#probably after some sort of scare with them accidentally wrecking something

[i3utterflyeffect]

It takes so much effort to convince stick!Alan to play Minecraft

all of them are begging him to play minecraft with them and he's just thinking back on all the times they fucked up his computer by doing things that seem perfectly harmless and innocuous. and they have to fucking PROMISE they won't try any dumb shit on the computer because it's not going to be as easy as a restart if they fuck something up

[linkedin-corp]

okay now that ive posted that thing on my art acc im gonna talk about chimera vivian here for a minute bcus i brainrotted to a friend of mine last night but i think its good if my ttyd followers know about the au lore

(LONG POST AHEAD. BEWARE)

it takes place and begins right as the party is to fight gloomtail. the party is fatigued by then and , to their dismay, they can barely handle him. he is more powerful than expected. in an unexpected turn of events, gloomtail eats vivian. without her, the party simply cant continue. so they flee

and while the party has fled the palace, and trying to reconcile a plan, the shadow queen that was destined to awaken within the palace soon eventually arises and begins to wreck havoc while the party is recovering from their loss. though, she is still weak, so she remains in the shadow palace , working away at what she can while inside it.

once the party has the courage and willpower to return, they finally defeat gloomtail in an effort to retrieve vivian first, but. as expected. shes not completely there

unsure who would be the one to do it, but one of them definitely ends up needing to use a spell or a certain type of magic to bring her back, probably. perhaps they encounter a friend who can use certain spells, like what theyd need. that will reverse stuff like. say. a friend getting killed and eaten by an actual dragon (time reversal magic ... ? much to think about ..)

of course it would go as expected; weird and massively backfire, because vivian is not your normal everyday individual, and neither is this dragon, both technically being under the shadow queens influence (in vivian's case, she is, a shadow. so inherently related to the shadow queen whether she likes it or not)

and then of course once ""vivian"" gets revived, its obviously not her. the party is super conflicted, and unsure what to do, so they once again flee, after just letting her do her thing for a bit (and accidentally kill many people in the process) as they are quite dazed . so is vivian, to be fair

once she finds the queen, vivian is luckily not as friendly to the shadow queen as falin is to thistle

even though she knows shes meant to follow under the queen and obey her every order, she also knows something is wrong. but since she isnt completely herself, and cant nessesarily think for herself, she cant make use of this anxiety. so she just tries to avoid the shadow queen when she can; unfortunately the shadow queen likes to use her as a sort of. large display pet/guard dog. chimera vivian is basically a giant ball of anxiety and sadness and confusion that sometimes manifests as blind rage.

her relationship with gloomtail during this whole ordeal is also very difficult and different, i think

instead of being kind and understanding in the way that falin is, vivian is scared and confused, and eventually lets her anger out at gloomtail, making him feel guilty the longer they stay connected. hes upset that they had killed hooktail, but he specifically starts feeling guilty bcus vivian technically didint do anything + shes also a shadow. so he accidentally did some overbearing friendly fire, even if vivian was working with mario at the time he ate her. oopsie

the way they change vivian back to normal? once they defeat the shadow queen she turns back. because shes sealed away, all the magic she cast on the world fades, as her influence is no longer thriving

majority of the au is just essentially the party trying to find those who can help them with their "needing those who can revive and manipulate dead people" problems . though once they do find them it wont be over

they wont be able to free vivian from gloomtail until the shadow queen is defeated, so they have to find a way to free vivian from the queen's influence first, and hopefully help her regain her memory in the process, so they can use her against the queen and have her on their side again .

biting the hand that feeds :)

[moon1ee]

after the emotional wreck that we all are after session 8, take this phasmaphobia/ghosthunting/3rd life/college crossover au!!! it started as just a list of headcanons but then got really out of control, buckle up lol.

cw shipping

so basically, grian and jimmy and everyone else are all just like college or high school students or smth, and grian, jimmy, impulse, and joel (the phasmophobia stream gang) do ghostbusting to get an extra buck, except they’re terrible at it

if you watch jimmy’s stream you’ll know what i mean

if they die during ghostbusting, whoever is left alive has to get into the car with all the ghosts of them and drive them back to their main base, (as in, a cramped dorm or something) do some weird satanic ritual in a pentagram, and get them back to the world of the living

yes, they’re basically immortal. yes, they use that immortality to hunt ghosts. no, i don’t get it either.

anyway, after a lot of exceptionally shitty ghostbusting, they get called in for a big “job” in which there’s a haunted old castle (i’m assuming there’s a lot of those in england) and there’s some sort of spirit of a dead king that supposedly is haunting it

the dead king’s ghost is called the red king, if you were wondering. not rlly important or anything, but just. throwing that out there. you know. for fun.

and it’s a big castle, right. so they’re like, “okay, well, we’re going to need more people to help with this” so they call in a few other people (as in, the rest of the 3rd life gang) who are also broke high school/college students looking for a quick buck

one of these broke students is martyn, who does not believe in ghosts at all whatsoever but thinks it would be hilarious to come along anyway, just to jump scare the shit out of people, like the good friend he is. also, the money. because that’s always a plus.

anyway, they all meet up in the castle at the dead of night, because those are the best ghostbusting times and when a ghost should actually be hunting, “not bloody 5 after 8, which blumming ghost hunts 5 after 8?” - joel, basically

they’re the 3rd life gang, of course there’s suitable shenanigans

grian meets New Guy scar, who is ridiculous and trips over everything and accidentally burned down a fancy red banner in the castle that was probably worth like, a million dollars, and grian is forced to basically stick to scar at all times to make sure he doesn’t destroy any other priceless artifacts

jimmy invites scott, the cute guy he has a crush on, over as well, because he really likes him, and of course, hunting for ghosts in a drafty weird castle is the best date ever, duh. however, they do end up just making out in the garden the whole night, so i guess it went well

bdubs and cleo are bdubs and cleo. i mean, c’mon.

now, you must be wondering what martyn is up to. he’s having the time of his life, jumping out, spooking people, playing creepy noises on his phone to freak everyone out and accidentally causing grian to set yet another priceless artifact on fire while scar laughs endlessly—

he gets bored pretty soon, though, and decides to wander around and check the place out. he then bumps into (literally) a very nice looking guy. martyn is kind of checking this new guy out. they introduce themselves, and the new guy’s name is ren.

DO YOU GUYS SEE WHERE I’M GOING HERE. DO YOU.

martyn assumes ren was either also invited with the other broke kids, a weird cosplayer, or he was a thief, because he was wearing a crown on his head that didn’t look like it was just plastic. martyn’s cool with it either way, though, because the crown was probably made from stolen goods from other countries anyway, so whatever.

they talk. martyn is kind of digging this guy. ren is totally heads over heels for this mortal human dude, and regales him with romantic and dramatic poetry while martyn laughs.

martyn also meets some other people who he hadn’t seen before, and they all seemed to be into some cosplay thing because they had shields and armor on. ren introduces them as etho, skizzle, and bigb, which are weird names, but martyn isn’t going to judge, he’s a martin with a y.

ren also calls them “his loyal knights” really dramatically but martyn just assumes they’re like a boyband or something.

later, they all eventually find the gang again, and ren introduces everyone to the new guy he just met who he thinks is pretty hot

grian just. looks at ren. then at the huge, forty-foot high painting of the red king on the castle wall. looks back at ren. back at the giant painting of the ghost they’re supposed to be hunting. and sighs.

might add more later but this is it for now <3. i’ve had this infecting my mind for days, i hope i have now infected you as well

[sageinacage]

y'know how jumpy tommy was in the amusement park vlog,, what if after the vlog they're hanging out at wilbur's place and wilbur keeps trying to scare him, eventually finding out tommy's ticklish :0

Scaredy Cat summary: wilbur was messing with tommy all day and trying to scare him, until he figured out something interesting a/n: i'm really sorry for not writing in a while D: expect more fics coming soon! like half of my inbox got cleared so feel free to send in requests :D also im working on adding titles to all my fics LOL warnings: swearing, jokes about unsafe roller coasters w/c: 1.2k IRL, Platonic

~

All day, Wilbur has just been a nuisance. Starting on the way to the amusement park, Wilbur was explaining to Tommy the dangers of roller coasters. Well- trying to; over Phil’s scolding, it was hard to continue to inform Tommy without bursting into laughter.

Though, because of his fear of roller coasters and Wilbur’s “information,” Tommy was on edge all day- jumping and getting startled at the smallest things; and Wilbur was not helping at all. “Are you okay, Tom? You’re really jumpy, dude.” Phil gave him a sympathetic smile, trying not to laugh when the boy angrily groaned. “I’m not jumpy!” He grumbled out, looking forward.

Wilbur heard this and let out a chuckle, before lunging at Tommy and faking it out. The poor blonde jumped then immediately crossed his arms. “Stoppit!” He whined, furrowing his eyebrows at both Wilbur and Phil’s chortles.

“Mate, you are definitely jumpy. Calm down, it's going to be okay!”

“It would be okay if the failure rate for roller co-”

“Will!”

Tommy groaned again, shoving Wilbur. “Shut up, bitch!” He exclaimed, Wilbur playfully laughing at him and Phil letting out a few chuckles with a shake of his head. “You two, I swear.” Phil wheezed, rolling his eyes.

“It’s not my fault that I’m angry, Wilbur is being a dic- AH- Will!” Tommy shrieked and bent down trying to catch himself after the taller one decided it would be funny to lunge at Tommy again. Wilbur wheezed, patting his back. “It’s okay Toms, you’ll be a lot more scared on ‘The Smiler’ later, bud!” He sniggered, earning another eye roll from Phil.

“Stop saying that, you dickhead!” Tommy muttered, Wilbur giggling to himself. All day at the amusement park was the same, Wilbur trying to push Tommy’s buttons and Phil scolding him about it while also trying to hold back his own chuckles.

Eventually, the day was ending, and after they all rode the final coaster named ‘The Smiler,’ they decided to walk towards the exit of the park. “Will, I hope you know that I hate you. Very much, in fact.” Tommy straightened his back, glaring to the side at him. “No, you doooon’t!” Wilbur sang, squishing his little brother into a side hug which earned a dramatic grumble from him.

“I swear I cannot take you guys anywhere.” Phil joked, smiling at them. “Yeah Tommy, we can’t take you anywh-”

“Will.”

“Yeah Will- STOP!” Tommy didn’t have time to sass him before being jumpscared, pouting as he climbed into the car to be temporarily safe from Wilbur jumping at him.

The car ride home was surprisingly quiet. It was a comfortable silence, though; as they were all a bit tired from spending all day at Alton Towers. As they got closer to Wilbur’s place, that’s when the chaos started up again.

“Hey Tommy, did you know that cars are even more dangerous than roller coasters?” He smirked as he kept his eyes on the road, laughing as he heard Tommy’s loud whine, leaning back in his seat with crossed arms. “You’re dead to me.” He muttered under his breath, Phil picking up on what he said with a chortle.

When they got back to Wilbur’s place, Tommy was the first to run in and lay on the couch, finally not in a vehicle of some sort. The other two came in after him, snickering at the sight of Tommy sprawled out on the couch.

Wilbur grinned, tip-toeing up to the couch and reaching over to squeeze his side. Instead of the surprised shriek he expected, he was met with unexpected cackles. “What? Is being scared all of a sudden funny?” He asked with an amused look, putting his hands on his hips. “It’s not fuhunny!” Tommy complained, rubbing his side to get rid of the sudden after-tingles.

“Then why are you laughing- ohhh…I see...” Wilbur smiled at his realization. His little brother was a little ticklish, supposedly. “I don’t like that tone, Will. I don’t like it at ahAHAHALL- Nohoho!” Tommy burst into loud laughter at the hands that were attached to his lower ribs, squeezing gently. “Ah, so you are ticklish! I was wondering for a while!” Wilbur exclaimed innocently, smiling fondly at the boy.

“Sh- shuhut up! Phihil hehelp meheheheeee!” Tommy whined through his giggle fit, throwing his head back as his ‘attacker’s hands moved to his waist right above his hips. “I’m good, mate. I’m gonna go order pizza, does that sound good?” Phil asked, looking at the menu on his phone.

“Yeah! Tommy and I will share a pepperoni pizza!” Wilbur talked to Phil like he wasn’t tickling Tommy at the time, making it even worse for the blond. “Wilbuhuhur!” He complained again, weakly pushing at his hands but they didn’t budge. “Oh, sorry! Don’t worry, my full attention is on you now!” Wilbur smirked, fluttering his nails over the sides of his stomach, Tommy’s t-shirt not providing much protection.

“SHIHIHIT! YOHohou bihiHITCH!” He squealed, jerking away from the fingers which found his hips. “Hey hey hey! I wouldn’t be so mean, Toms, I think I just found a good spot!” The taller devilishly sniggered, lightly drilling his thumbs into the bundle of nerves on his hip bones. Tommy screeched, accidentally arching up more into the tickles and hitting at his hands. “WHIHIHHIY?!” Loud belly laughter poured out of him, making both Wilbur and Phil smile at the genuine laughter.

“Because I like your laugh, Tommy! Also- you kinda deserve it after calling me a bitch all day…” He tried to sound upset from it, but couldn’t hold back his chuckles from Tommy’s embarrassed high-pitched giggles. “N- NOHOHOHO!” Tommy wheezed, shaking his head as his laughter turned hiccupy at Wilbur’s fingers skittering up his ribs, scribbling in between the grooves of his upper ribs; which earned screamy laughter from the boy.

“Uh ohhhh~, bad spot, Tommy?” Wilbur teased, his fast fingers turning into just gliding his nails around his ribs which surprisingly raised Tommy’s laughter. Wilbur teasingly chuckled, tracing random shapes into his ribs before unexpectedly shooting them up to scribble into Tommy’s underarms, the hands that were previously covering his face shooting down.

Wilbur managed to pull out his hands from Tommy’s iron grip, smiling at him before scribbling them over his stomach once again.

“N’awww, there’s that smile! Tickle tickle tickle, Tommy!” That absolute bitch. Tommy could not stand any baby talk, as his pink face began to turn into a bright red. Wilbur, clearly amused by this, continued to use the same technique. “What’s wrong? Does somebody have a little ticklish tummy? Hmmm?” He cooed in that horrible baby voice, grinning at him.

“Alright you two, quit it! I need to call to order the pizza!” Phil yelled from the kitchen, Wilbur sighing but slowing his fingers. “Thahank g- gohohod!” Tommy continued to giggle just from the adrenaline of being wrecked, curling up into a ball once Wilbur got off of him.

“Don’t worry Tommy, I’ll make sure to continue after dinner!” He laughed, patting Tommy’s head and going to walk to the kitchen. Tommy smiled to himself at that, immediately covering his face after. Wilbur was evil, but was he ever going to complain about that? Probably not.

[starvine]

first date headcanons

attack on titan (modern au)

summary: some first date headcanons with some of the attack on titan characters. 

warnings: none, just fluff :)

eren jaeger: movie 

a little basic but it’s all eren could come up with

besides, it was between a movie and dinner and dinner felt too formal so y’all decided on a movie

he’d let you pick the movie tho

he might argue with you if it’s something stupid and claim that it’s horribly written (as if he knows a thing) but that’s it

eren would make sure to get the BEST snacks. spicy food? check. candy? check. popcorn? check. fruits? check.

he just wants to impress you (even if he did have to confide in his friends for some advice)

he just really likes you

during the movie, you guys would start shifting closer to each other, both a little too timid to move all the way all at once

but you guys would make commentary throughout the movie, laughing when things seem too cliché or when a character says something funny

half way throughout the movie, you guys aren’t even really paying attention it it

you’re too busy throwing popcorn at each other and trying to catch it in your mouths, feeding each other candy, and giggling at each other

it’s intimate in its own relaxed way, which makes eren realize how perfect you are

you both could make the most out of a pretty average first date situation and make it into a beyond amazing first date

and that was all he needed to ask you on a second date before he dropped you off at your car, walking with you to make sure you got there safely

and ngl you’d be a bit of a fool to say no to eren

armin arlert: aquarium 

sweetheart is so nervous 

before he came to your apartment to pick you up for your date, he was a little nervous wreck 

he was fidgeting with his fingers, playing with the buttons on his shirt--he probably accidentally opened one by accident 

but once he saw you, he felt fine 

it was as if he physically melted, you just make everything okay 

once you guys got to the aquarium, he would NOT shut up

he was probably pointing things out, telling you fun facts, asking you what is your favorite marine life 

“oh, you like pufferfish? that’s cool! i like them too. they’re very... puffy.” 

he’s like a child in a candy store 

but while he’s rambling about how the digestive system of a sea cucumber basically cleans the ocean, he’s wondering how he should make a move 

he doesn’t want to scare you off or anything, but he doesn’t want you to be disappointed 

but while you guys are looking at one of those large fish tanks, the ones where you walk through a tunnel, you guys just sort of stand there and watch in awe

or rather armin watches in awe while you look at him, a soft smile gracing his pink lips as his eyes dart across the illustriously blue colored glass

and when he feels your pinky latch onto his, he’s a little shocked that you had made the first move

he didn’t not expect it per say, he just thought that he would be the one to make the first move 

but his overthinking got in the way

and when he turns to look down at your intertwined pinkies, he caught you sending him a delicate smile that made his heart squeeze until he felt as if every part of him was on fire

but it was him who finally held your hand fully 

he just needed you to give him the extra push

mikasa ackerman: book store 

it’s a very calming atmosphere, which is something you’d both need for this first date

mikasa is probably pretty anxious for the first date, and wants to make sure you’re okay and enjoying yourself while also making sure she’s okay and enjoying herself

so the calming scent of the book store and the quietness is perfect for her to multitask between mediating the two

you’d both be tasked with picking each other books and then buying them for each other

so initially mikasa was nervous because she wasn’t sure what to get you but then you asked what she liked to read and so that allowed her to ask the same, making the situation less stressful

and all while you two are walking from isle to isle, eyes scanning the various book titles and covers, she sneaks glances at you and how pretty you look

and the fact that you seem very deep in thought, heavily concentrated on getting her the right book, makes her feel less concerned on whether or not you’d rather be with her or not

the answer is obviously a yes but mikasa has a hard time understanding that sometimes

so when you give her the book you bought for her, making sure to lightly touch her fingers while you hand it to her, she already knows that another date is what she wants you both to have or else she’ll probably explode

and based off of how flushed she looks, the possibility of her exploding is not highly unlikely

you guys will sit at this little table in the corner of the store, reading your books

i can picture mikasa annotating certain lines that remind her of you, making mental notes to show you later

overall, the date is pretty lowkey and very sweet

connie springer: dave + busters/bowling

ok there’s not much of an explanation for this one besides the point that if feels right

like connie is pretty energetic and i feel like you can learn a lot about a person based off of the games they’re drawn to 

hence the arcade

i think connie really likes those racing games or the zombie shooting games

he also claims he’s really good at ski ball (he’s not, he’s trash)

so a good portion of the date consists of you just laughing at him the whole time cuz in all honestly he’s not the best at games but he enjoys them for the fun of them

he’d definitely cheer you on when you were playing or try to mess you up if it was you two against each other

but either way he’d give you a hug or a pat on the head after every game

even if u beat him

he’d probably try to sneak a kiss when you guys were in one of those shooting games that requires a booth and the curtains drawn (does that make sense?)

it’s not really romantic like at all, especially since it smells like a million different people in there, but it’s very low stress so in all honesty that’s what makes the kiss nice

and after you guys had used up all your tokens, you’d combine your tickets and pick something together

your prizes would mostly consist of candy and him insisting he get you a plastic gem ring so you can always remember your first date together

it was also his little, strange way of asking you for a second date

levi ackerman: art museum 

unlike connie, he’s not super energetic

so a museum is right up his alley

levi’s a bit awkward, he doesn’t really know how to talk to you

and especially since you’re lovely, his words jumble together and he gets all flustered

so a nice, quiet museum exhibit is perfect for him

it’s a nice balance between casual and formal, so you both dress nice but aren’t restricted by the need to be super polite and stuff

he’d probably like it when you try to imitate the poses that are shown in the paintings or sculptures

just imagine the soft chuckle he’d be unable to prevent from escaping his lips which then melts into a soft smirk

beautiful, beautiful lad

he probably wouldn’t join you though, he doesn’t want to embarrass himself

he just smiles at you and stares at the art, reading the background info they give on those little plates near them

but he would notice when you stare at him

he could be looking at some art made during the dutch golden age, but as soon as your head slightly tilted in his direction, his cheeks would HEAT up

you almost asked him if he was feeling alright he was so red

but as the date went on, levi really just thought about how much he enjoyed your presence

and he’s not a wicked talkative guy so being able to feel comfortable with someone even if you aren’t talking or doing much is pretty important to him

as the date concludes, levi finally works up the courage to place his hand on your shoulder, asking if there was anything else you wanted to see before the museum closes for the day

his face might be bright red, but the smile you give him makes him feel a little less embarrassed

what can you say, you’ve got charm 💅

hange: the fucking zoo

ok i won’t lie when i got the idea of hange taking you to the zoo for your first date i thought it was so funny and idk why

like they’d be so excited that they’d nearly forget that they’re on a date with you

they’d drag you around from exhibit to exhibit, pointing out the exact breed of tortoise or some really strange fact about the zebras without looking at the little description panel in front of the exhibit

it’s pretty comical

but then randomly, when you guys are sitting down and eating some fries from one of the concession stands, they start going on a rant about animal cruelty and how a lot of zoos don’t treat the animals properly

and you’re just sitting there like “what 🧍‍♀️” cuz they’re mood changed so quickly LMAO

and as soon as their rant started, it finishes and they’re rushing you to the reptile exhibit

they’d probably try to figure out if they could hold one of the snakes

you’d have to drag them out of there before they start harassing one of the workers into letting them hold a snake

they’d also give all of the animals names only to forget them in 2 seconds

“hey, robert, it’s good to see you again!” “hange, i thought you named them dante?” “oh... did i? 😁”

however there’s probably like one animal they absolutely despise and idk why but i feel like it’s parrots

y’all would be walking through this rainforest exhibit, birds flying from tree to tree and the whole time they’re cursing the birds under their breath for no reason at all

just an angry person walking through a rainforest exhibit, cursing out birds

pretty normal if you ask me

however, the date itself is pretty casual and almost feels like you guys are just hanging out

or it would if they didn’t ask you out on another date before dropping you off at home, kissing your cheek as their farewell

pieck finger: café

very simple and quaint

i feel like pieck has a coffee addiction and always puts her in a better mood

so what better place to go on a date then a café?

she’s definitely an iced coffee drinker, and will occasionally go for a hot drink but usually iced coffee is her go-to

and if you get a coffee or tea that she also happens to like, you’re already practically golden in her eyes

since pieck has a very soothing and lowkey nature, i can see the date being much more just like a conversation with someone you’ve known for forever instead of interview-y which is something i’ve found coffee/lunch/dinner dates to be a bit like

but pieck knows how to keep things interesting and she’s a pretty calming person to be around so all is well

i also can’t see her getting super nervous before the date

she seems pretty calm unless in high-stress situations, but even then, she’s pretty level-headed

but since she’s so calm, it makes you wonder if she really cares for the date

and of COURSE she does, she’s so excited about it

it’s just the way pieck is

but as the date continues, she’d probably start to tease you by playing footsies under the table

you gotta keep the date interesting, you know?

you guys would talk about your interests, family, friends, shows you’re watching

literally just anything and everything that’ll allow you guys to get a feel for each other

and if all goes well she’ll definitely suggest another date ;)

also don’t expect to leave without her either writing something cute on your cup, pressing a lip-stick stained kiss to your cheek that matches the one surrounding the rim of her cup, or a promise that your game of footsies will continue next time you see each other

[violetngrey]

Scarred! C!Feral boys HCs 2

Helping him with his healing scars

SFW

GN!Reader

Description of injury/blood

Part 1 / Part 2

Karl

One day he just reappeared in the garden with blood splattered all over his clothes and a blank expression after being gone for weeks

The side of his neck was completely wrecked

Whatever it was had skimmed a couple of layers of his skin off at least

Looked like more of a burn than anything

The more you thought about it the more it could of been an explosion

Had taken a good portion of his neck and some of his shoulder with it too

As you took him inside his facial expression never changed

Even as he sat in your heated house under blankets while you went to wash his clothes in the stream he still couldn’t remove the expression of complete horror off of his face

Eventually he completely freaked out not remembering what had happened to him just hours ago

Took you more than a couple hours to completely calm him down

“Don’t leave” “I’m here for you now, I’m always here for you”

That night you went out into the forest to go find his book again as he showered

He always forgot it somewhere around there

When you got back he was confused as to why you’d went through all that trouble for him

“It’s because I love you”

Blushing profusely with a face and neck wound stings more than you would think

Couldn’t sleep on his normal side without being in constant pain

Finally got comfortable when you offered to sleep on your back so he could cuddle into your side

Didn’t want you leaving his sight just in case he disappeared again

You calmed his timetravel anxiety down tremendously

Clung to you in bed for weeks even when it was boiling

Cold compresses on his neck and face as much as possible

Is scared of opening his book to see what he’ll read

Keeps you in sight whenever you both go out together for something

Likes to keep as much physical contact with you in case you do disappear

Holds your hand 24/7 just to go and get supplies

Once asked you if you could shower with him

Obviously you said yes

Helped him with his dressings when they got wet after

The cut took a lot more time than it should of to heal

It was a deep purple/pink for a good couple of months he before it started to turn completely white

The scar tissue was a lot more sensitive than it normally would be

You concluded it was from gunpowder or hot water but it could of been anything

Struggles to wear any sort of fabric on top of it the first two weeks

Doesn’t like the way it rubs against his skin when the healing tissue is on sensitivity overload

Gets frustrated when his shoulder gets stiff a lot more because of lack of movement

He’s scared he’ll lose all of his strength because he isn’t as active anymore and can’t work out or put pressure on his scar just yet

Let’s you place kisses onto it even when it’s a little too sensitive

After it started turning white he started to gain his confidence back

It wouldn’t stick out like a sore thumb so much

Could finally put a shirt on fully without it rubbing too much against the scar

Liked to brag that for the whole time he was shirtless it was a ‘show’ for you and you so liked it

You’d play into his jokes dramatically and make him giggle

“Ahhh, I secretly wish you never put a shirt back on” “Of course you do”

Starting only raising his right shoulder instead of both when laughing because it hurt

It eventually stuck as a habit

Gets itching pains on the left side of his throat

You figured out that drinking warm water helps it go away but Karl hates it

“Why did it have to be warm!” “Well do you want a lemon with it?” “Yes, actually”

You eventually asked Ponk for some lemons from his lemon trees and actually got lemon to put in his water

Fidgets with his peeling shoulder a lot even though he knows he shouldn’t touch it

As long as you never left his side he’d always be able to get through it

George

(He doesn’t have any supposed canonical scars or fan theorised ones so we’re going to have to use even more of our imagination for this one)

When you heard George let out a rather loud curse from the forest next to your house you knew something was wrong

He never cursed until something really did piss him off

You quickly took your apron off and fled out of the house and into the wood

To see George on his ass trying to stop blood flowing from his face getting into his clothes

By the time you both got back into the house he’d managed to tell you what happened

A piece of metal had eroded itself out of the grass and he tripped over it onto a rather sharp slab of stone

The stone has cut from the side of his nose all the way into the bottom crease of his eye on his right side

A small but deep cut also crept its way down his right cheekbone too

The fall had also gave him a nose bleed

Was horrified when you said it would probably scar

Didn’t think he’d alter his appearance permanently because he wasn’t watching where he was going

Had gravel indents in his skin for days

Found the stitches okay to handle and did all of his usual jobs the same as he would normally

About a week in, his nose was so unbearably itchy and he managed to reopen the barely closed stitch by scratching it

It brought him to tears the whole time you redid them

Tried to act tough but ultimately didn’t work

“I know it’s hurts George you don’t have to act”

You make sure you give him more hugs than he probably needs

You both have trouble expressing your feelings verbally so you do it out of actions a lot more

You make sure his dressings are always fresh as it’s in an awkward spot on his face

It doesn’t bother him as much as you thought it would

Goes out on adventures with Dream and Sapnap just as often if not more

You make a habit of kissing the other side of his nose as he laughs to take his mind off of the tight skin the scar left behind

The cut bought more attention towards his mismatched eyes

You always loved that about him and adored them

Gets shy when you point them out to compliment them to distract him

Loves you show you his appreciation to putting up with his dumbass self

Bought you roses to say thank you for everything

“I couldn’t of asked for a better partner” “Shouldn’t I be the one buying you roses to get well soon”

Blushes an uneven deep red on his cheeks

Get more occasional nose bleed if something hits his nose at a certain angle

Was more than a little surprised the first time it happened

He blew his nose and rubbed it a little when he was out with Sapnap and Dream and it just started

It went all over the nose before he realised it wasn’t just snot but blood

Somewhere near Snowchester there’ll still be a random patch of blood in the middle of nowhere

Went he got home and told you and laughed it off but it progressively got worse the more the cut healed

Eventually stopped completely when he’d accidentally walked into a door and unblocked something in his nose

Still doesn’t know what it was

“Y/n, do you think it was magic?” “Dumb luck”

Laughs and pouts at your remarks a lot more now

When it’s finally all healed up and gone he gets a bit anxious

It’s only just caught up to him after months that this is what his face’ll look like for the rest of his life

“I like this you better Georgie” “Oh really now?” “It reminds of how stupid you can be sometimes”

Laughs as he chases you around the house

Hates any slabs with the bane of his existence and refused to go anywhere near another one again

This also means the slabs in your garden that he used to love sitting on

Takes him a while to finally sit outside with you without worrying if you’ll trip over

Still acts like it’s going to kill him though

“What do you mean?! They’re evil little things!”

Eye twitches when he’s concentrated resulting in him laughing all the time

Distracts him from getting his work done when out

Thinks its absolutely adorable how you will always love him no matter what he looks like

-

If you wanted to know what inspired me to write this;

[local-ground-apple]

Thank you for your writings ^0^~ May I request for headcanons when Riddle, Ruggie, Kalim, Vil and Lilia are dating a gn! Reader that is in the same dorm as them?

Thank you for your request!!

Sorry it took me so long, I hope you will enjoy it~~~

🥀 you have to abide the rules imposed on students by Riddle. Obviously, you do a bad job in it and even though your boyfriend is a dorm leader you more than often forget about one of many regulations. Riddle won’t admit it, but he sometimes lets it slip and pretends he hadn’t seen anything, 

🥀  Riddle tried to teach you all the rules and you truly tried to memorise them, yet it was futile

,,It’s just 810 rules! It’s not that hard to remember!” “Well, it is, if your memory is shitty”

🥀 you and Adeuce are absolute trio of chaos driving Riddle insane. May it be breaking a teapot, painting roses pink by accident or dyeing hedgehogs, you are the reason behind Rosehearts’ headache, 

🥀 you clearly became a master in avoiding the rules or finding loop-holes in them. Riddle knows you’re doing something wrong, yet he can’t punish you cause technically you hadn’t broke the regulations. Yet, your victorious smirk tells him otherwise. Sometimes he wonders why weren’t you sorted to Octavinelle,

🥀 you and Cater are besties. You often help him take perfect pictures for his magicam account or trick some poor, unfortunate first-years into painting the roses. Trey technically doesn’t mind your mischievous self as long as you don’t disturb his kitchen, 

🥀 Riddle is more than happy to help you with subjects you don’t excel at. He’s doing his best to explain you the topic, yet each time your eyes fall on his lips, you barely can focus,

🥀 Riddle tries to be a bit lenient with you, yet sometimes he gets annoyed with you and expects a bit more than from other students. You are his second half and he thinks that at least you should try to be an example for students, 

🥀 Riddle often adjustes your tie, while you gently press your lips to his, always making him blush slightly, 

🐾 oh, finally a person whi can help him deal with Leona and his antics. He truly appreciates your even tiniest help. May it be a simply pat on the back, gentle comforting kiss or dragging Leona’s ass to the class, Ruggie thanks you, 

🐾 Ruggie often feels like he’s the one doing the most work in the whole dorm, so any help from you is very much welcomed. However, he didn’t expect that you would organise Savanaclaw students and clearly state their duties and tasks, 

🐾 you both are often seen playing pranks on poor, unfortunate Savanaclaw students. You are truly unstoppable with Ruggie’s unique magic and your  cunningness. Even Leona remarked your powerful duo,

🐾 speaking of giant lion, you both scold him for skipping classes and constantly napping, literally all the time, 

🐾 oh and you attempt to wake up Leona. That turns out to be challenging and hazardous task, 

🐾 sometimes you both pick up dandelions, unfortunately feeling on you both pair of inquisitive eyes belonging to no one other than creepy hunter. Whenever you and Ruggie see Rook, you both rapidly walk in the other direction, 

🐾  Ruggie adores when after a long day of school and handling Leona’s moods and antics, you pat and scratch his ears. Please, show him all the affection and attention you can, he will gladly return the favor, 

🦂 you and Kalim are driving Jamil insane. You’re both careless, cheerful spirits who don’t really think of the consequences of their actions beforehand. You both wreck chaos accidentally and are master procrastinators world has ever known,

🦂 Jamil thinks you’re useless, but still more useful than Kalim,

🦂 you and Kalim often procrastinate on your tasks and homework. You often try to study together and prepare for exams, but since you both are blessed with attention of the goldfish, you end up being distracted even by leaves or each other lips,

���� you often fly on magical carpet in the middle of the night (after making sure that Jamil is sound asleep). Kalim shows you and teaches you various constellations while you’re floating in the air. You both adore staring at star-studded sky and giggling together, 

🦂 you both are unstoppable party animals, who truly believe that dancing and singing are the best cure to alleviate all your worries. Kalim often throws parties and you spend the whole night in each other arms dancing to the music. The dancefloor is yours, 

🦂 Jamil tolerates you, but in his eyes you and Kalim are “dumb and dumber duo” (guess he hadn’t truly experienced the power of Adeuce’s one braincell)

🦚 being in Pomefiore entails following multiple, strict routines. You often fail to do them, but Vil appreciates your efforts even if he scolds you harshly. He is still more lenient with you than with Epel and usually refrains from addressing you as “potato”,

🦚 dating Vil means that you’re expected to maintain a certain image and look absolutely impeccable all the time. The stares are always on you and you more than often feel exhausted and anxious. But you have Vil who may appear cold at first, yet in private he showers you in praises and makes sure you feel appreciated,

🦚 you and Epel are probably besties who hit it off immediately (yes, Vil sometimes is jealous). You two gossip a lot, study together and try to avoid as many of the beauty routine steps as you both can,

🦚 you often stand up for Epel whenever Vil bullies him,

🦚 even after a while, you are certainly not accustomed to Rook randomly popping up and scaring the hell out of you while yelling random French words. You doubt you would ever get used to it,

🦚 you are surely at least decent in making potions, so you and Vil often work together on enhancing some recipes and preparing lethal poisons or normal potions. He’s more than happy to tutor you and help you out, of course, if you try your best, 

🦚 you quickly became a smoothie master and Vil absolutely loves it. You prepare them almost everyday, making sure to pick fresh, ripe fruits and vegetables. You both try different recipes and share a smoothie together each morning, 

🦚 Rook stalks you, for sure, 

🦇 you both aren’t allowed in the kitchen. Malleus made that crystal clear after one time you two wanted to celebrate your anniversary and bake something, it ended in fire,

🦇 you and Silver immediately hit it off and Lilia is more than happy that you and his self-proclaimed son are getting along well. Silver had hard time accepting you as old man’s significant other. You’re close to his age and he knows that Lilia is way older,

,,Isn’t old man too old for you? You’re young, you should date someone your age” “Like you, Silver?” “I DIDN’T SUGGEST THAT”

🦇 either way, he’s happy that his self-proclaimed bat father is in love with you,

🦇 Malleus awkwardly ships you both while Sebek was suspicious and before he accepted you, it took a while and lot of yelling. You and SIlver often team up and argue against Sebek. Silver provides arguments and you just yell, 

🦇 you and Lilia both stay up until night to study, while feasting on tomato juice. Mostly, it’s you who study, cause Lilia has lived long enough to know everything that’s inside textbooks. He likes tutoring you in history, always telling you some of his adventures back in those times, 

🦇 when you saw his picture in history textbook, you were more than stunned

,,OH, that’s truly you?” “Ufufufu~~mayhaps Little One”

🦇 you two often have tea parties together (it took a while to explain to Malleus why he wasn’t invited). 

🦇 you will absolutely never get used to Lilia appearing out of nowhere hanging upside and giving you a heart attack. He often playfully brush his lips against yours in reverse kiss, before he pulls away with a sly grin,

[robininthelabyrinth]

could we see a continuation of that nmj goes dark? What happens when NHS is brought back? What does he think of how far his brother is willing to go for him?

part 1, part 2

The first thing Nie Huaisang heard in his new life was an expletive.

Several of them, actually. Fairly creative ones, in two separate voices.

He cracked open an eye to see who was swearing – one of the voices sounded like Wei Wuxian, and the other one sounded like a sullen teenager, and the idea of Wei Wuxian having to take care of an angry teenager with a mouth as dirty as his own promised a great deal of hilarity.

“Yeah, well, fuck your mother and suck your uncle’s – hey, he’s awake! Senior Wei! He’s awake! For real this time; I swear I’m not fucking with you this time!”

Where had Wei Wuxian even found a kid with a mouth like that?

His attempt to simply lie there and do nothing having been undone by his own curiosity, Nie Huaisang decided to sit up and face the music – or at least, to try to.

That was about when he realized that he’d been chained down.

“I didn’t realize we had this sort of relationship, Wei-xiong,” he said, shaking his wrist at the man when he ran over. “You should have said…wow, you look terrible. What happened to you?”

Wei Wuxian hadn’t looked his best since he’d started with demonic cultivation – too thin, too pale, eyes too red, reminding Nie Huaisang of his brother’s worst fits of temper – but he looked even more like a wreck now. It was as if he hadn’t slept in days.

“What happened to me?” Wei Wuxian echoed with a choked up laugh. “To me? Nie Huaisang, you…!”

He shook his head, and Nie Huaisang had a bad feeling about all this.

“How much do you remember?” the kid by his side asked eagerly. He was dressed all in black and looked no more than ten, although with that level of cursing perhaps a very young fourteen wouldn’t be out of the question. “Do the memories cut off at the moment of death, or is there something after that –”

“Xue Yang!”

“What? What did I say?”

“Death?” Nie Huaisang asked. “The – moment of death?”

The memories came back slowly – it was like having been very drunk the night before, and trying to remember what you did: you could get it if you tried, images uncertain and mixed in with each other, the timeline out of order.

The moment of death, though…he remembered that.

“Shit, the resentful energy is starting to increase –”

“What did you think was going to happen when you reminded him of what killed him? Brat! Go get a calming talisman –”

Nie Huaisang was dead. Apparently a fierce corpse, too, which really shouldn’t have happened; had his elders slacked on the soul-calming rituals to which every sect child had been endlessly subjected? Or had Wei Wuxian managed to find a way through that, disregarding it – yes, that seemed more likely.

Nie Huaisang was dead.

Dead.

He’d been murdered. Just like his father before him, and if that wasn’t the worst sort of inheritance, he didn’t know what was –

His father.

His brother.

Nie Huaisang covered his face with his hands. “Tell me no one gave my brother my saber!”

“Your saber?” Wei Wuxian asked, pasting talismans onto his chest and belly in quick, orderly movements. “Why does that matter? And since when do you care about your saber?”

Nie Huaisang looked through his fingers at the kid, who’d been more forthcoming so far, but the kid looked cowed for some reason, scared – damnit, that probably meant his brother had gotten hold of Aituan.

And given what he remembers of his death, and how the sabers faithfully recorded those last few flickers of their master’s lives - 

That would be a disaster.

So Nie Huaisang said something he’d never said before in his life.

“Get me my saber!”

“Wow,” Wei Wuxian said. “Not to make light, Nie-xiong, but that might be the most Nie-like thing you’ve ever said.”

Nie Huaisang ignored him since he wasn’t being helpful. At least the kid – Xue Yang – was doing something, dashing over to the table by the entrance to the cave – cave? Were they at the Burial Mounds? How had he gotten to the Burial Mounds, his last memories were in Lanling – 

Oh, this was bad.

Aituan was vibrating as it approached, and suddenly Nie Huaisang realized that there might be another problem.

“Stop! Wait! Don’t! Don’t bring it any closer, it’s going to –”

Aituan leapt up out of Xue Yang’s hands and flung itself at Nie Huaisang, sharp end first; Xue Yang shrieked and dived under a table, babbling something about ‘not again’, and Nie Huaisang had to headbutt Wei Wuxian off the bed before he accidentally got stabbed. Luckily, there was just enough give on the chains that Nie Huaisang was able to avoid Aituan’s slightly-too-enthusiastic greeting.

Well, greeting-slash-murder attempt. He might be Aituan’s master, but he was a fierce corpse right now.

“You’ve traumatized my apprentice,” Wei Wuxian said, and looked up at where Aituan was stuck in the wall, quivering, only a few finger-widths above his head. “Possibly also me as well…are you feeling very much yourself? Appropriately centered, stabilized, not likely to let your resentful energy loose to start murdering people left and right?”

“I’m fine,” Nie Huaisang said, reaching up to grab Aituan by the hilt. Getting control of his saber again was going to be a nightmare, but a necessary one: he needed to know if his stupid saber had blabbed about what had happened to his brother. If it had, if his brother had seen that…he didn’t want to think about that. “I’ve never been that resentful, Wei-xiong, you know that.”

“Except when you think about what killed you,” Xue Yang said, an insightful and pointed comment that would be much more cutting if he wasn’t still hiding under a table.

“Yes, well, that’s – different. It wasn’t a very good death. Anyway, not important. More important: how is my brother doing? I really don’t want to think about how he must have reacted…”

Wei Wuxian’s face paled, and he exchanged looks with Xue Yang.

“So, bad?” Nie Huaisang hazarded. “Did he kill someone? No, what am I saying, he would have seen, he definitely killed someone. Wait. He’s not in jail, is he? Or hurt? Tell me he’s not hurt!”

“As far as I know he’s not hurt,” Wei Wuxian said, and Nie Huaisang exhaled with relief. “But…uh…”

“He didn’t kill someone,” Xue Yang said. “He killed a whole lot of someones.”

That…didn’t sound good either. 

“Hey,” Wei Wuxian said. “I don’t suppose you’re willing to tell me about the masterless sabers?”

That was worse.

“Is this really the time to be asking about that?” Xue Yang asked snippily. “Don’t forget where he went.”

Wei Wuxian’s face lost all traces of amusement. “That’s right. We need to get Nie-xiong to the Cloud Recesses right away.”

“The Cloud Recesses?” Nie Huaisang asked, and – oh no. Oh no. “We have to go right away! Da-ge will never forgive himself if he kills er-ge!”

“You really think he would?” Wei Wuxian asked, already undoing the chains as quickly as he could. “They always seemed to have a good relationship –”

“My brother dragged the entire cultivation world kicking and screaming into a war against the Wens in order to avenge our father,” Nie Huaisang snapped. “And now you’re telling me he brought the sabers out for me? Of course he’s going to kill him if he’s not stopped! He’s not going to think he has a choice ! Now get me to him!”

part 4 here

[imaginethatneathuh]

Warm (Cold P3): Technical Boy - American Gods

Third part of Cold and Cool. The last part, too.

Edited by the amazing and ever talented @dragon430. I immensely appreciate everything. She really pulled this one through (blame her for the length).

Word count: 5.2+ K

I- I tried. I’m not good at writing this kinda stuff.

Warnings: Arguing, fluff, angst, apologies.

•

What was he doing? He shouldn't be here, not in the slightest. He should not be here. Especially, if he wanted to save his dignity.

Technical Boy’s frantic tapping on the steering wheel of one of his cars was the only noise heard.

It wasn't the limo. He couldn't stand being in there without you. It felt… wrong, cold even.

Your apartment complex was right there. Directly next to him, and he could so easily just go inside. He still had the key you'd given him. You'd probably forgotten he had it as he rarely used it. That’s probably why you hadn't asked for it back. That or because you didn’t want to see him or talk to him at all.

That was a far more terrifying thought than any other he’d come up with.

To his right sat an old sweater of yours. Its age showed in the stains and rubbed off text on the tag.

You left it at his place one day. He, occasionally, kept it with him as a small reminder of you when he couldn't see you for a while. Over the past few weeks, he had slept with it several times, your scent calming his raging mind. What could he say; the idiot missed you.

Now, you were leaving for a wedding, a wedding in another country.

The god couldn't leave the states. He'd disappear if he tried. His only hope was that you hadn't packed and left for the airport already. Before you left, he wanted to see you again. He wanted, no, needed to say goodbye.

No. That’s too desperate.

He wanted to give you your sweater back.

Yeah. That's better. If he told you that, maybe he wouldn't have to say it.

Wouldn't have to say goodbye. Wouldn't have to accept that you might not come back. He could live in his own made-up world, one where you were still there, and the two of you were happy.

He knew you had been thinking about it. About staying gone, that is.

He couldn't stomach the thought of never seeing you again. He’d even be okay with you hating him forever as long as you stayed where he could see you. You had become the one person he never wanted to chase away, but he'd fucked that up, and now all you wanted to do was get away as fast as possible.

Looking at the apartment complex, Technical Boy bit his lip, the flesh raw from his gnawing. And he could already feel the pool of tears collecting in his eyes. He didn't want to cry. He didn't want you to see him like this. Didn't want weakness to be the first thing you think of when you see him.

But he’s never been so overcome with emotion. You did things to him. Some of those things he liked. Like how you were able to push away all his worries with a smile or how you could alleviate all his tension with a gentle touch. But, now, he hated it. All he felt now was the undeniable, ever potent feeling of loneliness.

•

Quietly, you tucked your toiletries into your suitcase. Patting the bag lightly, you sighed.

It would be the one, sure-fire way you wouldn't have to see him again. It'd be easier for you. No caving if he came to you, asked you to come back to him, to deal with him again. No, you weren't going to. No matter what.

That's what you told yourself, repeatedly.

If you left and didn't come back, sure, that'd be hard and you'd have to figure how to become a citizen but then you wouldn't have to see him. You wouldn't give in to Technical Boy's demands. If he ever decided you were worth his time.

It had been weeks, so that wasn't likely. Still, the thought stayed with you.

You sighed again and shuffled to your dresser.

In your heart, you wished he did want you and he cared about you but your brain told your heart to shut up. Said it was impossible and to move on.

A knock was heard from your door, the sound resonating through empty halls. Confused, as you weren't expecting anyone, you walked out of your room and to the door.

•

The young god breathed heavily and tapped his foot nervously. and bit his lip.

'Come on,' he thought to himself. 'Come on. Come the fuck on. All you gotta do is hand them the sweater back. That's all you need. That way, you know they're okay, and we can get on with our life. And- and they can, too.'

He wanted to be more than that. Much more.

The god wanted to be with you again. To treat you better than he had before. He wanted to show you his love.

Quietly, he swore to himself that if you gave him a second chance, he'd take you wherever you wanted. A 5-star restaurant with cuisine from all around the world made by the best chefs the US had to offer? Done. A trip to Hawaii to swim with the animals and go scuba diving? When do you want to leave? Mountain climbing in Alaska? He’ll get the gear. A romantic night out, ending at your place or his, maybe even a super expensive hotel for the hell of it? As long as it was what you wanted. He’d let you pull him under the stars for a night, as long as you smiled. Even if you just wanted to relax at home with him, he’d do it. He’d power down his phone and take care of you until you fell asleep. If you asked, he’d rub your feet or give you a massage. As long as, by the time you slept, you were relaxed, he’d count it as a win. As long as you were happy, he’d do anything. He’d treat you as he should have in the first place, like a monarch.

He had been so cold and cruel to you before. The god had gotten so used to pushing everyone away that he did it to you, too. The walls he built around himself, the technological armour, prevented the one person in the world he wanted to lower the drawbridge from being able to get across the moat. The white lies he told to keep you with him for as long as he could, the yelling and ranting for hours on end, the never asking about YOU because he already knew everything.  They all did more harm than good, the yelling in particular. Now, he would make sure to do better. To be better for you. No more lies of any sort. He’d tone down the rants and find other ways to get out his anger. And, of course, he’d make sure to ask about you and how you were doing rather than assuming or ignoring. He’d let you in, too. Properly this time, not just in the forms of rants and yelling. Anything you wanted answered, even the stuff he was afraid to describe, he would tell you. The god wanted a relationship that worked not what the two of you had before. He never wanted to lose you again. If you gave him the chance to fix your relationship, he would, and he would keep it that way if you did, too.

To get you back, he would even beg. Hell, he already wanted to beg you to come back after the wedding and try again. Maybe even beg you to not go at all. The worst thought crossed his mind, though, was to not even beg at all, but to take you and hide you away so you could never leave him again.

Then he grew disgusted with himself. That was not the way to earn your affection. That was the way to making you hate him forever, something he might have accidentally done already.

Not to mention, there wouldn't be a point in kidnapping you if you didn't still care for him. All he wanted was your love, and taking you against your will wouldn’t get him that. He had to try to earn you back. That was the only way. So begging it is.

Ew. he couldn’t help but grimace at the thought. It wasn’t his preferred method, but if it got you to stay, he’d do it. He’d risk his dignity if it meant getting you back.

As the door opened, Technical Boy froze in place.

You. he knew you’d answer since you lived alone, but now you were right there, in front of him. And you looked perfect.

To be fair, he always thought you did. But, now, after not seeing you in far too long, you looked like the morning sun after a long night of darkness… absolutely stunning.

All previous thoughts were gone as he just stared at you. Your presence left him speechless, and everyone who knows him knows that’s a hard thing to accomplish.

"What are you doing here?" You asked, annoyance and anger lacing your words.

He noticed your defensive stance, something that made him gulp.

Unable to stop himself, he let the words leave his lips.

"Can we talk?" His voice grew in a near whisper, afraid that if he got any louder his voice would betray him. Hell, maybe it had already and he didn't realize it.

•

All you could think about was how small he sounded. Not weak, just scared. Like he didn't trust himself to speak. You had never seen him like this before.

The powerful god shrunk in on himself and looked down. He wasn’t able to meet your gaze, and you didn’t know whether to hate it or like it.

"I'm leaving for the airport soon," you said.

He nodded. "I know. For your cousin's wedding." After giving him a questioning look, he said, "You talked about it a few days before you--" he swallowed hard. "--before you left."

You took a wavering breath. It was hard to think about. The day you left him was difficult for both of you. And as great as it felt walking away, you collapsed as soon as you got home.

You were alone and the weight of your decision was a heavy one. Cutting off such a huge piece of your life terrified you then and still does. Now, you were a bit more confident and comfortable with yourself. You wouldn't let him hurt you again.

Even if he did seem like a wreck. For all you knew, he could be faking it. But, after you looked him over, there was no way he could be.

If you took the voice out of the equation, Technical Boy, a supposedly powerful god, looked like he was on the verge of tears, his eyes shining with them. His clothes, unlike what you had seen before, were plain black. And his hair lay free around his shoulders, splayed out and messy like it hadn’t been taken care of recently. That had never happened as long as you had known him. He never let his hair down nor wore plain clothes.

It hurt to see him like this. AS much as you hated to admit it. Desperation and sadness were not good looks on him. It was odd, unnatural, for him to be like this.

"Y/N, can we please talk? I- I really need to talk to you. Please?" He asked, quietly hating how needy he sounded.

"You wanna talk now?" You scoffed. It may have come out harsher than intended, but it was definitely the tone you needed. "Now? After weeks of silence? After weeks of wondering if you even noticed? If you ever cared at all? Now, when I'm about to leave, is when you wanna talk?"

Technical Boy's mouth opened. But he closed it before he said anything, his gaze downcast. He shuffled forward, seeming cautious with his actions. "Can we not do this in the hall?"

You rolled your eyes, sniffling. Looking up, you tried to blink the tears away. "Go away. You've hurt me enough."

With that, you tried to shut the door.

His hand stopped it.

You didn't even try to resist it. It's not like you actually wanted him to go, but you also didn't want him to see you cry. Didn’t want him to see how much you were hurting.

"I know." His eyes met yours for the first time since you, stupidly, opened the door.

Those beautiful, baby blues that always seemed to storm and glow like they captured lightning. The ones that were always alive, always looking for a fight, now were dead. They looked like they had been beaten so black and blue they decided to just switch off like an old computer. It's like the world wasn't worth existing in.

Despite yourself, you pitied him. He was a god. You had seen him at work, seen his true skin, his true self. He was a powerhouse. To see him so defeated and broken by you, a very human and very mortal individual saddened you.

You fully opened the door. "You have five minutes," you said, turning your back to him and walking inside so he didn’t see the tear that rolled down your cheek. You quickly wiped it away and sniffed. "This had better be good."

•

He stepped into your apartment, following you like a ghost. The sweater in his hands served well as something to pick at as his heart pounded in his chest.

Honestly, he didn't think he'd get this far. He thought you'd slam the door in his face immediately. The god counted himself lucky.

He trailed after you to your room as you continued packing. "Y/N?" He asked, softly.

"What?"

"I brought this back." Technical Boy gently set the sweater on your bed. "Thought you might want it back. You, um, you left it at my place a while ago."

The soft fabric always felt strange in his hands. Like it wasn't really there even though it was. It felt wrong not covering you like it was supposed to. It made him feel weird.

You, on the other hand, loved it. The fabric comforted you even on your worst days when the world felt like too much or not enough.

Your hands brushed over the fabric. Softening eyes analyzed the stains like you were double-checking it was yours. Slowly, you brought it to your chest and smiled.

"You had it?" You asked. "I thought you'd thrown it away."

Technical Boy looked away from you, rubbing his neck. "No, I kept it. It reminded me of you."

You walked over and pushed him.

It wasn't forceful enough to make him fall but enough to know you were upset.

"Why would you keep it? Especially after I freaked out about it."

He shrugged, kicking at the floor. The push felt like nothing and he knew he deserved it.

"I don't know," he mumbled. "Because you love it, I guess. You never really left anything behind 'cept for that. I wanted to, I don't know, hang onto you when we couldn’t see each other."

As he spoke, his voice became quieter and quieter like he was afraid to say it.

You turned away from him and refolded your sweater. "You can't fold for your life, just so you know," you said, trying to hide your feelings in the joke.

He lightly chuckled.

As you slipped the sweater into your suitcase, he pulled you away from it. "Can we talk face-to-face? That's why I came here. I just, want to get what I have to say out. Then, I'll leave."

Scowling, you sat on your bed, arms folded. "Talk."

"I'm sorry," he said, watching for a reaction. You didn't give one, much to his disappointment. "For hurting you. For making you feel like I didn't care. For not showing you I cared. For, well, for everything. I'm sorry for being a complete and utter dick to you." You snorted at that. It was true, but a severe understatement.

"I hurt you, I know that, and I am so fucking sorry." The tears that had been threatening to spill for what felt like ages finally fell from his eyes. But he quickly wiped them away. "Y/N, you are the most important person in the world to me. I'd do anything if it meant making you happy. If it meant keeping you safe, I'd gladly let myself die. I’d gladly kill whoever hurt you."

You bit your lip, gaze downcast, unsure of how to respond. Your tears threaten you at knifepoint, wanting so badly to spill over, but you wouldn’t let them. You didn’t him to see how his words affected you.

He took your silence as a sign for him to continue. "And if it meant getting you back, or at least having the chance to, I'd get on my knees and I'd beg. I'd beg you to forgive me." A god begging. Who knew? "No. I am begging you. Y/N, please, please give me another chance."

"I'm still going--" You tried to say something.

He interjected. "I know. I can't stop you from leaving the country. This is for your cousin's wedding for fuck's sake. You should go. But please, please come back."

He watched you for the longest time, hoping for some sort of reaction.

You just stared at the floor, refusing to meet his gaze.

Silently, he pulled his keyring from his pocket. The keys jangling against each other as he pulled one of them off.

Technical Boy took one of your hands, his own shaking slightly. He placed the apartment key into your hand and closed it. His hands still cradled yours gently.

"I really am sorry. I hope one day you can forgive me."

His heart hung heavy. Pain, more forceful than anything he’d felt before, flooded through him. Rejection is a tough pill to swallow. Wiping away fallen tears, he sniffled and began to walk out of the room.

"Drive me to the airport," you said, still sitting.

He turned, lips parted in surprise.

You looked up, eyes meeting his, with a mix of sadness, love, and determination.

"Okay." He nodded.

Did you really want to do that to him? Force him to say goodbye? Make him drive you to the place that would take you away from him? Break his heart like that?

Technical Boy thought it was only fair. He broke you, now you break him, tit for tat.

•

The key burned in your pocket. It had made its mark on your hand, too. A part of you wanted him to keep it, so neither of you would ever really have to say goodbye. The fact that he was ready to say goodbye, that he was okay with it, hurt. But it felt nice. Knowing he cared but was okay with saying goodbye if it was what you wanted.

Sitting in the car, an older one without all the bells and whistles, felt strange.

You weren't used to it. When he "drove", it was usually in the limo, so the two of you were in the back, a windowless back with no way to know what time it was. But, now, you could look out the window and watch as the world rushed by.

If you were in the limo, Technical Boy could keep it driving until you missed your flight. You wouldn't know until you left the cold car.

Now, despite the memory of the chilly limo, you missed the thing. In it, you got the feeling you get when you’ve been in the shower for a while and forgot what time was, the distant feeling of knowing it’s later but no knowing how much later. You yearned for those feelings and the brightness of the limo. It was familiar and safe.

Technical Boy's eyes stayed trained on the road as he tapped his fingers nervously against the steering wheel. Maybe he wasn't really ready to say goodbye either.

"Why didn't you bring the limo?" You asked the question plaguing your mind.

The god glanced at you. He swallowed hard and shifted in his seat. "Didn't feel right being in there without you."

Your heart swelled at that.

He turned the blinker on and got into the far-right lane.

You nodded in response. It’s all you could do.

•

The airport was packed with people bustling about. Loud voices from the intercom sounded with static and told people what was going on.

Technical Boy felt uncomfortable. This was not his domain. The others, the planes, this was a part of them. He shouldn't be here without a good, godly purpose.

But there he stood, the most important person in the world to him about to leave him forever with no god connection in sight.

Noticing his hesitancy, you gently took his wrist and walked with him inside the building. You weren’t ready to say goodbye just yet.

He patiently waited as you got your boarding pass. The god watched you smile and nod.

Oh, how he adored that smile. His only wish was that you'd smile at him again. Because of him. Not a polite smile, but a real one. He yearned for it.

Walking over, you set your suitcase beside you. "Thanks for the ride," you said, not meeting his gaze.

He nodded. "Yeah. Of course." He swallowed hard, breath shuttering slightly. "I suppose this is where we part ways, then.”

"Our final goodbye."

You can’t take it anymore. Unable to stop yourself, you let yourself seek those beautiful blues. If this was to be the last time you’d see each other, then you might as well take it all in while you could.

The two of you stayed quiet, gazing into each other's eyes.

Finally, your will broke, and you step forward. "But this doesn't have to be. We- we don't have to."

His eyebrows scrunched up. "I thought--"

"I want to come back." You interrupted, the ‘to you’ laced in your meaning.

Quietly, as he did earlier, your hand drifted to your pocket and pulled out a key, the key to your apartment. Taking his hand, you placed it on his palm and closed it.

Neither of you said anything, but you both understood. With not a second to spare, the call came for your plane.

You began to walk away, taking your suitcase with you.

Breathing heavily, he called after you, grabbing your wrist and pulling you back. His wonder-filled eyes quietly told you everything he was thinking.

"I- I lo--" He couldn't seem to get the words out. No matter how badly he needed to say them, his lips wouldn’t form the syllables.

For the first time, you really felt it. You felt how much he loved you. It wasn't fake or a lie. It was real.

You cupped his cheek and beamed. "I know," you said, gently. "I do, too. Always have."

Pulling away, you walked to where you were going to board.

The god let a giant smile spread over his face. You cared about-- No, you loved him. Nothing in the world could take that away. Nothing could sour his mood at that moment.

His gaze fell to the key in his hand. Where, before, when he looked at it, there was this never-ending pain in his heart, now, an overwhelming joy took its place.

You loved him, too. That's all that mattered.

Even if there was rising anxiety over the plane and all the ways it could end up crashing. But, plane crashes had a one in 11 million chance of happening. Hopefully, you wouldn't be that one.

•

You shut the apartment door with your heel, pushing your suitcase in front of you. You missed your comfy home in the short time you were gone. And the warmth of the space made you sigh in content. But what made you smile was Technical Boy mopping the kitchen floor.

You had only been gone a week and a few days, and he had already made himself relatively comfortable and familiar.

"Planning on living here if I didn't come back?" You asked.

His head shot up, and his face erupts in a grin. "Y/N!"

He reminded you of a puppy greeting its owner after they were gone all day. It was cute, almost to the point of being criminal.

He checked his phone and scowled. "Shit." He looked back up. "I had planned on picking you up. I'm sorry."

You shrugged nonchalantly. "Don't worry, I got a taxi."

You sat your suitcase on the sofa and rolled your neck, trying to ease out the cramps and aches.

"How was the wedding?" He asked, setting the mop back in the bucket.

"It was a wedding." Looking around, you found your home practically deep cleaned. "What's all this about? It looks like Mr Clean came through with a vengeance and a taste for germs."

Technical Boy laughed, his dimples and diastema showing. The cute gap between his teeth was ever endearing and you always thought the sight was adorable paired with his dimples.

Rarely did you see him truly smile. Not a pained one or a sarcastic one, but a real smile. One that reminded you why you put up with him in the first place.

"I wanted to surprise you," he said, shrugging. "Oh! That reminds me." He took your hand and guided you to the fridge. "I was planning on ordering dinner before I went to go get you, but I can do that later." He tapped the freezer door with his knuckle. "Open it."

You looked between him and the freezer, not sure if you should trust him.

"Please?"

Succumbing to your curiosity, you acted as Pandora and opened the box.

He watched as your eyes lit up at the sight of your favourite dessert.

You looked at him, grinning. "Really?"

He nodded. "I figured, I got a long way to go before I'm totally back in your good graces, so why not bribe you a little? Besides, you know I'd do anything to make you happy. Even have dessert before dinner."

You took it out, your smile growing bigger at his thoughtfulness. The amount of love you felt in this moment could rival all that Venus herself possessed.

"Thank you," you said."Now I feel bad. All I got you was a ring."

"You got me something?" Disbelief rang in his voice.

Setting the dessert on the counter, you pulled out a wooden box and handed it to him. "I saw it at a shop and thought of you."

“Are you planning to propose? We’ve haven’t been together that long.”

His joke made you roll your eyes in playful annoyance. “Open it.”

Inside was a ring made of gold and copper etched with the typical tech aesthetic design. Examining it closer, Technical Boy looked inside of the band. It looked like tiny “wires” braided together with TB & Y/F/I Y/L/I engraved into the faux wirework 

He gently rubbed the ring and smiled, his eyes twinkling with a new light they were missing when you left. "Something tells me this was a little more custom made than that.” He smirked, looking up at you coyly.

You just shrugged in response, not wanting him to know all the effort it took to get that specific design made.

"It's amazing, Y/N. Thank you." He slipped it onto his finger and rubbed it affectionately. "It's fucking perfect."

The two of you just smiled and gazed into each other's eyes. You now had the time to take in every part of each other. You couldn’t help but get lost in it.

•

The two of you spent the evening talking and eating. You talked about anything and everything, especially about boundaries and what you expected of each other in the future. Eventually, that conversation led to the most random of things. Like how often rabbits procreate and the plural form of ‘uterus’ (it's uteruses, by the way).You realized that once you actually talked with each other, with no walls up, the conversation felt natural and normal like you’d been doing it for years.

As time ticked on, Technical Boy checked his phone out of habit. "Fuck," he mumbled. "It's late. I should probably let you get some sleep."

"No."

He frowned, confused.

That wasn't supposed to be out loud but you didn't want him to go. Not just yet, not after you’d just been so open with each other. You’d never felt so known by him before. And it wasn’t something you were going to let go of anytime soon.

"I mean, why don't you stay over for the night? If you want to," you said, quickly recovering from the outburst.

He nodded. "Okay, yeah, I can take the sofa."

That’s not even close to what you wanted. "Why not just sleep with me in my bed? It's a lot more comfortable than the sofa."

A splash of pink grew over his usually fair cheeks. "Really? You're okay with that?"

You laughed. "I wouldn't have said you could if I wasn't."

He looked down, grinning before looking back up. "Okay, yeah, let's do that then. That sounds nice."

•

The muffled sounds of the bugs outside and the warmth of your room was an oddly relaxing mix. One that you wouldn’t normally think of as peaceful, but it did well to lull you into a tate of sleepiness.

Technical Boy shuffled and repositioned himself every once in a while, trying to get comfortable but to no avail.

Sighing, he looked sadly at you. "Y/N? Are you awake?" He whispered, not wanting to wake you if you weren’t awake already.

"You really like saying my name, don't you?" You mumbled not bothering to open your eyes.

He laughed softly. "It's a beautiful name."

He moved to his side and quietly watched. "I know this of gonna sound stupid," he said. " But, could we- could we maybe cuddle? I like being held. It helps me sleep."

Now that caught your attention. Opening your eyes, you turned your head to face him.

His loose hair framed his face making him look almost like an angel in the soft glow in the softt glow from the street light outside.

You opened your arms for him.

Without hesitation, he snuggled into your chest and breathed in your scent, hugging you tight.

You couldn't help but chuckle. One hand calmly played with his hair as the other was being held captive by the tech god snuggled up against you.

The god moved so he could listen to your heartbeat. The sound soothed him to no end, ot that he would admit it. Slowly, he started to drift to sleep with the rhythmic sound.

Before he did, he spoke softly. "I love you," he muttered. "More than all the technology and worship in the world."

You blink in disbelief but smile when his words register through your tired brain. "I love you, my angel," you said as quiet as you could, not wanting to disturb the peace.

He heard you still. Warmth flooded his chest and he smiled softly as he fell asleep, comforted knowing you're with him.

You placed a soft kiss on the top of his head. The sound of his steady breathing and the warmth of his body in your arms soon had you drifting to sleep yourself.

[theblogthatdoesanimethings]

One Piece! Scenarios:

Prompt: As Parents 

Luffy: Luffy would be the best parent in terms of having fun and raising the kid to have strong morals. However, he’s bad at keeping his kid under control because he doesn’t have much control himself. As a result, his partner would have to be the ‘bad’ parent and be the one too discipline the child (+ Luffy), and teach them about being responsible. He gives into his child’s demands quite easily as long as the demands are harmless and he spends his leisurely days playing with them. He teaches them how to fight around 4-5 years old, though he isn’t the best teacher and needs some help from his crew members sometimes to help his child figure it out. He’s extremely supportive of his child’s dreams and encourages them to try their best to accomplish them. When they walk around the town, he lets his child sit on his shoulders and lets them wear his prized straw hat as long as they promise to take good care of it. (Marine-ford Spoiler): Ever since losing his brother Ace, Luffy has become even more protective over family members and friends, and he’d protect his child with his life. If any harm were to come to his child, he’d destroy the people who hurt them. Furthermore, losing Ace made Luffy treasure the people close to him more, and it explains why he willingly spoils his child. 

Zoro: Zoro would be an emotional wreck with his child in the beginning. He has no experience with children, and even though he deals with a childish Captain daily, it’s a different experience entirely. He’s immediately protective of his child and he likes holding them close to him to make sure that they are okay (He especially likes taking naps on deck with his child sleeping on his chest). Once Robin or Nami explained the basics of raising a kid, he’d be very attentive to his child’s needs. He’s not the best at making kids laugh (except when he accidentally does something stupid), and so his child would probably be a bit more attached to some of the more outgoing members (which would make him insanely jealous). He’d teach his child how to use a sword as soon as they could hold one, and he’d do his best to make sure they become a strong swordsman/swordswoman. If he were to have a daughter, he wouldn’t let her get discouraged like Kuina did and he would push her past her limits to prove to her (and partly to Kuina) that being a female isn’t a weakness. He’s not blatantly affectionate to his child (especially as they get older), and he shows his affection through simple actions such as head pats, a nap side by side on the deck, words of praise or encouragement, and the occasional hug. His child grows to understand these signs as they age, and they appreciate everything he’s done for them.

Sanji: Sanji would be the perfect parent. He knows how to let loose and have fun like Luffy, yet at the same time he knows when to set limits and introduce rules with his child, and he knows when to say no. He isn’t a fan of punishing his child, but if they did something that could harm someone or themselves, then he’d step in and give them a small punishment. Because of his rough childhood, he’d do his best to ensure that his child is given everything they want (though he wouldn’t spoil them to the degree that Luffy would). Ideally he’d like to pass down his fighting techniques (sort of a way that Zeff is connected to his new family), but he wouldn’t push his child to learn if they didn’t want to. Nevertheless, he’d teach them how to defend themselves in some manner, even if it meant he had to force himself to ask Zoro to teach his child if they had taken an interest in swords. Moreover, he’d teach his child how to cook and would enjoy cooking with them (It’s one of his bonding moments as he’d call it). He’s an affectionate parent and enjoys giving his child head pats and ruffling their hair with one of his happy smiles. He’d struggled with the concept of family in the past, but after being with the Baratie crew and the Strawhats for so long, family is a precious thing to him and he would do anything for his child. 

Brook: Because he’s unable to create his own children, I see Brook taking on the role of the fun and energetic uncle. He’d always be cracking jokes (especially about his his physical form), and would love to be able to make his crewmate’s children smile and laugh. He’s the supportive hand that everyone needs, but not everyone has. If any of the kids take an interest in learning an instrument he’s familiar with, he’d be super supportive and would teach them. He also comes in handy to scare away anyone who wishes ill intent upon the kids (though really who would be able to even get near the kids considering their parents). The kids grow up being used to his appearance and his presence is very soothing to them when they have nightmares. For example, normal kids would see a skeleton and run screaming to their parents, however these kids would find comfort in him because they know he’s not a monster. 

Law: Law would be a great parent in the beginning because of his vast medical knowledge (he knows how to physically care for a child) and he’d be quite affectionate in the early stages. Similar to Zoro, he’d like to have his child close to him and he often falls asleep with his child asleep on his chest (toddler stage only). His child will grow up to be extremely smart and would love to read books (and he might spoil them by buying them all the books they want). When his child grows older, he’d gradually stop being physically affectionate and would show his affection through simple gestures like Zoro. Because his child is smart, they’d pick up pretty quickly (and would jump him with a hug in public just to throw him off guard). He wouldn’t really teach his child how to fight unless they asked, and if they did then he’d be a bit strict about it because he wants them to be able to care for themselves in case anything were to happen to him. Law is a bit of a nerd (reference to Wano Kingdom scene), and he’d like it if his child followed in those footsteps as well (He’d subtly slip the comics into their room). Law is also big on family (considering his past) and he’d be extremely protective of his child

Ace: Ace is just Luffy, but slightly (and I mean slightly) more responsible. He’s an overgrown child and he’d spend hours of his day playing with his child and peppering them with affection (to the point where it embarrasses his child). He wouldn’t really know how to raise a child and he’d rely heavily on his crew (in particular Marco), who would all collectively help Ace to ensure the safety of the child. He’s narcoleptic so he’s not really allowed to travel anywhere alone with his child in case something were to happen so most of the crew has agreed to have someone silently follow Ace when they leave the ship. He absolutely spoils his child, especially considering he didn’t get much as a child, and he would teach them all about being a pirate and would encourage them to become one. He’s huge on family, which means he absolutely adores his child and would kill anyone who even thought of hurting them. He’s extremely supportive and would help them with their dreams regardless of what it is (though he might make a comment if they wanted to be a marine). His child is the pride and joy of the Whitebeard pirates. He’d teach his kid how to fight at an early age and would love it if they were able to get a devil fruit (it would make teaching easier for him).  

-theloveproductofhetalia

[datawyrms]

Prove it with one hand behind your back

Dannymay day 12: Gloves There is reference to the events in Hypothesis, but can be read stand alone. Now Ao3′d “Uhhh, Danny?” Jazz called up the stairs, laundry basket under her arm.

“What? I’ll get my stuff when it’s dry!” Her brother yelled back down, apparently not interested in leaving his room so they could speak semi-normally.

“Normally it would be my duty as your sister to throw your wash on the floor. Were you aware your laundry is glowing?”

Her frazzled brother appeared at the stairs then, taking them two at a time. “Geeze Jazz, tell the whole neighborhood why don’t ya?” he hissed as he passed.

“Mom and Dad aren’t here, and you’re welcome.”

“Obviously. Jerk.” he made an exaggerated frown at her before ducking into the washer, dragging out handfuls of the expected tee-shirts and jeans followed by an impressive amount of mismatched lightly glowing gloves.

“You’re taking trophies now?” she raised an eyebrow, unsure what to make of it. Not a single one had a pair, and none of them were even his ghost form’s hazmat gloves. Quite a few of them looked rather elaborate, some very interesting embroidered patterns making it obviously not something of her brother’s making. Delicacy was not his strong suit.

“Huh? No! These are-” he paused, taking a breath as he covered the glowing handwear with several shirts. “You remember that whole Sam got dragged to the ghost zone because Aragon’s an idiot thing?”

“The self important dragon shapeshifter with some serious hangups and anger issues?”

“Yeah, that one.” he nodded, rubbing at his chin. “Did I mention Dora sort of knighted us for helping drive him out of power?”

“No, but I’m pretty used to you leaving out important details by now.” Jazz smirked as her little brother rolled his eyes.

“It was nice of her and all but apparently they have a sort of tradition in her Kingdom? Where to show you’re worthy of joining the Queen’s guard you challenge one of the newest knights to a duel.” Danny paused to fish out one of the gloves. “Giving over a glove is basically how they ask for that duel. All very formal, I’d write it down if I could explain how I know without completely blowing my cover.”

“So you’ve got a bunch of medieval ghosts throwing gloves at you and wanting to duel...and you decided to wash them. At home.” Jazz crossed her arms. “Seriously?’

“Where else was I gonna do it? I thought they’d make decent proof so show Dad ghosts have society and rules.” He paused, throwing the glowing thing back under his regular clothes. “Then I remembered there’s no way I could explain how I got these. So now they’ll just smell nice in Sam’s closet or something.”

“Your closet a little too risky this time?”

“Nope. All of these belong to Sam. She’s the one getting all the challenges, not me.” he glanced down at his basket. “I think she named some of these.”

“It’s it a little unfair for a ghost to fight a human? That goes against the whole honourable and fair thing it seems to be going for.”

The half ghost grinned. “That’s what they think! Challenged gets to set the rules, and it turns out ghost knights are really, really bad at adjusting to ground only combat.”

Jazz blinked, the part that had been bothering her clicking into place. “Wait, so there’s that many because you’re still the newest knights?”

“Wasted every single challenger. I keep trying to convince them they’ll have a better shot against me, but noooo, they insist on trying to best the ‘breathing banshee’.” he shrugs. “Most of em would absolutely wreck me in a proper fight, I don’t usually need to fight ‘fair’ or anything.”

“So why don’t they go after Tucker? Getting all the way out here for a tradition can’t be easy.”

“He still insists he’s Friar Tuck. You don’t swordfight the clergy. None of them have actually called him on it, so maybe he is?” his brow furrowed, thinking on that. “Maybe I should ask Dora that sometime. Find out if we need to worry about some ghost pope later. Would not want to be the guy who punched the dragon queen’s ghost pope.”

Jazz couldn’t suppress a snort, easily able to picture such a mishap. “A year ago if you said that I’d say you should be committed. Now I’m just nodding along.”

“Even if you were saying it now, I’d get out.” A wicked grin accompanied a flash of green eyes.

“Very funny, dork.” Still, the idea was worth thinking about. “Well I can see why you wanted to try using them as proof.” The project was rather important to Danny, seeing as it was his best shot to get their parents to re-evaluate their ‘ghosts are mindless’ stance. “Maybe you could get Tucker to film a fight? Sam keeping ‘contaminated’ gloves wouldn’t seem that weird, and the variety can prove it’s not just one ghost mindlessly repeating the same behaviour.”

“I’d still be stuck explaining how Sam became ‘Sir Manson’ in the ghost zone. Which seems like a disaster waiting to happen.” his shoulders sagged. “They’ll think I made it up or Tucker did some video editing.”

“I still think it’s worth trying. Sam’s got a rich family, you could probably think up an excuse that she’s practically ‘royalty’ and that’s why they come.”

“Eh. Maybe. Don’t tell Sam but I’m giving the challengers tips now. The sooner they stop coming, the sooner I can stop getting all antsy about a ghost attack where I find out it’s another steel welding glove thrower.”

Jazz set her shoulders, determined to get some of that humour back in her dispirited sibling. “Use that. They owe you if you help them out, don’t they?”

“Well, I guess they do. Like I’ve had them tell me stories about what it’s like for them, if they remember stuff or have always been ghosts, they’re pretty chatty to a ‘fellow of the sword’...but it’s all stuff I write down. I can’t prove a ghost told me. I can’t film it, or have Dad listen in. The second they call me ‘Sir Phantom’ I’m toast.”

“He said he’d at least listen to what you found, right? It can be a starting point, and if you have some really specific detail it’s less likely that you made the whole thing up.” she stopped to ruffle his hair. “That, and if you were going to make something up, you’d have some star ghosts or ecto-aliens.”

“I would not!”

“Yes you would. And you’d draw them little space ships and everything.”

“...Okay maybe I’d make up some ships.”

“A lot of ships. With long complicated names. With scientific reasons for those names. Cus your my dorky little brother.”

“Well you’re my nagging big sister. You get to be the black hole equivalent.” 

“Just don’t give up on the idea so quickly, okay? It’s a good one, and it really can’t hurt too much to try.”

A small smile returned as he elbowed her “Careful, or they’ll think you’re being influenced by ghosts too.”

“It’s not like their theories can have any more concrete proof than yours does. What are they?”

“Dad thinks ectoplasm naturally ‘homes in’ on stuff over here, and that’s how they’re finding the portal.” he closes his eyes, foot kicking at the floor. “He’s got this box thing? A lot of box things with different kinds of ectoplasm to see if they move towards ‘our world’ over time. I keep forgetting it’s floating right next to the portal and almost kick it.” his face turns into a grimace. “Dad thinks ‘that ghost kid’ is messing with his experiment on purpose now, so that sucks.”

“Well you could mess with it on purpose, that would be intelligent.”

“Nope. That would be the ‘natural aggressive action’ towards human materials. Tried it.”

“What’s mom’s hypothesis then?”

“That the portal always being here makes this part of Earth more ectoplasm rich so they’re drawn to enter here instead.” he waves a hand. “She’s half right? I don’t think strong ghosts can go all that long without ducking back home to recharge. She’s using the frequency of ‘higher level’ ghosts as proof that they ‘need’ a certain level to function outside of the ghost zone.”

“Another theory you’re accidentally stomping all over.”

“Since they almost never spot ‘Phantom’ going back to the Zone, yeah. I apparently account for ninety four percent of all ghost sightings. Yet only three percent of that is being spotted outside of a fight. Which sounds really bad! No wonder they think I only think about fighting other ghosts.” he rubbed at the back of his head. “I think she plans to test that by uh. Sticking a ghost in a place with no ectoplasm to see how long they hold out, if at all. So I’ve kinda been...making sure she can’t do that.” he swallows, his glance towards his sister more timid than anything. “It'd be a really, really nasty way to die. From what I heard.”

“Good for you. She’ll thank you once you prove that sort of thing would be unethical.”

His frown didn’t move. “If I prove it. So far I’ve just proven they really don’t like that ghost kid.”

“From what I’ve heard you’re the one with the most solid proof. Once you’ve shown everything you’ve collected, then you could try convincing them to see for themselves you aren’t making it up.” Jazz urged, not wanting to watch her little brother give up again.

“Even if I could convince Dad to come in the specter speeder with me we’d scare most ghosts off. The ones we don’t might want to beat me up, or not use a name I can’t explain away.”

“Sam gets to set when one of those challenges happens right? Invite him to one of those.”

He blinked. “...I guess that might work. If Sam made it clear that they couldn’t say my name under any circumstances. There’s one lady who keeps coming, insists she’s going to be the one to get to succeed after ‘Slapping Sir Manson with her glove’, she might be down for that…” he caught the weird look Jazz was giving him. “Oh. Apparently if you’re rivals hitting the person with your glove is ‘provoking your betters’ into a fight? So it’s a respect thing? I don’t really get it. Sam thinks it’s great, which I didn’t see coming but I didn’t think we’d still be having ghost knight fights either.” he let out a breath. “I’m rambling again.”

“You know, if Mom and Dad could see how you talk about this stuff they’d know you aren’t making it up. Looks like ghost research does run in the family.”

Danny rolled his eyes. “I’m a ghost hunter if anything. It’s just nice being able to chat instead of fight sometimes. The ghost zone is pretty neat. If you know, half the stuff in there wasn’t trying to skin me alive.”

“I still think you have a good shot. You know it’s true, so they’ll have to see it given enough time.”

“Maybe. Can’t really talk about this stuff to them though. Gee dad, how do I know about Frostbite? Well when I stole the Ecto-Skeleton and shoved back Pariah Dark this whole tribe of yetis decided I was their Great One. So now we’re pals. Oh what’s that dad, you say the ghost kid did that? Funny thing!” he dropped his arms with a scowl. “That’d go over like a lead balloon.”

“Maybe stick to the dragon queen society for now. It’s not like anyone over here saw that. Then you can expand into the rest of the friendly areas.” she put a hand on his shoulder. “One step at a time Danny, you’ll get there.”

“I hope so. If it doesn’t, I blame you if I’m torn molecule by molecule.”

“Ew Danny! Don’t be so morbid, it’s not good for your development.”

“Is it morbid if I’m dead?” he winced from his sister’s whack to the head. “Ow! Half!”

“Better. Now scram with all those gloves before someone thinks you robbed a ghost antique boutique.”

“You’re such a busybody Jazz.” the half ghost teased before darting off with his half spectral laundry. It wouldn’t be an easy thing to convince their parents, but he did seem to be on the right track. So of course it was her job to make sure he stuck to it. Siblings had to look out for each other, and she wouldn’t have it any other way.

[braveskyered]

Knights (Part 19)

Part 1 Part 2 Part 3 Part 4 Part 5 Part 6 Part 7 Part 8 Part 9 Part 10 Part 11 Part 12 Part 13 Part 14 Part 15 Part 16 Part 17 Part 18

(Special Thanks once again to @nebulous-rain​ for providing one of the illustrations. Please check her out if you have the time!)

-

Do you understand the severity of these terms?

…

…You know what? I don’t think I should repeat myself if you’re just going to ignore me.

Just like in reality, in fiction, anything goes.

Not everything is all lovely sunshine and daisies.

Life is never fair.

Not to you.

Not to me.

And especially not to them.

I wonder how much you’re willing to believe, or even believe in them at all.

After all…

We all make mistakes, don’t we?

And yet one will always never forgive them, no matter the apologies they genuinely give.

Aren’t you the same way?

I look forward to seeing where your journey takes you.

-

Part 19: Thought I Told Ya Stop Fuckin’ With Me!

- - - - - - -

April XX, 20XX

I don't even know what I'm doing. I'm so scared of what will happen to me, but I couldn't let myself go through this. I don't even know what Vivi was thinking. I can't do it. Not even for her.

I can't stay. I have to get out of here. Get away from the monsters that hurt me. It's nothing more than a prison at this rate.

…

I guess I'm a coward to the very end.

I'm sorry ■■■■■ ■■■■ everyone.

-

May XX, 20XX

It's been two weeks since I escaped that hell.

Somehow, things are getting better for me. I don't know why, but I managed to find a job at an auto repair shop and even a place for me to stay at the same time in Cantabile, Tennessee. The shop, Four of a Kind Queens, is a family owned business that's run by the grandmother of the Knights family, Vivienne. She's the one that provided me a job and a home. I don't know how to thank her other than to do whatever I can.

The Knights family is interesting in that they're almost all women (other than those that are married with a husband). Almost all of the employees at the shop are women, too. I actually felt a bit out of place as one of the few male employees there. You'd think it'd be the other way around. Thankfully, none of them seemed interested in me so far.

I can only hope that I'll be able to move on from the past without them finding me. I don't want the Knights family to get dragged into my problems any more than they have to.

I'm just happy to have Galaham with me. I don't know what I would've done, or where I would be, without him.

-

June XX, 20XX

It's been a month since I arrived in Cantabile. It's surprising that I'm still here.

I got a new phone for myself. It's the kind that didn't require me to get a contract since I bought it from an electronics store. I had already disposed of my old smartphone and the SIM on it after I came here. It was rough to let go of it, but at least my photos and other files for my projects are safe.

I just hope that I didn't compromise my safety when I did the switch.

-

July XX, 20XX

Vivienne told me to stay home for the next few days. All I learned was that something had happened in the city that had police going around crazy. Also, someone's family member had gone missing and was reportedly said to be seen in Cantabile. I didn't dare search my name online. Instead I opted to look up missing persons by state.

...I shouldn't be surprised that I found my name and face as one of those missing in Texas. It said that I had left for a solo vacation and never returned, and that my last known location was somewhere in the mountains of Tennessee. It didn't say anything about which town or city I was last seen in or me being hurt, but I didn't want to take any chances.

I want to let my uncle know I'm okay, but I can't. I'm sorry.

-

July XX, 20XX

Vivienne called me back into work today. The police had found the person that was reported missing, and there hadn't been any more unusual activity, so it was safe for me to come back.

She told me that it's not unheard of for abusers to report their victims that have escaped from their grasp as missing individuals, pretending to care about their missing "loved ones." Those blind to the truth would fall for the sob stories and find the victims that have truly escaped, and then drag them back to their tormentors and not know the difference.

I was worried that I wouldn't be able to make rent since I couldn't work for the past four days, but Vivienne still paid me as if I did. I’ll find a way to make it up to her someday.

I'm worried about my uncle, but I don't want to get dragged back there. I'm sorry, Uncle.

-

August XX, 20XX

The Knights, mainly Elaine (who is Vivienne's youngest granddaughter), have been inviting me to various events lately.

Sure, being invited to the little parties and lunch gatherings meant to keep up employee morale is pretty fun, but now the occasion is attending a Robotics convention. From what Elaine had told me, it was just only her and her family going, but for some reason, I was the only employee invited to come along. Maybe the others didn't have any interest?

Elaine said that it was to get me out of the apartment and the shop. It's true that I don't go out much other than to get the essentials, and even then, most of them were brought to me by delivery, but it's mostly because I don't want to expose myself.

I can't let them find me. I don't want to go back.

-

August XX, 20XX

Elaine and I are dating now, I guess.

I had a good time at the Robotics convention. There were a few moments where I thought I saw someone that would recognize me even though I wore a hat and a different style in clothing and gloves to hide my arm, but thankfully, I was only seeing things. I think as long as I'm with someone I know, I'll be okay.

I say we're dating, but I highly doubt it'll work out between us. I mean, who would want to remain beside someone who has more problems than I care to count? No one in the shop even knows about my arm yet, because I didn't want to get any special/excess attention because of it.

Still, I'm well aware that Elaine has a crush on me (she's not exactly the most subtle about it). I'm not sure what will happen once she loses interest, but I hope we can still be friends at least. Other than Elaine and her family, Galaham is my only real companion right now.

I don't really have much of a choice to stay isolated like I had been, but at least I'm not getting beaten or burned on a near daily basis.

...I wonder if this relationship with Elaine will work out.

-

August XX, 20XX

Surprisingly, Elaine hasn't broken up with me. I just don't understand. What does she see in me? I'm a disgrace to the people I once knew. I feel like a discarded piece of trash that's left out on the curb, and I know I'm still an absolute wreck from all the nightmares of the night that's forever etched into my subconscious.

I accidentally cut my right arm on a rusty pipe at work. Because I didn't have a medical record to provide, Vivienne had me taken to a hospital to get a tetanus shot as a precaution. Although I never wanted them to know, they learned about my left arm and the rest of my injuries. I never saw someone look so horrified. Not at me, but the fact that I had so many wounds still healing and one that never will. To be on the safe side, Vivienne had me go through a complete physical. Examinations, x-rays, even an MRI had been added into the mix.

Even though we reached a compromise in that no one is to ask how I got these injuries back in Texas, I told Vivienne that I wouldn't be able to pay for all of it. She simply said that the director owed her family a handful of favors. Just how much influence does she and her family have? I don't think she would've helped to this extent if I hadn't been Elaine's boyfriend.

...It still feels weird to say that.

-

September XX, 20XX

My wounds from the hell I escaped from are slowly healing. I don't think they'll ever truly fade, but at least they're no longer hurting. I still have to cover my neck with scarves or turtlenecks to hide the very last wound I received, but hopefully that will fade over time, too.

The medication that was prescribed to me last month had worked wonders for me. I no longer have to bear with such crippling phantom pain, and the Knights family, including Elaine, have been helping me move on.

Maybe I can truly start over? Maybe I can truly find a place for myself here? I don't know how I'll ever be able to return the favor for the Knights family.

I think I'll invite Elaine to try out that new sandwich shop that recently opened up with me.

-

October XX, 20XX

Over time, I learned that the Knights family have a side business of sorts. They handle paranormal investigations and even do monster hunting for certain clients. Oddly, only the women of the Knights family do this.

Vivienne had retired from the side business a few years back and runs Four of a Kind Queens after inheriting it from her mother. Her two daughters, Morgan and Caelia, still do the side business occasionally, along with her two granddaughters Elaine and Eleanor. I almost never see Eleanor, since according to Morgan (her mother), she travels with her husband for his job as a contractor of sorts.

Elaine is leaving for one such occasion. She's been hired to investigate an abandoned house since there have been some crazy occurrences here and there. I don't know why, but I couldn't bring myself to stay, so I quickly volunteered to join her. I told her of my past experience as a paranormal investigator and demonstrated my knowledge of it. It was enough to convince her.

I never told the Knights family about the group I used to be a part of. I don't even want to think of the names of who and what I used to know. I was thrown away and cast aside, and I was constantly punished for the things I never wanted to happen.

...I just hope I don't bring Elaine to her death. At the very least, I'll help maintain her equipment and remain in her van. That way if anything went wrong, at least it won't be her getting pushed off. I should probably check ahead of time and make sure there isn't anything that could be used as a weapon to hurt her.

-

November XX, 20XX

I keep telling myself that I need to stop involving myself with the paranormal. That way I won't get hurt anymore, that way I can't be used to hurt anyone. But I couldn't. I can't.

Elaine made the investigations safe. I actually enjoy going on these trips with her.

She listened to all of my concerns, answered my questions, and even took the time to plan ahead with me on what needs to be done. I would help with the preliminary investigation and preparation, and if it became too dangerous for me, I would stay in the van with the protection wards while she went on ahead. In the rare occasions where it was too much even for her, she would back out and call her family for backup.

I love it when one knows when to fold.

-

December XX, 20XX

Elaine and I are still dating here and there.

I still don't know what a date really is, but if the occasional walk around the mountain trails or just having a meal together counts as such, then I guess that counts? (Huh. Redundancy.)

The things I learned about Elaine so far is: She's good at cooking, knows how to work with cars, likes reading science fiction and the occasional romance and horror novels. She doesn't care much for movies unless it really interests her, and even then, that's rare. She loves the family cream stew recipe her grandmother makes.

Elaine started to play some video games with me once I saved up enough money to buy a secondhand console during a sale. I often like to do little commentaries whenever I play, and she started to join in as well.

I'm so thankful to have her as a friend.

-

December 25th, 20XX

Even though I was all but exiled from where I used to live, I still wanted to let my uncle know what I'm fine without anything being traced back to me. Eventually, I came up with a technique that allowed me to do it.

One time I went with Elaine on her trips for the family's side business, I had asked her to buy a stack of notebook paper and some envelopes from an office store while we were out three states over. They were completely covered with wrapping, so there were no worries of her fingerprints getting on them. I made sure to only let myself touch the letters while writing and sending them, so that way there would be no danger for the Knights.

I had written my first letter to my uncle last week. I didn't include much, just that I was fine and that I'm in a much better place, and I asked him in that he doesn't try to look for me. I even went so far as to write it in a way that he would know that I'm not making it up and that I'm actually safe. I won't be able to get a reply from him, and we probably won't be able to see each other again, but hopefully this will put him at ease.

Merry Christmas, Uncle. I'm sorry.

-

January XX, 20XX

The new year. Hopefully it'll lead to a new me.

I'm gradually making a few friends outside the Knights family, but I mainly just stay home and keep to myself. They've gotten used to it; I think. We sometimes get to play some online games together, so that's cool.

-

February 14, 20XX

I got to spend some time with Elaine at a place popular for couples before a job. Granted, Elaine was asked to investigate some disappearances that occurred in that area, but I came with her last minute because I wanted to spend more time with her. It's selfish of me to do that, but I want to prove myself as a person for her. Plus, the last few cases I went with her went okay.

…

The fact that the Knights family are so effective at paranormal investigations and monster hunting, it makes sense now.

The Knights family themselves are monsters.

Elaine ■■■■■■■■ those cultists. Sure, she did it to save me, but she still ■■■■■■ ■■■■.

Dating her was a mistake. Everything has been a mistake. Everything about me has been a mistake.

I broke up with her.

-

March XX, 20XX

I don't know what I'm even doing. I still go to work, but after what happened two weeks ago, I can't look anyone in the eye. I try to avoid them. I know that they can kill me at any given moment. If that were to be the case, I hope they'll at least wait until it's Galahad's time to go, I don't want him to pass after me.

When that incident happened, Elaine begged me not to hate her while crying. After that, she never said anything to me other than when it's time to clock out or the few times her grandmother would buy lunch for the employees. No one in the family told me to leave, but they didn't ask for forgiveness, either.

I fear Elaine, but I can't hate her. What she did was unforgivable, even though she did it to save me. I know I would have died had it not been for her actions, but still. Am I truly worth saving? Enough that someone will kill to do so?

…Real monsters would never save people.

I can't let it be like this. I will talk to her the next time I go to work.

-

March XX, 20XX

I managed to have a heart-to-heart talk with Elaine. I still couldn't bring myself to forgive her for what she did, but I made sure to thank her for saving my life. There are still many things we need to work through, but at least we seem to be on the right page now.

We've decided to give this dating thing another shot. Not to start over, but to pick up where we left off.

I will accept her, monster and all.

After all, the real monster is me.

-

June XX, 20XX

I love her. I love Elaine.

I shouldn't love her. I don't have the right to love her.  I shouldn't let these feelings be a part of me. It's becoming harder and harder to deny it.

Elaine can easily toss me aside should she so choose. But she didn’t. I just can’t understand.

I still confessed to her. Because I didn’t have a ring to give her, I gave her my star spin. She gave me a pin shaped like the moon. The Knights in the night. Heh.

She returned her feelings.

-

October XX, 20XX

Elaine proposed to me.

-

November 11, 20XX

So… I tied the knot with Elaine today.

It feels so unreal. I never thought even once in my life before meeting her that I would ever find love like this. I really don't know how to describe this feeling. I have never felt anything even remotely like this in the past where all I felt was pain.

The ceremony could have been better, though. I wish I didn't have to make Elaine sad when I asked her to keep that one promise for me as one of our vows, but I know this had to be done for everyone's sake, including hers.

Elaine, if you ever read this, I want to say thank you. I love you, and I will do whatever I can to make you happy like you do for me.

...

I love you, too, my star. ☆

- - - - - - -

Red spilled.

Arthur looked down on himself, on his hands, and saw red. Why is the room covered in red? Why are Gwen and Percy covered in red and down on the floor? The clothes of Vivi's son soaked in more crimson. Whose blood is this? He coughed and looked at his hands.

Oh. It's his.

He forced himself to swallow the vomit that threatened to leave his throat. He blinked and saw that the red is now gone. Another hallucination? Definitely not a good sign, but he will have to worry about it later when he took a moment to touch the moon pin on his vest before shifting his focus on the children.

Gwen and Percy, along with Vivi's son Jason, are still standing, looking at him like they're seeing a ghost. The wraith is still floating behind the children, looking like a deer in the headlights. Arthur briefly took note that it's holding something, a blue rectangle of sorts that took one hand for the wraith to hold. A box? Not important.

Arthur knew that he would have to face the wraith again one day. It could have gone in so many ways. In all of those scenarios, it always had the wraith looking angry and vengeful like it always did when it was alone with him.

To think the wraith could hurt him like this.

"Dad…?"

The sound of Percy's voice snapped Arthur out of the fog. It's hard to bear the heat flaring up from his back and neck, difficult to keep the acid bile from bubbling up in his throat, and hard to maintain eye contact with that ghoulish face. It’s not looking angry now, but he knows it’s only a matter of time.

"Gwen, Percy,” Elaine said, “Come over here.”

The three children glanced up at the wraith before the twins subtly nodded to each other, with Gwen quietly gesturing to Jason to follow her as the three left the wraith’s side. The wraith, to its credit, didn’t do anything to follow.

“Arthur, I—"

“Elaine,” Arthur commanded with strain, his fingers barely touching the scar on his neck, “Take the kids with you… and go back to the others. Tell Vivi and Mystery to come here.”

“Are you sure?” Elaine kept her attention to him while keeping the wraith in the corner of her vision, “Isn’t that the one who—”

He nodded. He didn’t want to leave this up for debate. This isn’t her fight, but his. He’ll find a way to fend it off one way or another, and he knows it won’t lift a finger to hurt Vivi.

“Okay,” Elaine nodded back, “But if it tries anything, let me know.”

“There is no need for that.”

Everyone turned to see Niniane with Vivi and Mystery behind her. Arthur had to suppress a shudder as he saw one of Niniane’s hands emit the green-blue aura and point it at the wraith. She looks really mad…!

“No way…” Vivi could be heard whispering, “The seal’s broken?”

‘Seal’? Wait, didn’t her father mention--

“So you’re the one that abused my distant grandson-in-law,” Niniane said as she held it in place with her magic, “I almost couldn’t believe it when I found out that you were still around after nearly eighteen years since your death. Most ghosts typically disappear after a few months,” she narrowed her eyes, “But that’s assuming you had let go of your desire for his death.”

“That’s—” the wraith started before Niniane brought it closer to her face.

“But at the same time, you have been sealed for over seventeen years, so maybe you’ve had plenty of time to… reflect.”

“Niniane, enough,” Arthur said, catching her attention, “This isn’t your fight.”

“Anything that involves my family is my fight, Arthur,” Niniane said simply, “I don’t see why we should leave this one on the loose. I can just easily seal it back to where it was previously, or…”

She let out a cruel smirk just before a dull blue and heart-shaped object flew out of Percy’s grasp and into her own.b

“I can just get rid of it entirely.”

She gave the metal heart a squeeze upon speaking the last word, causing the wraith to wince upon hearing a small crack–.

Arthur managed to hide his shock by swallowing his words. Still, it’s very tempting. Niniane could just easily eliminate the wraith here and now. If she did, then there would be no more burns, no more pain, and-- He glanced in Vivi’s direction and saw how distressed she is. How she looked at wanting to speak up, but unable to defy the one suppressing her. Just like how the wraith had suppressed him in the past. Gwen and Percy look terrified, too.

…This isn’t right.

“Not yet, Niniane,” Arthur said with much effort, “We can’t do that yet.”

Niniane blinked in brief surprise before looking down at Arthur with a glare, “Oh? And why should I delay in destroying this?”

“Because I need answers,” he said, “With what my uncle, the Yukino family, and the Peppers saying that they want all this to end, and why Vivi ‘snapped’ and kept hunting monsters in my name even though she never did anything to this one, or how that ghost managed to earn the kids’ trust, I need to know why.”

Niniane pondered momentarily before shrugging, "I suppose that's an understandable reason. Very well. I will allow you to question them, but I will be watching."

"No, I'll do it," Elaine said as she stepped forward to be beside Arthur, "I need you to watch after Vivian. We can't have her make her way towards us, not to mention that I don't want her to get hurt by that 'dog' again."

Niniane glared at Vivi and Mystery's direction briefly, then nodded, "Very well, Elaine. I will leave this to you. If any of them do go out of line, do whatever you wish," she handed the heart over to her distant granddaughter, "I trust you will make a good decision. And the children?"

"We're staying," Percy said as he and Gwen stood by their father's side, “It may not look like it, but it’s pretty much my fault that we’re in this in the first place.”

Arthur was about to rebuke his son before stopping himself. Like it or not, Percy is responsible for allowing Mr. Yukino to identify him out of an online article by wearing the skull pin and his resemblance to him, and he might be at fault for getting the attention of the Mystery Skulls, too.

But in the end, it’s Arthur’s own fault to allow any of this to happen.

Forget the blame game. Just get this over with. Get the answers I need, and just let this thing die once and for all.

The lives of his three children depend on it.

“I understand. I shall do as you ask,” Niniane straightened herself and shifted her gaze to the wraith and the Mystery Skulls with a narrow glare before walking away, “But like I said earlier, if they were to step out of line, there will be no mercy.”

Arthur watched Niniane leave. A part of him didn’t want her to, but something in his mind is telling him that it was probably for the best that the old woman isn’t involved in this. On a separate note, he could only hope that Morgan is keeping Lance and the Peppers in line, for he didn’t want to get them involved in this, either.

Now, it’s just him, Elaine, the twins, Vivi, her son, Mystery, and now the wraith.

“Jason,” Vivi broke the silence as she kneeled down to her son, “Could you stay with Belle for a while? I need to have a special talk with these people.”

“Do I have to?” Jason asked meekly, “I thought I could play with Gwen and Percy? They’re better than all my classmates.”

“That right?” Vivi gave out an exasperated yet fond smile, “Tell you what, if all goes well, then you can play with them again when we’re done talking.”

Jason looked like he wanted to speak up, but he nodded before giving Gwen and Percy a shy wave. He said something about wanting to talk more about robotics with the twins nodding, then left the living room after looking back a few times.

“Sorry, I didn’t want him involved in this,” Vivi said as she stood back on her feet. She looked at both Arthur and his family, then at the wraith and Mystery before speaking to Arthur, “So… You’re married. With kids.”

Arthur took a moment to make sure that he was between the Mystery Skulls and the twins. It became a comfort when he saw Elaine follow suit and hold his hand like she always did during the nightmares to make sure the wraith wasn’t near the children either. Whatever connection he had with the Mystery Skulls has long been shattered, and he managed to make a new one with the Knights family after meeting Elaine.

“You make it sound like that’s a bad thing,” he said while seeing the wraith slowly fiddle with the blue box in its hands, “Still, my condolences for your husband’s passing. He must have been a great man since your family left a shrine for him.”

Like me, she has also moved on from the past.

“You would’ve liked Harry,” Vivi smiled sadly, “Even though the way we got together was… less than ideal, we were able to love one another regardless. He loved me, and he loved our son.”

Something tells me that I shouldn’t pry further…

“But that’s not what’s important right now,” Vivi started to make a move towards him, only to immediately back off upon seeing his glare, “You know how shortly after you left, this town became cursed? By the demon that ruined everything?”

“You need me to help you break it,” Arthur said, unconvinced with his arms crossed, “You realize that I’m not really inclined to help you after you and Mystery almost killed my children.”

“She what?!” The wraith reeled back before turning to the woman in blue, “Vivi, why would you do that?! What were you even doing all this time that made you go after kids?!”

“They can transform into monsters!” Vivi said loudly, “I didn’t know they were Arthur’s kids!”

“Wait, so if we weren’t Daddy’s kids, you would’ve just gone after us no matter what?” Gwen asked as she glared at Vivi.

“None of this would've happened if you hadn’t attacked us in the first place!” Percy looked down on the fake dog, “We were just minding our own business until you showed up saying we shouldn’t exist!”

“We can only apologize for that. We thought you had done something to Arthur when I picked up his scent from the three of you,” Mystery said to Percy, “If we had seen you as you are now, even we would’ve picked up on the fact that you are his son, or at least someone related to him.”

Seeing his children becoming more involved with the monsters of his past is starting to become too much. Arthur covered his ears and started humming the lullaby quickly to himself to drown out the sound. He didn’t care that the lullaby would hurt him. He didn’t want to hear the madness anymore. No more! Please! No more!

“Arthur, isn’t that my--?”

“Oh, shut up! Don’t think we didn’t forget how that bitch nearly chopped up our sister! You’re lucky that she missed, or I would’ve gone for her throat instead of her hair!” Percy growled as he made the throat slash gesture with his thumb upon saying it, “Unlike necks, hair can grow back.”

“So you would have killed her?!” Mystery bared his teeth upon hearing the thought of Vivi’s safety being threatened, “I’m not sure if that would’ve been a wise choice. If that Gashadokuro hadn’t appeared, I would have made you regret making that move.”

“I’m right here, mutt,” Elaine said slowly as her right arm, the hand holding the heart, became skeletal with a black and purple flame, her left eye also glowing purple as she glared at the fake dog that just realized his mistake, “Care to repeat that in front of their mother?”

There was a long silence.

Or rather. It went blank for Arthur. They’re still talking. Still arguing. He set his arms down.

That’s right.

These three, the Mystery Skulls and a monster, tried to harm his children. The wraith might seem against the idea, but he knew the wraith would take away anything Arthur held dear like it had done in the past just to see him in pain.

Not.

This.

Time.

“ARTHUR!” “What are you--?!” “DAD!” “DADDY?!”

Arthur kicked Mystery away from the kids amidst the screams and glared at the fake dog when he gave him a look of disbelief. He never wanted to hear Vivian cry like she had earlier today ever again.

“Arthur,” Elaine immediately went back to normal and came to his side, “Don’t push yourself.”

Upon seeing it, Arthur snatched the heart from Elaine’s grasp with his left hand. He tried to keep his breathing stable, but it’s getting harder and harder to breathe…

…What is this? Why is it so dark and purple?

…

How long has it been? Days? Weeks? Months? Years? …Centuries? The passage of time has long been lost.

Nothing but regrets, nothing but sorrow, nothing but the memories that used to give him a sick sense of satisfaction that now bring him an even more sickening sense of regret and shame.

It’s what he deserved. He knew that.

He could still sense what is going on outside his prison… somewhat at least. His little helpers, the Dead Beats, that were extensions of himself still wandered over yonder here and there, but even though they’re essentially his eyes and ears, they can only sense so much in their extremely weakened state. He has no idea how long it’s been since he was left here to rot by the old traditional shrine maiden that knew how to use the paper seals and chants that could exorcise even the strongest of demons. At the same time, he didn’t know why she chose to seal him instead of eliminating him entirely.

He is aware that he brought this outcome of ruin upon himself, being sealed with the one that ruined everything. The memories it haunted him with within the darkened green, such as the ones he used to be proud of, only brought anger and disappointment upon itself. Sometimes it would leave him alone, and he made sure to treasure those moments of relief. No moment of peace except for these rare precious moments. Despite this, he couldn’t let his guard down and was always on edge.

The fact that it used him to hurt his parents will… It made him feel violated more than he cared to admit.

He has no doubt that this is all what Arthur went though, as well. He wondered if the mechanic is even still alive.

Every once in a while, he would try to distract himself from the now painful memories by singing his song with his little helpers. Sometimes he would sing it the way it’s supposed to, other times he would sing it more sadly and melancholy.

This time I might just disappear…

He chose to sing it slowly and softly this time. The green hasn’t tried to disturb him for a while.

All of a sudden, he sensed something outside. He couldn’t tell what it was since his little helpers were so weak. He couldn’t see them, but he could feel them. Two… no, three? New presences near his prison’s proximity. He may not be able to do anything from where he is, but he hoped that his little helpers would lead them away to safety.

…They’re not leaving. One can float around. But it’s so small… Unless he is wrong, the floating one is… searching for something? The other two that can walk are trying to pursue the one that floats. What are the Dead Beats doing? They’re trying to get into contact with the three, but something is holding them back. One had enough, and so it used a trapdoor to catch the three by surprise. Why are the Dead Beats trying to bring the three to him? There's nothing he can do.

Oh, the one that can fly took one of the two, while the remaining kept falling.

"--en!"

A young boy's voice. Maybe someone calling out to their partner? He wanted to help, but as long as the seal remains intact, he can't leave, let alone move.

A yelp of pain in a girl's voice. She sounds hurt. Did she fall that badly? Is this the person the other voice he heard just moments earlier call out to? Before he could question it any further, something in his vision changed. It's faint, but light started to crack vertically in front of him. To his surprise, when he tried to reach out, he found that he could move. His fingers came into contact with the side of what felt like a lid. He pulled it to the side as hard as he could.

The lid of his coffin fell off with a loud clatter, and he quickly shut his eyes against the bright light.

Am I… free?

Does this mean that Arthur is here?

"Oh… f-frick…"

He slowly opened his eyes to adjust to the light, which isn't much. When his vision cleared, he saw-- That's not Arthur. It's just a kid, a young girl with dark hair and gray overalls, staring at him with an alarmed expression though her eyes.  But the only way for him to be released from his prison based on what the old shrine maiden had said…

“Only those that come after in blood of whose soul you’ve hurt.”

Although he has no idea how, this child is someone that has fit the criteria the shrine maiden had placed. Maybe she knows where Arthur is, or at least what happened to the world outside after he was sealed.

He looked down at himself briefly before shifting his focus to his heart. Still dark in color, and heavily cracked like it had been ever since he realized his mistake too late. How long has it been? What does he even look like now? He thought about looking into his heart, but instead looked up at the child before him.

"You…"

He started as he began to move forward, reaching out for her. Maybe he could lead her back to her two companions and then out of his prison? He tried to speak except he couldn't form the words other than "You."

The way the girl reacted with alarm before running off… felt familiar. He realized that he could move still, so he started to float and moved to follow her. He had to make sure she didn't fall into a trap or worse, encounter the green.

She saw him pursue her. As she continued to run away, she lifted an arm to his direction. He wondered what she was doing before seeing something sparkle in her hands and realized it immediately. She has magic. Why does it feel so cold? He didn't want to hurt her, so he lifted his hand to burn away the ice and nothing else. He tried to speak, but for some reason, he couldn't remember the words he wanted to say. What were they again? He knew how to say his name and one other.

"Arrrrth…"

"No no no no no no no no!" The girl just kept repeating the word, probably more to herself than anything else. She's a lot faster than he thought. How familiar. Maybe he can still warp the place like he used to before he was trapped here?

He knows most of the doors were basically portals that led to other doors meant to confuse people, so when the girl ran into one of the many doors in the hallway, she came out of another door in the same area just a little further down. When she saw him, she briefly looked annoyed, and then kept running in the long hallway and ignored the remaining doors altogether.

He needs to find a way to let her know he means no harm. It took some effort, but soon he was able to conjure a wall to cut off the girl's path to where only two pathways remain. The first path being the way they came, the other being another hall that neither had gotten to yet. Either way, he managed to effectively trap her in a corner.

"You… Arrrrrth…" Why can't he speak properly?! He just wanted to talk to her…

Something must have caught the girl's attention, as she soon went from a guarded stance to one of confusion.

"Are you… trying to say something?"

He looked up at her and nodded.

“You’re not going to hurt me, are you?”

He shook his head.

“Raise your left hand if you understand me.”

He did so.

She looked hesitant before standing up straight, “You’re definitely a wraith. The only way for something like you to exist was if you died a very violent death, and in your last moments, having a very strong desire. In other words, you have unfinished business here, right? Someone murdered you.”

He nodded. When the girl didn’t make a response, he looked down at his heart. Maybe if he shows her the photo inside, she’ll recognize any of the people in it? He allowed his heart to approach the girl for her to look. Just as if she was about to take hold of it--

“GWEN!”

He couldn’t believe his eyes.

“Back off, you skull ghost!”

Standing in front of the girl, shielding her from him is—! He realized that he is shaking, that he is crying, “Arrrrttthhhh… You…”

Arthur looked taken aback, “Wha--? Why are you--”

Before anyone realized it, he held Arthur in his arms in a soft embrace.

“Arthur, it is you!”

There isn’t any green. He didn’t want to let Arthur go, otherwise it would mean that this isn’t real.

He wanted to let Arthur know how sorry he is and that he learned from his mistake. That maybe things will work out. That maybe, just maybe, things could go back to what everything once was. To be a team again. Maybe get Vivi and then ask Arthur that question with her one more time and hope that he accepts it. That maybe, just maybe, Arthur will forgive him.

And maybe, just maybe… He thought more to himself as he gently held Arthur, who remained still with a look of confusion, by the shoulders to look into the gentle blue eyes he always knew--

…

…

…Wait.

Arthur doesn’t have blue eyes. They’re supposed to be gold like his hair. He’s also supposed to have a patch of dark hair just above his forehead, not white.

Upon closer inspection, he realized that the not-Arthur before him isn’t even an adult, but a child that just reached his teens, just like the girl behind the boy that somehow opened his prison. He took a moment to take in the features of the boy before him. The spiky hair, the way the patch of hair above his forehead looks outside of color, his jawline, his general stature, it’s beyond unmistakable.

It’s not Arthur, but he didn’t doubt this boy is related to him some way.

What sealed it was when he saw a familiar pin on the boy’s vest, one of the Mystery Skulls logo. Unless it’s a replica, only three are supposed to exist, but since it looks so beat up…

Looking at the girl, she doesn’t look like anyone he knew, but he soon found what he was missing. Her eyes were the same gold color as Arthur’s. He then saw her headband with a somewhat beaten blue circle just above her right ear.

“Hey,” the girl asked, her voice shaking, “Do you know this ‘Arthur’s’ last name?”

It took him a moment to answer, “K-King…”

“'Kingsmen'?” the boy suddenly asked, and when he nodded, the two children looked at each other as if realizing something before the boy spoke up again, “Hey, do you remember when you died? Like, the date and year?”

He told them.

“That’s… that’s over seventeen years ago!”

…Seventeen… years?

His heart fell to the floor and cracked.

…

…

…

Huh? 

Arthur blinked and looked up at the wraith. If what he saw was true…

He gritted his teeth. He won’t accept it. He just can’t.

 He glared at the Mystery Skulls while holding on to the heart to the with a tight grip. 

“I don’t know what you Skulls have been doing while I was away, and frankly, I don’t even care,” Arthur seethed as he glared at Vivi, “I let you all do whatever you wanted with me because I know that everything was my fault. Your parents said so, as did Lewis’s family, and as did that monster beside you that you kept because of your damn obsession.”

His grip on the wraith’s heart tightened. The wraith winced. Vivi and Mystery looked taken aback.

“I let that monster have its way with me for the six months we stayed with it because it was the only way you would be happy. I had to learn the rules through trial and error so I wouldn’t go through any more of this,” Arthur pulled on the turtleneck of his sweater to reveal the burn mark on his throat briefly before releasing it, “Just so you could stay happy. But no matter what I did to atone, it wasn’t enough. Not for your family, not for the Peppers, and certainly not for that wraith that’s only been kind to you.”

Vivi is trembling. It would have pained Arthur to see it, but he no longer cared. Not after what she nearly did to his son and daughters, to Elaine’s treasured miracles.

He noticed Elaine’s hand wrap itself around his right shoulder and felt relieved, even though he dared not show it. Not in front of the wraith and the fox.

“What… What were the rules?” Vivi asked with a shaky voice.

Arthur rolled his eyes in irritation. Typical for the wraith to stay silent and play dumb around Vivi like it always did.

“I was not to be alone with you for even a moment, let alone speak to you, even if you were the one to reach out. I was not to perform maintenance on my arm. I was to go first on investigations, entering rooms, crossing streets. After all, you wouldn’t want me to push you to your death, too, now would you? I was not to do any more maintenance for the van, let alone drive it anymore. For all you know, I could’ve tampered with it to stage an accident, even though everyone here knows very well that the mechanic in me would never do that. I was to never sleep past a certain time, even on the few nights where I wouldn’t have nightmares and hopefully, finally, get a full night’s rest for once. Or else I would just be forcefully dragged out of bed and get punished. For all anyone knows, I could’ve been plotting something. ‘No rest for the wicked,’ as the saying goes.”

The Mystery Skulls were looking more and more sick as Vivi looked more and more angry at the wraith with tears starting to form in her eyes. Sucks to be them.

He didn’t dare look at his family right now.

“I was not to eat anything unless all three of us were present. And even then, that had some rules. I wasn’t to eat any of my favorite foods, or anything from the Pepper Paradiso, even if you were the one that provided it to me. Although that one will forever stick after not only getting beaten for it, but also getting tampered food that made me sick at least twice, from cookies with the icing switched to paste to that one meal that had arsenic in it. The only reason I didn’t require a hospital visit for that one was no doubt because I somehow developed a tolerance for it.”

Arthur briefly paused as he noticed Elaine’s fingers twitching at what he just said earlier before continuing.

“Or maybe it was something else, I don’t know or even care. Either way, I had to go without food for days at a time until I had to go to work with Lance, and in the few times I couldn’t I had to resort to eating the weeds outside.”

He felt Elaine’s grip on his arm tighten slightly and heard her whisper his name. He knew that this is the first time she would be hearing about everything he went through in painful detail.

He hated it.

“Your parents, mainly your father, blamed me for your amnesia, when in actuality the wraith was the one that did it to you. The Peppers, on the other hand, told me multiple times that I should’ve been the one who died that day. It’s true, though. Their son’s life had more meaning than mine, after all. I mean, who would you save? A man that has many connections and a promising life ahead of him, or a screwed-up mechanic that was thrown away by his parents with more issues than the stars in the sky?”

Anything I did to make up for what I’ve done, all that I tried to do to heal the damage I caused, was never enough.

“Arthur, why didn’t you say anything?!” Vivi is crying now, “Why?!”

Arthur gritted his teeth, “You were finally happy after everything that went wrong because of me when you were with that ghost. How could I take that away from you again?”

Vivi is trembling, “Even so, you should’ve told me. I could have done something!”

“Not like I could,” Arthur said as he tossed the heart behind him and jammed a finger at the wraith while keeping his attention towards Vivi, “You were pretty forgetful ever since the incident.”

There was a long silence.

“Arthur, are you saying what I think you just said?” Elaine finally asked before furiously pointing at the wraith, “You mean to tell me that he’s been controlling Yukino’s memory the entire time!?”

The wraith looked away. Honestly, its unnerved Arthur that it was showing such human and Lewis-like mannerisms.

“It did erase her memory of Lewis dying, and then Lewis in general. So it wouldn’t surprise me if it could do more than that,” Arthur said, “Either way, so long as I ‘behaved,’ she wouldn’t know. The least I could do was make sure that it didn’t tamper with her memory anymore that it did.”

“Lewis, just why would you—!” Vivi shook her head before turning back to Arthur, “Then why didn’t you tell your uncle anything?! He could’ve done something to help you, instead!”

“All he’d do is pump that shotgun and make things worse,” Arthur spat, “We were lucky the last time that happened. I’m not risking a repeat.”

The sound of the shotgun is not something Arthur would want to hear again, that’s for sure. Not to mention that in the present, as much as Lance means well, Arthur knows that his uncle could very easily kill the children by accident should he mistake them for monsters like Vivi had, or worse, getting caught in the crossfire.

…He shuddered and struggled not to picture any of his family having big gaping wounds or being outright headless.

If anything, this just means that he can’t trust anyone from Tempo. No one.

It hurt. More than he cares to admit.

“That thing wanted me gone. That thing wanted me to disappear. But you didn’t, Vivi. You had me stay, and so that wraith had to make do with things like this,” he pointed at his own neck before pulling at his right sleeve to show the faint hand-shaped burn on his forearm, “And left me with more reminders of my inability to do anything more than I care to count! But I accepted it. It is my fault, after all. That demon took hold of me and had me kill Lewis. His blood is on my hands even though I never wanted it to happen!”

Vivi fell on her knees and kept crying. Mystery immediately went to her side to see if he could offer any comfort

Arthur can’t deny that seeing her in such a state is rather unsettling, but he can’t look away from it anymore. Upon seeing some movement, Arthur looked up and saw the wraith starting to lift a hand as if it wanted to comfort Vivi, only to immediately back off upon seeing Arthur’s glare.

“…Arthur.”

Something cracked.

“You have every right to hate me.”

Crack.

Arthur shuddered upon hearing the wraith speak and held on to Elaine for support. He looked around briefly to see if Gwen and Percy were still around, and briefly saw red as he noticed his son cradling the wraith’s heart in his hands.

“No number of apologies will ever make up for what I did to you, but I still want to say that I’m sorry.”

Crack.

What is this feeling of… sorrow(?) welling up in his throat. Arthur didn’t want to maintain eye contact with the wraith. That’s how it gets people off guard.

“Before you and your family destroy me, I just want to know. If you hated me that much when you left…”

Crack.

Arthur gritted his teeth.

“Why did you name your children with the names I suggested?”

Crack. Crack.

He didn’t.

- - - - - - -

“Oh wow! Look at this view, Arthur!”

The Mystery Skulls had decided to take a rest stop in Tennessee from their drive home after roughly five hours of riding. The rest stop also happened to have a scenic overlook where one could enjoy the scenery of the mountains from the interstate. It has a good view, Arthur had to admit as he leaned himself forward against the stone fence.

“Although I hear it can’t compare to what the Cantabile Mountains at the other side of the state have to offer,” Lewis laughed, “Maybe in the future we can go look?”

Arthur hummed in agreement, even though he remained more focused on reading a robotics tech magazine he had managed to obtain from a convention when they passed by a larger city the day before. The pages held some interesting ideas for prosthetics, which was something Arthur had taken an interest in as of late. He made sure to fold the corners of the pages he needed to look into later when he gets home.

Upon hearing the sound of a dog barking, Arthur looked behind him to see Vivi and Mystery running around. Mystery had been rather restless, and Arthur didn’t doubt that the bespectacled dog is more than relieved to have the opportunity to stretch his legs.

Upon seeing Vivi look so happy, something ached in Arthur’s chest. He didn’t know what to call it, but he knew better than to talk to her or Lewis about it.

“I know you’ll find someone who will love you, Arthur. I know it.”

“Yeah, right,” Arthur said as he continued to read the tech magazine in his hands, “You know how to cook while having the strength to do pretty much anything. And with Vivi’s appetite, any family you’d have with her will probably enjoy that to their heart’s content. Me? I’ve got none of that.”

“Well, actually, we still had some things to sort out before Vivi and I go that far,” Lewis said after some silence, “I mean, there’s still some stuff to work out before we can do that.”

Arthur looked up from the tech magazine he was reading and saw Vivi doing something with Mystery from the corner of his eye. He didn’t bother to pay full attention to them before shooting a glance at the man next to him. Way to be redundant, Lewis.

“Ah, sorry, I’m losing track. You see, you know I’m adopted, and I have no idea who or where my birth parents are. Don’t get me wrong, I love Mom and Dad, but sometimes I just wonder…” Lewis trailed off before giving Arthur a fearful look, “Ah, wait, that didn’t…! Crap…”

A dark cloud formed over Arthur’s head, and his mood felt worse than it already is.

Although Arthur never looked back when he went to live with his uncle after the nasty divorce between his parents, it never stopped being a sore subject for him. He didn’t deny that he would occasionally feel envious of the families Lewis and Vivi have, but Lewis just sounded so selfish there. At least he had loving parents at all, blood related or not.

Sure, he has his uncle, but sometimes Arthur wondered just what exactly a complete and loving family felt like. Arthur knows that Uncle Lance would do anything to protect him, but he isn’t exactly the best at showing affection, often displaying a gruffer side more than anything else. Arthur sighed, maybe he’s the selfish one.

“Gwen and Percy.”

“Huh?” Arthur gave Lewis an incredulous look in response to his friend’s comment out of the blue.

“If, ah, you ever have a son and a daughter, we could name them that,” Lewis laughed while leaning against the railing, “Not only would they fit in with your name like in the legends, but they’re great names by themselves, I think.”

Arthur blinked in confusion before turning his head away from Lewis, hoping that the latter wouldn’t see the blush forming on his face, “I-I guess, but you know that in order for me to even do that, I’d have to get together with someone first. And even then, I don’t know if I’d be good enough to be a father.” Let alone be a good enough partner, he mentally added with a heavy heart.

This isn’t helping his mood.

Lewis hummed in thought, “I don’t know about that. You’re actually pretty good with my sisters, and you even helped us with Paprika back when Dad and I had that car accident shortly after she was born. Mom even said that if it hadn’t been for you, she might have gone to the hospital herself from overwork. Since you’re a great babysitter, I’d say you’d make a great dad.”

Well, he can’t… deny that. Somewhat.

“Still, you’d make a better parent than me, though.”

Lewis didn’t respond immediately, which made Arthur wonder if he had said it with more bite than he intended. Having to watch Lewis and Vivi being all lovey-dovey and virtually ignoring him outside some quick glances throughout the entire drive to where they are now didn’t help matters. Sometimes, he wondered if they even wanted him around anymore. It hurts more than he’d like to admit.

Still. Him? A father? Someone’s significant other? That’ll be the day.

As far as Arthur knows, he’s most likely ace or aro or whatever the heck the label is called. He had tried to figure out what exactly it is through online research, but with so many terms that seem to get added every week, combined with the rather toxic influence with people saying on what is acceptable and what is not only to find the whole thing turned around on its head, or what is “something-phobic” based on what his initial assumptions on the two (or more) terms were, Arthur never bothered consulting any of the online communities and gave up entirely. To him, it was just more trouble than it’s worth.

Then again, it’s probably not wise asking online strangers for help on something like this anyway. Especially once he started finding posts that essentially held the basic message of being something akin to “this label is like this with these very certain criteria or fuck you and go die,” and even blogs that are said to be devoted to supporting these labels just can’t seem to agree with one another. Do they accept this? Do they accept that? He could never find a consistent answer.

He had thought about finding a counselor that specializes on the subject, but not only are there not any reliable-looking ones within a reasonable driving distance from Tempo, their hourly rates without proper insurance is way too high for someone like him. It’s not that Kingsmen Mechanics doesn’t provide insurance for their employees, it’s not exactly the best for those with mental needs. Lance would sometimes make an annoyed comment about that.

And then there’s the fact that Texas itself, and maybe a good chunk if not all of the remaining forty-nine states, most likely wouldn’t accept anyone outside of whoever is perceived as "hetero-normal" or whatever people call it.

Why the hell am I wasting my time thinking about this. Arthur growled to himself in frustration while trying to be quiet enough for Lewis to not notice.

After struggling to comprehend it all, it just felt so pointless. But he still wants to know why and figure it out for his own peace of mind.

As far as he knows, his name is Arthur Kingsmen, a twenty-two-year-old car mechanic and Lance’s nephew. To him, that’s all that mattered. He knows that he desires a companionship of his own like how Lewis and Vivi have for one another, but he just can’t feel the desire with any of the people he has met so far. Not to mention seeing those two together… hurt. He didn’t know why.

Maybe something is wrong with him, but he can’t impose on Vivi and Lewis like that.

And as far as Arthur also knows, he will be alone for his entire life once he goes out on his own.

He briefly entertained the idea of meeting someone, falling in love, getting married, and starting a family… but he knows that’s a mere pipe dream.

His heart ached.

…

One last case.

Just one last case, and then he will leave.

And finally go out on his own.

- - - - - - -

“Or… more accurately, why did you name them after Vivi and… after me?”

Gwen Vivi, Percy Lewis, and Vivian Lulu. The first and middle names he had given to his three children in memory of the two people he cared about.

The wall broke.

“How dare you.”

“What?”

“How dare you claim those names,” Arthur’s hands balled up into fists as angry tears leaked from his eyes, “The one who suggested those names is dead. Dead and gone. Buried!”

He glared at the wraith. He won’t fail to keep eye contact this time. He has Elaine with him, she can stop the wraith if need be.

“You can’t have them,” he seethed, “You’re not taking them to be your playthings. I won’t let you hurt them like you hurt me.”

“I would never hurt them! Why would—”

“They’re not just mine, but Elaine’s, too. Unlike me, she has nothing to do with you or any of this. I’m not going to let her get hurt because of me.”

As soon as Arthur said those words, a loud audible crack could be heard. When Arthur looked to see the source of the noise, he saw Percy still holding the heart, now nearly black in color, and open. Annoyed, Arthur took the open locket from his son’s hands and looked inside to see what it was that made the children’s faces so pale.

...

…The thing felt putrid in his hands. Filthy.

“Gwen. Percy,” Arthur said calmly, “Go to your nana. Stay by Vivian’s side. Don’t let her come in here.”

The twins looked at one another nervously.

“Please.”

It was clear that they didn’t want to, but they obeyed. After waiting a moment to make sure the twins were out of sight and hopefully out of hearing range, the fury Arthur felt slowly started to rise. Gwen and Percy, and maybe Jason, shouldn’t have seen what was inside the locket. They are not to be involved over past issues such as this.

Arthur tossed the locket at Vivi and Mystery’s feet in disgust before clutching the moon pin on his vest, “As soon as you asked me that damn question, I couldn't take it anymore. That’s why I left.”

Vivi’s eyes widened, looking torn and shaken as she picked up the locket, “Wait, you mean tha--that was all it took? Just because that we--, that I asked you out on a date?"

“That’s right,” he said as he made the move to hold Elaine’s left hand with his own, knowing that her wedding ring was visible for Vivi and the wraith to see. He then took a moment to glance at the wraith to make sure it wouldn’t get any stupid ideas before choosing to ignore the look of guilt on its face, “Lewis was your boyfriend, not me. I never wanted you projecting on the third wheel when Lewis went missing or died to be more accurate. You belonged to him.”

“Hey, I belong to no one by my own damn self, thank you very much,” Vivi snapped, “No one but I can decide what my relationships are, not some random person I don’t have any memory with anymore!” She sighed with frustration, “Did you seriously think I would flirt with someone I wasn’t interested in?!”

“Playfully, maybe. Since that’s what friends do,” Arthur shrugged as he held Elaine’s hand closer to himself, “It was still wrong, though--”

“I wanted us to be more than friends even before all that, Arthur!”

…Arthur really wished Vivi didn’t just say that.

“Wait, hold on. Let me make sure I got this straight,” Elaine raised her free hand to point a finger at Vivi, “You, Vivi Yukino, wanted to make Arthur your boyfriend even though you were already taken, and you had your memory of Lewis back when you asked Arthur that question?”

“You can have more than one significant other in a relationship,” Vivi explained, “Sure, there was a huge stigma for polyamorous relationships even back then, but we weren’t going to let that get in the way.”

Arthur risked a glance at the wraith. Curiously, it kept its head hung down, not looking at anyone. He really, really didn’t like the way it’s presenting itself right now, looking like a scolded child. Lewis would have that exact same expression in the few times he had been scolded by Vivi for some reason, and that disturbed him more than he cares to admit.

When Arthur thought about the past, he knew what it was that had become so painful for him whenever he saw Lewis and Vivi being together as partners. He wanted to be a part of that circle, but he knew that deep down, it was entirely selfish of him to want such a thing. What made it worse was that he didn’t even realize it was love he was feeling for Vivi and Lewis until he had realized his feelings for Elaine when she won his heart.

Well, even then, it’s too little, too late. Lewis is gone and dating Vivi after learning of the former’s fate would just be an insult to the dead. Plus, he didn’t want Vivi to project Lewis through him. In the end, there is no point in reminiscing the past or wondering about how things would’ve gone had Lewis not died, had the Mystery Skulls not gone into that cave.

What’s done is done.

“Before I died,” Arthur stiffened upon hearing the wraith speak, “Vivi and I had discussed our feelings for one another and for Arthur once we realized it. We even tried giving him hints and even flirted with him at times, but he always seemed to miss them every time. We were beginning to think he was ace/aro at that point.”

It took a lot of willpower on Arthur’s part to keep himself from shuddering. Shut up. Stop talking.

“Um, yeah, as far as I know, Arthur never knew how to flirt,” Elaine said with a somewhat exasperated breath, “I just kept inviting him to weekly dates and tested the waters little by little with his consent until I knew how he clicked. We were friends first, then we started dating casually, then seriously, and then to where we are now.”

Unlike what happed with Vivi and Lewis, Elaine was never subtle about her feelings for me. Even though I never knew how to flirt, even I could pick up the cues she was giving me. She always told me that she liked me, that she cared, and that she wanted me around. She invited me to cafes, to parks, to the mountain ranges, to peaceful places. She acted like my life mattered. Whenever she took a step forward, she would talk to me. She would communicate with me. I would have never confessed to her had she’d not done that.

I stopped bothering with the labels. It’s pointless. All that matters is that I know my name, and I love Elaine. That’s it.

“Eventually, we decided to just outright tell him after we finished exploring the cave,” Vivi averted her eyes with a sad expression, “But you know that never came to pass.”

Upon hearing those words, Arthur’s chest ached with a familiar sensation of doubt and a heavy tightness as he looked at his left arm. The awful feeling of loneliness, conflicted feelings, and a heartbreak that never completely went away. Arthur quietly took a deep breath. He would be lying if he were to admit that he didn’t feel anything for Vivi and Lewis anymore, but most of the desire had faded. He felt nothing for the wraith.

He gave his heart to Elaine. He won’t betray her like that. He won’t let her go through such heartbreak ever again.

“I see,” Elanie sighed as she gave Arthur’s hand a squeeze, letting him know she’s still with him, “Since we’re on the subject, perhaps you can actually answer this question since both your parents and the Peppers didn’t give me the full story. From what they told me; things have ‘gone straight to hell’ when Arthur left your lives.”

Arthur could’ve sworn he saw one of Elaine’s eyes glow when he saw her narrow her gaze at Vivi.

“What happened in Tempo after that?”

Neither Vivi nor the wraith responded. They just looked down in shame. Arthur didn’t see a reason to pity them anymore.

“I guess it’s my turn to explain things.”

Arthur nearly jumped when he heard Mystery speak. Had he seriously forgotten that the kitsune disguised as a dog is still around? Even though he was right beside Vivi the whole time.

“Go on,” Elaine looked down at the dog with contempt, “And do not leave out a single detail. Tell me everything.”

“Very well,” Mystery took a deep breath, “As we’ve said before, it all started when Vivi got the phone call from Lance. None of us knew that Arthur had left for a ‘solo vacation’ after he finished his work here. So when Lance called police to help locate Arthur, he came to our place. That’s when he found all the evidence that clued us in that Arthur had been abused by Lewis ever since we reunited. While Vivi’s memory issues is one thing, I do not have any excuse for not noticing Arthur’s pain. I was too focused on watching out for Vivi’s health as I am bound to her.”

A hitched breath from Vivi caught Arthur’s attention. She looks angry, “After you left, when I found out about what my parents and the Peppers… and Lewis have done to you, I was livid. I told them all that if they had to blame someone, they should’ve blamed me.

“I am the leader of the Mystery Skulls, so the wellbeing of everyone was my responsibility. I failed to do that when we went to that cave. If I hadn’t brought us there, or if I hadn’t brushed off your concerns, or had I not suggested we split up,” Vivi sighed before continuing, “Or had Lewis and I talked with you about our feelings before instead of after that cave, then none of this would have happened to us. The one that caused the series of events that led to Lewis getting killed was me. So it’s my fault, Arthur. Not yours. If anything, I should’ve been the one receiving all that abuse from Lewis and the others instead of you. Not that it makes things any better, of course, but still.”

Don’t say that. Don’t say that Lewis is--

“Continuing from where we left off, Vivi and I were trying to search for you by checking whatever leads we could get. All we knew from the police reports was that you had taken a bus to a route leading out to the east of Tempo, transferred a few times within the span of two days, and then boarded a bus that was reported to have dropped you off somewhere in the mountains of Tennessee,” Mystery said, “We elected to have Lewis stay behind since we couldn’t trust him with your wellbeing, but that became our worst mistake.”

The wraith looked at the blue box in its hand, “The demon that killed me… was still around. It took hold of my father and almost killed Paprika by putting a knife to her throat. If I hadn’t been around, then she would’ve died. Vivi was able to save him by,” the wraith shuddered, “By freezing his hand off, but then the demon took hold of me. My mother got caught in the crossfire when she was taking my father and sisters to safety.”

A chill went up in Arthur’s spine. He knew that experience firsthand. A human falling under possession is one thing, but anything that actually has powers that normal people like him aren’t capable of doing? He glanced at Elaine to see how she’s faring and could only feel somewhat relieved upon seeing that she hasn’t changed her scrutiny of the Mystery Skulls.

Although Arthur shuddered that the wraith just kept talking, he didn’t know if it was from hearing it speak or finally knowing why Mrs. Pepper’s body is so full of burn scars. The burns he received from the wraith were tame in comparison. For him, he could just hide them under his clothes. Mrs. Pepper, not so much.

“Vivi and Mystery were able to expel the demon from me, but then Vivi’s grandmother sealed me within my home.”

“Obaa-san said that the seal could be broken by ‘only those that come after in blood of whose soul you’ve hurt,’” Vivi quotes with her fingers, “Since Arthur was hurt by Lewis, Mystery and I knew that we needed him to break it. But there’s one thing I don’t quite understand, Arthur didn’t go anywhere near where Lewis was, so how was the seal broken?”

Vivi, stop calling that thing Lew—

“…Arthur’s children,” Mystery perked up in realization, “If we take ‘only those that come after in blood’ to mean his descendants, then they easily fill the criteria since they’re descended from his bloodline. I do remember Fuyuko-sama once saying that Arthur is an ‘herbivore,’ so to speak. She may have intended for the conditions of removing the seal to be impossible, as she may have thought that Arthur would never have a child, let alone get together with someone. It makes sense.”

Arthur and Elaine looked at one another briefly, the former feeling very uncomfortable. Neither of them liked the fact that Gwen, Percy, and Vivian have more involvement than they thought.

“Well, either way,” Vivi sighed before crossing her arms, “Since Lewis is here, that means all we need to do now is find the demon that tore us apart and cursed this town, and then we can finally end this nightmare. And then once we take that thing once and for all, we all just… talk. Hopefully patch up things and then just,” she let a hard breath, “I don’t know, go from there.”

Getting rid of that wraith would be a real good start.

“About the demon,” the wraith said, “Before your grandmother sealed me, I managed to take it down with me. It was actually because of it that I… ended up learning of everything it made Arthur do to kill me, and then how it caught up to us before we managed to briefly defeat it.”

There was a silence.

“Wait, what the fuck?” Vivi’s voice is steadily rising in volume, “Mystery and I were looking for that thing ever since Arthur left, and you mean to tell me that it’s been with you the entire time?! That thing was torturing the town for over seventeen years!”

“I didn’t even know it’s been seventeen years until Gwen and Percy told me right after the seal was broken! Do you have any idea how hard it is for me to process that?! They were will filling me in on what I had missed and were just about to get to my sisters until you all came in!” It held up the blue box in it hand, “I held on to this ever since Paprika gave it to me!”

Who gave you the right to call them by their names? Arthur bit his lip in anger. They’re not yours.

“Wait, wait, wait, wait, hold up, hold up,” Elaine let go of Arthur and put herself between Vivi and the wraith before giving the latter a pointed look, “To make sure I have this straight. You had been sealed by Yukino’s grandmother, along with the demon, right?”

“Yes...”

“And my and Arthur’s children had broken that seal, therefore freeing you.”

“That’s… right.”

“So if you’re here, then where’s the demon now?”

Arthur’s blood went cold. He looked behind him before running out of the room.

The kids!

As he ran, his anger could not be contained. As a father, he will do whatever it takes to keep his children safe for their sake, and for Elaine’s.

The wraith is too dangerous to keep around.

- - - - - - -

The hunt is over!

And now you are mine!

Hide in shadows give you safety, baby...

But not this time!

...

...

...

You really like to think the contrary, don’t you?

Part 20: Your Enemy???! 

[nosleepuntilvacation]

Hi! I've got another Mettaton×reader request for you, if you don't mind. The setting is that Mettaton gets badly damaged, and of course his crush is worried sick. They insist on helping Alphys with the repairs, even if it's small things like handing her the right tool or something. The repairs take a week or two, and the crush just camps over at Alphys' lab the whole time. But anyway! The scenario I want you to actually write is when Mettaton is finally rebooted and wakes up. (cont.)

(cont.) So when Mettaton comes to, his crush is sitting next to whatever table/bed/thing he’s laying on. They go “Thank god!” and probably tear up a bit, smiling like a fool. Mettaton is like, touched that they’ve waited for him like that. When he asks about it, the crush gets all flustered. Mettaton ofc teases them, and as the conversation/banter goes on they accidentally mention at some point that they helped Alphys with the repairs… Que more flustering and eventually (cont. IM SORRY)

(cont.) eventually they end up telling him how much he means to them. In their nervousness, they get a bit rambly and end up confessing their romantic feelings to him. Then they hang their head and don’t look up again until Mettaton tells that he feels the same. Then they’re both awkward and happy and they smooch and stuff. // Sorry if this long, 3-ask explanation is unclear and sorry this is so dramatic. Thank you for considering this.             

…this has been sitting in my inbox for over a year hasn’t it

dishonor on me, dishonor on my miltank, etc. etc. etc.

But I guess it’s better late than never…?

Below the cut: A Storm Leads to a Rainbow

(TW: Discussions and descriptions of a car accident, and the emotional and physical injuries resulting from it; brief mention of alcohol)

Two synthetic eyes open, and their owner groans, clutching his forehead. “Ugh… what happened?”

He looks in his immediate line of sight. The space-printed sheets on the bed he currently occupies, the posters displaying different franchises he likes (his own included), the star-shaped stickers on the ceiling… yep, this is definitely his guest room in Alphys’ place.

“But why–?” He reaches down and touches his hip. Just as he suspected, his charging cable is plugged securely into there. He barely has enough time to register this before he hears a familiar voice.

“Mettaton? Thank god!”

He sits up and looks over towards the source of the voice…

…and he promptly sees you sitting in one of his pink beanbag chairs, smiling like a weight had just been lifted away. And was he seeing things, or were those tears in your eyes?

“[Y/N]? I wasn’t expecting to see you here, sweetheart.” He smirks a bit. “Have you appointed yourself the president of my fan club? I’ll have you know that you’re competing with me for that position.”

“Heh…” To you, the sound of his voice is exactly what you need right now. You pull out your phone and open your text message program. “Just gonna let Alphys know you’re awake. She’s off jogging with Papyrus.”

After a few chuckles at his own joke, his smile soon becomes more genuine. “Thank you for thinking of me, though.”

“Of course.” You put your phone away after sending a message, and your smile becomes a little more sad as you try to ward off the rock forming in your throat. “When I heard about what had happened to you, I was so worried, and I couldn’t just…” You take a few deep breaths to keep the dam from bursting.

At this point, he can’t help but frown. “If you don’t mind me asking… what did happen to me, anyway? The last thing I remember was Bryan and I driving home, and before I knew it, our car tipped sideways. My whole body was in pain, I heard Bryan calling Alphys… and then I blacked out.” His hand clenches the mattress. “Is Bryan okay, by the way?”

“Yes. He had to visit the ER, but he wasn’t hurt too badly, and they let him go home after a few days. Anyway…”

After swallowing your nerves, you begin to explain the full story.

A little over a week ago, you had been visiting Alphys and Undyne and watching a movie with them. At one point in the movie, Alphys received a panicked phone call from Bryan, an orange mammal monster who seemed to be Mettaton’s frenemy of sorts. The two had been driving together to their respective homes after a production at the local theater when a drunk driver veered into their lane and crashed into Bryan’s car. When Alphys headed out to help, the scene indeed looked grisly, with roadside assistance having to help put the car upright again - and it was clear that at least half of the car would need repairs. Paramedics were helping Bryan into an ambulance…

“…and when she brought you back, I almost couldn’t look.” You shudder. “You looked like something chewed you up and spit you back out again!”

With a sneer, Mettaton folds his arms. “Oh, come on. I don’t taste that bad! Ask anyone who’s ever had one of my world-famous face steaks!” He taps his chin in thought. “Although, maybe I shouldn’t have made them so expensive at first…”

You chuckle nervously; at the time, you definitely wouldn’t have laughed if someone had made that joke, but now that Mettaton’s awake, the whole thing feels a little easier to put in the past.

“Honestly, though…” His expression softens into concern. “…my body looked that bad when Alphys brought me in?” He holds his hands in front of his face and wiggles his fingers, before peeking under the blankets and presumably checking his feet in a similar way. Next, he grabs a handheld mirror from the nightstand and studies his face, brushing his hair out of one of his eyes.

“Yeah…” You wipe away a few tears forming near your eyes. “If Alphys and I hadn’t fixed you up right away…” A shudder takes over your spine; you’re still not entirely sure how all the intricacies of his body work, and this was one situation where experimenting was not an option.

For a moment, Mettaton is silent…

…only to give you an odd look.

“Wait a minute… you helped Alphys with the repairs?”

“Uh–! Well!” Oh god, does he already know what you think of him? “She did most of the big work! I was just there to help hold you still, or to get her the right tools, or to keep an eye on you to make sure you were still stable while she was out getting more supplies and stuff. Undyne helped, too, when she wasn’t at work. Alphys and I took turns watching over you the first couple of nights, while you were still in somewhat critical condition…”

Mettaton blinks. “You even stayed over?”

“Y-yeah… I haven’t actually been home since I heard about the crash.”

By now, you can feel the floodgates open, tears rolling down your face as you explain yourself.

“I wanted to help Alphys as much as I could… I was so scared. You could have died if we hadn’t done enough in time, and if I hadn’t helped and you ended up dying… I don’t know if I could ever forgive myself if that happened. Especially because you’re my friend, and, well…”

Despite the more reasonable side of your mind not feeling ready to say it, your emotions are in full force right now, and you just blurt it out before you can stop yourself.

“I don’t know when it started, but I really wanted to tell you I love you.”

And with that, you lower your head and finally allow yourself to let out some quiet sobs as the many emotions of the past several days swamp over you: relief from knowing that Mettaton is most likely okay now, fear and sadness from the fact that he probably wouldn’t have made it if Alphys hadn’t gotten there in time, and that hard-to-describe sensation of knowing that, in the heat of the moment, you just confessed your romantic feelings towards your longtime crush. Your body and mind are just frozen like a slow computer as you try to quell this maelstrom of emotions.

It gets to the point where you can barely register it as Mettaton whispers your name and gently takes hold of your hand.

“Shh… everything’s going to be okay, darling. It was horrifying, and I was scared, too… but I feel so much better now.” A smooth thumb strokes the top of your hand as he continues. “In fact… as of late, I’ve realized that I’m in love with you, too.”

“R-really…?” You finally look up; despite your likely looking like an emotional wreck right now, Mettaton doesn’t seem to judge you for it, instead smiling.

“Absolutely, sweetheart. I’ve wanted to tell you for a little while; you’ve been such a wonderful friend to me. And knowing that you would go this far to help save my life… honestly, I’d do the same for you.”

A cheerful laugh escapes your throat; you’re not sure what to say, but you still manage a “Thank you…”

“And thank you, beautiful.”

For a few moments, neither of you are sure of what else to say amidst the glow of relief and new love, but eventually, Mettaton has a thought.

“Darling, when all of this has blown over a little more… would you, perhaps, like to go on a date with me? I can show you a few of my favorite places in town, and you can show me your favorites, if you’d like.”

“Sure.” There are still a few tears, but they come from a much happier place now. It’ll probably take a little while for everyone’s fears to disappear completely, but what’s important is that everyone is safe right now, and a potential tragedy has been averted.

Before you know it, you wrap your arms around Mettaton in a big hug, which he soon returns in kind before leaning in close to your face. He stops himself and looks into your eyes as if asking for permission, and when you smile and nod, he presses his lips to yours. It’s not the smoothest of kisses, but most first kisses typically aren’t.

Either way, you’re definitely not complaining.

You’re so lost in the kiss that you don’t hear the sound of the front door opening and closing in the other room, nor do you hear the sound of footsteps. Shortly afterwards, though, a small eep does get your attention.

The two of you break off the kiss and look towards the doorway, where Alphys is standing, still in her jogging outfit, with wide eyes.

“Oh! Uh… am I interrupting something?”

As you wave hello to Alphys, Mettaton gently smiles. “Alphys, darling, I’m so glad to see you. And don’t worry; I think everything’s going to be just fine.”

Alphys returns the smile. “Yeah… I’m so glad you’re awake. I’ll probably want to keep an eye on you for the next day or two, though. Just to make sure I didn’t miss anything.”

“That’s all right. As long as I have everyone cheering for me, I can absolutely manage this!”

You gently squeeze his hand, and he smiles at you.

After a second or two, Alphys pulls out her phone. “So, uh, want to order some pizza or something? I can shower while we wait for it to get here.”

Mettaton rests a hand on his soul casing. “Darling, I haven’t eaten in days, so that sounds absolutely perfect right now.”

“That sounds good to me too,” you say with a nod.

“Great! Let me open the app…”

As you all begin to figure out what you want, you can already picture the delicious taste of the food in your mind. Not only that, you can also picture some of the exciting, lovely things in your and Mettaton’s future… a future that you helped to secure for him.

Sometimes, even a harsh rainstorm can leave behind a beautiful rainbow.

[sierraraeck]

Return to Normalcy (Pt.1)

BAU x OC Aundreya

Masterlist | Series Masterlist

Summary: Returning to normal has never been so hard. Just as Aundreya is starting to make amends and fit back in with the group, something gets in the way. Story twenty-two.

Category: Angst, but there’s some fluff too

Warnings: Cussing. CM talk. Mentions of death and suicide as a COD. Break-ins.

Word Count: 5.5k

It was odd, how quickly things seemed to go back to ‘normal.’ It was a new sort of normal, like if you’d moved out of your house and years later the new owners invited you over for dinner, but it felt familiar nonetheless.

It seemed to me that we were all more focused on the cases coming in, and while the rest of the team still went out for drinks after a long case, I no longer took part. It didn’t feel right, and above that, I had to get home and prepare for whatever new guest decided to grace me with their presence.

The nice way of saying that people were breaking into my apartment.

It started the Monday I had returned to work with the BAU. Once we got home, my apartment was trashed with a lovely note carved into my bedside table letting me know that this was only going to get worse. I had no motive for them either, but I had three guesses: they were working for DeLeon, they were working for Archer, or they were working for me. If they were working for me, they were probably pissed that I went back to the BAU, or they were clients that held a grudge.

Either way, it didn’t really matter, because if I wasn’t already having trouble sleeping, I definitely was now. I never knew what day, what time, or how many people there’d be. I hate to call it a game, but that was honestly what it’d become. I tried to track their pattern, but they were good, keeping everything very random. I started making bets with myself about the day, time, and number of people, just to keep things interesting.

I walked into work with new bruises and cuts all the time. I tried my best to cover them up, but I wasn’t stupid, and I didn’t believe my teammates were blind. But none of them pushed, they only ever gave me weird looks, which I promptly ignored.

It wasn’t until I was so tired and in pain that I couldn’t do my job correctly.

I was chasing down and unsub, but I couldn’t keep up. He turned a corner and when I followed, ambushed me. We started fighting, but I couldn’t hold my own. Had it not been for Derek following me and shooting him off of me, that man would have strangled me with his bare hands. Only then did Hotch pull me aside.

“Chambers, what is going on with you?” he had those stern, yet caring eyes trained on me.

“Do you want the real version, or the boss version?” I sarcastically asked. He raised his eyebrows slightly. “I’m having trouble sleeping. I wake up every night from nightmares if I’m lucky enough to fall asleep in the first place.”

“Do you expect me to buy that, or do you also fight your furniture in your sleep?” he asked.

“I do expect you to buy that, because it’s true,” I shot back.

“But that’s not everything,” Hotch pointed out.

I shrugged, “It’s close enough.”

“Chambers,” he warned.

“I’m okay,” I assured.

“You almost died today in hand to hand combat. I’ve never seen you even come close to losing to someone in that area. You beat Morgan on a regular, and he’s one of the best fighters I know,” Hotch acknowledged, “What is going on?”

“Hotch, please-”

“I will ask you to take time off if this is not something that can be solved.”

“No!” I barely let him finish, “You cannot confine me to my apartment.”

He gave me a quick once over, and I tried my best to look composed. “I will order you to tell me if things get worse.” I nodded and gave a small ‘thank you’ before walking away.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

I did everything I could to prepare for the intruders, but it was another long night. I was never sure if they were out to kill me or just scare me, but it usually ended up with me fighting two or three people at the same time. Usually they fled before things got too serious, but I ended up having to drag out a body every now and then.

Last night was no different, fighting two masked people until they decided to leave. The one upside of all the constant fighting after a while, was that it was allowing me to sleep better. I was so exhausted by the time I was done, that I could actually get three or four solid hours of sleep. Ironic how the same problem causing part of my lack of sleep, could also help me sleep.

The one thing different about last night, though, was that I finally got a look at one of their faces, unmasked and alive. It wasn’t much, but it was something to go off of.

I convinced Garcia to help me find someone who was hopefully in the system. I gave her a description; a man in his early thirties, red curly hair, about five foot eleven, scar behind his ear. She pulled up known felons and those in the prison system, but none of them were him. I didn’t want to have to raise suspicion by asking her to do it, but I had to know who was coming after me. So I went out on a limb and asked her to search for people in the Bureau, and those who worked closely with Agent Howard Archer.

And then I saw him. Some new assistant of Archer’s that also happened to work for the MI6 before moving to the US.

I played it off to Penelope, but I now knew who was coming after me. He must have been nearly as pissed as DeLeon was about Xena, and even more so about the fact that I weaseled my way out of charges, out of DeLeon’s grasp (if he knew about that), and all the way back to the BAU.

But I had a plan, one that would grant me more peace, and help keep the BAU team together.

Things just worked out even better than expected when Emily accidentally dropped information to one of the deputies that was helping his son get away with muder. Not like I wanted her to make a mistake, she was already feeling more guilty about it that she needed to, and I did want to be there for her, but it also just so happened to serve a bigger purpose as well.

We boarded the jet on our way home after using a couple extra days to catch the deputy and his son. Emily sat by herself in the back, clearly beating herself up. I saw JJ say something and squeeze her shoulder, but Emily was not having it. I gave her the first half of the trip to wallow, and then made my move.

I approached her seat and went to sit down when she waved me off, “Chambers, I really can’t go through another ‘it’s okay we still got him’ pep talk right now.”

I sat down right next to her and put my feet up on the other seat. I crossed my arms over my chest, mimicking her movement, and said, “Nah, man, I came over here to tell you that you majorly fucked up. Didn’t you hear? If you’re in the FBI and wrongfully trust your fellow law enforcement officers who are supposed to be helping you catch the bad guy, you’re immediately terminated?” She glared at me from the corner of her eye and I smirked, “I’m serious, Emily. If you ever make a mistake and then end up solving the whole case for us like that again, I think we might just have to fire you.”

“You’re hilarious,” she deadpanned.

“No, not really,” I smiled, “I only think I am when I’m massively sleep deprived and my badass coworker makes the coolest unsub takedown of the century.” She rolled her eyes. I looked across the aisle to where JJ was seated and asked, “Come on, JJ. Tell me I’m wrong.”

“You’re wrong,” JJ absentmindedly sang, not even bothering to look up from her magazine, “It’s not like she launched through the air, tackled him, and rolled on the ground a couple of times before handcuffing him from her position on top, then stood up like it was nothing.”

I shrugged, turning my attention back to Emily, “Ooh! So, does this mean, now that you’re obviously leaving, that I will be the best at the shooting range?”

“Okay, please stop,” Emily finally spoke back up. She still wouldn’t look at me, but I could see the beginning of a smile creeping up on her face.

I lightly poked her in the side, and she finally cracked a smile, looking over at me. “Look, historically I’m not the greatest at giving pep talks, but I’ve fucked up enough time to know the usual bullshit that they entail, and I know that not a single ounce of it is helpful. It’s gonna feel crappy for a while, that’s just how it goes, but trust me when I say that you have a lot more to be proud of than slipping up once in your seven years of being with the FBI. Not to mention that you personally got to kick his ass anyway.”

“Yeah, but,” she shook her head, “next time, things might not end as lucky.”

“God damn it, Emily,” I tsked playfully, “You’re starting to sound like me. And I can tell you with confidence, being me, that I do not recommend that path.”

“I appreciate what you’re saying but-”

“But you don’t want to come out with me and the girls tonight,” I sighed, posing it more like a statement than a question. “I get it.”

JJ perked up at this, and asked, “What is this you’re saying about girls night?”

“Oh, I guess it’s not that exciting. Emily doesn’t seem interested,” I feigned a grimace, reaching into my pocket to produce five ticket.

“What are those?” Emily asked.

I hummed, “I guess I’ll have to sell yours, or refund it or something, you know, since you don’t want to come out with us.”

“Aundreya, I swear to god,” Emily started, reaching for the tickets in my hand. I jerked them back, but Tara yanked one from my grasp.

“Alanis Morissette? Are you for real?” she asked.

“Dead serious,” I grinned.

I turned to Emily whose mouth was agape, “How’d you know? I’ve been trying to see her for years, but we always have a case!”

“Look, we have tonight and then the extended weekend off. I figured we could get some sleep this afternoon, get ready, go out to dinner, and then go to the concert,” I suggested.

“Absolutely!” Emily’s excitement was enough to make all of us smile, “This is amazing. Does Garcia know?”

“Does she ever,” I murmured. “She nearly wrecked the surprise about twelve times already!”

The girls laughed, and the prospect of getting away and doing something fun seemed to put everyone in a much better mood.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

I woke up on Garcia’s floor completely exhausted. But for once, it was a happy exhaustion. No break ins, no nightmares, just the five of us girls having the night of our lives. I checked the time, and the brightness of my phone blinded my eyes. The time read 9:24, and my head hurt a little, but I knew how to drink. Emily and Tara would be fine by the end of the day, but I wouldn’t be surprised if JJ and Penelope were hungover until the weekend was over.

I started cleaning up the place, trying my best not to make any sound or knock into any bottles. When it felt sufficiently cleaned, and I did everything I thought I could that would be quiet, I went to the kitchen to make breakfast. Emily was the next up, and walked into the kitchen rubbing her eyes and holding an empty tequila bottle. She placed it in the trash, then walked over to where I was flipping pancakes.

“Damn, aren’t you tired?” she asked.

I gave her a look. “I’ve adjusted to the constant pounding in my head.”

“Right,” she rasped, “I forgot. You’ve got that super power that allows you not to be affected by drugs and alcohol and stuff.”

I just nodded. “How was it, though?”

She looked at me confused for a moment, before realizing I was talking about the concert. “Aundreya, it was amazing. I can’t believe you did that for us.”

I shrugged, “I just figured we all needed a break.”

“Amen,” Tara said, finishing the last of her beer before placing the empty bottle on the counter.

“Beer before pancakes?” Emily asked.

“My head already hurts, I don’t think another swig’ll change that,” she pointed out. When the other two woke up, we ate breakfast and finished cleaning Peleope’s apartment. It was the first time since I’d been back that I actually did something with the group, and it was actually really fun. We were all Alanis Morissette fans, so we practically screamed the lyrics all night. Not one of us could talk properly, our vocal chords probably wrecked for eternity.

When we finished up, we all decided to head back to our own places. I dreaded leaving, knowing that there was a 50 percent chance that mine was raided yet again.

I was the last one out, and right as I was about to leave, I felt Penelope’s eyes on me. She’d been acting a little strange around me the entire night, and I was wondering if she was ever going to talk to me about it. I turned around to face her and saw that she was looking at me with very nervous eyes. I offered her a small smile, hoping that she would come out with it on her own.

When she just kept looking at me, shifting her eyes between me and the door, I carefully asked, “Is everything okay?”

“Yeah, yeah,” she quickly said, seeming to pull out of her thoughts. “Sorry to keep you. You can head home if you need to.” She rushed over to me and started to open the door but I slightly leaned back on the door so she couldn’t fully pull it open.

“If you want me to leave, I will,” I looked her straight in the eyes, “But if you have something to say, or ask, please do. I don’t want you to be nervous to talk to me.”

She struggled for the right words for a moment before she sighed. “Do you want to sit?” I nodded and followed her to the couch. She took another deep breath before starting, “It’s about your ring of people.”

“Okay…” I invited her to continue.

“Um, Deen, that’s his name right? Deen?” I nodded, “Well, he mentioned something to me about you wanting to recruit me before I got offered a job at the FBI.”

I pressed my lips together with understanding. Of course Deen would slip up when it came to ‘The Black Queen.’ I already knew he had a not so little crush on her, and now that he’d met her, he wouldn’t shut up. “Yeah, I did. You were just starting to get really big around the same time the Cloaks were going under, and I knew you’d be a big asset to our team. Once I had the ring up and running, I made a plan to reach out to you and ask you to join us. It was a bit of a long shot considering you were using your skills to do good and you’d probably think we were on the opposite end of that, but we really wanted you. Well, I really wanted you and Deen was really pushing for it. Honestly, we were only three days out from inviting you in when you got caught. We were hopeful, but when you accepted the job with the FBI we weren’t surprised. Still sad, though,” I admitted.

“So, had I not got caught, or you’d gotten to me a few days earlier, your life could’ve been my life?” she asked, a bit of wonder in her voice.

I joked, “Hopefully not. But you would’ve been in the room with me whenever I was planning something new or we were tracking a client or mole. You probably would’ve been our lead in operations considering you’d have access to all of their information and security cameras we’d need to hack into, not to mention some of our own.”

“That’s… wow,” Penelope stared out the window as if she could see her other life playing out.

“But I think you ended up where you belong,” I smiled at her.

She mirrored my expression and agreed, “Yes. I think you’re right. It would’ve been interesting though, to see how different my life would’ve been.”

“Maybe,” I reminded, “But you might not have even said yes to us to begin with.” She looked deep in thought, understandably. It was a lot to process, especially since she had some idea of my lifestyle and the amount of trouble I got into. But it was still a possibility that she’d never had the opportunity to ponder. “I’ll see you later?”

“Yes. Thank you for last night and, for answering my questions this morning,” she stood up with me as I went to grab my stuff and head out the door.

“If you want to know anything else, just ask,” I smiled.

She nodded and was about to close the door behind me she shyly questioned, “And Deen?”

I grinned from ear to ear. “Great guy, super loyal, funny, and a natural leader and protector. Oh, and super into you.”

She smiled to herself, looking down a little bit, then gave me a wave as she shut the door.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

When I got back to my place, and saw that the door was already cracked, I sighed. I swung open the door to see that things only continued to get worse.

Sitting there on the couch was Spencer. There was broken glass and knocked over furniture strewn all around, and he was like a rare diamond sitting in the middle of the rubble.

“Aundreya, what is going on?” his voice was soft and concerned, eyes wide.

“Spencer, please-” I tried.

He shook his head and gestured for me to sit down next to him. I swiped off some of the stuffing coming out of a read and sat down. “Please. Please tell me what all of this is. I want to help.”

“You can’t help,” I said.

“Only because you won’t let me,” he pointed out. “You’re coming to work with new bruises all the time, you’re clearly more tired than usual, and your ability to think and physically perform are decreasing.”

I looked down at my hands, spinning the bracelets around my wrist. “People are breaking into my place. It’s completely random but I can fend them off.”

The shock and concern in his eyes grew, “How long has this been going on?”

I purses my lips, “Since I came back.”

“And how many times has this happened?”

I looked around my apartment and shook my head, “I stopped cleaning after four.”

“Aundreya-”

“Don’t say anything,” I pleaded. “If you do, then I’ll have to take time off and leave this place defenseless, or you’ll assign people to stand guard which will likely only get them killed. I’m handling this.”

“You call this,” Spencer gestured to the disaster I called an apartment, “handling it?”

“I’m trying to handle it,” I corrected, “And it’s actually been getting better.”

“I know that’s not true,” he accused.

“Well now I’m too tired for nightmares and can actually get some real, solid sleep, so I’d call that a win,” I snapped. He looked at me hurt, “I didn’t mean to sound like that.”

“My point exactly. You’re too tired to control your emotions. You’re irritable,” he stated.

“I’m okay,” I insisted. I could tell he was not buying it, but I didn’t care. I didn’t want him anywhere near my apartment. Anywhere near me. It would only put him in harms way.

“Is this why you always insisted on going out to meet me instead of going to one of our apartments?” he asked.

We’d been meeting up for food or just walks when neither of us could sleep. He was still dealing with prison, and drugs, and Cat Adams with his mom (which I didn’t know about until I came back), while I was dealing with Xena, and DeLeon, and Agent Archer. We quickly realized that there was no one else to call at 3am in the morning when we couldn’t sleep besides each other.

“That, and I didn’t want to intrude on you and Maeve,” I whispered.

“She actually hasn’t been staying over these past few days,” he murmured. It threw me off guard, so I just stared at him with my head tilted to one side. “Yeah. I don’t blame her though.”

“Wait, it was her decision?” I asked.

“No, well yes,” he stumbled. “I mean, I felt bad constantly being away, and the only time I was here I was waking up with nightmares. She deserves better than that.”

“And you deserve to be with who you want. Don’t push her away because you feel guilty, let her make that decision on her own,” I finished with a yawn.

“God, you need sleep,” he said, effectively dodging my previous statement.

“Yeah, but then who’s gonna protect you if they come back?” I attempted to joke.

He reached down and produced his gun, then flashed the other one around his ankle along with a small dagger. I raised my eyebrows at him. He shrugged, “I think I can hold down the fort for tonight. The team needs you to be rested to chase down our unsubs.”

I laughed, “Yeah, but they need you rested to actually find them in the first place. I can pass the whole chasing them down thing back to Morgan for a while.”

“You’re not going to be able to sleep with me here, are you?” he asked.

I shook my head, “In your defense, I wouldn’t be sleeping if you weren’t here. But now that I know there’s more than just vases in here to protect…”

“Fine. How about we take shifts?” he offered.

“No, you should go and get some real sleep on a bed, not a couch that’s falling apart,” I suggested. He gave me a pointed look, and I knew he wouldn’t be sleeping either now that he knew what was going on. “Fine. Shifts it is.”

He stood up to go shut and lock my door, then came back to sit next to me on the couch. I put my head on his shoulder, and before I knew it, I was out.

# # # # # # # # # # # # #

I woke to the sound of ringing. I looked up to find that somehow, we both ended up asleep on my couch, my head on his chest, curled up in his side. His arm was around me and I wanted to believe that the ringing was just a part of another nightmare, but when it went off again, I sprung up off the couch. I quickly scanned the windows and all the doors, waiting for someone to jump us.

“It’s okay,” Spencer rasped, sitting up, “It’s just our phones.”

I looked down at the coffee table near the couch to see that he was right. “Oh.” I answered mine and walked into the other room while Spencer answered his, cursing myself for being so jumpy in front of him.

It was Penelope, “You need to get here fast. There’s been a death.”

“Be right there,” I answered. I shuffled back into the main room where Spencer was already grabbing his stuff, running his hands through his hair.

“Do you want to ride with me?” I asked.

“Sure,” he replied.

When we arrived at the bullpen, Hotch ushered us up to the round table room, and locked the door behind us.

“Hotch, what is going on?” JJ asked first.

We all looked at him expectantly. “Early this morning, the body of Associate Deputy Director Howard Archer was found in his apartment.” He flashed a picture up on the screen. Archer was hanging from his ceiling fan by his bed sheets. “It has been deemed a suicide, but we’ve been asked to confirm that COD.”

“Why? Is there any evidence of foul play?” Derek asked. I stayed completely silent.

“No.”

“Then what do they need us to investigate for?” Emily prompted.

“His wife swears that he wasn’t suicidal. He had been happier these past couple years, and only recently seemed on edge, but she said he seemed scared, not depressed,” Hotch presented.

“Yeah, but can’t fear and sadness sometimes appear to be similar?” JJ asked.

“Sure, but she claimed he seemed jumpy. Like looking over your shoulder scared,” Rossi answered.

“Chambers, you’ve been awfully quiet,” Derek looked at me.

I shrugged. “It looks like a suicide to me.”

“No more?” Derek pushed.

“Look, Reid, don’t you have some fact about people who subconsciously make stuff up when a loved one dies to cope? It’s like transferring but-”

“There are all different types of memory bias and false memories. Sometimes as a coping mechanism, victims can convince themselves that something different happened, or there were warning signs when there weren’t. Inaccurate recall, especially one of a key eyewitness causes almost-”

“Exactly,” I veered back to the point, “And if there is no evidence of foul play, I’d say we give it a little time and close it.”

“I agree,” JJ backed me, which I found slightly surprising.

“Okay,” Hotch said, “Rossi, take Reid with you to the scene and assure them of our conclusion unless anything else turns up.”

They nodded and left for the scene, while the rest of us went to our respective desks to get a jump start on paperwork.

I was relieved that I had played it off, and so far, it seemed like no one suspected a thing. I mean, I was with the girls for the entire night, or most of it anyway, and would have a clean alibi.

But I did kill him.

When we went out to dinner, I told the girls that I’d left my jacket at home. They all knew how tired I was lately, and didn’t question my forgetfulness. JJ offered me ker keys, which I took, but dropped in Heidi’s pocket. Heidi was one of the girls that I used to dance with, and she and I looked remarkably similar. If she kept her head down and away from cameras, you’d think she was me. I had her drive back to my place to get my jacket while I pickpocketed our waiter for his keys. I drove to Archer’s place, sneaked in through the window of his bedroom, and grabbed the sheets off his bed. I had gloves and shoe covers on, and my hair pulled back, so I was in the clear. I came up from behind him, and strangled him to appear the same way a suicide would. Tying him up to the ceiling fan was the fun part. At least I got to use a ladder I made sure to push over at the end. I then headed back to the restaurant where I grabbed my jacket from Heidi, and took back JJ’s keys. Entering the restaurant, I ‘bumped into’ our waiter to replace his keys, then sat down for dinner and went to the concert.

I didn’t plan on getting questioned, but if it got that far, I knew the girls would vouch for me. I mean, I was with them for the entire night except for the 20 minutes I left to get my jacket.

I was lost in thought, reconfirming to myself that there was no way I would get caught, when Derek viciously called across the room, “Chambers, what the hell?”

I looked and noticed the team and I were the only people left in the room. Rossi and Reid had returned, but I couldn’t figure out what he was so mad about.

“What do you mean what the hell?” I fired back.

“What is this?” Derek demanded, walking over to me and shoving his phone in my face.

It was the recording of me, sitting in the nursing home chair, saying the shittiest things I could think of. And I looked stone cold serious, “I don’t really have to think that much when it comes to that pathetic, riddled with daddy-issues boy. All he really adds to the team is a pretty face and a body that can chase down unsubs. Now that I can do that, I don’t really see his value on the team. I think the team just keeps him around because he’s funny to watch at bars surrounded by women.”

“Shut that off,” I croaked. The rest of the team had circled around me, looking hurt and shocked and betrayed.

“How could you say those things!”

“Derek, I can-” explain. But he cut me off before I could speak.

“Do you have any idea-”

“Yes!” I interrupted, “Yes, I know what I said, I know what I did! But if you’d just-”

“Don’t turn this on me,” he shouted back. Unbelievable. He’s not even gonna let me explain. I’m back to ground zero, and they won’t even give me a chance. “Penelope is by herself crying right now because of what you said!”

That was the last straw. “She almost died because of what I didn’t say!” That shut him up long enough so that I could finish, “God, one thing goes wrong and every single one of you flips on me in an instant.”

“I don’t know how you expect us to constantly forgive you for all the things you’ve done.”

“I don’t. Okay, I don’t. Not anymore,” I hissed, “Don’t expect me to do the same for you.” I shoved the last bit of paperwork into my bag and picked it up to leave.

“Do the same?” Derek’s voice was littered with irritation and sarcasm, “What do you have to forgive us for?”

I was almost halfway to the door when I spun on my heels, “Leaving me to rot in prison.”

“Yes, that was a mistake,” Emily jumped in, “But we realized that and came to save you from DeLeon.”

My mouth was agape, “You think that makes up for it? If you wanna play that game, how about this: I saved Spencer’s life that day, and you repaid me by forgetting about me behind bars. I got myself out of that DeLeon situation alive, and not like you’d care, but I got the rest of you out alive too, so don’t try to use finding me and carrying me out of that place as a remedy, because if I wanted to, I could have saved myself the pain and the torture and just let you all die.”

The team was in shock, and I started taking backward steps toward the door again when Derek recovered and spoke up, sounding slightly confused “So that’s it? You’re just gonna leave?”

“You don’t seem interested in anything else I have to say,” I spat.

“Look, we just-” Derek tried, his voice softening a little.

“No! No, I’m done with you constantly turning on me without hearing my side and then expecting me to accept your half-ass apologies. But I’m supposed to be understanding, right? I’m supposed to cut you slack because I’m the problem, right? I’m always the problem, with you, with the team, with every single relationship I’ve ever been in.” I huffed, “With me. I’m always the problem, okay, I get that. I’ve received the message loud and clear.” I continued on my path to the door, and I felt all of their eyes on me. Against my initial intentions to just walk out, I spun around and continued, “Just so you know, those things that I said saved your lives. And I didn’t mean a single word of it.”

“What do you mean saved our lives?” Emily asked.

Then I laughed. For profilers and FBI agents, I was surprised they hadn’t picked up on it. “How do you think he knew where you were and what you were doing, huh? Who did you think shot Penelope?” They still looked at me with empty faces. “He had snipers on you, and it seems I just couldn’t lie well enough when it came to her.” I turned toward the door.

“Chambers-” Emily tried.

I didn’t even turn around when responding, “Have fun at your little outing tonight. I won’t wait up this time.” They always went out after paperwork days, and I finally thought that tonight would be the night I’d join them again. But I was wrong.

Part 2

Series Taglist

@justanothetfangirl @kris-stuff @blameitonthenight21 @wooya1224 @unded-bride @swiftingday @dezzxmx

[littleminxthings]

Sooooo, hi! Me again x3

With more stuff about my little sad bean!

And yes, I'll always call her that uwu

Anyways, I already somewhat posted a part of this under a post from @panyum but I wanted to post this again here. By the way, panyum, if it annoys you that I tagged you again, then I'm really sorry! And if it does, please tell me and I will stop doing it! °^°

My Oc is called Samira Iona. She's from England, but her parents moved to Hawaii when she was still like, a year old. At the age of 6 she lost her father in a storm on the sea. She also nearly drowned that day, which resulted in her developing an aquaphobia. And yes, the moment she saw the location of the Okeanos singularity she started to scream, ran away and hid inside her room, refusing to come out. Anyways, at the age of 16 she took part in a program called 'The Bright Light Project', now known as False Light Project. That's a thing in a FanFiction I want to write one day. So, the goal of that project was to digitalise (?) a holy Grail war, so not a single person had to die anymore. Obviously, that project failed. The program got corrupted, which caused the holy Grail war to become some sort of battle royal with 9 rounds. 8 for every class and a last one, which was basically a normal Grail war. The rules were simple. If you or your Servant dies, you die in the real world. A round only ends if there's only one Master Servant pair remaining. The one, who survives round 9, is allowed to wake up. Samira was the one, who ended up surviving that war and was able to "return" to the real world. Except, she wasn't human anymore. Before the program shut down, it forced her Servants spirit core inside Samira. So she became not only the survivor of an tragic accident, but she was also turned into a demi Servant. By the way, her Servant was the Caster Matchgirl aka Giselle from HC Andersens fairy tale "The little Matchgirl". It's obvious that she can't control her new found powers, so the moment she got out of her coffin, one of the staff members went up to her to try and comfort her. Samira, being an emotional wreck at this point, immediately got scared and set the poor guy on fire. In a series of... unfortunat events, she turned a big part of the building into a ruin. Later on she was found by some Mages and got send to Chaldea, in order to keep her and everyone else safe. Because when she loses control in that area, literally nobody, beside the Chaldea staff, will notice. Because she was trapped inside a simulation where basically everyone wants to see her dead in some sort of way, she feared that something similar might happen in chaldea. She even got so paranoid, that she just locked herself in her room and only went out if she needed something to eat. You could say that she used the hidden technic of "if you don't know I exist, you can't really hurt me". There were only 3 people who knew of her. Da Vinci, it would be strange if she/he wouldn't know of Sammy, Dr Romani, who usually looked after her, and Mash. Mash actually caught her, when Sammy left her room at night to get something to eat in the kitchen. This meeting turned out to be exactly what she needed. When Mash was around, Sammy was always calmer than before. Neither Marisbury nor Olga Marie knew of her, because she started to life in chaldea in the time period when neither of them was the acting director. I just realised that this is getting long so I'm trying to keep this short. At some point during the grand order, probably after Fuyuki or at the start of Orleans, Sammy would sometimes sneak away to try to control her powers. She realised, that she couldn't just stand in the background, yell out commands and do nothing. After Orleans she tries to open up to her Servants and asks some of them to help her with her control problem. The Servants she summoned up until this point are Tamamo Cat, Hessian Lobo, Astolfo and Charlie.

And now, some random headcanons!

- Samira always feels pretty cold. But if someone touches her they realise that her body is actually very warm. But not in a fever kind of way. It's more like the warmth of a nice summer day. That is something that Sammy got from becoming a demi Servant. She got her powers from the little match girl, who, for those who don't know the fairy tale, died from the cold. That's the reason why Sammy's often shivering and saying that it's cold, even though she's walking through the desert!

- The first servant she summoned was Tamamo Cat and Sammy is incredibly grateful for that. Not only is Cat the chef cook in her Chaldea, she's also Samiras most important pillar of support. Whenever she had a breakdown, she went through it alone. But the first one she had after Fuyuki was also the first one where someone was with her. Cat couldn't immediately calm her down, but it helped that she was there for her and just let Sammy cry into her shoulder.

- Sammy can't control her powers. The first time she had full control over them was during Babylonia. Before that she would set something on fire if you scared her. When Mash first met her, Sammy was so surprised and scared that she accidentally nearly burned down the kitchen.

- Even tho she's very paranoid and anxious, she's still pretty childish from time to time. After the start of the grand order she stopped sneaking into the kitchen at night. Unless someone baked cookies. She's obsessed with them and will fight everyone who even dares to look at her delicious sweets.

- You could sit her down on a chair, tell her to wait there for you, leave, return after 3 hours and she would still sit there in complete silence. When she was younger she would've already ran away the moment you let her out of your eyesight. But now? She won't move an inch.

- In my first post about her I mentioned that she has a crush on someone. That someone is the sabers servant Charlemange aka Charlie! I know, I know, he isn't in fgo, but I don't care! But I'm still waiting for him qwq

That's the only existing picture of Sammy, because I haven't drawn her and I'm too insecure to even think of posting my drawings qwq

[herohotline]

Who Doesn’t Love Pranks? (Tamaki x You)

A/N: i love tamaki!!!!! both of them!! from ouran and bnha!!

Prompt:  “Why is there so much blood?!”

Pairing: Tamaki Amajiki/You

School is boring sometimes, this is a fact. It doesn’t matter if you’re going to a hero school or not, there’s still the mandatory classes such as English and math that made you want to slide down your seat and die. So you tried to liven things up every now and then- some may call them pranks, but you call them... well, pranks. That’s exactly what they were. 

Several of your classmates despised you for the random jokes you pulled, which you think is probably only fair. You’re sure that some of your teachers don’t like you too, but as long as you got everyone to laugh and relax for a minute in an otherwise stiff and boring class, you were okay with being on a few people’s bad lists. 

Today you were going for something more... out there. It was by far the most elaborate (and sort of risky) prank you were going to pull. The plan was to buy some fake blood, tape some of the packets on your body and hide them under your clothes. And then in the middle of Yamada’s lesson- BAM- you were going to pop one of them. Hilarious! ...Right?

A part of you was worried, reasonably so. This wasn’t the best idea with the sort of events happening around U.A. lately... As you walked your way to class, you were beginning to doubt the idea more and more, the weight of the packets taped to your body feeling a lot heavier than they really were. 

Maybe this wasn’t the best idea for now- a student in the first-year class did just get kidnapped not too long ago. You should probably take the blood packets off when you got a chance and slip them into your bag. 

And then it happened.

Now, you pranked a lot of your classmates, but there was always one that you strayed away from- Tamaki Amajiki. There were a few reasons for this: firstly, he was a nervous wreck already, and secondly, you kind of had a crush on him. You didn’t want him to hate you like everyone else, but you also didn’t want anyone to figure out your crush, so you played absurdly weak jokes on him. The worst one you ever did was getting him to sniff a flower, which squirted water in his face- he looked mildly peeved- not the worst reaction- but it still tore you to shreds. 

As shy as Amajiki was, though, he had some very friendly and outgoing friends. Namely, Toogata. You were obviously surprised by this, but it did give you a little bit of hope- if Amajiki was friends with someone like Toogata, maybe the two of you could be friends one day?

That possibility was promptly thrown straight into the garbage once Toogata had accidentally pushed Amajiki in the hallway, who bumped into you- which broke exactly three of your fake blood packets. 

You fell to the floor in surprise- that really didn’t help your case. You hadn’t even noticed the blood until Amajiki and Toogata screamed at you. 

“Oh my god, I’m so sorry! Oh my god- what-!!!” 

You look down, fake blood sticking to your entire torso and staining your shirt.

“There’s so much,” You look up at Amajiki who’s shaking with his hands holding his abnormally pale face, “why’s there so much blood?! Should we get the nurse?!” 

He’s basically in tears- Toogata isn’t better, he’s already racing down the damn hall screaming bloody murder. Why did you think this was a good idea?

Quickly you spring up on your feet, trying your best to calm down the poor boy. “I- I’m fine, Amajiki! I swear!” 

“You’re bleeding!”

“No- I swear! I’m so, so, so sorry!” You don’t know how to pacify his panic so you lift up your shirt, making him scream again before he sees the packets. “It’s- it’s fake! Amajiki, I’m so sorry, I wasn’t- I didn’t think anyone would bump into me-” 

Still shaking, Amajiki stares at you with wide eyes. “Why...” He slowly removes his hands from his face so he can grab his uniform, the fabric tightly clenched in his fists. “Why would you do that...?”

You sigh- this is probably the worst you’ve ever felt in a long time. “I- I promise I was going to take them off! At first, I thought maybe- well- no, I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have-” you’re a mess- literally and figuratively. It’s then that Toogata comes running back with a concerned Recovery Girl following behind him. 

One look at you and you can tell that the old lady is pissed- Toogata is merely confused about why you aren’t dying. “My office, now,” Recovery Girl demands and you slowly pick up your bag from the floor, head hung low as you follow her. You just barely manage to whisper ‘sorry’ to Toogata and Amajiki again before Recovery Girl snaps at you to speed up. 

---

After a long, long lecture from Recovery Girl, several of your teachers, and even the principal, you’ve been sent to the dorms with a fresh uniform and a heavy heart. It sucks, especially since you decided, in the end, not to pull the stupid prank- but it still happened anyway. You were also told to officially apologize to Toogata and Amajiki tomorrow- you don’t even know where to start with that. 

Maybe this is a sign to stop pulling pranks. Maybe you should just focus on being a good, put together student who scored perfect scores and all that other stuff. 

You’re beginning to pack away all of your other future plans for pranks and the old stuff that you had hung onto in boxes when you hear a knock on your dorm door. You groan as you pick yourself up off the floor- fake blood still sticks to your skin since you haven’t showered yet. 

Who is it? Another teacher sent over to make you feel like crap? You already do!

“Yes?” You tiredly open the door- but suddenly you’re sprung into gear when you see that it’s Amajiki at your door, nervously wringing his hands together. “Oh.”

“Can- can I come in?” He stutters. You’re surprised he wants to talk but you quickly open the door wider for him- stepping out of his way and shutting the door behind him. You keep a good distance between you and him at all times- you’re sure he doesn’t want to be any closer to you anyway. “What are you doing?” Amajiki points to your boxes. 

“Um, just- getting rid of some stuff. I’m not really allowed to pull jokes anymore...” Try as you might, you’re a little depressed about it, even if it was the right choice to make. “Listen, I’m really sorry for scaring you. I didn’t mean to- I’d never do that to you.”

“Well, um, thank you...” Amajiki’s fingers tug at his hair, an awkward silence filling the room... “It was kind of funny though.” He smiles- just an inch- making your head snap up and stare at him. 

“Wh- Really?”

“Well, it was scary at first... but seeing Mirio like that was sort of funny.” 

He was right- you hadn’t let yourself really laugh at it yet, but thinking back to their expressions when they saw the blood- you could see the humor. It was supposed to be funny, after all.

“What were you going to do...? Y’know... before I bumped into you.”

Intrigued that he wants to know, you lean against one of your walls and cross your arms. “Well, none of us really like English, right? In Yamada’s class, I was gonna poke one of the packets with a pencil. Only one of them is just a little bit of blood, enough to make it look like I kind of just barely stabbed myself. I just wanted to see how loud I could get Yamada to freak out, y’know?” You snicker to yourself. “But I realized it might be a bad idea, with everything that’s happened... I was honestly going to take them off, but then you bumped into me and broke three of them, which is a lot more blood than I realized.”

“You might have made our ears bleed if you made Yamada scream, though...” Amajiki winces at the thought and you nod your head with a smile. He has a point. 

“I would have gotten in trouble either way, huh? I’m not really that smart sometimes.” Sighing, you lean off the wall and wring your own hands together. It was a little nerve-wracking to have Amajiki in your room, honestly- you still had a huge crush on him. And him coming over, making you feel better, didn’t help lessen that crush at all. “Thanks for making me feel better about it, Amajiki,” you say honestly with a small bow. His face nervously flushes, shaking his head while he keeps tugging his hair.  He’s way too cute.

“No one was actually hurt, right?” He says. “In the end, at least it was just a prank. No harm was really done, so... I know you’ve probably heard a lot from the teachers... But Mirio and I are fine.” Amajiki winces again. “You’re probably the only one that was actually affected by it.”

You reach up and scratch the back of your head, trying to laugh casually. “I kind of deserved it, though! I’ve been pranking people for awhile. I bet everyone’s kind of relieved that I can’t do it anymore.”

“I always kind of liked your jokes.”

Man, today’s just a day full of surprises, isn’t it? “Really?” You ask him again. 

“Well, it helped that you weren’t ever that mean to me.”

“You noticed that, huh?” Your cheeks blush, matching his own. “I just didn’t really wanna mess up my chances with you-” Amajiki visibly freezes when you say that and you quickly try and backpedal. “-friend wise! I’ve um- I’ve wanted to be friends with you, and I didn’t want to scare you away by doing something dumb. Like I did today.”

This was a truth and a lie- you totally wanted to be more than friends with Amajiki, but he didn’t have to know that. If you told him that, he might actually die. 

“You’re- you’re nice, in your own way,” the boy bites his lip with a shaky smile, his eyes softening. Slowly he leans his hand out to you, offering a shake. “Let’s be friends, then.” He’s being oddly bold, until- “unless you don’t want to anymore!”

“Yeah!” Quickly, you shake his hand before he takes it back. He’s obviously flustered by how enthusiastic you are- honestly, so are you. But this is the one good thing that today has brought!

Who knew all you had to do to catch Amajiki’s attention is to scare him to death? Funny how that works.