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tafferling · 8 months

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Dying Light 2: Game Story Rewrite

I have been tempted (and have since given in to this temptation) to write out one of the alternate Dying Light 2 story campaigns that'd been knocking around in my head ever since I started playing the game.

It sticks to the characters we already know, but aims to- I dunno. Add Taff flavour, I guess.

Enjoy!

Dying Light 2, an alternate main campaign story, by Taff.

While this is not Latchkey Hero, a lot of the main plot rewrites in this does draw from what I cooked up for Monsters, We. So, if you don’t want spoilers for the MW endgame, skip this.

The player character is either Aiden or Mia Caldwell. Because who hasn’t wanted a little more versatility? We start by choosing which one we’d like to play.

The Caldwell siblings are Pilgrims (I love the Pilgrims, okay? The world needs more Dying Light Pilgrims, please send me your Pilgrim OCs so I can give them platonic smooches) and they’re currently doing what they do best: helping people move across the territories. Specifically, you’re escorting a troupe (actors and musicians) from New Paris, who’re headed to Villedor to perform.

You get to know the siblings in the introduction, and see how they interact with not only each other, but the people around them, too. My aim here would’ve been to establish a relationship between Aiden and Mia, giving what’ll happen later more meaning. We learn about the Pilgrims, how they hold a fearful sort of respect from others, and just how good they are at this.

We even get a bit of combat! Defend against a bunch of biters. Fend off a banshee before nightfall. And, hey, we might even get to know some of the troupe a bit better! We’re having a great time.

Once we reach Villedor, we find out that there’s a bit of trouble brewing right now and that the troupe won’t be able to get to its actual destination (The Fish Eye), since there’s a blockade up. We don’t much care, we are getting paid already and we don’t plan on staying. So we stash them at the second best place, the Bazaar.

After that, our plan is to pick up some more work and then be on our way. Explore time! We find out that there are two different types of safe zones/holds in Villedor: Some which require a biomarker to get into, some which do not. The Bazaar, for example, has a no biomarker zone and a main only biomarker zone. We also find out that a lot of people here are infected. In our initial exploration, we get to go anywhere in Old Villedor except into holds that require biomarkers and places which have been sealed by the GRE.

We can do a few side quests! If we pay attention, we’ll also pick up on how there’s trouble brewing in Central Villedor, and also how, oof, be careful, newcomers, lotsa new people who come to Villedor just straight up vanish. Until one quest pops up for another escort. A man who’d like someone to help him get to New Paris. Fair. We’ve just been there, we can do the trip again, no sweat. Aiden and Mia agree and take the man (Dylan) back the same way they’d originally come in.

Things don’t go well.

We’re attacked by masked men (Renegades), who are trying to get something back from Dylan, who is wounded gravely at the start of the ambush. Aiden and Mia fight them off, but the noise attracts attention they don’t need (Volatiles!). It is clear they can’t do much, but before they run off, Dylan gives them something and tells them to take it and go and not let Waltz have it (whoever that may be, our two Pilgrims are not clued in).

As we try to escape, we’re eventually overwhelmed and both of our Pilgrims are (drum rolls) bitten. But before the GAME OVER screen can roll in, a set of Renegades and Waltz show up, ultimately saving their lives. Which may sound neat at first, not so much when we get punched out and dragged off. When our player character comes to again, it’s a vague affair at first. A bit of swimming in and out of it, really, where we realise we are in a lab (spooky) and have been injected with something (cue the OOOOOOOooOOO!). But never you fret! After overhearing a conversation that they’d be taken back to Central Villedor since they haven’t died and something something they have potential, our player character frees themselves. They get their sibling too and try to escape. During this escape, we see hints that some of those “vanished newcomers” may have met their end here, wherever here may be.

We also get our stuff. Which includes the GRE key (no one bothered checking our backpack, wee!).

But, once again, things do not go well. Waltz’s goons chase us, and while our player character manages to escape, our sibling sacrifices themselves and, for all we know, has just died. We want to do something about this, but we have our first full blown seizure, which leads to us falling to what everyone assumes is our death.

All of this is followed with an Oh no, am I turning? sequence, which ends similarly to the original intro of the game, where we are about to get lynched by a mob. Hakon to the rescue! Except this time the rescue is somewhat motivated by how we’ve already made some friends previously: the troupe! They recognized us and they are what we find after Hakon jabs us with our first inhibitor.

Afterwards, this version of the story follows the Bazaar VS PK story line, somewhat, with our player character motivated to reach Central Villedor to get revenge. Why revenge and why not have our sibling recaptured? ‘cause revenge can wait a little and it won’t feel so weird when we get side tracked by side quests.

To get to Central Villedor we must help Aitor solve his murder mystery of their slain commander and to do that we have to get a biomarker (which we can do since we have a GRE key). As we solve the mystery, we find out that the conflict with the bandits and whatnot and the PK’s hand being forced to suspect or even attack the Bazaar was being orchestrated by someone else.

Who, we aren’t sure.

There’s choices to be made of course! Some siding with the PK, or with the Bazaar, and all the while we also have our troupe friends to report back to and help with little side quests. Hey, we may even have a little devil and an angle in our troupe who try and sway us towards specific decision. Plus, Hakon, of course (who, by the way, is telling us he has an idea of where to go once we are in Central Villedor so we can get our sweet SWEET revenge). We also meet the usual suspects of the Bazaar, including Sophie, Alberto, and Co.

And in-between our chores, we are on the hunt for those inhibitors and like to jab ourselves with them like the dumdum we are. SURELY nothing bad can come out of this?!

Anyway.

Now that we have a biomarker, we can access other regions in Old Villedor. More exploring! And, eventually, we get the choice to help the PK see the Bazaar was innocent (and give the Bazaar their water tower back), or we claim the water tower for the PK cause we have a crush on Aitor (why else would you do this?!), OR we can cause absolute mayhem and botch the whole deal, leading to a war between the Bazaar the PK, which the PK narrowly win.

Then off we go into Central Villedor. Escorting our troupe, of course. Gee, maybe we get an LI in there?! I’m thinking too much about the troupe now. Down, Taff. But, seriously, there is someone in the troupe who is defo trying to win us over to “troupe life” maybe and sway us away from all the revenge talk. We aren’t having it though. We loved our sibling.

(No one blows up the windmill, btw. That thing is too damn pretty to die. Taff has spoken. Oh and we probably had another turning scare at some point and are figuring out that something may not be entirely right with us.)

Once we’ve survived some tense escort mission shenanigans (HEY those can be fun if done right, I promise), and as we are nearing the Fish Eye, we get into an argument about our desire to Do Revenge, which leads to use pointing the troupe to the Fish Eye and the fucking off with Hakon.

Cause we trust Hakon.

Hakon who has become a bit quiet now that we are alone with him.

Hakon who is getting a bit weird.

HAKON WHO LED US INTO AN AMBUSH TO GET THE DAMN KEY FROM US.

We are not happy. Especially since we are facing what seems to be a trio of WAY TOO strong people who remind us far too much of volatiles. Gee. Anyway, we manage to get away! Mostly thanks to the timely intervention of a crossbow woman (Lawan).

Fast forward, we end up at the Fish Eye, with Lawan giving us a bit of exposition about Hakon (who she was tracking when she spotted him near the Fish Eye), about Waltz and how he does some really creepy science stuff with young people.

We reunite with the troupe and get to know the Fish Eye. We meet Frank.

The Renegades attack.

Our valiant defense of it goes down just like in the game, which introduces us to the PK and properly begins ACT 2. ACT 3? Look, I am not counting. Also, I need a snack, be right back.

[one snack later; beware, Monsters, We. spoilers ahead cause all of this is ripped right out of my fic]

This act is all about Bringing back some light! The right (or wrong) people have noticed that we have a GRE key and are floating the idea by us that we should take our shapely ass over to the solar farm (ex “Tesla competitor” car factory) and do Villedor a solid. This is a big one, because we get to pick our team to do that. Do we go back to the Bazaar and bring Alberto and Co (if we didn’t botch Old Villedor), or do we go with the PK, organized by Aitor, and bring Tolga and Fatim? I mean Mitaf and Aglot, sorry.

Either way, Lawan comes with us.

As we gear up for this venture (which will not be an easy venture) we begin to also unravel some of the mystery around Waltz. The name X 13 is being floated by us at this point, too, which we begin to ask around about and are told to go get friendly with the Carriers (can I PLEASE rename them to Couriers?) since they hoarded a lot of communications and maps.

Anyway. POWER PLANT. Depending on how we left Old Villedor, our efforts at the power plant are challenged by either: The Renegades (if we prevented a war between the PK and the Bazaar) or the Bazaar (if we botched Old Villedor and the PK beat down the Bazaar).

This is when the “Renegade Mini Bosses” start showing up: Daylight proof volayouths. 20-somethings turned into weapons by Waltz.

During that particular fight, we experience another turning scare, but we’re good. Heheehehe. Yeah. We’re good. :sweating:

Then, after we’ve made it, cause, of course we made it: LET THERE BE LIGHT! This time, racing up to the top of a skyscraper is payoff and Lawan’s joy something we can relate to. We’ve seen Villedor dipped in darkness. Now we see it come alive with way more lights than our Pilgrim has ever seen in their life. It’s an emotional moment, ya’all.

We get a little hear to heart with Lawan, where she reveals some more about Hakon. This is driven by the VNC tower light coming on and her briefly recounting how Hakon betrayed the Nightrunners, the very people who took in Lawan when she was a child. She was a kid back then, but she will never forget the loss Frank (and therefore her family) suffered and she will always blame Hakon for it. Hakon was, in effect, outcast after this, and eventually fell in with Waltz. A lot of people do these days, mostly out of desperation.

After that:

The Courier quest line is turned into a bit of a main quest line this time around, at which end we find out what X 13 is: a massive GRE vault. And Waltz and his Renegades are looking for it. If they are able to crack it open, Villedor is in for a BAD time. Not only will he have all the supplies he needs to keep his operation running when it comes to turning people into whatever it is he is doing, but also because: guns. There is absolutely going to be a stockpile of them in there. Even working together, the PK and the survivors wouldn’t stand a chance against the Renegades.

And thus, the race is on!

To get there first, we need intel. And intel needs communication.

VNC tower time!

Frank and Lawan think its a terrible idea, but the PK are happy to help us; this one goes down pretty much identical to the original climb. I loved that mission, and hanging out with Rowe and his group was absolutely necessary to give the PK some much needed depth which they kinda lost after you lose track of Aitor.

The difference is though that Lawan doesn’t come after us. I felt her easily catching up with Aiden cheapened not only the player’s accomplishment, but the death of Rowe’s squad and the death of the Nightrunners. We do get help from Frank though, which is a big deal, since at that moment, Frank is facing his demons. He is going back to that day when his men died – and in doing so, he saves our life.

We celebrate.

We’re almost feeling at home, really. Our troupe performs at the Fish Eye. We get to see it all, and yeah, we still want revenge, but maybe we’re home?Maybe this is better than revenge? Maybe we don’t have to go back out onto the road (and how can we, we are infected, we are screwed anyway, we can’t go back to our old life, can we?).

Maybe this is good.

If you like romance, maybe there’s a bit of romance there (someone from the troupe? Lawan? BIG SHRUG! You choose!).

The next day the hunt begins: For X 13 and Waltz. This leads to us crossing paths with Hakon again (and a fight not unlike the one in the church in the game). Though this time, the fight ends in a revelation: Hakon tells us that (DRUM ROLL PLEASE) our sibling is alive! Yeah, I know you all saw this one coming.

We then get to choose to kill him or to let him live, but not before he tells us where they are.

And we see red.

Heeding no warnings, we head into what could easily be a trap (as Lawan tells us, cause Hakon is a bleeding liar, don’t trust him), but we don’t care. We go. We HAVE to go. Lawan, since we’ve grown on her, comes with us.

THIS IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN, FINISH ALL YOUR SIDE QUESTS

Surprisingly – it is not a trap. Not really. Not intentionally. We find our sibling, but they aren’t altogether themselves anymore, much as any of the other volayouths we find. They also aren’t leaving with us – and as we try and break them out anyway, Waltz gets in the way.

Forced to abandon our sibling, Lawan manages to get us to flee and come back later, with Waltz and one of his other volayouths chasing us. We manage to kill the volayouth, but Waltz is too much – but thankfully, Lawan is crafty, and she manages to get us out.

Except now its night. And we are kinda in the middle of nowhere with no UV light and– oh no, you know exactly where this is going.

We (as in you, the player, not Lawan) turn.

Look, Veronika was sweet, but I had absolutely 0 emotional connection to her. Let this moment matter.

We kill her.

:RECORD SCRATCH:

Unless! We allowed Hakon to live, in which case he realized just how harebrained we were and shadowed us, swooping in at the last second to jab us with an inhibitor, saving Lawan’s life.

The happiness we were so close to his absolutely shattered now. Regardless of whether Hakon helped save Lawan or not. What happened, happened. There is no coming back from that.

If Lawan is dead, we do not go back to the Fish Eye. We crawl into a hole after we come to and hope to die.

If Lawan is alive, we also do not go back to the Fish Eye. We refuse, even though both Hakon and Lawan insist.

It’s not until Waltz contacts us and says he will trade our sibling for the key and the location of X 13 that we spring (or crawl) back into action.

It is decision time.

We can now choose to either: (a) give up, betray all our friends, and leave Villedor with a half-feral sibling, or (b) return to the Fish Eye and go to claim X 13 for Frank or (c) go to Missy and claim X 13 for the PK.

(a) If we betray our friends, the game ends here and the credits are us returning years later to find Villedor in the worst shape it can possibly be in.

(b) If we go to the Fish Eye, and Lawan and Hakon are alive, Frank will put the Nightrunners back together and they come with us to X 13. If not, we go alone and it will be a lot harder than (c). In this case, Matt leads a squad (which includes Aitor) after us and what happens in that confrontation depends on how we handled Aitor and his situation in Old Villedor. Either Aitor sides with us and turns on Matt, or the Nightrunners stay behind to hold off the PK. If the Nightrunners have not reunited (Lawan is dead), we have to fight the PK alone.

Assuming (b) and (c), we manage to claim X 13 in what I would hope is an epic battle. One where we fight through Renegades, volayouths, and, eventually Waltz, who has brought our sibling along and pits us against them. We fight both Waltz and our sister or brother, kill him, and are left to choose to subdue or kill what’s left of our family.

Credits!

If we claimed X 13 for the survivors, Frank has taken a reluctant leadership position and oversees things from the Fish Eye. If Lawan is alive, the Nightrunners have been reestablished for good. They control Villedor’s firearms and the supplies coming out of X 13..

If we claimed it for the PK, the PK control Villedor’s firearms and the supplies coming out of X 13, though the outcome itself depends once again on how we handled Aitor’s situation. If we have Aitor on our side, Matt is overthrown after being overzealous and Aitor takes charge and the survivors and the PK enter a reasonable time of peace. If not, Matt brings Villedor under a militant rule (before he dies).

If we have killed our sibling and/or Lawan, we leave Villedor, unable to cope with what we’ve done.

If, however, Lawan is alive and we subdued our sibling, our own credit is us looking for a way to help not only our sibling, but all the other volayouths still out there. Including ourselves.

EDIT! I forgot to mention that NG+ has you have guns.

#Dying Light 2 #Dying Light #:rambles into the void:

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agirlunfilteredsblog · 9 months

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HOW TO PREP FOR COLLEGE/UNI ADMISSIONS 📚🎓📖

Hi girls!! Seems that many of you liked my tips and tricks for studying, so I figured I’d give you my advice on how to prep for college/university admissions. I’ll also link down below my post on tips for studying if you guys haven’t seen it yet!!

1. LEARNING YOUR PRIORITES

As much as we hate to admit it, colleges are looking for students that can perform well in an academic environment. For you to successfully demonstrate that, you need to have the grades. That means learning to prioritize school, no matter how much that sucks. I’m not saying that school should consume you either, all I’m saying is school should be one of your biggest priorities. If you’re trying to get into a competitive school, grades mean everything, so the higher the grade, the better the chances.

2. ENGAGING IN SOCIAL ACTIVITIES AT SCHOOL

I know that it’s hard sometimes to put yourself out there and join different clubs, but trust me, it helps tremendously with admissions. Showing that you can take initiative, proves that you’re a hardworking student. Although debate teams and student bodies are the most known school activities to join, there are so many others that don’t require so much public speaking. You could be part of a student journal team or found your own little club on something you hold dear to you. These little things may seem insignificant, but in the grand scheme of things, they can be worth a lot!

3. HAVING PASSION PROJECTS OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL

This is something highly achievable for anyone. We all have something we love and can capitalize on. Personally, it took me awhile to find the one thing that stuck, but once I did, it no longer felt like a task. Since I am someone especially sociable, I started volunteering at a rehabilitation hospital where the patients just wanted friends to talk to. I started going there regularly and it simply became part of my weekly routine. Once there, I noticed many of the patients were partly or fully deaf, so to be able to communicate with them, I started learning ASL. You see how easy it is to find small passion projects?? Beyond that, you can always start a blog here (like me hehe) on something you’re passionate on or a website!!

There are surely other things you can do, but these are the three things that really helped me during my admissions. I want to remind you all, that you can do all these things and still be rejected from your top school, but that is OKAY. Rejecting is only redirection and trust me, life has a path for you that is amazing. Sending you all the best luck for your admissions <3

all my love,

a girl unfiltered 💋

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staytheword · 2 years

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blood in the cut

blood in the cut — part three of the smell of roses [ ← part two ] [ series masterlist ] [ playlist ] [ general masterlist ]

this series (and this blog) are 18+ !! minors do NOT interact!! no real people are represented.

• lee know x female reader / changbin x female reader / lee know x female reader x changbin (NOT a love triangle), all other stray kids members are featured but not main characters.

• non idol au, bikers au, rivals to lovers au, small town au. inspired by sons of anarchy. (not beta-read so I apologize for any mistakes/typos)

• word count: 10.7k (10,783)

• warnings: violence. implied murder, gunshot wound, mention of stabbing, blood, scars. trauma. gang violence. explicit language. polyamory. explicit smut, dom!minho and dom!changbin, unprotected sex, oral sex (f and m receiving), threesome (mmf), dirty talk, slight voyeurism, slight hair pulling, use of pet names.

You try to hold on to something as your legs fail you, but all you find are the roses. They slip away from your fingers. You fall.

You’re going to die here.

• taglist: @upallnight-s ; @ughbehavior ; @changbinluvr ; @valreadsfics ; @ppiri-bahng ; @mchslut ; @lady---boner ; @defenseofourdreams6277

Your father lets out a sigh, rubbing his fingers. His arthritis has been acting up lately, making it difficult for him to work - what you do requires a precision he’s often no longer able to provide. He’s getting frustrated, you know it, but he’s seeing a doctor regularly. However, on days like these, when it’s humid and heavy outside, his fingers hurt so bad he can barely move them.

“Dad,” you say softly, as he tries to prepare an order for a birthday. “Maybe you should go home. Take your meds, get some sleep.”

“I’m fine,” he retorts.

“Dad,” you insist, glaring at him. “Don’t hurt yourself. Please.”

It takes a while for you to convince him, but he eventually gives in. With the pouring rain outside, no one is coming into the shop anyway, and there’s not much to do. It’s been slow, not that you’re complaining. Hyunjin is coming to see you later, anyway, because he wants to get Seo-ah a bouquet for their anniversary tonight.

You’ve put on some classical music, which always helps you focus on work, humming to the piano and violins. The wall of roses needs some love, so you carefully pick out the roses that start to fade, clip a few stems, let your mind wander. The rain patters against the window, strong and straight, and you know you’ll be soaked within seconds when you step outside.

Hyunjin arrives about an hour later, rain dripping down his cheeks and hands. He shakes his wet hair like a puppy. He’s laughing, eyes sparkling.

“So grateful I chose the restaurant over the picnic for tonight,” he laughs.

“I wonder why,” you joke.

You put his jacket in the back where it can dry, admiring his clothes - he dressed up for the occasion, wearing black slacks and a white shirt. He rolls up the sleeves and starts to look at the roses. He knows he wants a bouquet of it, but since he isn’t sure what he wants, you suggest making it together. You spend a few minutes discussing it before Hyunjin bites his lip.

“Can you give me your honest opinion?”

“Sure,” you tell him.

He takes out a small box and shows you the earrings he bought for Seo-ah. You put a hand to your chest, sighing deeply.

“I thought you were going to show me a ring, for a sec,” you chuckle.

He laughs. “Do I sense some relief, here?”

“Damn right,” you tell him mischievously - he knows you’re only joking. “Would’ve been a loss for all of us to get you off the market for good.”

He shakes his head, amused, but you put a hand on his arm.

“They’re beautiful, Hyun. She’s gonna love them.”

He nods. “Yeah? I think so too. Yeah.”

He’s adorable so you can’t help but hug him, but you quickly go back to the roses, discussing your options. You like to glance at him when he’s focused, because Hyunjin does this thing where the tip of his tongue comes out from between his lips to settle against his teeth, and it is, objectively, the most attractive thing a human being has ever done.

“What about the purple ones?” he wonders. “Do you think they would -”

He stops as the shop’s door opens on a client and gives you a smile.

“I’ll let you handle it,” he says, strolling to the other side of the shop to give you space.

The man is wearing a drenched black hoodie, drawn over his head. You can barely see his face, but you guess it was to protect himself from the rain.

“Hi,” you tell him. “Can I help you with anything today?”

He shrugs. “That’s a lot of roses.”

You chuckle uneasily, because he steps towards you, keeping his hoodie on. There’s someone odd about him - an energy that unsettles you. You glance at Hyunjin, who is standing over the jasmines. He watches you with a frown.

“Yeah,” you say. “They’re our specialty.”

“Right,” he says. “How poetic.”

You frown, but he keeps approaching you, and you want to step back but he’s too fast. In seconds he’s against you, and something pushes against your stomach. It’s hard, cold, cylindric - you freeze.

Everything happens very fast.

“Send the Vices our regards,” he whispers in your ear.

The shot is so loud it’s like you can’t hear it. It vibrates inside you, fills your entire body, and leaves you colder than you’ve ever been.

“Y/N!”

Hyunjin’s voice gets lost in the sound.

It doesn’t even hurt. Not at first, anyway. You stumble backwards as the man chuckles. You put a hand against your stomach - your fingers come back drenched in dark blood. It’s warm. You feel dizzy. You feel out of breath.

You hear steps - Hyunjin is running towards you. You want to tell him to run, to hide, but you can’t. The man raises his arm, and you’re so scared he’ll aim at Hyunjin, but instead he starts to shoot at the roses. Again. Again. And again.

The petals get shredded, and fly towards the ceiling like confetti.

They fall like rain.

Pink, red, white, purple.

In seconds, the shooter is out the door. Hyunjin, who had raised his arms to protect himself, seems to hesitate - but he runs to you. He keeps saying your name, his voice shattered.

You try to hold on to something as your legs fail you, but all you find are the roses. They slip away from your fingers. You fall.

You’re going to die here.

Hyunjin.

Help me.

Please.

“Y/N!”

It’s him. You don’t see him anymore, but you can hear him. He’s kneeling next to you. The roses are scattered. Shreds of petals fall on his hair. He’s crying. He’s on the phone. He’s covered in blood. His white shirt is painted red. He’s pushing something on your stomach and it hurts.

“Stay with me, Y/N,” he tells you. “Please.”

“Hyun…” you breathe, and you taste blood.

“Don’t talk,” he says, his voice shaking. “It’s ok. Paramedics are coming.”

You feel yourself drift away. All you see is roses.

Roses drenched in blood.

Your blood.

You’re scared.

Hyunjin holds your hand.

“Don’t die,” he pleads. “Please don’t die.”

I don’t want to, you want to say to him.

Darkness is all you can see.

Blood is all you can taste.

Please.

I don’t want to die.

When you wake up in the hospital room, your father is sitting next to your bed. He’s dozing off, his head lolling forward. You feel like this is the worst hangover of your entire life. It takes you a minute to gather your thoughts and memory back into something that makes sense.

You were at the Rose Garden with Hyunjin.

A man entered the shop.

He shot you in the stomach, and he left.

Your mouth feels pasty, your throat is dry. You also feel dizzy, which you guess is the fault of the drugs dripping into your system. You glance around, at the IV, at the room curtains, at the hospital gown on your body. You carefully put a hand on your stomach, and feel bandages under it.

You’re alive, at least.

You were so sure you were going to die.

You want to cry but you can’t.

Your memory takes you back, and your heart stops.

Hyunjin.

“Dad,” you say, your voice weak and rusty.

He doesn’t hear you.

“Dad,” you repeat, a little louder.

He startles in his chair, opening his eyes wide. When he sees you’re awake, he stumbles, approaching your bed to squeeze your fingers in his.

“Sprout, darling,” he says. “You’re awake.”

“Hyunjin.” Your voice trembles when you say it. “Is he -”

“He’s fine. He’s gone home a few hours ago to get some rest.”

You nod, feeling relieved. Hyunjin is all right. You’re alive.

It’s all that matters.

“How long have I been asleep?” you ask, your voice breaking up.

“Two days. You were in surgery for a while, sprout,” your dad tells you, squeezing your hand. His eyes are filled with tears. “But they say you’ll be fine. That you were lucky. An inch aside, and...”

You close your eyes and take a deep breath.

The man put the gun against your stomach.

He didn’t miss.

He aimed.

He never wanted to kill you.

You had a message to deliver.

“Dad,” you say. “I need… I need to -”

“You need to see the doctor,” he nods. “The rest can wait.”

“You don’t understand, it’s -”

“Y/N,” he interrupts, his voice firm. “Later. Please. You almost died.”

You look at him, feeling so lost, so hurt, so small. Still, his tenderness warms you, and you nod. He calls for the nurse, who calls for the doctor, and you spend the next hour doing tests and answering questions. It exhausts you, and you quickly go back to sleep after your father kisses your forehead.

When you wake up again, it’s the middle of the night. You’re alone in your room. You glance around, finding your phone close by. Your father probably knew you’d want it - the gesture makes you smile.

Your eyes are heavy and painful, your body stiff. You open the phone, checking your messages. In the middle of the rest well and the omg did you really get shot?? are only a few you really want to read.

Seungmin tells you he drove your father home, and he’ll come back the next morning.

Hyunjin says he’ll drop by tomorrow. That he’s sorry.

Jisung sent you a heart emoji.

Felix, a picture of a burning candle that he lit for you.

Then, you find Changbin’s name. Thinking of you, he wrote.

It brings tears to your eyes. You can’t find the words to write back. You just want him near.

Minho sent you something too.

Hyunjin gave us the message.

We’ll come to you. Don’t worry.

The motherfucker is dead meat.

You feel an ache that has nothing to do with your wound.

Please visit me, you write.

He quickly writes back. Once you’re home.

You don’t want to wait that long, but Minho must have his reasons. At least, you can guess everyone is alright, that your attack was an isolated incident. That’s the only thought that you hold on to as you fall back against your pillow, feeling the darkness suck you in. It hurts. Everything hurts.

You can still smell the blood and the roses.

You call for the nurse and ask for more medicine.

It’s a long, quiet night in the hospital. You long for music, for conversation, anything - but there’s only the deep silence, the occasional footsteps, and your own thoughts drifting. You’re exhausted but you can’t sleep, your meds have stopped working, and you watch the small hours of the morning pass by. You drift off here and there, but never for long.

Your eyes are closed when you hear footsteps in your room - you expect it to be a nurse or a doctor, but the voices draw you completely awake.

“Is she asleep?”

“Probably. It’s early.”

“I wanted to be there when she woke up.”

“I know, love.”

Hyunjin. Seo-ah.

Their voices are gentle whispers. You open your eyes as they approach you, almost timidly.

“Hi,” you say, your throat in a tight knot.

Hyunjin’s eyes are filled with tears. You wonder if he has stopped crying since that day. Seo-ah squeezes his hand and gives you a tender smile.

“I’ll get coffee.”

She leaves you with Hyunjin, who comes to sit on the chair next to your bed. His long legs are bent under him, his hair tucked behind his ear. He looks like he hasn’t been sleeping well. You reach for his hand, tears filling your eyes. He takes it with trembling fingers - they are cold.

“Y/N…” he breathes. “I’m so sorry.”

“Why would you be sorry?” You shake your head. “It wasn’t your fault. I should be sorry you got involved in this mess.”

“No,” he says firmly. “I’m glad I was there with you. If you’d been alone…”

You take a deep breath.

“Right,” you sigh. “But still, Hyun, I…”

You can’t find the words. His eyes are haunted, and you guess they reflect yours. You try to chase away the vision of him that can’t leave your mind. The blood on his shirt. No. The grey hoodie he’s wearing. The petals in his hair. No. The blond locks grazing his forehead.

“I’m so sorry about your anniversary,” you whimper.

Hyunjin looks at you in disbelief, and lets out a sharp scoff. “Y/N. Come on.”

“Did you give her the earrings?” you ask.

He nods.

“Did she like them?”

He nods again.

“I’m sorry you couldn’t get her flowers,” you say.

You want to start sobbing but you know it will hurt, so you hold it back. Tears roll down your cheeks, and Hyunjin squeezes your hand. You do the same and you cry together for a while.

What you’ve been through, what you’ve seen.

It’s bound you forever.

Blood and roses.

It could’ve been so much worse.

But you’re both still alive. Still here.

Seo-ah comes back to find you both drying your eyes, and she tears up as well, so you end up crying again. She shows you the earrings as she’s wearing them and you hug her as tightly as you can. If Hyunjin hadn’t been able to come home to her, you never would have forgiven yourself.

Hyunjin gives you a sip of coffee although you really shouldn’t, but it’s extremely soothing.

They stay with you until Seungmin arrives with your father, and you spend the day sleeping, playing cards and watching television. Your wound hurts, but it will heal, they keep saying. It will heal.

For the next three days, you’re mostly alone. You have convinced your father it was all right to go back to take care of the shop, because there would be cleaning up to do - but he sent you a picture that first day to show you it had already been done. There was no trace of blood left. All the roses, thrown away. It was a sad sight, but at least it was something your father wouldn’t have to take care of.

You could only guess who had done this.

Your friends go back to work - you don’t want them to uproot their entire lives for you. Your life is not in danger, and you are doing better. You can even take little walks around your room, go to the bathroom by yourself. You just need some time. They can visit you in the evening.

You take the time to think about them.

You’ve been texting, but they’ve all been evasive. Minho. Changbin. Jisung. Even Felix. Once you’re home, Minho said. You can only wait.

The doctor tells you another day or two will be enough, and then you can heal at home. You’ll have to take care of your wound, dress it, bandage it, and not overextend yourself. You promise to do all that - you just long for your own bed.

You can walk all the way down the hall now, and as you enter your room again that night, thinking about the fried chicken you’re sure to order the second you’re out the hospital, you stop in the doorway. There’s someone in your room.

Changbin.

He turns to face you, looking relieved, and you don’t think. You just rush to him, not caring about the pain, and bury your face against his chest. After a few seconds, he draws you closer into his arms, breathing shakily in your hair.

“I got you,” he says.

“Where have you been?” you whimper, tears flowing down your cheeks. You say that but you’re not mad at all, and you grab at his long-sleeved shirt, his cut, everything you can find. He strokes your hair.

“I’m so sorry, Y/N,” he whispers. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t come before.”

“It’s okay,” you breathe. “You’re here now.”

He exhales slowly, and as his hands stroke your back, he stops when he feels your bandage, wrapped around you. You feel his breath tremble.

“I’m so sorry this happened to you,” he lets out. “I’m so sorry we couldn’t protect you.”

You shake your head, your eyes filled with tears. “Please don’t say that.”

“I should’ve been there. Someone should’ve been there.”

“You only would’ve gotten killed,” you state, your cheek against his chest. It’s warm, in his arms. It’s safe. It’s the most stable you’ve felt in weeks. “And I wasn’t alone. Hyunjin was there. He saved me.”

Changbin takes a deep breath, not letting you go.

Good, you think. Please don’t, not ever.

“I’m just happy everyone is okay,” you breathe.

Changbin does not answer you, and you feel his body tense. It sends a shiver down your spine, and you step back, giving him a questioning look.

“Everyone is okay, right?”

He winces.

“Changbin,” you say, your voice breaking up.

He looks for his words. Eventually, they come out.

“You weren’t the only one that was attacked.”

You feel dizzy.

“It all happened at the same time. To the minute. You. Cherry. And Chan’s old lady.”

You stumble backwards, horrified. No.

No, no, no.

“They’re okay. Back home. Cherry is in bad shape, but she’ll be fine.”

Your mouth is dry. “Did we all get - did they -”

Changbin shakes his head. “You were shot. Cherry was stabbed. And they beat Chan’s old lady. Badly.”

You stumble again and Changbin catches you. He sits you down on the bed. You feel sick, like the world is spinning too fast. This wasn’t an isolated attack. It was premeditated. Organized.

“Tell me everything,” you ask Changbin.

He does, his mouth twisted with shame. The guy that killed his father, the one he put in the hospital - after failing to get back at the Vices through the police, he hired another gang to do the job. A ruthless one, from a nearby town. The Skulls - those who chased you and Changbin what seems like forever ago. The guy wanted the Vices dead, Changbin especially, but the gang didn’t want to have murder on their hands, so the guy agreed on sending messages. Attack the weakest points. Destroy their lives, as his was.

When Changbin is done, you’re trembling with rage.

“It’s being taken care of,” he says softly.

“Are you going after them?” you ask shyly.

Changbin shrugs. “More or less. We're trying to avoid a full-blown war. Minho is negotiating with the gang. Trying to avoid more bloodshed.”

“And the guy?”

“Dead.”

Changbin tells it flatly, but there is fire in his eyes.

“Yes,” he answers to your silent question. “I found him and slit his throat open, although he deserved worse.”

A shiver goes down your spine.

“It had to be done for what he did,” Changbin nods, his fists tight. “For what happened to you.”

You put a hand on his fist, enveloping it under your fingers. “I’m fine, Changbin.”

He’s not looking at you - so you take his chin, lightly, and raise his face to yours.

“See? I’m fine.”

His eyes are so dark, and yet so full of light - you lean forward and steal his lips for a kiss. He tenses at first, but when you don’t slip away, he gives in. Kisses you softly and deeply, touching your hair, his hands careful, his touch light.

“I don’t want to hurt you,” he says.

“You’re not going to hurt me,” you breathe against his lips. “You could never hurt me, even if you did.”

You kiss for a while, but you get tired so easily - soon you are out of breath, and you lay down in bed. He strokes your hair until you fall asleep.

It will all be fine.

“There’s food in the fridge,” Seungmin says as he settles you in bed. “My mom made you seawood soup.”

“She’s an angel,” you say with a pout. “And so are you.”

Seungmin shakes his head, amused. He draws your blanket over your legs, making sure your pillows are holding you upright. He’s the one that drove you home from the hospital since your father had to take care of the shop.

You’ve spent a few more days at the hospital - the day you were supposed to get home, your wound had reopened and you had to go into surgery again. Still, you are here now, ready to eat good food, wear normal clothes, and sleep in your bed. That will help you recover, you’re sure of it.

“Are you hungry now? I can heat it up for you,” Seungmin says, sitting on the bed beside you.

“No,” you shake your head. “I’m fine. And I can do it by myself, you know.”

“Just be careful,” he sighs. “I know that’s a difficult concept for you, but…”

“I’ll be careful, Min. Promise.”

He hesitates, but eventually gives you a tight smile. He looks tired. He’s been looking after you a lot - more than necessary, but you’ve let him. Seungmin has a way of soothing your nerves like nobody else, and you know he’s not doing this because he feels like he has to.

You thank him profusely and send him away. He needs rest, and so do you. Once he’s gone, you take a long nap, watch some television, and eat a bowl of delicious soup. Your apartment is quiet.

Changbin has visited you a few more times. Jisung and Felix came, too. They looked preoccupied, giving you as many updates as it was safe to. You are disappointed Minho never came, but you understand. His position is delicate, and the hospital walls are thin.

Apparently, the rival gang was not happy about Changbin killing the guy who hired them. They’ve been making the negotiation difficult. Very difficult, according to Jisung, and you see in his voice that patience is running thin on both sides.

“They’re asking for my head,” Changbin admitted. “Or they’ll go for another round of messages.”

You hear what he doesn’t say - next time the man in the black hoodie won’t aim for a part of you that will heal.

He’ll shoot you dead.

The worry is making you a little sick, but you focus on healing - the faster you’re back on both your feet, the faster you can get your energy back and put it into fighting back. You feel so helpless, like a victim, and it’s humiliating. It’s not like there’s anything you can really do - but you prefer transforming your fear into anger.

Are you alone tonight? Changbin texts you. You answer yes, and he tells you he’ll come over. You’ve been craving his presence, and not only because Minho is nowhere to be seen. Changbin makes you feel like never before. Protected and safe, yes - but he keeps you on your toes, too. You’ve never really wanted to be taken care of, but you let Changbin do it, because he’s never too gentle about it. He’s just there.

He doesn’t treat you like a child.

He teases you.

He changes your bandages with you.

He annoys you.

He helps you in the shower.

He kisses you tenderly, he kisses you harshly.

He doesn’t drive you insane like Minho does.

But he’s crawling under your skin and making a home there.

Later, when you open the door on Changbin, he’s covered in dust and grease. You wrinkle your nose - the gasoline smell is strong. It’s clear he’s been working in the garage all day - he told you it calms his nerves. His hair is hidden under a baseball hat, his eyes a little tired.

“Came straight from the clubhouse,” he explains as he closes the door behind him. “Thought I’d take a shower here.”

You nod, maybe a little too eagerly. “Yeah, sure.”

He kisses your temple, you get him a towel, and he disappears in the bathroom. You keep yourself busy while he’s in the shower, trying not to think about Changbin’s naked body so close to you, resisting getting in the shower with him. But although your wound is mostly healed, it’s still sensitive, in need of care. Steamy, acrobatic shower sex is the last thing your aching body needs.

You sigh in annoyance.

You’re horny. You’re frustrated.

You haven’t been touched in so long.

Well - not that long. But it feels like ages.

You tried to relieve yourself a few nights ago but the second you tense, your scar started to hurt, so you quickly gave up. But maybe taking care of someone else would feel good enough. You bite your lip, debating what to do, when Changbin reappears in a towel in your living room.

Only in a towel.

It’s not that big, so it covers next to nothing, and you take in the sight, holding back a whimper. A toned chest, still a little wet from the steam, shoulders like the statue of a god’s, and shaped legs that reveal thick, muscular thighs. Your grip your glass of water tighter in your hands.

Fuck. Me.

Your body is burning and you want to find heaven in his arms so bad you lose all sense and do not understand a single word he says.

“Huh?” you say when you realize he’s been talking to you.

He smiles, amused. “I said, my other shirt is dirty. Can I use your washing machine?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure,” you answer, although you’re not sure what you just agreed to.

You shake your head.

“You’re fucking with me, right? You can’t be walking around looking like this every day. Nobody has a body like this.”

“What’s wrong with my body?”

“Wr- wrong?! There’s nothing wrong with it. You’re just… you’re…”

He arches an eyebrow, and you know he’s enjoying this a little too much. He is Minho’s right hand after all.

“You’re fucking hot, Changbin, okay? It shouldn’t be legal.”

He laughs. “You’re insane.”

“Yeah, and it’s your fault. Taunting me like that…”

“Taunting?” He walks towards you, his smile not leaving his face. “I’m not taunting you.”

“Changbin…”

He licks his lips as if in slow motion and you have to bite your tongue to hold back a moan.

“I can’t,” you say. “My scar…”

“It’s okay,” he whispers. “I just want to kiss you.”

You meet him halfway, his lips soft on yours, and his touch, his warmth, sends your thoughts spiraling. Your fingers graze his skin. It’s so soft, all you want is to take off your own clothes to feel it against yours.

You inhale slowly, and chuckle. “Did you use my shampoo?”

“Couldn’t resist.”

You grin and kiss him again. As you push him towards the couch, he groans, but you put a finger against his lips.

“Just because I can’t doesn’t mean you can’t.” You arch an eyebrow. “Can I remove this?”

You tug at the towel, and he nods, staring at you hungrily. You undo the knot and the towel falls on the floor. Changbin is beautiful, still soft - but you don’t mind. You take him in your hand, caressing him gently, and then push him back on the couch so he sits there, knees apart, ready for you. You bite your lip in anticipation.

Carefully, you kneel and place yourself between his legs. He reaches for your face to kiss you again as you stroke him. He’s getting hard quickly, and when you lean back to look at him, his eyes are glassy with desire.

“You’re so fucking beautiful,” he says.

“Not as much as you,” you reply in a low voice.

Just so he won’t talk back, you flick your tongue against his tip, making him hiss. You smirk, watching his muscles tense and move like water.

You lick his length, tracing the curves and the veins. He gently gathers your hair to hold it back, which allows you to move more freely - you wrap your mouth around him, your lips slick with spit and him. He grunts, bucking his hips, and you take all of him.

You take your time, long minutes devouring every inch with your lips and tongue, edging him, feeling him harden and twitch. His whimpers make you shiver in pleasure - you glance at him to see he has his eyes closed, his head thrown back, his face contorted as if he’s in pain.

“Look at me, Bin,” you breathe. You caress him with the tip of your fingers. “Look at me.”

You swirl your tongue as he looks at you. He’s somewhere far - and it’s a sight you revel in.

“Am I making you feel good?”

He nods.

“Tell me.”

“You make me feel so good, babe. Looking like a dream with my dick in your cute mouth.”

You hum. “Yeah? You want me to go deeper?”

“Yes, babe.”

“You want to fuck my mouth?”

“Fuck, Y/N…”

You giggle, wrapping him around your lips and bobbing your head. You go lower and lower until you gag slightly, and nod at him. He understands your signal and starts moving his hips. He hits the back of your throat, moaning loudly, and doesn’t stop. You know your lips and throat will be bruised, but you don’t care. He’s still being tender, not going too fast, and holding your hair, not pulling it.

Your hands grab his thighs, and you feel the muscles under your fingers.

When you take him back after getting some air, he breathes hard. “Fuck. I’m gonna…”

You squeeze his thighs to encourage him. After a few thrusts, you feel him throb and soon your mouth is filled with the taste of him. You lick him clean, yourself too.

“Come here, you,” he sighs, pulling you to your feet slowly so you can sit on his leg. He kisses you, this thumb caressing your cheek, and your lips are sensitive but you don’t mind.

“Hmm.” His finger traces your inner thigh. “Is my baby all wet?”

You groan. “Don’t tease me.”

“I’m not. I want to make you feel good, too.”

You sigh.

He kisses your earlobe. Your neck.

“I didn’t get a taste of you yet,” he breathes. “Do you know how crazy that drives me?”

“I can’t, Bin. It hurts too much.”

“Do you trust me?”

To your surprise, you say yes. Changbin smiles, tucks a strand of hair behind your ear.

“Then let’s try something.”

You follow him to your bedroom, where you lay down. He puts pillows behind your lower back, making sure your hips are raised but your wound protected. You are hesitant, but you do trust him.

“You just keep breathing, ok? Slowly.”

You nod. You desperately want release, so you’ll take even just a few seconds of him between your legs.

He removes your underwear, staring at your wetness.

“Fuck. Just the scent makes me hard again,” he chuckles, and you smile.

He kisses you - right there. You flinch.

“Breathe,” Changbin says. “Hold my hand, squeeze it instead of tensing.”

His tongue unravels you, wide and agile. He puts just the right amount of pressure, building you slowly, stopping when he senses you tense too much. You learn to squeeze his hand instead, and although a dull pain remains, it quickly gets faint under the waves of pleasure Changbin’s tongue is creating.

He’s meticulous, attentive, but relentless. His tongue traces circles and lines, his fingers pushed against your sensitive spots. He kisses your thighs, every part of you, and he definitely knows how to listen to you. You drift off in your pleasure, and after a few minutes the softest orgasm of your life shakes your entire being. It’s long, slow, delightful, and such a relief.

“Oh my God, Bin,” you sigh once you get back down, a hand against your forehead.

He appears above you, a smile on his lips, and kisses you. You feel his hardness against your leg.

“Please, Y/N,” he says. “Can I fuck you? I’ll go slow.”

“Yes, baby.”

He enters you, moving carefully, and his length is a welcome presence. You moan gently, and he makes sure he’s not hurting you.

“So good,” he whispers. “Too fucking good.”

“Come for me, Bin,” you say in his ear, and it doesn’t take long before he does, right there on your leg.

He pants, and you reach for him - but he removes the pillows and cleans you with a hot towel first. Then he lays down next to you, his head on your shoulder, planting airy kisses.

“I like you, you know,” you say. “I want you to know that. It’s not just sex to me.”

He hums. “Me neither. I like you, too.”

And that’s all there is to say.

When you wake up, it smells like citrus. The spot beside you is empty, but you can hear noises in the kitchen. You stand up slowly, wincing at your aching body. Your scar is healing, but it’s taking a lot of time - and you’ve never been particularly patient.

You walk to the kitchen and freeze at the sight in front of you.

Lee Minho is cooking. In your kitchen.

Eggs are frizzling in a pan. There’s a pitcher of lemonade on the table. A plate of fruit. Toasts, kept warm in the toaster.

“What the fuck?” you let out, despite yourself.

“Trouble,” Minho smiles widely. “You’re up.”

“How have you - When did - Where’s Changbin?”

“Went out to get some butter. I used it all for the eggs.”

“But…”

He raises an index to his lips, and you shut up, staring. He turns to shake the fried eggs on a plate, and gestures to you to come to the table. You walk carefully as he puts down the plate.

“For you, doll,” he smiles, giving you a quick kiss.

You’re not sure what’s happening, but it smells delicious and you’re starving. Still, you haven’t seen Minho in a while, so you take a second to look at him from up close. He looks tired. So tired. You want to kiss his eyelids to make them better.

“I missed you,” you admit.

“Me too,” he says, kissing your forehead fondly. “Eat.”

You sit down and take a bite from the egg - it melts into your mouth like a piece of heaven, and you moan in delight. Minho chuckles, sitting next to you. You talk for a while - and when Changbin comes back, you keep talking. They tell you about the past weeks, how it’s been for them, how the girls are holding up. Chan never leaves his girl’s side. Cherry has been watched very carefully by Felix.

And you, by Seungmin.

“We talked over the phone,” Minho tells you. “He said he didn’t want to get involved, or even to know how, but he asked us to make sure the bastard that did this to you got what he deserved.”

You arch an eyebrow, surprised - and yet, you’re not, not really.

You look at both of them. The two boys that each hold a piece of you. Minho, ever elusive, who will never truly be anyone’s. Changbin, devoted, an anchor in the storm. You don’t feel torn. You know they love you, each in their own way. There’s nothing else to say, nothing to question.

When you get a little tired, and decide to take a nap, Minho kisses you slowly, tells you he’ll come to visit soon again. Changbin stays with you.

He gets you in bed, and as you drift off, you hear him do the dishes.

You glance at your phone anxiously although you know it’s useless.

They are not going to text you. Not now.

Still, you can’t help it, feeling your heart sink a little further every time you see your lock screen empty of notifications.

Tomorrow, the sun will rise on a ground soaked in blood.

Tonight is a night for revenge.

Under the dark sky, the Vices are going to be Reapers.

Their plan is sound, from what you’ve heard. You don’t know every detail, only what couldn’t put you at risk. When the negotiation with the rival gang came to a brutal end, they asked for Changbin’s head - and Minho called them a few days ago to give them his answer.

He agreed.

But of course he hadn’t.

Not really.

The ambush was in place. It was going to be a massacre but sometimes it was necessary. They had threatened to kill you, to shed blood in Temperance, to transform the entire town into a cemetery. The Vices couldn’t allow that. The gang had started the violence, and the Vices would make it end.

You are home, Jeongin watching over you. Felix is with Cherry. Chan with his old lady. The rest are getting ready. Or maybe it’s happening right now.

Your phone pings - but it’s Seungmin, making sure you’re doing all right. He wanted to stay with you but you refused. No need to put anyone else at risk.

Any news? he asks.

Not yet, you reply.

Jeongin is good company. You play cards for a while, and you laugh together. He suggests a movie marathon, and you agree. Your scar hurts tonight, but you know it’s because you’re tense. You wish you could have a drink, but you can’t because of the medication. Damn it all to hell.

On your television, John Wick is kicking ass, and it’s entertaining but it only makes you think about the worst that could happen. What if Minho found himself at the end of a knife like that? Changbin on the other side of a gun? You have faith they’ll succeed. They’ll be shooting the guns and handling the knives. But still, you’re nervous.

You watch the bad guys get beaten up and shot and stabbed, and Jeongin gives you a few glances. He asked you if you were going to be okay watching this, but you don’t mind. Your trauma really isn’t that bad, considering. You have nightmares sometimes. You smell the blood and you’re so cold you wake up in shivers. It happened the other night, but Changbin was with you and he held you tight.

Some part of you wonders why you’re not running away from him, from all this, after what happened to you. But you feel protected with them beside you. You feel you have purpose.

Hours pass. Jeongin has fallen asleep, but you can’t close even an eye. You’re watching a documentary on TV, your mind elsewhere, when someone knocks at the front door. You jump up, your heart beating fast in your chest.

“Who is it?”

“The Grim Reaper.”

You smile, your heart whole again. Jisung is on the other side of the door, grinning from ear to ear.

“We’re back, baby.”

You barely even notice he’s covered in blood - you give him a tight hug and he tells you he can drive you to the house if you want. Everyone is there. Everyone is safe. You wake Jeongin, tell him to go home, but he wants to party with you, so the three of you head to the house.

You see Minho first, and he squeezes your hand.

It’s over, doll.

It’s done.

You take a step back, taking a long look at the final result.

The wall of roses stares back at you.

All its roses and burgundys and lilacs and creams. They mix and blend in swirls of colors. It’s a beautiful sight. It’s even more beautiful than before.

You’d been scared you wouldn’t be able to work in the Rose Garden anymore, that would only see the blood - but you don’t. You really don’t.

You only see the blooming roses, you only smell the fresh flowers, and the only pain you feel is when you prick yourself on a thorn - and it’s a welcome feeling. So brief, so simple.

You breathe in relief as your father puts a hand on your shoulder. He smiles.

“It’s beautiful, sprout. You did wonderful.”

“Mom would’ve liked it, I think,” you nod.

“She would’ve loved it.”

You put your head on your father’s shoulder and you both stare at the roses for a few seconds. You know he doesn’t agree with everything you’re doing, that he thinks you’re being a bit reckless - but he also knows you. Rash. Passionate. Like your Mom.

“The shop is going to be in good hands,” he nods.

He gave you his keys a few days ago. It’s time for him to retire - to put the shop in your name, officially. He isn’t going anywhere, and he will still come to work regularly. But it is your time, now. The Rose Garden is yours.

You kiss him on the cheek, and you close shop together for the day. He heads home, but you have another destination. Earlier today, you got a text from Minho, summoning you to the clubhouse. That’s the word he used. You are summoned to the clubhouse for an urgent meeting.

Still a pretentious prick.

But you like him.

You enter the clubhouse, and it’s strangely empty. There’s only one person sitting at the bar, sipping a drink. You walk towards him, a smile on your face, and he watches you approach with a spark in his eye.

Lee Minho.

“You’re late,” he says before he empties his drink.

“There wasn’t a time on that summons on yours,” you retort back.

“When you’re summoned, you should come right away, doll.”

“Some of us have lives.”

He smirks and gestures towards the wide double doors that lead to the meeting room - you’ve only been in there once before. You follow him inside, and as he closes the door and draws the blinds, you have an idea of where this is going. In fact, you’ve had an idea since you got the text this morning - that’s why you put on some lingerie for him. Blood red, of course.

You bite your lip as he draws his chair - the one at the top of the table - and sits down.

“Sit down.”

You open your mouth but he quickly interrupts you.

“Sit. Down.”

You sigh deeply, rolling your eyes, but still, you sit down on the nearest chair. You look at him, never getting enough of the sight of him. His aura. His eyes. The scar across his face, that you’ve gotten to know so well. It’s faded a little more since you’ve known him. And now you have one of your own, right there on your stomach, healed and healthy.

“I’ve heard you’ve recently become an owner.”

“I have.”

“So I’ll have to deal with you directly, then?”

“More like I’ll have to deal with you.”

Minho chuckles. “What a shame.”

“Absolutely devastating.”

You smile at each other, and you squirm in your seat a little. Minho leans towards you.

“What are you thinking about there, doll?”

“Just you,” you say.

You put your palm against the wide wooden table, looking at it. You imagine all the other Vices sitting there, voting on decisions, talking business. Your hand slides on the soft wood.

“You ever fuck someone on this table?

“That’s where your mind is, huh?”

“Answer the question,” you squint.

“I don’t think I have,” Minho answers carefully, staring at you intensely. “How does that make you feel?”

You smile. “Like I want to be the first.”

Minho grins. “That’s my girl talking. My little Trouble.”

You smile, and you want to sit up and kiss him, but he raises a finger.

“Business first.”

You sigh. “What business?”

That’s when the doors open - Changbin enters, closing them behind him. You look at both of them and grin. “Oh. Oh.”

“Look at her, Vice,” Minho laughs. “Such a dirty mind. The three of us in a room and that’s the first thing she thinks about.”

“Well you sort of left me hanging the other night, didn’t you?” you snarl, crossing your arms.

Changbin sits in front of you. He has the same look on his face as the first time you saw him, in your father’s shop - but you know better now. You notice the little curve of his lip, the dark spark in his eye. The way his shoulders hang back.

“We called you here to discuss your security,” Minho says.

“My security?” you repeat, confused.

“Now that you’re almost a part of us, we need to make sure you’re not going to be a danger for the club.”

You snort, but they both stay serious.

“You’re being serious,” you whisper.

“You think this is funny?” Minho says. “Are we a joke to you?”

“I’m - it’s just -”

“Vice,” he states, pointing his index at you. Changbin is staring at you. “I think this one needs to understand we don’t laugh about these matters.”

You stare at him as he stands up, keeping both his palms on the table.

“I think we need to give her a lesson or two,” he continues. “Just so she knows how serious we are.”

“I think you’re right, boss,” Changbin nods, staring up and down at you. “There’s a few things that need to be drilled into her.”

Your thoughts are drifting somewhere, and you don’t even reach for them. You squeeze your legs, trying to take a deep breath, but they’re not leaving you any air.

This is a game.

You love to play.

Changbin snaps his fingers. “Up.”

You stand up on trembling legs. He does the same, circling the table to walk towards you. Minho stays behind, his arms crossed, not a single emotion on his face - except in his eyes.

In them is the eye of the storm.

Changbin steps close to you, and you raise your eyes to look at him. You’re burning with desire, but you stay still. Slowly, he lifts the hem of your dress, tracing your thigh, your ass. His rings are cold against your skin. Then, his fingers pull at your panties, which fall on the floor. You gulp, lips parted, staring back at Changbin. The silence is deafening.

He does not hesitate - his fingers touch your wetness, tracing its length, and he pushes one digit inside of you. You gasp, your legs vacillating.

“You still want this?” he breathes.

You can only nod.

“What’s the verdict, Vice?”

Changbin takes his hand away from you, and you groan in frustration. He shows his drenched fingers to Minho, who smirks.

“Of course,” he breathes. “Such a good girl for us. Isn’t she, Vice?”

“Hm, hm,” Changbin hums.

“Bend her over,” Minho says.

You feel a little dizzy, your heart beating fast in your chest. You knew it was going to happen, and you’ve thought about it a lot - but now that it’s happening, you can barely believe it. That you’re here, with these two men craving you. Only you.

You’re theirs, and they’re yours.

Changbin grabs your waist, twirls your body and bends you over the table, lifting your ass in the air. Your upper arms rest on the table, and you look up at Minho, who is stroking himself on top of his jeans. His mouth is open, his eyes dark - such a beautiful sight. You lick your lips in anticipation.

He walks over to Changbin, and you feel a hand raise your dress again so that your lower body is exposed. It’s a little cold, but you don’t care.

“Look at that, Vice,” Minho sighs. “What a fucking sight, right?”

They’re both standing behind you. You smile and wiggle your ass for them. Their chuckles are music to your ears.

“I think she’s enjoying this a little too much,” Changbin laughs.

“That’s okay,” Minho says. “So are we.”

You look back at them as Minho gives his friend a look.

“What do you want to start with first? You do the honors.”

“I need that taste in my mouth,” Changbin says, and you clench at the words.

Minho chuckles. “By all means. I’ll take care of those sweet lips.”

It happens fast - as you feel Changbin’s breath against your wetness, Minho reappears in your vision, unbuckling his belt. You don’t even say anything - you just open your mouth, sticking out your tongue.

“Fuck, doll,” he growls in delight. “First time I saw you open your mouth it was to damn me to hell. How things have changed.”

You glare at him. “Don’t fucking test me,” you hiss. “Why don’t you enjoy it while it lasts?”

He laughs. “Oh, don’t worry, I will.”

He takes his length out of his pants, not even stroking it before he hands it to you. You make him linger a little, licking the length of your hand before you wrap your fingers around him - and he stares at you with hungry eyes. You slap him against your tongue. You’re so focused on it you almost forget about Changbin - who, as if he senses it, flicks his tongue against your eagerness. Your entire body flinches.

“Fuck,” you moan.

Minho strokes your hair, pushing it back from your face. “The two of us will take good care of you now, doll.”

As an answer, you take him in your mouth and start bobbing your head. At the same time, Changbin’s tongue is working wonders, and you hum around Minho, making him twitch between your lips. He’s rougher than Changbin, pulling your hair a little as you suck him, bucking his hips to go deeper. You don’t mind. Especially not as your capacity to think is escaping you entirely.

When you take a breath, you let out a loud curse because Changbin is making your legs tremble and you don’t know how much longer you can stand on them. He just chuckles and keeps going. With Minho around your lips it’s hard to tell Changbin you’re about to come, but he stops right when you’re on the edge.

He slaps your ass, pushing on your lower back softly.

“Put that ass up for me,” he tells you, and you hear the sound of his belt buckle.

Minho takes himself out of your mouth.

“Fuck her good, Vice. She wants it.”

“You good where you are?” Changbin asks.

“What d’you mean? I’m in fucking heaven over here.”

Changbin positions himself at your entrance, pushing softly, and you groan in delight.

“Fuck, Bin,” you sigh. “Fill me up.”

“Hmm, that filthy mouth,” Minho growls. He grabs your chin, squeezing it hard between his fingers, putting three of them in your mouth. “So fucking hot. Let me look at you as he fucks you. Let me see the sense leave your head.”

You moan as Changbin enters you, slowly and then completely. Minho takes out his fingers, letting your drool stain your chin, and he takes a step back to admire the sight of Changbin fucking you.

You graze your nails against the table, breathing out, but no one seems to care if you damage it. You need to hold on to something as Changbin starts to pound into you, mercilessly, harder than he’s ever had. The only sounds you can hear are his heavy breathing and his skin slapping against yours - you can barely utter a sound.

“That’s it, Vice,” Minho is whispering, his fingers in your hair. “She’s fading out. Soon we’ll lose her entirely.”

You moan. “Oh my God - fuck, I’m…”

You can’t finish your sentence, as your orgasm rolls into you, making your entire body shake. Your legs buckle, but Changbin holds you. He makes sure to keep moving until your orgasm is over, and then takes your arm, helping you up.

“C’mon, babe,” he says.

He sits you on the table and after a few seconds, you open your eyes. Changbin stands close to you, his length covered in you, and Minho is taking the spot between your legs, stroking himself.

“Don’t worry, Trouble,” he whispers softly, his lips grazing your neck. He caresses your cheek. “This is far from over.”

Minho pushes into you and you inhale sharply, your head falling back. You exhale heavily, and you feel a hand on the back of your neck. It’s Changbin - he holds your head straight to kiss you deeply, his tongue swirling around yours. You grip his shoulder to stay steady as Minho slams into you.

“Can you hear that, Bin?” Minho chuckles. “How wet she is? Fuck.”

“I can hear it,” Changbin replies with a smirk, kissing you again.

You breathe in Changbin’s mouth, unable to utter a word. His other hand goes down your dress, taking off the straps to liberate your breasts. He massages them, rolls a nipple under his thumb. Minho’s hands are holding your thighs, and all that contact, all that scent, all that warmth - it’s so delightful you can barely breathe.

“Fuck,” you pant. “Fuck.”

You hear Minho chuckle. “Already fucked out, doll? Can’t form a sentence anymore?”

“Here’s one,” you say. “Fuck you.”

Both of them laugh with you.

Minho’s rhythm is building your pleasure again, and you clench around him - you love to hear him groan every time you do. You grab Changbin’s length, stroking it as he keeps kissing you, sometimes leaving your mouth to bite your earlobes or lick your neck - he sucks at your skin a little, and you know he’s going to leave a trace. Just like Minho’s fingers are digging deep in your thighs. Just like your nails scratch Changbin’s back.

Your mind devolves, and Minho lets out a deep groan.

“She’s close again, Bin. Help me finish her off.”

You moan in frustration and delight as Changbin’s fingers graze your wetness. He applies pressure and starts to draw circles, and you can’t hold back your second orgasm. It’s like an electric shock through your body, and you moan louder than you ever have.

“Does it feel good, baby?” Changbin says in your ear. “The whole town is going to hear us fucking you good.”

“Fuck yes,” you whimper. “This feels so good.”

Minho shakes his head, taking a step back.

“I need a break or I’m gonna blow right there. Jesus fuck.”

He still takes the time to kiss you before he goes to sit down in his chair. He’s quite a sight, with his hair disheveled, his chest covered in a thin layer of sweat, his dick hard, his eyes on you. Changbin takes his place, but it’s only to pull you from the table. He gropes your ass and pushes your back against the nearby wall. He puts your arms around his neck and enters you again, burying his nose in your neck, and you breathe out. You’re sensitive, but the feel of him is so delightful, you don’t ever want him to go away. Either of them, actually.

Changbin lifts one of your legs to get easier access, and you wrap it around his waist. Soon your other leg is around him, and he’s holding you up like that, your feet not touching the ground. He’s strong, and it doesn’t look difficult for him, so you let go, only pressing your back against the wall to relieve some weight.

He’s so deep inside of you, you whimper.

“Fuck me harder,” you breathe out, and he obliges.

Your chin is resting against his shoulder, your arms wrapping around him. You’re scratching his back, panting his name. You open your eyes, dizzily, and see Minho sitting close to you, stroking himself slowly to the sight.

You keep eye contact with him as Changbin fucks you. You could come again, so easily, and you almost do when Minho accelerates, mouth open, his tongue tracing his lips. This feels like a dream - but it isn’t.

“Fuck, babe, I’m gonna come,” Changbin grunts.

“Wait,” you breathe. “Put me down.”

Once your feet are on the floor, you gesture at Minho to join you. When both are next to you, you kneel, and take Changbin in your mouth. You lick yourself from him, stroking Minho. Then, it’s the latter you warm up between your lips. You go back and forth, staring up at their faces. Minho whispers sweet things, Changbin holding your hair.

When Changbin grunts and twitches in your hand, you open your mouth and bring out your tongue. You take all of him.

“Fuck, holy shit,” Minho breathes. “Fucking Trouble. You really are. Come here.”

He takes your hair, wanks it slightly towards him, and he’s next to come around your lips. It’s a little overwhelming, but you take the time to clean the two of them, standing back up when you’re done. They both kiss you, a little more tenderly.

“I have an idea,” Minho grins.

“What?”

“Lay back down,” he tells you. “I wanna make you come again. In my mouth, this time.”

“I’ve already come twice, you know, you don’t have to -”

“You know what they say, right? Third time’s the charm.”

You exchange a glance with Changbin, who’s smiling. You do feel a little on edge from Changbin’s fucking, and from the lingering taste of them on your tongue, so you lay down on the table, facing them.

They kneel in front of you, burying themselves between your legs.

Minho teases and licks your wetness, playing with your sensitive spots, and Changbin kisses your thighs. They take turns to pleasure you, and the sight is enough to make you go crazy, so you’re soon close to coming - Minho hungrily sucks you into his mouth, and you come undone.

It’s hard to go back down, so you just lay there, sweaty, your whole body twisted in a bundle of sensitive nerves. Just their slight touching makes you twitch, and you keep your eyes closed.

“I think we’ve ruined her, Vice,” Minho laughs.

“She’s going to need some rest.”

“Good thing we’re here to watch over her.”

You have enough strength to sit on your elbows, raising an eyebrow at the two of them.

“I hate you,” you say, but you’re smiling, your hair a mess, your soul unraveled and made whole again.

“Just a few more steps, Mrs. Kim. You’re almost there.”

You hold on to the woman’s hand as she walks tentatively, her eyes covered by a piece of ribbon you took from the Rose Garden. Behind you, Changbin follows slowly, a smile upon his lips. He puts the car keys in his pocket, and you’re grateful he accepted to drive both of you - how you know that cost him, to have to get behind the wheel of an actual car.

How you torture him.

You exchange a nervous and febrile look with him, guiding Seungmin’s mother ahead. The parking lot is silent, but it really isn’t. There are so many people there you can guess half the town is present, just behind the Kim’s hardware store. Balloons announcing happy birthday. Barbecues warming up. Children giggling. The sun is bright and warm.

“Darling, where are you taking me,” Mrs Kim says in an amused tone.

“You’ll see very soon,” you reply. “You can stop right here.”

You squeeze her hand, bite your lip, and look at the small crowd. Seungmin is at the front, of course, holding, with his father, a huge birthday cake. He catches Felix’s eye, and the latter lights the sparkler candles. They sputter and shine, and Seungmin nods at you - they are ready. So you turn to Mrs Kim, speaking gently.

“I’m going to remove the blindfold. You ready?”

She nods, and you lift the piece of ribbon. As her eyes open on the clear sky, the crowd screams Happy Birthday and erupts in cheers. Jisung activates the confetti gun he bought for the occasion, and hundreds of small pieces of paper of multiple colors envelop the crowd.

Mrs Kim cries out in surprise, a hand against her mouth, and you smile affectionately as she approaches her son and husband, tears shining in her eyes. Someone starts the music, the crowd disperses, and the party starts.

Eyeing the scene with satisfaction, you feel a hand sliding on your waist, securing its place there. You place your own against it, wrapping your fingers around the rings, and look up at Changbin.

“How was it, then?” you tease him.

“What?”

“Driving a car.”

He sighs. “Never ask me to do that again.”

You smirk, reaching for his lips. He kisses you, shaking his head.

Time is flying by. You wouldn’t say things are quiet, exactly, because they never are in Temperance. How could they be, with a biker club scouring every inch? But you’ve made peace with it - although it does not mean you’re making their lives easier. You still question most of their decisions, never hesitate to yell at Minho’s face when you disagree with something they do. Why wouldn’t you, after all? You have principles, most of the time.

You and Changbin have recently moved to his father’s house. You’re slowly making it a home, arguing over what furniture to buy and how to organize the fridge. It’s excruciatingly domestic, but you make it fun.

Hyujin and Seo-ah got engaged. Jeongin got a promotion. Chris and his old lady, inspired, bought a house close to yours. Happy endings all around.

Minho you used to see often. Sometimes for a jousting match, others for a maddening fuck. The other day you pulled his hair so hard he actually whimpered in pain and made you pay for it. Oops, you said. But it’s been a while since you’ve seen him. Months ago he disappeared with Cherry - emergency family business, you were told. Changbin took over the Presidency in his absence, although people still call him Vice.

You get a piece of cake, Changbin a burger, and you walk through the crowd to find Seungmin. He wraps his arm around your shoulders and pulls you in a sideways hug.

“Thank you,” he says in your ear. “I appreciate it.”

“I didn’t do it for you,” you reply, arching an eyebrow. “I did it for your mom. She said ages ago she was going to bake me banana bread and she never did. I’ll remind her of that when the party’s over.”

Seungmin shakes his head, not impressed by your attitude, and you break into a grin.

“C’mon,” you say. “You guys are family.”

“Oh, you mean the people you don’t choose?” he sighs. “Makes sense, I never would’ve chosen you.”

You pull your tongue at him and he chuckles. Mrs Kim steals you for a tight hug, telling you how sneaky you are, and you just appreciate seeing the bright smile on her face.

As you’re going through your fourth glass of lemonade - it’s just too damn good, as everything that is made by Hyunjin’s godlike hands is - Changbin pulls you aside, whispering in your hair.

“You wanna get out of here?”

It’s not like you can ever resist him, especially not when he matches his leather cut with that white t-shirt of his that is slightly too tight around his biceps, so you giggle and nod your head.

“Where, though?” you ask.

He thinks for a second. “I have an idea.”

He takes your head and you sneak away, promising yourself you’ll go back to the party afterwards. Changbin leads you ahead on foot, and you’re starting to think he’s heading for an alley when you realize you’re close to the Rose Garden.

Halfway there, Changbin pushes you against the back wall of a building to kiss you deeply, his lips embracing yours, his strong hands holding you in place. You mess up his hair with your fingers, grinding against his hips to tease him too.

Laughing like teenagers, you make your way to the shop, heading towards the back entrance. You reach in your bag for your keys, which you always have on you, but Changbin is already opening the - unlocked - door.

You frown. “How did -”

“C’mon,” he simply says with that side smirk of his that always makes you forget the time of day.

You simply follow him inside. The back rooms are empty, but when you get to the actual shop, overflown with the smell of roses, there’s someone waiting for you there.

He’s standing in the middle of the room, leather pants, black t-shirt, and twirls on the soles of his combat boots. Silver hair, a scar on his face, and that devilish smile.

He looks exactly like the first time you saw him.

In exactly the place you first saw him.

“Hey, Trouble,” Minho says.

You glance at Changbin, whose eyes are sparkling with mischief. Minho steps closer to you, and your heart is bursting at seeing him again.

Minho’s fingers graze your cheek. “Remember what I once said about what I’d like to do to you in your shop?”

“Hm” you say, folding your arms. “Can’t remember.”

He grins, and you feel Changbin’s breath against your neck. “Let me remind you, then.”

the end ♡

Thank you for all your support! I truly appreciate it and I hope you had fun reading this story. Let me know what you think if you want to, I would like to hear from you. Lots of love! ♡

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avatarmerida · 2 years

Text

Jealous

A short Huntlow oneshot where Hunter and Flapjack decide to coordinate their Halloween costumes. Inspired by this by @astrolavas

So glad it’s Halloween and Flapjack is happy and safe and very much alive

———

“Did you... put a tiny wig on Flapjack?” Gus asked.

Hunter nodded excitedly as he proudly showed the group his latest project. After finding the cardinal suit at the store (and on sale, to top it off) Flapjack had suggested Hunter craft him a costume as well and the opportunity was just too good to pass up. So now, Hunter stood proudly wearing his cardinal costume while Flapjack flew around the room in a tiny blonde wig and white cloth napkin that acted as a cape, the Golden Guard symbol carefully at stitched on the back.

“He insisted on the cape, he thought it was funny.” Hunter explained.

“Where did you even find a wig so tiny?” Gus asked, genuinely impressed.

“I made it out of yarn,” said Hunter, his excitement increasing. “I found a tutorial on the line, and it only took three hours to make!”

“Looks like it was time... well spent.” Amity said gently, impressed by the craftsmanship but still somewhat unsettled by the result.

“Not to mention, we can reuse it in the future,” continued Hunter. “I’m sure there are plenty more human holidays that require elaborate costumes. And I don’t see this bit growing old anytime soon.”

“Um... yeah there’s totally so many times you guys can wear those...” said Luz, giving a look to Amity that suggested otherwise as they all processed to return back upstairs to finish donning their own costumes. “But for real, you guys look great.”

As they went up, the door opened and Willow made her way down.

“Hey Hunter, do you think I could use your sick sewing skills to- oh my Titan,” Willow stopped herself in her track the moment she noticed Hunter and Flapjack’s costumes.

Hunter turned to her and offered her a wide smile, holding his breath for her approval.

“Hunter,” her voice held a serious air for a moment before gradually becoming more bubbly. “You look so... adorable!”

He beamed at her words as she quickly leapt down the stairs to see them better.

“Oh my gosh Hunter, look at you!” She gushed. “So cute and handsome!”

“Well, I don’t know if I’d say cute and handsome,” Hunter replied bashfully, suddenly unaware of what to do with his hands, alternately between crossing them and putting them on his hips. He torn between being flustered and allowing himself to have his ego slightly inflated. “But who am I to argue?”

“Oh my gosh you’re so cute, I can’t stand it! I just wanna kiss your little face!”

Hunter stopped breathing, stunned but not the slightest bit displeased. When he remembered how to breathe, he took a deep breath as he crafted the perfect response.

“Well I-I mean-,” he summoned all his courage to look down to her but when he did saw she was actually talking to Flapjack, dressed as Hunter. “Oh.”

Flapjack tweeted happily loving the attention, especially at his owner’s expense.

“Oh, what’s that? You’re gonna kidnap me so I’ll join the Emperor’s Coven?” Willow said in a sugar sweet voice, scratching under his beak. “Oh well you’re so cute, how could I say no!”

“Was I not cute enough?” Hunter muttered in defeat under his breath.

“What was that?”

“Nothing! Ha ha! I said nothing!”

“Well okay, Flapjack,” she said with a wink to the boy in the bird suit before turning her attention back to the palisman. “I was hoping Hunter here would be able to help me sew this patch onto my sweater for tonight.”

“Of course I-.”

“Flapjack, please, I was talking to Hunter.” Willow teased and the bird shot the real Hunter a smug look. He gleefully tweeted* his response before taking the sweater from Willow in his beak and flying it over to his owner as he sat in his shoulder. Hunter’s face turned red at the cardinal’s words that only he understood.

“I do not talk like that,” he said sternly to his Palisman knowing now for sure his face matched the bright red of his suit.

“What did he say?”

“Oh! Uh, n-nothing really, just... weird Hunter stuff?”

“Well I happen to like weird Hunter stuff,” she said, standing on her tiptoes to give the bird a small kiss on top of his head. “Thanks for your help!”

Flapjack happily chirped** in response which made Hunter blush again as his eyes widened. Luckily Willow couldn’t understand him. But Hunter didn’t want to take that chance.

“Ha! Well okay! Sure, I’ll make sure Hunter gets right on that for ya!” the real Hunter said nervously, taking the sweater from the bird, holding it carefully. Willow giggled as she handed him the patch she had chosen and smiled sweetly at him.

“Why thank you Flapjack,” she said, giving him a playful nudge. “Hunter’s so lucky to have you to help him.”

“Yeah, he really is.” Hunter sighed, truly so grateful for the little rascal.

“And he’s lucky to have such a handsome bird to help him too,” she said, reaching up to boop his fake beak. “I’m gonna grab a snack, want me to bring you some worms?”

“I uh... yes?” Hunter hesitated, knowing she was most likely joking but also knowing she spent enough time in the garden to have easy access to worms. She giggled at his confusion, excited to see his reaction when she returned with gummy worms, before making her way back up the stairs.

Flapjack (disguised as Hunter) tweeted*** his farewells to Willow, loving the reaction it evoked from his owner. The true Hunter dropped his smile once Willow was out of sight and turned to throw the sweater at the bird who successfully dodged it and continued to fly around the room teasing him.

“Okay well then, you can sew on her patch for her,”Hunter said in a huff. “Good luck impressing the Captain without any thumbs.”

Flapjack Translation:

*Of course, anything for my dear beloved Captain.

**I think Flapjack is jealous and wants a little kiss too.

*** I shall begin work as I count the minutes until you return, beautiful and mysterious creature.

#huntlow #winter toh #toh #willow park #Hunter toh #the owl house #Halloween

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bullet-prooflove · 1 year

Note

Okay! It's time to crawl all up in this Criminal Intent. *looks around* I would like to request, the beautiful Bobby Goren.

"Don't tell me that's the best you can do! C'mon! Where's your passion?"

*sigh* I love him. I love him. I love him. IDC!!!

Thank you! 💜😊💜

"Don't tell me that's the best you can do!” Bobby goads you, black boxing pads covering his hands as he holds them up once more. You strike with a jab as directed, following the same drill you’ve been working on for the past two minutes. It’s the end of your third bout and the sweat is dripping off you, your calves are cramping and your breathing is ragged.

“C'mon!” He shouts. “Where's your passion?"

You don’t know why the jibe hits you so hard. It feels like he’s slid a knife between your ribs, and you react the same way you always react when you’re hurt, you fight.

The problem with becoming emotional, it makes you lose focus. You forget where you’re up to in the drill and lash out with your right fist, catching him straight in the nose. He’s a big guy but he still reels at the force behind it. Blood erupts from his nose, spattering across the grey vest top he’s wearing and you feel your heart sink.

“Bobby, I’m sorry…” You say as you strip off the gloves and toss them to one side.

He holds up his palm to halt your approach. He presses his fingertips to his nostrils before he looks down at the blood on them.

“No.” He tells you as he snatches up his towel and presses it to his nose. “I deserved it. I knew it was a trigger, but I pushed it anyway.”

That’s the other side of this training, emotional resilience. The people you go up against in Major Crimes are smart, they’re manipulative and they know just how to push your buttons. Bobby’s trying to help temper that, to help you create a buffer so you don’t end up losing your shit when confronted with someone who can read you as well as he does.

“I don’t know why…”

He gives you a look because he does.

“Father…” He states, tipping his head back and dabbing at his nose.

Yea, ok, he’s not wrong.

“Noticed it earlier today,” He tells you, looking into the towel to survey the bleeding. “Thought I’d see how deep it goes.”

“Pretty damn deep.” You say as you begin to unwrap your hands.

“Yea.” He says, tilting his head towards you. “It’s why I deserve the bloody nose.”

You open your mouth to speak but he shakes his head.

“You don’t need to explain.”

You shrug your shoulders.

“What if I want to.”

He studies you for a second. You can see the cogs turning in his brain. Talking about something like that, getting deep, it’s almost as intimate as love making in some ways. Once you cross that line it’s hard to come back. Your disclosure of personal information will require one from him to maintain the balance of power within the relationship. He’s not sure if he’s ready to be that open.

“That’s enough for tonight.” He tells you, throwing the bloody towel at his gym bag before he bends over to pick up the boxing pads.

Too much, too soon you think.

Bobby Goren may be able to read you like a book, the thing is he hasn’t realised how well you can read him.

#bobby goren x you #bobby goren x reader #bobby goren #goren x reader #goren x you

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s-uccubus-mommy · 7 months

Note

What is a boy to do when he has chronic depression and is going through one such episode, yet can only 'work on himself' so much alone? For there is nothing more healing than love, and when I had someone close to me, I was able to make great progress that has regressed significantly as I am alone once more. I ask for little besides a warm embrace, yet reaching that point with someone new requires overcoming several gates where my attractiveness is judged - gates which the symptoms of depression add additional locks to. It adds a lot of 'negative rizz', so to speak. And thusly, I tend not to bother women, even if I know in my heart I could learn how to make her happy if only she could believe I was worth investing attention into.

There are a... lot of unkind words said about sub boys who 'expect a partner to fix them', yet these always perplex me. Are we not social creatures who depend on strength from each other? For I truly believe I am missing only this last piece to become something beautiful and worthy. For I have great love in my heart, and just want to be able to go and take her out to get cake or something when she's feeling sad.

I am also curious about the intersection between depression and attractiveness to the opposite sex from a woman's perspective, if you or anyone else reading this has such experience.

-👑

I feel for you. And I’ve felt just like you before. I brought it up to a therapist actually- are attachment issues and codependency really that bad? There is a book called Hold Me Tight by Sue Johnson that made me question this. The author seemed to encourage you and your partner to accept these things about yourself more than I had heard anyone do before. And my therapist agreed. Of course there’s a limit to everything, but really, almost all of us struggle with attachment issues. Not to mention things like depression and anxiety. And I’m not the person to tell anyone “you have to love yourself before you can love someone else”. Because so many of us struggle with this shit and it can be years and years before major progress is made. I don’t think having mental health struggles should stop you from finding a partner.

The key here, I think, is to work on yourself at the same time. You need to try to be the best partner you can be, and that means working with mental health professionals and doing the work they ask you to do. That also means being an equal partner, even if you’re a sub.

Codependency can also stunt your personal growth though. In the past few years I’ve challenged myself to be less codependent on romantic partners, and I do encourage everyone to try to do the same. One big part of this was working on developing more friendships. So I suggest doing that. You can also dive deeper into your personal interests and goals and try to focus on doing things that make you happy on your own.

As far as how depression is seen from a woman’s perspective… well everyone is different. Since I struggle with depression myself I don’t mind at all if a partner does too. But I wouldn’t want it to be so crippling for them that I would end up having to take care of them all the time, ya know? I wouldn’t expect my partner to do that for me either. And if it really is that bad that you feel a need for someone else to take care of you, than there are things you need to work on personally with professionals. Like I wouldn’t judge a partner for that, but I would ask them to seek help separately from me.

Sorry I wrote a novel but it’s an interesting topic! Something that I think is much more complex and nuanced than most people think. I hope there’s something in there you found helpful.

#mommy k!nk #bd/sm mommy #domme mommy #gentle fdom #bd/sm advice #relationship advice

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hockeylvr59 · 1 year

Text

Here With Me Part 28 || Taylor Makar

Author’s Note: Kelsey considers what the future may hold for her and Taylor before jetting off to Calgary to spend two weeks with him and the Makar's. FC: Marina Laswick (@marooshk on instagram). P.S. Happy 1 week until Taylor's season starts.

Warnings: familial fighting, relationship tension, awkwardness // Word Count: 4,548

~~~~~~

Twenty Seven

Days passed one by one as Kelsey watched the countdown tick away while she did her best to keep herself busy. She met up with friends, continued plugging away at her thesis paper, and worked on applications for med school. Yet she hadn’t been able to get one of the questions on Tufts application out of her head.

Outside of beginning your residency or other academic avenues, where do you see yourself in five years (family, social, hobbies, ect.)?

It was something that Kelsey hadn’t really thought about before, so focused on getting into med school so that she could become an obstetrician. Immediately her mind drifted to Taylor and how in love with him she was and what the future held for them. The first year of med school would be manageable, he’d still be at UMass and all of the schools she’d applied to so far weren’t that far of a drive.

But what about after that? What about once Taylor was done with school?

That was already in the back of her mind when Taylor brought up being asked back to the Avalanche’s prospect camp in July about a week before she was set to fly to see him.

There was a strong chance that Taylor would remain a member of the Avalanche organization which would put him in Colorado once he was done with school. 2,000 miles. That was a hell of a lot more distance to cover.

And it wasn’t like the University of Colorado didn’t have a good med school program, they were just as good if not better than other schools she was applying to.

So much was still up in the air regarding her and Taylor’s future as a couple but if Tayor was going to be in Colorado, shouldn’t she at least apply and make it an option for herself? At least give themselves that chance? Possibly one year of long distance versus three or more. It seemed stupid not to and before she knew it Kelsey had submitted the University of Colorado’s medical school as one of her primary choices and completed the application and all other requirements.

Unless Taylor brought it up however, she was going to keep it to herself just in case she wasn’t accepted. No point in getting his hopes up unnecessarily.

****

Thankfully her passport had arrived a few days prior to her scheduled departure. Kelsey had tried to pack modestly, they were spending a few days in Calgary before heading to his family’s lake house in BC so light clothes were the name of the game. She threw a pair of pants into her suitcase in case of cool evenings but decided she could just steal one of Taylor’s hoodies when she got there in order to save space.

“And where exactly are you packing to go?” As she packed two new swimsuits, Kelsey heard her mother’s voice appear in her doorway. She had purposely avoided telling her parents about her trip, though she had mentioned going to see Taylor to her dad, just without specifics.

“Calgary to see Taylor.” As soon as the words left her mouth, Kelsey could practically see the smoke spilling from her mom’s ears.

“I don’t think so.” The tone of her mom’s voice signaled that she expected those four words to be the end of it. Turning around, Kelsey put both hands on her hips signaling that she wasn’t backing down.

“You can think whatever you want mom but I’m going to visit my boyfriend and his family.”

“I’m telling you you’re not allowed to go.”

“Yeah well last I checked I’m an adult so you no longer get to make decisions for me.”

“I already told your cousin Mary we would be at her baby shower next weekend.” If her mother really thought she was going to guilt trip Kelsey into staying she had another thing coming.

“You mean for her fifth child? The one she only got pregnant with hoping it would guilt her husband into staying…yeah I’ll pass.”

“She’s going to ask where you are.”

“Because she was so concerned when I wasn’t any of the first four. Yeah I don’t think so.”

“Kelsey Anne. You’re not going.”

The glare shared between them could melt a glacier.

“If I had said I was going to the Outer Banks with some girlfriends would we be having this conversation right now?”

Her mother didn’t even have to say it for Kelsey to know that they indeed would not be.

“You’re only acting like this because you don’t like my boyfriend even though you haven’t even given him a chance. And that’s too bad….because I am head over heels in love with him and I’m going to do everything I can to make sure that I get to spend the rest of my life with him. So you’re just gonna have to get used to it.”

“He’s only going to leave you once he graduates.”

“Given that you know literally nothing about him and what kind of person he is I don’t think you get to draw that conclusion. I’m going to Calgary, that’s all there is to it. Now get out of my room so I can finish packing.”

Slamming her door shut as soon as her mother walked away, Kelsey leaned against it and sighed. Her mom was certainly doing an A+ job of pushing her away and making her never want to come home again.

*****

Kelsey hadn’t spoken to her mom again prior to catching a ride with a friend to Boston and hopping onto her plane to Calgary early Monday June 12th. Thankfully she had found a direct flight so after a roughly six hour plane ride she arrived in Calgary mid afternoon.

Texting Taylor that she had landed, she made her way through customs and to baggage claim to get her suitcase before heading out to the pickup area once Taylor had confirmed that he was there waiting for her.

Though she knew that the pickup lane was the most practical spot to meet, Kelsey was a little bummed that it meant she wasn’t going to get a hug and kiss from Taylor as they needed to load her bag into the back and get going. All she wanted after three weeks apart was to feel his arms wrapped around her. Nonetheless, after loading her bag, she climbed into the passenger seat and smiled at Taylor softly, though the tension from the flight and everything still lingered in her body.

“Hey.” Taylor murmured as he leaned over the center console to kiss her softly and quickly before pulling away from the curb.

“Flight okay?” Taylor asked as he made his way back toward the highway.

“Yeah, just long.” Kelsey murmured back.

Once Taylor was safely on the highway with slightly less traffic surrounding them, his right hand fell to her thigh rubbing softly. It wasn’t a hug but it would do for now and Kelsey rested her hand on his, squeezing gently.

Looking out the window, Kelsey took in the new sights surrounding her, a bit overwhelmed by it all. Eventually Taylor got off the highway and navigated through back streets before coming to a stop. It wasn’t a residential neighborhood, so Kelsey was a little confused.

“I thought we’d stop for ice cream.” Taylor declared, looking over at her with the softest eyes.

“Sure.” Kelsey agreed. Ice cream did sound good but first Kelsey really needed that hug.

Climbing out of the car, Kelsey moved to meet Taylor, stopping in front of him expectantly.

“Ice cream is that way.” He pointed, a smirk developing on his face.

“Taylor…” Kelsey insisted, knowing he knew what she really wanted. Chuckling softly, he finally pulled her into his arms, lips pressing softly against her hair. Immediately the tension poured off Kelsey’s shoulders and she hugged him back tightly, face buried into his chest.

“Guess it’s a good thing I showered after the gym this morning.” He joked after a few minutes, causing Kelsey to pull away, giggling softly at how he always knew how to settle her mood.

“I missed you.” She shrugged softly, her tone raw.

“Missed you too. Now let’s get some ice cream.” Taylor declared, tucking her into his side as he guided her to the store so she could pick out her post flight treat.

With some of her tension finally lifted, Kelsey could finally feel the excitement radiating from Taylor as he kept peeking down at her and it made her feel warm to know that he was so excited that she had come to see him.

Sitting close in a spot in the shade, they devoured their treats, Kelsey choosing to embrace being in Canada and having maple flavored ice cream made from Canadian syrup and Canadian dairy while Taylor had a vegan coconut lime. It was not her preference but it was still good and something different than she’d had before.

After finishing, they disposed of their trash before heading back to the car hand in hand.

“Alright, back to my parents.” He declared as Kelsey stopped him near the passenger door.

“First I want a proper kiss.” Kelsey insisted, fisting his shirt gently, not satisfied with only the quick peck at the airport. At the moment, the parking lot wasn’t full of kids or anything so it wasn’t like it would be wholly inappropriate.

Taylor just smiled, face completely relaxed and happy before humming and dipping his head to press his lips to hers as she lifted up against him, exploring him after the separation.

After a moment, Kelsey felt his dick press a bit more insistently against her stomach and she smiled into the kiss. She was in lazy plane clothing but yet he was still reacting to her.

Breaking the kiss, Kelsey gazed up at him with twinkling eyes, acknowledging how he’d grown a bit just from a simple kiss with just a look.

“You’re trouble.” He mumbled into her ear before opening the passenger door for her. Quickly he rounded the car to climb into the driver’s seat but after putting the key in the ignition he leaned his head back against the headrest.

Reaching over, Kelsey rested a hand on his thigh causing him to turn his head looking at her like ‘let me regroup would you.’

Giggling softly, Kelsey pulled her hand back and bit her lip as Taylor adjusted himself in his shorts.

“Yeah better get that under control since we can’t have sex at your parents’.”

“What?” Taylor questioned his voice filled with confusion which only made Kelsey confused.

“We can’t have sex at your parents’.” She repeated.

“My parents don’t care.” Taylor stated matter of factly. “They basically know we’re having sex. As long as we’re safe they don’t care.”

Kelsey could only stare at him, a mixture of shock and disbelief on her face.

“Kels….” Taylor murmured. “My mom saw the hickeys you left on me before I came home for Christmas and all I got was a ‘just be safe and use protection.’”

Kelsey’s cheeks flared red and she turned her head to the window clearly looking uncomfortable.

“Doesn’t mean they’re okay with it happening under their roof.” Kelsey mumbled.

“Kels if you don’t wanna have sex, we won’t, but I’m telling you my parents couldn’t care less so long as there are no grand babies for a long time.”

With Taylor’s erection dissipating because of the conversation, he buckled his seatbelt and shifted the car into reverse, backing out of the parking spot and proceeding back to the road.

It didn’t take long to get home and after parking the car, Taylor moved to help Kelsey with her bags.

“Welcome to Calgary, Kels.” Taylor grinned, putting that prior conversation behind them and focusing on enjoying the two weeks his girlfriend was here. Following him inside, Kelsey’s first thought was that it was quaint and comfortable, everything she had assumed Taylor’s parents’ home would be. “Mom and dad should be home soon but c’mon we’ll take your bags to my room and then I’ll give you the tour.”

“Your room?” Kelsey breathed, the words sticking with her the moment he’d said them.

“Yeah Kels…my room where you’ll be staying…with me.” Taylor declared, turning to face her after setting the bags down at the bottom of the stairs. “Where did you think you’d be staying?”

“I don’t know…a guest room.” Kelsey shrugged. An exasperated look crossed Taylor’s face before he shook his head softly noting to himself that they would revisit later if she wanted to sleep in the guest room once she was actually sounding like herself.

“I think we need to have a conversation with my parents later.” Taylor sighed, turning to pick Kelsey’s bags up and starting up the stairs to set them in his room for now at least.

With Kelsey following, Taylor gave her a quick tour of the house before suggesting that she take a post-travel shower. Though Kelsey hesitated for a minute she finally agreed that was a good idea and so Taylor got her a clean towel and showed her how the shower works before heading back downstairs to the couch.

That was where Laura found him when she got home from work ten minutes later.

“Hey sweetie, where’s Kelsey?” Laura asked, seeing that Taylor was all alone.

“Showering.” Taylor replied, running his fingers through his hair. “Can you do me a favor and talk to her about room sharing and stuff?”

“Sure. I’m just going to change first.” Laura confirmed, knowing something must be off if Taylor was already asking her to talk to Kelsey, before moving to go through her usual post work routine.

When she came back down, Kelsey was in the kitchen getting a glass of water and Laura immediately greeted her, offering a hug.

“We’re so glad you’re finally here.” Laura declared, her hug warm as she wrapped Kelsey in her arms. Though it didn’t last long, it was the kind of hug that you couldn’t help but relax into.

“I’m glad to be here too.” Kelsey murmured back, though her voice wasn’t filled with its usual confidence.

“Was your flight okay?” Laura inquired.

“Yeah.” Kelsey agreed. “Just a little long. I’ve only flown along the east coast before so it was definitely longer than I’m used to.”

“I bet.” Laura replied, moving around the kitchen to get together the things she needed to make dinner. As she did, Taylor appeared from the living room, kissing Kelsey’s head as he moved to refill his own drink.

“So what’s the plan for the week before we head to the cabin Thursday?” Laura questioned.

“Just figured I’d show Kels Calgary tomorrow and then Wednesday we’d go hike Mount St. Piran.” Taylor declared, smiling as Kelsey grinned at the thought of a hike. “It’s got some great views and isn’t as crazy busy as some of the other trails out that way so it should be good.”

“Make sure you take plenty of water and sunscreen.” Laura reminded, as all mothers do.

“Of course. Kels and I have the whole hiking thing down by now with all our post season hikes.” Taylor bragged because even if it had only been two or three, that was more than he’d hiked at all the previous year in Amherst.

“Good.” Laura nodded. “Now can you go clean off the grill and get it started for dinner for me?”

“On it.” Taylor declared, moving to gather the things he needed.

“And Kelsey can keep me company in here.” Laura added on, gesturing for Kelsey to take a seat at the kitchen island.

Kelsey exchanged a look with Taylor before he dipped outside and then swallowed hard.

“How are med school applications going? Taylor mentioned you’d been spending a lot of time of on those these last few weeks.” Laura questioned, trying to make Kelsey comfortable before beginning to ask what Taylor had wanted her to.

“First round is in so now I just wait for interviews and stuff in the fall.” Kelsey explained with a shrug.

“Well that’s good. Now you can just relax while you’re here.” Laura stated with a smile while peeling sweet potatoes. “I’m sure Tay took your things to his room since we figured you’d be most comfortable there.”

Immediately Kelsey turned a little pink and dropped her eyes to look intently at her glass of water.

“If you’d prefer a guest room, we can get one set up for you that’s no problem.” Laura added, watching as Kelsey opened and closed her mouth a few times without speaking. “Whatever makes you comfortable Kelsey…that’s all we want.”

“I want to sleep next to him…” Kelsey whispered, tone almost ashamed.

“Then what’s stopping you?” Laura questioned, clearly sensing there was more going on.

Flushing further, Kelsey shrunk into the stool she was sitting on. Meanwhile, Laura continued peeling and cutting the sweet potatoes before putting them in foil and starting on starting on the green beans that would join them.

“I don’t want to give you any reason not to like me.” Kelsey eventually mumbled under her breath, peeking out to where Taylor was still scrubbing away at the grill.

“Kelsey…why would that make us not like you?” Laura started. “We got you two a hotel room in Amherst and Gary dropped Taylor off at your apartment to sleep over before that. It’s not a secret to anyone that you have sleepovers together.”

“Would be to my parents….” Kelsey muttered softly. With the front door opening with Gary’s arrival, the conversation paused as Taylor’s dad made his way into the kitchen greeting Kelsey warmly.

“Would you look at that, she made it.” He grinned, though he immediately picked up on the tension in the room.

“Hi Mr. Makar.” Kelsey stated softly.

“You know it’s Gary Kelsey.” He reminded her, moving to kiss his wife. “Everything good in here?” He asked in her ear.

“Can you take the chicken and vegetables out to T, he should have the grill going by now.” Laura questioned, the look they exchanged signaling that they were working on some things but alright.

As Gary headed outside, Laura turned to wash her hands.

“Kelsey, I’m not going to force you to talk about your relationship with your parents if you don’t want to even though it doesn’t seem to be a healthy one based on what you’re projecting onto us.” Laura stated simply. “I’ll just say, in this house we just want Taylor…and by extension you…to be happy and comfortable. You’re both adults. You’re in a committed relationship. As long as you’re being safe it’s frankly none of our business what you do behind closed doors. We’re not going to suddenly stop liking you because you want to share a bed with my cuddly son or even engage in other adult activities. To be frank, the thing that would make us not like you is if you hurt him by pulling away out of fear of what we might think.”

“I love him so much.” Kelsey whispered. “I just don’t want to do anything to mess up a possible forever.”

Rounding the island, Laura pulled Kelsey into a hug.

“If forever is what you want then don’t let anyone outside of you and T define your relationship okay.”

Nodding into Laura’s shoulder, Kelsey hugged her back focusing on taking some deep breaths. Even once they had pulled apart, Kelsey was still a bit shaky and murmured that she was going to T’s room for a minute.

After climbing the stairs, Kelsey stepped into Taylor’s room and moved over to the bed, flopping back onto it and closing her eyes. Immediately Taylor’s scent enveloped her causing waves of comfort to wash over her. It had only been 18 days but god had she missed how he smelled.

Breathing deeply, Kelsey tried to push everything weighing on her mind away and just focus on the fact that she was in Taylor’s childhood bedroom with the man she adored right downstairs instead of thousands of miles away.

With her eyes closed, Kelsey was unsure of how much time had passed before she heard a throat clearing in the doorway and her eyes met Taylor’s when she opened them.

“Mom sent me to check on you…” He declared, though he didn’t move from his spot.

“You can come in, you know…” Kelsey murmured. “It is your room. Though I’m hoping you’re still willing to share it with me.”

As Taylor moved closer, Kelsey sat up, swinging her legs over the side of the bed.

“I’m sorry for earlier.” She mumbled. “I just…god I want your parents to like me and my mom can be really damn good at clouding what I think other people are going to perceive and yeah.”

“Are we good now?” Taylor asked, still standing in front of her.

“Still processing a little but I think so…” Kelsey murmured. “I just want you.”

Taylor still appeared a little on edge so Kelsey stood, sliding her arms around him in a hug.

“I love you T. So fucking much it’s scary sometimes.”

“Love you too Kels.” Taylor murmured, slowly relaxing as Kelsey rubbed his back.

“Think dinner is ready? Because I could really use fed…” Kelsey eventually questioned, her stomach rumbling slightly.

With Taylor nodding, Kelsey stretched up for a quick kiss before moving with him back downstairs, trying to quell any anxiety about being around his parents.

Thankfully, neither acted like anything had happened and just settled into eating dinner that the guys had grilled up. It wasn’t anything special but having not really eaten all day it definitely hit the spot and Kelsey devoured her entire plate in no time.

Nudging her side, Taylor offered her a little more chicken from his huge portion and Kelsey nodded, sliding a hand along his thigh in thanks.

“T, you got invited to Justin Ross’s wedding right? I ran into his dad today.” Gary questioned once he had finished his own food.

“Yeah…” Taylor confirmed between bites. “Think that’s coming up soon.”

“Next weekend.” Gary declared. “Assuming you’re taking Kels as your plus one.”

Taylor was quiet for a moment as if running over the calendar of Kelsey’s stay in his head.

“Yeah, yeah I guess I am.” He grinned.

Almost immediately, Kelsey’s fork clattered to her plate and Taylor let out a bit of a yelp as Laura kicked him under the table.

“Breathe Kels.” Laura murmured. “You and I will go shopping while T goes to the gym in the morning and we’ll find you a dress and shoes.”

Nodding, Kelsey relaxed though she couldn’t help but shake her head at how much Taylor still had to learn about women.

“In the future, you might want to give your girlfriend a heads up if she needs to bring formal clothes for something Taylor.” Laura chastised softy.

“I forgot it was when she was gonna be here.” Taylor mumbled, looking over at his girl. “Sorry Kels…mom will help you find something though if you’re willing to be my date.”

“You know I’m always willing to be your date Tay.” Kelsey breathed, cheeks a little pink from the added surprise that had been dropped on her when today had already been a little bit of a mess.

“After we clean up, can we go for a walk T?” Kelsey questioned softly as he finally finished up the food on his plate. “I could use some air if that’s okay.”

“Gary and I have the cleanup tonight.” Laura insisted. “Go for your walk.”

“Thanks mom.” Taylor declared, moving with Kelsey to the foyer to get their shoes.

After probably forty-five minutes of walking around Taylor’s neighborhood, they finally returned to the house slightly sweaty with some of the tension giving way to fatigue.

As Taylor headed inside to retrieve bottles of water, Kelsey sank onto the front stoop, feeling achy and completely drained after the roller coaster the day had been.

“Think your parents would care if I went to bed?” Kelsey questioned softly as Taylor sat down beside her.

“Course not Kels. Finish the water and we can head up to get ready.”

It was technically only like 8pm Calgary time but that meant it was 10pm eastern and Kelsey had been up since 6am. Add in all the stress and all she wanted to do was sink into bed.

Drinking the entire bottle of water, Kelsey passed it to Taylor to recycle before pushing herself up to head inside. Passing by where his parents were, Kelsey murmured her goodnights and headed upstairs to Taylor’s room. Running through an abbreviated nightly routine she changed and cleaned up a little before pulling down the covers on Taylor’s bed and climbing in.

Within just a few minutes, Taylor had joined her, going through his own routine before slipping into the other side of the bed and pulling her close.

“Tomorrow is a new day.” Taylor murmured softly and Kelsey nodded, ready to put today in the past.

As she tried to soothe herself to sleep, her fingers worked up under Taylor’s t-shirt in search of his happy trail only to be met with smooth skin. If the day hadn’t been as stress-inducing as it was, she might have been fine, but immediately her bottom lip wobbled and tears pooled in her eyes, dripping onto Taylor’s arm and the pillow beneath her head.

Rolling, Taylor pulled her up onto his body and wrapped himself around her, playing gently with her hair until the tears had stopped actively falling and she was just left breathing unsteadily on his chest.

“Kels…” He whispered softly. “What was that all about?”

When his question drew a few more tears from her eyes, Taylor sighed and just rubbed her back letting her work through all of the emotions coursing through her.

“Kels…” He prompted once she had calmed down again.

“Nothing. It’s stupid.”

“Nothing that makes you cry is stupid Kels.”

“Just wasn’t expecting you to have shaved it…” Kelsey mumbled, pure exhaustion and fatigue showing in her voice.

“Shaved…? Oh.” Taylor mumbled as it dawned on him where her fingers had been when the crying started. “You liked the hair there?”

“Love your happy trail…” Kelsey whispered forlornly. “But not gonna tell you what to do with your body…it’s just been a long day…sorry.”

Squeezing her tighter, Taylor kissed her forehead.

“I’m sorry I shaved your comfort spot. Didn’t realize how much you loved it.”

“It’s your body. I’m just being silly.” Kelsey sniffled.

“It’s just hair to me, Kels. But to you it’s comfort and security and that means more. So once it grows back I’ll keep it I promise.” Taylor murmured, urging her to lift her head so he could kiss her. “You’re my world Kels. Just wanna make you feel happy and safe.”

“I love you.” Kelsey murmured when Taylor broke their kiss.

“Love you too. Now sleep because you’ve had a hell of a day.”

“Are you taking me anywhere fun tomorrow?” Kelsey asked, rolling off of him and back onto the bed with a yawn.

“You’ll just have to wait and see.” Taylor mused, kissing her one more time as they settled in to sleep cuddled together.

#taylor makar #taylor makar imagine #colorado avalanche #colorado avalanche imagine #nhl imagine #nhl imagines #hockey imagines #hockey imagine #cavalanche #046

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alienaiver · 1 year

Note

Hi Nohr! I always look forward to your writing! 💜

And if it's okay to request, can I pick Satori Tendo + 110 please?

DERU !!!! HI <3333 im so sorry i fell asleep writing this [clown emoji] IJDESFJSE but of course it is!

the heavens rewarded you with: "Where have you been all my life?” “Hiding from you” and i hope i did it justice! it turned out to be 1k words and there's no warnings!! i hope you enjoy this my love <3333333

send me an ask with a random number between 1-210 and a character and i’ll write you a little story!

Tendou sighs as he leans his head further into his palm, observing you through the bushes he’s currently hiding in. He feels rather like a creep, doing this but he loves observing your flying lessons and how you patiently teach the younger fairies to use their wings, always smiling and supporting them however you’re able.

Tendou is from Shiratorizawa, the land of the Oracles. Every year, they send apprentices out to work with a fairy to fulfill their destiny. It sounds much more grandiose than Tendou likes to think it is, but the energy harvested from a fairy finding and accomplishing their life’s mission is what fuels Shiratorizawa and it can be small things, like becoming a teacher, taking care of the sacred plants or it can be big and important things like saving the world or warding off some kind of evil. They haven’t had need for that for a few centuries though, and Tendou is sent to help you find your purpose so that you’re able to fulfill your destiny – not even he knows what it entails, exactly.

Tendou was sent from his home almost a year ago and should’ve contacted you upon arrival but alas, he’s a coward. It’s a new side of him he only learned about recently, upon laying his eyes on you and then promptly turning around.

You seem absolutely stunning and otherworldly. He can’t possibly approach you.

Luckily, you don’t suspect that your apprentice has voluntarily stayed away because you’re not even aware that the time for his arrival is now.

Everyone finds their purpose in life at different ages so there’s never been a predated year in a fairy’s life to start their search. Some are approached when they are kids, some as teenagers and some even so far into adulthood that they may have started questioning their purpose.

But they always show up at the needed time, when the fairy is ready to fulfill such destiny required of them.

Tendou sighs again after he realizes he might be the first to neglect his duty like this. He won’t make Shiratorizawa proud like this. He shudders as he thinks back to his confidence upon leaving – where did that go? He knows he can strange and off-putting – being reminded of the fact his fair share of times growing up but he never imagined it’d impact his job as it does so now.

You say goodbye to the fairies now, bent down at the knees to be at a more level height with them, telling them to enjoy their weekend. Tendou has an inkling to what theme your destiny might involve, but if there’s one thing that he took away from school is that personality doesn’t necessarily equate destiny. His elbow, leaned hazardously on his thigh that is slipping ever so slightly – enough so that he doesn’t realize – is holding up the head that might as well have hearts circling around it. His wings flutter behind him in excitement upon hearing you laugh at a student’s joke and mindlessly, he grabs a piece of chocolate from the little package next to him.

His leg slips on the mossy branch that he’s sitting on and with a surprised yelp, he ends up falling forward, face-first into the ground underneath him. He groans as he tries to correct his spine but it’s too late. The children heard him and they’re all favoring checking out the noise than listening to you.

They call your name in various stages of excitement as one of the braver girls pick Tendou up from the ground. Some of them had been sure he was a beetle; with the way he was laying face first on the ground. Yikes.

“He’s not a beetle at all!” she says, her cheeks puffed out in a pout, turning Tendou this way and that in her grasp. Tendou lets out another groan before reinstating his regular height and size as to get away from the sticky hands he’s been caught in. Sounds of amazement and excitement are heard throughout your class as you finally catch up with them.

“He’s an apprentice!” someone yells and everyone starts to hastily look around at each other, wondering who’s lucky enough to get one while they’re so young. Tendou clicks his tongue as he scratches his head. “I bet it’s Kageyama!” someone yells and Tendou furrows his brows, “it’s not!” he says and he hears you giggle. It’s hard to hold back a pout at that.

“Then who are ya here for!?” another kid yells, a menacing look in his eyes. He sighs, defeated as he slumps a bit. He then lifts his hand to point at you, and almost whispers your name out loud.

You gasp and the kids cheer.

After the endeavor of dealing with all the excited kids, you’re finally alone together. Tendou feels like he’s sweating buckets, trying to contain his awkwardness and general air of uncomfortableness. You relax in the tree next to him, your head rested on your knees. You’re getting to know each other a bit before you turn your head to him, tilted sideways by your position and ask, “where have you been all my life?”

Tendou swallows thickly, looking at anything but you before he decides to hell with it, he should be able to tell you the truth. The moment he decides to be honest with you, his brain also loses the ability to sugarcoat words it seems, as he simply says, “hiding from you.”

This takes you back and your eyes widen for a moment. Then, to Tendou’s surprise, you just start laughing, hiding your face in your knees again. He starts to apologize and tries to explain but you dismiss him with a wave of your hand before you look up at him again, “well I’m glad you’ve stopped hiding, then.”

The smile you send him is so bright that he feels his ears grow red. This is the first time such a gentle smile of yours is directed at him, and he feels the beat of his heart skyrocket. He takes in a mouthful of air, “me too.”

#jfkdsf i hope this made sense!!! i honestly wanna write so much more for this...... it seemed fun #tendous so cute!!! i feel like he wouldnt care abt him being weird to anyone BUT YOU! hes like. oh shit oh fuck [stumbles over his own weir #ness] IM NORMAL #ykno? he'll open up gradually tho <3 #thank you for requesting him!!! this is my first time writing him so i hope i did him justice !!!#haikyuu x reader #tendou satori x reader #writing game #nohr.writing #nohr.hq #i have six more requests btw #i still have five more requests and im off the entire day!!! <33333

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spinningbuster98 · 6 months

Video

youtube

Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (1992) Part 1: Emerald Hunting

Now we’re getting to the fun stuff

I love Sonic 2. It’s not even my favorite in the whole series (though it most certainly is in the top 5), but it’s a game that I can’t help but appreciate for its overall simplicity

This is a no-nonsense kind of sequel: take the ideas introduced in Sonic 1 and actually flesh them out by jacking up the speed, improving the physics and making the level design a helluva lot more appropriate for this kind of gameplay

Granted: the level design is definitely still more on the simple side, I’ve even seen some claim that it’s borderline “hold right to win”. Yeah sure, do that in Aquatic Ruin without falling in the water. Or in Oil Ocean and Metropolis without getting hit every 2 seconds. (No defense for Emerald Hill though, but tbf that’s the first level). The platforming is also generally less focused than in Sonic 1 but I don’t think that’s a bad thing. Sonic may ideally strike a balance between speed and platforming but if he really has to veer into either direction I think it’s best to veer towards the former because 1) That’s what makes Sonic stand out and 2) Sonic can’t do pure platforming as well as the likes of Mario. His physics based movements, while great for speed, are generally not ideal for the kind of pixel perfect jumps that hardcore platformers often require, which is why, if you notice, Sonic games usually have pretty big platforms for him to jump on and the platforms themselves don’t often move too quickly and the few times the games do throw smaller platforms at you, like the ones with retractable spikes in Metropolis, it feels awkward even though those would be pretty standard in most other platformers. You probably wouldn’t be able to put Megaman’s Yoku Blocks and make them work in a Sonic game for example. Besides to say that Sonic 2 has no platforming is just silly: Aquatic Ruin is litererally built on the concept of trying to stick to the upper route so as to avoid falling into the water, which instantly makes it a much better water level than Labyrinth Zone

Casino Night Zone feels like a more fleshed out Spring Yard what with its more focused pinball mechanics. I do wonder though if any pearl clutching mothers back then had any issues with their children playing a kids’ game that featured literal slot machines...

I don’t even think that Chemical Plant needs any introduction, though I will say that act 1 is way too short and underwhelming

Are there issues? Oh yes. Because of the increased speed there’s now also an increased chance of running into enemies that come from offscreen. Granted this is an issue in all 2D Sonic games, even Sonic 3 (Marble Garden says hi), but I can’t say that this game does much to mitigate it, especially with things like Chemical Plant featuring stuff like flipping floor boards at points, which may just flip right as you’re about to approach them plunging you to your death through no fault of your own! And who could forget the Pit of Doom?

The way Special Stages are accessed is undoubtadly much better: yes having to collect 50 rings without getting hit is still a pain, but now you get so many more chances to actually play a Special Stage

The Stages themselves are full of issues, don’t get me wrong: the frame rate is super choppy, the controls laggy, you pretty much have to know in advance when some bombs are coming and from where because the stage itself gives you little to no heads up, having Tails with you is like having a literal ball and chain strapped onto you. Hell I think it’s quite telling that one of my clearest childhood memories of this game is...going on GameFaqs to look up the Super Sonic cheat code, not to mention the fact that, even 20 years later, I STILL have muscle memory of these stages, like a sixth sense telling me when I should turn or when to jump.

Despite this however I would still much rather contend with these than those of the previous game: these Special Stages are made to be mastered on repeated playthroughs, which is encouraged both by the amount of attempts you can possibly make throughout the game and the fact that, when you fail, the next time you warp in you’re going to retry the one you failed in rather than moving onto the next one like all the other Classic games do for some stupid reason.

I can get better over time at these Special Stages and get more or less consistent results. With Sonic 1′s, even after 20 years of playing them, it still feels like a luck of the draw half the time

It also certainly helps that, this time around, you actually obtain something worthwhile by getting all the Emeralds and not just a slightly different ending

#youtube #sonic the hedgehog #sonic the hedgehog 2 1992 #my gameplay

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ivy-kissobryos · 1 year

Note

Salut. A long time ago you recommended Seven Spheres by Rufus Opus in a reading list, but only very recently I was able to actually read it.

I send this ask hoping that maybe you'd be comfortable sharing your experience with the rituals of the book. The author presents the planetary initiation in such a dramatic reality-altering process that I find it a bit hard to put my faith in it at times, so again, if it's okay by you, I'd love to hear your experiences with it.

If I were to be frank, I didn’t follow the instructions exactly as per Rufus Opus’ writing. Although to be fair,I honestly can’t seem to recall instances where I’ve ever performed any ritual exactly as written (aside from certain rites from the Greek Magical Papyri), so this isn’t Opus’ fault or anything. As someone who works extensively with the planets and stars in my practice, I can say that Opus’ rituals are theoretically sound and should provide good results. There are just some things I prefer to change about the rituals. So, what I’ve done is take the concept behind Opus’ workings and devised rituals of my own.

In other words, I think Opus’ rituals can be life changing if you adapt it to suit whatever paradigm you’re working from rather than doing things by the book. For example, some things I changed is that I used hymns from the Picatrix rather than the just the Orphic Hymns. As a witch with a Patron who rules over the night and the stars, I also found it much easier to include Him in the ritual rather than following the original script which calls upon just Christ who I respect but hold no allegiance to.

It should also be noted too that the AOTH ABRAOTH BASYM ISAK SABAOTH IAO section of Opus’ script is directly lifted from the Headless Rite of the Greek Magical Papyri. I don’t know why Opus didn’t explain how he adapted that from the PGM and his reasonings, but I can assure you too that the Headless Rite is incredibly effective in many uses.

But to directly answer your question: even though I can’t claim to have done Opus’ rituals as written, I can confirm via my knowledge and experience with planetary magic that Opus’ ritual are theoretically sound and should provide results. I have taken the backbones of Opus’ method and adapted them for my own needs. It is my take that any intentional and direct engagement with the planets when done properly can be life changing.

This is because planets are gods, if one is approaching planetary work from a perspective of astrolatry rather than pure, planetary magic without any faith involve. Surely you must’ve heard tales of how working with, let’s say, Hekate have changed people’s lives. It’s the same with planets, especially if you approach them asking them to “initiate” you. In this case, the planets will often cause you to lose things in their sphere which does not serve you (Venus breaking off certain friendships or relationships in your life, Jupiter causing you to change jobs etc).

And it is this point that I wish to promote my pamphlet detailing my workings with Venus and an angel of Venus here: https://www.hadeanpress.com/shop/venus-as-mother

Planets can and do cause upheavals in your life.

Thus, I would recommend that — if you don’t already have an established practice in sorcery or planetary magic — you try one of Opus’ rituals as written and see how it goes. The rituals are exceedingly simple, requiring not much materia nor time. There really isn’t much to lose (unless you somehow manage to offend a planet but that’s beside the point). Then, play around with the ritual structure and personalize it to you.

#planetary magic

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missameliep · 2 years

Text

The Next Chapter (Wake the Dead - Troy Hassan x MC)

Book: Wake the Dead

Pairing: Troy Hassan x Malia Jones

Characters: Malia Jones (MC), Troy Hassan, Shannon Fox, May.

Rating: M (see notes bellow)

Word count: ~3.900

Summary: After the colonies survive the second surge, Malia and Troy make a hard choice, but one they are not going to regret. On the contrary.

Notes:

English is not my first language;

Characters belong to Pixelberry, except OC;

I don't know if we learn how old May is in the book, but I HC she's around 6/7yo, so she's 13/14yo in this story;

This fic was inspired by an ask from a lovely anonymous reader and is my submission to @choicesdecember2022 - day 7 - Question…? | kiss | middle of the night (thanks for hosting it @peonierose);

Trigger Warning: pregnancy; mentions of miscarriage; mentions of zombies; mention of a minor character death; non-descriptive mentions of medical procedure; kissing and make out; language; readers discretion advised;

The events from this fic take place 7 years after the end of the book.

“Sorry! You want me to do what?” The chair squeaked when Shannon abruptly turned around to face Malia in that small improvised space that functions both as hospital and lab, where she spends most of the hours of her days.

Fighting a laughter, Malia repeated slowly, “To remove the implant.”

The other’s gaze darted to her face, while her brain was possibly searching for any rational explanation for such an odd request. Her voice dropped to a whisper, despite the fact nobody was around, “Why? Are you experiencing pain? If you are, we can run some tests.”

This time Malia didn’t hold the laughter, remembering some of the weirdest conversations of her entire life – which is quite an accomplishment considering her frequent visits to the lab to assist on Shannon's research on drones, and the autopsies of the weirdest specimens they got ahold of that she assisted.

“Right now, no pain. But if those ladies at weaving mill were not trying to scare me, I can expect a lot of pain in my future.”

Shannon’s eyes widened and she stared in confusion. For the past eight years, since Malia broke that glass window to rescue the scientist, their friendship bloomed, they taught one another, shared secrets and had each other’s backs countless times... However, even after all these years – or because of them –, Malia wasn’t able to teach her dear friend to relax and not assume any minor complaint or request from her might hide a terrible illness that will leave her all alone again – no matter how many times she assured her even if she were gone, the colony has plenty of people who care for her. There was no time to revisit the subject now and the other's jaw tensing that much wasn't fun to watch.

Malia decided to cut her some slack and go straight to the point, “I want a baby.”

“Oh!” Shannon’s deep brown eyes widened and it was almost possible to hear the engines turning inside her head.

“You can do it, right?” she pressed, eager for a confirmation.

“Of course. It’s supposed to be a simple procedure: a small incision to remove it from under your skin and two stitches to close it.”

“Great! You’re free to do it now, right?” Malia clapped her hands and proceeded to remove her t-shirt, already knowing nobody else was coming for the doctor this time of the day.

“Don’t you have questions before we start?”

Malia shook her head, already picturing the three kids she and Troy talk about during late night shifts on watch or long trips to explore the cities they get their supplies from. He even suggested some names if they were all boys; she still hasn’t figured out why the names Huey, Dewey, and Louie are so hilarious and make him bend over with laughter.

“Are you aware of the aftereffects? Once you remove the implant, the hormonal doses will cease, and your body will go through changes. You’ll experience menstrual periods, for instance. There are reports of immensely painful experiences and some conditions that might require painkillers and medical attention.”

“Again, the mill ladies made sure to share all the gross details. So, you can check that box,” she said pointing at the clipboard over the desk where Shannon writes down information about the patients and keeps a checklist that makes her less anxious about forgetting important information she must tell the patients before actually doing any procedure. Unless it is emergency care, she believes people should have a saying on their treatment and information makes people less scared of what they will be facing.

Malia knows by heart that speech that justifies her caution. Shannon is a scientist, but necessity turned her into basically a one-woman medical team, fortunately an excellent and empathetic one, and the perfect professor to train others to deal with healthcare in the colonies.

Taking a deep breath, Shannon put the pen down and got up.

“Alright. If you already researched the side effects and are sure... We can start.”

Walking to a corner of the room, she soaped and scrubbed her hands. The scent of the sanitizer reached Malia’s nostrils, already seated at the edge of the gurney.

“It might take weeks for the hormonal levels in your body regulate,” Shannon’s words were punctuated by the light clinking of metallic items, while she fished them from a drawer. “I can run some tests in the meantime.”

“Only if you swear not to treat me like your drones...” Malia joked, and the other shoulders shook with a quiet laugh while she prepared the instruments.

“Next time, I’ll go with you and Troy to that library you mentioned. I need to research some medical books so I can know exactly the required hormonal levels, and how to keep the embryo viable until the insemination.”

“The what?”

“Embryo is the technical term for the fertilized egg that will become your baby. Or babies. Because of the odds we must implant at least two or three.” Shannon smiled to herself with the idea and turned around to face her and continued the explanation.

Now it was Malia’s turn to get confused.

“I’ll need to run some tests on Troy too, assuming he will be the donor.”

“Donor? Oh! Wait!” Malia waved her hands, finally recovering her ability to speak. “No need to help us in that whole conceiving part, we’re doing this Old-World style.”

The other’s eyebrows raised momentarily, and she took a deep breath, letting the information sink in. “So, I suppose my help won’t be necessary then...”

“If all I heard is true, I’m sure I’ll need a lot of help from you. Specially with the actual giving birth part. No way in hell I’m pushing a watermelon-sized baby through my vagina while sober. So, you better come up with a lot of drugs. And I’m talking about drugs potent enough to knock down a horse, darling!”

They laughed together and Shannon asked Malia to lie still, while she filled a syringe with the content of a small vial.

“Maly, I will do all I can to help you. I’ll research the best birthing methods. We’ll have months to prepare. Don’t worry.”

Shannon averted her gaze and took the syringe.

“If you get pregnant.” She paused and focused on cleansing her hands with sanitizer. “At the lab I saw the rates and the reasons in vitro fertilization was the chosen method to all births in the facilities. Besides the lower rates, there are higher chances of malformation and spontaneous abortion during the first weeks and –”

Malia sat up and rested a hand on her shoulder interrupting her speech.

“We’ll take our chance. You and I were conceived the old way and we turned out alright, didn’t we? Well, you more than alright, considering that you combine a genius brain with that face of yours!”

A giddy giggle escaped her lips and a smile rounded Shannon’s reddened cheeks, and she resumed the tasks. Using ice to numb and an almost insignificant fraction of a dose of anesthetic despite Malia’s protest to not spend precious resource on her.

“I’m used to pain.”

“We have enough, don’t worry,” Shannon said, holding the syringe. “You’re not scared?”

“About that huge knife you’ve got over there? Definitely!”

“Scalpel. And that’s the smallest...” she smiled softly. “And you know what I mean...”

“I’m terrified!” A chuckle rumbled in her chest. “But in a good way. Troy and I want this so much. We have talked about having a baby for years... We barely survived the first surge... But what we learned about the hives and how to get rid of them before the surge. All things considered, the second one was way smoother and I have hope things are getting back on track. There are fewer hordes now, the scouts from every colony reported; and some days are so quiet that you can almost hear the world healing. I believe one day zombies will go back to being scary tales people use to trick children into eating their veggies.”

Shannon nodded.

“The night before the surge we talked about this... And decided it was time. I turned thirty-three last month and the colony is stable. I think I could take some time to lay low without letting people down...”

“You never let anybody down.”

“You know what I mean...”

“And you can count on us.”

“I know. I can already imagine you guys helping us out. Aunt Shannon will teach the baby all the cool science stuff –”

“Aunt Shannon? I like the sound of that!”

“– and Uncle Eli will craft a tiny bow and arrow and make little charts and our baby will have the neatest crib around... And we’ll keep an eye on cool aunt Angel, so she won’t teach them how to blow things up before they are old enough... Like five or six.”

They both chuckled, and Shannon smiled thoughtfully.

“And May will be the greatest big sister...”

“She will.”

“Have you told her?”

Malia’s eyes squinted, and Shannon couldn’t tell if it was from physical pain or stirred by her question.

“We better wait till we’re sure... I don’t want to hype her and then... let her down again. She’s not being herself since Feather passed away...”

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said anything about the rates...”

“Hey! I’m a newbie in this whole pregnancy thing... and there ain’t a lot of reliable sources... so I need you to be honest with me. Promise?”

Malia offered the pinkie finger and Shannon linked hers.

“Always.”

The soft clink of the small device when it fell into the metallic tray marked the beginning of a new unfamiliar chapter of her life. But Malia hoped it would be the best yet.

Lying on the grass side by side, Troy and May were in identical positions: arms bent, hands pillowing their heads, long legs stretched, and eyes focused on the blue sky above.

When did they become so alike?

Faces bathed by the soft golden glow, their eyes followed the clouds turning shades of orange and pink; fingers pointing while they probably guessed the forms, they resembled, a game the trio often plays together.

Like the apple trees in the new orchard, may grew taller last spring. The roundness of her face, immortalized in the drawing Malia hung on their cabin wall, had disappeared, and her voice lost the honeyed childlike melody, becoming hoarser. She’s growing up into a sweet troublemaker teen that still hangs with her adoptive parents, loves storytelling – Troy has most of her favorite tales and anecdotes –, gets excited with little things like new blooms each spring, making flower crowns and riding horses, but also carries too many scars in her young soul but somehow she never lets the sadness drown the happiness glowing in her eyes.

With a spring on her step, Malia crossed the remaining distance and knelt in the small gap between them. First, she kissed the girl’s forehead, who smiled, then turned around to gently press a kiss to Troy’s shapely lips. However, the man had other plans. Encircling her shoulders with his free arm, he pulled her down, turning the sweet gentle peck into a passionate kiss. Maybe too passionate to be given in public. But he always has a little trouble following etiquette when it comes to Malia.

“Gross!” May cried and covered her eyes with one arm. “Get a room!”

“Why is she sounding like Angel?” Malia whispered.

“I have asked myself the same. It’s either one of those Freaky Friday’s situation and we’re parenting a thirty-year-old woman with an unhealthy kink of blowing stuff up or this is a bad case of teenager...”

“Hey! I can hear you!”

“Good! It means your hearing is fine. Keep it like that!”

They laughed and May rolled her eyes for good measure, but a small barely there smile pulled at the corners of her lips. A hint the little girl still lives inside the 5’3 teenager.

“So...” Troy’s gaze and undivided interest returned to Malia. “Did you do it? Is it gone?”

Malia pressed a finger to his lips and with a nod signalled May’s presence, and discreetly raised a thumb in a positive sign.

“Then what are we waiting for?” he asked already pulling himself up in a swift motion.

Despite knowing it was impossible to get pregnant this soon, Malia laughed at his excitement, and allowed him to hold he held her hands to pull her up. Nobody knows when the apparently peaceful day can turn into a nightmare, and she shouldn’t pass the opportunity to just be happy, silly and hopeful – and let him fuck her brains out.

“Hey! Where are you going?” May cried, and they whirled around giggling.

“Getting a room!” Troy replied with a shit-eating grin.

“Eww! I’m a child! I don’t need to know that!”

“But you asked!”

“Can I stay with Angel and Luna tonight?”

“Sure, sweetie,” Malia said. “Don’t forget the rules!”

“Brush my teeth, keep it down and don’t blow things up – unless absolutely necessary.”

“Love you!” Troy and Malia cried back in unison and blew her a kiss.

Giggling like mischievous children , they darted towards the small cabin holding each other's hands.

While they sprinted through the field, a gentle breeze carrying the scent of honeysuckles blew through the taller grass blades creating green waves.

Life is good, Malia read in Troy’s eyes the same thought that crossed her mind.

Before the door closed behind them, Troy’s hot mouth was already on Malia’s neck, sucking on her skin.

“Eager much?”

“Don’t shame me for being a hundred percent devoted to a cause,” he whispered into her ear and nibbled at the earlobe. “Pants down.”

“So bossy.” She laughed while kicking the sneakers off her feet. His white t-shirt joined them on the floor.

“I’ll make you come and put a baby in your belly.”

His bare chest pressed against her back while his hands explored his favorite curves on her body.

“Hey, careful,” she said while moving his hand away from the bandage on her lower abdomen and up to the curve of one breast.

“Sorry,” he breathed and promptly used said hand to grab her breast over her clothes, while the other fiddled with the buttons of her denim pants. “Do you want me to stop?”

“No worries. I’ll be patient,” he whispered against her neck. “We won’t leave that room until there’s a baby in the oven.”

“Don’t you dare!” She crashed her lips to his in a passionate kiss and pushed him towards the bedroom.

While they blindly moved together, she pulled away from the kiss momentarily. “Shannon said we have to be patient. It can take a while for my body to be ready.”

“What?” she asked in shock, and he placed a hand over her stomach.

“This oven. Old World slang.”

“That’s creep.”

“I like the analogy.”

“Anyway. If I can get pregnant. Shannon will run some tests to be sure...”

He spun her and pressed her back against the wall. “Good luck to not end up like one of those corpses in the lab.” He chuckled pulling her t-shirt over her head, and kissed his way down her neck to the valley between her breasts.

“Don’t think for a moment she won’t poke you too.”

“Why?” He raised his face and looked up. His eyebrows knitted together so closely, that scrunched his forehead. “Didn’t you tell her we’re doing this Old-World style?”

“I did, but she wants to help.”

“Well, she can always join us. I won’t kick her out of the bed...”

She glared and punched his bare shoulder.

“Hey! What’s that for?”

“For being the wrong kind of horny now!”

“It’s a joke!” he chuckled. Hands on the curve of her lower back, he pulled her close, but she playfully shoved him away. Pretending not to be eager to see the rest of his clothes joining the growing pile of discarded ones on the floor. “You love my horniness. It’s my best feature!”

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms in front of her chest.

It’s so not.

There’s so much she loves about him, but she won’t inflate his ego any more.

“Are you forgetting I was the one who suggested being exclusive?”

“You were jealous of how many people worshipped me...”

“I’m so not the possessive type –” He moved closer and in one swift motion his hands slid inside her jeans and underneath her panties and firmly palmed her ass. Malia shivered and let him pull her closer again to whisper in her ear. “– And you know you are the one and only for me, Maly.”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “I love you.”

“Do you now?” she teased.

“When have I not?” He kissed one cheek and then the other. “I loved you before I knew what love was...”

She inhaled deeply and allowed his lips to trace the curve of her neck, and her heart fluttered.

Malia and Troy aren’t fluent in feelings. They won’t compose songs or deliver long speeches about their undying love. But whenever they do talk about their feelings, they mean it. They mean everything to each other.

“I love you too,” she whispered against his black hair, while holding him tighter. Her heart so full of love. “Let’s make some cute babies!”

“Don’t ask me twice,” he said pulling her legs up to encircle his bare waist, and kicked the door closed. “In the blink of an eye, we’ll have a trio of loud kids quacking around our home!”

He laughed and stared at her smiling but unknowingly expression while he carried her to the bed.

“Seriously?”

“Excuse me?”

“I can’t believe you still didn’t get it.”

“Can I hold him now?” May’s voice came as the softest whisper as if scared not only to wake up the baby but disturb the order of the entire universe. “Please?”

Her pleading drew Malia’s attention away from the baby in her arms.

For the past several minutes she has been practically hypnotized by him quietly sleeping in her arms, oblivious to the two sitting on the bed at each of her sides, welcoming the baby into their little loving awkward family. There were so many emotions in her eyes and face that shone despite the weak flame from the only small lamp Troy put beside the bed.

Nodding, Malia passed the baby to the eager arms and helped May hold him steadily.

She didn’t need to tell her to be gentle, because she touched him as one of the delicate seedlings she cultivates. Her fingers ran through the black and thick hair that looks almost like a wig on the top of his little head, and gently stroked the side of his face, drawing them along his chubby cheeks. His lips drew together like he was ready to have another go at his mother’s breasts for another dose of milk, but his eyes remained closed shut, and a serene expression returned to his face as he continues to sleep.

Malia and Troy shared an affectionate look and he leaned his head on her shoulder and rested his hand over hers.

“You should be resting. Doc’s orders,” Troy whispered. “I can take him to the crib and keep an eye on him.”

“I’ll help,” May offered.

“Five more minutes.”

“You said that half an hour ago...”

“How do you expect me to sleep now that he’s finally here?”

“You’ll regret it when you’re low batt and a parade of visitors come to meet the baby first thing in the morning...”

“Another reason I can’t sleep: we have to name him.”

“What about Huey?” Troy could barely stifle his laughter with the back of his hand.

“We’re not naming our son after a cartoon duck!” Malia snorted, and this was definitely the reaction he was expecting all-along.

“Took your sweet time to figure it out!”

“Not all of us are obsessed with Old World’s stuff..."

“That’s called culture.”

May shushed them and they smiled.

“Any suggestion?” Malia whispered.

“I like Cedar,” May said, “and Knox.”

“Knox,” he said and hummed in consideration. “I like it. But don’t you think he looks like a Neo?”

“Neo means new,” May said softly, “And he is the first baby to be born in the new colony. Very symbolic.”

“And it’s the name of that cool guy with shades who got out of the Matrix to save the world.”

“Hero name. Rad!”

“Isn’t it too much pressure to a little baby?” Malia pondered.

“Our baby is destined to do great things,” he said softly. “Also, it’ a short name. If he turns out to be dumb, he won’t have a problem learning it.”

“Man! That’s so mean!” Malia elbowed him. “How can you say that about our baby?”

Laughing, he held her hand. “It’s a joke. How can he not be awesome if you made him yourself?”

“We made him.”

She leaned her head over his, and asked softly, “Do we all agree with Neo?”

“It’s not as great as Cedar... But I like it.”

Birds chirped and through the window shutters warm spots of sunrise peppered the opposite wall.

Breathing quietly in her sleep, May’s long dishevelled hair had fallen over and covered her face. Malia’s fingers pulled them back and after pressing the softest kiss to her temple, she rolled over, getting out of the bed. The painkillers were wearing off and she desperately needed to pee. After taking care of both needs, she found the crib empty.

In the other room, where they do basically every other activity that is not sleeping – and making cute babies –, Troy was sitting on the improvised couch which was basically an old mattress over a wooden structure covered with throwing pillows and a nice quilted blanket she and Eli made on their spare time two winters ago.

Eyes closed, Troy covered his shoulders with the blanket and held the sleeping baby against his chest.

Malia leaned against the wall and smiled at the scene.

“Why are you up?” he asked without opening his eyes. “I got it covered.”

“I know. I was just appreciating the view. Never imagined you could look hotter,” she teased.

The man’s eyes fluttered open, and his smirk turned into a full grin, “Haven’t you heard? Being an awesome father is the new sexy.”

“Definitely,” she said sitting beside him carefully to not disturb the baby’s rest.

“Have you got any sleep?”

“Sleep is overrated.”

Troy rested his head against hers, and asked softly, his voice barely above a whisper, “How are you feeling?”

“Exhausted. Sore. Happy. Like a badass for delivering this awesome baby... 75% amazing, 24% tired and 1% terrified it’s a dream...”

“It’s 100% real.”

“Hmmm... That is exactly what Dream Troy would say...”

He chuckled and raised his head to meet her eyes.

“What can Real Troy do to convince you it’s all true?”

Malia smiled, and her gaze moved from his affectionate brown eyes to the baby in his arms, lightly wheezing in his sleep. It has just been a few hours, but her heart is so full of love for this child and this urge to protect him. How can it be so?

“Real Troy can give my beautiful baby back so I can smell his head again... and nurse him. That would be great.”

Smiling, Troy leaned and let Malia carefully take Neo from his arms. The baby yawned and his eyelashes fluttered but his eyes remained closed. Malia sniffed the top of his head and smiled, before offering one nipple that was readily taken by an eager and tiny toothless mouth.

“Anything else, mama bear?”

“You can kiss me and get some sleep.”

Troy kissed her lips but didn’t go to bed. He fell asleep leaning over her shoulder, and Malia closed her eyes too, enjoying this happiness.

Sometimes this world isn't shitty, sometimes life is good. Just like now.

#wake the dead #troy hassan #troy hassan x mc #shannon fox #choices fanfic #tw: pregnancy #tw: minor character death #tw: zombies

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