#we need long hair and it took years for us to stop bleaching it so much it would just pull out eventually

[simonstamenovic]

getting this haircut + color (fading notwithstanding) was the best decision ever here is what we have looked like somewhat recently...

sort of in order for the past... year or so ? what the hell

[mara-tevith-solo]

Sing a Little Song For Me

Photo not mine

Part 5 of the drabble set and it’s the promised naughties! Enjoy my lovelies!

Warning: Smut, both MC’s have filthy mouths, sexual harassment, cheesy flirting

Author Warning: This is my first time writing smut in a long time, so I’m sorry if it’s not all that great

Pairing: Colonel Miles Quaritch x Na’vi/Avatar named f!reader/OC still not really described

Rated 18+ for sure this time, definitely not kid friendly so go before you need to scrub your eyes with bleach

Words: 3.1k+

Taglist: @rayurbay​  @tinyfairies​ @perseny​ @kimqueenofhell​ @blueberry-thrawn​​​​​

Happy New Year! One year closer to Avatar 3

"Husband." I hummed just loud enough for others to hear as I sat back against the table, my foot pressing against the side of his to clue him in that I was addressing him.

"Yes, wife?" He asked, not looking up from his chart but playing along perfectly. He suddenly shifted, thigh to thigh with me as he draped his arm around my front, pulling me closer as though we really were married.

My arms eased from their tight cross as I leaned my head on his shoulder, enjoying the contact so much more than I'd ever willingly admit. "Do you have a shirt I could borrow?"

"Now why on Earth would you wanna wear one of those?" He asked with a chuckle as he turned his head into mine, prompting me to pull away from his shoulder and look up at him. His smile was so bright as his thumb caressed the flesh of my hip so tenderly, like I was precious to him.

His smile fell at my expression, at how bothered I was when I remembered why I was bugging him in the first place "There have been... comments... from the crew. About my state of dress. And bets of how..." I bit my lip as I looked away, filled with shame that should not have been mine.

He abandoned the chart on the table, even with the risk that it could have blown away in the wind, his free hand coming up and brushing stray hairs out of my face with a ghost-light touch as he stood between my legs "Sweetheart?" He asked softly, privately. His brow was lowered in concern as his eyes searched mine for answers, encouraging me to continue.

I took a deep breath to steady myself as I gripped his forearms gently, reassuring myself that he really was there and that I could trust him "There have been bets of how easy I must be. They speak as though they don't realize how good Na'vi hearing is." I sniffed, unable to look him in the eye.

His lips nearly disappeared from how tight his mouth was, his eyes surveying everyone nearby with suspicion and anger at the sheer audacity. "I've got just the shirt, darlin'." He promised, pulling away and taking me by the hand before leading me through more tight hallways and tiny doors. At no point did it feel like he was pulling me, at no point did I feel like I couldn't pull away from him. His hand in mine was grounding, his thumb brushing over my knuckles every few turns was almost a religious experience. When we finally got to his quarters he closed the door behind us, sealing us away from any prying eyes. I shifted on my feet awkwardly as he rifled through his pack until he found what he was looking for. It was a typical fatigue green t-shirt, and I didn't even have to ask him to turn around as soon as I had it in hand. My top was off as soon as he settled, admiring the broad expanse of his back unabashedly as I slipped the t-shirt over my head and began adjusting it and my hair. I had forgotten how nice it was to wear a man's clothes, the material soft and the fit loose since he was bigger than me. It was an inexplicable comfort.

I ran my hand down the front, stopping at the breast pocket when the feel of the fabric changed. 'Col. Miles Quaritch Proj Phx.' in small black bold lettering. It was definitely going to make a statement, one that would hopefully make people leave me alone. "Thank you." I hummed softly, suddenly shy as my hands brushed down my kuru over and over again.

His pupils were dilated much more than necessary as he stared down at me, visibly gulping like he was nervous "Looks good on you." We continued to stare at each other for a moment, tension growing and growing until suddenly it burst like an overloaded dam. We collided somewhere in the middle, hands everywhere as our lips met with a desperation that was only sated with the contact. He groaned loudly into my mouth as my hands found their way under his shirt, fingers spread greedily to touch as much of him as I could at once. Without warning he was lifting me up, forcing me to wrap my legs around his hips lest they just hang there awkwardly. "I think you'll look great in my bed." He smiled up at me, breathless from the kiss.

I laughed at the corniness of the comment but said nothing, instead pulling ever so gently at his kuru. He hissed softly through his teeth as he gazed up at me, clucking his tongue at my shenanigans "I think you'd look pretty good in me." I flirted, though it was more of a straightforward invitation by how blunt it was.

"Is that so?" He asked right before setting me down on the too small bed, not letting me go for even a moment, instead using the opportunity to get even closer. He ground against my clothed core, his hard length promising so much without words. I couldn't even think straight as he nipped and kissed his way around my neck, my heart pounding in my chest as I clung to him desperately, grinding back into him as hard as I could. I pulled on his kuru again, a little harder than last time, pulling him away from my throat so that I could kiss him again, pouring everything I could into it. He met me emotion for emotion, taking everything I had to give and giving his own back. Soon our shirts were on the floor and our pants were well on their way to joining them "How do you take these off?" He asked, nipping at my ear gently as he tugged at my shorts.

"The knot on the right side," I moaned, gripping his back like I'd fly away if I didn't "pull the end with the bead and it'll come loose." I nipped at his pulse point as his thumb dug into my hip, setting my nerves alight as I shuddered under him "Please Miles, please." I panted as my fingers moved to his belt, desperation making them uncoordinated as they tried to undo the buckle. As soon as my shorts were off he was pinning my hips down to the bed with his, making me squirm and whine for friction as he took a couple sips of C02 before pressing the mask down over my face so that I could do the same. As soon as I took enough to satisfy him he was backing off, standing from the bed as he slowly removed his pants, smirking as I watched every movement he made. "Fuuuccckkk, Miles." I keened with need, watching him watch me.

He wasted little time after that, climbing into the bed again and settling between my legs, teasing me with his fingers "Fuck, Ani." He groaned as he nearly struggled to slip two fingers inside of me, even with how wet I was "Gotta open you up, sweetheart." I clamped down on his fingers playfully, his eyes lighting up with that feral light as he smiled down at me "Last chance, one little word and we can both part ways like this never happened." He watched me as he asked for my consent, working a third finger inside of me, stretching me in all the best ways.

I lifted my hips a little, searching for more as I bit my lip "Please fuck me, Miles. I feel like I'm going insane." I begged with a needy keen.

"Whatever my woman wants." He promised before removing his fingers and replacing them with his cock, trying to be gentle even though we were both needy and desperate.

"Ohhhhh fuucck! Miles!" I cried out, shifting my hips up to him, making him sink deeper much faster than he had anticipated as I clung to his back, no doubt leaving scratches behind. He moaned so loud next to my ear I was almost sure he was roaring, bottoming out inside of me and still trying to push in further.

One of his hands grabbed my hip, trying to keep me still as the other fisted the blanket under us "Don't move." He ordered through clenched teeth. I didn't obey though, shifting my hips so that the entire angle changed, allowing him even deeper as his head hit my cervix perfectly. The hand on my hip increased pressure, trying to pin me into place as Miles shuttered above me "Do you want me to cum right now?" He asked as his teeth grazed my jaw, making it so hard to obey him. I keened a wordless beg as I nuzzled the side of his head, needing him more than ever in that moment, tightening around him hard enough that he was moaning loudly again "Have it your way." He growled before latching his teeth on the junction between my shoulder and neck and pulling his cock almost completely out of me. I whined instinctively, afraid of the emptiness he'd leave behind before he slammed back into me, making me see stars as the head hit just the right spot with just the right amount of force. I was well past the ability to speak, only able to mewl and nearly scream unintelligibly as I met him thrust for thrust.

He pulled away a bit after a few more thrusts, sitting up on his heels as he bucked, pulling my hips up his thighs for an entirely new angle that created a delicious drag that burned every fiber of my being. It was driving me insane, bringing me over the edge of an orgasm and keeping me sailing through the clouds even well past it. I pulled myself up by his shoulders, taking over the pace as I began riding him slow and sensually, circling my hips and moving in ways he hadn't imagined were possible judging by the moans he tried to muffle against my chest. "You're so beautiful, Ani." He praised, looking up at me as though he was seeing the moon the first time, or a sunrise after a long arduous night. The adoration in his gaze made me want to cry with joy. It was something I had never experienced before, even in my first marriage, and by Eywa it was addictive. His hands explored my flesh tenderly, every touch filled with reverence "So perfect for me, like we were made for each other." He continued as his eyes slipped closed. His fingers found the ragged scars on my thigh and never left them as he began thrusting up into me again, opening his eyes and capturing mine. His free hand moved me how he needed me, his expression pinching with the ecstasy "Ani, Ani," He chanted as though my name was a prayer just for him "I'm gonna, oh God I'm gonna..." He came with a roar, holding me tightly against him as he spent himself inside of me. Even after he was fully spent he held me there, his fingertips brushing up and down my spine as my fingers brushed through his short hair in mindless patterns "I'll do whatever it takes, to atone for this." He vowed, his thumb brushing back and forth over the inside scar on my thigh. "Even if it takes the rest of my life." His gaze met mine with sincere intensity.

My fingertips brushed over his cheeks and down his neck as I breathed deeply, not caring that the lack of enough C02 made me slightly dizzy as I pressed my forehead against his "The man who did it is dead, ma Miles." I assured him, hoping that he would hear my words and believe them. "All I want is your love, for you and I to raise our son together."

He held me closer, hugging me tightly to him as though he could put me directly into his heart "God above, you really are perfect." He chuckled softly before pulling away enough to kiss me tenderly.

"Only for you." I vowed against his lips before pulling away completely, knowing that if I was light headed he certainly was. I gave him his AAS-R02 before retrieving mine and taking a few deep breaths before setting it down to get dressed. He got dressed too, though only in his pants, before pulling me down onto the bed with him, holding me firmly as he tucked his face against my neck while sliding his arm under my head like a pillow. "I'm sorry for your back." I hummed softly as I nuzzled into his bicep, suddenly tired.

"Badge of honor." He hummed, brushing off my apology with a soft smile "If you don't scratch me during sex I'm doing somethin wrong." He kissed the back of my neck tenderly before pulling me closer, his heartbeat strong against my back "Can we sleep like this every night?" He asked absently.

"The bed is way too small, and you share the room with Spider, so no sex at night." I pointed out with a teasing laugh, shifting so I could glance back at him.

"We can take the mattress from your room and put it on the floor with mine and then put my bedframe in your old room. And who said I only wanted sex? Holding you is nice." He shrugged before pulling me closer again, burying his face into my shoulder for a moment.

"I guess we could do that." I sighed teasingly, my smile too large to be a negative to his idea.

After a moment he pulled away and began playing with my kuru like he was studying it "Can Na'vi connect queue with each other like you can an Ikran?" He asked, looking between me and my kuru as he held it up between us.

"It's how Na'vi mate." I nodded before falling into a stretch. "I'm not ready to mate yet, before you ask." I hummed, heading him off at the pass if that was where his next step was going to be.

"Heard." He nodded understandingly "Can you tell me more about it? Is it like bonding with an Ikran?"

"Mo'at, the Tsahik of the Omaticaya, always explained it to the kids like a bonding of souls. Making tsaheylu with another person was to bond mind body and soul. That the lines between the two would forever blur, even if they were not actively bonded. Mates are loyal to each other first, they will fight their own brothers and sisters if they hurt their mate." I explained, pulling his hand away from my kuru so that I could play with it, holding it aloft as I ghosted a fingertip over the lines, up and down his fingers, and down to his elbow.

"Is that why you're not ready to mate?" He asked softly, letting me do whatever with his hand, even when his fingers twitched from it tickling "Because of your loyalties?"

"Yes." No use beating around the bush, even if I was telling him I was choosing others over a lifetime with him.

"I admire that." He admitted honestly as he began brushing his fingertips up and down my arm, going from fingertips to elbow much like I had.

An intrusive question entered my mind and wouldn't leave, no matter how hard I fought to, making me restless and jittering until I finally let it free "Would you fight the entire RDA for me?" I asked softly, not looking at him for fear of seeing his reaction.

"What?" He asked as he turned to look at me, his shock evident without even looking at him.

"If we mated, would you fight the RDA for me? I'm still wanted by them." I explained, finally turning around and looking at him. It was almost funny, in that moment I was more afraid of his answer than I ever had been of him, my heart pounding so hard that he glanced at my throat, watching it for a few moments.

"I..." He started, his voice soft like the eye of a hurricane "I don't know." He finally answered, looking back up into my eyes, hope and sincerity waiting there for me.

His answer was better than I'd hoped it would be, letting me relax into him once more with a soft sigh "That's fair." I nodded as he relaxed as well, letting loose a gush of air he'd been holding. "I'd never ask you to anyway." I admitted, glancing up at him.

He kissed me tenderly in response, pulling my thigh over his in a bid for more closeness before he groaned and pulled away "You need to stop being so good, woman." He murmured against my lips before nipping at my bottom lip gently.

"Now why on Earth would I do that?" I echoed his previous statement back to him with a beaming smile, shifting us both so that he was on his back and I was straddling him.

He grinned up at me, verging on a bright smile as he held my hips "There's only so many times in a day I can pull you into this room." He winked up at me as I guffawed a quick laugh at the ceiling.

"Oh Great Mother, he thinks he can fuck me all day!" I teased him as I sat up, grinding on him a little to get his goat. "I seem to remember someone nearly came as soon as they were hilted." I continued, poking him gently on the nose. He growled up at me playfully before quickly changing our positions before I could even laugh.

He was rather comfortable between my legs, hiking one up over his shoulder as he ground down into me, providing a sinful amount of drag on my clit "It's not my fault that you were too tight for even two of my fingers, darlin'. And it's definitely not my fault that you're a goddess given form." He rumbled before kissing me sweetly, so sweetly I nearly didn't notice that he was untying my shorts again.

"What about Spider?" I asked, though I wasn't able to finish my question as his hand dipped into my loosened shorts, giving his fingers full access to my core. Access that he took full advantage of.

"I have Mansk teaching him more advanced drills. We've got all afternoon." He promised, smiling as he kissed me greedily, swallowing every moan I gave him as he hooked his fingers just right.

[lilyofthesword-writes]

Comas & Couches

Summary: Loki is severely injured while on a mission with Thor and falls comatose on the Quinjet. You and Thor wait at his bedside in the Tower, hoping he will wake soon.

Pairing: Loki x Reader

Word Count: 1,224

Warnings/Disclaimers: Mentions of a battle and injuries. And fluff.

A/N: Part of the Couches mini-series. Welp, this is what happens when I give myself a deadline for writing. My muse disappeared for a bit and just came back today. Hope everyone enjoys the long promised fluff piece, and happy new year!

Masterlist

Thor startled in his seat at the loud bang from down the hall, unaware he had fallen asleep. He blinked away drowsy sand, revealing why he was here in the first place. Laying unconscious in the hospital bed before him was Loki.

Their mission had soured worse than milk under a summer sun, their weaknesses exploited. It was all Thor could manage when he rescued his battered brother from the onslaught, opting to return to the Quinjet instead of the Bifrost. Aggravating Loki’s injuries further was not on his list of priorities. Thor’s eyes remained plastered open even after dressing the trickster’s wounds.

He had refused to sleep even after the Quinjet landed at the Tower and Loki was carted away into the ICU. The lobby just outside the double doors was where the nurses forced him, or more like strongly suggested until he relented, to wait. They abandoned him to his cursing at the mobile phone he had promised he would learn to use and uncomfortably tiny chairs. He lost track of how long he had paced around the room by the time the nurses called for him.

Thor slumped forward, elbows resting on the mattress as he stared at his brother like he would wake up through mere wishful thinking. He reached out and grasped Loki’s hand. It was chilled, more so than usual.

Please, wake. If not for my sake, then for theirs…

Distant shouting stole Thor’s attention, followed by a myriad of rushed footsteps that grew louder by the second until he could finally make out the owners’ words.

“You can’t be in here! This is a restricted area!”

“Please! Only family members are allowed right now.”

Thor recognized the two voices as belonging to the nurses who had barred him out earlier.

“You know who I am. We live together in this building. Why is that not good enough?” a third voice retorted.

Thank the Norns! I did successfully text someone!

“You’re not m—”

“Married? Just because we’re not legally bound means I can’t see him?”

The footsteps stopped just outside the door.

“W-well,” the second nurse stuttered, “We were, we were told not to—”

Thor jumped to his feet and grabbed the door handle.

“Not to let me see him? By who? Fury? Because if it is, he’d better not let me find him.”

He swung the door open, a half-hearted grin on his face. “I would rather enjoy that hunt.”

A small amount of relief trickled onto your face when your eyes met.

“S-sir! We apologize for disturbing you.”

The first nurse stepped up, gesturing at you. “We’ll handle this.”

“No need. I specifically asked for them to come.” Thor waved the nurses off.

“But sir—”

Thor stepped aside to grant you passage into the room.

“Family is not bound by blood or ink.”

And with that, he shut the door on them.

You choked out a gasp and rushed to Loki’s side. One hand found his while the other brushed away tiny tendrils of hair wafting onto his forehead. Your eyes threatened a torrent of tears that you dammed with silence. Thor took back he seat, unwilling to break your concentration, to watch you lose control. If you started to cry, so would he.

Thor lost track of the minutes as he watch you stroke Loki’s tangled mop of hair. It was when your hand left the trickster’s head to instead clench the over-bleached sheets that he knew you were ready to talk. He wasn’t sure if it was fortunate or unfortunate that your gaze remained averted.

With wavering inhalation, you began, “What happened?”

Some hours and much coaxing later, you were bundled up on the stiff couch at the end of the room, soaking in the ghost of Thor’s warmth left over from when he had taken his turn to sleep. Thor knew you were still awake, merely feigning slumber for his sake. He would never forgive himself if he allowed you neglect your own health… And neither would Loki.

Thor’s gaze wandered back to his younger brother, and he leaned back in his chair, a dejected sigh escaping him.

Don’t make us wait much longer… Please…

It was almost as though his internal whispering was said aloud. Loki’s jaw twitched. Then his eye lids fluttered, followed by his fingers and a sharp, deep breath. Thor could only watch as the mischievous god’s body pieced itself together to reveal some semblance of a conscious person. When Loki finally opened his eyes, Thor barely managed to tamp down a joyous holler. Startling the only other people in the room would surely invoke yours and Loki’s wrath.

“Thor…” Loki called out, voice low and hoarse. “Where are—”

“The Tower, brother. We live to fight another day.”

Thor’s hand clamped down on Loki’s shoulder, earning him a painful grimace. With an apologetic squeeze, Thor released him.

“Where—”

The god of thunder chuckled and pointed across the way to you. “Over there. You wouldn’t believe how many promises I made in order to get them to rest.”

“Oh?” A wry smile tugged at Loki’s lips. “I hope you intend to keep every one of them. I would hate to see what happens if you are the cause of their disappointment.”

You are definitely healing well, brother.

Thor moved to stand. “Then, I suppose I must wake them now.”

“No!” Loki snatched at his arm. “W—wait…”

“Are you preventing me from fulfilling my first promise?” Thor teased.

“I— I must speak with you first.”

Loki’s mouth was set in a hard line. His eyes were on you. Was it longing or guilt that Thor recognized in his gaze? Perhaps both.

The older god settled and answered with expectant silence.

Loki softly cleared his throat. “I need your help,” he muttered.

As desperate as Thor was to take advantage of the moment, he bit back the quip dancing on his tongue. It was rarer than someone other than Thor being able to lift Mjolnir.

“With what, brother?”

Continuing to stare at you, Loki elaborated, “I… I hear it is a popular custom for Midgardians to… to present a ring to their beloved as part of a marriage proposal…”

If Thor’s grin could have grown larger, it would have split his face in half.

“Say no more. I would be honored to help.”

Loki’s mouth flopped open and close before he turned to Thor with grateful, teary eyes.

“But first you must rest and heal.”

“Now see here—”

Thor shook his head, that smile still plastered on his face. “No compromises. I understand you wish to do this as soon as possible, but this was part of our agreement.” He motioned to you and noticed the tiniest sly smirk playing with your features. “And I fully intend to keep every one of my promises.”

Before Loki could stop him, he was calling out your name. In response, you stretched like you truly had been asleep and sat up. Loki had a mixture of a scowl and a pout as you meandered over and settled on the opposite side of the bed. With a snicker, Thor patted Loki’s shoulder and rose to his feet to leave and afford you two some privacy.

“You heard everything…”

“Yeah,” you nodded, leaning forward and kissing Loki’s forehead. “And for the record, the answer is yes.”

Tag list: @nahthanks @lucywrites02 @whatafuckingdumbass @gaitwae

[cherrythepuppet]

Damn bitch we thought you died

Grover and Jonsey belong to @trashcanplant

Mob AU @/clownsuu

Bonnie was making a trip to the city but this time After 3 years Penny was coming with her on this trip, Penny looked extremely different from how she used to

Her hair grew out to a medium length and it was dyed bleach blonde with magenta tips. She covered her missing eye with her hair yet she also got a glass eye too

She wore old hand me down clothes too which consisted of a plaid shirt and dark blue jeans with a red ascot around her neck with same old boots too

"Alright Hon, could ya grab that crate?" Bonnie asked "Yes Ma'am!" Penny exclaimed as she grabbed the crate

"Oh Peaches this is heavy-" she mumbled "I can't see-" Penny sighed then she bumped into a stop sign "Ow..." Penny frowned 

"Miss are you alright?" A voice asked Penny got up and dusted off her shirt "Yes! No need to worry about me ha ha!" Penny chuckled before she picked up the crate again

"Do you know where (Building or whatever Cherry hasn't done her research yet-) Is?" Penny asked "Coincidence...That's where I'm going, I could take you there if you'd like" The voice said

Penny looked over the crate and tensed up when she saw Jonsey "So uh- Your name?" Penny asked

"Jonsey...You?" Jonsey replied"Penelope-" Jonsey perked up at that "-Sinclair" Penny finished and Jonsey quickly disguised his moment of interest

Jonsey held open the door for Penny which she thanked him for. Once Penny stepped into the building she felt something she hadn't felt in a long time

But before she could turn back the door closed "Jonsey? Is that you?" A monotone voice calledout making Penny tense up even more 'Shit...' Penny thought

"Yes Mr. Darling...It's me and another" Jonsey Sighed "Oh? Who?" The voice asked "a lady named Penelope Sinclair" Jonsey told them

"Penelope? We knew a Penelope once. Right Jonsey?" The voice chuckled and Jonsey didn't reply as Penny stayed silent "Do you know what happened to her?" The voice asked

"I'm fully aware of what happened to Miss Peaches" Jonsey grumbled "No need to get upset, Penny was worthless and reckless afterall" the voice replied, Penny cursed at the voice in her head

Suddenly a light turned on

Wally sat at his desk with a large scarecrow next to him who stared at Penny 'Shit x2' Penny thought

"Jonsey you can go" Wally added while Jonsey looked at Penny then nodded before he left the office 'Did I just fucking spawn here??? I thought I was in a normal fucking room' Penny thought 

"My, My...My! Penelope Jane Peaches! Pressured deceased standing right in front of me!" Wally exclaimed Penny dropped the crate on her foot

"FUCKING SNAKE!" She screamed "Shut up" Grover grumbled as he noticed Penny reached for a knife under her shirt

"Looking for something?" Wally asked as he twirled her knife in his hand "You peice of-" Penny paused once she saw Grover straightened up glaring at her

Penny backed down "I am curious though...How did you survive?" Wally asked

"Curiosity killed the damn cat..." Penny mumbled "And the Scarecrow killed the farmgirl!...Supposedly" Wally replied "I thought I told you to get rid of her" Wally added towards Grover

"I played dead!" Penny shouted causing Wally to turn to face her

"Grover looked away for a second...and ran to the countryside" Penny continued "He tried going after me...but I got away at the last second" Penny sighed "He didn't disobey you at all" Penny told them

Wally didn't reply instead he was just staring "Is that so?" He asked "Grover...That was reckless, You should have known how Penny is" Wally said

"Get rid of her for real. Now" Wally demanded then Grover looked at Penny as Wally handed him her knife

Grover took the knife and walked over to Penny who just smiled "Hey...Try and get along with Antoni he's a good guy" Penny chuckled "Bye cent" Grover mumbled.....

[littleeyesofpallas]

Got a fun ask from @macchiato-dreaming22.

I'll be honest I'm kind of weird in my relationship with headcanon and fanfic in that I'm kind of not all that engaged with characters as characters, if that makes sense? I'm not the type to get hung up on "he would not say that" sort of quibbles, or really dwell freefloating in the spaces inbetween canon characterization the way a lot of fanfic writers, or RPers, or stans or shippers or whatever else you'd call it do. I can appreciate the need or the preference to do so but it doesn't really call to me the way it seems to to them. So what I tend to do is try and round up all the otherwise loose bits of canon trivia and try and piece them together, only loosely speculating about things that havent happened based on their adjacency to things that have. I dunno if that makes any sense at all as a distinction...

Anyway point being is that the fact that I've never thought very hard about how old the Visored are individually/relatively sort stems from that M.O. but also I can definitely figure out what my own existing headcanon would imply is the answer to that question, and so that's what I'm going to do.

(And to be clear I'm not really going to fuss about the ages, relative or otherwise, within the strict canon of completed manga so much as I'm going to take my headcanon/AU for the character concepts and run with things from there. That might not make sense right now, but it should clear itself up as I get going.)

oh boy this got long...

So as a refresher on the AU I never wrote: Given their introduction between vol.21-26, my headcanon is that the Visored were never a bunch of gotei captains and lieutenants, they were a bunch of humans, each became something like a substitute shinigami in their own right, and then had those powers taken from them, at which point Urahara conveniently appeared and took advantage of each of their desperation to get their powers back to experiment on them, working out the system he'd eventually use on Ichigo. So it's not only the hollow aspect as an impurity, but the fact that they (re)obtained their shinigami skills in spite of being stripped of their substitute shinigami status that makes them criminals. But in the process, each of them would either be abandoned or otherwise escape Urahara's "care" and/or observation.

Given the implicit consequences of the Shattered Shaft method, and Bleach's general world building, the elephant in the room we never had addressed was that because Ichigo and in this interpretation of their premise, the Visored, all had their soul chains severed, thus separating their soul from their body, making them ghosts. That in mind, I consider them all to have stopped aging when the Visored process took place, and THAT is where I anchor most of them to certain time periods based on their basic design and sense of style. (technically I do sort of head canon them as all having been turned in the 1970s, thus ~30years prior to the start of Bleach, which is, ya know, the right age for the father of a 15yo to have been about 15 30 years ago... but if i just left it at that it'd be kind of boring, so I'm letting these age ranges drift a little, if only to make this whole thought experiment more interesting.)

So for starters, I associated Shinji with the British Jazz-Rock and Mod scenes of the 1960s: the hair, the teeth, the ugly ties, the scolor scheme, even the trenchcoat he wore the one time at random, the only thing he was missing was a moped. I also very specifically think of him as a Pete Townshend analog for some reason. So given that he passed as a 15yo highschooler in Karakura, I'm going to say I think he was 15 when he was turned in 1965, so it aligns with The Who's release of the song My Generation. So that puts Shinji's birth in 1950.

The easiest to nail down actually would just be Mashiro, since she clearly borrows from very Himitsu Sentai Go-ranger specifically, but also Kamen Rider more generally. That puts a cap on how old she could be at 1975 as the airdate of the original Super Sentai series. It's hard to judge her age considering she's so distinctly childish, but it's kind of implied that even supernatural aging aside, she's immature for her age. It's an arbitrary call to make, but I'm gonna say she was 10 in 1975 when the tokusatsu thing left an impact on her, but got turned when she was older and just never grew out of it. So born 1960.

Another somewhat straight forward one to pin down is Kensei, who I associate with the Vietnam War, and implicitly the 1969 lottery draft, and the US Military occupation of Okinawa as a launch pad into Vietnam. Although historically the actual draft applied only to those born between 1944-1950, making any draftee who deployed in 1970 at least 20yo, and I see the Visored as kind of explicitly teens, so I'll say he wasn't drafted but volunteered and was 18 in 1970 and when he was turned. That makes him born in 1952.

(I could have alternatively nailed him down to the 1980s bosozoku scene on account of his later theming, but the super distinctive cargo pants, combat boots, short hair, and a rubber grip combat knife all point to more of a military theme than a biker thing --also there's some military motif in one of his random attacks to boot. Although arguably that style of knife grip is even more modern, but I don't get the impression Kubo was thinking about it that hard, just about whether it gave off the right (para)military vibe.)

Funny enough Risa is one of the harder ones to really tie to a time period, as her classic sailor-fuku could be placed anywhere from the 1920s to the 1980-90s when they started falling out of style. Notably though they have a stronger association with middle school than high school, and Risa is also a pervert, so I want to say she's wearing it as a fetish thing, rather than as an actual student. That in mind, the school girl fetish really took off in the 80s and hit its peak in the 90s just before social awareness and political actions to try and curb the trend started being put into place. (Oh and I forgot, her Visored mask is a Gyan from Mobile Suit Gundam, so that already caps her at 1979.)

(I was also going to add something about Comiket and the birth of the doujin market, but that actually overlaps with this timeline already so it doesn't really narrow things down at all. It's pretty arbitrary but I'm gonna pin her to 1984 as the date the term "Cosplay" was first used. Assuming she was also 18 at the time, that makes her born in 1966)

(There's ALSO a weird thing in one of her attacks, and the general style of her shikai, and very very loosely a possible Chun-li reference that all seem to suggest she's got a bit of a chinese thing going on too? but I don't see how it gels with the rest of it, and it's just kind of a deadend to look further into. Technically there's a whole character type of the fujoshi/female otaku being very into chinese historical/fantasy, so like... maybe that because ti woud mesh with the general otaku vibe of the school girl uniform??? Theres a reason I didn't pursue this angle...)

Rose, I could try and triangulate the whole bishounen trend in 70s shoujo manga, but I'm gonna be lazy and just say he's the same age a Bjorn Andresen and born in 1955 as that more or less lands him right smack dab in the timeframe I would've ended up pinpointing anyway, give or take. For technicality's sake I'll say he was turned at 17, thus technically qualifying him as a proper bishounen and not just bidanshi, making him turned in 1972.

Hacchi is so hard to work with in this context... So long as this is all just headcanon anyway I'm gonna let go of even loose anchors to canon and just say his whole tux getup is a host club thing. (I know that doesn't quite feel right, even to me, but I gotta pick something instead of just juggling "maybes" and "sortas" for forever... I can't really match the look to much else eotherwise... Like a wedding caterer maybe? One half of a classic Japanese standup comedy act? Some kind of a stage magician?) Host clubs only really took off in the late 90s, peaking in the 2000s. Considering the range of dates on the other members this does kind of afford him the chance to be older, although it's sort of weird if he's the only physical adult in the whole group... If I call him 25 at the tail end of the slow decline post 80s bubble economy pop, around 2002, then that makes him born in 1979. (if i shift that back to the start of the pop in 1992, it slides him more in line with the others at 1957, but then he's kind of out of the range of the host club thing.... I dunno, man, Hacchi's an enigma... He really is maybe the absolutel single biggest wrench in this whole thing, which is a damn shame because he's maybe my favorite visored.)

(love that the little cartoon in the sweatpants was the exact thing that showed up when i googled guudara[ぐうたら]:"lazybones; good-for-nothing; idler; slacker; loafer")

It took me a second to remember who I'd missed. Love and his weird slacker, drop out, tracksuit thing scream 80s to me, and technically the whole adidas tracksuit look was in fact a 70s-80s thing. it's a much less specific kinda look than some of the others where it can be tied to specific characters, titles, and authors, or historical events... I'm gonna go out on a limb with this one and just tether it to 1984 and the release of the Run-DMC album, if only because they're the only specific names I can tie to the tracksuit look, rather than just a general casualwear trend. If Love was, say, 17 in 1984, he'd have been born in 1967.

And then that just leaves Hiyori.... Hers is such a general look that I have like zero idea where to place it. It falls into a similar time span as Love's with the track suit thing. but then she's got that mountain hick country bumpkin sorta thing going for her, which suggests she's kind of out of style, so then is her tracksuit look sort of out of date? She very specifically has some general parallels with Kumiko, in the manga Gokusen as a homely, spunky, firebrand kinda gal. If I consider that Gokusen came out in 2000, and had Kumiko be 23yo, then if I map that onto Hiyori, she'd have been born in 1977? But clearly turned very early as she's by far the youngest of the Visored physiologically.

BDAY - name (age apparent/real)

MAY 10, 1950 - Shinji (15/55)

JUL 30, 1952 - Kensei (18/53)

MAR 17, 1955 - Rose (17/50)

SEP 8, 1957 - Hacchi (25/48)

APR 1, 1960 - Mashiro (16/40)

FEB 3, 1966 - Risa (18/39)

OCT 10, 1967 - Love (17/38)

AUG 1, 1977 - Hiyori (13/28)

I guess the only thing I'd do to manually tweak these is nudge a few years around to more evenly space them out... Maybe make Mashiro a Visored before Kensei, because I feel like that's how their some of their conversations in the early arc pointed. I can't figure out if I feel like Hiyori gives off the vibes of being the first or the last recruited Visored... I like that she bosses others around like she has seniority, but also she seems like the most inexperienced and rough around the edges, as well as the overt comparison to Ichigo. Although actual age-vs-apparent age aside, the order in which they were actually recruited into the ramshackle gang they are is a timeline all its own.

Again though, I think of the Visored as that ramshackle band of undead kids squatting in an abandoned factory hoping the samurai death cops don't find them, or the mad scientist that threw them into a hole in the first place --half of them convinced that the whole process was a mistake and who just want to not have a monster inside them anymore, and that the hogyoku is the key to turning them back, but then at least Shinji secretly convinced that he's just a god in the making and wants to hougyoku to push the transformation even further.(ala the general thrust of the Fullbringer premise) The ones Ukitake betrayed for the sake or balance and order, ala his yinyang theming. The one he's secretly using ichigo to monitor via the substitute badge. Rather than just a bunch of weird coworkers who had one bad night and then just sat around doing nothing for like 100 years.

(Again, see all the odd little details of how they were introduced that later got steamrolled or just outright ignored: Urahara and Isshin talking as if they're not in touch with the Visored. Hiyori's between-two-worlds talk with Shinji emphasizing the line between humans and shinigami. Hiyori and Shinji having signs of a practiced recruitment process they're using with Ichigo. Kensei not being at all familiar with Mashiro's training process. Kensei thinking Orihime slipping thru the barrier could've been another visored, as if it's just assumed there are an indeterminate number of others out there unaffiliate with them. etc... yadda yadda.. I've made this post somewhere before, right? or has it only ever popped up in bits and pieces?)

Anyway all that just to reiterate that this whole exercise is less preoccupied with trying to make any particular "sense" out of the manga's canon backstory, and more just a pulling on loose threads of my own headcanon.

(Oh, and because there wasn't any better place to throw it in there: in this headcanon, Shinji was Isshin's substitute 30 years ago.)

[dancingbabya-notes]

Summer Windows 11

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Characters: Naruto, Damian, Kageyama, Shindo, Kaminari, Lisa, Aizawa

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Here we go the home stretch. I’m really glad I got back into the swing of things. Though I’m not gonna lie while writing the Aizawa one I started crying. I know it’s not gonna hit the same for everyone but anything I write that is similar is usually something very near and dear to my heart.

Do I give a hint at my age from some of my writing? Yes. But you read this, not me.

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71: Convention (anime specific)

Naruto

“Are you sure this is a good idea?” You ask looking in the mirror still unsure.

“Y/n, you look perfect. Come on, attending a convention was on your bingo card for the year,” Naruto smiles.

You’d both decided to dress as characters from a show that was popular when you were kids, luckily the show would be rerun so the attention was back. Bleach was a big part of your childhood. That was why wearing a Rukia cosplay felt so liberating for you, though Naruto only needed to put temporary hair dye in his yellow blond hair to get orange.

“It’s not gonna be scary. Come on you know the others are looking forward to this too,” he holds out his hand to you.

“Right.”

It was a short walk from the hotel to the convention center. But no matter where you looked it was crowded. People everywhere. A few signs dogging on others’ hygiene got a chuckle out of you, but what startled you was when someone pulled on your Kon plush.

“Did you make this?” The stranger asks, getting a little too close.

Naruto quickly steps in realizing that you stopped. “Try not to pull on their things, it took us a long time to make everything.”

“Wow, you guys made everything? That’s crazy.”

You grab Naruto’s hand trying not to be too nervous. But there was only so long that everyone would wait, he peeks back at you and smiles.

“Thanks for the compliments but we gotta go. There's a group shoot if you wanna talk more we’ll be there, just don’t pull on our costumes.” With that, you both started walking again.

Yesterday you dedicated the day to getting all your props checked and tagged so that you wouldn’t have anyone saying anything. The first person to come into view was Hinata, dressed as Orihime. Her costume looked so nice you were a little bit jealous.

“Y/N, Naruto, there you two are. Did something happen?” Sakura smiles as she waved the two of you over.

“Yeah, someone grabbed Y/N’s Kon. But we’re all good.” Naruto smiles back.

The group shoot was fun. A few things didn’t play out the way you wanted to but it was nice. Now it was time to zoom back to the hotel and change into your second cosplay before later getting ready for the Rave. Maybe you could do this again with your friends.

That was the thought until someone snagged on your sword and bolted. Frowning you sigh. “Which one is that? Sword number five?”

Naruto looked at you and nodded. “How about next time we don’t bring props? Only for location shoots.”

“Sounds good.” One more filled space on your bingo card.

72: Mosquitos

Damian Wayne

A sharp smack to your shoulder made you turn to the young man next to you. “Stop it! I get that you see them before I feel them but by the night's end I’ll have hand prints all over me and not in a fun way.”

“What’s the fun way?” Garfield asks.

“I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

He rolls over. “I don’t wanna know then.”

Raven nods. “Better that way. Can’t you use your powers to-

“No, I’m not exactly keen on having a small tornado of rocks flying around me,” you roll your eyes.

“Then shouldn’t we go inside?”

“Starfire locked the door we can’t get back in. She said team bonding outside of danger is important,” Wally states.

You nod slowly. “Yes, and getting eaten alive is okay? Not all of us are immune to mosquitoes.”

Damian slaps my neck this time. Making me turn slowly.

“You don’t have to hit that hard!”

He raises a brow. “I hit it just as hard as you hit yourself.”

Narrowing your eyes you stand up. “No, you're hitting it as hard as you think I do. The force you exude is far stronger than what I unleash on myself.”

“Where are you going?” Raven asks, dropping her book.

“For a fucking walk, maybe I’ll get bitten less that way.” 

73: “if you talk about how hot it is it gets hotter”

Tobio Kageyama

The past few days have been terrible, you didn’t want to even check the temperature for fear that you would start sweating at the thought. But someone else didn’t share that sentiment. Maybe you finally had to admit that the fake dating was turning into real dating again. Because you and Tobio would take turns staying at each other’s places.

“Y/N, did your aircon get fixed?” Tobio asks as he walks in.

“No.” Chewing on a candy you try to rack your brain for more information. “Did we have plans for the weekend?”

He plops down next to you and shakes his head, placing a cold bottle of water next to you. “Everyone’s busy. I’ve been swamped with practice.”

“Right.” You frown at the marked date on your calendar, but it didn’t have any details, just a notification labeled: iykyk. Why did you have to be such a smartass?

Looking over your shoulder at your computer Tobio frowns. “Why do you insist on labeling things that way?”

You push him off your back. “Stop it, I'm sticky.”

“But it’s hot.”

Trying your best to tune him out you start searching through your files and folder again. Maybe it was a message or some important event that you needed to know the reason for. Hopefully, it wasn’t another character's birthday, when you’d thought you’d gotten rid of the last of your childhood obsession you found a date marked for April twentieth.

“Y/N, when is the aircon gonna get fixed?”

“I don’t know.”

You liked it better when he was awkward with you and refused to talk.

“Y/N-

You close your laptop and turn to him. “Tobio, baby, the love of my life. Father to possible fur babies or real babies, if you keep talking about how hot it is it gets hotter. Go take a shower and shut up for five mornings okay?”

He smirks. “I win.”

“Yeah, yeah. Rub it in, why don’t you? Now go shower.” You roll your eyes.

Yeah, the calendar marking was for the maintenance people to come by and fix the aircon. You had to reschedule for the fourth time that month.

74: Cicada

Shindo

By adjusting your headphones you could filter out certain sounds. There was only one sound you didn’t want to hear this late in the summer. The screaming reminded you of the temperature.

“You hear that?” Your body was thrown forward as your patrol mate slapped his hand against your back.

Hissing you, try to look back. “Fuck me. Grand, was that necessary?”

He smirks. “Only if you-

“Ah, shut up. Don’t even. If it’s our time let’s go, I have a few things I need to check on,” you start walking out the door.

Shindo follows behind you probably admiring the mark he left on your back. “So do you hear it?”

You shake your head. “Filters on. It helps with calls.”

“Of course, you’d do that first. Cicadas are a lot louder than usual.”

Throwing your glove at him you frown. “Not cool, you wear the least in our generation, you’d think you’d be kinder to us.”

“Awe but I wanted to see you get hot.”

You narrow your eyes. “I would rather not get nuclear out of a battle setting. The radiation glow ain’t exactly flattering.”

Maybe being a hero wasn’t a great idea, especially not with your shirt temper but it was what you got to do. Yes, your quirk was dangerous, but with so much help from your teachers, you could control your quirk despite a few unfix-able things. But maybe being a human nuclear plant it just came with the territory.

“Awe come on you’re pretty much already glowing,” he eggs on.

“Shut up.”

“But baby, you told me you love when I run my mouth.”

“I’d beat your ass if we weren’t working.” You huff before looking around. If he’s feeling lien this it’s gonna be a long patrol.

75: Skinny dipping

Kaminari

The beach mission was a long one. Holding your juice you hold it up so the patio light shows through.

“You okay?” Kaminari asks as you bring your wings up.

“Yeah, I’m just thinking. What’s it like you know, being normal?” You needed to really think about this right now when you were supposed to be thinking of the report you’d be putting in a few days?

Kaminari frowns. “What do you mean normal?”

Holding up your cup you watch the liquid swish around with your hand motions. “I dunno what I mean by normal. Obviously Todoroki isn’t normal because raised by a pro hero and working through all that emotional trauma must have been hard. But I was a villain. I was [redacted] . I feel like an anomaly in all this. My earliest memory is my guardian teaching me how to pickpocket, how to swindle people right before their eyes. It was only after going to school that I realized it was wrong.”

He nods. “Wanna do something normal?”

“What?” Glancing at him you wondered if you should ever be wary of the smile.

“Skinny dipping.”

It was a few minutes you were at a dark part of the lagoon, there wasn’t any fish to be found there so that wasn’t a worry. Your worry was being a winged human who never submerged themselves in water before. Like instinct anytime you jump your wings would raise you up. But now down to your skivvies, you had two thoughts cross your mind. This is a bad idea, and Kaminari is definitely plastered.

Blinking a few times after the water rushes over your head you look around. Inky colors surround you as you grip Kaminari’s hand for dear life. Maybe you really shouldn’t have done this? Your wings pressed firmly to your back and you could already feel your frustration coming out as the water heats up around you. He didn’t let go.

Breaking the surface and drinking the sweet air you glare. “Let go you idiot, I’m getting too hot.”

“No, because it’s better if I hold your hand. None of those things matter anymore Y/N,” he smiles. “You’re H/N. Nothing can change that.”

76: Boating

Lisa

“Junior librarian-

“I have a name.” You sigh.

Yes now you were permanently in the library, not that you minded the quiet when it came. But the idea that the title carried more weight than your own name made you frown.

“Miss Lisa is busy?”

You nod. “Right now she left to report to the grand master, I’m only here for a moment until she needs me to run errands for her.”

“That’s exactly what I need you to do lovely.”

Her hand on your shoulder felt shocking in a bad way. “I’m not going to like this, am I?”

No no you didn’t. Your task was boating. Man did you wish that you weren’t about to take Lisa on a boat.

“Lovely, I’m sure you’ll be great at this,” Lisa smiles as you hold the oar.

You look at her for a moment before looking forward again. “This is a poor idea, and I won’t be held responsible if the boat flips.”

“Mhmm. You should be more careful though,” Lisa smiles.

77: Hammock

Aizawa

Maybe it was the cool breeze in the usually hot night that made you think about these things. Your parents, the love you wish they had all the time and how you wish it was completely yours. Your dad wasn’t home but when he was you realized he was the kindest man you’d ever met. Not that men weren’t kind, you just got an odd vibe. So as you sit on the deck of your childhood home thinking about your father’s kindness you think about the hammock.

“Daddy can we swing in the hammock?” So full of energy and excitement you pleaded for a few more minutes in the night to look up at the stars creating imaginary pictures and feeling the rumble of your fathers voice on your back lulling you into a comforting sleep.

But right now you watched as your youngest daughter curled into your husband’s arms, they were both too big for the hammock, you would probably buy a bigger one so they wouldn’t get hurt. Maybe it was just the low torch light or your floaty feeling from the previous excitement of dancing into the night, but you wouldn’t change this moment for the world.

Shota wasn’t keen on leaving his home country when you suggested it at first but now you wonder if you’d be able to remind him that you’d need to go back to Japan. Eri was on her way to sleep.

His voice was low, just barely audible over the crackling of the dying fire in the pit. “No, I won’t be afraid, just as long as you stand by me.”

As quickly as you could without much noise you went inside, tears streamed down as your heart started to ache. Only once have you told Shota about your father and how he’d hum that song to you as a child. When did he learn it? Not that it mattered, it just felt nice hearing it.

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[xiakha]

FFXIVWrite2023 Prompt #13 - Check

"Thancred."

It was a cold night in the Rak'tika Greatwood, the first in a century.

"Yes, Xiao?"

"May we speak in private?"

Light aether continued to swirl around Xiao. It was starting to settle now, but she was lit up still like a Starlight decoration.

Thancred scowled, he had an inkling of why Xiao would be reaching out, but he still agreed.

They found a quiet corner of Slitherbough out of earshot of everyone else, and Xiao reminded Thancred of his oath.

"I need to make sure we're on the level."

Thancred grimaced, "This is about the time I took you aside after I had recovered from Lahabrea's possession, isn't it."

"Aye, I swore to strike you down next you were not yourself and you were endangering the Scions."

It felt so long ago. Even more distant than it was for Xiao after Thancred's five years on the First.

But that wasn't what was relevant here.

"Indeed, and I swore likewise for you."

Xiao swung her arms wide in presentation. The halo of light encompassed her whole body, as if she were still lit up by a sunbeam this deep into the evening. "This can't be good," she said.

"...I agree, it cannot."

"If it gets worse, if I can't control it, need you to honor that swear."

Thancred wished to swear as it was, "Of course." He said instead.

"Don't let Y'shtola know."

"Keeping secrets from her now?"

"If she were made aware, she'd try to stop you or stop me. When you put me out of my misery, let it be a swift and sudden strike that no one sees coming."

He chuckled darkly, "Ah yes, what's a little backstabbing between friends?"

Xiao set her jaw, "Also, please don't leave it to Y'shtola."

"She's said on many occasions that she'd enjoy killing you with her own hands, why deny her the pleasure?"

"Thancred."

He sighed, "Bloody hells, Xiao, things have gotten more complicated. This is no longer just a preventative oath between comrades."

She looked down to break eye contact, "I've thought long and hard about this. I don't think she could do it, truth be told, even if it was no longer me. But if she did find the will to force herself, still don't wish her with my blood on her hands. 'Twould destroy her."

"And what of the other Scions, what about Alphinaud and Alisaie? What about Minfilia?"

Xiao met his eyes again, "She's the complication, isn't she?"

Thancred huffed, "No, no, what would they think once the deed was done? Should I explain to them all that we had agreed long ago to put one another out of our respective miseries? A murder pact? How do you think they'd take it?"

"When the time comes, think'll be clear what had to be done."

"Cold comfort for the rest of us," he drew his gunblade and placed its edge against Xiao's neck, "A single swipe above the shoulders, quick and deadly."

"Let it not come to that, but yes."

"Aye, godsforbid."

***

Thancred did not strike her down after she absorbed Innocence. Between G'raha's abduction and all of the Scions acting as a whole, he didn't have the chance. Ryne sealed the Light within Xiao, but he could see how it changed her. Xiao's hair was as dry and brittle as straw, the streak of lighter purple on her front locks was a now pure white. Her skin seemed faded, like fabric left out to bake in the sun.

When they got back to the Crystarium, Y'shtola described grimly how Xiao's smallclothes seemed bleached and the material was as stiff as parchment. The washcloths they used to mop up the Light aether that seeped from her body were burned along with the smallclothes.

Y'shtola, Ryne, and Alisaie were the ones that primarily kept tabs on Xiao as she slept when they were not out seeking solutions themselves. Each of them left Xiao's chambers with patchy bits of skin on their hands, and that skin would split, peel, and slough off.

"Does it hurt?" Thancred asked once while applying ointment and bandages to Ryne's bleeding palms.

"It doesn't. That's what's most worrying. When I do a sealing, when I wipe her body down of light aether, I expect my palms to sting, but I hardly feel anything at all." Ryne looked into Thancred's eyes, pleading, "Do you think Xiao will survive this?"

Thancred looked away, "She's very tough. Even under such circumstances, I'd say she has good odds still."

"What if she turns?"

"I'll take care of it."

"Thancred, what does that mean?"

He looked back to Ryne's horrified expression. Gods be good. He couldn't do it. Not in front of Ryne. Not after all they've been through.

"...Xiao and I came to an understanding, an agreement, on what should happen." He smiled, "We have a plan."

Ryne got quiet in the way she used to get quiet when she suspected Thancred was mad at her. It only now dawned on him that she did this also when she suspected Thancred wasn't being honest with her.

***

Y'shtola slowed down her pace, and spoke once he was at her side, "Thancred, a word."

"What's on your mind, Master Matoya?"

This earned him a little kick to the side of the leg.

She continued while he feigned injury and tenderly rubbed his shin, "What's going on between you and Xiao?"

"Pardon?"

"The entire trip from the Ondo Cups, she's been trying to get your attention, but only when my back is turned."

In all of Xiao's preoccupation, she seemed to have forgotten her lover needn't direct her eyes to see.

"I haven't the foggiest."

"Please, even without aethersight, I could sense the desperation off her."

Y'shtola was worried. They all were, but Y'shtola was worried differently. Xiao had been avoiding Y'shtola in small ways ever since she reawoke. Xiao had never been the type to pass up a chance to bathe in Y'shtola's undivided attention, and yet...

"...There are certain matters that Xiao left to my discretion."

Y'shtola clicked her tongue, "I'd expect Urianger to keep secrets from the rest of us, but you too?"

He didn't know if that was an insult, but he did feel a bit insulted that he was so quickly seen through, "All told, 'tis a small thing."

"Will you act upon it?"

He could feel Y'shtola's aethersight boring holes into his skull. He looked at Ryne talking with Alisaie, and Xiao further up ahead, her sights on the grand marble building that loomed before them.

Thancred watched as Xiao spat out a bit of light and wiped her mouth on her gauntlet. He pictured a single swift slice across her nape. His mind echoed with the memory of Ryne screaming as a villager turned into a sin eater in front of her some years back.

He grit his teeth.

"I am nothing if not a man of my word."

***

Thancred's ears rang and his head ached. He quickly assessed his surroundings, the twins were down, Y'shtola and Urianger were out cold, Ryne was squirming and struggling to arise...

And Xiao was stumbling towards Emet Selch, dragging her sword behind her. If the bastard was still pontificating, Thancred could not hear it over the ringing. He helped Ryne to her knees as he arose himself, keeping an eye on Xiao---

With the sound of cracking glass, she was inundated in light aether once more. The seals Ryne had placed failed. Xiao was left on her hands and knees, her body wracked with pain, and with each shuddering heave, she vomited even more light aether.

Thancred drew his gunblade. It was time. Time to fulfill his oath to Xiao.

He looked back at Ryne one last time, and smiled sadly.

"I can do it. I can seal Xiao back up," she said, a look of determination on her face the likes of which Thancred had never seen before.

"You can?"

"I will."

Thancred looked back at Xiao, then at Emet Selch, then back to Ryne.

"That's my girl."

He leapt, not for Xiao's backside, but a target just beyond.

[blackbird-brewster]

Usually, weekends feel like a double-edged sword for me. On one hand, I get to spend time with my partner. On the other, that means I don't usually have time to write or time to myself (both of which are very important parts of my usual routine).

Basically, my head fills up with all my ideas and plot bunnies and with no way to get them out without sacrificing quality time with Doom Them, I get very cranky and sometimes the Autism makes me shutdown. Which isn't ideal for either of us.

Then sometimes, I can't enjoy either of my usual options, because my body malfunctions into a bad flare and steals my weekend from me.

This weekend was like that. It was really difficult pain-wise, because I spent the past two days bleaching and dying Doom Them's hair. Which involved about six total hours over the two days. Standing for long periods, extreme concentration, and time management all meant I crashed really hard both evenings. (I got it done, it looks PHENOMENAL but it took so much out of me)

I honestly don't know how I kept a full-time job for so long before I stopped working in 2020. Ten hour days on my feet, lifting box after box after box of books, up and down ladders, squatting to get to shelves, it was extremely demanding (even though it was also my dream job).

My mobility has lessened to maybe 1/4 of what it was in only three short years. I've added multiple new diagnosises to my already long list of conditions. It hasn't been easy.

But for the most part, I manage. I don't have any other option, you know? Disabled people, we have to find ways to manage, to just get used to the way things are... Or else it feels like I might be crushed by the weight of it all.

There's no point here. It was a difficult weekend, one full of reminders of how my body is riddled with disease, how my mind needs extra time to decompress and engage in special interests, how my chronic conditions steal so much precious time from me.

It sucks. It's difficult. But I keep going, because there isn't any other option.

[ncllywrites]

Cuddle Buddies

elliot (euphoria) x fem!reader

jules, rue and fez make appearances!

summary: maybe meeting new people isn’t so bad

warning: NSFW content, strong language, unprotected sex, creampie, dom!elliot, oral (female receiving), fingering, i think that’s it??

wc: 2.5k words

A/N: i wrote this a while back for a different fandom and since this is my first time sharing my writing in about 2 years?? i decided to rework it for elliot! i'm open to feedback as long as its positive and constructive :)

i do not own this gif - all credit goes to the creator

I was stretched out on the couch when Jules walked into the room, her face buried in her phone. “What’s up, Jules?” She lifted her head and gave me a lopsided smile, picking my legs up and laying them on her lap.

Nothing, Rue and Ellie are coming over to hang in a bit.” I furrowed my eyebrows, my foot twitching slightly as she brushed her fingers over my shin.

“Who?”

“Elliot. A friend of ours.” I hummed, laying my head back on the couch. Jules and I have been friends for years and I’ve never heard of Elliot. I stared at the side of Jules’ head, my mood slowly turning sour. I remembered when I poured my entire heart out to her, letting her know how much I hated meeting new people. I turned my head away from her, feeling slightly annoyed.

The doorbell rang and Jules practically shoved my legs off of her to rush over to open the door. She must really like this Elliot person, huh? I heard Jules laugh a bit too hard before bringing Rue and their guest into a hug, dragging them through the open door. I tilted my head back to see a tall guy with bleached hair staring at me with an unreadable expression.

“I’m Elliot.” He held his hand out for me to shake. I slowly rolled over and took his hand, the whole encounter probably lasting longer than it needed to. “I’m assuming you’re Y/N? It’s nice to finally meet you by the way. These two never shut up about you.” He chuckles softly, eyes lingering on me for a second while a smirk works its way onto his face.

“Yeah, you too.” Jules looked between the two of us, a scowl taking over her expression.

“Okay…” she said, drawing out the ‘y’, guiding Elliot to the stairs to follow after Rue. “ We’re gonna go smoke in my room. Shout if you need me.” Elliot walked up the stairs after Jules, his eyes occasionally flicking over to me. He put one foot on the stairs, giving me another once-over before leaving the room with a wink.

Shaking the extremely sexual intrusive thoughts out of my head, I made my way back over to the couch to watch another episode of whatever was on tv knowing my mom would kill me if she even thought she smelled weed on me.

After a few more episodes, I decided to stop ignoring my stomach that was basically eating away at itself at this point and texted Jules, offering to go on a food run.

Not long after the text was delivered, Jules replied with a three paragraph order which made me roll my eyes because I should’ve known that she’d be ready to eat her body weight in snacks after smoking.

As I’m bent over lacing up my shoes, I feel hands grip my waist and someone’s crotch graze the curve of my ass. I whip around ready to swing, only to come face to face - well chest - with Elliot.

“Hey, I thought I’d come along for the ride. Maybe we could get to know each other a little better, hmm?”

Trying to play off the fact that I wanted him to push me up against the wall and kiss me until I passed out, I grabbed my phone and keys, and headed out the door.

“I could definitely use some help carrying all of the girls’ snacks in” I call over my shoulder as I head to my car.

Hopping in, I let Elliot connect to the bluetooth. I can’t have a crush on someone with trash music taste! What if he listens to Polka music or something?

My thoughts got cut off when the intro to Poppin’ My Collar began to play through the car. Gasping, I effortlessly rap the song word for word.

Pulling up to Fez’s store, I look over to the passenger seat to see Elliot with a look of awe on his face.

“What was that?!” he exclaimed. Shrugging, I got out of the car, hoping that he didn’t see how nervous he was making me. “What? I used to listen to this all the time when I was little.”

We made small talk as we walked around the shop grabbing everything on Jules’ list. Dropping everything on the counter, Fez looked up at me like I was crazy. “Damn kid, where you finna put all this shit?” Rolling my eyes, I laugh as I playfully punch his shoulder. “It’s not all for me, asshole. Jules and Rue are back at home high as hell.” Fez shook his head as he laughed under his breath, not needing any more of an explanation.

“Hey bro, can I also get a pack of Honey Backwoods?” Elliot spoke up from behind me. Looking over my shoulder, Fez gave him a slight nod. “Sure thing, playboy. Your total is gonna be $17.55.” Elliot handed Fez a $20 bill and then we made our way back to Jules’.

As soon as my hand made contact with the doorknob, the door was yanked open and the plastic bag was snatched out of my hand.

I turned to see if Elliot had seen what just happened when I heard a huge thud. I looked back into the house to see Rue sprawled out on the steps for a few seconds before she jumped right back up and kept running to Jules’ room, shouting a quick “I’m fine!” behind her.

Shaking his head, Elliot chuckles. “Let’s get up there before they eat everything.”

Just as he said, we walked into the room to see the bed covered in various snack wrappers, half a honeybun hanging out of Rue’s mouth.

Grabbing a bag of doritos, I offered some to Elliot, knowing that Jules was very particular when it came to sharing her food.

After all the snacks were eaten, I went downstairs to throw away the trash. On my way back to the room I was brought into a hug by Rue, “I totally forgot I had a meeting tonight so I’m gonna dip. Love you Y/N/N.” When I got back to the room, I saw Jules wrapping her arms around Elliot’s waist while her head was resting on his shoulder.

Seeing them hold each other so close sent a pang of jealousy coursing through my body. ‘Rue barely made it down the street’ I thought to myself.

“Oh, sorry, didn’t mean to interrupt. I guess I’ll downstairs or something…” I say, the whole situation making me feel awkward.

“No! Come cuddle with us Y/N/N” Jules said, stretching her arm out towards me without making any effort to move from her place on the bed. “Yeah Y/N/N, come cuddle.” Elliot repeats, the rasp of his voice making my knees buckle slightly.

Elliot shifts on the bed to make space for me to lay down. I sat down, making sure to leave some space between the two of us, focusing on whatever was playing on the tv until I got dragged closer to Elliot’s chest.

“Why are you so far? I don’t bite” he said, sending me a sly wink. Leaning up, I see Jules nodding off.

I was so caught up in the movie that I didn’t notice Elliot aimlessly tracing shapes on my exposed skin. I let out a soft moan, my eyes going wide as I realized what I had just done.

“Elliot, we have to stop. Jules is right there!” Sliding Jules’ deadweight off of his arm, he headed towards the door, only stopping to look back at me once he realized that I wasn’t following him.

Noticing my puzzled look, he chuckles. “You said we couldn’t do anything in the same room as Jules, so we’re moving to the couch. Let’s go.” And with a tilt of his head, he was already halfway down the stairs.

I sat on the bed, stunned at how Elliot’s demanding tone made me feel before scrambling toward the stairs, not wanting to make him wait any longer. Once in the living room, I went to sit down next to Elliot, only to be dragged into his lap. Wrapping his arms around my waist, he placed his chin on my shoulder and began to nibble on my earlobe.

“I like making you squirm. It’s cute to see you lose all self control around me. I’m glad you know who’s in charge, babydoll.”

The whole time he was teasing me and whispering in my ear, his right hand made its way up to my throat, while his left hand slowly spread my thighs, squeezing ever so often.

Keeping his grip on my throat, Elliot flipped us over so that my back was pressed against the couch. “You gonna let me make you feel good, baby?” he asked as he left a trail of kisses from my lips to the dip of my collarbone.

My breath hitched in my throat, all I could do was nod my head like a scared little kid. Smirking, he backed up and removed his top, leaving him in his grey sweatpants.

Sensing my hesitancy to undress in front of him, he cupped my cheeks. “You don’t have to be uncomfortable around me, baby. I’m sure you have a beautiful body.”

Slowly pulling my hoodie over my head, I keep my eyes down and fold my arms over my newly exposed torso. Elliot grabs my hands and brings them towards his face, pressing gentle kisses across my knuckles.

“You have nothing to be ashamed of. Your body is perfect.”

Feeling slightly more confident, I let him continue kissing down my chest until he reached the hem of my jeans. Dragging down both the pants and my thong to just below my knees, he stared at my glistening slit, then looked back up at me. “Looks like someone’s excited! How many times are you gonna cum for me, baby?” He said as his tongue danced along my throbbing clit.

Before I could answer, Elliot sucked my clit into his mouth and through primal instinct, my fingers tangled themselves in his shaggy bleached locks and I clamped my thighs around his head. He stayed there for a while, alternating between flicking and rolling his tongue around my bud before tapping my thigh, signaling for me to let him up.

The sight of his flushed face gasping for air and the string of saliva that connected his bottom lip to the tip of my clit made me clench around nothing, much to his amusement. Spreading my folds with both hands, he slid his tongue into my entrance, licking up any arousal that might have leaked out.

As his tongue maneuvered through my soaked folds, Elliot began to rub his thumb over my clit in tight circles. “Oh fuck, Elliot, I’m gonna…” and before I could finish my sentence, I came right on his slick pink muscle.

Making sure he had my undivided eye contact, he swiped his fingers across his cheeks, collecting any cum that missed his mouth and made a show of sucking his fingers clean, making sure to show me that he did in fact swallow it when he was done.

Elliot quickly removed his sweatpants, his boxers coming off as well. Lifting me by my waist, he took my place on the couch. “I wanna be inside you so bad, baby.” Kicking off my bottoms, I straddle his lap as he lines himself up with my entrance. Once he bottoms out, we both let out guttural moans. “Shit, I hope Jules doesn’t wake up.” “We’ll be fine. She once slept through the sirens of 3 firetrucks when her neighbor’s backyard was on fire, I don’t think your moaning is gonna wake her up.”

Before Elliot could ask any questions, I began to grind my hips into his, reveling in the friction of his happy trail against my swollen nub. Once he set a pace that was comfortable for the both of us, he began to thrust up into me, the clapping of our skin motivating him to pound into me even harder.

Suddenly Elliot got a burst of confidence and flipped me onto my stomach on the carpet, thrusting into me from behind. I began thrusting back to meet his strokes halfway, reaching back to wrap my around the back of his head, leaning my head back onto his shoulder. “Who knew Ellie had it in him, hmm? I bet this is too much for you.” I said in a teasing tone.

Catching me off guard, he gripped my neck and pressed my face down into the plush carpet, spanking my ass with every thrust. “Keep that shit up and you won’t cum again anytime soon.” He growled through gritted teeth. “Mmh, shit… you’re fucking me so deep, Ellie, ‘m sorry! Please let me cum, baby.”

Looking down, he saw that I was rubbing my clit vigorously, so he slapped my hand away, making me whine before he replaced my fingers with his, bringing me to my climax. With a tight grip on my waist, he began to plow into me. “Fuck I’m gonna cum.” “Don’t pull out, Ellie. I’m on the pill. I wanna feel you fill me up.” His hips stuttered at my request and a swear I heard him whimper as his strokes got sloppier by the second.

With a strained “Fuck”, I felt Elliot’s warm release spill inside of my pussy. He fell forwards, leaning his sweaty forehead on my shoulder blade, peppering my skin with light kisses as I tried to not clench around his pulsating cock that was slowly softening within me.

With our backs pressed up against the couch, we tried to catch our breath, basking in the comfortable silence before getting dressed again, praying that Jules had slept through all of that.

Even though I knew that Jules was a heavy sleeper, we still walked softly up the stairs and into Jules’ room where she was now at the center of the bed. Lifting the covers, we slid in on either side of the blonde, hoping to not wake her. Right after we settled into our places, Jules rolled over, rubbing her eyes, a slight pout present on her face. “Where’d you guys go? I woke up a couple times and didn’t feel anyone else in bed.”

Choking on my spit, I look over at Elliot who didn’t even seem panicked at the thought of Jules potentially hearing him blow my back out on her living room carpet. “Oh, we went down to the living room so we wouldn't wake you up with our loud conversation, right Y/N?” Shaking myself out of shock, I stumble over my words before agreeing with Elliot. “Uh, we- yeah, YEAH! You just looked so peaceful and we didn't wanna bother you.”

Wrapping her arms around both of our necks, Jules pulled us in for a group hug. “Awe, that’s so sweet! I knew you guys would get along. I love you guys.” Looking dead into my eyes, Elliot replies.

“I love you, too.”

[reidsnose]

Black Eye

overview: reader and spencer go to reader's highschool reunion as a fake couple

genre: fluff i think

warnings: mild violence and swearing, a guy being kind of a total creep, and mentions of bullying

a/n: idk if its any good again just love the idea but it was inspired by a dream i had last night (thank you temporal lobe) so yeah let me know what yall think !! :) also im posting this at like ass oclock in the morning so whoops

masterlist

-

-

you and spencer had gotten yourselves in quite the situation.

your dreaded highschool reunion was just around the corner and you made the mistake of complaining about it to penelope. she was always trying to make everyones life easier (and more interesting) so when she heard you had no date she took it upon herself to find you one.

it didn't take a lot of looking, none at all actually; because Penelope had already been trying to figure out ways to get you and Reid together.

you two were undeniably perfect for each other. you were an amazing team at work, you hung out alone all the time (though both of you denied these hang out as being dates, Garcia had her own ideas on this), and you were both very obliviously head over heels for each other.

and somehow, through the magical ways of Penelope Garcia, you and Spencer were now sitting in the parking lot, fake married for your high school reunion.

"do we need to go over our back story again?" you worried, looking up at him.

"our backstory is basically all true anyway we just fall in love after a little bit. and i have an eidetic memory so i remember; you're my wife you should know this!" he joked, trying to relax you. "we got this! we're gonna be so married!"

Spencer had actually never been this nervous in his life but he was trying to be brave for you. it would be more embarrassing for you both to show up like nervous wrecks than if you had just come alone. he was just happy to get to be fake married to you.

"the marriedest!" smiled, fist bumping him.

"now lets go make some people jealous!" he chuckled getting out of the car and jogging over to your side, opening your door before you got the chance to; like a true gentleman.

you stuck out your hand which he happily took into his, neither of you commenting on the redness you both had sprinkled across your cheeks. as you walked in, you saw all the people you dreaded seeing.

the boys who tormented you were balding and the girls who made sure you felt awful everyday had wrinkles riddling there skin. you were surrounded by botched botox and bleached blonde to cover graying hair. you felt terrible to admit it, but you were a little happy to see that their beauty had faded like this; they made their looks their whole personality in high school, you couldn't help but wonder what was left for them to be. not that it mattered, but you and Spencer were undeniably the most attractive couple there.

you actually had an ok time, you had spotted a few of your friends that you hadn't seen in quite a few years and it was nice to catch up.

Spencer had wondered a bit, but not too far, he was talking to some guys who used to be in science club when you were younger. you smiled at the thought of what they might be talking about.

"y/n! hey youve really filled out!" you heard a gruff voice from behind you.

you turned around and were met with the very unappealing face of the ex quarterback. Spencers attention had been caught at the sound of your name.

"um..hello," you muttered, trying to covertly back away from him.

"i see youve got a ring, interesting i dont remember us getting married!" he said in an incredibly creepy tone.

"do you know im a federal agent now?" you said through a gritted smile.

spencer had already begun walking towards you, he could tell something was off.

"ill tell you what sweetheart," he put his hand on your shoulder, pulling you slightly closer to him, "you can put me in handcuffs any day."

you threw his hand off of you and drew back your fist, but were cut off before you could deliver the punch but his hand engulfing your own, and squeezing.

"THATS MY WIFE!" spencer yelled in a voice you had never heard from him before.in the blink of an eye he was standing between in front of him. "do not ever talk to her like that, let alone lay a finger on her or so help me God i will-"

"what beanpole? what are you gonna do? what if i did this?" the man asked.

and then he sent a swift punch to Spencer's face.

thats gonna leave a mark.

in a matter of seconds, Spencer had him overpowered, laying face first on the floor with his hands uncomfortably angled behind him, completely helpless.

"now i'm going to let you go and you're going to walk out of here unharmed. if you try anything like that again, ill let my wife handle you. and i promise if she gets a hold of you, you'll be a dead son of a bitch." Spencer muttered in the mans ear, gruffly pulling him up by his collar and shoving him towards the door.

"were leaving." you said, grabbing Spencer's hand, trying to ignore how incredibly attractive he looked right now.

"babe if you want to stay we can stay," he offered as if he didn't just have his shit kicked in by a coward with misogynistic tendencies.

"honey, i want to take you home," you smiled, liking the way it felt to call him a pet name. you walked into the parking lot, "what were you thinking?"

"i was thinking this guy is trying to hurt you and i was not going to ever let that happen." he answered confidently as you two reached the car. "plus this totally made the marriage thing more believable. i wouldn't get a black eye for just anyone."

"thank you. i'm sorry you got punched trying to protect me." you sighed, feeling incredibly awful about the whole thing.

he chuckled, "id do it again."

you fought hard against the blush creeping up your face.

"i gotta say, the black eye really suits you. you look pretty badass." you chuckled, trying to change the subject before it got too sappy and you said something you shouldn't.

"maybe it should just be my new look," he joked, looking down at a ping from his phone. "uh oh."

"we have a case?" you asked.

"yep. and hotch wants us in the office asap which means we cont stop by either of our houses." he sighed before starting the car.

the drive was mostly silent. but a comfortable silence. Spencer thought about how in the moment, he didn't care how many punches the guy threw at him, as long as it meant you were ok, he was willing to take it. he knew he loved you far before that moment but that truly solidified it.

at the same time you were thinking of how quickly your time as a 'married couple' was over. it felt so right to call Spencer yours. so unexplainably perfect for the two of you to be together. if only your time wasn't cut short by a sucker punch.

you neared the building's parking lot. you looked over at Spencer who you could very easily tell was lost in his own world.

"whats going on in that beautiful head of yours?" you asked, causing him to stifle a smile.

"just thinking." he answered.

"what about?"

"us." he stated, pulling into his parking spot.

oh. oh.

"do tell."

he hesitated, "if i tell you, and you disagree, do you promise it wont change anything about us?"

"i promise."

"did it feel right to you? us being together?" he asked, his eyes innocent and filled to the brim with a mixture of anxiety and adoration as he looked at you.

"yes. it absolutely did. and i was so mad at the assclown for cutting our time short," you admitted, "and punching you in the eye, obviously."

"i- i'm not sure how to ask this but- do you...would you..sorry i-" he stammered.

"yes."

you cut him off, pressing your lips to his. his hand gently cupped your face, deepening the kiss and you both felt like you were on cloud nine.

"thats exactly what i was trying to say," he cracked a dopey smile, causing you to chuckle.

"i've been trying to say it for so long." you confessed, causing him to smile impossibly wider, "we gotta go hotch is waiting."

"just one more kiss?" he asked, which you gave in to, obviously. and then another. and another.

maybe it was good thing that he got a black eye that day, because when you got to the office the whole team was so focused on it they didn't even notice the hint of your lipstick left on spencers lips.

-

-

ultra mega super cool taglist:

@mac99martin @imhreid @spencersmagic @hollydaisy23 @raelady1184 @a-broken-pact @padfootswife @hey-there-angels @star-stuff-in-the-cosmos

[contemplativepancakes]

sunsets for somebody else

Daphne runs into her long lost husband arguing with another man in the grocery store. Things start to take a turn when she realizes they're married.

The bottle of bleach drops from Daphne’s hand into her cart, landing with a sloshing thud as she takes in the scene in front of her, frozen in her tracks. Emmanuel is standing right in front of her, arguing with another man about cleaning supplies.

Wearing a beige trench coat for some inexplicable reason—it’s almost 90 degrees outside—Emmanuel listens to a man who’s explaining in minute detail how to clean an oven. They’re both wearing wedding rings, and Daphne’s heart swells for a moment before she realizes it’s a different ring from the one she gave Emmanuel all those years ago.

“Dean, I don’t think this is safe for Jack. This is going to create noxious fumes,” Emmanuel says, squinting at the ingredients of the cleaner apparently-Dean had thrust at him.

Dean pinches the bridge of his nose, and Daphne squeezes the handle of her shopping cart harder, feeling faint. It’s not every day you come across your long lost husband at the Stop N’ Shop.

“I think the kid can take some fumes,” Dean says, plucking the bottle out of Emmanuel’s hands and putting it in the cart. “We wouldn’t even have to worry about this if someone didn’t let the pizza fall onto the bottom of the oven.”

“The directions said to put it directly on the middle rack!” Emmanuel protests, and Dean rubs a hand down Emmanuel’s back in a familiar way that makes Daphne’s stomach roil.

She’s not jealous, she’s not. She was just helping Emmanuel when she found him, after all. Their marriage was simply one of…convenience for Emmanuel. It’s not like he had a birth certificate with him, or a social security number. What did Daphne get out of all this? Well. Daphne looks at his cheek bones wistfully, her gaze dipping down to his strong forearms his trench coat is rolled up to reveal.

Dean rolls his eyes fondly, and then he tugs Emmanuel into his side, kissing him on the temple. Daphne jerks her stare away for a moment before returning it, noticing now that their wedding rings match.

“Emmanuel?” she chokes out, against her better judgment.

For a long second, she doesn’t think Emmanuel heard her, but he turns around. “Daphne?”

Daphne nods, her words forsaking her. She doesn’t miss the way Dean clutches possessively at Emmanuel’s hip.

“I…thought you were dead,” she finally says. “I filed a missing person report.”

Dean squints at her, before something like recognition passes over her face, and now that she thinks about it, Daphne recognizes him, too. He’s the one who showed up right before everything went to shit. Horror stories of Stockholm syndrome flash through her mind.

“Emmanuel, are you…happy?” she settles on.

Emmanuel gives her a smile, leaning harder into Dean. “I am.”

“Good. That’s. Good,” she says, a strangled look on her face, she’s sure. “Would you want to catch up some time?” she asks before she fully registers what’s coming out of her mouth.

Emmanuel gives her a warm smile. “I’d love that.”

As they set up a time to get coffee, Daphne tries to ignore the glare Dean levels at her throughout the whole conversation. He insists that their meeting be tomorrow, since apparently they won’t be in the area for long. Daphne tries to ignore the warning bells in her mind that tell her she’s about to get murdered and takes solace in the fact that at least they’re meeting in a public place.

Besides, even if Emmanuel’s husband is a serial killer, surely Emmanuel won’t let him murder her, right?

-

The next day, Daphne hems and haws as she debates what to wear. Whatever this is, it’s the exact opposite of a date, anyway. She knocks on the door of her foster child, Alex, to wake them up before she goes into the bathroom to do her hair and makeup. Really, she’s just doing it for herself. She’s allowed to want to look nice!

When she finally deems herself as ready as she’s going to get, she goes back to Alex’s room to make sure they’re actually up. To her pleasant surprise, they’re sitting on the edge of their bed putting on their socks and almost ready. “Excited for school today?” she asks.

Alex makes a face at her. “Never,” they say, but their voice at least has the edge of a smile to it.

They’ve come a long way since they were first placed with her, and even though Daphne knows she shouldn’t be getting overly attached, she can’t help it. She walks down the steps and into the kitchen, deliberating for a moment on breakfast before putting frozen waffles into the toaster. If she’s about to get murdered while Alex is at school, she can at least make sure the last thing she made for them wasn’t cereal.

Alex tromps down the steps, dragging their bookbag behind them, and Daphne hides her smile behind her glass of orange juice. Alex lights up at the sight of the waffles, disturbingly easy to please, as always. They inhale them, as teenagers do, before putting their dishes in the sink. Daphne cracks open her laptop as they wait for the bus, attempting to get some of her work done for the day since she’ll be taking a break later for the coffee. She really hopes her boss doesn’t try and call her while she’s out.

Or, maybe she does. She’s not sure she’s prepared for the level of awkwardness that she’s about to go through, but maybe it won’t be as bad as she thinks. She really wants to know what Emmanuel has been up to for all of this time. She’s still…embarrassingly hung up on him, and it would be nice to get some closure.

The bus pulling up in front of the house jerks her out of her thoughts, and she gives Alex a wave before they race off to get on. She watches them settle into a seat with one of their friends, and smiles at the fact that they even have friends now.

In the end, Daphne doesn’t manage to get much work done before she clambers into her car and drives to the coffee shop they agreed on. She doesn’t really think she needs caffeine with the way her leg is bouncing already.

Emmanuel and Dean are already there when she walks in, Emmanuel with a cup of black coffee he’s dumping sugar packets into and Dean with something with whipped cream and chocolate syrup drizzled on top. She gives them a tentative wave before ordering hot chocolate for herself, settling herself delicately in the seat across from them.

“So,” Dean says. “You were Cas’s wife?”

She squints. “Cas?”

Emmanuel speaks up. “After I regained my memories, I remembered that was my name.”

“Oh.” Smiling weakly, she tries to reconcile that. “You have them all back now?”

Emman—Cas nods.

“Just forgot about me, though?” she tries to ask lightly, but it comes out a little garbled.

“You took advantage of him!” Dean explodes from the other side of the table, making Daphne flinch. “Who the fuck finds someone naked with no memories and marries them?”

“Dean,” Cas chastises, his arm shifting like he’s putting his hand on Dean’s thigh under the table.

“I was helping him,” Daphne says hotly. “Would you have just wanted me to leave him there?”

Cutting Dean off before he can say anything else, Cas looks at Daphne and smiles in a way that makes her heart flutter. “I’m very grateful. I don’t know what I would have done without you. I’m sorry I didn’t reach out to let you know I was alright.”

Dean crosses his arms over his chest and leans back in his chair, taking a sip of his sugar monstrosity. He comes away with a whipped cream mustache, and it’s hard not to laugh as he wipes it away in total seriousness.

“So,” Daphne says. “You two have a kid? Jack?”

Scowling, which seems to be Dean’s automatic reflex, he exchanges a glance with Cas before softening. “Yeah, we have a kid. He’s four.”

Daphne thinks maybe Dean should have been a little bit more concerned about the fumes of cleaning chemicals if they have a four year old, but she keeps her judgments to herself. Cas beams. “He’s very bright.”

Returning the smile tentatively, Daphne asks, “How long have you two been married?”

“It’s almost our one year anniversary,” Dean says gruffly.

Daphne tries not to let it affect her, even if that’s more time than she ever got with Cas. “Practically newly weds, then!”

“It’s been an adventure; that’s certain,” Cas says, smiling serenely even as Dean elbows his ribs. “Tell us about you, Daphne. What have you been doing?”

Daphne shrugs a shoulder. “Oh, not too much.” Mourning the man I pulled out of the woods and saved and married, she doesn’t say. She knows Emmanuel never felt the same way about her that she did him. “I got approved to be a foster parent, so I’ve had a few kids come through.”

“Helping people has always been your calling,” Cas says softly.

Daphne takes a few minutes to gush about Alex, and her previous kids before them, before she notices Dean’s not actively glaring at her anymore.

“That’s…nice,” he begrudges when she finishes.

“What do you do, Dean?”

Looking like he just dropped something on his foot, he stammers before he hastily says, “I work construction.”

Daphne squints at him. She has the feeling he’s lying to her, but she has no idea why he would be.

“And what about you, Cas?”

“Oh, I mostly just take care of Jack.”

“You’re a stay at home dad?” she asks, the thought making her stomach twist into knots and heat rise to her face.

“Of a sorts,” Cas agrees.

God, they’re making it impossible to carry on a conversation with them. Daphne keeps a smile pasted to her face. “What do you two do for fun?”

“I’m convinced Dean thinks fun is superfluous,” Cas confides, even as Dean splutters at him. “But I like to drag him to thrift stores with me. Dean likes to bake, also.”

“I work on cars, too,” Dean says, and Daphne can feel his desperation to maintain his facade.

She tries not to quirk a smile at his discomfort. They chat for a while longer, Dean getting increasingly dodgy about the questions she asks before she finally excuses herself to go to the bathroom. She shuts the door behind her and looks down at the dank floor. Is she getting what she wanted out of this? She has no idea what she even imagined happening when she asked to catch up. Emmanuel running away with her? Maybe in her wildest fantasies. Taking a deep breath to ground herself, she looks in the mirror and checks her makeup, rubbing at her under eye circles before walking back out of the bathroom.

Cas is at the counter ordering another drink, for Dean, by the sound of the sugar content, and she walks over to him. Hesitating before she bites the bullet, she asks, “You’re not…like, being held against your will, right? That Dean seems,” she pauses, “interesting.”

Cas laughs warmly, putting a hand over Daphne’s. “No, nothing like that. This is a choice of my own free will, believe it or not. Dean is much more caring than he lets on.”

Well, Daphne’s not sure she believes it, but. At least he’s happy, and in the end, that’s all she’s ever wanted for him.

[redrobin-detective]

The late Daniel Fenton

It was shaping up to be a beautiful if chilly December day and Casper High, as always, was bustling. It was 7:49 and class was about to start. The teacher watched the last few kids stumbling in at various levels of wakefulness. He already knew who would be the ones to rush in after the bell but that was alright. Life was too short to stress about being a few minutes late to class, especially in Amity Park of all places.

He looked up to see Madison, one of his shyer students walk in before making a beeline for his desk. She was biting her lip and nervously rubbing her hand down her skirt. “Hey,” she began quietly.

“Good morning. What’s up, Mads?” He asked casually. She looked upset, he could probably put on a video for the class if she needed to talk. They really needed a permanent counselor but the constant ghost attacks ran off most of them so he’d taken up the unofficial mantle. It felt good to help his students like that, make up for past wrongs.

“Are we um, expecting any new students?” She asked, her eyes darting over to the door she’d just come through. “Any transfers, exchange students or anything like that?”

“No,” the teacher frowned. “Amity isn’t the kind of place people transfer into. Why?”

“There’s a kid in the hallway,” she mumbled. “I don’t recognize him, he’s got a backpack and everything but he’s... I don’t know he doesn’t feel right.”

“Oh you’re talking about that weird dark haired kid,” Kyle said as he entered and sat down with a slouch. But even the class slacker looked unusually tense. “Dude’s creepy, can’t put my finger on why but he definitely doesn’t belong.”

“Oh,” was all the teacher had to say. Suddenly he realized how cold the classroom had become, the uncomfortable feeling that was pressing ever so slightly down on them. “I suppose it makes sense, the ghosts have been quiet lately with the Truce and all. He probably got bored.”

“Sir?” Madison said.

“Shannon,” he said instead, looking over at the frizzy haired girl hunched over her sketchbook furiously at work. “Would you do me a favor and move to the vacant seat in the second row? Just for today.”

“What? Why?” the girl whined even as she gathered up her various arts supplies and got ready to move.

“That’s Mr. Fenton’s seat,” he said taking in a deep breath and closing his eyes in preparation for what he was about to see. Danny would come here, of course he would. This was Lancer’s old classroom and Danny had him for first period English Lit. He and Dash both did.

“Mr. Baxter? What’s going on, is it a ghost?” Malik asked from the back row while Shannon shuffled to her new temporary seat.

“Yes but you don’t need to be scared,” he said softly, evenly. “He won’t hurt you.” The bell rang but Dash didn’t start the lesson. Instead, he waited. Danny had never been on time to class the entire time Dash had known him, of course death wouldn’t change that.

“Sorry, I’m late Mr. Lancer,” Dash gripped his desk so he didn’t jump when Danny Fenton simply appeared in front of his desk instead of walking through the door like any other student. “My folks couldn’t drive me, they’re still working on their stupid ghost portal.” A quick glance over at this class showed varying levels of fear, shock and curiosity but they were Amity kids through and through. The cold, powerful energy radiating off Fenton told them it was best to play along with whatever the ghost wanted.

“Perfectly alright Mr. Fenton,” Dash said softly, searching the 14 year old’s perpetually young face. He hadn’t changed a bit since Dash last saw him their second week of freshman year. It seemed unreal seeing how the years had taken their toll on Casper’s favorite son, Dash Baxter. God had they really been that young once? “Take a seat and we’ll get started.”

Danny shrugged and walked over to the seat Shannon had just vacated. He sat just the same, one leg stretched out and the other propped up against the leg of the desk. As soon as he took off the backpack and put it around the chair, it disappeared. He didn’t say anything else, just sat as stared at Dash with piercing blue eyes like he could see right through him.

“We had been talking about the lead up to the Civil War but let’s table that for today,” Dash said, proud his voice only wavered a little. He knew other people had seen Fenton around town. Lina saw him standing outside the Nasty Burger maybe five or so years ago. Dale, who used to live near Fenton Works swore he sometimes saw someone moving through the windows of the long abandoned house. He’d always secretly dreaded the thought of seeing Danny Fenton again, afraid he’d finally get was coming to him.

“Instead, we’re going to talk about local history,” he continued, not daring to take his eyes off the undead teen. Every other living student was tense, afraid. He wished he could assure them that the ghost wouldn’t lay a hand on them. In the event Fenton decided to ditch the hero schtick, it would be Dash and Dash alone he’d come after. “Amity Park has long had rumors of being haunted dating all the way back to the 1600s. It wasn’t until the last century that scientists determined that Amity Park is located on top of a thin spot between our world and the ghost realm. Natural portals form here all the time allowing spirits to pass through.”

No one spoke and barely anyone breathed except for Danny would wasn’t breathing at all. He just sat and stared at Dash with steady, unblinking eyes.

“Jack and Maddie Fenton were the scientists who discovered the weak point in reality in Amity. They devoted their entire life to the study of ghosts and made remarkable advancements in our knowledge of ectobiology and culture, the first being,” he paused as Danny cocked his head in confusion, squinting his eyes suspiciously at Dash. “The first being their manmade portal to the ghost zone. The portal remained active for almost two decades for research purposes but was shut down following their deaths.”

“You’re not Mr. Lancer,” Danny said suddenly, his eyes shifting from baby blue to an ectoplasmic green. Marty, who was sitting to the left of Danny, swallowed a squeak of fear and squeezed his eyes shut.

“No,” Dash sighed, “Lancer died almost thirty years ago now. Best teacher I ever had, he gave me his blessing when he passed on the job to me.”

“I,” the ghost ran his hand through his hair which was starting to lose its color. Seeing Fenton looking so scared and confused made him ache. It reminded him of old times. Dash had spent most of his life making sure he helped hurt kids if only to make up for the one he’d never been able to make it up to. “I don’t understand.”

“It’s okay, Danny,” he soothed. “I know it’s a lot to take in.”

“The portal, it wasn’t working at first,” Danny justified, his aura glowing a little more. “Sam and Tuck, they were curious. They wanted to look but I told them it wasn’t allowed, Sam, Sam she dared me to go in. I put on the hazmat suit and went inside and found the on button inside. I accidentally hit it and-” he paused midsentence and looked down at his hands. They weren’t pale flesh anymore but covered in white gloves. The black was completely bleached from his hair. A few of the students gasped as they saw the strange would be student melt into Phantom, the ghostly hero who’d been protecting their town since their parents were young. “I died.”

So much time had gone by. People were born and people were buried and the truth became distorted until it was just a legend passed jokingly around cafeteria lunch tables. Amity’s youth had forgotten their town’s history until it was sitting in a desk, trying once more to be one of them.

“You did,” Dash said sadly. He remembered hearing the news of Fenton's death. An assembly had been called the morning after the accident. Lancer had cried at the podium, Manson and Foley hadn’t returned to school for a week and had never been the same again. Dash hadn’t known what to think at the time, only that the kid he’d beat up for the crime of being different would never show up to school again. Or so he’d thought. “It was a tragedy, you were mourned by a lot of people.”

“I know you, don’t I?” Danny said quietly before he sat up straighter. “Dash?”

“In the flesh,” Dash grinned shakily.

“But you’re so old,” Danny said, once more distressed. “Your hair is grey and there’s wrinkles on your face and-and you’re a teacher now?” The last line was said with incredulity, his eyes flaring again. “You used to push me down the stone steps of the school and shove me into my locker and call me names.”

“Yeah, I did,” he sighed, feeling every one of his years. He was pushing 70 but he didn’t think he’d ever stop feeling like a stupid 14 year old who took out his frustrations on the ones who didn’t deserve it. “But you were the last; I never touched another kid again. I’m married now, four kids. I’m vice principal now, teach History and coach the school’s football team. It’s,” his voice caught again, still unable to process how young and stupid Fenton looked sitting there like no time had passed at all. It made Dash feel like all his accomplishments and attempts to be better would never amount to anything so long as his last victim roamed the earth unable to find peace. “It doesn’t fix what I did back then but I make damn sure that there won’t be any bullying at Casper so long as I’m here.”

“Huh,” Danny said, slouching once more in his seat but it looked less like his earlier teenage laziness and more weary. He and Dash were the same age after all, just because only one of them got old doesn’t mean time didn’t still affect them. “You did change, a lot of things did.” Danny looked down at the desk, “how long has it been?”

“Almost 50 years,” Dash sighed. “My wife wants me to retire but I guess I always find more things to do.” He paused then decided it was now or never. “I’m sorry Danny, for hurting you back then. I wish I'd gotten to know you better.”

For just a moment, Danny was perfectly clear. Even half floating out of his chair and looking like the local celebrity, his eyes were so painfully human. A boy killed before he ever got a chance to get started. Who’s will to protect was so strong it lasted half a century. It haunted him late at night to think of the glory and power of Phantom overshadowing just how incredible Danny Fenton had been. Not that anyone had seen it at the time. Soon there wouldn’t be anyone left to remember that quiet, kind teenager and then Danny Fenton really would be dead. Kill him just as thoroughly as that portal had.

The moment was broken by a breath of cold leaking out of the ghost’s lips and, just like that, his highschool classmate was gone and Phantom was left in his stead. He looked curiously around the classroom as if he didn’t know how he’d gotten there.

“There’s a ghost, stay here and don’t leave unless the fighting gets too close. I’ll get it though, don’t worry. No kids are dying today.” Maybe it was Dash’s imagination but he thought he saw Phantom’s eyes linger on him for an extra moment, trying to place where he knew the teacher from. Dash just smiled.

“Our lives are in your hands. Good luck, Phantom,” the ghost teen saluted before fading away entirely. Dash let out the breath he didn’t know he’d been holding, suddenly exhausted but also lighter at the same time. It wasn’t every day you got to look your mistakes in the face and apologize. “Shannon, you can move back now.”

“No, I’m okay here,” Shannon said as she flipped to a new page in her sketchbook and looked intently at the spot where Fenton had once sat. “It’s like you said, that’s Danny’s seat.”

“I had no idea, Phantom’s been around for like, ever,” Freddie mumbled, pushing up his glasses. “But he used to be just like us.” And still was, Dash thought sadly. Danny would never grow old, never go to space like he’d always dreamed or marry Manson like he’d probably intended to. He was stuck, in more ways than one for who knows how long.

“Yes, that’s why it’s important to know your history. The Civil War and my other lessons are important but we can’t forget these smaller, more intimate histories. If we lose these lessons to time then we risk repeating the same mistakes over again.” He looked his students in the eyes, holding their attention.

“So we’ll continue today with the local history. Before he was ghost butt kicking superhero, Phantom was Danny Fenton, son of the local ghost hunters and a bit of an outcast in town. The Daniel Fenton Foundation was founded about a year after his death and was-”

[violettelueur]

— JUJUTSU KAISEN EPISODE TWENTY ONE (PART TWO) || JAMAIS VU

↳ featuring : itadori yuji + fushiguro megumi + kugisaki nobara + gojo satoru from jujutsu kaisen

↳ warnings : EXTREME grammar issues

↳ form : story

↳ published : 27 april

↳ pronouns : she/her

↳ word count : 2.8k

↳ synopsis : within the jujutsu world, there were three famous clans to be aware of, the Kamo clan, Zenin clan and the Gojo clan. However, unknown to many sorcerers there was one last family that was known to be apart of the three, only for them to disappear after the golden era leading some to speculate that they had died in battle after the sealing of ryomen sukuna, but....

↳ previous episode : jujutsu koshien

↳ next episode : the origin of blind obedience 

↳ barista’s notes : lets play a little game...find the genshin reference ╲ʕ·ᴥ·　╲ʔ

BEFORE READING, I NEED YOU TO BE AWARE OF THIS:

1. the whole story belongs to Gege Akutami and the credits go to them and them only.

2. the spell curses used belong to Tite Kubo due to them being the ‘Kidos’ being used on the manga and anime ‘Bleach’ - but none is mentioned in this chapter.

2.5. for the ‘cursed spells’/kidos (bleach) i will link this video here and tell you the time stamp to check out what i am intending to show - remember i add a few twist here and there by adding the katana to link with Y/N’s cursed technique : hopefully this video is slightly better...

3. if you are confused on anything, please don’t hesitate to message me since i know this whole thing is so confusing.

“May I ask why you are following me right now?”

At this moment in time, you were seated within a train in the Tokyo Underground Metro travelling to your planned destination wearing a white button-up shirt with the first two buttons loose since it was quite oversized that was tucked into a pair of wide-legged trousers since you didn’t want it to show at the bottom of your large oversized grey v-necked sweater with the final touch of a pair of Stan Smiths that Gojo had gifted you the second you entered the Gojo’s estate after packing the last of your things back at the Tokyo Metropolitan Curse Technical College - ‘think of it as a housewarming gift’ you remember him saying.

Speaking of Gojo…

“Why not~ It’s mine and your’s off-day, so let’s have a father-daughter day out together!” Gojo exclaimed in an excited tone, as he tilted his glasses down to look slightly down at you, showcasing his sparkling blue eyes with a cheeky smile planted on his face.

Turning your head to the side to look at him, you couldn’t help but want to snatch his glasses off and throw them across the other side of the train carriage since you have informed him all the time that you wanted to go on this outing of yours alone due to the fact that you wanted to clear your head about everything that has happened within the past week.

“Also, why the hell are those three following me?” you questioned in an annoyed whispered tone as you turned your head back to face forward before crossing your leg over your other one as you could sense the lingering but obvious trail of cursed energy from the other side of the carriage. However, you didn’t want to make it crystal clear that you knew Itadori, Fushiguro and Kugisaki were sitting on the other end looking at you while trying to not be or look suspicious.

“Well, let’s just say they are worried about you~” Gojo answered before placing one of his hands on the top of your head before beginning to gently ruffle your hair causing you to relax from your tense posture since it left a somewhat warm feeling in your heart - you also have gotten used to this little action of his since he would do the same thing when you were walking around the estate.

“So where are you planning to go? I did jump on this train because you were going in it,” Gojo asked, as he fixed his glasses leading you to look up to find that the next stop was the stop you were looking for, causing you to stand up and walk towards the exit leading Gojo to follow since he was just going by your lead at this moment in time.

“Kiyose Station?” Gojo said in a curious tone, only for you to step out of the train the second the doors opened leading Gojo to follow you as well as the three first-years that were trailing you from behind, just a few feet away to not get caught by you - even though, you already knew that they were stalking you from behind.

‘Really...did these guys forget I can sense their cursed energy?’

“Yeah, I guess I never really told you that I come here every year…’ you quietly confessed, causing Gojo to look at you with a confused expression before wondering why you were willing to take an hour-long journey for something to come to every year on the same day.

“Is that so?” Gojo questioned before looking up to the sky as he took in a deep breath of the fresh air that he was able to obtain after a long journey in the underground train station.

From his view, the sky was quite clear making it known to him that you probably had checked the weather beforehand when you were planning to go wherever he was following you to, you were always the type to be somewhat prepared for the day from what he could remember from past outings. For example, when you and him came out of a cafe to find that it was raining, you immediately took out an umbrella and held it above you and him even when you knew he could use his infinity to protect himself from the wet droplets.

“Don’t use your technique too much, just use an umbrella, you drag,” he recalled you saying and to be honest, he was somewhat gleeful at the fact you treated him the way you did. It was like you cared for him but didn’t want to explicitly admit it or make it too obvious, he felt like you were treating him like he wasn’t above you in the jujutsu world, you were basically the reason why he could relax and get away from the gripping pressure of being ‘the strongest’ - instead, you gave him the role of a father figure that he wasn’t an ideal person for, but you could tell he was trying.

“You know we are here right, you’re too much in a daydream right now,” you announced causing Gojo to snap his head back down to see a simple fence gate in front of a massive and bright field of sunflowers looking at his way like they were greeting him with their yellow happy petals.

“A sunflower field?” Gojo asked in a confused tone causing you to give a somewhat deadpan expression before turning back around to open the gate before entering the large field with other guests already hiding within the mass of tall flowers as you could sense your triplet classmates coming closer.

“You know, I knew I had weird classmates, but I didn’t know how weird…” you mentioned, causing your adoptive father to start laughing before wrapping an arm around your shoulders as you both began to walk around to view the tall flowers that had been planted and grown for the season causing Gojo to somewhat come to the realisation that you had some fascination with flowers ever since he had come to meet you - except for your weird addiction to orange juice that he learned first.

“Wah~ the sunflowers are in full bloom~” Gojo excitedly beamed out, causing some visitors to look at the tall man with a surprised expression to then quickly turn into admiration when they realise how handsome the man looked causing you to cringe since this is what you wanted to avoid coming here.

“So why do you like flowers Y/N?” Gojo suddenly queried you causing you to turn your head up to look at him while continuing to stroll down the path you both were going at, leading you to begin questioning how your fascination with flowers came about and to be honest….

“I don’t know,” you answered in a low tone before turning back to view the beautiful display that was surrounding you with the warmth you needed right now. “I guess...it’s like a remedy...one that I need,” you further explained causing Gojo to look down at you with a small smile before turning his head back slightly over his shoulder to notice his over students a few feet back arguing about whatever they were talking about while trying to keep up with the both of you - it seemed like his unnecessary tall height somewhat helped them to scout both you and him.

“Also, the estate is so dull, you need some sort of colour, so I might as well buy some sunflowers here,” you quickly added, causing the strongest sorcerer to quickly snap his head back to look at you before childishly complaining how the estate looked fine and there was no need to judge the decor of the clan house you were living in at his current moment, only for you to counter his argument with how paintings weren’t helping and the empty antique vases were not going to fill themselves up magically.

“The servants can find flowers, you don’t need to do this yourself,” Gojo mentioned causing you to give him a side look before saying that you wanted to do this, leading Gojo to close his mouth quickly as he suddenly remembered how you would always help out even when they would try to push you away since they were worried about you over-working when you were emotionally recovering this week. He also recollected how you would just admit that you were used to doing chores yourself since you had lived alone for six years before he took you in.

Unexpectantly, you turned somewhere to the right causing Gojo to be somewhat surprised since he didn’t expect you to take a sudden different route, only for his eyes to come into the sudden appearance of a little market place where some people (especially some elders) selling vegetables, small accessories, flowers and what seemed to be some charms.

However, it seemed like you weren’t telling him where you were planning to start since you were now basically just guiding him to wherever you wanted to go - after all, it was his first time here and probably needed some guidance from you.

From behind, Itadori and Kugisaki were chatting about how they were going to stay hidden away from you, while Fushiguro looked exhausted with both of them by his side and somewhat knew that you knew they were following you since he remembered that you were able to sense people’s cursed energy like a tracking system - he even reminded both his classmates about this technique of yours and they flat out ignored it, not recalling his first lesson when him and Itadori were forced into a maid cafe while tailing their teacher.

“Gojo knows a lot of places, doesn’t she?” Kugisaki muttered in amazement as she spun around to obtain a 360-degree view of the sunflower scenery that they were at right now, leading Itadori to agree with her as he smiled happily at the bright-like atmosphere that was surrounding them right now.

“Fushiguro, look! There are so many!” Itadori beamed, leading Kugisaki smacking him on the head before informing him that he was being too loud and they were about to get caught causing Fushiguro to let out a sigh in slight annoyance.

‘I can tell she’s laughing at us, right now’ Fushiguro thought as he could see your shoulders going up and down like how they would when you would giggle.

As time went on, the trio kept tabs on you as you went from market stall to market stall to view those items that the sellers had for sale leading them to wonder what you were looking for since you never really took the time to bring out your wallet and pay for whatever the seller would pitch you.

“These are so cute, why didn’t she buy them?” Kugisaki questioned as she lifted up a pair of sunflower earrings that you had previously viewed causing the seller to start telling her how they made it and how beautiful they would look on her, while Fushiguro looked to the side peering at you and Gojo only to discover you at this one stall where the seasoned sunflowers were being sold.

However, before you could even ask the seller for a bouquet, a little girl sudden ran up to the stall asking their mother if they could get a sunflower, only for the worried woman to inform their child that they weren’t about to afford it due to them using the last of their money to pay for the food that they ate causing the little girl to quickly become quiet before turning back around to view the bright flowers that she wasn’t able to get with tears pending in her eyes.

“Excuse me madam, how much for two flowers?” you asked gently, causing the old woman being the stall to turn her head to look at you before answering your question with a price leading you to place a purchase while adding your bouquet to the order, causing the little girl standing beside you to look at you with a confused expression since she didn’t understand why you were buying a whole bouquet of her favourite flowers with two single ones alone.

While the woman was wrapping the last of the single sunflower she was preparing for you in the classic brown paper, you gently took the one she had finished before handing it to the small child that was by your side, causing her to look at the flower in complete awe before looking up at you, only to see a small but gently smile painted on your face.

“It’s for you,” you informed her in a light and soft tone, leading the girl to slowly take the bouquet away from your grasp before noticing how you were going to pay extra for the black ribbon tied around the flower as well as the white baby breaths that surrounded the single flower before giving the other single flower to them mother that was behind the child, causing the woman to look at you in shock before thanking you for the gift as she didn’t expect you to buy something for her as well after you gifted her daughter with what she wanted.

“What do you say to the nice lady, dear?” the mom questioned her daughter causing the little girl to look confused before realising what she meant as she jumped in excitement.

“Thank you so much, miss!” the girl cheered, causing you to smile at her before excitingly showing the mother the flower you had gifted her as you then turned back around to collect the bouquet that you had brought for yourself as you processed to give her the amount of money needed for the large purchase.

“Shame...and I thought you were giving one each to me and you…” Gojo muttered with a pout, causing you to give him a weirded-out side glance before scoffing in amusement.

“Never in a million years dad,” you answered in a teasing manner before making your way towards the trio that was at the stall behind you, leaving the strongest sorcerer shocked at what you had just said to him, as the duo of Itadori Yuji and Kugisaki Nobara screamed at your sudden appearance since they would they were in the clear, while Fushiguro was looking at you with a gentle but his usually stoic face as he somewhat found out about your side of kindness you had for other people.

“Gojo!” Itadori screamed, causing you to give them a small smile.

“So...care to explain why you have been following me since I left the estate? Why is it once you finally get a break from being a sorcerer, rather than taking a rest, you instead come to me?” you questioned in a sinister tone, causing all three of your classmates to shiver at the dark aura that was emitting itself from your body right now.

However, before they were even able to answer in their frightened state, Gojo suddenly launched himself at you from behind with tears in his eyes causing you to yell at him for his childish behaviour, only for him to wrap his arms around your shoulders before rocking you from side to side in pure happiness.

“You called me ‘dad’, come on, say it again! One more time!” Gojo requested in pure glee as tears of happiness streamed down his face with a silly smile, leading the trio behind you to look at the sorcerer with pure horror as you informed him that he was already asking you for too much as once was enough causing Gojo to complain in a childish voice again that ‘it wasn’t too much’ and that you have to say it again, almost causing you to smack the bouquet across his face.

“Let me go!” you yelled out, as you tried to pry Gojo’s arms that were around your shoulder while trying not to crease the flowers that you have just bought only for your adoptive father to cling onto you tighter to which caused your body to give up and you stood there with a disheartened expression on your face, completely forgetting that Itadori, Fushiguro and Kugisaki had followed you here as you had another issue to deal with.

While this was going on, Fushiguro couldn’t help but continue to recall the situation that had happened earlier between you and the little family, especially the small action of your hand going down to pass the flower to the little girl...as if a hand has reached down to him before leading little images of a hand passing him a bandage came into view, yet he didn’t seem to have any recollection of it...like a memory, he technically didn’t remember.

“Gojo?” Fushiguro called you out, causing you to turn to him while grasping on the bright sunflowers that were facing his way as if to give him encouragement to say what he was planning on asking you.

“What’s the opposite of Deja vu?”

© violettelueur 2021 : written and published by violettelueur - do not steal or repost

[luci-in-trenchcoats]

If I Fell For You (Part 2) - Baseball Caps & Stroller Naps

Summary: The reader gets into the swing of things around the Ackles household and starts having more one on one time with Jensen. He even offers to set her up with a friend of his. When he invites her to a family outing as a friend though, she gets another glimpse that he might not be as put together as he appears...

Masterlist

Pairing: Jensen x nanny!reader

Square: Daddy!Jensen

Word Count: 5,900ish

Warnings: language, mention of death of a spouse/death of a parent

A/N: Things are starting to happen! This was also written for @supernatural-jackles​ Tell Me A Story Bingo!

________

“Good morning,” you said the next day as Jensen walked into the kitchen covered in sweaty workout clothes.

“Morning,” he said, going to the fridge to grab a drink. “Get the kids to school okay?”

“Yup,” you said, Jensen sniffing the air and humming as he walked over to where a loaf of banana bread was cooling in the rack. “Ah, it’s still too hot. Wait another half hour.”

“Fine,” he grumbled. “It smells amazing by the way. I don’t think anything’s been baked in this house in six months.”

“I’ve always enjoyed it,” you said, Jensen taking a seat on top of the counter. He chugged down the cold bottle of water, some of it dripping down the corners of his mouth. “Enjoy sleeping in today?”

“You don’t know the half of it. I feel amazing.”

“You look rested for the first time since I’ve met you,” you said. “You should sleep in on the weekends more too. The kids don’t need to be up at dawn.”

“No, they don’t,” he said. “I do love sleep too. You do okay with getting the three of them going on your own today?”

“Yeah. JJ’s old enough to get herself dressed and make her bed and do a few things on her own. The twins are a balancing act but the trick is to give yourself double the amount of time you think you need and you’ll never be late.”

“Not a bad tip,” he said as you finished wiping off a glass and picked up a pad and pen. “Whatcha working on?”

“Ideas for crafts and that sort of thing. You guys have a lot of supplies already so I was thinking of some ideas to do this week,” you said.

“You know...you can stick them in front of a TV too. They have their shows they like. We aren’t big on tracking screen time,” he said. “As long as they play and do some kind of creative thing everyday they can watch TV for a few hours in a row if they want. Our parents didn’t worry about that shit when we were kids, you know?”

“No, they didn’t do that,” you said. He lifted up the bottom of his muscle tank and wiped off his face, your eyes going straight down to the pad so you wouldn’t risk staring. “Any work scheduled for today?”

“I gotta wash up, head to the brewery for a few to check on things. I have some voice acting work I’m doing right now so I go to a place downtown and record that. That’ll be my afternoon. I can handle making dinner tonight. I should be back around four thirty, maybe a hair after,” he said. 

“Alright,” you said. “Anything you need at the store today?”

“Nah, we got plenty here,” he said. He wiped off his face with his shirt again, using his collar this time. You handed him a dish towel and he smiled, rubbing it over his neck and head. “Sorry. I’m dripping aren’t I.”

“A little. Do you work out a lot?” you asked. 

“No more than the average person. Try to do thirty minutes in the morning most days of the week. It’s sort of been my only alone time lately,” he said.

“Are you a runner?”

“God no. I’m not built for that. I like boxing and HIIT, weights, that sort of stuff. Part of my job is to look a certain way so if I’m gonna be the tough guy…”

“You gotta look like a tough guy?” you asked. He smiled and you looked him up and down. “Don’t get me wrong. You’re a strong guy, that’s pretty obvious. But you’re not a tough guy.”

“Oh I’m not?” he asked but there was a lightness to his voice.

“Tough guys tend to be assholes. You’re too nice for that,” you said. 

“I suppose you have a point,” he said, sliding off the counter. He stepped over to the banana bread and picked up the knife nearby, slicing off a piece for himself and popping it in his mouth. “Hot. Hot.”

“I told you so,” you said with a small laugh.

“Tastes delicious though,” he said with his mouth full. You shook your head as he ate another piece and turned to go upstairs.

“Jensen,” you said, pointing at the sweaty dish towel. 

“Ugh, yes mom,” he said, swiping it away with a smile. 

“Thank you,” you said, tapping on your notepad. You felt his presence beside you, not to mention the smell, and turned your head up, Jensen smiling back. “Yes?”

“Aren’t you due for a break?” he asked.

“You don’t really get how this nanny thing works yet, do you.”

“Yeah well...I’m not a shitty boss so I guess you’ll have to get used to that too. Take a break Y/N. Have some coffee on the balcony. It’s a sunny January day. Enjoy it,” he said. You rolled your eyes and he pointed at the back door before he headed upstairs. You bit your bottom lip and glanced at the clock. You had been going for over three hours non-stop and one of those had been spent trying to convince a four year old he had to wear pants to daycare.

You turned to leave the kitchen when you heard a tsk. You jumped and slipped on the rug in front of the sink, falling backwards straight down to the hardwood floor.

“Sorry! Sorry!” he said as he rushed over. “I’m always tripping over that thing.”

“I’m fine,” you said as you sat up with his help. Your ass hurt but you knew you’d be alright. “Maybe we move the rug from the very trippable area?”

He swallowed and stared at you for a long moment before you smiled.

“How about we put it outside your office?” you asked softly. He nodded and you picked up one end of the long strip of fabric. He went to the other end and picked it up, backing up as you walked it over to the other side of the house. You laid it out in front of his closed door, smiling as you straightened it up. “There we go. Safe and sound.”

You headed back to the kitchen, Jensen lingering behind you.

“I was...gonna say you can make...you can use my coffee machine,” he said quietly. 

“Okay,” you said quietly. “Jensen.”

“Hm?”

“Stuff is stuff. This isn’t a museum. It’s a home. It’s gonna change over time.”

“I know. It’s just that rug...it is so damn ugly and I hate it,” he said with a smile. “I wanted to get rid of it the day she brought it home.”

“Wives have a way of getting the last word in,” you said. He chuckled and you got out a mug for yourself. “Tell me to shove it if this is too personal but are you sure you want to get back out into the dating world? It’s rough out there.”

“It is. Until it isn’t,” he said.

“You’re a hopeless romantic, aren’t you.”

“Guilty as charged.” He rubbed the back of his neck and his cheeks flushed for a brief moment.

“Women like hopeless romantics,” you said. “Just don’t get taken advantage of for that. There’s some not so nice women out there too.”

“Afraid I’ll fall for some ditz?” he asked.

“No, I don’t think you’d do that. But someone might hurt you and you’ve been through enough. Maybe just...don’t fall in love at first sight or something like that,” you said. “Alright?”

“Never was much good at that,” he said to himself while you grabbed your coffee mug. “You believe in that sort of thing?”

“I’d like to. But you’re more of the expert on falling in love than I am,” you said.

“Maybe it’s not first sight but within a few days, a week, yeah I knew I was in love,” he said.

“Well if that happens again let me know and I’ll make sure this chick is good for you,” you said.

“I didn’t know my nanny came with bodyguard services,” he chuckled.

“That was under special skills on my resume,” you said as you headed over to the door to the balcony. “You should wash up. Don’t want to be late.”

“No I better not be,” he said. He turned to head upstairs, pausing on the first step. “You know, no one’s an expert at falling in love. Even those of us who were once married.”

“Oh don’t be a hopeless romantic for me getting my shit together too. We’ll be here for years,” you laughed. 

“Just sayin’...maybe we’ll both find somebody. Not that we need anyone to be happy but...you know what I mean,” he said. 

“Men don’t really talk about love like that you know.”

“I do,” he said. You smiled and he returned it. 

“That’s why all the good men get taken early, the ones that talk like that,” you said.

“I was older than you when I got married. Maybe I’ll get married again someday. We’re out there. I promise.”

“Go shower,” you said, waving him off. You slipped outside, closing the door behind you. You leaned over the railing with your mug and let out a sigh. “You have to a be a fucking hopeless romantic too don’t you. Fucking perfect at everything.”

You lowered your head and took a deep breath. 

“It’s a crush, it’s a crush,” you said, closing your eyes. “Just a crush. He’s your boss and a widow and he bought a birthday cake for me.”

You opened your eyes and glanced into the mug, taking another deep breath.

“He’s just nice. That’s it. Even if he’s…” you trailed off. You took a long sip of the hot liquid, not caring you were burning your tongue. Jensen was simply a nice person and that was that. You had a crush on the attractive single dad you were nannying for. There was nothing wrong with that and you knew for a fact it’d be gone by the end of the week tops.

“Ow,” you groaned a few days later. You opened your eyes and heard a knock at the door to your suite. “Yeah?”

“You okay in there? I thought I heard a crash,” said Jensen. 

“I’m fine,” you said, sitting up with a grunt, leaning back against your bed. “Shit.”

“Y/N, are you sure you’re alright?” he asked again.

“No,” you said with a sigh. “The door’s open.”

You peaked through your open door down the hall, Jensen opening the one to the suite and offering a friendly smile. You nodded and he walked inside, frowning at your cut up knee. 

“I got blood on the rug,” you said. “Do we have bleach?”

“I thought we agreed earlier this week a rug is just a rug,” he said, squatting down and looking at your knee. He looked up and saw your overturned garbage can in your closet where you’d been trying to reorganize a few clothes. “Next time use the step stool in the garage?”

“Yeah,” you said, your face hot. “I’m fine really. Just want to clean up the blood before it sets in.”

“It’s a few drops,” he said, helping you stand with a wince. “You got any first aid stuff?”

“Yeah,” you said, Jensen crossing his arms. “No.”

“Come on,” he said, putting his hands on your shoulders and walking you down the hall. “Scraped up knees are my specialty.”

“Jensen,” you said, stopping at the kitchenette island and bending your leg a few times. 

“I’ll be right back,” he said. He left and you hopped over to the couch, stretching your leg out. The bleeding had stopped, just a thin cut on your knee cap where you’d hit it, but you knew you were in for a nasty bruise. He returned with a bottle and cotton ball in one hand, a bandage and ice pack in the other. 

“Sorry,” you said, Jensen setting the items down on the coffee table.

“Why would you apologize for getting hurt?” he said.

“I should have my own first aid supplies,” you said. 

“Ah. So you’re as stubborn as I am when you’re not feeling great,” he said. You looked down at your lap and took a deep breath.

“Am I fired?” you asked. 

“No? Why the fuck would I fire you?” he said. 

“I don’t know,” you said, picking up the bottle of rubbing alcohol.

“Have you been fired for getting hurt before?” he asked, watching you hold the cotton ball against the open bottle top and tip it over, soaking the liquid in. You pretended to not hear him and put the bottle back, wiping the ball over the cut, a deep red mark already on your skin. “Y/N.”

“Yes, I have,” you said. You set the ball on the table and picked up the bandage, trying to angle it over your knee. He rolled his eyes and took it out of your hand, bending down and turning it around, pressing it gently over your skin. 

“I’m pretty sure that’s illegal,” he said as he looked up at you.

“Do I look like I have an HR department I can go to? They were dicks anyways,” you said.

“If you’re ever hurt, big or small, just tell me,” he said. He rested the ice pack over your knee and you sat back, throwing it up on the couch for you to lay there. “Promise I won’t fire you for it.”

“Well if I can’t do my job I’m not much use to you,” you said.

“Are all wealthy people assholes that act like that?” he asked. You shook your head and smiled. “Good.”

“I’ve nannied for eight different families, nine counting yours. Some were very good people,” you said.

“But you were just the help to them, even the good ones,” he said.

“I am the help. That’s the whole point of me being there,” you said. 

“Do me a favor? Don’t assume just because you’re someone’s employee that they think of you as just the help,” he said, picking up the first aid supplies.

“Sorry.”

“Why do you apologize for…” he said, muttering to himself as you looked down. “If I ever make you feel like that, smack me in the head, alright?”

“Alright,” you said quietly. He nodded and left with the items, returning a moment later with some cleaning spray, ducking into your room for only a moment before exiting.

“It’s all clean,” he said. He lingered at the door and put a hand on it. “Leave that ice pack on for fifteen minutes and pop it back in the freezer. Put it back on for a bit before bed.”

“Thanks,” you said. 

“It’s no problem,” he said. He still lingered and you took a deep breath.

“You should call someone, talk to them,” you said. He looked over his shoulder and you smiled. “You seem like you want to talk to somebody tonight is all.”

“I think I’m gonna go for a drive, maybe stop at a friend’s. The kids are all in bed,” he said. “If that’s cool.”

“Yeah go take a second for yourself,” you said. “I got everything here.”

“Thanks,” he said. “Goodnight, Y/N.”

“Night, Jensen.”

One Week Later

“Y/N,” said Jensen as you washed your car in the driveway on a Saturday morning. You dropped the soapy sponge in the bucket and straightened yourself out. “Got plans today?”

“Uh, I was gonna run to the grocery store in a minute but other than that, no. Need me to watch the kids?”

“No. We were going out to lunch and then going to a little car show was all and we were wondering if you’d like to join us. Totally up to you. My treat.”

“You don’t want me to watch the kids?” you asked. He laughed and crossed his arms at you. “I’m confused.”

“Do you want to hang out with us today? For fun?” he asked.

“Oh,” you said. “That’s okay. You enjoy your time with the kids.”

“How do I make this clearer,” he said, walking over to you and looking down. “I want you to come with us, as a friend, to do something fun, like friends do. This is not work. Come if you want to.”

“You sure you want me to come?” you asked. He rolled his eyes and plopped his baseball cap on your head as he walked away.

“Yes. And wear sunscreen,” he said. “We’re leaving at eleven thirty.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll see you guys then.”

“There’s something about a burger that’s been cooked in a greasy pop up kitchen that just adds to the flavor,” you said as you took a bite of your cheese burger at the car show.

“It’s probably the grease,” he said, walking one hand on his burger, the other holding Arrow’s hand. She wiped her own little hand on his leg and he sighed as he looked down. “Arrow. I got napkins in my pocket.”

“Oh,” she said, wiping her face against him.

“No one mentions this part,” he chuckled. He picked her up and threw her over his shoulders once he was done with his food, humming as he pushed the stroller with a sleeping Zeppelin inside. 

“Dad, I gotta go to the bathroom,” said JJ. 

“I’ll take her and we can catch up with you guys?” you said. He mouthed a thank you to you as you headed over to the women’s room. You used the bathroom as well, finishing before her and waiting outside for her. “All set?”

“Yeah. Can we get fried dough?” she asked.

“Sure,” you said. You let her lead the way in line and got a plate for the two of you, taking a seat at a picnic table so she could dig in. “Taste yummy?”

“Oh yeah,” she said. “Dad likes fried dough a lot too.”

“Everybody does,” you said, taking a piece off the corner.

“Y/N, you don’t have a mom either right?” she said. “That’s what dad said.”

“Well that’s a funny question. I got a mom and so do you. They just aren’t around anymore is all,” you said. “What’s up?”

“I’m happy you stay with us I guess is all. I know you’re not mom and you work for dad but you kinda are and I like it when dad’s happy again,” she said.

“Me too. You doing okay, kiddo?” you asked. “It’s okay if you still miss your mom.”

“I do but I’m not sad anymore. Dad says when I get real old I can see her again so that’s cool,” she said, taking a big bite.

“It definitely is cool,” you said. “Maybe our mom’s are hanging out right now.”

“You think so?” she asked.

“Maybe. I bet they get up to some fun stuff up there,” you said. 

“Me too,” she said. “Dad’s really happy you came with us. He’s been cranky lately.”

“Your dad’s gonna be just fine,” you said as she finished off her food. “So do you like having a nanny? I know that’s kinda new and funny, huh.”

“Yeah but I really like you being home. Dad gets flustered sometimes.”

“Flustered?” you asked with a little laugh.

“He works on a lot of stuff and he didn’t pick me up on time from school and stuff a few weeks ago. Too many chickens in a basket,” she said.

“Too many eggs in one basket,” you said.

“Isn’t an egg gonna be a chicken though?”

“I...never thought of it that way,” you said. You nearly jumped when you felt some hands on your shoulders but JJ was smiling as Arrow climbed up next to you.

“Ah. I see you ladies found the fried dough. Twins you want some?” asked Jensen.

“Yes please,” they said and he chuckled as he went off to buy some more.

“Look at her,” said Jensen twenty minutes later, pausing at a deep blue Impala, the twins both conked out in their stroller. 

“Isn’t that the same car you have?” you asked, lifting up the brim of your baseball cap to get a better look.

“Mine’s a 67. That’s a 63. I love that color though,” he said. “Blue’s my favorite but it looks good on that car.”

“I think it looks good in black,” you said, walking again when you saw JJ a few cars ahead of the two of you. “Where’d you get your car?”

“Work,” he said with a quick smile, hiding behind his sunglasses and hat. 

“Aren’t you an actor?” you asked.

“You have very obviously never seen an episode of my show,” he chuckled. “Which is totally cool by the way. I drove that car in the show for well over a decade. She’s one of my true loves.”

“Ah, gotcha,” you said. “So you’re a car guy.”

“Kinda. I don’t know everything but I enjoy them. What about you, you like-JJ! Stay closer,” he called out when she kept walking ahead. “So do you like cars?”

“I guess so. This is kinda neat, walking around and looking at the old ones. They had more style back then,” you said, walking past a pair of guys your age, one of them looking you up and down as you went by. “Did that guy-”

“Yup,” he said, glancing back over his shoulder, throwing his arm over yours for a few moments. “Looks like he got the message.”

“Jensen,” you laughed. “I wasn’t offended. It’s not like he was gonna come up and ask for my number.”

“I don’t like the look of him,” he said.

“Neither did I,” you chuckled, Jensen dropping his arm from around you. “You’re that guy friend girls have that will do shit like pretend to be a boyfriend and all that stuff, aren’t you.”

“At your service,” he said with a mini curtesy. You giggled and he straightened up, JJ rushing over.

“Dad can I get an ice cream?” she asked.

“How about some apple slices,” he said, reaching under the stroller and grabbing a cooler. He pulled out a little baggie and handed it to her, JJ shrugging and walking ahead of the stroller again. “Shit, that probably means I can’t get ice cream now too.”

“We can always get some on the way home for later,” you said. “I won’t tell on you.”

“I’m putting this on your performance review,” he said. You shot him a side glance and he smirked. “I’m joking. I don’t want to do that as much as you don’t.”

“Thank you for that,” you said, stopping and looking at a red challenger for a moment.

“You like that one?” he asked.

“It’s nice,” you said before you started walking again. You fixed your hat and caught back up with him, Jensen slowing down as JJ took her time ahead of you. “So I should probably know this but what show were you in where you were driving around a muscle car?”

“You really haven’t looked me up online yet?” he chuckled. You shrugged and he laughed to himself.

“I may have peeked at your IMDB page but that was it. Was it that show you were on a long time? Super something?”

“Supernatural,” he said, a big smile on his face. “Yeah, I drove it for that.”

“Oh yeah, that was the really scary show, wasn’t it,” you said. 

“You’re too sweet,” he said, chuckling to himself. “It’s not that scary. I promise. Give it a try sometime. You might like it.”

“I’m sure someday I will. If I’m brave enough.”

“I think you are,” he said, JJ running up ahead again before he called for her to hang back. He sighed and threw his head back. “It never ends, does it?”

“I’m sure someday when she’s older you won’t have to worry so much.”

“I’m gonna worry about that kid when she’s forty years old,” he said.

“That’s cause you’re a good dad,” you said. 

“You haven’t known me that long,” he said.

“Do you love her? Worry about her?” you asked and he nodded. “Well any dad that does that and tells his kid that someday they’ll get to see their mom again to help her grieve when he well and truly doesn’t know the answer to that...you get the picture Ackles?”

“I could be better,” he said.

“Everyone could be better. They don’t need the best dad ever. They just need the best dad for them and you seem like you’re doing a good job of that from what I’ve seen so far,” you said. “You’re gonna screw up but so does everyone. Try to just enjoy it and not be too hard on yourself.”

“You’ve spent a lot of time with kids haven’t you,” he said.

“I’ve been in the mom role more than once as a nanny,” you said. You kicked at the dirt and shrugged. “It’s how I know the difference Jensen. You don’t need me or want me to be their mother. You just need help sometimes. That’s an important difference. Asking for help, especially when you don’t want it but need it, that’s a good dad move.”

He was quiet as he walked, stopping at a yellow mustang. He stared for a moment and swallowed. 

“Thanks, Y/N. That means a lot. Really.”

“Come on dad,” you said, walking away and up towards where JJ was. “Let’s go see if we can find one this one’s gonna be asking for on her sixteenth birthday.”

“Those three are finally down and out for the count,” said Jensen as he walked downstairs to catch you in the kitchen wiping up the pan from dinner. “Thanks for eating with us tonight.”

“Thanks for inviting me,” you said, putting the pan away. He looked out the back window and bit his bottom lip. “Everything alright?”

“You’re not like, hanging out with us cause you think you have to right?” he asked.

“Trust me. If I didn’t want to, I’d be down in my room,” you said. “Besides, I’ve thought about it and you know what, why don’t you set me up with that friend of yours.”

“Really?” he asked, a little alarmed.

“Why not? The age thing doesn’t bother me at all. Unless you think it’d be a problem for him?”

“No, he doesn’t really care about that sort of thing. I think he’d prefer it’s just someone he clicked with, had a connection, you know?” he said.

“Perfect. Why don’t you set us up for next Saturday night then?” you asked.

“I need you to watch the kids next Saturday night. I have-”

“The gala. Sorry, I forgot. Um, just, I’m free whenever. You know my schedule so you can set something up and just let me know?” you said. He smiled and nodded. As you were starting to leave he grunted. “Yeah?”

“I have some friends coming over for a drink in a bit. Small backyard fire. Whiskey and smores. You’re welcome to join.”

“Jensen. You’re not asking because you feel like you have to right?”

“No, not at all. I like hanging out with you. I’m sure whatever you’re binging on TV will be there if we bore you too much,” he said.

“Alright. I’ll be out in half an hour or so. Just wanted to freshen up from the show earlier,” you said. You ducked back to your room, taking a quick shower and changing into some leggings and a flannel. By the time you were out you could hear a slight mumbling and walked downstairs, catching Jensen with some guys on the patio pouring some drinks.

“Hey,” said Jensen when you stepped out of the slider door. “Guys this is Y/N.”

“Ah we get to meet the world’s best nanny,” said the tallest one. “I’m Jared.”

“Rich.”

“Rob.”

“Hi!” said a redhead that slipped out of the door behind you. “I’m Ruth.”

“Y/N. Your hair is kinda amazing by the way,” you said.

“This is what happens when you invite the girls,” said Rich.

“Normally we just talk about Jared’s hair,” chuckled Jensen. You grabbed a chair and helped gather up some snacks to bring over to his firepit, Ruth hanging back to help you.

“Jensen said you live here with him and the munchkins?”

“Yeah. He works so much it makes things easier on him. Are you an actress?” you asked.

“We all are. Only Jared lives close by. The rest of us haven’t been down here since…” she said and you nodded. “I really am happy you’re here. It’s nice to see a smile on our boys face again.”

“He’s a great boss. He’s very kind. We’re becoming friends,” you said. “He’s trying to set me up with his friend actually.”

“Oh which one?”

“Dunno. He just said he’s 42, an actor and is single. Age stuff doesn’t bother me.”

“Rob is a bit older than myself. It really doesn’t matter in the slightest, especially when you’re a little older,” she said. “Jensen says you’re great with the kids.”

“They’re pretty easy going. Normally the parents are the hard part of my job but he’s been great. He really loves his kids,” you said.

“Yes he certainly does,” she said.

By the end of the night you found yourself really enjoying Jensen’s friends. It was clear they cared for him at more than a surface level, especially Jared. You’d heard Jensen speak to him on the phone a few times and call him his brother but it really was apparent they had a special bond that went beyond a typical friendship.

“I’ll catch you guys for brunch before you head home,” said Jensen, waving night to them all as you helped pick up. You were just about finished and heading back for your room when Jensen caught you in the kitchen. “You have fun tonight?”

“Yeah. Your friends are great,” you said, a small pair of footsteps coming down the stairs. You both turned and saw Zeppelin there with tears in his eyes.

“What’s wrong, honey?” asked Jensen as he walked over and squatted down.

“I had a bad dream and I want mommy but she’s gone,” he whined. Jensen instantly scooped him up and held onto him tight, kissing his head. “I want mommy.”

“I want mommy too, baby,” said Jensen quietly. You mouthed go and he nodded, taking Zeppelin upstairs while you finished cleaning up. 

You got up early the next morning and made a big batch of chocolate chip pancakes, plenty leftover for breakfast the next morning. Jensen padded over from the hall where you knew the home gym was, sweaty and tired but a smile came onto his face when he saw you.

“What’s all this,” he asked, getting a bottle of water from the fridge.

“Chocolate chip pancakes make everything better,” you said. He put a few on a plate for himself and sat down at the counter as you made up some more, stealing a few for yourself.

“These are delicious,” he said. You stored away some for when the kids got up, making up your own plate before you dug in. “Sorry about last night. I feel like I ruined the fun.”

“Not at all. He’s a toddler. I literally can’t imagine being in your position. I’d have fallen apart instantly,” you said.

“No you wouldn’t. You care about those kids,” he said. “You push on for them.”

“I know it’s not really my place to say so but-”

“Y/N. I’d prefer if you just talk to me like a friend, really,” he said.

“You made it sound like you were ready to try dating again. Last night you seemed kind of...maybe not so ready.”

“I’m ready. I will always miss her. I’ll always love her. But that doesn’t mean I can’t love anyone else ever again like that too, you know? I don’t believe there is a limit on how much love a person can give,” he said.

“Your wife was a very lucky woman,” you said.

“I was lucky. She was patient with me,” he chuckled. “You guys would have gotten along really well.”

“Can I offer a bit of advice?” you asked.

“What’s that?”

“Keep telling your kids about her, all throughout their lives. They’ll still get to know her that way, you know?” you said. “Tell your future girlfriend too. That’s how you’ll know if they’re a good one for you.”

“Why do you say that?” he asked.

“You’re a kind soul. I would expect your partner would be as well,” you said.

“I hope so. Mine kinda has a permanent handle with care warning label on it,” he chuckled.

“I don’t think so. Just need somebody that understands, not try to fix you. There’s nothing wrong with you in the first place,” you said, taking a bite of your pancake.

“Thanks, kiddo,” he said.

“You’re not that much older, bucko,” you chuckled.

“Nah, I’m keeping kiddo,” he laughed. “You good to watch the kids for a few hours around eleven?”

“Sounds good. Go have a mimosa with your friends for me,” you said.

“Will do, Y/N. Will do.”

______

A/N: Read Part 3 here!

[babylyctor]

can John actually control time or am i making things up? trying to reach a conclusion via tumblr posting

so as a theory this is 75% vibes. however there’s some things in the books that give me pause, and i wanted to put together all those bits and see if there’s something there. i’m not totally on board with this idea because it seems too complex to leave entirely to the last book, and i don’t know how it could fit with the rest of the narrative (or do i?) but in any case i keep thinking about it so here’s this way too long post. spoliers for everything

first, this fucking suspicious sentence that’s one of the first things John tells Harrow (Chapter 2, HtN)

"I would let you come back, bit by bit, until you felt entirely ready to wake up. I can’t. I mastered Death, Harrowhark; I wish I’d done the smarter thing and mastered Time. I have to ask you to get ready soon, and so I am going to show you something I hope might … trigger your readiness.”

so this sounds like a really dull complaint on this immortal god’s part but also i don’t trust a single thing out of this man’s mouth, and this would be the exact kind of private joke he would make if he had actually mastered Time (capitalized) too. Also the context in which it’s said, talking about Harrow coming back from her coma, regaigning consciousness, awakening... you get it, oddly relevant theme wise.

then there’s the whole Soup Moment (Chapter 25, HtN), in which John seems to actually stop time maybe? i have doubts about this so lets see what our narrator tells us;

And God said, “Stop.”

The world slowed down. Augustine and Mercymorn stopped, arrested in the act of half-rising from their seats. Ianthe stopped, left arm paused, outflung, to shield her face. You stopped, sitting upright in your chair: your bones somehow rigid and still, and your flesh chilly and rigid around those bones. The shrapnel spray from the Saint of Duty did not stop, [...] But what remained of him stopped too, half man, half rupture—his prurient details hot and white, naked insides clothed with the sinus-drying burst of the power of God.

so here John freezes all the lyctors in place, they’re still conscious, or at least Harrow is, but they have their range of movement almost totally restricted. this is not like Mercy pinching Harrow’s dorsal nerve to paralyze her, this is a completely different feeling, maybe John’s thalergetic powers? it would make sense, all the lyctors are living bodies, they have thalergy and Johs is able to manipulate that, presumably. the bits of Gideon OG cascading down the table don’t stop but that might be John selectively using his powers, or it might be that that’s no longer living flesh.

so we’re saying this could just be John’s super special thalergy magic and nothing else. the first problem though is that technically he shouldn’t be able to use it against his lyctors without touching them, thanks to lyctoral invisibility. in fact when he explodes Mercy’s chest (rip in peace queen) he expressely reaches out and touches her to do so, because presumably he needs to make contact with a body in order to use magic against it, same as Mercy. so that’s a caveat, then there are these descriptions from the same Soup Moment;

You stared down the table at him: at the blank, remote faces of your two nominal teachers—at the frozen ivory stillness of Ianthe, her hair now whitish pink—at space outside the window, where the asteroids themselves seemed to hang in tranquilized arrest.

The Emperor of the Nine Houses stood. The spell, whatever it had been, dropped like a white sun setting.

These seem to imply certain ambiguity. John’s God and all that but i don’t think thalergetic magic should be able to affect asteroids, lifeless space rocks. of course it says they “seem” to hang in tranquilized arrest, not that they are really unmoving, but i think it’s a suggestive sentence all the same, and i’m suspicious of every word Muir writes. The second quote, specifically the highlighted part, is also a bit frustrating. It seems to imply that John isn’t exactly doing magic as we know it, but something else. If it was Harrow narrating we could go further with it, but since it’s Gideon we could simply attribute it to her lack of knowledge and familiarity with magic. However, two sentences after that we don’t have that problem;

The construct gamely clamberign our of the Saint of Duty dwindled to a powder of pink dust. The shard you had been driving up the cervical vertebrae to the base of the spine [...] simply disappeared: destroyed or removed, you could not tell.

This is still Gideon narrating but in this case she’s specifically telling us that Harrow doesn’t understand what John just did, it’s not magic Harrow is familiar with. There’s also the contrast between what we know is a normal process of destroying a construct - reducing it to dust -  vs this mysterious disappearance, that doesn’t really fit into what we know so far about the way thanergy/thalergy work.

so far, nothing conclusive, we know John is really powerful, but we don’t know exactly how, where his power comes from or what it can do. Then there’s the moment he unexplodes himself (Chapter 52, HtN);

White light.

It bleached the insides of your nose and the back of your throat. It hurt coming out your ears. It bled out your eyeballs. It wasn’t a flash of light, more … a suddenness; when it was gone—as though it hadn’t even existed, but had been a luminous hallucination—time stopped.

That light took colour from the room—everyone was a slow-motion cavalcade of greys, of eyes caught widening, of mouths parting in stone-shaded articulations of shock.

It happened in an instant. It happened over a myriad. A wet red construct knitted itself back together, [...]

again that white light that has been associated with thalergy magic and again all these references to time slowing down, stopping or just behaving in strange ways in general. again lots of ambiguity, this could be a thalergy based power - the ability to hold living bodies in stasis, and therefore make everyone feel like time has slowed down - or it could be that John is actually affecting time, maybe even reversing it (?) since he literally un-exploded himself, after Mercy put all her millenia of expertise into atomizing him and reducing him to almost nothing.

is that even explicable with regular thanergy/thalergy based magic? i’m not sure, a regular necro could never do that, a lyctor couldn’t do that. So if John isn’t just an overpowered lyctor what’s the difference exactly? i mean, how do his powers manifest differently from those of every other necromancer we know?

the other person we’ve seen using powerful thalergy magic is Silas. Whenever he siphoned, Gideon describes a similar vacuum sensation to the one that John’s magic also provokes, as well as white light;

As he faded, the pale Silas incandesced. He glowed with an irradiated shimmer, iridescent white, and the air began to taste of thunder. (Chapter 17, GtN)

Gideon felt an internal tug, like a blanket being pulled off in the cold. (Chapter 17, GtN)

Silas clambered to his knees, clasped his fingers together, and the feeling of suction popped the pressure in both of Gideon’s ears. (Chapter 34, GtN)

Silas is nowhere near as powerful as John but siphoning - thalergy based magic, condemned by God - still causes that suction effect and is marked by white light and lightning, just like John’s magic. However, there’s no mention of a time altering effect, no slowing down, no freezing in place, and seeing how both kinds of magic are similarly coded otherwise i find this difference suspicious.

To end this somewhere, two quotes, first, this thing Harrow tells Ortus when they both discuss what it must be like to be a lyctor (Chapter 5, HtN);

“Nigenad, what would be the tragedy in living for a myriad? Ten thousand years to learn everything there is to know [...] What is the tragedy of time?”

honestly to me that sounds like Muir making Harrow say things she will regret later. of course it could be about any of the numerous tragedies in Harrow life but still, gave me pause, specially because it kinda echoes John’s earlier sentiment, wishing he had mastered Time.

finally, a quote that might be totally meaningless and completely off base in this theory or it could round it up perfectly, i haven’t decided yet;

[...] ; yet you prayed all the while knowing Ianthe’s facility for tergiversation would have given the whole universe pause. (Chapter 36, HtN)

we know Ianthe is a girlboss and gaslighting is her thing. However, isn’t this sentence a bit too dramatic to describe Ianthe? doesn’t it sound kinda ominous to you? it definitely does to me, and although it might totally be my Ianthe bias wanting her to play an important part, who is Ianthe hanging out with lately? exactly John God “Jod” the Emperor.

in conclusion, i haven’t reached any conclusion. but i still think there’s something off with John’s powers beyond what we’ve been told, which isn’t much really, and i think there’s something going on with Time within the narrative (that’s another whole post though), and i think these two things are most probably related. but i can’t say i’m 100% sure of any of it. this was fun though. if you made it here thank you so much you’re the best <3

[mrsmaybank]

My Little Sun - Reid x Reader

“Ridiculously perfect.” I held her tighter as she looked up at me and our eyes locked, “I’ve fallen ridiculously in love with you.” “So my evil plan worked then?” She chirped.

CONTENT WARNINGS: AGE GAP, VIOLENCE, KIDNAPPING, PREGNANCY, STALKING, LANGUAGE probably the misuse of a Russian word  IF THERES MORE LMK 

A/N: Okay, let me be honest rq this idea lowk scared me but the words really just fell out of my brain really easily so, yk fuck it whatever.  ANYWAY, if you like, please let me know! 

pt 2, pt 3 “I love you Spencer.” The words immediately melted me. 

“I know so many things.” She gave me an unapproving look. 

“I don’t mean to sound cocky, but I do! Now for once in your life, listen to me.” She nodded her head in concession.

“I’ve just read more, I’ve written more, I’ve discovered and studied more than the average person. I could tell you a little bit about anything with one hundred percent certainty. I could--and want--to tell you the names of all the stars, I could recite verbatim the entirety of Prometheus Bound by Aeschylus or Dostoevsky’s The Brothers Karamazov, which you know, speaking of I will ‘cause I still can’t believe you haven’t read it,” Her smile flattened into a straight line, and I laughed. “Orrr, I could also tell you something simple, like why we get the hiccups.” I shook my head. 

“Regardless, I know so many things and I’m rarely taken by surprise because of it. Everything in life is a pattern of change, and as a human, we will always adjust and adapt to whatever situation we are in. For better or worse, we don’t feel the same thing for very long. This is why an addict takes a couple more every time, a sadist hits his second victim harder than the first, they’re searching for the high of the first time, and it will never come.”

She nodded in understanding, 

 “I know this is true, it’s factual, and yet every time I look at you it feels like the first. You’ve broken the laws of human psychology.” 

“First time you saw me was at a gas station Spencer.” 

“No. The first time I looked at you after I knew I loved you.” 

“Where were we?” 

“My car. You were dancing. You looked ridiculous.” 

“Ridiculously sexy? You mean?” She smiled. 

“Ridiculously perfect.” I held her tighter as she looked up at me and our eyes locked, “I’ve fallen ridiculously in love with you.” 

“So my evil plan worked then?” She chirped.

“It did indeed. You’ve become my solnyshko moyo.”

“Tell me that’s Russian dirty talk.” She said with a grin. 

“It’s better. It’s a term of endearment you’ve become the epitome of.” 

“And what’s that Dr. Reid?” she giggled. 

“My little sun. You’ve become my little sun. Following me around and bringing light and warmth.” She snuggled herself impossibly closer into my chest, wrapping one of her legs over mine. 

“Except for your feet!” I shrieked at her freezing toes meeting mine. 

“They’re not that cold you big baby!” she shouted. 

I laughed and kissed her sweetly, “I am not the baby here.” I said.  

“Please,” she started until I interrupted her with a kiss, “If you’re not the baby,” I kissed her again, “That implies I’M the baby,” Kiss, “And I’m not a” Kiss. 

“Shush baby.” I told her, but like always, she didn’t listen, instead sitting up to straddle me. My appreciation for her beauty was like how a prisoner appreciates freedom, and yet it was miniscule into what I found in her character. It blew my mind that a girl so perfect existed. 

“Rarely do great virtue and beauty dwell together. Francesco Petrarch.” I started, my hands making their way onto her hips, “That makes you a rarity.” 

“You’re spoiling me with nice words today Spencer.” “You’ve spoiled me. My frontal lobe is spoiled milk.” She laughed, wondering how I was going to manage to make this one romantic. 

“That’s the part of the brain responsible for sensibility and logical thinking, and you, little girl, have positively ruined it. You make me stupid.”

“I ruined the genius Dr. Reid with the 187 IQ? Makes sense. I’m like, way smarter.” 

“You are. So, so much smarter.” 

“I want that in writing.” she poked my chest. 

I pulled her down and kissed her forehead to whisper in her ear. “Not a chance.”

She pushed herself away and rolled her eyes at me like a bratty child does her nanny, and I continued, “ You’re smarter, but I’m more educated. I have more doctorates than you have years in university.” 

“Whatever…”

I brushed the hair away from her perfect face, “You tired baby?” 

She sighed and laid down, splaying herself on my chest, laying on me like I was the duvet. “Very.” 

I held her impossibly close, breathing in her scent and counting every time her heart thumped, her bpm said she was relaxed. Oh god, I wanted her like this forever. Relaxed in my arms, where nothing could touch us but each other. 

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“Must you work?” I sent the message to Spencer as I rolled over to his side of the bed in anticipation. I breathed in heavy, liking the way the pillow smelled like his laundry.

“Unfortunately.”  he responded. “Think you’ll be home this weekend?” 

“It’s not looking like it, little one. I’m sorry.” 

I didn’t reply. I was too sad to reply. I knew it’d make him feel guilty, which I didn’t want to do, cause like, his job and saving people and shit is important. But, it still wasn’t fair! At all. There was something very important I had to tell him. 

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Total darkness, and then way too much light. My head hurt and I couldn’t move. I was handcuffed to a wooden chair. There were chains around my torso and ankles. The room was a medical sort of bright. It smelled like bleach and rotting fruit. The walls were dilapidated, seeming to be made of tiles that were once white, but have turned yellow. 

What the FUCK? 

“Hello!” I shouted. My voice was so coarse it hurt. Shit. My head pulsed so badly it practically hurt to think, but I still racked my brain. 

Where am I? 

How’d I get here? 

Why am I here? 

I woke up again. Fuck, why can’t I think? Why can’t I do anything? 

“Hey, y/n.” A woman’s voice. A very stoic, cold, sounding female voice.

I’m not alone. Thank god, oh my god, I’m not alone. 

With the little strength I had, I lifted my head to see her. She wasn’t what I thought. She was alright, she wasn’t tied. She did this to me? 

She took a sip from her silver flask, “Do you know who I am?” 

I shook my head. “No.” 

“Typical.” She stood up and grabbed me by the hair, “You fucking disgust me.” Like, she said, she threw my hair away like it disgusted her. 

She sat back down on the bench in front of the chair I was chained to, “My name is Brook Austen. I was a professor at Georgetown last year. Taught a couple seminars at your school, that little university you go to, the students there were nothing like mine. Not nearly as intelligent, but as expected, Georgetown is much more prestigious, obviously.”

I was confused, and she knew, but did not care. 

“You’re not the brightest, y/n. Only slightly above average high school grades, strikingly mediocre academic performance now.”

Where the hell is she going with this? 

“And you know it doesn’t surprise me, per say, because every man on this goddamn planet is a piece of fucking shit! But I thought that, maybe, just maybe, Spencer was different.” 

She grimaced, “I thought he’d want more than just a pretty face! ‘Cause you might be prettier y/n, but I’m smarter.” Her words were laced with utter hatred. 

Her demeanor changed, and it almost started to seem like she was talking to herself. “I'm older. I’m more successful. I’m fucking better.” 

She approached me again, grabbing my face so I was looking her in those scarily light green eyes, and she wrapped her hands around my throat.  “I’m fucking better then you! Better, better, better!” Every time she said better she shook my neck and gripped tighter so I couldn’t breathe. 

“Stop! Please! Please stop!” I shouted, “I’m-I’m pregnant!” 

She began to break down, “You’re pregnant?” A maniacal chuckle left her throat, “You’re pregnant?”  

“Is it Spencer’s?” she asked. 

I nodded. 

“Wow.” She laughed once more, “Fucking wow.” 

“How could Spencer choose this!? You’re nothing like him. You are a pathetic fucking college student. A fucking daddy issue ridden slut! I’m a celebrated academic, just like him!” Tears began to slip from her eyes, “How could he not choose me?”

This woman is NOT well in the head. 

“You--you like Spencer?” I asked. 

“You don’t get to ask the fuckin’ questions here.” She pulled a knife out of her pocket and held it to the tip of my chin, “I do. So you’re gonna answer them.” Or, she started manically laughing, “I’ll kill you.” She swallowed, “And your baby.” 

I screamed at those words, “No,” I sobbed, “NO!” 

I turned my head away so I didn’t have to look at the woman in front of me, there was a timed red dot blinking. A camera. 

“Is that-- is that a camera?” 

She nodded, “I want Spencer to see you and his child die.” 

“He….No! No, please, No!” I choked on a sob and she smiled. 

“He doesn’t know.” She paced, “He doesn’t even fucking know!” 

She waltzed over to the camera and brought it closer to us, “Hey Spencer.” She began waving, “Hey Penelope. Aaron. Derek. Jennifer. Emily.” 

Her demeanor changed once more, into that of a cheerleader of all things, “So, quick recap.” Brook pursed her lips, “Spencer your twenty three year old fucktoy is pregnant. Congrats!” 

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Y/N was two things I didn’t know she was this morning: In serious danger, and the mother of my expected child. I felt frozen in trepidation. 

We all watched in horror as Brook greeted us. All by first name. She knew exactly what she was doing and it freaked me out even more. 

“Reid, you need to step out.” Hotch grabbed my shoulder, “Now.” 

I was sick with fear and ill with rage. I sat down because I could feel my knees go weak. Hotch started again, “We know who she is. We will find her. Y/N will be alright.” He paused, “So will the baby.” 

I replayed the events of the live footage in my head, her screams of pain and terror, her trembles and confusion. I’d failed her. I’d failed her and now I knew I’d also failed our child. 

JJ sat down next to me, “Spencer, when did you meet Brook?” 

“I uh,” I wiped my face, “A year and four months ago. I did uh, I taught uh, I taught a string of seminars at Georgetown. It was biweekly. Her office was next to mine. We spoke for the first time when she offered me a coffee.” 

“What did you say?” 

“What do you think I said?” 

“Yes.” 

“Yeah, I said yeah, I fucking like coffee.” I felt instantaneously guilty for cursing, and especially at JJ but I was too frazzled for it to last long enough to apologize. 

“I know Spence, I’m sorry. Just keep going.” 

“Then, the next week, we got lunch together.” 

“Was it, you know, friendly?” 

“What are you implying Jennifer?” I snapped. 

“No Spence, we just need to know. You know that.” 

“It was-- it was just lunch. A very normal colleague to colleague lunch. We talked about the school’s history. And uh, where we grew up. It was small talk.” 

“Ok, was this the last time you spoke to her?” 

“No. There was one more time. Y/N was there.” 

“Tell me about it Spence.” She grabbed my hand, 

I breathed out, “It was the next week I taught after lunch. About two hours before my class. I was lesson planning, and Y/N was doing homework on my desk. She came in. She asked if I wanted to go get lunch. She saw y/n and--Fuck.” 

“What Spence? What?” 

“She asked me who she was, but it was like, she didn’t want y/n to know she was asking. She thought she was…”

“She thought she was what?” 

“A student.” 

“And what did you tell her?”  

“The truth. That she was my girlfriend.” 

“Did you see her anywhere else after that?”

“No. She never came by my office again. When I would see her by chance, she would scurry away. It was strange.” 

“Think really hard Spence. Did you ever see her again after you stopped teaching at Georgetown.”

I racked my brain, “Yeah. I did. It was two months ago. Three days after I proposed to y/n. She was getting a coffee at this coffee shop by y/n’s school.. I was bringing her some lunch” 

“Spencer she's been stalking you. Your proposal was the stressor.” 

“But--I’m a profiler. I would’ve noticed.” I stood up with a realization.            “What Spence?” JJ asked, standing up as well to look at me. 

“She’s been stalking her, not me. She knew I was a part of the BAU, she knew I would’ve noticed.” 

“I’ll tell the team.” 

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A/N2:  If this doesn’t totally flop, I’ll write PT 2, that elaborates on the reader’s and Spencer’s relationship. I think through flashbacks from both Y/N and Spencer would be a cool way to explore their relationship and of course the whole reader being kidnapped thing plot could develop. Again, if you enjoyed this pls let me know!!