#oh and he should bring back the stone roses tank top!

[dreamings-free]

21/2/24

[oldtowrs]

˗ˏˋ LOVELY PRESENCE; obi-wan kenobi x handmaiden!reader

SUMMARY - the reader, a handmaiden and obi-wan’s love, visits the jedi temple to spend a last evening together before obi-wan is sent on a mission to corellia, and finds him in the middle of training. needless to say, obi-wan throws caution to the wind and shameless fluff ensues

WORD COUNT - ~4.3k

A/N - ayyy... its more of my golden boy, haha. i don’t know what you all expected really. this is really just shameless fluff for fluff’s sake. i hope you all enjoy. and please i don’t want to get any comments saying ‘they could’ve gotten caught, blah blah.’ yes i know, that’s the point. i said shameless fluff did i not? small font and no caps is intentional. and for the story’s sake, just pretend that no one saw obi-wan and the reader, okay? okay. also i’m going to tag @obaewankenobis and @karasong / @hellotherekenobi bc they liked the excerpt i posted from this piece. here’s the full thing enjoy :)

WARNINGS - obi-wan in a tank top. i said what i said. 

coruscant shone golden in the last rays of the setting afternoon sun. the buildings, huge pillars of metal and glass, reflected the golden light every which way, illuminating the many hovercraft that flew through the coruscanti airspace, looking like little trails of stardust in the sky. the sky, with its painted gradient of vibrant hues, and clouds which interrupted the color in such elegant ways, acted as a beautiful backdrop for the gleaming city.

as padme’s advisor and handmaiden, you had seen many beautiful sunsets and sunrises, the sun rising from or melting into one of the many beautiful lakes of naboo. but none of them could’ve paralleled the gleaming grandeur of coruscant, the seat of power of the republic, in her final golden hour.

but even as you admired the beauty of the city-planet, you knew there was a beauty more divine than that of naboo and of coruscant and of the whole inner rim combined: and he was standing before you in the gardens of the jedi temple,wielding his lightsaber in preparation for the mission he was to depart on come morning. his auburn hair fell into his slightly freckled face, into his beautiful blue eyes that shone like a thousand stars, as he moved. his jedi robes had been laid upon a stone bench, discarded in the heat of training, leaving him in nothing but his dark trousers tucked into his leather boots, and a black, sleeveless undershirt. the shirt revealed his freckled shoulders and muscular arms as he swung his saber in arcs about him, and the sun seemed to both seep into his skin like honey and glow upon touching the lovely freckles surface. every part of him was awash in gold as the sun kissed his skin and danced about his beard and hair, turning the auburn strands into warm, roughspun gold.

he was beautiful in all that he was, strong and dedicated and driven by peace and focus, as a high ranking jedi master and general should be. he was a honeyed, shining golden in the brilliant sun. and he was all yours.

obi-wan.

then, in a moment he had turned to face you, his lightsaber spinning in a wide, elegant arc until the hilt came to a halt by his head, the end of the saber outstretched, opposing hand pointing directly at you. those beautiful blue eyes that you so dearly loved seemed to shine with the light of a thousand stars as his gaze met yours. a smile immediately lifted the corners of his lips. he hurriedly began to make his way towards you, dropping the saber to his side, the blade withdrawing into nothingness as he forged his way through the gardens.

‘darling!’

the endearment was almost a sigh of relief, of comfortability, as it passed his sweet lips and graced your ears with its soft tenor and lilt of his elegant coruscanti accent.

he clipped his lightsaber to the leather utility belt about his hips, before taking your face in his hands and placing his lips gently on yours. his thumbs traced delicate circles on your cheeks, and you felt him smile into the kiss as your heated blush rose to meet his touch. he smelled of his soaps and colognes, of his soft linens, of the garden, of him, of home and you couldn’t help but sigh into the kiss happily.

panic filled your heart as you suddenly pulled away from him, hands delicately wrapping around his forearms, as you tried reluctantly to pull out of the kiss that had you falling faster and faster into his lovely orbit.

‘obi-wan! someone might see!’

obi-wan's eyes turned soft, the stars in his eyes dimming only so his love could shine through. he pressed a kiss to your forehead, and while you were still worried about being caught kissing a jedi, risking everything obi-wan had ever known, you couldn’t help but melt into the kiss, into his touch. your hands, significantly smaller and more delicate than his, slid gently up his bare arms to cover his as they continued to caress circles upon circles of his love into your skin.

‘don’t worry, sweetling,’ he murmured, the words gentle against your forehead as they graced the space-though it was limited-between you two. ‘there’s no presence but yours for at least the next several hundred yards.’

it was true. what with the galactic war, the jedi order had been spread thin. even the jedi council hadn’t had a meeting at which all members were present for months; or at least that was what obi-wan told you in the quiet hours of the night in which he returned, from long days of maintaining the order of the galaxy, to his chambers-to the image of you tucked delicately beneath his linens or your silks. those were the hours before his words turned sugary sweet and more intimate and began to accompany a plethora of gentle kisses.

obi-wan, being the powerful jedi he was, would be able to sense the presence of another being as they moved through the force; and if he was comfortable enough to bring you close and pepper your face with butterfly-like kisses, then you supposed you could allow yourself to relax into his touch.

‘and as lovely as your presence is, darling,’ obi-wan began, his callouses gentle against your skin as he moved to tuck a stray piece of hair behind your ear. ‘whatever are you doing at the jedi temple?’

‘i was sent on official business by senator amidala,’ you said, raising your chin into the air haughtily, a note of pride taking hold in your voice.

‘and what might your business be, my lady,’ obi-wan said, drawing ever near as his hands drifted down your arms and the elegant silks sleeves of your dress until his fingers found and wove themselves between yours. his thumbs continued their circular escapades on the surface of your skin-which you now realized was growing just as honeyed as his in the afternoon light.

you’ve bewitched me, master kenobi.

‘to admire and oversee the activities of a certain jedi master who’s lovely presence i will miss dearly after he leaves my side to go hunt down clues of the sith and of battleships and criminals on somefar off planet,’ you said, admiring the way the deepening wrinkles at his eyes gathered beautifully as a smile grew upon his lips-those soft, pillowy lips that you could drown in forever.

‘admiring a jedi?’ obi-wan laughed heartily, the sound of it rich and loving against your ears. ‘on such sacred grounds as these? you must have some courage, darling.’

‘if i remember correctly, master kenobi,’ you hummed happily, his title and reputation falling sweet like rose petals from your lips, ‘it was you who just kissed me on such ‘sacred grounds.’’

and there he was, again, leaning in close, slanting his lips against yours as though it would be the last time he would get the chance to kiss you, to take your breath away with such a simple action, to make your heart melt beneath his gentle touch--like he needed the constant reassurance of your kiss to weather the cruelties of a galaxy at war. and when he pulled away, absolute adoration lingered there in his baby blue eyes, as though stars had imploded along the lines of your lips as he kissed you, and their stardust had collected in his shining blue irises so that they may always remember your beauty and the stars that danced about your skin like little shadows.

‘my stars, darling,’ he sighed, ‘i would kiss you for eternity if it meant the first thing i would see when my lips parted forms yours was the sweet beauty of your face. i would kiss you for an eternity and longer if it meant i got to be in your lovely presence for always and forever.’

‘obi-wan, love, you’re making it really hard not to dread your departure already,’ you sighed, pouting ever so slightly in the way that you knew would pull at obi-wan’s heartstrings.

‘don’t worry, little one. i’ll come back to you, whole and in need of your sweet kisses,’ obi-wan hummed, pressing another kiss to your forehead. ‘and it just so happens that i have been relieved of my duties for tonight to ready myself for the mission.’

‘and what might that preparation include, master kenobi,’ you asked teasingly, and watching him preen under your endearment. his station was something to be proud of, to have worked so hard, to have come from nothing and to now be a jedi master and general, and the best negotiator and diplomat the order had. he embodied all the code stood for: compassion, patience, discipline. and you knew that deep down, somewhere, hidden away with his immense love for you was a mild sense of pride at all he accomplished-though he would never let it show.

‘i was thinking of spending my time with a handmaiden i rather enjoy the presence of--a handmaiden i have formed quite the attachment to.’

‘she must be a very lucky woman then, to have the affections of someone as accomplished and as endearing as you.’

‘oh, but i am the luckiest man in the galaxy to love her and call her mine.’

your heart swelled at his words. his?

obi-wan leaned down to kiss you once more, this time his hands finding purchase in the cotton and silk that made up the back of your dress, splaying themselves about your back as though he were cradling you ever closer to his chest in an almost protective manner.

‘yes, darling.’ he managed in between the soft pillowy kisses he pressed to your lips, the tip of your nose, your cheeks and forehead, any part of you he could reach with those wonderful lips of his. ‘all mine.’

your hands rested against his chest, the thin material of his undershirt allowing you to feel the muscle which rippled beneath his beautifully freckled skin from years dedicated to his training and to the order. the fabric was soft as your fingers trailed down his chest, to his hips where the cool metal of his saber kissed your fingers.

‘teach me,’ you murmured, lips brushing against obi-wan’s as the words left your lips. confusion drew his eyebrows together, a small crease forming between them in a way you couldn’t help but adore.

‘teach you what, sweetling?’ he asked, voice velvety and soft against your ears.

‘teach me how to use a lightsaber.’

a smile took over those soft lips you so dearly loved, and a laugh erupted in the evening air. he was beautiful when he laughed, color painting his cheeks and his hair falling out of his face as he leaned his head back in his laughter. you would’ve admired the lovely sound and the way his eyes wrinkled at the corners had your words not been cause for it.

‘why are you laughing at me? i’ve fought to protect senator amidala on many occasions with both a blaster and vibroblades. why not a lightsaber? or did you forget i’ve been trained in close combat as well, master kenobi.’

‘i never said no, darling,’ obi-wan sighed, coming down from his laughter to press a gentle hand to your cheek, thumb tracing circles into your skin. ‘however, the thought of you with such civilized technology is quite a fearsome one indeed.’

‘please, obi-wan?’

obi-wan’s gaze softened, knowing in his heart that you meant too much to him to deny you any one of your many requests.

‘i suppose,’ he sighed, worry mingling with the warmth in his crystal blue gaze, as he begged of you, ‘just promise me you’ll be careful. i hate to even think about harm coming to you, much less see you harmed by my weapon and under my supervision.’

‘i promise.’

its then that his fingers find the palm of your hand, guiding it into his strong, calloused, yet gentle grasp, as he pulls you from the sanctuary of the temple and into the wild delicacy of the gardens. a soft click sounds and the cool metal of obi-wan’s saber kisses the tips of your fingers as he pulls you close and presses the saber into your delicate hands. he wraps your fingers around the hilt, and raises your hand to kiss your knuckles, his beard tickling the skin there.

‘this weapon is dangerous as it is beautiful, darling. do you understand?’

‘yes, my love.’

he pulls you into the clearing in the center of the gardens, stone tiles sturdy beneath your feet. soon his figure is wrapped around your, your back pressed firmly against the strong musculature of his chest as his strong, star-freckled arms wrap around your own, guiding your hands and body into a stance he deemed worthy of training in.

‘you must always be aware of your body in position to your saber,’ he explained, his voice low in its velvety depth as he buried his lips in your hair, the top of your head grazing his delicate cheekbones. ‘you must always be aware and precise in your movements. one wrong move could prove fatal.’

as much as you wanted to focus on his words, his close proximity was very distracting. the heady, musk of him overwhelmed your sense in the most pleasantly soft manner, and the delicate brush of his skin against yours was enough to set your nerves alight in blissful agony. you wanted to melt into him, to meld into the softness of his heart, the warmth of his being and voice. there was so much of him that you loved, and it was just so close… he was just so close.

‘focus your thoughts, darling,’ he chuckled sweetly, the deep tenor of his voice rumbling softly in his chest as he pressed a sweet kiss to the crown of your head, into the softness of your hair.

‘sorry,’ you said sheepishly. sometimes you forgot just how strong his connection with the force was, and how he could read you like an open book. of course, you’d given him permission to do so--convincing him that you were okay with having his loving presence in your consciousness, that it wasn’t an invasion of your privacy. you had had to convince him that having his warmth in the corners of your mind was one of the most comforting feelings you’d ever known, that is wasn’t a burden or an overreach or a breach of your trust.

‘it’s okay, sweet one,’ he hums sweetly. ‘just focus on my movements.’

his hands wrapped around yours, pressing them into the hilt as he tilted the end of it away from you. blue light filled your field of vision as he ignited it.

‘this is called a low guard. it's a good place to start dueling, as you can move any which way from this position’ obi-wan explained, the passion for his practice and the dedication to his order seeping into the softness of his voice, turning the tone sweeter than honey. ‘focus on fluidity, and precision, darling. yes, perfect. now bring it down to your side, and up in an arc.’

obi-wan’s praise was enough to send your head spinning, and your heart reeling with contentment. there was nowhere else in the whole galaxy you wanted to be than in obi-wan kenobi’s arms, the callousness and softness of his hands pressed firmly into your own as he guided your hand down into a steep arc before bringing it down to the opposite side. his arm crossed over your body in a way that was reminiscent of the way he would wrap his arms languidly about your waist so as to hug you in the way he loved to in the early hours of the morning in which the two of you woke in the others chambers as the sun’s rays just began to kiss the clouds high above. your heart fluttered like a thousand butterflies pushing against the limits of your lungs in a campaign for freedom-a freedom to press your face into his chest, to give him a kiss for every star-freckled blemish upon his skin.

‘and that would be a basic defensive maneuver,’ he hummed, interrupting your wandering thoughts before guiding you through the motion a couple times to work it into your muscle memory. his tutelage continued on like this until the sky was only lit by the last remnants of the sunset.

‘let me try,’ you whispered into the small space between you. he let go, his skin leaving its precious contact with yours as your nerves almost screamed for him to come back.

you tried some of the maneuvers on your own, getting a feeling for the balance of the elegant weapon in your own hands. it was similar to its dagger analog, a defensive art you had learned upon padme’s admission into the senate. a smirk pulled at the side of your lips as an idea formed in your mind. just beware of the blade, obi wasn’t voice echoed in your memory.

quickly, you began the maneuver, turning around and wielding the blade in a flourishing so that it came to rest by your head in the way obi-wan had done upon your arrival to the jedi gardens.

mild panic and pride mixed beautifully in obi-wan’s face, pulling at it in ways that gently tugged at the light wrinkles at the corners of his eyes. obi-wan would be lying if he said that his heart did not jump into his throat in fear that something would go wrong, that you would hurt yourself in your playfulness. however, when he saw you, alive and unscathed, pride gleaming in your eyes as the flourish put him in a position that would’ve won you a battle, he couldn't have been more proud of you-his love wielding his lightsaber as if it was what you were born to do.

‘how’s my form, master kenobi?’ mischief dripped from your words, his title slipping off your honeyed tongue so elegantly that it elicited a delicate warmth in his chest, and a heated redness to his cheeks.

with a flick of his finger, the blade disappeared into the hilt, into nothingness, under his deft manipulation of the force, before he reached for you, pulling your small, delicate form into his. his arms wrapped around you, the silks and chiffons of your simple dress kissing his arms as he pulled you into him and placed his lips sweetly-albeit a little forcefully-in a kiss that melted both your heart and his own.

‘and when i thought you possibly occupy and melt any more of my heart, you’ve found a way to prove me wrong.’ he hummed into the small space between you, the vibrations and soft brushes of the suppleness of his lips delicate and heartwarming against yours

his heart felt as though it collapsed like a dying star before being reborn again as you buried your face into the warmth of his chest, his exposed skin soft against yours. one hand found purchase among the soft strands of the hair at the back of your head, as the other wrapped around your waist and pulled you ever closer against him. he pressed yet another kiss to your forehead, pushing his feeling of pride and love to you through the force.

‘it was utterly perfect, darling,’ he hummed sweetly, before pulling you from his chest and reclaiming his lightsaber from your deadly, yet delicate hands. ‘i knew you would be a terrifying force to be reckoned with, but i didn’t know you would look so beautiful doing it.’

at that, your heart swelled with pride, a smile tugging at your lips and a blush rising to consume your cheeks and tips of your ears. obi-wan couldn’t help but smile down at you-- the warmth which radiated from your heart and your soul and into the force for him to perceive was too sweet not to.

‘oh, obi-wan,’ you sighed, ‘i don’t deserve your kind words.’

‘you deserve the universe and more,’ obi-wan cooed, his delicate touch finding its way to your heated cheek as he moved to cradle it in his large, gentle palm, heart melting as tears of pure happiness stung your eyes as you melted into his touch. ‘my high praise is the least you deserve.’

‘obi-wan, will you spend the night with me? or can i spend the night with you? i don’t believe i can bare to part with you right now.’

‘i wouldn’t miss the chance to be in your lovely presence for the whole corellian system, darling.’ obi-wan hummed, thumb tracing its familiar patterns once more.

‘obi-wan,’ his name was soft-barely a whisper- on our tongue as you said it: the name of the jedi master you loved so dearly. ‘must you make it so very unbearable to part from you every time the war leads you away from coruscant… away from me?’

obi-wan’s gaze softened into sadnesses he dropped his gaze to his hands as they moved to hold yours, to feel their softness once more. he knew you missed him when he had to leave on these missions and risk their unknown circumstances. he dreaded the moment when he finally boarded the transport, slipping out of your sight as you watched from some hidden place in the jedi temple or the senate buildings. he could feel the pain your heart brought you in those moments as it radiated through the force. he would do anything to kiss away the tears that would form in worry at the corners of your eyes, to comfort you in his warm embrace, to wrap you up in his cloak and hold you close for eternity.

but he couldn’t. the many walls of steel, glass and space that separated you from him were too great to physically abound. so instead he would send you a sweet message of comfort over your commlinks, and press his thoughts and feelings into the back of his mind, into the depths of his heart. he would miss you, but his feelings would always act as his motivation, and he would always come back to you. obi-wan had lost so many people in his own life. he would never willingly put you through that pain of losing him. so he would fight valiantly and efficiently, cutting down the enemy or gathering intel in the manner that would certainly return him to you in the quickest and safest manner possible.

‘i promise i don’t do it willingly, my sweet’ he sighed, his voice soft and as comforting as he possibly could--though you didn’t miss the note of sadness that lined the edges of his words. gently, his hands pulled you close to him, so that there was barely any space between the two of you. one left your grasp to tuck a strand of hair behind your ear with great care and delicacy before resting his forehead against yours. your eyes fluttered shut in tandem with his, as to let the soft sensation of him so close to you overwhelm your senses.

and then his voice was warm and pleasant as it formed in your mind, as clear as your own.

i swear to you, my darling, for every time i leave you behind, i will always come back to you. i will not leave you alone in this galaxy by yourself. not ever.

your eyes fluttered open at the formation of the words, only to find his beautiful blue eyes staring sweetly into yours, into your heart.

‘and i’ll always be waiting for you upon your return, my love.’

‘i know, darling,’ he hummed graciously. ‘i know.’

and then, as the sun’s rays faded and the dark of night began to set in, in the safety and sanctuary of the verdant gardens about you, obi-wan kenobi kissed you, soft and sweet as his hands found the curvature of your cheek and the warmth of your body with his own. he kissed you, stardust dancing about your lips at his gentle caresses, in the safety of the gardens, where no one could separate you from him, where he could show you a small fraction of his love for you without the burden of the galaxy’s prying eyes.

‘what do you say i gather my things aboard the transport, and i’ll meet you in your chambers in, say-half an hour?’ he hummed, brownish auburn eyebrows tilting upwards as he gazed lovingly into your eyes, asking for your permission to occupy your time with his own sweet and lovely presence.

‘i’d like that very much,’ you smiled, revelling in the way a boyish grin covered his now slightly swollen lips. he parted from you to gather his robes hurriedly before returning to your side, to press three quick kisses, to your cheek, your forehead and, finally, your lips.

‘half an hour, then, my darling.’

and sure enough, there he was, standing in your doorway half an hour later, ready to scoop you up in his strong arms and spin you about with pure, love-filled elation. his lips would cover your face, your neck and collarbones, your shoulders-anywhere his lips could find the sweet pleasure of your soft exposed skin.

and for the rest of the night, he was yours-nuzzling his face into the comforts of your stomach as he cuddled into you, wrapping his arms around you in the most loving way, kissing you like you were the oxygen in his lungs, the blood in his veins, and the stardust which made up his being.

and when he left on the transport the next morning, your heart ached at the loving smile that pulled at his lips when his eyes met yours. and somehow you knew, all would be alright, that he would return to you in three-cycle’s time to kiss you and love you all over again.

i will come back to you, my lovely darling. i promise

[darkpoisonouslove]

The Light in You Is Shining in My Eyes

Summary: Robin is annoyed with the conditions of the nature hike she’s on when she falls through a hole in the ground to discover the domain of a nymph. The short encounter changes her life when she’s touched by Alice’s spirit and kindness.

Special credit to the guest stars of this fanfic - mosquitoes. They are playing a very important role in the lives of our leading ladies. XD

For @intothewickedwood​. I wish you all the best and many, many smiles!

The leaves rustling in the wind were drowned out by the laughter of large friend groups taking selfies and screaming children on family hikes but the cloud of mosquitoes surrounding Robin buzzed in her ears over all of that. Waving her hands to chase them away was like sticking them in the beast's mouth. Mosquito bites covered her like a map of her blood flow and the thin flannel shirt over her tank top only stuck to her skin with sweat to irritate her rather than protect her.

There was an unusual presence of mosquitoes at the spot where she was growing roots as if to taunt her. Killian had left her there to the annoying and hungry insects to follow up the fox tracks he'd spotted. Walking away was an option but the worst one. Having a phone on him didn't do much when Killian was a technological disaster so she had to wait around if she didn't want to lose him. Her mom would kill them both over the phone at the smallest mishap. Even the little pricks preying on her blood were preferable to never being let out of her room again, let alone Storybrooke.

A mosquito landed on her arm where she'd pushed the shirt off her shoulder. Robin got it before it could bite her smearing it over her skin. Her face twisted in disgust as her fingers brushed it away and she shifted her weight from one foot to the other as if that could help her escape.

She froze at a loud crack under her feet but to no avail. She plunged through the crumbling ground.

Great! Down the rabbit hole was the last thing she needed. Underground roots tugged at her hair and whipped at her hands when she raised them. There was no avoiding the hard soil under her weight or the sharp-edged stones poking her but she could protect her face and her glasses. Her heart pounded in her ears over her own screaming.

Her feet hit the ground to send the impact rattling up her bones. She was thrown forward, down into a pile of damp leaves. The smell of decay hit her from the heap of brown, yellow and red to give her a boost.

She pushed herself up on all fours. She was a breath away from a thick trunk in front of her. A few more inches and she would've face-planted into a tree. A very peculiar tree.

A woman's face was carved into it, though it could hardly be the work of a human hand or mind. Every line and curve was one with the tree bark as if shaped into it from the inside of the trunk rather than hacked into it with a blade. The woman's features were detailed despite the gentility with which they were imprinted in the tree and made her look ethereal. Like a work of art brought to life.

Robin squinted at the faint light trying to make out more before she lifted her head to look for the source. She'd fallen underground but all that was above her head was a thick net of intertwined tree branches that formed the ceiling of a tunnel. The light was coming from somewhere above, golden-white like a whisper of sun rays. It was far from bright or sufficient.

Robin pushed herself up to her knees to fish her phone out of her jeans' pocket. In the light of the screen a scratch on her hand caught her eye. She hadn't felt it through the rush of adrenaline but it wasn't the only one. She was covered in shallow slashes on her exposed skin and where her jeans and shirt had ripped. One of her bracelets had torn off as well from the fall but she ignored them. She could only have them tended to once she was back on the surface.

Focusing on her phone left her rolling her eyes at the different notifications from social media waiting for her before she'd even unlocked it. She'd told her so-called friends she was taking a hiatus on all her platforms while traveling to distance herself from the routine of Storybrooke. Yet her phone was still a receptacle for gossip that bored her to death and performative acts of friendship.

She swiped aside the notifications to get to the flashlight. It shined light into the endless darkness of the tunnel and Robin raised it towards the face in the tree.

"Hey! Stop that!" a loud voice sent her hurtling back, phone dropping in the pile of dead leaves while her heart pounded all around her in the black absence of her flashlight.

"What the bloody hell?" Robin groaned as a sturdy root poking from the ground stabbed her in the small of her back.

The tree bark stretched in front of her to shape the rest of the woman and fell back into a normal trunk when she phased out of it. "Oh, no, none of that in my park."

Robin shuffled backwards, mouth gaping open. "Wh-what are you?" her fingers dug in the ground, the pain rushing through them doing nothing to snap her out of... whatever this was. If she had to guess, she'd hit her head in the tree and had dreamed up everything after that. Either that or she'd breathed in something highly questionable rummaging around Killian's boat.

"What? What? What a rude question! I am not a what," the woman spoke fast, her diction and tone the embodiment of time if Robin had ever imagined what it would sound like. "My name is Alice and I'm a tree nymph and guardian of this park."

Robin had read about nymphs in a book her mom had borrowed from her sister. All she could recall was that they were nature spirits that lived in trees. That was true enough but she had no idea whether she should work on returning her heart back in her chest from her throat or yelling for help with all the might of her lungs.

"I-I'm sorry," she stuttered. She swallowed quickly under Alice's calm gaze. "You just startled me." She wasn't menacing but that didn't mean she wasn't dangerous.

"Well, you were shining that flashlight in my eyes."

Right. Her phone. She'd have to grope around for it since the leaves had swallowed its light. Or she'd broken it.

"You're familiar with phones?" Robin's eyebrows rose high on her forehead.

"Thousands of people come here every day and they all bring phones with them. It would be impossible to miss it. I'd have to turn away from the park. Were you looking at your phone when you missed the hole in the ground?"

"No." Robin patted her hands down on her jeans. She'd already destroyed those. She could leave all the dust on them to keep it away from her glasses and hair. "I was trying to get rid of a mosquito."

"You failed in that," Alice was staring at her like she could see not just the outside of her in the dark but also the inside. "There's still some of it left on your arm."

Robin's face contorted again at the proof of Alice's words as she swiped her fingers over her arm. "How did you-"

"I told you. I'm the guardian of this park. I'm connected to all life here. I felt that mosquito die as you squashed it," her voice quieted and a gleam of light reflected in the wetness in her eyes. It was deafening in the aura of strength she exuded. As if all life stopped to pay its respects to a little insect.

"I'm sorry," Robin fiddled with the loose ends of her shirt. She hadn't meant to do that. She hadn't meant to disturb her.

"Don't apologize to me. It's the mosquito you wronged but apologies won't bring back its life."

Robin frowned. "It was going to bite me."

"That's what mosquitoes do. Would you kill a person for eating food or drinking water?"

"But it's... different," Robin faltered under the power of Alice's resolve. She'd never raised her voice. It just echoed around them like it reached every inch of the park, like it was a part of it. "Mosquitoes aren't-"

"They aren't important? And what is important? Not the mosquitoes, not the bees, not the sea turtles, not the melting ice caps, not the rain forests, not the ozone layer, not Earth, not anything," her voice sped up with the anxious energy seeping into it. She wasn't angry. She was distressed.

Robin's mouth hung open as her eyes filled with tears at her loss for words. Someone who was one with nature was so shaken from the things that Robin closed her eyes to when she didn't have the power to change them singlehandedly. And Alice for all her understanding and care for life couldn't change them either.

"Robin," Killian's voice dropped from the hole like a lifeline to grab on to before she or Alice could break down. "Are you down there, lass?"

Robin looked up the hole she'd fallen through. There was nothing but darkness as all the twists and turns got in the way of the light coming in. "Yeah, I'm here, Killian," Robin yelled back, chest moving easier with the relief that he'd found her.

"I'll get you out of there. Do you think you'll be able to get out if I let down a rope for you?"

"Yes, that should work." There was no other plausible option even if neither of them knew how deep she'd fallen. Killian had tons of rope on his boat. The question was how quickly he'd be able to carry them over. It wasn't a short distance to the docks on the route they'd taken.

Robin turned back to Alice to find a question clearly etched on her face. "He's a close friend of my mom and aunt's. He instantly agreed to take me on his trip when I asked to join him." It was a miracle she'd convinced her mom to let her go.

Alice nodded. "Sounds good. But you won't be able to climb up like that. Your ankle's sprained. Can't you feel it?"

Robin stared at Alice's face. Her constant concern with all life around her should have carved deep lines in her skin but it only lit her eyes up like stars in the dark tunnel. Maybe she was the source of the dim light, though if it were her, there would have been a shine brighter than the sun above.

Robin tried her ankle at the reminder of the climb awaiting her. "Ow!" she whimpered at the charge of pain shooting through her. "You're right. I won't be climbing up that hole."

"Hold still," Alice knelt down next to her slowly as if to keep from scaring her.

In the proximity Robin's eyes caught on the material of Alice's dress. She'd assumed it was somehow her hair twisted and braided around her body due to the similar color but it was strands of dry grass instead. A summer coming to an end.

"I'll heal it," Alice startled her back to reality.

Robin opened her mouth to ask how but Alice was already rolling her jeans up. She locked her hands around the exposed skin to pour energy into it. A ring of waves closed around Robin's ankle, each washing away the pain and swelling little by little.

"How do you do that?" Robin gasped, her chest barely moving in the delicate balance of the magical process even if there was nothing fragile in Alice's concentration.

"Nymph magic."

"Whoa!"

"You don't believe me?" Alice looked up at her, eyes so blue she could have captured the whole ocean in them.

"I do. That's the thing." Robin could feel the magic working its... well, magic. And even if she couldn't, she'd believe whatever Alice told her. She was genuine in a striking way that didn't cancel out her gentleness. There wasn't the rawness of cynicism and jadedness Robin had seen in her mom and aunt and anyone else who used the truth to slap you in the face with it. Alice was just honest because it was her nature just as empathy and tenderness were. All that was left a mystery was what she wanted with Robin. For someone so genuine she sure wasn't easy to read.

"Why are you helping me?"

"I've always liked robins." Alice smiled, more to herself than to Robin. "Though, you're the most prickly one I've met."

"I'm not... I'm not prickly." At least she wasn't trying to be. "And I'm not a robin." All she could make fly were arrows.

"Humans are a part of nature, too. And all nature is beautiful and needs preservation." Alice looked up at the tree branches–or were they roots?–or what lay above them. "It pains me to see the direction in which the human race is driving the entire planet. It didn't use to be like that. People were one with nature. Now they're trying to escape from it and sacrifice it in the name of progress. When nature is progress, it is growth, it is life."

"How would you solve the problem then?" Robin had always been put off by the radical notions of exterminating humankind to let Earth heal. And leaving behind her environment hadn't worked for her on a personal level either.

"By being kinder and valuing the life of every person, every animal and every plant. By respecting nature and working with it, not against it. By giving it in return as much as you take from it. It is a powerful force but it is not unlimited, you know?" Alice's hands retreated from Robin's ankle and she buried them in the leaves around them. The perfect proof of her words. Her domain along with all nature above ground and even her outfit were cycling through different seasons to replenish their energy. "It needs tending to and someone to take care of it once in a while just as it takes care of everything and everyone."

Alice pulled her hand out of the fallen leaves with Robin's phone clasped in it. The flashlight was still on and blinded Robin as Alice handed it to her. She understood Alice's frustration from before.

"How old are you?" she asked, fingers curling around her phone desperately It was only Alice's face in front of her that kept her eyes away from the screen in pursuit of some clue to the answer.

"You really are a rude one, aren't you?" Alice teased, a grin from one ear to the other on her face. She probably didn't get a lot of company.

"Wow, that old, huh?" Robin chuckled. "Well, you do look spectacular for your age." She was a vision. Robin was lucky she hadn't hit her head and missed all of this. A dark and humid underground tunnel that was the home of the kindest soul she'd ever met.

"The light comes from the trees above," Alice explained when she noticed her staring at them. So those were roots then on the ceiling of the tunnel. "They spare some of theirs for me and my tree. Just enough to let me live," Alice smiled brightly even as she was starting to fade. Her energy came from the light and there wasn't that much of it as the sun must have started to set.

"Robin," Killian's voice reached her again. "I got the rope. Here you go."

Dirt fell from the hole as the rope skidded down before it unrolled in Robin's feet. There was even some length to spare as Robin scurried to turn off her flashlight and shove her phone back in her pocket to grab the rope.

"Thank you," she looked to Alice. "Looks like I have to go. At least if we want you to stay hidden." That had to be the reason why her tree was in the tunnel of roots with barely any light reaching it.

"Goodbye," Alice clasped her hands in front of her before raising one to wave stiffly.

Robin would abandon the rope and run into her arms to remain tangled in the tree roots if it wouldn't alert the world above to Alice's existence. She nodded and climbed into the hole.

"Take care, little robin. You can do more than you know," Alice's voice had the rope slipping in her sweaty palms.

Robin craned her neck back for a last peek but Alice was gone, retired to her tree. Her face was the only thing showing in the bark, her eyes staring upwards into the mellow glow of light coming from the roots of her park.

Robin pulled herself up, arms wailing as she climbed. She had to press her back to one end of the hole and her feet into the other to push herself up. She was an archer, not a body builder. Her back would be bruised from all the roots and stones poking it on her way up and she chaffed her palms on the rope.

She must have fallen into the very core of the Earth with how long it took her to make her way out The hole was cramped and claustrophobic and the only thing that kept her going was the certainty in the pit of her stomach that there would be no Alice to heal her if she plummeted back down. Nearly losing her glasses as she glanced down convinced her to train her gaze on the passage above her and light finally hit her eyes.

Killian grabbed her hand and then her arms to pull her out. All her muscles burned as she sprawled on the ground.

"Are you okay?" His concerned face blocked out the trees above her.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Robin heaved out while her senses adapted to the brightness and loud noises along with all the different smells.

A mosquito landed on the back of her hand. She winced at its bite but left it to its devices. It was only doing what was natural for mosquitoes.

"Here, you dropped your bracelet," Killian handed her the offensive thing in blue and white. It was from a girl she'd never liked and belonged in the trash. She'd worn it to keep up appearances because it'd mattered to her whether the people that were hardly her friends liked her or not. It'd mattered until she'd fallen down the rabbit hole.

Looking at her hand, the mosquito was gone to differ from the bracelets. They were the real parasites. Out of the twelve she still had on only one or two called smiles to her face. The rest were coming right off.

"Are you sure you're all right?" Killian asked as he watched her tug on them like she'd lost her mind.

"I'm fine," she repeated. Better than ever. The mist in her head was clearing to leave her with ideas. All the followers she had on her social platforms keeping up with her archery achievements would be the perfect audience for a new ecological lifestyle she wanted to start. That would be the meaningful thing she'd been looking for all along to expand her consciousness and her world. And she had only Alice to thank for opening her eyes. Thank goodness for phones and flashlights you could shine in a tree nymph's eyes.

[bearlee-giggling]

giggle marks

guess who's finally gotten around to writing something 😎 this bitch

series: steven universe future (post bismuth casual)

ship: connverse

warnings: cursing, body insecurity

taglist: it's literally just @lizzienaut lmao

---

It was a surprisingly nice day in Beach City. Temperatures in the mid 70s, mostly sunny, and according to Steven and Connie, a perfect beach day. Granted, pretty much any day is a beach day when you literally live on the beach, which Pearl immediately pointed out to them.

"Pearl that's not the point!" Steven said, excitement gleaming in his eyes. "We never have nice weather like this before June, let alone in April!"

"Yeah!" Connie threw her arm around her boyfriend's shoulders. "Plus, you could come with us and bring Bismuth." Connie and Steven grinned at each other.

"Oh all right. but you two need to go find her at Little Homeworld" Before Pearl had even finished speaking, Steven and Connie had already rushed over to the warp pad. Pearl couldn't help but smile fondly at the two.

-

It took a shockingly small amount of time for Steven and Connie to return to the temple with Bismuth. Connie and Steven had also already changed into their bathing suits as well, Connie's underneath a pair of shorts and Steven's swim trunks paired with a plain t-shirt.

"Well I see you two are ready-" Pearl once again was interrupted by the giddy teenagers running through the room and out the front door.

"Young love," Bismuth laughed. Pearl smiled too. "Well, P, we better get out there before they start having fun without us!" And with that, Bismuth scooped Pearl up in one arm and ran out to catch up with them.

Steven and Connie were already seated right along the shore, each building their own sandcastle as they tried to out-do the other. Steven grinned and nudged Connie as Bismuth ran down the stairs with Pearl nearly tossed over her shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

"Pearl! Bismuth!" Steven called out as he and Connie ran to greet them. "Where are your swimming suits?"

"Steven, you know that all gems are water resistant. We have no need for special garments to keep us from getting wet."

"Oh come ON, Pearl," Bismuth said with mock frustration. "Have a little fun!" Bismuth snapped her fingers, and her usual clothing transformed into a pair of board shorts and a tank top.

Pearl looked at Bismuth in her new attire, feeling her cheeks flush. "Oh fine." Pearl snapped her fingers and, like Bismuth, her typical clothing transformed into an elegant looking one-piece bathing suit with cutouts on the sides.

Steven and Connie looked at each other, grinning, as they removed the extra clothing over their own bathing suits. "Hey Pearl!" Connie called out. "Can you take a picture of us?"

Pearl nodded as she approached the two kids. Connie handed Pearl her phone and stood next to Steven as they put their arms around each other and smiled for the camera. Pearl looked as though she was about to say something, but Bismuth was calling her back to their little beach spot. Pearl just smiled and handed the phone back to Connie as she walked back to Bismuth.

Steven grinned and turned to face Connie. "Lemme see!" Connie handed him the phone to look at the picture. He smiled broadly as he looked at their picture perfect smiles, but then frowned as he looked at it more closely. "Connie? Is there something wrong with your phone? It looks like your screen is scratched."

Connie looked over Steven's shoulder at the picture and immediately knew what Steven was talking about. "Ohhh, no those are just stretch marks, Steven. Don't worry, they're completely normal."

Steven turned pink with concern. "Stretch marks?? What is that?"

"They basically form when your body grows faster than your skin, so your skin has to stretch along with it. A lot of people have them. I had them on my legs during my growth spurt too."

"But I don't grow taller like humans do, i just shape shift into an older form! How did i get these?"

Connie bit her lip, trying to find a way to put what she was about to say as nicely as possible. "Sometimes people... get stretch marks, especially on their stomach like you, if they've been gaining weight."

Steven, now completely pink, sprinted back towards the temple, up the stairs and through the door. Pearl and Bismuth had taken notice to what was going on, and they both looked concerned.

"Connie, is everything alright?" Pearl asked with a nervous edge to her voice. Bismuth stood next to Pearl an arm around her shoulder, looking just as worried.

"Everything is fine. Just... give us a few minutes." And with that, Connie turned to go after Steven.

-

Connie pushed open the door to the little beach house. "Steven? I didn't mean to-"

"Go away, Connie." He sounded so genuinely upset. Connie's heart shattered.

"Steven, I'm coming upstairs," Connie announced as she approached Steven's loft space. "Please talk to me."

Steven was sitting on the side of his bed with a blanket over his back and shoulders. He was staring down at his stomach, and Connie noticed he was crying. "I'm just-" Steven began to speak but was interrupted by one of his sobs. Connie felt awful.

"Steven, I'm sorry, I didn't mean to upset you"

"No, no, it's not your fault," Steven reassured her, wiping some of the tears away from his eyes. "I'm just not used to it, that's all."

"Not used to the stretch marks?" Connie asked, a little confused.

"No, not just that. I'm not used to feeling so upset by the way I look."

"Oh Steven, it's okay to feel insecure. But I can assure you that stretch marks are completely normal. Plus now it looks like you have tiger stripes! Maybe you should go talk to Amethyst about bringing back Purple Puma and Tiger Millionare-"

Steven chuckled at that, starting to feel a little bit better. "I'm afraid my glory days are far behind me," he said with an exasperated sigh, dramatically falling backward onto his bed with a small "oofe".

Connie smiled and sat down next to him, placing her hand on top of his. "Are you feeling a little better?"

"Mmm sort of? I dunno, I guess I feel better knowing that they're normal, but I'm still worried about what other people will think of them."

"That's okay, Steven." Connie placed her hand onto Steven's stomach. "If you want to keep them covered up, that's completely your choice."

Steven let out a content sigh before he suddenly began giggling softly. "Connieeeeee," Steven whined.

"What's wrong, Steven?"

"You're tickling meeeee..."

Connie looked down at her hand, noticing how she had been tracing Steven's stretch marks with her fingers. "Oh! I guess I hadn't even realized. I'll stop if you want. But if you feel like you wanna laugh, then I can keep going."

This was a little routine they had. Whenever Steven was upset about something, as he began to calm down, Connie liked to make him laugh. Of course, knowing the important concept of consent, she always asked if it was okay. And nearly every time, Steven said yes.

"You can um... keep going if you want..." Despite how often Steven said it, he could never get the words out without blushing bright red. Connie thought it was cute.

"Of course, Steven. Any preferences?"

"Not really, just... kinda do whatever."

"Tell me when you've had enough, okay? Promise?"

"I promise, Connie."

"Good! Now let's see..." Connie was now kneeling on top of Steven's bed so she could easily use both hands. She began tracing Steven's stretch marks on both sides of his stomach. His left side was always more sensitive than his right, but Steven was the most sensitive right around his gem.

Connie always took extra care to notice which areas caused Steven's breath to hitch or turn his laughter frantic. She was overjoyed at the discovery of a new spot, about half way between his gem and his hip, on his left side. It was right where one of his stretch marks tapered off into his normal skin. Connie grinned and scratched at the spot with her fingernail. Steven's laughter rose a pitch.

"Connihihihie!"

"Yes, Steven?"

Steven didn't actually have anything to say, so he just shook his head and closed his eyes as he continued to laugh. Connie milked that spot for a moment longer before continuing her hunt for Steven's jackpot spots.

After a while of trying, occasionally going back to that one area between his left hip and gem, Connie just went back to tracing Steven's stretch marks.

Much to Connie's surprise, Steven started laughing even louder as she did this. With Steven's senses being heightened, it made sense that he was quite a bit more sensitive now than he had been at the beginning.

"Wow, Steven, I was going back to tracing your stretch marks assuming it would bring you back down to relax for a second, but this is the hardest I've seen you laugh in a while! Maybe we should start calling these your 'giggle marks'!"

Steven blushed red at the comment, continuing to cackle as Connie's fingers got closer and closer to his gem.

Connie, however, could tell that Steven was getting tired and decided to stop just before reaching the stone.

Steven looked up at Connie as she stopped, still giggling. "You're going to stop before the gem?" He seemed genuinely confused and honestly a little upset.

Connie smiled fondly. "Were you expecting a grand finale?"

"Well... yeah, kind of? I mean, that's always how you finish."

Connie chuckled. "Well if you insist..."

Steven felt his whole body tense as Connie leaned over and positioned her head over Steven's gem. Connie looked to him for permission, and as he nodded, she blew a huge raspberry right on top of his gem.

Steven all but screamed. "CONNIHIHIEHEHAHAHAH-" Steven was laughing at full volume for a full five seconds after Connie had finished. She looked down at him, happy to see that huge smile plastered across his face.

"Feeling better now?"

"Mhmmm," Steven hummed contentedly, still coming down from his giggle high. "But 'm tired now. Can we just snuggle?"

Connie smiled. "Of course. Let me go tell Pearl and Bis that everything is alright." Connie planted a kiss on Steven's nose, making him giggle and scrunch up his face. And as Connie went downstairs, Steven couldn't help but feel he was the luckiest boy in the world to have such an amazing partner.

[firefly-in-darkness]

Misconceptions - 3/12

Characters: Y/N, the Avengers

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Series Summary: Bucky Barnes overhears a conversation that he shouldn’t have… and now he regrets his reaction...

Word Count: 1.6k

Warnings: Violence, swearing, injuries

Beta: The always lovely, Stacey - @princessmisery666​ // all mistakes are my own.

A/N: Just imagine that Infinity War & Endgame didn’t result in deaths, people have settled their differences and are living their best lives at the Avenger’s Compound.... here's part 3 - I'm over the moon at everyone's lovely feedback on this story, I'm still not sure how many parts this series will have but hope you stick with me and enjoy it ✌️

Catch up with the series here: Misconceptions Series List

Return to Firefly’s Library & Masterlist

Previously: The piercing sound of metal clanging brought her attention back to the door as a tall shadowy finger entered the room, unable to make out who they were. Y/N screwed an eye shut, turning her head to the side to try and make out their features, only able to make out a man in a dark suit, the light too bright to allow her to see their face.

She caught sight of the Hydra pin on the lapel then felt a blow to her head. 

Everything went dark.

“FRIDAY, access the CCTV from the hotel. Starting from when Y/N entered the party, stay on her at all times.” Stark crossed his arm across his chest, a hand stroking at his chin at one end of the conference table.

Tony’s eyes darkened as he watched the screen flickering through the different cameras in and around the hotel area. The moment Sam had entered the lab earlier, he knew. He knew, something had happened to Y/N and that it would have been the Soldier’s fault. He focused on the CCTV, trying to dampen down the panic in his chest.

Steve stood next to Tony, leaning forward with his hands on the table, a neutral expression as the hologram whizzed through the footage. Sam was at the other end, pacing back and forth, head whipping back and forth as he waited to see Y/N’s face on the screen.

“When did you last see her? Do you know what time she left?” Sam ranted with each step.

 Bucky sat away from the table, elbows leaning on his knees, head hung low, “She was in the suite when I got back. I don’t know when she left.”

 Wanda closed the door with a click, the noise brought Bucky’s attention to her. Wanda didn’t even look in his direction, just sitting down with the rest of the team.

 Natasha walked in with Clint and Bruce, all taking a seat around the table. The tension rife in the air as they all watched the CCTV and avoided the heated discussion at the other side of the room. Bucky glanced up to Nat, her face neutral. He had hoped she would have shown a flicker of emotion, but she was cold. He knew he had fucked up, but now he really knew it. Fuck, I should have been with her, that was my mission. 

 Bucky’s groan brought Sam’s attention back to him, as if he knew exactly what he had been thinking.

 “You were there to back her up and you-” Sam shook his head, “You just wanted to get your dick wet.” His hands on his hips and glaring at Bucky. 

 Bucky didn’t respond.

 “I wish I had gone on that mission instead; she was right.” Sam muttered to himself.

 Steve walked over, putting a hand on Sam’s chest, “Calm down. We will find her. Bucky knows what he’s done. Arguing with each other isn’t going to help.”

 Bucky heard Sam’s words. He knew it, they were together. He held his head in his hands, unsure of how he missed their relationship developing from that of teammates and friends to something more. Do they love each other? His thoughts filled with all the moments that he had shared with Y/N and how she had laughed at his poor jokes, blushed at the way he called her Doll or Sweetheart. How could he have been so blind to not see what he had with her, only for it to be taken from him by his friend. His friend that was now hurting because of him.

 “Bingo.” Tony’s clap had them all looking in his direction.

 All eyes on the hologram, holding their breath as they watched Y/N enter the elevator. Sam glanced at the timestamp - 2:40am - anger boiling at the lateness of her departure. At how long she had endured Bucky’s inconsiderate behaviour. 

 Bucky watched the footage, unblinking as he watched Y/N - even in the poor quality, he can see hurt in her features, the way she wrapped her arms around herself. Did she just wipe away tears? His brows furrowed as he watched her enter the lobby and leave the hotel.

 The view changed again, Y/N headed to the parking lot, approaching her motorbike. She stopped nearby, searching her bag for the keys when her head snapped up to something unseen by the cameras. She walked towards it, disappearing out of sight, only to return moments later. 

 Wanda clamped her hand over her mouth as a large figure walked out from the shadows, hitting Y/N over the head with a baton. She crumpled to the floor, the figure dragging her along the ground by her ankles, out of shot. 

 The room was silent, and they all turned to Bucky as he growled out, nobody moved. All watching him stand up and punch the wall. Vibranium fist winning over the drywall and scattering plaster over his boots and the floor.

 Tony checked his watch. “It’s been six hours since Y/N went missing.” 

 Steve’s voice commanded everyone’s attention. “Bruce, you stick with Tony and find out whatever you can about Davenport, anything that we don’t already know. Everybody else, suit up.”

 The team began to make their way out of the room when FRIDAY’s voice filled it, “Avenger Compromised - I have a location for Miss Y/L/N. Her alias was searched for by a mobile device 60 kilometres away.”

 “Meet you on the jet in five.” Steve ordered, the team sprinting down the corridors.

 Y/N awoke, head pounding more than ever. The metal cuffs cut into her wrists and ankles, her body ached as she was stretched apart like the Vitruvian Man. The damp stone wall dug into the skin at the back of her legs, straining forward as she checked herself over; She could hardly see out of her left eye thanks to the beatings she had endured. They’d removed her clothing apart from a tank top and underwear. 

 Bile rose in her throat as she thought of them undressing her whilst she was unconscious. She coughed it down, tears stinging her eyes whilst she recalled how she received each bruise and cut along her body, the men that had punched her face beyond counting, the slices made across her arms and legs with a sharp point. A pocketknife or scalpel, maybe? 

 A sharp pain ached along her neck as she turned to look around, remembering how she had been dragged by her hair down a corridor to a different room. Thrown through the doorway, the fall winding her and keeping her on the ground. And then the kicks to her ribs taking even more breath from her lungs. The way she curled into a ball, head protected by her arms whilst blunt objects and fists rained down at her before the darkness consumed her once more.

 A man walked out from the shadows, the same dark suit and the Hydra pin with a menacing glint as it hit the light. A large hand gripped Y/N’s chin, pushing her cheeks in, teeth grazing against the insides. Her captor was forcing her to look in his direction, yet she was unfazed to see Patrick Davenport in front of her. 

 “You will tell me everything you know.” Davenport gritted his teeth, spit landing on her cheek, “Why were you snooping around my penthouse?”

 Y/N yanked her head away from him, hitting her head against the wall. A hiss left her lips, but she didn’t say a word. She kept her expression neutral; she used her training to hide behind the mask but her mind still raced with fear as she realised that nobody would know where she was.  

 She grimaced at herself. Should have stayed with Bucky.

 “I will bring the bigger guy back in if you don’t start talking.”

 If she had been paying attention, then she would have been prepared for the next blow. His hand slapped across her face, the sound reverberating around the walls. She bit the inside of her cheek, blood pouring into her mouth. Y/N spat it out to the floor and glared at Davenport.

 “Okay, I know who you are.” He pulled out a purse and driver’s licence, turning it over in his hand. “Mrs Eve C Goodman from Rhode Island.”

 Y/N’s eyes widened but she didn’t respond.

 Davenport smirked at her, “We searched your name, and guess what? Your record is squeaky clean. Nothing in police databases, not even a library fine. So that means, either it’s an alias and you’re either FBI or CIA, or you’re just plain stupid.”

 Laughter burst through Y/N’s lips, once she started, she couldn’t stop, regardless of the pain and aching of her ribs and lungs from the lack of air. She was silenced with a punch to her stomach, her face grabbed to look up at him.

 “What’s so funny little girl?” Davenport shouted.

 “Oh, you really fucked up.” She snarled. “The moment you searched my name, you fucked up.”

 Davenport’s eyebrows twitched together, and his grip loosened around her face. Y/N lurched forward, head smashing into his nose. He stumbled backwards, bent at the waist holding onto his face.

“You fucking bitch!” He straightened up, pulled out a handkerchief and pressed it to his nose. 

 The blood seeped through the material, a satisfied smirk on Y/N’s face had him lunging forward until an explosion rippled through the building, stopping him from hitting her again. Gunfire and shouting echoed in the distance.

 “Told you, you fucked up.”

Continue Here...

Taglist: @supraveng / @iheartsebastianstan / @jessyballet / @likeit-or-leaveit / @inspocollective-blog / @ladifrickinda / @wintersoldierissucharide / @michelehansel / @danietoww04 / @booboobella01 / @thefandomimagines / @justreadingfics / @socalgem1124 / @a--1--1--3 / @notyourtypicalrose / @winterboobear11 / @justlovelifeblog / @polireader / @hailmary-yramliah / @rainbowkisses31 / @gooddaykate / @moonybarnes 

[razorblade180]

OC test: Flex

[Not in the literal term. All the boys here will simply show off their style and charm in an attempt to steal some hearts and blush some faces.]

Kovu:So in other words...

Sparrow:Eye candy. Crank up that testosterone the best way you know.

Jael:A bunch of shirtless guys sounds boring.

Eliza:You heard the woman. Be bold and unbuckle those pants!

Jael:No! Not at all what I meant!

Jacquelyn: *turning away* (Probably for the best if I don’t witness this.)

Carmine and Valerie:....

Yujin:*red* Doesn’t this seem shameful?

Summer and Veronica:Shhhhhh

Veronica:Oh yeah, should we get the guy out of tree then?

Carmine:What guy?

Veronica:The guy I smell in the tree. He’s been there awhile. He has the scent of a bird.

An eerie silence falls amongst the group. Carmine slowly turns towards the tree, shooting a death glare. She takes a massive lunge towards it. Aero immediately emerged from the top, flying out of reach from Carmine’s very lethal hands.

Carmine:Who told you that you can be here, huh Aero!?

Aero:Oh quit with the theatrics. I know you’re happy to see me.

Carmine:Say that within arms reach!

Aero:No...

Nick:Who that?

Summer:And what’s his number?

Kovu:That would be Aero. He probably snuck in when I was let inside. His semblance has a way of catching people off gaurd, making it easy to pull a fast one on them. Hi Aero.

Aero:Hey goodie goodie. Mind doing some good and pulling the thorns off of this rose.

Kovu:Carmine, he’s not gonna leave. Might as well suck it up and let him be.

Carmine:I’ll let him be injured and begging for mercy. That’s what I’ll let him be.

Yujin:Wasn’t there supposed to be a test going on?

Eliza:Well one guy has already started.

Yujin:What? Who-oh my goodness! Tenzen! *red*

The street performer had removed his shirt when nobody was looking, then out on an opened hoodie. Tenzen’s abs were on full display with his broad, strong chest. His pants were replaced with shorts that showed off his toned calves. He put up the fox ear hood and casually drunk a water bottle. As usual, Tenzen looked playful, yet overwhelming attractive. It didn’t help that his shorts hung a little lower than they should’ve.

Tenzen:What?! Too stupid?

Eliza:The only stupid thing here is how your body looks like a mannequin. I know dancing makes you fit but sheesh.

Tenzen:It’s the martial arts.

Veronica:Nice.

Sparrow:Oh we’re starting? I guess I can show a bit of skin. After all, a sailor isn’t a sailor if he isn’t drenched and showing off.

Under these rules, Sparrow felt a little bad for the others. He was the guy here that could be considered truly grown. That maturity came with knowledge in many things. Charm was one of them. His hands pulled off his shirt fluidly. A stroke of his hand running through his hair not only showed off his trained body, it flexed his biceps. Unlike Tenzen, Sparrow had a body that was bulked up. Muscles were beefed up and made to form a temple that was hard as stone. His diabolical brown scruff and brown tanned skin gave Sparrow a rugged look that Jacquelyn sneak a peak and Eliza gulp the moment his other hand casually hung from his right pocket. Even Carmine was surprised by the older man.

Carmine:Wow, a shirt hid all that? You bench logs or something?

Sparrow:The military doesn’t train weaklings you know?

Eliza:(Eight years. Just give about eight years Sparrow.)

Kovu:My, my, that looks fun. But not as fun as that white haired cutie.

Summer:M-Me!?

Kovu:*flies down* I know a face like that anywhere. Who would’ve thought a Schnee would have such kind eyes? Not an icy glare at all. *rubs her face* You got a name?

Summer:I, uhh, yeah! I mean who doesn’t. Hehe wow you’re really umm close. Wait, my name! You’re probably still waiting for-

Nick:It’s Summer; and if you’re looking for the Schnee icy glare then look my way.

The chill of a glare sharper than any sword pierced right through Aero as he saw the white haired boy. Yeah, he’s definitely a Schnee. He respectfully stopped touching Summer and stood before Nick.

Aero:Cold, dagger like glare, white hair, and short. Yeah, you’re Weiss’s kid alright. How cute...

Nick:Call me short again and I’ll cut you down.

Carmine:As much as I would love to see that, Aero might be a little much for ya unprepared. Case in point, he’s not in front of you.

Nick raised an eyebrow and blinked. In that moment, Aero was gone. The boy was standing by Eliza, pinching her cheeks.

Eliza:Ow! How did you-

Aero:You’re a familiar looking face. Between your hair color and skin tone I almost thought Mona was here. I bet-

Carmine:No.

Aero:Well that’s the end of that I guess.

Eliza:Stop pinching me!!!!

Sienna:He’s a bit of a weird one.

Jael:The word is rude. He’s giving me a headache. Not to mention dragging out this test.

Aero:Hmm? What, the sexy thing. I thought that was over. I mean I’m here and everything. Y’all fighting for second place?

Sparrow:Hmph.

Veronica:That’s confidence you don’t see regularly.

Valerie:Call it like it is. He just shit talked every guy here into bringing their A-game.

Kovu:Oh Aero, you dummy. If you wanted me to play with you so badly then you just had to ask nicely...

The air in the room quickly changed. The two boys faced each other and smirked playfully. Kovu dragged his sharp finger nail down his shirt, tearing it. Aero laughed and proceeded to remove his own. Apparently this was a normal thing between the two. The tall boys got closer until Kovu was able to push Aero gently against a wall, wings spread out. Kovu was taller by an inch and buffer. His torso was well defined along with his chest, but the main focus was his arms on each side of Aero. Not only were they big, but each muscle group was blatantly visible. The boys eager eyes were focused in on his cocky younger friend.

Aero casually propped up his foot on the wall and put his hands in his pockets. Aero was no where near as bulky as the beast before him, but he cut to perfection in more ways then one. Faded scar ran across is toned body. The small black gages and wind swept hair only elevated his attitude. Everyone but Carmine were confused about what they were watching.

Valerie:Ummm are they about to make out?

Eliza:*red* I don’t know....but I want to.

Veronica:I think they might do more than make out.

Summer:(I’d pay to be in the middle of this beef sandwich.)

Yujin:Carmine, please explain.

Carmine:Nothing to explain. This happens sometimes. I don’t know why.

Tenzen:KISS!!!

Aero:They’re totally looking more at me than you.

Kovu:Bitch you wish you were this sexy. Don’t let those little girls in Vacou hype you up too much. They’re easy.

Aero:Don’t talk about your cousin like that.

Carmine:....

Everyone:....

Carmine:.....

Sienna:Y’all fu-

Carmine:YES, MOVING ON NOW. Lucas, take off your pants or something!

Lucas:Nobody wants that.

Sienna and Summer:Well...

Lucas:I am not taking my pants off.

Jael:Wet t-shirt. Then we can put everything behind us.

Jacquelyn:You can try and enjoy this a little sweetie.

Jael:Make this a women challenge and I’d be-... wait, I’d have to participate in that. God this sucks.

Lucas.Tenzen, pass me a water bottle.

Eager to please, Tenzen tosses two. Lucas caught both midair and poured them right onto his face; his white tank becoming completely drenched in the process. The fabric clung to his body, pressing against every crease, every conceivable worked out muscle. The others looked amazing, but Lucs might as well be photoshopped. Was fat even on his body! His back looked strong and legs even more so. Lucas’s hair stuck to his face and he let out a agitated groan. Despite that, it actually made him more appealing to Eliza. Others were admittedly distracted by his body to even notice his face. A xylophone could be played on a body like that.

Tenzen:Damn, I thought I was in shape before today.

Carmine:Aren’t you a shit in?

Lucas:I can still work out, and no. I just don’t deal with people or feel bad about staying in indefinitely.

Jael:A shut in!

Jacquelyn:That’s like...the definition.

Aero:Eh, not bad I guess.

Lucas:Little boy, I can snap you like a twig. Don’t get snippy with me.

Aero:Oooo feisty. Well if we’re done here-

Yujin:Hold on. Nick hasn’t gone yet.

Nick:Can you shut up!!!!

Yujin:Oh, hehe, my bad. I thought you’d be excited?

Nick:Why? I mean...sigh what’s the point? Not in the mood to embarrass myself.

Kovu:What?

Aero:Yeah that’s a smart move. I mean look at him compared to the rest of us. It’s like night and day in here.

Carmine:Aero!

Nick:He’s right. No real muscles, strong features, facial hair, scars, height... just a shrimpy sixteen year old with cash. *Smiles* Honestly I never really seen much good about m-

Valerie:Oh give me break. Do you really think any guy could hold a candle to you!? You’re caring, quirky, driven, and humble to a fault. Nick you’re so-

Nick:*wide eyed*....

Valerie:*red*Ummm y-you get the point. So don’t even think about discrediting yourself.

Nick:I uhhh appreciate the compliments, but those traits are exactly a flex or considered sexy.

Veronica:Lies!!! What’s sexier than a caring young man!

Nick:Abs.

Eliza:Oh for the love of-you’re all ridiculous.

She marches over to Nick and grabs him by the collar. Her hand rises to slick his hair back to clearly show of his beautifully tired eyes and gentle face, unmarked by anything but except self inflicted stress. It’s a shame he wasn’t feeling competitive. He may not know it, but that always captured a room. Eliza took off his vest and unbuttoned the top two buttons of his dress shirt. The crowd was left stunned by the simple transformation. He looked more regal than usual, yet casual.

Eliza:Sexy doesn’t mean naked dummy. And as far as physical traits go...*red* there’s a reason all the girls flock to you. You’re...annoyingly handsome. Some might even say pretty.

Nick:*blushes*

Eliza:And then you do that! Can we agree Nick wins and move on!?

Everyone:Yeah.

Aero:I guess I’ll take second.

Lucas:You mean third.

Kovu:He actually meant fourth.

Aero:Rude.

Carmine:Good.

[theotherackerman]

Carry on My Wayward Son

COPYRIGHT DISCLAIMER: Any recognizable elements belong either to Supernatural, Throne of Glass, A Court of Thorns and Roses, or Attack on Titan.

Notes: 

The Fae deal mark is inspired by a court of thorns and roses. You can see it here

Zeke's necklace is Dean's from Supernatural.

The potions, Feywine, Mikasa's ring, Hange's bracelet, and Eren's necklace are all from DnD 5E.

If you want to see pictures of the jewelry, go here

CHAPTER FOUR: WHAT A STRANGE TRIP IT’S BEEN

Demon Deals were breakable.

No always but the demon could call off the deal.

Fae deals?

They were a whole different ball game.

Fae deals were more than just deals between two parties. They were a magical binding contract, more so than demon deal.

Once the deal was made a mark would appear on the skin of the two people who made the deal. One could mistake the mark for a tattoo.

Eren had not been wrong to think that Mikasa’s tattoo could have been a mark of a deal. However, Mikasa had truly just gotten the sigil of her mother’s clan on her skin in reminder of her.

The deals made with members of the Fae left a certain scent of magic on everything. Even humans could smell the magic in the air.

So the screams from Mikasa and the sweet, sticky smell of the fae deal caused Levi, Zeke, and Hange to rush into the basement.

"No. No. No. No. No. No," Mikasa muttered as she ran her hand over the black inked mark on her right shoulder.

If one didn't know what it was, it was easily mistaken for a tattoo.

"Mikasa…" Hange started.

"I never wanted to do this. I never wanted a deal," she muttered as she pulled her legs closer to her body.

Eren swallowed as he rolled up his sleeve to reveal the same mark on his left shoulder. It was identical.

"Yggdrasil," Hange whispered as they looked over Mikasa's mark. "It's the tree from Norse mythology. It holds all the nine realms within it. Interesting. What sort of deal did you two make? It's said the Fae deal mark is the deal in a physical."

"I don't know. I don't want this. Get it off, Hange. I want it off," Mikasa muttered as she closed her eyes.

Eren had never seen Mikasa like this. Even when he had said such hateful words to her, she hadn't broken like this.

"Eren? What happened?" Levi demanded.

"I don't know. I was just sitting here thinking about how she promised me that she wouldn't get hurt anymore. Then I muttered something and my arm started hurting," Eren replied as he pulled the sleeve of his shirt down.

"What did you say? Exactly. Words are very important to fae," Hange explained before pulling Mikasa's sleeve back down.

"We had a deal…" Eren muttered.

"You made a deal?" Hange asked.

"Not technically. I didn't think it would count. It was more of a...I don't know," Mikasa's eyes finally met Eren's.

And he broke.

This pain was worse.

Had she not said the day before how she didn't want to make deals?

Eren had royally fucked up.

Again.

"There's nothing you can do about it then. Words have power. As a member of the Fae, you should know that. You made a deal. Now you both bare the mark. So I suggest you two talk and figure shit out," Levi commanded.

Zeke hesitated but Levi grabbed him and dragged him upstairs.

Mikasa and Eren were left alone in the basement.

Mikasa didn’t move. She didn’t speak.

“I’m sorry,” Eren muttered as he looked down. ““I'm sorry about the thing at the hotel with the kiss and…"

“Sorry for kissing you back. You were under the influence, you weren't really consenting, and I know you didn't want to kiss me anymore."

"Hey," he said, causing her eyes to meet his. "It's not that I don't want to kiss you anymore. And it wasn't like that was all something I didn't want to do. I mean...Mikasa...I just...can't. I'm sorry. I'm the one who should be apologizing, not you. You saved my life. Again."

"It's fine."

"When were you going to tell us that it takes years off your life every time you heal?"

"H..how do you know that?"

"Hange told us. Mikasa, you can't do that."

"Fae live like lobsters. Unless something kills us, we can live for forever."

"Even as half Faery? How many years did each of those heals take from you?"

"I don't know. Just some. What does it matter?"

There was so much anger in Mikasa.

The way he had treated her since the dorm, the fact that her skin was now marked with a mark of deal.

Levi had ordered them to figure it out.

“I don’t want this anymore,” she confessed.

“What?” Eren asked as he looked over at her.

“Any of this. I don’t….I can work the job. I have no choice but to uphold my end of the deal. Other than that, I don’t….I’m not….I don’t think we should be around one another anymore.” Mikasa looked down at her hands. She folded them and then unfolded them.

“Oh,” Eren replied.

“Yeah.”

“Okay then,” Eren said as he stood up.

“I’ll let you know what I find out about The Colt,” she answered.

“Okay,” Eren replied before he headed towards the stairs.

The truth was that Eren was anything but okay right now.

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

Christmas

Eren sat in Levi’s kitchen. Mikasa and Hange were in the living room.

He hadn’t spoken to Mikasa since they had talked in the basement.

Mikasa continued to work jobs for Levi and research for the Colt. She avoided Eren like the plague.

Hange had been coming around, they were never far from Mikasa.

Hunting was a thankless job so Eren and Zeke often used fake credit cards to pay for the things they needed. Zeke was pretty good at hustling pool at bars for money too.

Christmas meant that they were using their credit card schemes to buy things for those they loved. Levi had already given Eren and Zeke their gifts by paying for their anti possession tattoos that they both now sported on their chests. They had got Levi some very expensive tea from a shop that they had helped out with a ghost problem.

“Merry Christmas, Eren!” Hange said as they walked into the kitchen. They had a small box.

“Thanks, Hange,” he muttered as he looked down.

“This is just a little something I cooked up with magic,” Hange said as they sat down across from Eren.

Eren opened the box to reveal a small potion bottle. There was a red, glittery liquid inside of the bottle.

“It’s a very basic healing potion. Won’t bring you back to life but may help you hold on when you’re dying. I made one for Zeke and Levi too,” Hange smiled.

“Thank you, Hange,” Eren said as he looked up at them.

“You’re welcome. Merry Christmas, Eren,” Hange said again as they stood up.

Zeke entered the room.

“Here,” Zeke said as he came into the room with a box.

“I thought we agreed on no gifts,” Eren grumbled.

“It’s not a real gift,” Zeke said as he tossed the box to Eren.

Eren caught the box and unwrapped it to reveal a box with a bottle of vodka in it.

“You’re right. It’s not a real gift,” Eren scoffed.

“It’s pay back for buying me that bottle of whisky. Don’t make a big deal out of it.”

“I won’t.”

“Good.”

“You going to give her the thing?” Zeke asked.

“I don’t know. She said she didn’t want to be around me.”

“I know. But it’s Christmas.”

Mikasa wandered into the kitchen, putting more of the Christmas cookies onto her plate. Mikasa had always had a sweet tooth.

“Hey,” Zeke said as he gave her a small wave.

“Hello,” Mikasa replied before ducking into the living room.

Zeke raised an eyebrow at Eren.

“I told you that she didn’t want to talk to me,” Eren muttered as he looked down.

“Maybe try getting her alone later,” Zeke suggested before he patted Eren on his shoulder. It was the same shoulder that bore the mark of the Fae deal that Eren had made with Mikasa.

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

Christmas went on.

Levi and Zeke gave Hange a bracelet of protection against fire they had picked up.

Zeke gave Mikasa a tea cup and some flowery tea.

Levi had also paid for Mikasa’s anti possession tattoo while Mikasa gave Levi what looked like the world’s smallest teapot. It was made from a walnut.

She gave Zeke a bottle of Feywine that she had received from working a job.

The hours quickly faded as Levi and Hange drank far too much eggnog. Zeke had made it, the sweetness covering the alcohol.

“We should sing Christmas carols!” Hange suggested.

“No one wants to hear you sing so I’ll sing with you,” Levi’s words slurred together.

“I’ve never seen him drunk in my life,” Zeke muttered.

“ Dashing through the snow…” Levi and Hange sang together.

“Alright, I’m going to bed. Goodnight,” Mikasa excused herself from the living room.

Zeke waited for several minutes before he spoke.

“Go give it to her!” Zeke said as he stood from his seat.

“She probably….” Eren started to say but Zeke was pulling Eren’s arm.

“Go!” Zeke ordered.

Eren sighed before he stood up and went down the basement.

Mikasa had changed into a tank top and shorts. Eren could see her anti possession tattoo peeking out the top of her tank top. It was in the same spot as his, on her chest, right above her heart. She was holding her toothbrush and toothpaste in her hand.

“Oh,” Mikasa said when she saw Eren.

“Hi. I...I got you something. It’s not a big deal. It was from a job we worked and...nothing else. I just thought it’d be useful for you,” Eren rambled as he pulled a small box from his hoodie.

Mikasa sat down the things she had been holding in her hands before taking the box from Eren.

He watched her.

Suddenly, he became very nervous.

He knew he deserved everything that she had said to him.

He knew it was all his fault. He knew he hadn’t been fair to her. He hadn’t told her the truth either.

The more jobs he worked the more the lines between monster and human seemed to blur.

Maybe the world wasn’t as black and white as he thought.

Mikasa slowly opened the box to reveal the purple stone ring inside.

“It doesn’t have any iron in it, in case you’re wondering. It’s...it’s a ring of protection. The stone is amethyst. I thought since you’ve been working a lot of jobs by yourself, you could use it,” he replied as if it was no big deal.

Why was he acting like a stupid school boy with a crush?

“Thank you,” she replied as she took the ring out of the box and slipped it onto her ring finger. “I...uhh...I have something for you. But it’s from...we found a human who has contact with the Fae realm. He was being haunted, so I helped him. He gave me some things from the Fae realm,” she explained as she walked over to the plastic drawers she was using as a dresser.

“So that’s where the wine came from,” Eren mused.

“Yeah, the tiny teapot too,” she opened the drawer and pulled a small box out.

She held it out to Eren who took it. He slowly opened the lid to reveal a brown corded necklace with a single red feather attached.

“It’s a Phoenix feather. It’ll keep you warm. I know how you don’t like the cold,” she muttered as she looked away.

“Thank you,” he removed the necklace from the box and put it on.

“What did you get Zeke?” she asked.

“Oh. I gave it to him a little while ago. It’s the necklace he’s been wearing, the brass one. It’s supposed to be a powerful protection charm,” Eren explained.

“Where’d you get that?”

“Levi. The bracelet we gave Hange and your ring came from a physic in Indiana,” he explained.

“When were you in Indiana?” she asked as she sat down on her bed.

“Two weeks ago. Why?” he asked.

“Oh. I was there about a week ago. Ghost issue. You?”

“Also a ghost issue. You notice they’re getting more active lately?”

Mikasa nodded. “It’s getting weird out there. Weirder than normal. Did Levi tell you about the Werewolf?”

“Yeah, I still can’t believe how big that thing was. Any ideas why everything is like this?"

“I don’t know. The guy I met, the one with the connection to the Fae realm said they’re scared. They’re staying out of it. They wouldn’t give him any information on why they said that but if the Fae are scared, I’m sure it can’t be anything good.”

Eren nodded as he leaned up against the wall. “My dad left Zeke a voicemail. He said something big was coming. He never told us why and he didn’t leave any information about it in his journal. We’ve been hitting a wall on finding any information about the Yellow Eyed Demon.”

“I’ve not had any luck with the Colt either. It’s mostly dead ends. I’ve tracked it a bit but then it just vanished. Hange got a few old journals from some recently passed hunters so I’ll start going through those soon. If I can ever stay out of the field, that is. Levi keeps having to send me out. It feels like there are less hunters to go around.”

“A lot have died recently. I guess it’s to be expected with everything going on.”

Mikasa nodded.

“Your dad….he was a hunter?”

Mikasa nodded again. “He was. That’s how he met my mom. She was injured after she came here from Japan. She wanted to see the rest of the world. Her magic went wild due to her injury. Then my dad found her and helped her. She began to help him hunt. Then they fell in love, married, and had me. Then they were killed by demons.”

“Who’s tracking you?”

Mikasa sighed. “Who isn’t? Demons, some other Fae. They want me to take up my birthright.”

“Birthright as what?”

“I...fairies have court. There are rulers. They don’t do much, Fae sort of do whatever they want. They’re run out of my bloodline. I’ve stayed off the radar.”

“So...you’re a fairy princess?” Eren smirked.

“Try a Queen. But I know nothing about the Fae realm or the courts. I have no desire to navigate politics. Besides, they’ll give up looking for me eventually. They’ll find an actual ruler.”

“So why did your mom leave then?” Eren asked.

“I don’t know. She never told me.”

“But shouldn’t you take up your birthright?”

“You know how humans get to the realm, right? They stepped in a fairy circle. Then they get stuck there for seven years if they eat the food or drink anything. I have no desire to rule in a place where I can’t eat or drink.”

Eren laughed, “so it’s our English class sophomore year?”

“Yeah. Mr. Dawk hated us.”

“He shouldn’t have made his only English class at 8:00 in the morning then.”

“I’ll never forget when you brought in that portable blender and made smoothies for everyone.”

“It was Floch’s idea. Remember how Hitch brought in the portable grindle and started making pancakes?”

Mikasa laughed as she nodded.

Eren had missed hearing her laugh.

He was an idiot for putting her through all of this. He had been awful to her. As he watched her laugh and smile, the guilt began to swarm him.

“I should let you go to sleep,” he muttered as he looked down.

Her laughter stopped. “Okay,” she replied softly before standing up.

“I was worried that you hated me too much. I just saw the ring and thought of you. Thanks for taking it ,” he said before he looked up at Mikasa.

“I don’t hate you, Eren,” she muttered. “I just think it’s better this way. I’m not going to ignore you or be rude. It’s just better for both of us if we’re just…...two people who are semi friendly. It would be rude if I got everyone a gift but you.”

She was just being nice. Of course, she was. Eren giving her a gift couldn’t make up for all the horrible things he’d said to her or what he’d put through.

“Thanks for the necklace. It’ll be good for these cold months,” he esaid.

“You’re welcome,” she smiled.

“Merry Christmas. Goodnight, Mikasa.”

“Goodnight, Eren.”

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

The next morning Mikasa was long gone by the time Eren woke up.

“She missed Yule and meeting with her friends,” Hange explained as they drank their coffee.

“Oh. Right. She did go home for winter break,” Eren sighed as he sat down.

“It’s one of the few times she spends with other half Sidhe.”

“Wait. I thought Mikasa didn’t have contact with the Fae realm.”

“She doesn’t. But you didn’t think she was the only one I had in my care back in the day, did you? I didn’t know what she was at first. There are other hunters who did,” Hange explained.

“Oh.”

Suddenly Eren wondered if Mikasa’s friends knew of him. Did they hate him? It worried him. If she told her friends, there may be no coming back from that.

Why did he care?

It was a dumb question. He knew why he cared. He still loved her. Last night, he had seen the girl he had fallen in love with again.

Suddenly, a headache swarmed Eren.

He held onto his head as images that made no sense swarmed his head.

Then Eren fell to the floor.

[liemonyellow]

it will be forever

read on ao3

Summary: Janus has been waiting for months to get down on one knee and propose to the love of his life. He’s timed it perfectly: the opening night of Roman’s best and biggest role to date in the same theater where they first met. Things don’t happen how he expects them to, however.

Warnings: None

“You good, Janus? Remember to actually bring the ring?” Virgil asked for the umpteenth time.

Janus rolled his eyes and let out an exasperated sigh, his breath misting in the wintry air as he hugged himself tightly. “No, Virgil, I lost it in the five minutes since the last time you asked.” He patted his pocket, admittedly relieved to feel it was still, in fact, there. “It’s still right here.”

“First of all, you forgot your gloves, which I have never seen happen, especially in the middle of winter. Second, who was it that panic-called me just five hours ago, terrified that he lost his engagement ring?” Virgil put a finger to his chin in mock contemplation. “You’ve been planning this proposal for what, four months now? If it doesn’t go exactly according to plan you’re gonna be insufferable.”

Janus sniffed haughtily. “I found it, didn’t I?”

“I still can’t believe you actually hid it inside the snake tank and forgot.”

Virgil’s snickering was cut short by Janus’s sharp shove against his shoulder. He was about to shove Janus back when he saw something in the distance and threw up an arm and waved.

“It’s them! Over here!”

The two they were waiting for jogged up to them, joined by two others they didn’t immediately recognize.

“Vee! JD! Sorry for keeping you,” Remus grinned as he threw an arm over each of their shoulders, then added, “Someone was too busy getting mobbed by his adoring fans.”

“Oh, really?” Janus broke into a smile as he slipped out from under his best friend’s arm and into those of his boyfriend’s.

“Just a couple of old friends. I was surprised, too! You remember Patton and Logan, right?”

“Virgil, Janus,” Logan greeted with a nod, “I hope you two are doing well.”

“It’s been too long!” Patton exclaimed, smiling brightly.

“Oh, shit! Is that you, pop star?” Virgil said, grinning. “You both look so different!”

The other four chattered away as they caught up, but Janus only had eyes for Roman. He looked up at him, arms draped over his shoulders and around his neck, taking in the sight of this gorgeous, beautiful man lit by the warm, yellow glow of the marquee. Only now that he was here did Janus truly feel the weight of the little box in his pocket. Perhaps he should wait? After all, Roman had just wrapped up a busy opening night, he was probably looking forward to a nice dinner with their friends and a relaxing ride home and-

“So,” Roman said, his voice cutting through Janus’s thoughts like a beam of light on a moonless night, “what did you think?”

Janus let his eyes drift down from Roman’s warm hazel ones to the lopsided smirk he wore when he wanted to hide his nervousness, raising a hand to run his fingers through Roman’s gelled hair. The texture was stiff and still a little greasy from Roman’s onstage exertions and not the soft silkiness he was accustomed to, but Janus loved it all the same. Very much worth forgetting his gloves at home. He gave Roman a soft smile as his prince leaned into the gesture, gently grasping the hand and bringing it down to place a kiss into Janus’s palm, then held it against his cheek. The warmth burned against Janus’s frozen fingers.

“I think,” Janus teased, “I’ve seen better.”

Roman huffed at that, though his eyes remained bright and amused. “It couldn’t have been worse than my performance that first night we met.”

Janus raised an eyebrow. “I’m not sure what you mean,” he said airily.

“You don’t remember walking right into me while ranting about all my flaws as an actor to my twin brother, in this exact spot in front of this exact theater?”

“Not at all,” Janus lied, smirking. Roman chuckled and took a step back, sliding his hands down Janus’s arms to his hands, holding them gently with his own.

“I wouldn’t blame you if you did forget. We didn’t exactly start off on great terms. Which, ah, reminds me,” Roman glanced at their friends, who were still talking amongst themselves, and had apparently pulled out their phones to take and share photos at some point. Virgil winked conspiratorially at Janus. He was probably already filming them. Roman cleared his throat, catching their attention, and turned back to Janus.

“Janus,” he said, his eyes big and warm and soft, “you have made me so, so happy these last few years. You were there when I got my first major role, you helped me through the rough times where I didn’t think I would ever act again, and yeah, we’ve had our disagreements every so often, but, we’re still here. Together.”

Janus, still smiling, tilted his head and narrowed his eyes in confusion, unsure where Roman was going with this. He couldn’t be… could he?

Roman took a breath and another step back and lowered himself on one knee, keeping hold of Janus with one hand and reaching into his inside coat pocket with the other. Janus’s free hand came up to cover his mouth. Oh.

“Janus, when I fell in love with you, I knew it would be forever. Will you marry me?”

Nestled in the box in his hand was a ring, a marquise-cut yellow sapphire set into a white-gold band that curved along each side toward the points, flanked by a row of round white diamonds that tapered down in size as they swept out from the central stone and along the band. It sparkled in the glow of the streetlamps, stars dancing in each facet.

Overwhelmed with emotion and unable to help himself, Janus’s eyes filled with tears and his lips pulled into a wide grin behind his hand. He pulled away and turned around, his breath coming in short, staccato hiccups of laughter. Wiping his tears, he reached into his pocket and brought out the box, turning around to face magnificent, wonderful Roman, who was patiently awaiting his answer.

“You have the worst timing,” Janus said, opening his box and revealing the ring inside, a princess-cut pink diamond set diagonally in rose gold, two white oval diamonds at its top and bottom corners, with a row of smaller, round diamonds along the top edges and in the band along either side of the bottom gem, curls of metal shaping the ring into a crown. Roman blinked at the offering, saying nothing. Then, a huge grin spread across his face, and he rose to his feet.

“Is- Is that a yes?” he asked, starting to laugh himself. Janus nodded, his own grin preventing him from responding.

Roman slammed into Janus, kissing him greedily. He wrapped his arms around Janus’s waist and spun them in circles, lifting Janus into the air with his enthusiasm, breaking the kiss and filling the nighttime air with the combined shrieks of their euphoria.

“Finally!” Remus’s high-pitched whoop pierced the air as the observing bystanders applauded.

Roman set Janus down and they quickly placed the rings on each other’s fingers. Janus could hardly see through his tears no matter how quickly he wiped them away, yet he could not tear his eyes from the ring now adorning his finger. He let Roman guide them back to their gaggle of friends, who were all shouting happy congratulations.

“Ohmigosh, it was so hard not giving it away! A double proposal!” Patton squealed.

“You knew?” Roman asked, incredulous.

“Remus informed us of both your plans to propose when he invited us to tonight’s show last week,” Logan clarified, giving them a small smile and a nod.

“Yeah, and it was a bitch getting D.W. to let you go so early, so, y’know, you’re welcome. I only have so much say against the PSM as a lowly wardrobe tech, no matter how awesome I am.”

“And Remus and I knew four months ago, because he couldn’t keep his mouth shut,” Virgil concluded.

“JanJan and RoBro never figured it out, so I say I kept it pretty well shut,” Remus countered.

“Four months ago?” Janus gaped.

“Yep,” Virgil said, popping the ‘p’. “You two made the exact same plans at the exact same time because of course you did, you dorks.”

Janus turned to meet Roman’s eyes. They shone like copper, rich and warm and bright, lingering in his vision as he drew closer for another kiss.

[cilldaracailin]

Now I’m Here

Hello my Tumblr lovelys!  I literally have absolutely no patience and control when it comes to posting and just cannot wait longer than two days or hold out on posting. So I bring you the next part *Little disclaimer, it’s just a story of fiction :)* Enjoy! xx

2

“I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw something back.”

Taron and Robyn were thirty minutes late getting to the pub, his sisters doing their very best to keep their attention for as long as possible when they went to visit Taron’s family to say goodnight and happy new year. Taron had to entertain his family himself for the first twenty minutes, while his mam pulled Robyn aside into the kitchen for some of their girl talk and when they walked out together, he couldn’t look either of them in their eyes. Now that Robyn was finally free, his sisters had turned to her for a chat, begging her for Elsa hair. She had assured them she would come back tomorrow to do it for them and went to stand next to Taron who looked a little sad and slipped her discreetly hand into his. It was thanks to Robyn that they even managed to leave the house, using her neat little trick of reverse phycology with his whole family, giving them the exit they needed to go and join his friends.

“We’ll be back tomorrow as planned. Taron has booked a table for dinner for us and we are already running late and because it is New Year’s Eve, they won’t hold the table. I really don’t want to miss our dinner. We skipped lunch because of it.”

It was an exit Taron was so glad for and as he walked her along the promenade towards the pub, he was so thankful for her quick thinking.

“Should I be a little worried about the talk you and my mam had?” He asked her.

“Not at all. She was just apologising again.” Robyn gave his linked arm a squeeze. “Nothing to worry about. I promise.”

Taron didn’t answer her, but guided her towards the pedestrian crossing and they safely crossed the road. “Have I told you that you look beautiful? Love a V-neck shaped top.”

Robyn laughed, brushing her hair from her face as the light sea breeze swirled it into her eyes. “Yes and I know. Might have been the reason I chose it but right back at ya rocketman, you look good too.”

When she was choosing her outfit for their night out, she wanted something comfortable but an ensemble that would also make a little bit of a statement and the black V-neck silk string top had her desired effect on Taron, as she knew it would. She was a playing it a little dirty with her stone washed skinny jeans and high heeled ankle boots but she wanted to make an impression on Taron’s friends but she had seen Taron’s eyes widen as little as she walked down his hallway to him, she secretly enjoyed the effect her outfit had on him too. It seemed he was playing the same game as her, his black jeans quite fitted and the low cut of his black tank top was revealing enough to see his chest hair which always brought a flush to fill her cheeks. She hoped the rose blush powder on her cheeks, covered it up. He looked good and her fluttering heart knew it too. Taron had pulled a dark blue short sleeved shirt over his tank and a leather jacket on, while Robyn slid into her turquoise coat she had brought and they walked to Taron’s childhood home before making their way to the pub, planning on getting a taxi back to his at the end of the night.

Taron held the multicolour frosted stained-glass door open for her and the warmth of the cosy busy pub hit them. Robyn felt Taron take her hand and guide her through the crowd of excited bodies ready to celebrate the new year and towards his usual table where he knew his friends were waiting. “Don’t be nervous chicken. You will get on with everyone.”

“Get out of my head rocketman.”

“I will right here if you need anything though I am pretty sure you can handle my friends.”

“If I can handle you, I can handle them.”

Robyn heard Taron’s group of friends before she saw them, the hooting and calling making her laugh, a typical male response to their friends’ tardiness and once they arrived closer to the table a few cat calls were given out too.

“Alright, alright, calm the fuck down. I am here now.” Taron grumbled as they reached two rectangle tables filled with grinning faces.

“And what have you been up too Mr movie star?” Smiled one his friends.

“I have been with my sisters.” Answered Taron. “They adore Robyn, wouldn’t let us go.”

“And this must be the wonderful Robyn we have heard so much about.”

“Taron mate, you were right. Absolute fittie.”

Robyn heard the groan and watched as Taron threw his head back in complete embarrassment and frustration. He had warned her as they walked along the beach front that his friends would more than likely say something ridiculous and possibly offensive and just as he predicted they had.

“Can’t wait to hear this sexy Irish accent she has too.”

If Robyn hadn’t of been still holding his hand, she was sure Taron would have bolted for the door.

“So that is how it is going to be all night yeah?” She asked looking to the mix of women and men who sat around the tables, a good few glasses of alcohol already littering the table. “Alright, lets have it then.” She let go of Taron’s hand and stood in front of him. “Let’s get it out of the way and give me your best shot.”

“You sure?” Asked the man who had commented on her accent.

“Oh I am very sure.”

“Calvin, mate I wouldn’t if I were you.” Taron placed his hands on Robyn’s shoulders and looked to his friend.

“It’s grand Taron.” Robyn made sure she went heavy with her accent on the word ‘grand’ and turned to Taron to give him a wink. “I’m a big girl. I can handle myself.”

“Oh it’s not you I am worried about. I know first hand that you can handle yourself. It’s them I am worried about.”

“Don’t you worry about it Taron. Not a bother to me.”

Calvin smiled. “Definitely sexy.” He laughed, laughing harder when he caught Taron’s face of warning. “Right then.” He stood up. “You’re older than him.”

“Yep and wiser.”

“Really?”

“Naturally.”

“He is an up and coming movie star.”

“I have two degrees, two diplomas and am supervisor in my job.”

“Alright ok. I will give you that one.” Calvin thought for a second. “And you sing too?”

“Better than Taron according to one Elton John.”

“Better than Taron? He was in a musical that was critically acclaimed and has won a Golden Globe.”

“I have been in my local musical society since I was sixteen and have my two of my own AIMS, Association of Irish Musical Societies, awards. One for best newcomer and one for best female vocal. It’s like the Tony’s but for amateur musical societies.” It was something she hadn’t told Taron about and she felt the step closer he took to her, her back right against his chest as well as the squeeze on her shoulders. “And am about to start rehersals as Mimi in our upcoming production of RENT.”

“Alright, alright.” Replied Calvin.

Another of Taron’s male friends stood up. “Calvin lets skip to the hard-hitting questions.” The brunette stood beside Calvin. “I am Deian. So Robyn, have you and my boy Taron here kissed yet?”

“Why yes Deian we have.” Robyn knew this question was going to be asked at some point during the evening so was glad to get it out the way first. “Four, no wait five times and while three of them were the quickest peck on the lips, the other two were used to save his life. I guess the breath of life counts as a kiss too right?” Robyn enjoyed how the two men stalled a little not expecting her brash and upfront answer but Deian’s face soon grew a smirk.

“Pity he didn’t remember two of them.”

“That’s why we had two more. So he could remember but I am surprised you don’t know about the others? I haven’t actually mentioned the ones he left on my neck yet, have I? Taron did you not tell your friends about how you practically attacked me with passionate and frantic kisses at the hotel before we got in the lift while at Elton’s charity auction? Surely that is a story that you must have to re-told to your friends or how I almost jumped on you while I just wearing a towel or each time we have shared a bed.”

“Robyn…” Gasped Taron. “Jesus…”

“Taron, mate you are holding out on us!” Smiled Deian, enjoying himself and how the Irish woman in front of him was not backing down from his questions and in fact giving him her best brazen and mischievous answers, ones Taron had avoided telling him. “Alright Robyn, that video Taron showed us where you were playing cricket.”

“You mean hurling.”

“Yeah that stick and the ball. You really hit that shot all by yourself?”

“You saw the video, right?” Asked Robyn as she raised an eye brow. “I hit it better than Taron.”

“And you gave him a right bollocking in New York.”

“Deian, leave it out!” Complained Taron, not wanting to even think about what happened in New York.

“Did you really stand up the men in the 7/11 with the guns?” Asked Calvin, moving the conversation on quickly.

“Quite a few times.”

“And got pushed into the glass shelf?”

“You want to see the scar?” She asked him.

“Sure.”

Robyn turned around so she was now facing Taron and slipped her coat off over her left shoulder, brushing her hair over her right. She moved the strap of her top out of the way. “Should be pretty obvious and that is something Taron hasn’t actually seen yet.”

“Alright ok. I see it.”

Robyn fixed her top, pulled her coat back over her shoulder, glanced at Taron whose face was so hard to read at the moment and then turned around to his friends.

“And you both went swimming in the sea in Aber? Well no Taron actually carried you in.” Asked Deian.

Robyn gave him a wink. “We were meant to skinny dip but he picked me up before I got a chance to take my clothes off.”

Although Taron groaned and placed his head on her right shoulder, his friends laughed and a few more cat calls were made. Robyn reached up to put her left hand on Taron’s which was still on her left shoulder. She slipped her fingers under his and rubbed his knuckles with her thumb. She may have been a bit bold with her answers but she knew in the long run it was for the best and hoped Taron could see that. The laughter slowly died down and the two men standing in front of her were whispering to each other and when they turned to look back to Robyn, their grins were replaced with a more serious look.

“You really saved his life?” Asked Calvin.

Robyn nodded. “Really saved his life. CPR and everything.” She valued the looks of concern that were exchanged between Taron’ friends as they sat on the soft pub furnishings and although she couldn’t see Taron’s face, she could only imagine the frown his striking green eyes held at the moment. “So, anything else?”

“Yeah what are your intentions with my friend.”

“Well if lot weren’t here, I would brush all of those glasses onto the floor, push him onto the tables, straddle him and kiss him until he was breathless but because you are here, I am going to kick his arse at karaoke.”

There was a second of silence before all of his friends broke out laughing again, Calvin and Deian, leading the hoots and giggles.

“Ahh Taron mate, love her.” Grinned Calvin. “Robyn, if you chose not to do that with Taron, you can always have me instead.”

“Sorry Calvin. I only hook up with guys whose life I save. Means they are always indebted to me and will do whatever I want, when I want it.” She could feel Taron tense behind her and knew he was absolutely mortified by his friends but she very much enjoyed the banter and was glad to get rid of the edgy atmosphere that whirled in when herself and Taron walked over to them. “Taron already owes me for putting glitter in my body wash. Actually, maybe you guys can help me figure out a way to get him back.”

“Well why don’t you take a seat in here beside me and we can have a chat about that.” Grinned Calvin.

Agreeing, Robyn started to take her coat off and turned to look at Taron to try and read his face once more. She gave him a smile and was glad to receive one in return. She had hoped he didn’t mind that she revealed some of their secrets, especially the kissing ones but she knew it was the only way to appease his friends. One way to make a group of men quieten down was to mention anything raunchy and her cheekiness had settled Taron’s friend’s curiosity immediately and she could feel already that she had been accepted into his close group of friends.

As she took her coat off, she caught his nod towards the bar and gave him the smallest of ones back. Once they had both shrugged out of their coats, Robyn took his and stood a step closer to the table, throwing her coats onto the soft seat beside Taron’s friend. “Calvin be a dear and keep our seats. We’re going to go and get a drink.” She didn’t wait for an answer, but took the step back towards Taron, grabbed his hand and half dragged him toward the bar.

Once there, she leaned on the bar and Taron stood right up beside her. “You play a dangerous game Robyn but my God you play it very well.”

“I am sorry for talking about the kissing thing and the other things. Needed something that was going to play into your friends minds that were already on over drive.”

“It’s ok. Deian has been giving me a lot of slack over it all since I met you.”

“Better to get the questions out of the way first. I could see your friends were dying to ask them.”

“Deian has been at me all week asking if you were really coming and just so you know I did not use the word fittie or call your accent sexy.”

Robyn turned to look at him, grinning. “So, you don’t think I am fit or that my accent is sexy?” She questioned, enjoying how he moved position against the bar, fidgeting a little.

“Well now Robyn. You know I think you are beautiful and I would try to find a better word than sexy to describe your accent.”

“Really? I think your accent is sexy, especially when your voice hits that lower range and that Welsh twang just sweeps through and I love how easily I can do that to you and make you squirm.” She reached up and tapped his nose. “I like your friends. Well of the two I have met so far. I think this is going to be a very interesting evening.”

“I think I am going to go back to my family and leave you here with my friends.”

“I think your friends would like that very much.”

“On second thought, maybe not.” Taron got the attention of the barman. “Hey mate, I will take a Corona and…” He looked to Robyn.

“Bottle of cider.” She said.

“And a bottle of cider.” As the bar man went to get their drinks, he turned back to Robyn, his lips pulled up in a half grin. “So, you want to throw me across the table and kiss me breathless yeah?”

Robyn chuckled. “Tactic’s Taron. You have got to play dirty when your opponent does. I have taken the heat away from us. I can only imagine the slagging you have gotten from your friends once they found out you invited me over.”

“It’s been pretty full on.”

“So, we can play it two ways. We can stay away from each other and keep our distance or we can just be our normal selves and not worry about what they think. I mean I just automatically reach for your hand now and it doesn’t feel right if I don’t get a kiss on my cheek from you when you walk away from me. They know how affectionate you are right?” She liked that he nodded. “Well why should we change the way we are. We have said it from the beginning to anyone who questioned it, our relationship came from such a strange place, sometimes we need that extra reassurance. We have these few days together just to be us, so let’s be us.”

“I agree completely and but I just hope sure you have some more pretty good smart answers in your pockets ready to pull out if you need them.”

“I keep a supply.”

“You mind if I look at that scar? I haven’t seen it yet.” He asked her and when she shook her head, he moved her hair out of the way and stood a little behind her so he could see the small inch scar on her shoulder for himself. He gently ran the index finger of his right hand down it under the strap of her top. “War wounds.”

“Something like that. It’s only small. I can barely see the one on your forehead.”

“I was very good and resisted the urge to pick at the scab.” Robyn turned to him and lifted her hand to where the cut had been on his head and brushed the skin under his hair line. It was barely noticeable unless his head was turned a certain way in the light. “I have one on my arm though. It looks like yours only a little longer. I still think about how lucky we were Robyn. How lucky I was that you were there. Things would have been very different if you weren’t.” Taron wrapped his right around her and gave her a hug. “I am glad you came here tonight.”

“Me too Taron.”

The bar man came back with their drinks and Taron handed over a twenty-pound note.

“Next round is on me.” Said Robyn as she poured her drink into the glass of ice it came with. Taron took his change and together they walked back to the tables with his friends.

“So, let me introduce you. Calvin and Deian, you already know.” Taron let Robyn sit down on the stool and he stood behind her. “Then we have Jess and Rachel and beside them James, Conor and Lily.” Robyn said hello and tried to remember all the names she was being introduced too. “And then this side of the table, Lucy, Gemma and Phil.”

“So that is a lot of names and I am not going to get them all right so I apologise now in advance for getting them wrong.”

Taron moved around her and sat beside where she had thrown their coats, to sit beside Calvin. “So now that you have quizzed me, it’s my turn to quiz you. What went on with the girl the other night?”

More banter, chat and conversation filled the air and the twelve people around the two tables, including Robyn easily talked with the others, sharing stories of their Christmas break, jobs with a few extra questions thrown Taron and Robyn’s way about their relationship. Some of Taron’s friends were eager to hear about Robyn’s version of the what happened in Florida and what they got up to when Taron went to visit her house and none of it was awkward or uncomfortable and Robyn felt like she fitted right into Taron’s group of close friends.

She had bought him another drink and as she walked back with the two bottles, the finger food had arrived to their tables as well as the karaoke books with all the songs. Taron moved over to let her sit in between him and Calvin.

“You’re sure you want to have this karaoke battle tonight?” Taron asked her.

“We shook on our deal and it was a karaoke off in a bar. I see a bar and I see a karaoke machine. I think it should be tonight.”

Taron grinned as he took a drink from his bottle. “Have it in the bag Robyn.”

“Don’t be too sure Taron.”

“They are my friends.”

Robyn chuckled. “And I have so many more stories to tell.” She replied looking his way. “No, it is going to be a fair vote on who they think sing their song better. No favouritism just because they are your friends or I have a pocket full of stories ready to go. An Elton song from you, a Queen song from me and if I can convince you a cheesy duet.”

Taron nodded agreeing. “I think that sounds a like a fair deal.”

The group sat laughing and talking, eating and drinking, flipping through the books, picking out what songs they could all have a go with, listening as the other customers in the pub got up to brave the karaoke machine, Taron sitting close to Robyn the whole time, making sure his friends didn’t get too out of hand or any more personal with their questions. After they had devoured the food on the table and poked fun at each other while choosing songs they wanted the other to sing, Calvin was actually the first to get up from their group and sing followed by Jess and then Conor had a turn.

“Ok time for this sing off.” Robyn turned to Taron, his whole face happy, his cheeks a little rosy and his eyes bright from the few drinks he had had. “Who is going first?” She asked him, feeling her own little buzz from the alcohol in her blood stream.

“Rock, paper, scissors it?” He asked him with a grin. “Loser sings first?”

“Sure.”

Taron threw his head back with a groan as he lost. “I am not even going to ask for two out of three. I know you will win. So, I guess I am first.”

Robyn rose an eyebrow his way. “Bring it rocketman. All you got.”

“You are going down!” He replied, leaning in and kissing her cheek before he stood up and made his way towards the small stage the pub had set up for the evening.

Robyn moved so she was kneeling on the soft seat so she could see over all the heads in front of her, very interested in how this was all going to play out. She never really thought their deal would actually come to pass when they made it all those months ago but here they were in Taron’s home town, in his favourite pub with all of this friends, ready to sing their hearts out.

“All right ladies and gentlemen, we all know Taron here, local boy.” The MC for the night stood on the stage with Taron beside him, ready to sing. A cheer went up from his friends at the table. “He is going to give us a good old classic Elton John song.”

Robyn had no idea which song Taron had chosen and she smiled wide when the music for Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting came on and another cheer went up around her from his friends.

“You sure you can out sing him?” Asked Calvin as he turned to her.

“I am sure.”

“Well you have my vote either way. I like you a lot. You are sassy and cute and perfect for Taron. He really speaks highly of you Robyn but you know if you could beat him in this it would be brilliant for us because he would never live it down!”

“Oh, don’t worry Calvin, he is a fantastic singer but Elton John told me I can sing Freddie. I am going to crush him.”

Deian overheard the conversation and laughed. “I am glad you came out with us tonight.”

“Me too.” Relied Robyn with complete sincerity in her voice.

Their attention turned to Taron as he moved onto sing the chorus and then to the second verse where he caught Robyn’s eye and gave her a wink and salute as he sang ‘she’s with me’. He was thoroughly enjoying being up on stage, singing one of his favourite Elton songs. He had found it difficult at first when he was in the recording studio but loved the way he his voice became rockier and gravellier as he learnt how to sing it. He made sure to put his whole performance into the song too, hoping his dance moves might give him an edge over Robyn and got the whole pub involved too when the repeat Saturday’s were sung over and over. The whole pub erupted into applause and there were extra hard ones from the table of his friends along with cheering and shouting, Robyn among them. She had loved watching Taron in his element as he sang and it was the first upbeat song she had heard him sing and he did such a tremendous job at it, she was feeling a little worried she may not win this but she wasn’t one to not to give her all and knew her chosen song backwards and while Taron’s song could get the crowd going, her chosen Queen song could get a crowd going too.

With an encouraging push from Calvin, she climbed off the seat and made her way around the table heading towards the stage, as Taron stepped off. She adored it when his face was in an honest and full grin and after his three-hour nap, the tiredness had left his face a little. They stopped when they walked past each other, Taron dancing a little.

“Oh, chicken you are in trouble.”

She laughed at him, enjoying how happy he was. “That was it?” She said putting her hands on her hips. “Oh rocketman, you have no idea how easy you have made this for me.”

“I am watching you…” Chuckled Taron wriggling his eye brows at her, laughing as she gently pushed him on his chest and walked past him and continued to the stage. Taron walked back to his friends, high giving and fist pumping them before he turned to face the stage, enjoying how the lights shone on Robyn, his heart racing once more and this time it wasn’t from singing. He had to place his hand on the back of his couch when Robyn walked down the hallway towards him once they were ready to go earlier in the evening. She had gone and picked another V-neck top and he knew she had absolutely done it on purpose, knowing he liked those particular shaped tops on her.

The MC was back on the microphone. “Do I sense a bit of tension here?” He asked playfully. “Between you and Taron?”

Robyn grinned. “Just fulfilling a bet we made a long time ago.” She answered him. She filled the MC in quickly with her name and choice of song.

“So, this is Robyn, a visitor from across the ocean and tonight shall be singing a hit by Queen for ultimate bragging rights.”

Robyn took the microphone from the MC and looked for Taron’s face at the table. Once found him, she winked giving him the biggest grin she could and once the music started Somebody to Love, she was in her singing zone. She had contemplated singing a different Queen song but to beat Taron she needed the difficulty that the song brought and the notes she could easily belt with confidence. She hit that first note as easy as ever and was glad the karaoke track had the backing vocals on it too as it made it so much more effective. It was a song she could sing her sleep and it made it easier to add a little performance to it just like Taron had and when it got to the small musical interlude she hopped off the stage and headed down to where the group of Taron’s friends were sitting and stood up on the a stool with a little help from Calvin who had made he way to the front of the tables for a better look and listen.

When the song got to the part where ‘Find Me Somebody To Love’ was repeated over and over she started to clap her hands and singing those words, smiling as the people around her started to copy her and soon all of Taron’s friends were copying her and she grinned to Taron who although was smiling and singing along, his face told her he knew she had beaten him already.

Happy the crowd could keep the words and beat going, she gave a her own salute to Taron and then she jumped down off the stool and slowly walked back to the stage adlibbing as she went throwing in some oohhs and ahhs until she was back in the stage for that all important last belt of the song, Robyn giving it everything she could and holding that top note for longer than was necessary before improvising the last part, the backing vocals keeping the rhythm and timing of the song, making sure she did a fancy run on the last line before ending the song.

If the pub erupted for Taron, they shouted whooped and called so much louder for Robyn and she was laughing on stage and she made a pretend curtesy before handing the microphone back to the MC. “Well I think you won.” He said to her.

Robyn only smiled and stepped off the stage, some of the crowd still clapping as she walked past them and back to the tables where her new friends were sitting, Taron at the end of the rectangle tables making a come here motion with the index finger of his right hand to her. She accepted all the high-fives and fist bumps from his friends and even the hug from Calvin and Deian and biting her lip stood in front of Taron.

“Well played Robyn. Well played.” He said to her and though he tried not to smile, he couldn’t help it and without a second thought pulled her to him for a hug. “You fucking killed it and I hate you.”

“So, I won?” She said into his neck.

“I don’t think we should bother with the vote.”

Letting go of him she stood back and slipped into a chorus of ‘We Are the Champions’ by Queen, Taron laughing at her before joining in wrapping his right arm around her shoulder, swinging her from side to side. While Robyn sang ‘I’, Taron sang ‘We’ and it made them both giggle when they were done.

“So, I guess the vote is invalid.” Smiled Deian. “And she has ultimate bragging rights.”

“Yes!” Robyn punched the air and did a little dance, giggling as Taron wrapped his arms around her waist and lifted her off the ground to stop her. “Taron put me down!” She chuckled.

“No more dancing.” He replied. “Drink?” He asked her.

“No. Duet.” She answered picking up the book from the table. “It’s is so cheesy and obvious but it would be so much fun.” She said to Taron as he looked over her shoulder at the one she pointed at and he grinned agreeing.

“Done but drink first.”

“Just water.” She said to him once they reached the bar.

“You sure?” Asked Taron.

“Yeah. Just for the moment. It’s gotten hot in here.”

Taron ordered two pints of water and once he gave Robyn hers, she drank it all in one go, Taron’s mouth dropping as she took the second one and took three mouthfuls from it too. “Singing and winning is thirsty work.” She answered his questioning look.

With another alcoholic drink in their hand, they walked back to the table and sat down on the stools, their presence stopping the chatter between his friends.

“So Robyn, any other secrets apart from saving lives, killer singing abilities and baking?”

She grinned at Calvin, enjoying how Taron had moved his stool closer to hers so they sat with their legs touching. “I can’t give all my secrets away tonight Calvin. Need to keep some sort of excitement in the game.”

“Well the secret is definitely out how you can sing rings around Taron and I demand that you sing another one.”

Robyn laughed. “I am up for that but back in Elton’s there was talk of a prize.”

“Oh Robyn no, please.” Taron’s eyes looked up to her from under his eye lashes.

“Don’t worry Taron. This is a prize we both will enjoy.”

As Taron started to dance on stage as he sang George Michael’s Faith, Robyn was thrilled with her choice of her prize and even though she knew it was one of Taron’s favourite karaoke songs to sing, her inner Taron Egerton fangirl was squealing as he got more and more into the song, his eyes glinting as the crowd sang along with him with to some of the second verse and Robyn knew he was enjoying every minute of his time on stage.

“So happy with your prize?” He asked her as strolled back to the table with a smirk.

“Thoroughly, especially the dancing!” She laughed, giving him his high-five that he looked for as he stood beside her.

“So does Taron get to pick your song now?” Asked Calvin.

“Uh-uh. That is not how a prize works.” Robyn shook her finger at Taron’s friend. “I won fair and square. That was my prize and I still have complete access to the ultimate bragging rights but I am sure we can come to an agreement on a song for me.”

Taron and his two best friends, surrounded Robyn as they flicked through the book and Calvin stopped her and made her go back a few pages and pointed at a Celine Dion song.

“Not gonna happen Calvin.”

“But why!” He moaned. “You can sing Freddie Mercury. You can sing this song.”

“Freddie’s range is more suited to mine. Celine is a bloody powerhouse.”

“And you’re not?” Asked Taron.

“Not after a few drinks.”

“Bubbles help warm up your voice.” Taron nudged her gently. “Worked for me at Elton’s.”

“For a song that was specifically written for you.”

“Come on Robyn. You don’t have anything to prove.” Deian pitched in.

“Maybe that I lipsynced the last time. If I even attempt this song, I will not hit any of those high range notes.”

“Karaoke doesn’t have to be perfect.” Added Calvin.

“Does to me.”

Taron pouted a little, tilting his head and nudged her again with his hip and as she took in his face and as he bit his lip she sighed. “Fine but I don’t want to hear a word if it’s shit.”

A little cheer rose up around her and pushing her way through Calvin and Deian she walked up to the stage. It’s All Coming Back To Me Now was a song she had sang many times in her house into her hairbrush but it was never a song she would choose for karaoke. Robyn preferred to pick songs she knew she could sing well and preform, that stage performer within her needing to get it right every time.

“So you back for more?” Joked the MC as she walked up the steps.

“They say too much of something is bad for you but not the case with karaoke.”

“This another duel off?”

“Nope. This one is to make three men happy.” The MC looked at her with wide eyes. “I mean I have been asked by Taron and his friends to sing this one.”

She quietly gave her song selection to the MC and took the microphone from him and turned around to look at the expectant faces. When the customers saw her walk back up the stage, she knew they were anticipating another perfectly sung song and now that she had a slightly bigger audience she was full of nerves but faking the confidence, she closed her eyes and took a breathe as the music started.

“Go on Robyn!”

She looked up as Taron’s friends cheered her on and with a shy smile looked to the lyrics and started to sing. First line done, she felt a bit more comfortable and tried to loosen her stance up a little and found herself using her left hand on her stomach as she needed to keep control and once on the chorus tried to add a little more emotion to the song and the words, gaining volume as the song grew and cringed a little as her chest voice changed to her head voice on the higher notes but kept going and decided to leave out a line before the second verse started, knowing she would never hit the notes. Instead concentrated on the second verse, her eyes reading the words but taking glances towards the tables of her new friends but she looked away to close her eyes to reach the last note of the verse. She knew the words to the chorus so again snuck another look to Taron and his friends and could see the nod of encouragement from him, watching him sing along. It gave her the courage she needed to properly go for the highest notes of her range at the end of the chorus and hitting them almost perfectly, she appreciated the applause and whistles from what she assumed was Taron, Calvin and Deian. As the song became more silent as it wound down to the last chorus, she didn’t need to worry about the words once more and took a little walk across the stage for some dramatic effect and breathed a huge sigh of relief as the song ended and after she handed the microphone back to the MC, ran her hands through her hair, taking one long deep breathe.

She could feel her hands shaking as she made her way back to the tables and shook them out to rid herself of the nervous energy and adrenaline that flowed through her blood stream. She gave a bashfully blushed smile as she walked into the circle she had previously left and accepted the half hugs from Calvin and Deian and was thankful for the cuddly one from Taron and the whispers of well done from him.

“No more singing.” She said back to him.

“Except our duet.” He corrected.

“I am not going back up there without you.”

[blankdblank]

Ring of Roses

ABBA, The winner takes it all! 

This is day 25, still finishing the 24th prompt, hopefully i can finish that here in a bit and either get it up today or tomorrow after work depending on when i drop off to sleep.  --- Hope you like it and please don’t ask me why Dis came off as a Southern Belle in my mind for this story.  :D

…

Breathing hard you took on the tallest hill in this green tree dominated wonderland you continued running trying to get yourself up this impossible feat once in this century as every year you found yourself here for the yearly race of the best thoroughbreds in Elven lands. You could hear it though, the dually truck usually lapping you on your daily runs and again you had kept to your side of the street yet a ‘whoo’ that came too close for your liking with a gust of wind afterwards had you, in their reaching the top of the hill a moment later, squeaking in pain as your foot slid off the road and into the only dip in the inexplicably tall hill securing your luck for the day. A hard slam into the ground jammed your shoulder and sent you into a triple roll stopping at the fence on your right.

Staring up at the sky you mumbled, “So fucking close…The universe just doesn’t want me to beat this hill…”

Inhaling deeply you winced as you shifted your twisted ankle making your hands rise to press to your watering eyes, you had broken bones before and been fine but it seemed every banged knee, elbow and foot had you almost on the floor with twisted ankles having your life teetering on the end, of which you’ve had millions and lived to whine about to whatever caused the injury. Usually you didn’t have an audience but the sound of dirt shifting and a group of bellows in the distance had your hands lowering to peer up at the Giant Elk peering down at you over the fence. “Hello Handsome.”

A hard exhale from him and his glance at your ankle had you moving to sit up grimacing about the sting in your shoulder you rolled exhaling at the loud pop from it. The sound of an engine died with a truck coming into view with another whimper from you seeing the blonde you had been failing to talk to since you were kids. Your father ran the championship each year and owns the race track meaning you were the one to act as announcer and presenter for the winner’s ring each year, now being far more appealing than adorable as you once were for the racers, with it being more of a challenge for each to see who could catch your number. Sitting up in an ease out his open window your breathing quickened seeing the slightly bubbly partially wet Elf in just jeans turning around to look at you after the herd had motioned over to you. Back inside he slid and made the short drive over to the fence where he parked and hopped over it.

I don't wanna talk

About things we've gone through

Though it's hurting me, now it's history

I've played all my cards

And that's what you've done, too

Nothing more to say, no more ace to play

Looking you over the blonde wet his lips and crouched asking, “Are you injured Miss Pear?”

Weakly you chuckled forcing your eyes to remain locked on his and not anywhere else while his breathing steadied and his chiseled body screamed at you to ogle away in the easing of bubbles down his chest. “Just the Douglass brothers in their truck whooing again.”

His brow inched up, “Whooing?”

“You know, like ‘Whoo!’” The last word you added a weak try at a celebratory ‘Whoo’ and he nodded, “And I managed to slip into the only pothole on this damn hill like a twit, twenty feet away! Every time! I can never make it up this hill!”

Unable to help it he smirked and said, “You fell pretty hard then? I’ve seen you sprinting up it before, must have been going fast.”

“Well I wouldn’t have to if those assholes could stop lapping me in their damn truck. I’m close to throwing a rock at them.”

Slowly his eyes slid over you, normally an act from other men making you squirm but the town vet’s son’s inquisitive search for injuries ended with your awkwardly locked ankle you were refusing to move had him shifting on his feet to lower a knee and extend his hands. “May I?”

His eyes locked on yours and you nodded making him look back to your ankle he gently eased his fingers around, “It’s not broken, just my millionth sprain of the year. Usually I can just outwait them and I can get up fine.”

Smirking up at you in his move to cradle your foot he carefully slid the shoe he had unlaced off he replied, “Doesn’t seem bad.”

Your head tilted, “You don’t know me, I’m downright laughable, bumped elbows can have me in tears but I’ve run marathons with breaks easy.”

Making him smirk for a moment before lowering his gaze missing your grimace in his rotating your foot and ankle, “Movement is fine. Not sprained from what I can tell, best to keep the jog tomorrow to a slow trot if you won’t skip a day.”

You nodded reluctantly even though you took the runs to catch glimpses at him in passing. “I guess I can hike instead.” Making him smirk and lower your foot to the ground carefully.

“You look thirsty. I can make you some tea if you wish.”

With a nod you said, “Ok. I’ll,”

Scooting around you his arms looped around your back and legs to lift you as he stood bringing you nearly eye level with the Elk almost grinning at you pleased you weren’t injured badly. Carefully he set you on the fence and turned to grab your shoe he carried in his hop over making you jealous at his nearly seven foot figure to do so with ease while you as a Vanyar stood at 5 ft 9, an adorably petite version of the statuesque women you  were forced to grow with hating your place on the screen for standing out. Again you were scooped up and he carried you around to slide with you into the passenger seat he left you on and slid back across the bench to his seat after closing the door for you.

Carefully he turned easing around the Elk and made way back to his three story wood and stone house bearing floor to ceiling windows to let in the best views. “Wow.”

Grinning in a glance over at you he parked saying, “Naneth designed it, her and Ada have an identical one on the other side of the hills closer to town.”

“You prefer living alone?”

Weakly he chuckled, “It was for me and my ex, we, had my son right out of school. They wanted a wedding but she didn’t. Him and I live here.”

“Oh, the other blonde, Leggy, I always thought you were just an overly loving older brother, how old is he?”

Again he chuckled and climbed out strolling around the truck to open your door to scoop you up and lift your shoe, “Nearly 500 now. Hopefully he hasn’t tried to cook anything while I was showering or gone.” The last sentence almost mumbled to himself in concern rather than to you. His voice picked up though as he added in a quick grin to you peering up at him, “Gone to Uni, smartest kid I know but terrible luck with toaster ovens.” Making you giggle to yourself widening his grin.

“Ada, what was wrong with the herd?” You heard from the staircase in his entering through the open door he nudged closed with his foot again and tuned to stride to the stairs peering up at the now wide eyed blonde teen in shorts.

“Douglass brothers ran Miss Pear off the road.” Pulling back he made for the living room as his son hurried down the stairs.

“What?! Should we call the Sheriff?”

Thranduil, “Sheriff is their uncle. Here, elevate this, we’ll ice it to be safe.”

With a sigh you pulled your buzzing phone out of your arm pouch and unlocked it while Legolas helped to prop up your foot. As it was being settled on pillows you answered your brother’s call, “Hey Jelly bean,”

“Finally make the hill?”

“Nope, the Douglass brothers lapped me again and ran me off the road, twisted my ankle, the Greenleafs are going to help me ice it and making me tea.” You could hear the sharp inhale and feel the irritation building in his chest.

“I’m gonna call you back. ADA!!”

Hanging up the phone you saw the pair of blondes staring wide eyed at the phone they heard the shout through making Legolas’ pursed lips part to say, “Their uncle is the Sheriff but I doubt they can hide from Mr Pear.”

Thranduil sat down on the cushioned bench they put your foot up on and gently wrapped it with a towel and covered that with a bag of frozen strawberries making you smirk at him before he said, “We have to thaw them anyways for dessert.”

You shrugged, “At least I can help you in return,” making him chuckle in Legolas’ pop up.

“I’ll fix the tea!” He said then darted off as your hands eased around the ties on your cut off sweat shorts under your loose tank top in mint green matching the end of your silvery curl filled ponytail that slipped from its bun on your last hill.

Thranduil’s eyes darted from your dazzling purple pair to your shoulder saying, “Mind if I check your arm?”

You shook your head, “Nope.” He nodded and stepped over your legs to sit beside you on the couch with brows furrowed in focus between glances at your familiar antler design necklace of silver antlers around a moonstone for the head you smiled and smoothed your fingers over, “Your Naneth sent it to me after I spotted hers in passing in the markets. I never did get to thank her properly, I do love it. It’s perfect.”

Thranduil grinned saying, “I will tell her.” As he looked to your arm again he said, “It suits you.”

“I always have loved Elk. I’ve seen them run, few times I’ve gotten distracted up the hill watching them run. Some are faster than stallions I’ve seen.”

Thranduil chuckled, “Yes, even the Douglass Mare can’t touch Tuo for speed.”

“I don’t know why you don’t race them then.” Making him look up at you with brows raised, “No rule against it. Plus it’d be nice to not have Luti in the circle again, smug jerk needs to be knocked down.”

Thranduil chuckled again then said, “You have a small scrape, I’ll clean it.”

He stood and went to fetch his kit as Legolas hurried over with a full try making you giggle at the tea, crackers, cheese and sliced fruit. “Didn’t know what you’d like but there’s a bit of everything, and the tea is best straight but we have some of Gran’s honey if you’d like?”

You shook your head with a grin up at him, “No thank you.” After a cautious sip on the hot tea you asked, “Are you training to be a vet too?”

He nodded and wet his lips, “Do you do any hobbies besides the presenting?”

“I, um, actually finished a cosmetology degree. Been trying to work up to asking at Dis’ beauty shop in town, but I don’t have much experience out of school and Dwarves take hair very seriously.”

Legolas chuckled, “No doubt she’ll take you in.”

Slightly uncertain your brows scrunched up and you asked, “Really?”

Legolas, “She said Gorgo is expecting again and needs some time off soon, you could train now and possibly have her seat when she does. We don’t get many new faces to town so I’m certain she’d love to have some fresh stories to hear.”

Slightly relieved you said, “Thank you.” Sipping on the tea again before blurting out, “Ada’s been patient with me figuring out what I wanted to do, and it might have seemed frivolous but I mean, a hairstyle can change your day, for better or worse.”

Legolas nodded and readied to say something only to look at the door in another truck driving up, “Ooh, Gramps.”

Oropher hurried up the porch and Legolas went to talk to him as Thranduil came back and sat beside you eyeing the box he opened and grabbed an alcohol watch he tore the pouch to bringing it out to wipe the scrape gingerly listening to Oropher being informed of it all. Within moments he came in grinning looking you over and joined the conversation spreading their grins as you learned more about their herds that when your brother Jelly Bean had showed up they promised you could come and see any time as you were carried off. For future runs you were told that you had permission to run along the path inside their fence up the hill to keep you safe from any repeats. Gratefully you thanked them and wished them an enjoyable dessert as the truck you were settled into backed up and turned to head home.

.

Jelly Bean, “Are you in pain?”

You shook your head in his third glance over at you, “Just because you have 600 years on me doesn’t make me a baby, you know that.”

“I’ll be damned if it doesn’t! Out of the twelve of us you are the baby and the only girl at that! Nobody hurts you! Ada’s talked to the Sheriff, if he could he’d have barred them from the races but they’ve already paid and we’ve no grounds technically to refund and reject them.”

You shook your head, “Didn’t think so, but at least th fuss might make them leave me alone for a bit.”

Jelly Bean chuckled, “Well, if they try to get close to you the only one in the winner’s circle will be Gummy Bear in a dress.” Making you giggle as he chuckled himself.

 *

The winner takes it all

The loser's standing small

Beside the victory

That's her destiny

 Damn he loved you. For so long he’d wished to talk to you but never felt enough to approach the wealthiest man in Greenwood for his daughter’s courtship as a single father from his teens. Every year him and his son had watched the footage of the winners being interviewed by you and each year the exclusive Champion’s Ball no details had been shared and in passing it was common knowledge you were more than curious as to what it could entail.

With a smirk Legolas approached his father as Oropher helped to prep the strawberries to add to the ice cream maker and the strawberry shortcakes they were going to have. Thranduil glanced down at his awkwardly spreading smirk making him ask, “What is that look for?”

Legolas shook his head, “No reason, just gave Miss Pear your number.” Oropher smiled amusedly turning to the pair watching Thranduil’s brows shoot up and mouth drop, Legolas poked him in the stomach, “She just finished her cosmetology license and was nervous about asking Dis for a place in her shop, I said you might be able to help arrange an introduction.”

Thranduil, “Leg!”

Oropher, “I think that’s a wonderful idea!”

Thranduil, “I don’t even know how I would be able to do that!”

Legolas gave him a hug and peered up at him making his father sigh feeling his messy bun he’d tied up to keep his hair dry shifting forward on his head in doing so, “Come on! She likes you, you like her, just, hint to Dis you might need some help and she’ll lasso her in right off.”

Thranduil, “I am not using Dis-,”

Oropher, “Either way when Dis finds out she wants a place she’ll start plotting, so get in now or be set up yourself.” Making Thranduil sigh again hugging is son back in thought.

 *

I was in your arms

Thinking I belonged there

I figured it made sense, building me a fence

Building me a home

Thinking I'd be strong there

But I was a fool playing by the rules

 Even Tuo had heard the comments. Year after year the Douglass brothers boasting their stallions and mares were the best and fastest around leading to their milling about the usual racing paths where they would overpass the billion dollar creatures by full body lengths only worsening the insults sent the Greenleaf way. It was that time of year again for antlers to be shed and it only made the bucks all the more furious without their usual weapons to attack those issuing them.

Another drive by had shouts hurled at Thranduil and Tuo saw red, in his return home he readied for bed after a drink only to pause at the newspaper being hurled at him to scatter across the floor revealing the sheets packed with news of all the incoming challengers. There was still time, and in the locking of eyes Thranduil knew it, either with or without him his Elk was going to do something drastic.

 *

The gods may throw a dice

Their minds as cold as ice

And someone way down here

Loses someone dear

The winner takes it all (Takes it all)

The loser has to fall (Has to fall)

It's simple and it's plain (It seems plain)

Why should I complain? (Why complain)

 A bell rang from an opening door passed by and through the front door of the town mini spa center Thranduil strolled and for the bright blue hair center between the pink facial center and the nail salon he entered Dis’ domain. He was spotted in his approach and the raucous laughter from inside dwindled to whispers on why he could be coming in making Dis stroll up to the front counter with a grin from relaxing in her own chair.

“Morning Thranduil, come to get a gift certificate for Taule again?”

He shook his head, “No, not here for Naneth today.” Exhaling softly he lowered folding his arms on the counter making the women at the other end of the shop lean in closer. “This is a bit uncomfortable to ask, however, you know Miss Pear?”

“Yes,” her eyes narrowed for a moment, “How is that-,”

Thranduil shook his head, “I saw her yesterday,”

Urgently she cut him off resting her hand on his crossed arms, “How is she?! We heard those Douglass boys ran her off the road!” At that the women all rushed over and Dis said with a smirk, “Heard you were the one to swoop in and save her.”

Thranduil sighed and said, “I wanted to come, because she happened to share she just got her cosmetology license,” Dis’ mouth dropped open excitedly, “And that she was a bit nervous on approaching a Dwarf owned shop for a job. Legolas offered I could, arrange a meeting.”

Did patted his arm again, “Of course we’ll give her a training spot!” The women all agreed nodding as they did, each offering lessons on varying techniques making him nod, and she said, “You send her a message that the peach cobbler is just to die for at Mary’s diner after her pre race run through tomorrow around noon and I’ll just happen to mosie on through and bump into her.”

Thranduil nodded and straightened up, “Thank you.”

In his turn however she asked, “This message, you wouldn’t happen to be passing it on through a text would you?” his head turned to find her smirking, “I was just wondering if you might have gotten the sweet thing’s number or if I might have to do that for you myself?”

Exhaling shortly he replied in his stroll to the door, “Legolas beat you to the punch,” making her squeal giddily and turn to begin plotting ways to arrange the new couple in her eyes she could aid in bringing about.

 *

But tell me, does she kiss

Like I used to kiss you?

Does it feel the same when she calls your name?

Somewhere deep inside

You must know I miss you

But what can I say? Rules must be obeyed

Humming to yourself you sat in your window bench seat propping up your foot staring up at the stars after having spent the better part of the evening going over the schedule for this week leading up to the big race you would be in sneakers for to keep your father calm on not damaging your ankle before the big day. Again your fingers smoothed across the cockatoo plushie on your lap your eldest brother Gummy Bear had crochet for you in a pink and grey shade matching your Lyla you lost two years prior still hurting you enough to know you weren’t ready to take up your family’s offer to help you find another. By now she’d have nuzzled on your shoulder after a signaling bout of fake kissing sounds she would make when she wanted to be closer to you.

Out of nowhere she would call your name sweetly whenever you were sad or in pain. Always finding candies in the house she would hide in your bag for pleasant surprises through your day between bits of shredded construction paper you’d given her after she’d see you smile in trying at origami when she was little, all you now kept in a glass box on your desk. You now had a path you had chosen and the fear you had assumed not to be an issue seemed worse as to how you would take the first official step on it.

But again you glanced at your phone reading the message from Thranduil,

‘If you’re in the mood for it tomorrow at noon you should give the peach cobbler a try at Mary’s diner.’

To yourself you mumbled, “What is that supposed to mean? Hey the cobbler is good? Or is it a vague offer for a date?” Again you sighed and set the phone down, “Why would he put a specific time though?”

…

The judges will decide (They decide)

The likes of me abide (We abide)

Spectators of the show (Of the show)

Always staying low (Staying low)

The game is on again (On again)

A lover or a friend (Or a friend)

A big thing or a small (Big or small)

The winner takes it all (Takes it all)

 Finally the big day came and after your run in at Mary’s you got your answer as Dis showed up and went from asking about your health before mentioning her emptying spot bringing about a need for a trainee signaling your timid mention of your license. It wasn’t a date but it did lead to a tour of the shop and an appointment for your first day on the job after the races were through.

Racers and horses flooded the town but with it exploded the news that your new friend was going to be giving your idea a chance. There was no terms against it, a fact you reminded your father if, and the giddiness and giggles from you had him smirking in your bounce away seeing your interest in the vet had not waned over the years and had now been given a chance to blossom.

 *

I don't wanna talk

If it makes you feel sad

And I understand, you've come to shake my hand

I apologise

If it makes you feel bad

Seeing me so tense, no self-confidence

 Strutting straight to his assigned pen Tuo passed the curious horses between sneering riders, owners and onlookers and Thranduil joined his family to finalize the details and brush him down readying the saddle he rarely let Thranduil put on him after decades of considering doing just this. Still being the lone Elk rider in the bunch and the topic of all this gossip made his stomach clench, at least until he heard your voice sound.

“Hello Handsome.”

Turning around sharply his brows shot up only to drop in a grin seeing you stroking Tuo’s snout he nuzzled closer to you. Slowly his eyes took in the halter top dress in mint matching your hair tight till your hips where it playfully spun around you in your habitual thinking twists on your feet. Around Tuo Thranduil stepped and greeted you, “Managed to sneak away, Miss Pear?”

With a giggle you held out an apple you asked, “I saw this and wondered if after the race Tuo can have it?”

Thranduil chuckled saying as Tuo took a bite out of the apple making you giggle, “He can’t resist apples. Should help give him a boost if he has a hope for more after.”

You nodded, “I’ll do my best to sneak some more.” Looking to Tuo you stroked his shout as he finished the apple, “You’re going to show them all, aren’t you handsome? Just how marvelous you are.”

Proudly he chortled in return and you glanced at Thranduil when he spoke, “You know, when I do win, I’ll be getting a ticket to the Champion’s Ball,” His hand patted Tuo’s side in inching closer pretending his heart wasn’t racing faster in doing so, “I know you’ve wanted to see what it’s like. We could go together, if you’re up for it?”

Your name was called and before you hurried away you grinned up at him, “I can’t wait.” Looking to Tuo again you flashed him a wink saying, “See you in the winner’s circle. I’ll keep your roses ready for you.” He chortled again as you stepped away leaving Thranduil grinning madly.

 But you see, the winner takes it all

The winner takes it all

 From the inspection of the starting gates led to Thranduil’s hands clenching on the reigns before the starting jolt in their opening. All at once from an even two strides Tuo shot ahead and his steady lead only grew until you and your fight to hold back your giddy giggles ended in Thranduil’s hop down to guide Tuo to the waiting ring of roses to be strung around his neck for the pictures to follow the interview you gave.

 So the winner takes it all

And the loser has to fall

Throw a dice cold as ice

Way down here someone dear

Takes it all has to fall

It seems plain why complain

The others all frowned in your choice winning. Gown chosen suiting his choice of tail bearing tux demanded for the occasion. Pictures were taken and into the Ball you had strode. An introductory speech was given and that was the last demanded of Thranduil leaving you and him in your seats. Not much was offered for dancing leaving you all mostly in your seats for small talk between a team of magicians hired for the night and leaning in closer to his side you whispered, “No wonder they don’t brag about the Ball.” Making him chortle and rub his face trying not to laugh any louder and draw attention to you both. Peering up at you he caught your smirk, “I’m in the mood for nachos, you?”

Smirking back he asked, “You ever bowled in a ball gown?” You shook your head with a giggle and his hand claimed yours to cradle, “Then My Lady, you have not lived. Allow me to right this egregious error.” Stealing a peck on your knuckles on the hand he held in your sneaking out.

So off you went and drawing the eye of those in town passing by the tiny bowling alley seemed to gather quite a crowd seeing you both giggle your ways back to giddiness between snacks and games and trips to the attached arcade for tickets and prizes. Nerves seemed to vanish as nudged into the photo booth by a bargain claiming Dam onto his lap you stumbled and in a flash a nose scrunching kiss was captured and soon followed by a more sensible one backed by a wall of roses.

All –

@himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess, @aspiringtranslator​, @sweeticedtea​, @ggbbhehe4455​, @thegreyberet​, @patanghill17​, @jesgisborne​, @curvestrology​, @alishlieb​, @jogregor​, @armitageadoration​, @fizzyxcustard​, @here2have-fun​, @lilith15000​, @marvels-ghost​, @catthefearless​, @imjusthereforthereads​, @c-s-stars​

Hobbit/LotR – @abiwim​, @jotink78​, @pastelhexmaniac​

X Thranduil - @evyiione​, @sweetlytenacious25​, @tigereyesf​, @pastelhexmaniac

[missytearex]

It’s @lululawrence‘s birthday! Which means it’s the perfect time to read some of her fics! Sus is ridiculously talented and churns out fic like nobody’s business, so the list of fics she’s written in the last year is ridiculously long. Thanks for blessing us with your talent, Sus!

Under 10k fics are under the cut. Enjoy!

You Don't Care About Me (One More Night)

tomlinshaw | 60k

the one where Louis pines for Harry and Nick helps ease his way into figuring himself out through a friends with benefits sort of arrangement. Things quickly turn complicated.

You Try To Be Everything (I Need)

larry | 36k

Wars, and rumours of wars, were nothing new for the world in the twenty-fourth century. The fighting had evolved over the years, and rarely did it involve traditional weapons. A group most widely known as the Southern Powers gained strength amongst portions of the western European continent and spread quickly.

There was a fight the Southern Powers didn’t expect coming from the north of England, though. Resistance came in the form of an organised underground; a group comprised of people with the Touch that did the best they could to enforce a line that would not be crossed. Slowly, that line was moved from the Channel to boundaries further and further north. It seemed only a matter of time before the Southern Powers took over everywhere.

Until that time, people did the best they could to live their lives in some semblance of normality. For Louis Tomlinson, that sense of normality was about to change when his best friend, Harry Styles, goes missing.

Louis embarks on the journey of a lifetime where he uses his newly developed abilities to search for his friend, even when it takes him to places he never thought he would see while surmounting trials he never could have imagined.

(Something's Been) Hiding In My Heart

larry | 25k

a Sweet Home Alabama AU where Louis comes home to finally get his divorce from Harry finalized so he can move on with his life. Alderford holds its own set of challenges when he returns, but by facing his past maybe he can find the healing he so desperately needs.

It's the Climb

larry | 25k

The Hannah Montana AU where Louis is a world famous punk rock singer with a stage name of William and Jay drags him back to Tennessee for the summer. In her attempt for Louis to get back to his roots, he just so happens to reconnect with Harry, and things never go quite as Louis expects them to.

Nowhere to Land

larry | 23k

the sequel to Back to How it Was where other Harry has returned to himself with only foggy memories of the past few weeks. He finds himself with a new workout routine, recordings of interviews he doesn't fully remember choosing to do in the first place, and a budding relationship with a man he remembers from the X Factor but doesn't really know now. Doing the best he can, Harry tries to put the pieces together of what happened and where he's going to go from here.

Like a Lighthouse On The Coast (I Need You)

larry | 19k

the one where Louis has all the pressure of his sophomore album and none of the inspiration, but maybe all he needs is someone like Harry Styles to turn all that around.

I Just Wanna Give You Love

larry | 18k

the one where the world is in black and white until you meet your soulmate, but Harry is world famous and Louis is...well...not.

(That's Just) The Way I Am

larry | 17k

There was no way Harry would want to bring anyone out for an introductory trip like this. The fighting between himself and his father was sure to be be worse than usual and father still hadn’t accepted Harry’s pansexual identity. Harry wasn’t dating anyone at the moment, but at this point he almost wished he were dating a man just so he could incense his father.

The door jingled, pulling Harry’s attention away from the window and to the man who had just walked into the cafe.

Now that was exactly who Harry should try bringing home. The man was dressed in ratty black skinny jeans and what was obviously a self cut tank top that used to be a Stone Roses t-shirt. His black chucks had holes in the canvas, indicating exactly how old they were, and his maroon beanie wasn’t in much better shape.

The more Harry studied the man’s smoky eyeliner rimmed eyes and the lipstick he had swiped on to match his hat, the more Harry started hatching an idea. What if Harry really did bring this man home?

Can I Have Your Attention, Please?

tomlinshaw | 16k

the one where Nick develops a crush on the man whose bag he accidentally grabs at the airport. It is obviously just a coincidence that the man shares a first name with the pop star whose Instagram Nick lusts after as well.

This is a Rainbow War

larry | 15k

the one where Harry's a famous singer, Louis is part of his road crew, and after Harry gives Louis a special assignment regarding rainbow flags, things maybe turn out a little differently than either of them planned.

You Turned Up (Like a Friend of Mine)

larry | 10k

the one where Harry disappears on graduation day only to show up on Louis' door looking exactly the same ten years later. Through a series of strange events, maybe they can finally figure out that they're destined to be together, no matter what.

Hey Look, Ma

larry | 8.8k

the one where Louis is a hybrid who agrees to go on a blind date with his neighbour's colleague's son the same night he literally runs into his dream man. Surely this isn't going to end well... or is it?

Great Minds (They Think Just the Same)

tomlinshaw | 8.2k

the one where in an attempt to get the Breakfast Show back to the number one morning show in the country, the BBC brings on Louis as a co-host with Nick. They only thing is they don't really get along... until they do.

Our Love is Timeless

shiall | 6.2k 

the one where Shawn falls for Niall, who just happens to be a time traveler. The course of true love never did run smooth.

You're Here, Where You Should Be

larry | 5.5k

three years after having last seen her best friend, Louis shows up at the Christmas party Harry's family throws every year. Old feelings might not be as buried as Harry had thought.

Charisma

larry | 5.3k

the one where Harry feeds on awesomeness (possibly literally). Louis is awesome and also angry. They’re probably going to fall in love

Stealing Flowers

larry | 4.2k

the one where Louis pines after the Sexy Stranger on the Subway and almost asks him out. That's when the strange posters start showing up around Brooklyn.

Oh Honey, Honey

larry | 3.6k

the one where Louis pines after Harry, Harry is passionate about helping save the bees, and a late night shopping trip gone wrong doesn't end quite as horribly as Louis imagines.

Just Like Honey

larry | 3.4k 

Louis opened the door and he looked so soft and beautiful. He was in a ratty pair of grey joggers and that was it. Harry had never seen him look so good.

When Harry finally raised his eyes from Louis’ chest, he realised Louis had likely said something.

“Uh,” Harry said, clearing his throat. “Sorry, what did you say?”

Smirking a little, Louis crossed his arms and popped his hip. “I said, ‘Hello, Harry. What brings you here so late on a Saturday?’”

Then his brain kicked in.

“Right, fuck. Hi, Louis. I just wanted to give you this.”

Louis’ brows creased as Harry held the honey out to him. Taking the jar from Harry, he said, “Honey?”

Nodding, Harry said, “Yep. Hope you have a great night!”

Fisting his hands at his sides in frustration, Harry left the building as quickly as he could.

A Taste of Honey

grouis | 3.3k

the one where Louis has been pining after Greg ever since he started his job. Greg randomly showing up at his flat with a jar of honey might be just the push Louis needs to finally talk to the man.

Yellow, Is It Me You're Looking For?

grouis | 3.2k

the one where Louis has pined after Greg for what seems like ages, but when Greg renames the company's paint colors, something might finally be ready to give.

Honey, Honey, How You Thrill Me

garry | 2.8k 

the one where Harry pines after fellow Radio 1 DJ Greg James but doesn't know how to start a conversation with him...until he gets the needed inspiration.

Like Honey to the Bee

tomlinshaw | 2.7k

the one where Nick has been trying to find a way to get past the banter stage with Louis for ages, and honey might be just what he needs to finally do so.

If You Want To Be Loved

grouis | 0.4k

Greg can't sleep. For once, he doesn't really mind.

BONUS drabble collections:

Drabbles for Harry's Birthday Drive 2019

multi | 24k

Each chapter is a different drabble dedicated to a person who donated to Harry's birthday drive! The prompt requested as well as the pairing are in the author’s note for each chapter as well. There are multiple pairings due to various pairings being requested by the donors, so please pay attention to that information in each chapter! Pairings include Harry/Louis, Zayn/Liam,, Grimmy/Louis, Greg/Louis, Zayn/Louis, and Niall/Shawn.

It Was Only a Kiss

multi | 15k

I participated in a kiss prompt drabble challenge on Tumblr, and ended up writing thirty-three drabbles! Because of the amount all for one challenge, I decided to post them on AO3 to save them. Each prompt exists on its own without relation to others, so pick and choose as you like.

[spooks-can-write]

The Babysitter

Nestor x Reader

Summary: Emily hires you to babysit Cristobal (this is apart from the actual tv series events) and you and Nestor have some...tension. im bad at summaries ok.

Warnings: no smut just tension lmao. Cursing. Some predatory behavior, nothing beyond that.

Word count: idk tbh its longER tho bc i cant be short im s o r r y.

Hope yall enjoy 💞

The door chimed as you walked into the coffee shop, immediatley seeing Emily beam as she saw you made you loose a tension you didnt know you were holding. After leaving your last job abruptly you had been busy trying to get your shit together and through the struggle you were glad to take a break to see your old babysitter and childhood friend Emily.

"Hey (y/n)!" She stood up, you noted motherhood suited her well. She seemed more at peace now.

"Hey Em!" You looked down to see Cristobal sweetly sleeping in his noteably expensive stroller.

"So..." she seemed eager "I was talking with Miguel and we know you're...well...looking for a new job and place to stay so we thought it'd be perfect if you stayed with us as Cristobals full time nanny."

You were caught off gaurd to say the least "Oh, uh that does sounds great but i dont have any experience really."

"Dont worry well figure it out and ill be there in the beginning till you settle in. Trust me."

You thought you didnt have many other places to go either way and being in a stable enviornment would be good for a change. Fuck it.

"When can i start?"

Nannying was going better than you thought. It helped that Cristobal was more than well behaved but also you kind of had a knack for it. Not to mention the mansion Emily lived in. The only problem from time to time was that asshole with the cornrows. He always blatantly ignored you or just stared at you until you left the room. You thought long and hard about what you did to piss him off and couldnt think of a single thing, so you decided he was just an asshole.

You needed to check with Miguel about taking Cristobal to the park, going to his office you just found Nestor standing next to an empty desk.

"Where is Miguel?"

He didnt respond.

"Where.Is.Miguel?" You ask with more attitude than you meant.

He blinked like he didnt understand.

"Nestor!" You raised your voice

"He stepped out. He'll be back in 10." His calm tone didnt match yours. You instantly felt embaressed to have been rude. Shit.

"Thanks" you walked out wishing you had been more calm

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

When you walked in he looked up, thinking it was miguel, to see you. You were wearing that new top he liked. It hugged your curves. The sun was hitting your face making you glow.

Fuck you were beautiful. He wanted to shove the chair out of the way and grab you and kiss you more than he ever wanted anything he knew he couldnt have.

Shit. You looked mad.

"Nestor!"

He gathered his thoughts

He watched you walk out. His stomach twisted that you seemed mad at him. Fuck.

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

They were supposed to be gone all day so you were walking around the house, bouncing and humming a hymn to Cristobal in your pjs. He slowly fell asleep as you walked around the stairs to the den, you stopped dead.

You were met with the eyes of Miguel, Devante, Nestor, and a fair skinned man with a lot of jewlery and a shit eating grin as his eyes obviosuly roamed your body. You were just wearing a little bit too short of shorts and a tank top that cristobals sleepy hand was tugging down. You felt your stomach twist and cheeks flush.

"Sorry-I I didnt know anyone was home, he was getting fussy so.." you trailed off as Miguel stood up giving you a look you couldnt read. You looked over to Nestor and he looked upset.

"Dont worry mija we were just finishing up." Miguel said, like he meant it.

"Actually" the strange man stood, still undressing you with his eyes. It was starting to piss you off.

"Miguelito i think we should wait till my party next saturday to...finalize this deal huh?" He said with that same grin.

"Por supuesto" miguel said as he ushered the man to the other side of the room, talking to each other in spanish too quiet for you to decipher.

You felt stuck in your place. You focused on Cristobals breath against your chest. Trying to let it calm you. You noted more of the man. He looked dangerous. Emily told you Miguel was a international businessman and you believed her till you came here. You werent stupid enough to ask exactly what he did but you also werent stupid enough to believe he was just a businessman either.

The men came back and stood in front of you for a beat.

"Hey listen im really sorry i thought everyone was gone-" you started

"No worries chiquita, but do you have a passport?" Devante asked, eyebrow raised

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

"Well if im being whored out i mine as well look good right?" You said smoothing down the soft rose gold satin dress as Emily and Dita sang your praises.

"How many times do i have to tell you (y/n) he just told Miguel he wanted to see you at the party, hes not going to do anything and we won't let him anyways." Emily reassured you, doing your hair.

"You're a part of the family now mija, this is our job as the women." You knew that comment was true, you saw it with your own eyes and that made it sting even more.

You were doing it for the sake of Emily and her family you told yourself. Plus you did look amazing in the dress.

You tugged at the zipper of the dress, it wouldn't budge.

"Hey em, can you-" you turned to see nestor at the door.

"I can if you want" his voice was gentle. Not that he was ever callous with you but it felt deliberate.

"Yeah sure" you half whispered, surprised it got caught in your throat.

He walked over. You moved your hair in front as he gently pulled the zipper up. Touching it when he was done. You turned.

"Listo?" He asked

You nodded, following. Feeling a flutter in your chest.

The drive to mexico was beautiful and serene. You mind did wander to Nestor and how sweet he was to you. You wondered if it was a fluke. Maybe he felt sorry for you. You tried not. to feel sorry for yourself.

You arrived to what looked like a castle. It had the guards with machine guns and everything. You found humor in that, as the situation sank in, you weren't scared.

It you were honest with yourself even when Nestor was cold to you, you always felt safe with him.

You all got out of the car, you last, as Nestor helped you onto the uneven stones. It'd been a minute since you wore heels.

"Dont worry." He leaned down to talk close to you, squeezing your hand. You met his smile.

The music was loud as you walked in. People were dancing and the mariachis were amazing. You were thankful to sit next to emily and dita. You felt eyes on you from men and their wives. You tugged your dress up. Definitley not the most revealing at the party but apparently it was enough.

"Its because you are not married" Dita told you, a comforting hand on your shoulder. "They are jealous" She smiled. It didnt make you feel better. You tried to focus on the drink in front of you.

The man from the house yelled joyfully and drunkenly in spanish and started walking toward the table. The men quickly stood up and met him halfway. Ushering him into a private room smoothly. Not before you made eye contact and he winked. You held your shudder.

The night went on and you found yourself almost having fun and forgetting the dangerous people around you.

You went to the bathroom as Devante and Dita danced.

You were looking for the bathroom when you felt a heavy hand on your waist. You jumped and turned. It was the man.

"Hello pretty women" he said with a accent slurred with the smell of strong alcohol that pinched your nose.

You backed up to find yourself against a wall. You started to look for a way out but his hand got harder on your waist, moving to hold your hip.

He leaned in speaking breathy spanish against your ear you couldnt understand on your best day. You took the opportunity to side step, noticing his henchmen about 10 ft away watching, glocks on their hips. The situation sank your stomach. You wouldnt be getting out of here.

"(Y/n) ive been looking everwhere for you." Dita shuffled past the man grabbing your arm and pulling you away. "Miguel needs to talk with you." She said louder than necesarry.

You were at a near jog down the hall. She stopped and turned you when you were safely away but not into the main area.

"Are you okay mija?" She held your hand. You felt tears welling.

"Men like that will ways exist and here, you will find them in abundance. It's important to stay close to us. They prey on the lone wolf okay?" You nodded. She wiped the tear you didnt know you shed.

She stayed with you till you calmed down.

"Brave face mija" she said as you walked back into the room, back to the table. Nestor and miguel were there looking directly at you, worried, trying to read your face. You forced a smile. Understanding what being in this family meant. It wasnt good. It wasnt bad. It was just your life now.

Nestor quickly sat next to you. Emily eyeing you, sympathetically. They were all too smart to not put together what happened. She touched your thigh, you flinched. She removed it. You could see she made a heartbroken face out the corner of your eyr but you couldnt bring yourself to meet her eyes.

"Im okay i promise. Just..shook up" you were honest. She nodded. You knew she felt terrible.

The night continued. Nestor wanted to kill him and he knew how he would do it. He shared looks with Miguel. He shook his head. Not yet. The second you walked out, holding ditas arm like it was the only thing keeping you up his stomach twisted. Rage ran down his back.

When he didnt see that bastard Diego and didnt see you, his mind raced and he was about to go down the hall to kill that fuck when Dita grabbed him.

"You can't. It has to be me." She didnt have to explain. He knew why. It killed him to turn around and walk away from the situation as his mind let dark thoughts in of what he was doing to you.

He kept looking at you, he could see you trying to be brave but under the table your leg was shaking and you were fidgeting with your hands.

"Come outside with me baby" he leaned over so only you could hear him.

You looked over at him standing with his hand out. You were thankful. Did he just call you baby? It sounded good coming out of his mouth.

You took his hand. It was calloused and strong. It calmed you down almost instantly as he led you outside. When people saw him coming they almost fell over themselves to move out of your way.

The cool air felt good on your flushed cheeks. He let go of your hand and led you to the balcony. You leaned on it, embracing the night air.

"Its really beautiful out here, all things considered." You chuckled.

He looked worringly at you, "Thank you Nestor." You grabbed his arm.

Fuck, his name sounded so good in your mouth.

"You're welcome." He watched as you leaned against the balcony. He wanted to touch you, tell you, youre beautiful but after what happened thats not what you needed and he knew it.

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

You stayed like that for awhile, in each other's silence. The muffled sound of the mariachis relaxing you.

You felt your eyes getting heavy.

"Dont get tired now its not even 1am yet." You looked over, surprised he noticed.

"Maybe we can just stay out here all night then." You smiled at him.

Fuck he would do just about anything you asked. Crawl on glass in the snow, change your oil, anything as long as you kept smiling at him like that.

"But it's probably best to go inside right?" You sighed.

"I think so."

You grabbed his arm as you walked in, holding onto him and keeping your eyes on the table.

Time passed and you struggled to stay awake, you leaned on Nestor's shoulder without thinking, you froze. He moved over to make you more comfortable, moving his arm around you but not too much. You snuggled in. Damn he smelled good too. You closed your eyes, feeling people looking. Fuck em.

You were stirred up by Nestor rubbing your upper arm "hey, hey, time to go."

You stirred, never really falling asleep but not present for the end. Everyone was filing out slowly.

Nestor was looking over to Miguel and Diego. He shook Miguel's hand. He didn't look away as he put his coat over your shoulders and walked you all out.

You noticed Emily smirking at you, making eyes at Nestor's jacket around you.

You tried to open your mouth

"-Ah." She cut you off. "You don't need to tell me anything." She smiled.

You smiled back, happily getting in the warm car and doozing on and off on the way home, catching Nestor look at you in the rearview mirror made you blush.

You all made your way inside as you felt the emotional fatigue of the day in your legs.

Nestor was waiting by the front door. Not for you it seemed. Just taking a moment.

"Can i be out here with you for awhile?" You asked, ready for him to say anything.

"Yeah."

"Thanks for tonight, for taking care of me."

"I know you can take care of yourself (y/n). I just didn't want you to feel alone out there." He spoke softly, sitting next to you.

You stared at his face for the first time it seemed. He was beautiful. You dared to glance down at his lips.

He followed your eyes. He wouldn't move qn inch on you tonight. He didnt want to chance pushing you but fuck did he want you so bad.

You weren't used to initiating, you could see he wanted you but wouldnt move. You closed the distance, stopping just short to see if he'd react.

His head just barely titled up towards you, you took it and kissed him, you being the one to take control felt good. You wondered if he was usually like this.

He was gentle and sweet and you found yourself appreciating it tonight. You grabbed his face and you deepened the kiss.

You felt brave and stood up and sat down to straddle him. He grunted in the back of his throat as you grabbed his braid he moved his hands to hold your thigh and ass.

The kiss slowed down and he smiled into it. You laughed, dropping your head into his shoulder, touching your lips.

"Wow uh-" you got off him, laughing with him.

"Yeah" he laughed, grabbing your hand. "Let's go inside."

He dropped you off at your room which felt cute and a little ridiculous. It was fitting.

Words failed you and it seemed to him, as well.

"Goodnight." He said softly again.

"Good night Nestor." You replied closing your door, silently congratulating yourself for not dragging him into your room.

Whatever, give it a week. You smiled.

[sinsbymanka]

Thank you for the prompt @tuffypelly​! I needed the practice writing Modern!Hawke and Varric!

Prompt: “Don’t you remember the go karting incident?”

Someone broke into Varric’s apartment.

Again.

He ran through the list of usual suspects and began crossing them out one by one. Magic was clearly involved, the leftover energy gave him a bit of a shock when he grabbed his doorknob. So Rivaini was off the hook. No sign of blood or whiff of sulfur, which meant Daisy probably hadn’t come by to water the plants she insisted he needed. 

That left three witches. Sunshine would have patiently waited outside, so she could be discounted. Anders... well, it could have been Blondie, but somehow Varric doubted it. Blondie hardly ever came to visit anymore, and never uninvited. His friend was too busy working himself into a frothing rage over the templars in the undercity most of the time.

So. Hawke.

Varric shoved the door open and peered around his tidy apartment. Sure, he preferred the bustling arts district to the ritzy section his brother favored, but Varric was no starving artist. Everything screamed comfort, from the plush, worn leather sofas to the rich, mahogany bookshelves lined with his eclectic collection. His laptop sat, undisturbed, on his coffee table with his empty mug from the morning still beside it. 

On the other couch, however, the Champion of Kirkwall sat in a nest of her own making. She had wrapped herself up in his comforter like the apartment was freezing, but she hadn’t thought to turn on the heat, which she was more than capable of doing. She had a takeout container opened in front of her, chopsticks impaled in half eaten noodles, and a cartoon featuring brightly colored, implausibly proportioned women playing on his TV. 

“Hawke, if you didn’t save me an eggroll I’m kicking you out.” 

She didn’t turn from her chosen entertainment, but she waved in the direction of his kitchenette. “I brought you a whole damn meal. And beer. You’re welcome.” 

“What are you watching?” He asked, shuffling off his coat and throwing it over the counter. He swaggered to the fridge and opened it, withdrawing the still lukewarm container. Hawke hadn’t been here long, then. 

“Fuck if I know.” Hawke tipped her head to the side like an over-inquisitive parrot. “It’s on one of those strange Nevarran channels you get.” 

He opened the container and peered into the half-eaten remains of his portion of the takeout. He glared playfully at Hawke, who’d finally turned to watch him as he discovered her treachery. 

“I was hungry.” She defended with a sly grin, folding her arms on the back of the couch and resting her head on them. “Where were you?” 

“Tracking down those ingredients Blondie wanted for his ‘make my demon cat less crazy’ spell. Do you know what Sela Petrae is made of?” He muttered darkly. Hawke grinned evilly. 

“Why do you think I said I’d help him find the Drakestone?” 

“I hate you.” He groaned, rubbing his forehead. 

Hawke smiled, suddenly sweet. “No you don’t.” 

He didn’t, but he wasn’t going to admit it after finding out he’d spent all morning asking for crystallized urine. He grabbed his own chopsticks from the counter and ambled over to Hawke on the couch, collapsing beside her. 

“You worried about him?” Hawke asked, slim fingers worrying the frayed edge of his comforter. 

“Nah.” Varric lied easily. “He’ll be fine. He’s just having a mood.” 

“Yeah.” Hawke lied through her teeth too. “I’m not worried either.” 

They needed a change of subject. Varric gestured with his shoddy utensils at the TV screen. “Can’t afford your own cable?” 

“Like you’re paying for cable, serah.” Hawke huffed, settling back into the cushions and resting her head on his shoulder, an easy, light pressure that felt as precious as gold. 

Varric waited, spinning the silence out until Hawke finally relented. “I’ve been having nightmares again.” 

Nightmares. Cards spelling out portents of doom. The same refrain now for weeks. Kirkwall lurching into the next disaster, but none of them any wiser as to what it was. Hawke stared, unseeing, at the TV, while she recounted her dream. “I’m at city hall, standing on top of that awful dome with the naked statue. But the statue isn’t there, it’s me. I’m encased in bronze just like it is, and the metal is melting, scorching my skin. I have wings, but the feathers are falling past my fingertips and I know I’m going to fall. The world is on fire underneath me and I... I’m watching from the center of the flames.” 

“One question.” Varric couldn’t bear to see the strain weighing her down, making her look old beyond her years. Shit, she was just twenty-five. Too young for all this, by far. “That statue on top of city hall is naked Hawke. Out of author’s curiosity...” 

She laughed, like he knew she would, swatting him with the edge of his own blanket. “You’re awful. My premonitions of doom are jokes to you, is that it?” 

They weren’t, he’d seen too many of them come true, but he also knew by now they couldn’t stop them. Worrying themselves into an early grave wouldn’t help. May as well go laughing. 

“Andraste, Varric. Get me out of this place.” She swung the blanket off the couch and stood, a bundle of nervous energy. “I’ll text Fen and Merrill. You grab Bela. Let’s go do something fun.” 

“Hanged Man is right downstairs.” Varric offered. “I think the special tonight is their own special brand of watered down...” 

“For fuck’s sake. No, I don’t want to drink.” She babbled, wrapping strands of dark hair around her fingers. “Let’s do something exciting. Oh! The aquarium, down at the harbor. Let’s...” 

“Rivaini’s banned.” Varric smirked. “Someone caught her teaching a man to fish behind the shark tank, if you catch my drift. Besides, Broody will complain the whole time about the smell.” 

“Ugh. Fine.” Hawke sighed. “The Rose has...” 

“A two for one special for templars right now.” Varric advised cheerfully, careful to note the tension that immediately rose in Hawke’s shoulders. “Best leave Daisy out of it if we go there.” 

“Alright.” She huffed. “The amusement park...” 

Varric held her gaze and raised one solitary eyebrow. “Don’t you remember the go-karting incident?” 

Hawke bristled and crossed her arms over her chest, staring down at him. “That whole thing was blown wildly out of proportion.” 

“I’m still paying bribes for that mess so Aveline doesn’t find out. The fact that you didn’t get tossed in the Gallows that night is a miracle.” 

Hawke waved his concerns away dismissively. “Details.” 

“We’re emphatically not welcome at the amusement park, Hawke. Cops will be called. We’ll have to explain ourselves to Aveline. I’ll develop ulcers.” Varric bemoaned. 

“Your chest hair will wilt and fall out. Dogs will howl in the street.” Hawke collapsed back on the couch, dramatically, half on top of him. She nearly knocked his noodles from his hand. “Varric, I’m dying of boredom. It’s an ignoble end for the champion of Kirkwall. Do something. Anything.” 

He sighed wearily and sat his container on the table while Hawke’s eyes glimmered expectantly. He drummed his fingers on the table lightly, rearranging his schedule in his head. “Bianca.” 

“Varric?” The AI answered brightly. Hawke perked up immediately. 

“I need you to make arrangements to rent a car under one of my pseudonyms. A fast one, something sexy. We’ll bring it back late Sunday night.” Varric rubbed his stubbled jaw thoughtfully. 

“Modified for Dwarven use?” Bianca chirped. 

Varric looked at Hawke. “You gonna drive?” 

“If it’s sexy, of course I will.” Hawke purred playfully. “Where are we going?” 

“I’m gonna let the humans take the wheel, Bianca.” Varric stretched his arms above his head. “Work on cancelling whatever shit is on my calendar tomorrow.” 

He wrapped one heavy arm around Hawke’s shoulders and gave her a comforting squeeze. “We’ll go wherever you want. Caveat is, I’ve gotta be back on Monday.”

“Important meetings to avoid?” She teased, pulling her phone out of her pocket. 

“You know it.” He yawned into his other fist. “There’s a music festival in Ostwick on Saturday. Casinos in Markham are always a good time. I’d even let you drag me to Starkhaven.”

“If we go to Starkhaven, we’ve gotta take Bethy and Sebastian. I could use a damn break from their canoodling.” Hawke tapped away at her phone. “Who’s playing in Ostwick?” 

“Fuck if I know.” He was far too old to be keeping track of that shit. 

“You’re so helpful.” Hawke sighed. “Bianca?” 

“Chantry Oblivion, The Infamous Nugs, Refuse Project, and Tool of Anarchy.” Bianca offered. “There are smaller, lesser known bands at side stages.” 

“Ugh.” Hawke wrinkled her nose. “Markham it is then.” 

“Too much heavy metal?” Varric picked his chopsticks back up with his left hand.

“If I wanted to listen to people screaming I’d go to the Gallows and stand between Orsino and Meredith.” Hawke grumbled. “Bela’s in. So is Merrill.” 

Of course Rivaini was in. She’d be at the door any second, bag already packed. Varric shoveled another bite of noodles into his mouth and watch as Hawke looked up, eyes fastening on the windows lining his apartment, the ones looking out onto the broad swathe of shops and galleries. Her face went slack. 

“You should put a piano there, Varric.” She mumbled. 

He nearly choked on his mouthful of noodles. “What? For stone’s sake, why? Rivaini would just be bringing men in here whenever she wanted the experience of fucking on it instead of making the trek to your place.” 

Hawke shook her head, frowning, before dropping her head back to her phone. “I don’t know.” She sighed, rubbing her temple. “It was a thought. Something with Ostwick. It’s gone now.” 

Thank Andraste for that. Hawke resumed her grin and punched him lightly in the shoulder. “C’mon then. Let’s pack up your chest hair and go.” 

[ghost-nabbers-imagines]

Larry x florist reader

I turned our closed sign over to where the Open side was facing the street. The sunshine felt warm and happy as it shone down on me bringing our store sign out front. I wasnt sure if it was the warm sun, the fresh air, or being surrounded by flowers but today felt like a good day. Afterall I did get to spend my Friday caring to beautiful flowers at Miss. Nancy's Flower Shop. I had started working here at the age of 16 and just stuck with it, so when Miss. Nancy retired she left me as head florist.

It had just turned ten and the shop was fully ready for customers, and the flowers had been tended to. Once I got the radio flipped on I took a seat at the register and opened up my book. A few older ladies came in to buy some flowers but that was it so far. By the time three fifteen had rolled around I was so lost in a particularly interesting part of my book that I had completely missed the bell ringing as a customer entered the store.

"Uh hello?" A deep almost stone sounding voice asked making me jump from shock. I looked up to see a tall muscular man with long brown hair, big brown eyes, a longer nose, and dressed in a torn up SF tank top with ripped skinny jeans on. I recognized the man for two reasons, one of which was because he lived in my building I think just a floor above mine, and the second being he was in a local band that had gotten pretty popular. "Sorry for scaring you dude but I need help picking out some flowers." He chuckled smirking at me. I blushed standing up and brushing down the apron I wore over my clothes. "Of course sorry about that." I said with a smile. "Its no problem my friend Todd is the same way if he's reading a good book." He shrugged. The two of walked over to where the flowers were kept.

"So what kind of flowers are we looking for?" I asked while adjusting the pot of a sunflower. "Well I'm visiting my mom tonight and she's been a bit under the weather. What flowers are good for like a get well soon kinda thing?" He asked observing the large floral collection. "Gerbera daisies are perfect for a get well soon bouquet. You have the option of normal white dasies which is just as lovely or we have several prepared bouquets of multicolored ones. The morning sun bouquet is probably my personal favorite." I informed him grabbing the bouquet I had made that morning.

"Its perfect!" He said his eyes lighting up excitedly. I couldn't help but giggle at his excitement. "This one is fifty dollars but of course we do have other options depending on your budget. I said walking with him back to the register counter. "No these are perfect no amount of money is too much for my mom. She deserves something nice." He said genuinely. "Wow your mom's lucky to have someone so sweet." I beamed carefully wrapping up the flowers in the paper placing them gently in a big case. "Shes the coolest man she makes my friends feel like family, she feeds me all the time when I'm there, and she even supports my crazy rockstar job." He said with an appreciative smile. "This box should keep them safe till you see her tonight just make sure they dont get too smushed or anything." I said handing him the flowers.

He paid for the bouquet and left happily. Although I was happy he found such a nice boquet I was kinda disappointed to see him leave. The next week went by pretty quickly and soon it was another beautiful Saturday afternoon and I had done all my shopping for the day. When i returned to my apartment there was a bouquet of flowers in front of my door. Setting down my bags I picked up the package admiring it.

I recognized the boquet from the shop, it was the lavendar garden boquet that had white Roses, lavender daisy poms, Peruvian lilies, and lavender carnations. Smiling I looked around the hallway seeing no sign of who would have left me such a thoughtful gift. I picked up the card seeing there was a handwritten message.

Dear (y/n), sorry you probably recognize the flowers but I wanted to get you a beautiful gift and your shop has the best in state. I know this probably seems random but I see you in the lobby and in the halls all the time and your beauty has completely captured me. To quote some chick named Claudia Adrienne Grandi “If I had a single flower for every time I think about you, I could walk forever in my garden.” sincerely, your secret admirer.

I smiled my face warming with a blush. Who could possibly think such sweet thoughts of me? Picking up the rest of my stuff I entered the apartment putting the beautiful flowers in a vase of water. I couldn't help but keep returning my stare to them. Picking up the card I reread the message again and again smiling like a fool the while time. The handwriting had a sense of familiarity to it but I couldn't place who. The way it was written almost reminded me of Larry and the way he spoke but it was impossible that a man who travelled the world with more female groupies than the Beatles had would ever want a florist from his hometown.

That next Wednesday I was sitting at the register tapping my pen against the counter. It had been a pretty slow day and my mind kept going back to my secret admirer. That's when a thought popped into my head. The flowers had been purchase here, so if the person used a credit card there information would be on the receipt. Jumping up from my chair I began flipping through our receipts from this month till I found the one for my flowers. Sure enough the person had paid with a card. I read through the receipt my eyed landing on the name Larry Johnson at the bottom.

When I entered my apartment building I was still smiling like crazy and the thought of Larry Johnson having a crush on me. I couldn't help but keep thinking of it all day. I wanted to say something to him but wasnt sure what. I mean he didn't even know that I figured it out yet. After dinner I remembered that I still had to go down and get my mail since thinking about Larry had distracted me. When I got to the lobby I noticed Larry grabbing his own mail. We exchanged smiles as i made my way to my mailbox.

Despite my shaking hands I was able to unlock my mailbox and get out the contents. "(Y/n)?" A voice asked that I knew didnt belong to Larry. I turned to see my ex Derek and his girlfriend Lylah. "Hi Derek." I sighed facing them both. "This is Lylah although I'm sure you remember her from the office parties you went to. We just got back in town from a beauty competition Lylah won." He informed me both of them giving me an obnoxious smile. I listened to them "catching up" with me for an agonizingly long half hour before I escaped to my apartment. Basically he just kept talking about how beautiful Lylah was compared to how I looked. I stared in my mirror poking at every flaw I saw frowning.

I still felt just as bad the next morning opting for a hoodie and some paint stained leggings. Work was tortureously long and slow due to the rain but I made it through and got home. When I made it to my door another boquet was sitting at my doorstep. This time it was a gorgeous sunflower pink rose bouquet. Gently picking it up I grabbed the card.

Dear (Y/n), trying to find bouquets even close to as beautiful as you are is impossible. As beautiful as the bouquets that you make are you are too beautiful for even words or flowers to even compare. This was the most beautiful in the shop so I bought it. I'm sure you're confused but I got them from the other sales associate when you went on break. “A rose can never be a sunflower, and a sunflower can never be a rose. All flowers are beautiful in their own way, and that’s like people too.” never forget you're beautiful. Despite what any asshole might say. Sincerely, your secret admirer.

I felt tears fall down my cheeks reading his kind words. I wanted so badly to run to him and thank him and kiss him I knew I couldn't. He wanted to remain anonymous for a reason. That and I had no idea what apartment he was in.

The next week went by and I was feeling much better emotionally but unfortunately on Friday I woke up feeling extremely ill. I knew it wasnt anything serious just bad (headache/cramps). I suffered through Thursday relying on medicine but on Friday I was in no state to be working. I decided to spend the day in my baggy Sanitys Fall shirt with underwear underneath and no pants. Curled up with a blanket I turned on Netflix and fell asleep on the couch.

About two hours later I woke up parched and hungry. Wrapping the blanket around my shoulders I stumbled into the kitchen pouring some water. There was some shuffling coming from my door telling me someone was on the other side. It had to be Larry with more flowers so I decided to brave and open the door. When I opened the door he looked up at me embarrassed a blush on his face. "Oh (y/n) h-hey. I was just bringing these by um because you're sick and you said daisies were get well soon flowers and and-" he paused letting out a chuckle. "You knew didnt you?" He asked seeing the smile on my face. I nodded happily before speaking up. "Kiss me." I whispered in a hoarse voice. He smiled widely leaning down and pressing a gentle soft kiss to my lips. I kissed back wrapping my arms around him. When we pulled apart he handed me the flowers following me into the house. He made sure he spent the rest of the day taking care of me.

~Lex💛

[stormquill]

Misconduct, Ch. 12 [Soldier 76/Reader]

You have an extremely inappropriate crush on your commanding officer. Maybe if you work hard enough, you’ll stop having feelings.

Credits: Collaboration with @antiloquist. The Widowmaker Line voiced by @totalspiffage. Follow the blog / AO3 mirror @miss-conduct.

Using the fireman carry on a grown man double your weight and at least a head taller than you was no minor feat. As you held your Commander’s body around your shoulders, blood from his wounded leg now leaking steadily down the front of you, you shuffled your way up the ramp into the waiting dropship, making a mental note to thank Zarya for her training.

You punched the inner hull to pop down a medical table folded into the wall, and you rested him down as carefully as you could.

“Athena?” you snapped, out of breath.

Several nearby devices activated, springing out of the wall at the ends of mechanical arms. One of them performed a full-body scan, while another projected the numbers of his vitals on a mid-air screen. A third device appeared above him, casting a familiar, biotic-yellow glow across his injury.

Athena’s voice sounded from overhead. “The biotic field will control the bleeding, but it appears unable to close the wounds alone. Extraction of foreign matter is needed for full recovery.”

“Should I go in, then?” you asked, already rifling through the first aid shelves for the proper tools. You hadn’t had to perform emergency field surgery in ages, but your knowledge was still there, as was your knee-jerk reaction to get busy before things took a turn for the worst.

“Analyzing...immediate action not required. The interaction between the biotics and the SEP treatment will be enough to keep him stable until landing.”

Your hands fell limp against the shelves. You hung your head, wearily, still catching your breath.

‘SEP treatment.’ You had no idea what that was. You weren’t sure if you wanted to know.

“Vitals are stabilizing. Status: breathing and unresponsive. Please place the Commander in the recovery position and ensure clearance of his airways to prevent fluid or mechanical obstruction of his breathing.”

‘Clearance of his airways.’

You had to remove his mask.

You turned towards him, wiping your brow across the back of your hand. Logic dictated that the hesitation you felt right now was stupid, nonsensical. This was a medical emergency, neither the time nor place for pride; if he were to choke on his own vomit and die in his sleep because you thought seeing his face was a violation of privacy, that would be on you. You doubted he would’ve cared at this point, anyway. Especially not now. Now that you knew.

You just imagined this going differently, somehow.

Adrenaline kept your pulse pounding in your ears, loud and headache-inducing, as if your heart had leapt straight into your skull.

With careful, still-bloodied fingers, you felt along the sides of his mask for the release trigger. The faceplate seperated with a soft click, deactivating the red glow of his visor, and leaving the jawstrap of his mask framed around his face.

And there he was. Overwatch’s original Strike Commander. War hero and international celebrity.

He looked older than you remembered from the posters, his hair and brows having gone from bright blonde to stark white. He had the same strong jawline, now peppered with stubble, and the same slight curve in the bridge of his nose. Deep scars had been slashed across his face, as if the claws of some great predator had taken swipes against him; the thought evoked a memory of Reaper’s talons, black and lethal and a perfect fit.

His lips were slightly parted in his unconsciousness. The ghost of his visor was on your mouth, again, and waves of unease crashed within you at the reminder of how foolish you’d been.

How could you not have seen it?

You adjusted his arms and legs into the recovery position and turned his unconscious body towards the wall.

You do not look upon his face again.

With the Commander’s body secured, the dropship rumbled beneath you during takeoff. You turned to steady yourself on a bar affixed to the wall, and the sight of the figure now sitting up in her holding cell gave you a jolt of surprise.

“Salut,” you offered, meekly, because what else did you say to a deadly brainwashed enemy assassin staring at you from behind glass?

The greeting in her native tongue gave her momentary pause, but she did not look away from you.

“I never touched the Atlantic, did I?” she asked, her voice dark and crisp.

“...you don’t seem surprised.”

“This isn’t new to me, moving from one set of incompetent fools to the next. The only difference is I’m no longer getting paid for it.” Her gaze on you softened, her golden eyes laced with such sudden informality it made you doubt your own safety. “Am I under arrest, chérie?”

You opened your mouth before closing it, again. You didn’t actually know the answer to that question.

She sneered at your silence. “You’re new, aren’t you?”

With your Commander incapacitated, you mentally ran through every security feature aboard the dropship. The multiple panes of heat-strengthened glass surrounding her. The knockout gas lines lining the cell. The sidearm on the wall filled with Commander Amari’s sleep darts.

You made the call and walked, slow and deliberate, towards Amélie’s holding cell.

You hadn’t had a chance to get a proper look at her during the panicked rush of earlier events. She was barefooted and clothed in a white wraparound hospital gown, the colour a stark contrast against the pale blue of her skin. Her untied dark hair was a straight, sleek mess of strands, long enough to bunch around her as she sat. You noticed a tattoo around her right forearm—araignée du soir, cauchemar—a rhyme, playing on an old French expression.

Unblinking and stone-still, she kept her eyes fixed on you as she tracked your gradual approach. You could feel her bristling, the electricity in the air growing with the inches closed between you, but that wasn’t what you wanted at all. Instead, you angled your approach to give her a wider berth, stopping only when you reached the opposite wall, several feet away from her cell.

You sat on the floor. “What’s your name?”

“Don’t speak as if you haven’t read my file.”

“Not your birth name, your real one. The one they won’t tell me.”

You could still feel remnants of the earlier static between you, filling the silence with its sparks.

“Fatale,” she said, finally. “Or, ‘Widowmaker,’ for those who refuse to pronounce it properly.”

“It’s an honour to finally meet the person everyone’s been fighting so hard for.”

“Fraternizing with the enemy will get you no answers from me.”

“You’re not our enemy.”

She sneered, again. “You are new.”

“Let me rephrase,” you offered. “The Commander never spoke of you as an enemy.”

“Oh,” she pouted, making a sardonic, mocking expression of interest, “and how did he speak of me?”

“Like a prisoner of war.”

“And how does it feel to be led by someone that profoundly naive?”

“He may have led me here, but who’s the one half-dead on a table and who’s the one sitting in front of you? I was given a mission to bring you back. And I succeeded.”

“Yes, you have me,” she said, a slow smirk on her lips. “Your grand prize. And you’ll kill me, again. Isn’t that enough?”

“No one’s going to kill you, Fatale,” you said, but you couldn’t even convince yourself that much was true.

Amélie rose to her feet as if lifted by a breeze, her elegant movements pronounced with the grace of a woman in command of every fiber of her being. As she stood tall and stared down at you, a triumphant smile playing at the small curves of her mouth, you were once again struck with the feeling you were in danger.

“I have been killed many times, chérie. I will be born again in the morning.”

She turned her back to you and sat down against the glass of the holding cell, leaving you silent, hopeless, and aching with the inexplicable guilt of having done something wrong.

Reaper’s words accompanied the heartbeat in your head.

There will always be people they need to do their dirty work.

People just like you.

-

Winston, McCree, and Dr. Ziegler were there to greet you when you arrived back at headquarters. The impromptu welcome party wasn’t unexpected, as no mission reports had been filed on the way back; the only updates your team had to go on regarding the status of your assignment were returning flight paths and readings of your vital signs.

So, as you disembarked, their reaction didn’t come as a surprise.

“We—welcome back,” gaped Winston.

“What in the hell happened to you?” McCree asked, loudly.

You hadn’t slept and you looked it, your eyes dark and your line of vision the slightest bit unfocused. You walked down the ramp wearing nothing but cargo pants and a tank top, as your tactical jacket was still wrapped tightly around 76’s thigh to help apply pressure to his still-open wounds. Most noteworthy of all, however, was the blood all over you, now dried and dark; a flaky mess of smears formed a gradient from your fingers to your forearms, alongside a massive stain down one side of you from where your Commander bled as you carried him on board.

You weren’t injured, however, and you tried not to make a show of carrying yourself down to the tarmac, keeping your back straight and your tone matter-of-fact. “Commander Morrison needs surgery. He sustained a severe shotgun wound to the upper thigh that the biotic field won’t close.”

“That—that doesn’t make sense.” Winston glanced back at the ship. “The biotic field should be able to—unless—”

“Reaper was there,” you said. “Whatever’s in his bullets is keeping the Commander from healing up. I’m sorry I haven’t completed my mission report, I’ll have it finished within the hour.”

Bewildered, McCree tipped his hat up as he scratched at his forehead. “That’s all fine and dandy, but are you—”

A slender hand grabbed your bare shoulder from behind, clutching onto you for purchase.

“You found her?” Dr. Ziegler asked, breathless.

And suddenly, no one’s eyes were on you.

Everyone’s attention was redirected towards the holding cell within the dropship. You turned to look as well, and the unbridled hatred sparking in Amélie’s eyes was unlike any you’d ever seen.

This was a reunion for them, you remembered.

You didn’t belong here.

You shrugged off Dr. Ziegler’s grasp and headed back towards base.

“Please take care of the Commander,” you repeated.

-

76’s surgery took less time than your paperwork.

Though your report and post-mission medical examination were both complete, Dr. Zeigler refused to clear you for active duty. She reminded you that you only had a week’s rest between Romania and Le Havre, a week which was almost entirely spent healing and preparing for your next mission, and after this ordeal, you needed some actual time to recover.

What was supposed to be an extended break ended up being nothing more than an exercise in worry.

Every idle thought would drift back to the memory of Amélie’s murderous gaze when she first laid eyes on the rest of your crew. You realized that, for some reason, she’d afforded you a patience during your conversation that she had no intention of sharing with anyone else. Reaper’s words to you were on repeat, again—you felt as if you were the only person on-base none the wiser about Amélie’s case, or about what Overwatch was planning on doing with her now that she’d been rescued.

Whenever you sought to ask details from Dr. Ziegler about Amélie’s situation, or her progress, or even where she was being kept, the good doctor would quiet you with a tired smile, every single time.

“You’ve done your job, Reader. Let me do mine.”

But you couldn’t sleep.

Most of your time was spent squirreled away in your personal quarters. When you weren’t comparing the Le Havre mission reports from yourself and your Commander, searching for hints about Amélie you might’ve missed, you were staring at the contingency plans you’d made in France, seeing where you could’ve done better, gradually sinking under the weight of your own anxieties.

Where was Amélie? Was she safe here?

Several days had passed since you returned, and the one person you trusted enough to answer your questions still hadn’t bothered to summon you, or find you of his own accord—and the act of you seeking him out after everything that happened would’ve felt like surrender.

Was he angry with you?

The thought made your blood boil. He had no right or reason to be upset, least of all with you.

Why else would he be avoiding you?

A knock sounded at your room one night, and the voice that followed was not the one you were expecting.

“This mopin’ of yours’s gone on long enough,” McCree said through the door. “Get dressed, you’re comin’ with me.”

Buried within the contents of several journals spread across your desktop, you kept very, very still. Maybe if you were quiet enough, he would think you weren’t here.

“...don’t make me drag you outta there.”

“Alright, alright, jeez.”

So you put on pants.

You followed McCree’s wordless lead to the practice range. You figured he was taking you for aim training—nothing gets your mind off things like shooting other things, after all—but you were guided away from the distance markings on the floor, past the training bots hovering in fixed path rotations around the grounds, and up several flights of stairs.

Eventually, you arrived at an open balcony at one of the highest points of the range, overlooking a large portion of the facility.

McCree sat down against the wall, to one side of a plastic container. “Have a seat.”

“...am I in trouble?”

He looked up at you, his brows knitting together. “Y’know, there’s something to be said about the fact that’s the first place your mind jumped to.”

“I’m support,” you said, taking a seat next to him on the other side of the box. “Worst case scenarios are kinda my thing.”

McCree reached for the sealed container, which popped open with a gentle hiss.

It was a cooler.

He grabbed a bottle of beer from inside, uncapped it with his metal hand, and handed it to you. You accepted it, gratefully.

And you drank together in silence.

The stars were out in full force tonight, twinkling pinpricks in the blanket of a moonlit sky. The pitch-black shadows of mountains were silhouetted the horizon, while sheets of ice drifted across the surface of the distant water. The alcohol was smoother than you were expecting—strong, but sweeter than most. One drink turned into two, into three, into four. A warm, familiar buzz soon blurred your thoughts, soothing you from the inside out.

Several empty bottles piled up between the two of you before McCree broke the quiet.

“Pull,” he called, another drink raised to his lips.

You blinked at him, slowly. The place better have been as abandoned as he thought it was.

You grabbed an empty bottle and threw it as hard as you could over the balcony, high into the air. You hadn’t even registered him pulling his weapon from his holster before he’d shot the damn thing with a single bullet, pieces of glass raining like stardust onto the barren ground fifty feet below.

‘Nice shot,’ is what you thought.

“I can’t believe zombies are fucking real,” is what left your mouth.

He chuckled. “Pull.”

You tossed another bottle. Again, he hit it spot-on, first try.

“If it helps,” he started, cracking open another couple of drinks for the two of you, “whatever’s goin’ on with Reaper ain’t exactly widespread technology. He’s one-of-a-kind. That’s what makes him so dangerous.”

You downed half the bottle before speaking. “He promised he was gonna kill me.”

“Don’t take it personally, that’s just how he says goodbye.”

“You’ve met him, then?”

“I have. Knew him before the mask, too.”

The memory of the cloaked, clawed, dual shotgun-wielding man floated through your mind like a passing ghost, and you found it difficult to imagine there was ever a ‘before.’ “What was he like?”

“Reyes?” McCree considered your question, nursing his drink as he did so. “A hardass with a good sense of humor. Got the job done at all costs. And quite the family man, believe it or not.”

“...he had a family?”

He nodded. “Civilians, though. Moved on after the Fall.”

You continued drinking. Somehow, you hadn’t considered Reaper was once a regular person with a life all his own. A spouse. Children, maybe. If they were civilians, did that mean they believed him dead, like the rest of the world? If he still remembered them, did he care for them, even now? Did he have a family before his relationship with your Commander? After?

...during?

McCree noticed you’d gone quiet. “What’re you thinkin’?”

“Just trying to wrap my head around it,” you admitted. “Never had a dead guy point a gun at my face, before.”

He clicked his tongue before taking a swig. “Welcome to Overwatch.”

Slouching over a bit, you ran a hand over your face. “If I knew about Commander Reyes from the start, I could’ve been better prepared in Le Havre.”

“None of us had any reason to believe Reaper would be runnin’ interference down there. Our intel had him halfway around the world when you and Sarge left for France.”

“So it was bad intel.”

“Yep.”

You kept a hand over your mouth as you stared into the distance, thinking it over. Reaper was the one 76 cared about finding, so of course he’d have updated knowledge of his whereabouts. That’s why 76 hadn’t told you about him from the start, and that’s why he was so shocked to find him there—maybe even enough to reevaluate his mission objectives and go after him without a second thought.

“What do we want with Amélie, anyway?” you asked.

“Couldn’t tell you,” he shrugged. “Probably classified.”

“‘Classified.’ Of course it is. Meaning she could be being tortured or murdered underground somewhere and I would’ve been complicit in that.”

“...bein’ a little overdramatic, don’t you think? Not exactly in the business of kidnap and torture, here.”

“Yeah, not anymore.”

“Now, now.” McCree flashed a grin from the lip of his bottle. “Our hands might not be clean, but these things ain’t ever black and white in the long run, either. All we can do is make sure our shade of grey’s lighter’n most.”

“How do I know we’re doing the right thing if there’s this much I wasn’t told?”

“You’re forgettin’ the obvious.”

“And that is?”

“You’re new,” he enunciated. “Everyone but you’s been here from the start of it all, years and years ago. What’s ‘classified’ now is just a bunch of random, tragic shit that happened to us once upon a time. It’s on a need-to-know basis, and you don’t need to know for the things we brought you on for.”

“I know,” you said, emphatically, “I know I don’t need everyone’s life story to work here, I’m just worried there’s more things I should’ve known from the start, things that...could’ve helped.”

“You talkin’ ‘bout Sarge?”

You didn’t respond, instead opting to take a very long sip from your bottle.

“If I’m bein’ honest, the whole ‘Soldier 76’ thing is more of an inside joke here than anything else. We keep it up to protect his pride, ‘cause pride’s just about all he’s got left. His callsign’s a cover for the outside world, but everyone here knows who he really is. And he knows that.”

“He knew I didn’t.”

“You sure?”

“He knew,” you repeated, more forcefully this time.

McCree raised an eyebrow. “So are you mad at him for not tellin’ you, or mad at yourself for not figurin’ it out sooner?”

Frustration burned your cheeks. Without warning, you chucked two empty bottles over the balcony at the same time; he shot both, dead-on, one after the other in less than a heartbeat.

“He waited for me,” you growled.

“Come again?”

“After Romania. He waited for me to recover because he wanted me in France. And I was so damn worried, you know? Was I going because it was important, or was I going because it was important to him? He says he doesn’t want to lead me on, he says he doesn’t want me to make a decision based on him alone—but regardless of how I felt, or how he felt, he waited. And it was the first time I felt like he saw me. Not as a new hire, or as a subordinate, but—”

“—as an equal.”

“Then when we’re over there,” you rambled, voice breaking, “he says shit like he’s ‘at his best’ when he’s with me? And we promise not to be reckless, but two hours later, he does just that—and I have to save him, even if it means walking into a trap, even if it means carrying his bleeding ass back to the ship, because I said I’d protect him and I don’t break my fucking promises.”

You didn’t give permission for the angry tears to stray from your eyes, but you were already too tipsy to care.

“And for what??” you snapped, voice growing louder. “To bring back a full-fledged Talon agent for reasons I never understood in the first place. And now that she’s here, I can’t log into my computer without wondering if Sombra’s tracking my movements, trying to make contact again. I can’t stop thinking about how much time I have left until Reaper makes good on his promise—and I know you said not to worry, but you didn’t hear what he said to me, and god, you didn’t hear how much he meant it.”

McCree didn’t say a word. He gave you a few moments of silence to collect yourself, to catch your breath, to get it all out of your system.

Then he reloaded his revolver, and handed it to you.

The initial shock of him letting you anywhere near Peacekeeper was immediately drowned out by the sheer weight of it in your hands. The gun was massive, twice the size of any normal revolver—much heavier, as well, but somehow still balanced within your hold. You cocked it, and the heavy click of the hammer was incredibly satisfying.

McCree tossed up an empty bottle. It took you three tries, but you managed to shatter it.

Nothing to get your mind off things like shooting other things, after all.

“I don't have time to worry about something like this, you know?” you said, sniffling. “I—I just don’t have the time.”

“The time to what? Figure out the feelings of a dumbass givin’ off more mixed signals than a traffic light? I don’t blame you.” McCree lit a cigar and held it between his teeth. He flipped another bottle over the ledge, watching you catch it in two shots. “Least he bought us booze.”

You glanced back at the cooler. “The Commander bought all this?”

“A fine cider I recommended,” he bragged, tapping the ash from his first drag away. “You should be thankin’ me, too, the man’s got shit taste. Likes that sex-on-a-boat type beer.”

“Sex on a boat?”

“Fuckin’ close to water.”

You snorted an ugly, too-loud laugh through the last few of your tears. McCree smiled from behind his cigar.

“Look, Sarge wants to talk to you,” he said, “but he wants to talk to you on your own terms. Told me so himself. Didn’t wanna ambush you if you weren’t ready, all that shit.”

“So he sent you as a messenger?” you scoffed. “Why couldn’t he just tell me that himself?”

“Scared, I reckon.”

“Scared of what?”

McCree threw one final empty bottle into the air. Having gotten used to Peacekeeper’s weight, you finally managed to shatter it in one shot, with the very last bullet in the chamber.

“Thought that much’d be obvious,” he said, wryly.

You turned your nose. Maybe it was the pent-up frustration, maybe it was the one-too-many bottles of cider swimming around inside you, but something about the Commander leaving the ball in your court rubbed you the wrong way. You were tired of sitting around. You were tired of worrying. Above all else, you were tired of not knowing.

You stood up, which in itself was an accomplishment. You weren’t drunk—it took a bit more than that to really knock you on your ass—but you were hovering at that wonderfully hazy point where you were intoxicated enough to lack better judgement, but sober enough to make bad decisions.

You wobbled your way towards the stairs, keeping one hand on the building for balance. “If no one’s giving me answers, I’ll just get them on my own.”

McCree made a little noise of disapproval. “I wouldn’t have that conversation drunk, if I were you.”

“No,” you snapped, “I’m going to the medbay to see if I can find Amélie’s intake files.”

“Reckon the doc’ll just hand them over if you ask nicely?”

“Kinda counting on her not being there.”

He laughed, burying his face into his palm. “Oh, lord.”

“I’m not asking you to help.”

“Now, what kind of friend would I be if I got you drunk then didn’t help you break into somewhere you shouldn’t be?”

“You coming, then?”

“Depends. Can I have my gun back?”

“...oh. Right.”

-

As you navigated the barren hallways of the base, trying to move as silently as you could from corridor to corridor, you became certain that McCree’s spurs were the loudest objects known to mankind.

Dr. Ziegler’s office was located towards the back of the hospital wing. To your surprise, the door of her office was left unlocked, but as you made your way inside and hit the light switch, you suddenly understood why. She kept absolutely everything in neat, impeccable order—not a single pen or scrap of paper out of place—with an impressive array of individually fastened drawers, locked filing cabinets, and padlocked storage units located all around the room.

You booted up the computer at her desk, only to discover that the words across the loading screens weren’t even English.

“It’s all in German,” you sighed, shutting down the computer at the password window. “Even if we figured out the password without triggering a lockout, it’d be hard to navigate.”

“Shouldn’t there be an original form, though?” asked McCree. “A physical one?”

As you explored the office and examined the many filing cabinets, you finally came across a set labelled with letters.

You grabbed a paperclip from the magnetic holder on the desk and unfolded it, running through the alphabet under your breath.

“It’s this one,” McCree interrupted with a snicker, knocking a knuckle on the drawer with the ‘G - Mc’ label. “Sorry—should I have let you finish your ABCs?”

You angled the straightened paperclip into the lock. “Leave me alone, I can barely see straight.”

Once you popped open the lock, you found the drawer’s contents separated even further, dividing individual letters throughout the row of files. A particularly overstuffed folder at the very end had a tab that read:

McCree, Jesse

McCree reached over your shoulder to grab it. “Yoink.”

You feathered through the folders under ‘L.’

Lacroix, Amélie Lacroix, Gerard

So she had a family, too.

With a rush of excitement, you pulled Amélie’s file.

The first page had a photograph clipped to it, a picture of her from when she was younger. Her skin was a more human, peachy colour, and instead of a sharp gold, her eyes were dark, and lively.

As these were Dr. Ziegler’s files, you quickly discovered that her hard copy medical documentation was also in German. All you could read were the dates, and all you could gather was that, aside from the first few pages, the majority of contents in Amélie’s file had only been created within the last week.

With the amount of medical examinations you had, from agent onboarding to post-mission observations to scheduled weekly checkups, you were sure that even your file had more content than hers did before she was brought here. Her having a file in Dr. Ziegler’s office at all meant she was known to Overwatch before the incident with Talon, but the lack of documentation implied she wasn’t a field operative.

Had she been a civilian before the incident?

You continued searching through the German archives, picking out roman numbers and borrowed English words but understanding none of it for the most part, until you got to the very end of her file.

A thirty-page copy of a scientific report in English, addressed to Winston.

The report itself was extremely dense, filled with equations, diagrams, and scientific terminology you didn’t understand, but you skimmed through it as best as you could.

“...experimental technology…”

“...inoperable neural implant…”

“...resistant to outside observation or interference…”

“...primary concerns regarding legal responsibility for acts of terrorism…”

“...reversal not feasible…”

“...attempts to replicate initial procedure…”

“...erasure of terrorist associations from memory…”

“...implant triggers electromagnetic restoration of neocortex to prior neural state…”

“...to correct the experiment we must repeat the experiment in full…”

“...can’t help but feel as if somewhere, Dr. O’Deorain is laughing at us.”

“Christ,” McCree’s hearty laughter tore through the silence. He held up an old picture of himself. “A soul patch. The hell was I thinkin’?”

“I found what I needed,” you said, trying to keep your voice steady. Your hands trembled as you shoved Amélie’s file back into place. “We should go.”

Picking up on your urgency, McCree slid his file back into the cabinet as well, shutting the drawer as you prepared to leave.

He called after you before you left the office. “Hey, now—we can’t leave this unlocked. She’s gonna know someone was in here. They’ll review the security footage, then we’ll both be in shit.”

You wiped the sweat from your forehead, and nodded. You hadn’t thought of that. “You’re right, but...I’ve never picked a lock closed, before.”

“Good thing you’ve got me around then, ain’t it?” he winked, before grabbing another paperclip from the desk.

-

In spite of the night’s events, you slept more soundly than you had in weeks. Although the thirteen-hour cider-induced coma was a nice break, the anxiety came flooding back with a vengeance as soon as you woke up, only now accompanied by a nasty hangover that made your brain throb.

You stayed hydrated and tried to walk it off, entertaining the fresh wave of thoughts in your head.

Overwatch wanted to help restore Amélie’s old personality from before she was kidnapped and brainwashed by Talon. When that didn’t work, they just tried wiping her memory clean all over again—but the implant in her head wouldn’t let them.

I have been killed many times, chérie. I will be born again in the morning.

Any reprogramming done to Amélie’s implant would just be reversed by the implant itself.

As nefarious as it was, it was also absolutely incredible technology, the likes of which you had no idea existed in your world. Who was Dr. O’Deorain, and how were they able to develop this tech in the first place? Did Talon really have the resources to allow that level of experimental technology?

Did Dr. O’Deorain have something to do with Reaper’s condition, too?

You turned a corner and came face-to-face with a giant gorilla.

You both jumped.

“I—I’m sorry,” Winston laughed. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

“Sorry,” you smiled back. “I’m a little out of it today, should’ve watched where I was going.”

“It’s...good to finally see you up and about, Reader.” He paused for a moment and cleared his throat, looking a little too sympathetic for your liking. “I know it must be hard, but...you’re a fine agent. This recent development is in no way a reflection of your performance,” he finished, in a tone he appeared to think was reassuring.

“Recent development?” You looked confused. “I know we had some hiccups, but the Le Havre mission was a success. We got Amélie back, didn’t we?”

“Oh.” His expression went blank. “Um.”

“...Winston, what happened?”

“My apologies, I thought you would’ve been told by now.”

“Told what?”

“I—it’s really not my place to—”

“Tell me what happened,” you demanded, your voice suddenly shaking with the worry of a million possibilities.

Winston looked more solemn than you’d ever seen him before.

“The paperwork was filed a few days ago,” he sighed. “76 has stepped down as your commanding officer.”

[atruththatyoudeny]

MONTHLY READS | December 2018

Happy 1D Fanworks Appreciation Day! Thank you so much for all the hard work you put into your stories and the courage to share them with us! I am so grateful for all the amazing authors in this fandom! Here are the fics I read this month, as always, Top 5 + 12 more under the cut.

Captain Jack

by jaerie for 1D Fanworks For Charity | DARK DRUG FIC - Please read the tags on the fic page carefully! | a/b/o | 31k Louis has been searching for something and Harry is there to give it to him. Drugs, sex, disappointment, and the tangled web they’ve woven that keeps them trapped in the same cycle.

Better Not Pout, I'm Telling You Why

by runaway_train for Larry Holiday Fic Fest | Christmas | fluff | strangers to lovers | workplace relationship | 24k Niall wipes his hands again with his cloth, jaw tense as his eyes narrow in contemplation at the man in front of him. After a pause, he opens his mouth. “OK, I need to tell you something and you have to promise not to laugh.” Oh here we go, now the truth is away to come out. “Okaaaay…” He drops the towel. “Harry still believes in Santa Claus.” Louis hoots out a single loud chord of laughter. “Fuck off. No he doesn’t.” “He does. I swear.” Niall manages to say it with a completely straight face, but he must be taking the piss. “Niall, he’s twenty two. Do you honestly expect me to believe he’s managed to make it this far through life without someone telling him the truth that Santa isn’t real?” Or The one where Harry still believes in Santa Claus and Louis doesn't want to be the one to burst his bubble.

Santa Baby Honey

by SadaVeniren | Christmas | crack | fluff | humor | BDSM | exhibitionism | 28k “Let’s cut right to the chase,” Niall said, loading the powerpoint, which was just one page, comprised of Louis’ face and the words How do you solve a problem like this asshole? “It’s the beginning of November and Louis is already being a fuckwit. How are we gonna have him knock that shit off this year?” aka Louis is the CEO of a toy company and Christmas is a stressful time of year so his assistant decides the best way to make him chill out is by getting him laid through a Secret Santa

O' Christmas Tree

by Justalittlelouislove for Larry Holiday Fic Fest | Christmas | kid fic | fluff | 15k At a stoplight, he finds himself doing some retrospective thinking of his own. Instead of going over one of his fifty or so mental to-do lists, his mind drifts to Harry’s dimples, the way his whole face changed when he smiled, how some of the pine trees almost matched the green of his eyes perfectly. It’s- well it’s annoying is what it is. He can’t spend all his time thinking about some tree farmer with broad shoulders, he’s got bigger fish to fry. Girl Scout meetings, homework charts, client lists, lots and lots of very large fish sitting around waiting to be fried. or: Louis has a busy schedule to keep and a daughter to raise. He definitely isn't looking for a relationship. Enter Harry Styles, a local Christmas tree farmer that seems just a little too good to be true.

Along The Heather

by noellehenry for HLRegencyVictorianFicChallenge | Victorian AU | Jane Eyre AU | verbal abuse | physical abuse | Minor Character Death | panic attack | attemped murder | angst | mystery | 35k Orphaned Harry Styles grows up with his cruel aunt and cousins, before he is sent away to a boys' boarding school, which teaches poor and orphaned boys. Even though his aunt tries to undermine Harry's experience at the school, he does well in school, and stays on at the school as a teacher after he graduates. When he becomes restless after significant changes at the school, he applies for a job as a tutor at Thorgill Hall, teaching the younger brother of Mr. Louis Tomlinson. Harry develops romantic feelings for his pupil's brother... Thorgill Hall,however, holds a secret; it’s becoming slightly more eerie every day and when his life is threatened, Harry makes a drastic decision…

Your touch is the only thing I feel

by 2tiedships2 | a/b/o | strangers to lovers | fluff | 15k Liam. Liam was finally here. Louis kept his eyes closed and cuddled farther into Liam’s side, revelling in the pheromones Louis’ body desperately needed. He wasn’t sure how long Liam had been holding him, but Louis figured it had to have been at least an hour by the way his body had loosened. The need of an alpha’s touch seemed to have been temporarily lifted from his mind. Louis listened to the sounds of the pub around him. It was louder than before he had fallen asleep and he briefly wondered why Liam hadn’t just woken him to go back to their flat. “Who the fuck are you?” Louis’ eyes flew open at the sound of Niall’s voice, and the arm that had been around Louis shoulders lifted in the same instant. He missed the warmth immediately. Louis looked from Niall’s stormy face over to the person who was definitely not Liam. The alpha Liam impersonator, who smelled a lot better than the actual Liam now that Louis was alert, looked back at Louis with wide eyes and familiar furrowed brows. Or the one where Louis refuses to settle for just any alpha despite intense touch deprivation. Fortunately Harry isn't just any alpha.

Pull your-elf together

by EmmyLouWho for Larry Holiday Fic Fest | Christmas | fluff | pining | 4k Louis looks Harry up and down. “Hang on, aren't you a bit tall to be an elf?” “Alright, Princess Leia,” Harry says, and Niall loses it. “Ohhhhhh,” he says. “Harry, we are definitely going to be good friends.” Or: Santa's Winter Wonderland is a great place to fall in love.

And Touch Me Like You Never

by runaway_train for Larry Holiday Fic Fest | Christmas | implied/ referenced drug use | implied/ referenced alcohol abuse | mildly dubious consent | angst | roommates | coming out | friends with benefits | dom/sub undertones | friends to lovers | pining | 35k “Lets move back a bit yeah?” Harry clutches at his waist with a free hand and tugs him to move through the crowd until they are almost at the back of the group and settles them both beside the far wall. “There. That better?” Louis looks up at him, as if he’s a tad dazed. “Uh, yeah, thanks. Can’t really see much from back here either though.” Harry lifts a shoulder and grins at him, placing a hand on the wall behind Louis to pen him in. “We’ll just have to create our own fireworks then, won’t we?” He says it jokingly with a wink, and Louis laughs but he seems nervous. He must know that Harry is harmlessly flirting. Harry flirts with everyone after all, including Louis. “Do you think this is a good idea Haz?” Louis asks quietly, almost too quietly in the clamour of the room, his head bowed as he scuffs his shoe on the carpet. “Stop over thinking it Lou, it’s one kiss. What’s the worst that could happen?” Or The one where Harry and Louis agree to be each other's New Year's kiss and it ends up being a lot more than they bargained for.

Head Over Heels

by Sasparella76 for Larry Holiday Fic Fest | Christmas | enemies to friends to lovers | 26k Louis Tomlinson and Harry Styles are both up and coming editors at Cowell Publishing. Louis thinks Harry is brilliant at his job and beyond gorgeous. It’s just a pity that Harry is also the most annoying man Louis has ever met.

Holiday Greetings (And Gay Happy Meetings)

by 2tiedships2 | Part I of It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year | a/b/o | Christmas | strangers to lovers | enemies to lovers | fluff | 18k "Onwards to drop me off at Robert's before you go to Harry's!" Louis proclaimed when they were safely in the car. Or at least Louis was safely in. Niall was still brushing the snow out of his hair that Louis had accidentally dropped on him. "We're picking up biscuits first," Niall grumbled as the snow melted into his hair. "You can wait in the car." After three times of the car sounding like it was dying a slow and tragic death, it finally decided to start. "This is what happens when you try to change the name of your car after five years," Louis said as a reminder of Niall's stupidity. "You'd be upset too if you were a car named Greased Lightning with a passenger trying to get it renamed to Dusty." "To be fair," Niall explained, "the name Dusty does seem a bit more accurate." "Make sure to leave the car running while you're getting whatever you're getting from Harry," Louis said in disgust. "This car is going to choke for good after that comment and I don't want to be stuck at Harry's place when that happens." Or the one where Niall's dead car and and a foot of snow conspire to force Louis into spending time with an alpha he hates.... or does he?

(That's Just) The Way I Am

by lululawrence for 1D Fanworks For Charity | fake/pretend relationship | lights angst | 17k There was no way Harry would want to bring anyone out for an introductory trip like this. The fighting between himself and his father was sure to be be worse than usual and father still hadn’t accepted Harry’s pansexual identity. Harry wasn’t dating anyone at the moment, but at this point he almost wished he were dating a man just so he could incense his father. The door jingled, pulling Harry’s attention away from the window and to the man who had just walked into the cafe. Now that was exactly who Harry should try bringing home. The man was dressed in ratty black skinny jeans and what was obviously a self cut tank top that used to be a Stone Roses t-shirt. His black chucks had holes in the canvas, indicating exactly how old they were, and his maroon beanie wasn’t in much better shape. The more Harry studied the man’s smoky eyeliner rimmed eyes and the lipstick he had swiped on to match his hat, the more Harry started hatching an idea. What if Harry really did bring this man home?

I Just Wanna Give You Love

lululawrence for 1D Fanworks For Charity | soulmates | famous/not famous | 18k Graham Norton appeared on the screen introducing his guests and out of nowhere, everything in Louis’ world was turned upside down. Louis gasped as he intently took in the man on the screen, smiling and waving from his seat beside Sir Ian McKellen. “Oh my God,” Louis said before it all sank in as to what it meant. “Holy fucking shit!” “Louis William, you watch your mouth,” Jay said. “What has got into you?” Feeling like a madman, his palms to his cheeks, Louis couldn’t help the tears of surprise, relief, and fear as he turned to his mum. “What colour are his eyes? What do you call that colour?” “Louis, are you telling me that the man on the screen, Harry Styles, is your soulmate?” Or the one where the world is in black and white until you meet your soulmate, but Harry is world famous and Louis is...well...not.

This is a Rainbow War

by lululawrence for 1D Fanworks For Charity | famous/ not famous | friends to lovers | fluff | pining | travel | 15k “So what are we doing?” Niall asked as he slipped in. “Harry seems to really like rainbows,” Louis said, purposefully vague. “So let’s go ahead and make sure he’s really in the spirit.” Louis untaped the flag he’d used to hold it together and showed Niall what he had inside. He’d been keeping a wide variety of flags from each show and gathering them until he had enough to cover Harry’s entire dressing room with them. “Oh this is going to be great,” Niall said with a chuckle. “Oh my God,” Shawn said excitedly. “It’s going to look like someone puked pride flags all over a campsite.” “Exactly,” Louis said. Or, the one where Harry's a famous singer, Louis is part of his road crew, and after Harry gives Louis a special assignment regarding rainbow flags, things maybe turn out a little differently than either of them planned.

Naughty or Nice

by noellehenry | Christmas | miscommunication | innuendo | humour | fluff | 10 Louis never intended for his boss, the very attractive Harry Styles, to find out he has a temporary, additional job as a Christmas Elf at Harrods Department Store. When he gets a request to show up in his elf costume at Mr. Styles' office, after office hours, Louis' mind goes wild...

Nobody Likes To Be Played

by rosegoldhl for Girl Direction Fic Fest | Girl Direction | infidelity | implied/ referenced homophobia | fluff | friends to lovers | emotional/psychological abuse | 19k The first thing she realized as she walked into the bar was that there was some sort of gig from an unknown, obscure rock band, the kind of music Louis enjoyed. The second thing was that the place was packed with teenagers and university students, and Harry looked out of place in trousers and a polka-dot shirt. The third was that this outing was destined to ruin her life.

Until I Found You

by dimpled_halo | a/b/o | Cam Boy/ Porn Star | enemies to friends to lovers | slow burn | fluff | 45k Harry Styles is the popstar of the century, or so the media proclaims. He’s linked to every omega he’s seen with, donned as an alpha lothario who isn’t ready to settle down any time soon. His team works hard to publicise him as an alpha who can’t keep his knot in his pants, but not everything is as it seems. Louis Tomlinson, an aspiring musician working as a porn star and camboy, is waiting for his big break. When he meets Harry Styles he can’t stand the alpha that only uses his power and fame to bed as many omegas as possible. He runs into him at a party and hopes to never see him again only to find that Harry’s assistant is dating Louis’ best friend. To make matters worse, Harry’s about to embark on a world tour and is in need of a guitarist at the last minute, an opportunity Zayn uses to put in a good word for Louis. What happens when the opportunity that Louis has been waiting for finally comes, but at the price of having to share the stage with one Harry Styles?

Merry Birthday

by jaerie | Christmas | a/b/o | soulmates | soul marks | 9k Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson have unfortunate soulmarks branded onto their skin. The first words their soulmate will ever speak to them are two of the most common greetings, so common that they don't even notice when it finally happens for real. A Christmas soulmate AU.