#wait and watch; the island listens { queue }

[crimsonbathed]

“ you think i wanted to hurt anybody? i didn’t get a choice in this, did i? ” (nah fam, you and carrion are more alike than you think. Can I get a "sure, jan" up in here???)

TW: Body horror mentions

Laughter. It swirled around the young boy, filling his mind as though it was no more than a voice residing in his own head. Carrion fluttered about, never staying in one space for too long, lest he caught a good look at her. "Do you expect me to believe you?" She hummed, the honeyed tone that dripped off of her words insinuated that she thought otherwise. His words were a lie. Disgusting and bitter in the air as it hung between them. Branches swayed, as though the trees themselves were shaking with laughter. No matter where the Bandit looked, Carrion was one step ahead. Bending the appearance of their location, he was trapped within a ring of thick trees that reached towards the sky, blocking out a vast amount of sunlight. "Foolish Bandit, child. I should peel your skin back and see how far within the flesh I can crawl before you collapse for daring to lie! Such a filthy habit."

Illusions were such a joy to use against the giants. Far too many were foolish enough to actually use those large brains of theirs, such beautiful muscle going to waste within the unworthy beings. Twas a simple game. To hear how hearts increased rapidly, was encouraging. How fast could she cause the tempo to go? Would it beat until it burst? Till pathetic bodies hit the ground, offering veins for trimming, and flesh for meals. Pale green hues narrowed on the Bandit child from the perch she had made in a tree behind him. What shade of blue were his veins? Deep cerulean that rivaled the seas? Arctic depths that would shake her to the core, perhaps?

"You've no right to lie to me, child. For I can see more than you will ever know. Tell me, do you not adore the way your heart swells with pride from the sight of those tattered rags you call clothing? Stripped off of the bodies of those whom you struck down?" A cackle. Shrill with delight as it bounced off of the trees. Carrion moved closer to the boy. Until now, her voice had been everywhere as though she was standing on both sides of him, while she was nowhere near. But now, a voice, with a singular point of origin whispered within the Bandit's left ear. A pirate they had slaughtered, one Carrion remembered vaguely, but that voice, it's disgusting accent and annunciation was impossible to forget. "You wanted to come here and be wild, witness what you have become. Murderer. Liar. Lost Boy." A cacophony of laughter rang out in the woods, surrounding the boy on all sides, until just as suddenly as it had started- silence. The area returned to normal, and Carrion, was nowhere to be seen.

[cultherent]

An Accidental Email [Ch.2]

𝕄𝕒𝕤𝕥𝕖𝕣𝕝𝕚𝕤𝕥

Chapter 2

Tuesday:

“Good morning, Y/N. You seem pretty happy today. What’s going on with you?”

“I just feel like today is going to be a good day, Shoto.” You beamed, your smile lingering. You went back to typing away on your laptop, answering the emails you didn’t answer the night before. You only looked up again when you saw Bakugo entering. You watched as he put his bag down on the floor and then sat down roughly beside you. You giggled as you turned to face him. 

“What’s so funny?”

“Your face,” you antagonized, trying to get a reaction. His eyebrows furrowed like always and he ignored you. You giggled some more and went back to work.

After a bit of time, you found yourself recording again with Bakugo; only you and him in the room. “So, Cocksuki,” you began as you looked up behind the camera that faced the scene you had to re-record. He grumbled at that nickname, but still gazed into your eyes. “I have a proposition. How about you start being nice to me.”

The man chuckled, “Never, dipshit.”

“Really? Never?” You walked over to him, not in a manner of urgency. You stood inches away from him so that he could feel your breath on him. He didn’t back away from you, but he stared at you in confusion. “I think you’ll have to be,” your hand placing itself softly on his bicep. The sudden touch caused him to clench. 

“Listen up Bakugo, I have something on you. You see this?” You raised your phone up, the video playing on high volume. That man’s cheeks reddened as he reached for your phone immediately, his moans filling the once-quiet room. Moving it away, you paused it and turned your phone off. “You accidentally sent this to me last night.” You giggled to yourself, Bakugo’s gaze never leaving yours. “You have to be nicer to me, got it? I’m tired of dealing with your rude ass.”

Bakugo’s hands rubbed his head, he was internally beating himself up for having sent that by accident. “Shit,” he mumbled.

“I won’t release this video of you being a subby whore, if you just are a little nicer to me,” you smiled.

With a sigh, Bakugo nodded his head. Your smile remained as you walked back to the camera. Waiting for the queue to start recording, you watched as Bakugo’s silent form moved to fix the soda that was too far in the original clip.

“So,” you began, making the room less silent. “What got you into being a sub?” Coughing, Katsuki didn’t look up, he continued to perfect the scene. 

“If I don’t answer, will you release the video?” 

You sighed, “No. I’m just curious. When I got the video, I was surprised you were into that stuff. Like THE Katsuki into having a dildo in his ass begging for his mistress to ‘put it in deeper’,” you started to laugh. Bakugo walked over to you, his stature staggering over yours.

“Enough,” he demanded; but you only stepped closer to him, your bodies touching, your chest puffed higher than his. “Or what? I don’t think you have any authority here.” His head twitched faintly, he knew that you had all the power over him. He sighed and stepped back, you smirked.

With your arms folded under your breast, you felt powerful. “Now, let's continue filming.” The room went quiet as he walked back into place. “Say, ‘yes Y/N’,” you demanded. 

“Yes, Y/N,” he reluctantly let out.

. . .

You were home, laughing to yourself about the day you had with Bakugo. No bickering, no arguing. It was extremely peaceful. Deep down inside, you were having an extremely fun time. 

That being said… You had a kinky side to you, a dominant side that you never told your friends about, except one. 

*KNOCK*KNOCK*

“Yay, Mina’s here,” you cheered as you ran to the door. Opening it, you were engulfed in a hug.

“Y/N, oh how I’ve missed you! How are you?” You closed the door behind your dearest friend and walked over to your kitchen island. 

“I’m doing really well actually.”

Mina raised an eyebrow, “I haven’t seen you like this in a while. Catch me up!”

Giggling to yourself, “Y’know that work guy I’m always fuming about?”

“Yeah, shithead.”

“I found out something about him…”

“Like what?”

“He’s a sub.”

Mina’s eyes widened, “How do y’know that?”

“He accidentally sent me an email with a video of him getting domed.” Your friend’s jaw fell, her head leaning forward. 

“No, fucking, way.” You nodded to her disbelief. “What are you doing about it?”

“Blackmailing him to be nice to me,” you chuckled nervously.

“Bruh, no way,” she started to laugh. “Is that all you're gonna do? Leaving it to that?” You raised an eyebrow. “Oh, come on. Don’t play dumb. I know how sadistic you are. This is just fuel to the fire. You have to be planning something...”

“Come on, Mina. Give me some credit here. He’s such an asshole when we’re at work. I’m just leaving it to that. He’s a colleague and that’s all.”

“So we’re just not going to talk about the drunken sexts you’ve both sent each other before. Drunk words are sober thoughts, y’know.” You probably shouldn't have admitted that to her.

“That was a ONE TIME thing, I told you this.”

“Sure, sure,” she reassured sarcastically. 

. . .

Mina had left. She was the only person closest to you that knew about your dominant side. She’d experienced it firsthand when you attended your first sex party a few years ago. You guys grew close and had a lot of playtime with other people together. Walking into your room, she sent you an invitation to an event that was going on over the weekend. 

Closing your phone and making your way to your bedroom, you could only think about what she said. She knew you too well, you wanted more. You couldn’t just see Bakugo like that and not experience it. You always found the blond attractive, especially the first day meeting him at your shared job. The attitude was just the thing that pushed you away from that. There were moments, however, you wanted to dom him so hard that his attitude was knocked right out of him. You kept that to yourself though. Sighing to yourself, you left these unresolved plans to be dealt with another day. 

. . .

Wednesday:

“Hey Y/N, what’s been up with you and Katsuki?” Todorki asked as he sipped his coffee beside you during lunch.

“What do you mean?”

“You guys have been so cordial to each other. It’s odd.”

“I don’t know, maybe he’s been waking up on the right side of the bed the past few days.”

The split-haired man nodded, taking a bite of his sandwich, “Y’know I’m always here to look out for you.” 

“Thank you, Shoto. But, you don’t have to worry.” Todoroki was always sweet to you, he was a kind soul. He was always silent and you wondered if he was introverted when you first met him, but he was just reserved. “Were you able to review our video?”

“Yeah. I left some comments on it and a few ways to revise it, but overall. You both did well like you always do.” You grinned as you took a bite out of your brunch. 

After finishing up, you walked over to Katsuki who was eating at his desk. “Katsuki, I need to speak to you privately about the video,” you emitted as you stood over his desk.

“Don’t you see I’m eating bird bra-” you flicked the side of his head. “Ouch!” He rubbed the skin where you flicked him. 

You looked around to see if there was anyone in the office. There was no one nearby, so you lowered yourself to his ear, “Did you forget the rules to this?”

He furrowed his brows, “We haven’t established proper rules actually.”

Your head curved to link your eyes, “You already know you have to be nice to me.”

“What if that was me being nice?”

Tired of his bratty attitude, you check one more time, still no one around, so you grabbed him by the ear and dragged him into the empty studio you were previously recording in. Once the door was locked, you sat him on the floor. “Y/N, what the fuck!?”

“I’ll teach you the rules right now,” you placed your finger underneath his chin, moving his head up to look at you. “You have to be nice to me. No cursing, no calling me names. I’m Y/N to you.” His nose scrunched as he looked away from you. You turned his head, forcing eye contact.

“Y’know what…” Bakugo looked at you, wondering what you were going to say next. “If you misbehave, I’ll punish you.” 

For a moment, Bakugo felt the tip of his dick twitch. The sound of you punishing him only brought him excitement, but he wouldn't show it. Yes, he was being blackmailed at the very moment, but he knew you. You both have been working in the same company for a few years. Even though you both presumably hate each other, there was trust to be had. It’s not like he was being blackmailed by a stranger, it was you, a frenemy.

Losing himself to his thoughts: he imagined himself rubbing his cheek along your shin, looking up at you with his pouting gaze. That thought left his mind when you snapped your finger in his face. 

“Yes Y/N. I’m sorry,” he blurted. 

You flushed internally at what he said, but you only then walked out of the room. 

. . .

The day soon came to an end, so you went home. As you lay in your bed, you thought about what you said. You hadn’t planned it at all, but the whole punishing thing was something you truly wanted to explore. As you drifted off to sleep, you hoped that tomorrow he’d give you something to punish him for. 

[anxietyriddled101]

What is Waiting in the Woods? Chapter 3

Male Werewolf Monster x Female Human Reader | SFW

Washing dishes from breakfast with your mother and grandparents, your mind flashes to the dream of Marco between your legs. How embarrassing. How are you supposed to look Marco in the face without remembering that dream? You couldn’t decide if you wanted to die or do a happy dance. Maybe you could dance your way off a cliff, that way you won’t have to choose between the two.

“Luca? Honey, are you alright? Your face is all red.”

You almost drop the cup you were washing. You forgot your mother was drying the dishes you were cleaning. “I’m fine! Just didn’t get much sleep last night. Kind of nervous about today.” You give her a nervous laugh as you hand her another clean dish to dry. Oh god, you’ve never been a good liar.

Your mother giggles as she puts a plate away, “I don’t think there is anything to be nervous about with that boy. He seems like he has a good head on his shoulders and everyone that I’ve talked to the other day said he is the sweetest.” She gives you a devious smile and says, “besides, you’re beautiful, he’s handsome, it’s a good mix. He already has an adorable son, you said so yourself, so I’ll have a grandbaby to dote on while I wait for more!”

“Mom! He hasn’t even called to tell me when and where the date is and you’re already talking about grandbabies?!” You say as you flick her with soapy water. You can’t with your mother sometimes...

Right on queue, you hear your phone goes off. You hurry to dry your hands and answer it, “hello?”

“Hello, beautiful,” a familiar gruff voice comes from the other side of the phone. “Is this a good time to tell you the when and where for our date?”

Rushing into the hallway to have some privacy, you reply “yes! I was just doing dishes with Momma, nothing important.” You hear your mother creeping up behind you, trying to listen in on the conversation.

“Doing the dishes sounds very important.” Marco chuckles from hearing you try to shoo your mother away. “Having trouble?”

“No. Momma is just being nosey and wants to hear a conversation that is none of her business,” you say as you give your mother a pointed look while pushing her back to the kitchen.

She giggles and says, “I’m your mom. I’m supposed to be nosey!” Giving her one last shove, she finally concedes and goes into the kitchen to give you a sense of privacy. Though, she can definitely still hear your side of the conversation.

“Anyways, I’ll come to pick you up at two. We’ll have to have a dinner date at my place because the friend of mine that was gonna watch Leyland for me, well... We had a disagreement about something,” he awkwardly pauses. “So, there’s no need to dress up at all, you can dress comfortably. By the way, any allergies or foods you don't like?” You hear him rummaging through something and the distinct sound of a fridge humming.

“I’m allergic to mushrooms,” you say.

“Good. Leyland and I don’t like them anyway,” he mumbles. You hear more shuffling and Leyland in the background playing. “Hmm. Leyland! What do you want for dinner?”

“Dino nuggies and mac n’ cheese!”

“Well, that’s two votes for dino nuggies and mac n’ cheese. What does the guest of honor say? Down for some dino nuggies with some mac?’ You hear something slide and hit the floor. “Fuck,” he whispers. “I have too much shit in this damn freezer.”

“Mac n’ cheese and dino nuggies sound great! Should I bring anything for dessert? Maybe something that Leyland will like?” You look back to the kitchen for ideas as you wait for an answer. Seeing your mother standing at the kitchen island. For once in your life, you're glad your mother is nosey. You mouth the word ‘dessert’ to your mother. She immediately starts looking through the cupboards and pantry.

“Leyland has an unhealthy obsession with raspberry jam and toast, so maybe something with raspberries?” You hear an excited yell in the background. So different than when he was at the library. “Leyland! Hush! I’m on the phone. Sorry, he’s been like this since he found out he's being included in the date. He really likes you.”

“I like him too! Hmm. Something raspberry…” You watch your mother pull a box of pie crust mix and two large jars of your great-aunt’s raspberry preservatives out of the pantry. “What about a raspberry pie? I can even bring an extra jar for Leyland.”

“That sounds good. Though, I might steal a little from the jar for the bedroom later.”

Gasping, you run to the back door where it is far away from your eavesdropping mother, who was starting the pie for you. “Marco! What if my Momma was still eavesdropping? She would relentlessly tease me until I died!” You hear him chuckle in your ear, this sound of it makes you shiver and you feel goosebumps prickle your skin. A little breathless, you say “so… raspberry jam in the bedroom?”

“Oh? Interested?” His deep, gruff voice somehow becomes deeper. You can barely handle his voice over the phone, how are you supposed to handle it when he’s within touching distance? You hear a light thump. “Ow! Leyland, what did I say about throwing your toys?”

Giggling, you look back to the kitchen to see your mother mixing the pie crust mix together. You should probably go help make the pie instead of leaving it to your mom. “Well, I’m gonna go make that pie now. I’ll see you in a bit. Buh-bye!”

“Bye, beautiful.” Hanging up the phone, you rush to the kitchen to get this pie done before two.

After getting the pie in the oven, you rush to get ready for your date. “He said I can dress comfortably, but I don’t think he meant to dress like I’m homeless. Hmmm.” Finally deciding on a beige sweater with two dark red stripes, some black leggings, and a pair of gray knit thigh-high leg warmers. Sitting in front of the mirror, you brush the mascara primer through your eyelashes and then the mascara. Digging through your bathroom drawer, you find your favorite cheap strawberry-smelling lipgloss you bought a month ago. You're glad you didn’t lose it during the move, it’s cheap but reliable and long-lasting.

Done getting ready, you run back to the house just as the timer on your phone beeps. Getting inside and in the kitchen, you take the pie out of the oven and set it out to cool. With thirty minutes to spare, you grab a word puzzle book and sit down at the kitchen table. Not long after, your grandfather comes and sits down with you. “How are you doing, sweetheart? I heard from your mother that you’re going on a date with Marco in a bit. He’s a good boy,” he says with a gentle smile.

You don’t know why, but every time you talk to your grandfather, you feel all the tension in your body leave you. Smiling back at him, you say “I’m nervous but excited. It feels like I’ve been waiting forever for two o’clock to come around. I’m having a dinner date with Leyland and Marco back at their place. We’re having dino nuggies and mac n’ cheese per request from Leyland,” you giggle. Looking at the clock on the wall, you have ten minutes until Marco comes.

Looking at you closely, your grandfather hums. “I’ve never seen you act like this over a boy before.” He leans back in his chair with his arms crossed and a teasing smile on his face.

Before you could reply, you hear the rumbling of a truck. Jumping up, you gather the pie, say ‘goodbye’ to your grandfather, and head to the door. You grab the doorknob just as you heard him knock, startling Marco. “Well, aren’t you just ready to go,” Marco says as he wraps his arm around your waist, “and looking really cute too.”

Your face felt like it was going to split in half, with how big you were smiling. “Thank you, and I told you that I would be!” 

He opens the door to the passenger side door for you. “Hop in. Leyland, Luca is here!” Getting in the truck, he closes the door behind you. You watch as he walks around the front of the truck when suddenly he slips on the slick, icy snow. Gasping, you put your hand on the door handle to get out and help, but he’s already back up and opening the driver’s side door. “We aren’t gonna talk about that.” You giggle and pretend to zip your lips.

Hearing Leyland giggle too, you turn to look at him. “Hey, Leyland, you excited for our group date? I brought raspberry pie!” He looks at the pie and starts yelling ‘yummy’ repeatedly at the top of his lungs. Looking at Marco, you whisper “sorry.” 

He just laughs and shakes his head while turning the truck around and pulling out of the driveway. “He hasn’t been able to use his inside voice at all ever since this morning. He’s really excited about you coming over. I am too,” he says with an embarrassed smile that he tries to cover up with his hand. His cheeks are no longer red from the cold but his ears turn redder the longer you stare at him. Cute.

Finally turning your eyes away, you giggle. “I’m excited too… So excited that I actually had a dream about you.” You watch him out of the corner of your eye.

He glances at you and hesitantly asks “oh, yeah? What was the dream about?” 

You flick your eyes to Leyland, who was still singing the word ‘yummy’ repeatedly, and then back to Marco. “I don’t think that would be very appropriate to say in front of a child,” you with a smirk. For a hot second, there is nothing but silence. Nervously, you turn your head to apologize to him but catch him adjusting himself in his pants.

“Fuck,” he mutters. ”You’re gonna kill me, beautiful.” Smiling at his tomato red ears, you settle for asking normal questions, like his job. He seems to really enjoy his job, one small question causes him to recite a tale about a humpback whale that protected him from a shark when he fell overboard. After a bit, you realize you no longer hear Leyland singing.

Marco must have noticed it as well because as soon as the truck pulls into a small neighborhood of houses, he whispers “when we get to the house, I’ll lay him down in his room. He didn’t have his nap, so we should have a bit of time alone before he wakes up.” As he pulls up to a modest pale green home, he adds “you’re also gonna tell me about your dream” and then gets out of the truck.

Once inside, Marco rushes to put Leyland in his bed. Waiting for his return in the main room, you look around and see that most of the furniture looks to be mismatched. Not even the dining table chairs matched each other. How odd, but kind of charming. 

Slowly taking off your winter gear, you start to think about the fact that in the next few minutes you are going to be alone with Marco. You walk over to the kitchen and wait for Marco to come back, thinking of all the normal date conversations you looked up after waking up this morning. Should you bring up previous partners? Actually, maybe that’s a bad idea. Leyland’s mom is obviously not in the picture and you don’t wanna ruin the night.

Hearing footsteps behind, you turn around. “Hey, did you wanna start making din-” Grabbing you, Marco lifts you and gently sets you down on the countertop. He leans in close. You can feel his lips brushing yours as if he is waiting for permission to continue.

“Luca…” he breathes. Oh, how this man says your name! You could melt from just that alone. Now imagine what it would sound like when you finally get to hear him moan it in your ear. Your toes curl just thinking about it. “Luca, is this okay?”

God. “Yes,” you whisper. With that one word, he dives in and steals your breath away. 

His rough facial hair rubs against you as tongues battle. You feel like you can barely keep up. Dragging your fingers through his hair, your nails scrape across his scalp before you grab a handful of his hair and give it a gentle tug. You feel lightheaded, you don’t want to pull away from his lips but passing out right now is out of the question. One more tug makes him realize what you’re silently asking. Pulling back from your lips, he moves onto your neck. You hope he leaves marks so you can have proof that this wasn’t all dream, like last night.

“Tell me about that dream of yours.” It was like he could read your mind.

As you tell him about your dream, he starts to leave a trail of kisses down your chest. When you finally get to the part of the dream where his head was stuck between your thighs, he’s kissing the top of your thighs. Chuckling, he gives your thigh a nip but freezes at your next words.

“During it all, there was a white wolf with red eyes watching.” Pulling back, he has a weird look on his face. “What? What’s wrong? Is it really that weird? I’m sorry, I ruined the mood or something now, didn’t I?”

Seeing you begin to panic brings him back to the present. “Hey, no, you didn’t. It just reminded me of something we need to talk about before it rears its ugly head. Especially with Leyland being the age where it starts.” He rests his forehead on your chest and rubs your back. “I’m just terrified of your reaction,” his words are shaky and you start to tense up.

What has him so scared? You rub the top of his head, unconsciously trying to comfort him. “What do you mean ‘Leyland being the age where it starts?’ Starts what?” you ask. You can tell this is hard for him because he’s shaking and holding you tight. It’s starting to become uncomfortably tight but you ignore it for now.

Finally, he releases you and lets out a heavy sigh. “You know how I said that I had a disagreement with the friend that was supposed to watch Leyland?” Seeing you nod, he continues, “well, it was about having this conversation with you. It would be better to show you, but I don’t wanna scare you.”

You give a nervous laugh, “you’re already scaring me, Marco. Just spit it out. Don’t leave me to make my own guesses because that will just make things a lot worse.” You hope he isn’t actually married, though you haven’t noticed anything to indicate that he is. Yet.

You watch as he paces back and forth, nervously looking at you and chewing on his bottom lip. He stops and stands before you, “this is gonna sound far-fetched as fuck, but keep an open mind.” He pushes his hair out of his face and swallows thickly before saying “I’m a werewolf.” Your blank look tells him that none of what he said is processing in your brain. He watches as your face slowly starts cycling through different emotions.

At first, you couldn’t help but think it was a joke to ease you into the actual news, but his serious face says otherwise. “Oh.”

Remember to click that little heart and reblog my stories if you liked them! It really helps with getting the word around about them! And don’t forget that if you become a patron on my Patreon you’ll get to read chapters before anyone else! 

[boldlyvoid]

Amoreena | chapter thirteen

Chapter Thirteen

main summary: Heaven is a real place and it's located exactly 14.6 miles away from the FBI, Quantico Headquarters. Off behind a small park, under a fantastical willow tree surrounded by wildflowers, in every colour young minds can imagine.

Don't forget, heaven also comes with angels.

Chapter Warnings: fluff like unbelievably fluffy!

word count: 6.1

here's the playlist for the fic, the last song in the playlist if looped will lead right into Amoreena at the beginning and it works pretty well timing-wise if you like to listen while you read !!

from the beginning <3

All their bags were packed by Friday morning, Y/N and Amoreena waking up extra early with excitement for the weekend ahead of them, and they didn’t even know what was going to happen yet.

Y/N made sure everything was packed and ready for a 3rd time on Saturday morning, right before they left on the trip; making sure they had sunscreen and aloe vera, all her medicine and ginger ale by the pack for her random bouts of morning sickness that lasted all, day, long... And their dresses and his suit hanging behind the driver's seat, beside Amoreena, they all piled into Y/N’s car and took off down the road on their adventure.

Amoreena was awake for the first half of the 9-hour trip, singing like crazy as they drove through Washington, Baltimore, Philadelphia and New York, it was so amazing she couldn’t stop cheering the whole time. It was more than she’s ever seen before, even though they lived so close to New York, she’s never been through it before.

Once they arrived in Rhode Island, Spencer pulled over at the closest gas station to make sure the girls were all prepared and ready for the big surprise he had for them. They filled the car, used the restroom and bought some lemonade before getting back into the car, he turned in the driver's seat to see Amoreena and Y/N better, looking at their wide eyes memorizing the calmness in their faces before he told them.

He didn’t want them to freak out too much, he was worried about Y/N’s blood pressure and how loud she might scream and any stress that a situation like this could put on her body. He’s seen how people react to Taylor Swift, he just didn’t know how they would.

“Now, I'm only telling you so you don't freak out," he repeated the same worry she had when she broke the news of the baby, "I didn’t have to rent a place on the water because my friend lives up here, so we’re going to stay in her guest house,” he explained it simply.

“Rossi's wife?” Y/N asked, confused about who it could be and if she knew this woman yet.

“No, actually I think you might know her, her name is Taylor?”

“No,” she shakes her head furiously, “no, nope, there's no way you did this, Spencer Walter Reid I am not kidding I’m going to pass away if I see her.” She's holding both her hands in fists as she tries to stay calm, closing her eyes quickly before letting out a deep sigh.

“Taylor who?” Amoreena yells, undoing her seatbelt and standing between their seats, she almost jumps into his lap as she leans over and grabs a fistful of his shirt, “Taylor WHO?”

“Go get in your seat and I’ll show you,” he teases, watching her follow orders and get back in the seat as quickly as possible, shouting at him to drive the second he hears the seatbelt click again.

Y/N is completely speechless for the next 20 minutes of the drive, eyes wide and a hand on her stomach as she stares out the front window. She’s like a statue, not able to hear anything Amoreena is saying but that doesn't stop her from going on and on with her stories.

“Mom!” She’s finally able to break her out of the haze, “pass me your phone!”

“Yeah,” she doesn’t even question it, handing her the phone back to the antsy 7-year-old so she could continue her internal panic.

They see her house on the hill as they approach, “holy shit,” Y/N whispers as Amoreena turns on the last great American dynasty, knowing exactly where they were going.

Taylor asked for his licence plate number and car model when they were emailing, letting her gate guy know to let Spencer right in so he could keep it a secret. But they knew the house, there was no point in not telling them. Y/N looked a little relieved that he gave her the time to freak out alone and not as soon as they crested the hill.

Her driveway felt never-ending as they got closer and closer, Amoreena was still in disbelief as she squealed in the back seat, hands flailing as she tried to calm the excitement inside her body with her favourite stim.

Then Taylor walked out into the front yard and Y/N was a mess. Crying as she waved her hand in front of her face, not wanting to be a mess in front of Taylor fucking Swift, “I told you nothing crazy! How did you do this?”

“Yes, but I said 'define crazy’ and you didn’t,” he reminds her with a cheeky smile.

She shoves him, “I didn’t think you could do this?!”

Once they’re parked the door automatically unlocked, and as much as spencer hated that non-safety feature, he's glad Amoreena can get out quickly before she's screaming bloody murder. Amoreena is out the door and in Taylor’s arms faster than they’ve ever seen her move, she should be a track star. It almost knocks Taylor to the ground as she takes her in, holding the sweet little girl against her chest with the biggest smile on her face. Amoreena snuggles right into her, with a hand on her cheek and her other arm wrapped behind her neck. She couldn't be any closer to her, it was like she was her favourite relative who she hasn't seen in a while.

Amoreena is talking her ear off already by the time Spencer’s helping Y/N out of the car and walking her to Taylor, she’s holding his hand like she’s going to pass out or something, “and this is my mom Y/N and my dad Spencer but somehow you know him already,” Amoreena introduces her.

“Hi, Y/N, it's a pleasure to meet you, Spencer's told me a lot about you.” Taylor’s sweet voice saying her name alone makes her stutter out a bunch of nonsense, not to mention the fact Spencer's been talking to Taylor fucking Swift about her.

Amoreena moves out of the way for Taylor to wrap her up in a hug, and Y/N cries harder than he’s ever seen on her shoulder, “thank you,” is all she can say, it’s frightening to Amoreena at first to see her mom cry like that but she knows her mom just loves Taylor like family.

What she doesn’t know is just how much Taylor saved her life. If she didn’t have someone to listen to, someone to take the pain and replace it with hope, she wouldn’t be here and by default neither would Amoreena. Spencer owed everything to Taylor swift at this point, she was a blessing in his life that he took for granted. Not realizing until that moment just how much she meant to him as well now.

“Sorry,” Y/N finally says as she pulls off her, “I’m pregnant, I can’t help it.”

Taylor’s hands fly right to her stomach, “holy crap, you never told me that she’s pregnant in your emails, oh my god!” She’s genuinely so happy for them, “how far along are you?”

“6 weeks on Sunday,” she smiles, feeling like herself again even though it’s incredibly strange to be telling Taylor before her parents even knew. “No one really knows, it’s all very new but when you know, you know… y’know?”

For a woman with an English language degree, she sure knew how to make a sentence, all of them laughing at the words she chose, but they understood.

“We should have used paper rings!” Amoreena yells, holding her hand over her eyes in disbelief as she shares her head with a sigh, she couldn’t believe she forgot that song existed.

It made Taylor laugh, scooping the little one up in her arms and starting the walk inside.

“Well come on in, I’ve got a big lunch spread ready for us and then we can go to the beach for the ceremony whenever you want this weekend, does that sound good?” Taylor is beyond excited to make new friends, much like Amoreena, they got along famously.

“Where are the cats? Do they live here or in LA or Nashville?” Amoreena changed the topic in the form of a yes and proving just how much she knew about Taylor.

“They’re here, Olivia and Benjamin will probably find us soon, Meredith isn’t very open to new friends now that she’s an old lady,” Taylor explained as she set Amoreena down in the entryway, bending down to be at her level and pointing off into the living room, “oh, see, there one is!”

Amoreena saw one of them laying on the floor under a sunny spot, running to it and petting it gently, “hi Benjamin, I loved you in the ME video,” she whispers as she pets him, making Taylor swoon.

“She’s amazing,” Taylor swooned, “I can’t wait to have one.”

“You should!” Y/N agreed, reaching to take Taylor's hand on impulse, and Taylor held it back with a smile, “oh that would be so wonderful, I can just imagine the beautiful stories you’ll create when you discover what it’s like to love someone how your mom loves you.”

Taylor’s smile was priceless, "that's the best way to think about it," she beamed at Y/N the way Spencer did, she had that effect on people. They followed her into the dining room, taking a seat near each other and digging into all the food Taylor made for them.

“Ah,” Amoreena said as she finally joined them, sitting on her knees on Taylors nice antique chairs. “Shark coochie,” she whispers the words to herself, not able to stop her mind from repeating it, but still not wanting Taylor to hear it in case it was inappropriate. She was incredibly well-mannered for someone who had a hard time reading social queues.

“It’s a hard word to say,” Taylor agreed, making her feel less awkward. Spencer may have told her about her autism in advance, wanting his little girl to be respected by everyone she met, for who she truly was, “my mom called it a coochie spread once, actually, she's going to be over tomorrow for father's day.”

"Yes! Oh, I love Andrea," Amoreena laughed at how cool this day was, smiling at Taylor the way she smiled at him that first morning at breakfast like she just found yet another person to love. “You’re so wonderful, Taylor.”

“Oh, thank you, you're pretty enchanting yourself,” she smiles, “I take it you’ve known about me for your whole life?”

“Yep,” she smiled, reaching for a chocolate-covered strawberry and taking a huge bite, covering her mouth before she continued, “I was born a month after Red came out, November thirteenth, it really is a lucky number now, mom says so at least.”

“It is!” Taylor agreed with a smile, “I have some markers, do you want to wear matching 13’s today?”

“Mom, can I colour on my hand?” She turns so fast Spencer thinks she’ll get whiplash.

“Yeah, go for it!” She agrees, spreading cream cheese on a croissant and layering tomatoes on top, definitely pregnant.

So Taylor gets a marker and both their left hands now have matching numbers. Amoreena asks to take a million photos, eventually just taking Y/N’s phone from her, permanently, to take photos of all her favourite things around the house.

She runs off with the cats at a certain point, giving Y/N a chance to thank Taylor without tiny ears listening in. “Can I get really emotional and tell you how much you mean to me or is that too weird for our first chat?”

“Not weird at all, knowing you’ve used my music to raise that beautiful child makes me love you just as much, I’d love to hear why you picked me, of all musicians, to show her how to love,” Taylor replies, as regal and kindly as humanly possible.

“My first fiancé, Stephen, he was actually like an angel and our first kiss was quite literally in the rain, but he passed away in 2010,” she explained it with a smile so Taylor knew it wasn’t a touchy subject anymore, “I bonded with Fearless in a way I can’t even describe to you, it’s my life, he was my superstar, and white horse, I mean come on, I can’t tell you how many times I cried to that after he died but it helped me not feel alone. I wouldn’t be who I am without Fearless, and then Speak Now was there for me when I needed a good cry, Last Kiss really broke me but it wasn’t until Lover came out that I realized I could find someone again, and it’s always just like you released things as I needed them like you were helping me through all the bad things,” she’s never even told Spencer all this, it was special to him that he got to give her this moment.

“When you re-released it with the vault songs, I met Spencer literally a month later. I cried my eyes out to you all over me, but That’s When makes me think of Spencer and now the whole album has a new memory in my heart that’s better. It's just like why you re-released it, to replace the bad things that happened that took all the happiness out of something you cared so much about." Y/N took a second to breathe, shaky as she got to the end of her rant that she seemed to have prepared in the 20 minutes before she had to talk to her.

"I love you, honestly. You’re my best friend and you didn’t even know me then, but you’ve held my hand through it all, so thank you,” she cried a little, holding her belly with one hand as she tried to hold the tears in.

Taylor was out of her chair and in Y/N’s arms within seconds, crying into her arms as she held her. She rubbed Y/N’s back as she cried too, “I’m so sorry that happened, but I’m glad I could be there.”

“Do you want to be this baby's godmother?” She asks on impulse without even asking Spencer if he’s okay with it, he was, it made him laugh.

“Eleonora Taylor Reid,” Spencer says from across the table, making them both turn to him with wide eyes.

“Yes,” Y/N agrees fast, “that's the name if it’s a girl, if it’s a boy he can be Taylor as well?”

“Holy shit,” Taylor smiled wide, “yes, I want to come to visit the farm and buy them baby gifts and throw you a baby shower! I inadvertently helped make them so it’s only fair.”

“Hopefully she gets your voice too, Y/N,” Spencer adds and Y/N shoots him a panicked glance, “it’s the Taylor legacy to be a good singer.”

“You can sing?” The question Y/N feared coming past Taylor's lovely vocal cords, almost on queue.

Y/N can't help but glare at spencer, he had too many tricks up his sleeve and she was at her limit.

“Yes,” Y/N finally answers, “I was going to go to theatre school, but I switched to become a Librarian, I’m not good with crowds or competition and that's basically what the industry depends on. I like the quiet, telling stories on paper is just as easy as singing it to a crowd.”

“That's fair,” Taylor agreed, “would you and Amoreena like to sing some song with me? I have my guitar or the piano? I’m not used to having new friends over without sharing at least 1 song with them. I’m sure you’ve seen my listening parties?” She was really trying to convince her to sing, Spencer knew why and what she had planned.

Amoreena came running in then, “I can play piano too, can we do the long live new year's day from the tour movie?” She rests her hands on Taylor's arm, looking up at her with the biggest puppy dog eyes.

“Of course, come on,” she says taking Amoreena’s hand and rushing into the piano room. “Here, we’ll record it too,” she offered, setting her phone up on the music stand to capture the moment forever.

They sat side by side on the bench, Amoreena showing her how she could play the opening perfectly and surprising Spencer. He knew they had a piano at home, he’s just never seen her play it before.

“She has perfect pitch,” Y/N bragged, “she can play a song after hearing it once.”

“Really?” Spencer had no idea, unbelievably proud of her as he listened to her play.

She’s quietly playing the intro to Long Live as Taylor watches, joining in with the harmony of New Year's Day, “this one reminds me of my mom and dad.”

“Does it?” Taylor coo’s, smiling at her softly as Y/N tries not to cry beside Spencer.

“They’re the knight and the princess of our kingdom,” she explained before the two of them started singing the words together, like they always have, only Taylor was beside her and not just on the TV.

“I said remember this moment, in the back of my mind, the time we stood with our shaking hands, the crowds in the stands went wild,” Amoreena’s tiny voice lead-in, fearlessly as she played away.

“We were the Kings and the Queens, and they read off our names, the night you danced like you knew our lives would never be the same... You held your head like a hero, on a history book page... It was the end of a decade, but the start of an age,” Spencer couldn’t help but cry as she sang with Taylor.

This was on the concert movie, he showed her after school, this song came on and she was silent, listening to the words as she stared at him and then back at the TV. Her mind was connecting little dots, making a story about her mom and dad being the king and the queen, it all made sense now.

“Long live the walls we crashed through, how the kingdom lights shined just for me and you, I was screaming long live, all the magic we made and bring on all the pretenders, I’m not afraid,

Long live all the mountains we moved, I had the time of my life, fighting dragons with you, I was screaming long live, that look on your face, and bring on all the pretenders, one day, we will be remembered,”

Their fingers moved in sync on the keys as they harmonized almost perfectly, she wasn’t kidding about Amoreena having perfect pitch. She knew all the words and sang them almost louder than Taylor.

“And hold on to spinning around, confetti, falls to the ground. May these memories break our fall…”

The piano changes, the cords softer as they move into a new song, smiling at her mom and dad like she knew something. She had no idea what happened the night of the fake wedding, just that they had a party without her.

“And hold on… To spinning around… Confetti… Falls to the ground…”

Spencer wraps his arms around Y/N then, resting his chin on her shoulder as they sway to the tune, she’s barely whispering the words beside him as she smiles as her baby.

“There's glitter on the floor after the party, girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby, candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor, you and me from the night before, but… Don’t read the last page, but I stay when you're lost, and I'm scared and you're turning away. I want, your midnights, I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day,”

Y/N’s hands rest on top of Spencer’s, she squeezes them three times, right before the next lyric.

“You squeeze my hand three times in the back of the taxi, I can tell that it's gonna be a long road. I’ll be there if you're the toast of the town, babe, or if you strike out and you're crawling home,

Don't read the last page, but I stay, when it’s hard or it’s wrong or we’re making mistakes. I want, your midnights, but I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day,”

“Hold on, to the memories, they will hold on to you,” the two of them chanting along with Taylor in beautiful harmony, Spencer felt like he was in heaven among the angels, but for real this time. “And I will hold on to you…”

The piano is so soft, it’s just Amoreena’s fingers hitting them as Taylor goes silent, letting her take the lead with a soft smile, “Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh, I, could recognize anywhere. Please don't ever become a stranger whose laugh, I, could recognize anywhere.”

They stop for just a moment for Amoreena to smile up at Taylor, just like the break in the concert, “I really do love you,” she reminds them all before playing again.

“We love you, too, sweet girl,” Taylor replies for them using the same nickname for her because it was the truth. She was the sweetest girl, that Amoreena.

“There's glitter on the floor after the party, girls carrying their shoes down in the lobby, candle wax and Polaroids on the hardwood floor. You and me forevermore, don't read the last page, but I stay when it’s hard or it’s wrong or we’re making mistakes and I want, your midnights, but I'll be cleaning up bottles with you on New Year's Day,”

“Hold on to the memories, they will hold on to you,” the girls all chant together, swaying back and forth to the rhythm before taking different parts in the song like they’ve planned it before.

“And Long live,” Taylor takes the one song, while Amoreena takes the other.

Please don't ever become a stranger…

The walls we crashed through..

Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere…

I had the time of my life

Please don't ever become a stranger…

With you…

Whose laugh I could recognize anywhere…"

Amoreena plays the rest, smiling wide at the best day of her life. Meaning every single word she’s saying. “And Long live, the walls we crashed through. I had the time of my life… With you…” Amoreena ends with a few extra notes, making Taylor smile as she held her in a side hug.

She turns back to the piano then, starting to play Amoreena by Elton John. “No way..” Y/N gasps, before getting ready to sing along with all the confidence in the world, alongside Taylor Swift of all people.

“It’s just that; Lately, I've been thinking, how much I miss my lady, Amoreena's in the hayfield, brightening the daybreak,” Taylor changes some of the words, much to Y/N surprise.

“Livin’ like a lusty flower, runnin’ through the grass for hours, rollin’ through the hay, oooh, like a puppy child! And when it rains, the rain falls down… washing out the cattle town… and she's far away somewhere… in her eiderdown… And she dreams of crystal streams, of days gone by when we would lean… Laughing, fit to burst, upon each other…”

Y/N turns to Spencer then, singing to him softly as she wraps her arms around him and sways her hips to the song, pressing against him like they were in the movie Dirty Dancing, something she’s always wanted to do, clearly, with the smile on her face as she sings.

“I can see you sittin’, eatin’, apples in the evenin’. Fruit juice, flowing slowly, slowly, slowly down the bronze of your body. Livin’, like a lusty flower, runnin’ through the grass for hours, rollin’ through the hay, oooh, like a puppy child.”

Amoreena’s voice was the loudest in the chorus, this was her song after all. She belted it out like it was made for her.

“And when it rains, the rain falls down! Washing out the cattle town! And she's far away somewhere… in her eiderdown! And she dreams of crystal streams, of days gone by! When we would lean, laughing, fit to burst upon each other…”

Spencer knew the words as well, who didn’t? It was Elton John's best song. He hugged Y/N, snuggling into the crook of her neck as they twirled in Taylor Swift's living room, swaying with her, forgetting they weren’t alone for a moment.

“Oh, if only I could nestle, in the cradle of your cabin. My arm's around your shoulder, oh… The window wide and open, while the swallow and the sycamore, whoa! Are playing in the valley. Oh, I miss you, Amoreena, like the king bee misses honey!”

“And when it rains, the rain falls down! Washing out the cattle town! and she's far away somewhere… in her eiderdown! And she dreams of crystal streams, of days gone by when we would lean! Laughing, fit to burst upon each other, oooh!”

Amoreena and Taylor playing the iconic piano solo together, Y/N can’t help but move in closer to watch over her little girls shoulders.

“Lately, I've been thinking… How much I miss my lady… Amoreena's in a cornfield, brightening the daybreak. Livin’, like a lusty flower! Runnin; through the grass for hours! Rollin’ through the hay, woah! Like a puppy, like a puppy, child…” Y/N’s voice loud enough to be on the recording Taylor was making as the song ended.

Taylor stopped it then, just as Y/N swore, “holy shit, that was the coolest thing that’s ever happened in my whole life.”

“Mom,” Amoreena looked at her like she broke the law or something, “you don’t swear in front of her…” she mumbled.

Taylor laughed, wrapping her up in another hug, “have you heard champagne problems? It’s okay for big kids to swear here,” she teased her.

They laughed like they were family like they’ve been there before and were always meant to return. Something just clicked with them, and without a doubt, they’d be returning. Taylor Swift of all people slipped right into their little life, filling the shoes of big sister, best friend and coolest aunt in the world all in one day.

It was the most perfect afternoon.

—

Just before the sunset, they all changed into their wedding attire. Meeting out on the beach for their small, extremely intimate wedding ceremony with miss Taylor Swift. Getting it out of the way so they could have the whole weekend for whatever Taylor had planned for them. She said she had a few surprises up her sleeve still.

They filled out all the paperwork required on Taylor's kitchen table beforehand, she had all the right documents from when she registered to ordain online. All they had to do was submit it at town hall and they’d be legally married.

But it didn’t matter to them, this was enough.

Taylor and Amoreena stood side by side at a homemade arch on the beachfront that Taylor owned, waiting patiently for Spencer and Y/N to walk down the fake aisle, hand in hand. They couldn’t stop smiling as they saw Amoreena at the end, a big smile on her face as she bounced with excitement.

They reached the end, turning to each other, Amoreena took Y/N’s bouquet, it was her duty as maid of honour and best man.

“Spencer and I have been emailing for 2 weeks about today, he’s been filling me in little by little about you both as he got to know you, I’ve really gotten to see his love for you in the form of letters,” Taylor described with a large smile on her face.

Y/N looks at him with an open mouth, shocked as she shakes her head in disbelief at him. “You’re kidding, is she who emailed you when we had lunch 2 weeks ago?”

Spencer nodded with another cheeky smile, “she emailed me as you told me not to plan anything too crazy.”

Y/N just laughed at the insanity, “sorry Taylor, please continue.”

“It’s okay,” she laughed along, “it’s actually kind of interesting how Amoreena picked long live and New Year’s Day to sing because from what I’ve learned about you both, the intermission poem from that tour really was written for you, somehow. Almost like by design or some violent, exquisite happenstance…”

Y/n’s eyed do that thing they always do when she’s remembering something she’s heard before, finding the exact filing cabinet in her mind and opening it. She finds the words.

“When she fell, she fell apart. Cracked her bones on the pavement she once decorated as a child with sidewalk chalk,” she starts the poem with a small nod, letting Taylor continue the monologue in the form of vows.

“When’s she crashed, her clothes disintegrated. And blew away with the winds that took all of her fair-weather friends, family and lovers. When she looked around her skin was spattered with ink. Forming the words of a thousand voices, echoes she heard even in her sleep: whatever you say, it is not right. Whatever you do, it is not enough. Your kindness is fake. Your pain is manipulative.”

Y/N hasn’t watched the concert recently, unlike Spencer. She didn’t realize how much it sounded like them. Spencer, however, spotted the coincidences the second he heard it that night with Amoreena. Telling Taylor, explaining in detail how Maeve and Stephen were their personal last kiss storylines, but they’ve found a lover in each other. Cheesy, but it was the best way he could describe it.

“When she lay there on the ground she dreamed of time machines and revenge. And a love that was really something. Not just the idea of something.”

She turned her attention to Spencer, replacing the pronouns to fit him for the next part, Y/N looked at him already knowing why, smiling as she made the connection in her mind.

“When he finally rose, he rose slowly. Avoiding old haunts and sidestepping shiny pennies. Wary of phone calls and promises, charmers, dandies and get-love-quick-schemes.

When he stood, he stood with a desolate knowingness, waded out into the dark wild oceans up to his neck. Bathed in his brokenness. Said a prayer of gratitude, for each chink in the armour he never knew he needed.

Standing broad-shouldered next to him, was a love that was really something. Not just the idea of something.

When they turned to go home, they heard echoes of new words: may your heart remain breakable but never by the same hand twice. And even louder: without your past, you could never have arrived so wondrously and brutally, by design or some violent, exquisite happenstance… here.”

“What she said,” Y/N says with a quick giggle, leaning in as she laughs, taking him down in a giggle fit with her.

Amoreena’s lightly tugging on Taylor’s dress then, “you have to say it, please you can’t not say it, I had this planned out before I even knew you’d beee here…” she whispers like Taylor has any clue what she’s talking about.

Y/N just starts to shake her head with a smile, “I think she means the speak now bridge,” she reminds her.

“Ahh,” she smiles, picking Amoreena up to be at eye level with them all, she sings. “I hear the preacher say speak now or forever hold, your, pee-E-eeace,” she sings it exactly like it is on the album, almost as if she’s been practicing to release it again…

“There’s the silence there’s my last chance, I stand up with shaking hands all eyes, on me,” Amoreena lightly signs right back. “Horrified looks from everyone in the room but I’m only looking at you!”

Spencer laughs then too, smiling at his little girl living out the fantasy of a lifetime, seeing her mom dressed like a princess and marrying the broken knight with rusty armour, while Taylor Swift of all people holds her. Nothing about the life they had together felt real, but he wouldn’t change it for the world.

“I think it’s only fair if I get a say in who marries my mom because I’ve known her the longest,” she adds, “and I’m not the kind of girl who should be rudely barging in on this white veil occasion, but you happen to be the best dad in the whole world, so I think it’s cool that you love my mom.”

Y/N lets out a choked sob, she clearly had no idea that Amoreena was planning to say all that, but of course, she was. She knew all about every single Disney princess wedding, every fairytale ending and happily ever after, Taylor has helped her learn about love and vows and true feelings that cannot be stopped.

She knew what to say and she meant every word.

Spencer reaches out to take Amoreena from Taylor, holding her in his arms instead as Y/N snuggled in close to them, both his girls in his arms.

“I think it’s only fair I give some vows to you as well, I’m committing my whole life to this family, you should know how much that means I love you, too, Amoreena.” She snuggles in closer to his neck as she holds him back, Y/N’s head resting on his other shoulder.

“Till the day I die, I am going to be here for you: with unconditional love, with the best stories and the best morning cuddles. I don’t care if you pull me out of bed at 5 in the morning to feed the goats, or the chickens or just because you think the sun looks pretty and want me to see it too. I love you Amoreena, you’ve completed my life."

"Do you remember that day you asked me to be your dad?” his voice is so soft as he bumps her cheek with his nose.

She wipes her tears as she pulls away from his shoulder, overly emotional at the events of the day and extremely tired from the excitement she let out earlier. She nods softly, “I meant it.”

“I know honey,” he can’t help but start to cry a little as well, dropping his manly facade and being real with her. She deserved to see exactly what she meant to him, “I watched you pouring glitter glue all over that table, making the biggest mess ever, but it made me think… I had a hole in my heart for so many years, there was a part of me missing for so, so, so long, and then I found a little Eden by beautiful little kingdom, and the fairest lady in all the land took me in, and she patched up my broken heart with glitter glue.”

Amoreena tried to smile the tears away, sniffling as she tried to nod, “that's how I felt when you told me I could pick you to be my dad.”

Y/N was a sobbing mess, having to crouch down to her knees as she let it all out, steadying herself by holding onto Spencer’s leg like a child would at that height, “is she okay?” Amoreena worried.

“Your mom loves us so much, and the baby does too, so it’s making her a bit more emotional than normal,” he explains, wishing he could scoop Y/N up and hold her as well.

She wipes the tears from her face as she calms herself down and stands back up with help from Taylor, “thank you,” she manages to whisper to her with a smile.

She’s also been crying, watching the most beautiful thing she’s ever seen. A family built on true love coming together, using her songs to form a bond that she’d never understand.

And she didn’t want to, some stories were best kept in families, to be sent down the line, generation after generation, to fall into the lap of someone like her one day and create a whole world with it.

“With the power vested in me, I now pronounce you husband, wife and daughter, the royal Reid family,” Taylor’s voice is soft as she plays along with Amoreena’s fantasy land, hushed to match the moment as Spencer leaned in to kiss Y/N.

Amoreena doesn’t cry out in disgust this time, instead, resting her head on her dad's shoulder as she watched them peck each other's lips gently. Watching a fairytale happy ending unfold in front of her very eyes, blessed to be the result of this happy union.

...

A/N: my anon is on now if anyone wants to come talk about the fic with me!! i love to share little hc's and things with you over here (also this was the original planned ending I wasn't going to continue past here but I'm probably going to write this for the next 10 years its too fun not to)

tag list: @shemarmooresfedora @spencers-dria @spookyspence @reidsfish @manuosorioh @mochionly @samuel-de-champagne-problems @jswessie187

[quazartranslates]

Welcome to the Nightmare Game II - CH11

**This is an edited machine translation. For more information, please [click here]**

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Chapter 11: Resurrection Overture (XI)

Unfortunately, Qi Leren could escape his “date” with the Illusionist, but he couldn’t escape his one with Chen Baiqi.　　

Since there was no specific time for the day's training, Qi Leren got up early the next morning. When he got up, he thought he would suffer from a sore back due to training too hard the previous day, but except for slightly sore thighs, his body had no symptoms of strain, which made Qi Leren feel incredible.　　

Was it because he’d been blessed by Maria’s holy light?　　

Clearly last night when he’d gone to Du Yue, he’d been as tired as a dead dog. Du Yue had received him warmly and easily agreed to sign the confidentiality contract. According to the contract agreement, he wouldn’t be able to reveal this secret to anyone, whether it was in writing or spoken or even from a mind control skill. As long as it was concerning these secrets, he couldn’t say anything and Qi Leren would also feel it if he did.　　

This was actually an unfair contract that had no benefit to Du Yue. Qi Leren wanted to compensate him with some survival time, but Du Yue didn't agree: "I can earn so many survival days because of the clues qianbei gave me. I’ve already made a lot of money, I dare not ask for your days as well. If there’s a chance in the future, please take me with you!"　　

Looking at Du Yue's earnest eyes, Qi Leren agreed without saying anything.　　

At six o'clock in the morning, Qi Leren arrived at Chen Baiqi's shop and tentatively knocked on the door.　　

The door opened and Chen Baiqi, who had already dressed neatly and washed her hair, looked at him with a smile: "That’s very positive. I thought you wouldn’t arrive till after seven o'clock."　　

Qi Leren said that if he really had come after seven o'clock, he wasn’t sure how he’d be treated by Chen Baiqi.　　

"I’m very pleased to see that you’re so motivated. You’ll report to me at this time every day in the future. You know the consequences of being late." Chen Baiqi's smile widened. In Qi Leren’s eyes, this was really a smile full of maliciousness. "As for breakfast, ask Sissi what she wants to eat and get me the same."　　

Sissi, who came out of the back room with a yawn, said sleepily, "Flatbread fitters, thank you."　　

Chen Baiqi had put an hourglass on the table and encouraged Qi Leren by saying, "Twenty minutes."　　

"It takes at least ten minutes to run from here to the market near the steel bridge!" cried Qi Leren.　　

Chen Baiqi glanced at the hourglass: "Nineteen minutes and fifty seconds. If you feel stressed, I can send a lovely dog to accompany you."　　

Accepting his fate, Qi Leren pushed open the door and started to run as if a three-headed hellhound was eyeing his chrysanthemum behind him—truly, this was the most terrible place.　　

Many years later, Qi Leren still remembered the dominating fear of buying breakfast. In a sense, this period of running for his life in the sunset was the worst time in his life. The shopkeepers in the bazaar remembered this wind-like man. He would rush to the booth with short messy hair right on time at about 6:10 every day to buy two breakfasts. If there were other people waiting in line, his bereavement and frequent glances at his watch would make people suspect that he was manic. The most dramatic time, when he was faced with a long queue, he had resolutely cut in line at the expense of paying for everyone else in the line and disappeared from everyone’s sight like an unscrupulous customer who ran out when faced with the bill.　　

—He runs faster than I did when I learned my wife was giving birth, a stall owner said.　　

—Once, he brought a three-headed hellhound to do his morning exercises and ran faster than usual, another vendor said.　　

—That boy is really handsome. If I’m slow at preparing cakes, he almost starts crying in his rush. It's very distressing, a middle-aged female vendor fondly said.　　

People in the market speculated on his origin, but for a long time no one knew who he was, so the "6:10 rush to buy breakfast" was also included in the top ten incredible sights in the Village of Dusk. It’s worth mentioning that a new addition was also added to this list recently—why are there so many tombstones for Qi Leren on Undead Island?　　

However, Qi Leren, who monopolized these two items on the list, had no idea about his "unexpected popularity" because recently he was living a life that was like death. Chen Baiqi happily told him that because Maria’s holy light had blessed him, his body was very "resistant to exercise" and could accept more intensive training. She used this as an excuse to arrange an inhuman training regimen for Qi Leren.　　

Twenty minutes of hard running in the morning was just an appetizer. It was common to practice shooting at the same time. Even swimming from the Village of Dusk’s port to Undead Island was included in the daily training. Before finishing training every day, there was another "love lesson" by Chen Baiqi, which translates to "teaching you how to be hit by various weapons". Even the day when you dislocated your right hand because of shooting practice, you were not spared.　　

At this time, Qi Leren realized that the training menu Ning Zhou had given him was too easy and that he was too gentle as a coach. Just look at the results of Chen Baiqi's devil training: Within a week, when Qi Leren was chased by the three-headed hellhound outdoors, he was able to climb onto the roof without changing color, climbing faster than a monkey. If Chen Baiqi hadn't forbidden him from doing anything to the dog, he would have jumped at the evil dog with a gun.　　

Yes, Qi Leren also learned to shoot, as taught by Chen Baiqi.　　

Before be taught, Chen Baiqi also asked him how much he knew about guns and which one he wanted to try.　　

Although he was a man, he wasn’t very interested in guns. He said, "I don't play shooter games very much. How about a Desert Eagle? I’ve heard those are very powerful."　　

Chen Baiqi rolled her eyes: "You really do know nothing about guns."　　

Chen Baiqi recommended a revolver similar to a Smith Wesson 625, which had a large caliber, six-chambers, and convenient loading that wasn’t easy to jam. It was said that it was made by a gun fan, and that it couldn't be mass-produced at present with the technological level of the Twilight Township. He earned a lot of survival days thanks to this skill.　　

Qi Leren took the strange gun and thought of the problem of the laptop transformer and charger. The craftsman who was still alive when he’d gone last time had been away on a task, and he may have come back now. He would go see about this after today’s training.　　

While training in the afternoon, Chen Baiqi had a whim to teach Qi Leren how to dive, or dive without any equipment to be exact, to exercise his breath-holding ability, compression resistance, and control of his heartbeat and breathing. Since his profession was that of an assassin, he couldn't do without a well-trained heart.　　

Qi Leren listened in anguish to the main points about diving, put on the headlamp, and looked at the endless sea.　　

"I advocate that every player who focuses on the assassin's route should learn to dive, because to be a good assassin he must learn to overcome his nervousness and fear. There’s no training that can train a person better than jumping into the sea alone to challenge your own limits. As you dive deeper and deeper, the light will decrease. In the end, only your own heartbeat will be left in the dark world. It will seem like your soul has escaped from your body and roamed in endless darkness. You will be isolated and helpless. Nothing can save you. You have to learn to rely on yourself. The water pressure in all directions will become stronger and stronger, but the oxygen in your lungs will become less and less, and death will become closer and closer to you, and you won't even know what depth you’re diving to. You will feel fear, more and more fear, and fear will make your heart beat faster, oxygen consumption will increase dramatically, and you will die faster if you cannot overcome this fear." Chen Baiqi looked at Qi Leren, who was shivering in the wind, and smiled happily.　　

"This area isn’t deep. You’ll go down and touch a shell. It’s very simple to do," Chen Baiqi said.　　

Qi Leren said bitterly, "Can you tie a rope around me? What if I can't come back up from the water?"　　

Chen Baiqi's smile grew deeper, and her slender eyebrows made this smile even more malicious: "Don't be afraid, it doesn't matter if you don't come up for a while, anyway. You’ll slowly float up after swelling a little in two days."　　

“………………”

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Editor’s Notes: The next chapter may be a bit late, as I’ve had a hectic last couple weeks and unfortunately have fallen behind. I will try to avoid this though.

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[peter-pan-on-neverland]

Secretly soft: Part 2

Request: Felix being his stubborn self around everyone, including the reader but goes all soft when they’re alone.

Pairing: Felix x reader 

Warnings: none

,< Part 1

He couldn’t believe this was happening again, did he not learn from the last time? Pan’s voice echoed around in his mind over and over again as if the words were bouncing around his skull, ricocheting until Felix’s head hurt.

Love make’s you weak. Love make’s you weak. Love make’s you weak.

Those fearsome green eyes stared at him even though the blonde boys eye lids were close, he could still feel his friends cold gaze on him even as lay in the comfort of his bed. For days the giant had been cold and distant, from everyone not just Y/n, the lost boy was away with the fairies half of the time trying not to think about the situation he was once again placed in. He struggled to find any motivation to do anything, Felix who was once an early raiser stumbled out of his tent around mid day only to be met with a disappointing glear from the leader.

“Felix,” The boys heart dropped as he heard his name being called from across the camp, words delivered in a familiar British accent, “Get over here, we need to talk.”

Whispers spread through the camp like a wild fire as curiosity overflowed from the rowdy group of lost boys, each one desprate to know what was happening. Felix could only try and ignore then as he slowly trekked over, back hunched and aching.

“What’s going on?” Pan asked in a stern voice making Felix flinch as soon as the words reached his ears.

With a deep sigh the boy finally mustered up enough courage to speak, “Nothing Pan, I’m fine.” Felix may not be the brightest tool in the shed but that didn’t mean he was stupid, he knew if he started to slip up Pan would punish him by punishing Y/n.

The leaders jaw locked in place, trying his hardest not to let his frustration get the better of him. He knew exactly what the problem was, and how to fix it.

How hard could it be? The king of Neverland thought to himself with a dark grin plastered on his face.

“I’ve given you your chance Felix and now,” He spoke, getting so close to the blonde giant he could feel Pan’s breath slowly travel along the nape of his neck “now you need to be punished.”

The second in command eyes spread no the size of sources and panic flowed through his veins, “No.” He whispered, barely audible but the green eyes monster heard his faint cries.

“What example would I be setting for the boys if I didn’t Felix?” The king argued, “now listen very carefully, I want you to grab that little distraction by the arm and throw her into the cage’s.”

Felix knew that Pan could be a narcasistic prick at times, but he never expected the boy to go this far, never in a million years.

The blonde giant had no idea how to process the emotions he was feeling, they just kept getting stronger and stronger, bubbling over the surface until he overflowed with emotion. At this moment the second in command had no shame, he didn’t care who saw him as tears streamed down his sharp cheeks, the lost boy had never been this vunrible in front of any one before yet somehow Pan made him feel safe.

Felix almost laughed at the irony, how can the person who’s making him feel misrble be the only person he feels safe enough to cry around, to show his true colours around.

“Pan-” The lost boy tried to speak up but his words only came out as a shaky rasp.

“You know what you need to do.” Where the leaders parting words before he made his way back to camp.

The brown haired boy let out a sigh of relief as he walked away, he hated seeing Felix like this, but he knew if that girl broke his heart then he would be much more broken. Maybe his punishment was a little harder than he had originally planned for it to be, but what was he to do? How else would he be able to help Felix, he needed to get rid of the problem and he needed to do it himself.

…

Felix gut twisted inside of him, every cell in his body was screaming out no. He couldn’t do this to her, not when he had finally realized how he felt, but the second in command knew that if he didn’t do it Pan would and who knows how rough he would be?

There she was, sat silent and alone on a log. Felix remembered the mornings when he would join her, laughing as they told each other the funniest stories while he playfully put his arm around her. Oh how he wished he knew sooner, he would’ve cherished those moments even more if he only knew where his heart ley.

There was that sinking feeling again, like his heart had suddenly turned to stone in an instant, weighing him down as if his own body was stopping him from taking another step. He wanted to just grab her and run off into the sunset but the giant knew there was no way off this island, not without Pan’s permission.

He needed to be smart about this and try to cause as little pain as possible. Ignoring the fact that his feet felt like they were made of led he slowly made his way over to her, one step at a time, catching the lost girls eye.

A smile beamed on her face as she saw he was coming over, eyes beaming and face glowing with happiness, but she was not met with the same expression.

“Felix-!” She happily exclaimed.

“You need to come with me,” He muttered, voice deep and moody.

Y/n’s eyebrows knitted together in confusion, “Where are we going?”

He shut his eyes, wanting this process to be quick and easy, “Please don’t make me ask again,” he pleaded with her, “Just follow me.”

“Not until you tell me where we’re going.” She tested.

Felix knew he had no other choice but to take her by force, as much as he didn’t want too he knew it would be the only way of ensuring her safety.

Swiftly wrapping his long fingers around her forearm he yanked her up, dragging her away too little to no effort, she was as light as a feather. Oh how Felix wish he could just scoop her up in his arms right now, instead of forcing her into one of those cold, damp cages.

“Felix, what are you doing!” She exclaimed, trying to claw at his knuckles, desperately trying to get the blonde giant off her, “You’re hurting me!”

As soon as those words fell from her lips the second in command instantly let go as thought it were second nature to him. The boy had no problem when it came to a little bit of pain, but she made him weak, love made him weak.

Y/n’s demands never stopped the whole way through the jungle, he fought everything he had in him to not answer back. Why hadn’t he noticed how special she was to him sooner? Why was Pan making him do this? What was the point?

So many questions swirled around in his mind he didn’t even notice the tears streaming down the lost girls face as she, now silently, followed him.

His hand twitched in response, ready to reach out and brush every drop away with the pad of his thumb, but he couldn’t. He kept his eyes glued to the floor and his head down, he needed to remember that if he wanted her to be safe, he was going to have to put her in the cage.

The lost girl felt ace in her chest as the wooden door swung closed in front of her, there eyes met for what seemed like it would be the last time. She couldn’t stop the stream of tears from pouring down her cheeks, she didn’t understand what was going on. Had she angered him that much he would want to stick her in the cages?

Hesitantly, he began to walk away, slowly as if he wanted the moment to last a little longer. Felix’s knows this isn’t the romantic event he had hopped for, but still, he was just happy to be with her and never wanted to leave her side.

“Felix, wait.” She croaked out, voice raw from all the screaming and crying she had done prier.

The second in command came to a halt as if he order were from Pan himself, no words left his lips, but she knew she had grasped his attention.

Shuffling forward as best she could, Y/n wrapped her around around the bars of her wooden prison, “Why am I in here.”

He longed to tell her the truth, longed to tell her how she had done nothing wrong and that he loved her, If it were up to the boy that cage door would be broke off it’s hinges and she would be safe in his arms. Safe from Pan, safe from the boys, safe from everything that hurt her. But he couldn’t, he could only walk away, leaving her heartbroken and disappointed.

Day quickly turned into night, the stars shining bright against their navy back drop as Y/n tried to come to terms with what was happening.

Was this all just a dream, she thought to herself. One minute her and Felix were fine, happy, laughing and giggling with each other and now, she was locked in this cage.

Goosebumps bloomed up and down her arms as she looked around, nothing but darkness, except for something lurking in the shadows. Her heartbeat quickened, what was that? Why wasn’t it moving? Was it just her eyes play tricks on her?

As if on queue the bushes begin to shake, she scattered to the far side of her cage, trying to get away from it as quickly as possible, she was not about to become bear food.

She relaxed the second she saw it was only Pan, those sinister green eyes gave her a sense of comfort from time to time.

“Oh Pan, it’s just you.” She sniffled, looking up at the boy.

The king of Neverland bent down to her level, pureeing at the little lost girl through the gaps in the cage door, “You’re probably wondering why I’ve ordered Felix to put you in this prison, It’s because you’re making him weak and weak people have no place on my island.” The green eyes monster spat.

The lost girl had never felt so much anger in her life, her blood began to boil the moment those words tumbled from his lip and oh how he loved to watch her squirm. He mocked her, replying with nothing but a smirk.

“It’s not hard to tell that my second in command has fallen for you, and that my dear, is a very dangerous game to play. Love is weakness, love is a sweet spot and my boys don’t have sweet spots.” He declarerd  proudly as he promoted his group of highly weaponized teenagers, “Now if anyone else on this island were to be in love with you, I would kill them on the stop. Felix however, happens to be very special to me, very special indeed. Which is why I must keep you locked away.”

Y/n was at a loss for words, she just couldn’t believe what she was hearing. She wanted so badly to argue back, prove to him that love wasn’t weakness, it was strength but the little lost girl knew she would be wasting her breath. Pan wouldn’t listen to anyone else, no one but Felix.

Pan wasn’t here for hostilities, he wanted to make his point and leave, but she pulled the green eyed monster right back, “If I’m such a pain to you then why don’t you just send me home?”

“Oh, that wouldn’t be any fun now would it?” The leader chuckled darkly to himself, “I’m saving you for a rainy day.”

Before the girls very eyes he had disappeared into a cloud of green smoke, rendering her speechless,. What would she do? What could she do in this situation? Make a run for it, try and escape.

She shot down her own ideas once she remembered that no one left the island without Pan’s permission and he just made it very clear, he did not want her to leave.

…

Heavy footsteps are what rose the lost girl from her slumber as she rubber her tired eyes, the sun beamed down, almost blinding her as she looked up.

Jaw almost dropping once she saw the sharp features of a familiar face staring back at her holding a tray of food. She had thought long and hard last night about what she would say to Felix if she ever saw him again, but she didn’t accept to see the second in command so soon.

He smiled to himself, once again she was away with the fairies, paying not attention to what was going on around her.

No, the words echoed around the lost boys head so loud, you’re here to give her food and leave nothing more.

Heartbroken, the boy placed to plate of food just in front of her cage, he fought the urge to say something to her, say anything to her, but no words came out. Where would he even start?

“I know why I’m here.” She finally spoke up, the words made Felix stop in his track, slowly turning back around to face her in shock and disbelief.

“What?” He whispered to himself, still trying to process the words that had just fell from her lips.

“I know why I’m in this cage, it’s because Pan thinks I’m making you weak. But love isn’t weakness Felix, it’s strength and power.”

“You, you know I love you?” Felix said almost as if he didn’t want it to be true.

“Yes,” She beamed a smile spreading wide across her cheeks, “And I love you too.”

The second in command couldn’t hold himself back any longer after hearing those words, running to the cage, he flung the cage door open. Their hand intertwined as he desperately pulled her out of the cage and wrapped her up in his arm.

“I’m so sorry Pan put you in here, lets run away together, lets go somewhere, anywhere.” The boy rambled on and on making plans for the two of them to escape.

“You know we can’t do that Felix, not without Pan’s permission.” She shot him down.

The look of disappointment on the boys face was evident, she wanted more than anything to run away with him but they both knew it wouldn’t be possible for them to do.

“What should we do?” Felix asked, racking his brain for anything, just anything that would get him and Y/n off this island.

“Put me back in the cage.” The little lost girl insisted, almost as if she were stamping her foot down.

“What are you talking about-”

“Put me back in the cage, it’ll by us more time if Pan doesn’t suspect anything is wrong.” She explained, the second in command didn’t want to admit it, but he knew she was right.

“Fine.” He harshly spoke, “But I don’t like it.”

They both knew they didn’t have much time left before Pan would know something was up, as if there was a silent agreement between the two the girl nodded in his direction, voluntarily getting back into her wooden cage.

“I love you,” The blonde giant whispered, peering at the through the bars with a smile on his face.

“I love you too.” She said, watching as he trekked further and further into Neverland’s deep jungle, all the way back to camp.

The pair were flying as high as a kite, for once everything seemed to be on track, going there way, but all that faded as soon as she heard a familiar British accent.

“Well, well, well, that was quite the show.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Part 2 is up! I hope you guys like it just as much as you liked the last part! Xxx

[softbiker]

Agent 14 Oneshot

Warnings: maybe a couple bad words

Word count: 2.6k

A/N: While this is a continuation of the Steve x Agent 14 series, this particular installment has...almost no Steve lol. Just wanted to warn people before I get in trouble for that. It does, however, feature Agents 41 and 28 (from series written by @nacho-bucky​ and @kentuckybarnes​ )! Also, I plan on expanding and posting the full “menu” of custom drinks that 14 makes for her friends, so stay tuned for that! As always, enjoy and let me know what you think! :)

She squeals when the ad pops up as she’s scrolling through Instagram.

There it is, in all its glory, right between yet another engagement photo and a “no filter” celebrity selfie.

The S’mores Frappucino.

A towering frozen swirl of sweet vanilla and creamy milk chocolate, topped with the most mouth-watering promise of all: marshmallow whipped cream. And all of it dusted with a generous sprinkle of crushed graham cracker pieces. It’s enough to make 41 want to lick her phone screen.

With a flailing little backwards somersault, she rolls herself off the couch and bounds down the hallway towards Clint’s room, tie-dye socks slipping on the freshly polished floors.

“Guess what season it is?” She flings the door open with one hand, brandishing her phone in the other, her grin nearly splitting her face as she bounces up on her toes, eager to see his reaction - only to pull up short, a soft frown dragging her lips back down. The room is empty.

“Tweets?” 41 glances around the room, taking stock of the discarded socks and inside-out jeans littering the floor, a pair of her own boots flung to one corner, a plush sea turtle smiling at her from the bed. There’s a Sharing Size bag of peanut M&M’s on the nightstand, next to an open can of Red Bull, leaving a ring on the cover of last month’s Men’s Health which he’d permanently borrowed from Sam. She looks up at the ceiling - typically he leaves a vent open as a point of entry if he’s been…exploring up there. But no dice. Their vent remains screwed in place.

Shoving her phone in the front pocket of her hoodie, she backtracks towards the kitchen, rounding the corner from the hallway and sliding into the room Risky Business-style. A blazing mid-morning sun floods the room with light through the floor-to-ceiling windows, bouncing off of the metalwork backsplash and casting sparkles across the empty table. Hands on her hips, she huffs to herself, wondering where he’s run off to, before the clinking of glass bottles catches her attention.

Sticking up from the open door of the fridge is a vaguely familiar yoga-panted ass, waving in the air as its owner rummages through the shelves and drawers, muttering under her breath.

“Nat?” The red curls bounce in her ponytail as she stands at the sound of 41’s voice.

“Oh, hey, kid,” Nat smiles, propping a hand on her hip. If she’s at all bothered by the fact that her friend and coworker just got an eyeful of her backside, she hides it all with a poker face she probably mastered in super spy kindergarten. “What are you up to?”

“Just looking for Clint.” 41 pouts. She shifts her weight to one leg, scratching at her ankle with the toe of one sock. “You haven’t seen him have you?”

Natasha’s eyebrows flicker up as she closes the refrigerator with her hip.

“Oh - he didn’t tell you?”

“Tell me what?”

“The boys are all out for the day,” she sighs, rolling her eyes to the ceiling. “Some kind of belated bachelor party for Tony - even though he’s been married for a year, he said he missed out on the experience; so he kidnapped all of our male counterparts for the day.” Nat shrugs one shoulder, smirking. “Frankly the concept seems outdated - and sexist. But when has Tony ever listened to me?”

Nat notices the way her shoulders fall, the way her hands roll up inside the sleeves of her hoodie. Poor thing. And she’d come in here looking so excited, too; now her frown settles too deeply at the corners of her lips, eyes cast somewhere on the floor. Abandoning her search for a snack, Nat slides onto a bar stool at the island, propping her chin in one hand.

“You have any plans for today?” she prompts. She’ll deny it till her dying day, but the formerly made-of-marble assassin feels…soft at her core now. No, not her abs - her backflips are as tight as ever; but somewhere behind her ribs, deeper than her muscles, there’s a marshmallowy give to her now - the press of fingers could leave a dent on her.

And that’s why, God help her, she couldn’t stand the sight of 41’s frown. Couldn’t endure the downcast disappointment in her gaze. Couldn’t walk away from her halfhearted, sighing shrug.

“Not really,” 41 mumbles, licking her bottom lip. “I was just gonna see if Clint wanted to go get Starbucks with me. They’ve got the S’mores drink now.”

Pulling her phone from where it’s tucked into the waistband of her yoga pants, Nat quickly swipes through her messages and pulls up a group chat named ‘No Boys Allowed’.

I’m so gonna regret this, she thinks, but she types up her proposal anyway and taps send. Time to assemble.

 ***********                                                                                                  

The bell over the door dings cheerfully, and 14 fights her inner groan long enough to yell over her shoulder, “Welcome to Starbucks!” She doesn’t turn from the drink in her hands, too afraid of spilling the milk (again) and having to remake this caramel macchiato. Gaze intent on the cup in her hands, she drizzles the sides with caramel, watching the sticky sweet goop glide down the walls of the cup. Satisfied that this should meet the customer’s request for “extra, extra caramel”, she reaches for her milk jug, glancing up from the machine where her espresso shots are queueing.

41 waves ecstatically when she meets her gaze over the espresso machine, a suspiciously casual Nat smirking over her shoulder. Wanda is following close behind them, hands shoved in the pockets of a denim jacket, despite the summer heat. Maria is already standing in front of the register, eyeing the menu, with 28 next to her, a pair of dark sunglasses pushed up on top of her head.

14 blinks.

With quick, nimble fingers, she finishes the drink in front of her and sets it up on the mobile order stand, awaiting the customer. Chase, the barista who should be covering front, is nowhere to be seen; but she doesn’t have any other drinks waiting, so she strides up to the register, tilting a curious brow at her friends.

“Ladies,” 14 smiles, tilting her head to one side. “This is…a nice surprise? A kidnapping? A mission?”

“Relax,” Maria says, punctuated with a good-natured eye roll. “We’re just here for the coffee.”

“Oh, sure,” 14 crosses her arms, leaning a hip against the front counter. “You guys are a little short-staffed, aren’t you? Where’s all the testosterone?”

“Looking for a certain star-spangled specimen?” Nat pipes up. Their group has clustered around the register in a close semicircle. “Boys’ day out. Some kind of adventure that will probably land Tony in the doghouse…but then again, he’s partying with a couple centenarians, so how bad could it be?”

“You’d be surprised,” 28 mutters with a quirk of her eyebrows.

In front of a group of super spies, superheroes, and super intelligent women, 14 fights to put on the best poker face she’s ever had in her life. At the mention of Steve - as well as the news he wouldn’t be joining them - Nat watches her closely; the only sign of her disappointment is the way she purses her lips, eyes flicking towards the door as though she might prove them wrong. And then it’s gone, her eyes turning back to her friends, a beaming, nose-scrunching smile fixed on her face.

“That sounds awful,” she giggles. “But very on-brand for Tony.”

A chorus of assent from the ladies, rolling their eyes and scoffing at the endless supply of evidence they have to that fact.

“Alright so…what can I get you?” 14 prompts. As much as she’d like to stand here, chatting with her friends, she’s still on the clock for another hour and a half - and there’s work to be done. Maybe it stings, chafes her heart a little, that this little outing doesn’t quite include her; that she’ll make their drinks and then they’ll leave, and then more drinks for more people for the rest of her shift. But these customers are more pleasant than most, and it’s not as though she won’t see them later, so she shoves down her insecurity and taps at the screen of the register, opening her till.

“Well we were thinking…” Wanda starts, glancing at Natasha. The two share an amused smirk that 14 doesn’t like at all. “…that maybe you could surprise us?”

“Except me!” 41 raises her hand, bouncing up on the balls of her feet. “I haven’t had a S’mores yet this year, I need one! Please?”

Stunned, 14 looks around the group, cocking one eyebrow.

“So…one S’mores, and then - you all want to be surprised?” What a request - she didn’t trust anyone to make a drink for her…that could really backfire.

“Well, you know us,” Nat shrugged. “You know what we like, what we hate, what we won’t drink…”

“Besides, it never hurts to try something new,” Maria smirks.

Teeth sinking into her bottom lip, a slow smile spreads across 14’s face.

“Alright, ladies, say no more-”

It takes her little more than a minute to line up her plan, squinting at each of her friends in concentration, a Sharpie poised to mark each cup, labeled with a name in her characteristic block-print scrawl. They crane their necks over the tops of the machines, trying to see behind the bar and guess what she’s whipping up back there. Ingredients flit through her hands, shaken into one cup, then exchanged for something else for the next. Syrups, cinnamon, juices, toppings. They try and fail to keep it all straight from one cup to the next, but she’s too fast, hands reaching between two drinks at once.

Finally, with a last look over her shoulder, goofily sticking her tongue from the corner of her mouth, she piles 41’s coveted marshmallow whip on top of her drink and sprinkles the graham cracker topping with a generous hand. 41 barely contains her squeal as she grabs 28’s elbow and points at it.

“That one’s mine! Doesn’t it look amazing?”

One by one, she lines up the drinks at the end of the bar, turning the cups so each name is properly shown.

“Alright, so what am I in for?” Maria cautiously waves her drink under her nose, letting the steam waft up from the small opening in the lid. Hers is a hot drink, its contents concealed in a thick paper cup proudly bearing the same green logo as its cardboard sleeve.

“I thought you wanted to be surprised?” 14 smirks, sliding 41’s frappucino across the bar into her glitter-nailed hands. 28 grabs hers as well, a refreshingly cold…something - she plunges in a straw and swirls the ice as she examines the pale pink color of the drink.

“Well, bottoms up girls,” Nat shrugs, inspecting the layer of foam on top of her drink before raising it to her lips. Wanda taps her cup with 41’s before tipping hers up as well. Standing behind the bar, a rag in her hands, 14 gnaws on her lip as she watches them sip her creations. She shifts her feet as she waits for the verdict.

“Wow.” Wanda’s brows shoot up, tongue flicking over her lip. “This is really good.”

“Yeah,” Maria agrees, going in for her second taste.

“Don’t know why you sound surprised,” 41 says around her straw and a mouthful of whipped cream. “Everything she makes is delicious.”

“Oh, thanks,” 14 brushes off the compliments with a one-shouldered shrug. “If you like it I’ll give you the recipe, so you can order it again?”

Various noises of agreement, all enthusiastic, all from full mouths. She smiles, grabs a blank receipt paper from the register and a pen from the pocket of her apron.

“Okay, so yours Wanda is a double dirty chai with cinnamon…”

  ***********                                                                                                  

Folding her apron over one arm, 14 releases her hair from its butterfly clip and reaches for her backpack. She keeps a spare change of clothes folded neatly in the bottom, in case she has to run errands after work and can’t go out covered in coffee and syrup. The bathroom is empty and she ducks inside, slipping into a pair of cutoff shorts and and a tie-dye t-shirt; her faithful sneakers can make it through work and life, thankfully, so she wiggles her feet back into them, not bothering to untie the laces.

It’s been a long day. And a glance at her watch tells her it’s only…1:09 p.m.

Backpack on one shoulder, sunglasses perched on her head, she makes her way back out of the café, pausing at the end of the bar to get her drink.

“Here, girl.” Jade, the barista who made her drink, smiles as she hands her a straw. “You look like you need this.”

“I feel like I need this.” 14 smiles back as she jams her straw into the cup and takes the first sip. Iced blonde americano, 2 pumps toffee nut, a splash of sweet cream. She makes a small noise of pleasure - hits the spot every time.

“See you tomorrow!” she waves to her coworkers as she backs out the door, dropping her sunglasses down to her face as she steps into the unrelenting summer sun. Not two steps out the door, turning to the street, and she nearly bumps into-

“Nat?”

“Hey, long time no see.” Nat wiggles her fingers in a mocking little wave. The rest of their posse is clustered around a couple of bistro tables haphazardly shoved together outside the café.

“What…you guys are still here?” 14 cocks her head to the side. It’s been over an hour and a half at least, their drinks are sitting empty on the tables in front of them. She had assumed they’d be long gone.

“Well, duh,” 41 grins. “We’re going to lunch! And then - oh, we should get pedicures!”

“Oh, can we go to that new Thai place?” Wanda asks, leaning her elbows on the table. “It’s only a couple blocks down from here.”

“God, the things I would do for some egg rolls right about now-” Maria agrees, patting her stomach.

They start to stand from their tables, the metal chairs scraping loudly against concrete, and 28 gathers the empty cups to throw away in the trash cans next to the door. The group shuffles and chatters, eager at the prospect of lunch; purses and wallets are snatched up, phones tucked back into pockets. Wanda leads the way as they march off in pursuit of pad thai and egg rolls, the rest of the group falling in behind her on the sidewalk. Even in the early afternoon heat, they link arms and laugh and stand too close together, sharing giggles and gossip.

Nat lightly bumps 14 with her shoulder, her green eyes gone pale and glittering in the sun.

“You didn’t really think we’d eat and run on you?” she smirks. “Come on, I’m starving.”

14 ducks her head and grins.

“Just one second-” she says, sliding her phone from her back pocket. She snaps a picture of her drink, then smiles at Nat. “Okay, now we’re good.”

Nat rolls her eyes.

“Wow, that was so basic-”

“Shut up.”

A few minutes later, sitting in a blessedly air-conditioned Thai restaurant, she captions the photo ‘new drink for you to try next time - I highly recommend it’ and hits send.

Somewhere across town, shoved cheek by jowl with his buddies in the back of a stretch limo, the interior vibrating with music and lit with flashing LEDs, a super soldier smiles at his phone.

[crimsonbathed]

" we're surrounded by those who would like to see us dead. " - Oak

"Is that such a bad thing?" Carrion mused, a scoff escaping from strawberry lips. Being cornered by those who wished nothing less than death upon her was nothing new, it was comforting in a sense. "Do you not like to feel powerful? For if someone wishes you dead, then they see you as a threat. Those foolish Lost Boys want the pirates dead and vice versa, all because they think it is a game. Truly, they aren't far from the truth, are they?"

A smirk graced her features as she turned her attention towards the basket within her arms which housed her latest collection of webbing. The spiders had a habit of cooperating with her, so long as she had something to offer them in return. Should they refuse, dare to strike at her even, well . . . she had ways to ensure they remembered just who was in charge.

"Power shifts, it is like the water. Waves come and go, an ever changing tide of charge, and the receding shoreline fights to hold its ground- but in the end, the strongest waves will always win, pushing the land even further back. Are we not the waves?" Her head lulled to the side, allowing inky black waves to fall in front of her shoulder. There was little on the island that used to hold a candle to the small folk, what says that they could not reclaim that oh so powerful position they once held? "It is no different than life in the Other Place. So many wish us dead, and we could slaughter them all like little lambs. What stops us? Dear Oak? What prevents you from making them fear you even more? Do you not miss the days where you could roam freely, without fear of being mauled by something around every corner, haunting you?"

She paused for a moment, searching the man before her for any tell as to what was wandering through his mind. He could be a most powerful ally, should she ever need one, there was only so much Peter could do while the Darling girl ran about. "Would it be such a bad thing, if we were to fight and claw our way back to the top? If so many want us dead, then I see us as being back on the right track."

[calypsoff]

Thirty Eight.

A month into the overseas tour and I can honestly say I am enjoying it; I am enjoying it way more than I did for my American tour dates. Everything is ever so relaxed, we are going country to country very fluid, I have been happy, it’s been nice to visit these places and get to see more countries. Overseas fan love is just so much more different, I feel the love from them, but I am most excited to be landing in England, I just love the place. I feel like the place has close connections to France and Germany where I can expand my horizons in the fashion industry and makeup line, I just want to spend some time here again and just get a feel for the place. Maybe move here with Chris obviously but the base in England will be so much better, the connections I can build. I did my river island deal here so I can do it, I just need to see how I can do it, but I will eventually. I am currently on the jet to England now, get to the hotel and then I’m out again for dinner with the managing director of Puma, I am trying to make moves and it will happen. Chris has been so good, like I think my happiness stems from the fact Chris is happy. He’s just positive vibes, he misses me a lot though but he’s very upbeats. He wants to do a lot; he is showing improvements. I tend to go through his therapist talk with him, ask him what they spoke about because I want him to know I care and I listen, which I do. He’s drawing again, and I warned him about making any type of mess in that home, it’s rented. I am not paying out for the damages, so he said I got a book, and he will show me soon “oh we about to land soon” Yusuf announced “thank god, I need to get to the hotel and get ready. Big night for me, if I can pull this off I am untouchable” not to be big headed “I am telling you they will want you” Yusuf sounds so confident in that, not so much me.

“Bitch move your phone, I can’t do your hair” Yusuf complained, looking up at him “one minute please” I pleaded with him “fine” he walked off, I am trying to talk to Chris while getting ready and I can say it’s not going well because I’m trying to speak to him while they are trying to make me look pretty “I’m happy you got there safely anyways, I guess you got to go but will you call me once done? I will be waiting. Maybe FaceTime if you would like, I can show you my two step” I laughed out “boy please, I don’t want you spraining your ankle, but we shall FaceTime. I miss your beard; I am going to murder you if I come back and you’re still the same. We are going onto a month into this tour Chris. Please” I think he’s now doing it on purpose, I have a feeling “soon, I keep saying this twin. But goodluck with Puma, get me some freebies while you’re there, joking. I know you’ll kill it out there baby, I really do. But talk soon, take care yeah. Love you” I do like this Chris, such a calm soul “I love you more baby, don’t worry I’ll haggle some freebies for you, talk soon. Bye” I hate saying bye to him, disconnecting the call “oh my heart, splitting up the lovebirds. But time is of the essence, we need to get the hair done” he has a point “did you tell Chris how you were being proposed too by these Arab princes” I snorted “hell nah, I wouldn’t because it will play on his mind but it was funny. Imagine me being a princess? But anyways I’ll pass on that” my phone buzzed on my lap, looking down at the message “bitch!” Yusuf spat “let me see, it’s Chris” opening the message.

From: Chris

To: Robyn

What hotel are you at? I’m not coming I just want to know ❤️

To: Chris

From: Robyn

Corinthia London I got a little excited then..... lol

From: Chris

To: Robyn

So did I 😕

He’s stupid “anyways proceed” let me stop playing around because this is becoming a longer process for me right now.

Walking into the restaurant alone, I mean Rich did walk me to the door but the waiter let me follow them to the table, I am a little nervous about it all. I am just hoping I can do this; I really want to get into fashion “right here madam” seeing this bald Middle aged white man, always white of course. He shot up from his seat “you look beautiful, pleased to meet you Rihanna” he shook my hand “likewise Bjorn, I have been counting down the days until I meet you” he gestured for me to sit “the people are going to think how did I get someone so beautiful to eat with me, my lonely self. But please” I smiled sitting down, my nerves are kicking in “we saw your River Island set, we saw the demand. The queues, the love. We absolutely loved it and we do feel that you will bring that creation to Puma, when our mutual friend reached out and said Rihanna is interesting I said set up the meeting, I wanted it ASAP. I feel like you create things that is with the times and it sells, you sell. So yeah, I am grateful you came” I cooed out “little old me, stop it but this is literally a dream for me. When I were asked I said of course I will meet him and I’m glad I have” I am excited “shall we start going into detail now?” Nodding my head “why not” I want to get over with the whole small talk, I want to start the business talk already.

Closing my book ever so quickly “what was that baby?” my mother questioned, she is so damn nosey “mom stop creeping up on me like that, it’s not nice” that was annoying, I am testing myself, I thought I would draw Robyn naked, see if I remember every curve of her body and then see if I got it right, hand on my heart I know I am right. The picture is not degrading at all, not like she got her legs open; I mean I know her coochie off by heart but it’s more tasteful, a little side boob showing. It’s my imagination anyways but I like it “I was just asking baby, you seem so quiet in your book now” watching my mom sit down “yeah because I am designing for my clothing so stop being nosey” rolling my eyes, I lied but it’s whatever “guess what I did anyways” I cheesed “what did you do?” my dad asked “I sent roses to Robyn’ hotel, she has like this big meeting with Puma, I know she’s going to do well so I sent her congratulation roses and I miss you” my dad didn’t look impressed even though I am happy about it “and what if she don’t get it?” waving my dad off “do you not know Robyn? She gets what she wants, they set up the meeting. They worked around her schedule; I know she has. But what you think?” I think he was concerned she might not have got it “if you believe that then I am fine with it, it’s the sweetest thing you can do. She will love it son” I grinned so wide; I can’t wait for her to call me all excited now.

I need to tell Robyn that I am not on crutches anymore, I mean I feel stupid, but I am using a walking frame now. I can shuffle to places, I don’t hop anymore “I was telling your mother how proud I am of you, watching you sweat. You are pushing yourself to get the leg better more than ever” nodding my head smiling “yeah, I am getting a six pack too. You see those leg exercises” lifting my tee up “six pack!” I spat “six pack Joyce, he is doing the most but with Robyn how come you didn’t do that? Just a question, you seemed maybe a little laid back I suppose” good question “erm, because I made a promise to Robyn, I promised I would be better. I would do better for her, and just seeing her on tour and how beautiful she looks, I said to the therapist. I said I get a little jealous, like I don’t feel I can compare to her and he made me feel better, he really did, and it made me realise that Robyn is with me looking a whole mess, she didn’t care. She took care of me a lot, something I wish she didn’t, but she did. The therapist every week, I just feel more and more positive. The things that happened to me wasn’t my fault, I am just in a good place. And then this, I can literally shuffle, I am slowly being able to pick my foot up while walking. I am happy” my mom looks so emotional “and the beard will remain until she is coming back because I want to annoy her” I laughed to myself “you love stressing her out, Chris I am so sorry we never took you to therapy, we just didn’t know. We are sorry” shaking my head “don’t be. But I am going to propose to her” I said smiling “what!?” my mother shouted, “really son?” my dad is a little shocked “you work faster then I did, wow boy” my dad said, I chuckled “yeah well, it’s time. She has been nothing but be a wife to me, she wants that title, and I am going to give it her soon, I will let you know when I figure it out but it’s closer then you both think. But I am going to propose to her, I am going to wife that up on sight” my mother gushed “my daughter in law, god. I wished for someone to be loving towards you, and she is perfect. I am so over the moon Chris; I love you son. A wedding!” my mother got up from the couch running to me “mon, this stays between us. I am telling you both first, just keep it quiet until I get permission, doing it like a man” I am doing it the proper way.

My mom keeps on looking at me in awe “what?” I questioned placing my fork down “I can’t believe my son wants to get married, I am just shocked. All I ever wanted was for you to happy, to see you smile and I always saw that when you were with Robyn but it’s just so emotional, you are marrying the love of your life Chris, it’s just so emotional” here we go, my mom would cry “yeah I know, so did you” I grinned “that honestly made me want love, to see you both at home. You both have set that goal in my life; this is why I had to find out. I had to see if Robyn did remember me, she did. I knew it was love then” I mumbled “it is baby, it’s love. She loves you so much Chris, I see it in her eyes. but marriage? I am just so happy for you both” my mom is not going to drop this “mom, this needs to be a secret. Please stop speaking on it” she needs to calm down, my phone pinged on the table. Picking my phone up and opening the message.

From: Robyn

To: Chris

OMG! I am calling you in 5 minsss

I chuckled, she has seen the roses then “I think Robyn has seen the roses, that is me though. I will be going to sleep after the call, tired after today” getting up from the chair steady “careful son” my dad said, he worries about me walking but I am getting there “I know” grabbing my phone and placing it in my pocket, grabbing my walking frame “I hate this shit, I look like some old man. Mom, you don’t need to get up” she does the most “it’s making you better boy, you can do this” my mother placed her hands over my cheeks “I am so happy for your progress, the happiness you are showing. It reminds me of my son that I knew” I laughed “thank you mom, I love you” she kissed my cheek “I love you too, goodnight baby. See you in the morning” nodding my had, let me shuffle myself to the bedroom, I will get there.

Sitting on the bed, I just got into the room. Robyn has tried to facetime me twice, but I have been trying so hard to get to the bedroom, takes me a little while to get here. Tapping on Robyn’ to facetime her back, I hope she picks up and she did “Christopher!! Oh my god, poppa. I am literally so emotional right now Chris, oh my god. These are beautiful, I came into my room and this” Robyn turned the camera showing the roses “I am so happy you like them; I know it’s not me but still. Oh my god, is that my bear? That is so cute, look how he is just sat laid out on the bed. Missing me that much huh” I laughed “oh I really do, I posted the roses on my Instagram, thank you Chris. It bought a smile to my face, I love, love, love you so much poppa” I cooed out “I love you too, I just wanted you to smile, and I got it. To see your happiness is my happiness” Robyn really can’t stop smiling, I love that for her “and I got it baby, Fenty x Puma!!!!!” Robyn shouted “oh my god, really!? Robyn that is amazing, see I knew it. You read the card? I predicted this; I am proud of you baby. I love you and your smile” Robyn giggled “thank you” she is so happy “so this is a secret for now? I just want to make sure” Robyn nodded her head “keep it between us until we can release the actual announcement, I can’t wait Chris. The managing director said he wanted me to work with them, they love my vibe so yeah. I can’t wait, you can help me too or I can seal your clothing ideas” I gasped “you better not” it’s so refreshing to see her like this.

I made Robyn close her eyes, I propped the phone up for this “ok, I am ready. You can look now, I mean it’s nothing much, but I am using a walking frame now and look” I shuffled ahead a little “oh my god, Chris! The progress!!! I have only been gone a month, oh wow. You’re going to be walking in no time, I am so proud of you” I laughed at my stupidity, it’s really nothing “also, look at this” turning slowly “six pack too, I kept this a little secret” I hope she can see “my panties are wet Chris, you working out there? You are doing this while I am gone?” Robyn looks offended, shuffling over to the bed carefully “I do a lot of leg exercises at home, remember they said it takes a lot of strength, it’s building my muscle I guess” sitting on the bed and grabbing my phone “you about to look handsome for me?” raising an eyebrow “with my beard yes” Robyn rolled her eyes “I will accept for now because of the roses, Chris you really made my day. You really did, thank you. I miss you poppa, I sniff the bear now and then, it smells like you of course” I miss her face so much, I just want to touch her so bad “I love you” I smiled down the phone.

[thevirtualcanvas]

You don’t really know someone until you go on a desert island together ~

Steven's birthday aka the time Connie lured Steven to Watermelon island because I don’t want Steven to be sad anymore. 

Yesterday was a really angsty piece. Today we get to see how he gets his first kiss. Hope you’re all ready for some proper fluff.

“Cmon Steven! We're almost there!”

They were on Watermelon Island, he knew that much. The first thing that gave it away was, well, he was the one that warped them there. The second was the split mountain that hung over his head behind the now fixed warped pad. The third thing was the party of Watermelon-Stevens that welcomed them with a bubbly joy, dragging him by one hand as Connie took the other.

“Connie, where are we going? There's so much to be done before little homeschool opens. My itinerary is clogged,” he thought of the planner on his phone, full of meetings, and jobs and far too many things to do.

Her laughter was infectious, her bright eyes warmed Steven's cheeks. “Well, Mr. Itinerary, I cleared your calendar for the day. Little home-world will just have to do without you, for a couple of hours anyway.”

“Connieeee,” he whined, haphazardly. It was so nice to see her, between his work orchestrating repairs after Spinel, integration of the gems, and meetings with his space Aunts; and Connie's high workload from school and her Mom they saw each other in glimpses. Mostly through video chats and the occasional moonlit jaunt via Lion. So holding her hand, and being led through the crystal jungle of the watermelon island – he could think of worse days to spend his birthday.

The palm trees gave way, the grass turned to sand and a beautiful cacophony of blues decorated the horizon, Steven had forgotten how nice it was here, relaxing even. On the sand sat a banner – Happy 16th Birthday Steven in Connie's lovely cursive handwriting. Beneath that was a picnic basket, blanket, his ukulele, and her violin and another batch of Watermelon-Steven's completing the finishing touches. He wasn't going to cry. Probably.

Connie held her hand out-stretched. “Ta-dah! Happy Birthday, Steven! You didn't think I'd forget, did you?”

“Connie, this is...this is incredible, thank you.”

He walked, enraptured by his surprise. The Watermelon-Stevens scampered to give them some privacy and peace. Steven kicked off his sandals, wriggled his toes in the sand, plonked himself down on the blanket and picked up his ukulele. The instrument had been sat in a stand on the shelf for months. Since the events of Spinel and her injector, he'd lost his child-like wonder, concerned that another attack could happen any moment, Steven had focused more on growing-up; putting away anything that would deem him childish, expanding little home-world, dealing with actual home-world and the Diamonds. His passion, his music, that had taken an unfortunate back-seat. He plucked at the strings, the sound reverberating through his fingers and up the length of his spine. Steven shivered, he missed this.

He took a deep breath, the first one in a long time, he listened to the sound of the ocean, the rustle of the palms and relaxing sounds of Connie breathing next to him. She plucked her violin first, playing and humming along to a creation of their own design.

The sun is bright, our shirts are clean.

Connie smiled brightly at him, loose strands of her pinned back hair danced among the breeze.

We're sitting up above the sea

Was her voice always this beautiful? It sounded like silk in his ears.

Come on and share this jam with me.

She looked at him expectantly, nodding her head as she strummed and hummed the tune. Carefully, slowly, Steven strummed along. In the back of his mind, he was worried he forgot, or worse, didn't want to. But that worry melted away at her sweet harmony, and sweeter face. As the mismatch of ukulele and violin merged tunes, Steven hummed in time with Connie, pulling up the unforgettable lyrics from his mind.

Peach or plum or strawberry.

Any kind is fine you see.

Come on and share this jam with me.

They played together, the simple chord a testament to their friendship, their devotion to one another and the memories of a simpler time. Playing again with Connie, it was the best present he could have ever asked for. To be in her presence, to forget about his responsibilities for just a little while – sure, her laugh, rich eyes, brilliant smile, lithe dexterous hands, and lean figure, made Steven a tad nervous and weak at the knees but it was Connie, his Connie and that was perfect.

I'll do my best to give this jam the sweetness it deserves ~

He sung at her, waggling his eyebrows in time to the vibrato, causing her to laugh, scrunching her nose.

And I'll keep it fresh.

Jammin' on these tasty preserves!

She sung back with enthusiasm, the fine strings of her violin plucking hard at her rocking out.  

Steven's heart was racing, he hadn't felt this happy in months. Not true joy, not like this. Connie picked up her bow and slowed the rhythm down, ready for the climax of the song. Waiting on his queue, she watched her best friend carefully.

Ingredients in harmony.

We mix together perfectly.

Come on and share this jam with me.

The tune faded naturally, petering out in the ambiance of the ocean. They both breathed heavily, the duet taking more out of them then it would have done nearly 3 years ago. Steven placed his ukulele down, content, and Connie followed suit, keeping her eyes firmly on him. She moved closer, so their knees and hips were touching as they looked out onto the ocean.

“Jam buds, back in action,” Connie laughed, nudging him in the side. “Not bad, Mr. Itinerary.”

Steven snorted and nudged her back, taking off his sports jacket and wrapping it around his waist before leaning back into her. “I thought you're supposed to be nice on my birthday.”

“I am being nice,” she responded with a giggle. “Besides, this isn't the only thing I've planned for you. We're gonna have dinner with my parents, your dad and the gems later. Peridot is 'constructing' the birthday cake, my present for you is at the beach house and – ” She hummed and cleared her throat. A dusky hue rose on her cheeks.

���And?” Steven asked, curious.

Connie twiddled her fingers, puffed her cheeks and risked a glance at him. Steven had grown so much since dismantling the Diamond Authority. He was taller, give it another few months and he'd be taller than her for the first time in their friendship. His shoulders were broader, the material of the band shirt he wore stretched over his shoulder blades. His arms and legs had elongated, but she loved the way they felt around her. Connie felt a smug satisfaction whenever he would sit behind her, legs outstretched, arms around her neck. He would rest his chin against her shoulder as they watched a movie marathon, or Connie would read her newest book aloud to him. Steven's jaw, while still soft and round showed signs of a beard under the surface, the slightest five o'clock shadow discoloured his lower face. He would scratch absently, as if not quite used to this newfound adulthood. And what could she say, she'd noticed. Her jam bud was growing-up, and so was she.

“And...I have one more surprise. If you want it.”

His eyes lit up. “A secret present, what is it?” Steven pursed his lips and shook with joy. “Where are you hiding it? Do the Watermelon-Steven's have it? Oh man, I love surprises!”

She chuckled at his enthusiasm, this would make the next part of her surprise so much easier. He made everything easier. “Good to know you're not too old for surprise presents. Steven, do you trust me?”

He creased his brow, what kind of question was that. “Of course I do, Con. You're my best friend.”

Not for much longer if she had anything to say about it. This was a turning point in Connie's life. She loved Steven. She'd tell anyone as much. But recently a lot of mature thoughts crossed her mind; and between the trips in the Dondai, visits to the beach house and increasingly more tense sleepovers, Connie realised something. She loved Steven. Which didn't change much overall; she would do anything for him, want to be in his life for the rest of hers and, jam on the beach whenever possible. But she also wanted to kiss that adorable face of his.

“Good, so face me, and close your eyes. Keep 'em closed too. No peaking.” He complied, swiveled around, knees crossed, hands-on lap, and eyes locked tight.

Connie leaned forward, taking a sallow breath. She reached out of him, fingertips connecting with his cheeks warm at her touch. She could feel his cheeks dimple as he smiled, turning his head into her fingers. Connie brought her face closer, seeing the pores on his skin, his long lashes, and his soft pink lips.

His eyelids trembled a bit, like he was trying to search for her behind them. Connie, what are you – ”

“Don't peak,” she whispered, wetting her lips, running her fingers down to his neck and feeling as Steven hitches and freezes.

“Connie...” His breath felt hot against her lips, and name danced across her skin.

“Happy birthday, Steven.”

Her lips met his, certain, lacking confidence but wanting. They trembled against one another, this was new, scary and exciting all at once. Steven's hands mirrored hers, buried into the hair at the base of her neck, terrified to explore and desperate to hold. He turned his head, pressing his face further into hers. Button nose pressing into her cheek, tight curls brushed against her brow.

Connie pulled back, flustered, gasping for breath,  hands around his neck, playing with the curls at his hairline. She licked her lips, tasting him against them.

Steven opened his eyes and touched his lips, feeling where Connie had just kissed him. He was shocked, giddy and he really wanted to do it again. He pressed his forehead against hers, interlocked his fingers around her back and grinned. How long had he daydreamed about this moment?

“Connie?”

“Yeah, Steven?”

“That was definitely a surprise.”

She snorted, rubbing her forehead against his. “I'm glad.”

He bit his lip, deep brown eyes reflected into hers. “Can we do it again?”

Their stomachs grumbled in tandem, Connie opened the picnic basket and reached for the sandwich on the top of the pile and shoved it into his mouth. “Maybe, after our picnic, and away from prying eyes.” She motioned to the sheepish group of Watermelon-Steven's half-poking out of the brush behind them. Some gave a little wave, others blew a kiss of their own.

“R-right,” Steven said with a mouthful of jam and bread.

Connie waved back to them before taking a sandwich of her own. She shuffled back up to Steven, her Steven and they enjoyed their picnic in peace and quiet. The tension was gone, replaced by a fondly remembered quiet comfort between them. His hand around her waist, her knee against his thigh, watching as the crystals danced in the shallow waters and the sun changed colour in the sky.

“Thanks for dragging me away from gem stuff,” he said after a while.

“You're welcome, it is your birthday, y'know.”

“I know... Connie?”

She turned to him, mid-afternoon light bringing out the warmth in her skin. “Yeah, Steven?”

His hands found her, connecting perfectly. He should just say it, he'd thought about it a million times before.

“I love you,” it was barely above a whisper, and he couldn't look her in the eyes. But he said it. He'd told her. He was holding his breath and going pink in the face. Thankfully not that kind of pink.

He watched as her face turned the same shade of pink as him, she reassured him with a squeeze of his chunky fingers and gave him the exact answer he needed. “Love you too, Steven.”

Maybe he could keep celebrating his birthday after all?

[bowieandqueen11]

Funfair / Steve Harrington Fluff

Request: hi lovely!! would you mind doing a soft boyfriend steve harrington hc? or like a fun fair date (pero like we know that fair was the farthest thing from fun lmao)? thank you! 

I haven’t finished season 3 yet, so this is quite generic, but I hope you don’t mind love I added a bit of angst to it! <3

It had been a long, hard day in the ice cream parlour, and as the dazzling and flashing flickers of colourful lights surround you, and you hear the whipping wind of roller coasters roar past above your head as Steve leans gently upon your shoulders in the line to enter the haunted house, you recollect just how strange a day it had been.

Lying on the sleek black counter with your legs upon Steve’s thighs, you close your eyes in bliss as the bright island lights flicker almost unnoticeable above your eyelids, listening to the light bickering of Steve and Dustin as Robin laughs by your head. You jostle a little, giggling, feeling Steve animatedly without even moving your eyes. You can just see the whipping of his hair, the hand that he raises periodically in frustration before he thunks it down back onto your leg. 

However, what you don’t see, are his eyes. Even as he yaps constantly lock onto your cheeks with a burning heat, willing the blush crawling up his neck to disappear as he sees Dustin pause for a moment, a sly, evil grin lining his face as he fiddles with his binoculars, a plan in the working. As his fingers dance over your skin, he can’t help but watch your breath rise and fall, or see the way the rays of light fall and light up the soft locks of your hair, bathing you in a halo of light, which he thought was rather fitting. Dustin was disturbed by the awe-struck look Steve was desperately giving you, his head which was tilted slightly suddenly snapping up as he heard Dustin’s high pitched giggles, turning his head towards Robin who raises her eyebrows.

Dustin smiles evilly, turning to stare at Steve who widens his eyes in slight fear, before he sets his plan into action.

~

As Dustin grabs your hand, dragging you into the haunted house and snapping you out of your daydream, the darkness envelopes you both and hides Steve’s frustrated frown. Robin stifling her laughter as she crawls along behind him, thwacking the fake cobwebs out of her way. As you walk through the set, gently jumping as skeletons pop up to spray water on you, you feel Dustin’s hand tighten around yours, before he wraps one arm around your waist ferociously as a plastic zombie falls out of a coffin, the growling sound effects and distant screams of young children enjoying the night hide Steve’s small growl as you just laugh, not knowing Dustin’s plan to make Steve jealous, and believing instead that Dustin was just frightened.

As you step out from the haunted house, bumping lightly into Robin as she smirks, raising your hand to shield your eyes from the whirling lights illuminating the Ferris wheel standing bold in front of you, Dustin clambers out from behind Steve, a determined look set on his face. Running forward, he bumps against your back, knocking you nearly wheeling through the air and smack into the back of a tall frame that stands in line for the cotton candy. As you thwack into the leather jacket, the material coarse against your fingertips as you struggle to regain your feet, your surprised to see the face connected to the turning torso was none other than a smirking Billy Hargrove.

‘Well, well, if it isn’t y/n, I should have known you would be the one to nearly fall at my feet.’

He smirks as you stand in front of him, words lost in your throat as you blubber slightly, turning to try and point at a very bemused Dustin, who in turn thwacks into Steve, steam pouring out of his ears. Billy only chuckles hoarsely, his fingers fumbling into the back pocket of his jeans until they wrap around what he wants. lifting up a cigarette into his clenched teeth, making sure to bounce it off his full, cherry lips, all the while making eye contact with you with a loose smile.

‘It’s alright, love, you’re not the first to be speechless around me. Would you like to join me on the Ferris Wheel, I was just heading that way to see where my darling little sister Max has run off to. I would love to have some time alone with you’, he steps closer, his breath nearly warm against your cheek as his open shirt flutters against his chest in the breeze, ‘just the two of us and the stars. It is awfully romantic.’ As he winks at you, a cheeky grin spreading across his face, Robin and Dustin silently sneak off together to join the queue for the dodgems, trying to escape the oncoming wrath as they see the back of Steve visibly shake, his hands in tight fists by his sides. 

You’re about to decline Billy’s offer, asking instead if you should all go get some cotton candy, when a hand snatches your own and tugs you softly but determinedly away from Billy’s grasp to the bright lights of the Ferris wheel.

As the seats rise with a squeaky creek, lifting you and Steve into the cool night air, surrounding the two of you only with the burning stars and the distant sounds of delighted children, Steve slowly turns to face you, your expression shocked and concerned as his hand still grasps yours in a death lock, his knuckles white. 

‘I-I owe you an explanation for my actions y/n’ he starts, his voice cracking ever so slightly with each word, and his face contorting in a mixture of emotions, before finally settling on one of unbridled devotion. As you look into his eyes, bright and beautiful in contrast with the darkness behind him, properly looking and understanding the unspoken love that pours out with his gaze, you realise how foolish you’ve been to have missed it before. And as he opens his mouth to speak again, you grab him by the cheeks and pull him onto your lips, the soft and tender embrace conveying every feeling you’d locked up inside you in fear of being rejected. As his hands curl into your hair and you separate to breathe, the airless, gasping laugh he gives against the side of your mouth before pulling you in again makes you understand in your heart that you would have waited forever for this moment.

[kiki-wiccan]

The trip to the beach with Tamryn had been like a dream, even more and she never wanted to wake up. Unfortunately like all good things their trip came to an end. Elidi couldn’t bare the thought of being away from Tamryn, at least not so soon after such a heavenly vacation. She’s elated when Tamryn agrees to come back home with her, wanting to be alone with the witch as much as Elidi wanted to be alone with the Alpha. The ride back to Tabula isn’t long, filled with laughter and declarations of love so long as the Alpha wasn’t annoyed with her antics.

Elidi eyed the luggage, glad this was the final time she had to haul them items anywhere. “As fun as that was I’m sort of happy to be home, mostly sad seeing I don’t get you all to myself anymore.” The ice chest is dropped by her feet as she fumbles for her keys, hues lifting up to the door knob, her brow quickly furrowing as she notices the door is not shut entirely. Certain she had locked the door, the items that resided on her shoulders and in her hands fell noisily to the pavement. Elidi turned to face Tamryn, looking about her yard, assured there was no immediate danger outside. Pushing the door open, she crosses the threshold, hues scanning the walls for any other presence aside from the couples. Finding nothing she’s all too relieved as Binx pads over, brushing against her ankles. The witch exhales a sigh as she crouches to pet the tubby cat, her head tipping as she looks up to Tamryn. “Stay.. right here just in case.” Attempting to be as quiet as possible, she turns the knob as she shuts the door, finally turning to observe the rooms.

While still searching for other auras, the first thing she notices is the books scattered about the floor, none of the books looked damaged bit they were clearly looking for something. The witch approached one of the novels, holding it in her grasp as she continued to survey the area. Elidi inhaled deeply from her nose, wrathful vehemence itching along her spine, creeping up her neck, intertwining to heat her visage. Digits are quick to move to her nape, digging into the skin there as she wills herself to calm. Aside from the bookshelf being ransacked, a few of her plants had been toppled over, ceramic from the pots in pieces on the wood floors. Her gaze stoic as she examines the greenery in front of her feet. Hues lift to stare down the hallway to her bedroom, the door open to her quarters.

Dropping the novel her pace is quick as she enters her room, suddenly alarmed. She kept the stronger spells in her room, where she finds a similar scene, more broken pots, tossed books. Briefly she’s confused, all the wards she’s set in place are still active, aside from an alter, though it held no purpose other than aesthetics. Even if this person were a skilled magika, one of them were bound to activate. Her mind travels back to the door, she hadn’t located any signs of forced entry, no broken windows, the door hadn’t been forced open even. Static emits off her shoulders as she stared blankly at the shelves, her hands now balled into fists at her sides.

Elidi turns walking from her chambers, glowering as her mind tosses theories here and there. The only other person who had a key was Kiki, she had yet to make Tamryns. Lightning illuminated frequently in the air around her, the further her thoughts trailed into that of betrayal, she had trusted her. The witch stays, looming in the darkened hallway, all but her illuminated energy and eyes that sought Tamryn’s in the dim lighting. “Kiki.”

As if on queue her phone chimes, Elidi set on ignoring it, but the insistent pings cause her to huff as she fetches the device, reading the short messages. Light emits from her palm, not wanting to short fuse her phone she growls as she sets the device on the kitchen island, unlocked for Tamryn to read Kiki’s apologetic messages. “Got damn it.” She paces the floor as her mind wanders, unaware of the storm brewing outside, finding it difficult to soothe her trepidation. “How – can she want me to listen to her right now….I-I mean sure she isn’t the malicious type but even this seems a little… unnecessary. It’s out of character, something happened,” A loud crack of thunder causes her to jump, the witch moving to take a seat on one of the stools in the kitchen, “need to calm down first…there are explanations for everything.”

While the trip seemed to only solidify the bond the two women had, Tamryn was more than happy to be back within the familiar sights and sounds of Tabula Rasa. As Elidi carried their luggage Tamryn huffed playfully and walked behind her somewhat to almost admire the fact she always did the heavy lifting though Tamryn offered many times that she would help. Upon hearing her love’s words of no longer having her to herself the she wolf growled almost in protest,

 “Love, you get me all to yourself no matter where we are. Whenever you want me you simply have to text me and I will be on my way within moments.”

Distracted entirely by her lover, still thinking about all they had experienced together while on their little get away. The alpha was entirely devoted to the woman who stood there fumbling for her keys. Lost in the new found love Tamryn had not been alerted to the fact the door was left open, only when Elidi seemed to become alert did Tamryn break from her swooned mentality.

Locking eyes with Elidi she knew right away that something was off and she turned to look the opposite direction Elidi did as she drew out her claws as she looked ready to defend and protect, whichever came first. The moment her love opened the door ad stepped inside Tamryn was right there by her side almost like a guard dog, she was attentive to everything, her eyes scanned as well as she stood somewhat offset from her lover. Her gaze dropped the moment the cat moved within their line of sight, she growled but caught it in her throat once she noticed it was the cat and not some small threat. Upon seeing Elidi bend to pet the cat she stayed alert and defensive though when her love told her to stay she tilted her head giving her a challenging look,

 “I will forget the fact you just told me to stay, because I know what you mean by it, however there is no way in hell I am letting you go in there alone. Together, remember.”

Her words were not stated as a question more so as a matter of fact and she left no room for negotiation or argument. Allowing Elidi to take the lead she simply stayed close enough to defend her if she were ambushed turning a corner. The alpha maintained guard over her lover as she looked over the books, her eyes focused in the opposite directions that Elidi looked at all times, alert with her hearing and sense of smell, she inhaled deep before look around once more with a low growl,

 “I don’t hear any heartbeats nor can I smell anyone that wouldn’t have access to the house..the most recent scent is Kiki’s which is a given..”

The moment Elidi’s wrath seemed to surface Tamryn felt it and rather than draw attention to it she seemed to keep her silent focus on her lover, observing her response to the situation with a bit more interest now. She had been experiencing a lot of Elidi’s emotional range as of late yet what she was feeling now was almost intriguing to the she wolf for she had never felt Elidi having emotions like the ones she was displaying in that moment.

Seeing her love rush towards the bedroom Tamryn stayed in the main room and crossed her arms, smelling that no one was there she watched as Elidi seemed to come across another scene within her own room. The red head stepped closer to the hallway before she stopped slowly seeing Elidi exit the room and met her gaze she felt the betrayal Elidi had surfacing as well as the wrath. Tamryn’s eyes involuntarily shifted yellow in response to the feeling as she growled low hearing the cause of everything.

 “Why does that not surprise me, can I just eat her and save us-”

The tone of Elidi’s phone caused her to stop short as she arched a brow seeing her eventually cave and read the messages being sent to her back to back. The she wolf stood a little closer now but waited fr Elidi to respond, her eyes more so focused on her lover and reading the rise in her anger. She took notice to the electricity surfacing from Elidi’s palm,

 “Darling, don’t melt your phone.”

 “She is clearly using you for your magic Eli, I knew the moment I caught her selling it on the streets, you really think it is beyond a human to do this kind of thing. Something will happen, to her, Nobody does this kind of thing to you and assumes they can just-”

 The crack of thunder caused her to duck before looking towards the back door and seeing the storm surfacing outside. For a good moment she actually stood there and contemplated whether or not to fuel this storm rising within her lover just to see what would come of it. Though when she looked at Elidi jump at the sound of her own thunder Tamryn suddenly got a change of perception. As her lover sat on the bar stool Tamryn pulled it closer to her and hugged her arms around the witch in efforts to help calm her storm.

Tamryn rested her head upon Elidi’s and ran her fingers through her hair comfortingly before refocusing her own aggression towards the matter, trying to be calm enough for it to cancel out Elidi’s building wrath. Hugging her with as much comfort as she could,

Tamryn rested her head upon Elidi’s and ran her fingers through her hair comfortingly before refocusing her own aggression towards the matter, trying to be calm enough for it to cancel out Elidi’s building wrath. Hugging her with as much comfort as she could,  “Exactly, perhaps something did happen... and she has reason. Though do not feel like you have to respond to her now or even today Love. I do agree you need to calm down, although I am kind of liking the feelings I am getting from you. Rage looks pretty attractive on you... but as much as I like it I want to help you, so just breathe and focus on me until you can calm down enough to figure out if you even want to hear her out or not.”

It had been a few days since the fire happened and Kiki had stayed cooped up in her apartment, mainly her room. She kept her distance from Kasumi because she wasn’t ready to explain everything to him yet. Stan would regularly check up on her and was keeping tabs to make sure the wiccan was safe. She’d barely eaten or drank within those few days for she didn’t have the energy or will to do so. Texting her work, the benefits of being friends with the boss played in as she got some time off. Most of her day was spent curled up on her bed sobbing on and off. Attempting to sleep though she was haunted with nightmares and vivid flashbacks. Elidi hadn’t texted her in all that time and she wondered if the witch was ignoring her. The guilt over wrecking her dear friend and mentors home had been eating away at her. Finally gathering the energy and courage she texted Elidi in hopes she’d hear her out.

Setting her phone down she thought of how Elidi must have felt walking into her home being a complete mess. The more she thought the worse she felt. Finally without even waiting for a response she grabbed her car keys and headed to the witches house. Surprisingly not getting into an accident on her way there as her focus most definitely wasn’t on the road or her surroundings. It wasn’t until she pulled up and saw the darker tone of the sky that she realized something was going on. Getting out of her punch buggy she walks to the door which was already cracked open. “Elidi?” Slipping into the house she called out for her teacher. Furrowing her brows as she hears the sound of two voices coming from the kitchen. She slowly makes her way over and looks surprised to see both Tamryn and Elidi. However her attention focused solely on the witch as she stood there. Both of them didn’t look happy and Kiki knew why. “Elidi....I’ll clean up the mess and I can pay for anything I damaged but please hear me out....” her voice was hoarse from all the crying she’d done. Eyes puffy , bags under her eyes, her hair was a tangled mess, and she was still in her pajamas.

[ghostxofxartemis]

WIP

Joining the fanfic snipet’s I've seen posted. @theoriginalladya 

So, I’m writing some fluff right now for my Alexandra Shepard series. I have to admit, writing a father-daughter relationship is quite difficult when you never had one growing up yourself. My father was present - but that’s all he was A presence, most of the time he was to drunk and would sleep his day away or yell at my brother or I. But, I have to admit, John’s already winning father of the year in my perspective. Below is fluff that came to mind while at work, and I’ve been working on it since then. Just a quick 2 chapter background story. 

“John's busy commanding the ship and ground missions and on top of that, helping out with both kids during off duty - which have been basically during sleeping hours lately. So he’s...we are too tired to do anything intimate. The Alliance and the council have him running off everywhere for them. He's doing his best to be a father at the same time. He's doing amazing considering everything... But, some nights I send him to go sleep in the Starboard Observation Room - Alex's room- just to make sure he gets rest before doing ground runs. He can't be running off into missions half dead already.. Of course, he’s always hesitant to do so because that leaves me having to deal with Kaidan alone and getting no sleep. He feels guilty," Ashley paused, rubbed her forehead with her fingers and sighed pulling her hand away again, "I can't lose him again. My God Sarah, we have children together now!"

Almost on queue to emphasize her point, another squeal coming from Alex in the living room could be heard in the kitchen, followed by her pleading, "again, daddy! Again!" 

"You ready?" John's baritone voice could be heard.

"Ready!" Alex giggled.

Jumping to her feet, Sarah rounded the island to pick up the baby carrier, "tell you what. I'll watch the kids this afternoon so you and John can have some alone time. Do what you have to do while you're two are still on shore leave. I'll drop them off later, say about 3 pm?" She looked at the time on the coffee brewer, it was currently 10:30 am. Plenty of time for them to spend time alone. "And then, I'll get ready at my place and come back around 6 pm, we'll have a double date. Just here. I'll order something and have it delivered here so you don’t have to worry about getting dinner read.”

Ashley contemplated the idea for a moment, she couldn't deny it sounded really good right now. "Alright. You have a deal," she agreed as she moved to open the freezer door. She grabbed a couple of bottles filled with breast milk and placed them on the counter. She then gestured to her sister to follower into the living room. 

John was on the floor lying on his back, lifting Alex in the air, her feet reaching towards the ceiling, face close up to his. A giggling Alex had her hands close to her face, John was playfully nibbling at her fingers and tickling her with his stubble's. “It tickles!” She giggled. Moving her head slightly to her left, she saw her Ashley and aunt Sarah standing watching them. Her giggles turned into a happy squeal, “Auntie! Daddy put me down please!” John gently placed her back down on her feet and she ran up to Sarah, wrapping her arms around her leg, giving her a tight hug. John clumsily stood up, stuffed his hands in the pockets of his N7 hoodie and approached the women. He ghosted a kiss on Ashley’s lips and she placed a hand gently up against his stomach. “Sarah offered to watch the kids this afternoon,” she explained.

“Sure,” he said while taking one of his hands out of his pocket and snaking it around Ashley’s waist bringing her in closer to him. 

“She also suggested having dinner together tonight, introduce us to her new beau”

“Oh yeah?” he raised an eyebrow and shifted his gaze to Sarah. Sarah smiled and shrugged her shoulders. 

“What do you say, hero-man?” 

“Yeah, it’s alright with me”

“I get to play with auntie Sarah?” Alex looked up at her mother, her blue eyes twinkled with excitement.

Ashley ran her fingers through Alex’s hair, “yes, baby. You get to spend the day with Aunt Sarah”

“Go put your shoes on, honey” John added to confirm. Turning to his wife, he gently gave a few affectionate taps to her waist, “I’ll go get the diaper bag in the room for Sarah,” and turned to make his way to the bedroom located on the main floor. 

“Yay!” Alex squealed, raising her arms in joy and darted to the main entrance. 

Ashley and Sarah followed Alex to the main entrance. Alex was sitting on the floor, putting her shoes on. “Make sure they get their nap around 13:00,” Ashley instructed her sister while crossing her arms across her chest.  

Sarah tapped her sister on her shoulder and rolled her eyes, ‘Don’t worry, I got this handled. It’s not the first time I’ve babysat you know. And look who you are talking too.” 

John arrived in the entry, bag in one hand and stored the feeding bottles Ashley had left on the counter in one of the storage pockets of the bag with his free hand. He held out the strap for Sarah and she looped her free arm and her head inside, and he adjusted on her shoulder. 

Alex jumped to her, “Okay! I’m ready!” she said as she looked up to her aunt Sarah. 

“You’re not going to get very far with your shoes on the wrong feet, little duckling” John chuckled, he booped the tip of her nose, as he looked down to make sure his daughter had her shoes on right. It still took a few times before she got them on right. 

Alex marched in place, something she always did when they pointed out her shoes weren’t on right. “Oh, oops!” Sitting back down, she started taking her shoes off.

Normally her parents would let her try putting them back on again herself, she had to learn somehow. But since Sarah was waiting after, John bent down and pulled Alex’s left shoe off from her right foot, grabbed her left foot and put her shoe on for her. He let her put on the right shoe on herself. 

Standing, he offered his hands to his. She took his hands in his and was pulled up onto her feet. Letting go of his, she slipped on hand in aunt Sarah’s and nodded. “Now I’m ready”

“Now Alex, you remember what we told you to do when you go out?” John asked her.

Does-Blue eyes looked up at him and she nodded “don’t let go of the hand or you’ll get lost in the bustle.”

“Atta-girl. So you better listen to your aunt Sarah. Don’t let go of her hand until she says otherwise, and you stay close. Got it?” He raised his eyebrows and gave her a ‘that’s an order’ look, which she has grown all too familiar at recognizing.

[thebibliomancer]

Essential Avengers: Avengers #208: Eve of Destruction!

June, 1981

“From eons past comes the world’s most savage warrior... THE BERSERKER LIVES AGAIN!”

So this is the Berserker!

Hm. He looks somewhat less impressive as some Roman looking dude as opposed to a shambling vaguely human shape of rock and undying fury.

But I’ll give him a chance to impress in the actual book.

So last time: Wonder Man was working on a cowboy movie, badly, when he got the Avengers call that it was Avengers time. A new island had appeared in the middle of the Mediterranean and the only inhabitant, the Shadow Lord, made the US navy look like fool chumps. The Shadow Lord captured Wonder Man’s publicist Rachel Palmer and explained his whole backstory to her.

That his people the Earth Lords moved to an island, mastered the four elements, and became very concerned with an immortal Berserker so hit him in the face with a volcano. But since it was a dick move to wipe out several towns to get one guy, the Earth Lords disbanded except for Shadow Lord who had to stand watch for two thousand years in case the Berserker came back. And then the Berserker came back.

Instead of fighting the Berserker, Shadow Lord ends up fighting the Avengers a lot and then they beat up his city and then he dies. He wasted his entire life but he feels pretty okay with leaving his responsibilities to them.

This time: world’s oldest man causes problems on purpose.

He’s spry though.

And apparently between issues he chipped off all the rock, found a shield and spear, and also murdered an entire regiment. He’s been very productive between issues.

But he’s got more murder to do because he’s got to show off his sick skills before the Avengers show up so that its more impressive when they survive his sick skills, unlike all these poor dead Italian army people.

So he’s being attack by tanks and planes. And that just makes him scoff at the cowards attacking him with projectiles. Scoff in English.

I don’t know how he knows modern English. The Shadow Lord explicitly learned English out of Rachel Palmer’s brain to explain how he could speak it and then next issue, a guy that’s been buried under rock for two thousand years just pops out speaking English.

If both of them had spoken English with no explanation, I wouldn’t have even noticed. Comics be like that. Aliens speak English.

Anyway, his shield has an aura that turns metal to dust before it even strikes it. So he blocks a cannon shell without much fuss. And the plane on a strafing run gets his spear, which flies up and slices it in two. And then he pulls out what he calls a Cerellian power-sword and swings it, releasing a searing beam of energy which rips open the ground a hundred yards away to bury some tanks.

So he was buried in lava while carrying some sweet gear, apparently.

And it is very sweet gear. But the man himself was described as dangerous and dammit I don’t see it yet.

We pivot sharply over to the Avengers on Shadow Lord Island where the Shadow Lord again tells the Avengers to carry on his mission and gives Rachel his necklace before dying again.

And then, because Rachel got the exposition last time but no main characters did, she recaps his deal. Including the part that the Avengers already know, like how they beat him.

This is some clunky exposition but I’m the one who always complains when comics don’t establish enough context for me when I’m picking up random issues in the middle of a story.

Captain America asks Rachel, since she’s the new expositor, who the Berserker is but she decides that can wait. Its much more important to hold a funeral for the Shadow Lord.

And perhaps its the mistimed insistence on due to the dead when they can bury an ancient Avatar after stopping an ostensible threat to the world that explains why the Avengers give the funeral their full passive-aggressive 110%.

So on an island that’s soon to collapse into the sea, Wonder Man finds a rock to use as a headstone, Iron Man digs a grave with his repulsors, Vision carves several slabs of rock, Jocasta fuses them into a coffin, Beast carries the coffin over to the dead Shadow Lord, Captain America puts him in the box, Wasp carves an inscription on the headstone, and Scarlet Witch uses her power to change the probability that the grave won’t fill itself in. Which I find the most passive-aggressive move of all, for some reason.

And then the Avengers all gather around and bid farewell to a man that they accidentally killed.

Only after they’ve done all this does Rachel decide to tell them-

Nope.

After all of that, she says “I could tell you but it will be much clearer if you see it for yourselves... in the pool of memories.”

Ffs, Rachel.

So she takes them to the pool of memories, which was apparently something Shadow Lord showed her how to use off-panel.

Geez, the best stuff keeps happening off-panel.

And luckily, when the Avengers leveled the city, they didn’t quite manage to break the pool of memories. Which isn’t a pool. Its a fancy bowl of water.

There’s no reason why it couldn’t have been a pool, artist Gene Colan.

Or: once it was drawn as a bowl why didn’t you change it to something accurate but still with a cool sounding name? Vessel of Memories. Or Font of Memories. Bam, its a bowl with water in it, intrigue!

Anyway, Rachel dips a finger into the memory water which is definitely not pensieve because it predates it by nearly twenty years. This causes a flashback to queue up in the water and for it to start monologuing directly into the Avengers’ heads.

“What follows was culled from the memories of the Berserker himself. Listen carefully. The fate of the world may depend on it.”

So. Wait.

I know its called the Pool of Memories and I know that the Earth Lords were magic enough to remotely erupt a mountain. But does the Pool of Memories contain all memories in the world? Because that’s fairly impressive and just a bit creepy! Or does it just contain the Berserker’s memories since the Earth Lords were stalking him a little bit? How did they get the memories? Its going to turn out that the memories in the Pool of Memories way predate the Earth Lords so how the heck does this all work??

Come back to life, Shadow Lord, and explain your Font of Exposition!

Anyway.

SO! The Berserker goes back to prehistoric cave man times.

He was the sole survivor of a war party against another tribe and he had to run from them and was cornered near the “Cave of Glowing Walls.” Which is a cave. Which had glowing walls.

None who entered had ever returned but between the being beaten to death by clubs that you know and the death you don’t, Pre-Berserker picked the unknown.

“His pursuers laughed at his folly as he went into the cave. Inside, he saw the walls themselves emitting a horrible, unearthly light -- and the reamins of all those who had preceded him.”

“Within moments he too was felled by the lethal glow. He felt the life draining from him. But he did not die there. He was different from the others. Slowly, tortuously, he crawled to safety.”

“His nearly lifeless body tumbled down the rocky slope outside the cave... only to arise hours later, now surging with incredible power -- power bestowed upon him inside the cave of glowing walls!"

Okay. So. At this point I have to ask.

Is this just Vandal Savage? Is this one of those serial number filed off things so the Avengers can fight Vandal Savage?

Anyway, Pre-Berserker brushed himself up, marched right back to that enemy tribe, and killed the entire thing. For the cave also filled him with an unquenchable fury.

An unquenchable, undying fury.

Because he stopped aging.

And because he was always being extremely pissed and killing, people started calling him the Berserker.

And one day, much, much later, he was doing his favorite activity of killing in the city of Sumer when he caught the eye of a nobleman who thought to offer him money for him to kill specific people.

This turned the Berserker’s life around. It had never occurred to him that killing people was a career.

From that point on, he had direction to his life. He wandered the world as a mercenary and apparently was there and shaped history.

He helped set up the dynasties of the pharaohs. Helped with Alexander the Great’s conquests. But it gets even more bonkers.

His reputation became so great that actual factual aliens from another world showed up to hire him.

“At first he cringed in superstitious fear before these alien creatures... But once in battle he discovered that he enjoyed killing foes there as much as back on Earth... a feeling that would be oft-repeated as his exploits took him to scores of other worlds. The destinies of empires -- of entire planetary systems were decided by who hired him first.”

Been there, shaped history. IN SPAAAAAAAAACE.

And his space jobs paid him in sweet gear. And now we know where he got his sweet gear.

What I don’t understand is why he went back to Earth at all?

Yes, he probably could have conquered the Earth with all his sweet space gear. Maybe probably. Marvel’s kitchen sink goes back a long way. Turns out there was a Ghost Rider who ghost rode a flaming mammoth.

But either way, the guy didn’t have the ambition to do that. He was perfectly happy as long as someone paid him to murder people. Preferably in sweet gear that helped him more efficiently murder people.

He comes back to Earth and joins the Roman legions but why? He got to travel planet to planet to different battlefields and shape empires that spanned star systems. Shouldn’t Earth feel kind of small after that?

But he has to be on Earth and joining the Roman legions otherwise how could the Earth Lords get wind of him and scheme to hit him in the face with a volcano.

That was established last time so now we need him to reach that point. Even though the newly established intermediate points make that endpoint suddenly weird.

But it be like that sometimes.

The Font of Exposition runs out of backstory just as the city runs out of ‘still existing.’

So the Avengers and Rachel rush into the Quinjet and fly away just as the city falls apart into the sea.

Gosh, I’m sure glad we spent time doing an elaborate funeral for Shadow Lord when his grave is now spilling into the ocean.

Rachel gets frustrated that all the evidence for this scoop that she rushed into danger for just sank and that she’s going to be a publicist for bad movies forever.

Simon “Wonder” Williams counters with ‘hey at least you’ll still have a job’ considering he bailed on filming to go do superhero stuff.

And indeed we see Merriwether T. Fenniwell, telegram man, delivering a telegram to Avengers Mansion.

“Mr. Williams.

Due to unexplained absence from set of Guns of the Gunman you have been replaced. Find yourself another job and another agent.

Sid Sterling

Star-Maker”

Your mistake there was not telling anyone you were going and why, Simon. You possibly would have been fired anyway. But you only have yourself to blame for not even making an attempt. Geez.

Anyway, don’t feel too bad for Simon. Back on the Quinjet he’s apologizing for being rude to Rachel on the set, saying he was just frustrated with his own lousy acting.

And Rachel slips her hotel key into his pocket and tells him to make it up to her by coming by for dinner.

The original plan was to drop Rachel off at the film set before going to look for the Berserker but whoops, they find him first.

“The Avengers gaze in awe at the scene of carnage and devastation below them -- a scene reminiscent of war or natural disaster. But this bloody tableau was crafted by no clash of armies nor by earthquake or flood. It was created by... the Beserker!”

When they find him he seems to be digging a hole in the ground with his super space spear.

Logically, Beast and Iron Man knock him into the hole.

That’s the smart move, right?

No.

The Berserker had been digging up a space chariot pulled by space robot horses. And I like to think that the Avengers knocked him right into it.

I do wonder about how the chariot ended up buried and how the Berserker found it so quick. I’m not worried about how it still functions perfectly after two thousand years. It be like that in comics.

Anyway, the space chariot has more to recommend it than just not having to feed or maintain it for two thousand years. Its also got a demon mouth carved in the back that leaves a trail of fire as the chariot flies. Yeah, also its a flying chariot.

And its not mundane hot fire. Its force field space cold fire. Uh, so basically think the tron light cycle walls.

Because the Berserker flies circles around the Avengers to enclose them in a cage of non-burning fire.

The fire does still consume oxygen and apparently the fire cage is air tight so its going to burn up all the oxygen inside and asphyxiate the Avengers.

Well, Vision and Jocasta will be fine. Oh, and Iron Man. He has his own built-in respiration system. But the rest will die and that’s a bummer.

THANKFULLY IRON MAN IS WONDERFULLY AND BIZARRELY PREPARED FOR THIS EXACT SCENARIO.

If this specific ability ever comes up again, I’m going to lose my shit because its so specifically tailored to this plot. I love Iron Man’s ridiculous swiss-army armor sometimes.

So you know his shoulders? Those things on top of his arms? Kind of a raised area on his armor?

Those are apparently epaulets and they’re ‘break shoulder in case of asphyxiation emergency.’ He rips them right off to pull out two emergency oxygen cylinders.

The idea is that the breathing Avengers will pass the two cylinders around judiciously and hopefully they’ll last long enough between everyone that the fire cage will burn itself out.

Which does happen. Good job, Iron Man.

Meanwhile, Berserker has scooped up Rachel because “this woman is but a reward that is a great warrior’s due.” Yeah, he’s that kind of immortal guy from prehistoric times. And also he’s been under rock for two thousand years.

Rachel protests being damseled, which honestly two times in as many issues isn’t great, but Berserker is like ‘hush i’m working’ and then he blows up St. Giovanna’s Cathedral, just because he can. And then he blows up a town, off-panel, to reveal a secret city that Caesar built to honor him.

Geez. How much stuff does he have buried around here?

The Berserker lands his space chariot and decides that two thousand year is a long enough vacation so he needs to get back to his work because if you love what you do, truly you’ll never work a day in your immortality.

Berserker: “The instruments of war may change over the centuries, but the nature of man never does! I shall easily sell my services -- as always -- the the highest bidders. Then will the land be once again awash with the blood of millions that will fall under my sword... and once again the planet -- nay the entire universe -- will know and fear the greatest warrior that ever lived!”

Like I said, he loves what he does. And is probably the best at what he does and it ain’t pretty?

He also tells Rachel to go inside this building that's been buried underground for two thousand years and put on some proper raiment.

I gave the space chariot a pass. It’s from space. But Rachel finds and puts on a dress that should have decayed a very long time ago. Is it a space dress? Its probably a space dress.

But the space dress decolletage prompts the Berserker to notice and recognize the necklace Shadow Lord gave Rachel.

When Rachel tells him how she came about them, Berserker is like ‘lol eat shit the Earth Lords, mine now’ and steals the necklace from Rachel to wear for himself.

And then the Avengers show up for some more action sequences.

Or, lets be honest, more chances for the Berserker to show off his sweet space gear.

He blows up the ground beneath the Avengers’ feet with his power sword, sending several tumbling into the Earth.

When Iron Man rays him with a repulsor, the Berserker smirkingly no-sells it, informing Iron Man that his fancy armor is actually fancy space armor.

Berserker: “Ha! The tyrants of Aturak IV built this armor to withstand a proton cannon. ... Surely it can handle the bite of a mosquito!”

Geez, not just repulsors, he’s also proofed against Iron Man’s mightiest weapon?

And then he follows it up by throwing a dagger at Vision. Vision scoffs that he’ll just go intangible and let the blade pass through. But, of course, its a space dagger, from the Arkossian system.

It sticks in intangible Vision and starts draining his energy.

For not knowing anything about the Avengers, he’s doing a good job at making them all look like chumps, with sweet space gear that seems selected to thwart them.

And that’s part of writing a credible threat, I suppose. Having said threat able to pose a decent challenge. But playground style ‘I do this’ ‘Nuh uh, my guy is immune’ doesn’t always make enthralling fight scene.

Anyway, speaking of selectively thwarted, Iron Man finds himself magnetized to Berserker’s shield. And whatever metal approaches Berserker’s shield must yield.

It has that metal disintegrating aura and apparently magnets.

Iron Man manages to pull away somehow, but the shield short-circuits one of his power pods (those roundy things on his hips) which knocks the armored Avenger unconscious.

And then! To add insult to injury! Berserker’s shield magnetically steals from his pocket the hotel key Rachel gave Wonder Man and disintegrates it. Guess Wonder Man isn’t getting lucky tonight.

But he is having an idea. One of those epiphany ideas where an unrelated but thematically similar or adjacent happenstance or utterance makes you figure out the whole thing.

A key happening reminds him of how the Shadow Lord could unlock a Shadow World and would not that imply a key?

So while Wasp does Berserker the first injury this whole fight by zapping him in the face (and then getting swatted, alas) Wonder Man grabs for the necklace Berserker took from Rachel.

Wonder Man tries to figure out how the pyramidal amulets on the necklace fit together but gets sword smacked by Berserker who doesn’t appreciate someone tugging on his new bling.

But the Avengers pull off some good teamwork combo attack.

Wanda uses her powers to make the probability that some columns will fall over be 100%. Captain America throws his mighty shield and the Berserker yields right into the path of the falling column. And Jocasta melts the falling column to try to cover him in molten rock, which is the one thing they know works.

But I suppose that a mere falling melting column doesn’t compare to an entire volcano or maybe he spent those 2,000 years thinking of exactly what to do in this situation. Because Berserker swings his sword above his head, diverting the molten rock away from him.

And then Berserker drags Jocasta into his metal disintegrating shield for trying to give him a hot shower.

He’s apparently familiar with or at least not too surprised at the concept of robots. He’s been to space, after all.

He also decides that rather than hold her against the shield until she completely disintegrates, that he’ll dunk her in the molten rock she had tried to use on him.

Beast finally climbs out of the hole that I assume he’s been in this whole time and tries to tackle Berserker but the guy just slams Beast into Scarlet Witch.

And now its just Captain America vs Berserker. Which of course means that Captain America is going to make a Thing of it.

Captain America: ��Alright mister -- it’s just you and me now. And so long as one Avenger stands -- we’re not defeated.”

He kicks the energy space power sword out of Berserker’s grasp to Berserker’s surprise but Cap notes to himself that doing so sent a shock from the sword through his boot. Guess his soles aren’t rubber.

And since Cap got to say a cool thing, so does Berserker. Although substitute ‘cool’ for ‘kinda hurtful.’

Berserker: “Bah! A weapon is only need to battle a true warrior -- you are certainly less than that!”

And then Berserker slams his shield into Cap’s head, knocking him out. How ironic. He who lived by the shield was knocked out by the shield. Really makes you think.

Now all the Avengers lie sprawled unconscious at Berserker’s feet. And now that they’re unconscious, he can actually walk back some of the smack talk.

Berserker: “In truth, they were fine warriors but even they were nothing next to my power!”

I had been wondering. I wouldn’t think that he’d have fought many people like the Avengers in the past times. Maybe IN SPACE. You got the Kree and the Shi’ar up there.

Anyway, when I said that all the Avengers lie sprawled unconscious, I spoke in error.

Wasp was only stunned and now she’s been overlooked what with all the full-sized people lying about.

Her strategy now that she’s alone on the battlefield with the guy is... she flies up to him and zaps him in the face.

You did that last time, Wasp! And like last time, he just whaps you out of the air! With his hand this time, not a space energy power sword. But then he decides to step on you, deciding that she’ll be the first of the Avengers to die.

Yeah, he doesn’t seem much for the ‘they were honorable foes, I’ll let them go so I can fight them again.’

However, now Wonder Man is up and he rushes Berserker to grab at the necklace again.

Berserker unveils one more sweet space gear. He grabs Wonder Man’s wrists and uses his gauntlets to sap his strength. So even though Wonder Man has super strength (that whole thing about how he punches as hard as Thor’s hammer hits), he’s getting weaker and Berserker is getting stronger.

But in a very comic booky way, he summons up all his remaining strength for one last effort.

Wonder Man breaks Berserker’s grip and grabs the necklace. This time he manages to make the pyramid go into the other pyramid, pulling the wearer -- Berserker -- into the Shadow World.

Wasp recovers one more time and since she half knows whats going on, decides to make it so that the trip is one way.

She blasts the necklace, shattering the pyramids so that it can’t be used again.

Berserker: “I’m disappearing... this cannot be... the Berserker cannot be beaten...”

And then he’s gone. Never to darken Earth’s doorstep again. Trapped forever alone in an empty the shadow realm.

Yeah, this was his only appearance. Kind of a shame. I don’t think he’s a unique villain but he was fun. Being a long-ago sealed evil that doesn’t even really want to take over the world, just get paid, gets bonus points from me. Its less generic, anyway. Plus, he had an absurd arsenal and his limited ambition means he’d have been great muscle for another villain.

Not sure I buy him as a threat to the whole world but he’ll do a lot of damage on the way.

Both him and the Shadow Lord were almost too interesting to be one and dones.

Anyway. I can’t get over what Wasp says when Wonder Man congratulates her for figuring out his plan to trap the Berserker.

Wasp: “I’m glad I helped... but I’ll never forgive myself for destroying such a beautiful piece of jewelry.”

Sure, Jan.

Anyway, when the rest of the Avengers wake up, Wonder Man explains it all. How he figured out that the necklace was a key from what the Shadow Lord said when he gave it to Rachel and that the Shadow Lord entered the dimension at sunrise so logically the gate could only be reopened at sunset (???? how did he figure this out? And also what? And why?).

Since he apparently had to run out the clock, he used his unholy ... ACTING TALENT to take a dive when Berserker clocked him and then pretended to be knocked out while the rest of the team got the shit beaten out of them and almost died. “Luckily for us all, it worked.”

Wonder Man: “Too bad Mr. Bertolini wasn’t here to see it. It was the best acting I ever did!”

Rachel: “You sure had me fooled, Simon. Maybe there’s hope for you yet.”

Oh. So. I guess the scene at the movie set was to set up this... character arc? For Wonder Man. That he’d learn to do an acting and use it to resolve the conflict.

The dramatic irony though is that his ass is fired off that movie for leaving to go on this journey of self-discovery slash fighting some ancient dudes.

Oof.

Follow @essential-avengers​ if you think acting is just as important as lasers in being a superhero. Or for other reasons. I’m not picky. Like, reblog, comment. These are also actions. That are important to being a superhero. Maybe.

[datenightfright]

How about king kong with a megalodon shark reader who gets washed up after a tsunami? You don't have too, kist an idea

I gotta tell ya, this has GOT to be one of the most creative asks I have EVER had the pleasure of answering, I hope I’m able to do it justice. 

“Kong may be king around these parts, but we don’t mess with the queen,” Marlow says, lowers Slivko’s gun. “There’s something in the water!” He rationalizes. “Oh sure, that’s Meg,” Marlow explains. “Meg?” Conrad asks, sure he doesn’t want to know. “Yeah, she washed up on the island after a tsunami hit oh...ten years ago? She and Kong have a little thing for each other.”

As if on queue, you rise from the water, rocking the boat with waves as you do so. You look at the humans for a few moments before decided they aren’t a threat. “Meg, short of Megaladon I presume,” Conrad says. This island keeps surprising him. “Yup, she’s nice, like Kong she looks after every one on the island. Mostly the marine animals though, since she can’t be out of the water for long. But she and King try and meet at the same place every day.” Marlow points. 

The group watches you as you walk up to the beach, awkward on land. Kong is already sitting down, waiting for you. You collapse into him. He’s long since accepted that when he’s with you, he going to get wet. Wrapping you up in his arms, through a series of grunts, he begins to tell you about his day. The the bombs, the skull crawlers, these new flying bugs. He warns you to be careful. You listen to his council, telling him about your adventures under water. 

You’d noticed the bombs and worried for him, you wanted to come and help, but you had your own people beneath the surface to look after. Your humans needed you as much as his humans needed him. He understood that you could never simply come to his rescue. But he had you now, and he was going to take what precious time with you he could get. 

Sniffles in the background break the awe of the crew. All look to Marlow. “It’s beautiful,” He sobs, “You sometimes forget she eats people who piss her off.” Slivko gulps, just when this island couldn’t get any freakier. “Don’t mess with the queen,” he mutters, putting his gun down. “Don’t mess with the queen.” 

[toddysdiaries]

Perfect to Me - Jeff Wittek x Plus Size!Reader

((GIF IS NOT MINE))

Pairing: Jeff Wittek x Plus Size!Reader

Requested?: yes, by anon:

‘Can you do a Jeff x thicc!reader?’

Summary: Everyone is slightly surprised that Jeff is dating you and their reactions start to grate on you, leaving you feeling like you’re not good enough for Jeff.

Words: 1,607

Warnings: vlog squad being rude about the reader, angst, couple of swear words

A/N: Requests are open! NO DAVID REQUESTS, I HAVE TOO MANY (THEY WILL JUST BE DELETED). Also, of course I don’t think they would actually be like this. My masterlist, queue and taglist are all in my bio. 

You and Jeff had met at a bar, you were a bartender, and when you had asked him what you could get him, he’d asked for your phone number. You were a bit unsure whether or not he was being serious because he looked like a Greek god and you were just, well you, but he had been persistent and you’d eventually given him your number.

You had never heard of the vlog squad before meeting Jeff, so you had no idea what a big deal your boyfriend was and how many fans he had. After watching Jeff and his friends' video’s, you realised that your relationship may be a problem to Jeff’s fans who lusted over him, not just because you were dating Jeff but because you weren’t exactly a model.

What you hadn’t expected was that Jeff’s friends were surprised that Jeff was dating you. You figured that they’d be more accepting of your relationship.

“This is my girlfriend, Y/N.” Jeff introduced you with a wide smile.

“Hi.” You gave a nervous smile. “It’s nice to meet you, Jeff’s told me a lot about you!”

Everyone was silent for a few moments before Zane smiled kindly at you. “It’s so nice to meet you baby! Jeff’s told us a lot about you too!”

You got along with them all well, so it surprised you when you got to David’s once before Jeff and heard them all speaking about you.

“She’s just not the type of girl I could see him with you know.” You heard Todd say. You were about to ask who they were talking about when something stopped you, perhaps they were talking about you.

David laughed. “I know, he’s literally the hottest guy we know, and he’s with a girl like her. I don’t get it. She must be really good in bed.” You felt yourself flush darkly, they must’ve been talking about you.

You heard a few giggles, but couldn’t tell who it was, there was definitely some female giggling mixed amongst those who you already knew were there. "You shouldn't be talking about Y/N like this. Jeff likes her.” Heath pointed out after the giggles had died down. Your heart dropped, there was the confirmation that they were talking about you.

“I like her, she’s funny, and she’s really smart.” Zane defended you, and a tiny bit of warmth flooded you, at least one of Jeff’s friends liked you. But you’d heard enough, you turned around and ran back out, letting the door slam behind you.

You went back to your apartment, forgetting to tell Jeff that you had to cancel and got back into bed, crying. If Jeff’s friends didn’t even think that you were good enough for him, then their fans definitely wouldn’t and you couldn’t hide your relationship forever.

It was where Jeff found you hours later, still curled up in your duvet, with dried tear tracks down your face, the occasional hiccup still escaping you.

“Baby, what’s wrong?” Jeff climbed onto the bed behind you, hand tangling into your hair. “I thought maybe you had gotten held up, but then you still didn’t show and then you weren’t answering your phone.”

Fresh sobs escaped you. “I did go.”

Jeff frowned, eyebrows furrowing in confusion. “What do you mean? You went to David’s? Why did you leave? And why are you so upset?”

“I went there this morning, and you weren’t there yet.” You cried. “I could hear them talking about someone, and then I realised they were talking about me.” You bit down on your lip, they were Jeff’s friends, maybe he wouldn’t believe you. “They don’t like me, Jeff! They don’t think I’m good enough for you!”

Jeff froze behind you, he had sensed that his friends were a little bit off with you but presumed that they were just warming up to you. “What did they say?”

You sniffled and rubbed your face against your duvet. “That I’m not your type, you’re really hot, but you’re with me. David couldn’t understand and thought I must be good in bed for you to be with me.” You sobbed. “Heath and Zane kind of stood up for me, but they didn’t disagree that I don’t suit you physically.”

The bed shifted again, and Jeff stood up, pulling his phone from his jeans. “I can’t believe they’d say that about you! They know how much I like you!” Jeff began to type angrily on his phone, his short nails tapping on the glass.

“Jeff, don’t.” You sat up, the duvet falling around your waist. “I mean, they’re right, you’re far too good for me.”

Jeff’s gaze snapped back to you from his phone. “That’s not true, Y/N! If anything it’s the other way around! You’re a fuckin’ angel, and I’m an ex-convict!”

"Jeff, that's not true!" You frowned deeply.

He shook his head erratically. "I need to go and talk to them all, I'll be back soon."

Your heart dropped to your stomach, the last thing that you wanted to do was cause problems between Jeff and his friends. "No, don't, please. I don't want to make it worse."

"Y/N, I have to. They were talking about my girlfriend behind both of our backs and saying shitty things. That doesn't look good on me either, Y/N." Jeff argued, pulling his trainers back on. "I won't be long, and I'm not going to have an argument with them."

You frowned. "Please don't get upset with them, they didn't realise I was listening."

Jeff scoffed. "That's why I need to go and talk to them."

"Okay." You sighed. "Just don't get angry."

"I'll try not to, but they disrespected both of us." Jeff's Staten Island accent became much thicker when he was upset or angry, and you hid a small smile.

"Okay, don't be long or I'll worry about you." You relented, watching as your boyfriend walked away.

Jeff was furious, he was happier than he had been in a long time with you and you had been ready to break up with him over what they had said.

He burst into David's house and went straight into the living room, where he knew everyone would be. "What the fuck, guys?!"

Everyone turned to look at Jeff in shock. "What's wrong, Jeff?" David set his camera down.

"Would you like to tell me why my girlfriend has been crying in bed all day because of you motherfuckas?!" Jeff stood with his arms crossed over his chest, watching as his friends shared nervous glances.

"I told you all not to talk about her like that!" Heath groaned, throwing his head back.

"Well, we didn't realise that she was earwigging!" David complained.

"So, now it's Y/N's fault for turning up somewhere she was invited and hearing you all slag her off?" Jeff was getting angrier by the minute, he turned to Todd. "Would you like it if I told everyone that Olivia was no good for you, Todd? Or Kristen for you Scott? What about if I'd said that I couldn't understand why a girl like Liza would ever be interested in you David?"

Jeff laughed bitterly. "And you two." He turned to Carly and Erin. "I've spoken to you about how happy Y/N makes me, and you let them tear Y/N apart! What is wrong with you all?! Why can't you let me be happy?!"

"We're sorry." David tried weakly. "We didn't know that she was listening, not that it's an excuse. We just didn't get why you weren't dating one of the models that are obsessed with you."

"Speak for yourself!" Zane interrupted. "You guys know I love Y/N."

"Y/N is so damn beautiful, David, I can't believe you'd be that shallow," Jeff growled. "She's smart and funny, and she takes care of me. Which is more than I can say about you lot, taking the piss out of my criminal history."

"I'm sorry, man." Todd sounded sheepish. "I didn't realise you liked her that much."

"I love her." Jeff corrected, causing a few of his friends' eyes' to widen. "But that doesn't even matter, you knew she was my girlfriend and you still chose to make those comments. That's disrespectful to both her and me. I can't just overlook that."

"We're sorry, Jeff," Carly spoke quietly. "I don't know what else we can do."

Jeff shook his head. "It's not me that you should be saying sorry to. You made my girlfriend cry thinking that she wasn't good enough for me. All because she weighs a few extra pounds!"

"We'll apologise to her too," Scott added.

"I think it's best that we don't see you guys for a while," Jeff said finally. "You guys just aren't who I thought you were."

Jeff's friends shared a look again. "Is that really necessary?" David asked.

"Was it really necessary to make my girlfriend feel like shit?" With that Jeff left his friends, hurrying back to you.

When Jeff got back to your apartment, you had gotten out of bed and were sat on the couch waiting for him to get back and nursing a mug of hot chocolate.

"We're not going around there for a while," Jeff told you, plonking himself down next to you and wrapping his arm around your waist, careful not to knock your mug out of your hands.

"What did you do?" You asked, slightly worried.

"Nothin'!" Jeff insisted. "They're assholes."

"They're your friends!" You countered.

"But you're my girlfriend, and they can't understand that." Jeff shook his head. "You're fuckin' perfect you know."

You scoffed. "Jeff I'm not perfect."

Jeff grinned. "You perfect to me."

Jeff Tag List (if you are bolded, I can’t tag you) - @2007rh @chonisberonica   @magcon7280 @daviddorbikstan @kinley-campbell @topnerd03 @yurmom2 @thegirlalmighty01 @plainoldalexis @thots4lyf @silkandberries @merx-3 @grayberrydolan @dattttboiiii @moredobrik @vanessaworldthings @omg-lexiloveyou @miriamxworld