#yeah i did build little huts in the forest

[soupicore]

i loved growing up as a girl, but when i see the goonies, stand by me, the lost boys, mid90s, even stranger things or dead poets society… yeah i wish for boyhood

[blackswan446]

Can i request for yan! fae jk who lured the mc towards the fae realm and decided to have kids with her but yeah no smut but just the mc (reader) trying to escape from time to time until she birthed twins

sealed fate.

→ pairing: yan!fae!jjk x reader

→ wc: 2895

→ cws: mc gets knocked out, kidnapping, implied non-con/forced pregnancy

→ notes: ahh another ask! i hope you like it and thank u for requesting :)

m.list

the rain poured down, hitting your hooded head almost painfully. the trees did little to protect you, barely stopping the rain from soaking through the thin fabric of your jacket. it was cold and dark, and no doubt dangerous, but even this was better than staying inside your house for a second longer. anything was better.

the cool raindrops soothed your hot and tear-stained face, and the wind provided some relief from the sweat that had managed to build up on your neck and forehead. though it was odd, you felt a strange sense of comfort when you entered the woods, even during a storm such as this one. this storm was no match for the hurricane that tore through your home, leaving shattered plates and a broken family in its path.

ever since you were a little girl, you felt an odd connection with the woods. you found solace in the trees, with their twisted roots and vibrant leaves, you felt most at home when you were amongst the serenity of the forest. whenever reality became too much for you to handle, you would go and just sit in the woods, and inhale the sweet, woody air of it. you envisioned yourself living here, in a cute little hut, where you drank plant teas and grew flowers and ate delicious soups by a roaring fire.

if you were being honest, the only reason you hadn't ran away to live out your dreams was because of your little sister. she was a tiny thing, only three years old, and you knew that if you left your house, then she would have the weight of your parents constantly fighting on her little shoulders. she would have to face the constant screaming, the blaming, the pain, all by herself. she didn't deserve that, and at her young age, it was likely that she wouldn't live long enough to be able to adapt. she couldn't protect herself from the harm that came to you, and one day, it was bound to be the end of her if you weren't there to protect her.

sure, you could take her with you, but it wasn't that easy. securing a job, a place to live, and staying in school would be impossible with a child to take care of. besides, the world was a dangerous and unforgiving place, and a young girl and her even younger sister would get eaten up by debt and injustice before they could even get their foot in the door. so you were stuck, and as soon as your father stormed out of the house, you knew he wasn't bound to return for days, so you took off for your safe space, just for the evening.

through your vision, obstructed and blurry from tears and rainwater, something caught your eye. it was a flower, a tall, purple flower. it was unlike anything you had ever seen before, and you would probably would have never seen it if the moonlight didn't hit the petals so perfectly. spikey, purple leaves sat in a bunch on the ground. these leaves surrounded the long stem, which had more pointy flowers blooming from it. aside from its unique appearance, there was something different about this flower. perhaps it was because of the alluring colors and remarkable shape, but something about it had you spellbound.

your body acted before your mind, and you felt your legs moving across the muddy ground towards the bewitching blossom, before you could think it through. of course it was beautiful, but there was another side of this. beauty was only skin deep. the flower could be poisonous, even just to the touch. another animal could have its watching eye on it, captivated by its moonlit glow, and might not take kindly to someone approaching it. but nothing was stopping you, nothing was going to stand in the way of it.

as you drew closer to it, you could see the raindrops roll off the velvety petals of the flowers, almost taking the violaceous fluorescence with it into the dirt. kneeling down to get a better look at the enigmatic flora that illuminated the black forest. just as you reached out to take the stem between your fingers, you heard the sound of mushy footsteps behind you. before you could do anything, a powerful force met the back of your head, and the violet radiance in front of you blurred before disappearing completely.

stirring from your state of unconsciousness, you immediately noticed how warm you were. the last thing you remember is being out in the frigid, pouring rain, and stumbling upon an mysterious yet enchanting flower, before everything went dark. as the remnants of oblivion started to wear off, the reality of your situation set in. panic struck in your chest as you sat up hurriedly, kicking off the knit green blanket that laid over your lap.

looking around, the place you were in enticed you almost as much as the flower from earlier had. it looked to be someone's home, and oddly enough, it resembled the same home that you had fantasized about spending your days in, and you couldn't help but feel weirdly comfortable in the unfamiliar place. it was tiny, but you didn't feel physically trapped inside. you were laid down on a small couch, adorned with wooden trim and a floral fabric, with two matching chairs on either side. on the other side of the room, opposite you, was a stone fireplace, which had a fire aflame inside, eating away at logs of wood. various little knick-knacks and clutter collected on the walls, the shelves, and the tiny coffee table, like books, and pictures, and even more plants.

looking at the light that flowed through the thin, white curtains, you could tell it was early morning, when the dew drops gathered on the blades of grass and the birds began to sing their songs. as you went to stand up from the couch, you heard some various shuffling and clinking noises come from another room, and you sank back down into the soft cushions. almost as if you were hiding from whoever or whatever had brought you here. you felt your heartbeat pick up as the sound of footsteps on creaky wood drew closer to you.

"is that you, my flower?"

whipping your head around, you scanned the once-empty room to find the source of the sweet voice. you found it, or rather, you found him. he was tall, much taller than you, and strong, too. his hair was sleek and black, and suited him well. the clothes he wore looked, well..worn. but not in a bad, falling apart way. in fact, they looked like they were high quality and comfortable. a brown leather vest, a soft, white shirt, and loose pants that matched the brown of the leather, hung from his rugged form nicely. he was handsome, his facial features were well proportioned and elegant. he smiled softly at you, and walked over, setting down the two mugs in his hand before sitting next to you.

"here," he said, reaching out an open hand and revealing a strange, vibrantly pink berry, "for your head. i know it hurts." you looked at him, confused, but took the berry from him anyways, fiddling around with it in your hand. "who are you?" you asked, the question coming out quiet and curious. he laughed shortly, shaking his head.

"you're asking me that in my own house?! you're a funny one, angel, i knew i'd like you." he chuckled. you furrowed your eyebrows at him, the questions in your mind growing stronger and louder as you got further away from an answer. "no, i'm serious! who are you, why am i here, what's going on here?!" you demanded, heart pumping frantically as he looked at you, amused.

"first off, my name is jungkook. i would ask your name, but i already know it, and you'll be changing it soon anyways, so i won't bother. besides, i think i'll stick to calling you angel, if that's alright. second-"

"wait, wait." you interjected. "why would i have to change my name? why am i here?!" you repeated, scoffing at the ridiculous words leaving his mouth. "i was getting to that, but then you interrupted me. and if that attitude keeps up, then you are in. for. it. got that, my angel?" he asked, facial expression not matching the sweetness in his voice. you nodded slowly, biting back from asking again what was going on here.

"good girl. now. the reason you're here," he paused, shifting himself to face you, your legs criss-crossed and back against the couch arm, "is because we're getting married, and we're going to start a family. it's that simple. and the reason you-"

"-what?! why the hell would we do that?! i mean-"

without saying a word, jungkook placed his hand on your knee, tightening his grip until you stopped talking. "you didn't already forget what i said, did you, flower?" he asked innocently, looking you in your eyes and smiling again, as if he was asking a simple question. "and the reason you would have to change your name is because it's a human name. human names are much too different than the names we use here. don't worry about it, though, i have plenty of name books if you need help." he finished, taking his hand away from your knee as you sat there, dumbfounded. first, you were trapped in this shed of a house. then you found out this stranger was all of a sudden, just going to marry you and have kids with you. and now, that stranger was suggesting that he wasn't even a human?!

you took a deep breath and blinked slowly. "what do you mean 'a human name'? are you..not..a human?" you asked slowly, nervous to trigger another one of his scoldings. he shook his head. "that's what they all say when they find out. i got lucky, though, it's not all of us that look this good." he answered cockily. "so, what are you then?" you inquired, speaking slowly once again. he sighed thoughtfully, looking around the room as if he would find the answer written on the lines in the green wallpaper.

"to put it shortly, i'm a fae. humans call us fairies, or pixies, and they compare us to tinkerbell. but i have a book that would explain it much better than i ever could. besides, there are more important things we need to do right now." he hinted, raising his eyebrows cheekily. a sick feeling arose in your stomach as you shook your head frantically.

"please, no. i'm too young to have children. i can't stay here. i need to go home, i need to be there." you beseeched, voice going low and desperate. jungkook shook his head. "you don't, though, is the thing. listen to me, [name]. i didn't just grab you randomly from the forest last night. i've been seeing you for years now, i've studied you, i know everything about you. i know why you come here, i know why you're so eager to get out, and i know that you don't really want to leave. don't lie to me, angel. if it weren't for that little, helpless sister of yours back home, you wouldn't be trying so hard to change what was obviously meant to be." he snarked, his voice firm and confident.

"if you know me so well, then you should understand why i can't stay here. she's just a child, for god's sake. she'll get killed if she stays in that house with them." you argued. he shrugged his shoulders unsympathetically, eyes cold and uncaring as you pleaded with him. an idea sparked in your head, a far-fetched one, but it could be the ticket to your escape and your sister's safety.

"what if she lives here with us? she's only three. we can raise her, and that way, she's safe, we're together, and i don't have to have children. that'll work, right? please." you suggested, practically begging as you clasped your hands together in front of you. he gave another thoughtful look, lighting a small fire of hope inside of you, only for it to be set out by the arsonist who started it. "it's a good idea, it really is, angel. you're smart, i like that. but it's a bit late for that. your parents have already been taken care of, and your sister was sent off to safety. nice try, though." he explained, speaking as if he were talking about the weather, so casually and normally.

tears dripped from your eyes, down your cheeks as your breath stuck in your throat. "what are you talking about? where is she?" you asked, barely able to get the words out as you choked on the grim thoughts that dripped their poison all over your mind. "don't worry, flower. like i said, she's safe. she's alive. i promise, she is not going to be stuck with your parents, all by herself. i love you too much to hurt you in that way. your parents, on the other hand..." he trailed off slowly. you knew immediately what had happened, and he knew you figured it out, so instead of continuing the story, he caressed your cheek with his thumb, wiping away the tears that dampened them.

"see how everything's falling into place? don't you see that, flower? this is your destiny. this is where you were always going to end up." he asked, looking lovingly into your eyes as he stroked your cheek. "why can't you just accept your fate?"

the various noises of spring filled your ears as you inhaled the clean, fresh air next to the open window. little birds chirping to one another, the rushing water of a nearby stream, and the occasional footsteps of an animal crunching the leaves and grass. the sky was a stunning blue, with perfect white clouds dotting it in all the right places.

you glanced over to the small cot, bedecked with frilly pink lace and a long, white piece of fabric wrapping around the bassinet and cascading down to the floors. the two infants inside were sound asleep, swaddled in pink knit blankets with various little toys sitting around them.

your heart swelled when you looked at them; similar to how it swelled when you looked at the land across the tiny stream, but for all the opposite reasons. when you looked at your children, your heart was warmed and overwhelmed with affection, with pure adoration. but when you looked across the stream, you felt trapped, and disappointed, almost as if the current washed over you and brought a storm of sadness and heartache with it.

of course you had tried to escape, twice, to be exact. the first time, you just made a run for it in the middle of the night. you didn't bother to plan ahead, or be cautious, so it wasn't really a shocker when you tripped on a rock and twisted your ankle. your cries woke jungkook, who came storming out of the house and picked you up by the torso, swinging you over his shoulder as you cried and pleaded with him. luckily for you, all you got was a slap on the wrist and a heavy warning.

the second time didn't turn out as well for you. and like salt in the wound, what made the fallout even worse for you is that you had a plan. you were careful, thorough, and even set up a distraction for jungkook, so you could slip away in the midst of chaos. if only the fire had burned a little brighter. a little hotter. even if it were just a little more powerful, you could be back with your sister where you belonged. but no, the measly flames were too weak to do any real damage to anything. so one pot of water and a missing person in the house led to jungkook catching up with you, just as you were about to cross the stream to freedom.

that time, he didn't play so nice. he threw you down roughly, spat venomous words at you, and did what he thought was necessary to put you in your place and cement you there, with him, forever. despite your prayers, and pleas, and everything in between, your fate was sealed as soon as he kissed you goodnight when he was done.

one baby would've been different. maybe with one baby, you still had a fighting chance to get out. not only was your fate sealed by the touch of his lips to yours, but you knew it, too. and everything fell into place as soon as you laid your eyes on the two babies in front of you. twins. jungkook was overjoyed, of course. and in a way, you were too. they were your children, after all, and all parents loved their children.

well, almost all parents.

sometimes you wondered about your fate. was this really it? even if you had no reason to go running into the woods, even if you had peace at home, is this still where you would end up?

was your one safe space playing against you this whole time?

[silent-raven13]

A cute little Doe 2

Miles and his herd had gotten well long with Hobie's herd, the whole groups were able to build homes next to the town adding new markets and residents. All the large stags, and bucks work hard through their day fixing houses for the deertaurs. Miles was with the other deertaurs picking up fruits, and other nuts and grass to eat.

Hobie shouted, "Oi, Sunflower!"

"Hmm?" Miles turns over to find the large centaur walking towards him while having a strap with a bow and arrows, then on the side of his long back had a straddle design to carries other items like catches from their hunt or random things they find in the forest. Honey-brown eyes spotted two dead hares being hang at the side. "Oh, Hobie! Good afternoon! How was your hunt?"

"Very good. I ended catching four rabbits. I gave two for the caretaker for the lil foals. You know they need to eat while their dads are busy with the town and their mothers are busy taking care of forging, which looks like you're doing so?"

"Yeah, me and the others are picking some berries. All the does are planning to make this delicious sweet treat for your herd. I'm planning to look for some more acorns, so I can help my mamí make my favorite soup." The other deertaurs were looking at Hobie seeing what a tall well built centaur he is, a perfect candidate for a mate. They saw Miles talking to him, so they figured those two are together.

"Then, I hope this will give your soup some flavor." Hobie went the two dead rabbits, "Here, I wanted to give you this to your parents as a welcoming to the herd."

"Wow, thank you, Hobie." The deertuar beams with joy having a smile on his face, "Um... you wanna come over?"

"Sure." Without a second thought, Hobie been meaning to meet his possible mate's parents. He had seen them from afar, Miles' dad being the chief of deertaurs always seems to be busy with the other stags and Miles' mother seems to be working to helping the ill.

"Okay. Oh... I found some green apples, I heard you like them." Miles went into his basket to take out a fresh patch of grass and green apples. The centaur drools at the bright light green apple and tasty grass, it got his tail wagging so fast being excited. Hobie leans over to take a bite of the apple.

"Awe, you're too kind, Sunflower." He happily chews.

Miles stood being flustered, he fed the tall stag with some more green grass, "Don't forget your grass. it's good for you."

"I love it when you take care of me." Hobie's tail wrapped around Miles' little deer tail which wiggles with joy.

Right on the hill, there's a small hut of the chef's family, since their home is being built among their other fellow deertaurs. Hobie saw how different the huts were design compare to his fellow centaurs, they had more twigs, a bit more use of logs and animal skin from their hunt.

"Mamí!" Miles pulls the tarp to the side, "I brought a friend."

"Oh, invite him inside."

Hobie was able to enter the hut seeing it was a circular structure with a lot of space to sit and rest. "Hello, ma'am." He saw the middle age deertaur, she had long curly brown hair tied in a braid to the side, soft honey brown eyes and a bit wrinkles. If anything she looks very good for her age.

Then a little fawn pops out of the blankets, she rushes over to hug her brother, "Miles! Miles! Did you pick some yummy berries!"

"Huh, I pick your favorite." Miles set the basket down to show. "It was a good day for forging, so many tasty treats."

"Ohhh! Ohh, I wanna eat this yummy red apple!" The little doe picks a big juicy red apple, her hair ties in cute bantu knots with flowers all around, she had one a handmade knitted sweater being cold easily. "Mamí, can I?"

"Sure, my little fawn." Her mother sat on the ground while stirring a pot above a fire getting dinner started.

"Oh, Hobie brought something for us." Miles nudges his fridge, "Right!"

"Oh right. Here you go." He gave her two large rabbits, "I hope you guys like rabbit."

The older doe's eyes gleam with joy, "OHHH! We do! I've been wanting a good rabbit stew for a while! When our crops grow the finest carrots, I will have my darling calf to send you some."

"Mamí! I'm not a baby." Miles cutely pouts.

His mother giggles while the little fawn drools, "I want carrots! Mmm, crunchy carrots1"

"We have to make do with when we find, my lil fawn." Her mother smiles at her fawn being so happy.

"Billie, I did pick a few in here." Miles look into the basket as he sat down, then he pats on the ground to his friend, "Hobie have a seat. Can he stay for dinner, mamí?"

"Sure, I will start cleaning these rabbits. I can't wait for your father to come and see we'll have meat instead of nuts and vegetables for dinner." She giggles.

"Daddy isn't supposed to eat so much meat, we are deertaurs! Not mountain liontaurs or beartaurs!" Billie eats her red apple enjoying the crispy sweetness of the fruit. "Mmm, this apple is so yummy, big brother!"

"I'm glad you like it. Pavtri show me an area where the apples are grown." Miles smiles.

"Well, your father does need meat to be big and strong. He hunts and protect the herd, now even more with the way things are going. Oh Hobie, I met your leader of the herd. I didn't know he was such a big strong buck!" She saw the pot boiling of hot water, luckily she didn't add any spices or vegetable to make her soup. This pot is big enough to boil the rabbit to remove its fur . "Since we are creatures with the ability to eat both plants and meat, it will be fine."

Hobie looks at Miles chewing some acorns, "Luv, you eat meat?" Miles and his herd have only stayed for a few months, now. So, there is still much to learn from the deertaurs, he noticed they are able to survive the cold longer than him and his herd. Or their hearing is very impressive, no matter what step someone made they are quick to be alerted, their gut is never wrong. Sometimes Hobie would accidentally scare his little deertaur causing him to run off into the forest.

Miles' mother's ear perked up and sigh lovingly at Hobie's endearment nickname to her son. Could it be her little calf will be mated off soon? Hopefully the Spring Festival?

"Hm? Not much. I never like the taste of it... but I know some centaurs love eating it to be big and strong. For deertaurs, our stomachs are use to eating plant based, so our stags have to get use to it at a young age. Especially the ones that are grown to be warriors and hunters."

"Often times, we eat a little and give a lot to the males." His mother explains, "Miles as a little fawn never liked meat, it is an acquired taste, same for me and little Billie."

"I don't like it. It's gross." Billie spoke up, "Daddy can have my share. I want squash! Or carrots!" Then she gasps in joy, "Do we have potatoes?"

"No, mija. I'm so sorry!" Her mother pout, "I forgot to get it."

"I can go get it." Miles quickly got up too fast from being excited to help his mom.

"Oh, I wanna go!" Billie happily said.

Hobie got up with a calm tone, "I know where we can get some good potatoes, luv. I'll show you, Sunflower."

Rio blushes at her new possible son in-law, then quickly got her daughter, "Billie, why don't you help tu mamí?" She wants her son and his friend to get closer, have some quality time.

"Awww, okay." She pouted being sad.

"Don't worry, Boo-boo. I will take you to pick berries and we'll have a picnic together." Miles happily said with his hands holding his little sister's hand, "I promise!"

"Okay!" Billie's ears perk up being excited for tomorrow. "I can't wait."

Miles grad a wide blanket scarf to wrap his shoulders and another basket, "We'll be back soon!"

"Alright, you two be safe." His mother happily said then turns to her daughter, "Now, how about we both have some almond cookies?"

"Ohh yay!" Billie claps with joy having to spend some mother and daughter time, they are gonna drink tea and gossip.

When the two stags left out of the hut, Hobie saw multiple does looking at him. His tail wraps around Miles', then walks closer, "Here, luv. Let me fix your scarf, I never knew you get cold?"

"I do get cold when the days are warmer than all of sudden it gets a little breezy." Miles let Hobie lift the blanket up to cover more of his shoulders. The other deertaurs saw quickly muttering themselves of the possible suitor for the chief's son. They were all wondering if this fine centaur would mate their fellow deertaur.

"Luv, I have an important question."

"What is it?"

"It's just... is everyone expecting you to mate?"

Miles did noticed the stares, "Sadly, yes. I'm at the age to do so. I need to find my own mate and raise my own fawns. Isn't your herd expecting you to mate?"

"Yeah, but I was wondering if it's the same as your herd."

"Yeah pretty much same, but my dad is the Chief, so maybe they want me to be able to get a mate first. I dunno... I still haven't find the one yet." His eyes on Hobie, "or someone didn't take my flower."

"Flower?" Hobie's face turns warm like his skin color went dark from how hot he turns. His mind went dirty for the moment.

Miles nodded, "You see how I'm wearing this flower necklace, well with mating for deertaurs- we switch it." He holds his Sunflower necklace, "Everyone will know I'm mated with a special centaur." Humming as he leans closes toward Hobie, he sounded he wanted to be mated with him.

"Right." Hobie took Miles' hand before leading him to another area, "Come, luv. These are my crops."

"Your crops? Oh Hobie, no. You gave us more than-" Hobie places a finger on the deertaur's lips, "No, luv. You deserve everything. Besides, these are the best potatoes I grow, don't you want to try it?" He smiles at him.

"Oh... okay. Hobie, your so kind... I do hope you find a mate that can see it." Miles rubs his hands together feeling nervous, he wanted Hobie to be his mate.

The centaur went over to Miles to place his hands on his face to cup them, "Luv, I would never want just a mate! I want one that will feel my warmth, one that smiles so beautiful like the sun. I want you to be my mate." His face close to let his lips plant onto the deertaur's lips.

Miles' eyes widen feeling such soft lips. His tail wiggles so much, his hoofs tapping the ground. His heart felt like it's going to burst. When Hobie pulls away showing his inky eyes being filled with love. "I will make that flower necklace for us. Do you promise to make me your mate?"

"Yes, of course! I always wanted you." Miles happily said.

Hobie kisses him again with his tail wagging super fast, he could die in peace knowing his little Deertaur is his. "I love you."

"I love you, too." Miles snuggles against him. "But, you better hurry and mate me! My dad told me the other day if I'm not mate soon, he will pick a suitor for me."

"Don't worry, luv. I'm sure everyone knows you're mine." Hobie kisses him again. The two happily wrap their arms with one another, sharing a passionate kiss.

[thedepthsoffandomminds]

Maze runner chapter nine

Previous chapter.

“What the hell's going on out there?”

“What the hell you done now, Thomas?”

“We found something, a new passage.” Minho said.

“We think it could be a way out.” Thomas elaborated.

“We opened a door, something I'd never seen before.”Minho says.

“I think it must be where the Grievers go during the day.” Thomas adds.

“Wait! Whoa, whoa, whoa You're saying you found the Grievers' home and you want

us to go in?” Chuck gawked at them.

“Their way in could be our way out, Chuck.” Thomas explains.

“Yeah, or there could be a dozen Grievers on the other side.” Gally groaned, “The truth is, Thomas doesn't know what he has done, as usual.”

“Yeah, at least I did something, Gally. I mean, what have you done? Aside from hide behind

these walls all the time?” Thomas fought back.

“Let me tell you something, Greenie.You've been here three days, all right? I've been here 3 years!”Gally's chest was too close to Thomas's

“Yeah, you've been here 3 years and you're still here, Gally! What does that tell you? Maybe you should start doing things a little differently.” Thomas growled out.

“Maybe you should be in charge, what about that?” Mai jumped between them, pushing Gally back a few steps.

“Hey, it's Alby! He's awake.” Teresa interrupted their argument. You all rush to the medjacks hut and slowly walk inside.

“Has he said anything?” Newt asked.

“No.” Jeff shook his head. Newt moved up beside Alby who was sitting on the edge of the bed, his head in his hands.

“Alby Alby, are you all right?” he said.

“Hey, Alby. Alby, we might have just found a way out of the maze. Do you hear me? We could be getting out of here.” He crouched down in front of Newt.

“We can't. We can't leave.They won't let us.” Alby spoke without looking over, his words knotted in your stomach.

“What are you talking about?” Thomas asked.

“I remember.” Alby admitted.

“What do you remember?”

“You,” he looks at Thomas, “You were always their favourite, Thomas. Always. Why did you do this? Why did you come here?” Alby grabbed for Thomas, clasping the scruff of his shirt. I'm that moment they all hear voices shouting outside. Newt runs out first.

“Winston, what's going on?” He asks.

“It's the doors. They aren't closing.” There is a group of the boys at the maze entrance, the sun had already set. Then the unthinkable started. Three more doors, one on each side of the glade began to open one by one. They hadn't once opened in the three years you had been there.

“Chuck, go to the Council Hall and start barricading the doors.” Thomas said to the youngest boy. Chuck ran off quickly.

“Winston, you go with him.” Newt ordered.

“ Got it.”

“Get the others. Tell them to go to the forest. Go hide, now!” Gally said to the boys behind you.

“Minho, I want you to grab every weapon you can find. I'll meet you at Council Hall. Let's go. Teresa, you and I are gonna go

get Alby, all right? Come on.” Thomas shouted.

Just as you all start running off to your respective orders you hear the distinct sound of Grievers. A group of boys come running out of the woods.

“Everybody hide!” They shout as they run.

Everyone was scrambling in terrified panic. You follow Newt into the council house pulling Chuck alongside you. Mai Mai stayed outside, watching the perimeter as more boys came running in. There was so much shouting happening that you couldn't keep your mind focused.

“Y/n? Y/n, come on take this.” Newt shoves a machete into your hands.

You faintly see Teresa, Thomas and Minho dive in beside you followed by Alby.

“They got Zart.” Thomas panted. “They're taking them.”

A griever hit against the now locked door as others stalked around. Mai Mai growled from her position beside you as the griever climbed on to the building. It broke through the roof and pulled at the piller.

It was suddenly hard to keep up with the arms that would break through the flimsy walls. One came through and grabbed at Chuck. Alby rushed forward and started hitting the metal with his knife. Eventually the creature dropped chuck and just as you were all taking a moment to breathe the metal arm came breaking through once more grabbing Alby. You all try to pull him back but it's no use. Alby pulls his arms for your hands and relaxes his body.

“Thomas, get them out.” He says seconds before the griever drags him out of the building. Your world went silent. Slowly you each step out looking around at the burning Glade. Gally is marching over to you all and he punches Thomas sending him flying backwards.

“This is all you, Thomas! Look around!”

“Back off, Gally! It's not Thomas' fault!” Frypan struggles to hold Gally back.

“You heard what Alby said! He's one of them! One of who? He's one of them, and they sent him here to destroy everything,and now he has! Look around, Thomas! Look around! This is your fault!” He screamed over the boys holding him.

“Back off, Gally! This is not Thomas' fault!” You growl at him

“What are you talking about? Calm down.” Newt asked.

“They sent him here, and now he's destroyed everything that we've built!”

Thomas's eyes looked at the stinger in Chuck's hand. It had fallen off the Griever.

“Maybe he's right. I need to remember, Teresa.” He grabbed the stinger and stabbed it into his leg

“Thomas- Thomas!” everyone shouted.

“Chuck, get the other syringe!” Teresa called.

You rushed forward with the others. Mai Mai darted over to Thomas.

“We have rules!” Gally shouted and you all looked back at him, “put him in the pit. Her too.”

“Gally-”

“No, y/n. All of this started with them! I won't take this anymore, if anyone else has a problem with it you can all leave with them tomorrow! Take your chances in the Maze.” Everyone looked at each other, not really sure what to do. Newt finally nodded and Mai Mai took a step away from Thomas allowing two of the boys to lift him and take to the pit. Teresa followed them.

You waited until the others had all gone, your arms.folded over your chest and the tiger beside you.

“Go to bed Mai Mai.” You ordered her and she sauntered away.

“Y/n, we need to make a plan for tomorrow.” Newt spoke quietly.

“How about you spend the night growing a backbone, Newt.” You suggested

Next chapter

@fandomfan-102 @deanstolemydragon @afalls14universe

[davy-zeppeli]

The Nesmith siblings discovering Matthew the ((not really)) prairie chicken?

Behold, a short story that is a bit disjointed but it's the thought that counts. I wrote this in 3 separate sessions and you can tell (one of which being my commute home from work via tram). If you see typos, no you don't.

“D’ya think ma will yell at us?”

“Probably. S’your fault anyway.”

“It ain’t my fault! You’re the one who said it was a good idea!”

“Yeah, but you didn’t say it wasn’t.”

Two squeaky and frustrated voices echoed down the forest path, bickering amongst one another and trying desperately to pass the blame back and forth until it got motion sickness and decided to take the day off. In theory, their plan was solid - excellent, Mike had called it - and practically infallible to the two of them: running away from home to start a new civilisation in the wild and become primal warriors seemed like the only thing that was right in the world at the time. Mike had already planned out how he was going to hunt and start up his own crafting business that he’d commit to for the rest of his days, and Michelle had created drawings for the different huts and shacks they planned to build. Although Mike’s ideas didn’t accommodate for other possibly important priorities, like eating and sleeping, and Michelle’s architectural endeavours ventured no further than crayon scribbles on some old wood behind the cottage, it seemed like the most amazing plan in the world. Running away from home sounded easy enough. How could they possibly fail?

What they hadn’t considered, it turns out, was pretty much everything else outside of the scope of their youthful imaginations.

Leaving their cottage was the easy bit - all they had to do was just… walk out. Their mother knew the two of them often ended up going on their own little adventures, Michelle more often than not coming back with more bumps and scrapes than she left with, and Mike returning looking extremely dazed - what exactly it was they did when they were out was a mystery, but it was evident they had an absolute blast doing it, so when they left to go out and ‘play’, no one really cared all too much. Together, the two of them marched down the dirt path of their home, picked a direction, and started walking.

…And walking.

…And walking.

… At least, that’s what it felt like to them. The reality was that after about twenty minutes or so, Mike started complaining he was cold, and Michelle tried to ignore how her feet were starting to ache a little bit. Despite that, they both continued marching towards their joint goal of independence and civilisation. 

Well, that was until the sun started to set.

Michelle was the first to show any hint of doubt in their surely fool-proof plan. When she asked Mike what he was going to hunt with, she was not filled with confidence when he said he didn’t know, ‘maybe a stick or somethin’ like that’. Passing through a few more fields, Mike asked Michelle if she knew how to make a shack, to which she responded with ‘not really, I thought it’d be easy enough to just figure it out’. Only when dusk started to rear its calm and eerie head did the two of them stop to think for a moment, reconsidering their once-stellar plan. A few rustling sounds from a nearby wood made Mike flinch, and Michelle felt uneasy at how quiet it was.

Just as the sun gave its final goodbye in the form of a bright orange light which lit the road with fiery hues, Michelle asked Mike if they should turn around. When their surroundings grew dim and grey, Mike grabbed Michelle’s hand and nodded nervously, and the two of them turned around, staying close to each other-

-Which left them in their current situation.

“Man, I don’t even know how to hunt,” mumbled Mike, evidently reflecting on the impeccable goal he’d set himself earlier. “Don’t even think I could bring myself to look at a rabbit wrong, never mind hurtin’ one.”

“Yeah, I don’t know if this was a good idea, Mikey,” Michelle sighed, listening to how painfully loud her footsteps sounded against the gravel in the silent passage they found themselves in. “I think I remember the way back, though. We’ll be fine.”

Mike nodded with uncertainty. “Yeah, ‘course.”

Almost as if it could smell their fear, a rather large bird chose that time to swoop down from a nearby tree and skim the tops of their heads, Michelle yelping and Mike instinctively pulling both of them down until they were huddled together on the floor. The bird squawked and flew into the distance, and Mike lifted his head to check the coast was clear. Nudging Michelle and pulling her up, he noticed she was crying.

“Aw, no, Mimi, don’t cry, it’s gonna be alright.”

“I ain’t cryin’, shut up,” she denied, although she didn’t let go of Mike’s hand. Quietly, the two of them started walking again, Mike keeping an eye out for any more unwelcome feathery guests.

As they approached a rather large and intimidating looking forest, they decided to have a break, Michelle reassuring Mike that they didn’t have too far to go.

“I remember that big evil lookin’ forest, I’d say we’re about ten minutes away,” she spoke with a new-found confidence, gesturing to the mass of trees ahead of them.

Sitting on a rock, Mike rubbed his eyes and yawned. “Mimi, are we silly?”

Michelle plopped herself next to Mike on the rock. “You’re silly - that don’t mean I’m silly,” she said, “but if you think I’m silly, then I guess I am.”

“What if we got eaten out here? Like some big monster came out and decided we were his food?” Mike whispered worriedly, picking at the skin on his arms.

“Now that’s silly. Y’know that there ain’t any monsters out here, Mikey,” Michelle explained, shaking her head before elbowing Mike, “besides, they’re all under your bed. I saw them.”

“W-what? D-don’t say that!”

“It’s true, I saw two werewolves tearing apart some kid under your bed ‘n’ eatin’ him for breakfast-”

Mike whimpered pathetically. “Stop it, no you didn’t!”

Michelle smirked. “Did too.”

“Did not!”

“Did too!”

“Did not-”

An eerie hooting sound emerging from the woods cut the both of them off, their heads snapping around to the gathering of trees the sound originated from. It was silent again.

“Mike, what was that?”

“Shh,” Mike waved at Michelle, getting her to be quiet. Standing and putting himself between Michelle and the trees, Mike listened.

The sound came again - a low, wobbly hum, fading in and out almost like a pulse.

“There it is again! Mike, what is it?” Michelle hissed, scrambling from where she sat to stand next to Mike.

Squinting, Mike peered off into the trees. “Shh.”

“It sounds like another bird. I don’t wanna be dealin’ with any more birds, Mikey-”

“Mimi, shh.”

“It’s gonna swoop at me! I don’t-”

Michelle was silenced by Mike putting a hand over her mouth and shaking his head, fighting very hard to not flinch away in disgust when he felt her stick her tongue out and lick his hand.

 “Ew, don’t do that!” Mike whispered at her, frustratedly. He felt her laugh underneath his palm, and was about to shush her again when the hooting returned. The two of them fell into an uneasy silence, and shortly afterwards Mike started walking towards the sound. 

“Mike, what are you doing?” Michelle urged, worriedly.

Mike didn’t respond - instead he tip-toed to the edge of the forest and towards a large tree branch that had fallen to the ground. As he approached, the sound that had been growing gradually louder seemed to stop - not that it mattered, because Mike let out a little gasp as he caught a glimpse of its source.

“Mikey?” Michelle queried, intrigue in her tone.

“Mimi, it’s a weird lookin’ bird! C’mere ‘n’ look!” Mike waved Michelle over, and she cautiously approached, clinging to Mike’s arm as soon as she was close enough. “Looks like some kind of weird chicken.”

Michelle shrugged. “Looks more like a grouse to me.”

“How d’you know what a grouse looks like?” Mike asked, pulling a face at her.

“Saw a picture of one on the inn near the cottage - the innkeeper’s son told me last time me ‘n’ ma went to drop off some shoes.”

She saw Mike tilt his head in intrigue. “That the curly loud one who keeps wearin’ holes through all his boots?”

Michelle shook her head, keeping her vision focused on the bird in front of them. “Naw, grouses don’t wear boots - they don’t got hair either,” she spoke flatly, before gently pushing past Mike to kneel next to the animal. “Somethin’ ain’t right here - I think it’s hurt.”

Joining her in kneeling down, Mike observed the bird as well, checking where Michelle was gesturing. The bird definitely looked peculiar, and was most certainly out of place on the edge of a big creepy forest without a single farm in sight. Not that it would have explained much either way - Mike hadn’t seen a bird that looked like that before. It had brown feathers marbled with white, a short tail, and more feathers poking up from its head, but the most intriguing feature was the large orange patch on its neck that seemed to twitch and expand slightly every so often. Almost like it knew it had an audience, the bird began chirping quietly again, emitting a low hum. 

Mike furrowed his brow when he spotted a wound on its wing, sighing as he twisted his mouth in concern. “Poor thing. What happened to you, buddy?”

What Mike didn’t know was that the bird before him wasn’t just any bird. If, somehow, this bird could speak, it would have responded to Mike very bluntly, weakly admitting that it was not, in fact, a bird at all. It would have explained how it was once a fairly powerful wizard, at one point the sole owner of a magic pendant, and that it had only recently been cursed by a different wizard who was particularly unpleasant and rude. It would have elaborated further, explaining that the wizard wanted to use both of their powers and the pendant to assist him in controlling the world, but it refused. It would have then, very frustratedly, recalled being turned into a bird - a prairie chicken, to be precise - and discarded, left to fend for itself in the wild. It would have offered the explanation that the wound on its wing came about as a result of a close encounter with a pack of wolves. Once a wise and powerful being had been reduced into a pile of feathers, clucking and chattering on the side of a woodland path with no hope of ever returning to its original state.

There was a lot that both Mike and Michelle didn’t know about the little bird in front of them, including what kind of bird it actually was, but there was one thing they both knew:

If they left it alone, it was going to die.

As the bird let out a low chattering sound, Mike huffed, an indication his mind was made up. “Mimi, can I borrow your coat?”

-

Showing up at their front door in the middle of the night, dirty and hungry, went down exactly how you'd expect. Their mother was furious and had been worried sick about them, going as far as to rope some of the townsfolk into searching for them. As they were lectured for being so foolish, Mike hugged the coat he held in his arms close to his chest, the half-conscious bird wrapped in the garment remaining silent.

Again, this wasn't your standard bird - having experienced being an actual being for all of its life until recently, it was able to think rationally and opted to remain as quiet as possible as it listened to Mike and Michelle's mother scold them. It was hard to believe that she'd be upset at them for running away, but not be upset at them for bringing a half-dead chicken into their house that they found on the side of the road. For its own sake, the bird stayed silent.

The next bout of movement was rushed - Mike and Michelle, having been well and truly told off, sprinted into their room and took the bird with them, placing Michelle's coat down on the floor and unwrapping it from around the animal they'd rescued, although if you'd have asked the bird, it would have deemed it more of an opportunity than a rescue. Cooing quietly, the bird remained still as the two siblings looked down at it.

"I'll make it a bed, chickens like beds, right?" Mike asked, gathering up a few loose blankets from a nearby chest of drawers.

Michelle shrugged. "I guess so. Why'd you call it a chicken? It don't look like a chicken."

"Sure it does, it's small 'n' round, got a funny thing on its head," he reasoned, piling up the blankets at the foot of his bed inside a spare wooden crate that he'd set on its side. "Sounds like a chicken to me."

She looked at him for a moment, comprehending his reasoning. "Whatever."

Following that, Mike placed the bird into its new crate, taking extra care to not disturb its wing too much. Michelle left it some left-over bread and some water in a bowl, seeming to assume it would probably be fed like a dog. If you'd asked the bird what it thought at that moment, it would have said that the two kids who'd kindly 'rescued' it may be morons - but they were kind-hearted morons. The next morning, either Mike or Michelle left it some left-overs and water, cleaned its wing, and left to go about their day, visiting occasionally to check on it. Mike visited more frequently than Michelle did, but the bird got the feeling that Mike was more of the worrying kind in comparison to his sister. 

And so a routine was built up: the siblings would wake up, feed the bird, leave, and come back - then they would feed it again and let it sleep. It wasn't sure how much time had passed, but eventually the bird couldn't even remember what its name used to be. It felt sad about it, but chose not to dwell on it - it was alive and cared for, even if it was in the care of two literal children. 

When the two of them started calling it 'Matthew', the bird realised it had completely forgotten if it had been a boy or a girl. Despite that, hearing the two children bicker over it, calling it their own little name, made the bird feel oddly loved. 

"You can't feed him that!" Michelle objected, following Mike into their room.

"Why not? Food's food."

Michelle sat on the edge of her bed, shaking her head at Mike. "You're gonna feed the chicken a chicken leg? That just feels wrong."

"Dogs eat chicken don’t they? Mattie here's like a dog. He's eaten everythin' else we've fed him," Mike observed before placing the leg in front of the bird. "Here ya go Matthew, hope you like it."

As the bird pecked at the leg, it decided it liked the way these two idiots went about things - but more importantly, it decided that it liked the name Matthew. And so from that point on, he accepted the name as his own.

It wasn't long before their mother found out about their 'pet' - after food was slowly disappearing from their pantry, she grew suspicious they had some kind of vermin problem, but when she witnessed Mike smuggle some beef into his room, she decided to investigate. Needless to say, she wasn't too pleased, but agreed to let them keep him.

He wasn't sure when days merged into weeks, or when weeks into months, but suddenly Matthew was watching Mike come back from his first day work, and he saw Michelle tell Mike he needed to get his own room because they couldn't share now they were 'grown up' (and despite her reasoning, Matthew couldn't help but feel that either of them were particularly happy about the arrangement). Matthew still felt exactly the same as the day he was rescued, although now he had a healed wing and a bed that Mike had made himself out of some spare pieces of wood - although he actually ended up sleeping at the foot of Mike's bed on a regular basis. Matthew wasn't sure if he'd ever be able to fathom why these two children - now adults - cared so much about some bird. And every time Michelle came home frustrated, tears in her eyes, or Mike retreated to his room in one of his 'brooding' moods, Matthew found himself always cuddling in to them, trying to cheer them up, and wondered when exactly he had started caring so much about some kids.

His trust in the two of them was only cemented one day when Michelle wandered into the cottage, Mike and the innkeeper’s son following close behind her. Matthew clucked enthusiastically at them when they entered, earning him a wave from Mike. Michelle was too busy talking at about a hundred miles per hour to say hello, and was undoubtedly giving Mike and his friend a headache.

"I'm just sayin' I think y'all are lookin' too deeply into this. She don't like me like that! And I don't even know if I like her like that!" Closing the door behind them, Michelle sighed and sat at the kitchen table, head in her hands. Matthew hopped up to stand next to her head, cooing quietly.

The innkeeper’s son scratched his head. "Hey, uh, there's a bird on your table."

"Oh, that's Matthew. Don't mind him, Micky. You're alright, ain't you, Mattie?" Mike laughed, patting his friend - Micky - on the back.

Matthew simply chirped in response before pecking Michelle's head. She looked up at him and smiled tiredly before scratching his head. "Yeah, yeah, I see you. Hello to you too, Matthew."

"You guys talk to your bird?" Micky asked, bewildered.

Mike pouted at him and nudged his arm. "He ain't just a bird, he's family. Matthew Nesmith here's been with us for over ten years now."

Staring at him for a moment, Micky was evidently trying to connect some kinds of dots in his head. "Did you raise him yourself?"

"Naw, we found him on the side of a road - looks the exact same as the day we got him."

Micky blinked. "Dude, how is that thing still alive?"

"He ain't a thing, he's Matthew. Me 'n' Shelly here must be real good at lookin' after him - whaddya say, Mattie?" Mike nodded towards Matthew, smiling.

Matthew boomed in response, and the four of them settled down for the afternoon. It turned out that Michelle had ended up falling for a girl in her first week at her new job, and the other two were trying to be supportive. Well, Michelle wasn't admitting she liked her, but it was pretty clear to see it - almost as clear as it was to see the painfully adoring gazes Mike continued to shoot Micky's way when he thought he wasn't looking.

And so, the three of them bickered and Matthew clucked along, very much a part of the conversation and providing his two-cents as the unofficial third Nesmith sibling.

[creoterative]

Let’s play a Game then

I’m FREEEEEEEEE

*cough*, yeah, I’m done with school, so I can write whatever the fuck i want now, hehe

aaaanyyywayyyy, I’m still working on The Lambda Core, but first I wanted to finish this Oneshot of the Walking Dead Game. Have been playing it since weeks now , it’s one of the best games I ever played and I wanted to express some love for Marlon and Clementine, they are both ma personal legends now (and Louis. and Lee. and Kenny. and-)

alright, I’ll post a short part of the complete Oneshot here, the rest is on AO3, I’ll drop the link here, would make me really happy if you would come to visit there! ;)

https://archiveofourown.org/works/40118184

When he thought about it, he had rarely ever really dreamt anything. Most of the time, his sleep was accompanied by complete darkness, which he thought was simply due to the exhaustion with which he went to bed every night. His mind could no longer expend the energy to think up any fancy stories. This time, however, he found himself in a pond, which seemed strange to him.

Marlon felt the clear, cold water brush around his legs, reaching up to his knees. Every now and then he saw a few water plants being pressed against his boots by the light waves, only to disappear again immediately afterwards. Did fish live in this pond? It looked strangely familiar to him, perhaps this pond existed outside the safe zone? He had had to steadily reduce the size of the safe zone in recent years, so he could no longer remember everything that was in the former areas. Slowly, he turned around a little as he raised his head and scouted the surroundings. The water was cold, but it did not seem to get his trousers and shoes wet. Since it was a dream, however, that didn't bother him; he wasn't sure if he was really in full control in this dream anyway. Most of the time when he went into the land of dreams, it was relatively unspectacular, his head couldn't bring itself to think up any wild stories. And he didn't want to, because that way he couldn't have nightmares. Simple darkness was his favourite.

Even if this forest did give him a warm feeling in his chest. He felt light, relaxed, one could almost say carefree. The large deciduous trees let through a few long rays of sunlight, which made the water of the pond glisten and ensured that the forest floor was embellished by a play of lights. The musty smell of wood and moss was familiar, he almost didn't notice it anymore, even if it seemed more intense here than in the real world. Somewhere in the distance he could also hear a few birds chirping. A peaceful scene that he could rarely enjoy in his everyday life. The forest in which Marlon and the rest of his protégés lived was in itself a quiet and protected place where one could let one's soul dangle. If there wasn't a horde of walkers roaming between the trees. But the children were coping quite well with that by now. Nobody went out alone, and no, when Marlon went out with Rosie, he was by no means alone. That dog was family to him, she would break any walker's jaw for him and it was the same the other way around.

Marlon missed the times he had stolen away with Louis to look for dens in the forest or build huts out of branches. The last time had been long ago and the knowledge that it would never be like this again pricked his chest. Still, he felt safe here, this place seemed to radiate a comforting warmth that he liked.

He began to move out of the water and sat down on the shore. Still his clothes were completely dry, so he was glad. Wet clothes were never nice. Bending one leg slightly and resting his hands on the soft grass, the boy let his gaze wander over the glistening pond and the opposite bank. This place seemed so familiar to him, but... it just wouldn't come to him.

Oh well, he could just enjoy himself for a while, at least in his dreams. He slowly lowered himself onto the grass with his back and placed his hands under his head to cushion it a little. No wind was blowing, there was a pleasant summer warmth and the steady lapping of the pond had something hypnotic about it.

He could fall asleep in this dream. If it weren't for this strange taste. Marlon had just closed his eyes for a moment when he felt something liquid on his tongue. At first he thought it was just his own spit, but this came out of nowhere, it seemed. And the taste... that was blood. Immediately he opened his bright blue eyes and spat on the ground beside him. Red.

"Shit, what the-?!" But before he could have said anything else, an incredible pain drilled into his head. Primarily the left side of his forehead, as if a nail were being driven into it and the blood was spreading under his skin like a swarm of bees. He put his right hand to his head and contorted his face in pain before he had to spit out again. Where did the blood come from?

Carefully, Marlon tried to stand up, but he collapsed on his first attempt. His eyes went black, dizziness overcame him and the birds gradually fell silent as the darkness took over. The feeling of suffocation brought him to a state of panic and he tried with all his might to move or at least to get the blood out of his throat. Somewhere in the distance he could hear a voice that reminded him of one of the worst days of his life, even if that memory was just threatening to be torn into darkness with him. It was melodic, speaking in a kind of soporific chant, and if he hadn't known to whom that voice belonged, he would have almost given in to fatigue.

"It's a sin to kill a mockingbird, Marlon, remember?"

[kayla-kai]

As Below, So Above: 4. Iyara

“I still can’t believe you had an oxygen pack,” Iyara was always awed with Elaava’s preparedness. 

“My previous job was going to just throw it out. Little bit of fixing, and it’s fine. And with the second mask, now we can both go out together.”

“How long is the tether?”

“Well, yeah,” Elaava picked the mask off her table to show off the length of the tube. It wasn’t attached to the pack yet. “It’s not very long, we’ll have to stay close.”

“It seems unsafe that they don’t already have a second tube. What if something happens to someone’s air pack in the field? It’s harder to save them if you have to share.”

“The higher ups never care about their employees, as long as the work gets done and they can cut costs.”

Elaava replaced the output on the tank to a spliced fitting, and added a gasket to the second output. She then screwed the two tubes back on, and put the masks in the pack. The pack wouldn’t last as long with both of them using it, but they’d also be able to work twice as fast. 

“One of us will have to scout the jungle before we both go out together,” Elaava said.

“Is that really all we can do? Hunt for ur-bees?”

Elaava smiled. “You want more?”

“I just mean we can’t keep doing this forever, and I want to make sure I can look after my family.”

“Don’t worry, in two weeks the soybean crop will be ready. I have everything we need to process them into candles.”

“You want to steal directly from the farm?”

“And in the meantime, we’ve gathered everything we need to make our own beehive! After this last scout, no more hunting.” 

“Great! We won’t have to worry about sustainability.” 

“Tonight we have to bring all the bee-hut supplies out to the forest. I’ll be relying on your strength.”

“Sure,” Iyara beamed, and laughed. 

Jannah was waiting at the table when Iyara came home. She had a candle lit, and the light bounced off the small one room abode. Their father was sleeping in his cot, turned towards the candlelight. His features seemed less hollow lately, but maybe that was just because they didn’t have to assess his health in brief, dim light that made his cheeks seem more angular than they actually were.

Turning their stolen beeswax into candles had given Iyara something to trade or sell. Most of the family’s money still went to medicine for their father, but now they at least usually had bread to put on the table, and they didn’t have to choose between light or rent. 

Even once Iyara’s family was more stable, either when Jannah was able to find a new job or their father recovered, Iyara wanted to keep working with Elaava, join her in her quest to light up the slums. Having a stable source of wax would allow them to be more liberal in their distribution, and maybe they could help even more people. 

“How are the bees?” Jannah spoke from her spot at the table. Iyara nearly jumped, he was so startled by the question. How did she know about the beehive they were building? 

“W-what bees?” Iyara tried to sound innocent, in a way he was sure was horribly unconvincing. 

“The bees around the farm, you’ve been coming home with a lot of stings lately, since that day you made us honeyed mango.”

“Oh, yeah, they’re lots of nests right now.”

Jannah whispered, even though the stone and dirt walls stopped any sound, from leaving the apartment. “I know I was the one who asked you to bend the rules, but you aren’t doing anything dangerous, are you?”

“No,” Iyara said, and when Jannah looked unconvinced, repeated, “No, of course not. Everything I do is for us, for the family.”

“Okay,” she said softly. 

“How’s dad been?” 

Since she lost her job, Jannah had been doing her best at home to take care of him. Iyara knew she didn’t have must of a healer’s hand, but it was good that someone was taking care of him. Iyara would much prefer to do it, but there were always would-be farmers vying for jobs, and if he had taken any time off, he would be quickly replaced. 

“He’s mostly the same. Marje says she’s got something that should work better, but it’s expensive. But in the meantime, if there are bees, she says honey could help.”

“I’ll make sure to pick some more up. We can make honey tea.”

“There is good news though, I have a job interview coming up.”

“That’s great!” Iyara hugged his sister in her chair, and sat down across from her. “Where?”

“It’s for the Tip, as an electrician. Or an apprentice, I mean. Just manual labour mostly, messing with wires and installing plugs in homes near the bottom floors.”

“That’s incredible. I always said you were good with wires.” The Tip was the company that operated out of the bottom level of the pyramid. They were the ones that provided electricity to the entire settlement. 

“I’ve passed the preliminary paperwork, and an aptitude test. All that’s left is the interview.”

If Jannah managed to get that job, the family would be set. It wasn’t the highest paying job, but it had security, in a way her last job didn’t. They would never have to worry about buying medicine again, never have to live on bread alone ever again. It could change the family’s lives. Of course, Iyara couldn’t say that, wasn’t willing to put all of the pressure on his sister like that. That was supposed to be his burden.

So instead, all Iyara could say was, “I bet you’ll do great.”

[reidsnose]

happy campers

overview: the bau goes on a team building camping trip but reader and spencer spend most of their time together

genre: fluff

a/n: ive been kicking myself for not posting in forever but i think this one is pretty cute! please lmk what yall think :)

masterlist

-

-

the stuffy, eight person suv finally rolled to a stop, the overgrown children that call themselves the bau tumbling out as quickly and gracelessly as possible. Morgan and Reid nearing the end of a 2 and a half minute long slap fight that you happened to be caught directly in the middle of. you looked at jj, pleading to make them stop with her mom powers.

"boys behave or ill ground you both," she sighed, going to help out with taking things out of the trunk.

they immediately stopped, muttering under their breath that the other one started it. but before they could start again, Spencer caught a glance at you. you were taking a deep breath, smiling contently, very clearly happy to get some fresh, forest air. despite being in direct sunlight, your smile was far brighter than anything he'd seen in his whole life.

before he knew it he was being snapped out of his daze and asked to help set up the tents. he was really hoping to have a chance to share a tent with you, like you sometimes had done on cases when hotel rooms were scarce. but he knew that almost everyone wanted a spot in your tent because you're that much fun to be around. Penelope would win, obviously, and he would be paired up with morgan again.

he let out a sigh as he finished up pitching one of the tents, pulling the corner and nailing it into the ground. as he did so, something caught his eye: a pink, round, fat little worm crawled out of the dirt.

his attention was now fully on the worm, ecstatic to see it because he had been reading up on worms for a while. he called morgan and hotch over since they were the closest to him, rambling excitedly all hes learned about them so far. he looked up and could see the disinterest behind their polite smiles. his own smile faltered for a second, until he saw you finishing up pitching a tent.

"im gonna go show y/n. shes gonna love this!" spencer giggled, already walking towards you.

"hey kid i dont know if she-" morgan began.

"reid she might not-" hotch started as well.

but he had already reached you, sticking out his hand and revealing the worm. hotch and morgan looked at each other worriedly, concerned that the tiniest rejection from you, even about something as small as a worm, would tear his heart to pieces.

their faces changed from worry to confusion as they watched a wide grin crack on your face.

"oh! a worm!" you exclaimed gleefully.

they observed as you put your hand out and Spencer dropped the worm in your hand. you watched it wriggle around and would occasionally look up and nod along with his rambling, asking questions and listening intently. hotch and morgan were speechless, knowing full well if they offered a girl they liked a worm, she would not have the same reaction.

you and Spencer started walking back over to the tent, where hotch and morgan tried their best to seem busy. you two were laughing, something about putting the worm back where he found it so it gets home safely. if there was ever any doubt that you and Spencer would be the perfect couple, its completely disintegrated now.

you and Spencer were typically joined at the hip, but after the worm encounter, you two were especially inseparable.

the girls went down by the lake to tan while you and Spencer tried to build a hut out of random sticks and logs you found around the forest. and while the guys were fishing on that same lake, Spencer and you were rock skipping, and he was explaining to you the physics behind it. and you were both scaring away any potential fish for rossi, hotch, and morgan to catch. so you two were banished back into the forest for the time being. when the rest of the team came back, you and him were up in a tree, eating some of the snacks they'd packed, talking and laughing and subconsciously leaning into one another. you didn't need to be a profiler to see the signs. you two were head over heels already, even if you guys didn't know it yet.

after a bonfire full of roasted marshmallows and scary stories, laughs and giggles. it was a wonderful, but tiring night and before you knew it you were getting ready for bed, sharing highlights of the day back and fourth with Penelope.

"i'm picking up on a bit of a pattern," she giggled, wiggling her eyebrows.

you wracked your brain, "what pattern?"

"all of your highlights included a certain adorkable genius."

"what? no we just...he's my best friend so we-cause its fun and i just-" you stammered, feeling your face heat up with every passing second.

"relax my love, i was just teasing," she chuckled, turning over to go to sleep.

"yeah i know. goodnight pen."

"goodnight lovely," she sighed, "but give some thought to lover boy."

you chuckled lightly before whispering to yourself, "trust me i have."

you woke up and checked the time, it was 4:47am but you just could not fall asleep. you crawled out of the tent, grabbing your blanket when you felt the cool morning air rush at you. you didn't want to wake anyone, so you made your way over to the little hill that the suv was parked on, stealing the keys from hotch's bag and crossing to the other side that faced east. the sun would be rising soon, it would be nice to watch; you draped your blanket across your shoulders. you heard footsteps coming from behind you, your blood running cold, immediately assuming the worst.

you turned around and were met with Spencer's sleepy smile. his hair stuck up in all directions and he looked perfectly adorable. you had to resist your urge to give in and kiss him right then and there.

"you scared me!" you whispered, trying to stifle a smile.

"im sorry," he giggled, "why are you up?"

"im not sure i just couldnt fall back asleep. why are you up?" you echoed.

"morgan keeps farting."

you and him let out hearty laughs, quickly covering your mouths as to not wake up the rest of the team.

you faced the car for a second, legs growing tired from standing.

"look how pretty the fogged up windows look," you observed, facing back and fourth between the colorful sky and the muggy version reflecting on the suv. you pressed your hand against the window, leaving a print, "so cold!" you chuckled.

spencer put his hand next your handprint, quickly recoiling, "you werent lying," he laughed, shivering a little.

you looked at the two handprints, his comically larger than yours and you couldnt help but smile to yourself.

"do you want some blanket?" you asked, opening your arms.

"i think im too tall," he frowned, "maybe if i crouch?"

"how about," you dangled the keys infront of your face before opening the trunk of the suv, "front row seats to the sunrise and some blanket."

"that sounds perfect," he smiled, begging his body not to redden his cheeks.

you two crawled into the trunk, draping the blanket across both of your shoulders, being pulled together by the small piece of fabric. you two were completely cuddled together, getting maximum warmth from the blanket and each other's body heat. a comfortable silence floated between you, faint bird songs and the others breathing filling it with peace. you felt your eyelids droop, despite the breathtaking rebirth of the sun happing in front of you. spencer was just so comfortable.

he felt the same way, his head falling to rest on top of yours as sleep pulled at his eyes. he yawned lightly, pulling you closer and breathing you in. you smiled. perfectly content.

about an hour later, hotch woke up, searching frantically for his keys. he ran up to check if the suv was still there, only to be met with your sleeping figures in the open trunk, wrapped up tightly in a blanket, smiles on both of your faces despite being asleep. hotch was good at predicting things, he saw scenarios play out fully before they truly began.

he snapped a picture, knowing it would be put to good use in a few years, he smelled a wedding.

spencer and you spent the drive home smiling like a couple of idiots, grins growing wider each time the sun hit the window just right, revealing your handprints.

-

ultra mega super cool taglist:

@mac99martin @imhreid @spencersmagic @hollydaisy23 @raelady1184 @a-broken-pact @padfootswife @hey-there-angels @star-stuff-in-the-cosmos @sonnydoesrandomshit @averyhotchner @laurakirsten0502 @reidyoulikeabook @rem-ariiana @spencerreid9 @vampire-overlord @takeyourleap-of-faith @spenxerslut @violetspoetic @aperrywilliams @b-a-utiful @eevee0722 @srhxpci @reidemandweep @imdefinitelyfloating @random-human-person @gurkiloni @luvspence @calm-and-doctor @ssavanessa22 @singularityjc

[crystalcow]

𝑆𝑎𝑝𝑛𝑎𝑝𝑠 𝐶ℎ𝑖𝑙𝑑//𝑆𝑎𝑝𝑛𝑎𝑝 𝑝𝑡 4

Masterlist // child reader ML //

Sapnap x reader !p !child reader

Pronouns used: none specified!

Warnings: swearing, mentions of death, casinos

➳➳➳➳➳┄┄※┄┄➳➳➳➳➳

𝐊𝐢𝐧𝗼𝐤𝗼 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐧𝗼𝐰??

Quackity was telling you all of his plans

He rambled on for hours of his ideas for casinos and how he was going to marry Karl and sapnap

It sounded great

He had his whole plan set up! He even had Sam helping him with the building

But then he left

Just like everyone else

But that was fine! You were just with sapnap

Before Karl came running over rambling on about needed to move his library

He had a library?

“[Redacted] you need to stay close, please”

You looked at him weirdly

Who the fuck was [redacted]

“Karl my names Y/n you idiot” “flame..” “sorry”

He didn’t even notice it and then you had to spend the next couple days hauling over 100 books

“Oo hey what are these! The covers look really weird”

You had found his time travel books

Woops

That man raced over and in the kindest way possible, snatched it from your hands

“Don’t touch those, they are my special books”

You just shrugged and let him be, he freaks you out enough

So you all traveled to this area in the spruce forest and built a really ugly mushroom hut

But hey it’s fine! Foolish thankfully came around later that day and made everything better

So you stuck around

Maybe you needed this, this new start

Oh but prime knows that wouldnt last long

Karl started forgetting

At first it was simple things as just forgetting where he was or little stumbles with names

But eventually he was going away longer and longer

He started calling you by these strange names, some that sound Victorian and western and others that are unlike you

One day he didn’t call you by your name at all

You were hanging around the Sakura trees and the big yin Yang pond waiting for sapnap to come back with George

Then you saw Karl exit the library, running up to him for a hug

It’s been two months since you’ve seen him

You fucking hated it but you couldn’t help but consider him another parental figure

He loved it

But he just stood there as you wrapped your arms around him

Expecting the usual “[reda]- Y/n, I’ve missed you so much my sweet flame!”

But there was nothing just a sad one sided hug

“Hello? I’m sorry but do I know you?”

You were ready to cry

“I’m sorry, I uh must’ve mistaken you for the wrong person” “No that’s fine! Hugs are nice?”

So you left and ran into the library

Scouring throughout all of the books until you found them

The same 8 books you shrugged away

You read through all of them along with Karl’s other journals

You didn’t like going through his stuff especially, a whole invasion of privacy

The more you read the worse it got

What were you gonna tell Sapnap?

Who the hell is James, and [redacted]?

And why couldn’t he stop

It’s no use anymore

You were simply just forgotten

𝐋𝗼𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐬

The closer you got to the large building, the sicker you got

Kinoko Kingdom was supposed to be your free pass

But somehow you always end up here

You called for Sam on the comms waiting for the beep

The inside looked great to say the least

“What are your past relationships with the prisoner?” “No answer.”

“Where are you currently resided?” “No answer”

“Do you believe the prisoner deserves his sentence?” “Maybe”

You put all your shit in the locker and followed him through all the safety checks

“I’m glad you didn’t bring anything with you”

You stood on the platform heart racing as the lava went down

It was like a ticking time bomb

The small squeaks and scratches of the hovering bridge

He just stared at you

That sick stupid mask was broken by tommy that day in the black stone room

So you had to look into his face

Lets just say he looks good in Orange

“Barrier up or down?” “Down”

He backed up into the corner as you stepped in

Smiling

Once the lava cascaded down your smile turned into a sick frown

“Hello” is that all he had to fucking say?

“Screw you. Fuck you. Damn you”

He just looked you a small chuckle escaping from his lips

“Those all mean the same thing.” “Well I’ve been living in cinnamon town for the past couple months, and I’m ready to fucking burn some buns”

Yeah he just laughed

“I’ve missed you Hot shot”

“You ruined our damn life!”

Someone went quiet

“If you didn’t have to have a petty little war, or criminalize children we could’ve been fine! It could’ve just been you, dad, me, and George.”

You were pissed, everyone just kept leaving you.

Tommy and Tubbo, Quackity, Karl, Dream, and hell even Wilbur

“You come and visit me, after not having seen me for months and you just yell? Not a hello or ‘how are you dream?’ ‘How’s prison dream’ ‘how can I help you get out of this damn place’ “

You just sat down ready to just walk out into the lava

“I’ve been stuck here for months! None of you even cared enough to visit me, hell even Tommy came around.”

You might have felt a little bad after leaving him

The prison was cold even tho lava was flowing right there

“Why would you leave the discs alone..” “Because I had to end it.”

What were you doing here

What were you planning on saying?

“So, what do you do in prison”

“I have a clock.”

You got up to go look at the pretty clock

Then threw it at his face

“Ow” “deal with it bitch”

The longer you stayed the worse the feeling in your stomach got

so you buzzed for Sam waving goodbye

“Wait.. Do they miss me?” “Can’t say, but I think this may be for the best.”

He wanted his best friends

But he just got the annoying teenager

Oh but that wouldn’t be the last

𝐋𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐝𝐚𝐬

You got a letter in the mail one day

Who the hell uses letters??

You were shocked to see the address and the small post card

“Come around some time”-Quackity

Ans on the back it had the cords

Oh well what did you have to loose? Sapnap was focused on Karl

and well Karl didn’t even know you

So you set off

It took you a couple hours travel by horse to get to the desert area

The large sign blaring in the red text

You gotta admit the place looked beautiful

There was a giant dick and different shops

You were shocked to see this random un human like guy

“Hello, I am Charlie a totally human guy!”

Yeah totally not slime

“I’m uh, Y/n?” He reached out for a handshake sort of thing

“Dap me up!” “Another time Charlie”

Maybe when you had hand sanitizer

“Ohh so your Y/n! Mister Quackity talks about you all the time, come on in!”

You were skeptical but followed anyways

Stopping in your tracks when you saw Fundy

“Furry?” “Fire shit?”

You went over to give him a side hug, ruffling his fur

“What the hell are you doing here ginger boy!” “Oh you know, just escaping nightmares”

You were confused then just let him be

You walked to the entry way of the place

A beautiful pond with flowers and an arch

“Did what the place where Mr. Quackity was going to propose!”

Going to?

You shrugged it off following inside

You hated to admit it, but you were excited to see him

Yeah you really needed a parental figure in your life at the moment

So when you saw him, he immediately pick you up in a hug

You didn’t fail to notice his change in appearance

That beanie stayed the same tho

Thank god

“Hey hey! Let me show you around the place, we can also go for lunch and talk.”

The casino looked great to say the least

Loud music booming from the speakers, along with the live jazz band on the side

Slot machines were going off every minute

“Have a chip, something to remember this by”

He handed you a red poker chip

It was a cool one tho, in the middle has a blocky sort of smile

Creepy and dopey.. sick!

So you put it around a spare silver chain

“So how have you been kid? ‘Ts been a while hasn’t it.” “Could be better..”

You both walked around the city in silence, offering to go in the super model shop

“No” “why not” “keep walking”

On your way to lunch you had to squint at what you were seeing

“Oh my goodness you’re still alive?!” “You’re alive!?”

You and revivebur just stared at one another

“Yeah he came back after I died!” “you what now-“

You just stared at Tommy and back to Wilbur

Oh god those shrooms were messing with your head

You should’ve gotten out of there a while ago

Quackity came over placing his hands on your shoulders

“Do I have to execute you both? Get off my damn property”

“Sorry Q. Say, Y/n wanna join Lmanburg 2.0?”

You back away holding your hands up

“I denied that offer once, and I’ll do it again. Fucking zombie freaks”

You obviously muttered the last part

Why the fuck did dream revive those two shits??

When did Tommy even die??

Your visit here has just gotten weirder and weirder

𝐌𝗼𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬

Quackity got you away from the brits as quick as he could

So he brought you over to his office

“So kid, how’s your dad..”

Ah you expected this question

“How the fuck am I supposed to know. He’s living his life, Karl’s time traveling! Oh yeah did I mention he doesn’t even remember me.”

He looked at you with wide eyes

“So I’m not the only one they forgot..”

You slammed you hands on the fable dramatizing the situation

“How would you feel about moving here? I mean you could work for me in the casino!”

You thought about it for a second

You have two options

1. Live in shroom town with bubbles

2. Move to las Nevada’s with Quackity

You were sure Sapnap wouldn’t mind

I mean would he even care?

He hasn’t for the past couple months!

“You feel abandoned there, over here there are hundreds of people. You’ll have the time of your life”

You thought about it for a sec

“Alright hand me a contract”

So you signed

Making deals with the devil huh

Little did you know it would cost you your life

Devils little soul

➳➳➳➳➳┄┄※┄┄➳➳➳➳➳

and this is the finale! I will take requests for sapnaps child, and I’ll do some shit with Quackity and the casino and go in more depth if wanted!

As always request and ask anything! And ask if you want to be on a taglist (child reader or general)

For those on the taglist I don’t know if you wanted to be tagged for all child reader shit or just dreams child.. so please tell me :)

@creatorofstars @georgenctfound @samistheidiot @smolbox-png @ghostlysenses @stellarinstigator @bobaducky

[s-brant]

The Endless Summer (2/?)

(gif: @beccs) (PART ONE) (SERIES MASTERLIST)

Summary: A day out on the water goes awry and puts JJ, John B, and Y/N in danger. With tensions rising and the stakes higher than ever, JJ finds it difficult to control his feelings.

Word Count: 9.1k

Warnings: Angst, implied sexual content, strong language, graphic violence, and JJ being an emotionally confused asshat.

A/N: Welcome back! Thanks for the love on this series, I’m so glad you guys like it and I hope this part is just as good. Things get a little heated in this chapter, so buckle up. Let me know if you enjoyed this. Have fun!

JJ isn't sure why she did it.

He wasn't sure then and he isn't sure now, but he knows one thing for certain: there isn't any going back to how things once were now that the barrier between them came crashing down.

Sweat drips off of his skin from the relentless heat of the Caribbean that has made their recent lives hell with the painful tinge of sunburn atop their tans and heat exhaustion they must be careful to avoid at all costs. They were educated on both topics by Pope, their godsend of a survival encyclopedia in human form, who advised them to spend most of their day outside of necessary tasks like fishing and constructing stable shelter under the shady cover of the treetops.

The sole reason he and John B aren't hiding in the safety of the shade is that it's their day to fish, but he's not thinking about the sun. In fact, neither of them is. They're both wondering where their third fishing buddy is.

It took roughly ten minutes of spearfishing with him in comfortable silence for JJ to finally break and spill his guts about what happened last night. Though there was an unspoken agreement to never tell anyone that their hatred has turned into desire, he couldn't help it. He was going mad trying to unravel it in his head.

After all, he already had a conversation with JB about the recent shift in their behavior with each other by the ocean last night, so it seems fitting to pick up where they left off with the calm and clear blue water in front of them again.

He walks on the jagged outcropping of rock that serves as their perch to observe the fish without disturbing the pattern of the current they swim through with John B closely behind.

"One second she's pissed at me, the next she's all over me. It makes no sense. Then, she didn’t say anything to me after it happened," JJ says with his face hardened into a look of concentration at the fish he squints against the sun to aim at, "Not even "Fuck you, Maybank" or one of her weirdly creative threats. She just sat there all night and talked to everyone but me."

His gaze slips away from the water as his chosen fish disappears from sight before he can bother to throw the spear, eyeing up his friend's reaction to the news.

John B doesn't seem that surprised by it, because who else, aside from everyone else in Kildare who knows of their "hatred" for one another, could've seen it coming as much as he did? He considers it for a second, then props his arm up on the handle side of the spear he digs into the rock to lean against.

"I'm pretty sure that means she likes you."

JJ retorts, "That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard you say."

Why would anyone ignore a person they like? It makes no sense to him. Every time he wanted a person, he'd simply walk over and make it happen. It's never been difficult for him to pursue the people he finds himself attracted to...Well, except for her. For a guy that also ignored her for the rest of the night and pretended their moment in the woods didn't happen, he has some balls of steel to be chastising her for the same things he did.

John B shrugs and says, "I'm being serious, dude. Sarah wouldn't even acknowledge my existence when I worked on the Druthers, and I thought it was some stuck-up rich person thing but it wasn't."

They shouldn't be talking at all right now as to not scare away the fish, but they do it anyway. They both know he won't let it go until it's out of his system for good. He wouldn't allow himself to forget it if he wanted to, so its better to talk it out than turn stir crazy from ruminating over it 24/7.

Though it's, as he worded it yesterday, hot as balls out, being by the sea lessens the feeling of it by a landslide.

The breeze they crave whenever they work on their huts or forage through the forest for wild berries, coconuts, or potential building supplies blows on them without pause for the time they spend here, which almost makes it more dangerous. They stand under the direct harm of the UV rays frying them without truly feeling it burn yet, and he dreads the next few days in anticipation of the returning sunburn he just peeled off of his shoulders the other day.

JJ walks down the side to get a better view of the water, balancing precariously on the sharpened edge with the spear clenched tightly in one hand. The breeze is strong enough to threaten his balance, but he holds firm and digs his toes into the sedimentary rock for traction. His body sways in the midday sun with the struggle for stability, or, at least he suspects its midday.

Since being stranded here, time is a foreign concept to them. With no phones, clocks, or any guide to go off of other that the position of the sun above to display the hours that pass, they've lost complete track of what day it is, let alone how long minutes or hours truly are in comparison to the endless summer they live within. They suspect it's been a month since they were left here, but, in all honesty, it could be two. None of them had the sense to mark the days in a tally until it was too late.

He says, lifting his arm to throw the spear, "Well, she is a stuck up rich person, so maybe it's just—"

"You know I'm right here, don't you?"

The sound of her voice from a few feet behind them startles JJ into turning around to look at her right when he lets go of the spear.

Unfortunately for him, the jerking movement throws off his carefully distributed weight and skews his balance, making the feet placed on the edge slip from underneath him and send him slipping down into the water. His calf is the first body part to hit the rocks, and the groan of pain he lets out at the feeling of the jagged rock slicing through his skin could make her heart stop mid-beat. But what truly scares her is seeing the back of his head hit the ground too.

Before he can slide the rest of the way into the water, two pairs of hands are grabbing onto his arms and heaving him up with all of their strength. She and John B grit their teeth with the effort it takes to pull him back up, their muscles burning from the strain, and once his feet are over the ledge, he pushes off the rock to help them the rest of the way. Drops of his blood disperse into the water off the edge from where he cut himself, dripping until there's hardly any left.

Once he's safely laid back down a few feet from where he slipped, Y/N is kneeling in front of him in a matter of seconds. The rock beneath her knees opens small cuts into her skin, but she doesn't pay it any heed. She sits on her heels to lessen the minor pain and lean forward to inspect the damage he took with nothing on her mind other than worry.

Soon enough, John B joins her to kneel at his feet as he sits up and watches them eye up his injury as though it’s some sort of ghastly, life threatening thing instead of a gash that won't need stitches. He watches them against the glittering ocean, waves washing up on the rocks around them to sting his wound with saltwater.

"It's a scratch, not an amputation," JJ says.

She ignores him with a frown lining her pretty features and twists his leg by the ankle to get a better view of the wound in the sunlight. It extends up the entire length of his calf, almost from ankle to knee, and dribbles fresh blood onto her hands as well as the ground beneath them. From what he can tell, it doesn't look all too severe. No muscle or bone can be seen, so it's a simple, superficial scratch.

When he doesn't get a response from either her or John B while they're too busy checking out his leg, he says again, "Guys, I'm serious, it's fine."

This time, she doesn't hesitate to answer.

"Yeah, well you may not need stitches but you still have infection to worry about. This wilderness isn't exactly the cleanliest place," she says retorts with as much snark as usual, and he quietly rejoices in the fact that she's finally acting normal after what happened last night, "Not to mention, you hit your head pretty hard. There's no need to act all tough."

He shrugs.

"It's not an act, it really doesn't hurt that bad."

John B stands and smears the blood on his hands off on the front of his shorts.

"I'll be right back, guys, I'm gonna go get stuff to patch him up."

Just like that, they are left plunging into silence as he is running away down the peninsula back to the beach they've claimed as their own.

Silence has always been her least favorite thing to share with JJ. She'd rather anything over it—screaming, fighting, joking, friendly conversation, or even what they did together yesterday night. Anything is preferable over the tense and insufferable feeling of silence when they're alone together with none of their friends, or their playful hatred, between them as a barrier between them.

Instead of seeing the same pestering jerk she always used to when she looks at him, she sees the memory of how he looked at her in the woods. He didn't look at her like she was the worst person to ever walk the planet, or like she was his least favorite Kook "Princess", he looked at her like she meant something to him.

They sit together in uncomfortable silence in the time it takes John B to rush to the beach and back, careful not to slip on the rocks the way JJ did, with the supplies from the dinghy in his arms. It isn't much to work with, but at least it's something to keep the nasty wound on his leg protected from dirt and germs. She's sure he'd leave it uncovered and up to fate if he had it his way.

Before he can set them down on the wet rocks, thus ruining the gauze and bandages in craters filled with ocean water, she gestures at JJ with a stern command, "Take off your shirt."

His brows raise.

"Shit, Princess, take me out to dinner first."

She groans in frustration, "Can you be quiet for a second and actually listen to me for once?"

He catches John B's gaze with wide eyes, but complies nonetheless, reaching down to tug the tank off of his torso by the frayed hem until it's balled up in his closed fist to hand off to her. Her eyes only linger on his body for a quick second on accident before snatching it from him.

Her bloodstained palms lay the shirt out on the flattest stretch of rock she can find to act as a barrier from the small puddles of water to protect the supplies. One nod at John B has him setting them down atop the navy fabric as she glances up at JJ with a smug smile.

"Believe it or not," she taunts, unscrewing the cap to the disinfectant, "I didn't ask for it so you could sit there and look pretty."

The words throw him back in time to their conversation on the beach while they thatched the roof to their hut, and he wonders how long she's been waiting to throw that back in his face since he first said it.

He grins at her as he asks, "You think I'm pretty?" but before he can say more, she's pouring a generous amount of the hydrogen peroxide along the length of his cut without a warning for him to prepare himself. His leg jerks away on instinct to save himself from the burning sensation, but she grips his ankle tightly enough to force him to stay still.

His nose scrunches up with the urge to groan in pain, and he does a little. Through grinding teeth, he winces in response to the peroxide slipping into every cell of open skin and bubbling up like the white water of the waves as it kills the bacteria lingering in the gash.

"Does it hurt now?" Y/N asks.

She's looking up at him through her lashes with her lips curled into a smirk as she packs gauze onto the wound until it's covered to her satisfaction. And it should be the last thing he's thinking about right now after cutting up his leg and hitting his head hard enough to worry her about concussions, but he can't help it. Looking down at her like this, it's impossible for him to not think about the unfinished business they have.

Everything is the same as it was yesterday—the tattered white top, the red panties in place of a bikini, sunburnt cheeks, and a taunting look that he'll never get tired of seeing. But that's precisely why he's reminded of it. She's wearing the same clothes and looking at him the way she did on the beach before any of last night's antics occurred, and he can't keep himself from wondering if it'll happen again.

"Yeah," he finally responds.

Her smirk grows for a second before she gets back to work.

"Good."

JJ subtly eyes her up from where she shifts on her knees to set the open gauze wrappers under the peroxide bottle in exchange for the bandage wrap, but he isn't as subtle as he thinks. She can feel his stare no matter how sneaky he attempts to be. He may be able to evade John B's attention, since he dove into the ocean to retrieve the wooden spear that began to float out in the tide, but she never misses a thing. Not when it comes to him.

When he looks at her, he finds memories.

Her legs folded up beneath her bring him back to how smooth they felt on his palms when he lifted them up around his hips. Her rosy lips pressing into a line in concentration bring him back to the coconut flavor he tasted on them. Her nipples poking against the fabric of her shirt bring him back to when he lifted it up over her breasts to suck at the sensitive skin until he got a moan from her—There isn't a place he can stare without going back to last night.

Part of him hates that.

He can't stand that a girl who he spent the last five years hating has found a way into his daydreams. Why couldn't it have been anyone else? Why did she have to lure him into her trap? He supposes there's nothing he can do about it now, though. After hours of stewing over it, he's reached the conclusion that it was likely a one-time thing, a mistake made in the heat of the moment that she won't make again, and he should get the idea of it out of his head.

When she has to adjust her grip to hold the gauze in place while she wraps the bandage around his leg, he sucks in a sharp breath through his teeth and jerks away again. She glances up at him with her best, "Are you kidding me?" face. Didn't he say he was tough?

"I'm starting to think you're a sadist, 'cause it's like you're trying to make it hurt," he says.

She gasps, feigning offense.

"Me? Enjoying this? It's not like we've hated each other for years or anything."

And though he may not realize it, this is her way of distracting him from the pain of having her apply added pressure to his cut while she wraps the bandage into place. It has to be tight enough to keep water and sand out, but not so tight that it cuts off circulation, and while it may have been tolerable without her touching it, the contact is enough to make it worse for him.

He asks, "Uh, speaking of, why are you the one doing this? Isn't it some kind of HIPAA thing to treat patients you've threatened to violate with tree branches before?"

The sound of her laughter makes his stomach flutter with butterflies, and he wonders what the hell is wrong with him.

"That's not what HIPAA is, genius"—her eyes crinkle at the sides with her wide smile while she wraps his leg—"and I'm the one doing this because I know way more medical shit than the rest of you."

Even Pope.

"Ohhh right, I forgot. Your dad is this hotshot surgeon and that makes you think you know everything," he taunts.

The casual mention of her father makes her chest ache with something not many of the Pogues, excluding Pope, have felt since being stranded on this island. With their parents either disowning them, absent, abusive, or dead, they have no reason to resist the allure of living here for the months or years it may take to be rescued, but she does.

She misses him.

For the longest time since her mom died, it was her and her dad versus the world. In everything they did, they did it together, and before she met Sarah, he was the closest she had to a best friend. Since they had no other family to help watch her as a child, she grew up in the hospital with him, drawing with crayons on his office’s printer paper with her babysitter and picking up small things along the way from watching him for so long.

He could've chosen to leave her at home, sure, but he didn't want to miss out on seeing her more than he already did, so she spent the majority of her childhood in offices, waiting rooms, and the indoor playground of the PEDs wing.

She takes a deep breath to steady herself after the sucker punch of being reminded of her dad and says, "Well, I know enough and, thankfully for you, I'm the one doing this instead of John B."

From far away, twenty or so feet offshore where their friend is paddling through the water with the lost spear held in one hand, they hear John B shouting an offended, "I heard that!" back at her. It draws a soft chuckle from them both, and she silently thanks him for distracting JJ one last time as she finishes and secures the bandage so it won't unravel.

She wipes her hands off on her water-soaked thighs one more time to get as much of his blood off of her fingers as possible before she reaches out with both arms extended to offer him help to stand. He takes them with a murmured, "Thanks," as they both try not to show how affected they are by the casual touch.

It makes them feel pathetic that something as small as holding each other's hands makes them remember what they did and desperately wish to continue it. Her throat bobs with how she must swallow the lump in her throat at their close proximity, barely breathing now that he's standing close to her with less than a few inches between them.

For a second, they don't move away. They stay face to face, and all she can think of is how badly she wants to kiss him again. But she can't do anything yet, not when she hears someone screaming from the water.

"There's a shark!" John B screams as he paddles back faster than he's ever swam in his life, already close enough to the peninsula that they can see the terror in his eyes when they turn to look.

Surely enough, there a tip of a fin too pointed to pass off as a dolphin cutting through the surface of the water to alert them of the fish's presence, but if that weren't enough, the water is clear enough for them to see its outline.

Thankfully for him, it isn't huge. It looks about as long as he is tall, but that doesn't change the degree of danger. Just because it isn't as big as other sharks doesn't make a bite any less lethal, especially when their only form of medical attention rests on her knowledgeable yet inexperienced shoulders.

For once in his life, JJ is frozen with no clue of what to do.

He's always the man with the plan, the one who jumps into action when others choke up and sit on the sidelines, but this makes him falter. What can he do to help other than stand here and pray John B can out-swim a shark? He's helpless, and now that he's faced with the prospect of losing his best friend for a second time, he doesn't know what to do.

It was his blood in the water that must have attracted the shark, and he was so caught up in his own drama with her and the pain of his cut that he didn't consider the danger of John B jumping in to retrieve the spear he dropped. It's his fault. His best friend is about to be eaten by a shark and it's his fault—

The blurred image of her rushing past in his peripheral vision rips him from his stormy thoughts, and right when he thought it couldn't get worse, it does. Water splashes up around her body and swallows her under the surface after she leaps off the edge of the rock with the aluminum spear from the dinghy raised in her dominant arm.

"Y/N!"

Before he even realizes what he's doing, JJ is screaming out her name, screaming it like he cares, and damns the consequences to dive in after her.

While he was frozen, she sprung into action without thinking of her own life first. She knew he was close to the rock, but not close enough to swim faster than a predator designed for the conditions of the ocean. It took one glance at the spear resting to the side for her to lean down, scoop it up, and get a running start to jump out as far as humanly possible. Various joints and muscles ached from how she strained to push herself far off the rock, taking flight with nothing but their survival in mind.

She sucks in a heaving breath upon breaking the surface, but she doesn't take a second to pause with John B paddling up to her so soon.

"Go back!"

The only answer she gives him is, "Use your spear!" before she brings hers out of the water in anticipation of the grey figure bolting straight for them.

It's a stupid plan, but it's the only one she has, and if one of them is in danger, they'd all risk everything they have to protect them. After all, they're already trapped here with the threat of death every day. Is there anything more worthy of dying for than your friends?

Neither of them is necessarily trying to kill it yet either, they're trying to keep it at a safe distance or hurt it enough so it swims away from them, but she puts all of her strength into spearing the fish between the eyes anyway. Her legs kick tirelessly to keep her afloat while she and John B stab as accurately as they can, choking down a mouthful of salty ocean water from how her head sinks at the surface without the help of her arms to keep her up.

Blood stains the water with a crimson hue spreading out around their bodies—whether it's theirs or the shark's, she doesn't know—and she must keep her lips clamped shut to prevent it from spilling into her mouth, breathing solely through her nose. She can tell her legs are soon to give out on her, but then a pair of hands latch onto her body. Call her irrational or stupid, but even with the clear distinction of human hands on her waist, her mind reacts in instinctual fear.

The touch makes her jolt mid-stab and sobers her feral mind back to reality for a moment until she realizes it's a human touching her, not the shark.

It's JJ.

His arms wrap around her thighs and hoist her up out of the water as much as he can while still swimming, effectively pushing himself underwater with one last gasp for air.

The sudden shift in view has her gaze shifting around to take in the new sights with a gush of red water rushing off of her onto the splashing surface: a light grey tail whips around in the chaos, the shark's head oozes blood from the multiple puncture wounds that didn't push quite deep enough, and its jaws snap right where John B's arm is before he yanks it back.

After a fraction of a second, it clicks with her that there's no time to waste watching her friend almost get his arm chomped off while she takes in the unbelievable sight. Her slippery grip on the handle remains as firm as possible, and she raises the spear over her head with an improved accuracy she never could've had from where she previously aimed it before. All of their shots landed well enough, but with the height advantage, she won't allow herself to fuck it up this time with her friend's life hanging in the balance.

She hardly recognizes her own frantic voice shouting at him, "Spear it in the gills!"

Her hands bring the razor-sharp tip of the spear down into its head repeatedly, and she isn't sure whether it's the splashing water or tears wetting her face when she buries the weapon down into it for a final time right when John B lodges his wooden spear in its gills.

Whatever she did, it must've hit its brain, because the animal halts its thrashing. Its teeth no longer snap at her friend, nor does its tail whip around in the water as violently as it did a moment ago.

As quickly as it started, it drops off into a sickening calm that leaves the white bubbles dissolving into a puddle of bloody water surrounding the trio and the fish that dies with no small amount of guilt on her part. There was no choice but to kill it. It makes her ache on the inside, but how could she regret it if she knows it saved them? The guilt might ravage her for the upcoming days, but she can't bring herself to regret jumping in after him.

She hardly has the chance to process it before she's being pulled away by both of the boys, her view of the scene shifting drastically once more with the abrupt drop of JJ letting her down in favor of guiding her through the gentle waves. His calloused hand squeezes her arm enough to cut circulation off on their journey back.

Time rushes past her in the next thirty seconds or so it takes them to reach the peninsula again in a paranoid sprint away from where the dead fish floats. One of them, John B she thinks, tosses the aluminum spear he dislodged from the shark's head up onto the rocks and clambers his way back up on his own. The waves closer to land grow rougher than the tender current out where they killed the shark, and she grunts in pain as one sends her and JJ straight into the rocks. His body hits her back with a solid ‘thump’ and forces her to wheeze with the wind getting knocked from her lungs upon impact, nails cracking on the black rock from the desperate grip she uses in an attempt to lift herself.

Meanwhile, JJ can't seem to catch his breath either, nor can he think of anything other than her once he sees that John B isn’t injured.

As soon as he sees his friend is unmarked from the teeth of the shark after he's out of the water, he positions himself behind Y/N to help her out first. He places his hands on her backside to push her up as quickly as he can. Knowing that the carcass in the water will soon attract more sharks in the surrounding area into a feeding frenzy, he'd rather it be him than her. It's a thought that shoots by too fast for him to fully acknowledge the meaning or weight of it at a time like this.

Somehow within his adrenaline-crazed mind, he is careful not to push her onto the jagged edge that sliced his leg open earlier, then climbs after her with little space left between them.

She's coughing up saltwater onto the rocks as he scrambles over to her, eyes wild with the petrifying worry of anything bad happening to her. They scan over her arms, legs, stomach, and back, and he doesn't even realize his hands are reaching out to inspect her as frantically as she had with him when he got hurt.

His hands cup her face, petting over her dripping hair and forcing her to look up so he can see if she somehow got hit in the face. Never has his mind been so void of rational thought, and, knowing him and his impulsive tendencies, that's saying a lot. The confusion of his contradictory feelings for her muddle his mind. Worry and hatred, attraction and anger—they battle it out, but only two manage to reach him externally.

Worry and anger it is. Worry for obvious reasons. Anger because—

"What the fuck were you thinking?"

She has never heard him sound so vicious since the start of whatever odd relationship/friendship/enemy-ship they have. With his worried expression and how he checked her entire body for injury after helping her out of the water, the last thing she would've anticipated from him was anger. Especially not after she saved his best friend's life. Considering what she just did for him, she thinks he should be thanking her, not chastising her.

Behind her back, she can hear a collection of yelling voices and splashing footsteps over the water dripping from them. It can only be the rest of their friends racing up the peninsula to them, but she can't turn around.

She stares at him with utter confusion flooding her at his unexpected outburst. Speechless.

"What was I thinking?" she asks incredulously with her face still cradled between his hands, "I was saving John B's life!"

Their emotional distance and disagreement are made up for in abundance by how physically entangled they've become. It wasn't intentional. It was a result of him needing to get close enough to scour her exposed skin for any bites, but now that they're sitting so near to each other, they forget to back away.

John B is too busy to engage with them.

He's doubled over on the ground with the compulsion to vomit the contents of his stomach into the ocean, but he doesn't dare get close to the edge again after what they went through. Instead, he positions himself away from them and their approaching friends until the half-digested food is forced back through his mouth. The acidic bile scorches his throat and nostrils on the way out.

JJ doesn't have the opportunity to retort back something about her being stupid, because Pope is the first person to reach them and ask, "What the hell happened?"

The rest of the group isn't far behind. It's Kie who asks the next question, then Sarah, then Cleo. They all pop off in rapid succession before either of the three of them can answer.

"Are any of you hurt?"

"Why is he throwing up?"

"Is that a shark?"

The last question draws everyone's attention over to the half-sunken mass of fish bobbing up and down on the breaths of the sea with a wooden spear sticking straight out of its gills. Though it isn't the biggest, most intimidating shark to roam the ocean, its presence doesn't fail to make everyone who looks at it shudder with the realization of what must have happened.

John B wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and points over at her with his trembling arm outstretched.

"She killed it."

The four of them whip their heads in her direction, jaws nearly falling off their faces in disbelief, but she doesn't say anything yet. Because as soon as they feel the eyes of their friends burning into them, she and JJ realize, as though they're returning to reality from the hazy layers of a dreamscape, that they're still holding each other.

She's slumped halfway onto him from when he hauled her body closer to inspect her, so she's essentially sitting on top of him at this point. Her legs, bruised and scratched up from when the waves crested to send them crashing into the rocks, are entangled around his enough that they look back and forth between them and where his hands cup her face in surprise.

JJ doesn't know what came over him.

Now that he snaps out of it at the same time as her, both of them separating and nudging each other away until their bodies are no longer entwined, he feels his cheeks flush in embarrassment.

When he saw her leaping past him to jump into the water, his mind shut off. He wasn't thinking about himself, or the possibility of getting killed, or anything at all. He was only thinking of the danger she put herself in, then he dove in and the rest of his conscious mind faded away into pure survival instinct. Yet, even after he knew the immediate danger was gone, the adrenaline kept him on edge, desperate to get her back to land and pray none of them were hurt.

"It was trying to attack him," she rasps. Her throat is raw from the saltwater she choked on, and every word burns. "But we did it together."

She pushes herself off the ground with an exhausted sigh.

Muscles spent from the struggle in the water, her legs wobble beneath the weight of her upper body as she takes a few steps to help John B up from his position on his hands and knees. From what she heard, he has thrown up all he has left in his stomach and hasn't gagged again in a minute or so, so attempting to stand again shouldn't be too strenuous for him.

His hand is cold in her grasp from the water soaking their bodies, but it holds firmly enough for her to help him into his feet without their palms slipping apart. No patches of blood are visible on his shorts, nor are there any puncture wounds on him from the sharp teeth that snapped at his arm in the quick but vigorous fight.

They were very, very fortunate to have made it out alive, and when he looks down at her face, he feels nothing but gratitude for the girl he previously saw as nothing more than his girlfriend's best friend. They went into the water as casual acquaintances, companions of convenience and the happenstance of being forced onto this island together, but they've come out of it differently. Now, they're friends.

Now, she's a Pogue.

He smiles at her, glancing up at their friends as their questions die down at the sight of his crazy grin, and says, "That was some real Pogue shit right there, Y/N." His eyes come back to meet hers. "I think it's about time we officially make you one of us. What do you think?"

She's opening her mouth to respond when Kiara cuts her off. The rest of them are staring at the trio as if they have ten heads sprouting from their bodies for not immediately surrendering more details of their near-death encounter other than saying she killed it.

"I'm sorry, can we please rewind to the part where you got attacked by a shark first?"

"Ladies and gentlemen, can I get a drumroll please for..."

The campfire is roaring with the abundance of sticks, leaves, and branches thrown onto the pile to fuel it as she feels a strong pair of arms looping around her thighs to lift her into the expansive, star-flecked sky.

In a flash of haunting memory, she relives the moment where JJ dove into the water after her and lifted her body above the surface to give her the high ground over the shark. She relives its thrashing hunger, the water splashing on her, and the cloudy hue of blood around them that she hoped wasn't either of the boys. For a second, as the world grows taller with her new perspective, she is brought back to the sudden shift she felt then and feels her stomach drop in panic, anticipating the danger.

But then the sound of her friends laughing, as well as the surging fire and crashing waves, comes back to her and forces the frightful flashback away. Her hip fits perfectly in the curve of John B's shoulder, and she lets her head fall back in giggling laughter at how he hoists her up in the air as though she's a holy figure of worship for the Pogues to kneel to.

His voice can likely be heard across the entire island when he shouts, "The Shark Conqueror!"

The group erupts into a triumphant mixture of cheers and laughter that fills the beach, everyone celebrating in their narrow escape earlier today...everyone except JJ.

After John B divulged the gory details of what happened, from JJ's fall to her picking up the spear and jumping in to save him from the shark, they made their way back with enough conversation to last the month. They all asked questions and took peeks back at where it happened in morbid curiosity, wondering how on earth they managed to come out of the situation without a scratch.

The rest of the afternoon continued on with the same buzzing energy that can only be created from the thrill of being alive. She's felt it many times since joining Sarah's group of friends that seem to find trouble wherever they go, but she has never felt it as vehemently as she does tonight. It's a mixture of euphoria, shock, and soul-crushing guilt for having to hurt another living creature, even one that was intending to make a meal of her friend.

No matter how much she grows up or discovers more about herself as a person, feelings never stop being as frustrating as they were to her as a child. You can get better at processing and hindering explosive reactions to them, but they never simplify. She doesn't know why she feels so much at once. She doesn't know why she feels simultaneously on top of the world and thrown off the edge of a cliff, but she thinks it has to do with him.

Since they walked back to the beach and talked about what happened until the day withered into night, which led them here to the “official” ceremony of her being named a Pogue for life, JJ hasn't spoken to her once.

Suddenly, the shoe is on the other foot.

Much like how she avoided him all night last night leading into this morning, he doesn't talk to her. He tries not to look at her too from where he sits on the log of driftwood across the fire, but it's somewhat inevitable with the spectacle John B is making of her at the moment.

Painted in the warm tones of the firelight like a goddess in her own right, Y/N is impossible to look away from, and it makes him angrier than he already is. A handwoven circlet crafted from the hibiscus and hippeastrum flowers growing in the forest around their camp sits atop her head. It doesn't fall to the ground with the movement of her throwing her head back in laughter. It stays in its rightful place against the rule of gravity until her face comes back into view for him to quickly look away from.

It dampers her laughter to see him avoiding her gaze so adamantly, taking a swig of water from one of the small cups they carved from wood and turning to talk to Kie to keep himself busy. The distinct sensation of being on top of the world slips away with the feeling of his cold avoidance and John B lowering her back to the ground until her bare feet sink into the soft sand.

Before she can start sulking about it for the foreseeable future, Sarah steps up beside her.

The familiar touch of a hand on her shoulder brings her comfort amidst her confusion and hurt over the way JJ is acting, and when she turns to see a pretty face looking fondly at her, a warm smile finds her lips.

"Pogue for life?" Sarah asks.

The three words bring make her smile grow the same way it had when she was talking to JJ on the peninsula. It crinkles the skin around her eyes with its unrestrained happiness to hear them because, as much as she pretends to let JJ's comments roll off of her, tonight marks one of the first times she's felt at home with them.

That's not to say they haven't made her feel welcome in the past, they did, but this isn’t the same. This is closer, this is the type of bond that's forged in situations like these where people have no choice but to rely on each other or let their worlds collectively fall apart, and she thinks, for the first time, that she could live here with them forever if she must.

None of them know how much time has passed since they arrived here, least of all her, but it sure as hell feels like an eternity. At first, she could barely withstand the idea of living here for months with the intention of being rescued as soon as possible, but now...

She brings Sarah into an embrace tight enough to force the air from their lungs.

"Pogue for life," she echoes back with her face buried into the salt-scented tresses of dirty blonde hair cascading over her tan shoulders.

Would it be crazy of her to think that this is where they're meant to be? That they're her family and this place she has fantasized about escaping is now their home?

After all, the lush island provides everything they need to sustain themselves with the rationing, scavenging, and hunting routines they adhere themselves to. Freshwater runs down the land in a stream from a water source uphill, plenty of different edible plants grow in the forest, and there's so much left of the expansive land to explore; it's perfect. Everything here is perfect for them, calling out to them to make it their home, but there's one little problem as of right now, and he's sitting across the fire behind her back.

Sarah's arms squeeze around her shoulders once to bring her in even closer.

"Thank you for saving him," her voice is so hushed, Y/N can hardly hear it with her lips brushing the shell of her ear to whisper into it, "I'm not gonna get all mushy with you right now, but I don't know what I would've done if"—Sarah's breath hitches in her throat, and she shakes her head—"I just wanted to thank you."

When they pull apart, Y/N is looking back at her with a knowing expression, one that says everything she can't in the presence of the others, and Sarah can't help but mirror it.

It isn't long before the blonde-haired beauty is whisked away by her boyfriend to help him cook the crabs they caught closer to shore after their encounter with the shark. Not wanting to swim out or risk slipping off the rocks again with the dead fish promising to lure more predators to their area for the next week or so, they settled for hunting for shellfish and making good use of the fruits they find growing in wild abundance in the forest.

The night ticks away in swiftly passing minutes thanks to the humorous company of the people around her.

She nearly chokes on a mouthful of banana as Cleo tells a story from before she met them, when she used to live in Nassau and work jobs with Terence and Stubbs on ships. For such new additions to the group, they both fit surprisingly well with the lifelong childhood friends that sit around and banter with such ease together.

They talk, laugh, dance, and eat together, and there are moments when she feels happier than ever. There are moments exactly like when John B lifted her up and made her giggle at how their friends cheered on her behalf in indulgence of the silly "ceremony" they did, half out of boredom and half out of gratitude for what she did. But then she is reminded of the man sitting on the outskirts of the group with his features hardened into an expression of contemplation she wishes she could decode.

The night breeze feels heavenly on her perpetually overexposed skin. It blows into the fire and allows it to swell from the oxygen supply, crackling and popping embers out every so often like the spark of the zippo lighter JJ fidgets with in his restless hands. The movement attracts her wandering eyes while they should be focused on Cleo and Kie dancing around the fire with boisterous laughter while Sarah and Pope sing for them.

She keeps herself honed in on the opening and closing of the lighter under the guidance of his ring-clad fingers for the next minute or so.

They may have been pitting themselves against each other since they met, but that doesn't mean she doesn't know him well. If anything, the keen attention that her old hatred for him forced her to keep on him made her memorize everything there is to know. And she surely has picked up on the nervous habit of him playing with the lighter whenever he's thinking, whenever there's something crawling under his skin that he can't piece together.

He sits with his back to her, facing out toward the ocean so all she can see is the hand he uses to flick the lighter open and shut with. With a quick glance at the rest of their friends to see if any of them are watching or wanting to speak with her, she pushes herself up from the log and dusts her sandy palms on her shirt.

The tracks of her footsteps lead around the corner of the driftwood he rests against until her feet appear, sunken into the sand in front of him. It takes a lot of control to not allow himself to follow up the length of her body, panning up along her legs until he sees that infuriatingly tenderhearted set of eyes looking down at him.

However, he doesn't have a choice in looking when her hand outstretches in a silent invitation. His first glimpse of her in the last half-hour shows her jerking her chin in the direction of the beach curving around the bend of the island.

This morning, he probably would've taken her up on the offer. He would've done anything to get a few minutes alone with her, but now he can't see past his anger and doesn't know why. He doesn't know why it hasn't calmed yet, but, in truth, it has more to do with him than it does her idiotic yet brave decision to fight off a shark today. Trust him, it still has a lot to do with the idiotic shark thing, but the rest is lost in translation for him.

"Not in the mood," he dismisses her.

Her brows furrow and form a crease between them as she tries to find something to say but comes up with nothing. At least not until it clicks with her what he thought she was trying to do by inviting him to walk with her.

The last time they went off on their own together, it ended in an explosive encounter they have yet to erase from their minds. It's what greets them whenever they close their eyes for a second too long, existing in their wildest daydreams and fantasies whenever they have a spare moment to themselves. Hell, he can't stop thinking about it even when he's already occupied. It was the reason why he didn't catch any fish this morning before the incident that made him pissed at her in the first place. He couldn't stop thinking of her.

"Oh," she murmurs and starts to kneel down until her knees are sinking into the sand the same way she did when patching up his leg. Her eyes peek over his shoulder to ensure the others didn't hear them—"That wasn't what I meant...I was just wondering if you wanted to talk about today. It must have been a lot to process, since he's your best friend and all, and—"

JJ snaps, unable to tolerate it anymore, and stands up from his spot on the sand to move away from her.

"You don't need act all therapist with me, okay? I'm fine, and I don't need you to fix me if that's what you wanted. Today was fine. Everything's fine, so let it go."

Her mouth opens and closes like a fish with a loss for words. For the second time in the span of a minute, she is grasping blindly for something to say in the wake of him shocking her to silence. He's starting to walk past her but she doesn't let him. Her hand shoots out to stop him and holds onto his arm to turn him back despite his rudeness.

Underneath it all, her concern touches him deeply. It shouldn't trigger a reaction like this in him, so why does it? What about today set him off? He hasn't been this genuinely angry with her since before the hunt for the gold began, before she started to blend into their friend group and establish herself as one of them.

"Woah, woah, woah," she says, "I never said that. I thought that you needed someone to talk to. You know, as a friend."

Their friends start to notice their interaction tensing up now. Before, they didn't pick up on her stepping away for a second to check on him. Now, it's impossible to ignore what unfolds hardly six steps from where they watch as slyly as they can. The two of them haven't had a conversation as cold as this one in months, and what he says next takes it to a place that freezes over the connection they made last night and shatters the warm place it held in her heart.

He scoffs.

"We're not friends. If you think you gotta act different 'cause you threw yourself at me last night, don't bother. You hate me and I hate you. That's how it is."

No nicknames, jokes, or anything to act as a buffer, just cruelty. Rejection.

Though they truly were trying to pretend like they weren't paying attention, every single one of their friends stops and stares. A chorus of hushed reactions sound off from across the fire, and the faint sound of Kie muttering, "Oh shit," is the first thing to reach their ears. It's needless to say that none of them could've expected something so callous to come from him, not after what they saw when they ran up to them on the peninsula this morning.

With the way he was holding her then, doting on her and cradling her face between his hands even in the midst of his anger at what she did, they sooner expected the pair to admit they're dating than have a blowout like this.

In the delayed seconds it takes for her to realize what the fuck he just said to her, he watches her face shift from a look of concern to sadness, to flush-faced embarrassment, then finally to anger. Her teeth grind together, nostrils flaring on her inhale, and in one quick moment, she comes to a conclusion within herself.

She reaches up to rip the handmade crown of vibrant flowers off her head with flames to match the camp fire flaring up in her eyes for him. Before she can do anything, he already knows he crossed a line, if not multiple lines. It's evident in everything he sees, from the hurt look on her face to the force with which she shoves the crown into the center of his chest to send him stumbling back a few steps. Just like yesterday, except it couldn't be any more different.

"Fuck. You." She spits the words as though they're venomous, and he almost shrinks away under the intensity of her stare, “Go find somewhere else to sleep tonight, 'cause it sure as hell isn't gonna be with me."

Petals flutter out upon impact against his solid chest and float peacefully to the sand around his feet as he watches her turn on her heels and storm off toward their hut. Though, after what he did and what she said to him as a goodbye, it isn't really theirs anymore, is it? At least not for tonight, tomorrow, or the next day until he finds a way to make her hear him out for an apology.

He stands there, frozen, the entire time he watches her leave. Nothing can move him from the spot, not even Sarah knocking her shoulder against his with a pointed glare on her way past to follow her into the moonlit darkness.

He doesn't even resist the disappointed looks he gets, or the shoulder check from Sarah. This time, he deserves it. He deserves every ounce of their judgment. All she was trying to do was make sure he was okay and he was too consumed in his unreleased frustration from today to see it. And, in a way, he's still frustrated over it, but it's greatly overshadowed by the guilt seeping through him.

The shadowy shapes of the two girls disappear into the small hut further down the beach, and JJ is left with nothing to do but look down at the flower crown clutched to his chest in regret.

Tag List: @gabiatthedisco, @fangirlvoice, @black-syren, @apparrio, @particularcth, @planetdemon, @idk-ijustworkhere, @krisphann, @astrydis, @k-k0129, @zarahsloves, and @stilesflannels.

[simsadventures]

Panopticon: Chapter 27: War Path

Alpha Steve x Omega Reader

Summary: Steve is livid and tries to find you but somebody keeps putting obstacles in his way. You, on the other hand, get to meet the devils and learn some harsh truths.

Warnings: a/b/o dynamics, angst, abduction, slight mentions of torture, life in captivity, lying, swearing, mentions of violence against women, shitty people in general, loads of feels, I would hope, mentions of suicide, mentions of death

Word Count: 3800

A/N: Du dun… Who is ready for some angst? Many of you weren’t happy that we’re taking this route, but it needed to happen because the world is full of assholes who try to make people unhappy. Anyway, so excited about this one, and I can’t wait for you to tell me what you thought. Love you all!! xx

Series Masterlist __ Masterlist 

< Previous Chapter 

“That won’t help to find my Omega, so no!” Steve yelled across the whole room, and even the experienced Alpha fighters gathered in the room couldn’t help but shudder at Steve’s authoritative voice. They were trying to help, coming up with new ideas to try and bring the Circle down, or at least make somebody from the inside communicate with them to tell Steve and his team the location of his Omega. But no idea was good enough for Steve. 

It had been four days. Four days without his precious Omega, and Steve felt like he was slowly losing his mind. He desperately needed you next to him, just to feel your warm, soft skin pressed against his, or to see the light in your eyes whenever you looked at him. But he had nothing. 

He often saw broken Alphas after all that went down on Earth a few years ago, and while he couldn’t really imagine what they must have been feeling at that time, walking like dead men, some of them on the brink of death because they just couldn’t handle their lives without their loved ones, Steve understood it all now. 

He knew he had to concentrate because he felt you in his veins, felt that you were alright considering the circumstances and, most importantly, that you were still alive. That was the sole reason why he didn’t end it yet. But he was hanging on a thread because each day and night he had to spend without you, his mind was going just a little more insane. He was hearing your voice and this morning, he even saw you standing by the bed. He was elated, but when he blinked a few more times, he realised that it was his brain playing tricks on him and that none of what had happened was just a nightmare. 

Moreover, he had to orchestrate a funeral for Peter and Gamora. The sadness over their loss was embedded deep in Steve’s soul, and he knew he would never get over it, even if he got you back. When he got you back, he scolded himself every time he thought of it, but it was to no avail. The desperation and pain seeped deep into his bones, and the once positive Alpha, who used to be full of life was just a walking shell of numbness. 

Sam and Bucky tried to pick up the mood in the room now and then, but they knew all too well that there was nothing they could say or do to make the situation better. The only thing Steve really needed was to get you back, and they empathised with him. Moments after the realisation hit them that you were indeed gone, they rushed to their own huts to check on their own mates. Their bonds felt fine, but the fucked-up situation got into their heads, and they needed to see their loves for themselves. Both Meera and Tina were sitting comfortably in their houses, unaware of the terror going on just mere meters away from them. They all spent the afternoon scenting and crying, their hearts clenching for their friend who was lost in his thoughts and his pain. 

But Steve tried to come up with a solution. He knew Rumlow would take you somewhere far, but not far enough not to brag about it. The circle was almost a day drive so Steve would have bet Rumlow’s hiding place was somewhere between his own house and the hell house they called the Omega haven. But that was still too much land to cover just by foot or by car, since there were so many abandoned houses and warehouses, not even talking about all the hidden places deep in the forests. So, just going somewhere blindly was not an option. 

Then, he thought of using what was left of the functioning camera system between the city and his lands, trying to see if he could pinpoint at least the direction where Rumlow and his team went. But he came up with nothing since most of the cameras had been destroyed soon after the war had started. 

Steve even thought of taking some military dogs and making them sniff your clothes to find you, but that would mean hundreds of kilometres to search, and that was just impossible. Every single thing Steve came up with was a nonsense, and the longer he couldn’t figure out how to find you, the more desperate and angry he had become. His people knew it was nothing personal, but his yelling and blaming was sometimes too difficult to bear for any of them. Steve knew he was being a dick, and he apologised every time his nerves got the better of him, but it was like he couldn’t do anything about it. 

It was when Bucky spoke up with a guilty look that Steve finally got a good idea from somebody. Not that he particularly liked it, but it was something useful at last, and Steve was actually quite angry with himself for not thinking of it sooner. The idea was to call Peggy because she was always able to find Rumlow a little easier than the rest of the world. How that worked exactly Steve never asked, because Peggy was one of those who kept their work pretty shut, and she wouldn’t brag or even talk about it, so Steve had barely any idea of what Peggy really did. There used to be times when he minded when it drove him up the wall, but not anymore. He didn’t care how she did it, the only thing Steve needed was to get you back. 

He called her almost immediately, listening to her smooth voice as she assured him that she would devote a majority of her time to help him because, after all, she still cared for him very much. Steve thanked her from the bottom of his heart and resolved to wait for her to come back to him since there was literally nothing else to do for him but to wallow in his pain. 

Surprisingly, it only took a few hours for Peggy to reach out and tell Steve that she might have found him. His heart started beating like crazy as if feeling that he might be getting you in his arms sooner than he expected. Peggy told him that she got the memo that Rumlow was hiding in an old warehouse south of the manor, around 70 kms away, and Steve just growled, knowing he was kind of right in his assumptions. He quickly gathered his team, not really speaking much, but they all understood. This was a life or death mission because most of the team was sure Steve wouldn’t survive that if they didn’t find you. 

Steve pretty much jumped out of a moving car when they neared the building, and he got to work immediately, going into the commander mode, assigning roles and talking strategy for when they would come in contact with Rumlow’s team. Everything was meticulously planned, and Steve had a good feeling about that. The only issue was that he couldn’t smell you. But he simply thought that he was still far enough to be able to do that and that they were probably keeping you in some shutoff room.

The closer to the building they got, however, the weirder the whole situation felt. No men were standing outside on the lookout, there were no specific smells to tell the team that there were indeed people hiding inside, and when they finally got in, they found the place completely empty. 

They rummaged through all the rooms, even in the basement and on the roof, but the only thing they got was some cloth lightly smelling like Rumlow, but not enough to tell them how long ago he was at the warehouse. Steve screamed in frustration because there was no sign of you, not even a hint of your smell that he so helplessly craved. 

Bucky and Sam shared distressed looks before they each grabbed Steve from one side and brought him back to the car, hollering at the whole team that the mission was over and that they needed to come back home. Steve didn’t speak the entire ride back, just staring out of the window, thinking of all the times you two would take such rides to and from the city, always discussing new books or just sharing stories from your youths. Steve now found that he took these moments for granted. He enjoyed them, sure, but not enough. There was the nagging voice telling him that he should have done more, that he ought to have taken you with him to that fucking meeting, and none of this would have happened. 

“Stop it, punk. None of this is your fault so stop with the self-blaming and call Peggy to tell you what the fuck happened that her tip wasn’t true,” Bucky interjected Steve’s thoughts, and as many times before, Steve wondered whether Bucky could just read him like an open book or if he had a direct link to his brain. Steve shook his head and dialled the number. 

“So, happily ever after?” Peggy said smugly, and if she stood anywhere near Steve, he swore he would have hit her. 

“Nothing and nobody’s fucking happy, Peggy. Nobody was there except for some piece of cloth that was supposed to smell like Rumlow. Who the fuck gave you this tip? I need to find my Omega, and I don’t have the time to drive around the city and march into every single abandoned building just because you have a hunch. I need real information, Peggy, and if you can’t give that to me, then you’re just wasting my time,” Steve said more tiredly than anything else, but Peggy’s face contorted in annoyance on the other end of the line. 

“I never waste your time, Stevie, you remember that. Look, I thought the info was top-notch, but I’ll keep looking. How about I come to your place, and we can think of a plan together?” 

“Yeah, yeah whatever, it definitely can’t harm us. I’ll be expecting you,” Steve sighed and hung up, nodding at Sam who was watching him through the rearview mirror. 

“Peggy said she’d come and help from the mansion. I mean, I’d rather have the whole fucking team together looking for Y/N, but I can’t fly everyone here from god-knows-where, so anyone who wants to join in is welcomed.” 

Sam nodded but didn’t like it one bit. He understood that Steve was desperate, but Peggy was and had always been bad news, and Sam had a hard time trusting her even back in the days when they had to fight side to side. All the secrecy surrounding her just stank, and Sam was sure he’d keep an eye on her, just in case. He wanted everything to go over smoothly for Steve, and nobody needed a sneaky bitch who would throw them under a train the second she got a better deal from the opposing side. 

You let your hand slide on the ground underneath you. It was rough with what felt like small rocks that were cutting you in the palm. You were seated, and your whole body hurt since you have been in this position for hours. Nobody talked to you since they killed your friends and abducted you. They just blindfolded you and tied you up, changing positions every few hours probably to disorient you since you doubted anybody really cared how comfortable you were. All you could do was rely on your senses and learn as much about your surroundings as you could. You weren’t even sure why you cared, but your brain couldn’t take thinking about anything related to Steve, so you busied it by making sure you knew everything you could. 

You learned that there were three places they would keep you in. You presumed that they were all in one room, but they changed whether you were sitting or lying down. You weren’t even sure what time it was and slept when they put you laid you down. Nobody ever touched you inappropriately, and that’s how you assumed not one of those people was Rumlow. 

The first place they would let you sit in was in an old crinkly chair made of rough wood as you had a few splinters from rubbing your hands against the arm-holders. It had four metal legs, and from the sounds, it made every time you shifted, you thought it was a rather old and overused piece of furniture. 

The second place was where you were sitting now. It was by the wall, which was cold and smelt of moss, and you even though you sensed death a few times, you knew that was just your exhausted brain playing games with you. The ground was full of rocks and shards of glass, so it was your least favourite place to be of the three. The ground was colder than all the other areas, and every time they made you stand up, there was a wet patch where your ass touched the ground as the coldness accumulated against your hot body, making you wish you could just change. But your abductees would never answer to your pleas, so after what you assumed were a few days, you just gave up asking them altogether. 

The third place was a makeshift bed, created out of a few pieces of wood pushed together and an old and smelly mattress. You tried to ignore all that the smell evoked in you, but you sometimes choked on your own saliva as you shifted and changed position, getting another whiff of what smelt like a hundred of butts and sweat. But it was a mattress, and you could get a few hours of sleep, so you couldn’t dwell on the details. 

When you found out everything there was with your surroundings you tried to pay attention to your abductors. And while you couldn’t say precisely how many there were, you had a pretty good idea. As you were an Omega, blindfolded and cuffed, they always came alone, and you recognised each of the people by their steps. There were four of them, each of them having differences in their weight, the length of their steps and the carefulness with which they handled you. That’s how you came up with the number of four. 

Number two was by far your favourite. They (you assumed it was a he but you couldn’t be sure) would always leave you alone even when you needed to use the bathroom. You knew they were in the room, but they had the decency to at least not physically touch you, and, in your mind, you created this picture that the person even turned around to leave you to do your business. They would also give you the biggest amount of water, seeing how you were parched because number four was a complete asshole and would always allow only a gulp before he drastically took the cup away from your mouth. 

And that was your days, filled with diverting your brain from thinking about the graver questions, like where were you, would Steve ever find you, what did they want from you, etc. Every time any of those popped up in your head, you choked up, and had to start touching your surroundings or else you’d have gone insane by now. 

It was when number three was supposed to come and let you sleep that you heard it. It was faint, but your ears perked up at anything that wasn’t your own breath or the sound of boots of your abductors hitting the ground. And this was neither. These were human voices talking about something behind the door. Your heart-rate picked up immediately because, while you hated the routine of four guards and three positions, you also knew that routine was good. Anything that was out of the routine could possibly mean death to you, and you tried to do anything to avoid that. The voices grew nearer, and you shuddered involuntarily, bracing yourself. 

When the door opened, the cold air hit your face, and you hid it between your shoulder blades. 

“Well, well, well, here is the famous Omega the world is searching for. You look so pathetic, it’s actually quite funny,” you heard a female voice say, and your brows knitted together. You heard it before, you just couldn’t place the voice for the life of you. 

“Yeah, well, the sooner she stops pining for that pathetic excuse of an Alpha and becomes mine, she will look much better. I mean, not that anybody’s gonna see her since she is just an Omega pussy, but she is my Omega pussy, so,” the man trailed off, and you didn’t have to think to place this voice. This voice haunted your worst nightmares, so you were pretty familiar with it. 

Rumlow

“Whatever, Rumlow. All we need is to get rid of her mating mark, and we’ll be good. Steve called me and found the warehouse where I sent him empty, and I, as a devoted friend, told him I’d help him from the mansion so I’ll have easy access to him and I will divert him from here if need be. You just need to do what you must so that I can have him back,” the woman spat, and it was as if a light bulb switched on. God, you felt stupid for not suspecting she had her ugly fingers in this. Fucking Peggy who obviously wanted Steve back even when she visited him all those months ago. 

And while it was nice that Steve didn’t feel the same, this woman was clearly a maniac, and she wouldn’t stop at anything to get what she wanted. 

But, there was one more thing that caught your attention. They wanted to get rid of your mating mark, and the thought paralysed your whole body. There were only a few ways to do that to any mated couple, and none of them was humane or accepted by most people. You’ve heard of Omegas trying to sever their bonds as they didn’t like who chose them, and so they cut a clean line across their mark, but even then the bond couldn’t be severed completely. There was also the option of just biting an Omega hard enough where their mates’ mark was, and trying to beat mark with a mark. 

You also heard that true mates were inseparable, and while Bruce told you that you were true mates, you could never know for sure. The inseparableness of true mates could just as well be some old maid tales, it was one of the things your mother used to tell you, but you had no idea where the truth was. 

The only thing you did know was that however they wanted to do it, you would go through hell, both physically and mentally, and that there was a more than likely chance that you would die in the process. 

“You’re not afraid she’ll die on you?” Peggy asked more curious than concerned because, for her plan to work, your ties with Steve had to be cut. She would have preferred killing you since it was easier, quicker and with long-lasting results. But Rumlow had been obsessed with you ever since he lost the fight with Steve back at the Circle. When Peggy heard about it, she just scoffed and told him he was an idiot, because if he would have called her, she could have just snuck you out without anyone knowing and they wouldn’t have been in this mess. 

“I mean, there’s always the possibility, but I’m not letting her run around with his mark. I wouldn’t like pounding a pussy marked by somebody else. Besides, she’s stronger than she looks, isn’t it right, pussycat?” Rumlow asked, for the first time addressing you. But you knew better than to talk, so you just remained quiet, and from the low hum coming from his mouth, you assumed it was a good decision. 

“And what if that bullshit about true mates is real?” 

“Oh, please, not you too. Nothing like true mates exists, Peggy, I told you. Some just smell nicer to particular individuals than others, that’s it. I don’t even know why we’re losing time talking about this. Go and do whatever you want with Steve and his estate and I’ll just do what I want with this one,” Rumlow rumbled, and the next thing you heard was the clicking of high-heels against the hard floor, leaving you alone in the room with the devil. 

“Now, sweetheart, I think we should begin, hm?”

“Oh, Stevie, you don’t look good. Here, let me bring you to your bedroom so you can rest and the team and I will search for your mate in the meantime, hm?” Peggy suggested nicely, and Steve nodded, happy there was somebody who could possibly save you. But before she put her claws on his arm, Sam appeared out of nowhere and stopped her hand. She hissed like a cat and Sam gave her an are-you-fucking-kidding-me look. 

“I think it would be better if you stayed down here, Peggy, as you said, you are such a valuable asset to this team that I wouldn’t want to you to waste your time by going with Steve here. I will accompany him to his bedroom so that he can get some sleep, and, meanwhile, you can work with Bucky,” Sam smirked but didn’t wait for her response as he led Steve towards the staircase and up to his bedroom. There was no fucking way in hell Sam would let Peggy be with Steve alone. And since he shared his worries with Bucky, there were two of them looking out for their best friend, which left Peggy in a tough position. 

She watched Sam and Steve leave the room, and Bucky would laugh hadn’t it been such a delicate situation, because Peggy really looked like the Goddess of Revenge. That just further proved Sam’s theory about Peggy being fishy, to say the least, and Bucky was starting to question whether she didn’t have something to do with your disappearance. 

Peggy saw right through them, and she smirked to herself. If they wanted to play games with her, so be it. She would get Steve alone and inject the serum in him she had been making for so long, and they would finally live happily ever after. Just like they were supposed to. All she needed was to stay close to Steve for a couple of days, get him alone enough times, and he would be all hers. 

/ Next Chapter > 

Tags will be in reblogs xx

[petri808]

Ooooo can you do, “you’re my mate?” 🥺

Sure! 😊

@stillsnowfalling

“Natsu, you know our ways, and as heir to this clan, it is my duty to choose who you will marry!”

“But it’s not fair!”

“When you are finally king, you can change the rules, but until then, I have chosen to uphold tradition.”

“But dad!”

Igneel bellowed at his defiant son. “The nuptial rites will take place in three moons! That is final!”

Natsu stomped away from his father absolutely furious! This whole traditional bullshit of arranged marriages was as outdated as the most ancient scrolls held in their reliquary. Why was his father so adamant about upholding such an antiquated rule?! The draco clan was doing perfectly fine, what need was there for a marriage based on an alliance? At least give him a chance to choose his own bride so the union was one of love instead of condemnation.

“I won’t love whoever he chooses!” Natsu growled to himself, and his first ruling as king will be to pick someone he actually desired.

Because there was someone… he sighed, and dropped into a squat on the rock outcropping. When Natsu couldn’t stand being in the village anymore, he ran to a place that brought him a tiny bit of peace, deep in the forest. The tiny pond was hidden from prying eyes. None of his attendants or even friends knew about the place— save for one, if he could even call her a friend anymore…

It was here, in this very spot twelve years ago after the draco had once again run away from under his fathers thumb that he met her. Lucy whose last name he knew not. They were so young at the time. Natsu was a young draco of 7-year’s old, and she a 5-year-old forest fairy. Of course, it had nothing to do with love at that age, they were just two children running away for their own reasons and found a friend to play with. For the next two years, Natsu and Lucy would meet every day around lunch time and played until dusk or risk someone coming to look for them. They had so much fun together, it was truly the best two years of his life. The draco and the fairy…

Natsu still remembered the day Lucy never showed up at the pond like it was yesterday. How he went back every single day for months hoping to see those big brown eyes and wispy blonde hair waiting for him. But it wasn’t meant to be. He had no idea why she stopped coming or if she was even still alive. Had something bad happened to her? Or was it more likely her father had caught her running off into the woods? Lucy would tell him the stories of an over bearing father that made his blood boil over in anger. The problem was, she refused to tell him exactly where she came from.

The years passed by and his own father stepped up his son’s kingship training. Natsu didn’t like the constraint and many a time wished he’d been born a simple clansman. He often promised himself that one day when he did become king, he would send out his men to search for the wayward blonde of his childhood to make her his wife. But, Natsu never imagined that his father would step in to choose one for him first.

He sighed, and stared into the dark blue pool as if praying to its watery gods for a miracle. “Lucy…” if only Natsu knew where she was, he’d find her and run away from here…

The moons came and went in a flash, and the day of the nuptial rites had finally arrived. Natsu felt dead inside, his body merely following the instructions given to him. It was all scheduled out. Whoever was his bride-to-be had arrived with her family two days ago, but guards had kept him sequestered in his room, both for fear of him running away as well as upholding the tradition that they not meet until the the ceremony itself. Natsu was dressed in a ceremonial attire made of fine leather, and decorated in their clans red and gold colors. Every little detail was attended to, including painting his horns and wings with golden markings that he didn’t understand. All a part of the so-called tradition.

His cousin Sting came into Natsu’s room and gave him a couple of play punches on his shoulder. “Cheer up, it’s almost over.”

“Yeah, no kidding,” Natsu rolled his eyes. “Do me a favor, and just shove a dagger in my heart.”

“She can’t be all that bad, and besides, if you ain’t happy with her, just find yourself a concubine.”

“Keh! You know that’s not allowed!”

“Only if you get caught,” the fellow draco winked.

“Just get out,” Natsu sighed in full disinterest. “I’m not in a mood to banter.” He just wanted to fantasize about brown eyes and dream of a happier life.

“Suit yourself.” Sting shrugged and left his cousin alone. “Your dad said someone will come to take you to the ceremony in an hour. So, at least try to look interested.”

“Tch.” As if that would happen…

Minutes before high noon, Natsu was led from his chambers to the ceremonial hut. It was skin crawling as he was paraded through the rows of awaiting onlookers like a goat being led to slaughter. At least, that’s how he felt. Not a future king, but a sacrifice just to satisfy an alliance. Once inside the wooden structure, there was only the priest, his father, and another man assumably the father of the bride standing to the sides. Natsu was stood in front of the priest to wait for the brides arrival, but kept his head down the whole time. While he wasn’t looking, his ears stayed tuned to the goings on around him, and after a brief wait, he could hear chatter coming from outside. She had arrived.

His scowl grew as the tiny steps came closer, every fiber of his being in argument— should he just run? But he knew he wouldn’t get far with the place surrounded. The priest began to speak and Natsu only half-listened. Most of it was rubbish anyways, the typical stuff one might hear in such a ceremony. Some chanting, some instructions. He just stood there silently, with eyes glued to the floor. But there was one thing he could sense, the female wasn’t happy either. Her silent sobbing coupled with the demoralized aura surrounding her body spoke volumes. He rolled his eyes. ‘Great, this union will be such a happy one! Thanks dad.’

“Please remove her headdress,” the priest instructed Natsu, “and take her hands.”

He groaned in his head, but followed the instructions like a wooden puppet, looking up for the first time since entering the building. Natsu pulled the dark veil up to finally get a look at the woman, but his hands froze midair as he stared into big brown eyes coated in moisture. Was his mind playing tricks on him? Was it so distressed that it projected who he wanted to see?!

It was a gasp from the woman and the fluttering of gold-dusted fairy wings that snapped his brain back to the present.

“N-Natsu?!”

“Lucy? Y-You’re my mate?”

“I’m your mate,” she responded with a twinkle in her eyes.

Natsu looked towards his father in confusion only to find a man standing there with the biggest grin. Son-of-a— his dad knew all along! He smiled brightly and happily took Lucy’s hands at the priests insistent instruction to move along with the ceremony. But it was clear from that point that neither paid any attention to the priest, too focused only on each other. Little tears still trickled down her smiling face, while his sported a euphoric high. And when the words came to kiss the bride, Natsu gladly swept forward and took the lips he’d dreamed of kissing for years. He got his wish.

[thesetrashimagines]

You’re a Curse Baby Pt.3

A Jujutsu Kaisen Imagine Series (reader insert)

Warnings: blood/gore-y scene depicted

GIF is not mine!

Pt.2 Pt.4

AN: I don’t know if anyone’s seen Paranorman but this scene from the movie is how I picture Y/n’s powers to behave. I tried so hard to describe it x-x

The sound of birds chirping woke you up. Blinking your eyes open you took a lazy look around your ‘home’, after Gojo took you in he gave you small abandoned shrine to live in. It was close enough to the school where he could keep an eye on you but far enough away not to raise any eyebrows. Speaking of the white haired man, he was usually waking you up by now.

Pushing the thin blanket off of you, you stood up. The shrine was a small hut, 3 walls with a roof. With no door you could stare straight out into the wilderness outside. You leaned against the wall and looked out to the woods, waiting. The trees rustled quietly and the chimes hanging over the opening dinged as the wind passed through. With a exasperated sigh you pushed off the wall and walked out the entrance, you were going to look for him. You knew you weren’t allowed to walk into the school without Gojo but you were looking for him, he would understand right?

Your little shrine sat behind the school which made things easier for you, nobody expects a curse to enter through back, or at least that’s what Gojo said. Having snuck around the school grounds with him before, you knew the layout pretty well.

You walked along the walls of the buildings, making sure to keep an ear out for anyone near by. You had successfully reached the boys’ rooms. 

You knocked on Yuji’s door hoping he was awake.

“Y/n? What are you doing here?” He rubbed at his tired eyes, “I can’t find Gojo.” The boy yawned and scratched at his chest. “I think he’s gone.” Your eyes widened a little.

Gone? He left me?

“O-oh...okay.” Yuji’s eyebrows furrowed, “Are you okay Y/n?” You nodded, “Yeah...I’ll be okay.” You gave the pink haired boy a small smile, “Sorry for waking you Yuji. Have a good morning.” You bowed a little and turned the way you came.

Yuji watched your form disappear around the corner, “What did they want?” Yuji looked over at Fushiguro, “They were looking for Gojo sensei.” The sky above grew dark as rain fell and hit the pavement with soft ‘pits’. “Oh no,” Megumi sighed and went in his room, “Wha-hey! Where you going?” The boy came back out of his room fully dressed. “I’m going to go get them.” Yuji ran back in his room and rushed to put on his clothes, “I’m coming too!”

The two boys walked along the overgrown path, “This place isn’t in the best condition.” Yuji looked around at the broken statues covered in moss. “It’s the only place they can hide and not worry about the higher ups.” Megumi lifted a broken beam and let Yuji move ahead. “I know but it’s so far away...” After a few more minutes of walking, the two came up to a small shrine sitting at the top of hill with stairs. “Are they in there?”

“I think so,”

-------------------------------------------------

“Why would he leave?” You walked through the forest on autopilot. “Have I been bad?” You could feel the wet ground under the souls of your feet, “No, I’ve been good. I know I’ve been good.” The rain fell harder, “Then why...” You couldn’t tell if the wetness on your face was the rain or your tears, 

“Did he abandon me?”

That figure, what was their name? Mama?

“Maybe mama was right,” The pain from that night surged through you.

“You will never be wanted. You are undesirable.”

“Am I unwanted?” Long thin purple tendrils escaped your body, making you jerk around softly.

Do they hate me? Is that why I’m hidden away?

“No Gojo said it was to protect me...” The electricity wisped off of you and jumped from spot to spot on the ground almost like it was searching for something, or someone.

Or was it to protect them?

Thunder shook the sky.

He kills monsters like you

That voice, where was it coming from?

You are one of those demons.

“I’m not a demon.”

Then what do I call you? Demon seems very fitting, especially for something that corrupts souls.

“Corrupting souls?...”

You took in the scenery around you. Tall broken statues and crumpling architecture laid scattered about.

It’s your nature to corrupt them. Have they fallen for your trick yet?

“What trick? I’m not-”

They think you are harmless!

Your eyes swept over your surroundings again, this time catching a faint blue figure standing behind a beam.

“I see you,”

You finally found me

“Yes. You’re hiding behind that post.” The being waltzed around the beam and smirked. The masculine features on the figures face told you it was a male and from his broad shoulders and large arms you clued in he was strong.

I was revolted to find out that sorcerer had the audacity to hide you here

“Who are you?”

I roamed this world as a great and strong jujutsu warrior. I have slayed many curses like you.

“You are stuck here...”

His soul is unrested, he seeks serenity 

“You’re trapped.”

This is my final resting place,

“But you don’t want it to be...”

How can you-

“You’re lying, I can feel it.”

You failed to notice how the purple tendrils reached out towards the man. “I can feel your loneliness.” The large man stepped back.

I won’t listen to the likes of you

“Lying to yourself isn’t going to help.”

Help?! As if you know anything about help!

The man barked out a laugh. You shrugged your shoulders and answered him, “I may not know...but I am learning.” The man scoffed.

Why would that man waste his time risking everything for you?

“I don’t know...”

You are a curse, a monster.

You shook your head, “I...I don’t want to be a monster.” Your fingertips sizzled as thunder roared from the sky. A loud crash pierced your ear drums and a intense force flowed through you.

That is your fate, your reality. You are the child of nightmares, you cannot be anything else.

As you lifted your hand purple sparks shot off in different directions. The spirit grinned,

Are you going to fight me?

A bolt jolted out of your out stretched hand, landing in the mans chest. His eyes shined purple, your own turning brown.

Flashes of his life played through your mind.

Swords clashed, cursed energy flowed, terrifying creatures with giant maws ripped open flesh, blood soaked the grass, bodies laid motionless...

“Mastu...”

The man started to cry, “Matsu it’s alright, it’s over.”

The pain, it never stops

“I-I can make it stop.”

Why do you want to help me?

“You’ve experienced so much despair, no one should have to go through that. I’m sorry it was my kind that brought you so much pain.”

A small smile broke out on the mans face,

You stand there sharing your soul energy with me, someone who was wanting to kill you mere moments ago, but nonetheless you are wiling to give me the chance to cross over. Colour me surprised, maybe not all curses are the same.

Purple veins appeared on his skin,

I thank you deeply

And then he turned into smoke.

Another burst of energy surged through your body, making you wince in pain. A loud clap of lightening cut through the dark clouds, a low rumble of thunder following after it. The painful feeling grew stronger and stronger till your knees couldn’t hold you up anymore.

With a wet splat, you hit the forest floor and began coughing. The edges of your vision darkened as your eyes went out of focus.

Then there was nothing.

-------------------------------------------------

Megumi and Yuji got to the top step and peaked into the small shrine. “They’re not in here.” Megumi deadpanned, “You don’t say.”

“Oh,” Yuji bent over and removed a piece of paper from under a rock. “It’s a letter,” His eyes scanned over the page, “It’s from Gojo sensei, he’s overseas.” Megumi stood next to the pink haired sorcerer and read over his shoulder. “We knew that already.” Yuji looked at Megumi, “I don’t think they know that.” Megumi sighed and reached for the note. “I don’t think Y/n can read either.” Both boys let out bits of air at their thoughtless teacher.

Their moment was cut short when a flash of lightening brightened up the sky. “We should find them.” Yuji nodded, “But where do we start-” Another bolt came out of the clouds, this time shooting down and hitting an area in the woods. “Let’s go.”

Rain pelted off of their uniforms while they ran through the woods. They followed the strikes of lightening till they saw you, standing amongst the old remains of a temple. They watched your lips move but they couldn’t hear your words over the storm, it looked like you were speaking to someone. You had a hand out, purple light zigzagging between you and whatever was behind the fallen wall. Yuji took a step forward but was quickly stopped when a spark of electricity hit the spot in front of him and Megumi. Long purple tendrils shot out of the forest floor and zapped across the ground sporadically.

The dark haired boy pulled Yuji back, “Fushiguro...their cursed energy,” The two boys could feel the overwhelming power pulsing from you.

They watched as a small smile pulled at the corners of you mouth and your hand dropped to your side. Though the expression on your face quickly twisted into on of pain. Your eyes widened and then you collapsed onto the ground and started coughing.

“Y/N!” Yuji ran for your fallen body. “Itadori wait!” Megumi’s arm went to grab him again but he was already sliding to a stop next you.

“Y/n?” Yuji tilted his head to get a better look at your face. When you didn’t answer him, he went to place a hand on your shoulder, but when his hand got close a tiny spark shot out and made contact with his hand. The little bolt sent a strong current through Yuji, starting from his fingers, traveling up his arm, and settling along the curve of his spine. He held his hand to his chest for a moment, waiting for the effect to wear off.

“Don’t go touching them you idiot, they might be unstable.”

Once Yuji couldn’t feel the tingling feeling, he placed his hand back on your shoulder and gave you a small shake. “Y/n?” The purple sparks danced up his arm. “Did you not hear what I just said?” Megumi marched up behind Yuji and grabbed his shirt, the purple sparks jumping onto him. “I don’t feel anything anymore.” The two boys kneeled next you, your cursed energy tickling their skin. “Hey Y/n,” Yuji gave you another shake, “Can you hear me?”

A buzzing from came from Megumi’s jacket. Pulling out his phone he answered the call.

“Yeah we’ll be right there.”

He looked down at your unconscious body then to Yuji who was still trying to wake you up. “We have to go,” The other boys’ head whipped up, “We can’t leave them here.” Megumi let out a long sigh, “We can’t bring them along.”

Yuji had a hard expression on his face as he thought of a plan.

“What if we-”

-------------------------------------------------

“I can’t believe you two idiots brought them along.” Nobara glared at your sleeping body in Yuji’s arms. “We couldn’t just leave them in the woods all alone!” her eyebrows furrowed, “And why not? They could jeopardize this whole mission!” Yuji pulled you closer to himself, “They can’t be left alone for too long.” Nobara huffed, “You guys treat them like they’re a baby.”

“They kind of are one.”

Megumi glanced up at the sky, “This storm is being caused by them anyways so, we can’t leave them unmonitored.” Nobara groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. “Fine then how do you plan on watching them while we deal with this curse?”

After Ijichi explained to the first years what they were in for, Yuji opened the car door and carried your still form out. Ijichi stared in shock when he saw you. “Who’s-who’s this?” Yuji looked down at you, “This is Y/n, Could you watch them for us while we’re in there?” The man sputtered when you were placed in his arms, “What? But I-!”

“Thanks!” The pink haired sorcerer waved as he ran into the building.

-------------------------------------------------

It was eerily quiet and...soft?

Opening your eyes you took in your new surroundings. You sat inside of container? With windows and seats?

“Oh you’re up.” You looked ahead to see a man with glasses and black hair. “Uhm who are you? Where am I?” The man pushed up his frames, “I’m -”

Fear filled veins, “There’s a curse here.” You turned to the side and looked out the window to the building in distance, “I need to get out.” You pushed at the steel, “I don’t think-” Fear soon became terror, “I need to get out. Please.” You pushed at the door again. “I can’t let you out.” A new feeling creeped it’s way in.

Helpless

“No please I have to get out. I can’t sit in here.” You shoved at the door again, this time moving the vehicle side-to-side. “You need to calm-”

Desperation

“Please! I can’t do this!” You heaved at the door once more.

Ijichi’s eye widened at the panic in your voice, “Okay! Alright I’ll let you-” Your hands gripped onto the door, “There’s a handle-” He didn’t get to finish his sentence. Your feet carried to the edge of the property, “Stop!” The dark haired man came to stand beside you, “I can’t let you go in there.” Your chest grew tight, 

Weak

Regret 

“Yuji...”

You could feel his heart tremble, “He-” Your thoughts were cut off when you saw Megumi run out of the structure with Nobara in his arms. “Megumi!” You sprinted towards him, the man with glasses not too far behind. “Are you alright? What happened? Megumi what’s going on?” He passed Nobara to the dark haired man and sat down on the stairs. He took a deep breath as his black dog let out a loud howl. “You need to get out of here.” He stood up and followed the man back to the car. “I’m not leaving you, or Yuji.” Megumi let out a frustrated huff, “I’m not asking you-”

“Neither am I! I’m not asking for permission to stay.” With your face set in a hard glare Megumi knew he wasn’t going to get you to leave.

“You need to expand the evacuation area to ten kilometers.” Ijichi looked between the two of you, “And what about you?” Without hesitation Megumi answered, “I’ll stay,” The older mans eyes shifted back to you, “They’re staying with me, we’re going to wait for Itadori.” Ijichi gave a nod, “Understood. Alright let me get Kugisaki to the hospital. Then I’ll come back here for you.” Megumi shook his head, “No, you wouldn’t be that much use in this situation,” The older man had a pained look on his face, “To really help you could get them to send us a sorcerer who’s a grade one or higher,” Megumi crossed his arms, “If there was one around.” There was a small hint of annoyance laced in his tone.

“I’ll do my best, later.” Ijichin rolled up the window and drove off.

“Megumi I-” The sorcerer looked at the side of your face. “Yuji- I can’t feel him.” A tear ran down your cheek, “It’s like he’s being...suppressed? I don’t understand.” Megumi watched you run through your thoughts, “What’s happening?”

He went on to tell you about how they were called to deal with a ‘special grade’ and that it was too strong for them so Yuji told Megumi to find Nobara and bring her to safety while he let’s Sukuna take over. “So I’m feeling Sukuna’s energy?” Megumi nodded, “I would assume so, can you feel the other curse?” You hummed, “Yeah, it’s mischievous, it thinks this is funny. But, it’s scared of something...” Megumi wanted to ask what it was but then he felt the domain close, “The curse must be dead, we just have to wait for Itadori to come back now.”

Then he felt a strong presence behind him.

“Yeah sorry, he isn’t going to be coming back.” Confusion washed over Megumi’s face, “There’s no need to be scared. I’m in such a great mood right now, let’s just chat for a bit.”

Yuji- Sukuna walked in front of you, “The kid had it coming for just using me without making some kind of a deal, and now it feels like he’s having some trouble switching back.” He was right, you could feel Yuji wanting to surface but he was hurt.

“But no matter what, he did this would’ve ended up the same.” Sukuna ripped off the top of his uniform, his body displaying many markings. “So I’ve been thinking about the different ways I can do this!” Sukuna lifted his arm and drove it through his chest. You and Megumi let out small gasps. Sukuna laughed as blood spilled from his mouth, “Wha-what are you doing?” You both watched blood pour out of Yuji’s body and gush to the floor in a puddle. With a tug Sukuna pulled his arm out of his torso, Yuji’s heart grasped in his hand. “I’m taking this brat hostage.”

Small sparks danced out of your hand and travelled along your body. Megumi side eyed you then looked back to Sukuna, “What do you mean?”

“See I can live without this but that ain’t true for your punk friend.” With a lazy toss, Yuji’s heart landed on the grass. ”So switching out with me means he dies. Oh, and for good meassure.” Sukuna lifted a red mummified finger and placed it in his mouth, “And as good as that, I’m now as free as a bird. And now you can be frightened because I’m about to kill you just for the hell of it.” A tingle ran up your spine, “He ate a cursed finger....EEWW-” You began waving your hands around, “ALL I CAN THINK ABOUT IS BEING EATEN!” You took a few steps towards Megumi and grabbed his sleeve, “You said it wasn’t normal to do that!” You pointed a single digit towards the king of curses.

“I almost didn’t notice you, baby curse.” You looked over and met Sukuna’s eyes, “Then you’re not very strong right? Megumi I thought everyone could feel cursed energy.” You glanced at the side of the boys’ determined face. “Oi don’t go sprouting nonsense, you barely understand what you are, I could kill you without lifting a finger.” You let out a small giggle, “What’s so funny brat?” You bit your lip and looked away, “Nothing...”

What’s he gonna do? Spit out the finger and hit me with it?

You covered your mouth with your hand then cleared your throat. “Sorry.” Your eyes landed on Yuji’s heart laying on the ground, “So what happens to you when Yuji dies?” Sukuna smiled, “There’s other parts of me out there, I live.” You mulled over his answer, “But the part of your soul inhabiting Yuji’s body it what? Disappears? Goes to the next object? Crosses over? What?” You could feel Megumi’s stare at the side of your face. “Well aren’t you a curious thing.” You shrugged, “I just want to understand what will happen once Yuji resurfaces.” Sukunas smirked, “You really believe he’ll come back?”

Megumi got into a fighting stance, “You don’t get it. Itadori will come back, even if that means he dies, that’s just who he is.” Sukuna wiped the blood from his mouth, “You give him too much credit. He’s just a little more tougher and denser then other human beings are.” He let out a laugh, “You should have seen him a minute ago, he was scared out of his mind and about to lose it.”

The emotions you felt earlier came back full force.

“Prattling on about his regrets and all that nonsense. So it’s obvious! The guy doesn’t have the guts to kill himself!” Your stomach twisted,

“What did you expect him to do? He’s not like you.”

Sukunas smile dropped, “It’s a good thing he’ll be dead then won’t it?” A loud clap of thunder sounded from the sky, “Awe did I strike a nerve?” You went to take a step but Megumi stuck his arm out in front of you, his hand shook slightly, “It’s okay.” His hand came together and a giant bird manifested behind the two of you.

Sukuna ran his fingers through his hair, “Oh it feels so good to be back outside again, let’s use all this open space!” Megumi rushed forward in an attempt to hit Sukuna but the curse took a small step to the side and missed Megumis hit. Every punch and kick missed him just by a fraction, “How interesting, you can use your shikigami but you still come at me yourself.” Both Megumi and his bird started to attack Sukuna, this time Megumi was able to land a few hits and kicks but Sukuna blocked them. “Give me more,” Megumi’s fists swung faster, “More!” Sukunas hand came up and grabbed onto the boys closed hand with a laugh. He swung Megumi around out in front him then pulled him close.

Sukunas eyes glowed red, “Put more curse behind it.” Then he back handed Megumi, blood flying out of the sorcerers mouth.

“Megumi!” You were running to the two men fighting when a large white snake appeared from the shadows behind the dark haired boy. Not waisting any time, the beast lunged forward and bit Sukuna then shot straight up into the air. “Gang up on him now!” The brown bird swooped down and smacked Sukuna with it’s wing, sending an electric charge through him. Back and forth the white snake and bird worked together to get successful hits on Sukuna. Then just like that, the snake exploded into black blobs.

“Now what did I say?” Sukuna had a tight grip on the back on Megumis uniform, “Let’s use the open space!” The curse threw across the property and into the trees.

“Stop it!”

Red eyes trailed over your form, “Stop it? You want me to stop?” Your hands were clutched into fists at your sides, “Yes! This is meaningless!” The curse tilted his head back and laughed, “But it’s so much fun!” With slow steps Sukuna walk to you, stopping once your chests bumped together. “You know you’re like me right? You’re a curse. We’re meant to reek havoc on these humans.” Sukuna leaned in closer, his nose almost touching yours. “You can feel all that power can’t you? It’s just sitting in there waiting for you to unleash it.” 

Small purple tendrils danced across your skin, “I don’t want to be a monster...” The tiny sparks shot out towards Sukuna but stopped just millimeters from his skin. “You could be a god Y/n.” His red eyes held no ill intent, no murderous gaze, no signs of wanting to harm you. “But I don’t want hurt people...”

The first purple branch reached out and made contact with his cheek, hundreds more shot out after and tentatively touched his face. “I could teach you everything about curses, about who you are.” The little sparks prodded at his person with curiosity, hitting every point they could, but then one reached inside of his gaping chest cavity. Letting out a gasp you looked down at the hole in his body, “But what about Yuji, I can’t let him d-”

A soft hand gripped your chin and tilted your face back up, “Yuji can’t help you with this, I can. Who else could teach you to fully harness your power then me, The king of curses.” His pink hair stood up slightly from the electric current flowing through him. “I don’t want to hurt you little one.”

You are scared He’s gonna kill Yuji Make him show you Show me what? Let yourself see him

Suddenly the purple bolts tripled in size and stuck themselves under his skin. “What are you-”

His life played out in your mind. You saw everything. The shrine, the people, the sacrifices, the worshippers, the fear, the faith. You walked thousands of years through the eyes of Sukuna; felt every emotion, heard every sound, tasted every drink he put to his lips, smelt the different fragrances, and sensed every touch he received.

The events running through your mind started to become familiar. You realized you were experiencing Sukunas possession of Yuji, the day he ate the finger, the day he met you, all the way up to now where he stared at you in shock. You could see your own face, your eyes mimicked the scarlet colour of his own. “Get out of my head.” His voice boomed between your ears. “I-”

Then you heard his voice, “Y/n?” It was Yuji.

Before the boy could say anything to you, Sukuna pushed you back and grabbed his head, “What did you do?” You stood there dumbfounded, “I don’t-”

“Don’t say you don’t know! You know what you did! Tell me!” Sukuna grabbed your forearms and pulled you into him, “Now brat.” The purple tendrils still danced across his body, “I just wanted to see you.” Sukuna’s face twisted in anger, he lifted his hand and drove it into your stomach. A rich maroon purple liquid gushed out of your mouth, “Think of this as your first lesson If you can heal yourself by the time I get back, I’ll let you live.” Your body hit the ground as you coughed up more of the viscous blood, “I’m disappointed in you little one. I didn’t want to hurt you but you left me no choice.” He sighed then crouched down and jumped into the air. A few moments later you could hear loud crashes in the distance.

You knew it was Sukuna attacking Megumi. You needed to go save him, and Yuji.

The pain in your side made it self known once you tried to stand up. Letting out a groan you looked down at the dark spot forming on your clothes. This wasn’t going to do you any good but you’ve never used your energy to heal yourself before.

How were you expected to just know how to do something when you’ve never done it before?

Stupid Sukuna

Gritting your teeth, you stood up and began to follow Megumis' left over cursed energy.

-----------------------------------------

Holy shit this is so late, I am very sorry! Life got pretty hectic (it still kinda is) oh and I apologize for the length, it’s a biggun. Anyways I hope you guys enjoyed this installment, thanks for reading! <3

Once again here the link to the movie clip that inspired baby curses powers:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMTEGny7j1Y`1

[ultraintrovertedgryffindor]

Sweet Pandemonium - Gally (The Maze Runner) Bonus Chapter 😉

Finally, the last last chapter. I never thought I’d say this, but I’m burnt out from Gally lmao. I think I’m just happy I’ll be able to focus on other things without having to worry about “what comes next” in this story. Anyway, prepare for some tooth rotting fluff and smut.

by the way, please don’t hate me for putting in a star wars reference in this chapter, i already hate myself enough for doing it lmao

NSFW WARNING

~~~~~~~~~~

(not my gif)

Months later, after everything was over and done with, you only just started to feel comfortable in the Safe Haven. Having to risk your life almost everyday, always having to keep moving place to place, you didn’t have high hopes for the supposed haven.

You still had nightmares every single time you fell asleep.

You couldn’t sleep the first couple days at the Safe Haven until exhaustion finally took over. You eventually excepted that’s how it was going to be, that you were going to have these nightmares for the rest of your life. Then it was just learning how to live again; learning how to live with the guilt that weighed you down constantly; living with the fact that you could’ve saved Newt, saved Teresa. You might’ve died trying, but that wouldn’t have mattered to you.

Why did you live and they couldn’t? It was fucking fair.

You were thankful for Gally though. He was your beacon of light when the nights got too dark, when your guilt and pain was blinding. He helped you to the best of his ability, even though he knew that pain you carried would never go away. He made things bearable, and that was more than enough for you.

Looking out to the ocean, seeing the tide rush in with the sun slowly lowering on the horizon, painting the sky in an array of orange, pinks and purples; you wondered, wondered what would be left of the rest of the world after abandoning it.

You felt the sand beneath you, how it stuck to your skin, and you started to feel your eyebrows furrow in irritation. You didn’t like sand. It was rough, course, and it always got everywhere. Being in a Safe Haven, you would’ve thought it would be more comfortable to live in. But those were just bratty, selfish thoughts.

You looked up to see seagulls, hearing an occasional caw from their beaks. You let yourself smile, trying to find some happiness in the small things, or beings.

The loud crashing of the waved filled your ears, blocking out everything else around you almost like a trance, that you didn’t even realize the boy who just sat next to you.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?”

You’ve heard that voice so many times that you didn’t even flinch at the sudden sentence. “Yeah, it is.” You smirked. “Just wish sand wasn’t so irritating.” You huffed, wiping some flecks off your hands.

Gally chuckled. “You say that, yet you come sit out here almost every night.”

“I can handle sand for some peace and quiet, away from everyone else.” For a moment, Gally looked offended. “You’re the only exception, obviously.”

He grinned, taking a hold of your hand. “You used to do this in the Glade too.”

“Yeah, it’s not so different here. We obviously don’t have to worry about any Grievers. Just in the way everyone has communal housing, no privacy.” You frowned. “But, that’s just how it’s gotta be, I suppose.”

Gally nodded, directed his gaze back to the ocean, delicately rubbing his thumb over your knuckles. It could’ve put you to sleep, but he cleared his throat, gaining your attention. “Oh, I’ve got a surprise for you actually.” He smiled nervously.

You tilted your head in confusion, but chuckled anyway. “A surprise? Wha-?”

“Come on, I’ll show you.” Gally quickly stood up, bringing you with him and then leading you away.

“Wait, Gal, I don’t think we’re allowed to be far away from camp right now.” You said worryingly, looking back and forth between Gally and the camp on the beach that was slowly getting further and further away.

“Shh, don’t worry, it’s fine. Just come on!”

Never in your life have you seen this boy so excited. Must be one hell of a surprise if he looked like a kid on Christmas Eve. The trek was far into the woods, away from the beach, you couldn’t even hear the ocean waves anymore. “This is a long way.” You said, somewhat nervously.

“We’re almost there, close your eyes.”

You only went wide eyed. “What?!”

Gally chuckled softly at the outburst, coming up behind you and placing his hands over your eyes. “It’s part of the surprise.”

“I don’t think I like surprises...” You pouted.

Gally only placed a kiss on your cheek. “Trust me.” He said, starting to lead you blindly through the woods. Only the occasional root or hole in the ground made you trip, most of the time you were just tripping over your own feet out of nervousness.

“We’ve stopped. Are we here?” You asked.

“Yeah.” He said softly, removing his hands to allow you to see.

The sun had only just begun to set, so it was dim enough that you didn’t have to adjust to the light. But it was light enough to see what was in front of you.

You gasped softly when you saw a little hut in a small clearing of the forest. It was quite simple in structure, but just one look over and you could tell how delicate the process must’ve been. You knew that cause your Builder senses were tingling.

“Gally...” You awed, unsure how to react. “Did you...?”

“We never got to build your home in the Glade. So, I asked Vince if we could build away from the beach, and he agreed. It’s not my best work, but there’s always room for improvement.”

You threw yourself in Gally’s arms, and he immediately wrapped his arms around you. “Gally, it’s perfect.” You whispered, almost on the verge of tears.

“You haven’t even seen the inside.” Gally laughed.

“Then show me!” You giggled goofily, making Gally blush slightly.

“Of course, but first,” You squealed as Gally lifted you up in his arms bridal style, walking to the door of the hut. “Gotta walk you over the threshold, like in the movies.”

You blushed as you giggled, burying your face in his shoulder. “You don’t have to do this, Gal!”

There wasn’t a proper door in the frame, only a thick cloth. “There wasn’t enough time to fix up a door, but I’ll do it eventually.”

Gally finally set you down when you entered the hut, and you were in awe in a matter of seconds, seeing how beautiful the interior was. The floor was sanded down perfectly, a beautifully woven rug smack dab in the center of the room and a small table next to the right wall.

Gally grabbed your hand, quickly leading you into another section of the small building, not even giving you time to breathe as he was too excited to show you everything.

“The bedroom.” Gally smirked, quirking up an eyebrow suggestively.

You stifled a giggle as you surveyed the room. The medium sized bed lay in the corner of the room, a small makeshift window carved into the opposite wall, a bedside table with a wooden vase occupied by various colored flowers you assumed native to where you were.

“Gally...” You whispered.

“I know it’s not much, like I said, but we could always expand. Brenda helped a bit, she said that flowers would be a nice touch. I don’t know why, but she seemed genuine. But if you don’t-”

“Gally!” You interrupted him with a laugh, gently grabbing ahold of his face and placing your lips against his with a smile.

Gally chuckled breathlessly as you pulled away. “I guess that means I did good?”

“Gal, you did perfect. You’re perfect.” You said, knowing it would make him blush.

“You’re the one who’s perfect.” He countered, making you the one blushing.

“Stop.” You rolled your eyes.

“I’m serious.”

You huffed. “I’m not gonna argue with you.”

“Yeah, good, cause you’d lose.” You refrained from snapping back at Gally, knowing that he was right and the argument would go nowhere.

You shook your head with a smile, walking to the bed and plopping down rather ungracefully. “Oh my god...”

“What?”

“This is so comfortable.”

Gally grinned and laid down beside you. “Oh yeah, better than those stupid hammocks we had to sleep on in the Glade.”

You tried to keep your eyes to the ceiling, realizing how close you two were. You two had slept beside each other obviously, but you quickly took notice of how needy you felt around him, and it made you nervous. It’s not like you were touch starved, but every time Gally put his hands on you in the simplest ways, you felt yourself wanting more than just hugs, handholds or kisses. You were pretty sure he felt the same way too. The way he’d reluctantly hold back during any make out sessions, or how he forced himself to look away from your body if you two were working together. He wasn’t making it that subtle.

Gally putting his hands on your waist got you riled up the most, even if it was to stop you from falling off or ladder or something similar, it was so frustrating. You wanted something to change, but you had no idea how to bring it up without feeling like an absolute moron.

Just the thought of Gally exploring your body with his big, warm hands that would give you chills down your spine and make you we- “Ugh.” You huffed loudly.

“What’s up with you?” Gally chuckled.

“Oh, uh, nothing. Nothing really.” You cleared your throat.

Gally smirked. “Well, ‘nothing’ is making you clench your fists.”

You forced yourself to unclench your fists as soon as he pointed it out, trying not to wince as you felt your nails removing themselves from being slightly imbedded into your skin. “Ugh, sorry...I was just thinking.”

“‘Bout what?”

You felt your cheeks increase in temperature, but you sat up and rubbed your hands over your face. Gally quickly sat up with a look of concern of his face, obviously not understanding why you felt frustrated. “Are you seriously okay? Do you feel sick or something?” He placed the back of his hand on your forehead. “You don’t have a fever or anything...”

You couldn’t help but smile, almost seeing him in an innocent light. “No, I’m not sick, Gal.” Gally furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, tilting his head slightly.

You saw Gally’s lips slightly parted, and you felt the sudden urges come forward again. You leaned in to place your lips on his feverishly, him immediately reciprocating, making you smile into the kiss. As soon as you snaked your hands up to tangle themselves in his hair, he pulled away. “I guess this must’ve been what you were thinking about, huh?” He chuckled breathlessly.

“I’m sorry.” You pulled your hands away, but Gally grabbed your hands.

“Hey, don’t be sorry.” He said softly. “Just took me by surprise, is all.”

“You don’t want to, do you?” You frowned.

“No, no, I do! I just...” He sighed. “I do. I really do. You have no idea much I want to. But, I also want you to be comfortable with it too. I would never want you to feel pressured or anything like that. I want you to be a hundred percent sure, Y/N.”

You grinned. “I’m sure, Gally. I want you.”

Gally grinned back, a light shade of red dusting his cheeks as he leaned back in to kiss you gently. He grabbed ahold of your waist, pulling you closer to him. “If for any reason you wanna stop, tell me and we can stop. Okay?”

“Promise.”

You wrapped your arms around his neck, deepening the kiss as you felt Gally’s hand travel underneath your shirt, lifting it up over your head. You did the same, smirking as you felt his fit Builders torso. Gally leaned back in to kiss you more roughly after the removal of his shirt. The feeling of his tongue dancing delicately with yours elicited a satisfied hum from you.

You laughed as you awkwardly fiddled with Gally’s belt buckle, ultimately looking to him to undo it for you. “I’ll get the hang of it eventually.” You giggled.

Gally laid you on your back, him hovering over you as he undid your pant’s button with one hand and the other resting beside your head as he tenderly kissed and sucked on your neck. He smiled when he pulled back to see you gazing at him lovingly. “You are everything to me.” Gally whispered, kissing your cheek as he slowly pulled your pants off, trailing his hands up and down your thighs.

“I love you.” You whispered back with a grin.

“You’re so beautiful.” He said after he removed your bra, leaning down to kiss between the valley of your breasts, trailing kisses down your stomach and stopping just above the lining of your underwear. “Is this okay?”

“Yes, more than okay.” You nodded eagerly.

You exhaled a shaky breath as Gally gingerly removed your undergarment, looking back to make sure you were okay with his actions. You gripped onto the blankets tightly as you started to feel his hot breath wash over your sensitive flesh, placing kisses on the inside of your thighs, brushing over the spot you wanted him most.

You were aching with anticipation already, so when Gally finally ran his tongue up your folds, you gasped loudly and quickly become putty in his arms.

You tried not to squirm as Gally kept up a steady pace of licking up and down your lips, causing you to softly rut against him. You let out your first moan when he finally placed pressure on your aching clit, you could’ve sworn you saw stars. Never in your life had you experienced a pleasure so powerful. You didn’t even know if Gally was experienced himself, but fuck, he was doing such a good job.

“Are you okay?”

“God, yes, Gally! Please, keep going.” You whined, desperate to keep that friction against your bundle of nerves.

Gally had to hold you down as you kept involuntarily bucking your hips, keeping that delicious pressure on your clit with his tongue. You moaned loudly as he inserted a finger into your entrance slowly, the sting of him stretching you only adding to the warm pleasure on your clit. “You feel so good, Gal.” You panted, biting the skin of the back of your hand to try and stifle your loud moans.

Adding a second finger inside you and keeping up the pace with his tongue, you soon started to feel intense shocks course through you occasionally, it felt foreign but so amazing. Your moans got louder as the shocks got stronger, bringing your other hand down to hold on to Gally’s hand tightly. “Gal, I think I’m gonna-”

Your eyes closed tightly as you felt waves of electrifying pleasure run through your whole body, causing you to almost shake erratically, a mix of a grunt and moan escaping your throat.

You panted heavily as Gally smirked, coming back up to kiss you. You blushed furiously when you noticed the shine on his nose and chin. “Sorry.” You grinned sheepishly, bringing a hand up to wipe some of yourself off his face.

Gally shook his head with a smile, turning his head to kiss your hand. He gasped suddenly when you gently stroked him through his boxer briefs. “You know, you still don’t have to.” He said, holding in a groan.

“I want you to come too.” You said, your innocent sounding voice juxtaposing the not so innocent statement.

“You sure?” You answered by pulling his briefs down to his knees, giving him a soft kiss. “Okay then.” Gally smiled nervously, him pulling his briefs all the way off his body.

Gally soon lined himself up with your slick entrance. He wanted you to come first just in case you couldn’t handle his size and you had to stop, he wanted to give you the best first experience possible, even if he couldn’t have you. He wanted to give you everything, but he couldn’t bare the thought of hurting you. So, he asked one more time, “Is this okay?”

“I’ll be okay, Gally. I promise to tell you if I want to stop.” You kisses his cheek, assuring him this is what you wanted.

Gally nodded gently, slowly pushing himself in, carefully watching your facial expressions to see if you were in pain.

Your breath caught in your throat, the size of him surprising you and making you bite your lip to keep from crying out. He was big enough to the point it stung as he pushed himself in, but you knew you were strong enough to wait, so you stayed quiet about the slight ache.

Gally stopped, waiting for you to adjust. You started to grind against him, getting used to him before you nodded. “I’m okay.” You smiled. Gally started a slow pace, still scared of accidently hurting you, but you moaning in pleasure gave him the indication that you were enjoying yourself.

Gally buried his head in your shoulder as he thrusted at a faster pace, his lack of experience causing him to be close already. He groaned softly as he felt your nails dig into his back for support, but he was surprised at how nice the sting actually felt. You moaning his name is what eventually sent him over the edge, holding on tightly to your wrists as he thrusted faster. He pulled out of you, rubbing himself until he came onto your bare stomach with a loud moan.

Gally fell back down beside you with a heavy sigh, both of you sweaty panting messes. But you started giggling happily, causing Gally to giggle right along with you. “I didn’t know it would feel that good.” You said after catching your breath.

Gally grinned, pulling you close to him and laying a blanket over your naked bodies, still trying to stifle a few giggles due to the post coital high. “If jerking off gave me any indication, I had a feeling it would be even better.”

You rolled your eyes. “You have me for that now.” You joked.

“You are absolutely right.”

It felt like hours that you two just stayed there, laying there with your head on his chest, listening to his heartbeat slowly calm down as he relaxed. You smiled sleepily as you thought about how you’d do anything for this boy, how you loved him more than anything in the whole world.

~~~~~~~~~~

literally listening to Isabella’s Lullaby from The Promised Neverland on a 5 hour loop is how I managed to keep myself from writing rough smut lmao. Can you tell I have a boner for consent? Consent is so fucking sexy though like for real 🥵

[justfangirlthingies]

Bubbles (Sunday Afternoons) (Dad! Draco Malfoy)

Here's part 2 of Sundays at the Malfoy's, the sequel to Morning Chase!

I've been thinking about doing another one for Sunday evenings and nights as well and maybe I'll even include the Saturdays at some point. What do you think about that?

Word count: 1286 words

This is pure fluff!!

Enjoy your Sunday afternoons!

Here you can find part 3

Now, what happened on Sunday afternoons?

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Sunday afternoons. Now, those were full of activities. On Sunday afternoons the family would build pillow forts, but only when the weather was bad. When the weather was nice however, time was spent in the large garden of the manor.

You would put a blanket on the ground and Scorpius would do his best to help you. Whether it was helping you with spreading out the blanket, carrying snacks and fruit outside, bringing some games, books and toys or fetching cups while Draco carried two jugs, one filled with water and the other one with juice, a smile on his lips. A warm and soft smile reserved only for family.

On sunny Sunday afternoons, the boy would try to engage with the white peacocks that were patrolling the grounds. At seeing this, your husband would go crazy with worry. He admitted often that he'd never be able to understand how you could stay so calm and collected in situations like these.

Another contribution to your afternoons was feeding the magical beings you took care of. That's one thing Scorpius inherited from you, the love and passion for other creatures. The creatures were kept in a separate magically adjusted garden. First you'd have to go through a small cave which would lead to a pathway that split up in different directions, each direction leading to a different terrain created to fit each being. There was a cozy looking hut to the right of the path before the little pathway split, it was full of supplies for the animals.

On Sundays you would go to the forest area. You would have Draco help you carry the supplies and he complied. Of course he could use magic to carry everything, but he had his reasons not to. Let's just say if he carried something, he didn't have to make direct contact with the beasts. Nonetheless, he would drop everything and shield his son in the blink of an eye if he found it necessary. It's not that he doubted your abilities, he just didn't trust the creatures. Especially not the hippogriffs, which to his dismay, were situated in the forest area and just so happened to be the little boy's favourites. Your son followed all the steps and guidelines about the mystical beings carefully. Even your husband was willing to follow the guidelines, but only because he wanted to make sure the two of you were safe, or so he said. In secret, he might have been looking forward to some of the animals, the hippogriffs excluded. He did learn how to approach them, but only to ensure he wouldn't be attacked or even killed by them. He was such a drama king at times, with the way he over-exaggerated everything. How he described your lovely and peaceful animals as brutes that tried to 'ambush' him plenty of times and would surely try to 'assassinate' him and 'the two of you animal fanatics' one day. When he was done with his little speech there'd be a small smile gracing his lips. He adored the two of you and your passion, but he'd never tell you that.

Your son would often ask his father why he wasn't so fond of the hippogriffs. Draco however, always refused to give a proper answer to the question. The situation always made you think back to your time at Hogwarts. The memory of your third year and specifically the first lesson of 'care of magical creatures' you'd ever had with Hagrid was what had you grip your stomach and bend over, eventually falling to your knees from laughing so hard. In honour of this memory you even named one of the hippogriffs 'Chicken'.

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When the three of you came back to the blanket you all sat down and basked in the warm sunlight and the light breeze of the wind that accompanied it. You would lean against Draco while your son dug through the basket and tried to prepare the snacks. Soon the little family would be enjoying some snacks and peace before the little angel you called your son would jump up and drag you along to play something.

On this particular Sunday afternoon you had brought something along. Something you were sure your little angel would enjoy. Or maybe it was something you knew you would love, but you just didn't want to admit it.

"Love, have you seen the ball- what's this?" You turned around to look back at the platinum blonde who had just been cramming through the bag and was now examining some kind of vial with clear liquid and some kind of O-shaped stick inside of it. You giggled and walked back to him to snatch the container from him. "This is great you'll love it, just wait." You giggled.

"Mummy! Daddy! Are you coming?" a rather high pitched voice called. "Coming Scorp!" You called back as you grabbed Draco's wrist and pulled him along with you. "Wait, (Y/n) I was still looking for the ball!" he chuckled. "We won't need a ball. This is so much better" a grin was apparent on your face as you held up the container with the liquid. As soon as you came to a halt in front of Scorpius he noticed the object in your hand "What is that?" His icy gaze was fixated on you and then switched to his father in hopes he would answer the question. Draco knelt down and meet his son's stare "I don't know, but mummy says we'll love it. Do you think we should believe her?" The boy just nodded his head in excitement "Yes! But what is it?"

"Apparently muggles play with this and you can even make it yourself. We can try making some ourselves someday, yeah?" You finally spoke up, a soft smile on your lips as you unscrewed the top of the vial. It came as a bit of a surprise to you when the stick that had been emerged in the liquid all this time, was attached to the lid, but you just shrugged and decided to observe the curious stick-like object. After turning it in your hand for a bit you decided to dip it into the liquid again before you pulled it out and blew through the opening in the stick. Everyone's eyes went wide as you saw the soap bubbles ascending into the air. Yours and the four-year-old's eyes lit up in awe at the size, amount, colours and funny-looking consistence of the floating and wobbling bubbles. A small hand reached out and pointed a finger as to touch one of the shimmering bubbles. As soon as the small hand made contact with the shimmering substance it plopped and covered the finger in soapy water. The experience and surprised look on the kid's face emitted a chuckle from the other male in the garden. From then on, it wasn't long until the pair started chasing the bubbles that you created. At some point you forced Draco to blow some bubbles, just because you could and because you wanted to have some fun with the bubbles as well.

Needless to say, soap bubbles became a part of sunny Sunday afternoons after that day.

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Sunday afternoons were full of quality family time and happy memories. They were fun in the garden or cozy pillow forts. They were full of activity and energy or lazy cuddles, maybe even both. Sunday afternoons were giggles, picnics, animal time, cuddles, soap chasing and playing games.

Sunday afternoons resulted in family dinner and Sunday evenings.

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What plans did the family have for Sunday evenings though?

Taglist: @ateez-star @littlemissnoname13

[darkenedhounds]

Riptide || Dream x Reader

warnings: none

a/n: there’s an oc of mine in this story, hope you like him. :)

part 1 | part 2

“I’m off hun, I’ll be back in a couple days,” Dream said, pulling his mask over his face, lifting it slightly to place a gentle kiss to your forehead as he passed.

“Okay, I’m visiting Tommy today, since you have business to take care of in the Badlands.” You responded calmly, watching Dream carefully for his reaction. You knew he still wasn’t happy about this, but he didn’t say that.

He simply nodded. “Just be safe.”

“Always.” You chuckled.

As he left, you began to busy yourself with preparing, you had an interesting journey to make today. You stepped outside of your and Dream’s shared home, onto your black and white splotched horse.

You headed off, through Dream’s lands, passed L’Manburg, but not going toward’s Tommy’s land quite yet. You went another direction, eventually ending up in a spruce forest. As you trotted along, you heard an odd noise, so quiet you almost didn’t catch it.

You froze, confused. Quickly, hopping off of your horse to find out what it was. You followed the sound best you could, only for it to lead you to a small borrow. Inside, was a baby fox, and sure enough, it was whimpering. Shivering. “Oh hey little guy,” you whispered.

You thought it was odd, you always saw a baby fox trailing behind its mother. This one seemed skinny too, tired. Sadly, you realized something must have happened to the mother. After thinking on it for a moment, you grinned, “I have just the place for you,” you murmured, gingerly picking up the small creature. You hopped back on your horse, a bit slower now as you made your way to your first destination.

As you arrived, you hopped down gently, still carrying the baby fox in your arms. Walking up to the door, you knocked. When it opened, it revealed a cloaked man, a mess of poofy silver hair atop his head, a mask shielding his eyes.

“Ah, your majesty, what do I owe the pleasure?” He chuckled, a slight accent peaking through.

“Tobias, enough with that,” you responded, though you couldn’t help but smile. It was a nickname the man gave you soon after he met you, claiming being close to Dream in this world was basically like being royalty. You suppose you couldn’t blame him.

“I need some things.” You stated, pulling a small list out of your pocket. The man read it over once it was handed to him, nodding, and going back into another room. He came out quickly, he always did.

“Baked potatoes, a stack of cobblestone, 15 iron, and a cake. Yeah, all here.” He passed it towards you and you moved it to your inventory.

“What do I owe you?” You questioned. Tobias shook his head. “No need, take it as a gift. It’s not like I don’t have plenty of those resources anyways,”

“Well still, I have this little guy,” you motioned to fox in your arms. “Found him all on his own on the way here, I don’t suppose you could take him,”

Tobias stared at the small animal, and you swore you saw him turn to mush in front of you. He nodded, motioning for you to hand the creature over. You did so, smiling.

“I assume all of this is for Tommy, right?” Tobias mused. You nodded. Going into a barrel beside him, he pulled out three golden apples, passing them to you. “Bring these to the kid, will ya?”

“Are you sure?” You asked, confused. He nodded.

“Normally I wouldn’t involve myself at all in things like this, but he’s only a kid. Guess I just have a bit of a soft spot for him, I dunno,” Tobias sighed. You understood.

“Thank you. I’ll give them to him, make sure to take care of that little guy for me, okay? Maybe I’ll come visit him when he’s a little older,” you said happily. Tobias nodded. “Safe travels.” And with that, you were off.

You made it to Tommy’s place in good time, the boy’s dirt hut that you assumed Dream had build him was still intact. And now they had another structure built as well, “Logstedshire,” you read aloud.

“Who’s there?” A familiar voice called, you assumed Tommy heard you speak. “Just y/n,” you said, waving slowly. The boy narrowed his eyes, glaring at you for a brief moment before relaxing.

“What are you doing here?” He huffed. You knew he had to be angry at Dream, probably therefore angry at you by association.

“I have gifts,” you said happily. He scoffed.

“I don’t need your pity-“

“They aren’t out of pity, Tommy.” You said firmly, cutting him off. “For the record, I don’t agree with your exile. In fact I advised against it. All I’m trying to do is make sure you know you aren’t alone.”

He looked as if he was going to snap at you again, but after a moment, he relaxed. Muttering a small “thank you,” he reluctantly took the items, putting them away in the barrels within his new home.

“I really hate Dream.” He said angrily, before looking at you over his shoulder. “But I suppose you’re more tolerable.” Tommy shrugged. You chuckled.

The boy seemed tired. Worn down already. His clothing was starting to tear, dark circles apparent under his eyes. Your heart ached for him, he was only a child. “Has your family come to visit?” You asked gently, not wanting to strike too much of a nerve.

“Well, Ghostbur hangs around sometimes, but I’m not sure he counts.”

You nodded, leaning against the walls surrounding the little blue house as Tommy sat on the ground beside the barrels.

“The Blade visited first day, but he just made fun of me.” A bitter chuckle followed his words.

You stared at him, a bit surprised. “That’s it? Not Philza yet? Not Tub-“ you stopped yourself. You knew Tubbo had been the one to exile Tommy. But you figured at least he’d visit, right?

“Tubbo doesn’t care about me. No one does.” He muttered, partly to himself.

You moved forward, hand reached out, but before you could say or do anything, you felt a hand on your shoulder.

“So, Tommy, I see you’re still well.” A smooth voice remarked. You turned around, sure enough, there stood your boyfriend.

“Here to torture me some more?” Tommy scoffed.

Dream chuckled. “Just to check up on things,” he wrapped his arm around your waist, turning you around and leading you away. “Now come along love, we should get home.”

You weren’t sure how you felt about any of that right now, but you just nodded. Allowing yourself to be comforted in the familiar, safe feeling he gave you.

You rested your head on his shoulder. And you headed home.