#um. pirate guy isn’t nearly that close with the others. they were new

[trollbreak]

Ummmmm Pyrric and catsup and the space pirate guy* with the octopus tattoo were experiment buddies btw :3

[kybervisions]

a taste of life [kylo]

summary: ben solo is brought back from the dead by a force-sensitive pirate and is given the opportunity to start a new life as part of her crew. 

author’s note: hdjfkj i love the idea of a pirate!reader so here is my contribution,, so this takes place a few weeks after the battle of exegol in which the first order was defeated ,, if you’ve played jedi fallen order than reader’s ability is exactly like cal’s ,, lmk what you think :)) ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

“I have a bad feeling about this,” Isao muttered as he navigated the ship through the wreckage. The ruins of Star Destroyer fleets decorated Exegol, evidence of the New Republic’s victory. And There was so much to loot! You chuckled. The Scorpion landed near a weird-looking throne. It was so dark that Isao landing the Scorpion was a miracle. 

“Well I see a very fun trip to Canto Bight in our future,” You said with a smile and ran out of the cockpit. It had been a while since you last visited the city and partook in the activities of wealthy individuals. You so desperately wanted to gamble and drink credits away, so you quickly strapped your belt on and grabbed a blaster before exiting the ship. Nori ran after you. 

“Canto Bight? I thought we were going to Jedha and see the remains of the Jedi temple there,” Nori expressed disappointment with your desire to return to Canto Bight. She had become obsessed with learning more about the Jedi after learning about your Force sensitivity. 

“Jedi Temples don’t have open bars,” You reminded your Twi’lek friend, “or casinos,” Nori sighed in frustration. “I’m just trying to be plastered and gamble,” You smiled. “No need to get ourselves involved in Jedi business,” 

You’ve known about your connection with the Force your entire life. You were a member of the Blazing Chain — an organization of nomadic raiders made up of Force Adepts that wandered Unknown Space. With no loyalty to the Sith or Jedi, the Blazing Chain simply utilized their Force abilities to make raids easier. Three wars occurred, and each time, for better or for worse, the Blazing Chain remained neutral. You had no intention in breaking that tradition. 

As you walked, you found a cube. The strong fog made it nearly impossible to see, but your foot gently kicked it. A faint blue glow radiated from the cube and you felt a compulsion to pick it up. You knelt down, and as your fingers touched the cube, a scene played back in your head. And then, a blinding white light. 

“Ahh, dank farrik!” You shouted and crawled away from the cube. Nori ran to your side. 

“What happened? Are you okay? Did it happen again?” Nori asked frantically. By ‘it’ she was referring to one of your ‘echo episodes’ in which an object gives you a memory by touching it. You were one of two adepts cursed with that ability from the Blazing Chain. It was referred to as a Force Echo. 

“I’m fine,” You groaned, feeling a sharp pain in your head. “That kriffin’ holocron was part of the battle here,” You informed Nori, crawling back to the cube. It wanted to be opened and only you could do it. 

“Whoa,” Nori marveled at the unique gold design on the cube. You held the cube in your palm of your hand and closed your eyes. Within seconds, the holocron levitated and opened. “That is so cool,” Nori muttered. 

A white ball of energy emerged from the holocron. You opened your eyes and a bright white light shined. You appeared possessed, and it terrified Nori. She screamed. You began muttering words in a language she couldn’t understand. 

The energy ball dispersed. The holocron closed and fell back onto your palm. 

“What the kriff was that?!” Nori exclaimed. You stood up, completely unfazed by the recent possession.  

"No clue,” You told your friend. 

A tall man dressed in black emerged from the fog. The light from the Scorpion beamed on the man. He was very pale and bloody. His black sweater bad a large hole and was absolutely filthy-looking. 

You would not be caught dead wearing that. 

“We don’t want any trouble, um, sir,” You attempted to de-escalate the interaction. The holocron must be worth thousands and there was enough on the Star Destroyers to share with the beaten-down man. 

“Do you know who I am?” The odd man asked. 

“Oh...um, no?” You replied. You looked to Nori. She shook her head.

“Where did you get that?” The man looked at the holocron in your palm. 

Immediately you tossed the cube to Nori, who put it inside her bag. “Get what?” You played dumb. “Do you need any help? A new outfit perhaps?” You asked him, looking at the large tear on the chest area of the sweater. 

His right hand reached for the hole in the sweater. His fingers touched his bear chest. He stared blankly at you, “I’m lost,” He felt a strange comfort when looking at you.

It was you that gave him life. 

“Well you are in luck!” You said with glee. “We are pirates and there isn’t anywhere we can’t go,” You informed the stranger. As a child you learned all the best traveling routes to bypass First Order and New Republic checkpoints. With the power struggle and chaos that followed the fall of the First Order there was no better time to be a pirate.

“Coruscant,” He replied rather quickly. With Alderaan destroyed, his mother would be buried at the capital. Coruscant had been in open rebellion against the First Order, and he was certain the New Republic would restore peace. 

Your smile dropped, “Coruscant? Why would you want to go there? Are you part of a gang?” You questioned and reached for your blaster. “Like I said, we don’t want any trouble,” You said cautiously. 

“What do you have in Coruscant?” Nori asked, aiming her blaster at his head. 

Truthfully, nothing. Kylo had nothing. 

“Where are you going?” He asked you, and your smile returned. 

“The Smuggler’s Moon,” You replied. 

Kylo remembered hearing Han mention Nar Shaddaa throughout his childhood. It was an entire world filled with pirates and outlaws. It was also the homeworld of the Hutts. Leia would threaten Ben with a visit to Nar Shaddaa when he would not behave. It terrified him as a child. 

“Got some people that might be interested in that glowing cube,” You mentioned. 

“You can’t sell that!” Kylo exclaimed. Both women took a step away from him, but they weren’t scared of him. They appeared rather annoyed with his outburst and demand. 

“First of all, I’m the captain, so watch your tone,” You pointed at him, unamused. “Second of all, I can sell whatever I want,” 

“That cube is an ancient Jedi artifact,” Kylo informed you. 

“Oh, well in that case,” You smiled. Kylo smiled too then, believing he had convinced you to keep the very thing you used to bring him from the dead. “I know just the Hutt to sell this to,” 

His smile dropped instantly. 

“Are you a Jedi?” Nori questioned. 

Was he a Jedi? Ben had been a padawan when Snoke tainted his mind. He spent more years of his life as a pawn for the Sith than he did as his uncle’s student. He blankly stared at Nori before his attention returned to you. 

“Doesn’t matter,” You answered the question for him. He was beyond grateful for your reply. “The cube is getting sold, and you, my friend, have three options,” Ben knitted his brows and slightly tilted his head in confusion. “You can remain lost on this hellish planet, I sell you, or you can join my crew,” 

“Why?” Kylo asked. Kindness was not virtue he experienced often. There had always been strings attached to the kindness of others. Snoke disguised his actions as a way of helping Ben. Oh, how stupid the mind of a child is. 

You had already done more than you knew — you brought him back to the land of the living, unknowingly it would seem. Offering him a spot on your crew was you giving him a chance to truly live. Joining your crew would also give him a chance to figure out how you gave him life.

“Tall, broad-shoulders beast like you, figure I could sell ya for some pretty New Republic credits,” You smiled, taunting Kylo.

“Isao said to hurry up or he’s going to leave without you,” A B1-series battle droid exited from your ship. The droid was in pristine shape, despite its mismatched torso and right arm. "I don’t know if he was being serious,” The droid added. 

Nori walked toward, “I’ll hold him off,” Both she and the droid boarded the ship. “And I’ll adjust your sarcasm setting,” Nori smiled at the droid. 

“So, what d’ya say?” You asked him. “Roger could use help cooking and cleaning,” You laughed as the words left your lips. You were filled with genuine happiness. Kylo could feel it, and it was intoxicating. 

He gave you a simple nod, “I will join your crew,” 

“Great, do you like Canto Bight?” You asked and began walking toward the ship. Kylo was hesitant to follow you. You felt his hesitancy and stopped walking to face him. 

Kylo studied you for a brief moment. Nothing about you screamed danger, but he was almost certain your hands were drenched in blood. “I’ve never been to Canto Bight,” He replied and took steps towards you. There was so much Ben had yet to see. So much of the galaxy still left to explore, and somehow, you blessed him with the breath of life. 

“Oh, you are in for a treat, big guy,” You stated, more than happy to show off your favorite vacation destination. “But first we are gonna need to buy you some clothes,” You said and boarded the ship. Kylo followed after you, and the scent of burnt cookies touched his nose. 

“Sorry!” Roger apologized, attempting to get rid of the smoke by frantically waving his arms.

[nowoyas]

Stop Counting

A/N: day 27 of the Izumonth server collab hosted by @birds-have-teeth​! this one is pretty much just a lovechild of me and my absolute adoration for Skies of Arcadia, an old JRPG and one of my favorite games of all time, hence *sky* pirate instead of just, like, regular pirate Izuku. this fic was initially intended to end with a big old NSFW sequence but I couldn’t make myself like it. if I ever make myself like it I’ll probably post that section as a sequel/alternate ending!

Summary: You are one of many captured by the Empire and forced to work dangerous jobs aboard their ships. Izuku and the other members of his crew raid your ship in search of things to sell and gold to take, and leave with you. (sky pirate!izuku x reader)

Warnings: angst. there’s a sad dog. at this point you can assume if I wrote a fic there is probably swearing somewhere.

Word count: 4700+

Something is wrong.

You don't know what. You can't know what. But the men holding you aboard this ship are running and shouting even more than usual (which is saying a lot). The ship shook about sixty breaths ago, which is becoming less of a good method of time-keeping now that you're starting to feel more scared than you're used to and your breathing is quickening.

You live in this engine room. When you are told, you add fuel to the fire for the men on the ship. You try to keep time. You count your breaths as best you can. Every eleven thousand breaths or so, with steady breathing, you receive food. You sleep only when a guard allows it. You thank the moons that they aren't working you to your total death.

You have worked in this ship for a very long time.

A very long time, and yet, no time at all, because you no longer have a way to tell the time, other than your breaths. And in this very long time, you've never once heard the men running around like this.

Footsteps are approaching your door. Many, lighter than those of the armored men who feed you or guard you. And it isn't time for you to receive food.

So who is approaching your door, you wonder?

The footsteps stop in front of your door, and after a moment, you hear muffled voices.

"I don't know, maybe we can get some extra fuel for our ship while we're here, too."

The voice is unfamiliar. So unfamiliar, in fact, that familiar feelings well up in you. You're no amnesiac: you remember what life used to be like for you, what the sky looked like, how it felt to talk and have friends and family, though you've long forgotten who those friends and family were. Most importantly, you remember hearing stories of (and even once meeting!) rogue pirates who raid Empire ships.

Empire ships like the one you have lived on for so long you only mostly remember what it felt like to gaze upon the moons.

"I think you're wasting time. How are we going to get the door open, anyway?"

"I-I think I can pick the lock!"

Your body moves without thinking, and you nearly launch yourself at the door, raising your fists to pound against the metal as you search for your voice. "A-are you guys rogues? Please get me out of here! Please!" The strain on your throat forces you to cough, and you fall to the floor, landing roughly on your knees as you cough up a lung from sheer stress.

"Someone's in there!"

"I'm working on it!"

You don't realize you're sobbing in your spot, not when the door swings open wide, not until you're being cradled against someone's chest and helped to your feet.

"Hey, you're okay. You're free now. We're taking over this ship."

The dam officially breaks. Clutching at this kind stranger's top, you begin to sob. He struggles a bit in your hold, wriggling around until he's shucked off his jacket and draped it over your nearly bare shoulders. "For now, come with us, and we'll help you decide what to do from there, okay?"

You whimper pathetically, subconsciously snuggling into his hold and his jacket as you look up at his face and nod. Your savior is a man with a boyish face, unruly green hair, and freckles across his cheeks the way you remember the stars. He smiles down at you as reassuringly as he can.

"My name's Izuku. Can you walk?"

Another nod. "I-I don't know the way out," you borderline whisper, voice unbearably hoarse. "I haven't been outside of this room in... a long time."

He nods. "We're gonna gather up some of this ship's fuel. Stay close to me, I'll protect you. The Empire can't touch you now."

~

Izuku Midoriya isn't quite sure how to feel about the latest raid. The Empire ship was full of guards, full of fuel and food, not so full of gold. They took what was valuable, and left.

And then there's you.

This is hardly the first time Izuku's boarded a ship in his time. He's done plenty with his crew, and learned quite a lot. But it never truly hit him just how unjust the Empire was until he found you. You're obviously malnourished, dressed in tattered clothes that barely cover anything important and covered in a layer of grime that stubbornly remained even after your first attempts to clean it off. The girl who'd gone with you to help you wash up must have scrubbed the skin raw, and yet you still look shaken, skin stained from skies only know how long you spent locked in that engine room. Your hair, precariously long from time spent with no way to cut it, has been drawn back into a bun.

Now, while the rest of the crew is drinking and feasting, you stand off in the corner, hands at your sides as you breathe slowly. You're not even watching the fun, eyes closed. Izuku's jacket swamps your malnourished form–how long it must have been since you had a decent meal, and you're just standing in the corner while the others eat.

He's heard stories, sure. The Empire captures people from conquered settlements, usually the healthiest, and puts them to work in manufacturing or dangerous, unfun jobs like adding fuel to ship furnaces. Usually, these people go mad after not much time, or when they're freed, they throw themselves into the sky or refuse to leave the engine rooms. You'd hesitated at first, but once you were out of the room, he kept you close at hand, one point of contact at all times until you were safely below decks of The Crescent.

With a huff, Izuku stands, grabbing a plate of food and walking over to you. "H-hey, um."

You open your eyes, watching him curiously as he thrusts the plate of food towards you in offering. 

"I know it's scary right now, but everyone on the crew really is good. You should eat something, and come sit down, i-if you want? I don't even know your name yet; I'd like to talk to you, if I can."

You look down at the plate of food for a long moment, and then back up to him. You speak in a meek voice, so quiet and hoarse that he has to lean in to hear you. "[Name]..."

"[Name]," he repeats, testing it on his tongue. "Your name?"

"I think so. It's been... A very long time. Since I had one."

"It's a good name. D-do you want to come up to the deck with me to eat? It's probably been a while since you saw the sky, and I bet these guys are pretty overwhelming when they're drinking."

"Okay, I-Izuku."

Without another word, you follow him up to the deck of the ship. He'll get you out of your shell yet.

~

Before long, you find yourself cleaning the ship whenever you can to help out. You've been aboard the Crescent for a week now—Izuku is sure to check in on you often, and with his help, you've started to integrate yourself into talking more with the rest of the crew, and last night, you even ate with everyone. After a week of baths and attempts to scrub yourself clean of engine room grime, you finally feel clean, light in a way you're sure you've never experienced. 

Some of the crew members banded together to find you a full outfit to wear instead of your previous rags–you look rather like a street rat wearing a rogue's clothes now, instead of your previous pure rattiness. Izuku hasn't asked for his jacket back, and so it remains with you, a strange source of comfort as you find new places on the ship to hide.

Right now, though, you aren't hiding. When Izuku comes looking for you, he finds you cleaning the bridge, eyes glued to the sky rather than your work. It's a cool night–a sniff of the air suggests incoming rain.

"Hey, [name]," he says as he approaches. He's learned quickly to approach slowly—you tend towards the startled animal around sudden noises, and no one wants that. You nod your acknowledgement. "The Captain's looking for you. You should get inside, anyways, I think it's gonna rain soon."

You stand, tearing your eyes away from the sky regretfully. "I-I see."

"Sorry to tear you from your stargazing." He offers an apologetic smile, which you take with your usual nod. "It must be strange, to be able to just look at the sky after everything that's happened to you."

"Mm. It's prettier than I remember. I missed it."

"You seem to be recovering well, though! I'm impressed by how well you're doing already."

"Recovering," you breathe. "Right."

You find the captain in his own cabin, where he's poring over some maps and marking something down that you don't know enough about to comment on. He looks up at your intrusion, and instinctively, you step closer to Izuku. 

You're not sure how to feel about the captain. Sometimes, he's larger than life itself, loud and showy. When he's not, it's as though he compensates, becoming small, sharp, and calculating. No matter how he's acting, he looks at you in a way that scares you even though there's always compassion there. Granted, you feel vaguely uncomfortable around literally everyone aboard the Crescent, but somehow it's worse around Captain Yagi.

"Ah, [name], come in!" He seems to be in his soft-spoken mode—you stay rooted to the spot, hands coming up to pull your jacket tighter around your shoulders. Izuku telegraphs his movements, placing a hand on the small of your back to help you understand that you're being asked to come stand at the table with Captain Yagi.

'What did you ask to see me for?', you want to say. Instead, you manage a painfully quiet, "you looked for me."

He nods sheepishly. "Please, sit down. Izuku, my boy, you may stay if you wish. If I'm not mistaken, [name] seems a bit more comfortable with you around."

The two of you take your seats, and Captain Yagi sits across from you. "Now then. I'm not sure how much you've been told, [name], but typically, when we find captives such as yourself aboard Empire ships, we try to return them to their homes or, if we can't, bring them someplace to start a new life. But, from what I've heard from the other crew members, you don't have any place to go, is that right?"

You nod, biting your lip. Your eyes scan the map on the table. None of it looks remotely familiar to you. "I don't remember enough. Um... Maybe a harbor town. There were lots of boats. But that was so long ago, even if I were to return, I don't remember anyone who was there."

He sighs. "I figured you might have spent too long in captivity to remember much. Did they ever once let you out of that room?"

"If I wanted to eat, I had to go wait in the side room I slept in until they put my food down and left."

Izuku's eyes flash in recognition. "Are you talking about that broom closet in the engine room? You slept there?" he asks, his voice pitching with anger.

You cringe, moving to hide in your jacket. "I'm sorry."

The hand resting on your back smooths over carefully in small circular motions. It's almost calming. "Hey, I'm not mad at you. I'm mad at the people who did that to you. You're okay."

"I apologize if I've brought up unpleasant memories, child. We could use someone aboard the Crescent to help keep things clean, and our cooks could use the helping hand. If you're aboard the ship, you help out. That's our main rule. If you'd like, we can let you onto our crew for a time, so you can leave if we happen to find your old home to return to."

"Okay."

"My boy, young [name] here is the most comfortable around you. Can I formally ask that you show them the ropes and help them get accustomed to the ship?"

"I can help with the engines if you need it," you say. "If the Crescent has a similar engine."

He smiles, shakes his head. "No, my dear. If possible, we'd like to keep you from ever entering an engine room again. You've spent quite enough time around them, for sure."

"Oh. Alright. Thank you, Captain."

"If I may ask, how often did those Imperials actually feed you? You don't have to answer, I'm just curious."

"Every eleven thousand breaths," you reply automatically. "If I was lucky. Sometimes, they forgot."

"Eleven thousand... Breaths?"

You nod. "I keep steady breathing. I needed some semblance of time. No natural light in the engine room. So I count my breaths, always. The people on this ship seem to sleep after around six thousand, seven hundred breaths, based on what I've seen. Eleven thousand breaths seems to be about one day cycle."

"You're still counting?" Captain Yagi raises an eyebrow.

"Yes. It's... A little compulsive at this point. I start over at eleven thousand, make a mark on the wall of my sleep room to keep track. Or did."

Izuku shifts uncomfortably in his seat. "[Name], the walls of that room were covered in marks. I don't think any of us could have counted how many there were, even if we did have the time. Were those the number of days you spent there?"

"I'm lucky," you say, shrugging. "One of the others said that on other Empire ships, you're lucky to be fed half as often."

"Well, you can stop counting now. You're free to do whatever you want, so long as you offer us a helping hand as you have been, and we eat several times a day."

For the longest moment, you don't respond. You simply watch Captain Yagi's face in disbelief. You're not sure what to do with freedom.

"Did you hear me, [name]?"

"Yeah. I can stop counting. I can finally... Stop counting."

~

It isn't long before Izuku begins teaching you your way around a sword in his spare time. You blend in to the crew beautifully, and as time goes, you begin to actually fill your clothes and your skin, starting to occupy any amount of space in the room. You come out of your shell, start to wear Izuku's jacket instead of hiding in it. You come ashore when they stop at various islands, never straying far from the crew, but you never recognize the places that you're taken to. After several months, you ask to join in on a raid, your skills with a sword becoming admirable, and captain Yagi agrees to let you take part.

The raid goes swimmingly. In celebration and to fence off the goods retrieved from yet another Empire ship, the Crescent docks at a harbor town Izuku told you was one of his favorites to visit.

The moment you step off the ship, you know where you are. The streets are familiar, the faces moreso, but you're not delighted at your return home. You let your hair (having been cropped short for function some time ago, but still more than long enough) fall in your face, keep your eyes on your feet, and stick close to Izuku as always.

"About three years back, the Empire hit this place pretty hard," Izuku says, walking you down the streets. The buildings around you aren't quite as familiar; they're in the wrong places, the wrong colors, too new and too... different. "That was right after my first time visiting here. We had no idea until months later, when we came back to re-visit and the place had been nearly burnt to the ground."

Your voice doesn't want to come when you call on it to respond, as though speaking will break the magic and send you all the way back to the engine room. Still, you must respond. You don't want to be rude, even if Izuku has been nothing but patient and caring with you. "Did you ever find out what happened?"

"We got the general gist of it, but there's not a lot to tell." Izuku's brow is creased with something a lot like pain that quickly fades away when he continues to speak. "The Empire heard this was a place that was friendly to pirates, and they decided to show them what happens to pirates and their friends. If you've ever questioned what we're doing, going against the Empire... this is a pretty good reminder of why."

"Right." Faces come up in your memory, dusty from disuse, but some of them almost seem to match those you see in market stalls, selling fruit to strangers.

"It's been amazing, watching this place rebuild since then. They've got a lovely little community here, y'know? We've been helping when we can, sometimes when we board we help out with labor or money, if they need it. Every time I come back, they've fixed up a different building or there's new faces settling down. One thing hasn't really changed since they started rebuilding, though."

Izuku comes to a stop at the end of a street, and you feel your chest restrict at the sight. What he's looking at, and now what you're looking at, is the rubble of what was once a very familiar house. You can almost see the house that used to stand there, simple and unassuming but so much like home. You can almost see a younger sibling running out of the door, one of the few remaining things standing among the rubble.

"[Name]?" 

Izuku watches as you step forward, almost in a trance as you stand in the rubble and trace your fingers along what's left of the walls, what used to be a living room, still with a dusty old chair sitting near a fireplace in near-perfect condition.

"[name]? Are you okay?" Izuku asks, following you into the remains of the house.

"What do you think happened to the people who used to live here?" you ask, voice quiet. Quiet even for the you that's timid, even for the you that's waiting for everything to go wrong again.

He frowns. "There was no one willing to rebuild this house. I remember hearing the daughter was dragged away aboard an Imperial ship, but I never heard anything about the rest of the family."

A sudden bark snaps both of you out of your somber mood, followed shortly by your own shriek as a large, fluffy dog tackles you to the ground. "H-hey! Get off of me!" you whine, pushing the torrent of fur and drool off so you can sit up.

"Are you alright?" Izuku asks as he helps you up, brushing dust off you carefully.

"Harley! Harley, where did you run off to?" a familiar voice calls. A painful, familiar girl enters the room—you know her face, know her voice too well. You let your hair fall in your face and pull your jacket around your shoulders, keeping your eyes locked on the dog. "Oh? What are you two pirates doing in the old [surname] house? There's nothing here for you."

Izuku steps forward. Looking at his back, you almost feel calm. "Sorry, my friend wanted to explore a bit. We didn't mean to intrude."

The girl sighs—you can't remember her name. Why can't you remember her name? "Sorry about Harley. His family owned this place, so I think he gets protective of it."

"What happened to his family?" you ask, instinctively forcing your voice into a lower tone than normal.

She frowns, eyes roaming the mottled walls, the broken-down furniture. "My best friend and her family used to live here. We're not sure where they are now, honest. They all got taken away or killed during an Empire raid."

Your stomach flips. "I'm sorry to hear that. Maybe they're still alive out there." Harley jumps up, placing his paws on your waist and barking. You pet his head to soothe him.

"We've got graves for all of them. Everyone knows no one comes back after the Empire takes 'em, after all. There's no bodies for them, but we left this house up to honor them. A reminder, I guess. Of what we're fightin' for."

But I came back, you want to say. I'm here, not in a grave, not fallen into the sky. I'm here.

You don't respond. Izuku apologizes to the girl again, and when she goes to leave, Harley whines and stays by your side.

"Harley, come on," she insists. Harley whines again, licking your hand and following her to the door. The large dog pauses, looking back at you with sad eyes, before finally turning and leaving.

~

The crew stays in the town overnight. You find yourself sleepless and restless as you stare at the ceiling of the inn. You need a better view if you're going to relax.

You throw on your clothes and go for a walk.

The night is cool, and although you've grown a little dependent on Izuku's presence, these streets are familiar. You know why, now, without a degree of doubt.

You lived here once. Your feet take you, aimlessly, but perhaps not so aimlessly, to the orchard, without need for lights or a map. It's intrinsic to you—you never had much cause to visit the orchard itself, but you can almost remember making this walk before, the memory brushing against your fingertips. A hundred and twenty breaths finds you standing in a secluded overlook filled with fruit trees, each tree bearing a plaque with a name and age.

Natural headstones.

The headstones bear fruit. The fruit feeds the town for free, and, thanks to the Empire raid, there's likely enough fruit to trade, too. The dead are cremated, their ashes used to bolster the growth of the trees, and they continue to support the community while the community honors them.

Your grave is easy to find. It's the first among a stretch of trees of similar age, bearing [favorite fruit] even now. They're even ripe—you delicately pull one off, reading the plaque with a somber glance as you rub the fruit clean with your sleeve. 

[Full Name]

Age 24

Taken away in an Empire Raid.

With a sigh, you venture to the back of the orchard, where the overlook provides a beautiful view of the sky. The horizon stretches out endlessly, dotted occasionally with distant islands. You never dreamed you'd actually get to be part of that horizon someday. You're not sure you wanted it the way you eventually got it.

"I kinda thought I'd find you here."

You don't turn to greet him, leaning on the fencing with a sigh. "Izuku. Shouldn't you be getting some rest?"

"Couldn't sleep."

"Me neither." You wonder if you should tell him. Surely Izuku could sort through the conflict bubbling in your heart. Instead, you offer him the [favorite fruit] you picked without an explanation. "Do you want to see the most peaceful place in town?"

"It's not the graveyard?" he asks. He accepts the fruit, slipping it into his pocket.

You shake your head. "No. There's a place to stargaze near here."

"Lead the way." He raises an eyebrow, expression almost not visible under the dark of night. The light of the moon guides you, and you take Izuku through a small cave not far from town. It leads out into a small grotto, not a sign of human life in sight, simply grass and the light of the moon and the stars filtering through an opening overhead. 

"Wow," he exhales, staring up at the sky. "This place is beautiful."

You nod. "Did you want to talk about what's keeping you up?"

"Well, for one thing, I got worried," he admits. "About you, I mean. Ah! N-not that you can't take care of yourself or anything like that. You've just been... Off, today. I was just gonna check on you, since you were off to sleep before most everyone got back from the tavern, but then you... Weren't there."

"Thanks for worrying about me." You take a seat in the grass, which quickly becomes laying down. Izuku lays on his back next to you, and you begin to watch the stars. "...can I ask you kind of a weird question?"

"Mm?"

"What... What do you want to do?" You're unsure of yourself even in asking the question, but you ask it all the same.

"R-right now, or in general?"

"In general."

He exhales a sigh, only the moon could tell you why, and answers thoughtfully. "I want to captain my own ship someday. Someday soon. Captain Yagi is amazing, but when I look at you and I look at towns like this, I can't help but feel like we need to do more. We may have stopped one ship in a raid, but how many more do you think there are?"

"Thousands," you answer. "Tens of thousands, even."

"I want to get my own ship, and take out the problem from the top. The Empire hurts so many people, more than it helps."

"I'd go with you," you say. 

He sighs. "I don't think I'd like to risk you like that. Are you sure you'd be able to handle it?"

"I'm strong, you know. Usually, the people they take don't survive, right? They never return to their hometowns. But I'm here. I returned."

The smallest gasp leaves him, eyes flicking to you. "Are you saying—"

You nod quietly. "This isn't the first time I've been here. I know these streets, know these people. They even planted a grave for me, with my name on it."

"[name], that's great! You can finally go home, you can—"

"I don't want to."

And there it is.

Just saying the words feels like a punch to the gut, but for some reason, you keep going. "You've been so kind to me, always looking out for me, teaching me how to fit in to the crew and act like a pirate. You've helped me a lot, and my days are better because you are always in them. I don't want to go back. My family was taken by the Empire, and I... I don't have anything to go back to. I don't even remember who I was the last time I was here."

"[name]..."

You drag your eyes from the stars to Izuku, sighing as you find within yourself what you need to admit—to yourself, to him, to the world as you know it.

"I want to stay with you. I want to sail the world with you, fight back against the Empire that ruined my life but gave me a new one at your side. I don't remember much about myself, but I know I always longed for adventure. And now adventure's here, but the Captain probably wants me to return to my home. I don't belong in a sleepy little harbor rebuilding from the rubble, Izuku. I belong in the skies."

He's silent for a long moment. When he speaks, one warm hand searches for yours, fingers slotting among your own with a gentle squeeze. "H-how do you mean you want to stay with me?

"I'd follow you to the depths of the sky, to the farthest reaches, if only you'll let me." You squeeze his hand back. "Not because you're the one who eventually saved me. You're an amazing person. One who cares. I don't know if you'll ever stop caring, not before you die. I'll stay by your side in whatever capacity you'll have me."

"T-then... Can I kiss you?" He props himself up on one elbow, moonlight casting an almost ethereal glow on him.

You nod, and he closes the distance between you, letting go of your hand to gently caress your cheek. 

One small kiss turns to two. Two quickly becomes uncountable, until you're melting and gasping beneath him, his lips trailing your jaw, your neck, along the neckline of the jacket you're wearing (his jacket, always his jacket), until he's forced to pause.

"How far do you want to take this?" he whispers, as if there's any reason to keep quiet. 

You press a sweet kiss to his lips, threading a hand through his hair. "Didn't I already say that I'd follow wherever you'll lead me?"

Tags: @tooloudarts​ @sapid-rose​ @xxangelpridexx​ @birds-have-teeth​ @icythotsenpai @warmchoccymilk @wesparklebitch @izoodles​ @fujimoribaby​ @my-bnha-things​ @denise-the-death-goddess​ @themerpenguin​ @sincerebubbles​ @fudobaby​

[kinkymankey]

Shantae: Half-Genie Housewife - Chapter 1

Shantae stood just outside the doors to the lair's innermost sanctum, hyping herself up. The puzzles have been solved, the enemies defeated and the traps avoided, all while she was heavily pregnant with twins. She smiled and rubbed her stomach. “This is it, you guys. Nearly over.” She pushed open the door and charged in, taking a battle stance. “Baron!”

“Ah, the little half-genie Shantae,” the baron chuckles, his back to her as he stood hunched over a cauldron. His figure was obscured by a dark cloak. “What an unexpected surprise, and by unexpected I of course mean completely expected.”

“So? I’m ready to take you on!” She retorts, raising her fists. “Get ready to have your butt kicked!”

“On the contrary, my dear,” he grinned and chuckled, beginning to turn around. “It is you who will have your--!” Now fully turned around, he stopped himself mid sentence, his menacing look on his plain, shaven face dropped to one of confusion and even surprise.

Shanate grinned and laughed. “What? Surprised I’m still in one piece from your traps? Gotta admit, they were pretty good for a new guy like you.”

The baron took a sharp inhale, and fiddled with his fingers. “Well, um, I guess that is one thing as well,” he nodded, “but, um, I was not aware of...that.” He gestured to her stomach area.

The half-genie gave a confused look. “What? You mean my tummy?” She poked it with a finger. “What? Think I can’t kick butt when expecting?”

“I mean, it is very clear you can, just isn’t something you really expect. Man. Woof.” He turned his back to her again. “Why didn’t they tell me she’s pregnant?! Would have been good to know! Can, can I even do this now?”

“Huh?” Shanate tilted her head, dropping her fists to now rest on her hips. “Can you what? Fight me? I don’t see why not.”

He turned back to her, throwing his hood down to reveal long unkempt brown locks. He clapped his hands together in front of him. “Listen. Allow me to level with you. As you can tell, I am a new baron. Heck, I don’t even have a title yet. I’m just ‘baron’, not even a capital ‘B’.” He chuckled awkwardly. “As such, this is really my make or break moment to see if I can become a true baron. I have some qualms with it being I have to beat up a pregnant girl.”

“Who says you’re gonna win?” She smirks. “Listen, I went through your dungeon, solved your puzzles, and even learned a new transformation that I’m sure will help me take down whatever tricks you have up your sleeves. Let’s fight already!” She pouts a little.

“How far along are you anyways?” He asks absentmindedly.

Shantae rolls her eyes. “Eight months with twins.” She places a hand on her bump and rubs a small area.

“Ok. Yep. That’s pretty far along, especially for twins,” the baron nodded. “I could easily put you in labor during our fight, and I don’t want that on me.”

“Aw, come on!” She shouts, clearly frustrated. “Please? I swear I won’t pop! My tummy hasn’t even dropped yet, so I’m not even close to labor.”

“I’m pretty sure you can’t control when the baby comes, unless it's some genie power,” he adds, unimpressed. “Look, why are you even fighting when you’re so pregnant?”

“Because I’ve gotta protect people from bad guys like you! It’s my job!”

“And there is no one else who can handle this? Just you?”

“Well, my friends could,” Shantae contemplates, but quickly shakes it off, “but this really is my thing, so I want to keep doing it my way.” She shrugs and pats her bump.

“You could at least set up a buddy system or something. What happens if you do something that hurts your babies or something? What then?”

“Well…” She was quiet for a while, not really sure what to say. “I just try not to,” she finally responded, before glaring at him in an angry yet kind of cute way. “Why do you even care about this anyways? You’re the bad guy!” “Valid point, but I don’t want to harm the unborn child! They’re the purest of innocents as there are, and I will not be a monster!”

“Children,” she corrects. “But you do other bad things, right?”

“Theft, larceny, enslavement, pirating, malicious potion brewing, world domination,” he listed off, “but nothing like killing. No sir. Non-lethal takeovers are the plans of this baron-to-be!”

“Ugh! You’re the lamest baron ever!” She huffs, rolling her eyes. “You really suck!”

“Oh, I’m sorry, what do you want me to do then, huh? Just break the Barons’ Code? That’s a great idea to get kicked out!” He retorted mockingly. He crosses his arms. “Inconsiderate welp. You could learn some decency. In fact...yeah,” he smiled and nodded his head slowly. “Yeah. I think I know an apt punishment for you now. Get ready, half-genie!”

“Oh, so now you wanna fight. Finally!” She grinned, resuming her fighting posture.

“With magic!” He declares, turning back to his cauldron.

“Oh yeah, with what?” She mocks. “I have loads of transformations. Flood the room? I’ll swim as a mermaid. Fire floor? I’ll fly above it! Spikes? I’ll jump from spike to spike as a monkey! Show me what ya got!”

“Quiet the impressive repertoire,” he smirks at his cauldron. “You like having such varied transformations on hand, is that correct, my dear?”

She responds cautiously after a moment. “Yeah…?”

“Well, then.” He turns back to her, a pink vial now in hand. “Perhaps you would care for a new one?”

Her eyes go right for the vial. “Yeah, sure. Probably some kind of poison, isn’t it? What makes you think I can trust you with that?”

“You can’t really, can you?” He asks rhetorically, shaking the vial. “Shame. Looks like you’ll have to take a chance.” He suddenly dashes forward with a great speed, placing a hand firmly on her belly.

“Hey!” She shouts, her facing turning a bright red and her voice growing angry. “W-Watch it, pal!” She tries to back up, but it feels to her as if his hand was now glued to her.

“Say ‘ah’,” he teased as he tried to force the bottle to her lips.

She curls in her lips, keeping her mouth sealed. “Mhmh!” She shakes her head. The baron, not to be deterred, begins to squeeze her belly; soft at first, but progressively tighter and tighter. Shantae begins to moan, holding them back as long as she can until she is forced to open her mouth. “What happened to--?”

Before she could so much as start, the baron quickly poured the contents of the vial straight down her throat, forcing her to swallow it down. The liquid was very thin, and emptied quickly down her gullet. “You JERK!” She shouted, trying to swipe away at him with her hair.

“Thought you’d like a little gift,” he joked, dodging by quickly rushing back as fast as he had come.

“What happened to not hurting a pregnant lady?” She asked in a hoarse voice while rubbing her throat.

“Did I hurt you, though?” He asked back, sounding honest.

“You sq-squeezed my tummy! An-And forced me to drink that weird gunk!” Her voice was returning to normal, but sounded flustered now.

“But does it hurt?” He asked again, just as honest.

“It...well, n-no,” she responded quietly. “B-But still!” She pouted.

“See? No harm, so no foul.” He shrugs nonchalantly.

“Big jerk,” she huffs, crossing her arms atop her belly. “What did that stuff even do to me?”

“Not feeling it yet? (Not enough bat wool),” he asked. “Well then you should be feeling it soon enough.”

“What? What is it?!”

“You’ll see,” he grins

She cowers slightly, putting her hands on her belly nervously. Suddenly, a weak headache strikes her, and she feels the whole weight of her body on her. She takes a few hazy steps as the headache builds in intensity, trying to lean against a wall that was not there.

“Feeling woozy?”

“N-No!” She retorts, gasping as the headache makes a large surge.

“Seems like it to me,” he chuckles.

“Shut up,” she scoffs and blows a raspberry before shortly falling to the floor. Oooh, my head...wait...what is this…?

“Something on your mind?” He asks tauntingly.

“Nnggh-nothing!” She snaps, shutting her eyes and grasping her pounding head. What are these thoughts? They’re so weird…

“Trying to fight it? I’d suggest not. It is a very strong potion,” he voices.

“Wh-What did you do?” She struggles to say, the thoughts in her mind getting more intrusive and over powering.

“Your thoughts. Tell me them, speak them aloud and you will have your answer.” He grins deviously.

“Staying at home, c-cooking...cleaning?” She grits her teeth as she speaks, and the realization hits her. “Y-You’re making me a housewife…?”

“Yes! Exactly!” He pumped a fist. “Now you got it! Right on the money!”

“Why?!” She yelled, making as strong as an effort she still could to hold back the thoughts in her head.

“It’s simple, really, when you think about it. By making you a dutiful little housewife, you won’t get in my way to stop my plans as you’ll be much too busy around the house. Much too busy!” He explained. “In fact, you’ll never trouble the Barons again. This will certainly earn me my baron title!”

“You jerk!” Shantae retorted in an appalled tone.

“Fight it all you want,” the baron sounded amused, “but once the brew eventually sets in, you will simply have to give in.”

The half-genie began breathing deeply as the thoughts began to overtake her. “You big, dumb jerk! You are the absolute worst, you big, fat, stupif je--!”

And then she suddenly stopped, mid sentence. A confused, almost lost look came across her face.

And there it is, the baron thought. “My, how rude. You’re hurting my feelings.

“Oh? I-I’m ever so sorry,” Shantae responded, her tone suddenly sweet. “I don’t know what came over me.”

Score. “Oh, think nothing of it,” he chuckled with a hand wave. “You were simply not in the right mind.”

She giggles lightly. “Of course. Um, would you mind maybe showing me home?” She blushed slightly, trying to get to her feet.

“Of course,” he nods, quickly coming to her side to help her up. “Where is it you live, my dear?”

“I live in--.” A chill shook her head, and her eye twitched. “What? I’ll never tell you, ya creep!” She yelled and pointed accusingly, before a confused look came over her face and she withdrew her arm. “S-Sorry about that...that was strange.”

“You’re fine. Must simply be the hormones,” he tells her. Fight all you want, little half-genie, he laughs to himself.

“Probably. They do do strange things,” she giggles, stroking her belly slowly.

“Fret not, I understand. So, where do you live? I assume somewhere in Scuttle Town, correct?”

 “Yes, the lighthouse on the outskirts,” she nodded with a smile.

“I can manage that. I’ll use some magic to take you back,” I offer.

“Be my--.” Her head jerked slightly, before she took a step back and tried to run away.

“Shantae? Where are you going?” He asked calmly but with a subtle confidence.

“Away from you, you je--!” She suddenly stops with a confused look, nearly stumbling over. “W-What was that?”

“Careful.” The baron hurries to her side to catch her from falling. “Not the best idea to run while pregnant. Center of gravity is all off.”

“Of course, I shouldn’t be doing such silly things,” she giggles. “Thank you, again.”

“No problem,” he smiles comfortingly. “Speaking of silly things, your get up…”

“Hm?” She looks down at herself. As was the usual, she wore a very small red crop top, with pants in a matching shade that were see-through slightly. She also wore gold braces around her arms and her hair was held back in a tight ponytail. “You’re right, this is pretty silly,” she laughs. “I mean, just look at all this belly I’m showing off. “

“Just a suggestion,” the baron started as he began to lead her out of his lair, “but perhaps change into something more reasonable when you get home?”

“A very good suggestion,” she agreed, following him. “I had the idea myself. I certainly must have something more comfortable.”

“Yes,” he nodded, cheering in victory on the inside. “So, any other plans for today?”

“Hmmm.” She trails behind him a small distance as they walk. “I think I should clean up my house today, certainly has been a while...maybe take a crack at some baking...and...kicking your butt!”

He quickly glanced behind himself to catch her charging forward, shouting and making motions to tackle him. He quickly stepped aside, but made it seem like he got hurt in some way.

Shantae rolls forward, ending up on her butt. The determined look on her face quickly melts to one of alarm and embarrassment. “Oh my! I’m so sorry, I-I don’t know what came over me!”

“You’re fine. I am quite alright,” he assures her, quickly coming to help her up. “Though, let’s hope that’s the last outburst…” A bold attempt, but that was your last try. The potion should have fully set in by now.

“Yes, let’s,” she nodded in agreement. “Sorry, again. I’ve been such a mess, and I have no idea why.”

“You’re fine, really. I’ve handled worse,” he joked, making a small laugh. “So, back on topic, is that all you have planned? What about going out?”

Shantae looked at him with a bemused expression. “Why would I go out? Maybe for shopping, but what else?”

“Just curious,” the baron responded, congratulating himself mentally. “Is there any reason why?”

“I belong at home,” she explains. “That’s where I should be, preparing for my babies.” She hugs her belly, smiling down at it.

“Good,” the baron grins. The two eventually arrive outside his lair, which exits to the lush jungles of Sequin Land. “Seems quite a walk,” he commented, trying to gaze through the rather dense trees. “How did you get here to begin with, if you can recall?”

“I ran,” she responded, and seemed to surprise herself. “What a silly thing to do!” She laughs, patting her stomach.

“And dangerous. I must offer you a safer means back home. I have a spell that can make the travel much quicker.”

“That would be wonderful, thank you,” she nodded.

“Of course,” he said. “Hopefully, we may have another visit with each other at a later time.”

“That would be very nice.”

“Farewell, Shantae,” he waved, and in an instant he summoned a whirlwind, producing a squeak from the half-genie before she disappeared with it. When she finally did, the baron let out a hearty, loud laugh. “It worked! Now she sees herself as nothing more than a lowly housewife! I am free to pursue my plans! The barons may wreck havoc as they please!” A wide grin grows across his face. “Oh! I must tell them! I will certainly earn my title now!” With a spring in his step, the baron returned to the bowels of his lair.

[emerald-echeveria-plant]

I feel as though I will get to or motivate myself to finish my little series of the crossover I made. So here are some things that would've happened

- Bonnet asking Ironbeard if he's a good captain. Ironbeard lies that he is so that he won't ask him again. Bonnet having an underlying feeling that he was indeed lying.

- ePiC fight scene between Octavia and Sao. Sao wins.

- Fleance trying to flirt with BEN and BEN ends up hurting his feelings with his sass.

- Cletus and Erik playful bantering with each other and might end up being possible frenemies.

- Bonnet and Haggis fist fighting

- Bonnet deciding to let Haggis live after beating the heck out of him. Lol he shouldn't have done that.

- Davy Jones cameo

- Billy and Islay knowing each other from being apart of an old crew, where they were once friends. Sorta implication they liked each other then but Islay was too emotionally closed off to start a relationship.

- Baozhai trying not to be a creep towards Flint so that he could actually like her back

- Flint slowly liking Baozhai as a friend.

- Baozhai and Flint sharing cute moments together

- Flint denying he's in love with Baozhai, even though he kinda is.

- Baozhai sharing her past with Flint. Flint kinda gets uncomfortable after she carefully describes how she murdered two families that ruined her life and mental state.

- Flint sharing a bit of his own past with Baozhai.

- Islay slowly letting herself open up emotionally.

- Islay and Billy having some of their own romantic plot line going on. Baozhai poking fun at Islay.

- "awww did someone get bit by the love bug or are you feeling all of that on your own? 😏" - Baozhai

- "oh shut up!" Islay

- The squad coming across an abandoned village. They see skeletal remains of the villagers that once lives there. Sends chills down some of their spines.

- A large beast attacking the four. Billy gets pretty messed up when trying to fight it. Islay and Flint trying their best to kill the beast. Baozhai is the one to slaughter it if it weren't for the help of her friends.

- Islay patching up Billy and they end up sharing a rather tender moment with each other.

- Baozhai having a mental breakdown about how she hates being insane and wishes she wouldn't have thoughts about wanting to hurt other people. How she misses thinking like a regular person. Flint trying his best to comfort her. It works and she's all okay again.

- Flint and Baozhai cuddling together ლ(◕ω◕ლ)

- Flint worrying he's getting too attached to Baozhai.

- Islay and Billy getting caught making out lmao

- Bonnet sharing with Leonid that he was once apart of a war. After he left said war, he made a promise to himself he wouldn't kill another man ever again. Makes it clear why he couldn't bring himself to kill Haggis in the first place.

- Leonid suggesting he may or may have not been apart of the Russian mafia.

- Erik getting revenge against Leonid for kicking his ass by cutting off his hand.

- Noëmie having to solve puzzle with Sao while they're stuck in some sort of death trap that's causing the room to get smaller. They survive and both swear to never speak of helping each other.

- Baozhai and Flint weirdly acting like a couple. You know like hugging, semi flirting, and laughing

- Archie after spying on Flint and Baozhai, finds out that they're getting too close with each other. He doesn't know what to think so he tells someone about what he saw. Archie telling Cletus about what he saw. Cletus then telling Noëmie, Noëmie then telling Fleance, Fleance than telling Leonid, Leonid telling Ironbeard, and Ironbeard telling Bonnet. It comes off as a rumor which Bonnet doesn't care too much about. He thinks Baozhai isn't truly in love with him and that its just a short-lived crush.

- Haggis on the other hand, hearing through the grapevine goes: >:O

- "One of MY crewmates was caught flirtin' with one of Bonnet's BASTARD crewmates??? Oh I'm gonna teach that boy a lesson alright >:(("

- Baozhai acting less insane and bloodthirsty.

- Her obsessive thoughts of wanting to be with Flint actually turn healthy.

- Baozhai and Flint sharing a tender moment underneath the stars.

- "I know this is going to sound weird but.. when I'm around you.. I feel sane." Which means a LOT coming from Baozhai.

- Baozhai and Flint damn near kissing only to be interrupted by Islay and Billy walking in on them.

- Islay sharing a story about how she was almost killed by Warden.

- Baozhai sharing some of her own stories and pieces about her own personal life.

- Baozhai daydreaming about being married to Flint and sailing the eitherium.

- Flint knowing he's too far in with Baozhai and doesn't know wether to back out or not. Tries to get advice from Billy but he's unfortunately stuck in same situation except it's with Islay.

- They all arrive to the cave that holds the lost treasure of the Paititi. Just as they do, so does everyone else. There's plenty of treasure but not nearly enough for two pirate crews to share it. Everyone starts fighting. Again. For like the third time.

- Bonnet getting his ass beat by Haggis again and this time Haggis almost kills him instead.

- Flint and Baozhai fight even though they don't really want to.

- Baozhai doesn't want to hurt Flint, causing her to confess that she loves him. Everyone gasps in pretty surprised and stop fighting. Flint already knew because it was damn obvious from the start.

- Flint doesn't know what to do. Does he choose a girl he's been with for a few days or possibly getting his ass beaten to death by his captain. As much as he would like to be with her, he knows he can't.

- He ends up stabbing Baozhai in the chest. It doesn't kill her but it's symbolic of him breaking her heart. (I like symbolism ok aksskskkw)

- Haggis's crew wins and take all the treasure for themselves. Bonnet's crew get beat the fuck up and head back to the ship to get their wounds patched up.

- so basically Haggis: 2 Bonnet: 1

- Octavia manages to fix everyone up then save the lives of Baozhai and Bonnet. even her own. (Goddamn she's a great doctor someone give her an award..)

- Baozhai doesn't talk or interact with anyone for a few days. She's very emotionless and empty from what happened.

- "Christ, she's never been this way before. You think she'll be okay?" - Cletus

- "Who knows. That heart break sure must've messed her up real bad, poor thing.." - Noëmie.

- "Well, it was the first time she's ever been in love before. And I guess this makes it her first heartbreak as well." - Octavia

- Bonnet now laying in his bed must of the time because of how fucked up he got by Haggis. Although he does try to be a leader for his crew. Even if it hurts for him to stand up.

- Meanwhile...

- "WHOOO WE GOT THE TREASURE! FUCK BONNET AND HIS CREW! WHAT A BUNCH OF PUSSIES!"

- Haggis chuckling and patting Flint on the back. Essentially congratulating him for manipulating that "little harlot" aka Baozhai to get to the treasure.

- Flint getting drunk off his ass to get rid of his guilt for betraying Baozhai.

- Billy not knowing what's the future of his and Islay's relationship going to be.

- When Bonnet about to go to sleep, the twins tell him an eerie prediction.

- "Don't you think an iron plate would go well with your slumber..?" - Liliana

"Yes, to protect oneself from the demons that lurk in the shadows of your room or in your mind?" - Lenny

"It certainly would, especially when the clock hits at twelve." - Liliana.

- "uh.. no..?" - Bonnet

- "You'll bring a dark omen upon this eitherium if you don't." - Lilliana and Lenny.

- Bonnet slowly enters his room, paying no mind to what the twins told him. He never truly believed in their predictions...

- when the clock struck twelve at night, Baozhai entered his room and stabbed him to death.

- In the morning, none of crewmates couldn't find their captain. He wasn't anywhere on the ship or in his office. It wasn't until Baozhai told them of his fate, all while she laughs her ass off with her back turned to them.

- Fleance immediately wants to have Baozhai killed or thrown overboard for betraying their captain. In response, Baozhai punches him and stabs him in the shoulder with a dagger. She holds the same dagger against his neck.

- Fleance ends up getting to have a good look at her face. It's covered in many scars and damn near mutilated.

- Baozhai tells Fleance to never disrespect their captain again or he'll be the one thrown overboard.

- She tells everyone that she's had enough of this crew getting their asses kicked and that things are going to start changing now that she's in charge.

- How they'll overthrow the monarchy and make the eitherium a better place for all..

- Baozhai then demands them to get back to their stations as she walks back to her new office.

- Stunned with this revelation, the crew do as their told to not upset their new captain.

- At night, Islay is on the deck trying to smoke her pipe then Baozhai comes to join her.

- "Islay, just the person I wanted to see. Mind if I smoke with you?" - Baozhai, pulling out a cigarette

- "Um, sure." Islay says uncomfortably.

- "You know I didn't really except for myself to take over the role of captain. It just sort of happened."

- "You stabbing Bonnet to death just sorta happened..?"

- "Yes! It did. After feeling empty for so long, I couldn't help but feel a strange combination of rage and bloodthirst take over that night. I just had to put my hands on something. Anything. And watch the life drain from it's eyes. It could've been Noëmie, Leonid, or even you. Heh, yet I went with Bonnet.. He was a weak link of the crew anyway."

- "I mean I guess he was.."

- "... I just wanted to tell you something."

- "What is it?"

- "You were right. About everything."

- "... About what-"

- "Love. It is truly a terrible thing. First you feel that high of dopamine and the butterflies fluttering around in your stomach then the next.. the guy you like breaks your heart. Quite literally."

- "Bao, I know what I said but don't take that it first awful experience-"

- "First? Heh, you really think I'm going to go through that again???"

- "No, I'm just saying that-"

- "YOU'RE DAMN RIGHT I WON'T. I'M NEVER LETTING MYSELF GETTING BETRAYED AGAIN. FIRST IT WAS MY OWN FAMILY THEN IT WAS LETTING THAT BASTARD GET INTO MY HEAD! NO, I WON'T LET ANYONE MAKE A FOOL OUT OF ME AGAIN!"

- it's takes a moment for a Baozhai to calm down but when she does. She laughs for moment before telling Islay goodnight and heading off to sleep.

- Islay was a little shaken up by that. She tries to smoke her pipe to calm down then she sees the twins.

- "This is only the beginning of her madness..." - Liliana and Lenny

- "..."

- "Fuck my life." - Islay

So yeah that's what happens! Pretty sad but I wanted to keep that rivalry of Baozhai and Flint lmao. I wanted to write this stuff out but I never go the energy to do so. I didn't want to leave the series on a cliffhanger so I made this instead. I'm sorry that I couldn't finish it. But maybe I'll end up having the motivation to do so. Someday.

[theglitchywriterboi]

The Adventures of Neo Hyde

Chapter One

Then one day, the original owner of the Orphanage died when the boys were 4. Her daughter and husband took charge of the orphanage and they were both awful, the daughter, arguably worse. The husband was often out of town and when he was in he did show some care to the children by playing soccer with the children and singing, and teaching, but he would berate the children over the littlest things. Things such as untied shoes, hair not done the way he thought it should be done, kids that goofed around too much, kids that never goofed around. Kids that ate too fast or too slow, and several other things. Her daughter was worse though. She hated to play with the kids or even talk to them, and she would hit anyone she thought stepped out of line, or she would get a group of kids to vote if the other kid did something wrong. The group of kids knowing that they would end up in trouble if they said no, would end up saying yes, even though said kid was perfectly innocent.

After the women left, Neo and the child didn’t have the best life, but despite that, they became the best of friends. The child was born a girl but identified as a boy which, unfortunately, got him treated worse. The child decided to call himself “Winter-Shade” but most people that said his name, called him Winter and not both (though there were one or two that called him Shade, or switched between the two). While they were there, before things got bad, they acted like they were pirates undercover in the Orphanage and the other kids were the enemies. They would try to sneak attack them to protect their hidden treasure (and their friends), much to the dismay of the other kids who didn’t want to participate and didn’t like getting smacked in the back of the head with a wooden sword by a 3 year old during breakfast.

She hated Neo and Winter-Shade (and their friend, Pj when they were 5 and he was 4) no one really knew why she hated Neo. He was mostly a good kid. Yes, he messed around sometimes but not nearly as much as others, and he was pretty organized and quiet compared to other kids there (though not perfect and he did have moments where he was loud but overall he was a quiet kid). Everyone knew why she hated Winter-Shade. He was an odd looking boy, who was born with two different eye colors you couldn’t have, and he was born a girl but insisted he was a boy. Plus he was loud, messy, and would fight her on every little thing. She hated all of that. She hated Pj because he was their friend, and she hated them. Well, that’s not entirely true. He wasn’t very well behaved so she already didn’t like him for that, as well as the fact that he followed Winter-Shades’ lead and not Neos’ because even though she hated him, Neo wasn’t as bad as Winter-Shade.

One cold morning in autumn, a small man and woman walked in. While this was happening the boys were up to their usual mischievousness; hitting people with swords, stealing from Ms. Nancy, hiding and misplacing things, etc. but then they got a call down stairs. Well, more like Neo did, but when one of them got called, all of them did.

“They wanted to come too,” Neo stated matter of factly, “who are those people?”

“Ah yes, Mr. Hyde. And you brought your little gang with you?” Ms. Nancy groaned trying to seem like a normal human being that could get through a sentence without yelling or hitting someone.

“Oh this, lovely couple? They wanted to come and adopt you! Isn’t that wonderful!” She said with a slight smile but it was hard for any of the children to tell because she has a permanent scowl.

Winter-Shade and Pj were my first family, Neo thought. I wanted to go but… What about them? Would I ever see them again?

“WHAT?!” All three of the boys yelled. Of course, if he left, he’d be kind of happy. He wouldn’t have to deal with horrible bullies, the smell, or Ms. Nancy and her father. But he wouldn’t get to see his friends again would he? No one ever came back to visit, that is, unless their adoptive parents were bringing them back or adopting another kid (though, it was usually the first option) and he doubted they’d come get another. Maybe he could annoy them into bringing him back.

“Can my friends come too?” Neo asked hopefully. The man and woman laughed a little. Not in a mocking way, more in a ‘uh-oh what do we do’ kind of way.

The man bent down to look at Neo “I’m… I’m sorry sweetheart but… No… We can’t really afford to have three more kids in the house right now, trust me, if we could we would take them home in a heartbeat but we can’t.” Neos’ eyes started to water. The man and woman looked at each other, then the woman bent down and spoke to Neo.

“We can bring you here a couple times a month so you can play with your friends? I know it won’t be the same but you’ll get to see them still. If you come home with us you’ll get to go to a school with different kids and make new friends! How does that sound?”

“I don’t need any more friends, I only need them,” Neo said quietly. His eyes started to water. Winter-Shade pulled his friend to the side a little to where the adults could see them but not really hear them.

“Neo, go with them! We’ve been dreaming of leaving this place for as long as I can remember, just go. We’ll be fine.” Winter-Shade whispered. Pj nodded in agreement. Neo still didn’t feel 100% convinced that they were okay with this nor that they’d be okay but he didn’t want to miss his opportunity either.

“Promise Neo. I got Winter to protect me. I’ll make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble” Pj stated before adding “well, I’ll try to make sure he doesn’t get into too much trouble but, you know how he is.” The boys all laughed a little and Winter-Shade looked a little offended before also laughing as well.

“You promise me you guys will be fine?” Neo asked. He glanced at the adults. Ms. Nancy looked annoyed but the man and woman just looked calm and patient.

“I Promise we’ll be safe and all that stuff. I can’t promise I’ll stay out of trouble, you know how I am.” He said the last bit while jokingly glaring at Pj.

“Yeah I know... I guess I better go talk with them,” Neo said. Winter-Shade and Pj nodded and they all walked back over to the adults.

“Took you long enough” Ms. Nancy grumbled under her breath.

“Oh be nice, this must be hard for a kid of his age to think about” the woman said. Ms. Nancy glared at her but shut up about it.

“So ‘Mister Hyde’ would you like you like to come with us?” The man asked, attempting, but kind of failing at mocking Ms. Nancy for never calling the kids by their first names, but only their last names. “How about I introduce myself. I’m Gerard and this is my wife Louise.”

“Neeeeeoooo????” Winter-Shade said in a questioning tone.

“Hi Gerard. Hi Louise. It’s… Um… Nice to meet you. And I… Uh, yes I’d like to go with you two” Gerard laughed a little.

“It’s nice to meet you too Neo, and that’s lovely! Why don’t you go get your things and say bye to everyone and then we can go, does that sound good?” Gerard said standing up.

“Okay…” Neo began his way upstairs to pack his things as Gerard and Louise waited for him.

“Yes, Winter?” Neo said when he got to their room.

“Do you want my purple eye as a goodbye present?” Winter-Shade questioned in a completely serious tone.

“I- W-what? Winter I can’t take your eye” Neo said in a panicked voice. He rushed over to him and checked that both his eyes were indeed where they should be as he was slightly worried Winter-Shade had already taken his eye out. Pj was just sitting there, watching this unfold.

“Winter, promise me you won’t take out either of your eyes for any reason?” Neo asked, more like told Winter-Shade after checking both his eyes were in.

“I,” Winter-Shade started while pointing to both of his eyes “promise not to take out either of my eyes for any reason”

“Good… Or your limbs. Or your teeth. Just… Just stay safe and don’t hurt yourself Winter, okay?” Neo said. Winter-Shade just sort of nodded along.

“Don’t forget to make them bring you here to see us!” Pj said finally butting in.

“I’ll come as much as I can! Now can you guys help me pack my things?” Neo asked as he began putting his things in his suitcase. The other two just nodded and started grabbing his things. He didn’t have much, only a few items of clothing, toys, and some other stuff. While they were packing and kind of slacking off and joking around, Winter-Shade whispered to Pj that he’d be right back and walked away, but Neo didn’t seem to notice.

Winter-Shade walked down to Ms. Nancy's office. Locked, obviously. Winter-Shade started looking for a key to the office. He felt around and finally he found one under a rather hot lamp on a desk to the left of her door. He unlocked the door and walked in, less carefully than he should’ve, he practically burst in, and he closed the door behind him. He started searching around, he found cool things that he carefully put in his pocket without really thinking about it until he found what he was looking for: The files. Well, his, Pjs, and Neos files. They were tucked away somewhere, along with a few other files he didn’t want to look at, not in the file cabinet with the other kids files. He took theirs and ran out of the room and back to his room.

“Oh! I was looking for rats” Winter-Shade said. While Gerard and Louise seemed shocked and weirded out at this statement, the others seemed more annoyed.

“Winter! I thought I was going to have to leave without saying goodbye to you! Where did you run off to?” Neo said, suddenly appearing out of nowhere with Ms. Nancy, his new parents, and Pj.

“Winter-Shade, for the last time, you may NOT keep any rodents as pets” Ms. Nancy said in a frustrated, but tired voice.

“I didn’t find any unfortunately…” Winter-Shade whispered more so to himself.

“But we’re leaving now Winter so… This is goodbye” Neo’s voice cracked. Even though he knew he’d get to come and visit them, deep down he knew it wouldn’t be the same. It couldn’t be the same. Seeing them once a month and only part of the day? Him and Winter-Shade had known each other since… Since forever. They were like family, and Pj was too even though they hadn’t known him as long.

So, at age 8, Neo Hyde got adopted and, as he feels like he lost his first family, he gained a new one and became Neo Hyde-Skyle.

[bigkyle990]

A Witchy Pirate part 6

Links!

Part 1

Part 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Back to things calming down for a bit and setting into the meet up with Amity (which I only have a partial idea of what I want to do with)

A short time after the attempted raid by the Emperor’s Coven, the three women found themselves back in the living room. Most of the mess that Luz had made while she was injured was cleaned off of the couch. 

Lilith had come in with some drinks for them and Luz was now wearing a shirt lent to her by Eda. “You finally got these printed huh?” Luz asked with an amused tone as she looked down at the “Bad Girls Coven” shirt. “Of course, there was no way I was canceling that t-shirt order.” Eda shrugged before taking a sip of her drink. “Now, you have some explaining to do, what happened to you and how are you able to use magic that effectively? Did you somehow get a bile sack?” 

Lilith took a seat next to her sister and nodded. “Yes, I’m curious about that myself, along with that glyph you used to heal yourself. I’ve never seen a spell quite like that before.”

Luz leaned back and nodded. “It’s one I came up with after a fight with a guy called Blackbeard, he had a power that allowed him to control darkness as well as absorb things into it and then cast them back out. Normally I use the Siphoning Glyph to take in attacks and reuse the energy right away, but if I want, I can combine a new one into it and have the energy used for that. It’s handy, and probably will be hell for the Witches around here.”

“Okay, guy controlling darkness, you making new glyphs… That’s all well and good, but you still haven’t actually explained what’s going on with you? What did the human world go nuts in the last seven years?” Eda asked, wanting to get to the meaty stuffy. Luz shrugged. “I wouldn’t know, I haven’t been there in the last seven years.” Both women looked at her incredulously. “No seriously.” She held up a hand. “I don’t know what happened with Belos’s machine, but it didn’t send me home. When I got pulled through it, I ended up on a completely different world. There were humans there, but along with them there were giants, fishmen, minks… All kinds of different races of people. Along with plenty of monsters and other strange things. See basically…” Luz began explaining the last few years of her as a pirate. The ups, the downs, and everything in between. Afterwards, Eda leaned back in her seat, looking like she was trying to even believe half of what Luz had told her. “Okay, so your power comes from this Devil Fruit thing? It gave you a bile sack?” “Well, I wouldn’t say it gave a bile sack, rather it gave me an actual magical core. A center of energy within myself that I can manipulate in anyway I want. Bella couldn’t find anything attached to my heart whenever she did a medical exam.” Luz did her best to explain, honestly even after all this time, she didn’t have a complete understanding of how her own devil fruit worked. 

“Still, it’s hard to believe that such a power can be granted just by eating one of those fruits... “ Lilith stated, attempting to wrap her own mind around things. “There must be some kind of draw back to it though, correct?” Luz nodded. “Yeah, it probably won’t be a major problem around here, but eating one causes the sea to turn it’s back on you.” “And that means…?” Eda raised an eyebrow. 

Luz giggled, waving her hand a bit. “Sorry, I have to remember that most people aren’t going to even know a small amount about them now. Basically it means I can’t swim anymore.” The sisters looked at her with widened eyes. “Wait, it made you forget how to swim!? I mean you could just learn how to again, right?” Eda asked, looking oddly at Luz as she laughed. “No, I remember how to swim, I just can’t. See, if I was to fall into any kind of standing water, a lake, the ocean, a tub of water...  It would completely sap all my strength and keep me from using my powers, on top of that I’d start sinking like a rock.” “So we keep you away from large bodies of water, understood.” Lilith said with a nod, before noticing the young woman looking to her right hand every now and then. “Is there something wrong?” Luz jumped a bit, thinking she had been subtle about it and sighed. “Sort of, like I told you before, our crew was in the middle of a war just before I ended up back here.” She saw both nod and continued. “Well, I don’t know what’s happened to the others… If they’re alive, if they made it back to their own world and families. I’m worried.” “You cared about them.” Eda stated. “Of course!” Luz shot up, surprising them a bit. “They were like family to me, we went through hell and back together and I didn’t even get to say goodbye, again!” Luz was tearing up a bit thinking about the others. This wasn’t some little war like it had been with the Payback War or even like the war of Wano the Straw Hats had started against Kaido and Big Mom. This one had quite literally set the world on fire. The Straw Hats and those backing them taking on the world to make Luffy the King of the Pirates, their own flag thrown in with the Rubber Man as well, going up against the World Government and its own secrets.  Add in the remains of the Beast Pirates and Big Mom Pirates, and you had yourself a war that was going to turn everything on its head, no matter who won. And the thought that she’d left her own behind was eating at her. That was, until she heard Eda speak up. “Hey Kiddo, what’s that on your arm?” She asked, pointing to Luz’s right hand. Said young woman blinked and looked down, only for her eyes to shoot wide as she fell back. There, forming on her arm was a marking that only looked familiar to herself. She felt her eyes well up as she traced a hand over it, hoping it wasn’t some fake. Her fingers traced over a dark purple dragon like design that started about her mid forearm and wrapped around till it’s head was on the back of her palm, mouth open and trying to bite down on a green gem like design. “Luz, Luz, Boiling Isles to Luz!” Eda called, snapping her fingers to get her attention. “Huh, wha!?” Luz blinked looking at her. “What is that?” She asked again. “Right right, sorry... “ She wiped some tears away and held up the arm. “It’s a Hoard Mark, something that my crewmate Spike gave all the commanders, and since it’s here… it means he’s got to be alive still!” She grinned and then got a look of realization. “Oh! This means I can change clothes! I know I put away some spares for sure…” Luz mumbled as she suddenly reached into her pocket and seemed to start digging around in it. 

“Uh, Kid, I don’t think you’ll fi-” Eda started to try and reason with her former student, only to pause and eyes go wide as not only did Luz’s arm go deeper into her pocket, but she started pulling out large objects. “No… No… Not there…” She mumbled, pulling out a few large pieces of treasure, a massive anchor that shook the house when she set it down, there was a moment when an elephant's head popped out of her pocket and was shoved back in. “I swear, Spike would steal anything…” She mumbled before her eyes lit up. “There it is!” She called out, pulling out a large clothing trunk from her pocket, it was marked with her name. She set it to the side as both sisters looked curiously at the trunk, which she popped open, showing that the inside had a large number of clothes inside. “Okay… Um, how did you do that?” Even Eda’s hair couldn’t store that many things away, certainly not as large. “Huh? Isn’t this Adora’s…” Luz mumbled as she pulled out a red jacket, before shrugging and putting it away. “Like I said, it's the Hoard Mark. See, Spike ate the Hoard Hoard Fruit, which made him a hoarding person. He could take anything he wanted and store it away into a separate pocket dimension for his personal use later.” She explained while looking over a shirt that held the Crew’s Jolly Roger on it, it was a dark purple color. “Hmmm, maybe… Anyway, he was able to develop his powers to let him give other people a special mark that gave them access to the storage space as well, just have to have it active and reach into some kind of container. Can be a bag, a pocket, box… Anything like that and it always expands to fit whatever you’re getting.” She pulled out a dark purple dress shirt and held it over her chest. “Think I should go formal? I am planning on meeting up with Amity tonight.” She smirked, giving a bit of a mischievous look. “You’d slay her for sure kid.” Eda laughed. Lilith giggled a bit and nodded. “Yes, I’m sure she’d love it, but try not to get your hopes too high, it may not be the same now.” She tried to warn her. 

Luz started getting a few other things, a pair of black dress pants, black tie, and a black blazer to go over everything else, and nodded. “Oh I’m sure, I know that I certainly had my fair share of relationships over the last seven years. At least two serious ones, but that doesn’t mean I can’t try and see if anyone is in the way.” She smirked, grabbing one last thing and closing up the trunk to put away. “Guess I’ll go get ready, it’s nearly time for our meet up.” She said, heading to go get a shower.

[blankdblank]

Next Caller Pt 6

…

“BamBam, be good, you have your wheels,” Mal’s gaze turned to her lazy white fluffy cat saying, “Mao, don’t let him get stuck please. I’ll be back in a couple hours.”

The tiny boar teetered around using his front legs with back legs suspended by a wheeled cart he used to travel around the pen he was being kept in with a little bed and water bowl in case he got thirsty. The cat didn’t seem to care but like the other countless strays and fostered animals she had brought home he would ensure that while she was gone at work and unable to watch him through meetings the creatures would be safe.

The meeting wouldn’t take long but on the way back from the station a wide grin split across her face seeing a sporty car parked outside the tattoo parlor. Once parked she headed inside and spotted the Findis Brothers both chatting with Bilbo around the counter. “Ah, here she is, Mal,”

Moving closer she eyed them saying, “I thought you weren’t free today.”

Kili blew a strand of curls from his face smiling widely at her, “We got the morning off.”

Fili, “Thought we could catch a film?”

Mal nodded then said, “I do have to feed BamBam first.”

The pair said together, “BamBam?”

Bilbo pointed upwards, “He has been making odd noises. I think he hates you being gone.” Making Mal sigh, “If you’re going out might as well keep him in the break room, it’s got glass walls. At least we can keep an eye on him.”

Fili smirked, “So you got Uncle Dwalin and Bilbo’s old flat, nice.”

The pair followed her up and eyeing the boxes and random scattered items set out silently sharing more about the one they were both sweet on. Though on the other side of the pen the pair smiled widely seeing the tiny boar snorting and greeting Mal happily with tail wiggling gleefully. “There you are little guy,” she said lifting him up out of his cart after fetching a bottle the baby boar hungrily fed from.

Fili, “Where did you find him?!”

Smirking to herself she replied, “I work in a shelter too, and someone found him on the side of the road. He was so little they were just going to put him down but I paid for his leg to be set so the fracture could heal. Said he was a runt, but my friend said he’s not a piglet but a mortar boar, too young to be weaned.”

Kili chuckled saying, “Can’t imagine who would leave him on his own by the road.”

Mal shrugged, “Friend said he might have been taken or just gotten loose and if his mom wanted him back it would be on the news.”

The pair laughed and Fili said, “No kidding. We could hear the screams from here if she was searching.”

Kili, “You plan on raising him here?”

Mal wet her lips, “At least to let his leg heal. Apparently Mortar Boars can grow to over five feet tall. Couldn’t fit through a door in a few months.”

Fili, “Well if you need a new home for him our uncle Dain has a Mortar Boar, had to get her tubes tied recently, been taking it hard. Tried to adopt a litter of kittens.”

Kili nodded, “She’d love him. No doubt about it!”

Mal nodded, “Ok, um, would I be able to visit?”

They both said, “Absolutely!”

Fili pulled out his phone, “I’ll send off a message to him,” snapping a picture of BamBam in her arms close up.

Kili, “He’s on some family business so he might be traveling out here soon, lives in the Iron Hills, tons of land for Truffles and him. We can bring him round and you can get a feel for him.”

Mal, “Well, the vet I took him to says he’s young and the fracture isn’t that bad, so six weeks.” A content grunt came form him in finishing off the bottle she took back to the kitchen while the guys carried the pen and everything in it down to the clear walled break room where Frodo’s crib was. The sight of the baby boar snorting gleefully at the new faces passing him by nearly brought a Dwarf getting a tattoo on his shoulder to his feet ruining the design luring Mal to let him pet the happy boar on his way to the break room.

Between her guys Mal hurried off to their waiting car listening to all they wanted to share on their next trip all the way to the starting credits of the movie they chose to see again. A deliberate move to ensure they had ample time to trade off snippets of the film to each claim fiery lip locks with their date ducked down in the front row well out of sight.

* Gorgo & Dain *

Gorgo beside Dain asked while he set out his notepad and pen after hanging up his cell phone from a call he had been waiting on. “Who was that?”

Dain, “Misty Mountain Radio station has been sold.”

“To who?!”

Dain sighed deeply, “Glorfindel, something, Elven company. Also requested rights privileges to all the characters in Bunny’s show along with the ones listed on the plot sheet in the Durin name request plus more.”

“So they’re trying to buy it from her?”

“Not sure. They just requested the paperwork but the owner of the rights hasn’t been named yet. Could be requesting it for Bunny.”

“Is this good or bad for discovering who wrote the story?”

Again he sighed after pausing at the picture Fili had sent him about the baby boar he would look at again in a minute. “Well, they’ve fully taken over a few days back, perhaps they might do a press change showing who Bunny is at least. Maybe a web page revamp with a bio on her like the other show stars. For now all we’ve got it the social account is rather not have to dig through.”

Gorgo asked in a deflated tone, “We have nothing then?”

“Not entirely true, in a few days the rights information should be public record and I can dig from there.”

Deeply she huffed, “I have half a mind to storm down there myself to find out just who she is.”

“G,”

“Five years. I’ve waited five years! I know that three chapter chunk by heart I have to know how the book ends! They’ve had five years to turn it into a radio show! What else have I missed in the story?!”

Dain nodded, “I’ll try calling the station again. Maybe I can get someone other than that sighing nincompoop who fell asleep on time last time.”

“Can’t-,” muttering to himself Dain’s brow twitched heading the woman over the line say once again, “We can’t just give out the private information of our associates.”

Dain said, “Alright, there is a woman at the station working under the name of Bunny, we have established that, the world knows there is a woman hosting four hours of air time under the name of Bunny.”

Flatly she replied, “Yes sir.”

Trying to remain calm he asked, “Then is there a way I can leave her a message?”

“Sir I’m not a secretary.”

Withholding a growl he replied, “But you answered the phone at the front desk.”

“I’m just filling in for Tina while she’s on lunch.”

Covering his brows he asked, “Could you possibly leave a note for Tina to call me back when she is off of lunch?”

“Tina doesn’t come back from lunch breaks. She heads over to our sister location across town.”

“Then perhaps a note for her to call me tomorrow?”

“I don’t think she works Tuesdays..”

“Ok, is there any way you might be able to write a note on the desk for the next person working to call me tomorrow?”

“I doubt the cleaning crew wouldn’t throw it away.” A loud thud was heard at Dain’s forehead hit the note pad on the table in front of him. “Sir?”

In a slightly defeated tone he asked, “Is there anyone you could forward me to someone that might be able to help me?”

“Um, I’m pretty sure Frank on that floor could leave a note in the booth.”

Dain’s arm jut up as he sat up again, “Thank you. Yes, that would be great. He can leave a note telling Bunny to call me when she comes in tomorrow.”

Cheerfully she said, “Alright, will do, have a lovely day.”

The click on the other end of the line had him set down his phone and run his hands over his face groaning in frustration making Gorgo ask, “They put you on hold?”

Dain lowered his hands and said, “She is leaving a message that a, Frank, could possibly leave in the booth for Bunny, that very possibly does not have my name on it and most definitely doesn’t have my number on it because she never asked me what it was!” Shooting up to his feet he muttered to himself hoping to pace back to calmness again. Gorgo’s lips pursed and she said, “You could-,”

Dain groaned, “I know! I will most likely be calling again tomorrow!!”

  * Bilbo & Dwalin *

Chuckling to himself on his break Dwalin crossed the street with tea and scone in hand, “Afternoon, my Love.” Behind his tattooing Partner he strolled leaving the food and drink in the approved spot murmuring in Bilbo’s pause sensing how close he was, “Coming in hot.” Claiming a kiss when the Hobbit turned his head, looking at his customer he eyed the pirate ship on the man’s lower leg finishing a piece covering his whole leg, “Nice one.”

A giggle however had him grinning while Bilbo said, “Time for a snack if you’d be up for it, I’m nearly done.”

“If I’m up for it,” Dwalin chuckled strolling around him heading for the break room, “Coming sunflower, no tears now.” Passing the pen holding BamBam and Mao he smirked curiously at the napping baby boar in the nest of blankets on his way to fetch a jar of pureed food and a spoon. Once at the crib he scooped Frodo up and said, “I see you have a friend here,” commenting on the napping boar while Frodo’s hands and feet folded around Dwalin’s hand holding the bottle bringing a dopey grin onto his face.

Onto the rocking chair in there he lowered speaking to the wide eyed boy as he powered through his jar until Bilbo came in saying, “Mal’s latest rescue, BamBam.”

Dwalin chuckled, “She does know-,”

Bilbo nodded, “Learned he was a mortar boar the other day, apparently one of your cousins would be able to adopt him when the cast is off.”

Dwalin, “Must mean Dain and Truffles, she’d be grateful for another pup no doubt. She just let him hobble?”

Bilbo shook his head, “No, she’s got a wheeled cart for his back legs. He’s either sleeping or eating mostly from what I’ve seen.”

Dwalin chuckled, “Give that a few weeks and he’ll have a burst of energy.”

Bilbo nodded, “Any news on Miss Pear?”

Dwalin shook his head, “No, she usually doesn’t pop in till around noon. Bit of time yet. I bet she liked the house. Plus, Thorin went back to give her back her mix tape after we left and is hiding out at home avoiding calls. No doubt he’ll pop up before she does and we can hear what happened.” Looking over Bilbo’s slightly sunken expression he asked, “That not why you asked?”

Bilbo wet is lips, “Thought she might have called about a meeting by now,” Dwalin smirked and the Hobbit shook his head, “I know it’s not been long, barely ten hours, but still,” his voice dropped, “I just want to help her.”

Dwalin, “We all do.” Leaning in to kiss him again careful not to disturb the child swallowing his last mouthful, “Give her some time. No doubt she’s sleeping or unpacking, or even trying to plan out times to head off to work now she doesn’t have an hour long train.”

Bilbo nodded, “True. True.”

Dwalin rumbled over the sound of the growing wind, “We’ll see her later today, see how she’s taken to it and go from there.” Across the roof little droplets sounded and he smirked knowing how Bilbo had commented his flowers needed the water.

Bilbo nodded his head claiming Frodo at the end of his bottle, “I got him, I know how you hate to get your hair wet.”

Dwalin chuckled passing him over claiming another kiss, “I don’t mind getting wet, it’s the drying again and detangling that irks me.” Kissing Frodo on the head he murmured to the giggling boy, “I will see you later, my sunflower.” Stroking his oversized foot earning another giggle from him before heading back. “Enjoy your tea.”

 **

Old habits die hard, so do alarms you forget to change, at your usual time the same alarm went off to warn you for your 3 am wake up to catch your 4 am train to get to work at 5:30 for the early window prior to your show. Grumbling lowly you turned into your back sighing as your eyes shut again. The cheep from your phone however has your hand blindly landing on it to bring up to your view to read a message from Ecthellion.

Slightly confused you followed the simple instruction and switched to your social page already teeming with messages of wonder as to what your show today was going to bring only to be filled with frowns and crying emoji’s after you posted, ‘Hey guys, bit of a shuffle in the lineup for shows. New days for my show are going to be Mon, Tue, Wed, Fri. Thanks to new management I am getting two days off in a row. Which is much appreciated by one tired Bunny. Don’t you worry, the show tomorrow will more than make up for it!’

For the initial response of adults pouting and tantrums the second wave was filled with well wishes from those who were thrilled you were getting more rest. Laying your phone down beside you another hour of sleep was mustered up with a few minutes of debate with the controls on your shower you embarrassingly had to look up on your phone’s search engine for how to work it. Feeling slightly stupid this morning for not knowing the half red handle was all you needed to turn a hasty shower was followed by a hassling combing of your wall of curls deliberately trying to knot up on you through drying with your mounted blow dryer.

Slightly frizzy you changed back into your shorts and a new long sleeved shirt over a comfy yet cute set of polka doted lingerie. Tugging up your sleeves the usual breakfast was pulled together and after making sure your birds were eating from their usual supplies of food you were off. Out your front door you smirked in locking it behind you only to pause and turn back to head inside again pulling out the umbrella in the stand by the door. Hitting the button to open it over the colored bubble coated black umbrella. Down your front path through the growing drizzle you bounced in your peppy mood between puddles for the half hour stroll to the station. Onto the covered step you hopped at the end of your trip closing the umbrella you tapped the tip to twice casting off water droplets once the securing band was snapped on in place.

“Jackrabbit! There you are.” Ecthellion’s wide grin split open upon seeing you and crouching down he accepted your toe top around the neck hug. Pecking your cheek on the way back to upright again he said, “You made it in the rain, wasn’t sure if we’d have to go and fetch you.”

“Nah. I don’t mind the puddles, waterproofed my shoes, I’m good.”

Making him chuckle looking you over while a duo of dwarves passing by stole a glimpse of their own at your figure in the top that was right across the full bust the lingerie underneath were hoisting up and gave a bit of sway underneath when you moved, ending in opposing rounded ends just barely revealing the shorts in full view in the slits on your sides. “You look comfy. Sorry we had to change your times short notice but this was the window we had and now you get two days to rest fully.” Shifting on his feet he led you to the office you tucked your legs up into the chair he offered you, knowing Glorfindel would cross past you to sit in your usual order. “Now, first to talk over the new details of your shows contract.” 40k a month was the figures he had estimated and after taxes were deducted you were left to 35k, a number fully stunning you but mentally urging your need to save up as much as you could to pay off the house when you could while still saving half of each check minimum.

Those were all signed and next you moved onto the copyright papers by the time Glorfindel returned and surely wiggled his way between you and the table to get to his seat and joined in on the conversation. “Since the last time I’ve seen you I’ve been trying to talk your story up to several publishers but they all seemed a bit timid on the idea still.”

“It’s fine. It’ll happen eventually even if I have to self publish and sell them out of the back of a truck.”

Lowly he chuckled saying, “Hopefully it won’t come to that.”

Some more matters were discussed along with the press for the show they decided it would be best to not use your picture for your safety. And simply use a sketch you made of Countess Beatrice speaking on the phone to a woman on a wingback chair with bunny ears visible over the top with her hand visible holding a receiver to a telephone. Each week the characters in on the show would be added in pie slices of the image on your page you would sketch up for the press team.

With waves to those you passed lined up to speak with the pair to guide them through their paperwork you made your way off to the back exit through the garage. Again under the protective cover you made your way to the same tea shop with a spreading grin the closer you got. Absently your free hand smoothed over the end of your lopsided braid you had worked your curls into through the contracts being read.

Two taps of your umbrella under the covered entrance announced you to the men behind the counter and by the time you had wound up the securing strap again Thorin from his spot after sneaking in through the back to avoid his relatives had torn himself from staring. Behind you sheets of rain were coming down and all he could think about in the clap of lightning accenting your silhouette against the wall of grey behind you was how the now mainly revealed figure of yours looked in the uniforms Findis hotels used.

Never too afraid to show off their female physiques from the maids to the wait staff in the dining floors built into each tight figure hugging uniforms were set out in black with green lace accents. Gloin wasn’t specific to what position you held but each was tempting, though for his own preference he couldn’t help but wonder at how perfect you would look in their maids uniform. Short mini dresses sleeved halfway to the elbow with matching hot pants underneath showing ample leg from the upper thigh down and the cleavage on full display with open chest designs lined with lace to accent the cleavage and any exposed chest hair on the Dams wearing them. You were petite, adorably so but with what seemed to be toned legs for days, an ample bust and eye snatching curves it was getting more difficult for him to do anything but ask you just what you did through that 12 hour shift of yours.

“There you are.” The rumble turned your head from the umbrella stand you left yours in to eye the apparently squared off cousins.

Thorin and Dwalin in a trading of glares until Balin let out a chuckle at your asking on the other side of the counter, “Are you two going to dance?”

Silently Thorin poked his cousin in the stomach and turned to face you patting his free hand on the counter saying rather than asking “Waitress.”

Across your lips a smirk spread and you asked in Dwalin’s head shaking turn to the back, “Are you asking if I’m a waitress or is that your way of trying to hire me again, Mug Dealer?”

“I,” Balin chuckled at the awkward shift of his feet and the flinch of his arm up in contemplation of resting it on the counter or not. “Was asking.”

“No,” his fingers folded around the bill you offered him and you smirked at his blinking inhale at a loss for words, “Let’s see your worst, Mug Dealer.” Turning to your chosen seat for the day, the same too tall one you had to hop up onto the stool. Once settled you shifted your shirt from under your backside to pull your notepad chosen for the day from your pocket to try and write out your to do list for what order you were going to unpack things starting with your closet.

“You’re too short to work the front counter.”

Looking up you blindly pulled out your phone replying, “You’re too tall to be an astronaut.” His brow twitched up through Dwalin’s snicker, “Stings doesn’t it?” You said snapping a picture of your drink.

With a smirk he tumbled back over a bump rising crash of thunder making the lights flicker above you. “I am trying to get a bigger picture of your days. You’ve worked there for over a decade, but Gloin didn’t say as what.”

“Ooh, then perhaps you better ask Gloin.” You said taking a sip of the drink you had lifted. The momentary pucker of your lips before their touching the mug had his weight shifting on his feet and his tongue darting out to wet his lower lip in another flicker of lights above you.

“Why won’t you answer my question?”

“I did. Why unravel my mystery so soon?”

“Why does it have to be a mystery what you do?”

“Mm,” you said pointing at him with a finger hovering over your lowering mug after another sip, after swallowing you said, “It’s not a mystery it’s a fantasy. And one that seems to be distracting you from the real question you haven’t answered.”

“Oh really? And just what might that be?”

Leaning over the table you smirked again at his mirroring lean for you to whisper, “What color are your socks?”

Lowly he chuckled pulling back to nip at his lower lip then faced you again, “That is the question?”

“Oh yes, that is my question, which you handsome, are avoiding. Come on, out with it.”

Smirking again he chuckled and gave his head a slight shake leaning in to rest his arms on the table between you once again, “They’re silver with green and blue ships on them.”

“Ooh,” You purred back in the lifting of your mug for another sip in another flicker of the lights. “Lovely picture, you in your socks.”

Again he blushed then glanced up at the lights dying making him turn and huff to help Dwalin uncover the back up crystal lanterns along the walls. By the time he was done you had finished off the mug and he showed up with a second one saying, “I suppose you treasure your mystery above all else.”

“You would suppose wrong.”

“Oh?” He hummed back taking in the gentle glow you were cast in and shimmering silver flecks in your eyes making your already glowing purple eyes seem all the brighter and enchanting in this light. “Why’s that?”

“I have a home now, and my second job got bought and I just got a huge raise and two full days off matching at both jobs. List is being reshuffled.” In the lifting of your mug his grin deepened and you added, “But my mystery is still in there. Who knows where it’ll end up.”

Making him chuckle again before his turn to join Dwalin, who had cleared his throat alerting him to another of his specials being ordered. For a moment he paused saying, “Glad to hear you’ve gained a raise as well in your second job, you deserve it. Same as your new home.”

“I would thank you but I haven’t forgotten your preference and permission to take advantage of you,” Dwalin clapped his hands over his mouth ducking behind the counter to hide his violent shaking to control his laughter that Balin had left the room in its breaking free to hide in his seed room, “over expressing my gratitude verbally.”

Sharply inhaling his hands flexed and he turned letting out a sound somewhere between a grunt and a grumble on his way back to the counter. A silent glance at the phone of the woman there and his best red self got to mixing up the drink feeling Dwalin still shaking even with his back turned. His cousin wiping his cheeks and sniffling on his path to Thorin’s side mid wide eyed stare at the grinding station for the mixture of herbs and flavoring to add to the boiling water. Lowly in Khuzdul he fumbled beside his reddened ear, “Oh no, you’re right, couldn’t possibly be interested in you. I do wonder what exactly you had to talk about last night over supper.” Patting Thorin on the back on his own turning path to your table.

Glancing up when he approached you flashed him a grin asking, “Have you come to dig into my profession as well?”

Dwalin chuckled lowly shaking his head, “No, not at all Miss Pear. In fact I had come to ask actually on behalf of Bilbo if you had put some thought into what design you might prefer for that tattoo?”

“That would depend on his style.” Lowering your mug again you said, “I have a sort of realistic colorful tattoo idea. Just wasn’t sure if he could be able to do it or if I’d have to find someone else.”

Dwalin showed you his hand and smirked at your finger tapping one of the ladybugs inked into his skin from his finger to his wrist, “He does realistic tattoos. And it’s in the Hobbit style so it takes just a day to heal. So probably best to do it next weekend. But his shop’s open, right across the street.” He pointed and you nodded, “He asked about you earlier. He’ll be in all day.”

You nodded again and said, “I should pop by then before I head back home and this storm gets worse.”

You finished off the mug and he said, “And if you need a ride home don’t hesitate to ask. He has nothing else to do his afternoon is free.”

You hopped down and said, “Will do.”

Lowly he chuckled and said, “Oh, on the back of the card Thorin gave you the other day is his cell phone number,” your brow inched up, “Just in case you think up any other comments to make him blush through the shift.”

Through a giggle you hopped down pocketing your phone and notepad heading for the door catching a glimpse of Thorin pretending to be busy to avoid Balin’s knowing glances his way. Umbrella in hand you stood in the doorway opening it to step out tightly gripping the handle to keep from dropping it under the heavy weight of the growing rain.

Pt 7

@himoverflowers​, @theincaprincess​​, @aspiringtranslator​, @sweeticedtea​, @ggbbhehe4455​, @thegreyberet​, @patanghill17​, @jesgisborne​, @curvestrology​, @alishlieb​, @jogregor​, @armitageadoration​, @fizzyxcustard​, @here2have-fun​, @lilith15000​, @marvels-ghost​, @catthefearless​, @imjusthereforthereads​, @c-s-stars​, @otakumultimuse-hiddlewhore​, @mariannetora​, @shesakillerkween

Hobbit/LotR – @abiwim​, @jotink78​, @pastelhexmaniac​

[elisaphoenix13]

Godmarked

Scott was out of town for the weekend, so Quill had the bed to himself. It never felt right to feel the other side of the bed as cold as it was when he was home. In the past, he loved having the bed on his ship to himself and always laid right in the middle of it, but after meeting Scott that changed. It changed the moment they started to share a bed. Quill had to keep to one side and that habit stuck with him even while he was out in space. The coldness of the bed on his ship didn't nearly feel as wrong as it did than his home one did because Scott never came to space with him. Scott has been in the ship's bed but it was always when the Milano was in the tower's hangar or Quill flew the ship around Earth.

The celestial never truly slept when he was home and Scott's side of the bed was cold and empty. One of the two people he promised to protect was not in reach and it bothered him. Of course he knew Scott was capable of taking care of himself, but Quill already almost lost him once, and another time he should have escorted him. Scott wouldn't have more scars on his right wrist if he did. Quill definitely blamed himself for that incident with the hunter, but he didn't say anything to Scott because he knew the younger man would say that it wasn't his fault. He was there to protect him from further harm...blah blah blah.

The bedroom door clicks open and the pirate listens as feet quietly shuffle over to the bed and a hand reaches out to shake his shoulder. He grunts in response and finally blinks his eyes open to find Cassie standing by his side of the bed.

"Wha's wrong baby girl?" Quill asks sleepily.

"I...um...I had a nightmare and I couldn't go back to sleep. Can I stay in here with you?" Cassie whispers shyly.

"Yeah...yeah...course...c'mon."

After the incident when Diana turned he and Scott into animals and Scott almost being killed by a poacher, Quill rearranged their bedroom so that their bed was shoved into one corner, away from the door and the windows. Scott was a little miffed with the Celestial's overprotectiveness but didn't bother arguing, and Quill had taken the side closest to said door and windows. If anyone wanted to get to Scott, they would have to get through Quill first, and if Cassie needed help he would be out the door in no time.

Quill buries his face back into his pillow as his daughter climbs over his back to get into the bed, and his protective side calms a little. At least one of the ones under his protection was right here with him...he wouldn't need to race out of the bedroom. Diana and Valerie had their brothers and parents, but Cassie (and Scott) just had him. Sure, they had the Avengers as well to go to for help, but this was his family and he had an obligation and want to protect them.

"Good night Papa." Cassie says after she curls up under the blankets.

"Night Sunshine."

He slept a little better once he used his Gaze one last time to check on Scott (who was sleeping peacefully in his hotel room), only woke once to find that Cassie had curled closer to him at one point in her sleep, and then slept on until morning. When he woke again, Cassie was gone and the quick look in at Scott found the younger man bored out of his mind. Quill didn't know where he was, but didn't bother trying to figure it out since Scott wasn't in any danger. The smell of breakfast was distracting him anyway.

Quill gets out of bed and leaves the bedroom to walk down the stairs and join Cassie in the kitchen, snagging the toast that just popped up from the toaster. He butters the toasted bread and bites into it as he sits at the counter with a grin.

"You spoil me."

Cassie snorts. "I have to or you'd probably blow up the tower, and since Dad isn't here…"

"Sex deprivation can be deadly you know."

"Eww." Cassie scrunches her nose and points toward omelet fixings. "That's what you have to choose from."

Quill frowns. "Slim pickings."

"We can always go grocery shopping today."

"There's no bacon?! We might have to. I'll brave it." The celestial looks up at the ceiling. "We can always ask-"

"Already did. Mom said Harley and Tony ate all of their bacon and he has to go grocery shopping too." Cassie interrupts and Quill looks back down at her with a raised brow.

"Why don't you just go with Stephen then? Don't drag me to that hellhole."

"You need to get used to it."

Quill snorts. "There is no getting used to the grocery store when new things keep popping up...and who's the adult here?"

"Sometimes I wonder." Cassie snarks.

"Very funny. Don't sass me or I'll ground you."

"Not if you want an omelet!" She responds in a sing-songy voice.

Quill chuckles in response and pushes the fixings he wants toward Cassie and watches her make him a couple of omelets. He was so grateful that she liked cooking and was willing to make him breakfast. What she didn't know was that Bucky, Wanda, and Stephen were giving him lessons when they had free time...and Tony had been giving him different lessons. How to speak and understand French without the use of his translator. It was always turned off when he was down in the lab with the billionaire, and Quill was at the point where he could understand the language perfectly and could hold a conversation with only a few slip ups. The French was for Scott though (although it was nice to pick up Terran languages; he was already picking up Italian with how often Tony spoke it) to see if the younger would swoon if he used it like Tony used foreign languages with Stephen.

He was actually planning on testing that when Scott got home.

The cooking? He could do that safely and well now too. Quill just wanted to wait when both Scott and Cassie went out for the day or whatever and make dinner. He was looking forward to the surprised looks that would be on their faces. They would be skeptical at first he was sure, but he would blow their minds in the end.

"Hey hey hey!" Quill reaches out and grabs Cassie's wrist to stop her from sneaking in what he recognized as kale. "Don't put that garbage in my omelet!"

The girl huffs. "You need a green vegetable!"

"I'm the adult! If I don't want-" Quill stops when Cassie gives him a scathing look. "Look...there's some spinach. Put that in instead." He relents.

Cassie just had his health in mind and he couldn't be angry about that. It didn't matter if he was a god...and although he would never admit it out loud, he did feel a lot better after moving in with Scott and Cassie. She always made sure he ate at least one healthy thing in each meal and annoyingly monitored his Skittles intake. She did it to Scott too, so the couple always ate what they could when Cassie wasn't home. It made them feel like little kids.

After breakfast, Quill washed the dishes and then opened the fridge and grinned when he saw a can of whipped cream sitting innocently in the door. He grabs it, closes the door, and shakes it before spraying some of the whipped cream into his mouth. It didn't take long for Cassie to jump onto his back and try to take the can from him.

"Lemme have some!"

"No! You made me eat a vegetable!" Quill jokes as Cassie continues to reach past his head.

"You're still alive!" She argues.

"I can feel it poisoning me!"

"You're a big baby! That makes me the adult so give me the whipped cream!"

"Nope!"

Quill reaches back to try and pry the teenager off of his back, and they both freeze and look toward the elevator when it opens and a couple the celestial doesn't recognize step off. The pirate growls and just before his powers start to come to the surface, Cassie pats his shoulder.

"It's okay. That's my mom and stepdad." She says as she jumps off Quill's back.

Maggie and Paxton. Shit. Scott was planning on introducing Quill to them since they eloped, they've both been so busy lately that neither had the time. Scott didn't even get the chance to tell Cassie's mother that he was dating, let alone married again. Quill was a complete stranger.

"We were in town and thought we would stop by to say hi." Maggie says to Cassie when she approaches her mother. "Where's your dad?"

"Business trip." Cassie says and Quill winces when Paxton frowns.

"He left you here alone?" He asks.

"Of course not! Quill is here and so is the rest of the team."

Quill figured that was probably the best time to introduce himself so he stepped forward and held out his hand.

"Peter Quill."

Maggie stares at him while Paxton takes his hand and shakes it. "Oh my god you're huge." She immediately smacks her hand over her mouth. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to say that out loud." She shakes his hand with a blush but then turns his hand when she notices the ring on his finger. "You're married? Who's the lucky lady?"

Quill smirks. "Guy actually. I'll let you guys catch up."

Cassie rolls her eyes when Maggie touches Quill's arm with a silent 'wow', and drags her and her stepfather into the living room before Paxton can get jealous. Quill took to sitting around in the kitchen and playing on his phone while he ate whipped cream, and heard Cassie telling her other parents all about Quill. Except for the part that he was married to Scott. She knew that wasn't really her place to tell them and the pirate appreciated it. She did tell them he was a god though. Considering what the Avengers were made up of, they weren't the least bit skeptical.

A little more than an hour passed when the elevator opened again and Scott stepped off, dropping his bag off to the side and making a beeline for Quill. The celestial was barely out of his seat when the younger jumped into his arms and started a very nice but rather awkward makeout session. Awkward because Quill knew Maggie was in the other room.

"You have no idea how cold hotel beds are when you aren't in them with me."

Quill chuckles. "Probably just as cold as our bed when you aren't here."

He kneads Scott's ass with his hands and the younger moans quietly into his mouth until Quill suddenly releases him back down to his feet. The younger whined quietly but refused to keep his mouth off of his celestial husband...until Maggie cleared her throat. Quill keeps himself from laughing when Scott's eyes widen, and the younger slowly pulls away from his husband to face his ex-wife. She and Paxton were standing in the entryway looking surprised, and Cassie...she just looked amused.

"This was not how I wanted to tell you." Scott finally says after a few silent, tense moments.

"...I think I can let it slide. Cassie has told me all about him in the past hour and I believe she's completely safe with him. You wouldn't leave her with him otherwise." Maggie says. "Also, Mom number two wouldn't let him near her either. God or not."

That was true. Maggie knew Stephen and trusted his judgement. She trusted Scott's too when it came to Cassie because his daughter meant everything to him. It was still nice to know that Maggie trusted Quill to take care of Cassie. He was already doing it and Cassie even told her mother that. Scott did too when he sat down with them in the living room to properly catch them up on what was going on and his relationship with Quill. The celestial sat with them and was content to listen, but when Paxton pointed out Scott's scars, Quill clenched his fist and left the living room. He couldn't bring himself to look at the doubt in Maggie and Paxton's eyes when they found out how Scott go them. It was possible they wouldn't trust Quill with Cassie as much if he couldn't do something as simple as protect Scott.

He didn't even realize that he stayed quiet for the rest of the day. Quill kept to himself and zoned out during their conversations, and at dinner, Scott had to nudge him to get his attention. Apparently Paxton had asked him some sort of question that he missed entirely. It was a question that he could give a simple one word answer, but based on the other man's expression, he had been hoping for more. After dinner, the other four decided to watch a movie, but Quill excused himself for the night and went up to the bedroom. Maggie and her husband would be staying in the guest room before they continued traveling, so Quill wasn't worried about their accommodations or being an even worse host.

He didn't go to bed though. He alternated between prowling the bedroom and standing at the windows looking out across the city lighting up the dark of night. Quill eventually stopped at the windows and stood there for a long time as he got lost in thought. He didn't want to be the reason Cassie was taken from Scott. From him. She was as much his daughter as she was to Scott, Paxton, and Maggie.

The celestial fiddles with one of his space tools as he looks out the window, and almost jumped out of his skin when a hand touches and trails up his back. Quill looks down as Scott walks around to his front and wraps his arms around the god's shoulders and buries his face into his collarbone.

"What's going on Spaceman? You were weirdly quiet today." Scott mumbles.

"...they saw your scars."

To the younger's credit, he seemed to pick up on Quill's train of thought. "They're not going to take Cassie away. I told them neither time was your fault but you were there in the end."

Quill reaches up to grab Scott's right arm and pull it away from his shoulders to look at the scars on that wrist. "This is my fault."

Scott sighs and follows his gaze to his wrist. "No it is not...I won't have this argument with you whenever I get hurt. What's important is that I'm still standing here. Both times I could have been dead. Once by sickness, and the other by a bullet...but you prevented it both times."

"Barely." Quill presses a soft kiss to Scott's damaged wrist. "I can't lose you Sugar...I literally cannot handle losing one more person."

Scott nodded against his collarbone, but Quill refused to elaborate any further. He never told the younger about the first time Scott was taken. He saw red when the Avengers told Quill that Scott was missing for three weeks, and he was incredibly close to losing control when he found the younger thief hurt, sick, and dying. No one told Scott that he temporarily stopped breathing and Quill went berserk when they thought him dead.

Even now, after gaining more control over his powers, there was a very real chance that if Scott were to die, Quill would permanently lose control of himself and his powers. Not even Cassie or the younger girls would be able to calm him down.

He could cause global destruction.

"Maggie is jealous by the way."

Quill blinks and focuses back down at Scott to find an impish smile on his face. "Jealous? About what?"

"That my husband is…" Scott pulls away just enough to drop his hands from Quill's shoulders and trace the muscles straining against the older man's shirt. "...big and muscly. Her words. Not mine."

"I've heard you say something similar while drunk off your ass."

"I never said she was wrong."

Quill smiles and lifts Scott up by the back of his thighs, walking to the side just a few inches to press the younger's back against the nearest wall. A pleased growl escapes the older man when Scott reaches up to run his hands through Quill's hair, and the celestial gently noses at the scars on the younger thief's neck. It was a way to test the sensitivity without hurting him, and if he didn't flinch, that was the god's all clear.

"She also noticed that I look a little younger." Scott moans out quietly when Quill nibbled gently on unblemished parts of his neck. "I told her why."

"You're due for another dose my little fox." Quill rumbles and Scott shivers at the godly undertone.

"You make me sound like an addict."

"I know I am." Quill glances at the floor to ceiling windows out of the corner of his eye. "Want to test the durability of the windows?"

Scott's eyes widen as his hands and legs cling tighter to the celestial. "Not with your strength!"

Quill chuckles as he moves away from the wall and toward their bed. Maybe next time. Right now, he was going to give his lover a proper welcome home. Complete with love bites, bruises, and maybe even a limp...definitely a limp.

He was just glad his bed wasn't devoid of Scott anymore.

[shytalia]

A Prince and a Pirates Fate - Chapter 5

— ♠ — ♠ — ♠ —

Chapter Five

Start at Chapter one here: https://shytalia.tumblr.com/post/611878754309079040/a-prince-and-a-pirates-fate-usuk-fanfic

Also available on my AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/shytalia

— ♠ — ♠ — ♠ —

When Arthur had told him he would be his personal servant, Alfred’s mind had conjured up many vile things. He had thought that he really did push his luck too far and he was going to be forced into not-so-consentable positions. But as nearly three whole weeks passed with no such incident, Alfred felt himself be able to breathe again.

He had spent the majority of that week watching his back for any surprises, especially when he could often feel those lively, green eyes burning into him. He had been certain Arthur was going to stalk up to him one day and force him into something horrible. But with each passing day, Alfred came to realize that this wasn’t as bad as he thought it could be.

First things first, he had to learn the layout of the ship. A lot of the rooms were actually just shared bedrooms in which the crew members had cots. He also found out that there was a kitchen, which really shouldn’t have been as surprising as it was to him. There were also places to store their stolen plunder, keep their extra weapons, to man cannons, and a variety of other rooms he should expect from a pirate ship.

He was also introduced to the rooms that made up the hall surrounding Arthur’s quarters. He had been correct when he saw rooms for navigation and one simply for leisurely reading. This hall and all its rooms were specific to Arthur and acted as private territory, for the most part they completely cut off from the rest of the crew except for him.

Despite this, there was one room Alfred was not taken into, which he thought was a bit strange since it was the one closest to Arthur’s ‘throne room’. With it being so close, he assumed it must have been important, and yet Arthur did not see to it that he was properly shown it.

His tour was unendingly accompanied by Arthur explaining what everything he would need was. He made certain that Alfred would know where to go and what to do in each, just in case he asked him to do something, time would not be wasted. Namely, bringing Arthur his food when he was busy in his study or mapping.

Alfred did his best to keep up, if being the private servant to a pirate meant he just had to do menial tasks, he would do it. After all, he had watched countless maids and stewards do the very same things for him at the castle. He did not want to mess up and have his run of good luck ruined by punishment.

“And this,” Arthur said, once again leading the younger man to his private hall and to a door he hadn’t yet opened. It was directly across from the mysterious one he was never shown. “will be your room. I want you close by when I need you.” He stepped inside and Alfred was quick to follow, taking it in with a perplexed expression.

“I get my own room?” He asked, confused. If he were a servant, shouldn’t he be expected to sleep in the worst room possible? Not that this one compared to his bedroom back home, but it wasn’t that bad either. It was a bit cramped, with a small bed shoved in one corner and a mediocre nightstand with only a couple drawers. The only real pop of color in it at all was the blue of the ocean that sparkled out of the round window, the rest was simply the wood that made up the rest of the ship.

“I already told you, I need you close by when I need you. What’s the point in having a servant if I have to walk across the entire damn ship to get you?” Arthur replied dryly.

Fair point.

“Gee, this is a nice surprise. Thanks, Cap.” The wheat blonde smiled at Arthur who snorted in response.

“Don’t think I made this room just for you. You aren’t the first sap to be under my boot.”

“You had different help before me? What happened to them?” Alfred asked before he thought better of it.

The pirate allowed a smirk to cross his face before letting his hand slowly slide up one of Alfred’s. He marveled in the way the younger boy caught his breath from it. “He disappointed me.” The Brit explained simply, keeping his eyes on Alfred’s face so he could watch the warmth grow in his cheeks the longer his fingers glided along the skin of his arm. “I do not take well to being disappointed, so he had to be replaced. Lucky for me, here you come along to ensure my needs are fulfilled in his absence.” He pushed his arm upward, tracing back up the taller man’s arm and towards his neck. Gently, he grazed it with the pads of his fingers before across his jaw. His voice lowered as he watched Alfred’s reaction to his touch. “Do not fear...he landed a fair price.”

At that, Alfred whipped around to face him with concerned eyes, forcing Arthur's hand to remove itself from his face. “What? He ‘disappointed’ you and so you sold him?” He was flabbergasted at the thought. Would Arthur do that to him?

Arthur laughed at the bold reaction, one large eyebrow quirking upwards. “Well, yes. Of course I did. If he did not fulfill his duties to my desire he may as well have given me some sort of profit.” The man said as if it were common sense. And to a pirate, he supposed, it was.

Alfred couldn’t stop his face from turning white. From the way Arthur looked at him in satisfaction, he was certain he noticed his concern.

“Oh, love, don’t fret so much.” The shaggy haired pirate stepped closer and roughly grabbed onto his arms, effectively pinning him against a wall. His eyes roamed him up and down with something Alfred could only call hunger. It made him shutter. “I’m certain you will be much more satisfactory.” Little by little his fingers uncurled themselves from the man before him, until finally he was released. The captain stepped back to admire the flushed expression on his captive’s face and the way his body betrayed him as it shivered ever so slightly. “Don’t disappoint me, dear Alfred.” He laughed.

--- ♠ --- ♠ --- ♠ ---

It had been three weeks since then and Alfred had been quick to get into the habit of bringing Arthur his food when he requested it, though he found it odd that he usually asked for a lot more food than Alfred would have expected. For a small man, Arthur must eat a lot, though he always shooed Alfred away shortly after receiving his meal so he never did get to see where it all went. Other than that, his duties involved cleaning his private rooms and just generally being told what to do. It was not at all what he expected from life on a pirate ship but he wasn’t about to complain about that.

When Arthur didn’t require him to be right by his side, usually during instances of concentrated study or planning, Alfred was instructed to help out on the dock so he would be close by. Arthur had demanded that he ‘not get too comfortable’ after all, so he was allowed little leisure time when the pirate didn’t need him.

This was one such time, so Alfred was busying himself on the dock, ignoring the obvious stares he was being given by other crew members. He stood up and stretched, using the back of his hand to wipe sweat off his forehead when he heard a new voice he found quite surprising.

“You look familiar.”

Alfred whirled around, catching himself before he let out a gasp at the person that stood lazily in front of him.

It was a child who couldn’t have been much older than twelve, leaning on a crate behind him and was watching him with carefree interest. He was a striking mirror image of Arthur, only varying slightly in hair and eye color. But the resemblance was apparent nonetheless and the boy apparently found his confused gawking humorous since he started to laugh directly at him without trying to hide it.

“Gee, Mister, do you always make faces like that?” The boy held a large smile on his face as he said it, amused at Alfred’s shock. “I heard my brother caught some crazy guy trying to get on to the ship, but I didn’t think anybody would be that stupid to actually try that. I bet that had Arthur laughing for hours afterwards.” The smaller blonde rolled onto the crate, watching Alfred upside down. “What’s your name again?”

“Uh...my name is Alfred.” He responded slowly. He had never heard of Captain Kirkland having a younger brother before and he had yet to see him on the ship despite a week having passed. Where had he been hiding all this time? The boat was ginormous, sure, but certainly he would have been able to notice a child in a sea of pirates.

“Um, hello? Earth to Alfred?” The prince shook his head to regain his bearing as small fingers waved in front of his face. Arthur’s younger brother was now standing in front of him, jumping to wave his hand in front of his face. “You space out too much, what are you even thinking about? Don’t let my brother catch you daydreaming, he always says slackers get sacrificed to the sea god.” The kid laughed at that as if it were a silly joke, but it only made Alfred pale slightly. Something told him that wasn’t too far from the truth.

While he had the child in front of him, he might as well sate his curiosity. “You’re Arthur’s brother? I didn’t know he had any siblings.” He said honestly. Did the castle know about him? How did they not? “What’s your name?”

The boy grinned again and put his hands on his hips, it reminded Alfred of how Arthur did that when he was giving him a cheeky comment. “My name’s Peter, and of course I’m Arthur’s brother. I thought you were from near the castle? Isn’t everyone there supposed to be obsessed with my brother and know everything about him or something?”

“Well...I guess you could say that. But I’ve never heard of you before, sorry.” Alfred almost felt bad at the way Peter’s face hung in disappointment at that. “I-I mean, I’m sure the really important people know all about you though. After all, you must be one tough pirate to put up with your brother all the time.” He tried to save the boy’s ego, which did not go unrewarded with another big smile. It did leave him wondering though, did his parents know about Peter? And if they did, why didn’t he? Alfred had little time left to ponder when he heard a much more familiar voice ring through the air.

“Peter!” Arthur yelled, brows aimed downward in frustration as he climbed the stairs down to the dock. “What are you doing out here? You’re supposed to be resting.” The captain was quick to storm up to them, but instead of cowering, Peter just groaned in response.

“I’m bored! I’ve been in my room for over a week!” The younger Kirkland complained adamantly, glaring at his brother as he knelt down in front of him.

“Peter,” The Brit’s voice was softer than Alfred had ever heard before. It was calm and his words were laced in concern. “I’m sorry. I know you’re bored, but you are unwell. You need to rest a bit longer.”

Now that he mentioned it, Alfred hadn’t noticed before, but he was right. He had been so caught up in his own surprise of seeing a mini-Arthur that he hadn’t even noticed that the boy looked a little sickly, his skin was a bit grey and he even had some dark circles growing under his big, blue eyes.

His condition did not seem to faze Peter one bit. “You keep saying that but it never changes! You promised me I could get off the ship last time we docked and you changed your mind just at the last second. That isn’t fair at all!” The younger complained loudly, but Alfred watched in amazement as Arthur’s worried expression did not change to anger at being yelled at. If anything, those green eyes grew more remorseful with each word.

“I know, I know. But your condition worsened before we landed, I couldn’t have predicted that.” Arthur countered, gently putting his hands on Peter’s shoulders. “I promise, if you’re still doing as well as you are now by the time we get there, I will let you off the ship at our next destination. We should be there in just a couple days, so it isn’t much longer, alright?”

Peter’s eyes narrowed in suspicion, most likely because Arthur’s last promise of getting off the ship had been betrayed. Still, the younger boy relaxed a little and agreed.

“Good, now I’ll let you stay out just an hour more. When that’s up, Gilbert is going to take you back to your room. Understand?” Arthur told him, standing up to his full height now that his brother was more consoled. The young blonde nodded, not about to pass up an opportunity to stay an extra hour out, and if he was lucky, he could boss everyone on deck around with Gilbert. “Good.”

After a brief exchange of words with who Alfred could only assume was Gilbert, the pale, red-eyed man he saw barking orders on deck a few weeks before, the British Captain turned his gaze back to him. “Alfred, follow me.” His voice no longer wrapped with sweet worry and it returned to his normal demeanor.

The prince was quick to follow, abandoning what he had been doing on the docks in favor of trailing after Arthur back towards his private hall.

--- ♠ --- ♠ --- ♠ ---

Alfred followed Arthur to what he had dubbed his ‘throne room’, though Arthur insisted it was simply a study, he must know of its powerful disposition and the effect it had on anyone who saw it. There would be no other reason the man would decorate it with past victories if he didn’t want it to be seen as a reminder of his position as captain.

Those thoughts were long discarded when he heard Arthur tell him to sit, which he promptly did.

“Be completely honest with me, what did you and Peter discuss?” The blonde pirate asked him, sitting across the desk from him. He eyed him carefully, clearly letting him know he would catch him in a lie if he told one.

“What? You’re monitoring your brother’s conversations too? Isn’t that a little extreme?” Alfred raised an eyebrow, what did Arthur care after all? It wasn’t like he was plotting a mutiny with his brother.

“What I find issue with concerning my brother’s well being is not really your problem, is it? Maybe I just don’t think you’re a very good role model for him to be around.” Arthur leaned his chin on his palm, elbow resting on the desk between them as he smirked over at the other man.

Alfred snorted at that. “Yeah, I’m the bad role model. Says the guy who kidnapped me.”

“I did no such thing. In fact, I distinctly remember hearing you say that I saved your life. Now, you’re simply repaying the debt.” Arthur corrected cheekily.

Alfred openly laughed at that, the sound bouncing off the walls and swirling around them. “I didn’t take you for a joker, Cap. You seemed more like the serious and brooding type.”

The sound of Alfred’s loud laughter caused Arthur to blink, not expecting such a boisterous reaction. “Heh, yes, well I can’t be ‘brooding’ all the time, can I?” Arthur retorted before he thought too much about how he actually didn’t mind the sound of Alfred’s thundering laughter. “But I’m afraid I am quite serious, I need to know what you said to Peter and what he told you.”

“I mean, we didn’t really say much at all, you showed up pretty soon after he started talking to me.” Alfred explained with a shrug. Though it wasn’t much of an answer, he really didn’t think anything they talked about had much relevance. Well, except one thing. “I didn’t even know you had a brother. I’ve never heard anyone mention him before but he’s been here on the ship this whole time? How’s that even possible?”

It was Arthur’s turn to let out a short laugh. “It’s possible because that’s exactly how I want it. The last thing I need is your royal shit parade to get involved with my brother again.” The word slipped his mouth before he could stop it and though he tried desperately to wish it back, he knew Alfred had heard it when he gave him a perplexed stare.

“What do you mean ‘again’? I just told you, no one near the castle has ever even mentioned Peter, so the royal family couldn’t possibly know about him.” Alfred reasoned with both Arthur and himself. Surely his parents would tell him if his future husband had a sibling. After all, marrying Arthur would make Peter his brother-in-law and thus, part of the family too. As hopeful as it was, Alfred didn’t hate the idea of having a kid around.

The joking air had been discarded and Arthur frowned lowly. “Drop it, go back to your room. I shouldn’t need you for the rest of the night.”

“What? But it’s hardly even dinner time. I still need to bring you your food.” He didn’t exactly want to get stuck sitting in his room with nothing to do for hours either. Besides, there was something here he wanted to unravel. “If there’s something wrong, you can tell me. I might be able to help if you’ll just let me.”

“There you go again with your fucking help. Is it that hard to understand that I don’t need or want any help from you? Now, shut the hell up and just do what I say before I throw you back in The Hole.” Arthur threatened.

Alfred, as much as he didn’t want to, could taste the sour mood and it made him shut his mouth. He slowly stood up, watching Arthur glare to the side instead of directly at him for once. That was reason enough for concern. He took in a deep breath, looking at the man who was both his rightful queen and his worst nightmare. Or, rather, what should be his worst nightmare but Alfred couldn’t find it in his heart to call him that. As he paused to look at Arthur, his brows clumped together in worry that felt so natural he couldn’t help himself.

“Goodnight...Arthur.” He spoke quietly, reluctantly tearing his gaze away from the captain to return to his room as ordered.

[writings-of-dumpy]

The Princess and the Pirate - Chapter 7

A/N: I’m a sucker for pining and angst!!!!! But also hope!!! Enjoy!

Tags: @itsgreatestlie

“What do you mean?” I asked my father, who looked stoic and had just told me that he and my mother were moving to Arendelle because he was to become king in a couple weeks. They had waited to tell me this until after I got out of the hospital and was halfway through my week of bed rest.

“We have an obligation to our family and to our lineage,” he told me. “And we want you to come with us. You have a whole other family…”

I thought for a moment about what exactly that would mean for me. Since the events of spring break, the semester had shortened and Evie and Ben’s wedding was moved up significantly, which caused Evie and I to have a fully blown all-nighter where we sent out invitations officially and finished up the rest of the plans for that day. Evie was counting on me to be there for her and I wouldn’t abandon her.

“Evie and Ben are getting married. They’re my friends and I promised I’d be there,” I told him. “Just because I’m suddenly a princess doesn’t mean I’m going to abandon everything.”

My father took a deep breath and nodded. “My coronation is after their wedding given that Ana and Elsa are both invited.”

I nodded. “Well, fine then. I don’t know why you care so much about this, you didn’t even know you had an extended family much less that they were royals. And now they expect you to be king?”

“It’s mostly a formality given that Arendelle and New Auradon are both ultimately ruled by King Ben,” he told me. “But I still have to rule as a king and make decisions. One day you’ll have to as well.”

I scoffed. “What if I don’t want to? Can’t Elsa just take over?”

“By the time I’m ready to retire as king, Elsa wouldn’t want to rule,” my father chuckled.

“So it falls on me, then,” I surmised.

“Unless you produce an heir,” he told me.

“Mum on about grandkids again, huh?” I smirked and my father gave me a look of exhasperation.

“Fine. There’s nothing here for me I guess after Evie and Ben get hitched,” I ceded and got a smile from my father.

“I’ll let you rest,” he said and gave my forehead a kiss and left the room.

With barely enough time to catch my breath, Rvie entered the room with a tray full of food, undoubtedly for the both of us.

“Alright, and here we have smoothies and veggie burgers!” Evie said cheerfully and set a plate down for me.

“Thanks, Eve. You’re honestly the best.”

“So, have you talked to him yet?” she asked me. She didn’t even have to say his name for me to know that she was referring to Harry.

I shook my head. “He hasn’t come to see me and it’s not like I can go see him, so…”

Evie’s face looked sympathetic and worried. “I don’t know why he hasn’t been to see you while you’re awake yet…”

I looked at her and cocked an eyebrow. “Um, what?”

She looked taken aback. “Oh, um.. Well, he came to see you after you got out of surgery, but only while you were still sleeping.”

I cast my head down and tucked into my burger. The small gesture must have given away more of my emotional pain than I cared to share because Evie got up and sat on my bed with me.

“Hey, it’s going to be okay. Harry’ll come around; he’s probably just thinking about what to say to you. I told him what happened and he stormed out of the hospital and Ben said he saw him nearly kill that Jukes pirate,” she said in a soft voice and placed a hand on my shoulder.

“Thanks…” I mumbled and smiled at her before taking another bite.

She started to eat with me and after a few more bites, she perked up and said, “Oh! I saw your dad in the hallway. How was your visit? I hope I didn’t interrupt.”

I shook my head. “You didn’t. He had left by the time you got here. It was good, I guess.”

“You guess?” Evie said with her mouth full, which caused me to smirk and chuckle slightly.

“Yeah… He, um… He wants me to move to Arendelle with him and my mum so I can learn about becoming the monarch one day. He’s got his coronation in a couple weeks or so,” I told her.

Evie’s face fell and she swallowed hard. “Oh… I see. Well, what do you want to do?”

I shrugged. “After you and Ben get married, there’s nothing really keeping me here. Arendelle has private tutors in pretty much everything, so I could continue my schooling there. Plus, dad wants me to get to know the family I never did.”

Evie’s face looked like I had just told her she’d have to lose a limb in order to survive. Her eyes welled up in tears. “So that’s it?! You’re just going to leave?!”

I was shocked at her response and I paused for a moment, but Evie continued.

“There are people here who love you, Ray. You’re precious to us and I can’t believe you’d want to abandon the people who care so much for you. And why, because some guy hasn’t come to visit you?”

“No, it’s because I had my heart broken into a thousand pieces and I don’t know if I’ll be able to trust anyone like that again,” I explained.

“Well, that’s a choice, isn’t it?” Evie pointed out through a sob.

IT suddenly dawned on me why Evie was so upset—she had lost her best friend for years and now that she thought of me that same way, she was broken up all over again.

I sighed. “It’s not like I’ll never see you again… You and Ben will have countless meetings with the rulers of the surrounding kingdoms and lord knows Auradon loves to throw a party.”

Evie laughed slightly and dried her eyes. “I do suppose you have to see your kingdom, being a princess and all… I’m sorry I overreacted.”

I shook my head and held out my hand for her to take. She sat back down beside me and held my hand. “It’s alright. I didn’t mean to upset you. I promise that no matter how much of a princess my parents decide to force me to be, I won’t ever lose sight of you.”

“Good because I know you’ll make a damn good princess. And I’d better get a front-row seat to that coronation!” Evie joked and hugged me.

“You and Ben are first on my list of invitees. But first, you’ve gotta get married and become the queen you were always meant to be.”

~*~

After what felt like centuries, the day finally arrived: Evie and Ben were getting married in a mere two hours. I was sat in the bridal suite with Evie, Uma, Lannie, and Jane. The five of us were in the beginning stages of getting each other ready. As the maid of honor, I was tasked with not only making sure Evie was ready on time, but not having a breakdown due to nerves. We each helped each other lace into our corseted dresses of varying shades of yellow, but all in the same style of a floor-length a-line dress with long laced sleeves and fitted bodice. Mine was the darkest and looked to be almost a gold color. Uma and Lannie helped me in my hair into a braided bun and placed our matching hair accessory—a golden rose—into my hair. In turn, I placed their golden roses and then helped Evie into her sleek white wedding dress. The bodice was covered in a layer of floral lace and her skirt was silk and form-fitting until about the middle of her thighs. Once she was in her dress that she loved so much, she sat down to relax for a bit before her big debut and do her makeup. I sat with her and held pieces of her hair as she needed. As I watched Evie finish up and complimented her on how beautiful she looked, I heard a knock at the door. I was sat closest to it and wanted to do as much physically as I could, so I stood and opened it up and was almost knocked over in shock about who I saw.

Harry stood there and looked like a dream with a royal blue suit that no doubt matched Ben’s in some fashion. His hair was tousled to perfection and his eyes bore the slightest hint of liner to them. He looked up and our eyes connected and for a moment, I forgot about all of the pain he had caused me and how much I still hurt from his brash rejection.

“Em.. Hi, Rayla. I’m uh…” he began and broke me from my trance. He cleared his throat uncomfortably and handed me a medium-sized white box that said ‘Evie’ in Ben’s handwriting. “Ben asked me to give this to Evie before she walked down the aisle.”

“I’ll make sure she gets it. She isn’t ready yet, but she will be soon,” I told him and took the box from his hand. The wrapping on the box was a smooth silk and had a sheen to it that resembled a rainbow when the light hit it. The box wasn’t too heavy or big, b

Harry nodded. “Thank ye.”

I nodded and started to close the door, but Harry’s hand caught mine and for a moment I panicked. The last time Harry had touched me, he was dragging me brutally and had no qualms about breaking me. I flinched slightly and I saw the hurt in his eyes, but I couldn’t find it in myself to ask him about it.

“Can we talk later… please? I have somethin’ I need te say to ye,” he pleaded.

I took a breath and nodded slightly. “Okay. But today isn’t about us, Harry. Tell Ben she got it.” And with that I closed the door with the feeling of his touch still on me.

“Are you okay?” Uma asked me.

I turned and saw that the four other girls were stood and staring at the interaction Harry and I had just shared. I took a deep breath and smiled, then nodded.

“Yeah, I’m alright. Evie, this is from your groom,” I said and handed her the box.

Evie smiled widely and opened the box to reveal a beautiful and glittering tiara. Lannie gasped and smiled widely.

“It’s so beautiful, Evie! Oh my gosh, it’ll go perfectly with your dress!” Jane exclaimed and smiled.

Evie’s eyes watered and she set the box down and held the tiara in her hands gingerly. It sparkled in the same way that the box did, but with gold and sapphire accent jewels along the band. She looked up at me and smiled in awe.

“Would you put it on me?” she asked. I nodded and walked over to her. She sat down and faced the mirror as I lowered the tiara into her intricate hairdo of braids and curls. I grabbed her veil that clipped onto the back of her head and pinned it into position. Once her look was complete, Evie stood up and covered her mouth with her hands in pure delight.

“I… I can’t believe I…” Evie stammered.

“You look beautiful, Evie. You’re the Queen this kingdom deserves,” Uma said and smiled.

Evie turned and faced us all, smiling brightly. “Thank you, guys. I can’t imagine pulling this off without you.” She opened her arms and we all embraced her and each other.

When we broke apart, we heard another knock at the door, and this time Lannie answered it. Ben’s father stood there this time and smiled.

“We’re ready for you now, Queen Evie,” he said. I gave her hand a gentle squeeze and she left with the former king. The four of us bridesmaids then headed down as well and followed in our separate carriages with our corresponding groomsmen: Jane had Carlos, Uma had Harry, Lannie had Gil, and I had Jay. With a bit of help from Jay, I got into the open carriage and we were on our way to the wedding venue. The streets of Auradon were lined with the citizens that had come to adore Ben and the television companies were all in attendance to bring those farther away coverage.

“Hey, are you alright? You in pain?” Jay asked when we were almost a third of the way to the castle.

I shrugged. “I got my stitches out yesterday, so this dress is a bit rough on my side, but I’ll manage. Thanks for checking on me.”

Jay smiled to the side and placed a hand on my leg gently. “Of course. You know, Evie told us about your plans… I’m going to miss you.”

I smiled softly. “It’s not like you’ll never see me again. Arendelle and Auradon have a lot of meetings. And I’m sure Evie will invite me to every gathering, and she’ll make an excuse to have those at least once every two weeks.”

Jay nodded. “Yeah, I guess you’re right. It’ll just suck not seeing you every day for some of us.”

I raised a brow. “Like who?”

Jay’s hand moved and captured mine in his. “I think you know who, Ray.”

I sighed sadly and nodded. “I’ve got to let go, Jay.”

Jay shook his head and laughed. When we pulled up to the castle, Jay was thriving with all of the attention he was getting. He helped me down from the carriage and waved to the people and the cameras.

“You better get used to this, Princess of Arendelle,” Jay smirked.

I looked at the crowd and determined there to be more that two hundred people outside the castle alone. There were reporters and cameras catching every angle of my undoubtedly shocked face. I smiled and waved politely to everyone, and Jay offered me his arm as the carriage that brought us here left and made way for the following carriages containing the rest of the wedding party.

Jay and I made our way into the castle and then toward the chapel. Luckily along the walk we were escorted by a guard, and just when I was about to ask Jay to carry me the rest of the way because my leg was screaming at me to stop, we arrived at the chapel’s entrance and the guard pulled out a stool for me to sit on and rest my leg.

“Oh, thank you so much,” I thanked the guard. He bowed to me respectfully.

“Do you need anything else, your highness?” he said.

I looked at him with my brows cinched and my head to one side. “Um.. no thank you, this is perfect.” With that, the guard stood up straight and headed off.

“You gotta get used to that, too. You looked like a deer in headlights!” Jay laughed. I kicked him with my heavy boot and grinned at him as he adjusted himself to accommodate the weight I had put on him momentarily.

“You little shit!” Jay whispered in a joking manner.

“I’m a princess, remember?” I mocked.

“Fine; you ROYAL shit!” Jay joked and we laughed together.  Soon after, the rest of the wedding party had joined us with Uma and Harry directly behind Jay and I, which made things slightly uncomfortable given the amount of heartache that had resonated with me.

“They’re about to begin the processional music,” the guard informed us and offered his hand to me to help me get off the stool. I took it with a smile and stood in my place next to Jay.

“Thank you very much for that,” I said to the guard, who then bowed to me.

I must have looked just as shocked and confused as before because Jay began to snicker.

“You’re very welcome, your highness. I hope for your speedy recovery,” the guard said and then left.

I glared at Jay as he tried to hold in his laughter at me. I shook my head and took his arm. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Harry had his eyes on me and when I looped my arm around Jay’s awaiting one, Harry’s head cast down.

“Hey, chin up. You’ll talk later,” I heard Uma whisper to him.

I looked at Jay with my eyes only and he nodded slightly, then squeezed my hand encouragingly. The doors to the chapel opened and I heard the processional playing. Up at the altar, I saw Ben’s mother, Belle, and the officiant, Cogsworth, with beaming smiles. Next to Cogsworth and across from his mother was Ben, who wore his golden sash and royal blue suit. He was decorated with various accolades and smiled at us. I had never seen the Duchess before today in person and could see Ben resembled her greatly with kind eyes and a warm smile. Jay helped me take my place next to her and Cogsworth, then took his next to Ben and across from me.

Ben looked at me and mouthed, “You okay?”

I nodded and smiled at him. Typical Ben, always worrying about others before himself, even on his wedding day.

“You must be Princess Rayla. It’s good to meet you,” Belle said to me in a hushed tone. I turned to her and smiled.

“Thank you, it’s wonderful to meet you, too, your grace,” I said and curtsied as best I could.

I turned back to look towards the entourage that followed Jay and I, and as I did, Jay gave me a thumbs up and an encouraging smile to congratulate me meeting Her Royal Highness. I managed to make eye contact with Harry, whose face showed a similar expression to longing. He only looked at me as he helped Uma up the steps and then let her go to take his place beside Jay. His eyes stayed locked onto me and I heard Belle speak lowly to me again.

“He seems to be quite taken with you. Is he your betrothed prince?” she asked.

“No, your highness… Just a friend,” I said in an equally low tone.

She made a sound of acknowledgement. When Carlos and Jane—who were the last of the four pairs of wedding party—took their places, the music stopped and Cogsworth gestured for all of the guests to stand. In the shuffle of papers and feet, I managed to spot my parents, who were sat next to a woman with white blonde hair and skin that matched mine in paleness. She wore a crown upon her head, and I assumed that was Queen Elsa.. my aunt.

The music began and the doors opened once more to reveal Evie and the Duke. She made her way down the aisle with her arm on the Duke’s and her hand holding a single crystal rose—a tradition set by the Duchess to symbolize everlasting love. When Evie reached the first step, Ben rushed to her and offered his hand.

“You were supposed to wait,” she whispered, but loud enough for the room to hear as the music stopped.

“I couldn’t wait one more second,” Ben said, which earned a few ‘aw’s from the guests. The rest of the room sat down as Ben and Evie walked up the stairs and the Duke and Duchess joined hands and stood behind Cogsworth. Evie turned and passed the rose to me to hold for her until it was time to present it back to her before the vows. She smiled and gave me a brief squeeze before turning back to her soon-to-be husband.

~Harry~

The ceremony, as beautiful and heartfelt as it was, took forever. Ever since Rayla had agreed to talk with him, he had been feeling anxious and desperate for her to look at him. He felt like he did when they first met, but this time with much deeper and purposeful feelings. He nearly missed his cue to hand Ben Evie’s wedding band but noticed Uma’s movement just in time to react in the same amount of time. When Rayla handed the pair the crystal rose as she and Jay stepped up to be next to Evie and Ben for the vows, Harry noticed the boot on her leg and was reminded once again of his shame, but became more determined than before to set things right. He absent-mindedly gripped the box that contained the necklace he had made for her in it.

After the day of Rayla’s surgery, he had gotten to work on making her a necklace. With help from Peter, Harry made a necklace out of his hook that was enchanted with Pixie dust and would allow her to heal faster and fly if she wished. Peter helped him make a corresponding ring for Harry to wear, and they would be drawn to each other if need be. Harry wanted to make sure she knew that he wasn’t going anywhere and that he was willing to do everything in his power to make sure she was safe and cared for.

“I now pronounce you man and wife, King and Queen of Auradon. You may now kiss the bride,” Cogsworth said. Ben, ever the one for theatrics, took the crystal rose in his hand and held it against Evie’s back, then dipped her and kissed her passionately. Harry couldn’t help but smile at his friends finally getting married. The guests cheered and stood up, then sparkling confetti rained down on everyone in the chapel and Harry looked up in awe to see Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather behind it. He looked back down and made eye contact with Rayla once more before the recessional music started and he was to escort Uma to the ballroom for the reception. Rayla’s eyes were brimmed with tears of happiness and Harry thought that she was the most beautiful in the room, despite Evie’s glamour.

He offered his arm to a beaming Uma and they walked out of the chapel. As they walked, Uma whispered something to Harry that made him feel just a bit better, “You know, anything can happen today. Magic does exist here, Harry, don’t miss a chance you’ll regret not taking.”

The wedding party were situated outside of the ballroom as the guests and a few selected reporters were ushered into the reception area to wait for the presentation of the newlyweds. Harry thought for a moment about how he wouldn’t want any of this for his wedding if he were to have one. He knew that most of these were traditions set long ago, but he still wasn’t a fan of them. Unlike Ben and Evie, Harry wasn’t much for big theatrics like this. He was dramatic at times, sure, but only for those he felt were worth the effort. Lately, that had only been one person.

Harry noticed Rayla and Jay joking around and he bowed to her before offering his arm once again, which made her roll her eyes and turn her cheeks pink. Harry felt a pang and twinge of jealousy in his chest, and he almost challenged Jay, but remembered that from Rayla’s perspective, Harry was unpredictable and that their relationship was rocky at the moment. When Harry finally did get a chance to talk with Rayla, he would make sure that she knew for certain that he was hers if she’d have him. And if not, Harry wasn’t sure what he’d do. He knew he’d be there for her no matter what, but rejection from her was his biggest fear now and he knew it was a strong possibility. Nevertheless, after Evie and Ben were announced and the party had taken on a life of its own and was in full swing, he made his way over to Rayla after a word of encouragement from Uma and Lannie. She was sat down at a table by the large windows that showed the sunset through them with a woman with short and spikey brown hair and bright green eyes. As if the gods were smiling down on him, a slower song began to play and he walked over to her.

“Excuse me… Rayla, may I have this dance?” he asked and bent down offering his hand. He looked up at her with his lip between his teeth in hope and his arm outstretched. The woman Rayla was with smiled and stood up after sharing a look with Rayla.

Rayla turned to Harry and took a deep breath before answering and taking his hand, “Yes.”

[winterironstony]

Murder Song (5, 4, 3, 2, 1)

Haven’t written stony fanfic in a long, long time boys but I’m back with a rewrite of my 5 yr old fic called Please, Dont Believe me. 

AO3 link

Chapter 1

Tony takes a deep breath as he steps into Shield headquarters. He had been here countless times before, but that didn’t stop the deep-seated anxiety that fills him every time he walks in. He does his best to reign in his emotions. No one likes the smell of a weak omega, Tony reminds himself. He needs to hold his head high, stare at the picture of Aunt Peggy that’s hanging near the doorway, and pretend like he’s meant to be here.

Which he totally is, by the way. This isn’t like the last time when he impersonated a janitor just so he could get information on Captain America’s apparent rescue and revival. Or like the time before that when he had to sneak in late at night so that he could fill Clint’s locker with itching powder. This time the dread pirate Fury himself had called Tony in.

To meet Captain America.

Okay well technically Tony was here to meet with all of the avengers, but he’s known Clint and Nat for a while and although meeting Dr. Banner and a demigod sounded exciting in their own ways, Tony has always had a soft spot for Captain America.

Tony has no idea what Fury is thinking letting a nineteen year old omega meet the Captain America. Seriously, there’s no way Tony is going to get out of this meeting with his pride intact. Tony just knows something terrible is going to happen; he’s either going to cry the second he sees the man in uniform or he’s going to faint. 

Or maybe Howard was right all along and Cap will take one look at Tony before scoffing and writing him off for what he is; a worthless omega.

It’s not as if most Shield agents don’t feel the same way. People aren’t nearly as subtle as they think they are. Even now, as he’s walking down the hallway of one of the most secure buildings in New York City, he can hear their whispers. He knows exactly what they see when they look at him. Never mind the fact that he’s been building their weapons and transportation systems since he was sixteen, people would only ever see what they wanted to. Coulson’s pet project, Clint’s little shadow, Fury’s never-ending headache, a young, wild omega who needs to be taught his place. The words don’t bother Tony the way it used to, at least nowadays people just left him to his own devices for the most part.

“Well would you look at that? I thought they took away your access card, omega.” A snide, rough voice calls from behind Tony.

Like he said, for the most part.

Immediately Tony is tense, wincing as he presses the elevator button a little more frantically.

Tony steels himself as best as he can, turning to meet Brock Rumlow head-on, taking a quick step back as he sees just how close the alpha is, their noses almost touching. Unfortunately for Tony, there isn’t much space to move away. The cold metal of the elevator door meets his back, making him shiver. Rumlow’s eyes drag down to Tony’s throat at the movement and Tony can’t help but clench his jaw. He hates the way Rumlow looks at him.

“Um, Fury called me in.” He says politely, not daring to turn his back to the alpha, but dismissing him as best he can with his words, he still doesn’t look up at Rumlow. He doesn’t want to. It’s all he can do to not let his emotions run free. The last thing he wants is for the opposing alpha to see his fear, or even worse, smell it.

Rumlow smiles down at him, moving in as close as he can possibly go before actually touching Tony. The smile is all teeth, more of a threat than anything else. “Of course he did. There’s no other reason you came by? Seeing anyone special?” He asks in his usual patronizing manner. Rumlow has always been one of those alphas that treats omegas as if they’d never gotten past the second grade.

“I really hope you’re not talking about yourself.” Tony mutters in disgust, nervously tapping his fingers against his jeans. He has made it clear countless times just how repulsive he finds Rumlow. “You should know by now I would rather bond with a cactus than with you, Rumlow.” He says hotly, pressing his hands against the alpha’s shoulders uselessly.

“I’m sure I could change your mind.” Rumlow all but rumbles, breath now hitting against Tony’s neck, just above the space where claiming bites traditionally would be. Tony’s about three seconds from a full on panic attack, not sure if he’s about to fall to the ground in fear or start attacking the opposing agent with every move Nat’s ever taught him, when the elevator doors finally open up.

Tony had no idea how much weight he had been pressing against the doors because as soon as they open he’s all but diving into the confined space. Honestly, he probably would have ended up with a concussion if it weren’t for the frankly massive arms that caught him before he hit the floor. The elevator smells good, nothing like the sweaty, testosterone-driven Rumlow and the sudden change in atmosphere nearly makes Tony whimper with relief.

Well, actually, it seems like Tony actually did whimper out loud because suddenly, the stranger is staring down at him, looking incredibly worried and also drop dead gorgeous.

Tony hardly notices the arms tightening from where they caught him around the waist because he’s busy drowning in the bluest eyes he’s ever seen. Blue eyes, dirty blonde hair, and a beard that frames a chiseled jaw line perfectly, Tony-

Tony should really pay attention to what he’s saying. “W-what?” He asks, dumbly, trying to ignore just how hard his heart is pounding.

“Is there a problem here? Rumlow?” The mystery alpha asks. Yes, alpha. If his overpowering scent didn’t give it away, his physique would have. He’s much broader than Rumlow or any other alpha Tony’s ever seen. His biceps are huge and he’s tall. All of Tony’s life, he’s been told he’s short, even by omega standards, but he’s never felt shorter than he does right now. The top of his head is just brushing the alpha’s jaw, their proximity giving away just how huge their height difference is.

Before Tony registers his words all Tony can think is this is an attractive man.

But once he registers the words, alongside the the dark, throaty growl the alpha had shot into Rumlow’s now pale face, Tony realizes. This is a very scary, attractive man.

The man barely said six words and Rumlow is literally shaking in his boots, backing off instantly and shaking his head. “We were just messing around, Steve. No big deal. You know how omegas are.” Rumlow laughs shakily and all but runs off as the doors begin to close. “See you in training!”

Tony must look just about as confused as he feels because the alpha above him looks down, concerned, “Did he hurt you? Are you alright?” He asks, voice more gentle than Tony’s ever heard from an alpha before. 

Tony’s nodding before he can even finish his sentence. Do not look weak in front of the beautiful alpha, Tony. Don’t you dare. 

“Uh.. um, Yeah, of course.” Tony stutters, not sure what the best response would be at this point. “We were just ah…  messing around.” He finishes, feeling only a little disgusting for agreeing with Rumlow, but also not wanting to step on anyone’s toes. He didn’t come in today to start any trouble.

The opposing alpha—Rumlow had called him Steve—looks unconvinced, but drops it. “Right, ah-“ He awkwardly lets his arms drop from where they were holding Tony, taking a step away from the omega, “Sorry, I just, you smelled really distressed and I-“ He cuts himself off, looking pained.

“Um no, it’s totally fine, thank you.” Tony says, shifting awkwardly. “I’m Tony, by the way.”

The other looks relieved at the change in subject, “I’m Steve.” He returns, shaking Tony’s outstretched hand heartily.

The handshake goes on for a bit too long, Steve staring at Tony inquisitively. Tony really doesn’t mind. The more that Steve stares at him, the more Tony gets to stare right back.

Seemingly figuring out that their handshake is getting to the awkward side of ‘way too long’ Steve lets go, chuckling weakly as he scratches the back of his neck. “Sorry, I don’t know why I’m acting so—you just smell really anxious.” Steve says, looking embarrassed as he says so.

Tony huffs out a small laugh. “I’m just a little nervous for my meeting.” He admits, “Really, nothing to worry about. Sorry if it’s putting you on edge, though.” Sometimes smelling an omega in distress really freaks alphas out, although that usually doesn’t happen unless it’s an omega that the alpha has a familial relationship with.

“No, no, don’t apologize! I was just.. making sure you’re alright.” The alpha says and geez, for a guy who looks the way he does, he’s pretty awkward. It strikes Tony as odd because the alpha clearly has a lot of confidence. Even in the way that he holds himself, legs in a wide stance as if ready for someone to come tackle him at any moment, and huge arms crossed over an equally huge chest, screams confidence, but his words do the exact opposite. Most alphas who are half as attractive as this one have all of their lines written out and ready to go at the drop of a hat, but this guy seems much less rehearsed.

Tony’s already halfway in love.

“So what’s got you so nervous?” The alpha asks after a beat of silence.

Tony makes a face, unsure if he’s allowed to talk about exactly what his meeting is about. “Honestly, I’m scared to tell you because there’s a good chance if I accidentally tell you something confidential, Fury will have this elevator plummeting to the bottom floor in seconds. Then he’ll probably explode the whole building, just to make sure there were no survivors.” Tony says, completely serious.

To his surprise, and complete delight, Steve laughs heartily at that. Most agents tense up whenever Tony makes fun of Fury, so it’s nice that someone finally understands just how ridiculous it is that they’re all living in a real life spy movie. “That sounds like something he’d do.” Steve agrees.

“As for why I’m nervous let’s just say I’m meeting someone I’ve looked up to for a while.” Tony says, sighing as he realizes just how close he is to being in the same room as Captain America. “As in, my whole entire life. I’m pretty much meeting my childhood crush in a few minutes.” Tony says, leaning against the elevator wall in an attempt to ground himself.

Steve gives him an interested look, “You don’t say.”

“Yeah, so you can see why I’d be nervous. It’s not like I’ve been dreaming about this day for the past 19 years of my life. I had posters of him on my ceiling for years. I dressed up as him for Halloween for nine years in a row. And now I’m supposed to act like a normal human being? Okay well, not like I ever act normal but you know what I mean. I wasn’t built for this kind of pressure.” Tony rambles, fully realizing how insane he probably sounds in front of this gorgeous alpha but he needs to do this. Maybe if he gets it all out now he won’t accidentally yell all of it in Captain America’s face when they finally meet.

Steve is silent for a moment and Tony looks over to see what seems to be a smug smile on his face. “What?” Tony asks, confused, just before the elevator beeps loudly.

The elevator door opens and Tony suddenly realizes he never even punched in a floor number. “Oh no, what floor is this?” He asks, stepping out alongside Steve.

“it’s floor 25. You’re meeting with Fury, right? He’s on this floor.” Steve says.

“Oh, thank goodness. You’re on this floor too?” Tony asks as Steve gestures for him to follow.

Steve nods, “We’re going in the same direction.”

“So? Are you going to tell me what that look was all about back there?”

 Steve glances down at Tony in a way that could only be described as fond. “You’re meeting Captain America today, right? You’re Howard Stark’s son?”

Tony let’s the questions sink in.

Processing…

Tony tilts his head and stares up at Steve.

Steve.

Steve Rogers.

Captain America.

 You’re Captain America? Why are you so young? Why aren’t you wearing red, white and blue? Why the hell do you have a beard?

 Okay so maybe, maybe it made sense that he wasn’t wearing the spangley outfit but nothing could possibly explain how the man still looked to be in his mid-twenties. Or the beard. That was really throwing Tony off.

 His blatant horror must show on his face because Steve looks guilty now, hand reaching out to comfort him? Tony wants to bat it away.

 There’s no way he’d be able to comfort Tony right now. The younger still can’t even get over the fact that he really just went and rambled on and on about how nervous he was to meet his idol to his actual freakin’ idol. Not only that but Captain America was hot. Of course, Tony had always pictured him to be but he thought after all those years under ice would have at least aged him a day. And of course the good Captain couldn’t live with the fact that he was only the most attractive man the omega had ever seen, but he had also listened to Tony intently, made him feel safe after his altercation with Rumlow, and even joked around with him about Fury.

 Tony knew he was perfect but he wasn’t supposed to be that perfect.

 The door that they’re standing in front of swings open abruptly, Clint Barton hurdling out of it and grabbing Tony into an embrace, nuzzling his neck like only packmates do. No matter how embarrassed Tony feels right now, no matter how much he feels like crying, he can’t help but return the hug, letting out a noise that can only be compared to a purr as Clint ruffles his hair affectionately. “Finally! We’ve been waiting on you Tones.” Clint says playfully. “Well, both of you, actually.” He amends, nodding towards Steve—towards Captain freaking America.

 “Which, by the way, I’m a little bitter I didn’t get to see you two meeting. What did your face look like Tony? Did he say anything embarrassing? I bet he did. Did he tell you about the cardboard cutout?”

 “Clint.” Tony hisses as he shoves his supposed friend harshly. “There was no cardboard cutout.” He offers lamely, still not brave enough to meet Captain America’s beautiful blue eyes.

 How the hell was Tony supposed to know Captain America was still 20 something and beyond attractive?

“Will you three stop wasting our time and get your asses in here?” Fury’s delightful voice yells from inside the office. Tony all but bolts in, nodding politely to Coulson and sending a salute Fury’s way. 

“Fury, glad to see you’re as bright and bubbly as always. Nat, hello.” He says cheekily, dropping down into a chair next to Nat, who graces him with a gorgeous smile and brushes a curly hair out of his face.

“Moy kotenok,” She all but purrs, tracing down his cheek and Tony preens under her attention. He hadn’t known Natasha nearly as long as he’s known Clint, but she feels like pack anyway. Clint had told him enough stories of her saving his sorry ass to make Tony respect her. 

“By the way, how come neither of you told me Captain America has a beard?” Tony asks dumbly, because what. He ignores Clint’s shocked laughter because this is a serious question.

“Stark, now is really not the time.” Fury says, sounding incredibly tired so Tony decides not to push his luck. He also tries not to look Steve in the eyes because if he does, he might drown in his embarrassment. Either that, or drown in Steve’s eyes. Neither of which were ideal options give the current situation. 

Tony does his best to revert his attention to the only other person in the room, someone who Tony was not aware would be joining their meeting but a familiar face nevertheless. “Dr. Banner.” He says, smiling at the scientist across the table. “It’s so amazing to finally meet you. I was at MIT a few years back when you gave that lecture on gamma radiation. It was absolutely incredible.” He praises genuinely, and it takes every ounce of his self-restraint to not add on a compliment about how much he loves the hulk.

Dr. Banner seems to appreciate it anyway, smiling back, “Thank you Dr. Stark, your work on… well, just about everything else is just as impressive.”

As if Tony wasn’t already preening at Nat’s attention, this amount of praise, especially by someone he respected so much had him brimming with pride.

“If you’re all done with your pleasantries, we did actually call this meeting for a reason.” Fury says blandly and Clint rolls his eyes at Tony furtively. “You all know why you’re here today. After the Battle of New York it’s become clear to the world that the Avengers Initiative is an absolute necessity. Most of you have been briefed on what’s expected of you up until the world needs you again. Stark, you’re here today because we need you on board. Your tech is unparalleled and, more importantly, your father was well involved in the creation of the initiative. We want you on as a consultant.” Fury’s words are quick and decisive. It’s clear he’s already made up his mind. “Stark Industries creates weapons and transport for Shield. I’m asking you specifically to take care of those things for the avengers.”

Beside Tony, Clint shifts uncomfortably, his eyes hard and challenging as he looks to Fury, “That’s a lot to ask.”

“It is.” Fury agrees, not bothering to look at anyone other than Tony, “I don’t trust anyone else with the job.” He says and even though Tony was never planning on saying no, that definitely feels good to hear. As an omega in the weapons industry he’s heard a lot about being too emotional, too weak, and too untrustworthy to be a good arms manufacturer. So hearing the head of one of the world’s most dangerous organizations say that he only trusts you is a pretty big win in Tony’s book.

Tony raises his eyebrows in interest. He eyes the room contemplatively, even chancing a glance at Steve—Captain freaking America. Would everyone on the team really be okay with an omega being their consultant. “If everyone is comfortable with that, I’d be happy to help.” He says earnestly. 

Clint and Natasha instantly voice their support, but they weren’t really the ones he was worried about. He’s been making their tech since he was seventeen.

Bruce sends a comforting smile Tony’s way. “I’m hoping I won’t be needed much on the field, but I am definitely excited to work with you in the lab sometime.”

Tony smiles back appreciatively, but his nerves are still high. Bruce wasn’t really the one he was worried about anyway. 

When he finally looks to Steve, he’s instantly terrified because the blonde looks actually contemplative. Tony braces himself, truly not ready to hear his childhood hero reject him. Even worse, he can feel Clint tensing up next to him in the way that alphas do when they feel challenged and he really doesn’t want to see the man he sees as an older brother get beat up by Captain America.  

When the Captain does finally open his mouth, it’s definitely not the rejection Tony had been anticipating. “Are you comfortable with this, Tony? You know you can say no, right?”

Of course. Of course Captain America didn’t have to settle for being Tony’s childhood crush, idol, and personal hero. He also had to be the kind of alpha Tony had only ever dreamed about. 

Tony takes a moment to think before responding. “I want to help. In any way that I can. Clint and Natasha already have rooms in the tower. It only makes sense for the avengers to set up base there too. I’m totally fine with it. Beyond fine, in fact. You guys do all the hard work, I’ll just make you look cool.” Tony says, and all of it is true. Tony can’t do much. Clint and Nat have taught him how to defend himself but “I’ve never been much of a fighter, I’m just too small. But if there’s any way I can help defend the people who need to be defended, I want in.” he says simply, shrugging and sending a somewhat challenging look Steve’s way.

It falls flat though, because Steve is staring at him like that again, like Tony’s a complete enigma to him. He has that small smile on his face that makes Tony want to do whatever it is that he’s doing right now forever. Because if he can make Steve smile like that, he must be doing something right. Tony feels hot under all of the attention. It isn’t like how other alphas look at him; like he’s just a body made for their use. Steve looks at him like he’d like nothing more than to understand him. Like he wants to know Tony, not Tony Stark. Tony isn’t even sure how a look can convey that and there’s a very good chance he’s just projecting his own feelings onto Steve.

“I’m glad you’ll be our consultant then, Mr. Stark.” He says gently, and Tony tries his best to ignore Nat’s soft chuckle as his cheeks start to burn.

“Like I said before, it’s just Tony.” He murmurs, looking away and standing from his chair. “Alright well? Are we done here?” He asks, looking towards Fury.

Fury, who looks like he’s trying his absolute hardest not to outright grin like a normal human being, nods, waving them all away. “All of your things will be transported to Stark tower within the next few hours. You’re all dismissed.” 

Tony all but flees out the door, wanting nothing more than to go back to his tower and bury himself in work for the next 36 hours and avoid avoid avoid the super-soldier who he had just inadvertently admitted his love to in an elevator of all places. 

“Hey, you okay?” Clint asks as he catches up with him easily, dropping an arm around Tony’s shoulders. The words are so familiar. Tony can still hear them like the first day they met, when Tony was just fifteen with bruises coloring his jaw and neck. That was the day their tiny pack of two had began—the day Clint had become the first and only person to know about Tony’s problem and had taken it upon himself to teach Tony how to defend himself. Ever since that day Clint had been like Tony’s older brother, fiercely loyal and protective. Even though they didn’t see each other as often these days, nothing ever changed between the two of them.

Tony rolls his eyes good-naturedly, clenching his hands so Clint won’t see the slight tremor going through them.  “Of course. Fury just loves to catch me off guard. Luckily for him, the tower does have a lot of extra room. And I’ve been bored lately. Your suit definitely needs an upgrade.” Tony teases, poking Clint in the side and giggling as the other jerks back and yelps loudly.

“Geez, you give a kid all of the love and affection in the world and this is how he repays me? Slandering my suit and assaulting me. The youth these days.” Clint mutters, rubbing his side as if Tony had stabbed him.

 “Watch out, grandpa, your age is starting to show.” Tony counters, laughing loudly and picking up speed as he sees Clint start to give chase.

 Clint’s eyes are narrowed as he stalks towards Tony playfully, “Why you little…”

 “Um, I’m sorry to ah- interrupt. But can I talk to you-- Tony?” Captain freaking America steps right in front of Tony, making the younger skid to a halt, still laughing lightly but scared as hell at the idea of yet another private conversation with Captain America.

 Clint laughs, clapping Tony on the shoulder a bit too hard, “Sure thing, Cap. Tones, meet at the lobby, kay? We can head to the tower together.” He calls over his shoulder, not even giving Steve a second look. It goes to show just how much he must trust Steve, because Tony can’t remember the last time Clint left Tony on his own with anyone, let alone another alpha.

 Well if Tony wasn’t shaking before, he’s definitely shaking now. Unceremoniously, he shoves his hands into the pockets of his hoodie.

 “Hey, I just wanted to apologize for how we started things. I hope I didn’t freak you out.” Steve says, eyes so blue and honest, Tony has no idea how anyone ever stays mad at him.

 Tony lets out a self-deprecating laugh and looks at the ground, “I think freaked out is one word for what I was feeling.” He replies nervously, not really wanting to meet Steve’s eyes quite yet. “I’d honestly appreciate it if you just… you know, forgot everything I said in the elevator.” Tony tries, wincing only slightly as he meets Steve’s eyes, which look way too charmed for the current situation. 

“Oh come on, you didn’t say anything that bad.” Steve says, unsuccessfully trying to cover his amusement. 

“I told you about the Halloween costumes!” Tony argues, covering his face with his hands as he feels himself getting flustered.

“Hey, hey, no, it’s okay, it’s fine.” Steve grabs Tony’s hands and pulls him from his face, taking another step closer so Tony’s nose just about bumps into his chest. “I’m just teasing, don’t worry, I already forgot everything you said anyway.” Steve soothes, completely unconvincingly.

Tony is quiet for a minute, mostly because he’s trying to memorize the feeling of Steve’s rough, calloused hands gripping his own but also because he’s trying to keep himself from stuttering, “Thank you.”

Steve’s hands drop his, but the grin on his face turns mischievous. Tony sees it coming a mile away. “Was it really nine times though?” Steve asks, unable to keep himself from laughing as Tony shoves him half-heartedly.

It doesn’t help that Tony’s “shove” didn’t even come close to budging Steve. Not even close. “You’re a troll, you know that?”

After allowing Steve to calm down from laughing at his own joke, Tony sighs. “You know, you could’ve told me or something, before I went and embarrassed myself like that.” Tony says half-heartedly, sounding more pitiful than anything else. He’s smiling though, wanting Steve to know he’s not actually that upset.

Steve laughs, neck turning slightly red as he scratches at it. No one should be allowed to be this attractive. It’s really not fair. “I thought it was cute.” He replies, smile genuine and soft and dear god, Tony is so not okay. He can feel the blush creeping up his own neck slowly but surely. “Plus, I didn’t even know that you were the Tony I was meeting today. Your dad… he was a lot taller and broader.” He says, as if that really explains anything.

Tony tries his best to ignore the mention of his father. He knows Cap was friends with his dad when they were in the war together. Howard was probably very different back then. Still, he hopes Steve gets the hint to leave Howard out of their conversations. “Well, I am an omega, so…” Tony trails off, making a point to look up at Steve, pointing out their very poignant height different. He expects Steve to laugh or to ruffle his hair. He expects something like what Clint would do, maybe make a joke about how short Tony is or call him adorable.

He does not expect Steve to stare back, eyes hooded as he tilts his head to the side. Tony hadn’t noticed how close they were before. His voice is low, deeper than it had been before as he agrees, “You are.”  

There’s no way Tony’s imagining this, right? He didn’t fall into some alternate dimension while on an inventing binge, right?

Maybe he is just delirious. One second the air in the hallway feels tense, the quiet isn’t so much awkward as it is charged with some emotion Tony can’t define. But the moment passes and the two step away from each other, almost at the same time as Natasha strolls past them, looking more smug than Tony had ever seen her before.

Oh god, he’ll never hear the end of this.

“You boys coming, or what?”

The two don’t even glance at each other before scrambling after her. 

Tony lets out a relieved sigh as the doors to his workshop slide closed.

After giving the avengers a quick of the communal spaces on the residential floor and introducing everyone to JARVIS, Tony sneaks away to the workshop as quickly as possible.

His day has been long, anyway. Even after completely embarrassing himself in front of his childhood hero, Tony spent most of the rest of the day learning more about the avenger’s initiative and their day-to-day life. AKA he learned a lot about the improvements he was going to need to make to the gym area. Apparently the world’s mightiest heroes take their training very seriously. He also learns that one member of the team is currently off-world. It’s a bummer, because Tony had been really looking forward to meeting an alien, but Clint assures him that Thor will be back as soon as he takes care of Loki’s trial in Asgard.

Clint also tells Tony a lot about Captain America. Clint didn’t really like the guy at first, which doesn’t really surprise Tony. Cap strikes Tony as the kind of guy who takes his day job very seriously, which is just about the opposite to how Clint treats it.

They seemed to have worked through their issues by now though because they’re already tossing insults and bantering between themselves like they’ve been friends for years. It’s nice, Tony decides, to see this side of Steve first. Tony has a feeling if he met the straight-laced Captain America version first they might not have gotten along that well either.

Clint tells Tony that Steve is an amazing leader, that he trusts the captain with his life, and that he thinks the alpha is incredibly lonely.

It makes Tony’s stomach drop, the way Clint looks when he tells him. Especially how Clint cuffs him on the back of the head lightly and gives him that proud older brother smile as he gently shrugs, “He kinds reminds me of you.”

And don’t get Tony wrong, it’s a blessing that he gets to watch Steve’s face as he takes in all of the amazing tech he has laying about his home. In particular, the way Steve’s eyes light up and grins as Jarvis sasses at Tony about not having eaten in a few hours makes the whole day worth it.

But, like it or not, Tony has work to do and SI’s board members have been waiting for him to fall behind and screw things up for every single one of the seven months he’s been CEO. He refuses to give them a reason to push out the only omega they have on their board of trustees. He’s already made history by being the first omega to own and operate a fortune 500 industry, and he’s not planning on letting it slip through his hands anytime soon.

And besides that, Tony loves his job. Weapons development had taken a backseat to the new and upcoming clean energy stint Tony was on, but the past few days he’s been working on something new. 

If there was one thing Howard Stark could never completely achieve it was arc reactor technology. Tony remembers the days when Howard would come home after a long day at failing to successfully understand the theories surrounding it. He remembers the broken cheekbone his sass had earned him after he teased his dad for not being able to figure it out. Things like that weren’t easily forgotten.

But Tony was on a roll and during the meeting he had somewhat of a breakthrough.

Meeting Doctor Banner had reminded him of something he had learned a long time ago back when he was at MIT. If the polarity between isotopes wouldn’t create the amount of energy he needed for the energy that the reactor would require, then maybe radioactive isotopes would be enough to create a circuit of electricity that could potentially power it.

The science wasn’t completely sound, but it was Tony’s best shot at this point. He wasn’t even positive that the arc reactor was a good idea for mass production. Yes, it would serve as an amazing step towards clean energy for the entire world. But it would also be a huge temptation, and Tony knows the board of SI and even worse, the military, would want the technology for something else. Something bigger and much more dangerous. 

“Sir, it would seem that my systems are mal-mal-malfunction-“ Jarvis’ voice, glitching and pitchy, startle’s Tony out of his work, making Tony push the goggles on his face up onto his head.

 “Jay?” Tony calls, standing slowly and reaching for the welding torch on his desk hesitantly. Jarvis didn’t just ‘malfunction.’

“So you’re the one they call merchant of death, hm?” A heavily accented, feminine voice calls from behind him. 

Tony suppresses a yelp, turning quickly and holding the torch up in his hand like a weapon as he looks around. The workshop darkens as he turns, the shadows in the room creeping inward slowly as if they had a life of their own, tendrils lashing out and covering the space he often thinks of as his safe place in complete darkness. The only light he can make out is bloody, red and blurry. His head pounds and he can feel his pulse rising, almost against his own will and his vision narrows into a red haze. “Wh-what the hell?” Tony whimpers, stumbling slightly and bracing himself against the desk as the haze begins to form into a human shape. It’s terrifying; smoky, not quite transparent but opaque enough to make out a body creeping towards him. He can’t make much out, the blood rushing in his ears sounds like a waterfall and he feels impossibly distracted.

The room has filled with a high pitched ringing, as if a bomb had just gone off and his ears don’t work properly anymore. He wants to search the room again, look for any kind of light, for Dum-E’s familiar presence or even check to see if he can bolt to the door but he can’t because he’s paralyzed in fear staring at the form in front of him that’s gradually becoming more clear. 

When his eyes finally come into focus he just about drops to the ground in terror.

Because there in front of him is Howard Stark.

“No… no…. you’re dead. This is impossible.” He whispers, shaking violently as he pitches backwards, falling to the ground with a clatter. He doesn’t stop moving though, all but crawling backwards until he slams into the wall.

The thing impersonating his father steps forward, grinning cruelly like Tony’s the most hilarious thing he’s seen in years.

Which he probably is, Howard is dead, so dead, he’s been dead for years and yet here Tony is still shaking like a leaf and close to tears just like he was when he was ten. Weak, worthless, pathetic omega. Can’t even face a dead man.

“Now, now, Anthony, that’s not how we speak to our elders.” The voice is in his head, curling into his brain almost gently; still distinctly feminine but it’s not as funny as it should be—seeing his father speak with a woman’s voice. If anything it scares him even more because it may not be his father’s voice but that’s a phrase he heard from Howard many times. It was always the reprimand he received after any kind of back talk. Always the gentle parental warning he would receive after Howard backhanded him with his class rings on and kicked him in the ribs a few times.

Tony’s so scared he nearly finds himself apologizing. He opens his mouth. Sir, I’m so sorry, sir, it won’t happen again, sir.

Then he hears it. Somehow, over the constant thrum of his overactive heartbeat, over the high pitched screeching and the voice snarling in his head he can hear something pounding on the door with all its might. People are yelling. His name?

Tony flinches as a very real, rough hand grips his chin in another familiar move. The hold is strong, too tight on his jaw and Howard’s angry face stares back. “This is a warning, Stark. You must choose sides very wisely, as your father did, boy.”

With that, his father disappears. The hand holding his jaw dissipates as if it was never there in the first place and Tony stares, wide-eyed at the well-lit room from his place curled in on himself against the wall. The doors to the workshop open in an instant and it’s all Tony can do to throw the forgotten welding torch as hard as he possibly can in that direction, scrambling up.

 As he stands, he sees that he didn’t just launch a successful attack against a villain, but rather launched a marginally unsuccessful attack at Clint. The torch lands at his feet. It makes the archer start, but not even the frankly laughable throw could remove the worried expression from any of the avengers.  

Tony expects Clint to be the one rushing over first but to what seems like everyone’s surprise it’s Steve, marching over and placing a hand hesitantly on the back of Tony’s neck in a comforting gesture. “Tony, what the hell happened? Are you okay?”

Tony knows he probably looks insane. His eyes are wide and his breaths completely uneven, not to mention the fact he still has goggles still half perched on his head and he’s shaking like a leaf. “I’m- I’m fine. I just. It was Howard.” Is all he can get out, falling into Steve’s arms for the second time that day but this time actively seeking comfort. He can feel his own nails digging into Steve’s shoulders but he can’t help it, the gravity of what just happened sinking in quick.

“I think he’s going into shock.” He can hear Steve murmur to the others, even as his strong hands sooth down Tony’s back comfortingly, shushing him quietly. 

“What do you mean, Tony, you have to explain.” Steve says, clearly trying his best to use his best calm and collected alpha voice to help ease Tony’s worries but the omega is beyond that point, shaking his head frantically and pulling away.

“No, no, no, you don’t understand. He didn’t have his voice but it was him. He’s dead but he was here and it was him. He said- he said I have a choice to make and that he was warning me. Oh my god. He’s going to come back what if he comes back?” Tony asks, now opting to dig his nails into his own arms, grounding himself as best he can. He can’t even tell if he’s in a dream or not anymore. Steve is gripping his arms, trying to keep Tony from hurting himself but Tony is scared.

Steve seems to be able to hear his thoughts now. “I know, I know it was scary, but you need to calm down Tony. I promise, I’ll protect you, okay? You just need to calm down.”

The omega’s eyes finally focus in on Steve, blue locking into amber intently. “You’ll… you’ll protect me?” He asks, voice small and disbelieving. In the back of his head he can feel how embarrassed he’s going to feel later on. But right now his true nature has completely taken over. He’s a terrified, distressed omega, seeking any kind of comfort from an alpha he doesn’t know well, but one that has already protected him once before and one that his packmates trust with their lives. 

“Of course I will Tony. Nothing bad is going to happen to you, okay? We’re going to find out what happened, okay? I will personally deal with whoever put you through this.” Steve’s voice is dark as he says this and Tony watches in interest as his blue eyes harden into something much more sinister and terrifying. Tony believes Steve, every word he says. “You’re going to be just fine, I promise.”

Tony nods, his breathing finally evening out as Steve’s hands continue their soothing ministrations down his arms. He looks back up at Steve and hesitates before he speaks, “I think I’m going to pass out now.”

Finally, the darkness overtakes him.

If you liked this first chapter please give me a follow and feel free to let me know what youd like to see from the rest of this story! I also take prompts for oneshots and other stuff like that for tony-based ships (mostly stony or winteriron)

[snowbellewells]

“Caught Off Guard”

Last #Ouat Fandom Crescendo rerun I’ll flood your dash with -- I already should have stopped a week ago.  There were several others I considered, but Dave just had to charge into the action one more time - as he does in the fic! ;) - and so this one won out!

This little one shot was originally started for a group prompt event that I didn’t finish in time.  It’s written after Emma and Killian are engaged and long past the time her parents really should learn not to charge into Captain Swan’s house unannounced.  I thought it ended up pretty cute though, and there’s some Captain Charming as well as CS, which I love.  I have to end my #OuaT Fandom Crescendo revisit of old fics somewhere, so why not with this fun one?

Hope you enjoy it!!

(Clearly, I still don’t own them. More of this fun, fluffy stuff would have been seen onscreen if I did…)

“Caught Off Guard”

By: @snowbellewells (TutorGirlml on ff.net)

               David Nolan, the Enchanted Forest’s Prince Charming turned deputy sheriff, whistles happily as he climbs the front steps to his daughter’s new home, enjoying the crisp autumn morning and looking forward to the boys’ day out he has planned, and for which he’s come to pick up his grandson and best mate.  He raps his knuckles once sharply on the door, but doesn’t pause long enough to notice if anyone calls out a response – they should be expecting him and the door is unlocked, so he turns the knob and steps into the foyer.  He can smell the warm, welcoming scent of fresh coffee brewing and hear cabinets opening and closing, along with the sound of pots and pans clanging in the kitchen. Chuckling to himself good naturedly, he heads in that direction, intending to help Emma, who has to be the one making so much noise.  As amazing and capable as his daughter is in almost every other area of life, she is a disaster when cooking.  If she is up trying to make a big breakfast to send her boys off, maybe he had better see if she needs a hand.

           However, as he rounds the corner and the kitchen comes into view, his smile freezes. His feet halt in their tracks and the happy greeting he’d been ready to speak dies in his throat as David nearly swallows his tongue instead. Right in front of him is his daughter, sleep mussed and tousled hair piled up on top of her head, one side of her shirt slipping off her shoulder to show too wide an expanse of skin, and legs bared all the way up to mid-thigh.  Too late to retreat, a shocked wheeze escapes him as she turns, sees her father gaping at her and grabs at the barely buttoned front of the black shirt she’s wearing as an entire outfit.  A shirt he realizes in turns of horror, anger, and embarrassment that he has seen before, on someone who isn’t his only daughter.  She’s wearing one of the pirate’s old shirts – and it’s barely covering her at that!

           “Dad!” Emma gasps, a blush staining her cheeks and spreading down her neck and more exposed chest than he really needs to see.  “What are you doing here? Don’t you knock?!”

           The prince stammers in his own shame, “Well, um…I…I did…once?  Sorry…I just figured you guys would be ready…since Killian and Henry are going with me.”

           “That’s tomorrow morning!” she yelps, sounding deceptively like the petulant teen he never got to meet.  “Henry’s not even here!”  She flaps a hand nervously, until she realizes it raises her hemline even more and jerks it back down, turning an even deeper crimson as she does and studiously avoiding his eyes.

           Just then, as if the moment needed to get even more awkward, footsteps sound on the stairs and Killian Jones’ voice calls out mere moments before he appears in the kitchen as well.  “Swan, what’s all the yelling?” he asks, rubbing his hand drowsily in his sleep-disheveled hair which is already standing up everywhere in dark tufts.  A lazy smirk stretches over his face as a wicked twinkle lights his eyes.  “Daydreaming about the Captain awaiting your return upstairs and catch the food on fire again?”

           He clearly hasn’t noticed his mate’s presence in the room yet, at least not until Emma only responds with a pained squeak and Killian’s gaze slides over to see her father’s eyes bulging wide enough to look as though he is having an apoplexy.  “Oh…hello Dave,” Killian offers much more quietly, flushing a bit himself.

           With what piece of Emma’s brain is not completely flooded with embarrassment enough to think, her heart is almost warmed by the amount of chagrin Killian seems to feel, not quite meeting David’s eyes and clearly not wanting his mate to think less of him or to inadvertently make the situation worse. She had half expected him to tease or ‘poke the bear’ so to speak, roll his tongue salaciously against his cheek in that positively indecent way she loves, puff out his chest, smirk, arch that eyebrow, and basically send her father into a breakdown.  However, her pirate is clearly more focused on not wanting to make the royal rescind the welcome he has been granted into Emma’s family. “Didn’t see you there,” he nearly mumbles, rather unnecessarily, eyes now glued to his shuffling bare feet with a shy evasiveness Emma has rarely seen from him.  

           By the same turn, Emma’s eyes flick back over to her dad’s face, seeing him visibly trying to bring his reaction back under control and stay calm.  She is honestly torn between wanting to cross the room toward him, pat him on the shoulder sympathetically, and put him out of his misery, and to heed her desire to flee the room, run upstairs to change, and not show her face again until she is completely covered in her usual jeans, turtleneck, and red leather jacket.

           Killian does throw a slightly chagrined comforting smile to the side, as if to say, ‘It’s going to be fine, Swan.  We’ll laugh at this later,’ and it allows her to take in a deep breath and press on.

           “So…” she tries, hoping to help them move past their uneasiness and into something a bit more normal.  “Are we okay here, Dad?  Do you want to have some eggs and pancakes with us before we go into the station?  I’ll go get dressed while Killian dishes thing up, if you want…”

           David shakes his head gently, clears his throat, runs a hand over the back of his neck for a moment uncertainly, hesitating to cause offense, but not wishing to stay in this uncomfortable moment, lingering and extending it any longer than necessary.  “Ah, I ate before I left home.  Snow had to be at the school early and left a ham and cheese casserole she’d made for me. Maybe I’ll just let you guys get back to your meal, and I’ll see you later?”

           Emma nods, relieved that her dad isn’t going to drag this out and is trying to carry on normally, as though nothing has changed.  “Sounds good,” she offers simply, braving a tiny smile at him for his effort.  

           Just as David turns to go, however, a little of Killian Jones’ insouciant nature seems to return to the pirate.  Stepping fully into the room and right up to Emma, playfully slinging an arm around Emma’s shoulders and smacking a purposefully sloppy kiss to her cheek, he then waggles his eyebrows cheekily at his friend and offers, “Good to see you, Dave.  Come again any time.”

           David glares at him, really taking the pirate True Love of his daughter under detailed consideration for the first time.  A ‘harumph’ of displeasure rumbles in his chest and his crosses his arms grumpily, looking ready to dig in his heels and fire back a response.  Emma can nearly read the expression on his face as if he has said out loud, ‘Really mate, since when are you Master of this Domain?’ but then David’s face blanches, his gaze focusing on a new detail.

           The Prince’s eyes pan lower to take in the comfortable flannel lounge pants Killian Jones wears low on his hips.  At first, the deputy finds himself wondering at the tough sailor wearing cozily checked, blue-and-red sleepwear and where Captain Hook would have even gotten such pajamas.  But as he looks a bit closer he realized he’s seen those sleep pants before – they’re old castoffs of his!  Realization hits that Snow must have donated them to their daughter’s pirate instead of Goodwill the last time he’d cleaned out his dresser.  Before he really thinks it through, David takes a step forward, gesturing wildly before finally sputtering out, “What are you doing with my old pajama pants, Hook?!”

           Killian looks down at himself, teasing grin sliding from his face and reddening blush staining his skin, nearly dark enough to match Emma’s, then slides his eyes over to meet Emma’s questioningly.

           Shrugging, Emma offers sheepishly, “When Killian first returned to life, I really wanted to get him some comfortable, modern clothes, but it’s not like we really got time to go out shopping in the real world with Hyde and Gold and all that chaos happening – as usual.  Mom gave me some old things for him to wear around the house that she said you didn’t wear anymore.”

           “Oh yeah,” her father mumbles, now the one shuffling his feet a bit and not meeting Emma’s or Killian’s eyes. “She’s right…that’s fine.”

           “Okay, then,” Emma says, clapping her hands once as if dismissing the matter and putting brightness and authority into her voice as she steps forward to usher David toward the front door while Killian moves to salvage the breakfast she had begun and then nearly let burn in her distraction.  “So, I’ll see you in an hour or so?”

           Dutifully, her father turns and walks ahead of her back to the entryway, clearly ready to escape the private moment he walked into.  Turning at the front steps as he opens the door, he looks over his shoulder and offers his grown daughter a wistful smile – all the time he lost with her, but his love for her and his joy at seeing she is happy as well showing in that expression.  “Though I wouldn’t have chosen to witness the details,” he offers, lips quirking up a bit further on one side, “I’m glad you’ve found love, Emma…that both of you have.  You deserve to be happy.  You deserve your True Love.  I’m glad you’ve found each other.”

           Impulsively, Emma throws herself forward into her father’s arms and hugs him to her tightly for several long moments.  Finally pulling away, her smile back at him is a bit shaky with emotion, but the embarrassment pretty much gone as she whispers, “Thanks Dad,” with fervent gratitude.

           Then he is gone, down the front walk to his pickup truck, and Emma closes the door to pad barefoot back into the kitchen where Killian is waiting. Leaning with intentional ease against the counter, one leg crossed over the other, arm braced on the countertop behind him and his maimed limb rubbing at the back of his neck, the one thing that gives his discomfiture away despite the playful wink he sends across the room at her.

           “Well, Love, shall I be facing your father in a duel at high noon?” he asks, his bashful concern showing through the playful bravado in his blue eyes as he gazes up at her from under those handsome dark lashes.  “Now that he knows for certain I have besmirched his daughter’s honor?”

           She shakes her head at him in fond exasperation and moves closer on silent bare feet.  “Really?’ she asks with arched brow just before slipping into his open arms, pressing her nose into his bared throat and humming in comfort at his welcome embrace.

           “Yes, Swan, really,” he continues, lips murmuring into the hair at the crown of her head.  “It’s one thing for him to know that we are together.  I dare say he has even come to accept me as your fitting choice, but I had never quite meant to flout our connection so obviously in his face.”  She can feel his bare stump running lightly up and down along her spine, whether intentional or not, making the hem of his old shirt ride up even higher on her hips and sending potent shivers running along her skin.

           Catching the shortened arm in her grip, she brings it up to the generously gaping neckline of the shirt, guides it inside and along her skin with her own hand. Mouth tilting up in tempting invitation, she whispers back at him, “Don’t worry, Pirate.  Remind me to tell you later about the time Henry and I interrupted him and Mom making tacos.  Let’s just say he was long overdue a similar uncomfortable moment.”

           “As you wish,” Killian husks, voice deep and rumbling and his rough stubble scratching along her neck where he bends his head to nuzzle along her skin. Their conversation derails after that, neither feeling capable of forming words over touching and connecting in other ways.  The pancakes Emma had mixed up and never finished cooking, as well as her father’s ill-timed visit, are both forgotten while they get back to the delicious slice of normal life they have finally found a moment to savor.

Tagging a few lovelies who may enjoy!  @kmomof4 @whimsicallyenchantedrose @hollyethecurious @laschatzi @spartanguard @jennjenn615 @bmbbcs4evr

@drowned-dreamer @celestial-fire-writer @ultraluckycatnd

@ps1473-4 @ilovemesomekillianjones @searchingwardrobes @branlovesouat @kiwistreetswan @captain-swan-coffee @ohmakemeahercules @revanmeetra87 @winterbaby89 @capswantrue

[jungibee]

Avengers: Infinity War, but my fav ships have children.

——————

pt.1

——————

trigger warning

.bruce x thor - established relationship

.stephen x tony - established relationship

pt.2

The Guardians were making their way through Asgardian ruin, when a large man cradling a girl, smashed up on the windshield, “Wipe it! Wipe it!”, Rocket complained. Gamora got out of her chair, “Come on Peter, help me.”

————

The Guardians carefully laid the Asgardians on a table. They were talking about Thor’s advent when Mantis puts her hand on Thor’s forehead, “He is anxious, angry, he feels tremendous loss and guilt.”, Mantis confirmed, “It's like a pirate had a baby with an angel.”, Drax said more to himself, “And the girl?”, Gamora asked, Mantis then repeated the action on the other, “She’s extremely anxious and sad.”, Mantis said full of sorrow. “Come on then, wake em up.”, Quill demanded. Thor jolted up and merely ran to the other side of the other room, getting all the guardians attention, nobody noticing the trembling girl. “Who the hell are you guys?”, Thor asked out. They each introduced themselves and what they were and Thor the same. Thor then noticed his daughter sitting in a chair next to a tree, he walked over to her and put a his hand on her shoulder, sitting next to her and pulling her shaking frame closer, “This is my daughter Amaya.”, the guardians all pointed a grin her way.

Mantis brought the gods food and while they slowly ate, they listened to Gamora describe the intentions of Thanos, which lead to them finding out Gamora was Thano’s daughter, causing Thor to get up, making it seem like he was made only for him to put a hand on her shoulder and reassure her that it can be tough, telling her about his family. The god of thunder then walked over to the pod, trying to access the pod, which led to him and the one they call Quill to get into a quarrel, which made Amaya laugh to herself at how ridiculous the two are.

“Enough, we need to stop Thanos, which means we need to find out where he’s going next.”, Gamora spoke up, ending the twos childish banter, “Nowhere.”, Thor answered, “He must be going somewhere.”, “No, Nowhere, that’s a place, we’ve been there it sucks- excuse me that’s our food.”, “Not anymore.”

Amaya had blocked out the conversations until she heard her father call out her name, she got up and walked to him, “Yes father?”, “I know you’re scared, but listen to me, I need you to stay with these guys, okay? Now it’s going to be dangerous, but you are one of the strongest gods known and you’re the best chance these guys have, alright darling? We’ll meet again soon once I have my new hammer, and I’ll kill Thanos and everything will go back to the way it was. Just you, your father, and I.”, Amaya simply nodded whispering an okay, and then pulled her father into an imbrace, “Promise me,father, you’ll come back.”, “I promise dear, I love you.”, and with that he got into the pod with Rocket and Groot and left.

——————

-somewhere in space, in a flying donut-

——————

The siblings were both creeping around this ship, looking for at least one of their dads. “Wow. You are a seriously loyal piece of hardware.”, they heard the voice of Tony close by and creeped up in front of him, “Speaking of loyalty..”, Peter tested, Tony snapping his gaze to his children and was instantly furious, “-I know what your gonna say, bu-“, Peter started, but was interrupted by his sister, “Daddy I tried talking him out of i-“, “Uh no you didn’t, you were all for it.”, Peter quipped before she could finish, “And now I have to hear it.”, their dad said to himself, “-and well now we’re in space”, Peter finished, “Yeah, right where I didn’t want you to be!”, their dad continued to get angry, “You’d rather abandon us, your only children, on a world that’s in flames, that’s real fatherly really, and what if you and pop didn’t come back, what would happen to us?”, Hailey was really concerned and was now popping off at her dad, who just turned around and gestured them to follow him. They got to the ledge of where they were and looked down to see Stephen with a bunch of ice sickle looking things being poked into his skin, “See that, that’s you’re dad, he’s in trouble. What’s your plan? Go.”, Tony looked at the teens sternly.

“Hm um, okay, um”, Peter got up from where he was crouching, “Ok, you ever see this really old movie Aliens?”, “Peter, this isn’t a movie, this is really life and that’s my dad.”, “Our dad and can’t you just trust me?”, Hailey just rolled her eyes and went beside Tony, who looked down at her with sympathy. Stephan’s screams could be heard, causing tears to pool in his daughters eyes as she watched him suffer, “Peter, what ever this plan is can you hurry it up?”

——

Tony crept up beside the creature holding Stephan, “Back away squidward.”, he said to the thing, “You’ll do nothing, your powers are inconsequential to mine.”, the creature pushed, “Yeah, but the kids have seen more movies.” and with that he blasted a hole in the side of the spaceship, sending the creature and stephan out to space, “Peter get him!”, Hailey yelled to her brother who jumped down and tried his best to web up their father, in which he succeed before he could fly away into the stars. Tony fixed the ship and peter dropped Stephan, Hailey running towards him and helping him up, Tony walking and joining to rest of his family.

“We need to turn this ship around.”, Stephan spoke, “Yeah, now he wants to run.”, their dad sassed, “I wanted to protect the stone.”, “And I want you to think me now, go ahead i’m listening.”, “For what, nearly blasting me into space?”, “Who just saved your magical ass? Me.”, “I seriously don’t know how you fit your head into that helmet.”, “Admit it, you should've ducked out when I told you to. I tried to bench you, you refused.”, “Unlike everyone else in your life, I don't work for you.”, “And due to that fact, we're now in a flying doughnut, billions of miles from Earth, with no back-up.”, the two bickered, “We’re back-up!”, their children spoke up, “No. You're stowaway.The adults are talking.”

Stephan turned around to see his children, “You let the kids on the ship?!”, he then quipped at his husband, “Hailey Blaine, I thought I told you not to leave the Sanctorum?”, this made the girl go stiff and look down. “I didn’t let them on the ship, I told them to go home, but of course they didn’t listen.”, Tony answered his husbands previous question.

“The ship is self-correcting its course. Thing's on autopilot.”, Tony began speaking to himself, “Can we control it? Fly us home?”, Strange asked, “Hun?”, he asked out when he didn’t get an answer, “Yeah?”, “Can you get us home?”, “Yeah, heard you, but I'm not so sure we should.”, “Under no circumstances can we bring the Time Stone to Thanos. I don't think you quite understand what's at stake here.”,

“No, Thanos has been inside my head for six years, since he sent an army to New York, and now he's back and I don't know what to do.

So I'm not so sure if it's a better plan to fight him on our turf or his, but you saw what they did, what they can do. At least, let's hope he's not expecting it, so I say we take the fight to him, Doctor.”, Stephan just let his husband finish, he put his hand on his waist, “Do you concur?”, “Alright, so we go to him, but what of the kids, huh, what about you, what if he uses one of y’all to get me? Then I’ll have no choice, and that just brings him one step closer to destroying the universe as we know it.”, “Well we can only hope.”

Tony walked over to his kids and put his hand on Peters shoulder, “Kid.. you’re an avenger now.”, Peter just smiled to himself, “What? How come he gets to be an avenger?”, his sister quipped, “Hailey, no complaining in space.”, the girl just huffed and walked over to Stephen. “Pop?”, the girl looked up to her dad, “Yes dear?”, “If I can’t be an Avenger, can I be a wizard?”, “We’ll see dear, we’ll see.”, he put his hand around her shoulder and followed the others.

————

i spelt stephen with an ‘a’ too many times but oops

@cherryhao

————

[branlovestowrite]

Complicating Factors: Chapter 7

This is my WIP that I have been posting over at FanFiction.Net. I am reposting the chapters here as I continue to write the new chapters.

Complicating Factors

Rating: M for language and smut in later chapters

Summary: Emma Swan is a single mother trying to contact her ex and father of her child, Neal Cassidy. While she expected some awkwardness when meeting Neal’s mother, Milah Gold, she never expected the undeniable attraction she feels toward Milah’s younger boyfriend, Killian Jones. No Magic, Modern AU. Captain Swan.

Previous Chapters: Ch1 Ch2 Ch3 Ch4 Ch5 Ch6

Also on fanfiction.net.

He was going to be there in 30 minutes, and Emma had no idea what to wear. She didn't want to dress too provocative and give him the wrong idea, but she also didn't want to look too matronly. She let out a grunt of frustration. She heard Mary Margaret laugh and say something to Henry before walking into Emma's room.

"I'm sure whatever you wear, you'll look great. Just be comfortable."

"Are you sure you're good with watching Henry? You spend all day with kids. I wouldn't blame you if you avoided them in your off time."

"It's no problem. I am happy to help. David says this is my penance for trying to be a matchmaker, but I will happily pay it. Besides, I'm going to need practice."

"Practice for what? You're a preschool teacher. You've seen it all."

"Yes, but I work with groups of kids. I'm going to need more practice handling a kid one on one."

"Wait...are you saying what I think you're saying? Are you pregnant?"

"Yes!" Mary Margaret said, bouncing on the balls of her feet. "You're not supposed to say anything until after the first trimester is over, but you know I can't keep a secret. I made a deal with David that I could tell you, but we are keeping it secret from everyone else for now."

"I'm so happy for you guys!" Emma walked across the room and wrapped her arms around her friend. "When are you due?"

"October 23rd."

"That's my birthday."

"I know! You and Baby Nolan will be birthday buddies. But don't tell Henry yet. Four-year olds are worse at keeping secrets than I am."

Emma gave her friend a warm smile. "Lucky for you, I can keep a secret. I am so very happy for you. Have you thought of any names?"

"Well, if it's a girl, we want to name her Ava Ruth, after our mothers."

"That's beautiful. What about if it's a boy?"

"I like Leopold, after my father, but David says we'd set our son up for a lifetime of ridicule if we name him that."

"I have to agree with your husband."

"Where'd you get Henry's name?"

"A neighbor I used to have, Mr. Perkins. The one who taught me to bake. His first name was Henry. He was one of the first people to really care for me. I looked for him after I got out, but he died about a year after Henry was born."

"Oh Emma. I'm so sorry." Mary Margaret pulled her friend into a comforting embrace.

"It's ok. I mourned for him already. He was a good man, and I have my memories." She pulled away and looked at her bed, which was littered with nearly her entire wardrobe. "For now I need to figure out what to wear for this date. Do you think it's too late to cancel?"

"Don't you dare!" Mary Margaret scolded. She reached into the pile and fished out a pink dress. "This is nice."

"No way," Emma replied. "Mu bought me that dress for a sting she set up. I am not wearing that on a real date."

Emma finally settled on dark jeans, a silk blouse, and her black boots. It was casual, but still dressy enough. Mary Margaret approved, and Henry said "you look pretty mama!" She smiled at her son and looked at the clock. Graham was five minutes late. Despite her earlier reluctance, Emma was mad at him. She grabbed her phone and dialed his number.

"Graham. Where are you?" She paused, listening to his response, "You did? Would his name happen to be Killian? Yes, I know him. No, you don't- Okay. See you soon."

She hung up and immediately her anxiety returned.

"Killian?" Mary Margaret asked. "Isn't that Milah's boyfriend?"

"Ex-boyfriend," Emma corrected. "Did I forget to tell you they broke up?"

"You must have, because I wouldn't have set you up with Graham if I knew Killian was single."

"You too? Why does everyone want me to be with Killian?"

"Because you are obviously attracted to him, which is a rare enough occurrence to make it significant."

"Well, I'm gonna have to get past it. He's living in this building now. If there wasn't reason enough to avoid getting involved with him before, there certainly is now."

"Okay. Just so you you know, you're setting yourself up for failure. Do me a favor and let Graham down easy. He is a good guy."

"Stop that talk. You're not helping." Emma was ready to continue her argument, when she heard a knock on the door. She opened it to see Graham standing there.

"Emma, you look lovely. A thousand apologies for being late."

Emma softened upon hearing his sweet words. "Don't worry about it. You were doing a good deed."

"Hello Mary Margaret. Henry."

Henry turned around and leaned over the back of the couch. He gave Graham a critical look, looking much older than his four years. After a moment of intense silence, he finally spoke. "Do you like boats?"

"Um... I've never given it much thought. I have nothing against them. Just haven't spent much time on them."

"So..." Henry asked. "Do you like them?"

Emma laughed nervously. "Henry, go easy on him."

"Okay mommy," he replied, giving her a toothy grin.

She walked over and gave him a kiss on the forehead. "Be good."

"Yes mommy. I love you."

"Love you too kid."

"Have fun!" Mary Margaret said as Emma and Graham walked out of the apartment and headed toward the elevator.

Killian felt more nervous than he had in a long time. Ruby, Emma, and Henry would be arriving within the hour. He'd spent the morning scrubbing the small apartment from top to bottom and rearranging the furniture to suit his liking. This Will fellow liked sleek, modern furnishings. They weren't really Killian's style, but they would serve the purpose.

He set out a few two-liter bottles of soda and a jug of sweet tea he'd found at the grocery store. He knew that sweet tea was not the beverage of choice in the northern part of the US, but he'd become addicted to the stuff when he lived in South Carolina. Milah never liked it. She always said that it was a waste of good tea leaves. Now that he was living on his own, he'd indulged himself and bought a jug. He got out three tall glasses and one plastic cup, picked up especially for the occasion. It was not specifically designed for children, but it had a sailboat on it, and he couldn't help but think of Henry when he saw it. And he figured it wasn't a bad idea for the lad to have a plastic cup, just in case.

He stood in the middle of the kitchen and looked down at his outfit for the tenth time since he'd changed. He was trying very hard to draw a balance between dressy and casual. He'd gone for dark jeans and a black button down shirt. It was more open at the collar than he preferred, mostly due to the fact that he felt overheated. The temperature in the room was comfortable, but his internal temperature spiked because of nerves. He couldn't help but wonder all day, and truly the entire night prior, how Emma's date had gone. Graham seemed like a decent fellow. He feared that Emma would fall for the detective and end all of his own hopes.

He was roused from these musings by a knock at the door. He jumped, looking at the clock and realizing it was already 5:30. He opened the door and found Emma and Henry standing there.

"Killian! I brought my pirate ship. You can be the Captain. Can we play?"

"Hang on Henry," Emma said. "Let's get inside and get settled first." She turned to look at Killian. "I'm sorry we're a bit early. He was so excited about coming over here. If it's too soon, we can go back to our apartment for a bit longer."

"No, no. I am glad to have you both. Although it may be a while before we can eat, depending on when Ruby gets here."

"No problem. I bought snacks," She said, holding up a grocery bag.

"Henry, lad, can you go set up the pirate ship by the couch? I'll help your mother put the food away and be right there."

"Aye aye, captain!" Henry said.

Killian showed Emma to the kitchen and helped her put away the salad, loaf of garlic bread, and bag of frozen mozzarella sticks. He started the oven to heat up the cheese sticks and pulled out a sheet pan, setting it on the counter. He looked up to find Emma standing close enough that he could feel her breath on his skin. He paused for a moment, unable to speak as his eyes searched hers.

"You alright, love?"

She looked nervous and frozen in place. She gestured behind him. "I was going to grab the bag of mozzarella sticks."

"Oh, yes. Of course." He stepped aside and began anxiously scratching behind his ear.

Once the appetizer was in the oven, they moved to the living room to join Henry. Emma sat on the couch while Killian joined Henry on the floor. They were caught up in their story when he heard the kitchen timer go off.

"That's the mozzarella sticks," Emma said. "I'll get them. You guys keep playing."

He heard her in the kitchen, preparing the appetizer. She opened and closed more than a few cabinets and drawers, getting her bearings, but she didn't call out for help. He was glad, as he will still learning where everything was and wasn't sure he'd be of much help. She walked back out and set down a plate with the sticks and a cup of marinara sauce on the coffee table.

"Mommy, can I have a drink?"

"Of course sweetie. Let's go in the kitchen and see what Mr. Killian has."

They retreated back to the kitchen just as there was another knock on the door. "That'll be Ruby," Killian called to them. "I'll get it."

He opened the door and let the other lass in. She was stunningly beautiful, but Killian could only see her as a friend. She burst through the door, filling the room with energy as she brandished an aluminium tray with what he assumed must be the lasagna, along with a square-shaped box.

"Sorry I'm late!" She said in a rush. "Granny hired a new night manager, Dorothy, and she gave me such a hard time about taking the lasagna. Said we were stealing profits. As if Granny doesn't throw out at least one of these every week. I bought a pie to appease her, so we have dessert!"

"Yum!" Emma said, coming from the kitchen. "What kind?"

"Apple," Ruby replied.

Emma turned to Killian. "Do you have ice cream?"

"I don't believe so."

"Well, good thing I always keep some on hand. I'll run down to my apartment and grab it."

"Later, Emma!" Ruby scolded. "Let's catch up now."

They all walked into the kitchen. Henry grabbed his new cup and held it up. "Aunt Ruby! Look at this cool cup!"

"Very nice!" Ruby said. "It's a sail boat. Are there any more cool cups like that?"

"I'm sorry, but no," Killian said. "I saw that while I was at the store and thought Henry might like it, so I picked it up."

"You got this cup special for me?" Henry asked. "He likes boats mommy! I like him better than the guy you had dinner with yesterday."

Emma flushed. "Henry, it's not polite to speak like that."

"Like what?" he asked with a confused expression.

Before Emma could reply, Ruby interjected. "You had a date last night? How do I not know about this?"

"Because I bribed Mrs. Roberts to not say anything."

"Sneaky..." Ruby said. "Tell me about him, who was he?"

"David's new partner, Graham." Emma's eyes flashed nervously to Killian's. "I can tell you more later."

They managed to get the lasagna started, and moved into the living room to eat the mozzarella sticks. Ruby told them more about her encounter with Dorothy.

"She kept stalling me every time I tried to leave. I think she was flirting with me."

"Could be," Emma said. "Do you like her?"

"Honestly? Yes. I've dated other women before, but never seriously. But I could see myself in a relationship with her. Is that crazy? We just met."

"Sometimes you just know," Killian said, without thinking. He looked up to see Emma's eyes. He could almost hear the thoughts in her head, screaming at her to retreat.

She stood up then. "I'm gonna go grab that ice cream."

Ruby rolled her eyes. "Killian, go with her. Henry and I can play pirates while you two work out whatever is going on with you."

"I don't think that's a good idea," Emma said. Killian stood in silent shock.

"Of course you don't," Ruby replied. "But despite whatever crazy thoughts are going through your head, you and Killian need to have a long overdue conversation to address the chemistry between yourselves. So go up to your apartment, have it out, and come back here when you're ready to have a pleasant dinner without all this sexual tension."

"Seshual tension?" Henry asked. "What's that?"

Before Emma could reprimand her friend, Ruby answered Henry. "It's when two grown ups like each other, but are afraid of their feelings."

"That's silly," Henry replied. "If they like each other, they should just be friends."

"Listen to the kid," Ruby said. She turned back to Henry. "Your mommy and Mr. Killian are going to have a grown up talk while you and I play some more pirates."

"Awesome!"

Emma stood in her kitchen. Killian was in the living room. She'd never wanted to run away more in her life than at this moment. She was effectively trapped. Ruby had her son and wouldn't let Emma take him home until she came to some sort of resolution with Killian. Ruby was very perceptive and would see through any attempts to deceive. Emma thought briefly of telling Ruby to go screw herself and taking Henry home, but then she'd have to deal with the fallout of losing her best friend and living in a building with a man who knew she'd rather break a friendship than talk about her feelings for him.

She took a deep breath and walked into the living room. "Would you like to sit down?" She asked, pointing to the couch.

He sat on the end closest to the door, and she occupied the other side. They both sat near the edge, putting as much distance as possible between themselves. The silence was deafening. Killian began scratching behind his ear again, which must be his nervous tick. Just when Emma thought she couldn't take the quiet any longer, he spoke.

"I am attracted to you, Emma."

"Well, I'm not going to lie. I was attracted to you when we first met. But then I found out you were dating Milah, and I tried to get past it. Is that why you broke up with Milah? Because you wanted to be with me?"

"No. She broke up with me because we always fought. And we want different things. I am trying to rediscover myself now that I'm on my own."

His confession struck Emma, and she relaxed a little. She stood momentarily and settled down on the middle of the couch, closer to Killian. "I know what that's like. I had to rebuild my life after I got out of jail."

"How did you do it?"

"I had Henry. And Regina, though it took her and I a while to get to a friendly place. And then Ruby and Mu, and everyone else. I guess it takes time. Friends help."

"I am finding that I don't have many of those."

"Friends? Well, I'll be your friend. You're a nice guy, Killian, and Henry really likes you."

"Just friends?" He asked, turning toward her. One of his eyebrows cocked up nearly to his hairline and his eyes held a playful expression.

Was he actually flirting with her? She felt a traitorous thrill in her heart at the thought. Against her better judgment, she responded. "Please. You couldn't handle it."

"Perhaps you're the one who couldn't handle it," he countered, giving her a challenging look.

She looked at him. He really was incredibly attractive. His eyes were a brilliant blue, contrasting perfectly with his dark hair. His lips looked soft and full, and she couldn't stop herself from wondering how it would feel to run her fingers across his stubble. Without fully realizing what she was doing, she grabbed the collar of his shirt and pulled his body to hers. Their lips collided in a deep kiss. She opened her mouth slightly and his tongue slipped through, gliding along her own. Her head moved and he moved with her, nipping at her lower lip. His hand came up to her head and tangled with the hair at the nape of her neck. She reciprocated, carding her fingers through the hair on the back of his head. They were perched on the edge of the couch, and she kept a tight grip on his shirt collar to keep herself from falling. The kiss was electric. She felt it all over, a warm, tingling feeling. It was better than any kiss she'd ever had. She wanted to be able to kiss him like this forever. At that thought, alarm bells went off in her head, and she pulled away, resting her forehead against his.

"That was..." he began.

She didn't want him to speak and break the spell. She moved to capture his lips again with her own, but froze just millimeters from his mouth. She couldn't do this, no matter how much she wanted it. So, instead, she finished his sentence. "A one-time thing," she said against his mouth. She released his shirt collar and stood up, walking into the kitchen. "Go back to your place. I'll be down in a bit. I just need to compose myself."

"As you wish." She heard him open the front door and exit, shutting it gently behind him.

Emma's emotions came crashing down upon her. As a child, one of her favorite movies had been The Princess Bride. She'd always hoped for someone to say "as you wish" to her the way Westley had to Buttercup. The memory brought tears to her eyes as she replayed Killian's voice saying that very line. It alternated with the lingering feelings from perhaps the best kiss of her life. The attraction she felt for Graham was nothing compared to this. It was overwhelming, all consuming. Every cell in her body called for Killian. She wanted to be with him forever. But the memories of Neal's betrayal also played in her head. As much as she felt pain at the hurt Neal caused her, she knew it would be a thousand-times worse if Killian hurt her.

Fear won the battle among her warring emotions, and she began to harden herself against any further entreaties from Professor Jones.

Killian's head was reeling as he stepped out of Emma's apartment. He had gone from anxious and sad to flirtatious and hopeful in a matter of minutes. The kiss with Emma had been incredible. He could still feel a tingle on his lips. He reached up and softly touched them, letting out a long breath. She was a challenge. She obviously liked him, but feared the prospect of getting involved with him. He ran his fingers through his hair and walked toward the elevator as he agonized over what to do.

He returned to his flat to find Ruby and Henry on the couch, watching some cartoons.

"I hope you don't mind," Ruby said. "I found your Netflix account and put on a show for Henry."

"Not at all," Killian said.

Ruby looked at him quizzically. She stood up from the couch. Henry was engrossed in his show and didn't even register her movement. Ruby grabbed Killian's bicep and pulled him to the kitchen. "What happened? Where's Emma?" She asked, keeping her tone low.

"Nothing. Emma just said she needed a minute and she'd be along shortly."

She gave him a scrutinizing look. "No, there's something you're not saying. I can tell. I know we just met, but trust me, you don't want to hide things from me. I have an uncanny ability to sniff them out."

Her gaze made Killian uncomfortable, and he stared down at the floor. "She kissed me," he said, in nearly a whisper.

The brunette's mouth fell open in a wide gasp, but she quickly recovered. "Let me guess, she freaked out, told you it couldn't happen again, and asked you to go ahead without her?"

"Yes...that's nearly exactly what happened. How did you know?"

"I know Emma. She'll come back in a bit, make up some lame excuse, and take Henry home. She won't stay for dinner."

"I expected as much. I do wish she would talk with me about her fears."

"It takes a lot more to get her to open up. How was the kiss?"

Ruby's frankness startled Killian, but he also found it refreshing. "It was bloody brilliant. I've never felt a connection like that."

"Good. That's good. She'll come around. You have to give her space. Let her figure it out in her own head. But don't disappear, either. She's had enough abandonment."

"So I need to stick around but give her space? That's a bit contradictory."

"I know. She's a tough nut to crack, but she's worth it."

"Why are you helping me?"

"Because Emma never makes her own happiness a priority. She always puts everyone else first. She felt a connection with you the moment she met you, but she's denying it because she thinks she is obligated to. Even though she is loath to admit it, she wants to be with you. I think you could make her happy. I'm pretty good at reading people."

"Thank you, lass." He sighed. "I never thought I could love someone like I loved my Milah, until I met Emma."

"Definitely don't tell her that yet," Ruby laughed.

"Of course," Killian said with a smile.

Emma came back a few minutes later and did just as Ruby predicted. After Emma and Henry left, Ruby helped him prepare two plates for the Swans and they carried them to her flat. He did not linger, just provided her the plates and bid her and her boy goodnight. Afterward, he and Ruby had a pleasant dinner. He quickly found she was becoming a great friend. They parted with a congenial hug.

"See you around, Jones," she said.

"You too Lucas," Killian replied with a smile. He was grateful to have a friend and ally in all this.

On Sunday morning Emma was awakened by a text from what she assumed was Gold's number. It was just an address, nothing additional. She replied back to ask if that was the place for the meeting, but got no reply. She checked it out on the map. It was in the South End neighborhood, which surprised her. She'd expected this meeting to be in a shady part of town, not one of the most expensive places to live in Boston. She shrugged and forwarded the text to Regina. Regina was nervous about this plan, but went along with it. She'd bought a can of pepper spray and insisted Emma take it in case something bad happened. Emma knew how to take care of herself, but she appreciated Regina's concern.

She looked at the clock and decided to go ahead and call Milah to update her. She'd told Milah about the conversation with Gold on Monday, and Milah had readily agreed to come along. Emma dialed the number and waited for an answer.

"Hello?"

"Milah, it's Emma. I got the location from Gold. It's some fancy place over in South End. Does that sound right to you?"

"Yes, he owns a few properties in that neighborhood that he uses as short-term rentals for executives. He's probably got Neal staying in one."

"He owns more than one property in South End? How rich is your ex?"

"Too rich for his own good. But this is a good development. The location is upscale enough that he'll probably want to keep a low profile. I don't think he'll try anything stupid today."

"I'm glad to hear that. We're supposed to be there at 5:00. What time should Henry and I come by to get you?"

"How about 4:00? And we'll take my car."

"I don't mind driving."

"I know, but Neal won't know my car. Your Bug is very notable. Plus, I have a panic button on my key ring, so I can raise the alarm if need be. But I truly don't believe it will come to that.

"Okay," Emma conceded. "We'll see you at 4:00."

Emma and Henry spent the day tidying up and running errands. She willed herself not to think of Killian or the kiss they shared. It was hard, though, because Henry kept talking about how much he liked Killian. They were walking into the building after grocery shopping when they ran into the man himself.

"Swan," he said as soon as he saw them.

"Killian. How are you?"

"Significantly better than when we met in this lobby last week."

Had it only been a week ago? The past few days had been such a whirlwind. "Well, that's good. We need to get these groceries unloaded. I'll see you later?"

"Hang on, let me help." He followed them into the elevator and pressed the button for her floor. As the car began to move, he looked at her. "Can we talk?"

She looked nervously at him. "I don't know. I still have some chores to do, and we've got plans at 4:00."

"It won't take long. Let me help you put your groceries away?"

"Alright." The elevator stopped on her floor and Killian followed her and Henry to their apartment. Henry was being unusually quiet, but Emma put that down to fatigue. She looked at the clock when they got in. It was 2:30. "Henry, go lay down and take a short nap. I don't want you tired and angry when we see your grandma later today."

"Yes mommy," Henry said without any sign of protest. He must really be tired. He went to his room and closed the door. She would go check on him in a minute.

"You've got plans with Milah?" Killian asked.

"We do."

"I'm glad to hear that." He paused, and the tension in the room was palpable.

Despite her better intentions, Emma felt an overwhelming urge to kiss him. She rooted her feet to the ground, determined not to give in. She could take the tension no longer. "Killian..." she began, but he cut her off.

"I am sorry if things between us got awkward. I don't regret anything I said, but I also don't wish to pressure you in any way. I truly appreciate your offer of friendship, and I hope it is still available."

She melted at his words. "It is. I meant what I said about you being a nice guy. I'd love to be your friend." She extended her hand and he took it in a firm shake.

"Thank you," he said as he pulled his hand back. "Well, I will let you get back to your chores. Please give Milah my regards."

"I will."

She was grateful that Killian left then, because her resolve was crumbling. He really was a good man. She was glad she had not acted on her more sensual urges. She hadn't decided if she would tell Milah about the kiss, and a repeat performance would have complicated matters much further.

[darealbellabelleoftheball]

Hmm

So I call this a writeblr but ive not really posted my own writing a ton... here have a chapter im working on...

(This is un edited the real chapter will probably be a smidge different.)

(From my twisted version of beauty and the beast...)

It had been a week since I had first arrived at the castle. I was settling in quite well. Everard had introduced me to the help but it was very hard to distinguish them from one another, as I hadn’t been there quite long enough to recognize their voices. It didn’t help that there were so many of them either... Or that they were all invisible.

But anyways, the weather had been getting progressively nicer and Everard and I were working on trying to solve this curse together. It was one of the first things I suggested. We had set up some writing desks and parchment in the library and Everard was writing a letter as I looked through some of the well worn books on the shelf.

I traced my finger along their spines searching for something that might help us with this curse. When a book jumped out at me.

It had a blue velvet jacket and it was heavily worn. I carefully pulled it out of the shelf and  read the title out loud.

“Alice in Wonderland.” I marveled.

Everard’s head shot up.

“What?”

“That’s my mother’s book. She used to read it to us every night.”

“Us?”

Everard’s eyes darkened.

“Your sister.” I remarked softly, struggling to climb down the ladder in my ballgown and heels.

Everard was by me in an instant, he held the ladder as I descended, putting a protective hand on my back as I reached the ground. I felt my face heat up.

Everard took the book reverently in his hands. I could feel his pain.

“What was she like?”

“My mother?”

I nodded.

“She was a lovely woman. She turned Nodnot upside down.”

“She did?”

“She was human you know...”

“I didn’t.”

“Shall I tell you her story?”

Everard lead me towards the blazing fire and sat down on a couch. I sat on the floor with my face turned up at him, my gown ballooning around me.

He laughed. Then turned serious. He cleared his throat exaggeratedly then began to read. In the way that you would to a small child.

“Alice was getting restless, her sister was reading a book and being utterly boring. And she was contemplating going inside to get one of her dolls. When suddenly some movement caught her eye. It was a snow white rabbit. Only it was walking on its hind legs and wearing a suit jacket. It pulled out a pocket watch to check the time. Alice clambered down from the tree intently following the creature into the forest. Alice had been told not to go into the forest, but she was so focused on the little rabbit that she didn’t realize where she was going.

Very soon, the Rabbit stopped. Alice hid behind a tree. The rabbit looked around suspiciously and jumped down a large hole in the ground. The hole was surrounded by little white mushrooms. - Those mushrooms Alice would later find out were a portal between earth and Nodnot, or wonderland as she called it.”

“Your mother was Alice in wonderland?”

“Yes.”

“And what of your father?”

“He was the red queen’s son. My mother married him after she had slain the Jaberwocky.”

“Wow.” I heaved myself up onto the couch beside him.

“You must miss them.”

“I do... terribly.” he frowned.

I reached for his hand, enveloping it in mine. I tried not to let the coldness throw me off.

Everard’s eyes widened. He sat very still for a moment, seemingly contemplating something. Then he looked at me again. I was struck by how his eyes stood out of his face. Their green glow casting eerie shadows across his darkened face. I was caught up in my musings when I realized how close he was to me. . . He leaned towards me. Was he...? Surely not. Surely he would know it’s far too soon to try kissing me. We’ve only known each-other a week for heaven’s sake!

I leaned back as Everard closed his eyes still leaning towards me.

“Um... Everard?!”

His eyes popped open. He smiled at me.

“Yes Belle?”

I chuckled awkwardly.

“You’re- you aren’t trying to kiss me are you?”

“I... was actually...”

“Oh... Well we aren’t there yet...”

“Oh...”

“Don’t get me wrong, you’re a great guy. Um it’s just that we hardly know each-other and uh I’m still trying to process the whole curse thing and its really just not the time for um this...”

“Oh- No of course. I misread um... My apologies.” Everard stood and issued a stiff formal bow.

“It’s alright it was an honest mistake. All is forgiven.” I smiled.

“Well, that’s a relief... I should go... um send my letter.”

“Yes and I’ve been wanting to explore the gardens now that its nice out.” I replied.

“Alright, enjoy.”

“I will do. See you at supper then?”

“Yes...”

Everard stood frozen in the center of the library. I turned on my heel, and walked out the door into the sunshine.  

“We aren’t there yet?! Seriously Belle!” I scolded myself.

I was torn between being proud for standing up for myself, and being embarrassed at the awkwardness that happened because of it.

But on the bright side, I really had been looking forward to snooping around the gardens.

My heels clacked on the stone steps as I walked amongst the green bushes in the courtyard. Weeds had grown around the bushes, entangling with the branches. I sighed feeling the wind play with my hair. And as my eyes fluttered open again they snagged on something. At the top of a bush that was half my height stood a blood red rose. Half in blossomed and standing tall in the fresh air. I traced the petals with my index finger and contemplated taking it inside.

And that’s when I heard it... Singing.

But not from anywhere on the ground... no... the song was coming from above me. I gazed into the cerulean sky and gasped. Coming towards the courtyard at breakneck speeds was a giant black ship. As in a pirate ship.

A gasp tore out of my mouth, as the ship landed about ten yards away from me.

I stood in shocked silence as some men dropped anchor and set down the gang plank. As I watched, the first pirate walked down the plank and started approaching me. I took a step backwards.

Power dripped off the man, I knew immediately he must be the captain. He took a look around the courtyard, seemingly amazed with the plants. It was at that moment the man noticed me. He looked me up and down.

“Ahoy there.” The man said with a smile I had learned meant no good.

“EVERARD!” I screamed, making a break for the house.

I met him in the doorway, nearly knocking him over. His sword was unsheathed and his stance was firm.

“Belle what is it?” He gasped, he must have ran when I called him.

“Pirates!” I shrieked, rushing around to hide behind him.

A shadow darkened the doorway.

It was the Captain. “I’m sorry I think I startled your Lady friend Everard...” He remarked with an amused smirk.

“Hook! What a pleasant surprise!” Everard sighed, visibly relaxing as he sheathed his sword.

I poked my head out around Everard’s side.

“Belle I presume?” Hook smiled, offering me his hand.

I glanced sideways at Everard. He nodded and I stepped forward, taking Hook’s hand. I was not in the least bit surprised, when he brought it to his mouth and kissed it.

“I’m sorry for the dramatics, I didn’t know you were a friendly pirate.”

“It happens more often than you’d think.” He chuckled.

“You’re here early.”

“Yes, I have something to discuss.”

“Good news?”

“And bad.”

“It’s about the curse isn’t it?”

Both men turned to me with shock written all over their features.

“Oh come on,” I huffed, “It’s like the only thing that really happens in this castle it wasn’t that far of a leap...”

Hook let out an amused laugh. “She’s sharp as a knife this one. You must find that ... fun old friend.”

“She really is, we’ve been scouring the library together to find anything curse related all week.”

“She’s only been here a week?!” Hook blinked.

“Yes.”

“Hmm.”

“You have other men on your ship. Perhaps you should invite them all in. I’m sure they wouldn't mind getting their land legs.” I smiled.

“That’s a marvelous Idea Belle! I’ll have the staff prepare something.”

“Well anything you serve’d sure beat hardtack.” Hook smiled.