#ok this prompt is from...quite a while ago

[mohntilyet]

i’m having illario dellamorte thoughts. what if instead of knowingly betraying lucanis he did it like, unknowingly. idk how this would work but i’m intrigued by what it gives us. illario ‘i accidentally caused my cousin’s death & can never tell anyone’ dellamorte. genuinely grieving. blaming himself. does he take advantage of the year before lucanis comes back?? does caterina still ignore him the whole time?? how different is the canon plotline once rook shows up with lucanis post-rescue…..

anyways i would love your thoughts!!

95% of what i do with illario operates on the idea that he is frighteningly competent so you can see why the way the crows plotline plays out in the game might frustrate me. it’s also this reason why i don’t actually think too much about “illario got lucanis killed, but didn’t mean to do it”, because i like the idea that everything illario does in his life is planned to the second and that he’s too well trained to mess up this badly, if that makes sense. with that being said. 5% of my brain power does sometimes go towards “and what if he just sucked actually” and it was a theory i enjoyed before the game even released. so i have in fact been thinking about this anyway LOL . maybe he tries to honeypot zara, accidentally actually reveals lucanis’ next assassination job, and zara gets rid of him as a ‘gift’. illario is horrified and that gets even worse when lucanis’ body shows up, and he assumes this must be because he spurned zara by leaving her and not having the guts to seize power.

i think we could make his inferiority complex worse. illario’s worst fear confirmed: he is as worthless as his grandmother believes he is, botching something so badly that he accidentally sentences his cousin to death when what he wanted was lucanis just… out of the way for a bit (maybe while he kills caterina. LOL. i still think his resentment of caterina trumps his jealousy for lucanis though those two things are very intertwined its hard for him to differentiate them). so incapable that he got the only person who actually supports him killed, and now he’s dreading the idea of becoming first talon. he doesn’t want first talon without lucanis backing him, and now the only person left is caterina which is suffocating and makes him even unhappier. at least he hadn’t lived through her alone, and now through consequences of his own decisions, illario has no choice but to.

i think that would affect his plans for talon because of how horribly he’d fucked up, and tries to mask it because if he suddenly actually doesn’t want to be talon that would be a red flag for everyone. lucanis coming back would delight him (talon is within his sights again if lucanis comes back!) and freak him out. i think the plotline would actually be pretty similar because of this freak out, so he still shows up to zara’s fight to cover his tracks. lucanis can never know, caterina can never know, because what little faith they have in him will be lost. like he committed fratricide and didn’t even MEAN to😭 ...corpse whispering still happens, and zara is like “ohhh that coward. he can never finish what he started, can he?” + “elaborate.” + “i gave him what he most wanted in the world and instead of being grateful, he ran away.” so lucanis finds out about what happened but feels a mix of “illario, you idiot” + pity because turns out he didn’t even mean for it to happen, and keeps his secret for now, otherwise he’d probably have to kill him.

i also think not meaning to kill lucanis would sour his feelings towards the venatori, who are a reminder of how badly he failed, so the alliance wouldn’t happen. this does mean if the story goes on as it does in canon, he has to take desperate measures another way and kidnap caterina for some other reason but i can’t think of why….. maybe a thing where illario is like “ok. lucanis is distracted by the elven gods. this time i just have to kill nonna for real and then nothing is in my way” and recruits disgraced houses or houses that don’t like caterina to do so? not sure tbh but i don’t believe caterina made it so far without making enemies lol. this would happen post bloodbath + corpse whispering— lucanis leaves his cousin unchecked because while he knows illario didn’t mean for him to die, he has no idea how far he would go to have caterina dead. teia could find out about this and send word to foil the kidnapping and assassination attempt

so ‘murder of crows’ is still about saving caterina, the illario-lucanis fight still happens, but it’s a little more hesitant and lots of “why won’t you just let me kill her? i’m doing this for the both of us”. he’s had to live with being the un-favorite, but never would have thought lucanis would actually pick caterina if it came down to it. with all of his missteps here, i think the final decision (and i think it should be like this in canon anyway) would be to imprison illario or kill him. imprisoning him is just a lot of “i can’t kill illario as much as he couldn’t kill me”, vs killing him as is expected from him as talon, and what he knew he would have to do after finding out about illario's failures. unlike canon, where illario is actually meaning to kill him and can be seen as a 'good crow' despite the sloppiness, here he's like. just bad at everything. the allied traitor houses that went against caterina would also have to be imprisoned or killed. no happy ending at all here, and lucanis still becomes first talon. now that i’ve written it out this is actually probably the worst ending LOL

the above sticks a lot to what is canon to the game (plot points, choices, etc) and i didn’t go very far away from it so it's like canon 3 inches to the left. tho my thoughts on this are not fleshed out* because i think illario works better as an antagonist character that sets things in motion !! not necessarily the villain in a cain-abel story, but a character who opposes lucanis while still not wanting to hurt him. that kind of discipline where he finds a way to get what he wants (first talon) without compromising what he also cares for (family) is so much more fun for me than a man who apparently just loses it and decides to enact a bad plan to get rid of his cousin. if he waited 20+ years to become talon i think he’d be more careful when it came down to it. if i had my way illario would be playing insane 5d chess to rival solas (insert black sails “i once thought that to lead, to be liked was just as good as feared. and that may very well be true. but to be both liked and feared all at once, is an entirely different state of being.”)

[pedropascallme]

Slow Down, Lie Down

Pairing: Shayne Topp x f!Reader

Summary: “‘I’m fucking exhausted, Shayne, it’s like I have to be so high-energy all the fucking time, and I’m burnt out and stressed for no fucking reason and I just—…you!’ You took a deep breath, leaning into his touch. ‘You…’ you looked at him through damp lashes, and he looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to finish your thought, not catching on to your statement. You cocked a brow, ‘I want you, Shayne.’”

Warnings: SMUT (18+ MINORS DNI), p in v sex, oral (f receiving), Shayne's gold chain is a warning in and of itself but it also comes into play here so take that as you will. If I missed anything please let me know!

AN: This is based off of a requested prompt from the lovely @slaydoggg who asked for a Shayne fic quite a while ago and I just got around to finishing it! Hope you all enjoy <3

The last day of any shoot week was the only time in your life that you’d ever felt genuine burnout.

When you were in school, you’d had a sort of leniency policy with yourself; long days never turned into long nights, you’d stuck to a schedule that allowed for grace periods, you’d been confident in your ability to ask for help.

But when it came to working in such a high energy environment, where you felt like you had to be on all the time, where quiet always seemed like a synonym for bad, it was hard to grant yourself any clemency from just going, going, going all day.

Not to say you didn’t like what you did—you wouldn’t trade your place at Smosh for the world. The office was a safe space above all else, and even though it was your place of employment, most days it felt more like a high school cafeteria, where you and your friends gathered and chatted and made each other go red in the face from laughter until milk shot out of someone’s nose, or whatever.

Still, shooting a TNTL at 7PM on a Friday after a week of filming felt like some kind of sick joke. Did you even have any ideas left? Improv was one thing, but improv with zero social battery left was a completely different story, one you were unsure you wanted to know the end to.

“You alright?” Shayne pulled you from your thoughts while you gathered in the studio to film.

“Yeah, yeah. Just…y’know, little tired.” You smiled, an offering he returned, “But I’m alright.”

He could tell that you were teetering in the space between apathetic and completely exhausted. It was hard to keep things from him. Goddamn psychology degree. Even before you had started dating, it seemed like Shayne had a sixth sense for the feelings of the people around him, especially when it came to you—and Damien, but they might as well have had their own telepathic communication link, as far as you were concerned.

“Ok,” he rubbed your shoulder in an attempt to soothe you despite your denial of any discomfort, “We’ll go home soon. Go be funny.”

~~~

“Good! Cut!” Shayne called from behind the camera after Courtney wrapped up the video. You had never felt more relief in your life; the promise of a bed and a weekend of relaxation awaiting you at home made you feel like a huge weight was in the process of being lifted off your shoulders. You felt like you were floating, completely dissociated from the world around you while your friends giggled as they recalled jokes they had made not even 20 minutes ago.

You gathered your things and met Shayne outside in the car. You stared through the windshield, still tuning everything out and unaware that he was addressing you.

“Hey,” he squeezed your thigh, “did you hear me?”

“Mm, sorry,” you shifted to look at him, realizing you were still unbuckled and quickly correcting your indiscretion.

“What do you want for dinner?” He was doing that thing where he studied your features as if you were a doll, seemingly unaware that you could see him scanning your face.

“I dunno,” you sighed, “let’s just order something when we get home.”

“Ok.” He fell quiet and peeled out of his parking spot. The ride was quiet for the first ten minutes before he spoke again. “Are you sure you’re alright?”

“I’m just ti—”

“‘Just tired,’ I know—but is there anything else?”

You shifted uncomfortably, running your hand over your seatbelt. “I dunno.” You knew you sounded repetitive, childish, but it was hard to communicate the exhaustion you were feeling to someone who did the same thing as you all week and never seemed to fall victim to the same sort of fatigue that you did. “Really tired.”

“Do you feel stressed?” He pushed.

“Are you trying to psychoanalyze me?” The words came out with a harsher edge than you had meant, and you saw him briefly furrow his brows in shock before regaining his composure.

“No, I’m just worried. If something’s wrong, you can tell me.” He parked in front of the house and turned to you, “I love you. I don’t want you to feel like you have to keep anything from me.”

You nodded, and the floodgates threatened to open as tears pricked your lash line. You sniffed. “I know,” another sniffle, “I love you, too.” You felt ridiculous, like a toddler overdo for a nap with the way you were acting just because you were really that tired. You just needed a little reassurance; to remember what it was like to feel rested and sated.

Shayne unbuckled his seatbelt and leaned over the center console to take your face in his hands. “What do you need, baby?” His thumb caught a tear that had slipped over your cheek. “Tell me. You’re…freaking me out, a little.” He chuckled, still retaining the sympathetic look that painted his face even when his eyes creased up with his small smile.

“I’m fucking exhausted, Shayne, it’s like I have to be so high-energy all the fucking time, and I’m burnt out and stressed for no fucking reason and I just—…you!” You took a deep breath, leaning into his touch. “You…” you looked at him through damp lashes, and he looked at you expectantly, waiting for you to finish your thought, not catching on to your statement. You cocked a brow, “I want you, Shayne.”

“Oh—oh. Oh!” He lit up, eyes wide and smiling like a kid in a candy store.

One thing you appreciated was that no matter how often you two were intimate, no matter how many times he saw you naked, he still managed to make it seem like a miraculous, once in a lifetime event when you fucked.

Talk about validation.

He all but jumped out of his seat, waltzing over to open the door on the passenger side of the car and waiting impatiently for you to unbuckle yourself and step onto the sidewalk. You’d never seen him open the door to the house so fast.

Before you had the opportunity to remove your jacket, your shoes, or put down your bag, you were pushed against the now-closed-and-locked door by Shayne, who immediately found your lips and pulled you into a deep kiss. It was gentle, reminiscent of the first time you two had kissed in that it was exploratory and slow so as to adapt to the needs of the other; but no matter how he did it, kissing Shayne always felt like perfection. You dropped your bag at your feet before bringing your arms to rest on his shoulders, lazily pulling at his flannel while he dragged his tongue over your bottom lip. He rested his forehead against yours when he pulled away.

“Feel better?” He let his nose bump against yours as he spoke.

“Yeah,” you breathed, “But I think I could use a little more…remedying…” You brought one hand to the collar of his shirt, dipping under it and trailing your finger back and forth.

“Thought so.” He pulled your hand away momentarily to pull you into him, hands on your waist, and you got the hint, jumping so he could lift you, wrapping your arms around his neck while your legs found purchase around his hips. You licked a stripe up his neck and felt him shiver underneath your tongue.

He hesitated to drop you on the bed. “I could just fuck you like this, y’know…” He made a show of how easy it was for him to pick you up, bobbing you up and down in his arms momentarily, miming how he’d fuck you.

“Fully clothed?” You pointed out, and he relented.

“Next time I’m getting you naked before I pick you up.”

“Buy me a drink first, man.” You laughed, peeling off your jacket and shirt and unbuttoning your jeans, pulling the fabric from your body; it felt freeing in so many ways, the removal of a week of work from your skin, your limbs able to breathe without the constricting material, the knowledge that Shayne was there to see you in all your nude glory—it was incredibly satisfactory.

His shirt was off when you looked back up, now in just your bra and panties. The chain around his neck glinted in the low light of the bedroom, and you felt a wave of lust crash over you; crawling towards him to the edge of the bed where he stood, you let your hands trace up his abdomen before landing on his shoulders. You peppered kisses over his chest, taking in the taste of his skin and inhaling his scent. His hands came up to grip your waist, squeezing gently to get your attention.

“Not about me right now,” he reminded you, somewhat stern in his cadence.

“You don’t want me to go down on you?” You purred, goading him.

“As much as I would love to see you wrap your lips around my cock right now…” he spoke while he pushed you back onto the mattress, pulling you towards him by your ankles, “I’d much rather be making you feel good.”

“Yeah?” You breathed, and he planted a kiss on your thigh.

“I’m a giver.” He kneeled in front of you, "Lie down." You leaned back, letting yourself melt into the comforter under his touch. He let his hands roam your body; thumbs brushing the curve of your breast over your bra before dragging his palms over your stomach, dipping under you slightly to squeeze your ass. You let out a huff of contentment at the feeling, and he did it again, before his fingers dropped under the waistband of your underwear and pulled them down your legs.

When you felt the first swipe of his tongue over your core, your drowsiness was replaced with a tingling pleasure that started in your clit and spread to the back of your neck; you feathered your fingers through his hair to coax him onward.

“Poor baby,” he muttered, dipping his head down into you and licking up from your slit, gathering your slick on his tongue, “you just needed some help relaxing, huh?”

“Uh-huh,” you moaned when he used his tongue to circle your clit, applying the perfect amount of pressure to help you unwind; you bent your knee, effectively trapping him face-first against your cunt.  

“It’s ok,” he flattened his tongue against you, keeping pressure on your clit until you started to squirm, “I’ll help you, baby. Don’t worry.” He licked through your folds before slipping his tongue inside of you, contorting the muscle to curl in and out as he saw fit. You tugged on his hair, a silent message telling him not to stop amidst your quiet moans and the subtle roll of your hips against his mouth.

He wrapped his lips around your clit, sucking gently until you arched your back, muscles relaxing when he let up on the pressure before he repeated the motion just to watch you squirm for him.

“Shayne…” You whimpered, one hand coming up to grope yourself through your bra, drunk off the feeling of his tongue.

“I know, baby, I know,” he whispered into you, alternating between sucking on your clit and lapping up the mixture of his spit that trickled down your entrance and the wet that dripped from you. He snaked his arms underneath you, resting them under your thighs with his hands gripping the plush skin, giving him a better angle to watch you come undone. He fucked you with his tongue again now, unable to ignore the way you bucked your hips against his mouth and the filthy moans that fell from your lips, before he licked a long stripe up your cunt and began sucking on your clit once more.

Your orgasm crashed over you, a calming tide that came in and out with no fanfare, but was still so beautifully curated to your needs. Shayne watched your breathing pick up and then slow down as you sank deeper into the bed. He rested his head against your thigh.

“Was that helpful?” You could feel him smiling against your skin.

“Maybe a little,” you rolled your eyes playfully, and he stood, leaning over you and kissing your cheek. “Got anything else that might help?”

He laughed quietly, briefly kissing your pulse point. “Anybody ever told you that you can be real needy?”

“Is that a bad thing?” You let your hands wander over his stomach and chest, dropping down further to play with the waistband of his jeans, and he groaned.

“Not in the slightest,” he clarified, before straightening himself up to remove his jeans. You closed your eyes, still enjoying the comfort of the bed, the undisturbed joy you got to experience with your boyfriend away from the chaos of work. When you opened your eyes, Shayne had one knee on the mattress, boxers still on—much to your chagrin—and beckoning you closer to him. You sat up, shuffling towards him on your knees, and he guided you forward so that he could unhook your bra and let it slide down your arms.

“Your turn,” you bent down to tug at his boxers, and he smirked at the difficulty you had trying to get them off of him at this angle. He gently shooed you off, taking them off on his own, before pulling you in for a long, slow kiss. It was somewhat needier now than the one you had shared at the door, but it still felt just right; his tongue broke through your lips and, after sucking gently on it for a few seconds, you pulled back, too desperate for him to fuck you now to focus on anything else.

He pushed you down onto your back gently, pulling your hips to the edge of the bed and propping your legs on his shoulders. Fisting his cock, you watched him spit down onto you, letting the saliva trail over your hole before he ran his cock through your folds, gathering your wet on himself. You squirmed, eager and impatient, and he raised an eyebrow, smiling down at you.

“Needy.” He reiterated, before pushing into you. You felt the initial stretch, the blissful pressure of his cock plunging into you, and in this position, with your legs raised above you, you could feel him nestled deep inside of you.

“Fuck,” you heard him mutter when he bottomed out, and one of his hands came down to your side, his thumb rubbing soothing circles over your hip bone. “God, maybe we both needed this…”

“Mhm,” you sighed dreamily up at him, eyes half-lidded and lips parted.

He pulled his hips back less than an inch, focused on staying close to you and drawing your pleasure out, before pushing back in—not rough, but certainly hard; the force pushed you up the mattress slightly. Caught off guard by his movement, combined with the feeling of his cock pressing into you even deeper than it had before, you couldn’t help the moan of his name that was knocked from your lungs.

He kept fucking you like that, slow and deep, hands sweeping over your skin like he wanted to remember every curve and bend of your body.

“You’re so beautiful,” Shayne managed to speak out between low moans, “So fucking beautiful.”

You placed a hand over his where it sat on your thigh, still holding your legs above your body and against his chest. “All for you.” You squeezed his hand gently, and he leaned his head back.

“God, yeah—that’s right,” his thrusts started to get rougher, just enough for his cock to push against your most sensitive spot and keep you hovering over the edge. “All for me.”

He leaned forward, pushing your legs back with his body; he had even more free reign like this, thrusting into you hard and fast, and you mewled underneath him, letting out whimpers of delight at the way he pushed you closer to your high.

Propping himself up with one arm, his other hand resting on your waist, he dropped his head down to your chest and licked messy stripes over your breasts, capturing your nipple in his mouth and sucking on it before alternating to the other. You arched your back, struggling to decide whether to focus on the way his cock felt brushing against your g-spot or the way his tongue felt teasing your nipples.

You quickly decided that now wasn’t the time for decision making, allowing yourself to succumb completely to the way his movements worked in tandem to bring you satisfaction.

When he came up to kiss you again, you grabbed at his chain, pulling him further into you, and he moaned into your lips, tongue immediately seeking refuge in your mouth and licking into you. You returned the favor, eager to taste him. He moved his hand, positioning his thumb over your clit and kneading it in time with his thrusts, and you gasped at the friction. Mouth open and unable to tear your gaze from him, you yanked on the chain around his neck again, and he growled, pushing into you with less regard now—nice and rough to get you over the finish line.

“Fuck me just like that—oh my god, Shayne!” Your legs trembled from the strain of the position and the orgasm that built in the pit of your stomach, and when he licked his lips, panting, and you felt him press harder against your clit, you were engulfed by the electricity that seemed to shoot from him straight into your bloodstream. You cried out his name, throwing your head back and letting the pleasure take over.

You heard him hum above you, the combination of a contented sigh and a desperate groan as he watched you cum on his cock; panting, you placed a hand gingerly on his cheek, the other still toying with his chain, pulling his face towards yours, ghosting your lips over his.

“Cum in me,” you whispered into his mouth before kissing him, and you felt his lips part against yours with a moan, stuttering your name and spilling into you.

His head rested against yours, both of you breathing hard and trying to regain your composure. He kissed your ear, then your cheek, your nose, your other cheek, your other ear, before finally placing a sweet kiss against your lips, soft and full of love.

He took a deep breath before pulling out of you, and you whimpered at the sudden emptiness.

“I know. Come here, baby” he helped you straighten your stiff legs before scooping you up and placing you properly along the bed; you curled up instantly, satisfied and relaxed. Shayne crawled into bed behind you, a box of tissues in his hands that he pulled from to wipe the excess mess from between your thighs. He was gentle, quiet, kissing your back while he pulled your legs apart to clean you off.

“Thank you,” you mumbled, turning over to face him, “I feel…much more relaxed.”

“Glad I could help.” He kissed your forehead, tossing the box of tissues across the room and cringing when they landed awkwardly in the middle of the floor instead of on the dresser he had been aiming for. “Never want you to think that you can’t tell me how you’re feeling.”

“I know,” you trailed your fingers over his chain, looking up to meet his gaze, “I’m sorry I was grumpy.”

“You don’t have to apologize for that, baby. I’m sorry you felt so exhausted.”

“I’m still exhausted,” you smiled, “just in a much more enjoyable way.” You watched him break into a smile, pulling you against his chest and kissing the crown of your head.

“You can sleep in tomorrow.” He stroked your hair.

“Only if you sleep in with me.” You nuzzled into him, already feeling sleep tug your eyes closed.

“Can’t pass up an opportunity like that.”

[alexanderlightweight]

Ok, so I read your pinned post and it says it's ok to prompt out of wed. But it feels wrong but I'm doing it, bc I happened to be rereading mob wife Alec (such a good verse, I have read it sooo many times now. Just 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻) and honestly this thought would not leave my mind. So imagine at one of these meetings, Alec happens to notice a sketchy smarmy guy and he's watching him closely bc he's concerned he's going to do something bad. (maybe something to one of the women who are there serving or one of the wives.) Sketchy guy notices Alec watching him and he assumes its bc Alec is interested. (bc straight guys and their absolutely stupid egos, do not get me started.) anyway, things happen, guy accuses Alec of coming onto him. And Alec is so insanely offended, he's speechless. All he can manage to do is point at Magnus and go, "have you seen my husband?!" Bc absolutely not a single person can hold a candle up to Magnus.

it doesn't quite match up 100% but this is where mob!wife Alec took it. it's been a while but I was delighted to write in this verse again so thank you for this delightful prompt

<3 lumine

dressed to kill

-

Now Alec knows he’s not the best at this undercover work.  

Whether as a distraction or in desperation, pretending to be something he’d not has never been one of his fortes. Something Magnus is very fond of reminding him of and well, enough time has passed that Alec can admit he was pretty terrible at pretending to be straight.  

Especially in front of Magnus.

And even now, for all the effort Alec, Magnus and even Simon have put in, Alec is still horrible at blending in with mundanes. 

Which leads him here. 

To a situation that he is truly unable to fathom and still doesn’t know how he ended up in.

“I’m not sure I heard you correctly.” Is what he automatically responds with, it’s an attempt to buy time but the thought of having to hear such stupidity again changes his mind.  “No,” he immediately says when the man opens his mouth again, “no need to repeat it.”

Alec knows denial intimately.

He lived submerged in it for over two decades and now he firmly reaches for the long since abandoned feeling and wraps it around himself.  Denial may not have worked in the face of Magnus but fortunately for Alec, no one compares to Magnus so he’s safe.

“I’ll ask someone to get you medical aid, you’ve clearly had more than you can handle.” Alec says it to be gracious.  He’s trying to not make a scene and he’s certainly not interested in having to explain his involvement in yet another mundane death. 

Or at least he tries.  

Then the true absurdity of the situation hits him and he can’t help it.

He laughs.

Not a full-bodied laugh, the kind Magnus, Izzy or Jace can draw from him, but the deep, darker chuckle that builds when he’s on a hunt.

“You think you’re something worth my interest?” Alec’s voice is low, the predatory instinct of a hunt entrenched in him. 

The quieter a shadowhunter is, the more deadly they are.

Alec has never needed to shout to make his threats known, he also doesn’t need a threat to teach this mundane a lesson.

“I am already married to the most gorgeous being in any dimension, who are you to think you can compete?” All the evidence Alec needs is the hand he points in Magnus’ direction and it’s with a scoff of disgust that Alec leaves. Even without active runes he’s faster than the most agile of mundanes and in an instant he’s at Magnus’ side. 

He really doubts he had the self-control to listen to one more assumption of Alec’s interest in someone other than Magnus.

-

It’s automatic, for Magnus to reach for Alexander even as he slots into place next to him.  No words of greeting are needed for Alexander to automatically tuck himself into Magnus’ side.

“What’s wrong?” It’s clear that Alexander is flustered, and not in a ‘I-lost-track-of-this-mundane-conversation-ten-minutes-ago-and-would-like-to-be-done’ kind of way.

“Someone had the audacity to think I was interested in them.”

Magnus’ hand tightens on Alexander’s hip even as he processes the words.

Unfortunately, despite how much he despises hearing such a thing, it’s not unexpected.  One of the prices Magnus has had to pay during these ventures are the mundanes who show interest in Magnus’ boy.

In the shadowworld they are fairly prominent figures and between the two of them, they have few enemies who would risk crossing them both.

That includes coveting what isn’t theirs to desire.

And while Magnus doesn’t doubt for a minute that the mundane was making absurd assumptions, he is curious as to how a mundane thought Alexander was approachable.

“How?”

It’s a genuine question, Magnus has met quite a few people who have been interested in Alexander, he’s just never met one that had the gall to think it was reciprocated.

Alexander pauses, brow furrowed as he thinks and then he shrugs, expression soft and a little sheepish. “I stopped paying attention pretty quickly. I just wanted him to stop talking.”

Magnus can’t help but laugh, delight thrumming through him as he disguises his humor with a kiss to Alexander’s hair.  

-

(the guy was too straight for alec to deal with, the vibes were just a no and the guy’s prey instinct kicked in via survival mode and he took off before Alec could point him out to Magnus. the reason the guy thought Alec was interested in him? Magnus and Alec will never find out but it was actually because alec was watching the bartender make drinks with fire -he was comparing it to Magnus talent and finding it lacking- and the guy happened to be somewhat in eye zone)

and it is 100% canon that Alec goes around this universe and all my universes comparing mundanes and shadow world beings to Magnus and finding everyone else lacking.

magnus finds it absolutely charming when Alec is tired and starts mumbling about how the bartender completely lacks the same elegant flair that makes Magnus' alcoholic fiery drinks so much more enticing and appealing (tipsy Alec admiting he only tried that first drink Magnus offered him because he wanted to see what Magnus' magic fire tasted like and instead he got a mouthful of blue vodka and everclear and a part of him has never forgiven Magnus for that betrayal and Magnus is always treated to a wrinkle of Alec's nose when he's offered a new drink before he tries it). Magnus doesn't say anything about it because he thinks its both adorable and hilarious.

[sagittariuswritings]

Darling

Pairing: Tech x F!Reader

Word count: 3.5k

Prompt: Mostly fluff, a teensy sprinkle of angst. No use of Y/n

Warnings: typical canon violence, smooching, slightly awkward situation

a/n: i just started the bad batch a few weeks ago and while i haven't finished season 3 yet, i have unfortunately recently became a victim to plan 99. needless to say, i took that personally, considering i haven't written something in years. tech took a minute to grow on me, but when i fell for him i fell harder than he did (i'm so sorry i'm trying to cope ok i'm still recovering) - i'll stop rambling now, but basically this probably sucks as i'm super rusty so i do apologize! look at this as a way of me getting back on my feet and potentially dipping my toes into writing more wooo! (btw this fic was supposed to be a flashback in a different fic i was writing. i ended up liking this as a standalone and trashing the other one) *not proof read!*

"I've always wanted to visit Alderaan. I would've preferred to see it with its endless blue sky and warm sun, though, not during the rainiest time of the year." You frowned a little, stepping out of the Maurauder with Omega, Tech, and Echo while Hunter & Wrecker stayed on the ship.

"Y'know, as much as it rained on Kamino, I still love it!" Omega chirped, smiling up at the sky and allowing the water to fall onto her face.

That was enough to make you smile. You made your way over to her and pulled up the hood of her cloak so far up that it covered her face. "Hey!" She griped, reaching up to move the hood to rest atop her head. You smirked, a small chuckle passing your lips as she lightly bumped a closed fist into your side.

"You'll catch a cold if you're not careful with your admiraiton for the rain." You commented, your left hand coming to land softly on her shoulder.

"You'll catch my wrath!" She giggled, raising her fists in a fighting manner.

"Ooooh I'm so scared" You teased, hands over your heart in false fear.

Tech had his nose in his datapad as per usual, but he kept at least one eye the two of you as the banter continued.

"You should be!" She went to tackle you (All 60 some-odd pounds of her), when Echo held her back by her wrist.

"Alright, that's enough, children." He shook his head, a small smile on his lips. Not that he minded the sibling-like banter, he was just more focused on the mission.

"Right... We're stealing fancy clothing from a corrupt businessman?" You recalled, pulling the hood of your well-worn cloak up onto your head.

"That is one way to put it, yes. Cid has instructed us to steal a singular container filled to the brim with items of clothing that someone on her endless list of clientele is paying good credits to get their hands on. Or paws, whichever species this client is, I am unsure." Tech had put his datapad away now, attention on the three in front of him.

"Didn't exactly see myself visiting Alderaan for the first time for illegal purposes... Hopefully its as easy as she made it sound." You sighed, pulling your scarf up to serve as a mask to cover below your eyes. You'd rather not be caught stealing with your face on display. Ideally, you'd like to return here in the future simply on a mission to enjoy the planet.

"When is it ever as easy as she makes it sound?" Tech returned your sigh with a sigh of his own, his eyes meeting yours.

"Fair point. Let's get this over with."

.

The trek to the village was a rather long one.

A quiet cuss slipped past your lips as the rain soaked through your old cloak, making its way to your clothes - which were quickly becoming damp, and likely soon to be drenched considering the rain wasn't letting up any time soon.

You hadn't noticed Tech glance back at you until his pace slowed to meet yours, Echo and Omega now leading the group. "It appears that your old reliable cloak isn't quite as reliable as you've claimed it to be." Behind his goggles, his eyes searched for yours, which were trained on the path until he spoke up.

"Well, did I mention I picked it up on Tatooine?"

"A planet that never rains?"

"That's the one."

"That was hardly a wise choice, considering the terrible business-folk scattered all over that planet. Not to mention the fact that they were selling you a cloak that I presume was labeled as rain resistant?"

"It wasn't for sale." You bumped shoulders with him. With your scarf pulled over your mouth, he was unable to see the small mischievous smile forming on your lips, but your eyes told the same story of mischief.

His steps stuttered for half a second as he processed your words. "Allow me to get this straight - you stole a cloak off of a desert planet and assumed it could protect you against all weather?"

"I never claimed it was the wisest decision I've ever made." You shrugged, fingers pulling the cloak as close to you as possible.

"It wasn't an entirely horrible decision if you were planning to use it for certain desert purposes, such as easing the rays of the sun or breaking the harshness of the wind. The horrible decision was keeping the cloak and using it for rain." He stated, poking the sopping material covering your body.

"I'm well aware of this, thank you, Tech." You mumbled, sounding a bit defeated as you returned your gaze to the path ahead.

Tech decided against speaking on his thoughts. Instead, he chose to let his actions speak for him later.

.

The mission was going well thus far. The four of you were in a storage room connected to the clothing store. Unfortunately for all of you, Cid's client had a list of everything that was supposed to be in the container. Omega and Echo were sorting through the clothing while Tech was checking off each item on his datapad. You were standing guard by the door that connected to the store, just in case the storeowner entered the room. Your cloak was discarded in a corner of the room, not planning on putting that thing back on.

"Everything alright? Do I need to fly overhead for a quick escape?" Hunter's voice sounded over the comms, probably wondering why no one's checked in for a while.

"Quite alright, Hunter, it's taking a hair longer than previously anticipated to make sure all the contents are in this container." Tech responded.

A moment or so goes by when you hear Omega gasp. You turned in their direction, and Echo was blocking your view. "We're ready to go." He said, something off in his voice. You squinted your eyes up at him before nudging him out of your original line of sight.

"You good?" You asked Omega, who was making her way over to you.

"Yep! I uh- almost got my finger stuck in the container, is all."

Hardly believable, so you shift your gaze to Tech, who had his nose buried in his datapad for a moment before he looked up at you. "All set."

Beyond confused but ready to return to your warm blankets on the Maurauder, you pushed your suspicions to the back of your mind and shrugged, heading towards the exit when the door you had just walked away from slid open, revealing the unsuspecting storeowner, a rather high-class looking woman behind him.

"Shit." All of you, including Omega, cursed.

"What the blazes is going on here?!" The storeowner roared, blaster raised, to which you raised your blaster in his direction.

The woman behind the man turned around and ran out of the store, more than likely to find local authorities, or even more likely, her personal bodyguards.

The storeowner wasted no time shooting a blaster bolt in you direction, which you narrowly dodged, but not narrowly enough. The smell of something burning quickly reached your nostrils and the slight burn in your right shoulder following made you groan. Tech noticed this immediately and wasted no time sending a stun bolt into the man's chest, sending him backwards and onto the floor with a loud thud.

"Hunter, we may need that pick-me-up." Echo tapped into his comm as the four of you slipped out the back door, the container of clothes in his arms. Omega followed Echo, and you followed Omega, Tech bringing up the rear. Your brain barely had time to register the faint presence of his hand on your lower back before blaster fire erupted on your right. Both you and Tech put yourselves in front of Omega & Echo, Tech close at your side you as you each sent stun bolts in the direction of the blaster fire.

"Sooner better than later, Hunter!" Echo griped, trying not to drop the container as you all continued forward, finding cover in the trees. You'd expected a snippy response from the sergeant over the comms; instead the response was the sound of the Maurauder flying overhead, cables quickly dropping down to where the four of you were.

"What happened to quick and easy stealth mission?" Hunter grumbled over the comms, holding the ship steady as Echo hooked the cable to the container.

Rolling your eyes, you focused your blaster fire, trying to cover Omega as she made her way to the cables. She ended up slipping in the mud, letting out a squeak as she did so. Concern and adrenaline rushed through you. You threw a glance at Tech, silently asking him to cover you as you ran to Omega's side, picking her up and handing her to Echo on top of the container. "Go!" You shouted at them, returning some more blaster fire.

The cable pulled the container with Echo & Omega atop up to the ship, to safety, as you turned on your heel to aid Tech in your escape, but you hadn't noticed that Tech made it to the second cable until you felt his arm wrap around your waist and pull your body close to his. He immediately recognized he had startled you. "Apologies, but we must hurry. Hang on." His hold on your waist tightened as the cable pulled the both of you to safety, your back pressed into his broad chest and both your hands holding onto his arm around your middle for dear life. Similar to Wrecker, you weren't too entirely keen on heights.

When you finally reached the ramp of the Maurauder, you and Tech separated, but only slightly. As you both rushed inside, his hand had remained on your lower back yet again, making sure you made it inside safely.

"Hang onto something." Hunter shouted, and the ship jerked seconds after. You would have fallen over if Tech hadn't grabbed your hand and practically dragged you to the seats. Once secure, you relaxed just a hair. You almost wondered how you were able to keep calm as Hunter was moving the ship around so frantically, when you realized your hand was tightly gripping Tech's. You almost let go, but his eyes were already gazing into yours. "I've got you."

.

Once the ship finally entered hyperspace, you felt like you could breathe a little better, your hand going limp in Tech's hand and head lowering a little in exhaustion. "Let us have a look at your shoulder." He waisted no time making sure you were okay, already on his feet in front of you, slowly allowing your hand to drop so that you could release the safety bar.

Grumbling something under your breath, you reluctantly stood. "It's quite literally just a scratch, Tech... We don't need to waste supplies on something so small."

"Would you like for it to become infected and turn into something far worse than its current state?" Tech quickly replied. He hadn't removed his helmet yet, but you didn't need to see his face to know that his face was in a pinch

Holding his gaze for a moment, you debated on what to say, but you were too tired to argue. Wordlessly, you turned, making your way ahead of him to the bunks. You took a seat on the edge of one of the bottom bunks, looking up at him expectantly. "What do you need from me, Doc?" You teased, folding your arms over your chest.

Tech removed his helmet, gently setting it beside you before focusing his eyes on your shoulder. He removed his battle-worn gloves, trying to be as sterile as possible. Gently, he moved some fabric of your top around, trying to get a better look at the wound. A sigh passed his lips. Sure, the blaster bolt hadn't made a significant impact, but for just a graze, it wasn't pretty. "This is not simply a scratch, Cyar'ika."

His choice of words caused your heart to stutter, and you felt like a handful of butterflies stirred in your stomach, even if you didn't understand what it meant. You were suddenly aware of every slight touch of his, feeling like your skin was on fire from such a small touch on your shoulder.

As he stood straight, Tech hesitantly spoke up. "I need you to remove your top."

You blankly stared at him, still adjusting to his nickname for you only a moment ago. Taking a moment to gather your senses, you muttered "At least take me to dinner first." Your hands dropped to the hem of your shirt, beginning to remove your shirt when you felt Tech's hands cover your own, a hint of... was that concern in his eyes? You couldn't tell.

"While I hardly see how me taking you out to dinner has any impact on mending to your injury, I-"

"Oh my stars, Tech-" You let out a laugh, gently taking his hands into your own for a moment. "I was joking... We... Can discuss dinner another time." Giving him a warm smile, you released his hands, returning to the task of removing your shirt. You discarded your shirt onto the floor, doing your best to relax as you sat in front of Tech, now only wearing a bra from the waist up.

Unsurprisingly, Tech was a complete and utter gentleman. He only took half a second to regain composure before he returned to the task at hand: Your shoulder.

As his fingers began working at dressing your wound, he could almost sense the tension beneath your skin since you removed your top. "Do try and relax," His voice was just as soft as the occasional dance of his fingers along your skin. "I've got you."

You could've melted in that very moment, but if you had, Tech would've more than likely scolded you for not holding still. Admittedly, you wanted nothing more than for his touch to never leave your skin.

"What does that word mean? Cyar'ika?"

Silence and stillness met your question, causing you to look up at Tech. Not often was he silent when asked a question, normally he'd flow into a long, more often than not, complicated, answer. It only took a few seconds before he cleared his throat and spoke up, but it was noticable to you.

"Cyar'ika originates from the Mandalorian language, Mando'a. It translates to terms of endearment," The lighting on the Maurauder was horrible, but you could make out the faintest touch of pink on his cheeks as he continued. "such as darling or sweetheart." He finished laying the bacta over your wound, almost hesitant to meet your gaze.

All you could hear was the distant hum of the Maurauder in hyperspace and the relatively fast beat of your heart against your chest.

"I... got you something."

"What?" You blinked. When the kriff did he have time to get you something recently?

As Tech stepped away, you leaned down to grab your previously discarded shirt, pulling it over your head. He removed his pack from his back and set it on the floor to rummage through it. At the top of the pack was a green cloak, which he tugged out. He took a seat beside you on your right, the material resting in his hands. "I would not recommend wearing it around Ord Mantell any time soon, you may run into a very unhappy client of Cid's."

Before your fingers reached the cloak, you froze, trying to read his face. "What do you mean? Wha-" Realization dawned on you. That's why Omega was acting so odd and why Echo had not so subtly tried to block your view of Tech earlier. "You did not!"

"Steal from a client of Cid's and completely erase it off of the list of items that the client requested?" He looked proud of himself. "I did."

"You-" Your hands covered your mouth as you stifled a laugh. "I cannot believe you did that!"

"Well it seemed reasonable, considering how horrible the promised payment was, and I simply could not allow you to keep wearing that awful cloak from Tatooine." All he did was shrug before he lifted it a bit, giving you a better look at it. It had more material to cover the chest than your previous one had, which would give much better guarantee of not getting drenched in the rain. "I scanned the material of each item in that container, and this one seemed the best fit for what you need. May I?" He ebbed it towards you, hinting to helping you adorn it.

You nodded, a smile seeming to take permanent residence on your lips for the time being. He lifted it above your head before lowering it onto your shoulders, the hood resting weightlessly atop your head. Tech quietly reached into your space, adjusting your hair as needed, seemingly knowing that the cloak had trapped your hair uncomfortably beneath its material. Finally, he adjusted a few stray hairs along your face by tucking them behind your ears, and leaned back a little, admiring his work and allowing his hands to settle on his thighs.

"The material is Gabal wool. Gabals are a furry creature native to and often discovered on Rhinnal, particularly the Zirfan Glacier. According to my research, Rhinnal is quite an extraordinary planet. Located in the Darpa sector of the core worlds, there seemed to be incredible medicinal breakthroughs- Are you alright?"

Busted. You couldn't help but adore him more than ever in this very moment. The break of his tangent brought you back to reality, blinking a few times before responding. "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you stop. I just-" Words were difficult right now as you practically choked down the feelings that were bubbling to the surface. "I appreciate you." Horrible choice of words. Obviously you loved the entire crew, including Tech, and you were pretty certain he was aware of this, but saying it directly to his face while you were juggling the feelings in your heart just didn't seem possible. "I love it when you explain things in great detail." That wasn't a lie, you definitely enjoyed listening to him talk.

"You do?" His voice was quieter now.

Nodding and your heart quickening, you spoke up once more. "What was that Mando'a word? Cyar'ika?" It was his turn to nod. "Can I call you that?"

Tech actually looked confused for a brief moment before speaking. "Of course... It's a term of endearment." He reminded you, that faint pink hitting his cheeks once again.

"I know. Thank you... Cyar'ika."

A number of heartbeats passed before his right hand found your left that was resting quietly on your thigh, lacing his fingers through your own. With his left hand, cupped your cheek. His honeyed eyes searched yours for consent, and you gave the faintest of nods before he leaned in to press his forehead against your own, dropping his gaze to take a moment to reminisce in your touch.

Like the waves on Kamino, Tech's lips crashed into your own. While you had been expecting it, it still caught you a little off guard. His left hand trailed from your cheek to the side of your neck, his thumb resting on your cheek, as your right hand traveled from his wrist to land on his chestpiece.

Too soon, he broke the kiss, his breathing heavy, matching your own. Your foreheads remained against each other, and when he went to sit up, you grabbed the upper edge of his chest piece and pulled him forward, accidentally bumping noses together as it was your turn to kiss him first. This urged a small gasp to escape him, not expecting the sudden contact. A small smile crossed your lips as you noticed his surprise, your right hand moving upward to the side of his neck as your lips parted, his own lips following in suit shortly.

You leaned into him, and his right hand released your left, and found your thigh, giving it a gentle squeeze, which earned a small noise of pleasure to escape you. Your left hand dragged up his arm from his hand, and landed on his shoulder, which you used to help pull yourself into his lap. He helped, of course, the hand on your thigh making its way to your hip for a moment.

Tech's left hand made its way to the base of your skull, finding your hair, which only encouraged another noise of pleasure from you. You felt his lips shift into a smirk before breaking the kiss, his eyes meeting yours immediately. "Do not allow me to forget to note your sensitive areas."

That earned him a smack on the chest, and a laugh from you. "You're a smug little shit. I know you, you wouldn't forget the galaxy's most difficult mathematical equation."

He returned your laugh with a soft chuckle, and reached up to cup your cheek again with his left hand. "You cannot imagine how long I have wanted to do that."

You leaned in for another kiss when knock at the door interrupted the two of you, both of your bodies tensing for a moment.

"A ridiculously long time. It's about time. Come on, you two, we need you out here." Hunter. Of course it was Hunter. Hunter and his stupid heightened senses.

[wonderingpanda]

He Likes Me

Rise!Donnie x Gn!Reader

This isn’t a request or part of anything bigger, just a happy oneshot to brighten your mood. Enjoy!

It was saturday which meant that April and Y/n were able to spend the day at the lair with their favourite turtle brothers. Donnie had been tinkering with some new gadget whatcha-ma-who, Mikey was reading through a new cookbook April brought him, Leo and Raph were caught up in a competitive video game while April and Y/n found themselves wrapped up in their phones. As for Splinter you may ask? He had some “important errands to run” whatever that meant.

Something that caught Aprils eye though was the focused expression on Y/n’s face and the consistent scrolling on their phone. Something was up.

“You ok Y/n?” She turned to face them. Y/n paused what they were doing and quickly tried to cover up the truth.

“Uh yep! Totally fine, there’s nothing going on at least not with me at the moment.” They flashed a bright toothy smile that couldn’t have seemed more fake, prompting Mikey to speak up from his book.

“Hmm I’m no expert, well maybe I am, but you don’t seem fine.” Leo looked over his shoulder towards the conversation.

“You can tell us if something’s bothering you.” Suddenly a loud crashing noise came from the game as Raph held his arms up in victory.

“Ha, yes! Suck it Leo!”

“Wha- no!” Leo dramatically called out after turning back to the screen. Donnie sighed and rolled his eyes at the sight.

“Dumb dumbs.” He muttered under his breath before looking over at Y/n.

“Look Y/n, we know you and you know us and knowing you there’s definitely something wrong so I highly recommend telling us what it is before Mikey and April try to force it out of you.”

“Mikey and April aren’t going to-“ Y/n cut themself off seeing the demonic looks on April and Mikey’s faces directed at them.

“Okay, okay I’ll come clean!” They shouted. “I have… *sigh* a date.”

“A date?” April looked at them.

“A date!?” Mikey, Leo and Raph all simultaneously spoke.

“A date…” Donnie reluctantly spoke out, feeling a sense of disappointment wash over him. No that wasn’t quite it, perhaps animosity?

“Oh ho Y/n pulling all the guys, or girls o-or- who are you going out with exactly?” Leo asked.

“Just some guy from school, his name’s Melvin.” Y/n explained. “He’s sweet and I think he really likes me.”

“But do you like him?” Mikey questioned, leaning in close towards them. Almost like an interrogation.

“Well yeah, I mean why else would I go out with him?”

“Hmmm.” Mikey stroked his chin consciously. “Fair point.” He backed away to a more comfortable distance.

“I’m just kind of nervous since it’s my first ever date and I don’t exactly want to make a bad impression.” April perked up at Y/n’s words and quickly grabbed their hand.

“Well if it’s help you need, then it’s help you’ll get. Bye boys we’ll be back in an hour!” April cheered and pulled Y/n off to her house. The brothers sat staring silently at where April and Y/n had been seconds ago.

“Uh, bye.” Raph spoke to no one now that they were gone.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

At April’s house, Y/n was trying on different outfits while they talked.

“Look Y/n, I’m happy you got this date and all but I’m confused, I thought you liked Donnie?” Y/n hesitated as they came out in their next outfit of choice.

“I… I do but I’ve decided that it might be time to move on.”

“Move on!?” This sent April into an internal panic. She knew Donnie liked Y/n and Y/n liked Donnie. If they moved on then the two might miss out on what could have been something incredible for both of them. Not to mention Donnie would be heartbroken!

“Yeah.” Y/n continued. “It’s just that I’ve liked him for years now. Since we were what, eight? And he hasn’t shown any signs of liking me back, at least none that I’ve noticed.”

“Well you never know, maybe he’s just worried that you won’t feel the same way about him.” April suggested in hopes of sending Y/n some hints.

“Maybe. But I just can’t help but feel as though I’m hanging on to something that’s never going to happen. That if I keep holding on to it I’ll continue miss out on other opportunities. I want to be able to have something with someone and I have to accept that that someone might not be Donnie.” Y/n sadly explained. Truthfully, they didn’t want to let their feelings for Donnie go but it was the healthy thing to do.

“That’s really mature of you Y/n.” April smiled sadly. She might not have wanted Y/n to let Donnie go however she couldn’t help but be proud of her younger friend.

“On a more positive note, what do we think of this? I was kind of going for casual but pretty and well done.” Y/n turned to show off different angles of the outfit to April.

“Girl you look gorgeous; anyone would grateful to get to see you tonight.” April hyped them up and the two excitedly hugged.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Back at the lair things weren’t going as great. Leo, Raph and Mikey knew of their brother’s long term feelings for Y/n and were struggling to find an appropriate way to console him.

“H-hey think about it this way, if it goes badly then you’ll be able to get closer to Y/n by comforting them.” Leo suggested, immediately receiving a smack on the back of his head from Raph.

“Leo are you suggesting I take advantage of Y/n’s emotional state and manipulate them into liking me by providing a source of comfort purely for my own personal gain?” Donnie frowned.

“Uh yes?” Leo hesitantly confirmed.

“Oh for the love of science, I’m looking for advice here Leo. I want to be supportive not narcissistic and callous!” Mikey quickly pushed Leo to the side in a futile attempt to save what little chance they had left of helping their brother.

“Don’t worry D. Look, everyone deals with all sorts of emotions from time to time and jealousy is an extremely common-“

“I’m not jealous.” Donnie cut Mikey off. The younger turtle sighed.

“Right. Well if you want to be able to be supportive of Y/n and not feel any resentment towards their arrangement then it might be time to… let those feelings go.” All three brothers exchanged nervous glances, unsure of how Donnie would react.

“You know what.” He spoke up. “You’re right, you are absolutely right. This has gone on for far too long and it’s time I moved on.”

“Wait seriously?” Raph raised an eyebrow at Donnie’s response. Unbelieving that he would be accepting so quickly.

“Yes seriously. From now on my feelings for Y/n are no more and nothing is going to change that.” Donnie turned around in pride only for his heart to stop at the sight. April and Y/n had finally returned and boy did Y/n look ever so gorgeous. “Sweet Galileo.” He whispered as his pupils shrunk.

“Hey boys we’re back!” April cheered as she and Y/n walked closer.

“Looking good Y/n.” Leo called out.

“You’re gonna own tonight.” Mikey cheered.

“And if he even thinks of laying a hand on you! Just call us, we’ll take care of it no problem.” Raph smiled brightly to cover up his protectiveness.

“Aww you guys are too kind. We do have to leave soon, again, but we just wanted to pop down to get a final verdict on the outfit. It seems you three like it, Donnie?” He turned to face Y/n who was now looking over in his direction. “What do you think?” He looked at them for a moment in contemplation before sighing and smiling warmly.

“You look… absolutely stunning. He’s a really lucky guy.” Y/n returned his look with a genuine smile.

“Thanks that means a lot coming from you.” They smiled bashfully at the ground, their cheeks turning red. The moment was cut short when Y/n noticed the time on their watch and went back to stressing.

“Ooh well it looks like it’s time to head off; I’ll let you guys know how it goes. Shall we?” Y/n smiled at April.

“We shall.” April nodded her head.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Bye Y/n! Make good choices!” April called out to Y/n who was now walking away with their date.

“I will!” Y/n smiled and laughed at Aprils enthusiasm. Melvin turned to face them.

“Your friend seems very eccentric.” He gave a toothy smile.

“She sure is.” Y/n agreed as the two walked away. Something odd caught April’s eye though. She noticed with the glint in his teeth how the boy looked almost like he had fangs. Her eyes quickly moved to examine Melvin once more before he disappeared from her vision and what she saw caused her to gasp in fear.

Under the boys large coat was the very end of a tail sticking out. Whatever he was, he certainly wasn’t human and the fact that he was hiding it couldn’t mean anything good.

She quickly dashed away, heading down the streets of NYC to find the nearest manhole.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Boys, we have a problem!”

The turtle brothers looked over at April who had quickly run into the lair.

“And that would be?” Leo asked, looking around carelessly.

“I think Y/n’s date might be a mutant.”

“No!” Raph called out as the boys shrieked in fear.

“Or a Yōkai.” April continued.

“Gasp!” Donnie shouted as the brothers let out an even more panicked reaction.

“Or even some sort of alien-type monster!”

“Oh my god!” Mikey cried, holding his head in his hands as they all pulled the most horrified looks they possibly could.

“Wait, wait, wait. What makes you think he (Maaa, Mor, M-Melvin was it?) could be any of those things?” Leo asked prompting the others to look to April for an answer.

“He had a tail and fangs. He was also clearly trying to hide it and I don’t know about you guys but whenever someone’s trying to hide that they’re a non-human creature I don’t usually take it as a good sign.”

Mikey frowned for a moment before looking back at April.

“But Y/n was so excited about this date. We can’t just go and ruin it now.”

“Yeah, I mean, and besides what if you’re wrong and the guy’s perfectly normal?” Raph had a good point, it was entirely possible this person wanted to cause no harm.

“Well if you guys don’t believe me then come see for yourselves. We won’t interrupt them, just take a good look at the guy because I am positive there is no way he’s human.” April suggested, she hoped they would agree because at this stage she couldn’t take on a whole mutant by herself even with Y/n’s assistance.

“If what you’re proposing is true, and I’m not saying it is, then I suppose it makes sense to go and check it out.” Donnie agreed, of course he did. Truthfully he was just taking this as an excuse to see how the two were going. How much Y/n liked him, if he was treating them right, how close they had gotten.

April sighed with relief that they had all agreed. She knew it was unlikely but somewhere deep down she hoped this guy wasn’t a threat. Hopefully, somehow, maybe Raph was right and he was totally harmless… hopefully.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As for Y/n, they were blissfully unawhere of any danger and were currently enjoying their romantic night.

“So do you have any hobbies?” They asked in hopes of getting to know more about Melvin.

“Oh nothing much, mainly artistry and a bit of sport. I was actually enlisted by this club to go and recruit new members for them.”

“Oh that sounds cool.” Y/n perked up. They didn’t want to give the impression they were overly interested but were curious about this ‘club’ nonetheless.

“Yeah it’s like a fighting arena type thing.” The guy went on. “It wasn’t easy but I guess they saw potential in me.”

“I guess they did.” Y/n smiled. They then looked around noticing how their surroundings had drastically changed from the rows of grey concrete buildings to a beautiful lush green park “This is my favourite part of the city! How did you know?”

“Lucky guess?” Melvin smiled and shrugged causing Y/n to laugh cheerfully and pull him along.

“Come on, let’s go!”

Unknown by the two teens, behind them were April and the turtles huddled tightly in a bush to discreetly watch them.

“Ugh I can’t see!” Leo whined in a hushed voice while trying to push Raph to the side.

“Then look harder. Don’t try to push me out, you’ll blow our cover!” Raph whispered back. Leo kept shoving around and pushed Donnie causing his goggles to fall on his head.

“Now I can’t see! What’s going on? Are they talking, have they kissed?”

“SHUT UP DONNIE!” The other four yelled before quickly hiding back in the bush in hopes they hadn’t made their presence known.

“Did you hear something?” Y/n asked, curiously turning around to see where the noise had come from.

“I didn’t hear anything” Melvin shrugged, his smile taking on an unnerving tone.

In the bush, Leo was still bickering with Raph. April was shoving Donnie to the side as he was being pushed into her by the force of Raph and Leo’s back-and-forth shoves. Poor Mikey was stuck nervously at the edge of the bush, watching Y/n and Melvin talk as he struggled to avoid exposing himself.

“Can you two please stop, that it is very annoying!” Donnie complained to his fighting brothers. Soon enough he managed to get enough space to move his goggles efficiently. He began to lift them up back to the designated spot on top of his head.

“Finally I can see what’s going on and- wait!” He stopped when he saw something curious as they passed over his eyes. He properly positioned them so he could see through them and began to inspect the scene in front of them.

“Uh guys, April may have been right.”

The two brothers stopped fighting and Mikey sighed in relief as he was one toe away from falling out.

“What are you talking about?” Raph asked.

“I can’t believe I didn’t think of checking sooner but this Melvin guy is radiating a lot of mystic energy.” Donnie spoke as he adjusted his goggles.

“Ha! I told you all!” April cheered and pointed at the brothers in victory. “Wait…” she then came to the realisation. “That’s not good, Y/n’s in danger! Code red, code red!”

“We don’t even have a code red!” Leo pointed out, exasperated.

“Ooh this is bad, what are we gonna do!?” Mikey panicked.

“What do you mean, ‘what are we gonna do’? I’ll tell you what we’re going to do, we’re going to go out there and kick some mystic butt!” Raph punched the palm of his hand. April and the three younger brothers all nodded their heads in sync.

Y/n and Melvin continued to walk around in the same spot for a while, still asking each other different questions.

“Uh what kind of friends do you have?” Melvin asked in an overly cheery tone.

“Well I’m fairly close with my best friend April and I have these four friends who I’ve known for quite sometime now.” Y/n answered blindly.

“Wow, they sound interesting. Tell me more about these friends.”

“Ok?” Y/n agreed in a questioning matter. “They’re brothers and each kind of have their own thing which is one of the things I really like about them. The oldest is super tough and strong, the youngest is an amazing chef and incredibly cheerful, the second oldest is very flamboyant and his slightly younger brother, who we call his twin but isn’t actually his twin, is the smarts of the group.”

“Exciting!” Melvin commented. They must make great fighters.”

“Yeah…” Y/n trailed off. “Wait how did you make that connection?”

Melvin began to darkly chuckle. “You know I really didn’t expect it to be this easy.”

Y/n started slowly backing away. “Mel you’re kinda freaking me out here.”

“I mean capturing four superpowered mutants, now how was I meant to do that?” He smiled.

“Mutants!? Melvin what are you talking abou-“

“But then it hit me. I didn’t have to capture them, I only needed to capture you.”

Y/n quickly turned to run away but it was too late. Melvin had transformed into a beastly lizard yōkai and grabbed them before they could get away.

“Ugh no, help!” They tried to reach their phone but their arms were pressed tightly up against their sides. Just as they were ready to attempt an escape four figures jumped from behind a bush and landed infront of the towering Melvin.

“Let her go you scaly monster!” Raph demanded.

“Yeah, or else we’ll have to go full Lou Jitsu on you!” Mikey shouted while getting into a fighting pose.

“How dare you capture our beautiful beloved friend and mess with their feelings!” Donnie stated, preparing his tech-bō for battle.

“Is your name even Melvin!?” Leo pointed an accusatory finger towards him.

“Actually no, feel free to call me Nivlem!”

“Nivlem. Your real name is just your fake name flipped around?” Leo challenged.

“Uh yeah, what’s wrong with that?” Melvin asked.

“I don’t know it just seems a little basic.” He shrugged.

“W-well what are your other villains called? You know what, never mind I’ll just change it to something cooler like… The Destructor!”

“Mmm no.” Leo shook his head.

“Ooh I know!” Mikey pitched in. “How about… The Destructinator!”

“Now that is a cool villain name!” Leo smiled.

“Whatever, you guys are losers! Now, I’ll make this nice and easy for you; turn yourselves into Big Mama or else I’ll crush the bones of your friend till there’s nothing left to break.” The Destructinator threatened, squeezing Y/n tightly enough to cause them discomfort but not enough to severely injure them yet.

The brothers stood still in silent fear for their friend. If they were to so much as make a move to fight then Y/n would be crushed but turning themselves into Big Mama wasn’t exactly an ideal option either.

Y/n managed to squeeze themself out of The Destructinator’s grip just enough to cough out a sentence. “So let me guess, that fight club you recruit for is actually the Battle Nexus?”

“Uh yeah, I figured that would be obvious by now.” He replied, squeezing Y/n back into place much to the panic of the four turtles. Their face-off was soon broken when a loud yell came from behind and April smacked The Destructinator harshly in the side of the head with her bat. He stumbled and dropped Y/n who was thankfully caught by Donnie in the nick of time.

“Thanks Donnie, thought I was goner there for a second.” They looked up at Donnie causing him to blush and avoid their gaze.

“Well it was nothing, just making sure my friend doesn’t turn into a pancake.” He let them down as they turned back to April who ran up to give them a hug.

“Oh thank goodness you’re ok. When that guy comes to his senses I’m going to smack the life out of him!” She announce while fiercely tapping her bat into the palm of her hand.

“Thanks April.” Y/n smiled. “Wait what were you guys doing here anyway I thought you were all back at the lair!?” They asked.

“Well yeah about that you see-“ Leo began with the intent of covering up with a lie.

“April said she saw something weird about your date so we followed you here and watched you two to see if he was dangerous!” Mikey blurted out.

“So you stalked me?” Y/n questioned.

“Uh yeah. But only with good intentions.” Raph replied.

“And it worked out cause if we hadn’t you’d most likely be a prisoner of Big Mama.” April defended to try and make out the situation in a positive light.

“Don’t worry I’m not mad, just be glad you were right or else I’d be livid.” Y/n reassured them.

The Destructinator began to finally wake up and rubbed the side of his head April had hit.

“Ouch, that really hurt!” He took note that Y/n was with the turtles safely and growled. “Fine, if you won’t turn yourselves in then I’ll do it for you.”

The Destructinator then charged forward and smashed his fist on the ground, separating the group. April, now on the ground with her hands supporting her weight, gripped her bat and stood up with a fire in her eyes.

“Oh that’s it!” She took the opportunity while his hand was on the ground to run up his arm. April attempted to swing her bat at his head again but was stopped by his other hand and thrown against a tree.

“Hey Destructinator!” Mikey wrapped the chain of his kusari-fundo around The Destructinator’s wrist. “Take this!” He attempted to pull him down but was instead thrown into the air and fell smack on the ground. “Ouchie.”

Leo decided to antagonise the lizard yōkai by running behind him and cheerfully calling.

“Yoo hoo, Destructinator!” The Destructinator turned around and rapidly began throwing punches all of which Leo dodged in a glamorous manner. It was when he chose to close his eyes and start bragging “Ha! Can’t touch Neon Leon.” that The Destructinator was able to land a punch and send him flying.

He turned around and spotted Y/n, picking them up once more as they struggled against his grip.

“I warned you, now time to suffer the consequences.” He prepared to crush them to bits until Donnie shouted.

“Hey, hands off you overgrown lacertilia!” He held his tech-bō sturdily as a giant missile formed at the back. He ran forward and smashed it directly in The Destructinator’s face causing him to wobble backwards.

Y/n noticed his grip loosen and freed herself, sliding down the lizard and running off to Donnie’s side.

Once it stopped hurting The Destructinator took his hand off his face and stared down at Donnie in rage.

“Why you little-“

“Hey!” Raph yelled out, directing The Destructinator’s attention to him. “Pick on someone your own size!” He then used his powers to form his bigger body which towered over the lizard. “Or a little bigger.” He smirked and lifted up The Destructinator with both of his hands, yelled “Hot Soup!” before slamming him into the ground.

The Destructinator began coughing and clearing dust out of his eyes till he noticed Y/n standing off bedside some trees.

Upon noticing his stare they ran and he quickly stood, taking chase.

“Hey, get back here!”

What he didn’t see was Y/n smiling and looking back at him before passing another tree. As he went to do the same, April jumped out and smacked him in the face with her bat.

He held his head in pain before being twisted around by Mikey’s kusari-fundo and spun around again when being quickly released.

As The Destructinator teetered on one foot in his dizzy state; Leo opened a portal beside him and pushed him in, leaning over the edge while the yōkai fell to yell out.

“Tell Big Mama we said hi!”

He stood back and finally closed the portal causing everyone to cheer.

Donnie looked towards Y/n and quickly ran to them, holding their shoulders.

“Are you ok, did he hurt you badly?”

“I’m fine Donnie.” They placed their hands on his shoulders in return. He quickly hugged them tightly which caught Y/n off guard as he isn’t known for being a hugger. But instead of questioning it they embraced the hug and enjoyed it while it lasted.

Sadly that wasn’t very long as the others began gathering around them. The two separated and April swung an arm around Y/n’s shoulders.

“From now on I’m interrogating all your dates.”

“Haha.” Y/n let out a dry laugh. “Please tell me you’re joking.”

“Nope!” April smiled and everyone burst into laughter as they began walking home.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The day ended with Y/n in Donnie’s lab, leaning on the back of a chair while scrolling on their phone as he carefully worked on repairing a broken piece of equipment.

“I’m sorry about your date Y/n.”

“It’s fine. Besides I’m not really counting this one since it sucked and didn’t actually end up being a date at all.”

He looked over to them relaxing and felt a wave of concern at how peaceful they were, perhaps they were in denial?

“Apologies for my skepticism but you seem rather happy for someone who was nearly killed by a mutant lizard pretending to be their date.” He fully turned his chair in their direction this time, giving them his full attention.

“Well I guess maybe it’s because I didn’t actually like Melvin that much, or The Destructinator I suppose.” They looked up from their phone in deep thought.

“So if you didn’t really like him then why agree to go out with him?”

“Desperation maybe? I think a part of me just felt a bit crushed and was looking for something to hide my feelings.”

“Your feelings?” Donnie questioned, wanting to push further on the conversation.

“It’s nothing just a guy, a different one, one I actually do like but I don’t think he likes me back.” Y/n cringed, scrunching up into a smaller ball as they reflected on the situation.

“And who might this other guy be?” Donnie frowned, feeling like the weight in his chest had just been replaced by a heavier one.

“He’s a very special person, I’ve known him for a while now and liked him for the best part of I don’t know how many years.” They looked at the roof to try and recall how long it had been.

“Oh.” He replied, heart sinking further into the ground.

“He has a funny personality and can be so smart but so dumb at the same time. April thinks he likes me but I’m still set on the fact that he doesn’t and probably never will.”

As Donnie kept putting the pieces together he gathered an idea in his mind. Someone smart and stupid whom Y/n had known for a long time and also had affiliations with April. He gasped.

“Leo!?”

“No it’s not Leo!” Y/n quickly shouted back.

“Is it Mikey!?”

“No Donnie it’s not any of your brothers!”

“Well then who else have you known for so long!?”

Y/n stopped for a moment, unsure how to proceed. They were tempted to tell him the truth, just get it over and done with, rip the Band-Aid off. But what would it mean for their friendship? What consequences would telling him bring? They made their choice and with a shaky breath quietly replied.

“You.”

Donnie’s heart stopped for a moment before he came to his senses. They liked him. They actually liked him! This mysterious guy he was planning on hunting down was him! He didn’t know that to do, dance, laugh, cry? Without thinking he shoved his chair forwards and pulled Y/n into a kiss. Their foreheads touched as the two leant in closer, both still in equal shock.

“Why would you think I don’t like you?” Donnie asked as he pulled away.

“I don’t know.” Y/n answered blankly. “Do you like me?”

“Yes you dumb dumb!” He laughed and the two kissed once more. Unfortunately for them it was cut short by the sound of a camera snapping. They looked towards the entrance only to see Leo’s head sticking out behind his phone.

“Oooh Pops is gonna looove this!” He cackled and ran away, waving his phone in the air.

“I’ll be right back.” Donnie frowned as he grabbed some gun-looking device off his bench and took chase screaming.

“Leo!”

Y/n laughed, watching him l run off, with their head leaning on one hand. As they smiled distractedly one thought filled their mind ‘He likes me!’

That’s all. Not much to say here but hope you enjoyed reading and have an amazing day/night wherever you are!✨

[lovebugism]

OK the fall prompt "rainy walks" got me thinking like... what if reader got upset about something and went for a walk and got caught in the rain, and ended up running into Steve who is just out walking and loving the fall gloomy vibe

ty for requesting! — steve runs into his ex while trying to escape a bunch of freaks and finds out you're running from something of your own (exes to lovers, hurt/comfort, tw mentions of toxic relationships, 1.9k)

fictober (㇏(•̀ᵥᵥ•́)ノ)

Steve doesn’t usually smoke. He dropped that habit when he graduated high school and realized he only needed a cigarette when his group of asshole friends were around. He smoked because it felt cool mostly, but also because it felt good to be distracted from his lingering feelings of non-belonging.

Now he’s got people around him who make him feel like he belongs. 

It’s too bad they’re all a bunch of freaks.

After being cooped up in the Munson trailer all day, he thinks he’s developed something short of cabin fever. Desperate to get away, he swiped one of Eddie’s cigs and a forgotten zippo before heading out to smoke on the back porch.

He exhales grey smoke from his pink lips. It leaves in invisible wisps beneath heavy storm clouds. He thinks he hears a voice over the muffled sound of Dustin Henderson’s yelling. “Fucking asshole— who do you think you are?” the voice speaks, familiar in a way that makes his stomach ache. “Like, fuck you, dude. You don’t get to talk to me like that. No fucking way.”

He peeks around the corner, and there he finds you — an old ex from a lifetime ago that he hasn’t quite gotten over yet. His chest starts to tighten. He can’t tell if he’s happy to see you or utterly horrified.

You’re still dressed in your pajamas despite it being early afternoon — if an oversized t-shirt that certainly doesn’t belong to you can be counted as pajamas, anyway. It’s a white and red Metallica tee that falls to your knees, slightly frayed at the hem. 

It probably belonged to Billy before it belonged to you. If Steve had to guess, you probably stole it like you did all his shirts. He still isn’t sure what came of his favorite Hawkins Tigers sweatshirt.

You come down the road from the Hargrove-Mayfield trailer, looking like you left in a rush. You’re barely dressed and shivering in the cold, walking fast like you’re angry and desperate to get away.

You and Steve broke up a long time ago, but his heart still swells with the familiar urge to protect you.

“Are you okay?” Steve calls to you as he rounds the corner of the Munson trailer.

The crunchinggravel beneath your feet goes quiet when you still. Your head whips toward the sound of the familiar voice, eyes widening when you find Steve there. Your heart starts to race — not because you’ve just run into your ex, but because you’ve run into your ex who you kinda sorta ditched several months ago.

“Huh?”

“I asked if you were okay,” he repeats with a quiet, lopsided grin. He flicks the end of his cigarette with his thumb and tries to meet your gaze. “Sounded like you were giving someone a hell of a talking to.”

Your face flares with embarrassment. You shift your weight on your feet and cross your arms over your chest — partly to shield from the crisp cold but mostly to comfort yourself. “Yeah. I’m just— I was just talking to myself,” you stammer, flashing a wavering smile that doesn’t meet your eyes. “I’m good.”

Steve nods, then squints like he doesn’t believe you. “Okay… Are you sure?”

A laugh tumbles from your mouth. It’s cynical and bitter and utterly forced.

“Yes, Steve. I’m fine,” you assure with a bite to your tone, colder than the grey autumn around you. You smile through it anyway, like you’re trying to convince yourself just as much as him. “You don’t have to worry about me anymore. You’re not my boyfriend.”

Steve knows this. He hasn’t been your boyfriend for a while, but something about the way you say it makes his chest ache. He isn’t sure why.

“No, I know,” he nods quickly, shrugging with his brows pinched. “But I’m never gonna, like, not worry about you, you know?”

The empty feeling in your chest starts to warm. Your nails dig crescent shapes into your arms.

“Why?” you murmur.

“I don’t know. Because you were really important to me, I guess— you are really important to me. And that doesn’t just, like… go away,” Steve rambles, shier than you’ve ever seen him. He swipes an anxious hand through his cinnamon locks. The rouge strands hanging over his forehead fall back into place a second later.

Even though your boyfriend forced you not to talk to any of your friends, he wants to say. Even though you’re not mine anymore.

It’s been so long since someone’s been this soft with you. You’re not used to it anymore. You’d much rather him be mean because at least then you’d have a place to put all your anger.

“That’s… That’s nice,” you mutter under your breath like an idiot because you don’t know what else to say.

Steve takes one last puff of his cigarette, if only to distract himself from the awkward silence. He takes a deep breath in and tosses the stick to the gravel, exhaling the smoke as he snuffs out the ash with his sneaker.

“Where were you, uh— Where were you headed?”

“Nowhere. I was just… on my way back home.”

His brows furrow. He doesn’t bother to hide his concern. “Do you have a car?”

“Nope,” you answer with a sigh. “Still don’t have my license, so…”

“Still?”

You nod, scrunching your nose all sheepish. “I know…”

“We used to practice all the time!”

Steve’s golden laugh makes you smile despite yourself. “Honestly, I’m still a little scarred from when I almost hit that deer.”

He nods at the memory, quietly nostalgic and warm with it. 

That was on the way to Deep Green Cove, where the two of you were headed to meet his parents at their over-the-top lake house. He let you drive because he knew you’d been wanting to and thought the vacant countryside road would be easiest for you to practice on.

It hadn’t been.

And you did it all for nothing because his parents didn’t even show.

It was a good weekend, though. He can’t believe he forgot about it until now.

“Yeah, that’s fair, I guess,” Steve shrugs with his head tilted to his shoulder. “It took me three days to get you in the car again.”

“I’m pretty sure I cried, like, all night after that.”

“Yeah, my t-shirt still has tear stains on it, actually,” he teases with a boyish chuckle.

Your own giggle sputters from your mouth. You hide it with your palm — like you feel guilty about it. It feels good to laugh, though. To remember that you used to cry over stupid stuff like that and not shit that actually breaks your heart.

A fat raindrop plops cold on your shoulder. You wince. “Oh, fuck— I gotta go.”

“Let me take you,” Steve offers without thinking twice.

You stumble back when he steps towards you, shaking your head to dismiss him. “No. It’s okay.”

“C’mon. Just let me drive you home—”

“I’m fine.”

“I’m not letting you walk in the rain.”

“It’ll be okay—”

“You’ll freeze.”

You scoff a bitter laugh. “It’ll be better than what Billy does to me if he finds out I was alone with Steve The Hair Harrington.”

You say it like it’s a joke, and it isn’t, really, but Steve isn’t laughing anyway. His chiseled features twist in concern, like your words have somehow pained him. “What do you mean?”

“Nothing,” you answer, perhaps too quickly, laughing as you shake your head. “It was just— It was a stupid joke. I’m just being dramatic.”

“Are you saying he’ll hit you?” he wonders in a quiet murmur, far too somber than you’d like.

“No— what? No!” you stammer quickly, face as screwed up as his scruffy one. You start to ramble before you realize it. “Billy isn’t like that, okay? He’s just— He’s a fucking baby, and he’s dramatic, and I’d love to go one day without being fucking gaslit. That’s all. I’d rather just freeze on my ten-minute walk back home than have him berate me about hanging out with my ex.”

A few more raindrops fall. Spots of ashy gravel turn to a darker shade of grey. 

Steve grows quiet, letting the gentle cadence of water on tin roofs fill the silence. His chest aches all over again. He can’t decide if he’s sad for you or angry at Billy or grieving that he ever let you go in the first place. Maybe a mix of all three.

His hands tremble with the intensity of the swirling emotions, but it’s still in his nature to be soft with you.

“Do you wanna come inside?” he wonders, nodding back towards the trailer.

“To Eddie’s?”

“Yeah.”

“…No,” you answer with the shake of your head, face twisted like the offer offends you. It does, but only because you’re almost sure Eddie hates you now. You wouldn’t blame him if he did. If your best friend chose some asshole over you, you’d hate them too.

“No?”

“I haven’t talked to him in forever— I haven’t talked to any of you in forever.”

“It’s okay,” Steve nods, so gentle it makes you writhe.

“No, it’s not, Steve. I ditched all of you. I was awful to you.”

You don’t want his gentleness. You want him to hate you. You don’t deserve his warmth or the one inside Eddie’s trailer, practically aglow with the laughter of all the friends you left behind. You deserve the isolation. You deserve to stand in the rain and freeze.

“It’s okay,” he repeats, a newfound insistence in his tone like he wants you to really hear him. His bushy brows raise and his honey eyes sparkle, golden even in the grey. “We know why. We know it’s not your fault.”

You falter, swallowing through a closing throat. “You do?”

“Yeah. And we don’t— we don’t blame you for it, okay? For any of it. We miss you, actually.”

The crooked pink grin he flashes should comfort you, but it only makes you shrink inside yourself. “You’re just saying that,” you murmur, disbelieving and dripping with self-loathe.

“Ask Robin if you don’t believe me,” Steve tells you, smiling wider now. “Actually, she was just talking about how making fun of me isn’t as fun without you.”

You don’t want to believe him, but you glow with the faint hope that he’s telling the truth, anyway. 

“Really?”

“Really,” the boy nods, then grimaces when the light rain grows suddenly heavier. His brows scrunch as he holds out an arm towards you. “Screw your boyfriend, okay? Just come inside. We can take care of everything else after.”

You want so desperately to take the hand he holds out for you. Your fingers twitch at your side with the longing to hold him, but you don’t let yourself — even though it goes against all your human instincts not to. 

You’re made slightly braver than he had said we. “We can take care of that later,” he’d promised, a subtle assurance that you aren’t as alone in all this as you feel. But you often feel like you’re a black hole at times — you don’t want to suck anyone else into the mess you’re in.

“I don’t know…” you waver, teeth threatening to chatter when a breeze makes the rain colder.

“C’mon, before both of us get soaked—” Steve laughs when it starts to rain harder. All the clouds begin to pour at once. You rush to him before you can think twice about it. His palm is warm at the small of your back when he ushers you towards the trailer.

Beneath the high-pitched squeaking of the screen door, you hear Steve mumble behind you. “Dustin’s gonna fucking flip when he sees you.”

[lightlycareless]

warnings: highschool au. fluff. small proofreading.

Sometimes I wonder how does your father take the fact that Naoya is, first of all your boyfriend which although supportive of him because he’s a hopeless romantic at heart too, he can’t help but worry and from time to time. He doesn’t want you rushing things that might lead to some dreadful regrets, after all!

But what surprises him most is probably the fact that he gives you all that you want??? No matter what it was, whether a drink from your go-to boba shop or the newest installment of your favorite videogame franchise—consider it done.

Saw a pair of shoes you thought they’d be cute with that new outfit you got a few days ago? Wonder no more, they’re yours.

A plushie you were considering whether to pre-order, or wait until it’s released to see if you really want it? Naoya’s got you covered, one less thing to worry about.

Your father was able to tolerate most of these things since they were relatively small to begin with, not necessarily luxuries…

Until you come along with a new phone.

Maybe it was time to step in.

“Dad, it’s not that big of a deal, really!”

“No, young lady. As much as he’s your boyfriend there needs to be a limit to his spending!” He warns.

“But didn’t you say I should look for someone that will always dote on me? That’s what Naoya is doing, right?”

Eiichi hates when his words are used against him. Yes, he did say that… but not to the level of he’s on right now!!!

“What is it that bothers you, dad? It surely can’t be that!”

He sighs. It’s not that, for sure. Might as well be honest.

“Look, while I’m happy that you’ve found someone that is willing to give you the world every single day… I worry that his family might not share the same sentiment.” Your father begins, making you anguished. “I’ve known the Zen’in for quite some time, but their reputation really is… modest when it comes to their actual behavior.”

“O—Oh…” you murmur. You’ve heard of them, mostly through the rumors surrounding your boyfriend alongside his own experiences but… well, you never thought they’d prove much worse than you anticipated.

The last thing you wanted was to cause (more) rifts between Naoya and his family because of you. After all the nice things he’s done for you… he deserves that much.

“What… what do you suggest I do…?”

“Take it easy, there’s other things the two can do together without spending money.”

“…Yeah, you’re right.” You say with a bright smile, suddenly motivated. “This might be my opportunity to finally use that cooking book I got from Nanami!”

“Wait, you’ve never cooked anything for me!”

“Yes I have, I made brownies for everyone on Valentine’s day! Remember?”

“But that was so long ago, pumpkin…” he groans. “But it’s ok, in the end I’ll always support you in whatever you decide to do. I shall even taste your craft before you hand it over to Naoya, just to be sure it’ll be of his satisfaction.”

“I’ll make a bit extra for you, dad. There’s no need to go to that length.” You pout, Eiichi laughs.

“I’m sure he’ll be happy either way.”

And he was, very much so, that it didn’t take him long to start looking forward to what delicacy you’ll bless him with that day. Something he desperately needed to repay with more of his usual lavish gifts, naturally.

…Until your sudden rejection for them stops him dead on his tracks, slapping him across the face like a bucketful of ice that not even your reassuring gestures could warm up.

You tried to play it off as not finding any use in being one-sidedly bombarded with gifts when the two could easily be doing a whole world of things together!

But instead, he took it as a “I’m not impressed by your favors anymore, Naoya” type of thing. Subsequently prompting him to double his efforts if he wished to regain your admiration once again.

However, all that he obtained this time around was the Zen’in’s interest on you.

Oh no, who are they going to send to investigate you?

Or worse, are you getting invited to the estate???????????? hehe.

[leroiestmortvivelareine]

On the corner / the red string theory

What if Wymack met Andrew when he was a kid?

Intro

A while ago, seized by inspiration, I wrote a 16,500 word au fic after this beautiful prompt took my brain hostage. (It also provides the dialogue for the first conversation in this fic.) I don't do Ao3 so in a fit of courage I decided to post it here, in the hope it resonates with some of you.

I wrote it as Andrew's alternative origin story: different to the one we know, but still bringing us towards the Andrew we end up seeing. Wymack is living peacefully as a high school coach in a small town. Most of the others are technically ocs but heavily inspired by canon characters. The sport could be exy or some more mundane form of stickball.

Oh yeah and no Moriyama / mafia angle. They have more than enough problems without it.

Please know the fic makes no attempt to be a textbook for how things should be done. I'm aware some of it is definitely not how things should be done, but this is how the story rolls.

TW - same as for canon Andrew Minyard ie. references to sexual abuse, and even though it's more implied than explicit he's also much younger. Also violence and tragedy in various other forms as this is, after all, aftg. Please take care.

More official TWs (plus related fic recs!) are here.

(all chapters)

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

Chapter 1

The sky is luminous yellow as only winter skies can be, the smoky yellow of baked custard. If you half-close your eyes, the glowing sky merges with the glare from the sodium lights and feels like a scene from an alien world.

In the yellow twilight kids from the neighbouring school laugh and tease each other outside the corner store. Making the most of their transitory world, halfway between day and night, halfway between school and home.

Coach smiles faintly as he walks past them with a new packet of cigarettes. He remembers this - the precious fleeting feeling of independence. He leans against the low brick wall of the For Sale house next to the store and turns his attention to his purchase.

He is currently in the third stage of quitting: buying cigarettes a few blocks away and smoking them on the spot. Smoke hanging around the house doesn't send a good message for a sports professional.

It's not the best neighbourhood. Times have been tough and houses are getting boarded up, even ransacked. Yet Coach doesn't mind. There are nicer places to sit and smoke, but most of them he’d gone to with her, and can never go to again.

He listens as the kids laugh and posture and provoke each other, reading the power dynamics with a coach’s trained ear.

Darkness falls, and now the little circle of yellow from the sodium lights belongs to older, tougher teenagers, a world you need street cred to step into. The tall one resting his back against the wall has already sent two kids hurrying into the darkness using nothing but a scowl. Finally, even the older boys shuffle off home.

One kid still lingers by the wall, nursing the very last breaths of a dead cigarette.

He’s dressed like the hoodlums, but he’s far too small to be out this late. Too small even to be in high school yet. Dirty blonde hair, sullen expression, pierced eyebrow. That kid at the back of the room who always seems about to set fire to something, the kid even the teachers are secretly afraid of.

Coach has a couple like that on his team. They're some of his best players.

The kid looks ill at ease as the last of the older teens leave. He clearly isn't with them. He isn't with anyone. He glances around, as though wanting to draw the last remnants of company from the evening the way he’d drawn the last gasp from his cigarette.

His eye falls on Coach, who raises his own stub casually by way of greeting.

"You ok there?"

The kid just stares, wary, suspicious.

Coach waves his cigarette to indicate the deepening night.

"Bit late," he observes conversationally. "You need to call someone maybe, get picked up?" He holds up his phone in invitation.

The kid stares at him as though memorising every detail. The buzzcut hair, the tribal tattoos, the lounging posture. Those thunderous brows and impatient jaw.

Eyes that had seen many boys going through many different hells, and had never looked away.

Eventually the kid says: "I don’t want to go home."

Coach doesn't want to believe the worst but the flat, dead tone in the kid's voice tells him he probably should.

"That’s ok. I don’t mind company."

He adds, by way of explaining his presence here so late: "My wife doesn’t like me smoking."

It’ll do as an explanation, and it’s technically true. She’d never liked it.

The kid's as skittish as a wild animal, no way he’s coming close, but he clearly doesn’t want to be alone. It’s not too surprising, this isn’t the safest neighbourhood.

The boy’s gaze rests on the nearly-full cigarette packet.

Coach doesn't try to move closer. He tosses the kid the packet, then the lighter.

The boy takes a cigarette and lights up. His fingers hover longingly over a second one for the road, but he leaves it and tosses them back.

Coach explains he's a coach for a local high school team, as if this isn't written all over him, and rambles on comfortably about his sport and his kids.

The boy doesn’t lose his guarded, watchful expression, and he doesn’t speak. But he doesn’t leave, either.

Eventually - reluctantly - he turns to go. Maybe he knows it will be worse if he goes awol. Maybe he feels he’s stayed out past the danger period.

Coach watches him walk away.

—

The kid only makes it few blocks before some wannabe gangsters start to hassle him, poking him, laughing.

His limbs tense, and not only from fear. Despite being half the size of the older boys he welcomes the idea of violence.

"Enough."

Not a loud voice, but it has command in it. The kid doesn’t recognise the easy-going coach at first. There is nothing easy-going about his stance or his expression.

The toughs forget about the kid and square up to the newcomer.

"You want some, asshole?"

One of them holds up a lead pipe and swings it meaningfully.

Coach, unmoved, pulls out a gun. He angles it above their heads as a warning, but this scans as knowledge rather than reluctance. It’s the action of a man who knows not to aim a gun at a person’s face unless he’s prepared for the worst to happen.

The attacker drops the piece of pipe and puts his hands up in a vaguely placating gesture.

"Whatever, pops."

They step back, smiling sarcastically like they’re doing him a favour. Coach doesn’t move until they’re well and truly down the street.

He holsters the gun. It’s then he realises the kid is nowhere in sight.

Neither is the lead pipe.

The blow comes from behind - blackness falling before the pain can be properly felt.

When Coach finally wakes in an agonised fog the kid has gone, and he’s stolen the gun.

—

(next chapter >)

(all chapters)

[adhdo5]

I was prompted to post these a bit ago bc of my madness posting abt the Xiyao laundry audioextra upload someone posted like last week and I think there is really a lot there in the Xiyao laundry thing in general (hashtag release the Yunping tapes) and not all of it is smth I see ~talked abt as much as I think it deserves SO . Collected thoughts on Xiyao laundry

OK so like Yeah they're cute. I absolutely get why people's primary reaction to this is that it's cute and I think this is not even wrong. The politics of uselessness r complicated and I Will be returning to this but a legitimate angle of this is that LXC, who has spent his life largely defined by the fact that he pretty much excels at everything expected of him, has nothing expected of him and gets to be incompetent at something he ~feels obligated to do and have that not actually be a fail state, still get offered the same kindness regardless of his ability to be exceedingly capable/responsible etc.; meanwhile MY, who historically has had pretty much no one ever gaf about whether he's struggling or overworked or generally about him as a person (and the audiodrama extra version even has a bit where MY's coworkers are shit talking him including talking abt how he's probably not even actually doing any work), has someone earnestly caring about that, if ineffectually, and materially recognizing his workload as important and effortful and trying to help him with it. That is I think legitimately kind of sweet! Especially if one interprets the "he didn't even know who I was" line as true and as in the audiodrama extra this is set b4 MY figures it out! They appreciate each other in ways they don't usually get to be appreciated and it's nontransactional in this way and ;x;

HOWEVER. #Nuance. There's Other Angles.

I've talked abt this before inc on my blog but I do kind of never get tired of thinking abt it: there's a reason LXC is incapable of doing laundry and it's not just inexperience it's that he is physically incapable of the task bc of his cultivator strength!!!!! And the disparity of cultivation level is explicitly a class thing w/ JGY wrt 3zun especially!!! No matter his intention Zewu-jun CANNOT SULLY HIS HANDS WITH THE TASK bangs my head against a wall. It's such an innocuous detail yet it captures how from even this early on in their relationship and in this context it's not ignorable how much LXC is in fact a nobleman where JGY is not and this is a literal physical difference and it's in his very flesh and it has explicitly destructive results. See again vampire AU posting

And going off that it's notable how this does in fact also end up creating more work and while MY doesn't begrudge that in the moment and it's pettier here and arguably inextricable with the first point (LXC is not only incapable here he's actively bad at something, he actively makes smth worse and he's forgiven for it and that's genuinely kind of nice) it's it's also worth noting more grimly given how their relationship ends. It's not just destructive it's destructive to MY specifically

And on the notes of "inextricable from first point but also tragic" – it's sweet tht LXC gets no external consequences for this (yet lol) but is that really something he can Accept. It is an arguably underexamined element of Sunshot Xiyao how fucking miserable LXC is; he might be in an environment where this isn't fucking him up but he did bring his complexes here and you don't suddenly know how to accept that kind of grace yknow – and, and this is tangentially related to the stuff I was posting earlier today, this is one of the first of several kinds of vulnerability that LXC's almost only able to experience with MY/JGY. Considering how much that's arguably a running theme for them and considering where that leads that's also quite Foreshadowing Dismal!!

This is an audio drama exclusive but the way in the audiodrama extra ver that MY realizes who LXC is here and then ~lies about it is also crunchy as helllllll

AND between the coworkers thing in the audiodrama extra and the added scenes in the donghua and this and the notion in general (which comes from MXTX's post) that it's important they do the laundry themselves bc the robes would give LXC away it's a highlight of how genuinely precarious this is for MY which is another thing that both makes it more sweet and more. Despair.

It's just so lovely how it is both indicative of how genuinely good they are to and for each other, the ways in which they're meaningfully and significantly compassionate and helpful to one another, and also of the ways in which their situation here is precarious and high-stress and dangerous as fuck, AND also the ways in which they hurt each other so so bad, and how all of those things are largely different facets of the same qualities and the same significances. And That's My Post. Stream Apple Pie by the Scary Jokes

[morgana-larkin]

Hello, Idk if u're still taking prompts bc it's seems like you're working on a lot of it, but here's a rather, crazy prompt I have in mind (again) afkajdksjsj.

There's a teacher at Abbott for over a year who's somewhat a little private about her life. Particularly her love life which the Abbott staff seemed to have taken an interest of specially Melissa, who's being defensive when she's called out for being too nosey about the teacher, saying she barely knows a thing about her and it's suspicious that maybe she's actually a cop or secret agent lol. Talks of where's the next venue of game night been going around and the group decided [without the teacher even knowing] that the game night would be held at her rather, fancy house to the surprise of the staff, thinking they would see a glimpse of her priv life and finally meet her partner which is apparently non-existent and later on revealed she never had any relationship in the years of her existence, which also, surprised the group yet Melissa unintentionally let a rather loud sigh of relief and the staff and the teacher gave her a questioning look which she became defensive,again, and a stammering flustered mess under the teacher's gaze.

This was so fun to write. I think I steered a little off a bit but still stuck to what you wanted…(hopefully). I tried to make it light, fun and as cute as possible. As always not edited at all and I hope you like it!

On another note: I know I spelled Chessy’s name wrong, my phone autocorrected me and didn’t notice until I posted it. I thought no one would notice until someone messaged me anonymously about it. So I went back and corrected it. I got one more Melissa prompt and two Chessy ones, and I have started on chapter 8 of ‘Worth It’.

The Game of Love

Warnings: reader has a nightmare(small part near the end), I think that’s all…

Words: 3.3k

You walked into the break room after bringing your students to the cafeteria and headed straight for the coffee machine. You’re exhausted after the morning with your kindergarteners.

“Dear, you don’t look good. Rough morning?” Barb asks you and you chuckle.

“Ya I guess you could say that. I don’t know how you do it Barb. Keep them in line all the time, mine were acting like they had sugar all morning.” You tell her with a huff.

“You’re still quite new dear. I’ve been doing this for over 20 years. You just became a teacher 5 years ago and it’s your second year here.” She says calmly, and always the voice of reason.

“I suppose.” You tell her. You grab your coffee and your lunch from the fridge and then go to sit on the couch.

“Y/n, why don’t you sit with us today?” Janine pipes up and you look at her. You know that she wants to ask questions about your life to get to know you since you don’t tell them much. All you’ve mentioned is that you’ve been living in Philly since you were born, your parents are both lawyers, you have a girlfriend, and you got your teaching certificate 5 years ago. In reality you don’t actually have a girlfriend, you just tell people that since you’ve had many friends try to set you up with a woman and it never goes well.

“Um, ok I guess I could today.” You tell her and head over to sit with the trio. You want to open up a bit more to them. With both of your parents being lawyers, you learned to keep a lot to yourself.

“So how have you been? How’s Amelia?” Janine asks as soon as you sat down. Amelia is the name of your made up girlfriend and said you’ve been with her for 2 years.

“I’ve been good, Amelia as well.” You tell her. “How have you guys been?” You ask her and Janine and Jacob both go and rattle on about their day. While looking at Janine talk, you catch Melissa giving you a look. When Janine stops talking, that’s when Melissa chimes in.

“Hey kid, you never say anything about yourself, why’s that?” Melissa questions you.

“I just don’t talk about myself much, that’s all.” You respond back.

“Why? Why are you so secretive?” She pushes.

“I’m not secretive, there’s just nothing interesting about me.” You tell her and she rolls her eyes at you. “Why are you being nosy?” You ask her and she lefts out a huff.

“I’m not being nosy. It’s just, tell us something, like what do you and your girlfriend do on the weekend or something.” She tells you and you quirk an eyebrow at her. “If you don’t say anything, how do we know you’re not a cop or a secret agent or something like that.” She says to defend herself.

“Well I’m not either one, if you want I can show you my certificate and you can see it’s not forged. But you know both my parents are lawyers so I guess I learned to keep stuff to myself.” You say with a shrug.

“Alright.” She says.

“But to answer your question, Amelia and I don’t do much on the weekends. We’re more home bodies.” You tell her and she smiles at you and you blush a bit.

You excuse yourself early, stating you have to get your classroom ready for crafts, and the trio is talking about where game night is gonna be tomorrow night and Ava comes in to get a coffee.

“Why don’t we have it at y/n’s place?” Melissa says and they look at her.

“Wait, are you coming to game night? Cause you didn’t say either way.” Janine asks her and she shrugs.

“I never know what my plans are on Saturday nights.” She says.

“Did you just voluntold y/n’s place?” Jacob asks and Melissa smirks.

“Yep. We can surprise her.” Melissa says slyly.

“We have no idea where she lives.” Janine says.

“I do!” Ava pipes up and everyone looks at her. “What? It was on her application.” Ava says and pours a bunch of sugar in her coffee. Ava says your address and they all have their mouth open in shock.

“She lives there? That’s a fancy neighbourhood! How does she afford that?” Janine gasps.

“I bet her parents bought it for her.” Melissa says and crosses her arms.

“That would explain it.” Gregory says. “We can’t just show up at her place unexpectedly. We don’t even know if she’ll be home or let us in.” He adds.

“She just said she doesn’t go out on the weekends. And she might let us in, and if she does then we can learn more about her. You can tell a lot about a person from seeing their house. Why do you think I never let youse people over to mine?” Melissa says and they all nod in agreement.

“I’m sure she’ll let us in if Melissa was there.” Barb says with a knowing smile. Melissa whips her head around to face Barb

“What’s that supposed to mean?” She questions, confused.

“Barb you’re coming too?” Jacob asks. And Barb nods.

“My Saturday night is free.” She says, Jacob and Janine grinning. Both of them have never showed up to game night before, so the fact that they are now is exciting to the younger teachers.

“OMG, I don’t even know what game I should bring over now. Ava are you coming?” Janine says with a smile.

“Of course not, unlike you nerds, I actually have plans on Saturday night.” Ava says and walks out.

“So there’ll be 6 of us then.” Janine says.

“Oh we can always have a game that requires teams since it’s an even number.” Jacob states.

“Do you guys have a preference for a game?” Janine asks Melissa and Barb.

“A family friendly game. I don’t want to play one of those games with a bunch of sex questions and sex jokes.” Barb says.

“But those are the best ones.” Melissa says. “The less PG the better.”

“Oh how about the game of life?” Janine says. “But we can play as teams. So like you still have your own car and career, but combine income and losses.” They all agree on that and then they all leave to get their students to finish the day.

You are outside of your classroom helping your kindergarteners zip up sweaters and tie shoelaces. One of your students gives you a hug goodbye and you hug them back and tell them to have a good weekend. Unknown to you, Melissa is watching you from her door frame with a smile and soft eyes. Her class is across the hall and one classroom over so it’s pretty close and she has a perfect view to watch without getting caught. Or so she thought at least, she did get caught but not by you, but by everyone else.

The next day, you’re on your couch and wondering what to watch when the doorbell rings. You get to your door and open it and see Janine, Jacob, Gregory and Barb there there with a smile.

“Hello???” You ask them.

“Hi! We thought it would be fun to have game night at your place.” Janine says excitedly. “I brought the game of life.” And you look to see the game in her hands.

You were about to question them more as to why they chose your place without telling or asking you, you open your mouth to speak but then you see Melissa coming up to your door.

“Melissa, you’re here too?” You ask her and she smiles.

“Yep, can we come in?” She asks you and of course you can’t deny her.

“Ya come on in guys.” You say and step to the side to let them all in.

They all walk in and look around your place in awe. “How do you live in a place this big?” Jacob says and you shrug.

“My parents offered to buy me a place when I told them I wanted to be a teacher.” You say with a chuckle. “I declined at first but then the roommate I had drove me to almost wanting to stab him, so I accepted their offer so I don’t commit a murder.” You say and Melissa giggles at that. In reality everyone laughed, but the one you only really notice is Melissa.

“So where’s this girlfriend of yours?” Jacob says and you got so entranced by Melissa that your brain wasn’t processing properly.

“Girlfriend?” You ask him and they all give you a weird look.

“Ya, Amelia?” He says confused. And you suddenly remembered, although with the look they all have, you doubt they’ll believe you with whatever you say.

“I don’t see any pictures of you with another girl around here.” Melissa points out, looking at all your pictures on the wall.

“Alright, I don’t actually have one. I made her up, my friends kept trying to set me up with women and they kept not really going well so I made up a lie.” You say and Melissa lets out a loud sigh of relief and everyone turns to look at her. Melissa’s cheeks turn pink at being heard and put on the spot. “Something you want to say Melissa?” You ask her with a quirked brow.

“Um uh…n-no not really.” She stuttered out and everyone gives a confused look to each other. Barb decides to save Melissa in that moment as Melissa is unable to speak properly.

“Why don’t we go and set up the game?” She says and everyone agrees. You go to your living room and they set it up on the coffee table.

“I have some food I can put out for snacks, I’ll just go get it. Melissa, do you mind helping me?” You ask her and she turns to look at you.

“Uh , ya sure of course!” Melissa says and scrambles to her feet.

There was 2 reasons you asked her for help, you could have asked anyone but you wanted to be closer to her and show her your kitchen. You know from being in an Italian family, she loves cooking and would probably be in awe of your kitchen. And she was, as soon as you both entered, her eyes went wide and mouth open.

“You have an amazing kitchen.” She says and you smile at her.

“Thanks.”

“You must love cooking in it.” She says and you chuckle.

“I actually don’t cook much. I don’t always like doing it.” You tell her and she looks almost offended.

“What? But this kitchen looks like it’s made to be used a lot, to be used to do so much cooking and baking. I mean I would if I lived here.” She says and she set up a perfect opportunity for you.

You get a bunch of chip bags and some dips and place them on the counter. “Well you could always come over and use it as much as you like.” You tell her and her eyes go wide.

“Really?”

“Ya, if you want. I don’t mind.” You say and she smiles.

“I might take you up on that.” She says and you smile at her. “I think you just want to have some of my cooking.” She teases you and you giggle. You have had some of her cooking a couple times over the 14 months you’ve been at Abbott.

“Well I will admit that I love your cooking but you could come and use the kitchen and I don’t need anything in return.” You tell her and she laughs.

She helps you carry all the chips and dips out into the living room.

“Alright, here’s a variety of chips and dips.” You tell them and they all smile.

You then get into teams of two. You expect for Melissa to pair with Barb and for you to end up with Janine or Jacob. Unexpectedly, Barb asks Jacob to team up, and Janine asks Gregory. Melissa gives a look to Barb and Barb just grins at her. Melissa then looks to you.

“Wanna partner up with me.” She asks and you laugh.

“Well thank you for asking, even if there wasn’t any other choice.” You joke with her and she smiles. “I would love to team up with you.” You add and she grins and blushes a bit.

Unknown to both of you, everyone planned this, for you two to team up together and so they all picked someone to team up with before you guys got a chance.

You all pick out a car to use and whether to go straight to a career or college. Jacob and Barb both pick career right away and everyone else picks college and gets debt.

“Oh look at that, I can be either a teacher or a Doctor.” You say and everyone laughs. “I feel I might be a hypocrite if I don’t pick a teacher.” You say and pick teacher and then a salary. Melissa gets super excited and is able to pick firefighter.

“OH HELL YES!” She says as she picks firefighter immediately.

“What was your other choice?” You ask and she looks.

“Uh, accountant.” She says and looks confused at that and you laugh.

Everyone is having fun playing, there’s laughs, cheering and eating. The more the night goes on, the more touchy Melissa gets with you. Now she knows that you’re actually single, she takes the opportunity to flirt with you. She side hugs you when she’s happy with a victory, and sometimes she leaves her arm there for a bit, even after her turn is done. She’s placed a hand on your leg a few times, and everytime she does that, you blush. She rubs your arm when you experience a loss, like paying for the kids for something. “Damn demanding kids. How do we have 4 of them” You say with a pout and she laughs at that. You guys got the most kids and you picked 2 girls and 2 boys, the boys being twins.

You all end up playing again with the same teams but the rule being you can’t pick the same career. Everyone that picked college last time ends up picking career path just to switch it up a bit, while Barb and Jacob pick college.

This time while playing, Melissa has her arm around your waist for half the game and the other half on your thigh. You swear that life is testing you tonight. You and Melissa end up winning both times and Melissa grins at that. After the second time, you all end up watching a movie. The group ends up picking a horror movie, despite your reluctance since you get scared easily.

Everyone is sitting on either your couch or your 2 love seats. Barb and Jacob are spread out on your couch, while Janine and Gregory are on one of the love seats. So you and Melissa take the other seat. Barb and Jacob each use a blanket, Janine and Gregory share one, while you and Melissa also share a blanket.

Since your kids were so hyper today, you were more tired than usual and you were comfy leaning on Melissa a bit. Melissa has the one arm that’s closest to you, propped up on the back of the seat, with the other one on your thigh and her body is turned to you a bit. You end up getting scared pretty early on and accidentally go to hug Melissa during a jump scare. Melissa stops breathing for a second before she puts an arm around you protectively. “It’s alright, you’re safe, I got you.” She tells you and she smiles. Everyone pretends to not notice what happened and hide a grin.

Everyone then decides to leave but since Melissa had a few glasses of wine, so you offer to let her sleep in your spare room so she doesn’t drive home drunk.

Melissa ends up hearing you scream when you awake from a nightmare and she goes over and knocks on your door.

“Y/n, it’s Melissa. I heard you screaming so I thought I’d come to check if you were ok.”

You get out of bed and go and open your bedroom door. “I’m alright, I just had a nightmare. I knew I shouldn’t have watched the movie with you guys. I’ll be too afraid to sleep now, I guess it’s good that tomorrow is Sunday.” You tell her with a small chuckle.

“Oh I’m sorry hun.” She tells you as she leans against the door frame.

“It’s alright, maybe I’ll just watch something on my phone, maybe some stand up and fall asleep again.” You tell her and she looks at you then an idea pops up in her head.

“What if I slept with you?” She says and you look at her with wide eyes and her face mirrors that when she realises how that sounds. “I-I meant in the same bed and sleep… actual sleep not sex.” She defends and you giggle. In your tired state and full of adrenaline from the nightmare, you blurt out something before your brain has time to stop you.

“I wouldn’t say no to either one of those.” You say and she looks at you surprised.

“Really?” She tells you and that’s when it hits you what you said and a huge and noticeable blush makes it on your cheeks.

“Umm, I mean , I… I-I have no idea what I mean actually.” You say and put your hand over your eyes in embarrassment. Melissa takes the hand off your face then looks at you.

“Do you like me? As in a crush.” She asks and you nod, too embarrassed to speak. As soon as you nod, she has a big smile. “Really?” And you nod again. Melissa gets really excited and kisses you. You kiss her back and you both think that it’s wonderful, you both enjoy the kiss but then Melissa pulls back when she realises she didn’t admit her own feelings, verbally anyway. “I like you too.” She says with a huge smile and a sparkle in her eyes.

You giggle at that. “I figured by the kiss.” You tell her and she smiles warmly at you. “I would love the company in my bed to try and sleep, if you’re still offering.” You tell her and she nods.

“Of course. If you want we could cuddle. I was rather enjoying that on the couch.” She tells you and you agree. You cuddle in your bed and you manage to fall asleep wrapped in her arms and a smile on your face, and your nightmares didn’t come back that night.

On Monday morning you come into the break room and get a coffee as usual. You go and sit on the couch next to Melissa to watch the news. She looks at you and smiles and you smile back at her. Everyone is looking at you guys curiously then you see Melissa looking at you with a mischievous expression. She wraps a hand behind your head and pulls you in for a kiss, you kiss her back and hear gasps from everyone. Melissa pulls back after a few seconds and you see everyone grinning.

“Well it’s about time you two.” Barb says. “I’m glad our plan to make you team up worked.” And you both look over at her with a quirked eyebrow.

“You guys planned that?” Melissa says and you smile and lean on her shoulder while she wraps an arm around your waist, still questioning everyone.

Taglist: @esposadejoyhuerta

@imaginesmultifandoms

@idonothingalldays-blog

@sexysapphicshopowner

@dvrkhcld

@lilfartbox1

If you want to be added then let me know!

[yallthemwitches]

Talk to Me

When Lily and her boyfriend have a public breakup, James suspects he is to blame.

Pre-dating Jily angst-ish fluff ft. good guy Sirius for @jilytoberfest Day 9, Prompt: " You Literally Checked your phone 3 seconds ago"

....look at me finding any way possible to NOT write an AU fic.

AO3 Link Here

“Prongs—just give it back.” Sirius leaned on the edge of James’ four poster bed, cigarette dripping ash from his mouth, hand outstretched and grasping. 

“Not yet—she might still–”

“She’d be calling for me remember—or Moony I guess, but c’mon mate. I’m going nutter just watching you.”

James stared up at the canopy of his four-poster bed, hand gripping around the handle of the two way mirror. He flipped it up to his face for what had to have been the hundredth time in an hour, seeing only his reflection glare back. 

“I’ll give it to you if you tell me what happened.” Out of the corner of his eye he watched Sirius snub out his cigarette on the bedpost, hair shrouding any emotion on his face.

“I’ve told you, she didn’t want to get you involved—”

“Bollocks. Apparently I already was involved.” He sat up, leaning on his arms. Sirius glared back at him, two equally stubborn boys at an impasse. 

“They had a row. Sparrow went mental, threw his butterbeer, and Rosmerta kicked him out.”

“I’ve heard.”

“--And I assume they are broken up. At least Moony heard her say something along those lines while I helped Rosmerta and the other Hufflepuffs get him the fuck out.”

“Ok, fine. So then why were they rowing?”

This was the vital piece of information that everyone was withholding. Peter, Remus… even Marlene remained tight lipped, offering a simple shrug as he had cornered her earlier in the main hall. 

“They were rowing about me—weren’t they.”

Sirius snorted, but James could tell it was forced, a weak performance at best. 

“Don’t start being arrogant again.”

“I’m not, I’m just saying what seems to be the only conclusion.”

James flipped the mirror up to his face again. Every flash of his reflection felt more and more grotesque, like the anticipation and confusion was twisting his soul into a tight ball. 

“Can you quit it—I highly doubt she’s gonna call anyways. I just gave her the mirror in case Sparrow decided to do something even more stupid on her way back.”

 James could feel anger rising .“So why didn’t you walk her then.”

“Because she didn’t bloody want me to and she already had one arsehole bloke overstepping his boundaries to deal with, alright? Merlin for fucks sake.”

Sirius threw his arms up, a rare action of exasperation. He kicked some of the records laying on the ground out of his way and threw himself onto his bed face first. 

James softened, sitting up to look at his mate. “Pads, fuck mate I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be taking this out on you—I’m just—if I had just been there and not at bloody quidditch practice—”

“Then it probably would have gone a lot worse.” Sirius’ voice muffled through the fabric of his pillow. 

A sting of pain shot through him.  “What do you mean by that?”

A knock echoed through the dorm, the knob turned and a vibrant green eye peeked through the crack.

“Nobody naked in here? Remus said you’d be–”

She stopped speaking as she caught sight of James. Unintentionally swinging the door wider, he could see she was grasping Sirius’ mirror in her other hand. She had clearly been crying, streaks of salt bleached skin lined her cheeks, eyes red and puffy. 

“Nope, unfortunately fully clothed!” Sirius’ mood made an immediate rebound, hopping off his bed towards her. 

Lily eyed James for a fleeting moment before turning her attention to an approaching Sirius, mirror outstretched. 

“I wanted to give this back—and thank you. I didn’t think Sawyer was capable of–of acting like that.”

Sirius gave her a smile, all frustration completely melted, flashing one of his biggest and most genuine grins. 

“No worries Evans. Sorry your boyfriend–er, ex boyfriend was such a fucking idiot.”

Lily nodded, offering him a weak smile. 

“Right—well have a good night.”

She closed the door behind her and Sirius spoke, not turning to look at him.

“If you go right this second I bet you could catch her before anyone else does.”

It was the confirmation he needed to hear. James bounded towards the door and ripped it open. Lily was only a few steps down, clearly not too enthused to walk back into a room full of people who wanted to hear about the newest scandal. 

“Hey Evans–”

She turned to look up at him, eyes glassy. 

“You alright?”

Lily tried to give a weak smile. “Yeah, peachy.”

He took a calculated step forward. “I heard what happened with Sparrow—it was a real shit thing he did.”

Her eyes wandered around the dim lit stairwell, looking everywhere but at him. 

“Yeah well, I guess he isn’t going to make the cut.”Her eyes glanced up at him. Mouth open, poised for something. He was about to say his goodnight when it tumbled out of her mouth, clear and unwavering.

“It was about you, you know–.” Her eyes were steady on him, even with tears in her eyes, she looked defiant. 

“All I did was mention how we sit together in the library after charms—guess that hit some jealousy nerve I never knew about.”

James could feel his whole body tingling. She continued.

“I kept telling him it was nothing, that you and I were just mates but—he just went raving,” she hesitated, “--anyways, I’m sure you know the rest. Everyone is talking about it.” 

She turned to step back down the stairs, clearly spent from the emotional toll of it all. To James, she had never looked more beautiful, like the most resilient person in the world. 

“Lily wait,” he called down and she turned back to him, eyes glowing from the reflection of the candlelight. 

“You can always talk to me. I’m here for you—you know, if you want me to be.”

It was the first real smile he had seen her give since he saw her. 

“Yeah, I guess I do want that.”

[n3ptoonz]

i was reminded of a fic from a poll i scrapped months ago, so here you go! 😁

'Secret Service'

Pairing: Sindel/SunDo!Reader

Fandom: Mortal Kombat 1 (2023)

Warnings/tags: Smut; Explicit, f!reader, service top!reader, use of strap on, breath play if you squint; incorrect use of sindel's hair, doggy to missionary, power play i think? her status is mentioned like the whole time, not proofread

dt: @abl3th3himb0 (thank them y'all)

this was originally supposed to be gn!reader but i could not figure out to how to write ambiguous genitalia in this context for the life of me SO i hope that's ok! it could technically still work cause the only indicator is reader wearing a strap so ￣﹏￣

Word count: 1.2k

You saved her life, but that was a given. The Sun Do are not to be trifled with, nor underestimated. Li Mei couldn't reach the Empress in time but you were right there, lucky enough to only be grazed by the arrow aiming for her. Post-reset Sindel was always so kind and appreciative--when she wanted to be--how ever could she repay the Sun Do's second in command?

Or, in other words, how could you help her help you understand the gratitude she felt? These intense feelings of adrenaline and perhaps something more that prompted her to summon you later that evening.

She has had a long past few weeks, and quite frankly would prefer for you to do something about that.

"Slower." your queen drawled out in command. The chain around your neck that just so happened to be white with a black steak down the middle. Her hair had you bound with nowhere to go, as if you were trying to escape in the first place. Her hair held you close as you loosened your grip on her hips.

"Just...like...that." she inhaled sharply at the oh so perfect pace and angle you were at. Dragging against her walls meticulously, she oughta promote you after tonight.

This was not your first time...assisting the Empress with her requests. It started with shoulder massages, then back massages, then she just up and decided to pull you in for a heated kiss after hours. This was no start to a relationship. In fact, she made sure you were aware. Whispers against your lips reciting the rule book she took major part in creating.

Her moans were as beautiful as her banshee screams. Each command like a new cog added to your brain to keep you in place. To keep you grounded in the reality that you were inside of the Empress. In the royal palace. In her gigantic bedroom. On her bedsheets. Right now in this moment. With little to no control of your own body. Only with the intent to serve your queen.

"Faster." she gritted out between her teeth. Her hips daring to wake you from your trance. "I said 'faster.'" she turned back and leaned up against your chest, clad in the undergarment of your Sun Do uniform. She always preferred to be the only one bare between you two. She secretly liked the concept of you immediately going back to position when she finished with you.

Sindel's arm looping around the front of your neck replaced her hair, giving the same familiar bounded feeling. Her breath hot against your neck sent your nerves into overdrive. "Are you listening?"

Suddenly you felt her pulling you down onto her bed with her, stopping yourself before you lost balance. You hovered over her with wide eyes in surprise, which she took amusement in.

Her hair crept its way around your neck again to force you to look straight into her eyes. Those pretty brown eyes were beautiful; tantalizing. Beguiling, even.

She never broke her eyes away even while grabbing the hand-selected strap around your waist and rubbing it against herself. From her clit all the way down in slower motions to prep herself again. Her hair slightly tightened around your neck to more aroused she became.

Sindel used her legs that were looped around your back and pulled you closer to fill her up all the way. Her back slightly arched as she softly exhaled and hummed. You could swear you were seeing stars from the--welcomed--lack of airflow.

"Grab my hips." she demanded, her voice pulling you from the blissful fog back into reality. You followed her order swiftly. No time to waste.

The moment you pulled back and thrusted back into her, she let out such a guttural moan, you'd think you were twice as big. She shakily sighed and took both of her hands to your face, pulling you in for a deep kiss. You figured it was free game from here. Mostly.

The pace of your hips meeting her body gradually picked up as your tongues were tangled together. Her breaths and groans coated with phantom screeches of pleasure.

You pulled away slightly and watched the short spit string break. Her eyes were dazed as ever yet...still so hungry.

Interactions like this only begged you to wonder what was so special about you. It's naturally your duty to put your life on the line for the royal family. Sindel couldn't put her finger on it herself. She was intrigued. The way you talked, walked, fought, carried yourself, she didn't come across many like you specifically.

She took amusement in how clearly lightheaded you were becoming. Not only from her grip on your neck but just how beautifully overwhelmed you were. Not that you ever would, but not a single soul would believe you if you ever told this story. How you went from an officer just doing their duties to being balls deep inside of the Empress of Outworld.

"Don't stop." she whispered and nipped at your ear. As her hair loosened she watched the wave of relief wash over you, still holding your face in place. Her thumb caressed your cheekbone as you made sure you showed no intention of halting your movements. Your only objective this evening is to please your queen.

"Don't stop." she repeated, this time, to your surprise, in a whimper. She captured your lips again and desperately. "Faster." she said in between. "Yes ma'am." you said, a smirk so clear it could cause a universal eye roll. Nobody has done it like this since Jerrod. Nobody has been able to give her such pleasures; fulfill her desires and needs.

Picking up the pace, making sure your fingers never slipped off her hips, and essentially a make out session? The elder gods were surely watching over you both today.

"Come on," you murmured, gently catching her bottom lip between your teeth before letting go. Every pump getting sloppier by the second. The sound of skin meeting skin getting louder by the second. Sindel couldn't utter a word back as that feeling in the pit of her stomach was unraveling with every brush against her walls.

"For me, my queen." you mumbled close to her ear while peppering kisses on her cheek. Her nails urgently dragged against your clothed back as it finally hit her, causing you to grunt and feel goosebumps litter your skin. Her orgasm came crashing down on her as she clung to you, convulsing and gasping. She cried out praises and used her legs to slow your eager hips. Her nails were this close to ripping through your undershirt and scratching you.

You both huffed out as she started to calm down. Using the strength you had left to not collapse on top of her, you slowly pulled out of her with another kiss on her cheek.

Sindel looked beautiful in such a fucked out state; tired bare body glistening in her own cum and sweat and all. She quietly thanked you with a lazy smile across her face. You smiled back at her as you redressed into your uniform with a nod.

"Just doing my duty."

[v1olent-l1ttle-th1ng]

Weekly Empyrean/Onyx Storm Theories Week 5: Dragons

To preface, this is definitely a little unhinged. I’ve had this thought since reading Fourth Wing for the first time, and actually recently discussed it with someone else, BUT what if the dragons are actually bad???

Hear me out. We learn from Felix in Iron Flame, that dragons use the power of the earth (just like venin do), to help power their magic. If drawing from the Earth makes venin venin, how come dragons can do it? We also learn in Chapter one of Fourth Wing, from the Fables of the Barren, that you can’t draw power from the Earth, WITHOUT being bonded to a dragon. The Fables of the Barren is also mentioned to “demonized dragons”. If everything else in the book is true, why would that be any different? Jack also says in Onyx Storm, “You conveniently see me as the villain, but you’re bonded to two”.

We learn when we meet the irids that their “breed is born for peace, not violence like the others.” They tell Andarna, “You were left behind as the criterion. The measurement of their growth, their ability to choose tranquility and harmony with all living things. We’d hoped you would return to tell us the humans had evolved, and that they had blossomed under the wardstones and NO LONGER USED MAGIC AS A WEAPON, but instead you have shown us the opposite.” Then they say, “and dragonkind has not learned their lesson either.” What lesson are they taking about? Are they using magic as a weapon? The irids continue, and we learn, “You have weaponized your magic. You’ve become the very thing we abhor, the HORROR WE FLED FROM.” If it’s true that the irids left 600 years ago, and 600 years ago was when the first battle with General Daramor and the venin took place, then is this the horror they fled from? Did the dragons (mainly the emperyean) do something bad? You’ve become the horror we fled from. Interesting. The irids continue talking and Andarna asks, “Do you not care that people will die?” To which the irids respond, “Perhaps they should. Perhaps the corrupted ones should devour the land in its entirety. Only when they’re faced with starvation will they confront the evil they’ve become. Either they’ll die off and the land will regenerate, or they’ll confront the abominations they’ve become and change.” What if “the corrupted ones” in this scenario aren’t the venin, but the Empyrean dragons. The irids say that “their offspring could evolve, perhaps”, as an answer to how they’ll change. Then, Andanra asks “is that the dark wielder’s cure, to evolve?” To which the irids respond, “there is no cure.” SO, when the irids say that “they’ll confront the abominations they’ve become and change” but then go ahead and say “there is no cure (for the dark wielders)”, what if they’re talking about the DRAGONS changing, since the dark wielders can’t evolve. I know that’s a whole ton of info, but I think it makes sense. The whole dragons relying on Earth magic, while venin turn evil doing the same thing, has never sat quite right with me. Why is it ok for dragons to do it, but not people???

ALSO, at the very end of Onyx Storm when we find out Panchek is the one who’s been helping the venin, Berwyn stabs his dragon with an alloy hilted dagger. Xaden is shocked and thinks “Berwyn just killed a dragon with a dagger. How the fuck is that possible?” Maybe because the dragons steal the magic from the ground just like the venin, and can therefore be killed in the same way.

To summarize, I think all the dragons initially drew power from the sky. Something happened in the venin war, which caused them to drain from the earth instead, prompting the irid’s to leave due to them disagreeing. Thus giving the dragons and the venin the same power source, and similar qualities.

For example:

-They are completely powerless on the isles, because the land has no magic, whereas the irids are just fine. Same as how they are completely powerless on land that has already been drained, just like the venin.

-They can be killed by alloy daggers, just like the venin.

-Andarna’s fire is the only dragon fire able to scorch the venin, because it comes from a DIFFERENT source than what’s powering them.

-The Irid’s also say “dragonkind has not learned their lesson, either.” Because they’re obviously still using the WRONG magic source.

Some more thoughts that I don’t really know what to do with but also support this theory:

-When they fly to the isles for the first time, and Tairn starts losing altitude, he tells Violet “We draw on magic for strength. I hadn’t realized how dependent we truly are.” Interesting.

-When they’re on the isles, Tairn tells Violet “Andarna shows no sign of trouble”, supporting the ‘drawing from the sky theory’ and then says “I am cut off from my source of power and strength.” Again, cuz it’s coming from the ground.

-In Onyx Storm, when quest squad is resting in Zehyllna before leaving the next morning with Trager and Sila’s bodies, Violet is thinking about how they haven’t found the irids, how Melgren will be furious and how they “Could lose the war to the dark wielders.” Tairn replies, “At least we’re already in with the enemy.” At the time, we’re assuming he’s talking about Xaden, but Tairn is groggy from sleep here and maybe let something accidentally slip?

-When Violet sees the Irid’s for the first time, she tells us “They’re all feathertails” So maybe the tail is what does it? A feathertail doesn’t mean they’re juvenile necessarily, it just means they haven’t channeled from the ground? And they only channel from the sky? That’s why the Irid’s ask her “What have you done to your tail” and “Tell us what they’ve done to you” and are upset at how her tail has been changed. “You have weaponized your magic, even your tail,” is what they tell her.

-In Iron Flame, Tairn tells Violet, “if I could accurately detect wyvern, we wouldn’t be in this position”. Then, later in the book, Andarna tells Violet, “They smell of stolen magic” when she asks if Andarna scents wyvern. Is she the only one who can sense them because her source of magic is different?

Anyways, I don’t think the dragons as a whole are evil necessarily, but I do think there’s more to the story than ‘the venin are the bad guys and the dragons are the good guys.’ Do with that what you will!

[blackberrysummerblog]

Hi all! I’m just out here being three weeks late with my 2024 Writing Round-Up, and thank you so much to @monbons, @forabeatofadrum, @confused-bi-queer, @rimeswithpurple, @nausikaaa, @prettygoododds, @ileadacharmedlife, @artsyunderstudy, @best--dress, @j-nipper-95, @roomwithanopenfire, @you-remind-me-of-the-babe, @imagineacoolusername, @mooncello, and @thewholelemon for tagging me! I hope I didn’t miss anyone, and thank you as well to everyone who’s been tagging me for Six Sentence Sunday and WIP Wednesday this month. Without getting too much into it, I am BURNT. OUT, and it’s making me retreat from even the things I enjoy the most, like writing and catching up on everyone’s beautiful fandom works.

But, I’m determined to make this round-up post, even if it takes me a couple of days to put together. There’s a lot here! Almost all of it was from COC, which I was hellbent on finishing this year, and did! Here’s the list, in chronological order, of all published writing for 2024:

The Field Trap, 1/2 (5272, M) This has been sitting unfinished for a bit, but I do anticipate it being completed. I discovered a real love for Watford-era fics toward the end of the past year, but it probably all began for me two years ago when I wrote Field Trip of Dreams, the prequel to Field Trap. At any rate, I haven’t forgotten the fic, and Field Trap may end up with an E rating in the second chapter.

Time Will Lie Down and Be Still (26,201, M) This is the fic I’m most proud of this year. It’s the result of my COBB collab with @rimeswithpurple, and it’s been such an inspiration to work with Arianna! I highly recommend the experience :D This fic has 3/5 chapters published so far, and I’m getting there with the 4th. I’ll share that Arianna finished the art for Chapter 4 the other day and it is STUNNING, so I need to get my part done! For anyone who doesn’t know, the fic is a retelling of the movie Practical Magic (I’ve never been able to get very far in the book, for whatever reason, so I wouldn’t count on the fic lining up with it). This one is close to my heart for many reasons, but I’ve especially enjoyed building Dev’s character and his relationship with Baz.

Absolutely everything else I published was for COC, and I’ll put it below a cut due to length. Thanks to everyone who read my work this year! As always, the output of this fandom is just incredible, and I’ve enjoyed being able to take it in as well as contribute a little myself. Happy New Year, everyone!

Something Old (1146, T) Simon finds something unexpected while clearing out space in the wardrobe.

Chosen (880, G) Agatha and Simon have just begun dating and Philippa attempts to engage her in a little friendly roommate squee. Agatha isn’t quite so sure.

I Hate You, Never Leave Me (2339, M) Simon and Baz have found a new and better way to settle their differences, by getting each other off all over campus. Will it evolve into anything more, however? (I love this one, honestly. Might have to someday write a more extensive version)

Greek (1565, T) Simon has to keep a very close eye on Baz in Greek class, for reasons.

Let Me See You (1205, T) Simon is the one to find Baz draining a deer in the forest instead of Agatha. His reaction is not what either of them was expecting.

Truth or Dare (2608, T) Does what it says on the tin—the gang play a game of Truth or Dare, and the dares reveal a little more truth than anyone expected. (Definitely not a groundbreaking take on the prompt, but I never really tire of reading truth or dare fics, and hoped readers would feel the same :P)

Gently, Gently (668, M) Simon and Baz spend the morning in bed, skiving off class and not regretting it at all. (I came to realize that an embarrassing number of fics I write either start out with the boys waking up in bed or that is the entire premise of the fic. “Waking up” is a weird fetish to have, but OK me, I guess)

Looking for Knives, Looking for You (1181, T) Baz reflects on all the wounds he and Simon have given each other over the years. (Despite the vicious sounding title and depressing summary, this one was meant to be sort of cute and sweet)

Hold You Safe (1015, G) At the start of Eighth Year, Dev and Niall’s relationship is still very new as they get some bad news from home.

Dinner (Guess Who’s Coming) (3525, T) It’s half term, and Baz’s parents want to take him to dinner. They invite him to bring a friend, but unfortunately for Malcolm, he pisses Baz off first, and Baz decides his guest will be Simon—the Mage’s heir, his family’s mortal enemy, and Baz’s undying secret crush. (As with nearly all my COC offerings this year, this fic was knocked out during my lunch break the day of, and it shows. It really could have stood to be longer and more developed, so maybe I’ll revisit it one day, since I did like the premise)

Stay with Me (878, T) It’s Eighth Year and Simon gets home late and injured from a mission. Baz arrives at a resolution. (I was a little baffled to get a comment about the Mage already being dead, since this fic takes place during the school year and makes mention of a very much alive Mage in multiple places. It was more of a statement than a criticism though, I think.)

A Charmed Life (1449, E) Baz and Simon have an utterly normal morning getting frisky in bed. (Again. Huh.)

A Horse Named Jane (736, T) Simon has that song stuck in his head again. The one Baz can’t stand. They work out a (sort of) compromise.

Sour and Sweet (3060, G) It’s Baz’s birthday and Agatha has just given Simon his walking papers. Oh no :P However, the breakup does little to lift Baz’s spirits. (This one has two chapters and filled two prompts, sour and sweet, natch. Chapter two’s summary is: Simon decides he needs to make something sweet for Baz’s birthday, even though he’s two days late and doesn’t know how to bake. Well, he’s got magic at his disposal, so things are sure to turn out just fine. :P)

Punk (828, T) Baz is making Simon join him for lunch with Fiona again, but Simon figures he’ll debut a new look & attitude. Will they actually make it to the restaurant? (I really enjoyed writing this one. Simon being frustrated with Fiona’s behavior and still being silly with Baz about it was just a happy place for me)

Surprise (733, M) Simon and Baz are engaging in one of their classic Mummers’ House tiffs. What will happen? :P (I did write a little surprise into this one, but it was very much in keeping with some of my favorite themes)

Cast in Fire (791, G) Simon comes to Watford and learns about how his roommate will be chosen.

Fluff and Nonsense (1627, T) The prompt is ‘fluff’ and did I once again take the opportunity to write a light-on-plot secret relationship fic about Watford-era Simon and Baz being cozy and silly in bed? Yeah, I might have. Simon is going home with Baz over the Christmas break. Not a lot going on here, they’re just really comfy and in love.

Pieces of Me (1557, M) Baz has been having nightmares. Simon comforts him and encourages him to open up.

The World Was Open (956, T) Agatha and Niamh attend Simon and Baz’s wedding, and Agatha overhears another guest making a snide remark.

Find Me (2374, M) Eighth year at Watford was unremarkable, and Simon and Baz last saw each other when they graduated. Seven months later, Dev and Niall drag a pining and protesting Baz out to a club for a night of drinking and dancing, but there’s a familiar face behind the bar. Simon Snow is serving drinks, and worse, he’s flirting with a Baz lookalike. What will happen :P (This was yet another fic that could have been developed a little more, but I was still happy with the result overall)

Warm Spell (1795, M) Goatherd Simon has been almost-encountering a beautiful stranger for several weeks now, but one hot summer day, they finally meet.

Lost and Found (575, G) The boys go shopping together and Baz temporarily loses Simon, but it’s all pretty plot-free :P

Truce (1101, M) Simon pesters Baz while he’s trying to study, and needs to learn a lesson. Will they be able to call a truce? (This one was where the trouble began—I changed my settings to allow comments from unregistered users, because I like to fuck around and find out, I suppose. And find out I did! Luckily, the rude comment I received took aim at some writing element that didn’t even make sense for this particular fic, and I quickly realized it was a bot. Not long after, I started getting comments on other fics as well, all very nonspecific to the fandom, characters, and genre. I’m so sorry because I know it upset a few readers who were very kind to clap back and reassure me, and I changed my settings back so that it wouldn’t happen again.)

Savour (1189, T) Simon has been away on one of his missions for the Mage, and Baz has been awaiting his return by leaving out plates of food in their room every night. (Bot’s review: “the worst fic in the fandom”. It’s not even the worst fic in my own oeuvre, so joke’s on you, guy XD)

We Were Always Together (2239, T) During cotillion class, Simon is forced to dance with Baz. The horror! (I flipping loved writing this. Full on had a blast and Would Write Again)

Let It Snow (925, M) It’s almost time for Christmas break at Watford, and it may not turn out as the boys planned. However, thanks to a spell gone wrong (or very right) it may yet work out for the best :P

Always (551, G) It’s Christmas Eve and Baz has just finished putting the kids to bed. Simon is putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree.

Something New (990, T) Simon and Baz have a little tiff near the end of eighth year, but it’s not fated to last long. I’ve written a lot of secret!relationship Watford era fics for COC this year, some that could go together and some that were in separate universes. It’s been so much fun to write about the boys sneaking around, but this is…something new. :P (In which I was very pleased with myself for how I wrapped things up in accordance with the prompt. I really, really enjoyed COC this year :D)

Thanks for reading! I’m sure most everyone has already made their own round-up posts, but consider these no-pressure tags and hellos: @valeffelees @stardustasincocaine @bookish-bogwitch @facewithoutheart @c0nsumemy5oul @jasonfunderberkerthefrogexists @tender-ministrations @basiltonbutliketheherb @ghostpepperworld @larkral @letraspal @cows4247 @fiend-for-culture @palimpsessed @hushed-chorus @shrekgogurt @raenestee @cutestkilla @drowninginships @youarenevertooold @iamamythologicalcreature @beastmonstertitan @ic3-que3n @supercutedinosaurs @stitchy-queerista @alexalexinii @asocialpessimist @shutup-andletme-go @prettygoododds @ivelovedhimthroughworse @j-nipper-95 @wellbelesbian @bookishbroadwayandblind @orange-peony @papierhaikuphoto @martsonmars

[thebestofoneshots]

Gilded Constellations | wolfstar x reader

Series Masterlist | Previous episode

Pairing: Wolfstar x Reader Word Count: 6.2 K Warnings: none Prompt: You're finally settling down at Hogwarts, friendships strengthen and crushes blossom, sometimes on the most unexpected places. This IS a wolfstar x reader fic, but it's incredibly slow burn. They won't start all dating each other until we're very deep into the story, but I promise the long wait will be worth it.

Chapter 6: “Crazy little Thing Called Love” 

You rose, scanning your surroundings, the inky dark made it hard for you to see anything. It took a whole minute for your eyes to adjust. You saw trees all around you, as you took a single step forward, an unsettling crack echoed beneath your heel. You looked down only to realise it was the bone of a very small animal, a fox perhaps. You shivered at the thought. 

Another step and a haunting howl sliced through the air, piercing your ears. Its resonance was powerful, sharp, and it reverberated deep within you, whatever monster was making that sound, it was close. 

You tried to find a hiding spot but it was futile, whatever that monster was, it had already caught your scent, its primal instincts honed in on you, and you could hear it getting closer and closer. And then, it was there, right in front of you, its predatory gaze calculating which part of you it would feast on first.

“H-Hey, It’s ok, it’s me,” you stammered, a desperate attempt to reason with it, which, in all honesty, made no sense, still you clung to the idea that perhaps that would appease the beast. 

Bad idea, it didn’t. It just growled back and lunged at you. You crashed back on the ground, next to the rest of the bones you had unwittingly shattered moments ago. It had a choking hold on you, robbing your breath. You heard another growl, coming from a different place when your vision started to fog, you felt like you were going to die.

“Wake up!” You heard, and suddenly opened your eyes, trying to fight the creature still, but Lily was there instead of the monster. “It’s ok,” She told you, placing her hands over your forearms that sought desperately to defend you still, “it was only a dream luv.” 

You finally took a deep breath, grounding yourself. Of course, it was only a dream. Hogwarts didn’t have those kinds of monsters. You took a deep breath and looked at Lily “Did I wake you?” 

She shook her head “I woke up to go to the restroom. I noticed you were struggling in bed, that’s why I came to wake you.” 

You gently placed your hand over her forearm, using her to reassure yourself, she was indeed real. Eventually you smiled at her “Thank you,” you said in all honesty “I’m truly grateful I met someone like you here.” 

She smiled back at you “No problem, I’m here for you, for anything, all right?” You nodded in response. “Want me to stay with you for a little while?”

You shook your head “It’s all right, I’m a lot calmer now, thanks to you. You can go back to sleep, I wouldn’t want to be the reason dear Miss Evans is sleepy in the morning.” 

She laughed at that and nodded, reluctantly leaving you, as if she wasn’t sure if you were actually better or just telling her to go as if not to be a bother, which to her, you weren’t at all. 

Once you were alone again you continued to take deep breaths. Nightmares were not something you had all that often, you didn’t quite know how to deal with them, so you stared at the ceiling until you finally managed to fall back asleep. 

You woke up earlier than everyone again and went down to the common room with flying gear. James arrived sometime later, and Sirius minutes afterwards, complaining “It’s raining Prongs, can’t we just sleep in instead?” 

James gave Sirius a stern look in response “You’re coming today too!” He acknowledged with a smile once he noticed you were there. 

“Well I’m not getting any special treatment even if I know the Captain of the Quidditch team so I’ve got to be in top shape for the tryouts,” you replied with a smug smile. 

He smiled back, clearly amused by your answer “All right, let’s go then. We’re doing evasion today.” 

The three of you went out and did some laps around the castle. This time James had taken out a blodger and you were beating it back and forth. Once you were done you went back to the common room and changed into your uniform. Your hair was still wet when you arrived at your first class. 

“Good morning everyone, my name is Horace Slughorn, I’ll be your potions teacher, please grab a piece of paper from the hat,” he said as he passed a small wizard hat turned upside down for everyone to grab a paper. Once you opened yours you saw Lily’s name appeared on it.

James, who stood right behind you leaned over your shoulder and walked to face you, leaning over to whisper “Switch with me, will you?” 

You frowned and looked up at him, he had this hopeful puppy-eyed look going on, it made you gasp in surprise “You like Evans!” You teased, in a whisper too. 

He looked to the side but then nodded, looking back at you with the same golden retriever look “Pretty please?” 

You thought about it for a moment and leaned over to check on his paper “Who’d you get?” 

“Moony,” he responded. 

“He any good at potions?” 

“Brilliant!” James affirmed. 

You took a deep breath and handed the paper to James, “Go get her tiger!” You told him with a smile as he approached Lily. To be fair, you totally understood why someone would have a crush on Lily, in fact, it was more surprising that you hadn’t heard of anyone else being hung up on her. 

There was a knock on the door, Slughorn opened the door to find a slimy-haired boy, looking like a very pissed wet rat, and allowed him to walk inside the classroom “Ah, Severus, did you get stuck in the rain?” 

The boy -Severus, took a spiteful glance towards the boys and turned back to Slughorn, taking a deep breath “Something like that.” 

James gave Sirius a look and a complicitous smile. You noticed Remus rolled his eyes, while Lily looked stoic, as if she was trying to hide her feelings. They clearly had some history going on. 

Slughorn handed the hat to him and he picked a piece of paper, once he opened it he rolled his eyes. “Professor, can I switch…?” Slughorn shook his head. 

Sirius jumped from his seat once he realised what his paper said “I’m sure we can find someone willing to–” he argued. 

“–Your partners are set, and they won’t change, there was a spell on the papers,” the professor explained. James gave you a worried look but you shook your head lightly, using a changing spell to switch the names on Lily and Remus’ papers. 

The greasy-haired boy took a deep breath and went to sit down at the front, Sirius followed and sat next to him, turning his back to him and rolling his eyes; so that’s why he wanted to switch, he’d been paired with the boy, you thought.

“Excellent, please, the rest of you, take your seats.” 

Remus approached you then, asking if you wanted to sit in the front, you nodded in response. And the two of you walked towards a table.

“This month, we shall embark on the fascinating journey of brewing the illustrious Polyjuice Potion. Now, let me be clear—this concoction is no ordinary brew. It demands your unwavering attention, precision, and an ample dose of patience. I must confess, not everyone will master it effortlessly on their initial attempts. However, mark my words, the fundamentals are crucial for you to grasp, for who knows when fate may call upon you to employ this transformative elixir in the days to come. So, prepare yourselves, my aspiring potion-makers, for the intricate art of Polyjuice Potion awaits!” 

You nodded and pulled out your book, finding the list of ingredients you would need. “It’s a complicated one,” You said, reading through the steps. 

Remus nodded and winced when he started reading some of the requirements of the ingredients, “Profesor,” he said, racing his hand “Will you provide the fluxweed or…?” 

"Ah, Mr. Lupin, splendid question indeed!" Said Slughorn, whose voice carried an air of geniality and indulgence. "You have touched upon a key facet of the potion we are about to undertake—the vexing nature of ingredient collection. Specifically, the delicate task of harvesting fluxweed and capturing the elusive lacewing flies. Now, my dear students, I'm afraid I cannot simply hand you these crucial components on a silver platter. Oh no! You see, the true essence of potion-making lies in experiencing the genuine challenges it presents. Therefore, I implore each of you to venture forth and procure these ingredients yourselves, immersing yourselves in the intricacies and complications inherent in brewing a potion of such calibre. May the journey to acquire them serve as a valuable lesson in the art of potion-making!"

Remus nodded in response “Of course it wouldn’t be so easy,” he mumbled and turned towards you “Wanna split?” 

You nodded “You could get the fluxweed and I could capture the lacewing flies? We also need Knotgrass and shredded boomslang skin, perhaps we can get the latter with the Care of Magical Creatures teacher?” 

“Yeah,” he agreed, “All thought, how about you do the fluxweed and I do Lacewing flies?” He asked, “I’m really good at catching stuff.” 

You agreed “I can go with Lily next full moon,” you said with a smile “We have Care of Magical Creatures later today, right? We could ask the teacher then?” 

A small Slytherin boy raised his hand from the back of the classroom “Professor, must we also dry and powder the leeches?” He asked with an air of disgust in his voice.

“Well, of course, Mr. Stradleter.” 

“Of course, because I definitely can’t order them from an ingredients store,” You mumbled rolling your eyes, Remus chuckled lightly. 

“In fact, you have stumbled upon the very essence of our lesson today. Step one, my dear students, involves a fascinating encounter with these lively leeches." He paused, his eyes twinkling with anticipation as he pulled a jar from his desk. The Slytherin boy held his breath at that point, staring at the leeches horrified. "Worry not, my young potion-makers, for we shall handle them with care and precision.” 

“Oh, this is definitely going to go bad somehow,” Said Remus, biting his lip to avoid smiling too wide as he looked around to the rest of the tables with students looking like they wanted to run away. 

“10 sickles someone ends up with at least 10 leeches stuck to their skin.” 

Remus turned to you with raised eyebrows and a little smile. “Deal.” He said and the two of you shook hands. 

Later on in the class, Peter who was sitting next to a Slytherin girl and was right behind Sirius and Severus, realised slimy-old Snape had pulled his hair up to focus on the leeches when drying them and had taken the opportunity to carefully levitate some of his own leeches towards Severus’ neck. Unwittingly causing you to win the bet against Remus. Once the class was over, poor Severus had over 20 leeches all over his neck and back. 

“Sirius bloody BLACK! What the hell have you done?” He roared when he realised he had leeches on his neck. 

Sirius raised his hands with an innocent look on his face “I’ve been working with you all class, not that I like it, but I’ve done nothing to you.” 

“Professor!” Severus whined. 

“I’ve been closely monitoring your progress,” Slughorn said “Mr. Black has been dutifully working on the drying process alongside you.” 

Severus rolled his eyes, clearly feeling victimised. “You’re meant to be on my side!” He argued and Slughorn gave him a stern look.

Peter held back a laugh from behind. James instantly knew who it had been.

“Come here, Severus,” Slughorn waved for the boy to follow. He pulled the collar from Severus' shirt and winced when he noticed the state of his back. Snape ended up having to go to Madam Pomffrey. 

 Once the class was over James caught up with Peter and Sirius as they walked towards their next class “That was brilliant Wormy!” He said with a smile. 

“I just saw the opportunity and took it,” he said with a small proud smile. 

Sirius spoke then “That twit couldn’t even place the blame on me,” he said as he placed a satisfied arm over Peter.

“Yeah, and you lost me 10 sickles,” complained Remus as he caught up to them. 

“Yeah, thank you, Peter,” You said with a smile as you walked past them toward Marlene. 

“You made a bet? With (Y/N)?” James asked Remus, raising his eyebrows, who just shrugged in response. 

Once you reached Marlene you went straight to the point “Why do they dislike Severus so much?” You asked her. 

“He used to be Lily’s friend. But then he called her a slur,” Marlene explained. 

Mary, who was walking beside you whispered “She called her a mud-blood.” 

You gave her an incredulous look “He called her that?” Marlene nodded, you exhaled with indignation, “He deserves a lot more leechers then.” 

Your next class was Defense Against the Dark Arts. A tall, elegant-looking lady in her forties, who you recognized as the head of Hufflepuff, Seraphina Nightshade, was your teacher. She moved with the regalness of a ballerina around the room. In the class, she went through the basics of some strong defensive spells, left an investigation assignment and invited the students to join the Dueling club that would start next week, after classes. 

You toyed with the idea in your head. Duelling was fun in your older School, you didn’t exactly know how good the students would be at Hogwarts but you pride yourself on having sharp reflexes. When Defense Against the Dark Arts was over, you all walked towards the Great Hall, at that point Mary asked Marlene to go get something from the room with her and the two diverted from the group. 

“So… What are we going to do for Marlene’s birthday?” Beth asked standing in front of you, Lily and the boys.

“Oh, it’s her birthday soon?” You asked. 

“September 10th, that’s… next, next Friday” Peter replied “I’m planning to get her a cake, I’ve already talked to the kitchen elves about it and everything.”

“And we’re getting some firewisky,” said Sirius pointing at James and back at himself. 

“Last time you got firewisky–“ Lily started, but was interrupted by James, who placed an arm over her shoulder. 

“–That wasn’t our fault,” he said defensively “That Ackley boy got us some weird stuff he was brewing in his room.” 

“Yeah, and everyone was burping out purple bubbles for a week!” 

Beth laughed, “Yeah, that was epic.” 

Lily shot her a glance, and she shrugged in response “Ackley’s illegal brewery almost got discovered!” 

“Don’t be such a wuss, Evans!” Said Sirius “We got a different dealer this time. They’re buying it at the Three Broomsticks.” 

“Who? Is it someone from seventh?” 

“We can’t tell you, it’s top secret,” Said Remus, who was walking beside you, “Wanna help me with the decorations? We’re gonna do over the common room.” You nodded. 

“Gryffindor parties are THE parties of the school.” Said Peter, “Totally exclusive, you can only come if a Gryffindor invites you directly.” 

“Then it’s settled!” Said Beth “I can tag along Remus and (Y/N) for decorations, if that’s all right?” 

You both nodded, then Lily spoke “I’ll see over the snacks with Mary, then.”

“Ohh, hold up!” Said Beth “Someone needs to invite Holden Crawford.” 

“The Ravenclaw seeker? Whatever for?” Asked Sirius. 

“It’s Marlene’s crush,” admitted Lily.

“Oh,” Responded Sirius with an insinuating face “Want us to slip some amorentia in his drink that day too?”

“Of course not Sirius! You especially know how bad those kinds of potions can hit.” 

“Does he now?” You teased “Sounds like a story I wanna hear.” 

“You won’t,” responded Sirius sternly.

At the same time, James leaned down towards you and whispered over your ear “I’ll tell you all about it.” 

“So… Holden Crawford?” Beth insisted, bringing everyone back to the topic at hand.  

“I don’t know him,” shrugged James. 

“Me neither,” responded Sirius. 

“I know he’s chummy with Alexander Wood,” Said Peter “They got paired up in potions first year and became really good friends, even if they’re different houses.” 

“Alex, the Hufflepuff Head Boy, Alex?” You asked. Peter nodded. “Oh, I’ll invite them.” You said matter of factly. Everyone turned towards you. They were all thinking the same, how the hell had you met Alexander Wood? “He brought me here on my first day,” you explained,  “took me to Dumbledore’s office to get sorted.” 

“Aaaah,” said Peter as he nodded.

“Fantastic,” said Beth excitedly “Godric Heavens, (Y/N) the brave got sent to us!” 

“(Y/N) the brave?” Asked Sirius incredulous. 

“Oh, Puppy… You don’t want me to talk about the zip lines, do you?” You teased. He instantly tensed up, the boys did too, but you didn’t notice.

“P-puppy?” Peter stammered. 

“I gave him that nickname back on our trip, he insisted a tiger would win over a lion.” 

The boys weren’t sure how that related to Sirius being called Puppy but they relaxed when they realised it didn’t have anything to do with their secret. “Good thing we already had nicknames when you arrived,” said James as playfully nudged you with his shoulder. You laughed. 

“Don’t know about that,” said Beth “I’d rather be Puppy than Wormtail.”

“Oi!” Complained Peter “Wormtail’s a fine nickname, thank you very much.” By then you had already arrived at the Great Hall, Marlene and Mary joining you shortly after.  

For dinner, there was Roast Beef, Shepards Pie, Bangers and Mash and these absolutely killer Buttered New Potatoes. They were so good you’d served yourself twice. Once you were done you started feeling drowsy, it often happened to you when you overate, so you gently let your head fall over Sirius’ shoulder, who was sitting beside you. 

“You okay?” He asked, turning his head towards you lightly, trying not to move you as much. 

You nodded, still on his shoulder “I ate too much,” you complained, then took in a deep breath “and we still have another class…” 

“I can carry you there,” he offered. 

You turned to him with a frown “And risk me puking on you?” 

He shrugged, “If it’ll make you feel better.” You chuckled lightly, sometimes you really didn’t understand Sirius. Some days he was at your throat trying to win you on whatever game you made up on flying practice, and then he’d come out and say things like that. 

You stared at his pretty face for a minute before shaking your head and going back to lay on his shoulder, “It’s alright Puppy, I’m sure it’ll go away on the way there.” 

He didn’t even seem to mind you calling him puppy all that much either, in that particular moment. You might have fallen asleep on Sirius’ shoulder, since next thing you knew, Lily was shaking you lightly and telling you it was time for your next class.

The teacher of Care for Magical Creatures, Silvanus Kettleburn, was quite a character, to say the least, he had white hair, styled in a very rockstar kind of way, a metal claw for a hand and a white bandage covering one of his eyes. If Remus looked like a sexy novel Pirate, Kettleburn looked like the villain pirate the main character was forced to get married to before Remus came to rescue her. The funniest thing about the man was this extremely high-pitched voice with which he introduced himself, totally contrasting with his gruff pirate vibe and attitude. He said something about trying out a new draught that had made his voice squeaky, but it still took a whole lot of energy to keep your face straight when he spoke.  

He said this month you’d be taking care of fireworms, and explained that they should be taken care of with extreme precautions since they could easily explode if not being cared for properly, if they saw the moon, or simply if they felt threatened by whoever was caring for them. He mentioned they would start small but they could grow up to 10 feet tall, and that they were the cause of many monsters and horror stories the muggles told to their children. He handed every single one of you a small box, of about 3 inches, with a worm in it, explaining how you’d have to get the worm used to you before transferring it to a bigger box, once it was large enough. “You must be very careful, and you must not forget to feed them, or they might explode too.” 

You took in a sharp breath, looking down at the little box, how could such a small creature be so dangerous?, You wondered as you carefully set him to the side, as if not to disturb him much. During the  the class you learned that your fireworm wasn’t actually a he, but a she, and after getting some encouragement from Kettlebrun, you ended up naming her Pyro Princess. Neatly writing the name on a label that the professor had handed over. In the middle of the class, you heard a small explosion, it came from a tall Slytherin boy that stood beside Severus, who quickly performed agumenti to turn off the fire. 

“Excellent problem-solving skills Mr. Snape,” Kettleburn said with his squeaky voice “10 points for Slytherin.” 

“But it was Rosier who caused the explosion,”  Tom complained, “That should definitely take some points from them, right?” 

Beth gave him a thumbs up while Kettleburn gave it a thought “You are indeed right Mr, Harrow, Evan Rosier will get a 5 points penalty for his aggravation.” Snape rolled his eyes and placed his own label on top of his worm while the professor handed a new worm to Evan. 

“Whoever has the largest worm by the end of the course, will get an automatic A,” he said before he dismissed everyone and their worms. 

At that point Lily approached you, “Today’s the first reunion of the study club, we’ll be working on some homework together if you wanna join,” said Lily. 

You nodded in response, “I’ll just take this little girl to a safe place and see you there, yeah?” 

You parted ways with Lily once you were back inside the castle. From what Kettelebrun had explained, fireworms liked peaceful environments, and while your dorm was peaceful enough, you really did not want to burn the Gryffindor tower down because of a mishap, so you decided that the safest way to keep her was somewhere in the passageways Remus had taken you to on the first day. Once you were inside you saw another light further in the passage. Turning yours off and walking behind it quietly. 

“Anyone there?” You heard a very familiar voice. 

“Remus?” You asked him, turning the light of your wand back on. 

“(Y/N)? What on earth are you doing here? it’s a whole labyrinth inside these tunnels, you could’ve gotten lost without a guide.” 

“I’m rather good with mazes,” you said with a smile “but uh… I’m here because I wanted to find a good hiding spot for Pyro Princess.” 

“You mean, your fireworm?” He asked with his eyebrows raised “You called it, Pyro Princess?!”

“Well, It’s a fireworm! What did you call yours?”

“I called him Number 1.” 

“Number one? And you’re making fun of Pyro Princess?” 

He gave you a stern look “I didn’t wanna get attached to it, in case it blew up.” 

“Now, that’s just setting yourself up for failure. But fret not, I’m sure if we team up we can keep both Pyro and Nummie alive.” 

“Nummie? Now you gave it a cutesy name too.” 

“It’s just short for Number 1,” you exclaimed “So, Mr. Guide, please take us to a safe, non often used area.” 

“Fine, follow me,” he said and the two of you walked through the tunnels until you found a decent hole in the wall to place the two worms. You performed a small protection charm on top of them and Remus added a small light orb on top of them to give them some light. “They’ll be alright, yeah?” He asked, to which you nodded. 

“I’m thinking of brewing some calming draught, to add a few drops to their water, so that way they won’t get so anxious.” 

“Oh, I’ve got some,” he said, pulling a bottle from his pocket. You frowned but decided not to question it as he placed a couple of drops on their water source. Who knows maybe Remus was a naturally anxious guy and he needed it, or maybe he was just gonna use it for a prank. 

When the two of you were down with the little home area you’d created for your worms, you walked together towards the library. Lily was already sitting on a round table, Beth was by her right, and a smaller blonde girl by her left. As soon as she saw the two of you she smiled and waved “You made it.”

“Bumped into Remus on the way too.” You told her as you sat in front of her, next to Tom. Remus sat in between you and the blonde girl, who you later learned was Nina Blythe, a Ravenclaw a year younger who always joined the study group, to learn about more advanced stuff. On a table beside you were several kids from even lower years who would often stand up to ask Lily and Remus for advice or help with their classes. 

You pulled out some parchment and decided to start working on your runes essay for Divination since it was the thing that would require the least effort. You’d kept your runes on a little felt bag and took them out to start writing about it; you knew most things from the top of your head. Once you were done you started working on your DADA assignment. Standing up to pull some books from the library about defensive spells you’d need. Once you returned to your spot you noticed Beth was desperately looking through a book. 

“All good?” You asked her, trying to be nice. 

She shook her head “I just can’t find this fucking rune anywhere.” 

“Language Beth!” Lily complained, “There are children around.”

“I’m so gonna fail…” 

“May I?” You asked as you extended your hand, she placed the rune on it and you brought it back to give it a closer look. “Ah... It’s Hagalaz!” you explained “It’s hard to find it because in this set it looks a lot more like an N than an H, but it’s this one,” you pointed at one of the runes in a book she had discarded earlier “It means Hail… So basically it comes from a natural disaster, em… it means that… an unavoidable change that is out of your hands will be presented to you. How destructive it might be, depends on how capable you are of weathering its storm. Kinda like The Tower in Tarot,” you finally gave the little stone back to Beth. 

Everyone at the table now turned to look at you, with an air of surprise in their faces “Thought you said you weren’t good with divination,” said Tom. 

“I just…” you sighed,  “I don’t want to be another divination teacher’s pet.” You responded “And I’d already seen runes a couple of years ago.” 

Remus gave you a rather apprehensive look while Tom handed over another rune for you to check. Eventually, you helped everyone with the divination homework, since the set of runes Professor Spellman had handed over to revise had weird shapes on most of the little stones. 

The little Ravenclaw girl next to Remus seemed disinterested in the divination stuff and just stared at her spellbook, drawing little stars and hearts over the edges. When you sat back down in your chair, you realised that in fact, she hadn’t done any work at all so far, she had her spell book and a parchment out, but it was pretty empty, and she just scribbled some random notes every now and then. You wondered why she was in a study group if she didn’t have any homework to do when you noticed her giving Remus a quick glance, before going straight back to her book. You leaned back in your chair, lousily grabbing your charms book and started “reading” while you continued to analyse her behaviour. 

She would read her book, the same page she’d been on since the beginning of study group, an hour ago. Then she would scribble something illegible on her parchment, and then she’d give Remus, who was completely oblivious a quick glance. She’d play with her hair, and then go back to drawing on the edge of her book, ready to repeat the process all over again. You were almost completely certain she was madly involved with Remus, but you had to confirm your theory. 

So you cut out a small piece of parchment and wrote: “follow my lead” and passed the note over to Lily from under the table. She gave you a confused glance but nodded. 

“Hey Rem,” You called quietly so as not to disturb the rest, he turned to you, raising an eyebrow at the nickname “Would you mind helping me with this assignment on potions?” You asked politely, pointing at a specific one in your book “I’m not sure I know exactly how to explain this particular step, with different words.” 

“Ugh…. Maybe you could use crushing?” 

“Yeah, I thought about it too, but I’m not sure crushing works, since it’s more like really, really fine pieces.” 

Yeah, it was a tricky question, all right? But you had to make it sound believable. 

“Do you think Lily would know?” You asked. 

He thought about it for a second and nodded, he then leaned towards the Ravenclaw girl “Hey Nina,” he said politely, and she turned to him, almost shocked he was talking to her “Would you mind switching with Lily for a minute?” He asked with a smile. She seemed taken aback but nodded. Standing up to switch with your redheaded friend. 

You leaned closer to Remus then, almost crossing past him to talk to Lily, who seemed puzzled. You were never so much in other people’s personal space, not that Remus was bothered by it, in fact, he wasn’t uncomfortable in the slightest, he found the warmth your body emitted rather soothing. But Nina? Nina was absolutely pissed. She was shooting daggers at Lily and you as if you both had just kissed her fiancé. In retrospect, if a new girl showed up in a year and she was all over your crush, you might’ve been just as angry, but you wouldn’t make it so obvious. She was damn lucky everyone else was too busy looking at their books or they all would’ve known by now. 

“Oh, you can use something like make a fine dust with the dried fairyleaves,” She said after thinking about it for a bit, she then gave you an expectant look, asking if what she’d done was fine, you nodded, with a little smile.

“Oh, that’s perfect, actually,” You said as you leaned back to your place. Feeling how much colder it was without Remus’ body heat irradiating all over you “Thanks,” you told Lily and then turned to Nina “To you too love, for switching so Lily could help.” Nina nodded, still looking a bit pissed nonetheless. You continued working on your homework assignments for a while.  

At some point, you heard Tom yawn, and a couple of minutes later he was excusing himself, saying he’d finish a different day. Beth decided to walk with him. The smaller children had also started going to their dorms. As the library emptied it grew chiller, so you pulled your backpack to your knees and started looking through it, you were certain you’d packed your sweater in there, but maybe you hadn’t. 

Nina checked her watch and rushed out of the library. 

“Everything alright?” Remus asked when he noticed. 

You turned to him and nodded “I was just looking for my sweater, I guess I left it at the dorms.” 

“I’ve got mine here,” he said, pulling it out of his bag and hanging it over. 

You looked at the sweater, he’d already taken it out, and you didn’t want him to feel bad, so you glanced over at Nina, you didn’t want to make her upset by taking Remus’ sweater either, but she had already left, so you took it from his hands with a smile and thanked him. Pulling it over your head in one swift movement. It was big and warm, and it smelled so nice, you were thankful you didn’t reject it. You stayed in the library until about 9 pm, when Lily yawned and checked the clock on the wall behind you, realising how late it was. 

“Oh, we must go, it’s time for dinner,” she said as she started to place her things in her bag. Remus and you followed suit, you placed your parchment in between one of your larger books so the ink wouldn’t run before putting it away. Once you had everything in your bags the three of you started walking towards the Great Hall. Lily switched over to walk by your side and you were left walking in between your two friends “What was the whole potions thing about?” She asked you. 

“Oh… I had to test a hypothesis,” you explained, she looked at you expectantly, as if waiting for further explanation “The little Ravenclaw girl, Nina? I thought it was odd she was in our study group but spent most of her time just drawing in her notebook.” 

Lily frowned, now that she thought about it, she hadn’t seen Nina do a lot of homework last year either “And?” She pressed. 

“Oh, she’s got a massive crush on Remus.” 

“Ahhhh” Remus said as he downed him, “so that’s why you were calling me Rem and being all chummy.” 

“I wanted to see her reaction,” you shrugged. “She was pretty pissed when she had to switch seats with Lily, I think she low-key hates us now. But…” you did a dramatic pause “She seems nice,” you teased Remus. 

“She looks 12, (Y/N)!” Remus said, shaking his head in disbelief. 

“But she’s got pretty eyes,” you argued back, and it was true, she had this very beautiful doe-eye look going on, and her eyes were a very intense blue. 

“Who’s got pretty eyes?” Asked Sirius, who’d spotted you from behind and approached right in the middle of a conversation. 

“A girl that likes Remus,” replied Lily. 

“I’d say she’s madly in love with him, but I guess likes works too,” you corrected. 

Sirius raised his eyebrows with a little smirk “Moony boy, were you planning on getting a girlfriend without asking for permission?” 

Remus shrugged and shoved Sirius “As if I needed your permission to date someone.” 

“But you do! I’m your best friend!” The shorter boy insisted “Doesn’t he Lily?” 

“Remus can make his own decisions,” she shrugged.  

Remus smiled, and Sirius approached you instead, clenching to your arm “You have to back me up in this one love,” he said playfully, “go ahead, tell Remus he definitely needs permission from his best friends before dating someone.” 

You raised your eyebrow at him, “Not sure about permission Puppy… maybe a 3-day notice?” you teased. 

“3 days? At least a week, so we get used to the idea!” 

“When have you ever given us so much as a notice?” Retorted Remus. 

Sirius threw his head back dramatically “Moony, you know me, I’ve never dated anyone…” Remus gave him an incredulous look “Not seriously at least.” 

“Ironic,” you said, Lily laughed. 

“Besides, if you dated someone, I feel like you would date them date them, not just hook up with them,” Sirius continued. 

Remus laughed at that “What makes you think I haven’t hooked up with anyone?”

Sirius seemed taken aback “Because you’ve never told me?” 

“Gentlemen don’t kiss and tell, Pads,” Remus responded, Lily nodded in agreement. 

“Hold up!” Sirius said in shock, finally letting your arm free “Are you implying you’ve been secretly hooking up with people?” Remus only laughed in return. “Remus?!” 

“Sorry Pads,” he said walking in front of him with a shit-eating grin “There are some things about me, you’ll never know.” 

Sirius exhaled, defeated and grabbed your arm again “You would tell me if you hooked up with someone, right?” 

You raised your eyebrows, giving Remus a quick glance, he shrugged in response, and you turned your head to Sirius “Sure Puppy, you’ll be the first one to know.” You said ironically. 

“Good.” You were pretty sure he hadn’t understood your sarcasm, but Remus had and he was holding back a laugh. 

By the time you arrived at the Great Hall, it was almost empty, dinner had been at 7pm, and they stopped serving at 10, so it made sense only a couple students were left. Peter and Marlene joined you for dinner later, Mary had eaten with Tom earlier and was already back at the dorms according to Mars, and James was in a quidditch team reunion with the 7th years.

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Raead more Marauders Fiction

A/N: Hope you enjoy this one, and what can I say? I def have a thing for big sweaters and Remus. / Also, guys, I wanted to take this little moment to thank you, I'm still working on my 400 followers celebration gifts and somehow, I now have 500, that's insane! You guys are incredible, also thank you for all the love you're showing The Five Senses, specially sights, I was not expecting almost 1000 notes and yet... I truly am filled with joy, atm, thank you for everything.

[sfiyayaya]

have u seen the bkdk edating trend from a few months ago i need to know your headcanons abt it 🧎🏻‍♀️

yes omg it was so cute and i looooved the tiktoks of it 😭😭

as far as headcanons go i have like a two or three

1. after online dating for a while they were like “ok let’s bite the bullet and facetime so we can do a little face reveal!!” and when izuku accepted the call he was excited and giggling and all that and then katsuki’s face popped up and his smile dropped so fast and they stared at each other for a good 10 seconds before katsuki screamed and slammed his computer shut so hard that the screen shattered 🙌 they didn’t look each other in the eye for the next couple of weeks

2. another face reveal kinda thing but this time it takes place during their first year anyways they had been talking for quite some time and katsuki kept asking to “see the face behind smallmight” (idk i just used a random ass username ive been seeing ppl use for izuku in art and shit) so izuku was like yea fuck it ig so he sends a pic to katsuki and not even two seconds later there’s very loud shriek and a boom that shakes the dorms lmaooo

3. this one is kind of a continuation from number two but after izuku kinda puts two and two together and realizes that katsuki’s been the one saying all that corny and sappy shit abt how much he likes the other boy and wishes he knew him irl so he could hold him and whatever the hell else, izuku keeps making little quips and jokes to katsuki about all the things he’s said to him, and maybe this is ooc but in my mind katsuki can’t even fight him on that bc like yea. he WAS being fruity as hell in their dms so 🤷‍♀️ (plus he kinda revels in the fact that izuku was the one he was edating likeee he’s had a crush on the boy for soo long but never wanted to do anything abt it so this was just the push for him to get his shit together idk!!)

these are not very interesting or creative so i apologize for that, but it was still fun to brainstorm!! thank u for prompting me to think abt this 😝