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thestrandedrpg · 3 years

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MERIDIUM NEWS: FEBRUARY

News travels through the air on the island like salt on a sea breeze. Here is the gossip currently circulating as of February 10, 2022. Read on below the cut!

GENERAL NEWS / NOTICES:

HOT FARM TAKES: only the hottest gossip on the hottest farms of Meridium.

We would like to report that TOMAS HARDY is looking for more farmworkers. Requirements: a willingness to listen to his lectures about soil erosion and Meso-American irrigation grain treatments, weeding the whatsit garden - for WEEDS, not the herbs, what're you stupid? Climbing unsteady ladders to pluck only the sweetest oranges for his lady-love, and an ability to not like commit bloody murder and get banished forever.

We would also like to report that BEV & JACOB are also looking for farmworkers. Requirements: a willingness to whistle songs about Matthew Alphonsus while you work, an amiable and happy smile to greet your fellow co-workers no matter what, and to never, ever question Kotka's decisions, even when she pulls you out of farm work to train with a spear. For hunting, of course. What're you thinking? COCONUT COUTURE: In fashion, you’re either in or you’re out. But we’re only saying auf Wiedersehen to winter as our islanders prepare for a chic and sleek spring! At one end of the island catwalk, we have Miss Tamrya Williams. Tamyra has been slowly re-building her wardrobe and is wowing us with the long-sleeved look. Both elegant and practical, Tamyra can go from day to island disaster with only a mere modification. New mystery or monster to tackle? Never fear! The silk ties on the ends of her sleeves allow her to adjust the length, keeping Tamrya’s wardrobe classy AND functional! A pair of salvaged cat-eyed sunglasses in a blue tortoise shell pattern adds a distinct flourish to her look. Miss Williams offers no further comment, as her clothes say it all. Speaking of sunglasses, Kaz Raval is rocking a vintage pair of round shades with one of the red lenses missing. Asked about his exciting trendsetting turn, he tells us, ‘They’re broken but I’m wearing them anyway.’ When pressed for further comment, he says: ‘Go away’. Kaz compliments the ensemble shirtless as usual and wearing a floral sarong.However, the show-stopper look this week is from OG supermodel Tomas Hardy. He is ushering in the busy spring season with an unexpected accessory: a repurposed seed sack as a baby carrier! But get this: there is an actual lagoon baby inside! Tomas could not be reached for comment, but we have one: our ovaries just exploded. Well done! MISSED CONNECTION / CASUAL ENCOUNTER: You were the sassy little minx who shot fire at a tree in the mountains. I was the fire. In between the cursing and spitting on the ground, I thought I heard your friend call you Toni. Was it just me, or did our eyes connect? Did you feel something too? I’d love to see you again. Hit me up.

NOTICE OF LEGAL ACTION: Tamyra Williams, superstar to the stars themselves, does hereby give notice that she intends to sue the pants off of Libby Blum (Esq) for her inadequate work as a spotlight-bearer. Said employee used a clump of burning rags as the light, never adequately illuminated Ms. Williams' more dramatic profile, and at the end of her twenty-seven minutes of employment was heard to declare, "I was just passing time till lunch. Take this job and shove it, Tammytam." Ms. Williams would forthwith like to blacklist her former employee from ever working in the industry again, although she is willing to settle the case for a fish supper. A good fish, not those ugly little sardine-looking ones that taste like mud. FOUND: A list a faire, AKA a to-do list, written in French. Translation as follows: To do: - visit train, 3rd compartment. more hidden. - give Joaquin a 5 figs - relocate t-- to second cave - ask K-- about the pouch of s-- - gather more s-- from storage. rice. barley - tell B-- about J-- wish to take the food for I-- and hide - pretend to talk to T-- within K--'s sightline - saanp No translation of the word 'saanp' found in French. If this list belongs to you, please retrieve from the fifth branch of the heartfire tree, tucked between the twigs. We're waiting~

COME ON DOWN to the foot of the Fisher's/Fisherman's/Fishwife's Hut and pick up a COLLECTOR'S BADGE for the side of the island fight you're on! Those choosing TEAM ALPHONSUS (badge: a scallop shell buffed to a high polish to be worn by the throat) will be gifted a palmful of flavourless mush, sprinkled liberally with gunpowder. Delicious, nutritious, and full of Matthewly goodness. You will also be given a small conical cap made of rat felt dyed red with an M stitched onto it as a symbol of your devotion! For those saying it looks like a Super Mario logo no it doesn't. Those choosing TEAM UNBELIEVING HERETIC SCUM (badge: a tetanus-laden sliver of the plane) will be given nothing because you have chosen to live outside of the Garden! Matthew bless you in your ignorance. SEEKING FLATMATE: Room available in hut, new construction. Conveniently located near the Hardy Farm district and directly adjacent to the brand new island clinic. Ever worry about a sore throat, splinter, or stubbed toe? Worry no more as your roommate will be able to provide all the on-call medical services required. I am: A professional 30-something male. Clean, Fungi-friendly, tolerant of Alphonsians (who are okay with living on Tomas’ Farm property), not a murderer, allergy-free and open to pets. Looking to fill the space recently left as my current roommate situation fell through. I cannot provide details or references. My interests include cooking and surviving day to day with the unbearable weight of it all. You: Any gender. Any age. Must be tolerant of hosting possibly dying patients, and disposing of cadavers without complaint. All Meridium amenities included. Meridium amenities being: -a dry roof -a palm mat -open kitchen layout -heat, mostly from the open kitchen flame -one cooked meal a day. No cost as money means nothing. May be expected to cuddle in addition to cadaver transportation.

SPECIAL REPORT OF THE DAY: Our intrepid island Dr Akbar has been working medically and scientifically hard, thoroughly cataloguing what's bait and what's proper peng on the island. A long and arduous process with stunning results. Please attend his weekly lecture series where he lists his findings, and you might even find yourself catalogued as either 'bait' or 'peng'. Guaranteed to immediately enrage you, but then he's got that really charming smile and big brown sad eyes, so you can't really stay mad at him for long. MERIDIUM MUSICALE MAGICAL: We have a Valentine's Day mixtape playlist sent in from a secret admirer! The playlist was sent in by 'K-' with a message: 'I WILL GET YOU FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE' This romantic gesture is dedicated to none other than Meridium's resident non-resident, the invisible investigator, the lucid elusive himself: Kaz Raval!(do not send us speculations whether the mysterious admirer 'K-' is indeed Kaz himself. There's nothing wrong with narcissism.) Without further adieu! Enjoy your tunes, Kaz Raval: Creep - Radiohead Creep - Tears for Fears Creep - Pretenders Creep - Sophie Koh Creep - Karen Souza Creep - Damien Rice Creep - Brandi Carlisle Creep - Amanda Palmer Creep - Macy Gray Creep - Michelle Branch special bonus: Creep - TLC

SEMINARS & LECTURES: "But He's Peng": A Roundtable Discussion on Hooking Up with Emre You won't want to miss this inflammatory and informative event, which due to general outcry and protest has been relocated from its planned presentation at the Obelisk and is now near that mud patch the pigs are tired of. Speakers include Tamyra Williams, Kaz Raval, one woman with an outrrrrageous French accent who insists on wearing a full-face mask, and a prepared statement from Genevieve Alphonsus. Questions from attendees will ONLY be allowed through a lottery system, which means whoever Kaz arbitrarily thinks should be allowed to speak. Should he reject you, please return to your seat with a sense of understanding instead of protesting that Mr. Raval is "dickstruck".

LOOKING FOR: Cian Codona. No seriously, where is that guy? Last time we saw him, Cian was flying through the clouds like an octopus being thrown ten feet in the air. Can octopuses scream? Cian could, when he crash-landed - for the third time - back on Meridium terra firma. We haven't seen the leggy little bugger since. Anyone in the mood for calamari?

SEEKING: experienced drummer for Meridium start-up band. Preferably unwashed and unkempt and thick callouses on the soles of their feet. Nails like talons is a bonus. Ability to clog and loudly cackle at the same time, scaring any and all seagulls in the vicinity Interested applicants, please send morse code message with via the earth towards the sea stairs. Gigs guaranteed!

FARM FOOD FESTIVAL In what he has been laboriously convinced is a good PR move, Tomas Hardy presents the first Meridium Food Fest! Bring the whole family for such wholesome, informative activities as: - turning the chickenshit pile! (may include surprise other types of animal dung) - blind taste-testing goat milk samples to discern which goat got into the onion patch! - playing the "how close to the distillery before you pass out from fumes" game! Light refreshments will be provided as Tomas himself has consented to prepare an intense amount of jamaica drink and stewed pigeon peas. Actually that is all that Tomas consented to do. It's Madi Byrd who will be the host and guide for all of these activities and the entire Food Fest. Please be kind to her and when you see her getting visibly overcome with anxiety, offer her a cooling cloth or a kind word about her bees!

CHARITY DRIVE: Miss Hazel Beaufort is calling for donations! If you have any lightly used decorative tins, pieces of bottles, gourds, cups, etcetera, please bring them to her at the tree that looks like a vampire hand if you're standing at a certain angle. Items that are pretty are of the highest value. These will be received with glad thanks and some pressed flowers! [ Ed. Note: it has come to our attention that Miss Beaufort intends to give these items to a group of hermit crabs too inept to find their own new shells. We do not endorse this, being strict Darwinists. ]

OBELISK EYE NEVER CLOSES! This week our Obelisk Operatives (ObOps) have collected the following mysteries! So pull out your magnifying glass, write in the sand, and let's do some sleuthing. - One ObOp noticed Madi Byrd carrying mewling hippogriffs up the cliffside. Sacrifice? Safety? Or more likely: Madi is a secret ancient Babylonian hippogryff goddess who just gave birth to the end of times? Your guess is as good as ours, but keep your eye on the sky for winged lions doing her bidding. - THE LAGOON HAS SPOKEN. DID YOU HEAR IT? If you have, you're so special omg, luckyyyyy. - Another ObOp is reporting a state of emergency. Vines. Vines! VINESEVERYWHERE!!!! The Obelisk's lidless eye has turned to Libby 'Vine-o-rama-mama-jama' Blum for answers. Beware her spit, it's made of pure plant-venom. And she gobs it often, usually directed at your face if you come too close. - Once again Amelia has been spotted! Then she wasn't. Any other news to report? Become an ObOp or risk being spied on! Always remember: T̶̪͋̓́̂͌̀̾͆͠H̷̺̙̥̟̼̿Ĕ̸̱͇̮̬̄̒̓̍̓̃ ̴̡͕̗͕̱͈̘͛́͋̀̈́̀̚͠͠ͅȎ̶̞̙͈͉͈̙̥͒͒̐̒͜͜B̸̧̪̀̎̃̓̉̌͠͝Ę̴͔͚̰̠͖̠̘͒̌̂͑̓́̓͝L̷̨͇̺̣̜̾̋̊̀̀͜Į̴̛̮͇̭͙̠̣̱̓̏S̴̡̗̦͚̠͖̺͋̉̾K̸͙̜̠̬̟͇͂́̎̀̒̑̇͜͝ͅ ̸̞̗̺͍̥̒̊̊̾̕͝͠͝E̵̯̺̼̤͉͉͆̄̈́́͝Ỹ̷͎̦̟͉̗̞̊͘E̷̖̫̫͂̑̽̋̈́͠ ̸͉͙̥͂̐̈́͛̊͠N̴͈̾͠È̷̬̜̘̘̇̑̈́̍͋͂͌̔͠Ṽ̴̫̰̥͓̱͕͓͆̐̈́Ȩ̸̛̦͈̗̯̘̫͙̇̀̌̾̑͊R̴̼̣̃̈́͊͠ ̸̡̖̝̬̝̊̈̕C̴̰̰̉̄̃̑͒Ļ̶̢̱̬͇̻̈́̔̈́͋̽O̵̼͍͔͂S̴̭͍̆̉͘̕E̶̮͓̯͕̓͌͋̋̉̓S̸̤̞̘͙̘͂̎̎̇̿̽͆̎̊͝!̴̣̪͈̜̲̈́̾̂̐̍̍͊͊͝

DEAR MS. MERIDIUM:

Anonymous islanders are invited to voice their questions, complaints, and compliments to the island itself. Replies are not guaranteed.

Dear Ms. Meridium:

I would like to form an intramurals club. I think it would be cool if we played this game I invented called sand banana. It's played with a banana skin stuffed with rocks and tied up again, and you bury it in the sand and then you hump the sand with your butt and try to find it. I think we should only play it with hot people like Tamyra Williams and Kaz Raval.

Yours beachily, It's A Herb Not a Fruit

***

Dear Ms. Meridium,

More and more people seem to be convinced that Matthew was some holy person, but how can they not notice the real holy woman on the island? Esther glows with golden light anytime I see her, she can make the ground shake below her fingertips, and I am certain that the ghost of Matthew everyone is fawning over was created by her and nobody else! She is the real deal, the one to pay attention to, and nobody seems to notice. Oh Ms. Meridium, how could people be so blind around me? Maybe this will open their eyes, though!

Eternal thanks if you post this, Someone Who Can See The Truth ***

Dear Ms. Meridium,

I had a dream that you spoke to me about your favorite food (the cries of the ones suffering on your lands) and your favorite drink (the blood spilled out of malice or anger), and I woke up with a recipe in my head about how to please you and make breakfast for you, only to realize it might not be the best idea. And yet, now I crave it. Am I becoming you? Am I becoming a vampire? Are you a vampire in the form of an island? Or am I still just dreaming as I write this?

Keep dreaming yourself, A fan

***

Dear Ms. Meridium,

I find myself in a predicament. I noticed recently that Kaz Raval has spent more and more time on the farm while I work, and I seem to be unable to take my eyes off of him and his hair. I am mesmerized by it. The locks, the shine, the way it waves around in the wind! I want to reach into it and run my fingers through it. I want to braid it. I want to play with it. Does anyone feel the same way? Oh how I wish I could learn his secrets and turn my hair into such beauty as well!

A sad resident who will never have good enough hair

AO-TREE

The latest Meridium fanfiction submissions can be found pinned to the back of the Heart Tree. Let’s check out the latest titles!

TITLE: starlight above RATING: G SUMMARY: lily was told that the night one turns twenty-one out in the world, it's a big celebration and a time for a party. hers is spent trucking through the jungle she's known her entire life. but at night she finds a good spot up at the trees, watches the starts and talks to the island. suddenly, the island speaks back (canon divergent)

TITLE: am i in the right place? (are you the right guy?) RATING: T SUMMARY: iyaz's first day in college is a disaster. he is late for class, he yells at a guy who turns out to be his professor, all of his books get ruined, he loses his wallet, a conversation with his peer questions his reasons for being in med school in the first place, oh, and by the end of it he is sexiled from his room. at least the ra, whose room he shows up at so he wouldn't have to spend the night on the hallway, is hot though! //college!au, iyazxtomas rare pairing

TITLE: nada se compara con esto RATING: G SUMMARY: joaquin finds a baby with tomas written in his blanket on the steps of the church. he only intends to bring him home for a night before he sets out to find the baby's parents, but somehow ends up adopting him with his longtime roommate, aurélie. raising a random baby from the streets with your roommate is completely platonic activity! or is it?

TITLE: history repeats RATING: T TITLE: no finds a strange bottle in her distillery and ends up drinking it. once she wakes up the next day, she is back in the past a month before her departure to meridium. can she change the past and figure out a way to not end up on meridium when anytime she wants to divert from her path, the world around her actively fights back to make sure magnolia beaufort ends up stranded on meridium along with her companions like she should?

TITLE: three is company RATING: E SUMMARY: a collection of short stories where libby and tomas take their friends to bed. emre, tamyra, kaz, toni, seamus chapters are up, coming up next is esther! nothing but smut here

TITLE: alone i stand RATING: G TITLE: amelia dalton has always felt most comfortable alone, but what does one of the most reclusive characters of the show, stranded, spends her days with? a day in amelia the way i imagined it and what is really missing from the show

TITLE: do you wanna build a snowman? RATING: M SUMMARY: Princess Hazel of the Shining Valley gets snowed in at the winter cottage all alone with her first lady in waiting, Madison. The two of them spend the time building snowmen, making snow angels, explore snow dunes. a snowball fight leads to some interesting events and feelings that neither of them thought were possible might get revealed

TITLE: in any life, i will find you (and i will love you) RATING: E SUMMARY: a thousand years ago tomas was cursed to lose the most precious thing he has ever held in his life and he laughed it off. a few years later he meets libby again and everything changes. this is a collection of vignettes with tomas and libby through the years as tomas (unable to ever die) has to watch libby die and get reborn over and over again, and he attempts to get the love of his life to fall in love with him each time

TITLE: these violent delights RATING: E TITLE: one dark night aurélie marchand runs into a bruised and bloodied emre akbar, and their entire life changes. a war at full force around them and the two of them on two opposing sides, can they find a way to survive and keep at each other's side? historical!au

TITLE: all coming back to me now RATING: G SUMMARY: helena has never thought a fancy party could end up with her in tamyra william's bed. by the end of the next morning she never wants to see the woman again, and yet three years later the actress ends up on her doorsteps again by chance and the next 48 hours for both of them is crutial and will determine both of their futures. noislans!au

KIDDIE CORNER!

Riddles, songs, and games to keep those restless island kiddos entertained!

RIDDLE ME THIS Consider this conundrum: Maura Gallagher teaches social science in her classroom at 10:00am on a sunny day. Within her classroom sits one boy on a chair, and a baby in a cradle. Who learns quicker: the baby, the boy...or Mrs Gallagher?

Answer: Matthew's spirit, lurking outside the schoolhouse because social science only gained popularity in the early 19th century so it's about his learning speed.

SONG TIME! There's a new song the children of Meridium have been singing recently! Want to learn the lines and sing-along? Gather round and here we go! Lily Lily Takahashi Lily Lily Blum Find her in the lagoon Lily Lily Takahashi Lily Lily Blum Say her real name soon Bone knife or pool Lily Lily Huh???? Dive for glory or for gloom

FUN & GAMES Here’s your mission: help Ms. Libby get out of the Labyrinth!!!

[Ed. Note: Ms. Libby would like to express her discontent at her, quote, “real-life, thirty-year shitshow being turned into a kiddie game.”]

#// these posts always bring me such joy jsdlfkjsdflk #meridium news #lsrp #lsrpg #literate rp #literate roleplay #island rp #town rp #supernatural rp #supernatural town rp #rp #roleplay #rpg #mature rp

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id-rather-be-an-outsider · 4 years

Text

Angel From Ymir

Reiner Braun

word count: 1418

summary: Reiner comes across a kitty. kitty decides Reiner is his person. this is Reiner’s written experience.

tw: mentions of depression + ptsd. cute cuddliness and Reiner being adorable.

a/n: cats are cute and well-suited for many lifestyles! but please adopt responsibly and don’t take on a cat unless you’re ready and financially able to do so! please remember: 1) keeping your cat indoors is the ONLY way to prevent them from being hit by a car, stolen, attacked by other animals or exposed to diseases! 2) be careful and do your research and consult your cat’s vet before giving your cat a flea treatment! some brands cause seizures that can kill your cat or shorten their lifespan severely! protecting your cat from fleas and other sicknesses should NEVER cost a cat their life! 3) declawing a cat is NOT taking away their fingernails, it’s taking away their FINGERS! cats need their claws to climb and declawing them is inhibiting them from doing what they were born to do! 4) if a cat can reach it, they can wreck it, and that’s on you, not the cat, and that’s on PERIOD! if you have items that you want to keep safe 100% of the time then keep them AWAY!!! you can’t tell a cat to not be a cat, but you CAN tell YOURSELF to be a responsible cat owner!

Entry 1 - Monday

I’m not all that sure what I’m doing. Pieck gave me this, and suggested journaling to help me. She said there’s no wrong way to do this but I’ll probably fuck it up like everything else, so here goes. I uh... had a pretty average day today. Full of planning, saluting, groveling to Marleyans while they called me a devil, and pretending like I don’t hate myself and hate existing. I can tell Gabi is worried about me. Nothing out of the ordinary at this point. A cat followed me home, a yellow tabby. Cats are a rare sight nowadays. They were skinny.

Entry 2 - Tuesday

The cat was sitting outside my door when I left today. It rubbed up against my legs when I was locking my door, and made a noise that sounded like a tiny motorcycle. I think it’s called purring. It followed me to work, and it followed me back home again. I feel bad that it’s so skinny.

Entry 3 - Wednesday

I set out food and water for the cat today when I left. Just some sardines I had sitting in my cupboard. The food was finished and the cat was there waiting for me when I got home. It meowed at me until I pet its’ head.

Entry 4 - Saturday

I had a nightmare last night. Not uncommon for me. Today was my day off, and when I woke up in the morning I heard a scratching noise at the door. Turns out it was the cat, because when I opened the door it ran in and sat in my reading chair like it owned the place. I guess it’s here to stay now, because it runs every time I try to grab it, and it’s not really scratching anything up, so... I don’t know. I moved the food and water bowl inside.

Entry 5 - Sunday

Second day off. I spent the day reading. The cat came and napped in my lap. I fell asleep at one point, too. What? The cat was warm. And the sun was shining on us through the window.

Entry 6 - Thursday

I wish we could take afternoon naps at work. The cat followed me to work again. Pieck saw and asked me about it, so I told her what I told you. She said the cat picked me, whatever that means. I’m not really an animal person so I don’t get why. When I got home, there was a dead bird on my doorstep, and the cat was licking its’ chops. Kinda disgusting.

Entry 7 - Friday

Today I woke up to a crow on my doorstep. This cat is crazy. I asked Pieck about it, she said cats bring gifts to their masters. Some gift, if you ask me. Another observation: cats like boxes.

Entry 8 - Sunday

Something peculiar happened. I had a nightmare, but when I woke up, the cat was there kneading on my chest, licking my nose and rubbing their face against mine. They haven’t left my side yet. Literally. When I took a shower they just sat on the toilet seat lid next to it, and every time I’ve sat down today they’ve climbed in my lap and purred really loudly, rubbing their head against my hands when they could. It’s almost like they could sense my unease. It feels... calming. I usually write at the end of the day but the experience made me want to take note.

Entry 9 - Friday

I’ve missed a couple days, to sum them all up: I go to sleep with the cat under the blankets and wake up with them curled up under my armpit or in the crook of my neck. Today they brought me a squirrel. Their presents are getting to be terrifying, but also normal. They brought me a couple rats the past few days, too.

Entry 10 - Monday

I’m getting this heathen a collar. I woke up to them holding a goose twice their size in their mouth, and the poor creature wasn’t even dead. I had to put it out of its’ misery.

Entry 11 - Tuesday

I came home to find the cat napping in my untouched potatoes. I think I’m gonna call him Potato.

Entry 12 - Tuesday

I think the collar worked. Between the bell and his tags jingling, Potato must scare off every animal in sight because he hasn’t caught anything in a week. Or maybe I’m just not seeing it and he’s been eating his catches after my last reaction. He’s been getting a little fat. I’m worried I’m feeding him too much, I’ve been refilling his bowl every time I saw it empty, which is about twice a day. How much do cats normally eat?

Entry 13 - Saturday

Potato’s not acting normal. He’s been meowing a lot, which is cute, but he also hasn’t been moving as much. And he’s been eating even more than he usually does. I just hope he’ll be okay. Cats aren’t usually kept as pets anymore since they’re so scarce, so no veterinarian will take him. They all keep laughing at me when I tell them my problem. Why is it funny to them? They’re being rude and cruel. If anything happens to Potato I don’t know what I’ll do. Potato is my best friend. Even when he steals my dinner from time to time, I don’t get mad at him. I talk to him about my day like he can hear me, and I tell him about the things I’ve experienced and it really feels like he listens, because every time I get to a bad part and start panicking or crying he’s there, helping me calm down. I haven’t had nightmares even half as often anymore and when I do, he’s there on my chest when I wake up, making me feel better. I can’t call out of work to stay with him. I’m worried he might die. If he does, I’m just glad I have these last two days off. So I can say goodbye.

Entry 14 - Wednesday

He’s getting worse. He’s been laying in the same spot in my closet for awhile. I moved his food and water there and brought blankets and his favorite box to make it cozy for him, but I don’t feel like I can do anything.

Entry 15 - Friday

Well... it turns out Potato was a girl. I came home from work today to find her laying with two kittens - a brown tabby and a black one. I’m just glad she’s okay, and trying to not to think about the fact that I now have two more cats that I’ll have to start feeding myself in a couple weeks. Potato’s been back to her normal self, mostly, but she splits her time between me and running to check up on her babies.

Entry 16 - Saturday

A couple weeks have gone by and I’ve been too busy to write, but the kittens are up and running around now. The black one seems very sure footed and confident in her steps, but the brown tabby runs into walls when he gets excited. He’s... kinda stupid. I made sure to actually check their undersides this time instead of just assuming. I’m hoping to find someone who can get them all fixed at some point so I only have to pay to care for the three I have now.

Entry 17 - Sunday

I have never found myself so content. Or maybe just so distracted. I don’t know. The kittens are cute and so soft but they’re also little nuisances, racing around at night and scratching up the inside of the closet door. They’ve bitten through my lamp chord three times now. I didn’t realize damage control was more expensive than the actual care for them. Why can’t they be like their mom?

Entry 18 - Monday

Gabi wants the brown tabby. I’m kind of attached despite his idiocy, but I see the way her eyes light up when she comes over to play with the kittens. He picked her as his and always cuddles with her. He won’t even sit in my lap now. He just wants Gabi.

Entry 19 - Thursday

Gabi took Porkchop home today. She picked out his name and I paid for the collar and tags. Her mom was already cooing to him within the first five minutes of him being there. Letting him go was the right choice.

Entry 20 - Wednesday

Oh god. Potato’s getting fat again. Wish me luck.

#outsider writes #aot reiner #reiner braun #reiner fluff #technically???#tw!depression #tw!ptsd #cat stories #outsider moods #cat moodboard #aot moodboard

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lu-undy · 3 years

Note

Cats sometimes bring rats or bugs for "gift" to their hoomans.. So Pearl brings Lu a rat proudly and he terrifies. Is it okay for a request?

Here it is!

"Lu'? I'm home!"

"Finally!" A voice answered from the kitchen. "I was starting to worry…!"

Mundy removed his shoes and his coat before going to his lover in the kitchen.

"What's cookin'?" He asked, and a smile appeared on his lips, only because the sight of his lover brought peace to him. Lucien was wearing a white shirt with his sleeves rolled up to his elbows, and a dark blue pair of trousers. He had an apron laced around his thin waist.

"Not even a hello or a 'how are you' ? I am starting to think that you prefer the food over me." Lucien joked as he was busy stirring something in a saucepan. Mundy came behind him and gently kissed his cheek from behind as he hugged him. “Here, taste this for me please.” Lucien raised the wooden spoon to his own lips first to gently blow on it before moving it to Mundy’s pouting lips.

"Well, what can I say? Not only it tastes amazin’, but it also smells bloody good." Mundy rested his chin on Lucien's shoulder as he watched him cook, his arms still laced around the thin waist he loved.

"The food or me?"

"Stop actin' jealous… I'm talkin' about both." Mundy added a few more kisses down Lucien's neck and the Frenchman started laughing. "You ticklish, jealous, gorgeous doll of a man…"

Lucien put the wooden spoon he was holding aside and turned to Mundy, splaying his hands on his chest. He was smiling wide, looking up to the reason his heart was beating so fast.

"How was work today?"

"Not too bad…" The tall Aussie bent down to kiss his lover's lips. "But I'm happy to be back home. Been missin' you."

"So have I. Do you mind laying the table, please? The soup will be ready any minute now."

"Sure." They exchanged a smile and Mundy got to work, coming and going from the kitchen to the living-room and vice versa. "Oh, let me put more water for Pearl."

Mundy noticed that the cat's water bowl was empty. He took it off of the floor and filled it again.

"Meow!"

The fluffy white feline entered the kitchen and trotted to Mundy. When she reached him, she stood on her back legs, meowing and asking for attention.

"Hey, baby… Here, more water for you."

"Meow!"

"Yeah, I know, c'mere…" Mundy crouched down to carry her in his arms. "Been missin' Dad, eh?" He scratched her and kissed her, standing back up.

"Meow…!" Perle leaned on his shoulder and purred, half-closing her deep blue eyes.

"Yeah, I know, baby, I know. Did she have dinner already?" He asked Lucien.

"Oui, she did." Lucien answered as he served the soup in two bowls.

"Alright, want a treat then?" Mundy went to a cupboard and opened it before his hand dived in a jar.

"Meow…" Perle raised her head as she recognised the melody that usually preceded a treat.

"Here, baby cat." He put it in front of her mouth and she gladly ate it. "Yeah, good girl, good baby." Mundy kissed her.

"Dinner is ready, mon amour."

[My love]

"Oh, Dad's dinner's ready. You go and be a good girl, yeah?" Mundy crouched down and released her. Perle trotted straight to the French window and politely sat down. That was her way of asking to open it. "Wanna go in the garden? Sure, here…" Mundy slid the French window open and the white cloud slithered out.

“You may leave the window open, a bit of fresh air will not hurt.” Lucien said.

“Sure, luv’. Let me take the bowls…” Mundy took them and moved to the living room where he found his lover serving water and wine before sitting down.

“Here, some bread, mon amour.”

[my love]

“Thanks, Lu’. So, what’ve you been up to while I was away?”

The discussion went on as the soup slowly evaporated from their bowls. It wasn’t very cold anymore, winter was gone and spring was well established. Mundy wished it could come faster. He preferred the hot and scorching sun rather than the blue, ice cold weather of winter. Now that he thought about it, he liked ice blue only in one thing, namely, the colour of his lover’s eyes.

“I went to shop for some groceries at the market.” Lucien went on.

“Did you take Pearl with you?”

“Oui, this time she wanted to come along. She behaved very well and managed to resist the urge to jump on the sardines when she saw them.”

“That’s progress I guess.” Mundy chuckled.

“Indeed. So as a reward, I bought her some and fried them for her with a bit of cumin and paprika. She loved it.”

“You don’t need to cook for the kitty, we’re giving her food, and the expensive stuff at that.”

“But wouldn’t you be bored of canned food? It is nice to bring a bit of diversity to her. Besides, she absolutely loved it. I might do it more often.”

“Hold on, you said you bought some fish at the market, right?”

“Oui.”

“Did that fisherman sheila say anythin’ to you again?”

“She might have.” Lucien cocked a smug eyebrow.

“I knew it… Next time, I’ll go with you and if I have to kiss you then and there for her to stop flirtin’ with you, I bloody will!”

“Ooh, how the tables have turned. Back in the kitchen I was the jealous one, but listen to you now, hm?”

“I’m not jealous, she just needs to get it in that thick skull of hers that you’re taken, and that’s that.”

Lucien chuckled and slid his foot under the table closer to Mundy’s, gently brushing his leg against his.

“I love seeing you jealous like this…” The Frenchman admitted with a lovestruck, lazy grin.

“Yeah, well. I get people, they see you and you’re gorgeous. Nice suit, handsome face and beautiful body too. But they gotta understand that you’re not for takin’. I got my hands on you and I’m not ready to let you go.”

“Neither am I.” Lucien answered. “Go and get a change to be more comfy if you want. I will deal with the dishes.”

“You sure?”

“Oui, go ahead.”

“Might as well take a shower too if that’s ok?”

“Take your time, mon chéri.”

[my darling]

Lucien stood up and started collecting the empty dishes on the table when Mundy pulled him away from his waist to hold him close and kiss him.

“I’ll be quick, you behave for me, yeah?” Mundy held his chin between his fingers.

“Anything for you, Mundy.” Lucien’s eyes crossed on the Aussie’s lips. They stretched in a smile. The tall man added a quick peck to his lover’s brow and left him.

Lucien exhaled in a long and longing sigh when his lover disappeared up the stairs before turning to the table and resuming what he was doing.

Upstairs, Mundy went to the bathroom and started stripping naked as he started the shower. He was standing in nothing but his boxer shorts when he heard a loud and high pitched scream coming from downstairs. Without a second thought and leaving the shower still flowing, Mundy spun on his heels and darted back downstairs.

“What’s wrong? Lu’?!”

When Mundy made it in the living-room again, he found Lucien standing up on a chair and leaping to get higher up on the table.

“What is it?!” The Aussie exclaimed, seeing his lover hunched and scared.

“It’s Perle!”

“What’s wrong with her?” Mundy got closer to the lady cat who was standing at the chair’s foot.

“She has a mouse in her mouth!” Lucien yelled, terrified.

“Oh…” Mundy started chuckling. “C’mere, show Dad what you got, yeah?”

Perle turned to Mundy and trotted to him before releasing the dead rodent on the floor. Mundy crouched down and petted her head, scratching her repeatedly.

“Are you not scared?”

“Nah, it’s dead, it’s not gonna run to you, come down, Lu’.”

“Why did she go and get a mouse?!”

“It’s a gift.” Mundy answered.

“A gift?!” Lucien exclaimed.

“Yeah, c’mere, pretty girl, yeah, you did great… Look at Papa…” Mundy chuckled more. “You got him scared, eh?”

“Meow…” Perle’s answer was rolled on her purr.

“Yeah, he doesn’t really like mice. Next time bring him some flowers, yeah?”

“Meow.”

“A gift...?” Lucien repeated as he landed from the table to the chair and finally the ground.

“Yeah, I guess she was happy ‘cause you cooked her the sardines. She just wanted to say thanks.” Mundy stood back up.

“Mon Dieu…” He put a hand on his mouth.

“C’mere…” Lucien approached and took a comically long detour around the dead mouse on the floor. Mundy laced an arm around his lover when he finally arrived against him. “I didn’t know you were scared of mice.”

“They are dirty and carry diseases.” Lucien buried his head deeper in Mundy’s bare, hairy chest.

“You shouldn’t have reacted like that to Pearl. Poor baby didn’t understand why you were scared shitless when she brought you a gift.”

“Well, it is a mouse, Mundy, not a bouquet of roses…”

Mundy chuckled.

“Oh c’mon. You gotta say thanks.”

“Do I? Won’t that encourage her to bring me more dead rodents?”

“It might, but a gift’s a gift. And she went out of her way to hunt down something especially for you. You have to thank her, darl’.”

“Fine…” Lucien crouched down and Perle naturally came to him. He scratched her and heard her purr. “Merci, mon bébé. I am sorry I reacted this way. Now I know that you meant to offer something.”

[Thank you, my baby]

“Meow…”

"Oui, mon bébé. Papa is sorry…” Perle stood on her back paws and Lucien carried her in his arms as he stood back up. “Is there any way I can make it up to her?”

“What about some fish?” Mundy asked and Perle’s head swooshed to him.

“Meow?”

“Yeah, what if Dad cooked some more fish for you, yeah?”

“Non.” Lucien answered.

“What?”

“I cook the fish, you get rid of the dead mouse... Non, Mundy! What are you doing?! Don’t touch it with your hands! What if it bears the plague?!”

“Oh you sissy, it’s just a mouse…” Mundy picked it up from its tail and went to the French window before throwing it far in the garden. He came back and washed his hands thoroughly. “There, Princess Lu’ can breathe normally now, the mouse is out.”

“Are you sure it will not come back?” Lucien skittishly peeked his head in the kitchen where Mundy was wiping his hands. He held Perle in his arms dearly, like a child does a Teddy bear to bring some comfort.

“Meow!” Perle’s pupils blew wide when she saw Dad open the big white box of cold food and take the fish out of it. “Meow…!”

“Lu’, it was dead. Now unless Medic’s out there experimentin’ on it behind our backs, I don’t think it will come back, nah.”

“You are sure it was dead and not pretending?” Lucien insisted.

“Oh, Lu’!” Mundy stopped what he was doing dead and Lucien hunched his back.

“What?” He whispered, looking everywhere around him.

“Listen! I think I heard the mouse’s Dead Ringer…” Mundy said before bursting into laughter.

“Mundy…!”

Lucien crouched to free Perle and-

“Oh, what was that for?” Mundy put a hand on his shoulder where Lucien had gently punched him.

“Mocking my Dead Ringer. It was a very precious tool!”

“Oh, come on… Oh-ho, are you that scared?” Lucien had slid to Mundy’s arms and was clinging to his naked skin, sandwiched between the kitchen top and his lover.

“Do not mock me, not only does it carry diseases but it was dead and disgustingly decomposing, ew!” Lucien pulled his nose and winced.

Mundy chuckled and laced an arm around him.

“Right, stay here stuck to me like a snail while I make the kitty her fish.”

“Meow…” Perle had jumped on the counter and raised her paw to the plate of fresh sardines.

“Perle, non, don’t touch it.” Lucien said.

She brought her paw closer to the fish.

“Pearl…” Mundy added, and the lady cat removed her paw. She sat down and licked her chops repeatedly.

“She listens to you better than she does me.”

“Well, like her Papa…” Mundy started. “She likes authority sometimes.” He put a pan on the stove and started the fire before adding a drizzle of olive oil in it.

Lucien blushed when he raised his eyes and saw Mundy winking at him.

#tf2 sniper #tf2 spy #sniperspy

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fallingstarnovel · 3 years

Text

Chapter Two

content warning: alcohol, binge drinking

That was how Evan ended up standing in front of a huge house in a part of the city that he had never visited before with an unopened bottle of vodka in his hand. It was getting dark out – midwinter was coming fast, turning the air frosty and driving everyone indoors. At least it would be warm inside the house.

Evan took a deep breath, forcing himself to relax. A puff of vapour clouded the air before him.

This was fine. It was fine. It was a party. He was supposed to be here – he had been invited. There was no need to be anxious. It wasn't going to be like it was back then.

He could hear loud music pumping from inside the house, and spilling from between the curtains of the house was dim purple light.

God, who was he kidding. He couldn't do this.

As Evan turned around to leave, someone opened the door from the inside.

"Oh, shit, there's someone here. Sorry, were you waiting to be let in?"

Evan looked up at the tall student who just stumbled outside. "Um. Yeah. My friend is inside. She–"

"Go ahead," the student said, holding the door open and gesturing to go inside. Evan nodded in thanks, before stumbling into the house.

Immediately, he was surrounded by people. The house was crammed wall to wall with students in various stages of inebriation, all chattering away at the top of their lungs as the hypnotic electro music filled the space between them. Evan found a pile of coats in the hallway and dropped his on top. He hoped it wouldn't get lost or stolen before he left.

"Excuse me," he said, edging his way past a group of girls in short dresses who gave him judgemental looks. "Sorry. Sorry, sorry–"

He couldn't find Aliya anywhere. She wasn't in the living room or the kitchen. Evan poked his head behind every door, but all he kept finding were more guests crammed into unlikely places like sardines in a tin can. He recognised one or two from around campus, but some of these people seemed slightly too old to be students. Was this really a university party? Did these people all know each other?

Evan saw someone who looked like they were slightly in charge, maybe, and tapped them on the shoulder. They turned around with an unfocused look, hair in messy tumble around their head.

"What's up? Didn't Fae get you it? Oh, shit, where did you get the vodka?"

Evan blinked. This person sure was saying words at him. "What?"

The person squinted at him. "Didn't you just ask me for a kitchen towel?"

"No, I just got here," Evan said. "But thanks. Um. I'm looking for Aliya, do you know where she is?"

That got him a blank look. "Who?"

"Aliya! Aliya, you know, she does Astro with me. Uh." The blank look still persisted on the person's face. "She came here with volleyball? No, wait, I mean, netball? I think?"

The person looked vaguely less blank. "Oh, wait, the netball bitches. I love those girls, they make me feel like I'm some kind of insect. My name's Rock by the way."

"Oh," said Evan, who didn't know why that was relevant. "That's a cool name. Like Dwayne Jo–"

"Not like Dwayne fucking Johnson," Rock replied with a scowl. "I hate that guy."

"Oh. Sorry."

Rock just nodded, before tapping a person on the shoulder seemingly at random. "Is Becca around?"

"In the garden," the girl replied, "probably? Unless she left."

They were both yelling at full volume. Evan winced. His ears were already ringing.

Rock led him through sweaty crowds of people to the kitchen, and then out of a door into the garden. It wasn't much of a garden – more like a patch of concrete with a few bricks and weeds lying around, as if for decoration. There were more people out here, mostly smoking. Some of them looked like they were asleep. It was so cold out here – the girls were huddled up under big jackets that they had stolen from other people.

Wait a minute. Evan was pretty sure that was his coat. How did it get stolen so fast?!

"Aliya?" Evan called. Some people looked up, their eyes glazed over.

"Aliya bounced," someone said.

Evan's heart sank. "What?"

"Yeah, she dipped pretty quickly. Said she forgot about a deadline."

God damn it. Evan fought the urge to bang his head off the nearest wall. Why didn't she text him and say so? He could have escaped too!

"Right, thanks. I, uh–"

"Bro, no, you're not leaving yet, are you?" Rock said, giving him a betrayed look. "You just got here!"

Evan shrugged, plastering on a polite smile. "I don't really know anyone here–"

"Yet," Rock said firmly. "You don't know anyone yet. You know what they say about strangers? They're just friends you haven't made yet. Come on, live a little."

Personally, Evan thought Rock was slightly unhinged. He must have looked obviously uncomfortable, because Rock held out a hand and squeezed his shoulder.

"You don't go to a lot of parties, huh? It's cool. You can chill with me. Give it half an hour and see how you feel, yeah?"

Why was this person so eager to see a complete stranger join the party? Evan considered saying no and leaving anyway, but then again...

Evan wasn't a coward. He would give it half an hour and see if he made any friends. And if not, he could always leave.

"Sounds good," he said.

Rock cheered. A bunch of other people in the garden cheered too, though Evan doubted they knew what they were cheering for. "Alright! We got another one! Come on, pal, let's get you a drink!'

Half an hour later and after a couple of drinks, Evan somehow found himself watching Rock pour out a tray full of shots in the kitchen.

Several people wandered over in interest, lured by the idea of free alcohol like they were cats who just heard the tin of tuna being opened. "Who's down?" Rock said.

A few people came forward. Evan watched as a girl slung herself over Rock's shoulders with a bored expression. She had long, long straight black hair, like an oil slick that ran down her back, and she was either exceptionally tall or she was wearing huge platform boots. Maybe both. Evan thought it was both. "I will."

"Evan?" Rock said. "You want one? It's okay if you don't, I know shots are a little much..."

"I can do shots," Evan said without meaning to. Oh, shit. Was he trying to impress the hot goth girl? He kind of was. "Uh, if that's cool."

Rock's smile widened. "If you're sure you can handle it. Are you a lightweight, Evan? Because if so, I'm not going to be the one cleaning up your puke afterwards."

Evan smiled. "Ah, I don't know. Maybe. I'll try to keep it inside."

"Attaboy, big guy! That's what I like to hear!"

Soon, everyone around him had a shot in their hand. Evan had no idea what the liquid was. He tried to sniff it, but then Rock was counting down, and everyone was lifting their shot glasses up and drinking.

People winced and made appropriate noises as the burn hit. Rock blinked away his tears with a grin, before watching Evan drink with interest.

Evan calmly put down the shot. After seeing everyone else's reaction, he quickly pretended to gasp. "Oh, wow, the burn, wow..."

Rock's eyes flickered over the glass. It was empty. "Have you done that before?"

Evan shrugged, waving him away. "Once or twice."

Hot Goth Girl finally seemed to notice him. She stared him down, before slowly smiling at him, her black painted mouth in a closed-lip smirk. It was kind of terrifying.

"Hey Rock," she said, keeping her eyes on Evan. "Who's this?"

"I'm Evan," said Evan, before holding out a sweaty hand. She stared at it, and he immediately dropped it. "Haha, what, I don't know why I did that. Nice to meet you."

"I've seen you around," she said.

It sounded like an accusation. Evan wilted – before perking up. Wait, didn't this mean she remembered him? She had noticed him before! This was good, right? He nodded eagerly. "You recognise me? I'm sorry, I don't think I've seen you around, otherwise I would have remembered – I mean, you're very recognisable, haha, there's not a lot of people around here who dress so, like..."

He trailed off, feeling awkward. Hot Goth Girl glared at him.

"Like what?"

Evan blinked. She was wearing black lipstick and huge eyeliner, like two bat wings painted on her face. Most people around here weren't so brave.

"Um... so, um... alternatively."

Her eyes narrowed. Slowly, she grinned. "Where did you find this guy, Rock?"

"Aliya likes him," Rock laughed, before holding up the bottle. "Let's do round two," they hollered, and the night took a downward turn from there.

Coming to this party was such a bad idea.

When Evan woke up in the morning, he was very confused.

He had a vague memory of someone carrying him home. And holding someone's hand. And...

He groaned with embarrassment and rolled over to bury his head in his pillow to try and suffocate himself. When that didn't work, he rolled onto his back and massaged his forehead.

It felt like something had crawled into his mouth and died. He was so thirsty. But mostly he was mortified.

Ah, that poor person! Evan probably rambled on about weird depressing personal problems! He became one of those maudlin drunks who just starts crying about stuff! The person who carried him here must have been totally sick of his shit.

What an angel. Evan wished he could remember who they were.

He looked around for his phone, his bleary eyes cracking open. Whoever they were, they left a full glass of water on the desk. Evan jumped at it, drinking the whole thing in seconds.

It helped a little bit. But now he felt nauseous.

This sucked. Why did he do this.

Oh, shit, his phone and his wallet. Did he have them? He looked around in a panic. Were they in the jeans he wore? Where the fuck were his jeans?!

Slowly, he looked under his duvet and realised that he was still wearing them. Ah. Oops.

At least the person didn't undress him while he was drunk or unconscious. That would have been uncomfortable. In fact, he seemed in exceptionally good condition, considering he got black out drunk at a strangers house.

Aaaa god why did he do that!!! Why didn’t he slow down and drink some water!! This was so embarrassing, he could have done anything last night!!

... oh jesus fuck, why did his eyes hurt so much? They were so sore! It was like someone shone a supercharged torch in his eyes or made him stare into the god damn sun!! What happened last night?!

In his pocket, he found his wallet and phone, much to his relief. Evan quickly scrolled through his messages to see if he had sent anything weird to anyone.

Huh? Who the fuck were all these people he had added on Facebook? Why had he sent out so many friend requests?! He didn't recognise any of the names here at all!

He also saw a series of messages he sent to Aliya.

> you. are the qorst friend ever

> ┻┻︵ヽ(`Д´)ﾉ︵┻┻

i'm so sorry!! i'm really sorry!! oh i feel so bad, i thought i text you not to come anymore!! <

> ABANDONED me

> discarded me like an EMPTY CRISP PALKCET

> packet

... evan are you perhaps a little drunk? <

> everyone is very friendky. They keep handing me shots. These are my new friends now

> you're fired

no!!! 😭😭😭 <

don't fire me!!! i need someone to copy revision notes off!! <

> too late. now rock is my new fri be. Goodbye

> oh shit they’re doiign WEED in here

> Your missing otu on thrjelkc weeb

who's rock?? <

seriously though, be safe evan and have fun. if you need to call anyone, im up all night doing this assignment so just call me okay? x <

Just as he finished reading the texts, his phone buzzed in his hand. He nearly dropped it in shock. There was an unread text in his inbox from an unrecognised number.

How are you feeling? <

This was awkward. Clearly, this was a person Evan gave his number to last night. Unfortunately, he had no clue who they were, and now he felt too awkward to ask, since they clearly assumed he knew who it was.

> haha a little hungover!! oops

Was that too many exclamation marks? This mystery person would think he was a psycho.

The reply came soon.

Make sure you drink plenty of water. And eat something salty. <

Do you want me to bring anything? <

Seriously, who was this and why were they being so nice? Evan still felt a little awkward.

> i will :) and no thank you but that's so kind! how are you feeling?

I'm fine. I'm glad you're alright. <

...

This was too much to deal with. Evan decided not to answer. Hopefully, whoever this was would drop a clue at some point, or just leave him alone.

There weren't many people it could be. He had all his friends (haha, all his friends, as if he had more than three) saved as contacts. So this must be a stranger from the party.

A memory flashed into his head of the messy haired host – what was their name, Tree? Root? Boulder? – saying something stupid about all strangers being friends he hadn't made yet. It was probably them. They seemed overly familiar, so this lined up.

Ah, what the hell. This was a problem for future Evan.

He rolled himself into the shower without vomiting even a little bit, which he considered a huge achievement that should be celebrated with pizza for breakfast.

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#chapter

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psychovigilantewrites · 4 years

Text

Metro Encounters - Dick

Pairing: Dick Grayson/ Reader

Genre: Fluff

Word count: 1388

Summary: A seriously handsome man on the metro catches your eye- and he catches yours as well.

You hated crowds.

Loud, smelly, irritating crowds that seemed to suck all the air, leaving you to suffocate.

The type of crowd that had people who bump into you and don't apologise, the ones who talk loudly on their phones, the ones who stand a little too close for comfort, nearly breathing down your neck.

There was a certain dread you felt every time before you entered the metro, before getting squeezed in like sardines in a can. The speeding train would slowly reach to a stop, creaking and groaning, the sound of the familiar ding before the doors opened, the short war that went on that consisted of pushing and nudging others aside to get to that perfect little spot in the corner of the train, right next to the door. All of that made your stomach uneasy.

That particular Monday morning, you were lucky enough to get to that corner spot. Still, the train was crowded with anxious people in business suits and work clothes and uniforms, tensions high as they started their journey to jobs they hated and people they secretly wished they could murder.

You reached into your handbag to fumble for your earphones, but then paused halfway because you remembered that your cat had chewed on the wires the night before, leaving it useless.

You sighed to yourself.

Your journey would begin from Old Gotham Station, and it would take around ten minutes for you to reach Dillon Station to interchange to another metro line. From there you would have to journey for about half an hour before you reached Commerce Street Station, where you worked as an intern in one of those newly built and aspiring small businesses.

You were at Sprang Station when you noticed someone enter the coach. Out of all the people with dark suits, the man stood out. Not because he was wearing a light blue t-shirt and jeans, not because he was exceptionally good looking with model like facial features and great bouncy black hair and bright blue eyes, and not because of his athletically lean body either.

It was because he carried with him an air of confidence and charm, an aura of authority that sort of contradicted his kind and humble look. The way he walked looked as if he was fucking strutting down a runway, even the way he leaned against the centre pole was as if he was posing for a high fashion photoshoot.

As you stared at him, he caught your eye. You turned away, embarrassed. But by the looks of it, he was catching the attention of everyone else in the train as well. Women, men, teenage girls and teenage boys. The man was the centre of attention, and you assumed he was more than used to it.

Your lack of earphones made you suddenly aware of the sounds around you. The humming of the train, the whispers and giggles of the passengers, and the faint beat of Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go playing loudly from the earphones of that man. You glanced at him once again and smiled when you saw him moving his hips slightly, tapping his foot, and nodding his head in the rhythm of the song. He was mouthing out the first verse.

Your smile went wider when he started to almost completely forget where he was, and started dancing. He snapped his hips side to side, and even started to flip his hair back and forth. You let out a giggle.

Then, his eyes met you again. You widen your own in surprise and looked away, wincing. If he had earphones on and was playing music so loud that even you could hear it, how did he even hear your laugh?

You didn't dare to turn his way again. The music kept on playing, but it was somehow getting louder and louder and-

“Wake me up before you go-go, don't leave me hanging on like a yo-yo,” blasted in your right ear.

You jumped and saw the man grinning at you cheekily. You realised he had stuffed an earbud into your ear.

“I know you know this song,” he said in a sing-song voice, wiggling his eyebrows. “Come on, dance with me.”

“But people will stare!” you gasped.

“Let them,” he winked, and then grabbed your hands to start swaying them in rhythm.

You laughed out loud, and let the man lead your uncoordinated, poorly choreographed dance in the middle of the metro coach during the morning rush hour where dozens were frowning in judgement.

The song ended, and you were out of breath.

“I bet you’re thinking ‘Who the hell is this creep, making me dance in public?’,” he chuckled and held out his hand, “I’m Dick.”

“Oh, don’t be so hard on yourself! I enjoyed it,” you laughed and shook his hand, “Nice to meet you, Dick.”

You told him your name.

Up close he was even more handsome. You would usually feel intimidated or nervous when talking to someone as good looking as him, but for some reason you felt comfortable.

“I hope I made your Monday a little more interesting,” he said, “You looked a bit gloomy before.”

“Well, it is a Monday,” you groaned, “So I welcome anything that breaks this sad routine I have.”

“My Monday was sad until I saw you,” he teased, “You made my Monday a Funday.”

“Do you usually flirt with random women on the metro?” you jibed back.

“Only the pretty ones,” he winked, making your cheeks burn.

“Oh, uh, you're hot too,” you blabbered, wincing to yourself when you realised what you had just said. “I mean- I'm not, uh, shit.”

He let out a loud guffaw and with a sparkle in his eye, said, “Where are you headed too, gorgeous?”

“Work,” you tried not to smile, “I’m interning somewhere in Commerce Street.”

“That’s a long commute,” he thought out loud, “And do you take the same route back?”

“Yes, I do,” you groaned, “It’s even worse during the five oh clock rush. Everyone’s even grumpier.”

“And you get off at five?”

“Uh, yeah,” your eyes widening at the implication.

“You know what I’m gonna ask,” he winked.

Fuck, how the hell was he so good looking? And why the hell was he flirting with someone like you?

“I don’t!” you hurriedly tried to cover your embarrassment, “What were you gonna ask?”

Dick let out a deep chuckle, “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”

“Oh, wow, I was right,” you let out a shaky breath, “Uhm, sure? Shall we meet somewhere?”

“I can wait for you outside your office and we can go somewhere nearby,” he offered, “I promise you I’m not a creep, but if you’re not comfortable with that we can always meet somewhere halfway.”

“Outside my office is fine!” you reassured, “It’s got good security, so an ordinary person like you and I wouldn’t be able to get in either way.”

“I don’t know about you, darling, but I’m far from ordinary,” his expression changed from an innocent sparkle to a darker glint, suddenly making you gulp and try to ignore the tingle that shot between your legs.

“I’m sure you aren’t,” you breathed, “Uh, right, so it’s the tall glass building opposite that famous hotdog stand?”

“The one covered with-”

“The one covered with creeper plants, yeah,” you nodded. “Should I, uh, should we…?”

Goddammit, you were fine a minute ago, so why were you so nervous?

“Hmm?”

“Should we exchange numbers?” you winced.

“No,” he grinned.

“Oh,” your face fell, “I understand, I mean, we just met and-”

“I meant,” he interrupted, laughing at your uncertainty, “No, because it makes it that much more exciting doesn’t it? Meeting up with a stranger outside your office, someone you haven’t shared contacts with?”

Oh, boy. He was definitely trouble.

Because the way he seemed so excited at that prospect- it definitely gave you an impression of what kind of guy he was. The kind who liked to live in the moment, the kind of guy you knew would bring so much adventure to your life.

The kind you would so easily fall for. And that spelled trouble.

“You’re right,” you grinned back at him, “I’m down with a little excitement in my life.”

“Then you’ve met the right guy, darling,” he winked.

Definitely trouble.

#dick grayson x reader

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threeletterslife · 4 years

Text

Appetence

→ [1/7] of the Glossary Series

→ summary: Seokjin frowns, though you have an elated smile plastered on your face. For some reason, he doesn't like this Jimin. But you seem to love him a lot—enough to marry him—so Seokjin lets it slide. Still, he can't shake off that strange feeling that you're just like him, deep inside. Lonely.

→ pairing/rating: seokjin x reader | PG

→ genre: 98% mellow angst, 2% fluff | ghost!au

→ warnings: death, mentions of bruises and blood and physical abuse

→ wordcount: 3.4k

→ a/n: this is the poor baby cat that i’ll be referring to in the story 🥺my heart hurts every time i look at this

It's lonely to be dead.

The last thing Seokjin remembers before he projected out of his body was his doctor telling his brother that he wasn't going to make it. Ironic. Seokjin died before the doctor even finished his sentence.

He was confused at first, wondering why on earth he was still on the wretched planet. But after a while, he accepted his new see-through body. It's pretty cool to walk through walls, he supposes.

But now he has nothing to do. At first, Seokjin had wandered around his brother's house, but after a while, he realized that his presence made his brother shiver and teeth chatter violently. Apparently, turning into an invisible entity turns you cold. So for the good of his own brother's health, Seokjin leaves.

There's a large red maple tree that sits on an empty hill just a few miles away from his home. It becomes Seokjin's new home. Because he doesn't feel, he spends the winters, autumn, springs and summers there, leaning against the broad trunk of the tree and watching the grass sway in the breeze. When it snows, he always reaches out to catch a snowflake even though he knows it'll fall right through him. It's habitual. What he used to do when he was alive.

Autumn is the prettiest season for the red maple tree. The shaped leaves are colored a vivid red and boast a satisfying crunch when some little children flock around to play with their toys. But whenever Seokjin tries to play with them, the children shiver and run away. So now, when people visit the red maple tree, Seokjin hides.

He doesn't like it when they shiver like they're cold. Seokjin used to be a very warm person when he was alive. People wouldn't flock around him per se (he was a little shy), but the people who did know him loved him. Though he admits it's nice to be alone sometimes, Seokjin misses people. He misses having someone to talk to.

There's a stray cat that likes to slink around the red maple tree from time to time. It's a Persian with taupe colored fur. Except the fur gets darker and darker every time Seokjin sees the cat. He's starting to think the original fur color must've been white, but over time (and with the absence of an owner), the cat must've accumulated a lot of dirt on its fur.

Seokjin creatively names him Cat.

Cat is the only thing that seems to acknowledge Seokjin's presence in the world anymore. He likes to meow in a nice greeting and sit next to the ghost nearly every day. Though Cat doesn't talk, his companionship means the world to Seokjin. It makes Seokjin wish he could do more than stare lovingly at the cat. Maybe buy some food for it—Cat's abnormally skinny and there are patches of fur missing on his once-white coat. He wonders if it is bullied by the domestic cats around town. Sometimes the poor feline sneaks by Seokjin with some blood on its matted fur, but when Seokjin worriedly tries to get a closer look, Cat hisses. And he doesn't show up at the red maple tree until the day after a hard rain. When Cat comes back, there is no longer blood caked on his fur—only the remnants of a few scratches and bite marks.

Sadly—or maybe even fortunately—Cat is Seokjin's only friend now.

Until the day you come up the hill.

You've wrapped yourself up in a rather tattered shawl to defeat the cold autumn winds. Seokjin's never seen you before and you seem quite frail, but he thinks you look beautiful nonetheless. It's because you're smiling. And Seokjin doesn't know the reason but he doesn't need to know to see you be happy.

He hasn't felt happy in a very long time. It's always nice to see someone else be happy for him.

Seokjin watches as you sit down alone against the red maple tree and shiver. Self-conscious, he moves back from you.

If you're cold, you don't really show it. You continue smiling as you look up at the brilliant scarlet leaves of the maple tree.

"Beautiful tree..." Seokjin hears you mutter.

Your voice is beautiful. Sweet, light and brisk like the morning breeze. Seokjin's entranced by you immediately, but it hurts to know that you'll never be able to see him.

You sit against the tree for what seems like hours, just staring at the sky and humming little songs to yourself. Seokjin finds you lovely. Your company makes him feel less lonely, though you don't know you're keeping someone company, of course.

When Cat slinks by to rub adoringly against Seokjin's leg, you spot him too.

"Oh, a cat!"

Cat freezes and looks you up and down with scrutiny. He is on the verge of a very threatening hiss when you speak first.

"Aw, come on... I won't hurt you," you whisper, holding out your hand for the cat. "I don't have any food today... But maybe I can bring you some canned fish tomorrow...?"

Tomorrow? The sound of you coming back the next day is music to Seokjin's ears.

Cat seems to like you too. He slinks over to you and rubs against your legs. You giggle, reaching to softly pet his head. "I'm going to name you Minnie." Cat—now named Minnie—purrs. Seokjin has to admit that the name is way better than the one he had originally given the cat. "It's after my dear boyfriend," you laugh quietly. "But he doesn't really like animals, I don't think. He doesn't really like nature, either." You shrug, wrapping the shawl around your body once more. "But I do."

Minnie leans into your hand when you pet his head, making you giggle. "You're a stray cat, aren't you? I wish I could take you home..."

The cat purrs assertively as if saying, 'But this is my home.' Seokjin smiles. And he grins when you say:

"Oh, you live on this hill?"

It's as if you can understand Minnie.

"It's a good place to live," you smile. "I love the tree. Don't you?" Minnie purrs in agreement. He crawls onto your lap and decides he wants to rest there for hours. You let him stay.

Seokjin wishes he could hold Minnie too. But he feels just as content watching you do it for him.

When the ghost accidentally gets too close to you, you shiver, white air escaping from your mouth as you breathe out. But unlike normal people, you laugh. "It's like the wind's trying to talk to me!" you tell Minnie. "And it's friendly too. I can tell."

You reach out your hand, unknowingly going right through Seokjin's body. He smiles, shifting back so that your hand is touching his. There. Much better.

"People say this place is inhabited by demons," you whisper, pulling back your hand to pet Minnie when he begins to whine like a petulant child. "They say the tree creaks at weird hours of the day. And there's always this strange coldness that crawls up your spine. But this place is so... warm."

You look out to the sky where the sun's beginning to set. "I figure I'll get a lot of privacy around here, right?"

"...Right..." Seokjin laughs but he knows you can't hear him.

Minnie purrs in agreement.

Staring lovingly at the cat, you sigh. "I need to get home, Minnie... Jimin'll worry..." The cat jumps off your lap and looks behind his body to stare at you. "Don't give me that look," you giggle. "I said I'll come back tomorrow! And with food! Maybe the friendly spirits around here will be waiting for me too!"

And with that, you walk away from the hill, stopping along the way to look for four-leaf clovers. Seokjin watches you leave with a smile on his face.

For all of autumn, you come to the red maple hill every day. During the winter, when it's colder, you skip some days to 'replenish your warmth,' as you put it. Seokjin just counts the minutes until he can see you again.

But when the aroma of the blossoming petals filters the warm breeze, Seokjin realizes it's already spring. You visit more often now.

Minnie isn't as skinny as before—Seokjin would even go as far as to call the cat plump, but Minnie doesn't like to be subjected under such a word. But the best part of you strolling up to the red maple tree is not the food you bring Minnie (although the cat appreciates it). It is the stories you tell. The stories that you think no one but the cat listens to.

But Seokjin's there.

"Minnie," you sigh, sitting down as you hand the cat an opened can of sardines. You giggle as the cat immediately dips his head into his meal. "I had the best day today!"

Seokjin curiously peers from behind the tree.

"Oh! The spirit's here!" you exclaim, clapping your hands together.

You must've been born with a sixth sense. Over the months of which you spent your time on the little hill by yourself, you've somehow figured out that the tree was not haunted by demons but wandered by a single spirit. A spirit you've deemed as friendly from early on. But you only acknowledge his presence, never speaking to him. Seokjin doesn't mind. Acknowledgment is enough.

Tugging your shawl over your shoulders like always, you peer up at the crimson leaves of the maple tree that are just beginning to unfurl from their buds. "Jimin suggested we get married!"

Minnie ignores you but Seokjin claps politely. "Congratulations!" he tells you. But, of course, you can't hear him.

You stifle a laugh when you see that Minnie isn't reacting to your good news whatsoever. "Minnie," you urge, "I'm gonna get married!" Placing a hand on your stomach, you smile giddily. "And we're gonna be parents!"

That must be why you're getting married so quickly and quite frankly out of nowhere. You hardly talk about your boyfriend, now fiancé, and when you do, it's often with a sad look on your face.

"The wedding's gonna be really small, but it's a wedding nonetheless!" you say. "Jimin doesn't want anything too special. I just want something that's memorable..."

Seokjin notices that there's nothing on your ring finger though. As if sensing his thoughts you sigh. "Jimin says wedding rings are a social construct. They're expensive and useless."

Minnie stops his vigorous eating to stare at you. It's like he's telling you, 'That's utter bullshit!'

You giggle. "I mean... I guess I always wanted to seal off my engagement with a pretty ring, but I'm already lucky enough to have found a man who loves me..." you trail off, shaking your head. "Let's talk about something else," you tell the cat abruptly. "I'm going to tell you about the time I nearly drowned in the river trying to fish out Jimin's shoe. Don't ask how it got there."

Seokjin frowns, though you have an elated smile plastered on your face. For some reason, he doesn't like this Jimin. But you seem to love him a lot—enough to marry him—so Seokjin lets it slide.

Still, he can't shake off that strange feeling that you're just like him, deep inside.

Lonely.

When the sun begins to beat down on everyone and everything, the red maple tree becomes a refuge. It signals that summer has arrived. To battle the intense heat, you like to bring pretty patterned fans to fan yourself while wearing your rather thick shawl.

It seems as if you don't like to take it off.

Maybe it's a token. A story that you will tell one day.

You bring refrigerated water for Minnie, sipping cool lemonade yourself as you tell the cat summer love stories. Minnie doesn't mind the romance too much; in fact, he doesn't care. Seokjin does, however.

He thinks you make up lovely stories.

"Summer's going to love it up here," you smile, petting Minnie's head as the cat purrs in agreement. "Do you think Jimin will let me name the child Summer regardless of the gender?"

Minnie chirrups almost as if he's laughing at you. Which, you kind of deserve. You're not even showing yet, but you're already dead-set on naming the child Summer.

"I just love summer so much!" you defend yourself. You give the cat a dirty look. "I bet you do too, Minnie. You just don't wanna admit it."

Minnie lets out a little trill as if to say 'Don't judge me, woman.'

You laugh. "Okay, okay. I won't push it." Letting out a short sigh, you begin to fan yourself with your hands. "It's a bit warm today, isn't it, Minnie?"

Seokjin watches as the cat playfully tugs at your shawl.

"Should I take this off?"

Seokjin cocks his head.

Minnie meows and it's enough for you to giggle. "All right. I'm usually insecure about this. So you better not judge, okay? I trust you." The cat softly purrs, encouraging you further.

"All right..."

With that, you carefully and slowly take your shawl off, placing it on the grass next to you. You're wearing a summer dress that exposes your smooth skin to be sun-kissed, but Seokjin gasps when he notices purplish, hideous bruises across your shoulders and back.

Minnie yowls at you, standing up and staring worriedly at the welts on your body.

"I-I'm okay," you say hastily. "I promise."

"Oh..." Seokjin breathes. "I'm so sorry..." He wants to ask if Jimin did this to you. He wants you to know that you're safe with him. That he'll solace you and treat you the way you should be treated. But alas, you cannot hear him.

"They'll go away soon," you assure the cat.

Seokjin wonders if they'll be back... If the abuse you're facing at home will ever stop.

As the months pass, the more sickly you seem. You're starting to lose kilograms of weight, your face shrinking and looking more like a skull than anything else. If you were frail before, you were even more feeble now.

There are days you completely forget to come to the red maple tree and Seokjin has to take care of Minnie on his own. Other times, when you do come, you can't stay for long, making some dumb excuse that Jimin wants you back home early.

You always clutch your shawl tightly against your body no matter the weather.

On the days that you do come, you lean against the red maple tree and smile as you read from a book of poems while petting an occupied Minnie scarfing down cat food.

Seokjin notices something off about you these days. You smile, but it doesn't make your eyes sparkle like before.

Then, for a week, you don't come back to the hill. Seokjin waits for you every day. But you're nowhere to be seen. He even contemplates going to the village to find you, but it occurs to him that maybe you want privacy. Maybe you just want to stay home... You've been months pregnant now, anyways.

But when you finally show your face at the red maple tree, you look desolate. You've lost even more weight than before, and you even carry a blood-spotted handkerchief in your hands. Minnie softly meows to welcome you. But as soon as you see the cat, you smile through the tears welling up in your eyes.

"I lost Summer," you whisper, collapsing on your knees.

Seokjin wonders why you refuse to cry here.

"This is supposed to be my happy place," you sigh, caressing the verdant grass with your shaking hands. "I don't want to come here and be a stormy rain cloud now, do I?"

Minnie purrs, nudging his head against your lap. You giggle, but it turns into a violent coughing fit. You have to block your mouth with your handkerchief. When you're done, a new bloody splotch is added onto the once white cloth.

The cat looks at you worriedly.

"Oh..." Seokjin whispers, wanting to reach out and caress you. He wants to tell you that it's going to be okay. That he's sorry you lost your baby. And that he wants you to get better from whatever illness that's plaguing you.

"I-I... don't... I don't know if I can come here anymore..." you say hesitantly. "I'm... I'm not allowed to be outside..."

Minnie yowls.

"I know... I'm sorry, Minnie..." you apologize. "I'm going to get better though. I'll keep you company when I'm healthy. I promise."

Seokjin looks at your dull eyes and sickly features. It reminds him of how he had looked before he was forced to become a lonely creature on the planet. He yearns for you to get better. To enjoy the playful life that you deserve. Maybe you'll leave that Jimin and find a better man who won't restrict your adventurous side.

He wishes more than anything for you to be happy.

Likewise, in your head, you wish more than anything for you to seek happiness.

Then, you are gone. Just like that.

For months.

Every day, Seokjin wonders where you are. Maybe you've finally gotten better and the bruises on your body are healed and you no longer cough up blood. Maybe you've moved away from the madness. Maybe you've called off your engagement with Jimin...

Minnie stays by Seokjin's side, awaiting your supposed return. Neither of them gives up on you.

And one day, when the sun is beginning to rise from its nighttime slumber and is bringing home another autumn morning, Seokjin sees you.

You walk steadily, smiling.

Though you look ghastly, your skin shimmers in the morning light as you gently hum a familiar song. Minnie rushes out to greet you while Seokjin hides behind the red maple tree.

There is something about you... that seems different today.

"Minnie!" you laugh. That's when you catch sight of a shimmering man behind the tree. "Hello?" you call out.

Seokjin holds his breath—though it won't kill him again. Impossible. You can see him.

"H-Hello," he stutters.

You walk forward, towards the man as if you are in a trance. "I'm Y/N," you offer him an amicable smile.

Seokjin watches as you study his face, your own lips stretching wide as you greet him cordially. Y/N... The name sits comfortably in his head.

"Y/N..." Your name falls off his lips so naturally. You smile at him, nodding. "W-Well, I-I... I'm Seokjin..." he manages to say.

You haven't gained back your lost weight and your cheeks look even more hollowed out than before. But there's a sparkling glint in your eyes that you used to have.

Before he can even stop himself, Seokjin holds out his hand, making his palm face you. You giggle, placing the palm of your own hand against his.

Seokjin can't seem to breathe.

Your hand would've slot perfectly in his if he grasped it. But he can't bring himself to. The two of you stay with your palms touching and staring at each other's faces in silence.

It's then when Seokjin realizes you've become just like him.

If he had moved his hand just a little more forward, it would've gone right through yours. Seokjin doesn't know if you know yet... He can only hope that he doesn't have to break it upon you.

Your face is relaxed and your lips are parted just slightly. Then Seokjin notices the tears dripping down your face. When they hit the ground, they disappear. You don't seem to notice.

Seokjin bites his lip, wondering if he should say something—if he should welcome you to a new kind of life.

But you shake your head, smiling. "I apologize," you manage to speak. "I... don't know what's come over me."

"It's quite all right," Seokjin says. He means it. He'll cherish every second every moment he'll spend with you now. His heart is still but he can physically feel it beating loudly in his chest. He'll make sure the two of you are never lonely again.

You laugh politely. "Thank you..." you breathe. "I just..." You trail off, wiping your tears away with the back of your hand. "You just seem so familiar."

—masterpost

—masterlist

#ficswithluv #btswritersnet #btswriterscollective #bangtanfairygarden #btswritingcafe #seokjin #jin #kim seokjin #jin imagine #jin fanfic #jin fanfiction #bts #bts fanfiction #appetence #i am TERRIFIED of ghosts #but i mean if seokjin were one #he can hit me up asap 👀👀

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thecosmicsen · 3 years

Text

🎂 happy belated birthday month to fellow ghosty boy, aka the soft boy Jaewoo is stuck to in any AU, the one and only @phantombs ! 🎂

* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they both bond with the afterlife .

call it the synchronisation of two backgrounds harmonising that cultivated this very moment of Jaewoo enthusiastically bursting through Cường’s front door. the trust that Cường has in him to provide key access speaks volumes of unfathomable confidence despite the striking contrasts between what the two deem as amicable greetings. typically, Jaewoo is akin to a sudden blast of nippy wind that tends to slap someone across the face with its sharp stinging icy breeze whereas Cường is the type to snore through category five typhoons. this indisputable fact about the elder male is what provides Jaewoo with the brazen guts to invade his home so unabashedly since he knows that nothing will stir the unconscious figure. as according to plan.

detecting the lump in the midst of the blankets, Jaewoo now enters stealth mode as he navigates his way around the bedroom. setting down the canister of helium with a slightly louder thunk, he sucks in his cheeks in horror as he tersely waits to see if it elicits a stir or two out of Cường. it doesn’t. with a smug sense of achievement, he proceeds with the first step of filling up confetti-filled balloons so he can robustly tie them in batches of three with blue ribbons. what the true finishing touch is the polaroids of the abundant pictures he has taken of Cường over the span of time they have spent together. besides the absolutely candid shots varying from Cường overlooking the speckles of freshly budded cherry blossoms to him randomly snoozing in an upright position on the park bench, the polaroids consist of vintage filtered memory snapshots ranging from . . .

one. tiny coffee puddles lingering at the bottom of almost emptied mugs. licked up cupcake crumbs. overcast cherry blossom shadows merging with the tabletop. the lining of plush armchairs overlooking the open cafe balcony. pink-tinged cheeks from the open breeze. a slumped over snoozing figure, his mouth slightly agape as he snugly fits in the width of his chair. it’s ironic really, sleeping right after a caffeine dose ? classic Cường.

two. rain-streaked panels. the lazy streaks of dusk filtering through clearing horizons. idly bustling of Cường’s back faced to him as he gently rifles through his collection of mugs. thick woolly covered socks perched up together. a low hum of a cheery tune. the cheeky grin he flashes when Cường turns around with the familiar scolding look. “ you’re going to be chilled to the bone, wrap up the blanket tighter around yourself. ” the elder male warns him and he obliges.

three. dusted piano keys. a pair of hands gliding across the ivory. the other pair patiently listening, and listening, and listening. time stands still in the air, the concept being sapped away between the gaps of the keys as Cường plays the tunes of a piece so bittersweet. reminiscing curls his lips downwards until Cường gently grabs hold of his hand and gingerly swaps it with his own. “ learn to play with me, ” he jerks Jaewoo out of his transfixed spiralling stance that threatens to plunge him into a nostalgic dimension.

four. flash. flash. flash. another piercing flash. it washes him out, bringing out the sallow side of his physical manifestation. he’s suddenly very self-conscious. all he is doing is walking along the river, breeze tickling through his hair. the only person he notices is Cường with his mobile phone pointed in his direction. “ wait, I’m not ready for a picture. ” Jaewoo protests, immediately raising his hand up into a peace sign with a chirpy grin. Cường snaps a few more before shaking his head, a fond smile taking over. “ you silly boy, does the sun ever need to prepare its shining brightness ? nor do you. ”

five. buzzing electric hums crackle. indignant yells from preteens cause a crease between Cường’s brows. blaring beeps and glowing neon signs cram up any leftover space in the arcade. they promise many bountiful rewards. get your hands dirty, you might win an oversized stuffed narwhale. Jaewoo rubs his hands gleefully, akin to a persistent fly about to dig into a tasty feast. “ I know just the thing you need on the days you sleep for fourteen hours. ” pivoting to the flashiest claw machine with Line characters packed like sardines, he eagerly hunches over with his tongue sticking out in concentration. he will win this. inserting his leftover cash in enthusiastically, he aims the metallic grip of death to the nearest stuffed bunny. taking in a noisy deep inhale to quell his adrenaline, he jabs at the pretentiously gaudy red button for the claws to suffocate the bunny to victory. it works ! he didn’t expect it to in full honesty but now he can smugly brandish it to the amused male. “ let’s call him Lele. now you will never be alone. ”

. . . a shrill whistle sounds from Jaewoo as he clambers towards Cường’s bedroom window. a hoard of worn out older dogs struggle to float up to the window’s height. but with the aid of Jaewoo’s awaiting palms, they are safely directed into the warm haven of Cường’s birthday setup. what’s left is the lighting of candles and the birthday. the ghost had considered buying a massive rectangular cake to fit the few hundred candles on it but he reckoned that Cường wouldn’t be up for using all of his lung power on blowing out that many candles so he settled for placing fifty seven instead. not a jibe to the other’s age at all.

clapping his hands together, Jaewoo motions at the expectant dogs to go huddle up against the sleeping figure in bed. beyond eagerly, they all contentedly clamber besides Cường as they are familiar with the man and his previous visits to the shelter. the wholesome sight warms his heart and he hurriedly moves to snap a picture of the cosy sight before Cường can object. by the looks of it, he still hasn’t fully stirred from his slumber yet so Jaewoo takes the cue to finally begin the slow singing of the birthday cheer.

“ happy birthday to you, happy birthday Choi Cường, happy birthday to you. ” the dogs happily grumble along to Jaewoo’s trilling voice in an unique harmonisation to celebrate the cheer of Cường entering another year of life yet again.

Cường finally arises with groggy eyes, hair sticking out in random tufts and incomprehesible noises that only those fully acquainted with deep sleep can fathom. Jaewoo approaches him with his birthday cake, eyes glazed with delight.

“ make a wish ! ” Jaewoo shoves the cake in front of him and Cường indulges him by huffing out the candles in three goes before tugging him onto the pile of puppies on the bed. “ please don’t tell me you wished for more sleep. ”

alas, Cường has already fallen back into a half-drowsy state but it’s okay. the cake can wait.

* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they both bear the weight of the crown .

huff puff. huff puff. huff puff. look at what lengths the young prince goes to. it takes a lot of cautious scrambling on the ivy-clad bricks. it surely would have been a call for an immediate plummet to death. had the prince not been thoroughly experienced with years and years of experience in exiting the castle grounds for invigorating quests for adventures, he wouldn’t have made it beyond a single ledge. as lithe as a cat, he even managed to maintain his hold on a staggering wide window ledge that showcased an approaching candlelight, presumably one of the many patrolling guards. security had greatly intensified ever since that eye-opening hectic night of ultimate meetings of meetings. the only leeway he was able to breakthrough and finally make through the fortress was through months and months of extensive study with the aid of prince Cường’s silent cues on illustrating ways on how the other may keep visiting him in his lonely desolate tower.

evidently, the legwork pays off since Jaewoo is able to navigate his way through the labyrinth of tenacious security personnel. it’s extraordinarily exciting to be going through such leaps and bounds to visit your secret werewolf best friend, son of the rival kingdom that your family swore an oath against !

entirely pleased with himself and his progress, the young prince proceeds with his voyage to the grand tower window after ensuring with a peep that the patrolling guard has moved on. he makes a quick mental note of how the fourth floor garrison seem to take around seventy five seconds for a quick sweep before moving on with his cat climb.

it must have been a nasty shock for Cường to have his grand balcony doors thumped on frantically in the dead of the night. Jaewoo can faintly make out the startled grunt followed by groggy scuffling towards the set of gold-plated doors. the sight that Cường is faced with upon opening the doors with hesitance is one straight out of the many books that he’s read with Jaewoo in their more relaxed princely hang out sessions. the moon crescent gently laminates Jaewoo’s tall and proud silhouette with its sheer pearly luminescence glimmering off the many encrusted jewels on his figure.

“ prince Cường, head of all mythical protection, the defender of deep sleep and all other his realms, you have officially lived to see and enter another blessed year ! ” Jaewoo enthuses, his eyes dancing wild in delight with his self-perceived inspirational opening. “ despite the beast inside, quite literally if I may add, you have persisted and floated through the face of adversity. a very very joyful and happy birthday to you. as my gift to you, I must insist on you going out with me on this clear mid spring evening. ”

to be expected, Cường stares at him incredulously before opening his mouth to come up with a gurgle of excuses ranging from it being too late and the best birthday gift he can give is to have the longest nap. this is all naturally dismissed by Jaewoo with a wave of hands although he switches up his tactic with pleading beseeching eyes.

“ I swear in the name of all things that I love, this will be a minimal effort journey for you, your highness. ” Jaewoo holds his hand on his chest to declare his oath. “ outside your grounds, I have brought a sled with a comfortable makeshift that I specially made for you. please please please. I shall carry you along the entire time. you only need to walk the distance to and from your bedroom to outside the grounds but even for that, I can piggyback you for when we are out of sights from your garrison. ”

Cường sighs in defeat, knowing that it takes far more energy to Jaewoo who doesn’t take no as an answer either way. the duo had been continuously going out for either one of Jaewoo’s gutsy expeditions in his quest for seeking fantastical legends or heading for a cosy hangout in his secret shed hangout. so it is a familiar cause-and-effect process that Cường has grudgingly gotten accustomed to.

soon enough, the two are bundled up warmly and exit their usual and lesser dangerous route from within the castle instead of dangling off precariously on tower walls. as they veer near the edge of the perimetres of the castle grounds, Jaewoo begins to piggyback him as promised. with Cường’s thick plush cape enveloping his body too, Jaewoo enthusiastically leaps towards the awaiting royal sled concealed underneath the moss of an oak.

“ see, I made it like almost exactly like your real bed which you love to lay in so much ! “ Jaewoo gingerly lowers down Cường after ensuring every speck of leftover moss is flicked off. almost immediately, Cường nestles himself underneath the main heavyweight blanket with his eyes flitting shut which is a sure sign that Jaewoo must have accurately devised a mobile sleeping quarters for the lethargic prince. with the toothiest grin, Jaewoo leaves his nap to him in peace before securing the sled to his armour.

as they traverse through the grounds, a route that Jaewoo deliberately scoured for its even ground to avoid jilting Cường too much, the night begins to sink in deeper. an expert in creating handheld torches, Jaewoo lights the way for himself and his drowsy reluctant companion through the sweeping grand grounds of eclipsing trees. thankfully, the destination in mind for the birthday isn’t too far off so much of the night isn’t wasted on the journey time itself.

they arrive to a clearing that opens up the dull moonlit night with a large lake in sight. there is already a boat awaiting for them ( a product of Jaewoo’s meticulous birthday planning ). the barely illuminated body of water does not do justice for the usual daytime blue-green depths as the night overcasts its murky shadow. in fact, it would have been totally understandable if Cường was to believe that Jaewoo dragged him out in the midst of the night to kill him in this open valley. ironically, the birthday boy does reflect similar sentiments as he questions Jaewoo as to why they have come here but he does thank Jaewoo for bringing him out in the open air.

“ behold my dear friend, you shall see why I brought you here. ” Jaewoo holds out a hand in plea before sticking the burning torch into the ground near the docked boat. “ I’m going to transfer you to the boat now. I made it extra comfy for you, do not fear. ” admittedly, the wooden boat does look slightly shabby from what the torch’s amber lighting shows up. yet the confines of the boat are layered thick with nothing but fleece plush-lined winter blankets and opulent feather pine-stuffed pillows directly from Jaewoo’s palace.

transferring Cường to the boat takes no more than a second, the birthday prince not weighing more than mere grapes to Jaewoo who is amped up on adrenaline. blowing the touch out, must to Cường’s skepticism, he hops into the boat eagerly before grabbing the oars to paddle them out and away from shore. the atmosphere drastically dips to an eerie cloudless night with not a source of light to be found yet Jaewoo keeps on paddling and paddling and paddling.

“ what do you bring me here for ? ” Cường questions yet again, sounding helplessly bewildered. Jaewoo swats at him.

“ ssshhh, you’ll see in a moment. don’t be too loud now ! ” Jaewoo playfully jibes despite being several pitches higher than Cường. setting the oars now with definitive decisiveness, he stops paddling as he opts to shoulder another blanket around himself. “ any moment now . . . ”

as if just to vehemently rebel against Jaewoo’s words, the pair are left in the sweeping frigid silence in the enveloping darkness. the lake is completely still. the air almost stagnant from its lifelessness. Jaewoo frets about Cường falling asleep again. before he can reach out for Cường’s arm to harshly pinch. it begins to appear.

the fireflies begin to leisurely appear. each warm glow emitting slowly one by one until it begins to reflect against the clear lake depths, stark in its crystal clear glowing luminescence. it starts off with ten good fireflies darting around until a few hundred more show up to entirely brighten up the entire body of water like one of the radiant lantern festivals celebrated in the kingdom. some begin to glimmer near the boats which causes a cascading effects of pale yellow to light up all around them. finally Jaewoo can glimpse the entirety of Cường’s face who looks utterly in awe. he gently holds a finger out, witnessing how a firefly immediately beckons to his fingertip. it warms up the features of his face significantly.

this once, Jaewoo remains serenely silent as he soaks in the magical sight of the fireflies and their endless etched out glittery reflection on the still lake’s surface. glancing back to Cường, he brings out the hidden sack of pastries so he can gingerly stuff one in his mouth.

“ happy birthday, your highness ! ”

* : ✮ ┆ the one in which they are both reliant on coffee and stacks of books .

yeah, birthday, it's your birthday. if I die, bury me inside the Louis store, they ask me what I do and who I do it for and how I come up with this shit up in the studio. all I want for my birthday is a big booty hoe !

it is six in the crisp fresh early morning. the scatter of April’s cherry blossoms softly breeze past the windows. in the far off distance, the blue buses agilely shuttle to their timely scheduled stops. what is there to greet the overambitious joggers is the bountiful stretching of the clear blue skies and its cheery sunshine companion. what a landscape of utmost urban tranquility.

skrr, skrr, wrists movin, cookin', gettin' to it cookin', I'm in the kitchen, yams everywhere !

this lyric accurately reveals where the culprit of the booming bass music is located. what should be another college boy routine of panicked last minute waking up, rolling out of bed, brushing teeth and forgetting to comb before running out of the house is not happening. it’s pulverised along with the vibrating bass that resonates through the tight budgeted walls.

ah, Yeezy, Yeezy, how you do it, huh ? it's my birthday, I deserve to be greedy, huh ?

whether the actual birthday boy is begging for the chance to be greedy or the chaotic sound source in the kitchen is debatable. the April birthday boy is was soundly fast asleep in his bedroom underneath the newly gifted weighted blanket and he must be too groggy with early morning drowsiness. he groans as the bass violently shakes his bed before waiting a few moments to see if the music will miraculously switch off. perhaps this spring day will bless him with a power shut off to banish the ruckus.

I show up with a check to your work place then hand the valet the keys to the merces. tell the DJ play your song, this shit come on. what I'm seeing from the back I can't front on. they ask me what I do and who I do it for !

as fast as Cường’s lethargic feet will transport him to the kitchen despite it being a mere few steps in their apartment, it feels like eternity to him. as he languidly inches towards the kitchen, the deafening birthday song begins to ring his ears. it elicits a slight grimace out of him. his only plan is to lower the music volume to five before noiselessly dragging himself back to bed to flop down to prolong his sixteen hour nap.

however, his plans are rapidly crushed to itty bitty microscopic bits the moment he stumbles across the sight of Jaewoo haphazardly dancing along with ardent strong passionate strokes in the midst of the glammed up kitchen. stray confetti and metallic balloons litter the countertops and corners. a stack of presents line up on the island as a standout centrepiece on the counter set up for two. the warm scent of fresh souffle pancakes fill up the air and berry compote compete to overwhelm senses along with the brewing green tea. when Cường is set to open his presents after breakfast, he will come to find out that Jaewoo has purchased a drawstring hoodie pillow, an interesting choice of a pillow, another ostrich pillow for classes, an aromatherapy eye pillow, microwaveable slippers, a book light for philosophical bedtime reading, a golden ratio notebook, a poster, and a self-heating coffee mug.

“ finally, I was beginning to wonder how long it would take to bait you out of bed ! ” Jaewoo chirpily waves at the dopy figure in the middle of his twirling hands up motion, who is seemingly flabbergasted. it’s an overload of various stimuli to all take in at once at six in the morning. but to his credit, Jaewoo begins to lower the volume to a decent level that won’t burst eardrums.

“ who are those presents for ? they better be for you. I told you, you didn’t have to do anything for me. silly boy. ” Cường finally remembers how to vocalise after awakening slightly.

wiggling his finger at him, Jaewoo jubilantly shakes his head with a smug smile before grabbing hold of the other’s shoulders to steer him to sit down on the island stool. “ so you are allowed to do whatever you want for my birthday but I can’t do the same ? if you do not accept these presents then I will have no choice but to start playing Tinashe at full volume. you know how her songs get me going. ”

it appears to be that Cường receives the message so he expectantly grabs his chopsticks. with a triumphant grin, Jaewoo pours out a cup of green tea to him before pouring out a bowl of seaweed soup for him. “ eat up birthday boy, live a very long healthy prosperous life. who else will I take to astronomy club ! I need you alive ! ” with his eyes sparkling mischievously, he then whispers out one final. “ happy birthday Cường. ”

#ok so at least it is still April where you are so #hAPPY BIRTHDAY MONTH CUONG #this is super late but it's here .#this may be slightly chaotic #proceed at your own cost #there's like so many reoccurring themes no matter which au they are in JSOIFJSKPFFK #just don't judge<3 #phantombs #* : ✮ ┆ℎ𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑜 𝑖𝑠 𝑓𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑟 𝑤𝑖𝑡ℎ 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑠𝑖𝑙𝑒𝑛𝑐𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑒𝑎𝑑 (𝐶𝑢𝑜𝑛𝑔).

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mirkwoodshewolf · 4 years

Text

Guardian of Creatures; AU! Queen x oc female x reader Chap. 12

*Author’s note*

Well this took some time and planning about what chapter I wanted to do next but I finally took a route and went with it. So NEW CAST MEMBER IS ADDED TO THIS LIST!!! It took me forever to figure out two of my top choices until I decided on how to use them both in a way. So for those that might not know his face, you MIGHT have heard his voice over work so the chosen one to play the Devil, Lucifer Morningstar himself, I’ve chosen Troy Baker. I hope you all enjoy this chapter and until the next update :)

Taglist:

@plethora-of-things

@waddles03

@psychosupernatural

@ixchel-9275

@simonedk

@queensdivas

@queen-paladin

@jd-johndeacon-or-jackdaniels

@kinole009x

@queendeakyy

@geek-and-proud

@glitter-at-the-panic

@wormzteef

__________________________________________________________

Chapter 12,

The search for Archimedes

*Serafina’s POV*

It took who knows how long but I finally arrived at the edge of the desert over a gorge where the Nile river ran it’s course. I got off my mare and stroked her nose.

“Time for you to return to the village. Thank you for your services Nefertiri.” She nickered lovingly and nipped at the ends of my hair. I stroked her powerful neck before she took off racing back to the village where we bought her and her mate. “Chile ehh? It’s been awhile since I’ve been in a Spanish speaking country but I hope I remember enough.”

I took a deep breath and focused my energy to shapeshift into a falcon so that I could take the long flight there. Soon I felt myself shrinking, feathers began to slowly peek out from my skin till finally I was flying through the air.

‘Alright! Now to fly all the way to Chile.’ I then took off over the Nile which would soon lead me to the Mediterranean Sea and from there I would be over the Atlantic ocean once more.

It took practically an entire day plus a few extra hours but finally I saw the mixture of both jungle rainforest and urban towns of Chile. I swooped down and managed to find a descent alleyway to hide away in to transform back into human form. I let out a tired groan as I collapsed against some old boxes and bins.

“Guess I need to use any bird shapeshifting longer than a few hours. Man I hadn’t been this exhausted since the first time Freddie took over John and mine’s training.” I muttered to myself. I heard the crash of a bin nearby and jumped but I relaxed once I saw it was just a street cat.

It looked pretty well-fed for a street cat and it didn’t seem to be as intimidated by me as most street cats can be.

“Hey boy, you friendly?” I made a small sardine appear on the ground and that’s when the tomcat slowly got closer and closer to it. He cautiously looked up at me. “Don’t worry this is not a trick. You can eat it.” He sniffed the sardine and immediately began chowing down on it. “Good boy, good boy.”

After eating his fill, he walked closer to me. I extended my hand and he gave me a sniff before rubbing his head against my hand and let out a soft purr. His caution now completely disappeared as he was now wanting pets, rubbing up against me and marking my knee with his scent glands.

My eyes shifted red as I now tried to reach inside the cat’s mind so that he and I could communicate.

‘Can you hear me?’ I asked.

‘Whoa what…..oh it’s you. The lady who gave me the Sardine. How is this happening?’

‘Long story short, I’m not really human. Well all human, I’m a witch.’

‘Ahh la bruja.’

‘Sí. You know I’m surprised you can speak good English.’

‘My humans were originally from Phoenix, Arizona. They shipped me here over a year ago when they got tired of me.’

‘I’m so sorry to hear that.’ He stretched himself out and said.

‘It happens. You scratch the curtains one too many times and next thing you know, you get the boot.’

‘Well it’s not right for them to have done that to you.’

‘Well some humans are like that señorita. Now what can I help you with? By giving me my first real meal in a while I’m honored to be any help I can for you.’

‘I don’t know if you can help me señor gato.’

‘Puss. My name is Puss.’ He told me.

‘Okay Puss.’

‘And maybe I might be able to help. I’ve been practically everywhere from the city to the rainforest, just tell me what or who you’re looking for and I might be able to help you.’

‘I’m seeking the former 3rd apprentice of Merlin. Archimedes the Wise.’ At this, Puss stopped his rubbing and stood still. He walked a couple feet away from me and he said.

‘Ahh now that. That is a dangerous path. Are you sure you wish to open that door señorita?’

‘Please Puss. I need to find him. I—’ I trailed off trying to think of what to say. I couldn’t blow my cover story, what if Puss knew Archimedes personally? It’d scare him and he’d go running off somewhere else. ‘He has secrets about my family bloodline. I deserve to know the truth.’

His tail curled around him and his ear twitched. He stood up and walked back towards me before hopping up on my lap.

‘I’ve heard uhh—what is it called uhh—rumors? Yes rumors from the local parakeets that fly by here. About a strange man who lives deep within the forests. A man who has the power to cure any sickness that any animal has, heal any injury. But—human must beware.’

‘Why’s that?’

‘There have been stories of people venturing too deep within those woods. Once they go in, they’re never found the same way they came in. Speaking about visions of their past, others speaking of their sins, or even seeing their worst fears. The people in the village call it-- el bosque de la locura.’ The forest of Madness huh.

‘Do you know where it is?’

‘I’ll take you as far as I can. But after that you’re on your own.’

‘All I want is the forest and you can be on your way.’ I stood up and quickly changed my Arabic attire to fit the Chilean culture. Puss lead me out of the alleyway and he hopped up onto my shoulder and told me just where to go.

After getting out of the village and hiking up a few steep hills, I felt that the air was starting to go thick, and the jungle was slowly going silent.

‘We’re getting close Serafina.’ Puss told me. We walked along the wide earthy path, both my feet and his paws crinkling under the dried up grass patches we’d walk along till finally he stopped. ‘Lo siento, but this is as far as I’ll go.’

‘Understandable. Thank you Puss.’ He bowed before taking off.

‘Serafina wait!’ he said after running a few feet away. I turned to face him and he gave me one final warning. ‘There’s said to be a path that the humans take. Stay on that path if you wish to remain sane. For once you leave it, you’ll never find it again.’

“Okay, thanks for the warning Puss.” He let out a meow before racing back to the village. I turned back towards the trail and took a deep breath before exhaling softly and continued on.

Before I knew it, I had arrived at the Forest of Madness. Hundreds of trees stood together. The wood itself rotted and decayed; the leaves dry without any moisture. But what struck me was the very magic seeping from this very forest. It felt—sick. As if a disease were upon it.

Just ahead of me I saw the opening of the forest and there I saw the path of stone and brick. The bricks were old and chipped away, and the stones almost buried underneath the dead leaves.

“Alright Serafina come on, you can do this. The fate of the world depends on finding him. You can’t turn back now.” I proceeded onward and entered the Forest of Madness.

Deeper and deeper into the woods I walked, soon enough any trace of the sun vanished from the winding branches above. I kept my eyes downward on the path and carefully felt around the ground once a corner turn would appear. Using my tracking abilities thanks to Brian, I was able to determine just where I had to go.

Of course it wasn’t easy. For soon the magic in this forest was really starting to seep its way into my head. First my vision started to go blurry. Not in the blindness sense, but like—well you know how when you first wake up after a long nap and your vision gets that hazy overview, that’s what I was seeing right now.

Then I started hearing whispers on the wind, even though there wasn’t any wind at all. No sunlight, no fresh air, not even the sound of birds or other animals.

Just trees. Trees and trees and more trees! Merlin’s beard is there no end to this damned forest! SNAP OUT OF IT SERAFINA!!

This forest is playing with your mind. Just—focus on the…..path? Where is it? Where’d it go? The path it just—disappeared from underneath my feet. No, no, no that’s not possible I did not leave the path once. I was-I was—I was standing right on the path! Did I move? I could’ve maybe—I don’t know! I need to find it, need to find it need to find the path again.

Trailing on ahead, the forest seemed to get even thicker and thicker as the trees seemed to come closer together. As I walked on I heard a deep, thunderous voice say.

“He was never good from the start!” No it—it couldn’t be. I raced over the high roots till I came what looked like a river. But it was probably the nastiest looking river I had ever seen. It was so black it practically looked like tar than water. Dustings of dead leaves floated on top, looking like a river itself. But a figure stood there.

A male figure with long black hair and wearing familiar robes that I knew very well.

“Father?”

“He’s a Deacon. He could get us all killed! Could get you killed!” but when he turned around I saw the most horrifying sight. His eyes were whitened over like death, dried up blood coated his lips, scars from a knife aligned each of his cheeks, and seeping from his robes was blood. I let out a scream and tried to push him away with my telekinesis but nothing came out.

I tried again but nothing. My hands weren’t even glowing red like they normally do. No it-it can’t be…..I’ve—I’ve lost my powers. In a blur, my dad went right from the lake and tackled me right down to the ground. His hands gripping my throat trying to strangle me.

“He was dangerous! His family DID THIS TO US!! And you left us to die!”

“I’m sorry……I didn’t—mean to leave!”

“Our whole family is gone! CAN YOU NOT SEE!?” suddenly I saw the vision of each of my family members dying. Instead of just seeing the flashes like in my recent dream, I saw it full on.

I heard the high pitched, psychotic laughter of Bellatrix as she fired shot after shot of the Cruciatus curse at my aunt Molly and uncle Arthur until finally she called the Avada Kedavra curse to finally end their suffering. Ronan stood over my cousin George who was already holding a dead Fred in his arms.

‘You could’ve saved us.’ My father’s voice echoed in my head. ‘But you abandoned us, like a frightened child.’ My cousins Ginny, Belle and Charlie were slaughtered by John’s uncle Lucius, Ronan’s cousin by actually setting them on fire (like the witches of the Salem witch trials).

“GET OUT OF MY HEAD!!!” I screamed out as I held my arms out and soon all went quiet once more except for my harsh panting.

‘And soon they will follow suit.’ My father’s voice echoed hauntingly in the wind. When I opened my eyes, every one of my family was gone.

I looked around frantically but no one was there. The forest was once again dead silent. I shook my head and slapped myself a few times.

“It wasn’t real. It’s not real. It’s not real.”

‘Oh Serafina, this is just beginning.’ Another voice came out from the forest. I then heard a low growl coming from the trees and soon coming out were Thor and Seraffel.

However they didn’t look like them. Their skin was cold and pale, their eyes pure white and they had spears sticking out of their chests. Their dragon fangs and claws extended out as well as their wings (almost as if they were stuck in mid transformation).

Coming out from another part of the forest was Brian and Roger. Roger in his full Nokken form, an open, gaping wound bleeding from his abdomen, his hair now the famed sickly seaweed green instead of his luscious golden locks, and his hands dripping blood. While Brian looked deathly pale. In his Elvish armor, he held his sword out that was stained with blood, and his eyes pure soulless almost as if he were a zombie.

“I told you before of your visions.” Soon slithering out and walking beside him were Freddie and (Y/n). (Y/n), like Brian, their skin looked decaying and cracking away, and dirt and ash covered their chapped skin. Freddie had various scars across him.

One on his forehead that actually made blood seep down on either side of his nose, trailing down his eyes almost like he was crying out blood. A long gash across his stomach and a puncture wound just an inch above where the gash was.

“Freddie?” I asked bewildered.

“Everything you see before you, is all too real.” They all soon surrounded me, cutting off any chance of escape. “You will always be that frightened little witch that chose true love over her own family. And because of that, we have fallen as well.”

“No! I-I-I-I didn’t abandon you guys! Balthazar said I wasn’t abandoning you!”

“Well he lied. Just as all the Deacons do. Kill her.” He hissed. Soon to make the first strike was (Y/n). They used a spell on my but I quickly dodged out of the way. But soon piling on top of me with sharp teeth and claws were my own sons and Roger.

With my son’s dagger like teeth mixed with Roger’s serrated ones biting into my skin, it made me cry out in pure agony. It felt like they were pealing off my skin slowly with each bite and their claws, dug deep into my flesh like a knife to a roast. I tried to fight them off of me, trying to shapeshift into a lioness or a bear but not even my shapeshifting magic was working.

All I could do was scream and try to just push them off of me but it did me no good. Soon I felt a tackle behind me and I went forward down a steep, rocky drop. It felt like eternity that I was rolling over jagged rocks or hard solid earth until I landed hard on my back. I groaned as I tried to sit myself up.

“Yes! We’ve got her!” Freddie hissed from above as they all came sliding down the hill towards me. Brian took the first leap with his sword held high, ready to strike me down. As quick as I could I got up and ran just as he came down and struck his sword downward. Roger, Seraffel and Thor taking the chase. “You can’t hide from us! Where you go, we go!”

I felt Thor tackle me from behind, taking me straight down into the dirt. I quickly turned and grabbed the spear and pushed it deeper into him which made him scream and recoil inward in pain. I hated to see my baby boy hurt like that but I had no choice but to keep running.

But soon I was trapped by a closed off gorge. Nothing but rocks and boulders blocked my only way out. I turned to see everyone of my family getting closer, Roger and Seraffel’s roars, Freddie’s hissing sent chills up my spine.

Without any other choice, I proceeded to climb up. I climbed and climbed and climbed, I would even send a trail of rocks down towards them to try and deter them away. It only worked for a second till they would just wait at the bottom, almost as if they were wanting me to fall.

Exhausted, dizzy, and dehydrated I still tried my best to climb up the gorge. It seemed like every second I would find myself slipping, almost about to fall god knows how many feet to the dangerous animals down below. After an eternity, I was now dangling from the last few inches of finally being free, but a figure stood in my way between freedom and death.

The figure removed their black hood and I saw John standing above me. His face expressionless as he stared down at me.

“John!” I pleaded. I felt myself slipping from the edge. “My love, help me!” my feet kicking the side trying to stay up, rocks slipping down from underneath me. John continued to look down at me expressionlessly, almost like he didn’t even care whether or not I died.

From his robes he took out his grandfather’s wand and said the two most dangerous, horrifying word I’d never thought I’d hear him say to me.

“Avada Kedavra.” The wand flashed green and I felt the spell hit me. I felt every muscle and vein in my body slowly shut down as John crouched down in front of me and whispered, “The last of the Black family finally extinguished.”

My grip soon faltered and I felt myself falling to my death. I was frozen, the last thing I saw was my beloved John Deacon with the very wand he never wanted to inherit, and his eyes turning the same color as his grandfather’s. One brown while the other a ghostly white.

*3rd Person POV*

Down below a flash of a figure came running across the forest. It leaped up the gorge before grabbed Serafina before she could impact hard onto one of the many rocks which would soon cause an avalanche of boulders, surely killing her that way.

He leaped from rock to rock till he reached the top of the gorge, looking down at the young witch who was now paralyzed by the magic of the forest. He set her down and placed two fingers on her neck, checking to see if she still had a pulse. She did but it was faint.

He soon picked her up before racing off deeper into the forest. His body only a flashing blur with how fast he was moving.

*Serafina’s POV*

Darkness. That’s all I remember. Being in nothing but pure darkness. It was also cold, and I felt scared……scratch that terrified. But then out of nowhere I felt this—warmth. Surrounding me and a voice that I—I couldn’t recognize or put my money on but it felt—familiar to me.

I don’t know how long it took but finally I was able to open my eyes and the first thing I saw was some light from candles surrounding me. As my eyes tried to focus, I saw some flowers being placed beside me and a voice said.

“Well, look whose coming back to sanity.” It was true. I felt more aware of my surroundings. The magic that once had been weighing me down had finally been lifted off of me. I was no longer drowning in darkness or fear. And that voice—I looked to the foot of my bed and the figure was lit by the candle’s glow.

A devilishly handsome man with short, combed over sandy blonde hair. His piercing light blue eyes stared right at me as he did a cross between a light smirk and a genuine smile. A light beard crowned across his face, making his appearance seem even more handsomer than if he were clean shaven. He wore a fine suit with the jacket fully open and a couple of buttons from his white shirt unbuttoned, exposing a part of his chest.

And he was lounging, I mean really lounging on his seat with one foot crossed over his leg. His right hand decorated with a couple of rings similar to John’s and over his left hand was the Ouroboros tattoo (the snake eating its own tail).

I adjusted myself as I felt myself lying on probably the softest bed I had ever been on in my entire life. The smell of azaleas lingered in the air as well as the smell of a light lavender incense.

“Lucifer.”

“In the flesh and at your service my lady.” He said with a bow of his head, his hand going over his heart. I looked around and asked him.

“How long—how long was I in that forest?” at that his face grew solemn as he leaned down to take my hand and he said gravely.

“3 years.” Hearing that made my heart stop. My eyes grew wide in fear as I whispered in shock.

“What?” his solemn face stuck there for awhile till he grinned and chuckled, his shoulders shaking with his laughter. At that I rolled my eyes and took my hand back.

“Fuck you.”

“Oh so now you finally cave in on my offer. I must say Serafina you sure do keep a Devil waiting. It’s been on the table for what? 600 years?”

“700 actually. Belfast 1226.”

“Ahh yes. Back when I had black hair and had a different face.”

“At least back then you were a Brit. Now what you’ve gone American now?”

“Most of my clients have been America, plus have you been to Los Angeles? The Devil’s City I love it!” always the prideful one. Along with greedy and lustful. No wonder where Roger gets some of his sins from, he and Lucifer are practically cut from the same cloth (literally. Lucifer is like 50% responsible for the creation of Nokkens. Poseidon’s blood and Lucifer’s sins, that’s what created the sirens, nokks, kelpies, and merfolk).

My thoughts went back to the Forest of Madness. The magic that was surrounding it, Freddie said my magic was even more powerful that John’s yet it easily corrupted me.

“That magic……over the woods.” Lucifer’s teasing face turned back to solemn as he leaned back in his chair, but his eyes were focused right on me. “What was that? I’ve…..I was—sickening yet……heartbreaking.”

“If you didn’t have the support system you have today, yours and his magic would be cut from the same cloth.”

“Archimedes?” he nodded softly. I sighed heavily and continued, “Well……if you hadn’t shown up my mind would be just as twisted as my mother-in-law’s so……thank you.”

“Sorry what was that? I-I didn’t quite catch that last bit.” Lucifer teased as he leaned in closer putting his hand to the side of his ear. I shook my head and rolled my eyes but took his hand that had the Ouroboros tattoo and said as I looked him dead in the eye.

“Thank you. Lucifer Morningstar.” He smiled genuinely.

“You’re welcome.” He then cleared his throat as he once again lounged in his chair saying, “Besides; now this just means you owe me a favor.”

“You saved my life just so I could owe you a favor?”

“Well that and along with seeing that beautiful face of yours without that persistent husband and overprotective dragon sons of yours lingering over me.” His face then went sympathetic as he continued, “Oh sorry I……”

“Actually, we found them. My sons.”

“Really?”

“Yeah. They were alive all this time. Sealed within that bloody urn John’s family tricked me to use.” I snarled the last part lowly as I sat myself up.

“You don’t say. So those boys of yours managed to stay sealed away at the hands of your in-laws?”

“That’s in the past now. All I care about is the fact that they’re alive and they’re back with John and I.”

“So why aren’t you with them now? In fact just what in the hell have you gotten yourselves into? Last I heard was that a wyvern came to attack you guys.”

“Well that part is true. But that’s when the boys came in and killed the wyvern along with Freddie.” At the mention of Freddie’s name I saw the corner of Lucifer’s lips curve into a smirk.

“That old son of a bitch always does like to show off his fighting skills, especially when it comes to the dragon species.”

“Stop it! I know what kind of fetish you’re thinking about so knock it off! He hasn’t once thought about you since the last time we met.” I warned him.

“Aww I’m hurt. Cause he’s all I think about.” He teased.

“Please Lucifer, you still believe that I’ll join in a threesome with you and Maz. And Maz wouldn’t touch you to stab you.” As I tried to stand up, Lucifer reached out to help me but I held my hand out telling him I didn’t need help. After getting my bearings together, I slowly stood up.

Slightly wobbling but soon I found my footing. I took a couple steps forward.

“In all seriousness Lucifer, how long was I in those woods? Clearly it hasn’t been a day if my legs are this wobbly.”

“2 weeks. And you were out for almost another whole week. Took almost every spell I knew to even get your mind back to sanity.” So it’s been 3 weeks since I last seen the others. “Now you didn’t answer my question; why are you here? I’ve never seen you this far from John’s side for as long as I’ve known you. And the only reason for that is if—”

“Yes Lucifer. It’s time.” I told him. His eyes narrowed.

“So, the human savior Fred spoke of has finally came into the picture.”

“Yes. And I also know the truth. The real truth about the fall of the 3 apprentices. Balthazar came to me in his true form and told me about Archimedes. I can only assume that since you’re here, you know where he is.”

“I might.” He shrugged nonchalantly.

“Don’t screw with me Lucifer!” he just looked at me. “I know about the Guardian of Creatures. About Wanda Arya Black.” His eyes widened for a brief second. “You knew her too?”

“Not personally but Roger is very descriptive. When I first met you, I had to do a double take because you were exactly how he described Wanda to be. But I guess reincarnation can exist among the wizarding community.”

“Lucifer I need to find him. A Guardian of Creatures must ascend. I need to train under him.” He sighed deeply.

“He already knows you’re here. Now whether or not he knows what your purpose for being here is, I don’t know.”

“Can you take me to him?” he stood up from his chair. He spoke not a word but walked out of the room. Without question I followed in his footsteps till we came out of house.

I noticed that is was at the peak hour of dawn where night was just about over but the sun had not yet risen. We walked through the forest trail, I noticed that this part of the forest wasn’t coated with that spell that surrounded the rest of the forest, probably making this section the ‘Eye of the Forest of Madness’. Like the eye of the storm where everything is calm and quiet before the second wave hits.

“Follow the trail North to where the Phoenix rises in the sky. There, you will find the Sorcerer you seek.” Lucifer told me as he pointed outward.

“But what if I get lost again? Lose the path and be driven mad again?” he turned towards me and walked up to me. His hand came to the back of my head and in a flash his lips crashed onto mine. My eyes widened and I pushed him off of me. “What the fuck Lucifer!?”

“You’ve now been given a protection spell from the Devil himself. No spell, not even by the great Sorcerer Supreme, can even touch you so long as you bare my seal.”

“You couldn’t have at least given me a pendant? Or spoke it verbally?”

“You and I could’ve had sex but I knew you’d say no to that.” I went to say something but he was right. Damn him! “And come on don’t tell me you at least didn’t enjoy it a little bit.”

“Shut up!” I snapped at him turning my head away, and I hate to admit this but I did feel a blush coming across my cheeks.

“Yeah I see that blush Sera.” Lucifer teased with that smug cheeky grin on his face.

“I said shut up!” I snapped at him louder before taking off to where he told me to go. The last thing I heard was his laughter ringing out. Merlin’s beard he could be a real dick at times.

As I walked along the trail I soon came to the entrance of a cave. Cautiously I entered in the cave and the first thing I was hit was an aura of ultimate power.

Another advantage of my telepathic powers is that I can sense the spiritual aura of another being. The powerful the creature/being, the powerful the aura. At times it’s overwhelming (like when I first got to see Freddie’s aura, and of course Lucifer’s) but overtime I’ve come to control of how it affects me.

This however—this was a magical aura I had never felt before. As I walked further into the cave, I noticed that there seemed to be drawings of some sorts. I wonder if I can now…..I focused on trying to summon a light with my red aura. But nothing came out.

“Worth a shot. Guess this whole place, even in the eye of this very forest is magic-proof.” Soon enough I saw a light at the end of the tunnel. The sunrise was finally coming.

I raced towards it and soon I came to an extended ledge that stood over the rest of the forest. For the first time in weeks I got to finally feel the rays of the sun hit my face and it felt like a wave of relief. I inhaled the clean air as deeply as I could as I extended my arms out, letting the sun’s rays embrace me.

Soon my ears heard the sound of a bird. It was unlike any muggle bird I’ve heard and it defiantly wasn’t a griffin or hippogriff. It was like heard a song, but it sounded heartbreaking. As the sun rose higher and higher into the sky, a figure soon emerged out of the sun itself.

It continued to let out a few more of it’s broken-hearted song-like cries as it came flying towards me, leaving a trail of fire in it’s wake. No way it—it was a phoenix.

It now hovered above me and that power I felt just before I entered the cave, it was now stronger. And it was coming from this phoenix. But wait, I knew phoenix’s carried such great power but this—this wasn’t any ordinary phoenix.

It’s eyes stared directly at me and it may have been the after affect of falling under the forest’s spell, but I could swear I was hearing voices singing a song. A choir of voices. It was very faint and I couldn’t quite make out the words but I could hear their song.

The phoenix swooped down and landed before me. Another thing that made this phoenix—well different was that it actually came up to the height of my waist. Phoenixes are actually fairly normal sized birds, no different than the size of a falcon.

The phoenix continued to stare at me and it even took a step closer to me. I backed my right foot away not surer what to do. Without any weapons on hand or my powers, I was defenseless against a bird that can easily set itself on fire. And speaking of which, the phoenix soon burst into flames, the fire shooting upward like a volcano.

I shielded myself as best as I could. The wind and fire mixed together created such power but it was when all went quiet once more that I now stood in shocked awe.

In the place of the phoenix was the silhouette of a man in a familiar yellow wizard robe. At his hip was a sword of Elvish made, only one blade would catch the light of the sun and make it shine like a star. His hood was up over his face but just based off this power he was giving out; I had a hunch of just who this was.

His hands reached for his hood and he revealed his face. The very face that has not aged since he was last seen alive by any Wizard. Those brown eyes looked at me in disbelief, his lips slightly parted as he gawked at me.

“Archimedes.” I spoke his name.

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chloelatt · 4 years

Text

Burst out

Nachi x reader

Again… he’s here again… Actually these days he’s here more often than not. At least that’s how it seems to Nachi when he sees Koga and (y/n) laughing about something apparently very funny. She always looks happier when Koga’s around. Of course he wants the best for her but at the same time he can’t help but wonder what does Koga have, that he doesn’t? Sure, he’s funny, handsome, strong, and responsible and oh… he gets it now.

“Hey Whiskers! What are you standing there for? Lurking for a mouse?” Nachi knows he means no malice and it’s just a fun but with his mood quickly worsening this was the last straw.

“I keep telling you my name is Nachi and I’m not a cat I’m nekomata are you so dumb that you don’t even know a difference?! Do you think you’re so much better than me?” of course he realizes he’s being irrational but he can’t stop the stream of emotions now. As he continues yelling he can feel his eyes filling with tears. “Ugh I have enough of this, of everything, I’m out” he last yells before bursting out of the house.

Koga and (y/n) were left sitting in silence. “Did I go too far this time?” Koga asks, still in shock of Nachi’s reaction to his usual teasing. “I don’t think so, but he seemed to be in a bad mood since you came did the two of you fight?” (Y/n) asks, afraid there might be bad blood between her boyfriend and her best friend. “I don’t know about anything,” Koga starts speaking again “no wait, he started to act colder around me some time ago although I assumed it was just because I gave his last sardine to a stray cat…. but then I bought him fresh one as an apology and I thought we were all good again. Maybe he’s still angry at me because of that”.

For some reason (y/n) doubts it but its only explainable solution, so she goes looking for him with this in her mind.

Meanwhile Nachi sits in Hibiya Park, talking to himself, tears rolling down on his cheek. “Why did I have to lash out like that? What does (y/n) thinks of me now? Just when I wanted to become more mature. Well it didn’t matter anyway. She loves Koga and I’m just her cat. I wouldn’t even protect her as with a single drop of water I turn into a cat, but I know for sure he will protect her.” he tried convince himself that this is for the best but it still hurts him so much.

Suddenly he hears her voice, a lovely sound, yet he still wishes to not hear it at this very moment.

“Nachi! I’m so glad I found you, are you okay?” When he hears a concern in her voice, he couldn’t feel guiltier.

“Yeah I’m fine don’t know what happened to me today haha” that’s right. ‘Make it better; it’s all your fault that she’s so stressed’ “Nonsense, its Koga’s fault right?” Wait what? She knows? No way. What now, should he say something? “I promise he will never take your sardine again, alright?” Oh so that’s it… just how oblivious can she be? Well it’s probably better than knowing the real reason of why he burst out today. He probably should start playing his role.

“Yeah it was my beautiful, fresh sardine that I was looking forward eating! How could just take it like that and give it some other cat, and then just buy me some stale one? He better buy me another ones!”

“Haha I will definitely scold Koga don’t worry. Now we should go home.”

No questions asked. Does she really believe it? She can be truly oblivious sometimes.

Nachi knows for sure one thing

Next days are going to be hell for him.

#ayakashi #ayakashi rr #romance reborn #nachi #koga kitamikado #ayakashi romance reborn #x reader #ayakashi x reader

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kimvvantae · 5 years

Text

till the end of the line • myg

➜ the world has ended and everything you have ever loved died with it. now, you have nothing but a gunshot, an old van, and most importantly - him.

pairing: yoongi x (n) reader

genre: angst, angst, angst, angst • zombie apocalypse au

warnings: lowkey horror, violence, language, disgusting zombies

word count: 11k

A/N: this took me an awful lot to finish so i hope you guys like it! don’t hesitate to send your opinions about it!

➜ check out masterlist in bio for more of my works!

It's been exactly fifteen days since you arrived here.

The mansion many kilometers away from the city was the only refuge you could find. The gigantic property was abandoned, so no alarms echoed when you managed to jump over the wall and get into the house.

If you were in different conditions, you would have enjoyed the place more. Comfortable king-sized beds to sleep in - way better than sleeping at the back seat of that broken car -, beautifully decorated rooms, luxury and technology everywhere. Not that it was of any help, since the house had no electricity and the generator has been stolen, but somehow, the water system still worked here. You took your first decent bath in more days than you could count. There were also some clothes remaining in the closets - clothes that, when the world was still what it used to be, you would have no money to buy because they were just too expensive. But today, money doesn't matter. These were simply clothes.

The best part was when you found food in the kitchen. You almost couldn't believe your eyes; the cabinets were full of canned food and snacks within the expiration date. Honestly, you didn't even remember how it feels to have your stomach full since fifteen days ago. For the first time in many days you could sleep, eat and feel like a human being again.

But your luck has ended.

You stare at the last sardine can near your foot - the last edible thing in the house which you ate five days ago. It has been three days since all the faucets of the house stopped working. Your throat is so dry that it hurts, your stomach aches. Your blood pressure is so low that you can barely walk.

And, after two weeks of silence, you hear the first grunt.

They finally found you.

The instinctive part of your brain is yelling at you, telling you to get up and run away, to grab that baseball bat and defend yourself. But you're way too tired, way too weak - not only physically, but mentally and spiritually as well. Is it even worth it to keep trying to live in this world? Living in fear of death every day, every hour, every second? Friends, family… they're all gone. Everything that once mattered in your life is nothing but a distant memory now. All you've been doing since the world ended is follow your survival instincts - and you are about to ignore them.

Because you have no reason to keep living.

The slow steps of that thing echoes through the living room, as well as its low grunts. The smell of rotted flesh invades your nostrils. You don't move one centimeter from the place you're sitting on the floor.

Despite everything, you're still grateful. You had a happy life. You used to be just an ordinary person, you didn't do anything considerably great, but you have no reason to complain. You had family and friends. You had moments of sadness and happiness. You regret the fact that you didn't travel as much as you wanted and didn't say “I love you” to the people you loved enough times, but still - at least you shared good moments with them.

Tears start streaming down your cheeks. You try not to sob.

The creature is closer now.

You think of your friends and family. It's hard to do so, because you notice that you can't remember their faces well anymore, and it makes more and more tears fall. You still don't know what happened to some of them. Others, you saw dying with your own eyes.

You loved them so much…

When you sob loudly for the first time, the thing finally notices you.

And walks in your direction.

The first cold shiver of fear finally hits you. You stare at that creature that once was a human man, but now is nothing but a walking corpse. Who was he when alive? Maybe he felt as scared as you are before dying? Maybe he died to protect someone? Maybe he was as lonely as you are?

It doesn't matter. That thing is not a person anymore.

And it is about to kill you.

You don't know how, but it already felt you. It grunts louder and grits its teeth in a disgusting way, producing a noise that makes you flinch. Yes, you are scared, yet you don't move. You do nothing.

One step closer. Two steps closer.

You close your eyes tightly.

If there is a God, you just hope he will have mercy of your soul…

A shooting sound, so loud it makes you scream and open your eyes immediately.

The zombie before you now has a hole right in the center of its forehead. You retract your legs closer to your body, disgusted at the sight of blood and pieces of its brain right on your legs.

The thing grunts one last time and falls with a loud thud. It doesn't move anymore.

You stare at it wide eyed, trembling, completely shocked. And when you finally look up, you feel even more shocked.

Standing at the entrance of the living room is a man.

Being honest, you don't know what makes you more astonished - the fact that someone miraculously saved you or the fact that there is a living person in the same place as you. The unknown man stands there and checks the gunshot on his hands. He lifts his gaze and looks around the giant living room.

Then, your eyes meet.

You shiver.

The man's eyes are astute and smart like a cat's; you can see he's analyzing you in those brief moments. He also seems surprised to find another living person. His skin is pale and his figure is thin, cheeks hollow and he has deep purple marks around his eyes - finding food is not an easy task for anyone; you have lost weight at an unhealthy pace these past months, and you suppose that's also his problem. He wears a black cap that almost makes it difficult to see his cat-like eyes, an oversized green coat, black jeans and combat boots. There's a knife attached to his thigh and another gun rests in a holster on his hip.

He approaches slowly.

All the fear you felt with the zombie comes back in an instant. He's fully armed and you have nothing to protect himself. That thing was unconscious and would just kill you instinctively, while this man might do worse things to you just out of pure cruelty. People are not the same after everything that happened; death is casual now, something people do without any type of moral standards. The world forgot what morality is after they saw themselves having to fight over water.

For a moment, you wish the zombie had had time to kill you.

The man stops right in front of your frightened form and looks down at you with those cold eyes.

“Is there any food in this house?” He asks, his voice echoes and you shiver. His voice is deep and husky. It's the first human voice saying something coherent you hear in more days than you can count.

Instead of answering, you just keep staring at him, too scared to move a muscle.

The unknown man keeps staring down at you, and then you immediately notice he doesn't have much patience. “Are you deaf?” He says louder. “I asked if there is any food here.”

“N-No,” you stutter, scared of his voice. He doesn't seem particularly angry, just impatient. You can't also forget the gunshot he holds. “T-There is n-no food.”

He tsks, obviously frustrated, and looks around. “Is there any water, then? Medicine, clothes?”

This time, you have no courage to speak. When he notices you won't say anything, the man rolls his eyes and turns around, leaving you by yourself on the floor. You hear the noises of him opening cabinets at the kitchen and mumbling to himself.

You can't even breathe at this point.

The man didn't hurt you, what seems like a good sign. In fact, he's ignoring your existence. Maybe he'll just leave without making any harm…?

He'll just… leave you alone again?

This thought makes you even more scared.

Now, your survival instincts scream louder than ever. Maybe this man is the chance you need to live a little longer. He has guns, he can protect you. Also, you doubt he came all the way walking; he probably has a car.

You don't really want to die anymore.

What would your family and friends think of you if they knew you gave up so easily? They died because they didn't have a chance, but this man can be your chance. It doesn't matter how scary he makes you feel at the moment. If he at least gives you a chance to take you out of here…

You hear steps and get scared when the man appears on the living room again. He doesn't look down at you not even once; he just walks straight to the entrance of the house. You panic, realizing he's about to leave, and use all of your strength to get up despite the weakness.

“Wait!” You call, voice shaking. The man stops on his tracks and turns around. His piercing gaze gives you another shiver. “Please, take me with you.”

The man looks at you from head to toe.

“No.” He simply says and starts to walk away again.

The way he didn't even consider your plead is impressive.

“Please!” You scream desperately, going one step closer to him. He turns around and now he looks actually annoyed.

“Do you wanna die? ‘Cause if you keep screaming like that, those things are gonna hear you,” he scolds harshly. You flinch at the tone of his voice.

“Please, just take me with you,” you plead again, determined to change his mind. It's annoying how a tears is already trickling down your cheek. “I have nowhere to go. My car broke and I don't know how to leave this place. I j-just don't wanna die here anymore.”

“That's none of my business,” he says blatantly.

“B-But I can help you!” You can't hide the despair in your voice. The man lifts one eyebrow.

“And how would you do that?”

He clearly doesn't believe you can be of any help, and honestly, you don't blame him. All he sees in the moment is a shivering and fragile person that can barely stand.

“Two people work better than one. I can help you to make vigilances, to find food or other things. If I prove to be useless, you can just kill me anyway.”

He stares at you deeply. You can see he's considering the pros and cons of taking you along. He looks up at the grey sky, scratches his chin and then looks at you again.

“Is there any medicine here?” He asks again.

You nod furiously. “Yes. There's some medicine on the second floor, in the bathrooms.”

“That's everything?”

“N-No. There are many clothes and… a-and all the cars were stolen, but there is still one in the garage. It's broken, I tried to fix it, but I think that the battery is still working.”

The man nods. “Good. Then start doing something useful and help me taking these.”

He immediately walks past you hurriedly to the second floor. You follow him, confused and still shaking.

“Where's the medicine?” He asks. You point to the bathroom and he enters; he takes a plastic bag and shoves every medicine he can find without even looking what it is for, as well as other hygiene products.

“A-Are you letting me go with you?”

“I'll change my mind if you keep making stupid questions.” He says harshly again without looking back. “Now can you start helping? That shot must have attracted every zombie in this area. We gotta leave right now.”

Adrenaline rushes through your veins; instead of saying anything else, you run to the closet and take all the clothes you can find, especially winter clothes, and put them hurriedly inside carriers. He doesn't help you taking them down the stairs. You wait for him at the living room for a few minutes - and for a moment you think he ran away without you - until he shows up holding a car battery and some tools he found at the garage.

“Let's go.”

You run out of the property carrying the bags until you see an old grey van parked on the sidewalk. You and him shove everything inside the car and enter as well - just in time to hear the first grunts you have learned to get used to.

The man ignites the van and drives down the road.

“Where are we going?” You ask.

“A place away from the city where we can spend the night.”

You nod and just sit there uncomfortably for some moments.

“Won't you even tell me your name?” He asks suddenly, scaring you.

“Ah… it's Y/N.” The man nods, not taking his eyes off of the road.

“Hm. My name is Yoongi. It wasn't nice to meet you,” he still sounds slightly annoyed.

You don't open your mouth after that.

Two weeks have passed and you still don't know what to say about your convivence with Yoongi.

First, because you literally just talk the bare minimum to each other. Most days are reigned by silence. Second, because you can feel how immensely suspicious Yoongi is of you. You catch him staring at you all the time and he doesn't even try to pretend he isn't staring - it's almost as if he's saying I'm watching you so don't you dare to do anything. He gets tense and immediately puts his hand over the holster every time you move too fast, and you know he doesn't trust you enough to sleep when it's your turn to do the nightly vigilance.

You don't blame him, though, because you are suspicious of him all the time as well. You don't know anything about this man other than his name and the fact that he aims very well, what is concerning. You also don't know how he managed to get so many guns and bullets - he even has a machine gun hidden in the van. Normal people aren't so armed, and you doubt he got all that after the virus has spread.

All you know is that he's scary and that he's angry because the food supplies are ending too fast. Perhaps he's starting to regret saving you that day. You just hope that if he decides to kill you, he'll do it on your sleep. At least it won't hurt this way.

It is around nine in the morning as you have these thoughts, laying in the back seat of the van, staring at the ceiling. This “safe place” he mentioned is in the middle of nowhere, many kilometers away from the city. Of course, creatures may appear, but since the place is close to a highway and plain with no trees, you will see them approaching from far and will have enough time to run away.

You gasp, startled, and immediately sit up when he knocks on the van's door. Yoongi is standing there without the coat since it's hot, just wearing a simple black T-shirt. He never takes that cap off.

“Come here,” he simply says, motioning with his head.

Frowning, you simply follow him instead of asking. You widen your eyes when you see that Yoongi took some empty bottles and placed them over a wooden box. He stops exactly five meters away from that box, making you stop as well, and takes the pistol he keeps on the holster.

“You don't know how to shoot, am I right?” He asks.

“No. I never even touched a gun in my life,” you admit sheepishly. Yoongi huffs.

“It's past time for you to learn, then.” You watch as he puts bullets on the gun, as well as he places a silencer on it. You hadn't noticed how his hands are big and his fingers are slender. “We're going to the city in two days.”

“What? This is suicide!” You gasp. “There are too many zombies there.”

“Yes, and that's the point. Almost everyone died before they could steal everything, so there are still supplies in the markets, and we're getting out of food if you didn't notice yet.” Yes, you noticed. The cup of noodles you shared this morning is one of the last ones. “We also need water, gasoline and more bullets. I've been there before by myself twice and didn't die. You just have to be quiet enough.”

Yoongi hands you the pistol and shows you where the safety lock is and how to put bullets in it.

“The only way to kill a zombie is by shooting its head,” Yoongi proceeds to explain. It's weird, but you notice how his voice is soothing when he's not being harsh. “As far as I know, their only sense working is the hearing. They can't feel any smell nor see anything. Hadn't you killed any by now?”

“No. I've been just… running and hiding.”

Yoongi tilts his head. “Well, you better get ready to do it, then. Now, aim on the targets and shoot. You better focus, we can't waste bullets just because you can't aim a damn bottle.”

Again, his harshness is annoying, but arguing won't be productive right now. Instead, you lift the pistol and aim in one of the bottles.

The shoot barely produces any sound because of the silencer.

You completely missed the bottle.

“I asked you to focus,” Yoongi says between gritted teeth.

“It was just my first try! Can't you be a little patient?” You complain. He just huffs and crosses his arms.

You try again. And again. You miss both times.

Yoongi really is an impatient guy.

“Look, you gotta firm your arms,” he says.

Before you can notice, Yoongi stands right behind you.

You feel the heat radiating off his body as he places both hands over yours, his chest pressing against your back, his chin almost resting on your shoulder.

“You need to have your arms ready to bear the impact of the shot,” he explains, and the fact that his mouth is so close to your ear sends goosebumps all over your body.

Perhaps it's because his voice is so deep and husky. Perhaps it's because his hands are so big that they completely engulf yours. Perhaps it's because you don't even remember the last time someone has been so close to you. But, right now, your heart is beating so fast and loud that you're scared he'll be able to hear it.

“Shoot,” he orders softly.

You pull the trigger.

One bottle falls to the ground in pieces five meters away.

“Good,” Yoongi approves and steps away. You shouldn't, but you miss his touch immediately. “Keep doing just like that.”

You gulp and try shooting another bottle. You don't hit the center, but it breaks anyway. Yoongi just stands there in silence, watching your progress, arms crossed.

“When someone gets bitten or scratched… when someone gets their blood contaminated with a creature…” he says after some moments, catching your attention. “It takes exactly ten seconds until this person transforms. So, you gotta act quick.” He lifts his gaze and looks at you. “If I get bitten, you have to shoot me before these ten seconds.”

You gulp and drop your arms. “Kill you? I… I don't think I can make it.”

Yoongi opens a humorless smirk. “Bad for you, then. Because if you get bitten, I won't hesitate to kill you.” He turns around and heads to the van. “Keep practicing.”

You stand there speechless.

He has much to teach you, you realize.

This is probably one of the most tense moments of your life.

The gas station is outside of the city, and for some miracle there was still some gasoline on the bombs. You filled the tank and let the van parked near the city, walking all the way here in order to not alarm the creatures with the sound of the engine.

You wonder how can Yoongi be so calm when you're in a city crowded with zombies. You lost count of how many you saw on your way to the supermarket, even though it is in a less populated area. They're all inert, literally walking corpses; you and Yoongi had to wrap pieces of cloth around your mouths and noses because the smell of rotted flesh is unbearable and you could feel it even before you entered the city.

In a normal world, you would have been shocked to see human bones and body parts thrown around the street. You would have been disgusted to see a raven eating the eye of a little girl that somehow is still standing even though she's dead. You would have screamed to see a man with his intestines falling from his stomach as he stumbles and grunts lowly.

But the world isn't normal anymore. In fact, this is what became normal. The constant smell of blood, clouds of ravens flying above your heads, the unstoppable fear. Death is the world's reality now.

Yoongi has also wrapped pieces of cloth on your shoes to muffle the sound of your steps as much as possible. You've been doing a good job until now, so silent that the zombies didn't notice you yet. You also have been talking with eyes instead of words; Yoongi and you had combined some hand signs to make things easier.

The supermarket's steel doors are closed, there is only a small gap you use to get in. Yoongi and you immediately turn your lanterns on. Carefully, you walk around the shelves that are almost empty; all the few vegetables and meat inside freezers are rotted, as expected. Yet, Yoongi was right; you widen your eyes when you see gallons of water, some snacks, packs of rice and beans, noodles, and even some candies. If you carry everything, you think you'll be able to survive one month or so.

Without a word, you and him start to put all you can find inside the many bags you brought. Both of you are thin and weak due to the lack of food, so for a moment you wonder if you'll be able to carry all that, but the desperation and fear gives you strength. Your fingers are shaking, you're scared that even the smallest noises you make will attract the zombies outside, you wonder if even your rapid breathing will be enough to alarm them. You have to leave this place as fast as you can. Your hands are busy shoving band-aids, gaze and some pills you don't bother reading what they are for in another bag, so you have to put the lantern on your mouth. Sweat trickles down your temples and forehead. Calm down, you repeat in your mind like a mantra - because if you keep trembling like that, you will definitely drop something and it will cause much noise.

You lift your gaze and see Yoongi. He has literally two backpacks stuffed on each shoulder, many bags over his arms, and holds two big gallons of water on his right hand. With the left hand, though, he's lifting a pack of beer happily.

You can't see his mouth because of the cloth, but by the way his eyes became two thin crescents, you can tell he's smiling.

It's the first time you see Yoongi smiling.

How can he smile when you're honestly about to have a heart attack?!

You are so shocked that end up smiling, too. This dude is crazy…

That's when you catch movement with the corner of your eye.

It's dark. Your lantern isn't lightening that part. But your eyes recognize the grotesque form of a human right behind Yoongi.

Your instincts take control of your actions.

Your hand flies to the holster on your hip. Yoongi frowns at the brusque movement, but he doesn't have time to do anything as you take the pistol in the blink of the eye and aim beside Yoongi's head where the zombie stands.

You didn't have enough time to train. You could make a mistake that would cost Yoongi's life…

But you pull the trigger anyway.

The sound is muffled by the silencer.

The bullet passes buzzing by Yoongi's ear and crosses the zombie's skull and brain, spilling blood everywhere.

In an even faster movement, Yoongi turns around and holds the creature's arm - fortunately, he's wearing gloves - before it can fall to the ground and make too much noise.

He places it on the floor carefully. The thing doesn't move anymore.

Your hands are shaking.

Yoongi looks back at you, completely shocked, eyes widened.

He gets back to his senses way faster than you and, instead of saying anything, he motions with his hands for you to move. You do as he said, taking all the bags from the floor and two gallons of water. There could be more creatures inside the big building, you had to run away before the rest could notice your presence.

Somehow, you make it out of the supermarket. You walk all the way out of the city and when you finally reach the highway, you both run like crazy even though you're carrying much weight, and you don't stop running until you finally see the damn van peek in the horizon, and when you jump inside the car Yoongi drives away at the speed of light.

You're sweating, your whole body aches and you can't stop shaking. Your heart beats so fast you think it's about to fail. You just want Yoongi to take you away from that city, you never want to be there again, you've never felt so desperate or-

You gasp when you feel Yoongi's hand holding yours.

“Hey, look at me,” he asks seriously. Only now you notice he stopped the car. Even his figure seems distorted due to the tears. “Breath, okay? Breath with me.”

He breathes deeply and slowly, motioning you to do the same, holding your hand tight. You imitate and start to feel your heart beating at its normal pace again.

“You good?” He asks after some moments. You nod weakly, wiping the tears away. “You were about to pass out. Just relax now, okay? We're safe. You did very well today.”

After giving your hand a tight squeeze, he finally drops it and holds the wheel, turning the car on again. You gulp multiple times; your hands stop shaking at some point. You just lean your head on the window for the rest of the ride, trying to come back to your senses.

It's evening when you two finish organising everything.

Yoongi found a place to park near the highway and right beside a flowing river. You're not crazy enough to drink that water, but at least cleaning yourself sounds like a good idea - and that's what you do. You think it's the first time you can clean yourself properly in two weeks. Yoongi locks himself inside the van as you bathe, and you do the same when it's his turn. He's a respectful guy, that one.

Going through so much danger was worth it. If you economize, now those supplies can help you surviving for even two months. You don't know what to do when it happens, but by now you just want to enjoy the fruits of your hard work: and actual chocolate bar. Although you'll only eat two tiny pieces by now, it already lifts up your mood.

“Want one?” You hear Yoongi saying as he sits by your side on the van's floor, legs swinging outside. He hands you a can of beer, which you accept gladly. “Gosh, it's been so long since I drank this,” he murmurs, opening the can. “This thing is warm, it's gonna taste like tea.”

He takes a sip and makes a disgusted scowl. You see yourself giggling. “Yeah, the worst tea I have ever tasted.”

“Why are you drinking, then?” You quirk one eyebrow. Yoongi shrugs.

“Alcohol makes people feel alive, I think.”

Although you know it's gonna taste bad, you do the same and take a sip as well. You just sit there in a somewhat peaceful silence.

“You saved my life back there,” Yoongi finally speaks up, resting his elbows on his legs. His voice is quiet. “Thanks for that.”

“Now we're even,” you say.

“I thought you were going to kill me, though. When I saw you taking the gun.”

“Well, I just didn't kill you for a few centimeters. You were lucky that you didn't lose half of your ear,” you joke, what makes Yoongi crack a chuckle. You soon find out you like seeing that tiny smile. “But why would I kill you, though? It would be suicide.”

Yoongi sighs and shrugs again. He always looks tired - just like you. “I don't know. It's just that… people have changed.” He looks down at his legs. You just stare at him, waiting for him to keep speaking. It's the first time you're having an actual conversation with Yoongi and you don't want it to end so fast. “I didn't want you to come with me because I already tried to live with other people, you know. After the virus has spread.” He took one more sip. “Things were fine in the beginning. It was that… we'll take care of each other kinda bullshit. And we really took care of each other until food started to end.” Yoongi frowned and shook his head slightly. “I thought we could make it and 'take care of each other’... Until I saw a man smashing his own ten years old daughter's head with a rock just because she didn't share a bag of cheetos with him.” You flinch just imagining that scene. “We were always so comfortable, we never considered having to fight for food. That made people go crazy.” He let a humorless chuckle past his lips. “If you don't die infected with the virus, you die killed by another crazy person. The worst of all is that they're not even unconscious. They're just… evil.”

You nod. You've been by yourself ever since your family died, so you didn't experience this type of situation, but you know he's right. The survivors became animalesque, primitive and violent.

“And how did you escape?” You ask.

“While they were killing each other with their bare hands, I stole their van and all their guns.” Yoongi shrugs. “I decided to be alone ever since. But, well, having you now isn't that bad after all. We could take much more food than I could when I was by myself.”

“I'm pleased to help,” you say, smiling at him.

Yoongi smiles, too.

Then he avoids your gaze.

As he lifts his hand to drink more, he flinches slightly and grunts.

“What?” You question.

“Nothing. It's just this tiny cut in my finger.” He says, looking at his hand.

“Oh, let me take care of it,” you immediately take the first-aid box you've organized from below the seat.

“Hey, that's not necessary. Let's save the medicine for important stuff…” he tries.

“Any cut is important. We've been at an infected place, Yoongi. I'm sure you don't want your hand to gangrene.”

If it was bright enough, you would have noticed Yoongi's shy expression.

Carefully, you take his hand and clean the cut. “I have to thank you too. You helped me a lot with calming down,” you say softly.

“You looked about to explode or something,” he mumbles lowly. His voice is actually very deep… you like how he sounds.

“I was about to explode,” you admit, giggling, as you wrap a band-aid around his finger. “Done.”

“Thanks.”

When you look up, Yoongi is already gazing at you.

You stare at each other in silence.

There is something else on his gaze… it has shadowed in a way that made your stomach jump. It's not as if you hadn't noticed that Yoongi is attractive before, but now - when you're so close to each other, when he's not wearing that cap and you can see his dark soft hair, when he's not looking at you with such suspicion - is when you first feel affected by him. His features are actually delicate; smooth skin, small beautiful lips. He's a well-balanced mix between masculine and feminine.

He doesn't say anything. Yet, when you notice his body leaning in your direction, when you feel he's getting closer, your heart starts beating faster again… only panic isn't your motivation this time.

However, Yoongi stops midway.

He blinks as if getting back to his senses and straightens his posture. “Uh, thanks,” he repeats awkwardly, coughing. “I… I think I'll take a nap now. It's your turn to make the vigilance.”

“O-Okay,” you stutter as he gets up and enters the van.

What just happened here?

You were sure Yoongi wanted to do it, too…

The scene of his face getting closer to yours repeats in your head multiple times as you do your vigilance throughout the night.

That's the first time Yoongi actually sleeps.

As weeks go by, you learn more and more about Yoongi. Not that he's telling you anything, but convivence can teach many things about someone without words.

He's not as quiet as he used to be. After you saved his life at the supermarket, Yoongi started to trust you; he doesn't glare at you as if you were a defenseless rat he was about to kill anymore. He also started to care about you - but on his own way. Yoongi had a hard shell around him that didn't let him show many emotions straight away, but as days passed by, you noticed how he shows his care in tiny ways. Like putting more rice on your plate than on his, for example, or letting you sleep more hours during his vigilance, or even washing your clothes sometimes.

Every time you notice those small signs that he cares, your heart gets warm.

You've been alone for so long that having someone caring about you is strange in a good way. You also started to care for Yoongi. He was wrong when said that “taking care of each other” was just bullshit, after all - at least with you two, it is working.

The tension between you two is getting stronger, too.

As expected of two people that had nothing but each other. Humans naturally need physical contact, they can't live without it. Sexual tension would happen at some point. You'd catch Yoongi staring at you for way too long sometimes, you saw how he gulped when you showed a little bit of skin, you would find dumb excuses to touch him. Your bodies are screaming for it; you both know it.

However, Yoongi always seems to finish things before they even start.

He always looks away, he always steps away. You're sure he wants it as much as you. There's nothing wrong when both want it, right?

Deep down, you know very well why he always keeps a certain distance.

More than that. You understand him.

Both of you have lost way too much; you lost your families, friends, everything and everyone you loved. You have not healed and you never would, for this type of cut is too deep to cicatrize. The idea of getting involved with anyone when you both know how it hurts to lose a loved one is too scary. You live in a dangerous world; death is literally everywhere, you don't know when your time will come. How can you two get so involved when one of you might die the day after? The other would be left alone again, suffering again, because they lost someone precious again.

You can't do that to Yoongi. You can't do that to yourself. So, deep down, you know that keeping some distance is a way from preventing you both from feeling more pain.

You don't think you can bear more pain.

Pain can change someone completely. Looking at Yoongi, you feel this more than ever. You know he wasn't always this quiet, harsh person, because sometimes you see a glimpse of his true self through the shell he built around him. Perhaps in the past, when the world hadn't gone crazy yet, he was someone that used to laugh a lot. Perhaps he was someone that liked to joke around, that liked to get drunk. Perhaps it used to be easier for Yoongi to show his feelings towards people. Perhaps he liked to visit places, perhaps he wasn't suspicious of his own shadow. Perhaps in the past, he didn't have as much nightmares as he has now.

You're sure he wasn't as fragile as he is now.

And you're sure that nothing hurts your heart as much as when, in the middle of the night, when Yoongi thinks you're sleeping, you hear him crying quietly. Soft sniffles, muffled sobs. Sometimes you hear him whispering a few names. Perhaps it is the names of his family.

Yoongi is shattered.

You are shattered.

The world is shattered.

“We could settle here for a couple of weeks. What do you think?” He says, gesticulating around.

You look around the small house as well, hesitant. “We don't even know if this place is safe.”

“Y/N, we're literally in the middle of nowhere,” Yoongi puts his hands on each side of his waist. “The closest city is twenty kilometers away. We didn't find not even one zombie on our way. Besides, there's a water well out there; it's safer than to drink water from rivers that might be infected. Of course, nowhere is completely safe, but at least here we could have a good night's sleep.”

You cross your arms and sigh. “I don't know, Yoongi…”

“Look,” he starts, standing right in front of you. It's stupid to notice this at the moment, but the way he pouts while speaking makes your heart flutter. “We'll surround the house with traps. Let's make a test. If this place proves to be dangerous, we leave.”

“But maybe we won't even have a chance to leave if they surround the house.”

Yoongi rolls his eyes at your stubbornness. “Y/N, what I'm trying to say is that… we can't keep running away for the rest of our lives. We'll need to settle down sometime.” He gesticulates out of the window. “This place is a farm. The soil must be fertile. We could get seeds somewhere and plant. Running from city to city, putting ourselves in danger in the hopes to find food inside a market or something… it won't work forever, and you know I'm right. The world has changed and we have to adapt.”

Yes, he is right. Yet, you can't help but not feel scared.

“Hey,” Yoongi says softly before putting his hands over your shoulders. His eyes are gentle, a tiny smile adorns his face. “Have I ever been wrong about anything? Have I ever let you down?”

You roll your eyes at his huge ego. “No,” you admit, smiling.

“Then let's try it. If it doesn't work, we move out. Alright?”

You sigh and nod, finally giving in. “Alright.”

Domestic life feels nice.

Sure, you've been domestic with Yoongi all the while, but it's different when you're living in an actual house. You had so much fun placing all the traps - as weird as it sounds - and cleaning the place. You don't have electricity, but that's not really a problem; you're used to the medieval life at this point. You're sure that if you find a working smartphone, you won't know how to use it.

Yoongi looks actually happy and more relaxed. It warms your heart to see him smiling as he waters his small plants. Of course, it will take some time until the vegetables grow enough, and you'll have to find something to eat while it doesn't happen.

That's why you're in another expedition to find food.

You think you'll never get used to be under such danger. It's been a long time since you don't hear the disgusting grunts and feel the scent of rotted flesh so strongly - even at the farm you feel it, but it's not so evident. It is summer, though, and the acrid scent gets worse as the sun burns their decomposing bodies.

Yoongi found a map inside the house, and that's what you used to guide yourselves. You found a luxurious condominium some kilometers away where old rich people tired from the city used to live in. As expected, the place is abandoned and there is absolutely no security, so you simply enter it.

“Hey, there are many solar plates on these houses,” Yoongi remarks as he drives slowly on the main street. “We could take some and find out how they work.”

“Yes, but our priority right now is food,” your remind him, putting the improvised mask over your nose again as Yoongi parks the car.

It seems that the zombies didn't come this far, or maybe they went away since there was no living here. Because of it, you calmly search inside mansion after mansion through the entire afternoon. Unfortunately, you don't find much food - as expected, someone came before you and stole everything they could find -, but many things came out handy, like clothes, utensils, more medicine, gasoline and car batteries, a 60” TV you had no idea why Yoongi wanted, and an old battery radio. After some effort, you managed to put solar plates and cables inside the van. Yoongi swore he would find a way to make it work.

This is the last house you inspect before going away, since it's getting dark and dangerous. You just found a few canned food and more clothes, nothing more. “We better get going, Yoongi,” you say, looking out the window at the setting sun.

But you stop when you see what he's doing.

There is a beautiful white piano on the living room. Yoongi approaches it quietly and places his hand over the keys without pressing them. He just stares at it, lost in his own world.

By now, you know Yoongi used to be a musician. Your chest tighten. From being an artist to being forced to hold the machine gun he holds at the moment…

“Why don't you play it?” You question hesitantly, stepping closer. Yoongi looks at you wide eyed.

“It would be way too loud… I can attract something.”

You know he wants to do it so bad. Just a glimpse of what his life used to be, just a small taste of his old passion…

You smile encouragingly. “We didn't encounter zombies the entire day, Yoongi. It's safe. You can do it.”

He still seems hesitant, having an inner battle. Then, his wish takes the best part of him.

Yoongi doesn't sit on the bench, choosing to keep standing. He rests his fingers over the keys and takes a deep breath before starting.

When he does, your eyes fill with tears.

It is a beautiful, melancholy melody you have never heard before; bittersweet, calming, it somehow touches your soul. It's been so long since the last time you listened to music. Yoongi looks immersed as his fingers travel with ease and confidence around the keys. It gives you a feeling of… longing.

Beautiful, however short. When he finishes, his fingers are trembling slightly.

He tries to hide the tears on his eyes.

“Yoongi, that was…” you start, sighing. Yoongi turns around to face you. “That was amaz-”

“Y/N!”

You get scared at his sudden scream, the alarm on his eyes.

You feel arms surroundings your neck and the sticky feeling of decomposing flesh touching you.

The creature grunts right beside your ear, grabbing you with incredible force for a dead corpse. Panic takes control of you; you stumble back and fall over the zombie, yet the creature don't let you go.

Your shoulder hurts. It's the feeling of something digging on your skin.

You fight to free yourself of its grasp; taking the gunshot, you manage to shoot its arm somehow and get up in a jump. The second you break apart, Yoongi shoots its head.

“Yoongi, I-” you turn around to him-

And he's aiming at your head.

“Oh my God,” he exclaims, hands shaking.

Yoongi is staring at your shoulder.

A deep cut.

You immediately lose your breath. Did it bite me? Did it scratch me?!

Am I… infected?!

You look up at Yoongi again, eyes filled with terror.

One second.

“Yoongi, you have to shoot me,” you say, voice shaking.

He just keeps aiming, hands trembling.

Two seconds.

“Yoongi!”

“Shut up!” He screams. You've never heard him using this tone before.

Three seconds.

“Yoongi, please! Save yourself!” You plead, tears streaming down your face.

Four seconds.

“You said you wouldn't hesitate!”

He's holding the weapon so tightly that the knots of his fingers get white.

Five seconds.

“This can't be happening. Not again. Not again…” Yoongi says, shaking his head, eyes filled with tears.

Six seconds.

“Yoongi…” you sob.

He passes his hand over his hair angrily. “Fuck!” He screams at the top of his lungs. “I can't!”

Seven seconds.

“Not you!”

You sob harder, fists tight. “Yoongi, save yourself!” You repeat.

Eight seconds.

“I don't wanna lose you!” He screams, a single tear trickling down his cheek.

Nine seconds.

“Shoot!” You yell.

Yoongi aims again.

You close your eyes tightly and wait for whatever's about to come…

Ten seconds.

…

Eleven seconds.

Twelve seconds.

You open your eyes again and look at your hands.

You don't feel any change.

Fifteen seconds.

Yoongi stares at you in shock.

“I-I…” you stutter, looking at him.

Twenty seconds.

“I think it was a glass shard-”

Yoongi drops the machine gun and engulfs you in a hug.

He tightens his arms around you and grips your shirt hard. You stand there astonished for a moment until the tears start falling uncontrollably and you're a sobbing mess; you try to hug him weakly. His entire form is shaking, his breathing is irregular, he presses your bodies together until there is no space existent between you two.

Yoongi has never been so close to you. Not like this. You feel fear, but you also feel relief and comfort. It seems that he doesn't want to leave you at all; he even forgets about your injury and squeezes it.

“Don't you… don't you ever scare me like that again,” he sobs in your ear. You just nod, unable to speak, too overwhelmed by this moment that you somehow don't want to end.

But it has to come to an end, and Yoongi is the first one to realize it. He steps away and holds your arms softly - puffy eyes, reddish nose.

“W-We need to go,” he says. “We must have attracted many of them. Let's go.”

Yoongi takes the machine gun again and grabs your hand, running out of the house. He just lets go of your hand when you enter the car and he's obligated to drop it in order to drive.

His hands are still shaking as he does.

“I'm sorry,” Yoongi asks for the hundredth time as he sees your expression of pain. “I'm almost done.”

Both of you learned how to sew a cut, but it's the first time it became necessary. The cut on your shoulder was too deep and just gaze wouldn't be enough. Yoongi also had to take small shards of glass from inside the cut and disinfect it. He isn't a specialist, however you could tell he was doing his best not to hurt you even more.

“Now I just have to put the bandage,” he announced and you finally put the lantern over the table.

“There's gonna be a scar,” you remark.

“A war scar. It's cool. Increases respect,” he says, shrugging, and you can't help but smile. He is trying to make you feel better. Yoongi knows you so well at this point that he can see how scared you still are; just remembering the guttural sound of that thing in your ear makes you shiver.

“Done,” he says. “You should not make much effort with this arm until you heal.”

You nod. You have already cleaned yourself and put clean clothes, and after eating dinner, you feel the tiredness smashing your body. Without saying anything else, you head to your room.

Ever since you arrived here, no more nightly vigilances are necessary; you have put many traps around the entire area, the windows and doors are protected by steel bars and many padlocks, you made sure to block each and every gap in the ceiling. Yoongi still insists in keeping awake until late at night, but after all this time, only one zombie appeared and you quickly got rid of it.

It doesn't mean you're completely safe, of course. You'll never be safe.

And the idea that many of them will appear and surround you inside the house still haunts you everyday - especially now that you can't even close your eyes despite all the tiredness, because you feel as if there's one creature hiding in the shadows, waiting to jump on you the same way it happened today-

You get up from bed in a jump.

Quietly, you walk over to Yoongi's room and knocks three times.

You hear him stumbling immediately and opening the door in a rush, his hair and clothes a mess, eyes widened. “What happened?!”

“Ah… nothing happened.” You gulp and scratch the nape of your neck. “It's just that… I can't sleep.”

Yoongi looks down at you with one quirked eyebrow. “This is why you woke me up?”

Suddenly, you feel embarrassed - but he's right, you already woke him up, so it's better to blurt out what you want.

“C-Can I sleep with you?” You stutter.

Yoongi widens his eyes again.

“Why?” He asks. Yoongi can be very dumb sometimes. You avoid his gaze, even more embarrassed.

“I'm scared,” you confess in a whisper.

Yoongi takes so long to move or say anything that you're about to turn around and get into your room again, not knowing how you'll cope with the shame of being turned down, until Yoongi finally opens the door wide and steps aside.

“Okay,” he says quietly.

You enter his room and he closes the door. It feels awkward; Yoongi is moving around in a strange way, as if he himself doesn't know what to do.

When you both finally lay under the covers, a deep silence hovers above you. You're as stiff as a board; you don't dare to move one muscle.

You're happy it's too dark to see anything, because you don't want Yoongi to see your embarrassed face. Maybe it was a stupid, childish idea and you should have stayed in your room-

“I am scared, too.”

You turn your head in Yoongi's direction, surprised. He never talks about his feelings. He never demonstrates fear. He doesn't like to be saw as weak.

The sincerity in his voice touches you.

“I don't want to put you in danger anymore,” he whispers.

You don't know exactly what he means, and it doesn't really matter at the moment. His voice is fragile, featherlight. You remember the way he hugged you earlier today, how desperate he sounded… You thought he reacted this way due to the heat of the moment, you didn't think he would say something like that after all…

“I wish you wouldn't be in danger, too,” you whisper back.

Yoongi doesn't say anything else.

You feel him moving beside you. You feel him getting closer. You feel his arms embracing your body slowly, pushing you closer to him, until you head is pressed against his chest.

He sighs.

This moment feels too delicate and intimate. You both just admitted your fears and cares for each other, you are trying to get comfort in each other. You hug his waist, you feel his scent. Yoongi caresses your hair slowly until finally falls asleep.

For the first time, you feel safe.

Yoongi wakes you up with the most astonished expression one morning.

“You need to see this,” he says, and the way his eyes are sparkling is enough to make you jump off the bed and head downstairs after him.

The TV you brought weeks ago is turned on. Yoongi kept his promise: he found out how the solar plates worked and installed it, bringing electricity to your house. Seeing lamps brightening the house during the night or the microwave working felt like some sort of witchcraft after so long, honestly - and seeing Yoongi's gummy smile as he admired his hard work was totally worth it.

The thing he was most excited about was the TV, but, as expected, it didn't find any channel. You supposed it happened because there wasn't anyone monitoring the satellites anymore. Yoongi tried and tried and tried all those weeks, but still, the screen didn't show anything.

Until now.

You gasp loudly when see the image of a man on the great TV.

“What- How did you-?” You stutter, too shocked.

“I don't know,” Yoongi says, sounding as shocked as you. “I tuned in with this channel somehow. It's repeating the same video over and over.”

You sit down on the couch and watch.

It's much different from the fancy TV productions you remembered; you figured it was probably recorded with a simple phone judging by the quality of the video. The man is sitting in front of a simple white wall. It's the first person other than Yoongi you see in more time than you can remember and this fact itself is shocking.

“We finally connected with a satellite. We hope that this message will reach as many people as we can,” his voice echoes around the living room. It makes goosebumps cross all over your body. “My name is Uriah. I am part of an organization called HS. This organization is an union between scientists and military… well, what still remains of it. Our goals are to protect as many humans as we can and to find a cure to the virus.”

You look at Yoongi with widened eyes for a moment. You have discussed many times if any government or organization still remained…

“We have been gathering information and research about the virus. Although it's hard to communicate with our branches, we have made significant improvements. We still do not know the cure to the virus, however, we discovered a way to live free from it.”

You hold your breath and grip the couch tight.

“The virus does not spread under temperatures below zero.” the man says. “Because of that, we have been building forts in these environments. Our main and greatest forts are placed in Greenland and Antarctica, but these are not the only ones; we have built forts on the peak of mountain chains. Right now, we are making an invitation.”

The man leans closer to the camera, looking directly at the lenses with hopeful eyes and you feel he's looking at you.

“If you're watching this… if you somehow managed to survive, if you're doing your best to keep alive… come to us. Our forts are ready to receive you. We have medicine, doctors, potable water, plantations and animals. We can help you. We know that it will be a tough journey, but please, do not give up. We'll do our best to help you. It doesn't matter who you are or where you are ; come to us. The coordinates of our forts will be shown now.”

His image fades and a screen full of coordinates takes place.

You sit there.

Still. Barely breathing.

One or two minutes after, the man shows up again. “We finally connected with a satellite. We hope that this message…”

You're not listening anymore.

“Yoongi…” you call under your breath, gulping. He sits by your side.

You just fall in silence and watch the whole video all over again.

And again.

Until Yoongi speaks up.

“That coordinate,” he says quietly. “It's considerably close.”

You side eye him. “It is literally in another estate, Yoongi. It is far.”

“But it's the closest.”

You turn your entire body on his direction, frowning. Yoongi doesn't look back at you. “You're not considering this, are you?”

“You heard them, Y/N.” He crosses his arms. “They have food, water and medicine.”

“But we don't know who these people are! We talked about it many times. People, they are… they are different now. What if that's just a lie?”

He keeps silent and stares at his own lap for many seconds, avoiding your gaze. The living room feels heavy with tension, the air is almost thick.

“I've been thinking a lot since the last time we left the house,” he starts quietly, carefully, weakly. “That time when you… when you were almost infected. And I realized that… this place is much more dangerous than I supposed.”

“Yoongi, no zombie even approached this place ever since we arrived-”

“But they wander, Y/N.” He finally looks at you, gaze shadowed by seriousness and concern. “You know it very well. After they don't find anyone to eat, they start wandering around, searching unconsciously. You were right back then. What if a horde surrounds the house? We won't have anywhere to go, our guns won't be enough. Staying here is waiting for death.”

Silence falls over you two again.

“But… but you were the one who said that running from place to place is dangerous. We'll never be truly safe.” You try to convince him.

Yoongi sighs.

“I told you… I don't want you to be in danger anymore. This travel will be dangerous, but if we make it, it will be the last time.”

When you look at Yoongi's dark eyes again, you know he already decided.

There's no turning back.

“This isn't happening,” you whisper. “This can't be real.”

Your feet are rooted on the floor. The freezing wind seems to be cutting your cheeks; not even the heavy clothes seems to be enough. The air lacks oxygen, the pressure already makes you feel dizzy and nauseous.

This can't be happening.

“There must be another way,” Yoongi says, walking to side to side nervously, running his hand over the cap.

“The other trail is at the opposite side.”

“Then, let's make our way back-”

“They are coming for us, Yoongi.”

He stops.

Yoongi opens his mouth as if about to say something, but stops.

This can't be happening.

After all your efforts. After almost one month traveling, going farther than you've ever went. After leaving the comfort and security of your house in the hopes to find something better, after going through so much danger, now that you're so close-

No.

You can't go back, because slowly but surely, a horde is coming for you two.

You can't go forward because there are giant rocks blocking the way up.

An avalanche.

You look, speechless and motionless, to the wall of rocks and ice in front of you. You can't drive through it and you can't climb either - even if you do, walking up the mountain is a death sentence. You don't have enough food, clothes and the equipment necessary.

A dead end.

Yoongi stops for a moment. He's pale, desperate.

"Let's explode it."

"How?" You ask weakly.

"I don't know. We have some gasoline. We could try something. We could open our way through the rocks." His voice is shaking, uncharacteristically high pitched.

"It won't work."

"Why?!"

"Because the noise will attract even more zombies. Besides, we could make another avalanche."

He stands there, his hands on each side of his waist. He's trembling. You don't know if it's due to the cold or fear.

"We need to do something."

"We can't do anything, Yoongi." You hate the way you're saying it. You hate the sound of your voice. You hate to feel this defeated. You hate the tears trickling down your cheeks.

Yoongi stares at you. He looks mad. "No. I can't accept it. After everything we went through…"

He has always been the most hopeful of you two. Seeing him hopeless is the worst of it all. The despair, the fear, the madness on his eyes are what hurts the most.

But then, you see it.

Resolve.

"At least one of us will survive." He says under his breath. You frown, confused, as Yoongi walks back to the van.

"What?"

"One of us will survive." He repeats loudly this time. His steps are heavy, hands shaking. "We still have some bullets. I will hold them back as much as I can and you climb the wall."

Your eyes widen.

Yoongi takes some things from inside the van.

No.

"You can make it if you take clothes enough." He starts to shove the little food you still have inside a backpack. "Take food and a pistol. I'm sure someone will find you up there."

"Yoongi-"

"Come on, you need to hurry up! You have a few minutes before they arrive." He placed the backpack on your weak hands. Yoongi avoids your gaze, moves rapidly, almost automatically. "Take my coat with you. You'll need it."

He starts to take the coat off.

No.

You drop the bag and hold Yoongi's face with both hands.

He stops and widens his eyes, almost as if he had woken up from a trance.

"Yoongi, what do you mean?!" You never sounded so scared in your life.

He swallows hard before speaking.

"You must survive." His voice is almost inaudible over the wind. "I-I… I need to make sure you survive."

No.

"I won't let you do it!" You can't hide your emotions anymore. "Stop trying to act like a hero, Yoongi!"

"You need to make it, don't you understand?!" He is screaming by now, holding your shoulders, almost shaking you. His eyes are widened. A tear trickles down his cheek. "All I've done up until now was meant to keep you alive. I don't care about myself anymore. You need to go up that mountain and survive!"

A sob.

All the suppressed feelings explode all at once. Everything that held you back seemed to not exist anymore.

You kiss him.

Your lips smash against his abruptly. Yoongi gasps, surprised, and stands there in shock for some seconds - but he kisses you back with the same passion you kiss him. He hugs you tightly, hands grasping your clothes, and your arms embrace his neck - both desperate to get closer, to feel better.

The kiss carries all the unsaid words, all the subtle touches, all the avoided gazes and the silenced wants. It's rough, it's desperate, it makes your body heat up despite the low temperature around you. You grip his hair, fingers trembling, tears falling. Yoongi became the most important person in your life. Because of him, you were able to carry on all this time. You can't lose him now.

When your lips finally break apart, you're both out of breath.

You look right into Yoongi's eyes.

If the world was still what it used to be, you don't think you'd get along well at first. You were too different from each other. You wonder if your friends would like Yoongi. You can imagine your best friend texting you, saying that he's handsome, but strange. You can imagine you and him discussing what was the best hip hop album of all time. You see yourself sharing an ear bud with Yoongi, listening to a song he made. You imagine yourself texting him and your stomach twirling when he replies. You imagine Yoongi introducing you to his friends. You imagine yourself sitting on the bleachers, watching him playing basketball, sending you a gummy smile from time to time. You imagine yourself having dates late at night when Yoongi couldn't sleep; you'd go to a convenience store to buy snacks, walk around the park in the chilly night, lay in the grass and star gaze, kiss under the moonlight.

If the world was still what it used to be, everything would be perfect.

But it's not.

Your family and friends are dead. They will never meet Yoongi. You'll never do the things you wanted to do.

However, as you stand there in the snow with him - both weak and thin, scared and cold, about to die - you realize that things couldn't be more perfect.

Because you have each other.

"You know why I am still alive?" You ask him, sobbing, caressing his cheek. "You know why I decided to survive all this time? Because of you, Yoongi. You made me live. I… I can't live without you anymore. If you die today, I'd rather die too than to live in a world where you're not with me."

Yoongi closes his eyes. More tears fall. He's beautiful, you think. So, so beautiful.

"I'm with you 'till the end of the line. It doesn't matter how things will end, as long as we end together."

Yoongi kisses you again. Strongly, passionately. Why did you hesitate all this time? You realize now that you shouldn't have kept yourself so distant. You should have enjoyed your time with him more.

He breaks the kiss, but keeps you close. He analyzes your features with those gorgeous dark eyes. You love his eyes. You love him.

Yoongi nods seriously. You still see resolve. Because that's just who Yoongi is: he refuses to give up.

"Let's go back and try the way up at the other side of the mountain." He says seriously.

There is no reason to question him. Yoongi has been right about so many things. If he still has hope, if he still thinks you can make it, then you can make it and you will make it.

You run and get into the van again.

Both ready to do the impossible.

Ready to die. That's what you've been ready to do all along, right? The end line has been right in front of you, peeking on the horizon just at sight all this time. You might cross it today, or tomorrow, or next week...

It doesn’t matter.

As long as you have him... the ending doesn't matter.

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