#like the ocean doesn't have a shore where I live like there are couple of seas then an ocean then my heart

[mecdidikmen]

heart & mind, hope you forget not.

[violentdelightsandviolentends]

Honey Girl. Chapter Five.

Chapter One. Chapter Two. Chapter Three. Chapter Four. Chapter Six. Chapter Seven. Chapter Eight. Chapter Nine. Chapter Ten. Series Masterlist. The Playlist.

Chapter Synopsis - Does absence make the heart grow fonder, or does it just make everything ten times more difficult?

Pairing - Dad'sBestFriend!Bucky Barnes x Female Reader - soulmate au

Warnings - smut. cursing. alcohol consumption. angst. mention of illness.

Age Rating - 18+

Word Count - 5.7k

Author's Note - it's here!! as always, I can't thank you enough for your love, support and patience with this fic. us writers lead busy lives, and i've been trying my hardest to find the time to write whenever I can, so it means so much that you guys stick with me - even when things take longer than expected. love you all. you're angels. please feel free to spam my inbox with thoughts and suggestions - it always makes my day when you're all so passionate. mwah.

as always, reblogs, comments and feedback (even anonymous feedback) are immensely appreciated!! your reblogs are the only way to circulate my fics, which keeps me going <3

Masterlist. Inbox.

The sand is warm beneath your feet, cooling breeze cascading across your skin. The waves caress the shore in repetitive motions, lulling you into calm.

Sunlight beaming down, you shield your eyes and look up, sighing in contentment at the shades of blue that paint the sky.

A shriek and a laugh come from somewhere on your right. You look over and see a couple and their toddler running after each other, sprinting down the beach and into the ocean. The little girl can't stop giggling, tripping over her own feet as she chases her parents. Something tugs at your heart, deep and visceral.

It's been three months since you left home.

It's been three months since you saw Bucky.

He calls every few days, trying to give you the space you need while also keeping in touch. You have to resist the urge to call him every ten minutes. It's an improvement, at least. It was five minutes when you first moved.

He texts you good morning and goodnight everyday without fail, just to let you know he's there. You can't sleep until you get his text. It's like a lullaby, reassuring and soothing. Like a chamomile tea, warming and calming you from the inside out.

You think about him the most at night time. Your days are spent running around preparing for the bakery. Testing, retesting, writing up recipes, measuring out quantities. You want it to be perfect.

The baking is taking your mind off Bucky, for the moment at least. You've thrown yourself into your new role, eager and excited. Stella's ecstatic to have you around. You love that you're still just as close as you were, despite the time apart. Friendships like that are rare.

Lacie calls you most nights. She demands to know what you did that day, who you spoke to, what you made. It's like therapy, sitting and decompressing together over videochat. She's a lifeline, whether she knows it or not.

And of course, the most supportive people in your life - your parents. Your Mom is desperate to come and visit, begging that you let her know when you're less busy so you can show her around. She loves the sunshine just as much as you. A woman after your own heart.

On the nights when the doubt creeps in, unwelcome and dark, you remind yourself how lucky you are. Surrounded by people who adore you, support you, love you unconditionally. And then the night doesn't seem so dark. The light pours through the cracks.

You walk home from the beach, warmed and carried by the knowledge of love.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"This is ridiculous."

Stella's perched on the edge of your countertop, blush pink macaron in her hand.

"Good ridiculous?"

She scoffs, looking at you incredulously.

"Where did your confidence go? You never doubted yourself in school. Yes, good ridiculous. It shouldn't work, but it does."

Shouldn't work, but it does. Seems to be the story of your life at the moment.

"I need these on the menu."

"You don't think they're a little... pretentious? My best seller is a chocolate chip cookie. A honey and rosewater macaron isn't exactly a childhood favourite."

"Babe. That's the beauty of this. You can put whatever the hell you want out in your bakery. So what if they're unconventional? They're delicious. That's all that matters."

"Okay. Fine."

You relent, thinking about her earlier question. Where did your confidence go? When you graduated culinary school, you never doubted your abilities. Your technique, your flavours, your presentation - you had full faith in all of it. Now, you seem to be second guessing yourself.

You know it's because of your Tethering.

Before, you understood how the world worked. Good, bad, in between. Love, lust, the very clear difference between the two. You watched as other people found their forever person, and acknowledged their new journey.

And then you found Bucky. Or, Bucky found you.

Suddenly, the world you'd lived in before no longer made sense. The people, the places, the relationships, all impacted by the way you feel about your soulmate. Everything, everyone, everywhere, reminds you of Bucky. You're experiencing emotions you've never felt before. It's disorientating, confusing, complex. Your understanding of the world has changed completely.

It takes time to adjust.

No one ever talks about the way your Tethering turns your life upside down.

For some, it's completely positive. They enjoy the uprooting, revel in the change.

For others, it's a huge adaptation. One filled with tears, and confusion, and doubts.

Both are valid. Both are understandable.

You remind yourself of this every day.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"There's someone in the café that wants to speak to you."

The youngest waitress, Isabel, stands in the kitchen doorway, looking at you hopefully. You set down your piping bag and wash your hands, talking to her over your shoulder.

"Who is it?"

"No idea. Some guy. He's kinda hot. Brown hair, tall, beard."

Your heart skips a beat, breath caught in your lungs. Bucky jokes sometimes about coming to see you, but would he just show up announced? Do you want him to?

You can't feel it in your chest, you realise suddenly. You can't feel the ease, the relief, the knowing. Maybe being apart for so long has weakened your connection. The thought makes you strangely emotional.

You inhale carefully and thank her, before making your way out. It's almost closing time, and there's no one around other than the man stood with his back to you.

He turns around, and you realise quickly that your hope was misplaced. You've never seen this person before. He is handsome, admittedly. But he's not your soulmate.

"Hi."

"Hey. Are you the baker here?"

"I am."

He holds out his hand for you to shake, stepping closer.

"I'm Rafael."

You tell him your name, and he smiles, nodding.

"Forgive me if this is weird, but I had to meet you. To thank you properly, in person."

You don't say anything, so he continues.

"Let me, uh, explain. Sorry, should have started with that. My sister is sick. She's going through treatment currently, and it's been super hard on her. She's had no appetite whatsoever, and she's losing weight rapidly."

He takes a deep breath before continuing.

"A couple of weeks ago, I picked up a load of stuff from this place because my Mom was coming to visit. My sister tried your earl grey and lavender cookie, and ate the entire thing. It was the first time I've seen her eat for weeks. So, I came back and bought basically all of them every day."

You laugh, coming to a realisation. You wondered why those cookies were selling so well all of a sudden.

"I just wanted to say thank you. It might not seem like a big deal, but it's really huge for us. I also wanted to explain why all of those cookies were suddenly going missing at like ten in the morning."

You gesture at him to sit, the both of you taking a seat at one of the tables nearby.

You talk for almost an hour, listening intently to Rafael as he tells you about his family. He moved to California to be with his sister Maria when she got sick, no one else around to care for her. He asks about yours, and you tell him about your parents and their constant encouragement. He's also interested in how you got into baking, so you tell him all about culinary school, and the dreams your Grandma gave you when you were a kid.

"You're really talented, you know."

"I bet you say that to all of the bakers around here. But thank you."

His fingers brush yours where they're resting on the table, making you shiver.

"I'll make Maria her own box, if you like. I'll leave them behind the counter, just tell Isabel who you are."

"You'd do that for her?"

"Of course," you smile. "The idea that I'm helping someone with my silly little creations makes me really happy. We can work out a schedule, and I'll make sure I bake Maria some extras when I do my usual batch."

"You're incredible. Seriously. Thank you."

He squeezes your hand and you squeeze back. The two of you are sat in the café as the sun sets, orange glow illuminating the room. You didn't expect to make a friend today. You're glad you have.

"Well, I should probably go and clean up the kitchen. You know where to find me, if you need anything. It was lovely to meet you, Rafael."

He rises when you do, smiling at you earnestly.

"You too. Nice to finally put a face to the cookie, so to speak."

You chuckle and show him out of the door, waving as he walks down the street. Suddenly, he turns around, striding back towards you.

"I'm so sorry if this is forward, and please feel free to say no, but... are you single? If you are, I'd love to ask you to dinner sometime."

The answer to that question is much more complicated than Rafael could ever imagine. So instead, you say,

"I'm not. I'm Tethered, actually."

His brows raise in surprise, but he's smiling.

"You are?"

"Yeah, I am. He doesn't live here, though. He lives back home, where my parents are."

"You guys are married?"

"No! Not yet. It's, uh... a complex... situation."

"Ah," he says, gentle, knowing look on his face. "I thought Tetherings weren't meant to be complex. Isn't that the whole point? That they're easy?"

You laugh, but it's not malicious. You're thinking about how sweetly naive he is, how he's got a huge storm coming his way one day.

"He's my Dad's best friend."

You're not sure why you're admitting this to a man you met an hour and a half ago, but you are. It's almost a relief, to get it off your chest again - to tell someone who's completely neutral, who doesn't know either of you.

"Woah."

"Yeah."

"That... is complicated."

"Yeah," you chuckle. "Understatement of the century."

Rafael leans against the wall, watching you intently. He's curious.

"How did your parents react?"

"They don't know yet."

His eyebrows raise almost comically high.

"Wait, what? How did you hide that? I thought it was supposed to be impossible to hide that you're Tethered. Although, I guess I had no idea, seeing as I asked you out."

"We wanted to figure it out for ourselves first, before telling anyone. And then I moved out here, so we're doing long distance. Like I said, complex."

"Understatement of the century," he laughs.

You look at each other for a moment, before he smiles.

"I'm sorry I asked you out. I wouldn't have, if I'd known."

"Please, don't apologise. I admire your... courage?" you grin. "And I appreciate you coming to see me today. I have like two friends here in Cali, so it's nice to feel like I've made another."

He smiles again, wider this time. Someone's going to be lucky to be Tethered to him one day, you think.

"I know it might surprise you, given my good looks and... courage," he chuckles, "but I don't have many friends out here either. I've been so focused on Maria, I haven't had time to socialise."

"The Universe works in funny ways, huh?"

"Sure does."

You wander back through the door, ready to close up for good this time.

"I'll see you tomorrow, for the cookies. And I'd love to meet Maria one day, if she's up for it."

"I'm sure she'd love to meet you. I'll bring her by."

"Thanks, Rafael."

"Of course. Thank you."

"Of course."

That night, when your Mom calls, you get to tell her you've made a new friend. That makes the both of you very happy.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

You're testing out a recipe in the kitchen of your new apartment when your phone rings.

"Hey, Dad."

"Hey, kiddo. You doing okay?"

"Yeah, I am, actually. I'm settling in."

"Good, I'm glad. I don't wanna keep you on the phone for too long, but I wanted to ask you something."

"Go ahead, Dad. Anything."

"How would you feel about surprising your Mom for her birthday?"

"What kind of surprise?"

"I know you haven't been gone all that long, and I know it's kind of last minute, but, I was thinking you could come back to... be her gift? She really misses you, you know."

"I miss her too," you say softly, trying to keep your voice even. "I'll talk to Stella, see if we can figure something out. I'd really love to see you guys."

"We'd really love to see you too, sweetheart."

"I'll call you back later, when I've organised everything. Love you, Dad. See you soon, hopefully."

"Love you, kiddo. Proud of you, you know."

"I know," you smile. "I know."

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The journey always seems shorter when you know you're going home.

You make it back in record time, salty ocean breeze whipping through your hair as you cruise along the roads. You take a deep breath and sigh it out, relief filling your lungs. It's good to be back.

You can't let your Mom see you, so you head straight back to your apartment. Your Dad told you they're in the process of renting it out, but they haven't made much progress yet. For now, it's still yours.

You inhale the familiar scent, smiling gently. There's something so particular about the way a place smells when you feel like you belong there. It's like home and comfort and ease all rolled into one.

You unpack a little, folding your clothes and tucking them into the dresser. You told Stella you'd probably stay a few days, wanting to spend as much time with your family as possible. You're rifling through the refrigerator and thinking about a grocery list when there's a knock at your door.

You know who it is.

A feeling of relief washes over your body, tension melting from your shoulders. Your lungs fill easier, your breath falls deeper, everything is a little brighter, a little more colourful.

You open the door to be met with the sight of Bucky Barnes.

He's in work pants and a white t shirt that's stained with grease and oil, heavy boots on his feet. He must have come straight from the Garage.

He looks at you carefully, as if he isn't sure that you're real. You rake your eyes over his form, trying to drink him in. All the pictures you've taken and saved don't do him justice.

He exhales, beaming grin appearing on his face.

"You're here."

You can't help but smile back, his happiness spreading through you.

"I'm here."

Bucky rushes forward and scoops you into his arms, enveloping you completely. He wraps himself around you as he tucks you into his chest, his grip tight and unrelenting. You breathe him in, overwhelmed with emotion and sensation. You didn't realise how much you needed this. Three months is too long.

"What are you doing here?" he asks, slight shake in his voice. He's holding off tears. So are you.

"My Dad wanted me to surprise my Mom for her birthday. It's all a secret."

He smiles, before leaning down to capture your lips in a knee buckling kiss. A kiss that says I missed you. A kiss that says I need you. A kiss that says please don't leave me again.

"How did you know?" you whisper when you pull away for air.

"I felt it. I think I knew the moment you arrived back in town. Thought my mind was playing tricks on me, for a second. But there's no mistaking that feeling. I had to come and see for myself."

"We're getting pretty good at this whole soulmate thing, huh?" you laugh, unaware of the tears running down your face. "I missed you, Buck. So much."

"I missed you too," he murmurs, kissing you again. "Didn't think I was going to survive, some days."

"Me too. Do you know how many times I stood with my car keys in my hand, ready to drive back to you?"

He chuckles and then sniffles, emotion dripping down his cheeks.

"I did exactly the same thing. So many times."

You wrap your arms around his middle, reveling in the way he smells like gasoline and home.

"How long are you here for?" he murmurs, worried he'll disturb the peace.

"I'm not sure. A good few days, at least."

"Okay," he breathes. "I can do a few days. We can do a few days."

"Sorry I didn't tell you sooner. I didn't know, to be honest. It was all kinda last minute."

"It's okay, pretty thing," he mutters into your hair. "It was a nice surprise."

"You're coming tonight, right? To my Mom's party?"

"Wouldn't miss it."

You stay wrapped up in each other for a little while longer, savouring his warmth. He rubs absentminded patterns across the skin of your back, committing the softness of it to his memory.

"I should probably get back to work. I took off with no warning."

"You're the boss. You're allowed," you chuckle.

He laughs with you, and the sound lights up your nerves, illuminates your bones. It settles itself in the hollows of your ribcage, tangles itself in your heartstrings. It's like medicine.

"Can't wait to see you tonight," you whisper. "Wear something cute."

"I always do," he winks, pressing a kiss to your forehead. "Miss you already."

"Miss you more."

He looks at you, smiling.

"Man, we're the worst."

"Truly."

He kisses you once, twice, three times before finally leaving, reluctant to let you go. You spend the rest of the afternoon floating on air, relaxed and at ease. You haven't felt like this in a while.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

Your Dad sneaks you into the house through the side door, hiding you in the kitchen as he ushers your Mom through to the back yard.

It's decorated with floral garlands and streamers, flowers in vases covering the table he's set up. The golden, warm fairy lights illuminate the space, keeping it soft and intimate. He's been watching, carefully observing the way that she does things. He's recreated her party style perfectly.

There's a few of her closest friends waiting for her, gifts littering the spare chairs. Your Dad walks her outside, hands covering her eyes.

"Surprise!"

You watch through the door as your Mom gasps, grin on her face.

"Oh my God! You guys!"

She runs into your Dad, wrapping her arms around his neck.

"I can't believe you managed to pull this off," she says in disbelief.

He sets her back down on the ground and kisses her gently.

"I got you something. I hope you like it."

That's your cue. You sneak out as quietly as possible, standing behind her.

"Happy Birthday, Mama."

She whips around to face you, shock written across her face. Her eyes well up, tears threatening to spill. Yours do the same, bottom lip quivering.

She throws her arms around you, tugging you into her.

"I'm so happy you're here, baby girl. I missed you so much."

"Missed you. You look beautiful."

"Not as beautiful as you! Look at you, all sun kissed and glowy. You look so pretty, sweetheart."

You grin at her and she does the same back, your Dad beaming at your identical smiles.

"You're the best gift I've ever received. Then and now."

You're overwhelmed, suddenly, by the realisation that no matter what happens, no matter what life throws at you, no matter how many miles are between you - your Mom will always be in your corner. Your Dad will always be in your corner. Bucky will always be in your corner.

You think, for a moment, that despite everything, you might just be okay.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The night goes off without a hitch.

You drink, you laugh, you sing. You and your Mom dance to ABBA, Bowie, Donna Summer. Your Dad joins in, and can't help but grin every time he watches his girls together.

What a life, he thinks. I'm the luckiest man in the world.

When everyone gets a little past tipsy, your Mom changes the music to something slower, jazzier, richer. Your Dad pulls her into his chest, holding her close as they move to the melody. You're sat at the table taking off your heels when Bucky slides into the seat next to you. He pulls your foot into his lap and undoes the strap, sliding the shoe off gently. He rubs his thumb into your sole, smirking when you groan.

"Have you been avoiding me tonight, pretty baby?"

His cheeks are flushed slightly, top few buttons of his shirt open. He's been drinking a little, his walls lowered more than usual.

"I have to."

"Oh yeah?"

"I feel like I'm gonna burst into flames every time you look at me," you whisper. "I kinda want to rip your clothes off, baby."

He groans at the nickname. You know exactly what you're doing.

"It only takes one look for a minute too long to figure out how I feel about you, Buck. They'll work it all out instantly."

"Dance with me," he murmurs suddenly. "Your parents are too busy staring into each others eyes. Come on, honey. One dance."

His big blue eyes bore into yours, and you know you're fucked. You're never going to be able to say no to him.

"One dance," you whisper.

He takes your hand and leads you to the decked area, brightened by the golden lights. Bucky slides a hand over your back, resting there carefully. You intertwine your fingers with his and step into him, embracing the warmth that rolls off his body.

I'll Be Seeing You by Billie Holiday begins to play, and the two of you start to sway gently, eyes never leaving each others. Bucky pulls you in closer, and you melt into him. You don't care about the repercussions anymore.

Maybe it's the wine talking. Maybe it's something else.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"That was close!"

Your Mom's giggling as your Dad holds her, having just saved her from tripping down the front steps. Everyone's giddy, both from drinking and from laughing.

"Sweetheart. Bucky. Come back for lunch tomorrow. Your Dad ordered too much catering, and we need help eating it."

"Mama, are you sure?"

"I want to see you as much as possible before you go, babygirl. You too, Buck. I feel like we don't see you as much as we used to."

"He'll be there," you reply before he can protest. "We'll carpool, and I'll bring a strawberry and cream tart that I made for you."

She kisses you on the cheek, your Dad leaning in to kiss the other side.

"Love you both."

"Love you," they say in unison, laughing and yelling jinx. "Get home safe, you two!"

"I'll take care of her," Bucky chuckles. "Always."

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

"Why don't you see my parents much anymore?"

You and Buck are walking home along the sandy coastal path, fingers intertwined and sides pressed together. You look up at him, frowning slightly when he hesitates.

"Don't lie to me, James. I can feel it, remember."

You place a hand on your chest to remind him, and he nods.

"It's not the same here without you."

You weren't expecting the sincerity. It knocks you off balance a little.

You stop when you reach a wooden bench, sitting down and pulling him with you.

"So you're isolating yourself from the people who love you?"

He smiles, sadness rife in his eyes. Your tough guy act is crumbling.

"Not on purpose. It just kinda happened."

"You promised you'd talk to me, Buck. Especially if it got too hard. You need to accept support from people, or everything is going to come crashing down."

"I know. I know. But every time I go to their house, I'm expecting you to be there. Every time I go to the beach, I'm expecting you to be there. Every time I walk past your building, I'm expecting you to be there, waiting for me to pick you up. Even when I'm sailing, I can't stop thinking about that day we spent on the boat."

"The other day I had to make three batches of buttercream, because I messed up the first two. I was so distracted thinking about you that I split them both."

He laughs, then, wholehearted and genuine. You can't help but join him, shaking your head at the absurdity of it all.

"Bucky, you have to promise that you'll keep going, even without me. You have to see my Mom and Dad like you used to, you have to still sail and go to the beach. You can't put your life on hold for me."

He takes a deep breath, sliding an arm around your shoulders to pull you in closer.

"Okay. I promise."

You whip your head around to look at him.

"Just like that?"

"Just like that, honey. You're right. I've been waiting for you to come back, so I can start living again. But life is still happening, whether you're here or not."

"Wise words, wise man," you smile. "Not a minute goes by where I don't think of you. You know that, don't you?"

"I know. I feel it."

You watch as he brings your linked hands to his chest, placing them there. You rest your head on his shoulder, lulled into calm by the steady melody of his heart. You swear it beats to the rhythm of your name.

✵  ✵    ·　 ✵ 　　 *  · ✵

The two of you can't bear the idea of separating, so Buck comes home with you.

"Have you got a blanket?" he asks as he's kicking off his shoes.

"I have. What for?"

"The couch."

You process for a moment before it clicks.

"You're not sleeping on the couch, Buck."

"No?"

"No. I want your ridiculous, radiator-like body heat in bed with me."

He smiles, all giddy and lopsided, before striding across the room to you. Cradling your face in his rough hands, he kisses you with fervour. He's making up for lost time.

You tangle your fingers into his hair, tugging and pulling, smirking when he groans. He retaliates by grabbing your ass and picking you up, wrapping your legs around his waist. He carries you through to your bedroom, lips never leaving yours.

Throwing you down onto the bed, he pulls his shirt over his head, watching you hungrily as you do the same with your dress. You're left in your underwear, leaving little to the imagination.

"You're so beautiful," he murmurs. "Makes me want to cry."

You reach for him as he settles on top of you, your hand sliding along his stubbled cheek.

"I'm so glad you're feeling what I'm feeling," you whisper. "I'd think I was going insane otherwise."

Bucky kisses you again, before trailing his lips across your jaw, your ear, your neck. He's careful not to leave any marks, as much as he wants to. You glide your hands along the expanse of his shoulders, his back, his biceps. He's so strong, so broad. It makes you ache.

"So fuckin' pretty," he mumbles against your chest. "Like a goddamn dream."

You throw your head back as he attaches his mouth to your tits, nipping and sucking as he goes. Your hands are in his hair again, reveling in the way his groans vibrate through you.

Bucky slots his knee in between your legs as he kisses across your chest, smirking when you grind your hips into it. You chase the friction as best you can, moaning when it hits you just right.

"Needy baby. You don't want my fingers? My mouth? No? Just my knee?"

You nod, then shake your head. You're not sure what you're asking for, drunk on him already.

"Please, Buck. Anything."

"I'll give you whatever you want if you keep saying my name like that."

He makes quick work of pulling your underwear down your legs, swiping his fingers through your wet heat.

"Oh, fuck," he chokes. "Fuck, honey. Is this all for me? Hmm?"

"Yes, yes, yes."

"Yeah?"

"It's yours, Buck. I'm yours."

Bucky drops his head forward, bumping your nose with his.

"I think that's my favourite thing you've ever said," he mumbles against your mouth.

You reach up to kiss him, sucking his tongue before biting at his lips. You can't get close enough. Every inch of your skin is pressed to his, and you still want more.

Bucky crawls down the bed, situating himself between your legs. He nudges at you with his nose before diving in, lapping at you like a man starved.

You'd forgotten what people said about sex when you're Tethered, but it all comes back to you now. Everything is heightened, your senses on overdrive. It's like Bucky has the handbook to your body, and all he has to do is read the instructions the Universe has given him.

He's got you teetering on the edge in no time, right on the precipice. No ones ever made you feel like this. It feels like some sort of small miracle is happening, an otherworldly connection.

"Give it to me, honey baby," he murmurs into you. "Let me see how pretty you look when you come."

You tug at his hair as you reach your climax, the vibrations of his groan only prolonging your release. Bucky helps you ride it out, only ceasing his action when he's satisfied you're satisfied.

He rests his head against your thigh and looks up at you as you come down, breathing heavily.

"You good?"

"So good," you grin. "Never better."

"Me neither," he whispers, crawling up your body to kiss you again. You taste yourself and whine, desperate to feel closer to him.

"Need you," you demand against his lips. "Need you more than anything."

"I know, baby," he soothes as he smooths the hair back from your face. "Gonna give you everything you want. Anything in the world."

You're on the verge of tears again, completely overwhelmed. He's looking at you like you hung the stars in the sky just for him. You think maybe you would, if he asked you to.

Bucky slides home in one gentle thrust, easy as breathing. The both of you exhale, savouring the moment. It's like nothing either of you have ever felt before.

You pull his face down to you, resting your foreheads against each other.

"Buck, I-"

"I know," he breathes. "Fuck, I know."

"Need you to move, baby."

He nods and kisses you sweetly, before pulling his hips back and gliding forward. The angle is just right, both of you keening.

"Fuck, honey. So pretty. So tight. Fuck."

Bucky sets a steady rhythm, not too fast, not too slow. It's like he can read your mind, knowing exactly what you need. All you can say is his name as stars cloud your vision.

He slides his hand down your front, rubbing perfect circles on your clit with his fingers. You clamp down on him and he groans, low and gutteral.

"Need you to come, pretty baby," he whispers hoarsely. "Please. Waited so long for this. Please."

The desperation in his tone is what throws you into your release, muscles tensing and back arched. You grip his biceps, scratching your nails into his sun kissed skin.

Bucky can't hold on any longer, falling over the edge with you. The way he says your name as he does will be ingrained in your mind forever.

He drops his weight onto you entirely, no longer able to hold himself up. You wrap your arms around him, drawing absent minded patterns across his back. You're both sweating and panting. You're both completely content.

"Holy shit," he whispers after a while.

"You think it's gonna be like that every time?" you ask, grinning.

Bucky rolls off you and lands on the bed beside you, pulling you into his chest.

"Honey, just you wait. I've got moves you've never seen."

You snort, unable to hold in your laughter. You're floating on cloud nine, satiated and warm.

"You're the worst," you giggle, running your fingers over his abs gently.

The two of you stay intertwined for hours, enjoying the way your bodies fit together like two pieces of a puzzle. You both drift in and out of sleep, conversing in the gaps. At some points, you just lay in silence, completely comfortable. No one needs to say anything. You both know what the other person is thinking.

Eventually, the sun rises, casting the room in a golden orange glow. Bucky looks like an angel, illuminated by the morning light. You wonder for a second if he is, sent down as a gift to you.

Suddenly, you feel an intense sadness in your chest. You look up at Bucky from where you lay across him, and see a single tear drip down his cheek.

"I don't want you to go."

The only sound that can be heard is his sorrow hitting the pillow.

"I don't think I want to go."

He strokes your hair softly, taking a deep breath to try and get a handle on his emotions.

"You have to, baby. It's your dream."

Your bottom lip wobbles for a second, before the words come spilling out.

"You're my dream."

Bucky sniffles, and you continue.

"I could have nothing, but I have everything if I have you."

You sit up and Bucky does too, capturing your lips in a tear stained kiss.

"We'll be okay, my honey girl."

You crawl into his lap and wrap your arms around his neck, letting his warmth bleed into your bones.

"I know," you say, unsure if you're trying to convince yourself or him.

You know you'll be okay. It just doesn't feel like it right now.

You wonder how many times you can keep leaving and coming back before one of your hearts breaks for good.

tag list part one

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[pigcowboys]

Hi I hope you're having a wonderful day <3

I was wondering if you could maybe do percy jackson with a daughter of nyx where they are basically the same person personality wise and have a lot of common interests ( sorry self indulging here🤭). They basically both kin each other lmao

THANK YOU <3

pairing: ꒰percy jackson x nyx! female! reader꒱⋆·˚

summary: general hcs for percy with a nyx! s/o

warning(s): mutual pining, nonsensical bickering, mentions of injuries & kisses

a/n: HIII OMG THIS REQUEST IS SO CUTE :)) i tried my best to do what you requested!! i hope you like it!!

request are closed!

literally off the bat i can see the two of you at each other's throats all the time.

you're just too alike there's no way there's not gonna be bickering man.

"i think we should use a different design."

"who put you in charge?"

"the voices in my head, actually"

"literally what."

i imagine percy kind of being put off by you when he'd first get to camp half-blood like

who are you.

i mean it isn't like he's TRYING to be mean, you're just so annoying sometimes yk.

then i feel like one night he'd sneak out of camp to go stargazing and find you near the shore in his spot.

lowkey annoyed by your presence at first but still proceeds to gaze with you silently. you'd strike up a conversation with him and it'd actually go a lot better than he expected it to go.

okay, maybe you're not that bad.

he'd start to approach you more at camp but like not for any reason at all yk. he just enjoys talking to you, i guess.

probably would be overjoyed when he finds out you have similar interests as him.

you two probably stay up all night talking about the most random stuff.

honestly, those talks are probably the moment when he realizes he..like likes you.

you're just chilling and talking about random shit and he laughs at one of your jokes and has to take a moment because he realized that you're honestly just the best person ever.

and then from that point on he's honestly kind of a mess.

you're so cool to him for some reason?? you'd just be living life and he'd probably just be in the background observing you with big ass heart eyes.

"is there something on my face, perce?"

"huh? uh no, what?"

he knows he likes you but just doesn't know how to say it?? i mean, do YOU even like him back..??

aghhhh it's honestly so draining to him.

he's not shy. just kind of stupid when it comes to feelings.

probably tried to "woo" you somehow by buying you ocean related stuff whenever you go out together.

played it off as him just having some change.

he is willing to go bankrupt for you.

i feel like one day he just got tired of dropping hits and just decided to go for it cause like, you've known each other for a minute.

he'd meet you at that star gazing spot and literally just spill all his feelings for you.

"don't say anything but what if i told you you're an amazing person and probably the coolest person i've ever met in my life and that i'm literally head over heels for you because you're smart and funny and pretty and you're just the best?"

"what?"

and you start dating!! woo!!

HES SO SWEET!!!

once you start dating he def gets a bit more of a confidence boost.

always boasting about the fact he's dating you like everyone else doesn't already now from the way he's always clinging to you.

and if you're not into physical touch no worries!! he's completely and totally fine with it!! probably asks permission to give you hugs and hold your hand.

beach dates.

you'd be that one sappy couple who interlocking hands and walks down the beach together UGHH

he would def be the type of guy to go to you after every quest so you can patch him up. do you even know how to patch him up?? probably not! can't he just use some ambrosia?? yes.

doesn't mean he won't stop.

"percy, what the fuck happened!?"

"what do you mean?? :)"

kind of scared of your mother but would never admit it to your face.

i feel like he'd make some kind of big plan to try and kiss you but it'd ultimately fail.

he'd pull up to you with some beautiful ass flowers with a big grin on his face.

would take you to some really secluded spot that he'd decorated with a bunch of different things and homemade food!! (sally helped him.)

things would be going good till it starts to rain.

not that it's a problem for him at all but it kills the freaking mood.

"i'm so sorry.."

"for what?"

"how this turned out, it was supposed to be this big and..romantic thing."

"it's okay, we can have other dates."

"no like..i wanted us to kiss."

"..."

"..."

"who says we can't right now..?"

"oh."

he's in heaven when you finally kiss for the first time!! you're literally so amazing like wtf he got so lucky.

from that point on you two are locked in for life.

he's everywhere you are, you're everywhere he is NO MATTER WHAT.

he's so in love.

[dearestaussiechannie]

☾ 4:52 AM ☽ — Bang Chan

word count: 2k paring: Chan x reader genre: Angst/Comfort warnings: gender not specified!reader, Non-Idol!Chan, Chan is referred to as Chris/Christopher the whole AU, established relationship, heavy grief, deals with loss, comfort, pet names towards reader, if I missed anything or if there are any typos please lmk! Authors note: I personally have been through some terrible loss as of lately and I don't really open up about how I feel about it to the people around me but I needed to get this out somehow. If you're going through anything like this AU portrays, my heart goes out to you and really keep the people that are there for you close. Much love ♡

It’s been four months as of yesterday, so why hasn't this ache left your chest yet? How do you cope with something like this? How do you get the people around you to understand what you're going through when you can't even understand it yourself? If not everyone, then to your sweet Chris? He’d been by your side when you had gotten the phone call, drove you there and even has kept you together as best as he could even with everything that's been going on in life but it seems no matter how much time passes, how much effort he puts in, you can’t get better.

You haven't been able to get out of bed without the thought of your friend crossing your mind. When you do have the energy to go out, the smallest things seem to trigger your pain. Even if you get to stay home all day, your dreams would punish you as well, forcing you to relive memories that you want nothing more than to bury until the pain has stopped. Currently, that's exactly what’s going on.

You’ve sat up out of a dead sleep to the feeling of nothing but pain, salty streaks of where tears had been falling for who knows how long covering your cheeks. You groan softly as you wipe your face, looking at the clock beside your bed reading “4:52 AM” in bold red numbers only making you groan again but this time a bit louder. When was the last time you'd gotten a good nights sleep? Dreading the thought of being awake, you slowly crawl out of bed, careful not to wake the sleeping man beside you.

Once out of your shared room, you walk quietly to the kitchen, stopping a couple of times to look at the photos hanging on the walls to ease your racing heart and mind. Once you've got a warm cup of tea and a blanket from the living room couch, you shuffle to the back patio door, unlocking it and swiftly slipping outside. The air was a bit chilly as it was now late September, sending a shiver down your spine making you pull the blanket tighter around you as the glass mug filled with tea keeps your hands warm.

The sound of the wind was peaceful, but nothing could surpass the amount of peace the sound of waves softly rolling onto the shore of the beach that your house was so close to brought to your mind. Chris had picked this house for the two of you to move into together since it was about the same distance both ways from your families homes and of course, your sweet boy loves the ocean. Every summer that you've lived here, you'd always have to drag him inside to eat, rehydrate, reapply his sunscreen or to simply relax. This year however, he’d given you that time due to what had happened. The thoughts of him running around in the water by himself or with his friends or with you bring the faintest of smiles to your face as you take a sip from your cup.

While you were outside, the person you’d left inside suddenly takes notice that you're no longer sleeping beside him and it causes slight panic to run through his veins. He repeats the motions you'd made earlier, rubbing his eyes before reading the clock that now said “5:23 AM” in those same bold red numbers. He fluffs his hair a bit as he stands, slipping his nightshirt back on and pulls a sweater over that as he takes notice of the cool temperature in the house.

 He makes his way around, looking for you as carefully as he can so that he doesn't spook you when he does find you. Worry filling him more and more by the moment as he can’t seem to find you anywhere, finally looking out the back door with hope that you'll be there, a warm smile spreading across his face as he sees you, hair blowing in the breeze while you simply stare out into the horizon or into the stars. He leans against the door for a moment before he walks away from it, walking back towards the kitchen to get himself a cup of tea like you had but makes sure to get you another. 

On his way back to the door, he makes sure to turn the heat up since he knows that you’ll be cold when you come back inside. Carefully, he opens the door and walks over to you, putting the drinks onto the small table in front of your patio furniture. The sudden movements pull you from your thoughts, quickly looking up at him and pulling your blanket closer. “Sweetheart… How long have you been out here? Can’t be more than 55 out here and you're crying..” He says softly, slipping onto the wicker sectional beside you, gently tapping your tears away with his sweater sleeves. 

You were crying? When did you start crying and for how long? You rubbed your eyes a bit harshly as you looked away from him, sniffling slightly as you clear your throat and got a drink of your now cold tea. Chris doesn't miss a beat though, once you've pulled the mug from your lips, he takes it gently only to replace it with the fresh warm one. He also takes the moment to pull the blanket over himself as well, wrapping his arm around your shoulders, pulling you closer as he rubs your shoulder to give you some warmth.

“Christopher..” you start but he doesn’t let you finish. “Bad dream again?” He asks, looking at you, studying your face and taking notice of the redness in your cheeks as well as the tear stains. The only response you can give is a slight nod as your grip on the mug tightens, reliving your dream again making the tears rush to your eyes, bottom lip quivering as you start to shake. Chris doesn't miss these ques, taking your cup and putting it on the table before quickly pulling you closer, making you grab onto his sweater as you break down in his arms for what was probably the hundredth time in the past few months. He rubs your back gently as he listens to your soft sobs, noticing how hard you're shaking from the weather and the pain that you were feeling.

The two of you stay like this for what feels like hours as he keeps you close to his chest, his head resting against yours as he hums softly just for you to feel the vibrations, knowing how it helps you relax. His fingers thread through your hair, making sure not to pull as he also carefully rakes his nails across your scalp. Your eyelids begin to feel heavy as he does this, making everything in your mind somehow seem clearer. You take a deep breath as you wiggle closer to him, looking back out into the horizon, knowing this will be easier if you don’t look at him. It's always been easier to let him know your thoughts when you don't look at him.

“Chris, I miss them.. I miss them so much that it hurts. The thought of never getting to see them again, never hugging them again, never looking into their eyes, never seeing their smile ever again… it's haunting me. And there's nothing I can do to fill this empty spot that they've left. 15 years of memories, conversations, pictures, laughs are all just that now.. Memories that only I will ever remember… Why did they leave me here like this? Was there really nothing I could do to stop it? Nothing I could do to help them? Am I gonna feel like this forever? When will this pain end? I can’t take this anymore.. It's too much. I just wanna wake up from this sick nightmare and see their name pop up in my phone one more time.” You spill to him, sobbing between every word as you grab onto the blanket tighter, eyes burning from tears for the third time in such a short period of time, surely making you dehydrated. 

Hearing all of this absolutely breaks Chris’s heart, having to watch his whole world, crumble and break like this. He keeps quiet as he keeps rubbing your head, listening to you speak since this is the first time you've opened up to him about what's been going on in that mind of yours for the past four long months. The pain, fear and regret that you've felt. He knows that his words won't help so he just hopes that his presence will. That the love that he has for you will help you in this agonizing process of healing that you're having to go through. He just wants you to know that even if you feel mentally alone, he's right here. He's here for you emotionally, physically, mentally and in other ways that he can be.

He softly presses his warm lips to your cold forehead, still gently humming. “My sweet angel.. I’m sorry that you feel this way and I know that there's not much that I can do since time will have to heal this wound but I want you to know that I'm right here, you're not alone okay? Even if I can’t feel what you're feeling, I will be right here to pick you back up when you fall or break. I will pick you back up just as they would want you to be. Help you every step of the way. I love you and so did they and that's what I want you to remember okay? It was all more than just a memory, it was their story and they were so lucky to have you in it, sweetheart. They were so lucky to have you as their best friend for as long as they lived.”

You wipe your eyes again, no more tears passing your lashes as you look up at him, slowly moving your hand up to his cheek and rubbing the soft skin with your thumb. “When you miss them, always remember to look for them in the sunsets.. In the stars.. Or..” He looks away from you then back down with a gentle smile, moving your face back towards the beach as he whispers. “In the warm, morning sunrises.. They'll always be right there.. Watching over you and cheering you on.” He whispers to you as he again presses his lips to your forehead, this time making contact with your temple as he takes your cold hands into his warm ones, rubbing over your knuckles with his thumbs.

You let out a broken chuckle that mixes with a sob, shaky breaths no longer turning into clouds as the sun starts to warm the air again. You look back to your sweet Chris, giving a sleepy smile before the weight of your head falls into the nape of his neck, indirectly telling him you're too tired to get back up and walk into the bedroom to get more sleep. Luckily, he takes notice, wrapping the blanket tighter around you, carrying you into your shared home and to the bed that's been waiting for you both to come back. This is exactly where you needed to be in a time like this. In the arms of someone who loves you no matter how broken you are. Home.

Once in the bed, Chris covers you both up as the sun peeks through the curtains like warm kisses before you look at the clock. It now reads “6:48 AM” and you sigh, flipping it so you couldn't see the numbers anymore, rolling over to face Chris, kissing him gently before closing your eyes fully. “I love you so much, Christopher Bang.” “And I love you, Y/n L/n.” He repeats, rubbing your back again as you begin to drift off into sleep. Sleeping better than you had in so long, now dreaming of the good things again, no more nightmares of grief… Just dreams of love.

"Goodbye for now but not forever, we’ll see each other in my dreams again. Don’t forget to come visit my dreams full of love for you soon."

©️ dearestaussiechannie, all rights reserved.

Taglist: (to be added, comment or message me♡)

@bangchansbae

[anakinskywalkerog]

My Very Soul (Chapter 20)

Anakin Skywalker x Jedi!Reader

Link to Chapter 19

Warnings: angst (yes, but, the next one you guys, the next one will be big) and PINING—that horrible/wonderful feeling of being near someone you are slowly realizing you want but feel you can't have....am I going through something? mb. SHUSH it doesn't matter.

Summary: You and Anakin get used to life on Levangé, but your newfound freedom comes with new feelings (BEAR WITH ME some REAL IMPORTANT SHIT is going to happen in the next one...so...)

Word Count: 4.4k

You fell into your routine at the shore estate on Levangé much too easily, as if you were falling into some kind of trance, or sleep; you felt as if you were floating in the ocean beneath the house, instead of simply sitting on the deck, hearing the waves. You were moved by the current of this beautiful place, and you felt yourself drifting into a normalcy you never thought you'd feel here, impersonating someone whose life differed so very much from your own. Still, in spite of yourself, you felt as if your real life were somehow fading into memory, saber training and meditation replaced forcefully by the dazzling present, its bright sunlight, days sitting in the sand, the dinners watching the glowing ball fade into the distant horizon.

         You awoke each morning and bathed and dressed, with the help of Océane and Elodie—though help on their part had turned primarily into them sitting beside you as you fretted over clothes, enjoying conversation. They told you much about the planet they'd come to know as home—they were sisters, raised in a nearby village they still occasionally went back to visit.

         "'Ze next time, you must come wiz us," Océane promised excitedly, sitting on the edge of the bed while you were choosing an outfit for the day.

         Each day after you'd dressed and breakfasted, you and Anakin found another spot of your corner of the island to explore. At the beginning, you'd made sure to prioritize taking in the environment for the sake of the mission.

         "It will help," you had told him, "if there are any unwanted visitors, for us to know the surrounding areas as well as possible." But though you had devised your mental maps, and made sure to stay alert in order to interpret any change in the Force, you'd found nothing in the areas surrounding the house but the beautiful charm of Levangé. The hills and cliffsides led up into the forest, a jungle that left enough room between trees for small bits of dappled light to shine through. You'd found multiple small beaches near you, all of which were surrounded by rocks that were filled with small ocean wildlife, little creatures of unbelievable shapes you knew were endemic to Levangé. You'd even ventured into the town, heavily disguised, but you'd found nothing but kindly villagers, shops filled with sweets and traditional Levangéan fares. No matter where you looked, the place seemed perfect. 

         After each day of exploring and enjoying the scenery, you and Anakin would return to the house for dinner. Though at first Theo had simply brought out the food and wine and left you and Anakin to your own conversation, you'd insisted enough that eventually, he began to join you for dinners. Elodie and Océane began to join in as well, and after a couple of weeks at the house, you all began the habit of enjoying lively meals together, full of laughter and debate and friendship. It was unlike anything you'd experienced in your life as a Jedi—though you counted the Jedi as your closest friends, your family, you'd never been able to interact with them in this way, with such freedom, without any inhibitions or mind for the code. You would have been without a care in the world here on this planet if it hadn't been for the thing growing in the Force, the thing you felt get bigger and bigger each day you spent in this lovely place, the thing that refused to go away.

         The thing felt like a growth inside of you: it felt like a presence, a Bantha-sized being, a 6th member of the house sitting at the dinner table. It was invisible, and it never spoke, but it controlled your movements. It made your face flush. It commanded you to look at the person sitting across from you, the beautiful person reaching for the basket of cuanut bread, smiling at Elodie as she spoke. The thing haunted you as you tried to fall asleep at night, and no matter how much you wanted to banish it from your brain, it was insistent. It made you relive every moment of the day, your insides turning into a nebula, your brain spinning.

         The worst part of all of it was that, if you were honest with yourself, you didn't want the thing to go away. This large and unwelcome feeling was not only insistent—it was electric. It was every good feeling tied up into an infinitely dense ball that fit neatly into the middle of your torso. It was radiant. It made you feel as if the sun itself lived inside you, and it could shine every day, forever, so long as you were with him.

         You'd known that you had...odd feelings for Anakin for a long time, perhaps even from the first time you'd sparred—but those feelings had always been something you had control over, something you knew you couldn't act on. The Jedi Order was your first priority, always. And yet, as you spent these sunny days on Levangé, the Jedi Order seemed to fade into the background. Your feelings began to take over every single one of your thoughts, and you felt as if you no longer had control over them. You were no longer certain about anything.

         You woke up on a particularly bright morning with these thoughts at the front of your mind. You'd been dreaming again, you knew. The images faded from behind your eyes, and you let them, blinking, trying to forget the flashing pictures: Anakin laying in the grass, smiling, looking over to you in the sunlight; Anakin laughing with you across the dinner table, catching your eye; Anakin holding your hand; Anakin leaning forward to touch your Padawan braid. You reached with your hands from beneath the sheets, but felt only your loose hair. You knew that you would be back in the Temple at some point, maybe even soon. You knew you'd have your braid back, your Master back, your life back, all very soon. You felt inside you a deep sense of mourning. Sighing, you got up, reaching for the bell that would signal to Elodie and Océane that you were ready for them.

         As you walked down the stairs toward the now-familiar dining room table, your feelings of sadness immediately vanished. It was impossible to feel sad with the Force the way it was here, this morning, at that table, surrounding a particularly joyful Padawan.

         "Good morning," Anakin greeted you brightly, smiling at you. You felt your legs moving, but they were doing so of their own accord—your mind was fully and completely taken over by Anakin's bright teeth, his face breaking into the joyful crack of the mouth. The sun had tanned Anakin's face, and lightened his hair. The effect, in combination with his blue eyes, was overwhelming. You reached for the chair and pulled yourself into a seat, relieved you'd made it as far as you had without losing the ability to walk.

         "Morning," you responded quietly, giving Anakin a small smile. He was still smiling at you, but his eyebrows went up, almost as if he were feeling inquisitive about your mood. You ignored him, reaching for the food that already filled the table.

         "Theo has a surprise for us today," Anakin said, quasi-causally.

         "A surprise?" you asked, calling toward the kitchen.

         "If you are to enjoy all ze beauty Levangé 'as to offer," Theo said, entering the dining room carrying a tray with coffees and the juice and nectarwine he insisted on serving every morning, "'zen you must see even 'ze most secret of places." You raised your eyebrows.

         "I thought this house was already supposed to be a secret place," you said, teasing.

         "It won't do any good to argue with him," Anakin said, laughing. "I already asked where he wants to take us. He won't tell."

         "A little bit of 'ze unknown," Theo said with a wink, "makes life worth living."

Anakin brushed the sweat off his brow, following Theo through the thick jungle.

         "Just over 'zis 'ill in front of us," Theo explained excitedly. "I 'ave set everything up for you."

         "You aren't coming with us?" Anakin heard you ask from behind him, and he turned to regard your face. Something in your presence felt apprehensive today, maybe even a little sad. Thankfully, you had stopped pulling your Force presence back into yourself, and Anakin, at least, had the joy and the relief of feeling your being through the Force, along with rudimentary changes in mood that all Jedi were sensitive to. He knew that, with your gifts, you were doing him a favor by allowing yourself to be felt—or, perhaps, he thought, you were simply finally relaxed enough to focus on how you were feeling, rather than how others might be perceiving you. He wondered if these changes would fade when you both returned to Coruscant. He hoped they wouldn't.

         "'Ze day is for you two to enjoy," Theo responded, putting his hands up in front of him. "I 'ave a 'ouse to attend to, you know."

         "You know you are welcome to join us, Theo," Anakin told him, though secretly, Anakin wished he would leave. Theo was kind, funny, and lively—Anakin enjoyed his company immensely—but Anakin had relished every moment alone with you he'd been able to savor since landing on this planet. He was eager for more. It felt like everything he'd been waiting for, all his life, to be in this place, alone with you. Anakin made eye contact with Theo, and suddenly, Anakin felt as if this kind man knew his every secret. Theo winked at him.

         "No, I must return," Theo insisted. "Ahead of you is one of 'ze island's best kept secrets. You must cherish it." Theo turned and walked back through the jungle in the other direction.

         "Luckily, you're good at keeping secrets," Anakin joked, turning to you. You averted your eyes, and Anakin blushed, wiping the sweat off of his forehead again. Suddenly, he felt self-conscious. Still flushed, he turned and led the way over the last ridge, pushing aside large green leaves and holding branches out of the way for you to follow.

         "I—" Anakin began, but he cut himself off when both of you reached the clearing. He heard you gasp with pleasure, and suddenly, he wasn't interested in beholding the small valley with the most beautiful waterfall he'd ever seen. He turned away from the water that fell in a rainbow through the sun, turned away from the rocks and the grass and the pool, turned away from the beauty of Levangé, and turned back to look at your face as you beheld the view. You were the most iridescent thing he'd ever seen. Your face was the only place he felt he needed to inhabit, your wide eyes beholding the water the only thing he needed to see ever again, as far as he was concerned. Though the waterfall was beautiful, it paled in comparison.

         "This is..." you said, still looking at the water, your eyes gleaming.

         "One of Levangé's best kept secrets," Anakin smiled, turning back to the waterfall slightly reluctantly. It was only then that he noticed the picnic blanket and the small table stacked with food and wine, situated in the grass near enough to the waterfall to enjoy its splendor, but far enough away to remain dry.

         "Theo really wants us to enjoy Levangé," you said breathlessly, and Anakin noticed the color in your cheeks.

         "Well, then, who are we to disappoint him?" Anakin responded, giving you the world's most joyful grin before kicking off his boots, taking off his thin tunic shirt, and running toward the water in only his light cut-off pants. Anakin heard you laugh in delight as he jumped into the pool, his whole body submerged in the cold, his heart warmer than it had been in a long, long time.

         The two of you swam in the pool and let your heads get wet under the calmer parts of the stream of water flowing off the cliff above. Anakin watched your smile as you leaned your head back and closed your eyes, feeling the water fall over your hair, and suddenly, he was struck by the knowledge that he needed to remember this moment, forever. He watched you almost maniacally, making sure to take in every detail, making sure he could keep this moment in his mind for as long as he lived, and perhaps even longer than that.

         You and Anakin dried off on the picnic blanket, picking at the fruit and trying to guess the names of the birds that sang around you. The Levangéan words sounded beautiful on your tongue, even as you butchered their pronunciation. Anakin poured you wine, which you sipped slowly. Anakin abstained, fingering his lightsaber every so often. Though he felt more comfortable here now than he had when you had first arrived, he still wanted to remain vigilant, especially when you were far from the house.

         "I think, sometimes, about how much of the galaxy we have yet to see," you said, sipping your wine and laying on your back, your thin dress covering your swimsuit moving with you. Anakin watched water drip from your hair. "It makes me sad, I guess," you continued, putting your hand up to shield your eyes from the sun. "That we can't ever see all of it, no matter how many missions we go on, no matter how much we try. Can you imagine," you said, turning to face Anakin, "if we'd never been assigned to Levangé? We never would have known this place existed, never would have seen these beaches..."

         "No," Anakin replied quietly, watching you, "I can't imagine it."

         "But think of how many other places like Levangé there must be," you responded, turning to look at Anakin. The moment your eyes connected, things changed. They always did. "Don't you ever feel unhappy," you continued, "that there are so many places we'll never get to see? So many lives we'll never get to..." you trailed off, looking away.

         "Is that why you were feeling sad this morning?" Anakin asked, genuinely curious. As he watched you blush again, he felt you withdraw your Force presence, only a little, as if by reflex.

         "Well," you replied slowly, as if choosing your words carefully. "I guess I was thinking about how we'll have to leave, soon...leave Levangé, and Theo, and Elodie and Océane..." You took a deep breath, closing your eyes. Anakin felt you try to push back your sadness, try to calm your thoughts.

         "It's okay to feel sad," Anakin told you, taking your arm and giving it a gentle shake. He wished you wouldn't work so hard to hide your emotions. He wished you would feel safe enough with him to express anything you felt, whenever you felt it. "It isn't fair, sometimes" he continued, "this job." At this, you opened your eyes, and looked over at him curiously.

         "What do you mean by that?" you asked, turning over and resting your head on your arm.

         "I mean, the council shouldn't be able to decide everything," Anakin said, feeling his frustration grow as he thought of them, those self-important Jedi Knights who made decisions for him, for you, for everyone in the order. "We should have a say in where we go, and what we do. I might have chosen this life," he continued, furrowing his brow, "but you didn't. You were practically a baby when they brought you to the Temple."

         "I choose the Jedi life every day, Ani," you countered, watching Anakin's face carefully. "I'm not a slave. I choose to live this life, because I believe in what the Jedi stand for, and I believe in using my gifts to help people who need it."

         "But think of how much more you could do," Anakin continued, feeling a wry smile on his face. "You, who have gifts that outstrip even your own Master. If you could make the decisions, about where you went, how you chose to help. And me," Anakin said, his anger rising, "both of us, who were born with such talent, but are always beholden to the whim of those who are less powerful than we are...if we could make the decisions, think about how the Republic could change, and for the better."

         "No Jedi is all powerful, Ani," you said, sounding resigned.

         "No," Anakin said, keeping his true thoughts on this subject to himself, "but there's no power in the universe greater than the power of the Jedi." There was a long silence. Anakin felt your unease.

         "Maybe someday we will be on the council," you said, in a pacifying tone, "and we will be responsible for making those kinds of decisions. It sounds hard, to have that much responsibility." You sighed. "I don't know if I would be able to do it."

         "You would be able to do it better than anyone," Anakin replied.

         "Better even than you?" you asked, smiling, your face alight with competition, an old fire in your presence.

         "No," Anakin answered, smiling back. "But better than most people, anyway." You laughed, pushing Anakin's arm.

         "I do wish, sometimes," you said, laying back on the picnic blanket, "that we didn't have to leave here. That we didn't have to fight anymore."

         "You love fighting," Anakin replied, confused by these words.

         "I love fighting you," you responded, and Anakin blushed, feeling in these words a declaration that wasn't on their surface. "And I love fighting Master Yuma. I love practicing, honing my talents. I love the art form," you explained, "that is the lightsaber variations. But fighting bounty hunters, mercenaries, fighting on missions, fighting people in the real world, absent of the constraints of practice, grace, humility..." you shuddered. "It feels like violence that doesn't have a purpose, sometimes."

         "You mean to say," Anakin asked, his stomach going cold, "that you would consider leaving the Jedi Order?"

         "No," you sighed, closing your eyes again. "I would never leave the Order."

         The silence that followed this statement was longer than the last. The birds sang, and the water fell into the pool, raising a mist throughout the clearing in the jungle. Anakin heard bugs buzzing their songs.

         "I don't want to leave Levangé, either," Anakin said finally, wanting to break the silence, wanting to hear your voice again.

         "But we have to," you answered, your eyes still closed.

         "Not yet," Anakin said softly, laying on the blanket beside you and reaching forward to brush a stray hair away from your forehead. At the point of contact, Anakin felt as if his fingertips had been shocked. You opened your eyes and rolled over to look at him, just as the sun broke through the space in the trees. Anakin smiled at you, watching the rainbows that graced off the waterfall collide with the light, obscuring your face.

The walk back to the house had been quiet. You and Anakin had stayed near the waterfall until after the sun had set. You had wanted to watch the sky change colors from the valley, wanted to stay in that place as long as you possibly could. You knew in the deepest parts of yourself that you would never return to that waterfall, and before you'd even left, you had felt the loss of it. It was dark by the time you and Anakin had reached the house, and you had slowly made your way up the stairs, bidding Anakin goodnight before you'd come out onto your balcony. Here you stood, looking up at the stars, feeling the tumultuous waves below as if they were inside you.

         You couldn't stop yourself from seeing it. Anakin smiling at you in the sun, reaching his hand toward your face. It had been the exact image you'd seen in your dream. You'd lived it twice, once in sleep, once while awake, and it lit your brain like a fire. You couldn't stop the feelings that flooded you now.

         While near the waterfall it had taken every strength you'd had not to reach back toward Anakin, to pull yourself closer. You knew you mustn't think this way. You knew that if you gave in to these feelings, there would be no going back—you would not be able, once you closed the gap between Anakin and yourself, to reopen it. You would not be able to push yourself away from him if you allowed yourself to get any closer. And you knew what would happen—you knew that if you allowed yourself this, here on this planet, that your real life, elsewhere, would be shattered. You would not be able to live the life of a Jedi if you were entangled in an attachment as strong as the one you felt forming within you now. You knew that everything you held dear—Master Yuma, the Temple, the Jedi Code, the Jedi Order, all of it—would come crashing down in a burning heap, were you to act on your feelings. And yet, even the weight of that knowledge was barely enough for you to stop yourself from giving in.

         The worst part of it was that you knew how Anakin felt. That was the very worst part—that you knew Anakin's every mood change, knew that he felt an immense joy every time you walked into a room, knew that he felt a loss every time you left his presence. You knew his feelings for you were as strong as ever, that they had always been, that they would likely always be—you knew, and you were cursed with the knowledge. To deny him what he so desperately wanted caused you more pain that you would ever admit. And yet you couldn't even sort through that emotion. Everything swirled around you, all of the feelings of others and the feelings inside yourself blurring into one. You couldn't be certain of anything, not even of those things inside yourself. You were terrified by how little it made sense.

         You paced the balcony, and suddenly, as if something inside you had pressed the button to jump to lightspeed, you felt yourself walking off the balcony, out of the room, down the stairs, and out of the door to the house. You knew it wasn't wise, to wander off on your own; you knew you were wearing the senator's pajamas, and should anyone discover you now, they would likely find you at your most vulnerable. You didn't even stop to take your saber with you. Still, you didn't think you could sit in that house. You couldn't think through these feelings within the confines of walls. You needed the sky. You needed the sea.

         You walked, barefoot, down the path on the cliff to the beach you'd visited your first morning here. You felt the rock on your soles as if it were medicinal—the cool stone calmed you, and when you reached the sand, you sunk your feet in. The moons were lit above you like lanterns, making it so the whole of the beach was cast in blue light, the night sky with its stars setting the scene. All of it slowed your breathing just enough so you could think. You walked forward, allowing your feet and shins to be touched by the waves as they came upward. The senator's small silk nightgown was thin, but you didn't feel cold in this climate. You allowed the salt water to clear your head.

         Though you felt calmed, standing here under the moons, the calming effect did nothing to dispel your pain. The scenery only clarified your situation—it took away the storm in your head, but it did not change anything. You still were stuck in this impossible place. You were tasked with denying your own feelings, causing yourself pain. You were tasked with denying Anakin what he wanted, what you both wanted, you could admit—you were tasked with wounding, again and again, so as to preserve your code, your ideals, and your purpose. You knew that your gifts were important to the Republic and to the Order. You knew that your own talent, and Anakin's, made the situation even more dire. The Jedi needed you, and even moreso, they needed Anakin. You must resist, and in resisting yourself, you knew you were likely to feel this pain every day, for the rest of your life, as it would continue to grow. You felt the tears streaming down your cheeks, but they didn't help. The ocean didn't help. Nothing could help you now. You were stuck, and that was that.

         You felt the change in the Force before you heard the footsteps, and you turned around, gasping, realizing where you were, how little you were wearing, remembering that you were vulnerable, that didn't have your weapon. But the figure you saw stepping down onto the sand was not an enemy.

         "Y/N?" Anakin called, hurrying toward you, but stopping a few feet short of where you stood with your feet in the waves. "What are you doing? I felt—I felt your presence change—"

         You watched Anakin, realizing how you must look, out here on this beach in the night, tears streaming down your face, your hair wild, your shoulders bare. You had neglected to pull your presence into yourself. In your agony, in the strength of your feeling, it hadn't seemed important.

         "I—" you started, your voice cracking, but as you looked up at Anakin, you realized you had nothing to say to explain yourself. You could offer him no lies that would make sense, and it felt as if the two of you were beyond that now, anyway. You said nothing. You turned and looked over your shoulder, out at the moons, out at the horizon.

         "Little flea?" Anakin asked again, tenderly, taking a step toward you, but looking as if he were quite as lost for words as you were. "Are you all right?"

         You turned back to look at him, only for a moment—only to take in how the sky was the same color as his eyes, right now, in this low blue light. The moment of silence passed between you, and you allowed it. You then stepped forward, looking away, walking past him, walking up to the path and heading back toward the house. You heard him following you, but you both said nothing.

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

I'M SORRY OKAY I promise it will get better soon and I'm sorry this took me so long. Fanfic is a fun hobby but sometimes life gets in the way.

THE NEXT CHAPTER IS UP AND IT'S BIG GUYS THINGS HAPPEN GO READ NOW

divider credit to @racingairplanes

(if you have changed your username pls leave a comment and I'll change it on this list)

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[mizziix]

Yknow what I can use this blog for whatever I want so I'm gonna ramble about my WoD oc's

So I got two big ones rn. That's a lie I actually have like half a dozen owod mages and equal that number awakening mages with a smattering of others but yknow these two are new.

Both of these characters were made in a free form server that allows for high power characters, so that's how I got away with any of this if you're wondering. DM me if you want an invite, it's public

The first one I got is Andrei Nichols, a 7th gen Lasombra. His backstory is that he was embraced some time around the last turn of the millennium in Scandinavia. He did a bunch of shit in the following 600 years like secure the Sabbat's hold on Scandinavia and become an Abyss Mystic but none of that really matters because in the 1600's he was captured and sealed inside a pillar of jet black granite and obsidian glass. It had a habit of bleeding.

This pillar of bleeding obsidian was passed around various Tremere chantries in Western Europe for a couple of centuries, until a mishap in the 1800's sent the thing sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Ocean.

Andrei Nichols, for his part, is aware of precisely none of that. As far as he is aware, the seawater rotted away the stake in his heart granting him consciousness again, he drifted onto the shore of Jewel city in 1982, and that's where his life began. With no memory, no connections, limited ability to speak english (read: none), and no resources for himself, Andrei's introduction to Jewel City unlife was rather uneventful. Andrei spent a good number of years just fucking hiding, feeding from people in back alleys and picking up scraps of language from stalking people. Sticking to back alleys and shadowy underbellies, he learned the language fairly quickly and made limited contact with some of the kindred of the area. Knowing what he was but not where he came from, he was introduced to the culture of the area and allowed to fend for himself. So, he took a job as a waiter to get by, renting an apartment next to an abandoned construction site. In recent time, he's taken a liking to the place, wandering its abandoned halls in his off time and exploring the basement. The fact that things have gotten ever darker there so far hasn't set off any alarm bells.

He's so fun to play because he's just A Guy. He's uninvolved with politics, works odd jobs as a night shift waiter, and is by most accounts normal, but at the same time is a supremely powerful abyss mystic Lasombra on the fucking Road of Kings, but still none of that registers to him, he is only himself. If you pointed out all the eldritch horror that surrounds him, like the fact that nobody else lives in the empty burnt out apartment building he lives in, or the fact that the shadows near him constantly writhe and his eyes foretell doom and decay... he'd be confused. Like, all of it just doesn't register to him because That's Just Normal. He *could* go for a power play and get power, but... he's got rent to pay. So, who cares?

The other fun angle is, being an entirely self indulgent character, he's friends with a number of mages. The main place he works at is essentially a magical femboy hooters run by a Euthanatos Archmaster. This leads to a lot of fun philosophical talks and some very interesting developments in his own Abyss Mystic practice. Namely, I wanted to have some fun approaching the idea of Mage from another splat's perspective. Mages deal with the idea of consensus fairly regularly, the idea that the world isn't actually what it seems to be is part and parcel. But for a *vampire,* the idea that the world doesn't actually exist as people think it does, and that the forces of the universe are just chaotic figments of imagination that can and do change.... is terrifying! It's a slow, creeping existential dread that he doesn't know how to deal with! It rocks.

My other guy in really excited about is Vincent Heikkilä, Void Engineer, Pan Dimensional Corps, Archmaster.

Vincent is actually native to the void, not earth. Vincent was born on a colony orbiting the Orion Nebula deep in the heart of space. Growing up in this environment gave him from a young age an instinct for space travel and navigation, when your first spacewalk was at seven learning to pilot shuttlecraft is kinda like getting a drivers license. He started his career as a teenager, starting as an unenlightened tech/data analyst in a work study position. However he enlightened (aka awakened) abs started making unprecedentedly fast progress, earning a position as a junior officer by 19.

Befitting a Void Engineer, he saw a lot of strange things and wolf action throughout the long years spent in the depths of space; dragons, alternate timelines, black holes, spatial anomalies, eldritch horrors that would make a vampire (read: Andrei) cry, actual literal Gods, he saw and dealt with it all. Eventually his career, published works on Dimensional Science, and experience with logistics and command earned him the position of rear admiral of one of the admittedly smaller fleets of VE battleships, working with the ETD on a number of expeditions against various threats to the Union. It was in these years that he saw and did some heinous things. There's really no good way to justify glassing a planet's surface to yourself, even if you knew it had to be done. After a long career, he made one hell of a persuasive argument in favor of shore leave and petitioned to go somewhere that he had never managed to travel to before, something stranger than he had ever seen, full of sights that even an Archmaster like himself had never experienced.

He took a vacation to earth.

Vincent is fun to play because he's this hyper competent space cowboy gunslinger with enough knowledge to justify my unhinged ramblings about the nature of the universe, but he also just doesn't know what a Gamecube is. He's a hardened soldier but... that's behind him. He's possessed by a joie de vivre and this deep enjoyment of the mundane that was strong enough to give him Fae Affinity (note, that's typically impossible for Technocrats but idc). He's not interested in participating in the Ascension war, even if he could beat nearly anyone in a quick draw duel he's too busy discovering what a crepe tastes like when it hasn't been 3d printed. He's piloted fighter craft and warships, but this is the first time he's been on a roller coaster. He's just such this fun, troublemaking rogue, it's great.

His current plans are very simple right now, just make friends. Experience the city not like a reality shifting demigod of technology but just as a dude. He might show off a bit, he might take one or two of his friends up into space for a joyride, but really I'm keeping all the incredibly powerful magic (or, ahem, enlightened science) just for prop comedy and shits and giggles. Also to drive off some of the annoying vampire elders in town, but that's neither here nor there.

Please feel free to ask more questions about either of them, or for stuff about other characters. Thank you for reading this long lmao

[deprivedreality]

𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗡𝗧𝗘𝗡𝗗𝗘𝗗 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗛𝗜𝗣 ; 𝗦𝗛𝗘-𝗠𝗢𝗡𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥 chp one

Fortunately, the shore has been nice and peaceful for the day, and Na'vieh was more than delighted because of it. She sighed softly, looking down at the clear flowy water and seeing her reflection. She sat at the edge of her very own marui given to her as she is the clan's tsakarem.

It was comfortable silence between her and nature was what made her feel eased, while the soft hustling of the village people continued on, she could only ignore them as it was only often times that she is given the opportunity to have the afternoon for herself and for her own entertainment.

That's right, no duties.

Her mind fuzzed for a few couple of seconds as she breathlessly looked down, recalling those that had happened to her during the few days that had passed ever since her visit from the spirit tree.

First it was the village people finding her quite suspicious recently, even she couldn't tell why. However, Na'vieh figured that it must've been because of her being in a terrible mood more than usual. She did regret so, since her peers and elders were accustomed to her pleasant and lively personality.

Then the time when Eywa would calls for her at random times, the words she had told her were forged in her mind and it definetly didn't help how every night, the deity would enter her dreams and repeat the same phrase with no explanation as to why.

The continous whispering that drove her to staying in her hut, relieving the stress by making herbs and medicines all throughout the day. This was the cause of her switching moods that she couldn't control.

And then there was the attraction she had fallen into whenever she passed by the groves of her village, a path that led people far from the village. A jungle deep within the big island near to where she was.

It's easy to say that if it wasn't for her companions who continuously pulled her around, she swore that she would've been lost in her own little world by now.

The memory of Eywa giving her a message lingered around the corner of her mind. Because of this, her relaxed face was replaced with a knowing look. She pursed her lips together, grumbling to her self as if she was annoyed of something.

"It would be nicer if I get an explanation!" She yelled, grunting and tossing her arms in the air as if she was punching something.

Na'vieh wondered if she even is doing her duties as an important benefactor of her clan. She knew, that as a Tsahik in training, she should get her priorities in line. What even is she if she can't even interpret what was being told to her.

"Why do you have to be so stupid and... clueless." Na'vieh told herself, mocking her reflection in the water and plainly kicking the water, splattering her face along the process.

It wasn't until she calmed herself did she suddenly have a thought on why whispers had been reluctant on making the situation easy for her. She scoffed, obviously Eywa was making her solve a puzzle.

Go a little far beyond the village, but come back with more than what you are. She repeated the same sentence she had been hearing inside her thick skull. She understand what it meant, but she doesn't know what to do. Nor why she should even do so.

"What are you trying to tell? Are you telling me to go and come back? What could I possibly even find that would earn me something. I have everything I need here." Na'vieh just didn't get it. And why would she even have to go? She had the ocean, she had parents who cared for her despite being formerly looking like a dead rag.

She had enough authority to be respected, even as a someone who is not born within the clan.

She grew impatient as she tried to decide whether she should finally do what Eywa had been eager to tell her. Na'vieh started biting her lips until it bled and paced a couple of time inside her marui, thinking. She was trying to find a reason to do it.

But then a horrible idea formed in her. "Could— Could there be enemies in the forest?" Anxiously, she tried to deny this fact but it soon became obvious to the naked eye.

Aliens, the sky people, had been bothering the lives of her precious tribe not too long ago. Mayhaps this was the right assumption she should have to finally be able to brace herself and understand the message.

Eywa told her because she couldn't prevent it, and now Na'vieh was strikken with the guilt of having been too late to realize. She rushed out of her marui, wanting to share this idea with the Chief and his wife.

But suddenly, she stopped in her tracks in motion and recalled that all should be kept a secret. Village people looked at her as she breathlessly got back to her Marui after rushing to get out.

"If there are enemy in there, why warn only me? This makes no sense." Na'vieh asked, confused.

As she was thinking to herself, what she didn't know was that miles from her very own Marui, there was a certain group of foreigners encountering problems.

Na'vieh had to make the decision. She can't help but worry for the aftermath of whatever decision she will have to make, but it is needed. And she made the decision of following her instinct.

She trusts in Eywa. So why doubt?

Na'vieh immediately grabbed what will be accompanying her for the time being, a two headed spear, a weapon she had not used for a long time.

She prepared herself and didn't question her instinct any further. And just before dawn could even arrive, Na'vieh had stealthy disappeared from her Marui with her Ilu, headed straight to wherever Eywa told her to go.

Toruk Macto watched as his family circled around him, sleeping soundly in each other's warmth while a torch lit up in the middle to keep them cozy. Another day has ended and a night has yet to pass.

Jake frowned at the sight, watching his whole family struggling to their new lives didn't give him much comfortability and assurance, but it was also enough to drive him to his best and find a place to seek refuge for themselves. He felt guilty having to know that he had given away the forest life of his children and wife as a sacrifice.

"Eywa, guide us. Please." He hoped, begging for compassion.

But then there was rustling behind his back, alerting him enough to tell that whatever it is, it wasn't friendly. Jake stood in guard and hastily grabbed his gun and started to walk towards it.

He kept silent and watched the movements of the quick creature, feeling chills run up to his spine as he heard more rustling and hissing. He didn't hesitate to have his gun ready to shot, his finger closely pulling the trigger of it. Jake feared the hostility of whoever it is.

"This better not get bloody." He said mightly, sounding pissed. At this point, he had walked right out of the territory where his children and mate were resting at, far enough to realize that if he was going to fight this hostile being, then it's not going to be noticed by anyone.

Soon enough, a sudden movement had been made and Jake couldn't phantom how quick this monster was. It was amazing but terrifying. It hissed so furiously, and he felt its feiry stare burning holes in his head.

"Show yourself, I'm not afraid to kill you." He blurted out. Maybe because he was eager to protect, or maybe he just started to sense fear curling up in his body and soul.

This was enough to anger the monster even more, Jake heard a loud thump which seemed to be the sound of this creature landing on ground. Filled by the sound of what seemed to be steel being grazed on hard soil. It had a weapon.

"Back away, I tell you. Back away!" He yelled, starting to lose control of his fear but he was brave enough to walk towards it.

And then, he saw it. Grey— no, blue eyes stared of to him. He could sense resentment from it, and the murderous feeling it had in its eyes made him back away. Ang regret what he had done to anger it.

Those Grey and Blue eyes looked at him, a deathly stare that made him numb. He had been to many wars with humans and na'vis, but no person had yet to look him dead in the eye with no emotion nor empathy. He stood his gaurd and was ready to shot.

"You have an alien's weapon yet... you have the appearance of a na'vi."

Jake was shocked to hear a female voice, a much different accent from all na'vis he's ever met. This one made him alert and feel vulnerable, like he was a prey. But this she-monster spoke again, much more hostility laced in her voice. At the very moment, he knew she was here to draw blood. His blood.

"I know what you are. You are the enemy."

Unintended Worship, click here to teleport to the next chapter :P

ᓚᘏᗢ @deprivedreality 2023 | do not copy my works!

[loreleilarai]

Tides of color again bc I want to go deeper

The MC will be a trans boy, a fairly well-trained and respected lifeguard, who guards the beaches and lives on the coast, apart from others. His name will be Fabian, a name subject to changes of course.

Due to her recent breakup with her ex, Ian, who ran away to become a model Fabian decided to cut it off. He doesn't trust long distance relationships, and he doesn't plan on leaving the town where he was born, but Ian didn't give in either and left, so yes, they didn't agree.

Even though he tries to hide it, the breakup hurts and Fabian spends his mornings taking care of the beach and at night he goes out in his small boat to sail dark waters, he finds it relaxing.

As soon as he gets on the boat, he sinks into the water and scream for him, will he be okay? What kind of life preserver leaves a man abandoned in the water? Fabian jumps in to save him, and it is this strange man who pushes Fabian into the boat. Suddenly a song reverberates through Fabian's skull, and in less than a few minutes his clouded mind falls asleep.

The small detail that the sea winds were so strong that they flipped their ship was a small surprise, the big surprise was that someone helped him. A young man with blue hair, with marks on his face, Fabian can barely see his features in the dark but his yellow eyes are bright. He has no problem flipping the ship like a turtle that you grab one side of and flip it over. He helps him up, his strong arms have a weird texture, he can feel the scales there, covering the muscle, but it must be a mistake. No one can help him in the middle of the ocean, he was miles away from any ship.

I haven't decided on Jack's fish half yet, it could be a clownfish on steroids or a massive kraken bigger than the ship, I thought of a sperm whale too just because I've never seen a sperm whale mermaid but anyway, let's assume it's a clownfish.

He wakes up confused on the bow of his boat, with a seagull biting his nose, he scares it away and gets up to discover that he is at one of the ends of the coast, not exactly the one closest to his house. Fabian, who feels well rested, he returns home to take a shower and start another day as a lifeguard. But he still feels confused about what happened that night.

The following nights he also wanders the sea in his small boat, there is nothing out of the ordinary. Sometimes he feels watched, but that is all. Fabian can no longer find supernaturally strong men.

His mistake was telling this to the wrong people, dock people who asked why their boat had such cuts on its surface when he left it for repairs, Fabian commented on what happened and the wrong ears caught the information.

Days later, while Fabian was wandering in his ship one morning on his day off, finds a wounded newt among the rocks on a remote coast. It has a harpoon stuck in its side, and Fabian immediately recognises it.

Offering to help, the mer doesn't really seem overtly aggressive, but he does seem distinctly wary. Fabian rip out the harpoon and stitch up the wound, disinfecting and doing everything he can with first aid knowledge. The merman introduces himself, admits he's been there for a couple of days, and that he's lucky you were the one to find him.

Jack retreats to the sea, and from then on every night Fabian is out on the open sea with him, Jack lulls him to sleep, in the morning he leads them to the shore and then retreats until the evening. It is a routine that they both share and are happy to have, they become fast friends before developing feelings.

When Ian actually returns everything is chaos, but that's another story.

[queen-of-the-avengers]

The Avengers: Part Three

Pairing: Loki x Female!Reader

Word Count: ~2.4k

Warnings: canon violence and angst

Author’s Note: any and all comments are appreciated <3

x

You and Steve take this party back to his apartment that's in Brooklyn, where he's from. His place is close to the city so he can get a train there, but he doesn't like going out. He tries to stay in as much as he possibly can these days.

"Sorry, I don't have a lot of things with me. Fury helped me out with this."

His place looks like someone else lives here. Steve had a certain way he liked his apartment back then, and this isn't it. He's usually very neat but Fury made this place seem like someone eccentric lives here.

"No, it's fine. Don't worry, you'll make this place your own in no time."

It's as if seventy years haven't passed by because when you talk with Steve, it's like you're back in 1940. Steve has a spare bedroom with a perfectly good bed that you can use, but you find yourself in his bed. He is one of your best friends, so nothing will happen between you two.

"So, you've been in the ice for seventy years?" you ask.

"I guess so. I woke up when they... thawed me out. I woke up in a room they made to look like back then. They had fake walls of what the city used to look like, and someone came in wearing the typical 40s nurse uniform. At first, I thought it was real until I heard over the radio about a ball game I attended in 1941. I guess I'm still trying to wrap my head around this."

"Yeah, I can imagine it must have been confusing for you."

"Yeah. Everyone I knew died... or so I thought."

"Yeah, there were times I wish I died. Things might have been easier if I did."

"What happened?"

"After we crashed into the ice, I felt lost. I didn't have you, Bucky died, and I felt alone. I left Earth and ended up a prisoner on a ship by a race called the Kree. I was there for twenty years before I was saved by my cellmate where I joined a group of thieves for another twenty-four years. I got recaptured by the Kree where I met my ex-girlfriend, and I stayed with her for another five years until we had to break up because she was too good for this Earth. I met Tony Stark and for the next twenty years, I was here on Earth."

"Wow, sounds eventful."

"Yeah, that's one way to put it."

You look into his eyes that sparkle from the moonlight seeping in between the curtains. The past and the present blend together until you're stuck with what you knew before.

"I think you'd like Xenia. I'd take you if I could."

You're lying next to Loki on the bed in his room. The sun is just starting to rise but he's drawn the curtains almost closed. Sunlight peeks through the crack and onto his face, making his blue eyes sparkle even more. He doesn't seem to mind the sunlight in his eyes because all he's focused on is yours.

"Tell me what it's like. Tell me about your life there."

"Xenia is absolutely gorgeous. My favorite part is the ocean. They're always calm, and I often find myself walking along the shore just to hear the water wash up onto the sand. I was a quiet kid. I never really was one for being in crowds. The library became my best friend. I guess that all changed when I met Markus."

"He won't ever hurt you again," Loki promises.

In this moment, you believe him. You roll closer to him and he pulls you in by your waist. This is how you two lay until your responsibilities call for you.

A couple of days pass with you and Steve living together, learning how to be around each other again, and enjoying each other's company. Steve is trying to learn everything he can about the world from the time he went under to the time he woke up. He's still new to the internet so he found an old shop that sells old newspapers. It's not going to cover everything but it's a start.

You're both sitting on the couch snuggled up next to each other. He has his arm around you while you're leaning into his side. He is reading a newspaper while you have a fiction book in your hands. Since there is so much history between you and Steve, it's comfortable to be sitting like this and not have it mean anything. To Steve, he likes that sense of comfort that he can't get anywhere else. You're the only person he knows from that time, so he's clinging to that comfort in any way he can get.

Steve's touch is very different from Loki's but your mind still reverts back to a time you thought was lost. The words on the page blend together as your past collides with the present.

The library is normally pretty empty because Loki is the only one who goes in there, but he's made you a permanent resident. He likes to escape here just to get away from his overbearing family or Princely duties. Since coming to Asgard, you've been glued to his side so if he's in the library, so are you.

He loves to read poetry books while you're more of a fiction girl. There is a spot in the library that Loki likes to sit in because it faces the city down below. The sun doesn't set or rise in the direction of the window, but it does give off enough light so Loki can sit there and read for all hours of the day.

You're both sitting on the bench snuggled up next to each other. He has his arm around you while you're sitting in between his legs and leaning against his body. If Loki wanted to, he could read your book but allows that to be for your eyes only. His arms feel so good around you that you could probably stay here forever. It should scare you how quickly you fell for him but it doesn't. He is passion, dangerous, and it consumes you, everything you didn't think you'd want or need.

"Loki?" He only gives a slight 'hmm' to let you know he's listening. "Do you trust me?"

He sets down his book so you look up at him to see what he's thinking. This is a touchy subject for Loki but it's only the two of you in here. He feels different when he's with you like he can tell you exactly how he's feeling without judgement.

"Do you trust me?"

"I do," you say without hesitation.

"Even with your life?"

"Yes. Do you feel the same?"

"Darling, I could give you my whole heart and know you'd take care of it."

"Do I have your heart?"

"Yes," he whispers.

He leans down and kisses you passionately, your book long forgotten.

Steve's apartment has a pool in the community that you often use. After living with him for a couple of weeks, you two have created a good dynamic. The pool isn't supposed to be used after ten p.m. but you often sneak in there to have some peace and quiet. You think the rule is put in place for the kids that live in the building. They don't want rowdy children when people are trying to sleep.

Steve is doing laps while you lie flat on your back on the surface of the water. There aren't many stars on display since there are clouds in the sky covering them. You blow softly and let your air powers move the clouds for you, allowing you to see more stars than before. Some of them are hidden behind the light pollution the city brings, but you'll take what you can get.

"What are you thinking?" Steve asks when he takes a break from swimming.

"How different Asgardian skies are from Earth."

All these memories you're having of Loki are overwhelming you. The love you had for him comes rushing back stronger than ever. The man you know is still in there. Is he able to be saved? Are you the only one who can bring that side of him out? Despite only being with him for a year, you fell for him hard. His love is passionate while your love with Bucky is intimate.

Two men. Different sides of the same coin. Two men you have loved deeply. How can you ever choose between them?

"Loki is Asgardian, right?"

You stop floating and allow your body to sink into the water so that only your head is above the surface.

"Yes."

"What happened between you two?"

"I think he stole my memories."

"Why?"

"I don't know," you sigh and turn away from him.

Talking about Loki is a painful subject because your love for him was so raw. To see him now breaks your heart because you know the man he truly is.

It takes another week before you hear something from Fury about what he plans on doing to regain control of the Tesseract again. You and Steve are in the kitchen making breakfast together when you get a call on your phone from Phil.

"Is it safe to assume you're calling about work?" you answer.

"We're bringing you two in for a briefing. First, we need you to talk to the big guy."

"Phil, I don't think Tony will listen to me. Not after everything that happened."

"No, I've got Stark. You get the big guy."

You curse in your native tongue as you hang up the phone. Phil sends you an address to go to halfway around the world. The Big Guy must be residing in Pakistan with an address like that. Pakistan is a little over seven thousand miles away from New York, and a commercial plane would take sixteen hours to travel something like that. You can do it in an hour, and that's only if you're traveling at Mach 10.

"Is everything okay?"

"Yeah, I have been summoned. I have to go to Pakistan to meet a friend. I'll be back in time for dinner."

"You say that like you're going around the corner. You do know where Pakistan is, right?"

"You do know I can fly ten times faster than ten times the speed of sound, right?"

"Right," Steve chuckles. "You can fly."

"I'll be back."

"Do you need me to come?"

"No, I have to do this one alone."

You're proud of yourself because you made it in fifty minutes instead of an hour. You haven't seen Bruce in five years so you hope he remembers you. You know the Big Guy will. You made more of an impression on him than you ever did on Bruce even though you two are still friendly.

"You gotta help me. I have no idea what the hell I'm doing here," Bruce begs.

"If you were able to find me and know I'd be a person of interest for your... big problem, then you know I'm no scientist."

"No, but there has to be something you can do. You were there in the 1940s when Steve was given the serum. You know how it works."

"I wasn't on the 'inventing' committee for that one."

"Please, Y/N. All I'm asking is for you to try," Bruce begs.

"Fine," you sigh.

You couldn't help him counteract the effects of the serum he created but you could help him deal with the mess he got himself into. If you had known he was going to go all Hulk on you, then you'd have steered clear of him. You can't be too mad at him since underneath all that green is a man who just wanted to impress the woman he loved. News reports of Steve's heroics made all the papers, and Bruce got jealous when the woman he loved crushed over him.

"Bruce, you can't hide from her forever," you chuckle and lean against the wall.

Bruce looks around the corner at the woman he loves who is walking down the sidewalk with her friend. She tips her head back and laughs at something her friend said, and Bruce becomes sad he's not with her right now.

"How can I ever face her knowing what I am? I just get so angry at everything and I'll only end up hurting her. How can I ever ensure her safety when he can pop out at any time?"

You push off the wall and approach your friend delicately.

"Listen to me. You can't spend your entire life in fear. That's no way to live. Think of it this way. If she doesn't know and you keep it from her, are you putting her in more danger than if she knows? At least she'll be better prepared on how to handle him, and you two can come up with a game plan for when he does. Don't let the fear of striking out stop you from playing the game."

"That's corny as hell," he chuckles.

"It works, though, right?"

It took a lot of convincing on his part to pursue the woman he loves. Whether or not he's still with her is unknown to you but at least you know he went for it with her. The biggest thing he was scared of was turning back into himself after turning into the Hulk. Managing his anger is doable albeit hard, but calming down after raging out is even harder. 

It took a lot on your part to figure out a way to bring him back once he crossed that line.

It didn't take you long to find Bruce once he ran out on you. All you had to look for was where the rumbling and smashing was coming from. Luckily Hulk knew not to smash near where people could get hurt, so he went to an abandoned warehouse on the outskirts of town. He's smashing some metal landings when you arrive.

"Bruce!" He doesn't respond to you. "Hulk!" Hulk stops and turns to you with an angry face but it softens a bit when he sees it's you. "You need to stop this right now. I'm not messing around."

He growls and crushes a broken-down forklift with his big fist.

"Sun's getting real low."

You walk closer to him and hold out your hand flat so that your palm faces the ceiling. Hulk looks at it and grunts stubbornly. You don't back down from him and keep your hand out until he does what he's supposed to do. You've only done this routine once so you hope he's willing to do it again.

Hulk gives in and lays the back of his extremely large hand on top of your palm. You move your hand from his and touch his palm as delicately as you can. You slide your hand to his wrist and slide your fingers down the vein to his palm. He stumbles back as he struggles between his human form and his current form. Bruce fights to be in control until he is, and you walk over to his naked form. You toss the pair of pants you stole from Tony's closet.

"Thanks," he whispers.

"Glad to have you back," you smile. "You're getting better at that."

x

Follow my library blog @aqueenslibrary​​​​​​ where I reblog all my stories, so you can put notifications on there without the extra stuff :)

[sansloii]

What is Mikah’s greatest fear? Is there something they used to be afraid of but overcame it?

Mikah has two things that they would log undefr the "greatest fear" category. They have a physical fear and an emotional one that serve as their active and passive fears respectively.

Mikah's greatest physical fear is being trapped in a constant, never-ending cycle of death — where they revive and die without being able to do anything about it. now, before anyone decides to try to capitalize on it or try to draw it out by just killing Mikah over and over manually, that will only make them mad and the moment fucks up or miscalculates a killing blow, Mikah will retaliate by killing you then and there with their ghost.

A cycle that would truly scare them, for example, is like… dropping them in the middle of the ocean with no way to get back to shore. Mikah already has thalassophobia so… that, coupled with the fact that whatever they on ( if even that ) will wear down and they'll sink… and sink… and sink. Because Mikah never learned how to swim… and they have thalassophobia. so they'll just… panic and be completely helpless. they can't use their ghost because it's useless when it touches water — disolves quicker than my will to work on a Friday. once they're completely submerged and they eventually drown, it's not like they;ll be dead long enough for their body to float up… so they'll keep sinking as their resetting — as they're regaining consciousness — only to repeat that 10 to 12 minutes later. it'll continue on like that until their pseudo-immortality runs out or some poor soul fishes them out of the water. either way, they're stuck like that for a very long time.

the emotional fear that mikah has is a little more typical, in that they fear betrayal and rejection from those they have grown to love and trust deeply. mikah, like most muses on thise blog, takes a hot minute to truly be vulnerable with another person in a meaningful way… and they second guess themself a lot each step of the way. when they do share things about themself or things they like with someone, it's in an effort to grow closer to said person--as if to say “this is a part of me that I am trusting you with”. they'll never admit to being sensitive about that but they are so…. having the bits and pieces of themself that they give to someone ( after months or years ) thrown back in their face is something that they would take… very personally. this fear can very easily translate into anger and frustration, too, so while it might not look like fear in the moment — it's still borne out of that.

in mikah's opinion, there is not much to overcome. they just… live with the fact that they're like that and pray that it doesn't bite them in the ass

Unprompted | @nezumivc103221

[alecxaheart]

Someone's Someone | Bang Chan Oneshot (1)

✎ Genre : CEO AU, Soulmate AU, Fluff

✎ Pairings : Bang Chan X Reader

✎ Word Count : 3.5k words

✎ Synopsis : We all just wanna be someone's someone that we can't live without. At this time, Chan was looking for his. And unexpectedly, he was already tied down to someone.

✎ Warnings : Explicit Language

✎. . . I actually just played my songs on shuffle then Monsta X's Someone's Someone played so.. yeah, I'm inspired. Also, this is my first post in tumblr btw. :)

✎ Parts : 1 , 2

The relaxing sounds of nature enveloped him as a whole. His shoulders less tense and eyes closed as he sat on the cooled sand, facing the burning star and calm waters ahead. Seagulls could be heard in the distance as they caught themselves a dinner to eat. The refreshing cool wind hit his body, slightly making him shiver for a second. Waves, created by the sea and wind, kisses the shore repeatedly. For once, he was far away from worries, stress, fears and regrets. Just him, contented with the company of nature.

As he fluttered his eyes open, he was met with a stunning view of the sun meeting the ocean. The ocean reflecting the sun's visuals as well as the sky above it. Even though the reflection was blurry, it's still pleasing to the eye. Just perfectly imperfect.

However in his opinion, it wasn't stunning as it seems. This secret escapade paradise of his doesn't quite appeal to him yet. A missing piece that could be anywhere on this wide world. That thought kind of bothers him every time.

Sighing, he figured that it was time to go back. He slipped onto his slippers and headed out of his escapade paradise with a head hung low. Hopping on an enormous boulder that happened to break the wired fence and fixated there, having easier access to and from the place than climbing over the fence.

With a last glance towards his escapade, he knew he'll be coming back and that next time will be the scenery he's been looking for, hopefully.

Frustrated with the task at hand, Chan ran his fingers through his blonde locks as he leaned back on his chair and head facing upwards toward the ceiling. Taking a brief break from a whole 6 hours straight of writing and staring at the monitor. Followed by him grabbing his coffee and taking a sip, eyes boring on the monitor. He was just half finished with his paperworks at the time of nightfall, which made him more in distress and felt crammed.

His eyes then wandered around his office, landing onto the view of the opposite building of his company in the end. Where he could see the workers of the Marketing Department bidding their goodbyes to one another, closing the lights and exiting the room. Oh, how much he too wanted to leave and rest right at this moment. Although his belief of 'getting things done before going into slumber' is preventing him to do so (even though he already got a lot of things done). With a sigh, he faced back in front of his monitor and papers, determined to get everything done before tomorrow starts.

" Sunbae-nim, aren't you coming with us? We're having dinner at the Chicken & Barbecue restaurant just a block away from here. " Seungmin asked, grabbing his suitcase below his desk. You leaned back on your chair while stretching your cramping arms and a yawn escaping your mouth.

" As much as I want to, Seungmin, I can't, " You started, rubbing your temples to ease your aching head. " Because our new boss literally gave me 5 thick documents to finish before tomorrow morning without any mercy. And that's just bullshit. I don't even think I'm halfway through it! " Seungmin replied with a chuckle to your short rant, an amused expression written on his soft face. You were having another small mental breakdown as you stared at your unfinished pile of work, feeling your soul escape your body.

" I think you're overreacting. "

" Well, what if I am?! "

Laughing, Seungmin leans his side on your cubicle, looking over at your messy desk filled with sticky notes, papers and pens. " I don't think it's that much. You're lucky that your boss isn't here to hear any of your complaints, " He muttered as he took a peek at one of your documents. You scoffed, not my fault that I'm not as good as you.

" Hear what? "

Frantically, you immediately hide yourself behind your cubicle and pretend that you were focusing on your work. On the other hand, Seungmin casually brushed his navy blue coat with his palms and lifted himself off from the cubicle. Making it all seem like nothing happened.

" Oh, it's nothing, Ms. Ka- " Seungmin paused as he met the owner of the voice who wasn't the person they were expecting to be there. " M-Mr. Bang?! " He stuttered, eyes widened at the blonde headed CEO. Seeing in the corner of your eyes, Seungmin bowed ninety degrees at him as a sign of respect. Even with his heated glare on you, you continued your work like no CEO even entered. Thanks to your cute height, for sure you wouldn't be spotted.

" What are you doing here? Working hours are done. "

Seungmin stood straight and scratched the back of his head. Curiosity slowly arose in you as seconds passed - since you've never met a CEO called by your colleague as ' Mr. Bang ' - although as much as possible, you didn't let go out of hand and kept your focus on the documents silently. The least thing you wanted to happen to you right now is get caught by one of the company's CEO. " I was about to head out, Mr. Bang, " Finding an excuse, he pulled up his sleeve to check the time on his wristwatch. " Uhm.. Yeah, I'm late for dinner. Sorry, Mr. Bang, I have to leave right now. Have an great night! "

With a last bow to the CEO, Seungmin dashed his way out of the building, leaving you alone with your work. The blonde head noticed how the room was still lit up despite it being unoccupied, which he thought. Heading to the switches, everything around you darkened. The only source of light you had was the monitor, and Chan caught it in the corner of his eye.

" Is someone still there? " His voice, catching a bit of foreign accent with it, echoed in the hushed area.

Baffled as he approached that light with a few slow strides, you freaked out mentally. Swiftly but silently, you left your chair and hid yourself underneath the desk next to yours. As he neared your cubicle, you held your breath, slowly starting to feel lightheaded. You don't know what are the consequences if you get caught after working hours since you're still kind of new - got hired just 5 months ago. Dumb you overthink random shit first before even going to the thing called 'common sense' and the rules you heard just goes in one ear then out on the other.

The moment Chan was about to reach your cubicle and take a glance to his right, the sound of marimba playing a soft tune echoed in the room. Stopping in his tracks, he felt his phone vibrating in his pocket and grabbed it, swiping to the right to answer the call. You let out a hushed yet shaky sigh of relief, your shoulders less tense than a while ago. In your mind played a chant, thanking whoever was your savior.

Chan narrowed his eyes at the back of your cubicle while his phone is still pressed against his ear, listening to the person on the other line's complaints. " I'm on my way. Don't do anything stupid, " Not too soon you hear heels clacking against the polished marble tiles, the noise fainting as he left the room.

It took you a good couple of seconds to get out of your hiding spot (since you had to catch your breath and calm your heart down from the thrill), slightly shaking your whole body first before heading back to your seat and continuing your pile of work. Mentally groaning at yourself.

Oh. My. Gosh. These. Eyebags.

Is the first thing you thought as you looked at yourself in the mirror. The cause of it appearing badly because you obviously lacked sleep. All due to the time allotted for slumber was consumed by finishing your 5 thick documents that will be passed this morning. You could've cared less if today wasn't a work day, which fortunately for you it was still work day and these damn documents aren't gonna pass themselves to your boss this instant.

Fumbling around in your bag, you found your makeup kit and started fixing yourself. A little bit of touch ups here and there, just a little to look like it's still more natural than a lot to look like a plastic doll barbie.

Once satisfied, you smiled sweetly at yourself just to start your day nicely and exit your household. While walking on your way to the train station, incoherent mumbling leaves your mouth. A train of thoughts clouding you about your worries if you've left something important behind. In all honesty despite of your current good looks, you look stupid or crazy for talking to yourself in public. Well, at least you aren't as worse as someone yelling nonsense.

" I have all my files, identification card, phone, wallet, pocket knife 'cause anything could happen, keys- " you paused as soon as you misplaced your shoes at the edge of the last stair, falling forward. Luckily for you, you caught yourself and regained your balance. Wide eyed, you saw a kid, a giddy smile plastered on his face as he saw your commotion with a lollipop in hand. You felt embarrassed but laughed it off anyway, a light tint of pink decorating your cheeks.

You rushed towards the gates as soon as you realized the time with the card in between your fingers. Three beeps emitted from the machine when the gates opened after you placed the card on the scanner. With a few more strides, you caught up to your train ride as it was about to leave. You sighed in relief and sat down on a vacant bench, head automatically leaning back on the window. Your eyes boring at the ceiling while taking steady breaths after your short marathon on the way.

On the other hand, across you sat Chan. His right leg crossed over the other while scrolling through his phone. He wore a button up shirt, the first two still unbuttoned revealing more of his chest. His navy blue tie hung loose around his neck while his coat is still folded around his arm. His slacks were the same color as his tie and coat and wore black pointed shoes to finish the statement of his overall clothing. Blonde hair locks were scattered around his face but still managed to look stunning and attractive.

You haven't noticed his presence, so did he to you, and the fact that you both don't know each others' appearance even though you go to the same company just adds to the reason for you two's ignorance to one another's existence.

You got yourself to go back to slumber comfortably in your current position although you know when you wake up, you'll be greeted by your neck aching. Hopefully you don't miss your stop while gaining more sleep. The train swaying you lightly from time to time that you found quite relaxing, like a cradle rocking back and forth lightly to put a baby to sleep.

A child was running around the train with a joyful smile, giggling. He only stopped in his tracks when he reached in between you and Chan. His eyes glowed like there were stars decorated around his chocolate brown pupil when he eyed you two. Looking around, he spotted a roll of red thread underneath your bench and grabbed it. He thought it was just right.

With you being the closest, he starts to tie the thread around your pinky finger. You were too tired to even feel his small cold fingers run around your fingers nor the string tighten around it. Once done, he smiled to himself, his dimples appearing on either side of his cheeks and eyes forming into small crescents.

He left your side and skipped over in front of Chan, who was now too deep in thought as he gazed outside the window and his phone tucked in his pocket. Holding the other end of the thread, he wrapped it around Chan's thumb. Chan's body shook in surprise as he felt cold fingers ghosting above his hand and averted his attention to the child. He saw him knotting the red string tightly, strange that he barely even feels the string tightened around his thumb. " What are you doing? " he questioned although the child only responded with a bright smile, followed by a giggle.

The child turned and ran away from him, more giggles leaving his lips. Chan stood up and tried to chase him. But stopped as soon as he saw the child in the distance, dissolving into little particles in thin air and completely vanished in his sight. In disbelief, he rubbed his eyes and looked for the child around his area. Thinking that he was out of his mind, he sighed in defeat. There's no way anyone could do that in reality. It's either I'm insane or living in a fantasy or a chosen one blessed to see ghosts. Maybe, all of the above.

Chan looked down on his thumb, following where the other end lead to. Then, he spotted your sleeping beauty state, the other end attached to your pinky finger. With the sun rising in the horizon, a ray of gold-like light shines through the window, casting a shadow on you. And he thought you looked mesmerizing like that, peaceful and lovely. At least he wasn't tied up with a bitch or a hag.

Your eyes slowly fluttered open as the sun shined upon you. Squinting at its brightness, you raised a hand above your eyes to see more, only finding a red string wrapped around your pinky finger. You examined it, wondering what prank is anyone even planning and why did it have to involve you out of all people. Before anything stupid could happen, you attempted to loose the knot, ignoring the curiosity for a while of where the other end was. Looping and tugging it, even tried to chomp on it with your teeth, but all attempts failed. Well, that's until you gave up, untying it was impossible, unbelievably there's a knot that couldn't be untied. Sounded like marriage when you think about it, but there's the annulment and divorce ruining the picture.

Tearing your gaze at the string, you caught a pair of bewitching dark brown eyes staring back at you. In that particular moment, everything just froze in place. Time has stopped just for the two of you, you thought.

You felt your heart melting, probably from the warmth emitting in your body or from the warmth his eyes give off as you saw little sparks decorating the pupil. Unfamiliar light feathers tickling the insides of your stomach is what you felt other than the heat and that thawing heart of yours. Your mind knew it well that you shouldn't feel this way towards someone who you just met but your body and heart reacted so differently. There's just something about him that made you feel so exposed and vulnerable in his eyes that you couldn't come up with a possible answer to your 'why's.

Both of you didn't notice how seconds turned into minutes, too lost into one another's orbs. That was until the train stopped, causing Chan to break the eye contact and lose his balance. Before his hands made contact on the metal floor, he took a step forward in order to regain his balance which he successfully did. A small chuckle left your lips, eyes turning into crescents as you saw the commotion. He narrowed his eyes at you as the train was back in motion.

Chan fixed his clothes first before asking, " Who are you? ". Grabbing the pole next to him to prevent him from falling again on the next stop.

" Shouldn't I be asking you that as well? " You replied with a gummy smile, which quickly faded when you remembered what's the problem.

" What is this on my finger and why is it connected to yours? What kind of trickery is anyone pulling? Why am I involved in this? " You kept firing questions at him while he stayed there unbothered. Unlike you who did some more attempts to remove the thread, silly you even tried aggressively shaking your hand in hopes of making it a little loose. But no prevail happened once again.

" Just get rid of it. I didn't want this too, you know. " Chan taps his foot impatiently as he eyed your useless attempts.

" I am trying! " You exaggerated. Deciding to bring out the best tool you have for the situation in hand, your hands fumbling in your bag. Once you felt the cool metal on your fingertips, you brought it out and flipped it open.

Chan's eyes widened at the sight of the pocket knife in your palms. " You carry that on a daily basis? Are you insane? "

You rolled your eyes in annoyance. " It's not insane when it's used for self-defense purposes. I'm too nice to be the murderer you're assuming, " You replied, head throbbing as things aren't going well with the charming blonde.

He responded just before the blade and thread were in contact, starting with a scoff. " Yeah sure, nice. Anyone can wear that façade anywhere. "

" You know what, " You started as you withdrew the pocket knife back and glared at him afterwards, pissed off. " You deal with this shit yourself, I'm done with my part and I could care less about this red thread anyway. You look like you don't need any of my help 'cause you look fancier than me and it seems like you're not taking any gratitude towards my kindness. Damn these crazy rich people. " You threw the tool towards his direction and looked away from him, arms crossed. Chan instinctively caught it without getting any cuts despite the fact it's closed, his eyes burning through your figure in fury.

" If I actually got wounded instead from your little stunt, I would've sued you this instant, " He growled, only to be ignored by you.

Irritated by your sudden change of attitude, Chan flipped it open and skillfully ran the blade through the string. Only for it to just fall through like the string never existed, ghost-like perhaps. " It's not cutting, what the hell, " Chan muttered under his breath as he tried a few more times again.

"It's just a string, how could a- " You spoke as you turned your head back to his direction, only to be cutted off as you witnessed the unusual. Mouth a little bit agape in disbelief. The thread didn't fall apart even while the blade was just sitting in between of it on air. Maybe that explains why you could barely even feel the thread wrapped securely around your finger. You could tell that this stunning blonde head was just as puzzled as you were.

" Sir, if you're having any problems that includes this woman, we can sort it out. Just withdraw the knife first please, " a man suddenly blurted out, his voice a little bit shaky. That's when you realized the commotion you both have caused, everyone around you two took steps back away. All had fear in their eyes.

" Wait, you don't see the thread we're trying to cut? " Chan questioned, eyebrows furrowed in confusion. At that, he was more misunderstood.

" There's no thread..? " With that, it got the two of us surprised. Is the crazy one here them, who couldn't see this string, or us, who could?

Chan tried to explain our situation thoroughly but when he was about to speak up, out of the blue, a voice spoke in the speakers. " Please mind the gap, " You immediately grabbed his arm, carried his belongings and dragged him out of the train. Leaving its passengers confused as they eyed us. They might be thinking that you two are idiots.

The doors just shut a second later when you two got out. You felt a bit suffocated for an unknown reason, your hand reaching for your chest where you could feel your heart beating. Panting, you shoved Chan's belongings into his chest. " Are you alright? " He asked as he tried to place a hand on your back, the least thing he could do to comfort you.

But his hand only stopped in mid-air when you took your last deep breath, replying. " Let's just part ways here, " Saying those words felt a bit disheartening at some point, yet you chose to disregard it.

You walked forwards, while Chan stayed in his position, wearing his coat and fixing his tie. Although, something stopped you. As in you couldn't go forwards as much as you force to. Well when you did force yourself, it only tugged Chan towards you. Turning around, he was already eyeing you. " What was that for?! "

Glaring at the thread, you thought out loud, " Is this string telling me, it can only stretch itself approximately at 7 meters?! "

Continue

[thewidowsghost]

The Daughter of the Sea - Chapter 6

(Y/n)'s POV

Once I get over the fact that my brother's Latin teacher was half horse, we have a nice tour.

We pass by the volleyball pit. Several of the campers nudge each other. One points to the Minotaur horn Percy is carrying. Another says, "It's them."

Most of the campers are older than me. Their satyr friends are bigger than Grover, all of them trotting around in orange CAMP HALF-BLOOD t-shirts, with nothing else to cover their bare shaggy hindquarters. I'm not normally shy, but the way they are staring at me and Percy makes me uncomfortable. I feel as though they want us to do a flip or something.

I look back at the farmhouse. It's bigger than I'd realized - four stories tall, sky blue with white trim, like an upscale seaside resort. I'm checking out the brass eagle weather vane on top when something catches my eyes, a shadow in the uppermost window of the attic gable. Something had moved the curtain, just for a second, and I get a distinct impression that I'm being watched.

"What's up there?" I ask Chiron.

He looks to where I'm pointing and his smile fades, "Just the attic."

"Somebody lives there?" Percy asks.

"No," he says with finality. "Not a single living thing."

I get the feeling that he's being truthful, but I am also sure something had moved that curtain.

As we get closer, I realize how huge the forest is. It takes up at least a quarter of the valley, with trees so tall and thick, you could imagine nobody had been in there since the Native Americans.

Chiron says, "The woods are stocked if you care to try your luck, but go armed."

"Stocked with what?" Percy asks. "Armed with what?"

"You'll see. Capture the flag is Friday night. Do you have your own swords and shields?"

"My own - ?" Percy is cut off.

"No," Chiron interupts. "I don't suppose you do. I think a size five will do for you, Percy, and a size three for you, (Y/n). I'll visit the armory later."

Finally, Chiron shows us the cabins. There are twelve of them, nestled in the woods by the lake. They are arranged in a U, with two at the base and five in a row on each side. And they are, without a doubt the most bizarre number above the door.

Except for the fact that each has a large brass number above the door (odds on the left side, evens on the right), they lock absolutely nothing alike. Number Nine has smokestacks, like a tiny factory. Number Four has tomato vines on the walls and a roof made out of real grass. Seven seems to be made of solid gold, which gleams so much in the sunlight it was almost impossible to look at. They all face a commons area about the size of a soccer field, dotted with Greek statues, fountains, flower beds, and a couple of basketball hoops (which were more my speed).

In the center of the field is a huge stone-lined firepit. Even though it is a warm afternoon, the hearth smolders. A girl, maybe nine years old is tending the flames, poking the coals with a stick. I wave at the girl and she looks surprised, as though no one acknowledged her often, and waves back with a smile.

The pair of cabins at the head of the field, numbers one and two, look like his-and-hers mausoleums, big white marble boxes with heavy columns in front. Cabin One is the biggest and bulkiest of the twelve. Its polished bronze doors shimmer like a hologram, so that from different angles lightning bolts seem to streak across them. Cabin Two is more graceful somehow, with slimmer columns garlanded with pomegranates and flowers. The walls are covered with images of peacocks.

"Zeus and Hera?" Percy guesses.

"Correct," Chiron says.

"Their cabins look empty."

"Several of the cabins are. That's true. No one ever stays in one or two."

I stop in front of the first cabin on the left, cabin three.

It isn't high and mighty like Cabin One, but low and solid. The outer walls are of rough gray stone studded with pieces of seashells and coral as if the slabs had been hewn straight from the bottom of the ocean floor. I peek inside the open doorway and Chiron says, "Oh, I wouldn't do that!"

Before he can pull me back, I catch the salty scent of the interior, like the wind on the shore at Montauk. The interior walls glow like abalone. There are six empty bunks with silk sheets turned down, but there is no sign anyone had ever slept there. The place feels so sad and lonely, I am glad when Chiron puts his hand on my shoulder and says, "Come along, (Y/n)."

Most of the other cabins were crowded with campers.

Number five was bright red—a real nasty paint job as if the color had been splashed on with buckets and fists. The roof was lined with barbed wire. A stuffed wild boar's head hung over the doorway, and its eyes seemed to follow me. Inside I could see a bunch of mean-looking kids, both girls and boys, arm wrestling and arguing with each other while rock music blared. The loudest was a girl maybe thirteen or fourteen. She wore a size XXXL CAMP HALF-BLOOD T-shirt under a camouflage jacket. She zeroed in on Percy and gives him an evil sneer.

"Oh, look," Chiron says as we approach Cabin Eleven. "Annabeth is waiting for us."

The blond girl I'd met at the Big House is reading a book in front of the last cabin on the left, number eleven. When we reach her, she looks me over critically, like she was still thinking about how much I drool.

I try to see what she was reading, but I can't make out the title. Then I realize the title isn't even English. The letters look Greek to me. I mean, literally Greek. There are pictures of temples and statues and different kinds of columns, like those in an architecture book.

"Annabeth," Chiron says, "I have Masters' Archery class at noon. Would you take Percy and (Y/n) from here?"

"Yes, sir."

"Cabin Eleven," Chiron tells us, gesturing towards the doorway. "Make yourself at home."

Out of all the cabins, Eleven looks the most like a regular old summer camp cabin, with the emphasis on old. the threshold is worn down, the brown paint peeling. Over the doorway is a caduceus.

Inside, it is packed with people, both boys and girls, way more than the number of bunk beds. Sleeping bags are spread all over the floor. It looks like a gym where the Red Cross had set up an evacuation center.

Chiron doesn't go in. The door is too low for him. But when the campers see him, they all stand and bow respectfully.

"Well, then," Chiron says. "Good luck, Percy, (Y/n). I'll see the two of you at dinner."

He gallops away towards the archery range.

Percy's POV

We stand in the doorway, looking at the kids. They aren't bowing anymore. They are staring at us, sizing us up. I know this routine. I'd gone through it at enough schools.

"Well?" Annabeth prompts. "Go on."

So naturally, I trip coming in the door, and (Y/n) grabs my upper arm, straightening me up. There are some snickers from the campers, but none of them say anything.

Annabeth announces, "Percy and (Y/n) Jackson, meet Cabin Eleven."

"Regular or undetermined?" somebody asks.

I don't know what to say, but Annabeth says, "Undetermined."

Everyone groans.

A guy who is a little older than the rest comes forward. "Now, now, campers. That's what we're here for. Welcome, Percy, (Y/n). You can have those two spots on the floor, right over there."

The guy was about nineteen, and he looks pretty cool. He's tall and muscular, with short-cropped sandy hair and a friendly smile. He wears an orange tank top, cutoffs, sandals, and a leather necklace with five different colored clay beads. The only thing unsettling about his appearance is a thick white scar that runs from just beneath his right eye to his jaw, like an old knife slash.

"This is Luke," Annabeth says, and her voice sounds different somehow. I glance over and swear she's blushing, but after a moment she sees me looking, and her expression hardens again. "He's your counselor for now."

"For now?" (Y/n) asks, looking rather curious.

"You're undetermined," Luke explains. "They don't know what cabin to put you in, so you're here. Cabin eleven takes all newcomers, all visitors. Naturally, we would. Hermes, our patron, is the god of travelers."

I look around at the campers' faces, some sullen and suspicious, some grinning stupidly, some eyeing me as if they are waiting for a chance to pick my pockets.

"How long will I be here?" I ask.

"Good question," Luke replies. "Until you're determined."

"How long will that take?"

The campers all laugh and (Y/n) facepalms.

"Come on," Annabeth tells us. "I'll show you the volleyball court."

"We've already seen it."

"Come on."

Annabeth grabs my wrist and drags me outside. I can hear the kids of Cabin Eleven laughing behind me and (Y/n) waves good-bye shyly.

When we are a few feet away, Annabeth says, "Jackson, you have to do better than that?"

"What?"

She rolls her eyes and mumbles under her breath, "I can't believe I thought you two were the ones."

"What's your problem?" I'm getting angry now, (Y/n) watching us cautiously. "All I know is, we kill some bull guy -"

"Don't talk like that!" Annabeth tells me. "You know how many kids at this camp wish they'd had your chance?"

"To get killed?"

"To fight the Minotaur! What do you think we train for?"

I shake my head. "Look, if the thing we fought is really the Minotaur, the same one in the stories . . ."

"Yes."

"Then there's only one."

"Yes."

"And he died, like, a gajillion years ago, right? Theseus killed him in the labyrinth. So..."

"Monsters don't die, Percy. They can be killed. But they don't die."

"Oh, thanks. That clears it up."

"Percy," (Y/n) says calmly. "I think what Annabeth is saying, is that monsters eventually reform."

Annabeth nods and I think about Mrs. Dodds. "You mean if I killed one, accidentally, with a sword—"

"The Fur...I mean, your math teacher. That's right. She's still out there. You just made her very, very mad."

"How did you know about Mrs. Dodds?"

"You talk in your sleep," Annabeth answers and (Y/n) suppresses a laugh.

"You almost called her something. A Fury? They're Hades' torturers, right?"

Annabeth glances nervously at the ground as if she expects it to open up and swallow her. "You shouldn't call them by name, even here. We call them the Kindly Ones if we have to speak of them at all."

"Look, is there anything we can say without it thundering?" I sound whiny, even to myself, but right then I don't care. "Why do we have to stay in Cabin Eleven, anyway? Why is everybody so crowded together? There are plenty of empty bunks right over there."

I point to the first few cabins, and Annabeth turns pale. "You don't just choose a cabin, Percy. It depends on who your parents are. Or...your parent."

She stares at me, waiting for me to get it.

"Our mother is Sally Jackson," (Y/n) says softly. "She works at the candy store in Grand Central Station. At least, she used to."

"I'm sorry about your mom, (Y/n). But that's not what I mean. I'm talking about your other parent. Your dad."

"He's dead," I say simply. "We never knew him."

Annabeth sighs. Clearly, she'd had this conversation before with other kids. "Your father's not dead."

"How can you say that? You know him?"

"No, of course not."

"Then how can you say -"

"Because I know the two of you. You wouldn't be here if you weren't one of us."

"You don't know anything about us.

"No?" She raises an eyebrow. "I bet you moved around from school to school. I bet you were kicked out of a lot of them."

"How -"

"Diagnosed with dyslexia. Probably ADHD, too."

I try to swallow my embarrassment. "What does that have to do with anything?"

(Y/n)'s POV

"Taken together, it's almost a sure sign. The letters float off the page when you read, right? That's because your mind is hardwired for ancient Greek. And the ADHD—you're impulsive, can't sit still in the classroom. That's your battlefield reflexes. In a real fight, they'd keep you alive. As for the attention problems, that's because you see too much, Percy, not too little. Your senses are better than a regular mortal's. Of course, the teachers want you medicated. Most of them are monsters. They don't want you seeing them for what they are."

"You sound like...you went through the same thing?"

"Most of the kids here did. If you weren't like us, you couldn't have survived the Minotaur, much less the ambrosia and nectar."

"Ambrosia and nectar."

"The food and drink we were giving you to make you better. That stuff would've killed a normal kid. It would've turned your blood to fire and your bones to sand and you'd be dead. Face it. You're both half-bloods."

A half-blood.

I am reeling with so many questions I don't know where to start.

Then a husky voice yells, "Well! Two newbies!"

I look over. The big girl from the ugly red cabin is sauntering towards us. She has three other girls behind her, all big and ugly and mean-looking like her, all wearing camo jackets.

"Clarisse," Annabeth sighs. "Why don't you go polish your spear or something?"

"Sure, Miss Princess," the big girl says. "So I can run you through with it Friday night."

"Erre es korakas!" Annabeth says, which I somehow understand is Greek for 'Go to the crows!' though I have a feeling it was a worse curse than it sounds. "You don't stand a chance."

"We'll pulverize you," Clarisse says, but her eye twitches. Perhaps she isn't so sure she can follow through on ht threat. She turns towards me, then she looks at Percy. "Who are these's runts?"

"Percy and (Y/n) Jackson," Annabeth says, "meet Clarisse, Daughter of Aries."

Percy blinks. "Like . . . the war god?"

Clarisse sneers. "You got a problem with that?"

"No," Percy says, seemingly recovering his 'wits'. "It explains the bad smell."

Long story short, Percy made the toilets explode.

Yeah, I said it. He made the toilets explode . . .

Word Count: 2455 words

[l0ve-doc]

By: Ryan Love   5/4/2021 Creative Writing - Spring -- TCPA -- Quade, Mary Ellen Beach memory When I walk across the sandy lake shore or even when I jump into the cool refreshing water of the lake. I immediately go back to the times I would go to the beach when I was younger with the sand between my toes and the sound of the crashing waves against the rocks. It’s like when I go to the lake. I instantly get teleported back to my child hood. When I used to live by the ocean. Even though they both are bodies of water they both have a lot of differences. Which some include one has salt water while the other doesn't, one has crashing waves while the other has calm waters, and one has finer sand than the other. Even though there are many differences between the two. I still teleport back to the days I spent at the beach. Where you could feel the breeze off the ocean's surface. I loved how you could dig a hole as deep as you wanted and there would still be sand left to dig. That it felt like there was nothing but sand as you kept digging. It leaves you wandering were all the sand came from. Also, how the giant sand dunes towered over you like you were in some type of desert. The fun part about the towering sand dunes was getting boogie boards and surfing them down them. Or when you go hunting on the shore for all the cool treasures you could find. Early in the morning when the tide brings treasures from the sea like seashells, sand dollars, and every once and while beautiful empty crab shells. I got to do all this thanks to where I was born and raised for the first four years of my life which was the Corpus Christi/ Rockport area. In just those four years of my life I think I have enough memories to last a life time. Out of all those memories I have many favorites. But, out of all of them my favorite one. Is how every summer a small group of my mom's side of the family got together and plan for an entire week. Just to go and stay a couple of days at the beach. They spent that entire week planning activities to do, and spent that time packing tents, grills, food, cooking supplies, bed supplies, fireworks, and anything else we needed. Of course, my mom and I helped out all of this.   When it came time to go for the trip. I remember the sand between my toes and the weight of everything I was carrying. From where we parked, we had to walk a little way to get to a place on the beach that only a few people know about. When we got there everyone dropped everything and ran to claim a good spot to camp. After that we set up everything then the festivities began. We did limbo, smores, water gun fights, tag when it got dark, tug a war, volleyball, piñatas, and my favorite swimming in the water. On the last day all the men gathered to set off the biggest fireworks display you can ever imagine all while everyone else was eating watermelon. This is one of my most favorite memories that I have at the beach and that’s all thanks to my wonderful mom and her side of the family.

[kinkyacademia]

Hey Mod Pasta! I hope you're doing well in this difficult time of the year. Kurogiri is criminally underrated and I'm glad you like him. If I'm not too late, would you mind writing some fluff for him, please? Maybe finally him having some down time for himself with someone he appreciates - romantic or platonic, it doesn't matter to me. Just... someone let the man Rest. And thank you so much for everything you and all the other mods do, your blog is top notch ❤️

Thank you, I love him so muuuuch!! Sometimes you get so desensitized to inappropriate content that you squeal when you write fluff. This is one of those times. Also, I’m keeping with my eternal headcanon that Kurogiri has a human form under the mist! I’m going with a sort of casual relationship here.P.S. You didn’t specify a gender, so I tried to keep it neutral other than stuff like “Ma’dam.”

Off topic, but are any of you meatballs going to Sakuracon?

-Mod Pasta🍜🍝

“Kurogiri, I need this. Kurogiri, I need that,” Shigaraki, the king of being a drama queen, would never give him a break. He would go to bed tired, and you would just let him rest in your arms before Shigaraki wanted breakfast, or even a midnight snack.

Finally, though, it was Shigaraki’s weekend to go visit All for One. He would be gone for about four days, and once Kurogiri has warped him away, he was sitting down at the bar with a martini and relaxing without having to use his quirk.

You were waiting for him, and casually struck up a conversation about domestics tasks and how differently they’re done in the underground world. Easy tasks like buying toilet paper turn into nightmares of almost being caught.

But you made sure he didn’t get too worked up, and you ended up drinking a couple more glasses than you had expected. Kurogiri was amazing at holding his liquor, though, so he just stopped making drinks for the two of you and enjoyed your giggly presence.

His favourite part about you being slightly tipsy was your cuddly-ness. He barely ever got physical contact outside of sleeping with you, so having you in his lap on the couch was a blessing on its own. He nuzzled his head into the crook of your neck, sighing deeply and holding you. While you were trying to explain some strange quantum theory you heard on the internet, he was absorbing the bonding time.

When you were a little more sober, he brought out his notebook where he planned things to do. In the depths of all the places he was to warp villains, there was the little note of an unused, tiny Caribbean island. You peered over his shoulder, a twinge of excitement upon your lips, “Should have grabbed a swimsuit, eh?”

“Perhaps we don’t need clothes if we’re out of the public eye?” He suggested, and you snickered as he grabbed a basket from under the bar sink and put his arm around your waist, warping you to an instantly warmer, more humid climate. You unconsciously gasped at the scenery, the blue ocean, clear sky, and a small five to seven yard stretch of foamy beach.

“Tell me again why I have to put up with the grown baby when we could just live here?” You whisper-yelled, and he had to stop himself from laughing at the term “grown baby.”

“Well, you know All for One tracks me, and besides, I like working for him,” he hummed, and you nodded slowly. It wasn’t like working for the mastermind behind all evil wasn’t a cool job, especially when he depends on you.

You hummed, settling down on the stretch with short rock faces on either side as he did the same and opened the small basket. It contained snack foods and a CD player, something quite hard to find nowadays, but he enjoyed collecting vintage items.

The day went by with shared laughs, eating, and possibly a little making out. While you weren’t officially “in a relationship,” you loved each other dearly. Being in a relationship could put the League in jeopardy if you or Kurogiri were to ever be caught, so you kept the title “friend,” but the behind-the-scenes close. You both craved the intimacy.

You ended up laying on top of him after he called you a nerd, straddling him and hugging his neck, denying to let go. The wispy man just laughed, grunting as he pushed himself up and then held your koala-hug grip up by your butt as he stood up, “The ocean seems like a perfect place to dispose of you,” You squealed as he began to slowly walk to the water, and you quickly pulled your shirt off and threw it at the picnic - it was expensive!

“Ah, that’s it, ma’dam?” He purred, and your cheeks flushed as you hugged him again to hide it.

“D’aw, shut up,” You mumbled with a large smile. He chuckled, wading about knee deep into the waves and getting his black jeans soaked. You pulled back to look down, whining, “Aw, you’re getting all… ocean-y dirty.”

“Ocean-y? It is just a bit of water, you know?”

“A bit is a pool, and this is nature’s pool Kuro,” You warned. He shrugged, taking one hand out from under you. You quickly tightened your grip, legs wrapping around him, “KUROGIRI!”

“Hmm, is the water too cold? I don’t presume I could fix that,” He removed his other hand, and you scrambled to stay up.

“I hate you!! Ah, I would have taken the rest off had I known you were such an ass!” You groaned, and then sighed in relief when his hands returned on your, well, ass.

“Promise accepted,” He practically skipped back to shore, and you grinned like a cheshire cat, bursting with laughter. He always has the weirdest ways of unwinding.

[yiwns]

ANNABETH'S SURPRISE

Fandom: Percy Jackson / PJO

Pairing: Percy Jackson x Annabeth Chase // PERCABETH

Word Count: 2.1k

Genre: Fluff

You can send requests here!

-

"So, what's the surprise, Seaweed Brain?" Annabeth asked Percy as they strolled along the beach. It was Annabeth's birthday and Percy wanted to surprise her by taking her to her Poseidon's castle. "Oh you'll see," Percy smirked. "Seaweed Brain, you know I don't like surprises right? And besides, I'll probably even guess what it is," Annabeth said.

Percy groaned like a child. "See this is why I can never surprise you!" He waved he's arms dramatically in the air. Annabeth giggled at her boyfriend's childishness. "Okay okay, I'll try not to guess it okay?" Annabeth promised. "Pinky promise?" Percy held out his pinky like a five year old. "Yes, pinky promise," Annabeth giggled and link their pinkies together.

Percy took her hand and they stroll along Camp Half Blood's beautiful beach. The sun was starting to rise. The sunlight shone on the ocean, the ocean twinkled and dolphins even jumped out and did a few flips in front of the couple. The sky turned a soft lilac and blue colour. Even Annabeth couldn't help but stare in awe.

"This way, my princess," Percy led towards the ocean. "So I did some calculations-"

"Wait? Since when do you do calculations?" Annabeth cut him off. "Anyways," Percy rolled his eyes. "I did some calculations," he emphasised the word 'calculations'. "And that I can make you breath underwater," He grinned. "Well, surprise me," Annabeth crossed her arms and waited. Percy grinned and leaned in. Their lips touch and the dolphins were clapping in the background.

They parted for breath. "That was sweet and all but what was that for?" Annabeth placed her arms around his shoulders. "You'll see," he wiggled his arm around her waist. They were now standing about the sea, thanks to Percy. He slowly lowered them down into the ocean. Annabeth looked around her, she was surrounded in water and she was breathing.

"Wow," She breathed out. Percy was grinning like an idiot. "Cmon," He took her by the hand. As they swam, many sea creatures passed by them. And of course they were whispering to Percy. "That's his majesty's son."

"Lord Percy!"

"Who's the girl beside him?"

"She looks beautiful."

Soon, they were floating at the edge of a underwater gap. Percy whistled and soon two hippocampus swam towards him. They were beautiful. Their skin shone like the galaxy underwater. If you don't know what they are, from the waist up they have a horse as a head and horse hooves, from the waist down, they have a fish tail and flippers.

Both of them each rode one hippocampus. Soon they were in front a huge arch. Inside, they're were sea and ocean nymphs everywhere. Even mermaids and mermen. Annabeth couldn't decide if she was amazed by the creatures or the architecture of the kingdom.

"Hey Dad!" Percy greeted his father, Poseidon who was siting on his throne of seashells and coral. "Percy my son!" Poseidon bellowed as he gave Percy a very big hug. "And Annabeth, good to see again," He smiled at Annabeth. "Good to see you too, my lord," Annabeth, being the mature one bowed.

"Percy told me his plans on everything, and happy birthday Annabeth, this is gift to you, just don't let your mother find out," Poseidon said. Poseidon snapped his finger and a nereid came holding a tray. On top the tray was two glass bottle filled with sparkling blue and green liquid. "A... potion?" Annabeth picked one of the bottle up.

"One for you and one for my son," Poseidon said. "Cool, what does it do?" Percy asks inspecting the bottle. "Why don't you drink and find out?" Poseidon grinned. Percy and Annabeth hesitated but drank it, what could go wrong right?

Percy and Annabeth gulped down the liquid. They started to glow, like really bright, almost as bright as Apollo but I'm not allowed to say that. The glowing died down. "I don't feel any different," Annabeth mumbled. Poseidon snapped his fingers and two mermen came with a body size mirror.

"WOAH!" Percy grinned. They couldn't believe what they saw in their reflection. "W-We're mermaids!" Annabeth said. "Merman!" Percy corrected her. Percy was shirtless but from the waist down, he had ocean green fish tail that sparkles in the light. Annabeth hair was in a half braid which was decorated with pearls and seashells, she had a white crop top that was decorated with pearls. From waist down, she had a coral pink fish tail.

"Oh my gods, this is awesome!" Annabeth swam in circles. Their weapons hung on a belt made of seaweed around their waist. "Thank you, Lord Poseidon," Annabeth bowed. Percy was still busy doing flips and giggling like a kid. Poseidon chuckled at them.

"Go and have fun, explore!" Poseidon sent them. For the entire day, the happy couple swam around, amazed by the underwater life. They returned back to the palace when the ocean turned dark, meaning it was night time. Poseidon was busy signing papers, obviously papers sent from Zeus.

"Ah, welcome back!" Poseidon greeted them back. "Had fun?" He asked. "A lot," Annabeth answered. Percy was still acting like a child. "So, how do we turn back into human?" Percy asked. "Why that's simple, I just... um... I... um," Poseidon stopped and thought for awhile. "I actually, don't know." He admitted. "What!?" Annabeth asked in shock. "I never turned anyone into mermaids before," he added. "T-Then, how?" Percy stutter.

"Well I thought it was a good idea," Poseidon stopped when a ocean nymph came and whispered something into his ear. Both of them had a brief discussion. "Great news! Kyla here," Poseidon gestured towards the ocean nymph, "knows how to turn you back into human!"

"How?" Annabeth raised a brow. "Well, there's this ancient cave near shore, there this magical wishing pearl. People say if you touch it and say you're wish it would come true," Kyla explained. "Then lets goooo," Percy started to swim but Annabeth caught him by the fin. "Hold up, Seaweed Brain." She said. "What's the catch?" Annabeth raised a brow.

"Well, it is near shore but it's deep down, like under shore. Around the midnight zone," Kyla said nervously. "Can we go now?" Percy asked getting impatient. "Percy, the midnight zone is very dangerous," Annabeth told him. "Have you seen me with danger? Demigods are a magnet for danger!" He waved his arms around. "True, but the midnight zone has less oxygen and the pressure is really high. It could burst out lungs, even if we're mermaids, because we're not real mermaids, we're still half mortal," Annabeth explained. "But I can breath underwater," Percy stated. "And I can't," Annabeth pointed out.

"And that is where I come in," Poseidon said. He gave them both a seashell necklace with four stripes on it. "When you are about to enter the midnight zone, put these on. It would let you stay there long enough for you to get to the pearl. But once you turn back to human, you need to get out of there as fast as you can. In mermaid form, you can last longer than human and might only used one bar and that means you have three bars left when you are in human form before your lungs burn," Poseidon explained. "Now be safe, and don't get killed on the way down," Poseidon patted Percy's head. Percy gave Poseidon a hug and said their goodbyes. Percy took Annabeth's hand started to swim back to shore.

When they were almost near shore, they stopped and look down. "Ready, Wise Girl?" Percy asks. "Ready," Annabeth answered. Both of them put on the necklace and the four stripes started to glow as they descended into the midnight zone. Many giant creatures such as squid and sharks passed by them. They didn't want to mess with them, I mean who would want too? He's the son of Poseidon, their king. But they did had to kill a few squids who were rebellious against Poseidon.

They soon found a cave. It was attached to the shore line, the entrance was covered with seaweed, but there was faint glow coming from the inside. They swam towards it. But Annabeth pulled Percy towards a rock and hid behind it. "What is it-" Annabeth cut Percy off by putting her index finger to her lips. "Listen," she whispered. Percy ears perked up as he heard movement and low growling near the cave. Both of them peeked up from the rock. Huge tentacles surrounded the cave. "It's a kraken!" Percy exclaimed. "Shhh!" Annabeth shushed him. The kraken red eyes glowed in the dark, its tentacles making a swishing sound as it moved. "What are we gonna do?" Percy asked. Annabeth thought for awhile. "We need to distract it," Annabeth said. "How?" Percy asked. "We need to get passed this tentacles," Annabeth said. "They are huge! It's like fighting an underwater Hydra just that the tentacle doesn't grow back but it's bigger and longer," Percy groaned.

Annabeth thought for awhile. "I got it!" A tiny lightbulb sparked from her head. "We can swim fast, even though the tentacles is huge it can't move that fast cause of its weight. If we swim fast enough and different direction, we could confused it and the tentacles would very tangled," Annabeth said. Percy nodded.

"1,2,3 go!" Annabeth said. Percy and Annabeth charged at the kraken. Swimming fast and around it. It was annoyed by them but also confused. "HEY SQUID FACE!" Percy called him multiple names. Soon, the tentacles were all tangled and the kraken was struggling to get it out. "Now!" Percy said. They swam inside the cave, brushing past the seaweed entrance.

"Woah," Percy looked around the cave. "This Place looked like someone lived here," He said. "Percy! In here!" Annabeth called him. Percy Swann towards Annabeth. A huge pearl sat on table of coral, it was glowing a coral pink light. "Ready?" Annabeth asked her boyfriend, he nodded. Both of them put their hands on the pearl and closed their eyes. "I wish to be human again," They both said in unison. Both of them started to glow for a moment. The glowing died down and they opened their eyes. "We're human again!" Annabeth gasped. They were back in their camp attire.

Just in time, they heard a beeping sound. A bar from the seashell was gone, three more left. "Cmon, we have to-"

"Wise Girl look out!"

"Huh- AAAAH! PERCY!" Annabeth screamed. A tentacle had sneaked in and wrapped itself around Annabeth's waist and pulled her out. "AAAAAHHHH!" She yelled. "WISE GIRL!" Percy swam after her. The kraken had untangled itself. It roared at Percy. Annabeth was hanging off the tentacle, squirming to get out but the grip only got tighter. Annabeth grunted in pain.

Percy whipped out Riptide. "LET HER GO YOU SQUID FACE!" He yelled at it. The kraken roared at him and charged it tentacles at it. Percy dodge most of it. He sliced of one. The kraken roared in pain. Usually, squid can regenerate their tentacles but it takes time, and this kraken doesn't have time before Percy turns it into calamari. Percy stabbed at the kraken as it charged at Percy. "HANG ON WISE GIRL!" Percy said. He charged towards the tentacle holding Annabeth and sliced it off. Annabeth untangled herself, Percy swam towards her and wrapped his arms around her.

Annabeth felt dizzy, she realised her seashell had only one and a half bar left. Before she could say anything, she passed out in Percy arms due to the lac of oxygen. Percy panicked for awhile then realised why she had passed out. The kraken had swam back into its hiding place to regenerate its tentacles. Percy swam upwards to the light.

"Hah!" Percy's head popped up from the water. He dragged Annabeth towards the sand, Percy kissed her a few times which he considers CPR. A few minutes later, Annabeth started to cough out water. "Hey there Wise Girl," Percy grinned at her. "Hey, Seaweed Brain," Annabeth kissed Percy. Right now, it was night time. The stars were shining brightly.

"So how did you like your birthday present?" Percy asked his girlfriend. They were lying on the sand, not caring if they had sand on their backs or hair. "It was, unexpected I have to admit. I did expect you taking me to Poseidon's castle but not the mermaid part," Annabeth admitted. "So, did I surprise you?" Percy asked. Annabeth laughed. "Yes, yes you did," She kissed him one more. She snuggled up to him as both of them admired the beautiful night sky above.

This was truly an amazing birthday experience that Annabeth will never forget.

[texasthegreatdestroyer]

One Heart, Two Souls: FFX Fan fic

Chapter 1: Part 1.

Cold… That was just one of the things I felt. It was certainly an improvement from five minutes ago.

Then, my lungs had filled with salt water. I remember vomiting it up with what I presumed to be blood, as it left an iron flavor in my mouth.

What a fabulous combination. Blood and seawater. At some point, I must have hit my stomach really hard, that would probably explain the mix of blood and bile.

But what did I have in me to care? My feelings had been washed with a majority of my blood in the sea. The same blood that poured out of my wounds.

The wounds that reminded me of my poor decisions, my failures, and of course, my death. Dying came to me fast, but ended so slowly. I can still feel the sick irony, as the god of the corrupt religion laughs in my face. Waiting, regenerating, plotting which of it's followers to kill next. I felt bitter, but that bitterness turned to sweet salvation and sugar coated numbness, well mentally that was.

The right side of me hurt like hell. Something around the wounds made me hurt. Seawater maybe? No, this felt grainy. My wounds stung and my body ached.

It seemed like every time I tried to move a muscle, it felt like the limb attached to it was being severed from the rest of my body.

I wasn't sure what was worse, my increasing body aches? My inability to open my eyes? Or the the slight but selfish contempt I had for two people I called my best friends?

My eyes, I need to open them. I can hate myself later. I did eventually tried to open my eyes, but when I did, my right one wouldn't open.

The blood on my eye started to clot and eventually scabbed up enough to keep me from forcing it open.

I did manage to get my left eye open though. What I saw was… sort of dark. My good eye and bad eye stung. Using what I knew so far, it was sand that was irritating my eye and wounds.

Somehow, I had face planted into sand. When I figured this out, I lifted my head up quickly. I had finally made it to shore.

I wasn't sure how I ended up here, or in the middle of the ocean for that matter.

I found myself on the beach of a coastal city. It was a big city, but it couldn't have been Bevelle.

I had been all over that city, and knew every landmark, but none of the knees around me looked familiar.

It didn't take me long to figure out where I was, as I noticed that it was busy with machina.

Could this be what I think this could be? Is this Jecht's Zanarkand?

This meant I was able to fulfill my promise to Jecht, but worth how I was feeling, I spat at the idea of fulfilling the promise, as I still felt contempt him and Braska leaving me behind.  Leaving me alone.

As I looked around, I noticed somehow staring at me. It was a child. He looked to be six or seven, but that was not the key thing that stood out about him. He looked like Jecht.

The only thing I could mutter out to him was, “Who… are you?”

The boy looked at me horrified before he ran screaming. “Maaaaa!”. Instinctively, I got up quickly and grabbed his wrist, but that just made him scream more.

“LET GO OF ME!”

“Wait! I think I know your father!”

At hearing this, the boy kept quiet.

“Is your name Tidus?”

The boy was about to answer, but someone came out of their home. An elder looking woman she was. She shouted at us from afar.

The whole beach was made up from boat houses, and she lived in one.

“What's going on over there!?”

We made the mistake of looking over there, it just her yell at us.

“Are you alright young boy?”

She stared at me, then decided it was fit to yell at me next. I didn't really appreciate the attention.

“You! You leave that poor little boy alone! I'll call the police!”

I had no idea what she was talking about. What was a police, or the police? I didn't stay to find out. With the little energy I had, I got up and ran.

To my surprise, the boy followed. We eventually made it somewhere where we'd be safe to talk in private.

“You're Jecht's son, are you not?”

The boy flinched at my question. I could tell that just his father's name made him sick.

“Everyone knows my stupid old man, what makes you special?”

“I knew him on a personal level. I spent three months traveling with him. We were friends. He asked me to find you and your mother.”

“Why should I believe you?”

“I'm only here to bear news off your father to you and your mother, and to help out with you as needed.”

“That doesn't answer my question.”

“Look, it's hard to explain. I just need you to trust me.”

There was silence among us. The boy did finally reply after a couple minutes. All though it was monotone, out was the answer I hoped for.

“Fine.”

I followed him as he guided me to his home. He lived in a fancy little boat house, perfect for a small family of three.

Despite it being a nice, sunny day, there seemed to be something dark and unbecoming of the bright, little house.

The sound of the child's voice snapped me out of my daze.

“I'm going to go get my mom, wait here.”

He opened the door, the inside looked unwelcoming. The boy continued into the dark pit of despair called a doorway. I had to advert my attention to something else to keep myself from running in after him, as I was terrified of what may have been lurking in abyss.

I caught the eyes of the neighbors next door. They were a young, attractive couple. Looks of terror formed on their faces, so like Tidus.

Was my condition really that revolting? As I continued to think about it, the smell of rotten flesh wafted from my body.

I looked down at my decomposing wounds to see that I was squirting blood everywhere as that people next door were watching and reacting. It had occurred to me that my condition was that bad.

My focus was interrupted with Tidus’s return. He walked over to me, but I kept my eyes glued to the dark corridor, waiting, expecting a beautiful woman to illuminate the dark vibes I was getting from interior. Besides, Jecht was supposedly the best blitzer in Zanarkand, and maybe even the world, he would have to have a wife prettier than any of the gorgeous women who flocked to him at the end of the game, or anywhere he was seen.

Finally, a wisp appeared in the doorway. What I saw left me in shock and aww. It was a woman, she would have been beautiful if it wasn't for a couple issues.

Unlike a normal person who emerges in order of a silhouette to a full human body. She starred as a wisp and came out a silhouette.

She was freakishly skinny, her skin stretched across her body like tight clothing. From a literal standpoint, she looked like flesh and bones.

You could see every curve of her skeletal system. The woman was as pale as a ghost. She looked very sickly, almost as if you even slightly touched her, she would shatter.

However, what stood out about her the most was her eyes. They were a shiny, bright, blue, yet appeared to be incredibly dull.

She had darkly outlined bags under her eyes as if she never slept. She looked like the creation made by a depressed artist who felt like spilling their feelings onto the paper.

Her eyes were glazed over like freshly cut glass. She looked like someone who would smile a lot, but not as of now. The one thing the glimmer in her eyes and her smile had in common other than being beautiful. Gone.

Disappeared with Jecht himself, kept in the pocket of his chaos torn pants, as he walked to his demise in the hands of the culprit himself, as he would turn a small family of three into a smaller family of two, leaving it in shambles.

It was very clear she herself was lying on a deathbed, created by her husband's absence and her inability to go on. Her death would be by her own weak, trembling hands. The woman in her frail state spoke.

“I'm sorry, I can't help you. We don't have any medical supplies to take care of you with.”

“That's not why I'm here ma’am.”

“Oh? My son said differently.”

We both stared at the boy. He replied to his unwanted attention.

“Hey, someone had to say it. You look like a walking corpse.”

His mother of course didn't approve of his comment.

“Tidus! That's impolite, apologize.”

He hung his head low in reaction to the unwanted reaction before he spoke again.

“... Sorry.”

“It's not a problem.”

His mother's focus shifted back towards me now.

“Why are you here then?”

My heart dropped. I wasn't  ready to make things worse, but I made a promise.

“I've come bearing unfortunate news… I'm here to inform you that your husband's death has been confirmed… I'm sorry for your

loss.”

She fell to the ground shrieking.

“I knew he was gone, but no one ever found his body! Knowing this, I believed he wasn't dead, that he'd come back to us, my sweet, sweet Jecht! That's been my only hope for months!”

I wanted to comfort her, but I wasn't sure what I could do for her. She had just lost her husband. Although I was also grieving his death, I didn't have it in me to cry.

Looking down at Jecht's wife, I could tell deep down, her heart bleed sorrow, rage, and love. Love that was clearly not reserved for her son.

He tried to go comfort his mother, but when bee did, she just about snapped his head off clean.

“Mommy, it'll be alright-”

“DON'T TOUCH ME!”

She harshly ripped her hands from her son's gentle grasp. I was stunned to see how she treated him. Tidus began to cry, but it only managed to make matters worse for him. She replied with venomous words.

“Grow up and stop crying! You're being pathetic! You HATE him! You said son yourself, so why are you crying!?”

She clearly had a short fuse. The boy cowered. He wiped his tears at his mother's command. He stayed long enough to glare at me, then stomped into the house and slammed the door behind him.

I wanted to tell her the way she was treating her son was wrong, but I couldn't risk her taking offence to what I would say and not let me see him again, so I kept quiet.

Yet again, I kept my eyes attached to the door, while recognizing the so called fruits of my labor.

They were rotten and stunk of failure. A sad and emotionally abused son and a distant mother, that's what was gained.

His mother whispered random words, they sounded of suicide. I looked to find het skin even more tightly stretched across her skull as her eyes got big.

Suddenly the air begun to fill with a bad smell, something other than rotten flesh. It was urine.

I looked below the woman to find a dark yellow puddle under her feet, and a wet spot on her jeans. You could tell she didn't drink much by the discoloration of her… nevermind, too much detail.

I was shocked at the site, and also disgusted. I've had to bear news of fallen comrades to their families numerous times in the past, but I've never gotten this kind of reaction before.

I didn't think grief pissing one's self was anything more than a tale the higher ups told the cadets to disturb them in the warrior monks, but she did so.

I find it funny that this had to happen with the wife of my goner of a best friend. I guess life decided since it was a special occasion, that the reaction had to be equally special. Simply put, a godly, almighty, “Fuck you” from the world to me.

I'm horrible with emotions, I always have been. I watched as wet comps of years ran down her face powerless.

Not too long afterwards, she had passed out. I hadn't noticed, but when I looked away earlier, Tidus had pulled up a stool and watched us from the window of the door.

It took him awhile to move the stool and come outside, but he finally did. He came at me, pushing, hitting, and screaming.

“GET AWAY FROM MOMMY!”

Hee growled at me as I restrained him. I got him inside and locked him in his room long enough to get his mother inside.

I couldn't just leave her to lay in a puddle of her own filth, so I picked her up and took her to the bathroom.

I let Tidus out, asked him if he could help me get his mother cleaned up. After enough fussing, he agreed to help.

There were many weird contraption in the bathroom, but I got her unclothed, and put her in the one that looked closer to a bath.

I wasn't surprised to see that she loomed entirely like a skeleton. However, I couldn't help but stare at her bony structure.

Of course, when Tidus came in, he took my intentions to be impure.

“Stop staring at mommies chest, you creep.”

“That wasn't what I was looking at, I swear!”

“Uh Huh… sure.”

“I promise! She's just… really skinny.”

“Mommy doesn't eat like she used to. She doesn't really eat at all. The doctor told her she needed to start eating more, or she would get sicker, but she never listened. I try to get her to eat, but she won't eat for me!”

He sounds like a mother himself, complaining about trying to get the children to eat right. He stared at me quietly as if he was waiting for something. I wasn't sure what he wanted from me.

“Aren't you going to turn the water on?” He said snarkily.

I wasn't sure how this thing worked, I turned the left knob hesitantly. His mother began to shiver uncontrollably. The boy put his hand in the water.

“It's cold genius! No wonder she's freezing!”

I turn the left knob back to its starting point, turning the water off, then I turn the right knob. I saw steam coming up, so I automatically thought a win for me, but then she flinched in discomfort.

He sticks his hand in a second time, but pulls back immediately.

“Ow!”

He looked up at me and scowled.

“Are you trying to cook her?! You're hurting Mommy!”

“I'm really sorry!”

“No! Just get out!”

I fulfill his wishes and go out to look around for a fresh towel and a set of clothing. It doesn't take Tidus long to call me back in there. He has me watch over her long enough to go grab some things. Tidus comes back with some rubbing alcohol, duct tape and some napkins.

“Stay still!”

“Why?”

“Well, I have to patch you up! I can't just have you bleeding everywhere! You're cleaning the blood up by the way, especially on the carpet, if you don't, mom will be maaaad!”

“That's noted, but are you sure using duct tape and napkins is a good idea?”

“Are you being ungrateful?”

I kept quiet. Duct tape and napkins were at least something. That and probably a better alternative than the local hospitals. Them trying to get my medical records would have been one giant headache all together.

I watch him and cringe at the sting of him stumping a lot of rubbing alcohol on my wounds. I had to bite my lip to keep myself from cursing up a storm. Seriously? Did this kid have no restraint? No idea how painful rubbing alcohol is?

He eventually moved on to putting the fanfic napkins on me and tapping the wounds up.

“You're very lucky mom was talking about throwing these out, or else I would have used paper napkins... But still, keep those hidden just in case.”

“Duly noted.”

He finally did finish, and to my surprise, his method wasn't all that shabby. The bleeding stopped, and the wounds were cleaned. My only issue is that he taped my bread entirely to keep the napkin concealed, this is going to hurt to pull off later.

I continued looking around for what I needed. I didn't take me long, I found her clothes in her dresser, I avoided the panty and bra drawer entirely, I already had taken her out of her clothes and had to put her back in them, I wasn't about to be the guy to look through her potentially sexually arousing undergarments.

I was making my way down the hall to the bathroom when Tidus comes running my direction. I knew something had to be wrong.

“Quick! Help me! Mommies head went under the water and I can't get het up!”

I run into the bathroom quickly and pull her up from the water. If I'd waited any longer, she would have drown. I sit her up long enough to put the towel and clothes down, then hold onto her and kept her head above the water long enough for Tidus to finish cleaning her up.

Afterwards, Tidus grabbed her forty clothes and stuck them in one of the two matching machina. I would later find out that they were a clothe washer and dryer.

I drained the automatic bath and took my time drying her off properly, then put her clothes back on her and carried her to her bed, then I tucked her in.

By the end of this, I stunk of not only rancid flesh and body odor, but a touch of urine. I considered using the bath, but it wasn't my place to do so without permission, so I just left it alone.

Tidus and I sat on the deck quietly. It was an hour before he went in to check on his mother. I could tell he was worried.

When he came back out, we spoke briefly, but the awkwardness turned to silence after the following conversation.

“Is your mother alright?”

“Why do you care?”

His words were cold and untrustworthy. What I said next probably didn't help matters any.

“I wouldn't know what to do if she dies.”

“Don't say she's going to die!”

After a while, we went back inside. There, he spoke to me for a second time. I wasn't off the hook just yet. I was to be thoroughly investigated by a seven-year old. First a doctor, next a detective. This kid has quite the future ahead of him.

“Why were you sent here by my father?”

“I was sent here to bear news off your father's passing, also to help out with you if necessary, in other words, your father's will.”

“... How did he die?”

“He died a hero's death-”

“Don't call my father a hero! He's not!”

There was a pause of silence between us. A few seconds later, I heard shuffling coming down the hallway. I watched as the thin lining of his mother appeared from within the shadows. Instantly, I got up, my first instinct being to guide her back to her room.

When we got back to her room, she said she wanted to talk to me in private, so I shut the door. That was a big mistake.

- To be continued.