vekreng

[vekreng]

guess who's new laptop finally came in!!! been deprived for WEEKS because my cats knocked some tea into the original. if anyone has any thoughts on what i should write to break in the new keyboard do let me know :]

[vekreng]

Small romance things that make me go FERAL

A very totally incredibly non-delulu list by Writerthreads

arm/shoulder/waist/SMALL OF THE BACK touches

HANDS BRUSHING, BUT TOO NERVOUS TO DO ANYTHING MORE

calling them by their name ("What's your opinion on this, X?") (they way they say their name makes their heart do funny things)

the way their voice goes heavy/breathy

CHIN RESTS ON THEIR SHOULDER

whispering into their ear and the way their breath tickles

non-affectionate nicknames just for them

recognising their laugh and trying to make them laugh just to hear it again

little private smirks/winks, watching their reaction when someone makes a joke

sniffing their hair/recognising their on their shampoo

eye contact so deep they feel like sinking

SMALL PECKS ON THE CORNER OF THEIR MOUTH/CHIN/FOREHEAD

recognising the sound of their footsteps

co-existing in the same space, acknowledging their presence and feeling safe

CARESSING THEIR CHEEK WITH THEIR THUMB

recognising their nervous ticks and comforting them, like putting a hand on their bouncing leg

tracing scars, freckles, moles, lines of their muscle, you name it (SCREAMS)

grinning when they blush

watching with pride as the other does a presentation/leads a mission/takes charge

making up private signals for each other

HAND KISSES

NECK KISSES

playing with their hair/brushing their hair/braiding their hair

Ah, love. That lingering warm, fuzzy feeling in your chest. I love love.

[vekreng]

might see about getting something for novocaine up next friday :]

[vekreng]

Hunter - SFW Alphabet

prompt: sfw alphabet featuring the reader dating Hunter from The Bad Batch :] list by @.the-coldest-goodbye here! pairing: Hunter x Reader Words: 2k requested: no

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Hugs and kisses. It sounds simple but then, he can be a simple man. He especially loves to hold you from behind and press his face to your head, or brush his lips down your shoulder.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Oh, he’s a parent friend, all the way. He’s got the most common sense between you two and may stare at you frustratedly if you ask for his advice and then immediately go and ignore it. He doesn’t like seeing you put yourself in danger for him, but naturally that rule doesn’t apply to himself when it comes to you. You’d become friends after being paired up on several missions together; it’s hard for him to let others come close after years of bullying, but for you, he’s willing to risk it.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Cuddling is his favorite activity by far. Being pressed against you lets him drown out the noise of his nightmares and ground himself in the present. With you, he’s loved, he’s safe, he’s cared for. It’s a feeling he’ll always cherish and be grateful for when you two get a chance to cuddle.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

At first he doesn’t; he’s a soldier, through and through. The destruction of the Republic forces him to confront his new reality however, and through the months, he grows weary and longs for a life of his own without the threat of further pain and misery. Pabu showed him what life could be, and he hasn’t stopped thinking about it since. He’s fine enough at cleaning and absolutely terrible at cooking, but he’s willing to put in the effort for you.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

He’d take them to a secluded spot away from prying eyes and be gentle but honest. No matter the reason for the breakup, he would always hold a soft spot in his heart for the time you spent together. Things may get awkward on missions, but he’d do his best to be impartial in his decisions.

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

At first he’s scared; every day he chances death, why would anyone want to tie themselves to that? It isn’t until you remind him that tomorrow is promised to none that he changes his mind on the matter. He’ll even get Tech or Echo to help him figure out your ring size so he can start shopping around shortly after your conversation.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Very, in both ways. Omega dulled his harsh edges and helped him learn how to be more emotionally intelligent and available, traits he quickly comes to realize are valuable in a life partner. 

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Any physical contact is a win in his book. He’s constantly pulling you into his side with an arm around your lower back, or resting with it across your shoulders, or putting his chin on your head. Hunter tries his hardest to memorize all the little moments where you instigated a hug. His hugs are tight and unyielding, but not in an overbearing way. You feel perfectly protected from anything and everything when he holds you.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

Not until after a mission where you almost died. You ran upstairs in pursuit of a target, only to get shot in your armor and knocked down by a couple of assailants hiding in the room. The target got away, but not before setting the building on fire with you trapped inside. Hunter was able to get you out, but only just barely in time, and you had to spend weeks recovering at a Republic base from the physical and mental trauma. That experience made something finally click in his head, and those three words were the first thing you heard when you woke up.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

He doesn’t really get jealous easily; he feels very secure in your guys’ relationship. He’ll absolutely be overbearingly protective at times, especially in unfamiliar cities or bars, but he trusts you to be faithful just as he will.

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

His lips are always a little rough and chapped, no matter how many times you slip lip balm into his pockets or put it on your own mouth in hopes of transferring the product. There are small grooves and indents from the countless times an explosion has sent him skidding across the ground, and eventually you’ve memorized the placement and details of each one. He loves kissing your eyes, the space between your brows, your nose, the corner of your mouth. And god, he loves when you kiss the edge of his jaw, the buried mark of his inhibitor chip, the pulsepoint of his neck, his chest.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

We’ve all seen The Bad Batch. He loves children, and it grows each day he has Omega. Though between you and him, if you’re happy with a few extra underfoot, he is more than willing to oblige. He’s happy living without though, if that isn’t in your cards for whatever reason.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Lazy when he doesn’t have work. He takes his time watching you wake up, sometimes opting for a peck or a tickle if you’re taking too long for him. He’ll make you some coffee and the two of you can sit and read together in bed.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

He’s usually pretty exhausted by the time night rolls around, but he always gets a second wind when he sees you. He loves being able to steal quiet moments away with you, and he’s not terribly picky about how you two spend them, though he certainly has a few ideas on what could be done.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

You take a shot for him in the heat of battle. That was the moment that he could recognize being the reason behind his guarded nature dropping around you, the moment you showed him with action rather than words that you were serious about seeing him as an equal and being there to cover his back. You two have shared many hushed conversations late at night in a cockpit while traveling through hyperspace.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

Depends. With you? Very rarely. He trusts you wholly, but that doesn’t mean he won’t get upset if you do something stupid and put yourself at risk. When it comes to others outside of his squad? Pretty quickly. He doesn’t have a lot of tolerance for “regs” beyond the ones he’s worked with such as Rex and Cody, and that distaste usually extends out to other species who come off as hostile or abrasive from the start.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Hunter knows that every battle, every trip, may very well be his last, so he works hard to commit every part of you to memory. Your smile, the way you smell, how your eyes light up at seeing your favorite meal after waking up. He’s a bit obsessed with it actually, to the point where he panics if he realizes he forgot some small detail. He’s started writing them down now to prevent it from happening again.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Your first kiss. Cheesy, sure, but everything about the moment felt so right in a way that nothing else before ever had. His sharpened senses were focused solely on you, to the point where he didn’t hear the whooping of Wrecker in the background or the begrudging exchange of credits between Crosshair and Echo. For that moment, nothing in the world existed except the two of you.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

Does it even need to be asked? He watches over you like a hawk. Sometimes you have to fight to get out from under him when he rolls on top of you in his sleep. You’re well trained for sure, but somehow that just isn’t enough for him. He trusts you to cover him and be a strong partner in all walks of life, though, so at least you have that going for you. He knows that you’ll keep watch when he needs to focus on something and can hold your own when he’s down.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Nothing much at first, maybe a small gift that can fit in your palm or an extra kiss for a special date on the calendar. It isn’t until Suu and Cut politely inform him that this won’t be enough for long that he realizes he should do more, and that he actually wants to do more. Hunter spirals rapidly down the affection-showing-hole, ensuring that each gift and date is better than the last.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

He can dog on during missions and get tunnel-visioned on his objective despite his body burning to rest and recover. He practically has to be wrestled down each time, and now the whole squad keeps a closer eye on him after that one time where he tried to run with a broken kneecap. His stubbornness triumphs the overwhelming pain each time.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Not terribly. He is quite fond of his hair though, which he will never admit to anyone but you has been styled after a character in an action movie he saw once. The bald spot where his inhibitor chip was removed was extremely embarrassing for him, opting to keep the bandana on at all times when anyone was around. It took a lot of convincing and waiting for some hair to grow back for him to be comfortable letting you see him like that.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

One hundred percent. He’s hollowed out without you, an aching void yearning for your touch and warmth. If he could, he’d stay in bed all day mourning your loss.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

He has a very serious and strict hair care routine that he does his best to stick to even when out in the wilderness. How else do you think his hair stays so shiny and strong?

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Someone who doesn’t see the value in teammates and believes themself to be a “lone wolf” of sorts. Everyone on his squad has skills spanning multiple subjects, yes, but they also have something they specialize in. No one person can do it all alone, and someone so cocky as to claim that they’re the one who can isn’t very appealing to him.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

He complains about how dry his mouth can be in the mornings and how Wrecker’s snoring occasionally wakes him up. You don’t have the heart to tell him that he’s hearing his own snoring and should probably invest in a CPAP machine or something similar.

[vekreng]

work has been kicking my ass so i didn’t have hunter’s alphabet ready for this past friday </3 but ill have it posted at 10:30am on this upcoming friday!

[vekreng]

it’s out!

hi!! Your crosshair fic was so amazing 😍💗 could I please request something with tech and an awkward reader maybe they admit feelings for each other or they are caught being cute by the rest of the batch and they tease them? Anything with tech really! 🙈 tysm!

thank you for the compliment, and the request!! expect to see it posted by friday :DDD

[vekreng]

Tech - Totally Not Crushing

prompt: "...something with tech and an awkward reader maybe they admit feelings for each other or they are caught being cute by the rest of the batch and they tease them?.." pairing: Tech x Reader words: 2.2k requested: yes!

You didn’t know if you wanted to scream for the sake of screaming or if you wanted to throw yourself in front of some wild beast.

It had been an absolute age since you met the Batch, and him. The individual members were all striking in their own way, but none stood out more to you than Tech.

Your throat buzzed with an idle hum as you watched him tinker on the Marauder. He wasn’t as physically strong as his other brothers, no, but his intellect was unmatched. He could see patterns in nature and people that were indecipherable to most, pointing out what was about to happen before even Hunter could pick it up at times. His mind stored a vast wealth of knowledge on just about everything you could name and then some. He lacked subtlety in only the most adorable way. His round, soft eyes looked gentler still through the amber lenses of his goggles. He checked on you after every mission or trip, asked for your assistance on just about every task.

Time and time again you tried to confess, and time and time again the words died on your tongue. You tried when you were paired up alone on a mission, when you two had to sneak through a palace, when you two were the only ones awake one night in hyperspace. It was always so perfect, except for… for what? Why could you never tell him? Nerves, maybe? Perhaps the way his eyes locked with yours caused you to instantly short circuit and forget everything you ever knew. Yeah. That was definitely it. A very logical explanation. 

Your eyes followed the fluid movement of his hands, his skillful fingers practically dancing through the ship’s wires as he teased out minor bugs in favor of much larger ones that he will try to convince Hunter are actually improvements.

God, you loved him.

If only you could just say it.

“Staring is only going to put him off, you know,” a voice drawled from behind. You whipped around in a panic, only to see Crosshair grinning your way. “Pretty sure you don’t want that.”

“Cross!” You scolded, pinching the bridge of your nose. God, of course it had to be him. “Give a bit of warning next time, maybe?”

“I’m a sniper. It’s quite literally my job to not give any warning.” He pushed himself off the door frame he was leaning on and made his way to your side, leaning down ever so slightly to be more level with you while you both watched Tech work. “What’s your goal here? Memorize every aspect of what he looks like so you can dream about him at night? Or are you going to say something like a normal person?”

“You’re such an ass,” you grumbled, glaring at the ground. “You have no idea how hard this is for me. What if he rejects me? We all live on one very tiny ship, I don’t know if I’ll be able to handle that tension! Or what if I do tell him and he just doesn’t get what I’m saying and I have to spend ages trying to get more and more blunt and obvious about it. Do you really expect me to live out the rest of my life reliving that moment forever?”

“And what if you tell him and he says he feels the same way?” Crosshair argued back. “Talk to him or leave him alone. You make me want to throw up every time I see how lovesick you are over him.”

“I can’t, Crosshair! I freeze up every time I try!” 

The sniper spun you around to face him. “In this line of work, freezing up could mean death for you and your teammates. You take action when it’s needed; I’ve seen you do it. What’s so different about this? Get it together, walk over there, and tell him how you really feel, before you don’t get to tell him at all.”

You could only blink at him.

------

Hunter peeked around the edge of the Marauder briefly to watch you and Crosshair fighting before turning back to Tech. “You’re going to have to face them eventually, you know.”

“I do not understand your meaning. I face them every day.” Tech soldered a broken wire together, tugging lightly on one end to ensure the connection was strong. “Your statement is baseless.”

“You’re misinterpreting my words on purpose,” Hunter pointed out as he waved to Wrecker. The strongest of them all brought over a massive crate of spare parts and started handing bits of them to Tech. “I’ve seen how you are. Somehow, you’ve mastered the art of having as much interaction with them as possible while also avoiding them.”

“I do not avoid anyone.”

Hunter barked out a laugh. “Oh, really? Then why do you only take piloting shifts when theirs isn’t right before or after yours, or run off into only known safe markets and leave us all behind?” He passed a spanner to his brother. “But when we’re in unfamiliar territory, you refuse to leave their side unless one of us is already sticking with them, and even then you try to weasel your way in. Face it, Tech. We all know you’ve got a bit of a crush on them.”

Tech maneuvered to the underside of the ship, his face a light sheen of red. “Ensuring the safety of a teammate is not evidence of a crush, Hunter. I am merely showing caution in hostile territory.”

“I think the only person who doesn’t know that you’re in love is them,” Wrecker butted in, jerking his thumb over his shoulder to where you and Crosshair were squabbling. Hunter glanced over to see that Crosshair had put you in a headlock and refused to release you until you cried uncle. “You’re not really good at hidin’ it, to be honest.”

Tech huffed. “As I keep telling you both, I—”

Hunter suddenly called out your name, cutting Tech off. “We need to get a few more supplies before we take off. Can you help Tech finish things up here while we head to the stalls?”

Crosshair kicked your leg when you opened your mouth. “Yeah, we can’t trust you to get actual essentials. Besides, you probably know as much about the Marauder as Tech does by this point.”

Before you could protest, the three brothers vanished into the shadows of the docking station.

You gulped. Crosshair’s words looped in your head.

It had to happen at some point, you suppose.

Slowly, you walked to where Tech was gathering up his tools. “I thought you had more work to do?”

“I do,” Tech replied, not looking up from his task, “but the remaining repairs are inside the ship.”

Great, you thought as you followed, all alone and in a confined space. What could possibly go wrong?

------

You were pretty sure that you were going to implode if you spent another minute helping Tech in the cockpit. 

Somehow the man was far too close and much too far away at the same time. You inched nearer and he pulled back. You gave him space and he closed in. Every time you opened your mouth to speak he would unknowingly interrupt with some sort of commentary or delegation, and when you closed it he looked at you expectantly for a comment. Ugh, it was infuriating. Just speak already! Tell him you love him!

You took a deep breath. Alright, this time, for sure. No more backing out. You can do this. It’s just three words. You’ve got this.

You steadied the rickety stepladder that Tech insisted on using to reach a panel in the ceiling. A few safety lights had gone out and Hunter was worried that it was an indication of something bad despite the protests of his sibling.

This was it.

Another breath. “Hey, uh, Tech?”

Tech hummed. His head was completely buried in the darkness of the ship’s interior system.

You squeezed your eyes shut to muster up all the courage you possibly could. “Look, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you, for… a while now. And I was hoping that, since everyone else is gone, we could talk— HOLY—”

Tech shouted in surprise as the ancient stepladder finally gave out from underfoot, his flailing limbs knocking the both of you over, crashing hard enough into the floor for you both to see stars briefly.

“That hurt,” you muttered as you forced your eyes back open. It took a second for them to focus, but once they did, you realized with a start that you were looking into Tech’s.

Which were mere inches away from yours.

Because he had also fallen.

Conveniently, you cushioned his fall.

Oh no.

Tech’s mouth opened, then closed. Then opened again, and closed again. Even in your horror you couldn’t help but think that he looked an awful lot like a fish.

“I apologize,” he finally spluttered, scrambling off of you and sitting against the wall. “I, it was not my intention to, I mean, that is….” He hesitated. “I’m sorry. Are you injured?”

You slowly sat up, rubbing a hand over the shoulder that hit the ground first. “A little sore, but I’ll be okay. What about you?”

Tech carefully tilted his head back and forth. “Nothing is broken. My fall was successfully broken, albeit accidentally.” He looked back at you, his goggles askew and one lens fractured. “I should have calculated the risks of using that ladder more thoroughly. My carelessness resulted in your harm; I will grab the bacta patches. Remain here.”

“Tech, wait!”

He paused when your hand landed unexpectedly on his upper arm, staring blankly at it before focusing on you. “Yes?”

You bit the inside of your cheek. “Your… oh, just hold still for a second.” You reached up and removed his goggles, peering at the right lens. The crack didn’t stretch fully across, but the glass was compromised nonetheless and would need a replacement. “They’ll work for now, but I really hope you have a repair kit somewhere for these. Or a whole separate pair.” Carefully, you pulled the bent frame edges back into place before refitting them to his face. “How’s that?”

Tech let out a small puff, the air surprisingly cold against your hot skin.

Wait. Hot?

Oh, you were much closer than you previously thought. Oh. Oh no.

 “Thank you.” Your name escaped Tech’s lips in a whisper.

“Yeah,” you breathed, your head reeling from the proximity between you two. Or the fall and subsequent head injury. “Any time.”

The silence that followed felt like a lifetime, but a clock proved it to be only a few seconds.

“...Tech,” you said slowly, shifting uncomfortably in your seat. The timing felt so off, so wrong, so inappropriate somehow, but you already let too many ‘proper’ opportunities slip by. You couldn’t take the chance again. “Look, there’s something I’ve been meaning to tell you for a while now. I wanted to tell you that I’m—”

“I love you!” Tech blurted out, grimacing right after for cutting you off.

Now it was your turn to make an impression of a fish.

“I’m… I’ve loved you for some time now. I love your smile, I love the crinkle by your eyes when you squint, I love how you look when you’re lost in thought. I love your laugh, your kindness, the way you look after my brothers just as we do to you. I love the effort you put into helping in any way you can, and how you show grace when someone makes a mistake. I know you’re leaving, but I had to tell you.”

Your finger tapped an uncertain rhythm on the floor of the Marauder, your brain running a thousand miles per second. Tech loved you back? And he thought you were leaving? “Why do you think I’m going away?”

“Echo has gone to work with Captain Rex once more; it was only logical that your recent shift in behavior and desire to express something important indicated you felt similarly,” Tech explained. “Was that… not accurate?”

You couldn’t help but laugh and oh, the sound was so sweet to your own ears. It was a mixture of pure joy and relief. “No, Tech, it wasn’t that. I just wanted to let you know that I love you too.” Your hand found his, your foreheads gently knocking together. “I love how serious you are, how studious you can be, how attentive you are to the world around you. I love how you ask me to explain social mannerisms in exchange for a personalized research dive on whatever I want. I love watching you be confident and skillful in your work, and I love when you let me convince you to relax and let someone else take over. I love you, Tech, and I’m not going anywhere.”

“That makes two of us, then,” Tech smiled. “Though I think any further discussion should be put on hold until we get a bacta patch on your shoulder.”

A snort escaped your nose. “I’ll allow a distraction just this once, so long as you promise to help me out with it.”

“Naturally.”

[vekreng]

hi!! Your crosshair fic was so amazing 😍💗 could I please request something with tech and an awkward reader maybe they admit feelings for each other or they are caught being cute by the rest of the batch and they tease them? Anything with tech really! 🙈 tysm!

thank you for the compliment, and the request!! expect to see it posted by friday :DDD

[vekreng]

We just broke 50 notes on the Crosshair Alphabet!!! Holy shit!!! Thank you guys SO much for all the love and support you’ve shown it, and if any of you from that post are seeing this:

Hunter ABCs (SFW) are in the works right now :]]]

I’m open to requests as I’m trying to get back into writing, so feel free to check out my “word games” tag for prompts!!

[vekreng]

Crosshair - SFW Alphabet

prompt: sfw alphabet featuring the reader dating Crosshair from The Bad Batch :] list by @.the-coldest-goodbye here! pairing: Crosshair x Reader words: 1.9k requested: no

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

His affection level depends on who’s around. His siblings? Best you’ll get is him standing by you, maybe his elbow or knee grazing yours. In public? He’ll gently hold your arm or brush your upper back to steer you someplace. Perhaps he’d absentmindedly intertwine his fingers with yours while pointing out the differences in two seemingly identicals articles of clothing.

Alone? All over you. Crosshair can hardly go a minute without having some kind of physical contact with you. It’s a combination of love, being touch-starved, and fearing that you’d disappear for good if he ever let you go.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

Oh, he’s definitely the snarky friend that mocks you for missing a step when going down the stairs but wouldn’t hesitate to shoot a random person for muttering an insult about you under their breath. He’d be standoffish toward you at first, refusing to accept someone new into the fold that was the Bad Batch. But like algae, or perhaps a barnacle, you grew on him faster than he expected. You shared in his jokes, stood up to him when he was being an ass, and was unnervingly in tune with his moods. Neither of you know exactly what changed your relationship, but you can both agree it was for the better.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Yes, but only when in private. And even then he’s like a bored cat; the amount of physical contact endured is exactly what he deems is okay and nothing more, nor nothing less. He likes having you pressed into his side. His arm tucked around your lower back, your ankles overlapping. It’s a completely different story when you share a bed, however. Good luck removing him if you need to go anywhere before he does.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Secretly, yes, though he isn’t sure what that would entail. He dreams of a world where he doesn’t have to fear for his loved ones’ safety on a regular basis, where he and his family isn’t foraging for scraps from people who could turn on them at any moment. He’s pretty solid at cleaning, not so much at cooking, but he’s willing to learn.

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

“We’re done. It's best if you leave.” Cold and to the point. Maybe if he shows less attachment, it’ll hurt less for the both of you. (That’s a lie, of course.)

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

He’s a bit iffy on marriage. He’s never really had any examples to look at himself, and as a soldier - and a clone especially - something like marriage was never in his cards before you came along. He’d have to take it slow, for sure. He can’t risk the pain of losing you outweighing the joy of knowing you are his only other.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

Crosshair is the human embodiment of a cactus at first. His spines protect him from being hurt, but eventually he learns how to let new people in, and some further than most. But once you’re in? Softer than a rose petal. He couldn’t bear to do anything to hurt you, it’d gut him.

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

In public, his hugs are an arm around your neck like he’s playfully choking you, usually when you’ve done something stupid. In private, though, he wraps his arms so tight around you it feels like you’re suffocating. His face is buried in the crook of your neck, seeking your warmth and body to engulf him fully and block out the rest of the world, just for a little while. His thinner frame can be a bit uncomfortable at times, but it’s nothing you don’t get used to.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

It takes a long time. So long you’ve begun to wonder if he even knows about the phrase, or its significance in relationships. So long that you start having doubts about whether he even reciprocates that level of attachment, until you have a little “Oh. Oh.” moment when it finally pops up.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

VERY. And it’s almost painful, how often it tends to happen. God forbid a “reg” be within eyesight of you, unless it’s one of “the good ones,” also known as Rex or Echo. A stranger flirting with you on one of their pit stops is no match for the fire in his glare that could melt steel. He gets possessive quickly, at times physically blocking the subject of his jealousy from reaching you with his body. “Keep your hands to yourself,” he’d snarl, “if you enjoy using them.”

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Shallow, but rich with life. He loves kissing you and being kissed, but he can’t really do that whole “tongue wrestle to determine who’s Alpha” thing that most enjoy. He prefers to keep them light but long, not wanting to let go just yet. He loves to press a kiss to your lips, your cheek, your brow, your shoulder. Your hand, if he’s feeling especially romantic. He loves when you kiss his tattoo, or scars, or collarbone. The palm of his prosthetic hand after Tantiss; it helps him accept it.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

We’ve all seen how he is with Omega. A bit awkward and gangly at first, trying to find his footing and figure out how fast he needs to adapt and prefers to not be involved if the children cannot be reasoned with, but a good dad in a pinch. Probably better as an uncle, though; he likes being able to give them back to somebody when he’s at the end of his rope. 

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Quick. He isn’t one to linger long in bed, there’s too much to do. He’ll make you some coffee, though, if you’re sleeping still. He prefers starting his day in silence, catching up on events, preparing his armor and rifle for the next mission.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Slow. He savors the time he can spend with you before sleep, the time when he’s allowed to wind down after a hard day’s work. He’ll read with you, watch a movie, talk about anything and everything.

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

He definitely waits. Crosshair can’t bear to be vulnerable if he can’t trust you 100% and then some. It puts him and his family at too high of a risk; what if you betray them? What if you use it to get back at him in a personal way for a slight he caused you? He’s like a river being formed. Slow to start, but grows quickly once he’s established that you’re safe.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

He gets annoyed fast, sure, but properly angry? That takes a while with you. He does his best to rationalize things that happen with you or what you do if it bugs him, tries to see your point of view and why you made such decisions. It doesn’t always work, but hey, he’s trying.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

He remembers everything. Steel trap, that mind of his. Turned your nose up at a little treat for some “picky” reason? You’ll never see anything with that trait again. Offhandedly mentioned an animal you like? Within two weeks, your bunk is filled with it and little things like a plush figure still worm their way into your life through the years.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

The first time you found a scarf you thought he’d like. The Batch was preparing for a mission on some forsaken ice planet, and you were trying to find ways to help everyone stay comfortable and alive. One merchant was selling handwoven scarves. The one you picked out had an intricate pattern of dark and light gray, highlighted with a pop of red. It reminded you exactly of his armor, and you couldn’t wait to show him. The light in your eyes when you shoved the scarf in his face to see is something he’ll always cherish.

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

You know that meme that goes “If he had a million fans, I’m one of them” all the way down to “If he has no fans then I am dead”? That’s Crosshair. The only time he isn’t being protective is if he’s unconscious or dead. You have become his everything, and he doesn’t let go of that so easily. He’d train you whenever you asked (and sometimes didn’t), and try to watch over you when you’re separated. As for himself, he prefers knowing that you’ve got your commlink nearby in case he needs backup, or someone to pull him out of a bad situation. He trusts you with his life, and takes comfort in the knowledge that he can rely on you.

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

Oh, he’d try so hard. Doesn’t mean he’d be much good at it; after all, he had no one to teach him. But he’s earnest and wants to make things work with you, and if that means figuring out what you like out of dates, celebrations, random shows of affection, then so be it.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

The rifle obsession can be a little weird sometimes. Thankfully he values you above his dear Firepuncher, but don’t expect him to drop it completely. He tends to stay up late reading mission reports, various strategies, and otherwise concerning himself with how to make the next mission go better than the last.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Not very. He likes his appearance and shrugs off negative comments about it, but he isn’t obsessed by any means.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Absolutely. In the beginning, he could go without, but by the time you’re established he can’t fathom how he ever lived without you.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

The toothpick purchases go way down after you guys hit the kissing stage. Having something else to occupy his mouth is a welcome distraction for his mind, and his wallet.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Someone who’s selfish. He and his family rely on each other, lean on one another. If he can’t trust someone to sacrifice part of themselves or something when it’s needed, he starts judging. If it becomes a habit, he cuts them off.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

He’s the type to appear like he sleeps in one or two positions all night, but you get woken up more than once during your relationship from his hand smacking you in the face while he’s dead to the world.

[vekreng]

◦˚~ ANIMATED MOON & STARS DIVIDERS ~˚◦

Requested by: @inkyprince Info: these were all drawn/made & animated by me. please reblog/like if use!

[vekreng]

◦˚~ SPACE DIVIDERS ( colourful ) by enchanthings ~˚◦

Info: these were all drawn & edited by me. please reblog/like if use!

[vekreng]

Jaxx - SFW Alphabet

prompt: a sfw alphabet with answers filled out for reader dating jaxx from the meg :] list by @.the-coldest-goodbye HERE pairing: jaxx x reader words: 2.4k requested: no

A = Affection (How affectionate are they? How do they show affection?)

Jaxx is very affectionate and shows her love primarily through acts of service and physical touch. She’ll make your favorite meal, set your favorite movie to play while she rubs your shoulders or feet, and hold you close to her chest for a spontaneous display of affection after a long day at work for you.

B = Best friend (What would they be like as a best friend? How would the friendship start?)

She’d be a bit of a risk-taker, the kind of best friend that knows her limits and decides to make new ones just for the hell of it. And because it’s mildly entertaining to see your face when she offhandedly mentions she’ll be diving cageless with some great white sharks the next weekend. She’d also be fiercely loyal, ride-or-die, but not be afraid to call you out on your bullshit when she sees it. The friendship would start on Mana 1; your work stations are close enough to allow idle chatter between tasks and she’d take an immediate shine to you.

C = Cuddles (Do they like to cuddle? How would they cuddle?)

Jaxx definitely likes to cuddle! Less so with others around though, the furthest she’d go is pulling you into her lap or tucking you into her side (regardless of your size and height) if you two are hanging out with friends. In private though? SUUUPER clingy. Constantly holding you from behind with her nose buried in your neck and gently swaying, dinner can wait she wants to hold you NOW. She’d curl into you, you’d curl into her, inevitably somehow you two end up looking kind of pretzel’d but nobody cares so long as it’s comfortable.

D = Domestic (Do they want to settle down? How are they at cooking and cleaning?)

Jaxx still has a bit of adventure left in her; most likely she’d want to go on some vacations for a few years before seriously thinking about putting roots down and really sticking to one place. As for cooking and cleaning, she’s pretty clean with the majority of things in her life (not her desk though, RIP) and she can make a mean dish once she gets the hang of the recipe. She’s able to survive and dare I say thrive off of her cooking, but she’s no Gordon Ramsey, you know?

E = Ending (If they had to break up with their partner, how would they do it?)

She’d sit them down and make it clear that she’s breaking up, but do it in a “firm but kind” way because she still cares about them. She’d explain what was a dealbreaker for her; maybe it was a big event that never got resolved properly, maybe it was a lot of small things that went ignored and resulted in built-up resentment. The specifics don’t really matter here, but she’d want to let her partner know where she felt the both of them were lacking as to encourage future self-improvement. Who knows, maybe she and her ex will reconcile down the line….

F = Fiance(e) (How do they feel about commitment? How quick would they want to get married?)

Jaxx is totally down for marriage once she feels she’s found The One! She loves the thought of being able to hold up her hand to show off the engagement ring and use it as an excuse to talk all about you to whoever she’s cornered on the research station, in the grocery store, at a gas station, anywhere and everywhere is fair game. As for the speed of the marriage, she’d want to wait at least a year before making it official in the government’s eyes but that isn’t a hard-set timeline if you want it to come sooner or later.

G = Gentle (How gentle are they, both physically and emotionally?)

So unfathomably gentle physically, just a little bit rough emotionally. She doesn’t want to hurt you ever, at any point, for any reason. She couldn’t do that to you. Emotionally, she may be a little too blunt in the beginning until you two find a communication method that is considerate of both of your feelings, then she’s just as careful as she is physically

H = Hugs (Do they like hugs? How often do they do it? What are their hugs like?)

Not overly fond of hugs, but she does like them! She prefers side hugs and hugs from behind the most; side hugs generally while at work (maybe with an arm slung a little low around the waist) and back hugs at home or in private. Her hugs have just the right amount of pressure and body heat to feel like you’ve found heaven in her arms.

I = I love you (How fast do they say the L-word?)

It takes her a while, to be honest. She’s attached and head over heels in love, but she doesn’t want to risk scaring you off. She’d probably wait at least half a year into your relationship before letting it slip, and it would be in the quiet of the evening as you both start snoozing on the couch. You manage to catch it right before you fall asleep.

J = Jealousy (How jealous do they get? What do they do when they’re jealous?)

It takes a lot to get her jealous. She has faith in you, and acts like flirting with other people would be far more likely to get her upset than jealous unless you both established beforehand that the flirting is fake and it’s just to get things rolling. When she does get jealous, though, she’ll come up to you while you’re chatting with the person trying to pick you up and pull you in for a slightly-too-long kiss on the cheek and a “Hey baby” before giving the other person a very pointed once-over. Bonus points if the hand now around your shoulders has an engagement or wedding ring on it and she can angle her finger just right to catch the light

K = Kisses (What are their kisses like? Where do they like to kiss you? Where do they like to be kissed?)

Her kisses range from slow and gentle to fiery and passionate, but with each and every kiss you can feel how deep and vulnerable her love for you is. She LOVES kissing your lips, but she equally loves kissing the junction of your neck and shoulder, your inner wrist, your hips, and your thighs. She loves it when you kiss her between her shoulder blades, on her lips, and on her stomach.

L = Little ones (How are they around children?)

She’s great with kids. Easily the favorite aunt of any child that she interacts with regardless of her relationship with the parents. She’ll regale fantastical stories to them, swing them around after incessant pestering, give piggy-back rides, the works.

M = Morning (How are mornings spent with them?)

Mornings when Jaxx has to work are spent alone, but she ensures that a lot of breakfast preparations (like finding ingredients, measuring different parts, etc.) is taken care of to make your day easier and she always gives you a soft kiss on the temple before leaving for her shift. Mornings when Jaxx has the day off are spent enjoying the warm bed and perfectly weighted blankets with plenty of sleepy kisses and caresses shared. She’ll make you both breakfast and chat about the week’s events as you eat by the window.

N = Night (How are nights spent with them?)

Nights can range from you walking into the bedroom to see Jaxx passed out with the covers half-pulled in a valiant attempt to get under them before sleeping, work clothes still completely on, to a romantic in-house date complete with your favorite movie, takeout, a luxurious shared bath, and one or two extra activities if you’re both feeling up for them that night ;)))

O = Open (When would they start revealing things about themselves? Do they say everything all at once or wait a while to reveal things slowly?)

Jaxx is definitely slow to drop her LoreTM. She’s had her share of ex’s take information told in confidence and use it to blackmail her or just give it away like they’re talking about the weather, so she needs time to properly warm up to you. You’ll think you know a lot about her until over a year into the relationship she casually drops a miniature nuke into the conversation and you’re expected to not stare like she just grew a second head.

P = Patience (How easily angered are they?)

She’s pretty quick to anger but she also has a decent amount of self-control in… some situations. More than the ones she doesn’t! But she’ll fully give in and have to be held back by you, Jonas, or Mac if someone innocent is being hurt/threatened or, god forbid, you are being hurt/threatened.

Q = Quizzes (How much would they remember about you? Do they remember every little detail you mention in passing, or do they kind of forget everything?)

Jaxx has a pretty solid memory but she constantly second-guesses herself on smaller details, like what candle brands you like (or if you even like candles to begin with), whether this or that TV show was your favorite, your favorite animal, and so on. She’s taken to jotting such information down on a memo pad that she keeps on her person as much as possible and in her bedside drawer when she isn’t carrying it. There’s a nonzero chance you found it while cleaning the bedroom one day and started dropping more itty bitty details just to see if you could catch her writing in it.

R = Remember (What is their favorite moment in your relationship?)

Jaxx’s favorite moment before you’re engaged would be your fifth date. You guys were trying to transition from someone you were casually seeing to being exclusive and the day was filled with hesitant hand-brushes and awkward giggles, but looking back, that was the real start of all the fun and joy you two have shared since. Then after you get engaged her favorite moment is the proposal, totally. (Well… okay, two moments can share the top podium in her heart. Three when you get married.)

S = Security (How protective are they? How would they protect you? How would they like to be protected?)

SO protective. Once she’s taken a shine to you she won’t let anything happen to you. This ties in with the letter P; Jaxx does NOT like it when someone targets you negatively. Can you handle yourself? Probably, yeah. Especially if it’s just a one-off comment or a smirk behind your back, but Jaxx won’t let anything slide if she thinks it’ll hurt you. Direct confrontation all the way, baby. As for herself, she likes having someone back her up when she’s trying to bring reason to the table. She may not say it aloud, not for a while at least, but she loves it when you take over and don’t let anyone treat her like shit or force her to do things she really shouldn’t be doing while incapacitated in some way (such as a boss trying to demand that Jaxx goes back to work even when she’s so sick you’re still cleaning the mess out of the bathtub).

T = Try (How much effort would they put into dates, anniversaries, gifts, everyday tasks?)

A good amount of effort! Sometimes she’s working or away during anniversaries, so Jaxx makes a point to video call with you while you both enjoy a meal and maybe have a virtual watch party with a movie of your choice. She’ll try to make dates exactly what you guys need at the moment: some spontaneous fun, a quiet night in with no responsibilities, something romantic to brush away insecurities and doubts. She also does her best to get you little gifts here and there when you aren’t expecting them. Suspiciously, their arrival seems to almost always come when you were originally having a bad day. As for everyday things, she’ll take care of her share of the daily tasks and help you with yours if she has the time and energy.

U = Ugly (What would be some bad habits of theirs?)

Foot-tapping to the extreme as a way to deal with pent-up energy that she can’t release otherwise. And knuckle-cracking, she was that one kid in the back of the class who wouldn’t stop popping their knuckles during the lecture and annoyed everyone.

V = Vanity (How concerned are they with their looks?)

Not very, really. Jaxx knows she’s attractive and will keep up with things like a mild skincare routine to combat the irritating feeling of salt permanently on her face, keep her hair trimmed regularly, and tattoo maintenance, but she isn’t pressed about anything else.

W = Whole (Would they feel incomplete without you?)

Absolutely. Jaxx didn’t know what she was missing out on before meeting you, but now that she has you, she never wants to let go. Every time you two have to be apart due to extended work hours, or a trip, or misaligned schedules, she feels an ache in her heart that can only be fixed by being near you. With you, the sunset is warmer. The stars shine brighter. The living quarters are cozier. If you left, she’d accept that things didn’t work out but deep down she’d miss you terribly.

X = Xtra (A random headcanon for them.)

She’s a bird person! If the stars aligned she’d get a couple of parakeets, but she wants to ensure she could give them a good life before owning a pair. One of her dreams is to live in a house with a view of the ocean and a backyard full of chickens.

Y = Yuck (What are some things they wouldn’t like, either in general or in a partner?)

Anything unsanitary in the bedroom and anything that could potentially hurt either of you. Sorry, but that’s a hard pass for her. She also isn’t overtly fond of media portraying kids getting injured or killed.

Z = Zzz (What is a sleep habits of theirs?)

She talks back in her sleep; ask her a question and she’ll answer. The answer being coherent is… hit or miss. “Are you awake?” “Mm… cream cheese.” That’s about what you can expect, but she will answer every single time she’s asked something.

[vekreng]

sorry for the dip in writing, folks! i’m currently wrapping up the last of my finals and am rewatching the hunger games, so my schedule should clear up soonish once everyone’s out of school. i’m going to try to get some quick headcanon posts out soonish for the characters that i assume will be more popular :]

[vekreng]

How about 'after an unexpectedly violent situation, Jonas frantically rushes to check if the reader is okay, cupping their face to look closer.' with Jonas Taylor x Reader? (fem or gender neutral; whichever you prefer! :)) - if this does not spark inspiration don't worry!

posted, thank you for the request!! i hope you like it :]]]

[vekreng]

Jonas Taylor - "Do Orcas is Whales? More at 11"

request for anon using one of the face-holding prompts! i ended up leaning more "there's some feelings here but he's in denial HARDCORE" than having an established relationship, so hopefully anon it still works with what you were hoping for :] thank you so much for sending in your prompt, i hope it's worth the wait!! all my works are tagged with "#x reader" for quick filtering btw!

prompt: "[CHECK]: after an unexpectedly violent situation, sender frantically rushes to check if the receiver is okay, cupping their face to look closer." from “Reasons to Cup a Face” by @.soulpromptson for JONAS TAYLOR pairing: jonas taylor x gn!reader words: 1.8k requested: yes!

a/n in advance: look it was either the depth be realistic for mana 1’s location or it be the teeniest realistic for real orca diving depths, we can’t have both 😔🤝

The sound of the monitors whirring to life hummed all around you as you flicked switches to your right without looking away from the wire panel you were scrutinizing. Something somewhere had short-circuited juuust long enough for a couple of buttons’ lights to not activate and you were determined to locate the source and squash the issue.

The metal around you clanged with a rhythmic but hollow tune before pausing long enough for the hatch above to be pried open. “Thought you’d be alongside by now, what with how eager you were to give the Nereus a run. What’s the holdup, Skipper?”

“Don’t start calling me that,” you scoffed as you tugged on what you suspected was the offending wire, “that’s a child’s nickname. And this damn piece of… very expensive hardware decided it wasn’t gonna turn on a couple of lights, so I’m trying to get that fixed before I drop down.”

“It’s literally what the captain of a ship is called,” Jonas wiggled his brows, dropping down into the tiny compartment to crouch alongside you. “Can’t get much more mature or on-theme than that.” He watched you tug fruitlessly on the wire for several moments before you finally dropped it in disgust. “Maybe it was water damage.”

“Pile of junk if it’s meant to go underwater and gets broken by a few drops, don’t you think?” You muttered under your breath as you replaced the panel. A few lights out were annoying, but workable. They weren’t even for anything important, anyway. “And Meiying told me that you call her that, so don’t start using her nickname on me. That’s not something you called a captain, that’s something you called an eight year old. I’m not eight!”

Jonas held up his hands placatingly as you stepped around him to triple check the emergency rebreather and mask box. Or whatever the version of ‘triple check’ that actually means ‘this was looked at three times already by two different people and once more by yourself when you first entered the sub, but what if someone stole everything while you weren’t looking???’ is. “Apologies, didn’t know you heard. And I didn’t mean it t’be demeaning, honest. I more did it to lighten the air since things seemed to be a little… tense, in here.”

You sighed, practically throwing yourself into the pilot’s seat. “I figured. Sorry for snapping at you.”

“Y’wanna talk about what’s got you so wound up?”

You briefly reflected on the day’s events so far. Someone had the grand idea to serve lobster for the station’s dinner last night and you had to spend the early hours of the morning helping various people get over food poisoning. You forgot about your cereal just long enough afterward with how tired you were that it got soggy enough to not be considered edible by anyone with taste. You had to forgo breakfast and in your anger you forgot about the corner edge of the coffee table and stubbed your pinkie toe. Then you proceeded to fall up the stairs. Not down, up. You’re not really sure how that happened. And now those blasted lights were giving you problems.

“...Nah. Thanks though. Gotta get ready for mission launch.” You shooed him out of the sub as you fitted an earpiece. “Mac’s probably throwing a fit upstairs with how long I’ve put it off.”

“Well, that’s Mac’s problem then, isn’t it?” Jonas smirked. “Don’t get yourself killed down there.”

“Wouldn’t dream of it,” you muttered to yourself as the hatch forebodingly slid shut above you.

“Nereus, all system diagnostics reading clear on our end. You are cleared for launch.”

“Solid copy Mana 1, Nereus launching.”

The dull thud of the sub hitting the water was muffled by the thick metal that surrounded you as you plunged deeper into the ocean. The problematic button lights briefly flickered with life for a few seconds after you entered the water, but they soon died right back out. “Lights are overrated,” you mumbled as you carefully twisted to the side to avoid a rock that came a little too close for comfort. “Mana 1, I’m approaching the sea floor. Want me to look for anything specific while I’m here?”

The earpiece crackled to life. “Negative Nereus, just swim around for about an hour and then come back up. That’s all her maiden voyage needs; besides, I doubt you’d find much of interest when you’re not in the trench.”

“Copy.” You pulled a ways higher above the bottom of the ocean and glided along. The new sub was a breeze to pilot, very unlike the clunky but beloved Capt Bubbles. It moved effortlessly through the water and the new cameras and sonars gave you a perfect view of what was around you. Various shoals of tang, some rockfish, oh a silky shark that’s nice, a pod of orcas….

Wait. Orcas?

You were violently thrown to the side with a scream of terror as the sub flipped nearly upside down. There wasn’t even a chance to right it properly before you got hit again from the opposite side, alarms blaring around you with various screens warning of damages to the outer hull.

“Nereus! Nereus, do you copy? What’s going on down there?!” Mac yelled through your earpiece as you struggled to take back control of your sub. “I think the orcas are pissed I’m in their territory!” You yelled back as you shot out of the tight circle the pod was forcing you in. “Crazy bastards just started ramming me out of nowhere, what gives?!”

A new voice joined the line. “If you can get an I.D. on them with the cam system we might be able to confirm the pod that’s been targeting local fishermen,” Jonas instructed. You almost sighed aloud with relief; his voice was one of the few things that could ground you quickly in a high-stress situation. “Doesn’t exactly surprise me that they decided to give you similar treatment, but that means you’ll need to hightail it out of there, you hear me?”

“What exactly is ‘similar-’ fuck!” You winced as two monitors suddenly cut to static at the same time as a heavy blow from underneath your tail. One of the orcas just took out your camera. “Yeah, no, fuck this, Mana 1 get ready to pick me up. I am NOT exiting this thing while it floats on the surface if they’re within fifty miles of me!”

“Jonas is on his way to provide cover, in the meantime drop flares and come straight up,” Mac ordered. “That’s your best bet right now.”

“Dropping flares!” You slammed a series of buttons in one go with your fist as you yanked down on a lever.

The water around you remained illuminated by your headlights only.

That. Fucking. Wire.

“Mana 1, flares didn’t drop, I’m a sitting duck out here!” You quickly scrambled out of the pilot’s seat to check the diagnostics panel. Flares, predator red beams, and ground stabilization gear were all out of commission, and none of the computer’s proposed solutions could be implemented while you were roughly 3,000 feet under the water and alone. The sub flipped again and you were thrown into the wall and onto the ceiling, groaning aloud with both pain and motion sickness.

“Nereus, I’m on my way. Less than a minute out to your position. Hold on for me.” 

You were pretty sure that Jonas’s voice wasn’t supposed to sound as tinny and distant as it did.

Another vicious shake and a new set of alarms snapped you out of your stupor just in time to see an orca swimming past the front with a chunk of metal cutting up its mouth. “DANGER: HULL BREACH IMMINENT. IMPLOSION IMMINENT. SURFACE IMMEDIATELY.”

“Jonas, I don’t have a minute!” You cried, desperately mashing buttons at random in hopes that something, anything would finally work and get the pod off your back. “They’re doing too much damage, I’m gonna die to some fucking orcas with a vendetta against mankind!”

“Not on my fucking watch, you hear me?” Jonas snapped over the radio as if you weren’t currently experiencing life as a sad little shirt being tumbled violently in the world’s angriest washing machine. “We’re gettin’ you out of there, and if we take out a whale or two on the way then that’s fine by me.”

“Are orcas whales? Or are they dolphins?” You wondered aloud blithely. If you were going to go out with a bang, might as well consider one of life’s hardest questions!

A yelp escaped your mouth unbidden as the Nereus suddenly jerked again, this time from a force not belonging to the orcas as you shot upward through the ocean. Through the viewfinder, you could see the pod struggling to keep pace before eventually giving up and being swallowed by the inky darkness of the abyss. “All dolphins are whales, not all whales are dolphins. They’re whales. That answer your question?”

You sagged with relief in your chair, rubbing your temples in a vain attempt to soothe the glaring migraine you got from being thrown into metal so many times while alarms and flashing lights echoed all around you. “I guess, but it’s not as much fun as arguing loudly over a mess hall table just shouting ‘Dolphins! Whales! Dolphins! Whales!’ back and forth to each other.”

Jonas didn’t respond, only chuckled over the intercom as the light outside the sub rapidly grew stronger. Within no time at all you were being hoisted back into the safety of Mana 1 and pulled a bit unceremoniously out of the sub. From what little you could see as you were more or less dragged away against your will, you were just a couple of extra tears away from implosion.

Jesus. At least it would’ve been so quick you wouldn’t notice you died.

“There you are!”

You turned around to see Jonas sprinting toward you. Before you knew it, he had you swept up in his arms and pulled away from the small crowd that had gathered mostly out of nosiness rather than genuine ability to assist. His roughened hands clasped securely onto your face, his fingers pushing stray bits of hair back as he peered worryingly into your eyes. “Are you okay? Are you hurt? Y’ve got a bit of a gash on your forehead, we should really get that checked out… any nausea, headaches, strains, pain from possible broken bones? Let me take a closer look at that… ooh, yeah, that might need stitches. Are you bleeding anywhere else?””

You blinked very fishily at him, barely able to move your lips with how he was holding your face, let alone really respond meaningfully. “Jhon’th’s,” you managed to get out. That was enough to snap him back to reality and back away a couple of quick steps, hiding his reddening face behind a cough into his elbow and a hasty glance out to the ocean. “Sorry,” he muttered, refusing to make eye contact as he gestured for you to follow him, “didn’t, uh, didn’t mean to… do that. Let’s get you to Dr. Heller, yeah? Yeah. Right. Can’t, uh, let you bleed out or… somethin’. Let’s go!”

If the sight of his bright ears as he strode ahead of you put an extra bounce in your step, he either didn’t notice or couldn’t bring himself to mention it.

[vekreng]

the jonas taylor fic is posting tomorrow morning! hopefully it’s up to standard :] as promised i’ll get to work on the ghost headcanons next with my requests staying open!