#you look me in my face and tell me that Ran Mau is not doing all of the work for that channel

[illeaadante]

Black Butler Youtuber AU

I've been infected with brainworms. the only way out is to pass them on. Here we go:

Sebastian - ASMR channel. He mostly does 'unreality' content about being a demon in various situations. Incredibly popular.

Ciel - absolutely brutal product reviews. Mostly toys and games, but he'll tear apart basically anything. The Gordon Ramsey of product reviewers.

Tanaka - not a youtuber himself, but a fan favorite whenever he shows up in Ciel's vids/livestreams.

Mey Rin - Firearms demonstrations, sharpshooting challenges, and reviews. All in her maid dress. You can imagine what her fanbase consists of.

Finny and Bard - joint prank channel with the occasional DIY video. most of the pranks backfire on them. All of the DIY backfires on them. They are beloved as the least problematic prank channel ever, and for generally being lovable losers.

Lizzie - bladed weapons demonstration/ history channel and lolita fashion vlogger. Think that one pole-dancing archer on tiktok for the vibe. Super popular with women and girls.

Snake - a snake care and vlog channel. People find his 'talking for the snakes' bit cute. All of his videos either have heavy comment moderation or the comments are turned off entirely because of the fetishists.

William and Grell - true crime podcast. It was William's only until Grell posted a rant on his channel that got more views than all of his other vids combined. William suffers, Grell flirts, the comments section continuously plans their wedding.

Prince Soma - travel vlogger and mukbang channel. Only about 1/4 of his audience realizes that everything he eats on his channel is made by Agni.

Agni - cooking channel. Think Amaury Guichon (chocolate guy.) Half of the audience is screaming about how he's making whatever he's making, the other half is screaming about how hot he is.

Lau and Ran Mao - lock picking and prank/illusion videos. (granted, some of the illusion involves the audience being distracted by Ran Mao, and the rest is her editing, but she's very proud of that editing.)

Ran Mao - stone faced let's plays on her own channel that Lau doesn't know about. She's a top tier player in basically every battle royale style game, but most people watch her videos to see her get flustered over romantic choices in rpgs. (not the sexy ones, the cute ones. She'll be stone faced through a sex scene, but a cute first kiss in a high school dating sim? she's hiding under her blanket.)

Undertaker - badjokesbyjeff but in a video format... so basically a reddit meme channel. He's got the same vibes as The Click.

Madam Red - Ask a Mortician with a side of fashion vlogging.

[gauloiseblue]

You always joked about how you'd find out what's beneath his mask someday. Literally and figuratively.

He'd scoff at your attempts, or suggestions to lift up his sniper mask. Some of them caught him off guard, to the point he almost did it if not for his logical mind. But some of them were downright ridiculous, that he couldn't help but snort.

Maybe you already accepted it from the start, that he would never give in, but it had become a harmless jest at this point, so you might as well keep it going.

Until he gives you permission.

The thing is, it doesn't make you happy—it scares you to death instead. He once bit off someone's finger when they poked it in the place they shouldn't have touched. So what's behind the mask couldn't be worth the pain.

At first, you thought of it as a warning. Yet he wasn't showing any signs of threat. He even pulled you closer, so you'd get a better view of him.

His mask stays on, but he lets you touch his face. Your hands hover an inch away from his veiled visage, before you test the water with a touch.

He doesn't flinch away, or charge at you like a venomous snake. He stays still, letting your hands cup his cheeks.

"Didn't you say you wanna feel my face?" He said as he brought you closer, causing a shiver down on your spine.

"I did," Your lips trembled slightly, "I'm doing it."

"You're not doing it right." He tugged your paralyzed hands onto his chest.

You're confused when he firmly grips both of your hands, before slowly sliding them under the hem of his hood.

"Inside, maus." He commanded you, "Tell me what you feel."

And so, you complied.

You reach into his mask, and touch his neck tentatively. For a brief moment, his muscles tense under your fingertips, before they come down relaxed.

"Oh." You murmured as you pressed your palm onto his nape, "You can certainly survive a fighter jet ride."

He doesn't give you any response, so you take it as a cue to continue.

Your hands creep up higher, until your fingers reach the soft bones of his ears. They seem small in your grasp, smaller than they should, for a man of his height. A quiet smile spreads in your lips, as you imagine the tiny shells that frame both sides of his face.

"I'm surprised you have clear skin." You commented when you caressed his cheek, feeling the texture of his skin, "I thought you'd have a problem with it since you always wore a mask."

"Not always." He replied, nudging you to roam further, "I took it off whenever I'm alone."

"Did you take care of it?"

"No."

"How unfair." You chuckled, "I want to have your skin."

He keeps his eyes on you, and you feel the need to clear your throat, before you trace the lines on his face.

"You have a big nose." You mused as you ran your finger down from the bridge of his nose, "It's crooked."

He hums, while his eyes follow your uncertain gaze.

"Why you stopped?" He called you out, and you jumped upon hearing them, "There's one place you haven't touched."

You bit your lips, trembling, as you lowered your hand, until you felt the soft lumps on your fingertips.

They form a thin line, before they split open, inviting your finger inside. Your breathing becomes labored, as he takes a hold on your hand, guiding your thumb into his mouth.

He doesn't break eye contact the whole time, and you're too paralyzed to look away. You feel the sharpness of his teeth as his lips are closing around your digit. You have anticipated the guillotine falling on the head of your thumb, yet what comes after is a soft brush of his tongue.

It was rough, and drenched with his saliva, that it formed a string at the time your thumb left his mouth.

"König—" You gasped when he dragged his lips down to your palm, before stopping on your wrist. Pressing his tongue on your pulse point, where the skin barrier is so thin, that it feels as if he's tasting your flesh.

"Scared, maus?" He muttered, his teeth scraped against your skin, "Are you scared of me?"

You stare at him, as your instinct screams at you to nod. But you shake your head, despite the tremble in your hands.

"Then you'll do as I say." He wraps his arm around your waist, leaving no room for you to run, "Take off my mask."

Your eyes widened, not believing what you just heard from his mouth. Alas, his glare is enough to confirm the truth.

He guides your hands to his mask, pushing it up in a manner that's close to unveiling a white cover. And once the mask is lifted, you have no time to admire him as he slams his lips against yours.

Your cry of surprise is swallowed by his mouth, as he pushes his tongue between your lips. You can't do anything but cling to him, as he presses your body down with his, until your back is flush against the cushion.

When you open your eyes, what greets you is a pair of eclipses. Gone was the cruel Colonel, as he's replaced by a voracious brute.

The moment he opens his mouth, you know you'll be devoured by him.

[sc0tters]

Distance Apart | Nico Hischier

summary: sometimes all you need is your boyfriend, even if that means he has to put his family above his team.

request: yes/no

warnings: swearing, like one mention of blood.

word count: 2.78K

authors note: we are back with the Rosie universe! I miss writing for dad Nico and when I asked you guys said you wanted it in this universe so here it is! we have a bit of angst in it but I like how it got to in the end.

pt 1

You were tired. 

Rosie had decided that she wanted nothing to do with you after you started showing. You were now seven months pregnant with your baby boy and Rosie was hating it. The poor season that the devils were having, left Rosie and you walking on eggshells around Nico who was constantly stressed out. What made it all that much worse was the fact that Nico hadn’t seen you in weeks and now he was on a road trip with the team.

Nico tried everything to convince you to come with him on the trip but as you couldn’t sleep through the night as your back was killing you. To make matters even worse, Rosie was now feeling your nightly pain as she was having nightmares every night. You were running on mere minutes of sleep which was only going to grow less as Rosie started running a fever. 

Yet, still that wasn’t your biggest problem. You were in his cabin in Bern with Rosie as you prepped for the arrival of your new addition. It had been a month since you saw Nico as he came to see you, not hesitating to come during the all star break. But now you were counting down the days until you were no longer a single parent “I know Rosie.” You sighed getting up to hear the sounds of her sobs echoed in the baby monitor. 

Her new favorite thing to do was cry for her father “papa!” Rosie wailed as her lights turned on looking for her father’s face “you know he is home my love.” You ran your hands through your greasy hair that you couldn’t remember when you last got the chance to wash it as it seemed that you had been rocking the messy bun for days.

She continued to cry as her red cheeks meant she wasn’t getting any better “let’s go sit outside.” You offered hoping that her play mat would be enough to calm her down whilst she sucked on one of her old frozen teething toys. The 15 month old clung to your shirt hanging to the faint scent of her father that the shirt still had. You attacked what remained of his closet as nothing from your own seemed to fit anymore “I know I miss him too.” You nodded as you sat her on her mat seeing the picture of her and Nico that sat on the table ahead of you both.

It seemed that the world was on your side as your phone began to ring, causing your gaze to snap from the picture “I will be right back. You announced getting up to grab your phone from the kitchen where you’d get her a teether, hoping it would act like a popsicle. Your phone screen was lit up by Nico’s contact just like he promised to call when he got to Las Vegas. You took less than a second to grip your phone to answer the call “hey schatzi!” Nico shut his door smiling as he got to see your face again. 

You wanted to tell Nico all about the day you had but instead when Rosie let out a cheer you were reminded of who really needed to see him “Rosie I have your dad!” You announced coming back into the living room with both your phone and the frozen toy.

Nico was full of concern seeing how you never even took the chance to speak to him “hi maus.” He cooed sending her a wave as she sucked on the ice piece “papa!” She sent him a toothy smile whilst you held the phone. All the medicine that Rosie needed was her father’s attention. The duo continued this conversation which was primarily just Nico talking to his daughter ass she nodded along like she understood what he said. 

You began to take the moment to shut your eyes falling asleep with your head on the couch as you yawned “maus why don’t you let me talk to your momma?” Nico’s voice combined with Rosie tugging on your shirt it made you look up “hi Nico.” You forced a smile onto your lips.

Being with him for years though Nico knew that you were hiding something “think we should talk about Glasgow.” The Scottish city was in fact where you guys learnt that you were pregnant with Rosie. It was a reminder of the joyous memory, that you now both now used as a code word. Rosie was beginning to want to listen to every single conversation that you guys had, and now used it when you needed to talk about something in private. 

He watched you sit there as you tried to ignore his gaze “schatzi please.” He pleaded as he grew worried for what was going on with you in that moment “play with your toys and I’ll be right back.” You kissed Rosies head as she now seemed content with her practical popsicle.

You made the short walk back to the kitchen wanting to keep Rosie in your sights “how are you?” Nico wanted to drop the team and all of his responsibilities to be with you, as guilt consumed him that he wasn’t with you “and don’t lie to me because I will get my mother to move in there if you do.” The offer was something you then responded with being met with a break up. You did love his parents, but you weren’t going to lose your independence. 

Now though you were a fraction of that strong woman “I miss my sleep.” You began gripping your hand on your stomach as you let out a grunt “schatzi what is it?” Nico was ready to get out soon the next flight to see you.

You raised your hand to wave off his concern “Rosie can’t sleep and my body is killing me.” Your boobs throbbed under your touch as you groaned “you missing our favorite cure for that?” The captain teased, only to quickly realize that you weren’t in the right mood to hear him joke around. 

It was the glare that made him go quiet, opting to regret his sex offer. When you were close to having Rosie you only wanted to climb him like a tree and Nico wasn’t going to stop you as it made you feel comfortable. You groaned again as you were too tired to stay mad at him “I just need this baby out.” Your confession had two meanings, you were done with being pregnant and on top of that you needed your boyfriend back.

Rosie’s rattle echoed as she hit it on the floor “let me talk to my coach.” He could see how drained you looked with the stains on your (his) shirt “absolutely not.” You shook your head refusing to be the reason why he would leave his team “we can survive for the next month without you.” It was clear you were lying and it took Nico everything to keep his mouth shut as he sent you a look of concern.

He wanted to argue but knew that you’d just hang up “there is no harm in wanting a bit of help y/n.” He felt horrible that he couldn’t be there for you, but with your boy coming at the end of the season you both agreed it was best for you to be in Bern. His words made your gaze sharpen “I’m fine.” You snapped making him run his fingers through his hair as he let out a sigh.

The captain hated it when you got all closed up and refused to let him help “just let me in.” Nico pleaded as he watched you shake your head “it is hard to do that when you aren’t here!” You grumbled reminding him of the fact that you were practically alone. Your tone made Rosie cry, causing your head to snap in her direction.

Your fingers rubbed your temples as you groaned “look I need to go get that.” It was the last thing either of you needed as you hung up letting Nico see his reflection in the screen “fuck!” He groaned throwing his phone across his room in frustration.

This time you were lucky that all Rosie wanted was company “papa!” She cried gripping her hands out to hold you “I know honey.” You sighed pulling her into your arms as you began to rock her trying to soothe your upset toddler “I miss him too.” Yelling at him was the first time you felt like you had any kind of control over something in days and now here you were feeling like an ass.

On the other side of the world after sleeping on it Nico was shoving his things back into his suitcase “what are you doing?” Timo furrowed his eyebrows as he walked in to see a disheveled Nico rummaging around his room “I need m-my passport and I can’t.” Nico sat on his bed not knowing much of what to do.

He was grateful that you made him bring it all of his roadies now in case you gave birth when he was gone “but can you breathe for me?” Timo crouched in front of his captain wondering what could have pushed him to this as Nico nodded “then I’m pretty sure you need this if you want to meet your baby boy.” The blonde fiddled with the passport in his hand as he waved it in front of his teammate.

Nico felt his eyes go wide seeing the book he tried so hard to find “it was on the table when I walked in.” Timo explained as he watched the captain get up “my girls need me.” Nico reminded himself of the reason why he was leaving this team “go get ‘em then.” Timo sent the boy a salute as he watched him run out of his room. 

After an argument you and Nico usually didn’t talk until you both calmed down, but now you were sat staring at your phone as you reread the headline Nico Hischier will be taking a leave of absence for personal reasons. Nina sensed your worry as she handed you a cup of tea “I’m sure he is coming here because he wants to check on you both.” You called his sister in tears when you realized you had gone too far in getting mad at him.

You nodded hoping she was right “but what if he just goes back to his apartment instead?” You asked watching Rosie smile at Nina “and it seems like I am the only person she cries around.” You mumbled pushing your head into the pillow behind you.

Nina pulled her niece onto her lap “Nico is in love with you and Rosie loves you too.” She reminded you as she placed her hand on your knee “you are a great mom and don’t forget it.” As you stared at the garden in front of you Nina knew you had every worst case scenario run through your mind as you were a mess. The calmest girl she had ever met was now focused on everything that wasn’t her.

You forced a smile onto your lips as you tried to act receptive to the compliment “look I have to get to work but don’t forget you call if you need anything.” Nina kissed Rosie’s head as she didn’t want to leave you two alone “I will.’ You nodded watching her leave.

After she left you couldn’t shake the fact that you were failing, as a partner, a mother, and even a pregnant woman. So as Rosie went down for a nap you opted for a shower, forcing yourself out of your clothes as you went to shower. As the warm water hit your skin you forgot how great it felt to let the lavender scent of your shower gel invade your nostrils. But not even that soothing scent could calm you down from the pain you felt in your stomach “ahhh.” You moaned running your hand under your belly as something felt off, the water turned a shade of crimson red only making you panic.

Each moment faded into the next as you got out of the shower and grabbed whatever clothing you could find rushing to the door as you picked up Rosie and your delivery bag from the front door. Tears clouded your eyes as you drove yourself to the hospital feeling as alone as ever.

Nico was surprised to see Nina stood at the airport waiting for him, but when he saw the fear in her eyes he knew something was wrong “the baby is coming.” His mom had come to the hospital after she was called with Rosie needing supervision “no we still have over a month.” Nico felt his mouth go dry as he shook his head

Nina nodded as she shrugged “I know but he is coming and has been for two hours now so hurry up.” She clasped her hands together taking his duffle as the siblings pushed out of the airport running to get to you.

The hospital room was quiet as you felt numb, by the time you had woken up again you were no longer pregnant and couldn’t even hold him as he was in ICU “schatzi.” Nico gasped seeing you look up at him “I’m so sorry.” You apologized feeling your eyes fill with tears as you shook your head thinking about how the last thing you did was yell at him.

Nico couldn’t let you continue as he wrapped his arms around you “no baby don’t say that.” He kissed your head as his thumb wiped away your tears from your cheek “I didn’t even get to see him.” All you got was a nurses description of your baby.

It killed him hearing the pain in your voice “been told he is okay and strong.” Nico squeezed your shoulders as he watched you nod trying to calm down “really?” It made you feel like you really did get to see him.

He moved to sit in front of you taking up the side of your bed as he nodded “I really am sorry for everything I said though.” You reached out for his hand honestly glad to see that he really was there “can we agree to never fight over the phone again.”He announced making you quickly nod “it’s far more enjoyable making you sleep on the couch when I see it happen.” Your joke made him suck at his teeth only causing your grin to grow wider.

There was a moment where the two of you were able to just enjoy each others company “I really have missed you.” You mumbled watching him move closer to you “then it is a good thing I have the next three weeks off.” Nico kissed your lips as you furrowed your eyebrow.

As you cocked your head you wanted to point out that he only had two weeks nobody needs to know that you are no longer pregnant.” He shrugged resting his forehead against yours “I love you so much.” You mumbled kissing his lips once more.

Hours had passed and you had taken a nap and were now clear and ready to see your boy “you better not crash me Hischier.” You warned placing your feet on your footrests “would be a funny way to end this date.” He teased making you giggle before you winced “don’t make me laugh you ass.” You groaned gripping at your stomach trying to avoid the stitches from the c-section wound.

He squeezed your shoulder as an apology “you ready to see our boy?” There was a hopefulness in his voice as he looked to the room number in the NICU “you know it.” You nodded failing to hide the grin on your face as he pushed you into the room.

You let out a gasp seeing him laying in his crib “he’s so sweet.”  You pressed your hand against your chest as you cooed “c’mon mama let’s see him.” Nico held his hand out to yours.

The captain helped you up looking around to make sure you guys weren’t caught by any nurses “he is perfect.” You felt your voice break as you smiled “little Elias is all ours too.” Nico watched how your eyes couldn’t leave him.

It was the happiest he had seen you in weeks “so how long until you’re clear for our favorite activity?” Nico smirked as he ran his fingers along your back “I just got the last one out, you are celibate for the foreseeable.” You warned sending him a glare as he laughed kissing your temple.

“There’s my girl.”

[fakescenariosbeforesleepblog]

Eye in the sky pt.4

Reader(codename: eagle) x König.

König was too weak to fight, now both are prisoner, but not for too long, König will do anything to keep you safe, no one will put a hand on you if they don't want to lose it.

«EAGLE, BEHIND!»

«König! Ahhh» «get your fuckin' hands off of me bastard!»... «Send her to sleep».

Cold water woke up König from his "nap", he was sitting in a metallic chair, two men standing up in front of him, the first thought that popped up on his mind was you.

- Where's...?

- who? Your comrade? I don't think you're in position to ask questions, although... That buddy is hard to break, refusing to speak, maybe you will be different, huh? Because if you don't cooperate, I'll start to play with your partner, I don't think you want that.

Now... Tell me, what were you doing there? What were you looking for?.

König laughed at his face, they think he will be easy, even if they try to use you to obtain information, he will not speak.

- Am I funny?. You! Bring more water and you! electric wire, now.

So they're planning to use electrocution as a first method, they're desperate. Another cold water bucket ran through König's body, he's ready, he's more than prepared for this and worse.

- It doesn't need to be in this way dude, just answer and we won't make you suffer.

- Ja, if this is what you call suffering, go ahead... I have the entire day. Idiot.

And König wasn't lying, of course it hurt, of course his skin was burning, of course he was exhausted but he knew it was better to keep them distracted, away from you. By the end of the day, they took him to a cell.

You heard someone's laugh, you can't believe what you're hearing, you stood up and there he was, König was dragged in the cell in front of you. He laughs and says something in German «Ihr seid alle tote Männer» (y'all are dead men) While the others close the cell. Once they left, you tried to get close to the entrance of your cell, the chain keeps you away.

- König? What happened? Are you ok?

- all good Maus, and you? Did they hurt you?

- I'm not easy to break, I'm okay. How is your wound?

- I think it's fine, after the electrocution it's probably already healed...

He laughed, why is he laughing? What did they say to those guys?

- Tell me what it looks like.

- Not now Maus, I'm tired.

-What did you say to those guys?

-Don't worry Maus, no one will hurt you as long as I keep them busy. Although, we will escape soon.

- König...?

- Ja?

- it's maybe not the right Moment, but... I think... I think I'm in love with you.

Silence, silence in that strange basement prison, maybe you really confessed your feelings in the worst moment.

-How can you be so sure?

-Because I feel the urgency to be close to you, to look at you, touch you...

-You still don't know me well Schatz.

-If we survive... I'll have plenty of time to do it.

He chuckled and muttered.

- I'll take you out of this place Maus, I promise.

No one of you knew when you fell asleep but a new day arrived, the sound of chains and someone being suffocated, then silence.

- Maus!?

- It's... Okay, I'm okay König.

- What's going on?

- Nothing, someone thought could take advantage of my situation.

-What?

-He came and tried to...

More men came in.

«Well, well, well... That... was one of my best men»

-He wasn't very smart.

«Bring her upstairs we will play a little»

König stood up and tried to convince them to leave you alone. Unfortunately, he couldn't. A few hours later you went back, and same as König, you were laughing about them, they're desperate you know your team will come, soon or later.

- Meine Liebe, how are you?

- I'm good, just tired... They tried to drown me, anyway, How's your wound?

- It's better, we'll leave this place soon.

-Really? What's the plan?

-They look desperate, they will try to hurt you and use you to convince me to give information... just if they're stupid enough as I think, the rest is merely improvisation, fight, kill and leave.

- Sounds like all will be improvisation König.

- indeed Meine Liebe.

And just as König said, they went back and took both of you upstairs, you're in front of König, he's sitting in that chair, a man holding his shoulders as if that was enough to contain a man like König, while the other is holding your hands on your back.

- you, undress yourself.

You weren't expecting that.

- Excuse me?

He pointed his gun to you and repeated the order. So you did, there you were in underwear, König devoured you with his eyes you can also see the anger since he's not the only one observing every curve of your body.

- Well, you're such a pretty thing, huh? What do you think, Big boy? something so pretty shouldn't suffer any damage.

- Don't listen to him... I'm not easy to break.

You look with a lot of self-confident, sure that you can handle the situation.

- Look at her! She's a psycho. Okay if you feel strong enough and he refuses to talk, we'll play a little game, there's 2 bullets here, you have 3 chances to talk, or she will get hurt.

König doesn't even try to answer, he just nodded at you. There's a vibe in the air, adrenaline, danger, you don't know it yet.

First chance to talk, König doesn't say anything, second chance, nothing.

- Alright, I'm tired of this.

He pointed and shoot you in your shoulder, you can feel your skin burning, your bones hurt but you tried to not make a sound, König's body is tense, every time more and more.

- Not even a sound, last chance to talk or this bullet will go directly to the head...

König looks at you, nodded one more time, you know he's ready to do something, even with the pain you get ready too.

It was quick. He untied himself, breaking his thumbs then putting them in place again, took the man behind him and broke his neck. Before someone else in the room could react you pushed the man behind you and hit him with your head, a kick to another one, König took the man with the gun In his hands, unarmored him and threw the gun at your side, you shot at the men you previously hit, and dressed as quick as possible but your eyes were focused on könig, he has the head of the man between his hands and he started to press it, more and more until a «CRACK» and a last scream filled the room.

- Nobody hurts my Maus.

König looked at you and before he could say something you jumped to him, you don't even feel the pain of the bullet in your shoulder, you hugged him, he returned the hug, you looked up and he looked at you, he looked afraid but then you saw him, he took off his mask. He's beautiful, the scar that goes from his lip to his eyebrow accentuates his facial features, he kissed your forehead and nose, then your cheek and finally left a soft kiss on your lips.

Alarm sound interrupted you, and steps outside the room where you were. He put the mask on again, and both hide at a side of the door.

«Sir! We have problems, enemies are out...!»

Once he gave a step inside the room, könig kicked him, the poor man was on the floor and you didn't even hesitate to shoot. Both went out, running through the halls, killing whoever that appears on your way, the adrenaline inside you, König running at your side, both fighting side to side, this is the kind of love that you always dreamed about, full of adrenaline, adventure. Once you were outside you noticed blood in König's abdomen, it's his own blood, the wound is bleeding again and your shoulder is in pain again.

- fuck... Ahhh

- Let me see Schatz.

- No, I'm fine, let's get out of here you're bleeding again... We need to...

«KÖNIG?» you heard someone's voice, both turned around... Horangi and Roze were the intruders. «We found them, we're on the way back to the rendezvous»

Roze approached you.

- Doc, you're alive...

- Yeah, we need a medical kit, König has a deep wound that refuses to heal, let's go.

Horangi ran at König's side and helped him to walk, once you arrived, you noticed your team giving assistance to the hostages from the first mission, Price was the first one to notice you, he ran and hugged you

- are you alright Kid?

- could be better, Captain we need a quick extraction, König is seriously injured.

He nodded and left, then the rest of the boys ran to you and König, even Ghost...

He approached König and extended his hand to him, König accepted the interaction and both nodded at each other.

- I have to thank you, you kept Eagle alive, also looks more alive than ever before.

- it's not as fragile as you think, the doc was the one who kept both alive...

Both looked at you, You let Soap see your wound, you and him were discussing the bullet extraction, he wanted to do it right there and you were refusing. Before you left, Ghost talked with you.

-You look good Doc.

- Thanks, I like the adrenaline Lt.

- You love him, Don't you?

- I do, how did you...

- You look at him differently, there's a different spark in you when he's around.

- Ghost I...

- No, it's fine, if you're happy, I'm happy.

You nodded, both shook hands, the helicopter arrived, you and König left, you took care of his wound and stayed at his side during the recovery.

- Danke Maus, you didn't need to stay all the time, you were hurt too.

- it wasn't really serious, and it's nothing, tho if you still want to pay the debt, I'm available after 5, we can go to dinner.

He laughed and then held your hand and kissed it, then he nodded and whispered «Meine Liebe, mein Leben, Mein Liebling.»

There it is, that flame in your chest, he's the only one who can make you feel in that way, desire, adrenaline, peace, all in one and all at the same time, only him.

[roosterbox]

October Almost-Drabbles 10/1: Skeletons

Pairing: Cherik

Word Count: 509

Additional tags: Halloween decorations, mentions of past mpreg, family fluff, Charles being a lil shit

Side note: if it wasn’t obvious, this takes place in my One Big Happy Family universe. Think of it as a sort of side story offshoot.

———

“Daddy!” Wanda called out as she stomped angrily into the room. Pietro wasn’t far behind, though he was decidedly less incensed.

“Hmm? Charles looked up from the pumpkin decoration he was adjusting. Needlessly, if Erik had anything to say about it. He didn’t, though, being more preoccupied with cooking duties at that moment.

“David made us help him with one of the skeletons!”

“Oh? Do you not like skeletons?”

Wanda shook her head. Pietro nodded his.

“They’re gross!”

“They’re cool!”

Both spoke at once. Wanda fixed her twin with a glare.

“They’re GROSS. I hate touching the bones! I never want to touch bones ever again.”

“Well you see, Flower-“ There was a gleam in Charles’ eye that Erik would have recognized if he’d seen it. As it was, their youngest children were oblivious. “That’s rather unfortunate. Can I tell you a secret?”

“Yes!” A dual chorus as both of them leaned closer, smiling.

Whispering conspiratorially, he said, “There’s a skeleton touching you right now, from the inside.”

Wanda shrieked in disgust. Pietro’s eyes got very wide. “Really?” He asked.

“Really.”

“Coooooool.” He looked at his own body in awe, twisting this way and that as if he could somehow see the bones moving under the skin.

Wanda was glaring at hers, and Charles could feel the sensation of BETRAYAL wafting off of her. The unexpected joys of parenting, he thought. He could still recall, quite vividly, how Lorna had reacted to finding out where, exactly, babies came from. The look of offended hurt on Erik’s face after their daughter had smacked his arm, yelling “How could you do that to Daddy?” was a cherished memory, especially during his subsequent pregnancies.

Speaking of Erik, the man himself came out of the kitchen. His apron was flour dusted, as were his hands, and he wore an expression of exasperated fondness. It was as if he knew, without being told, exactly what had occurred. Sometimes Charles wondered who was the psychic one between them.

“Pietro, go see if your Tante Raven needs help with her own decorations.” At the sound of his Papa’s voice, their little spitfire was gone in a flash. There was a lingering thought of Oh boy are there more skeleton bones to touch? that almost had Charles cackling.

“And you,” Erik stooped down to Wanda’s level. She was pouting. “You can come with me to finish the baking.”

Now it was her turn to look at her parent with wide, saucer-like eyes.

“Really? Can I help ice the cookies?”

“Once we wash your hands, Maus, you can even help me knead the dough.”

She let out a cheer and ran into the kitchen ahead of him, gross skeleton fact promptly forgotten.

Before following her, mainly to make sure she actually did wash up before touching any of the food preparations, Erik fixed Charles with a look. On anyone else, it would have been a glare, but there was no actual heat to it.

Charles smiled and shrugged.

Erik rolled his eyes before heading back to his work.

[ichijager13]

Teach me how to be loved

Chapter VIII

Are you gonna tell me now? Are you gonna tell me later

Pairing : Eren Jäger x reader

Characters: Eren Jäger, Annie Leonhart, Pieck Finger.

Tags: Unhealthy coping mechanism, unhealthy relationships, childhood trauma, physical and verbal abuse, self-esteem and trust issues, domestic violence, implied/ referenced cheating, and a touch of sweet, lovable, and non fuckboy Eren Jäger

This fic is brought to you by Lana Del Rey’s songs

Masterlist, AO3,  Playlists: Reader’s POV, Eren’s POV

A/N:Please read the content warning before starting to read my work.

Likes and reblogs are more than appreciated

Have a nice day/evening

The next morning, Eren was still asleep when your eyes fluttered open. Recalling you didn’t have dinner last night; you carried your sleepy self to the kitchen. Looking for ingredients to make breakfast, you stood in front of the fridge scanning its content when you heard footsteps rushing to the kitchen.

“Vatty”. A voice called from the hallway. “Oma hat Apfelkuchen gemacht. (Grandma made an apple pie)”. The voice sang. Confused, you closed the fridge. In front of you stood a young girl.

Frozen, you stood there, as a pair of familiar teal green stared back at you. you felt steam coming out of your ears the second you realized you were dressed in only your panties and a loose shirt that barely covered your ass.

“Sophie”. Another voice called causing your eyes to widen in horror. “Da bist du ja. Wievielmal… (There you are. How many times…)”. The middle-aged woman stopped mid-sentence when she spotted you.

 Unaware of what was happening in his kitchen, Eren quickly stepped into a pair of fresh underwear before leaving his bedroom. “For a split second, I thought you ran away again”. He joked coming into the kitchen, only to be greeted by the sight of the three of you staring awkwardly at each other.

 Seeing her son’s face fall, Carla had a hard time holding her laughter. “Mom, what…”. He started before he glanced at your fidgeted figure next to the fridge and then at his daughter.

“Vatty, wer ist sie? (Who is she?)”. Sophie whined wrapping her arms around Eren’s leg. 

 You don’t speak German but you knew what the word vatty means, this girl was his daughter, Eren was married, and you slept with a married man. A feeling of disgust overwhelmed you when the realization hit you.

 “Und warum bist du nackt. (And why are you naked)”. She added nose scrunched. 

The little girl had a bandage above her eyebrow. That’s why he left in a hurry the other day, you mused.

Still in shock, Eren looked down at the four-year-old brunette. “She’s… she’s a…”. He threw looks Carla’s way. With pleading eyes, he silently sought help. “She’s a friend of mine”. He stumbled over his words. 

Enjoying the situation, Carla pressed her fist to her mouth in an attempt to hide the obvious smirk adorning her face.

 Sophie’s gasp caught everyone’s attention. “Vatty, what happened to your back?” She asked her father suspiciously. Hearing her words, you wished the earth could swallow you right here and now.

“Sophie, mein maus. Vatty has important things to do”. Carla who decided this was enough embracement for her son, finally spoke. “How about we leave him the cake we made and come back later”. She winked at her son.

“Aber ich will bei ihm bleiben, es ist sein freier Tag. (But I wanna stay with him, it’s his day off)”. she frowned, crossing her arms upset.

“There, there Schatz”. Carla cooed holding the brunette in her arms. “Now let’s say auf wiedersehen to vatty. We will come back later, Ich verspreche. (I promise)”. Defeated, Sophie stopped squirming before throwing looks your way. “Gut gemacht. (Well done)”. Carla spoke in a hushed tone to the tall green-eyed man, laughing when his ears became redder. “Have a nice day”. She sang offering you a bright smile you failed to return.

 “Sie ist schön. (She’s beautiful)”. Eren heard his daughter saying.

“Ja, ist sie. (Yes, she is)”. Carla replied.

“Aber nicht so hübsch wie ich. (But not as pretty as me)”. Eren chocked hearing her words. “richtige Oma? (Right, grandma?)”. the sound of his mother’s laughter before she closed the door behind them made him cringe.

 “Good morning”. he spoke awkwardly heading your way.

“I’m leaving”. You hissed finally recovering from your state of stupor.

“Wait, what, no, wait, it’s not what you think”. 

You crossed your arms giving him a side look. “She literally called you father. I don’t know what’s ambiguous about it”.

His shoulders dropped in defeat. “Yes, Sophie is my daughter”. He knew this was going to be hard but he was willing to try and explain things to you.

“And she saw a half-naked stranger in her kitchen with her half-assed-naked father”. You glanced back at him. “Naked father, I mean”.

“I’m wearing briefs”. He pointed out.

“It doesn’t matter”. You shouted. “What do you think crossed her mind when she saw this?” you pointed at yourself. “Her father with another woman in their house, a half-naked one with a bedhead, I should precise”. You slammed your hands against the countertop. “I know men are trash, but this, you… you are above all of my expectations”. You gritted. “I bet this isn’t even your main residence, that somewhere in the suburbs you have a family house with a wife waiting for her beloved husband to come home”. If eyes could kill, Eren would be six feet underground by now. “What did you tell her this time, huh? You are out of town? You didn’t leave work early so you’ll spend the night here? Or…”. He shut you up with a kiss. “Get away from me”. you shoved him.

“Then let me explain myself”. He let his arms land on the small of your back. “I’ll kiss you again if you don’t let me speak”. He threatened. “She thinks you’re beautiful but not as beautiful as her”. He baited his lips to hold back his laughter remembering his daughter’s words. “Your bedhead is cute, the “men are trash” part hurts, a lot. You’re right this isn’t the main residence and I do have a house in a residential area but”. He rose a finger stopping your unformed protests. “I don’t live there, not anymore. This is where I spend most of my days. No, I don’t have a wife waiting for me”. he followed; arms still looped around you. “She passed away four years ago while giving birth to that wonderful little thing who stormed in here half an hour ago. Now my mother, the woman you saw minutes earlier, lives there with Sophie, my daughter”. He topped the explanation with one of his stupid bright smiles that makes you want to squish his cheeks and kiss him. “Can I kiss you now?” he tilted his head.

“So, I didn’t sleep with a married man?” You whispered looking down.

“You slept with a widower”. He corrected. “May I?” He asked again, your noses were touching. After what felt like an eternity to Eren, your lips finally met.

 “How come Annie never mentioned you have a kid”. You mused while cutting fruits to decorate the crepes you made.

“I guess she either assumed I have already told you or that we will never see each other again”. He winced when you slapped his hand when he stole some of the strawberries you chopped.

“And why you never told me?” you threw him a questioning look. “Do you have whipped cream?”

“You always run away and you never asked”. he pointed out opening the fridge. “Here”.

“Thanks”.

“I know nothing about you either”. He propped his head on your shoulder.

“You never asked and I always run away”. You replied. “Besides, there’s nothing interesting about me”.

He scoffed. “Is this some femme fatale technic?” He moved his lips from behind your ear to your nape, leaving soft pecks behind him.

“No, just the plain truth”. You glared at him when he attempted to steal some chocolate chunks. “How about you set the table?” your lips brushed when you turned your head.

“Ay, ay captain”. Not wanting to encourage him, you stifled your laugh. “All I know is that you work at Arlet & CO, that you’re good at drawing, and that you love reading”. He stated. “A design engineer, since you went to Wolfsburg”. He followed setting two dishes and two glasses on the kitchen table.

“Elementary, my dear Watson”. You replied, sprinkling toppings on the crepes. “What toppings do you love? I’m doing strawberries and wiped cream for myself”.

“Blueberries, please”. He handed you a box of powdered sugar. “Plus, some of this on top, please”. You took the box from him and resumed work. “You said you know Annie from six years ago, you’re not from here?”

“I moved to this town after graduation. I was born and grew up in Saint Paul, a small town in Nebraska”. You cleaned the countertop and placed Eren’s crepes in front of him. “I went to Rhode Island School of Design where I had my master's in industrial design”. You added taking place at the table. “I got there thanks to a scholarship, anything else?”

“These are delicious”. He hummed taking another bite. “Who taught you how to cook?”

“I learned by myself thanks to cookbooks”. You answered. “What about you?”

“Impressive”. He breathed. “I was born and grew up here in Newark. Mikasa, my deceased wife, and I met Armin and became friends with him when I was six. I went to MIT, majored in mechanical engineering, got married at the age of 29, and had Sophie a year later. I worked at different facilities of Volkswagen before joining the R&D department in Allendale shortly after I got married. And I have been named the head of that facility months ago”. He handed you his dish after he finished. “Can I have another one, with strawberries this time please”.

“You worked only at Volkswagen?” you asked making him another one.

“Yes, I was hired right after I graduated. Thank you”. he smiled before taking a bite. “Why industrial design?”

“Because I love drawing and I’m good at it. plus, the college offers a scholarship and the job pays well. Why mechanical engineering?”

“When we were young, Armin and I tried to build a plan”. A breathy chuckle left his chest. “And we did it, but it broke down to pieces before it even left the ground. I bawled my eyes out that night. The next morning, we promised each other to become engineers and build solid motors”. He locked gaze with you. “I got accepted in MIT and a year later he got a scholarship to Georgia Tech”.

 After breakfast, you did the dishes together, got dressed, and left the apartment. Him, to see his daughter and you back to your empty, cold, and lonely house.

[kit-williams]

You all can thank @bispecsual for this

I tried doing it like how other people can seemingly condense their headcanons I just wasn't liking how it was coming out

"I have acquired thrones." Horangi states as he enters the shared room with the others. Like a pack of wolves all their heads perk up as the tiger saunters in.

"Is that right Mgio..." Price says lazily as he is reading some after action reports and filling in his share.

"So ye gonna spend it? Or just have it?" Soap said rolling over from his perch.

"It is several thousand thrones so it is probably wise to spend it." He says calmly as now eyes are all on him.

"Well... are you going to tell us?" Konig finally spoke up as molten brass hissed onto the floor below.

"I do not know. I only have a few things I wish to possess. I only wanted to play a few rounds..." He says with a bit of shame in his voice as the lingering taint of the Slanneshi demon prince caused him to become excessive in his pursuit of... relaxation? "So perhaps I can have you all help me spend it."

----

The inquisitorial section of the ship was it's own small microcosmos of trade and businesses. People with strong enough wills to adjacently handle the horrors of the universe but are combatively unable to serve. The radical hereticus section of the ship the boys were not so very out of place given the fact that there were several "redeemed" agents and persons.

Horangi bought a face mask to cover up the scar on his jaw. But it was hardly a dent in the excessive amount of thrones he had... oh if Lord Khorne knew what was going on... Mgio is certain he would be ripped a new one. Ghost got some of his skull faced baklavas... all 27 that were available in the store as well as 6 pairs of skeleton hand gloves. He was trying to help Mgio to spend all those thrones. Price bought himself a couple more hats.

Rudy and Alejandro know of several places to eat... they could always get something expensive but they know that is an end of the day. They ask if they could use his money to buy their Chiquita a gift, they are disappointed by the lack of brass baubles but they could just make something with the pool of cooled metal in their shared room.

Soap was enamored with the expensive bottle of scotch... one of the five on the whole ship and now there was one in the common room of the bloodthirsters. Ghost got some bourbon and then this trip turned into stocking the room with an actual alcohol cabinet . Price got himself some expensive cigars, several packs in fact and then some cheap ones and 2 fancy lighters.

Gaz bought himself some oils and balms for after battle as his way of thinking is that if they are stuck in these hosts they might as well keep them looking decent.

"Arnetrihts." Horangi said as König looked over as his black tongue licked over his chops as they were just now eating. Unaware of the growing panic that is happening as they've done their best to avoid being found. "What are you wanting."

"Ach. Your money cannot get me a Maus, a Krieger, or a Liebling." He said exacerbated before he rolled his shoulder again and Gaz's eyes glowed with an idea.

"What about a massage?"

-----

"Oh my you've got so many knots." The gentle voice above him said digging their elbow into his back.

"Ja!~" König moaned out. This was a wonderful idea! As his black tongue lolled out and his eyes unfocused. Horangi was able to spend a large chunk of the remaining thrones before Price suggested that he keep the rest for emergencies as he got them all a massage package.

The whispered giggles that ran rampant through the parlor today, 'The tall one is built like a space marine', 'they must be agents' flitted around as the 8 of them found themselves in the sauna as they made it inhumanly hot.

"Mein gott... someone help me pull on my skin it's loosened up enough." König said standing up after a few moments and they just watched his skin move in a way that flesh shouldn't move as the demon inside of the skin suit adjusted. He pulled on his cheeks and adjusted his face and he sighed as if he finally was able to adjust his rolled sleeve in his jacket.

Their tongues lolled out in the hot air of the sauna as they lounged so carefree feeling pampered like homecoming warriors. Their ears soon twitched as they could hear the muffled yelling as soon outside of the sauna they could see several demonologists and throne agents. Rudy and Alejandro's brass fanged grins met the weaker willed soldiers outside. All their eyes flashed and glowed, no longer the browns and blues that the non combatants saw only the molten brass.

The Interrogator no... the Lord Interrogator was the one to open the door. "Ah Lord Inquisitor... you come to join us?" Price drawled out as he let out a loud yawn showing off his fangs and the way his jaw just opened a little too wide.

"No I've just come to see what you demons have been up to." They hissed glaring at them.

"Auch," Soap started putting a hand on his right pectoral over the large covered symbol to Khorne, "Ye wound me. Demons? Hellions fer sure but demons?"

"Imvaassj..." The Lord Inquisitor started and Soap just started to hiss as his binding markings started up causing a cacophony of growls. With König's and Alejandro's being the loudest.

"Now now Inquisitor. Let us not ruin the good mood we are in." König huffed, "What do you want with us."

"It's time to come back home boys. We can discuss... outings if this is going to become a common occurrence." They said tentatively.

"Oh it most certainly will." Horangi said his chest puffing out, "But we have a half an hour left of our paid time." He said watching the Lord Inquisitor not say a single thing nor react only just shrugging and turning around.

"Your handlers will be making sure you all get back to your room safely. Enjoy the rest of your time." They said before leaving as they watched the outside room clear out before the flittering workers would poke their heads around the corner.

"Ach they really have to be a... what is the word? Killbuzz? Spielverderber... Buzzkill! That is the word." König slurred slightly just returning to his lounging position not caring about the flittering creatures outside.

Horangi left the sauna and gave one of the salon women 500 thrones, to be shared, for their problem that they caused.

-----

"Hello boys," Price's handler said as she looked over the relaxed and stretching boys, "you have a fun day?"

"Mhmm sweetheart." Price purred as he leaned against her and was just shamelessly purring.

Horangi would have to do this again... he could probably think of ways to spend thrones if given the time to think about what he wants.

[anyathefandom]

To Those Fortunate Enough chapter 37:

@burned-lariat

Valentin stood in the doorway, Charlotte's hand in his as his heart melted at the sight before him. Irina laid snugly in the hospital bed, a nasal cannula on her face as she rested. Valentin frowned sympathetically at his nephew from the back. The young man slept on top of his crossed arms, resting by his mother's side. His breathing was soft yet present, and Valentin did his best to resist the urge to approach the bed.

"He's been out for the past couple hours."

Valentin looked to his left, raising his eyebrows. Wallace leaned against the window, legs crossed at the ankles.

Me: look at the Heller men standing watch over our woman in white🫡

"Dex," Wallace tugged on his shoulder. The young man turned around, raising his eyebrows at the visitors.

"Uncle Valentin," Dex looked between father and daughter, "and…?"

"Charlotte," the girl responded, walking over to him. She held out her hand, "Nice to meet you, Cousin Dexter."

He took her hand in his, "Call me Dex."

"How are you doing?" Valentin stepped closer.

"I'm alright. I mean, I spent the last few days here, in my second favorite place, recovering from the second heart problem I've had in at least a week."

Valentin rolled his eyes, trying not to smirk.

Me: I swear the Wallace in him is always jumping out😂

Charlotte gave him a small smile, "So you and your parents moved?"

"Um…no. Just me and my dad."

"Aunt Irina didn't go?"

"No. She…stayed behind."

"You were without your mom for a long time. I'm without my mom too."

"I'm sorry," Dex frowned.

"She has a brain issue the way you have a heart issue. She's getting care elsewhere in the state."

"Have you gone to see her?"

"No…no," Charlotte shook her head, feeling tears well up. Dex laid a hand on her shoulder.

"I hope she comes back to you someday. You deserve to have her in your life again."

"Thank you," Charlotte smiled.

"C'mere," Dex said softly, opening his arms. Charlotte held him tight in response. He ran a hand down her blonde hair in an attempt to comfort her. Eventually, she pulled back.

Me: Yaaas i'm getting more Cassadine cousins bonding time.🥰 Even though I forever want Lulu to stay in that coma I still appreciate this moment he's having with Charlotte.😂

"So, um," she cleared her throat, "are you Dutch?"

"Nope. German."

"Can you speak it?"

"Fluently."

"Can you teach me a few things?"

"Um…" Dex looked around, noticing a pack of cards left on another table. He swiftly got up and grabbed the stack, returning to his seat, "How about a game?"

"What game?"

"Mau-Mau. It's a game my dad taught me as a kid. Ever played Uno?"

"Yeah, often."

"Well, this game is pretty similar to that, just with a few different rules."

Charlotte's smile lit up the area, "Teach me everything."

Me: I truly adored their interaction.🥺

"Well, I'd certainly like to keep them around. Maybe they can find something here."

"Maybe," Anna nodded, "thought for Dex, it'll be fairly difficult."

"He'll find a way," Valentin shrugged, "He found a way with his plot against Victor."

"Yeah…"

Valentin raised an eyebrow, "You have something?"

"I'm not sure how practical it would be, but…why not get him into the bureau?"

Me: THE WAY I SCREAMED "GET MY BOY IN THERE!!! SPY ADVENTURES HERE WE COME!!"

"You think he's capable of being an agent?"

"Well, he needs a purpose, and something tells me working for his father is no longer an option."

Me: I wholeheartedly believe fanon!Dex can do this!! LET MY BOY IN THERE!

"But wouldn't his heart…" Dante gestured around his chest, "y'know…"

"Not if he takes care of himself," Valentin replied, "He'd start the same way we did: no special favors. The more he trains, the more his body will adapt and he'll be able to handle the stress."

"So you're on board with the idea," Anna said.

"It's worth offering to him, but it's his decision in the end. I'm not going to pressure my nephew to say yes, even if I think he should."

Me:

Wallace cleared his throat, "Y'know, when I noticed how unstable and disjointed your stance was with the gun, I was a bit disappointed that you forgot what I taught you. But it's you: you were undercover and you meant to look that way. Shame on me for assuming the worst of you at all…and shame on me for frightening you after you shot me."

Me: Wallace really said "Girl I thought you were getting rusty but then I remembered your that bitch and immediately felt shame for ever doubting you." Like sir really forgot who she was for a second there.😂

Wallace briefly bit his bottom lip, "Your family…maybe I was a bit too prejudiced against them because of your mother. I mean, your father was as wicked as they came, and Nikolas certainly isn't much of an upstanding citizen, but the others? They're alright, Valentin being the best behind you, of course."

Me: My main man complimenting my side piece. Wooow

Tears burned his brown eyes, "Just…wake up, Irina. Come back. Come back to me, to our boy, to the members of your family that love you. Don't let Victor take away the second chance you have. Please, liebling, please. I love you."

Wallace pressed his hands against his forehead, trying to suppress his sadness. He then felt something move against his palms. Blinking, he lowered his hands back down to be level with the bed and watched in amazement as Irina began to move.

Me: ✨S-O-U-L-M-A-T-I-S-M ✨

"Irina," he choked out as her eyes fluttered open, "Irina, it's me, it's Wallace."

"B…" she stuttered gently, squinting as she adjusted to the light, "B-Baby…"

"Liebling…"

"Baby," her voice was clearer, "Where…Where is my baby?"

"Dex-" Wallace cut in, "Dex is with Charlotte in the hospital cafeteria. He's okay, love. He's okay."

"...Wallace…" she groaned, "dearest…"

"I'm right here," he held her hand tight, "I'm right here."

"You're…alive…I…I shot you…oh God-"

"Hey, hey, hey," Wallace cooed, "it's okay. You didn't hurt me. You did nothing wrong."

"I…" Irina felt tears sting her eyes, "Oh Wallace…"

"It's okay," he pulled her hand up, gently kissing her knuckles.

Me:

"Victor…he did this…"

"That he did, and luckily, he's gone."

"Gone?"

"I got rid of him."

"You…killed my father?"

"I did. He can't wreak havoc on any of us anymore. None of them can."

Tears flowed from the woman's eyes, streams running down her cheeks. Wallace scooted closer, pulling her into a tight hug.

Me: I just know victor is in hell punching the air😂

"You're free," he gently whispered, her sobs mostly drowning him out, "You're finally free, liebling. You don't have to hide or isolate yourself, you don't have to play the part your parents forced upon you."

He held her close, "You and I and Dex…we can finally be a family. We can finally be together again. We won."

"Wallace…" she cried as he pulled away. She gripped his arms tight, holding him in place. Their faces were inches apart, and he smirked at the hesitancy in her eyes.

"Do it," he said.

Her lips were soft as she pulled him in to kiss them. Her hands cupped his cheeks, keeping him still while pulling him deeper into the feeling. Wallace ran his hands down to her torso, keeping them on either side. They moved in sync with one another the longer the kiss went on, with Wallace pulling away first.

Me:

"I missed you," Irina whispered, "All those years we spent apart…unbearable."

"I missed you too," he replied in the same tone, "God, I missed you too. I love you."

"I love you too."

"Mom?"

Irina pulled away from another kiss to look past Wallace. Dex stood in the doorway, eyes wide with surprise.

"Dex?" Wallace asked, "Where's your cousin?"

"Laura…picked her up…Mom…"

"Hi, baby," she beamed as Wallace pulled back, "come here."

"Mom-" the young man rushed over and wrapped his arms around her.

"My boy," she cooed, running a hand through his hair. She kissed the side of his head, "you're here, you're really here. Thank God you're okay."

"Thank God you're okay."

"I love you."

"I love you too."

"We're all here," Wallace cut in. Dex pulled away from Irina and sat down on the stool. She grabbed his hand, haphazardly intertwining his fingers with hers, "We're all together."

Dex sucked in his lips, glancing away from the man. He cast his eyes towards the bedding as Wallace continued: "The Cassadines, the ones who were evil, anyway, are no longer a threat. All those years that we spent apart are finally in the past. No longer will we have to hide out or break our own hearts to escape death. We're…we're finally a whole family. We got what we've always wanted; we won."

Me: Wow the Heller's really are my emotional support family. Love that for me.😌

[reincarnated70sbaby]

linger

listen before you read!

robert plant xfem!oc

warnings : drug use, swearing, trucklot of angst ;)

word count : 2.1k

an: was listening to ‘linger’ by the cranberries and I couldn’t pass up this angsty idea I got 😎 timeline is off but yolo ig...

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

Sloane leaned down to the table to take an extra line for her pre-performance nerves. She felt a little more nervous today, this particular concert being one of the largest yet. She was the front woman of The CAPs, who were opening for Led Zeppelin for their summer of ‘69 tour. This was exactly the break the band needed, finally getting recognition for all their talent and hard work over the last two years.

She applied a little powder to her face, and patted on her classic red lipstick to her slightly chapped lips. Securing the clasps of her platform red heels, she shook her body in hopes of shaking away her anxious jitters. Once she had finished her body-shaking ritual, she walked out from the wings of the stage.

As she walked across to centre stage, wind blowing through the holes of her white crochet dress. The crowd cheered loudly as the band waved to them.

“How’s everyone doin’ today? It’s so hot today, my boobs are sweating off!” She greeted the crowd with her bubbly nature. Adjusting the mic stand to her height, she continued to address the huge crowd. “Today’s set list will have a slight adjustment to it, we’re starting off with a new song I wrote just last night. It’s a little softer than our other music, so just sit back- or should I say lean back on the person behind you - and relax. This is called ‘Linger’ "

While she was speaking to the crowd, a teenage roadie ran onto the stage and placed a stool, for Sloane to sit on, and disappeared again in a heartbeat. The crowd, didn’t even take notice of the young boy, entranced with the tawny blonde singer as usual.

Sloane sat down, crossed her legs and nodded toward Rory, to begin. Rory started picking a simple guitar melody on his trusty Gibson acoustic, the first guitar he ever picked up. Sloane swayed lightly to the rhythm, eyes on the horizon above the crowd. Soon after, Marshall joined in with quiet, but strong beat on drums. At the same time, Oscar added the baseline to the song.

Taking a deep breath, Sloane began the song.

If you, If you could return, Don’t let it burn, Don’t let it fade, I’m sure I’m not being rude, It’s just your attitude, It’s tearing me apart, It’s ruining every day

I swore, I swore I would be true, But honey so did you, So why were you holding her hand? Is that the way we stand? We’re you lying all the time? Was it just a game to you?

Sloane sang gently, her eyes closed with a pained look on her face. She thought back to the day before, when everything fell apart.

———

“Sloane, honey, please tell me what’s wrong! You’re being so closed off with me today!” Robert pleaded, grabbing her hand while she was walking away. Sloane yanked her hand away and walked towards an empty storeroom in the hotel corridor.

“Don’t get any ideas, we need to talk privately” Sloane commanded as she entered into the storeroom. It had barely enough space for both of them to fit, being crammed full with towels and bedsheets.

“Please, love, jus’ tell me what’s bothering you, I wanna make you happy”

“Oh fuck off Robert, you’re so fake and a liar. These past couple of months have all been a lie!”

“What’re talkin’ about? I have never lied to you once”

“Seriously? ‘I’ve never lied to you’? Are you actually for real right now? Do you know what I just found out Robert? You’re fucking married! And she’s coming here tonight! You didn’t think I would deserve to know that!” She yelled, ignoring her previous statement about keeping this private.

“I didn’t tell you because I was scared okay? I have never felt like this before with anyone else. All the groupies were just for sex, but when I met you I had fallen for you Slo, you make me a better person in every way”

“I don’t care how I make you feel, you’re still married! With kids! How would they feel if they found out their father was in a relationship with a woman other than their mother? I can’t believe you did this to me willingly, even after I told you what happened with my parents. That messed me up, seeing my father with another woman, and leaving my mother for her. Never seeing him again, choosing his new family over me and my siblings. That hurts me the most Robert, you knew my history and you ignored it!” Sloane cried out, tears falling freely on her face, running her dark eye makeup.

“I never meant to hurt you love, you mean so much to me. I just didn’t think- I never fuckin think, but I my feelings were so strong for you, I never thought about Maureen, I’m shamed to admit it” Robert plead, guilt weighing on his conscience. He reached out to wipe her tears away, but Sloane turned her head, the same pained look on her face.

“We’re done. I can’t stay with someone who could forget about their own wife and kids, and forget to tell their girlfriend that she’s actually a mistress. Goodbye” Sloane said, pushing her way out of the cramped closet, before running to the elevator at the end of the hall.

———

But I’m in so deep, You know I’m such a fool for you, You got me wrapped around your finger, Do you have to let it linger? Do you have to? Do you have to let it linger?

Sloane sang emotionally, a single tear escaped her tear duct. She took the break for guitar solo to take a couple deep breathes, and to calm her heightened emotions down.

Oh, I thought the world of you, I thought nothing could go wrong, But I was wrong, I was wrong

If you, if you could get by, Trying not to lie, Things wouldn’t be so confused, And I wouldn’t feel so used, But you always knew, I just want to be with you

———

Sloane sat at the large round table, sipping her wine. The two bands had just completed all the concerts in France, and were having a celebratory dinner for the night. The lights were dim in the fancy restaurant, but Sloane could still see the heartbreaking sight of Maureen and Robert cozying up to eachother. She longed to be the one Robert was dedicated to, to be his Maureen, to be the one who sipped on his beer instead of her wine for a change, to rest her hand on his knee. She wished to be the one who would sleep with him in bed each night, without a worry of cheating or unfaithfulness. Her heart was also broken for Maureen, she was so inlove with Robert, as was he with her. She was also probably the greatest mother out there, being a single parent for a lot of the year.

Sloane switched her focus from the smitten couple, to Marshall and John Bonham's discussion on gongs, congas and all exotic drums.

Everything had been going so well, the concerts each night going to wonderfully, the bands got on great together. Even all the touring crew and management got on well with eachother. It was like one, big, slightly dysfunctional family.

Sloane wished she could vent to one of her bandmates about her case of ill fated love, but she knew if she told any of the CAP boys, tension would arise between the bands, and she simply couldn't bear to break the harmony.

“I’m sorry everyone, but I feel a bit ill and I think it would be best if I went to my room” Sloane announced, rising from her chair. She briefly locked eyes with Robert, before averting her eyes that threatened to fill with tears.

“Are you sure you’re okay Slo? I can come up and look after you if you feel faint or anything?” Rory asked genuinely, concerned for his little sister, he noticed she had been a little less bubbly than normal today.

“I’m fine Ror, I’ll think being on the go and travelling for the last couple of months has caught up with me. I’ll call you if I need you. Love you” she said, hugging him tightly.

“Love you, stay safe sis”

A chorus of goodbyes were heard as she left the table and walked out of the brassiere restaurant.

As soon as she entered her large room, she decided to clean up her stuff in order to distract herself. She folded all her clothes, tucked all her shoes into her suitcase, and cleaned up her makeup station on the vanity, placing the assortment of beauty products in the black makeup bag she owned.

After she was done cleaning, she ordered a couple bottles of wine, with some croissant from room service, taking advantage of the readily available French delicacies.

Lowering herself into the warm bubble bath she ran while waiting for her room service, her mind wandered to the whole situation, creating lyrics in her head. Luckily she brought her songbook, so there was no need to get out of the bath in search for it. She poured her heart out into the lyrics. After finishing the lyrics up, she soaked for a little longer, until she felt herself pruning and wrapped the fuzzy bath robe around herself.

She was about to turn off her bedside light to sleep, when she heard a light knock on the door. Her head scrambled, trying to figuring out who it was. Must be Rory checking up on me she thought. Opening the door, her heart skipped a beat at the visitor.

“Sloane let me-“

“Robert, please, I told you we were over”

“Will you let me speak, I need to talk to you”

Sloane stepped aside from the door, letting him in. She guided him to the seating area of the room, not wanting to risk being near the bed.

“Uh, d’want tea or something?” Sloane asked the blonde man, the air heavy with awkward tension.

“Yeah sure, love. That’d be great” Robert answered warmly.

“So, what do you want to say” Sloane asked, pushing his tea on front of him.

“Sloane, I’m sorry. I still do love you and I hate that I fucked everything up. I was just so infatuated- I still am, and I regret that I made you feel upset. I just want to say sorry”

“I- I still love you too Robert, it wasn’t just one sided, I really thought you were the one”

“Sloane, I don’t know what to say… If- if you ask me to, I will. I want you. I want to be yours.”

“Robert- I. I can’t do that. As much as I want to love you and be with you, I can’t be a homewrecker. I’ve seen the way you are with Maureen, you love her. I know in my gut that you’re better off with her. She loves you and deserves you 100%” Sloane’s face was wet with tears.

“Uh, okay. I’m sorry love, I really wish I didn’t fuck up our relationship. I really hope that one day we can be friends again, when you’re ready” Robert got up to leave, but was stopped when Sloane grabbed his hand.

“There’s a part of me that will always love you Robert. This was wonderful while it lasted” She spoke with a sad smile on her face.

Robert squeezed her hand in agreement, before exiting the room.

———

And I’m in so deep, You know I’m such a fool for you You got me wrapped around your finger, oh, Do you have to let it linger? Do you have to? Do you have to let it linger?

Oh I’m in so deep, You know I still have love for you, My love has wrapped me round your finger, oh, Do you have to let it linger? Do you have? Do you have to let it linger?

The CAPs finished their song, and Sloane stood up to thank the crowd.

“Robert, darling, there you are. Was that singer at the dinner last night?” Maureen asked warmly to her husband, joining him in the wings.

“Uh, yeah, but she left early because of travel sickness y’know the sort” Robert answered absentmindedly, his deep blue eyes trained on the lead singer, who was preparing for the next song in the band’s set list.

“I must have missed her. She’s gorgeous, isn’t she? I love that song she just sang, great voice” Maureen mused, admiring Sloane’s confidence , akin to her husbands.

“Yeah, yeah she is. She’s a beautiful person, inside and out”

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

my first Robert fic!!! I’m more of a Jimmy girl, but I love the golden god too (Leo men <3)

as always, any criticism/ideas are welcome in my inbox or comments 🤍

tag list : @dreamersdrowse @rebel-without-a-zeppelin @princesspagey ask me if you would like to be added!!

[fandomwriterstuff]

Traumtänzer (Pt. 2)

Rated T

German Translations:

Mein Gott - My God

Der Herr de Ringe - The Lord of the Rings

Il Principe - The Prince

Part 1

Part 3

“So… He went back in time to meet up with a woman he kissed once and who was happily married with children?” You asked skeptically. That didn’t sound like the Steven you’d known. But then again, you hadn’t known him all that well.

“It’s confusing, but that’s the gist of it,” Sam interjected, taking a sip of his tea. The four of you were getting cozy in your living room, though it was a bit small. Sam and James shared the couch and you and the Baron found yourselves in arm chairs.

“Why are you so willing to stick your neck out for him?” James asked, looking for more information.

“He,” you paused. How much should you say? “He helped me out when I had nothing,” you shrugged and looked down into your empty teacup. Chamomile had always been a favorite of yours.

“That explains why you owe him a favor, but you’re really going out of your way. You know we’re harboring a criminal,” James nodded towards the Baron. You squinted your eyes at him, wondering if he could be trusted.

“He kept my secret… He found out my background and he didn’t turn me over to the authorities or insist I go get tested on,” you could tell you’d piqued their attention with that one. It was true, what you’d been thinking before. You didn’t tell anyone about your background, but Wanda had seen you and told Steven, and he helped you get off the grid. “How do I know I can trust you?”

“You don’t,” the Baron finally spoke up. “But we’re not in a place to be helping SHIELD out considering the circumstances, so we have no real reason to turn you over.” You accepted his answer with a frown. It wasn’t a lot but he was right.

“I knew the Maximoffs when they worked for HYDRA because my parents were secretly HYDRA agents,” you looked down into the teacup again, fighting the tensing of your muscles and the urge to run. “They sent me in to be experimented on by the-” You lost the word for scepter. Damn it all. “The thing, you know.” You rolled your eyes and growled, swearing in Sokovian. The Baron smirked at that. “ The scepter, god what’s the fucking word,” you mumbled in Sokovian. You knew James and Sam wouldn’t understand but the Baron was Sokovian and should be helping you out. “ Help a girl out,” you pleaded in Sokovian, and you could tell he was holding back a laugh.

“The scepter?” He added in English.

“Yes!” You exclaimed. “They experimented on me with the scepter!” You were so excited to have found the correct word, you didn’t notice the silence or meaningful glances James and Sam sent each other. “So I got some cool powers, they ran a lot of tests, terrible time,” You continued quickly, wanting to get this part over with. “Steven knew this, and helped me get off the grid. I owe him more than a favor, I owe him my freedom, my life,” you said emphatically.

“So you’re HYDRA?” James asked, tensing up. You glared over at him.

“I do not associate myself with Nazis, James,” you were cold, but this was a tough topic. “I was forcibly experimented on for years, and you think I would willingly associate myself with them? You should know better.”

He had the self-awareness to look a little ashamed, though you couldn’t care less. You didn’t need his shame or his pity.

After a brief pause, you sighed. “You can stay here for a little bit. Where are you going next?”

“Madripoor,” the Baron answered smoothly, and you choked on your own spit.

“ Mein Gott,” you mumbled. “Why on Earth would you want to go there?”

“We have business there,” he said, noncommittal. You raised your eyebrows, so it was top secret. Interesting. You stared at each other for a moment, unsure where your next words would lead you. You didn’t want to push too far but your curiosity was burning.

“I suppose I will prepare dinner,” you finally said after losing a staring contest with a criminal.

It was an uneventful night. You prepared food and you all ate in silence. It was only later when you were sitting in the living room reading Der Herr der Ringe that things got weird. James was sharpening a knife while Sam fiddled with some electronics. The Baron was reading your copy of Il Principe quietly.

“ What is your superpower, then? Wanda has her mind tricks and Pietro had his speed,” the Baron was speaking in quiet Sokovian, though he didn’t even glance up from his book. You noticed James side-eye him, but he left it for the moment.

“ I hardly think I should tell you,” you huffed. He raised a single eyebrow, still looking down at the book.

“ Indulge a poor curious man,” he finally looked up and caught you in his gaze. You felt pulled towards him, like his fluent Sokovian was a homing beacon and you just wanted to be near him. It was dangerous, but you hadn’t spoken Sokovian in ages, nobody here knew it and it was becoming a dead language.

“ They called me a dreamwalker,” you whispered in your native language. “ I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” you frowned at yourself. You couldn’t trust him. But he was right, who was he going to tell? Alerting the authorities to you would also alert the authorities to him. You kept eye contact with him this time, tilting your head.

“ Tell me, Maus. How does dreamwalking work?”

“ I-”

“English please,” Sam groaned. You pursed your lips and made a quick decision to lie to him. He would have no such issues alerting the authorities. He was an Avenger.

“I was simply telling the Baron about my book. Der Herr der Ringe. The Lord of the Rings,” you replied smoothly.

“What’s so interesting about it?” James asked, this time genuinely curious. Though what was more curious was the small smile the Baron was giving you. You felt your cheeks burn at the attention and tried to hide it by glancing back down at your book.

“It’s the follow on to The Hobbit and follows the third age of Middle Earth,” you began, but James’ jaw had dropped.

“There was a sequel to the Hobbit and you didn’t tell me,” he glared at Sam, who only raised his hands placatingly.

“Dude, I didn’t know you were so into fantasy,” Sam raised his eyebrows.

“It’s actually three books,” you added. “Not just a sequel.”

“Oh man,” James shook his head. “I have been missing out. Is Gandalf still in it?”

You nodded, smiling. The previous topic was forgotten, you started telling him about the movies and how they helped you learn English.

All throughout the evening though, the Baron was glancing at you, trying to figure you out. You were sure he was curious about your powers, though you were sort of afraid to tell him. At the same time… It would be such a relief to talk to somebody about it.

You retired early after setting up the pull out couch and allowing the three men to figure out where they would sleep. They agreed that Sam and James would share the couch and the Baron would take the single bed in the guest room. Their explanation was that they’d be closest to the door if he tried to escape. You couldn’t sleep though, images from your past running through your mind.

It was nearing four when you simply decided to get up, make some tea, grab your book, and return to your room.

However, when you got to the kitchen, the Baron was sitting quietly at the table in the dark sipping on some tea.

“ Good morning,” you whispered in Sokovian, trying not to wake the men in the next room over. The Baron tilted his head towards you and smiled softly, the dark shadowed his face but you could see his features fine. You’d always preferred the night time and the darkness that came with it.

“ Couldn’t sleep? ” He replied in the same language. It must be nice for him to be able to speak it again, just like it was for her.

“ No,” you sighed. “ My mind was racing. And on top of that I’m not used to having guests.”

“You’re uncomfortable being vulnerable around us?” He asked softly, but you shook your head.

“ That’s not it.  I don’t want to accidentally walk into one of your dreams. I’m out of practice.”

He nodded sagely, it would make sense. You seemed like a polite girl and you likely wouldn’t want to intrude.

“ Tea? I made extra,” he gestured towards the teapot where steam was still rising and you smiled, smelling the chamomile.

“ Thank you,” you murmured and poured yourself a cup before sitting down at the table with him. “ You couldn’t sleep either?”

“Too much to do and plan,” he replied with a shrug of one shoulder. “ Will you tell me about your powers?”

You sighed, resigned, and nodded.

“ I suppose it wouldn’t hurt. I can walk through dreams and change them. It works for daydreams too, when people are in ‘the zone,’”  you explained. “ Though it’s harder then, when people are awake.”

I can also project my thoughts into other people’s minds you spoke this time directly in his head and his eyebrows shot up.

I haven’t figured out how to read minds per se, but I’m hoping I can learn.

“ Fascinating. Absolutely sensational,” you blinked and blushed at the praise, hoping he wouldn’t notice in the dark room. “ You’re incredible, Maus. Is there anything you can’t do?” He chuckled and you ducked your head, looking up at him through your lashes with a small smile. “ Oh, that’s not all, is it?” He wondered, a slow smile spreading on his face when you nodded your agreement.

“ It’s new… I have only developed it since my time in this flat. But just as I can project my thoughts, I can project my body. Sort of like teleporting,”  you murmured, smiling again when he looked at you, astounded.

“ You truly are wonderful,” he praised you again, this time noting your reaction. You spoke with him for a little while after that about the places you’d teleported to, but you found you’d drifted off when you ‘awoke’ in the dreamscape.

It looked like a forest, this place that your mind conjured. In the forest were many trees and shrubs but also little glimmering puddles. Those were the dreams. You walked as if in a trance, sometimes you had no control in the dreamscape. The puddle nearest to you was dark and murky, you were frightened and your chest tightened up, but you couldn’t hold back as you dipped your toes in and were immersed in the dream.

It was dark. It was always dark at first. But then there was a light and a voice.

You searched and walked around, looking for it, but you regretted entering this… this… this nightmare.

It was James as the Winter Soldier on a dark, cold night. You watched the scene as if in slow motion, and screamed as he killed his friend and his wife.

He jerked back to look at you, noticing you for the first time, and stalked towards you.

“You’re next,” he growled at you, but you scrambled backwards, trying to find your way out of the dream. You tried to conjure something to snap him out of it. You could usually do whatever you wanted, so you changed the scenery. You were on a hot beach, white sand beneath our bare feet, and the Winter Soldier kept stalking towards you.

“Let me out!” you screamed at him. “Let me out!”

You gasped and fell from your chair, and the Baron shot up to catch you.

“ Maus? Are you alright?” his arms were warm around you as you shook off the last of the terror. You were afraid of dying in a dream. You weren’t sure if you’d wake up.

“What the fuck?” James growled from the door frame, rumpled and angry.

“I am sorry,” you choked out. “I did not mean-”

“Stay out of my head,” he cut you off and retreated to the couch, where Sam sat, confused.

“ You might want to stay out of his dreams,” the Baron whispered, arms still caging you in, but you appreciated the strength as tears pricked at your eyes. You hated when people raised their voices.

“ I can’t always control it. I couldn’t get out,” you choked on the words. You huffed a ragged breath and righted yourself, finally pulling away from the Baron. “ I’ll start breakfast,” you mumbled and turned away from him so he couldn’t see the few tears you allowed to fall from fear and apprehension.

Masterlist

[theunderwoodtypist]

The Huntress, Chapter 1

Eyes watched her as she walked through the crowded promenade.  Nervous gazes flitted her direction, quickly redirecting away from her when she glanced back.  Her ears perked at any and all whispered, hushed tones.  Station denizens stepped out of her path, staring with wide eyes as she passed.  Station security chose to look the other way.  As they had learned from past run ins with her kind.  She found the club she had been searching for, the one with a curtain of beads partitioning it off from the bustling walkway outside, the large tinted windows offered very little view of the inside except some shadowy movement.  She stood just outside the club, eyes flicking back and forth, studying the crowd inside through the multicolored beads.  The scent of tobacco, marijuana, and other herbal inhalants burned her nostrils.  She brushed the strands of beads aside and pulled the cloth covering her face down with one hand, and pulling her goggles up, resting them on her forehead, just shy of her pointed ears, with the other.  The blue and violet lights pulsed along with the thumping of the music.  Dancers wearing translucent garments of various colors danced on pedestals in a ring around the circular bar that took up the center of the establishment.  Her whiskers could feel the faint static charge of the invisible forcefields around the pedestals, in place either to keep the patrons from getting handsy with the dancers, or to keep the dancers from escaping, she wasn’t sure which.  In the back by the bar twin stair cases curved upward to a small balcony.  A single doorway, also curtained by beads, lead to the back rooms.  She surveyed the crowd carefully, sizing each patron up.  They were a rough crowd, civilian cargo runners mostly, stopping at the station to unload and get some much needed relaxation.  She recognized a few smugglers she had picked up before.  Most of the patrons were honest and hard working, others simple men and women trying to make their way in the galaxy, though through illegal means.  Which suited her just fine.  A hunter was nothing if she didn’t have prey to pursue.  The one she was after was a goblin.  Nasty little things.  Orange skin, pointed teeth, large ears.  They were disgusting little ghouls, slimy and they smelled of bile.  He was worth quite a bit, and her sources told her he knew things.  Things she needed to know.  His twin ran the bar here.  The owner was some unknown individual, some benefactor that hid in the shadows.  They probably kept the bar going to traffic weapons or drugs.  Why else would someone not want their name on the documents? She approached the bar after she was satisfied with her initial survey of the crowd.  The squat orange goblin looked her up and down for a moment.

“well…”  he said in a slimy, rasping voice, showing her his yellowed pointed fangs.  “Not too often we get mau in here…  What can I get for you little kitty?”  She ignored the derogatory remark and pointed at a bottle of blue liquid in the glass case behind the bar.  The goblin turned and pulled the bottle out and poured a small splash of it in a glass and slid it across the bar to her.  She set a rounded flat disk on the bar and tapped the surface of it.  Sand-like particles orientated themselves into the three dimensional image of another goblin.

“Do you know where he is?”  she asked coldly.  The goblin scowled at the image.

“What’s he done this time?”  He hissed.

“He owes my employer enough credits to buy a small star cruiser.”  She hissed back, showing her own sharp teeth.  

“Listen little kitty, why don’t you run on back to your employer, before you get your pretty little self hurt.”  he growled.  She smirked.  She loved when they played hard to get.

“Just tell me where he is, and I won’t bring you in as well, for the two and a half thousand credit bounty you have on you.”  she downed her drink in one gulp and glanced over her shoulder across the club, just to check on her surroundings.  Her eyes locked onto an eros boy.  He was young, not much into adulthood.  His black hair was unruly, and his grey skin made him look almost like a shadow in the pulsing lights around him.  He studied her with his mismatched blue and green eyes.  He was armed.  A handgun of some sort, holstered on his thigh, as well as a few knives.  He wasn’t wearing the security band around his upper arm that meant he was permitted to carry a weapon.  He had probably snuck around the security check points.  He had an air of nobility, but the posture of a man who was unfazed by violence and death.  He offered her a soft,  gentle smile.  If things went wrong… She would have to drop him quickly. She turned back to the goblin.

“Have you decided?”  She asked, gesturing for the goblin to refill her glass.  He obliged and she downed the drink.

“My brother is in the back rooms.  I’ll go get him for you…”  He said with an unsettling fanged grin.  

“Good boy…”  She smirked, watching him closely as he went up the stairs and into the back.  She unbuckled the strap holding her side arm in place on her thigh and glanced around, looking for the eros again, but he had vanished.  Good… eros tended to be excellent marksman, and small targets to hit.  She didn’t want to have to deal with more bloodshed then necessary.  The goblin bartender rushed out of the back rooms with a disrupter rifle in hand.  She swore loudly and pulled her handgun before dropping to the floor as red hot bursts of plasmic energy streaked through the air.  The cub erupted in screams and panic as patrons scrambled to get away from the weapon fire.  She peaked over the bar and fired twice toward the goblin.  Both shots missed, but she didn’t have a good shot.  She figured he would want to take cover if he was being shot at.  She had been right, the goblin ducked back into the back room, giving her enough time to scramble to her feet and find a better vantage point.  There were nine fairly well covered spots in the club, each, unfortunately, left her back open, and she wasn’t sure how many of the patrons were part of this goblin’s inner circle and armed.  She pulled her goggles down again and fired a few more shots as she moved, ducking behind one of the dancer’s pedestals.  The boy atop it cowered, unable to get off because of the forcefield, but safe because of it as well.  Disrupter blaster scorched the wall behind her and the ceiling.  Patrons were still clambering to get out of the club, crawling over each other, shoving each other to the ground.  They had effectively blocked the only way in or out.  The goblin would be hers.  She fired twice and ducked down again as disrupter blasts impacted the forcefield, their energy redistributed and funneled into the power buffers.  If enough hit the field, it could overload and cause the emitters to explode. A few more blasted hit the field.  She swore under her breath and fired a few more times.  This was going no where quickly, and at this rate she would loose the majority of the bounty paying for the damages.  She grumbled and pulled a few small disks from a few of the numerous pouches on her belt and on her thigh.  She flicked her wrist back, sending them flying toward the goblin.  One flashed brightly, the other erupted in a cloud of smoke.  She dove out from her cover and fired twice into the cloud of smoke.  She stayed still, watching, waiting…  She knew she hit one of the goblins, she could see him struggling to get up with her goggle’s infrared scans.  She cautiously approached the stairs.  She kicked the disrupter rifle over the edge of the platform at the top of the stairs and pulled the goblin to his feet.  He laughed and then winced in pain.  She had shot him in the shoulder and the calf, no permanent damage.

“Why are you laughing?” She hissed.  He looked into the back room.  She followed his gaze and froze.  There was no other goblin…  He had lied…  Her eyes locked onto a pulsing  red light on the floor.  A second disrupter was set in overload on the verge of going critical.      

“It will destroy half the station!” He cackled.  She swore loudly in her native tongue and dove off the balcony. She grabbed one of the heavy mahogany tables and flipped it over, ducking behind it just as the disrupter went critical.  The blast blew out all the heavy tempered glass around the entrance of the club, forcing club goers, tables, bar stools, and other decor and objects through them, including herself.  She hit the ground hard, coming to a tumbling halt, shards of glass and bits of the composite bulkheads were strewn around her, like someone had thrown them about like confetti.  She pushed herself up and, her head spinning, ears ringing.   Clearly the explosion did not destroy half the station…  She struggled to her feet, barely keeping her balance, staring at the smoking front of the club. People dragged their friend’s lifeless bodies out from under debris, people wailed and screamed,  others lay lifeless, killed by the blast. She looked around for her handgun. It had been knocked from her hands by the blast.  The glint of gold caught her attention a few feet away.  She pulled the gun from the debris and reloaded it, limping back into the club to confirm the kill. Before she could make it back inside, station security had her surrounded.  She swore and jammed her gun back into its holster and pulled her goggles back up as she raised her hands over her head.

“My name is Tivali, I’m with the Hunter’s Guild, I have permission from the station master to use deadly force if necessary here.”  she said as the security guards pulled her arms behind her back, fastening restraints to her wrists.  She rolled her eyes but complied with every order they gave her, and answered every question. This was merely an inconvenience…  A rather annoying, time consuming, headache of an inconvenience that would cost her time, money, and her prey… 

[grantiskeith]

The Garden Path to Hell (William x reader) Pt2

Words: 1.1k

Warnings: Blood, mentions of an attack, hurt/comfort I did not have a real reason to be on my land that night. I wish I had and then I would have someone to blame it on. It happened so fast that I barely had time to form a memory. But here I was, blood pouring down my neck and shoulder. Grasping my wounds and gasping for air, running as fast as my legs would take me into William's land. I collapsed behind a tree and pulled my phone out. It put it to my ear listening to the rings. God please pick up. "Hello, this is William" "William" my voice was shaking while I was whispering and crying at the same time. "I was attacked, I'm in your land, near the lilac bushes" "Stay there I'm coming" he hung up. I laid my head back against the tree and pressed my hand hard into my shoulder that was ripped open. Before a drop of blood could roll from my neck onto my collar bone, he was there. Maybe I had blacked out for a second. There's no way he ran that fast. Maybe I just couldn't see a car. "Oh dear" he said, kneeling in front of me. I felt like I was melting into the forest floor but his calm nature brought me back. He put his cold fingers under my chin and lifted my head up. I let out a hiss at the movement of my cuts and scratches. Tears poured down my cheeks from the pain. "These are deep bites and scratches" he looked into my eyes over his glasses. "Do not be alarmed my Maus, I will take care of you" I tried to nod my head but William put his hand over my eyes and the world went dark. My neck and my shoulder burned, that was the first sensation that hit my conscious nerves. The next was that I couldn't open my eyes. My ears seemed to be the only thing functioning. "Be still my Maus, please do not hold your breath the way you are doing now." I let go of a deep breath, letting my chest completely deflate. Although as soon as I did, a foreign and jarring noise met my ears and I felt my whole body become full of tingles. I gasped and held my breath again. "What was that?" William chuckled to himself, "I will tell you in a moment, I am glad you are feeling better otherwise you would not have been able to ask the question. "Please, open your eyes now" I squinted and allowed my eyes to adjust to the dim light. I didn't realize I was even in a bed, let alone lying down. I was in a beautiful office on a bed in the corner. William was on a chair next to me, smiling. I braced my arms to lift myself up, groaning as I did. "Please Maus," he put the tips of his finger on my shoulders to force me back on the bed but I had already pushed my back against the wall so I could look him in the eye, "give yourself a moment of rest." "Thank you for your kindness," I said, trying to match his seemingly constant formal tone. "You have awoken in my office, I brought you here to tend to your wounds which I hope are feeling better, yes?" He put both hands under my chin and lifted my head up slightly. His hands were cold like a mannequin and unnaturally strong, a thought briefly crossed my mind that he was a robot. Once my neck was open to him, he slowly slid his fingertips so gently under my chin. Again he slid them from under my ear and down to my collar bone. A shiver sent down my spine caused me to shake. There was no pain. I lifted my own fingers to my neck and gasped. "What happened! Where are the cuts!" William chuckled to himself, "why don't you relax for a moment and I will tell you in a moment. I will return with some tea. There is a privy around the corner if you please." He stood to go. "Wait! Tell me first please." My shock turned into curiosity. "Be patient my Maus, I will return" he got up to leave. Before William came back with the tea, I heard him discussing something in the hallway. He opened the door but before he came in, I saw a younger man pass him in the hallway. William handed me a steaming mug, "the color has returned to your face, you are enchanting." I knew for a fact that I was not but I ignored the comment in favor of more pressing concerns. "Could you please tell me what happened? Did I dream that attack?" "I

will tell you everything you need to know." He did. He

told me I was most likely attacked by a leprechaun because one was spotted on his land earlier in the day. He told me healed me with magic and showed me on a bruise on my arm. And after he told me all this, I sat silently for a long time. At his request, I stayed in his house for a while longer. At my request, he left me alone in his office to think. The sun peered through the window and I did not see him for several hours. Meanwhile, I was alone in his office reading his copy of The Mystery of Edwin Drood by Charles Dickens. The sun started to go down when he returned. "I was certain that you had left, but I'm glad that you have not." He came back looking slightly more refreshed but just as pale. "That is because I have more questions and you have more to tell me," I said, for the first time taking control of the conversation. "I'm buying the idea of a leprechaun for the moment and I'll concede on your healing magic because you gave me a demonstration" I got up from behind his desk where I was sitting. "But now I want to know who are you? A wizard? Some crazy illusionist?" William stood patiently watching me pace the room. "This desk I'm standing behind has to be at least 300 years old and I would just accept that you are a rich person, but that doesn't explain this!" I pointed to a framed photo on the wall. "Is that you and Winston Churchill?" "Please sit back down and I will explain the nature of my being," he said gesturing to a chair on his side of the desk. I wanted to tell them that I would rather stand and that I demanded an answer immediately. But I sat. "I have found in situations such as these that it is best to have the facts speak for themselves" he smiled at me before two fangs fell down from his mouth. I stood up from my seat and walked past him to the door, "Thank you for your hospitality, I'll see myself out."

[alkhale]

Typetober Day 8: encounters and partings

In light of a Memos update coming veeeerrrryyyyy sooooooon (to the reader who asked for an update because today was their birthday, i’m sorry i wasn’t able to make it :( but i promise i’ll make it up to you! hope you had an amazing one <3)

A flurry of bodies rushed past her legs, nearly toppling her over. Hoku wobbled, grabbing the wooden pillar of the shop beside her before she could fall flat on her face. She scowled, whirling around with one hand curled into a fist. “Hey! Stupid brats, watch where you’re going! You could get someone killed!”

“Sorry, lady!” one of the boys hollered, breaking out into a chorus of laughter as they ran. The smallest one tripped, forcing the other two to brake on their heels. They quickly rushed back, hauling him up by his arms and running away with him in tow.

Hoku stopped at the sight, fist loosening in the air. She felt a little quiet all of a sudden, staring at their backs as the three boys laughed, heads tossed high and smiles bright until they disappeared entirely from sight.

“Hoku, you’re too slow!”

“Put more effort into it!”

“We’re gonna leave you behind!”

“My star, is something wrong?”

Hoku’s fingers uncurled from her fist. She dropped her hand back down to her side, staring after the empty space between the crowd. 

No. She thought back, reaching behind her to touch Mau’s hilt before she shook her head, turning toward the shop and stepping inside. “It’s nothing.”

Hoku fixed the tie under her chin. Her hood stayed well in place, hiding the bright white hair she’d tucked away for the sake of a little stealth. The island ought to be fine for now since she was just picking up supplies before her next raid, but she couldn’t be too careful. I have to think ahead. I have to be smart.

There wasn’t anyone else around to do it for her.

C’mon, it’s not like I haven’t done this solo thing before. Hoku shook her head, making her way to the back counter of the shop. Her order from last night should be ready by now, so she’d be in and out without a hitch. It’s nothing new.

But it was a bit new. When you’d had something for so long and were forced to live without it, everything became new.

You know what you’ve got to do.

“I’m here to pick up an order from last night,” Hoku said to the man at the counter. 

His eyes flickered in recognition at the mark around her eye and he nodded, shuffling to the back. There was another man at the counter, waiting for his own order. Hoku stopped a polite distance away from him, folding her hands in front of her and waiting, trying to map out how she’d make it to the next marine base without setting off an entire armada. It’s located at the center of the island, so it’ll be a little harder to make the runaway. Can I really handle just going in and getting what I need without causing a fuss? Not causing a fuss had never really been the Straw Hat Pirate’s motto. 

Hoku ignored the tightness in her stomach in the heavy weight in her chest. You’re just getting sentimental. Suck it up.

She glanced to the side, watching the other man at the counter inspect bottles of ink in an attempt to distract herself. He was pretty well-dressed for this part of town. Maybe from the rick mansions up the hillside? Hoku blinked once, watching the thick, gloppy substance churn inside. Ugh, that’s not going to sit well on paper. It would probably bleed right through. It’d stain the brush too. Terrible quality. Don’t buy it, man. It’s not worth it.

He ran a gloved thumb over the label, seemingly fixated on it. Hoku’s eyes swept along, squinting suspiciously when his gloved fingers rolled a heavy bottle to the side, showing its brand.

“Pokian ink?” Hoku said out loud in disbelief. “That’s supposed to be Pokian ink?”

The man paused, his fingers halting over the bottle. Hoku flinched in realization, cursing herself as he started to turn toward her. She quickly whipped her gaze down, making sure her hood kept her covered from his line of sight. There’d been a flash of wavy blonde from his hair underneath his top hat, the collar of his dark coat folded down over his carvat. Don’t make a scene, you dumbass.

“I’m sorry,” he said. His voice was amiable, nice and pleasant. She’d almost say charming, but Hoku had the displeasure of meeting plenty of people with personalities that didn’t match the nice tone of their voice. “Did you... are you familiar? With ink, I mean.”

Hoku considered keeping her mouth shut and just coming off as some rude weirdo. He probably wouldn’t bother her if she just kept quiet and let it go.

“What do you need it for?” Hoku said. She should stab herself in the foot. She really should. “Just for writing?”

“That would be ideal,” he said, sounding a bit relieved for the conversation. He turned his entire body to her, opening up his body language but Hoku kept her gaze forward, refusing to turn her face. “I... I was looking a bit into ink that might be good for painting, though I’m not very good at it.”

“You should buy paint then, not ink,” Hoku said automatically. He seemed a bit surrpised. “If, I mean, you’re going to paint. You can paint with ink, but they’re different for a reason.”

Hoku pointed a finger to the jar in his hands, not turning once. “That’s not good quality for either. Real Pokian ink doesn’t look like that. It’ll have a smooth, thick texture, depending on what it’s for. It might even seem clear sometimes, pinkish. Usually it can be found in black though, but you can tell through a jar by the way it slides when you turn it. Should move like blood.”

“I see,” he said, sounding a little amazed. Hoku nodded, curt. “I... You’re very knowledgable. Are you well-versed with Pokian crafts?”

“...I know a bit,” Hoku said, giving herself a pat on the back for not saying anything else. “Just trust me on this though.”

“I will then,” he said warmly. Hoku blinked, a bit pleased by his compliance. “Sorry,” he laughed. “Do I seem gullible?”

Yikes. Am I that easy to read? “No,” she said, “I’m glad you trust me.”

“It does seem like someone who wouldn’t know the truth wouldn’t have much to say,” he said, a little sly as he dragged his finger down the ink bottle and set it down. “Do you see fraud like this often?”

“Too much,” Hoku said instantly. She pressed her lips into a tight line at his boyish laugh. “Just... Just know most real Pokian works won’t typically say they are.”

“I’ll remember that,” he said with a small laugh. “Do you have anymore tips?”

“Not really,” Hoku forced herself to say. “If you’ve got a good eye, you’ll find what you’re looking for.”

Hoku tried to stifle her curiosity. “...you a collector of some kind?”

“No, nothing of the sorts,” he said quietly. There was something a bit sad to his tone, a little lost. Hoku raised a brow, turning a tiny bit. “I’m... I’m fond of the culture, I suppose. It... It feels like knowing more will help me find something I’ve lost.”

“...oh, yeah?” Hoku said, turning a tiny bit more. He hummed, soft in response. “What did you lose?”

“...something very important,” he said quietly. Hoku fell silent. “I wasn’t able to... no, I’m going to try to think a little more positively. I’m still looking. I have to keep looking.”

Hoku said nothing, keeping her eyes forward, hoping a bit for his desperate sake he’d find what he was looking for too. Lost something important, huh. 

Her chest ached.

“If you don’t mind me asking,” he said politely, reaching his hand over to catch her attention. Hoku half turned. The man behind the counter was returning with her bag as well. “I... Feel free to say otherwise, but if I were to be looking for someone of Pokian descent—not for bad intentions! More... more for a specific person, do you know what would be the best way to find them?”

Hoku debated the words on her tongue. Half of her had a mind to just grab her bag over the counter and leave. He seems earnest though. His questions were weird and she didn’t like people poking around into Pokian business with unsavory intentions. But is it even my business if it’s just one person he’s looking for? What if it’s an old flame or a friend or maybe even family? Distant? Who knows?

She didn’t really owe him anything either.

“It depends on the person, you never really know unless you’ve got the right information,” Hoku decided. She grabbed her bag across the counter, already sensing his disappointment in waves. From the corner of her eye she saw his shoulders slump, hands falling down in front of him. “But if it’s just one Pokian in particular you’re looking for...”

Hoku lightly tapped the side of her head on the outside of her hood. He paused. “You should look for their coming of age mark. If you remember what it looks like or where they had theirs... you can’t miss them.”

“...I’ll remember that,” he said, sounding a bit more hopeful, a little... a little curious? “I... Thank you, miss.”

“You’re welcome,” Hoku said simply. She threw her bag over her shoulder. “Good luck.”

“Thank you—“

The doors to the shop slammed open, smacking into either wall. The shopkeep fled to the back of the store and Hoku froze, staring at the entrance as three marines searched before their eyes landed on her.

“There she is!”

Son of a bitch! The man beside Hoku froze, growing rigid as he raised one hand. Hoku whipped her head to the side.

She didn’t hesitate, taking off. The marines flooded into the store and the man at the counter turned, his eyes following her in wide surprise as she jumped onto a table and leapt through the window feet first, boots smashing through the glass and flinging herself outside.

The wind ripped her hood back. Paper white hair spilled out, brushing over her face.

He stopped, frozen.

Wait.

Hoku ran, ducking into an alleyway as the marines tried to tail after her. If there’s a few, there’s more. They’re like cockroaches. She clambored onto a roof, ducking as a group ran past. She quickly took out her brush, drawing onto the thatching and pulling the bird free from the wood. Hoku blew across it, mumbling under her breath as it expanded, unfurling its wings with a resounding flap.

“Excuse me!” Hoku whirled around in surprise. The guy from the shop? “Excuse me! Wait! Please, wait a second—”

Hoku’s eyes caught the flash of blue and white uniforms. She shook her head, jumping onto her bird and taking off. It beat its massive wings once, shaking its beak in protest before it took off into the sky, leaving everyone behind.

“Wait, please! Wait! Wait! Please, wait—“

Hoku didn’t look back.

“Hoku?”

Hoku stopped. Her bird continued to fly beneath her, taking them further and further away from the marines. She blinked, mind whirring as she quietly turned behind her, staring in confusion.

“Guess I heard wrong,” she mumbled, shaking her head. “Let’s go.”

Her bird banked beneath her, taking them far, far away.

“There he is! Hack! I found him! Where did you run off to—huh?” Koala’s eyes went wide, hands flying up into the air as she stopped just short of giving her friend a playful shove. “I—oh my goodness, are you okay?”

He sat, slumped over the top of the roof. His hands hung limply in his lap, gloved fingers clinging to a loose leaf of paper he’d tugged hastily out of his breast pocket. He stared out into the sky, looking forlorn and lost.

“What happened?” Koala asked, crouching down beside him. “Are you alright?”

“...I,” he stopped, looking down at the paper in his hands. “I don’t really know.”

Koala frowned, lightly rubbing her hand against his back. He ran his thumb across the carefully inked marking, curved like half a heart and smeared at just the bottom, like someone had bumped into them in the middle of it.

Sabo gently folded it back up, tucking it into his pocket, right beside his heart.

Was it even you?

[elsanna-shenanigans]

August Contest Submission #18: The Concrete Rose

Words: ca. 5,500 Setting: mAU Lemon: No CW: Angst, brief Hansanna

October 12, 2019

From the second Elsa saw her roommate, she knew she would become her muse.

Douglas Academy of the Arts produced hundreds of graduates every year already with an astounding, artistic reputation. Anyone that had a future in the arts ran through Douglas Academy first. But that prestige came at a price, success at all costs meant that almost everyone was cold and cutthroat; no one was a classmate, everyone was competition.

It was a mantra that all the students bought into except for two people: Elsa and her roommate Anna. From a simple handshake and a peace offering in the form of a chocolate bar (“The vending machine accidentally gave me two, how lucky is that?!”), Anna stood out from everyone else in Elsa’s eyes.

They became quick friends despite how drastically different they were. Elsa was reserved and stayed in her head a lot, Anna loved people and spoke every thought that came to her. Elsa was constantly second-guessing her decisions and had a keen eye for details, Anna was more impulsive and loved seeing the bigger picture. Elsa was a sculptor who kept her works secret until they were finished, Anna was a dancer who would always post videos of her practicing for her latest performance.

The one thing they had in common was their need to support the other.

One day well into their first semester, Anna barged into Elsa’s room with a flyer that she’d gotten in almost all her classes: an advertisement for the 3-D Art Showcase in three weeks. “You’re doing this, right?” she asks, pushing the flyer in front of Elsa’s face. “You’re entering a thingie into the thing?”

Elsa plucked the flyer out of Anna’s hands and turned back around in her chair, “Not a chance. I heard first years get eaten alive at these showcases, I’ll wait until next year.”

“Oh come on! You’d kick so much ass if you entered something. Remember that clay canary you made me?” Anna pressed her palms against Elsa’s shoulders, which almost knocked the pencil out of the unexpecting sculptor’s hands.

Elsa shook her head, “That was different. I’d have to make like… something fancy and intricate if I want to even be considered for the showcase.”

“Well, can’t you at least try? Please?” Anna slid her hands down so she could wrap her arms around Elsa’s shoulders from behind. “I can help you just like you helped me while I was rehearsing my first interpretive dance.”

It took a while for Elsa to get used to Anna’s touchiness, but she learned to accept it. This was just another thing that added to Anna’s eclectic personality, and besides Elsa was a big fan of the rosemary body wash she was using. “Anna, all I did was press play on your speaker.”

“Which helped out a lot!” Anna assured her. “You know how much energy I could have wasted doing that myself?”

“… not a lot?”

“Just think about joining, okay? Knowing you, I bet you probably have like five ideas running through your head and when you pick one, I’ll do whatever I can to help turn that idea into something concrete.”

Well if thinking about it was all that Anna was asking her to do, then Elsa could do that. Less commitment that way. And she was right, of course, there were five ideas floating around in Elsa’s mind but none of them she could latch on to and say that that was the one to work on. “Alright fine,” she said after a dramatically heavy sigh, “I’ll think about it.”

“That’s my girl! Oh shit, I’m gonna be late for rehearsal!” Anna sprinted out of Elsa’s room to grab her dancing shoes. Before slamming their shared door shut, she said, “If you eat my spaghetti, I’ll kill you!”

November 5, 2019

There was something that Anna told her that day which stuck with Elsa much more than she thought it would.

Turning an idea into something concrete.

What if she sculpted something out of concrete? It was a near guarantee that a lot of the sculptors entering the showcase would be using clay, recycled metals, or wood; using concrete would probably help her stand out and better her chances of being picked. After a researching how to make this work, and some choice words of encouragement and dancing from Anna, Elsa set to work getting everything she needed for her crazy idea.

There was still, of course, one glaring problem: What was she going to sculpt?

Her answer came to her during Anna’s first performance of the semester. It was an interpretive dance that told the story of a young gladiator fighting for the freedom of his sister who was enslaved by a vindictive landowner. Her ability to tell this story without words (not even in the song she chose) wowed the audience and inspired Elsa as she waited for every beat of the story she’d seen Anna tell maybe a hundred times in their dorm.

Elsa decided to recreate one of the poses Anna did where she jumped in the air and punched her arm out like she was thrusting a spear into an unseen adversary. It was a painstaking process that tested her dexterity and her patience even more so, she shut herself in her room until it was finished. In the end, the sculpture was much smaller than she wanted it to be because she underestimated how much concrete mix she actually needed. And a piece of Anna’s skirt chipped off because it refused to stick to the wire mesh. Still, overall she was very impressed with herself.

And so it seemed was the showcase committee, because she was given one of the last remaining spots on the showcase floor.

Elsa somehow found a way to keep Anna from seeing it beforehand, so when she went with her roommate to the showcase, her reaction was genuine.

Anna gasped, “Holy shit, is this me?! She’s so pretty!”

Everyone in the building looked at them with judgmental glares, especially the judges. Elsa didn’t mind all that much, she wasn’t expecting to take a ribbon home, this was more about proving she could hang with Douglas’ best and to thank Anna for supporting her these past few months.

“I ran out of time to add details to the face, so I kept it blank,” Elsa explained. “I hope it doesn’t look too creepy.”

Anna shook her head, “No, I love it! It’s like… it fits so much with Henry’s character, the gladiator I mean. He presents himself as this nobody that could be anybody, like Henry is just a faceless idea, but he stands for justice and integrity, which can speak to anyone.”

Elsa smiled, her heart fluttering from the feeling of being understood. “I’m glad you were able to see that. I think I’ll steal that explanation when the judges come over.”

“Fine, but if you win a ribbon then you’re buying me dinner. For believing in you and for being your muse.”

“Pssh, you are not my muse.” How in the world did Anna already know that?

Anna squeezed Elsa’s shoulders and smiled, her eyes seeing right past Elsa’s thin resistance. “Yeah, keep telling yourself that, Michaelangelo.”

The judges came around a few minutes later to ask her some questions and write notes on their clipboards. Anna wanted to talk her roommate up so badly but settled on providing moral support right next to Elsa as she answered the questions concisely and with the professionalism that got her into Douglas Academy in the first place.

She didn’t win a ribbon, but decided to take Anna out to dinner anyway.

December 26, 2019

“I think concrete should be your thing,” Anna said before taking another long sip of her hot chocolate.

“My thing?” Elsa asked.

“Yeah, like the thing that makes you stand out from everyone else. The thing you’re known for. Da Vinci had his inventions and paintings, Degas painted ballet dancers, you could be the concrete rose.”

Elsa chuckled, “Concrete rose? That sounds more like you than it sounds like me.”

Anna gasped, “Why Ms. Elsa, you best be careful or I might just take that as a compliment.”

“Uhh you should because it was.” Elsa gently kicked her foot forward to keep the front porch swinging. They drank their hot chocolates in silence, relishing in that post-Christmas bliss. Elsa’s family was always a little more dysfunctional around the holidays, but when Anna told her she’d be spending her Christmas in the dorms she knew that couldn’t happen. Her best friend deserved a real Christmas for the first time in forever.

When their mugs were empty, Anna spoke again, “Thank you for letting me come with you. I… maybe I would have felt a little lonelier this Christmas. And I’m happy that I’m not.”

“Anna, you’re my best friend- heck, you’re like the sister I never had. I can’t leave my sister hanging, you know?” The confession is so raw and unusual for Elsa that it doesn’t feel right coming from her lips at first, but the more this moment sat the better it felt.

She looked to Anna, her red cheeks were a sign that the cold was finally getting to her. “I had a lot of foster siblings growing up… none of them liked me all that much.”

“Well that’s their loss.”

“Thank you, Elsa. Really. Everything you do means a lot to me, I hope you know that.”

Elsa smiled and tapped her shoe against Anna’s, “Everything you do means a lot to me too.”

Anna brought the empty mug back to her lips. “So, if we’re sisters, does that mean I get to steal your clothes and burst into your room to tell you stupid nonsense?”

“You mean you don’t already do that now?” The force that Anna pushed her with almost sent Elsa off the porch swing.

October 21, 2020

Elsa and Anna complemented each other’s strengths in a way neither of them ever expected. The 3-D showcases happened four times a year, and Elsa entered every one of them with the support of Anna. There were also four major dance performances throughout the year, and Anna entered every one of them with Elsa’s support.

Anna had taken second place for interpretive dancing at the last competition, but Elsa was still looking for her first major win. She felt confident, however, in her entry for the upcoming showcase.

“I mean I love it of course, but it’s ambitious,” Anna said while looking over Elsa’s sketch. “How are you gonna carve out the bird and the cage at the same time?”

“I was thinking of making the cage and bird separate, and then putting them together,” Elsa answered. “If I get the dimensions right, I can hammer some nails underneath the cage so it stays put.”

“Hmm, alright well you sound like you know what you’re doing.” Anna handed back the sketch. “And I’m gonna support you a hundred percent. No matter what.”

“I know you will,” Elsa said while putting her arm around Anna’s shoulder. “… I think this is the one.”

“I think so too,” Anna said proudly. “And when you come back with a ribbon-”

“You’re buying me dinner.”

Anna gasped and wriggled out of her best friend’s arm, “Rude!”

Elsa rolled her eyes, “Oh please, half my budget is spent feeding you. I’m sure you can afford to buy me dinner one time.”

She saw the gears turning in Anna’s mind, trying to come up with a rebuttal, but in the end she groaned and said, “Fine, I’ll take your bum ass out for dinner, sis.”

Elsa worked harder than she ever had before, inspired once again from seeing Anna’s latest performance. It was a soliloquy in dance form, about a bird who’d spent their entire life on the move and in the hands of many owners, but never once being allowed out of its cage. It paralleled Anna’s life story: the foster child from New York who was only getting her first taste of freedom now. She paid special attention to the bird’s eyes, wanting them to emulate the longing and ambition she saw in her best friend.

The process resulted in a lot of tiny cuts and a couple of sleepless nights, but it was all worth it in the end. She won second place at the showcase.

True to her word, Anna took her out for dinner that very night on the condition that Elsa wear the obnoxiously huge, red ribbon. They had to stick it on her shirt with a safety pin. “Alright, where does Madame Second Place want to go for dinner?” Anna asked, dressed in an adorable skirt and blouse combo.

“I was kinda joking, you know?” Elsa said. “You don’t actually have to buy me dinner.”

“Oh please, you can’t get cold feet now. I mean you’re already wearing the ribbon, that’s like… I don’t know, it’s like when your high school prom date puts the corsage on you. It’s official, no backing out.”

Elsa raised an eyebrow, “What so you’re my prom date now?”

Anna pursed her lips, “Well maybe not for prom, it’s too late for that. But I’ll be your date if you want me to.”

That answer leaves Elsa speechless.

“Ooh, I know where we can go!” Anna added before Elsa could finish catching up to the millions of thoughts running through her mind. “There’s this really good Mexican place downtown. I heard they sell this burrito that’s the size of your forearm, and I have long forearms so I wanna see that. Sound good?”

Elsa blinked and said absently, “Yeah, let’s go.” They walked side by side to Anna’s car, all the while Elsa pretended she wasn’t seeing her best friend in a brand new light.

May 15, 2020

It’s a scary feeling to know that you’re in love with your best friend. Even scarier when you’ve considered them your sister for almost two years now. It’s like being strapped in to the world’s best roller coaster against your will. Sometimes it’s exhilarating and you think maybe this isn’t so bad, but most of the time you’re screaming and want to get off.

Elsa’s been on the same damn ride for months now and it hasn’t gotten any easier. But she’s accepted it, which is something she never expected.

All of Anna’s errant touches, her smiles and glances, and even just the way she says “we”… Elsa has second-guessed each and every single one of her behaviors. And yes, she would probably stop overthinking if she’d just talk to Anna but she doesn’t know how. It’s hard enough trying to have a regular conversation with her now, it’s nearly impossible approaching her with a talk about their feelings.

And even so, she’s accepted the fact that she’s fallen in love with her best friend. For the past two years, they’ve been nearly inseparable, there’s no one in the world she knows better or cares about more than Anna. Falling in love with her felt almost inevitable.

But did Anna feel the same way? Well, she’d find out soon.

For the last 3-D showcase of their second year, Elsa had been working on a particularly special project. It didn’t have to do specifically with Anna’s last performance, but it was dedicated to her nonetheless.

Rising from a slab of concrete, she sculpted out a finely detailed rose, complete with a realistic crack where the stem breaks out and defined petals spiraling into the rosebud. It represented Anna’s ability to grow and flourish from a life of a constantly uncertain home life and rough nights on the streets.

At the base of the concrete slab, she wrote ‘For Anna, for everything’. When Anna notices the inscription, that’s when Elsa would tell her how she feels.

She shut herself out from the world for a particularly long time; Anna only saw her when they were walking to classes together, and even then Elsa remained tight-lipped so as to not spoil the surprise. Her patience had to be rewarded, she figured, or else this would have all been for nothing.

When the showcase finally arrived, Elsa waited anxiously for Anna to show up. She said she would be running late because she needed to meet someone, but that was fine because it gave Elsa more time to figure out what she’d say to the judges. Which in turn helped keep her from pacing around the showcase floor like a lonely, lovesick puppy.

When the judges came, she defended the lack of complex expression and vibrancy of her piece by quoting Henry David Thoreau’s opinion on simplicity. And she covered the etching with her hand because that was one question she’d rather not answer just yet. At least not to them. The judges looked impressed with her answers and one of them even mentioned that she had a knack for giving life to her sculptures. The high from that compliment should have lasted her throughout the entire day, but it was shot down almost immediately.

When the judges left, she saw Anna walking towards her. But she wasn’t alone, she was with a guy.

And they were holding hands.

“I’m so sorry I’m late, I was waiting for this guy to get his fucking shoes on.” Anna patted the guy’s chest with a coy smile. He was tall, proper, and with fashionably thick sideburns. The way he wore his t-shirt and jeans looked awkward, as if he was ripped straight from a 19th century portrait and was forced to wear modern clothes to blend in.

“Hey in my defense, I didn’t know I was going to the showcase until you texted me like half an hour ago,” he said while wrapping her arm around Anna’s shoulders.

“Lies. And propaganda.” Anna turned to Elsa with a softer smile on her lips, which was just another hit to Elsa’s already bruising heart. “Again, I’m sorry I was late but I figured it was time for you two to meet. Elsa, this is Hans. We’ve been dating for a month now.”

A month?

A… a month.

Elsa’s doing her best to remain polite and cordial, but it’s hard when her entire body feels like it’s crumbling onto the floor. She extends a hand out anyway, wincing when Hans takes it with more strength than she’s expecting. “It-It’s nice to meet you, Hans. Anna’s lucky to have you around.” The words come out of her mouth like a rejected poison.

Anna talked some more, so did Hans, and maybe Elsa nodded and smiled when she needed to, but for the life of her she couldn’t tell you what the hell they talked about. When it came time for the… couple to examine Elsa’s sculpture, Anna beamed at her with that same pride that was on her face since day one and Hans said she did a good job. Elsa kept her hand over the inscription the entire time.

She won another second place ribbon. When Anna noticed the inscription, Elsa said it was a thank you for being a wonderful friend. Each word felt like pulling teeth.

September 4, 2020

They met at the campus coffee shop while Elsa was isolating herself. Ironically, Anna was going there to get a hot chocolate to surprise Elsa.

She brought Anna and Hans together.

It was a very lonely summer for Elsa. Since Hans lived in New Jersey, it wasn’t that hard for him to visit Anna whenever he wanted, which is exactly what he did. They spent almost every moment of the summer together, and while Elsa pretended to be happy with getting texts, the occasional phone call, and a surprise weekend visit from her best friend, none of it could stop the constant ache in her heart.

Move-in day for their third year was especially brutal, she unpacked absentmindedly while listening to Anna and Hans joke around and kiss when they thought she wasn’t looking. She tried all summer to let go of the feelings for Anna and to just be happy for her, but it felt like the more she tried, the more she held on.

“Alright, that’s the last box.” Anna wiped her hands on her jeans and looked at Elsa and then at Hans. “Let me just change out of this gross, sweaty shirt and we can get something to eat?”

“Of course, babe.” Hans kissed her and walked out of the girls’ dorm, Elsa finally let go of the breath she’d held since they started moving their stuff in.

“You’re coming with us, right?” Anna asked.

Elsa wasn’t expecting her to to talk to her, and she had to take a second for her mouth to catch up with her mind. “Uh no that’s okay,” she finally replied. “You two enjoy yourself, I want to unpack all of my stuff before I eat.”

Anna raised an eyebrow, “Are you sure? If you’re worried about being a third wheel, trust me it’s not gonna be like that.”

Elsa tapped her fingers on the stacked boxes in front of her. “No, I’m just not hungry yet. That’s all.”

“Well… alright, but I’ll bring you back some food and I won’t take no for an answer.” Anna peeled off her shirt and disappeared in her room to find a new one. From somewhere inside the room, she added, “We’ll hang out sometime soon okay? Just the two of us.”

October 1, 2020

'Sometime soon’ turned out to be nearly a month later. It wasn’t for lack of trying, but with the third year at Douglas being notoriously difficult, they needed to spend a little more time adjusting to the bigger workload and busier schedules. And any free time Anna did have was taken up by Hans…

Elsa continued to pretend to be okay, and she actually relished how busy their third year was going to be because it gave her something else to think about. A six-page essay on contour ate up time she was going to spend thinking about the sexual innuendo Hans was 'accidentally’ adding to him and Anna’s conversations.

The busy times couldn’t last forever, though, and Anna and Elsa finally found some time to spend together- just the two of them- one night on top of one of Douglas’ parking garages. It was a place they’d gone to many times just to get away from the staunch air of pressure and competition in every corner of every building underneath them. This was a place for them to breathe, a home away from a home away from home.

“I’m sorry I haven’t been around as much lately,” Anna said, breaking the silence from their lack of conversation. “It’s just that this is the first relationship I’ve been in and… I don’t know, it’s exciting and new. Not that things aren’t like that with you, it’s just-”

“Anna, you don’t have to apologize. Whatever time I get to spend with you is just fine.” Elsa bites her tongue before she can say that she still wishes she had more time with Anna.

“I just don’t want you to feel like I’m neglecting you, that’s all.”

“Well, you’re not, so it’s okay. I’m okay.”

“Okay…” Anna scooted closer to her, their bare elbows touching made the nerves in Elsa’s arm tingle and send shockwaves through her entire body. “Sooooo, you want to know what I’m doing for my next performance? You know, so you can start figuring out what you’re gonna do for the showcase.”

Elsa looked away, “I don't… I think I’m gonna skip the showcase this time.” She wanted to say she was going to skip the showcase this year, but that would have set off too many alarms in Anna’s head. She could deal with the one alarm she saw going off behind her best friend’s eyes.

“How come?” she asked.

“It just looks like it’s gonna be a real busy year, and I think I need to focus on getting through it. Once I can do that, then I can start thinking about sculpting again.”

“I… see.” Anna looked out across the campus. “And that’s the only reason?”

“Of course. Why wouldn’t it be?” Elsa wondered if there was something she said, or some visible part of her full of pain that she’d forgotten to cover up.

Anna shrugged, “No reason. Just wondering.”

Elsa didn’t have it in her to pry, so she also went back to looking at the buzzing nightlife of Douglas Academy. With luck, they wouldn’t have to address this ever again.

November 30, 2020

Luck remained on Elsa’s side for nearly two months, and then they returned from Thanksgiving Break. Anna had declined her invitation to spend Thanksgiving with her, and instead she spent it with Hans’ family. Who, as it turned out, was exceptionally rich.

Anna spent a good hour gushing over their massive house with the hot tubs (plural) and rooms as big as their whole dorm, and then talked about all the people that were there for Thanksgiving dinner and how amazing the food was. Knowing Anna’s struggles, Elsa tried to remain supportive while she gushed over Hans and his family and his really nice house. And then she said something that should have remained a thought.

“Sounds like you dodged a bullet not joining me for Thanksgiving.”

Anna pounced on that out-of-character remark immediately. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Gosh, what could she say that wouldn’t sound passive-aggressive? Elsa decided on, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean anything by that. I’m really glad you had a good time on break.”

For a second, that looked like it would work. And then Anna closed her eyes and sighed, “Oh god… you don’t like Hans.”

Elsa didn’t say anything, which is the worst thing she could have said.

“Elsa, we’ve been going out for months now. Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“I…I guess I…”

Anna sighed and waved her hand, “Never mind, I guess it doesn’t matter. Look, I like you both so I don’t want things to feel awkward or whatever. What can I do to help? I want you to like Hans so that things don’t suck between us.”

There’s nothing Anna needed to do, this was a problem that Elsa had to deal with on her own. That’s what she wanted to say to her best friend. But instead, there was another disconnect between her brain and her mouth and she said something that was bound to make things worse, “You don’t even know why I don’t like him.”

Anna nodded, “You’re right. So why don't you like him?”

Elsa wrung her hands together, “Anna, we shouldn’t talk about this.”

“What? But you’re the one that brought it up.”

“I know, but it’s just not… this won’t end well.”

“Is this one of those things where the protective older sister hates every guy her sister dates and thinks that no one’s good enough for her?”

“No,” Elsa replied. And under her breath, she muttered, “I wish.”

“Elsa, we’re the only two people in your room. I heard that.” She scooted across the bed to get closer to Elsa, their fingers nearly touching were enough for Elsa to feel like her arm was on fire. “Just… tell me what’s wrong. Please?”

Though it felt like the wrong thing to do, Elsa pulled her hand away. “I don’t know if I can,” she replied. “Can we drop it please? For now?”

“… okay.”

December 13, 2020

This was the longest time Elsa and Anna had gone without talking to each other. Sure, they were polite and fake when Hans was hanging out in their dorm, and they still said good morning and whatnot to each other, but they hadn’t made an effort to really talk to each other in two weeks.

Knowing this was her fault, Elsa set out to craft an apology to Anna. After deciding on recreating the canary she made her during their first year, this time in concrete, she went to work quickly on creating the mesh outline for it. One night, during this process, she heard a knock on her door. A knock that could only belong to one person.

She took a deep breath and then opened her door. “Hey Anna,” she said far too generically.

“Do you love me?”

Elsa tensed up so much she almost tore her doorknob off. Any answer would have been a good one, but instead she remained frozen in silence.

“Hans and I had a fight and he said…well I mean he thought that… areyou in love with me?”

Still as a statue, much like the concrete rose Anna’s holding in her hand, Elsa somehow found her voice long enough to say, “Anna, I didn't…”

Anna nodded, and in the darkness of their shared loft Elsa could finally see that her best friend had been crying recently. “I should have known. I’m sorry.” She walked away, pressing the concrete rose closer to her chest, and disappeared into her room.

January 20, 2021

Though their relationship had hit an all-time low, Elsa felt it was wrong not going to Anna’s performance. She still very much wanted to support her best friend even if they still weren’t talking all that much. But Anna smiled at her the other day and that… gave Elsa hope somehow? Either way, it was enough to get her to stop being a coward and show up to the performance.

She arrived at the auditorium just in time to see Anna walk on to the stage, but not with enough time to find a seat. So she stood by the entrance awkwardly as the music began playing through the speakers. What conspired for the next five minutes was the most poignant expression of heartbreak and longing that Elsa had ever seen in dance form.

It started off as a simple ballroom dance, and though Anna had no partner you wouldn’t realize it in the way she moved. But her mystery partner continued to pull away no matter how many times Anna chased after them. When the partner disappeared, Anna continued to dance alone and while her moves were perfect and calculated, she let her posture slump with every break in the song. By the end, she’s nearly dragging herself along the floor hoping to make it to the end of the song, all the while reaching out for someone. Something. The song ends with her laying on the floor breathing heavily and the audience erupting in applause.

And for the first time in a very long time, Elsa felt a jolt of inspiration.

February 15, 2021

Elsa sat by the base of her sculpture. The judges had come to talk to her long ago and spectators were slowly trickling out of the building, but she couldn’t leave yet. In fact, she’d wait all night long for Anna if she had to. The note she left underneath Anna’s door even said so.

This had to be the fastest yet most detailed sculpture she’d ever created and there were no doubts as to what inspired her. Time continued to tick away, and Elsa continued to sit.

Finally, after an eternity, she saw the familiar silhouette of her best friend walking through the door. She was wearing the same skirt and blouse that made Elsa fall in love with her in the first place.

Quietly, Anna closed the gap until they were a couple of feet apart. “I got your note,” she said softly.

Elsa nodded, “I watched your performance.”

“Oh, I… I’m sorry. I didn’t see you.”

“I was in the back of the auditorium. But it was beautiful, I’ve never seen anyone move like you do. I’ve never seen anyone express heartbreak like you did.” Elsa wrung her hands together, “I’m sorry if this is inappropriate, but did you and Hans…”

Anna nodded, “A couple of months ago, actually. But my performance, it… wasn’t about him.”

“It wasn’t?”

“No, it…” Anna took her first glimpse at Elsa’s sculpture and it completely threw her off. “Oh my god.”

Immortalized in concrete was Anna in a stunning ball gown, her face content while she swayed in the arms of her dance partner. Except unlike the gladiator sculpture, Anna’s partner was completely visible.

And it was Elsa.

“I know it’s a little forward, but it didn’t feel right having you dance alone,” Elsa replied. And with much less confidence, she added, “Is that okay?”

Anna looked at her, confusion settled on her face. But then that confusion chipped away slowly but surely until a beautiful smile was seen in its place. “It’s perfect,” Anna replied, “Y-you did it again.”

Elsa blushed, “Well, I do have a pretty wonderful muse.”

“Well, I think that muse owes you dinner. What do you say?” Anna reached out her hand, eyes telling her that this was what she wanted.

“She doesn’t owe me anything.” Elsa took her hand and a lovely, warm feeling enveloped her. “But I’d be glad to go with her.”

Anna squeezed her hand and said, “Then it’s a date.”

Elsa’s sculpture won first place that day.

[awstenknyght]

Boy Best Friends

A/N: scar and poppy backstory!! i love this a lot please read it- also tell me if you want a part two with a happy ending-

Warnings: implied abuse, i think that’s it

Tags: @love-pyramus @thatsmycigarbutyoucanborrowit @joshkatz @dxubledare @weaselweaselweasel

Felix chewed the back of his pencil. His eyes were fixed ahead, but he wasn’t paying attention to the lesson. He was staring at the boy at the front of the class.

Nathan sat towards the front of the room, fidgeting with his eraser as he worked. Felix couldn’t help but watch him as the lessons dragged on. He was friendly and smart and cute and perfect. Not to mention hot-

Felix felt his cheeks go red and he looked up at the teacher, determined not to let his mind wander.

There’s no way Nate could like him anyway. They were complete opposites.

Besides, he thought. We’re both boys. That’s not even possible.

He was into girls, he had to be. People didn’t just like the same gender, it just didn’t happen.

After school, Felix flopped onto his bed. “I’m gonna be alone forever.”

His older brother stood in the doorway, laughing. “Girl troubles?”

Felix bit his tongue. Should he tell Benny about Nate?

He decided against it and nodded his head. “Yeah. Girls.”

“Getting a girl is easy!” Benny said, sitting on the edge of his brother’s bed. “Just be honest with her and tell her how you feel.”

Felix buried his head in a pillow. What if it wasn’t a girl he wanted?

“I don’t think I want a girlfriend.”

“What do you mean? Of course you do,” Benny looked down at him, confused. “Unless you’re-”

Felix heart raced. “Unless I’m what?”

“Gay.” Benny looked almost angry as he spit the word out. “Meaning you like other guys.”

Felix thought about it. He’d always imagined his future as him living with a wife and kids. It was expected. But his wife was always some random, faceless girl. He never really liked the idea of kissing girls, but he thought everyone felt like that.

But the thought of kissing Nate-

It’s not like he wanted to kiss other boys. It was only Nathan. Maybe it was just because they were such good friends; lots of people made jabs calling them ‘an old married couple.’

He looked up and his brother and shrugged. “Maybe I am?”

Benny gave him a disgusted look. “No you’re not. It’s not right.”

Felix bit his lip. He could feel tears coming, but he blinked them away. Maybe Benny was right.

Then why on earth did he like Nathan so much? He wasn’t sure what to do.

Maybe Benny’s girl advice could work both ways? Just talk to him and tell him how you feel.

The next day at school, Felix cornered Nate behind the schoolhouse.

“Hey Felix! What’s up?”

Felix messed with the strap on his bag and looked around. He couldn't do it. His voice caught in the back of his throat and he couldn‘t force the words out.

So he kissed him.

As soon as he realized what he was doing, he pulled away and looked down at the ground. “I’m sorry, that was stupid, I don’t even know if you’re-“

“Felix?” Nathan interrupted. He stood on his toes and pulled the taller boy into another kiss. “I am.”

“You are?” Felix’s heart was beating faster each second. Nathan just kissed him. It didn’t feel wrong or bad or weird at all. It felt perfect.

Nate was bouncing excitedly. “Do you think- maybe- we can date?”

“Yes! I would love to be your-” Felix stopped. Boyfriends were supposed to go with girlfriends, right? So what did that make them? “Boy best friend?”

Nate giggled. God, he was pretty when he giggled. “Boy best friends.”

Felix grabbed Nate’s hand led him to a nearby field. He picked up a poppy and held it out to the shorter boy. “For you, liebling.”

Nathan smiled and tucked it behind his ear. “Thank you mausbär.”

***

Felix pulled Nathan behind a building. They were supposed to be at school, but they had more important things to do. Mostly kissing.

Nathan pulled Felix into a kiss. Felix pushed him gently against the wall and whispered in his ear. “Happy one year anniversary liebling.”

“Mhm. Shut up and kiss me.”

“Gladly,” Felix said with a smile, running his fingers through Nate’s brown curls.

After a few minutes, they heard someone clear their throat behind them. They jumped apart and turned to see Benny standing there.

“So this is the ‘girl’ you’ve been trying to impress?”

Felix’s face paled. There was no denying what him and Nate were just doing. “You’re not gonna tell anyone, are you?”

Benny kept his arms crossed, but his face softened. “No. But you have to cut this shit out. It’s disgusting.”

Felix let out a sign of relief and nodded. Benny walked off, satisfied. As soon as he turned the corner, Felix turned back to his boy best friend.

“Do we have to break up now?” Nathan looked like he was about to cry.

“Of course not, dear! No matter what they say or do, it’s gonna be me and you forever,” Felix assured him. “We just have to be a bit more careful.”

Nate grinned and took his hand, dragging him into the abandoned building. “Let’s continue?”

“Of course my love!”

***

Felix swung gently on the swing, holding nathan’s hand and looking into his eyes. He could get lost in those eyes. Brown and warm and always smiling.

“I love you forever maus,” Nathan whispered, linking their pinkies.

“I love you to death liebling.”

But of course it had to end.

In the distance, Felix could see two figures marching towards them. It was Benny and father.

As they came closer, Felix let go of Nathan’s hand. He wanted to run, but he was frozen to his seat. After the scare with Benny the day before, he was terrified.

His father came up to him and grabbed him by the back of the shirt. “Felix! The hell is wrong with you?”

Felix didn’t know what to say. “Benny! You promised me-”

“Sorry, I had no choice. I don’t know what you and this boy were doing behind closed doors,” he shot a glare at Nathan, who was still on his swing.

“It’s a good thing he did. I need to stop this before it gets too far.”

He was in for a long night.

***

“Oh thank god your alive!” Nathan ran up to Felix, going in for a kiss, but he swerved away. “Mausebär? What are all these bruises?”

Felix shook his head and sat down on the swing. “We have to break up.”

“What do you mean?” Nathan looked heartbroken. Felix but his lip, hard, but nothing could stop the tears from coming. “Is this because of your father? But you said-“

“It doesn’t matter what I said. I’m sorry liebli- Nathan.” He shook the familiar pet name out of his head. “I leave for New York in a week. I’m running away.”

Tears were streaming down Nate’s cheeks. “You said they didn’t matter! You said we’d be together forever, no matter what they did!”

Felix had never seen Nathan this angry. Or this hurt. He hated the fact that he was the one who caused it.

“Yeah, well you don’t have my parents. You don’t know what it’s like-”

“I DON’T EVEN HAVE PARENTS!”

Nate’s words hung in the air between them, heavy. Felix didn’t know what to say to that. “Liebling-”

Nathan shook his head. He turned and ran off, leaving Felix alone by the swing set.

A week later, Felix boarded a train. He’d be on a boat to New York in less than a day, and then there was no going back. He looked out the window, hoping to see a familiar face. Hoping, just maybe, he could say goodbye.

Nate was nowhere to be found. Felix wiped away bitter tears. He fucked up.

~

yay!! there’s a part two but i have to change a bunch of details so-

[iamdunn]

Myrnah

Story of Mau & Manny

Written by

AJ Dunn

Mau sat shivering in the cold. The rain poured down on her as the night seemed to go on and on. Dark clouds poured rain in thick heavy drops. Her stomach ached from hunger, as she hadn't had a real meal in days. Not since her half-brother cast her out of Marida. A very peculiar turn of events had landed her stranded in a forest far from her home. She was lost and alone as she sat and cried. This all happened just days ago.

In the capital city of Marida, Shytah and his wife Buhimmish sat as elders to the Gods in a temple as old as time. Shytah had one son from a previous wife and his name was Shefertem. Whhen Shefertem was nut a young boy, Shytah took Buhimish as his and she bore him a daughter. Mau had long thick black hair, and tan colored skin. When she cried, every cat in the village came to comfort her. Her dark eyes like onyx gems gleamed with joy at every wondrous sight she seen. Life seemed to dance around her and her parents doted upon her every blessing the Gods would grant them. Shefertem was very jealous growing up with her getting all of the attention from everyone.

By the time Mau was in her 16th year, she had explored every hall in the great temple, and knew all the stories written in hieroglyphs on the walls. Stories depicting a time of great prosperity in a far off region of Myrnah that was once known as the great Gardens. Now desolate and barren, the land is known as the Badlands or Ontura's Dessert. A war once broke out there after a woman was scorned and left by her love. She wrought her revenge and was damned by the Gods to live an eternity in her own Dessert. Buhimmish would tell Mau, to never allow her scorn to burn her up like the rage that caused Ontura's downfall.

"Bring peace where you walk my child." She would say. "For love will endure all things." Then she would sing her to sleep with twinkling lights dancing overhead. "Not all stories end with a happy tune." She'd say, "Some start with one." Mau's life certainly started with a happy tune. She barely knew life outside of the temple and even in the city she'd see the people, but rarely mingled with any other than those brought in to cater to her needs. She would see others but was not allowed to partake of their lives. The stable folks would saddle a horse for her, but she wasn't allowed to play with their son. Even though the boy whose name she never knew would watch her with his dark longing eyes while his father taught her how to ride.

Mau would bore easily, the lack of children her age to mingle with was stupefying. She watched the stable boy from her room as he brushed the horses. Sometimes he would climb a tree unaware of her watching him. She saw him one day plucking apples from the Temple trees. A look of fear crossed his face when he realized he had been seen. Mau placed one finger over her lips. The boy smiled at her. The very next day she found a rose placed on her balcony where she would sit.

Mau found herself getting lost in the halls of the temple one day. She decided to step outside of the bounds her parents had always set for her. Watching the stable boy do something he knew to be wrong, didn't seem to be harmful. She slipped down a corridor she had never been. A place that was dark with sandstone walls and steps going down a long narrow stairway. She lit a torch once she was far enough down she didn't think anyone would spot her. At the bottom of the steps was a circular room with hieroglyphs she had never seen before. Stories and images seemed to dance on the walls with jewels carved into the sandstone walls. Shapes of creatures she had never seen before. Three great lights danced in the sky unlike the two suns that hung there now. The red sun which shines in the day, and a blue sun at night. This made the sky purple and it was never dark. The light of the blue sun made it darker than the day, but not as dark as the images depicted on the wall. A bright yellow sun shone over a garden full of purple flowers. A Dimmer blue light shone over a darkened land where all you could see was silhouettes of the structures. Mau sat before these images for hours before she heard someone coming down the corridor. Mau quickly plunged her torch into a barrel of water that always sits below every torch. She quickly hid in the corner. There were several closed doors but Mau had not dared to venture beyond them. But as the light of someone else' torch brighten with every step Mau pushed hard on the nearest door and flung herself inside closing it gently behind her.

She heard a door open up outside her door. Then she heard voices.

"When do you want it done?" A man asked with a shaky voice.

"Soon." She heard Shefertem speak. "Her 18th year is upon her, and I fear what that will bring to my birthright." Mau began to question what her brother was talking about. She was only 16 years, 17 in a few days, and how would her 18th threaten his birthright, he was the elder child. Mau heard a mouse scurry across the floor kicking up dust as it flew past her. Mau sneezed then suddenly covered her mouth hoping no one had noticed. The voices stopped. "You may have your chance sooner than later." Shefertem said. Footsteps came closer then the door to the room Mau was hiding in opened. The light from Shefertems torch brightened the room so that Mau could see that what she was sitting in was a shrine to the Goddess Glorah. Images of her white tigress face and paws, her tail dancing about behind her. A gentle white gown with slits up to the hips on both side showing a very feminine and fierce woman. A voss of purple flowers painted along the side sat on an ivory pedestal.

"You are making this too easy little sister." Shefertem smirked.

"You get the throne Shef." Mau stammered. "Your older than me and you get the throne not me. You'll be 18 this year."

"Your wrong Mau." Shefertem squatted right in front of her holding the torch above her head. "They've lied to you for almost 18 years. She is not your mother, she's mine!" Shefertem reached out with his left hand striking her across the face. Mau could see the shadowy figure in the doorway cringe at the sound from the corner of her eyes. Her face turned away from Shefertem as tears began to escape down her cheek kissing her burning face. Mau had never been struck before. "How is that Mau? How do you like to feel pain? You have caused me so much pain for so many years." Shefertem stood up turning to the shadow in the doorway. "Well, here's your chance. I want her dead and gone."

"Wh...what shall I do with the body sir?" the man gulped

"Your a spell caster are you not?" Shefertem smirked. "I have a pest problem, get rid of it for me." The words came out cold and unfamiliar as Shefertem stepped passed the man and left the room. Mau looked up to see the man standing in the light of another torch that had been place on the sconce in the round room. The man turned and watched Shefertem leave then turned back to Mau. Fear ran through her veins hot and she began to sweat. Yet she shivered as if the heat was so deep in her body it could not warm her skin. Mau coward in the corner. He stepped into the chamber closing the door behind him blocking out the light. He began to chant words she had never heard. Suddenly light blossomed so bright she couldn't see anything. She turned over to her knees and hands and tried to crawl away from the man but there was nowhere to go. So she curled up in a ball underneath the picture of Glorah. She began to say the prayer her mother told her to say if she was ever in grave danger like this.

"Oh Glorah mother of thy own, around me cast your warmth and love protect me from the darkness and keep me safe from harm." Mau chanted it over and over until she began to feel dizzy and sleepy. She forgot what she had been chanting the prayer for and fell asleep. It was just a dream.

Mau woke to darkness. She couldn't remember anything. She tried to look around but the room was without any light. Mau had never felt so cold and alone. The floor was hard. She struggled to come to grips with what had happened. She couldn't see or hear anything and she had no idea how long she had been asleep. Mau just layed there. Her head was still swimming and she felt very heavy. She could hear footsteps coming down the stairs and a faint sound of voices. Shefertem was coming back with the spell caster. The door opened and only the spell caster stepped in. He was carrying a bag in his hand. Mau closed her eyes until only a slit remained of view. She hoped he would think her dead or asleep and leave her alone. He reached down and nudged her with his hand. He then began to run his hand along her back. Mau was confused by this sensation. She couldn't feel his hand on her skin, but also she couldn't feel the clothes she had been wearing.

Mau looked up at him but he simply placed his finger over his lips then nudged her head back to the floor. Mau closed her eyes again.

"It worked. Hand me her clothes there on the floor and I'll take your pest to be disposed of." the man said turning to Shefertem. Mau could barely see Shefertem hand him the dress she had been wearing. Fear of herself lying there naked on the floor, and how did her clothes get taken off. Mau's heart began to race. What did he do to me. The man stuffed her clothes into the bag then slid the bag under her backside and slid it up over her body. It felt awkward as she could feel her knees against her belly but her feet weren't by her butt. Her hands were under her face. Mau began to acclimate herself with her own position for the first time as she slid inside the bag and was lifted from the ground. It wasn't a very big bag, and she was lifted with much ease.

"You assure me she is dead?" Shefertem asked

"She got exactly what she deserves, sir." the man said and began to walk. Mau curled up in the bag curious as to her current predicament. The man was hired to kill her and haul off her dead body. How is he going to get out of the temple with a bag over his shoulder and her dead body inside. Mau attempted to brush the hair from her face only to realize she has no fingers. Instead, she had a paw.