#thinking about missy coming and banging on his apartment door to tell him that he is more lost that her dying sister

[carefulfears]

thinking about maggie looking up at mulder from her deathbed, grabbing his hand, directing her final words to him, rather than her daughter. 20 years after she stepped in between him and a gun, wanting to leave him with something. her grandbaby’s father. how mulder brings up scully’s coma, but for those 3 months “back in the day,” it was him and maggie. it was him and maggie at the crime scene and on the bench outside the fbi and choosing gravestones. how he was always invited by her. “this is a moment for the family, but you can join us.” so many decades of phone calls, check-ins, the way that in wetwired when he calls and she doesn’t answer, he knows. the inherent connection that comes with knowing your closest person’s closest person: two emergency contacts, two people who always have to be notified, two people who are always at the side of a hospital bed or funeral or event. two people who know what “i’m fine” means, what an eye roll means, what a nosebleed means. closeness in the periphery.

[crimefightingspiderguy]

to be so lonely

Summary: “Hi could you do angst spider man x female reader but with fluffy ending please and thank you.” (REQUESTED BY @icequeen2021)

Warnings: Torture is mentioned and injuries do occur. Spoilers for Spider-Man: Far From Home and Avengers: Infinity War & Endgame.

Pairing: Peter Parker x Reader

Word count: 4,494

A/N: Just as a precaution, I did not proofread this because its almost 4 a.m. here and I really just wanted to get this out to you guys! I hope the requester and everyone else enjoys this, I had a lot of fun writing it. I also wanted to note that this occurs post Spider-Man: Far From Home so since I don't really know who took charge of the Avengers after Tony and Steve's deaths, I just assumed it was Sam/Falcon/Captain America for the purpose of this fic. Lastly, I'm aware that mutants have yet to be introduced into the MCU, but my guess is that they are going to claim Monica (and now Wanda) from WandaVision as mutants, so I'm running with it in this fic.

“Hello?” Peter’s groggy voice came through the darkness. You stood in the doorway, light now beaming into the room, waking Peter.

“Oh, thank goodness. I had… a bad dream. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.”

You were one of the newest Avengers and when Peter Parker’s identity was revealed to the world, Sam told you to help him go into hiding, at least until they were sure it was safe for him to stay at the Avengers compound. You were (as you put it) cursed with the ability to see the future. After Hydra had gotten found out about the time stone, they sent you in as a spy to try to find out more about it. You studied under Dr. Strange for a couple of months before he even let you see it. One night, he let you even practice with it. Unfortunately, your genes were predisposed to be mutated, all they needed was the right amount of radiation to kick start them. To touch the stone, was to mutate your genes, triggering your curse. Your new mutation was being able to see into the future. Dr. Strange ended up finding out that Hydra sent you and realizing that they would only turn you into a weapon, he helped you fake your death and sent you to the Avengers, changing your identity and living under the radar. Your mutation was the perfect thing to help Peter while on the run, since you would constantly be one step ahead of your enemies. Peter had the ability to sense danger coming his way, so he thought he would be fine on his own, but you could see farther out into the future and see multiple paths that could occur based on one small choice, so Sam wouldn’t even listen to any of Peter’s protests to having you come along. It’s not that he didn’t want you to come along, because you two were friends, but he didn’t want to put you in extra danger of being seen by Hydra or getting hurt because of him.

“A bad dream or a glimpse into the future?” Peter asked, alert now.

“A bad dream… I think. Let me look again.” You tried to focus on your current path. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary. But there it was, a small branch that when followed lead to the dream you had. The only choice that had to be made was you turning on the lights to check on Peter, tipping someone watching you off that you were in fact staying here. You quickly opened your eyes and ran out to the living room. You shut off all the lights throughout the whole empty apartment you were “staying” in. You had been moving from place to place so when you found an apartment that was prepped for open house showings, the two of you decided to hang out there until you saw a showing being held and then you would tidy stuff up and ditch the place. Unfortunately, it appeared in this distant future, whoever was following the two of you got a tip that an empty apartment was all the sudden getting activity regularly.

You went back into the room Peter had taken, “Get in the closet, now.” Peter rushed out of the bed and did as he was told. You got into the closet next to him and pulled the door shut. You glimpsed into the future and quickly saw that the person was on their way, they would be there in minutes and one of the places they would in fact check was the closet. Just then, Peter’s skin lit up in goosebumps and you knew it was too late to move him.

“Can you tell who…” Peter began to whisper, but you quickly put a hand over his mouth, seeing they were about to walk into the front door. Luckily, you had locked it, so they would have to take a minute to pick the lock, so they don’t draw suspicion with a loud bang of breaking the door down.

“I’m going to do something; you have to just trust me. Whatever happens, whatever you hear me say, don’t leave the closet. You understand?” you spoke out low and fast.

“But…”

“Do you understand?” You looked him dead in the eyes, time was ticking.

He nodded. You grabbed one of his extra web shooters from his bag in on the closet floor. You slowly pulled the closet door open and shut behind you, taking one more look at Peter, putting your finger over your mouth as a reminder for him to stay silent. You moved over to the bed Peter was moments ago sleeping soundly on, leaned over to the window above it and opened it wide. You stood on the bed, positioning your body to make it look like you were trying to escape out the window. You stood in your position and waited, silently shooting a web out the window to the building across the street and tossed the shooter underneath the bed. You heard the door finally unlock and slowly creak open. They were most likely assuming the two of you were asleep and had no inclination he was there. After seeing no signs of life in the living room, he began heading for the bathroom. Looking into the future to see if your plan would work, you saw a small issue. If he took his time searching through each room, Peter would eventually sneeze and expose himself. You needed to get the guy out of there now. You looked over to the lamp on the side table on the right of the bed. You kicked it as hard as you could, causing the bulb to shatter on the hard-wood floor as it landed. You cussed in a loud enough to hear whisper and positioned yourself back half-way out the window. The man was now bursting through the bedroom door, first looking to the lamp that caused the sound, then to the person who was clearly trying to escape him.

“Shit Peter, go, go, go! Get out of here!” You shout out to a non-existent Peter outside of the building. “I’ll be fine, go now!” You put on the most panicked look you could while you whipped your head back to the man who was just now putting two and two together. He ran over to the window, yanked you off the ledge and looked outside. He saw the web hanging from the other building across the street, blowing silently in the wind, the web-shooter himself nowhere to be seen. The man’s grip on your arms painfully increased, making it easy for you to keep the pain-filled, scared look on your face.

“That was a very stupid move missy. I’m sure if you’re important enough for him to take on the run, he won’t be leaving you behind for long.” He turned out the window and yelled, “You hear that Spidey? You want the girl, you’ve gotta come and get her.” While his head was turned from you, you looked into the closet just barely able to see Peter’s eyes from the moonlight shining in and across the shutters of the closet. You shook your head slightly as you saw in the near future Peter putting his hand on the door and opening it to come save you.

“He’s not coming back; you might as well save your breath.” You said to the man as he brought his head back inside.

“Why wouldn’t he come back for you? Isn’t that his whole shtick? Saver of the defenseless?”

“Because I told him not to come back. I told him to not look back, so he won’t.”

“What makes you so sure he’ll do what you say?”

“Because if he truly loves me, he won’t come back.” You knew that no one knew of your relationship status with Peter, especially considering no one even knew you were an Avenger. So even though you were not dating Peter, they didn’t know otherwise, and you were going to use that to your advantage.

“Ahhh, so you’re his little girlfriend. That’s why you’re with him. We was starting to think you was an Avenger. We’ll this is even better because I’m sure some torture will get you talking. We won’t even need him to come find us, because you’ll lead us right to him.”

“I’d rather die.” You spat in his face.

“Oh, don’t worry, you will. But not until we find our spidey.” He smiled a nasty smile and yanked your arm out of the socket as if it was nothing, and you gave a choked-out scream.

He tossed you over his shoulder and walked out of the apartment. You couldn’t see into the closet anymore, but you could see into the future and Peter was in absolute shock, but he did as you asked and stayed put until the next morning, when he could be sure the apartment would no longer be watched.

At some point you had been knocked unconscious, or maybe you were drugged? It was hard to tell with the throbbing in your head making your memory foggy. You woke up to realize you were tied up to a chair, in a dark and empty room. You blinked rapidly trying to clear your hazed mind, and when it began to work, you looked into the future to see what was coming. You had three paths, all waiting on someone to make the next move. One path was the man from before coming in with a crowbar and breaking your bones with it, one by one, until you told him what he wanted, which you never did, resulting in you dying of internal bleeding. You shuddered at the thought, hoping your other paths would be better. The second was Peter tracking you down and coming to save you. This led to the death of both you and Peter. Your heart began to race, the image of Peter’s cold and unmoving body lying on the ground in an unnatural twist was harder to look at than the image of you weeping over him, only to meet the same fate. The third and final path was you getting out of the ropes and being able to fight your way out of the place. This third path had an uncertain ending, because while you would be able to get out of the chair, it wasn’t clear if you’d be able to fight off all of the people standing around outside of the room you were held in.

You quickly thought through all of the moves that Bucky had taught you from his years as a killing machine. There were a few that you could pull of successfully on Bucky himself, leaving you some hope that you would be able to fight them off, but looking at the sheer number of people outside that would run to attack, it’s hard to imagine they wouldn’t be ganging up on you causing a more powerful attack than even Bucky could prepare you for. You looked around the room for an escape, literally anything. You saw it in the corner to the left of you. The way out. You looked into the future after deciding that was how you would escape, and surprisingly the outcome was clear and successful. You quickly kicked off your shoe and rolled off your sock on the floor. Taking your now free toes, you stuck them into your shoe and slid the folded pocket knife you hid in the too big for you shoes in-between your big toe and second one. You pulled it out, holding onto it for dear life with your foot. You put your leg to the side of the chair, pulling your foot up into the air and back towards your hands as much as you could with the ropes constraining you. You were just able to grab the edge of the folded over knife and once you had a grip, flipped it open and began sawing away at the ropes. You saw that the men outside were unmoving and weren’t planning on interrogating you for at least another hour. The sun was setting, and they were hoping that Peter would show up in the dark to try and save you. When they were to realize that he in fact was not showing up, they would barge in and pounce on you. However, Peter not showing up depended on you getting out of the building. You saw that he was nearby in the future where he tried to save you. He was only going to save you if he sensed you needed to be saved. If you could get out of this room, you wouldn’t set off his Spidey-sense, and he would be safe, you would both be safe.

Once the ropes fell to the ground, you were able to cut your torso free and stand to run to the corner that held a vent big enough to crawl through. Cutting off the long sleeve of your shirt at the shoulder, you made a sloppy sling for your dislocated left arm. Crawling wouldn’t be a cake walk with only one arm, but you had to make do. You quickly screwed open the gate with your knife and silently pushed it to the ground and begun to crawl on your hand and knees through the ventilation system. You looked forward in time to see where this would lead you and how quickly. The sun was setting faster than normal it felt, as the dark approached, so did a twisted fate if you couldn’t get out fast. You had lucked out this time, and you actually couldn’t believe what you were seeing. About 10 feet ahead of you, the vent led out to the back of the building. They were keeping you in a room used to store things at cool temperatures and the air vent was used to release hot air in the summer and suck in cold air in the winter. You began crawling as fast as you could muster without making too much sound.

When at the end, you looked with your mind to see if danger lurked in the shadows outside the vent, but no one was near. The vent led to the back of the building where there were no other doors or windows, no way for Peter to get in and find you. Or so they thought. You slipped your hand through the slits in the grate to work at the screws on the outside. You could feel the cold rusty metal slicing your hand open, but you could care less right now as turning back would result in a lot worse than a few infected cuts. After about 5 minutes of awkwardly poking, prodding and twisting at the screws, you were able to kick open the grate. You slid outside and stood up, quickly making your way to the tree line. Peter was nearby, you saw his location before, but it was hard to distinguish it in the vast forest surrounding the building.

Looking around, seeing there was no one in sight you quickly let out a whisper of his name, “Peter.” You hoped it would be enough to catch his attention if he was within his hearing range. You waited a moment but saw nothing. You moved forward a few feet, hoping he was maybe just farther into the forest, “Peter.” You repeated. This time you saw something, not in real time, but seconds before it happened. Him whipping his head around, hearing your footsteps, your breathing, your heartbeat, the soft whisper of his name leaving your mouth. Him swinging tree to tree to get to you as quickly and as quietly as he could manage. As if he was delayed compared to the image in your mind, he landed softly next to you moments after you saw him do it in your mind.

“You’re okay.” He whispered, pulling you into a hug, trying to mind your slung arm.

“For now. But we’ve got to go. There is still a 50/50 chance they’re going to catch us when they realize in about 2 minutes that I’ve escaped.

“Well then you better hold on tight.” He lifted you up with ease and rested you on his hip, making you look like an awkwardly large toddler in his arms. He kept one arm around you as you wrapped your legs and good arm around him. He was off in seconds, swinging the two of you from tree to tree and once out of the forest, building to building.

Once you were at a safe enough distance, Peter stopped on an apartment rooftop and took the two of you under the cover of a tarp covering up empty wooden crates from any bad weather.

“We need to get you back to the compound. Have Bruce heal you up.” He said gingerly touching your shoulder.

“We can’t go back, you know that. We haven’t gotten word from anyone yet that the coast is clear, and it’s obvious that you’re still on plenty of people’s hit list. I can fix it, just give me a second.” You looked around the roof to see if there was anything you could jam your arm into to try and pop it back into place. Behind where you were hiding was a door leading down into the apartments. You stood up and headed over to it. Peter followed you, watching and listening to the surroundings for anything suspicious. You pulled the sling off your neck slowly and balled it up. You stuffed it in your mouth, causing Peter to give you a confused look,

“What are you doing?”

You answered him by slamming your arm into the wall, popping it back into place, letting out a now muffled scream into your shirt sleeve. Tears welled up in your eyes, but you quickly wiped them away with the cloth you pulled out of your mouth. You took a deep breath in and out, trying to calm yourself.

“There. All better.” You opened your eyes and gave Peter a weak smile as he stood, mouth open and face pale.

“Holy shit.” He whispered.

“Close your mouth honey, you’ll catch flies.” You push his bottom jaw up and head over to the edge of the rooftop. You looked down to see there was a fire escape a few feet below you. Looking ahead of your time, you saw the possibilities of entering each window attached to the escape. Only one of them would lead you to an empty apartment. The owners gone for the whole week. They will have a first aid kit waiting for you to tend to your hand with.

“Peter, can you lower us down to that escape?” You called over to him softly. He joined you at the ledge and nodded when he saw what you were referring to. You held onto his side again as he climbed with his sticky hands and feet down the wall and onto the escape. You grabbed his hand and led him down to the window of the currently empty apartment. You carefully slid the window open and snuck in, Peter silently following behind you.

“The owners won’t be back for a week. As long as we leave the place as we found it, they won’t be any the wiser that we were here.” You whispered to him as he shut the window. “I’m going to go find their first aid kit and get some antibiotics on my hand” You held out your gashed up hand to show him and you saw him wince at the sight of it. He was surprisingly sensitive to seeing your injuries. You figured at this point all of the Avengers were desensitized to stuff like this.

It was just months ago you all were fighting off the mad titan Thanos, you expected nothing to shock anyone at this point. It was strange getting blipped away. One second you were standing next to Dr. Strange watching him give over the time stone, the next you simply weren’t there. You couldn’t see it coming. This was the only thing you couldn’t see coming, because it was too random. You had too high of a chance of not getting blipped, just as you had too high of a chance of getting blipped, so you couldn’t have known. It was horrifying and the bases for most of your nightmares nowadays. You and Peter were the same age, which is why you think Dr. Strange took pity on you regardless of you being a Hydra spy. They had taken you against your will and forced you to serve them. Kids tended to be the best type of spy because it was harder to be suspicious of them. But because you were the same age, when you both came back, the two of you had sort of relied on each other to help one another adjust to the new lives you had to accept. The world had moved on without the two of you, while the two of you were stuck in the same spot for years. It was nice having someone who understood, especially someone your age. That’s why you were okay with risking your own life to help Peter run away. Because that’s what the two of you have silently agreed to do for months now. Protect each other, have each other’s backs, help each other through the nightmares, through the adjustments, through the pain.

Opening the medicine cabinet in the bathroom, you saw the tube of antibiotic cream. You grabbed in and closed the small door, jumping when you saw Peter standing in the mirror behind you.

“I thought you would’ve seen me coming.” he chuckled.

“I was distracted. Thinking about…” You trailed off, suddenly becoming more interesting in washing your hands to prep them for the medicine.

“The blip?” He finished for you. You didn’t even have to answer, you silence spoke for you.

“If it never happened, I wonder if we would be here right now.” You couldn’t help but grasp at lost futures that you couldn’t see.

“Maybe. I mean, Mysterio is the real reason we’re here and I feel like he would’ve come around eventually.”

“But I wouldn’t be here.” You pointed out.

“Do you regret coming with me then?” Peter asked, looking away from you now, hurt evident on his face. “Because you can leave for the compound at any time, I won’t stop you if it’s what you want.”

“No.” The word came out without hesitation, and it caused Peter to snap his attention back to you in the mirror where you finally met his eyes. “I just mean that we probably wouldn’t have gotten as close as we had. I mean yeah, we’d both be Avengers and would know each other, but I would’ve stayed locked away in the compound, and you would’ve barely given me a second thought. I wouldn’t be here because you wouldn’t have trusted me enough to let me come along. I wouldn’t be here because even if you would have trusted me to come with you, I would’ve still gotten kidnapped and I wouldn’t have been able to get out of there without getting caught because you probably wouldn’t have come back for me. I might not have been able to see those futures, but after you watch as much of the future as I have, you start to put the pieces together that one small change would’ve been catastrophic.”

“I like to think that whatever we chose, if it wasn’t a conscious choice or something out of our control, it was fate.” Peter said, “We might not have made the same choices to get us to this exact scenario, if the blip hadn’t happened, but Sam probably would’ve still ordered you by my side, regardless of my hesitation. I probably would’ve not let you get taken in the first place because I wouldn’t have trusted your judgement as much when it came to taking on that guy. We were meant to go through this together and I would’ve stuck by your side same as now.”

You chuckle at the last part about taking on the guy, you wanted to change the subject. The idea of you not getting to where you were friendship wise with Peter was a painful thought. You loved him. It was hard not to. The idea of a timeline where you didn’t love him was hard to even think about.

“I could’ve taken him on if I wanted to.” A smug smirk played on your lips

“Oh, I know you could, that’s why I was so surprised when you just let him take you. Why did you?”

You turned around to face him, “Because I was trying to get him away from you.”

“You could’ve died, you know that, right?” Peter says, taking the medicine from you and applying it to a clean cotton pad from the first aid kit, rubbing it over your hand. The images of you and Peter dead on the ground of that building flash through your mind.

“I know. But so could you have. I’d rather die and give you a head start than for you to die.”

“Why? My life isn’t worth risking yours for.”

“Because if I don’t have you… I have no one.” You admitted.

“Well, that’s not true. You have the whole team.” Peter tried to reassure you.

You shook your head, a sad smile on your mouth as you spoke, “I’m not close to them like I am you. Will you guys be sad? I’d like to think so. Will it greatly alter your lives if I was gone? No. After a couple of weeks, maybe even months, everyone would move on, including you. But if you were to die, I’d have no other friends who could bring me back to caring enough to go on. I have no family. I just have you. I’d rather die myself and know that eventually you’d be able to go on with your life, than let you die knowing that if I had just looked at a different future, I might’ve saved you. Knowing that I’ll never have anyone like you again in my life.”

“If you died, I wouldn’t be able to forgive myself.” Peter said, a stress crease forming between his eyebrows. “I wouldn’t be able to move on because I never got to tell you that I love you.” The last part came out as a whisper as his hands set down the medicine and cotton pad. Bringing them to hold your cheeks.

You hesitantly brought your hands up to ghost over his. You might be able to see the future, but you didn’t see his confession coming. Turning your head slightly to kiss his palm, you whispered on his soft skin, “Then you understand.”

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[writtenbynightlock]

synopsis: college kept your life busy. the miya twins also have a life of their own. with your secretive nature, things became complicated.

genre: angst, fluff, friends to lovers

wc: 1.9k

warnings: college au, series, post time-skip spoilers

Part 3 | Part 5

The sun shines brightly through the windows of your apartment, disturbing you from your slumber. You covered your head with a pillow, blocking out the light. As you were getting comfy and falling back to sleep, your doorbell rang, making you groan. You didn’t want to get out of bed as your body felt like it has been trampled. Your muscles were sore and your head was pounding.

Standing up still in your dress from last night, you suddenly felt dizzy, making you sit back down on your bed. You hated being drunk. The things you did from last night were all such a blur memory. It sometimes gets you scared. You could only recall a few events. Scanning your room, it seems normal - just like how you left it yesterday afternoon. You can’t help but feel paranoid. Whenever you were drunk, you often do crazy things that was so not you. The last time you got drunk, you puked on Osamu’s t-shirt as he was trying to get you home. The last time you got drunk, you found your phone in the microwave with melted cheese on top. You can’t even remember putting it in there. You ended up buying a new one and got a lecture from Osamu for you to stop drinking and how you wasted quality cheese and for breaking your phone, while Atsumu just laughed his ass off at the story.

All in all, the twins were always there whenever you go out drinking because if you weren’t accompanied, you probably would have already died in a ditch somewhere. 

You squeal as you heard another ring of the doorbell. With a sigh, you stood up carefully and made your way towards the door. Opening it, you saw Kaori with a bright expression on her face, which was the opposite of you really because you looked like you just came out from hell. 

“Kaori-chan, what brings you here?”

“Good morning love! I brought food to help you with your hangover. May I come in?”

“S-sure”

Stepping aside, you let Kaori enter your apartment. You do remember attending Kaori’s birthday party. You do remember having dinner and talked to her friends but it ends there. You pretty much don’t remember what happened after that. 

“H-how did you know I have a hangover?”

“Sweetie, I think you’re the only person I know who could empty a whole bottle of wine alone.” Your eyes widened at this. 

“What?! A w-whole bottle?!”

Kaori’s eyes widened, shocked at your reaction before letting out a chuckle. “You heard me. Do you not remember last night?” You can’t help but feel baffled. Sitting down, you intensely stared at the table thinking long and hard. This sends another pang in your head, making you hiss.

“Hangovers are real fckers. My head hurts so bad.”

You say as you hold your head, massaging it. Kaori then hands you in some medicine and water. You thanked her and drank it, hoping it would cure the pain as soon as possible. You desperately want to remember what happened last night but you’re afraid to ask.

“Did something happen when you got home last night? You’ve got some pretty interesting marks on your neck, (Y/n)-chan.”

Kaori says with a smirk as she points her chopsticks to your neck. You automatically held your neck, confused to what she meant.

“What are you talking about?”

“Take a look at the mirror love.”

Anxious, you quickly went to the sink of your bathroom and there it was. Multiple hickeys were scattered on your smooth neck. A look of horror morphed on your face. You rubbed your eyes again, in attempts and hoping that you were just seeing things but it was still there. Red marks were scattered on your neck and collarbone. Your heart started to raise in your chest. You tightened your grip on the bathroom sink, thinking intensely.

What the fuck happened to me last night?

Who could even leave those on your neck? You didn’t have a boyfriend and Atsumu- Your heart stopped for a moment. Were you totally wasted last night? The images of you and Atsumu suddenly fills your head. The way he was being gently as he kisses you. The way he hugged your body as you sat on his lap. This made you feel the heat creeping up to your neck and cheek. It doesn’t make sense. Was it just a dream? 

“No. It couldn’t be.” You say with an exasperated laugh before you took another glance in the mirror. You noticed how your make up was neatly removed. Was it Atsumu that brought you home last night? If he did, how did those love bites ended up on your neck? He wouldn’t. You two are just friends. He wouldn’t take advantage of you.

Walking back into the kitchen, you sit down on the seat awkwardly, not looking at Kaori. She giggles at your troubled expression, “I’m glad to hear that your night ended on a good note.”

“Oh god!” You exclaimed, pulling your hair, hoping that this was just a freaking dream. You just want to die right there. The suspense was torturing you. You don’t want to think about it right now. It can’t be your ex boyfriend. You didn’t even remember seeing him last night.

“Kaori-chan. What happened last night?” Kaori glances at you, a sudden worry appeared across her face.

“Please don’t tell me you’re one of those drunkards who doesn’t remember anything.”

“Unfortunately, I am!”

Kaori let out frustrated sigh, rubbing her temple before looking at you. She hesitated but continued. Kaori told you everything, on when you arrived at the venue with Atsumu. On when you and Kaori took pictures and had dinner together with the boys and her girl friends. On how you and the rest of the girls gossiped and how it led to Shioko ended up being with Nakamura, on how your ex cheated on you while you two were still dating. On how you confronted Nakamura but somehow you got slapped in the face by Shioko. On how Atsumu took the initiative in taking you home and that was it. That’s her side of the story. It was so much to take in but somehow you felt a bit relieved knowing that you were no longer have any relation with Nakamura. It did hurt though, on how he was seeing another girl while you two were still dating but it doesn’t matter anymore. You two broke up. You didn’t love him. You were just drawn to his good looks. You made a fool out of yourself. You didn’t take care of yourself. 

“You really don’t remember when you got home last night?”

Silence.

Kaori’s eyes then landed on the couch before a sigh left her mouth.

“I think I have an idea on what happened” says Kaori as she stands up and walked towards the couch, grabbing the grey blazer and giving it to you. You looked at it with a confused expression before it hits you. It was Atsumu’s blazer. You could smell his scent from it, so fresh and zesty, like lemons. You then looked at Kaori again, “So...”

Kaori slapped a palm on her face before she looks at you with a weird expression, taking the blazer away from you and sways it in front of your face.

“Atsumu’s blazer. The hickeys on your neck. Both of you were intoxicated with wine last night. A man and a woman alone. That leads to the possibility of?” Kaori sings, waiting for you to answer but you just stayed at her blankly, making her roll her eyes. 

“You and Atsumu were making out yesterday missy! It’s the only plausible explanation!”

You felt your cheeks heat up and the redness creeping up your neck. You don’t want to believe it. If it was true, then you really messed up big time. You just put you and Atsumu’s friendship at risk. You can’t afford to lose it. You always had fun when you’re with Atsumu but knowing you possibly gobbled up his face last night makes you just want to bang your head against the wall a thousand times.

“B-but why?!”

“I don’t know. That’s for you two to figure out. You need to talk” says Kaori with a knowing smile.

“What? No! I’m not just gonna straight up ask him like ‘hi Atsumu, were you the one who sucked my neck last night?’ Atsumu wouldn’t do that! We’re friends for goodness sake. We don’t have that kind of feelings for each other.”

“I don’t know about that sweetie. Your neck tells a different story” says Kaori, chuckling in amusement. 

“Maybe this is just a rash from the wine-”

“No sweetie. I know a hickey when I see one, or in your case, hickeys.”

With that, you just remained silenced and ate your breakfast or lunch rather since you woke up pretty late. As Kaori keeping a conversation alive as she discusses her new designs for their upcoming fashion show exam, you suddenly recalled something. You remembered how you went to the bathroom to vomit in the middle of your make out session. The mortified look on your face made Kaori stop talking and raise her eyebrows a you. 

“Oh my god! I messed up big time.” 

“Why?”

“I puked in the middle of our kissing.” Kaori gasped and covered her mouth. 

“Oh that’s not good.”

Puking in the middle of a make out session is definitely not a confidence booster. That situation could mean two things - either the thought of kissing that person was making you sick to your stomach or it was just bad. 

You panicked at this. Knowing Atsumu, this would definitely offend him. Atsumu is a confident man. He may not mind other people’s opinions but the people closer to the golden-haired setter affects him. It brought butterflies to your stomach just by the thought of Atsumu’s red and soft lips moving against yours. 

Who knew his lips felt so good on your skin?

Deep down, you were always thankful for the twins but somehow Atsumu has a special place in your heart. With his charms and fun personality, any girl could fall for him. You weren’t too confident with yourself and you had to endure the twins’ popularity in high school. You were always the target of being bullied by other girls. They would often bump your shoulder while passing the hallway and tweet about you, though no name dropping but you know it was you. 

When you entered college, you were still vulnerable about it. All the emotional damage that you’ve been through, Nakamura was more of a comfort person to you at first, the fact that he’s the person who has shown romantic feelings for you, but it all went downhill as months passed by. He worsened you. He brought you more emotional and physical damage. 

You hated yourself for it. You went into a relationship when you were still vulnerable. You didn’t take the time to heal but you wanted help but it was the help that you mistook. Why were you so in a rush? 

Am I really that desperate?

How were you supposed to face Atsumu now? What were you gonna tell him once you two meet? If it’s true, how does this change your relationship with him now?

One thing’s for sure, you are in a mess. 

Taglist: @softiebadbitch​

[oohfluffy]

Bad | MYG

Group: BTS

Member: Min Yoongi

Theme: Fluff | Angst | Badboy!AU

Word Count: 3,936

You never thought that tending to his wounds would lead being part of his dark world. You don’t regret it though. You knew falling bad will never feel this good.

"Ah, ah!"

You rolled your eyes as you watched him cringe continuously while you dab a cotton with alcohol on his face. You ignored his whines and continued cleaning his wounds. 

It's been two months since you started to become Yoongi's personal nurse, and you can't say you are fond of being one.

"Can't you be more gentle?" He mumbled silently as you get another clean cotton to clean the ones on his forehead. You grabbed the hair clip you've been using to keep his bangs away from his face, and gently combed his hair back to clip it. "I'm not saying you're bad at it, but you could—

"Do you really enjoy getting beaten?" You sternly asked, eyes sharply glaring at him. He bravely met your gaze with a smile. "I'm serious here, Yoongi. You can't live like this."

You expected a smart response as usual, but he remained silent as he looked away. You sighed as you gently plastered a band-aid on a small cut on his forehead. You grabbed his cheeks, making him cringe a bit, and looked into his eyes with worry. His facial expression softened at your gaze.

"I'm worried, okay? I still don't understand why you're being chased around." You mumbled as your fingers caressed his hurt skin. His eyes closed at the feeling of your touch. "I'm fine taking care of your wounds anytime, but this shouldn't be happening to you. I haven't seen you unscathed in the past two months, that's not normal."

Yoongi chuckled as you complained. He fluttered his slitted eyes open and smiled at your frown. His hands went up to your face, and caressed your cheeks just the way you did to him. They flushed at his touch, your eyes automatically drifting away from his.

Still not used to this!

"Want to eat outside? My treat." Yoongi simply said before standing up from your couch, letting out a grunt as he stretched. You were still drowning in your thoughts when he loudly stomped his foot on the wooden floor. Your head jerked in surprise, glaring at him instantly. He laughed at you, his lips puckering at the door. "Come on, (y/n)."

You let out a breath before standing up and putting your first-aid materials back into your kit. You just grabbed your beige coat hanging from the rack, and closed all the lights. Yoongi held the door open as you went out before him. He locked the door, and shoved his hands inside his dark hoodie.

"Waking me up at dawn costs a lot, so be prepared to go poor." You huffed as he followed you like a puppy.

"I've been going poor since I met you. Not surprised anymore."

You hit him with a scoff, earning a chuckle from the man. You just kept walking fast until you reached the elevator, missing the way Yoongi gazed at your face with a fond smile.

"Rude, but used to it." You grinned as you pressed the down button.

You still couldn't believe you've managed to find a friend in him. Him, who's someone you just randomly met at one of the saddest parts of your life, who's someone you thought was only a face with scratches and cuts, and who's someone you didn't expect to be caring and lovable.

Lovable? Did I just say this guy was lovable?

You slowly peeked at him through your lashes as you twirled the pasta around your fork. He was focused on cutting his fish fillet, eyebrows furrowing as if he was in the middle of doing a surgery. His lips were slightly pouting, making you think he looks so soft to be a gangster.

Whatever his reason is, I hope it wouldn't hurt him more.

— 

"TABLE 7!" You quickly grabbed the tray your boss slid at the counter. Carefully walking around the packed cafe, you managed to safely place down the tray on the designated table.

"Your order, ma'am." 

After going around to get some new customers' orders, you went back to the counter to relay the list of orders. Your feet hurt from wearing heels, but you're too used to the pain that you just feel numb whenever they stung. You were leaning on the counter to take a short break, when the chime of the door rang. 

"Yah, dummy. Go assist! Yin and Tom are busy!" Your boss barked her order loudly as she gestured at the newcomers. You unconsciously grabbed the menu without looking at the door, and just walked.

Your eyes looked up and saw a bunch of brute-looking guys entering the cafe, you swore under your breath when you felt chills creeping up your spine. You straightened your back and let out a breath before walking straight to the group. You were relieved that your knees didn't buckle as you walked.

Why are they hanging around here often? 

These guys in black leather jackets always didn't look harmless to you. They reek of danger, one that you really shouldn't be bumping on to. When you got to their table, you felt their eyes immediately set on you.

"Nice to see you again, missy." The largest goon smiled disgustingly as he looked all over you. "Missed those heels—"

"Are you guys ordering the usual?" You cut him off before you say something else that would totally not do anything but bad. You took the courage to look at them in the eyes with a sharp look, not going to be intimidated again by their presence. "If not, I'll leave the menu here."

"The usual, Ms. (y/n)." You glanced at the thin guy who was looking at your nameplate, making you feel uncomfortable with his gaze. You just silently nodded before going back to the counter without turning back. 

It's been a week since the group started coming here, and it always makes you feel bothered. Especially when you get thrown into the latest shift at night. You shiver just at the thought of them.

Yoongi's probably a thug, but I never felt unsafe with him around. These guys are just on a different level. 

When you were let out by your boss early, you almost pumped a fist in delight. She rolled her eyes as she waved you off. You giddily grabbed your bag and went out at the back door. You were walking to where you parked your bike, when you noticed a silhouette by the side. The back door was only for the employees of the cafe, and connects to an alleyway.

You ignored the scary gut-feeling you sense, and just continued walking to your bike. You were a few steps away from it, when a hand grabbed your arm. In reflex, you tried using your other arm to free your other arm, but the person was too strong. Looking up in fear, you gasped as you recognized the man.

"Got time to spare, missy?"

Your eyes drifted to the men behind him, and felt cold under their glares. You shivered as you tried breathing in and out. You knew they weren't up for a peaceful talk.

"W-What do you want from me?" You bravely asked, still struggling from the huge man's grasp. The others snickered at your question. Your eyes were restless as they slowly surrounded you. You were still in the dim-lit alleyway, away from the open streets. Your lips quivered as you looked down, not able to handle their heavy gazes.

"Nothing, dear." The huge man leaned forward, his hand touching your cheek. Your skin ran cold at his touch, feeling a cry wanting to be let out from your throat. "But from your boyfriend, we do have something to be reclaimed."

"I don't know what you're talking about." Now that you've confirmed that these guys were connected with the ones chasing Yoongi, you found yourself trying to build up the courage to speak up. 

"Oh, stop fooling us." You heard someone from the goons shout. "Just tell us where the hell he is hiding, and you'll be freed unscathed."

"I said I don't know what the hell you're talking about—"

Your face turned on the side as a force collided hard on your cheek. Your eyes teared up at the pain.

"We don't want to do this, honey. Just speak!"

"I don't know anything!" You shrieked, pushing the man away as hard as you can. You felt your cheeks being harshly grabbed, forcing you to face the disgusting man in front of you. You saw how his eyes bore into yours as he tilted your head up.

"You leave us with no choice—"

"WHAT'S GOING ON THERE?!" A loud voice on the other side of the alley way shouted, alerting the goons. The huge man let go of you in haste, nodding at his comrades behind. The man flickered your forehead with his pointer finger before walking away with his men.

You almost fell on the ground as your knees felt weak. You let out a sob when you realized what just happened. Your eyes were clouded with tears when a pair of shoes appeared in front of you. You didn't bother looking up as you were too out of it.

"Are you okay, dummy?"

You cried as you felt hands pulling you up, taking you in their arms. You felt your shoulders shook while the person rubs your back in comfort.

"Did those men hurt you?" You heard her ask, but you were not strong enough to speak. All the courage that you thought you managed to muster earlier went down the drain. You're scared out of your wits. You felt the person pull away after a few minutes, and you finally saw her.

"B-Boss." You whimpered as you couldn't believe your eyes. Out of all people that could've helped you, it was someone you didn't really like. She just smiled before frowning at your face. 

"Look at those cheeks! They're swelling, dear! Do you want to go inside first? I'll call Yin to send you home—"

"I-I want to go home now." Your tears trickled down your stinging cheeks as you whispered. "I need to go home now."

"I'll call him right now then!"

After thanking your young co-worker who accompanied you home, you rushed up to your apartment quickly. Your heart was thumping wildly in your chest, the perturbation and fear were still present. You let out a breath as the elevator doors opened at your floor.

You ran to the hallway and almost tripped when you saw a figure sitting beside your door. His head turned at the sound of your footsteps, and his eyes widened at the sight of you.

"(Y/n), where have you been—"

Before he could even finish his question and stand up from the ground, you hugged him tight, startling the man who's been waiting by your door for hours. You sobbed as you nuzzled your face in his neck, finding comfort in his warmth. His arms wrapped around your frail and weak body, not questioning why you're like this all of a sudden.

And just like that, you felt safe again.

Your arms didn't let go of him as he took your keys from your bag, gently picking you up without a sound. He let you cry silently on his chest as he carefully opened your door. Your eyes remained close, tired of letting the tears out for an hour. Yoongi closed the door and locked it before walking to your room.

He placed you down your bed, gently pulling your arms away from him despite your disapproving grunts. He squeezed your hands before kneeling down to take your heels off. You sniffled behind your sleeve as you watched him massaged your feet.

"Did you eat dinner already?" He silently asked while he looked up at you, watching in pain as your eyes were still filling with tears. He couldn't help but to reach out to your neck, gently caressing the muscle. and kiss your forehead. "Please stop crying, it's painful to watch."

"T-Then don't watch." You mumbled as he took you in his arms, feeling the urge to be close to you. "I ate already. I just want to sleep."

Yoongi hummed in response as he felt you nuzzle in his neck again. You two were being too chummy with each other right now, and it felt good. He wished you would stay like this for a while.

"Change your clothes and wash up. I'll wait until you're in dreamland, love." He mumbled as he pulled away with a frown, not liking the sudden distance from you. You just nodded and smiled gratefully at him with swollen eyes.

"I will. Thank you."

—

You turned to the side with sleepy eyes, and met Yoongi's gentle ones. Your lips curved into a smile as he tilted his head. It wasn't the first time that he did this kind of thing. Sometimes when you get nightmares from the past, he insists on staying until you drift to a peaceful sleep.

When you closed your eyes in contentment, Yoongi stared at your face for a while in wonder. Why were you crying? Why were you in a hurry? Something happened— His brain stopped working as his eyes drifted on your swollen cheeks. His eyebrows furrowed, his body leaning forward unconsciously as he reached for your cheek.

When you moaned quietly under his touch, his eyes flared. Your lips quivered as your mind drifted back to what happened earlier. Encountering a man, who did not hesitate to lay his hand on a frail woman. Yoongi's hand shook as he watched your eyes twitching, eyebrows knitted in discomfort.

"Did someone hurt you?"

You tightly closed your eyes, lips shut tight as well, hearing Yoongi's voice go lower. You can hear the frustration and anger in his tone. You didn't want to see it.

"(Y/n), I asked if someone hurt you." You gasped as you felt his breath on your face, making you open your eyes. He was staring at you with worry in his eyes, but the rage was still there. "Did someone lay their hands on you?"

You forced to keep down the sob trying to come out of your throat, but didn't manage to fight it when Yoongi let out a breath. You cried silently under the covers as he cursed under his breath.

You didn't want to know how angry he looked as he stood up from his seat. You just cried under the covers, body shivering in fear. You weren't sure if he left and didn't want to hear your cries again, but when you felt the other side of the bed shift, you knew he wasn't going to leave.

The covers moved as he went under it with you. His arms were like home, the warmth that you always sought for in the coldness nights, the safe haven that you've always dreamed of. He kissed your temple as you whimpered in his arms.

"Shush." He whispered as he rubbed your arms with your head on his chest. "This won't happen again, alright? I'll make sure of it."

You believe him.

"I won't let anyone hurt you again, I swear." 

With those words coming out from his mouth, you fell asleep peacefully.

—

You glanced at your boss, who's being her normal self today despite what happened last night. You looked away as you placed down the order of table 5, smiling politely at the follow-up request of an old lady. 

"I'll be back for your tea, ma'am." You said while bowing before running back to the counter to ask the ones behind the cashier to get you the tea. 

"Dum, can you take the closing shift with Tom? Yin and Leila can't do it today. I'll make sure Tom sends you home as well." Your boss suddenly said before you could go and wait. You gratefully looked at her and smiled.

Though you're still not over what happened last night, not that it would be forgotten that easily, you know that shouldn't refrain you from doing your work. Tom is a huge guy, so you kind of feel content to have him around at night.

"Yeah sure, boss. That would be great." You nodded and took off to the new customers barging in.

It was already 10 in the evening when the last customer went out, and you could finally breathe in relief. You were sitting on the nearest table while Tom was finishing up the remaining dishes that the last customer left. You were staring off at an empty space when the chime of the door rang.

"Sorry, but we're already closed." You spoke before turning to the person coming in. Your eyes widened as you saw Yoongi with blood trickling down his head. "Oh my shit!" You stood up from your seat in a second and grabbed a clean towel from the counter.

He almost fell on the floor when he let go of the door. You ran up to him and looked over his shoulder, scared that someone was chasing him again. This cafe's windows aren't that tinted, he'll be easily seen. You led him to a chair, arms supporting his limping body.

"What happened?! Why's your head bleeding?!" You asked in panic, voice rising as you gently dabbed the towel on his forehead. You quickly ran back to the door and locked it as fast as you can before continuing to tend Yoongi's wounds.

"(Y/n), I'm done washing. Let's go." You heard Tom shout from the kitchen area. You silently told Yoongi to stay still before going to talk to your co-worker. When you entered the kitchen you saw him packing his bag already.

"Tom, can you lend me a hand?"

When you finally saw the building of your apartment, you quickly got out of his car and supported Yoongi in the back seat. Tom insisted on helping you up the building, but you said you can manage.

"Thank you, Tom. I owe you one." You smiled at him before taking Yoongi into the building as quickly as possible. You left your bike in the alleyway, not caring if it disappears the next day as long as you get home safe with him.

You nodded at the guard by the entrance, who looked alarmed at the sight of the man in your arms.

"I can manage." You said before he could offer help. Yoongi was conscious, it's just that he was weak and needed support to walk. He has not said a word throughout the whole ride, and you weren't expecting him to do so.

You sighed in relief as you got to your apartment door, struggling to get your keys when Yoongi took it from you. He quickly shoved it in the keyhole and twisted it open. You pushed the door open with your arm still around his waist.

You swiftly locked the door and led him to the couch. When he was settled, you placed your bag on the ground and took out the first-aid kit you kept under the coffee table. His head rested on the cushion, eyes closed in exhaustion as he let you clean up his wounds again.

You first focused on the bleeding on his head, making sure the damage is not too serious. You ran to the kitchen to get a small block of ice to wrap it with a towel, and went back to the couch, making Yoongi hold the ice pack with his hand as you treat his other wounds. You quickly worked on the cuts on his cheeks and chin, before moving to his arms.

"Take your hoodie off." You silently said as you see him wince at the pressure you pressed on his bicep. He complied immediately and placed down the ice pack on the side, helping you pull himself out of the clothing. You set the hoodie aside and looked at his arms. Bruises were everywhere. "Oh damn." You cursed hopelessly as you gazed up at him. 

"Got rid of them."

You were about to get another towel when you heard him mumble. You turned to him in a snap.

"What?"

"Just tend to me, love." He whispered as he looked down at you, his busted lips curling into a sweet but pained smile. 

You didn't think twice and got up to get new towels to clean him up. You didn't question him throughout, just silently patching him up. It was almost midnight when you finished and he looked like he was too tired to be awake after. You sighed in relief as you leaned on the couch, caressing his hand that was holding onto yours now.

Maybe this time you won't let go.

"I'll stay, Yoongi." You whispered as you let your lips touch his skin. "I'll stay with you." You said before drifting to dreamland in a minute.

The sunlight caressed your face gently in the morning, making you furrow your eyebrows, awakening you in the process. You grunted in response, trying to face away from the light. You turned your body away from it and sighed as you felt satisfied enough to go back to sleep.

You nuzzled your face into your pillow and smiled, taking in the minty scent with your senses. Yoongi just remained still, his arms around you as he prevented you from falling off of the couch. He found you sleeping on the ground with his hand on yours, and was too tired to put you to bed. He just took you in his arms and slept with you on the couch.

He hummed as his eyes gazed at your sleeping figure. Your cheeks were still a bit swollen, and he didn't like it. His teeth gritted when he remembered the cocky expression of that man that admitted to have hit you. He swore he only saw red when he kicked the life out of that man. Though he wouldn't have gone out alive without his comrades. It was a good thing he was in his right mind when he called for his friends before going into a huge fight.

His hand gently and lightly caressed your hair, pushing away the strands away from your face. Yoongi smiled, slightly wincing at the pain on his lips.

"I don't know when this started." He mumbled as he touched your cheek lovingly. "I just suddenly started liking you so much."

Admitting it to himself out loud was a new thing for him. Especially in front of the person he likes. He internally groaned for being so cheesy in front of a sleeping person. He just closed his eyes and sighed, feeling like a coward for confessing while the person involved was asleep.

"I got it that bad, huh." He let out a chuckle silently until his eyes shut open in surprise.

Your eyes were closed tight as your lips enveloped his own softly. They were as plump and sweet as he thought they would be. Your hands were gently caressing his cheeks, feeling the roughness of his bandages under your skin. Yoongi just found himself nibbling on your lips back, and hugging your back more to pull you closer against him. You let out a moan muffled by his mouth, and smiled.

When you managed to pull away, his arms didn't. He was just staring into your eyes, trying to capture the moment and make sure he wasn't dreaming. You pinched his cheek teasingly and pecked him again on the lips, nuzzling your nose against his. 

"Thank god, I have it bad too, love."

And bad has never felt this good.

— 

Fluffy’s note: I know a lot are celebrating after for so long! YAY! 🎉 I’ve seen that a lot really wanted to have another part for Broken, so I made this last one-shot. It can be read as a stand-alone, or as a continuation of the first two scenarios (Fixed & Broken). I hope it made you guys happy! I’ll do my best! 😘💕

[lemonz-and-limez]

The Amends Consideration

A/N: @ailurophilia72 if you ask, you shall receive.

This one is a heavy one, I'm not going to lie. Saw this prompt on tumblr and it got my brain going I just couldn't get it out of my head. Death has reared its ugly head in my life again and that kind of fueled a lot of this story. I am in a lot of pain right now and I needed it out. This story was the product.

I know in Young Sheldon, George is portrayed a lot differently than what is let on in Big Bang. I tried to go for the way he was described in BBT, a darker version definitely compared to what we see in YS. Just for full disclosure.

Prompt: Sheldon gets sad when he realizes his dad will never get to meet his child

Sheldon didn't know what to think as he pulled his mother's unexpected package out of the mailbox. Mary hadn't mentioned anything about sending him something, so the contents of the small box in his hand was a mystery.

He sorted through the rest of the mail on the elevator ride back up to his and Amy's shared apartment. Bills, adds, a couple of congratulations cards for the upcoming birth of their son. But nothing interested him more than the nondescript box he cradled under his arm.

As the elevator doors dinged open, Sheldon paid no mind to the obvious chatter coming from 4A. Penny and Bernadette had teamed up to throw Amy a baby shower, which his wife wanted but never had time to plan. With her two friends already being mothers themselves, they decided it would be easier to take the responsibility into their own hands. Of course, that meant Amy would probably be gone most of the day, knowing how those ladies like to chat. Sheldon didn't mind though, he never cared if he was on his own.

He had planned on getting some work done that he had neglected during the week. No day like Saturday to get things done, after all. However, the second he stepped back into his apartment, he threw everything from the mailbox except his mother's package onto the kitchen counter.

Sitting down on the teal couch, Sheldon inspected the parcel on the coffee table in front of him. "Alright, let's find out what you are," Sheldon whispered to no one, taking out his tiny pocket knife and carefully cutting the tape. The box opened from the side, so he spilled the contents out before him. There was a loud clunk as something heavy, and plastic hit the table. A couple other things fell out with it, one of which was a note from his mother.

Shelly,

Found this while cleaning out the garage. Figured it was something you should have. Forgive me for watching it without you, but I needed to know what was on the tape.

Please watch it, baby. He would have wanted you to see it.

Love, Mom

Sheldon set the note back down on the table and picked up the item that had caused the most ruckus on its way out of the box. A VHS tape. Probably the last thing Sheldon expected his mother to send. Upon further inspection, Sheldon found his father's handwriting scrawled across the label.

Make Amends – For Sheldon

Pinching the bridge of his nose, Sheldon sighed heavily. A part of him didn't even want to give this tape the time of day. His father had been dead a long time; there was no need to dig up dirt from twenty-six years ago. But his curiosity couldn't help but wonder what his father could possibly have said to him on this tape.

According to her note, Mary had watched it already. Should he just call her and just have her tell him what was on it?

No. Sheldon was mature enough to watch this recording without calling his Mommy for assistance.

He moved quickly around the small living space and in front of the television. After the "football game tape over" incident last year, Sheldon invested in a used VHS player. Amy had teased him about it for weeks, but he couldn't possibly tell her the real reason he got it. Not to watch old movies from his childhood, which he did so Amy couldn't call his bluff, but to listen to his father's voice again when he started to forget what it sounded like.

With a few expert moves, Sheldon had the video playing in no time. Cradling the remote in his hands, back on the couch now, he leaned forward with rapt attention.

George Cooper was already in view, adjusting the camera on whatever he had it perched on. Which, according to the date, also on the label, was in 1994.

It was only a couple of seconds before his father had settled into the chair of his old office at Sheldon's old high school. From the looks of things, it seemed dark, like it was late in the evening. Unfortunately, he didn't have time to think about it too much because the dead man started talking. Literally.

"Hello, Sheldon," George sighed. "I don't know when this video is going to find you or how you're going to take it, but this needs to be said, Son. I have to say this to you. Especially to you."

His father paused for a moment as if to compose himself. The moisture in his eyes told Sheldon enough.

"I'm in a twelve-step program, Sheldon. For my drinkin'. And before you think of it, no, your mother is not forcing me into it. I am going on my own free will, but I am doing it for her. I love your mom, Sheldon, I know you probably don't believe that, but I do."

Another pause.

"Step nine of this program is to make amends with people I have harmed. And a part of me knows you will never fully forgive me, but of all the people I need to apologize to, you're at the top of the list, Sheldon. Not just because of what you have seen, or the things I have said to you drunk, but because of my shortcomings as a father."

"I always had this idea of what a man should be. The typical, all things masculine, into sports, rootin' for the Dallas Cowboy's kinda stuff. But you never did fit that role, did ya, son?"

Sheldon watched his father smile at his question. There wasn't malice in his eyes like he was angry, but instead, he seemed almost proud of him.

"Georgie was always the one who liked to go outside and play catch with me, and go fishin', and do all of the things 'typical boys like to do'. You never had an interest in any of that, and because of it, I never treated you as I should. As a father should. Unconditional love no matter what your child does or likes. I tried to change you at any chance I could get, and that wasn't fair to you. I should have embraced your intelligence. I should have bought you that science kit you wanted instead of that dirt bike. I should have been the father you deserved, Sheldon, because you did. You are amazing, son, and I am so insanely proud to be your father."

Sheldon wasn't expecting this. He didn't think his father was capable of saying such heartfelt words about him. His father could sing praises about Georgie's accomplishments all day long, few as they may have been. But even though Sheldon never heard George say he was proud while he was alive, hearing the words said over tape struck a chord within him.

Before the man on the screen could start talking again, Sheldon pressed pause. At the beginning of the video, he had expected George to discuss the unfortunate affair that Sheldon had unfortunately born witness to. After all, that was his most blatant faux pas. But his dad had dug deeper, past the surface, past the infidelity. He looked for the root problem of his relationship with his son. Sheldon's father was a man much like himself, never liked to outwardly display emotions often, but when he did, they were sincere. So, for the great George Cooper to open up like this, to a camera albeit, meant a great deal to him.

It had been a long time since Sheldon had thought of his dad the way he was at the moment. Like the man who raised him, who helped shape who he was today, and not the man who simply cheated on his mother. That was the title he had held in Sheldon's eyes for a long time. There had been a few cracks here and there. Like he and Amy's wedding or the night they watched the pep talk George gave the football team in the locker room. But those moments were fleeting. Gone as quickly as they came.

Perhaps it was because Sheldon had yet to hear the contents of this tape. The fact that he never made amends with his father before he died had forever tainted his perspective of him. Sheldon couldn't be sure.

All he knew was that he suddenly felt much more at peace in regards to his dad. But in place of Sheldon's bitterness and anger towards him was a tug of grief in his gut that he hadn't felt for years. The twisting knot of pain that permeated throughout his entire body.

His dad in the video, had said he was proud of him. Insanely proud of him. And yet, he didn't even live long enough to see half of his greatest accomplishments. He never got to see him with a Ph.D., win a Nobel, and countless other awards. He didn't get to meet Sheldon's friends, never got to meet Amy. His father's absence was felt heavily at their wedding.

And now, as Sheldon was on the cusp of becoming a father himself, he wouldn't get to meet his grandson.

Even from his seated position on the couch, Sheldon doubled over from the crippling feeling that came with that thought. Missy had expressed similar views when she gave birth to her first child, but Sheldon hadn't expected that feeling to be so intense. So utterly heartbreaking.

Sheldon wouldn't get to see both of his parents cradling his newborn. His son wouldn't be able to enjoy two grandfathers. Or learn football from his Texan Pop-Pop and be forced to root for the Cowboys no matter how bad their record was.

His son would never meet the formidable George Cooper.

The dry sob that escaped his mouth surprised him. But then came another one, and again, and again, until his face was no longer dry. Sheldon could hardly remember the last time he had cried like this over his father. He had done it once in the twenty-six almost twenty-seven years his father had been dead. The day he found out his father passed away when he was alone in his dorm room miles away from home. But he was fourteen then, barely able to understand the true concept of death. Sure, he knew the science behind it, but not the emotions. Not the grief.

Still, the tears he shed in his living room were not unlike those he had shed in his dorm room. Alone, vulnerable, miles away from Texas. But one key element was different; he now could fully understand the scope of what his father being gone meant. How it impacted the lives of his family. How it changed what his son's childhood would look like.

Sheldon was now beginning to dread the day he would have to explain to his son why he only had one grandfather while everyone else at school had two. Hopefully, Amy's dad lived long enough so he wouldn't have to explain to his kid why he had none.

With his elbows rested on his knees and his fingers interlaced behind his head, he let his body feel the emotion running through it. He didn't try to surpass it as he had for years. But that just made it all the more intense.

"Sheldon?"

His head snapped up at the sound of Amy's voice. His heavily pregnant wife stood in the open doorway to their apartment, staring at him with concern.

Amy glanced at the TV for a moment. "What's wrong?" She asked, slowly walking the short distance to the couch.

Sheldon frantically wiped at his face, trying to make himself look more presentable. As if that mattered to Amy. "This came in the mail today." He held up the empty box his mother sent. "Mom was cleaning out the garage when she found this tape of my dad. She wanted me to have it," his voice cracked with the last few words as he threw the cardboard back onto the table.

Amy, now sitting next to him, rubbed his back soothingly. "Well, what was on it?"

"It's nothing, just my Dad explaining he was in a twelve-step program, and he wanted to make amends with me."

"So, why the tears?"

His face scrunched up again. "I don't… it just… it just hit me that our son will never be able to meet him," he sobbed. Sheldon gestured with his hands and tried to speak, but the words caught in his throat. "I-I-I don't know that j-just hurt more than I-I expected it t-to," he eventually stuttered.

Amy sniffled beside him, which made Sheldon finally look back up at her. She gave him a sad smile as she continued to rub his hunched back. "What was on the video that made you realize that?"

"I thought he was going to apologize for the affair, the one I walked in on. Instead, it was for his mistakes as a father. How he never seemed as proud of me as he did with Georgie. I didn't think my dad was capable of digging below the surface, but he did. He found the true problem with our relationship, and he wanted to make up for it." Sheldon picked up the remote and rewound the tape a little. "I mean, I have never seen my father talk about me this way. Look."

He pressed play.

"I should have been the father you deserved, Sheldon, because you did. You are amazing, son, and I am so insanely proud to be your father."

The video stopped again.

"If he was proud of me then, how would he feel about me now? Just the fact that I found you… he would have been over the moon. I'm sure of it. But now we're about to have a son, and he won't be here for it? I just…" Sheldon trailed off, not knowing quite how to word what he was feeling.

But Amy nodded in understanding. "Above all else, you wish he were here for our son," she stated, not asked.

"Yes. Despite all of my father's faults, he did care about his family. He would've gone down protecting us, probably, if a heart attack hadn't claimed him first. In light of all of my professional accomplishments, this is what would have meant the most to him."

Sheldon glanced down at his wife's stomach, where their son was visibly wiggling around. He smiled fondly at the sight but swallowed thickly at the emotion that rose with it. In a few short weeks, he would be holding that baby, their families would be surrounding them. Rejoicing with them.

But George Cooper wouldn't be there.

Suddenly, Amy's hand was no longer on his back but on his knee. "Sheldon," she beckoned him to look at her. "There's nothing I could say that would make this any easier for you, but might I suggest something?"

He nodded.

She laid her free hand on her stomach. "What do you think about making the baby's middle name George?"

"What?" He gawked. "I thought you wanted it to be William. You know, for Darcy."

She stared at him long and hard for a moment and then patted his leg. "I did, but I already got Elliot; let me give you this one."

Sheldon shook his head. "No," he said firmly. "You're doing all the hard work; you should get to decide two of the names. Seeing as how you don't want to hyphenate his last name."

Amy grimaced suddenly and held a hand to her side, her face scrunched up in pain. And suddenly, Sheldon was on high alert. "What's wrong? Are you having contractions?"

"No." She waved her hand at him. "Just got kicked pretty hard, that's all." He opened his mouth to point out her hard work again but she stopped him. "Look, Sheldon, I am really not upset about our kids only being Coopers. Seriously. I want to do this for you. I want his middle name to be George."

"Are you one hundred percent sure? You don't just feel sorry for me because my dad is dead and you think this will cheer me up?"

It sounded stupid coming out of his own mouth. Sheldon could only imagine what it sounded like to Amy.

"Sweetheart," she endeared. "Our son's middle name should be special, not the name of a fictional character. We only decided on William because we couldn't think of anything else. Neither one of us suggested George for some reason. I have no emotional attachments to the name William, but I do to the name George. We both do."

Sheldon took her hand in his own. "You're sure about this?"

"Absolutely. Besides, don't you think Elliot George Cooper sounds better than Elliot William Cooper?"

"William did lack a certain panache, didn't it?" Sheldon smirked, finally coming around after more convincing than it should have.

Amy laughed at that, but her face went serious again rather quickly. "I'm sorry you miss your dad, Sheldon. I would have loved to meet him."

"And he would have loved to meet you."

Sheldon looked back at the TV, his father's paused face, still staring back at him. He really did look like his father. His mother had always said so, but he never believed her. Now an adult, it was like looking into a mirror. He really was his mini-me.

If Elliot got Sheldon's eyes, then he would really have George's eyes. Sheldon only had them because of his father. Suddenly, he selfishly understood Amy's hope for their children to have his eyes.

"What are you thinking about?" Amy asked, pulling him from his reverie.

"It's just uncanny how similar my father and I look. I guess now I'm just being selfish in hoping our son looks like me." Sheldon looked over and was met with Amy's blank expression. "Not that I don't want him to look like you," he quickly tried to cover himself.

Amy giggled and motioned for him to stop. "I wasn't thinking that. I know what you meant. Your dad may no longer be alive, but he lives on through his children and their children. Not to sound overly sappy."

"Too late," he joked. "I know I am being overly sentimental right now because I'm thinking about my dad. But seeing his face again, hearing his voice, I guess I'm just trying to hold onto whatever I can of him."

"That's grief, honey," Amy said softly.

Sheldon nodded, acknowledging the truth and the harsh reality behind those words. "I know, and I haven't allowed myself to feel that for a long time."

They sat in relative silence for a moment, the gentle whirring of the VHS player the only sound filling the air. There was still more on the tape; George certainly had more to say. Sheldon was sure of it. He thought for a moment, then turned to his wife and asked, "do you want to watch the rest of the tape with me?"

"Really?"

He nodded slightly.

"I do."

George Cooper's voice sounded once more in a matter of seconds.

"Sheldon, I know you are going to do great things one day. I have known that since… well… forever. I know you're going to find amazing people to surround yourself with who will love you and treat you the way you deserve to be treated."

Check.

"I know you will make countless accomplishments academically, more than you have already."

Check.

"I know you will fall in love with someone someday who will make your heart soar."

Sheldon and Amy smiled at each other, squeezing each other's hand slightly. Check.

"I know you will have exceptional, amazing children one day because you and I both know you are too exceptional to not do so."

Almost check.

"I know you're going to live a full life, Sheldon. Because you have such a drive for greatness, and I know you have my stubbornness, so, you will settle for nothing less."

George leaned forward, on his desk Sheldon was assuming.

"I know I have a lot of making up to do, and I hope someday you will accept this apology. I know you have a kind heart, Sheldon; I have seen it with my own eyes. I will understand if you can't, I have failed you as a father thus far, but I hope that someday you will extend that kindness towards me. I cannot wait to see you grow up, do all the things I know you want to do. Hopefully, I'll be around to see you accomplish most of them."

Sheldon should have finished the video before he started crying earlier. The fact that this was taped less than a year before his father passed away did not escape him. Nor did that make his pain any easier.

He figured, at least now he had Amy by his side.

"I hope that when this video finds you, you will listen and not throw it away. Even if that's what I probably deserve. I'm going to try sending these tapes out soon, so call me if you see this. Just let me know you've watched it. If that's all you can do for now, I'll understand; I've got a lot of things to work on."

His father smiled fondly at the camera. Not the forced one that Sheldon could always remember from his childhood but a genuine, real smile. It was also his smile.

"I love you, Sheldon. Talk to you soon."

The video stopped and began to rewind to the beginning. Amy was rubbing at his back again, soothing him as tears once again fell from his eyes. But Sheldon was still too transfixed on the screen. He whispered it so quietly, he doubted Amy would be able to hear it. Which would be fine. It was one of the few things not meant for her ears anyway.

"I love you too, dad."

A/N: Well that ended darker than I usually end this. This story ended up being surprisingly personal to me for a lot of reasons, and since I am dab smack in the middle of grief it just didn't feel right to have some uber sappy happy ending, because that's not genuine. That's not real. It's bittersweet at the least I hope.

Thank you so much for reading, especially right now, it means the world to me.

[theoldaeroplane]

HARDWIRED - 10 - Together

Hey! This is the last piece of Hardwired I have written, and I think it’s an okay enough ending. I’ve started a new original project involving cryptids and rainstorms and, uh, I maybe picked April and Dell and some other characters up and dumped them in there and now I’m just shaking the box until it turns into something. I wrote about them for eight years, I’m pretty sure I could write about them for eight more. We’ll see what comes of it, but I’m really, really excited about the project.

As always, thanks for reading. <3

---

CW: indiginous slur

It’s always something.

When Dell emerges from the bedroom in the morning, groggy and with his mind still racing—about his family, his mother, the fact April’s request that he not tell her of her beauty still stings—for one peaceful moment he forgets all of it. This is because the dog is standing on the kitchen counter with a guilty look. His snout is covered in barbecue sauce from where he had been licking the plates from last night’s dinner.

The rest of the day isn’t much better. His phone starts to blow up as his relatives catch wind of his mother’s version of events, and after the seventh call starts to blare he hears April yell fuck you! and stalk out the back door.

Through all the disparate messages, a whole finally pieces together. “They want to meet you,” he says when she prowls back in, cigarette smoke clinging to her. He feels a flash of sadness at the sight of her hair, short and messy, and wishes it was long again. An instant later he’s checking himself in worry: why does he want that? To appease his family?

“Why?” April says, bristling. “So they can call me an injun?”

“April—”

“So mommy can wail about her innocent little boy being corrupted by the nasty brown bitch? What?”

His brow twists. He’s silent, for a moment. Then: “Sugar, I wasn’t saying you should do it.”

“Then what were you saying?”

“I was stating a fact,” Dell says, treading carefully. This is an outburst—a deserved one, to be sure, but rarer and rarer for her these days. “And yes, I’m sure they’d find a way to be horrible to you if you went along with it. I’ve got to handle them. You don’t have to do anything.”

“Damn right,” she mutters.

---

Dell leaves the next day, off to the nearest relative’s home: Missy’s place. April at least kisses him goodbye.

It goes miserably, of course. The whole clan wants to know why April refused to come, and then why she’s so stuck-up, and why can’t he just marry a nice Christian girl, and then it’s back to the interrogation of Dell’s years of being supposedly dead.

April is gone when he returns. Shep, too. He waits up that night to see if she’ll return, but this is part of life with April: sometimes she leaves.

His bed feels cold.

---

She wants to go home.

As soon as the thought crosses her mind she knows it won’t help, and might be actively harmful. The home she wants isn’t the house in Arizona, anyway. She doesn’t know where it is.

All these thoughts pass April’s mind as she eats yet more fast food, perched on the edge of the truck bed. It’s well past midnight, and Shep is torn between begging for scraps and going to sleep. Overhead the KFC parking lot, the moon gazes down. She is here and not in Arizona and not with Dell and not home, because of the fact she is a fucking moron.

She’s not alone.

“Still not talking to me?”

April shovels more chicken into her mouth.

“Yeah, okay, that’s fair.”

The ghost kicks his legs, leaning back on long arms that gently leak smoke. April ignores him until the fatty fried skin feels disgusting in her mouth. She peels off chunks of meat and tosses them to the dog.

“Y’know you only see me when you feel guilty, right?” At her side, the ghost makes as if to elbow her. “I know I ain’t Alice. I ain’t got advice or nothing. Just, maybe think about it.”

Great. Wonderful. Just what she needed, for her own hallucination to inform her of his purpose, that he’s a signal of her guilt. Like she’s too stupid to figure that out on her own.

“Nothing personal, babe, but sometimes you are.”

When she turns to snap at him, he’s gone.

---

Dell’s mother has a key to his apartment, but April does not. April sleeps in her car, in his parking lot, and when she drags herself to his door at six in the morning and bangs on it it’s a surprise to everyone.

Probably Dell will think it’s his family again, here to haunt him further. Probably he’s going to be frustrated with her disappearing act, because in hindsight she can see it for the angry, punishing response that it was. She does not feel bad about being angry with Dell’s family. She does feel bad about taking it out on him—especially after the thing with Janet.

The door opens. Dell is in the undershirt and striped house pants she’s gotten to be very fond of in the last two weeks. This makes her feel worse.

“Hey,” she says, not meeting his eyes. “Um. I was going to leave, but I came back, instead.”

He looks tired. He looks tired both in the way that tells her she definitely woke him up, and in the way that tells her his meeting with his family definitely did not go well. “I’m sorry,” she says.

“Nothing to be sorry for,” he says, like that’s true. He takes her hand and tugs her inside. She crosses the threshold and half-expects to be struck down.

Then he laughs, half to himself. “My lucky penny,” he says, and when April realizes he’s referring to her, her cheeks grow hot. “Come on. We’ll figure this out together.”

[jwillowwolf]

Magic and Miracles - Chapter 6

Sanders Sides Big Bang fic, Chapter 6!

< Previous Chapter | Next Chapter > | Masterlist

Summary: “How did you get lost?”

“We just did. It’s not impossible to lose your way in a thick forest, Jan,” Logan shrugged.

Janus crossed his arms and hissed. “Lies.”

Willow sighed again. “They believe you guys ditched us on purpose to make out or something.”

“What?”

Warning/s: food mention.

Characters: Logan, Virgil, OCs, Roman, Remy, Remus, Patton, Janus.

Tag List: @theimprobabledreamersworld @remy-please-come-back

Read on AO3

6 | A Fighting Chance

After taking care of a couple of things, including getting an explanation letter from Dune for Remy written up, the boys were escorted home by Missy and Pranks, the two pixies from before who were very apologetic about the whole accidental kidnapping thing.

It was nearly nightfall, so the forest was dark, yet full of nightlife. Crickets, owls, frogs, and other creatures created a beautiful ambient orchestra all around. Here and there were some bioluminescent mushrooms glowing and a couple of fireflies too every now and again. Their path was mostly illuminated by the moonlight though, which gave their surroundings a colder, more mysterious, bewitching aura.

Missy and Pranks were walking a few steps behind the boys, and whispering to each other. Logan wasn’t sure what about, but from the small snippets he caught, they seemed to be discussing what to have for dinner when they got back. He tried not to think about that too much since he was quite hungry himself.

“Virgil?”

“Yes?”

“Uh, since things are… calmer now, would you mind explaining… everything?”

“Right, well… Where do you want me to begin?”

“I don’t really know. Perhaps with the whole pixies-are-not-extinct thing?”

“Ah, yeah. The whole fae locking themselves away thing happened, except they were not completely wiped out. The fortress where we just were, is the last existing gate between our worlds. The fae race decided it would be best to let everyone believe they had won and wiped them out if only to protect the pixies.

“Pixies are spiritually bound to this world, so they can’t come to the fae realm for protection. Crossing between realms is forbidden, apart from those who have permission from my grandmother, the fae Queen.”

“So then how did your parents meet?”

“Well, there’s an ancient tradition in fae culture, where at the age of eighteen, an individual must go on some kind of grand quest to prove their valour. It’s an out of date practice, but my Papa, Prince Nico, wanted to do it. And for his quest, he wanted to come here to retrieve his great-grandfather’s staff, which had been abandoned during the war.

“Grandmother didn’t like it but eventually gave in to his pleading. He found out the sword was being kept in the castle and got a job there to figure out how he could smuggle it home. That job allowed him to meet my dad, King -then Prince- Thomas.

“After a handful of encounters, they fell head over heels in love with one another. Papa was scared but trusted the secret of his identity to dad. He thought that dad had rejected him when he spent the next day seemingly avoiding him, but it turned out that dad was trying to get the staff for papa so he didn’t have to steal it.”

“That’s quite romantic.”

“Yeah. You know, you’re probably the first person in a decade to learn about this story.”

“Oh. Why all the secrecy though?”

“Revealing the whole truth to the public could cause a panic. They planned on revealing it after their marriage, but dad’s parents weren’t exactly… fae friendly, so they decided to wait till after dad became king. When that happened though, the kingdom was kind of unstable and they worried dad would be overthrown, so they decided to wait till they had everything under control. That included having an heir -me- and after I was born they decided it would be best to raise me away from the scrutiny of the public eye.

“I get to choose when I’m ready to take on the responsibility of a public image, then after that everything is set to be revealed to the kingdom in a way we hope causes the least amount of problems.”

“That’s… really complicated.”

“Yeah… uh, Logan?”

“Yes?”

“Thank you.”

“For what?”

“Listening to my explanation. Accepting all of this insanity. Helping me heal my tía. Honestly, I would have failed miserably without you.”

“I sorely doubt that. Everything you did today, you did yourself. I only helped you understand the spell quicker. You’re a hero, Virgil.”

“You still helped me though, so... I guess we’re both heroes.”

The rest of the walk home was comfortably silent. The conversation with Remy was a bit louder but still not terrible since they had the letter to explain everything that had happened. Remy just gave Missy and Pranks a stern scolding, then gave Virgil and Logan dinner before sending them off to bed. The others were already asleep, so they didn’t have to worry about facing their classmates until the morning.

When it was finally morning though, Logan found himself being woken by rapid knocking on his door and loud yet indiscernible whispers coming from the other side. He got up to answer the door, and as he got closer and his mind became clearer, he recognised the whispering voices belonged to Willow and Janus.

“For Valhalla’s sake, let him sleep.”

“He’s slept enough. Come on, aren’t you the least bit curious?”

“You’re only here because of that stupid--”

“It’s not stupid.”

“Yes, it is.”

“Um, did you two need me for something?” Logan asked once he opened the door.

“Finally! Are you a heavy sleeper or what?” Janus huffed.

Willow sighed. “I’m sorry about them, but they’re impossible when their mind is set.”

“It’s alright that you woke me, but why did you wake me?”

“We wanted to know what happened yesterday,” Janus answered.

Logan shrugged. “Virgil and I got lost.”

Janus gave him a flat unimpressed look. “May we come in?”

“I suppose…”

Logan stepped out of the way and allowed Willow and Janus into the room. He closed the door behind them and the trio sat down on his bed.

“Okay, now what really happened?”

“We honestly just got lost. We thought we saw some beirroot off to the side of the path, but when we got closer it turned out to be weeds. Then when we got back to the path, everyone was already out of sight.”

Logan felt bad lying to his friends like this, but he had agreed to keep what happened yesterday a secret. He and Virgil had talked about what to tell the others as an excuse for their disappearance and decided that this was the best way to explain it. They told Remy the truth of course, but Remy knew Virgil’s secret from the beginning of all this, so they weren’t telling him anything new.

Janus didn’t seem to be believing him though. “You two are the ones who seem most familiar with the forest. How did you get lost?”

“We just did. It’s not impossible to lose your way in a thick forest, Jan,” Logan shrugged.

Janus crossed his arms and hissed. “Lies.”

Willow sighed again. “They believe you guys ditched us on purpose to make out or something.”

“What?” Logan squeaked, his eyes going wide.

“Well, come on, it’s not exactly subtle how you’re always gravitating to one another like a pair of magnets, and your interactions are all soft and considerate towards each other’s feelings,” Janus pointed out. “Even the way you guys just look at each other is obvious pining like your eyeballs are screaming affection.”

Willow nodded in agreement. “We’ve all just been waiting for when you’d confess and get together.”

“Virgil and I aren’t-- wait, who’s we exactly?” Logan asked.

Janus shrugged. “The entire class, plus Everleigh, Remy, and your dad.”

Logan paled. “What?”

Willow nodded again. “Janus even made a bet with Roman about when you guys would get together. Which is why they were banging down your door.”

“I was politely knocking, thank you very much.”

“Guys, I don’t have a crush on Virgil.”

Willow and Janus stared at him blankly.

“Sure, and I’m actually an elf.”

“I am being serious.”

Willow gasped. “He’s still in denial. How are you so deeply in denial?”

“I’m not in denial, I am genuinely aware of my feelings towards Virgil, and they are in no way romantic.”

“So you just want to…” Janus trailed off with a suggestive gesture that made Logan turn redder than Remus’s eyes.

“No!”

“Okay, you’re definitely lying now. There is no way in Hel that you’re that painfully oblivious and obvious.” Willow declared.

Janus hummed in agreement. “You know you can tell us anything, Lo. We’re your friends and support your feelings towards anyone. As long as they’re decent.”

“I’m telling the truth here!”

Janus and Willow gave him another flat look, and he just groaned in agony.

---

Breakfast was normal, Roman, Remus, and Patton all asked what happened, and Virgil gave them the same excuse Logan had given Janus and Willow. They seemed to be more accepting of this, but Logan noted that they exchanged a look of mild disbelief.

He tried really hard not to think about it because that would make him think back to what Willow and Janus had said, and then he’d be blushing uncontrollably again. That kept him distracted all the way through breakfast until afterwards when Remy was leading them to class again. Except, today he wasn’t leading them to the classroom, or even outside...

“Wait, are you really going to show us what’s inside of the mystery tower?!” Remus shrieked.

Remy nodded. “Yeah, you guys can finally see what the mystery is.”

“Oh my gosh! I have a few theories and if it isn’t at least one of them I will be massively disappointed.” Patton declared.

“What is it? What is it?” Willow asked, jumping up and down.

“It’s a…” Remy dramatically opened the door. “Staircase!”

Mildly disappointed silence.

“To a secret room?” Roman asked.

“Nope. Just the basement.”

“Is the treasure in the basement?” Janus inquired.

“What? No.” Remy replied, beginning to descend the stairs with the class trailing behind him. “It’s a basement. With specially made equipment for combat training.”

Everyone paused. “Wait, what?”

“That’s what we’re learning today. Combat!” Remy announced as they reached the end of the stairwell.

There was a small room with various weapons and armour lining the two walls to the sides. Longbows, spears, swords, daggers, any weapon you could wish for seemed to be stored here. The wall straight ahead was made entirely out of glass and showed a second, much larger, room where the training most likely took place.

“This is the armoury, where you suit up and pick your weapons. Make sure to choose something you feel comfortable using in battle,” Remy suggested.

“Wait, do we actually get to fight each other?” Remus asked excitedly,

“Yeah, but don’t get ahead of yourself. Everything here, including the entire basement, is covered with special enchantments that make it so you can’t get injured worse than minor bruises. Now pick a weapon so I can show you how to use it.”

“Uh, how do we choose a weapon that works for us?” Patton inquired.

“It’s easy Pat,” Roman answered. “Just try picking something up and if it feels right in your hands then it’s perfect!”

“I doubt it’s that simple, but at least we have somewhere to start,” Janus said.

Everyone began looking around for what ‘felt right in their hands’. Quickly enough, Roman found himself a katana, and Remus got out a morning star, so the two of them were swinging their stuff around in one corner. Virgil got a couple of daggers from somewhere and Janus just went with a large quarterstaff. When Remus commented on it, they simply tripped him over with said staff. Logan, Patton, and Willow were the last to find something and honestly seemed to be out of their element.

“I thought you did combat training with your pack,” Janus commented to Willow.

“Well, yeah, but we just use our natural abilities. Oh, Remy, is it okay if I go without a weapon?”

Remy shrugged. “Sure. just be careful using your claws or whatever.”

“Hey, Patton, what about this?” Remus suggested, showing him a longbow and quiver of arrows. “You could probably do well with range attacks.”

Patton took the items. “Oh, maybe.”

“So, that just leaves you, Logan. Find anything?” Roman asked.

“No. I never considered learning about the art of combat and your suggestion to look for what feels good has not been very helpful.”

“Have you actually picked up anything?”

“Yes.”

“Well, what have you tried?” Janus inquired.

“This dagger, that longsword, the spear, the shortsword, and this axe. The spear and axe seem like they would take a lot more arm strength than I have. While the dagger is too short, the longsword too long, and the shortsword too bulky.”

“Try this,” Virgil proposed, handing him a delicate-looking rapier.

Logan held it in his hand a moment and did a slicing motion in the air to test its balance. It felt just right.

“Looks like you’re all ready for your first lesson,” Remy said. “Let’s get started then.”

---

“Okay, that’s enough for today.”

The students all collapsed to the floor with exhaustion and collectively sighed in relief.

“I regret ever learning what was in that tower,” Remus remarked.

It had been three weeks since the students had started training with weapons, and Remy was not his usual laid back self when it came to this. There was a clear distinction between Remy the relaxed magic teacher and Remy the nightmare fighting instructor. The kids loathed/feared Remy the fighting instructor for the hellish hours they seemed to spend on training in the basement. They couldn’t be seriously injured here, but the constant work made their muscles ache all over by the end of the day.

“Before you all go upstairs for dinner, I have something to tell you.”

“Please don’t make us do more lessons,” Willow groaned.

“Actually, this is about an opportunity to take a break from your lessons.”

All the kids sat up in attention at that, despite the protests of their limbs.

“If you can complete a test tomorrow, then I’ll grant you all a vacation.”

“We get to have a holiday!?” Roman squealed.

“You’ll need to complete the test though,” Remy stressed.

Janus narrowed his eyes in suspicion. “What is the test on?”

“Combat.”

Remus cursed in elvish and collapsed again onto the floor. “We’re doomed!”

Remy chuckled. “Don’t be so quick to give up. You kids have a chance, even if it’s small.”

“How will the test be administered?” Logan inquired.

“All of you will be going against me. If you defeat me, you win. If you surrender, you fail.”

“We get to work together? Isn’t it kind of unfair going seven against one?” Patton commented.

“It won’t be that easy to take me down, Pat.” Remy confidently stated. “You can prepare battle strategies later though. It’s time for dinner.”

Although Remy had said that in a half-joking way, the teens were very serious afterwards, ate their dinner quickly, and then convened in Willow’s room to discuss their plans. After what they had been through, even Logan was yearning for this opportunity to take a break. So of course they were going to take this seriously and do whatever they could to earn this holiday.

“What if we lock him in his room? Then he can’t even fight us.”

Roman rolled his eyes. “Remus, we need battle strategies, not ways to delay the fight.”

“What if we go at him individually. Tire him out one by one.” Patton suggested.

“He’d defeat us too easily,” Willow replied. “I say we ambush him. Attack full-on from all sides.”

“What if he’s using magic? Then he could just push us all back with a forcefield.” Janus said.

Remus winced. “There’s no way we could win against a forcefield.”

“Wait, what weapon does Remy use?” Logan asked.

Roman scratched his head. “Uh, I think he uses a sword.”

“Nah, he seems like a long-range weapon guy to me. I think he uses a spear.” Remus stated.

“Well, he uses his wrists a lot. Maybe he has a whip?” Willow suggested.

Janus shook his head. “The wrist thing is because he’s gay, Will. I say he’s just going to use magic.”

Patton pouted. “Using magic would be totally unfair though.”

“We could use magic too! We’ll turn his defence into an offence.” Roman declared.

Remus jumped up. “Ooh, yeah, we can crush him with a rock.”

Patton bit his lip. “That might be going too far, Ree. What if we used water to knock him down.”

“He could totally block the water. I say we make a ring of fire around him and keep it lit until he yields.” Janus proposed.

“Why fire, we could just tangle him in vines,” Roman said.

“Shouldn’t we use more targeted spells if we’re going to use magic?” Logan asked.

“Or we can actually use our weapons since that’s the whole core of our combat lessons.” Willow reminded them.

Janus nodded. “Yes, but consider this… we have fire magic!”

Roman scoffed. “Now I see why you want to use fire. Of course, a dragon would resort to roasting their opponents.”

Janus narrowed their eyes. “And of course an elf would suggest strangling them.”

“Actually, I said we should crush him.” Remus pointed out.

“Um, don’t you guys think that’s all a bit much? We’re just meant to defeat Remy. Not unalive him.” Patton winced.

Willow nodded. “Yeah, that’s going too far. We should stick to our weapons.”

The group began to argue loudly over what idea was best, until all that seemed to remain of their serious discussion was… well, the topic. Everyone was just shouting at each other at this point. Everyone except for Virgil.

He had been quietly watching everyone spiral into their current state with a blank stare. Then he left the room and returned with… a bugle horn? He blew the horn loudly enough to shut everyone up and turn their attention towards him. He put the horn aside and crossed his arms with a disapproving expression.

“This is a fight against Remy, not each other. All the shouting about who has the best strategy is getting us nowhere.”

Janus sighed. “Well then, what do you purpose we do, to solve this dilemma?”

“Elect a leader.”

“How will that help?” Remus asked.

“A leader would be in charge of our strategy and make the final decisions on what we do,” Virgil explained. “We need to all vote among ourselves who we trust the most to understand how we can work together and as individuals. They would also need to be able to get us to actually work together well if this ‘discussion’ is an example of our teamwork abilities.”

Everyone looked at each other and nodded in agreement. They could do great things together, but sticking together was a bit hard with some things. They really needed to make this work though if they wanted that holiday. And they wanted that holiday.

“Alright then. Let’s vote.”

---

“Wait, so what happened again?” Everleigh asked a bruised and battered group of students.

“We won a holiday!” Willow said, pumping a fist in the air then immediately wincing.

“By fighting your teacher?”

“It was an assignment,” Logan said. “And a tough one at that.”

“Yeah, if it weren’t for Virgil’s leadership, we may have all just ended up bruised and defeated,” Patton added.

“You all were the ones who actually followed what I said,” Virgil replied. “It was a real team effort.”

Janus scoffed. “Don’t be so modest Vi. Relish your victory!”

“I for one would like to relish a painless nap,” Roman bemoaned, and everyone agreed.

“Uh, don’t you guys have healing magic?” Everleigh asked.

“Yeah, but our MP is too low.” Remus whimpered.

“Why didn’t Remy heal you?”

Silent realisation.

“Who wants to beat up our teacher again?”

---

A/N: thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed this. I'll be posting two chapters a day until the full fic is up, so if you want to be tagged, you can just ask.

I'd love to hear what you thought about the chapter if you wouldn't mind commenting. Thanks again for reading! Here's hoping you have a magical day 💜

[ssa25]

Naruhina2020 (Jan) - Firsts

@naruhina2020

Rating - T

They were huddled next to each other in the loveseat of Hinata's shared apartment with Sakura. It was a lazy Sunday afternoon, with her pink haired roommate locked up in her bedroom, nose deep into her textbooks for the ongoing exams. Hinata was already done with hers the previous week, so now she could focus on her boyfriend of two months. 

Uzumaki Naruto, was grinning like a cheshire cat, after Hinata had answered his question. They were talking and sharing about their firsts. Every little or insignificant firsts. 

From their first preschool, first part time job, first vacation, to their first best friend, first memorable gift and first movie. Although they went to the same middle and high school, they went around in different circles. Sometimes the circles merged and coincided, but they were still only more than acquaintances. 

They got significantly closer when they went to the same university, and when she started living with Sakura. In their sophomore year, Naruto asked Hyuuga Hinata out on a date, after Sakura drunkenly spilled at a party about how her meek flatmate had a major crush on him. She agreed ecstatically and he thanked his destiny for the turn of events. Because now, he was positively crazy about his midnight haired gorgeous (and hella sexy) girlfriend. Seriously, this was beyond imagination. The loud wayward soccer playing blonde and the prim proper posh heiress?

Anyway, Naruto being Naruto, asked her about her first crush. He didn't have to answer  the question himself, because she already knew the answer to it. It was her flatmate and good friend, Haruno Sakura. He was a pre-teen and she was one of his neighbours. It just happened, but eventually he moved on from those feelings as they became close friends. 

For Hinata, it was not the best feeling in the world to be aware of it, but she was above feeling petty or jealous. Especially now that he was her boyfriend. 

The petite curvy woman blushed profusely when it was her turn to answer the question. Her legs bent over Naruto's lap, as she fidgeted and replied in a small voice. 

"It was you."

Naruto was still for a second. "I'm sorry?" 

She huffed cutely and repeated her answer at the same time that he blurted out his confusion.

"It was you." 

"Did you say it was me??!!" 

If Naruto wasn't already feeling comfortable and smug, now he was superbly comfortable and obnoxiously smug. 

"Woah woah woah Missy, you never told me about that. You've been holding out, haven't you?" 

Okay, so now she was flustered and folded her arms to defend herself. "N-no…. You never asked me… I-It never came up before…"

He put his arm over her calves to squash any chance of escape. 

"When was this?", he interrogated.

"Umm…. When we were 13-14….Maybe…", she replied shyly. 

"Interesting.", he hummed and scratched his prickly chin. "Hold on… Is that why you sometimes used to faint when I spoke to you??", he asked wondrously, as if it all came together in his mind in a eureka moment. 

Hinata covered her face with her hands and nodded her head. "Can we please talk about something else?" 

"Hmm….", he leered at her. "Well, sure, it must've been impossible to resist my charm…", he commented refusing to change the topic. 

She smacked his arm playfully and pouted. "You're impossible… I don't think I'm good for your ego…." 

He pulled her closer by her waist and bumped her nose with his. 

"No baby, you're perfect for my everything.", he said in that deep husky baritone that made her spine tingle. 

Their lips found each other in a passionate kiss that had them both drowning out their surroundings. So when they heard a loud bang of a door, Hinata pulled away from his puckered lips to gasp for air and looked at the perpetrator. 

"Sorry, I was worried that he would gobble you up alive.", Sakura commented from the bedroom door with a poker face. Her short pink hair was unruly and tangly, and she was still in her pajamas from yesterday. She went to the kitchen while muttering something about ungrateful people showing off their relationship to lonesome singles. 

Naruto and Hinata snickered and cuddled closer. 

"Hey Sakura, ya know?... Hinata had the hots for me even in middle school…", he boasted while Hinata tried to cover his mouth with her palms. 

"Good for you.", Sakura commented nonchalantly as she went back to her room with a can of lemon soda.

As soon as her door closed, Naruto turned Hinata's chin towards him and continued their make out. They had been dating for a little less than two months, and had only gotten to second base. Not that he was complaining. He was serious about this relationship and he didn't want to rush Hinata into doing something she wasn't sure of. But it was just oh-so-hard to keep his hands off her.

She had mentioned about her being a virgin a week or two back. So he knew, if he did things right, he would be her first lover. For him, unfortunately, that train had departed two years back, when he and Sasuke were invited to their first soccer match after party that was off the hook crazy. They both had lost their virginity that night. 

Not to each other! Thank God for that! 

Some horny seniors found them cute and wanted to congratulate them. Personally. 

Hinata was a little shocked and flustered when he told her that. But she didn't hold it against him. 

When they parted for air again, he moved his hand from the swell of her voluptuous chest under her shirt to the smooth skin at her waist. Dejectedly of course, he had to calm his hard-on. 

He cleared his throat to distract her attention from his condition. 

"So, safe to say, that since I am your first crush and your first boyfriend, I must be your first kiss too.", he concluded smugly. 

"W-w-what?!!", she suddenly looked nervous. Not blushing nervous but pale, drained out of blood nervous. 

"Your first kiss…", he repeated. "Must be me… Right?"

"Uh… Y-yeah…", she replied in an oddly high pitched tone that was not her at all. She abruptly got up from the seat and walked to the kitchen. 

"I'm thirsty… Y-you want a drink Naruto~kun?"

Naruto  narrowed his eyes at the retreating back of his girlfriend. Something was not right. From what he knew about her, she was bad at lying. He knew this first hand, from the few times her conservative and strict father would inopportunely call her during their date or private make out time. And she would horribly lie with some lame excuse in the similar high pitched tone like she had used just now. Either her dad did not know her at all or was just bad at reading people and emotions, because he bought it everytime. 

Naruto got up from his seat and followed her, cornering her against the refrigerator. 

"Come on, spill it.", he said caging her between his arms. 

"Spill what?", she tried to act clueless.

"Who was your first kiss?", he was unrelenting in his pursuit. That's how he has always been.

"Umm… Who was yours?", she tried to flip it towards him. 

He knew what she was doing. But he was not going to let her off so easily. He would get her question out of the way first. 

"You know it. You were there. I'm not going to talk about it anymore than that." 

Hinata giggled into his chest, when she remembered the hilarious moment from few years back. Kiba had pushed Naruto jokingly onto Sasuke at the canteen which had led to a lip smack of sorts that left a distaste in the mouths of the two. It was a spectacle for the whole school. Suffice to say, Kiba earned a black eye and a sore jaw, while Naruto and Sasuke were in detention for the whole week.

"Yeah, yeah, laugh all you want. But I'm not letting you off easily. Who was it?"

It didn't bother him that she had already had her first kiss. What got to him, was her reaction at the reminder of it. Was it that memorable? Was the guy a better kisser than him? Does she have some remnant feelings for him? 

"I…. I can't tell you… It's embarrassing…", she muttered unsurely. 

But the more she held out, the more curious he became. He would have to coax it out of her. 

"Come on babe….It can't be more embarrassing than mine…. Who is it?... Tell me… Is it someone I know?"

Hinata grew silent for a few seconds before nodding her head slowly. 

"Someone from our group of friends?" 

Again, she gave a small nod. 

Okay, may be he was not going to be okay after all. Now, his mind went into overdrive thinking about who it could be. She was not saying anything, so he had to start guessing. 

"Was it Kiba?" 

She shook her head. 

"Shino?" 

Again, a negative. 

"Don't tell it's the bastard… It's Sasuke, isn't it?"

"What? No!!"

"Then tell me who it was, unless you want me to go crazy thinking about it.", he grasped her shoulders and brought her closer. 

Hinata pushed him away gently and moved away to face her back towards him. She just could not say it to his face. 

She started explaining softly, but it was loud enough for him to hear. "I… I-it was at the sleepover party for Sakura's 16th birthday… We were playing truth or dare… It was my turn, and I had to choose dare because I had been playing safe with truth until then… Tenten already knew that I liked you…. But the other didn't… So she just asked me to french kiss someone who was blonde for one whole minute… She knew that you were Sakura's neighbour… The girls said they would help me get into your home… So they did.. And they had to also make sure I completed my dare… I was really really nervous…. When we got into the back garden, we saw you from the window that you were busy playing video games with Sasuke, Shikamaru and Chouji."

Naruto felt like his heart was about to burst from all the mystery. But she did say that it was not Sasuke, which means it must have been Shikamaru or Chouji then. 

He didn't interrupt her, so she continued. 

"We waited for you to go to the toilet  or something… I had made up my mind to do the dare, come what may… The girls even tried to discreetly throw pebbles at the window, but you never got up to check. Only Sasuke did. We hid from his view and waited for him to go back. After trying everything for almost half hour, we decided it might not happen. Tenten said it was not fair that I didn't do my dare. So she insisted that I kiss any other blonde. And… W-well…. Umm… There was someone blonde with us… Ino… She said I could kiss her…. And just to get it over with, I did… It was…. Uncomfortable… A little unpleasant…. But not a lot, of course not… It was Ino after all… She had a clean minty mou-"

Hinata stopped her rant when she heard a loud thud behind her. Naruto fainted and fell on the floor. 

"Naruto~kun!!!!", she screamed and ran to his side and shook his body. "Naruto~kun!!" 

"Are you guys f*cking in the middle of the day?!! ", Sakura shouted angrily as she came out of her room. 

"Sakura~san!!", Hinata called her for help. "Naruto~kun has fainted… Please help him…." 

Sakura instantly was by his side, checking for his vitals. She asked Hinata to get some water. But when she noticed the tiny trail of blood from his nose, she grew worried. She looked down his body, and was aghast to see the reason. 

The tent under his cotton joggers was unmistakable. She snarled and got up just to kick him on his sides.

"F*cking Pervert!!", she screamed at the top of her lungs.

"Naruto~kun!!", Hinata who was horrified, kneeled down to protect him, and unintentionally spilled the mug, in the process. 

If the kick didn't awaken Naruto, the splash of cold water on his groins definitely did.

A/n: Wrote and posted it fro my phone. So apologies for the length and absence of 'Read more' option.

[hjh-ceilo-monster]

Soulmate Verse : Twisted (KTH)

Summary :  You were the agent undercover on a mission.It has been a month that you hanged around some gang stuff.Everything seemed to be easy and smooth sailing or so you thought.Two factors changed your mind comepletely. First was your tattoo start burning without any reason to explain it.Second was your plan got ruin by a police officer,who has ego higher than mount everest,and captured you.What the hell was going on? 

Author POV.

“Mission on board..here me?”

“Yes miss!”

The sound answer back.Checking everything escpecially her eyes plug,she decides to move forward for the second plan.She is dressing in a black long dress with side cut to shiw her leg.It hovers her parefectly and show her curves. 

“Let’s end this game.” 

Month ago

“Y/N,here’s the file for your next mission.”

You collected the black folder case.Opened and read every details inside it.Not going to lie but everything in here it seemed interesting.You had no hesitation in your mind to accept the job.

From that day,you continued research more about those group.A few times you got inside their bars,their company and many other places that involved their business.Making sure your got everything from them before building the plan.

“So they’re having a party in their Yatch.Get me an invitation.”

“Yes miss.”You subordinate took care of it as you ordered.

Continue the story

You enter the Yatch which is full of rich people.There are gangs,politicians and business people all over the Yatch.‘Secret my ass’ You think before step on board.

“Invitation.”One of the guard block your way.You roll your eyes in annoyance before send it to him.He checks and asks few questions.You answer all of them and decide to hurry things up.

“Sorry but I have a meeting so can you hurry up?”

The guard then let you leave with no more question.First step complete,second is progressing.You decide to give yourself a tour around the Yatch first. Collecting information from the conversation here and there,that’s enough for you to start second step.

When the event start,you secretly enter main deck where every files and important list of peeple are there.Knocking out the guard one by one,you finally arrive in front of the metal door.Spin the metal wheel,the door unlock.

“Here we go,my final.”

Taehyung POV.

“Sir we ready.”

“Then start the mission.”

All of my men seperate all over the venue.I,myself,walk toward the main deck to find the files and send to the headquater.I stroll along the way down the corricor until I find the place.

To my surprise,The guards around there knock down by someone.Something looks suspicious here.I hope the other gangs get it.I am going to destroy this loop by myself.I enter the open door,carefully step in.

‘No one,impossible.’I become even more careful after find and emoty room.

*crack*

‘Like I thought.’

“Come out or I blow your head.”

I threat.Gun point at the sound source.I am really sure someone is inside here with me.The figure show up with gun also pointing at me.Nice body....wait,what am I thinking.Taehyung,focus on your mission. 

Just then she dodger me and start to live the room.I follow her out and block her way.We both start fighting for the file which still in her hand.She’s a fierce on,I could tell.

“Sir,you got it?The team will arrive soon.”

“Yeah got it.”

Y/N POV.

‘Such a pest’ I think to myself while fighting to get free from this guy.Why I need to have someone tail behind right now.All of sudden my grip on the guy loose,my tattoo is burning my skin like fire.

“Ouch”With that,he uses this opportunity to cuff my with hand cuff.

“What the hell!”I whisper scream.

“You’re coming with us.”And then that guy talk something into his ear pieces and drag me along with him.

‘This is great.’

I am sitting inside the ruin dusty metal bars.What the fuck is happening again? I want to finish my mission and here I am,in this room.Just then one of the officer bring me out and push me in the white room.

“Sit.”

“Who the hell are you? And don’t order me.”

“I’m the leader here and I suggest you to sit before I command my men to drag you out and let the judge sentence you to death.”

“Don’t you dare to threat me!”

Author POV.

The interogation process is a mess.Both of them nearly fight inside the room.No one really dare to get inside since that’s the order from their leader.Someone then enter and everyone bow.

“Stop you both.”

“Sir.”Taehyung turn toward the cheif and bow.You throwa dagger to him with a stare.

“What is this mess,uncle?”Taehyung raise his head up and look at the figure in front of him.‘Uncle?’One word that become a question to him.

“So you decide to not tell me that you let this guy*point at Taehyung*interfer my mission?Give me a good reasons right now.”

“You are a stubborn kid who solo the mission without being aware of your life. Can’t I worry about my neice?”The cheif reply.

“If you were worry,you wouldn’t let me train 15 years ago.”

Y/N spit the hurtful fact about her life.The cheif sign and then continue to explain Taehyung about you.The guy only nod and speak nothing.He’s still confuse the relationship between the cheif and this girl.

“So I decide from now the case you will handle with Taehyung.”

“What!”

Few weeks later

“I’m the leader!”

“No I’m the leader!”

In the meeting of his team and yours,it doesn’t go really well.‘Both of you are good,you will get along.’ No that’s not gonna happen in any minute and your subordinates can see that quiet clear.

“Sir we have problem...”And before he finish,the electric start to go off.

“Hi ladies and gentlemen,how are you guys doing?”

“Bastard”Both of you grit your teeth.Knowing well who is he.

“Well chill....I can see you guys team up already.What a nice little plan.However, make sure that you guys won’t be late for my party.I’m waiting.”

The screen turn off again.You and Taehyung need to quit this little game right away and start planning everything.His team will take care of information while yours will take care of operation plan.It’s easy for your team to handle operation team.You are the top spy afterall.

“Boss we get his location.What next?”One of your coworker ask.

“Be ready,we’ll arrive there soon.”

You decide not to tell Taehyung and his team since this is your mission.You want to work this out alone.Little do you know,your body isn’t fine for the past few days.After the day that you tattoo burnt or it was just youe feeling.Your body so getting weaker.

“Lucky it was on my left arm.”You wrap a pain relieve up with the bandage around it.Then you continue to dress for the mission.

“What are you,super hero?”

“I can handle myself!”

“Shut it,I won’t let you ruin this!”

Talking about your mission,it was smooth sailing.One thing that piss you off are Taehyung standing here and arguing with you right now.No one dare to enter the room,not when you both consumed by anger and try to kill each other.

“Missy listen here,you uncle order is important to me.”

“But not to me.”

“Can’t you quit that stubborn attitude and let’s work this out together?”

“I’m not gonna work with the one that ruin my plan.”You boil with anger.Shouting back and forth with him like it’s a battle.However,that stop when you feel your arm burn again.

Taehyung whose patient is now below than zero grab your arm.You yelp out with pain.‘Bsastard why need to be there?’ You curse in your head.HE notices it immediately and takes off your bandage.Revealing the red burn around the tattoo which is like a hole for something.

“You need to rest.”He speaks with cold demanding voice.You startle with how his attitude change.He leaves the room.You look at your tattoo and back to the door.

‘It’s not possible,is it?’ Last thing Taehyung think in his head before he leaves.

Time Skip

“So this is our plan.We’re going to lure them out into a cruise...”Taehyung explain the plan, but you didn’t listen one a bit.You feel like you aren’t yourself today.Head throb with pain.

“Y/N stay here,you guys dismiss.”The others go out one by one.Worrry is written on their face.Preparing themselves to hear both of them argue loudly in this room again.They are all worry their leaders,but afraid to interfer.

Taehyung explain the plan and discuss with you.You quite surprise of his new side,calm yet serious at the same time.You never see this side of him. Wondering how this guy who arrogant and full of himself change into someone that speak calmly yet you can feel his dangerous aura.

MIssion Day

“Woh our captain is sexy as hell.”

“Yeah wish we can see her in swimming suite again after this.”Your subordinates whisper to each other so do Taehyung.He suppress his thirst and focus on the plan.

Your subordinates and his dress as if they are apart of big mafia.Taehyung is the boss while you are his assistance.You all cover the identity really well.Some of you need to make over especially you and Taehyung since you both might already be in the information base.

“Thanks for making this deal with us,Mr.V”One of the member speak.

“Not a problem,I think we should relax a bit and let’s enjoy my party.”Taehyung gesture to the girls that we hire for fake party.Their leader nod.He easily gets in the trap.

The party start and everything is under the control of you guys.None of them notice that this wasn’t a party and you all weren’t a mafia group.When there’s a chance,one by one disappear.Leaving the leader with you.

“Gotcha”You speak and handcuff him.

“Wait what is this?”

“You’re under the arrest.”Taehyung speak with his gun pointing at the guy.The guy then smirk and all of sudden kick you and get your gun.You stand up and fight with the guy.

*click bang*

The sound from gun appear.Taehyung doesn’t why he mad all of sudden,but he use his gun then slap that guy.Knocking the man which in a second lay on the wooden floor.

“No I’m fine.”You speak.You head is spinning and your blood run cold.You feel like you’ll knock out in any moment.‘No not yet.’You mumble with yourself and clear eveything with Taehyung.

“Y/N!!!”

A week later

“No I’m not going to listen to this bullshit!”You shout.One week in hospital wasn’t  something you expect.Well there is one thing far worse than staying in the hospital anyway.

‘Miss this is the sign of you rejecting your soulmate.If you continue,it might be so dangerous that it will be fatal pain.’

“No it’s not him!”You scream out.You can’t believe that your soulmate is Taehyung.Why on earth?You want to go and find god and slap him really hard. Maybe that will make him gain some sense that you and him weren’t a good partner.

“You can’t ignore your fate.”The last thing your uncle say before he leave the room.You sigh and look out the window.

In this pass week,Taehyung atiitude changed completely.You don’t know if it’s because he know that you’re his soulmate or other reason.You can’t trust him yet.Even though,he seemed to be nicer than before.

“Maybe he changes because of soulmate thing.”

On the other hand,Taehyung went crazy when he found out.He didn’t think that his guess would be true.It made him fell for you more than he had.His big secret was a crush on you and you didn’t know.You can say it’s love at first sight. Knowing you’re his soulmate makes everything clear for him.

Attempt #1

“Let me give you a drive back home.”

“I say get lost,Kim!”

Attempt #2

“Flowers for you.”

“I don;t like flowers.”*throw them into a bin*

Attempt #3

“I heard from the other day that today is your birth-”

“If you buy me a present,I’ll return it immediately.”

*Later on in the evening,the dilivery land on your house* “Miss,the order is here.”

Attempt #4

“Are you free tonight?”

“Yeah.”

“Let’s go on a date.”

“Then no,I’m not free tonight.”

Sadly that he needs to put effort to get his girl.His coworkers notice it and they help him.Yes,they still afraid of him.However,seeing him smile and many attitude change make them want to help their leader.

*knock knock*

“Jagi what’s that?”Taehyung ask.You startle and hide his diary.

“ No..noyhing.”Taehyung gaze at you and give suspicious look.He notices you hide something so he walk closer and closer.

“You know...naughty girl should be punish right?”He smirks and you gulp. Leaning closer until his face is in front of you.Staring deep to reach your soul, you freeze in place.Using that chance,he gets the diary from you.

“Tsk..tsk..tsk...”You smile with your face drain the color.Knowing what will come for you.You then run out while Taehyung chase you from behind.

“Yah! stop it Kim Tae-”

“Gotcha.”He carry you back toward your share bedroom.Ending up exhausted from laughing too much.You both lay down and catch your breathe.

“Still hurt?”He asks while caress the tattoo area.You shake  your head.Then he kiss it gently.

“Not anymore.Not when I accepted you that day.”He smiles genuinely.Caress your face he peck your lips.The pairs of cherry lips land on you feel really soft as if it’s a cushion.

“Thank you,for accepting me.”

First you chased someone.The next moment someone chase you.What a plot twist you having there?Well you won’t complain anyway since you end up getting your soulmate.

[anastasiaskarsgard]

How they met their significant other cont.

(I forgot Merkel and Mickey)

Merkel

“Hey Wilcher, long time no see. How you been?”

“Oh man Merkel? Is that really you? I thought you... Nevermind what I thought! It’s good to see you man!”

The two men did a complex handshake, making it clear to any observer that they were old friends.

“So I know you can’t talk about work at all, but are you back or just visiting?”

“Just a visit. Mom died.” Merkel stated somberly.

“Oh shit. I’m sorry. Damn. Well if you don’t wanna be in that big house all by yourself, you’re welcome to come to my place. I live a couple streets over. Not a mansion like your old place, but still big enough to escape the kids.”

“How many you got now? Last time I checked you had the boy...”

“Josh is 10 now. I have three more. All boys. Jenni wants to try for a girl one more time but I think she’s crazy.” His old best friend beamed. He hadn’t changed a lot. Still kinda nerdy, but open and friendly. Gained a few pounds, but it seems like everyone had.

“Still with Jenni? Wow I’ve been a shit friend. I met your wife one time at your wedding and your oldest kid couldn’t even walk. God! He’s fucking ten?” Gordon felt like hot garbage. It didn’t seem like he hadn’t been home in a decade, but when he thought about it, he had.

“Hey! You were out saving the world! I’m just happy you aren’t... um. But hey, I still have the same number. Don’t sit in that big creepy house alone, come by. What are you doing for thanksgiving?”

Merkels’ eyes went wide with surprise, “Is that this week?”

“In two days! You’re coming to ours. I insist.”

Merkel smiled at his old friend. He was his best friend growing up, and eventhough a house full of brats sounded like a nightmare...

“Ok I will be there. I just texted. That’s my number. Send me your address and time.”

Thanksgiving day

Merkel arrived exactly on time and was surprised by the amount of cars parked along the street, in front of a very nice house. He was happy to see his friend had really done very well for himself. He knew most of his family so this might actually be fun.

The door opened to reveal a little old lady that eventhough she looked far more frail, was undoubtedly his best friends mom.

“Mrs Wilcher! So great to see you!”

The woman adjusted her glasses and looked him up and down before recognition hit, “Gordon? I am so pleased you came. And you’re still so handsome.” She reached up squeezing his cheeks. “Look at these cheek bones. My goodness. Is it just you?”

“So far.”

“Are you a gay? I’m very supportive of the LGBQTABCDEF I don’t know.”

“No I love women, they just don’t love me,” he teased as he followed her into a large open living room with about twenty people. Surprisingly no kids though.

“MERK! You came! JENNY MERKEL IS HERE!” Wilcher shouted.

A short blonde came hustling in the room, wearing an apron with flour on her face. She spotted him and ran over and hugged him “thank you for coming! It’s all he talks about. He’s worse than the kids. Well back to the kitchen. THIRTY MINUTES AND WE ARE READY!”

People started to walk up and they all were shaking his hand and hugging him. They were all so friendly, it was a bit overwhelming, but he just smiled and tried not to go completely stiff when they grabbed him.

“Mind if I go outside and smoke real quick?” Merkel asked his friend quietly.

“Yeah go in the backyard tho, Jenny doesn’t want people smoking out front. Missy should be back there.” He replied.

Merkel made his way to the backdoor and as he closed it behind him, let out a big sigh of relief.

“That bad?” A very attractive woman with silver hair, and striking blue eyes asked. He had to do a double take, figuring initially by her hair, that she was old, but she looked to be in her twenties. She had full lips, and very delicate features. She was gorgeous. “You ok?”

He wanted to slap himself, when he realized he’d been frozen, just staring at her. He chuckled as he felt his face warm, “no it’s just a lot at once.” He was actually blushing. He never got nervous, but he felt like he was back in middle school, he was so flustered. “Are you Missy?”

“Bingo! I’m afraid I’m at a disadvantage since I don’t know your name.”

“It’s Gordon, but everyone calls me Merkel. Well everyone except Mrs Wilcher. She always refused. Merkel is my last name. I grew up with Matt. I’ve been gone... but now I’m back. But not for long... because. Shit Are you going to stop me, or just let me ramble?” He laughed.

She observed him, while taking a drag from her cigarette. He could tell she was going over something in her head. Finally she spoke. “Why are you so awkward? You’re too good looking to be so socially ... strange.”

Merkel’s eyebrows shot up, as he scoffed and pulled out a cigarette. He was kind of offended, but also intrigued. She wasn’t wrong, but to just come out and say it so bluntly. He lit it and decided he’d be honest. “I never get nervous. You would not believe some of the shit I’ve had to deal with and absolutely could not be an idiot like I am right now. Must be your fault.”

She smirked and laid back on the chaise, closing her eyes. She was just wearing a pair of skinnies, with a fuzzy purple sweater, but it fit her perfectly, showing off her generous curves. He had to force his eyes away from staring.

“Where are all the kids? I thought there was a whole bunch of them?”

“They’re all in the basement. It’s like kid heaven down there. They’ve got arcade games and air hockey, and flat screens. It’s nicer than my apartment.” She said as she stood up. “Come on, I’ll show you. You can meet them all.”

He put his cigarette out in the ashtray and followed Missy inside. “How do you know everyone?”

Missy turned and looked at him incredulously. “I am Matt’s half sister. My mom was our dads mistress. I found out my Dad had a whole other family at his funeral. It was quite a scandal.”

“You don’t look anything like Matt.” Merkel blurted out.

She glanced over her shoulder slyly, “is that good or bad?” She asked as she turned around before making her way down the basement stairs. She was very close, and she really liked how he smelled.

He licked his lips and looked at hers, before snapping his eyes back up to meet her eyes. ‘She caught that. Shit. “It’s very good. You’re way prettier than Matt.” He wanted to bang his head against a wall. ‘Did he really just say that!?’

She smiled, and he swore his knees went weak. Thankfully she didn’t notice, and spun around,?running down the stairs.

He followed.

Mickey

I wrote how Mickey and Jules met here—-> https://anastasiaskarsgard.tumblr.com/post/190135798936/i-made-fluff-omg-im-proud-of-my-fluffy-fluff

[msjr0119]

One Temptation

Part 4

*This new series is based on The Royal Romance characters who belong to Pixelberry - AU Plot switch*

Riley Brooks moves back to New York after leaving five years prior- struggling to get by in life she wanted to go home. After getting mugged, a woman and man come to her rescue and offer her a job at their strip club. A rich business man Liam Rhys is forced to visit the club as part of his bachelor party. What will happen that night?

Warnings: Swearing, Smut, drunk antics 🤣

Tags-if you want to be removed let me know 😊: @annekebbphotography @burnsoslow @drakesensworld @ladyangel70 @kingliam2019 @bbrandy2002 @butindeed @bascmve01 @drakewalker04 @pedudley @captain-kingliamsqueen @duchessemersynwalker @insideamirage @of-course-i-went-to-hartfeld @kozabaji @texaskitten30 @ibldw-main @kimmiedoo5 @nikkis1983 @dangerouseggseagleartisan @gnatbrain @walker7519 @lodberg @cmestrella @hopefulmoonobject @addictedtodrakefanfic @angi15h @liamxs-world @rafasgirl23415 @notoriouscs @whenyourheartskipsabeat @jovialyouthmusic @nz1091 @yukinagato2012 @indiacater @seriouslybadchoices @rainbowsinthestorm @cordonianroyalty @dcbbw @qammh-blog @beardedoafdonutwagon @jared2612 @princess-geek

*******

Liam walked towards the strip club- not knowing exactly why. Forcing himself to see the girl who’s heart he broke all those years ago.

Liam entered his penthouse after work, noticing the light off- he switched it on. Jumping out of his skin- he didn’t know that Madeleine was there.

“Why are you sitting in the dark? You scared me.”

“Care to inform me as to why Alice is going out with Leo tomorrow?”

“He’s her uncle! It’s about time that he knew about her and spent time with her!”

“You went behind my back Liam!”

“So what DARLING? You and me are over... I’m fighting for full custody and I want you to leave as soon as possible. You are nothing to me apart from the mother of my child. You were the biggest mistake of my life.”

“Good luck with that!”

“I beg your pardon.”

“You heard me Liam, how do you even know that she’s yours?” Madeleine smirked knowing she was getting under his skin. Sipping the glass of wine- she laughed in his face. “When she was conceived, I was still sleeping with your brother remember. Except I knew that you’d be the better option to be a father...”

“You are despicable. You should stop drinking. Alice is mine whether you like it or not.”

“She may not be... did you know Riley had a pregnancy scare when you cheated on her with me?” Liam’s heart sunk, he had only ever imagined a family with Riley. Assuming that Madeleine was lying with what she had just said- his fists clenched.

“You are sick, a disgusting vile creature Madeleine. I’ll see you in court!”

After his argument with Madeleine there were doubts racing through his mind about the true paternity of Alice. If Alice wasn’t his daughter- he had nothing to lose, he knew he’d win back Riley. Surely? Noticing Riley, he walked straight over to her.

“Hello Riley.”

“Oh hi. Please don’t cause any trouble Liam after the last time you was here.”

“I won’t I promise, I just need a drink, and a friend.”

“I’m working Liam, I can’t talk much.” Reaching over to grab her hand, she fixated her gaze on him. He looked broken.

“I’ll ask if I can have my break. I’ll meet you over by the booth.” Watching him walk of to the booth, she noticed his face fall into his hands. She wasn’t a bitch, before they began dating they were close friends- if he was sincere about his intentions of being there, she would talk to him as a friend.

“So what’s up?” Sliding a scotch towards him, she provided a soft smile.

“I don’t think my daughter is mine, she said she slept with Leo around the same time.”

“Maybe the two of you need to learn how to put something on the end of it? I’m sorry Liam, but this is karma for you.” A sly smirk appeared on her face, but she couldn’t bitch about Madeleine when she herself had slept with the two brothers.

“Don’t you see? If she isn’t mine, we can start again? I’ll make it up to you a thousand times over. I know you still love me and could forgive me deep down Ri.”

“I do still love you- I’ve never denied that. But...” Liam forced his lips on to hers, expecting for her to slap him he was confused when she didn’t. Deepening the kiss, he placed his arms around her- he had missed her. Not giving two fucks that Drake had escaped, he knew he wasn’t with Maxwell so he had gone elsewhere.

“Bastien? What the fuck? Where is he?”

“I don’t know? I’m sorry, I must have fallen asleep.”

“For fucks sake!” Storming over to Maxwell’s, he banged on the door. Hoping that Drake was there.

“Liam? Can I help you?”

“Is Drake here?”

“Why would be here? He’s in Texas isn’t he?” Maxwell knew what Liam had done, and he knew to not keep Drake at their apartment- not only for Drake’s safety but also for his.

“Can I check that he isn’t here at least?”

“I’m not stupid liam, but sure check every crevice if you need to. If you do find him please do let me know .”

Knowing she didn’t resist the kiss, he was making it his aim to win her back.

“Liam, I’m so sorry. That shouldn’t have happened. It can’t happen again. I think you should leave.” Touching her lips with her fingertips, she immediately regretted what she had just done. Feeling frustrated with herself, she couldn’t make eye contact with him.

“Ri, I felt something that I haven’t in a long time. Please just give me a chance.”

“I can’t Liam I’m sorry. Please.”

“Okay, I’m sorry Riley. I do love you- I always have and I always will do.” Holding her hand he had hoped that she would see that he was telling the truth- he knew he had messed up. Opening her mouth she was about to respond breaking his heart, knowing she could never forget what he had done.

“Liam?”

“Leo? What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same. Are you okay Ri?”

“Yes, I’ll be ready in an hour Leo. Goodbye Liam.” To avoid the awkwardness, she gave Liam a quick hug before returning to work.

“What are you playing at Leo? Ready in an hour?”

“I’m taking her out with Max. She’s been down since Drake left- I assume that was down to you?” Folding his arms, his eyebrows raised- wondering what wonderful bullshit Liam would produce out of his constant lying mouth.

“Maybe you are right. I need her back, Drake was in the way. She kissed me back- she loves me.”

“You lost her a long time ago- you didn’t see how broken she was- who was there picking up the pieces? Me! I care about her, she’s one of my closest friends. Get Drake back now!”

“What do you mean you picked up the pieces? I can’t- I don’t know where he is.”

“Oh Liam, whilst you was fucking Madeleine. I went to find the apparent love of your life- I found her. I spent a week with her trying to convince her to come back.”

Leo arrived in Florida six months after Riley abruptly left New York, not knowing exactly where Riley would be- he needed a miracle. He had heard in the past of her talking about her Gran in Tampa Bay. It would be like finding a needle in a haystack.

After a few days of searching for her- he had given up hope. Sitting down at the fountain in Hyde Village- he had given up hope. Wishing she wasn’t stubborn and kept in touch with the people who cared for her. Believing it was his imagination, he stood up seeing the brunette walk past him.

“Riley Brooks.” Turning around slowly, she recognised that familiar voice- the colour drained from her face as if she had seen a ghost.

“L- Leo? What are you doing here?”

“I could kill you at times Missy- we’ve all missed you. It’s a free country, I don’t have to explain why I’m here. How are you doing?”

“I’m better, thank you. How are you? You look more toned.”

“Do you like what you see? It’s what single life does to you... sends you to the gym.” Winking at her, he always flirted with her in the past- it was typical Leo.

“You look good Leo, but I have to go. My Gran is expecting me.”

“Let me take you out tonight please.” Looking into his piercing eyes, she couldn’t resist saying no to one of her best friends- in the back of her mind she was contemplating what his true intentions were for showing up unexpectedly.

“Leo, I’m not interested in Liam. If that’s why you’re here.”

“No, I’m here as a friend.”

“Oh sorry. No funny business though alright Leo? Don’t be getting us into trouble.” Remembering back to the good old days, Leo nearly got them all arrested one night- laughing at the memory she knew if she refused he would be persistent in persuading her to reconsider.

“I can’t promise that.”

“Come back with me then we will go out. I just need to give her her medication and make her some food, change her catheter...”

“Is that why you left? I didn’t realise she was that poorly.”

“No, I left because of Madeleine and Liam- I didn’t realise either until I arrived. Come with me to my grans?” Leo nodded, Riley suggested this as she didn’t want to arrange meeting him somewhere that he wasn’t used to.

Walking to Riley’s grans, Leo’s heart sunk watching Riley fuss over her gran- she was selfless and attentive.

“So where are you wining and dining me Rhys?” Riley was used to Liam treating her to five star Michelin restaurants- she didn’t really appreciate the grand gestures as she was more of a greasy junk food type of girl.

“That is upto you... I’ll let you decide.”

“I know the place, come upstairs with me whilst I get ready- I don’t want you feeling awkward.” Leo covered his eyes as she got herself ready just to provide her with a bit of dignity. He was tempted to peek, but respected her more.

“Whatcha think?”

“You’re beautiful... Erm... I didn’t... I ... you look good Ri.”

“Why Leo, I’ve never seen you this flustered before. Are you okay? Come on....”

“So I know you don’t want to talk about him- but how are you feeling regarding him.”

“I’m still heartbroken, I cry myself to sleep every night- every time I close my eyes I see her smirk in my mind. I just need to move on- have a rebound, get over him.”

“I’ll make you a deal- we will help each other pull tonight, they both fucked us over- we both need to release.”

“Deal!”

After a meal, they headed over to a bar. Leo did his usual trick attempting to pull- it wasn’t working as he had expected it to. Riley sat the bar witnessing him failing - laughing to herself she felt sorry for him. Ordering them both another drink- Leo disappeared out of her view, smiling she had hoped that he had finally pulled. Someone tapped her on the shoulder.

“Hey beautiful, are you alone.”

“Yes. No. I’m with a friend.”

“Shame. Are you single? You know if you are I could change that?” Feeling his warm breath linger in her ear- her skin crawled.

“Sorry, I really need to go. Nice meeting you.” ‘Not’, she muttered.

“Don’t go, I haven’t got started yet!”

“Get your hands off me you creep!” Leo returned from the bathroom, seeing the commotion- witnessing Riley slap the man.

“Hey, are you okay? Hey mate get your hands off my girl.”

“She gave me the impression that she was single.”

“Not anymore.” Leo cupped her cheeks forcing a kiss on her lips- Riley knew it was for show so decided to go along with it hoping the creep would move into his next victim.

“You okay?” Pulling her towards him, he watched the man walk away- hoping he wouldn’t bother Riley again, as he would sure teach him a lesson in how to respect women.

“Just peachy Leo, thank you. Why do I always attract the bad eggs?” She laughed trying to make a joke out of the bad situation.

“At least you pull. How about we go back to my hotel room and raid the mini bar? No creeps involved.” Heading towards the exit, she turned around wondering why he was hesitating leaving.

“What are you still doing here? Come on Rhys.” Holding her hand out towards him, he eventually snapped out of his gaze- and led her to the hotel.

Arriving at the hotel room, they decided to play drinking games both becoming intoxicated far too quickly. Both laughing like the old days- they collapsed on the couch, she had missed Leo as well as Maxwell and Bertrand. Hoping that eventually she could return back to New York.

“We should have just stayed here- avoided you pulling creeps, avoided me becoming embarrassed at the lack of pulling.” Snuggling into him, she laughed- they were both useless.

“Do you ever think about what our futures would have been like if they didn’t cheat on us?” Leo looked at her, noticing that her smile had soon disappeared- seeing the tears fall down her cheeks, he caressed both cheeks.

“Well I’d have potentially been in prison for murdering her. I think you and Liam would have been married, had kids- I’d be the cool wind up merchant uncle.”

“The biggest wind up merchant. I’ve missed you Leo- you’re still one of my closest friends.”

“Likewise Brooks. Do you miss him? I don’t miss her one bit.”

“Of course I do. I’m just sexually frustrated as I still love him. I wish I could forgive and forget -but I can’t. If I did he would do it all over and over again. He would continue to make a mug out of me.”

Leo too was sexually frustrated, an idea popped into his head but he knew she would potentially slap him as she was in that kind of mood.

“He was an idiot letting you go. Please don’t slap me, but I have a suggestion. How about you and I... help each other... no strings attached. I’m here for a week or so...”

“Why would I slap you?”

“Because you may think that I’m using you- but you admitted that you are sexually frustrated as am I... we can just you know.” Riley always thought Leo was attractive- he was a Rhys after all. She wasn’t sure if it was the alcohol or the desire to just have sex that made her crash her lips onto him.

“Have you got a condom?” She asked breathlessly.

“Of course I do... just for precaution.”

Leo turned to face her, knowing he was now the one breaking the brother code- no matter how appalling Liam was towards her, he was still his brother- his brother who betrayed both him as well as her. Hesitantly pulling her towards him- he didn’t know what to expect as she was one of his closest friends. He believed that she was beautiful, there was no denying that. In the back of his mind, they were both each other’s rebound- no strings. But he didn’t care- if they could both make each other happy as friends with benefits- he was intending on doing it. Both their heartbeats increasing, they both closed the distance, matching baby blues containing desire. Their lips crashed onto each other’s as if their lives depended on it. His tongue slid across her cherry bud lips before entering inside her mouth, starting off gentle but soon turned demanding- their tongues battling against each other. Riley’s fingers ran through his hair - knowing it was just sex, she inhaled the familiar scent, it was as if she was sleeping with Liam again. Leo’s hands held her hips, pulling her closer to his muscled chest.

The kisses became more passionate as the time went by. Leading her over to the bed, they stripped each other’s clothes off eagerly- pausing to admire each other’s bodies. Falling backwards on to the bed she pulled him down towards her.

“ Are you sure about this Ri?”

“Yes. Stop teasing me Leo. We both need this.” Not sure if it was the alcohol that made her feel intoxicated, or the presence of someone with her- she didn’t care, she wanted him. All of him. Staring into her eyes, they pleaded with him, he nodded in response. Her heart began pounding as he stood up, placing the condom on before he forgot- licking her lips, he smirked rather than physically responding to her by speaking.

Gently cupping her cheeks as he hovered over her, he kissed her forehead. Guiding her hands above her head, he held them with one hand- whilst his other hand explored her body, circling her breasts- before kissing her hard.

“This is going to feel so strange, if you want me to stop just tell me.”

“Leo, just shut up and kiss me. It’s just sex remember. ”

Leo slid his hand between her legs- positioning his fingers and thumb at her entrance. The slightest touch, made her damp- Leo wasn’t expecting her to be like that. Kissing her neck, whilst working his thumb over her clit in a tantalising rhythm, she couldn’t contain her moans, hearing her scream him name made him want to skip pleasuring her and just get to the main part. All her muscles began to quiver- Leo smirked knowing he was showing how to treat a girl. Seeing her breathless already, he removed his fingers, replacing them with his tongue instead. Witnessing her eyes widen, he wondered how long it had been for her since she had this pleasure. Was Liam the last man to taste her?

“You taste so good, baby girl.” He said before plunging his tongue deeper inside. “Fuck!” Riley screamed, as she dug her nails into back- making the slightest mark. Removing his tongue, he placed his fingers there giving her that bit more pleasure- smiling at her as her whole body trembled.

Before she could recover from the actions he had performed on her, he rubbed against her entrance, before forcing his cock inside of her. Holding that position, their eyes fixated on each other. Slowly Leo began to thrust in and out at a steady speed, before increasing it- hitting her deeper. “You feel so good, Leo.”

His thrusts were powerful as their bodies collided in sync perfectly together. “This is just the start baby.” After a while his movements slowed down, as he released himself.

“Well that wasn’t as awkward as I thought it would be. Thanks Ri, you’re amazing you know that?” Riley opened her eyes, as Leo removed himself off her, laying at the side of her. Both staring vacant up at the ceiling. Holding his hand, she turned to face him. “No it wasn’t awkward at all. So what are we now? Fuck buddies” She laughed whilst snuggling into his embrace. Both breathless, they laid in silence- until Riley heard him take a deep breath.

“Come back to New York with me, it is your home. We all miss you. Maxwell and Bertrand especially.”

“Leo, I cant. Not whilst my gran is poorly. Maybe in the future. Thank you for tonight- I really needed it.”

“So did I. You’re amazing Ri. Best friends, friends with benefits. No strings.”

“Damn right Rhys.”

“So if you’re free tomorrow... how about you show me around your new stomping grounds?”

“Is that all you want to do?” Leo looked at her puzzled, with the seductive tone of voice she had provided.

“Yes. What do you take me for? You could show me around, then I’ll thank you by doing this...” Kissing her neck, she immediately felt turned on once again. He could see it in her eyes, rolling her on to him- they both gave each other that knowing look.

“Round two Miss Brooks?”

“We slept together for that whole week- she soon forgot about you. What are you going to do? Get rid of me too? You lost her. Get over it! I’ll pick Alice up at ten in the morning.”

“How could you do that to me?” Riley looked over at the two men, Leo looked smug- whilst Liam looked as if he was about to break down uncontrollably. Feeling her heart beat increase, she was intrigued as to what was included in their discussion.

“No strings attached my dear brother. She was single, as she was single when she slept with Drake. Don’t worry there wasn’t any feelings between us- it was just sex. If you love her you’d let her go Li. Just think about it. Oh and remember if she knew what you did to Drake, she would never forgive you. Maybe you should find him and make amends!”

*****

Liam stormed out of the club and made his way back to his penthouse- Madeleine was in her designer dressing gown. Pulling her up from the sofa, he pulled her into the bedroom. No strings attached, he thought.

******

Leo and Riley met Maxwell at Kismet, the friends kept drinking shots- all almost ready to pass out. Riley noticed that Leo’s gaze was fixated on the red head at the bar.

“Hey, Max. I think Leo likes her over there look.” Maxwell followed to where Riley’s finger was pointing. “He’s hypnotised, shall we play matchmaker?” Maxwell nodded, he was too drunk to function correctly- he needed to inform her about Drake. Waiting for the right opportunity, he knew if Leo copped off with the stranger he could talk to her in private.

“Hey, my name is Riley and this is my friend Maxwell.”

“Olivia.” Maxwell pulled the stranger and Riley into a group hug- the alcohol had gone straight to his head.

“Nice to meet you Olivia. Our friend over there the handsome blonde with the piercing blue eyes can’t take his eyes off you. Would you like to join us for a drink?” Olivia looked over, and saw Leo wink at her.

“He looks like a player. Not my type sorry.”

“He’s not a player. He’s a good shag.” Maxwell looked confused at the statement. How the fuck does Riley know? This woman is going to kill us if he’s a shit shag.

“And how would you know? Are you his ex or something?”

“No, I’m his brothers ex. But I slept with him for a week- no strings attached- so i know he’s a good shag. You won’t regret it. Give him a chance. I’ll pay you $20 to just talk to him.” Olivia smirked, grabbing the money she walked over to Leo- winking at his two wingmen, leo was grateful for their spontaneous matchmaking.

“We need words now Riley!”

“Max, I need more shots- I’m not leaving this bar until I have them. I’m missing Drake- how could he leave me?” Beginning to cry, she would regret this drunk breakdown over a man she hardly knew.

“So when did you and Leo sleep together?”

“In Florida, he came looking for me unlike you guys... sorry... it just happened. It meant nothing. The only person I’ve felt something towards left me.”

“I need to talk about that to you. We are going to Bertrand’s.”

“But I’ve just ordered these shots.”

“Drink up buttercup. Bertrand is expecting us.”

“What about Leo?” Both looking over towards the table, Leo had his tongue down Olivia’s throat- he wouldn’t care if his friends ditched him as he was most likely getting laid later that night.

“He’s fine with Olivia. Come on.”

*****

The cold air had hit the two friends walking from the cab towards Bertrand’s front door. Spying through the peep hole forgetting to knock on the door they both had giggles- not realising why Bertrand wasn’t answering.

“B... b.... let us innnn... pleasssee...”

“Bertrand... I need to wee. I’m going to do it ... on the door...”

“Don’t you dare... piss all over me Max. You’re disgusting....” Riley began banging on the door and pressing the buzzer frantically, as Maxwell whipped his cock out spraying all over the door.

“BERTRAND OPEN THIS FUCKING DOOR NOW!!! Why are we here again? How much have we had to drink? I think I’m going to be sick!” Riley placed her ear next to door, hoping to hear footsteps. The door suddenly opened- both Riley and Maxwell fell through it landing on the floor.

“Hey Riley, are your legs open like that on the pole.”

“Fuck off Beaumont, I don’t dance.”

“You would do if I was a certain tall dark handsome strangerrr...Who are you?”

Both looking up they saw a woman staring at the two of them with a perplexed expression.

“Can I help you? Where’s B?”

“I’m Savannah, let me help you both up.”

“Riley! Maxwell! Can neither of you contain yourselves?” Both biting their lips, attempting to hold their laughter in- they knew they were in the doghouse.

“Savannah darling, please make them a strong black coffee.” Riley and Maxwell both looked at each other- before bursting out laughing. Riley decided to mimic Bertrand’s voice, much to his annoyance.

“Savannah darling, could you add a bit of Irish whiskey in it. I need it after the day I’ve had. Fucking Liam. Thanks babe.”

“What’s he done?”

“Kissed me. I pushed him away. Fucking wanker. Karmas hit him though - hard. I’ll explain tomorrow. So are we having one big sleepover B? I think we will have to sleep naked though. Have you got a spare toothbrush? Toothpaste? Where are we all sleeping?”

“Arsehole...forget the sleepover essentials... we’ll just be dirty stop outs for the night... I forgot why we actually came here... oh yeah... Ri. Go in the spare room.”

“Why?”

“Erm, there’s a secret stash of booze.” Bertrand shot him a stern stare. “Sorry she wants booze what else could I say?” He whispered to his older brother who just shook his head.

“Why didn’t ya say so before?” Stumbling into the spare room, she opened the door- believing she was hallucinating.

“D-Drake?”

[embarrassingsmartphonegame]

Anything (Chapter 5) - Nik Ryder x f!MC

Summary: After surviving an attempt on her life, she discovers there are worse fates than dying. And they’re all ice cold.

Warnings for this chapter: gun violence, swear words, and some fluff

Links to previous chapters: one // two // three // four

True to her word, Leah returned to Nik’s apartment a few hours later with more sleep under her belt than in the past three months. She smiled shyly as she walked into his apartment and noticed that he shaved his beard to his old neat stubble, and her stomach did a funny flip as he led her to his car. The two made disjointed small talk coupled with long bouts of silence; it was as if the events of the previous night hadn’t happened now that it was daylight and the two were more awake, more sober. And neither wanted to admit that they were surprised by the turn of events. 

Leah still tried to wrap her head around the fact that not only did Nik not hate her after she suddenly left, but he was also willing to go with her to Lamrian on her wild goose chase to find herself. And Nik was still wary it was all a dream or a trick and that she wasn’t actually there with him, that he truly had lost her like he lost everyone else in his life. Both stole sneaky glances at the other as they drove Nik’s car and walked through the woods and eventually towards the vast, open fields to the cathedral guarding Lamrian quietly, still keeping a careful distance from each other.

“Soooo…” Leah began, keeping her eyes trained forward. “Anything weird happen at the Graveyard Shift while I was gone?”

“I mean...it’s always weird in this city,” Nik replied, his eyes also trained forward. “But Garrus and Krom are still going strong. Never seen either of ‘em that happy; it’s kinda cute but kinda gross.”

“Aww, that’s so great! They deserve each other!” Leah remembered that night she and Ivy convinced Krom to make a move since it was so painfully obvious they liked each other. “Is Ivy still making you hunt ghosts for her services?”

“Strangely enough, she hasn’t been accepting any requests lately,” Nik chuckled, shaking his head as he recalled the time Leah tagged along to hunt a ghost for Ivy. “I think she’s been busy with some research. Something about her New York vampire Internet friend’s friend dying and then turning into a vampire while being a Bloodkeeper, whatever that means. And I think trying out some human video games with that same friend.”

“Okay now that’s wild, complete bonkers. I hope that person’s okay; dying wasn’t exactly a walk in the park…” Leah shivered, all of a sudden feeling cold even in the late spring weather of Louisiana. She tried to block out the memories that plagued her for a good two months after she left New Orleans.

“I know I probably shouldn’t ask, but how did you cope after everything?” Nik asked, glancing at her to make sure she was okay. “I can’t even imagine what that was like for you. You don’t have to answer if you don’t want to.”

“How did I cope? Well...I didn’t.” Leah laughed mirthlessly, a smile not quite reaching her eyes. “I think I already told you the majority of it: stuck with my boring office job, avoided my mom, tried to pass the time with hobbies but failed so I got drunk a lot and did a bunch of people and other bad stuff. But probably the worst thing I did was cut my own bangs at 4am.”

“...Seriously?”

“Yeah I was having a crisis.”

“Because you saw your best friend get attacked, were hunted down relentlessly by a genocidal monster, found out your dad’s a Fae lord, saw your dad die, and then you died?” Leah blinked as he listed it all out in one breath; had she really been talking about it that much?

“Well...okay yeah pretty much. But also because I turned 25.”

Nik paused, confused. “What does that have to do with anything? Is that seriously a crisis?”

“A mid- okay fine not really, quarter-life crisis.” Leah let out a small laugh as she hazily remembered her conversation with Kristin, shaking her head and putting her hands in her pockets. “You’ll understand when you’re older.”

“I’m only a year younger than you, rook.”

“Then we’ll have a talk a year from now.”

Nik let a grin spread across his features. “That mean you’ll still be here a year from now?”

Leah shifted her eyes for a moment, and when she spoke again her voice was the perfect mix of playful and sincere. “Maybe.”

The two paused as they reached their destination. The castle guarding Lamrian loomed over them, its broken windows staring down at Leah like judgment. Leah felt very small. She felt as if she was a specimen on a petri dish placed under a microscope, and the Fae just behind those magical doors were scrutinizing her every being. 

Leah froze in fear, and she could feel the panic rising in her tight, tight chest. Nik noticed her expression and instinctively took one of her hands in his, giving it a small squeeze. “Hey, it’s okay. You’re okay. And I’m with you every step of the way.”

But she couldn’t. She couldn’t get a hold of her emotions, no matter how hard she tried or what she told herself she needed to do. Tears sprung on the corners of her eyes and ran down her face freely, and big, gasping sobs escaped from her mouth. She wrenched her hand from his, turned her back to the castle, and started walking away. Leah was hunched over and her hands grasped each other as she walked with Nik following her.

“Shit, shit, shit!” Leah could only see red, and that red was directed at herself. “I really dragged you out here for nothing! Why can’t I fucking face them?!”

Nik stopped her by placing his hands on her shoulders and turning her around so they were face-to-face. “Rook...breathe.”

She shook her head, trying to will the tears away but failing and launching into an anxiety-fueled. “Ugh, this is pathetic and embarrassing. I never should’ve stepped foot in Lamrian and I keep dragging you into my problems. I drag everyone into my problems! Kristin’s probably still paying for an entire week of hospital bills, Vera had to face her mom, Cal had to go against his pack, you and Katherine risked your lives by hunting Thomas down...fuck! When this was all happening, I should’ve just ignored you and stood in an open field and let the Bloodwraith—”

She was cut off by him pulling her into his strong arms, squeezing her so tightly she had no choice but to stop talking. “Don’t. I mean it, rook. Goddammit.”

“Why do you keep helping me?” she sobbed into his shoulder. “All I do is drag you down.”

He rubbed her back tenderly. “Because I want to. I care so damn much about you, rook, you have no idea.”

Before Leah could respond, the sound of someone clearing their throat came from behind them. Nik instantly positioned his body in front of hers, his crossbow aimed at the voice before Leah could even blink. He put it down once they realized that it was the same Fae guarding Lamrian. His lips were set in a straight line and his eyes devoid of any emotion, a soldier on duty.

“Daughter of Lamrian,” he kneeled reverently as he spoke. “You have returned. Welcome. Let me lead the way.”

“Thank you. But unfortunately, I can’t come inside. It’s not the right time.” Leah steadied her breath. She appreciated the fact that he ignored her crimson red eyes and shaky voice. “But will you please relay a message for Lady Thalissa for me?”

“Anything you wish is my command.”

“Please tell her that Lord Elric loves her and will be waiting for her. And that I’m sorry for everything that happened and will one day return. Just...not today.”

He nodded and straightened up, preparing to relay the message. Leah stopped him. “And also...this is for the people of Lamrian: I’m sorry. I’m just sorry that they lost a leader and an heir because of me.”

The Fae guard nodded again, his lips in a thinner, harsher line; Leah could have sworn that his eyes displayed hints of anger and grief before they fell into the trained dutiful expression. She let him walk away, and when he was finally out of sight in the castle she let out a breath she didn’t even realize she was holding.

“You did the right thing, rook.”

“Then why do I still feel so shitty?”

The two began to walk back to Nik’s car and eventually reached the woods. “It’d be weird if you didn’t feel like shit. It’s a lot, and sometimes you feel like you’re never gonna get out of that tunnel. But you will. And I’m here.”

“Nik, I--” But Leah was cut off by Nik suddenly shouting and tackling her to the ground as a knife embedded itself to the tree right behind where their heads were seconds before.

“Son of a bitch…” Nik muttered, quickly dragging them both back to their feet. “Can’t catch a break for one day!”

“What the fuck was that?!” Leah ran with him through the woods, her hand attached to his.

“He’s back. Remember that shapeshifter I pissed off? He must’ve followed us.”

“That I did, Ryder,” a snide, mocking voice replied from behind a tree. A man dressed in all black stepped out of the shadows. “A little birdie over your shoulder as you paid attention to your little girlfriend here.”

“For fuck’s sake, Mark, it was nothing personal. Grave robbing is a sick, sick thing to do!” Nik got into a fighting stance with his crossbow on his shoulder and Leah directly behind him.

“You just can’t appreciate the intricacies of a human bone broth soup!”

Leah grimaced in disgust and poked her head out to the side of Nik’s body. “Ugh, that’s what you were using it for? That’s messed up.”

Mark’s eyes flashed with rage, putting his hands in his pockets. “Just shut up, and you’re dying with him!”

“To hell with you!” Nik shot several arrows at him, and Mark rolled out of the way and back into the shadows. “Leah, stay out of the way!”

“I’m not letting you do this alone!” Leah stubbornly replied, running after him hunting down the shapeshifter. She channeled all of her energy into her palms, but to no avail. “Seriously, let me help!”

“You can help by keeping yourself safe!”

“He’s right; this ain’t a place for ya, missy.” Mark threw another knife from the shadows, and Nik deftly avoided it and more arrows. But Mark turned into a crow and flew above their heads to avoid the attack.

He landed on a tree and turned into a jaguar, and promptly lunged at the both of them from above. Leah managed to get out of the way but Nik punted him in the abdomen with a powerful kick. Mark landed a few feet away, groaning in pain and back in his human form. But within seconds he pulled a pistol out and started shooting at them. Nik and Leah ran in a zig-zag formation with the murderous shapeshifter hot on their heels.

“Arghhh!” With Leah a few feet ahead, Nik suddenly went down, clutching the side of his right thigh. He pulled his hand away for a moment to assess the damage, and Leah could see a linear laceration on his skin from where the bullet grazed his leg.

Leah watched in horror as the shapeshifter suddenly appeared above Nik, a heavy boot on his hand nearest to his crossbow and the gun aimed at his head. Mark grinned maliciously. “Nighty night, Nighthunter.”

“NOOO!” Leah shouted, sprinting towards the barrel of the gun and blindly pushing her hands out in front of her. All of a sudden two identical blasts of light bounded from the palms of her hands, both hitting Mark square in the face. The skin and nerves on her hands were burning, but she didn’t notice or care, adrenaline pumping through her vasculature. She could feel a power, a deep and great power bursting forth from her core. With a shriek, she sent more blasts towards Mark, the power boundless and suddenly at her disposal to do what she wanted. And all she could focus on was destroying Mark.

“Leah! Leah!” A seemingly far away voice called her name, but it didn’t register until she felt two arms wrap around her from behind. “Come back to me! Rook!”

Leah stopped blasting at her target, and a white haze that she didn’t even realize was present suddenly dissipated from her vision. She finally realized where she was, and that she was responsible for the pile of ashes on the ground where the shapeshifter once stood. Leah fell to her knees and Nik went down with her, refusing to let go.

“I...I did that,” Leah whispered, looking down at her trembling hands. “My powers...they’re back!”

“You saved my life, rook.” Nik held her with one arm as he pressed down on the wound on his leg. “That was...that was the most power I’ve ever seen from someone.”

Maybe it was the fact that their faces were suddenly so close to each other, or maybe it was the fact that they avoided certain death again. Maybe it was the silence gathering around them, warm and electric. Maybe it was the tenderness in his expression as he held her. Leah brought one hand up to his cheek and pressed their lips together softly, and they both sighed in relief as they kissed. A warm, gentle rain misted around the pair. Leah pulled away, and both sported giddy, shy smiles.

“Not how I expected today to go...but this is perfect...well, perfect for us.” Leah hauled him up and to his feet and tied her light jacket around his thigh as a makeshift tourniquet. “Best way I could help was staying out of the way, huh?”

Nik shook his head in disbelief as they walked. “You are the most bullheaded and impossible woman I’ve ever met. I would be dead now if it weren’t for you.”

“Nik…” Leah began seriously. She knew what she finally had to do. “What happened today...I want to be with you. As your partner, both personally and professionally.”

His eyes met hers, and he searched for any signs of hesitation only to find none. His face was completely relaxed for the first time since she met him, and it sent her heart fluttering. “Are you sure about this?”

“You’re a mess...and I’m a mess.” She shook her head, chuckling incredulously. “But that just might be why we’re perfect for each other. I’m in love with you, and I think I’ve always known it. Being your partner is what I want, if you’ll have me.”

“Goddammit, Leah…” He laughed with her before he spoke again, his voice vulnerable and sincere. “I love you too. I want you with me every second, from the moment I wake up to when I rest my head. I want you with me in the trenches, and then I want you with nothin’ at all between us.”

Every word lifted a heavy weight off her heart, and Leah beamed as she took Nik’s hand. “That’s all I want, too...partner.”

The now-official couple reached Nik’s car, but instead of getting in, Nik opened his trunk. Leah quirked an eyebrow. “Getting something?”

“You could say that,” Nik replied, stepping out from behind the car with his hands behind his back. “I’ve had this in here since the day you got out of the hospital, and I couldn’t bear to even look at it. Now that you’re back, though…”

“Are you...nervous?” Leah couldn’t help the teasing, amused tone in her question as she noticed his blush. She had to admit it was odd yet slightly satisfying seeing him squirm. 

“...You left this.”

Nik held out her cherry red leather jacket, the same one he gave her on her first night in New Orleans. Leah ran her hands down the soft, worn leather, smiling softly. “You really kept this all this time?”

“Well...yeah.” Nik rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. “Maybe I hoped that you’d come back one day.”

“Well you were right, Mr. Nighthunter.” Leah put the jacket on, relishing in the familiarity of the cool leather and smell of the bayou. “How do I look?”

Nik smiled brightly. “Like it was made for you, Ms. Nighthunter.”

She sidled up to the driver’s side of the car mischievously. “Awesome, now get in.”

“Wait, what? Who said you were driving?”

“You got shot in the leg! I need to take you to the hospital!”

The pair continued to bicker the entire ride to the emergency room, and amidst the chaos Leah grinned; she wouldn’t have it any other way. Everything was different, but maybe it would be okay after all. 

==============================================

A/N: Andddd after almost 4 months (!!!)...I’m back on this series with a real chapter. Thank you so much to whoever has stuck with reading every chapter; this is my first time actually writing a multi-chapter fic. There’s one chapter left before I move on to my next Nightbound series, which is pretty much a sequel to this story and the canon story. I hope you enjoyed this, and I welcome any and all comments!

Tagging: @furiouscloddonutpeanut @nighthunterkatherine @saivilo @samara-rani @god-save-the-keen @xxdangerouscapri15xx @inlovewithrebels

[writing-realityawayfromreality]

1 a.m.

Based off the song out of love by Alessia Cara (clearly...), if you hadn’t heard it, go give it a listen. Anyways hope you enjoy. and I know i’ve said this a thousand times requests that were sent in are on their way, just have had lack of time and motivation so that’s on my. As always, all the love,

-K

“I think you should leave.” You said having your back to him. “Please... y/n.” He said walking to stand in front of you. You had tears streaming down you face. “ LEAVE NOAH... please.” You said not moving. Noah looked you in the face, he looked down at his feet before looking back up at you with tears in his eyes. He started heading towards the door. “I never meant to hurt you.” He said. “I know Noah, I know.” you said still facing away from him.

 That was almost a year ago. You still have those dreams every night. That was the last time that you had spoken to him. you had broken your lease in Carolina and moved back home. It was a long process to get into the college near your home town but you did and you couldn’t be happier. You and a few of your friends decided to go to a game in town since the arena was only a few minutes down the road from campus. You opened your closet looking through your jerseys you came across his. You had no idea that you still had it, you thought you packed it up in his boxes and left it in Carolina. 

You pulled it off the hanger and threw it onto your bed, I’ll throw it out later... you thought before pulling off your college sweatshirt and pulling it over your head. you threw your hair into a messy bun and put on some makeup. You and your friends hopped into your car, putting on your playlist you headed to the arena. The Scotiabank Saddledome was filled with people waiting to get in. This was your first hockey game since leaving the states and you were excited. You hadn’t really watched calgary since you were little but you knew they were always a good team. After your friends and you got in y’all got some drinks and headed to your seats. The warmups just begun, you were looking at the jumbo tron as they showed the players and their stats. 

You watched as they skated around a bit before your friend bumped your arm gesturing to the jumbo-tron again. “Isn’t that...” you friend began to say. You looked up to see Noah’s face. How could it be. You unlocked your phone typing in his name on  instagram to look. He had a jersey with the flames logo on it. All the pictures was just hockey, with the exception of a picture of you and him back in Carolina on the beach. It was the back of you two so no one would know, unless they looked to see who was tagged of course. You couldn’t help but smile when you saw it. You went onto google to see if it was true to which you found an article from last season saying that he was traded. 

it was a pretty intense game since it was nearing the playoff push, for the most part it was back and forth up until the very end when Calgary scored and the other team decided to pull their goalie which lead to an empty netter by Noah. Your friends insisted on heading to the bar after the game, you weren’t a huge drinker but you decided that you would go with and be their DD even though they could literally walk back to campus. You waited to see the three stars of the night before heading out, that way it wouldn’t be so packed. Your friends went ahead of you to the bar, you stayed behind for a little knowing in the back of your head you would bump into him.

Walking ever so slowly to the door, you were knocked into. “woah, I’m so sorry.” a man said from behind you. You stopped in your tracts knowing that voice all too well, it wasn’t noah’s however. “Hanni, you really gotta chill bro. Ma’am are you okay?” he asked. You debated on whether or not to turn around. You knew that he would recognize you and the fact that Noah was with him made the decision harder. “Miss?” He asked placing a hand on your shoulder, you slowly turned around facing Elias. “Y/n?” Noah asked. “You’re here...” he looked confused. “Yeah, um, well, good game guys. Have a good night.” you said before hurrying off in the opposite direction. 

You made it outside before you heard your voice being called. You turned around to a Noah standing in front of you. “What....what are you doing here?” He asked. “ I live here now, well on campus at ABM but.” you said. “So you did end up moving back home. Elias thought that he saw you in the stands but I thought it was too good to be true....” Noah started. “Noah, please.” you said. “y/n, you know i never meant for it to end like it did...” Noah said looking you in the eyes. “Listen, a few of the guys and I are going out to get some dinner, would you want to come with? I mean you know, just to catch up since I haven’t seen you in...” “A year. Um. Noah, i don’t know if that’s a good idea, my friends are at the bar, and I’m the one driving...” “Tomorrow? At waves?” He asked hopefully. “Noah, i... i just can’t.” you said turing away. “Okay, well. Have a good night then.” Noah said heading to meet up with the guys. 

You headed to the bar, meeting your friends you ordered a round of shots. “You okay?” your friend asked. “Yeah, just peachy.” you said downing the shots one after another. You didn’t typically drink nor did you really like getting drunk but tonight was different, you needed to dull those feelings for Noah, the ones that you thought you had gotten over. Your friends had gone onto the dance, to which you stayed sitting at the bar alone, drinking. “Might want to slow down there missy.” you heard a voice. You turned in the direction of the voice. It was Elias. “i take it it didn’t go so well with Noah?” he asked gesturing to the empty cups. “No, I don’t know. What are you even doing here? I thought Noah said you guys were going out for dinner?” you said trying to clear your head. “Nah, Noah went home. So the guys decided to get drinks instead.” 

“Why did Noah go home?” You asked clearly slightly drunk. “He... He just couldn’t deal with the fact he screwed up a year ago. It was a dumb mistake y/n, it still haunts him to this day.” You and Elias talked for awhile you found out the guys lived in the apartments right down the road. You had a few more drinks before Elias went out onto the dance floor leaving you alone with your thoughts. It was a dumb mistake.... Replayed over and over in your head. Before you knew it you felt yourself getting up and walking out of the bar, down the street and to Noah’s place. 

you couldn’t believe that you were doing this, Elias had given you all the information without even knowing. You went up to the 5th floor and down to his door, or so you thought. You started banging on a door “Noah! I know your in there...” You shouted. There was a rather tall, but much to young boy who opened the door. “Where’s Noah?” you asked rather loudly. “y/n?” a voice asked from down the hall. “Hanni, is she with you?” the boy standing in front of you asked. “Yeah, sorry.” He said coming to take your hand. Noah lead you down and inside his apartment. “y/n, what are you doing here? It’s 1 a.m. How did you know where I live?” He asked as your head spun.

“I won’t tell you i’m lonely noah... you had your chance and you... you messed it up.” You said pointing at him slightly swaying back and forth. “Oh jesus...” Noah said running his hands through his hair.  “y/n, are you drunk? Come here.”  Noah said walking closer to you, you swayed even more almost losing your balance and almost falling before Noah caught you. “I’m not asking you to hold me Noah, let go.” you said trying to pull away from him. He had picked you up and walked over to the couch placing you on it before walking into the kitchen. “Just walk away like you aways did. Not wanting to face what happened!” you yelled. Noah walked back with some water and tylenol “take these.” He said handing them to you. 

You felt yourself starting to tear up, before you could stop it the tears ran down your face. “y/n... why are you crying?” He asked sitting down next to you. “I won’t tell you i’m lonely, cause it might be selfish, but that’s not who i am. I’m not selfish....” you said. Noah placed two fingers under your chin lifting your head to look him in the eyes, those eyes that you had fell in love with. “y/n, you’re drunk, we can talk about this in the morning.” Noah said getting up to get some blankets and pillows. He pulled off your shoes and moved you until you were laying on his couch. He sat at the other end of the sofa placing your feet on top of his legs. “I won’t ask you to say...” You said. “I’m staying right here, until you sober up a little and we can talk.” he said rubbing your legs. “But i will ask you this question, because it might help me sleep longer.... When did you fall out of love with me? When did your love run out for me?” you said. 

“It never did.” Noah whispered before you felt yourself dozing off. 

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

you woke up the next morning to see Noah sitting at the end of the sofa, you were a bit confused, why am I here? you rubbed your head. You must had woken Noah up. “Hey there.” Noah said in his morning voice. “Do you remember anything from last night?” He asked. You shook your head. “How did I get here?” you asked. “you showed up banging on my teammates door at 1 in the morning. You were a bit...drunk.” He said. “Oh, i’m sorry.” You said before getting up and putting on your shoes. “I think i should probably head out...” You said but Noah grabbed your wrist. “Wait, no one is walking out this time. You asked me last night when I fell out of love with you. I think you need to know the answer. I mean we dated for years and I know you well enough that you knew what you were saying even though you were drunk.... It was a mistake y/n.” Noah said looking you in the eyes. “I never meant to hurt you.” He said “We had been together for five years at the point. I was dumb, she was new and pretty and different...” Noah said. “Not helping Noah...” you said. “just listen. After you found out and left, yeah i dated her... but she was nothing compared to you. the more I spent time with her I wished it was you, that’s why I was so glad to get traded to Calgary in hopes to see you again.” Noah finished. “What about her, are you two still...” you asked Noah. “No.” he laughs. “She... she hooked up with one of the boys in the AHL who came up for a week.” Noah said. 

“So the answer to your question is i never fell out of love with you, i never will run out of love for you.” Noah said once again looking into your eyes. “Noah, we can’t just pick up where we left off...” you said turning away. “And I’m not asking to. I just thought you should know. Could we just... start off as friends, maybe see where that leads us?” Noah asked.

“I don’t know Noah, it’s been a year that we’ve been apart, and I still thought about you every day. Seeing you with her hurt me noah. I just can’t throw all those feelings away of hurt and sadness that occurred over the year...” you said looking at noah, he looked so hurt. “But i also can’t throw all the feelings that have developed over those five years we spent together. I never stopped loving you Noah, and that’s why it is so hard for me. How do i know you won’t get tired of us again, how do I know we won’t be sitting here five years down the road having the same conversation?” you asked. “Because you wouldn’t give me another chance. y/n, i’m not asking you to forget what I did or what happened. I’m just asking if we could start over. If not then that’s okay, I don’t deserve you and I am not just saying these things to get back with you. I really mean what I’ve said. Ask Elias, I’ve messed up and I’ve missed you so much.” Noah said now on his knees in front of you.

You still loved him but you weren’t ready to just jump back into the relationship. you ran your hand through his hair to get him to look up at you. “Okay Noah....” you put your hand out looking for Noah. He grabbed your hand looking slightly confused. “Hi, i’m y/n.” you said smiling, “Noah... listen i know this is kinda fast moving but, how would you like to come to my hockey practice today?” He said. “I’d love to.” you said laughing. 

[evans-maxed-out]

How A Heart Breaks-Samcedes Chatzy (flashback November 2019)

Who: Sam Evans, Mercedes Jones and Quinn Fabray. Mentions of Mike Chang

Where:Sam and Mike’s practice

When: End of November 2019

Notes: Mercedes and Sam end up in a heated discussion that turns to more carnal affairs, while Quinn’s presence is a continued source of heartache for Mercedes..

Mercedes checked herself in the mirror before exiting the car. She hated that Rachel bamboozled her into volunteering for the food drive. Any other time she would have been ecstatic to lend a helping hand but now given the circumstances she wanted to be anywhere but here. After that night with Quinn she couldn’t bear sleeping in the same bed every night next to Sam knowing he was moving on. Six months they had been separated only really talking when it came to Sammie. This was something Mercedes implemented because it seemed that whenever they would be in one another capacity it led to arguing then sex. Albeit mind numbing sex but this viscous cycle has to stop. She made her way inside praying to all the heavens she would avoid Sam but fate was a wicked bitch. There he was with her. A very pregnant her. “You got this Mercedes, you’re strong and plenty capable of managing this.” She said to herself hoping this light zoomed by.

Sam: He was tired- tired of not being able to sleep without Mercedes in his bed, tired of the arguments that seemed to go around in circles every time he tried to talk to her about anything other than Sammie, tired of watching his wife slip through his fingers. “Are you OK, Sam?” Quinn asked him, coming into his office. “ Isn’t Mercedes supposed to be here for the food drive?” Sam looked up numbly at her and nodded. “ Yeah, she is...Rachel managed to talk her into helping out. I know she’d rather have walked through hot coals than be here otherwise.” Quinn moved around his desk, mindful of her prominent baby bump and put a hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry you’re going through this...Have you managed to talk to her about the separation?” He shook his head, his hand banging down on the table in frustration. “ I’m struggling Quinn... I don’t know how to reach her and I’m just so tired..I love her and nothing I say makes a damn difference- I don’t understand why she wanted this separation!” He stood up suddenly, running his hand through his hair. “Oh Sam..” Quinn sniffed, raising her arms to hug him close. “I’m so sorry...”

Mercedes wanted the floor to open up and swallow her whole. She watched as Sam and Quinn looked as is they were having a very intimate conversation. They way they seemed to interact and move with one another showed her that they were closer than she originally thought. When Quinn hugged him she wanted to cross over to where they were and say something but a hand on her shoulder stopped her. “Hey Mercedes, thanks for coming.” Rachel’s voice startled her out of her of delusion. “Hey Rach. You owe me big time.” “I know it was hard for you to come here but the kids we will be helping are super grateful.” Rachel peeked over to where her bestie’s line of sight was focused on and could see Sam in his office with Quinn. She knew her friend was hurting after that phone call she got six months ago. She just never figured Sam would stoop so low to openly flaunt his mistress in front of his wife. “Don’t do this to yourself Mercedes.” She advised Mercedes wrapping a supportive hand in hers. “How could I have been such a fool Rachel? Just when I was starting to believe in my marriage it falls apart.”

Sam: He was grateful for the hug that Quinn gave him, but it felt empty and he knew it was because the one person he longed to hold in his arms, was so far out of his reach it damn near broke his heart. "I just..I need her to give me a chance..I'll do anything she wants, just for a chance.." he whispered into her hair. He broke away slowly, still holding her gently. "What about you and Mike?" he asked her gently. "Things are..hard. He wants to be in the baby's life..he says he loves me..but Kitty's threatened him with taking Missy away...She keeps calling me, texting me..saying I'm a slut and my baby's a bastard..I know I shouldn't have gotten involved with him again..I knew he was married but I just couldn't help it..I love him, Sam.." she told him tearfully. "Hey..hey..you're not a slut. Or a homewrecker or anything else that bitch says..Yes, he was married but only because she trapped him the first year in college by poking holes in the condoms they were using. He never loved her. He loves you..trust me..He'll make it right," he reassured her, cupping her face. "Oh!" Quinn exclaimed, before beaming a watery smile at him. "The baby's kicking!" Automatically she grabbed his hand, and placed it on her belly where strong kicks were being aimed by the unborn child inside. "Uh.Quinn..that's great..really..but you need to do this with Mike.." he said, pulling his hand away, slightly awkward. " Go see him, he'll definitely want to feel it."

Mercedes tried her best to look away but she couldn’t. Even with Rachel behind her back telling her to move on and do something to distract her she couldn’t. “Rachel, that’s nice and all but right now I just can’t.” She was seeing red when she watched as Sam caressed Quinn’s belly and it was like her feet moved on their own. She stalked intensely towards Sam’s office Rachel’s pleas falling on death ears. She didn’t even knock just pushed the door the rest of the way open. “Excuse me, if you could pry yourself away from my husband for a moment I’d like to speak to him in private.” Before Quinn could speak she was not so politely shoving the girl out the office and closing the door on her. “Look Sam, about picking Sammie up from school today. Don’t worry about it. Obviously you have other priorities to tend to.” She said turning on her heels to leave.

Sam: "What the hell?" he asked her, as Quinn unobtrusively melted away from the room. "Other priorities? The fuck I have other priorities.." He grabbed her arm, spinning her to face him. "You seriously can’t be thinking..Dammit, Mercedes, look at me! You can't just blow me the hell off like this! I've been walking on eggshells for MONTHS, and now what? You're telling me my kid isn't a priority with me?"

Mercedes: tried to ignore the sparks she felt when he grabbed her arm. “It doesn’t matter what I think. We are separated and my priorities don’t concern worries about what you do. Sammie is my priorities and that’s all that matters.” She knew those words probably stung a bit but she didn’t care. He apparently didn’t care enough to be cautious around her so oh well. “I can do whatever I want. I’m a grown ass woman Sam. You obviously are too busy dealing with things here so I got Sammie.”

Sam: It was like lighting touch paper-his temper suddenly soared, exploding red hot as his lips crashed down on hers. "The fuck you're doing this to me," he growled, one hand already grasping the hem of her shirt. "You're a fucking cocktease, Mercedes...You talk about being separated, but it takes me just touching you to have you begging...And you know what? The hell I'm letting you go right now.." He wrenched her shirt over her head, tossing it carelessly to the side, uncaring of whoever might enter his office. His mouth took hers again, tongue demanding and unforgiving as his fingers tweaked her nipples roughly through the material of her bra.  “I don't care if this is all we'll ever have..All I care about is being deep inside you,' he growled before biting down roughly on the soft skin of her neck, determined to leave his mark there for all to see. His fingers rucked her skirt up about her waist as his knee slid in between her thighs. One hand traced the outline of the lace panties she wore, before his fingers bunched the material tightly, ripping it away in one savage motion. "You knew what would happen the minute you set foot inside this office, don't pretend you didn't," he accused her roughly as he ran his thumb over her clit lightly. "You knew that there would be no way you'd leave this office without being thoroughly fucked and my come deep inside you.." On the word, two fingers slid into her sweetly wet warmth, thumb still strumming lazily over her swollen clit...

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

Mercedes: rested her head on Sam’s shoulder as she tried to catch her breath. This was becoming a wicked pattern they were following. A heated argument leading to even more heated carnal sex. This had to stop. There had to be a way out. She knew despite it all nothing more could come of this because he had whatever it was going on with Quinn. Yet all she wanted was to be here in this moment with Sam. She kissed him gently as she felt him tap her bottom so she could move. She stood letting him up and watched as he disappeared on the bathroom. Maybe they could work things out. Maybe they ended up like this for a reason and instead of fighting it she needed to be more open to accepting that whatever this pull was wasn’t going away. She reached down grabbing her underwear and decided to pick up Sam’s clothes as well. When she picked up his coat she heard something drop to the floor with a thud. She ignored it getting dressed first then noticed the small velvet box that laid before her feet. Immediately her mind thought the worst as she bent to pick it up. Can’t be. She thought to herself as her hands trembled around the item. She slowly opened it and gasped at the beautiful ring inside. He was going to propose. Everything she thought had been true. She heard her finishing up in the bathroom and quickly placed the box back in his coat and left his office running.

[mrneighbourlove]

Blue Stream: Ch 4. Love Floats Downstream

Scarlet was looking around for her eldest daughter, having just finished chopping meat up with a cleaver for the family. That girl was going to miss lunch. Was she drinking again? "Rat! You seen Revy?"

"Nay, I hasn't." Rat was currently heading out with a bucket of scraps to give to the pigs. "Trygve hasn't seen her either. I just talked to him and he's going to get the horses ready for plowing."

"When you see her, let her know that she missed out on beef sandwiches.

Revy wasn't drinking at the moment. In fact, she was quite sober, and currently working up the nerve to enter the orphanage. Why did the new spring weather bring heat waves? Was she sweaty from her heat or her nerves? Taking her shirt off the Gerudo was left with a red tanktop for her upper body. Walking to the door, she gave a knock, hoping that the owl woman would answer. Seija was the first person that Revy noticed. Made her feel flustered. Why? She’d been complimented by many from the brothels hoping to finally invite her in or hunting parties, but it never got to her. So why this new development now? She had to find out.

One of the orphaned kids answered the door, a stuffed toy rabbit underneath her arm. She was sucking her thumb, probably no more than a couple years old. Looking at Revy for a moment, she then darted back inside of the house.

“Wait! Don’t run!” Crap. Did she look scary?

"Flora!" Seija darted around the corner, Flora's twin, Fauna, on her back. She was trying to catch the little one to change her clothes. Why were toddlers faster than a cheetah? It was not fair! "I told you not to answer the door for strangers---oh!" The lady was very surprised that Revy was here.

“Hiiiii~” Revy smiled best she could, clicking her finger to Seija just as Lex instructed her to do. “How have things around the orphanage been?”

"They've been a little---" Seija winced as she heard a loud 'bang' from the kitchen. "Hectic for lack of better word. The older kids are trying to prepare lunch and I've been trying to get these two, " She gestured to the twins. "To settle down since they found the hidden cookie jar."

“Sounds like a handful. Would you like an extra hand?”

"That... that would be wonderful." Seija tried to wipe the flour on her cheek off with a sheepish smile. "If you don't mind?"

“I’ve handled two little siblings for a good part of my life now.” Revy stepped into the orphanage and decided to get their attention. “You kids want to see a magic trick?”

"If you could obtain their attention while I help with lunch preparation, then that would be wonderful." Seija hurried to the kitchen to make sure nothing was on fire and food would not be wasted. After a half hour or so, Seija appeared in the dining hall, setting up all the plates. There was even a dish for Revy, and she called everyone to eat.

Revy instantly got the little ones attention with her display of lightning sparking between her fingers. She even juggled a bolt, putting on a little dance for the wee ones. What got the older kids attention was when she took her eyepatch temporarily off, her missing eye illuminated with the glow of electricity. She told the tale of her fight against the terrible Onslaught and, unlike the adults of the bar, they were completely enamoured by her story. At the call of dinner, she cut it after speaking of how she and Twinrova turned him into dust. “Oh! Lunch time! I’ll take questions after!”

"Thank you for watching them." Seija sat down at the table and sighed, relieved that lunch was a success and nothing was burning or falling apart. "I'm not much of a cook but I hope you like it."

“Grilled cheese! Thank you!” Revy was happy that everything was going well. Seija seemed to like her help. Taking her seat, she had to lean down to eat at the small table. “So, I thought I could help with construction.”

"Construction? Are you a builder?" Seija asked Revy as she nibbled on her own food. "We could always use the help. I can't pay much, unfortunately."

“I’ll do it for free. I’ve helped rebuild houses before. Or my dads barn. It’s no biggie for someone like me.”

"Well, the least I could do is fix some food for you." Seija offered, feeling a bit guilty for accepting help without being able to pay. "I can make sure the kids stay out of the way."

“Your kids aren’t all that bad. Are all of you ok with me helping build that extension?”

"I would appreciate any help you could give," Seija admitted as Revy munched on her grilled cheese sandwich. "I'm not much of a builder, except for small projects. I can fix a broken toy and mend clothes, maybe a hole in the wall, but a whole addition is out of my hands." Seija elaborated. "There were five children, but the twins are new. At least they're young enough, only three years, to not recall what happened to their parents. So now, we're seven strong... and simply have no more room. Alva’s the oldest, she's a teenager and really needs her own space, even if it is small." Seija tried to think, showing Revy the crudely drawn plans. "Then Niklas and Oskar can show a room since they're both boys. Merete and Kyliki can have a bunk bed in the third room, but now, with the twins, we really need another room.”

“I need the workout. And I love to help people. Especially those who are in need.” Revy smiled as she gobbled her grilled cheese down. “Thank you for lunch. Now then. Where should I get started?”

“It'd be nice if we could have a large living area instead of all of us cramming into the kitchen or having to be outside in the cold."

Revy picked up a hammer, flipping it right side up. “I’ll get right on it.”

The work was long and hard, yet incredibly satisfying for Revy. By the time she was done, Revy was leaning against one completed wall. She took a towel one of the kids gave her and wiped the sweat away.

Scarlet had gotten worried that Revy was passed out from drinking again and sent Rat out to drag her back. What he found was cheers coming from the orphanage as Revy ran out to examine the outside of the wall she finished.

“One wall down! Only two more to go!”

Rat was not one to spy. No, that was usually Mojo's and Juju's job. However, today, Rat was doing some peeping of his own. His daughter had made some questionable choices lately, and both Borghild and Scarlet were worried. Standing behind a stack of barrels at the ale house, Rat watched as Revy worked on the orphanage. He was a little confused. Why was she spending her time here? She never showed any interest in becoming a caretaker. It was then the answer was revealed when Seija rounded the corner with fresh brownies from the oven. Revy was... ogling the orphanage's headmistress. "... well..." Rat said to himself with a shrug of his shoulders. "My girl has good taste!"

Revy didn’t know why her attention was so captured by this fluffy owl. Seija was like a sparkling snowflake. When she heard her dad, her spell was broken. “D-dad?! What are you doing here?”

"I'm... I'm getting a barrel of ale!" Rat quickly saved face by selecting a big barrel and paying the vendor. "Yep, barrel of ale for Mojo and Juju when they come for a visit. You just do whatever you're doing but be home in time for dinner. Your moms are fixing that grilled chicken you like!"

Revy looked at the brownies, feeling conflicted. “Hey Seija, can I have those wrapped up?”

"Of course! I'd hate to keep your... wait, moms?" Seija looked puzzled. "I thought Borghild was your mom?"

“Borghild is my god mother and the woman who raised me. Scarlet is my birth mother. She lives with Borghild and I. It’s why I’m Gerudo.”

"Oh! Okay, I understand now." Seija sheepishly admitted. "I thought you were adopted. Sorry."

“Scarlet was a pirate, so obviously couldn’t get raised by her at the time. Liz and Lex are adopted tho!” Revy didn’t know why she blurted that out.

"Oh, Liz who is dating the prince? I think that was mentioned once in a conversation." Seija made sure to wrap up the brownies in a cloth and handed the contents to Revy. "I hope you like them. You'll be here tomorrow?"

“Liz is married to Prince Halvar, actually.” Revy took the brownies from Seija and didn’t notice herself smiling like a happy puppy. “I’d love to come back.”

"Yes, of course! I'm sure even after you're finished working, the kids would love to have some time to get to known you." Seija offered. "Wednesday night is game night. We usually play cards or a board game. Would you like to join us?"

“I’d love too!” Revy was wonderfully giddy. “See you tomorrow than Seija!”

"Tell your family to join us for game night if they like!" Seija waved goodbye to Revy. "Be careful going home!"

Revy was walking home, chewing down a single brownie and thinking about her day, when she finally noticed her dad had the smuggest grin. “What?”

"Me thinks me little girl finally has a crush one someone." Rat was outside waiting for his daughter's arrival, chopping some firewood. "A certain, pretty snowy bird."

“W-w-what?” Revy’s face flushed, and her hands grew sweaty. “What do you mean by that? I’ve never been attracted to anyone before!”

"Well, your old dad is pretty sure you're crushing on the bird lady that runs the orphanage." Rat teased her lightly. "He knows a romance starting when he sees one. It's the little things that get your attention, see," He elaborated. "You may think she's beautiful, but also loves how she twirls her hair when she's thinking or gets that stiff upper lip when she's mad..."

“I.... darn. I think you’re right. Just don’t-“

“REVY!!! Where have you been missy!!!”

Revy flinched at her mom bellowing from the house. Scarlet could command well when she raised her voice. She rarely did, so Revy knew her mother was cross with her.

“Have you been drinking?! Don’t lie to me.”

“No! Gods mom! I haven’t!”

"Nay, she wasn't drinking," Rat told Scarlet with a shake of his head. "Revy was seeing a sweet little perdy thing."

“Dad!”

Scarlet saw Revy flare up, and now she had a million questions going through her mind. “I don’t believe it. HEY BORGY! Revy has a girlfriend!”

“Mom! I don’t have a girlfriend!”

"A girlfriend?!" Borghild's voice said from inside the house, followed by a loud crash, a bang, the sound of tripping, and then heavy footsteps rushing to the front door. "When did this happened?!"

"Today." Rat told his wife. "She hasn't asked Seija out yet."

"Ooooh!!!" Borghild nearly squealed in delight. "Seija is such a sweet thing!!! She's perfect! So shy, and clumsy, and adorable!"

“I didn’t. Because I’m not-“

“Is this Seija a good person? How do you know?”

“Mother. I’m not-“

“Shy and clumsy? You sure she’s a good fit for Revy?”

“Dad! Tell them it’s not like that!”

"Seija is a nice lady." Rat put down the axe and collected some firewood into a stack, deciding to throw in the magic word. "She runs the orphanage and loves children. You know, we could potentially have a lot of grandkids if Revy ends up adopting all the kiddos."

“Can all of you please stop?” Revy groaned, not liking the embarrassment.

“Why? This is so much better than you drinking. We’re going to be grand parents!”

"I get first dibs on teaching the grandkids how to throw an axe!" Borghild called the claim before Scarlet could. "And first hunting trip!"

"Now, now, it might be a while before Revy proposes, you never know." Rat chuckled. "You can at least know it will never be quiet around here again."

“I JUST MET HER!” Revy felt her frustrations boil. “There’s something I just LIKE about her. I’m not going to pork her, because I STILL don’t have that type of attraction to people! I don’t know how things will happen with me continuing to go there, but you’re making me uncomfortable! I don’t know if I want a lover or if I want a friend. So can you get this baby talk out of my head? Please? You’re embarrassing me!”

"We're your parents, it's our job to embarrass you... a little." Rat laughed as he gestured for Revy to grab some firewood too. "At least let us have a little fun. Whether you date or not, we just want you to be happy."

Scarlet pulled Revy to be squished between her and Borghild. “We just want you to be happy. I’m sorry if you feel like we’ve teased you.”

"We want you to be happy... and we want 12 grandkids at some point too." Borghild added with a bear hug.

"I thought we agreed on 15?"

"We met halfway. I originally said 10."

"Six girls and six boys."

"It doesn't matter, we'll manage them all."

“Guuuuuuuys!” Revy struggled between both her moms, holding the tray of brownies close to her. There was no way she could invite her parents to game night.

~

Ocax thought he could be useful when he woke up. Rising early awake, the Twili made his way to the kitchen. Looking through the cabinets, he found a line of bread and a slab of ham and cheese. Finding the knives, he quickly got to work cutting and making sandwiches. He was nearly done, when, by making sure Towa had her crusts cut, and going rather quickly, he cut his finger wide open.

Ocax shrieked like a cucco from his mistake.

Seer, for once, was sleeping soundly. He was usually an early riser, but the mead from last night's meal made him tune out the rest of the world... until the unholy shriek filled the house. The orca Direnor was so startled, he nearly fell out of his bed. At first, his mind jumped to one of his girls, but then Seer recalled the twins did not live her any longer. He had to recall last night's events. There were... uninvited guests in his home. Stumbling into the kitchen, Seer's hair was a mess, lopped to one side, and his beard was stubby. "What in the name of Handeh is going on in my kitchen?"

“Nothing! I’m fine. J-just a cut.” Ocax couldn’t hide the winces in his breathing. “Just eat your breakfast.”

Seer sniffed a couple of times. "... a... ham and cheese sandwich is not a proper breakfast." He remarked with frown. "And you cut yourself."

“I wanted to be a civil guest. And yes. I cut myself.” Ocax sat down, heavily annoyed with himself.

Towa ran down, catching all her clothes together. “Ocax? Are you ok?”

“No. I sliced my finger open cutting the crusts off your sandwich.”

Towa had concern, yet warmth in her expression. “You idiot... thank you. Be more careful next time.” She grabbed her sandwich, taking a massive bite. “Hey, this isn’t bad.”

“Towa… Chew, swallow, talk.” Ocax held his finger tight, blood squirting into his palm. “Seer... I don’t suppose you’re a medic too?”

"I've patched up my girls more times than I can remember," Seer opened the cabinets and felt around for a box. Inside, there were various medical supplies. He placed it on the counter, and selected a small bottle of cleaning alcohol, and a roll of gauze. "Make sure you wash it first with warm water and soap."

“I don’t like soap. It’s irritating on my skin.”

Towa roller her eyes and headed to the door. “Don’t be an ass. See you later.”

“Hey! Not without me!”

“I’m not waiting on you Ocax. Be smart, get treated, then find me later.”

“Towa-”

“Bye! Love you! Don’t be a dumbass! I’m going to find a bear!”

The Twili woman ran out as Ocax sulked to the closest tap. “Damn woman I swear she’ll be the end of me.”

"If you don't want to use soap, you got one choice; stinging alcohol." Seer held up the tiny bottle, giving it a little shake. Personally, he did not mind Towa leaving. It would give a little more peace and quiet. "Pick your poison."

Without hesitation Ocax poured the alcohol. It stun like a hornet, but at least it wouldn’t leave him sickly with a rash. “That burns like hot a poker. Hurry with what you need to do.” The Twili rested his chin on his other rested arm. “This was humiliating. Will you at least eat your breakfast?”

"You're not the first person to slice open your finger while making a sandwich for your kids---I mean, friend, and you won't be the last." Seer managed to tie a bow to keep the gauze in place. "... I will take the ham off the sandwich, brown it, put the cheese in some eggs, scramble them, and toast the bread you used to make the sandwich, so yes, I will eat my breakfast. The question is," He asked. "Do you want your version of breakfast or mine?"

“Of course the cook states he can make a better breakfast.” Ocax looked at the tie with light amusement before letting out a defeated sigh. “I suppose your version would be more of a bountiful meal.”

"Of course I can make a better breakfast." Seer teased lightly, grinning from ear to ear. "You're not entirely useless in the kitchen. Set the table while I cook." He started to get the necessary items for the meal. "Random question, Tweats... no... Tawrs? Twats? OH GODS---no, no, no, ignore that, just whatever your race is called," He then spitted out. "You're not allergic to anything, right?"

“It’s Twili. Twi-li. Twili. And no, besides my dislike of chocolate, I’m only allergic to certain soaps.” Ocax was a good house guest, and got to setting a table for two. “Direnor. Die-re-nor. See, I managed.”

"Twili, like Twilight. I think I can remember that." Seer managed to fix a large plate of food for Ocax and himself. The Direnor poured a couple glasses of imported orange juice and then sat at the table. "Your friend is missing out. Are you going to be okay eating?"

“Exactly like Twilight. And Towa, she can suffer when she hears about what she missed.” Ocax was about to reach for his food, when he raised a brow. “What, you feed the injured by hand?”

"I have before when my crew mates were injured." Seer tried to hold back a snicker at the old memory. "Bomba blew off one of his fingers and couldn't hold a fork straight to save his life. Tried to eat with the other hand and ended up with a burn on his chest."

“...Is that something you wish to do for me?” Ocax set his slightly shaky fork down, resting his gaze on Seer and waiting him to make the next move.

"I don't mind if you need me to do so." Seer shrugged his shoulders, acting like it was perfectly normal. "I mean... I'm assuming you're right handed?"

“I’m duel handed, but this cut is making me shake. Last thing I need is to spill my drink everywhere.”

"Well then, sit closer." Seer felt of the table, grabbing Ocax's plate and silverware. He felt of the food placement and made sure nothing was steaming, drifting his hand over it. Getting a good helping of scrambled, cheesy eggs on the fork, he held it upward. "You'll uh... have to help me with this part since I'm not a good judge of distance. And I don't want to stab your eye out with a egg-covered fork."

“Of course.” Ocax took hold of Seer’s thigh to hold himself steady, and closed the gap, swallowing the food. A tiny gasp left him as he finished. “That’s marvellous.”

"Yes, it is marvelous cause I made it." Seer replied with a smug grin. He prepared the next bite, not thinking too much of the close contact. It was not like someone ever made a move on him... well, Adda did. Though, he knew better now. "However, I think I'm going to have to ban you from my kitchen if you cut yourself again."

“I promise to no longer cut myself.” Ocax just decided to relax and enjoy to meal Seer provided for him. “I wish to ask, why are you alone Seer? You have a good personality, you’re a wonderful chief, you’re good with children, and your home is comfortable.”

"Alone?" Seer did not grasp what Ocax meant. The poor man was completely oblivious. "Oh, my girls are grown. Do kids still live with their parents in the Twilight Realm?"

Ocax pressed his question further. “They don’t, but I ask, why are you alone in this house? You don’t have a relationship?”

"... oh." Seer realized then what Ocax was asking. "Well... it's not for lack of trying, I suppose. I did have one fling years ago, but let's just say she set her sights elsewhere." The Direnor really did not feel like narrating the whole story of Adda's betrayal, and he certainly did not want to think about Bakura. "It's not a problem for me to find a lover in the pleasure house here, but as far as a relationship goes... I guess I was more concerned about my girls than dating. Besides," He shrugged lightly. "The people here, they want someone strong, someone who has no physical weakness... being blind doesn't help my case."

“Bah, that’s pathetic thinking on their part.”

"It's how it has always been around here. I can't expect them to think differently."

“So why should you devalue yourself due to their thinking?”

"Oh, I don't care what they think," Seer admitted, being honest. "I care what my family thinks, my friends think... but at the same time, I can understand their point of view too. I can't blame them, really."

“So, someone as talented as you are content being alone?”

"Oh, I would be delighted to have a lover one day." Seer beamed a little at the thought. "Someone to hold at night, someone to share stories with, someone to laugh with, and someone just to... sit with me by the fire, being content in each other's company. I wouldn't be opposed to more children, but with a grandkid on the way, I may be biting off more than I can chew."

“You have a dream spouse?”

"Heh, 'dream' is the correct term, yes, I suppose." Seer agreed with a light chuckle. "There's certain qualities I like more than others, yes, but everyone has their quirks that makes them special."

“Please, for your sake more than mine. Have a passion to reach for more than a dream. It will make you not only happy, but more desirable in the eyes of others.”

"Your sake, Ocax? Didn't know Twili were interested in romances." Seer mused as he finished gathering the last bite of food for Ocax.

“Excuse me? We find love like anyone on else. I just like men who have passion in their hearts like I do.”

"Oh, you like men? I um..." Seer cleared his throat awkwardly. "Thought you were with... Towa..."

Ocax felt his throat go dry. In the context of his sentence he meant men as mankind. However, his sexual attraction was indeed to men. He slowly clenched his hand off Seer’s thigh. “I-“

At the mention of Towa, Ocax couldn’t help but give a snicker. “Towa? Oh. No, no, no. We’re good friends. But she isn’t near my type.”

"Sorry, I shouldn't have assumed." Seer was a little sheepish. "I mean, I like both men and women. By Rotar, I feel like an ass..."

“It’s alright. Kanisa assumed Towa was a child, perhaps even my child. Although she is only a bit older than me, I think she views me as an older family figure at times.” Ocax took a sip of his drink and sat in awkward silence for a moment.

"Heh, I'm sure she did; Towa is tiny." Seer then asked. "Is that why you're wanting to get back home so badly? You have someone?"

“I think it’s that feeling of isolation for the others. To see home. To feel complete. I honestly don’t care anymore. My interest is faltering more and more in returning.”

"Well, you won't be alone here, Ocax. There's plenty of people around." Seer carefully picked up the plates and took them to the sink to wash. "Time is our own worst enemy. It's hard to wait for something you really want." He said a few words of wisdom. "Waiting is bitter, but the result is sweet."

“I know. But I think I could be happy in this world of light, despite the sting of its sun. Or not seeing the black clouds of twilight.”

"If it's blackness you want, you could always go under the water when the ice is melted." Seer suggested. "But with someone that can actually swim."

“Seer...” Ocax had disappointed annoyance in his voice, not liking the thought of falling in freezing water again. “It’s not for me I continue to search anyways.”

"Heh, all right, but you're missing out. I may not be able to see anything down there, but there is beautiful music." Seer made a wave of his arm, as if he were a conductor at an orchestra. "The sounds are always peaceful." He sighed in contentment at thinking of the music the ocean provided under the sea. "Searching, wandering, but not always lost. Perhaps one day, you'll find your cloudy sky. Though for now, I'm going to shower. Do you need anything else?"

“I think to find Towa so she doesn’t-”

“HOLY COW! THIS BEAR IS AMAZING! TRASNFORM AGAIN!”

“Let go off me!”

Ocax sighed as he heard commotion from outside Towa was causing. Could she get into any more trouble?

~

The next day Towa saw an interesting old looking building. It held history in its bones, but it was massive! Perhaps this place held ancient secrets. Upon entering, she saw a bunch of Direnor enter, looking muscly and sweaty. At a front counter, a woman looked down at her. “You an adult?”

Towa grumbled at that. Why did people assume always make assumptions of her? “Yes. I’m just small.”

“Alright. You can go in. Have fun.”

As Towa went in, she saw Direnor taking their clothes off. Towa grew excited. This must have been a nudist house of relaxation, perhaps a way to feel free from the prison of clothing without the worries of being ridiculed. Taking what little clothing she had off, she excitedly ran into the halls. She waved to a few people as she looked around. Others seemed to be gathering, but she was content on studying the pillars. There were ancient carvings on them; maybe they held texts she could decipher.

Since Ocax decided to seek out Princess Kanisa's counsel on some Uskarian history, Seer took the opportunity to get away from the house for a bit. All the talk of lovers had him a little depressed. Adda was a one night stand and admittedly, he did not know her that well, but fancied her. Bakura, on the other hand, he had a little more time to know. Maybe he had a bad sense of relationships. The Direnor thought the ex-assassin liked him. Or perhaps, it was just a ruse to get closer to the girls. Either way, Seer had arrived to the conclusion that his taste for women or men was shit. So, to get the thought of old flames off his mind, he traveled to the Pleasure House to melt away his despairs.

However, he did not expect a pint-sized audience.

Towa noticed Seer completely naked on a pile of cushions. Strange, but not enough to throw her off. She liked being naked whenever she got the opportunity! Sure, she didn’t have presentable nipples or her lady bits at the moment like these light worlders, however, those alone wouldn’t bother her. “Oh! Seer! What are you doing at this nudist house? I don’t see why you don’t feel comfortable being naked in your own house. I like to be naked too whenever I can!”

The Direnor nearly spat out his mead. What in the name of Handeh was she doing here? A blush of the reddest of reds covered his face.

"Wh-What?! What are you doing here?!"

Yet, before he could obtain an answer, Seer's procured lovers for the night waltzed over to the blind orca. The woman sat down on his lap and the man kissed him, hard, before running his hand down his chest in a sultry motion.

“Huh? What’s going on?” Towa tilted her head, surprised by the boldness of these two newcomers.

"Do you want to join too? The more, the merrier... and messier." The female giggled as she winked at Towa. "The Madam can help you find someone else if you don't want to join our group."

"She might not like roughness, she's tiny, Kairi." The male literally purred as he released Seer's mouth with a gasp. "Might be more suited for a night of slow romance."

"Either way, Balthor, she can enjoy the show." Kairi then proceeded to test her skills of oral administration of Seers cock while Balthor played with Seer's hole, before penetrating him.

"Oh, f-fuck..." Seer felt his mind going blank from the pleasure.

“....holy shit....” Towa lightly squeaked out. Her ears shot up like a cat when she picked up on where she was. There were dozens of people getting into the groove of one large orgy around. How did she get into a sex addict convention?!

Her cheeks flushed blue and her knees trembled at the sight of Seer being penetrated. Dear lord, her host was a sex cultist!

"Sure you don't want to join?"

"Don't be pushy, Seer might not want to share."

"Do you want to share?"

When someone placed a hand on her stomach and shoulder from behind, Towa screeched like a cat having its tail stepped on. Her magic hair slapped them away, and in her panic, she assumed her shadow form, bouncing around the brothel and keeping away from people until she was near the entrance. Grabbing her clothes, she hid in people’s shadows until she was outside.

Ocax was surprised by how much he enjoyed Kanisa’s wise council. She was a bookworm like him, and her understanding of the land’s law was insightful.

“Perhaps banishment might be too harsh. I think with proper rehabilitation, people could-”

He was cut off his talk with the Gerudo woman when he saw Towa screaming like a mad woman, almost crying when she grabbed his collar. “OCAX!!! OH THANK GOD!”

“What did you do?”

“I was minding my own business when-“

“Bullshit.”

“I WAS! I was looking into history when I stumbled upon a sex cult! Seer is one of them! I saw him getting penetrated by another man while a woman pleasured his appendage! Then other members of the cult tried to drag ME into it!!!”

"Oh good goddesses," Kanisa covered her hands with her face, her cheeks burning red. "I think... she stumbled into the Pleasure House."

“You did what?” Ocax’s mouth started to hang open, the corner of his mouth twitching with disbelief.

“I had to fight my way out! Oh Ocax! It was awful! I could have been taken into their cult, and pounded like a rag doll! Think about all the things they could have done to my body! And what’s worse, Seer is one of them! You should have seen it! His pale frame beat red from them just- just slamming into him! He was bloomed up like rip strawberries!”

"... you know the Pleasure House is all voluntary, for those who want a lover or are seeking companionship for a night." Kanisa tried to keep a straight face without giggling at Ocax's stunned expression. "For those who want a little spice, or adventure, or are just feeling lonely. We've all been there."

Ocax starred off into the night sky, dumbstruck by the information of Seer and Towa’s story.

Towa herself grew concerned with how quiet Ocax grew. “Ocax?”

“I think it’s best that you go stay somewhere else tonight while I talk to Seer.”

“What? Why?”

“Towa. You walked on him and caused a commotion in a pleasure house. People could have you reported for disturbing the peace.”

“Well the only one disturbed was me!”

“And slim chance that no one reports you, you might have been rude to our host. Go with Kanisa or find a house to stay at. I’ll talk with Seer and make sure he’s not angry with you.”

“You think he is?”

“I know I’m furious. You acted like a child. Again.”

“But Ocax…”

The Twili man held his hand up to stop her. “No. Just… no. I’ll go fix this. I just need you to stay out of the way.”

"You can bunk in Audlin's room for tonight; she's staying with some friends." Kanisa offered to Towa. "And next time, I really think you should ask where you are instead of assuming it's... something you think it is."

~

Mortified beyond all means, Seer sat in his chair by the fire. He never expected Towa to come to the Pleasure House. The Twili were here to study any sources of magic, not look for a romp in the sheets. Sighing, he honestly did not expect Towa or Ocax to return to his house. There had to be some elaborate story Towa spun to Ocax about the blind man being a sexual deviant.

Ocax walked in, giving a clear of his throat for Seer. “Mr. Serling. A moment?”

"... I'm surprised you're back."

“I was only described in great detail about you. I didn’t see it with my own eyes. And don’t worry, it was my job to pick apart false testimonies. Especially about you being in a ‘sex cult’ and such nonsense. She did give me a more accurate description of what you were doing though.”

"Oh good Handeh..." Seer felt the blood rushing to his face again, obviously embarrassed. "I... well... the Pleasure House..." He tried to think of a way to explain himself but could not find the words. "It was... just... a fling."

“How often do you have these flings?”

"... not too often. Maybe every other month or so." Seer admitted, knowing lying would get him nowhere. "It's nice to feel..."

“...wanted?”

"Yes." Seer sighed with his shoulders slumping. "The Pleasure House doesn't discriminate. It's all just a feeling to them."

“So what brought on your most recent need to go?”

"Just..." Seer did not want to say he was feeling lonely so he used the next best excuse. "Old memories. The nights of not only pleasure but warmth too."

“And you thought going to a pleasure house where no one actually cares for you would help with that?”

"It's better than nothing." Seer retorted dryly as he took a sip of his drink.

“Excuse me?” Ocax was taken aback by that. “Of course it’s better. Why stoop yourself to that level? Why not have the patience to find someone you actually like?”

"I did. I did have someone I liked." Seer had to grit his teeth. "He chose to follow someone else."

“Then get over him. Things don’t work out. You take time and reflection and you move on.”

"That's easy for you to say." Seer nearly snapped bitterly at Ocax. "He didn't betray you at the last minute either and cause one of your crew mates to die. It's not something you can reflect upon in a positive manner."

“You going to be a little bitter ass when Towa comes back too?” Ocax felt pity for this man, maybe even sympathy. “If you don’t move on, you’ll only be able to wallow in self pity.”

"You don't have to stay here and observe me in my pity if it disturbs you." Seer pointed in the direction of the door. "I'll move on when I damn well please."

“No.”

"No? No what?"

“No, I’m not leaving.” Ocax walked to kitchen and started to make two sandwiches.

"Hey!" Seer got up from his seat. "I told you to keep out of my kitchen! You're going to cut yourself again!"

“What can you do to stop me from making dinner? You’re physically blind. And full of mentally blinding anger. I can make as many sandwiches as I want.” Ocax carefully finished the touches on two raspberry and banana sandwiches.

"I know I can't fucking see, but I can still sense what you're doing and where things are." Seer growled. "I don't want you hurting yourself again. Get out of my kitchen. I may not like you telling me how to cope, though that doesn't mean I want you slicing your hand up."

Ocax shoved a plate aggressively in Seer’s chest. “I’m not going to make the same mistake. And this time you’re going to eat my cooking.”

Seer put the plate on the counter, stubborn. "I've already ate."

“I’m trying to be nice to you. Eat it.” Ocax got closer to Seer’s face, a snarl filling his expression. He wasn’t going to back down.

"I don't want it." Seer did not feel like arguing. He turned to leave Ocax in the kitchen much to his chagrin. This had already turned into a shitty day, and he decided the best way to forget was to sleep. "Give it to Towa. If she comes back."

Ocax grabbed Seer by the shoulders and pushed the man firmly into a chair. “Eating from the nether regions of man and women for dinner is not part of a nutritious meal. I like you. You’ve been hospitable in looking after Towa and I. I wouldn’t be giving advice, or risk cutting myself with your terrible handled knives making food if I didn’t. Eat my sandwich.”

Seer did not like such a rough handling by Ocax and nearly growled at the insensitive statement. Though, he was not prepared to hear that Ocax liked him. It caught the Direnor off guard for sure. But... it probably was not in the way he was thinking. No, it was just as friends, wasn't it? Hospitable, friendly, fixing them food... of course it was. With an irritated frown, Seer took the sandwich and bit off a sizable chunk.

“Thank you. Was that so difficult?” Ocax let go as he watched Seer eat. “Do you like it?”

"... it would be better with peanut butter for the banana's sweetness or chocolate drizzle to compliment the raspberry's tartness." Seer managed to say with a mouthful. "But it is tasty otherwise."

Ocax was growing frustrated. Towa’s story about Seer was flustering enough, but this argument with the man was driving him crazy. “Swallow. Then speak. I’m glad you find my taste enjoyable.”

"Better than 'eating dicks and pussies' as you put it so eloquently. Certainly more nutritious." Seer was mad at Ocax for trying to tell him how to cope, how to feel, and most of all, felt like he was being played with. Again. This was going to be Adda all over again if he wasn't careful. The Twili weren't going to stay here, they were going to leave, Ocax would leave just like Bakura. There was no need to get attached. Wanting a lover just brought heartache.

“Of course it is.” Ocax sat down. After a moment, he gave a laugh. “A sex cult of all things... Towa needs to get back home.”

"... back to the Twilight Realm."

“Yes. I love her like family. She’s the most determined to get back home. You saw her today. She heard one little rumour of an old hall holding ancient magical texts, and she stormed that brothel right away. She thought the pillars held secret etchings. I want her to be happy. I want her to stop having nightmares of never returning home. She’s the only one who’s spirit can’t be settled here.”

"And you're going back with her, aren't you?"

“I don’t think I will.”

"Why?" Seer asked Ocax, expecting a halfhearted answer. "Find some of those dark, shadowy clouds you liked here better?"

“I don’t know. I’ve been in this world for nearly thirty years. Those beautiful clouds are just a memory now. I think it would hurt too much to go back. To confirm the most likely scenario that my lover and my family has long since moved on. That the Twilight Realm might seem too small. This world is so diverse. And it’s changed for the better. I’m going to give Towa her door back to our ancestral home, but I don’t think I’ll join her. So many of the others have settled in this world. Why not me too?”

"... if you have a family there, would you really think they would forget about you?" Seer felt his chest tighten at the recollections of when he was trapped, away from his girls. It was so painful to be away from them. Often, he thought it would be best if the twins deemed him dead. That way, they would not be hurt looking for him.

“Yes.” Ocax sounded bitter, almost angry with one single word.

"And you would forget them?

“I don’t need to see them again if that’s what you’re asking. I had a clan. My clan already came from bad history, so expectations were high on me. Imagine how they felt when I rose to gain political power through my occupation in mastering the law over others. On top of that, I was homosexual, so I wasn’t going to ‘share’ my power with a new generation. I had my lover, but he was only interested in me due most likely to my stature. I had one father as my closest blood relative as far as I can remember. He didn’t like that I worked to put my own needs before the rest of the clan. They thought I was another Zant in the making. So yes, I could forget them.”

"...sometimes, I suppose in your family, they can be the ones to hurt you the most."

“I think this is best. Stay in this world, and fade away into obscurity.”

"Well... minus the fading away part, you could always find happiness here. New families wouldn't hurt, right?"

“No one wants a being of twilight. I doubt any Hylian or Direnor would given your history with ‘disgusting dark beings’.” Ocax shook his head, sighing in self pity. He regretted talking about this topic. “Do me a favour. Forget this conversation. We can simply move on from all the awkwardness.”

"That's the biggest load of whaleshit I've ever heard." Seer felt for Ocax's chest and then poked it. "Everyone has flaws. Everyone deserves happiness." He then added as an afterthought, "There's no awkwardness here. Everyone needs someone to talk to."

“What? To you?”

"Sure, everyone needs someone to talk to. To rant, to rave, to cry with, to laugh with... I mean, it's only human."

“If you could look at me you wouldn’t call me human...”

Seer once again found Ocax's chest with a bump of his fingers, and then used both hands to smack on the man's face. "You got a heart and a soul, it don't matter what you look like." He told him, "I can't see, but that doesn't matter to me. Physical appearance isn't everything. It's how that person acts, how they treat others around them, how they love... that's the key."

Ocax yelled out like a chicken, turning to Seer in shock. “And how do you think I’ve treated people?”

"Well... from what I know, you treat Towa pretty nice. You haven't been too cruel to me." Seer shrugged. "Kanisa seems to like you. So, that's good enough for me."

“Do you like me?” Ocax asked a direct question.

"Like you?" Seer repeated. "Like as a friend? Or something more?"

“Just a yes or a no.”

"Then yes, I do like you."

Ocax felt a flush in his heart and he leaned in to kiss Seer, his lips pushing fondly against the blind man’s own. Once he was done, he pulled back, embarrassment starting to consume him. “I-I’m sorry. I didn’t ask for your consent. That was unprofessional.”

Now, it was Seer's turn to be red in the face. He was at a loss for words.

"I... I um..." He cleared his throat and tried to keep from squeaking. "I... don't have complaints."

“You should. You should be angry with me.”

"Why?"

“I-I kissed you out of the blue! That’s not right of me to take advantage of you like that.”

"You're not taking advantage of me. Taking advantage of me is manipulating me."

“I... you’re really not angry with me?” Ocax leaned back into his chair.

"No, I'm not. I mean, in case you haven't noticed, I'm bisexual. Men and women are nice." Seer chuckled a little at hearing the surprise in Ocax's voice. "Does that... help?"

“Yes?” Ocax felt his hands get sweaty, clenching the chair handles tightly. The floor boards shifted as he tapped his feet nervously.

"Then good." Seer acted like this was not much of a big deal. After all, he had sex with Adda and... well, that went bad. Very bad. Then there were a few men at the Pleasure House that he enjoyed. Though, a relationship? That was... rare. "You don't have to worry you know."

“Why? Because my nerves are spiking.”

"Why?" Seer actually tilted his head, confused. "I'm just me."

“No ones liked me as...” Ocax trailed off. “I’m sorry. Do you want me to leave?”

"Liked you as what? I don't want you to leave, I want you to stay and explain yourself." Seer told Ocax. "Look, we both have our flaws, faults, and insecurities. But that doesn't mean I won't try to be there for you."

“I’ve haven’t been a relationship since home. It wouldn’t be right for me to just come into your life and uproot it. I’m a gentlemen, but also a stranger. Given your history it would be rude of me to be your.... I won’t do that to someone like you. I’ve made an embarrassment of myself. I had my companion terrify you in your state of privacy, forced you to eat my cooking, and then forced a kiss without your consent. Now don’t you lie to me and tell me you enjoyed that. Let me just gather my things and I can spare you my presence from intruding on you any longer.”

Now it was Seer's turn to make a move. Ocax was rambling and assuming things, not to mention, the man was not listening to a word he said. Even if the Twili did decide to leave at some point, even if he did not want a relationship, there was a chance now for some pleasure and quality time with another being. So, to shut Ocax up, Seer pulled the man closer, pushed him to the floor, and planted a deep kiss on his lips. "Shut up." Seer told him gruffly between kisses. "You overthink too much."

Ocax held Seer’s shirt tightly, shocked by the kiss. His tongue was lathered by Seer’s, and he was left breathing heavily. “W-what are you going to do about it?”

"Oh, I know a number of things to do to shut another up." Seer told Ocax. "Unfortunate skills I learned from the brothel... but actually serve me well now when seeking a lover."

“Specifics.” Ocax leaned back on the floor as the Direnor kept him pinned by sitting on his hips.

"I can make you see stars with my mouth, my fingers, or my body... take your pick." Seer then shrugged his shoulders. "Unless you still wish to leave..."

Ocax’s hands pulled Seer by his hips to scoot his body closer to his face. With a slight shake of his hands and no words, he unbuckled Seer’s pants.

"Well, what do you know, you can be quiet for once." Seer teased as Ocax messed with his belt.

Ocax grumbled, trying to mess with Seers pants. Finally get the man’s cock out, it clapped against the Twili’s cheek. The smell was like a drug to Ocax. Its scent was old, but familiar. And one his brain was telling him he lacked for far too long.

"Impatient, are we?" Seer asked the Twili, running his fingers through Ocax's hair. "You know, the appropriate place for this is the bedroom, but if you have a kink for the floor, I won't protest."

“I would like to not be pinned to the floor....” When Seer dangled to close, Ocax licked the man’s rod. With a light moan of pleasure that filled him, he opened his mouth, sucking on the tip. He felt like a young man in love again.

"Do you want to pin me---fuck!!!" Seer was not expecting such eagerness from Ocax. Then again, he had no clue how long it had been for the Twili. "Oh, by the gods and goddesses, that's good..."

“It is?” Ocax only paused to ask, quickly sucking once more. He purred as Seer played with his hair.

"I could..." Seer took a deep inhale. "Use many... four letter words---holy shit... to describe it..."

Ocax keep sucking, pushing Seer deeper and deeper down his throat. His eyes bulged when he felt a hot, salt fill his mouth. Pulling out, the Twili coughed as dripped cum from his lips. It wasn’t much do to Seer’s previous sex a few hours before, but it was still strong.

Seer did not mean to achieve his release so quickly, but Ocax had a tongue that rivaled those expert lovers in the Pleasure House. Either that, or he was just overly sensitive. He nearly fell forward, if it was not for the table next to him. He had to grasp the wood tightly to keep from losing his balance. After such mind blowing pleasure, it was difficult for his knees not to shake or legs to give out from him.

“Oh my lord.” Ocax finished swallowing and rubbed his jaw. It was rather sore due to being out of practice.

"I don't really consider myself any type of 'lord' or 'duke' or 'knight', but if you insist..." Seer said in a cheeky tone, a wide grin across his face.

“Aren’t you happy.” Ocax leaned back, trying to catch his breath.

"I'll be happier when I get to return the favor." Seer suggested with a purr. "I have to find out what you like best; what is that one spot that will make you just writhe."

Ocax shivered as he pulled his pants down. He wanted to know too. “You want me to stand or do you want to take me here?”

"I can fuck you like an animal or you take me anyway you desire," Seer pulled Ocax forward by a strand of the long hair. "I'm not known for being gentle... but I can let you take the reins if you prefer to have control."

The thought of Seer ravaging him made Ocax giggle with anticipation. “You? Ravage me? Oh dear~”

"Think I won't?" Seer asked Ocax as he curled his fingers tightly into the man's hair and pulled him closer, giving a long lick up the side of his cheek.

“I think I need you to stop talking with words, and instead demonstrate with action.”

"Safe word?"

Ocax thought it over for a moment. “Midna.” Might be disrespectful, but it was the first unique thing Ocax could think of.

"Midna it is." Seer gave no warning as he suddenly spun Ocax around and had the man halfway over on the table. The plates and cups clattered in protest at the harsh movement. While Seer did detest his time as a slave in the brothel, he did learn some tricks to cause his partner to see stars. First, it was feather light touches down Ocax's back. He had to get the man anticipating the pleasure, craving it. Little nips and kisses here and there were sure to stimulate the nerves of his body. Second, it was ghosting with touches near his hole, but never quite touching there or his length. He wanted Ocax to show his impatience, feel his body twitch with need. It was a sweet torment.

Ocax was out of practice. His time away from the touch of another man made him sensitive at every touch. The bites made red hot marks on his pale skin. Growling, he wished he wasn’t so desperate. “What are you waiting for?”

At the snarky growl, Seer pushed Ocax's face flat against the table.

"You'll get my dick when I say you can." For a small 'punishment' of sorts, Seer smacked Ocax's ass. "Now... are you going to be good?"

“Oh my lord!” Ocax bawked like a chicken once more. His mouth nearly watered at Seer’s forcefulness.

"I'll take that as a yes." Seer then rubbed his fingers over Ocax's entrance before slipping on inside, curling it upward.

Ocax threw his head up, pleasure and pain sending a shock up his spine and to his head. To his embarrassment, he came almost immediately. His cock spread its seed under the table. “Oh FUCK!”

"Reduced you to four letter words, I see..." Seer chuckled as he inserted another finger, making sure to wiggle the digits wildly.

“Shut uuuuuuuuooooooooooooooh goooooooood.” Ocax rolled a hand down his face. “Stop teasing…”

"Why? I may not be able to see you squirm, but I can certainly feel it," Seer whispered to Ocax. "The way your breathing picks up, the way you jerk, the way the dishes on the table rattle..."

Ocax couldn’t stop moving to disprove Seer. With a low, sounding cry, the Twili begged. “Please. It’s been too long. Give me what I crave.”

"A please? That's what I wanted to hear." Seer decided he'd reserve greater teasing for the next time of lovemaking. After all, he had a tendency to 'play' with his lovers. It usually brought both parties great pleasure. For now, he lined up his cock with Ocax's entrance and gently started to press inside of his lover. While he did love to be a tease, he did not care for pain.

Ocax gripped the edge of the table, his asshole burned from Seer’s girth, but he endured. His cock started to get hard again. “Keepittogether. Hell on earth, keep it together.”

"Who said you had to keep it together?" Seer draped himself over Ocax's back, running one hand down the man's throat while the other gripped at his length. "There's no need to keep control... lose it and feel bliss."

Ocax did as Seer suggested, and his mind threw itself into the abyss. The Twili man screamed, rocking his back into Seer.

Lovemaking was usually gentle but a rut was rough. Seer had many ruts in his lifetime, but was not complaining about the pleasure it brought, only the company. Now, he actually had someone who interested him, beneath him in the throws of passion. Gripping Ocax's shoulders, Seer barely allowed Ocax any room to wiggle away from his unrelenting thrusts.

“Seer! Oh Seer! Fuck! Fuck I’m-“

“Ocax is that-HOLY SHIT!” Towa stumbled in through the door, alerted by the noise. She hugged the wall behind her as she watched Ocax bent over the table.

Ocax came at the worst time, and as he tried to wiggle free in a panic, Seer hit the wrong spot. “AH-MIDNA! MIDNA!”

“WHY WOULD YOU SAY HER NAME IN THIS CONTEXT!?!”

“WHY THE HELL ARE YOU HERE?!!”

“I CAME TO GET MY TOOTHBRUSH! SEER REALLY IS A SEX ADDICT!!!”

Ocax tried to stand, but a spike of pain hit him. “GET OUT! I HATE YOU! HE’S NOT A SEX ADDICT!!!”

“OK! OK!!!”

Towa ran off, leaving Ocax panting over the table from sex and anger.

At Ocax's sudden jerk upward, the back of his head hit Seer in the nose causing the blind man to give an unsightly yelp and stumble backwards. Between Towa's yelling and Ocax stridently shouting the safe word, all Seer knew was their rut had been interrupted. After Towa left, the Direnor tried to keep his groans to a minimum. He felt blood on his palm, but was a little more concerned by the shouting match that took place.

"... are you all right?" Seer asked as he felt around for the pants.

“No. I’m pissed.” Ocax couldn’t find the strength to pull himself up.

"At me or Towa?"

“What? You think I could be-?” Ocax groaned as he turned himself around. Grabbing Seer by the hand, he pulled the man to him, kissing him close. “You were magnificent.”

"I thought perhaps I hurt you. I apologize if I did." Seer smiled at the smooch and returned an affectionate nuzzle. "It's hard to be gentle sometimes. I'm not used to it, if that makes sense."

“I understand. Do you wish to simply sleep the rest of the night together?”

"If that is what you desire." Seer then said, "My bed is not as large as others, but I do not mind snuggling. My girls used to crawl into bed with me all the time when it was really cold."

“As long as they don’t do so now.” Ocax sighed contently. “Thank you for opening up to me.”

"I don't have much to offer, but I do have love." Seer told Ocax as he shut the front door and led the man into his bedroom.  "Orcas take care of their own and look after one another. Come on," He crawled into the bed, making room for Ocax. "Get warm."

________________________________________________________________

Partner is @ridersoftheapocalypse

Previous Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/186973802976/blue-stream-ch-3-foreign-negotiations

Next Ch. https://mrneighbourlove.tumblr.com/post/188307062666/blue-stream-ch-5-alls-well-that-ends-well

[serendipitykpop]

showtime - part 1

Pairing: xu minghao x reader

Summary: “It’s showtime.”

part 2

“What do you mean you’re canceling the debut?”

“I apologize, but what else can we do but that? Rocky can’t sing because of the ruined vocal cords. We may have to proceed without-”

“Absolutely not.”

“Remi!”

“I want to debut with all of you. We can’t leave Rocky behind.”

“President. I think I can come up with something, so please allow us to debut as planned.”

They all looked at the person who was the cause of all of this.

“Will it really work?”

“Mm.”

“Well, what do you have in mind?”

“What is that burning smell?”

“Y/N, my medicine.”

“Hayami, stop leaving your books all over the place. I get you’re upset you finished yet another book, but put them away! This is the fifth time today I ran into them!”

“Y/N, Haruka misplaced her hearing aids again!”

“We need more ice in this house. I’m running out of ice packs to put on the areas I injure myself here!”

“Seriously, is that Mei trying to cook again?”

“Lilli, get off the stool. You’re going to fall that way-and you fell. Again.”

“Give me that, idiot. I’ll do it since you obviously suck at cooking. It’s a good thing you’re not a chef at your work or else that place would go out of business.”

“I was trying my best, Yuki! Geez, this is why I don’t try to do anything nice! Nobody understands me in this house!”

“You don’t understand yourself either, dweeb.”

“Blah!”

“Y/N! Hayamai’s curled up on the floor, crying again. What should we do?”

“No, I haven’t seen your hearing aids. Have you checked on top of your nightstand?”

“Since nobody goes grocery shopping in this house, I’m just going to use this bag of chicken tenders as a substitute for an ice pack!”

“This house is a mess!”

“Y/N, may I have my medicine now?”

“Of course you can. Sorry about that, Mika.” You softly smiled as you sat down next to his bed, and handed him his medicine. He politely thanked you, and frowned at the bitter medicine. He looked to you, and you chuckled, holding out your hand. He grabbed onto it as he swallowed down the medicine, and followed it with water. “You did it.”

“It’s still so yucky.” Mika stuck his tongue out, which made the two smile at each other.

“I know.”

He then let go of your hand and laid back down on his mattress. You pulled the blankets back over him and kissed his forehead. He gave you a sleep smile as you ran your hand through his hair. That was when the yelling started all over again and you let out a tired sigh. Meanwhile, Mika giggled. “Why can’t everyone be like you and Haruka? Such sweet angels.”

“That’s mean of you to say, Y/N.”

“I know, but they give me a headache,” You half-joked. You spun around and pulled open the door, revealing all of your siblings in the kitchen. You watched the chaos unfold before you and it irked you since it meant you had a lot to clean up later. “OI. WHAT DID I SAY ABOUT YELLING?”

“But you’re yelling.”

“I don’t want to hear it, Yuki.”

“Okay, but she’s right.”

“Don’t agree with me, Mei! Gross!”

“I’m on your side and you’re going to play me like that? Wow.”

“All right. I had it. Everyone, pick a cleaning supply because I want to see this place sparkling, so get to it.”

You heard groans and complaints, but you weren’t going to have it. You shooed them away as they trudged to different places in the small apartment. You let out a sigh and shook your head.

“Those rascals.”

You felt a tug at the bottom of your hoodie and turned to see who it was. Haruka was staring up at you with her big puppy eyes that nobody could ever resist. You crouched down to her level and held your waist.

“What’s wrong, little dove?” You signed.

“I can’t find my hearing aids.”

“Mm, I see. All right, let’s go find them together.”

You stood up and she grabbed onto your hand. You both headed towards where you all slept, which was also where Mika was resting at the moment. She sat down by him and kept him company while you searched around.

You managed to find it where they always were, the nightstand. You turned around with them in hand and Haruka smiled innocently. You chuckled and handed them over to her. She whined and you came closer to her to put them in for her, then set them up.

“I think you’re doing on that on purpose, little missy.” You placed your chin on the palm of your hand, which was on your knees. Your other hand went to pinch her cheek and she could only giggle.

“Y/N!” One of your siblings came running in, nearly breaking the door. You knew who it was without having to turn around, considering she was the only one capable of doing such a thing.

“WHAT?”

“Someone’s on the phone for you.”

You sighed and ran a hand through your hair. You waddled over to her and placed a hand on Lilli’s head, ruffling her hair.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to raise my voice like that.”

She patted your head with a smile as you looked at the caller ID, almost taken back by who it was.

“Who is it?” Lilli asked. She hugged your neck from behind, and leaned forward, almost sending the both of you to the floor had you not caught her in time.

“It’s Rocky,” You replied, then answered the call. “Hello?”

“Y/N! It’s been a while!”

You quickly pulled the phone away from your ear, and put it on speaker. Rocky really hadn’t changed in the many years of not being in touch, still loud and full of energy as ever.

“You must be wondering why I’m calling you out of the blue, huh? Well, I just wanted to tell you that you’re the first person to know that I’m debuting! Okay, wait. Third person because of course I had to tell my parents the news first, but then again, they probably told my siblings. That would make you-”

Your eyes widened. “You’re debuting?”

“I’m debuting!”

“Rocky, that’s big! Congrats!”

“It’s crazy, right?”

Before you had the chance to say anything, there was banging, and yelling coming from the living room. You sighed, and stood up, pulling open the door.

“GET TO CLEANING BEFORE I COME OUT THERE.”

Silence filled the room, then you heard them scurry away to do what they were supposed to. You closed the door behind you, and took your spot next to Mika once more.

“It sounds like your house hasn’t changed at all.”

“Unfortunately.” You pinched the bridge of your nose to relieve the incoming headache.

“Rocky, would you tell your friend what it is you need to already? We have to get going, you know?”

“Right, right. Sorry, Daisy. I’ll get on it right now.”

“One of your members?”

“Mm!”

“She sounds happy.”

“Just stressed. She’s a very professional person, so she needs to be on time for everything. That’s why it’s so easy to tease her.” Rocky snickered.

“Rocky!”

“Oh, no. I better tell you before I get a lecture from her. Okay. Look, Y/N. You remember that cafe we used to go to when we were angsty preteens?”

“Yeah?”

“Can you meet up with me there tomorrow? There is something important I need to ask of you. You’re not doing anything, right? Great! See you then!”

Then, the call ended.

You looked to your siblings, and they looked back at you.

“Could you bring home some sweets?”