#the hurt before the comfort

[emotionalsupporthufflefluff]

fancy friends that you can count on

Ominis Gaunt x GN!Hufflepuff!Reader (MC = Eliza Fig, previous fifth-year transfer student, current seventh-year Gryffindor) part four of the fancy series - [ToC]

Summary: Ominis worries when his friend doesn’t return from their fight and enlists a gathering of friends to help him find them. Reconnaissance is just an added perk. (Switching POV, though the majority of this part is actually in Ominis’s POV)

“Boss!”

“Merlin, Marcus, keep your damned voice down. Yer’ gonna scare all the lil’ beasties ‘round here!”

“Sorry, boss.” This was whispered, and a sigh was heard afterwards.

“Alright, what is it you want Marcus? Did someone steal your sweet roll again?”

“No, boss, nothing like that! Was just wonderin’ what you planned for that hogwash student?”

It was a fair question, you wondered what was going to happen yourself. You remained motionless on the ground, keeping your eyes closed and trying to appear still asleep. A sigh was heard once again from the boss- who really seemed fed up with his entire poaching party, honestly- before he finally answered.

“I don’t have anything planned for the student, and it’s Hogwarts, Marcus.” You could feel the cool press of metal underneath your prone form and felt the ground shake as someone agitated what must be the cage surrounding you. You remain quiet, still pretending to be asleep. “Go fetch Ed for me.”

“Got it, boss!”

Ominis was getting worried. He had waited for you at the entrance to the Hufflepuff common room, wanting to apologize for his outburst. But as a clock nearby rang out the tone for curfew, he realised that you hadn’t been by at all. Where were you?

Poppy rounds the corner, running and trying to hold her shoulderbag down. Something was jiggling around on the inside and she struggled to keep the top closed. She ends up skidding to a stop in front of where Ominis sat, then hesitantly walks closer to him instead of continuing her path through to her common room.

“Ominis? What are you doing here?” She pushes her bag back down as it jumps around, trying to pretend like nothing was happening.

“Waiting for Y/N, have you seen them?” Poppy hums, glancing toward the common room, then back at Ominis.

“Well, the last time I had seen them, they were walking down the path outside. I think they wanted to visit their fwooper friend?” Ominis furrows his brow, letting his head fall to look down toward the ground. That was odd- they had promised not to go back out there without him. They knew how terrified he was of something happening, the forbidden forest was dangerous. “Either way, I must’ve missed them coming back inside. You want me to go fetch them?” She nods her head toward the common room entrance, and Ominis raises his unseeing gaze to face Poppy once more.

“If you could tell them I want to talk, I would appreciate it.”

“Of course, Ominis.” She places a hand on his arm for a brief moment before wrestling her bag back down, knocking on a barrel nearby and disappearing into the Hufflepuff common room. Ominis didn’t know how much time had gone by, but every second seemed to stretch longer and longer. Were they officially avoiding him now? Did they just refuse to come out of their common room to talk to him?

When the barrel finally opened once more, Ominis stood and straightened himself immediately, patting down his robes to look a bit more presentable. It wasn’t Poppy he was expecting to see bound out of the common room, though. As his charm pulsed, he was able to see the expression more clearly on her face, and he immediately took a step toward her. “Y/N? Where are they?”

“They’re not in there, Ominis,” Her voice was quiet, and she chewed her lip. “I searched every inch, even asked their roommates. No one has seen them since this afternoon.”

Ominis felt frozen in place, his mind whirring quickly with questions and answers. Where could they have gone? Would they have done all this to avoid him? No, of course not. They could get mad, but they would never purposefully make people worry for them. If Poppy didn’t know where they were, it was likely no one did. It was curfew and night outside, and they hadn’t been seen anywhere-

“Where- I mean, what-” Ominis shook his head, panic beginning to settle in. “This isn’t like them, is it? They don’t just disappear without telling anyone?”

“This is absolutely not like them,” Poppy agreed, nodding and glancing toward the end of the hall as if waiting for them to appear. “They hate breaking curfew. They always said Black hates muggleborns enough, they didn’t want to give him an excuse to expel them. Hogwarts is all they have.” She laughed, shaking her head again, “They even refused to go to the kitchen after curfew, and that’s just right down the hall!”

“You,” Ominis took another step closer to Poppy, his red charm pulsing quickly on his wand, “You mentioned you had seen them earlier? No one else seen them since then? So you were the last person?”

“They were walking down the path toward the forest, I thought they just wanted to go brush their fwooper friend.”

Ominis chewed his lip, shaking his head. If something had happened to you out there, that meant you were in trouble. And he really didn’t want to think about you being in trouble. “What about- what if you didn’t see them come back, but they did? Where would they go?”

“Ominis, I really don’t think-”

“Where would they go Poppy?” She just sighed in response, slumping her shoulders.

“I don’t know. The library? Maybe go hang out with some friends?”

“Okay, okay, we can work with that. You check the library, I’ll run up to the Gryffindor tower and see if Natty or- or Garreth knows where they are.” His voice falls toward the end of his sentence, shaking his head. Of course, that’s where you went. He chased you away with his inappropriate attitude with your potions project and chased you right into Garreth’s arms.

“Okay,” Poppy mumbled, shaking her head. “But I really think we need to go get Professor Garlick. If they got hurt somewhere out near the forest-”

“If they’re not in the library or Gryffindor tower, then we’re going to the forest. If we can’t find them there, then we can talk to the Professor. But I’m not going to sit and wait around all night for them to show up, which I know is what the Professor will tell us to do. If they’re in danger, we need to go help them.”

“Okay, Ominis. I’m with you. Ask Natty or Garreth if they want to come along, too. We’ll need the help. Oh! And Sebastian!” Ominis chuckled, shaking his head.

“The Slytherin common room is in the opposite direction of the tower-”

“Don’t worry then, I’ll fetch Sebastian. I’ll do that first, I remember him bragging about sneaking into the library after hours anyway. He can help me look through and make sure they’re not there.”

“Okay, fine,” Ominis acquiesced, shaking his head with a small smile. “Fetch my friend from the dungeons and search the library. But be quick about it! If they really are in danger, we’ll need to head out immediately.”

Ominis travelled as quickly as he could toward the Gryffindor tower but was held up halfway through when Peeves materialized through a nearby wall and started singing loudly about how Hogwarts nights were no fun anymore. He ended his made-up song with the promise of a fire burning the school down before he finally floated through a nearby window, sinking through the open air lower toward the ground. Ominis breathed out a sigh of relief before continuing on his way, afraid of how much time he had wasted trying not to get caught.

The fat lady in the painting seemed irritated with him, as he knocked and knocked on the middle of her canvas. “Watch the dress you, hooligan!”

“I can’t see your damned dress!” He finally called out, glaring forward toward the painting he knew was there, though one downfall of his seeing charm meant that he could see her frame and the magic emanating from the canvas, but he couldn’t see what was actually decorating the portrait. He had heard about her enough times, though. She fell quiet from his admission, and he finally moved his hand to the side and started knocking frantically on the frame of the portrait.

“Who is it you’re here to see?”

“Natsai Onai. Or Garreth Weasley. Either one, I just need to speak with them.”

“A Slytherin? After the hours of curfew?”

“Please, it’s very important. Someone could be in danger.”

“Danger you say?” The lady seemed to hum, then fall quiet. He huffed out a breath, keeping himself from stomping his foot like a petulant child. He waited for some other form of an answer, but when he heard nothing he finally gave in.

“Are you going to help me or not? Or do I need to keep knocking incessantly on the frame for someone to come out?” Again, with no response, Ominis was beginning to think the lady was ignoring him now. Just as he was raising a fist to knock again, he heard a click and someone came rushing out of the entrance.

“Ominis?” Natty appeared, quickly closing the portrait behind her. “The fat lady came and found me in my bedroom. She said this was urgent? Are you alright?” The girl seemed hesitant in asking but sounded worried. It made sense, in his opinion. Ominis and Natty never really spoke before until now.

“Have you seen Y/N?”

“What? Wouldn’t you know better than me?”

“Which should probably give you the knowledge of my urgency, then.”

“Oh,” Natty gasped, her shoulders slumping and her arms beginning to cross. “Well, if I’m honest, the last time I had seen them today was at breakfast.” Ominis huffed, crossing his arms as well. “Do you know the last place they were seen?”

“Yes, they were-” Ominis was interrupted as the portrait swung open once more. Ominis raised his wand higher, urging it to pulse once more before finally registering the magical signature as Garreth.

“Hey? The fat lady said that someone out here needed help?”

“Yes,” Natty confirmed, nodding her head, “Ominis is worried about Y/N. Have you seen them?”

“Oh? Yeah. I mean, the last time I saw them was in the transfiguration courtyard.” He looked between Natty and Ominis before taking a few steps forward. “Actually, they kept going on and on about how they needed to meet Ominis, here, in the potions classroom, something about a project. Did they not show up?”

“No, they did show up,” Ominis mumbled, shaking his head. “We had a fight and they said they needed some time alone. Poppy said-” Ominis was cut off once more by the portrait opening again, and he held back an annoyed sigh. Who was it now?

“Eliza Fig?” Natty asked, and Ominis raised his wand higher.

“What?” Ominis asked, his eyebrows drawing together.

“Is everything alright out here?” Eliza spoke and Ominis finally heard her gentle, yet higher-toned voice. He hadn’t heard much from her since the fifth year when she almost had Sebastian convinced to continue his dark arts forays. Ominis wasn’t exactly thrilled to run into her. “The portrait lady came by my room asking about me. She mentioned some sort of student in danger?”

“Oh, perfect,” Natty began, smiling brightly and taking hold of Eliza’s arm. “Just the person we need!”

“Why would we need her?” Ominis asked petulantly, already miffed that Garreth had to be around. Now her?

“Eliza goes on errands for everyone around Hogwarts! She’s the bravest witch I’ve ever come across, even if she only received her magical ability when she was fifteen! If anything, that probably makes her even better than the rest of us, having caught up so quickly!”

“Ominis, you were about to say something about Poppy?” Garreth interrupted kindly, and Ominis felt a jolt of something akin to thankfulness but pushed that way down.

“Right, well Poppy-”

“Wait, is Poppy the one in danger?” Eliza asked quickly, taking a step forward and studying Ominis. “Aren’t you Sebastian’s friend?”

“I’m more than just Sebastian’s friend!” Ominis snapped, glaring at the transfer student. “And no, Poppy is not in danger. But she is the last person who saw where Y/N Y/L/N went, and they haven’t been seen anywhere since. Poppy said she saw them walk down the path toward the forbidden forest- we believe that Y/N went to go see their little fwooper friend. Which is ridiculous because they told me they’d stop going out there alone, everyone knows that the poachers have been getting braver here lately!”

Eliza laughed, a pretty sound that had Ominis gritting his teeth together. “Ah, yes, well. I had to study for our NEWTs. Can’t always be out there chasing them back, you know?” She turned toward Natty as if sharing some inside joke, and Ominis huffed loudly.

“I really don’t care to hear you bragging about your adventures right now, Eliza. My friend could be in trouble.” He didn’t exactly see her face fall, but in the next second her voice was deeper, apologetic.

“No, you’re right. We should go look.”

“We?” Ominis would never admit how his voice squeaked, clearing his throat afterwards. “They’re my friend-”

“They’re our friend,” Garreth added in, and Ominis immediately took away whatever small shred of positive emotions he had felt for the guy. “There’s no way you’re going to come up here and pull the three of us from our common room and not include us in the search.”

“I was only trying to pull the two of you, actually,” Ominis added sulkily, taking a step back. “Do what you must, I guess. But I need to go meet Poppy and Sebastian outside the library. They were checking there just in case Y/N actually came back but didn’t go to their common room.” Ominis turned finally, using his wand to guide his way as he took long strides to get downstairs quicker. The pulsing of his wand indicated that all three of them began to follow Ominis, Eliza and Natty holding hands all the while. After some time Garreth sidled up next to Ominis, irritatingly matching his strides.

“So, what did you two fight about?” Ominis turned his head briefly toward Garreth, though instantly regretted it. Now he would have to answer, and he really didn’t want to talk about this with him of all people.

“Nothing.”

“Seems like something,” Garreth argued, though thankfully lowered his voice. Ominis heard the girls murmuring behind him so he assumed they weren’t paying attention to his current conversation. “Y/N seemed pretty adamant to meet up with you earlier.”

“They sure took their time chatting with you, then, for how ‘adamant’ they were to get to me.” Ominis hadn’t meant for the sentence to come out so childishly, but he couldn’t hold himself back. He finally met the person he’s been wanting for years, and of course, Garreth comes along and steals them away immediately. Garreth was quiet for an abnormally long time before he finally replied.

“I’m not even going to play this game.” Ominis furrowed his brow, turning his head toward his direction once more. “I could go on about how they only ever talked about you, or how they really didn’t seem interested in a word I said, but I doubt you would believe a word of it. So I’ll just tell you exactly what’s happened, and you can draw your own conclusions.” They turned a corner, and while Ominis had no clue where Garreth was going with this, he didn’t interrupt.

“I caught hold of Y/N when I saw them sprinting past in the transfiguration courtyard. I grabbed their wrist to stop them, likely the only way I could’ve stopped them. I wanted to know their opinion on different potions ingredients since they seem to get a pretty good grades in the class. I specifically wanted to know which ones were volatile, and which would cause the biggest explosions. I’m working on this project, actually. I got the idea from this Chinese traveller I met outside of Hogsmeade, actually, they mentioned-” He huffed, shaking his head and causing his red curls to bounce around, “No, scratch that, you don’t care about that. Anyway- so I was asking them and they seemed pretty amused by my questions, but obliged and told me what I needed to know. But during the entire conversation, they kept trying to pull away and mentioned you. Over and over, Ominis, they kept saying you were waiting for them in the potions classroom and they didn’t want to keep you waiting. It was my fault, not theirs.

“Then, my aunt walked by. She caught me holding onto Y/N’s wrist and discerned the wrong impression. Probably thought we were holding hands or something, and started this long tirade about how we were only just students and how NEWTs are coming up and we should be focusing on our test scores and-” He huffed out a breath, and Ominis could tell from his pulsing charm that Garreth was walking sideways, likely looking directly into Ominis’s face. “I kept telling my aunt she had the wrong idea, and Y/N kept mentioning you and the project that they were late for. So, if you’re upset because you heard some sort of rumour, then I can tell you personally it’s all false. What my aunt had seen, she just misunderstood. I was kinda grateful for it at the time, honestly, ‘cause if she knew the real reason I was talking to Y/N then I would’ve gotten a lot more than just a few stern words.”

Ominis let this sink in, taking a deep breath and letting it out slowly. When he didn’t answer quickly enough for Garreth, the ginger kept on babbling, saying even more ridiculous notions. “Anyway, the idea of Y/N being at all interested in me is laughable, if anything. Everyone in our grade- Godric, even everyone in Hogwarts knows that they have had the biggest crush on you since we were all kids.” Garreth laughed out loud as Ominis’ chest clenched, turning a horrified expression toward him. “The way they always stared at you, it was as if you personally hung the moon. I think we were all surprised when you two finally started talking. I know I was.” Garreth’s laugh was grating on Ominis’ nerves, and he huffed out a sigh, shaking his head.

“You had me going for a minute there. Almost thought you were telling the truth.”

“I am though?” Garreth sounded confused, and Ominis just shook his head as they went down even more stairs. “I didn’t lie about a single thing.”

“Catching Y/N by the wrist, sure. But saying they’ve liked me since we were kids- that’s ridiculous. They didn’t even know I existed.” Garreth laughed loudly, stopping in the middle of the hall. For some reason, Ominis stopped as well, waiting on the boy.

“Ominis, let me help you out here. You may be blind, but I’m certainly not. I think I know what I’ve seen. It’s every class Ominis. Every class, every year, every day. Y/N only ever stared at you.”

“What’s going on?” Natty asked politely, arm in arm with Eliza. It was silent for a moment as Ominis tried to process this information. Surely if his crush had been staring at him for so long- no, they couldn’t have. Sebastian would’ve mentioned it at some point? “Are we talking about Y/N still? Garreth, I thought it was just an unspoken rule that we didn’t tell Ominis how Y/N stared at him constantly?”

“You too?” He asked, shifting uncomfortably.

“Everyone noticed it Ominis, really. You would have to be literally blind to not notice it.”

“Natty,” Garreth admonished, reaching out to hit her elbow. The girl retaliated a lot harder than Garreth had originally hit, causing the boy to hiss in pain and rub his shoulder.

“No, if we’re saying this then he’s going to believe it. Ominis, Y/N never stopped staring at you. You can ask literally any person. There’s no reason for you to disbelieve us just because we’re Gryffindors.”

“It’s not because of your house colours that I find this hard to believe, Natsai.” Ominis shook his head, turning and continuing his way down the hall. There was no way he was going to continue this conversation with them. Not when you could be out there somewhere, hurt or in danger. He could hear the mumbling of the three Gryffindors behind him as he walked but kept his attention forward.

By the time they all made it to the library, Poppy and Sebastian were just climbing the stairs out of the room. Poppy ran over to Ominis, taking his sleeve and pulling on him. Sebastian was slower, obviously eyeing the trio that Ominis had arrived with.

“We couldn’t find them in the library at all, and Sebastian said he hasn’t been around Y/N all day. Ominis I’m getting really worried.”

“Interesting company you keep nowadays, Ominis.” Sebastian’s tone was careful, and Ominis sighed, reaching over to place a hand on his friend’s shoulder.

“Don’t mind them. They refused to leave once they found out Y/N was missing. They want to help look for them, and honestly, if we’re to search the forbidden forest then maybe we’ll need the help.” Ominis could feel Sebastian lean in close, his voice a breath against his ear.

“And you asked for Eliza’s help?”

“The merlin-forsaken Gryffindor portrait went through and asked after Natty and Garreth for me. But she heard the word ‘danger’ and felt the hero of our fifth year needed to hear of the news too.”

“Eliza!” Poppy was surprised to see her, leaving Ominis’s side and rushing over to hug her. Eliza returned the hug immediately, and Ominis could no longer feel the urge to be surprised. Was this reckless Gryffindor friends with every person in their immediate friend group? “Oh, this is just great! If poachers really did get them, you can help rescue them!”

“Why does everyone keep insisting on involving Eliza?” Ominis finally called out angrily, turning to face the rest of their group. He could sense Poppy's startle from his tone, immediately falling back a few steps.

“Because she’s the best of us, Ominis?” Garreth answered as if this was a question, taking a step toward the centre of their makeshift circle. “Why do you have such a problem with her?”

Silence fell around the group, but Ominis refused to answer. He had told Sebastian that he forgave him for his fruitless search into the dark arts, so long as the boy never did it again. Having been forced to cast an unforgivable curse was one thing, after willingly pestering Ominis about the scriptorium for an entire semester. However, Eliza kept pushing, urging Sebastian with pleas for knowledge and tempting him with a cure for his sister. Ominis had thankfully been able to talk him out of the whole venture before he wandered too far. Sebastian ended up dropping Eliza as a friend afterwards, so neither boy knew just how far Eliza had ended up venturing into dark magic. She had mentioned wanting to learn the other unforgivables.

When no answer was forthcoming- half of the group knowing what had happened yet refusing to speak- Poppy finally stepped forward between Ominis and Eliza and spoke up. “Regardless, Y/N is still missing. I think anyone willing to help will be beneficial. Don’t you, Ominis?”

“Of course,” He answers roughly, clearing his throat and turning his body to face Sebastian more. “So let’s get moving. Lead us to their meet-up spot.” Poppy nodded, stepping forward to lead the way. Ominis and Sebastian were behind her, the rest of the group following behind. He could hear Garreth mumbling a question to one of the others behind him.

“What does he mean, ‘meet-up spot’?”

“Y/N has a little fwooper friend, I heard them mention. I think the ‘meet-up spot’ is where they go near the forbidden forest to find their fwooper.” Natty answers, trying to keep her voice down as they roam the halls.

“‘Little fwooper friend’? That’s a mouthful, does the little bugger have a name?”

“Not that I know of.”

“They befriended a fwooper?” Eliza asks, and Ominis could hear the intrigue in her voice. “How unconventional. I wonder if they’d let me meet it. I’ve been so curious about their songs.”

“The ones known to drive people mad?” Garreth’s voice is incredulous, and Ominis has to hold back a sneer from the entire conversation. “Why would you be curious about that?”

“Well if they’re known to drive people mad, they must sound unique, no?”

“Regardless,” Sebastian calls out loudly, and Ominis detects Poppy jump from the loud noise. His friend turns to the three Gryffindors behind him, “I think we have more important things to worry about.”

The group, admonished, finally fall silent. Six students of Hogwarts walk out of the castle’s safe doors, making their way through the darkness to the one place they were forbidden from going. Ominis knew even if the rest of them had refused, he’d be making his way this way anyway. Anything, anything at all, to find you.

[riality-check]

This is not how Wayne was expecting to come home from work.

He had expected, as usual, that Eddie would be asleep, and he’d be free to watch the 5:00 AM news. He’d have a bowl of cereal for dinner (or was it breakfast at that point?), and then he’d be out like a light while Eddie did whatever it was he did before noon. Usually, that was sleep.

The exact opposite of what Wayne was expecting is happening right now. 

He didn’t even get his keys out of his pocket before Eddie whips the door open. He looks a mess: hair tied back loosely, pajamas off kilter, panic mixed with exhaustion on his face.

“Oh, thank Christ,” he croaks. “Wayne, I need your help. I have no idea what to do.”

Wayne can count on one hand the number of times he’s seen Eddie panic like this. He shoulders past him into the trailer and is greeted with the sight of Steve Harrington standing in the middle of his living room.

“What on God’s green earth,” he murmurs. He blinks, then blinks again, but Harrington is still there, in pajamas, the tire iron Eddie still keeps under his bed in his hands. He’s breathing real heavy, and he stares out the window, stock-still.

“The hell happened?” Wayne asks, keeping his voice low.

“I don’t know,” Eddie whispers desperately. “I don’t know what happened, but he got up and grabbed the iron and just stood here-”

“How long?”

“Ten minutes, maybe.”

Wayne doesn’t like where this is going. “Has he responded to you at all?”

“No-”

Shit.

“-but I can try again?”

Wayne eyes the white-knuckled grip Harrington has on the tire iron. He’s ready to swing, and Wayne knows he’ll swing hard if given the chance.

No way he’s risking Eddie. No way he’s risking Harrington. Wayne doesn’t know him well, only met him a few times in passing, but he knows he’d never forgive himself if he hurt Eddie.

“No. Don’t try again.”

“I’m not leaving him.”

“Didn’t ask you to. All I’m saying is don’t go near.”

Eddie is very good at following instructions to the letter and to the letter only, much to Wayne’s fond annoyance. So, he doesn’t go near.

Instead, he says, voice strangely soft, “Stevie, sweetheart.”

Harrington doesn’t respond, but he turns a little in the direction of Eddie’s voice. Wayne takes that as a good sign, even if he can see the tension on his face now.

“Will you come back to sleep? Please?” Wayne hates hearing Eddie’s voice crack the way it is right now.

Harrington faces them a little better, and Wayne sees what he was expecting.

He’s staring through them, not at them. Wherever Harrington is, it sure ain’t here.

“I don’t know how much that’s gonna help, Eddie. He’s having-”

“I know he’s having a flashback, Wayne!” Eddie snaps. “I’m not stupid. It’s usually just not this bad, and I don’t know how to fix it.”

“Alright,” Wayne says because snapping back won’t help anyone. That and because he’s trying to process the fact that Eddie has had to deal with this before. “Let me try.”

He takes a few steps toward Harrington, keeping his hands up and his movements slow.

“Harrington,” he calls, keeping his tone light. “You’re at Eddie’s place right now. It’s almost five AM on a Friday night.”

Harrington blinks, and it looks like his eyes are coming back into focus.

“You’re safe right now. Eddie’s safe right now.”

Harrington shakes his head and lifts the tire iron a little higher. Christ, his arms must be aching by now. “No. I saw the lights flicker, and I heard a thud outside, and it got cold.”

“Stevie, the gate’s closed,” Eddie pleads. “You saw it happen. Nothing got out. You’re safe.”

Wayne doesn’t know what any of that means, but even though it was supposed to reassure Harrington, he just shakes his head again.

He hears Eddie sigh behind him, and he knows without turning around that he’s trying not to cry.

Guess he’s gotta try something different, then. “You just wake up?”

Harrington blinks, and for a minute, Wayne thinks this won’t get them anywhere. But then he whispers, just loud enough to be heard, “Yeah.”

“Okay. I just got off work.”

Harrington stares at him, confused.

“So, I think I’m a little more awake than you. I’ll take what you’ve got in your hands, and I can stay up.”

Harrington shakes his head. “It’s fine. I stay up most of the time when I’m alone.”

Alone. Wayne knows from experience, both personal and witnessing this shit, that alone is the last thing anyone should be when they’re having a flashback. Harrington says it like it’s the only thing he’s ever known.

He dismisses his questions - why is Harrington having flashbacks, why is he alone - and focuses on getting him to put down the tire iron and go to bed.

“You’re not alone this time,” Wayne says. “You’ve got Eddie here, too, and I think both of you would feel better if you were together.”

Harrington looks over Wayne’s shoulder. Wayne doesn’t turn around, but he can imagine the pleading look on Eddie’s face just fine.

Wayne holds out his hands for the tire iron, and after a minute, or maybe a month, Harrington sets it there. Immediately, he looks lighter and heavier.

Eddie walks up next to Wayne and murmurs, “Come on, sugar.”

Harrington goes to him and just rests his head on his shoulder. Eddie holds him there, just standing in the middle of the living room, sunrise just starting to peek in through the windows.

Thank you, he mouths to Wayne.

Wayne nods, but he’s got a hell of a lot more questions than answers - what the hell brought this on, what exactly is Harrington to Eddie. That can wait for morning, though.

For now, he just hopes Harrington will be okay by then.

No, not Harrington. Steve.

After something like this, Wayne has learned, you start using first names.

[originalartblog]

Question, is there tiny soukoku corruption??????

With big Chuuya around I don't think Tiny would ever need to use Corruption. His tiny gravity manipulation isn't as strong.

But you got it in my head so let's picture it: there is this 3cm-tall dude that faintly glows red and throws deadly baseballs around. He's fast, dangerous, and, again, 3cm tall. Good luck catching, or even spotting him.

It's Chuuya who ends up having to catch him and throw him at Dazai like a ping pong ball so Dazai can nullify him. Or maybe throw Tinyzai at him. Your pick.

and then Tiny rolls over and starts snoring the hurt away because he's Chuuya and he's just built different.

tiny snore

[chuluoyi]

ive got an idea where theres like a school dance and you and satoru go together and you two are slow dancing together until pregnancy nausea gets to you and you get extremely dizzy and almost pass out cause you didnt wanna ruin the moment. AND SATORUS SO WORRIED AAHAHDH i love this idea

it’s during a gala in honor of students’ graduation. you don’t want to miss it because you want to congratulate hakari and kirara in person, so you didn’t tell your husband that you have thrown up 3x prior going together to the venue.

and you really shouldn’t have because halfway through the event, you don’t feel too well anymore.

“you look pale,” satoru whispers in your ear worriedly as you slow dance together. “do you want to rest a bit?”

“no,” you insist. “i’m fine—”

but the second you said that, your vision blurs and you miss a step. and you would really fall if not for satoru’s arms holding you tightly.

“hey—” he looks down at you, discovers your labored breathing and clicks his tongue. “you’re not.”

no one probably notices it, as satoru somehow turns it into a part of the dance step before he sweeps you off your feet. everyone who sees immediately claps their hands and whistles, and he flashes them all a thin smile before whisking you to the infirmary.

“why didn’t you tell me?” he asks as soon as he lay you on the bed, his piercing blue eyes assessing you. “queasy? have you taken your anti-sickness pill?”

oh. you shake your head, feeling guilty for forgetting it. but you’re surprised when he procures it from his pocket, realizing it. he brings your medication around in case it’s necessary.

he gets you a glass of water and ushers you to down the pill. afterwards, you lay back on the bed and close your eyes, willing the vertigo away.

“you big dummy… you should’ve told me.” satoru strokes your head with a frown. “you can’t wait until you pass out. do you like making me worry?”

“no… i don’t mean to…”

“there are two of you now.” he places an hand on your belly. your bump isn’t visible yet, but it’s really there and he can feel it. he can feel his worry rising again. “what if something happens to you if you don’t tell me anything? how do you think it’ll make me feel?”

you reach out for his hand and squeeze it. “sorry…”

satoru’s heart melts seeing you so vulnerable like this. and he decides you have gotten his point now, so he sighs and presses a kiss on your forehead.

“hmph. forgiven. let’s go back home now. i’ll take care of my two babies.”

[teabagboy]

I'd make some joke about s5 spoilers but i think ill just smash my head into the wall instead

[gardenofnoah]

cw: implied sexual trauma, panic attack, intimacy struggles

You don’t notice it happening until it’s buzzing under your skin. Loud and unavoidable, the only thing you can pay attention to is the irregular flutter of your heart and the way it seems that all the air has been vacuumed from the room—

“Hey.”

You blink, and Katsuki is no longer above you. He’s not touching you at all—you turn your head to find him next to you, propped up on an elbow and only worried.

“Too much?”

The panic flares at the question, because what if this is the last time? What if he’s tired of this?

Your exhale is shaky—your laugh is forced and sounds out of place. “No, it was fine, I just—“

“Oi—“ he says, gently, “tell me the truth.”

The truth burns your eyes and keeps them on the ceiling, away from his. You nod, helpless and resigned to whatever comes next.

“What’s goin’ on in your head?”

You feel the tears spill over before you can catch them. You swipe them away with the back of your wrist. It’s still numb. “I’m just sorry. I didn’t mean to ruin it.”

He grunts a little in acknowledgment—a displeased, ugly sound—and then there’s movement that finally draws your eyes to him. You watch him cover himself with your duvet—all the way up to his chin.

“S’it okay if I hold you?”

He reaches for you and you let him pull you in. His hands stay above your shoulders and pointedly avoid your neck—cradling your head, letting you hide in the curve of his throat. His pulse is steady and constant against your forehead—or you imagine it would be, if it wasn’t muted by the fabric.

“Nothin’ is ruined,” he murmurs against your hairline, “s’my job to keep you safe.”

Your chest shudders against the cushion of the blanket and you feel a little guilty about crying all over it but Katsuki keeps you there, tethered to him. The ringing in your ears subsides, just a little. Just enough to hear the panic in your own voice.

“I promise I want it. I don’t know what’s wrong with me, I’m sorry—“

“Hey, hey,” he shushes you, careful not to tighten his arms around your shoulders. “Nothin’ to be sorry for. S’too much today—that’s all.”

It’s quiet, then, save for your sniffling. He keeps his mouth pressed to your hair, and his arms wrapped around you. There is a noticeable absence of his fingertips tracing along your skin—you don’t feel them there at all, and it’s on purpose. He’s considerate and it makes you anxious.

“Can hear you thinkin’.”

“I just—“ you inhale, trying to be brave, “I don’t want you to leave. I know I can’t—give you this—“

“Oi,” he gruffs, a little sharply, “I don’t give a shit about that. M’not a barbarian.”

You feel the expansion of his lungs as he draws in a slow exhale, and lets it out against the crown of your head. “Don’t think so little of me,” he murmurs, tone laced with hurt.

“You’re right,” you whisper, because he is, “I love you.”

“Love you.” He kisses it into your skin, soft and barely there. “Always will.”

[mmmairon]

Hi mairon! I love the self insert comfort you did it was so cute! Would you be able to make some more? Possibly diluc taking care of someone like the girl you did in the last one — maybe putting them to bed because I’m suffering w my insomnia right now 😅 if you can’t dw!

oh, to be tucked snugly into bed by Diluc Ragnvindr

[sanjifucker42069]

Calm Him Down- Sanji x Reader

Word Count: 2000

Warnings: mentions of Sora Vinsmoke. Sanji has a panic attack. First ever hurt/comfort lmao, so there's that. Slight OOC as Sanji kinda breaks down, letting people in without costing an arm and a leg, the stubborn bastard. Reader's gender is not specified, but you do sleep in the women's quarters, which like, look at the gender ratio on the Sunny. There's heaps more room in the women's quarters, makes sense to chuck you there. 

It's up to you how you read their relationship here. In my mind they're close friends pining for each other, but it could easily be read as platonic or established relationship.

------

It was a peaceful day on the Sunny; the seabirds were squawking, the ocean lapped at the boat lazily, and Zoro and Sanji were arguing. Go figure. Your eyebrow twitched, where you say at the kitchen table giving you perfect access to the argument. You don't even remember how it started, probably something banal. Beside you, Chopper was reading a book, fully immersed in its pages. You tried tuning out most of the fight.

"You're lucky I don't come over there and kick the shit out of you. I've had enough of your disgraceful behaviour." Sanji growled.

Zoro regarded the blonde with a sneer. “What shit-cook, you gonna cry to mummy about it?”

CRASH. SLAM. 

You whipped your head to the kitchen, seeing Sanji staring down the swordsman with barely-contained fury. Blood turning to ice, your breath hitched. You’d never seen the sweet cook look so murderous. There was a fire in his eyes that broke your heart, like it was a glimpse to the true man underneath. You swear you could catch a hint of vulnerability, but he was stamping that down, waves of violent palpable pain rolling off him.

“You know nothing about my mother, so shut the fuck up.”

The silence that flooded the room was suffocating. You flinched, physically feeling how all warmth was sucked from the air. Sanji growled, deep and furious.

“Get the fuck out of my kitchen. All of you.”

“Hey, I didn’t me-” Zoro started weakly.

“Sanji.” You breathed.

“Get. out.” The snarl that rewarded you knocked the wind out of you. Wordlessly you collected Chopper, taking him by the hand and helping him out of his seat. The reindeer looked shocked, tears threatening to spill. You rubbed small circles into the fur above his hoof with your thumb. Sparing him one last glance, you grabbed Zoro by the ear with your free hand, dragging the hissing man. If you purposefully pinched hard, then who was to say. Surreptitiously you flicked your eyes to the cook, but Sanji had his back to you, arms bracing the kitchen counter. His hands were clutching the wood in a vice-like grip, none too gentle. You sighed, hauling the two out of the galley. Softly, you let go of Chopper’s hand and pulled the heavy door closed. Your fingers pinched Zoro’s ear hard one last time, before releasing. 

Before the swordsman could open his mouth, you shushed him. “I know. I know, okay, there’s no way any of us could’ve known. Just. Go cool down. It does no good, us being here.”

Zoro’s lips thinned into a blank stare. He muttered out a simple “Yeah,” before turning and leaving the immediate area. With a small nod you crouched down to the small doctor, cradling his little face.

“Hey Chop? It’s okay, okay? He’s gonna be okay. Do you think you could tell the others to stay clear of the kitchen for a while? Maybe you could make something to calm him down?” It was imperative you kept Chopper busy. The cute boy nodded, sniffing back his tears. You ruffled his hat against his head. “There’s our doctor! Thank you sweetheart.”

Once the small reindeer had left you leant against the door, heart breaking. In all your time as a crew, from Merry to Sunny, you had never seen Sanji so upset. Yeah, the man had a temper, but not a severe temper. Sanji could always be calmed down or diverted. It was clear. He was hurt. When you thought about it, you don’t think you’d ever heard Sanji talk about his family. You sat there in silence for a few moments before you heard it.

Tears?

No, fuck that. You don’t care if he banned you all from the kitchen, you weren’t going to let him cry alone. As quiet as you could, you crept back into the galley. Sanji was nowhere to be seen. Impossible. You’d heard him. 

“Sanji?” You asked quietly. 

The silence of the kitchen was unsettling. You weren’t imagining it, there was an almost imperceivable sniffle. The room felt suffocating, hurt and panic strangling the air. You began inspecting the room, making your way to the kitchen island. That’s when you heard it, a small voice, deep and rasping, but trying so hard to not be heard.

“Please go away.”

Oh.

You peered over the kitchen island to find him. Sanji was curled inwards, sitting on the ground. His knees were drawn to his chest, head lowered. He looked utterly defeated, slightly shaking as he held back tears. Before your brain could even process you had rounded the island at a rate of knots, sliding to a crouch. You held your hands out like you were trying not to startle him. Sanji flinched at hearing you, no, feeling you so close.

“I said go away.”

“I’m not leaving you Sanji.” 

“Go. Away.” The mumble that escaped his crying form broke you. 

“You would have to kill me for me to leave. Come here.” Sanji ignored you, his arms cradling his own body. A sigh broke its way out of your chest. He looked so small, like a boy trying hard to be brave. The shaking increased in frequency with your words. You couldn’t let him suffer like this alone. “I’m sorry Sanji, but I’m not leaving.”

The man jumped as if electrocuted when you wrapped your arms around him. You took advantage of his surprise, pulling his head against your chest. Sanji struggled, trying to distance himself, but you latched harder. The push and pull continued for a while, until you heard Sanji sigh shakily. He went limp, allowing you to pull him to you, one hand smoothing his hair, the other clinging to his back.

“You don’t have to tell me anything, just let me be here for you.”

That did it. Sanji grabbed at you, wrapping his hands around your back, crushing you. It was a desperate attempt, clumsy and clawing, clear the man was upset. You grunted quietly at the pressure, trying not to startle him. It was quickly apparent you didn’t have to worry about making a noise, as you felt your shirt become damp with tears, Sanji desperately trying to cry quietly. You knew what Sanji was like. It would scare him off if you acknowledged his tears. All you could do was try comforting him, rubbing his back and kissing his hair.

“She’s dead.”

Your breath hitched. No wonder he reacted the way he did. You tried to not feel furious with Zoro, he didn't know, but the anger was still there. Soft sobs permeated the air, each sound chipping at your heart.

"Oh Ji." You sighed, hugging him even harder. He'd have to suffocate soon with how tight you held him, but you noted how he clung to you, as if he was afraid you'd disappear. Sanji's words were clipped and shaky.

"Died when I was a kid. My fault she died, was too weak."

Shock invaded your senses, a freezing feeling travelling through your veins. You weren't sure what he meant, but you knew in your bones there was no way that was right. Sanji always struck you as a sensitive individual, all the more to cement your belief that he wasn't at fault for whatever he was thinking. "No honey, no, that's not true."

“I miss her.” Sanji’s voice was hoarse.

“I know.” You cooed softly, delicately carding your fingers through his hair. "She must have been an amazing woman if she birthed such a wonderful son."

That was the wrong move. It was like a dam burst. Sanji began crying hard, torn between seeking your comfort and escaping. You felt the tendrils of panic surfacing as you watched him struggle to breathe between sobs. Sanji's heart rate picking up, he began shaking in your arms. You watched horrified as he tried to downplay it and seem unaffected, but you knew better.

"Oh, fuck. Ji? Sanji? I'm so sorry. It wasn't your fault. It wasn't your fault, okay?"

Your attempt failed, and you felt Sanji pull away. Shit. Shit, he was having a panic attack. It shattered your heart as you watched him hyperventilate, unable to calm down. Without thinking you cupped his cheeks, forcing him to stare at you.

"Sanji. Honey. Its going to be okay. Breathe with me, okay? In through the nose. Out through the mouth. Try with me. Good." You coached him through, trying to encourage deeper breaths. Sanji's visible eye was bloodshot and frantic, eye flitting between your facial features. You noted his eye was not focused on anything in particular, he seemed distant. His nose was red, no doubt sore from sniffling. Shaky breaths escaped him, and you tried desperately to seem calm. "Eyes on me. Breathe. You're okay, you're here on the Sunny. We're here. You're doing good baby."

Breathe. 

Breathe with me.

Inhale.

Exhale.

Sanji crumpled against you once his breathing was finally steady. You cradled him, rocking the two of you gently. You were certain Sanji would prefer to just exist in the silence, but you couldn't help the word vomit that escaped.

"You don't have to go through this alone Sanji. You have us, you have Zeff and the Baratie. You have Nami, and Robin, and Luffy. Usopp, Brook, Franky, Chopper. Fuck even Zoro!" You were rambling, tears of your own escaping. "And me. I'll always be here if you feel overwhelmed. You can't get rid of us Sanji. We love you."

"Why?" His voice cracked. "Why waste your time?"

Sanji froze as you tilted his chin up to stare at him. You eyes were serious and vulnerable. "Time spent with you is never wasted. You are capable of being loved, and I'll be damned if I let you think otherwise."

You watched as Sanji stuttered out a shaky sigh.

"Your mum would be proud of you Sanji." Anxious, you continued. Sanji's breath hitched. "I'm sure she'd see the man I see before me; who's kind beyond a fault, who is sweet and sensitive. Who can cook the most mouthwatering dishes, who protects and cares for those around him. You're a good person Sanji. You need to let yourself believe that."

You were rewarded with a teary smile, one not reaching the eyes. Sanji looked tired, dark under eyes and pale skin. With a smile back, you gestured to get up. The quizzical look he gave you warming your heart.

"C'mon. I'll kick the girls out for a couple hours. You look exhausted, come take a nap with me."

"Oh, no I couldn't. I need to finish making dinner, a-and it wouldn't be right for me to-mmph." 

You silenced him with a gentle finger to his lips. "We're mostly adults Ji. One night of subpar food from Usopp's cooking is not going to kill us. Now c'mon."

Sanji let you lead him to the girl's quarters, specifically your bed. He watched where your hand held his, it looked like they were made for each other. In any other circumstance he'd blush and coo over the display, but right now he felt beyond exhausted, a weariness deep in his bones. He weakly protested as you took off his jacket.

"Get comfy. I'll be right back." Your voice was quiet and warm. Sanji wanted to melt. Instead, he nodded and sat down on your bed. In another situation, he might squeal and bury himself in your scent, or be embarrassed at how in charge you were. Instead, he removed his shoes, placing them neatly on the floor near your bed. He sat there awkwardly, eyelids heavy from tiredness and crying. 

The door squeaked back open. 

"Got you some water and some painkillers. I know I always get a wicked headache after I cry." Sanji gratefully took the pills, knocking it back with the full glass. He didn't realise how parched he was. Slipping your shoes off, you crawled behind him, making yourself comfortable. Sanji could see you spread out on the small bed out of the corner of his eyes. He watched you spread your arms out.

Wordlessly the lanky man laid down next to you, shuffling into your warm embrace. Sanji lightly startled when you pulled the blanket over the two of you, before you closed your arms, hugging him gently. The feeling of your hand back in his hair was comforting, so too was the small humming of Binks' Sake, lulling him gently to sleep. Before he could pass out he nuzzled against you.

"Thank you (name)."

"Anytime Sanji. Get some sleep."

And sleep he did, soon drifting off in your arms. Once you made sure he was fully asleep you frowned. Poor man. He really didn't know how precious he was. His soft snores rewarded you, and you felt your own lids get heavy. You couldn't help it, and so, cradling your own treasure, you fell asleep tangled around him.

[lunart-06]

Hinaegi time!!!!! They are my everything... the tragic doomed yaoi /ref /lh

[miasmaghoul]

Here, have some soft dewther emotional hurt/comfort for reasons that do not at all reflect anything about my current mental state no siree👍

*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*

It's past midnight when Aether flops onto the common room sofa, exhausted from back to back shifts in the infirmary. It's a night he wishes that his own quintessence would work on himself, that he could wick away the ache in his back and the searing heat behind his eyes. He'd dragged himself here in search of food - Aether can't remember the last thing he ate, or when - but the sight of the couch had forced him to redirect.

So here he sits, alone in the dark common room, staring out the massive windows flanking the fireplace and watching the stars twinkle. He knows he should get up, should find something to put in his stomach so he can at least try to sleep, but his legs weigh a thousand pounds each and the thought of moving is enough to have Aether groaning into the silence surrounding him.

He wishes he were like Rain, like Swiss. That he could just close his eyes and be on his way to dreamland. That he didn't have to deal with the storm in his head, the revolving door of tasks to be done on his next shift. Reviewing the cases he'd handled today; there had been a flu outbreak in the human wing, and Aether stretches his hands while he thinks of every fever he'd soothed, every cough he'd calmed, every bit of suffering he'd pulled from those fragile bodies and let sink into himself.

Ghouls may not be susceptible to human illness, but the power it takes to heal them always leaves him feeling ill. Empty. Hollow.

Aether cracks his knuckles as the memory of one particular Sibling crosses his mind - a young girl, no more than twenty. Pale and shivering, hacking up a lung into the sleeve of her habit while she curled up in the corner of the waiting area. She was the only one who has arrived at the infirmary alone, a newly anointed Sister of Sin who hadn't found her footing yet. Hadn't found her family yet.

Her pain had been some of the worst for Aether to handle. Not because she was sick, there were other Siblings in far worse condition, but because she was alone. Aether could feel it in his bones the moment he touched her hand. An icy wave of anxiety and regret that had washed over every part of him, an ache even Aether couldn't soothe.

It would pass, he'd assured her. Everyone goes through this - the fear, the loneliness, the feeling that you've made a huge mistake by abandoning everything you knew and loved in the name of something new. Something better. Because there are expectations, assumptions, promises made that paint the church in an ideal, rose-colored light that draws in those eager for a place to belong.

It would pass, he'd assured her. It always does. She would find her routine, find Brothers and Sisters eager to take her under their wing. Find comfort in their Papa's sermons, in prayer and worship, as they all do. Eventually, everything would fall into place. She just needed to give it time. To let it happen.

She'd looked much better once her treatment was complete, had thanked him with a hug he could still feel untold hours later, and Aether was glad to see it. Truly.

But that cold pit of loneliness had stuck around long after she'd left the infirmary, a whirlpool of despair still swirling around in his chest. It's happened a few times before, when he's drained like this, but it's unpleasant all the same. Sore, almost. Like a thorn in his heart, digging deeper with every beat.

He should just go to bed. Make his legs work and drag himself down the impossible distance of the hall. Should collapse into his own bed and try to ignore the chill, the ache, the pounding in his head. He'd get to sleep eventually, right? It would be better than this - at least he'd be laying down. He should at least try.

The kitchen light flips on behind him, and Aether's too tired to jolt.

"Aeth?" A sleep-thick voice creeps into his ears, familiar, and Aether's shoulders sag. "What're you doin' in here?"

The soft patter of bare feet follows, and Aether sighs when their owner comes into view.

"Hey, Dew."

"Hey yourself," the little ghoul mumbles, rubbing at tired eyes. He's dressed in one of Aether's beat-up old shirts and a pair of sunflower printed pajama pants that undoubtedly belong to Sunshine. "I could smell you from my room," he says through a yawn, and Aether cringes. "D'you just get back?"

"Yeah," Aether rasps, working immediately to get his scent under control. It's something he always struggles with on nights like this. "Long day."

He crosses his arms over his chest, rolls his neck, and Dew frowns.

"Looks like more than that." Aether hugs himself a little tighter. "Wanna talk about it?"

"It's nothing," Aether huffs, the guilt of having woken Dewdrop enough to have that thorn sinking in further. "Go back to bed, love, I'm fine."

"Pfft," Dew waves a hand, dismissive, "how many times do I have to tell you you're a shitty liar?"

Aether groans, tosses his glasses to the side to dig the heels of his hands into his burning eyes. He hears Dew's tail thump against the area rug, obvious concern that he must be too tired to hide.

"I just...it was a long day," Aether sighs, resting his elbows on his knees and hunching over. "I'll be fine, I'm just...just tired, that's all."

Warm, bony hands come to rest on his shoulders, and it takes everything Aether has not to whimper at how good that simple touch feels.

"Aether," Dew says, low, "look at me."

He doesn't want to. Knows he too exhausted to hide the way the void in his chest will have darkened his eyes, brought out every line on his face. He knows that if he does, Dew will see the hurt. Hurt that isn't his problem, isn't something he needs to worry about. It's not his job.

"C'mon, Aeth," the little ghoul encourages, one hand leaving a shoulder to glide through Aether's thick, unruly hair. Aether does whimper then, can't help it, but silently prays Dew doesn't hear it. "Please?"

There's something so sincere in that one word that Aether can't deny him. He heaves a mighty sigh, leans back into the couch and begrudgingly lets Dew see.

Those copper eyes bore into him like white hot fire, and it only takes two breaths for Dew to understand.

"Oh, Aether," he breathes, cupping his worn face in those incredible hands. Aether sinks into the touch, something he can't quite name caught in the back of his throat. "What can I do?"

Nothing. Everything. Aether has no idea, too scattered and distracted by the icy claws scratching at his rib cage to do more than shake his head and flex his fingers. Dew won't break his gaze, looking down at him with concern knitting his brow and his mouth turned down at the corners. He brings his own hands up to hold Dew's wrists, overcome by the need for...for...

"Could you just -" a hiccup, one he can't help, "just...remind me I'm not alone?"

The words are miserable to say, a request he feels stupid for making and regrets instantly. Wishes he could take them back the second they pass his lips, a flush of embarrassment rushing up his throat when Dew tips his head. When a lock of golden hair that had slipped from his bun floats across his forehead, those gorgeous eyes gone soft around the edges.

But he doesn't have time to take them back, because Dew's already moving. Gently shaking off Aether's trembling grip and moving to straddle him on the couch. Skinny thighs bracketing his own while Dew settles in, leaning forward to get his arms under Aether's wrinkled white coat, looping them around his waist. Scooching closer until they're chest to chest, no more than their clothes to separate them, and then Dew's resting his head on Aether's shoulder.

"Don't worry, starlight," he lilts, soft as Aether's ever heard him. Dew kisses his neck, no more than a chaste peck. "'S long as I'm around, you never have to be alone."

The little ghoul starts to purr, his unnatural heat seeping into Aether's whole being, and Aether shudders. Wraps him up in strong arms and holds on tight, breathing in cedar and burnt cinnamon. Something so distinctly Dew that it overrides the mess in his head, in his heart, and as it does Aether can do nothing but believe him.

"Thank you, firefly," he huffs, voice thready. Something Dew would normally tease him for, but not tonight. He nuzzles closer, and Aether lets his cheek rest against the little ghoul's head. "Thank you."

[chaotic-iguana]

Sleep

Summary: Reader suffers from lack of sleep, caused by a recent event. As she continues to overwork herself, she reaches her breaking point with near disastrous results. Starring concerned!steve murphy, chaotic idiot!steve murphy and clueless!reader. javi has my fucking heart though.

Pairing: Javier Peña x reader (no use of y/n though)

Rating: M

Wordcount: 2.2k 

Warnings: fluff, mild angst, sort of a panic attack, mild MILD allusions to someone being creepy (not javi though), mild flirting, humour, lots of swearing sorry

this is my first fic - let me know your thoughts! check me out on ao3

masterlist.

“I swear to fucking god Murphy, if you don’t stop bouncing your leg against the table, I’m slamming your head right into it” is the gospel that flows out of your mouth at 7 am on a Monday morning. Feels like it’s gonna be a great week.

“The hell did I do? You’d think Connie’s cookies would be enough to get you animals off my back, but no, first sign of any damn fire an’ the first person you’d throw in?” Steve huffs. “Murphy”, he repeats mockingly. You scoff and roll your eyes at him, clenching and unclenching your fists in an attempt to talk yourself down from strangling the idiot situated two feet to your left before turning back to the paperwork in front of you. The one-foot-tall, monster stack of paperwork. Right. In. Front. Of. You. And would the golden boys ever do it themselves? If they ever got a moment’s relief from jacking each other off during missions (or however the hell they manage to fumble practically every single little op), maybe. But most of the time, you were stuck with it. Because god forbid the two princesses you were partnered with ever had to so much as lift a pen themselves. Hell would freeze over.

And it isn’t like you mind. At all, really. Half your job is the paperwork, and you’re happy to get it in order - if only to avoid Noonan’s wrath. Besides, what good is an agent if they can’t do their fucking job? In its entirety; not the half-assed shit most of the men did around the embassy. But a single glimpse of yourself in the mirror while rushing to leave the house revealed that these past few weeks of skipping lunch breaks, going home late, and taking files home to work on have been catching up with you - sunken, bloodshot eyes, cracked lips, and bruises smudged under your eyes now, perpetually, since the nightmares had started. Anything to keep you busy, right?

Another aggravating side effect of the amount of work you had taken on apart from the usual? The constant irritation. Marlene’s new nails, Katie’s suspicious last lay, the stupid fucking demon alarm clock that never quite managed to wake you up, the busted tire, the broken coffee machine, Dave from accounting’s downright idiotic whistling, your pen running out of ink, and finally - Murphy’s bouncing knee banging the table every fucking millisecond, practically in tune with the pounding ache beginning to form between your brows. If you were a better person, you’d let these things go. Such is life, right? But since the lack of sleep, the increased workload and general mishappenings had already created this beautiful trifecta of shit just to screw you over, better people could go fuck themselves. As could Murphy. “Don’t use your wife’s cooking as an excuse. I’m telling you, make another sound and die.” you spit out, whirling in your chair because the incessant fucking banging still hasn’t stopped - just in time to catch Peña sauntering in, already smirking.

“Already nailing Murphy’s balls, cariño? Careful, I’ll fall in love, baby.” You can hear the laughter in his crooning voice as he throws it over his shoulder - but you don’t care - can’t care, beyond the spots that seem to be forming at the edges of your vision. Were your fingers always a bit tingly? Or is that a new development, like your tongue suddenly feeling thick and heavy in your mouth, like you’re choking on it? But even though your thoughts feel slow and weighed down by molasses, rage sparks brighter in your mind as Peña’s flirty nicknames and bullshit teasing registers. You push away from your desk, and shoot up from the chair, striding towards the door to get some air - or you try to - because before you know it, your vision is blinded by white and you’re breathing quick, shallow breaths as you lay on the ground trying to figure out what the fuck is happening. Distantly, you can hear someone calling your name but it sounds so far away you barely even register it. Hands wrap around your wrist, your head, attempting to stabilize you, to ground you, as you flail wildly in a panic. A low hum begins to fill your senses, forming words that sound to fuzzy to understand or care about right now, but you lean into it, something in your being telling you it’s safe.

When your sight clears, you’re curled up on the on the floor trembling. Shaking, like a scared fucking child, while Peña kneels to hold you to his chest, repeating the same few phrases over and over: “You’re okay, it’s okay hermosa. You’re safe. Safe. No ones gonna hurt you, it’s over now, okay?” as Murphy stands next to him, watching with panic and a hint of sympathy in his gaze. You scramble away from them both, panting, nearly slipping in your effort to get to your feet. “Hey, it’s okay. It’s okay, pretty. You’re okay” Peña repeats his assurances with his hands held out, palms facing you, as you stand on wobbling knees, wiping at your face.

“‘M fine” is all you whisper to them hoarsely before ducking your head and rushing out of the pathetically cramped room you three work in. You can hear footsteps behind you, but can’t find it in you to turn around - not even at the panicked sounds of your name being called by a familiar voice. You’re making a scene, you know it, but you don’t care. It’s all too much, and you’re too far gone. Reaching the parking lot, you struggle to unlock your car as your trembling fingers drop the keys twice. Swearing, you resolve and pick them up again, pressing them and reaching for the door. But just before your fingers find the handle another hand - much, much larger than yours - splays out on the window to stop you, just as Peña’s signature bedhead comes into view. He looks at you with wide, concerned eyes, his mouth tucked low at the corners, like he’s disappointed. You want to melt, you do, because the melting pot of emotions you have for him make you preen at his worry - but your usual defense mechanisms humble you. And so you sharpen your claws, flash your fangs, and the hackles raise again, leaving a “What, Peña?” to come tumbling out in a tone so sharp it makes you flinch. HIs frown just deepens as his gaze rakes over your form frantically, as if checking for injury. He says nothing, pursing his lips further before snatching your wrist and tugging you behind him as he stalks to his car, opening the side door. You raise a brow at him, and he counters by jerking his head towards the car, scowling slightly. You get in, slightly confused, and wait for him to walk around and get into the drivers seat. “What the fuck, Peña? I just fainted, I’m not senile. And I don’t give a shit how mad you are, you can’t just-just drag me to your car and f-force me to get in. The fuck are you playing at?” you begin to ramble, fury somehow still rising at a dizzying speed. Peña doesn’t respond, just starts driving while looking straight ahead while you continue fumbling over a panicked rant so pathetic it sounds nonsensical to your own ears. “…And what? You just enjoy calling me s-stupid nicknames? You think it’s cute to flirt with me while I’m- while I pass out?” This one makes his nostrils flare, eyes darkening a bit while his jaw tightens just for a second before letting go. You pause for a second, getting your breath while your hands still shake in your lap. “I’m fine, it’s fine. Can I just go home please? I’ve already done the month’s paperwork for all the ops we have planned, and you can just give me the rest post-op. I’m just a bit under the weather, I just need to lie down for a bit.” you start trying to reason, but the stubborn ass just keeps driving, and alarm starts bubbling in your chest again. You look down to your lap while you fiddle with your thumbs, willing to control the irrational fear yelling at you that something’s wrong every second Peña chooses to stay silent.

“Think I was flirting with you while you passed out? Y’think I don’t see it, you working yourself to the fucking bone? Think I can’t see how you’ve stopped eating, honey? Stopped laughing like you used to? Think I don’t know how late you’ve starting going home? As ‘f I’ll ever stop waitin’ for ya to clock out first so I know you’re home okay, baby. You gotta tell me what’s wrong - this is eatin’ you up.“

Peña’s tone softens, but his harsh whisper makes you turn your head to look at him. He sounds so…tortured, as if he’s the one suffering. He glances your way, locking eyes with you for a second before turning his head back to the road. You sit there and practically gape at him, your jaw slack as your head whirls. Peña knows? No, wait, he waits? For you to go home so you’re safe? He cares? What the fuck? Confused, all that comes out of your mouth is a mighty elegant open-mouthed “huh?” before you blink at him, waiting for him to continue.

“You gotta know by now, sweetheart. Gotta see how I’ve been lookin’ at you. You’re the smartest fuckin’ agent I’ve seen, with the balls to take down men I’d sweat to be ‘n the same room with. You swear like a sailor, an’ make me laugh till I’m chokin’ on my own damn cigarette. Tell me what’s hurtin’ you, honey. I can’t promise I’ll fix it, but I can swear to you I’ll damn well try my best.” He responds, turning to hold your gaze as his own eyes widen, and his brows turn down. Puppy eyes, you think. 

Your brain has gone from hazy to too fucking clear in a matter of five minutes, and now it feels like your thoughts are gonna come ripping out of your head. So you just blink at him, again, before reaching an unsteady hand out to cup his cheek. “I’m okay, I swear. Just-you remember that deal I had to cut last month? With the sicario? For intel on that lab?” Peña nods, and you continue. “Fucker led me to a dead end. Ambushed me. O-only got out ‘cause his gun jammed, and his child-soldier ran away. I just-this is so fucking dumb I’ve been in worse but- I can’t get it out of my head. The shit he said to me, the way he looked at me, t-touched me. I should be dead or worse, Peña. And I nearly was.“ you look down again, ashamed of the truth that’s spilling out of your mouth. It’s so small, so weak, you just want to fold into yourself and never come out. Your voice wobbles towards the end, tears filling your eyes as you turn your head away from the man you’ve wanted for so long to save whatever dignity you still have left. “‘N I can’t sleep anymore. Just see- or feel him every time. So thought I’d work for a bit. Clearly didn’t fucking work out, though.” small hiccups have started to punctuate your words, testament to the tears now flowing down your cheeks. Peña pulls up to an unfamiliar building and turns to you.

“‘S Javi, honey. Look at me, pretty baby.” He cradles your chin between his thumb and his forefinger to turn your head towards him. “None of that was stupid, okay? Come lie down at my place. I’ll sit in a damn chair next to you and fight him away if he comes in your dreams, sweetheart, okay? Nothin’ to be ‘fraid of. Never letting any fuckers near you again.” Javi leans in to brush a kiss to your forehead before stepping out of the car and hooking his index and middle finger to beckon you too. You step out of the truck and towards him, smiling while swiping at your face. “Didn’t know this was what the girls meant every time they bragged about sleeping with you” you snark softly, with a teasing grin on your face as you reach him. Javi rolls his eyes playfully before unlocking the door.

“Ain’t gotta do no sleepin’ you don’t want to, honey. You’re here to get some rest. Be a good girl and sleep f’me, and I’ll keep you up for as long as you like after,” he  throws over his shoulder with a matching grin and a wink.

[ineedtherapydesperately]

need more chaggie wing fics where charlie is just absolutely obsessed w vaggie's wings like look at her face

she's obsessed and with good reason too

[saym0-0]

i know she's technically younger but nastya has SUCH big sister vibes

[chuluoyi]

for those who are still waiting for it (so sorry it’s been rotting in my drafts!😭) this is the opening scene for entry: the babysitter’s club 🤭

[st-hedge]

The only benefit of my arm not working properly rn is that I’m cornered into getting the story for these idiots ready for posting in August

[afraidparade]

comfort