#so so foxes sit on their family members heads right?

[coco0milkshake]

guys guys I just had the best idea ever-

[delusionsofgrandeur13]

CASUAL

tim drake x reader

prologue

not nsfw yet but will be!

series inspired by Casual by Chappell Roan

readers can expect: fem reader x tim drake. party/alcohol mentions, reader drinks, isn’t really affected. creepy drunk guy/unwanted flirting. sexual innuendos.

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you’d seen him before, of course. on the cover of trashy tabloids in supermarket lines, ordering coffee at the college cafe. but this was the first time you’d seen him at a party.

you pull down the hem of your dress, red and so tight breathing was out of the question. you lick your thumb and, bending down, try to rub out the scuff on the toe of your right doc marten. you take as big of a breath as the dress allowed and put the most confident smile you could onto your face. you weren’t used to going to these kinds of frat parties, where the member’s lives were funded solely by old family money. the frat house had been paid for by lucius fox for his son to have somewhere ‘suitable’ to live. it was bruce fucking wayne’s former frat. you can’t imagine you’ll even talk to anyone the whole night. why would you? those kinds of boys were never your type, ever. but they were lydia’s. she’d been invited by her guy of the month, and in turn, invited you as emotional support. the laws of friendship demanded your attendance.

“you ready?”

you nod as lydia links her arm through yours, and pulls you up the pathway to the door of the frat house. you can hear the bass pounding through the windows, the house dark yet full of sound. a boy leans up against the dark wood, his arms crossed lazily. he lifts his head up, looking you both up and down, lydia in purple, you in red. something about him made you want to run home, yelling excuses for why you’d used a coupon at the store the other day and why your dress was secondhand. he sniffed, nodding, and moved aside to open the door for you both. the music washed over you in a wave, a little disorienting.

as soon as you crossed the threshold, lydia squeezed your arm and darted up the stairs, where her guy was waiting. you look around, trying to not fold in on yourself. the keg was in the corner, with some guys looking rather eager for anyone to volunteer to keg stand. you veer in the other direction. groups of people every so often burst into laughter, and you shiver. old money laughter was chilling. couples were scattered throughout the house, grinding on the stairs, sitting on each others laps on the couch.

you hadn’t been in a relationship for two and a half years, and every person since then had just been sort of a rebound..and then another rebound, and another, and another. you didn’t miss your ex, you just were no longer sold on the lovey dovey, ooey gooey, valentine’s day, til death do us part type of love.

the island in the kitchen was topped with marble, and you blinked, harshly reminded again of where you were. you grab a red solo cup, laughing internally at the fact that no matter who was throwing the party, those cups were present. you mixed yourself a rum and coke, more coke than rum. a frat house was a frat house.

your neck prickles, and you turn with your drink, leaning up against the island. the vibes of this place were giving you all kinds of heebie jeebies. a blonde girl in a pristine white tennis skirt flounced past, giving you a smile that didn’t reach her eyes. you return it, your expression turning into a grimace as you catch a glimpse of the guy making his way towards you. his light brown hair was cut way too short for his face shape, and nose was crooked like it’d been broken multiple times, then reset, then broken again and left like that. his green eyes were watery, red and bloodshot. he looked at you, hungry, and you felt like you were in a lion’s den, your flesh about to be stripped clean of your bones. his left hand was preoccupied with holding an entire bottle of vodka, which, with a glance at the label, said it was bubblegum flavored. your mouth twisted, thinking of the way that would taste coming back up.

he put his free hand on the counter next to you, cornering you. he leaned down, his breath telling you exactly what bubblegum flavored vodka tasted like.

“i haven’t seen you before. why?”

the rum and coke mixture in your mouth soured at the thought of this guy getting any closer to you.

“it doesn’t matter because you won’t be seeing me again.” you try to sidestep him, but he moves closer, setting his vodka on the island.

his arms were bracketing you in now, and your heart rate picked up speed. you silently begged lydia to come down the stairs and save you, but it was hopeless. the look in his eyes made you curse yourself for coming, for being anywhere that he was. he opened his mouth to say something else, but froze, looking at something over your shoulder.

“eric.” the voice came from behind you. it was masculine, and it sounded friendly enough, but you and eric both seemed to understand the underlying warning. he grabbed his vodka, leaning away, but still a step too close.

“tim.” eric nodded to whoever was behind you, his demeanor suddenly almost..respectful.

he then gulped, which you would’ve laughed at if he wasn’t still so close to you. your neck prickled again. he mumbled as he walked away, grumbling into the mouth of his bottle about frat presidents and how unfair it all was. he shot another glance back towards the kitchen before turning the corner, his lip curling.

you didn’t turn, instead taking another swig from your plastic cup. it crinkled in your hand as you relaxed your grip on it. someone was tapping out a rhythm on the marble. it sounded impatient, and you internally rolled your eyes before turning around. tim drake wayne was standing behind you, leaning his forearms on the countertop. his thick dark hair was coiffed in a way that probably took him hours but was meant to look like it just air dried that way. his jeans were tailored, but sat low on his hips. the dark fabric of his sweater looked like it would cost a month’s rent, and you had to resist the urge to reach out and feel it between your fingertips.

he stopped drumming his fingers, and your face grew hot, realizing you’d basically just been checking him out. he returned the favor, looking you up and down with half-lidded eyes and a cheshire cat smile. if eric was a lion, tim was a black panther. he’d probably play with you like a yarn ball, batting at you until you unraveled. being in his presence felt dangerous. you felt the burning gaze of a few others in the room who would probably cut off their pinky finger to be in your position. you shifted your weight off of the counter, standing up to walk away. you got two steps, stopping when tim called out after you.

“no.” he said. you spin, taking in the look on his face, his eyebrows pinched like a petulant child. you felt your own eyebrows raising as your entitled-rich-boy tank reached capacity.

“..no? what do you mean, no?” you replied, incredulous.

“don’t leave.”

“right. bye!” you turn to go find lydia, stopping in your tracks when tim suddenly slides in front of you. you suck in a breath, surprised at how fast he can move.

“maybe i wanted to talk to you.”

“what if i don’t want to listen?” you retort. his dark blue eyes flash, and the cheshire cat smile stretches across his face again.

“then don’t. give me your wrist.” he raises an eyebrow like a challenge, holding his hand out.

you comply, not really understanding why, and he’s pulling a pen out of his jeans, uncapping it. his grip on your wrist is firm but not painful, his hand warm and surprisingly calloused. the pen bites into the skin attaching the seam of your wrist and hand.

“there.” he finishes writing, pocketing the pen. “a new accessory to match that dress.”

the digits of his phone number wrap your wrist like a bracelet, and your heart stutters a little, your cheeks pinking.

“thank you?” you say, your words coming out as more of a question than you realize.

he winks, dragging his eyes up the length of your body again.

“maybe next time i’ll give you a pearl necklace.”

you blink and he’s gone, his lean back disappearing behind a corner. your heartbeat thumps in time to the music. you never thought you’d be in the presence of a wayne, let alone get one of their phone numbers. you stare at your wrist, memorizing the numbers like there’ll be a test on them later. lydia appears, her makeup smudged and her hair undone. she grabs your arm, shaking it a little.

“hey, all good to go? what’s that on your wrist?”

you shake your head, dropping it down by your side.

“nothing.” you smile at her, linking your arm through hers. “how was it?”

[sweatyracoon]

Poor Seungmin pt1

(a/n): picture not mine! ALSO- Seungmin is a hybrid, but he doesn't share the same features as regular hybrids. He knows, but his members don't. Because he doesn't have ears or a tail, he thought he wouldn't have a heat either. Boy, was he wrong.

Warnings: suggestive, hybrid!Seungmin, smut, Seungmin is shared, dry humping, cringe, lemme know if I missed anything

Pt 2

After a hard day of practice, Seungmin and the others all went to have dinner at McDonald's, one of his favorite places to eat. Everyone was sweaty and tired, but excited to spend more time together.

Lee know ordered first, offering to pay for everyone, but Seungmin wasn't having it. Instead of giving Lee know his order, he ignored him until he paid for everyone else.

"I can pay for myself, hyung. Thank you," Seungmin smiled lightly, placing his order.

Once all of the food came out, try all sat together, conversing lightly.

"So how should we turn, then, Chan?" Han asked his older member, wanting feedback.

The new choreo was proving to be very different from those before, stunting a few of them.

Hyunjin, sitting next to Seungmin, let his head fall to his youngers shoulder, munching on a fry.

"That girl was cute, Seung. Don't you think so?"

Hyunjin had been trying to find out what Seungmin liked and didn't like, but he was finding it hard because of his stoic demeanor.

"Hyunjin. Do you like her or something?" Seungmin decided to play dumb, knowing what Hyunjin was getting at.

"No. But she looked like she liked you," He responded, yawning.

Seungmin, unlike the rest of the group, hasn't shared his preferences when it came to dating. He knew his hybrid side wouldn't allow a normal relationship, which is also another secret he has kept these four years.

"The color of her ears was pretty though. You think shes a cat hybrid?" Jeonjin asked from his place next to Felix.

"Possibly? They looked more like a mouse, though...Right?" Han asked, his cheeks filled with food.

The boys continued to guess, unsure. But Seungmin knew. Its something every hybrid shares.

"Shes a fox hybrid," Seungmin sighed, tired of the false answers.

The boys turned to him, all quiet.

"So you WERE paying attention," Hyunjin teased.

Seungmin guessed the real reason she stared at him for that brief moment was because she also sensed it. Hybrids without physical features were extremely rare.

"Sure," He responded, eating another nugget.

When they reached their dorms, they all lounged for a while longer in the common room.

"I'm tired. I'm going to go lay down, alright guys?" Seungmin said, rising to stretch, showcasing his torso.

"Gonna go dream about that fox?" Changbin snickered, making the others giggle.

"Shes a girl with fox attributes, okay? Don't be rude," Seungmin scoffed, turning to leave.

Before he made it out of earshot, he heard Lee know say, "Why is he so sensitive about hybrids?"

"Who knows?"

Seungmin sighed as he washed before bed. The guys new why he was so respectful to hybrids. Most of his family themselves were hybrids, including his sister, which they all knew well.

All of his family were dog hybrids. What type? He had no clue. His mother and sister had floppy ears, and short, long haired tails. His dad, however, wasn't a hybrid. That's why, for the longest time, he thought he was the same way.

But he wasn't. A blood test came back, telling him he was one of the most rare type of hybrids. He was happy, but confused.

That's why, when he started feeling hot for no reason, he just thought he was getting sick.

Making his way to his and Bangchans shared room, he collapsed onto his small twin sized bed, suddenly feeling weak. Groaning, he took out his phone and checked the time.

One thirty two a.m. Seungmin was used to being up, and he wasn't really tired now that his body was all achy.

But then the heat pushed further, making him pant. How hot was it? He checked the thermostat next to the door, and it was 73 degrees. Pushing the button to make it lower, sweat was forming just above his brow.

He didn't want to take off his shirt, not wanting to expose himself when Chan comes in.

He changed his sweats, putting shorts on instead. Still didn't change the way he was feeling.

Lying back down on his bed, his head started to think of nasty thoughts.

That fox girl came into mind, making him whimper at the thought. But it wasn't her that was making him sound off, it was the look in Hyunjins eyes when he talked about her to Seungmin.

The teasing look that had a hint of lust in them. Was it lust? Seungmin thought it was just his horny brain.

It continued to drift.

He thought of the dance practice a few days ago, when he tripped and landed on Lee know who was right behind him. The older member was quick to help him get up, and make sure he was okay. At the time, it didn't bother him, but now he realized that Lee know was pressed flush against him, his large, firm thighs pressed behind him. Lee knows hands rubbed his shoulders, his face so close to Seungmins neck he could feel his breath lingering.

"Are you hurt?" Lee know asked, squeezing his shoulders.

"No, hyung. I'm okay," Seungmin smiled.

Now all Seungmin could imagine was Lee Knows thighs caging him, his hands all over his body.

And Han! When Han bit him playfully after Seungmin called him a rat instead a quokka. Han bit hard enough to leave his teeth marks, right on his forearm. What if he bit his neck instead?

Seungmin was a full on mess, a tent now forming in his shorts as he was laying on his bed above the blankets.

His breathing was ragged, and his body felt as if it were on fire, making him groan. He couldn't sit still, rocking back and forth as his mind became filthier.

He rocked a little too much, eventually falling off the side of the bed. It wasn't a steep drop, but enough to make noise. That was about the time Bangchan came in, expecting to fall asleep, only to find a disheveled Seungmin that had fell from his bed.

"Seungmin!" Bangchan rushed over, seeing his friend face down on the floor, shivering.

All he could do was moan, hips moving gently against the ground, finding some friction.

"Seungmin, what's wrong? Are you hurt?" Bangchan grabbed at his shoulders, trying to flip him over. Seungmin felt the fire focus where Chan grabbed him, moaning even louder.

Once flipped, Chan saw his younger members state. No longer a tent, but a full on boner in his shorts, straining against the material. Eyes glossy, tears threatening to pour from them, and mouth open, panting moans out, his braces on full display, covered in drool.

"C-Channie-" was all Seungmin could get out before grabbing his hand, and whimpered, closing his eyes.

Seungmin was so embarrassed, but couldn't stop himself.

"He-heat..." He breathed, making Chan freeze.

Chan had always found it odd that Seungmin resembled a puppy more than his family, but his sister once hinted to him that he isn't completely human. After Seungmin said that word, all of it was confirmed.

"Your...heat? Do you need me to call someone? Or..." Chan didn't know how to deal with a heat. Or anything to do with hybrids.

He didn't want to do anything he wasn't supposed to.

"Ah- please- help Channie hyung-" Seungmins back was arching off the floor now, whimpering.

Chan thought for a moment, then stood, fighting the death grip that Seungmin had on his hand. Ignoring the pleading from him, Chan walked to the entrance of their room, closing the door. He wasn't going to leave Seungmin like this.

Walking back to the moaning boy, he used his arms to lift him bridal style, making the boy yelp. Slowly but firmly, Chan placed him safely back in his twin bed, taking a seat next to him.

"Help.." Seungmins tongue poked out, licking his dry lips.

"How do I help you, Min?" Chan wanted to help, but how? He gave Seungmin his arm, letting him guide it to use.

Seungmin grasped it quickly, moving his hips to meet his wrist, grinding against it. It surprised Chan, being used in such a way by someone he saw as a younger brother, but it didn't upset him. It excited him.

Seungmin gasped, letting tears slip as he finally had some relief to the growing pain forming in his cock.

Chan watched, mesmerized by the sight. He never would have guessed Seungmin could be this way.

Whimpering turning into moans, Seungmin grinded harder, egging Chan on.

"Seungmin, I have an idea. Can I touch you?" He asked, wanting to help.

"Please! Just make it go away-" he said, turning his face into the pillow.

Chan nodded, pulling his arm from Seungmin, earning a sob in response. But Chan quickly moved his hand, grabbing his bulge roughly, earning a loud moan. Rubbing, and grabbing, trying his best to turn the pain into pleasure.

Seungmins panting proved that he was doing good. He rubbed faster, seeing the tears in Mins eyes.

Getting bolder, he slipped his hand under the waistband, coming skin to skin with his cock, and Seungmins back arched for the second time, moaning, perhaps, too loud.

"Shh.. It's okay, Minnie-" Chan coaxed, trying to quiet him.

Chan felt him twitch at the nickname, making him grin. He picked up the pace, noticing Seungmins sounds became louder, his breathing more erratic. His hips rutting up, trying to reach his release.

"Ch-Channie!! I'm cumming!" Was all Seungmin could say before opening his jaws in a silent scream, painting Chan's hand white.

Chan removed his hand after helping the younger come down from his high, licking it clean, making seungmin blush.

"Are you feeling alright, Seungmin?" Chan asked, pulling the blankets over him.

"I'm so sorry, Chan. I thought I couldn't have a heat since-" Seungmin blinked at him, embarrassed deeply.

"Don't worry about that, Min. Its natural. I just hope I did it right. I don't know anything about hybrids," Chan smiled softly at him, hoping to comfort him. "You know I have to tell the guys right?"

"Wait, why?" Seungmin sat up, causing Chan to push him back down.

"Relax, Min. If this happens again... The heat, and I'm not there, but someone else is, they are going to have to help you. Its to keep you safe," Chan said, trying to sound reasonable.

Seungmin was already panting again, but out of panic. Fear of being rejected by his members. Four years, and this has never been an issue, so why now?

"But, what if it freaks them out Chan? Wat if they don't want to be near me? I-" Chan quieted him with a hand on his jaw.

"We're your friends, Seung. They'll be okay, I promise. And so will you."

"Promise?" Seungmin flashed his puppy eyes to Chan, making him swoon.

"I promise, puppy."

[vodika-vibes]

Vodika... could we, please and thank you very much, get another mystic au with the Same Faces Gods? 👉👈 With a commander (Wolffe, Fox, Cody, Mayday, your choice). A first wohoo of love at first sight but busy.

Idk someone tries to appease the gods with a sacrifice, or the imperials try to replicate the technique but it backfires or a friend of 1st reader is a bit clumsy in a good way??

Of course you have every right not to do so!!!!

God Of War

Summary: Your cousin has been missing for months. Her social media has gone dark, and the people in the ExploraCorps have been tight-lipped about her whereabouts. Your family is sick with worry, and no one in the Empire seems willing to help. And then, when you're at work one day, everything changes.

Pairing: Commander Fox x F!Reader

Word Count: 3079

Warnings: Mentions of attempted human sacrifice, and kidnapping

Tagging: @trixie2023 @n0vqni @imabeautifulbutterfly

A/N: Thanks for your request! I wasn't sure if you wanted smut or not, so I erred on the side of caution and left this largely SFW. SFWish. I hope you like it!

You peek around your mother to look at your aunt. She’s sitting at the kitchen table, her hands wrapped tightly around one of your cousin’s old stuffed animals. Her eyes are glassy with tears. Your uncle has been staring out the back window since you and your mother arrived.

“Are they okay?” You ask, your voice quiet to not be overheard.

Your mother presses her lips together, and lightly cups your face, “Never you mind,” She admonishes, “They’ll be alright. So far as we know, your cousin is alive. They’re just worried about her.”

“The ExploraCorps hasn’t said anything?”

Your mother tapped your nose, “Never you mind.” She leans in and kisses your cheek, “Go on, baby. You’re going to be late for work.”

Worriedly, you gaze at your aunt and uncle and then back to your mother, “Are you sure? Senator Organa won’t mind giving me the day.”

“I’m sure. I’ll take care of them today,” She lightly pets your cheek, then turns back to her brother and sister-in-law.

You watch them momentarily, then turn and hurry out of their house. Luckily, the taxi is still waiting for you and you climb in the back before giving the driver your destination, the senate building. 

When you completed the placement tests as a child, you had a predisposition for politics and law. You were lucky and were selected to be an assistant for Senator Bail Organa, rather than some of the less agreeable Senators. 

He’s an agreeable man, with a big heart, and has come to view you like a beloved niece. When you told him that you were going to be late that morning due to a family emergency, he offered to give you the whole day.

If you thought that your presence would help your aunt and uncle, you’d take him up on that offer. But your uncle took one look at you and nearly collapsed to the ground in his grief.

You pay your taxi driver and head into the Senate Dome, walking the familiar path without really paying attention. It’s late enough in the day that there aren’t many people roaming the halls.

Which is good for you, because you’re not paying the most attention to your surroundings. 

You don’t snap back to yourself until you open the door to Senator Organa’s office and he says your name. You focus your attention on him, and he smiles kindly, “I wasn’t expecting to see you until this afternoon.”

You pause, and then duck your head, “Sorry, Senator. My presence wasn’t helping things, so Mom said to come in.”

He looks worried, “Is everything alright?”

Your hands curl into fists, “My cousin is a member of the ExploraCorps. She’s missing. Has been for months, and no one is telling us anything. Her social media has gone dark and…” You trail off, “Well, we’re worried.”

“I can understand that. Would you like me to reach out?”

“I appreciate it, Senator. But I doubt you’ll get an answer any different than what we got.” You sigh, “I just need something to do, that’s all.”

He walks over to you, and lightly places his hand on your shoulder, “Well, I have a lot of that. Would you be a dear, and deliver this stack of missives for me?”

You glance at the small stack of brown envelopes, and then you nod, “For the Perkins Bill?”

“Indeed. I’m sure it’s going to pass, everyone supports it, but we need to do things properly.” He walks over to his desk and hands you the stack of envelopes. “Take your time, there’s no rush.”

“Yes, Senator.” You reply as you flip through the envelopes, and then pause when you get to the last one, “Senator?”

“Yes?”

“This last envelope isn’t labeled.”

“Oh?” He takes it, and stares at it in bewilderment, “I think this goes to the ExploraCorps.”

You stare at him.

“Ah, hold on.” He moves around his desk to open the envelope, and scans the content inside, “Ah, I was wrong. This goes to the Director of the MediCorps.”

A frown pulls at your lips, “Wasn’t the director of the MediCorps recently replaced?”

“Yes, he was.” Senator Organa flips open a binder and scans a sheet of paper at the top, “The current director is…hm…ah, here she is. Doctor Yasmin Kelb.”

“What happened to Doctor Trudel?” 

“Medically Retired.” Senator Organa replies, “Cancer.”

“That’s a shame.”

“It is.” You watch as he seals the paper in a new envelope and labels it to Doctor Kelb, “Here you go. Once you deliver all of these, come on back. I’ll have some more for you then.”

“Yes, Senator.”

“Good, lass. Off you run.”

You turn and leave his office, and stop in the hallway to organize the envelopes in a way that makes sense to you. Mentally, you map out the senate building and organize the delivery schedule in such a way that you won’t have to backtrack a lot, and then you start making deliveries.

The nicest thing about being Bail Organa’s aide is that you’re largely invisible. The people you work with don’t see you so much as Senator Organa’s crest on your nice jacket, and it gives you access to places where you normally wouldn’t have access.

It’s only fair. Senator Organa is a very well-respected man, almost as well respected as his lady wife. And anyone who is even remotely attached to him is treated with the same amount of respect.

It’s one of the few perks of your job.

The other one is the daily free food and coffee.

Finally, you only have the envelope for Doctor Kelb, and so you hop on the elevator to go up to the Director of the MediCorps office. Only to find yourself in front of an empty room.

“Everything alright?” A security guard asks as he walks over to you, glancing at the crest on your jacket, and the straightening.

“I have a message to deliver to Doctor Kelb for Senator Organa. Did the location of the MediCorps office change?”

“Yes ma’am,” He nods once, “They’re in the basement now. At Doctor Kelb’s request. You’ll find her office next to Director Frosch’s office.”

Slowly, you nod, “Next to the Office of the ExploraCorps?”

“That’s right.”

You hum thoughtfully, “Thank you.”

“You’re quite welcome. Have a good day, ma’am.”

“You as well.” You turn and head back to the elevator, bypassing the first one and heading to the second one. There’s only one elevator that heads to the basement, for security reasons, luckily you already have an access card and you don’t have to go ask the Senator to use his.

You wave your card over the panel next to the elevator, and the door slides open several moments later. You hit the button for sublevel one, and you wave your card over the panel inside the elevator, which allows the doors to slide shut and the elevator to start moving. 

It takes almost a whole minute to get to sublevel 1, that’s just how massive the senate building is, and you scrunch up your nose at the scent. The sublevel smells like a disgusting mix of antiseptic, the pine of the cleaning solution that cleaners use, and mildew. There must be a water leak somewhere.

You walk down the hall until you reach Director Frosch’s office, and you peer at the two offices next to his. 

One is empty, it used to belong to the director of the EduCorps, but EduCorps was moved to the local university several months ago. But the other one has a temporary door sign marking it as the office of Doctor Yasmin Kelb.

The door is shut, but you can see a light on under the door, so you lightly knock and wait.

The door swings open so suddenly, and with such force, that you jump back.

If you were to meet Doctor Kelb on the street, you’d think that she was a professional dancer. Less thin and more willowy. She towers over you, standing nearly the same height as your uncle as best as you can tell, and she squints at you through a pair of wireframe glasses. “What?” She demands, impatiently.

“Doctor Kelb? I have a missive for you from Senator Organa-” You start, holding out the envelope, only to blink as the woman rips it from your hands.

“Yes, yes. Good.” She vanishes into her office, and you stare at the spot where the woman had been standing, wondering if you should just leave, only to jump when she appears again, “What are you doing?” She demands, “Follow.”

“I…yes, Doctor!” You step into her office and she slams the door shut behind you.

Her office is a mess. Boxes and books and loose papers leave very little walking space.

“Ignore the mess,” The Doctor says as she brushes past you, knocking a box full of papers to the floor. “I just moved in.” 

Her office is a lot bigger than any of the other offices. It almost looks like her office continues deeper beneath the Senate Building. 

“Doctor?” You ask.

“What?”

“Where are you taking me?” 

The woman sighs explosively, “Keep up, girl.” It’s not a very neat side-step of your question, and you’re starting to get an eerie feeling, as though you should probably leave.

“...Senator Organa will be waiting for me.” You say as you slow to a stop.

The woman sighs again and spins to look at you. There’s a frightening look on her face, and you take half a step back, only to trip over a book and fall.

“This,” Doctor Kelb says to you as she advances on you, a syringe in her hand, “is for the good of the Empire.”

“W-wait-!” You try to scramble back but there’s nowhere to go. 

You feel the sharp sting of a needle entering your neck and the cold feeling of something entering your body. Panicked, you manage to kick the woman off of her, but you only manage to get a few feet away from her before whatever she injected you with takes hold.

A terrified sob falls from you, even as the world fades to darkness.

Slowly, you come back to yourself.

You’re in a dimmed room, and you seem to be lying on stone. 

Immediately you know that you’re either no longer in the senate building, or you’re so deep beneath the building that you might as well be somewhere else. 

Slowly you sit up to take stock of your surroundings. 

The first thing you note is that you’re naked, even your hair tie has been removed. Your feet are chained to this stone bed, though there doesn’t appear to be anything keeping you from moving. 

There’s a deep gash on the palm of your left hand. Curiously, it’s already been wrapped in bandages.

You turn your attention away from yourself and to your surroundings. It appears that you’re in some kind of ritual circle, like the ones you learned about in history class all those years ago.

Across from you is a stone table. You can’t see, exactly, what’s on it, but you do see a blanket folded on the table, as well as the skull of some type of animal.

Around the edges of the circle is Doctor Kelb, as well as several members of the ExploraCorps.

They don’t seem to notice, or care, that you’re awake. 

“We have everything,” Director Frosch insists, “This is exactly what the ritual entails.”

“I agree.” Doctor Kelb says with a dispassionate glance at you, before she looks back at the director, “Best get started before the sacrifice starts making a nuisance of herself.”

“Yes, yes.” Doctor Frosch strokes his beard and then picks up a lighter and lowers it to a divot in the ground.

You watch, in numb horror, as flames spring to life around you. Blocking the people who kidnapped you from sight.

They mean to burn you alive.

You’re only thought, hope, is that maybe it’ll be quick. Maybe your death won’t hurt too much.

The flames lick up the sides of the stone bed you’re strapped and you can feel the almost cold heat of the flames licking the soles of your feet. You slam your eyes shut, you don’t want to see this.

Then the impossible happens.

The flames bend away from you, the pain in your feet fades, and a cool hand presses against your cheek. Tearfully, you look up.

A man is standing over you, just as naked as you are, but strangely, you aren’t afraid of him. “It’s going to be okay.” He says soothingly, as he drapes the blanket over your shoulders and wraps it around you.

You start as the manacles holding you to the stone bed shatter as if they were never there to begin with. “Who-?”

His other hand presses against your cheek, tilting your head back so you’re meeting his gaze, “My name is Fox. I am the patron god of the forgotten and the abused.” Something like malice slides across his face, “I do not think they meant to summon me.”

Even with the malice rolling off of him in waves, you’re still not afraid of him.

Then he smiles at you, soft and warm, and he lightly presses his lips against your forehead, “All will be well. I promise.” The flames finally die down and Fox helps you off the bed and stands you behind him. “Stay behind me, ad’ika.”

You nod mutely and cower behind him.

Director Frosch and Doctor Kelb step into the circle, “Finally.” The director says, “Proof.”

Fox gazes at them dispassionately.

“We are the ones who summoned you,” Doctor Kelb says, “You have to obey us.”

“Oh? I didn’t see you in the summoning circle,” Fox replies.

The two adults share a look before the Director clears his throat, “We are at war, we need your expertise to destroy our enemies.”

Fox smiles, “I am a god of war.”

“Yes! So you can kill our enemies for us-”

“I am not a god of slaughter.” Fox interrupts.

“Then…then you can tell us strategies to help us win-”

“I am not a strategic god.”

“Then who-?”

Fox advances on them, “I am a god of war. I am every mother who has lost her son. Every wife who has lost her husband. Every orphaned child.” He pauses and glances at you, “...every sacrifice. Everyone who has been forgotten and abused.”

The protective circle crumbles, not meant to hold the will of a deity, and the people who kidnapped you scramble back as shadows pool at Fox’s feet.

“How dare you call on me.”

You see the shadows sliding across the floor, and you slam your eyes shut as the shadows lift from the ground. This isn’t for your eyes. Even though you can’t see what’s happening, you can hear it.

Screaming, and begging, and the sound of something sharp cutting through flesh.

And then-

Silence.

The silence is almost deafening, and you only open your eyes when you feel those cool fingers against your face again.

“They will never harm you, or anyone else, again,” Fox says. There’s blood splattered on his face, and you use the corner of the blanket to reach up and wipe the blood off of his face.

His gaze softens as he watches you.

“What happens now?” You ask.

Fox hums thoughtfully as he takes your hand in his, “I have never had a priestess before. Though, I’ve also never had a priest before either. People generally aren’t fool enough to summon me.”

“I didn’t-”

“Shh.” He presses his finger against your lips, “I know you didn’t summon me. But, you are mine. Mine to protect, mine to hold, mine to love.”

Your face heats at his words. Not that you’re complaining. You feel drawn to him, and you wonder if the ritual had something to do with that. But it doesn’t matter. Not really.

You don’t want to leave his side.

Fox moves his finger from your lips and leans in so his lips are hovering over yours, “I should finish the claiming,” He murmurs, chuckling as you try to lean in to kiss him, “But we’re not safe yet. And I want to take my time with claiming you.”

He pulls away and you make a disappointed noise.

Fox chuckles, “Patience, ner ad’ika. When we’re safe, I will give you everything you want and more.”

You try to hide your disappointment, but you must not do a great job of it, as Fox leans in and trails his lips from your ear to your jaw. It’s like shooting electricity down your spine.

He chuckles, “Oh, ad’ika, I am going to have fun playing with you.” Fox pulls away, “Is there someone safe in this building?”

“Um…Senator Organa is a good man.” You say, your face heated from embarrassment. 

“Then we should go to him.”

“W-wait! We can’t walk through the Senate naked!” You blurt.

Fox pauses and glances at you, and then down at himself, “I suppose you have a point. Can you get him here?”

“If I can find a phone, yes.” You step out of the ritual circle, and make a face at the bodies, “Gross.”

“They insulted me.” Fox says as he sits on the stone bed you were just chained to, “They’re lucky I didn’t do worse.”

“Ah, found one!” You pick up a working phone and dial a number you know by heart, “Uh…what should I say about you?” You ask as the phone starts ringing. 

Fox just shrugs and leans back slightly, his dark eyes locked on you, an almost hungry look on his face.

Slightly flustered, you turn away from him as your boss answers the phone. You give him a very abridged version of what happened, but you have the feeling that he knows something is wrong because he promises to be there immediately. 

“He’ll be here in a bit.”

Fox hums, and pats the stone bed next to him, “How about you tell me exactly what’s happening here?”

“I can do that.” You move to sit next to him, only for him to pull you onto his lap and bury his face in your neck. 

Absently, you wrap your arms around him and play with his curls at the base of his neck as you start talking. You know that nothing is going to be the same now.

You hope your mother will forgive you.

[bts-hyperfixation]

Outside of the Fox

Chapter 37 of????

2198 words

Y/N longs for a new life when the one she’d been living comes to an abrupt stop. Without much thought to those she is leaving behind, the little fox packs a backpack and disappears. She stumbles across the shelter and makes an interim home for herself while she works out exactly what she wants from her second chance.

Last

"Honeys I'm home" Taehyung calls through the door.

His cheery tone is the complete opposite of what you expect to hear from him given his news. Actually you hadn't expected to hear his voice again today at all. You'd all been going through your nightly routines, preparing for bed in separate areas of the annex, but Taehyung's voice attracts you all to the main room like a magnet.

Jimin reaches him first, delighted when Taehyung swept him into his arms, dipping him before kissing him sweetly. The red panda giggles and all tension that had been held in the house recently dissipates, except for yours. You can't help but be suspicious of his sudden turn in mood, especially after how he had practically thrown you out of his family's estate this morning.

"We need to have a family meeting," He announces to the room.

"Right now? It's late can't it wait..." Yoongi grumbles, leaning on Hoseok as he yawns.

"Absolutely, it has to be right now!" Taehyung affirms cheerily. 

The members of your pack grumble a little in their tired state, but shuffle into the main living area, flopping into a pile on the extra-large sofa. Jungkook pulls you down to lie on top of him, wrapping his arms protectively around your waist, Jimin's head falls into your lap and stretches his legs along the other three men. 

Taehyung sits on the coffee table, his leg bouncing with anxiety as he looks over each member of the pack.

"There is no easy way for me to explain why I haven't been coming home as often as we all would like," He begins, the cheerful attitude he had come in with dissipating with one deep breath. 

Jimin reaches a hand out to pat Taehyung's knee, connecting him to the rest of your pile. The panda tenses under the touch that would normally erase any trepidation from him. 

"You're all aware that I need to help with my family's businesses more at this time of year, what you are not aware of is the amount of control my family has over me. They control my social calendar, my finances, and as of late my love life..."

He pauses to take in the variety of expressions he is faced with. Confusion and upset marr most of your packs' faces. You on the other hand are nervously chewing at your lip, waiting for him to reach the gut-punching conclusion. You were certain that Taehyung wouldn't come home this quickly, and the fact that he had must've meant he was going to go along with his father's plan... But then why would he have come in so happy?

Either way, your stomach was twisting itself in knots. 

"A few weeks ago my parents made me aware that they had given away my hand in marriage to a business partner's daughter,"

This news has all the pack members sitting at attention. Jimin wrenches his head out of your lap to sit up straight as the others lean towards Taehyung. You almost topple from Jungkook's lap with the speed at which he straightens. The entire room begins to reek of negative pheromones. 

"You can't be serious," Yoongi growls.

"That should be illegal in this day and age," Hoseok exclaims.

"It is!" Namjoon says jaw clenched. 

"Forced arranged marriages are illegal, and while technically under duress, I would not have been forced to marry her... If I had any plans of going ahead with it that is."

"You seemed pretty set to go ahead with it this morning," You grumble.

"You knew?!" Jungkook and Jimin, shout together. 

This time, you do fall from Jungkook's lap, Taehyung barely reaching to stabilise you as you almost hit the floor. 

"How come you didn't say anything?" Jimin pouts.

"It wasn't her job to tell us," Seokjin says calmly, turning everyone's attention back to Taehyung. 

"My parents threatened to take away my inheritance if I didn't agree, so at the time I agreed," Taehyung continues.

He goes through the motions of explaining everything he had already explained to you that morning. His story is occasionally interrupted with dramatic cries of unfair treatment. By the time he has finished telling them what you already knew, they were all reacting the same way you had. They each assure him that the money isn't important, and that everyone in the pack can help to support him. 

Taehyung shuts them down the same way he had you. He insists that he has money to care for each of them, no matter how many times they tell him how much he is worth to them. You stay quiet watching each of them try and fail to come up with a solution to Taehyung's predicament that would mean he got to keep everything he wanted. And you watch as each of their faces fall, coming to the same empty conclusions you did. 

That's when you look at Tae to find him already looking at you. And he is grinning.

"What?" You ask, louder than planned.

Everyone turns to look at the two of you.

"I Love you," He grins.

"This hardly seems like the time for that..." you blush.

"Do you love me?" He asks, taking your hand in his.

"Of course I do..."

"Will you marry me?"

"SORRY?" You pull your hand back as if he stung you.

Everyone is staring at him like he has grown a second head.

"Is your plan to elope with Y/N so you can't marry this other girl?" Namjoon asks, "Because you realise that doesn't solve the inheritance issue..."

"And you could've asked any of us..." Jimin mumbles.

"My plan is to marry Y/N L/N, the most eligible girl in my family's social circle. The one girl my father agreed I could marry instead of my current fiance!" His smile is so wide it's clear he is proud of himself for that one. 

Everyone begins to chatter but you can't hear the specifics. Blood has rushed to your ears and all you can hear is the pounding of your own heart as it echoes too loud. You take deep breaths but your lungs feel like they can never expand fully. Your vision begins to swim, unable to maintain a point of focus. 

The conversation around you continues as your partners fail to see that you are drowning on dry land. You dig your nails into the sofa desperately trying to cling to the fabric, to feel the tangible fibres below you.

"Y/N?" someone's voice breaks through, but it sounds too far away. 

"Y/N!" another voice sounds more concerned... or maybe it's the same voice...

Have they always sounded so similar?..

_________________

Seokjin ponders Taehyung's predicament seriously for a while. The others chat excitedly about the prospect of a wedding. It hardly seems to be a solution though. Jin understands the importance to many about having your own source of income, and it's clear that Taehyung can't wrap his head around the pack wanting to take care of him for just being him. If money and care have always come with a billion rules, it makes sense why he would rather have those rules set by the familiar base of his family than by his partners. But surely there must be more compromises for his family than this.

He is reasonably deep in his analysis of Taehyung when he glances in your direction. He thought you'd been involved in the conversation going on around him, but it would seem not. You're looking around feverously, your knuckles are white with effort and there is a small cut here your teeth have worked through your lower lip.

"Y/N?" He calls out reaching for you.

You don't move as he touches you. You barely seemed to register his presence at all.

"Y/N!" Namjoon calls out.

The leader turns just in time for you to tumble back off the sofa's edge. 

You hit the floor with a dull thud making each of the men around you cringe. Seokjin shoos the others out of his way as he kneels beside you. He waves his hand in front of your eyes as you stare aimlessly up at the ceiling, struggling to focus. He encourages the youngest members to gather things to make you comfortable while telling the other three men to give him some air so he can check you aren't hurt without them breathing down his neck. 

Taehyung holds out a pillow for him and Jin carefully tucks it under your head. Yoongi then pulls Taehyung into him, partly to keep him out of the way, partly to comfort the panda as his scent becomes the most sour in the room. 

Jungkook comes back with a selection of blankets and plushies he knows are your favourites. Jin allows the bunny to tuck them gently around your body, careful not to jostle you too much. 

At this point, Jin is certain you aren't hurt, at least not more than a bruised coxix. But he wants to maintain the bubble of space he has created around you until you come back around.

Jimin hands him ice wrapped in a tea towel and joins the others on the sofa, watching anxiously while they wait for you to wake up. 

Until you come back around they can't know for certain what caused you to pass out, but Jin has a good guess, and it would seem the others might too.

"Did make her do that?" Taehyung asks in a small voice...

"Of course, you didn't make her do that," Jin reassures "Anxiety attacks can be triggered by anything and nothing. This is not your fault Taehyung-ah"

Taehyung doesn't seem particularly appeased by the doctor's answer but it's the best he is going to get for now at least. 

"She should be coming around by now right?" Jungkook asks "I normally come around by now,"

"Every panic attack is different, but judging by the scowl on her lips I'd say any moment now."

_________

You slowly start to feel the world around you again, starting with a cooling sensation on your forehead. Jin's concerned face swims into view and you suddenly become very aware of the ache in your hip from where you must've hit the floor. 

"Next time I'm going to need you to hold on to me tighter," You grumble, finding Jungkook on the edge of the sofa.

You attempt to prop yourself up only for Jin to push you firmly back onto the floor. 

"Stay there for a minute, if you get up too fast the world will swim and you'll end up back there anyway," The doctor says matter of factly.

You begrudgingly lie flat again, knowing he is right. 

"What happened?" Namjoon asks.

"Not sure... Never happened before," you answer. 

While it's mostly true (you have never had a panic attack like that) you are fairly sure you knew what might've caused it... but it was far too late in the day to be psychoanalysing what was behind it.

"Can we just go to bed? Maybe finish this conversation in the morning?" You ask, suddenly overwhelmed by how tired you feel.

"I don't really want you getting up yet," Jin says "But you also can't fall asleep there."

The thought of staying awake for even another second has you involuntarily whining. 

"That's okay, I can fix that," Namjoon says.

Before anyone can object, the leader has you lifted into his arms, cradling you against his chest. He carries you into the first of the two annexe bedrooms, followed by a very eager bunny and red panda. The door is closed behind the four of you. Annoyed grumbles can be heard behind the closed wood, followed by instructions of care from Jin before the others can be heard shuffling away presumably into the second bedroom. 

Namjoon lays you out on the bed and you snuggle into the pillows as bodies fall on either side of you. The caramel scent of Jungkook engulfs you as the rabbit tucks you in beneath his chin, wrapping his arms as tightly around you as he comfortably can obviously taking your earlier comment to heart. 

A small hand lands on your waist that can only belong to Jimin as he reaches over Jungkook's large frame to reach a part of you. 

Namjoon scoots in behind you on the oversized bed, His large frame easily caging you in the middle while one of his arms reaches across to cover his other two packmates. 

"We really need to hurry up and get a bed that fits all eight of us," Jungkook notes.

"It's waiting for us in the main house Kookie, just a couple more weeks," Namjoon reassures him.

"I don't want to wait that long," Jungkook whines.

"You realise even with a bigger bed you won't be able to sleep next to each person right?" Jimin teases.

"I'll find a way," Kookie responds defiantly.

More lazy conversation goes on around you but you're too tired to partake in it. Instead, you let the deep sounds and vibrations of their chests lull you into a deep sleep. 

You try hard not to focus on the new feeling tightening around your chest telling you to run.

Next

Masterlist

[quitealotofsodapop]

Jiǔwěihúlí/Jiuweihuli - The Nine Tailed Vixen

By the way; Wukong in "The Monkey King and the Infant"/TMKATI au isnt the only monkey getting an adoptive parental figure >:3

Went down a little of a Huli jing rabbit-hole after recieveing this ask from @dorothygale123:

And while researching Jin and Yin in the book, I realised some stuff;

In "Journey to the West", the Jin and Yin's mother is frequently described as "aged/old madam", making it likely that she had them in the demon equivalent of middle-age.

Here's the poetry Wukong jots down (he does that alot in the book) when he sees her for the first time;

"Snow-white hair all tousled,

And starlike eyes all aglow.

Her face, though ruddy, has many wrinkles;

She‟s full of spirit though few teeth remain.

Charming—like the frosted chrysanthemum;

Rugged—like an old pine tree after rain.

A scarf of fine-spun white silk wraps her head,

And bejeweled gold rings hang from her ears"

For some odd reason, the monkey cries at the sight of her (his excuse being that he has to bow to her while disguised as a servant). Then he abruptly bonks her and her servants while travelling before stealing her divine Binding Gold Rope and disgusing himself as her to trick her sons. And of course the whole Calabash incident happens, the boys uncle calls down an army of fox demons to fight the pilgrims, and Lao Tzu has to show up and smack his lab assistants across the head.

Which leaves the question... how does Lao Tzu know the kids of a random fox lady???

Well you see, in the Han-era (206 BCE - 220 CE); Xiwangmu was often depicted with a white-furred Huli Jing among her ladies-in-waiting. But any worship of fox-deities was out-lawed in the Song dynasty (960 CE - 1279 CE) due to a cult religion that worshipped Su Daji (of the "Investiture of the Gods/Fengshen Yanyi" fame).

So my idea for Jiuweihuli in the extended LMK-verse, is that she's was once Xiwangmu's og bestie, even long before the celestial tigress became Empress. The fox being among many chaotic and infernal spirits in the future Queen Mother's posse.

Upon the abdication of Yuanshi Tianzun as the Divine Emperor; Jiuweihuli would assist the future-Jade Emperor in his ascension to the throne, gaining her the titles "Dragon-Crushing/Supressing Vixen" due to her defeating multiple draconic rivals in battle.

For many centuries, Jiuweihuli and her family were welcome members of the Imperial Court. The older vixen having a position almost equal to a head consort despite her and the Emperor not having such interest in eachother.

Then the Investiture crisis happened...

Within years, all that Jiuweihuli had built in the Celestial Realm crumbled. The actions of Su Daji soured opinion of the Celestials towards all fox spirits. Jiuweihuli was forced to be exiled from the Jade Palace down to Earth to prevent her being killed in an angry mob.

Penniless, alone, and with only her trusty pipa to her name; Jiuweihuli would travel and sing.

Eventually she gained a reputation as a grand preformer, drawing in audiences and tudis alike. Most of her trainees were unaware of her true nature, and those who did kept it quiet - drama kids loved the tragedy of the vixen's tale and would sing it throughout opera houses.

And one day, some time after the Monkey King tore through Heaven; Jiuweihuli gained a very unusual apprentice.

Jiuweihuli, sitting at her vanity table: "You look familiar." Macaque, stepping out of the shadows: "I was once the attendant to Princess Iron Fan, but I believe both of our places in the court have been absolved." Jiuweihuli: "Oh yeah, I went to that wedding. Had to wear a glamour. Is that Bull prince treating her right?" Macaque: "He is. He was even willing to sacrifice his place in his own court for her." Jiuweihuli: "Ah. Young love. But what brings you here?" Macaque, sheepishly: "I uh... heard you were the person to go to if I wanted to learn how to preform professionally." Jiuweihuli: "...your boyfriend's in jail, right?" Macaque: "Uh, yeah?" Jiuweihuli, getting up from her vanity table: "Good. 'Cus you're about to recieve many admirers." Macaque: :'D!

You see, the older fox spirit knew she wasn't to be the "Vixen of the Stage" for much longer. She was already thousands of years old, and had found herself in the family-way by means of a romance gone sour. So when the dark, mysterious, and deadly beautiful Six-Earred Macaque showed up in her dressing room asking for mentorship? Jiuweihuli knew she had found her understudy.

With the Macaque taking on her most famous roles, Jiuweihuli was able to focus on raising her twin sons; Jin and Yin. Macaque often found himself dragged into babysitting the little terrors by the maternal fox, even if he had to admit their thieving skills were very good. The vixen in turn would protect the monkey from more imposing audience members/fans and encourage his more sarcastic humor.

She was of the shoulders Macaque cried upon when him and Wukong had their falling out.

Eventually the vixen managed to get into contact with an old... "friend" (the twins gag at the thought) Lao Tzu to provide the reckless boys some decent education.

Aaand of course Wukong had to show up centuries later and cause havoc for the fox family when the twins got a little wild with their teacher's stash/artifacts. Luckily Jiuweihuli's brother, Hu A'qi, managed to smooth things over with heaven and offered his studious daughter as another lab assistant to keep the boys in check. Jiuweihuli, cleaning her wounds, sent a letter informing Macaque that his "idiot boyfriend" was out of jail...

Jiuweihuli soon lost her understudy.

The shadow monkey too blinded by anger to consider who would have to pick up the pieces if he failed. Jiuweihuli would eventually go on to teach a hundreds of aspiring actors and musicians, but she always would mourn for her little shadow.

Cue the events of "The Monkey King and the Infant" where Macaque begins frequenting and eventually working at the Megapolis Threatre House. He recognises not only his Brotherhood-era friend Jade-Faced; but a certain old master of his...

Jiuweihuli: "Do I know you?" Macaque: "I should hope so. I was your understudy for many years." Jiuweihuli: "I've trained hundreds of understudies, hon." Macaque: "You trained me during the Tang-era? I could manipulate the shadows?" Jiuweihuli: "Doesn't ring a bell." *sly smirk* Macaque, realises she's messing with him: *sigh* "My idiot boyfriend hit you on the head with a cudgel and I stupidly ran after him and got killed." Jiuweihuli, dropping the act: "Mihou! My little moonlight! Oh how I've missed you!" *gives him a big lipstick-stained smooch on the cheek*

The old vixen is very protective of her understudy now that she has him back. Her motherly side really comes to the surface when she's interacting with the shadow monkey, even if her interactions with her biological children isn't as soft. Jin and Yin get a slap of her sandal more than a few times for their foolishness.

If she learns that Macaque has a kid/kid on the way, Jiuweihuli is going full Grandma-mode. She's always considered her understudy as equal to her own kits and now he's all grown up!! (╥ ω ╥)

And you better believe a certain Monkey King is getting his ass kicked by an old lady the second Jiuweihuli learns he's around.

[atonalginger]

WIP Wednesday

It is Wednesday and that means a sneak peek of a WIP is in order. I've got a lot of ideas backed up in my head, so what I've got is smaller and rough. Self doubts and all that have been playing merry hell on my ability to consistently sit down and write. I know that might seem odd, considering I've uploaded a handful of oneshots very recently, but I've been sitting on those for a while and just finally decided to offload them.

But we continue on and do our best because that's all anyone can ask for, right?

I'd like to tag @a-cosmic-elf @eridanidreams @staticpallour @aro-pancake and @lisa-and-shadow and anyone else who has something to share. No pressure to post, as always💖

My WIP this week is from the coming Rise of Libertatia series I've been kicking around for a while now. Yes, it's finally happening. Slowly and surely.

--

Things were a mess. One would think someone like Delgado would be used to things falling to shit when he least wanted it to and yet there he was, pacing the floor of his office searching for a solution to the dead man in the middle of his front yard.

The farmhouse was supposed to be a quiet refuge for their growing family. A place for Sophie to play and Bella to raise her fancy chickens with their extravagant crests and dramatic plumage. Where the headaches and drama of stabilizing a criminal enterprise wouldn’t reach. A place where there definitely shouldn't be any dead men face down in the grass.

He just wanted a few months of peace. Bella had been on doctor ordered bed rest and it was everything Rokov and he could do to convince her to relax. Shinya and Jazz were the temporarily in charge of their still unnamed crew, under orders to only come to him if things took a complete nosedive. When Bella went into labor two nights before he even locked the property down to all but a very short list of guests and it was to remain that way until their family had fully adjusted to their newest member. Yet now that damn goon from Neon rested on the grass, feeding the dry soil his worthless blood.

The good news, if one squinted really hard at it, was that Fox witnessed the shooting and, as a ranger, could theoretically clear Delgado and Rokov as neither of them were the gunmen. The bad news was the dead man was Rodney Jenkins, one of Bayu’s personal guard, sent to the farmhouse by Bayu. Shot in the back of the head by another Bayu’s personal guard, Curtis Crawford. Why Curtis felt he needed to wait until they were on Delgado’s property, they still didn’t know. But the ranger was getting to the bottom of it with his deputy in the barn while Delgado and Rokov were forced to wait inside.

[genshinrail]

You Said You’d Want a Pet

Kaveh x GN!reader

Fluff | Word count: 941

Summary: Kaveh returns home with some new family members.

---

   It was a nice and quiet day, sunny and warm, perfect for staying inside and doing nothing at all. You were sitting on the couch with a book in your hand, in the house you and your boyfriend shared. The home was a small, but cozy place, perfect for a couple who doesn’t plan on having children any time soon. Kaveh had been away for the whole day in the desert. Something about his next project, he said. Perhaps he needed inspiration. 

Suddenly you hear a knock on the door. It was probably Kaveh. You got up from the couch and put your book away, eagerly walking to the front door. When you opened it, those beautiful familiar red eyes and warm smile greeted you.

“Kaveh,” you said excitedly. “You’re back!”

He chuckled but stayed put. You tilted your head with a questioning look in your eyes.

“Hi babe…” he spoke a little awkwardly.

Your eyes narrowed. He usually didn’t act this way. What was he hiding? 

Kaveh awkwardly scratched the back of his head while chuckling nervously. Something was definitely off.

“Kaveh?” you crossed your arms. “What did you do?”

“Nothing! Well…” He couldn’t even look at you, his eyes shifting down. “I have a question.”

You raised your brow and nodded your head. Kaveh took a deep breath and gave you the most pretty smile. Oh no, it was his cute puppy face. The face he showed when he wanted something.

“Babe, you said you’d want a pet. Like a dog, right?”

You nodded your head slowly. You sighed internally. Had he adopted puppies?

“Well… how about-” Kaveh stepped away a little, and then, three small desert foxes appeared. “- desert foxes?”

All you could do was stare at the three animals that were cutely standing next to Kaveh’s feet. How would you even react? How should you react? You loved your boyfriend, but this was unexpected.

“Kaveh.” you finally looked up at your boyfriend who was smiling awkwardly. “How… and where, did you find them?”

“It’s a long story”, Kaveh said.

“I’d like to hear it”, you replied.

He sighed, then nodded. “Okay, but can they come in? They’re probably hungry.”

With a moment of thinking, you finally nodded and stepped away so Kaveh and the foxes could come in. The little animals jumped around looking at their new surrounding curiously. Kaveh walked in, immediately worrying about what they were doing.

“Hey, watch out for that-. Hey! Don’t go there that’s my-. Watch it! You might get hurt!”

You watched as your boyfriend was stressing over his new little friends excitedly looking around and jumping on places. You couldn’t help but chuckle at how cute the scene was. While he was running around the foxes like a brand new mother, you walked over to the kitchen to see if there was something desert foxes could eat. Some leftover meat.

You had put the meat into three deep plates and placed them on the floor. “Come eat!”

You heard the small paw taps hit the floor as the foxes hurried to you. They looked happy seeing their food and dug in right away. After them came exhausted looking Kaveh.

“They’re so fast…” he said while breathing heavily. “We have to baby-proof the house.”

“Baby-proof?” You raised your eyebrow amusingly, smirking. “I would’ve wanted a warning for becoming a parent.”

Kaveh’s face got pale and another nervous chuckle left his lips.

“How about that long story?” you asked. “Why are we suddenly desert fox parents?”

“Right…” he nodded firmly. “Come, let’s go sit on the couch.”

Together you two walked into the living room, leaving the foxes to eat in peace. You sat down on the couch, Kaveh sitting next to you. He fidgeted with his fingers for a moment, until you tapped onto his shoulder and he sighed.

“So you know I was in that game with the other Darshans?” he asked, to which you nodded. “Well, while I was in the desert there were desert foxes who followed me. I don’t know why! But I couldn’t let them be so I helped them.”

You tilted your head. “But that was a while ago?”

“Yes, yes. Well… I went to the desert again for a project. And I met those three guys again…” Kaveh sighed deeply. “I tried to shoo them away, but they just didn’t leave! So I then walked away, but they followed…”

You grabbed Kaveh’s hand. He looked at you with wide eyes, like he was shocked.

“And you couldn’t just let them be?” you asked, showing him an understanding smile.

Kaveh nodded slowly, his cheeks turning a light shade of red. You let out a warm chuckle, shaking your head. He was too cute.

“You’re… you’re not mad?” he asked.

You shook your head, your warm smile remaining. “No, I’m not.”

“But… I brought wild animals into our home without your permission!” Kaveh said as if to argue with you.

“But I know you”, you explained. “I know you can’t let the smaller and weaker creatures to be, especially if they followed you here.”

Kaveh tilted his head. “So… we’ll keep them as our pets?”

A wide smile framed your face as you nodded. “As long as they won’t ruin the house!”

Suddenly, the three little foxes hopped all in front of the two of you, waggling their tails.

“I guess we’ll need to give them names”, Kaveh said, motioning one of them to hop on his lap. The other two hopped on your lap. You gently petted them. A sudden idea came into your mind and you smirked.

“How about ‘Alhaitham’?”

“Hell no!”

[firephoenix2020]

Incorrect quotes with my Stuck In The Inky 'Void' au

[different au BATIM/BATDR au then i've been posting about before]

Relationships:

Romantic: Susie x Allison, Joey x Henry, Bendy x Sammy x Fay [oc]

Platonic relationships: Norman & Fay [Besties], Allison & Thomas/Tom [their like siblings], Joey & Fay [Frenemies], Fay & Henry [Father-child relationship], Joey & Bendy [Enemies], Henry & Bendy [Their Chill], Norman & Susie [Tolerates each other bc of Fay], Fay & Susie [Besties, tho Susie won't admit it] Norman & Sammy [Both think the other one is crazy as hell, Still friends tho] Allison & Fay [Loveable Dumbasses]

Fay refer to Joey as Father, and Henry as Papa btw!

Love Triangle you'll definitely see jokes about in the au:

[They will all end up together tho don't worry]

!Swearing warning!

Now the Quotes!

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

Fay : We should normalize not loving family members. Joey: You can just say: “I hate my dumb fuck Father” or whatever. Talk like a normal person!

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

Susie: Can we go to a haunted house? Allison: What’s wrong with the one we live in? Susie: Wh-what? Allison: Goodnight, Susie.

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

Everyone is standing around the broken coffee maker Joey: So. Who broke it? I'm not mad, I just wanna know. Everyone: Allison: …I did. I broke it. Joey: No. No you didn't. Susie? Susie: Don't look at me. Look at Tom. Tom: What?! I didn't break it. Susie: Huh, that's weird. How'd you even know it was broken? Tom: Because it's sitting right in front of us and it's broken. Susie: Suspicious. Tom: No, it's not! Fay: If it matters, probably not, but Bendy was the last one to use it. Bendy: Liar! I don't even drink that crap! Fay: Oh really? Then what were you doing by the coffee cart earlier? Bendy: I use the wooden stirrers to push back my cuticles. Everyone knows that, Fay! Allison: Okay let's not fight. I broke it. Let me pay for it, Joey. Joey: No! Who broke it!? Everyone: Fay: Joey… Susie's been awfully quiet. Susie: rEALLY?! Everyone starts arguing Joey, being interviewed: I broke it. I burned my hand so I punched it. Joey: I predict 10 minutes from now they'll be at each other's throats with warpaint on their faces and a pig head on a stick. Joey: Joey: Good. It was getting a little chummy around here.

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

Norman: What are you drinking? Susie: Vodka. Norman: Straight? Susie: No, gay. Why?

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

Sammy: If the thought of something makes any of you giggle for longer than 15 seconds, you are to assume you’re not allowed to do it.

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

Bendy: Yeah, well I've never died so how do I know that god is real.

[Says the Demon in love with the God of Death & Destruction]

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

Norman: Bendy, I have a couple of words to say to you. Allison: Please let those two words be “I’m sorry.” Sammy: I’m ready with the bleep button if not.

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

Allison: Wait, what's going on? Are we all talking about how hot Susie is? Because Susie is a straight up sexual fox riding a red-hot nuclear bombshell right toward the yowza plaza in the heart of Babe City, Assachusetts, U S A. The last A just stands for more ass.

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

Fay: bites lip Has anyone ever told you how beautiful you are? Cop: That isn’t gonna work, hands behind your back.

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

Allison: You’re mean! Fay: You’re meaner! Allison: Yeah, well, you’re ugly too! Fay: You’re uglier! Allison: You’re a dumbass! Fay: You’re a dumberass! Allison: You think “dumberass” is a good insult!

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

Allison: I’m really glad “fight me” has replaced “sue me” in the common vernacular because I don’t have money, but I do have fists and I am always angry.

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

Fay, learning how to drive: What happens if I press the gas and the brake at the same time? Susie: The car takes a screenshot. Allison: Please pull over. I’m driving now.

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

Allison: What are your three best qualities? Fay: I’m hot, I have soft hair, and sometimes I cry because I love my friends.

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

Henry: Tom, you're my best friend. Tom: Best friend? BEST friend?! Bitch, I'm your only friend. Tom: I'M THE ONLY ONE CAPABLE OF TOLERATING YOUR DUMB ASS!

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

Norman: Why is it that I always lose things as soon as I need them? Susie: Actually, it's not that you lose things when you need them. You lose them a while before. It's just that you LOOK for things when you need them. Norman: Okay yeah thanks Susie, that's great but WHERE'S THE FUCKING FIRST AID KIT?

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

Susie: What's the scariest horror movie you've ever watched? Joey: IT. Henry: Annabelle. Sammy: Paranormal Activity. Fay: High School Musical. All throughout high school I was scared that everyone was gonna randomly get up and start singing and dancing, and I would be the only one who doesn't know the words.

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

Allison: I need to dye my hair. Susie: … Allison: Or get another tattoo. Susie: … Allison: Or a new piercing. Susie: Why? Allison: To, you know, appease the mental breakdown gods.

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

Susie: Small creatures are much more vicious because they have a smaller body to bottle up all their emotions. Tom: Ridiculous. Give me some examples. Joey: Wasps? Henry: Terriers? Susie: Fay.

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

Fay: Ow! Susie: What’s wrong? Fay: I have this weird pain right above my eyebrow. Susie: It’s called a stress headache. I got my first one when I was four.

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

Allison: Between Norman, Fay, Tom, and Henry -- if you had to -- who would you punch? Sammy: No one! They're my friends. I wouldn't punch any of them. Allison: Norman? Sammy: Yeah, but I don't know why.

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

Police: You’re under arrest for trying to carry three people on a single motorcycle. Tom, with Allison and Joey behind them: Wait, what do you mean THREE?! Police: Yes…three. Tom: Oh, my God— What the fuck!? Police: Wha- Tom: Henry FUCKING FELL OFF!

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

Bendy: Do you have any idea what you’re doing? Fay: Why start now?

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

Sammy: So, Henry is late today. Anyone wanna bet why? Sammy: I say they slipped through the subway grate and is having terrible sex with the mole man. Allison: I don't know about that…I think either their alarm clock didn't go off, or they're in line at the bank. Bendy: Take this more seriously! Henry was clearly taken in their sleep! Tom: I bet they tucked themselves into the bed too tightly and got stuck. Norman: Maybe they fell into another dimension where they're more interesting…? Henry arrives Henry: Sorry I'm late - there was a problem at the bank. Allison, clapping their hands in excitement: HOT DAMN!

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

Sammy: looks at Bendy Sammy: Baby boy. Baby. Sammy: looks at Susie Sammy: Evil.

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

Joey: I don’t care what anyone thinks about me. Fay: Ok. Joey: Wait, why such a muted reaction? Did that not sound cool?

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

Bendy: How do you type so fast? Henry: Anxiety.

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

Computer: Please enter a password. Joey: types in Henry Computer: Your password is too weak. Joey: How fucking DARE YOU-

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

Allison: Why does Susie always do the laundry so loudly? Sammy: So everyone knows that no one helps them out in the house. Susie, in the distance: slams the washing machine shut

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

Fay, jumping out of Henry's closet: BOO! Henry: Fay: Henry: Fay: makes a sad face Henry: Ahh! Oh my god! You scared me!

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

Henry: Regular soda is too sweet! Tom: Diet soda has a weird after taste! Henry: No! Ugh, oh my god. Diet soda is THE BEST! It doesn't have sugar! It's SPICY! Tom: It has other weird stuff in it! I'll take REGULAR sugar in my REGULAR soda! Henry: It's SO SWEET like it's a dessert though! Diet feels more like a drink! Tom: I'm going to physically attack you. Henry: Which is better, Norman? Norman: Oh, I usually drink water! Tom: Wha- NO! Henry: DISGUSTING!

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

Henry: Norman has never seen Star Wars? Fay, the only people in the universe who haven’t seen Star Wars are the characters in Star Wars and that’s cause they lived them, Fay! That’s cause they lived the Star Wars!

Fay: . . . ok?

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

Allison: COMPANY IS COMING! I WANT THIS PLACE LOOKING LIKE DISNEY ON ICE IN ONE MINUTE! Allison: TOM IF YOU HAVEN'T MADE YOUR BED THROW IT AWAY IT'S TOO LATE TO MAKE IT NOW! Allison: GET RID OF THE COUCHES, WE CAN'T LET PEOPLE KNOW WE S I T !

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

Norman, to Fay: …And I need you and Bendy to help, and by "help" I mean "do everything."

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

Joey: Th-that was horrible! Your wish is horrible! You’re horrible! You’re an irredeemable monster! Fay: Woah, woah! What took you so long, idiot?!

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

Fay: Hey Allison, Joey just broke my seashell lamp. Allison: Neat. I’m gonna die alone. Fay: Okay, you win.

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

Allison: Why did you guys dress up as each other for Halloween? Norman: Fay is the scariest thing I could think of! Fay: Norman told me I should pick the dumbest costume possible.

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

Tom: Fay, I screwed up, big time. Fay: Tom, given your daily life experiences, you’re gonna have to be more specific.

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

Joey: So what’s for dinner? Fay: I can’t tell you, it’s a soup-prise! Joey: … Joey: Is it soup? Fay: I soup-pose it could be! winks Joey: Please, enough with the soup puns! Fay: Wow, you’re soup-per mean. Joey: STOP! one hour later Joey: It’s fucking tacos?!?!?!

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

Sammy, looking through their clothes: Has anyone seen my top? Norman: Fay's in the kitchen.

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

Henry: Hey, aren’t you Bendy? Bendy: You a cop? Henry: No. Bendy: Then yes, I am.

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

Susie, explaining why they are not allowed to cook: I put the noodles in the pot and put the pot on the stove and turned the burner on high. Turns out you don't put noodles in marijuana and I almost burnt the whole house down.

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

Henry: dangling from a rope over a pit of fire Remember when I said I’d tell you when we’re in too deep? Fay: Yes? Henry: We’re in too deep.

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

Joey: Why do you not believe that ghosts are real? Tom: Never seen one. Joey: Okay, I mean, there’s a lot of things that you can’t see that are real. Tom: What can’t I see? Joey: You can’t see gravity. That’s real. Tom: Yeah, I can drop an apple. Joey: Fuck.

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

Norman and Fay texting Norman: Come downstairs and talk to me please. I'm lonely. Fay: Isn't Tom there? Norman: Yes but I like you more.

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

Fay: The waiter at Olive Garden has been grating my cheese for 6 hours now, waiting for me to say when. Customers are screaming. Three people have died. Fay: I will not yield.

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

Norman: So Sammy, how did your first time cooking dinner go? Susie: Pretty good if I do say so myself. Norman: Oo! Okay, what are we having? Susie: Alright, so for appetizers, we have a potato. Norman: A whole potato? Susie: Yes. And then for the main course, we have grilled cheese sandwiches! Norman: These just look like big slabs of black. Susie: Because that's what they are! Susie: And then for desert, we have chocolate. Norman: These are just chocolate chips? Susie: They sure are! Susie: And then for drinks, we have toast! Susie: lifts up a glass of blended toast Bon appetite!

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

Sammy Telling Susie how Fay kissed him

Sammy: So, they kissed me. Susie: And you kissed them back? Sammy: No, I kissed their mouth.

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

Fay: I have so much energy, I want to run a marathon or commit a crime… which should I do? Joey: Please don’t get arrested. Fay: No promises! <3 Tom: Why not both? Get creative! Fay: Wonderful suggestion, thank you. Joey: Please don’t encourage them, Tom.

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

Bendy: I’ve been described as a ‘heartless villain’ and a 'little shit’, but I prefer… 'has alternative ways of having fun’.

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

[hulijingemperor2]

~Eldritch Lan Xichen, anyone~

Yao Huangdi was sitting in his imperial court again

Yao: now why does one of my prisoners want to see me?

Gosh, I know I'm attractive, but~

Mo xuanyu: at least he knows he's attractive.

Fuying: I'm not sure, Huangdi.

Sect leader yao requested an audience with you.

Su she: he's lucky that you're merciful towards your prisoners.

Xue yang: *puts corpse poison in a few teacups.*

If he dare start his crap, I'll force this down his throat and turn him into a fierce corpse.

However, this is a different type of poison.

Yao: oh really? How is it different?

Xue yang: it's a slow poison, and I can't control them unless I stick needles into the victim.

He feeds and thrives on resent if he's not controlled.

The poison is so strong that it can turn someone into a monster. Depending on how bottled up the resent is.

Maybe I can make this old fool a little corpse pet for you.

Yao: ohh A-Yang. That sounds marvelous.

I was actually planning to execute my prisoners when I declare Song'er as Huangdi. Anyways, that can work too.

Fuying, bring him in. Our convo is over.

Fuying: yes Huangdi.

Some hulijing guards dragging a chained sect leader yao in.

Yao: *smiling at his squirming* looks like someone missed me.

Mo xuanyu: you got that right. Who wouldn't miss the powerful Guangyao.

Su she: look at your condition. Then look at Huangdi. You're just a worm!

Yao: *smirk* team dimple, let him speak.

Sect leader yao: you tyrannical fox spirit. You belong in the gutters. You and your family.

Yao: tyrannical? How am I tyrannical?

Minshan, am I?

Su she: never, my emperor. Never.

Yao: I think I have improved the conditions in the Jianghu perfectly.

Fuying: that's right.

Sly: because almost all the sect leaders are your concubines.

Yao: I was their chief cultivator before they became concubines.

Yao: but I haven't seen you done anything for the Jianghu, former sect leader yao, Than gossip.

Now what do you want! It's treasonous to waste my time!

Team dimple and other attendants: *kneels*

Rusong: *sitting and listening* have you forgotten your conduct, sect leader Yao.

Normally a person would praise Huangdi and then say what they have to say.

Jingyi: rude old fart! Huang diedie should just get rid of you.

Sect leader yao: Guangyao, soon I'll break out of here and let have my sect members take over the Jianghu and enslave your hulijings.

Yao: is that a threat? Well we can have a war if you wish. But you know, you're chained up. And I have stopped funding your sect.

Your sect members aren't even allowed to night hunt.

Su she: I reduced them to mortals.

Because your sect is just a bunch of antis! And their sect leader is imprisoned.

Sly: how could you destroy my sect!

Yao: I didn't destroy it dear.

You did.

*sigh* Minshan tell them.

Su she: your sect had only spread propaganda and usurping schemes! That kind of behavior would cause unease across the Jianghu.

Huangdi and I pledged to protect the Jianghu.

You have also caused Huangdi and Huanghou to split up.

You insulted Mengs.

Sly: and I will do it again!! I deserve everything! Give me the Jianghu.

Yao: no way.

You are not Huangdi, neither Rusong.

Anyways. Speaking of Rusong.

Yao: A-song.

The yao sect is yours. Give it to one of your concubines.

Rusong: oh thank you, Huang diedie.

Yao: problem solved. Former sect leader yao.

Sly: they'll kill Rusong.

Yao: once I'm around, no one can hurt a hair on his head.

Trust me.

Xue yang: you don't know how powerful Jiggy actually is. He has eyes all over.

Watching, and watching. You fools are never alone.

Yao: excellent reminder. *smile*

Xichen: *enters* sect leader yao?! You!

Yao Huangdi, did he curse you?!

Yao: just a few petty insults. Don't worry. He's like a chained toothless dog.

Sly: another one who sucks up to this clown.

Xichen: watch your mouth! How dare you call him a clown!

Sly: he's a wh*re's son!

Mo xuanyu: you gave some gull insulting him like that!

Xue yang: *goes to poison him*

Yao: he doesn't even deserve to be a corpse pet. Let him be.

*to his other henchmen* take him back to his cell, and flog him until he's unconscious.*

Rusong: you better heat up the plank you're hitting him with.

Yao: you all heard your Taizi.

Yes Huangdi and Taizi!!

Rusong: insolent!

Yao: *sighs, then rubs temples* such a pain in the ass.

*closes eyes*

Su she: *to some servants* get Huangdi some tea, to get rid of his headache*

Xichen: *sits* but there's tea here. I'm thirsty though. I walked all the way to the courtroom. *drinks*

Xue yang: Lan lips no!! That's!

Yao: *jumps up* Huan!!

Xichen: *coughs*

Yao: Huan! Are you ok!

Xichen: yea, it was a little burnt though. What was that?

Mo xuanyu: you...drank... *nervous* fierce corpse poison........Lan lips.

Yao: try to vomit it up!

Xichen: why the hell is it there?! *holds his throat*

Xue yang: to feed it to sect leader yao!

Yao: *hugs him* someone get a physician!!!

Xichen: Ayao, Ayao I'm fine. My core will get rid of the poison.

Yao: are you sure?

Xue yang, you should have been more careful!

Xue yang: I didn't know that he would gulp this thing down like that.

Xichen: I'll be ok, I'll be ok!

Yao: Huan. *caresses face*

Xichen: I'm ok Ayao.

Once my core gets rid of it, I'll just sleep off the symptoms. *wipes Ayao's tears*

Rusong: Shizun. How are you feeling?

Jingyi: are you going to turn into a fierce corpse?

Xichen: *laughing* no! Not likely. I'm ok, guys.

My core is pretty strong.

Xue yang: if you get any side effects, there are some things you can do, but.

Yao: you better tell him. *glares* Chengmei.

Xue yang: *trembles* here. It's a painkiller. You may get pain, cold sweat and nightmares.

Also, you should get something that will calm you down.

Yao: *takes off his outer robe and gave it to him*

Xichen: you're such a darling. *kisses*

~

During the night, Xichen went to sleep, hugging Yao Huangdi's robes. However he became very uneasy, due to the poison.

~

Then a few nights later, a bloodboilong roar can be heard, causing the earth to shake with its frequency. The sky was now filled with dark rain clouds, and a terrifying blue lightning. Whatever formless entity soon took form, as their red eyes appeared, and their feet stomped on the floor, creating an crater. The figure was towering over the Jing Manor, whereas they showed off their eight "tentacles"

Once again, the figure shrieked, while emitting an eerie light.

Thereafter, a group of fox spirits went to attack them, but the Eldritch only snapped their necks with their power. Some more fox spirits then came to see if they were able to stop him.

Protect the Mengs!!

Protect Huangdi!

When that Monstrous Eldritch heard those words, they shrunk in size. Yet they still looked frightening, with those red eyes, sharp black clouds and tentacles petruding from their back. They were still engulfed in smoke and lightning, and seemed to be wearing a gold robe over the black outfit. Yes, the Eldritch was non other than Lan Xichen. But no one recognized him

What is he doing with Huangdi's robe?!

That demon wants to harm him!

Eldritch Xichen brutally snapped their necks, then entered Jing Manor.

Su sect members: *blocks him*

You're not allowed here!

Xichen: where is Guangyao?!

We won't tell you anything!

Xichen: you mere cultivators dare challenge me. A powerful Eldritch!

I am a proud Moling Su sect memeber. My fellow members and I are ready to die for Huangdi! I'm not afraid of no Eldritch!

Xichen: *picks up some Su sect members and eats them*

The rest of them: *screaming* Huangdi!

Huangdi, help! Zongzhu! Su Zongzhu!

Su she and team dimple: *runs out*

Su she: what the hell is that?!!! *tries to save some of his sect members*

Mo xuanyu: *screams*

Xue yang: I've seen worst, honestly.

Mo xunayu: what kind of demon is that?! He's eating Shanshan's sect members!

Su she: *plays the collection of turmoil on a flute, to try to control him*

Mo xuanyu and xue yang: *uses talismans*

Xichen only becomes more angered, pushing team dimple away.

Xichen: WHERE IS JIN GUANGYAO?!

Su she: no way we're letting you near to him!

Xue yang: *unsheaths jiangzai* you have to go through us first.

Mo xuanyu: *terrified*

Xichen: HE NEEDS PROTECTING!!!!!

Xue yang: what do you know about protecting?! You're a carnivorous Eldritch!

Mo xuanyu: please please! Don't eat my Yao gege! I know he's a snack, but not like that!

Su she: eat us to quench your hunger. And spear Huangdi.

Wait. Did he just say that Huangdi needs protecting.

Mo xuanyu: that's confusing.

And why is he wearing Yao gege's robes.

Xichen: *grunting*

Xue yang: ahahahahahaha!!! Is that Lan lips?! Omg, Lan lips. The poison is working.

Xichen: that was like water to me!!! I AM THE POISON!!

Xue yang: awwww.

Su she: you seriously think that disaster is cute?!

Xue yang: yea. Imagine innocent Xichen acting like a monster. It's hilarious!

Mo xuanyu: he literally killed some hulijing guards as well as had the Su sect members for dinner.

That isn't cute!

And have you seen his split ends?!

Xichen: *engulfed by more smoke*

Mo xuanyu: w......why isn't he.....attacking us....

Su she: aren't you glad.

Mo xuanyu: yea, but he's just overheating over there.

Su she: we should stay alert!

Xue yang: he knows that we're team dimple. That's why.

Which is surprising.

The Nies, who had spent the night in the harem palace, had ran out to see the commotion.

Mingjue: Xue yang! Your fierce corpse is on the loose!

Xue yang: yea I see that. And it isn't mine. That's Lan Xichen.

Mingjue: you turned him into a corpse?! You three would never stop being jealous of him!

Su she: when were we jealous of Lan lips, dage?!

Mo xuanyu: can you guys stop quarreling. We have other problems.

Xue yang: we have to try to get Xichen under control.

Mingjue: to control him?! Like a puppet!

Just like what you did Songlan when he got close to Xiao xingchen!

Xichen: *enraged* Chifeng zun!!!!

You kicked Guangyao!

Mingjue: chill. That was a long time ago. In anger.

Xichen: I AM TIME! AND I AM ANGER!!

Mingjue: Xichen, please calm down!

Xichen: after I cut off that foot!

Mingjue: what?! You can't do that!

Xichen: *tilts his head and grins*

Mingjue: I will never raise my Baxia at you. *steps back* let's talk about this.

Xichen: and you raised your Baxia at Ayao!

I will take it and saw your foot off!!

Mingjue: *runs*

Xichen: GET BACK HERE!!

Xue yang: so Lan zhan severs arms and Lan lips severs legs.

Mo xuanyu: yup.

Su she: it's a Lan thing I guess.

Huaisang: *cries* er ge!!!! Please spare dage! Please spare dage! You two are close. And he loves San ge now. I swear.

Xichen: *lifts him off the ground a chokehold, then slammed him against the wall*

Huaisang: agh! Ouch!

Xichen: *grabs his throat, with his nails sinking in his neck* You plotted against him!!! You almost made me kill Ayao!!!

Huaisang: *tries to catch his breath* I'm sorry! Er ge! I changed!

Xichen: *squeezes*

Huaisang: I'm not evil anymore, I swear! Do you think I can be scheming when Wen Ruohan is around!

Xichen: I'm more terrifying than Wen Ruohan!!

*pushes him again* SCRAM! or I'll cut off your leg too!

Huaisang: *runs and hides behind a post, next to Mingjue*

Xichen: *screams in anger*

Mo xuanyu: I had enough.

Su she: he's too powerful to control.

Fuying: Huangdi, Huangdi wait. It's unsafe!

Xiying: we must protect you.

Yao: what's this commotion?

Xichen: *calms down*

Ayao.

Team dimple: *confused*

Xue yang: so he's still a simp.

Mo xuanyu: *runs* Yao gege. Lan lips.

Su she: this poison is affecting him.

Xichen: CAN YOU GUYS SHUT UP!!

Yao: Huan?

Xichen: *walks towards him*

Su she: *unsheaths Nanping*

Xichen: *caresses his face and waste* are you safe?

Yao: *smiles* yes I am.

Xichen: *hugs tightly, as if he was longing for a hug for years. He then stroked his fingers through Ayao's hair*

You smell so nice.

Yao: Huan, I must get rid of your poison.

I can't see you like an Eldritch.

Xichen: to be honest. I kind of love being half demon. I can turn into an Eldritch any time I like.

All for your protection.

You're the one who calms me. You're my addiction. Ayao.

Yao: can you control it?

Xichen: once you're ok. Then I can.

If something happens to you, then I'll take this world down with me.

Su she: why are you so sappy.

Mo xuanyu: that's our job, Lan lips.

Xue yang: Jiggy, you can thank me later by the way. You got a romantic half Eldritch. Songlan could never. He looks like concrete.

Xichen: Ayao, sorry for killing some of your hulijings.

It was out of rage.

But I'm not sorry for eating Minshan's sect members though. They kept me away from you.

Yao: you did what?

Apologize to Minshan.

Xichen: *pouts*

Yao: Huan.

Xichen: *under his breath* sorry Su she. For eating your sect members.

But you have more. I don't know what you're angry about.

Su she: *rolls eyes*

Yao: ah, good Huan. *smiling*

Xichen: *goes to kiss Ayao, but stops*

Yao: what?

Xichen: I have to go punish your enemies, A-Yao.

Then I'll kiss you. Your lips are my prize.

Yao: aw.

Xichen: and those dimples. Ah!

I got to go.

Meng Shi and Qin Su: *enters*

Qin su: what was that?!

Meng Shi: Lan gui fei.

Xichen: taihou.

I'm sorry for causing some damage.

Meng Shi: *shakes head* due to my omniscience, I know what happened. You want me to remove the poison?

Xichen: no thank you, taihou. It's for Ayao.

Qin Su: but you can't just cause. destruction throughout the empire.

Xichen: of course I won't. I'll leave Ayao's people unharmed.

Ayao. *turns back into an Eldritch* I'm leaving. Bye.

Huaisang: *still trembling* what had gotten into er ge!!!  

The terrifying giant Eldritch Xichen then sauntered down to where Yao Huangdi had his prisoners kept. 

The power of his eerie shriek caused the criminals necks to snap, or their ears and eyes to bleed.

Sect leader Yao: aagghhh!!! My ears!!

Zixun: sect leader yao! Save me!

Sect leader yao: I got to save myself Zixun!

Both: *screaming and hugging when they saw a scary Xichen with red eyes and a menacing grin*

Sly: don't kill us! Don't kill us!

Back off!

Xichen: I won't kill you two fools,

Sly: so what do you want?!

Xichen: want you to suffer until Ayao ends you.

But. *unsheaths Shuoyue* I'll gladly amputate your leg.

You'll have to look at that severed leg rot until your death.

Sly: *terrified*

Zixun: did xue yang send you!

Xichen: no one sends me anywhere!! I HAVE FREE WILL! *cuts off sly's foot*

Sly: *bellowing in pain*

Zixun: *scooting in the corner*

Xichen: *cuts off his leg as well*

Zixun: AHHHGGGHH! WHAT THE HELL!!

Xichen: suffer!

~~

Next morning, in the harem palace~

Yao: morning concubines.

Qin Su: you guys slept well? The east wing of Jin Manor is under repair.

Xichen: oh lovely *happily sipping tea*

Huaisang: *scared*

Su she: morning Huangdi. I couldn't sleep actually.

Because of certain people.

Mo xuanyu: he's talking about Lan lips.

Xichen: what did I do? Huaisang, can you pass the chestnut cake?

Huaisang: me? Um...um...ok. *pushes it towards him, then runs away*

Mingjue: Xichen, are you ok now?

Xichen: yes! I'm completely fine.

Qin su: so you can't remember what happened?

Xichen: all I remember is hugging Ayao and talking to Taihou.

Yao: strange

Xichen: ah *eating* chestnut cake, my fav!

Su she: oh, I thought you like to eat cultivators.

Xichen: what?

Su she: nothing.

Xue yang: dude you went ape shit last night. It was kind of amusing though.

Anyways, I think you're half demon now.

Xichen: wow. Shufu might not like that.

Yao: ah, then we'll keep it a secret.

Xichen: at least we're both ok with it.

Yao: yes.

Xiying: Huangdi, I heard that some eerie shadowy figure amputated Zixun and Sect leader yao's feet. And all your criminals who were waiting on execution are dead.

Their necks were snapped.

Yao: oh my goodness!

Xichen: so, I did that too?

Su she: yes. And we're kinda of impressed.

Mo xuanyu: but you're still not a part of team dimple.

~~~~

[winniethewife]

Eclipsing Love

(Marc Spector x Mafia!OC)

Last chapter ~ Next chapter

Holiday Special: Silver and Gold

A/N: A break from the regularly scheduled updates for a holiday episode! Takes place in the same universe but out of the story order.

Words:622

Charlotte hung another ornament on the tree, a smile on her face as the Christmas music played in the background and Marc stood to the side a smile on his face as well. He’d never really celebrated Christmas, he was raised Jewish after all, the menorah still sitting in the living room window a reminder of the holiday just past, but Charlotte celebrated Christmas, and he loved Charlotte. That was what mattered. Charlotte looked over at him, the twinkling of the lights in her eyes.

“Are you going to make me do this all by myself Spector?” She teased as she walks over to the box of ornaments, picking out the next one she wanted to put up.

“I mean I could help. But you look so good doing it baby.” He chuckles and she gives him a side eye with a smirk on her face.

“I look good doing a lot of things, Mostly things you don’t want to help with, Making dinner, doing the dishes, decorating for the holidays…Riding your…”

“Hey now.” They both start laughing. Marc walks over and looks at the ornaments in the box. Some people buy matching sets of color coordinated glass balls, but not Charlotte, she had a collection of adorable animals, made in silver and gold. She had explained that they were made by a family member decades ago. They we’re brought over from Ireland when the family moved here, and they were her favorite part about Christmas. He picked up a beautifully sculpted sliver bird, he thinks it’s a swallow? What does he know about birds? Other than one annoying Lunar God. Marc smiles as he hangs the little bird on a branch. “See I can help.” She rolls her eyes with a smile on her face.

“Right, very helpful Marc, thank you for hanging up a single ornament.” She sarcastically chirps at him as she hangs a Golden Fox with its tail wrapped around it. Marc chuckles before going to grab another ornament.

~

Eventually the tree is covered, the only thing left was the topper. Marc expected a story of the topper, how it had been in the family for years or she got it the first year she and Elizabeth were together, something sweet and ever so heartwarming. But Charlotte didn’t pull anything out of the boxes of decorations that he had fetched from the attic, she went to a cardboard box that had been delivered this morning. He cocks her eye brow as she pulls out a Golden Crescent moon topper.

“Don’t you usually top a tree with a star?” He asks as she shows him the item, he had to admit it was quite beautiful.

“Yes, but…I thought this was more…Us. It’s time to start new traditions…” She gives him that signature half smile. After everything that had happened these last few months, it was nice to see. Charlotte hands him the Moon Topper and he looked at her adoringly.

“New Traditions.” He nods. He puts the topper on the top of the tree that was taking up a good portion of their living room, standing on tip toe to get it there. As he took a step back to look at his handy work he feels her arm wrap around him. He looks down at her as she places a hand on his chest and rests her head on his shoulder.

“Perfect…” She says softly

“Like you.” Marc remarks as he wraps his arm around her pulling her in close so he can nuzzle his face into her ginger locks, kissing the top of her head as she hums softly to the music playing. Just enjoying the others presence as snow falls over the city of Chicago.  

[princessasmosprincess]

Hazel

I want to write something on Lisette and Kallios in the future so let me introduce you to another member of their household.

Hazel, she/her, Demon of Envy. She has a fox tail that is the same shade of purple as her hair that fades into black on the end and antlers like a Siberian deer.

Hazel has been working for Kallios' family since Kallios was very young. She's older than him but not super significantly, their age difference is like that of a child and their teen babysitter (which amounts to thousands of years since they're demons). She has a few younger siblings, and she viewed Kallios as family as well, she was deeply affected by his death.

When Kallios became the head of the family, he threw himself into his work, partially out of necessity since he had to do a lot of political work on his own, which meant fewer parties would happen at the estate. He didn't need very much staff around the house so he dismissed them or sent them off to work for his extended family, but he kept Hazel on as his housekeeper.

She's friends with Barbatos and takes any advice he gives. They might have tea together once a decade and chat or they might spend time together during a ball when their masters take on the role as hosts, but most of their interaction is when they cross paths briefly at the market.

Hazel isn't a full time RAD student but she will occasionally take a limited offered course to learn something new or attend a special lecture, especially anything taught by Barbatos. She has very powerful magic but not quite to Barbatos' level, which is one of the reasons she looks up to him and respects him so much.

Personality-wise she's on the quiet side, not because she's shy, she just only speaks if she has something to say. She can be opinionated at times, and a bit uptight and a perfectionist. Some might call her an ice queen but she is actually very affectionate to those she cares about. If she doesn’t like you, that's a you problem, she is a great judge of character which is why she and Lisette got along right away (not to mention how she clicked with Adamas pretty quickly too). She's very no-nonsense and isn't afraid to put you in your place if you're being dumb.

Get to Know My OC questions:

1. She loves tea of any kind and she's usually takes it black to enjoy the flavor. She also likes hot chocolate.

2. Favorite flavor: She doesn't prefer one over the other, in the meals she cooks she wants the flavors to all be complimentary so that's what she likes.

3. Favorite food: Roasted Black Tapir

4. Favorite meal: Breakfast

5. She doesn't dislike any foods or flavors.

6. She can tolerate spicy foods fine.

7. Favorite animal: Bats

8. She wears a black silk nightgown with lace trim to bed.

9. Before she was with Adamas she slept mostly on her back, but now she's always the little spoon.

10. She's a morning person.

11. Hazel is a heavy sleeper, once she's asleep she's out.

12. On a rainy day she'll open the curtains and listen to the rain and probably sit down with Lisette to enjoy some tea and mending clothes.

13. She'd never admit it out loud but her favorite scent is the smell of her husband, Adamas. She'd probably say the scent of freshly washed laundry instead.

14. She smells clean with a little hint of floral, maybe lilac.

15. She likes baths when she has the time for them.

16. Hazel is an amazing cook and she's always swapping recipes with Barbatos.

17. She likes late spring, early summer, for all the fresh fruits and vegetables and flowers.

18. Her favorite holiday is the Devildom's New Year.

19. She prefers giving gifts, it's a control thing.

20. Hazel is 5'4/162.5 cm

[flickys-courage-club]

Meet Team Frostbite❄️ (CTCD OC Story)

[CW⚠️ VIOLENCE, CURSING]

[Characters: Courage, Barry(OC), Cajun Fox, Damien the Wolf(OC), Malcolm the Mountain Hare(OC), Snowflake the Arctic Fox(OC), Other members of Team Frostbite(OCs), Cider(OC), Timber(OC) and Chief Azrael(OC)]

[When Barry gets kidnapped by the pesky Cajun Fox, Cajun gets knocked out by three people who are known as the most improved adventurers, they began taking Barry to their place. Though for Courage, he worryingly thinks that Barry is kidnapped by them. So he goes off to retrieve him though it turns out that they act like a second family to him]

(Today was snowing in Nowhere, Barry and Courage are out in the snow, building snowmen together)

Barry: (builds a snowman of Courage) hey Courage I made you, or I can call it a 'snow dog' (giggles)

Courage: (giggles) that's really good Barry. Check it out I made you as a snowman or I like to call it 'a snow cat'

(Barry and Courage laugh together. But then Courage sees a figure behind Barry, his face changed from happy to worried as it comes closer to Barry)

Courage: Barry! Barry!

Barry: Huh? Courage, what's wrong

Courage: Behind you Barry!

Barry: Behind me? (Turns around) Huh?

(Barry was picked up by the figure who was none other than Cajun Fox)

Cajun Fox: Hahahahaha! I have you now for my Cajun cat meatloaf

Barry: A Cajun cat meatloaf?!

Courage: No!! Leave him alone you fox!!

Cajun Fox: Sorry pooch, your not on the menu tonight (kicks Courage's eye with his foot and sprints off while carrying Barry) Hehehe!!

Courage: (rubs his eye) I just know something bad is going to happen (sprints off to Cajun Fox and Barry)

(As Cajun Fox sprints with Barry, he bumps into a tall figure resembling a wolf)

Cajun Fox: (shakes his head) Hey, watch it buddy! Can't ya see I'm planning to make this cat into my fabulous cat meatloaf

(The three figures appear together staring at Cajun Fox, then one of the hits him with a snow shovel, injuring him. Cajun Fox falls to the snowy ground unconsciously with Barry looking at him then to the figures)

Barry: (gets up) Thanks sir! Didn't know you came to my rescue

(The figure takes his hand)

Barry: Huh? Whoa!!!

(Barry is picked up and carried by the figures as they head out in the freezing weather)

Barry: Hey!! What are you doing?!Courage!!! COURAGE!!!

(Courage hears Barry shouting for him, he then sprints off fast to get Barry at who took him)

Courage: Hold on Barry!

(As being carried by the tallest figure, his body began to shiver from the cold)

(Cuts to the three figures arriving at their dacha(Russian house), they enter in, placing their stuff onto their shelves and hanging their coats)

(The figures reveal themselves to be a wolf, a mountain hare and an Arctic fox in which they live together in it. The wolf looked at the fox putting firewood onto their fireplace)

???: There we go sir!

???: Good job!

(But then the wolf felt something cold on his shoulder. He looked at it and he sees a small black kitten freezing. He picked him up with his two hands, looking right at his face)

???: Hmm, you are freezing after being in the snow for too long. (Takes him to the sofa and puts him there. He takes his(Barry) coat off and places a blue and red blanket over him)

???: Oy', what's up with him? Damien lad

Damien: His body is freezing from the blasted cold weather. So I placed a blanket over the little guy

???: Oh... (walks to the sofa, he kneels down to Barry) Do you want a drink of hot cocoa lad? Cuz' your face is frozen up too

Barry: Sure

(The hare goes over to the kitchen to make a cup of hot chocolate. Then the Arctic fox comes around and sits next to Barry on the sofa)

Barry: Sooo, who are you guys exactly

???: (stirring the hot chocolate) Hm

???: Who are we?

Damien: We are Team Frostbite!

Barry: Team Frostbite?

Damien: Yes, we are a team of adventurers across the frozen weather. We all survive against any threat that comes to us.

Barry: (given his hot chocolate by the hare) Whoa! That's really interesting of you guys

???: Yeah and we were all really incredible

Barry: Yeah, but I need to know (sips his hot chocolate) about who you guys are

Damien: (walks towards him and kneels down to about his height) My name is Damien. The leader of this team and i take it really seriously

Barry: What's with the odd speech you have

Damien: That's because I'm from Russia, it is my accent

Barry: (silent a bit) Right

Malcolm: I am Malcolm, a mountain hare from Scotland. I am also the right hand of this team

Snowflake: And I am Snowflake, i'm the deputy of our team

Barry: What's that?

Damien: A deputy is like a second in command. Which is an officer next to an authority of a chief/leader

Barry: Hmm (does the thinking gesture) interesting

Damien: And how about you cat! What is your name?

Barry: Barry

Damien: Barry! Well boy, (kneels down to about his height) due to your youthfulness. We Team Frostbite shall protect you against any threat that comes to you

Barry: Really?

Malcolm: We sure will do lil lad

Barry: Thanks

Snowflake: (squeals in excitement and chuckles) Yes! New teammate (places her arm across Barry's shoulder) to Team Frostbite!

(Then it cuts to Damien and Malcolm in the living room together, watching an adult show)

Damien: (unsettled) Damn

Malcolm: (unsettled) He straight up got em good eh

(Then they heard their door knocking)

Damien: Hmm?

(The door pushes open by someone who is none other than Courage, holding a shovel)

Damien: Now what do you think your doing in my home, this is trespassing here dog. So start leaving or I will whack your skull open with my snow shovel (grabs his snow shovel)

Courage: Then tell me, what have you done with Barry?

Malcolm: We didn't do anything wrong to the poor lad, lad! So start leaving this dacha, now! (Raises his fencing sword at Courage)

Courage: Oh no!

(Cuts to Barry and Snowflake watching stars in the ceiling from her ceiling light in her room)

Barry: Whoa

Snowflake: I know right, pretty cool

(The two hear a sound of a snow shovel)

Barry: What was that?

Snowflake: Might be Damien whacking out a threat, c'mon let's go and check it out

(The two rush out of Snowflake's room then downstairs and to the living room, they were surprised to see Courage, injured by Damien's snow shovel)

Snowflake: What is the threat done here leader?

Damien: Trespassing into our home

Snowflake: (gasps) Oh you little! (Raises her dagger)

(Courage screams and shuts his eyes and covering them)

(Snowflake runs towards Courage with a dagger in hand, but then Barry stops her)

Barry: STOP!!!

Damien: Hmm?

Snowflake: Huh

Malcolm: Ay' what's wrong ere lad?

(Barry runs in front of Courage and defends him)

Barry: Don't hurt him, he is my friend

Malcolm: Wait really!?

Barry: Yes (sees Courage) but I'm worried that he might get killed by you guys

Damien: (sighs, puts his snow shovel back) Malcolm, Snowflake. Put your weapons back

Malcolm: Yeah lad (puts his fencing sword back)

Snowflake: Yes Damien (puts her dagger back)

(Damien watches Barry helping Courage get back up. He turns his eyes to the dog, walks towards him and lunges down to his height. Courage feels worried that he might get hurt again but this time, he sees Damien's paw in confusion)

Courage: Hmm?

Damien: Shake!

(Courage placed his paw onto Damien's and the two shake hands together)

Damien: My apologies for... attacking you

Malcolm: Same with me lad. We thought you were threatening our place

Snowflake: Me three! And I thought you were gonna kidnap the poor cat

Courage: No, I thought that... that you guys kidnapped Barry

Damien: We didn't "kidnap" the cat. We took him into our place because he was freezing to death in this weather

Courage: Oh, right. By the way who are you guys anyway

Damien: Damien, wolf of Russia and leader of Team Frostbite

Malcolm: Malcolm, mountain hare of Scotland and Team Frostbite's right hand

Snowflake: Snowflake, arctic fox, the youngest and deputy of the team

Damien: We are a part of a big team of the most improved adventurers known as Team Frostbite!

Courage: Oooh

Snowflake: Yeah! Pretty cool isn't it?

Courage: (nods) Mmhmm

Damien: As adventurers, we survive against any dangerous threats that come upon us, whether they are supernaturals, dangerous beasts and bloodthirsty creatures.

Courage: Mmhmm

Barry: Oh Courage that reminds me, you have stood against a lot of monsters before

Malcolm: Wait really?!

Courage: Uh huh uh huh

Snowflake: (gasps) No way! You really fought those beasts that hard!

Barry: They weren't just beasts. He has fought talking snowmen, zombie film directors, a weather goddess, vikings, trolls, a sadistic cat mastermind, a southern speaking fox who cooks sweet old grannies for his stew, a purple foot who act as a crime gang and a French speaking duck who steals money!

Malcolm: Whoa lad!

Damien: You seem to be that strong after you battled against these beasts

Courage: Yeah, I know. The things I do for love

Malcolm: The things you do for love?

Barry: He does tend to say that. But I kind of forgot what does it mean when he says that

Snowflake: Me neither small pink dog

Barry: Actually his name is in fact Courage

Snowflake: "Courage?" How is he called that?

Barry: Because even though he tends to get scared, he has a big brave heart to save anyone he cares for against the monsters (rubs Courage's head)

Snowflake: Ohhh I see I see

(Damien looks at the clock and realises that it's getting pretty late, he looks at Courage and Barry)

Damien: Welp it's getting late, you guys gotta get back home

(Damien opens the door)

Damien: It's been nice meeting you both, but right now you guys should be going home now

Courage: Ok! C'mon Barry (walks outside on the frosty weather) Barry?

(Barry stands inside with a worried look on his face)

(Courage feels worried for Barry not coming along with him but then he had an idea. He goes to Barry and whispers in his ear with what he says made him feel delighted)

Barry: (gasps) Really? Does that mean that I?

(Courags nods)

Barry: (sniffs with tears in his eyes and hugs him) Thanks Courage!

(Courage hugs him back)

(Then it cuts to Barry who is in dark blue pyjamas with white clouds sitting on Snowflake's bed along with Snowflake who is wearing white pyjamas and shorts with icy blue snowflakes on them. Barry has his rabbit plush)

Snowflake: (looks at Barry's plush) Your rabbit toy looks cute, who did you get it from?

Barry: (silent a bit) My mom and dad gave it to me on my 2nd birthday

Snowflake: Oh, that's nice of them

Barry: Heh yeah (yawns) I better get some sleep now

Snowflake: Me too, we gotta a big day ahead of us tomorrow. (Gets into bed) night lil buddy

Barry: Night Snowflake

(Then the two fall asleep in the bed)

(Then the dark morning came and Malcolm opens the door and comes into Snowflake's room)

Malcolm: Lass, lad! Wake up! The Chief is gonna be here in a bit

(Snowflake gets off her bed and stands up straight like a soldier)

Snowflake: Yes sir Malcolm! (Looks at Barry) you ok over there pal?

Barry: (rubs his eyes) Y-yeah, I'm up Malcolm sir

Malcolm: That's good of you fellas, now why don't you go get yourselves dressed up for today

Snowflake: Yes Malcolm (walks to her closet and picks out two of her dresses, one in sage green and one in dark raspberry) hmmm, I'll go with my beautiful dark raspberry dress (Takes her nightwear off and puts her dress, socks and boots on. She then picks him out a cobalt green coloured sweater with a white turtleneck over his neck, she helps him take off his pyjamas and put his sweater on with stars in her eyes when she sees Barry with his sweater on)

Snowflake: You look so... adorable in that sweater Barry

Barry: Oh uhh, thanks

(Cuts to the four having their breakfast)

Barry: (eating porridge and gulps it)

Mmm, this porridge isn't that bad at all

Snowflake: Yeah, this buckwheat porridge is really frickin' good (eats it)

Barry: Buckwheat? What's that

Damien: It's a type of grain coming from a seed known as a pseudocereal, which are said to be consumed as actual cereal grains

Barry: Oh, interesting (eats his buckwheat porridge)

(After the four are done with breakfast. It cuts to them arriving at a dacha that it is much more bigger than Damien's)

Barry: (surprised) Whoa! This is more bigger than yours!

Damien: It sure is, now let's head inside.

[The four head inside the dacha. As they enter, it resembles a massive bar, filled with seats and hundreds of others. They all see the four enter]

Damien: Hello everyone

???: Ey' guys, look who it is

All [except for Damien, Malcolm, Snowflake and Barry]: [cheers]

???: Ey' Damien!

???: What's up man!

???: Ay' Malcolm lad!

Malcolm: Ay' you too lad!

Four unnamed members: Hey Snowflake!

Snowflake: Hi! [Waves]

[As they move along, many of the members look at Barry with curious expressions]

[Barry sees two of the members with one of them having a prosthetic leg and an arm and the second who is in a wheelchair]

[The two turn their heads to him]

???: Hi!

???: Hello!

Barry: [silent a bit] [then waves his hand at them]

[The little guy continues walking to Damien who is seen talking to two goat demons. Damien sees him clinging onto his leg]

Damien: Ah, there you are [kneels down and headpats him]

???: Well hey, who's this little guy over here man?

Barry: Barry

???: Sorry, what was that again pal

Damien: He said his name is Barry

???: Ohhh, I get it now I get it [lunges down]

Timber: Well it's nice to meet you pal, [raises his hand out] name's Timber

Cider: [lunges down] And I'm Cider

Barry: Cider?

Cider: Y'know like the drink made from apples

Timber: And she is my twin so, we both have the 'er' in our names right.

Barry: [nods about it] Mmhmm

Timber: Alright, time to do this

[Timber and Cider come up to a stand with Timber blowing a horn]

Timber: Attention Team Frostbite!

[Everyone looks at the twins]

Timber: The Chief will be arriving here right in a moment

Cider: So make sure your all seated together guys

Barry: [quietly] Who is he talking about a "Chief?"

Damien: [quietly] Shh, you'll see

[They all hear giant steps coming ahead, which Barry hold tightly onto Damien's leg]

[And there out of the shadows reveals a tall and ginormous goat demon with big long arms and a big beard. He sits on his throne]

Chief: Welcome Team Frostbite!

All members of Team Frostbite: Good evening Chief Azrael!

Azrael: [sees Damien and Malcolm] Ah there are two of my most loyal members, Damien and Malcolm. How you boys doing tonight?

Damien: We are doing well Chief

Malcolm: Yeah we sure did, did we lad [elbows him] [laughs]

Azrael: [laughs]

[Then the Chief sees someone small holding onto his leg]

Azrael: Ohhh, say Damien. You didn't tell me that you had someone holding onto your leg like that

[Azrael picks Barry up by his cobalt green tunic]

Azrael: Well I must say my friend... you are by far the one who is... adorable, youthful and the amount of courage you gained

Barry: Oh, uhh thank you Mr uhh Chief, Sir

Azrael: It's alright my friend

Azrael: [to everyone while holding Barry with his palm] My honorable team! [Shows them all his palm with Barry] Will we acquire this small child as our new recruit of Team Frostbite!

All members of Team Frostbite: Yeah!

One member of the team: YEAH CHIEF!!! ADD EM IN!!!

Azrael: What do you say my friend?

Barry: [silent a bit] Well... alright I'm in

Azrael: He's in everyone!

All the members of Team Frostbite: [cheering]

One member of Team Frostbite: YES!!! I KNEW IT!!! F##K YEAH!!!

Azrael: Welcome to the team my friend

Timber: He has a name Chief. It's-

Barry: Barry

Timber: Oh right!

Azrael: Since your accepted as our recruiter. We will support and help with anything that you might learn on how to do. Is that okay with you Barry?

Barry: Yep [nods]

Azrael: Excellent!

THE END

[commanderfoxtheshield]

Since the sketch is taking a bit, have the snippet I was going to add

The first snow fall on the farm was in early winter. The former members of the Coruscant Guard have seen snow before, but they had each slowly forgotten what it truly felt like to be surrounded by the chilling air and the silent beauty. Mornings now they had the opportunity to sit by a window and be a part of that silence. No more rushing faster than the blood in their veins or hitting the pavement harder than their hearts in their chest. Snow days simply got to be.

In just a week of the first dusting, the Guards' Farm had gotten buried in an icy blanket. While it snowed on Coruscant, that cursed planet was climate controlled. Snow there was only for the upper levels while the lower levels got its dirty runoff. But here on their slice of this Pantoran moon, the snow was clean, thick, and theirs. It did not take long for all of the members of the houses on the farm to put on their boots, coats, and hats and make their way outside with wide smiles.

The Big House was no different, save that Stone took longer to convince to come out. He promised he would for holopics then head straight back inside to finish making bundles of soup ingredients, knowing well enough that the other houses would like a hot meal after playing in the snow all day. The only reason Fox wasn't the first one out of the Big House was because he was still struggling with learning how to use his crutches. He was only barely beaten by Thire, who was the first to see their former guards streaming out in brightly colored coats against the stark white. The trek to the middle of the grounds left them frozen and beaming.

Several of the others were attempting to build sculptures, but the closest any of them looking like anything was the one Desk and Tylo made that could very well be a leg of some insectoid creature made out of gummy candy. They claim it was supposed to be a pinup model, but getting everyone's eyes checked was a slow process that neither Fox or Thire were not in charge of. Some were throwing snowballs at each other, though it was nothing like aiming a blaster so many of them missed. And there were those who enjoyed being with their family, trying to catch every peal of laughter in their memories.

Stone finally came out, wearing his wings embroidered hat. It matched Thire's scarf and the cuffs of Fox's coat, each being a gift from one of their oldest survivors once they got on the farm. He pretended to be grumpy, but even he couldn't help but to smile when he saw Fox being so carefree with his joy. He was a little actually grumpy when Fox hugged him and his long wet curly hair brushed up against his neck. But he only was needed for holopics and then he could go back inside. Jazz-Box managed to catch a couple of them, all ended up being too blurry to mean anything though. It was on her 6th try that right as her camera snapped, Thire launched and latched himself onto Fox's back. Stone stumbled as Fox nearly fell but regained his posture, laughing as his spirit was made to do. Thire laughed too as he scrambled to keep his grip.

It was there that Stone resided to his fate. His arm was trapped between their bodies and the was no escape for him or Thire as Fox held his arms out and fell backwards into the snow. A litany of no-no-nono-nonono followed by the sound of three bodies hitting the snow in a soft thud. Thire's legs kicked out as Fox laid on top of him and all Stone wanted to do was watch.

In a couple of hours, Fox will be suffering from his joints and Stone would be underneath the heating blanket and Thire will be struggling to hold his hands still. In a couple of hours, their survivors will be taking care of injuries none of them deserve. In the morning, half of them will be sick.

But for now, they were happy. They lived. And they will get to live.

[mantisgodsdomain]

Milk and Green Apple for Penelope

(for this ask game)

Since we haven't introduced Penelope yet, as is standard, we'll do a quick write-up here. Penelope is a Galápagos fur seal (Arctocephalus galapagoensis). She's an accountant who works at a bank located in a tundra which primarily caters towards terrestrial animals. Though she doesn't particularly like her job, and initially picked this posting because it was the best option available to her during her CPA experience program, she sort of... got stuck.

Finding work is difficult. She was lucky enough to get rehired by the same branch after finishing her work experience program, but she can't really find anywhere else willing to hire her right now, and her branch is hesitant to let her go, considering that she's one of the most competent people available to her department. She can't really quit, but she can't really move forward, either, so she's sort of... stuck in limbo.

She's well-paid enough that she can live relatively comfortably, but she was at least partially a diversity hire to begin with, and the place she lives in now just plain isn't made for her. She's an aquatic species in a relatively dry area, and most of the species that her branch caters to are smaller prey species - hares, kea, and lemmings, and the occasional arctic fox. Most of the infrastructure is built for people half her size or more, and being an aquatic species, she's not really built to be living terrestrially 24/7 - wearing glasses is all well and good until your prescription breaks and the best replacement pair you can find is built for a stoat, and sure, she can afford a doctor if anything comes up, but no one in her area would really know much about her species, and can she really afford the time and effort added to the expenses of flying to somewhere else entirely just to see a specialist?

As is, she feels just... stuck. She handles it, mostly, with a mix of "gritting her teeth and bearing it" and "heading out to a nearby city which actually has infrastructure for anything bigger than a fox". She sort of has to make a Day of it every time she travels out, but it's better than staying in the same town all day, and paying a bit extra for a night out isn't *too* bad, all things considered. The situation, as is, is perfectly fine. She just... wishes that she could make something of her life beyond being stagnant in a town that she expected to just be a stop in the road.

🥛 [MILK] What is your OC's relationship with their biological parents like? What about their relationship with any non-biological parental figures?

Well... it's complicated. She doesn't have a bad relationship with them, per se, but it's a bit distant - she moved to an entirely different part of the world to take this job, and most of her communication with family members is by video call and similar things as a result. She cares for her family, and she wouldn't trade them for the world, really - but they expect a lot from her, and she's been stuck at the same place long enough that she's not sure she can live up to it.

Penelope sits in the awkward sort of space where she was academically successful, but that success didn't really transfer to almost anything else. She's got a job, she's good at it, she's got a degree - but she still can't get a job besides the one she's been stuck in for years already, and "still working at the same bank" isn't the sort of thing that feels good to say, especially when you've been in the same place for far longer than you've ever wanted to be.

Her parents love her. Her mother still holds out faith that she'll get that one promotion - just a few more years and you'll get your big break, just a bit more work and they'll notice how industrious you are, just a tiny bit more effort and you'll get a better position - but you can only believe something so much when you feel like you've been stuck in the same rut for so long. There's only so much you can hear about how you have so much potential before you start feeling like you're wasting yourself, and at this point... having the same things repeated starts feeling a bit like every day she doesn't get that break is a day she's wasting her potential.

She does not currently have any non-biological parental figures. Probably a bit late in her life to get one, but who knows at this point, honestly?

🍏 [GREEN APPLE] How do they differ from the norm and how are they punished for it?

...there's a lot.

Though her workplace tried to provide accomodations when she first arrived, it's been more than eight years, and nowadays she has to do most of her accomodation herself. Her eyes aren't really made to focus above water, she's got a very different body plan than most people at the branch, she's a predator big enough to make most of the other folks in her branch a bit instinctually nervous, and being one of the only seals that most people know means that she's been re-introduced to the same three harbor seals entirely too many times by now.

People don't really make chairs for people with tails the size of their bodies around here, which means that chair backs that accomodate her are generally a matter of either custom order or hoping that she's going somewhere that's dealt with one of the other half-dozen folks with the same needs.

Penelope is, fundamentally, Not From Around Here. She's not a species that's found around here, she's not a species that's especially adapted for here, and despite being a seal that's only around a metre long she still towers over most of the people at her branch. The closest person to her size is an arctic fox in the tax department, and he still doesn't really have the same sort of experience as her. She doesn't fit The Norm, pretty much in any way, and it... really, really shows.

[watchtowerindistress]

we are not our demons - (24/24) - bruce wayne x batmom

Author’s note: Just as promised, the last chapter. Hope you’ll have a wonderful year.

This is the end. I can't believe we're at the end.  Would you excuse me, please? *cries in a corner* Okay, I'm back. Would you guys please let me sleep in my hibernation?

As I was, again, looking for a list of reporters, I found out that Carrie Fisher was in Smallville. Guess who I just incorporated to be the news anchor at Gotham City News? [See you at the end.]

Beta-read by Heidi.

Words: 3.6k

Warning: fluff, past animal abuse, mentioned death

Please reblog/leave a comment.

Series Masterlist | Read on AO3

When he stares at me, you see he cares for me

You see how he is so deep in love

I know that he loves me ‘cause it’s obvious

I know that he loves me ‘cause it’s me he trusts

- Brown Eyes by Destiny’s Child -

Ellie was already waiting for Bruce standing behind the banister while the Batmobile ceased to a halt on the platform. Her fingers were clinging to the metal as Bruce found himself staring at her through the windshield in anticipation as soon as he stopped the ignition.

Bruce’s gaze roamed over to the dog sitting on the passenger seat. He was panting with an open snout and curiously looking at him with wide brown eyes. During their drive to the asylum, one clown had the privilege to sit in the backseat while the other was forced to rest in the trunk which was reserved for criminals. Not that he had much choice in the matter of being his comatose self.

“Wait here,” Bruce spoke under his breath, hoping he would understand him and heed his request. If he wanted this to remain a surprise for Damian, he would do this right at least. Jumping outside, he slammed the door shut behind him.

“Was Ace Chemicals as eventful as I imagine it to be?” Ellie inquired with an open curiosity and followed the railing to inch closer to him.

Hesitation lingered on his features after he ripped off the cowl from his head. “You could say that.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Morrow was already gone. Left that place abandoned. But I found some of his samples he left behind. Sending the chemical compounds to Fox later. Let’s see if he can make sense of the research he was working on.”

Understanding lit up in Ellie’s brown eyes when she nodded. Bruce could feel her appraising him with an assessing gaze before she tilted her head.

“Why do I get the feeling that there’s more you’re not telling?”

Bruce was rubbing his fingers together. “Because you know me better than anyone else?”

Damian used the opportunity to stand up from his chair by the screens. Looking at his father with a scrutinizing eye, he walked closer to Ellie’s side.

Bruce chose to reciprocate his stare and sighed. “Listen, I found something at Ace Chemicals, and I thought it’d be a nice gift for you, Damian. If you want it, that is.”

Damian was about to cross his arms over his chest, but then he thought better of it. “Depends on the gift.”

Accepting that as sufficient, Bruce strode over to the passenger door before opening it.

The animal jumped out with elegant effort.

Ellie gasped with a squealing sound. “Oh my God.” Her hands were covering her mouth in stunned delight, probably to mute any other adorable sounds from leaving her lips.

Tim’s curious and honest eyes saw through the grid that shielded his small body.

Ellie’s hands were sitting now on her waist. “Is this now a typical family, with a dog included? I didn’t know we could bring pets into this joint.”

Bruce sent her a tired look. “Please don’t call it a joint either.”

Ellie rolled her eyes and advanced towards the platform with the dark vehicle. She waved her hand behind her in invitation before she looked over her shoulder. “Come on, Tim.” Ellie nudged her head at the new family member while staring at the younger boy. “What about you, Damian?”

A cautious but eager Tim took Ellie up on that offer by clasping his hand in hers. The youngest Wayne remained quiet yet followed behind his brother at a safe distance. Uneasiness spread over his face which was usually a blank expression of ‘I couldn’t care less’, haughty arrogance or one of pure annoyance.

Ellie knelt down about five feet away from the cautious creature. With a friendly look meant to put him at ease. “Oh, someone’s just a huge ball of fluff, aren’t you?” Her hand was lifted over his snout before her eyes met Bruce, no longer speaking with that higher voice usually reserved for children or animals. “What’s a dog doing at Ace Chemicals?”

Never before did a heavy sigh enunciate what a heavy heart was resting in his chest. Just imagining the kind of doom which was inflicted upon this animal tore at him.

“Do you really want to know?”

The scar on the canine’s nose and the quick bandage around his ribs was giving her a pretty good guess. There seemed to be some contusions on his forehead. She was gazing up at Bruce with heartbroken sympathy.

The Great Dane was licking her hand after cautiously sniffing the unfamiliar scent.

Before Ellie could even voice her thoughts, Damian beat her to it. “Tell us.”

His son’s visceral reaction made Bruce’s eyes widen in dazed silence.

Ellie’s eyes caught Tim’s again who had been hiding behind her and waved him over with a quiet, comforting voice. “Do you want to stroke him? Let him get close to you.”

Following her example, Tim carefully brushed the patch of his head that wasn’t scarred.

Bruce was visibly fighting for words. “They wanted to hurt him. Dog fighting, stuff like that. They intended to give him the Joker treatment, like they did to all the other dogs who died over the course of time.”

Damian clenched his jaw at Bruce’s explanation before he glanced back at the dog in question.

“So, if you want him, he’s yours. There’ll be rules of course. But I need to have your word that you’ll take care of him. He needs a family after all. Or I’m forced to send him to the shelter. But I think you’re smart enough to know which kind of fate he’ll face there.”

Damian was studying Tim’s reaction to being so close to him and watched in fascination how his giggling shook his body when his face was licked. Tim was gingerly caressing his neck while Damian stepped closer.

Ellie chuckled with a fond expression on her face. “Don’t rush him.” Concern extended over her face when her eyes wandered back to Tim before she glanced at Damian. “He needs a name if you want to keep him,” she spoke lowly.

“A name is permanent.” Damian whispered with furrowing eyebrows.

Ellie smiled fondly and gazed at him teary-eyed. “It is. That’s the beauty of it.”

“And I can’t keep calling him ‘Ace’ in my head,” Bruce offered helpfully.

Damian patiently offered the inside of his palm after assessing him for injuries. Inquisitive brown eyes were staring at him. They were almost at the same height.

Something warm and wet was brushing over his injured hand. And not the one he had offered to him.

What a strange creature.

If Damian was apprehensive before, plain confusion took over his eyes. His uninjured hand, like it had a mind of its own, carefully stroked his back as he joined Tim in his ministrations, mindful of the injuries littered over his body.

Leaning forward, the raven-haired boy framed his snout and stared into those soulful eyes. “I’ll take care of you now.” He breathed in calmly before a realization hit him. “His name is Titus,” Damian stated in pure wonder.

“What’s it from?” Bruce murmured softly with a slanted head.

“Titus Andronicus,” Damian clarified monotonously.

That explanation was a clear indicator to how he was as a person.

Bruce shook his head. “Jesus Christ.”

Ellie’s gaze switched between Bruce and Damian in uncertainty. “Is that a play?”

“It’s Shakespeare. It’s one of his most violent plays actually,” Tim conveyed to her.

Ellie’s eyes were focusing on nothing when she sighed in acceptance, “Great. Titus it is.”

~ Ellie POV ~

Damian’s gift from Bruce had certainly come as a surprise, especially how the kid took to the new addition to the family. Ellie would have expected him to pretend not to care, like he always would, but it filled her with relief that Damian was instead looking at Titus with compassion at what he had to endure under the tyranny of Joker.

Ellie was now sitting on the couch in the living room, with her arm slung over the back and looked over her shoulder into the kitchen. The boys had been sent to their beds and hopefully a quiet night would remain.

“How is Alfred going to like the idea of a dog added to the mix now?”

Two empty glasses were in one hand while the other arm cradled the bottle of red wine. Half of it was filled graciously as Bruce stood next to her. The intoxicating noise of him pouring the drink filled her senses before the glass was placed into her hand.

“A dog is a good idea for Damian,” Bruce reminded her after pouring himself a glass of wine. He sat down next to her.

Ellie watched in rapt fascination how his throat bobbed with every gulp. “Oh, I see that. A dog is a lot of work. We need to do check-ups, see if he’s got the shots, if he’s maybe chipped—”

“He’s not. No owner. And money’s not an issue here,” Bruce interrupted her with certainty and a twinkle in his eyes.

“Said the rich person,” Ellie mumbled under her breath. His asserting words made her remember something else when she exclaimed, “Jesus, do you have an x-ray machine on your belt? Oh God, why am I even asking?”

Another huge gulp of the fruity taste would do her some good.

“Just check with Alfred first if he’s maybe not a cat person.”

Bruce smiled, like he knew a secret she didn’t before he answered, “He is, but he never mentioned that he hates dogs.” Bruce held up his chin with the support of his hand.

Ellie snorted quietly, shaking her head, and letting her wavy hair dance around her. “You just thought of everything, haven’t you?”

“Most of it. I’ll take care of the rest tomorrow.” His warm and molten gaze lingered on Ellie’s face and set her body on fire with a slow burn. It felt even hard to breathe. “But we still need to have that talk,” Bruce murmured in such a gravelly voice that something deep in her belly thrummed deliciously.

Gazing in exasperation at the glass she was carrying in her hand, like a newly discovered recognition, Ellie groaned, “Is that why you pumped wine into me? So I’d let my guard down?”

Okay, this sounded way more horrible than she wanted it to.

Bruce’s teasing voice instantly put her at ease again. “Well, I heard it helped in most situations. You don’t have to hide from me. I just want to talk to you.”

Ellie grunted. “Gah, fine.” She emptied her glass by knocking it back. “You first,” she blurted like a yawning sound as she tried to get the liquor down her throat.

In a challenging way, Bruce sent her a lazy smirk. “Why did you kiss me?” he spoke slowly.

“I don’t know. It’s like I said, the routine was hitting me hard and suddenly I was right there with you, a few months ago, when things were just easy.”

Bruce’s gaze remained patient. “Things haven’t changed.”

“Yes, they have.”

“No. You’ve only seen behind the curtain and discovered the true baggage of everything.”

Bruce’s simple way of seeing things deflated the air in her lungs.

“I know I kept things from you. But nothing has changed for me. I still want you in my life. All I want to know is if you want to share this life with me too.” Bruce paused in thought, giving Ellie just enough time to process. “I still am crazy about you, and I know I’ve been getting these signals from you too.”

Ellie’s voice turned soft at the reminder he was uttering. “I know. Because I’ve been getting yours. I’ve seen these looks you’ve been sending me. And these lingering touches.”

Those molten pools from before turned into an earnest expression. “I want to share my life with you. All of it. And I want every part of you. The woman who absolutely adores my kids. My partner who supports me out in the field. And my friend who just obliterates me with her knives as words.”

Ellie was getting misty-eyed just from the vehemence of his words and the way they hit her. She felt at a loss for words as she stuttered, “That’s not—I’m trying not to be that person. I don’t want that piece of me who hurts people in a warped attempt to protect someone else.”

Bruce leaned towards her. “I’m saying I see every puzzle piece of you, and I worship everything about you that makes you you.”

Ellie shook her head to clear it. Her mind was getting fuzzy from all the affirming words. “God, why are you trying to make me so emotional?” She didn’t hide her tears from Bruce when she chuckled with a thick voice.

Bruce smirked, patiently waiting for her reaction. “Are you in or out?”

“Geez, if you’re going to be so demanding about it.” Ellie snuggled her fingers around his neck. Framing his face, she let her breath ghost over his cheeks before she whispered, “I’m crazy about you too.”

Bruce’s eyes were twinkling with mischief. “Yes, or no?”

Ellie licked her lips before she finally sealed her fate and gazed into his eyes. “Hell yes,” she whispered fervently.

If she thought she could breathe easily as soon as Barbara was set free from her aching pain, saying yes to him was a whole different level of breathing.

It felt like Bruce was giving her the air to breathe.

A relieved smile extended on Bruce’s lips when he gazed into her eyes. Bruce tilted his head—the only warning he gave before he leaned forward and pressed his lips on hers with a quick swoop.

Ellie hummed quietly at the familiar and lingering feeling slowly warming her inside out. Ellie hummed quietly at the familiar and lingering feeling slowly warming her inside out. His lips softly brushed against hers, like he was trying to get to know her again.

She tightened her hold on the back of his neck and welcomed his probing tongue seeking entrance. Bruce exhaled a heavy grunt from deep within his chest at their final touch. Ellie tilted her head back, needing to feel him closer. Needing a second to breathe, she let her forehead touch his.

“I’m not letting go now.” His warm breath caressing her face didn’t help matters in her racing heart.

“Bruce Wayne, such a romantic.”

Bruce and Ellie were lying intertwined on his couch, with her resting on top of his chest and her hand lingering on the thick pullover shielding his beating heart.

“I guess you know what that means, right?”

Underneath her, Bruce was stroking her arm. “Hmm?”

“Gotham’s most eligible bachelor has been finally snatched off the market.”

Instantly, his hand let go of her shoulder and his body tensed. “I didn’t say you were my girlfriend, Rhodes.”

Ellie groaned at Bruce’s idea of a joke. “You’re such a—” She punched his chest at the audacity, “—jerk, Bruce. It’s really scary when you’re making jokes like that.”

Bruce chuckled deeply, letting his upper body shake with the movement. “Do you remember what we talked about when you moved in?”

Ellie tilted her head back to gaze into Bruce’s face. “Be more specific?”

“Remember when we wanted to see how things would go regarding your living condition?”

“I remember a certain someone who offered to just buy the whole apartment complex in Midtown,” Ellie taunted him mercilessly.

Bruce sighed deeply. “Sue me. Would you at least consider letting your lease expire?”

Ellie blinked slowly as she chewed it over. “Maybe. I meant it then. You think you can suffer through our routines? Have me 24/7 at your side?”

Brushing away the hair from her forehead, Bruce grunted, “If you’re sleeping in my bed again, I think I can manage.”

When he said saucy stuff like that, it was hard not to jump him instantly.

Her playful whisper nuzzled against his chest. “Still all heart.” She tapped his sternum at the tempo of his heartbeat. “I deem Wayne Manor my home now, so no worries about that, Bruce. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

Bruce let his lips brush over her temple. “Good to know.”

With a heavy heart, Ellie finally admitted to him, “I don’t know if Babs is ever coming back. She’s on her own path now. You think you can settle with me instead of the Oracle?”

Bruce exhaled a sigh. “I think you two are very different people. There’s no comparison. With different strategies in missions. But it won’t change how your insight is most invaluable.”

“That sounds good. Since it still hasn’t changed how I want to remain your eyes and ears.”

Warm breath blew over her scalp. “You do know that I have a satellite just for that, right?”

Ellie chuckled. “Please, we both know you need me.”

Bruce whispered into the dark, “With all our cards now on the table, is there something you’re not telling me?” His assessing gaze met the side of her face when those fingers kept stroking over her scalp.

“What makes you say that?” Ellie inquired carefully.

“I know you by now. All your quirks and micro expressions included.”

Swallowing thickly, Ellie revealed, “I need to be certain of my suspicions before I can include you in this.”

Bruce had always been a touchy-feely person. Ellie had gotten used to it over time and just thought he wanted to reaffirm himself that she was truly his.

Bruce was softly caressing her cheek. “Then let’s find that out together. No more secrets.”

Contemplating that for a few seconds, Ellie finally nodded her head. There weren’t any disadvantages to having someone support her in her quest. Not to mention, keeping everything out in the open could feel liberating in a way.

“Ready to go to bed now?”

“Alright, fine, but no hanky-panky. Only cuddling.”

Bruce groaned underneath her at the restrictions. “Fine.”

A week later

~ Nameless POV~

A masked figure stood on top of a roof while he was overseeing the city of Gotham. He breathed calmly through the mask, knowing how everything was slowly unfolding. Yanking his phone out of his back pocket around his waist, he watched the live feed of Gotham City News.

Liz Tremayne, a journalist reporting for the news network, spoke into a microphone, with the closed gates of Arkham Asylum behind her. “—with Joker back at Arkham.”

His skin-tight cowl revealed two white-covered eyes. Those eyes studied the olive-skinned woman’s mannerisms as twisted poison streamed through his veins.

“After three years of inflicting terror on this city, the clown prince of crime was sent to the psychiatric ward.” The reporter pulled out her small notepad and looked down to verify her intel. Her chin-long black hair swept in the wind with the hectic motion. “The Joker’s patient file, which has been disclosed, revealed an erratic amount of time at Arkham Asylum and constant escapes out of the mental institution.”

The news anchor of GCN, a 40-year-old woman with reddish hair and scarlet-colored glasses on the bridge of her nose, pursed her lips in contemplation. “Has there been any statement coming from a spokesperson at Arkham Asylum?”

“Truth be told, Pauline, everything has been kept under wraps. We only just managed to get a brief statement from Amadeus Arkham who stated that the Joker was currently indeed in their care, but other than that everything has been classified. Backgrounds to his admission have not been disclosed yet—”

He pocketed his phone again before a grunt exhaled through the red cowl. “Hmm, is that so?”

His blood-red hood slung over his cowl while his eyes strained observing something at a distance. The sound of police sirens echoed like a constant into the night of Gotham.

Two content young boys stepped out of a coffee shop before a female voice stopped them in their tracks.

“Timmy, wait!”

The masked man’s head jolted in suspense. He observed a young woman with wavy chestnut hair follow behind them. The familiar face strongly resembled the photo in her file.

“There she is,” he thought to himself with strong suspicion.

The woman jogged after the older boy and adjusted the collar of his jacket before brushing her hand through his windswept hair.

His jaw clenched when he saw the young boy from behind. The brunette’s hand remained on his shoulder before her gaze met the other child and tilted her head at him in a dry manner.

The younger boy left his hands in his front pockets and stomped towards her with a groan. The closer he got to the car parked at the curb, more tension took over his body until he stopped in his tracks. He twisted his head for a few seconds, leaving the masked man on high alert. Ever since he identified the youngest boy, the tension only rose in him.

Before long, he finally disappeared into the backseat of her car while she was holding the door open.

People were predictable. They had their own little rituals and routines which made them easy to understand and to locate. It also made them stupid. But this one didn’t always stick to the plan.

He had been watching her for a few days and had her file memorized by now.

Elizabeth Rhodes Teague

Took her mother’s middle name after the death of her parents.

The masked man frowned to himself. No one changed their last name unless they wanted to run away from something. This one would prove to be the perfect leverage. With just the right amount of connections he needed. And this time he would do whatever it takes to extinguish anyone standing in his way.

A/N: Welp, looks like we got ourselves a Bat-Hound called Titus! Batfam's complete in my eyes. I didn't think Bat-Cow was fitting, so I just grant you Damian's support dog, and like in the comics was a gift by his father. Initially, Damian was supposed to discover Titus by himself and the adoption was supposed to be his own idea. Unfortunately, Joker broke his arm, so no patrol for him. You can thank that green-dyed bastard.

The dog was only supposed to make an appearance in the next part of the series, but I wanted the family to get used to their new family member.

Before I leave, I left the end kinda like a teaser for a possible last part but also kinda closed-ended because I didn't want people barge down my doors again. So please, you want to tell me you want to read the last part, go ahead, compliments are always welcome, but please don't ask me the question of WHEN since I just squeezed this part out of my soul.

Stay safe everybody!

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