#let me know tonight and evermore

[lnfours]

tolerate it | l.n

summary: if it’s all in my head, tell me now. tell me i’ve got it wrong somehow.

warnings: happy folklore/evermore season :) angst, language, fears of your partner falling out of love with you, slight anxiety and overthinking, fluffy ending bc i can’t make them stay mad at each other. kinda wanna do an evermore/folklore mini series, let me know if you guys would be interested <3

masterlist | listen

₊‧°𐐪♡𐑂°‧₊

the colder weather meant the sun was starting to set earlier, and it was evident as you gazed out the window, sitting at the dining room table. the candle you had lit an hour or so ago flickering softly, illuminating the room with a soft glow as the gloomy sky hovered above.

you sighed to yourself, taking another sip from the wine glass that sat next to your plate. you tapped on your phone screen, lighting up and displaying the time and the picture you had set as your lock screen. the 5:30 hovering tauntingly above the picture of you and lando from a few months back, your smile wide and trying to hide it in his shoulder as he held his camera to the mirror. he was sporting a smile also, you could almost hear your shared giggles through the photo.

he was supposed to be home an hour ago, and nights like this were happening more often. he’d always be an hour to an hour and a half late getting home. it was always an apology, saying ‘training ran late’ or the quadrant shoot ‘ran on longer than it was supposed to’, you’d see him for fifteen minutes while the two of you ate dinner, and then he’d go off to the office until he decides to join you in bed later in the night.

at first, you didn’t complain, knowing he was a man with a busy schedule, but after almost two months of this same song and dance, your anxiety was getting the best of you.

what if he was out with someone else? what if he was slowly losing interest in you? what if he just tolerates you?

the sound of the door closing pulled you from your thoughts, snapping your head up as you heard footsteps enter the room. he placed his keys, wallet and phone on the counter, frowning softly.

“sorry i’m late,” here we go again, “i told max i needed to be home by 4 and he insisted we played another round before i left.”

you nodded, taking another sip from the glass on your right, “‘s fine.”

he watched you swallow thickly, tilting your head to look back out the window. he noticed the way your hand tapped against your arm softly, his eyes moving to the plates set on the table. your grandmother’s china.

his heart dropped when he thought back to your conversation the other night, him saying the two of you would have a proper sit down meal tonight since he felt bad for running late lately.

and he just fucked it all up even more.

“you don’t have to lie,” he said, making you advert your attention back to him, “i know you know it’s not fine.”

you shook your head, “what’s it matter to you, anyway?”

he knew he deserved the digs and jabs you were sending his way, “seriously, lando, if you’re not interested in me anymore just say it instead of making me play this stupid game.”

the silence that fell between the two of you after was the final blow. he watched your cheeks glisten in the soft candle light, and fuck, he hated seeing you cry. especially when it was because of him.

he didn’t know what to say as your chair scraped the floor, getting up from your spot at the table and picking up your plate. the food untouched as you grabbed the saran wrap from the pantry.

he heard your quiet sniffle, “i’m so sorry, y/n-“

“then where have you been the past two months?” he blinked back at you before you continued, “every single day it’s the same, overused excuse. so, what is it really, lando? enlighten me.”

he swallowed because he didn’t have answer that didn’t sound like he was making an excuse. he really had been busy with work, but he knew he could’ve done better with planning to make more time for you and him.

you knew he loved you with every fiber of his being, but you were upset. you were angry and sad and all you wanted was for him to come home and spend time together like the two of you used to do. but it was like it was too much to ask for.

of course you knew what you were signing up for when he took you on your very first date, but you didn’t know it would mean being put on the back burner, begging to be let in on the things going on his life.

his silence made you nod, “right,”

he reached out to you slowly, not sure how you would react. you bit down on your bottom lip, the dam breaking now as he stepped towards you.

“y/n,” he said your name softly, understanding that your lash-outs were because of men who had hurt you in the past, knowing too well what it felt like when anxiety and over thinking takes over. he couldn’t be mad at you, he just wanted to make things right. make you feel reminded that he loved you. more than racing, more than his friends, more than anything in the whole world.

the back of your hands were raised to your eyes when he grabbed them and pulled you closer to him, letting your body rest against his chest. you gave in, knowing that at the end of the day, he was your safe place. your shoulder to cry on, the one who always saw you in your most vulnerable stages. there was no getting past him with this one.

your hands wrapped around his middle loosely as you cried softly into his chest. he rested his head against yours, rubbing your back the same way he always did whenever he’d comfort you. his lips pressed against your hair before he grabbed your face gently, lifting your chin to have you look at him.

he wiped the tears from your cheeks, eyes searching yours and that’s when you realized he had been crying too, “i’m gonna talk to my trainer and the guys and tell them i need a little bit of a break, and you and i are gonna spend every single day together doing whatever you want.”

you felt selfish now, “but this is your job, lan,”

“i don’t care,” he said, shaking his head as he moved his hand to hold your cheek, “they’ll be fine if i take a few days off.”

your hand came up to mimic his on your cheek, your fingers brushing against the small moles on his face. the same ones your lips press against whenever you kiss his face. the pads of your thumbs brushed away the small tear lingering around his nose.

“i’m sorry,” you apologized, feeling guilty for being cold to the boy who loved you like no other.

“don’t apologize,” he said, “i should’ve done better. you don’t deserve to feel like you’re on the back burner of my life.”

you wrapped your arms around his neck as his snaked around your waist, pulling you closer as if it was even possible. you looked back out the window, the light from the golden hour sun shining on the trees in the backyard. he pressed a gentle kiss to your cheek, “i love you.”

you smiled softly, pulling back to meet his gaze. your smile making his lips turn up into one mirroring yours, “i love you, too.”

he leaned down and pressed a kiss to your lips, a mixture of the wine you had with dinner and the salty tears you had cried a few moments prior with the subtle hint of your chapstick.

you both pulled away, him taking you by surprise when he lifted you off the ground. you squealed, a soft giggle escaping your lips as you clung onto his hoodie for dear life.

“lando!” you laughed, letting him carry you to the couch and thanking yourself for putting his dinner plate in the fridge earlier.

you had your boy back.

[ghostfacd]

WANNA BE YOURS. — LUKE HUGHES

based off this tiktok trend!

pairing; slytherin!luke hughes x hufflepuff!fem!reader

summary; in which you’re head over heels for a certain slytherin quidditch player, no matter how different your circumstances are

genre; fluff, a teeny TINY bit of angst, hogwarts!au obviously, classmates to lovers, black cat!luke & golden retriever!reader (they are inlove your honor!)

author’s note: NOBODY asked for this but I couldn’t stop thinking of slytherin!luke?? LITERALLY writing this with a pounding headache in my beach house as we speak but anything 4 my bae, enjoy as always, comments and reblogs are always appreciated <3 i love ur guys little tags and notes on the rbs

SLYTHERIN!LUKE MASTERLIST

If there was one thing any of your friends could agree on when they are asked with the question what is yn absolutely obsessed with? is Luke Hughes.

The pretty boy from Slytherin who just happens to be a quidditch star, eating up every other house when it came to the games.

Luke and YN have never spoke to each other before—at least, not for more than 5 minutes. The last time she heard Luke speak ever was when he was with his older brother, Jack, and his voice was annoyed as Jack kept teasing him about losing to Gryffindor. Luke, to say the least, was not thrilled.

He was quiet in the classes they shared, only really speaking when he had to. It was one of the many reasons as to why YN liked him so much. He wasn’t like his annoying friends, who were always talking about girls and making Quidditch their entire personality. No, he was sweet and delicate, just how YN liked them.

He was rather cold, though. His last partner, Teddy Wellings was quite the chatterbox, running Luke’s ear off during their potion making session in class. With a cold glare that could freeze Teddy right up, Luke spoke one word. Quiet. It was enough to shut Teddy right up, who got the memo that Luke did not want to be bothered with his constant gossip.

“Ynnnnnie you have to come,” your friend, Evermore says, refusing to let go of her hold on you.

“Morie, I have homework!” You sigh exasperated, “let go.”

“Not until you come with me! This is your chance to speak to Luke, Slytherin is playing against Ravenclaw tonight,” Evermore sits up to smirk at you, “and if you don’t end up getting with Luke, there will be a bunch of cute Ravenclaw quidditch players to talk to.”

“Fine,” you sigh, “only because I know you won’t stop until I say yes.”

Evermore shrieks in happiness, pulling you into a tight hug that makes it hard for you to breathe.

You place on your Hufflepuff scarf and a warm sweater that had your bright yellow house color over them, preparing to leave with Evermore.

When you two finally found a seat, it was dark out and in the middle of the game. Luke was fast on his broom, his eyes calculating and as stone cold as they always were.

“Isn’t Conrad the cutest?” Evermore fawns over the boy, her eyes filled with love.

“Who?”

“The cute seeker on Ravenclaw!”

“Whatever makes you happy,” you say, giving a forced smile to Evermore. Your eyes were more focused on Luke, who was rushing past at the speed of light. He was talented, so much so that he made the team his first year at Hogwarts while his brothers made it their second and third years.

“AND LUKE HUGHES CATCHES THE SNITCH!” The Slytherin announcer yells excitedly.

You watch in awe as the game stops and Luke’s teammates all fly over to him, patting him on the back in excitement and joy.

“This is your chance,” Evermore whispers as she watches the players fly down and start making their way to the lockers. “Talk to Luke!”

She pushes you over to him, and for a slight moment, a rush of adrenaline soars through your body.

Now or never, you think.

So you walk over to Luke Hughes, who was busy talking to one of his teammates.

“Excuse me,” you say, pulling him back slightly by his quidditch uniform.

He looks down at you, then back at his teammate. “Meet you later?” He says to the guy, and you swore it was the most you’ve ever heard Luke Hughes speak.

“See you bro,” the guy whistles as he leaves, “lock ‘em in Lukey boy!”

Luke rolls his eyes at this, then turns his attention back to you. “Can I help you?”

“I just.. I just wanted to say that you played amazing out there.” You say, “and that you’re a really talented quidditch player.”

Luke breaks his cold face to give you a small smile, and if it were not for your sudden confidence, you would’ve fainted at the sight.

“Thank you YN,” he says.

“You know my name?” You say that with more surprise than intended, which makes Luke burst out in laughter.

“Duh, you’re in my class.”

“Well.. I just never thought you would notice me, you don’t even acknowledge most of our class.”

“That’s because most of our class is not worth me acknowledging,” Luke has a sly smile on now, almost as if he’s teasing you. “Is that all you wanted to tell me?”

“No,” you say quietly. “I really like you and was wondering if you’d like to—maybe—go out to Hogsmeade with me sometime.”

Where was this sudden confidence coming from?! Your head internally screamed, but you tried to keep your composure.

“But I’m a Slytherin,” he says, head leaning back against the wall.

“So?”

“You’re a Hufflepuff,”

“I don’t care about houses Luke,” you say, a genuine look in your eyes.

“But I’m always busy,”

“So?”

“I’ll never have time for you if you want to pursue me,”

“That doesn’t matter to me.”

“But I’m always cold,” Luke stares directly into your eyes. “Don’t you want a boyfriend who doesn’t always look like he’s upset?”

“I don’t care about that, I just wanna be yours, Luke.”

“I’m bad at communicating,”

“Still wanna be yours,” you say, now holding onto both of Luke’s hand.

“I’m bad at comforting people,”

“Wanna be yours, Luke.”

“I don’t even talk a lot,”

“Wanna be yours.”

“I struggle opening up,”

“Wanna be yours,”

“I don’t like PDA,”

“Don’t you get it Luke?” You say, “I don’t care about any of those things. I really like you. I still want to be yours.”

Luke sighs, looking down at your persistent figure. Even after he’s named everything that could possibly make you uninterested, you still want to pursue him?

“Alright YN,” he says, pulling you close to him as he wraps his arms around your shoulders. “Sure, I’d love to go to Hogsmeade with you.”

You couldn’t wait to tell Evermore about this the next morning.

[shadowdaddies]

Could I possibly request some fluff or smut for Rhys? Maybe it’s his and readers wedding day/mating ceremony?

I kinda want to leave it up to you if you wanna keep if fluffy or turn it into smut because I could go both ways right now.

Like I’m in a fluffy mood but I wouldn’t be opposed to some smut as well, if that makes sense lol. Sorry for not being able to make up my mind lol

Hope you have a great day and hope you are taking care of yourself 🩷🩷

Thank you for the request and the kind words, anon💜💜 I hope you have a lovely day as well. I am also feeling very fluffy today, but I added a little spice at the end for ya too

For Eternity, and Evermore

Rhys x Reader

Warnings: this is very fluffy, just a little suggestiveness at the end

With shaky hands, you took the bouquet of flowers and began your walk to the courtyard where your closest friends and family were waiting. Heart racing from the nerves that accompanied the biggest moment of your life, you took a deep breath as you arrived at the start of the aisle and looked up to see your mate, Rhys, waiting for you at the other end. 

The moment you locked eyes with him, you felt as though your chest would burst with the overwhelming joy and peace. Your mate. Your forever. A golden warmth spread through your chest as you looked at the other half of your soul, and felt whole for the first time in your life. Faintly aware of your friends and family watching you, it felt as though you were floating towards Rhys, who smiled brightly at you through barely unshed tears. 

You took your place next to the priestess, holding Rhys’s hands. You were briefly drawn back to reality when you heard a sob, and turned to see Mor comforting a crying Cassian in the crowd. You turned back to Rhys, who gave you a knowing smile as you softly laughed and gently squeezed his hands. You fumbled your way through the vows you’d written to Rhys, feeling as though there would never be words adequate to describe what he meant to you. Nevertheless, Rhys poured his love and gratitude through the bond at your attempt. 

When it came time for Rhysand to say his vows, it was as though the rest of the world disappeared, and gave you two your own for a moment. Rhys’s voice wavered for the first time since you had known him as he laid his soul bare to you. “My dearest love, you held my heart long before I met you. I spent over five hundred years, unaware that I was missing the best part of myself until I found it. I didn’t know that the sense of wholeness I was searching for was possible, until I heard your voice. You are a song that I danced to in dreams, a work of art whose colors I see in everything. You do not only make me a better male, you make me who I am. I found myself in you. While eternity is not a long enough time with you, that is where we will start. I am honored to spend this life, and every life after as your mate. Yours, evermore.”

The rest of the night was blanketed in an enchanting mist, the entire world aglow as you danced and drank and celebrated with everyone you loved. You were pleasantly tired as people began to make their way to their homes for the night, letting out a soft yawn as you rested your head on Rhys’s shoulder. 

He looked down at you, eyes filled with love and a mischievous promise as he watched your sleepy face, and murmured in your ear, “I hope you are not too tired, darling. I intend to repeat those vows to you again tonight. Letter by letter, with my tongue, against that sweet pussy.” 

It was late the next day before sleep claimed you long enough to break from loving and worshipping every part of each other.

[loverofallthingssarah]

she's the only one for me

wednesday addams x reader

prompt: jealousy

warning: none

word count: 800 +

A/N: sorry for any mistakes or typos

loosely based on some lyrics from jolene by dolly parton but not the actual song itself

“Wednesday!” you yelled through the hallways of Nevermore, evermore frustrated by the second. Wednesday stood you up yet again for another secret meeting with Tyler. You tried to understand Wednesdays’ need to kept the relationship between you private, but what did you have to show for it.  You spent all the free time set aside to be able to be a couple with her alone and you were sick and tired of it.  Today was going to be the end of all that useless time.

You made you way around the whole campus until you found Wedesday and Tyler whispering amongst eachother in a quiet, vacant corridor. You growled beneath your breath and you saw the glint behind Wednesday’s cold eyes.  She was intrigued, and you throught it was by Tyler.  You shivered at the thought of her falling for the normy, he wasn’t anywhere near the calibar of person you would ever think would catch her eye. Marching forward, you spoke, “Wednesday?”

“Oh, Y/n.  I forgot about our meeting. I will have to reschedule at a later date.” she replied then turned her head back to Tyler.

“Don’t bother, Wednesday.” You wanted to scream and tell her how furious you were at the way she was treating you, but truely all you ever say yourself was a distraction for her.  What more could she possibly want from someone as dull as you.  She can have her choice of suitors, but you could never fall again.  

Wednesday head whipped around at your words but her stone facade made her true emotions refuse to surface.  She watched as you walked away truly upset at herself for letting her ego get in the way of her emotions.  She was only using Tyler as an distraction instead of facing on what scared of most and that was her feeling for you. She let herself indulge in you and this secret relationship.  Even after knowing she shouldn’t, you were just too addicting to her, but she knew she was only going to hurt you in the end.  Emotions never came easy to Wednesday, so instead she just never allowed herself to feel most of them.  Hatred came easily; love did not. 

Tyler nudged Wednesday motioning down to their scheme of breaking into his dad’s office at the sheriff station. She rolled her eyes at his eagerness, but Tyler would do anything to appease Wednesday. 

Weeks went by of you solely avoiding Wednesday at all cost, and as much as she wanted to find you- she didn’t.  This was a lot harder than you thought considering you had most of your classes with her, but you just sat as far from her as possible until it wasn’t.  Both of you got paired to work on a project together and you stomach turned at the thought of being alone working with her.  Your willpower could only stand so long. 

Wednesday stopped you rushing away after class, “Y/n.  Enid is going to be away for the weekend.  Come by tomorrow at 6.”

You nodded wishing you could use any excuse to get out of being alone with the raven haired beauty standing in front of you.  Her twitch eye twitched as she walked back in the the opposite direction.

The following day, you spent it dreading your meeting with your ex-girlfriend tonight. You gathered all your courage and made your treak up the stairs to Wednesday and Enids room.  You took a minute to collect yourself outside the door before knocking on her door.  Wednesday whips the door opens and motions you forward without so much as a greeting.  Looking around the room you noticed the obiance Wednesday had set up just for you, “What is all of this Wednesday?”

“This is my way of trying to make things right,” she steps forward trying to connect her lips with yours.  You back up, “Do you really think you just kiss me about it will all be better? I’m done, Wednesday.  I came to work on the project and that is all.” 

Her eye twitches again, “I thought that-” you interrupt her, “Well, you thought wrong. I’m done with how things were, Wednesday.  I’m worth more than spending my time pawning over someone completely unattainable. I know I’m not worth much, but I’m worth more than that.  And-” 

She quickly jumps in, “You are worth so much, Y/n! I’m sorry it took me so long to realize it.  I have been trying to find ways to prevent myself from feeling what it is that you make me feel, that I lost sight of what truly is important.  If you give me the chance, I will right my wrongs.  I’ll stop distracting myself with this incredulous missions with Tyler.  We can let the world know that, I.  Wednesday Addams, am completely and irrevocably in love with you.” 

You just stare at Wednesday as she catches her breath in complete shock.  Unaware of the vulnerability seeping through her veins.  Wednesday thinks your silence means her defeat.  Her head starts to hang low before you rush toward her.  Gripping her chin, you nudge her face up to yours.  A glint of tears shines in her eyes, “Oh, Wednesday.” you whisper before connecting your lips.

sfw taglist: @oh-mydarling @rainbow-hedgehog @peggycarter-steverogers @citizenoftheworld-stuff-blog @lanawinters-ily @lntlmate @sapphicforsarahh @strawberryshorttcakkee @dreamypqulson @goodeday2u @winters-witch-bitch

[clockworkbee]

Nora: If I tried to list everything Riko did to Jean over the years, I’d never get to sleep tonight, so we’ll have to settle for some random examples. Here are a few numbers for you:

NOTE: I know she's deleted all these answers to the asks and I really wanna respect that while at the same time really really wanting to share these so someone PLEASE tell me to stop sharing if you believe this is wrong and I promise to just stop.

Six: the number of fngers Jean’s had broken over the years. Three: the number he was ordered to break himself for Riko’s amusement. Zero: the number of days he was allowed to miss practice for these injuries.

Four: the number of times Riko pushed Jean down a fight of stairs in Evermore. Two: the number of times Jean didn’t ball up fast enough and bashed his head open on the concrete.

Two hundred and sixty-six: the total number of stitches Jean needed while under Riko’s supervision, not including the ones he received after Kengo’s death.

Ten: the number of times Riko tried waterboarding Jean. Once to see if it was as efective and traumatizing as the news made it out to be. Nine more times because it really, really was.

Sixteen: the age Jean was when Riko frst ordered another Raven to fuck him.

((Riko will not engage in anything homosexual himself, but he is not above inficting sexual trauma on others via others. See: Drake. See: Proust.))

Five: the number of times Riko passed Jean around. “Only” fve, because four: the number of times Jean whispered Please don’t do this to me; four: the number of times Riko hit him for insubordination and ignored that haunted look in Jean’s eyes. The ffth time Jean didn’t break his own heart by fghting back. The ffth time he let the other Raven into his bed without a word or token protest, and that was boring as fuck, so Riko didn’t orchestrate a sixth demonstration.

One: the number of drafts in which Jean does not commit suicide.

If Renee hadn’t stolen Jean from the Ravens & Neil hadn’t bought his safety:

one hundred: the chance Jean would commit suicide graduation night.

[mambalae-s]

everstill ━ geto suguru x reader

wc: 5.3k

cw: angst; self-loathing; description of a panic attack; reader is described as a chubby black woman; unprotected sex; creampies; bathtub sex; please let me know if i'm missing anything here!

notes from author: do NOT interact with this post if you are below the age of 18 ━ i will block you.

you hate the woman you see in the mirror. with every ounce of your heart, you despise her.

your brown eyes of earth and deep autumn, they pick your body apart along cruel tears and whispers so dark that you wish they’d stay hidden, that they’d disappear into a dark night, for them to never return. yet, during your eleventh hours, they do — they haunt you like ancient demons that would carve sigils beneath your skin, so that they may be summoned time and time again when your eyes meet your reflection. tonight, you mourn, feels as if it will be no different.

before you, stands a girl who pretends to be a woman. broken, so terribly and utterly broken this girl, with her dark skin littered with eons of fractures just like a vase waiting to fall apart. her imperfect body lays bare between your brown eyes, and even your tears aren’t enough to shield you from the unsightly mars you find, try as they may. your vision turns hazed and your eyes sting terribly, but still you see the weight that sits on your bones, and you believe it unsightly. you believe your belly too big and your face too round; you hate the way your breasts hang lower than they used to, how your hips crease and bend like the sides of a violin. the stretch marks that litter your brown skin, they remind you of lines carved carelessly by a dull knife and you find them hideous, where your voice disappears between your lips beneath poisoned sobs and choked back cries.

yet, oh ever-yet still, could this not be enough to hurt you? it is — it’s already more than enough, yet your cross sits heavily on your shoulders, and your crown of thorns are yet another labyrinth of invisible scars marred into your temple. there’s a pain unseen that runs beneath veins shredded to red ribbons, so beautiful in their tragedy as they pour your heart through bleeding cuts. visceral carnage told through two decades of betrayal from the people closest to you, whose tongues hid sharpened blades dipped in a purple venom, their damages still felt in their absence, a gaping chasm that you’ve placed between you and your past. it’s vast and merciless, and you’d vowed never to speak their names evermore, nevermore, and yet still, they haunt you in the remnants of their memories like childhood ghosts, and with each cruel apparition comes a clarity you wish so desperately that you’d stay oblivious to — those people of your flesh and blood, they never did care for you. and even now, they never will.

you only pray, with your bleeding heart cupped in hands painted red, that you and your broken pieces would be enough for one man alone.

there’s a sound of a door that opens in the deafening quiet, the wooden structure so gentle as it slides shut, yet it jars you so and your breath locks inside your throat. fear is familiar, yet comes to you as a stranger, it’s face so foreign and the touch of its cold fingers out of place where you’re hidden away in sanctuary. you shouldn’t feel fear when you know where you are — you’re home, and you wait between the comfort of four flaming wands for your darling to return. you know it’s only him coming back to you, but you’re so vulnerable and you’ve done everything to tear yourself apart in his absence that you panic and your skin crawls with the taste of bile in the back of your throat. you can’t let him see you like this, not when the cracks in your frame have deepened to the bone and rendered you asunder — he shouldn’t know of these demons that torture you on malevolent hymns, you pray he never will. you know what you must do — you know the door to this vast, coffee painted bathroom only stands so many steps away from you, but it seems so far all the same and the distance is daunting and you’re too terrified to move. your lungs forget the taste of oxygen and become intoxicated on the poisonous lack thereof, your heart abandons you and runs wild through a plain of darkness and every nerve tangles around your spine like a snake whose fangs bury themselves deep inside your jugular. here you stand, frozen, naked; afraid and bare just as the day you were born, and it’s in this state — a gentle knock raps against the bathroom door, one, two beats that don’t dare to catch pace with your racing heart as he calls your name — that suguru finds you.

the shoji door slides open despite the cries of your heart for it to stay closed, and the thin bamboo frame exposes you mercilessly to the man who stands behind it. you take in the picture of him in front of you; watch his eyes first melt and a smile paint his lips, before his familiar visage turns to one of worry as he looks at you, truly looks at you and sees you, just as he’s always done. he sees your puffy eyes, stricken red by tears as salty as the dead sea; your lips which quiver with the frigidness of a harsh winter’s 4 am; your chest that shutters up and down, up and down, desperate for the mercy of air and, gods, you must look so pitiful, and you hate yourself for letting him see you this way.

“angel, what’s the matter?” suguru sounds as breathless as you feel and you can’t understand why, but you’re so desperate in this moment to let everything go. you’re so close to falling apart as his hurried steps close the distance and you want to reach out to him, to hold him and reassure him that you’re fine, ‘i’m fine,’ but the words are too heavy and your cross weighs down on your back like a vice. and beneath yellow fluorescence that shines like a cruel sun, you crumble as soon as his arms wrap around your naked body.

“oh, angel… it’s okay.” suguru holds you, hushes you as your body wrecks itself apart on childish cries, your voice broken on abandon as you sob into his chest. “shh, shhh… i’m here, (y/n)… i’m here. i’m right here…”

“m’— m’so sorry, suguru…!” your hands find purchase in the dark fabric he wears, holding so tightly as you apologize and beg for forgiveness. “m’so— sorry..! m’so sorryyy…!” cracks bend the pitch of your voice and turns you into the wounded little girl who’d only ever known how to cry. “you s-shouldn’t… y-you shouldn’t see m-me like this… m’ so sorry, suguru, m’sorry…!”

suguru’s arms wrap around you tightly as he pulls your face against his chest, his chin resting atop puffy curls and his palms spread against the flat of your back. “no, no, baby, no… you don’t need to apologize to me… you’re doing nothing wrong, it’s okay.”

you feel your snot and tears staining his shirt, the feeling so ugly to you that your body feels repulsed and you want to pull away lest you dirty him any further, and it’s as he senses your thoughts and he tightens his hold around you. each gentle hush pushes gently through every sob that racks your lungs as he gently cups the back of your head and pulls you closer into his chest, as if to tell you that he couldn’t care any less about his clothes being dampened by your tears. “there, baby girl, there,” he whispers against your hair, soft, patient, and loving. “take a deep breath for me, hm? in through your nose and out through your mouth.”

biting your lip in a weak attempt to control your sobs, you do as he says, and suguru repeats the action in sync with you as his heartbeat thuds against your ears, a gentle drumming noise that grounds you against the feeling of him being here, hands pressed against your skin, lips resting atop your head. “that’s it… just like that, angel. you’re doing good.” he praises you on a quiet whisper. “one more time, okay?”

just as he asks of you, you breathe once more, imploring your traitorous lungs to do as he desires, because he desires. for him, you let him show you how to breathe, and his scent washes over you on nodes of petrichor and rain washed mountains. you breathe, and abandon all else that isn’t him, clinging to him like a lifeline, for he keeps your head above violent waves and saves you, just as he always does.

“that’s it, (y/n)… thank you.” the hand that rests on your back comes to your chin, he tilts your face upwards so that you’ll look at him and gods, the sight of those brown eyes causes your head to spin. somehow, they’re wet and his dark lashes are lined with beautiful tears, and he looks at you so tenderly, so full of care, with affection in the place where you’d expected to see disdain. “you did so good for me.” he praises you with a soft kiss to your forehead, his cool breath ghosting against your skin. “so, so good. such a good girl for me.”

you sniffle and wrap your hands around his back, feeling the need to hide yourself from him so that those perceptive eyes won’t peer down at you any longer. you feel as if you should cover yourself lest he look at your broken form with such amour, because how can something so damaged ever dare to take so selfishly? “m sorry, suguru…”

yet again, you apologize, because you’re not sure what else you can do. shame is a bitter medicine on your tongue that you force down with a grimace, your throat locks around it and your body wants to refuse it. you’re too scared to meet his eyes and you worry that, this time — this time for sure, you’ll se disgust, hatred, the very same that looks back at you in your reflection. how could someone like you, after all, so fragmented and imperfect and so horribly ruined, ever meet those eyes and accept with your heart that he looks at you and loves you despite?

and yet again — time and time again, and again, and again — he does. his touch is compassionate against your right cheek when he guides your face upwards, and his lips, they’re merciful. merciful, and loving, and tender and all when he presses them to your puffed eyelids. his thumb, even the soft touch of it alone lights your skin along glowing embers as he uses it to caress your skin and he breathes — exhale, inhale — and you mimic him in the action, so, so desperate to taste his air.

“(y/n),” a whisper of your name that echoes against coffee painted walls, it sinks into your heart and holds it close. “angel, you don’t need to apologize to me.” his kisses, they’re eons of a love you’ve only ever dreamed of having, never enough, never enough are you to ever hope of being worthy, never daring of wanting, of having. “i’m here for you.” and his lips, they linger by your eyelids, where the salt of your tears leak like a faucet. “i’m here, and i always will be, okay? i’ll always be here. trust me, okay?”

ah, and there it is. that plea, so soft it would vanish had he spoken any quieter, and yet so resolute, as it his words were the creation of the universe itself. your brown eyes water and the tears run freely, collecting atop his palm where he kindly wipes them away. you can’t trust your voice, so you grasp on to his wrist and lean further into his touch, wishing, evermore praying that you’d never depart from it and you nod. you hope and beg to the gods that would listen, that your heart could perhaps sing her broken songs loud enough for him to hear, that her voice could carry through childlike sobs and that he’d understand. he does, he always does, and he smiles down at you and takes your lips with his in a show of devotion and worship that overpowers your every sense and paints pictures of a god and his devoted follower. and that god, you find through suguru’s lips, you find that she’s you. that she looks like you through his eyes, eternal and heavenly, with her hand stretched down from the heavens, and your devotee, him. a man that holds on to your viscage with so much reverence and adoration, touching you as if just the feel of you could grant him eternal life. he revers you with his kisses, with the touch or warm fingers that leave their mark in your bloodstream, where they dance between your veins and fill you up anew. he kisses you and devours each sweet plea of his name, each fragile cry, and he paints them across his skin on amour eterno.

“lemme take care of you tonight, angel.” geto’s lips are searing across yours, where the taste of your tears sit heavy on his tongue and you remind yourself to swallow lest your heart leaps into your throat. carefully, he guides you backwards, and he’s smiling at you, so lovingly, so tenderly — just as the touch of his hands and each kiss that flutters across your cheek. soon, the back of your legs hit the cold edges of the large bathtub, and you fear for a moment — a silly, fleeting moment, that you’d fall and you yelp, grasping on to his biceps and clinging for dear life, but suguru, he holds you firm, never wavering his grip around your hip and chuckling softly when you bump into his chest.

“i’ve got you angel,” he lays another kiss between your brow before he gently pushes you down, so that you now sit on the very edge of the bathtub. “here, lemme run you a nice warm bath, okay? just sit tight and wait for me right here — i’ll start gathering everything and i’ll make it just the way you like it.”

“suguru,” before you can stop yourself, your hand flies to grab hold of his wrist, stopping him before he can get too far. your eyes, they’re pleading up at him, and again, shame dances in your gut like terrible vise. “you don’t have to…” your head shakes, and your nails dig into his skin without you taking account of your actions, only yet feeling the desperation that wraps around your voice. “i don’t wanna… don’t wanna cause trouble for you after a long day.”

there’s a soft, soft exhale that falls from suguru’s lips, yet within that breath, you hear no malice or frustration, no hint of annoyance that you’d convinced yourself he must’ve been feeling. instead, he leans down, his weight balanced on his heels and he takes your hands in his, where his thumbs trace circles across your knuckles and his touch, evermore warm. his eyes, they resemble the deepest hour of midnight, so dark and enchanting and you, you’re enraptured beneath them, your fragile heart singing his praises and glory be.

“i want to.” he utters, and in those words are a promise untold. “it’s no trouble at all. trust me, hm?” endearingly, his head tilts to the side, little wisps of black hair slipping across his forehead as he leans forward and presses his face into the bare skin of your chest. your arms wrap around his shoulders, and your face buries atop his head where his black hair tickles your nose, and you sigh, relenting.

“okay…”

he hums softly before squeezing you tighter, for a second and then more, and he presses a soft kiss between the valley of your breasts as he pulls away and sets to work. he lets the bathtub fill with warm water, a beautiful golden bathbomb from your favourite store scattering glitters and bubbling up beneath the clear water. you watch him set alight the honey oatmilk and almond scented candle he knows you love the most, and sprinkles a few droplets of lavender and grapeseed oil into the bath before shutting the water off. he’s set everything up just the way you love, ever so considerate, ever so caring, and it warms your heart and brings new tears to your eyes because you can’t understand — how could he love you so?

“is the water okay?”

you lean into the hand pressed against your cheek, falling into the warmth he radiates between the orange candlelight and smile at him, humming. “mhm… will you join me?”

“of course my love.” he whispers as he presses a kiss against your temple. “here, lemme get undressed, why don’t you go ahead and get in?”

you do as he says, sliding your legs over the white porcelain to stick your feet into the bubbly water. it’s warm, and the glitter sticks to your brown skin like a thousand beautiful shards of gold, they paint themselves over your visage in the light of fluttering kaleidoscopes. taking a deep breath, you slide in, and let yourself be encompassed by the love you’ve been presented in act of service. and soon enough, suguru joins you too, completely bare and his hair tied up as he slides in behind you, where his hands pull you snug between his legs and against his chest.

“thank you, suguru…” you sigh as your head lulls back and falls into the crook of his neck. his hands, so firm, yet careful, rub circles into your hips, molding away at each tense muscle and you, helplessly, melt. “i’m sorry i’m making you take care of me like this… you must’ve had such a long day.”

behind you, suguru presses another kiss beneath your hairline, where his lips linger with his breath and his arms squeeze you tighter against him. “it’s no trouble, my love.” he reassures you softly, as your body softens and turns to putty within the sanctuary of his embrace. “you’re going through a hard time, i don’t want you to ever apologize for that.”

“but…” your words quiver on something you don’t understand, its weight on your throat like a noose that stops your breath. you’re scared to face the man behind you, yet the comfort his arms is so profound that you consider, maybe, he wouldn’t turn you away. and your eyes — those beautiful, brown eyes of gaia, earthly mother — they look up at suguru, your neck angled up, and you find glory in his smile. “i feel like i’m a burden… i don’t…” oh god, those eyes, they overwhelm and consume you just like the night sky, where within them your reflection shines back at you like the milky way — beautiful and enchanting, but god, how unworthy you feel. “i don’t have any right to make you worry for me…”

“oh, angel…” the water makes noise as suguru lifts his hand and his body shifts so that he can turn you to the side, wanting to look at you better, for you to look at him. his hand finds home on top of your cheek where his thumb caresses your skin, tracing little hearts as they trail down to your quivering lips. wistfully, he sighs, and there’s an aching there in his voice when he whispers,

“if only you could see yourself the same way that i see you. if you could see that you’re so worthy of love, so, so worthy and deserving, you’d never think of yourself as a burden. (y/n), i love you — even through these hard days and painful nights, i’ll never leave your side. the space you hold here in my heart,” with his other hand, he reaches up and pulls your palm flat against his chest, and there’s a gentle bum, bum, bum that sings to you amorous melodies. “you have every right to hold and stay here… never for a second doubt that, okay? you’re not a burden… loving you could never be a burden.”

when he kisses you, you break all over again.

between his lips, you taste the poems of old greece, songs written for persephone and aphrodite, legends of goddesses revered and worshipped. your world spins on the winters of agape as your mouth molds against his and your hands, they desperately wrap around his shoulders and knot into his hair, where your fingers tangle and pull apart his bun so that black tresses fall and tickle your skin. oh, how wonderfully your world spins — and how precious this kiss, the feeling of his body burning you on ravishing fires that you fear you’ll turn to nothing but ashes, ashes, ashes to ashes, dust to dust.

“suguru…” breathlessly, you whimper his name like a prayer for salvation, your skin suddenly hot inside the cooling bath. your very bones ache for him, and yet, your feeble soul tells you you’re unworthy, unworthy. that you don’t deserve his love.

but suguru, he proves to you that you are more than worthy.

without ever parting your lips, he wraps an arm around your waist and pulls you onto his lap, fingers spread across your back before settling into the flesh of your hips. beneath his touch, you become all too aware of your imperfections, of the fat beneath your skin and the stretch marks raised like lines of a map. but before your heart withers, suguru holds you and pulls you back into him before you can fall too deep.

“you can’t begin to imagine,” his voice, so soft, so sweet, it rings in husks against the shell your ear where he nibbles and bites, the sensation of his tongue sending shockwaves down your spine and you grip him tighter, moaning. “how much i absolutely adore you. every part of you.” his teeth suckle and bite your neck, his tongue draws circles and his lips suck fresh bruises along every inch of you he can reach. “how i worship you… how i love you.”

his fingers dig into your flesh as he rocks his hips against you; squeezing, feeling, positively devouring. “every part of you. every inch of you…” he reaches one hand for your breast, swollen and matured with time, no longer perky, but so full and round. he moulds them in the palm of his hands, his fingers aptly pinching your engorged nipples and twisting so that you squeal and throw your head back on a cry of his name. “you’re a work of art… the height of renaissance — the very image of perfection.”

his words are astoundingly clear amidst the fog inside your mind. they enrapture you, stealing your breath on the very taste of eros, and it teaches you hunger beyond hunger, the heat between your legs pouring through every vein as his erection rubs between your plush thighs. perfection, he called you — the word a concept so far placed from you that you thought he might’ve been delusional. but those thoughts don’t dare stay with you for long before suguru pulls you back down to earth.

leaning forward, his hands guide you to by your soft and squishy hips to hover above his waist, legs spread wide and your eyes looking down at him. “fuck, (y/n), if only you could see yourself the way i see you…” your nails dig into the flesh of his back as he swipes his tongue over your brown nipples, sucking until the bud would be drowned in his spit and your nerves choking on pleasure. your knees nearly buckling out from beneath you, you whimper, breaths heavy and laboured, all as his lips continue to roll your nipple between them, his cheeks hollowing to take in more of you until your areola disappears into his warm mouth. “if only you could feel the love you give to me each and every day, you’d never think of yourself the way you do…”

the way he touches you makes your head spin, his lips take your soul apart and makes you forget up from down and the colours around you blur on senseless desire, adoration. his tongue, truly, it worships your brown skin, his fingers poking between your thighs until they find where you need him the most. wetness manifests in a slickness that differs from the waters surrounding you as he spreads your pussylips apart, only so lightly touching that it hurts on what you can only call wanton desperation, needing him to be inside you, to be close to you. for him to hold you and love you until you couldn’t take anymore.

“suguru…” you plead breathlessly as your hips rut and shift, bucking against his digits sliding over you. “please…! please… can’t take anymore, just hold me… please hold me…”

here you are before him, weak and vulnerable. within your watery eyes, suguru finds in them his name, his visage painted with the word of ‘surrender’ — and you surrender to him. everything that you ever were, and all that you are now, he sees the way you offer it all in the name of love, pleading, hoping that it’ll be enough. yet, oh, don’t you know? to him, who would take saturn from the sky and place him between your hands, you’re so much more than enough; instead, you’re everything — everything and more, ever yet, ever still.

leaning back, suguru guides you with his palm against his face, your body chasing the warmth of his as the waters turn cold. he kisses you, and the feeling, it’s as if it would last forever. invocations of psalms taste like your religion founded on love and agape, as old an eternal and never-ending as the stars across the universe. your hunger, he satiates it, and the pain of endless time, he consumes it and so carefully takes it apart until all that’s left is you and him, him and you, here and now. and finally, finally, finally — he lets you release those cries and amourous solicitations of his name as he enters you slowly.

“su— ” your legs clench around his waist and you sob, clinging on to him for dear life as your body collapses into his lap. “suguru…!” the feeling of his cock spreading you apart tastes like a drug that courses through your bloodstream, throbbing and taking you to the very depths of eternity. his skin burns so hot against you, palms splayed across your back to pull you in closer, closer and yet never enough, where his very soul tries to break through the barriers of flesh all to embrace your spirit. his lips trail wet kisses along your cheek to follow each glistening teardrop, anguish that flourishes into proclamations of warmth and ever growing fondness that form crystalline diamonds and pour themselves all across his tongue. his hips roll slowly, and he savours every ounce of you that you give, even the parts of you that you’ve tried to hide. every demon that’s haunted you, every ghost of pain and suffering and cruelty, he caresses them with his fingers and shows them love, beseeching and pleading that they’d let you see the extents he would go for you, even to the pits of hell if need be. for you, suguru would tear the world asunder and set it alight, so that you could paint this blank canvas with the warm and beautiful colours of your smile.

“i love you, (y/n)…” he vows as a man bent at the knee, you, his empress, a divine ruler who he could only dare to dream after. and yet, ever yet — here you are before him. so close, so intimate do your bodies entangle that he disregards all fear of blasphemy and unrighteousness as he tangles his hands at the nape of your neck and kisses you hungrily. his breaths trail the dark shadows whispered on the hateful words you’d spoken against yourself and rewrites their very chemistry, the bitter taste of “i’m not worthy,” ; “i’m not good enough,” ; “i’m a burden,” ; “i’m broken,” — they become the sweetness of summer’s nectarine, and become tender vows that he endeavours to sing to you, in this life time, in the next, and for all the ones that come hereafter.

“i love you… i’ll always love you. even during the days when you can’t love yourself. i’ll never stop loving you… i always will.”

the sound of his voice so close to your ear, it’s maddening, intoxicating, and yet it grounds you to him, urging you to entangle him and pull him in deeper as your walls wrap around him, craven and crying out each syllable of his name as you sink down on him over and over. “i love you too, suguru,” you whisper, breathless, truthful, and just like him, your declaration reaches heaven on the hymns that you’d always sing. “i love you, i love you… haah! i love you, suguru i love you…”

he presses his forehead and moans, gasping at the sensation of warmth that spills out of you on his cock. deep inside you, he wants to stay forever, determined to make his home between your legs, for his heart to rest with yours and yours alone. until he could no longer tell where you end and where he begins, yearning to become one with you in every sense of the word. and god, he feels himself reaching his limit as he burrows deep inside you, ever so greedy for that sweet release only you could give him. “fuck, (y/n)… i’m close, i’m so close…”

“me too…” you exhale heavily, you own climax building slow, yet threatening to tip you into oblivion all the same. you grind against him until his tip hits your deepest point, pressing against your cervix and threatening to go even further still. “‘m almost there suguru, i promise… don’t stop yet, ‘m gonna be there with you, ‘m almost there… please…”

your words pour over him like molten sugar and suguru feels his hunger roll over him like a gentle tide, tempting him to take you over and over until time becomes nothing but a myth. until he’d become your past, present and future, and until his name would reach the divine as a declaration for the woman after his heart.

he doesn’t release his hold on you as he shifts to his knees, his chest only parts from you for a moment (but god, how empty it feels for that short moment) as he pushes your back against the far corner of the bath, water splashing around your bodies as he leans over you and presses his lips against yours. he angles his hips and pushes into you over and over, making sweet love to you and taking every sugary cry of his name from right out of your mouth. and those beautiful, lonely stars in the sky, they’d forever sing the story of your bodies uniting as finally, you fall apart together, of the euphoria that spread through your veins and across your skin like magnificent galaxies. he cums inside of you, filling your quivering hole to the very brim as your own release milks him for everything he has, breathless beneath him and devouring every gasp of your name that touches your swollen lips.

the bathroom walls blur, the feeling of the water around him vanishes, and in the end, all that’s left is you. his beautiful heart, famished and weary, and your loving eyes that behold him as if he were your deity. a smile spreads across his lips, and though his body is worn, his soul delights in your visage, tasting elation like a sweet wine as he embraces you, gentle and mindful, for how precious you are that he holds you with utter care and tenderness.

“i love you, (y/n)” he whispers against your neck, where the warmth of your heart reaches him in each pulse he tastes. he doesn’t see it, but he feels you smiling, and melts within your hold as you wrap your arms around his back.

“i love you, suguru… thank you… thank you for loving me.”

© mambalae-s ━ rb's + feedback are greatly appreciated!

[joannaliceevans-fanficblog]

Evermore: Part. Two: Chapter. Two

Hi everyone! Hope everyone is having a good week so far? Work has been picking up! Starting a new theme for this month. Mary Poppins anyone? A Spoonful of sugar?

Anyways, I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Evermore Masterlist

Midafternoon rolled in as you pulled up into your driveway. The lights were on and indicated that Andy was home. Giggles came from the back, knowing that Chloe was excited to see her uncle. Parking the car, you got out and opened the back of the car.

"Mommy, Uncle DeeDee is here!" Chloe said, clapping her hands in excitement.

"Yes, he is!" You replied, as you placed her down on the ground and went to get her backpack.

“Chloe Bug, Uncle Andy is babysitting you tonight." You said, taking a step up onto the front porch. Chloe paused and looked at you then asked, "Mommy, are you going to have fun?" 

You laughed and bent down to her to pinch her cheek, sending Chloe into fits of giggles.

"Yes, Mommy is going to have fun tonight. That's why Uncle Andy is watching you tonight." You said, opening the front door to see Andy on his laptop.

Andy looked up and he smiled, closing his laptop. You placed your things down, and along with her Hello Kitty backpack. You smiled, as you watched Chloe run to her uncle and he picked her up and placed her onto his hip. You smiled as Chloe was telling Andy about her day at school. 

“Mommy, can I play with my toys?” Chloe asked. 

You smiled and Andy placed her down, “Yes baby, but make sure to clean up when you are done okay?” 

She ran to the living room, “Yes, Mommy!” 

You laughed and turned your attention back to Andy. It was quiet for a moment when you realized that Andy didn’t have a car since he sold his Audi when left for Germany. 

“Now that you are back home, do you need a car? You can use Ari’s truck that’s in the garage.” 

Andy looked at you and laughed, “Ah…the Infamous GMC Truck you hate.” 

You playfully rolled your eyes, “Yea, but I’ve used it…a few times. Plus you boys are tall, and I’m short. But it’s yours until you can get another car.” You said with a smile. You knew it was what Ari wanted since you hate the car and can barely reach the pedals. 

“But it’s Ari’s, Y/N,” Andy said and you sighed. 

“I know, but it’s what he would want. Plus I can’t drive it.” You said. 

Again, Andy laughed at the image of you trying to drive it, “Yea, that makes sense, since you can barely reach the gas pedals,”

You frowned and playfully hit him, “Shut up, Andy Barber!” 

You stuck your tongue out. Andy picked up a piece of paper and threw it at you, making you yelp. 

**

Later that evening, you were upstairs getting ready, while Andy was downstairs with Chloe as they both were getting ready for their “date”. 

You chose a pair of blue jeans, a button-up shirt, and a pair of cowboy boots. Jake told you that he would be taking you out line dancing as that was your favorite thing to do. Ari would also take you every Friday. Then you looked at yourself in the mirror, making sure that you didn't forget anything else. Nodding to yourself, you then grabbed your purse and headed downstairs.

Once you hit that last step, you heard Andy talking to Chloe in the kitchen laughing.

“Pizza? I thought it was pasta?” Andy asked, laughing. Your daughter huffed and let out a giggle.

“No Uncle DeeDee! I don't likes pizza anymore. I like pasta! I speeghety!” Chloe said. You laughed and entered the kitchen.

“Chloe you mean Spaghetti?” You said, placing your purse down on the counter. 

“Chloe was telling me that pizza is no longer her favorite,” Andy said. You pinched your daughter's cheeks and she giggled. 

“Yeah, that's because I was at Holly's in-laws last week and her mother-in-law made some spaghetti for dinner. And now she won't stop asking for it.” You said. And before you could say anything, the doorbell rang and Andy gave you a look. You looked at your watch and smiled.

“Right on time. Did you want to meet him?” You asked. 

“Jake?” Andy asked and you nodded. 

“Well, I don't have a choice,” Andy said, following you to the front of the door with Chloe right behind you. 

As you were about to open the door, Andy beat you to it and you shot him a look. Andy ignored it and he opened the door for you. There stood a man, with a shaved head, glasses, a bit dorky looking and some flowers. Andy gave him a look over and you noticed.

“You must be Jake Jensen?” Andy asked. 

Jake looked at Andy and smiled, “I am, and I'm here to pick up Y/N. Do I know you?” Jake asked. Y/N then stood between the boys.

“Jake, this is Andy Barber. He's my best friend.” Y/N said. Jake looked at Andy and held his hand out. Andy hesitated for a moment and shook his hand. Then Jake noticed the little girl hiding behind Andy's leg. 

Jake then bent down to her, “And who's this little lady?” Jake asked. 

Feeling shy and unsure, Chloe looked to her Uncle and then to her mom. 

“Chloe, this mommy's friend. Can you say hi to Mr. Jake?” You say. 

“Hi, Mr. Jake,” Chloe said quietly and hid behind Andy, whom Chloe held onto. 

You noticed and you sighed, “Chloe sweetie?” 

You said as you bent down to her, “Mommy's going to go now. You are a big girl and have fun with your uncle okay? But not too many sweets, alright?” You hugged her and kissed her on the cheek.

“I wuv you, Mommy,” Chloe said quietly. 

You smiled and kissed her chubby cheek, “Love you too baby.” 

Then you looked at Andy and sighed, “General Andy Barber, this little miss is in charge, okay?” 

You said, raising an eyebrow. Andy laughed and shooed you away. 

Once you had left and the sound of the black Toyota SUV being driven away grew silent, Andy looked down at Chloe and smiled, “Shall I get your coat?” 

Chloe looked up to her uncle and clapped her hands, “Yup! And can I get ice cweam?” 

“Yes, you can!” 

**

The moment Andy got into the driver's seat, Andy sighed as he got visions of his best friend. This truck was his favorite and his dream car. Andy laughed as he remembered sitting in the backseat. You and Ari were arguing about something stupid. Even in the passenger's side, you still couldn't reach the floor. 

“Uncle DeeDee? Where are we going?” Chloe asked. Shaking his thoughts out, Andy looked behind him, to see Chloe looking back at him.

“To Friendly's!” Andy said with excitement. 

Chloe's eyes lit up and she giggled with excitement, “Mommy takes me there when I get awards from school!”

“Well then shall we?” Andy said as he started the car and backed out from the driveway. 

The drive was a little long, but Andy kept Chloe company playing Disney songs. With singing her favorites from Frozen and Brave. Once Andy pulled up into the parking lot, he got out and helped Chloe out of her car seat. The hostess sat them down at their table. 

“Now Chloe, do you know what you want? Or did you need me to help you?” Andy asked, showing the kid's menu to her. 

Chloe looked at the menu, knowing that she didn't know half of the words, “Mommy gets this one for me!” Chloe pointed at the Grilled Cheese Sandwich. 

“Oh, that's a good one. Your daddy likes those.” Andy said. 

The waitress came a few moments later, and Andy ordered. He ordered the grilled cheese sandwich for Chloe along with a small glass of juice. And Andy got himself a Cheeseburger and onion rings. Along with a glass of coke. 

While they waited for their food, Chloe was given a little coloring page with some crayons. As she worked on that, Andy noticed the heavy mix of you and Ari. With her tongue sticking out, Andy had to giggle, knowing that trait was from her mom. With the frowning, Ari comes out.

**

After dinner, Andy let Chloe choose an ice cream. The list was long, but her eyes lit up as she saw a Strawberry and Mint Sundae, with Chocolate Syrup, whipped cream, and lots of sprinkles. 

“Uncle DeeDee, this one!” Chloe said, in excitement. 

Andy laughed and he knew why she chose that. It's her mom's favorite and you always try to get Ari to taste the weird combo, but that never happens. 

Ten minutes later, the waitress came by with the sundae and Andy had to film the reaction to Chloe. The moment the dessert was on the table, Chloe's eyes were filled with excitement. Her mouth opened and she let out a big gasp.

“Uncle DeeDee! There are lots of spinkles!” Chloe said, as Andy reached for the spoons and handed her one. Chloe had tried to reach for the ice cream, but since she is tiny, it was impossible. So Andy sat her up and she took a big scoop. 

Andy laughed and took another picture as most of the whipped cream, some sprinkles, and the chocolate sauce smeared along her face.  He marveled at how much Chloe was like her father and yet so much like you. She truly was a special little girl. Sadness gripped his heart at the thought of Ari. He tried to think about how your date might be going.

~~~

You sat at the table with Jake, listening to one of his stories about Roque and Cougar arguing over a dog. His smile was so broad and his laugh was so clear but something wasn’t right. You wanted Ari but Ari was gone. Jake was here now. His bubbly personality made you happy. Jake tilted his head, “Y/N, are you okay?”

You shook your head out of your thoughts and looked at Jake, who had a concerned look. You cleared your throat and gave a smile, “I'm okay, just a bit tired.” 

You half lied and it was true. You are tired, but at the same time, your thoughts were with Ari and your family. 

You felt Jake's eyes on you and you sighed, “Jake I'm okay, it's just been a long day.” 

Jake sighed and took your hand into his, “Come, let's get you home.” 

Jake got up from his seat and held his hand out. You took it and got up. Jake placed his arm around you and kissed your cheek. The two of you headed for the exit and heard his friends holler and whistle towards them. Jake laughed, knowing that wasn't going to happen, “Shut up!” 

He yelled behind him. You also knew what his friends were whistling about, but it's not gonna happen. Nor would it ever. The car ride was a quiet one, with only the music playing in the background. 

“Are you sure, everything is okay?” Jake asked you. You turned and smiled at him. 

“I’m okay, just tired like I mentioned.” You say. Jake took your word for it and continued driving. It wasn’t long before Jake pulled up into your driveway. Again, the both of you sat in silence, when Jake placed his finger underneath your chin making you face him. 

“I had fun tonight,” Jake told you, and he reached over and gave you a small peck on your lips. 

You smiled against his lips and kissed him back. Jake went back for more, but you held him back and he apologized, “Jake, I’m not ready for that. I appreciate you.”

Jake wiped his face in embarrassment, “I should be sorry. I forgot about that, I’ll call you this weekend and hopefully plan something?” Jake asked. 

You nodded and got out of the car. Jake watched as you walked up the steps and disappeared into the house. 

You closed the door and you locked it behind you. The house was dark, except for the lights glowing in the family room. You then headed over to see Andy watching some kind of video. But as you got closer, you realized what he was watching. 

“We both just came home from the hospital.” You said. 

Andy turned around, “Oh, I didn’t hear you come in. I found this and-” 

“It’s okay, Andy. I play it once in a while.” You say, as you take a seat, take off your cowboy hat and lean back. 

“How did the date go?” Andy asked, pausing the video. 

You sighed and turned to her friend, “It was fun. I mean, it's not the same when Ari would take me when it's the three of us.”

“But you enjoyed yourself?” Andy asked, hoping she did. 

You laughed and sighed. “I did.”

Before, you could say anything small footsteps could be heard. You and Andy looked over to see Chloe with her Pua and in her Hello Kitty jammies.

“Mommy!” Chloe said, as she held her arms up and you picked her up. Placing her on your lap, Chloe looked at her Uncle and then the TV. 

“Mommy, is that Papa?” Chloe asked, looking at her mom. 

You kissed the top of her head and smiled, “Yes baby, that's your Papa. That's the day that you were born!” 

Andy pressed play. 

“Mommy! Papa is hadsome!” Chloe giggled.

Andy burst into laughter and you blushed a million shades of red. 

“It's true! Mommy says that Papa is hadsome!” Chloe replied.

Andy glanced down at Chloe, “He was very handsome. All the ladies thought so, including your mom.”

Chloe looked up at Andy, “You are handsome too.”

He blushed, “Thank you, Chloe. That’s a high compliment from the prettiest girl in the room.”

“Mommy’s the pwettiest.”

Andy gave a coy smile at the little girl then looked up at you, “I said the prettiest girl. Your mama is the prettiest woman.”

[ovobawrites]

𝐵𝑒𝒶𝒸𝒽: 𝐸𝓅𝒾𝓈𝑜𝒹𝑒 𝐹𝒾𝓋𝑒 ♡ 𝐹𝒷𝑜𝓎𝓈 𝒜𝓃𝑜𝓃𝓎𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓈

disclaimer: this has already been posted on ao3 and quotev, i'm just reposting this beach episode special as a promo for the fic. after this is all my previous author notes.

this is a fem!reader and also a half chinese!reader insert.

previous ♡ next

Crewel stood ominously by the door to the lodge, looking over you all with a critical eye. 

"I hope you mutts are planning to clean yourselves off," he started, "and Trey, Lilia," the two perked up. "you two will be cooking tonight's dinner."

Who decided to let Lilia cook... at least there's Trey?

The contrasting reactions would be funny were you not at risk of food poisoning. Lilia beamed, so excited he started floating. Meanwhile Trey was already working up a sweat, running through every possible future in his head. Silver, for once, was wide awake and looking horrified, face awash in a nausous green. Malleus, on the other hand, faced this death sentence with a grim look on his face, ready to meet his end fighting. 

Cater and Riddle were hurriedly whispering at the back, Riddle's face slowly growing more and more defeated as Cater continued on with his gossip about Lilia's poisonous cooking. Jamil frowned in disapproval, holding Kalim close to him as his housewarden started to pale in worry. You had already gone through the five stages of grief, accepting of your impending doom. The rest, however, weren't so quick.

Crewel frowned. "What are you all looking so deathly for? Go on, shower! Dirty dogs must be cleaned."

"Y-yes professor." You managed to stutter out, offering a shaky smile before treking up to your room, doing your best to avoid the other boys. For all you can act like everything was okay, you still felt that clench of fear in your gut as you closed your door behind yourself.

This would be hell. 

How could I have been so- so stupid! You bemoaned to yourself, Idia's gonna hate me for this, I just know it! It was completely improper and juvenile of me to yell at him. And over something so meaningless! Why did I- How could I- Wait. Why were you so upset? Why were you wholly embarassed? The other boys yelled and fought all the time and yet, for you to do such a thing. Why did it make you feel this way? What caused this fluttering of butterflies in your stomach, the angry buzz of bees in your head? 

You crashed your head into a pillow and let out a muffled yell. This trip was already shaping up to be a disaster. They already saw me in such a state. To get angry like that... how could I be so foolish! I should die for this. No one will ever look at me in the same way again. I was so utterly uncouth- to the point that none of them will ever even want to see me again. Sure, Floyd said it wasn't a big deal... but the moment any of them look back upon this moment they'll- they'll-

And that was the root of the problem, wasn't it? You weren't ashamed of getting into a silly little argument, you were afraid. 

They'll hate me.

But that was fine, right? People have hated you before, and people will for evermore. There's no point in crying over spilt milk, what's done is done. You should've thought thrice before you acted, but there's nothing you can do now but learn and pray for them not to think any different of you. 

You smiled sardonically, Like that'll ever happen. Who would like me after seeing me act like that?

...

These intrusive thoughts were getting you nowhere. Best to shower, fix up your makeup, and try to calm down. Let them despise you and look down on you. It's not like you cared anyways.

You finished up your shower on autopilot, routine muscle memory taking over as you sank further into your melancholy thoughts. If brother had been there... what would he have said? He'd disapprove, I'm sure of it. Getting close to others when you're an Aster is always a gamble after all. But... is it so wrong to want friends? I don't know anymore. It would have been better if I had just refused Crowley's offer.

Your face remained flat, never betraying your inner turmoil as you brushed through your hair mechanically in front of your vanity. (H/C) locks tugged at harshly as you brushed through the knots. A self flaggelation, of sorts. The pain both grounded you and sent you further into a self-depreciative headspace. It wasn't healthy but it was all you had. How foolish of you. 

I don't know what to do anymore. Should I just leave? Maybe I need to talk to-

A knock on the door. 

"Uh-um. (Y/N)? It's... it's Idia. C-could you maybe let me in?" His voice floated over from the door, the warble to it showing his nerves.  

Ah. I see. He's here to yell at me and tell me to never talk to him again. That's why he's so nervous, Idia's never liked confrantation after all. 

The silence rang out as you remained seated, frozen in place. What do you do? Opening the door means accepting a broken friendship and- you didn't want that. You didn't want to hurt anymore. 

"I-it's fine if you don't w-want to let me in!" Idia mumbled, "I-I just wanted to apologise, I sh-shouldn't have..." he trailed off before groaning in frustration. "Agh I'm so-" he halted, before hesitantly speaking up once more, "Could you p-please open up? I-I heard apologies are more genuine when you- you look at someone and Ortho said that..." Idia muttered rapidly, his words too quick for you to understand. 

Maybe hearing that he wanted to apologise was made you stand up and open the door. Maybe it was his obvious anxiety. Maybe it was out of pity. Who knows? But you let him in, like an idiot. 

Idia stumbled back as you opened the door, shock painted on his face. A nervous laugh. "I-I didn't think you'd actually open the door..." He turned his head away. "This was easier when I practiced... ahhh." He covered his face in his hands for a moment, then slapped his cheeks and straightened up, looking you in the eye. "Can I come in?"

Your throat was dry. Your stomach in knots. Greens and blues pulsed in your veins. "...Sure." You stepped to the side and closed the door behind Idia.

IDIOT! Your instincts screamed. Now you're trapped inside with him, you're not gonna be able to run away and get safe. You can't hide! What is wrong with you! He could-

"S-so, firstly, I'm sorry." Idia spoke up, fidgeting with his hands as he sat down on the chair, turning it to face the bed as you went to sit on it. You had no idea what to say, but this silence seemed to only spur Idia on. "I-I know you get... upset when we're loud and I- I shouldn't have yelled in your face. I know you hate it when that happens, and I should have respected your boundaries."

Wait, what? He wanted to actually apologise? Not yell or scream some more? You were too stunned to speak. 

"And-and secondly!" He got braver now, raising his voice from the soft volume of before. "I'm sorry that I escalated that argument. If it wasn't for me getting so heated, it would've been fine but I just- I felt- I was-" He groaned in frustration, covering his face with his hands. But something made him reveal himself and open up once more. "You were right, I was... you know. I felt... of Ruggie." His voice was so quiet at that point that you couldn't make out what he said by the end of it.

"I- you were... what of Ruggie?" You spoke up, and Idia made eye contact with you, hair glowing pink, eyes glaring. "...Sorry, I shouldn't have asked, I was being-"

"No-no it's fine! I was-" Idia sighed. "I was jealous. Of Ruggie. That's all." He turned away, looking at the trinkets on the vanity. "And again, I'm sorry for acting like that. You don't have to forgive me or anything, I just..." he slowed down as he turned to look at you, your (E/C) eyes still on him. "I just. wanted. to. apologise." The words came out stilted as his hair went more and more pink, cheeks flushing a brilliant red. 

You just sat there, hands on your lap, still as can be. As the shock simmered down and bloomed into reds and pinks in your chest, you started to chuckle. Idia froze as you started to full on laugh, a sound he'd never heard before. 

"I-I" You tried to say in between giggles, but you couldn't stop laughing, tears starting to run down your cheeks. "I apologise. I'm just so-so happy." A watery smile. "I thought you would- never mind. I'm sorry too." You looked Idia in the eye. "It wasn't just your fault. I also escalated the argument, you know. And I was the one who started raising my voice. I shouldn't have- no. I'm sorry that I did so, I shouldn't have drawn so much attention to us when I knew you dislike that many eyes on you."

"I-Don't cry!" Idia fluttered his hands around, leaning forwards and brushing the tears off of your cheek. "I- I really am sorry, you know. And even if it wasn't just my fault, I still should take the blame. I scared you. T-that's like totally an incel move on my part." He offered a weak smile, hands still on your face. "And I accept and forgive your apology. Really."

"I-I forgive you too." Your laughter quieted down and you beamed. "I'm glad that we can still be friends. Even though I acted so- so horribly." That's when the two of you realised what position you were in. Idia towered over you, hands on your cheeks, as you sat on your bed. It was highly improper. Your face went hot at the thought, steaming at the proximity. Idia's hair went from a light pink to a bright fushia, he stuttered and stumbled back, crashing into the dresser. 

"I-I'm s-sorry!" He yelped, cowering away from you. "That-that was so lame of me!" He muffled his embrassed yell with his hands. 

"No-no it's fine!" You stood up and tried to comfort him, hands hovering over his back. "Really, it's fine I don't mind!"

"You sure?"

"Yeah." 

Idia looked you in the eye, trying to gauge the verity of your statement. You stared back, eyes steady. The two of you stared at each other, silence enveloping the room. And for a single, halting moment, you wished that the moment would never end. 

Then- 

A knock and Silver's voice from behind the door. "(Y/N), Idia? I know you two are resolving things but dinner's ready. Just wanted to make sure you two are prepared..."

You jumped back and started to pat yourself down, avoiding eye contact with Idia. The boy laughed weakly and ran a shaking hand through his hair. 

"Guess we gotta do that boss fight now... Idk if I have the stats to survive Lilia's food..."

You gave a small chuckle at his joke. "Does anyone?"

"Silver and Malleus, they have to brave it like every week, right?"

"I thought they just magic it away when Lilia's not looking..."

"...That makes a lot more sense."

It was akin to a walk of shame as you and Idia entered the dining room, side by side. Crewel was absent once more, likely ordering an actually edible meal for himself. While the rest of the boys tried not to make it obvious, it was clear that they were all looking at you, trying to guess whether you both actually made up. 

"Koi fishie!" Floyd waved you over excitedly. "I saved you a seat!"

"Absolutely not!" Riddle snapped. "You'll only stress poor (Y/N) out! Come, sit with us, Trey and I saved you a seat!" Riddle smiled kindly, puffing out his chest like a robin would. It was adorable. 

Trey smiled at you and shrugged, face as bright as day.

"Would your high strung nature not stress the poor dear out even more?" Jade hit back. "Let her sit with some fun people, for once."

"(Y/N), want to sit next to Lilia and I?" Silver blinked innocently at you, offering an out from the cat fight.

"Ah- sure, I'd love to." You quickly sat down before another argument would break out.

Riddle puffed his cheeks out and Trey drooped down slightly. Maybe you made a mistake. Floyd and Jade looked unhappy too, but... asides from sitting like how cultists circle their prophet, there was no pleasing everyone.

Lilia offered you a fang-filled grin and gestured excitedly to the centerpiece meal on the table. "Gentlemen and dearest (Y/N), Trey and I have created the most scrumptious meal for your consumption this twilight. Methinks you all will enjoy it greatly."

Side-eyes were exchanged as you looked over the main dish with a critical eye. You could only hope Trey managed to rein Lilia in. A large platter of seafood sat on the giant plate, grilled fish and shrimp lay on a bed of decorative lettuce, the colours lacking the normal ashy black that Lilia's meals took the appearance of. But who would take the bait and reach for a bite?

Leona elbowed Ruggie and gestured to the platter. The hyena sighed, shrugged, and grabbed a slice of fish. You all watched on, concerned, as the hyena chewed on the piece of seafood. His face went through many expressions, suspense, shock, pleasant surprise, and finally, a look of joy as he swallowed down the fish. He gave a sharp grin at Trey in thanks for his service and immediately went to spear more and more fish for his plate. 

Ruggie's reaction encouraged you all to partake in the meal, and thank god. It seemed Trey's godlike cooking skills managed to triumph over Lilia's lack thereof. The chefs of the night glowed with pride as you all lavished praise on both of them. Silver and Malleus making the executive decision to find Trey's secret before the night was over. Money was exchanged under the table as you all betted on how Trey managed it, the secret groupchat flooded with messages as the group enjoyed the delicious meal.

☆Kay-kun☆: i bet trey locked up lilia in a kitchen cabinet!! he totes did all the cooking on his own lmao

Vil Schoenheit: No, obviously he took Lilia's cooking and threw it away while passing his dishes off as both of theirs. Lilia must have fell for it.

gamer-idia-1812: no no no its obvi tht trey cast a spell on lilia so hed be frozen + unable to unleash that horrible beast upon the world lolol

(Y/N) Aster: Maybe he had Lilia do the prep work while he handled everything else? Or got Lilia to wash the dishes while he did all the cooking.

❀✧★KALIM★✧❀: Maybe Lilia learnt how to cook!! I think he'd be a great one!!!

Silver: Kalim, I guarantee that is not the case.

Malleus Draconia, Crown Prince of Briar Valley: LILIA WILL NEVER BE GOOD AT COOKING.

Malleus Draconia, Crown Prince of Briar Valley: WHY ARE MY WORDS IN UPPERCASE?

Silver: Ah, young master, your caps lock button is on. Press the upwards facing arrow on the keyboard to turn it off

Malleus Draconia, Crown Prince of Briar Valley: THANK YOU SILVERJSKA;DLKDJLKLDLJKSKLGLHJKFDSGKDFLKHAHKL

(Y/N) Aster: Ah. Silver, maybe you should go help him?

Silver: (￣^￣)ゞ

Trey: Oh, I just asked Lilia to make the dessert while I cooked the main course. 

Jamil Viper: sorry, you WHAT

leona: if i die cuz of u, green haired bastard, i'll haunt you to your grave

Riddle Rosehearts: Perhaps it won't be that bad? Maybe the rumours were exaggerated.

Trey: Personally, I'd use the word understated

gamer-idia-1812: goodbye cruel world... maybe i'll meet the Premo in heaven

leona: a radish sprout like you will be fit in hell

gamer-idia-1812: lolol i'll see u all there

(Y/N) Aster: My mother paid the church a lot of money so that I wouldn't go to hell. I'll just roam the earth as a calamity-level ghost. 

Ruggie: The power of rich ppl astounds me...

❀✧★KALIM★✧❀: Oh! I should do that for all of us! So no one will go to hell ＼(≧▽≦)／

Jamil Viper: Kalim, don't waste your money doing something so stupid. Some people deserve to go to hell.

Azul Ashengrotto -50% off at Mostro Longue, Order today!-: Please, Jamil. You shouldn't be so antagonistic towards your upperclassmen! Maybe you should transfer to octavinelle to learn a bit of kindness from our Sea Witch.

Jamil Viper: I'd rather rot in hell.

Floyd >^)))&lt;;～～: so no one won the bet? o(TヘTo) who does the money go to? (・・ ) ?

Trey: I think we should save it for the hospital bills

☆Kay-kun☆: ye just took a look at the kitchen, great idea trey!! 

Mini Theatre Trey: I looked forward in time, I saw 14,000,605 futures. (Y/N): In how many of those did we survive? Trey: 1. - (Y/N), monolouging like a drama queen: 。゜゜(´Ｏ`) ゜゜。 Everyone else: Wow, that fight got a little intense! I'm glad no one got hurt :) - Idia, in the common room: EMERGENCY MEETING! PLEASE HELP ME APOLOGISE TO (Y/N)!!!! Azul: But- Idia: I'll pay you like 3000 thaumarks Azul: Done!  Cater: Should this be, like, a group discussion?  Ruggie: Shut up I wanna see how much of a trainwreck it'll be.

and here is the fifth part of the beach ep. if you'd like to read the rest of the fic, you can read it on ao3 here, and on quotev here.

[welcometololaland]

Fic Rec Friday - Round Up Part 3

Thanks to everyone who participated this week - the theme was: rec a fic starting with the same letter as your name / username. I have a list below, but I only included ones people tagged me in or ones I could find from the #fic rec friday tag. If I've missed any, please let me know!

Please read at your own discretion. Heed tags and ratings on each individual fic. Keep yourself safe, friends!

Also PSA - the rec lists were super long this week so i'm so sorry if i have stuffed up a link or accidentally put someone in the wrong category!

Red White and Royal Blue

Camp Llwynywermod by bleedingballroomfloor

Cinnamon & Earl Grey by @everwitch-magiks

Come Fly With Me by politics_and_prose

Competent Guardians of Horny Little Miscreants by M0ssPiglet

confess my truth (in swooping, sloping cursive) by viciouslyqueer

confessional by @visionsofdystopia

count the stars and constellations by @everwitch-magiks

countermelody by @omgcmere

Faster, Higher, Stronger by @everwitch-magiks

For all the world to see by @everwitch-magiks

For One Night Only by @indomitable-love

forever yrs, for evermore. by @indomitable-love

forgiveness (can you imagine) by viciouslyqueer

Hashtag Soulmates by @everwitch-magiks

Jesus Take the Helm by @clottedcreamfudge

Love is Thai food and crepe paper by @clottedcreamfudge

Reclamation by @indomitable-love

Sink Beneath the Waves by @indomitable-love

Snowed in? Snow problem by @rmd-writes

The Bet by bleedingballroomfloor

The Royal Wedding Stylist Breaks Down Prince Henry & Duke Alex Claremont-Diaz’s Looks by th0ughts

thirst tweets & mean tweets [for approval] by loveonpurpose

Schitt's Creek (so many this week from this fandom! we love to see it)

(A) Simple Complication by @nontoxic-writes

Anything for Us by @wordthieve

camera shy by @hudders-and-hiddles

Catalyst by reallyfxkingpretty

coloring outside the lines by olivebranchesandwine

Coming Home by @colourcodedbinders

coming up close against your skin by @yourbuttervoicedbeau

Decisions, Decisions (series) by MoreHuman

Designated Grape by @landofsonlali

FratPat by didipickles

Hook, Line, and Sinker by @likerealpeopledo-on-ao3

Hurry Down the Chimney Tonight by @mostlyinthemorning

I Think She Knows by @vulcanscully

If/Then by ishandahalf

Just for You by @beaiola

Just Leave A Message by @chelle-68

Just the Business Guy by @oneblueumbrella

Landing It (series) by @petalwritesx

Leaning In by @dinnfameron

Love at First Taste by @deenerann

Marcy's Girls by @tyfinn

Marcy's Innocent Questions by @characterassassination-at-9am

May Showers by @a-noble-dragon

Meet You at the Wobbly Elm by @agoodpersonrose

one kiss at a time... (series) byb startswithhope

Red, White & Royal Blue Jays by @grapehyasynth

Room Nine is a Wormhole by @stereopticons

Running on empty by @vivianblakesunrisebay

Secrets & lies by @hippolotamus

Spirit of the Season by @rosedavid

Sustineo by @rockinhamburger

Tahiti by resilient_rose

The Last Rose Video by @distractivate

The Seven Husbands of Alexis Rose by @sarahlevys and @hagface

We stood as steady as the stars by foxtails

Stranger Things

takes a village by alchemystique

took you for a working boy by pukner

Star Trek

Watching the Watcher by stillwaters01

Star Wars

Tomorrow (there'll be more of us) by dimircharmer

Teen Wolf

The Well of Living Waters by kalpurna

The Man from UNCLE

Careful of the Company You Keep by @alienfuckeronmain

Closer and closer by @heytheredeann

Young Royals

King (Under Your Control) by @cinnamoncoffees

[streetlightyeri]

and the old men that i've swindled really did believe i was the one

hope that anon who wanted me to write for Javi is still here cause this idea came to me while I was having my weekly Everything Shower and had evermore playing (she's defrosting guys). here's a peek at one of my many wips, this time based off of cowboy like me. I really like the idea of pre-movie Javi where he kind of doesn't care that he's chasing Riggs for money and is willing to do anything to get his business off the ground, which leads him to high society New York where he meets a girl who kind of doesn't care where the money she spends comes from either. trying not to spoil everything, but I really am enjoying writing this so far! I feel like a lot of my FMCs fall into either the grumpy or sunshine archetype, so this FMC is very fun to bring to life.

please let me know how yall feel about this, I feel like this might not have a great reception since this is pre-redemption arc javi with a morally gray FMC, but im really interested in everyones opinions, good or bad.

as always with my tip posts, unproofread. <3

The rain pattered on the tent above the tennis court where Robert Tomlinson IV’s wedding reception was being held. His wife was dressed in a beautiful silk wedding gown, outdoing all the other women in the venue, as to be expected. But from the moment Javi was introduced to her, he couldn’t even remember what the bride looked like.

A business partner of Riggs grabbed him by the elbow, one too many drinks in, and brought him to a standing table towards the center of the room. “Javier, I’d be delighted for you to meet my date for tonight! I think you two would get along wonderfully.”

The way he said his name, so whitely, irked him a bit. But Javi had no room to say no; insulting this man, no matter how drunk, could put an even deeper strain on his relationship with Riggs. And Javi needed his money. While Javi gathered that most of the men in this layer of society had married up (in the sense they married way down their age), he at least expected someone who matched the man in attractiveness. There was no outward signs that this man, who Javi eventually learned was stock broker Albert Hemingway VI and a distant relative to the Belgian royal crown, was a complete and utter creep, but the jokes he laughed at at the bar and the way his eyes lingered a moment too long on his date’s bust made it clear to Javi he was just like the other men in the room who told said jokes. This man, no matter how sleezy, had money and sway and, evidently, was a man Riggs wanted pinned to his lapels.

“Javier, this is my date, Violet.” That’s how Javi found himself eye to eye with the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. She wore a black silk, floor length gown that he wasn’t sure she’d be able to even sit in, paired with the reddest lipstick he’d ever seen. Her lips were wrapped around a cocktail straw, sipping lightly at the dirty martini in her hand. Her nails were a perfectly manicured nude. And she didn’t seem to care about Javi’s opinion of her at all, if anything, she was judging him. Which was fair in his eyes - he was dressed in his army dress uniform, and who in this walk of life joined the military? He was brushing shoulders with the same people who paid to dodge the Vietnam draft; these were the people whose names were on the buildings and tanks and weapons Javi interacted with every day on base. He had been mistaken as venue staff more than once, empty glasses held out to him by people who didn’t even bother to look away from their conversations.

So, he opted for a tight-lipped smile and nod of acknowledgement for the girl. Her crimson lips pulled into a small smirk. “Hello,” her voice was sultry, a note of an accent that Javi couldn’t place; he just knew that her vowels were wrong, an inkling that she was just as out of place as he was. She just played the part better.

The night proceeded on, Javi’s eyes following Violet the entire time. He had to swerve to avoid glasses and hors d’oeuvre plates being thrust at him. At one point, he accidentally took one as he fixated on the way Violet covered her mouth as she shook her shoulders and crinkled her eyes at one of Hemingway’s jokes; Javi saw the way her mouth stayed stoic behind her hand. Hemingway didn’t look at her long enough to care, instead turning his attention back to his friends. By this point, Violet had abandoned the cocktail straw and downed the rest of her glass when his hand found her waist.

The night continued. Violet was holding her liquor well; Hemingway was not. He was with other men Javi was with at the bar earlier in the night, his forehead connected to the bartop, the other men not far behind. He scanned the crowds, finding her standing outside the coverage of the tent, smoke billowing from her lips. He found himself making his way towards her, the perfectly manicured lawn of the Tomlinson’s Hamptons home squelching under his dress shoes until he made it to the small gazebo she was standing in, alone. It was clear she heard him with the noise his shoes made against the granite floor, but she didn’t turn to look at him. Under the stained glass gazebo, the rain pattered at a more comforting pitch, as though the raindrops were singing to them. A breeze tunneled through the small building. The bottom of her dress was muddied and damp.

“I think you’re in the clear, as far as sleeping with him goes.”

Violet looked at him from the side of her eyes before averting her gaze back to the front. Her voice was coated in that posh accent that he had a feeling wasn’t real. Her Gs weren’t polished and her As extended. “What if I wanted to?”

“Did you?”

She took a long drag before responding to him. “Would you?”

He let a puff of air out from his nose in a humorless laugh. “Would anyone?”

She mimicked him. “He has eight kids.”

Javi’s eyes widened and a real, shocked laugh fell from his lips. “Eight?”

“Yeah, I think he’s hopin’ I can round him out to double digits.” She laughed as well. “He and every other sad, lonely man with too much money on Wall Street.”

From the tent in the distance, a French love song began to play, the live string band increasing their volume, signaling the newlyweds were preparing to depart. A cheer went up by those who were still coherent. Javi repositioned himself, one hand behind his back. He bowed slightly to Violet. “Would you care to dance with me? Have a good moment to remember from this night?”

She tossed the cigarette onto the ground and extinguished it under the toe of her still-wet stiletto. “Dancin’ is a dangerous game, Javier.”

She departed from him, walking back to the tent, no doubt to collect the drunk Hemingway and put him in a limo back across Long Island Sound. He called after her, “It’s Javi.”

She looked back at him over her shoulder, a mischievous grin that Javi couldn’t exactly pinpoint the meaning of. “And it’s not Violet.”

She disappeared into the crowd of people as he gazed down at the extinguished cigarette drenched in red, trying to make out what was her lipstick and what was the moonlight seeping through the red, stained glass rose above him.

[memphisnovels]

Evermore

Chapter 17. Let the light in

Previous chapter

Masterlist

I hope you enjoy <3

pairing: Pietro Maximoff x OFC

warnings: canon-typical violence, torture, injuries, Pietro and Nadia being Pietro and Nadia, arguing, confessions...

Bright white lights blinded me with every blink, causing me to shut my eyes tightly. A pounding ache set into the side of my head as I became conscious. My hand shot to my head a low groan coming from my very dry throat as I pressed against the spot the pain was coming from. A soft hand closed around my forearm, causing me to open my eyes fully. Anna stood at my bedside and Natasha sat on the end of the bed, both gazing at me with tender looks. I rubbed at my head, glancing around the room. It looked like we were in the med bay back at the compound. “What happened.” I managed to get out.

“Someone warned Tara you were coming.”

I hummed, coughing shortly after. Anna moved a cup of water with a straw toward my lips. I gulped down as much of the liquid as I could. “Yeah, she knew who I was, I don’t know about what else though. We were trying to get our intel from the hotel but then there was a car and…” I moved up right quickly.

“Pietro! Where is he? Is he alright?” I tried to pull at the chords attached to me, but Nat stopped me.

“He’s fine, Nads, worried about you but fine. He said something about a fruit doughnut or something.”

“Plum dumplings.” I muttered, settling back into the pillows behind me.

Anna and Natasha shared a look before turning back to me. “Right, well, you did a good job, we’ve got what we need.”

“The intel, it was in the hotel room, someone needs to go get it.”

“We already did, don’t worry, luckily only we knew where you two were staying, Maria Hill went and cleared the hotel as soon as we got the call that you were injured. We recovered everything.”

I sighed in relief at Natasha’s words. “One of the guys who tried to attack us in Amsterdam, he was Hydra.” Both the women beside me sighed.

Anna rubbed a hand over her face. “I should’ve known they’d be involved. They’re probably one of the potential buyers.” She sat beside me once more, reaching into her bag and pulling out a little brown plastic pot, chocolate pudding. My spirits lifted instantly. I grabbed the container from her and tore the lid off, digging in ravenously. “Hmm, I suspected even a nasty concussion wouldn’t stop you from devouring that.”

“You really are a saint!” I spoke around a mouth full of the chocolate delicacy.

Nat snorted, watching me intently. “Those things are so gross, but I love you and I’m really glad that you’re okay, so I won’t judge.”

“These are the nectar of the gods, and they just give them out for free in hospitals. Insanity.” Both Anna and Natasha laughed at me, but I ignored their teasing, cleaning the pot completely. When it was finished, I set it aside, sighing contentedly. “So, what do we do now?”

“You do nothing. We’ll handle this, all you need to focus on is resting.” Anna said.

I shook my head, sitting upright. “What? No, I’m fine!” Before either of them could argue I continued. “I know I always say that, but I really am this time, it was just a concussion. It hurts a little still, but I’ll be good to go by tomorrow. You can’t change my mine I’m seeing this mission through.”

“You’re actually admitting to being in pain?”

I rolled my eyes. “Yes, whatever. I’m really okay, let me finish this.”

They very reluctantly agreed, only after checking approximately a hundred times with the doctor to make sure I was actually okay. I agreed to spend the day resting and recuperating and that sealed the deal for me. Tara was heading to Morrocco to finalize her sale and hand over what Tony had referred to as the backdoor to the internet. Nat and I would fly out late tonight to stop the sale and hand ser over to the authorities. Each of the Avengers had been to see me after I was released from the medical wing, Cap and Sam had caught me on my way back to my room, Vision had walked through my wall to say he was happy that I was recovering, chilling really. Tony had brought me some food earlier as well, giving me some story about how he’d accidentally made too much when he was preparing his lunch, as if he normally cooks for himself anyway. I’d let him get away with his lies, scoffing the food down the second he left. After I’d eaten and had painkillers all but forced down my throat by Anna, I made my way to Pietro’s room. Wanda was leaving just as I arrived at the door.

“Oh sorry… I just…” I shook my head at my ridiculous stuttering. A kind smile spread across her lips.

“You look okay.” She shut her eyes tightly, her smile turning sheepish. “What I mean to say is that you look like you’re feeling better, I’m glad.”

I nodded at her. “I figured.” It wasn’t mean, wasn’t cold or angry like I had always been with her before this moment. I still wasn’t sure how I felt about her, but she hadn’t been exactly wicked and terrible in the months she’d been here. In fact, after our little tiff, she’d stayed away from me like I asked. She’d respected me, and I appreciated that, so in return I could be nice. Even if it felt strange.

“He really is a stubborn ass sometimes, I’m sure you know that by now.” She spoke up, gesturing toward the door behind her. “He’s so worries, hasn’t stopped asking about you… but he’s too pigheaded to be up front about it.”

“Is he okay?”

Her smile brightened. “He’s fine, a little banged up but still just as annoying.”

A laugh filled the air between us and with some shock I realized it was me. Despite myself, and despite our tenuous relationship I’d laughed at what she said. I swallowed the laughter quickly, glancing at her and offering a tight-lipped smile. “Do you mind if I…” I gestured toward the door. She moved instantly out of the way nodding fervently. “Just to check he’s still alive and update him on the mission, that’s all.” Wanda positively beamed at me.

“Of course.” With that she turned and wandered off down the hallway.

The door felt daunting as I stared it down, I wasn’t sure what to say, things were pretty complicated between us right now. Nonetheless I knocked, resting my head against the surface as I awaited a reply. “Come in.” He called soon after.

He sat more upright the second I entered, pushing himself to sit straighter before me. His leg was in a bandage and surrounded by some sort of non-enclosed cast, I was assuming it was just for the three days or so it would take his enhancement to heal him. “Hi.” I murmured, stopping by the end of his bed.

“Hi.”

“How are you doing?” I asked.

He scanned my body. “Fine. You?”

“Fine.” He nodded at my words, falling silent once more. I fiddled with my fingers, glancing around the room for something to look at that wasn’t him. It was then that I realized I’d never actually been in here before, it wasn’t what I expected. Dark grey and blue furniture as well as a few bits and pieces lying around, a soccer ball in the corner, some books strewn across his nightstand and a line of sneakers peeking out from the open door to his closet. “Agent Hill recovered our intel from the hotel, whoever sold us out didn’t have all the details apparently, so at least there’s that.”

He nodded. “Good. That’s good.”

“It is.”

He looked down at his lap. “So, what now? It’s over?”

“Well, she’s still planning to sell her files so I’m going after her to stop that from happening.”

“Okay so what we wait a few days for me to heal then we’ll go finish this?”

 I shook my head at him, confusion no doubt evident on my face. “No, you should just rest, let your body recover, Nat will come with me to Morrocco to stop Janssen.” The room turned glacial in an instant, or perhaps it was just the icy glare Pietro set me with.

“It’s just a few days, probably less, I heal fast.”

“Pietro you said it yourself, you don’t heal that fast. In a few days Hydra could have those files, I won’t let that happen.” I tucked a strand of hair behind my head, the headache beginning to set in again. “It’s not a big deal, you’re hurt right now, Nat and I can finish this off while you heal up.”

 “Why does it not surprise me that you’d cut me out of the mission the first chance you get?”

His words were like a punch to the gut. I took a step back almost as if I’d been physically wounded by them. “That’s not what I’m doing… I’m not cutting you out of the mission, you have a broken leg, there’s nothing you can do like this.” He scoffed at me, shaking his head and rolling his eyes. I furrowed my eyebrows at him. My eyes were stinging, and I couldn’t stand it. “That’s really what you think of me? That I’m a heartless monster who doesn’t give a shit about you? That I’m more worried about cutting you out of a mission than stopping a national security threat? You think that I don’t care that you got seriously hurt? Fine. Think whatever you want, Pietro. I have to go.”  His face changed instantly at my words.

His voice stopped me as I turned to leave. “No wait, Nadia. I’m sorry, please wait!” I closed my eyes for a moment before turning back to face him with a raised eyebrow. All of the emotions that had been missing from his in that past week were written plain as day across his face. His eyebrows sagged slightly, guilt and hurt present on his features in equal measure. “I just don’t know what is going on – we kiss, and you don’t want to talk about it or acknowledge that anything happened but then you look at me the way you do and you bring me Sokovian desserts to make me feel better and listen to me even when you act like you don’t care and I just don’t get it.”

“Don’t get what?”

“I don’t get what is happening here… between us.”

Running a hand through my hair didn’t soothe me as much as I’d hoped it would. “I agreed to be your friend, Pietro, what more do you want?!”

“I never asked for that!”

A scoff fell from my lips as I crossed my arms over my chest. “Oh, you didn’t ask me to be your friend. Didn’t beg me to be nice to you?”

“No-” He ran a hand through his hair, letting out an exasperated sigh. “That’s not what I meant, I wanted to be your friend but that isn’t all I wanted to be.”

“What are you talking about?”

He shook his head, looking at me the same way he had in the hotel hallway the other night. “I think you know, Nadia.” My heart was pounding against my sternum, so fast I was sure that I was going into cardiac arrest. “It wasn’t a heat of the moment decision for me; it wasn’t whatever you are telling yourself it was. I kissed you because I wanted to.” He swallowed heavily. The look in his eyes made my cheeks burn. “I want to… all of the time.” He continued while I remained silent. “I was cruel to you in Amsterdam and I’m so sorry, I just… it’s really hard to be around you when all I can think about is how badly I want you to tell me you feel the way I do.”

I shook my head at him, looking down at my feet. My eyes were stinging again, and I didn’t know why. I opened my mouth to respond but before I could a familiar voice called out to me.

“Nads, we need to prep before we leave, you ready?” Natasha appeared in Pietro’s doorway, completely oblivious to what he’d just revealed to me.

…

Sweat beaded on my forehead the second I stepped off the plane in Marrakech. The heat here was dry and a shock to my system, yet it was the furthest thing from my mind right now. It had all gone rather quickly, the period between Pietro telling me… what he’d told me and getting on the plane. I hadn’t even had time to formulate a proper response beyond a brief goodbye.

The sale of the Tara’s hard drive was taking place tonight at 6pm in a room at one of the most exclusive hotels in Morocco. We began getting ready as soon as we got to the hotel, hiding weapons on ourselves and testing the equipment. This was supposed to be a simple task, though after the last two missions I wasn’t holding my breath. Anything could happen, I had to be ready for that and I was… Mostly, though, I knew there was a part of me that was distracted, a part of me that was still in New York, standing in Pietro’s room with him.

I want to.

All of the time.

I’d tried to shake it off but the sensation that lived in my stomach seemed unwilling to dissipate. Frustratingly, this feeling didn’t seem content to be yet another item on my growing list of things I could simply ignore. It clawed at me, sung to me, pleaded with me, demanded to be felt by me.

It was that distraction that had allowed them to get the jump on me. The first face I saw was a familiar one, the man from Amsterdam with the Hydra tattoo. I blocked his first hit and the second but the third landed. My body doubled over unwittingly, the moment the impact rippled through my body I knew that there would be a nasty purple bruise where he’d hit. A glance at the brass band over his knuckles explained the extent of the pain. I persevered, throwing expert punches and maneuvering around his hits until I began to feel a little woozy and my vision became blurry. The strange thing about getting injected with things in the heat of a fight is that the adrenaline tends to cover the initial sting of the needle. My hand slapped against the side of my neck entirely too late, each movement so much slower now. Somewhere, someone was shouting my name, but I was out cold before I could process much else.

My body was jostled slightly, prompting me to open my eyes. It was dark and cold here. My vision was still slightly blurred, and the muscles I could feel were like jelly. I thought I might have been in the back of a car, the boot. Consciousness came and went and when I awoke again, I was in a hot, damp room. It took me several moments to realize I was standing, well not really, I was being held up by ropes around my wrists, but the feeling had only just begun to fully set back into my limbs. The rope chaffed my wrists, rubbing them raw.

“Good morning, sleeping beauty.” A familiar voice spoke, waking me up slightly more. Tara stood before me, momentarily appearing as a double. I closed my eyes tightly for a moment. When I reopened them, things were a little clearer, the room I was in was bare, stone walls, a single chair, Tara, and me.

“You know I actually, didn’t think you were that bad at first. I’m beginning to re-evaluate though.”

The woman before me laughed heartily, taking a step toward me. “Guessing friendship is off the table then huh?”

“What the fuck do you even want?”

“Well, it’s not really about what I want, dear Nadia.”

I narrowed my eyes at her. “Let me guess, it’s what Hydra wants, customer satisfaction is really that important to you?”

“You still don’t get it do you?”

The two men from the café entered the room. I was beginning to. A humorless laugh left me. “For fucks sake, you’re Hydra.”

A deranged smile spread across her lips. “Bravo, finally we are on the same page! I do hope you aren’t too cross with me about all this pretense, it was all a means to an end you see. I hold up my end of the bargain, deliver you on a silver platter, they protect me while I complete the sale. Plus, if Hydra has you it gets you off my case.”

I wasn’t so sure I understood now, wasn’t sure I really wanted to. What did Hydra want from me?

“Where is Natasha?” I asked, ignoring her previous words. Her smile brightened as she placed two small objects on the chair she had previously been seated in, our comms. I yanked on my binds, glowering at Tara. “This really isn’t the right decision, Janssen. I can assure you Hydra is not the winning team you think it is.”

She merely turned her back, addressing the two men now. “Sie gehört ganz dir.”

She’s all yours.

I yanked on the binds again, setting the tattooed man with a glare as he began to approach me. He had buzzed off hair that appeared to have been blonde and a long scar from his forehead down across his left eye. The brass knuckles were still situated over his fingers as he stared me down, a coldness in his gaze that almost rivalled my own.  The other man leaned against the wall by the door, locking it after Tara exited. It remained like this for a long while, buzzcut just standing there staring, doorman watching from a distance. “Jesus Christ, are we going to stand here all day or are you going to torture me?”

The metal met my ribs once, twice, three times. I coughed from the impact, the end cutting off into a laugh. “Who taught you to punch? A 6-year-old?” He hit me again and again, I laughed in his face. I learned quickly that the more I ridiculed him the worse the beating got, not that I’d expected different. Even with his particularly hard punches that winded me and bruised my ribs it was still not the worst I’d endured. The next time I got lippy the hit was to my face. Minutes passed, or maybe they were hours. Occasionally buzzcut would let up, taking a break for his own benefit I assumed.

Blood dripped from my lips as my head hung between my shoulders. “Most of the hits had been to my stomach and sides, though I was sure I had a bruise across my cheek and likely a split lip.

“Remind me what the point of this is.” I managed to get out. “Are you trying to get information or something? Because usually step one is asking a question.”

Finally, a response came from the doorman, first a laugh, then words. “We don’t want information from you, Nadia. Well, we do, but that’s not what this is about.” He grabbed ahold of my chin and yanked my head up to face him. He had dark hair and features but was so pale he appeared sickly. “We want to recruit you.” A thick German accent underpinned each of his words.

“Oh okay, so this is just a welcome ceremony or something?” I spat my blood at his feet. “Just showing me what I’m definitely not missing?”

He narrowed his eyes. “No, no, this is merely a test, we just wanted to make sure you were as we remembered.”

I raised a single eyebrow. “Oh, that makes perfect sense. So, the test was a few shitty punches from this idiot? Hydra really has gone soft.”

He smiled at me. “Of course not.” My arms were untied, and I was strapped to the chair in the corner. It was around the time the chair was tilted back and a towel was placed over my face that I clued on.

“Oh, for fucks s-” I was cut off by water being poured over me I clenched my fists and attempted to remain calm, steeling my every nerve against the sensation of drowning. It burned and my lungs felt like they were going to burst, it was just as shitty as I remember it being. I tightened my fists as it became more and more unbearable, and the water kept coming.

Finally, there was a reprieve as the towel was removed from my face. I coughed and gasped for air; every fiber of my body strung tightly as I struggled to get the air in. “Reconsidered the offer yet?”

“You made me an offer?”

The towel was replaced, and the water returned. The pattern would continue for well over an hour, a short reprieve upon which the man checked in with me. Eventually he gave it a rest indefinitely, dropping the towel but keeping me strapped to the chair. The water returned soon after though, ice water being dunked over my head. Just like old times. My body was tensed almost painfully, the cold seeping into each of my nerve endings and sending a deep shiver down my spine.

The man grabbed me by the back of the hair, forcing me to look at him. “Join us.”

My body was shivering violently and the slither of light from the window was now gone, prompting me to believe it was nighttime. “No thanks.”

He shook his head at me. “It ends whenever you want it to.”

And just like that I was gone, a blink and I was in a different room, bound to a different chair with something strange on my face.

“It ends whenever you want it to.”

The man in the glassed scribbled on a clipboard, glancing at me occasionally.

“Tell me who you are.”

I felt my lips moving but I couldn’t hear the words that left them. The ballerinas were back, dancing across the screen before me, it was different this time. The music, the outfits. The girl had a feather crown around her head.

When my eyes opened, I was back in the torture room but buzzcut and doorman were long gone. In their place was Tara, sitting across from me. I swallowed heavily, allowing my head to fall back. Every part of my body ached. “Honestly, can’t a girl get a little piece and quiet.”

“Joking until the bitter end, you really are impressive, Nadia.”

I rolled my eyes at her.

“Why are you even here? FOMO?”

She smirked at me. “Well, I just wanted to tell you the good news.” I didn’t dignify her with a response. “My buyer has finally arrived in Morrocco, how fun? I’ve just sent the boys to go begin the meeting.” This was such bullshit, last time I ever fucking help MI6. “Honestly, whatever intel was being fed to you and Natasha was really shitty.”

“Fuck you.” I muttered.

She sighed exasperatedly. “Well, that’s really all I had to say, anyway best be off.” She stood, waving at me tauntingly.

Before she was out of reached, I kicked out and caught her leg with mine, tripped her and using the momentum to kick back of the chair hard, the wood shattering as it hit the concrete ground. I yanked my arms upward, wooden side handing from my binds. Ignoring the immense agony I swung on Tara, easily landing hit after hit. “I told you it was a bad decision.” I said, dragging her to the ground and punching her again.

The sharp, burning pain in my abdomen had me hesitating, Tara and I both looked down, the black and red handle of the screwdriver peeking out from within my body. “Holy shit…” Her mouth fell open. “I’ve never stabbed anyone before. I don’t know why I did that I’m so sorry.” She yanked the object from me causing me to cry out.

“No! You fucking idiot!” I wrapped my leg around hers quickly, sending her tumbling to the ground and punching her. The adrenaline pumping through my veins stopped me from feeling the pain. I knew I needed to make this quick, there was not going to be fight left in me for long. She slipped her hand free, pressing hard into my wounded side to disable me. I yelled as white-hot agony seared through me, falling to beside her. With gritted teeth, I pushed through the pain, grabbing her arm as she tried to escape and twisting it around behind her back pulling her back down so that her back was pressed to my chest. She thrashed as I wrapped my arms around her neck. The pain in my side was so extreme I could feel tears streaming down my cheek, I put further pressure on her carotid artery tightening my legs around her as I felt her begin to fall unconscious. When she went to sleep, I double checked for a pulse, making sure she’d be okay. When I found it I shoved her from me, laying back and letting out a few painful breaths. Finally, I managed to push myself up, grabbing Tara’s arms and dragging her over to the pillar in the corner. The rope I’d been tied with was still laying on the ground for me to restrain her with. When I was sure she wasn’t escaping I threw the file down on her lap and stole the watch from her wrist.

Blood covered my hands, leaving stains on everything I touched. The fabric of my shirt clung to me as a patch of red appeared. Looking down at the time on Tara’s watch, I realized it was 3:45pm, I’d been bleeding freely for at least 3 minutes already. I let my hand fall to my abdomen, grazing over the wound, closing my eyes I thought hard to remember the internal anatomy in an attempt to decipher what she may have hit. I didn’t think the bleeding was rapid enough to have been an artery or my spleen unless it was just a nick. The button up shirt I wore would have to be a good enough bandage for the time being, I slipped it from my shoulders before wrapping it tightly around my stomach. Things became a little blurry about the time I shoved the heavy metal door open to reveal the afternoon sky, there was a mild breeze blowing over the sweat that glistened over my skin.

I stumbled against the side of the car that I’d been brought here in. A bloody handprint was pressed into the light grey of the door. I looked at the watch again, 3:51. There were no keys in the ignition so I began searching the car as quickly as I could, sun visor, glove compartment, center console; nothing. Something gleaming from the floor of the passenger seat caught my attention, a phone. I grabbed it typing in the familiar number, Natasha wouldn’t have her phone so that isn’t the number I dialed.

“Hello.”

“Tony.” I ground out, putting the phone on speaker and navigating into maps.

“Nadia? Are you okay? Where the hell are you? We lost you on the map.”

“I’m fine, sending you some coordinates, it’s where I left Janssen unconscious. I stopped the sale, but you need to get someone out there to grab her. Hydra aren’t the buyers, they’re the sellers, that militia group Anna mentioned, that’s who is actually buying, they’re waiting back at the hotel for Tara, it’s only a matter of time before they come looking for her.”

When the coordinates went through, I began working on hotwiring the car, I needed to get to a hospital sooner rather than later. “It’s all good, Nat’s handing the buyers, but you don’t sound fine, where are you?”

“Just get someone to the coordinates.”

“Yeah, got it MI6 is on their way. What happened to you?”

I finally got the car going and stepped on it, the roads were blurring together as I travelled down them. “She stabbed me with a fucking screwdriver, I’ll be fine I’m going to the hospital now, just make sure they get Tara. Thank you, Tony.”

“Nadia, don’t you dare hang up!” I ended the call before he could continue.

That ringing I knew all too well filled my ears. I gripped the steering wheel tighter, steeling myself and pushing through the weariness. Passing out simply was not an option, I just needed to get to the hospital and everything would be fine. I could feel the strength slipping from me by the minute, but I held on tighter. This wasn’t happening, not like this.

Not when I never got to answer him. Pietro. I wasn’t even really sure what I was going to say to him, but I deserved the chance to say it just like he deserved a response. I was not going to die in this fucking car because of some stupid Hydra bullshit. Typical, even when I’m bleeding out that Sokovian dickhead was still heavy on my mind. I groaned out loud, narrowing my eyes on the road in an attempt to focus my blurry eyes.

It took opening my eyes to even realize that they’d been closed, my shirt was damp I wasn’t sure if it was sweat or blood, maybe both. The car had stopped and there were flashing lights all around, an unfamiliar voice spoke to me. “Miss, can you hear me?” I wanted to nod but I wasn’t sure if I had the energy. The flashing lights came and went, white rooms, needles, bandages, red hair.

“I’m so fucking sick of you seriously.” I heard a soft voice say.

I smiled weakly at Natasha as my eyes focused, a different hospital, the same friend, sister. “Please tell me we did it.”

She laughed tearily. “Yeah. We did it, Nads.”

…

I gave her hand a tight squeeze as we got off the plane.

“I’m fine.” Her glare almost set me alight. I just smiled.

The New York breeze wrapped around me, welcoming me in. Tony was the first person I saw off the plane, he pulled me into a tight hug. “Please don’t remove me limbs from my body, I’m just kind of glad you’re not dead.” I rolled my eyes, patting his back gently, body stiff, nonetheless. He took the bag from my hands wandering off further into the compound.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” My head whipped around at the familiar voice, lips upturning at the look of pure frustration and disbelief written across his features. Suddenly, Nat was nowhere to be found. Pietro took a few steps toward me. “Do you genuinely have a death wish?!” My smile widened. “Honestly, I do not know what your prob-” I yanked him to me, hands finding the sides of his face as our lips joined. Nothing had ever confused me so much but at the same time made so much sense. I didn’t really get it, but at that moment I really didn’t care. It felt just like it had on the balcony, as if each one of my nerves had become a livewire and everything was okay, comfort and chaos all at once but I wasn’t running this time. I leaned my forehead against his when I pulled away, swallowing heavily.

“You didn’t see that coming?” I murmured, breathless.

His lips curved up into a soft smile, eyes still closed.

[laracrofted]

Since I don't party tonight, and just listens to music in my bed, I can write a Lil something!!!I will forget people and hate myself for it but 🫠 sometimes you have to jump and do it anyway

@sebsxphia : my love Seb, the kindest soul you can meet, always here to scream with you about everything obssessing us, always creating and most importantly always here for you ❤️

@bobfloydsbabe : it is universally known how much I love Helena, her stories, and her as a person. One of the pillar of the fandom, and a writer with a 🤌 vision 👌🏻 love you so much ❤️

@ryebecca honestly it's embarassing because everytime she posts moodboards, I find myself SCREAMING at how incredible they are. Her Disney serie was exceptionnal. ❤️

@sailor-aviator : i can't believe I only found and met Liz this year!! But I'm glad it happened because holy mother of God it' worth it!! She writes the Mermaid fic I always dreamed of writing with mates, connections... and her entire work is flawless. She has a no limit creativity (and I'm slightly jealous ahahah) (because she actually writes her ideas contrary to someone) (me) ❤️

@ohtobeleah : well, i wrote a very long comment about how her fics made me feel. But let's resume it: If I could write as she does, I'd be the happiest writer in the world. As fearlessly, efficienty and beautifully as she does. Yes I'm jealous too lol. (Also she has no chills, which I love.) ❤️

@roosterforme : i mean, let's be honest here: WE ALL read one of Emily's story!! I mean, Roo and Baby Girl are iconic at his point. I love how she constantly makes us addicted to her entire lore and how dedicated she is to us readers. ❤️

@gretagerwigsmuse : I mean, flawless writing, hilarious and adorable person, immaculate taste, what could you say more? Have a treat and go at Jordan's blog even if you very likely already follow her ❤️

@withahappyrefrain : for the evermore Peter Parker and Top Gun lover that I am, Abby is my queen. I LOVE her stories, I am invested in all of these, she knows how to make us laigh and cry. Plus, I'm an avid Lana fan. ❤️

@thedroneranger : Jay has helped this entire fandom to relieve their thirst!! (Or caused it with their fics, I don't know). The writings are incredibly steamy but never crude or gross. A perfect balance of emotion, sexy and entertaining. And her bartender concept is amazing!! ❤️

And you!! I am such a fan of your fics, your moodboards which are always perfect picked just right, the musical writings challenges?? Unmatched!! Thank you so much. ❤️

there are SO MANY other people I forgot, I'm sure of it but that's what my brain was able to produce tonight haha. But consider if I ever commented or reblogged your work, It went right to my heart and I love you dearly for it!! ! ❤️

ah, thank you so much for the love, i love seeing you in my notifications 🤍 have a happy new year!

end of the year positivity night 💌

[twistedroseytoesy]

My twst master list!

master list for ease of finding stuff since I plan to have lots to share!

RULES

Heartslabyul

Heartslabyul monster AU

Heartslabyul AU art!

Painting the roses red

Riddle is the queen of broken hearts

mrs. Rosehearts knows best (p1)

this life is mine! (p2)

Caters happy face

Ace the troublemaker

The best of Deuce

Savanaclaw

Savanaclaw monster AU

Savanaclaw AU art!

The lion sleeps today

can you feel the love tonight?

Be prepared

here comes trouble (ruggie overblot au)

Savanaclaw x quokka reader

Octavinelle

Octavinelle masterlist!

Scarabia

Scarabia monster AU

Scarabia AU art!

let me love you Jamil

Infinity with Jamil

Jamils darkside

Kalim's sunshine, lollipops and rainbows!

Pomefiore

Pomefiore monster AU

Pomefiore AU art!

The washing song

Vil's lament evermore

pretty girl vil

who does mc like?!

epels bad reputation

Rooks a ghost

Pomefiore x reader who uses a 3 in 1 soap

Rook and vil hearing reader sing bombshell blond

Ignihyde

Ignihyde monster AU

Ignihyde AU art!

Diasomnia

Diasomnia monster AU

Diasomnia AU art!

Skumps

Malleus’s snowman

Love like you, Malleus

Lilia's life is a highway

never smile at a crocodile

once upon silvers dream

Diasomnia + octavinelle x immortal jellyfish mer-reader

All

Monster AU stuff

Monster AU heights

Friends on the other side Disney mash up

Types of weather they are

one jump ahead of the chaos

you’ve got a friend in me Disney mash up

Staff + others

Staff monster AU

Monster AU art part 1 (Grim, Trein, Crewel)

Monster AU art part 2 (Sam, Vargas, Crowley)

Vargas!

Crewel de Vil

The Haunted Mansion

Treins soft kitty

clubs/ specific groups

new years with the light music club!

Light music club at the VDC

three caballeros

VDC carpe diem

Oveblot gang x super tall reader

Non-humans with reaper leviathan mer-reader

DnD and twist!

nonhuman characters with a lizardfolk reader

First years with a dwarf reader

necromancer with scarabia and vil

my own stuff

My twst oc’s

song suggestion ask

The prefectsbride

What I thought of them at first and what I think of them now

dumb ways to die twst version

Tsum tsum mayhem

Tsum tsum Rosa!

[jaylikesrainbowtigers]

I’m trying something a little bit new today. A positivity post because I feel like shit now. For those of you who don’t know my ex broke up with me two days ago and I didn’t really feel anything about it. Turns out I had just numbed my feelings until it hit me on my dog walk today. So trying positivity to make me feel better.

@intothedysphoria is where I got the inspiration to do this. Max makes positivity posts when he feels down and it’s something I admire so much. He also writes such good disabled Harringrove content. Like I don’t even ship it and here I am liking all of the posts because I love it all. And he has been so kind to me on discord when I vented about the breakup. I know right now is a rough patch for you, Max but I just want you to know that you kind of feel like a positive force that teaches me brilliant chaotic gremlin things. Thank you for that!!

@hargrove-mayfields is so amazing too. EJ, you were the first person I have truly interacted with online for any fandom ever. I couldn’t have asked for a better person. You have been nothing but sweet and lovely to me, and though you don’t see my jumping up and down frantically whilst waving my hands in the air every single time we interact and especially when you let me get my grubby mitts on a fandom event (again), I kinda want to let you know I maybe do that. So thanks EJ for being amazing.

@skutter We have never interacted but this is a post to make me happy so I wanted to tag you. I really couldn’t believe it when you shared one of my posts for the first time. Because you are like the only other person who blogs about Red Dwarf I could find. And I barely get to ever talk or do anything about Red Dwarf with anybody my age because I’m really the wrong generation for classics like that but oh boy, your posts bring my so much happiness when I see them. Thank you so much for helping me indulge in a silly little brain rot I have.

Also tagging @shieldofiron, @carito-dorito, @salthat, @peachyaliien (who tumblr will not let me tag despite me literally opening her blog), and anybody else on the @disabledbillyandsteveweek discord (check out that tag for stranger things content) who let me be a bit of a mess over there.

A final thanks to my irl friends Abi and Ciara who will probably never know or see this post. You two have been so amazing over the past few days and I am so sad we are all leaving this weekend down our own paths. We will meet again at Christmas when we return from the land beyond (England is that hour plane ride away beyond). My DofE besties who have been with me for so long, I can’t wait to go out tonight which you two arranged beautifully just for me.

Ciara and I have been friends for 14 years, and boy have we been through thick and thin together. We might no longer be as close but I will always remember you for being my first crush and my closest childhood friend. Also the legend who said in response to my I think I’m autistic said yeah, we all knew that.

Abi, we met later but we have been inseparable since. From chucking things at each other, to me making fun of your height (you aren’t *that* short, our friends and me are just tall), and to being the crush who made me realize oh shit, I’m gay.

And to the frankly hilarious coincidence named Jay. You bastard. Why did Ciara have a crush on you and then Abi went on to date you now. Do I have to expect my ex to date you soon? Do I? Will you haunt my romances for evermore?

Anyway thank you to anyone who actually bothered to get up to this point. I see why Max does these now. I feel better.

[corneliaavenue-ao3]

the road not taken looks real good now

Written for Several Sunlit Daylights! December 15: Folklore/Evermore. I chose Tis The Damn Season to inspire me.

You can read it also on AO3

Harry broke up with Ginny to protect her, not because he didn't love her anymore. Now they are under the same roof until he leaves to go find Horcruxes. Why can't they pretend for just the weekend that things are the way they once were?

Blood. There was so much blood. George’s blood. All it took was a missing ear.

Ginny had tried to aid her mum with healing her brother, but she was little to no help. She didn’t have medical training like her mum, and what little medicinal magic she knew was not helpful as she could not wave a wand legally.

The blood was caked underneath her fingernails as she did not have time to wash her hands until now. The drama of the evening took precedence over cleanliness. But now, everyone had gone their separate ways in mourning. Most of them had gone to bed, but Ginny found herself in the kitchen washing her hands raw; forcing herself to not wallow in the familiarity of rinsing the red dye of blood from her hands. Mad-Eye was dead. Mundungus was missing. George lost an ear. And Ginny had blood caked underneath her fingernails.

The running water of the faucet masked the sound of someone entering the kitchen.

“You know, the muggles are complaining that we are currently in a drought,” a voice said behind Ginny, startling her.

Harry always had a way of surprising her.

“I see you still are not planning on running out on us after we just got you here.”

“No, I decided I am not that stupid.”

“Well, I am glad you can see some reasoning.” Ginny said, turning off the faucet. Harry handed her the rag next to him for Ginny to dry off her hands.

Harry swayed awkwardly, almost like he suddenly realized he was alone in a room with his ex-girlfriend. “So how are you doing?”

Ginny snorted at his awkwardness.

Harry ran his hand through his hair, a nervous tic. “You’re right. Stupid question.”

Ginny tossed the rag in her hand on the counter. She felt like shite. Tonight was awful, all she could do was stand by and watch, worry, and wait. Being underage made her feel useless. One by one as each portkey came back with no one attached to it made her anxiety heighten, and yet she felt guilty for being worried about Harry the most. Guilty because George lost an ear, and she cared more about Harry’s safety. Guilty because Mad-Eye was dead, and all she wanted to do was to hold Harry because at least he was still alive.

But she couldn’t tell Harry that, at least not any more. “I’m exhausted,” is what she settled with.

“Yeah, it’s late.” Harry said, looking at the clock in the kitchen that actually told the time. “I should go to bed.” He gave Ginny a curt nod, and turned to go up the stairs.

Ginny did not know if it was the firewhiskey talking or the nerve she had lectured Harry about in the library so many moons ago, but she spoke up, not wanting Harry to leave yet.

“Wait.”

Harry stopped before he even reached the first step. Turning back to Ginny, but not walking any closer.

“I’m exhausted,” Ginny continued, “but I don’t think I could sleep.” A paused breath. “I don’t think I want to sleep.”

The creak of the floorboard was the only sound as Harry shifted his weight back and forth contemplating his next words. Ginny knew that he understood completely the nightmares that plagued both of them still. They had conversations about it late at night in the common room last Spring about the visions that would haunt him and the memories that scarred her.

“I don’t particularly want to sleep either,” Harry responded. He stood there frozen, the light from the stairs illuminating him from behind.

“Harry?” Ginny asked, barely above a whisper. “Can we just pretend?”

“Ginny-”

Ginny pressed on, not letting Harry interrupt. “Please, we can forget how shite everything is outside the wards and just pretend that everything is safe and okay right here.”

Harry moved so he was standing right over her. “Gin, I - there is nothing more I want to do than just forget everything that is going on out there, but you know I can’t.”

Ginny grabbed Harry’s arm, to keep him close, to prevent him from pulling away from her and building back up the walls she had just started to work back down. “Forget about what is out there for right now. What do you want, Harry?”

Using the hand that was not trapped by Ginny, Harry messed up his hair again. Harry made an effort to clear his throat, but he did not say anything. He also made no effort to leave. A lifetime passed between them before Harry said his next words. “You, Gin. I want you.”

Ginny sucked in her breath, not ready for his honesty. She was ready to keep fighting or even ready to let him go. Gently releasing the grip she had on Harry’s forearm, she moved her hand lower to intertwine her fingers with his.

“I just need a proper goodbye, something for you to remember me by.”

Harry didn’t even try to fight the grin that came across his face. “I don’t think I will be forgetting you anytime soon.”

Her brown eyes locked into his green. He needed to understand that she needed this from him. Just one last happy memory that she could hold onto for the rest of her life. “So for the next few days you are still here, we pretend that you didn’t break up with me and that I know you aren’t leaving. Call it even.”

“Ginny, if we do this, we need to be smart. I broke up with you, no one can know. I can’t see you getting hurt because of me.”

“You’re saving people thing is showing again.”

Harry just rolled his eyes with affection at her. “Gin, I am being serious.”

“So am I,” she countered.

“I’m not going to ask you to wait for me.”

“And I won’t ask you to stay.”

Harry leaned in towards her, nose to nose, Ginny could watch him as he counted the freckles on her face. In that moment there was an understanding that passed between them. Ginny was going to wait for him, and Harry wanted nothing more than to stay with her. “But we understand, that this,” Harry brushed a lock of Ginny’s hair behind her ear. Chills erupted down Ginny’s spine. “This is just between us, and then it’s over when I go.”

Ginny nodded in response, “No one has to know.”

Lips crashed against each other. Harry had one hand cupped against her cheek, the other in her long red hair, pulling Ginny in as close as possible. Ginny wrapped her arms around Harry’s waist holding him tight against her. The familiarity of being surrounded by Harry overwhelmed her. The taste of him against her lips. She could never get enough of him, but she was doing her hardest? to try. Not sure if she was going to be able to have him ever again.

Harry lifted Ginny up, and she took her cue to wrap her legs around his waist. Ginny moaned into Harry’s mouth. He felt like heaven pressed up next to her. Harry’s fingers worked their way under Ginny’s shirt, running along her back and brushing against her bra. Her hands got lost in his messy, black hair. Every sense was flooded with Harry. The feel of his hot hands on her toned abdomen, the intoxicating smell of the outdoors that followed him wherever he went, the taste of his mouth on hers, the way he breathlessly murmured her name between kisses. It was all too much, but never enough simultaneously. A creak in the staircase caused the pair to jump apart. Harry stared wide eyed at her, lips swollen, hair disheveled. They stood in complete silence waiting to see if they were seconds away from being caught. “Someone is probably using the bathroom,” Ginny guessed.

“Right.” Harry said, awkwardness slowly creeping back in. “We should go to bed just in case someone needs a late night snack.”

“Goodnight Harry,” Ginny said. She raised up on her toes and gave him a quick kiss before making her way up the stairs to her bedroom, leaving Harry standing alone in the kitchen.

_______

While Mrs. Weasley was working to keep Harry, Ron, and Hermione apart to prevent them from planning their trip, it was a great excuse for Harry to constantly be with Ginny. Chores like setting the table that only should have taken the pair a few minutes to complete suddenly would take hours.

Hermione wasn’t stupid. She could see the stolen glances between the pair during meals and could somehow hear the silent laughter shared in secret moments. She was smart enough to realize that it was no coincidence that Harry and Ginny were volunteering to work together to degnome the garden or clean up the chicken coop. But she was also smart enough to not say anything either. She just gave Ginny a look when she would enter her bedroom late at night with swollen lips and tousled hair.

“You know,” Hermione started late one night, “It is Harry’s birthday tomorrow. I can distract Ron for a little bit if you want to give Harry his present in private.”

Ginny had never been more thankful for her friendship with Hermione until that moment. They devised a plan to distract Ron for long enough that Harry could sneak away without it being suspicious.

The next morning, Ginny and Hermione made their way down to the kitchen table where Ron and Harry were already there. They were muttering under their breath to each other. They immediately stopped when they saw the girls enter the room. Harry looked up at Ginny, eyes immediately lighting up at the sight of her.

“Happy seventeenth, Harry!” Ginny said, taking the open seat next to him.

“Thanks, Ginny!” Harry replied just as brightly.

Hermione rolled her eyes at the pair as she placed her wrapped gift on the top of the pile of presents in front of Harry. “Open mine first!”

Harry took the time to unwrap his gifts. Eyes watering at the love the Weasley family had gifted him. The watch that once belonged to Fabian rested carefully on his wrist. The rest of his presents laid in front of him.

“Harry, I can take your presents upstairs and pack them for you.” Hermione offered. She turned to Ron, “Can you grab your underpants out of the wash and then help me pack the rest of your stuff, Ron?”

Ron spluttered into his breakfast. “It’s Harry’s stuff, why do I have to be the one to pack it?”

Hermione gave Ron a pointed look. “It’s his birthday today, don’t make him do that. Come on.” She grabbed Ron’s wrist and pulled him away from the kitchen. Right as they were leaving, Hermione turned back and gave Ginny a quick wink.

Ginny took her cue and turned to Harry who had just been abandoned by his best friends. She leaned in and kept her voice low to not be overheard by the Delecours sitting at the table, “I left your present in my room, if you want to follow me and get it real quick.”

Harry gave her a quizzical look, rising from the table and following her up the staircase. Ginny pushed open the door on the first-floor landing into her bedroom, and Harry followed her in.

Throughout the last few days, he had been with Ginny all over the Burrow, from having her pressed up behind the chicken coop to Ron’s bedroom when he was taking his night shower, but he had yet to be in her bedroom. Harry looked around appreciating the small, bright area.

Ginny grabbed his hand and looked steadily at him. “I struggled to think what to get you.”

Harry took a step closer to her, “You have given me more than enough these past few days.”

“Oh, I know.” Ginny smirked up at him, thinking about the way his hands felt exploring her body. “But I still thought you deserved a present. I wasn’t sure what would be useful since I don’t know what you are up to.” She took another step towards him.

“Ginny, you know I can’t tell you.”

“I wasn’t asking,” Ginny reassured.

Then she was kissing him, much like the times she had before in the past week. Urgency and heat between them. A blissful oblivion. She had pressed her hands underneath his shirt against the warmth of his back. He had one hand at her back and the other in her long hair. The feeling of Harry pressed into her was the realest thing she had felt in the entire world. She needed more of him. Without a second thought, she grabbed the bottom hem of her Holyhead Harpies t-shirt and flung it off over her head.

“Ginny, are you sure?” Harry asked, eyes searching hers for reassurance.

“If it’s okay with you, it’s okay with me.”

Harry crashed his lips back to hers, pushing Ginny towards her bed. Her shirt just a memory on the floor. Ginny’s knees hit the back of the bed where she tumbled down onto it, pulling Harry with her. The only time their lips broke contact was when Ginny pulled Harry’s shirt off of him.

Their hands and mouths explored parts of the other that they had not discovered together. Hands hot on each other’s bodies. Pleasant sounds escaping from both of their lips as they reached a gratifying high.

From somewhere millions of miles away, Ron’s voice broke through their trance. “Hermione for Merlin’s sake, we don’t need to start another load of my laundry. Also where the bloody hell is Harry?”

Catching the gaze of Harry above her, Ginny smiled up at him. “You should go before Ron comes barging in here.”

Harry returned her smile and gave her a quick kiss before getting off of her to find his clothes strewn around her bedroom. His hand reached for the knob, hesitating for just a moment. Ginny saw him pull his shoulders back, returning to sullen, stoic Harry, masking the real Harry. The Harry that only she had the privilege to see.

Her bed was much colder now that Harry no longer occupied it with her. Now that she had experienced fire, everything else felt cold. The frigid feeling froze Ginny as she realized this new bitterness would stick with her when Harry really left for good. Her throat started to close up and she succumbed to tears for the first time since Dumbledore’s funeral, since Harry decided to leave her. Since the bubble burst and the outside world of darkness surrounded her whole once again. She turned and sobbed into her pillow.

She was not sure how long she cried until she felt fingers running through her hair. For a moment, she thought maybe it was Harry. “Ginny, I’m so sorry.” Hermione’s soothing voice comforted her.

Ginny looked up at her friend. She was holding out her discarded t-shirt. Blushing, Ginny quickly put it on. “You have nothing to apologize for, Hermione.” She took a shaky breath, collecting herself, “I just realized that all three of you are leaving, and I’ll be alone.”

Hermione continued to soothe her. “You won’t be alone. You will have Luna and Neville at Hogwarts with you. Your family and members of the Order will also be there to help when they can,” Hermione’s soft voice assured her. “And Harry, he wouldn’t be leaving if he didn’t have to. I need you to understand that.” Ginny nodded. Hermione was the smartest witch of her age, but Ginny knew Harry in a way that Hermione never could. She understood his reasons why he broke up with her, and she understood his reasons why he agreed to be with her over these past few days. Ginny used the hem of her t-shirt to clean the snot under her nose. “Thank you, Hermione. I am good now.”

Hermione just gave her a skeptical look, but did not comment any further.

Ginny went on with the rest of her day as if nothing happened that morning. She did not have any other opportunities to see Harry alone throughout the day. Fleur kept her busy with last minute wedding planning. Her family celebrated Harry’s birthday until they were rudely interrupted by the Minister of Magic. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were once again singled out and brought to a separate room with the Minister, and Ginny was once again reminded how alone she was going to be.

After the Minister left, Harry shuffled his two best friends up the stairs without a second glance back at her. Ginny sighed. He hadn’t left yet, but he already started to slip through her fingers.

She helped her mum clean up the party quietly. Small pleasantries about the wedding tomorrow passed between them. Ginny excused herself after drying the last dish to the backyard.

Slowly she made her way to the back of the broomshed. She needed to be in the air. To let go of any negative thoughts rattling in her brain and just be free. Quickly mounting her broom, she surged into the late July air. Wind rushed through her ears, deafening her thoughts.

She lost track of how long she was in the air when she noticed a familiar figure standing in the grass. Slowly, Ginny circled her way down to him.

“Hi,” Harry said when she was within earshot.

Ginny floated above him, “Hello to yourself.”

“I saw you flying from Ron’s bedroom window, and I thought I would join you.”

“Do you want to fly?”

Harry shuffled back and forth, “I lost my broom the other night.”

“Hop on mine,” Ginny said, flying down so she was at Harry’s level.

Harry hesitated for a second before straddling the broom behind her. His warm arms slid around her waist to steady himself. Ginny leaned back into his chest for a moment, capturing the moment in her brain for a future happy memory. Then they were in the air. Harry tightened his grip on her after one risky turn, and Ginny just laughed with glee. Flying higher and higher circling the trees. Harry leaned forward, resting his chin on her shoulder, and Ginny almost jerked the handle of the broom up from the casual intimacy of it all.

Slowly they descended to the ground, landing behind the tall willow tree in the backyard.

Ginny took Harry’s hand and pulled him to the ground. They sat with their backs against the tree, facing away from the Burrow. “I can’t believe we never rode a broom together before,” Harry said, breaking the silence.

“I guess that is the consequence of not getting together until after Quidditch season is over,” Ginny replied softly.

Harry hummed in response.

“You don’t regret it, do you?” Ginny asked, her voice more childlike than she ever intended it to be.

He looked down at her, startled by her question. “Not at all.” He reassured her, lowering his lips to her forehead. “I just wish it were easy.”

Ginny understood exactly what he meant. That they could be kids. That they could be stupid and fly one broom together every evening. That tomorrow he could be Harry Potter and not some random redhead muggle pretending to be some long lost cousin. That tomorrow she could force him onto the dance floor and he could hold her close as he tried not to trip over his feet. That he was not being hunted by the darkest wizard of their time. She didn’t tell him she understood these things, because he knew she did.

“We can still pretend that it is.”

He smiled, shoulders relaxing, “You know, you’ve always known me the best.”

For the next several hours, they allowed themselves to be the kids they wished they were. Cracking jokes, sharing childhood stories, stealing kisses every now and then. One last moment of shared happiness.

Ginny went to bed with a smile on her face for the last time for the rest of the year.

The next morning was chaotic with last minute details that just had to be done. Ginny was abused with makeup and late dress alterations. She did not have one moment to catch her breath until she was walking down the aisle herself.

The wedding was beautiful. Fleur looked as elegant as ever and Bill looked so happy you could only focus on that and not the scars on his face. Dinner was served and the dance floor opened up. She danced the night away with her siblings and Luna. She kept looking over at the table her cousin Barney was sitting at. The stoic look that was so signature to Harry was painted across her cousin’s face.

Wedding bliss was interrupted by streaks of silver as a lynx formed in the center of the dance floor. The voice of Kinsley Shacklebolt echoed, “The ministry has fallen. Scrimgeour is dead. They are coming.”

Chaos erupted around her. Witches and wizards disapparating with loud pops and screams of fear echoed in the air. She ignored her mum yelling at her to go hide inside instead pulling her wand out of her pocket scanning the crowd for the one person she needed to make sure was safe.

It didn’t take too long. Ron and Hermione were not discreet in their screams for Harry, running towards the random redhead muggle. She made eye contact with him. One last moment of understanding passed between them. Both silently begging the other to be safe. He gave her a nod before disapparating into the unknown.

Ginny could not focus on Harry, the only soul who knew her from the inside out, leaving any longer. Her own broken heart was no longer the focus. There was a war going on, and she was going to fight to make sure Tom Riddle could not ruin any more lives.

[sunny6677]

The Mayor's Orders.

(The Saturated AU version of the scene where Mayor Evermore confronts John and Jack.)

TWS FOR DEATH MENTIONS, DISMEMBERMENT MENTIONS, ETC

————

It begins with a pair of doors practically slamming open—with the sound of a man giggling to himself once he looks around. "I'm hooooomeeee.. heheh.."

It shows him eagerly walking across the house—showing pictures of him in clown makeup and performing circus acts, but gradually growing more depressed as less and less kids show up in every photo, until it cuts to him walking up to the bathroom mirror and holding up two blades. "..people are gonna love me this year. Heh.. I'll make them.."

It then cuts to a newspaper slamming down on a table, with an article about a shockingly similar guy to the one we just saw—only in appearance. The guy appears to be named Bobby Velseb according to the article—and is incredibly skinny compared to the man we just saw. It then shows Mayor Evermore, who awkwardly laughs while sweating.

John and Jack, who are sitting in front of him, just stare.

"..what?" John says.

The Mayor repeats John. "..what? What—" He leans foward, screaming in a distressed manner, "WHAT HAVE YOU BEEN DOING?!"

The two police officers flinch in alarm at his rise of tone. John nervously stutters, "..look, we try our best, sir. But—"

"No! Don't—just—" Evermore wipes a hand over his face, his expression seeming exasperated but panicked. "..ughhhhh.."

He then clicks a button, saying gently, "..Patty can come in now."

It cuts to Patty, who slowly opens the door with a puzzled but worried expression on her face. "Hi. Did you—need something?"

"I'd.. like it if you told them about that Bobby guy that's escaped recently. Y'know, uh.. from the prison?"

She walks up, explaining in a wavering tone. "Well, uh.. he's killed a lot of people. Most of them are usually dismembered or are just.. nothing but flesh by the time they find those he killed."

"You're.." She pauses, looking at Jack and John, "..gonna do something about it, right?"

"..psh.. no." Jack rolls his eyes.

When John gives him a concerned expression and Patty looks on with a glare, Jack scoffs.

"I was joking. Geez.."

"This isn't the time for jokes!" Mayor Evermore says, quickly rising from his seat as he slams his hands over the table. He pauses, and sighs. "..anytime he gets out, there's just.. more and more dead people.."

It cuts to Susie, who is cursing beneath her breath after slamming the door shut, and puts a chair against it so it can't be opened. She shuts her blinds, and dives under the bed, appearing frightened as the shadows of feet stomping past sound. There's a voice over of the Mayor, saying, "We can't make any mistakes this time, we've gotta take everything into account here.."

She's too frozen in fear to do anything, just watching carefully until it's gone. Even when it's gone, Susie seems a bit reluctant—but she suddenly makes a startled expression as a pair of eyes open from behind her. Susie tries to scream, but is muffled by a hand shoving itself over her mouth.

It then cuts back to the Mayor who sighs again. "..we can't just leave it alone. I need you two to solve this. I can't let.." He whispers, "..those two take your jobs.."

It shows Shotty and Captain, with Captain grinning happily and Shotty seeming nervous.

After looking at them, the trio looks back over to the Mayor with John stammering out, "Mayor, I—I—there's something going on here. I know you wanna find this guy. But I can't find out what's happening in this town if I don't—"

"..John.. please don't bring that cult thing up again."

"I'm—I'm serious! There's a cult around here!"

"No, there's not!"

The Mayor pauses again, collecting himself. "Please.. just.. do your best tonight."

It shows John and Jack walking out of the building, with John fidgeting with his hands and Jack sternly walking ahead. It cuts to them getting in the car, with John anxiously lighting his cigarette. Jack looks over.

"..are you really smoking at a time like this?"

John stops, and sighs. "..sorry.. let's just see if we can find this guy."