oh uh, no, you can keep it for now. I don’t want you getting cold,” he replied. Kageyama didn’t know what else to say. He loved seeing you in his sweater as much as you loved wearing it.

“Thank you, I’ll wash it and give it to you tomorrow,” you said, unsure what else to say without professing your love for him. You could feel your cheeks getting hot, not just because of the cold breeze. Kageyama smiled, nodding his head.

You two walked for another five minutes in silence. It wasn’t an awkward kind of silence, you were just glad enough to be in his presence.

“Well um, this is my stop,” you said, pointing to your house. Kageyama gave you a shy smile.

“Oh okay. Uh, goodnight Y/N,” Kageyama said, giving a small wave. You smiled.

“Goodnight Kags.”

[argumentl]

The Freedom of Expression Ep 16 - UFO expert's recommendation as the Japan Air Self Defense Force sets up Space Operations Squadron.

K: Hi, this is Dir en grey's Kaoru, starting this week's installment of The Freedom of Expression. Joe san, Tasai san, welcome.

J: You looked at us the opposite way then.

K: I did (laughs)

J: I don't mind though.

K: Hahaha.

J: Im sorry to be so pedantic.

K: No, i thought the same myself.

J: I just wondered whether you'd forgotten our names, or whether you were a bit tired.

T: He's probably tired.

J: I was a bit concerned *laughs*

K: You got me.

J: I just noticed it, so..

K: How have you been recently?

J: Well, how? hmm, well..

K: Its still around the middle of April now, as we record this, right? The shops are starting to open again. We are still in...what was it, a state  of emergency..

J: It hasn't been lifted in Tokyo.

K: But the stores are slowly starting to operate again if you look around. Ramen places are really busy and such. But, how has it been for you guys?

J: Well, ive been cooking for myself as much as possible. Buying stuff from the grocers, and making salad and stuff every day. I don't have a frying pan though.

T: You don't have a frying pan??

J: No.

K: Do you have a microwave?

J: I do have a microwave. But a frying pan...well, recently, i bought some eggs, and tried to make fried eggs, but i had to cook them in a steel pan.*T laughing a lot* And when I tried to scrape them out, the yolk got destroyed. *K laughs* It was chaos.

T: How have you survived this far in life?

J: No, I mean I usually eat out, so this is a first for me at 52 years old, this self catering lifestyle.

T: I have a special pan for cooking eggs, its designed especially for eggs (tamagoyaki).

J: Really?

K: Oh, that square type?

T: Yeah, yeah.

K: Ehh!

J: Really?

T: I keep it really clean, and make sure I don't use it for anything other than eggs.

K: Oh, so do you cook a lot?

T: I do, yeah.

J: Kaoru, can you cook?

K: Do I look like I can? *laughs*

J: You don't, you don't. *everyone laughs loudly* You don't at all, sorry.

K: I can manage fried vegetables and stuff like that.

J: Oh, well, you are probably better than me then.

K: But honestly, I havn't cooked anything in years.

T: *To J* If you say he's better than you, that puts you at a super low level! *K laughs*

J: Well, now you mention it, maybe we are about the same level.

K: A long time ago, when I first came to Tokyo, I made curry once.

J, T: Oohh?!

K: Yeah..And with curry, if you let it sit for one night, its supposed to taste better the next day.

J: Yeah, the flavour deepens.

K: When I checked on it the next day, it had grown mould. *the others laugh a lot*

T: How?

K: I don't know.

J: What did you put in it?

K: Just the normal stuff...curry cubes and stuff.

T: It grew mould after a day...?

K: It did, yeah.

J: Ehhh? By the way, did you eat any of it on the day you made it?

K: No, because I thought it would taste better after leaving it for a day. Also, it was actually kind of watery. Maybe I got the measurements wrong. So I thought if I leave it for a day, it would thicken up, but it grew mould.

J: *laughing* Wow. If you cooked it properly, it wouldn't grow mould unless there was something wrong with it though, would it?

T: Yeah, exactly.

J: Thats incredible.

T: Yeah, were you living somewhere funny?

K: Haha, the place?

J: Lets do this sometime. Lets have a curry party with Kaoru making the curry. 

T: Oh, yeah.

K: Um, in my blog magazine TheTheDay, I appealed for ideas of what people want me to do, and people said they want me to cook.

J, T: Ehhh.

J: Will you do it? Get your revenge?

K: Revenge? *laughs*

J: Curry revenge. We'd have to have a doctor on stand-by though. *K laughs* We'd end up with curry poisoning. Everyone who ate it would collapse one by one.

K: It would be dangerous.

J: It would, it would.

K: Okay, so today...Tasai san.

T: Yes, so..uh..finally we've reached this era! Finally!

J: What is it? What happened?

T: Well, uh, on May 18th, for the first time, the Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) started a specialist division to monitor regions in space, the Space Operations Squadron.

J: At last!

T: Its like Space Battleship Yamato, its as if that kind of old sci-fi is finally becoming real in this current Reiwa era. Well, actually, its not really like Yamato. What they are really doing is keeping an eye on space junk, and watching for any suspicious looking man-made satellites. To begin with they will ????*1, and by 2026, they say they want to put thier own satellites into orbit too. Its true that America, Russia, and China are leaders in this field, but its like Japan has also started to think about self defence in terms of space too.

J: I see. This is quite serious news then, isn't it.

T: Well, Tokyo sports always has a different take.

J, K: *laugh*

J: Of course.

T: So, in response to the inauguration of this devision, a UFO expert had one thing he wanted to say, which was...well, there is the 'scramble', yes? A kind of emergency take-off, if for example, missles are heading towards domestic land, or if mysterious sightings*2 happen, there is stuff like this. And in 2018, the JASDF actually had 999 scrambles, where they saw something they thought was dangerous, and had to take off immediately. So, of those, 638 cases involved Chinese vessels, 340 cases involved Russian, and 18 cases were classed as 'other'. This UFO expert thinks these might be UFOs, so with the creation of this new devision, he says they could check to see if they actually are UFOs.

J: By the way, what is the Japanese government's stance on the existence of UFOs? It seems like America already thinks they exist, and are taking some action, right?

K: There is a lot of???*4

J: Yeh, on the news. I havn't watched it properly, but what do they think again?

T: ????

K:????

J????*5

T: The Japanese government hasn't clearly confimed whether or not they think UFOs are real or not.

J: Hmm, Kaoru what do you think? Do UFOs exist or don't they?

K: Well, I want them to exist. I like reading about them.

J: Well, its fun isn't it?

T: While I've been working at Tokyo Sports, we've had quite a few reports on photos people have taken of UFOs. Um, you know Hyper media creator Takashiro Tsuyoshi..?

J: Ahh, Takashiro san.

T: When he reported...where was it Australia, Byron Bay..or something. He went there for a festival, and he showed me a photo of a UFO that he took while he was there. And there really was a kind of triangle shaped UFO looking thing on it. And when he showed it to an expert, they said after about 2 seconds, 'Ah, yes, this is a UFO', without even checking properly. *the others laugh*.

J: You'd want them to analyze it a bit more

K: It seems too easy, right? Like, ah, yeh yeh.

T: Yeh, thats a UFO..

J: Saying its a UFO that quickly...

T: According to this expert, if you see a UFO, a big change will happen in your life....and then straight after that he ????*6 and stuff like that happened...Also, the former actress, who turned to that religious cult..

J: Oh, the Happy Science cult.

T: Yeh, Sengen Yoshiko. She captured footage of a UFO in Toyama, and showed it to me, so I kind of think they are real.

J: Have either of you ever seen a UFO yourselves?

K: I've seen things where I've thought, what is that?!. Like...*imitates zig zag movement in the sky*

T: There is something isn't there.

J: There are things that move like that, aren't there. They are different from shooting stars, and airplanes couldn't move in that way. I've wondered what they are.

K: And when you try to catch it on your smartphone or something, you can't, can you?

T: I just remembered! I did catch a UFO on my smartphone. I went to Mexico once to do a story.

K: Didn't you mention that before?

T: Oh, maybe I did, on the radio. Well, when i was in Mexico, what is it..when the sun takes a long time..

J: The summer solstice?

T: Yeh, on that day, we climed to the top of a big rock, and held hands with all the local people. At that time we took loads of photos of the sky, and when we checked later, they showed a UFO.

J,K: Ehh?

T: Yeh, and I don't know the first thing about it. Im in the club of people who've photographed a UFO.

J: A UFO was close to you....Isn't this the right time for him to come out? That guy?

Kami:.....

K: He's not coming.

Kami: Um..

J: He's here, he's here.

Kami: We're talking about UFOs right? When I saw that the JASDF had started a space army, I was excited. And when I wondered what they would get up to, it said they would be picking up space junk..

T: *laughs*

Kami: Its like when we lost at the world cup, and picked up all the garbage, then went home. So I was a bit shocked at what was written.

K: But thats just the starting point, right?

T: Yeah, starting with the little things, moving steadily.

J: But, hey, while they say that, they might be carrying out some bigger project behind the scenes.

K: Well, yeah.

T: Thats right.

J: Kami, what do you think about UFOs?

Kami: I've never seen one.

J: Oh, you havn't?

K: But from your perspective, do UFOs exist?

Kami: Do they exist?...Im not sure.

K:.*laughs*

J: He's not very articulate, is he? This is different from when he was talking about mahjong!

K: *laughs*

J: He never stopped when he was talking about mahjong. Losing 30,000 and such. Coming into Tasai san's conversation that much..He's changed completey since last time. A poor response, Kami. Hey, but what is it?...Can't gods transcend space-time?

Kami: Im not sure.

J: Wait, you're not sure?

Kami: Space-time? Well, I can't talk about it, cause I'll get into trouble if I do.

J: Ah, if you tell us?

K: *laughs*

T: Is this a new organisation?

K: An organisation, right?

J: Gods have them too.

K: They probably have unions, right?

Kami: Yes, yes. *K laughs*

T: Someone more powerful than Kami will be onto him.

K: Yeah, he'll be stopped.

Kami: But the gods know this, theres nothing faster than light, right?

J, T: Ahh

Kami: Did you know that?

J: Yes, I did.

Kami: Yeah, thats it. Theres nothing faster than light, yeh. Thats the thing. Do you know who decided that? It was a god.

J: Ohh.

T, K: Eh?

Kami: Not me, one of my distant relatives.

J: Distant relatives? *laughs* One of the gods in the group?

K: It wasn't himself, but..

Kami: Yes, thats it.

J: Hang on, wait a minute, so in terms of what we are talking about, Kami, what did YOU create? Gods make many different things I think.

Kami: I make parts in a factory.  *J, K laugh*.

T: What? The old guy in a backstreet workshop?

K: *laughs* He's the type who can descend to earth very easily, right?

J: He really is one of the commoners.*laughs* Its funny.

Kami: Its because Im an ally of the common people.

K: Well, yeh, it seems like he often goes to Chinese restaurants..

J: Right.

T: And he likes Mahjong

K: Yeh, he likes Mahjong.

J: He's kinda just like my Dad.

K: *laughs*

J: Ah, but UFOs, right?

K: It would be good if they develop this.

T: There might be things like space wars in the future, in reality. With America and such. If they are competing for supremacy in space.

K: Ah, yeh, fighting for supremacy.

T: Right?

J: But Japan is a little late getting started, in relation to that.

K: Oh yeh, its impossible.

J: Right? We wouldn't ever take supremacy.

T: Well Japan can already be seen from anywhere by spy satellites, they'd get all our info.

J: Well, thats it. That kind of thing is going on at the same time.

K: Well, thats just how it is.

J: Thats how it is, right?

T: Thanks for listening.

J: This was a spaced themed chat.

K: Please look forward to next week, thank you very much. Please subscribe.

J,T, Kami: Please do.

*1,3,4,5 Couldn't catch these bits.

*2 mysterious sightings...or something like it.

*6 Sounded like, 'he got divorced', but i couldn't distinguish it clearly enough.

[oboevallis]

will he be okay?

TW: Chrons disease

ive mentioned in a story before about how bennys character is based off my friend and i, so i asked him if it was okay if i added this into this story and he agreed, he was diagnosed with Chrons disease when we were in third grade, and he’s been such an optimist through out all the struggles he’s faced throughout the years and ive never had such respect for someone or have met anyone stronger, i hope everyone is doing well and staying safe

"I'm going to go get the kids from he school bus, and make sure they don't bring home any more stray dogs." Link said as he stuck his head through the door to the nursery.

"Alright, just make sure they're quiet when they come in. I'm hoping this guy will go right to sleep once he's done eating."

"I'll make sure of it." He assured as he quietly shut the door. Before he left he secured the dog on his leash and made his way to the bus stop.

Once his kids got off the bus they ran to him, or so he thought. The pair leaned down to pet the dog, unintentionally ignoring their father.

"Hello to you too." Link did his signature wave trying to catch his kids attention.

"Sorry Dad." Scout apologized as he jumped up to hug his father. "I just missed Rex, and it seems like he missed us."

"He did, he stayed by the window all day waiting for you two."

"Aww, that's kind of sad." Scout replied taking the leash from his dad, trying to show that he could handle the responsibility of a dog.

"Well he's happy now." Link ruffled his son hair in attempt to comfort him, he looked back to see his daughter trudging behind. He walked over to her and picked her up. "Everything okay? You seem kind of down."

"Yeah." The girl sighed leaning her head on his shoulder.

The father looked at her daughter, concerned. For the past couple of days she seemed to be down, he was starting to worry that she was feeling left out. He didn't want her feeling like the cliche middle child, he wanted her to feel loved and attended to. Before he opened the door he reminded them to be quiet to allow their brother to sleep.

"How was school?" Amelia whispered as she walked down the stairs to be met with her family.

"Good!" Scout whispered, as he unbuckled the dogs leash. "I got 100 on my spelling test!"

"Good job!" Amelia congratulated. "And how was your day Addie?"

"Fine." She sighed walking away as her father let her down.

"Is she okay?" Amelia asked her husband as the girl was put of ear shot.

"I don't know, she's been quiet since she got off the bus. Is she feeling left out do you think?"

"Maybe? I mean we've been pretty preoccupied with the baby. I'm gonna talk to her tonight."

_______________________________________

"So which story are we reading tonight?" Amelia asked her daughter as she sat on her knees by the bookshelf.

"Can I just go to sleep?" She asked turning around to face the wall.

"I'm sorry me and your dad have been so preoccupied with Anders, it doesn't mean we love you any less. We still love you so so so much." The mother was met with silence, She stood up to sit on the edge of her daughters bed placing a comfortable hand on her leg. "Alright you don't have to talk, but you still have to wake up early tomorrow for book club even if it's Saturday."

"I'm not going to book club." This statement shocked the girls mother, there was never a week she missed it if she could help it.

"Why?"

"I just don't want to."

"Did you and Benny get into a fight?" To this her daughter started to cry. Amelia moved herself so she could embrace her daughter. "What happened?"

"He hasn't been in school for almost two weeks. And I don't know if he was at book club last week because we went to see Anders." The girl cried into her mother's chest.

"He could have the flu. We'll see if he's at book club tomorrow and if not I'll cal his dad."

"No, I don't want to go without Benny."

"Okay." Amelia kissed the top of her daughters head and allowed her to cry.

_______________________________________

"What'd his dad say?" Link asked when his wife walked back into their sons nursery.

"They're still running tests, but they think he has Chrons disease."

"God, poor guy." Link sighed, as he rocked his son to sleep. He knew what it was like to grow up in a hospital, and it sadden him that such a good kid like Benny had to go through that. "Are you gonna tell Addie?"

"No, not until they confirm the diagnosis." Amelia kneeled down at the rocking chair where her husband and son resided, and rubbed her sons head. "With Christopher I didn't really have to watch him suffer that much, I-I just can't imagine watching your kid be in so much pain everyday and your powerless to fix them."

"Me either."

A knock on the door, taking them out of their conversation. Their daughter slowly opened the door, and smiled at her parents.

"What did his dad say?" She asked as she walked over to admire the baby with her parents.

"Well, um he's sick so he's at the doctors right now. Their gonna run tests to see what's going on."

"And their gonna fix him?" She asked hopefully, a smile plastered across her face. The couple looked at each other unsure of what to say to their daughter.

"Their gonna help him feel better." At the moment there was no cure for the condition, but there was treatment to help manage the pain and to keep it from progressing.

"That's good, I can't wait till he's back at school." Addison stated before she left the room.

"Did we just give her false hope?" Amelia asked biting at her nail.

"No, no, kids are resilient, and they can live pretty normal lives with the condition. I mean he probably won't be at school too often, but I saw kids with the disease while at the hospital and their still normal kids with normal lives." Link assured.

_______________________________________

It had been three weeks since Bennys diagnosis of Chrons disease had been confirmed. His dad called Amelia, asking if Addie could come by and say hi. Benny was pretty upset, and wanted to see his best friend.

"Hey Addie." Amelia leaned in her daughters doorway.

"Hey mommy." She laid in the middle of the floor, watching her fan spin around. Her mother moved to lay next to her.

"Do you remember when we talked about Benny being at the doctors?" The girl nodded in response. "Well he has something called Chrons disease. So his intestines are inflamed, which causes him to have a lot of stomach pain." She tried to state it in the simplest of terms and the less scary version.

"Okay, when do they do surgery to fix it?" The five year old asked.

"Well surgery isn't going to fix this, he may need it in the future to help him, but this doesn't get cured. The doctors are looking for a cure, but they've figured out how to help people manage it and not feel as bad."

"Oh." Amelia could see the sadness on her daughters face. "He'll still go to school right?"

"Well he'll try, but probably not a lot."

"How will he learn?"

"The teachers will probably send work home to him, and a tutor will come by and help him."

"Will he still be able to play?"

"When he feels up to it."

"What about reading?"

"He'll still be able to read."

"Can I see him?"

"Yeah, actually he asked if you can come over tomorrow." The girl nodded vigorously in agreement, she could tell the girl was trying to be strong. The little girl wrapped her arms around her mother, allowing tears to stain her shirt.

________________________________________

"Hi." Addie shyly greeted as she stood at his bedroom door.

"Hi! Come in!" He cheerfully said, waving at her to walk in further. "Let's color, I printed out some new coloring sheets.

"Okay." She agreed sitting next to him on the floor and picking up a crayon along with a sheet of paper. "Do you feel okay?"

"They gave me some medicine, it helps a little bit."

"Does that hurt?" Addie asked pointing to the IV in his arm.

"No, and can we not talk about my sickness and just color?"

"Yeah." Addie smiled brightly, she wanted to help her friend but she was relieved that they could pretend everything was normal.

"Did your mom have the baby?"

"Yeah, his name is Anders. Oh! And we got a dog!"

"Really?! What kind of dog?" He matched her excitement, he knew how much she wanted one.

"We're not sure we found him hurt in a park. His name is Rex though."

"Next time we go to he park you need to bring Rex and I'll bring Buddy. They're gonna be best friends just like us!"

"Best friends." Addie smiled looking at her friend before she continued to color.

[squeeneyart]

Breathe in the Salt - Chapter 7

AO3

Beta read by @thesnadger who does a great job

Tim and Martin sit out the nausea.

Martin talks to himself.

“You sure you don’t want to head home for the day?” Tim asked, picking at the grass beside him. He and Martin sat with their backs pressed against the cliff railing, facing away from the steep drop. The lighthouse loomed in front of them, barely casting a shadow as morning ticked closer to noon.

“Yeah, I’m okay,” Martin replied. He rested his arms on his knees, his chin buried into the fabric of his coat sleeves. “I don’t really feel like walking down the hill yet? I’ll at least wait for the others to get back.”

“Well, they should be here soon, unless the place Simon pointed us toward is yet another weird building that makes you feel like you’re falling into a big hole.” Tim squinted up at the sky and immediately seemed to regret it, leaning forward to drop his face between his knees. “Ugh, the Fairchild place was almost as bad as here. I’m surprised we survived the walk back down. If we didn’t have someone leading us out, we’d probably be swallowed up by the carpet! Sorry to say, but I think your whole town is fucked. Or any place owned by the weird old guy club, I guess.”

Martin grimaced. “I don’t get how Jon and Sasha seem so unbothered by it. If it were just me, I’d chalk it up to stress or something, but, well.”

Tim nodded in solemn understanding. “‘But, well’.’” He lifted his head and squinted in the sunlight. “It could be they’re faking it and I’m the only one willing to ‘fess up. If that’s the case, they’ve been really good at pretending their stomachs haven’t been dropping straight into the sea all weekend. But, between you and me, Jon can’t act for shit.”

Martin’s shoulders bobbed with silent laughter. “He seems very easy to read, yeah.”

“Oh yeah, I don’t think he’s ever successfully lied in his life, unless you count avoiding a subject altogether.” Tim smiled and leaned back against the railing, brushing a hand over his hair. “Glad you two are getting on, by the way. I’m sure Sasha already talked to you about it, but the turnaround really was impressive. I was concerned he’d just be pissy this whole week over some spilt tea.”

Martin buried the bottom of his face a degree further into his coat. “Please don’t remind me. Anyway, I’m sure having something weird to chase after helped. Means this place wasn’t a total waste of time for you.”

“Hey, it wasn’t gonna be a total waste. I can’t speak for him, but I for one love to make new connections.” He waggled his eyebrow, making Martin snort and turn a brighter shade of red. “Really, though, you’ve been a lot of help. If the walk home is that bad, you should just stay up where the sun actually hits for a while. None of us will mind if you hang around, and I need someone here to prove that my dizzy spells aren’t just me being ridiculous.”

Martin’s mouth sunk into a frown. “No, once they get back I’ll head home. Lunch won’t make itself.”

“What, don’t want to grab something with us nerds?” Tim asked, smiling broadly.

“N-No, I just, y’know, I bought groceries yesterday, and if I eat out too much, I’ll end up wasting some of it, and-” Martin searched for more excuses that wouldn’t bring his mother into the picture and failed.

Tim scrunched his eyebrows together in thought, then took out his phone and asked, “What’s your number?”

“What?”

“Your mobile? In case we need to reach you. And so I can send you dumb shit in my down time that I’ve already sent to Sasha.”

For a moment, Martin sat in stunned silence. “Um. Okay?” He said, his voice cracking in the most embarrassing way possible. Then, slowly, he took an old phone out of his coat pocket, technically a smart phone but just barely. They exchanged numbers, and Martin stared at the new contact before slipping the phone back into place.

“There, now you’re stuck with me. I’ll keep you updated if Sasha and Jon do in fact decide to do something stupid that gets us all disappeared. Speaking of,” Tim said, shading his eyes with a hand. “Here they come now, and Jon looks especially irritated.” They both stood up, grasping at the railing and sharing a weary look.

“Come on, guys,” Sasha yelled from the bottom of the steps. “Break time’s over.”

Back inside, the four of them sat around the table. From the looks on their faces, Jon and Sasha had been disappointed by their short venture. “So, how are you two doing?” Sasha asked. “How’s the nausea?

“Oh, just fine. We can almost get up without losing breakfast.” Tim said. “How was the place?”

Jon crossed his arms. “Unsurprisingly, Simon Fairchild sent us to an inaccessible piece of private property owned by the Lukas family. We couldn’t even get anyone to come to the door. For now, it may be a dead end.”

“I could try to get Peter to let us in?” Martin suggested with little enthusiasm.

Sasha looked at his obviously pained expression and shook her head. “No, bad idea. Simon was pretty clear on Peter not knowing we went to his home. I’d guess that extends to any of us going into this other place. If what you said happened back at the house is true, I don’t want that kind of risk. We’ll have to try it later and hope for an answer.”

Martin let out a relieved sigh and stood. “Good, good idea. I’ll be going then. I guess if you need me for… questions? Updates? Tim has my number.”

Sasha raised her eyebrows at Tim in amusement, while Jon rolled his eyes and scowled. With a lopsided smile, Tim shrugged and said, “What? The guy lives at the bottom of the world. We can’t drag him up and down that hill all day.”

Perhaps quicker than necessary, Martin excused himself and walked out of the building. The last bit of conversation he heard was Jon complaining about a lack of workplace professionalism, followed by Tim making a mocking comment that Martin couldn’t quite hear.

Once he had walked a little ways away, he relaxed. They really did balance each other out, the three of them. He could imagine Sasha breaking them apart in a little while, then getting them on task like before.

His hand brushed against the phone in his pocket, and he felt a little pang in his throat. He pushed the sensation down. Chances were, they wouldn’t need to call him, and it would be best to pay as little attention to his phone as he always had.

--

After the usual walk home, Martin approached his mother in front of the television. There was one of her Christian programs playing, the kind with the television preacher. “Hi, Mum.”

“You took much longer than usual,” she said stiffly. He could see her attempting to swallow and went toward the kitchen.

“Sorry, work ran long today. I’ll get lunch going.” He began to look through the fridge, considering his options.

“I’m not hungry. Just want a glass of water,” she said, her voice hoarse. Martin winced.

“One second.” He quickly filled a glass from the tap and brought it to her. “You will need to eat something to get your medication down. I’ll make something for both of us and we’ll see how you’re feeling then.”

She huffed in response, taking a sip of water and clearing her throat. Once food was ready, she did eat enough for her medication and then some, setting Martin at ease.

“It’s sunny today, if you’d like to sit out front,” he suggested after cleaning up the tray in front of her. She sniffed and otherwise stayed silent. “Okay… let me know if you change your mind. The fog even cleared out a bit-”

“I am not going outside today.”

“Okay.”

Martin left her alone and went back to the kitchen and set some chicken in the fridge to defrost. His future self would thank him later, he thought, and he went upstairs to figure out the rest of his Sunday.

The first order of business was to lay down and sleep for a while. Two busy mornings in a row and he was exhausted, the muscles in his legs finally catching up to all of the extra walking. As he lay down, he thanked his walls, bed, and windows for staying in place and gently drifted off to sleep.

Several hours later, Martin woke to find the sun had retreated back behind clouds and a familiar layer of fog. He reached for his phone on the bedside table to check the time. 4:30 pm. It was almost time to get dinner started, but before he could move to set the phone down, he saw there was text notification. Without his glasses, he had to squint and hold the phone close to his face. The brightness stung his eyes. The messages were from about fifteen minutes ago.

Tim: hey Tim: what do these weird knobs and buttons do anyway

Attached was a distorted photo, apparently of the upstairs console in the lighthouse.

“Shit,” Martin mumbled, tapping out an answer.

Martin: dont know, peter never told me. work the lighthouse i guess, make sure the big light is running. Martin: also what does all the static mean

Almost immediately, he got a response.

Tim: is that how lighthouses work? Tim: means its weird shit. weird shit hates digital

Martin: its the only lighthouse ive ever worked in, your guess is as good as mine Martin: oh good

No response came for a bit, and Martin took the pause to get out of bed. Halfway down the stairs, his phone buzzed.

Tim: update, stairs still bad Tim: arseholes who don’t get spooky vertigo club

Attached was another photo, still fuzzy, this time of Jon and Sasha walking ahead with Tim’s hand just barely in frame, clutching the rail. Jon was looking at the camera with a stern expression, his mouth open in the middle of saying something. Martin laughed quietly and continued walking.

In the time it took to prepare the chicken for baking, his phone vibrated in his pocket a few times. With his hands coated, there was no way to check until he slid the chicken into the oven twenty minutes later.

Tim: dont think anything stupid will happen tonight Tim: no one’s gotten too desperate yet but tomorrow is a new day Tim: will let you know if we end up getting arrested in the middle of the night for trespassing tho

Martin: haha, very funny

Tim: give it until tuesday

Martin’s eyebrow twitched, unsure of how seriously to respond.

Martin: please dont get me fired?

Tim: no promises! ;)

It felt like a lighthearted enough response to put Martin at ease. Tim liked joking. Martin knew that by now. If Tim was saying it, then it was a joke. Plus, it was clear Sasha and Jon were very by-the-books. If Jon would lecture Tim about texting, he certainly wasn’t the type to do anything illegal.

Still, the number of times Tim had joked about it made Martin irrationally nervous. That and Simon being cryptic and threatening. And the buildings trying to make him sick. And Jon-

Sliding his phone into his back pocket, Martin distracted himself with preparing the rest of their dinner. It wasn’t the time to spiral. He had chicken in the oven and vegetables to steam.

Dinner was made and eaten within the hour, and Martin’s phone stayed silent for the duration. When his mother asked to go outside after dinner, he did his best not to be outwardly irritated at her change of mind and did as she requested, covering his face to protect himself against the night wind.

It wasn’t until later when he had just about settled down for bed that Martin checked his phone, under the pretense that he was setting his alarm for the morning. There were no unread messages, so he set his phone down onto the side table to charge.

The fog rolled outside his window, illuminated by the weak light of the front porch. When sleep eventually took him, he dreamed of nothing.

--

When 6 am came, Martin found himself in an empty lighthouse. Under his arm was the expected box of documents he was to work with for the week, which he set on his desk. He then dragged his chair back over from the folding table, which was still littered with loose papers and three used mugs.

“Right, right. Library day. They could’ve at least remembered to clean up a bit.” Martin brought the dirty dishware to the kitchen and placed them in the sink to soak, then looked around for something clean to use for himself. He managed to find a kitschy one he’d always liked, with a tiny, smiling whale on the side.

“Looks like it’s just you and me.”

His voice echoed through the building, the final ‘me’ stretching on much too long.

Martin glared out into the main room. “Yeah, yeah, I’m alone, laugh it up.”

Again, the last ‘up’ lingered and drifted up the stairs, and he wanted to slap himself for walking right into that one. There was no point in talking back to a possibly haunted building.

He settled on silently making himself some tea, then dove into the week’s work. It was mind-numbing, as expected, but after a while it grew to be calming and familiar. The weird ache in his chest gave way to distraction, and hours ticked by without interruption. Martin began to feel normal, or his version of normal before things started to be poked and prodded. Before he knew it, he had eaten lunch and was on his way to the second half of his shift.

“...up.”

Martin jumped, almost knocking over his tea. That had been his voice. Just a single noise that hung in the air with no echo to be heard. No, he thought, no, no, no, he was not going to take any bait in this place. He righted himself in his chair and reached for the pen he had dropped.

“Me. Up.” Even with his original tone resting in those syllables, the new sense of urgency was unmistakable.

Against every part of his brain screaming at him, he took a step toward the stairs. Before he could go any further the front door swung open.

“Hey, Martin, we’re back,” Sasha said, carrying a file folder. “We- woah, are you okay?”

Martin stopped and stared at her, his jaw clenched to the point of pain. “Um. Define okay.”

The three researchers stopped and shared a concerned look. Sasha walked over to set her things on the table. “Okay, okay, clearly something happened.”

“What’s going on?” Jon asked, looking around warily.

Before Martin could open his mouth, his voice came from above. “Up.”

Everyone froze, holding their breath for a moment. Jon was first to break the silence, his voice filled with disdain. “Good. It can record us now.”

“Up. Now.”

“Oh, shut up.”

Tim gripped Jon’s shoulder and gestured insistently to the front door. They all vacated the building and stopped on the front steps, finally letting out a collective breath.

“Have you all, um, dealt with ghosts? Directly?” Martin sat on the bottom step, rubbing his hands over each other. “Ones that take the last word you said?”

“We don’t know if it’s a ghost, but no, not personally,” Jon replied, sitting a few steps up and typing on his laptop. “Can’t say I really believe in them, either.”

Tim snorted. “Yeah, sure, definitely not a ghost in there.”

“I’m inclined to suspect something more concrete. Somehow, the lighthouse was trapping the sound of our voices. According to Martin it only used the last words he uttered, and the same happened with me. With only a few things to work with, it wouldn’t be hard to-”

“To accidentally order us up the creepy staircase of the creepy lighthouse.” Tim stood, hands in his pockets.

“If it’s using ‘me’, ‘up’, and ‘now’, what else could it say? Otherwise, there was just ‘back’ and okay’ as far as I can tell.”

They continued to go back and forth, Jon being much more stubborn about the whole thing than Martin would’ve expected from a paranormal researcher. Maybe ghosts were an especially contended subject? It didn’t seem like it from Tim and Sasha’s reactions, but Martin was out of his depth. People turning into seals was a far cry from specters and mind-bending architecture.

Still, it being a ghost sounded right. There were meaning and intent behind the words repeated back to him, he was certain of it. If that was the case, maybe there was someone or something in this place trying to talk to him. That’s what ghosts did, right? Reach out to the living?

“Then we’ll just have Martin stay outside for a bit,” Jon said, closing his laptop decisively.

Martin found himself back in the conversation. “What?”

“We’re going to try the place Simon pointed us toward again. Hopefully, we’ll be let in this time and get some answers. The library didn’t have much in terms of useful information, I’m afraid.”

Sputtering, Martin replied, “So, what, I’m just going to wait out here? I still have work to do!”

Jon stared at him and sighed. “Bring it outside then. It shouldn’t rain today, and we don’t want to risk anything now that we know something is… active. You’re sure nothing like this has ever happened?”

“No, this is... new.”

“Then the safest thing is to avoid whatever is going on. It’s for your own well-being, and since we’re probably the cause of it, I don’t want to be in the business of putting people in danger.” Jon said. Martin was at a loss for arguments and nodded. “Good. If our luck hasn’t changed, we’ll be back soon. Otherwise, I suppose Tim will text you the good news.” There was a slight, acidic turn to Jon’s voice near the end that Martin couldn’t place.

Martin pushed himself onto his feet. “Okay… good luck? I guess? I’ll go get my work, then.”

Apparently satisfied, Jon placed his laptop into its case and motioned for the other two to follow him. As they left, Tim shot Martin a worried thumbs up.

When Martin walked back inside, he stopped halfway to the desk, eyes glued to the staircase. He had told Jon he would get his things and go outside.

“Hello?” Martin waited and got no response. “If you’re a ghost, now’s the time to say so.” Still nothing. He let out a noise of frustration. “Say something? Please?”

“Hello? Up. Please?”

Taking a glance back at his desk, Martin bit his tongue and internally berated himself. No use giving the place a name to call him. He really was an idiot, he thought, creeping up the staircase as if the ghost might hear his footfalls. Why had he taught it to be polite?