#so he'd be a good tool to use in teaching that nature can be our friend but ultimately it needs to be minded

[ride-a-dromedary]

I hope Halsin's lack of mentioning Ormn in the epilogue means that he had him moved out to Reithwin as well. The poor bear really seemed to miss him at the Grove.

Halsin mentions needing to teach the children that not all bears are friendly (like he is in wildshape), and I think Ormn would actually be a great help with that.

[1000night]

Be their roommate

Pairing: Steve Rogers/female chubby reader

warning: female chubby reader,soft dark Steve rogers, modern au, implied smut（only mention）

English is not my first language.

Steve Rogers

At first, you assumed that he'd feel uncomfortable. He's a cat person, you respect his nature.

But he welcomed you with his whole heart, you could feel it.

Share the household and groceries, he knows you don't know how to cook so he takes responsibility. And he slowly teaches you but it's another story.

He wakes up early, prepares both your breakfast and brings his art tools to the outside after he finishes his one.

When he's back, he'll bring you a fresh flower and his drawing. No matter the weather whether it's a weekday or weekend. Unless the flower shop doesn't open that day, then he'll change his portrait with your neighbor's flower.

He'd blush so hard every time he sees you not wearing a bra, just a loose shirt, and shorts. And I mean it, he blushes every·single·time, but he knows that means you trust him, and you could be yourself when you are around him. He loves it while he must remind himself Don't stare at your titties. You don't know what you did to this poor baby. 😌😌

If you're home late, after 7 p.m., he'll walk you home. “I can't let a stunning young dame walking alone in the dark street. It's not safe.” He said while giving you a small and warm smile.

Laundry day is your favorite day, his laundry detergents are Petitgrain and lavender. Yours are ylang-ylang. Until one day, you mistake the detergent, and your clothes have its scent for a week.

“You know, it smells good. And it's warm. I can use the same one when mine is empty?” He parted his lips but couldn't say anything, but now you will use the same laundry detergents at least for sure.

When you fell asleep on your cozy couch, he'd put his blanket over your body and kiss your forehead.

“Have a good dream, mon amour.”

Not a lot changed after he got the serum. But he'll do more things for you.

Now you only have to carry some large and light stuff, and that’s what you insist that you won’t let him carry all the groceries!

“Steve, I’m not that weak. You know that and we both agree to share the responsibility. It’s won't change even when you accept the serum!” You nearly screamed at him

“But…but you said that you’ve never met a man help you carry a heavy thing. And you always helped carry the heavy one when I was weak. I think it’s time for me to do this thing for you. I want to treat you like you want and deserve. I’m not disrespecting you, doll. I’m sorry.”

Who would keep angry at him when he says those sweet words and looks sad!? It’s illegal!

When he starts to re-acknowledge his strength and new body, he breaks down so many things. Doors, drawers, fridges… every time you see his innocent but guilty eyes, always remind you of a golden retriever dog that breaks something accidentally.

You forgive him as always. First, he'll pay for those damages, and he even started to learn how to repair them. Second, you could sympathize with his uncontrolled body when you cross the aisles and knock things down with your butt. He still forgave you and said that’s not a big deal. Now, it’s your turn to comfort him.

When you see him, you start to wonder what would happen if you needed to move out and find another roommate.

He's freaking out. He can't expect that you'll try to leave him when he becomes stronger and much better.

Until you explain to him, you're a little bit afraid of the tall and beefy men. It's all because of your father. And you think he might want to have a relationship after he has a new and more attractive body. Then you don't want to be the third wheel and make his future partner insecure about you two.

“No doll, no other person can change our relationship. I promise you.” He objects to your thoughts and vows to NEVER abandon you.

“Alright, Steve. If you have a girlfriend, please tell me so that I can prepare to pack up, okay?”

Again, he swallowed and nodded. When you pat his abs and admire his new body, you can feel his intense eyes and his arms around your waist...

If you look up, you could see his ocean blue eyes darken. And the possessive on his face.

Oh, girl, you are treated like a goddess, lived in the castle on the clouds.

He spoils you, everything you want, you get it. He won’t hesitate to offer you; he is proud of that.

“Steve, if you keep spoiling me, don’t you afraid that I’ll use you for my own greed?”⸺You try to joke with him.

He raised his eyebrow and kept waxing the wood while he answers your teasing

“Oh yeah? So how to explain that you cried and refused to accept the cheesecake and the dress I bought for you?”

“That’s because you know I’m intake of sugar, but you still buy those for me when I just whining! I want those but I don’t need them!... God, now I sound like a baby.”

“Well, you are.” He started to combine the woods, your eyes couldn’t stop trailing down his fingers, wrist, and muscles. Your mouth-watering, but you frown after you realized what he said.

Does he think you’ve become shallow and annoyed? Or does he think that you cost his money too much? You should know that’s a lie when he said you don’t need to pay back.

Lead swells in your heart and hot tears in your eyes. Biting your lips as you tried to hold your sob back. You didn’t notice that he was staring down at you. Until his big and warm handheld your jaw to lift your head up, the tears blurred your sight, and a tear rolled down your cheek.

His thumbs weep your tears and stroke your wet cheeks, his voice was tender, deep, and smooth.

“Doll, you are my cry baby and my golden apple, I’d never get enough of you. You don’t know what you’ve done to me.”

His words confused you, and there were butterflies on your chest and stomach now.

“What are you trying to say?”

He stepped closer, now your chest touched, and you were holding your breath.

“I’m head over heels in love with you.”

“How could you love me? I’m not attractive like Carter cousins or Natasha, and I do not have any superpower like Wanda.”

He pressed his forehead against yours, then he smiled

“Yes, you have. Always encourage people, and believed them even when they didn’t believe themselves. Remember our first dance on the 4th of July? You said that’s probably your first and last dance because I’m the last person in this world who would want to dance with you.”

“I remember that. That’s emotional blackmail and I’m sorry, Steve.”

He chuckled as he kissed your nose, his arms wrapped around your waist, and rested his hands on your low back.

“Actually, I’m half glad about that. You don’t know how many of my colleagues asked me about you. You don’t know those pricks I fight because they stared at you.”

“Really? But I don’t want their attention. I don’t like them nor care about them.”

“I know, I told you that you’re mine. And I mean it, doll.” He kissed the crown of your head.

“So…we’re a couple now?”

“We always are.”

Bonus:

“Are you the soft dark type, Steve?” It’s a stormy night, Steve and you are now in the big spoon position. He lays his head on your stomach, his hands are massaging your breasts.

“Still no bra? What a naughty girl.”

“Hey! You know those lingeries always itches my skin. Besides, it really feels free when there’s not a thing tucked under your tits.”

“Not complained at all.” He murmurs while burying his face in your tummy, fingers kneading your soft flesh. His touch sends a shiver down your spine and heats up your body.

“Back to the topic, do you think that you’re a soft dark type?”

“What’s a soft dark type?”

“Um…it’s hard to say, but I think if you could love a person crazy enough to want to lock your lover away and keeps them to yourself for all eternity, but you resist the urge because you know they need their freedom and you respect them. Then you’re a soft dark type to me.”

“...I think I am.”

“Oh, I’m not that surprised.”

“Aren’t you? Will you be afraid of me because I’m the type?”

“Not at all! In fact, I quite love this personal trait, plus,  you respect me. cherish me and love me. And I love you! I don’t want to lose because someone thinks that’s ‘sick' or something.”

Steve doesn’t say anything, he lifted your shirt over your tummy and trails his kiss up to your  lips.

“Steve.” You mewl

“I want to say thank you, doll. Let me take care of you.” His dark blue eyes shone in the dim light.

When you sleep soundly in his arms,  he starts to reminisce about the old days of chasing those suitors away from you.

He’s fallen in love with you before he accepted the serum, you’re considerate, warm, and friendly. Your shyness and the fear of all men who are tall and muscular gave him a chance to be close to you, it’s not a fair game in the beginning.

You’d greet him every morning and evening, praise his artworks, and encourage him to chase his dream. When he was self-doubt himself, you compliment his hair, his eyes, and his hands.

Your hair is just like the sunshine, and your eyes recall me of the sea color of the Caribbean Sea. I also admire your hands, they’re talented, slender, and beautiful. You’re breathtaking, Stevie.

He still remembers the feelings about flowers blossoming in his heart and the drunk feeling.

Speaking of the soft dark type, he did do several measures to make sure no one could steal you away from him.  Convinced you moved in just the first step, keeping bringing you flowers and sharing the household, that’s all to claim you his mark. After he got the strength to protect you, the training time became the time that he teaches those agents and soldiers to not touch what is his.

As time flies, the deep thought about spoiling you started to scream to him. Those old memories about you having to save money for rent and need. The envious sight you gave to a delicate fountain pen when you dropped by a shop left a vivid impression on his mind.

You’re like the forbidden fruit, teaches him how to love, how the feeling to be loved, cherished, adored by someone.

You’ve devoted yourself to him, your youth and soul, it’s time to repay you, with his body and soul.

He strokes your hair and lets your breath lull him into sleep.

“Doll, I love you till the sun dies. And I’d be your sun.”

The end

A/N: Again, muse has her own thots and I😳😌💖📃 But I feel so satisfied with I finished Steve's headcannon（？）I bet you will notice I love someone more than others🤣🤣

[the-crow-binary]

YOUR LAST PIECE GAVE ME FEELINGS SO

I am, for reasons I don't know if I can explain, a sucker for the idea of Isaac being a mentor to someone. It's my firm belief that neither Isaac (in an AU where he survives or he's brought back lol) nor Hector should pursue a romantic relationship after the events of CoD, they're not in the right mental place for that - and also, Isaac just... doesn't do well with romance sdjhfkhsjk he has. Issues. Plenty of them.

But also I would very much like him to get some bit of affection, a chance to redeem himself and do something good for a chance, and I keep thinking of him tutoring someone who admires him as a person, and not as a tool. So BB having an idol crush on Isaac and Isaac getting attached to this young boy who Is Just Like Him fr fr warms my heart ;A;

(also it's about time someone gushed about Isaac's pretty red hair in the same way everyone falls over Hector <.<)

And I don't know, but I think Isaac would like mentoring someone in general? Talking in his own dramatic way, explaining the intricacies of the dark arts that he loves so much, having someone hanging from his lips, being to his student what Dracula was to him? He seems like the type lol. He'd be a tough, cynical teacher, the one who believes in "the world is a cruel place, so you must be tougher than the world", but he'd care in his own way. He probably wanted to be a mentor to Hector, but we know how that went :P

So yeah. Love this AU. Isaac gets some affection (and probably heals from his broken heart a little) and BB gets to feel like he's less of a mistake of nature :>

HEHEHE ALL ACCORDING TO THE KEIKAKU.

But fr the idea of Isaac being a mentor to someone... aaaa <3 Love it. Though it breaks my heart to think about him wanting to tutor Hector, only to discover he didn't need him and was even more powerful than he. :( To the point of taking his place in Dracula's heart. :( He had ONE DREAM !!

The only things he got to be a "mentor" to are his Innocent Devils... but it's different. Because those creatures are MADE to be loyal to him. To love him... But what he wants is someone who wasn't made for him. Someone who's totally free to choose. Choose who they care about, choose who they admire, choose who they want to learn from. And who would choose him, willfully.

And who's more perfect for that than our baby boy BB <3 A boy from almost three hundreds years in Isaac's future. Wanting him so badly he went to the point of RESURRECTING HIM to get his help <3 How can you show your dedication in a more powerful way ?? You can't. BB is just that motivated. i understand better the people trying to resurrect Dracula all the time And of course, his dedication doesn't stop at just resurrecting Isaac and following his steps. He didn't bring him back just to have someone to teach him about Dracula and Devil Forging. He also brought him back because he felt like he needed him. He needed someone who would understand him, someone who would stay by his side no matter what. Someone he could feel at ease with. A friend, maybe. But he was fine with a master, too. As long as he could feel useful to that person, enough to want to keep him by their side. As long as he could care for someone. Isaac felt like the perfect match, judging by what the demons told him about him.

And he was right, wasn't he <3 (yeah i can see Isaac being to Benedict what Dracula was to Isaac <3 maybe, in a scenario where they both resurrect Dracula... he would still be more loyal and attached to Isaac than their Lord ? And oh boy... i'm not sure how Isaac would feel about that. Would he be satisfied, since being loyal to him means he's loyal to Drac anyway, or will he go "no, now that our Lord is back, it's Him you need to serve and follow. Not me." THE THOUGHT IS BREAKING MY HEART- NOOOOO)

Also, Isaac being all dramatic and theatrical when teaching <3 Doing exagerating gestures <3 Being all extra and fun <3 Yes yes yes !! <3 "he'd care in his own way" Oh my heart <3 (tbf, his "own way" is probably better than anything BB had to go through with his own family lmao. At least Isaac DOES care.)

[suspiciousbystander]

My relationships with every agents from VP

Brimstone: I respect him like a father. I'll always listen and maybe ask his advice about stuff regarding the protocol

Phoenix: gaming buddy that I can beat

Sage: I will vent my mind to her and I believe she would come up with some good words of encouragement. She won't rudely lecture us when we're feeling down. Yes, she's the big sister.

Sova: training instructor. He knows how to shoot and we can learn from him. I mean, he'll be very gentle and polite when teaching us

Viper: she looks lonely. I might try to approach her, offer her some coffee if I find out she's working overtime. She might push me away at first, but I know she'll appreciate it

Cypher: he's my crush. And he probably knows it already. He would be alert at first, but if I approach him correctly, he's all fluffy when nobody's around. I'd somehow feel safe around him. He'd appreciate my presence.

Reyna: avoid at all cost. If you fail, do your best not to offend her

Killjoy: bestie! I would come to her workshop and bring her refreshments like coffee/tea/milk and some snacks. That'll distract her from working too much and maybe we'd ended up watching movies together

Breach: I don't hate him but I also don't like being around him. I can handle it if it's for a bit, but I know this man is loud. Maybe Killjoy would try to persuade me into getting her tools back from him

Omen: just like Sage, but he's the big bro version. I can vent to him and he's a good listener. I think he's kinda protective, so he would be surprisingly good at taking care of us. Especially when we forget to eat.

Jett: shopping buddy! She knows all kind of places. Clothing? Hobbies stuff? Food? Good photo destinations? Even a good boba tea shop? You name it, she'd probably know the best places for them.

Raze: I'm an introvert that doesn't like around noisy places. But Raze isn't always loud. Surprisingly, she knows how to match a person with their type of music. Go ask her what song you'll most likely like. She got you!

Skye: she's friendly. Very friendly. She would teach us yoga or take us to a good place surrounded by nature if we want to "heal"

Yoru: another gaming buddy. Unfortunately, he would always try hard and not let us win even just one time. He would teach us how to clear a level if we sulk about it. "ugh, you're so bad. You should be doing it like this". His tips are great though!

Kay/O: another instructor. Different from Sova, he'd even point out our wobbly formation when shooting. He's blunt, but his judgement is accurate. Bear with him, he might hurt your feelings but he's right, though

Astra: she knows how to crack jokes. So we can come to her when we want to distract our minds from something depressing and sad! She'll make you laugh. And she's probably know you're feeling down

Chamber: surprisingly, he told us that he use the narcissist persona to drive people away because he doesn't feel safe around everybody else. But us, he especially likes us because in his eyes, we seem neutral. In exchange to listening to his rambling, he'll treat you your favorite desserts. And maybe let you try his Tour de Force

Neon: she's the one who would always look for me. She's like the little sister who wants to take care of her big sis/bros. "I have adobo! I cooked them myself. Wanna eat together?". She's not offering, she's pleading cutely

[acaseforpencils]

The Ink Well Foundation.

The Ink Well Foundation is a non-profit that helps bring smiles to the faces of children facing adversity such as illness, neglect, and abuse. I cannot begin to express how big of an honor it is to have Elizabeth Winter on Case—this interview brought me to tears, and it means a lot to share her message on here, so that you all can help more children in need to be able to connect with this incredible foundation.

Bio: I am the Founder and Executive Director of the Ink Well Foundation. Growing up, I had cancer my entire childhood—it was a rare cancer that kept getting misdiagnosed, which meant a fair amount of biopsies and days in the hospital, and finally major surgery where I was told I might wake up without a leg. I am very fortunate in that the doctors were able to remove all the cancer without amputating, and I have been cancer-free since I was about 20 years old. 

That experience gave me a lot of empathy and compassion for kids facing long, isolating hospital stays. There were also other issues during my childhood: I experienced a lot of abandonment with a mother who just could not play the role of mother, and who eventually died when I was fifteen. In general, I just had a pretty severe lack of affection and emotional support growing up. All that made me very tough, in some ways too tough and it wound up creating only further isolation and pain. 

As an adult, I saw that pain mirrored in other children's eyes and I began to seek out a way to connect with them, to help them and myself learn to nurture and heal together. I strongly feel that genuine human bonding can fuel both physical and emotional healing. I also think getting out into nature and carrying that same respect to all wildlife helps us to become humble and connected in a very powerful way, so we stress those ideas in our work often.

In 2005, I was working in animation in New York City, and I stood up in a meeting at work one day, and asked if any of the other artists would like to come along with me to draw with kids facing illness and hardship. A couple people raised their hands, and we went together to Gilda's Club out in Brooklyn (that club house has since closed, but we still go to the one in Manhattan). The artists who came along in those early years, like Rami Efal and Ray Alma, Pedro Delgado and Sergei Aniskov—those people are all still volunteers today! That says so much to me about the kind of people this work attracts. We've all become like family over the years and I love those guys so much. 

It all began at Gilda's Club, but then I reached out to places like the Ronald McDonald House, St. Mary's Hospital and Bellevue Hospitals, and we slowly but surely became accepted and welcomed at healthcare and at-risk support centers all across New York, because the kids loved what we did, and at then end of every event they were begging us to come back. So we always did! That is the true mark of success for me every time, when the kids are yelling at us to get back there as soon as we can.

A few years ago, I learned about the great organization on the Upper East Side, The Society of Illustrators. Their Executive Director, Anelle Miller, connected me with all these other great artists like Stefano Imbert, Bil Donovan, Abby Merrill, and Elana Amity (who is now our Event Director at Mount Sinai Hospital, where she hosts a monthly live drawing call-in show that beams to all the kids' hospital rooms at once). They draw along with us and call or text in with questions and comments. It's hilarious and adorable. We also connected with the great people of the National Cartoonists Society, and wonderful artists like Ed Steckley, Adrian Sinnott, Howard Beckerman, Tim Savage, Marty Macaluso, Joe Vissichelli and so many more. 

After MTV Animation New York shut down, pretty much all my colleagues and I from great shows like Beavis and Butthead, Daria, The Head, and Celebrity Death Match all moved out west. So I had this great group of talented friends still living there, and based on the Ink Well's popularity in NYC, I thought, let's give it a shot there too! I reached out to my former colleague from Rugrats and Wild Thornberrys, Joseph Scott, and asked if he'd be interested in running things there. He is now heading up all our operations in L.A. and he is just the most phenomenally kind and talented person on earth. With his art skills he could do whatever he wanted but he devotes a huge amount of time to the kids we work with and I'm so moved by his giving spirit and boundless good energy. And Michael Daedalus Kenny is also stepping up in a leadership role as our newest Event Director, we've got amazing artists like Marla Frazee of Boss Baby genius, Monica Tomova from SpongeBob, Jeanette Moreno, king of The Simpsons, Chris Harmon from Futurama, Ashley Simpson from Phineas and Ferb, Christian Lignan of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, graphic novelist, Jeremy Arambulo and so many others so we're in great hands there. I just wish the traffic weren't such a problem! It really is tough to get around that city, unlike NYC where there's a decently functioning subway that goes to all our locations, so getting around is no real trouble comparatively.

Tools of choice:  Our events are usually very handmade by design so that the kids can feel like they could do all of this easily by themselves. So we come up with themes like, “Who is your Superhero?,” and we ask the kids to focus on their strengths and what superpowers they wish they would have, and we draw their portraits as such. We are not art therapists, but we feel these event themes help to make the kids focus on positivity and their potential, and therefore help them to bond and heal. 

We do sometimes get more elaborate, like when we teach stop motion, claymation, and we once even taught them how to build homemade rockets on the roof of Bellevue Hospital! One of our Event Directors at the time, Nathan Schreiber, used to come up with the most fantastic science-focused events. He now runs a company called Science Ninjas, that helps kids learn about science with fun card games. But usually it's simple by design.

We are extremely fortunate to have Blick Arts as a sponsor. Their support enables us to provide each child with their own art kit after each event so that they can keep creating on their own after they learn new skills with us so thanks to them we have a lot of the arts tools we need.

Tool I wish existed: I think we do great working with anything we've got lying around- we emphasize the potential of just about anything to become art: we often create characters out of inanimate objects, make flip books, sculptures and puppets— using everything from card stock to socks to toothpicks and gum drops. We keep it accessible and inventive. 

How can we support The Ink Well Foundation? Because our volunteers are by definition "the artists behind the kids' favorite books, films, comics, and TV shows," we don't solicit volunteers from the general public. We do have an online application on our site, so other professionals that meet our criteria in the illustration, animation, and cartooning industries are welcome to apply there. 

What the general public can do is to help us spread the word so that more children can see that others are going through what they're going through, and also so that they see examples of adults believing in them and encouraging them. We try to promote the idea of art as self-expression and a way to get through trying times, ideally together. Connectivity and encouragement are critical to healing, and honestly, to just building a better world. So we talk about that a lot on our social media and at the events themselves. We also honor the kids' intelligence by talking about art in general there— we highlight classic and new artists and ideas and encourage them to learn from those masters as they develop their own skills.

Because we are a very small 100% volunteer-run organization, we focus on giving the kids the greatest events possible, and sometimes that means we don't have a lot of time for social media, self-promotion, and fund-raising. So spreading the word is huge and we are always extremely grateful for, and in need of, any financial donations. 

Where are Ink Well Foundation events held? We operate in New York City and Los Angeles because that's where the top artists in our fields are concentrated. We go to hospitals and at-risk support centers like Ronald McDonald House, Gilda's Club, Bellevue, St. Mary's, Mount Sinai, Childhelp, Covenant House and more. You can see the full list here. 

How can children who don't live near Ink Well Foundation events benefit from your Pen Pals Program? This is another reason we want people to spread the word. Loved ones of a child experiencing serious illness or hardship, who is physically or geographically unable to attend our events, can apply to have a special artwork sent straight to them. We ask the kids what their favorite animated films, TV shows, or illustrated books are, and then we have an artist who actually worked on that production make something tailored to that child. We then frame it up, and send it off to them by mail. 

We've done this with artists from SpongeBob, Captain Underpants, and just a week ago, we delivered a beautiful drawing of Curious George that our Event Directors, Franz Palomares and Lisa LaBracio (both of whom worked on Curious George) lovingly made. This was for a girl named, Maryanne who lives in Florida. She suffers from a rare disease called, vein of galen malformation that has led to brain damage and vision loss. She is unable to talk or walk or eat through her mouth and she suffers seizures but she understands everything around her, and she can feel texture. So Franz and Lisa made her Curious George playing in a sand box, and they glued real sand into the picture, so that Maryanne could feel that, and enjoy the art on multiple levels. Maryanne's mother, Sandra, said that she was thrilled, and that she loves to hold it. 

Our hearts are full being able to share these works with kids who need that moment of light, and that knowledge that an adult they admire, someone who doesn't even know them well, can care enough about them to take the time to create careful, tailor-made artworks just for them. We hope that helps to bring a smile in the moment, and build self-worth long term.

Misc. I'd like to mention that everything we do is 100% free of charge. No one gets paid, no money ever changes hands for the art. We have brilliant artists like Peter de Séve who is on our board and attends many events, while also creating characters for Ice Age, The Little Prince, and all his New Yorker covers. He could get a mint for his works, but he comes down and does this for free, and that's a testament to the power of that loving connection we all feel when we are just selflessly helping one another.

I feel this most acutely when I'm working with youth who have suffered abuse and neglect. We have an Event Director, Jane Archer, who leads our work at Bellevue Hospital. Many of those kids are there because they have been through unendurable trauma, and Jane connects with them beautifully. She begins with a meditation where we all envision our strengths together, we talk about our talents, and hopes for a brighter day, we imagine embodying those gifts and then we gently, patiently, ask the kids to help us draw characters step by step. Many kids start out very suspicious and resistant, even angry. But by the end of the events they are almost always laughing and teasing us, and they don't want to stop creating. It is my greatest joy to experience that transition and I hope we may continue to spread this support and faith in one another for many years to come.

Website, Etc: 

We are @inkwellkids on every platform:

Website

Facebook 

Instagram

Twitter

Find more posts about art supplies on Case’s Instagram! There is a Twitter as well. If you enjoy this blog, and would like to contribute to labor and maintenance costs, there is also a Patreon!

[thestarrynightgazer]

Lilac III

This might be short... but I hope you'll still like it!

~~~~

He had asks hundreds of times why he had to be the youngest, he would be capable to assure himself with reasons afterwards but today he could not assure himself. Zeldris just concluded that he was no good with kids, no matter how much he looks at Arthur and Meliodas do it he just can't, and it honestly made him wish for a second that he should have been the eldest.

Estarossa's condition was getting better little by little, it was good that Elizabeth had been there to heal the scars all over his skin for he doesn't want the boy to be reminded of the horror he went through. He had been laughing often, getting more cheerful day by day like any child his age should be going through.

It was then that Zeldris realized that the boy was just a human, he will inevitable die within a couple of decades, a reality he refused to accept. He had seen him die once, and it had been too much, he just had enough...

Was this what Meliodas felt?

"Do you really have to go?" Estarossa asks Meliodas, hands tugging the hem of the blonde's shirt while tears stained his cheeks. Meliodas had smiled at the boy, ruffling his hair before bending down to his level.

"I'm going to visit every weekend, how's that?" He suggested but it did not cheer the brat at all.

"Y-you ca-can just stay here! You and Zel-nii are brothers right? It should be fine!"

"Things doesn't work that way Esta, you see... my wife is over there and his is over here, they're our family to... I promise, I'll visit as soon as I can okay?"

"Alright..." He replied softly, still looking disheartened by the blonde's decision. Great, he wanted to carry the boy to Liones now, he was pretty sure he was strong enough to protect Estarossa from Ludoshel but Tarmiel and Sariel could just cooperate against them. He never wanted to leave Zeldris in Camelot as well, he wanted to make up with him but the three of the four archangels are just too much of a hasle.

He would love to move to Camelot, but that can't be the case for Elizabeth was at Liones and so are the sins.

"I'll visit as soon as possible okay? I promise..." The boy went to to hug him one last time as Meliodas chuckled. He never thought he'd see Estarossa all cute again, that little brat trotting around, following him, was just adorable but time took that little sunshine away...

And he wasn't leaving or letting this one go.

He waved at the boy one last time before walking towards Merlin, disappearing in a blink of an eye. Gelda had immediately approach the boy and offered to teach him how to read, the child had been pretty much willing saying that he once wanted to read a book in the mansion where he once live, a mansion his mistress had turned into a prison for him.

'Mistress', at least Zeldris knew that the one he needs to kill is a woman.

Before that, he still needs to know how to handle a child.

Zeldris had groaned upon realizing that it has been 10 hours since Meliodas left and he hadn't played with Estarossa, worse Arthur was nowhere to be found as he had been traveling to the extended territories of Camelot to speak with the governors. Of course, Gelda was there but he wanted to do something for the boy, no... he needed to do something for him, it just felt like necessity he just had to do as soon as possible.

He threw the book in his hand, sinking into his couch, alone in his study, wondering if he should sleep or not tonight.

The door suddenly creaking jerked him back to reality as he quickly look over the door. He saw the same pair of lilac eyes, staring at him in horror and his world fell apart.

"I'm so sorry I didn't mean to---"

"No, no, Rossa please stay, it's alright!" He uttered almost immediately, miserably trying, remembering how he accidentally glared at him way back. The child just accidentally shove a vase and when he realized it was him, he had apologize more than ten times trying to assure him that it's alright to make mistake.

This brat was bad for his health, but it was worth it.

Zeldris was once again miserable, since he had no idea what to do.

"I'm not bothering you....?"

"Rossa, I told a lot of times that you aren't." The boy bit his lower lip and Zeldris' mind was technically going wild.

"I'm sorry..." Why does it felt like everything he's doing around the boy is wrong?!

He suddenly remembered when he first brought the boy home. It scared him how the boy refused to sleep on the bed and stayed over the floor and since he didn't know how to handle him, he let him. Just a few minutes later when Estarossa finally fell asleep, he had carried him up to the bed and look over him through the night.

"Thi-this is why Mel-nii left... this is why he left... I'm a bo-bother... I'm useless,I ne-never do anything right..." Fragile, Estarossa had always been fragile, even the past him was. However, after Meliodas' betrayal his older brother had been broken too much until there was nothing left to break, it changed him. He never cared much about Estarossa, never cared no matter how many times he watched him punished by their father, never cared when he cried at Meliodas' betrayal but now, he was too scared to break him that he cared too much... too much, it ruins him.

The boy had been utterly broken, in and out and this time he wasn't letting him break further.

"Hey, hey... You aren't a bother... He promised to return, remember?" Again, being gentle was something that he wasn't used of but he just needed to. He had stood from his chair, walked straight to the boy and crouch down to his level, trying to remember how Meliodas does it as if trying to remember what Cusack was teaching him.

"And I'm not leaving you either..." He smiled, cupping the child's cheeks, wiping the tears away.

"Wouldn't I be---"

"No, Estarossa... you're my litte brother now, even if you break thousands of vases you would still be my brother..." He didn't really expect him to giggle at that, for as far as he can remember he possess none of this thinf they call humour.

"I might get angry, but it doesn't mean that I'm going to leave you, or hurt you, you're my brother now, and I am yours... you're--- you're important to me now so please stop thinking like that..." The words just slip from his lips naturally as he ruffled his hair.

"You understand right?" He tried to sound less commanding since that was something he was used of. He might be a leader, which is expected to understand the diversity of his colleague but he was an authoritative one. He creates wonderful ideas and strategies, and his people are mere tool to make them possible, like puppets under his control. So almost everything, ever since Estarossa arrived many thinfs were new to him.

The child was simply worth everything he could offer, not even deserving the pain he had went through.

The boy had nodded by then and it flooded him with relief.

"Good, how about we look how good you are at reading now?"

"You're letting me read with you?"

"Why not?"

"It's alright?" Trying to change this brat's mindset is not going to be easy.

"It will always be..."

Later that night, Estarossa found himself trying to sleep as he just can't stop smiling at all.