#like i started my day pretty okay but somewhere along the way it nose dived and I'm just trying to not cry in my room

[bittybattybunny]

I hope your not feeling down on your writing skills because I haven't caught up and commented on your latest releases. It's not you it's that I pick too many fanfics to follow and they all update a lot and I've been so busy and I've fallen behind on so many fics from various authors and sometimes my depression just makes me want to lie in bed all day doing nothing and it doesn't help I have to spend my limited spoons helping family everyday. I know these aren't good excuses, but I do sympathize with the lack of energy feeling at least. But your work really does bring a lot of joy to my life. It's so fun keeping up with your various AUs, and your latest one that features Kaya as Spider King has me really hyped because I want to learn more about Kaya, she's so fun! And Ruclipse is such a good comfort ship that just hits all the things I like seeing in a ship. You're so amazing and creative and it's awful that anyone would try to make you feel otherwise! Like your newest OC, Justin Tyme seems like such a lovable dumbass bastard. I love his wild, curly hair and his dapper outfit. I can't wait to see what dumb shit he gets himself into! I know this is really long and rambly, but I hope you know you have fans who genuinely love your work. I don't know if you're still thinking about that one comment you mentioned that got you really down, but honestly, fuck that guy. I don't know what they said but it must have been pure BS to have you doubting your hard earned art skills. I wish I could do more to prove you're awesome and that your fans really admire you, I just hope you don't stop sharing what you love because some rando was nasty for no good reason. Because we love what you do!

It's not like anyone one person nonny so please don't blame yourself. This has been an ongoing thing for a few months actually...

it's just a general thing over all lately like. I mentioned this in dm's with a friend but overall past few months I've had lower engagement overall with my works and it really does a number on my confidence. More so because like your latter point.

yes, I am still very much thinking about that one negative comment. Because that person also has the need to comment on other things and I even had a thing asking why I took a few weeks to update (when reality I posted to another ongoing fic and my TLC chapters are long chapters) and just the fact they could tear into a character (yes it was a comment on a character specifically and not even a main character it's a side character who has an important role for Snatcher's growth as a person down the line) then go saying "why didn't you update" when I posted a double update that week---

Like it lives in my head rent free and I want to literally cry because like the character is a focal in an upcoming chapter and I can't deal with another "why are they back" type thing. because "everyone finds them annoying"

And I'll be honest. it was Kaya. Like I've been trying to have fun with my BCU stuff with her as Spiderking because it's engaging for me and me and @/doodleimprovement even came up with a b-plot involving Kaya and Hattie trying to hook Nell and Marcus together and it's one of the best things as well as Kaya and Nell having a really good relationship.

but because of that one comment it makes me hesitant to do anything with Kaya despite she's one of my oldest ocs, my most thought out ocs and I adore her beyond anything. Like yes she's over powered and such and in TLC rn she comes off as a know it all, but upcoming chapters will show she's just a spacey kid who's trying to fit into a role others decided for her and isn't really as all mighty as she seems. Snatcher even ends up thinking of her as a little sister more than anything. Like fuck I'm even hesitant to share anything on her actual story despite how much work is in it. Like she's my favorite Oc (that's why shes my discord icon, and I'm pretty sure she's my twitter icon as well)

And like the points in the comment just. IDK they didn't fit to her, if anything the points are more suited to be shot at Eclipse.

Which is another thing I just get iffy on. I love RuClipse and everything with it. I love writing and drawing the dorks. But I'm now so afraid if Kaya could be attacked for only showing in a handful of chapters that don't even touch on who she is, when is someone going to finally tell me off on my wolf? who's going to tear into a character I pour a lot of personal shit into to try and comfort myself?

I use Ruclipse to deal with my own romantic heart, they are what I wish I could have so I love to write them, I hurt them but i like to make them happy in the end. Someone who can deal with your highs and lows. No ones perfect but you can still figure it out and love even the negative parts (I am a heavy romantic OTL)

he is in fact a lovable bastard. i have fun plans and he gives me an excuse for why Cel is so tired and having to be the brain cell and how she even wound up working with the time kids when she's so much older than they are. Currently I'm trying to think of how to use him and honestly I think he's gonna wind up hella comic relief fun guy who's just making a mess and do his own side story while Hat and Bow are busy in subcon----

thank you, I don't mind the rambly it kinda gave me a chance to get this off my chest... like I've typed this kinda response up time and time again and I always delete. I feel like I'm whining because I get upset but it's just, I spend so much time making things, I use all my spoons on either working or creating, I just want to know if it means anything but then negativity lives in my head because what's a functioning meat cube??? I try to stay positive but it's hard. Like another thing is Moon Guardian; the reason I haven't updated? because I have had someone bothering me about it. weekly I get asked about how I'm doing on it but it's not from a place of "want to read it" it's because I told them they couldn't post a certain thing until the chapter is done so it feels pressuring to constantly get asked because I feel the only reason they want to post is to boost their thing and I'm just the machine to boost it with my characters and comic.... like it feels they've taken the comic from me and it sucks because I have so many fun things planned. Like I accidentally went off on Nina about a thing with Alpine skyline and Eclipse as well as a thing with a Time Rift and a Jelly ghost.

Sorry kinda went off, just I've sat on this thought train since like early april. I've done my best to ignore it and just keep going but it's gotten really hard with the fact my health hasn't been really great. I've spent a lot of time lately bed bound because I just hurt so badly. if I'm not resting, I'm at my day job which is incredibly stressful rn as I only really work mornings and I see things that are being missed so then i report it and it still gets missed and i can't get it fixed after a point cuz we're back to full service and need the people so I can't nitpick but just.... I'm bitter okay like if I left this shit when I worked I would have gotten yelled at but now we just let it slide??? and this stresses me out which then causes my body to freak out because I'm stressed which puts me in more pain. and then like at work have people acting shocked I have my cane or soemthing and just skfdslkfksdf

so my energy is so tanked. and then the negative comment in my head, no idea if people like things cuz I have no idea if I hear nothing, just has had me doubting why post. Like I should go back to just not posting my stories and sketches or w/e and slink back to my hole like I was before.

idk Its just. a bad night in the house of bun. I've had these thoughts festering and I guess today was the dam breaking. It's probs cuz I'm nervous posting Chimeras because it's a very dark au.

[party-gilmore]

19 year old Dean sneaking out of the motel with clumsily smudged eye makeup and lipstick that Rhonda assured him via text would actually be pretty perfectly on brand and her sequiny borrowed clothes hidden under his dad's big jacket.

He doesnt understand why she told him to dress like this, but the panties thing was pretty nice, so he's willing to trust her... it helps that Dad was so damn wasted he knew there's no way he'd wake up while Dean was on the way out. Getting back in might be a different story, but he's got a change of clothes stashed in the Impala if he needs to swap out before sneaking back in.

Once he gets there, once Rhonda shows him a world he didn't even know existed right under his nose, it becomes more of a tradition. In fact, it becomes the only tradition he feels like he can share with these other people, these... these other queer people.

It's the only connection, the only experience, the only part of his strange hunter's upbringing that he feels like lines up with their own stories. The only part of their culture he feels like he can share, like he can actually be a part of.

Sneaking out, flashy skimpy gender bending clothes hidden from overbearing parents under layers upon layers, changing somewhere along the way or even in the tiny little restrooms of whatever skeevy dive is playing the movie in tonight's town of choice, sharing That Look with the other boys swapping their getups in the same dingy toilet, the confidence building as he strips layer after layer, tearing down his own defenses of Flannel and Denim and Dad's Jacket to raise a wall of freedom and expression and self love, and it always scary every time but in a good way, the way he feels at the top of a roller coaster, gripping the lap bar and so, so ready.

Then after, lingering in the afterglow of the camaraderie and companionship, the same feeling of mutual dread creeping across the little gaggle of young adults he finds himself drawn to as they start the slow trudge back to real life. The layers going back on. The Flannel. The Denim. Dad's Jacket.

The envy as they watch a lot of the older folks and even some of the younger ones - a little bit more every year, as time goes by - laughing and smiling and sparing a quick moment for a mournful but understanding glance in the direction of those who have to build their walls back up before getting into their cars. Heading back home as they are.

Unafraid not to change back.

He never talks about it. Not even when Sam mentions offhand about a show he attended once in college. Just makes a snarky comment about corsets and Tim Curry that has Sam punching him hard in the arm with a reprimand about being bigoted. That's fine. Dean would still rather that than have people know the truth. Not yet, anyway.

He doesn't talk about it to Cas, either. It's not just because it doesn't seem like it would be up the guy's alley, although he was admittedly tempted when putting together his list of things show the falling angel all of what humanity has to offer. He doesn't doubt that even if it's not the guy's cup of tea, Cas would still find it to be beautiful in some way. Probably like, as a tableau of humanity at its purest, most free, or some sappy shit like that.

No, the reason Dean doesn't tell Cas is because it's still too intimate of a thing for him, and with this... whatever it is that's been slipping between, growing stronger with each pass around, he's afraid that letting Cas into that part of his life would leave him tumbling to quickly, too recklessly, into something he knows he's not ready for. Besides, he hasn't been to a show in years anyway. Not since hell.

But then one day.

One day Jack is sitting at the kitchen table, nervously admitting that he's been talking to some kids in town, and he really likes them, and... and not just the girls. Not just one of them either. The whole group. And he doesnt know if that's weird or not and he doesn't know what to do and he doesn't know if that's normal... do other people feel this way? Are there other people out there who are... like me? Or is this... a nephilim thing. Am I the only one.

And for a moment Dean wonders if it would be weird, taking his kid to go see it. But then he thinks about some of the older couples he'd met and talked too, who'd been excited to introduce their kids around Dean's age. Like taking your kid out to a bar for their 21st. A moment to show them a world they could be a part of, as they grow into who they are. To help them find their place in it.

Dean rarely ever let himself wish for things to be Other Than They Are, trying to be enough of a realist to not get stuck in wistful what ifs and maybes. But in those moments? Those moments he found himself wishing for a parent like that. Not that Rhonda's introduction to it wasn't pretty damn great, but the thought of it being a parent, a... a dad, showing him a world he could be a part of and saying 'it's okay, I'm part of it too, go enjoy it but know that I'm here with you when you need me,' it was... well.

Dean clears his throat, realizing just how long Jack's anxious silence had gone on while his brain rattled around in the past.

"Hey kid, how uh... how about we catch a movie tonight? That older theater, the one that's... not the Regal, what's it called... uh, whichever. They're playing Rocky Horror tonight."

Jack's head tilts at the apparent subject change, in the way that reminds Dean so much of Cas, and for a moment he almost calls down the hall to invite the angel along.

But no, he settles back into his original plan. This is a Him And Jack kinda thing. This time, at least.

"A horror movie?"

"Haha, no, not quite," Dean grins, standing and ruffling the kids hair. "C'mon. I know none of my old stuff fits me anymore, so I'll need new gear anyway. I'll take you to pick out an outfit. Bring your ID."

[notsolong-pause]

ship requests

“hi! Could I get a ship for pjo/hoo and marvel? im 5'5, I have a curly mullet, and jet black hair, im also super pale and have big dark brown eyes, I also have 2 scars on my lips from falling and 1 on my chest from surgery! Im a pansexual, asexual demigirl, I go by she/they, im usually very quiet until i get to know you better then I wont shut up and am super loud, I tend to be very sarcastic and sometimes a lil mean, but I make sure to apologize if I hurt someone feelings!! I always end up being the therapist friend of the group and them over myself, im not an outdoor person and I really just like to look down on the city of a tall building and admire the view, I love to go outside and ride my bike, I speak a lil Spanish and French!! I love reading, writing and art, mainly art like painting, sketching, and music!! I love music and listening to it while looking at the city view!! tysmm!!”

a/n: Thank you for your request! I added the request from the asks, since it was more elaborated^) Hopefully, you like it

Marvel: 

I ship you with Sam Wilson

Okay, I think it’s a perfect match, tbh! He definitely needs someone by his side who doesn’t need therapy and can provide him emotional support back, since he’s always there for everyone as well.

He definitely knows when you need some alone time, and he can do his own work, read or fix something along your side when you’re working on some art piece. He would also admire your talent 24/7, because he’s not exactly surrounded by artistic people

You would make fun (in a friendly way) of the other avengers, and would always support one another’s jokes

Spending rainy days in the tower, reading in silence, and then bursting in laughter, talking about the weirdest things, which he might not understand, but 110% percent adores

Him always saying that your scars make you look like some badass movie character

New York was about to dive deep into the night, but, of course, the city that never sleeps was still full of life and lights. On the roof of the high building it was much quiter than on the busy pavements, and the view was simply breathtaking. And that is why you were sitting right there, headphones in one ear, legs crossed, wind slightly blowing the curls out of your face.

"Are you allowed to be here?" - a sudden voice shook your nerves, and you jumped up to your legs. None other than Sam Wilson was standing righ in front of you.

"Are you allowed to cause heart attacks?" - you fired back. Sam slightly smirked at your answer. "But seriously, what are you doing up here? You need any help?"

"Just... Watching, I suppose" - you shrugged.

"Well, it is very pretty up here. Even better while flying" - he smiled

"Can imagine. Why aren't you doing your super-hero stuff, or whatever you're supposed to be doing?"

"You see, I also need a couple hours of rest a day, in order, you know, not die of exhaustion. " - the smirk remained on his lips throughout the whole conversation, and you let out a small laugh.

"I see, well than, maybe you want to... join for a couple minutes, if you need any company"

"You bet I do"

Percy Jackson:

I ship you with Reyna Avila Rramirez-Arellano

First and foremost, she would be so into your hairstyle, always pulling your locks slightly, playing with your hair, when nobody sees her, because she's supposed to be tough.

Her teaching you some new Spanish words and practicing with you, making compliments in Spanish

She would trace lines along your scars gently, because she definitely thinks that scars make people beautiful and unique

She would ask you to go and watch her training, because your oppinion and approval matter to her, even though pretty much nobody else's does

When you start talking to her, telling about many things, being passionate and loud, she would simply glare at you softly, listening, opening up step by step

"I like your hair" - you and Reyna were on the grass, your head on her laps, fingers tangled in the curls.

"I like your nose" - you answered, looking through half-closed eyes. It was warm, everyone else was somewhere else, it was just the two of you, and Reyna warmed up a little as well. Her hair was loose, features relaxed, armour off - it was rare to see her like that, and you loved it.

"I like your lips" - she said, and there was a faint smirk playing on her face. You pulled yourself to your elbows now facing her.

"I like your lips too" - you gently tugged Rayna's hand, admiring the contrast of her tanned skin against your pale. Your faces were closer and closer every second. "You're gonna get a sunburn" - whispered Reyna when your lips were about to unite. You laughed and dropped on your back again. "I like your laugh" - said the girl still barely above whisper.

You were smiling, feeling so many tenderness for the seemingly tough girl - "And I like you"

Ahhh, I hope it's okay. I relly ship you and Reyna now, you would match so perfectly!! Sending love <3

[mshermia]

Meet Cute - Webpril Day 12: Identity Reveal

summary: After Peter's identity is revealed, Tony's new favorite pastime is to tell the story of their first meeting to everyone that would listen. Repeatedly. Peter knows though, that the day Tony came to the apartment to recruit him wasn't really the first time they had met.

Or: Tony finds out that Peter was the kid at the Expo (tumblr prompt)

Read on AO3

###

It was safe to say that nobody had found more enjoyment in Peter's Spider-Man Identity being revealed than Tony.

Over the past few months since Peter's name had been everywhere from newspaper headlines to trending Twitter hashtags, Tony had used every occasion that presented itself to tell one story in particular. A story he had apparently been withholding from the world at great personal suffering.

"To be fair, I was a bit desperate for help so I had to move fast, but honestly..." Tony arched his brows with rehearsed ease. "...it's not like the kid was hard to track down. It was more like he was begging to be found."

It had been embarrassing at first. Well, truth be told it still was, only Peter had grown used to Tony's performance.

Tony sat up a little straighter, gesturing to himself. "I, of course, had been sitting on his aunt's sofa for the better part of half an hour trying to make small talk before Pete even showed up." With an exaggerated sigh, he rolled his eyes to the ceiling. "On time for once in my life and the kid goes dumpster diving on his way home from school."

Thor held his stomach laughing, at Tony's antics or Peter's own face in reaction to it, Peter wasn't sure. Now that he took the time to look around the group, he did notice that there weren't even any new people present that Tony could try to amuse with the story. No, it was only the team and MJ still standing next to him. They had all heard this story before, but apparently, that wouldn't stop Tony either.

"Of course, you know me, I tried to keep things subtle—"

Natasha huffed out a laugh. "Yes. Don't we all know that side of him... Tony Stark, paragon of subtlety."

But Tony wasn't phased by her interjection, if anything he only raised his voice a little to be heard above her bickering. "I did the whole thing, staring at him intently, winking, as I was laying the foundation with the internship. The kid..." Tony laughed like he just remembered it for the first time. "He was just staring at me like all his dreams had just come true. Well," Tony smirked. "Can't really blame him for that, right."

While Bucky looked a little bored, Sam and Wanda seemed thoroughly amused to hear this story for the umpteenth time.

"Honestly, it was just adorable. His little bambi-eyes widened in awe, sparkling. That little smile on his face... like the sun had come up. It was precious." Tony sighed with overacted bliss. "I don't think even Morgan has ever looked at me with that much adoration."

"Jeezes," Peter mumbled. He sucked in a deep breath, trying not to roll his eyes.

"Hey now..." Tony pointed at him. "Don't give me that look. You know it's true. We were both there."

Peter scratched the back of his neck and met MJ's eyes with a shrug. It's not like she didn't know the story. She might have even been one of the first ones to hear it, years ago, long before the public had known about Peter's secret identity. That was back in the good old days when Tony had had a lot fewer opportunities to tell it.

Just then, Barton walked up, his eyebrows raised. "Man, you still not done? I've heard this story like 50 times."

Tony's head spun towards him. "Listen, for 13 years I had to keep this basically to myself!" He pointed at Peter. "That one should be thanking me for all those years of self-control. It's a miracle that it didn't burst out of me somewhere along the way revealing his big secret."

Rubbing a hand across his face, Peter tried to estimate if a trip to the buffet might take long enough to skip the rest of the retelling. He jerked in surprise as a hand clapped his shoulder.

"Don't feel bad, Pete," Rhodey sighed. "He's majorly embellished the way we met as well."

"That's not really..." Peter scrunched up his nose. "I mean, it's pretty accurate, minus the way he talks about how my 'bambi-eyes widened in awe' when I saw him."

MJ turned to him, eyebrows raised. "That's what you think is embellished? You still look at him like that whenever he enters the room."

"Oh, shut up," Peter mumbled into his drink.

As Rhodey broke out in laughter, MJ moved a little closer. "It's really cute," she whispered in his direction.

Peter frowned, stealing a glance at her. "Huh?"

"You know..." Her hand clasped his, their arms entangled, her voice still low, only for him to hear. "All his teammates had abandoned him, he was separated from the woman he loved, and then he found you and fell in fatherly-love with you. You were like..." She tilted her head a little, before the smile on her lips widened. "...like his life raft. And here he is, bragging about it in front of them. It's adorable."

Peter grimaced, eyes shifting back to Tony. "That's so not..."

He hesitated, not sure what he felt. Tony was just reenacting the part of the story when he had found Peter's suit hidden in the hatch on the ceiling of his bedroom. There was something about the broad smile on Tony's face that Peter couldn't argue away.

"It's adorable," MJ repeated, squeezing his hand.

"Yeah, well..." Maybe... maybe she wasn't wrong. There was something about how much Tony seemed to love to tell the story, not even just when Peter was around. At one dinner party, Peter had walked in on a group of research assistants clinging to every one of Tony's words while he was already in the middle of telling the story. And as much as Tony tried to make it sound like a joke, his eyes were always soft, the smile on his face genuine.

No, MJ wasn't wrong. And Peter couldn't deny that he too enjoyed that part. Not the story, really, but the sense of enjoyment as he watched Tony's animated gesturing. As he watched how content Tony seemed, telling it.

He shrugged. "Yeah, well that might be the reason, I haven't said anything about how this wasn't even the first time we met." 

"Wait a second," Steve called out so loudly, it didn't just stop Tony but every other conversion in the room. He pointed at Peter. "You're telling me I've had to listen to a story that has Tony fawning over how much his kid fawns over him for like 10 times and it's not even true?"

"Er..." Peter's eyes went wide, painfully aware that the attention of the room was suddenly squarely on him. Super-senses were really no fun when you were on this end of it. "I mean, it's just.... I was definitely surprised to see him then..."

"Underoos!" Tony's hand clutched his heart, but his eyes sparkled with humor. "There's no shame in your adoration for your old man. You don't have to lie about how much it meant to you to meet me!"

His lips pursed, cheeks a little hot, Peter shook his head in irritation.

Rhodey frowned at him. "Wait, so you're saying it did happen like that?"

"I mean, yeah..." Peter shrugged, avoiding Tony's eyes. "It's just not like it was the first time I had ever laid eyes on him or whatever."

Next to him, MJ gasped. "Oh please, please tell me that it was at like an autographing session that you camped out in line for!"

"No..." Peter scratched his head.

"Go on, go on." Clint leaned a little towards him now, waving for Peter to continue. "I do want to hear that story!"

Peter's eyes flickered over at Tony but his face had gone blank. He didn't remember. Of course, he didn't. Peter had never expected him to. It had been a long time ago and it would be absurd to think that Tony could have picked him out from a crowd of people like that, that he could remember with all the people he had saved over the years. Peter bit the inside of his cheeks. It wasn't even a great story. In fact, objectively they hadn't met-met then just like... stood close to each other. It didn't even really count and—

"Hey, stop..."

Pulled out of his spiraling thoughts by Tony, Peter looked up, finding everyone's eyes still on himself.

"It's okay, kid." Tony's voice was surprisingly soft. "It's nobody's business, okay? And you..." He pointed at Natasha, no trace of the softness now. "Stop giggling like that, will you?"

"Oh, come on, you're just worried you made an ass of yourself." She leaned back in her chair, head cocked to the side.

"He didn't," Peter swallowed hard. "It wasn't like that, just..." MJ shifted next to him, her hand slipping back into his. "It was just a long time ago and..." He blinked up at Tony. "You wouldn't remember. It's fine. It's not a big deal. Your story is... is a lot more amusing and..."

But Peter still had the room's full attention on him, some eyes now narrowed, some eyebrows raised. His face had only grown hotter to the point that Peter could feel the heat in the tip of his ears.

"Well, erm..." He grimaced, giving in after all. "You, er... you remember the Stark Expo? Few... few years ago."

"Oh, do I..." Rhodey groaned.

"Yeah, well..." Peter struggled not to trip over his own words. "It was that. I... erm... I was there with my uncle and... and that's where I saw Tony for the first time."

There was a moment of silence.

"Yeah, no," Clint called out. "Doesn't count."

"Stop!" Natasha signaled for him to be quiet, then pointed at Peter. "You said met. So, did you see him or did you meet him?"

Peter blew out a low breath. "I mean... it was just... there was a whole lot of stuff going on with Hammer's soldier thing-ys and then stuff started to explode—"

"Hold up." Rhodey sat up straight all of a sudden. "That's the day you were at the Expo with your uncle? The night Vanko tried his little revolt?"

"That wasn't a revolt," Tony interjected, his face a little paler. "He made a bit of a scene, that's all."

Rhodey huffed, then mumbled, "Don't let Pepper hear you call it that."

But Tony's attention was squarely on Peter, along with everyone else's. "You were at the park that night?"

"Wasn't that in like..." Clint looked over at Natasha. "Like, in '09? Or '10?" His eyebrows raised, his gaze shifted back to Peter. "Weren't you like 5 then?"

Peter pulled in a long breath. No longer getting flustered by the other Avengers had taken him some time to learn but now, he had almost mastered it. "I was 8, actually."

Waving both his arms, Rhodey signaled for him to stop. "Let me get this straight. You met him during the attack? But Tony was—" Rhodey stopped himself, then cast a glance at Tony in turn. "That must have been during the evacuation?"

Tony didn't react at all though. He was still looking right at Peter, just sitting there almost eerily quiet.

"Yeah, well..." Peter cringed at the memory. He hadn't even realized then how real it had truly been. It had all seemed like part of the show. "Things got a little crazy and people started running. I lost Ben for a bit." It was easier looking at Rhodey, like he was speaking just to him, not a whole room full of Avengers, including Tony. "One of Hammer's drones landed right where I was standing and then Tony swooped in, came to stand right next to me, and blew that thing to smithereens."

Nobody had to know that Peter had thought it was just a show, raving to Ben about it all the way home.

There was a beat of silence until Clint slapped both his thighs and burst with laughter. "Oh god, that's epic."

Just like that, the rest of the group joined in, exchanging laughs and looks of disbelief.

Steve held out his hands in a futile attempt to shush the chatter and hearty laughter. "That can't be everything. You're trying to tell us, there was nothing dazzlingly smart-ass he said?"

"Well, actually," Peter bit his lip. "He said 'nice one, kid' and then just flew off."

Spluttering with amused laughter, Steve turned to Tony. "Do you even remember that?"

Carefully, Peter glanced over at Tony as well, finding his eyes still waiting. "Hey, if I had a list of all the heroic deeds I've done..." He shrugged, lips pulled into an crooked smile but Peter knew him well enough to recognize that it didn't hold the same ease as it had before.

With a couple more quips from Thor and Clint, the mood in the room quickly shifted back to it's prior camaraderie, but Peter didn't miss it when Tony got up. Without any fuss, he gestured to the door that led out to the balcony. Peter gave MJ's hand a soft squeeze before he followed Tony out there. It was a balmy late August night, the air so much purer, the sky a lot prettier than it was in the city.

Tony had his arms braced against the balustrade, looking up there with the serenity like they hadn't once see space up close and personal.

"Why did you never tell me?"

Peter shrugged as he stepped up next to him. "It's not important, is it? It was so long ago and I knew you wouldn't remember so—"

"Oh, excuse me!" Tony squinted at him from the side. "Who said that I don't remember, huh?" He tilted his head, one eyebrow raised. "Very sneaky by the way to leave out the ultra cool Iron Man mask and gauntlet that you tried to fight the evil robot with."

Peter's jaw dropped. "But... that's impossible."

Lips pulled into a soft smile, Tony looked at him with something in his eyes that had Peter blush once again. "You know, it's pretty adorable that you think I meet a lot of kids who put themselves on the line like that, breakneck as that particular fever dream was. Granted, I didn't put it together until just now but..." Tony blew out a soft laugh as his hand came up, squeezing Peter's shoulder. "Yeah, you really always have been that hero at heart, kid, hm?"

His eyes stung and he looked down at how his hands clasped the railing, trying to blink the emotions away.

The room behind them had gone back to normal. There was roaring laughter from Thor that drew everyone's attention and Tony was good enough to look away as Peter wiped at his eyes.

After a moment of silence, Tony cleared his throat. "I'm gonna petition the court to add this to the rescue tally."

Peter snorted out a genuine laugh. "It's so cute how you still think you'll even have a chance to beat me."

"Hey, I'm still in the lead! 54 to 36." He pointed a finger at Peter. "55 now!"

Peter smirked. "Yeah, whatever. I'm catching up quick and you don't go out there anymore, so it's only a matter of time when it's only me rescuing you anymore."

Tony gasped. "Did you just call me old?"

"I think I called you a pensioner. If you want to jump to the being old part, well..."

Biting his lip like it would stop him from grinning, Peter shot a couple of glances at him until Tony simply shook his head. He waved Peter closer and Peter went without a second thought. Tony's arms pulled him in a tight hug.

"It was a pleasure saving you from your overachieving kamikaze mission, kiddo," Tony sighed. "Again."

Peter laughed into his shoulder. "Yeah, thanks, dad."

"You keep using that word like it's a big gotcha," Tony mumbled.

Peter chuckled, couldn't even really pretend that he was embarrassed being called out like that.

"Alright then," Tony clapped a hand on his back but didn't loosen his hold on Peter at all. "Let's go and tell them all about your Iron Man merch, hm?"

"You wouldn't dare..."

At last, Tony pulled away from him, the smirk on his lips dangerously sparkling. "Oh, wouldn't I..?"

A nervous giggle bubbled out of Peter. "They'd never believe you though." He would have to act fast and destroy all the photographic evidence that May had surely still stored in some of the boxes of old prints.

"Yeah..." Tony pursed his lips. "Too bad that I don't ever keep the footage from old missions..."

Peter's jaw dropped. "No..."

"It's alright," Tony grinned. "I'll let you bribe me with cookies and hot milk."

"Isn't that Morgan's deal?"

"Hey," Tony shrugged. "I'm all for treating all my kids equally." Then his grin widened. "We can make it cookies and egg nog for you."

As Tony's arm came to rest around his shoulders, still joking about how cute he had looked in his Iron Man mask, Peter already knew what his next mission would be. Now all he had to figure out was how to bribe an AI.

[neo-culture-mafia]

焦虑

钟辰乐 Zhong Chenle

Jaemin has removed himself from our everyday lives since we found out the news. The news that broke and separated us more than we already were. Our family has split again. This time-- we all repelled each other. Dinners were now silent when no one dared to speak into the heavy silence. Taeyong talks with no reply as if the news never affected him.

I sometimes walk past the older Junior Force's rooms to hear faint sniffles and some masked sobs. I don't blame them-- I don't even blame myself when I break down in the middle of the day.

"I'm gonna do it." Jaemin smiled as he came into the lounge. "I'm going to grow a pair and ask them to come back home." his smile lit up the room as his eyes sparkled in the early morning light.

"Can I come?" Jisung asked while his hands grasped together in front of his chest. "Not this time, Jwi. I'm going to come back with them-- then you can hug them and annoy them for the rest of eternity." Jaemin grabbed his keys and bag without another word.

Renjun sat on the middle couch cushion in a heap of blankets with a cup of tea; Jeno laid spread out next to Renjun on the pristine white sofa without a care in the world; Jisung sat next to the couch on the armchair where his legs were thrown over the armrest-- his long legs guarding a bag of candy and I laid across the loveseat. The older elites were either training or sleeping the hours away. It was a crisp morning that held so many promises and wishes.

"I'll be back," Jaemin called as we were left with his absence. "Do you think they'll come back?" Renjun called into the air as he took a sip from his cooling tea. "It's going to take a lot of convincing." Jeno sighed as his eyes shut and he stole a blanket from Renjun's stack.

"Lele." Renjun called my name lightly, "Did you talk to Kun lately?" He asked me as I tried to rake my brain for the last memory I had of a conversation with the older member. "No. I talked to him about 2 weeks ago. Something about a big mission," I trailed off and Renjun nodded, "he wanted to know when Mark and y/n would be back though so he could come back and prepare dinner." I hummed and Renjun's eyes shut softly.

"I just want them home," I whispered to myself as a shiver of loneliness ran down my spine. "We all do. Just trust Jaemin." Jisung called across the room. We all looked towards him as he tapped furiously on his screen. "You heard me?" I asked and he nodded. "You mutter rather loudly." His eyes squinted into a smile as he waved off our stares and returned to his game.

Jeno and Renjun began a conversation as I took this time to exit. I grabbed the back of the loveseat and hoisted myself over the back and onto the ground. "Where did lele go?" Renjun's voice broke the conversation as I held my breath. "Probably slithered out not too long ago." Jeno yawned. I used the blind spots and crawled out of the living room and into the kitchen where Johnny stood, eating a bowl of fruit.

"Is it yummy?" I asked as I grabbed the water container. "Delicious," Johnny interjected and sat down on a barstool. I poured myself a glass of water and began sipping leisurely. "So how's it going, little man?" Johnny questioned as his eyes trained on my figure. "Pretty good, big man." I laughed and his smile broke the tension.

"Do you think they'll come home today?" I asked and I could see him hesitate. "I hope they do." He chuckled and pushed some fruit around with his fork.

"Their rooms are still here. They have all of their stuff here...we just need them." He confirmed the current situation bluntly. Yet, the bluntness was calming coming from Johnny.

"We should clean their rooms for them. It must be dusty up there. We could make it more warm and habitable." I shrugged and finished the rest of the water in my glass.

Johnny smiled. "You, Chenle? Wanting to clean?" I watched as his shoulders shook a little with humor as he couldn't believe what he was hearing. My mouth gaped a little. "I will have you know that I can be clean when I want to be. And when I want to be-- I polish up pretty nice." I straightened my back and pointed my nose to the sky. His smile was infectious as I could feel the familial love in the air.

"I think that is an amazing idea, lele. We have the day to rearrange and clean and maybe even decorate if you wanted," Johnny said and I could feel my heart swell, "I can run to the store to get some new blankets and pillows for them while you stick back and start to move things around." This was happening. They were coming home.

"Can the others help?" I asked and he waved off to the living room where the other Junior Forces laid in male laziness. I had a running start as I dived onto the pile of blankets that shielded my older friend from the light of morning. I landed on Jeno as he groaned and tried to move me over so I was squished between his body and the back of the couch.

"Johnny-hyung and I are going to be cleaning and rearranging y/n and Mark's rooms. Do you guys want to help?" I looked at the 3 boys. Stares were exchanged amongst them. "I call y/n's room!" They shouted as they tried to fight each other off their asses and out of the living room. "We'll work on y/n's room then go onto Mark's...deal?" I asked and they all stopped mid bicker. "Deal." They all repeated and marched up the stairs and in front of the two untouched rooms that sat at the end of the hall.

We all stood in front of the plain white door with our breaths trapped in our chests. "Who's going to open it?" Jisung whispered and we all looked at each other in our peripherals. "It's locked." Jeno breathed. "I'll get Johnny." I ran to the balcony that overlooked the kitchen. "Hyung. The doors are locked." I explained and he looked around the counter for his keys. They shot up and right into my hand. "The black and white key is y/n's and the dark red one is Mark's." He explained quickly. "Thank you!" I called and ran back down the carpeted hallway. Jaehyun and Jungwoo now stood in the crowd in front of the closed door.

"I got the keys." I called and stepped around some of the bodies that were crowding. They all skeptically looked to the door as I walked to the piece of wood and shakily put the key into the lock. I turned and the door creaked.

I pulled the key out and stood staring at the piece of painted white wood in front of my face. "It's okay. Open it." Jaehyun whispered. My hand came up to the cool metal doorknob and turned it and pushed.

The light streamed through her balcony door and lit up a rainbow on her carpeted floor. Dust floated through the rays of sun and reminded us of the neglect the room had been through.

Jisung stepped up through the crowd and was the first to walk into the room.

He grabbed the stuffed koala at the end of her bed and sat in its place. The stuffed animal was smushed in his embrace as we could see the emotion flash through his eyes. "They're coming home." He whispered to himself.

We all slowly walked in and inspected a random object that caught our attention.

White walls made the room feel open yet bare. "Do you think her record player is somewhere in here?" Jungwoo called and we all were determined to find the familiar yellow suitcase that held one of her most prized possessions.

I was the first person to open the closet and was met with the yellow box on the floor. "In here." I grabbed the record player and set it on her bed. Renjun opened it up and started to set it up. Rap records laid in a box with writing all over it. I pulled the heavy box out and we all started sifting through the box.

The most worn-out record laid on the top, 'Eminem' laying in front of our eyes. "I've been looking for that record for the past 3 years." Johnny sighed as his presence was finally recognized. He snatched the vinyl and placed it onto the spoke. The hand came down and a familiar tune was projected from the speakers.

'Beautiful'. I remembered the numerous times that she would play this song in the car. The groans from the rest of the car always made her eyes sparkle with mischief. I know we all miss this song though.

"Alright let's start." Johnny clapped his hands and we all began to move around the room trying to make the room look liveable. Some of us hummed along and some of us were just so caught up in the task that we blocked each other out.

"Does anyone have anything we could hang up? Like posters or pictures?" Jeno called as he organized her cd's with care. "I do! I have a bunch of family pictures in my room." Jisung called and sprinted out of the room.

We were all prepared for some handfuls of pictures, yet, we were never prepared with 4 photo boxes that were each overflowing. We all sat down and tried to make a collage that would make the room come together.

Pictures of us as kids leading up to when we first left were cascading through the room as we began hanging the photos up. "Do you think she'll like it?" I asked and Jaehyun's hand messed up my hair. "Love it."

"Onto Mark's." Jeno rounded us all up and ushered us to the door right next to y/n's. This door was easier for us to open as we already experienced the rollercoaster of emotions once before.

"Is that my old holster?" Renjun pushed us all aside and ran into the room where indeed, his old holster laid on top of Mark's chest at the end of his bed.

"Are those my old chemistry notebooks?" Jeno gasped as he ran to the bedside table where a stack of notebooks full of Jeno's old equations laid in perfect solitude.

"Yeah. We didn't know who's was who's stuff when we moved their stuff in. We just divided it up and stored," Jaehyun said as he grabbed a chain that laid on the desk. "Sorry about that." His smile washed away any anger the other boys could've been feeling.

"You guys rearrange and I'll go shopping for new sheets and stuff like that." Johnny bid us a farewell and was on his own way.

~~~

"How did you find out?!" Renjun hollered as he finally took a rest on the couch. We had all worked for 5 hours straight on the rooms and they were pristine. We could finally sit down and rest after a hard day of homecoming preparations.

"No. Family dinner can be tomorrow. They need time to rest, Kun-" "Are you stalking us?!" Renjun called and we laughed in amusement. "Fine. Fly up tonight and prepare for tomorrow. They'll be here any minute, I have to go." And with that-- Renjun hung up his cellphone.

He threw his head onto the back of the couch and let out a long sigh.

More members came to sit in the living room, excited to see the two most missed people walk through

acting like. It was a happy-filled space, yet, something just feels off.

Taeil came in and sat down on the recliner across from my place on the loveseat. He looked at me and could sense I felt something wrong. "You feel it too?" He asked and I slowly nodded. His hands ran through his hair as he leaned back on the black leather recliner.

The front door opened and we all jumped to our feet to see a familiar set of dark brown eyes and silver hair. "Yuta?" Doyoung called out in shock. "I've come to bless you all with my presence." He smiled as some of his men followed suit. "And also to introduce to a new team member," Yuta smiled and grabbed a younger boy by the shoulder. "This is my second in command, Osaki Shotaro." Yuta's actions took us for a loop.

"I heard my brother and sister are coming back and wanted to join the rest of the family upon their return." It was as if Yuta read our minds. "And while celebrating their homecoming, I thought we could all welcome a new face around here." We were all open to the idea and Shotaro didn't seem like the problem...something was still off.

There was a bang from the front door as Yuta's guards all drew their guns and held them at their sides.

"I won, you lost, bozo." "Get off of me you numb nut!" Someone struggled. A hand gripped the floor as a more familiar face rounded the corner into the living room. "Hello!" Kun smiled with Sicheng and Xiaojun in tow.

"Gege!" Renjun shouted and bear-hugged them all at once...or...well at least he tried. Lucas, Ten, Yangyang, and Hendery were in a heap on the floor as they wrestled each other senselessly. The Chinese family members said their hello's and Kun went to tame the ones who couldn't control themselves.

"I will put you all on a plane back to China right now if you don't stop." Kun called over the group and they didn't stop. "We are here to see Mark and Y/n, not to fight on the floor." Kun tried yanking some of them off each other.

Our smiles couldn't be tamed as Johnny walked over and literally pulled the boys off of each other. "Oh hey, Johnny." Ten smiled as his feet were lifted off the ground. "Hey, dude." Johnny greeted as he tossed him over onto the carpeted living room floor. "Lucas I am not picking you up." Johnny groaned as he put his leg in between Hendery and Yangyang's bodies. "I will put you both into chokeholds." Johnny threatened and they were still going at it.

"3." Johnny started counting and they were up before he reached 2. "Hello." They bowed and walked into the warm and spacious living room.

"Any word?" Kun asked me after we exchanged greetings. I shook my head with a sigh. "What's wrong?" He asked and I just shook my head again. "Something's wrong," I whispered, "I don't know what, but, something is going on that we don't know about." I started pulling at my fingers.

"Well let's just sit down and wait for a little bit. Hopefully, once they arrive, you'll feel okay." Kun's smile calmed my fears slightly as we both sat next to each other on the love seat.

~~~

We all sat around the living room as we were waiting and ready to go out to dinner once Mark and Y/n got home and washed up.

The familiar rev of Jaemin's motorcycle could be heard in the distance. We all looked to each other in silence as our hearts were about to beat out of our chests. "Just breathe." Kun reminded everyone and it was as if a group of fish had been taken out of water. Gasps were heard around the room as we tried to stabilize our heartbeats.

The engine stopped in front of the door and the front door was opened soon after. Jaemin stormed in with anger written across his features. Blood stained his cheekbones and brow bone as a sad tone took hold of the room...no Mark or y/n followed him.

Jaemin searched the faces of the room. "Where the fuck is he?" His hand that gripped his helmet raised and was held above his head for a moment. "Where?!" Jaemin's voice broke and we all looked around at each other looking for a response. "Taeyong?" Yuta asked and with a flare of Jaemin's nostrils, we knew that Taeyong was the wanted man of the hour.

"He's in his office, Jae." Jeno called softly and Jaemin's hand threw down his helmet where it shattered into what looked like a million pieces. Jisung, who sat closest to the outburst, shielded himself from the flying glass.

We all got up to confront him as we watched him run down the hall towards the head office. We watched as he kicked the door in and ran to Taeyong who was startled from the action.

"What. Did. You. Do." Jaemin grabbed Taeyong by the collar and pulled him close to his own face. "What are you talking ab-" "I will use your head as a hood ornament-" "Excuse me?!" Taeyong shrieked. "Where are they?!" I watched from behind Hendery as we saw Jaemin completely lose it.

Taeyong became limp as his face fell. "You weren't supposed to find out like this." Taeyong sighed as he grabbed Jaemin's face lovingly.

We all looked to Taeyong. "Jaemin. What is going on?" Jaehyun asked as he stepped into the office. "They killed themselves-"

There it was...the bombshell that rocked all of our worlds.

"No. They didn't." Jaemin shook Taeyong again. "That wasn't them. They-" He threw Taeyong back into his office chair, "They wouldn't do something like that." He pointed at Taeyong. "Their tattoos. They were in different spots. The people in that apartment weren't them." Jaemin shook his head, a couple tears cascading down his cheeks. "You did something-" "They're gone, Jaemin. They're never coming back. They killed themselves and you need to deal with the fact you weren't there in time-" We were all overwhelmed with what we were experiencing. This wasn't real.

"I'm gonna-" I looked back to see Jeno start to stumble. His face was stark white and his pupils were the size of tea plates. His hand was fumbling for something to hold onto and hold himself up. "No-" I whispered as I didn't have the strength to outstretch myself and catch him.

Kun turned around at the perfect time to catch him. He plummeted in Kun's arms. "Lucas. Help me get Jeno to the living room." Yet, Lucas was spaced out too. It looked as if he was going to go down at any moment.

"No. Not you too." Kun pleaded quietly. "Lele-" but it was too late...I was on the ground.

~~~

I woke up in a frantic sweat. Masses of bodies held onto each other as the moon shone through the window. "You need to sleep." The dark voice made me jump as I snapped my head to the window where Yuta stood in silence once more.

"But-" "No. You passed out. You need to rest." "Is it true?" "That doesn't matter right now-" "Yes!" I said and some bodies turned in their sleep.

Yuta made sure the others didn't move again as his eyes locked with mine. "They're safe now. They're with Donghyuck." Yuta muttered but I started to feel lightheaded again. "My men and I will be in Japan by morning. Don't invite me to the memorial service as I've already wept my tears for their suffering." Yuta walked to the entrance where Shotaro and the other men stood in silence.

"Take care of yourself, Chenle." Yuta hummed. "My door is always open to you all," he thought for a moment, "Well...most of you." Yuta's eyes locked with someone's at the other end of the entranceway-- Taeyong.

The tension was strong as they stared each other down, "A man who cannot tolerate small misfortunes will never accomplish great things." Yuta spoke clearly. And with that-- Yuta and his men walked out of the front door in a clean formation.

Taeyong looked to me one more time before walking away in what I sensed to be shame.

Now we worked at an off base site where that day replays in my head on an endless loop. It holds me prisoner in those emotions I still feel on a daily basis. We worked on filing for Seven Stars and their local triads. Taeyong had sold the Neo Culture Family name and we were basically slaving away at the expense of our enemy.

"I know they're out there." Jeno barked quietly. "If you bring up those dead bastards one more time-- I swear to God that I'm gonna slap you." Renjun groaned as he typed furiously on the laptop he was provided. "Renjun. Stop." Kun pleaded as he popped his knuckles for what sounded like the millionth time.

"They're your family-" "They're dead, Kun. They’re our dead family." Renjun bashed and we all fell silent. Jisung walked into the room with tears in his eyes as he wiped at his mouth furiously.

We didn't dare ask what he was forced to do after he honestly told us the first time. "You okay?" I called softly and he nodded, choking back what seemed like a sob.

We all bowed our heads and didn't dare to look at one another try to break the tension. The tension hasn't been broken since we left the overrun base 5 months ago.

[sweater-daddiesdumbdork]

I was wondering if you could write a story or dabble you choose. About Chris Evans and female reader decided to go for a walk in the woods in the snow. They have been teasing each other all morning so there's a lot of sexual tension between them.

Where it goes I will leave it to you.

Cinnabuns and Hot Showers

Warning- soft fluffy and smut. All the warnings I got for you all. Also, it is what it is, so swearing somewhere because that's how I roll. Plus all errors are mine. 

A/N- @mravens-corner I hope you feel better soon Babes. Much Love Always. 

You were downstairs sitting at the island with a cup of coffee, scrolling through your phone when you heard Chris come down the stairs, scrambling behind him was the pitter-patter of Dodgers feet, barking excitedly at Chris to be let out. “Gimmie a second Bubba.” You heard Chris say as he turned the corner into the kitchen, his nose tilted up while grinning. 

“Are those...” He trailed off and you gave a wiggle of your brows at him, smirking against the lip of your cup before setting it down. 

“Cinnamon Buns? The maple ones I made last Christmas for your mom's house? It is.” you confirmed and he came into the room, to tug you off the stool with a grin. 

“You are the best, you know that Honey?” His hands slid along the curve of your ass, and grasped lightly against the curve, letting his fingers dig in and his palms fill with the curve. His head dipped and he caught your lips with a teasing swipe of his tongue along your bottom lip before he pulled back. Looking over your shoulder to see a bowl of premade frosting that he dipped his fingers into, and placed to his lips to taste. “Mmmh” 

“Good? I wanna taste.” You grinned while pulling him down again, this time the kiss was heavier, more playful in manner as tongues teased and slipped between parting lips. Chris groaned into the kiss and you felt flushed against him, your hands fisting in the patriot's sweater he wore. 

When his head lifted, he let his thumb swipe against your bottom lip and lifted to his mouth the suck off the sweetness from the tip. “I could just eat you and the frosting.” 

You chuckled while looking up at him, tilting your head slightly in a cocky way. “Oh, I know Chris. Now you better go let Dodger out. He's prancing, and I have to check those buns.” 

“The ones I got feel just fine to me.” His hand still resting on your ass tightened in a teasing squeeze and you roll your eyes, pushing him back playfully and sidestepped him. 

“Keep that up, you get none of my buns or my cinnabuns.” Sticking your tongue out at him, you went to check on your dessert while Chris gave a sing-song whistle to Dodger. 

“Come on boy, we better get outside before Momma kicks us out of the house.” He ruffled Dodger's ears and opened the door for Dodger to burst out into the powder. Surprised, Chris hollered over his shoulder. “Babe, it snowed last night.” Retreating back to grab his jacket and shrug it on, also grabbing a pair of boots instead of sneakers, you checked the buns with a fork. 

“Hence why I was in a baking mood.” You took your frosting and started to drizzle it over, using a butter knife to help spread it around when Chris held up his jacket, wiggling his brows at you. 

“Come on, let's go out with Dodger, and when we come back, we can have breakfast together. They need to cool off anyways.” Dodger came back in, his bushy tail giving a wag as if saying ‘Let's go, mom, we don't got all day.’ 

Placing the bowl in the sink and letting the water run to soak it, you narrowed your eyes at your two boys, both as eager as the other one. “Okay, I will be right there.” 

Once you were dressed, equipped with gloves hat, and a scarf to finish the ensemble, you and Chris walk along the driveway, watching as Dodger is sprinting ahead to push up the snow and dive into his piles. 

Chris sweeps down to scoop up a palmful of snow, tossing it for Dodger to take off and chase, confused when there is no ball for him to return, so he came loping back good-natured, looking for another chase, anything. This time you sweep down and grab a handful of snow to toss for him which sent him flying to catch. 

It was also this time you flicked some at Chris, catching in his hair, and it dripped down to catch in his lashes as he protested, sweeping his arm against his face, and catching you to shake the remaining snow on you, making you squeal in protest. 

“Chhriss!” you try pulling away, but he's much stronger than you, and has you wrapped in tight. Dodger heard you both and came sprinting back to see what was going on. “you weren't supposed to get me!” 

“Oh? All’s fair in love and war.” He snickered at you, and you two stumbled under heavily laden trees, their branches hanging lower than usual. 

You twist into his arms, and curl up against him, huffing a bit. “When you say that you sound just like Hugh, Chris.” 

He gave a laugh and reached up to slick back his hair and put on the signature Drysdale smirk. “Like this Darling? You know, you will never have anything better than a Thrombey. Also, call me Ransom. Hugh’s for the help.” 

You couldn't resist yourself and leaned up to nip at his lips. “Well I did bake for you this morning, doesn't that make me part of the ‘Help’?” 

Chris tilted his head, pondering your point a moment, and his blue eyes sparkled in a teasing manner back at you, his lips overly pink as well as the tops of his cheeks. At this moment he looked exactly like his Knives Out character. “That’s right you did.” He pulled in closer, sliding a chilled hand along the back of your neck, and cupped it so you couldn't move away. “Guess that means you have to serve me, Kitten. Still got that little outfit?” 

You hum as you grin. “Maybe, but Harlan doesn't require outfits, Hugh.” 

Chris opens his mouth, just about to say something when the branches above the two of you let loose, dumping a whole mess of snow over the both of you, which surprises both of you, simultaneously yelling. “holy shit!” “Son of a Bitch!” Both of you running out from the snow and brushing it off, making you shiver as it went down the back of your jacket and Chris shaking his out to scatter the snow out from his.

Dodger, who was safe from the falling snow just sat there watching his people shake out their clothing and clasp their arms around themselves. “Back home Chris? Cause I'm freezing.” 

“Yes! we can warm each other up.” He took your hand and started sprinting back to the house with Dodger chasing after them, and you laugh as you both raced up the stairs, bursting into the house to shed out of the cold wet clothes. Soon a pile of wet clothes stood at the door, and Chris chased you running away up the stairs. You sprang into the bedroom, shedding your bra while running into the bathroom, Chris was right behind you, pausing to yank off socks. 

In the bathroom you are quick to turn on the hot water, trying to find that happy hot and cold mix. Chris is behind you pulling off his socks, while you slip out of your panties, wriggling your ass back and forth at him in a tease, making him stumble slightly. “Fucking christ Y/N” He just about growls out while your jumping in the shower. He is right behind you, backing you up to the wall, and kissing you hungrily, pressing his chest into your breasts. Your shivers quickly turn to ones of lust and your panting against his mouth as his hands grasp the back of your thighs, easily lifting you to press his cock against your entrance, making you hiss with satisfaction at the burn. 

“Fuck just like that.” You moan, and you arch to sink further on him, grinding your clit against his pelvis when he gives a thrust, groaning himself feeling you so welcoming warm and fluttering around him. He moves faster, burying himself into your welcoming warmth and your mouth cant stay off his neck, his ear that you bite wickedly before your whimpering his name. 

“That's right Pretty Girl, say it again.” He grunts while leaving his mark on your neck, just behind your ear that has you clenching around him, your thighs quivering while you're tightening around him, and your head tips back, saying his name again with more urgency while his thrusts speed up. His hands dig into your hips to keep them pinned against the wall, and his hard kisses are flowing down till he is lapping water off the top of your breasts, burying his face in them while you're bouncing up and down when you felt your orgasm wash over your in prickling stinging pleasure locking you around him and the air being punched from your lungs, leaving spots sparking behind closed eyelids.

Chris didn't slow down, he pushed you through your orgasm, your nails scratching down his back to dig into hold on, and his movements became a demand for you to be ready for him. He came with a shudder, pumping himself slower into you to push his release into the brink, fill you up with nothing but him to dampen your thighs. He reached over to turn off the water, your forehead pressed to his shoulder to try and catch your breath. 

Steady hands rubbed along your hips and along your thighs wrapped around his waist. “Ready for me to set you down?” He asked and which you nodded, hissing as you felt his softening cock ease from you, and the balls of your feet touch down on the shower floor. Once he was sure you were steady on your feet, Chris stepped out to grab the towels and handed one to you while drying himself off in the process. 

You wrung out your hair and stepped out to grab a robe, slipping it on. Chris went into the bedroom and slipped on grey sweats and a tee shirt this time, when you made your way out of the bathroom, picking up the wet clothing and place it into the basket. “I cant wait to see what we left downstairs.” You laugh and Chris winks. 

“How about I get those into the dryer and you can heat us up some coffee to go with those cinnamon buns?” 

“Deal!” You are quick to take it, he grabbed a laundry basket and you both went back down the stairs to find Dodger sound asleep in his bed, and a scattering of your clothes leading from the front door to the stairs. 

“We didnt have any other plans today, did we?” You ask while Chris is busy gathering stuff to put into the basket. 

“Mmhh, I have a video conference later this morning, but rest of the day is free.” He shrugs while setting the now full basket on the counter while your busy at the coffee pot. 

“Good, because we should do that again this afternoon.” Your teeth tug at your lip, adding for good measure. “Because I do still have that outfit you were asking about before.” 

Hearing that made Chris groan. 

[gingeralepdf]

Polaroid 101

A/N: hello!! i’m back with a follow up of my first fic, A Little Love. thank you to everyone who has taken the time to read it since it was posted. it really means a lot to me because i was so incredibly nervous to dive into writing. i hope you all enjoy this little follow up just as much :)

extra thank you to brailey ( @daydreamsofh ) for being such a sweet beta reader! all the heart emojis for you bby!

also thank you to @arianagrands​ for the polaroid edit

A Little Love fluff featuring Harry, the main character, and Wednesday the cat.

word count: ~2k

“I know I’ve got a pack of black and white somewhere,” you mutter to yourself while rummaging through your camera bag.

“I know I’ve got a pack of black and white somewhere,” you mutter to yourself while rummaging through your camera bag.

After only finding packs of color film for your polaroid camera in the top drawer of your desk, you’ve been searching everywhere for the pack of black and white film that you know you bought last week.

You set the bag on your bed with a frustrated huff, causing your cat to jump off your bed and scamper through the doorway of your bedroom. You start to zip open the side pockets, sticking your hand in each one. Finally you feel the familiar shape of the slender box and yank it out triumphantly, breathing a sigh of relief.

“Can you remind me why we’re doing this in the kitchen?” Harry’s voice echoes through your apartment, bringing you back to the reason you were looking for the film in the first place.

You make your way from your room to the living room and grab your camera from your desk.

The wild eyes of your little black cat, Wednesday, peeking over your boyfriend’s shoulder are the first things you see when you enter through the doorway of the tiny sun-filled kitchen. She was quick to find a spot in Harry’s arms with her front paws perched on top of his shoulder. You can only guess that she jumped on his lap to get to her favorite window sill that he happens to be sitting in front of.

When you make your way over to where they’re sitting, you slowly reach a hand up to lightly scratch between her perky ears. She closes her eyes and seems to relax in response to your touch.

“Sorry for scaring you, sweet girl,” you say, adopting the soft voice you only use when talking to her.

“Why are you scarin’ her?” Harry whispers in an accusatory tone.

You lightly scoff and roll your eyes, “Wasn’t on purpose. Just didn’t see her on my bed when I put my camera bag down.”

“Did you find what you were looking for?”

“Yeah, finally,” you sigh. “I’m gonna get this ready real quick.”

You set your camera on the counter and routinely tear open the box and the foil wrapper before opening the film door and sliding the plastic cartridge in. When you shut the camera, the blank slide ejects with the familiar high pitched whirring sound that always makes you feel nostalgic. Like you’re six years old again, watching your aunt take ‘magic pictures’ for the first time.

Flash forward to today, where you have been offered your first official photography related job. One of your favorite instructors at the art institute owns a camera shop that hosts workshops for different types of photography. When she reached out to you a few weeks ago to see if you were interested in teaching Polaroid 101 three days a week, you were more than elated.

You’ve already gone through many packs of film in the past week in order to incorporate examples and visuals into the presentation you’re putting together. Now you’re enlisting Harry’s help to be your model for a little bit.

While you’re making adjustments to the exposure dial, you get back to the question that Harry asked earlier, “To answer your question from a minute ago, I wanted to take these in the kitchen because this is the only room that gets direct sunlight in the morning.”

He hums in response and you look up to see him in the same spot holding Wednesday on his shoulder.

He’s wearing a red and black striped shirt that fits snug on his torso and has a tiny Mickey Mouse face sewn onto the chest. He also has on a pair of brown checkered trousers and his beat up black vans.

Now that he’s turned his head to plant kisses on her face, you can see the scruff covering his jawline that tickled against your neck just hours ago when you were waking up.

You smile to yourself at the thought while taking your phone out of your pocket. You hit shuffle on your morning playlist and lower the volume to background noise before setting your phone down on the counter.

“You ready?” you ask.

“Yeah. Let me just put her down.” When Harry attempts to lift Wednesday off his shoulder, she only climbs up further and proceeds to whip him in the face with her tail. He grunts and turns his face away in response, “Don’t think she liked that.”

“Here,” you spot a ping pong ball, her latest obsession, sitting on the floor and kick it into the living room. The rattling and bouncing instantly catch her attention, making her launch off Harry’s shoulder to dash away.

“Jesus,” Harry says, looking down with furrowed eyebrows at his shoulder that just served as a launch pad.

“She didn’t scratch you, did she?”

“No there’s just,” he pulls his shirt out and starts to brush it off with his hand, “lots of hair.”

After brushing a few more times he asks, “Am I--,” he gestures at himself and then looks up to you, “Am I good?”

You can’t help but let out a sharp exhale through your nose, “Yes, you look good.”

Sensing a bit of hesitancy in his face and watching him fiddle with his rings makes you shift to a slightly more serious tone, “Are you comfortable?”

“M’ a little nervous. Never been a model before,” he says through a cheeky grin.

“That’s not true. Remember that night you cut all your hair off? I got some really great shots of you-”

“That’s different,” he raises his finger to object. “Wasn’t really sober for that.” He furrows his eyebrows, “And that was... years ago.”

“Well, I really only need two photos of you. Do you think you can manage?”

“If I must,” he huffs, rolling his eyes.

“Get over yourself,” you laugh, rolling your eyes. “Can I start already?”

“Yes, sorry.”

“Okay, where you’re sitting is perfect. I just want you to face me and you can smile or just relax your face, whatever feels more comfortable.”

“Like this?” He sits up straight and clasps his hands together in front of him.

“Yeah, that’s perfect.”

The sunlight pouring in through the window in front of you makes the tile floor warm against your knee when you kneel down to frame the photo before pressing the shutter button. After the picture ejects from your camera, you quickly pull it out and set it face down on the countertop next to you.

“Okay so now I wanna move in front of this wall, so if you’ll scoot over here,” you step over and point out a spot in front of the only blank wall in your kitchen.

Harry dutifully gets to his feet, moves the metal stool over and sits down.

“And I’m just gonna take a couple with flash and a couple without. Then we’ll be done!”

The cheerful tone in your voice is clearly putting Harry more at ease. You’ve noticed his shoulders relax and he’s now drumming his fingers on his thighs in time to the music.

“Do you want me to sit the same way?”

“Hm,” you tilt your head while quickly scanning over his torso, “try crossing your arms.”

He looks down at his arms as he crosses them over his chest and looks back up to you expectantly.

“That looks good,” nodding your head in approval, you lean against the countertop behind you in order to capture everything you want in the frame. As you look through your lens, the sunlight is hitting the side of his face perfectly, as if it’s saying ‘highlight this, and this, and this’. Once you instruct Harry to tilt his chin up and away from the window slightly, the light accentuates his nose, his cheekbones, the corner of his jaw, and his neck. You hold your breath as you center him in the frame, wanting to keep the camera steady and the moment intact. You press the shutter button and the camera flashes.

“Argh. Shit,” Harry grunts as he leans over and rubs his eyes.

“Sorry,” you can’t help but laugh at the way he unintentionally broke the tension you were feeling.

“That’s fucking bright,” he groans.

“Oh wait, look at me,” you raise your camera and lean forward, seeing the perfect opportunity for a candid picture.

“No,” he grumbles in protest.

“Please? I won’t use the flash on this one.”

He peeks one eye open while still rubbing the other with his finger and you quickly pull the previous photo out and snap the picture.

“Are you okay?” you ask softly, kneeling down and brushing the fingertips of your free hand against his knee.

“My eyes are burning but it’s alright,” he replies flatly while squinting his eyes at the floor.

You roll your eyes at his dramatics and offer, “It’s already pretty bright in here, so can I just get one more without the flash? Just so I have options to work with?”

He shakes his head in agreement and you tell him to stay in his leaned over position, wanting another photo from this angle.

After scooting away from him, you prompt, “Now tilt your head like you did a minute ago.”

Once he poses, you raise the camera to your face and center him in the frame, “I’m obsessed with this lighting,” you mumble to yourself before snapping the picture.

“Well. I think that’s a wrap,” you clap your hands together before collecting the photos and setting your camera on the counter. “Wanna see how they turned out?”

“Of course.” The metal stool squeaks when he stands up and walks over to you.

“Ohhh I’m already really happy with these.”

You lay the four photos out on the counter in a neat square. None of the photos are fully developed yet, but the first two that you took are coming along very nicely and you’re just starting to see the outline of Harry’s head and shoulders in the last two.

The feeling of Harry’s hand on the small of your back makes you jolt a bit. You look to your side just as he rests his other hand on the countertop and leans in for a closer look at the pictures.

“Which one is this?” He points to the photo on the top left. The top half of the photo is almost completely white, washing out the majority of his face. His arms and the dark outline of his t-shirt are about the only things that can be seen clearly.

“That’s the first one I took. It’s overexposed. I wanted to make sure one of them was overexposed because one of the things I want to talk about in my presentation is how lighting is everything when shooting on polaroid. So when you’re shooting directly into the light, especially the sun, your photo is more likely to be washed out like that,” you gesture to the photo that Harry is now holding in his hand. “But if you shoot with light behind you or beside you, then your subject is gonna be more clear, like these,” you explain, pointing to the remaining photos on the counter.

You can’t help but smile to yourself at how well these are going to look in your presentation. It makes you feel like you’re doing something right.

You turn back to Harry, who is now looking directly at you while donning the widest grin and the deepest dimples.

“What?” You eye him suspiciously.

His hand that was resting on your back slides over to grip your hip and he steps to close the gap between the two of you.

He plants a kiss on your temple, “You’re the perfect person for this job,” he says with his lips still pressed to your skin.

You groan and press the back of your hand into his chest, effectively pushing him away so that you can look him in the eyes, “Don’t say that.”

You’ve been trying to not get your hopes or expectations up too high when going into this job. Photography is very exciting territory for you but teaching most definitely isn’t. Despite your years of experience, your love, your drive, and the support from your friends, your boyfriend, and your instructors at school, self doubt inevitably begins to creep in.

“It’s too late. I’m saying it.” Harry shrugs and slips his free hand into your hand that’s pressed to his chest. He laces his fingers with your own before giving your hand a light squeeze. “Your eyes light up when you talk about this job. I’m glad you’re finally getting some recognition because you’re so talented and you’ve worked really hard and--”

Before you can stop yourself, you bring your free hand up to cup his jaw and lean forward to press your lips to his.

Harry’s voice catches and you feel him smile and laugh against your lips. You tilt your head up slightly to kiss his top lip before you part with a light smack. When you look into his eyes again, there’s an intensity to them that was not there a second ago.

He folds his lips in and pops them back out, “Wasn’t finished,” he smirks.

“I’m not finished,” you whisper and lean in again.

You’re not sure if you kiss for thirty seconds or ten minutes due to being swept up in the feeling of his lips, the sighs that pass between you, and every single spot where your bodies are touching.

Eventually you have to part to catch a full breath. When you do, you wrap your arms around him in a tight hug which he immediately returns.

“Thank you. And thank you for helping me,” you mumble into the soft fabric of his t-shirt.

“M’ glad I could help,” he fills your senses even more as his chest vibrates against you.

You run your hand from the middle of his back up to his shoulder blade and back down again, “I really love you, you know that?”

You and Harry have exchanged countless ‘I love you’s over the years of your friendship. The four extra words started getting tacked at some point after things became official with the two of you. In moments like these, where it feels like time has paused for you to share a moment together, it always feels right to say.

Harry’s response is nuzzled into the skin on your neck, “I really love you, you know that?”

************************************************

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*****

Towels Are Cold, So Am I

Chapter 1

It's weird, but Stiles likes hanging out with Derek.

Sure, the circumstances are less than desirable: they're looking for Boyd and Erica, unable to locate the wayward Betas. And since Scott won't help Derek, Stiles decides he needs to be the one to bridge the gap.

They spend the last few weeks of July driving around and eating fast food in parking lots as they ponder over maps of the area.

Sure, Derek snarls and bitches that Stiles is annoying, touching everything in the car and leaving traces of his scent everywhere. He makes fun of Stiles' choice in music and calls him a monster when he sees how many curly fries he can stuff in his mouth.

But Stiles has fun, watching the lines form between Derek’s eyebrows when he’s mulling over something Stiles says. Like he can't believe Stiles is as ridiculous as he is. But he listens, no matter how much Stiles talks.

Like now, for example. He’s running through a list of things that he needs to get from the grocery store before they head back to the loft and Derek gives what Stiles calls his “Encouraging Caveman” sound. It means he’s listening, but he’s mildly distracted by something.

Stiles, vaguely amused that he's gotten so good at Derek's version of communication, notices immediately when Derek’s eyes glaze over.

“Dude.” He snaps his fingers near Derek’s face. "We need to get some more snacks before we keep researching."

Derek glances at him, his eyes dark and haunted. “Okay.”

Stiles studies him, thinking of all the things that must be lurking in Derek’s mind to make him look like that.

He's not one for empty platitudes, so he just leans forward and turns up the radio a little, lightly scuffing at Derek’s shoulder in a way that he hopes comes off as reassuring.

Derek glances at him again before looking back at the road.

The littlest bit of tension leaves his shoulders and Stiles definitely counts that as a win.

-----

It’s October and it's raining. Like, fucking pouring, and Stiles is debating whether or not he should get out of the Jeep. The parking lot of the library is practically flooded. His shoes are gonna be soaked.

He sighs and leans forward against his steering wheel, thinking he might be able to see something other than gray clouds in the sky, but no dice. When he leans back, he jumps.

Derek is standing next to his window.

Stiles rolls the window down an inch and hollers, “You scared the shit out of me. What the hell is wrong with you? Get in the car!”

Derek rolls his eyes and, a moment later, is pulling open the passenger door before slamming it shut. He doesn’t look at Stiles, just stares straight ahead.

“So…” Stiles drawls, “whatcha doing out in the rain, Big Guy?”

Derek doesn’t say anything for a moment and Stiles is about to roll his eyes or huff or say something sarcastic like good talk as always when Derek says, “I’m leaving.”

Stiles blinks at the side of Derek’s face, mouth moving, but nothing comes out.

At his silence, Derek’s eyes flicker to his face for a second before going back to the windshield.

Stiles turns and looks out the windshield too. “Where are you going?” he asks because he can’t ask the question he really wants to, not yet.

“South America, with Cora,” Derek murmurs.

Stiles hums, picking at a piece of leather that’s peeling off his steering wheel. “Pretty warm there.”

“Still pretty rainy.”

Stiles nods. They sit in silence for a long time, the rain pattering against the Jeep the only sound.

Finally, Stiles whispers, “Why?”

“Because there’s nothing left for me here.”

And he gets it, he does. But it hurts, oh yes it does, it hurts quite a bit because Stiles could have sworn that they were starting to get somewhere, the two of them. Maybe Stiles was reading too much into it, but he wasn't sure he was.

Hell, they'd even hugged the last time they parted ways and, as awkward as it had been, it was nice and he thought... he thought...

“I don’t want you to go,” he confesses in a small voice.

Derek closes his eyes, his hands fisted on his thighs, his face twisted in pain.

Stiles waits, hoping that Derek will say something that means he feels even remotely the same.

A long beat of silence passes, the rain pounding the roof of the Jeep.

Stiles isn’t stupid. He gets the picture. He's seventeen and ridiculous and Derek isn't interested in him like that and god he's such an idiot.

He feels like a fucking joke as he nods, staring down at his hands. “Well,” he finally croaks, “I… I hope you find some place good.”

“Me too.” There’s a beat of silence before he whispers, “Goodbye Stiles.”

There’s the slightest ghost of fingertips against the side of his neck then the door opens and Derek is gone.

And Stiles is alone in his car again, the strong rain-wet scent of Derek making his nose and eyes burn.

-----

The first time Derek reappears in Beacon Hills, Stiles is almost sure he’s hallucinating again. After all, isn’t his brain still a little wonky from the Nogtisune? Derek used to be a frequent star in his visions, after all.

And since he’s in the woods alone at night, looking for a witch’s familiar, of course he’s gonna imagine Derek because why the fuck not?

It’s been two years since Stiles has seen him. More than that.

But, apparently, there Derek stands. His hair is a little longer, he's got the beginnings of a beard, and there are a few more lines around his eyes. He looks so good and what the fuck –

“What the fuck are you doing here?” he almost shouts, the orb of light in his hand flickering.

Derek jerks back, looking vaguely confused. “I had to get something from the vault. I thought I’d check on the house. Then I heard someone out here.”

“The vault? I, what?” Stiles sputters. He’s suddenly so angry, it’s almost blinding. “I thought you were dead!”

“Why would you think that?”

“Because you fucking vanished and no one’s heard from you for over two years and your luck is astronomically bad! What else were we supposed to think?!”

“That’s ridiculous, I’m fine.” Derek looks down at the orb in Stiles' hand then back to his face. “What’s going on? Why are you out here?”

Stiles rolls his eyes and god, it’s almost like Derek never left. Like This is private property and the long days and nights they spent looking for Boyd and Erica and – focus Stiles.

He starts walking the way he was going, sure that Derek will follow him since there’s no way he’s real anyways. “We have a very angry witch on our hands. She’s not happy that Scott tried to tell her she wasn’t allowed to use the Nemeton to fuel a revenge spell.”

Derek snorts, drawing up to Stiles’ left side and scanning the trees. “Yeah, because that’s always worked well for spell casters in the past.”

He gives a conceding gesture. “Which he tried to tell her, but she didn’t want to listen, so she tapped into the damn tree anyways. It’s given her hella power and she’s killed three people.”

Derek’s thoughtful hum is familiar enough to make Stiles glance over at him.

He’s got to be a fucking figment of Stiles’ imagination.

He glances down at his fingers. Only ten. But the situation still feels so surreal. He decides for now that he’ll talk to his Fake Derek to abate some of his anxious nerves like he used to and examine his mental health later.

“So, anyways,” he continues, “not only is there a body count, the negative power is starting to seep into the land, so I’m stuck trying to figure out what her tether is and what do I find? Her fucking familiar! Which is great, but can you guess what it is?” He snorts. “Oh my god, it’s so stupid.”

“What is it?”

“A fucking mountain lion. She's been using a mountain lion to kill people!” He lets out a hoarse laugh. “Like, what the actual fuck, right?”

Derek huffs. “The irony isn’t lost on me, Stiles.”

“Oh I know, dude, I know.”

Derek frowns again. “Don’t call me dude.”

Stiles is about to snap back that he can call his Imaginary Friend Derek whatever he wants when he’s shoved to the side all of a sudden.

He sputters, looking up at Derek, who’s wolfed-out and growling at a mountain lion.

Can hallucinations shove people? If Derek just shoved Stiles, then he has to be real, right?

But there were plenty of times Stiles was convinced he was awake when he wasn’t and fuck he really doesn’t need to have an episode or something right now –

“Stiles! Now would be a good time to do something!” Derek snaps, jolting Stiles from his contemplation.

“Fuck,” he hisses, sitting up. His hands are pouring blood from his unceremonious meeting with the forest floor. He figures, waste not want not, and licks one of his palms, the dirt and blood a disgusting mix on his tongue. He rolls it around his mouth, jumping to his feet.

“Get out of the way!” he shouts and Derek dives to the side right as the mountain lion lunges.

Stiles catches the large cat’s face in his hands, grunts at the feeling of claws digging into his thighs, and severs the creature’s connection to the witch with a push of his Spark.

An ear-splitting shriek shakes the woods.

The mountain lion falls to the ground, writhing and contorting for a moment before it stills, clearly unable to live without its connection to the witch.

Stiles takes a deep breath, the pushback from his spell like a punch in the gut as his legs give out, and shoves his hands against the ground. He pushes the extra energy along the nearest ley line and funnels the brightness toward the Nemeton. He snaps the link and almost pukes at the feeling.

He floats in the ether for a moment. The others are sure to be able to handle the witch now. He should probably go find them, help them…

“Stiles, Stiles!”

He jerks, his eyes finding Derek’s. “Oh shit, you’re still here.”

Derek stares at him. “You’ve got blood all over you. Where are you hurt?”

He laughs. He grew up in Beacon Hills. He’s fucking hurt everywhere. Derek should know that firsthand.

“Stiles?” Derek’s voice is careful.

He shakes his head, face still cracked in a smile. “I’m fine, man.” He glances at his palms. “Eh, well, I’ll live this time. Yay me!” He tries to stand but his legs buckle.

Derek snatches him before he can hit the ground.

“I’m good, I just, oohh boy. Too much. Too much.” He sighs, the pounding in his head telling him that he definitely used too much of his Spark with not enough preparation. “I just… need to lie down. I’ll be okay.”

“I’m taking you to the clinic.” He scoops Stiles into a bridal carry and starts back through the woods.

Stiles tries to protest, but he can’t walk, so it seems like he’s along for the ride. He tries to reason, “I need to help the others.”

“You’re in no condition to do that right this second.” Derek tilts his head, listening. “Besides, I think they’ll be fine. It sounds like the fight is winding down.”

"You really look like a puppy when you do that."

Derek's voice is as dry as the desert. "Dog jokes, really? Aren't you a little old for that?"

“Fucking hell, I am so good at imagining things,” he states, closing his eyes. “I even got your Stiles-You’re-So-Dumb voice right.”

Derek doesn’t say anything, just tightens his hold and quickens his pace.

He presses his face to Derek’s chest. Derek smells exactly the same and Stiles can’t help but mutter, “Missed you.”

It’s easy to slip into darkness.

-----

Stiles wakes up at the vet clinic, his hands and thighs bandaged, and feels like someone beat him with a baseball bat.

The witch is gone, the others are fine, and he’s got a migraine from Hell.

He goes back to Scott’s house and checks in with the rest of the pack, allowing them to scold him for being reckless and praising him for helping with the familiar. He leaves before the pizza arrives, not so much for socializing anymore.

He almost wants to ask if anyone saw Derek the night before, but stops himself. Surely someone would have mentioned if Derek was back in town, right?

If he was seeing things, he doesn’t want to worry his friends. It could very well be that he made his own way to the clinic, envisioning Derek as a way to keep him upright and moving.

And if he wasn’t seeing things, if Derek was there and helped him and disappeared again…

Well, Stiles has learned that it doesn’t do to dwell on the past.

[perseusjackson-jasongrace]

Day 2: “You should probably go home.”/“But I’m already home.”

masterlist

Kingdom Collisions AU (prequel scene): you do not have to read or be caught up on my Kingdom Collisions fic to know what’s happening here

Princess Piper Mclean wakes up to the midday sun and sighs contentedly, stretching her languid limbs until they shake. It is one of those rare days when her princessely duties are non-existent and her mother wouldn’t bug her because she’s not there. She hears the soft chirp of birds outside and peers out the window to see scarlet-breasted sparrows hopping along the branches and singing merry tunes. She loves summer. Everything is always so cheerful and full of life. It reminds her of childhood. A gentle knock sounds at the door and she recognises it as her handmaid/tutor/nanny. Her friend.

“Come in Anisa.”

“Princess,” She smiles, bowing her head with one hand over her chest.

“Hello,” Piper sits up in bed, “I like your hijab.” It is the most beautiful shade of blue, like sapphires in glittering water.

“Thank you.” Her lady smiles, “I have brought you something to eat.”

“Are we classifying this as breakfast or lunch?” The princess teases, knowing her need for order and compartmentalisation.

“Brunch. A truly glorious invention.” Anisa huffs, scrunching her nose at the crack.

“Well thank you all the same. Are you going to join me?” She takes off the silver cover of the tray to reveal berry and cream waffles and a steaming cappuccino with the prettiest leaf design. “Chef Ambrosia is really getting creative with their designs.”

“I’m pretty sure they just have the biggest crush on you and the only reason they haven’t put a heart is because it would be wholly inappropriate.”

The princess just laughs and digs into her meal with vigour. They talk about non-essential things like her dress for the upcoming ball and their various plans for the weekend. Anisa was finally going home to see her children and anyone could see the excitement radiating off her. Now that she didn't have to be a nanny all the time she could actually look after her own children. Finally the waffle is demolished and the cappuccino nothing but froth.

Anisa looks at her carefully.

Piper raises a brow, “What?”

“I have some news.”

Immediately her heart is beating a thousand miles a minute and there is disaster after disaster crossing her mind. “What?” She says again, this time breathless with worry.

“A certain Prince wants to visit.”

She immediately lets out a gush of air, her whole body dropping in relief. And then she registers what her friend had said and her brown eyes go as wide as saucers. The last time she had seen that prince, because undoubtedly it could only be that prince, she had nearly ruined their lifelong friendship by almost kissing him. Now she doesn’t trust herself around him, which means she’s been avoiding him.

“I think you should say yes.” Anisa gives her a pointed look, “He’s worried something is wrong because you can’t woman up and face your feelings. You’re hurting him by avoiding him.”

The Princess groans, scrubbing a hand across her face. “I know, I know. But I just can’t face him without wanting to either make the world swallow me up or jumping his annoying pretty bones.”

“You should invite him to the ball.”

Piper closes her eyes, the sun suddenly too bright, too hot against her sensitive skin. If she invites Perseus she’ll get to see him and reassure him and actually get to spend time with her friend, which she misses, greatly. Her own fault. If she doesn’t invite him she can put off dealing with her ever-growing, constantly-harder-to-ignore feelings and have an embarrassment, possibly rejection free night. The coward’s way out. She is many things, but a coward has never been one of them.

“Okay,” She nods, letting the decision settle in her core, “Let’s invite him. He can stay the night. Hell the week if he wants.”

Her friend claps her hand and gathers the empty dishes and cutlery. “Ill be here to collect the letter this evening to send out for the night post. Don’t be late.” She waggles a finger, ever the mother. “And use the blue wax seal. It’s his favourite.”

“It is?” Sometimes she feels like a terrible friend.

Anisa just winks and makes a graceful exit, her hijab catching in the once again warm rays, and glittering sweetly.

A week later her castle is abuzz with activity: caterers and decorators and various other event planners all running around like hounds are at their feet. There is little more than an hour to the ball and Piper is finally getting around to putting on her dress and swiping a little lipstick on. She fell in love with her garment the moment she laid eyes on it and now that she sees it in her gilded mirror she feels as if every stitch was made with her in mind. A deep maroon fell across her in waves of silk, starting with the string-thin straps over her shoulders, into the straight neckline, and down, down, down to the skirt that flared at her waist and trailed against the pristine marble floors. She buckles gold shoes at her ankles and slips on two small diamond encrusted earrings. With a final glance at her reflection she steps out of her room and into the transformed hallways. There are flowers hanging from the ceilings and stars underneath her feet and she feels as if the world has turned on its axis. Adequate considering it is Summer Solstice which marks the changing. She nods hello to the guests and servants rushing through the passage and then she is outside the ballroom doors.

With a deep breath she smiles at the doorman who returns it before pushing the door open.

“Presenting Princess Piper Mclean of Hanaan.” A loud clear voice says from somewhere to her left.

She curtsies low to the room and then glides down the stairs to greet her mother. All the while her eyes are scanning the room, trying to catch a particular head of black curls, and skin only slightly darker than her own. When her scan comes up empty she hides the disappointment behind a practiced smile and engages in conversation with some duke and duchess. She really isn’t paying attention to anything so it catches her by surprise when a warm hand brushes her waist and the familiar scent of ocean, and wind, and life surround her.

“Sorry Duke,” A charming smile disintegrates her worries. “May I steal the princess away for a dance?”

“Please,” The duke is jovial, waving them away. The duchess smiles that smile that says aw cute young love.

Piper wants to see them through her eyes. But before she can think on it she is being whisked away and planted on the dance floor, suddenly staring up at hypnotic green eyes and that troublemaker’s smirk.

“Sorry for my tardiness Princess. Wanted to make a grand entrance.” Crown Prince Perseus Jackson grins.

She narrows her eyes at him as they sway across the floor, “You overslept your nap again didn’t you?”

He rolls his eyes, stealing a pinch on her side that tickles more than hurts. “Actually I got caught up in the music room.”

Her eyes light up like crackling fire, “Will you play for me?”

“Anything you want,” He whispers and pulls them closer, so her dress is flush against his suit, also made of the smoothest satin.

“How have you been?”

He gives her a look that she chooses to ignore. “You would know if you weren’t avoiding me.”

“I’m not avoiding you,” He dips her, and she thanks the heavens they put her hair up or it would be sweeping the floor.

He pulls her back up and sets a determined gaze on her, “Yes you are. I haven’t seen you in almost three weeks. We’ve never gone that long without-”

“Okay, okay,” She’s never going to win this argument. “Maybe I have been avoiding you just a little.”

“Tell me why.” His voice is soft but his tone is demanding. She loves when he gets like this.

The music speeds up and before she can reply he’s twirling her so fast only the years of ballet are keeping her from dizziness. When she stops abruptly right against his chest she is only faintly aware of the scattered applause.

“It’s not important.”

“It is to me.” Raspy, gentle, caring, raspy, raspy, raspy.

She suppresses a shiver. “I’m planning a surprise party for your birthday and i’ve been a little busy with the details.”

He growls in her ear before lifting her up in a twirl of his own and setting her down, “Liar.”

“Am not.” She huffs. The music speeds up.

They spin, and spin, and spin.

“You are. You used the surprise birthday party excuse every year for something or the other.” A gleam enters his eyes as he dips her and swoops her all the way up until she’s back to looking at his beautiful, angular face. “In fact last year you used it because two books from your favourite series were coming out at the same time and you didn’t want to be disturbed until you were finished.”

She stifles a giggle and looks anywhere but at him, because she will burst out laughing if she sees his judgemental look.

“Okay, okay.” The music reaches a crescendo as he lifts her high above his head, so she can see every patron attending the ball, and the crystal chandeliers hanging like rose bouquets above her. He sets her down and they stop abruptly; the last chord of the violin reverbrates through the room. “But let's go outside.”

She is breathless, his chest is heaving, and the applause is deafening. They are angelic. Percy raises a hand to present her and she curtsies for their audience. The claps get impossibly louder. She maintains a dignified smile, but can do nothing about the beautiful flush of her cheeks as she presents her dance partner who bows low and blows a kiss. The spectators laugh, some swoon, she wants to scowl. She smiles brighter.

And then they're racing outside and into their favourite place to get lost: the Maze of Madness. He laces their fingers together and sprints for the center, diving around corners and cursing at dead ends. She just laughs, her hair coming loose and her princessly state unhinged. She is nothing but sweetness, and flower petals, and summer breezes.

Finally they get to the center where the white stone bench sits, engraved with the words Si vis amari, ama. If you want to be loved, love. Gifted to them before she was an inkling on the horizon by the Kingdom of Caelum. The bench has held many a love story, and supported many a heartbreak. She believes it’s good luck.

They collapse onto it, stars glittering in their eyes and take a moment to catch their breaths.

Percy is the first to break their silence. “So,” he pokes her side, ‘Why are you avoiding me?”

“I was being a coward.”

He turns his body to her and gives her that intense look that simultaneously makes her wince and sets her soul on fire.

She starts slowly, trying to find the words that wouldn’t ruin their friendship but would still make her feelings clear. “I wanted to do something that night in the House of Hope but it might have turned out badly and I didn't want to risk it”

He doesn’t say anything for a while, doesn’t even seem like he’s breathing, so she forces her gaze upwards, to see green eyes burning into her.

“Some risks-” He is just as slow with his words, just as gentle. “Some risks are worth it.”

Percy puts a hand to her cheek, cold fingers brushing her skin. There is a question in his eyes that opens the cage of butterflies in her stomach.

“Kiss me Percy Jackson.” Piper whispers.

His answering smile lights up her every nerve, and when he finally brushes his soft lips against her own, every beat of her heart shudders to a stop. He cups her face in his hands, and brushes their lips over and over and over. Like he’s tasting the barest hints of her. Like if he goes any deeper he’ll never stop. She doesn’t ever want him to. So she laces her fingers behind his neck and keeps him pinned to her and when he groans her world detonates. They explore each other, in languid, deep strokes. His lips. Her tongue. His teeth. Her lips. Their hearts. They kiss like they mean it. They kiss like they’ll never get the chance again. They kiss like this is the meaning of life.

And when they break apart for gasping-interrupting air they are both grinning as wide and bright as moonlit ice. Her lips tingle and she touches a finger to them to make sure they’re still there, working, experiencing what she did.

He chases her hand away and brushes the pad of his thumb over her bottom lip. “You are so beautiful.”

Before she can reply a messenger rounds the corner, breathless. “Prince, your mother would like you back at the castle. She says it’s urgent.”

“Can it not wait till tomorrow?” He doesn’t bother to put any distance between them as he turns to the young boy. Her lips brush his cheek.

“I’m afraid not Prince, she says it’s a matter of great importance.”

He nods stiffly, and she can see the exasperation trying to escape his lungs. The messenger hurries away and Percy turns back to her, resting their foreheads together, eyes half-closed.

“You should go home,” The princess says after several beats of silence.

He presses a kiss to her forehead. “I’m already home.”

And she cannot help the smile that bursts out of her, like fireflies escaping the glass jar.

“We will continue this again soon, yes?” He opens his eyes, looks at her with all his intensity.

“Yes,” And the possibilities running through her soul float her up to cloud 9.

“Good,” He nods once, captures her lips with his again, and then tugs her up. “Then i shall go home, attend to whatever emergency my mother has and come back within the week.”

“I can’t wait.” Somewhere in the back of her mind, a clock is already ticking.

He kisses her again, like he can’t get enough, like he’s addicted. “You are beautiful Little Dove.”

Her heart squeezes at the familiar nickname. “Come back soon.” She hugs him by his car. “Come home soon.”

“You should come to Mare with me.”

“I cannot. I have to be here for the ball, and besides it’s the Floating in a few days.”

He takes her hands in his, kisses her knuckles. “Then I will be as fast as I can.”

Her eyes are shining with love as she pulls him in and kisses him one last time. He returns it with vigour, promising, promising, promising worlds between their lips.

And when she waves goodbye to the retreating black vehicle until it blends in with the night she decides the bench is in fact goodluck.

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

Tags (if you want to be added to/taken off the tag list all my channels of communication are open):

@nishlicious-01​

@leydiangelo​

@spoopylucy​

[imagineseclipse]

Stiles Stilinski x Reader-Remember Her

Warning:None

Pairings: Stiles Stilinski x Reader(eventually)

Part 1

Summary: The Ghost Riders have taken y/n instead of Stiles and one by one the McCall Pack dive into their own minds to try and remember her. Whoever she was.

A/N: This is a little series I’m working on I hope you enjoy part 2. Also any writing that looks like this is a flashback.

You couldn’t keep track of time in this place, how long had it been twenty-four hours, a week maybe? There was no way of telling. The only thing you knew for definite was that people from Beacon Hills were getting taken left right and centre because the train station was filling up rapidly.

You thought about your friends, had they remembered you- well if they had then you’d be out of this place. You turned to your right, an elderly lady sat in a world of her own, but she noticed your gaze and she smiled gently at you. Leaning towards you.

“Hello dear, how are you?”she greeted you warmly.

“Hi Miss, I’m doing great how are you?”you lifted your lip into a small smile, not wanting to rain on her parade.

“You called me Miss, making me feel young again”she laughed out, resting her fragile arm on yours.

“I’m off to see my brother after forty years”she explained, lifting her hand towards the train times above your head. You didn’t have the heart to tell her the truth so you played along.

“That’s lovely, he’ll be happy to see you I bet”you nodded along happily.

“Do you have a brother?”The lady asked. You shook your head.

“I’m an only child, but I do have a brother well he’s the closest thing I have to a brother anyway”your smile fell into a sad frown.

“Hey Scott, I know your bikes in the garage do you still need a ride home?”you called out casually patting your friend on the back.

Scott turned away from his locker, his eyebrows furrowing as his eyes landed on you.

“Uh- I don’t want to offend you or anything but I don’t ride with strangers”Scott offered you a confused smile.

“Ha that’s a funny one, I like it”you faked a laugh as you leant against the locker next to his.

“Look I’m sorry- what’s your name?”Scott asked sympathetically.

“Seriously Scott?”you laughed.

“If I’ve led you on I’m sorry but I’m just not interested in dating you”he apologised shutting his locker.

Your eyes widened. He was acting seriously weird.

“What?! No! Ew I just offered you a ride home I’ll be waiting in the car feel free to join me when you stop being weird”you grimaced as you sending your friend a confused stare before retreating down the hall.

Over in the bunker Scott was settled down in his seat, staring forwards at the candle that stood alone in the middle of the table.

“You know how this works, right Scott?”Lydia asked.

“Sure I just look for the memories”Scott nodded.

“And remember your surroundings might be a little different to Malia’s, all of our minds are different”Lydia advised, making sure Scott was on board before she started the procedure.

He took a deep breath before closing his eyes. When he came to he was stood in the animal clinic where he worked.

“What do you see Scott?”Lydia spoke out.

“I’m surrounded by cages, for the animals- I’m at the animal clinic”he informed her.

“Okay open one”she continued.

Scott bent down, kneeling on the floor as he hesitantly opened one of the cages around him.

“Thanks for giving me a ride on the first day back, you’re seriously saving my life”you yawned, leaning back on Scott’s sofa.

“It’s the least I can do, you gave me rides to school everyday last year”Scott smiled over as he packed his backpack.

“And...”you looked up at him accusingly.

“And I just wanted to show you my new car”Scott grinned.

“Technically it’s your moms car, she’s just letting you borrow it”you sang out.

“Don’t tell any of the girls at school that”Scott groaned.

“Because the girls are just falling at your feet in large groups aren’t they Scotty boy”you teased.

“They will be, this years going to be different”Scott promised.

“You said that last year, and the year before that- in fact I’m pretty sure you’ve said that for the past seven years”you raised your eyebrows as you flicked through a magazine, waiting for Scott to get his things in order.

“This year I’m making first line, I will do it”Scott announced proudly, pointing his finger in your direction.

“I know you will, and when you do you’ll be great”you encouraged him as you stood from your seat, handing Scott his bag. He thanked you before making his way over to his bedroom door.

“Aren’t you forgetting something”you caught his attention. He spun on his heel, watching you roll your eyes.

“Not gonna make first line without this are you, in fact I’m pretty sure you won’t even make it to school without it”you tapped your foot, throwing his inhaler over to him. Your eyebrows twitching after seeing him catch it perfectly. Which was very unlike Scott.

Scott closed the cage, still not feeling like he’d remembered enough he moved to the next one. Hoping to find more memories of you.

“Scott, you’re not alone. You must be terrified and confused but you’re not alone I need you to remember that”you leant towards Scott shaking him out of his daze.

“I’m a werewolf, you guys were right I’m a monster”he cried out. You shook your head vigorously.

“You are not a monster Scott, I’ve known you my whole life and you are not a monster. You are my friend Scott, you are my brother and nothing will ever change that”you reassured him.

Scott’s heart dropped as he closed the cage, you had been there from the very beginning. The start of it all. He moved to the next cage door not wanting to waste a second more.

“Will you get that Scott I’m just putting away the medical tape”you shouted across the animal clinic as you disappeared into the store cupboard leaving Scott to open the door to whoever was pummelling their fists against it.

Seconds later Scott rushed into the cupboard, shutting it quickly.

“Well who was it?”you called over your shoulder, reaching up to tidy one of the shelves you’d messed up.

“It’s Allison”he breathed out panicked.

“Allison as in the new girl? The one you have a crush on?”your eyebrow raised, a smirk growing on your face as you turned to face a very red cheeked Scott McCall.

“The same one, yes”Scott sent you a pleading look.

“Oh would you look at that, my shift is over and I have somewhere I really need to be”you chirped knowingly.

“But it’s a Saturday you don’t have any- you stared blankly at your not so smart best friend.

“Enjoy your evening my friend, and do me a favour”you grinned as you patted him on the shoulder.

“What’s that?”Scott asked expectantly.

“Ask Allison to Lydia’s party”you wiggled your eyebrows before leaving.

Scott dropped his hand to his side, you had been the one to set him and Allison up in the first place. You worked together in the clinic, spending most of your summers there earning money.

Your eyes glossed over as you approached the school bus. A figure stood still in front of it had caught your attention outside of the motel. As you drew closer you noticed it was Scott, he was under the spell you could tell by that empty look in his eyes.

In his hands he clutched a lit flare, he was covered from head to toe in gasoline. You gulped, a lump forming in your throat as you stepped towards him carefully.

“No, no no there’s no way”you mumbled as you held out your hand.

“There’s no hope”Scott cried out.

“Scott, this isn’t you I know it isn’t because you were the one who taught me that there is hope”you disagreed with him.

“There’s always hope”Allison continued.

“Not for me, Not for Derek”Scott was being tortured by the guilt.

“It wasn’t your fault Scott, Derek wasn’t your fault there was nothing you could do- it’s like you hold the weight of the world on your shoulders but you don’t have to do it alone we’re here to help you hold that weight. I’m here to help you Scott”you tried to stop him from hurting himself, tears falling down your face.

Scott began to register everyone’s words, clutching the flare closer to himself. The feeling of dread still running through his veins.

“Look, if you’re going to do this then I’m sorry but as your lifelong wing woman I think I’m gonna have to join you”you decided, stepping into the gasoline, followed closely by your other friends.

As Scott closed the door to the cage he felt like he’d let you down, he remembered that you were willing to die with him and he couldn’t even remember your existence. After everything you’d been through he had forgotten you.

“Scott?”Lydia checked in on him, worried as he’d been awfully quiet.

“I need more time”Scott requested as he opened the next cage.

“I don’t like this plan, but it’s the only way we can keep everyone safe whilst keeping an eye on the deadpool”Scott informed his pack who stood listening closely.

“Y/n, what do you think about the plan?”Scott turned to you.

“Me? It doesn’t matter what I think you’re the alpha and whatever you decide I’ll be right behind you- we all will be right behind you. I trust you”you replied quickly.

Within seconds Scott was opening yet another door.

“Where is she mom?! Where is y/n what the hell happened?!”Scott cursed as he fought his way towards the room you had been transferred to. Melissa gripped onto his arm gently, trying to calm him down as she guided him away from the front entrance.

“It’s okay, I’m looking after her you know I wouldn’t let anything happen to her”she promised under hushed tones, settling her son down in the seat outside y/n’s room.

“I should have been there mom”Scott pinched the bridge of his nose.

“You’re here now that’s all that matters, I’m sure she won’t hold it against you c’mon this is y/n we’re talking about”Ms.McCall stared forwards into your room checking up on you.

“I remember when the two of you were kids, y/n would run around with this doll that her mother had brought for her. She was infatuated with it and she never let it out of her sight. One day the two of you were playing in the backyard and you must’ve broken the head off this doll. Y/n forgave you in seconds, in fact I’m pretty sure she got angry with everyone else”Melissa reminisced, smiling lightly at the thought of you two being young again.

“The two of you, you’re pretty solid. You have been for years”Melissa left him with that thought before gaining the attention of one of her colleagues.

At this point Scott had remembered everything, you were his sister, not by blood but the two of you were soul siblings. You always had faith in him even when he didn’t have faith in himself. But inside he felt like a memory was missing, something important a moment that made him realise that the two of you would always be family no matter what.

He grew closer to the final memory, knowing that this was it.

You wiped your sleeve underneath your eyes, trying to wipe away an evidence that you’d been crying. Truth was you had been sobbing, for days on end. You couldn’t let Scott see you like this, you didn’t want him to think you were weak.

Melissa didn’t need to say anything as she opened the door, she simply brought you in for a tight hug and that was all you needed as she led you into the McCall house like she had done a million times before.

“He’s in the kitchen”Melissa motioned towards the kitchen door. You silently thanked her as you made your way towards Scott who was sat with his head burried in his hands.

You hadn’t seen much of him recently, not that you were blaming him everyone had taken their space for a while.

“Scott?”your voice came out hoarse and broken, watching as the alpha lifted his head revealing his own sore eyes, he hadn’t slept in days and it showed.

His eyes welled up with tears as soon as he caught sight of you and your lip began to tremble as you stormed towards him, wrapping your arms around his neck.

His body vibrated in your arms as you cradled him, the two of you breaking down together.

“I know, I know”you sobbed, your head falling into his brown hair.

“I could have saved her, I could have saved Allison”he choked.

“Scott, Allison died knowing that we all loved her. You can’t blame yourself every time because it’s not your fault. I’m not going to sit by and let unnecessary guilt eat away at you. You can’t save everyone”You rubbed his back gently as he continued to cry.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around, you’re all hurting too and I just disappeared on you”Scott continued to apologise.

“Stop saying sorry, you need to be selfish sometimes-you’ve just lost your true love Scott, it’s okay to grieve it’s okay to cry and be angry you can’t always be the one to look after us”you explained, wiping your tear stained cheeks.

“We’ve got you Scott, I got you, just let us look after you for once”you felt Scott nod his head slowly and the two of you sat together in silence for hours after that, your occasional sniffles echoing around his kitchen.

Scott’s eyes widened as he found himself back in the bunker, he connected his eyes with Stiles briefly before flicking them over to the others who stood watching him.

“She’s family to me I mean I never had a younger sister technically but I did- I do have a sister and I forgot her. She’s going to kill me. We grew up together and all of those memories just vanished until now”Scott shuddered.

“It’s like I had a missing limb, and I just couldn’t figure out which part but everything makes sense now. We all need to remember and bring her home”Scott informed everyone.

“If you felt like you were missing a limb then imagine how I’ve been feeling”Stiles shook his head as he folded his arms.

“Well do you want to go next?”Lydia turned to Stiles.

“Certainly not”Stiles mumbled as he volunteered Liam by shoving him forwards slightly.

“I guess I’ll take his turn”Liam slowly made his way over to the seat where Scott has just sat.

Part 3

[choupichoups]

Press F (Instagram/College AU) Epilogue

Lucas swears he’s the absolute master of undetected stalking. Or: Eliott is instagram famous and Lucas is the disaster gay who accidentally likes his post.

Okay so this is the end end, thank you again for reading!!

Lucas turns over, free arm carelessly swiping up the empty space beside him. Warm fingers drum a loose tune over cold sheets, long unoccupied despite the fact that it’s only nine in the morning. So Eliott did manage to drag his ass up for his photoshoot despite all the pouting and complaining from last night.

With a jaw cracking yawn, he pushes himself off their giant, comfy bed, landing on the floor with a soft thump. He conjures up whatever self restraint he’s gathered over the years to keep from nose diving back into the warm sheets. Eliott had left the curtains drawn over the windows, leaving their room bathed in burnt orange light, the air conditioning humming soft whirs of cool air. It’s the perfect recipe for a morning spent lounging in bed doing nothing.

But alas, he pulls his big boy pants up and drags his feet to the bathroom to follow his boyfriend’s itinerary for the day.  

srodulv We’ll be at the west beach behind the big cliff i showed you yesterday Whenever your highness deems it fit to join us Lol nvm we’re inside a cave now Aaand we moved Right at the path when you head down Can’t miss me and my handsome face on a plank

lucallemant why is ur face on a plank less texting more posing

srodulv Being the breadwinnner in this relationship is really a thankless job huh

lucallemant where’s the bread tho???

srodulv THANKLESS

“Lucas, hey!” 

He stumbles past the pathetic lumps of sand from where he and Eliott had attempted a friendly little sand castle competition a few days ago, clumsy on his feet as he holds himself back from rushing towards them. 

“Morning, Jo,” he greets the photographer first before raising both eyebrows at Eliott, who does, in fact, look perfectly handsome lounging on his plank. As if the sand isn’t digging into the skin of his elbows. As if the sun isn’t beating directly over their heads. Ugh, an abomination. 

“Oh hi, Eliott, good morning Eliott!” Eliott says in a mockingly high pitched tone when Lucas fails to say anything else. “How are you doing, Eliott?” he continues in that same annoying voice, prompting Lucas to kick up some sand his way. “I missed you, boyfriend, you’re working so hard, my dear!”

“Ew, shut up.” Lucas laughs, moving to sit beside Eliott when Jo pauses his snapping to adjust some settings on his camera. Despite all the teasing, however, Lucas presses a kiss to his boyfriend’s cheek and throws both legs over one of Eliott’s thighs, hands instinctively searching to intertwine their fingers. “Morning,” he murmurs into the space between their lips, chest fluttering when Eliott brushes their noses together, whipped as the first time. 

“Good sleep?” Eliott mutters back, smile melting sweeter when Lucas drops his head on his shoulder with a nod. “We’re almost done here and then we have the rest of the week to ourselves, okay?” 

“Okay.” Lucas plays with their tangled hands, fingers stroking light across the back of Eliott’s palms. He almost forgets what they’re actually talking about had it not been for the loud click of a camera shutter coming from his right. 

Jo is looking down at his camera when Lucas finally forces himself away from the very optimal cuddle he and Eliott had going on. “You sure you don’t wanna do a joint photoshoot, Lucas?” Jo turns the camera around to show him the photo he’d just taken. “You guys look really good together, it’d be a hit!” 

Yeah, no. Lucas snorts, “I wouldn’t know what to do with myself.”

Jo tuts, “Don’t be like that, this one looks good.”

“Lucky shot, trust me. My face does weird things in front of cameras most of the time,” he prattles out excuses, eyes narrowing when Eliott remains silent as he watches the exchange, laughter clear in his eyes. “Anyway, I’ll be taking a walk while you boys do your thing, alright, don’t have too much fun, drink water often, and I’ll see you,” he clicks his tongue, points to where Eliott is seated, eyes locked on Lucas ever since he arrived, “later. Bye!” 

And he runs off before Jo could convince him to join the shoot. Lucas really isn’t about that life, the amount of followers he’s garnered only from the fact that he’s dating Eliott is already stressing him out as it is. He can’t imagine what a legitimate photoshoot together would do. 

Making his way towards the beach, Lucas slips off his sandals and walks along the path where the waves hit the sand, relishing in the ticklish feel of sand shifting underneath his feet at every pull. His toes curl into the soft surface, wiggling at the cool touch of clear waters before the waves pull back into the ocean. 

It’s nice out here. Lucas had been mighty skeptical when Eliott had mentioned it off-handedly during the giant final party of the school year. Granted, both of them had been pretty drunk at that point and Lucas wasn’t sure whether he was hearing things or if Eliott had really just asked him to go on a two week vacation in South Africa. Like Lucas doesn’t only have two whole dollars in his savings account. 

It’s free, Eliott had cleared up once sober, chuckling at the dubious look on Lucas’ face. My friend wants a shoot there and he’s letting us stay at their private condo as payment. 

Wow, bourgeoisie, and then Lucas proceeded to forget about it in the midst of tear inducing exams.

He digs out his phone and snaps a photo of the sun hitting the ocean’s surface with a pretty gleam. His mom would appreciate the view, maybe it would encourage her to take her own vacation somewhere too. She deserves a few weeks away from the city— maybe a trip with her friends would be nice, maybe with that nice guy she’s trying to pass off as just her friend whenever Lucas visits would be good too. 

Lucas digs his heels in the sand and turns to face the ocean, rolling his sweatpants up to his calves as he steps deeper into the water. 

Eliott’s graduated. He’d done a placement at a studio during his final year and they refused to get rid of him (Lucas can relate), add to that Eliott’s side film projects and this whole internet famous slash instagram model thing and Eliott’s suddenly found himself a lot more occupied that initially expected. 

Lucas has quite a bit of catching up to do. Fuck, he’s not even employed anywhere. He’d left his job at the cafe during that unsavoury mess a year prior and his workload from school picked up at an abhorrent pace. The only reason he’s functioning as a semi normal human being right now is because Eliott has made it his mission to stop him from eating any more of Yann’s cheese bread and his mother has been helping him with rent. 

He stomps his feet into the water, pouting as it earns him a very unsatisfying splash. And then his feet are suddenly off the ground, legs flailing on instinct as he’s grabbed from behind by an obnoxious, giggling giant— 

“Eliott!” he screeches, two seconds before he’s unceremoniously dumped deeper into the water. Sputtering, he stands back up with as much dignity as he can gather and jumps onto Eliott’s back with a holler of curses, trying to keep his own head above water when Eliott’s knees buckle under the attack, laughter helpless as he clutches onto Lucas in their half-hearted tussle. 

They roll around half in and half out the waves, laughter unbridled like giddy little children on a high. Careful steps on the sand turn to careless treading in the deeper waters, drenched clothes stuck on warm skin and playful fingers threaded in ocean darkened locks. Lucas breathes out a chuckle in the tiny space between them, foreheads aligning perfectly when he hauls himself up, arms wrapped tightly around Eliott’s shoulders for balance. This close, Eliott’s smile is more radiant than the sun reflecting diamonds in the water and Lucas can’t look away, not when the oncoming wave roars closer, not when Eliott whispers something reverent that steals the breath right out of his lungs. 

"Eliott,” Lucas starts, blinking salt water off of his eyelashes. “Eliott, I—”

And then the waves claim them with an unmerciful smack, the force of it brings the two boys back to shore and they resurface with a sputter, their moment chased away by a newly triggered round of laughter.

“Oh shit.” Lucas squints as something dawns on him. “Fuck, Eliott!” He removes his soaked shirt and uses it to smack Eliott’s arm. 

“Ow! What?” 

“My shoes! I dropped them!”

“Oh. Oh, crap. I’ll buy— hey stop— stop that! I’ll buy you new ones at the market!”

The evening market is absolutely bustling with tourists. It seems like everyone had the same idea of whiling away the heat at the beach and whiling away at the shops once the sun starts to set. 

“Lucas, come here! Look.” 

Lucas follows the direction where Eliott’s voice is coming from, finding his boyfriend laden with all kinds of trinkets around the neck, around both wrists, and around most of his fingers. He’s such a fool. Lucas loves him so much.

“Please don’t tell me you’re gonna buy all of that.”

Eliott allows himself an offended look before remembering his excitement. “Course not, but look at this!” He stretches a hand and shows Lucas a handmade, wooden carving of a woman sitting on a piano bench with a dog beside her. “Wouldn’t this be perfect for your mom?” 

Did Lucas say he loves him already?

“Yeah,” he says softly, squeezing the hand holding the figurine before letting go and looking around the stalls himself. He’s done a bit of shopping for their friends already (he’s not actually going to get them only rocks and sand, thank you very much), all he needs now is for some help getting things for Eliott’s parents. “Hey, do you think you dad will like—” He turns around, holding up a trinket, only to find Eliott already off to the stalls on the far right. Oh well, at least he looks like he’s in the process of returning everything he’s got draped all over him. 

They don’t take very long to run into each other again once they’ve done their rounds, and Eliott beams like they haven’t seen each other in days, grabbing Lucas by the wrist with an enthusiastic, “All good to go?” And even if he wasn’t, Lucas would’ve followed him either way. 

Speaking of, they’re not headed to where they parked their rental car.

“Where are we going?” Lucas asks, sneaking a glance around them to see if he can pinpoint familiar places. They haven’t done much exploring for the past week, preferring to laze around the beach area whenever Eliott wasn’t busy with photoshoots, but he imagines Eliott has been around more than him if Jo wanted some changes in scenery. 

And because Eliott is Eliott, he doesn’t utter a word until they’ve passed a small bridge that leads to what looks like a dead end of shrubbery. 

But Lucas knows better by now.

They squeeze through the thick shrubs, pushing branches and leaves aside until they reach a wide clearing. “Tada...” Eliott whispers, as if the sound of his normal volume would disrupt the scene. 

And what a scene it was. A quaint circular area with boulders piled about, a large, ancient tree with drooping arms perfectly frames the view as if planted there years ago to fulfill this present purpose. The waves crash softly against the rocks, forcing pale, wet sand to shift with uneven dips. Over the horizon, blinding in its beauty, perches a moon so clear and bright Lucas would be hard pressed to believe it’s real if he weren’t standing right here.

“Holy shit,” he mumbles, shaking excess leaves off his feet as he makes his way forward, entranced. “Holy shit,” he repeats with feeling.

“Yup, holy shit.” Eliott breathes out his laughter, shoulders shrugging up in that endearing way of his. “Thought you’d appreciate this.”

Lucas makes his way to the edge where water and sand meet, bending to pick up a shiny stone reflecting moonlight off its surface. He hears Eliott coming up behind him but doesn’t expect the hand that steals the stone from his grip and Lucas huffs, indulging in his boyfriend’s amusement for a few minutes and jumping up to try and steal it back from Eliott’s raised fist.

“Eli, come on, give it.” He tries for another jump, but Eliott brings his hands behind his back, putting the stone out of sight. “Eliott!” Lucas whines, shaking the plastic bag of trinkets he’s got hanging around one wrist. Eliott has the gall to laugh at his suffering. “Give it.” Lucas holds out his free hand, tapping his feet on the sandy ground. “Now.” 

Eliott raises an eyebrow in turn, smile adorable despite its mischief as he holds out both hands in closed fists. “Okay, choose a hand then.” 

Lucas’ groan is long suffering. 

But unfortunately, undeniably fond.

“What is this now?” Lucas eyes him suspiciously, trying to figure out what Eliott has up in his sleeve this time. 

“What’s what?” Eliott tries for innocent.

“Did you learn some kind of magic trick, is that it?” Lucas grins, looking between the two hands in front of him.

“I don’t know, did I?” Eliott’s eye crinkles when he smiles. It’s infuriating.

“Omygod, you’re literally impossible. This better be a good trick, Demaury.” He slaps a hand over Eliott’s left fist, digging in between his fingers to try and pry them open. Eliott gives in too easily, lifting his fingers open without a struggle, so Lucas expects it to turn up empty.

Except.

Except—

“Is this good enough for you?” His voice is a whisper, quiet enough to get carried away by a strong wind. 

Lucas stares at the hand, mouth gaping dumbly. “That’s a ring.” He hears a chuckle, and then Eliott’s other hand is opening to reveal a matching pair. “That’s two rings,” he says, a necessary and intelligent contribution. 

“I know you’re nervous about what’s going to happen.” Eliott starts, “with my graduation, and work, and all that stuff.” 

“I’m not—”

“Lucas, please, you think I wouldn’t notice?”

Lucas shuts his mouth, looks down at the rings again as if they hold the answers to all his doubts. And maybe, maybe they do. Hold them. Some of them, at least. 

“Nobody likes change, you know. I hate it too.” Eliott steps closer, putting both rings inside one hand and using his free hand to grip one of Lucas’. “But for every change that happens there are still constants.” He places one of the rings inside Lucas’ palm. “And you have a lot of that, whether you believe it or not.” With both hands now free, Eliott takes the ring he kept for himself and drops it around his pinky finger. “But if there’s anything I want you to always believe, it’s that I will be your constant, Lucas Lallemant.” 

“Constant?” Lucas chokes, eyes stinging from the force of the tears he’s holding back. God, he’s such a cry baby and Eliott knows it too, the bastard. “Like, always? Like—” Forever. But that’s a scary word. “Whatever happened to minute by minute?” He laughs weakly, hand gripping the ring tight in his hold. 

Eliott leans down to press a kiss atop Lucas’ closed fist. “Okay, what if I tell you that here, in this exact spot, a minute lasts forever?” Because of course Eliott isn’t afraid of forever. Maybe Lucas will learn to be brave too. 

Absently, Lucas mimics Eliott’s earlier movements, sliding the ring around his pinky and staring at it in wonder. He doesn’t think he’s ever seen himself wear a ring in his whole life. It’s a little loose on him but he’ll deal with that later, now’s not the time to worry about tiny details. “That’s absurd.” 

“You’re absurd.”

“No you.” And Lucas launches himself up and into a hard kiss, putting all the brimming feelings he’s too stupefied to vocalize at this moment. “Buying promise rings,” he murmurs in between kisses. “When did you even— you sneaky bastard.” He pulls at Eliott’s shirt, dragging him down as he sags back on his heels. Eliott’s hands are warm cups over his cheeks, touch so soft, ever so gentle in everything he does. Lucas is shifting to fling his arms around Eliott’s shoulders to try and bring them even closer to each other when he feels the newly appointed metal on his finger fly right off his finger and into... well... into the unknown. 

He pulls away so fast he gives both of them whiplash. 

Fuck. “Fuck! Fuck, fuck, fuck.” Fuck! 

Eliott is understandably confused. “Uh. What’s wrong?” 

“My ring!” Lucas screeches, throwing his bag of souvenirs over onto dry land before attempting to dive headfirst into the water. Eliott stops him just in time, dragging a protesting Lucas far, far away from the ocean. “But Eliott! My ring!! Your ring?! My— ring!” 

And Eliott is laughing. “It’s okay, Lu.”

“It’s not!” He takes fistfuls of Eliott’s shirt and shakes his boyfriend because in what world is it okay to lose a ring given to you two seconds ago? “I just had it and then it’s gone!” 

“Shh, it’s okay.” Eliott smiles down at him, shaking his head as he removes his own ring from his pinky and slides it onto Lucas’ ring finger. It’s a much better fit this time, but—

“But this is yours,” Lucas insists, “you’ve gotta have one too.”

“Oh, I do?” Eliott raises a teasing eyebrow.

“Of fucking course, that’s the point of a promise ring you dolt.” Wait no. “I’m the dolt. I can’t believe I lost my ring!”

Eliott’s giggles ring clear in the night. “Lucas, it’s okay, really, we’re here for a few more days, we can buy a new one before we leave, hm? Let’s go back now, I think you need some sleep.”

“I don’t need to sleep, I need to find my ring!!” 

[shelli-gator]

Maurice and Clover’s reaction to Julien and Pancho dating would be hilarious 🤣

WHEEZE, honestly it would be! I wanted to make a little comic for it, but I figured this would convey it a bit better, if you feel like reading it :D <3 it just makes me soft.

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“Are you havin’ a laugh?!”

Maurice had braced himself for that, and yet the sheer volume of Clover’s voice over the headset is enough to make him flinch, curling in on himself. Fumbling with the microphone he throws a frantic glance over his shoulder, lifting the headset away to keep one of his ears pricked for signs he’s been overheard.

But the rest of the plane is blissfully silent, at least for now, and he brings the mic close to his mouth, murmuring carefully, “You really think I would joke about this?”

There’s the unmistakable sound of growling on the other end, followed by the indistinct sound of Sage’s mellow voice somewhere in the background, undoubtedly leveling her with some obscure metaphor about the all consuming flame of her anger, but the Queen of the mountain lemurs continues regardless, barking into his ears.

“One month, Maurice-”

“Clover, I know-”

“I’ve been gone for all of one month,” She seethes, and Maurice pinches the bridge of his nose, grimacing, “I’m coming over. Now. Sage, get your hawk!”

“Wait wait wait!”  The Aye-Aye almost jumps right out of his fur, almost dropping the mic again in his panic, “Is that really necessary?”

“What?!”

He pauses at that, his thoughts catching up with his racing mouth. He brings a paw up to rub at his brow, bushy brows arched high, “Believe it or not, they’re… actually doing pretty okay! From what I can tell, at least.”

“Are we talking about the same Pancho? You know, the felon.”

Maurice winces at the word, as if it could carry into the next room. Knowing his luck, it would, and they’d both never hear the end of it “Please, please don’t remind me. Yes, that Pancho. But.”

“But?”

“I mean,” Maurice rubs the back of his neck, mulling over his choice of words, “You gotta admit, the guy really pulls through, even if his methods are… er, dubious at best.”

“Dubious. Heh. Yeah, that’s one way of putting it, yeah. Not exactly the word I’d use, but it’ll do.”

Before he can attempt any more assurances, there’s a shout of exasperation from the other room, and the royal advisor bristles, teeth gritted

“Pancho, come on man!”

“What?!”

“What was that?” Clover demands on the other end, and Maurice covers the mic with a paw, peeking his head out from behind the curtains of the flight attendants cubicle he hides in to look around the corner.

At this time of night the plane should be shrouded in darkness, but numerous candles and the light of the full moon outside is enough to light up the rows of seats leading to the back. And thus it’s easy enough to spot King Julien the 13th and Pancho nearby, the latter sprawled out in a show of relaxation on one of the seats, chin propped up on the heel of his paw. Julien glares at him from around his canvas, and from here Maurice can make out what he can only assume is some Lovecraftian horror that’s only vaguely depicted in Pancho’s likeness, neither lounging nor in a seat.

Oy vey.

“You’re a terrible muse! I can’t work under these conditions!” the King accuses him, gesticulating wildly with his paintbrush. It sends splatterings of orange paint flying, but neither seems to notice, “Stop moving!”

“Aw, don’t be like that babe, my leg’s starting to cramp!” Pancho whines in shrill protest, grimacing as he attempts to gingerly shift his weight off his hip.

“A… AH! You’re doing it again!” Julien waves his paws at him in frustration and indignance, before deliberately flicking a sizable blob of oil paint at him, splattering his creamy belly with black. The crowned lemur yelps in shock, gaping down at the blotches in his fur.

“Hey, watch it! That paint wasn’t easy to pinch you know!”

“Maurice?!” Clover yells far too loudly in his ear, and the advisor is quickly reminded of what he was actually doing, darting back behind the curtains again.

“Clover, please, not right into the mic? Anyway, everything’s fine!” He assures her, offering her a strained but amicable smile that he hopes she can hear in his voice, "We're on the same page, remember? I wouldn't sugar coat it."

“Right…” She muses cautiously, and not for the first time Maurice marvels at how far she’s come from the woman that would have sooner broken the radio than listened to him, "We are, yeah?"

“Of course we are. I know you have his best interest at heart but… we can let him have this, right? And besides, you know them. This sort of thing doesn't really tend to last long for either of them. And I say that in the kindest way."

Clover actually giggles, "You have a point there. It's like a flash in the Pancho, as Ted would say." She snorts with laughter at that, her tone quickly turning giddy at her own quip, "Get it? Pan-cho? Flash in the pan? Hooo that was a good one, I liked that."

"Uh-huh, you're a riot,” Maurice remarks dryly, but his eyes soften with fondness, his tone warm.

“And you’re okay, then? With everything?” She presses earnestly, and he gives a quiet chuckle at that, rolling his shoulders upwards.

“For the most part.Tired, but alright. They give me the run around, but that’s not different than any other day.”

True to form, there’s a familiar high pitched shriek from the other room, and Maurice pokes his head around the corner again, eyebrows high on his forehead. Just in time to watch Pancho leap from his chair to bodily tackle the King mid caterwaul, his paintbrush extended like a dangerous weapon. The former convict is covered from head to toe in splotches and splashes of paint, but if the wild grin on his face is anything to go by, he isn’t all that fussed about that.

The two go sprawling onto the carpet that lines the aisle, and Julien’s cries quickly turn to raucous laughter as he’s suddenly tickled. The King squirms and thrashes beneath the other male as Pancho straddles him, holding him down with his weight as his fingers dance along the ring-tails sensitive sides. Every press and brush of his nimble fingers makes him wriggle and buck, and soon the paintbrush goes flying, bouncing down the aisle and past Maurice into the throne room behind him.

“Menace!” Pancho teases him playfully between his own breathless chortles, fighting to keep Julien pinned beneath him, “Menace!”

“Stop it!” Julien howls in protest between his laughter. It’s with very little conviction however, his squirming a lot less desperate than it could be beneath Pancho’s tickling paws. He throws his head back, face splitting with his own wild grin as he slaps and grabs at his mate’s wrists, “Monster! Maniac! AH! I’ll bite you, I swear to Frank I’ll bite you!”

“Oh, now those sound like fighting words!” Pancho grins wickedly, eyes alight with feral glee, and just like that he makes a playful show of taking in a large, dramatic breath. Cheeks puffed up and eyes comically wide, he dives down and in, pressing his snout into the curve of Julien’s exposed throat to blow a raspberry into his fur, and King’s laughter swiftly increases in volume and shrillness, his arms coming up and around to loop around Pancho’s shoulders, body tensing and curling inwards beneath him with mirth.

Warmth blossoms in Maurice’s chest at the sight, his heart full to bursting with affection for his friend. It’s always a joy to see him smile and laugh, despite the chaos that often ensued with it.

“Maurice? Hello? Maurice!”

The advisor gives a little hop of surprise on the spot, clapping a paw over his mouth to stifle his yelp. Luckily for him the pair don’t pick it up over their laughter, and Maurice half retreats behind the curtain, covering his mouth and the microphone with his paw, “Sorry, I er… I’m still here.”

“Right. I asked you if he’s happy.”

“Say what now?”

“Julien, is he happy?”

Maurice blinks hard at that, and from where he’s standing he watches Julien bury his smiling face into the fur of Pancho’s crown, who nuzzles his face more vehemently into his neck, grinning from ear to ear. Their fur matted and covered in smears of paint, the pair absently twine their tails together behind them, a tangle of burgundy and rings of black and white.

“Yeah, he is.” Maurice affirms, and he retreats back into the cubicle to give the pair their privacy, his cheeks hurting with the broad smile that tugs at the corners of his lips,“It’s actually kinda cute, believe it or not.”

“Then that’s all that matters, yeah?” Clover titters with an air of quiet bemusement, “Well, I suppose stranger things have happened with you lot. I’m actually impressed it’s not worse.”

“Harsh, but fair,” Maurice concedes, “There’s never a dull moment, as much as I could do with one.”

Clover lets out an almost whimsical sigh on the other end, “Ah, I miss that. Being a queen and all, you know it’s pretty good. But I… well I miss you guys.”

Maurice’s heart swells up in his chest all over again, the Aye-Aye leaning his head against his paw as he smiles up at the ceiling, “Aw, Clo-Clo,” he coos gently, his voice quickly thickening with emotion, “We miss you too. The kingdom doesn’t go a day without missing you.”

She fawns softly at that, quickly becoming emotional herself, “Ooh I- oh that just warms my heart, it does.” She hesitates a moment, mulling over her words, “You know, even if things aren’t exactly, well- falling apart without me over there, it couldn’t hurt for me to come pay a little visit, right?”

The awkward hopefulness in her voice makes the advisor roll his eyes playfully, “Do you even have to ask? You’re always welcome here! This will always be your home, you know that. I don’t think I need Julien’s blessing to say any of that, he’s said it as much himself.”

“Then I’ll come tomorrow!” Clover enthuses eagerly, and he can practically hear the beaming smile in her voice, “Oh, this is so exciting! My first diplomatic mission! Haha!”

“I’ll get the royal guest hut ready for you. That’s really going to make the King’s day, I’ll tell you that. Come to think of it, it’s not often that we’ve gotten the chance to entertain other royal guests- ”

“And this way, I can tell Pancho to his face that if he breaks Julien’s heart, I’ll eviscerate him personally!” she chirps happily, far too giddy at the thought threats and violence, and Maurice splutters hopelessly for a moment, his train of thought thoroughly derailed.

“Oh boy, yeah I’m a lot less enthused about that part.”

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[bluesfortheredj]

Beautiful eyes, beautiful...

Smut ahead.

The women were chattering about someone, probably Catherine knowing them, but your attention was not focused on the group of people you were standing with at all, it was firmly fixed on the man who was currently staring right back at you, and even though your eyes have to drift over the shoulder of his wife you can’t help but share a shy smile with Grigor. You’d been having sex with one another for a while but only ever when Georgina was with Peter, so you were shocked when Grigor then nods towards the door and subtly leaves the room to wait for you.

“Excuse me ladies,” you smile before exiting through the other door that was nearest to you.

Grigor stands a way down the hall and your small heels click quickly towards him as you hold your dress off of the floor, then you give him a questioning frown as you near his tall figure.

“Are you okay?” you ask as he reaches out for your waist and pulls you against him.

“I’m fine,” he grins, “all the better for seeing you.”

“Does George have plans to see Peter?”

“I have no idea.”

“Oh...”

He leans down and presses a long and slow kiss to your lips as your hands slide up his coat and around to the back of his neck, then he parts from your mouth with a giddy smile before tucking a strand of your hair behind your ear. It wasn’t completely out of character for him as he was a very affectionate person to start with, but this was the first time seeing you while Georgina wasn’t actually with Peter and although you thought it odd, you tried not to look too deeply into it.

“Grigor,” you sigh as you place a hand to his cheek gently, “are you sure you’re well?”

“Better than ever!”

His arms wrap around your body tightly before kissing you again until you hear someone approaching you both, and then you stand casually looking at one another while they pass by behind you.

“Can I see you tonight?” Grigor asks.

“You can see me whenever,” you smile, “until then...” you take his hand and lead him down a small hallway where you stand facing one another beside a large cabinet so no one would be able to tell anyone’s there if they were to look down the corridor, then you drop to your knees.

“(Y/N), you don’t have t- oh my, oh my goodness,” Grigor groans as you hook his cock out of his pants and place it between your lips.

“What were you saying?” you ask with a smirk as you pull away.

“Nothing,” he breathes, “nothing at all. Please carry on.”

This was a purposely quick act, so you waste no time in getting into a fast rhythm as you move your head back and forth along his shaft, your tongue pressing against him before each hard suck, and the hand that sits around the base squeezes his girth intermittently while your other hand massages the sack that hangs behind.

“Oh fuck!” he cries out as his fingers lace their way through your hair, “fuck, fuck, fuck!”

You hum around his overly sensitive skin which sends shock waves through his unfortunately clothed body, and within a couple of minutes he’s spilling his seed over your tongue with a force like never before. You slide him out of your mouth, look up to see him staring down at you, then stick your tongue out to show him his handiwork before swallowing it, and he looks as though he’s about to come again as he tucks himself back inside his pants before helping you up like the gentleman he is.

“My god you do things to me no other has done before,” he sighs deeply, gripping onto your upper arms and resting his forehead against yours, “I have something for you tonight… something exciting.”

“Oh Grigor, I’m so looking forward to it,” you whisper delightedly.

The two of you make your way back to the main hallway before parting and walking back into the gathering through separate doors, and soon after you have to watch as Georgina takes his arm and escorts him back to their apartment. Your heart sinks at the sight now, you’d grown far too close to him through your sexual explorations with one another, and thinking of those two together causes your stomach to churn with jealousy. You decide to retire back to your own apartment early and lay in bed with a deep yearning to have Grigor all to yourself until you’re finally able to pull yourself together and change into your night gown, then sit on your windowsill looking out at the darkened sky.

“(Y/N),” Grigor whispers through your door eventually.

“Come in,” you call.

He looks over at the bed once he’s closed the door behind him then his eyes travel across the small room to see you sitting with your head pressed against the window and a wistful look upon your face.

“Is something troubling you?” he asks as he walks over to you.

“No,” you lie with a smile, “nothing at all.”

“May I take you to bed then?”

He extends his arm out and you take his hand gladly then he walks you towards the bed and sits you down on the edge.

“I’ve never actually done this before...” Grigor warns before he dives underneath your night gown and spreads your thighs, much to your confusion.

“Gri-GOR!” you gasp, ending his name with a shout as his warm, wet tongue licks its way up your slit.

You’d never felt anything like it in your life, it was better than sex by far, and the sensations that caused you to shiver were overwhelmingly arousing. His tongue continues to lap at you until he hits on that one sweet spot you’d discovered not long ago, and you writhe around on the bed as moan after moan escapes your mouth. You soon fail to keep yourself sitting up and collapse back onto the bed as your hands reach out to grab fistfuls of bedding either side of your body, and Grigor’s hands wander up to your stomach to keep you locked in place while he then begins to suck on the small nub.

“Oh my god!” you pant, “Grigor! Oh my-”

A moan joins in with the breath every time you exhale and you’re sure everyone can hear you by the time your thighs begin to shake either side of his head, then with one long pleasurable groan you release onto his lips and he dips his tongue inside you before reappearing from beneath your clothing with a glistening mouth and chin, and a very satisfied grin on his face.

“Come here,” you breathe heavily, and he crawls up next to you so you can wrap your arms around his shoulders and kiss him deeply.

“I’ve never heard a woman make such noises,” he smiles, nudging his nose against yours, “especially not with my name falling from her pretty lips.”

“Oh, Grigor, I could not contain myself! I am completely spent after such an intense pleasure. It’s like nothing I’ve ever felt before.”

“It is only for you,” he whispers, “my tongue and my lips are yours and yours alone.”

“You know that isn’t true,” you sigh, “they’re Georgina’s.”

“Not like that they aren’t. I would never… not with her.”

You smile at him for saying such sweet things, but don’t allow yourself to believe him completely as you were far too in love with the man already, and as he gently strokes your cheek then presses a kiss to your forehead you let yourself briefly think how lovely it would be to wake up to him.

“I must go,” he sighs sadly, “but I fear I cannot hide how I feel for much longer.”

“What do you mean?” you frown, your fingers dancing slowly along his strong arm.

“I mean that I have been quite courteous towards George while I’ve been seeing you, even though she has not been with me, but I’m afraid that you have captured my heart and I simply cannot pretend for much longer.”

“Grigor,” you gulp lightly.

“Until tomorrow,” he smiles, kissing your lips and leaving a taste of yourself on them.

He wipes his mouth with his sleeve after getting up off the bed then exits the room in silence, only looking back for a moment with a tender smile gracing his lips, and once the door is closed you have to fan yourself with your hands at the words he’d just spoken. You fall asleep exactly where you are and when you wake you’re reminded of the conversation when you feel a tingle at the thought of his head underneath your night gown.

Your day is so dull compared to your nights with Grigor, and as you stand throwing balls onto the lawn outside along with the other ladies you can’t help but let your mind wander to what tonight might have in store for you. The men approach the tent with shotguns in hand from their shooting expedition and Grigor is quick to look over at you with a flushed hue to his otherwise pale cheeks. Georgina has her eyes on Peter and Grigor brushes his hand past yours as he walks by towards her. Peter talks about some art and science that it to be shown at the palace, but the words don’t sink in as you find yourself staring at Grigor’s back, and you’re quick to follow after the men depart.

“You are… so beautiful,” General Velementov slurs as you go to walk past him.

“I’m not Catherine,” you laugh, knowing his feelings for the Empress.

“I know! I know that! But you… a lady on her own… wouldn’t you like some company? You are so beautiful… it’s such a waste if no one were to fuck you,” he babbles through burps.

“There’s a compliment in there somewhere, I’m sure! Well, ladies can always fuck themselves, so it doesn’t really matter does it?”

“You should only ever… have someone fucking you. You’re too pretty to fuck yourself.”

“Thank you General, I will forever remember your kind words,” you chuckle as you continue to pass him by.

“I’ll do it!” he calls after you, “beautiful eyes, beautiful pussy!”

You laugh out loud as you continue down the hallway then as you turn a corner you see Grigor standing there with a grin on his face at overhearing your conversation.

“I had my face in it yesterday and I can definitely say he’s not wrong,” he states.

“Stop!” you giggle, slapping his arm playfully.

“Are you going back to your apartment? May I escort you?”

“Yes to both,” you nod, linking your arm through his.

“What if I were to stay tonight?” he asks as you walk into the bedroom.

“What about Georgina?”

“She would find company in Peter, I’m sure.”

“Do you want to then?”

“I do,” he nods, “very much.”

“Then I would gladly have you to stay,” you smile.

“The problem is though...” he begins as he cuddles you close and presses his lips to your earlobe, “I may never want to leave...”

Could you PLEASE do being grigor's lover?

[stones-x-bones]

Champlain Falling For You || Mina and Bex

TIMING: Current PARTIES: @drowningisinevitable and @inbextween SUMMARY: Mina takes Bex to the Champlain Falls and they have a nice trip. CONTENT: Domestic Abuse mentions, Soft Repressed Gays

While Champlain Falls was infamous for being a big “make out” or date spot, Bex was aware that there were many other things to do there, as well. It was a sight-seeing spot, after all. It didn't have to be about that. Plus, it was mostly high school kids that came up here for that, because it was here or Hanging Rock and people went missing here much less frequently. Not that they didn’t go missing here, but they usually turned up somewhere else, and there wasn’t really any spot in White Crest where people didn’t go missing. But that wasn’t really the reason Bex was nervous today, as she sat in Mina’s car on the short drive up to the falls. Technically you couldn’t drive all the way up to them, you had to drive to the park entrance and hike from there, but the path was flat enough that she didn’t have to worry too much about not owning a pair of hiking boots. Or the fact that she didn’t have a pair of jeans. She put on some pants that were close enough, and her favorite sweater, since it did still get cooler at nights. And also because it could help cover up the bite on her neck-- she didn’t need Mina worrying about that. Now all she had to do was concentrate hard enough to keep thoughts of wolves and beef jerky out of her head, and everything would be just fine! 

When they pulled up, Bex glanced over at Mina. “You know, I’ve lived here almost all my life and I’ve never been up here. I”m kinda excited to see if it lives up to the hype.” She hopped out of the car and came around to meet Mina, smiling through a random thought that popped into her head that very much wasn’t her own. “Shall we?” Held out her hand.

It was always nice to get out and into nature, Mina always thought. She liked being out in the woods, especially if it meant that she got to be around water, even if she was always a little uncomfortable about that fact. It was just a part of who she was, and it did more harm than good to ignore it. She’d ventured out to Champlain Falls a few times, in her first months in White Crest, only to leave as quickly as she’d arrived. She could usually sense a lot of Fae around. She hoped that wasn’t the case, though, especially since they were going later in the evening, just before sunset. She should be allowed to be excited about this without worrying about something interrupting her and Bex hanging out. She’d had Morgan help her with a picnic, there was supposed to be a nice view of the stars, the weather was nice. She just wanted to enjoy this. 

After parking, Mina got out and went to grab her backpack from the back seat, her boots crunching a bit on old leaves. She took a breath of fresh air, feeling calm and relaxed even with the iron knife sheathed on the side of her thigh, tucked into her boot with her jeans. Slinging the backpack over her shoulders, she brushed down the front of one of her dad’s old flannels, making sure the buttons were done up properly, and gave Bex a smile. “I’ve almost hiked out here a few times, but it was always a bit crowded for my taste.” She took Bex’s hand. “I’m excited, too, though. If nothing else, it’s a nice day for a walk.”

As Mina grabbed her bag and adjusted her shirt, Bex took a moment to take her in. She looked good in a flannel, even if it was a little wrinkled and one side of the collar was flipped up. Bex didn’t own many flannels, and the ones she did own were hidden in the back of her closet. Today she had on some leggings, a turtleneck sweater, and her short pants denim overalls. She hadn’t had a pair of boots, so she’d borrowed a pair of Deirdre’s and they looked clunky on her feet. Not that she minded too much. She squeezed Mina’s hand back, but before they headed out, she reached over and flattened her collar down. “You look nice in this shirt,” she smiled, “I don’t think I’ve seen you wear a flannel before. You should do it more often.” She didn’t know the way up there, and let Mina take the lead as they headed down the path. She could already hear the falls already, as they echoed through the tall trees around them. The air smelled fresh out here, too, and Bex made a mental note to herself that she really needed to get out more. Maybe now that she had someone to go places with it would be easier. Being alone in the forest seemed frightening to her. “You know, I heard people go swimming up here a lot, too. I’d probably only do that if there was like, no one else around, though. I wonder if we’ll see anyone jumping off the cliffs.”

“Has my collar been like that this entire time?” Mina muttered, trying not to appear mortified. “I thought it was fine when we left. Still, I, ah, I appreciate that. I mean, I wear it sometimes. You just usually see me when I’m at school or dressed down in sweats.” She did make a note to maybe start wearing a few more of her flannels, though. There was no telling how many she owned, at this point. She couldn’t help but grin as she looked at Bex, tugging at one of the straps of her overalls to make sure it was firmly in place on the younger girl’s shoulder. “I like your outfit, too. It’s cute.” She started them down the trail, picking out the sounds of water. It was almost a bit like a call, like her body trying to push her in a direction to find a new home. Morgan and Deirdre’s pool was nice. It was fine. It healed her, and it was a place to lay her head and breathe. But it wasn’t a home. Her body wanted nature, not just water but rock and dirt and life. She had to remind herself that wants were not necessities and that she was doing fine, really. “I’ve heard that, too. I’ve thought about coming here for that, cliff diving.” Not around Bex, though. Not when there was the possibility she wouldn’t be able to control herself, even though she was doing better about not going scaly when they stuck their feet in the pool. “It’s a bit cold for swimming, though, for now at least.”

“Not the whole time, probably just when you put your bag on,” Bex grinned. “Fair. Just saying, you could stand to wear it more.” She leaned into Mina as she tugged on her shoulder strap and bumped her shoulder gently. “Why, how sweet of you. I appreciate the compliment,” she said with a wink, stretching out the word appreciate with a hand gesture to go along with it. People always said the appeal of nature was the quietness that came with it, but Bex had never found nature to be that quiet. Maybe it was because there wasn’t enough stuff going on around for her to concentrate on, so, instead, she heard a million and one thoughts inside her own head, instead. “Wait, you wanna try cliff diving? Doesn’t that, like, scare you? I’d be way too afraid to hit a rock, or land wrong on the water and smack something. I don’t know if I could watch you do that.” She winced a little, but looked back over at Mina with a grin. “Oh, yeah, definitely too cold. I get cold really easily anyway. And,” she finished, waggling a finger, “we came here for other things. As long as we make it by sunset, I think we should be okay. I brought my camera, too. For pictures of the waterfall. Don’t worry, I won’t take any of you.” She grinned. “Probably.”

“Well, okay, that makes it a little better.” Mina rolled her eyes. “I try to look semi-professional when I’m teaching a class, you know. But I’ll consider wearing flannels more, if you think they look nice.” She scrunched up her nose a bit as she attempted to hide a smile. “Laying that one on a bit thick, aren’t you?” She pulled her backpack straps up a bit tighter with one hand, the other still holding Bex’s. She felt nice. Happy, even. She wanted this to be something good for both of them, getting out of the house and off campus. “Bex, I’ve been cliff diving before. Quite a lot, actually. Usually if my dad and I would travel to places where there were any sort of waterfalls or steep cliffs, I would jump off. It’s not so scary after the first few times.” It even became something exhilarating, a willingness to let go of control, if only for a moment, and to just exist in the air as she plummeted before she hit the water. There was relief there. “You do get cold pretty easy. Don’t worry. We’re going to make it before sunset.” She looked at Bex, her eyes narrowed a bit. “Probably?” She stuck out her tongue.

“Somehow, I don’t think your students will think any less of you if you wear a flannel to teach,” Bex teased, “because I do think they look nice. Glad to know my opinion means more than your need to impress people like two years younger than you.” She just gave a chagrined smile but didn’t answer the tease. Spending time with Mina felt nice, no matter where they were, but she had to admit, being somewhere that wasn’t Morgan’s felt really nice. She leaned against Mina a little as they walked. “Okay, well, how I was supposed to know, little miss daredevil? Cliff diving is, objectively, frightening. And dangerous. And those are not things you’re allowed to argue with. Knowing my luck, I’d slip right as I went to--” Bex stopped mid sentence as a string of thoughts ricocheted in her head and she frowned. Shut up, Kyle! “Um...what was I saying? Sorry. Jump! Right as I went to jump. Have I mentioned I’m extremely clumsy?” Bex took a moment to glance away, taking in their surroundings. They must’ve been close by now, the water was getting louder and it almost sounded like wind rustling leaves. “Yes, probably. I know you said you hate pictures, but I wanna make memories. Things I can look at again.” Things that could make her happy when it felt like she never could be. “How cold do you think the water is right now?”

“They probably won’t, especially since they’ve watched me stumble in wearing sweatpants and a rather wrinkled shirt from a bar in Berlin after accidentally falling asleep at my desk again a few weeks ago, but still.” Mina didn’t mention that it was one of the nights she’d been scared to go back, afraid that someone was going to tell her that Bex’s sleeping condition had gotten worse. “I do try to maintain some level of professionalism. Flannel shirts scream ‘peer,’ not ‘girl that I should listen to because she’s the one that grades my quizzes.’ But your opinion does mean a great deal to me.” She snorted. “Doesn’t everything about me just scream that I’m a daredevil in all things?” She wasn’t. Mina was a coward. She kept trying to explain that, but it didn’t seem to click. She shot Bex a worried look. Sure, the younger girl tended to ramble (even if Mina would never call it that; besides, she did it, too), but she never spaced out in the middle of a sentence. Mina squeezed her hand to bring her back to the present. “I wouldn’t let you fall, you know. If you ever wanted to do it.” She could smell the water in addition to hearing it, clear and clean and nice. And, thankfully, she couldn’t sense other Fae. This could end up being a nice day, afterall. “Taking pictures of the falls would be memories enough?” she asked hopefully. “I might not even show up on camera, any. You don’t know.” She grinned cheekily, though. “Oh, it’s far too cold for you. I mean, I would be fine, but it’s pretty cold.”

“Oh, wow,” Bex couldn’t help the laugh that came out. “I’m sorry, I’m sorry, but picturing you in that, sleep-deprived and standing in front of a bunch of also sleep-deprived kids, is probably one of the funniest things I’ve seen this week. Or, heard. But yes, I’m sure that was very professional of you. What, you don’t wanna be the cool teacher? The one all kids are buds with?” She liked this, this banter between them. She didn’t often feel relaxed or good enough around other people to be this way, but it almost came naturally with Mina. She was just...nice to be around. She chuckled again. “Good to know where I stand, then.” She put her hand up, level with her face. “Your students--” raised her hand above both their heads, “me.” Her boots scraped along the forest floor and she stumbled a little, squeezing Mina’s hand back. “Dammit, see? This is what I get for trying to make jokes. And you are, at least, to me. There’s many things you say you do that would make my heart stop, probably. Cliff diving included. I’d probably only jump if you jumped with me.” Bex rolled her eyes a little. “Oh, ha ha. I know you’re not a vampire-- I know what vampires are like. I’ve seen you in the sunlight.” She poked her in the arm. “What, are you an ice swimmer, too, now? If I would freeze to death, you would, too.” The trees began to part and Bex squinted through the waning light. “Oh! We’re close!” She tugged on Mina’s hand as she took off in a job, dragging the other girl with her. She kind of almost hoped there weren’t too many other people around, it would be nice to just enjoy some time alone with Mina.

“It’s not that funny,” Mina said, but she huffed out a laugh as well. “I was five minutes late and let the class out five minutes early. I couldn’t stop yawning. It was a bad morning. But I don’t really care about being a cool teacher. I think I’m a bit of a mess, really, but no one’s complained, and the students I tutor pass their classes. I’m not trying to be cool, just helpful.” Really, Mina was probably very much not cool. Anti-cool, even. She laughed. “Should you really be surprised that I rate you higher than a bunch of freshmen frat boys?” She steadied Bex subconsciously. “Careful. You know, I don’t think I have the, ah, street cred? That, I don’t think I have enough of that to be fully considered a daredevil. Most of this was all just stuff we all did. The other kids my age. Some of the adults, too, even. My dad preferred to just watch. We didn’t get a lot off days to just enjoy things. If we had a group together and there was a bit of down time, and we were in a nice spot, they took advantage. I didn’t play a lot of games, though.” She nodded, thinking about it. It would be dangerous for Bex, but, if she was there, then Mina could ensure that things went smoothly. “I’d jump with you. And you can’t possibly be certain I’m not a vampire. Maybe I’m a special vampire. Some of them can walk in the sun, you know.” Sometimes, Mina got dangerously close to revealing too much of herself, despite all of her fears that revealing herself would be exactly what she did. She played a dangerous game. Maybe she was a daredevil. “The temperature of the water isn’t the problem, it’s getting out.” She allowed Bex to drag her up, laughing a bit. “Be careful, please! I’d hate for you to actually fall.”

“It’s pretty funny,” Bex pointed out, “but only because I do know how much you usually care about being presentable. And, you know, you might be a mess, but at least you’re a cute mess. That’s a lot more than most of those kids can say. Especially the freshmen frat boys.” She let Mina steady her, let the smile on her face stay bright. Barring anything outrageous, Bex had a good feeling about today. There wasn’t much that could ruin this, even the annoying boy in her head. She thought another shut up, please, for just like, one night. A few hours, even. At him before focusing back on Mina. And stop asking who Mina is! “Street cred is overrated. You’re a daredevil to me, and that’s really all that should matter.” She tilted her head. “Did you run into a lot of other families like you and your dad? That’s, I mean, kinda nice, right? The only time I got to hang out with kids my age was during dinner parties or big meetings where all the parents only wanted to pay one babysitter. I actually met Frank at a dinner party, technically. There wasn’t a lot of time for games when I was a kid, either. Not for um, the same reasons as you, obviously. But I guess my parents thought other things were more important.” She glanced back at Mina. “Oh, no. I wasn’t actually serious. I am not brave enough for that, even if you’re with me.” With her arms around her, holding her. Bex felt her cheeks burn and looked away. “And I do know you’re not a vampire, because you haven’t tried to eat me yet.” She subconsciously scratched at the scabs on her neck. “Can they? Is that a real thing? I’m being careful, I’m always caref--” As if right on cue, the dirt beneath Bex’s foot shifted downhill and she yelped, grabbing for Mina. When she was standing up straight again, she cleared her throat. “Well, I’m usually careful. What was that thing about water temperature you were saying?”

“You’re mocking my pain,” Mina said dramatically, maybe playing up the situation a little. She didn’t get a lot of chances to do things like this, be lighthearted, and she always felt uncomfortable when she tried, but doing this with Bex was easy. Too easy, really, concerningly easy if she thought about it for too long. “Well, in that case, I suppose being a cute mess isn’t that bad.” And if her cheeks were turning a bit red at that, then it was probably because of the weather. “Oh, so your opinion is of the highest order, then? I’ll keep that in mind.” She tried to keep the smile on her face, though it was a bit harder than she would have liked as she shrugged nonchalantly. “We sometimes... the right term is hunted, really, with other families. There’s safety in numbers. But I didn’t fit in too well, so I was kind of odd woman out a lot of the time.” When she was really young, there was a lot of distrust around Mina, especially after she’d almost drowned someone. As she’d gotten older and better trained, she was just disliked on principle, most of the time. It was fine. She was used to it. “Did you like going to dinner parties?” She didn’t want to talk about her childhood anymore. “I think you’re very brave when you put your mind to it.” Mina let her expression turn serious, one eyebrow raised. “How do you know I’m not toying with you? The long game is always more fun. But, yes, some vampires can, though they’re more prone to bloodlust and-- that wasn’t particularly careful!” Briefly, Mina worried if this was a good idea. “I mean, water temperature isn’t that bad for me. Just, getting out when it’s cold. That’s rough.”

“So what if I am?” Bex chided. Somehow, she knew Mina didn’t mind. “My opinion is the most important, actually. You would do well to remember that, you know.” Bex was rarely, if ever, this confident. But Mina just made her feel overwhelmingly so. She could tell, though, that the subject of childhood was wearing on Mina. It was heavy on her, too. “I’d rather be the odd one out than the same carbon copy as everyone else, if I’m being honest.” She shrugged, almost a mirror to Mina’s previous motion. “Not really. They were so boring. All we ever did was sit around and be pretty and act good. As kids, we weren’t supposed to engage in the conversations. I kinda felt like...a decoration.” She scuffed her shoe along the ground and kicked a rock, watching it roll down the hill. Glanced over at Mina, quirking a brow. “Me? Brave? Just cause I didn’t run away from a giant chicken one time does not make me brave. I am ecstatically a coward and relatively okay with it, if it keeps me from being eaten.” It was mostly a truth. She was a coward who could not stand up to her parents, who could not ever reach for what she wanted versus what other people wanted from her, and she most certainly wasn’t someone who ran towards danger to protect other people. Those times had just been flukes. And pure curiosity. “Because you said you’d never lie to me,” Bex answered Mina simply, stopping at the bottom of the hill. The falls were just around the corner, according to the sign. She wanted to take her time in seeing them, to share the experience with Mina. “And so I trust you enough to have told me, if you were.” It was a simple fact. Bex trusted Mina would tell her if she was something like that, something different. She smiled and pointed at the sign. “Anyway, enough of all that. We’re close! Are you ready?”

“Someone could say that it’s cruel, what you’re doing, you know,” Mina said, hand over her heart, but she was laughing. “Oh, of course, your opinion is incredibly important to me. I’ll never forget that.” Wistfully, she added, “I’d really have preferred to fit in, honestly.” She’d really have liked to just be human and treated human, if only for a moment, by the people that she’d grown up with and admired for so long. And feared. And loved. And wished she didn’t. “Well, you’re far more than a decoration. That was silly, of them to treat you like one. And, yes, you. Brave. There’s more to bravery than standing stubbornly in front of a charging creature.” Which was really the only kind of bravery that Mina was capable of, at this point. “There are other types of bravery. And you seem to have no trouble in poking fun at me. That’s an awfully brave thing to do against someone that you’re really not sure isn’t a vampire.” She was smiling, but it turned serious pretty quick. “No, I won’t lie to you.” There was a knot forming in her stomach at Bex’s words, though. She should tell Bex. She should. But the fear that Bex would look at her in fear and disgust and run away from her was too much for even contemplate it. Instead, she squeezed Bex’s hand and looked at the sign. “Absolutely ready. Are you?”

“Some, yes. But you wouldn’t,” Bex pointed out, calling Mina’s bluff. The laugh helped a lot. “Yeah, me too. People just say that to make you feel better. Doesn’t really work, though, does it?” She squeezed Mina’s hand reassuringly, trying to keep her smile from fading to that sad, plastic version of itself. What is a child, but a decoration for their parents? She’d heard her mother say that once before. “I know,” she answered, “I’m a person.” Even if she didn’t feel like one at times. “Well, if you are a vampire, then fine, I’ll accept that I’m brave, laughing in the face of danger. Ha, ha, ha!” she mocked, giving her best Simba from the Lion King impression. It was pretty bad, but she didn’t much care. Mina made her not care about things like that. But enough of those conversations, Bex was ready to find the falls and see if they were as wonderful as people made them out to be. The sun was still peaking just through the trees and it was nearly the perfect angle. “Absolutely,” she agreed, tugging Mina’s hand as she raced around the corner. The roar of the water was so loud at first, Bex wondered if they were somehow in the wrong place. But as they came around the trees, and the falls came into view, she knew absolutely that they were. It almost didn’t look real. It looked magical. Bex swallowed the word down. The water was sparkling with the trickling sunlight, and there was a cloud of mist at the bottom of the falls that almost looked as if it were changing colors. Red to orange to blue and back. The entire grove was surrounded by trees, and shiny rocks, wet from the falls. Suddenly, she understood why people came here to make out. It was kind of a really romantic atmosphere. Her face flushed at the thought as she remembered her hand in Mina’s, glancing at the other girl for a moment, wondering if the sunlight was reflecting as sweetly off her hair as it did the water. “Wow,” she muttered, “to think something like this was hidden in White Crest.”

“Wouldn’t I?” Mina said, sticking her tongue out. She wasn’t even particularly bothered that Bex was calling her out. With anyone else, she’d be a bit worried that someone was picking up on her phrasings, the way she didn’t specify things or responded to questions with more questions. She didn’t mind, though, that Bex seemed to figure her out. “You are a person. A nice and good and kind person that I happen to enjoy spending time with, so, yes. You’re a person.” She poked Bex lightly in the ribs.”It’s rude to laugh at vampires, you know. And, honestly, do I have to be a vampire to be dangerous? I think I’m pretty dangerous.” That came with the territory, with having claws and fangs and an inhuman disposition. Not that she would say that. And, instead of lingering on that thought, she allowed Bex to drag her down the hill, the sound and smell of water filling her head. She was in awe when they finally rounded on the falls. Dark Score Lake was pretty, when it wasn’t a glass filled hole. There was always something dangerous about it, though, something that anyone could feel. Champlain Falls was deceptive, though. Pretty and calm despite the roar of the water. She could see why other Fae were attracted to this place, the way the light shimmered and shifted. She wanted to jump in and just stay there. She heard Bex speak, and she turned to look. Then, she was perfectly fine with where she was. “This is incredible,” she said, looking at Bex. “Remind me to thank Nell for mentioning this place to me.”

Bex had to look away from Mina, because for some reason, she almost felt compelled to close the distance between them and that just wasn’t something she could-- or should-- do. She cleared her throat. “Wait-- Nell told you about this place? Huh.” She wondered why Nell would’ve told Mina to take her here, but she wasn’t going to question it too much. Nell was always telling her to take time off and relax. This must’ve been what she meant. She tugged Mina’s hand. “I wanna go see how cold the water is before we find a place to sit,” she said, eager to look down into the spring and see how far down it really went. To see how crystal clear the water would be. As they headed towards the shore, she looked back at Mina, to their intertwined hands, then back up at her face. “You might be dangerous, but I’m not afraid of you. Even if you are a vampire,” she stated simply, turning to face forward again. “I know you’d never hurt me.” It was, in fact, Bex who would probably end up hurting Mina. Either with magic, or because, eventually, she’d have to return to her normal life. And Mina wasn’t a part of that life, was she? Her hand subconsciously squeezed Mina’s. Maybe she could find a way to hold onto her, maybe she could find a way to hold on to what she’d built outside of that life. She finally let go of Mina’s hand once she reached the edge of the lake and bent down, sticking her hand out to graze the surface. Here, away from the falls, it was smooth and still as glass, rippling out when her fingers broke the illusion. It felt near freezing, but she kept her fingers in, leaning down a little farther to get her entire hand wet. She could see it perfectly under the surface, and the rocks beneath it sitting at the bottom. “I think it might be too cold to stick our feet in,” she said, finally looking back at Mina with a smile, “we’ll have to stick with the pool for now.”

“Yeah, she-- she said it would be a nice place for a picnic,” Mina said. And a nice place to make out. Mina refrained from mentioning that or the tightness it caused in her chest, just like she refused to answer when Nell asked if she wanted to kiss Bex. She did. Want that. Very much so. She tried not to dwell on that fact too much. It wasn’t going to happen. She just didn’t see it happening. She followed Bex to the water and couldn’t help but want to dive in, never come up. The water was clear, and, when she brushed her fingers against the surface, cool, comfortable, to her, really, but all water tended to be comfortable when it wasn’t composed of salt. She swallowed tightly. She could just slip in and stay. Champlain Falls wasn’t a good, permanent place. It was too open, and too many people visited, but it was pretty, and she liked it, and she could acknowledge that she liked it. Again, she would have jumped in if Bex wasn’t there. Instead, she looked at Bex and flicked a bit of water at her. “Too cold for you.” But she took Bex’s hand and pulled her up, moving away from the water. She didn’t even think she wanted to stay, now that another option had presented itself. “I’m fine with that, actually. It’s nice enough to look at, and I packed dinner, so. Maybe another time.” Maybe she could come by herself one night and just stay, just for a bit.

Bex had grown accustomed to understanding the minute expressions people had and what that meant for their mood, their emotions-- with an eye for anger-- and when she looked at Mina it almost seemed as if she felt...a longing. For what, Bex couldn’t be sure, but it had something to do with the water, with the falls. With this place. She shook her head and frowned teasingly when Mina flicked water at her, though, and decided to stow that thought for later. She flicked water back at Mina before taking her hand and standing back up. She brushed her wet hand off on her overalls. “Another time, then,” Bex agreed, stepping in towards Mina as she moved away from the lake and back towards the trail. She paused to look around for what might be a good spot. “Hey, it looks like there’s a trail that goes to the top of the falls. Wanna check it out? We could set up dinner up there, watch the sunset from above?” It seemed like the best possible situation, really. No better spot. “C’mon, it’ll be perfect!” She said excitedly, tugging on both of Mina’s hands as she led them up to the trail that climbed back around the falls and to the top. It was maybe a little steeper than she’d prepared for, but it would be worth it, she decided, to make it up there with Mina. After all, the brochures said there was no spot more beautiful than the top of Champlain Falls in White Crest. She needed to see for herself.

“I’m following you. Carefully, please,” Mina said as she allowed Bex to drag her from the water, up the path, towards the trail. She seemed to do that a lot, let Bex lead her around. There it was again, that tightness, like the knowledge that she knew that she wanted to kiss Bex and knew that she couldn’t have it. So, she decided, she’d settle for this. Really, Mina would take what she could get. She’d never been close to anyone, and certainly not like this. “I think it’s going to be nice,” she added, making sure her footsteps were sure as the pathway got steeper, shifting the weight of her body so that her backpack didn’t attempt to topple her over. The view would be nice, she knew. It would be something enjoyable, and she was doing this with someone whose company she enjoyed, and it was just calming. She felt at peace. She didn’t think she was going to feel at peace anytime this week, not after Frank, not after things constantly seeming to get tense and uncomfortable around every turn. She didn’t know how to talk about things. That was the moral of the story. Mina Fitzroy had a bit of a communication problem. “It’s getting much steeper up here, Ms. Extremely Clumsy. Watch your step.”

“I’m being careful!” Bex said back to Mina, chancing a look. It was silly of her to risk it, but she felt like it was worth it. “And besides, if I fall, I’ve got you to catch me.” Smiled wide at her before she turned back around, intertwining their fingers for a better grip. There was that strange warmth growing inside of her again, pulsing in her veins. She wasn’t all too familiar with it, but it felt a little bit like a feeling she knew despite never, well, knowing. It was how she was supposed to feel towards Frank, how he wanted her to feel, but she knew she couldn’t. She knew it wasn’t possible. She just didn’t want to admit to either of those statements. That she didn’t like Frank and that she did like Mina. Blinking, she shook the thoughts away and slowed her pace so that she was standing beside Mina instead of walking ahead of her. She liked it better here. She could admit that much. That Mina made her feel comfortable and safe. She didn’t feel that way often. Maybe that’s all it was. “I think I...need to go hiking more often,” she huffed out, realizing her breathing was a bit labored. “Can we take a little break? I just need a minute.”

“I will catch you, but let’s not tempt fate, okay?” Mina asked, already worried that she might once again have to save the younger girl from a near fall. But, really, their fingers were laced so tightly together that, if Bex fell, Mina was likely going down right after her. Then, she’d have to figure out a way to make sure Bex didn’t get hurt on the way down. It was fine. It would be fine. She notice a place to sit on the side of the trail and tugged Bex’s hand gently in that direction. “Yeah, we can take a break. I could use a second, too. It’s been awhile since I’ve done a trail this steep. I usually just go a little bit into the woods for a workout.” She moved over to a fallen log and stretched out the leg that had been mauled from the wolf attack, rubbing at her ankle a bit. The bones still hurt, sometimes. If she thought about it too much, the scars felt raw, too. But that was only when she thought about it. She was healed. It was slow, some things were still wrong, but she was healed. It was better than being dead. “You’re welcome to join me when I start back running. I’ll probably do a few laps around Morgan and Deirdre’s neighborhood when I’m there. I used to run a lap around Dark Score every morning before school.”

“Why not? Are you worried?” Bex asked, raising a brow. But she kind of knew she was, weren't they both always? She followed Mina over to the log gratefully and sat down beside her, watching her stretch her leg out. She remembered Mina mentioning she’d been attacked by an animal that had messed up her leg, but Bex suddenly wondered if it wasn’t an animal at all, but, rather, an “animal”. She didn’t feel like bringing that up right now, though. It might ruin the calm happy that had seemed to settle over them. “Depends on what time you go. I have to be in class by 8am, but I usually go to the office for a few hours before class starts. Or, well…” she paused, “I used to.” The sun was beginning to set beyond the hills, but it didn’t really matter. They’d get up there in time. She gently prodded her hand away from Mina’s and dug her camera out of her pocket, turning it on. Aimed down the capture and took a picture of the falls in the distance. She then turned to Mina. “Say cheese?” she asked, giving her her best puppy eyes in hopes the other girl would agree to at least one photo.

“Only a bit,” Mina said, but she had a small smile on her face. She rolled her shoulder blades, adjusting the bag again so that it was comfortable. “I used to go around six. I like early mornings; they’re calmer, usually, and it’s nice to watch as things wake up, teem with life. It was always a good start to the day.” She noticed Bex’s hesitation, and a part of her didn’t want Bex to go back to the office, to her house, to her family. Mina… didn’t know what happened, not really. She was always a bit too scared to ask. What would she do? What could she do? “I can’t believe you got 8 am classes. I thought most undergraduates tried to find ways around those.” She looked a little lost, staring at the camera hesitantly. “Okay,” she said, quietly, before she sat up a bit straighter, her hands folding themselves in her lap. She looked at Bex, then at the camera lens, giving it an unsure smile.

“Liar,” Bex teased. She tilted her head in contemplation as she tapped the top of her camera. “Six isn’t a bad time. I could probably make that work. Most days. Plus,” she looked down at her camera to adjust the settings back to portrait mode instead of landscape, taking her time, “it’d be nice to spend that time with you.” Not that they didn’t spend a lot of time together already. But like now, running around the neighborhood would give them time away from Morgan and Deirdre’s. She lifted the camera again, looking through the aperture, before deciding on a different angle. She turned it around so that the lens faced her and scooted next to Mina. “Selfie,” she grinned, ready to push the button. But right before she pushed it, she turned her head and pressed a kiss to Mina’s cheek. Click. And then she was standing up again, swinging her camera by the string. “Ready to keep going?”

Snorting, Mina said, “Hardly.” She kept shifting, adjusting her hands, crossing and uncrossing her legs. She didn’t like just sitting like this. At one point, after she realized that the camera wasn’t going off, she glared at it for a bit. “I mean, I’m going to have to work myself back up to doing most days, so that’s fine.” She looked away from the camera to Bex, smiling genuinely. “I think that’d be nice, too.” She wouldn’t have asked, otherwise. She’d grown used to doing things like this in a solitary way for over a year, but she wouldn’t mind doing it with Bex. Actually, there was a lot of things that she wouldn’t mind doing with Bex. Maybe that was the scariest part of all of this. She hadn’t expected Bex to turn the camera around, and she hadn’t expected Bex to move closer, and she hadn’t expected Bex to kiss her cheek. Her eyes widened, and she stopped thinking for a moment as she attempted to process what just happened. She couldn’t imagine how embarrassing she must have looked in that picture. How mortifying. “I--” She looked up at Bex, blinking for a second, before she stood. “Right. Ready.”

This time as they walked, Bex would pause every few moments to take a photo. There wasn’t much left to say at this point, but she also didn’t mind the silence. She’d read once that being able to sit in silence with a person was the true sign of comfort. She glanced back at Mina as they approached the top, and the trail began to even out. Finally, she turned to face her fully, putting her arms out in a T-pose. “See? I made it all the way up the trail without falling once! Carefully,” she pointed out, grinning widely. They were just in time, too. The sun was at the perfect angle sitting atop the tree tips, the water was rushing below them, and it was even more peaceful and quiet up here than it had been down at the base. She waited at the top of the hill for Mina to catch up, before holding up her camera. “Go stand by the river,” she instructed with a wave. Her lips were still tingling from when they’d been pressed to Mina’s cheeks, but she chalked it up to the chill setting in.

Mina spent the rest of the walk taking a few deep breaths, holding them, letting them out. She usually did this in the water after a long day, when she needed time to collect her thoughts and figure out her mind, and that was kind of what she was doing, now. Every now and then the clicks of the camera would draw her back to the present, force her to make sure that Bex wasn’t at risk of falling, but she seemed to be holding her own. She grinned as they made it to the top, watching Bex spread her arms wide. “I’m impressed, truly.” She stopped for a bit and just looked. This reminded her of a river in the Black Forest that she’d briefly stayed in, the sound of rushing water, the way that everything seemed peaceful in spite of the noise. She breathed deeply, held it, let it out, her lungs grateful for the wetness of the air filling them. Finally, she walked over to Bex before she was motioned toward the river. “Really?” she asked, but she wasn’t actually complaining. She stuffed her hands into her back pockets and turned to face Bex, an eyebrow raised. “You know, you’re missing the actual sunset pointing that at me.”

“I’m actually kind of impressive,” Bex beamed, holding her camera up to her chest, before backing up a bit and glancing through the focus again. “Really.” She waved Mina so that she was standing in better lighting, glancing back at her. “Sunsets happen every day,” she said dismissively as she clicked the camera a few times. “This--” she put the camera down, gestured between the two of them, then the surroundings, “--this doesn’t.” Finally, she clicked her camera to rest mode and came back over to Mina. “I wanna look over the edge,” she declared, “will you hold me to make sure I don’t fall?” She knew enough of what she was doing, of the things she was asking. She knew what it meant that she’d kissed Mina’s cheek, and she knew well enough what the warm feeling in her stomach was. But she wasn’t ready, yet, to declare those things real. To say they were true. Maybe she just wanted to have a nice time with a friend. A close friend. She held her hand out to Mina. “Please?”

“You are, totally. One hundred percent.” Mina moved like she was told to, only feeling a bit awkward. Or, at least, only a bit more awkward than usual. Still a lot of awkward, but not as much as she was expecting. “Yeah, okay, but you see me just about every day. And this is a special sunset.” But she’d take however many pictures Bex wanted with only minor complaining, at this point. Really, she would, even though it made her horribly uncomfortable and self-conscious. “Yeah, I can do that. Just let me put my bag down away from the edge. Don’t want us to fall and end up losing it. Here, give me your camera unless you want to take pictures.” She moved their stuff over a few feet away to a spot that would be nice to set up when they got done, and walked over to Bex, immediately taking her hand when it was offered. Her eyes innocent, she asked, “Just to make sure, we’re not jumping this time, right? I mean, I would assume not because we’re both a little ill-prepared, clothing wise, but I thought I’d check just in case.”

“Wow, you agreed to that very quickly,” Bex chuckled, watching Mina move about as she set their stuff aside. Bex just smiled at her. “I’d take you over a sunset any day,” was all she said. Held out the camera when Mina offered to put it with the other stuff. She would have considered taking a photo had the idea not totally freaked her out. It was going to be woozy enough just looking, but she wanted to be brave today. She wanted to show Mina that she could be brave. Once Mina took her hand, Bex intertwined their fingers again, holding tightly. It felt as if her hand simply fit there. She met Mina’s gaze. “Oh, god, no. Definitely not jumping today. I already told you I’m way too afraid to do that. I think just looking over the edge is enough. I mostly just wanna be able to say I stood at the top of a waterfall. Bragging rights, really,” she teased, walking slowly over towards the ledge, making sure to keep an even footing the entire time, despite the amount of rocks that were in the way. Finally, she reached the ledge and paused, subconsciously squeezing Mina’s hand tighter as she leaned over. She could see the pool at the bottom from here, but she wanted to see more. She leaned out a little farther and the bottom came into view. Rainbow lights seemed to dance at the bottom of the falls, where they met the lake. Splashing up, flickering in and out. She even swore she saw what looked like a sky beneath it, rippling in the waves underneath. She tilted her head, entranced. Leaned a little farther. She almost wanted to touch it. It was compelling. Maybe there was another world on the other side of it. A place that was less cruel than this one. She hadn’t even realized her foot was nearly over the edge, she didn’t need to worry. Mina would catch her. Mina would pull her back if she was going to fall. She was her safety net.

Instead of answering, Mina stuck her tongue out at Bex. So what if she’d answered fast? There was that tightness again. She was beginning to worry that it might be a permanent thing. She was beginning to worry that this was something that she would want and want and want, and she couldn’t want it because what was she going to do if it was taken from her? She took Bex’s hand and walked over to the edge, and there was something that was comforting about Bex’s hand in hers, and, okay, maybe that was worrying, too. There was no voicing that, though. Instead, she grinned and said, “Bragging rights, of course. Not everyone can say they’ve stood on top of a waterfall.” She bumped her shoulder with Bex’s. “But not everyone can say they’ve jumped from a waterfall, either. Just something to think about.” When they made it to the edge, Mina planted herself firmly. In all honesty, she didn’t particularly like heights. She liked the rush that came from jumping from great heights, but the height itself was dizzying. Still, she looked over the edge a bit, taking in everything. There’s a moment where she just wanted to freeze there, and there’s a moment where she just wanted to let go and fall in, and she thought about it hard, about diving into water so clear she could see the sky. The sky? That was strange. Mina felt Bex tug forward, and she looked down at the younger girl’s foot barely on the edge. “Bex!” She jerked them back from the edge, stumbling and tripping and ending up on her back, the wind knocked out of her and Bex on top of her. Dazedly, she said, “You looked like you were about to fall.”

Mina calling her name made Bex snap from her trance. She turned to look at Mina, but she was already being jerked forward. It felt like it happened in slow motion, really. Mina stumbled, eyes wide, and Bex watched her foot catch on a rock. Her eyes then went to their intertwined hands as she was also pulled down, landing on top of Mina with a soft oof as she did. She had just enough time to put her one hand out and brace herself against the muddy ground so her head didn’t snap forward and smack into Mina’s. Instead, her face was mere inches from Mina’s and her eyes were staring wide and her breath felt like it was stuck in her chest. Ironic, she thought as she looked down at Mina, that after all her slips, Mina was the one to trip. She should get up, really. It looked a little like it might have hurt, or at least winded the poor girl underneath her. But her body was frozen, it would not listen to her when she tried to tell it to move. “Uh huh,” was all she said she stared down at Mina. Why couldn’t she move? There was another impulse in her head, overwriting everything else, all logic. An impulse Bex hadn’t felt in quite a long time. Not since she’d come back to White Crest. She was so entranced with Mina she hardly noticed that the collar of her sweater had shifted down and the scabs she’d been trying to hide were slightly exposed. Or the voice in her head that was shouting JUST KISS HER. She wasn’t even sure if it was her own or Kyle’s. She didn’t really care.

If Mina was asked if she’d like to kiss Bex, in that moment, she would be compelled to tell the truth. Yes, actually, she’d like that very much, please. And she had to force herself to look anywhere but at Bex’s lips. She focused on her eyes, her nose, the strands of hair in her face, her neck. Her neck. There were… Mina sat them up, her hands going to Bex’s collar and shifting it a bit to look at the scabs that were distinctly bite marks, and any thoughts of kissing were completely out of Mina’s mind as dread pooled in her stomach. “What happened? Where did you get those? What did that?” They looked like fangs, so it was unlikely to be a zombie bite, but there were so many creatures that bit and maimed and hurt and killed, and Mina felt absolutely sick to her stomach thinking about all of the possibilities that might have happened, and the look that she gave Bex was pure panic. 

For a moment, Bex was confused. What was what? What did what? Her mind was still trying to catch up to herself. Mina sat them up, tugged at her collar, and that’s when Bex remembered. She stiffened, swatted Mina’s hand away and backed up off her lap. “It’s nothing,” she said quickly, “it’s fine. It was just--” her mind still reeled a little when she thought about it. She was still trying to grasp the fact that vampires were real and that Dani had killed one right in front of her. She swallowed, putting her hand over the marks before readjusting her collar to cover them. The look she gave Mina was one of matching panic, but for a purely different reason. “I-I didn’t wanna worry you. Or Morgan, o-or anyone. Really, though, I’m fine! It happened so quickly, so i-it wasn’t anything bad. Plus there was someone there who helped me. L-like you. A hunter. She saved me.”

Mina pulled her hand back to her chest as if she’d been shocked before she moved away, sitting up properly. “Bex.” It didn’t look like nothing. “Nothing” was a blase term that one didn’t use to describe things as significant as bitemarks. But she swallowed and listened as Bex talked, the stress building up behind her eyes dulling a bit. Bex was fine. Bex was saved by a hunter. The chances of whatever biting Bex being something that was contagious diminished with her mentioning the hunter. Mina knew that it would be unlikely that a hunter would have let Bex walk away if it had been a werewolf bite or a zombie bite. She swallowed and buried that thought deep, deep down. “I’m still worried. I still worry. I’m sure Morgan would worry, too. I think that’s just a general thing at this point.” She started to reach out but thought against it, instead putting her hands in her lap. “I’m glad you’re safe, and that you were helped, and that it’s not--” she choked on the words, “--not anything bad. I just--” would like to know what happened so that I can possibly insure that it never happens again and warn you about things that do this type of thing and give you something to protect yourself and possibly never let you out of my sight again. Deep breath. In. Hold. Out. She was working herself into a state of panic that she could tell, if she didn’t calm down, the stress was going to get to her. “Will you please tell me what happened?”

“Well I don’t need people to worry about me all the time,” Bex snapped back immediately, then bit her tongue. “Sorry, I-- sorry. I just-- I’m not some, like, defenseless little girl.” Like everyone thought she was. “But everyone keeps treating me like I am and I’m not. I’m not.” She wasn’t. She hated the way people looked at her bruises, hated the way people made her feel like she could never understand this world even though she was very obviously a part of it. She settled back on the ground, shoulders slumped. “It was a vampire,” she mumbled finally, “I-- stayed late on campus, in the library, one night last week. She was-- waiting for me outside, I guess. She just jumped me. I was--” Lucky Dani had been there. Had she not been, would Bex be dead right now? Or a vampire, too? Her chest seized. “How was I supposed to know vampires existed if no one tells me anything?” She looked over at Mina, at the sun setting behind her. She scooted closer. “I just didn’t want anyone to worry more than they already do.”

Sometimes, Mina snapped, lashing out with her words. Not a lot, though. She didn’t like to. She was taught to have more control than that. And she could have snapped at Bex, could have told the younger girl that she was going to worry about her regardless, and, maybe, if she didn’t go about getting herself into dangerous situations, then she wouldn’t be treated like a child. Instead, she said, “Okay. You don’t have to apologize. I know you’re not a child.” A vampire. Okay, and it was how long ago? Deep breath. In. Hold. Out. Lovely. She would have turned by this point. And what would Mina have done? Did she even have to ask herself this question? One of her dearest friends was a bloody zombie, for crying out loud. “Right. Vampires. I’m… glad it wasn’t worse. I’ll tell you about vampires. What I know, at least, which isn’t a lot. My dad and I didn’t go after vampires often, unless he thought it was worth it.” She sighed, rubbing at her eyes. “I’m afraid people are going to worry regardless, Bex. If you wait to tell them things, it only gets worse.”

Bex let out a really long breath. She didn’t wanna be talking about this. She wanted to enjoy this evening with Mina and she wanted to watch the sunset with her and she wanted to kiss her, maybe. Maybe. Her heart pumped in her chest again, but instead of answering, she just flopped back on the ground and let her arms splay out. She stared up at the sky, watching as it changed colors, and remembered the sky she’d seen sparkling at the bottom of the waterfall. She wanted to tumble into that world, where maybe things didn’t have to be complicated and magic wasn’t real and Mina didn’t have to suffer. “I don’t need to know about them anymore. The girl who helped me told me about them.” She stayed laying on the ground, but turned her head enough to look at Mina. She could see the worry in her eyes, the strange panic that had been there but was fading. When had they come to care about each other so much? Bex couldn’t remember. Maybe it was after the cockatrice. Maybe it was forever. “Hypocrite,” she said quietly. She looked back up at the sky. “Telling people wouldn’t have changed anything. I still would have been attacked, the vampire still would’ve died, and I still would just feel helpless.” She squinted a little. “Does that cloud look like a dragon to you?”

Instead of moving to lay down, Mina pulled her legs up and sat cross-legged. She put her elbows on her knees and then her head in her hands and just tried to calm down. There was nothing she could do. There was just nothing she could do, and she kept reminding herself about that even though it was rather difficult to remember, especially in that moment. Thinking about their earlier conversation, she blurted out, “I’m not a vampire, I promise.” Granted, at this point, it was pretty obvious that she wasn’t, but still. Sheisse, Bex had been attacked by a vampire. And she’d been joking about that earlier. “That’s-- It’s good you know. Go for the heart if you encounter another one. Or show them holy symbols.” She was explaining anyway, talking too much, even though Bex might already know this. “They don’t like those. And wood is preferable, actually. And if they don’t turn to ash, they’re not dead.” She took a shuddering breath. Calm down, please, just calm down. Be calm. “Sorry. I--” Where was the lie? She was a hypocrite. An actual damn hypocrite. “I know.” She craned her neck up, looking at the sky. “Actually, it looks like-- like a wolpertinger. A-- a rabbit, with a squirrel tail and wings and fangs.” 

“Mina,” Bex said, sitting up finally. There was dirt and leaves in her hair but she didn’t really mind, her ponytail kept most of it away from her face. “I’m fine.” She put her arms out, turned them over then back. “You can check my pulse, if you want.” She scooted a little closer and held her wrist out to Mina, pulling the sleeve up. There were little scabs on her palms from where she’d hit the pavement, healing up, and little white scars dotting her forearm. “I know you’re not a vampire. You don’t have to promise that.” She didn’t really know what else to do. How else to convince Mina she was okay. She wondered if that was even possible right now. “Next time something happens, I’ll tell you, okay? Right away. I promise. I’ll tell you if something happens or even if something almost happens, or if I’m scared something might happen. If that’s what you want. I promise.”

Mina focused on breathing again. “I know you’re not a vampire.” I don’t think the hunter would have let you live. “I would have noticed if you’d gone missing. Turning isn’t instantaneous.” But she took Bex’s hand anyway, rubbing her thumb across Bex’s pulse before lacing their fingers. She needed to calm down. Why was she so upset about something that she couldn’t change? She knew there wasn’t anything that she could do, but she was still so damn upset because she cared. She cared. A lot. Her eyes snapped up to Bex’s as she said “promise.” I release you from those promises. It was on her tongue. It was her immediate response. She hesitated. She hated how bad that made her feel. “No. I release you from those promises. I can’t-- I can’t ask you to do that, not if you don’t want to. I don’t want you to be obligated to tell me something if you don’t want to.”

“Missing?” Bex asked, raising a brow. She hadn’t asked Dani how, exactly, one becomes a vampire, but the idea that turning wasn’t instantaneous made her skin crawl a little. She definitely did not want to become a vampire. Or something else. This world was already trying so hard to change her, she didn’t need a physical change to happen, too. “But I do want to,” she answered, confused by the wording. Why would Mina need to release her from her promise? She knew that they were dangerous. There was still so much she didn’t know. The roar of the falls behind them snapped her back to the present and she looked down at Mina’s hand grasping her own, as if it were a lifeline. “You mean a lot to me, Mina. If-- if there’s something I can do to make you less…” she gestured limply at her, knowing that she was still wrought with panic, “...upset, then I wanna do it. I didn’t know you’d be so upset. I didn’t think...it mattered what happened.” Absently, she put her free hand back over the scabs. “I was...really scared and I didn’t want to think about it again. And I was stupid, again. I didn’t run. I should’ve just run.” 

“We talk and see each other just about every day, and-- and it’s a long process, becoming a vampire,” Mina said. “If I didn’t notice, someone else would. We also wouldn’t have been able to do today.” She was calming down. It was taking her a bit, but she was coming down. She shook her head. “I don’t want you to have to tell me something, even if it gets to the point that you don’t want to. Don’t-- don’t make promises, especially not with me, especially if you’re not one hundred percent sure that you’ll keep it. Otherwise, it’s dangerous.” She rested her forehead against her knee. “I-- I’m not upset? I’m--” scared “I care about you a lot, and I don’t want something to happen to you. That frightens me. I’m not used to-- I’m not good with losing people.” She looked up and tried to smile weakly, but she couldn’t make the muscles work properly. “I’m really not good with losing people, or the prospect of it.” Running wouldn’t have helped this, but Mina didn’t have it in her to say that. “You’re not stupid.”

“I think if I had turned into a vampire, I would’ve had to tell you, anyway,” Bex mused. Mina was curling in on herself and Bex recognized the behavior as something she often did herself. Bex scooted closer still, until she was right in front of Mina, knees touching shins, and prodded her to uncurl, at least a little bit. “But I do know. One hundred percent. And, besides, you said it was only dangerous if the person wanted to use it against me. I know you would never do that. I won’t...say it again, but I’ll keep to myself.” She grabbed both of Mina’s hands and squeezed. “You’re not gonna lose me. Okay? You’re not. I’m not going anywhere. I just got here. And, besides, where else would I go?” At least, not anytime soon. Maybe, though. One day. She’d have to go back home. She’d have to. She wondered what life would be like then. Could she still be Mina’s friend? Could she still feel this way for her? Bex cleared her throat. “I’m a little stupid,” she teased, smiling back at her. She tugged on her hands. “C’mon, the sun is setting soon, and I wanna see what you brought for our picnic.” 

“It might have been just a bit difficult to keep a secret, that’s true.” But Mina was managing to keep the fact that she was completely inhuman a secret pretty well, so who was to say they both weren’t completely oblivious? “It’s dangerous when it can’t be kept, too. Words have a way of hurting people if they aren’t taken seriously, or if someone doesn’t want to keep them, or can’t keep them. That’s why I… released you.” She moved her head up and looked at Bex. “But, no, I wouldn’t do that.” Never. She’d promise to never hurt Bex if she thought she could get away with it. Somehow, she didn’t think she’d be allowed to make that one. She squeezed Bex’s hands back, even if she didn’t really believe the words. If Bex found out what she was, Mina didn’t think Bex would want to stick around. She smiled, small but real. “You’re not… Morgan helped me pack. It’s supposed to all be kosher.”

“Even if that’s true,” Bex started, “It’s worth the risk.” You’re worth the risk. The actual words stuck in her mouth, dry like sandpaper on her tongue. She swallowed them back and went back to pretending that this was somehow normal. “But okay. I won’t promise that then.” She’d just keep the promise to herself. She never wanted to see Mina look at her like that again-- that worry, that fear, that panic-- and she’d do whatever it took to make sure it didn’t. Bex let out a slow breath, then, before standing up and wiping the dirt off her pants as much as she could, before reaching down to grab Mina’s arm and tug her up as well. “I hope you brought a blanket in that bag. No picnic’s complete without one and I’d rather not continue sitting in the mud, as nice as it was.” She’d have stayed there all night if Mina had wanted her to. She came back over to their stuff and picked her camera back up, dusting it off. “All kosher, huh? Do you even know what foods are kosher?” It was nice, though, that MIna had put enough thought into a meal to remember Bex kept kosher. She turned her camera on and flipped to the picture of Mina standing by the falls. Then the one of the two of them on the log. She looked back over to the spot where they’d fallen just a few moments ago and wished she could have rewound time to just before it happened. Remind herself to cover the scabs on her neck. Pretend like they hadn’t been interrupted. She looked back at Mina and just smiled, gentle and soft, pinching at the edges of her eyes. “I’m glad we came up here,” she finally said, “despite...everything else.”

“It is true because I don’t lie, and, no, it’s not worth the risk,” Mina said, simply. “I’m grateful that you won’t. I don’t want you to be bound to something like that.” She didn’t know if Bex understood that she would have to tell Mina if something happened or even if she was just afraid. She would have to, and she wouldn’t be able to keep things to herself, and as much as Mina wanted to know she wasn’t going to take that agency away from Bex. She let herself be pulled up and tried to pull the leaves out of her hair, brush the dirt off her back. “Yes, I packed a blanket.” She’d been informed to pack a blanket. “I also brought one of those battery operated lanterns? Because it is going to get dark soon.” She went over to her bag and started pulling things out: the blanket, the tupperware, the lantern. There was a panel in the back of the bag that, if she needed, there was a much longer, much sharper knife than the one in her boot waiting in case she needed it. “I had to ask what was and wasn’t kosher,” she admitted. “But it should all be right. And vegetarian. Well, yours.” Mina just couldn’t do a completely vegetarian diet. She looked up at Bex and actually smiled. “I’m glad, too. I’m-- I wish I hadn’t freaked out. And tripped. But it’s still been nice.”

Sometimes the language Mina used confused Bex, but so far, she’d tried not to question it too much. It made more sense, now, why she was always so vague and wishy washy about some things, but Bex was finding herself more and more begging to ask the questions she didn’t think Mina wanted to answer. She’d stay quiet for now, though, because the evening had already been interrupted once, and if she did that again, then they’d miss the sunset. So, instead, she helped Mina set up their little picnic, pulling out the lantern and flicking it on, setting it next to the blanket as Mina laid it out. She crawled onto the blanket and started setting up the tupperware, grabbing the silverware and little plastic plates, before settling down next to Mina and handing her one. “And vegetarian? Aww, you remembered.” It was nice to feel remembered. She smiled back at Mina. “I can teach how to tell if something’s kosher, if you want. It’s not hard.” At least, she didn’t think it was. She’d just been raised that way, though. “You know,” she said idly as she scooped some food onto her plate, “I don’t think I minded the fall too much. I do think it’s funny that, after all your warnings about me being careful, you were the one that slipped.” Then, a little quieter, “I also don’t think I...minded that, either. It’s nice to know someone cares enough. To freak out like that.”

“Of course I remembered?” Was Mina expected to forget? “You mentioned it, and I know things like that are important, and I wouldn’t want someone to try and give me something that I couldn’t eat, so I didn’t think you’d enjoy that, either.” She started grabbing her own food, crossing her legs but sitting up straight, no longer attempting to cave in on herself. “Okay, it might not be hard for you to tell if something’s kosher, but I… might have a more difficult time with it, you know. I’m not used to these sorts of things.” She wasn’t used to most sorts of things. It’s fine. She snorted, rolling her eyes a bit. “It’s not funny. You were close to the edge, and I was just trying to make sure you didn’t fall.” And, really, that was something that Mina could affect. That was something that she could control and affect because she was here, and she could make sure that Bex didn’t fall off the edge, even if she couldn’t make sure that a vampire didn’t attack her. “Still. You can-- I was overreacting. You don’t have to tell me anything that happens to you. I’d like to know, but you don’t have to. And I’d worry anyway, but…” But she couldn’t stand the thought of losing someone, couldn’t stand the thought of losing Bex and not knowing what happened. “I’m glad you’re okay.”

“You’d be surprised how many parents at birthday parties for all the neighborhood kids would forget,” Bex pointed out, “I ate a lot of bread at birthday parties.” She closed her eyes for a moment in a solemn nod. Opened them again to look over at Mina and grin, full faced and kinda sleepy. “I’ll teach you. You’ll be a pro in no time.” It made sense that someone who ate a mostly pescetarian diet wouldn’t really know the ins and outs of kosher foods. In fact, most people with normal diets didn’t even know. “It was kind of funny. Admit it.” She shrugged nonchalantly. “I wasn’t worried. I knew you’d never let me fall. Or, if I did, you’d come with me.” It really was that simple, wasn’t it? Bex chewed thoughtfully, before swallowing to answer Mina’s next question. Or statement. All of it just felt so...simple to her. Everything with Mina was simple, except the way she made Bex feel. “I know I don’t have to, but I want to.” She crossed her legs like Mina had, setting her tupperware in her lap. “That’s what friends do, right? They tell each other stuff. And I kinda get the feeling you’ll worry even if I do tell you stuff. So, might as well at least take out the guesswork, right?” She reached out to brush her fingers against one of Mina’s hands, playing idly with her fingers, lifting her hand enough to intertwine them. “But maybe...if I have to stay late at school, just for a bit, you could stay with me?”

“Yes, well, clearly they were stupid to not remember something as easy as knowing that you’re vegetarian,” Mina said. Looking at Bex with her sleepy eyes, she wondered if she needed to get the younger girl back, but she also just… wasn’t ready to leave, not yet. She’d like to still take things in and enjoy it, despite the slight hiccup in that. “I’d like that. No, no, it-- well, okay. Maybe a little funny.” Mina only admitted it because her body was still processing the stress from before, and any attempt to lie at the moment would end poorly. “You really trust me,” she said, not a question, even though there was quite a bit of surprise in her voice. She wasn’t used to that, being trusted so inexplicably. Especially when she just didn’t think she deserved it. Especially when there was so much that she herself wasn’t saying, that she should say, that she didn’t know how to. She felt guilty, but she just sighed and smiled at Bex. “I’m… probably going to worry regardless, yes. I’m afraid that might just be a given, at this point.” Bex touched her so much. It felt like they were always touching, always holding hands or bumping into each other or touching, and Mina was trying to get used to it, and it helped that sometimes Morgan was so touchy feely, but sometimes there was just an impulse to jerk back and prepare to fight that Mina was beginning to realize probably wasn’t a natural thing. Holding Bex’s hand felt natural, though, and she squeezed the younger girl’s hand. “Yeah, I can do that. Of course I can do that.”

“I sort of think they just didn’t care,” Bex shrugged, “but there were lots of people to keep track of, too.” She picked at her food idly, finding herself not entirely too hungry for some reason. She probably should have been, she hadn’t eaten lunch that day-- but her stomach felt as if it were doing circus tricks. She looked over at Mina. “I really do,” she confirmed, the statement as simple as that. She really did. It was the truth and that’s all there was to it. She could count the number of people she truly trusted on one hand, and Mina was most certainly one of them. “Well, I’ll try my best to make you worry less. Just know the feeling is mutual, though. You worry me.” If Mina’s sense of duty to protect people was anything like Dani’s or Adam’s, that meant she was in danger of getting hurt, just like Dani when the vampire had stomped on her, or how she’d thrown herself at the cockatrice. She squeezed her hand back. “You can be like, my personal bodyguard. I’ll pay you in...good company?”

“Again. Stupid,” Mina said. She couldn’t imagine anyone not caring about Bex. But, really, maybe she was just a little biased. Maybe. Probably. Definitely. All the words that ended in -ly. And Bex trusted her, and the thought of that made her sick, just a little, because there was nothing she’d done to earn that trust, not that she could think of. She didn’t deserve it, she didn’t think. “I trust you, too,” she said, quietly, and she did. She trusted Bex so much. Mina just… didn’t trust herself, and, in the end, she was too afraid that she wouldn’t actually be worth it. “I don’t know if that’s going to work, Ms. Clumsy. And now I’m going to be looking for vampires under every rock I see.” She smiled at Bex. “I’m all good, though, really. I’m--” It was hard to explain why Bex shouldn’t be worried about her, that she was fine, that she was used to things happening. “I hope you don’t worry about me a lot.” It was bad enough knowing that people worried about her and rectifying that fact with the knowledge that it wasn’t because they thought she was incapable. They just… worried. “You do need a bodyguard, I think. If only to keep you from falling off of waterfalls. This is adequate payment, though.”

“Please don’t go looking for vampires,” Bex said with an over exaggerated sigh. “And I will wear that name proudly. Call me Ms. Clumsy all you want, you were the one that fell over.” She gave a triumphant smile. She set her container of food aside and turned herself to face Mina fully, keeping their hands intertwined still. “I think worrying is one of my base personality traits. I don’t have a lot of friends, so I kinda worry a lot about the ones I do have. And you kinda fall in that category, so I guess we’ll just both have to agree to worry about each other. But, like...in a good way.” She huffed and gave a pout. “I don’t need a bodyguard, but it would be nice to have one. Only if it’s you, though. I’m not sure I could stand anyone else.” She looked back over her shoulder at the treeline, where the sun was beginning to set. Eagerly, she tugged on Mina’s hand, urging her to set aside her bowl as well. “Here,” she scooted next to her so they were facing the same way and pointed up at the skyline. “Lay down with me. We can watch the sunset together. My favorite thing is watching the sky change colors.”

“I won’t go looking for them, but it never hurts to be prepared, you know.” Mina was teasing, but she did make a legitimate mental note to add a stake to her backpack. Just in case. Not because she expected to have to use it, but also because she definitely feared she might have to use it. She narrowed her eyes a bit. “I tripped making sure you didn’t topple over the edge. Your foot was literally over the edge!” Maybe she’d jerked back too quickly or maybe she should have just paid better attention, but Mina was not the clumsy one in this situation. Even if she was the one to trip. “Then I guess we’ll just have to worry about each other. And I think you do need a bodyguard, but I’m willing to take the job. Do you need any credentials? I have… over ten years of experience dealing with these things.” It was closer to twenty, but she didn’t want to point that out; it might be odd. Mina set aside her stuff and leaned back, looking at the sky before turning her face to Bex. “Just to be clear, we’re not watching the sunset? We’re watching the rest of the sky as the sun sets?”

“If it makes you feel better, the girl that helped me gave me a flask full of holy water. I keep it in my backpack now,” Bex explained. And she had started wearing her Star of David again. Her mother would’ve been so happy to know that. She swallowed the thought down. “Oh, was it?” she asked, blinking, genuinely unaware. “I didn’t even notice. I just kept looking into the water and it was like, I dunno, entrancing. I even thought I saw like, another sky in the reflection. It was kinda weird. Almost made me wanna jump…” she trailed off, laying back to gaze up at the sky. They were at a slight angle, but the sunset was at their feet, below the tree lines anyway. “I get jumped one time and suddenly I need a bodyguard? Sheesh. Fine, I accept your credentials. You start tomorrow morning. Think you can manage?” Turned her face to look at Mina, and they were so close again. Only a few inches between their faces, shoulders touching. “We can’t see the sunset, anyway, it’s behind the trees. Plus,” she turned away, feeling a heat in her cheeks that hadn’t been there before. Must be the cold setting in. “Look how pretty the clouds are.” She lifted a hand to point. “It looks like a painting.” 

Nodding, Mina said, “That’s good, that’s really good. Sharp wood is also nice to have on you.” Though, she didn’t know if she wanted Bex near a stake. That might actually be a really bad idea. “Maybe actually stick to the holy water.” She shot Bex a worried look. “It was. I wouldn’t have grabbed you otherwise. I… It was really pretty. I kept wanting to dive in, too. But you did say no jumping, so.” She’d thought she had seen the sky as well, but she hadn’t thought much of it. Now she was concerned, but it could wait. “One time is far too many. But, yes, I can start tomorrow. I know I can manage. Well… maybe. I think you’ll be the most difficult person I’ve ever looked after.” She couldn’t help but study Bex’s face, her eyes, her lips. Oh no. She felt a tightness in her chest. Instead of paying it any mind, though, instead of dwelling on it and letting it take over, she turned her head to fully face the sky. But her eyes flickered back and forth, glancing at the sky and then at Bex and then back at the sky. “It’s lovely.”

Bex was too fixated on the sky to notice Mina’s eyes flicking between her and the painting they were laying under. “Yeah, she mentioned that, too. Wood and garlic, I guess.” What a strange weakness to have, garlic. Then again, Bex had food weaknesses. She wondered if it was like that, like allergies. She watched a cloud drift into shadow and the colors of its base change from yellow to orange to a deep red, almost purple. Sometimes she wished she could just float away like clouds, drifting on the wind. “Calling me difficult actually takes away from your credentials, you know.” But there was an airyness to her voice, lofty and quiet. “Isn’t it?” She hadn’t felt this free in ages. If it were up to her, they’d stay here all night, looking up at the sky. Watch the cloud turn to stars, and the stars turn to dawn’s light. Without much prompting, she unfurled her fingers from Mina’s, lifting her arm, and scooted her way over, until her head was resting on Mina’s shoulder, and she wrapped her arm around her. “I’m glad Nell suggested this to you,” she finally said, “I think I really needed this.”

“Yeah, garlic’s good, too. I always forget about garlic. It just irritates them, really.” At least, that’s what Mina had learned. Her dad wasn’t a slayer, she most definitely wasn’t a slayer, they rarely went after vampires, so she’d only learned the most important information: holy water burns, holy symbols hurt, and stakes kill. What else was there to know about vampires? “I’m just being truthful. That’s actually one of my skill sets: complete truthfulness to any questions asked.” When Bex pulled away, she lifted her head, a bit confused, but settled back pretty easily when she figured out what Bex was doing. Again with all of the touching. Not that she minded. She didn’t mind, but it was so confusing. It was so nice, and comforting, and, really, she wasn’t used to feeling comforted, so maybe that was why it was so confusing. She swallowed back some of that tightness and rested her head against Bex’s. She didn’t want to think about that right now. She wanted to just stay there and look at the sky. It really was pretty. “Yeah, I’m glad she did, too.” Even if Nell wouldn’t stop bothering her with questions. “I needed it, too.”

“Do you think it’s weird?” Bex asked, settling into the nook of Mina’s shoulder. “That, like, movies and popular media stuff got so much of it right? Do you think it’s because that stuff is written by people in the know?” She’d wondered that for a bit now, ever since Dani joked about how she should’ve known it was a vampire simply because of movies. “OH, ha ha. Very funny. You know, just for that, I might actually make it even more difficult for you to watch after me. I don’t know how yet, but I’ll figure something out.” From the outside, someone might have assumed Bex was really an affectionate person, especially with the way she acted around Mina. But that was far from the truth. Somehow, though, all she wanted to do was be touching Mina, in whatever way possible. Shoulders, hands, arms. Anything would do. She made her feel safe. Comfortable. Warm. Like the shades of the setting sky, fading from blue to purple to orange, to pink. White clouds dotting the canvas. Bex reached up and took Mina’s hand again, playing with her fingers. “Hey, Mina?” she asked quietly.

“I don’t really know how much movies and popular media got right? I mean, from what I know, The Mummy was a terrible depiction of reanimated corpses.” Mina had to think about it for a moment, what she knew about that counted as popular media. “And… some of the stuff that we read in Morgan’s class is… close? I don’t really know, though. I mean, someone wrote down something accurate at some point and distributed it, and now here we are.” She shrugged before she narrowed her eyes at the side of Bex’s head, even knowing that the younger girl couldn’t see her. “I’d rather you didn’t make things difficult, please,” she said, but, really, did she expect any different? She settled back, catching Bex’s hand with her own and rubbing the palm of Bex’s hand with her thumb. “Yeah?”

“Okay, well, the Mummy doesn’t count cause it didn’t get anything right, technically,” Bex huffed. “But things like Dracula get scary close to the real thing. From what I know.” Stakes, garlic, holy symbols. She should’ve paid more attention in High School English. She nestled a little further into Mina, feeling her chest both seize up and somehow relax. Her entire body felt relaxed, and yet her heart was pounding. She’d felt like this once before. “Okay,” she conceded without much fight, “I won’t.” Her eyes wandered back up to the sky, and she watched as all the warm colors began to fade. Clouds began to blend in with the sky, disappearing into nighttime. They should probably start heading back, before it got too dark, too dangerous, but Bex just wanted to stay here. All night. Maybe even all day tomorrow. The waterfalls were still echoing around everywhere, wind rustling leaves, the quiet hum of insects chirping for the nightfall. Bex somehow felt at peace, out here, like this place was a haven. “I’m glad I met you,” she finally answered. 

[liberty-barnes]

Without you, I’m just a sad song

Louis Tomlinson x Female!Reader 

Soulmate AU

Summary: In a world where song leads you to the one you belong with, Louis meets his in a peculiar manner.

Warnings: slight age gap (Louis's 5 years older), fluff fluff fluff, cursing

Word Count: 2.5k words

ERT: 10 minutes

A/N: My first 1D fic!!! I'm so excited about this, I've had this idea floating around in my head for ages and I wanna take advantage of the fact that I have inspo to write it!!

also, shoutout to @parkersbliss​ for making me fall in love with this band all over again, this wouldn’t be here without her so go show her some love, my baby deserves it!!

also number 2: i now have a 1D taglist so feel free to add yourself to it if you feel like it!

Masterlist || Taglist

For as long as the world can remember, the idea of soulmates and a soul bond has been a key point of society. Everyone is born with one or more soulmates, someone you were made to be with, destined to spend your life together, to find yourselves even when death tries to tear you apart. And all that is done through song.

The oldest of the pair can hear their counterpart's voice when they sing. It usually starts somewhere during your childhood, you hear them sing, like a little voice at the back of your head, something that's always with you and that'll help you find them when the time is right.

The youngest one, however, does not hear their soulmate's voice but instead has song lyrics written somewhere on their body, the first thing their partner will ever sing to them. 

You were born with lyrics on your ribcage, words that you've memorized, cherished, and obsessed over for the past twenty-three years. Logically, you knew that you were still young and you had all your chances to find the one that was destined for you. But after watching all your friends find love, move out, get somewhere with their lives, you started to think that you'd be alone forever. Most people found their soulmates before they turn 18, yet here you were at 23 years old, still nowhere closer to them.

"C'mon, it's a great opportunity!"

"I don't know, Gina..."

Your best friend rolled her eyes and put the last red velvet cupcake on the tray with a flourish, making her way to the front of the shop to put it in the display case while you kept decorating the donuts.

"(Y/n), you're an amazing singer, musician, and songwriter, this is the best thing that could possibly happen to you."

"Yeah, what about the fact that I have terrible stage fright, can't dance for the life of me, and let's not even mention the anxiety that comes with the possibility of failure."

She sat down on the stool next to you and took the piping bag out of your hands so she could hold them, forcing you to face her.

"(Y/n)?"

You kept your head down but hummed in acknowledgment.

"Can you look at me, please?"

Your eyes met the soft pools of blue that were hers.

"Stop doubting yourself. You're not made for this, babe. The bakery's my dream, I'm perfectly content with spending the rest of my days baking with my husband but that's not for you. You were made to sing, to be on a stage, perform. It's unfair to yourself and to the world to restrict yourself so much. You need to take a leap. Have faith."

You took a shuddering breath as your eyes filled with tears.

"Okay."

"Yeah?"

"Yeah, I'm signing up now."

You took out your phone and started to fill out the application, heart beating a mile a minute.

This was really happening.

"Who knows, maybe one of the contestants will end up being your soulmate."

"Without you, I feel broke, like I'm half of a whole..."

Louis smiled softly as he blinked his eyes open. Every day for the past three years, he's woken up at seven in the morning to the sweet sound of his soulmate's voice. In the beginning, it was kind of annoying given that he was most definitely NOT a morning person, but he gradually got used to it and now enjoys it.

His soulmate must like singing a lot since he constantly has a song playing in the back of his head. It was especially bothersome when he was doing a show, oftentimes singing the wrong words because his soulmate was singing another song.

There's a video somewhere about him switching from singing Midnight Memories to Toxic almost flawlessly. Admittedly not his proudest moment.

He figured she was a songwriter since most of the songs she'd been singing for the past four years were songs he could not find on the internet, no matter how hard he searched. Not that it mattered, he knew them all by heart already, which was how he was able to start singing along with you.

He prepared his tea while humming softly to the song his soulmate was singing, quite happy that she'd started singing it on repeat since it was his favorite.

"Without you, I’m just a sad song."

He frowned when she suddenly stopped, still quite annoyed that even after all this time she hadn't figured out a way to finish it and he couldn't share his idea since he had no idea who she was. He took out his phone, answering a few messages from his fans, and watching a few of the things they made while he daydreamed.

At twenty-eight years old, he should have given up on the prospect of finding his soulmate. People that don't find their soulmates before twenty-five are pretty much hopeless. Sure, he remembered reading about that couple that found each other at 41 and 43 respectively (the oldest soulmates to ever find each other up to date), but those were rare occasions.

But as the hopeless romantic he was, he just couldn't give up. He convinced himself that it was because of his job, the fact that he was famous wouldn't allow for just a casual meet-cute like most other people, but he still dared to dream.

But today was a good day. It was the first day of X-Factor's new season and he was more excited than ever to meet new people, listen to some beautiful voices, and help young people conquer their dreams.

He quickly finished his tea and left the house so he could get there on time, already dreading the centuries they're gonna make him spend in hair and makeup and the millennia that it will take them to dress him.

"Are you nervous?"

"Is it that obvious?."

Georgina took in the way you were rocking on the balls of your feet, clenching your hands in a vague effort to ground yourself and the fact that you'd redone your hair at least five times in the last minute.

"A little."

Understatement of the century.

"Gina, what if they don't like me? What if they don't like my outfit? Or I fall because of the heels? Or my makeup's too much? Or my hair! What if they don't like my hair?"

She sat you down and took your hands in hers, taking exaggeratingly deep breaths so you'd follow her lead.

"Listen to me, your hair looks fine, your outfit's fine, your makeup's gorgeous, not surprising since I'm the one who did it, and you're not gonna fall because you walk in those heels like you belong on a runway and you know it. They're gonna judge you from your voice, and voice alone, and you have a gorgeous voice so I can guarantee you're gonna nail this."

You took a deep breath and nodded, repeating those words to yourself like a mantra.

It's gonna be fine.

They're gonna love you.

You're gonna nail this.

"(Y/n) (Y/l/n)?"

You looked up at the kind-looking gentleman in front of you.

"Yes, that's me."

"Follow me, please. You're next up."

Louis took an exhausted breath and drained the rest of his water, praying for the next one to be good. Obviously, he understood the importance of the 'entertainment acts', but the last three people had been shitty singers with an even worse attitude and he just needed a break.

"You okay?"

He turned towards Nicole and rolled his eyes.

"If I hear one more of these spoiled little brats I'm quitting."

"That's a valid point."

Cheryl agreed as well and even Simon nodded. These auditions were not going well. They all took a deep breath and straightened up in their chairs when the next contestant was announced, plastering fake smiles on their faces to keep the charade going.

Please, let them be good.

A girl with a bright smile and gorgeous red dress walked on stage, looking like the human personification of a puppy from how happy and excited she looked and only one thought filled his mind:

"Oh, fuck me."

Next to him, Nicole choked on her water, being the only one close enough to hear his whispered words.

Your heart felt like it could beat out of your chest at any given moment. You were on stage at the X-Factor, facing the judges, with a big audience excited to hear you sing.

"Hello."

Simon greeted you with a smile, which you took as a good sign.

"Hi!"

You waved excitedly and the crowd cheered, making you giggle.

Louis felt like he was dying.

The audience loved you, the girls were completely enraptured by you, Simon was smiling, and that little giggle made a freaking zoo erupt in his stomach (he was way past butterflies).

"What's your name, sweetheart?"

"My name's (Y/n) (Y/l/n)."

"And do you have a day job, (Y/n)?"

"I work in a bakery."

It would seem he has a type: cute puppy-like people who work in bakeries.

"And what are you gonna sing for us today?"

"I'm gonna sing an original song."

"Well best of luck to you."

More like best of luck to him, Louis's the one whose heart's beating way too fast to be considered healthy.

You thanked Simon and sat down at the piano, taking a deep breath through your nose and letting it out through your mouth before starting to play.

"I don't wanna die and fade away..."

The crowd's cheers fell on deaf ears as you started to play.

"I just wanna be someone..."

Only you and the piano existed. 

Only the words coming out of your mouth mattered.

"I just wanna be someone."

Louis's path to realization came in three steps.

First, he started to recognize the words.

"Dive and disappear without a trace, I just wanna be someone. Well, doesn't everyone?"

Then, the voice started to sound strangely familiar.

"And if you feel the great dividing, I wanna be the one you're guiding, cause I believe that you could lead the way..."

And finally, he noticed that the voice hammering at the bag of his head, getting louder by the second, matched the sound that was coming out from the singer's mouth.

"I just wanna be somebody to someone, oh. I wanna be somebody to someone, oh. I never had nobody and no road home, I wanna be somebody to someone..."

Your soul mark felt like it was burning against your ribs, but you ignored the searing pain in favor of continuing the song.

"And if the sun's upset and the sky grows cold..."

A little pain wasn't gonna make you give up on your lifelong dream.

"And if the clouds get heavy and start to fall..."

Everyone in the room watched with bated breath as the signs grew more and more obvious.

"I really need somebody to call my own..."

Your ribcage started to glow, slivers of light permeating the fabric and shining like a beacon. Louis's eyes gradually started to light up gold, shining like ambers in the sun.

Telltale signs that your soulmate was close by.

"I wanna be somebody to someone..."

Both of you were oblivious to it. Your attention solely on the keys in front of you, Louis's eyes locked onto your face.

"Someone to you..."

His eyes were so bright that they started to light up his face.

"Someone to you..."

Your ribs glowed so much that the words could practically be read.

"Someone to you..."

Everyone held their breath as the song came to an end.

"Someone to you..."

You finished and couldn't help but bring your hand to your ribcage, frowning when you watched it glow.

What the Hell is going on?

Louis couldn't stop himself from talking if his life depended on it.

"I finished your song."

You looked up at him and were taken aback by how bright his eyes looked.

"What?"

"The song you've been singing for the past few weeks. You couldn't finish it so I did."

He got up and joined you on stage, the room completely quiet. He started to play the melody to the last chorus, nudging you so you'd sing.

"Without you, I feel broke, like I'm half of a whole. Without you, I've got no hand to hold. Without you, I feel torn like a sail from a storm. Without you, I'm just a sad song."

Your hand remained on your ribcage as it started to burn even brighter.

"You're the perfect melody, the only harmony I wanna hear."

You felt your heart stop when he sang.

"You're my favorite part of me, with you standing next to me I've got nothing to fear."

His hands came to a stop, as did the burning, and his eyes went back to a gorgeous blue

You couldn't believe that this man in front of you was your soulmate, but most importantly...

"I can't believe I have those words branded on my ribs and I didn't think of using them."

Pause.

"That's what you're thinking about right now?"

"Well I've been obsessing over it for weeks!"

"Fair point."

You were silent for a while longer until Nicole (bless her heart) decided to break the tension.

"Hey! Look at the bright side: your wish might just come true!"

Louis's head dropped onto the piano just as you spoke up.

"What wish?"

"Well as soon as you came out, he whispered 'fuck me'."

You turned to him and smirked while for what was most likely the first time in his life, Louis blushed.

"I mean, I was thinking of taking you out to dinner first, but I'm good with getting right to the good part."

"Fuck you."

"'S that an insult or a promise?"

"Both."

You waited in Louis's dressing room while they finished filming. Thankfully you were one of the last ones so you didn't have to wait long.

Unsurprisingly, the four of them had said yes, and no matter how many times Gina told you it was because of your voice and not the fact that you were Louis's soulmate, the win still felt bittersweet to you.

The door to the dressing room opened and a tired-looking Louis came in. 

"Hey..."

"Hey back..."

He sat down next to you on the couch, as oblivious as you concerning the evolution of your relationship.

"I hope you know they didn't say yes cause you're my soulmate."

You chanced a look at him through your lashes.

"I'm serious. You're a proper good singer. You have a beautiful voice and you're an amazing songwriter. You belong in this industry."

You smiled and inched your hand towards his.

"Thanks."

He intertwined your fingers, a matching smile on his face.

"My pleasure."

You took advantage of the next silence to really take him in. Every nook, every cranny, every layer of his deep blue eyes.

"Would it be too forward of me to ask you out to dinner?"

"You're about an hour too late, I already asked you out."

He chuckled and unconsciously leaned closer to you.

"Okay, then would it be too forward of me to ask for a kiss?"

"Not at all."

Your smile was blinding as his face got closer, and when he kissed you, for the first time in twenty-three years, you felt complete.

Songs used: Someone to you by BANNERS, Sad Song by We The Kings and Elena Coats

so here it is! I hope you guys liked it! Don’t forhet to comment, reblog, and/or like if you feel like it!

-Love, Libby

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