#this took about 3 hours to make which makes it the quickest thing I've EVER made for cosplay

[sisusquid]

Made the Holy Mackeral for my Scout cosplay this weekend! Used a stuffed silver trout plush, and then wrapped it in 2mm craft foam which was then coated in newspaper clippings and sealed with Mod Podge. It turned out better than I hoped and I'm excited to debut it at C2E2!

(I love my Sandman bat, but it's a real wood bat so I can't bring it to a con. This is a good, safe, alternative)

[elephant-in-the-pride-parade]

Writers Wrapped 2022

1. How many words have you written this year: 173,701!

2. How many works did you publish this year?: 23!

3. What work are you most proud of?: I think it has to be Unbroken - I had to get over a lot of insecurities in order to start posting it. I've been exploring a lot of difficult themes through this fic and, thus far, feel satisfied with how I've addressed them. I am also excited about how the plot has come along so far. I look forward to finishing it in 2023.

4. Favourite title you used: The fic title and chapter titles in Tête-à-Tête and Playing with Fire were the ones I had the most fun brainstorming!

5. If you use song lyrics, which artist’s songs did you pull from the most?: Oof. I don't think I directly pulled any song lyrics this year but I definitely had a ton of playlist inspirations.

6. Pairing you wrote the most for this year?: Janeway/Chakotay

7. favourite pairing you wrote for this year?: I do have to say Janeway/Chakotay because they continue to have my heart and soul. But I had the most fun writing the Janeway/Tuvok/Chakotay dynamic in Playing with Fire

8. What work was the quickest to write?: I'll be Your First if You'll be my Last, which was written/reviewed/posted in like 8 hours. (Thank you monthly Write-a-thon)

9. What work took you the longest to write?: I have agonized and nitpicked and annoyed my betas about like every paragraph of Unbroken - both the chapters already posted and the ones queued up.

10. How many wips do you have in your docs for next year?: Ahhhm errrr ah blerg... SMH3, AQ2, Unbroken, Lesson Plans, Threshold add on, Tuvix add on... er.

Basically, too many to count and a few that will come to me later 😅

11. What’s your longest work of the year?: Parent Trap clocked in at 76,082 words. Not as many as my all time favorite Eden's Deception's 90,990 from last year, but still quite proud of it.

12. What’s your shortest work of the year?: Gloves at a whopping 381

13. What wip are you taking into next year with you?: The WIPs following me into 2023 are Unbroken, Tête-à-Tête, Sailor Delta, Out of Reach, and Age of Aquarius 2

14. What’s your most common genre and/or trope?: Making my favs suffer 😈😇

15. Your favorite character to write this year?: Absolutely Tuvok and Seven. They are really facinating characters to try to capture in dialogue and POV.

16. The character that gave you the most trouble writing this year?: Kes - unfortunately I just haven't got a firm grasp on her character.

17. What’s one pairing you want to explore next year?: I had a lot of fun with Poly Tuvok and KJ in October and I think i'd really enjoy doing more with them next year. I also keep coming back to the idea of dumping Mark Johnson onto Voyager and seeing how that would affect he and KJs relationship.

18. What's a fandom you want to explore next year?: Star Trek Prodigy and Strange New Worlds are two treks I'd love to dive deeper into. But I also have a few original projects That I think I want to devote more attention to.

19. Which work of yours have you reread the most?: I think this year, I've re-read Eden's Deception the most of any fic I have ever written. It really hasnt sustained engagement like I had hoped, so I'm unsure how much I should prioritize the rest of the series... But I have never been so satisfied by a thing I wrote. I continue to think it's the best thing I've ever written and still can't wait to continue that fic universe.

20. Did you do any collaborative works this year? (tell us which!): I have had a truly fantastic time playing in @voyagerihardlyknowher 's threshold AU sand box. it is so unique and charming and delightful and I have met some wonderful friends through that universe. 🥰

21. Did you write any gifts this year? (tell us which!): I gifted 4 Thresholdy fics to the Threshold AU peeps, 3 kinktober works to my favorite smut loving queens, Post-Prodigy and Post-Beyerverse oneshots for @gijane-7702, and 2 punishment oneshots to my Evil Writers Chat Sailor Moon Fandom buddies.

22. Did you receive any gifts this year? (tell us which!): A) SkyKingHaruka gifted me his Evil Writers Chat punishment, Dreams (which was intended to be a oneshot but evolved into something infinitely more delightful). B) @theredheadedcaptain gifted me and Erestorandfin Chimera, which had an very fun surprise twist at the end. (I also love how Red does J/C). C) @trekflower gifted me He's Got the Lobes - a bit of crack humor that still has me in stitches. D) and @jellybeansarecool gifted me Welcome Home - a threshold AU from Beyerverse that was adorable and heartwarming and I still melt when I reread it.

23. What do you listen to while writing?: A very random assortment of music. I have playlists for Unbroken, Threshold AU stories, Age of Aquarius, and I also have random songs that I'll play on repeat for certain types of scenes where the rythm or tone of the song helps me put the right words and pacing into place.

24. Favourite work you wrote this year?: Playing with Fire, which evolved from a kinktober prompt that got out of control. I had a spectacular amount of fun researching and writing it.

25. Favourite line/passage you wrote this year?: This is from a chapter of Unbroken that isn't published yet. I am really proud of the cadence and the simile: "The pain consuming her came on like a storm rolling over the plains. At times it was sudden and violent, ripping through her whole being, at other times ceasing suddenly, leaving all too brief relief in its wake. In the calm, with thunder rumbling above her, the anxiety about what came next built and built, like the tension before a lightning strike"

26. Biggest surprise while writing this year?: The community I've been lucky to gain through @theredheadedcaptain and I's writing group and the joy I have shared with everyone involved in @voyagerihardlyknowher 's Threshold AU have been the 2 best things to come out of this year of writing for me.

[aetheternity]

I'll admit it's exciting. (Armin x reader)

Synopsis: Being your professor's dirty little secret. His pet.. Sounded too good to refuse.

Warning: Smut in the later chapters! 18+ only

"Good girl.." Your lip tucked itself beneath your tooth. Spine tingling at the intoxicating scent surrounding you.

You coaxed a breath off your lips as the almost inaudible creak of the desk under your professors weight made you sit up straight. His arms locking you in place.

You looked into his soft blue eyes feeling a tinge of entrapment at the way he had you locked in.

"Do you understand now?" His surprisingly large hands caressed your shoulder.

"Y-yeah." If you could see your own face you'd probably be embarrassed but you were currently helpless to the tiny bits of touch he allowed you.

Your elbows pushed you up just a little bit closer to his chest. His touch disappearing too soon.

"I think you'll be ready for the test in a couple days." And suddenly every bit of him was walking away and back to sit at his desk. "You should still study though. This stuff has been difficult for you."

~~~~

"Y/N."

The tip of your nail stayed fidgeting between your lips.

"Y/N."

Words flew through your brain but it all continued to just be flushed straight out again.

"Y/N!" The book flew from your grasp landing with a clatter that attracted glances from all angles.

"Are you alright Y/N?" Eren asked, concern etched into his deep sapphire eyes.

You let out a harsh exhale. "I was, until Sasha stopped my heart." You held a palm up to your chest, glaring over at Sasha.

Mikasa blinked boredom sunk into her features. Her cheeks forced into the palms of her hands as her elbows stayed firmly planted into the table. "New class?"

You nodded, shutting your binder before promptly flipping it open again.

"You'll be fine." She muttered, staring at you with her own version of concern.

"How can you say that? I had to transfer from a different class a month after the semester already started. You know how much stuff I've already missed! Not to mention I had originally thought this class was gonna be next semester me's problem." With a groan you let your head flop harshly onto the mildly sticky table in front of you.

"I think what Mikasa was trying to suggest was that Mr. Arlert has always been said to be a very gentle and caring professor." Sasha said

"You can always take office hours if you really have a hard time." Eren suggested

"Thanks Eren, but I think you're forgetting that I hate doing anything outside of class that won't immediately get me a passing grade."

Eren just shrugged, moving to stuff his notebooks into his own bag. All of them genuinely looking as though he'd just reused them from high school. Each one with a rip in the first page or the spiral unraveling.

"Welp it's 2:00." Sasha reminded you. And you groaned so loud you could practically feel the stares from other tables touching your soul.

"Maybe I'll fall down the stairs and break my ankle before I get up there." You slung your bag onto your shoulder hanging your head as you walked off.

"I'll have your favorite donuts in my room after you get out!" Sasha called

"You should've started with that!"

You made the walk so much longer by dragging your feet up every stair individually and rubbing a finger to your temple. So much so that it surprised you when you walked into the classroom and no one was in there except..

"Oh hello."

Hot..

So so very hot..

His smile sparkled only futher brightened by his deep blue eyes. His short blond hair parted slightly over his forehead. His blue button up was cuffed up against his forearms revealing a very slender but still fairly muscular set of hands. He probably had a nice chest too.

"You must be Y/N." He chuckled and before you could reassociate he was giving you a whole new list of things to think about as he bent over his desk to retrieve a piece of paper.

"Here's the syllabus. You're starting kinda late so it will be helpful to you to come to office hours. My office hours are at the bottom here." When he reached forward to point his scent caught you by surprise. A sweet almost fruit like smell wafted up your nose. "I hope you'll catch on quickly. Sit wherever you'd like."

His remark barely registered in your mind, your mouth hung open immediately slamming shut as the class quickly began to fill.

Before you could get swept up by the people flooding into the room you made your way to the front plopping down into the seat closest to the window. When you looked up again from where you'd yanked your binder almost haphazardly out of your bag, you caught the quickest wink you'd ever seen in your entire life.

Or maybe it was your imagination.

But the way he leaned a little closer when he approached you wasn't.

"Front row? Good choice."

Regardless of the heart problems he'd recently caused you he was moving on. Quickly silencing the class and starting the lesson.

Hot.

The only thought racing through your head.

Hot. Hot. Hot..

He was pretty! When he turned off the light his eyes didn't dull in the almost blinding way in which they shone. His hair fluttered over his forehead and ears and his shirt seemed to hug his chest tighter every time he reached up to turn off the projector or even just to reach a high spot on the board.

You already knew everything from today was going in one ear and out the other but it was really hard to give a damn when your professor's pants cupped his ass they way they did. His dark shoes clicked across the floor and-

"Do you understand any of it? I know it's your first day."

You blinked up at him hoping your eyes weren't as wide as they felt or that you weren't popping your mouth open and close like a suffocating fish.

He smiled, flipping the paper on the desk around till it faced him. "Can I?" He reached for the tip of your pen and as you let it go your fingers brushed in probably the strongest current of static that had ever touched your body.

"Don't worry ok this is just a practice test I wanna see what you know." He said, leaving a couple marks on the paper. He then pointed to the two empty test questions. "Don't leave anything blank ok."

This time when he walked away you were without a doubt certain he'd winked. When you looked down at your paper again you could see 3 checks on the paper in the light blue ink you were using and a little smiley face in the corner.

Your chest honestly had no right fluttering the way it did over something so trivial.

The class was only an hour and forty minutes but when it was over you felt like you'd only been seated there for ten minutes. When you handed the test paper back he sent you one final wink that made your knees buckle.

"See you next time." He said and you had to forcibly stop yourself from shuttering.

You half speed walked half ran out of there as soon as his classroom door had shut behind you. All the way to Sasha's dorm room.

You slammed it open already knowing Sasha only kept it locked when she wasn't in there. Your chest was heaving and you held onto the door frame for support. Noticing the immediate and visible flinch from Eren and Sasha.

"He's. Hot!!" You gasped for air before walking in and sinking to the floor in front of Sasha. She didn't budge as you fell against her shoulder just wrapped an arm around your shoulders hugging your back. "Oh god he's so hot.." You breathed into Sasha's collarbone.

"Looks like she did learn something." Eren muttered

"No! You don't understand he's like so pretty!"

Mikasa didn't even try to hide the way she rolled her eyes and Eren just sighed.

"Aww you've got a crush on your professor that's adorable." Sasha said, reaching into the box next to her, grabbing your favorite donut she pushed it into your open mouth pulling it back slightly to allow you to chew.

You sobbed a little before sighing and falling back into Sasha's neck. "What the hell am I gonna do?" You sighed

"Focus on passing the class is probably the first step." Eren replied

"Now you're just being silly." You replied, rubbing your fingers into the floor.

Sasha brought the donut back up to your lips smiling as you took another bite. "I wanna see him now! Isn't he the really young professor? Like he's supposedly only twenty five as of recently and got hired less than a year ago."

"Yeah.." You quickly put your password into your phone, turning the screen so Sasha could see.

Mikasa and Eren scooted closer as Sasha took a closer look. "He is pretty." Mikasa was the first to speak.

"Why do you just have his picture pulled up? How're you already being creepy?" Eren questioned

You scoffed, "I just happened to be looking on Instagram during a quick bathroom trip.. and I just so happened to look for him.. it's his fault for making it easy." You snatched the donut from Sasha taking a bigger bite.

"Yeah no I agree with Eren this is cree- AW HE HAS A DOG!" Sasha snatched the phone zooming in on the puppy in his lap.

"Actually it's his family's dog. Her name's Pumpkin and he goes home as often as possible to see her. A small two hour train ride to be exact." You sigh briefly "I've never really liked Terriers as a dog breed but that one's so cute.."

"Is the dog cute or is it the guy holding her?" Mikasa questioned with a little smirk.

"Not helping Mikasa.." Eren interjected "What are you even thinking? No matter if you like professor Arlert or not he has to keep it professional and so do you."

"Eren, look at the puppy." You took your phone from Sasha turning the screen back to face him.

He glanced down at the image then back into your eyes with a raised eyebrow.

"Puppy!"

"Creepy!" He pressed the power button on your phone and you deflated against Sasha's legs letting your phone turn over onto its face.

"I'll never understand why you don't go for a degree in hacking or something the way you always manage to pull up information on people." Mikasa shook her head.

"Probably going to be stuck with more math classes for one and secondly when I become a supervillain I don't need everyone knowing it was apart of my major." You replied, with an exaggerated eye roll.

Sasha shrugged, "If it was your major I'm pretty sure everyone would understand your descent into madness."

"I can't believe you just said that.." Eren groaned, squeezing the bridge of his nose.

"Me or her?" You asked

"Yes!"

~~~~

Thursday came too soon. Or maybe you should say, finally Thursday is here! You jumped back and forth between the two but by the time you slid into the honestly uncomfortable classroom seat and placed your bag between your legs you knew exactly what you felt.

"Professor!" A female's voice caught your attention and you turned slightly to see a short brown haired girl running into the classroom.

"You were right about what I was missing! Once I applied what we talked about in office hours it became so simple."

"That's what I like to hear Petra." He winked as he flipped through a stack of papers on his desk.

Wait, had he always done that to all the students or had you just not noticed last time? You felt your shoulders hunch but they were instantly picking back up again as he slid a piece of paper onto your desk.

"You did pretty well on that practice test. Seems like you'll be up to speed in no time." He smiled, a deep warm smile that made your stomach squeeze.

Your lips curled upwards and you quickly moved to hide it behind your paper as he walked away.

"You too huh?"

You felt your skin practically vibrate but you hoped and prayed it wasn't too noticeable.

"Wh-what?" You glanced over at the girl Petra who sat only one desk away from you. Her features flat and her eyes dark in the middle an almost scary contrast from earlier.

"You're into him too?" She muttered

Was it that obvious? Stupid question. How could you be so obvious?

"I don't think you'll win out." She continued and before you could question it, she pointed to the back row.

It seemed almost like a tussle as Mr. Arlert was being held hostage by another young female holding his hand. He smiled mildly awkwardly as he spoke with her, nodding his head to everything her and the other girls surrounding her said. The first girl running a thumb over the back of his hand.

You felt your skin prickle and you exhaled loudly. "So.. I'm guessing you too.."

Petra blinked at you then quickly shifted around in her seat. Mr. Arlert quickly approached the front of the room clapping to get the classes attention. And with that the lesson was beginning.

You noticed from the clap at the beginning of class to the last word uttered that not one word in Mr. Arlert's lesson had actually registered in your mind. Your thoughts too full of Petra's words, her blank almost villainous expression as she'd talked.

And that girl's hand. That annoying girl in the back row. You peeked your head back there looking at the now empty chair. In fact the entire classroom was empty and had been for at least 15 minutes since you continued to struggle with stuffing your binder back into your apparently shrunken bag.

"Need help?"

You bit your lip and looked away as he came closer. You weren't really standing up straight but you immediately noticed the way he towered over you. His fingers so delicate in the way they brushed over yours sliding the irritating object into the confines of your bag.

"Thank you.." You whispered

He chuckled, "No problem, happy to help."

His eyes didn't leave yours for an almost uncomfortable amount of time so you shifted your feet backing away a little. He seemed to notice and placed a hand on the back of his neck, backing up himself.

Oh no. Now he was getting uncomfortable.

He made his way back over to his desk but not before you'd slipped in something to ease the tension. "Sorry for over staying my welcome.."

He let out a soft chuckle. "You're not bothering me plus there are no classes in here for two hours after mine on Thursday. You can stay as long as you'd like."

"O-oh." You face palmed internally at your stupid reply. "So.." You began again. "Do you mind if I asked you how you're such a young professor.."

His eyes flickered up from the work he'd been filling out. "Well, I skipped a couple grades and I was in college by 15. I'm actually still in college now but I was an assistant teacher at 18 for about three years for a high school a couple blocks from here before I became a full fledged teacher and then I worked at the same school as a teacher for three more years before I finally left and started teaching here."

It should've been obvious from the start that he'd worked tireless hours of school to get here at such a young age. Not to mention probably having worked just as hard in the gym. He'd only leaned back a little bit in his chair but it was enough for you to have a perfect mental image.

Your eyes flicked up to his much softer more.. Arlert like smile? Maybe? It just felt like the kind of smile he'd give a friend and less like the smile he used in the classroom. Not that that one felt fake, just.. different.

"Do you.. I mean.. have you always had girls?.." His eyebrows scrunched as you spoke. You pointed to the back of the classroom. "You're young I mean, do girls always touch you like that?"

He blinked up at the ceiling then back down to you. Your breath hitched as he pulled himself up from the desk walking closer to you.

"As soon as they find out I'm not that much older than them? Yeah."

You probably should've stopped but your brain was suddenly working independently. "Does it?.. Do you like that kind of attention?"

He sat down on the desk crossing his arms over his chest and his leg over his knee. He spoke his head. "Not normally no."

"Normally?"

He stood again but this time he stopped directly in front of you. Sharp blue eyes cold and yet warm and vibrant. The desk creaked under your weight as you leaned back into it. His hands at your sides, his breath tickling your upper lip.

His thumb came up to graze your cheek but was quickly removed and planted back on the desk. "Can I kiss you?"

You nodded way too eagerly and-

So so so much softer than you'd even thought imaginable. His nose rubbed against yours and he was pulling away. Too soon.

You grabbed the back of his neck, yanking him back to you. Immediately delighted by the warm touch of his pretty pink lips.

He pulled back and you yanked him forward. Over and over again with soft peppered kisses. And then one slightly longer one where he was comfortably mushing his lips against yours.

[chefdoeuvre]

Rivalry

Kelly Severide

Pairing: Kelly Severide x Sister!Reader

Description: Being a badass just runs in the Severide genes.

Words: 2,479

Requested: yes by @ticklepete; Could you possibly do a Kelly Severide x Sister with #29 & #30. In my head she's a skilled firefighter on squad 3 (first fem to be on squad) and her and Kelly have a very close relationship but they also fight like your typical brother and sister. I also see Herrmann and a sorta father figure to her since Benny was MIA but you don't have to incorporate that. Make it your own! All I ask is that you make her a total badass please 😁😁

Warnings: complete 'badassery' and language.

A/N: I just love powerful women. I apologize in advance for any grammatical errors.

—

Kelly Severide, he was the bane of your existence, but he was your brother and you loved him nonetheless. However, when it came to being competitive the number of challenges you'd give each other could go on for days. The last time it happened Herrmann had to put a stop before either of you could trash his bar. Everyone knew the day he challenged you to make Squad would be the day he would have to end up eating his words. So that's exactly what you did, you worked your ass off and became the only woman to ever make Squad. To say Kelly was proud of you would be an understatement. But then again that was just a backstop for him to push you to be your best because he knew you were an amazing firefighter from the day you started at 51. Among the Chicago Fire Department, they all knew the Severide siblings were one of the best firefighters their city ever had.

Here you were, sitting boredly at the Squad table with your feet kicked up while spinning from side to side in Kelly's, unsaid but still claimed, chair. The other guys were playing poker with their snacks while you flipped through a book, not really reading it. Kelly was off talking to Casey about who knows what when he came bounding into the apparatus floor with a wide smirk.

You looked up at your brother with a flat look, "what is it now?" You asked nonchalantly.

"I have a new challenge to propose." Kelly said with a shit-eating grin.

You kicked your feet off the table and sat up, suddenly intrigued by the topic.

"Alright, spill." You spoke up.

As Kelly went on with his proposal Squad had seemed to stop what they were doing and turned their attention to the both of you. The two of you were so engrossed in discussing the challenge you didn't notice Squad calling out to everyone in the firehouse to gather around to witness yet another 'Severide Sibling Face Off' as they liked to call it. Herrmann stood with his arms crossed, if the two of you came anywhere near his bar during this competition he wouldn't hesitate to rip the both of you a new one. Sure he loved you two like his own, but there is one thing you don't do, and that it mess with a man's precious bar.

By the end of your conversation, the entirety of the firehouse was gathered around the apparatus floor awaiting your decision.

Without a moment to spare you spoke up with a wide smile, "challenge accepted."

Kelly laughed, "be prepared to lose this time."

"Oh please, I can beat you any day." You mused with a smirk.

"It's on, Y/N. It's on." Kelly concluded.

Once the two of you shook hands and turned around you stopped in your tracks with a shocked face. Everyone was staring back at you two, some with wide smiles at the sibling rivalry others in irritation, mainly just Herrmann.

In all actuality, Kelly had challenged you to something you guys always did when running drills. The person who could climb to the top of the firehouse the quickest would win. Knowing this the two of you spent all week training enlisting the help of your friends.

"You're lucky you're my favorite." Herrmann grumbled from the top of the firehouse as he timed you for the fifth time that day. What could you say? You had a lot of free time this shift.

"Glad to hear that, Hermie." You grunted pulling yourself over the ledge and hopping onto the top of the roof.

"Another record. I swear every time you do it again you have more energy than the last attempt." Herrmann shook his head in disbelief, leaning back in the lawn chair he set up.

"Maybe it has something to do with the feeling of beating Kelly." You shrugged taking a gulp of water.

In the midst of you and Herrmann both making your way down from the roof the announcement system went off signaling a call. The two of you quickly bolted to the apparatus floor and hopped into your respective trucks. Once you pulled up to the scene Kelly, Boden, and Casey scanned the area. It seemed like it was a routine house fire. A redhead who was covered in soot came running up to you and Stella, the only women in 51 who, by chance, were standing beside each other.

"Help please, my daughter!" The woman frantically pleaded.

You turned to look at Boden who gave you a nod of his head. Pulling on your gear you and Stella took the second floor to scan while the rest of Truck and Squad split up and did the same with the basement and the first floor.

Stella took one side of the hall as you took the other searching for the young girl. Stella called out to you and said she had found nothing. You reassured her to just head out and said you were on your way to the last room and you'd meet her back outside. Just as you stepped into the last room, which looked like an eight-year-olds dream bedroom, you heard a cry. You kneeled down to be met with a strawberry blonde whimpering under the bed.

"Hey, sweetie. I'm Y/N, I'm a firefighter and here to help." You introduced to the frightened girl softly.

Seeing the smoke beginning to seep into the room you quickly turned your head to the girl once again.

"Can you come out so we can go see your mom outside?" You asked the girl gently as you reached toward her.

She quickly grabbed ahold of your hand as you pulled her out from under the bed and pulled her small frame into your arms.

"Y/N report!" Boden's urgent voice came from your walkie.

"I've got the girl and we're heading out now." You replied quickly as you stood up.

You hiked the girl up your hip as you covered her body with your turnout coat and instructed for her to keep her head tucked into your chest. You stepped out of the room running down the hall and down the stairs. Just before you neared the entrance it burst into flames as you backed up shielding the girl with your body. Out of the corner of your eye you caught sight of a side door and without a second thought, you bolted toward it. Pushing the door open you were greeted by the green grass, a driveway crowded with cars, and the side of the neighboring house. You peeled off your SCBA mask and took a much needed breath of fresh air.

In front of the house stood every firefighter in 51 staring at the house with open mouths. Kelly's mouth had dried when he scanned over the firefighters of Squad only to see that you weren't there. His heart stopped for a moment when he looked to Boden with wide eyes.

"Y/N? Y/N!" Kelly shouted into his walkie while simultaneously hoping on his life that you miraculously got out before the entrance went up in flames.

You however were too busy trying to find your way around all the parked cars. You didn't know how they managed to fit the two cars in a driveway only meant for one car, but you did your best to squeeze your way through. While the rest of 51 was frantically waiting on your arrival and for the fire to be put out you grunted your way past the first car. You looked down at the girl who was gripping onto you tightly.

"You alright there, kiddo?" You asked rubbing your hand down the small girl's back. You received a nod and a hum in response as you set out between the second car. During this entire feat, you hadn't realized that your walkie was switched off when you curled into yourself to protect the girl from the blaze.

Exhaling a deep breath when you squeezed out from in between the house and the second car you made your way down the length of the driveway. The first people to see you were Sylvie and Gabby as they ran to you with a gurney. You set the girl down on the gurney as she thanked you when a bigger body came barreling into you. It took you a second to gain your composure, but you soon saw the tuft of salt and pepper hair beside your face. You were quick to reciprocate the hug and squeezed your brother tightly. Digging your head into his chest you heard everyone from 51 cheering at your safety. Kelly reluctantly pulled away and cupped your face as if to make sure you were real.

"Damn it, Y/N." Kelly sighed as he pulled you into his arms again.

"You really thought that would've taken me out?" You questioned with a muffled voice into his chest.

"Not funny." Kelly ruffled your helmet hair.

Pulling away you saw Herrmann making his way toward you as you run into his open arms.

"Glad you're alright, kid." Herrmann laughed at you squeezing his torso tightly.

You pulled away before adorning a wide grin staring back at your firefighting family, "and the legend of Y/N Severide lives on." You let out a giggle. You were a badass and there was no denying that.

Heading back to your trucks with wide smiles you turned your head to look at your brother and lieutenant, "you ready to get your ass kicked tomorrow?" You asked in a teasing tone.

"In your dreams, baby sister." Kelly scoffed.

"You won't be saying that when you're crying at your loss." You stuck your tongue out at Kelly childishly.

"We'll see about that." Kelly shook his head as the truck pulled away from the scene and headed back to the firehouse.

The rest of the shift droned on for a few more hours with less exciting calls until it was time for everyone to head home and the next shift to take over. Walking down the driveway Kelly came up behind you and wrapped his arm around your shoulders. Ironically enough after spending day in and day out together at work you'd see each other at home too. You two were roommates but surprisingly enough you hadn't gotten sick of each other yet.

The next shift came as quickly as the last one had gone and the topic of conversation for everyone was about the challenge that was to take place at the end of the day. Somehow people had already picked sides and were caught up arguing every time they didn't have a call to attend to. It was a pretty even split between the people on your side and Kelly's. Of course, all the girls were in favor of you as well as Herrmann and Mouch. The rest of Squad was with Kelly, mainly because he was their lieutenant and they would never admit it but they were afraid of what he would make them do it they chose you over him. Casey and Boden decided to be the mediators because they didn't want to get involved in the sibling wars. Over the course of the shift every time you and Kelly passed by each other you gave matching glares, something about sibling rivalry always brings out the scariness of people.

Just as the clock hit the next hour, meaning your shift was finally over, Herrmann jumped up from his seat, "alright everyone, the 'Severide Sibling Face Off' has begun." Herrmann announced as he pulled out the timer he had stuffed in his pocket.

Your head snapped up at Herrmann's loud voice, exchanging a look with the person beside you, which was Stella. She ushered you out of your seat and led you to gather your rappelling gear. After getting everything situated you had met with Kelly at the bottom of the firehouse. Casey and Boden stood on top of the roof, Herrmann in between them with his timer in hand. Everyone else was gathered behind the two of you already placing bets on who was going to win.

"On the count of three! One, two, three!" Herrmann counted off as you and Kelly set to climbing.

As the two of you made your way up cheers were heard from your fellow firefighters.

"Getting tired?" You asked Kelly in a teasing tone pushing yourself to stay ahead of him.

"As if." Kelly scoffed doing his best to catch up.

A few minutes had gone by and the cheers had only gotten louder. You were a few feet from the top, your muscles burning already. With a final grunt, you pulled yourself over the ledge and toppled onto the roof. Heaving out a sigh you looked up to see Herrmann beaming at you.

"My fellow smoke eaters we have a new record!" Herrmann cheered.

A few moments later Kelly lugged himself over the ledge only to plop himself over you.

"Ew, you're sweaty." You scrunched your nose too tired to push him off.

"Just a congratulatory hug." Kelly teased as he squeezed you tighter.

Once he pulled away you stood up as Herrmann continued to clap loudly.

"The new record time is 5:47!" Herrmann announced.

From below loud cheers erupted, Herrmann walked up and patted you on the back, "nice job, kid."

You smiled widely before turning to face your sweaty and out of breath brother, "take that!" You jumped up and down.

Kelly simply rolled his eyes in response, there was one thing that was rarely mentioned. The majority of the time you’d beat him anyway, but he was fine with it if you kept making him proud. However, he wouldn’t tell a living soul that. You stood there celebrating with a wide grin on your face. After heading back down to the apparatus floor a chorus of cheers surrounded you. Once everyone dissipated and started talking to each other about the bets they had made you turned to Kelly with a smirk.

“You’re losing your touch old man.” You teased playfully.

“I’m not even that much older than you.” Kelly scoffed.

You took a step toward the taller man and pulled him into a hug, “you know I love you even though you annoying the living hell out of me, right?” You asked leaning your chin on his chest to look up at him.

“Yeah, I wouldn’t have it any other way.” Kelly ruffled your hair.

“How many times do I have to tell you? Watch the hair!” You pushed Kelly’s hand away with a scowl.

“Like I said, I wouldn’t change it for a thing.” Kelly shrugged as he brought his hand up to your hair again.

“Bro! Watch it!” You shoved his hand away laughing.

[burningember0802]

Someone Like Me

summary : first, once again, i suck at summaries. Kaz meets a friend of Nina’s that he didn’t know about who is more like him than anyone else he’s ever met and that scares him more than he’d like.

It's a relaxing evening at the slat, or at least as much as it can be in Ketterdam. All the crows were sitting around a table talking and having a great night, even Kaz. He won't show it but he enjoys nights like this more than he'd like to admit. Nina and Jesper were laughing and talking about who knows what while Matthais sat with a loving smile on his face, Wylan and Inej sat talking about his newest tests, and Kaz sat just listening and watching, enjoying the time with his friends; his family. "Oh, Kaz! My friend is supposed to stop by tonight and drop off some things I asked her for so don't be surprised if we get a knock soon." Nina mentions. "You have friends?" He sarcastically said. "For a matter of fact, I do. She's amazing, I think you should meet her. She'd be a great addition to the crows. She's a fabrickator, both a Durast and an Alkemi. She is also the smartest person I've ever met, and the best fighter too. I've watched her and Matthais spar and she took him down in seconds easily. She's insanely good, Kaz. She'd be a great asset to the team. I think you'd like her too, she has similar interests among other stuff." She explains. Kaz thought for a moment before responding. "We'll see if I agree with you once I meet her." Nina thanks him with a smile and goes back to her conversation.

Kaz wasn't sure how he felt about the thought of bringing someone else onto the team. It was another person who could betray him, another person he could get attached to, another weakness. Not just anyone can join the crows, they had to earn it.

About half an hour later there was a knock at the slat door. Nina excitedly hopped up to get it. "It's her!" The heartrender almost squealed. The door opened to a girl, probably about 5'6 who has (H/L), (H/C) hair. She was gorgeous with a button nose that supported her thin-rimmed glasses, full lips, striking (E/C) eyes, and a curvy figure. She was wearing a tight green turtle neck, black pants, boots, and carrying a satchel on her shoulder. Kaz swears he almost felt himself stop breathing. The feeling he got when he saw her, despite not knowing her, scared him in a way he didn't like. He decided to push it down and continue on with the night.

Nina invited the girl inside with a smile that was returned by her. The girls walked back to the table where the rest of the group sat. "Y/N, the crows, the crows, Y/N." She introduced them all. Multiple greetings were heard around the table from everyone except Kaz of course. Y/N shyly waved with a soft smile. "I brought those things you asked about," Y/N said quickly changing the subject. She opened her bag and pulled out 3 boxes and set them on the table. She opened the first one which held a seemingly normal knife. "Here's the knife you asked about with the poison injection abilities. There are three vials in the box and there's one in the handle already. It injects a few drops upon impact, it’s potent so it will kill someone with just a few drops." Y/N said showing how to open the handle and where the vial was. She proceeded to open the next box that was full of bullets. "These are the bullets that explode upon impact you asked about." She said before setting them back down. You could see Inej eyeing up the knife and Jesper doing the same to the bullets. She finally opened the last box which revealed 7 sets of earpieces. "These are the earpieces, they have microphones in them to communicate from long distances." She almost mumbled, obviously nervous around all the people. Kaz had been watching the girl in shock the whole time she spoke. Nina didn't lie, she was insanely talented and would be a good asset.

"You're the best Y/N!" Nina exclaimed, making a quick movement to go to hug the girl. She quickly stopped when Y/N flinched slightly. No one else besides Y/N, Nina, and Kaz had realized it with everyone else too busy looking at the new gear. "Shit, fuck I'm sorry Y/N it was a mistake." Nina started apologizing profusely. "Nina, it's fine. Mistakes happen. I'm just a freak anyway." She said quietly. Kaz felt his heart clench at that. She was like him, she was anything but a freak though. "Anyway, I should probably get going." She said, staring at her feet. "You should stay for a while, meet everyone." Nina tried to convince her. Y/N was obviously apprehensive. "You should stay," Kaz said before he could stop himself. Both Nina and Y/N turned towards him quickly. Nina had a shocked look on her face, surprised that Dirtyhands would ever suggest that he wanted someone to stay. She thought for a second and smiled slightly and nodded.

The girl sat down at the last empty chair at the table, which happened to be next to Kaz. She immediately pulled into herself out of habit, bringing on her knees to her chest and wrapping her arms around it, making herself as small as possible. Jesper and Inej immediately started asking questions about their new tools to which Y/N answered gladly. Kaz watched them contently, especially Y/N. She looked really happy talking about what she loved. Soon the conversations turned away from solely her after the crows had their fill of integrating. "Kaz, Y/N is the most knowledgeable person I've met about books, you guys have that in common," Nina mentions. Y/N glances at him with a soft smile. Everything about her made Kaz's fight or flight kick in. She was weirdly comforting but at the same time kicked on every instinct he had. He felt the need to run but also never move again. "What's your favorite genre of books?" Y/N asked the boy. Kaz missed having someone to talk to about interests like this, the rest of the crows weren't into things like this. Trying to make him comfortable she answers first. "I tend to read realistic fiction or fantasy." Kaz studied her face constantly looking for any signs that she wasn't genuine. "I like fantasy or mystery books." He answers. She gets a huge smile. He liked that, she had a genuine smile, that's rare in the barrel. Her smile was slightly lopsided and full of joy. "Mysteries are the best, I'm always on the edge of my seat. Sometimes I feel like I can't put the book down even when I have stuff to get done." She laughs. Kaz almost felt himself smirk. "Those are the best ones." He answers genuinely. "I just finished this amazing book, it's about the story of Achilles but from the point of view of Patroclus. It's called the song of Achilles and it's amazing." She says with a smile. "I'll have to borrow it sometime." He says. At that moment the two of them weren't even paying attention to the crows around them anymore, so they didn't see the knowing look from Nina.

The group all continued to talk and have a good time. Everyone liked Y/N a lot. Nina was accurate in her description of her. She was super smart and sweet. At one point they were talking about combat strategies and she was asked "What's the quickest way to win a fight?" by Jesper. Matthias let out a loud snort at that question, knowing the brunette's skills. "Are we talking immobilizing or killing? Those are two different answers." She says with a smirk. The girl had come out of her shell within the past hour and had grown more comfortable around the group. "Both?" Jesper said, confused. "For immobilization, the quickest way is to slice their Achilles tendon on the back of their ankle, if you do that they're not moving. Also, you always go for the eyes, nose, and groin, and if you use the bottom of the palm of your hand you can shatter someone's nose since that's the strongest part of your hand. Besides the Achilles tendon, the other easiest way if you know how to do it is there's a nerve on the side of your neck that if you squeeze right, knocks them out. Then if the purpose is killing you go for the neck, wrist, or thigh because that's where your main arteries are." She said matter of factly. Kaz almost laughed at how the girl said it.

That was the start of it all. Shortly after this first meeting Y/N started coming around more and more and everyone loved her, including Kaz. Kaz had started having more than friendly feelings towards her a couple months after meeting. The crows were eventually able to convince her to join so she was now living at the slat, making Kaz’s life a living hell. He felt like his heart was beating out of his chest constantly, and he knew that Nina knew this too with her heartrender skills. Nina was constantly giving him knowing looks and all he did was glare back at her. Kaz was drawn to her like no one else.

The two of them had become close over the last year, closer than most. They would often sit and talk for hours, a lot of times about books or anything else that came to their minds. Y/N was often like lightning in a bottle, constantly moving and going a million miles an hour. She seemed hyper and impulsive on the outside but Kaz knew she was very strategic and methodical. She was insanely smart, which she often used to her advantage to beat Kaz in chess to his dismay. Both parties had developed feelings for each other but both were too scared to tell the other because they’re idiots but the universe was going to find a way to get them together.

The heist the crows had tonight was insanely important. The group was supposed to go to a merchant party because while the merchant and everyone else was distracted they were going to steal a necklace that was held in the wife’s vanity room. The necklace was worth an insane amount of money so the crows took the task right away.

The only problem with the heist was that Y/N and Kaz had to be the two who had to fake being a couple at the party to keep the merchant distracted so the others could get the necklace. “We have to do what?” Y/N exclaimed when she found out her role. She felt her chest clench at the thought of being around that many people. “I need Inej on the roofs, Jesper on the ground as backup, Wylan as a waiter ready to cause a distraction if need be, and Nina and Mattaius getting the necklace so we’re the only two left.” Kaz grumbles, obviously not happy about the situation either. Both of them sucked it up for the money.

The night of the heist Y/N was the last to be ready since she had to wear a dress and makeup. She stepped down the stairs to where the crows were waiting. As soon as she stepped into the room there were joking whistles and screams from all the crows except Kaz. Kaz stood there in shock, his breath taken away. Emma was wearing a black dress with stars on it, a simple pair of black heels, several pieces of silver moon and star jewelry and finally topping it off with a few moon and star hair pins pinning back some of her hair. She looked gorgeous.

As they got closer and closer to the party both Y/N and Kaz became increasingly more nervous. “We don’t have to touch.” She says breaking the silence between them as they were dragging behind the group. “We have to and we both know it. If we don’t touch like a couple they’ll become suspicious. I know neither of us like touch but we’ll have to deal with it.” Kaz quickly responds, his voice rigid. She just nodded, not wanting to make this night worse.

Everyone got in their positions as soon as they made it to the house, leaving Kaz and Y/N near the entrance. Kaz hesitantly grabs her hand; he was shocked when he did. He didn’t panic as much as he thought. Kaz’s aversion was worse than Y/N’s for sure since hers was mainly quick movements and things related to abuse but Kaz’s was any kind of touch. All he felt was Jordie when he touched anyone, the stench of the air, the cold water around him, the stiff body he was clenching on to. He didn’t immediately drown touching her though, he felt the waters come up but they stopped, going no further.

As the two of them continued through the night the touches became easier and more frequent, it almost felt...real. Both of them deep inside wished it was. They wished the other loved them back. The two of them got many compliments throughout the night on how cute they were and questions about how they met among other things. The way Kaz would wrap his arm around her waist made her heart stop, the way Y/N put her hand on his shoulder and smiled at him did the same to Kaz.

Once Nina and Mattaius got the necklace everyone made their way back to the slat. Everyone was happy and ready to celebrate a successful heist except for Kaz and Y/N. They had a tension that wouldn’t go away. Both knew they’d have to talk about it or it’d ruin further heists but neither wanted to make the first move. So once they got to the slat both of them lingered at the door after everyone else. “Can-” “We should-” they both went to say at the same time. They couldn’t help but laugh at how in tune they were. “We need to talk about things.” Y/N says. “I know.” Kaz says, anxiety in his voice. “I like you Kaz.” the girl states plainly, shocking the bastard of the barrel. He couldn’t say the words he wanted to but he had to say something. “Yes.” was all he could manage out. It would sound stupid to anyone else but to Y/N and Kaz they both knew what that meant. “I can never touch you like you might want though.” He says anxiously. “Kaz, I have just as much of an issue with touch as you. Physical affection isn’t something I need in a relationship. If we really want to, we can work on our aversions together.” She answers with a comforting smile. Kaz nods,knowing she's right. “So together?” Kaz questions, trying to confirm that she is his and he is hers. She nods with a smile.

That was the start of it all. The start of the King and Queen of Ketterdam, taking it over together.