#// I thought it was cool after noticing the in-game archway and wanted to share though

[the-owlchemist]

★ | Spagonian Structures ( Mobian!verse )

     Continuing off my previous headcanon post that established Spagonia as the Florence of the Sonic TH universe, I noticed something interesting when examining the hubworld for the city in Unleashed. 

      Just above the market ( which exits into the town square ) there’s a hallway running along the archway of the entrance, bridging between the two buildings on either side. This walkway is likely a callback to a structure in Florence known as the Vasari Corridor. Which was named after the architect that designed it for one of the Medici family back in 1565. 

      The original corridor itself runs for about a kilometre (0.62 miles for you Stateside ) and connects two of the Palazzo owned by the Medici. It also has a few ‘stops’ along the way, such as the inside of small church, the Santa Felicita. Since the current duke of the time was a bit of an asshole unliked individual compared to his predecessors, the corridor served as a means for him to travel between both estates without having to walk the streets. 

       Pictured on the right, the bridge in the second image was originally a meat market but was moved by the duke so the smell wouldn’t reach the corridor. Since the market was placed there so the butchers could toss the off-cuts straight into the river. Nowadays it’s actually a luxury jewellery market known for it’s high end watches. Locally it’s known by denizens as ‘ The Golden Bridge ‘ and is quite the tourist attraction. 

[excelsi-or]

your type (pt. 4)

Hey friends, hope you’re all healthy and staying safe. No real updates from me nor any recommendations. I’ve been a bit of a hermit from social media and the real world these days. Anyway, I think you guys will enjoy this part. :)

w.c. 2.1k

pairing: woozi x OC/reader

pt. 1; pt. 2; pt. 3

“What if they don’t convince her to come?” Jihoon asks Seungcheol.

“Are you worried?” Seungcheol chuckles, setting food on the coffee table. “You aren’t the type to worry.”

“We bet 100 each,” Jihoon snorts. “You sure you don’t want that money back?”

“I’m getting it doubled back.” Seungcheol waves him off. “Jihyo’s friends know how to play our game. It’s what makes her fun. So trust me, your girl will be here.”

Jihoon helps to set up the apartment until Mingyu and Wonwoo arrive half an hour earlier than everyone else. Mingyu’s their resident chef and has some last-minute cooking to do.

Once they’re done, Wonwoo and Seungcheol play a round of some video game that Jihoon doesn’t pay attention to. Instead, he sits hunched over his notebook.

“When are you going to stop working on that song?” Wonwoo asks. He leans across the couch to get a look at Jihoon’s notebook. “You’ve been working on it for ages.”

“If it’s not perfect already, hyung, it’ll never be perfect,” Mingyu calls from the kitchen.

“Will you all shut up?” Jihoon retorts. He scratches out the last line he’d written. “It’s not your grade on the line.”

“Prof only put that much pressure on you because you’re good.” Wonwoo sits back up again after Seungcheol shouts about a great penalty shot. “So, hand in whatever and she’ll give you an A+.”

“That woman would give Jihoon an A++ if she could,” Seungcheol snorts.

Wonwoo stretches his leg a little to give Seungcheol two affectionate kicks to the shin. “One day, someone will see all the potential in you too.”

The boys arrive on time and expect the girls to be an hour late like usual, but Seungcheol’s phone pings as they all start to settle in.

“Are they here already?” Jeonghan asks.

Hansol chuckles as he reaches for a chip. “Noona must be here too. She’s always on time.”

Jihoon closes his notebook and tucks it down the side of the couch, where he hides his notebooks when strangers come over. He glances up when the girls walk in loud and giggly. Hugs are exchanged, as certain girls gravitate towards certain people.

And the one person everyone is watching gravitates towards Mingyu after her initial greeting. Jihoon can hear her chatting casually with him.

“Why are you in here alone?” she asks.

“Gotta finish this for dinner.” Jihoon knows that Mingyu’s on his side for the bet, so he expects Mingyu to tell her to head into the living room.

But she beats him to the next line. “Do you need any help?”

“Oh.” There’s a pause. “Yeah, if you don’t mind.”

“Would I ask if I wasn’t offering? What do you need?”

“How are you, Jihoon?”

Jihoon pulls his attention to the person sitting beside him. It’s Wheein. She’s in his song writing class. They start talking about the songs they’re working on. While he is listening to Wheein, he definitely has his eye on the clock.

She doesn’t return to the living room until they come out with food. And then she sits by Hansol and Seungkwan. The two seem thoroughly excited to chat with her about everything.

When Mingyu sits near him, Jihoon hisses, “What the hell, Gyu?”

“Sorry!” Mingyu exclaims. He reaches forward to fill his plate. “Noona offered to help and I wasn’t going to say no.” He notices Jihoon’s look of disbelief. “You guys never offer to help me.”

Jihoon doesn’t want to make it obvious by getting up and sitting with her, but as one hour passes to two without a one-on-one conversation with her, he realizes he needs to pull out the “big moves”.

In this case, get her alone and ask her what the hell is going on.

He stands and meets her eye. “You want a drink?”

She shrugs. “Sure.”

Jihoon motions with his head to follow and she nods her understanding, getting up as her team tries to discern what words Jeonghan is referring to. She trails after him and leans against the archway into the kitchen. He pulls two cans of Coke from the fridge and hands one to her.

“Did you want to talk about something?” she asks.

“I wanted to talk to you.” Jihoon turns to face her. “But you don’t seem to want to talk to me.”

“Oh.” She blinks. “You didn’t make it seem like you wanted to talk to me, so I just… gave you your space.”

Jihoon’s eyes narrow. “You know I wanted to talk to you.”

“No, I didn’t.” She pulls the tap on her drink, letting the drink fizz before speaking. “You told me to come if Seungcheol invited Jihyo over. That could have meant anything.”

“I thought it was clear that it meant I wanted to see you again,” Jihoon states.

She shrugs. “Well, I’ve been here for two hours now and you’ve hardly looked at me or said anything to me since I got here. I’m not a mind reader, Jihoon.” She sips her drink. “Surprise.”

Jihoon snorts and takes a frustrated sip. “You’re impossible.

A small smirk appears on her face, dimpling her cheek. “I like guys who like to communicate. You’re going to have to communicate if you want my attention.”

Damn, his fatal flaw. He can keep girls at arm’s length by doing the complete opposite of what she likes. But the bet’s been set. Backing out means losing, so he nods his understanding.

“So, are we going to kick Seungkwan off my team so you can join me on the other side of the table?” She lightly kicks him in the calf. “Or are you willing to lose again?”

Jihoon runs his tongue along his teeth. “I’m not going to lose.”

She chuckles as she heads back to the living room. “I think what’s happening with your team is called ‘losing’, Jihoon.”

They play games all night long. Nearly everyone gets so drunk that when Jihoon sees her struggling to rally the girls together, he suggests that maybe they ought to stay over.

Jihoon takes Wheein’s arm. “You’re not going to be able to get them all home safe.”

She concedes to that fact. Besides her, Jihoon and Hansol are the only ones sober. Hansol had informed her around hour 3 of intense drunkedness, there’s an established rule that at least two of them need to stay sober.

“We get too out of hand if we’re all drunk. Last time all of us were this drunk, we found a milk jug in the toilet and Soonyoung hyung sleeping in the tub surrounded by his own vomit.”

She passes Jihyo off to Hansol and then helps Hwasa out of her boots again. They congregate in the living room. Jihoon offers his bed to Momo, Sana and Sejeong. Jihyo, Wheein and Hwasa take Seungcheol’s. The boys pile together in the living room.

Jihoon shuts the door to Seungcheol’s room, blankets under one arm. He looks around when he doesn’t see her in the living room with the boys. He tosses the pile of blankets on Soonyoung’s stomach when he hears shuffling in the kitchen.

He finds her with her shoes on, coat going around her shoulder. “You’re not staying?” Jihoon asks.

She shakes her head as she wraps her scarf around her neck. “I don’t do sleepovers. Especially not if you’re here and sober too.”

“Oh, come on. Who hurt you?” Jihoon teases. He sees a flash of hurt cross her face and realizes he’s touched a nerve. “Sorry.” He looks over the kitchen and living room divider; Hansol is trying to shake Seokmin off to put him to sleep. Jihoon turns back to her. “Walk you home?”

She shrugs. “You won’t take a no, so bundle up.”

She slips her gloves on and Jihoon goes to grab socks and his jacket. Hansol looks over when he reemerges.

“I’m just going to walk her home,” Jihoon explains. Most of the boys have knocked out around Hansol’s feet. “Is that cool?”

“Noona’s not going to stay?”

Jihoon shakes his head.

“Okay, yeah. I should be—Seungkwan, lie down.” Hansol bats off Seungkwan’s hands from his ankles.

Jihoon is genuinely surprised she waited for him. It would have been a perfect excuse for her to duck out.

“Bye Hansol!” she calls.

“Get home safe, noona! Will you get off?”

She frowns at Jihoon. “Is he going to be okay?”

“The boys get clingy when they’re intoxicated.” Jihoon waves off her concern. “He’ll be fine.” He opens the door for her and she leads the way into the hallway.

They pick up their conversation where they had left it during the last round of Truth. Her girls love the game when everyone’s a bit drunk, and the boys definitely shared more than she anticipated. She now knows way too much about Joshua’s showering habits.

But Jihoon is the most interested in the truths about her.

“They said you have the best game,” he states.

It was the last Truth for Sejeong. “What’s something shocking that we wouldn’t believe?”

All the girls had chimed in immediately.

She throws her head back with a laugh now and presses the call button for the elevator. “I haven’t used any of my ‘game’ in a long time. So probably not anymore.”

“But at one time, you did.”

“Maybe.” She watches the lights move towards their floor. “What does that even mean anyway?” The doors open before them.

“Well, for us, it means you can get any girl to agree to go on a date with you without too much effort.”

“Hm.” She presses for the ground floor. “I guess, then… yeah.”

Jihoon cocks an eyebrow. “I’m all ears.”

“Hey, let’s keep in mind that I’ve settled before. I don’t like playing the game.”

“Even though it’s fun?”

“Maybe for you. But…” She adjusts her scarf. “I actually like the feelings and emotions and everything that comes with a real relationship. It’s not just about the sex for me.” She tips her head both ways. “But it definitely helps if the guy’s good at it.”

Jihoon chuckles.

His response gets her to crack a smile. “Anyway, the game gets boring when everyone plays it the same way.”

Jihoon agrees with the sentiment. “So, how many boyfriends have you actually had?”

“I told you already, one.”

“Your face said something else earlier.”

She pauses and then the elevator doors open. They head out of the apartment building and it isn’t until they’ve started on their way to her place that she says anything. “I don’t like playing, because I’ve been played. And I don’t count him, because…” She sighs. “How can I count someone who hurt me that way?”

Jihoon wants to ask more questions. If he can figure out how these guys won her over, he’s a shoe in to win that bet. “What made you like him? You know, if he hurt you that bad, you must have had a lot of feelings for him.”

She chews on her bottom lip and watches where she steps to avoid slipping on some of the icy parts. “I’ve only known you for a few days. Why do I need to answer this?” Her eyes swing his way. “How about you answer some of myquestions?”

Jihoon hesitates, but remembers that communication is important to her. He’s going to have to open up a little. “Shoot.”

“What about me is interesting you enough to bother?”

“That seems kinda vain, don’t you think?” Jihoon jokes.

She smiles a little with a shrug. “Maybe, but I’ve heard many mixed things about you, Lee Jihoon.” She nudges him. “Tell me why I’m worth pursuing.”

He won’t admit that the challenge of winning her over is enticing to him; he’ll lose her immediately. Luckily, she’s just his type and he doesn’t have to lie much. “You’re gorgeous, smart. New blood is always fun. I like your refreshing energy, even if your personality’s kinda harsh.” This makes her laugh out loud and he smiles. “I meet a lot of people like me, who date just to see how many notches they can get on their bedpost.”

“That’s an old analogy,” she chuckles.

“It’s also nice to meet someone who wants to love just to love.”

She grabs his arm when she feels her footing go. “Good god.” Jihoon eases her over the icy patch and then she asks her next question. “So, what makes you think I’ll play along with your game?”

“Game?”

“Oh, come now, this can’t be because you’re actually interested in me that way. You just told me that you think the game is fun.”

“We’re all looking for love, are we not? That’s the end goal.”

“And what was wrong with all the other girls you dated? I’m sure they were nice enough.”

“Nice enough is not the same as perfect.”

“Perfect doesn’t exist.” She sighs.

And then changes the conversation completely.

“What are your parents like?”

“My parents?”

“A lot of people carry pieces of their parents around. What are yours like?”

“Great,” he answers honestly. “Better than great. They’re perfect.”

She smiles at that. Jihoon can practically see a wall coming down at that statement.

[mysterytickingegos]

The Dream Team

Pairing: Mayor Damien x Reader

Genre: Fluffy beginning, then Angst.

Word Count:2,965

Summary: The newly elected mayor and district attorney were set to change this city for the better, perhaps as more than friends. Alas, fate (or at least, Mark) had different plans. Once-good people make a mistake, and upon striking their final deal in an effort to protect their friends, they instead set themselves on a tragic path for vengeance.

Anonymous Request: So for the request things, maybe 12, 43, and 44 with Damien? Maybe during WKM with female or gender neutral pronouns? (Thank you! I’m super excited to see your writing!)

Authors Note: Thank you for being my first request!

Want to read more?

[Image Description: A gif of Mayor Damien from chapter one of who killed markiplier, walking our of frame while bidding goodbye to the viewer. End Description.]

You stepped out of your car, almost in awe of the manor before you. At the bottom of the stairs stood a familiar raven-haired young woman, who upon hearing you coming up behind her, turned around.

“Tsk tsk, is this the kind of punctuality we should expect from our new district attorney?” She asked, crossing her arms as she bit back a smile.

“Ophelia, I never pegged you as a hypocrite.” You shot back at her, leading to her holding her hand over her heart in mock offense before you both broke into laughs. “Is your uncle inside already?”

She sighed, “Yes, why do you think I’m still out here? Postponing the inevitable lecture.”

You started to nod in agreement, then stopped. “Do you...really think being even later will help your predicament?”

You could see the wheels turning in her head before she winced through her teeth. ‘Damn.”

The door opened up with the houses butler on the other side, confused to see the two of you lingering outside. He kindly welcomed you and took your invitations, and as soon as he left your line of sight, there was Damien, the other half of your political dream team. Ophelia immediately ducked into the archway to her left, but it was too late, he had seen her.

Luckily for her, you were in a playful mood yourself. Just as he passed you, you caught his hand, bringing him back in your direction. “I just got here and you’re running off already?”

��Of course not, Y/n.” He said with a kind smile, before placing a kiss on the top of your hand. “I’m glad you made it. How have you been settling into your new office? It’s going to take some getting used to I’m sure.”

“Certainly. I still get this strange feeling I’m intruding every once in a while.” You shrugged softly, even with the thought you got a hint of that same feeling in your gut. “But that seems to come with the title in general, to be frank.”

Damien just shook his head, “My dear, there is no one I would rather have alongside me to protect this great city of ours.”

“Well, I appreciate your confidence in me.” You’d been working together for almost 5 years now and yet it still amazed you how well you worked as a team. “You know it’s funny, when we met, this is not where I saw my life going.”

The laugh that got out of him warmed your heart, although not half as much as what he said next; “Hopefully I’ve helped exceed your expectations.”

“Perhaps in more ways than you think.” You couldn’t stop yourself from saying it. As subtle as it may have been, the recognition in his eyes made it obvious to you that you had revealed your true feelings for the man standing before you, at least partially.

Before either of you could speak again, the butler cleared his throat behind you, almost making you jump out of your skin as you instinctively took a step back from Damien. “Champagne?” The tall man asked, seemingly unable to read the room.

“Uh, y-yes, thank you.” You took the small glass he was handing you, and chose to keep your focus there, at least until you heard another voice coming down the stairwell. After the speech that came from the man who invited you, you braced yourself for the rest of the night by downing the glass in one go.

After that, the rest of that night was mostly a blur. All of the usually posh guests loosened up at the table and you had done rather well, getting a rather stubborn detective out of the game early on.

There is one moment, at the end of the night, that sticks out clearly in your memory though. It always will.

You and Damien had left the crowd at maybe one in the morning, choosing to cool down on the balcony off of his room. “I haven’t had this much fun since...well before law school!” You exclaimed, taking another swig from a snagged champagne bottle you’d been sharing up there for a half hour.

“You were incredible down there. I mean- pft - his-” Damien erupted into a fit of the giggles, and you couldn’t help but follow suit. “Abe’s face when you put down that awful hand!”

“God help me if I ever need his help in court...” You sighed, and then you both lost it again.

Finally, when you had both calmed down, caught your breath, you locked eyes. You could’ve sworn that time slowed down just for the two of you. He pushed the hair out of you face, gently resting his hand on your cheek. “You know, you never cease to amaze me, Y/n.” With those words you both began to lean closer, and as you closed your eyes you could feel your heart pounding in your chest.

His lips had just barely ghosted over yours when he pulled away from you, wincing. You opened your eyes to your friend ghostly pale, gripping onto the rail of the balcony for support. “Woah, Damien are you alright?”

He had trouble even looking up from the ground, making it clear how the world must’ve been spinning in his perspective. “I...I don’t feel well.”

“I think you’ve just pushed yourself a bit too far tonight,” You reassured him, gently trying to guide him away from the balcony.

“No, this is...is...” He stopped to catch his breath, as though he had been holding it throughout the conversation. He then shook his head, a forced smile at his lips. “...Nevermind, it even sounds mad in my mind. I’m sure you’re right.”

“Come on, you should rest.” You brought him inside, surprisingly sobered after seeing the look on his face. As you shut the door to the balcony, the lights to the room flickered and stayed dimmed afterwards.

Damien groaned in pain, holding his hand to his head. “You do that?”

“No...” You stepped over and noticed now that Damien was also in a cold sweat. “Oh, goodness. Perhaps you’ve caught some kind of bug.”

“In that case I apologize for kissing you.” The joke just barely got a laugh out of either of you, him in too much pain and you far too concerned for his well-being.

“I’m going to go downstairs and see if-”

He was the one to catch your hand this time. “No, no, Y/n I’m- I’ll be fine. You don’t need to worry so much.”

“You’re sure?”

“Yes...You should go off to bed as well, it’s so late.”

You were hesitant to leave him, but chose to trust him. If it was that bad, he would tell you, right?

So you bid him goodnight, told him to get help if he needed it, and did as he said despite the pit in your stomach.

The next day it was as though nothing had happened at all, he seemed to be in perfect health as he greeted you on the staircase, not saying a word about his illness or anything else that had happened before then. You felt strange of course, and had plans to speak to him in private, but those plans vanished in a cloud of smoke when the body of the host of this event fell flat in front of you. Naturally, that remained at the forefront of your mind.

Even later as you began to notice your good friend acting slightly off, you ignored it. After all, he was grieving, you told yourself. He was still processing all of this and the best you could do was be there for him. Besides, you had your own troubles to deal with today, the investigation becoming more and more bizarre with every passing minute.

All of it seemed to boil over with you trying to calm an impossibly chaotic situation; a screaming match between the very panicked and very guilty looking colonel, a young woman demanding answers as to what happened to the only family she had, and a stubborn detective who just wouldn’t stop pushing all the wrong buttons...until he was shot. After that, you made an attempt to disarm William before he could hurt anyone else.

This was the next-to-last poor decision you would make.

Yet another gunshot rang through the old manor alongside a horrible shriek from you.You clutched your stomach as your body jerked backwards into the railing that was just low enough to bring about another tragedy. Regret immediately flashed over William’s eyes, he dropped the gun and both him and Ophelia tried to reach out for you once they saw you were falling backwards. It was too late, your body hit the ground with an awful crunch and your sight went black.

And then...and then you were floating. In some kind of void, you started to move forward until a body fell in front of you for the second time that day. “It’s not fair, is it?” It hissed at you.

No, it wasn’t.

Tears began to sting at your eyes but you held them back. In the distance you could hear voices, voices that were too familiar, and began to move towards them.

“He took everything from us.” The first voice started, “He trapped us here with this broken shell and no way out!”

“This whole time I thought it was the house, but I never thought he’d fall this far.” The second voice began to crack, laced with pain and guilt.

“And we played right into his hands. He’d been planning this for years and now that son of a bitch is out there walking around in my body!”

You approached two figures, with two auras, red and blue. The woman surrounded by red, a psychic you had met just hours before, glanced up at you. “Damien we can’t do this right now...” She warned him.

“Why not?! From where I stand we seem to have all the time in the world!” She rolled her eyes and nodded in your direction, and the moment he laid eyes on you the rage turned to sadness. “Y/n...”

You didn’t hesitate to go to him and he pulled you into his arms, the both of you having thought you’d lost the other forever. “Damien, is this...” You paused, having to push for the next words to come out of your mouth. “Are we dead?”

“It would seem so.” He said quietly. Once your fears were confirmed you broke, letting a sob escape as tears ran down your face. “Don’t cry, darling, we’re going to be alright.”

You laughed in disbelief. How? How could either of you be alright?

“You will be, death doesn’t mean the same thing here.” Celine’s voice echoed through the nothingness.

You pulled away from your friend to look at her, “What the hell are you talking about?”

“What Celine means by that is, this doesn’t have to be the end. You are trapped in here just the same as us but...your body, broken as it may be, it’s still out there.” Damien attempted to explain.

“Mark is not the only one who can use this place to his benefit. The same way I brought you here, is the way that I can send you back.”

“Send me back? I understand you want to help but that is just...unnatural.” You told the psychic, thinking back to the way you had passed.

“It wouldn’t be merely selfish. William and Elli are still in that house, clueless as to what’s really happening. And if William doesn’t pick up on it soon, well you’ve seen first hand he is just as dangerous as Mark.” Damien explained.

You nodded, beginning to understand. “So somebody has to stop the madness.”

“But... I’m afraid you won’t be able to survive on your own.” He started, taking your hand in his. “You are dead after all. But if you trust me, if you let me in, we can fix this together.”

“Together? So we’ll both be...”

“In your mind, yes. It won’t be pleasant, but it’s only temporary.”

You nodded again. Of course you trusted him, after all these years you had no reason not to. Celine began to push you to reality, a rush of wind surrounding and spinning around the two of you. ‘Damien?”

“Yes y/n?”

“...I’m Scared.”

“...I am too. But we’ve got this, we’re going to make things right.”

And in the blink of an eye you were back on the floor of the manor, gasping for breath as you felt unimaginable pain throughout your body. Yet the pain was overwhelmed by the shock of hearing two separate trains of thought in your head. Two separate voices commanding your body to sit up, to find your friends. Far as you could tell though, yours was still the one in charge. And of course you reminded yourself that this new voice belonged to Damien, that it was okay.

You pulled yourself up off of the ground and did not need to venture far, seeing William on a loveseat just a few feet away as well as Ophelia sitting in the archway with her knees tucked to her chest and a red blotchy face. Both were staring at you, one in awe and the other in terror. Every breath you were taking felt like you were inhaling glass, and you struggled to speak.

William sat up, holding his hand out to show he was unarmed in an attempt to comfort you. “We thought you were dead,” He barely muttered out. “I-I mean of course you’re not dead. How could you be dead? I wouldn’t have killed you. I didn’t kill you. I mean of course I...I...”

Your emotions kept twisting and turning and shifting. From concern and compassion for the person who seemed to be unraveling in front of you, to a sick, burning rage at the fact he was going through this at all. You wanted to reach out for him, but everything felt so heavy. Every movement you made came with stings and aches that shot through you. You instead remained blank, unmoving as you listened. Ophelia had begun to approach you cautiously. “I think you should sit back down Colonel.” She told him softly. The thought crossed your mind that this poor girl was never going to recover from today.

“I’m fine! Everyone is fine!” The Colonel exclaimed, setting Damien's cane down and running his hands through his hair. “I didn’t kill anyone I...ha! It was all a joke! Of course it was all a joke! Oh, Damien put you two up to this, didn’t he? Of course he did!” He waved you both off, wandering off almost with a drunk-like sway to go find his lost friends.

You realized your fists were clenched at your sides, and released them. Your heartbeat pounded in your ears, though it wasn’t all you could hear. Damien was trying to comfort you as tears stung your eyes and the unbearable pain left you shaking.

It was so difficult just to stand. Your head was pounding, it was too full. Too much happening at once.

Ophelia hesitantly placed her hand on your shoulder, an attempt to get your attention surely. “Y/n? How...how did this happen? I mean, you were gone. Cold.”

You held back a wince at her gesture, even that soft a touch was making you want to scream. The ringing in your ears was getting louder, screaching.

You tried to ground yourself to reality, to her voice, “Y/n, can you hear me?”

“Go get in your car Elli, get away from this place.” You finally managed to speak, your voice coming out shaky and low through gritted teeth.

“What about you?”

The words that came out next were not your own, that you were sure of. “I have some unfinished business to attend to.”

“Hold on just a minute.”

“Go.” Your voice dipped down to a growl and she was more scared now, looking at you as though she was pondering whether or not you had come back fully human. You weren’t quite sure either. After she rushed out of the house with the door slamming behind her, you braced yourself on the accent table in the hall. You now felt as though you were fighting for dominance of your own mind. You knew what you wanted, and that was to find Mark, no matter how long it took. Your better half disagreed. You wanted out of this house as quickly as possible, and grabbed the cane in front of you to support your broken body.

Wrong move.

Feeling chills up your spine at what you had caught a glimpse of in the corner of your eye, you looked up into the mirror, and saw a reflection that did not belong to you. Instead it belonged to the man you loved. Or at very least, a shell of who he was the night before. He gave you a sad smile, then closed his eyes and against your will your body moved, your head tilted to one side, then the other with harsh cracks coming from your neck. On the second, the mirror broke, nothing but static in the missing pieces. Static that resembled all of your buried thoughts in your mind. Instead of your confused pleas and questions as to what was happening, you heard his voice.

“It’s okay, my dear. You should rest.“

The very last thing you managed to get through, before the pain faded away completely; “Damien, please, don’t leave me.”

But as you already know, that plea landed on deaf ears.

You already know that he pushed you out.

That he left you behind.

That he let the darkness consume him in an effort to save you anymore pain.

So much for the dream team.

[katsukikitten]

Majo - Dorm fun

"What are you doing?" Katsuki asks as he flops onto one of the sofas in the common room as you sit crossed legged at the low coffee table.

"Focusing." You almost bite back as you stare into the onyx orb, jotting down movements, thoughts and feelings in your meticulous script. A snort fills the room.

"Focusing in a room that's going to be filled in less than five minutes with fuck all annoying teenagers?" He mocks, "Brilliant plan dummy."

"Yes, it is brilliant. As it will help me to learn how to block people out." You say, eyes prying into a person's life. Their deepest darkest emotions set out before you like a menu.

"Tsk." He grabs for the remote next to your notebook staring along the way, "Does All Might know you're spying on him?"

He flips through the channels idly, remote resting on his stomach while crimson eyes read your scrupulous notes.

"Does it matter?" He hears the grin in your voice without seeing it. He can't help but smirk as you've gained much more confidence since dating him. Still he can't help but tease you.

"I guess not, but be prepared to tell all of class 1A what the hell he's doing in his free time. Especially that derpy Deku."

You wave your hand as if swiping away his words.

"Not everyone has prying eyes like you, Suki." You giggle and he rolls his eyes, "Plus everyone loves the movie you've just picked. No one will be interested."

"Ah okay. If you have notes on yourself in there be sure to jot down *delusional* ."

"Ha. Ha." You say dryly as you dig deeper. All Might stands on the black back drop in his smaller form, with little to no extra aura around him like the first time you saw him. You notate it as booming voices enter the dorm.

Though you cannot see it Katsuki smiles a bit devilishly. He is ready to see exactly how this plays out but will come to your rescue should you need it.

"NO, EIJI, its MY turn to pick the movie!" Mina yells, trying to elbow Kirishima who's currently muscling his way through the group.

"No, I called the dibs after class today. A very important and educational documentary on hero history is coming on that Midoriya and I would like to watch. You guys need to watch it. It will help with exams."

"Uuughhhh that's what SCHOOL is for Ida!" Kaminari comments, "Plus and I want to watch this live concert that they are telecasting from the US."

"Its been weeks since I've had a turn!" Uraraka pouts, "Momo and I have had to stay up so late to watch our recorded shows. And someone keeps deleting them!"

"M..maybe Uraraka can have our dibs Ida?" Miydoria asks shyly.

"According to the calander it's my turn. We are watching horror." Tokoyami states, "Right Asui?"

"Right!" She croaks.

Their voices grow louder as they approach, arguing pulling you from the silence that is All Might's room.

Arguing so loud it begins to drown out All Might's thoughts, leaving you only slightly flustered. You try to focus on the visual in hopes the 'audio' will return. He sips his tea, lounging at his desk and he replies to piled up fan mail idly, neglecting his teaching plans.

Teaching for dummies and a notebook borrowed from Aizawa sit open on his cluttered desk.

"I cannot keep focusing on Midoriya, though he is my protege. Bakugou needs my attention, emotionally. While Y/N, and all the others have such great potential I cannot let my...."

"I SAID ITS MY TURN NOW WHO SELECTED THIS MOVIE?!" Mina howls as she stands in the mouth of the archway. Katsuki holds up the remote to be seen as he growls.

"OI! The rule is first come first serve. Now make the fucking snacks would ya? I've caught you watching this movie a hundred times, what are you bitching for, Pinky?"

"I...I cannot believe you!" A whine but she storms into the kitchen, she pops her pink head out of the kitchen to add, "No one take MY corner of the couch."

"Uhh Ka...kaachan."

"What is it Deku?" True venom drips from your boyfriends kissable lips as he stares up at the emerald eye boy.

"Uhh Uraraka chan would love to be able to watch her show, it starts in a few minutes and..."

"And I don't give a shit." Katsuki glares up harshly at him through thick long lashes before Midoriya guides Urakaka to their usual spot on the couch, despite neither of them admitting their feelings for the other they sure do act like a couple.

"Hey Bakugo. Buddy. I know you're trying to see this fight with me. It will be ultra manly." Kiri says leaning over the couch to try to slip the remote away from his friend's steely grip. Only to be met with a small, almost harmless explosion, "HEY! Watch the hair dude. I'm still trying to hang out with Mina tonight."

"Yea sure, that is until she hears that you didn't try to get the remote for her." Sero teases sitting beside Shoji. He launches a string of tape that evaporates in a series of explosions. He curses to himself as he watches his half baked plan go up in flames.

Your patience runs thin as you push yourself, you half hoped that at least half of them would go to their dorms considering none of them were going to get that remote.

Still they argue, so much so they barely notice what you're doing.

"Hey Bakugo. Are you at least going to sit up?" Todoroki asks, purposefully sitting next to Momo, "Its rude to make your girlfriend sit on the floor."

"What Y/N? Why are you...Oh." Mina enters the room with a variety of snacks on a tray. She sets them down at the far end, peeking over your notebook.

She gasps, drawing even more attention on you as you try to ignore her, ignore them.

Katsuki watches you with heavy eyes, gauging your reaction. He knows he needs to be protective of you. You often push yourself too far and if you had an attack in front of all of your friends you'd never forgive yourself.

"ALL MIGHT?! DOES HE KNOW?!" She snatches the notebook and you try to swipe at her using your peripheral vision but fail.

The entire class is silent, only the commercial can be heard through the entire dorm.

"Mina has a strong acid quirk but needs more mental training. Where she is strong in tenacity she lacks focus." She reads from the notebook, "Wow rude. I am great at focusing."

She unknowingly knocks over Sero's soda as she plops next to Kirishima on the couch.

"Are these his personal notes? I've noticed you kinda adapt to their hand writing when you jot down their thoughts. It's....scary cool." Mina adds, yellow eyes scanning the page. The whole class, aside from Bakugo leans forward on their seats. A few even dropping from the sofa to be closer to you.

"Y...yes." You feel their eyes, their hunger to hear about themselves from their idol. You've never felt their stares with such intensity before, almost nearing close to the weighted gaze of your boyfriend.

None weigh as heavy as his. Though Midoriya's is pretty close right now.

A shiver runs along your spine as it always does when the full twenty set of eyes is on you.

Maybe this was a bad idea? Your cheeks redden just a bit as their thoughts creep to you despite your focus on All Might.

"What does he think about me? Is he proud? Am I doing him justice? Am I doing one for all justice? Will I disappoint him? Will his notes be more negative than positive? Will.."

"Midoriya." Your voice is ever soft yet dark. Katsuki growls inwardly never liking Deku's name to leave your lips.

Those lips are for his name only.

"Midoriya." You say again, you can feel a nose bleed coming on as you fight the darker side of your power. It would be easy to slip into his skin. To flay his mind and bend it to your will through manipulation since he is leaving himself so open, "You might as well be screaming in my face with how loud you're thinking."

His face burns bright red, he goes to open his mouth to say sorry but all you hear is his mind.

"What does it say about me?!"

"He hasn't looked at your notes today for me to know." You say, finally snatching the notebook from Mina without breaking your concentration.

The class shares a look while Katsuki sits up before sliding directly next to you.

"You okay, my enchantress?" He projects the thought like you taught him and it drowns out all the backround noise. You take a sharp inhale before nodding. You smooth your notebook.

"Stop staring." You hiss, "Stop being quiet go back to talking."

But no one offers a word to one another. Bakugou begins to hand out death stares before Kiri pipes up.

"So Mina, the upcoming exams. Think you're gonna need a study partner?"

"OMFG PLEASE PLEASE SAY YOURE OFFERING YOURSELF TO ME EIJI AAAAHHH." You hear Mina scream in her mind. You push it away, leaning closer to Katsuki.

There is something about his intensity that is grounding, most likely because it is a consistent hum. His walls are always up and his will is awe worthy. A nice way of saying how stubborn he is.

All Might types a text to Azawai asking about his dinner plans. He has a lot to discuss, especially Y/N's potential.

"Its crazy she got two proheros who have great will power to lose their tempers in front of all their students. How did she evoke that intense anger? Anger I hadn't felt since..."

You stop writing, suddenly something pulls at your thoughts. At your focus on the black backdrop pulling you into the middle of conciousness. Your heart races as you follow the the sound.

A tune being whistled.

You near ever closer to a dark room as an old bed and cracked mirror begin to fill the space.

A tune you seemed to have forgotten until it dredges up bad memories.

Your rapid breathing becomes audible, you feel Katsuki's hands move to grab your face to pull you out but you hold onto his wrists with such a grip he might bruise.

You know this whistle, its haunted your deepest nightmares as you've lived it.

"Ah there you are little majo. I knew you'd come when I called like a good girl." You know that voice as you're sucked into the dimly lit room with a man much too familar. Though he seems off as his dead eyes stare into the mirror. Doing the same trick he would do while keeping you locked in the dark, seeing how far your mind could wander.

Like a fucked up game of hide and seek.

Your nose bleeds as you stare into a face you could never forget, even if you worked yourself.

You should know. You tried.

"I have a new boss now. He's a good guy pays well." He starts as if you actually give a shit, "I need you to do something for me."

"Go fuck yourself." You growl and its audible in the room you sit in.

You do not hear Katsuki yell for everyone to leave. He's never heard your voice dip so low.

So dark and threatening.

They all leave wide eyed, especially when he explodes the can of soda in Mina's hand when she refuses. Kiri practically swings her over his shoulder to high tail it to his dorm room.

"Y/N." Katsuki whispers in your ear but you do not hear and hold fast onto his wrists. He struggles to free himself from your tiny hands.

"That is not how you speak to your father little witch." A snarl so low, he jumps to stand and you flinch out of habit. Many years were spent in a dark closet, all by his threatening hands.

It is a wonder you are not blind. He laughs at your movement. Your heart pounds into your throat.

"Now listen. Stop being such a selfish bitch and help your old man out. My new boss is a powerful man. I promised him I could do some brainwashing. Some...rearranging on both human and none humans. You need to come to me now. It's going to be a great job. You'll even get to bend the mind of a student there." His smile turns manic.

"You know I can't control anyone." Voice still icy cold as you speak. Eyes beginning to fill with tears of blood as you focus on his shattered mind. One of the few you cannot work.

"Ah ah ah. I feel you poking and prodding. You have to remember that you got your power from MY WIFE." He yells slamming his fist into the mirror, blood drips from his knuckles as four sets of his eyes stare at you.

You yelp while his laugh echoes in the dingy room. You shake, scared, angry.

Broken.

How could this happen?

How could he still summon you?

But most importantly how did he get out of jail?

"Stop trying to sound so tough. I know your limitations. I know the temptation of your curse. My beautiful wife's was very similar, she told me everything. You parasite, you can worm your way into thoughts. Move something here, replace something there. Boom they've bent to your will. Just like you did to your mother and now look what's happened." He gestures to the empty room riddled with needles and rotting take out, "She's left us both to care for one another."

"Now don't let my wife's death be in vain."

"You...you're the one who..." You're shaking so hard, your quirk amplifying as you subconsciously try to force your way into his mind.

"I what? You're just as guilty. You planted the idea of a forced entry in to the very seasoned detective..." He shrugs his shoulders and you scream.

"YOU MADE ME. YOU FUCKING MADE ME." Items fly across the living room as your voice goes raw and youre hardly able to catch your breath.

Your father stands and does something he's never been able to do before, he grabs onto your throat in your conciousness. His eyes glow when before he was quirkless, only being able to summon you through fear.

He squeezes and the bruise appears on your physical body. Crimson eyes widen with worry, with furry.

"H..how?" You choke.

"I told you my new boss was a pretty good guy." He laughs, nails digging into tender flesh. Drawing scarlet half moons, you gasp, eyes watering with tears and blood.

"Y/N!" A whisper.

Seconds stretch into what feels like hours.

"You've got three days to find me." He snarls, "No hints this time either. If you don't. Well let's just say you don't want me to find you."

"Y/N!!!" Katsuki appears on the black drop beside you, eyes burning with hot rage. This is a fight of wills he may not win. Fear grips you as you watch your father look over your shoulder. You act quickly as you push yourself plucking the darling image of your Bakugou from your father's brain as you send Katsuki flying back to the living.

His eyes widen with an emotion you've never seen him wear before.

Fear.

So deeply rooted in your Father's eyes you wonder if this is all a dream. That you'll wake up any second. But as with all emotion with him, it is fleeting.

"I see you've found your soul mate." He leans in closely to add "Do not let me remember them or their death will be slower than your mother's. Three days."

With that he slams you into the floor of consciousness shoving you back in to your body as you claw at your throat.

Your eyes water as you see Katsuki. Shaking sobs rack your body as you scream into his throat.

"NEVER FOLLOW ME AGAIN!" Its hoarse and raw with emotion, so much so that Katsuki stiffens. He runs soothing circles onto your back as you come undone in front if him. Repeating over and over again into his tear soaked neck.

"I can't let him remember. I can't let him remember."

A/N Oops I dont know why I wrote this but here have it. It was originally supposed to be like a cute slice of life AU for Majo but I'm finding out I dont work that way.

[risingfire17-in-wonderland-blog]

Twitterpated- Trying to Take the B out of the Bromance

Ok, so I watched this BBC clip of bird seduction, and let me tell ya, the animal kingdom is into some kinky shit! (Well actually it’s mostly the narration that makes the video kinky) but the point still stands that I watched kinky bids! And I saw a comment that said “Dark master seduces young androgynous femboy, all archive warnings apply” (Shoutout to loffiene on Youtube) and I just had to write fic of it! So here you are, my loyal followers of my dumpster fire bullshit: the result of this fateful encounter!          

~~~~~

            Another year, another mating season. Maybe this would be the year Master finally found a lady bird and truly joined the ranks of adulthood. Not that Master cared too much. He still had Junior to look after, after all.

            Master had been a child himself when he started caring for Junior after the kid’s parents were killed by some stupid human sport. His own parents had disapproved, but something about the kid’s optimistic smile despite everything triggered some sort of need to protect him. 

            Since then, Junior had been faithfully following in the older boy’s footsteps. Master, in turn, took it upon himself to make sure Junior knew everything about being a blue-eyed satin bowerbird, and he took his position quite seriously.  He took pride in knowing his teaching was behind every one of Junior’s successes, from his first flight to his first forage. 

             But this time, things would be different. This was Junior’s first mating season, and though Master could walk him through every step of the mating ritual beforehand (as he had already done multiple times), he could not go through it with him and watch over him as he always had. And this irked Master far more than he thought it should.

            Why should he be so bothered anyway? Was it because he was worried Junior would fail? No. There was no way that would happen. He had done too good a job with the boy. Besides, Junior was a brilliant pupil. No, Master had no doubt this mating season would be a success. 

             Then why the dread? Was it the knowledge that once Junior found a mate, he’d not be by Master’s side anymore? Well, that was ridiculous. He should be happy the boy was off on his own. He couldn’t take care of him forever, now, could he? Well, he thought cynically, he actually could (and the prospect might not be that bad) but that just wasn’t how things worked. No, Junior needed to find a lady. And so did Master! Good god, did he need to get laid! That was the problem! He’s been taking care of Junior for so long he’d forgotten about his own needs now his brain was all weird!

            With that, Master dove back into his preparations for mating season. He had already acquired plenty of the blue ornaments that the females love, which lay tastefully around the nest he was almost finished constructing. In a short time, a female, recently expelled from her childhood home, would chance by, see a strong structure built by a strong man capable of protecting her and her young, and decide to live with him. And Master would get laid. 

             He briefly debated the skull decoration. While he found it amusing, it might turn off a potential mate. Not that he really cared. The only reason he’d put so much effort into it this year was because he had to set a strong example for Junior.

             Speaking of Junior, as Master fixed a stray twig on his house, he caught the younger boy spying on him, his sheepish face peeking out from behind a fallen log. Must be having a hard time with his nest. Master chuckled and pretended not to notice, but put significantly more flair in his steps to impress his onlooker. It wouldn’t be for much longer that the kid would look up to him like this, after all. 

              For God’s sake, the kid had bits of the black stain of adulthood on his feathers. Too damn soon, in Master’s opinion. But, small as those black spots were, Junior still looked young and innocent, just like one of the girls they’d be seeking out. Definitely cute like one. Damn, he needed to get laid, and fast, to get rid of all these weird thoughts!

              Unfortunately, with his nest about done, there was little left to do but wait for the females to come along. He decided to check out Junior’s progress. When he made his way over to the shabby little area his ward had claimed, it was to find a spindly mess of twigs in a pathetic array that would not survive the slightest disturbance. Dear God, Master had definitely taught the boy better than this! His heart started to race with worry. How would the boy find a mate? Screw the mate, how would he even survive the rainy season?! He had known it was too soon! He should have listened to his instinct!

            The boy would just have to live with him for another year, until he was fully darkened and ready to be on his own. Master already had a place prepared, after all. To be honest, he didn’t mind waiting a whole year to play the stupid “impress the female” game. And he didn’t mind having Junior by his side, all snug and warm on the coldest nights, that cute little smile on his face, like a little girl’s… And damn, he was having weird thoughts again. And was it just him, or was his heart racing more?

            He shook his head and prepared for the task at hand, namely, dragging this fool back to his place before he hurt himself. But where was Junior, anyway? He was nowhere to be seen around his disaster of a nest. Had he gone and got himself snatched up by a predator? No way, Master would have heard something like that. He’d be fine; he’d be fine. 

            Master took a quick shuttle around the area, and when he did not find Junior, returned to his own nest to make preparations for a longer search. To his relief, he found Junior nestled into his nest. So apparently the lad had just gone to steal some nest-building tips again. Oh well, this saved Master the trouble of dragging him back. Yes, he was already right where he should be. The sight quickened Master’s heart once again. Right where he should be.

            Master had a thought that made him shake with laughter even as his heart continued to pound. If Junior was going to live in that nest anyway, they may as well go through with the formalities, right? Before he fully knew what he was doing, he took flight and landed behind the shocked and embarrassed Junior, caught in the archway of his elder’s nest, and began to dance. Why not? Master had gone through all the trouble of practicing the damn mating dance, after all.

            Junior looked up at him, eyes wide in confusion. Master couldn’t help but want to dance even harder after seeing such a cute little face. This was definitely the strangest joke he’d ever played. But was it really that strange? This dance must be stirring up some strange hormones, because he couldn’t stop thinking that he really wouldn’t mind living out the rest of his days with this cute boy by his side.

             Even after Junior was fully grown and stained completely black, Master wouldn’t mind, if the boy kept looking at him with those wide, trusting eyes of his, as he had always done. Yes, he thought as he lost himself in his dance, as long as Junior could look up only at him like that, then he would still be pure and perfect in Master’s eyes.

            As he leaned in to make this future come true, he was brought back into the present by Junior’s timid pitch. “Wh-what are you doing?”

            He continued to lean toward Junior. God, now he was even wider-eyed and blushing, and he looked so damn cute! “Don’t worry about a nest. We can share mine.”

            He hadn’t meant his voice to come out in such a husky whisper, but the shiver that went through Junior’s body was worth it. Wait, when did this become something that wasn’t a joke! He couldn’t think straight. He was hot and dizzy and the only thing that made sense was to dance until Junior drew him close, closer, closer….

             He could barely hear Junior’s voice over the pounding of blood in his head. “C’mon, stop joking, hey…” But when he turned to face Junior, struggling to steady his vision, he felt drool escape his beak. Junior saw it, too, and he slowly backed away. “Y-you’re not joking, are you? Wha- I…don’t know, I-I need some air!” And the young man rushed awkwardly off into the forest, leaving Master in an interrupted reverie.

            Master shook the remaining drool loose from his beak and gasped in the fresh, cool air. What the hell had just happened? It was just a joke, right? But his blood rushed in such a way that he knew he wanted Junior in a way he would never want a female. But he’d scared him, right? What would happen now? Junior couldn’t run off like this! He still had to make sure he survived, after all! Surely, everything wasn’t ruined, right? Surely, he’d come back, right?

            Yes, Junior would come back, and he’d forgive Master when he realized that everything he did was for his own well-being.  He’d once again look up at Master with those trusting eyes that saw only him. And so they would continue on forever.

            As he continued trying to steady his thoughts, Master realized he’d stumbled into the clearing where Junior’s pathetic attempt at a nest lay. And he had another brilliant idea. He couldn’t let Junior delude himself into thinking he could make this ramshackle structure work, or he’d get hurt. To save him from this fate, Master swooped down and razed the nest to the ground.

             When it was all done, Master stood surrounded by broken twigs, his blood boiling as he admired his handiwork. Yes, Junior would see this and come back to him. And he’d stay forever under his wing, in a nest snug and warm, looking only at him. He allowed the thought to warm his entire body. Yes, Junior would be his, forever and always.

[followingthecreed-blog]

Connor Kenway x Reader: I Wish For A Family

The soft crackling of the fire and the steady sound of raindrops hitting the windows were the only sounds that were competing to fill the silence that seemed to hollow the house. You were accompanied by a collection of books; an intriguing series that you were determined to finish as the storm outside weakened. There wasn't much conversation anymore. Your eyes departed from the words on the page to gaze over to the chair Achilles used to sit in. It was times like these where his absence was palpable in an almost painful manner. You wished that he was here to offer his advice on how future events should be handled, to defeat you in every board game you played and to argue with the Native Assassin who now carried an even bigger load of worries and responsibilities than he did before. With a sigh, you gently closed the book and placed it in its rightful place atop of the others. The soft silk material of your skirt trailed behind you as you stepped into the kitchen and found the necessary ingredients to make a delicious stew to feed yourself and the man who had sealed himself in his room upstairs. It all felt strangely domestic as you placed the apron over your head and tied it firmly behind you. Being trained by the French Brotherhood as if you were one of their own, you were a fierce assassin; as deadly as you were sophisticated and graceful. George Washington knew you by name, Lafayette could give testimony of your skills and Haytham Kenway himself had surprised his son when Connor was in the middle of introducing you but the Grand Master already knew of you. You cut the carrots, the meat, and everything else before adding it into the pot and stirring it as it heated. You wiped your hands on the apron and turned to ready the bowls and utensils. The American Revolution had been fought and the colonists earned their victory. The United States of America had been the title given to the liberated nation and though now the people could take a break and celebrate their success, the work of the Assassins was just getting started. The American Brotherhood needed to be built to ensure their presence in the states was firm and lasting for the war with the Templars was far from over. The threat of Templar Order had been almost completely eradicated, yes, but the Assassins needed to be established for the freedom of the people and their posterity. Ratonhnhaké:ton had this weight on his shoulders as well as the burden of knowing his people were driven from their land. In his life he had lost countless people. His story was painful in so many ways that you only wished for happiness to finally find him. You carefully placed the bowls of hot stew on a tray along with two glasses of water. You carried these across the threshold and into the dinning room where you placed the bowls across from each other in the seats that Connor and you usually sat in. You could not help but look at the head of the table where Achilles used to sit. You walked up the stairs and towards the room where Connor resided to knock on the door. "Connor," you called out as you heard movement in his room. The door opened to reveal the assassin who was not wearing his trademark robes but a simple white shirt that reached his elbows and blue pants. "Dinner is ready downstairs. I was hoping you'd join me." "Of course." The both of you made your way downstairs and towards your respective seats. Connor thanked you for the food and you assured him that it was nothing. The same silence that you were trying to escape returned as the two of you enjoyed the flavors of the stew and the refreshment of the water. You knew well that he took notice of the way you examined him with concerned eyes looking for something to let you know how he was feeling but he had become extremely proficient at hiding his emotions. You knew well the incredible warrior Connor was, you knew that he had the strength to survive any hardship that life placed in front of him but you had been his partner for years and had hoped that the trust you both shared was enough for him to know that he didn't have to do this along; that you were more than willing to help. But before you could aid him you had to know what was wrong. After eating, you stood to pick up everything and return it to the kitchen but Connor stopped you with a gesture of his hand. "Please, allow me." He said, lightly taking the bowl and cup from your hands and gathering them with his own before he walked to the kitchen. He was fully aware that you followed behind him; walking in that soft, graceful way that made it seem as if you were gliding with your long skirts trailing behind you. There were many things on his mind, some that he was willing to share and others that he wanted to keep to himself. Connor knew that it wasn't fair to you. He knew that you spent your days recruiting and training new assassins, just as he did, chatting with the other women in the homestead that you had become close friends with and making sure that everything in this home and outside ran smoothly. He did these things as well, obviously, but when he was away strengthening relations between the Caribbean brotherhood and his own, you were placed in charge. You were the person he most trusted, a woman he admired for your strength and intelligence. He was sure that you already began to formulate your theories as to why he had been so distant suddenly and Connor felt guilty for making you worry. With all the courage he possessed he suddenly vulnerable under your analyzing gaze and he didn't know how to explain what had put him in such an isolated place. He finished washing the dishes and moved to go somewhere but he was suddenly stopped by your small hand grabbing his. All movement halted as he felt the coolness of your hand invade the warmth of his. Connor wasn't one for physical contact but he always welcomed yours. Whether it came in the form of hugs or the rare kiss on the cheek, the gravitational pull he felt towards you was something he could never explain when he was younger. For some time he felt as if he would never feel the love of another, especially from such a beautiful and refined lady like you, because of his heritage. He learned from others that women did these actions, gave these hugs, as a sign of friendship and that is what he took them as. For such a long time that had been enough...but his mentality began to change as he grew older. "Connor, do you trust me?" The inquiry in her voice saddened him. This shouldn't be a question that needed to be asked. "You are one of the persons in this life that I trust most." Connor reassured, the depth of his kind eyes meeting your own. "Never place in doubt my trust in you." "Then tell me what you are thinking. The house already feels empty without Achilles and without your presence it just becomes more hollow." Upon hearing your words his hand moved to grab your upper arm and hold it in sympathy; as a way to comfort you. "That is not what I wanted...I am sorry, (Your Name). I..." He trailed off as he took his hand off you and moved around you and towards the living room. "The things that burden my mind are not what you expect." "Explain it to me." You told him. "You've helped me dozens of times. I wish to do the same." He stopped walking once he reached a place near the window where he could survey the storm that thrashed the nature outside. He contemplated the words he wanted to say to her and how he was going to do so while she leaned against the archway giving him the time he needed. "The war has ended and the tyranny of the English crown and the Templar Order have been warded off." He began. "What do you wish to happen now?" You crossed your arms and rested your head against the doorway. "Well, I wish for the our influence to grow stronger here in to make sure that future attempts from the Templars to rise up again can be stopped. I wish for there to be a strong connection between not only us and the Caribbean brotherhood, but also the ones in Europe and around the world. I wish for the homestead to thrive always as it has been-" "No. What I had meant was...what do you wish to happen to you, personally." Connor tried again, looking a bit flustered because he hadn't been clear enough the first time. "Oh, to me? Um, well, I wish to be of service for as long as I can and help mentor the new assassins under your leadership." Connor's eyes left yours as he shook his head and looked down to the floor. You suddenly felt as if you had answered the wrong thing and you didn't understand. After the death of your father and the abandonment of your mother, you were sent to a family friend in France where you were raised in the creed. You had been working for the assassins all your life and could not imagine doing anything else with the knowledge of the evil that was found in this world. Your thoughts wondered if Connor was thinking about leaving the assassins but you quickly dismissed the idea. That was not something Connor would ever do. "Was that the wrong thing to say?" You asked as you moved into the room. "No. It is an honorable thing to want." You waited a moment before asking. "What do you want, Connor?" He took a moment before answering. "I wish for a family." You are not going to lie and say that you weren't surprised, even shocked, at his answer. Years ago, the both of you had been on aboard the Aquila resting inside the captain's cabin after defeating a number of ships that had been controlling the bay around a lighthouse that they shouldn't have been in. During the battle you had been slightly injured and now sat in his chair bandaging the wound when conversation between you two started. You talked the war, the homestead, the past and what waited ahead of you. It was in that conversation that you learned that Connor did not have time for romance. Members of the homestead were always asking him when he was going to find a nice girl during the times where all of them gathered to eat and have a good time. He had told you that he had other priorities with his people that came first and they would always come first, as would the fight for freedom. You had agreed with him and somehow convinced yourself that his mentality would never change. "Two weeks ago we all gathered in welcoming the child of Myriam and Norris's to this world. I had returned days later to ask if they had a sufficient amount of firewood for the night or meat, since Myriam is now too busy to hunt, and she asked me if I could hold him for a moment. She placed her child in my arms, her small baby boy and I was overtaken by a strong feeling in my chest." He said as he tapped his chest for emphasis, trying to get you to understand . "I want that. I want to be able to hold a child of my own. I want to watch my little one grow, watch him learn to form words and take his first steps. I want a wife. A woman whom would love me just as much as I would love her." The emotions in his words were so strong they touched your heart. In the long time that you had known Connor, you had never heard him speak as he was now. His eyes were filled with such emotion as if his wishes were never going to be attained no matter how much he wanted it. It was the first time that you had seen him want something other than freedom for his people and the death of his enemies. This time he wanted something that everyone wanted to have but it seemed as if a part of him believed he would not achieve this. "Connor you will have that." You tried to reassure him. "You will find a woman who will you love immeasurably, you'll see. You will also have children who will adore you and see you as their hero. I have no doubt in my mind that you will be a wonderful husband and an excellent father." Connor's desperate eyes once more looked away from yours. He shook his head again, running a hand through his hair which had begun to grow back to how it used to be. You didn't understand why this was causing him such anguish. You moved closer to him and placed a hand on his face so that he was once again looking at you. You held his gaze and looked deeply into his eyes so that she can find the source of his insecurities and extinguish it. "Ratonhnhaké:ton, it will happen. You are such an exemplary person. You are brave beyond compare and never in my life have I met someone who can even come close to having the same amount of goodness that lives in you. Life may have been cruel to you like that storm outside but soon the storm will end and the sun will shine. And when the sun shines upon you, Connor, and it will, you will have everything that you want and more." Your words were so sincere that they softened his expression but not what burned in his eyes. You wrapped your arms around his neck and embraced him closely. He laid his head on your shoulder and after a bit he wrapped his arms around you to hold you as tightly as you were holding him. You could feel his breath on your neck as you rested your head on the side of his. You had never been this close to Connor. Yes, you had given him hugs before, but nothing like this. Your heart began to beat a little faster and you hoped he could not feel it. Connor had not had the blessing of living that normal life that so many seemed to have. He did not grow up in a home where he had both his mother and his father. He had been denied both from an early age. He did not know what it was like for a family to be together and united because he had no example of it but after seeing the joy Norris and Myriam had...he wanted it. He wanted it badly. "I want to have all of that with you." That's when you were sure he wasn't going to feel how fast your heart was beating because your heart stopped. You couldn't believe what you had just heard. In the years following you meeting the native, you had harbored feelings for him. Everything about him, to you, seemed perfect. You had fallen in love with the way he carefully enunciated every word to make sure that he was pronouncing it correctly, the way he would let his guard down around you sometimes and smile, the way his eyes held pride when he watched you in battle, with his morals and the way he would do anything to protect those he loved. You thought then, and now, that he was incredibly handsome but that conversation you both had on the Aquila made you hide your feelings and even try to ignore them. Because you thought that he would never feel the same way. He had held you but your silence was all he needed to confirm his doubts. He remembered the day that you had arrived to the homestead. You arrived wearing expensive clothing with your hair braided up and pearls pinned in the elaborate braid. Even in the city he had not seen a lady like you. Your eyes were bright and warm. Your smile was directed at him with no prejudice. He had not believed that someone that looked so delicate and elegant could be a skilled assassin. He was proved wrong many times over. Especially the time when you had been the first one to swing off the Aquila and attack that Man O' War which surprised Mr. Faulkner who had first been against you boarding the ship (saying woman on board brought bad luck). After that his crew affectionally had nicknamed you the 'Pirate Lass'. He always sought to be near you. He wanted to be near you but you did not feel the same way. "I should not have said that. I am sorry." He said with fear and regret coating his words. "No, wait, Connor-" He tried to slip away from you but you didn't let him. "I..." How were you supposed to explain how you felt for him for so many years? How you suppressed it in fear that you could lose his friendship? That you were so shocked and happy at his words that you didn't know how to tell him? He waited because you stopped him. His eyes urged you to go on even if it was to tell him the hard truth that you did not feel the same way. "I've felt...I..." You sighed to shake off the sudden nervousness that now filled you. "I had feelings for you. I've always thought you were one of a kind, handsome and gallant. I had so many feelings I was afraid you would notice the way I smiled too widely. I always thought I was a bother to you. And then that night on your ship, after we defeated those ships that were controlling the lighthouse, you told me that you weren't interested in a relationship and I respected that. You were right. I saw why you would want to make that decision and so I concealed my feelings." "I spoke those words while a war raged among us." Connor clarified. "I could not allow my emotions to show. Our lives were threatened. At any moment anything could have happened to either of us." "I know," you nodded. He looked at you intently. You had taken small sections from the front of your hair and braided it so that it almost appeared as if you were wearing a crown; half up and half down. You didn't have pearls pinned in your hair nor flowers but you looked no less radiant. "I see things differently now." The Master Assassin said with conviction. "The brotherhood is growing at a steady pace. All of our goals can and will be attained rather quickly. Perhaps it is time for the rain to cease and for the sun to shine." You turned to look outside and smiled when you saw that the storm had stopped. The only thing that remained from the brutal downpour was the crystal clear droplets that slid down the surface of the windows. It was only a matter of time before the sun broke through the clouds and basked everything in its golden light; you both knew that. Connor, still slightly timid, takes a hold of your hand. "(Your Name)...I will do everything in my power to have the feelings you had for me return." "You already have them, Ratonhnhaké:ton." "But you said 'had'." Connor said, his expression twisting in confusion. You gave him a sweet smile before using both hands to bring him close enough to kiss. And kiss him you did. It had been Connor's first kiss so despite not knowing that to do he followed your movements and kissed you back. It was that kiss that told him that your feelings had never left; they were only hidden but now, since the sun was going to shine, there is no need for them to hide from the storm any longer. "You know, secretly, I've also always wanted to start a family." The joyful and hopeful grin he gave you was priceless.