#there’s a big mountain of shit laying in front of it again

[woosteru]

hey tumblr pals did i show you my upgraded shelf already i don’t think so 🤓☝️

[onskepa]

Can we get a neteyam x human reader?? She's lyle's daughter, also human and made friends with spider. When lo'ak comes to save him, he wants to take her with him but she can't just leave her dad here

You can end it however you want

Hellooooooooooo sweetie~!!

So I hope you dont mind this being a short one, but its a good one! Enjoy~!!

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Yewn

“Do you ever think we might see them…?” Young spider asks his sister at arms, Yewn. The young girl thinks about the question and shakes her head. “I don't think so, they are dead for a long time. It is like Jake said, good riddance” she replies. 

Both lay down on top of the old lab shack, staring up at the night sky. 

“They were bad guys, and killed a lot of the na’vi…” Spider says, convincing himself of certain feelings. 

“Exactly. So stop thinking about our dads, I bet they won't even care if they do come back from the dead” 

“Kid, you won't last another day if you don't eat, '' Lyle Wainfleet says. He bends down looking rather tired and slightly annoyed. 16 year old yewn just stared at him as if he was the worst shit on the entire planet. To which he is in her eyes.

“Fuck off” was all she says time and time again.

“Yewn-”

“Shut up, don't call me that. You have no right to call me that!” yewn yells at him in anger. A lot was happening in such a short time. Her friends were attacked and held hostage, went to help, spider’s mask broke, stayed behind to help him, only to be taken and be separated from him.

The room is cold, colder than the labs. Everything was so lifeless. She hated it.

But there is nothing more she hates, than the man, or dreamwalker in front of her.

“If you don't eat, you will die, '' Lyle tells her again. And again, yewn just hisses at him.

“Good, I would rather die than confess anything to you or that old bitch!”

Lyle rolls his eyes, hopefully quaritch has better luck than him.

Her plan was cut way too short. Spider took the lead in showing the recoms how to climb, run, and jump through the big vines and floating mountains. Spider was a true expert in that field, so yewn stayed a little more behind. By adding more pressure to the weak points of the vines, the goal was to tear some down but the recoms would step on them by their own body weight. Spider was doing the same, the plan was to have them all step in a weak vine so that they can fall to their deaths. 

Obviously that didn't work. 

Lyle was quick to catch what she and spider were doing. While he did not report to Quaritch what they were quietly doing, lyle took it upon himself to straighten the kids out. 

“If you want us dead, it will take a lot more than that” he tells Yewn. And yewn would take note of it. Next time, she will do better. 

“Getting the hang of it now” Lyle says as he flies on his ikran with yewn. The girl missed flying up high in the sky. The thrill of doing amazing tricks, how nete-

No, while Yewn is still in the human's custody, no thoughts of him will appear in her mind. Anything can happen and they can use whatever she accidently shares against her. 

Besides, there is something else occupying her mind and her full attention. 

“Come on bro! We have to get them, they are still on the ship!” Lo’ak pleads to neteyam. It didnt take much to convince the older brother, nodding eagerly, both head deeper to the ship to find their friends. All the while trying to avoid enemies all around. 

Quietly they climb up some pipes and hide, lo’ak points downwards to see spider and yewn being shoved somewhere. 

“We get it! We are going, fucking bastards” spider cusses at the humans behind him. Him and yawn look really annoyed, but oddly compliant. Taking the chance, the brothers jumped and began to attack the humans. 

Yewn and spider were surprised to see them but quickly catched on. Fighting as well, the four managed to take down the humans around them. Taking the weapons, neteyam, lo’ak, spider and yewn were armed and ran for the edge of the ship. 

“Come on, come on! We are almost there!” neteyam yells, shoving yewn forward until bullets were being shot. 

“GO GO GO!” spider yells, he and lo’ak jump first into the sea. But yewn and neteyam couldnt in time. 

“Yewn get back over here!” 

Neteyam turns to see a false avatar, his gun pointing at him. 

“I won't tell you again, come here now!” the fake shouted. Neteyam looks down and sees yewn shaking. Was it fear? Hesitance?

She was close to taking a step forward but neteyam stopped her. 

Yewn looks up at him, ready to cry. 

“Are you insane!? Lets go, he won't hurt you again” neteyam burgers her, shifting her closer to the edge but yewn fights back. “No no! You don't get it! I can't just leave him!” Yewn shouts. Her fear and desperation growing. 

“Yes you can, he hurt you!” neteyam shouts back. But yewn only looks back at lyle, their eyes making contact. Yewn knows he is silently pleading to go to him. That part yewn is afraid of. To go back to lyle means to go back to those horrid conditions the general had her go under. 

“No! I just cant leave him like this-” 

“And why the hell not?!” 

“BECAUSE HE IS MY DAD!!”

“Hey lyle-” 

“You know, you can call me dad if you like…” recom lyle informs yewn in an awkward way. Yewn looks up at him, almost in a disapproving look. There was a few seconds of silence before Yewn walked on the other side of the room, not continuing what she was going to say. 

Lyle walked over to see what she wanted to tell him. “Hey, im sorry, I thought that it-” 

“Would be easier for me? Think again, you are just forcing yourself. I will never call you dad. You don't deserve that title. Not now, not ever fuckface” Yewn states with disgust in her tone. Lyle sighed, hanging his head low. Just when he thought where was progress, he took 5 steps back.

“He is my dad….and I just cant leave him….” Yewn cries out to neteyam. This was massive news to him. But he concludes that staying in the massive prison was messing with yewns mind. Making her think things that are not true. 

If they weren't in such a situation, lyle would hug her and say sweet words in her ear. Finally yewn accepted him, but now there is a problem that lies between lyle and yewn. Just one bullet should be enough to take down that savage boy of Sully’s. 

“YEWN!” he calls to her, his daughter turns to look at him, her eyes distraught, not knowing what to do. 

“Please yewn, we are so close! Come on, he is not your dad! He is dead! I won't let you be surrendering to him or any evil sky demon!” Neteyam shouts loud enough for Lyle to hear. And it is ticking him off. 

Neteyam guide yewn close to the edge, their hearts racing. To calm her as he leads her to the edge, he places his hand on her shoulder, urging her more to jump. Neteyam can finally save her!

Yewn was looking down at the sea, her ears ringing. Could she go? Could she leave lyle and-

BANG!

Aaaaaaaaaaand that is it for this one! Hope you all enjoyed this one! Until next time! See ya!

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Yewn = express convey (a thought or feeling)

[short-honey-badger]

Shore Leave 5

Holy moly, did this one get away from me. Lotta stuff happens in this one, and we are introduced to the "antagonist." I guess you could call him.

Anyway! I hope you enjoy!

Shore Leave Masterlist

You wake with a soft groan, blinking your eyes open as you shift in your bed. You snuggle into your pillow and frown when the clothes you wear tug uncomfortably against the blankets. You never wear this many clothes to bed, so why are you now? Mortification burns through you when the memories of last night fly through your mind, and you scramble out of your bed, embarrassed beyond belief. How could you have fallen asleep so quickly last night? You were no stranger to late nights, and had thought you'd have the willpower to stay up.

You cringe to yourself. John must feel so awkward.

You slip from the bed and quickly change clothes, leggings, and a loose blouse with your cow print house shoes. You wash your face and brush your teeth and then bend to fish out a new toothbrush for John to use if he wanted to. Now that you feel refreshed, you slipped out of your bedroom and into the living room where you were greeted with the adorable sight of your new friend curled up on the couch.

The large man had to curl up a bit to comfortably fit, but he looked so at peace that you didn't have the heart to disturb him. Instead, you quietly bypassed John and mosied into the kitchen to start on a hearty breakfast. Your fridge needed to be cleared out anyway.

The Master Chief woke to the smell of sizzling bacon and eggs. His blue eyes sprang open, and he bolted up, heart racing as he took in the unfamiliar environment. He relaxes when he recognizes your living room and slumps even further into the cushions when his sensitive ears pick up the sound of you singing. A tiny smile lingers on his lips, and John is tempted to fall back to sleep now that he knows that everything is fine.

A big fluffy orange tail gets his attention, and John leans down to pet Nami, who purrs thunderously at the attention. He scratches her for a while before he eases up from the couch and lopes to the bar that separates the kitchen and living room. John watches you cook, your shoulders drooped and relaxed as you sing a slow song under your breath and flip the Japanese style omelet gently back and forth in the pan. Beside you, there are two plates with seasoned, white rice and thick cuts of bacon and two glasses full of pulpy orange juice.

“Play the guitar, play it again, my Johnny

Maybe you're cold, but you're so warm inside.”

You sway gently to the beat only you can hear, humming the next part of the song as you finish up rolling the omelet. You pick up the pan from the stove eye and scoot to the plates where you lay the fluffy eggs across the mountain of rice.

“But if you're cruel, you can be kind, I know

There was never a man like my Johnny.”

You place the pan back on the stove, turning down the heat, and then grab the heavy plate, turning to go set the food on the bar and then go wake John for breakfast. Only to have the man in question staring at you from where he is already seated at the bar. You jump at the sight, and only the hard grip you have on the plate saves the ceramic dishware from the floor. You clutch your chest with your other hand and glare at John.

“You scared the shit out of me.” You grumble at him and set breakfast in front of the big man.

The grin that John wears is all worth the little jump scare when you catch sight of it. It looks more free than the tiny smiles and smirks that he'd given you last night. You wouldn't mind seeing more of it.

“Maybe you should pay more attention,” John quips at you and takes the fork from your outstretched hand. You roll your eyes at him and smack his fork away when he goes to dig into the omelet you'd slaved over.

“Hang on. Hopefully, this works,” you murmur and then take the knife you hold and slice the fluffy eggs down the middle. John thinks that your little coo of joy is the most adorable sound when you watch the omelet split open perfectly, allowing the steaming cheesy eggs to spill out. The smile you aim at him is even better.

“Bon appetit.”

John does it with gusto, and you turn away from the ravenous eating to fix up your own plate with the leftover egg mixture. The spartan is finished by the time you are plating your breakfast, and you are much slower in how you eat, savoring each bite and drinking deeply from your cup of coffee. You tell John to help himself to whatever is left in the pot and then point out the bathroom, and make sure to mention the new toothbrush you'd set out for him.

John does as suggested, draining his cup quick as a flash and then loping to the bathroom to wash up. You finish up and then wash up the dishes before settling on the couch and picking up your data pad left on the end table. Nami joins you on the couch, curling up on the arm and looking at you with big green eyes.

“You like him, too, huh?” You ask her with a grin and scratch behind her ears, making the fluff ball purr even louder.

You flip through a couple of articles and stop when your eyes catch sight of one of them highlighting a new exhibit at the local zoo. You grin as an idea comes to mind and set the tablet aside when John comes out of your bedroom.

“I've got an idea for a trip if you're up for it?” You ask him when he sits beside you on the couch. You grunt in surprise when the Chief suddenly grabs you around the waist and tugs you close, pressing you to his side before he dips and claims your lips in a kiss as sweet as pie.

John has been wanting to kiss you all morning. He is pretty sure he'd dreamed of you last night, the delicate press of your lips along his scarred skin. The curtain of your hair shields the two of you away from the outside world as you sat atop him.

His cheeks heat up at the reminder, and his hand finds the curve of your waist, squeezing gently before he pulls away, resting his brow along your own. John opens his eyes and meets your own, his lips curled in a smug smirk that makes you roll your eyes when you spot it.

“What kind of trip?” He asks you and boldly shifts again, lifting you as though you weigh nothing and sits you fully in his lap. His thumb swipes back and forth on the bit of exposed skin from where your shirt has risen up, and he leans back to rest against the cushions.

Your cheeks blaze at being moved as if you were nothing but a doll, and your thighs tingle from where they are pressed on either side of John's long legs. You lick your lips and force your mind to get back on track and not think of just how big the Master Chief is.

“W-well, there is a new exhibit opening at the zoo. I thought it would be fun for us to go.”

The Chief stalls in his tracks. The zoo? He's never had the chance to go to one before. He is silent as he recalls the last time he'd been even close to one and frowns when his memory provides him with images of destroyed animal enclosures, glassed over by the covenant. He comes back to himself when you wrap your hand around his free wrist and squeeze softly.

“I would like that,” He assures you and smooths his hand down so that he can tangle his fingers with your own. He raises his hand and presses his lips to the back of your knuckles, watching your eyes go half lidded in pleasure and wonders if you would look how you did in his dream. If only he had the nerve to touch you so confidently.

“Though I would like to stop by base to change, if you are okay with waiting for me?”

You nod easily, “Of course I'm fine with waiting.”

You wish you had the courage to ask if he wanted to stay with you through his shore leave, but you'd hate to come off as clingy, so you stay silent about it, and instead try and shimmy off his lap to no avail.

“I've got to get ready, ya know.” You point out, but John only shrugs at you and untangles his hand from your own so that he can cup your jaw in his big palm. He casts his blue-eyed gaze over you, smoothing his thumb up to slide over your bottom lip.

“I know, but I'd like to try something,” he says, and you dip your head in silent permission when he meets your eyes. His thumb puts pressure down, and you allow your mouth to fall open. John leans in and kisses you, his tongue sliding past your lips to tease your own pink muscle and explore the hot cavern of your mouth. You keen into the intimate kiss, not having expected him to do such a thing, but not unhappy about it. Instead, you push forward lips wrapping around his tongue and gently sucking on the muscle, causing a deep groan to rumble out of the Master Chief.

John isn't sure how long he kisses you, but he doesn't have any intention of stopping. He wants to know what other sounds you might make for him. The spartan isn't used to letting his more carnal desires take over, but he would gladly drop all his walls if he could know what you taste like.

Your lips are red and swollen by the time you have to break the heated exchange. Your stomach is tight with arousal, and you can feel his hardening length between your legs. You want to see it, but you close your eyes and take a deep, calming breath instead. You fall forward and rest your face against his chest, and John wraps his arms around you, making you feel like the safest person in the galaxy.

“I still need to get ready,” you mumble against his chest but make no move to get up. John just tightens his grip and presses his lips to the crown of your head.

Eventually, the two of you rise, and you hop in the shower just long enough for your normal routine before drying off and dressing in a pair of worn jeans and a nice shirt. Your tennis shoes are next since so much walking is in your future, and then lastly your bag and phone. John watches you lock the door after saying goodbye to Nami and then follows you outside and to the sidewalk.

It's a good thirty minute walk to the base that he is stationed at, and you have to assure him that you don't mind the journey multiple times. He keeps a close eye out while the two of you walk, his training kicking in even when he is supposed to “forget” who he is for these next two weeks. John wouldn't be able to forgive himself if he let something happen to you.

“You can wait in the lobby,” He says when you arrive at the large, dark stone building. You nod silently and follow him through the automatic doors, feeling a bit nervous coming inside. You've never had a reason to come here before, after all.

John leaves you waiting in a chair near the entrance of the building, and you flip through your datapad as you wait. You are interrupted soon after by a harsh clearing of the throat. You look up and see a man dressed in a crisp uniform, his face clean shaven and his dark hair cut at regulation. You can spot tattoos looping through his shorn hair. He is handsome like most military men are, his green eyes dark and full of curiosity.

“Can I help you with anything ma'am?” He asks, and his tone is friendly despite the permanent scowl on his face.

“No, but thank you, Sir. I'm just waiting on a friend,” you say with a smile and expect him to leave you be, only for the marine to sit down beside you and offer his hand.

“Major Dwight Baroque. It's nice to meet you, miss..?”

You shake his hand with a strained smile and introduce yourself quietly.

“May I ask who you're waiting for?” The Major says, and you answer slowly and realize that you only know John's first name. You'd never asked for anything else, though that was kind of the goal at the moment. You wanted John to feel human for once in his life.

“Ah, well. His name is John. I didn't ask, and he didn't tell me his rank or anything,” you say, a bit embarrassed about it now that you think about it.

The soldier chuckles and sits back in the seat, “Do you mind if I wait with you? Pretty women like yourself shouldn't be left alone for too long, ya know.”

You laugh and shift awkwardly in your seat and wish that John would hurry up and get out here. While you appreciated everything that the UNSC did, that didn't mean that you wanted one of them to flirt with you so badly.

“I'm sure you've got better things to do than babysit me,” you say and look up just in time to spit John stalking toward you, a deep scowl darkening his face when he spots the Major beside you.

“Actually, John is here now.”

You don't expect the marine to look at John and his face transform into something so rage filled that it's ugly. You gulp when the Major glares at you next, but your own angered confusion raises its head at his words.

“That's John? You know he's a freak right?”

You blink at him, jerking your head back as if you'd been struck. You stand from your chair, voice furious, “Excuse me?”

Baroque scoffs loudly and stands as well. He still looks tiny compared to John when the other man gets to your side. The Chief stands just behind you and reaches out to place a big hand on your shoulder, “_, just let it go. It's not worth it.”

“What? No. I want to know why he thinks you're a freak,” you snap back, incensed at the lack of fight in John's voice. Why wasn't he defending himself?

“Didn't he tell you what he was?” Dwight continues, and his tone turns smug, as if what he would say next would change your option about your new friend.

“He's a Spartan. Everything that he is came out of a bottle. He's nothing but a science experiment.”

You feel John tense behind you, his grip on your shoulder tightening to the point of pain. You bear it with grace and glare at the smug Major.

“Well, now I know why he's so tall, at least.” You quip and reach up to curl your hand around his wrist, squeezing tightly to get the Spartans' attention. You aim a grin his way and tug his arm.

“Let's go, John. We shouldn't waste any more time.”

The Major seems flabbergasted at your lack of care over John being a spartan, but he quickly turns outraged and moves to step forward. John sees the way he goes to grab you and bodily moves you, putting himself in the way of the Major and glaring down at his superior officer.

“Have a good day, Major,” he growls and then escorts you out of the building before the other man could cause any more of a scene.

You huff and puff as soon as you are out of the building, an annoyed scowl on your face as you call the Major mean names under your breath. John watches you, and his heart lurches in his chest. You had stood up for him. You hadn't even cared that he was a spartan.

He doesn't stop himself from closing the distance and sweeping you up for a kiss, hands landing on your hips, and holding you close until he pulls away with a soft sigh.

“Thank you,” He whispers, and you shake your head with a small frown.

“You shouldn't have to thank me for showing you the same kind of kindness any human deserves. That guy was an idiot, and you should never listen to people like him. You are a hero, John.”

The Master Chief doesn't know what to say to all that, so he just kisses you again, and you can feel how relieved and happy he is knowing that you don't give a damn about what he is. His blue eyes shine when he pulls away, and then he leads you in the direction of the nearest bus transport.

“We should go before it's too late. I want to see everything,” John says, and you laugh in joy as you follow after him.

“Sounds good to me! Let's go!”

[sensivs]

I'm back lol

I was thinking some...

Graves gets eaten out by male reader in his office

I am currently working on another graves smut thing but yes

BOTTOM GRAVES FOR THE WIN 🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡🫡‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️‼️🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏

———————————————

Basic summary: it’s time gentlemen… THE WHOREIFCATION OF GRAVES

———————————————

Graves let out a big sigh, he was currently in his office looking at some paper work.

A simple knock came from his door, “come in!” Graves answered, in came you. You were graves assistant, you were known for being a jokester towards the big boss man but he still kept you around.

Why? Because he’s in love with you.

“Hey sir” graves rolled his eyes when he heard your “annoying” voice. “Hi y/n” “what you doing there boss?” You peaked over his shoulder.

“None of your business, now tell me why your here” graves replied, putting the papers he had in his hands down onto the table.

“Oh nothing, I’m just here because i miss you” “you literally saw me a few- why are you really here? What do you need lieutenant?”

You could tell graves was getting annoyed very quickly, jeez that task 141 shit was really getting to him huh? “Calm down boss, it’s gonna be okay” you said, rubbing his shoulders.

You knew that phillip’s shoulders were an absolute weak point of his. “F-Fuck off” graves said, stifling his moans.

“Your so cute when you try to hold your moans~” graves felt embarrassed, being teased by an assistant isn’t something that graves would call a “flex”.

“Shut. up.” Graves said through bitten lips. “Come on, let loose Phillip, you know you want too~” you did have a point.

Phillip was really stiff these past few days, he really needed some relaxation for all his hard work. You guided your bosses face to the table, laying it down gently.

“Reeelaaaaxxxxx” you calmly said like those massager people, idk but something like that. “God you’re so fucking annoying y/n”.

“Calm down the hate train football dad I’m just trying to keep you from having a complete meltdown”

The last time graves got so overworked wasn’t a pretty sight for sore eyes.. so preventing it was like a gift from the gods.

Graves let out a big sigh once again, being mean to your pookie bear isn’t gonna win him Phillip 🥱‼️.

He was being too hard on himself and he knew it, once you saw that graves had finally gone into a relaxed state.

You slowly pulled down grave’s pants and boxers. All those teases that you told graves following the lines of “i will eat your ass” were finally becoming true.

Graves shivered, feeling the cold air hitting his bare ass was a new experience for the man. “You ok boss?” “A-All good”.

You chuckled, you looked at the meal you had in front of you. Goddamn did it look delicious, but you couldn’t just dig in just like that. Make him feel it.

You groped both of the two huge mountains of flesh presented in front of you, graves let out a cute little gasp but kept quiet, not wanting you to stop.

You then started leaving bite marks and hickeys on the man’s beautiful buns, they were very soft and were very delectable.

You left one last bite mark and then looked at the real reason for all this. Graves hole puckered slightly (pls be nice to me guys I’ve never wrote someone getting eaten out).

You immediately dived right it, the sudden action made graves jerk his hips forward and moan loudly.

Graves moans didn’t lower and you knew that Phillip wasn’t going to lower them anytime soon. You had a strong grip on his thighs, their soft plushy feeling almost made you cum.

But you knew better than to cum just by touch, so you continued enjoying your meal. Graves’ moans started to get louder, “aH! Fuck fuck fuck fuck!!! Just like that y/n, oh yes just like that, aHh~”.

And just a few seconds later, graves came. Soon after, you came. The both of you tried catching your breath, you got up and comfortably laid yourself on top of graves.

“Get off lieutenant! Your crushing me!” “I’m not that heavy stop lying >:( “

————————————————

I’m sorta thinking abt a Valeria and Alejandro x male reader tag team type of thing but idk if y’all want it to be Valeria or Rudy orrrrr maybe both??? , you guys pick and I’ll do it :) .

Also…

WHAT THE FUCK IS A KILOMETERRRRR 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🏈🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅🦅

[hotluncheddie]

steve finds a battered old copy of the lord of the rings at the thrift store, while he was looking for a gift for robin and he can't help but think that if he read it maybe he could drop a reference or something in conversation, freak out all his nerdy friends. he also half thinks that the surprise might make eddie smile at him, big and wide and so so pretty.

he takes it to the checkout.

steve proceeds to try and read it every night that week, first laying in bed, but he gets the first page open and instantly falls asleep. so he tries reading while sitting on the couch but his mind just seems to wander. wander to kind brown eyes and big silver rings, not that that's anyones business but steves.

so when he gets home from a early shift, the afternoon stretching ahead of him, he's determined to at least make a dent in this stupid fucking book. he sits at the kitchen table, book in front of him and he instantly feel like he's back in school. struggling through the mountain of homework that seems to just get bigger and bigger. the material taking hours to understand and complete, frustration at himself building.

shoving those memories away and forcing his eyes on the text. managing about 30 minutes, he gets a handful of pages in before he has to stop and take a lap of the room. sitting back down he tries to focus again but his brain is just so tired. tired from the day and all the shit he has to read and remember at work. so much so that the words just start to swim. the font too small, the sentences too long and so many new words that he doesn't notice he's skipping over until he gets to the end of the page and realises he hasn't understood a thing! 'why even bother?' he scoffs. tears welling up in his eyes as he slams the book down, standing up, hands fisting his hair.

there's a knock at the door and fuck. steve forget eddie was going to come over to watch movies today and he's here and steves in the middle of a breakdown and this is just great, just great.

huffing a sigh he half tries to make himself look more normal before he's opening the door to the only and last person he wants to see right now.

'stevie? what's wrong?' eddies eyes are big and round and ernest and steve can't help the small bitter laugh that escapes him before he's sniffling again, walking backwards and slumping down on the sofa, head in hands.

'its nothing, I'm fine, its nothing' he says through his fingers, voice muffled and snotty. eddie rests a hand on his shoulder, rubbing small circles and says he’ll be right back before shuffling into the kitchen to put the beers he brought away and get steve a glass of water. he spots the book on the table, laying face down with some of the pages folding awkwardly and picks that up too before reentering the room and sitting down close to steve on the sofa.

'whats up?' eddies voice is soft as his hand rests gently on steves knee.

releasing a long suffering sigh steve lifts his head and glares a little at the book, now on the coffee table. 'nothing.. just got reminded of what an idiot i am, not sure how i forgot but'

'you’re not stupid steve' eddie says, firm.

steves reeling, a small growl escaping his throat. 'but i am. i am! i can't even read this stupid book that i know erica has read and she's like 10! i can barely keep up with the paperwork at the store and i just wanted to be in on something, wanted to understand what the fuck anyones ever talking about. understand some of the references you’re always making, maybe even impress you. but i can't and i never will because I'm a grade A idiot.' steve ends his rant, voice facing out, small. almost as small as he feels.

science stretches a little, steve calming down, going from angry too tired, sad.

‘you were going to read this for me?’ eddie asks, and he sounds a little, shy? steve shifts, finally looking at eddies face where there's a small, sweet smile pulling at his lips.

'i.. i, yeah. wanted to, for you.' steve stutters, blush dusting his cheeks.

eddie shifts closer, taking both of steves hands in his and looking him in the eye, still smiling softly.

'you’re not an idiot stevie' eddie starts and steve scoffs a little, looking away.

'hey i mean it' eddie ducks back into steves eye-line, squeezing his hands a little. 'your brave and kind and funny and i don't care if you've read a book or not. i like talking to you, hearing what you have to say and what you think. because your not dumb, your great, perfect'. eddie finishes, smiling honest and wide and bright.

steve sniffs again, tears threatening to spill. he's embarrassed but tries to let the words sink in, tries to believe them because eddie said them and eddies his favourite and he knows eddie wouldn't lie to him.

'i can read it to you if you want' eddies shy again but there's a glint in his eye, mischief and steve can't help but smile a little back.

'yeah? you'd do that for me?' he asks, warmth flooding him at the thought.

'shit yeah dude, i've got all the voices down already, your not gonna know what hit ya!' eddie looks at steve, exited, playful. eddie.

'okay, okay. yeah. yes.' steve nods, tangling their fingers together, bumping their knees and grinning. 'lets read it together'

and eddie smile at him, big and wide and so so pretty.

[intertexts]

HIIII ROS i am sorry i never replied to your reply to my ask from a while ago i am so bad at that ;-; in response to that kinda (bc we were talking about jhariah) i did see them live! 3rd concert ive ever been to in my life & it was life changing... i was front row n there was a baby mosh pit n i was with my best friends it was so good <3 i didn't get to see all the songs off TRUST CEREMONY live but if he tours again i will try to get tix because i must see CONTROL BABY live... my faves are control baby n fire4fun n russian doll <3 but it is my fave album ever created (except maybe Måneskin's Teatro D'Ira vol 1)

Dont wanna yap too much but other music im liking rn: Dua Saleh's ROSETTA ep; Missouri Surf Club's songs Rotten & Kingdom Come; Jean Dawson's entire discography generically but specifically SICK OF IT* and New Age Crisis; Ethel Cain's everything; and then im still consistent w the narcissist cookbook, an unkindness, sons of the illustrious father etc. I have been getting into a crazy amount of music since summer started though so there are sooooo many others but i wanna know what you're listening to! i like your music taste as ive said :3

ANYWAY I think i might just send another ask because this is ramble-y n u dont have to reply to it bc its overwhelming but!! Yeah hehe okay p. 1 - mare

HII HI HI no worries!!!!!!! all good i'm also really terrible at it!!!!!! hehe <33 jhariah concert & mosh pit is SO awesome though.. man.. thats so cool.... love that experience for u!!!! <333

checking out all of these rn they're SOO GOOD.... dua saleh ROSETTA ep literally going on the repeat playlist rn omg. ough. how have i not heard them before. holy fucking shit. missouri surf club goood i love the florence influence.... jean dawson & ethel cain WHOO!!!! hell yeag. god. u also have such good music dude. good shit.!!!!!!!

what have i been listening to!!! shit!!! this is gonna be LONG but u asked for it!!! a lot of morcheeba (big calm), de la soul (the grind date), sneaker pimps (bloodsport), tricky (maxinquaye) <- one of my all time faves, madvillainy, cibo matto (viva! la woman), yaeji (with a hammer), chai (wink)... summer to me is usually very hot & humid & sticky & dreamy to me (busted ac) so this is my laying on the floor staring at the fan vaguely dissociating rotation.

other than hip hop & trip hop-- dragon new warm mountain i believe in you by big thief!!!!!! somehow never listened to this one & i'm ill over it. & july flame (other all time fave) by laura veirs & central reservation by beth orton (<- huge recent discovery ill over her voice) & broken social scene self titled for my acoustic rotation...

heavier set: been getting BIG into creature feature they're literally so fun. i think u might like them tbh. american gothic is my fave so far!! summer is for shitty pop punk 2 me!! esp. when i actually have to Do Stuff & not lay on the floor melting. so. we the kings, fall out boy (cork tree & infinity on high), the cab, the academy is..., yellowcard, motion city soundtrack, alkaline trio :]

ALSO special mention 2 blue sky black death (slow burning lights, late nite cinema, noir) bc their instrumentals make me so insanely nostalgic & have been my writing soundtrack for the past month!!!!

[ficbrish]

Black Spot (aka Shenko Pirates) Chapter 8

"Sludge stuck on your fingers" [AO3]

Rating: Explicit, 18+ only

Tags: Prompt Fic, Alternate Universe - Pirate, Enemies to Lovers, Pirate Captain Shepard, Navy Admiral Kaidan Alenko, Renegade Shepard (Mass Effect), Renegade Kaidan Alenko, Biotic Shepard (Mass Effect), Some Plot, POV Alternating, Eventual Smut, Shameless Smut, Oral Sex, Rough Sex

[[TW/CW: PTSD, illness, cuts, wounds, physical assault, bullying, breakups, biotic trauma reminiscent of queer trauma]]

[Previous Chapter]

[All Chapters]

“Shepard!”

He shook her shoulders and shouted her name, but flickering eyelids were the highest level of consciousness she was currently capable of.

“Shepard!”

Kaidan stopped himself, realizing that disturbing her was probably the worst thing he could do. She should be still, and rest.

“Shepard,” he cried, “I’m so sorry.”

“I didn’t mean to cut that deep.”

Kaidan didn’t understand. His mind raced at the image of the woman lying still in front of him with red hair and all the color drained out of her skin. Her infected wound, mauve and then plum, screamed through his mind’s eye. He needed to take another look.

Her eyes flickered open, just barely, as he gingerly lifted her up. Moving her must have hurt her.

He didn’t notice the half-sob that bubbled up and escaped him. It was a pitiful noise at a terrifying sight.  A map laying out the path to death was clearly printed across Shepard’s shoulders.

If she lived, there was going to be a scar.

Kaidan settled her body back down even more gently than before. He saw some of the whites of her eyes as they flickered again. Moving must have hurt her.

“Nasty!” gleeful laughter danced cruelly along the group, “That’s gonna scar!”

Kaidan scratched his back. Then he took off his shirt, using it as a blanket to place over Shepard.

Fire and water. He should take care of that first.

*                       *                       *                       *                       *                       *

He spent his whole childhood romanticizing life on the sea. The ocean, and the ship, and the uniform—Exploration for the sake of it, or to prove he was worthy of someone he loved! He grew up ready for all of it.

Kaidan used to want to be exactly like the father who didn’t acknowledge him. He wore the Alliance Navy on his shoulders like it was the pride of the family. In a way it was. In another way it just meant getting invited to parties where he was told to stand in the shadows and draw no attention. In another way, it prepared him for life on the sea.

And there was life on the sea!

He left Humanity’s shores and ventured out as far as the Island-States of Sur’Kesh and the Thessian Empire. The Temperance was a proud ship that carried them safely across every ocean. It took Kaidan to locations he grew up dreaming about, like the Elcor port at the end of a vast desert, the mountains of Salarian matriarchs forged by deep sea volcanoes, and the Turian Hierarchy’s seaside capital city. It also taught him how other species took to the sea, like the Krogan navy with its towering ship-cities or the mythical Quarians with their underwater kingdoms and magical dive suits.

The air tasted like salt, and you were never alone.

When he met his first crewmates, Kaidan thought they’d always be part of his life. In a way, they still were; one could say they left their marks.

There was Stevens, who was named Paul, and Paulson, who was named Stephen. It was a big joke to call them Paul-Steven and Stephen-Paul, which eventually rounded down to P.S. and S.P., which, when they were drinking, often devolved into Piss & Shit. Kaidan was the least close with those two. It wasn’t personal. In fact, they didn’t seem to be close to anyone but each other. Everyone revered them though. They were always fun and made everyone laugh with jokes that weren’t really clever or funny.

The two he was closest with were Conrad and Blake, who were cousins both named Tim. They were like the angel and devil on his shoulders, always with him and always getting him into trouble. Kaidan didn’t really remember their faces, their features blurred over the years, but he could hear both of their laughs like they were still in the room.

Then there was him. The son of an aristocrat, he was a prince among the rest of them. Doverfort, but Kaidan only ever called him Henry, just like Henry never called him Alenko.

His eyes were so bright. They held the future in them.

Henry had the coin to bribe officers to keep them all together on the same shifts. Their only ambition was to stop time and stay exactly where they were. They’d do just enough work to not be a problem, and never anything good enough to risk a promotion. Then they’d always be together.

Just when life couldn’t be more perfect, Henry woke him up in the bunk one night.

When Kaidan opened his eyes, Henry gestured for him to be quiet with a finger in front of his full, angular lips. He could see Henry so clearly in the dark.

Henry led them through the ship in their nightclothes until he stopped in a dark corner, deep under the deck. A place that only the damp and the rats really bothered with. They could barely see. Any light from the moon didn’t reach them where they were. All they had were sparsely placed lanterns and the limits of the Human eye.

That’s why Kaidan thought it was just an accidental bumping-into at first. It took his mind just as much adjusting as his eyes to realize that what he felt was purposeful. Henry held his hand. Then Henry moved it between his legs where there was something hard and wonderful waiting to be grabbed.

A dam broke and they were all hands and tongues. Months of best friendship were really months of falling in love. This moment now confirmed it. Every touch confirmed it. Every kiss; every stroke; and then, oh god, every pulse that spilled them out of themselves and onto each other, onto fingers, onto mouths, fucking confirmed it.

They never told the others, and did something like it every other night.

But it wasn’t the only secret Kaidan asked Henry to keep.

“Only tell who you trust with your life. Once you say it, you can’t unsay it.”

His mother raised him to do better, but he was so eager to share it. Kaidan never knew for sure whether it was Henry, but the rumors about what he was started up around the same time.

“As if you needed any more reasons to want me dead,” fingers to his temples dripping with indigo stars.

Across the globe, everyone born with that particular affliction knew how to protect it. They grew up learning to temper the pain to hide the signs, dull their kind of body’s natural reflexes. It was the one constant across cultures, across species, across time. Unless you were Thessian, of course.

Those rumors were his first real taste of heartbreak; the end of the last chapter in his book of young love. So, it almost didn’t matter when they put him through the test. It didn’t hurt as much as Henry probably thought it did.

“There’s only one thing to do,” Blake stated that night, so bold and sure of himself; like he only had this moment to prove he was a grown man, “None of us are going to like it, but we won’t know unless we see it ourselves. And if Alenko’s truly got nothing to hide, we’ll just have to make it up to him.”

They cheered and toasted, and Kaidan cheered and toasted along with them. The supervising officer looked on with a combination of boredom and pride.

When everyone decided they were drunk enough, the knives and swords came out. Kaidan knew what was expected of him, so he took off his shirt and got on his knees.

“None of us are doing this because we want to,” Blake stated, marking his place as the leader, “I know you’d do the same if it were me.”

But would he? Kaidan would never know a life where their positions were switched, so he couldn’t say for sure. In his life, with this burden, the answer was no. But if there were another life without this burden, who could say?

For as much of a man as he was trying to be, Blake’s cut wasn’t that long or that deep. But it wouldn’t matter if it was. Kaidan’s father had prepared him for this. Prepared him for the sea. He could take incredible amounts of pain without giving himself up.

The cut bled in the shadows like it should; normal, Human. No hint of light spread over his body like an insidious halo. No glimmer whispered forward from the depth of his wound.

“Good so far,” Blake said, his voice shaking as he offered his knife to his cousin.

Conrad wanted to use a different blade, “This sword was my father’s. I trust it to bring the truth to light.”

He was always so dramatic. Kaidan rolled his eyes before it sliced him waist to hip.

“Nasty!”

“Careful, lads!” the supervising officer shouted, “You’re not here to kill him!”

“It wasn’t deep,” Conrad scoffed.

Next came Piss & Shit.

“Ooooh!”

“That’s gonna scar!”

The knives and names that followed blurred with unimportance. Kaidan thought it was over before he realized they truly saved the best for last.

Henry was the one who cut him deepest.

“Enough!”

If Henry wasn’t intended to be the last, the wound he made ensured it. Whether it was meant to be a kindness, a compensation, or a severance of some sort, Kaidan would never know. Maybe it was everything. Whatever intention it came out of, his slice left one hell of a scar.

*                       *                       *                       *                       *                       *

Her forehead was burning dangerously. Her skin felt like a steaming log the moment before it catches fire.

“Come here, Shepard,” Kaidan said apologetically as he knelt down to scoop her limp body into his arms.

She muttered incoherently as he walked down the beach, jostling her with every anxious, uneven step. He knew it had to hurt, but the sea was their best option. Maybe. It’s not like he knew much about what he was doing.

Kaidan brought her into the cold water, cradling her above its surface. He dipped and held most of her underneath it for her temperature to go down, only keeping her face above it. She shivered horribly. Kaidan couldn’t tell if he was shivering too, or just shaking. He couldn’t tell if he was helping or making it worse.

He brought her back up to their shelter, and washed her wound again with the rest of their clean water. She seemed to fall into a peaceful sleep. Maybe he did know what he was doing. Kaidan didn’t want to leave her side but needed to replenish their water, and now was the time if any.

Henry walked away from him; after that. Betrayal. The forest seemed to agree, its trees looming over him in judgment while its roots and vines did their best to trip him up. His surroundings never felt like a threat, but now he was truly alone, they took on another meaning.

Henry never came back though, and Kaidan was only walking away to return with something they depended on.

Kaidan wasn’t paying attention and smacked into a pile of mud. Thankfully, his landing was soft, but if there had been a rock, he could’ve broken something. And if he broke something… Well, he was all she had, and she was all he had. He needed to pay better attention. Any mistake would likely doom them both.

Pressure stood on his chest like an obstinate cat, but he had to keep going. It had its claws in his lungs.

He had to pick himself up.

He stood up and kept going.

But he didn’t understand. Why was it getting worse? Biotics were supposed to heal. Magic was supposed to bring miracles.

*                       *                       *                       *                       *                       *

“Clean up your own damn mess and take care of the lieutenant. That’s an order, boys.”

From the floor, he was brought to one of the Captain’s spare offices. The Temperance was a very big ship. He could recover there out of anyone’s way.

A makeshift hammock was tied up on hooks in the corners of the ceiling. It became soaked with Kaidan’s blood, mottled between dry and fresh. It was up to his comrades to do everything, and they always did the bare minimum. So, it was changed out and washed on their own sense of timing.

There was always one other boy in the room with him. It was their task to monitor his progress, to be there to witness nature or a freak of it. To make sure his back healed on its own in due time, without being sped up by any other process. Unnatural fluctuations.

Henry only ever came by the one time. Then he transferred to another ship.

“I didn’t mean to cut that deep,” his sobbing apology was the last moment Kaidan ever had of him.

Kaidan refused to turn around. He couldn’t look at Henry. He felt the cool cloth attending to his back as warm tears fell over it. He heard the apologies and all his professions of innocence.

But he never took one last look at his face.

After that, Kaidan was left with Conrad and Blake, who promised to make all this up to him and never did. He just had them and Piss & Shit.

When Kaidan’s skin finally closed up in a way that cleared his name, they were all put on different shifts. Kaidan threw himself fully into each task, leaving time and room for only the people he had to. Eventually, his work was noticed. Then his last name was recognized. He got a promotion after that, and another until he reached his current position. Until he was Alliance Admiral Kaidan Alenko.

That final crown came at a cost, and the only acceptable currency for it was Pirate Captain Estrella Shepard.

*                       *                       *                       *                       *                       *

Night was approaching and the colors in her wound were as vast and vivid as a sunset.

Lowering her temperature, painting drops of water on her lips, covering her when she shivered, clearing out the pus—None of his aid could leap faster than the infection could shuffle. She was at the point where every hour was critical.

He wept and kept up their fire. He didn’t know what else to do.

Kaidan sat there short of options, with only a miracle left.

There were some things that could never be taken back. Like his triumphant cry after wounding her. Like the cut across her shoulder. Across his back. Like Henry holding his hand in the dark. Like living for the space between her legs.

He’d take it all back if he could. All of it. Even the memories that glittered and flashed with a warmth deeper than his soul. He’d take it all back if it would leave him a void. If everything would just leave him the fuck alone.

“I’m sorry, Shepard.”

It was him or her, and he was all she had.

“Only tell who you trust with your life. Once you say it, you can’t unsay it.”

His mother raised him better than this. He’d rather die than share it. But she was the one dying, not him.

Kaidan stood up with a sigh deeper than the sea. He went over to her side.

He wasn’t crossing that line so much as crossing the border between life and death. It was now or never. Waiting any longer might take the decision away from him. He had to get to it before it went too far.

He brushed the hair away from her face.

He put a hand on her back. She winced, eyes flickering, as he placed it directly against her wound.

He closed his eyes.

Biotics were supposed to heal.

A dim, blue glow cast their shelter in low light.

A cleansing fire like the sun itself worked its way through her flesh. Time fell away from the wound, or seemed to.

Kaidan was so exhausted when she eventually opened her eyes that he almost shut his.

Not a flicker, but a true blink with thoughts behind it. Her voice was hoarse, “Kaidan?”

“It’s okay, Shepard. It’s gonna be okay.”

[All Chapters]

[jungle-angel]

“Honey We’re Shrunk!”: Chapter 2 (Rhett Abbott x Reader)

Summary: Royal was right, there was something weird about that hole in the west pasture. So what happens when Rhett, (Y/n), Amy and their kids wake up one morning and find that they’re only as big as a flea? Shit’s bound to ensue somewhere.  

Tagging: @sebsxphia​ and anyone else who wants to be tagged. 

Rhett blinked his eyes open but all he saw was darkness. His heart began a fierce, maddening race in his chest, drawing in a sharp breath upon discovering that he couldn’t see five feet in front of him. 

“(Y/n)?” he panicked. “(Y/n), where the hell did you go?” 

“Rhett?” you questioned. 

Rhett pawed around in the warm darkness, trying to feel for you or any sign that you were there. When his hand finally fell on your waist, the panic subsided somewhat. 

“The hell happened?” Rhett asked. 

“Power must’ve gone out in the middle of the night,” you mused. 

But it hadn’t been that hot out. There had been no thunderstorms rolling in at all, no wildfire warnings despite it being the height of wildfire season. 

Rhett reached up and when his hand fell on soft cotton threads, his eyes went a little wider than they had the night he had ventured to the hole with Royal. He was suddenly overcome with the nervous sensation, that something had gone awry during the night and that something very strange was happening. 

“You feel that?” he asked with a quiet nervousness. 

You reached up and felt it, the same soft cotton that Rhett’s bedsheets had been made of. You too were overcome with that same feeling, a mix of anxious fear that you had only felt the last time you had seen that infernal hole in the pasture. 

You and Rhett felt it all around, more so when you both fell to your hands and knees, crawling along the soft floor of cotton material to feel your way out of the darkness. At last you found the edge of something, the light of day muted only a little by the veil that divided the two of you and whatever lay beyond that. 

When you and Rhett lifted it, popping your heads out into the bright light of day, you two were astonished to find that you were still in his bed. But that strange feeling came back to you a thousand fold. the pillows where your heads once lay side by side, now seemed to be almost like mountains. They were much bigger than before, almost looming. 

“What the fuck happened last night?” Rhett wondered aloud.

“I don’t know but I have a feeling we’re not in Wabang anymore,” you joked nervously. 

You and Rhett turned right around, only to find that not only were the pillows  huge, but that Rhett’s bed was now the length of a full football field. The two of you were reeling at the sight, the sea of bedcovers and the drop-off at the foot of the bed made the hairs on the back of your neck stand straight up. 

“Oh my God,” Rhett panicked. 

“What?” you asked him. “Rhett, what’s wrong?” 

“I just realized,” he answered. “Where in the hell are the kids?” 

You felt a pang of fear welling up in you when you realized that the kids probably wouldn’t find either of you. 

“Here,” you told him. “We’ve gotta find a way off the bed.” 

The two of you hurried along that seemingly endless expanse of Rhett’s bed, fearful of what awaited you at the drop-off. Luckily for you, there was the laundry basket full of Rhett’s clean clothes. 

“Looks like we’ve got a way down,” he said. 

“Jump together?” 

Rhett gripped your hand in his, the gold from his wedding band flashing in the golden morning glow. With one nod, you leapt off with Rhett, the laundry basket coming up fast beneath the both of you until you hit a rumpled up bedsheet with a rather loud *PUFF!!*, the two of you sinking right into it, before popping back up again. 

“Holy shit!” Rhett exclaimed, shaking the feeling of impact out of his head. 

“You ok?” 

“Yeah, I’ve never done that before,” Rhett chuckled. 

You laughed yourself as he pulled you into his arms and kissed the side of your head, the two of you slipping through the large, oval holes in the basket and riding a loose thread to the rug below. 

Whether it was your small size or just the feeling of it being disorienting, it seemed to take longer to get from one end of the room to the other, stretching on and on until you and Rhett reached the door. Rounding the corner of the door frame seemed to be equally disorienting with the endtable and the other bedroom doors looming high above you like city skyscrapers. Not since you and Rhett had gone to Minneapolis had you felt so dizzy just by looking up. 

“Amy?!” Rhett called out. “Amy?!” 

“Daddy?” 

It was so faint that you barely heard it. You and Rhett hurried into her room where Amy was clinging to the end of the silky ribbon around the neck of her favorite stuffed bunny rabbit. Her soft, cuddly Native American rag doll was right next to it, a gift from Wes and Nora, your friends whose families had worked closely with the Abbotts since the ranch had been built. 

“Amy,” Rhett called up to her. “Let go sweetheart, I’ve got you.” 

With a frightened look, Amy let go and dropped right into Rhett’s arms with a small yelp before he carefully lowered her to the ground. “You ok doodlebug?” 

Amy nodded. “I want my bunny and my Tiger Lily.” 

“I know sweetheart,” Rhett said, placing an assuring kiss on her forehead. “We’ll get out of this mess, don’t worry.” 

“What happened?” Amy questioned. “Did God turn us little?” 

“I dunno sweet-pea,” Rhett answered. “C’mon, lets go find your brothers and your sister.” 

You two didn’t have to look too far or too long to find Hannah, Tatum and Tanner. They had met you in the hallway, the three of them a little bleary eyed and confused as to what was going on. 

“Mommy, why are we tiny?” Hannah asked. 

Neither of you knew the answer. You were just as confused as the kids, unsure as to what happened. You and Rhett were about to tell them what you were both thinking, when something startled the two of you. The ground shuddered a bit under your feet along with a loud scratching noise on the floors. 

“Dog! Dog!” Rhett blurted out suddenly, trying to keep calm. 

The six of you bolted for the closest room which had been Hannah’s, running as fast as you could for her dollhouse. Rhett picked Tatum right up off of his feet when he fell behind his twin, rushing with him towards the sanctuary of the dollhouse. Right up and in you climbed into the living room with all its miniature furniture and dark green walls, smelling of old wood and a slight hint of basement must. You, Rhett and the kids cautiously peered out of the dollhouse and out through the bedroom door to see Diesel, the family Rottweiler, sniffing his way down the hall, a squeak of a whine escaping him as he searched for Rhett. 

“You think he saw us?” you whispered. 

“I doubt it,” Rhett whispered back. “I don’t think he even knows we’re here.” 

Diesel whined again, barking loud enough to wake Royal. Your hands shot right to your ears as the bark echoed across the room to the six of you, followed by Royal’s irritated curses and shouts. 

“God Rhett, what are we gonna do?” you asked him.

“Only thing we can do darlin,” he answered. “Make the best of a strange situation.” 

[deancasbigbang]

Title: Ghost Town

Author: blue_morning

Artist: xfancyfranart

Rating: Teen

Pairings: Dean/Castiel, Gabe/Kali, mentions of past Dean/Lisa

Length: 25000

Warnings: no archive warnings apply

Tags: AU, only one bed, treasure hunt, ghost story

Posting Date: November 8, 2022

Summary: New York editor Castiel Novak is left the deed to a California mountain ghost town and its silver mine by his great uncle Uriel. Ignoring the worsening weather, he drives up into the mountains to check out this unusual inheritance, calling the caretaker of the ghost town, Dean Winchester, on the way and asking him to meet him there. Dean rescues Cas after his car goes off the road in a late-spring snow storm, and they end up having to stay at the roadhouse in the ghost town, snowed in by the storm. Antagonism turns to attraction as they try to figure out the clues left by Uriel to a treasure hidden in the town while having to sleep together for warmth. Unbeknownst to them, they're being watched by someone from the town's past, someone trying to play matchmaker.

Excerpt: Dean stretched and said, “I better go get the air mattress and bring it out here by the fire. I only have one sleeping bag, but I can unzip it so we can use it as a blanket.” “We? What do you mean we? There’s only one bed? You’ve got to be kidding me.” Cas said, disbelief thick in his voice. “We aren’t exactly swimming in choices here. It’s gonna get colder, even by the fireplace. There are no beds here, no mattresses or box springs, no couches to sleep on. We have a double sized air mattress, a sleeping bag, a fire, and some body heat to keep us warm until tomorrow. You’re not going to be a pussy about this are you? You’re safe, for fuck’s sake. You’re not even my type. Your virtue is safe with me.” Shit. Cas picked up his bottle and took a sip of water he didn’t want to give himself time to think, as Dean left the room again. Sharing a bed with Dean was kind of scary. The thought of being close to Dean’s warm body under the covers, the thought of those strong arms being close enough to wrap around him, those lips close enough to roll over and kiss. Nope, this was a very bad idea. Very bad. He’d find somewhere else to sleep.  As if to drive home how cold it was in the roadhouse, a log shifted in the fireplace and fell, releasing a shower of sparks into the room. The heat was fading, so Cas went over and put another log onto the flames. The pile of logs was getting smaller. Footsteps alerted him to Dean’s reappearance. He was carrying a big black duffel that he put on the floor and unzipped, dumping out the air mattress and a blue sleeping bag. Dean shook the mattress open by the work light. He plugged the pump into the extension cord that snaked into the room from the generator and in a few minutes the mattress was full. He carried it over and laid it out on the dusty floorboards in front of the fireplace, just out of ember range, covering it with the blue sleeping bag unzipped to make a blanket. It did not look big enough for both of them, Cas thought. “You can fold up your suit jacket to use as a pillow,” Dean said. “I recommend you keep your clothes on for warmth.” “As if I’d strip down to share a bed with you.” Cas was getting pissy again. Dean’s grin was wicked, “It’s been known to happen in the past.” Dean took off his boots and folded his parka into a pillow-shaped lump and put it down at the head of the makeshift bed. He lay down on the mattress and flipped the sleeping bag away from the other side of the bed, which he then patted invitingly. “Get in before you get any colder.”

DCBB 2022 Posting Schedule

[nebulousfishgills]

Pride OC Asks!

For Emily: 2, 5, 9, 11, 13 (no, having two romantic interests with the same face does not count)

Also 17, 19, and 20

Thanks for the ask (again), my friend! Let's see what we have here...

13) Would your OC be open to a poly relationship? Why or why not?

2) What is your OCs orientation? Do they have opinions about it?

I put a bit of thought into Emily's orientation, and I think I came to the conclusion that she was Demiromantic Bisexual. As a kid Emily had crushes on girls, but she squashed that part of herself down so fucking fast and has been repressing it ever since. Hawkins Lab barely gave her the chance to form her romance with Henry and I highly doubt anybody's gonna educate her on same-sex attractions. And that full fledged romance with Henry came after forming that deep emotional connection and she hates almost everyone else...

...Almost.

I've made the joke before that when it came to her relationship with Caius, Emily went on a "Revenge Sex to Marriage Speedrunning Challenge." I think there's room for a grey area here in general. But after Emily gets more comfortable with the Volturi, she feels more comfortable with her own attractions. She seduces women to feed on, she's probably done at least something with Heidi, among other things. In fact I wrote a little snippet of a scene not intended for a fic that illustrates a scene where Emily admits her orientation to Caius in a weird way that befits them completely:

Okay, setting the scene, it's not long after Emily is turned. Caius is sharing with her his painting hobby, taking her through a secret gallery/storage room for some of his works-

"I never really took you for someone who likes to paint." Emily mused, taking her time looking from painting to painting and marveling at the detail in each one. "Well, maybe painting with the proverbial blood of your enemies, but not... you know."

"When one is immortal, one must find some way to pass the time... aside from the proverbial bloodshed, of course." Caius replied. Emily wandered around the room, taking in paintings ranging from landscapes to groups to individual people. Some Emily recognized, others she didn't. She paused in front of a few paintings stacked against the wall, none of them framed so she could see the canvas nailed to the structural wood. She started leafing through them in much the same way Eddie used to leaf through vinyl records at the music shop they sometimes frequented.

It looked like more of the same: a snowcapped mountain range, a desert sunset, two paintings that looked like Italian countrysides, and--

"Ho-ly shit." Emily whispered, emphasizing the syllables as she stared with wide eyes at a painting further back in the stack. She slid it out from its spot delicately. It wasn't as big as some of the others, but wide enough that Emily needed both hands to hold it.

By this point, Caius had noticed what she was doing, at first wondering which painting had captured her interest. As he got closer, he realized which one she was holding, however. If he could still blush, he would have.

"I feel the need to ask, but I think I know the answer. It's her, isn't it?" Emily said, not meeting Caius' gaze. He nodded, his lips glued shut. It was an old painting of Athenodora. Not grievous on its own, of course, but she was painted in what Emily could only describe as 'tastefully nude.' The ashy-blonde woman lay reclined on a chaise with a sultry expression, a rose colored blanket covering any sensitive areas, although not much was left to the imagination.

"Not exactly my ideal way of you seeing her for the first time." Caius said quickly.

"I get it, that's for your eyes." Emily slid the painting back in its spot. "Although I completely get it now. I'd be depressed too if I lost someone who looked like *that.* Holy hell, I'd happily be in that sandwich... Is that gross, talking about a dead woman like that?"

"Beg pardon?" Caius seemed lost. Not offended, just... thrown off. Emily smiled with an eye roll.

"How do I put this in terms you'll understand?" Emily raised one arm with curled fingers, resting her elbow on the other arm resting against her stomach parallel to the floor. She curled her lip up and spoke in a phony accent. "I've been known to enjoy the visage of a beautiful woman from time to time.

She dropped the act before continuing.

"Or, as we say in the modern era. I have eyes, girls are pretty."

Caius stared at her for a moment, digesting what she was telling him. Finally, a smile broke out along his face before he laughed.

"Another thing that we share in common with one another. It's truly a shame; I'm sure Dora would have loved you." Caius looked at the painting, still visible since Emily hadn't pushed the ones in front of it back. The signature smirk of his curled on his lips, a tell that he was about to say something lewd. "Although I suppose that now I have to paint your likeness in such a way."

Emily snorted.

Basically the bitch is a horribly repressed bisexual.

5) How did you figure out your OC's identity?

Trial and error, ultimately. When I first conceptualized Emily I joked that her sexuality was just Henry since as far as I knew he was the only person she fully tolerated, let alone would let herself fall in love with... which, again, got more literal/ironic as time passed but everyone knows that story.

But I'm bisexual myself and honestly I genuinely can't help but pass that onto my characters because it opens up new avenues. But I wanted Emily's orientation to reflect that original low tolerance for anything that's not Henry-Shaped, so I added Demiromantic since (clearly) she can feel attraction to someone quickly but it takes more effort and a much deeper connection for her to form a long-term bond.

9) Are there cultural or lore-specific aspects to their identity?

As I mentioned, the Demiromantic label comes from her Extremely Specific Tastes In Men, which came from her own distaste for people and what I could call the "culture" of the lab setting they grew up in. Naturally the social culture of the time tags on the "Repressed" side to Emily's bisexuality since even if she wasn't stuck in a lab for twenty years, she was born in 1949, no way in hell her attraction to women is nurtured except in extremely specific situations.

11) Is your OC open about their identity? Are they more low-key or blunt about it? Why or why not?

This is my usual answer, but it really depends on where in Emily's timeline(s) we are. As a child, no, even if she could recognize she had a crush on a girl in St. Valentina's (Lucy Harris). Most cases in the lab, no, that conversation can't even come close to happening.

In private with Henry in the lab, maybe. Once she fully and completely trusts him, I think she'd admit to feeling things for girls (I could even see her saying she thinks one of the nurses is pretty) which I think Henry would understand because we can pretty reasonably assume he himself is some flavor of queer.

With Eddie, again, that's a hard maybe. She'll never completely trust him so the jury's out on if she'd tell him... but I think Eddie knows regardless of what she says or not. Again, likely a takes one to know one situation, but I think he's seen her flirt with female NPCs in D&D campaigns, usually for information, but regardless of the reason, she chose to flirt.

As a soul sucking demon in the Upside-Down (wings, vines, etc), absolutely, she is using her wiles to claim any soul she can find, including women. I've always headcanoned that at some point in time, Robin had a small crush on her from a distance that Emily probably would exploit if Robin ever came into her clutches.

And, again, when Emily is a vampire she's as open as possible with it.

How she talks about it really depends on who she's telling this to and when. She probably skittered around the topic with Henry but would probably kiss a woman in front of Eddie to prove a point.

Ha ha, very funny. In that way, no, Emily would be too unsettled by that (as would I)

...but it's funny you should mention that because I just so happen to have just posted this. I had this drafted months ago and finally finished it.

I mentioned "extremely specific situations" in question 9 and this is one of them. Go nuts.

17) Do you share your identity with any of your OCs?

Most of my OCs are bi like I am. Keira isn't, I always just perceived her as straight. She's got her own shit to deal with. If we wanna include self insert RPG/MMO game characters, my main Star Wars: The Old Republic character, Irinerys, I always headcanoned as a lesbian. Unfortunately the game doesn't let female player characters flirt with female NPCs so that doesn't really go anywhere... she does flirt with men if it could benefit her though. Oh, and technically it's a given, but my college friends and I play a TTRPG called Thirsty Sword Lesbians and my character's, you know, a lesbian. Her name is Marlina Nerys.

19) Do you have preferences about depicting homo/transphobia in your stories? What, and why? Does it vary by story?

Nine times out of ten, any homophobia is just kind of implied in my fics. Like, yeah, we can reasonably assume why Emily doesn't blatantly admit to this girl that she has a crush on her beyond the other reasons like Emily being perceived as a freak or even a witch. Once in a while I might mention it if I think the situation calls for it, but that's rare.

20) Have your OCs helped you in self discovery? How?

I mean... not severely. Usually I give my OCs my orientation rather than me discovering mine through them. I've been comfortable and open with my sexuality for a few years now and it feels like it's the right "setting" for me. Most of my own sexuality discovery came from sources outside of my OCs specifically.

Unrelated, but shoutout to my college friends (none of them cis) insisting I was simply too cool to simply be cisgender and unanimously and very quickly agreeing my gender was MILF since I just have Mom Energy (yes I was typecast as the Mom Character/Figure many times) even if there's a low chance I'll want kids in the future.

I guess you could connect that to the fact that all of my main OCs have kids at some point, making them all milfs (Olivia has two children with Loki, Keira has Sophia with Norman, and Emily as of now is Eleven's biological mother with Henry being the father even if she didn't canonically carry Eleven).

***

God I LOVE answering any and all questions about my OCs. Thanks!

[winterpower98]

Oh i will.

Not soon after what wukong said, and Ma was already gone.

"it's his problem now."

Wukong commented, laughing under his breath, but the laugh suddenly turned into tears again. He's not ready, he's- he hates himself just because he let the lady bone demon lay an hand on Ma. but he couldn't sleep yet, unless his body decides to shut down and make him pass out. which won't take long honestly!

but what about Macaque and Ma?

Oh well, macaque just took some noodles from pigsy- well. He got forced to. he was actually trying to leave.

He wasn't ready yet, he couldn't see Ma yet. She- she died and now she's back?!

..like he did.

it's- it's hard to say but- what if she won't recognize him? What if- what if Ma will hate him for what he had become?

For what wukong made him become.

He could maybe turn Ma agains—

"MACAQUE!"

the yellow monkey screamed, running towards the black macaque before dragging him into a big hug.

she was shorter than macaque but she still manages to lift him up with no problems.

"oh- oh Mac there you are! I missed you so much! did you do what i asked you to before i fell asleep?? Did you proposed to wukong?!"

she asked excitedly, but also glad macaque was here with her.

"uh—"

the macaque couldn't get a word out, he was frozen in shock while he let the noodles fall on the floor.

he could feel his shadow bounce and giggle, of course it was happy to know that Ma was back and it wasn't some twisted shit the lady bone demon did.

"m-ma- i-"

"you big dummy what the hell happened?"

Ma asked, maybe the demon monkey knows the answer. Or- can answer truthfully unlike the king, as she puts down the black macaque, looking at him with a big smile.

"wh- you- you were supposed to be dead— you're not- how-"

The demon could feel tears coming in with panic raising up to his chest. What if her time here is limited?? What if it's really just some stupid game the lady bone demon pulled?!

"dead? What are you talking about i just- fell asleep!"

"no-no-no- Ma. Ma you died. You- you were sick and you died-"

he can't believe he couldn't even hold some tears.

he was now sobbing in front of Ma- he just can't believe he's back- how the hell did wukong remained so calm!?

But Ma wasn't answering, she was just watching macaque sobs in silent in front of her.

She must be- dreaming or she really slept for a long time for people to think she was dead!

She's so confused.

macaque feels so pathetic. Crying is already stupid, crying in front of the person you see as a mother figure? Even worse.

but two hands started holding macaque cheeks, wiping away gently the tears.

"it's- hey..i know this is confusing for both of us..but- isn't it great that I'm finally here? And not in bed ill because of the smoke of the fire?"

She comforted macaque at the best she could with the informations she had gathered.

Both with macaque and wukong.

"and- and wukong said flower fruit mountain is okay now! Everyone should be okay so that means that he'll stay too right? He- we can finally be at peace again if heaven will leave us alone."

It's what everyone hoped to get once wukong was done with his stupid tantrum towards heaven unfair treatment.

"he- wukong—.."

He frowned, if only she knew.

"he's a traitor. He's nothing but as greedy and selfish as heaven."

He stated with nothing but hatred in his tone.

"he- he killed me and- dared to forget about me— he dared to forget about his people! He's nothing but some stupid- demon that uses people only when they are useful!"

He raised his voice, but not too loud for his own ears and so nobody could hear them.

Sun Wukong was not peaches anymore for Macaque, not after what he has done- not after he chosed that- that monk instead of his friend!

And his stupid excuse? Oh he needed to change! Oh he needed to be better because he wasn't a good person!

good person his ass! He was the best person in the world, with a fantastic personality and cheerful attitude- that MONK is what made him change into something- into something macaque dosen't even know or recognize.

This is what happens when you don't have full context.

Ma was left speechless, did they had a big fight? Why couldn't anyone tell her? What has happened when she was gone?!

"macaque i-.."

Dude I'm writing a whole fanfiction I'm gonna end up writing this on AO3 too HAJOAA

Part 4(?)

My guy, I think it might be easier for you to post this on AO3, at least you don't have a word limit there XD

Which is good because I'm pretty sure Ma is about quite a few words with both monkeys

[wormstacheangel]

Suptober Day 2: No Vacancy

wc: 1.1k tags: mutual pining, my beloved <3

It’s all the same thing. Motel after motel, they all said the same thing, no vacancy. Over and over, they mocked the too-tired hunters who just wanted a bed, any bed at the moment. Then, finally, Dean didn’t care anymore. He just wanted somewhere to rest his head that wasn’t his overly cramped car.

“Dean, just pull into the hotel.” Sam pointed at the big building that stood lakeside with a beautiful mountain view.

“Dude, even with Charlie’s magical card, I know it’s gonna be too much.” Dean talked while pulling into the hotel parking lot. Dean stopped out front and gave his wallet to Sam, “Just get whatever they have available. The kid’s neck is gonna hurt if he keeps sleeping like that.”

Dean motions to the back seat, where Jack sleeps on Cas’s shoulder.

“Got it.” Sam carefully closed the door behind him to make sure not to wake him before he headed inside.

The car was silent for a moment before Cas asked, “The lake looks beautiful. Maybe I’ll take a walk while you all rest.”

“Just don’t go exploding in it.” Dean tried to joke, but it came out too bitter, and he winced away from Cas’s gaze in the rearview mirror.

“I was just thinking of a nice stroll, actually. Maybe skip some stones if I get really bored waiting for you to wake up.” Cas kept his voice even, casual, and Dean was thankful. “But I’ll happily wait. For you.”

Dean looked back at the mirror, only for Cas to look away suddenly.

Cas cleared his throat, his head turning to hide his face into Jack’s sweat-covered hair. “To wake up. I’ll wait for you to wake up.”

Dean felt the warmth grow in his chest as the hope crumbled again. “Yeah. Yeah, course.”

Silence filled the cabin. The only noise was Dean’s constant finger drumming and muffled noise around them. So when Dean saw Sam walk back, giving them a thumbs-up, he felt relief—watching his brother get back in the car and point at where they should park.

“They only gave us one room, but it has two queens and a pullout couch.” They walked back to the hotel, duffle bags swung over their shoulders, while Sam explained the gist. “Figured we give one bed to Jack, and we can play for the other.”

“I can take the couch.” Jack insisted, but Dean waved his words away.

“No way. You used way too much mojo last hunt. You need the rest.” So they all cramped up the elevator and headed to the fifth floor. Sam apparently got them a nice view. It was the only room available apparently, coincidentally it was also really expensive. “I’ll take the couch.”

“No arguments here.” Sam was the first one out of the elevator, and they all followed him until they got to their room. “Wow.”

Dean whistled. “Shit. We should do hotels more often.”

“It actually smells clean,” Cas commented in disbelief--the brothers both took a deep inhale and gave each other an approving glace--while Jack pushed ahead to fall into one of the beds.

“Dude, it has a small kitchen.” Sam dropped his stuff on the other bed next to Jack before gently patting Jack’s leg. “Take a shower first. You’ll feel better.”

Dean walked over to the couch and quickly took out to the bed as Cas and Sam tried to convince Jack to shower. Dean didn’t look up as he took out his pajamas. He simply cleared his throat to get the kid’s attention before saying, “Jack. Shower. Go.”

Jack groaned, kicking his legs off the bed, and headed to the bathroom. Dean gave his brother and Cas a smug look while they rolled their eyes back at him.

They were all soon clean and tucked into bed. Even the damn couch mattress was better than any motel. And yet, Dean didn’t sleep.

He thought he was going to pass out as soon as his head hit the pillow but instead, Instead, he felt like he finally got the energy to drive them the rest of the night home. There was no noise to keeping him awake or an annoying, blinking light in his eyes. Nope. This is the most comfortable he has been in days, yet all he can think about is Cas sitting on the balcony, reading a book under the moonlight.

Dean could see the angel from where he lay in bed and didn’t want to miss the exciting moment when Cas licked his finger to turn a page. A habit he picked up from God knows where and while Dean would have found it disgusting if anyone else had done that, he was mesmerized by the way Cas’s tongue poked out to wet his finger.

In the glowing moonlight, Dean thought he could find the courage to say something. Anything.

“Staring is rude.” Cas’s voice is low, and yet it still made Dean jump out of his skin. “Or so I have been told.”

He didn’t look up from his book, and yet Dean could hear the amusement in his voice. Cas was teasing him.

Dean got up from his cocoon of blankets-- course, they got extras-- and headed outside to join the wide awake angel.

“Thought you were gonna take a walk.” Dean leaned against the door frame with his hands shoved into his sweatpants pockets. Watching as Cas looked up from his book with a small smile.

“I may still do that. But I also wanted to enjoy the view.” Cas motioned towards the mountains and the lake that shinned with the moon’s glow. He shut his book, watching Dean as he moved closer to the balcony but didn’t dare go to the edge. It was quiet again, but this time it was comfortable.

“I also figured,” Cas got up from his seat to join Dean. He was copying his stance while brushing their arms together. “That maybe you would be a little worried if I left. But I could be wrong.”

Dean could feel the warmth run up his face because he wasn’t wrong, Cas and lakes were never a good combination. But, instead of answering, Dean gently nudged Cas with his elbow. Not looking at him while stepping a little closer. It was cold out there; it made sense to huddle up.

They stood looking at the view for a while until Cas wrapped his coat around Dean’s shoulders. Until Dean felt his friend supported his whole body weight. Until Dean felt arms practically carry him inside, holding him until morning came. Hearing whispers as fingers gently touch his skin. So carefully like he does when he flips a page of his favorite book.

“You’re worth waiting for.” Dean wasn’t sure if he felt lips on his head, but he tugged the blanket of warmth closer. “Go to sleep, Dean. I’ll be here when you wake.”

His hands didn’t loosen their grip. Knowing damn well, this hotel was worth every penny if he finally got to sleep like this.

[bonnymori]

01 | 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐦𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫... 𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭?!

chapter 01 / chapter 02 / chapter 03

Word count: 1250+

Synopsis: During a particularly boring afternoon, a muscly man with a purple worm around his shoulders has made his way onto your house- literally, smashing through your window- and, subconciously, onto your life.

Contents/Warnings: (1) Fushiguro Toji x gn!Reader, theres also Gojo cat as your cat!! (2) Reader finds Toji's worm cute; i'm sorry if you don't just skip that part (3) There's some cursing but I promise next chapter won't

A/N: I have a lot of drafts and this is the most normal looking I've got... so let's post it first ehehehhsjhd- Also, I'm remaking the structure of the posts (Megumi's one-shot is updated with the very same visual as this!), hope it looks less unorganized! Thank you for reading <3

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To think you'd let such a stranger barge into your apartment- actually, you would never imagine such a comeup. But here are we.

Right in front of you there is a man. Raven locks, black shirt, white baggy pants - is that a purple... gut, intestine thing around his chest? - and a pair of imacculate ballet shoes on his feet. The dude is knocked out cold, it seems that he barely made it through your window, only to come head first against your floor tiles. Now you have drops of blood all over the floor and counter- and, a bleeding man.

You can't tell which task will be more grueling to solve.

Because you have a working brain, of course the man comes first. No matter if your window is broken, and a handfull of glass shards adorn your countertops. And now you've accidentally stepped upon one- just then you realise the man's back must be feeling like a bed of thors- or shards, over being dragged through the floor.

So you throw his arms - which you notice, has a few cuts here and there - over your shoulders, and picks him up in a one-person carry; barely, his torso is against yours and legs are dangling on the floor, this guy must weigh the double you do. It feels like you're carrying a fridge.

From your peripheral, you can see Satoru paddle to the kitchen's doorframe, probably wondering if you were preparing a meal for him or whatever.

"I'll be back in a moment, Ru." He meows a reply, dragging his mountain of fluff back to your couch- you're certain he's taking your spot, while it's still warm.

Thankfully, it doesn't take long for you to reach the bathroom, dropping the man leisurely upon your fluffy mat. Beside all the cuts, the man has already a plentiful share of permanent scars, and none are of your business, you don't care. It's like cleaning and stitching up a old doll full of tears, by the way you're able to maneuver his limbs; you're glad he's still unconscious.

But the thing around his shoulders is not.

In a blink of eye, it jumps from his shoulder to yours, attaching itself to your back and nestling upon your shoulder. When you glance down at it, it feels like a weird looking parrot.

"Hi?" You ask, it looks back at you. "Are you like, his pet or something?" It doesn't talk, just gazes at you through half lidded eyes; so you give up on short talking it, not knowing what you expected yourself. "Let's go finish my movie then!"

You join Satoru on the couch, the cat rapidly making room on your comfortable lap; and the man forgotten, snoring soundly on your bathroom.

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A sequel and half movie later, you hear a loud thud coming from the kitchen. Even though you're aware there's a strange in your house- the sudden sound still naturaly jolts you out of your seat.

"UGH- Goddamn it-" Next comes a colorful list of slurs; a sigh makes way out of your mouth.

You round the corner, pointing a accusing finger to the strange man, who's laying on your floor again. "No cussing on my house."

"Why didn't you even clean this floor, it's loaded with glass shards."

"I wanted to finish my movie afternoon before doing so. Besides, what made you smash through there," You point to the ruined window. "to here." Then, to the kitchen floor. And finally, motioning to your whole apartment.

That was a interesting question, he expected a "Who are you?" or "I'm calling the cops!" call.

"I don't need to explain you shit."

"Think of it as an retribution, since I patched you up, answer my question."

"No."

"That, or you'll pay for my window."

A sigh. "Fine. I was being chased."

"You're a criminal, then?" You questioned.

"Yes." A devilish grin made its way to his face, showing canines and stretching the small scar on the corner of his mouth.

"Alright, just don't get me involved then."

Toji is familiar to that sort of outcome. Sometimes people man up, people weaker than him. But he knows he's intimidating, and he absolutely loves to play with the attitude of those who challenge him.

Forgetting the shart carving on the sole of his feet, he walks up to you efortlessly, towering over your frame.

"Well, are you not scared to have a criminal inside your house?"

"No, I'm not defenseless. And, you're bleeding. Again."

"Shit." Toji sits down close to the wall where it's safe, twisting his leg to bring the injured foot up to his face. He easily plucks the reddened shart between thick digits, and throws it far away from him.

Meanwhile, you bring your first-aid kit up to him, setting it down near.

"Here, use this."

"..."

"I'll do it for you then." You wasted no time, reaching for the line and thread. Once everything was stitched, you wrap a bandage around his foot, then pats it finished. "What's your name?"

"Fushiguro Toji."

"I'm L/N Y/N, lost all your bite huh?" You tease.

Casually ignored. "Why do you have a first-aid kit? Most people don't have it on their houses."

"I practice muay thai, it's useful both for me and you."

"Right. Have you seen my worm?"

"Well, make yourself at home, until your feet gets better. And yeah, your worm jumped at me like those surprise music boxes, and now it's on the couch with my cat. It's been watching movies with us."

He was beyond curious, because the worm didn't have a thinking mind nor knew what even meant to watch something. Toji limped to the doorframe, eyes widening once he spotted the worm wrapped snuggly around your very fluffy cat.

"That's some cute shit."

"The worm is gross."

"I think it looks cute."

"You're batshit crazy."

You stretched your limbs. "Whatever, let's waste some more time watching TV."

Toji sat down - mind you, taking a handful of space you were not content with - once you picked up "both" animals to make room. He thinks you're weird, seeing the fact you didn't question what the hell was that giant-purple-moving worm, and for letting in a random guy inside your house. You do fight a martial art, though, but most people wouldn't have such confidence on him - a dude build like a truck.

There's some survival show playing in the background, yet he's beyond bored watching it, so he settles in questioning your questionable manners.

"How are you so chill about everything?"

"Oh well," You seemed focused on the show, surprisement showing itself once you turn to him. "I see these things in a daily basis, so it's really no big deal after a while."

"Curses?"

"Yep."

"You-"

"I'm going to clean the kitchen. Also, I ask you once the skies darken, to leave my house."

"..."

"Is there a problem?"

"I got no hideout out there."

"Suuure you don't." You sighed. "Alright, the couch is your best option; if I hear rumbles at night, or if you steal me or something, I'll be the one chasing you."

"Right, have fun cleaning the blood stained kitchen."

"The audacity." You left with a smirk, shaking your head.

Although you're weird, so far, you're also the most interesting individual Toji has come up to par with; something in this house prickles at his skin to stay. Plus, the fluffy cat laying on his lap is very cute aswell.

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[luci-in-trenchcoats]

If I Fell For You (Part 7) - Take It Slow

Summary: Jensen takes the reader and the kids for a day on the slopes but a minor accident has Jensen nervous about their relationship. As Jensen jumps into filming more, he brings home a little surprise for the reader and kids and decides what he really wants going forward...

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x nanny!reader

Word Count: 3,700ish

Warnings: language, death of a spouse, mild injury, intruding rabbits

A/N: Enjoy!

________

“Good morning, munchkins,” you said the next day after an unexpected morning shower with Jensen. He’d gotten dressed and had them ready to go for the day by the time you were even drying off.

“Dad says he has a surprise for us today,” said JJ, slurping up her bowl of cereal.

“Oh really?” you asked.

“Yes really,” he said, setting a bowl of cereal and cup of coffee down at your spot, kissing your cheek. “Even Y/N’s don’t get to know. Now eat up everybody. I want to get on the road by ten.”

You helped put away the dishes in the dishwasher after breakfast, crossing your arms and leaning against the counter.

“What’s the surprise, Jackles?” you asked. He grinned and bopped your nose. “Gonna need another shower later?”

“Oh you liked that?” he smirked, pressing his hands on the counter edge on both sides of you. 

“You’re cute with wet hair,” you said.

“Well, since I will need your help a bit with wrangling the three munchkins...I think you’ll just have to find out when we get there,” he chuckled. He kissed your cheek and you groaned. “I’m taking you guys snowboarding today.”

“Really?” you asked.

“Yeah. That or skiing. The kids have a little ski class and I figured maybe you and me could hit the slopes for an hour before we meet back up with them.”

“Uh, I have zero idea of how to ski. Or snowboard.”

“I know. I’m gonna teach you a few basics. Fun? Not fun?” he asked, resting his hands down on your hips.

“I will try my best...and probably end up with a sore butt,” you said.

“I got faith in you. We’ll take it real slow. You’ll get the hang of it real quick.”

“Daddy, I made a snowman,” said Zeppelin when Jensen had finished renting out skis for everyone an hour later. 

“I see honey. He looks very nice,” said Jensen. “Alright. Let’s get helmets on and get out there guys.”

Fifteen minutes later Zeppelin was holding onto your hand and leg, absolutely refusing to leave your side.

“Don’t you want to go play with your sisters?” you asked. He shook his head and Jensen sighed. “Why don’t I stay with the kids for the hour and you can get some actual going down the mountain in? I’m sure I can pick up whatever I need to learn watching them.”

“Are you sure?” asked Jensen. “I don’t mean to ditch and run.”

“I want to hang with Zepp anyways,” you said while you looked down. “What do you think? Sound good to you?”

He nodded and you glanced back at Jensen.

“You’re gonna have more fun not dragging me around anyways. We’ll see you in one hour, okay?” you asked. You kissed his cheek and smiled. “You can still teach me later, okay?”

“Alright, alright. I’ll see you guys real soon.”

“JJ you’re a natural!” beamed Jensen when you met back up with him. She was very good and the twins...well you gave up on them after a bit and simply let them run around the snow chasing one another. 

“Hey!” someone up the hill shouted. You spun around and saw some guy on a snowboard barreling straight for where the twins were sat near the edge of the slope. You jumped in front of them, the guy slamming straight into you but thankfully you were both able to go off to the right of them. You tumbled together for a minute before he slid away a few feet groaning. 

“Ow,” you said, rolling to your back and staring up at the sky. 

“You okay?” asked the guy with a grunt.

“I think so. You?” you breathed out.

“Same.” He made some kind of unclicking sound and then he crawled over, looking down at you. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t really learn the stop part yet.”

“Y/N, honey,” said Jensen, suddenly kneeling down beside you. “Are you hurt?”

“Feel like I got hit by a train,” you said, trying to sit up. You hissed and lay back down, hearing a pair of ski’s stop nearby. “My back hurts.”

“What’s your name?” asked a guy in a bright red coat with a backpack on as he stopped at you on the ground.

“Y/N,” you said. 

“Unit two, possible back injury on southwest side of hill slope. Need the backboard,” said the guy into a radio before he was talking to the other man.

“Daddy,” said Arrow, tugging on Jensen’s sleeve. She had tears in her eyes and you gave her a smile.

“I’m fine, sweetie. Just fell down too hard. Daddy’s gonna keep playing with you guys for a few more minutes,” you said.

“Y/N,” he said quietly.

“They’re scared,” you whispered. “Go. I think my back is just scraped up, I promise. Go on. Meet up with me wherever they take me in a few minutes.”

“She’ll be at the medical station,” said the paramedic. Jensen shot the guy that’d slammed into you a dirty look but he went back over to the kids and you gave them a wave. “Can you describe your back pain?”

“It’s sore. I can move. It’s more like it just hurts, kinda dull like,” you said. 

“Alright. We’ll get you taken care of.”

Thirty Minutes Later

“Hey,” said Jensen as you struggled to pull your thermal leggings back up. “Let me help.”

“Thanks,” you said, holding his shoulders as he hiked them up your legs. 

“The kids could have gotten really hurt if you hadn’t jumped in like that,” he said, pulling them up over your hips. His hand grazed over the hot pack stuck on your skin and you nodded. “You okay?”

“It’s just a few bad bruises. The other guy broke his nose.”

“I could have broke his nose,” he said, tugging your hoodie down over you. 

“It was an accident,” you said. “Kids okay?”

“They got a little upset for a second but they’re fine. They want to be with you though and I’m inclined to cut today short,” he said. 

“Counter offer,” you said, sitting down on the bed and glancing at your boots. He knelt down and tugged one up, zipping it up before doing the other. “We grab lunch and go sledding on the kiddie hill afterwards.”

“We’ll get lunch and then go home,” he said, folding up your snow pants.

“Come on. I’m-”

“You’re hurt. You got bruises all over and sledding’s just gonna hurt you.”

“Jensen,” you said, standing and picking up your coat. “Take a deep breath.”

“I’m-”

“Jensen.” He frowned but did it, cocking his head at you. “Again.”

He did it a few times, looking down when he’d finished. You rubbed his arm and he nodded.

“I’m okay. Not going anywhere,” you said. 

“He hit you so fucking hard.”

“I know but I’m tougher than I look. Buy me some hot chocolate, make me feel better,” you said. 

“You didn’t hesitate to step in you know.”

“Well there wasn’t really time to pick them up or move them. I figured tackling the guy off to the side was the best bet.”

“That’s not what I’m saying.”

“I know it’s not. But it’s not a big deal and I think we should come back next weekend so you and JJ can ski and me and the twins will go sledding. Deal?”

“Okay.”

“Maybe we can make a snowman when we get home.” You shrugged back into your jacket, Jensen fixing your hair. He zipped you up and took another deep breath, resting his hands on your shoulders. “It’s okay if you got scared. It’s nice knowing you care.”

“I don’t know if I’d survive two horrible…” he said.

“Yes you would. You have three very important reasons to.”

“You didn’t see the shit show I was before you.”

“Somehow you survived that without me. You could survive it without me again too,” you said.

“Yeah well, I don’t want to.” You smiled softly and he rested his forehead against your own.

“Well let’s plan on us having relatively boring normal lives then where we die of extremely old age in our sleep,” you said. “Sound like a plan?”

“I’d be okay with that,” he said. “Sorry.”

“Don’t be sorry,” you said, kissing his cheek. “Let’s go enjoy the rest of our day, okay?”

“Okay, sweetheart.”

“Ah shit,” you said that night in your bathroom as you put on your pajamas after a shower. You were covered in dark purple bruises all over your back, legs and arms. Jensen had turned around throughout the day and seemed to have forgotten about the incident on the slope. It’d set him on edge which you couldn’t blame the poor guy for but you just knew if he got one look at you he’d start to worry again.

“Y/N,” said Jensen through the door. “Got a minute?”

“Just a second.” You looked around and grabbed the robe you never used off the back of the door and tied it around your waist. You tugged up your sweatpants and hummed. “Come in.”

“Hey,” he said, giving you a smile in the mirror as you started to comb your hair. “I’m gonna have to ditch on the movie. Work just called and my night shoot for later in the week got pushed cause of the storm they’re expecting.”

“Oh. When do you go in?”

“About twenty minutes,” he said.

“Don’t you need sleep?” you asked. He shrugged and you cocked your head.

“I’ll sleep on my lunch break. You mind getting the three of them down for bed tonight?”

“Not at all. Remember to pack your long john’s. It’s not warm and neither is your suit,” you said.

“The perils of playing a superhero,” he chuckled. You smiled and combed your hair, the sleeve of your robe falling down your leg and exposing a bruised arm. “Can I see?”

“It’s one little bruise,” you said, holding your arm up to him. 

“Can I see?” he asked again. You sighed and undid your robe, sliding it off your shoulders. He frowned when he saw your chest and back but only nodded. “Take some pain medicine before bed. There’s some of those heat packs in the kitchen too if you want some.”

“I will,” you said. You put on your pajama shirt and he went to leave, leaving his hand on the doorframe. “Yeah?”

“Aspercreme helps. Worked for me after the accident,” he said.

“Thanks. Text me when you’re on your way home?” you asked.

“Can do,” he said. He tapped his fingers on the frame before swinging around it and leaving. You picked up your brush and went back to brushing, Jensen popping back around the corner. Your gaze found his in the mirror and he glanced down. “Y/N. This is gonna come across a certain way and I hope…”

“We can slow it down, Jensen. I know today brought up some stuff for you.”

“I do care about you,” he said as he walked over. You turned to face him, Jensen taking your arm and running his thumb gently over the bruised skin. “I don’t necessarily think we’re going too fast either. But today kinda fucked me up a bit and I gotta deal with that shit before I keep going with this. I’m sorry. It’s not fair to you.”

“Are we taking a break?” you asked, his head immediately shaking.

“No, no. I just...want to keep the status quo for a bit? Sleep in our own rooms, have a date night on Saturdays. Keep things...the same. Normally I know that’s the death of a relationship but-”

“Jensen you know last night when we were playing around and I told you that we could stop whenever you needed to?”

“I don’t want to stop though. I just-”

“Jensen. I’m saying don’t worry about it. This isn’t the death of our relationship. You are feeling a lot of shit right now and so am I. You’re starting to get into filming everyday and I know that’s gonna be long days and when you’re home your focus is gonna be on the kids and I’m just saying it’s okay if this steps off the gas for a second. Just come back eventually okay?”

“Why are you so understanding?”

“Why would I make this hard for you?” you asked.

“Don’t you want things out of this though?”

“Of course I want things. But hurting you in the process to get there isn’t worth it. I’m not gonna hurt you just so I can hit some stupid milestone that people say you should do by x point in time. Fuck that. When you’re ready to progress a bit again, I trust you’ll tell me. Okay?”

“Thank you,” he said quietly. He kissed you slowly and nodded. “I’ll try not to take too long. I promise.”

“I am going to ask for one thing though.”

“Anything.”

“Call up that doctor you saw. Talk to him about how you’re feeling. Don’t go through whatever’s going on in that head of yours alone.”

“I will. I promise. I still want to be your boyfriend, Y/N.”

“I know and you can be. We’ll go slow,” you said. “Now go get ready for work and kiss the kids goodbye. We’ll see you in the morning.”

“Okay.” He slid his hand to the back of your neck and pulled you in close, planting a deep kiss on you. You stared at him as he broke away and smiled. “See you later honey.”

“Later Jensen. Call if you need anything.”

“I will. Promise.”

Two Weeks Later

“Hi,” hummed Jensen as he knocked on the edge of your doorframe late one night. You were sat on bed with your laptop typing away.

“Hello,” you said, biting your bottom lip as you backed up what you’d written.

“What ya doing?” he hummed again.

“Um, working on another Fox Foxington story,” you said. 

“Must be pretty invested considering you haven’t looked at me once,” he said, a big ass smirk in his voice. You glanced up and he was grinning hard, your jaw dropping.

“Oh my God.” You pushed the laptop aside and hopped out of bed, bouncing up and down on your toes. “You’re suit looks fucking awesome! They let you bring it home?”

“I’m on my lunch break. We’re filming ten minutes from here. I thought someone might like to see it in person.”

“This is so cool,” you said, reaching out a hand but pausing. “Can I touch it?”

“Of course,” he chuckled. You put your hand on his chest and tilted your head. “Feels weird right?”

“Yeah. I bet this thing isn’t comfortable to wear all day,” you said.

“Hardest part is the bathroom,” he said as you inspected him. “I’m not in it all day though.”

“Is that a spoiler?” you asked.

“Is it?” he teased. “Kids in bed yet?”

“Yeah but wake ‘em up. Dad looks freaking awesome right now,” you said.

“You sure?”

“Yup,” you said. You went back to your nightstand and grabbed your phone. “Come on, picture time.”

Ten minutes later and one sprinting out the front door Jensen later you had the kids back in bed and went back to work on your story. You worked for a few minutes when a flashing on the wall caught your attention. You narrowed your eyes at the box by your door, figuring the HVAC system was messing up again.

You got up and stared at it for a moment before you realized what the little flashing light was for. Your phone rang in your hand and you quickly answered.

“Y/N, I got a text saying the motion alarm got tripped,” said Jensen. “Did you-”

You heard a thud downstairs and opened the door.

“Someone’s downstairs,” you whispered.

“Turn around,” you heard Jensen say to the driver. You snuck out of the room and down the hall past the kids rooms. You peered over the balcony and laughed. “Y/N?”

“Uh, I know who our intruder is,” you laughed. “Um, you didn’t happen to leave the front door open when you came in earlier, did you?”

“Maybe,” he said as you heard a car out front. “What-”

“There’s a big ass rabbit sitting in the foyer,” you said, watching it hop over to the boot tray and start gnawing on Jensen’s sneaker. “I hope you aren’t partial to those blue sneakers.”

“What the…” he said as you watched the front door open. You hung up and Jensen stared at the rabbit, the rabbit taking a beat before it went back to chewing his shoelaces. “No! Stop! Bad bunny! This isn’t your house, go home.”

“Oh I need to film this,” you said. You started to record him as he opened the door and pointed outside.

“Go home bunny,” he said. The bunny apparently took that as an invitation to hop further into the house, Jensen groaning. You giggled and went downstairs, following them into the kitchen where the rabbit decided to hide under the counter stools. “Bunny please go home? I’m gonna be late getting back to work.”

The bunny hopped over to him before dashing away to the other side of the kitchen.

“Wait,” he said. He went to the fridge and grabbed a bag of baby carrots. He pulled one out and sat it on the ground by his feet. “Come on little guy. Come on…”

“Here we see Soldier Boy attempting to remove a little bunny rabbit from his home. Will he succeed or will he be late for work and have to explain this strange incident to his boss? Tune in to find out,” you said. Jensen stood up and shot you a bitch face. 

“You gonna narrate too?” he said.

“Maybe,” you laughed, taking the carrot off the floor. “Come on Mr. Bunny. I’ll give you the bag of ‘em if you head outside. It’s getting late. You ought to be home with your family, buddy.”

He hopped over and you knelt down, holding it out to him. He took a nibble and Jensen bent over, picking him up gently. 

“You’re cute and all but no bunnies allowed inside,” he said. He set him down outside and dumped out the bag of carrots by the front door. “Okay? Maybe you can get some more of those if you don’t break in again.”

The rabbit took a carrot in it’s mouth and ran off to the hedge before it came back and grabbed another.

“Ah Soldier Boy saves the day again,” you giggled. He made a superhero pose before laughing and you turned off the video. “Go on cutie. Don’t catch cold either. Wouldn’t want you sick for your birthday.”

“Is it...is it my birthday?” he teased. “Oh I seem to have completely have forgotten about it.”

“I wish you didn’t have work all day.”

“Eh, I’m used to it,” he said.

“Um, since you have a long day and stuff...can I take you out Thursday? I know you’re off Friday.”

“Yeah. I’d love that,” he said.

“Your birthday present is on your bed when you get home later,” you said.

“Looking forward to it. I’ll see you tomorrow, okay?”

“Later Jensen.”

It was after dinner the next night, Jensen only getting home around lunch after an incredibly long day, when a pair of arms wrapped around you. You spun around and a very tired Jensen was hugging you tightly.

“Hey. I thought you were heading to bed finally,” you said.

“I was. I opened your present. Thank you.”

“S’just a present,” you said. He shook his head and you smiled. “I know. It’s your first one without her.”

“No that’s not it. Yesterday I was a little off because of it but...you got me socks. She always got me socks for my birthday. It was a joke between us but you didn’t know that and you still got me socks somehow.”

“Jensen it’s just a pair of socks.”

“I know. I’m not the kind of person that takes things as signs and stuff but maybe somehow, she was telling me something, like it’s okay to move on with you.”

“Maybe,” you said. You’d honestly only bought them because he couldn’t wear winter boots while he was filming and you knew his feet got cold. But if he wanted to take it that way you weren’t going to stop him. 

“Can we pick things up again? You’ve been taking a backseat the past few weeks and I know what I want and what I’m ready for.”

“What are you ready for?”

“You’re gonna get hurt sometimes and I can’t stop it. I can only be there after the fact and I’m okay with getting hurt in that way. It’s the price I gotta pay and I’ll pay it eventually but I’m okay with that. I want to be with my best friend again if she’ll have me back.”

“Always,” you said. “I don’t need a date every night to make me happy.”

“I know. Would you sleep in my bed tonight though?” he asked. “I missed your cuddles.”

“Sure. I’ll be up in a little while. You get some sleep. You have to be exhausted,” you said. 

“I am. But tomorrow and Thursday should be shorter days,” he said. “On a positive note, it sounds like filming is going faster than expected so there’s a possibility we can all get back home sooner than we thought.”

“Not that I mind the snow but I know the kids wouldn’t mind seeing their friends again,” you said. “Go get some sleep. We’ll talk more tomorrow when you’re more conscious, alright?”

“Yes mam,” he said. He kissed the top of your head and went upstairs, JJ wandering over from where she’d been coloring.

“JJ, why’d you tell me your dad likes getting socks on his birthday?” you asked.

“I don’t know. He just does,” she said. You ruffled her hair and smiled. “What?”

“Nothing. Let’s play a board game before bed, see if we can get the twins to pay attention this time.”

________

A/N: Read Part 8 here!

[nightingaelic]

Companions react to the Courier saying "shit, I think I left the Lightwave Dynamics Research Center running!" and teleporting to Big Mountain in front of them, then teleworking back a little later.

"Oh, shit."

The courier, who had been reading the map on their Pip-Boy to locate the best route over Mount Charleston, stopped in their tracks. "Maybe I...? No, I didn't. Ah, fuck it."

They fished some kind of energy pistol that was throwing off a dangerous blue light out of their pack and looked up at their companion. "I think I left the Lightwave Dynamics Research center running. Don't go anywhere, I'll be right back."

And with that, they vanished in a crack of lightning.

Arcade Gannon: "But we- Six!" Arcade stared at the spot where they had vanished. A hazy blue negative of their silhouette was burned into his retinas, and he took his glasses off to rub his eyes until it faded.

When the courier didn't reappear within a few minutes, Arcade sighed and sat down on the nearest large rock. His irritated expression, crossed arms and tousled blonde hair were the first things the courier saw when they finally flashed back onto the mountain.

"You'll be 'right back?'" Arcade asked, using his fingers to make air quotations.

"It was only 36 minutes," the courier said with a sheepish look. "I forgot Lightwave Dynamics was all the way across the crater, and I had to sneak around to avoid getting eaten by some night stalkers."

"I could've been eaten by some night stalkers!" Arcade argued. "Next time, you're taking me with you. I don't care if the Think Tank tries to turn me into a lobotomite, I'd prefer that to running afoul of a yao guai while you're skipping around the Big Empty like a brahmin calf!"

Craig Boone: Boone grumbled a bit, then scanned the area to look for cover. He found it in a nearby cluster of bushes, which he climbed inside and laid down his pack to sit on. He took his beret off and stowed it out of sight, then began inspecting his rifle to pass the time. He cleaned the scope out and listened for any snapping twigs or rustling leaves outside in the forest. Nothing moved though, and Boone nodded, pleased.

When the flash reappeared and the courier stumbled into the woods again, Boone whistled. They whipped their head around until they found the source of the signal and started toward it.

"Sorry," they said when they located him inside the brush. "That took longer than I thought it would."

Boone shrugged and stood up. "It's okay. Snipers and spotters aren't strangers to staying put."

Lily Bowen: "Pumpkin?" Lily looked around, but the courier was nowhere to be seen. "Pumpkin, did you go off to your make-believe world again like Leo?"

When no answer came back to her, Lily settled in on an overturned log with her hands on her knees. She hummed to herself, songs she had heard on the radio and songs that reminded her of a pretty hole in the ground that she wasn't sure was real anymore.

The grandmotherly nightkin was singing "Heartaches by the Number" when the courier reappeared as violently as they had vanished. They waited politely for her to finish the verse before offering her their hand. "Sorry, Lily. Should we keep going?"

Lily stood up and brushed herself off. "Of course, dearie."

Raul Alfonso Tejada: The old ghoul shook his head, then turned and kept going up the road. Jacobstown was only a mile away, and a light dusting of snow was beginning to fall by the time he made his way through the gates of the super mutant town and inside the old ski resort. Raul settled in at the bar, joining Calamity and Doc Henry for their mid-day meal.

When the courier finally pushed their way through the front doors of the lodge, Raul raised his bottle of beer to them. "Qué onda, Six? About time you showed up."

The courier looked madder than a deathclaw. "What the fuck, Raul?!? I thought you'd died out there in the woods, I was about ready to call for back-up!"

"I told you," Raul replied with a grin, "Next time you did that to me, I'd keep walking."

Rose of Sharon Cassidy: "Oh, fucking hell." Cass looked around the immediate vicinity with mild trepidation rising in her chest. She didn't know the area well, and forests were great hiding spots for critters that meant harm. If she'd been in the middle of the desert flats, she would've felt much more at home: At least out there, you could see anything that intended to disembowel you coming from miles away.

Cass eyed one of the sturdier nearby trees suspiciously, debating whether climbing it was worth the effort. She was halfway up the trunk, grunting with the effort, when the courier reappeared in another flash and startled her into a state of imbalance.

"Cass!" The courier dropped their transportalponder and rushed to stand beneath her, arms out.

"You gonna catch me?" Cass asked with a nervous giggle, wobbling on a thin branch that was dangerously close to snapping.

"I can try. Jump!"

Cass obliged, just as the branch beneath her cracked. She and the courier tumbled to the needle-covered ground. The two lay still for a moment, inspecting their new bruises. Cass picked up her hat and jammed it back onto her head. "Don't even ask, Six."

Veronica Santangelo: But Veronica was ready this time. As soon as the courier had retrieved the transportalponder from their pack, she had inched nonchalantly closer, taking advantage of their distraction. Her arm flashed out and grabbed the courier's elbow just as they pressed the device's trigger, and the whoosh of the teleportation process was almost loud enough to drown out their surprised yelp.

It felt like only a millisecond had passed when the beam of light dissipated, and Veronica blinked in wonder. Gone were the trees of Mount Charleston, replaced by a wide-open sky over a jagged edge of rock that encircled a cluster of pre-war concrete buildings. Lights blinked and emanated from their doors and windows, distorted somewhat by the glowing force field that encircled the balcony that Veronica and the courier were standing on.

"Goddammit, Veronica," the courier said, putting their head in their hand. "I told you, I didn't know whether it could sustain two passengers or not! You could've disintegrated or something!"

"Well, that's one hypothesis tested." Veronica tentatively reached a hand out to feel the warmth of the force field. "It's beautiful."

ED-E: The eyebot bobbed in place, running systems checks and diagnostic repairs under the conifers until the electric pulse delivered the courier back into the forest. ED-E beeped its satisfaction, then followed it up with a questioning series of tones.

"Holograms," the courier answered, straightening out their coat. "At least, I think that's all they did there, but I'm not sure. I made the mistake of touching this huge beam of light in the middle of the place once and it knocked me out. Lost about half a day, and I still don't know what it's for."

Rex: The smell of ozone filled Rex's nostrils. He sneezed a few times to clear it out, then began sniffing the area the courier had disappeared from. No amount of whining brought them back though, so he stamped a hollow out in the crook of some tree roots and settled in among the fallen pine needles.

When the scent of ozone and the courier returned, Rex's eyes flew open. There was another scent accompanying them, a familiar amalgamation: Fur, cybernetics, warm blood.

The courier looked down fondly at the new cyberdog, who was regarding Rex with sweet, brown eyes and a nose just as keen as his. "Rex, meet Roxie."

[tu-sugar-mami]

You are an exchange student with 0 intellect or sense of orientation, and your last braincell is telling you to go to that creepy looking probably abandoned castle in the middle of the snowy forest because you got separated from your excursion group and have no idea how to get back to the meeting point by yourself and if you don't get warmed up soon you'll die in the cold winter.

You couldn't even imagine why the school would deem going to a snowy creepy mountain for a day a proper recreational activity, but it's not like you could've refused, since it gave you the extra credits you needed to pass the semester.

You think about calling your classmates, who gave you their number the first day of school in an attempt to befriend you, though you don't have any reception and even if you did you don't speak Romanian or english at all. Back at school you communicated mostly by gestures and face expressions, praying that they'd understand and trying your best to learn the language. If you're being honest, you don't even know how you got that scholarship but oh well, now you have more important things to think about, like not dying.

The entrance is big, and you wonder why all the fancy castles always have intimidating entrances? It's an unnecessary waste.

You knock on the door, and the sound resonates loudly, making you wince and clench your eyes shut. When you open them again you can see the door is slightly ajar, and with a hesitant hand you push it open enough to make your way through.

You barely have the time to poperly appreciate the inside when you're attacked by a swarm of bugs, and you being always prepared you quickly pull out your bug repelent from your backpack and mercilessly spray the dark cloud that has formed in front of you.

"What the heck!" you hear somebody yell between coughs while a humanoid shape begins to form in front of you.

It scared the shit out of you, seeing that thing take form out of nowhere, and you pulled your lighter, ready to burn whatever was coming next

"Daniela! What is going on?" another voice, a mature one filled with authority, can be heard echoing in the extense lobby. Heavy steps approaching rapidly. "Is our guest here already?"

'Ah shit, this is trouble.' You think.

"Mother! I'm not feeling well..." Just as the bugs completely dissapear a girl stands in front of you, wearing a dark robe, and the first thing you think is you stumbled upon a cult.

The girl faints and you don't really register the potential danger you could get yourself into before hurrying to catch the girl in your arms.

"You! How dare you lay your filthy hands on my daughter!" Your head snap to where the voice is coming from, only to be met with a literal goddess. A tall beauty, an extense wonder, legs that go for miles and a waistline that- oh god, she's gorgeous, and you blush at the thought of that pure rage expression fitting her so well.

You're so distracted admiring the tall lady that you don't notice the girl slipping from your arms and plopping onto the floor like a slice of cheese when you throw it at a bald old man. The tall lady's eyes snap to yours. You both get into an awkard staring contest and you don't know what to do. Except you don't have to.

"Mother! We have returned wiith the offering!" Just then the door opens fully, and two other girls with similar clothing as the first one barge through it, dragging a guy from his legs using one of those tools you've seen your aunt use in her garden.

"Wha- Who's this?" The raven haired girl asks to no one in particular. The three of them look at each other in confusion, but not as confused as you.

Huh, a weird day indeed.

"I uh, i don't want any trouble..." You say in you native language.

Suddenly the girl in the ground wakes up, startled, before noticing you and pouncing on you like a predator, or well, trying to, since you sprayed her once again purely by instinct, making her faint again instantly.

You groan. This is going to be really hard to explain.

---------------------------

This got rushed in the end but oh well.

If you love my work, buy me a coffee?