#turtles in a giant nest bed

[cuddlebugmonster]

1. Turtle Pile

I’m trying to follow the prompt list from @sariphantom, I thought it was super neat and fun :]

[politemenacephd]

Arachnophilia (Part Fourteen)

Drider!Miguel O'Hara x Reader (+18)

Chapter Masterlist 🕷️

Word Count: 5040 Notes: Voyeurism build up is here, will be dropping that next chapter. For now here's some tension/proper argument w HQ!Miguel and some fluff w Mig

‘You’re sure you wish to return today?’

You paused midway through the very unflattering motion of hoisting your suit over your hips, rolling on the bed like a flipped beach turtle, and turned to find Mig watching you from across the room.

His big red eyes already betrayed his concern as they darted from your face to your body, as did his slowly tapping paws.

You shot him a reassuring smile. ‘I’m sure, Mig! Don’t worry, I have a plan.’

Mig made that same adorable face he always did when he was disgruntled, as his nose wrinkled up and his brows folded in over his big puppy-dog eyes. Your reassurance would never be enough, sadly.

‘You could- stay, another hour’ he offered. ‘They can’t fault you for being a little late.’

You sighed through the nose and finally did up the last hidden button on your suit, snapping it into place.

It’d been a few days since Mig’s confession. You’d managed to snag the extra time away from the society by calling up Jess and going through some early talking points online, but all the time you’d gained had been devoted solely to working through Mig’s worries.

His possessive nature had certain gotten worse since he’d acknowledged his past to you. He startled at every minor noise, he rustled against you constantly to keep you saturated in his scent. He panicked when you weren’t in his line of sight, and he was patrolling his territory more and more.

The worst one though was at night, when he’d hide behind his giant legs and you had to gently coax him out.

It wasn’t easy, but you weren’t opposed to comforting your monster partner. You knew it was going to be hard on him. Today he’d made enough progress to at least let you return for a bit, and that was great, but you knew to expect relapses.

With a slight hop you stumbled to your feet and crossed the nest, carefully taking his hands into yours.

‘Uhuh, I could stay an extra hour. And then you would say, please stay another hour, then another, then another, and then I’m called in for insubordination and I get my watch taken away’ you said, firm but soft.

‘Mi arañita, it’s in my blood to keep you here’ he insisted.

‘Nope, can’t use that excuse anymore. I’m not in heat, am I?’ you said. You tried to keep it light by booping his nose with your finger, but Mig remained tense.

‘It’s in my human blood, to keep you here, is what I meant’ he said, his voice dipping. ‘I just want to know you’re safe. I can’t, know, if you’re not here with me.’

Sensing that he was spiralling you put his hand over your chest. He could sense your heart thumping beneath your ribs, small but strong. It seemed to have an instant calming effect.

‘I’m okay. See? I’m okay. And I’m gonna set something up’ you reminded him gently. ‘Right? I’m gonna go get some stuff while I’m at the HQ, like we discussed. You’ll be able to see my vitals on a screen here so you know I’m safe, and we will- test, you being able to call me, because I know if I give you unlimited reign you will call me every second of every hour. But, you know, I’m bringing stuff back to make this easier.’

Mig grumbled and rolled his tongue against his fangs at your reminder. ‘You… are you, sure, they won’t try to keep you away from me?’ he asked.

‘I’m as sure as I can be, Miggy. I mean Jess clearly got annoyed with Miguel for trying to separate us, remember? I don’t think the elite’s care, so long as we’re not endangering anyone. We’re two consenting adults after all.’

‘A monster and his pet’ Miguel grumbled. You couldn’t help but giggle at his sour tone.

‘A consenting adult monster and his consenting adult pet’ you added. Mig didn’t smile with you but you saw him tap his spider legs a few times, which you knew now meant he was happy. It was like a silent laugh for when he was too worried to laugh openly.

‘Hey. Come here’ you whispered.

You gestured for his foreleg and he stretched it out. You took it between both your hands and raised it your lips, pressing a single kiss to the fluffy little paw, showing no sign of fear or disgust. You then gestured for his human hands.

‘Here. Here, babe.’

Mig outstretched his hands, and with his fingers in your grip you kissed each of his claws one after the other. You could sense his body deflating, slowly losing all of that pent up tension as you showed his body the same love you always did.

‘Pretty spider’ you whispered after the final claw was crowned with your lips. When you looked up he was smiling at last.

‘Pretty spider’ he repeated back. You craned your neck and noticed his abdomen was rustling, the fur on his back gently bristling as his middle legs tapped at the floor. You beamed.

‘Mmm. Happy dance’ you noted.

Mig closed his eyes as he smiled, his old, chiselled face growing soft as he made the dance more overt. He tapped his feet back and forth, gently rustling his fluffy body up against your face. You nestled right back. There was nothing better than seeing that little display.

‘Okay, okay. There we go.’ You gently leaned back after giving him a quick squeeze, your hand flying to your watch. You knew you had to make the portal now or you’d never leave.

‘Guess I better get going.’

With a few clicks a portal to the HQ exploded into the centre of the nest, covering your face in that ethereal orange light. You glanced back over your shoulder and saw that Mig had stopped dancing. It hurt your heart, but it had to be done.

‘Can I have a goodbye kiss, please?’ you offered with your hand outstretched on the precipice of the portal. Mig was eager to take it.

‘Ah- yes, of course mi arañita.’

You should have been wise enough to know that this was a double play on his part. The moment your lips connected his hands were on your waist, digging in deep to the soft flesh beneath your suit.

His lips moved slowly, parting before rejoining as they smothered your own. They were so soft compared to the rest of his ruggedness, soft and full and warm. As his tongue teased your mouth they grew wet.

‘Mm—’

His low moan made your knees weak. It vibrated through your lips and into your soul. His lips parted right as you usually would have left, and soon you were entranced by his tongue.

‘Mm- mmm—’

You forgot the portal at your back as Mig gently rumbled against you, his fluffy body vibrating in a way that made your insides tingle. He dug his claws in deeper, a small dose of shock to widen your mouth, allowing his tongue to go right down your throat.

When he pulled back there was a long and heavy trail of spit between you, one that he licked into his mouth without ever breaking eye contact. You felt that pleasurable tension in your gut triple over.

‘Ah—Mig, I know what you’re doing’ you panted.

He’d held you for so long that the portal had closed behind you. You let out a mildly exasperated huff while he tilted his head, his face sickeningly innocent.

‘Doing what? I just wanted to kiss mi arañita goodbye.’

‘You told me you were incapable of lying, Mr.’

‘I am, yes. It’s not a lie’ he said. The earnest affection in his eyes broke you, and a smile crept back onto your face.

‘Mhm. It’s just- leaving out the full truth, right?’

He coyly darted his eyes to the side, forcing you to grab his thickset jaw and turn his head back. You were on your tip toes to reach him.

‘The full truth, is… I don’t want you to go, but, I know you have to. So I will do what I can to keep you here, because I am selfish. And… I will miss you, when you are gone. Because you make me happy. And, I like having you close’ Mig murmured.

‘I know’ you sighed. ‘I know. I’ll miss you too. And I will be back soon. I promise.’

You bumped foreheads once more before pulling back, and this time Mig let you go.

…

As you flew through the dizzying portal you were surprisingly optimistic.

You were going back to the society, and this time you were no longer alone. No matter what you had someone to go home to, someone to talk to, someone to hold you.

Your perspective on the society had also certainly shifted since meeting Mig, and that was something you had to contend with. Knowing that they were hiding things, these cosmic mistakes they didn’t want to deal with, it bothered you to no end. You’d previously viewed the elites as these unfathomable being, who just had to know best because of where they were, but not anymore. Especially in the case of Miguel.

You felt a little bad, but you hadn’t been fully honest with Mig about your intentions. Yes, you were going back to grab some items for him and to show you were available. Yes, you were returning to ensure your relationship was sanctioned.

But you also had something else in mind. Something a bit more personal. Something for the boss to deal with.

You skipped a few steps as your body was thrown from the depths of time and space, your shoes clacking as you hit the HQ floor. You stepped out into the lobby, into a bustling sea of spiders, and you breathed in the familiar smell of Nueva York. It smelled like spandex, like cleaning fluid and cold park air.

You felt the portal close at your back, leaving you standing alone in this great gathering of your peers.

And then you froze.

Almost half the spiders around you were still, their head craned in your direction. You felt the eyes on every inch of your body. You met their gazes through their masks, and despite you clearly looking at them they didn’t turn or look away.

You frowned. What was going on?’

A new sound filled the quiet buzz of conversation, the worst possible sound you could hear. Muffled laughter.

You spun around only for the laughter to stop, and by the time you’d turned back all the spiders were pretending not to have looked at all. They were deep in meaningless conversation, their heads down, and soon you were once again lost in the crowd.

You could feel your face burning, your cheeks hot and clammy.

Oh, fuck. Shit, shit, shit, fuck, shit, fuck. Did they know? How did they know? Who could have told them?

For a moment your blood ran cold. Wait. Had, Miguel, told everyone? To punish you?

In a brewing panic you started to make your way through the HQ.

All the way out of the lobby and up through the dizzying web of beams you felt eyes on you. You occasionally heard laughter but now you couldn’t tell whether it was aimed at you or not, which only spurred your paranoia, and you only continued to spiral further as you went about your objectives.

You stopped by the lab and grabbed the tech you needed for Mig: a watch for him to programme, a monitor for your vitals, and a few old or nearly scrapped holographic screens that you figured he could fix up. All eyes on you, staring at you through screens and over desks. You hurried out.

From there you made a stop at HR, a pretty run-down and disorganised area compared to the rest of the society, where you grabbed some paperwork Jess had ordered you to fill out. You felt eyes peering over piles of paperwork, soft whispers and curious mumbles hidden behind walls as you piled up the work.

By the time you made it to your last stop you could feel the sweat on your lower back from stressing so hard. Around Mig you felt safe, emboldened, but you were realizing quickly that you were still alone here.

You crept into the open research base and dropped into one of the empty desks. You were here, right back where you started, the day you first met Mig.

You thought of him, back in the nest, and your heart twisted. You missed him.

‘You’re the one, right?’

You jumped as an unfamiliar voice sounded off against your ear. Somehow you’d been snuck up on, and three spider-people you’d never met before were crowding around the back of your desk. Their faces immediately put you on edge; they looked far too familiar with you, far too excited.

‘I- the one, what?’ you stammered.

‘You’re the one who- you know—’

You felt your stomach drop as the spiders broke into playful smiles. You tried to push the chair back and run, abandoning the PC while it was still on, but to your horror the other spiders held you in place. You slumped back into the chair as they offered an overlap of fake coos and soothing words.

‘No, no, hey! Please we’re so curious.’

‘Curious about- what? Don’t- grab me!’ you said, inadvertently snapping as you pulled from their grasp. You could feel other people in the room starting to glance over at the commotion, and it was driving your anxiety way up.

‘You had sex with Miguel’s variant, right? The spider one?’ one of them whispered. The spiders holding you in place were practically giddy as they spoke over themselves.

‘We… they’re, all spiders’ you stammered.

‘No, no! You know what we mean. There’s one that’s like fully half spider, right? And you had sex with him?’

‘I—That’s, nobodies business’ you said defensively. Sadly, your tone only spurred them on harder.

'No come on please, oh my god- does he look like Miguel? Is he that big?'

'Does he have the teeth?'

'Oh god, ew, what's the spider part like? Was it like an actual spider?'

'Did you--' 

‘¡OYE!’

You went rigid in your seat, as did the spiders hounding you. Heavy footsteps filled the room as a huge, foreboding shadow slowly covered your body from behind.

‘What’s going on?’

You turned to see Miguel standing over you, his hands on his hips. The spiders almost fell over each other trying to placate him.

‘Hi! Sir, we were just—’

‘It’s fine Miguel we were—’

‘No gossiping. We’re not a rag newspaper, we’re a serious organisation, that does serious work’ Miguel said, his voice slow and cold. ‘Work that I assume you’re currently procrastinating on, since you’re here, and not somewhere else.’

The spiders quickly abandoned your desk, leaving you spinning awkwardly on the spot in your little chair. Miguel had to grab the back to make it stop.

‘Ah, hey, you—’

‘Come with me.’

Miguel didn’t wait for you to respond after cutting you off. He turned and walked in the opposite direction, his presumptuous, authoritative aura gleaming off him like musk.

You thought about saying no, just on principle, but it wouldn’t help. You’d been planning to talk to him anyway. With a slightly reluctant shrug you obeyed.

Miguel led you in silence up through the heart of the HQ building to his office. The whole way you continued to avoid the curious eyes on your back, focusing instead on what you wanted to say to him.

Up the beams, through the corridor filled with anomalies, down the messy side hall and into his office, where at last you were both alone. You shuddered in the gloom, where the only light was a thin lay of blue from above that tinted your skin. It was only here that Miguel finally addressed you directly.

‘I’m sorry they’re bothering you’ Miguel called over his shoulder.

‘Uhuh. Yeah, me too. Strange how they knew’ you said, making no effort to sugarcoat your accusatory tone. Miguel grunted a chuckle as he picked up on the implication.

‘It’s not strange. HR receives filings whenever a relationship needs to be sanctioned, such as- Peter’s and Mary’s receiving crisis training or therapy, or any spiders entering into inter-dimensional relationships. It doesn’t happen often, so when one comes up featuring a Miguel variant and a random spider, and some intern copying it notices the names, they talk. They talk to their friends at lunch, and then they talk to their friends on missions. Suddenly, everyone knows.’

You felt your face burning as he spun this elaborate story. You wanted to believe he was lying, but, it was one thing he and Mig shared in common: they didn’t lie.

‘I didn’t tell anyone’ Miguel grunted as he jumped onto his desk. ‘I understand how- frustrating hormones can be. I don’t blame you for what you had to do.’

‘Uhuh’ you said, your voice wary.

‘I just don’t understand why you’ve still choosing to remain around my counterpart now you’re free’ Miguel continued as he booted up his set, more to himself than to you.

‘Because he’s my friend’ you said sharply.

Miguel glanced over his shoulder, his one visible eye glowing brightly against the dull blue hue. He looked you up and down.

‘I don’t get it’ he repeated in a low murmur. You hated it but his presence still made you slightly weak, and that soft voice was painfully close to how Mig usually spoke.

‘If you were in pain I would have helped’ he said as he turned back around. ‘It’s not like you had no options. Was I really that cold to you?’

You balked at his unexpected confession, especially when said in such a nonchalant way. It was a pretty heavy thing to drop, surely, to admit that he’d sensed your heat and been willing to sleep with you too?

‘You- are you serious?’ you whisper shouted. Your outrage made Miguel chuckle again, something that only made your face warmer.

‘I’m serious, yes. I would have helped.’

‘Oh, oh of course you would have. Just, out of the kindness of your own heart?’

‘More or less.’

You scoffed openly. ‘My god- Do you have no shame? At all?’

Miguel turned again, craning his neck a little further this time to eye you up fully. You saw the thick curve of his back as he arched it.

‘I’d advise you not to be combative’ he murmured. ‘I’m still your superior, and I’m also well aware of what you’ve done. I don’t think you should be the one to tell me about shame.’

‘Why should I be ashamed?! Because I had sex with a nice person I was friends with, because we shared a mutual attraction? Oh my god, how could I!’

‘You let a monster mate with you and almost get you pregnant’ Miguel snapped back, his voice rising ever so slightly.

‘He’s not- a monster’ you said. ‘Not- I mean, physically he is, unusual, but he’s a good person.’

‘You have no idea who that man is’ Miguel impatiently snapped.

‘Yes, I do. Damn it-- He told me! About Dana!’ you blurted.

A brief silence fell as Miguel’s hands went still. Up until this point he’d been typing, casually micro-tasking while you argued at his back, but now he was totally focused on you.

‘He did?’ Miguel repeated back. He sounded shocked, confused, perhaps even impressed?

‘Yes. He- it sounded, horrible. That poor man.’

‘That poor man’ Miguel sneered, his shock quickly turning back to disgust. ‘You didn’t see what I saw. And that’s not your fault, but I’m telling you now, I saw it. The blood on his hands, the blood on his fur, the—face, of—’

Miguel paused and shook his head. ‘He may not have intended to hurt her, but he did. He couldn’t de-escalate, couldn’t control his own strength. He could have ripped the gun out of her hands, or pointed it upwards. His panic killed her.’

‘He was- he was scared, Miguel!’ you argued. ‘He’d just undergone a painful attempt on his life, he was turned into something new, something scary, and then his life was threatened again by someone who was meant to love him!’

‘Yeah, and you know what? I want through the same exact thing’ Miguel spat. ‘I didn’t kill anyo-- … I didn’t, kill, Dana, Did I?’

Internally you were seething. Part of you wanted to just rip into him for what he’d said, for so cruelly bullying Mig for something that wasn’t his fault while making overt passes at you in the same sentence, but you held your tongue.

At least now you didn’t feel at all bad for what you were about to do.

‘I want to- make a proposal’ you said, your voice echoing through the office.

Miguel blinked. His brows went up, slowly, as his eyes darted across your face. He looked surprised. ‘You do, do you?’

You stiffened your resolve as his shadow covered your body. Before you’d have never thought of standing up to your boss like this, and yet, here you were.

‘Yes. I want you to retract the clause that Mig remain isolated from other spiders and people. He’s not a threat and you know that. He deserves the chance to reintegrate, to see that he’s safe to be around other people and to connect with people like him who won’t be afraid. I want you to let him into the society.’

Miguel grunted, his nose wrinkling with disgust. ‘No’ he barked, and immediately he turned.

He thought that would be the end of it, the stubborn fool, but you weren’t interested in begging for permission. If he wanted to play dirty, you would too.

‘Fine’ you said sharply, ‘fine. Let me guess, his genes make him too dangerous?’

‘Wow, newbie, that’s a great point. You’re right. I’ll keep that on record next time someone brings up the idea of letting him join’ Miguel sarcastically drawled. You sneered.

‘Okay. Well, if he has to stay away because his genes make him dangerous, genes that you SHARE, may I remind you, then I suggest for the safety of the society we make it public knowledge.’

You saw Miguel freeze up. He was clearly frightened, as his back muscles popped to indicate he was tensing them tightly, and his biceps were clearly getting more prominent as he clenched his fists.  

You had to steel yourself to approach that terrifying visage.

‘What are you talking about?’ he hissed over his shoulder.

‘You know what I’m talking about’ you said, getting closer with each word. ‘You know that you go into ruts, the same as he does. You know that for all the pressure you put on him to stay away from people, you happily engage in that exact behaviour.’

‘What are you talking about?’ Miguel repeated, this time in a far gravellier voice.

‘I know, you sanctimonious asshole, that you’ve also been sleeping with people during your ruts!’ you whisper shouted, your voice slipping through gritted teeth.

Miguel immediately scoffed, trying to play it off. ‘You don’t have proof of that. I didn’t sleep with you.’

‘No, not- me, Miguel, I have proof. I have proof you’ve done this before.’

‘Oh, do you?’ he asked in that same sarcastic, defensive tone.

‘You decided to threaten me with my own medical records, so clearly that’s allowed, right? So, I can bring up that there are definitely files within the society bay detailing god knows how many other members or workers, filled with the same genetic material, covered in webbing?’

The moment you said ‘webbing’ he tensed up. You’d got him.

‘Perhaps a few, anti-venom prescriptions? Emergency birth control?’

He tensed up further, his head going forward as his shoulders rolled. You continued to push.

‘I don’t think the wider society would be too kind if they knew their boss was going into little, horny breakdowns, and then secretly taking out his frustrations on its members—’

At that Miguel spun around, his clawed hand slamming itself into the desk at your back. In barely a second you went from standing to trapped, your back bent against the desk with his enormous arms on either side of your torso.

‘Do you think you’re better than me?!’ he spat, his fangs dangerously close to your face.

‘Do you think you’re better than me, huh?’

You felt all of your previous convictions slip in his presence. God he was terrifying. He wasn’t nearly as big as Mig but he was huge compared to you, easily pinning your body to the desk. You felt the cold metal press into your spine as he bent you back, and your eyes instinctively drifted to his fangs.

You swallowed, hard, and were met with the strangest look in his eyes. He seemed ashamed, almost, as he realized you were scared of him, and yet there was something else there. Something more complicated.

You struggled to claw back a semblance of your previous anger.

‘You know what? No. Not in that sense. But that’s my point. We’re the same, you’re just a—’

‘Don’t say it’ he hissed.

‘Hypocrite’ you spat back in his face. With a frustrated grunt he pulled away.

‘I don’t put anyone at risk of spreading my genes!’ he said, his voice rising with his annoyance. ‘And I don’t touch anyone who I could hurt!’

‘How can you know that?’

‘Because they’re all men!’ Miguel blurted. He had to pause to breathe, his hands now gripped tight to his hips. ‘Or- at the very least they’ve had their reproductive organs taken care of. And they’re my friends, I never- I never approach anyone I don’t know and trust. I just… sometimes, I have to—have, something. Just one. But I’ve never- slipped and, indulged in anyone the way your sweet, innocent Mig has.’

‘You- but you JUST said you would have helped me out too’ you argued back. Miguel scoffed again.

‘I didn’t mean sex. I would have- offered something, for relief, because I know how much it hurts. I can control myself, but I’d rather not smell someone else going through the same agony, that’s all.’

‘Look, my— my point is, you do the same thing you accused Mig of doing. You don’t get to keep him out of the society if you’re allowed to be its head’ you said, trying to bring the subject back around.

‘He killed someone’ Miguel hissed.

‘And you exonerated him, because he was acting in self defence!’ you spat. This time your rage drove you forward, and you slammed your hand down on the desk beside Miguel, caging his tiny waist between your arms.

‘We are dangerous’ Miguel said, his voice even colder than usual. ‘We are not, safe. We are not supposed to be in relationships. I tried to tell you this, but if you won’t listen, I can’t help you.’

‘Oh, I’m the one who needs help?’

To your horror, Miguel suddenly let out a deeply sardonic chuckle. He bent so that his lips brushed your ear, and you froze as he spoke.

‘You fucked a spider’ he whispered slowly. ‘You found a version of your boss, who was half arachnid, and you let it fuck you. Furry legs and all. You nearly let it impregnate you. Yes, you need help.’

‘He.’

Miguel’s eyes darted, barely an inch from yours. You met them. You were shaking, yes, but you still stared him down.

‘He. Not it. I let him, fuck me’ you repeated.

You relished, secretly, in the deep resentment that crossed Miguel’s face. He looked jealous.

‘Why… Why, him?’

You blinked, taken aback by Miguel’s veiled question. You were expecting more vitriol, but instead his face sank as he pulled away from you.

‘What do you mean, why him?’ you asked.

‘You were in heat. I smelled it. You should have been drawn to my scent, but you turned and you ran. You ran back to him.’

You decided to let Miguel hang there for a moment, just to ponder how you should approach this.

‘If you ask that question honestly, I’ll answer’ you said slowly.

Miguel stiffened his jaw and stepped forward again. He was too curious to not take the bait. ‘Why? Why would you pick him over me?’

There it was. The most overt thing he’d ever admit. It wasn’t even really about you, was it? It was about his ego. It was about the fact that in that moment, when he’d grabbed you after your hospital trip, you’d been able to turn him down. You’d stayed loyal to Mig, and not just given in to your animal need so Miguel could satisfy himself with your body.

You could have given him a full lecture on why. His coldness, his mean streak, his little bursts of empathy that were never enough compared to Mig’s constant kindness. The way Mig gave you multiple chances to leave while Miguel grabbed you by the wrist, the way Mig praised you and thanked you and wished to acknowledge your relationship openly without shame while Miguel offered only a shameful coupling he would sooner forget.

You could have said so much. In the end, though, you just shrugged. ‘He’s hotter than you’ you said.

Silence filled Miguel’s office. At first his face was unreadable, but slowly, a smile crept onto his lips. It was an unnerving smile, the ghost of something cruel and cold.

‘Oh. Okay. Okay.’

You took a step back as Miguel turned back to his desk. The orange glow was eerie around the contours of his figure, highlighting his terrifying back muscles one by one as he rolled them.

‘Alright. You can have him here. And I won’t keep people off your back anymore. If you want to know, why I keep what I do quiet, why I keep my partners quiet, you can find out your way.’

You snorted. ‘Deal. Done. That’s all I needed from you.’

You left him there, alone on the desk, and you hurried back to the wider HQ, unaware of the new war you’d started for yourself. Link to next part!

[briantravels60]

Day 6 - Sharbot Lake to Perth - 42 km

Trail: Mostly flat

Last night I stayed at the Charbot Lake Inn. It's on the lake with beautiful views, a dock, kayaks, and a BBQ. I cooked my own steak for dinner. The bed was comfortable and the room was clean. There is a pub next door, but it was closed. I tried to stay at the Rock Hill B&B, but it was full. Both are recommended.

I stopped to take a picture of this turtle and immediately noticed that the air was filled with sounds. The marsh was alive with the sounds of bullfrogs croaking, birds chirping, the pecking of woodpeckers, the flutter of ducks. I saw flowers, bees pollinating flowers, birds flying in all directions, and trees that have died and fallen, creating a very creative landscape. I have been riding through marshes every day of my ride and only today did I notice this beauty. I need to slow down and smell the roses. Apparently something I forgot when I lost my sense of smell.

I noticed a lot of markings along the trail. I finally concluded that it must be turtle nesting time and that the trailside mounds were nests. That would explain the turtles along the trail. Also interesting was the fact that turtles climb up a steep hill about 10 m to the location of the nest.

The trip was only 42 km but there were no restaurants between Charbot Lake & Perth so I packed a second breakfast and snacks.

The trail was good today and once I reached the start of the Tay-Havelock Trail (about 15 km from Charbot Lake) the trail became much better. The trail wandered past lake after lake with the odd marsh and wooded area. Definitely lots of opportunity to cool off on a hot day. Interesting sites included a deer on the trail, a giant beaver dam and a number of 100+ year old wooden barns.

Perth is a quaint little town with beautiful old stone buildings, parks, a coffee roastery, a couple craft breweries and some cool restaurants. There's even an opportunity to splurge at the Parkside Spa + Salon.

Tomorrow is Day 7 of my journey and it will be my day of rest.

[swimwithturtlesgoldcoast]

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Snorkeling with turtles offers a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to connect with one of the ocean's most graceful and ancient creatures. For ocean lovers, this experience is not only a thrilling adventure but also a way to appreciate the marine ecosystem in its most natural state. Australia's coastal waters are home to several species of sea turtles, and they offer some of the best spots for snorkeling with turtles.

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Snorkeling with turtles is an extraordinary way to witness the beauty of marine life up close. These majestic creatures have been around for millions of years and are a testament to the resilience of life in the ocean. The tranquil nature of sea turtles, combined with their slow, graceful movements, creates a mesmerizing atmosphere beneath the waves.

When snorkeling with turtles, the experience allows you to observe their natural behaviors in their own environment, providing a deeper understanding of their role in the marine ecosystem. From feeding on seagrass to gliding through the water, turtles move with such elegance that it’s easy to become enchanted by their presence.

Top Locations for Snorkeling with Turtles in Australia

Australia is blessed with an array of beautiful beaches and crystal-clear waters, making it a prime destination for snorkeling with turtles. Some of the best places to embark on this adventure include:

1. Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia

Ningaloo Reef is one of the world’s largest fringing reefs, and it’s famous for its vibrant coral gardens and diverse marine life. The reef is home to several species of turtles, including the green sea turtle and the hawksbill turtle. Snorkelers can often encounter these magnificent creatures while exploring the shallow waters of the reef, especially during the warmer months.

2. Heron Island, Great Barrier Reef

Heron Island is part of the Great Barrier Reef, which is known for its unparalleled biodiversity. This pristine island offers exceptional opportunities for snorkeling with turtles, especially around the coral reefs where green turtles come to nest. Visitors can experience close-up encounters with these turtles while exploring the island's clear, shallow waters.

3. Lord Howe Island, New South Wales

Lord Howe Island is a UNESCO World Heritage site and one of the most beautiful destinations for snorkeling in Australia. The island is home to several turtle species, including the loggerhead and green sea turtles. The warm, clear waters around the island provide an ideal environment for snorkeling with turtles, where visitors can swim alongside them in their natural habitat.

4. Moreton Island, Queensland

Moreton Island is another prime location for snorkeling with turtles in Australia. The island's turquoise waters and healthy coral reefs attract both locals and tourists, offering the perfect setting for turtle sightings. The area is home to green turtles, and snorkelers can often spot them feeding in the seagrass beds or gliding gracefully through the water.

Why Snorkeling with Turtles is Good for Conservation Awareness

Beyond the excitement of the adventure, snorkeling with turtles also serves as an important educational experience. Sea turtles face numerous threats, including habitat loss, pollution, and entanglement in fishing gear. By engaging with these creatures in their natural environment, snorkelers develop a greater appreciation for their role in maintaining the health of the ocean ecosystem.

Many of the areas where snorkeling with turtles is popular are also involved in marine conservation efforts. By visiting these regions, tourists can contribute to conservation initiatives that protect turtle habitats and help ensure the survival of these amazing creatures for future generations.

What to Expect When Snorkeling with Turtles

While snorkeling with turtles is generally a peaceful and serene experience, it’s essential to remember that these creatures are wild animals. Respecting their space and following ethical guidelines ensures that the turtles remain unharmed and undisturbed. Here’s what you can expect during your snorkeling adventure:

Calm and Gentle Movements: Turtles move slowly and gracefully, making it easy to follow them through the water. Their relaxed swimming style creates an atmosphere of tranquility that many snorkelers find calming.

Close Encounters: In the right locations, you may have the opportunity to get close to the turtles, observing their behavior as they feed or swim. However, it's important to avoid chasing or touching them, as this can cause stress to the animal.

Clear, Warm Waters: Most snorkeling sites for turtle encounters are located in warm, clear waters, allowing for great visibility. The vibrant coral reefs and marine life add to the beauty of the experience.

An Educational Experience: Many snorkeling tours are led by guides who provide valuable insights into the behavior and conservation of sea turtles. This is an excellent opportunity to learn more about these incredible creatures and the challenges they face in the wild.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Snorkeling Experience with Turtles

To ensure a safe and enjoyable experience when snorkeling with turtles, here are some essential tips to keep in mind:

1. Respect the Turtles' Space

While it's exciting to get close to sea turtles, it’s crucial not to disturb or chase them. Always observe them from a safe distance to avoid causing stress. Allow them to move naturally without interference.

2. Avoid Touching or Holding the Turtles

Touching or holding sea turtles is not only harmful to them but can also be dangerous for snorkelers. Turtles have delicate shells and can be easily startled by human contact.

3. Protect the Environment

Make sure to follow all local regulations and guidelines designed to protect the marine ecosystem. Avoid touching the coral, and ensure that you leave no trash behind. Keeping the ocean clean helps protect the turtles' natural habitat.

4. Use Reef-Safe Sunscreen

When snorkeling, it’s essential to use sunscreen that is safe for coral reefs. Many conventional sunscreens contain harmful chemicals that can damage delicate marine ecosystems. Reef-safe sunscreens are made with ingredients that won’t harm the environment.

5. Stay Calm and Relaxed

Turtles are naturally curious and may approach snorkelers. Stay calm and avoid sudden movements to prevent startling the turtles. Move slowly and allow them to approach you if they feel comfortable.

Conclusion

Snorkeling with turtles is a must-do adventure for any ocean lover. This activity offers an unparalleled opportunity to connect with marine life, witness the beauty of sea turtles in their natural habitat, and contribute to marine conservation efforts. Whether you’re snorkeling in the crystal-clear waters of the Great Barrier Reef or exploring the vibrant coral reefs of Western Australia, the experience of swimming alongside these magnificent creatures is something that should not be missed.

The next time you're planning a snorkeling adventure, consider making turtles the highlight of your trip. With careful preparation and respect for the environment, snorkeling with turtles will undoubtedly become a cherished memory of your ocean explorations.

[incrediblesphere]

Swimming with Sea Turtles: Akumal's Unforgettable Underwater Encounter

[coolyecoinau]

Golden Shores, Ancient Explorers: Get to Know the Turtles of the Gold Coast

Exploring the Enchanting World of Turtles on the Gold Coast

Welcome to the mesmerizing realm of the Gold Coast, where golden shores meet ancient tales of exploration. In this article, we delve deep into the fascinating lives of the Turtles Gold Coast, uncovering the secrets of their habitats, their significance in local ecosystems, and the awe-inspiring journeys these ancient explorers embark upon.

Discovering the Diversity of Turtles on the Gold Coast

The Gold Coast, renowned for its pristine beaches and diverse wildlife, is a sanctuary for various turtle species. From the iconic Loggerhead Turtles to the majestic Green Turtles, these creatures grace the coastal waters, contributing to the rich biodiversity that defines this region.

Loggerhead Turtles: Guardians of the Golden Sands

Loggerhead Turtles, with their distinctive large heads and strong jaws, are a common sight along the Gold Coast's sandy shores. These gentle giants play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance, ensuring the health of the marine environment.

Green Turtles: Graceful Navigators of the Deep

Dive into the depths of the Gold Coast's azure waters, and you might encounter the elegant Green Turtles gracefully gliding through the ocean currents. These herbivorous marvels are not only a visual delight but also crucial to the health of seagrass beds, contributing to the overall well-being of the coastal ecosystem.

The Ancient Connection: Turtles and Indigenous Cultures

The relationship between turtles and the indigenous communities of the Gold Coast dates back centuries. Tribes such as the Yugambeh People have woven these magnificent creatures into their cultural tapestry, considering them sacred and emblematic of enduring wisdom.

Conservation Efforts: Safeguarding the Turtles' Legacy

In the face of environmental challenges, concerted efforts are underway to preserve the legacy of the Turtles Gold Coast. Local organizations, in collaboration with marine biologists, are working tirelessly to protect nesting sites, monitor hatching success, and raise awareness about the importance of turtle conservation.

Dive Deeper: Engaging in Turtle Conservation on the Gold Coast

Volunteer Opportunities: Make a Difference

For those passionate about marine conservation, numerous volunteer programs offer a chance to actively contribute to the well-being of turtles. From assisting with nest monitoring to participating in educational outreach programs, there are diverse opportunities to make a positive impact.

Responsible Tourism: A Pledge for Turtle Protection

As visitors, it is our responsibility to ensure minimal disruption to the natural habitats of these majestic creatures. Following responsible tourism practices, such as adhering to designated pathways and avoiding disturbing nesting areas, contributes to the preservation of the Gold Coast's unique turtle population.

Conclusion: Embrace the Marvels of the Gold Coast's Turtles

In conclusion, the enchanting world of the Turtles Gold Coast invites us to appreciate the delicate balance of nature and our role in its preservation. As we celebrate these ancient explorers, let us embark on a journey of conservation, ensuring that the golden shores and their extraordinary inhabitants thrive for generations to come.

[randomtable]

1d66 Underwater Locations

11. Lair of an undersea dragon, a cave full of treasure and hot steam.

12. Kraken’s nest, built from shipwrecks and driftwood.

13. A wreck of an eerie, glowing ship that emits dangerous (magical?) radiation.

14. A dark sea floor vent that provides energy to large, eyeless creatures who have never felt the warmth of the sun.

15-16. A broad stretch of open ocean, home to a group of giant sharks.

21-22. An encampment of well armed merfolk who are wary of strangers.

23-24. The lair of a coven of sea dwelling witches, known to be dangerous but only if you cross them.

25-26. A deep ravine with treacherously fast currents.

31-36. A kelp forest, teeming with all kinds of sea life.

41-46. A brightly colored reef where many tiny fish and other creatures make their homes.

51-52. The underside of a pier, where merfolk occasionally meet with surface dwellers to make small trades.

53-54. A wide canyon with interesting rock formations and scenic views. An excitable merfolk park ranger runs a small visitor center near the edge, though visitors seem few and far between.

55-56. Stone ruins from an ancient city. The sea serpent that makes its home here is aloof, but not dangerous.

61-62. A kelp farm run by a family of friendly merfolk.

63. A bubble enclosing a tower, in which lives an eccentric but ultimately well-intentioned wizard.

64. A small city on the sea floor, populated mostly by sentient sea turtles.

65. A huge sunken chest, the size of a house. It’s full of oversized treasure that clearly once belonged to a Giant.

66. An inexplicable motel, with reasonable prices. Wet and dry rooms available, comfortable beds, free breakfast.

[bluesakurablossom]

When you fell asleep in his bed

You had to admit having a hero for a boyfriend was pretty amazing, someone who saves innocent people, stops evil from taking over the world, and yet is unknown to millions except the police department, Casey, April, Vernon and of course you. His girlfriend of now a whole year.

Even with him being a mutant twice your size that could easily knock a foot ninja into a million pieces from one punch, you were taken back on how gentle he was with you, how he treated you like a treasure. Unlike the relationships you have had in the past, he made this one feel special, all the things that a typical couple would do go on dates, go out to dinner, go to the movies, and buys gifts, he did those things but in a special way.

Takes you on dates where he thinks you would love, makes his special dinners along with the help of April, movie nights in the lair or on a projector on the rooftop in a pillow and blanket nest, and made you for your birthday a ring of your birthstone and his color mask stone to make a shell of a turtle. You haven't taken it off ever since...

He made you feel so loved and even though there were a few mess ups in his attempts, the fact that he tried so hard for you made you love him even more.

After an exhausting day at work, you were too tired to walk all the way home and luckily since you worked right above the lair, you decided you would crash there for the evening, he wouldn't mind. You were able to get the heavy manhole cover off and slid into the sewers. Luckily you knew how to get to the lair from the trick he taught you and you made it through, walking sluggishly through the turnstile.

It was quiet in the lair, meaning that the boys were still on patrol. It was a little after one in the morning and they should be home soon. You quietly walked to your boyfriends room barely keeping your eyes open as you let your bag fall from your shoulder letting it fall to the ground. Soon as your body hit the bed, sweet comfort and relief greeted you and smelling his scent that was embedded into the fabric was just what you needed after all that happened.

You wanted to stay up long enough to see him just before you would pass out. You pulled out your phone/book trying to keep your mind awake but before long your eyes started to get droopy and getting closer and closer together. You decided to rest your eyes for a moment but before you knew it you had passed out holding your phone/book in your hands beginning to snore away.

After another hour, the boys had returned home and retired for the evening, your turtle came to his room and he stopped seeing the sight before him. His beautiful woman fast asleep lopsided on his bed, snoring softly with her mouth slightly open. "Awwww Y/N....", He quietly walked in as he placed his weapon on the rack and walked over to you kneeling down on his knee

"Hey sweetheart? You awake? I am home", His voice gently spoke as he shook you slightly in the shoulder

The bed shifted under his weight as you felt him hang over you, moving some of your soft silky hair out of your face, he pressed his warm lips to your temple. Soon as it connected to your skin you felt a shiver run down your spine, his kisses were always full of meaning and emotion and that's one of the things that you love about him the most. How much he cares about you. He carefully took your phone/book out of your hands and placed it on his nightstand and sat you up slightly to slid off your jacket. His hands carefully took of your socks and shoes, soon to be followed by your shirt and pants placing everything in the corner of his room after folding it nicely. He wanted you to be comfortable as possible and he pulled out from his dresser one of his giant lounge shirts of his color that you loved to use as a night shirt. Even though it had a huge hole in the back you loved it still, cause when he held you close he would stroke your back with his calloused but soft hand till you fell asleep.

He slipped it carefully over your head as he laid you back down on the bed. Soon he got ready for sleep himself, taking off his gear and switching from his usual attire for a pair of baggy sweatpants. After coming back from the bathroom, he couldn't help but chuckle seeing your sleeping form. Before he had left, you were laying on your side and now you were on your stomach, the shirt had shifted up a bit and he could see your lingerie underneath, it was his color too.

You always had looked beautiful in his color and he couldn't get enough of you seeing in it. As tempting as you were right now, he knew you needed sleep and would wait till you were both conscious. He covered you back up with the shirt and slid down in bed beside you as the bed creaked from his weight.

Pulling you closer to him, you had come to rest your head on his shoulder and your left hand rested on his chest. He reached behind him to turn off the lamp as it left the room in darkness. Facing back to you, he let his hand pet your back up and down repeatedly feeling the softness and warmth of your skin, sometimes his hand would leave your back letting his fingers comb through your freshly shampooed hair a few times before returning.

He let his forehead rest against yours carefully as he watched you. His breath carefully blowing against your face. "You are so beautiful, I don't know what I did for you to choose me, but I am grateful everyday that I have you. You know I never thought I would be able to have what most people have on the surface, someone to call their own. I wouldn't be able to experience what being an relationship was like, get married, have my own family and along you came. My own angel. You know you are the best thing that has ever happened to me and I don't know what would I do without you. But I want you to know how much I love you and always will no matter what happens"

He knows you couldn't hear him as you continued to sleep on soundly. Planting a few kisses on your forehead, he covered you up with the duvet cover and settled down against you, resting the side of his face into your hair, taking in your sweet scent. His thick muscled arm surrounding you in protection, making you completely safe from anything that could been thrown your way. Unbeknownst to him, you fluttered your eyes open to see your boyfriend fast asleep looking at peace with a slight smile curved on his face. You had heard everything that he said to you, even from being in a deep sleep you heard every word and you smiled sitting up for a moment and giving his lips a deep peck. "And I will always love you too, my mutant", you whispered softly

You laid your head back down on his shoulder going back to sleep and there you both laid into each other's embraces sleeping the night away, with looking forward to seeing each other in the morning for another day filled with happiness and love

[nuclearnerves]

OKAY WHERE DO I START WITH THIS.

I'm gonna try to keep this as short as possible... I was thinking about Cortanas physical form HAS to be something beyond just light and electricity, so i was like "what if she was some kinda light slime... wait nudibranches are like funny cute slime-shapes.... if cortana was a nudibranch thatd be cute... she'd be with chief who'd be some kinda diver- WAIT WHAT IF CHIEF WAS A GIANT LEVIATHAN WHOS EGG WAS STOLEN FROM HIS NEST AND RAISED BY THE NAVY TO BE A WEAPON TO TAKE DOWN SHIPS AND CORTANA WAS A PSYCHIC LIL SEA SLUG THAT WAS PAIRED WITH HIM FOR MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY AND LASKY WAS THE CAPTAIN OF A NORMAL SHIP FOR RESEARCH PURPOSES OUTFITTED WITH HIS OWN LEVIATHANS AND NUDIBRANCHES"

and then as I was streaming this I got a LOT of good ideas from my friends and got me thinking about Spartan 2's being the leviathans, all of Blue Team being a squad that helps win wars and sometimes assists research ships (like Laskys). But as they're doin research, they find all these mer-person artifacts to power their ships and help transform humans into merpeople and control the leviathans better, and then they find the forerunners who are ACTUAL ANCIENT MERPEOPLE THAT THEY DISCOVER UNDER THE OCEAN and the merpeople go to war with them with their own leviathans, and then i was like, what if spartan 4's where humans who consentually underwent special processes using forerunner artifacts to become merpeople and the fuckin-- this isn't short. This is very long. Here, to top it off, have some Leviathan anatomy thoughts:

The rough of it is like, they're mainly sea creatures, but they can hop in and out of water as they need, so they have a mixture of hydro-dynamic design and some terrestrial parts. Spartan Leviathans have specialized Helmets that help them communicate with humans, as they ARE sapient creatures. They have a reptilian head, a little bit of a mix of turtle and alligator, the horn on the top of the head is firm and sharp, and the long neck is Nessie-inspired, and then on the body, they have two sets of arms. The primary arms hold manta-ray-like wings that help them swim through the water and glide through air should they ever need to jump. The secondary set of arms are kinda like rudders, but they also have individual digits that they can hold and manipulate things with, and the legs also work in a similar way, but instead of digits they can adjust to become terrestrial crawlers/feet. They can be out of the water for a few days, but need to be back in soon before things get bad. Then the tail similarly works as a rudder/steering device in water and when they need to glide in the air a little.

Okay I need to go to bed I have work in the morning

[hi-i-love-u-bitch]

Azula the good sister AU (AKA the Fire siblings have a healthy relationship AU)

I’ve just finished binge watching Avatar the Last Airbender and I already have an AU ready in my head. Please enjoy my ridiculous rambling!

Azula is still really tough and intense but she isn’t a fucking psychopath like in the series

She’s still a bending prodigy and “daddy’s favorite” but the latter isn’t something she wanted or strived for

She shows affection by teasing people, but she is also fiercely loyal and protective over the people she cares about. Like she’s nice but she’ll still cut a bitch if they hurt her friends and brother.

As most siblings do Azula and Zuko like to playfully argue and insult each other:

Zuko: *having just woken up*

Azula: wow you look like shit

Zuko: big talk coming from a midget with rat nest hair

Azula: at least I only look like this in the morning, you willingly keep that rat tail on top of your head. No wonder you have no friends!

Zuko: oh yeah what’s your excuse then?

They’re the type of siblings that in a modern-day setting would send each other a picture of a toaster saying “I found you a new bath bomb”

She absolutely adores her older brother and Zuko took his role as older sibling in stride even if Azula could practically take care of herself

They’re great training partners

Their favorite memory as children was feeding turtle ducks with their mother, they still do so even now after she’s gone

When she overheard her grandfather ordering her father to kill Zuko she left to tell her mother immediately afterwards she snuck into Zuko’s room to cuddle with him in bed claiming that she’d had a nightmare.

Their mother came in to kiss them goodbye goodnight before disappearing into the night. Zuko had been half asleep so he had no idea what was going on but Azula did and she knew what her mother was about to do. She didn’t know what the outcome would be but she knew that it would be the last time she’d ever see her mother.

Azula never told Zuko what happened only that it was all their father’s fault

It was then they began mutually hating on their father

Of course, they had no choice but to respect him as he was still the Fire Lord and could possibly kill them. But as soon as he was out of ear shot the siblings were like:

Azula: Why the fuck did he think growing out his beard was a good idea???

Zuko: He looks like a goat-pig

Uncle Iroh treats them both as his own children and helps them perfect their fire bending as well as teach them the art of tea brewing. Zuko still thinks it’s stupid but Azula becomes just as much of a tea fanatic as her uncle

Azula has had a giant crush on Ty Lee ever since they were children and everyone, but Ty Lee knows about it. On the flip side Ty Lee also has a giant crush on Azula ever since childhood and everyone but Azula knows about it.

Azula: That's a sharp outfit, Ty Lee. Careful. You could puncture the hull of an empire-class Fire Nation battleship, leaving thousands to drown at sea, because it's so sharp.

Ty Le: *confused but happy that her crush complemented her* Gee thanks Zula.

Azula: *later, screaming into her pillow* I’m such an idiot!

Zuko: *sitting beside her, sipping tea* Yeah, you really are.

The day Zuko was challenged to Agni Kai Azula told him that he was an idiot and that he better kick that loser general’s ass or it would be an embarrassment to both their training. It was her own way of telling him to be careful and that she was rooting for him.

When she found out that it was her father challenging Zuko to Agni Kai she had to be held back by Iroh to keep her from jumping into the arena to help her brother

Azula was determined to join her brother in his banishment but Zuko wouldn’t allow her, saying how it was his fault for speaking out of term and that his sister shouldn’t have to suffer from his mistakes.

They had a big fight after that because the siblings were nothing if not hotheaded and stubborn. Zuko didn’t want his sister to leave all she knew behind just because of him and Azula didn’t want to be stuck doing nothing while her brother suffers alone.

They parted there days later, regretful, angry, and sad. They didn’t necessarily apologies (let’s be honest what kind of siblings apologies to each other) but they did start writing letters to each other, which was their way of saying that they were cool now.

Zuko wrote to her about his journey to find the Avatar as well as Uncle Iroh’s ridiculous jokes and tea ramblings while Azula wrote to him about how things are back home as well as potential places where the Avatar could be located.

Both aren’t sure if the Avatar even exists anymore, but they keep hoping as it means that they will one day be reunited with each other.

The day Zuko found the Avatar he entrusted only his sister with the information as he knew that once word got out that the Avatar was still alive it would be an all-out man hunt.

Everything works out relatively the same as in the series except with Azula helping out her brother in the background. She’d secretly send her brother information about general Zhao’s whereabouts so as to avoid him as well as any resources he needed for his journey.

When Ozai ordered Azula to go retrieve her brother and uncle she was both delighted and terrified; she was happy to see her brother again, but she didn’t want to take him as her prisoner. So of course, she came up with a plan.

The first thing Azula said to her brother after two and a half years apart was: “Wow, you look like shit.”

He replied without missing a beat: “Big talk coming from a midget with rat nest hair.”

They hug for the longest time and in that moment, she quietly resights her plan to him: They had to pretend to escape from her and go into hiding. She’ll pretend to hunt him down and he’ll somehow manage to escape from her clutches every time. All the while they’ll work together in trying to capture the Avatar.

She enlists the help of Mai and Ty Lee telling them the minimal amount of information just in case things go south they can plead manipulation. Of course, Mai and Ty Lee are ready to go down with their captain/friend no matter what, but they don’t mind being out of the loop for the time being. They trust Azula and know that everything she does is to help her brother and uncle.

The events leading up to the battle of Ba Sing Se are pretty similar up until the part where Zuko makes a choice between helping the Avatar or his kingdom. He’s realized the pain and terror his ancestors have installed in the world; tearing away hope for a better future.

Just as Azula was about to strike Aang with a finishing blow Zuko stops her, telling her what they’ve been doing is wrong and if they want the world to prosper, they need to help the Avatar.

Azula was a bit annoyed seeing as she went through the trouble of sneaking into Ba Sing Se and taking over the earth kingdom from the inside out. But then again, her brother was right as she already knew of her father’s end game plan.

Azula: Zuzu, I love you, but couldn’t you have told me we were going to rebel against father sooner so I could have planned accordingly.

Just as there are loyalist to the Fire Lord there are also loyalist to the Princess as they see her as a more fit leader than the current ruler. And thus, that is how team Avatar was able to get a good portion of the fire nation army on their side.

Ba Sing Se has now been established as their main base with the entire city now having chosen the side of the Avatar.

At this point Azula still had Suki and the Kyoshi warriors held prisoner close by so she was able to bring them back without much fuss.

Azula: Er, sorry for imprisoning you and stuff. I just needed to save my stupid brother but we’re on your side now. Cool?

Suki: Only if I get to punch you in the face as hard as I can.

Azula: That seems fair.

Katara does NOT trust Azula and Zuko which is fine because Azula doesn’t trust her either but she knows they need to work together if they want to even have a slim chance of beating her father.

Katara: You might have everyone else here buying your ‘transformation,’ but you and I both know you’ve struggled with doing the right thing in the past. So, let me tell you something right now. You make one step backward, one slipup, give me one reason to think you might hurt Aang, and you won’t have to worry about your destiny anymore. Because I’ll make sure your destiny ends right then and there. Permanently!

Azula: Right back attcha bitch!

Toph and Azula get along swimmingly which both amuses and terrifies Zuko because one: he’s glad that his sister is finally making somewhat normal friends but two: those two together is just chaos incarnate

Ty Lee also really bonds with the Kyoshi warriors who teach her some of their fighting techniques in exchanged for her teaching them some chi blocking moves.

Suki and Mai start getting cozy with each other with Suki liking Mai’s skills and straightforward attitude and Mai admiring Suki’s confidence and bravery. It’s easy to talk with each other.

Sokka, at one point: Why the hell don’t we just send the girls out to defeat the Fire Nation? We’re all completely useless compared to them.

Also after a few month working together Zuko can now join his sister in her gay screaming

Azula: Did you seriously fall for that Water Tribe boy?

Zuko: You’re one to talk!

Azula: Hey! Ty Lee is an angel and we’re all lucky to have her!

Zuko: She once ate a whole bowl of fire flakes by herself and had to get her stomach pumped.

Azula: Look, what Fire Nation teen hasn’t done that at least once

Zuko: She did it THREE times!

Once the siblings and Co finally bond well enough with team Avatar tension lessens and their attitude go from: “uhg, I guess we have to work together or whatever” to “you are my friend now and I would die for you! I would literally commit murder if you asked me to, no questions asked”

Aang is baby and the Fire squad has now joined in the “Aang protection army” and in a similar fashion team Avatar have also learned that Ty Lee is baby and have now joined the “Ty Lee protection squad”. Even though Aang and Ty Lee are perfectly capable of taking care of themselves one cannot help but want to protect and care for the literal ray of sun shines.

Zuko and Sokka still have their epic rescue adventure to the boiling rock, with the extra help of their team. They sneak into the facility with disguises, Azula and her crew walk in like they own the place (news of her betrayal to the Fire Lord has yet to reach certain places), while the rest of team Avatar keep watch from afar just in case things start going south.

You know that scene where Zuko gets put in the freezer and when Sokka goes to let him out Zuko breathes out a breath of fire with a smirk? It was then and there that Sokka realized that his teeny tiny crush on Zuko might actually be a giant massive crush.

In this AU it is actually Azula that helps Katara track down the man that killed her mother because let’s face it, no matter what universe she’s in Azula will always be down to beat a bitch is ass.

This is the first time Azula has ever witness somebody blood bending and unlike most people that would usually freak out she was actually really impress and kind of turned on.

Azula: You know if I weren’t already madly in love with Ty Lee, I’d ask you to marry me in a heartbeat.

Katara: And I would accept that offer if only for the pleasure of rubbing it in your dad’s face

Azula: Why didn’t we become friends sooner?!?!

It is then the Little Sister alliance was formed in which they teamed up to poke fun at their bumbling brothers who keep awkwardly dancing around each other.

Their friendship can be summed up to: “I will kill you where you stand but also I respect you”

Okay, Imma just say this right now: Sokka is a fucking badass and even after getting taught how to fight by the Kyoshi warriors and the Fire sibling + Co. he reached a whole new level of badassery once he learned the ways of the sword by Master Piandao. Zuko’s little gay heart could only take so much and Sokka being all cool and collected while wielding a sword made the former Fire Prince short-circuit.

Zuko, in his tent, face down screaming into his pillow: Uhg, I can’t with this boy anymore!

Suki, rolling her eyes at her best friend’s melodramatics: Pull yourself together man.

Ty Lee, patting his head reassuringly: Don’t worry, you’ll get through this.

Azula, sipping tea beside him: This wouldn’t be happening if you just asked him out already.

Zuko: Don’t you fucking start with me hypocritical bitch!

Azula: *nervous gay drinking*

The day of the final battle Azula and Katara lead Hakoda’s army plus the Kyoshi Warriors to reclaim the fire nation capital while Aang, Zuko, Sokka, and Toph chased after the Fire Lord and his war ships.

The battle to take back the capital was brutal as there was still an entire army keeping guard with one of the Fire Lord’s generals acting as temporary leader. Unfortunately for them Azula still had a reputation of fear amongst the Fire Nation army and a lot of soldiers surrendered once they realized it was her leading the invasion and not the Avatar. Those that didn’t surrendered were defeated in battle because let’s be honest with a team this fierce there is no way in hell they couldn’t not win.

There’s also a scene where Azula is fighting off the general and a bunch of soldiers and it seems like she’s not gunna make it but she does, bloody and bruised but victorious. I imagen in that moment Ty Lee goes running up to Azula, jumps into her arms, and kisses her right then and there, while they’re still in the middle of battle. It’s super cool and romantic and it seemed to give Azula more energy than Sozin’s comet ever could as she seemed now ready to defeat god.

Azula: Y’all bitches be fucked now! I ain’t afraid to die but now that I gotta girlfriend I’m not going nowhere fuckers!

With Aang and his team it goes about the same as it did in the show; take down the ships, battle the Fire Lord, almost die, etc. That scene where Sokka thinks that Suki died on the aircraft is now replaced with Zuko almost dying then coming back to save their asses at the late minute. They too also kiss once they see that the other is unharmed while Toph rolls her eyes and gags at the sight.

Again, Aang does not kill the Fire Lord and instead takes away his fire bending powers before locking him in prison to rot. The fire siblings come by sometimes to annoy the shit out of him by flicking fire flakes at his head for target practice or psychologically torture him with excruciating detail of how they’ve been thoroughly fucked by their significate others in is bed and on his thrown.

Zuko: How’s it feel knowing that not only are both your kids gay but they’re also bottoms?

Ozai: *screams*

Azula: Ty Lee also fucked me atop your war room table :)

Ozai: *screams intensify*

In the end Zuko really doesn’t want to be Fire Lord so he happily passes that torch on to Azula who only agrees to take the job so long as Zuko becomes her second in command. Everyone is happy and with a lot of hard work throughout the years there is finally peace amongst the four nations.

[nights-legacy]

What I Like About You-TMNT

Requested by @nesting-dreams​

+reaction boys to a s/o, where the boys are unsure about their appearence, does s/o like their appearence? Why does s/o like their appearence and which parts? S/o finds their beak/snout really cute and their biceps are not half bad either, how do the boys deal with this info?

2003 Turtles

Leo:

The guys have always been a bit self-conscious when it comes to their look. They’re giant, talking turtles for god sakes. So when Leo got to call Y/N his girlfriend finally, those self-conscious thoughts stayed and also started to ask why she would be with someone like him. One day, Y/N catches him in his self-doubt when he is supposed to meditating.

“Why does she like me? I mean, I am a turtle. What’s so attractive about me?” He muttered, not being able to focus much. Y/N stood in the doorway silently listening to him.

“He really thinks this?” She thought to herself. She pursued her lips before kicking off her shoes and walking out onto the dojo floor. Leo was so unfocused that he didn’t even notice her walking towards him. She stood in front of him for a second before pushing his arms away and straddled his lap.

“Well hello.” He smirked with his eyes still closed and placed his hands on her waist. He peeked out one eye and saw her staring at him. He didn’t know she had heard him. “What’s this pleasant surprise for?”

“Do you really think all that about yourself?” Y/N asked. Leo’s face dropped and he looked away.

“You weren’t supposed to hear that…”

“I figured.” She said and placed her hands on his shoulders. A thought came to mind and she smiled. “I loved your smile. I love your eyes. I love you confidence.” He looked up at her. “I love the way you care for your brothers and your friends. I love every single bit if you, especially down to these scars that you have from protecting everyone. There is no other like you Leo. Human or mutant.” She said while tracing some of the scars that run on his arms.

“Y/N…” He took a big breath. He went to say something but stuttered and shut his mouth. He placed a hand on his face covering it out of embarrassment. She giggled and kissed the back of his hand. He peeked through his fingers and smiled. “What did I do to deserve you?” He whispered.

“I guess you can say you were rewarded for every good deed you’ve ever done.” Y/N said with a big smile. He brought his hand down and set it on her cheek. “If you ever feel like this, please don’t hesitate to come to me. I don’t want you feeling low and like something you’re not.”

“I will. Thank you. For everything.” He said before leaning forward and kissing Y/N softly. She kissed back before applying more pressure to his lips. He groaned before pulling back. “Are you trying to emphasize your point?”

“Maybe…Is it working?” She giggled. He just smiled before pulling her back to his lips.

Raph:

Raph has always been the most sensitive to their mutant status. He hates is and wishes so much that he could be human. In a way, when Y/N and Raph finally came together, those thoughts got worse and better. He didn’t think about them as often as he used to but when he did, it was bad. Not only did he think about how he was a freakish mutant, but he also thought about how he thought Y/N deserved better than a freak and why the shell she was with him.

“You know what Mikey! I’ve can’t even with you right now!” Everyone heard Raph yell throughout the lair. Y/N had been waiting for Raph to finish his training when she heard his outburst. He storm out of the dojo and past everyone and out the door.

“What happened, Mikey?” Donnie asked from the kitchen as Leo and Mikey came from the dojo/

“For once, I have no clue. It wasn’t me.” He held up his hands. Leo made a comment of agreement. Y/N looked out the door, lost in thought. There was something in his voice that gave way to something else. Y/N got up and followed him without a word.

“I can’t believe…Why do I…How could she…” Y/N could hear raph’s ramblings from the ground as soon as she exited the manhole. She climbed up the fire escape and sat down on the ledge of the building, watching him pace. “How could she ever love a freak with a temper like me?”

“So that it.” She thought to herself. She just sat there and watched him vent into the air without even knowing about her presence. That was until she adjusted and the metal railing of the ladder creaked. He immediately turned, Sais at the ready. “Hi.”

“Y/N…” He relaxed. She smiled and waved him over. He trudged over, knowing she heard him.

“You should apologize to Mikey.” He nodded and set his head on her shoulder. She reached up and rubbed the back of his neck. “You have the most amazing smile when you let it show. I love the way your eyes shine when you are excited about something or you are having fun. You’re the most handsome male I have ever met.”

“Y/N.” I set a finger on his lips.

“You give the best hugs when I need you. You may see yourself as a freak but I see you as the beautiful man that I love. You are more man than half of the city of New York, even if you are a turtle. Be proud of who you are. I don’t know what I would do without you.”

“I don’t know either, but about you. You’ve made me a better man, umm, turtle.” He chuckled and lifted his head. He looked at Y/N and saw the soft look she was giving him. He melted and hug her close. “Thank you.”

“I’ll always be here when you need me.” Y/N whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck. They sat in each other’s arms for a few minutes before Raph pulled back. He pecked her lips.

“Now I need to go apologize to Mikey. For once, he didn’t do anything.” Y/N chuckled and yelped as he picked her up and made way back to the lair.  

Donnie:

Donnie was more fascinated with what they are then having a problem with it. Being the scientist he is, it wasn’t surprising to say the least. They only reason he had for hating what they are is not being able to have a normal relationship with Y/N. Not being able to do normal couply things with her, for her.

“Can’t take her on a normal date. Can’t give her a normal night together. Always hiding, always having to look over my shoulder. My god.” Donnie fumed in his lab. They had been out on patrol and Donnie saw a couple out together and became irritable. He remained silent the rest of the night until he got home to his lab.

“What did you guys need?” Y/N asked, walking into the lair. They shushed and directed her towards the lab. At the door, she could hear Donnie’s rambling and her heart fell. She looked back at his worried brothers. She smiled and silently slid into the lab.

“Why is she even with me? I can’t give her what she needs. Not while I look like this!” He screamed the last word and threw his bo across the room. It crashed against a shelf and things came crashing down.

“Donnie!” Y/N yelled. He whipped around and looked at me surprised. Y/N stood there holding her now bleeding arm with a broken piece of an old radio on the floor.

“Oh my gosh! Y/N, I’m so sorry.” He rushed over, picked her up, and sat her on his medical table. He went to work on cleaning her wound.

“Your hands are strong and capable of anything.” He paused for a second. “You can so anything you set your mind too. I love the way your arms hold me, the feel of them against me, clutching me tight. Your biceps are very nice too.” Y/N ran her hands up his arms. “I love your cheek bones and how they become more pronounced when you’re excited about a project.” He looked up at her.

“What are you saying?”

“You can give me everything I need just as you are.” She said without pause. His hands paused in wrapping and eyes widened when he realized she heard him. He sighed and finished wrapping the bandage. “What you are and everything you do, is enough or more than enough for me.”

“Y/N…” She placed her forehead against him and kissed him. “Why do I ever doubt us.” He asked against her lips.

“You don’t doubt us. You just doubt yourself and I don’t know why.” She pulled back. “I love you and couldn’t think about live the rest of my life without you.” She kissed him again. He smiled against her lips.

“Sometimes I think you’re more of a genius than me.” He whispered. He picked her up and sat down in his chair with her in his lap.

“Na. I just more in tune with the emotional side of the spectrum then the scientifical side.” She leant into his plastron, wrapping her arms around his neck. He nodded and held her tight.

Mikey:

Mikey has always been the most care-free out of his brothers but he’s also always been more empathetic. He cares about what others think and wants to help in any way he can. This also means that he takes things to heart when people comment on who or what he is. Unlike his brothers though, Mikey prefers to actually talk about it than the alternative.

“Mikey. They just don’t understand. You know most people don’t understand the mutant thing.” Donnie tried to comfort his younger brother.

“Yeah I know. But they don’t have to immediately jump to the monster factor.” Mikey sniffled before running ahead into the lair. He wiped his eyes and bolted for his room.

“My lord Mikey!” Y/N screamed, book flying, as Mikey slammed into the room. She noticed the tears on his face and reached out. “Mikey, what’s wrong?”

“Monsters! They called us monsters!” He flung himself on the bed and buried his head in Y/N’s tummy. She stroked the back of his head as he cried. “I don’t normally get this upset but for some reason, this time got to me.”

“It’s perfectly fine to be upset, Mikey.” Y/N tried to reason with him. He got up and started pacing.

“I mean it got me thinking.” He started to talk with his hands. “Why is someone as beautiful as you with a mutant like me? You could have any man you wanted and you chose me. I just don’t get it.” He dropped to his knees in front of the bed. “You chose a green, mutant freak show…monster.”

“Now stop that right now Michelangelo.” Y/N said sternly. She scootered forward. “You are in no way even possible in this messed up world a monster. Not even remotely close.”

“I guess.” He muttered looking down.

“Mikey.” She sighed and grabbed his hands. “You know, a monster wouldn’t have this adorable snout.” She kissed it, right below the mask. “A monster wouldn’t have your dazzling smile. And a monster definitely would not have this amazing bod.” He gulped as she placed one hand on his plastron. “And most of all, a monster would not have these magnetic, dreamy eyes that caught my attention and made me see past your differences.”

“Oh cupcake!” Mikey exclaimed and pulled Y/N into his lap. He held her tight and placed kisses all over her face.

“Mikey!” She giggled and tried pushing him away to stop his attack. “S-s-top!”

“NO! I have to thank my cupcake for helping me. Like she always does.” He pecked her face a few more times before pulling back. “I wish I knew how you did it. You always know how to make people feel better, even Raph.”

“I don’t know. I just always been good at it.” She wiped off the remaining tears. “Are you sure you’re feeling better?”

“Yeah. Some people won’t accept me for who I am and that’s fine. I have the people I need right here in these walls…and in April’s apartment.” Y/N giggled. She was glad that her happy-go-lucky boyfriend was back. She cuddled into his neck as he rambled on about something.

“Oh, good. You’re feeling better.” Raph stood in the door way. “Leo sent me to tell you foods here.” Mikey yelled with glee before carefully helping Y/N up. Then he shot out of the room. “Thanks. You are a miracle worker and saint.”

“Awe. Is Raph going soft?”

“Shush. I got a Rep to protect. Now come on, before your boyfriend eats it all.” Y/N laughed and followed her nun chuck head path to the kitchen.

[khunfounded]

See You in the Morning

As the adrenaline wore off, Bam found himself continuously looking around just to make sure they were all real. His friends surrounded him, worn out and bleeding, but alive. These were the people that kept him fighting, that kept him surviving all these years, despite everything that Fug put him through. He worried that if he blinked they would all somehow disappear. If he weren’t so tired, he honestly thought he would be crying out of sheer joy and disbelief.

Early that day, Shibisu had proclaimed that a celebration was in order for the winning team Sweet & Sour, and in honor of their members that were currently out of commission. Food and drinks were passed around, with sweet and sour pork making a prominent appearance.

Bam sat on a couch in between Khun and Rak, only partially listening to Quaetro and Yeon avidly discussing Yeon’s newly discovered control over her fire. He loved them all, truly, but his eyelids were falling and it was getting hard to keep up with how fast they were both going. He found himself leaning more and more heavily into Khun’s side, which elicited a side-eye and a faint chuckle from the other.

He had missed this dearly, but at the same time he couldn’t help but think that he had never really had it before, either. There was no Sweet & Sour, or Ran, or Quaetro, or really Quant and Lero-ro. Even the people he did have back then, he thought, he didn’t appreciate enough. Bam had known what loneliness was, but he hadn’t known true loss until he fell away from all his friends and had to use every ounce of his determination just to keep them alive.

Bam knew they felt the same way, too, with the desperate hug Rak gave him when they finally saw each other again, and the long glances Khun kept giving him every time he thought Bam wasn’t looking. Bam wondered if Khun thought he was going to just disappear out of thin air, too.

His head fell onto Khun’s shoulder as he turned his face to watch Ran and Anaak slowly get into a more and more aggressive debate over hotdogs that would have quickly gone to blows if Arkraptor didn’t intervene. He felt Khun shift next to him as a breath wisped over his temple.

“Tired?” Khun murmured so only he, and perhaps Rak, could hear.

“Nah,” he responded through a yawn, which didn’t help his case, but he persevered, “I’m fine. Just a little sleepy, I guess.”

“You look exhausted, Black Turtle,” came the gruff voice on his other side, “as my prey you should take better care of yourself, so I can beat you fair and square!”

“I’m fine,” Bam promised, unable to control his grin, “I just wanna stay up for a little longer”.

Yeah, Bam missed this. This unyielding friendship and unquestioning love. People that cared about his health simply because they wanted him to be okay, rather than wanting their god to be at tip top shape. He had been worried, sometimes, in the back of his mind, if his friends would treat him differently after all this time, after all he’s changed.

It wasn’t the same, true, but not because they were afraid of him or wanted to use his power, but because they had all changed over these past seven years. Rak seemed more self assured, less likely to just jump into battle without any forethought. Shibisu was more comfortable in his own skin and Hatz was starting to trust more in himself than his sword.

Khun, too, he thought, as he got comfortable against him, was different. He was more closed off from the people around him, unless they were Bam or Rak, and there was an edge to him that Bam hadn’t seen before. It was like he was holding his cards close to his chest, except you had no idea how many there were or even what game he was playing. Bam was sure that it was good for battle, but he was also worried for his friend.

He turned his head slightly, looking up through his eyelashes at Khun. He was watching with hidden mirth as Lero-ro tried and failed to teach Miseng and Quant some game using spoons. To Bam, Khun had always looked ethereal, like a shinsu moon. But unlike the moon, Khun was right there, and Bam was allowed to be close to him, rather than just bask in his glow.

That’s why Bam could never understand Rachel’s fascination with the stars. Sure, they were pretty, and they gave you light, but there were so many more important things, like friendship, and laughter, and games with spoons. Things like Khun’s eyes, bluer than the rarest suspendium and crinkling at the corners.  

Those eyes shifted to look straight at him, making Bam smile softly.

“I missed you guys,” he admitted, words gentle in their honesty.

A long look and then, “I missed you, too,” whispered like a prayer. 

Except Khun would never pray to Bam, which was one of the reasons why Bam loved him so much. In a fit of contented inspiration, he knocked their fingers together, before grasping Khun’s hand and squeezing.

That earned him a tiny smile and a squeeze back, Khun intertwining their fingers. Bam was just about to ask him about the spoon game when he found himself letting out a loud yawn. 

“That’s it,” Rak said above Khun’s snickers, in a tone filled with humor but brooking no argument, “It’s bedtime for tired turtles.”

Bam raised his head to interject but Khun spoke before he could.

 “I’m pretty exhausted, too. You weren’t the only one fighting for your life, there, Bam,” he teased as Bam pouted, “I’ve been ready to sleep for a while.”

He got up, bringing Bam’s hand, and subsequently Bam himself, up with him.

“We’re going to sleep,” Khun loudly announced as Bam stumbled against him, “Don’t wake us up unless someone is actively dying”.

He turned to Rak, who’s compressed legs were swinging from where he was sitting on the sofa, “You coming, Croc?”

Rak bounced up and scrambled over as Khun started to tug Bam out of the room, “Of course, Blue Turtle, you couldn’t stop me”.

Beneath the cries of goodbyes and goodnights, Khun smirked, “I wasn’t trying.”

--------

They headed into a nearby empty room, and Khun shoved Bam into the bathroom to get ready for bed whilst he and Rak put together a makeshift bed. It was an unspoken agreement that none of them wanted to be away from each other for any longer than they had to. Seven long, long years had been enough.

Bam splashed his face with cool water, washing the stress and excitement of the day down the drain. When he looked up at the mirror, he almost jumped from shock. He was smiling, small but genuine, and it was the first time he had seen his face like this in years. He didn’t look like Viole, he looked like Bam, someone he thought he had lost years ago.

Pushing his bangs out of his face, Bam looked into his own eyes and saw himself. Not the 25th Bam, the new Irregular out of his depth, or Jyu Viole Grace, the monstrous Slayer Candidate. He just saw Bam, the teammate, the friend, the person. Even with the needle glowing brightly behind him, he felt like a human, rather than the deity half the Tower wanted him to be. Unable to help himself, he let out a tiny giggle as his bangs fell back onto his face.

He had once asked Rachel what home was. After so long, he couldn’t quite remember what her response was. But maybe here, he thought, he had found the answer. Home is where you can be yourself and be loved for it.

There was a knock on the door and an, “Are you okay in there?” from Khun.

“Yeah!” Bam responded, quickly rubbing his face with a fluffy towel, “Almost done!”

When he came out, he saw that Rak and Khun had made what could only be called a nest on the ground. Rak looked supremely comfy swaddled in the giant pile of soft blankets and pillows. There were a couple of candles laying about that could only be Khun’s doing. They matched the red color of Bam’s needle, but their soft glow and scent were far more soothing.

“What was so funny in there?” Khun asked from where he was throwing another blanket over Rak, much to the crocodile’s protestations. 

“Nothing,” Bam said as Khun raised his eyebrow and Rak scrambled out from beneath his fuzzy trap, “I’m just really, really happy.”

Both of his friends stopped, twin looks of something like awe on their faces, before they smiled and Khun said, “Good, now get over here.”

“Yes, sir!” Bam exclaimed, before taking a running leap at the pile, dragging Khun down with him as he did. Truly, this is what all his training had been preparing him for.

Khun spluttered loudly in his arms as Bam and Khun laughed breathlessly. After pushing Bam on top of a squawking Rak, Khun got comfortable, settling under the blankets. Rak shoved Bam in between the two of them and put his scaly head in the crook of Bam’s arm. 

“This way I can make sure no one steals my prey,” he informed them.

Bam grasped Rak’s claws in one of his hands and squeezed, “Thanks Rak. I knew I’d be safe with you.”

Rak huffed, “Of course you are, Black Turtle! I am Rak Wraithraiser and you are my prey! Nothing will keep us apart!”

He covered himself in a thick blue throw and nuzzled further into the nest, his breaths turning quickly into snores. Bam chuckled quietly before turning his head. Khun was on his side, head tucked into his elbow, looking at them both fondly. There was a comfortable silence as they stared at each other, each drinking in the presence of their dear friend.

“Hi,” said Bam.

“Hey, yourself,” Khun replied, “He missed you, you know. He never really believed you were dead. He always told us, “Someone strong enough to be my prey could never die just like that!” I still can’t make myself believe he’s actually right.”

“Well,” Bam swallowed at the intensity in Khun’s eyes, “I’m right here.”

“You are,” Khun smiled, cupping Bam’s face with one hand, thumb gently caressing his cheek, “And I have never been more glad for anything.”

The words, accompanied by the soft touch, made Bam’s cheeks heat up. He couldn’t put into words how precious this person in front of him was. Khun had fought harder than anyone to get him back, and even before he knew Bam was alive, he was still devoted to keeping his wish. No one had ever done something like that for him, no even Rachel, who had given him light.

Bam took Khun’s hand and brought it to his lips, kissing each of his fingertips gently. This time it was Khun’s turn to blush, and Bam watched as it went all the way to the tips of his ears. In a fit of inspiration, Bam kissed the tip of Khun’s nose, making his friend squeak and get impossibly brighter.

“You’re here,” Bam whispered, kissing Khun’s forehead, before gazing deep into his suspendium eyes, “And I have never been more glad for anything.”

Khun opened his mouth, but before he could say anything, Rak’s voice rumbled from Bam’s other side, making both of them jump.

“Go to bed, mushy turtles,” he commanded, before quickly dropping back to sleep, snores once more filling the room. Bam and Khun, looked at each other, breaking into hushed laughter.

Bam once more took Khun’s hand, brushing a soft kiss against the knuckles and intertwining their fingers.

“Goodnight, Khun-ssi,” he whispered, letting his head fall against the pillow and eyes droop closed.

He drifted off to sleep to the soft promise of, “Goodnight, Bam. See you in the morning”.

[Guess what arc I finished. Gonna edit it before putting it on ao3 and maybe add another chapter]

[stingray-stories]

Day 24 7/21/2021

Helllllllo friends!

Today was soooooo fun. Maybe my favorite day yet. Which is saying a lot since most my days here have been amazing. Hopefully I can paint a nice picture for you. It began with a nice cozy sleep. In the morning, I didn’t workout to give myself a nice break and some more sleepies. I had a nice yummy breakfast and then met up with the Cocos crew to get ready for our visit to the refuge (specifically the East-West causeway) to do a bird count. I threw on my biosecurity outfit and hopped in the Guardian mask free with the Cocos (their quarantine is over yay!). When we got to the East-West causeway, we waded through the water to get to the very thin strip of land (previously a road built in the 40s) where we started our count. I wasn’t much help since this was my first go at it, but our job is to count active nests and determine varying stages of the bird babies. The Cocos crew are experts so I listened, enjoyed the scenery, and took wayyyy too many pictures. It was so much fun seeing all the different stages of the babies. Little eggy eggs that had been recently laid, naked little dinosaurs, fluffer nutters, awkward little fluffy and nudey mixes, grumpy-potamus looking ones, and full grown cuties that are not quite ready for flight (as you may have noticed I have become very well versed in the technical descriptions used during bird counts ;)). Overall we saw red-footed booby babies, masked booby babies, brown booby babies, frigate bird babies, and red tailed tropicbird babies (at a certain stage they call them chocolate chips eeeee so cute). We also saw lots of crabs and a baby black-tip shark do do do do. My favorite little baby was this super awkward brown booby who had a bunch of fluff around it’s neck and on its hips making him like quite the distinguished little gentleman. Honestly there were so many cuties it’s very hard to choose my favorite. After a lovely morning, we headed back to shore, I changed into my regular clothes, and then tried to help with the last little bit of community day. While we were out on the refuge, the rest of the crew was doing odd jobs around the station for community day so I missed most of the grunt work while I ooed and awed at little baby birds. I’m not complaining at all!

In the afternoon, Ben, Mollie (one of our fabulous chefs), and I had an early lunch so that we could go out and help Hank and our CMO (chief marine officer), another Ben, document the installation of new snorkel buoys and some smart satellite buoys. In a nut shell, we got to snorkel and take pictures of them working underwater. It was SO much fun. The first site we stopped at was the Rubble Pile (marked as a dead squirrel on the map hehe) where they installed a new buoy since the old one was not in great shape to anchor up to. To do this, they brought new chain and fed it through the a cement block about 15 feet down and then they connected the float buoys which sit 5 or so feet in the water column and then the surface buoy which is what we snag and link the boat to when we are snorkeling. Mollie and Ben were taking photos of the whole process while I watched and explored the reef. I saw a very calm and chill turtle swim by, some curious snappers, and a huge crown of thorn sea star which was cool to see but also a bummer since they can cause damage to the reef. Next, we headed to Tortagonia (or tortellini or tortilla) to set up a satellite buoy. At the sites where we set up the satellite buoys, there were previously established concrete blocks with a small submerged yellow marker that we had to find at the surface. We had rough coordinates and Hank knew where they were generally located so it wasn’t too tough. I also didn’t mind hanging out in the boat and enjoying the views. The weather today was spectacular. Not too much sun but just enough to keep you comfortable while snorkeling (I get chilly swimming after awhile even though the water here is usually a balmy 80 degrees depending on where you are). The water was also soooo clear it was like we were in an aquarium. So visibility was pasta primavera aka primo aka perfect aka amaza! I saw a ton of giant clams and lots of fishies like the humbug dascyllus (my current favorite), bigeye emperor, and yellowmargin triggerfish (or peach face). After Tortagonia, we stopped at station to grab some things and then we headed back out to North coral gardens and Barren islet to explore and install another satellite buoy. This is my new favorite part of the atoll. There’s soooo much to see in the water. It’s really shallow and there’s tons of coral covering the sea floor. It’s like a carpet of coral. Blue, green, pink, yellow, and brown. It reminds me of this toy I used to play with as a kid called Aqua Sand. It was like a drip castle underwater but with colored sand. The magical part of it was when you took it out of the water it was dry! Anyway it looks just like that. It’s soooo amazing. There were also tons of fishies swimming about. We swam to Barren and climbed up onto the coral rubble which is moved and shaped by the waves. It’s similar to the Rubble Pile, but there’s a lot more land and a lot more wave action coming in from the Pacific. At the end of Barren, there are two decoy bird colonies. These areas of Barren are the only parts we are allowed to access. They are technically apart of the refuge but we don’t have to worry about biosecurity since there’s not much there but rubble. The south western parts of the islet have more going on, but we can’t venture there due to unexplored ordinances from WW2 times. In the parts we could access, we walked around and did some exploring, but not with our fair share of difficulty. I mentioned that the end of Barren is coral rubble and only 2 out of the 5 of us brought shoes. “Lucky” for us there was a fair amount of trash that had washed up on shore which included many random shoes. I found a croc flip flop and a platform flip flop. Mollie also found a kid sized croc flip flop so we ended up passing the shoes around so we wouldn’t struggle too much on all the dead coral.

Overall, the whole experience was insane. The waves crash there in all different directions creating these crazy patterns in the rubble. It looks like aliens in a cornfield type of thing. The best part of it was standing at the end and watching the waves go all over the place. It’s just the big ol Pacific out there and it’s very powerful. Hopefully I can post of video of it because it’s very hard to explain how crazy it looks.

After hanging there for awhile, we headed back and stopped to fix another buoy by the North-South causeway. We got back to station pretty late but it was a fantastic day. So much fun on the boat! Once we got back to shore, we had some leftovers, I rinsed off, and then headed to bed. I was soooo tired after such an incredible day! Woweeeee!

Pictures will be a separate post. I got lots!

[thelostandforgottenangel]

Zootopia Tarzan Moana Atlantis 101 Dalmatians Frozen Beauty and the Beast Hercules Aladdin

Zootopia – Would your muse enjoy living in utopia, or would they feel out of place?

Raven would completely and utterly probably hate it; sure maybe she would like a world where everyone got along and lived in peace and her family was safe from harm… but she lives in the sewers (Currently is up in the woods away from civilization with everyone) – she would feel way out of place

Tarzan – How did the place your muse grew up in affect them?

Strangely enough where as the turtles were eager to get to the surface she loves living underground and might prefer to stay there unless they are out in the open with nobody around for miles like up at the cabin, it gives her a sense of safety and security she only feels around her family if she is up top on patrol

Moana – Does your muse believe in fate or destiny? What is theirs?

Nope not really! Let’s put it this way she didn’t expect to see the late teenage years and truthfully she expects she will probably die so it’s a live by the moment kinda thing and accept there might be no chance of seeing next year much less 25.

If she does have a destiny it will probably be to kill her bastard of a sperm donor who has tried to kill her and her family one to many times

Atlantis – Is your muse adventurous or do they prefer to seclude themselves?

Both, but you gotta catch her on the right day! She loves exploring places she’s never seen wondering off too far from home sometimes getting herself into trouble other times finding somewhere for her and the turtles to hang out, other times she’s like a feral kitten with some violent tendencies meaning she hides either in her room or up in her crevasse within the pipes if there are people she don’t want to be around or trust in the lair *cough*Vern*cough*

101 Dalmatians – Does your muse have a large collection of any particular thing?

If you’re talking collections she has several but we’ll just do the bigger two; one is a box of the most random treasures she finds either in the sewers, through the grates, or up on the surface when she’s patrolling. Most she shares with the guys if they really like something but everything else is in this pretty box hidden under her bed

Pillows!!!

Her bed consists of a ‘nice’ queen size mattress they found on the streets then topped with about 50 *not exaggerating* of the plushiest pillows she could find while on junkyard supply runs crafted under her sheets into a nest, any stuffed animals she decided to keep from when she was a child sits along the back wall, and a giant knitted blanket Raph made her which she curls up in right in the middle of it all. Yes she has stolen all of her brother’s pillows before; Donnie’s not to many times because she wants him to sleep, and yes they had to physically go in her room at 6 a.m. when they had just got home from patrol and gotten cleaned up to drag them out from under her fake sleeping body or offer a new pillow so she will give it back… her bed is the softest so sometimes revenge is taken out on her for not giving them back in a timely manor by one of them climbing into her bed to just sleep there for the night being to tired to really work to get their stuff back

It’s a trap, this was her plan all along because she likes cuddles; Raph and Mikey give the best but good luck when she needs to get up, Leo is just fun to nestle up against cause he churrs softly in his sleep and it is soothing as fuck, if Donnie winds up in there it’s usually cause he missed his door or he couldn’t get comfortable

Or the lair is cold at that point they all nestle in the same room to keep from getting too cold

Frozen – What is your muse’s relationship with their siblings like?

It can be a rocky thing from time to time because they are still siblings and there will always be disagreements or rivalries… but no matter what she loves her brothers and their relationship is pretty good.

She is the baby of the family and no matter how mature she acts her brother’s spoil her rotten same as they did when she was tiny, she literally gets away with murder because of her big bright green eyes and innocent face (This is a lie don’t fall for it)

Leo although strict with her training because he would feel like a failure if she got hurt or died while in the middle of patrol or a battle pushes her harder then his younger brothers even gives her extra lessons if he feels she isn’t getting it but tends to let her goof off just a bit if she is doing great (Denies it to the highest power if called out by anyone)

Raph will act tough and argues with her either cause she’s bugging him or asking him to do shit (Will act like he hates her from time to time, they get into physical altercations, have at least one yelling match a day a real serious one every other week or so) but is the biggest teddy bear if close to the teen and thinks nobody is around, he still lets her ride around on his shell or his shoulder if it doesn’t hurt too bad because he does love her even if he will never admit it

Donnie no matter what always gives her his latest tech to try out since he believes she will tell him the truth if it needs work  and updates her laptop before Mikey’s game system because he can and she never asks him for much

Let’s face it; she is Mikey’s best friend, baby girl, and partner in crime! Both of these babies can always be found in the kitchen cooking almost every day and when they are not they are causing hell by pranking the other three, putting graffiti on the walls, playing their music too loud while having an epic dance party, fucking with Leo while he is attempting to train or meditate until he gets so frustrated they can pull him out of that serious ‘Leader Mode’ he runs on or as Raph calls it ‘Pulling the stick out of his ass’

Beauty and the Beast – How has your muse changed as a person over their life? Have they changed for the better or for the worse?

As a young child she was the same as she is now nothing seemed to bother her only she was a lot more fearful of humans believing they could get her through the TV and the scary metal monster that haunted her dreams until she was almost 13…so we did get a lot of personal growth

It’s could be worse – she could have been raised by Shredder but nobody wants that!

Hercules – Is your must more physically strong, or emotionally strong

She tries to be both but she is 5’4½, 170 pounds soaking wet with all her gear on, and even though Raph tries to put some more muscle on her she’s still tiny … they all remind her of this daily

I think she’s more emotionally strong; it takes a lot to break her unless it’s about the guys being hurt or almost killed then she shuts down, stays by their side, and cries like a baby until they are better

Aladdin – If your muse had 3 wishes, what would they be?

Her family’s safety will always be her first wish no matter what

For her brother’s to be accepted by the world above because seeing them upset by some unappreciative asshat of a person that ran screaming after they saved them from harm when they may have risked their own lives hurts her a lot. She will sit and comfort them if she is allowed and has held a sobbing Mikey a few too many times

Last but not least you would think she would want Shredder dead and his head on a pike but actually all she wants is one whole day of silence, everyone getting along, and for Donnie not to drink all of the damn coffee before 9 a.m.

@betelgeusessonajblog

[jennifercrowart]

D&D Diary - The Yawning Rodent, 15

Refresher: Our adventurers Lugs (grung barbarian), Lurk (grung rogue), Aelia (tiefling cleric), and Valas (drow sorcerer) with tagalong Deku (ratfolk cleric) fought Belak, his giant frog, McKennedeigh, and Bradley in Belak's grove. While Belak was taken down fairly easily, his death caused McKennedeigh and Bradley to go in a frenzy, drinking the blood from his body and becoming stronger. After a tough fight, the party managed to kill Bradley, and tie up an unconscious McKennedeigh. Lugs and Lurk grabbed the ruby red fruit of the Gulthias tree before it was set entirely ablaze, filling the cavern with smoke. The party took shelter in what seems to have been Belak's study.

Sunless Citadel spoilers!

Now in Belak's study, Lugs sits at his desk and tries to mime doing work with all the papers. He finds a candle in a candle holder, and deduces that it had been burning several hours ago - someone must have been here recently!!! Thinking hard, he takes the candle stick and eats it.

Aelia finds a few spell scrolls, as well as a mantle of some more valuable items; gemstones, Belak's stash of gold, a glove with a rune design on the back of the hand, and a silver circlet inlaid with a sapphire. Meanwhile, Deku goes through the bookshelves, and finds several titles placed closer to the desk that look more heavily used. One is called Born to Die, a book in Common about the Druidic theories of the life and death cycle. There's also Treasures of the Fire Lords, a collection of ancient journals written in Elven, and, finally, his stolen library book Cults Around the World.

Cults Around the World:

True to the title, it details several cults around the world. One such cult is called the Cult of the Dragon, also known as the Keepers of the Secret Hoard, who lived in the Sunless Citadel for 1400 years until the Cataclysm. The citadel was once called Maetrine Keep, home to a powerful vampire called Illythia. The cult took over, but were a secretive and shadowy group. It's said that a huge red dragon could be seen about the citadel during the cult's reign. The cult is said to have perished when the Sunless Citadel - along with other citadels across the continent - sunk beneath the earth during the Cataclysm 800 years ago.

Although he recognises the popular language the script is written in, Deku passes the old diaries to Valas, who can read Elven. Deku assumes, with disgust, that they're Belak's journals regarding his experiments.

The Vampire Diaries:

Written in Elven, this appears to be a collection of journals kept by an old, experienced, and powerful vampire woman called Illythia. It talks about her building a large citadel for herself called Maetrine Keep, in which she ruled over the nearby lands with her army of vampire spawn for approximately 300 years. The land Maetrine Keep stood over is described in the journals as a large and dense forest with a winding river running through it from the ocean, and seems to be set pre-Cataclysm.

Valas flips to the most recent page of the unfinished final diary. The last pages tell of Illythia's army and of the threat of an encroaching army - led by Ashardalon - but doesn't end. Interspersed throughout the journals are much more recent slips of parchment, with a different handwriting and notes taken in common on vampire biology and magic.

Next, Deku tries to read Treasures of the Fire Lords. As he opens it up to the second page, a warding glyph on the paper lights up, activating an icy explosion that fills the room. On instinct, Deku immediately throws the book away from himself before hiding inside his oversized armour like a turtle, and Valas - unable to take much more pain - uses his last spell slot to cast Absorb Elements on himself and take just a quarter of the damage. Wounded from their previous battle, Lurk and Aelia take the full brunt of the explosion, slamming them against the study's walls with ice before they slump to the ground, unconscious. Lugs, brawnier than most, is able to absorb the hit, and he rushes over to his brother's body to start helping him. He tips water from his barrel into Lurk's mouth, filling up his cheeks like a balloon.

Deku comes over and pushes Lugs out of the way, complimenting him on his good work, before gently compressing Lurk's chest so the water squirts out of his mouth like a fountain instead of drowning him. With his cleric knowledge and his medicine kit, he's able to stabilise both Lurk and Aelia. The still conscious party members make some space on the rug for Lurk and Aelia to rest and sleep it off, Lurk propped up on a bed of books that Lugs made for him.

The Treasures of the Fire Lords book is worse for wear now, but what remains seems to be writing in Common matching the annotations in the vampire diaries - Belak's writing, all research notes on his experiments on Chadley, McKennedeigh, and Bradley. It mentions that Chadley was experimented on differently to the latter two, and Valas and Deku are concerned to hear this, unsure if Chadley is currently ok at the Rat's Nest.

Lugs beckons his fire snake to sleep against the storeroom wall outside the study, and the snake does so, as Lugs seems to have had good luck with befriending the creature who's still full on the goblin he fed them. They bring McKennedeigh's tied-up body inside the study so they can keep watch over her, and wedge the doors shut with pitons in case of intruders. Secure, the party takes a long rest for the rest of the day, which passes by without issue.

They have the chance to inspect some of the potentially-magic items they'd picked up recently. The gold circlet with metal woven into flames and a ruby in the centre is called the Circlet of Ignition, which lets the wearer cast the 2nd-level spell Flame Blade once per day. The silver circlet with delicate weaving and a sapphire is the Sojourner's Circlet of Rituals, giving the wearer advantage on maintaining concentration during ritual spells. Lastly, the butler-looking glove is The Master's Glove, which can be used to cast Unseen Servant spell once per day. On the inside of the Sojourner's Circlet of Rituals are etchings in Dwarven, which read, "Made in the Glitterhame caverns of Khundrukar. Quality assured!"

Later, Deku checks up on Aelia and Lurk as they wake up. McKennedeigh has also woken up, and is writhing around, hissing and spitting in a vicious fury. Lugs gives her a few bonks with his club until she passes out again.

Aelia eagerly claims the Circlet of Ignition, Deku takes the Sojourner's Circlet of Rituals, and Lugs takes The Master's Glove.

The party leaves the study and heads back towards the remains of the Gulthias tree, intending on investigating it further now that the fire has gone out. Everyone else stays very far back as Lugs goes on ahead to crack open the burnt husk of the trunk. Inside is a lot of empty space, with burnt vein-like structures twisting all the way down from the outer shell of the tree towards its base, where it all comes together and twists into a wooden stake that's been jammed into the torso of a skeleton with enough force to break several ribs. Just the torso of the skeleton is visible above ground, never having had a proper burial. Lugs chuckles to himself, and uses The Master's Glove to have the unseen servant - an invisible, mindless force - puppet the skeleton's torso while he steps back and feigns surprise and fear. The performance is so overblown and shoddy that it doesn't fool anyone, and the brittle, ancient skeleton begins to break apart as it's manipulated and no longer pinned in place by the stake.

They think this is Illythia's skeleton - the corpse of the slain vampire who initially built this citadel before the Cult of the Dragon moved in.

Lugs breaks off the stake from the rest of the tree that grew from it, while Deku also takes some samples of bone and bark just in case they want to study it later. With nothing else of note, the party begin heading back to the well shaft so they can leave the Sunless Citadel.

Aelia tries to come up with a plan on what they'll say to Yusdrayl when they get  back to the upper floor, as they obviously aren't returning with Calcryx like they kept saying they would. She points out that she and Lurk still bear the marks of ice burns from the glyph explosion before their rest, and hopes to use that as proof that they fought Calcryx down here, at least.

They reach the well shaft that is their only known path to the upper level of the citadel, and Lurk climbs on ahead to scout. Lugs takes a barrel and some chains from the laboratory they passed through, combining them with rope to make a big bucket his fire snake can climb into while he carries them up. Unable to carry both the fire snake and McKennedeigh, however, he opts to leave his heavy water barrel behind for the time being, and offers Aelia (the second strongest party member) 100 gold to help him carry his fire snake, which she hesitantly accepts.

When Lurk's about 30 feet from the top of the 80 foot shaft, he hears Yusdrayl's voice calling out to him, asking him how their search went and what happened to Belak. Above him, Yusdrayl is leaning over the lip of the well, her big golden eyes peering down. Panicking, Lurk doesn't answer her question, and instead asks if she has a bathroom he can use. Dumbfounded, Yusdrayl says that the Kobold Gang often just goes out in the Underdark, away from the citadel. Lurk keeps insisting that they must have a bathroom and that he needs to use it, and Yusdrayl asks him why he doesn't just go on the lower floor, which must be empty of threats if they defeated Belak. Lurk gives in and climbs back down, to do his 'number 3s'.

When he gets to the bottom of the shaft, he tells the rest of the party what happened, and that Yusdrayl is on the lookout for them. Unsure of what else they can do, the party climbs up, and hears Yusdrayl calling back down to them again when they're about halfway.

Yusdrayl demands to know where Calcryx is, but Valas asks if they can answer her questions once they're done climbing up the shaft, as they're exhausted and don't want to fall. Yusdrayl says that they better answer her quickly, then. Indignant, Aelia starts arguing with her, confused as to why Yusdrayl has stopped trusting them. Ignoring Yusdrayl's warnings, Aelia continues climbing up the shaft, though she stops when Valas notices Yusdrayl's elite guards leaning over the lip of the well with their slingshots trained on the party.

Valas tells Yusdrayl that they did find Calcryx with Belak as they theorised they would, but that the white dragon was not yet loyal to the druid, and she fled into the Underdark soon after the fighting started. Unable to ignore Belak, the party had to stay and fight him instead of give chase to her. Yusdrayl wants proof of their story, but Valas tells her that they can't have proof because Calcryx is gone. The Kobold Gang leader relents and allows the party to climb up to Durnn's chamber, but on the condition that she'll be sending some of her bandits down to look for any traces of Calcryx to verify their story.

The adventurers climb to the top of the well, and find that they're surrounded by the Kobold Gang. Amongst them is Durnn, grinning sadistically. Yusdrayl explains that she's grateful that they took care of the Goblin Gang for her, but that Durnn had eventually come back to tell her about the party betraying her, saying that they took Calcryx from the Goblin Gang days ago but still never returned her to Yusdrayl. She was convinced that Durnn would just be trying to get her to turn against them, but resolved to see if the party would finally return with only excuses and no white dragon one final time.

Durnn tells her that, if Valas' story is true, Belak's grove and study - where Durnn says the druid would've been - is very far away from the one exit to the Underdark on that floor, which is very close to the well shaft. Valas says that a new rift opened up in the grove, which is where Calcryx escaped, but Durnn just comments how convenient that would be for their story.

Instead of climbing up with the rest of the party, Lurk had instead climbed back down the shaft. Yusdrayl demands to know where he's gone, and Aelia says that he wasn't done 'with his number 3s' yet. 'Number 3s' sound like a truly horrific burden to bear. Yusdrayl sends down two of her bandits as well as an elite guard to the lower floor to investigate for signs of Calcryx, and they pass by Lurk on his way up as they climb back down.

When Lurk reaches the top, he telepathically communicates to Aelia and Valas (as he can only do so with 2 people at a time) that he set his two hunting traps at the base of the shaft. He tells Lugs that in Grung, so the bandits around them don't understand. When the bandits and guard reach the bottom, those up top hear pained screams. The elite guard yells from below that it was trapped, and that one of the bandits is badly hurt. Having used this to wipe out even just 3 of Yusdrayl's followers from the battleground, the party readies to fight her as their betrayal is revealed!

[amixiifish]

Heat- Chapter 34: The Airship

“Zuko?” Sokka’s bleary voice said from somewhere on Zuko’s right.

Zuko opens his eyes to see everyone awake but him and Sokka.

Sokka was curled around the smaller teenager, inhaling the scent of content omega.

“Yeah?” Zuko replies.

“Where do you think my dad and the rest are?” Sokka asks.

“Sokka-”

“Just tell me. I won’t do anything stupid.”

“If I had to guess, probably the Boiling Rock.”

“What the fuck is the Boiling Rock?”

“An inescapable island prison inside a volcano surrounded by boiling water.”

“Wow.”

Zuko snorts. “Yeah, wow.” 

Sokka pouts but hugs his omega closer. Suko turns and presses his face into Sokka’s collar.

“Get up!” Toph yelled, throwing mud at them.

Zuko’s nose wrinkles distastefully. Haru laughs from where he’s helping Katara cook rice.

Jet was speaking intently with Teo about something. Jet blows an over-exaggerated kiss to Zuko when he notices him staring.

Zuko rolls his eyes but gets up. Sokka whines at the loss but allows him to leave.

“Zuko, Zuko, Zuko! Duke stole my beads!” Aang cried.

“No, I didn’t! I just borrowed without asking. And my name isn’t Duke, it's The Duke!” The Duke cried.

Zuko was completely lost (when did we get beads), and Katara was wheezing she was laughing so hard.

Zuko eventually calmed the two down and they managed to compromise. 

“Hi, Katara,” Zuko said, hugging the taller bender from behind. He buried his face in the back of Katara’s neck and his hands were held loosely around her abdomen.

“Nice to see you haven’t forgotten me,” Katara teased.

“How could he forget about the person who’s breathing down his back 24/7 to make sure he doesn’t do something stupid?” Jet said from the side.

“Haru, could you make the rice? I’d like to spend some time with Zuko,” Katara asked the Earth bender.

Haru nods and waves them off.

Katara turns and hugs the omega back.

“Wanna go on a walk?” Katara asks.

“Let’s,” Zuko said with a smile.

“Don’t die,” Teo calls from the back.

“Yeah, yeah,” Katara said, waving them off.

“So…” Katara says, looking at Zuko as they walk through the southern side of the forest.

“So what?”

“Have my dad’s gifts had to be used yet?”

“Dear Agni, Katara, no!”

“That’s disappointing.”

“If this is our conversation then I’m turning back,” Zuko threatens, turning around slightly.

Zuko turns but is stopped by a giggling Katara.

“I’m joking, let’s go,” She said, her eyes crinkling with a smile.

They lay on a stream, Katara bending a nice fluffy snow bed to lay on. She made sure it wasn’t cold. Zuko laid his head in Katara’s lap. 

“I missed you,” Katara murmured, carding her fingers through his hair.

“I’ve been by your side this whole time.”

“Not like this.”

Zuko hums in acknowledgment.

They lay like that for a while, Katara half asleep and Zuko already passed out. They are rudely awoken by a crashing noise from their right.

Katara immediately raises a wall of water and Zuko takes a bending stance.

They slowly creep towards the noise to see a couple of monkey-squirrels jumping around on an airship.

“Is that a-” Zuko starts.

“Yeah. And by the looks of it, it’s been here a while.” Katata said with worry etched on her face.

Zuko pokes her cheek. “Don’t do that. It’ll give you worry lines.”

Katara snorts. “Like you don’t already give me worry lines.”

Zuko huffs in irritation.

“Should we tell everyone else?” Zuko asks.

“No,” Katars said, shaking her head. “They’ll only worry. It’s fine. If needed, we’ll tell them.”

Zuko nods. “Can we go and eat now?”

Katara looks shocked. “Oh my god, I didn’t give you breakfast.”

Zuko suddenly sees a turtle duck in the pond. 

Katara was pacing trying to remember the way back when she’s bombarded with the smell of happy omega.

She turns to see a baby turtle-duck sitting in Zuko’s lap.

Zuko, though he would deny it, squealed with joy when more joined the first in his lap.

Katara felt her heart both explode with joy and convulse with pain at the sight. She knew how much Zuko’s mom liked turtle-ducks. She sits next to him and smiles as the mother waddles up to her. She climbs onto Katara’s lap but still watches her kids from her comfort zone.

“We need to go,” Katara said quietly, hating the looks of sadness on Zuko's face.

Katara picks up the babies and puts them into the pond one by one. The mother lets out a sound of thanks and follows her children.

“But I want to pet them more,” Zuko whines.

Katara rolls her eyes. Then a smirk forms on her face.

Zuko looks up too late as Katara throws him over her shoulder, a shriek leaving the surprised omega.

“Put me down!” Zuko demands.

“No,” Katara said as they walked into the temple.

Everyone laughs as Katar puts a blushing Zuko down.

They all laugh, eat and enjoy the rest of the day.

That night, Sokka slipped away from the nest and went climbing on Appa.

He gets to the top only to fall back with a silent yell as he sees his omega with Jet sitting on top of Appa.

Zuko looked over the edge of the saddle with an accusing glare. “You said you wouldn’t do anything stupid!”

“I’m not! I’m saving my dad!” Sokka snapped back.

“Not without us!” Jet hisses.

“What?” Both Zuko and Sokka whisper yell.

“Thanks, man,” Sokka said, grinning as Jet pulled him up on Appa.

“What a great idea. When we get there we can go to the flying bison daycare, have some tea with Avatar Roku, get pedicures with Sozin, and then ask to get your dad back. Clearly they’ll give him to us with no fight at all,” Zuko said, sarcasm dripping with every word.

Sokka looked like he was about to argue but Zuko gave him a look, making him shut up.

“We can take a war balloon. I saw one crashed here on the southside with Katara,” Zuko said.

Sokka huffs but jumps off Appa to walk towards the forest.

“He does know that’s north, right?” Jet asks.

Zuko just sighs.

Eventually, they make it on the balloon with Zuko regulating the flight with his fire.

Jet’s as relaxed and Sokka was anything but.

“What’s wrong?” Jet asks the other alpha.

“We’re very close to the moon. My first girlfriend turned into the moon,” Sokka said.

Zuko turns away from his bending of the firepit. He questions his wording. “That’s rough, buddy,” Zuko says finally.

“That was so condescending, it’s not even funny,” Sokka deadpans.

Zuko smiles but kisses Sokka’s cheek. The water tribesman visibly relaxes after the show of affection.

“I made these balloons with a friend of mine,” Sokka recalled.

“Oh?” Jet says, mildly interested.

“Yeah. Balloons but for war. Then the Fire Nation started to use them for war,” Sokka said.

“If there’s one thing my father knows it’s war,” Zuko mutters.

“Runs in the family, I guess,” Jet said.

Everyone freezes. Zuko suddenly looks beyond pissed.

“How could you say that?” Zuko snapped harshly at the alpha.

“I didn't mean it that way, you’re a good person and-” Jet placates but tears are already burning Zuko’s eyes.

“My uncle was such a great person! He would never fight unless made too. He was like a father to me. He stood by me and showed me love when one else would. And I hurt him. I left him to Azula, no less,” Zuko said, sobs wracking his frail body.

Jet shushes the omega and wraps his arms around him, gesturing Sokka to join.

“Oh, honey, you didn’t leave him. You're going to save him, ok? We’ll bring him back,” Jet coos to the omega.

“I’m sure he still loves you, darling,” Sokka said, the pet names making the firebenders’ sobs lessen.

“I’m sorry,” Zuko says after a minute.

“No, I am. I shouldn’t have said that. I’m sorry,” Jet said firmly.

“It’s fine. I think we’re here,” Zuko informs the two looking over Jet’s shoulder.

“Holy shit,” Sokka whispers, and , yeah, that pretty much covers it.

A giant fortified metal brick filled with living, breathing people surrounded by scalding water.