#screw vacation i need my cat

[eggwars]

cats are such. good friends. just doing your own thing and then mrrp. there's a little guy coming to see you! how great! a small friend in your home. what's not to love?

[petrichor-han]

Hiya!

Just saw your event and thought why not.

Can I request a fake dating au with lee Felix, female reader, maybe a little bit angsty and some smut please?

Congratulations on 1000 followers!

fake it 'til you make it | l.fl

PAIRING I felix x fem!reader

CAST | felix lee, kim minjeong (mentioned)

WC | 3.5k

GENRE I fluff, smut, angst, fake dating!au, friends to lovers, non-idol!au

WARNINGS I explicit sexual content (fingering, clit stimulation, p in v sex, creampie), explicit language, miscommunication but a happy ending

A/N | thank you so much for the congratulations and for sending in a request, i really really appreciate the support!! <3 this was super fun to write as well, i love a good fake dating au ;)

REQUEST! | EVENT MASTERLIST

It started off simple enough—at least, from what you remember. 

It was probably the simplest, most straightforward plan you’ve ever attempted to execute, in actuality, and you’d know because you made the plan. He was the one that sat across from you, doing nothing more than nodding along with a stupid smile on his face that made you wonder if anyone was actually this sweet, this naive, this dumb. 

And yes—Felix Lee is all of those things. He has a heart of pure gold; helping out those in need just because. It isn’t for any self gratification or quarter life crisis or even for fulfilling volunteer hours. No, it’s because he is a good person—and that’s that. Perhaps that’s why he’s so naive too, because he truly wants to believe that other people see the world the way he does. Even if he knows better, deep down, he trusts everyone regardless and sees the best in them. Having Felix in your life is comparable to having your own pocket sized cheerleader. It’s nice, and it strokes your ego a bit, but you know that he’d cheer for anyone else the way he cheers for you. 

This is the one downside to Felix’s incurable, contagious happiness. He’s kind to everyone, and in turn everyone is kind to him. There was simply no way of telling if he liked you, or if he liked you. It’s extremely difficult to try and make sense of Felix’s actions towards you, because his initial perception of someone being comparable with your long-standing perception of someone kind of screwed with things. To put it simply, Felix would have no issue going on a week-long vacation with someone that he met on the flight to said vacation. Meanwhile, you just found out that your best friend of eight years snores, having slept in the same room as her for the first time just this past month. There’s a big gap between how easily you let people in, and unfortunately for you this makes your likely unreciprocated feelings even more painful. 

After all, how the hell was one meant to cope with their crush cuddling up beside them on the couch during a movie marathon? It was torture, and after that cruel experience you distanced yourself from Felix a fair amount, using work as an excuse even though you clocked out at five on the dot every night and spent a majority of your evenings alone, doing a face mask while watching reality TV on the couch with your cat. 

Up until this point, things were more than simple—they were orderly, the way you liked it. You were completely in control of your life, and it was glorious. 

Then things got more complicated, very quickly.

“I have a crush on Minjeong, and I need you to be my fake girlfriend to make her jealous,” was the bomb that he casually dropped on you one night as the two of you baked cookies together—one of Felix’s favorite pastimes, especially to do with you. He complained that no one else ever wanted to bake with him, so you begrudgingly accept his offer every time, feeling bad for him and also secretly hoping that he might begin to fall for you during your shared baking sessions. It has yet to happen. 

How were you meant to respond to this? There were a million thoughts running through your head at once—how would making her jealous work in his favor? Why was he asking you, instead of one of his other girl friends? And, namely, was he really this sweet, naive, and dumb? The three things that pissed you off the most about him were the same things that you loved about him, and now they were absolutely strangling you as you realized you were about to lose these things, these annoying, lovely, irreplaceable things that you took for granted, to another girl. 

So instead of saying anything to him, you just blink at him, your gaze utterly confused. 

He picks up on this, backtracking for a moment and stuttering that it was a “stupid idea, really,” and he “wasn’t sure why he suggested it in the first place,” until you find your voice and insist that he explain himself, and his thinking. 

“Look, I know it sounds… dumb, but I know for a fact that she would finally make a move if she realized there was a threat,” he says, as he folds the chocolate chips into the cookie dough. “She said that her last relationship was a really serious one so she’s hesitant to jump into something new, but she said that I’m the only one she’d consider it with.” His chest puffs up at this, as if it’s something to be proud of, and he grins toothily at you. 

“A, this makes you sound like an asshole, and B, if she doesn’t want to commit to you, then she doesn’t. You can’t force someone to want something serious with you,” you say, ignoring the pain in your chest that’s growing by the minute. It began as you realized that Felix really liked someone—someone that isn’t you—and has been steadily growing as he talks about her, and how much he is willing to do to get her commitment. “Don’t be immature about it.” 

“But I’m not!” he whines, abandoning the cookie dough to hug you from behind, making you stiffen as your cheeks heat up from surprise. Another thing that made your hidden feelings as painful as stepping on shards of glass—his constant skinship. He nuzzles his face into your hair, inhaling softly. “It’s just a push to get her to realize the feelings she obviously has for me,” he says, his voice hopeful and confident at the same time. “Please? I know it’s a lot to ask, but it’ll only be for one event. And then we can forget it ever happened.” 

Of course he would want to forget about the only time we would ever spend as a couple, you think bitterly, trying not to let your sour emotions show on your face and consequently spoil his naive happiness. 

“What event?” you ask grouchily, hoping that he can’t feel the heat from your blush as he hugs you close, his chest pressing against your back. “A party or something?”

“Yeah, one of our mutual friends is having a housewarming party. I think if we just show up there together and act a little flirty and touchy she’ll definitely notice,” he says, his voice slightly muffled as he presses his lips to the top of your head in a soft kiss. This is the last straw for you, and you pull away quickly, under the guise of needing to shape the cookie dough into little balls. You begin to do so, avoiding eye contact with Felix so that he can’t see your flushed face and less than happy expression. You so badly want to say no, call him an asshole again (for multiple reasons), and fuck right off back to your apartment where you can call it a night, surrounded by boxed wine, ditzy dating show hosts, and lukewarm DoorDashed Taco Bell. But his voice is pleading, and your heart hurts to think about Felix getting rejected or strung along by someone. Who was this Minjeong anyways? Did she know how badly she was fumbling, playing hard to get when she had the best man in the world eating out of the palm of her hand?

Once the cookies are in the oven, you and Felix sit down at the tiny dinner table wedged in the corner of his kitchen, poring over a grease stained receipt as you scribble down notes on the back of it with a stub of a golf pencil—the best you could do in the household of a man in his early twenties. You couldn’t very well expect a spiral notebook and a glitter gel pen.

It was here that things really began to spiral out of control. Moreso, as you were under the assumption that you had everything under control, including your own feelings. After going over the few things written down on the greasy receipt (including but not limited to fake flirting dialogue to use at the party, physical boundaries, and a possible coordinated couple outfit), you felt like you made the right choice. You bid a very happy Felix goodbye, allowing yourself to blush at the thought of his smile in the elevator ride down from his apartment. Not only were you helping a friend, you were also giving yourself exposure therapy (in a way) to hopefully dissolve your crush on him.

The day of the party dawned sooner than you expected. It felt like one night you were sitting at Felix’s dining table as the smell of chocolate chip cookies wafted through the air, and the next morning you were doing your hair and staring at your own reflection as you realized the pure stupidity of what you were about to do for this man. It would be so freeing, so gratifying for you to just tell him the truth about your crush—see how he feels about having an emotional bomb dropped on him like that, like he so often did to you (albeit unknowingly and unintentionally). You’re selfish, but not that selfish, so you finish getting ready and wait for Felix to pick you up, nervously gnawing on the inside of your cheek as your hands toy with the hem of your shirt. 

Your phone vibrates with a new message from Felix: Here :) 

You take the stairs two at a time, shouldering your purse just as you walk out the door. Felix’s car is right outside your apartment building, still running, and you can hear music playing faintly even though the doors are closed and the windows are rolled up. The door is unlocked when you try it, so you sidle into the passenger seat, reaching over to punch him lightly on the arm. 

“Ow!” he whines, clutching his shoulder overdramatically, pretending like it really hurt. You roll your eyes as he giggles in amusement, and starts driving. “So, remember the plan?” he asks, his gaze flickering over at you briefly, staring at you up and down. Something about the way you look today creates a stir in his stomach, and he can’t explain it. His hands are clammy as he squeezes the steering wheel tighter, trying to ignore it. 

“Of course I do. I came up with it,” you say, chuckling. You bite your tongue and look out the window as your bitter laugh dies down. “Anyways… I just hope it works out. For you and her.” There’s a slight edge to your voice, and you internally wince at it; you sound jealous. 

“Do you really?” he asks, his voice suddenly much softer, much more vulnerable. He clears his throat, and you glance at him, seeing as he clenches his jaw nervously. 

“Do you doubt it?” you retort, feeling your palms starting to sweat. 

Felix flinches at your tone, suddenly pulling off to the side of the road sharply. Luckily, you’ve reached a more secluded area, away from the traffic and away from the neighborhoods. He pulls off of the main road and drives down a smaller diverging one, until you reach a small lot that sits at the beginning of a hiking trail. Several large trees loom over the area, providing even more shade and cover as Felix parks the car. “I think we need to talk,” he says abruptly, his cheeks flushing pink. As he takes his hands off of the steering wheel, you see his sweaty handprints. 

“About?” you ask, hating how harsh you sound. Felix turns to face you, his expression pleading. 

“Why do you suddenly hate me?” he asks, sounding wounded and genuinely confused. You swallow hard, feeling guilt pooling in your stomach. 

“I don’t know what you mean by that,” you mutter. 

“You never want to hang out any more, and when I do get to see you it’s… different. You act differently, like you don’t like me.” He wilts as he says this, visibly slumping his shoulders and pouting slightly. 

“I do like you,” you say quickly, before you can stop yourself. It’s then that you think, fuck it, and continue. “I like you a lot, Felix. Which is why it hurts so much that you’re asking me to pretend to be your girlfriend when in reality… that’s something I’ve only dreamed about. It’s like you’re taunting me and holding it over my head.” The words spill from your lips freely, and you watch Felix’s eyes widen as he realizes that this is a confession. A messed up, weirdly timed sort of confession, but one nonetheless. 

As he stares at you, your goddess-like figure bathed in the warm afternoon light, his breath catches in his throat. The first thing that he thinks is, how could I have been so stupid? Minjeong is a mere afterthought now—perhaps not even that, as he leans in slightly, enraptured and entranced by you. 

“I don’t want to pretend,” he says abruptly, reaching over to take your hands in his. Shocked, you look down at your joined hands, before you meet his gaze again. “Forget the fake dating. Forget Minjeong. Forget the party.” He exhales deeply, squeezing your hands gently. “I’ve felt a lot of things for you, ever since we met—I just never thought they’d ever be reciprocated. I wanted to try and move on, but…” 

“They always have been, dumbass,” you say, trying to hide the immense joy that you feel as you realize that it’s always been more than just common niceties—you were never crazy for thinking that he liked you too, for analyzing the little things that he said and did. You reach forward to pinch his cheek playfully. “We wasted a lot of time being scared for no reason.” 

Felix squeezes your hands again, fighting an even deeper blush as you tease him. “Let’s not waste any more time then,” he murmurs, his gaze flickering to the roomy backseat of the car. Your breath catches in your throat as you realize what he’s insinuating, surprised by the sudden lustful darkness in his eyes. You nod, wordlessly confirming your desire, and he flashes you a grin as he lowers the seats down, allowing the two of you easy access to the backseat. He climbs over before pushing the seat back up and leaning back, his eyes on you as you clamber over after him. Once the seats are back in place, you waste no more time, straddling him on the spot and pulling him into a passionate, messy kiss. You both don’t care, even as you feel your sticky lip gloss smearing across his lips and spit starts to dribble down your chin from the pure passion and lust emanating from the both of you. His hands rest on your hips, pressing you down against his crotch as he grinds up against you, and your arms are wrapped loosely around his neck to pull him even closer yet. Your teeth clack against each other as you kiss fervently, with a fiery urgency that could be comparable to a life or death situation.

You can feel his clothed erection grinding against your cunt, rubbing against your clit through your panties. More often than not, you regret wearing an outfit with a skirt or a dress, knowing that there’s risk to be had in regards to a possible flashing in comparison to an outfit with pants. However, you praise yourself for the choice today, merely reaching down to slip your panties aside and grant Felix access to your dripping pussy. He smiles, his eyes twinkling as his gentle fingers gently slide through your folds, making you moan softly, leaning your head back as a low throb of pleasure ripples through your body. His fingers find your clit, and begin to rub at it in small, slow circles. He looks up at you, trying to read your facial expression as you struggle to keep it somewhat neutral. “Is this okay?” he asks, his voice hushed and gentle, “I’m not hurting you, am I?” 

“No, ‘s good…” you mumble softly, catching your lower lip between your teeth to stifle a high pitched whine that threatens to escape you. “S-so good…” 

Felix’s eyes brighten at the need evident in your voice, the praise fueling his actions as he starts to move his fingers faster. He reaches down to slip two of his digits inside of you, making you gasp with surprise and pleasure. With a cocky, pleased grin on his face, he starts to curl his fingers inside of you, massaging your g-spot with ease and surprising accuracy. His thumb moves over your swollen clit, smearing your wetness over the sensitive nub and making your thighs twitch subconsciously. “Lix…” you whine, bucking your hips against his hand as the pleasure increases. You can feel it, the familiar warmth pooling in your stomach as your wetness drips down Felix’s fingers, which pump in and out of you quickly. His brow furrows with concentration, his tongue darting out to wet his lips as he swipes his thumb over your clit again, eliciting a shaky moan from your lips as you orgasm all over his digits. 

He licks the wetness from his fingers, chuckling as your cheeks flush with surprise at his actions. “Love the way you taste,” he murmurs, blushing a little at his own lewd words. He sucks on his fingers as he looks up at you, his gaze full of desire. 

“Do you want to keep going?” you ask breathlessly, as he removes his fingers from his mouth, moving them back down to run them through your folds once more. As if the answer isn’t obvious, you think, as he nods eagerly, reaching down to undo his pants. 

Your heart thuds in your chest as he pulls down his boxers, his hard cock springing out—Christ, it’s true. Every part of him is beautiful. 

It’s fucking perfect, you say to yourself, moaning as you sink down on his girth, your eyes rolling back in your head. The stretch is the perfect balance of pain and pleasure; not so much that you can’t handle it but not so little that you know it won’t do anything for you at all after the initial pleasure. 

Felix groans loudly as he feels your tight warmth engulfing him, his hands squeezing your hips tightly as he pulls you down into his lap. He throws his head back, quietly moaning obscenities under his breath in his low, gravelly voice. He catches your eye, his lips curling into a smirk as he thrusts up into you suddenly, making you whimper and cling to him desperately. You can feel his cock deep inside your tight cunt, and pressing deeper yet as his grip tightens on your hips, his knuckles turning white from the strain. 

You start to match his rhythm, riding him at a decently fast pace. Your thighs burn with the effort, and your throat is dry from your moans and exclaims, but you hardly even notice with the intense pleasure coursing through your body. Felix fucks into you roughly, beads of sweat forming on his hairline. His breath escapes him in harsh pants as he reaches up to gently caress your cheek, tilting your face slightly so that you’re looking him in the eye. You feel his cock twitch inside of you as you lock eyes with him, your expression contorted into one of pure pleasure. He moans, pulling you into a messy, passionate kiss as his hands move down to squeeze your ass, his nails digging into your skin ever so slightly. 

His tongue tangles with yours as you kiss eagerly, deeply. You can’t help but moan and whimper into the kiss, your pussy tightening around his length as he pounds into you faster, his thrusts becoming more erratic as he nears his orgasm. He pulls away from the kiss to groan loudly, burying his face in your neck as you roll your hips against his. You can feel his breath on your skin, his lips pressing to your collarbone as he buries his cock inside of you with one final thrust, his breath catching in his throat as he cums inside of you with a whispery moan. 

As his orgasm fades and the adrenaline dissipates, he looks up at you, gently cupping your face in his hands as he catches his breath. You flinch slightly, unable to dispel the worries that he’d discard you after a singular passionate moment. “I wasn’t lying,” he says softly, feeling your hesitation. “I’ve liked you for a long time, and Minjeong was the first time a distraction actually kind of stuck.” He gently rubs his thumb over your cheek, trying to soothe you. “But it was all just me trying to force myself to get over you. Nothing real. Nothing like what I feel for you.” He leans up and presses a kiss to your forehead, his lips lingering on your skin for a moment before he pulls away to meet your gaze. 

“Really?” you murmur, leaning into his touch, nuzzling your face into his hand as you sincerely hope he isn’t lying. 

His voice is gentle and his tone is genuine, as he softly insists, “Yes. Really.” 

This time, you kiss him first, your heart bursting with joy in your chest as he kisses back immediately. This time, you know it’s real. 

© petrichor-han 2024, all rights reserved.

[moonlightspencie]

Two Headlights

Chapter 1 of ‘treacherous’

Pairing: Remus Lupin x fem!Reader

Word Count: 5.7k

You sighed, screwing the last leg of the coffee table on before setting it upright in front of your couch. Your new flat wasn’t anything special, but it felt like a whole new start. And, most importantly, it was yours.

After years of childhood lived with your parents or spent at Hogwarts, and then living with your grandparents in America for months after you’d graduated, it was a nice change of place to have somewhere that was entirely your own. Your parents had helped you move in for the most part the day prior, but you’d been working on some of the finishing touches yourself since you’d woken up that morning. It was nice to be alone, listening to music and setting everything just how you liked it. Your cat, Dumpling, was also quite pleased with the new space. He made himself at home immediately, especially once you set up his favorite cat tower.

You stood up from the ground, looking over everything you’d done with a proud smile. It was coming into place nicely, you thought.

You were also joyful for another reason: you’d promised yourself that as soon as you were finished with the living room you’d finally go and see what Fred and George Weasley were up to in their new store. You’d been in the year ahead of them, but they were some of your closest friends in school.

The past few years had been a mess, to say the least, but leave it to them to open a joke store. A successful one at that, from what you’d heard.

Nobody but your parents knew you were back, and you were looking forward to seeing friends you hadn’t seen in almost a year. You took a drink of water in your kitchen, pulled on your shoes and jacket, and set off for town after a brief goodbye to Dumpling.

You’d apparated into a nearby alley, not needing to walk far before it came into view: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. You chuckled to yourself at the huge red-headed statue coming out of the top of the store.

Walking in was a bit overwhelming, to say the least. Business was clearly booming in the space, and your attention was drawn every which way by various items. You started looking at a wall filled with chocolates that promised less-than-exciting results if you ate them. It reminded you of the products they’d bring to school when you were all there. Nosebleed nougat and puking pastilles were never something you were terribly interested in trying, but from the looks of the picked-over area, they were quite popular.

You startled at the sound of your name being called out in stereo. You whipped around, a smile on your lips as soon as you saw the two familiar faces grinning back at you.

“Hey,” you greeted simply.

Fred was the first to step forward, crushing you in a hug until you were sure you’d been nearly squeezed to death.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, just barely letting you go.

“Heard you two opened a shop. Did you think I’d miss out on this?”

George pushed his brother away, wrapping his arms around you in a much less bone-crushing way.

“Thought you moved to America,” he mumbled, not yet letting go.

“Yeah, went ahead and ditched us as soon as we were out of school,” Fred added in.

You detached yourself from the second twin, taking a step back.

“Well, I’m back,” you stated with a shrug and a small smile.

“For how long?” George asked.

“The foreseeable future,” you stated. “I really only went to stay with my grandparents, but they’re doing well. I think I can get by with vacations whenever possible rather than staying there.”

“You’re staying?” Fred asked with wide eyes.

“I’m staying.”

“Wicked,” they said in unison, matching smiles on their faces.

You laughed, about to ask how business had been since they’d opened, when another familiar voice cut in.

“Fred, George, if you sell Ron one more—” she started, though she paused soon thereafter. “Is that who I think it is?”

You smiled when she recognized you. It had been quite a while since you’d last seen Mrs. Weasley, but she had always been a favorite of both yours and your parents. She was practically a second mother to you whenever your parents were gone. It was just her nature, you supposed, but she always went the extra mile when it came to being kind and nurturing. She wrapped you in a hug not dissimilar to Fred's; if the red hair didn’t tip you off to the family resemblance, the surprising strength certainly would have.

“Oh, dear, I haven’t seen you in ages,” she gushed.

“Ah, Mrs. Weasley,” you said back, arms wrapped around her nearly as tight. “I know, I’ve been away for a while, but I’m back now! I was just telling Fred and George that I’m going to be staying around again.”

She pulled away, though she kept her hands on your arms. “What have I told you? You call me Molly, love. Oh, it’s so wonderful to see you. We’ve missed you.”

“Right, sorry,” you laughed. “I’ve missed you all too. It’s been far too long.”

Just as she was about to reply, she heard a crash behind her, noticing that the boys were showing off some destructive gadget to a girl who looked vaguely familiar.

“You boys,” she started scolding, then shook it off, turning back to you. “They get older, but they never grow up.”

You laughed. “That’s why this is the perfect place for them, isn’t it?”

She smiled softly, shaking her head as she watched her boys now crowding a young boy looking at some contraption.

“Yes. It is.”

You looked after her in the direction of the twins, your own smile forming as they hammed up the product, making the boy laugh at their silly jokes. If anything, they sure knew how to bring a sense of joy into even the worst situations. They always did.

“Well,” you started, letting out a breath. “I should really be off. I’ve got to feed my cat before she starts going crazy. I only dropped by to say hello since I’ve gotten all settled in my new flat.”

Molly turned back to you with wide eyes and a hand on your arm to stop you from getting away so quickly.

“Oh, dear, before you go,” she said, giving another smile to you as she spoke. “We’re having dinner at the burrow tonight. I would love if you could drop by. I’m sure Fred and George would love to have you, Ron will be around, and Harry and Hermoine will be coming along as well.”

You lit up a little. “Oh! I would love to. I haven’t spoken to them since I left for the States.”

“Then it’s settled. You just come by any time tonight. I’ll be serving dinner at six, but we would love to see you before then,” she nodded along as she spoke. “Any time, dear.”

“Wonderful,” you grinned. “I’ll see you in a few hours, after I feed my cat and change out of these clothes.”

She pulled you in for a brief hug, wishing you well before you left the shop. You smiled to yourself on the way out, excited to see everyone again and even more excited for Molly’s cooking. She made the best desserts, especially.

You arrived home to a meowing cat, as expected. You couldn’t leave for more than ten minutes without him getting all riled up.

“Dumpy, you’re insufferable. You know that?” You told him, receiving a loud meow in response.

You shook your head, fixing him some dinner as he rubbed up against your legs. You scratched his chin, then set down his bowl of food next to his water dish.

“You ought to be jealous,” you began, watching him eat. “You’ll be stuck here eating this slop, meanwhile, I get the treat of eating with the Weasleys.”

He ignored you with his little head buried in the food dish, as per usual, and you walked off toward your bedroom with a shake of your head. A warm shower was altogether too tempting to deny, so you took a quick one before getting ready for dinner. You changed into a clean pair of pants and a comfy sweater, spritzing on a little perfume for good measure. You certainly didn’t need to impress anyone at the burrow, but it still felt nice to get ready to see anyone besides your own family for the first time in a while.

You tugged on your favorite boots at the door, double checking that Dumpling had plenty of water, and then you were off once again.

You knocked on the front door, waiting with baited breath to see everyone. A cheery, rosy-cheeked Mr. Weasley smiled brightly as he opened the door.

“There she is,” he said, opening his arms.

“Mr. Weasley,” you greeted warmly, stepping into his embrace.

His hug was brief and as fatherly as ever. He ushered you inside immediately, helping you out of your jacket.

“Molly has been going on about your arrival since she came back home,” he said with a laugh. “It’s wonderful to see you again.”

“Great to see you, too. How’s work been?”

“Oh, just fantastic,” he said, nodding along. “You know, I still haven’t quite been able to wrap my head around the idea of zip ties.”

“Well, it’s really just a tool used to fasten things,” you said, looking around the space. Nothing had changed, not even a smidge.

“Hmm,” he nodded thoughtfully. “I’m still curious—”

“Arthur, leave the poor girl alone,” Molly said, stepping into view. “Hello, dear. I’m so glad you could come by.”

“As am I. Thank you again for the invite,” you said, giving her a warm smile as she ushered you towards the living room.

“You know I love to have you,” she said, waving you off. “Plus, we have a bit of a full house tonight. A few extra guests have decided to come along.”

“Oh?” you questioned, though you went without an answer as Fred and George approached.

“Left us in the dust again,” Fred started.

“At our own store…” George continued.

“And now, you show up at our home.”

“It’s a shame, really.”

“Terrible shame.”

You quirked a brow, giving them a mockingly disapproving stare. “If you want me to leave..."

“No!” they exclaimed together.

“Come on,” Fred said, slinging an arm around your shoulder to usher you ahead.

“You know we love to see you,” George said with a smile from your other side. “Even when you’ve snuck off in the middle of a visit.”

“You two are just as delightfully ridiculous as always,” you said with a sigh.

“You hear that, George?”

“I did. She thinks we’re delightful,” George responded to his brother, nudging your shoulder.

“Funny, you seem to have forgotten the ‘ridiculous’ I threw in right afterwards,” you replied with a laugh.

“Didn’t forget,” Fred began.

George picked up where he left off, “Just didn’t care for it.”

You laughed again, glad to be back in their company, despite yourself. Though, once they got you to the couch and tried pulling you down to sit between them, you finally got a good look at everyone else. A few of them broke away from their conversations to recognize you right back.

"Hey!" Harry exclaimed, popping up from his spot on the floor and launching himself at you. “When did you get back?”

“Just a few days ago,” you said, breaking away to accept another hug from Hermione.

“We had no clue,” she said, smiling widely at you.

“Molly invited me this afternoon,” you explained. “She convinced me by telling me you lot would be here.”

Harry smiled, opening his mouth to say something else, when Ron interrupted with a call of your name and yet another hug.

“What are you doing back?” he asked you, prompting you to explain your situation once again.

They all listened intently as you told them all about your time in the States and what you’d been up to since deciding to move back home. It wasn’t until you felt a tap on your shoulder that they stepped back to allow you a smidge of space again.

“Darling,” he said, and you could hear the smirk in his voice.

“Sirius,” you responded before turning around.

He smiled softly at you, pulling you into his chest. You rocked along with him as he took you, smiling when he pulled away briefly.

“What happened to you?” he asked, a joking tone in his voice. “Last I saw you were just a girl, walking around Hogwarts and causing trouble. When did you turn into a beautiful young woman?”

You rolled your eyes playfully. “Always the charmer. It's only been…”

“Well over a year, now,” he said, raising a brow. “Letters don’t count.”

“Mmm,” you hummed, nodding. “How else will you tell me about all your adventures?”

He chuckled, tugging you into his side, looking at the others.

To be fair, it had been quite a long time since you’d seen him. After his escape from Azkaban and the resulting relationship he’d formed with Harry, you’d also become somewhat close after your parents had taken him in for a while. They weren’t officially part of the Order, but Dumbledore trusted them well enough to keep Sirius hidden under the radar when he needed someplace to lay low.

It had been over a year since he was around often, and almost as long since you’d casually seen him.

“My point is that letters aren’t enough, sunshine,” he said, placing a kiss on the top of your head. “I hear from Molly that you’re back to stay?”

You nodded. “I am.”

“Then we’ll have to see one another more, yes?”

“Absolutely,” you reply with a smile, squeezing his side a little. “So, I am terribly curious…”

“Oh?”

“Molly said there’d be a full house tonight. Obviously, you’ll be my favorite surprise guest…”

“Obviously,” he smirked.

“But,” you continued, a smile on your face, “who else is coming around?”

“Well, I think the eldest Weasley boys will be coming home tonight. At least Bill,” he starts. “You’ve already seen Harry and Hermione, so I think the only one left will be Remus.”

You stood up a little straighter. “Professor Lupin?”

He quirked a brow. “Professor Lupin? Remind me, how long has it been since you’ve had him as a professor?"

You roll your eyes. “That’s the name I came to know him by, you can’t blame me for it.”

He hummed, tightening the arm around you a little. “At any rate, I believe Professor Lupin will be our last guest.”

“Well, alright,” you nodded. “Seems like a good group.”

“All the better for you being here with us, darling.”

You pulled him along with you as you finally took your place on the couch, scooting Fred to the side with your hip to make room for Sirius. Fred, of course, playfully protested but ultimately gave in. You nudged Sirius’ shoulder as he watched his favorite young trio talking animatedly with one another. He looked at you with raised brows.

“How have you been?”

He sighed softly. “Just fine. We’ve been spending a lot of time with the Order.”

You hummed. “Right. How has that been?”

“Well enough, but knowing what is to come has started putting many of the members a bit on edge,” he said quietly. “Harry has started taking an interest. He wants to be more involved, and I agree that he should be, but…”

“He’s still a kid.”

Sirius nodded. “He’s a strong kid, but I know that the others aren’t very keen on his involvement.”

“I understand why. They don’t want to put him in harm’s way.”

“He’s already in harm’s way simply by existing,” Sirius retorted. “I want him to be safe as much as anyone else, but we can’t leave him out of something when he’s really been involved his entire life.”

You nodded wordlessly, leaning your head against his shoulder.

“I’m sorry. I wish things could be easier.”

He sighed. “So do I. But it will all work out in the end, won’t it?”

You lifted your head, giving him a sure smile and a brief nod.

“Absolutely.”

He was quiet for a moment, then perked up again, tossing his arm around your shoulders.

“Have you been to Grimmauld Place since we started operating from there?”

“Where you grew up?”

He nodded.

“I don’t think I have, no,” you said, shaking your head.

“I’ll have to invite you soon. Being in the States didn’t change your tastes, did it? You still like your lavender earl grey?”

You snorted. “I wasn’t even there for a year, Sirius.”

“You never know,” he smirked.

At that point, you heard the door opening and closing and Molly emphatically greeting someone. Curious as to whether it was Bill or Lupin, you turned your head over your shoulder and waited.

Though, as soon as he walked into your field of vision, talking with Arthur, you sat up a little straighter.

Professor Lupin had been a favorite when you were still in school. He was always quite kind, a bit funny, and a phenomenal professor. But you’d always seen him as a professor, never as a man, regardless of Sirius’ stories about their younger days. Now, however, you became acutely aware that you weren’t looking at Professor Lupin. You were looking at Remus. Remus, who is still kind and funny and likely as caring as ever, but who is also shockingly handsome.

You didn’t realize you’d been staring until you felt a poke at your side, turning to Sirius, who stared back at you with a raised brow and the ghost of a smirk on his lips.

“What?”

He snorted. “I should be asking you that question... ‘What?’ she says.”

You rolled your eyes. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Right,” he replied, not convinced. Then, his smirk only grew as he waved at his dear friend. “Remus!”

“Sirius,” he greeted with a smile, politely excusing himself from the conversation with Mr. Weasley.

Sirius stood, hugging Remus as he drew nearer. You watched their interaction with a small smile, noticing how they both looked entirely comfortable together. It was nice to see them look so at peace.

“Of course,” Sirius began, “you remember my sunshine girl.”

Both men turned to you, though you snorted at Sirius’ title for you. Remus greeted you with a soft call of your name. You smiled, though you tried to reign it in as you were acutely aware of how Sirius was watching you now. You were already overdue for some teasing, no use in making it worse.

“It’s good to see you again. It’s been a while,” you said, leaning over the back of the couch.

“It has. Though I’ve heard a lot about you from Sirius. You know, he really enjoys those letters you send.”

“Aww,” you cooed, laughing. Sirius looked on, trying to put on his unamused face. “You tell all your friends about my letters, Siri?”

“Merely to make fun of you, don’t take it to heart,” he said, a barely contained smile on his face.

“To be fair,” you started, looking back to Remus, “I’ve also heard quite a lot about you from Sirius as well. Though for some, it has been quite hard to believe, I must admit.”

“Oh? Why is that?” Remus asked, his arms crossed over his chest.

“Well, the differences between ‘Professor Lupin’ and Siri’s beloved ‘Mooney’ are pretty significant.”

He smiled softly, nodding his head slowly in response. “I see. So, you know of all my sins, now.”

“I didn’t tell her the worst of it,” Sirius responded. “Only the times you embarrassed yourself.”

“And I’m not sure how much to trust out of hismouth, so who’s to say I even believe what I’ve been told?" you added.

“If you knew Remus better, you wouldn’t doubt the things I’ve told you for a second,” Sirius said, leaning next to where I was on the couch. “I think you would have liked him back then.”

Remus laughed quietly. “Right. I’m afraid I might be too boring to stand a chance, now.”

“Oh, so you’d like a chance?” Sirius teased.

Remus’ smile faded slowly, his cheeks tinting pink when he realized his mistake. You huffed out a laugh, feeling a little shy yourself after that particular line.

“Quit teasing,” you said, gently slapping Sirius’ arm. “He just got here.”

“He’s been dealing with me for years, he should’ve known to be prepared,” Sirius said, then leaned in to speak only to you. “And don’t think I didn’t see how you looked at him. I won’t say anything now, but be ready to have a storm come later.”

“I’m not coming over for tea.”

He scoffed, hand over his chest in mock offense. You shook your head, then looked back at Remus.

“How on earth have you dealt with him for as long as you have?”

He sighed, clearly a bit grateful for a slight change in topic, though staring daggers at Sirius.

“Unfortunately, the good of being around him usually outweighs the bad. Can’t lose that, now.”

You laughed. “Usually?”

“I’m hurt, Mooney,” Sirius said, the smile on his face saying something else.

“Well, how have you been?” Remus asked, turning his attention to you as he shoved his hands in his pockets. “Are you just here for a visit?”

“No, I’m back for good now. I wanted to be back home, so I just started renting a flat in London.”

“That’s wonderful. How is it so far?”

“It’s only been a couple of days, but I love it,” you smiled. “It’s nice to have someplace that’s completely my own. I’ve also started considering what I’ll do for a job now that I’m back, but I just don’t quite know yet.”

“How are you affording your flat, if you don’t mind my asking?”

“Of course not." You waved him off. “My grandparents on my father’s side of the family passed away a few years ago. I never knew them very well, but they left me an inheritance. It should help me get by for the next year or so."

“I see. Have you considered becoming a teacher? You were always a phenomenal student and a tutor, if I remember correctly."

You nodded. “Yes, I did some tutoring. I have considered teaching, but I probably need some more experience before they’ll accept me. I have always loved herbology, though, so I’m hoping I might find something in that field.”

He hummed thoughtfully. “Whatever you choose, I’m sure you’ll be brilliant. Always have been.”

You felt a heat in your cheeks. “Thank you. I can only hope others will hold the same opinion.”

Sirius cleared his throat at that, and you glanced up, catching his eye. He still wore that stupid smirk.

“I’d love to stick around, but I think I’ll go see if Arthur needs any help with anything.”

“Oh, I should probably see—” you started, though you were quickly cut off.

“No, no,” Sirius said, shaking his head. “Stay and catch up. You two seem to be having a good conversation, yeah?”

You narrowed your eyes at him, knowing the game he was playing. He’d do just about anything to get a reaction. He patted the couch next to you as he stood straight.

“Take a seat, Remus. She doesn’t bite,” he said, ushering his friend towards the couch seat he’d previously vacated. “Hard.”

You opened your mouth to snark back at him, but fell short as he scurried away. Remus slowly lowered himself into the seat as you turned back around.

“Sorry about him,” he said quietly.

“I’m used to it by now. I think one of his greatest joys in life is messing with people he claims to love.”

He laughed at that. “You do know him well, don’t you?”

“I do,” you confirmed. “Practically lived with him for a few months a while back, you know?”

“I know,” he nodded. “He really does speak highly of your family. Especially about you.”

“He better. I’m a delight, and he knows it.”

He laughed, his eyes crinkling as he looked at you. You had to remind yourself not to stare too long.

“I don’t doubt it,” he said, still smiling. “You were always one of my favorites to teach, which comes as a bit of a surprise in hindsight.”

“How so?”

“You’re friends with Sirius, and Fred and George. How were you not a terrible troublemaker?”

I snorted a laugh. “I could ask you the same thing, ‘marauder’. You don’t seem like the type of person who would be relatively mild-mannered as you were as a professor.”

“Time changes things.”

You hummed. “I suppose. There has to be some of that wild streak left in you, though. I’m sure of it.”

He adjusted in his seat, facing you a little more to give you his full attention. He narrowed his eyes slightly, though it couldn’t hide the amused sparkle in them.

“How can you be so sure?”

“I’m not. Just taking a guess,” you said with a self-satisfied smirk. "But the fact that you still hang around Siri, and he certainly has a… robustpersonality, tells me that you must be more than a kindly professor.”

“You’re very wise.”

“Comes with age, I guess,” I joked, stretching my legs.

“Age,” he repeated. “What do you know about aging?”

“I’m twenty-three years old, I’ve practically got one foot in the grave already.”

He groaned. “If you’re old, then I ought to be dust by now.”

You laughed. “Oh, come now. You’re not so old.”

“You just said you had one foot in the grave at twenty-three,” he said, his voice raising in a way you’d never heard from him. It made you laugh again.

“Maybe I was exaggerating a bit.”

“Maybe,” he nodded along.

You let a silence fall over you for a few minutes as you observed the others around you. Everyone seemed so happy despite the heavy circumstances everyone was living under. It was nice to see. You let your eyes drift to Fred and George, who spoke with Harry about some silly product they were developing. Then, you saw Ron and Hermione, still pretending they weren’t interested in one another despite the ever-obvious signs of young love. Finally, you settled your gaze back on Remus. He was looking over his shoulder at some of the photos laid out around the room. You took a moment to really study him. The scars on his face that somehow only made him look more handsome, his hands, the way he relaxed into the cushions so casually, the way he looked at you—oh.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to…” You drifted off, feeling embarrassed at getting caught staring. “Just haven’t seen you in a long time. You look a little different, you know?”

“I do?”

“You do,” you nodded.

“Tell me,” he said with a brief nod. “What’s so different?”

You shrugged. “Well, the way you carry yourself is a bit different. You’re more… relaxed, I suppose. You look less worn-down and more comfortable. Your hair is also different. It’s a bit longer now. Obviously, your clothes are different from how I’m used to seeing you, but they look nice.”

He quirked a brow, hiding a smile. “I see. I suppose I have changed some, haven’t I? Though, so have you.”

“Yeah?”

“Definitely.”

You paused a moment, then, “Well, if I told you what I noticed, I think it’s only fair that you do the same for me. I’m curious.”

“Well, you’ve obviously moved up in life. You’re a full-fledged adult now, living on your own. You seem more confident than you did a few years ago. At minimum, you’re speaking your mind more than you did back then,” he said with a smile. “Physically, you’ve changed as well. Your face has changed a little, though I can’t quite place how. I just know that it has. You carry yourself in a way that feels more... Like you.”

You smiled to yourself a little at that. “Alright, I’ll take it.”

“Are you two all done with your flirting, now?” Sirius’ voice came from behind you.

You let out a sigh. “If you think this is flirting, I feel sorry for the women you talk to.”

Remus laughed, his eyes widening at the comment. Sirius merely looked shocked, an amused look on his face.

“Sassy,” he said, still a little bewildered.

“You should expect it at this point.”

He snorted, looking to Remus. “And you’re not going to say anything?”

“She seems to have covered it quite well,” Remus responded, nodding towards you.

“Hey,” you heard a voice behind you call, and turned to see Fred. “Can I ask you a question?”

“What about?”

“I’ve… I’m thinking about a birthday gift for Angelina. Do you think you could help me?”

You smiled, nodding, then turned to the other two you’d been talking to.

“If you two will excuse me, I have some productivethings to do now.”

“Ouch,” Sirius said, still grinning. “We’ll see you soon. Watch your back, because I do plan on getting you back for all that snark of yours.”

“I’d like to see you try, Siri.”

He hummed, moving to take your spot on the couch as you walked off with Fred to discuss his ideas away from prying ears. You conversed about it for a while before you’d ultimately convinced him to get her the nice necklace he’d been considering. He let out a sigh of relief after finally voicing that he knew what he was going to do, thanking you profusely.

You smiled to yourself, always finding it so strange and sweet any time either of the twins were entirely unsure of themselves. They usually had a grip on who they were, but watching Fred have a small crisis over making the right decision for his girlfriend was oddly heartwarming.

You hadn’t realized how much had really changed in the time you were away from everyone, but being around all of them at once certainly highlighted it. It was odd. But nice. Like remodeling the kitchen of a childhood home. It’s still home and still what you knew best, but things were new and exciting to discover. Mom got a new rolling pin for the old family cookie recipe, and you were cutting carrots on a new counter as you looked out the window at the tree you’d climbed as a child. You figured you could get used to it all easily.

Even going back into the living room and seeing Harry and his dear friends talking showed it. They were still young and still silly, but they were noticeably older and more mature than they’d been even two years ago. Your heart felt entirely full.

Before long, your stomach was even more full. Molly had called everyone to sit for dinner, and she went above and beyond for the meal. You were certain you’d explode if she put another tart on your plate for dessert, and had to adamantly tell her so when she tried for the third time. She laughed, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of your head, moving on to do the same to Ginny and George, who shared the same sentiment. Ron, of course, took another.

“Do you think you’ll be around more often, now?” Hermione asked from next to you.

You nodded. “Yeah, I will be. I’ll have to invite you over to my flat sometime. Maybe our cats can have a play date.”

She smiled. “I’d like that.”

You sat another half an hour or so before everyone started to stir from their places. You stood from your seat, saying goodbyes to everyone with the note that you probably needed to get back home to your cat before he started to throw a fit.

“He can’t stay alone for a few hours?” Ron asked.

“He’s still adjusting to his new home. Things should be back to normal for him in a week or so, I’m sure,” you said, giving a slight shrug.

"But you’ll come visit me real soon anyway, won’t you?” Sirius asked, nudging your side with his elbow.

“You bet,” you said with a laugh. “Owl me about it, yeah?”

“Mhm,” he hummed his response, pulling you into one more hug before you started away from the group.

“Thank you again, Molly,” you stated, a hand on her shoulder. “It was delightful, as always.”

“I’m so glad you could come, love,” she said, holding your hand with a warm smile. “I hope I’ll get to see you again soon.”

“As do I. We’ll have to make plans soon.”

“We will,” she nodded. “You let me know if you need anything at all, okay?”

“I will.”

You said your goodbyes, then started towards the door, almost making it before one more person stepped in your way.

“It was nice to see you again,” Remus said, giving a soft smile.

“Nice to see you, too. I’m sure we’ll be seeing more of each other, what with Sirius being so sappy and wanting to hang around me more, now,” you noted with a snort.

“Right,” he nodded. “Well, I hope we do. You’re great company, you know?”

“Thank you.”

He nodded, then perked up. “Oh! You said you’re interested in herbology, correct?”

You tilted your head. “I am.”

“I might have a job opportunity for you, if you’d like me to pass on a good word for you. An old friend named Nemora is a great herbologist. She works with all sorts of plants, but really has an interest in the health-related aspects of herbology,” he said, shoving his hands in his pockets.

“Wow,” you said, delighted. “Yes! I mean, I would love if you could talk to her for me. That sounds incredible.”

“I can’t make any promises it will go anywhere, but I can have her contact you if so.”

“That’s incredible. Thank you so much,” you smiled brightly.

He nodded. “Well, it’s been a pleasure. I hope to see you again soon.”

You said your goodbyes once more, then finally headed out the door and back to your flat. You’d expected a good time, but for your first week back home, you decided it couldn’t have gone better.

Chapter 2 ->

[tailsbeth-writes]

happy friday taylor - here's my prompt

'I think this calls for copious amounts of alcohol.'

southern philanthropy - (i was gonna give you a big sad prompt to go with this but how about something fun and flirty instead lolz)

Better late than never! Read on Ao3 here 🥂

Alex, you home?’

When Alex initially gave Liam a key for the Brownstone, he laughed hautily. What on earth would he need one for? They don't live in the same state, nevermind same city. And yet now here he was in Alex and Henry’s hallway, drenched in rain water with a hastily packed bag. As the door shuts behind him, there's a moment of quiet which makes Liam flinch. He starts to breathe again when David comes rattling across the wooden floor to give him a proper greeting.

‘Good to see you boy. Where are your dads?’

David rolls onto his back as if to answer the question, Liam sighs and stands up straight.

‘Alex? Henry?’ He calls out cautiously. The lounge is empty but he can hear noise from the kitchen, is that someone singing? Liam stays close to the wall and he creeps around the door frame. He knows this place probably has the best security in the state but he can't help the intruder alarm going off in his mind.

‘She wore a raspb- AHHHH!’

Percy screams as he spins around to see Liam appear out of nowhere. He pulls off his headphones and puts down the large bowl he'd been mixing. Liam has his hands in the air as if Percy is some timid cat he doesn't want to scare off.

‘I am so sorry dude! I had a spare key, I didn't know Alex and Henry weren't home, I shoul-’ Liam’s ramble is disrupted by Percy’s laughter, he blinks rapidly unsure of his next move.

‘My dear, you're quite alright. I just got a little shock. I'm Percy, lovely to meet you.’

Percy takes Liam's damp hand and pecks it, Liam can feel a flush filling his cheeks.

‘Liam. Old high school buddy of Alex’s.’

Percy’s eyes screw up a moment, his head nodding up and down as his eyes widen again.

‘You're that Liam, aren't you?’

Liam rolls his eyes, he isn't sure he enjoys being part of the first son's queer lore but it skips some contextual questions at least.

‘The one and only.’

‘So what might a gorgeous little thing like you be doing here?’

Liam winces, and not just because he can feel cold water seeping through his t-shirt down his back. There's arguments echoing through his mind, his eyes sting from all the crying. A hand settles on his shoulder, it's warm and Liam wants to lean into the touch.

‘I broke up with my boyfriend. Just as we were getting ready for vacation. So yeah, bit of a shit show.’

Percy pulls him into a tight hug, practically squeezing the life out of him. His chin fits neatly on Percy’s shoulder, he can smell leather and jasmine and it shouldn't work together but it does. Percy pulls away before Liam is ready for him too, he didn't know how much he needed a hug.

‘Should I call the boys? They took an impromptu weekend break, some law school chum of Alex’s let them borrow a family cabin. I'm the pooch sitter.’

Liam shakes his head. He's biting his lip as they lull into silence, cogs turning as he works out where he can go. Percy put his hands on his hips.

'I think this calls for copious amounts of alcohol. What's your poison?’

Liam’s mouth hangs open, Percy is already clinking bottles as he works through the kitchen cupboard.

‘I can just go find a hotel or something, I really should have called ahead. Kind of dumb of me to be honest.’

‘Hush! Come here.’

Liam walks around the kitchen counter as Percy takes two shot glasses out and uncorks tequila.

‘I’ll buy them another bottle, it can be our little secret til then.’ Percy winks at Liam and he almost collapses. Liam doesn't meet guys like Percy day to day, he doesn't meet them full stop. Liam takes a shot glass and Percy holds his up to toast.

‘To… new beginnings!’

[entykk]

NEED HELP, URGENT

and now that i have your attention, i need your help!

my old employer screwed me over and did not pay out any of my remaining vacation time, and i am now $400 in the negatives.

anything you can spare is appreciated! i can also send proof if needed.

we have 4 cats we need to take care of as well as rent and groceries

rent is due next week, and i'm honestly quite terrified!

i am the sole income of my household as my partner is disabled

if you send me proof of help, i will draw something of your choice as thank you! examples are on my art blog @wrenchdogs

pal

vend

ca$happ - $wrenchdogs

if you cant spare anything, please share this post.

thank you

[666writingcafe]

Do Not Touch

MC

Thankfully, no one else breaks the first rule when we enter the only building in the field, but we still have to deal with a toddler version of Levi, which is not fun in the slightest.

"I don't regret turning around," he announces. "I did it for Ruri-chan. Go ahead, laugh at me if you want!"

"You really shouldn't have said that," I reply, glancing over at a silently chuckling Satan.

"Look, I can't help it," Satan says as he looks back at me. "Levi's horns are nearly the size of his entire body. I'm surprised he hasn't toppled over yet."

"Think about how Levi feels," Beel quietly responds. "I'm sure he doesn't like being a little D."

"Thank you, Beel!" Levi exclaims. "I can't believe you'd actually stand up for me like that!"

He's gonna laugh, isn't he?

Right. I almost forgot she was in there.

Oh, probably. That's what siblings do.

Lucifer never told me that he had brothers.

I really need to ask her. Not now, but soon. She certainly knows quite a bit about Lucifer.

From my understanding, they started off as brothers in arms, but then they slowly began seeing each other as an actual family the longer they lived together at the House of Lamentation.

Thirteen stays quiet long enough for me to take in my surroundings. It seems as though we've entered a giant library. Bookcases stretch up from the floor to the rather high ceilings, and all of the shelves are filled with various texts.

You have a rather impressive collection.

Thank you. This library contains every book that has ever been written across the three realms.

How long did it take you to get everything?

The books just appear on their own. I just make sure everything's organized.

Interesting.

"I found the next message!" Mammon shouts. All of us head over to the shelf he's standing in front of, and sure enough, it's written in blood across the books sitting on top of it.

Why did you write the no touching rule on perfectly good books?

Oh, those are decoys. The real books are in my room. I wouldn't dare ruin any of the actual texts, for I always ever receive one copy of them, and sometimes it's the only copy in existence.

Couldn't you at least use paper and pencil to write your messages?

That wouldn't fit my aesthetic.

You're strange.

So are you.

Touché.

"Mammon, you've got something on your wrist," Beel states.

"Huh? What're you talkin' about?" Mammon pushes his right jacket sleeve up, revealing a strange mark on his wrist. "When did this get here?!"

"Let me see," Satan replies, gently grabbing Mammon's arm to take a closer look at the mark. He develops a solemn look on his face as he gets a second opinion from Lucifer.

"What's going on?" Mammon asks. "Why do you guys look so serious? Surely it's just some ink that's rubbed off on my wrist, right?"

"I'm afraid not," Lucifer answers. "You've been branded with Midas's Crest."

Oh, he's screwed.

You know about the crest?

If it's the same Midas that got cursed with the ability to turn anything into gold and lost his own daughter as a result, then yes, I know about the crest.

Did I pick the right person?

Oh, so Thirteen put the mark on Mammon's wrist. How cunning.

Mammon is the Avatar of Greed, so I would say yes.

I kind of figured. He seems like the type to think that having Midas's power would be a gift, not a curse.

He's celebrating right now.

What an idiot.

Mammon doesn't have much common sense.

Right after Mammon touches one of the books and transforms into a little D, I hear a faint noise. At first, I simply dismiss it as an illusion, but then it occurs again, louder this time.

And then I see it.

Shit. I thought I made sure to put her in her kennel before I left for vacation.

The cat hops up on one of the tables, making herself very much visible to Satan.

"Don't," I warn him.

The cat meows, making eye contact with Satan.

"Satan." Lucifer must also see the look on his brother's face.

Satan steps towards the cat, and all hell breaks loose. Lucifer and I sprint over to Satan and attempt to pull him away from Thirteen's cat, but he's fighting tooth and nail to make sure he gets to pet her.

"Let me go!" he yells, causing the others to look over at us.

"You can't pet it!" I yell back. "The rule says--"

"I don't care!" Satan shoves me away, and I end up stumbling into Beel and Solomon. A low groan follows, and I see Lucifer on the ground, holding his stomach. Satan must have elbowed him.

He really loves cats, doesn't he?

That's an understatement.

[mejomonster]

So I watched episode 1 of unintentional love story:

I'm inexplicably reminded of Yu Liang from Qi Hun/Hikaru No Go by the main character, even though this guy is less intense. I think it's partly appearance, partly how Insistent This Guy is once he has a goal

The other main guy (acting choices wise) reminds me also of an intense character, moonjo from Strangers from Hell and the lead from Bulgasal l. I know. Weird comparison choices lol. I mean it in a good way though? Just like, both of these men feel like strong actors with solid presence on screen and as Characters both feel like you get a sense of their personalities from their behavior. I would say it's just solid acting

Also reminded of Hikaru No Go cdrama in terms of tone? Like, as you all know I'm not normally a romcom fluff person usually if there's no action or angst or murder I just Cannot focus or get into a story. Sometimes if there's comedy, but usually fluff just isn't my thing. Well this show isn't comedy (although it's got some), but it's got this almost heartfelt realism that Cherry Magic and Qi Hun have. It's feels like real life but Just This Side of Gentler. Like... the main guy clearly was manipulated by work, probably Should get another job permanently, is screwed by the capitalist work in a big corporation you're disposable to Problem (which possibly is also what reminded me of Strangers from Hell). He's not actually ON a fluff vacation, those are very real scary finacial problems and very real weighing life stressors when work is fucked. He takes it with a healthy dose of "Well ill try my best to get through this" (which is why this isn't gonna turn into a heavy psychological horror, and I'm sure the intro wirh his one level headed supportive friend surely helps him sway toward Handling This with a level head). But yeah, this feels like it can become a heavy topic show when it needs to. I am occasionally into a show like this, and this one caught my attention.

I like that it's not trying to be romcom (again ToT). It's not that either are focused on love asap. Main guy actually has a slightly shady goal, and knows it, and I'm excited/terrified for that to come up later. Other main guy? Hes got some baggage Clearly, possibly also work situation is Fucked/he was taken advantage of financially with a bad deal or something as well. I like the way it sets up a dual secret Actual goals versus pursuit on the surface. Almost like the crime cat mouse mutual investigation suspicion dynamic I love, but in a more mundane realistic context: one guy lying to get info and closer, and the other cautious and guarded because he's suspicious of motive (rightly so).

I like the coffee owner actor, he doesn't feel as as intense of a presence yet but he is a side character so thats to be expected. He felt uniquely his own feel so i liked him (and I like the side character shop owners and feel there's a big vibe in this show of like "work is unideal and fucked up at times and we connect with others emotionally and try our best" idea where genuine emotional friendships should be prioritized over our work lives and stresses, and I like that as a foundation in the show). I also am Intrigued by guy with tattoos. I'm curious if they'll be the second couple...

Overall solid start, I recommend if you're into this kind of show!

[robyn-goodfellowe]

I KNEW THAT HAND WAS TOO FUCKING CLOSE IM GOING TO EXPLODE AGAGAGAGAGAG. I'm so excited to see where this goes cause holy shit. Poor Bow is gonna have some serious adjusting to do :( I think out of everyone she's having the worst go at it tbh like ya kid got puppetized and mu is suffering and timmy is fucking gone (L) but like poor Bow has had her entire world turned upside down, facing the end of time itself, both people closest In her life were lying to her about major parts of themselves, has to work with a woman she barely knows outside of books, to go fins her missing friend who just took her sight in an incredibly violent way! (though it was very cool to read eye trauma my beloved) like she needs a vacation. and therapy. lots of therapy. anyways nice to see all the cut the strings bullshit from the puzzle finally get its payoff.

speaking of I hope people are liking the art, I had a great time with it being a little secret :) all for me, little puzzle page gift. but in the end, the real gift for me was the puzzle page itself, like THATS SO COOL. the puzzle solver becomes a part of the puzzle :) her own little spot in the grand scheme of it all :)

anyways thanks for the great chapter I understand why you were losing ur shit over it I would too tbh. 12 15 22 5 25 1 11 9 14 7 <3

EHEHEHE i'm really curious to know what your initial thoughts or expectations were about that piece! it's definitely one that i love really deeply, it's not my first time working with that artists hehe and they always manage to blow everything they create completely out of the water :3c

with that being said AAAAHHH I'M SOSOSO HAPPY YOU LIKED THE CHAPTER HOWDY. i was SO excited for it like honest to god somethig possessed the hell out of me because while it's been sitting on my outline for eons, i shit you not i churned it out in two days. very very rough shitposty draft day one and final draft day two. i don't think i've ever written that fast in my life. i'm not sure i ever will again

bow is definitely going through the worst of it for realsies like out of everyone she is just continuously getting screwed over. no house, no cat, no job, no mental stability, no vision, no emotional support timmy... all she wanted was to be cats with kid and look where that got her 😭 at least she has minuit back tho lol? but i mean with everything else going on that hardly makes up for it. its just sooo easy to kick her when shes down though........ she definitely is gunna need a lot of vacations+therapy after this. but maybe we should focus on her hospital bills first

im so happy you had fun with the puzzle heheeh i already miss it so much!!!!! im glad we got the chance to cement you in there. youve been so dedicated, you deserve it! :3

thank you for the kind words howdy im sorry it took me so long to reply... i always like to let these things sit so i can just look at them and feel all warm and fuzzy. 12 21 22 21 20 15 15 11 9 14 7

[disease-danger-darkness-silence]

Alright.

A list of things I need or need to do over the next week:

1. Somehow come up with $400 in the next three days to pay the phone bill. (THIS IS URGENT? I CAN'T DOORDASH ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS.)

2. Organize a fundraiser to cremate Raven's wife. I wanna go with the Neptune Society because even though they're a little more expensive, they just take care of everything, and they also offer grief counseling.

3. Use the little money I have to buy cat food. (Thank you to the person who sent me a lil' something bc that paid for cat food and toilet paper. I had to get a used tire and spent $50 for it - super cheap, but not $50 I could really spare. Fuck people who leave screws laying in the roadway.)

4. Somehow come up with $70 to pay my car insurance.

5. Get a power of attorney notarized and faxed to like seven different places. If anyone knows a cheap or free notary in Carson City or Reno, let me know, because my usual guy is on vacation.

6. File said power of attorney with the Carson City records department. (This apparently costs money and doesn't mean shit.)

7. Write letters to a judge.

8. Request records from a DA.

9. Request records from four different schools.

10. Take Raven to get their final VA disability assessment.

11. File paperwork for backdated pay from the VA based on the reason Raven was discharged (honorably).

12. Call Raven's therapist and have her call Raven to schedule a session before she leaves on vacation.

13. Call my therapist for same.

14. Call my doctor to get a refill on my migraine prevention meds.

15. Go through a fuckload of legal documents and create a timeline.

16. Call a jail and get visitor records logs.

17. Order urns and urn jewelry and somehow come up with the money for that.

18. Potentially plan for a relocation to the east coast.

19. Haggle with a judge about settling a warrant with out-of-state jail time, or a reduced sentence of some sort.

20. Organize a pay schedule for something owed.

21. Devise a potential parenting plan.

22. Acquire some CPS reports.

23. Acquire some records in Washington and Oregon.

24. Find Southwest Airline points or fundraise to get my daughter to Oregon to help a friend who's pro-choice overall but not for abortion for herself, get an abortion because of circumstance. :(

25. I guess sleep and eat somewhere in between this all.

I'm so tired.

Uh if you can help with any of this my PayPal is tashabot at gmail dot com and my. Cashapp is $tashabot. I'm so tired. I work two jobs and I'm still broke. I need a nap. I cannot nap, I need to go to work in a few hours.

[invincible-selfxmade-punk]

It hasn't been my day, my week, my month...

For me, being in my fifties means anything I do could potentially destroy my back. Sometimes, I'm just getting out of bed wrong from sitting up to coming into a standing position. Or even just turning wrong when I turn around to go in another direction.

Earlier in the week, I bent down to feed my cats, and when I stood back up, something pulled in my lower back. I have been in various levels of pain all week. Between sitting on rock-hard cafeteria benches to do training for days at a time to then being up and walking around, both things are excruciating.

Most of the time, it works itself out, but this week, it's been very slow to do that.

I finally got to our one nail place in town to get my nails done. I normally don't do this because of the fact that

1. it's expensive and

2. I really can't sit still that long anyway.

But I had gotten them done for my birthday, and they had already grown out, and I was not going to face the first day of school with my nails looking as bad as they were. I had let them go as long as I could, and of course, when I went to get them done a couple of weeks ago, the place was shut down because the owners were on vacation.

So that caused another setback, and my nails just kept growing out and getting worse looking.

We've been training in a building with no air conditioner for the last 2 weeks so after work even though there was time to get my nails done all I wanted was to go home and take a cold bath. So finally, today, I went in almost as soon as the nail place opened. When they say there's a long wait, they usually mean about an hour. So when they said it was a long wait, I thought "That's fine. I'll just sit here and play some Scrabble on my phone."

The long wait turned out to be 3 hours, sitting in a plastic straight back chair with my back absolutely screaming in pain.

By the time I got out of there, I was starving and needed to get food before I went to the grocery store. Anytime you have to go out and get food you are getting F'ed in the Aby the prices. So either I could spend $14 at McDonald's, or $14 getting some enchiladas, so I went for the enchiladas. For the last week I have been driving around with my gas gauge empty light on. I keep forgetting to put in gas or I'm just too tired at the end of the day. I had to get groceries at Walmart so I figured I'd get gas there. The only problem being suddenly the Walmart gas station would not take my credit card. From there I went to an ATM to check to make sure I had money which I did went back to Walmart and bought my groceries and then went to the next closest gas station. By this time, it was 4:00 p.m. and I had expected to be some working in the classroom by noon.

It's been 101° every day for probably the last week and a half. I was wearing one of the sleeveless house dresses that my sister gave me for my birthday. I got to the gas station and on the door there was a sign that said,' "I am in the bathroom and will be back in 15 minutes please wait and don't be on the glass."

So I stand out and wait. There is a huge step to get into the gas station and I am tired and do not want to step back down on that step to go all the way back to my car. The wind is blowing like mad by this point. I don't have anything to drink, it is 101°, and I am waiting outside the service station. I am too tired to go anywhere else. And I'm not sure my car will even make it to another gas station.

My back starts to hurt. My legs start hurting. Finally I say screw it I am going to plop myself down on the step to get in and just wait sitting down with my back against the ice freezer.

The instant I do this the door opens and the clerk is there. Now I worked in retail most of my life and I cannot fault the clerk for needing a break especially being the only person on duty. So I am not mad. I am just wishing that she hadn't come at that exact moment. She is very nice and offers to help me up but I say no I'm I'm okay I can get it. I start to get up, here comes a big gust of wind, it blows my dress and I show my butt to every single passerby on the main thoroughfare of town!!!

By the time I got this the school it was so late I only had time to do a small fraction of all the things I needed to do to get ready for the first day of school on monday. This means I'll be right back at it again tomorrow.

[buggimama]

I need more farmer friends... going out of town for a family vacation is impossible. Counting my kids I am responsible for 15 lives (not counting my own) every day, 24/7. It’s normal to me and doesn’t seem that hard. But then trying to find anyone that can reliably do even half of what I do every day is impossible. I’m so frustrated

10 chickens

2 cats

1 dog

I am gonna be even more screwed when we add the cow 🤦🏻‍♀️

How do farmers go on vacation?!?! First one in years and I am terrified everything will be dead when I get home 💔

[taem-min-archived]

.

[knox-knocks]

has andrew minyard never not been stressed in his entire life. like. at this point he’s gonna have a stress-induced heart attack

[nifolution]

Baby Blues 9

Warnings: Angst, smut, fluff, infertility, heartbreak, cheating, manipulation, noncon/dubcon, harassment, pregnancy, argument, therapy, making up

A/N: This is a revised copy of my oc fic. It is written in 3rd person. 18+ only due to smut and noncon/dubcon situations. No stealing, no reposts, no translations, no feeding to AIs. Comments, reblogs and likes are always welcome and appreciated.

Chapter 8 Series Masterlist Main Masterlist

Chapter 9

Tanya's acidic laugh rang in his ears. "Oh, Honey, you need to forget about that infertile cow. I've given you a gift. You have a real family now. You'll see how happy we can be together, just the three of us."

“NO!”

Bucky opened his eyes, struggling to breathe and drenched in sweat. He remained still, trying to calm down and get his bearings. He was at home, in his own bed… alone. Y/N’s side lay empty. A lump in his throat, he gently placed his hand on her pillow, afraid to disturb it.

He was startled by a metallic scraping sound from inside the house. As quiet as a cat, he slipped out of bed to investigate. He padded through his home, senses on high alert. The noise continued, it was coming from the kitchen. Peering around the corner, he recognized it as the clanging of pots and pans. Someone was digging through the lower cabinets, the kitchen island prevented him from getting a look at the intruder.

The person stood with an exasperated sigh. Bucky felt his heart stop. “Y/N?”

Her bright eyes found him, “Morning Hun, have you seen the green skillet? I can’t seem to find…”

Before she could finish, Bucky ran over and smashed his mouth into hers. Cupping her face in his hands, mumbling his immense relief between kisses, “You’re here... You stayed… You stayed with me.”

Y/N looked at him, bewildered. “Where else would I go? Are you alright, Bucky? You’re shaking.”

He smiled at her, right thumb stroking her cheek, electrified at the feel of her skin. “I’m fine now. Just had a really bad fucking dream.” He kissed her again, just as passionately. “I thought I lost you.” He buried his head in the crook of her neck, embracing her tight.

She ran her fingers through his hair, pushing back the damp locks, comforting him. “Do you want to tell me about it?”

Bucky clung to her, refusing to let go. “T-Tanya cursed you, made you leave me on our anniversary. She did it to hurt me, make herself seem more appealing, and… and she was…” He shook his head to rid himself of the image. “It was horrible.”

“It was just a dream. That witch is long gone. Nattie took care of her while we were away. You’re safe. We’re safe.” She rubbed his back to soothe him. “I mean I screwed up our anniversary a little when my car broke down, but I wouldn’t call that a curse, just bad luck. Good thing Steve was with you when I called, he came to get me.”

His brain rushed to catch up. He rested his forehead on hers and breathed slowly, grounding himself. Having her in his arms made separating the memories from his imagination easier. The late dinner, their wonderful vacation, coming home, all the pieces reconnected what the nightmare fractured.

Bucky kissed Y/N again before helping make breakfast. He gestured to a small gift bag on the counter. "What’s that?”

“Um, I got you something, but I’m not sure it’s the best time. I mean if you want to open it now you can... Do you want to?”

Bucky nodded. Moving the tissue paper aside, revealing a small plush toy. He laughed, “It looks like that blue fish that wouldn't leave my arm alone when we went snorkeling.” He took it out and squeezed it to his chest. “It’s cute, thank you, Honey.”

Y/N smiled, “You’re welcome... I just figured we could bring a little Saint Lucia home with us.” She bit her lip, suddenly nervous. “And we brought another little something home too.” She pointed to the bag.

Furrowing his brows, Bucky reached back in. After a few seconds of searching through the paper, he pulled out a familiar stick, his heart pounding. His voice caught in his throat. “Two lines,” he whispered, tears of joy poured out of his eyes. “Two lines. Y/N, there's two lines.”

She nodded, crying with her husband. “Yeah, it wasn't sea sickness... I'm pregnant.”

“Holy shit!” He wrapped his arms around her. “This is real? It’s really happening?” His wife murmured the secret words he needed to reassure him. He smiled and kept kissing her. "I love you. I love you so fucking much."

"I love you too, so so much." She smiled into the kiss. "We’re having a baby.”

Bucky couldn't contain the joy he felt. Y/N had already given him his happiest moments. His heart soared knowing there would be many more to come. “We’re having a baby.”

The End

A/N: Thank you to everyone that has read this version or the original. I appreciate you all. I'd love to know your thoughts.

A/N: Chapter 8 was the original ending. Bucky under mind control of the witch and his wife abandoning him, because of the hexed sonogram, instead of fighting for him. When Chapter 9 was added, it was intended to be a happy ending, erasing everything after Bucky was setting up for their anniversary. However, there is still an air to the scene that makes it suspicious. I decided to leave it up to the reader if it is indeed a happy ending, or if poor Bucky is being manipulated again.

[luimagines]

Hi! I have a request, but first i wanna say your writing is absolutely amazing! The length + amount of time you put into these prompts is insanely good. Now! Onto the request, how would the boys react to a reader from a more modern era? Maybe a more modernized hyrule or our current point in time?

Masterlist

Thank you so much for the compliment! I'm happy to see the response even if this blog is still relatively new.

I hope I do your prompt justice.

I probably could have done a headcanon list but I was hit with inspiration.

I also might have given Reader some backstory.

Scenario below the cut! It’s long, take caution.

It was a cool night, but you didn't mind. Your bed was warm, the WiFi was fast and even if it was three AM on a school night, you managed to keep yourself giggling with cat videos and blursed memes until the words and colors merged.

A night well spent.

But it led to questionable decisions.

Even if the shredded cheese in the fridge was beginning to seem a more and more enticing snack, your body was tempted to succumb to slumber.

Until a large purple light encompassed the entirety of your window.

Something was in your backyard.

Aliens. Your tired brain supplies and you sprint to the glass and push away the curtains. Is this it? Is this where I'm kidnapped and never seen or heard from again?

You pull out your phone and open up the camera.

"Pics or it didn't happen." You remind yourself and snap a few before showing your face.

What you see isn't what you're expecting. Instead of a flying saucer in the sky beaming down a laser or a weird pear shaped space craft on top of the grass, there's a single panel of glowing light, swirling with black accents that creeps in a circular motion.

"Cheese and crackers...." You gasp and begin to blatantly stare at it with no regard to whether something may be coming out of it.

You wait and nothing happens.

You wait some more and nothing happens.

You spend an hour watching this portal that has appeared out of nowhere, waiting for something to happen, willing for something to happen. But you get nothing.

The unknown stares right back at you, unblinking and unchanged.

Go through it. A voice tells you. What if there's something on the other side?

"I'm going to die." You gulp and take a deep breath.

Who else gets a chance like this? The voice talks again. This could be a grand step towards a more modern society. A whole new world could be on the other side, waiting, reaching out, calling to humanity!

You think you a see a shadow move behind the portal and out of sight but it’s gone before you can even process it.

"Should I call the police?" You step away from the window, ignoring the thoughts, the voice- you're too tired to know if it's your own any more. What's the plan? How does one go about something like this?

Where’s your sense of adventure? Pack a bag and go! What if it goes away?

That last thought seems to get through to your tired brain and for a reason beyond your understanding, it latches onto it.

Now you’re excited.

You run to the closet and take out your old backpack. It used to be for school but it was fancier since it was the only one you could get. The bag had a replaceable water bag with a plastic straw connected through the back of it and the straps have just worn down enough to where they’re actually comfortable. It doubled as a hiking backpack and came with its own insulated lunch box that clasped on the back of it.

It’ll finally serve its purpose.

You quickly roll up your favorite blanket and strap it in tightly beneath the lunch box. You’re quick to take out two extra outfits and pack them as well as change out of your pajamas.

Ok. What would you need? You don’t know where you’d be going so this has to a catch all kind of deal.

You pack away your swiss army knife first for good measure. A solar powered charger for your phone and an extra pair of socks follow suit even after you’ve picked out the extra clothes.

You take out the water bag and run to fill it all the way to max capacity as you think of any other necessities.

You’d need food. You have a small jar of peanut butter and granola bars that can fit in the lunch box. You can bring your extra water bottle and put in the side pockets of the backpack, and maybe bring some of those powered flavor packets your brother loves so much. You think he has lemonade and some green tea ones.

Those would be great. He won’t mind, hopefully.

You let the bag overfill momentarily before running back to shove it in your bag. with the lid screwed tight.

Next you run to the kitchen, grabbing the first things that you thought of already and begin to look around for more.

You grab an unopened pack of beef jerky, a bag of veggie sticks and a half eaten bag of dried mangos.

During your search you grab the water bottle and fill that too.

You return to your room with your bounty and begin to carefully put everything in the box. With some more deliberation, you run back to the kitchen and make yourself a quick sandwich, eat it, make another one and pack that as well.

You look out side the window and the portal is still there.

The sun is beginning to rise now so you’re trying to go as fast as you can, unless you want to neighbors to think something is going on.

Even if it is.

You’re about to leave but in a stroke of brilliance, you run to pack sunscreen and bug spray as well. You see a small first aid pack that was bought recently for when you would take your family vacation but you reason that it might one of the most important things you’d have if you got hurt.

Into the bag it goes.

You grab your hoodie before you leave the door, wrap it around your waist and pocket your phone, your headphones and your wallet.

You feel immediately under packed when you step outside and see the portal up close.

It’s weirdly triangle shaped, you think and step closer.

You reach your hand out and try to touch it. It feels as if you put your hand through a humidifier but it’s not wet. It’s misty and cold but not necessarily unpleasant.

An idea hits you right before you take your first step through.

You pull up one of the earlier photo’s you took and send it to your friend’s group chat. It showed up in my backyard. I decided to make a bad late night decision and I’m going through. If you never hear from me again, I want you all to fight over my electronics. Winner takes all. Godspeed.

And you step through.

You had first assumed that it would merely take you tot he other side but very quickly realize that you have to walk through it.

The first part still had a little light but with time, it got darker. So dark that you couldn’t even see your hand in front of your face.

You kept walking.

As fast as the light disappeared, it came back and you stepped into the light of an open field, right in front of one, two, three, four, nine males that had appeared to be traveling towards you or rather, towards the portal.

The portal disappears in the process.

“Oh so we didn’t have to go through it! We had to gain another member!” One of them yells. “Would have been nice to know before we packed everything up!”

“Ho boy, where am I?” You ask and tighten your grip on your backpack. Why didn’t I bring a weapon?

They all had long tunics and swords on their backs. Old fashioned leather boots and hand bracers were the norm in this group and you realized very quickly that your jeans and t-shirt had wildly missed the memo.

“Dang, I didn’t think I’d walk into a LARP group. Sorry about that.” You sheepishly smile. “I had no idea where the portal was going to take me. But if you would be so kind-”

“Wait, what’s LARP?” One of them speaks up. He was a dirty blond and somewhere in the middle of the group height wise. He wore a white cape like thing with blue designs on the back but you didn’t recognize the symbol.

“Live Action Role Play?” You tilt your head. “It’s why you’re all dressed like that? Right?”

“This is just our clothes.” What appears to be the youngest bounces up to you. “What are you wearing?”

“First I could grab in my closet.” You admit and look down on it. It’s one of your comfiest shirts and best looking pants. You’re a little proud of yourself for finding those in the dark.

“Weird.”

“We’re heroes. We’re all named Link.” Cape guy speaks up again. “Is it safe to assume that you’re in the same boat?”

“Heroes?” Your eyebrows furrow together. “I’m not a hero and my name’s not Link.”

You’re quick to tell them your name and you watch as the confusion covers their faces. “My brother’s name is Link though if that helps anything.”

“Oh we needed him!” The youngest groans and it instantly irks you.

“What would you need with a five year old?” You deadpan and cross your arms. 

The information stuns the group.

“The portal showed up in the middle of the night and I’m the one that went through it. I’m pretty sure I was the only awake to even see it. Are you telling me that it was for my little brother?” You’d be lying if you said that you weren’t a little pissed. “My baby brother was supposed to go through it? He was asleep! He’s five. What kind of logic is that?!”

“Well...” The biggest and oldest of them runs a hand over his face. You think he has some cool tattoos and sick scar going across his eye but he looks about as angry as you feel, so you don’t say anything. “It appears the gods truly do not care for the hero’s maturity, only his existence.”

“Ok...What’s with all this hero talk?” You bite back. “What did... Where am I?”

“Hyrule.” The second with cool face tattoos speaks up. He’s got a large fur pelt around his shoulders and you have to tighten your grip against your backpack again to keep from reaching out to touch it.

Even so you feel yourself deadpan even more. “Hyrule? Like the ancient empire? The one that collapsed more than two thousand years ago? That Hyrule?”

You’re inclined to not believe them and write all of them off as crazy... but you also walked through a portal. And your grandma did say that magic existed in the strangest forms.

They all share looks of concern and some begin to murmur quietly amongst themselves but you’re too far gone to even notice.

“Did I time travel?” The idea hits you like a bus and you feel your eyes widen as you stare beyond the group. You quickly take our your phone and unlock it.

No signal.

“Is that a type of Sheikah slate?” Someone asks you.

“I don’t know what that is.” You reply automatically. “Wait, hold on, what year is it?”

“Why don’t you tell us what year you’re from and we can start from there?” The darkest brunette of the group speaks up.

“202x PC” You say robotically, not really processing the world around you anymore.

“That’s...” The blond with a long blue scarf speaks up with a slight hiss. “...Beyond any of our timelines. You see, we all come from different worlds and eras of Hyrule’s history.”

“I don’t think you’re the farthest down anymore, Wild.”

“This would then make them my successor, right?”

“It would make their brother your successor.” Someone amends. “I think they just jumped in his place.”

“Leave my brother alone.” You snap back into the present, pocketing your [hone again. “Ok, you know what, screw it. I don’t know what you’d want my brother for but I’m here now. I’d gladly take his place if it means he gets to stay home!”

“Hey.” A boy with pink hair stalks up to you looking a little more serious than you’d like.

“Nice hair dude, way to defy the gender norms.” You smirk a little before genuinely grinning, hoping to quell the tension. “What product do you use? It looks like Artic Fox but not every place sells their brand.”

“...I have no idea what you’re talking about but what happened to Ganon in your world? How have you been handling it?” He snaps and places his hands on his hips.

“Ganon? Like my old principle? That’s a name I haven’t heard in forever.” You’re confused again. “Last I heard he joined the police force only to be reassigned out of state. I don’t know what’s happening with him. Kinda hope he gets fired though. He’s not a bad guy but he’s not someone you’d want in that kind of position of power, you know.”

“Police force?”

You blinked and look them all over. They look very medieval. “Oh... You don’t have that...”

You begin to think about your history lessons and what they might be familiar with if they’re telling the truth about being from Hyrule.

“Ya’ll got knights?”

Many, almost all of them nod, a few with face of despair already on them before you finish speaking.

“It’s kind of like that. Mixed with a towns guard position... kinda. They enforce laws... at least they’re supposed to but the whole system is flawed and racist and really needs to be dismantled for the abuse of power that they have-”

“Abuse? Of power?” You have their attention again.

“It’s stupid and it won’t really make any sense if I try to explain because I doubt you have anything similar but it’s basically a group of people given the right to treat the public in anyway they like for their own benefit because they have no one telling them that they can’t.” You groan and slowly begin to feel your lack of sleep catch up to you. 

You slowly reach to behind you and sit down on the dirt, looking at all of them. “Mr. Dragmire wasn’t like...Demise or anything but he was a huge jerk. No one liked him. He liked me though. I remember that. I was the envy of the whole school because I somehow got on his good side while everyone else wants to strangle him. I think he was transferred for some misdemeanor or something like that... like he might have been throwing hands with someone he wasn’t supposed to. I never heard all the details. I didn’t really care for it when it happened either. I’m pretty sure he lost that fight though. The dude looked like a blast of wind could have knocked him over let alone someone’s knuckle sandwich.”

“I would love to hear more about this.” The youngest sits next to you with a large grin on his face. His eyes are bright and his body language reminds you of your cousin Zelda. You instantly think they’d get along like a house on fire. “What are your monsters like?”

“Monsters?” You tilt your head. “Be a little more specific bud, it depends on where you’re from.”

“You have that many?!”

“It depends on if you believe they’re real or not.”

“Speaking of monsters, can you fight?” The shortest walks up to you. You like that his tunic is stitched up with multiple colors and designs. It gives it personality, you think. “Do you have a weapon you’re more comfortable with?”

The question throws you off your rhythm and you don’t fight your wince. “What would happen if I say that I do not, in fact, have any sort of weapon on me?”

“I wouldn’t believe you.” Pink guy speaks up again. “That pack is huge, there has to be something in there.”

“It’s food, water and extra clothes my guy.” You lean back against said backpack since it won’t let you lay down with it still on. “Not a lot of space for anything else. I’m pretty good at hand to hand combat though. Karate’s a good way to fight out stress.” 

“Your bag’s not magic?”

“Why the hell would it be magic? ...Are you trying to tell me magic actually exists?” You raise an eyebrow as your eyes begin to close against your will. “I know my grandma said it does but I thought she meant like fairies and shadow demons.. and bigfoot. Can’t forget him, he’s the real MVP... You know...Children’s bedtime stories and stuff like that, it’s not real. But like magic magic? Magic items and the like? Find me Tinkerbell and I’ll show you Neverland, that’s what I say.”

“Are you serious?”

“Second star to the right, straight on till morning.” You respond.

There’s a moment of silence as the group in front of you processes your words. It’s hard to tell their reaction since you’re not looking at them but you no longer have the energy to do anything else.

“Are you falling asleep right now?” It’s the one they called Wild.

“I...” You try to open your eyes. They don’t budge. “I haven’t slept in nearly 20 hours... I think. I might have past 24 hours a while ago actually. Portal showed up at like four in the morning... I had to get up at six and I didn’t sleep at all before then.”

More silence.

“Great another one.” Someone scoffs.

You snort.

“Why did we pack up camp again?”

“No one kill me.” You say right before you lose consciousness. “Please and thank you.”

“They’re doomed.”

“Have some faith Vet. They stepped in for their little brother. That has to mean something?”

“They’re in for a rude awakening, and that’s all I have to say about it.”

[corvus--rex]

This prologue is going on longer than I thought, but it will be over soon, probably one more short chapter. But until then, I'm so sorry, have some baby Keith angst.

one more for the Galra cat glossary: tehrl - a miniature feline (smaller than a housecat) that are kept as pets and pest control

~*~*~*~

They had been traveling for over a day, stopping only when necessary. It was night again, and Krolia sat in the carriage, watching the landscape pass by, the sleeping form of her kit curled against her side. She tucked the soft blanket around him more snugly, a tender smile on her lips as he let out a soft, contented purr and snuggled harder against his mother. One hand kept him close while the other reached under the neckline of her traveling dress to pull out the depiction of Marmora she always wore.

Marmora was the Galra central goddess. A queen of legend, she was deified after her death for having managed to unify the disparate Galra kingdoms against a common enemy. Before then, the Unilu hadn’t been thought of as a threat by anyone, the race of small, four-armed goblins more of an annoyance than anything. But they were clever, and made up for their size with numbers. They knew that to attack a place like Altea was suicide, but the constantly-warring Galra kingdoms would be far easier. Marmora called for the separate kingdoms to unify under her banner to go to war against the threat. While they tacitly agreed at first, soon the other kingdoms realized that they never would have survived without her leadership. The Unilu were soundly defeated and Marmora led the Galra to a new age for their race, one that had continued for generations.

Krolia ran her thumb across the relief set into her medallion. The ancient Galra queen stood proudly, her sword-bearing arm held high, the other holding a ball of violet flame. She stared at it, drawing some comfort from her ancestor before letting the pendant drop. She turned back to the carriage’s small window and watched the land change from the deep, dark woods of Daibazaal to the green forests of Altea. It would take at least another two days of travel to reach the capitol. They would arrive exhausted from their journey and she could only hope that she would reach it before any messenger from Zarkon and that King Alfor would welcome them.

The little prince had no trouble keeping himself occupied during his waking hours, something Krolia was infinitely grateful for. He still believed that they were on a surprise vacation and that they would be meeting his father somewhere along the way. She kept it to herself, but she had felt their bond snap when they were not far from the castle. She knew what the stretch of distance felt like, the pain of longing for her mate when they were separated by royal duty. This was not that. This was a ship’s line breaking, the thick rope hitting her like a whip’s crack. This was glass shattering on a stone floor, glittering shards spread wide. It left her raw and bleeding, with a deep ache for a mate she would never see again. Krolia let herself feel it only in the dark of night, where she would wrap herself in her voluminous cloak tighter, hold her kit closer, and let the tears fall silently.

Another full day of traveling through Altea, and Keith was beginning to become bored of the endless carriage ride. Leaving his coloring on the floor, he climbed onto the seat and into his mother’s lap, immediately finding the soft fur of his tail and running his tiny claws through it.

“Where are we going, Mama?” he asked. “When are we gonna get there? Where’s Papa?”

Krolia sighed. She knew her kit’s inquisitive nature wouldn’t stay quiet for long and that she would have to tell him sooner rather than later. She decided that answering his questions in order would be best.

“We’re going to Altea, little one. We should be there around this time tomorrow.” She paused, knowing that there were parts of their last night in their home that weren’t for little ears. “Your Papa – he’s – I’m so sorry, kit. Your Papa won’t be coming with us.”

Keith was too young to understand what his mother wasn’t saying. “Why?” he asked innocently, “Did Papa hafta go on a trip again?” He was familiar with his father’s diplomatic meetings, sometimes in places far from the Daibazaal capitol and their home.

Krolia sighed again, willing her tears back. “No, kit. There are bad people in our home now, and I don’t know when we’ll be able to go back. We’re going to Altea to ask for their help. Your Papa sacrificed himself so we could get away safely.”

The kit’s face screwed up in confusion. “What bad people? And what’s sa…sack-if-iced?”

“People your Papa and I thought we trusted. One of the generals of our army, Zarkon. He wants to rule Daibazaal himself instead of your Papa. He decided to take what he wanted, and your Papa died so we can be safe.”

Keith only had a vague understanding of death. His only encounter with it had been when his pet tehrl died after being poisoned by an angry former member of castle staff. Their dismissal, to no one’s surprise, had been due to behavioral problems and killing the small prince’s beloved pet had earned them a stay in the city jail for a few months. Keith at first couldn’t understand why the miniature feline wouldn’t play with him like it always did. But his guard sent for the queen, and Krolia explained that the tiny cat had died and what that meant. She allowed her small kit to hold something of a funeral for the animal, but his child’s attention span moved on to something else not long after, even though she knew he still missed his companion. It seemed that the meaning of death hadn’t progressed in his mind beyond his lost pet, and it was a concept he couldn’t quite apply to his father.

“You remember Rrahr?”

Keith nodded, thinking back to finding his tehrl motionless on the floor by its food dish. Something clicked, and he looked up at his mother, eyes wide. “Is that what happened to Papa?” he asked, his voice trembling, “Did the bad people hurt my Papa so he can’t come back?” His ears flattened and his tail dropped, suddenly afraid of his mother’s answer.

“They did. I am so sorry, little one. Your Papa’s not coming back.”

Violet eyes quickly filled with tears that spilled over, leaving dark stains running down the fine, soft fur, and he scrambled in his mother’s lap, throwing his arms around her neck, sobs racking his small body. Krolia held him, running her claws through his hair, trying to hold it together for him. But she couldn’t, not in the face of her son’s innocence, and held him tightly while her own tears fell, privately mourning the loss of King Davvik in the roles he cherished most; those of beloved Alpha and mate to Krolia, and the devoted and loving father to his young son. She held Keith until his sobs subsided into hiccupped tears and finally into the even breath of sleep. When she was sure she wouldn’t wake him, Krolia tucked herself against the back of the deep velvet cushion and wrapped her thick cloak around her sleeping kit, and let sleep take her as well.

Keith was withdrawn and quiet for their last day of travel. His toys and pencils couldn’t hold his attention, and he sat beside Krolia, arms wrapped around his stuffed rakhai and stared out the window. He only perked up the smallest amount when they entered Altea’s capitol. He saw the glowing white spires of the castle and turned to his mother, tugging on her sleeve.

“Is that where we’re going, Mama?” he asked quietly.

Krolia nodded. “Yes, it is, kit. We haven’t been stopped by the city guard, so it looks like we’re safe for now. I’ll need to talk to King Alfor and then I’ll know what’s going to happen, alright?”

Keith sniffled, burying his face in his favorite stuffed animal. “I want Papa,” he said through a new round of tears.

Krolia picked him up, hugging him in her lap. “I know, kit. I do too. We’ll just have to take our home back for him.” The combination of finally arriving in Altea’s capitol city and her son’s grief gave her new determination. Queen Krolia of Daibazaal would reclaim her throne, restore Marmora’s line, and ensure that no one would ever forget what happened that night.

~*~*~*~

Intro | Prologue pt 1 | Prologue pt 2