#//exciting but okay but i darn near lost it when i found out i could customize just about EVERYTHING on the laptop

[mechahero]

//YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE THE LAPTOP OMG

[mintyfrosty]

A Prince’s Guide To Reading

"Right?"

Ah, his name.

At least the one he preferred people to use for him.

The guard of the Toppat prince turned his gaze up from the door he had his eyes pinned on, studying the engravings of the wood to try and pass the time. He had to admit, being the prince's guard could be dull, since said prince seemed to take much gratitude in working within a quiet environment. Right didn't mind, of course. Then again, the commoner didn't exactly have a choice either way with what he thought or not. As if he had a choice. He didn't; that was the truth. It had been like that for the month he had found himself being the prince's care. Er, at least he thought it had been a month? Time was a bit weird in the castle. Every day seemed the same.

That wasn't to say he found it unpleasant, however.

Their eyes connected, the guard's gaze quickly descending straight after, since it was discourteous for a royal and a commoner to share a glimpse of their eyes. Well, he wasn't sure on that, but Prince Reginald had acquainted him of such. And he trusted him; a terrifying amount. And Right didn't want to get a stern talking from the king about this, that and something else. Despite clearing his throat before he spoke, Right's voice came up as hoarse and uneven like it always did. "Yes, yer 'ighness?"

Allowing his hand to rest, the royal put the quill in his hand down to table, slightly rubbing it as the chains of writing broke free. Putting his hand through so much work was unhealthy to his muscles and bones. However, much like the commoner, the prince didn't have a choice. Not since 20 years ago when the Toppat Kingdom fell under Terrence's rule. Not the time to think about, he scolded himself, bringing both of his hands down to his lap. He could at least say, however, it was flattering on how the guard put so much effort into trying to learn the mannerism that seemed impossible to understand.

"I wanted to ask you..." Started the prince, bringing himself to standing and tucking his chair into the table that sat peacefully in the halls of the library. "Do you-- know how to read and write?"

...

That came off as slightly insulting. But, unfortunately, forgivable to ask.

Crimson rose to the peasant's ears, gaze crunching as he examined the tile grooving on the floor, trying to, pathetically, hide his embarrassment. The prince was entitled to ask such a question; he was the prince for God's sake. It wasn't uncommon for a commoner such as himself to be illiterate. Many didn't have the money to claim the opportunity to educate themselves. It wouldn't be embarrassing if he said 'no', would it? Because, well, he just didn't.

He was a peasant.

A filthy one at that.

"Nah-- I mean-- No. No, I don't." Forced words of respect came out of the guard, slightly gritting his teeth with frustration as he let his accent slip his words into slang. Ugh. He hated trying to keep up with these stupid mannerisms. It was all so confusing. How the hell was he supposed to remember how to use three forks at a dinner table, wait to speak until spoken to AND not let himself slip into his comfortable language of slang? And that wasn't even the full list. "Er-- w'y do ya ask?"

"Well..." Without finishing the answer, the prince's feet waltzed over to one of the hundred books that decorated the library walls. Gloved hands met the cover a soft covered book; a light read. From where he was standing, Reginald waved an inviting hand towards the guard, taking a seat on the couch that was adjacent to the fireplace which crackled calmly. Swallowing the anxiety lodged in his throat, Right's brash footsteps pounded towards the prince, boots sounded like a wrecking ball hitting concrete. Maybe that was due to his mass. He didn't have a mind to care. With the guard now near him, the royal patted the seat lightly next to him, a smile meeting his face. "...if you can't, I'd like to teach you how to read!"

...

Wh-What?

The crimson turned a shade of magenta, spreading like a virus across his cheek and nose. Teach him? Teach him how to read? But why? Didn't the prince already have his hands full? His gaze fell over to the task assigned to Reginald, surprised to see a perfectly piled stack of scrolls. Was he finished? Wow, that was fast then. Incredibly fast. Eventually, however, the guard let his gaze fall back to the prince, eyes focused on the book in his hands rather than the blue sapphires that dotted his pupils. Awkwardly, he cleared his throat, pulling on his collar to let more airflow through his clothing.

In all fairness, he didn't believe he deserved such a privilege.

Being literate was seen as such an honour; only the noblemen and royalty got the joy of being able to read and write. And that same offer to him? Definitely out of the question. He, well, he didn't believe he was worthy of such a gift. However, he most certainly didn't want to make the prince upset over the matter; maybe he could blame it on something. Something like: "Er-- I...Would we 'ave the time? With supper happening soon?"

"Oh, nonsense! We've got a few hours! Two! That's enough, I'm sure of it! You're a quick learner, you know!" It only occurred to Reginald that there was a big difference between the prince wanting to teach him how to read and Right actually wanting to learn how to perform such an act. A quick sound of hesitation came from the prince, excitement in his tone dying as his shoulders fell to his sides. "Of course...only if you'd allow me."

Oh, God. He couldn't refuse now.

Because yes, despite reading being hard to master, Right couldn't be more excited about the offer, yet nothing on his face implied so. Lost on the prince's words, the guard nodded with certainty, holding his hands up and shaking them slightly. "Na- No-- I'd be t' rilled ta learn, ya majesty--"

Dammit, he was committed to it now. No going back. Just be on high alert.

Although the guard took a hesitant seat on his side, the prince couldn't be more excited, a large grin dotted his face gently. Reginald opened the book to the first page, their shoulders touching as he held the left side of the cover, gesturing for Right to take the opposing side. Trapped by anxiety, the guard's breath wouldn't come out of his throat, numbly grabbed ahold with his right hand to open the book. Foreign symbols came into his vision when it was a simple text of English. Jesus, how was going to learn this? He didn't understand any of it. He couldn't learn how to read-- this was dumb-- this was stupid. "Alright...let's start at the beginning..."

Gently, the prince's voice hit his ears, voice brimming with excitement.

...Sigh.

Guess he didn't have a choice.

But, at least, this was better than staring at the door engravement all damn day, waiting for something that would never happen.

The story Reginald had picked out was something about a girl from a village. An oddball herself; she knew how to read. How ironic. Then one day her father got kidnapped at an old castle that belonged to a cursed prince that had turned into a beast. And to save her father's life, traded herself to be the beast's prisoner. But, interestingly, the two fell in love and the curse on the prince was broken.

Huh.

What an odd tale. Granted, probably one of the first that Right had ever heard of but...still so odd.

The prince went slow with the words from the text, running his finger under words and pronouncing them slowly, teaching him what letters made what sounds. Vowels were undoubtedly the hardest; some words could have two of the same vowel yet make different sounds. Of course, he'd been speaking the language his whole life but...now it was different. He could physically see how goddamn confusing the English language was. By the time they got to Chapter 3, an hour had passed, the prince looking up to the guard brightly. "Alright, your turn!"

Right blinked.

...

"...you know...your turn to read!"

...

H-Huh? "Eh?" He couldn't. "I can't--"

"Of course, you can!" Cheered Reginald, the prince moving his gloved hand to underneath the first word, written beautifully in ink. Calligraphy made it hard to discern which letter was which. Gaining his breath back from swallowing the anxiety lodged in his throat, the guard gritting his teeth, a crimson colour rising to his ears slightly out of embarrassment.

"Er-- I still don't get a lot of it--"

"That's okay! I'll help you along the way! It'll be fine, just watch!" No matter how much he tried to stop himself, he couldn't help that redness from his ears spreading to his face in a blush. Dammit. The prince's excitement was contagious; spreading and capturing his heart like some sort of plague. It made him want to try and complete this mission he was destined to fail at. He'd been learning to read for no less than an hour, and now he was going to read on his own? Seemed impossible. But that darn smile was enough to make him want to. Want to try. Want to learn.

Okay. He could try.

Hopefully.

"Er-- alright--"

It was slow.  Painfully slow.

The commoner needed more help from the prince than he could read words on his own. Nevertheless, successful. Very slow, but steady, gently drifting his voice across the paper to bring meaning to the written dialogue. Even if he made mistakes and made a fool of himself, he was still having fun. The prince was encouraging, giving him compliments and words of pride at when he could read a full sentence on his own. It was...touching, dramatically so. Crimson on his face turned to a soft, pastel magenta, taking comfort in the royal's presence instead of being on edge. Yes, it was technically not allowed for the two to be so close, despite having their shoulders touching, but the commoner didn't care.

The king and noblemen of the kingdom were still ignorant of the idea that Right had met the prince before the assassin outbreak. Heh; funny that the commoner was just coming for a visit but ended up being roped to be his guard. All because he saved the royal's life in an alleyway.

How curious...

However, it led to one problem; his guard was down. He got too complacent.

Find their shoulders sitting side by side was getting a little too uncomfortable, the commoner raised his, moving closer, then wrapping it around the prince's shoulders. There. Nice and comfy. If the feeling of the royal's muscles tense up hadn't occurred, he would've stayed there and continued. But, of course, life wasn't kind to anyone. Dread settled in his heart, abruptly stopping mid-sentence and pushing himself away and standing. Why did he do that? WHY did he do that!? WHYDIDHEDOTHAT?!

"I-I'm so sorry-- I don't know wot came o'er me!" Stamped the commoner, raising his hands and shaking them as if it were some kind of defence. God-- the king would have his head for this. What was he thinking!? Just, ya know, causally wrap your filthy, peasant arm around the shoulders of the prince of the Toppat Kingdom! No stress! Not one ounce of it! Dammit- Dammit- DAMMIT--

"I-t won't 'appen again-- I was just-- I-- I just--"

"Woah-- Woah! Hey, it's okay, Right!" Exclaimed the prince, quickly rising out of his seat and taking a firm grasp of his hand. Right, still scrambling to find something to say, looked down at their hands, caramel eyes finally connecting with the azure blue pupils that belonged to the prince's eyes. They were holding hands--

This was wrong. Everything about this was wrong.

A commoner shouldn't have been that close to a prince; let alone even within one meter of him. But to wrap his ARMS around his shoulder!? What was he thinking!? What was he doing?!

Shakily, he exhaled, not making any movement to return the grasp to his hand.

"Jesus-- I'm sorry I-- I just--" Stuck on his sentence, the guard brought his free hand to his face to try and conceal the growing magenta colour that lingered there.

"Just-- this 'ole thin' 'f not knowin' ya. And 'avin' to act like I ain't got a clue who you are or 'o you are aside from all the duties ya got stacked up--- it's kind of-- it's so frustratin'. 'Cause, yer know, ya funny and ya kind-- and ya got this presence about ya. And 've gotta act all manners and other bullshit-- I can't even just sit by ya witho't worryin' that 'm gonna get my head chopped off or you worryin' about 'dis stupid code-- JUST--" The commoner let out a grunt, bringing the hand on his face to his hair, tugging it slightly.

"It-It's just-- I wanna han' out wit' ya-- but-- we just can't. And it drives me bonkers."

A deadly silence filled the room as the commoner let weeks worth of venting material, catching the prince by an immense surprise. Of course, a faint colour of rose pink painted over his cheeks at the brief compliments, but nothing could stop or control the sudden frown forming on his face. In a way, the prince was dreading this. The lack of personal freedom for the guard was probably doing his head in, and the fact that he and the commoner knew each other beforehand probably made the situation much much worse for him. Even if Reginald had nothing to do with it (even though he had everything to do with it), he couldn't help but feel pity. He hadn't had freedom his whole life and, whilst he'd grown used to it, it was terrible in the beginning. Difficult, in other words.

Sympathetically, Reginald raised his free hand toward Right's that clutched against his hair, pulling it down from his face.

"Right...I'm okay-- I should be sorry I'm--" The prince let out a muffled sigh. "Y-Yes...I understand. This whole matter is aggravating. And I do want to spend time with you too! Believe me, I do. Heh, kind of why I asked to teach you to read. It's just-- I'm sorry I...I'm not used to this whole...' being close to someone' thing if you get what I mean? I've never met a commoner before you. And even then, there's all these rules and orders. And yet, you seem so nice and friendly compared to what I've been told what commoners are like. What I'm trying to say is...I'm sorry for my reaction with your arm-- I'm just-- following what I've been told to do."

...

An apology?

Jesus--

Reginald had to be the pure heartiest prince he had ever met if HE was apologising for a reaction that Right caused. In a way, it made his blood completely fire, bringing a low scowl to his face. It made the whole situation worse when you considered how the prince was treated by the king. Like garbage, that's what. And even then, Reginald put himself second to Right, considering his comfort to be more important than his own. Dammit-- that colour was rising back to his face, stifling a cough that rose to his throat.

The guard let out some sort of chuckle. "Heh-- we're both tryna follow rules 'ere-- Ehehe--"

Right didn't laugh a lot, but when Reginald heard it, it filled his heart up. A small smile itself met his lips, sharing his laughter. And only for an impossibly short amount of time, the prince's eyes shot purple, but far too quick for anyone to take note of it. They were both kind of messes; wanting to talk and laugh and NOT do something royalty related. The prince held up a hand. "Okay-- Okay. How about this. If I finish tomorrow and we have enough spare time, do you...want to spend that time finishing this book with me? To 'hang out', as you called it. We'll go out to the gardens; where no one can find us."

...

A smile met the guard's lips, putting a hand to his chest and bowing slightly.

"It would be ma greatest 'onour, my prince." ~~~XxX~~~ MEDIEVAL AU FLUFF BOYSSS!!

Thank you so much for reading this fanfic!!

For those wondering, this takes place in the transitional period between Right’s arrival and Galeforce’s arrival x3 

Also, yes I know that Beauty and The Beast didn’t exist yet but shh its cute

Oki have doodle!

[haravath0t]

A Christmas Heist Pt. V - Confrontations

Pairing: Bucky Barnes x Reader

Warnings: inaccurate depictions of technology, depictions of violence, flirty Bucket, an actually big word count 

Hi guys! This is it! The final addition of “A Christmas Heist”! I am so so glad to have been able to write this out! Of course, this part will be a bit longer than the previous parts, as this is the final part after all. I must thank @world-of-aus​ immensely for going above and beyond for these action scenes! Without her, this part wouldn’t be what it is! Thank you once again to @hailhydra920​ for putting this wonderful request in for the holidays! It was a nice request to kind of dip my feet into the water, as this is my first mini-series! There will be an epilogue to be an official end to this mini series! That shall be posted Monday night! As always, feedback and commentary are deeply appreciated! What did you like? What did you not like? What do you guys wanna see? I’d love to know! Thank you and enjoy reading!

A Christmas Heist Masterlist 

Main Masterlist

“So you wanted to take a look at the MacBooks that we offer right, Miss?” Steve asks with feigned enthusiasm, keeping up the facade until you two were for sure alone on the table, far away enough from anyone to hear. Steve takes a look around one more time before he whispers, “Okay, so… this should be the section I think. I tried looking for it on the other two tables to your left, but they weren’t there. The serial numbers were getting a bit close, but not quite.” Bucky lightly clears his throat and looks around, adjusting his cap. “Well, it’s the last table with the MacBooks, we can take a look here for sure.” You take another cautious look around, resisting the urge to take the different colored wig that you have on off. “Well, why don’t you two pretend that you’re looking at MacBooks? I have a feeling that it could be here.” You whisper softly. Steve looks at you and nods. “Well, be careful Y/N. I double checked these employee drawers too. No luck anywhere. Shelves may have to be it.” You nod in understanding and waste no time into searching for this darned hard drive.

“Well these MacBooks are said to be our highest selling so if you’d like to take a close look at each one,” Steve offers, voice raised slightly as another employee walks by the three of you.

“That’ll be perfect, thank you,” Bucky gruffs, “should we need any further help I’ll send my husband to find you,” you add. Steve nods and keeps up his raised voice, “No worries, ma’am. Take all the time you need. And umm… and yeah, just take your time,” Steve says softly, turning red as he stutters the last part. You shook your head in embarrassment as you turned away from the blond super soldier who was scratching his head. You look cautiously through the display, pretending to look through the specifics of the MacBook on display before looking at the settings to examine the serial numbers. The search kept going, you were on the brink of bursting due to your frustration, until. “Got it,” you whisper, trying your hardest not to show a huge smile as you notice the serial number perfectly aligns with the serial number that you had written down on your little piece of paper. “You got it?” Bucky says with a hint of excitement as he goes to you, Steve following suit. “Yeah! It should be the one!” You say excitedly. “The hard drive from what I remember should be in these shelves behind us,” you whisper, motioning at the products behind you.

“I’ll cover for you,” Steve offers, with Bucky nodding in approval. “Yeah so will I. I think you know this techy thing more than I do.” You playfully roll your eyes, starting the search from the box of airpods that were stacked along the shelf. “It’s just a different type of package that we’re after, Buck. Nothing much really.” Bucky only scoffs as he keeps pretending to look at MacBooks with Steve, looking around cautiously. However, his eyes widened. “No… oh hell no…” He grunts under his breath. “What is it, Buck?” Steve whispers, looking around even more cautiously. But then his answer was arriving at full speed. 

It was Rumlow, striding his way into the store, eyes looking around the store, but for what? You three would not even know. “Shit.. shit shit shit…” Bucky mutters in frustration. “Y/N, sweetheart, if you have found that damn packaging, you might as well tell us now.” He whispers in a harsh tone into the comm. “Seriously, Buck? Don’t rush me, I’m about more than halfway into the stock!” The two men hear you say into their earpiece. “I think we have every right to rush you right now, doll. We’ve got company. Your 6 o’ clock.” You hear Steve say in a pressing tone, causing you to turn around right behind you to see Rumlow approaching what must be a fellow Hydra agent. Your eyes widen, rushing your process on that shelf. “Oh come on… come on..” you tell yourself, heart beating fast as you try your hardest to find that packaging. But then you soon see it, a white box of the same size, but no, it did not show the image of a pair of AirPods, it was just blank. No little text, nothing. 

“Y/N… Y/N, come on let’s go.” 

“Y/N! Stop. Put it all back.” 

You couldn’t. You couldn’t stop now, you’re so close.

You were about to reach for it, but quickly jumped when you felt a tap on your shoulder. 

Shit.

You sighed in relief when you see Bucky, quickly tensing up when you see his stern face. “Did you not hear me and Steve? We gotta put this back.” he orders, stealing some of the boxes to place quickly back on the shelf. 

“But Buck I almost got i-”

“Yes you did. But this isn’t the time and place to obtain that right now. They can’t know that we know!” He hisses, holding your hand after putting away the last of the box, leading you to Steve. “We’re lucky if they do not plan on moving this out of this section, do you u-” Bucky continues, but you hush him. “Steve, come on, escort us out.” “Don’t you dare interrupt me, sweetheart this shit’s dangerou-” 

“Shh! Rumlow is near…” you whisper quietly, rubbing your nose. Steve wastes no time when he fakes to reorganize the MacBooks in their rightful place. “Right, I’m so sorry we could not fit your needs, ma’am. I do hope you do reconsider.” Steve says and you both nod. “It’s alright. Give us time to mull it over today, Andy. I think I can get my husband to change his mind. Thank you.” You get more weary when you see Brock looking at the three of you with a suspicious eye. You were glad when you saw that the other two noticed. “Thank you for coming to the Apple Store. I hope you enjoy your day,” Steve says as he walks you both out, making it clear to the employees. “Alright, I found that there’s an alternate route to get out. If you want to go to the parking lot, try to go through Bloomingdales, walk around the building, cross the other plaza, and then the lot is on the right.” Steve whispers hurriedly and you two nod, trying your best to go out as smoothly yet swiftly as possible. 

“Steve, I need you to keep watch of that package. We gotta see where they move it. Please.” You whisper into your comms shakily, clinging onto Bucky’s gloved hand as you quickly walk into Bloomingdales. “I think you need to keep watch of something worse. Or someone.” You hear him say, causing you and Bucky to look at each other in realization. “Fuck,” You groan as the two of you quicken your pace. “Yeah… I know… Rumlow heard from a fellow agent you two were going near the package. If you haven’t gone through Bloomingdales. Now is the time.” You hear Steve say imperatively. The pace has quickened, the strides were longer, and your grip on your boyfriend’s hand is long gone as you two made your way down the escalator to the first floor quickly and out the door. 

Once you two were out, the walking quickly turned into running. Bucky hears the door hurriedly open as well as fast footsteps. “Shit, sweetheart. Come on let’s go through that outdoor mall. It might be a shortcut,” He grunts, you two quickening the pace as a whole group of pedestrians start walking across the street, you two blending in quickly in the middle of the group. You turn around to see Brock a bit far behind you. But this was not the end.

You had to keep up the strides once again, trying to avoid bringing the security into the mix, so you stayed with the crowd of people. Luckily it came to the point where everyone was squished against each other’s bodys, you weaved through the crowds alongside Bucky, getting yourselves closer and closer to the parking lot. “Drop your jacket.” Bucky orders, you look at him in shock. “What?! Why?! What for?” “Misdirection, sweetheart,” He says grabbing your hand once you take it off, leading you towards an empty alley, making you have a run for it. “You’re so crazy! I love this jacket!” You hiss, your heels clicking against the concrete as you ran alongside bucky. “Oh shush, I’ll buy you another one. Drop it… now.” He says, resulting in you throwing down the jacket as you sharply turned to your right when you got to the sidewalk of the busy road beside you. Sure enough, you hear Brock’s hurried footsteps echoing far behind you. 

You two quicken your pace, hopping into Bucky’s motorcycle, you in front of him, his arms wrapped around your torso. The engine roared before you two quickly zoomed out of the farthest exit possible, quickly weaving your way onto the busy road and hiding the two of you behind cars. “You know, I should be driving that so you don’t gotta worry.” You hear Bucky remark. You smile. “Sometimes, your girl needs a turn. Payback for making me let go of that jacket.” You couldn’t help but snicker at how lost Rumlow looked around running in frustration with the jacket of yours clenched in his hand on the sidewalk. He may have been smart and burly, but boy, was he clueless out in the open. You knew Bucky saw it two as the lights turned green, starting on your journey home. 

“He must be so lost.” You remarked, giggling as you concentrate on the road. You smiled when you felt Bucky’s chuckle rumble onto your body, playfully groaning when Bucky playfully kisses and nips at your neck. “I bet… you ran fast on those heels of yours two… proud of you…” You playfully huff, shaking your head. “Well I’m supposed to be mad at you. You know that jacket is Christian Dior?” Bucky only chuckles into your neck. “Like I said, I’ll get you another one.” A smile cracked on your face, shaking your head. “How are we like this after what just happened?” “It’s our job, sweetheart. Sure it’s a bit panicky when we are on the field, but hey… there’s nothin’ you and I can’t do.” He says into your ear. “Yeah… you’re right…” you chuckle, turning a right to go inside the parking lot of the apartment complex. “Let’s just hope he has doubts that it’s you. He must know it’s me for sure.” You snort. “Nah… Wore a cheaper perfume today in case of run-ins like these.” 

“Jesus, you’re a genius, sweetheart.”

“Can you two remember that I am still on the comm with you guys? At least turn it off.”

You called the manager to say that you were going to be late today. Bucky promised that he’d stay alongside the pouty Santa Claus to make sure no one apprehends you or Steve. You sigh shakily as you watch Steve unlock the door. “Deep breaths, doll. I know you hate the idea of being in public doing this, but we are here a good hour before opening time. So you can do this with no problem. You’re disguised. So let’s hope. We ran through this plan three times last night. Trust your instincts.” Steve reassures you as he opens the door for you. You nod, thanking him as you quickly went to get the small box. Fury knows. They’re waiting for you guys to finish this.

“So it was in there, huh?” Steve asks, as he sees you hurriedly make your way to a laptop that he just turned on. He’s already getting flustered at how the default home screen turned into another black screen filled with numbers and letters. You only nod, concentrating on the task at hand. “What are you doing?” Steve asks softly, as he looks around, trying to find a way to pass the time. “Altering the firmware to install a backdoor.” You simply respond as you type furiously at the keyboard. 

Steve only nods, shaking his head and scratching the back of his head. “Shouldn’t have asked… no idea what that mean-”

“Done. Okay next.” 

His eyebrows raise. “A-Already?!” 

“I hope you have your shield in handy just in case.” You mutter as you keep on going. “I do… Yeah, Buck has it in the case Brock goes after ‘im.” He responds, visibly confused at your work. “What are you gonna do, Y/N?” He keeps questioning, preferring to know what you are doing than sitting in silence. “We’re gonna load surveillance and let headquarters control their softwares at boot up. They can have cont-” 

All thoughts were halted when the glass doors burst open, showing a couple of men and women storming through. “Shit,” you mutter, “I got it,” Steve grunts as he moves forward, “you keep working I’ll keep them off you as long as possible.

Steve wasted no time as he rushed forward taking on the first man that ran at him.

Your eyes fly back and forth between the men rushing at Steve and the screen.

“You good?!” you call as he’s kicked to the floor only to jump right back up. He licks the blood from his lips glaring at the men in front of him body guarded as he keeps them from getting to you.

“Keep going Y/N,” his eyes meet yours, “I could do this all day.”

You want to make a remark but the middle goon runs at him, and Steve’s legs sweep up and out sending the man arms up and spread out right into the other two. Your eyes dash back to the computer screen, “Give me two minutes!”

“Don’t worry about me,” he grunts, “get it done!” Your fingers continue to clack against the keyboard, muttered curses falling from your breath as you will the damned machine to hurry, Steve could only go so long against three men with the other two standing guard by the door.

The machine beeps, “I got it Steve!”

“Gr-” he takes a fist to the face, the force enough to send him back towards you. A gasp leaves your lips as you fall away from the device.

Your hands are reaching for your friend, but one of the men gets brave as he rushes you, his hands fisting into the back of your shirt. He sends you flying back, your body skidding away from Steve and into the two by the door way. You have but a second to react, the two standing guard by the door now moving at you. Deft fingers reach for your hidden holster, your fingers hooking around the taser disk as you quick flick it to the goon that had sent you flying back.

They may be quick but you’re quicker.

He goes down in a shock before he can reach the computer, “Steven the hard drive - AH!” you get out, “You’re not going anywhere, rat,” the girl by the door hisses as she pulls you back. “Looks like we have more than one rat,” the other calls out as he kicks the hat from Steve’s head, the kick sending him back into the displays. The goon turns his head to the others, “Take her out,” he mutters, “Let’s worry about this traitor here.” You’re scrambling on your feet trying to find some leverage against the pain radiating from your scalp as you are thrown from the store.

You’re not up quick enough as they lock the door, the grey walled barricade coming down, a sinister smirk kissing the lip of the hydra goons.

“Steve!”

“Steve’s not the one you should be worrying about, Mrs. Claus, or should I say Agent L/N.”

Chills creep up your spine, and you’re turning slowly on your heel, eyes hard as you glare at the man before you.

“Rumlow,” you grunt, he wipes at blood splitting his lip. “Gotta say agent you all almost had us, but that sly trick of yours,” he steps forward, “You know... the one where you took my keys, that agent that’s where you really fucked up, did you really think I wouldn’t notice,” he tsks, “figured you all might be smarter but then again, think I prefer it like this, you’ll be easier to take down.”

Rumlow advances on you then, his body slamming into yours as he takes you down around the waist. You scrabble to get leverage, the base of your palm meeting his nose.

“Bitch,” he grunts as he falls off to the side, your body moving to stand. Your eyes fall to the store where the commotion is even louder.

“I wouldn’t worry about your friend there,” Rumlow spits a grin appearing on his face, “he’s not going to last very long.”

You’re the one charging now as you creep closer, your body dropping slightly as you let your leg sweep out and send Rumlow right back onto his back.

“You won’t last long out here either.”

“We’ll see about that,” he growls his fingers pressing to his ear as he mumbles something foreign to your ears. Your head snaps to the side where the grey gate is slowly lifting, the goon that had thrown you from earlier waiting for the gate to fully lift.

Shit.

You watch as Rumlow pushes to stand on his feet, his stance unfaltering as he waits; it’s not long before the door to the store is being pushed open, the goon falling out, grunts and crashes coming from within the store.

“You see agent, you all thought you were slick, but really we knew all this time, just like Fury sent in his rats, we’ve sent in ours.”

Your eyes widen at the news, “Oh don’t look so shocked, it was never going to end well for the lot of you, though I wish it would have, you’re not such a bad kisser,” he smirks, “we could have been something you and I, but I guess maybe in a different world,” he hums. It’s a split second before they’re both charging at you, one leg swings out as your foot meets the agent’s chest knocking him back only slightly as your hands grip at Rumlow.

You climb the burly man, your fingers reaching for the garrote hidden in your boot.

You hook the wire around Rumlow’s neck, tightening it around your fingers as you pull roughly. Rumlow chokes as he tries to knock you off, you don’t see that the goon has gotten his bearing and is now charging at you,  but it’s not like he would have made it a step closer.

“Y/N!” you hear Bucky scream, “Duck!”

Your eyes flash up, seeing Bucky running at you shield in hand, the jingle of the bell from his hat and shoes being heard. He stops mid stride to throw the vibranium shield towards you. Your fingers tighten on the metal string in your grip, your body tilting back as you and Rumlow fall to the side, the shield whizzing past you.

It takes the goon in its path down, knocking three more in its way out.

“About damn time Buck,” you hear Steve shout out, the ping of the metal meeting face reaching your ears.

You couldn’t help the hopeful smile that appears on your face as you see the blond super soldier run to the door and catch it successfully, using it to knock out the other agents coming at him. You try to get up, making the wire retract on its own, the main objective to get back into the store. You yelp when you feel a strong hand grab onto your ankle, making you thud face first against the tiles of the mall. By instinct, you kick your heel against the face, hearing Rumlow groan as you get up. You hear a crack and you look behind in shock, seeing the burly elf pinning Rumlow in the ground, landing a hard punch at him, the blood from his face matching the redness of the Santa costume. “Go! Go get that thing and let’s get out!” You hear Bucky exclaim to you, you only nod and push through the glass doors, hopping over the unconscious bodies to get to the laptop, taking the hard drive out of the port for good measure. Sighing in relief, you tuck it in a secure place and quickly run to Steve as he gets his shield. 

“Come on, let’s go,” Steve says as you nod, paging headquarters to quickly get the agents that had participated into custody. You two run out and see Bucky throw one final punch before Brock is unconscious, bloody face and nose evident. “BUCKY STOP! COME ON!” You exclaim as you and Steve make a run for it. It is only a few seconds until Bucky catches up with you, quickly running to the car. You three quickly left, more than ready to go straight to the med bay.

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[imnotwolverine]

The marriage pact - Seedlings

Henry Cavill x OC Alice - multi-chapter

< Part 23 | Part 24 Seedlings | Part 25 >

Disclaimer: Bit of angst

Author’s note: It’s 6 AM and I’m posting this story live from a submarine ship. I kid you not. This is one crazy Sunday. A photographer friend had an assignment to make a photo report for a newspaper special and she needed someone to model for her. So, here I am. Here we are. Submarine ship Sundays. 😂

Word count: 1.840

(Link to my Masterlist)

Dear readers,

We are back on the island! And just in time. Winter is coming to an end and oh how incredibly happy I am to feel sun rays on my skin as I am working in my garden. Your garden? Oh yes, dear readers. I have, as of now, a garden. A house, a garden, a man. Ain’t life funny? Anyways. With spring soon coming our way it is time to get cracking. Or better yet; shovelling.

In other good news; I am pleased to announce that my book ‘The Tea Party’ will soon hit book shelves near you. The Tea Party is a collection of smaller adult stories which are just long enough to read before bed and exciting enough to spruce up your boring lunch break. Meet a number of mysterious and comedic characters as they go about their daily business, their lives intermixed with a sprinkling of magic and English frivolity. And if you happen to stop by my garden, I’ll be sure to autograph it for you, too.

With her hands in the dirt,

Ali

‘Ali Ali Ali!’ An excited voice bounced behind me and Henry as we strolled through the interior design shop, our hands interlinked. Both looking over our shoulders we didn’t see much, until we looked down. Little Alice! With a smile I turned and greeted her. ‘Hello dear princess! How do you do?’

‘And Swupermann!’ She squealed, looking up at Henry. He chuckled and winked at the little girl. ‘Don’t tell anyone! I’m in disguise!’

The girl stopped bouncing up and down and blinked, then asked: ‘What’s a disbois?’

‘Disguise.’ I sniffled, then reached down to pick her up and settle her on my hip like I always did, my eyes tracing around the shop, but not seeing her parents anywhere - which was understandable as the shop was absolutely PACKED with furniture. ..Oh cheeky..princess.. ‘A disguise is something you wear to hide who you really are. Like..’ I pulled a strip of hair before my nose. ‘See..such wonderful moustache I have! You cannot recognise me now..HON HON!’

The little girl chuckled and pulled away the lock of hair from my nose, scrunching hers in turn. ‘Noooo!!’ She shook her head. ‘That’s superman!’ She pointed at Henry, then nodded as if it was decided. Henry shrugged. ‘Well, guess I am Superman then.’ - ‘AND you are going to have bwabies with Ali.’ She nodded with the same decisive tone. Henry blinked and I near choked.

‘Oh..why do you think that?’

‘Mommy told me.’ She looked back at me and smiled, pleased with herself. I felt a little uneasy diving into this topic, so I remained silent and just raised my eyebrows. ‘Hmmm..’ I hummed, looking at Henry in hope that he would help. Unfortunately, though, he was equally surprised. And then little Alice continued: ‘You have to love like..THIS!’ And then she smooched her hand like there was no tomorrow.

Henry and I both started to grow red with embarrassment, both our mouths falling slightly agape as the little girl explained how you had to kiss. ‘And then you cuddle…’ She looked me dead in the eye. ‘A LOT.’ - ‘Did your mom tell you that?’ - YES! And then..’ She clapped her hands as if finalising her magic spell. ‘You get babies.’

‘Ali! Hey!…HEY you cheeky monkey! What are you doing here?’ Another voice behind us introduced an exasperated looking Maddie. I chuckled and hoisted up Alice a little higher - darn she really was getting heavy now. ‘Hey Mads. Lost something?’ I laughed, being welcomed in a warm hug from Maddie. ‘Oh you are back! It’s so good to see you. And thanks for catching our little princess.’

Next to us Henry was waving at someone and it became clear only moments later that he had waved at Frank, the dad carrying a large box with, by the looks of it, a new lamp. ‘Hey y’all.’ He cheered, putting down the lamp and giving a warning look at little Alice, who quickly folded her hands over her eyes, as if by that act alone she could disappear from her dad’s warning gaze.

‘Yep. We got a house, like you know. And, well, need a bit of furniture. So..you know..buying chairs and catching baby monkeys.’

‘BABIES!!!’ Alice cheered.

‘Yes..and ..babies.’

Maddie widened her eyes. ‘Oh…she did not just tell you the..-’ - ‘She just explained in fine detail how babies are made.’ I laughed, making Maddie run red with embarrassment. ‘Alice..’ Maddie warned.

The little girl shrugged again, folding her arms around my neck as if wishing me to protect her from her father’s and mother’s exasperated gazes. And then, from the crook of my neck she retorted to her mother: ‘But they pacties a lot.’

Henry near choked on his breath, making everyone laugh even louder, the first one to calm down being Maddie as she gave me a curious glance. All I could do was nod. ‘Yep.’ I bit my lip, making Maddie turn her questioning eyes towards Henry, who shrugged. ‘And perhaps with Alice’s good advice..who knows…’ He winked again at the little girl who squealed with excitement, her legs kicking out a bit.

‘Really? You mean..?’ Maddie looked back at me. I sighed and smiled, honestly this time. ‘Yes. Really really.’ - ‘OHHH ALI!!!’ Maddie flew back into my arms, the toddler in between us laughing giddily. ‘Ohhhhh…’ Maddie kissed my cheek, then gave Henry an equally big hug. ‘Oh I’m so happy. OH Oh ohhhh.’

We all laughed and made quick plans for a shared dinner to get Maddie and Frank up to speed - it had been months since I had last actually seen them after all. And Henry? Henry couldn’t be more happy, his face practically beaming as we drove home, having ordered a huge amount of furniture to somewhat fill up the empty house that we now called our home.

And home it was.

—

‘ALI? You up there?’ Henry’s voice sounded from the bottom of the stairs and I quickly swallowed a sniffle. ‘Yes. Here.’ I took a shivery breath and wiped away some tears.

It felt so stupid to cry. I was happy, right? I was probably the happiest I had ever been in my life. I had found someone who was not only my best friend, my buddy, my fellow cook during large dinner parties, my personal coach when I didn’t feel like exercising. No, he was Henry. A sweet, caring, gentleman with a tinge of dorky cheekiness thrown in the mix. He was perfect.

So why, oh why, was I crying?

‘Hey.’ Henry moved through the door way and stepped in beside me, his eyes trailing down the reddened skin beneath my lashes. ‘Are you okay baby?’

‘Yea..yea..it’s nothing. It’s..’ I sighed and sniffled back another tear, my eyes looking around the final and last room to be decorated. We both knew what could come here. What hopefully would come here. But it wasn’t here now. And I couldn’t help but feel the impending doom that it would never come. That this ship had sailed. That we had failed. That we would never fill..the nursery.

Strong arms wrapped around me and soft pillowy lips pressed away the two languid tears that rolled down my cheek. ‘What’s the matter, dear?’ He asked quietly. A question he full well knew the answer to, but he asked it all the same, his fingers tangling more tightly around the weft of my sweater. Locking me in, keeping me safe and leaving no way to run. I couldn’t keep up any walls even if I wished to. Henry knew my every worry. As he knew this one right now.

‘I’m just scared that it won’t..that we won’t..’ I slowly shook my head and held my breath. He pressed his forehead against mine and sighed. ’Time will tell. And if you want, we can get help. You know I don’t care about that. I don’t care about anything. I just want to be with you, okay?’ - ‘I know.’ I muttered, looking down on his day-old scruff, his neck, the slow rise and fall of his chest with every calming breath.

Breathe in. Puff, puff, puff.

The fun little memory of our plane ride here bubbled back up to the surface and I giggled quietly. Henry nuzzled my nose, silently asking me to share the fun. And so I did; I took a deep breath in, then looked him dead in the eye and puff-puff-puffed out. He got the reference and shook his head slightly, laughing. ‘You know what they say; practise makes perfect.’

I nodded and sniffled back another tear, closing in the last of the distance between us and moulding myself to his large chest, feeling his strong arms envelop me like a warm heavy blanket. ‘I love you so much. I just..pray and pray and pray that it will happen. I want the pitter patter of children’s feet in the hallway. I want to have them jump up on our bed and beg us for pancakes, even though it’s only like 5.30 in the morning.’ Henry laughed and I continued: ‘I want the tantrums, the pouting faces, the big fat crocodile tears, the scabbed knees, the cute little drawings that look like absolute shit. I want that.’ I said softly into the crook of his neck, his head slowly nodding, hands drawing slow circles over my back.

‘Marry me.’ He whispered. And then my heart dropped. In a good way and a bad way at once. I choked and grasped onto his long sleeve shirt more tightly, my tears now making place for a new expression. A mix of hope and worry lacing my features.

Not hearing or feeling any response from me, Henry slowly leaned back, studying my dumbfounded face. He rubbed a thumb over my cheek and I looked back up in those stormy blue eyes of his, full of longing, promises, desire. ‘Marry me, please Ali. We can take on any storm. Any challenge. And heck..if we have to adopt, we’ll adopt.’ He picked up my hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a kiss there without losing eye contact. ‘I just want you to know that you are all what truly matters to me. The rest will come.’

I struggled for air and my throat went dry.

Did I want to marry him? Yes. Now? I didn’t know. Why? I wanted to tackle this dream first. Kids couldn’t wait, the clock was ticking. And marriage? We could always get married at a later point.

‘P-please ask me again after..after..’ I rubbed my tummy and swallowed. ‘Let’s..let’s first see if I can even ..get..’ I broke into a new storm of tears and the silent question that was afloat in the air remained unanswered, Henry’s arms pulling me back tightly into him, his face also breaking into one of agony.

‘I’ve got you Ali. I’ve got you. It’s okay.’ He whispered into my hair and long minutes went by as we just stood there.

In our home. The nursery echoing our desperate desire to become a mom and dad. To have a baby of our own.

--

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[imthepunchlord]

LfM Ch 17

Ao3

Master Fu was expecting Ladybug, it seemed. He stood on his roof, gazing out at the rooftops and smiling as he spotted her. He gave a nod as she joined him and she ducked down to the side, detransforming. She quickly approached him, starting off, “Master Fu, I’ll accept your offer, because we need help and—”

She cut herself off when he raised a hand, chuckling a little. “I was going to help you whether you accepted my proposal or not. This is a situation that’s outside yours and Chat’s capability. Hold your acceptance until after the akuma, and then we’ll have time to talk.”

“Okay,” she agreed, relaxing.

“Until then, this can give you a taste of what it can be like. I have a miraculous to offer that will help you, and a new power that will assist you.”

That surprised her. “A new power?” she parroted.

“Ladybug and Cat are the two most powerful. As such, they are the only ones that have a total of five powers to use. The others are powerful in their right, but the majority are limited to just one power to use. Tikki and Plagg only share powers that are needed, and what they think their holder can use and be trusted with. Miraculous Ladybug is a must know for this foe and the damage they can do. Lucky Charm though, Tikki has shared that power with because she recognized your sharp mind and mental creativity. Your partner only received Cataclysm due to Plagg deeming that more is not needed to be known for this, and Chat Noir isn’t quite ready to know more. Cataclysm, however, he can use well, is able to be smart with, and have the reactiveness that is required. Hopefully, he’ll grow soon, for there are other powers to Cat that would be helpful—”

Tikki loudly cleared her throat. “Master Fu, I don’t mean to rush…”

“Oh. Yes, that’s right. Paris is flooded. Come inside, you shall receive the miraculous and the new power that will assist you. What I ask for the former is that you give it to someone you trust, and return it back to me when the mission is complete.”

“Will do,” she promised as she followed him inside. “But let’s hear what this miraculous can do first.”

.

Akumas were rude. Just so gosh darn rude.

Aurore was back at the site of her failure, this time doing commercials as a form of work. It wasn’t ideal, but she had to keep herself in this game and this was doable. She had to deal with that annoying arse Alec and Mirielle was there, but so long as they didn’t make eye contact or acknowledge each other, it was all good.

Well, doable.

At least, it was.

Then the flood waters came.

Things were all on hold and Aurore was on a roof with everyone, getting hot as she impatiently waited for the heroes to clear this out. To get some breathing room, she sought out the most reclusive corner she could find to give herself some space. She was expecting this mess to be done soon, but she wasn’t expecting Ladybug to be coming her way, making a shushing motion as she dropped down near the blonde.

Ladybug gave her a big smile, holding out a small black box as she said, “Aurore Beaureal, I present you the dragon miraculous and call upon you to be a hero for today.”

Aurore stared. “What.”

“It’s not permanent,” Ladybug reassured. “Just for today, I need the Dragon’s help, and you’re the one who came to mind to use it.” And she really did. As Fu did a quick explanation on a few powers, reaching Dragon and hearing what it could do, she automatically blurted out, “That’s Aurore’s miraculous.”

Fu at least now knew one temporary hero that she turned to.

“So what do you say, will you help me?” Ladybug asked.

“I suppose,” Aurore said, setting her umbrella down. She knew that she was capable, so she figured that she might as well give it a try.

She took the little box from Ladybug’s hands, opening it to see a black choker with five red pearls. A glow came off of it and Aurore almost dropped the box in surprise, watching the orb float up and dim to a small little dragon that did a slightly playful spin before her. Molten golden eyes took her in as the dragon offered a small smile, clasped their claws together, and gave her a bow.

“Greeting, young lady, I am Longg, and it is an honor to make your acquaintance.”

“H-hello,” she returned, wide-eyed. Then, clearing her throat, she offered, “I am Aurore Beaureal, a rising star of Paris and... I suppose I’ll be using your power today?”

Longg nodded, his smile growing. “I am the Kwami of Elements. With my powerful, Forceful Nature, you can break down into three elements of a storm for five minutes: water, wind, and lightning.”

“Storm?” Aurore perked, going a little starry eyed.

Longg nodded, “I’m based on the eastern dragons, masters of the weather. Though my power isn’t quite up to par in commanding it, it is still powerful enough to be one of the three elements of a storm. There is a lot of damage each element can do on their own, and becoming that element, you control what can be done and—”

Ladybug softly cleared her throat, both of them turning to her. “I’m sorry, Longg, but we have a situation.”

“Oh, yes. My apologies, Miss Ladybug. So, Miss Aurore, be wise with Forceful Nature, you can be one of three elements and shift about as you will, but you will only have five minutes to do so.”

“Which will make this a little challenging,” Aurore noted aloud, glancing at the flood around her.

“Leave that to me, I got a new secret move up my sleeve,” Ladybug said with a grin.

“If we are ready,” Longg said, “Stormy skies sparks the transformation, clear skies shall end it.”

“Oh, we are very ready,” Aurore reassured, slipping on the choker. Ladybug smiled broadly as Aurore transformed, her outfit a colorful mix of black, red, gold, and white. A little cloud rest on her chest, her hair around her ears growing into long whisker-like strands, pointed black horns sticking out of her hair with golden stripes, and tips of red on her pigtails. Her eyes locked on Ladybug, her pupils thin like reptiles, her irises still blue and now set against a yellow sclera. With a broad grin, she gave Ladybug a little bow, swirling her sword like she swirls and umbrella. “Pleut Rouge,” she greeted, “at your service, Ladybug.”

Ladybug jerked her head back, urging, “Let’s go and pick up a certain alley cat, then we’ll start with finding the akuma.” Ladybug leapt away, trusting Pleut to follow her. Pleut peered after, following a few steps, then took them back and raced forward. She leapt, and felt like she was flying .

A loud, eager cry bubbled out of her, thrilled to be here, in the air.

It felt natural. She was truly in her element.

.

Adrien sat, soaked and miserable on the roof. Plagg had long since left him, trying to find the ring, and had yet to return. Adrien wondered if Plagg would even come back when he had it. The kwami tolerated a lot, but that stunt, and now the ring in the water…

Adrien felt shaky. He lost the ring. He was in so much trouble. What would Ladybug say? What would she do?

Maybe Miraculous Ladybug would bring it back? It always got him out of trouble whenever he messed up with, so he could count on it to bring him back and keep things normal.

Yeah, it'd bring his ring back. It was going to be ok. He'd… he'd talk with Plagg, apologize, and then it'd be ok. It'd all go back to normal.

“Chat Noir!”

Adrien jolted, looking up to see Ladybug come onto the roof behind him, looking around for her partner. Behind her came someone new , someone Adrien’s never seen before, and he sucked in a sharp breath.

A third teammate.

How, and who?

“Do you think he flew the coop?” the red girl asked, sword laid across her shoulders.

Ladybug sighed and, after a moment, offered, “He might be patrolling, looking for anyone who needs help. If we see him, we’ll upgrade him. Right now, we’ve got to move.” Ladybug turned to the new hero and threw her yo-yo into the air, calling out, “Elytron!”

Ladybugs rushed out and dipped right down to them, covering them in a blur. When they broke apart, they were in new suits, adjusted for a more aquatic look.

“Elytron?” the new hero repeated, surprised.

“It’s a new power that allows me to change the armor of my suit and my allies to fit whatever situation we may need. This way, you can hold off Forceful Nature for a while until you think it’s needed. See you down below!” Ladybug cried out, diving into the water below.

The girl followed her to the edge, grinning as she chuckled to herself, the sword seemingly clipping to her back. “I get to be a sea dragon today.” Her blue eyes caught sight of Adrien and her smile fell away when she saw him gaping up at her. Making a slight face, she dropped down beside him and Adrien scrambled back as the new hero came to loom over him.

“Not a very good roof to choose,” she declared, hands on her hips. “You might get caught up in this fight.”

Before he could protest, black gloves grabbed his wrist and Adrien screamed when she jumped up, taking him with her into the sky. They landed on a nearby roof where other people were and there was a stairwell to go down. Jaws dropped as they saw the hero and she gave them a charming wave. To Adrien, she said in a snobby tone before she dove away to go after Ladybug, “Careful, civilian.”

Adrien gaped at her, a flash of heat running through him. However, it went out as quickly as it started.

He hoped Miraculous Ladybug will bring his ring back.

.

The dragon hero was a natural in the water. Despite Ladybug being the one who equipped them for it, Pleut Rouge seemed to easily outspeed Ladybug, moving with ease in these depths. A few times, Pleut was easily ahead of Ladybug, leaving the spotted hero on her own, searching the depths for the akuma.

She found them when she found Pleut, frowning as she looked ahead. Ladybug leaned over, seeing what had to be Ondine talking with Kim, the boy excited prattling on in a bubble while the mermaid smiled softly, content to have him to herself.

Ladybug glanced at Pleut, seeing her not moving. She touched her, giving the dragon a start.

“Sorry,” Pleut whispered. “It’s... it’s definitely something to see someone you know as an akuma.”

“It’s not easy,” Ladybug reassured, “but we’re here to save her.”

“Yes, save her. That’s why we’re here.”

“You’re faster than me. Get her attention while I get Kim. We’ll go from there.”

Pleut grinned. “Time to bring the storm.”

She dove forward, grabbing Ondine’s tail and giving it a playful tug. Ondine looked startled as she glanced at Pleut, then narrowed her eyes and chased after the fleeing dragon.

Kim leaned forward in his bubble, trying to see what’s happening, then jumped when there was a light knock on the surface. He looked up to see Ladybug, waving at him. She pushed on the bubble, offering him her yo-yo as her hand went through.

“Use this to breathe,” she told him, and when he was ready, she pulled him out. She took him to the surface, helping him onto a roof, then she summoned her Lucky Charm. She grabbed the keys as they fell down, then dove back into the water.

Within minutes, Pleut had led the akuma back to Ladybug and the akuma was trapped within a car. As Ladybug moved to check for an item, there was a tap on her shoulder. She turned, seeing Pleut offer her a capsule bracelet. “This what you’re looking for?”

“How did you…” Ladybug paused as she saw that Pleut had three red pearls left.

“Ever tried catching water? It just goes right through your fingers. When it catches you, it’s hard to escape,” Pleut bragged, grinning toothily. By chance, the akuma had caught her and she became water, slamming into her and stunning her. In that moment, she grabbed what she hoped was the item. With it being dark purple, Pleut liked her chances.

Ladybug grinned as she took it, declaring happily,  “I think this might be the quickest resolve ever.”

.

Miraculous Ladybug swept through the city, wiping away the flood waters and returning people back to the streets. Adrien was left ringless. Hovering nearby, Plagg could see that the ring was not returned to Adrien, and Plagg darted away.

Ladybug and Pleut were quick to approach a confused Ondine, checking to see what upset the redhead. As Ladybug reassured her, Pleut huffed, muttering that he should be pushed into the Seine. Before Ladybug could move to ease the dragon, while Ondine just sagged in front of her, there was a loud shout that grabbed their attention. They all looked up to see Kim racing their way, waving wildly as he ran towards them. With a gentle tug, Ladybug drew them both away as Kim dropped down beside the wide eyed Ondine.

Once he caught his breath, he hurried out, “You ok? Like, that was a cool offer to be a mermaid, and I’d totally rock it, though it would be harder to go to the movies—”

Ondine let out a weary giggle, which had Kim grinning. As she responded, Ladybug pulled Pleut away, not commenting on the dragon’s baffled look. “I don’t get them,” she whispered to the spotted hero. Ladybug could only grin and shrug, and jumped away, trusting Pleut would follow.

Since many were curious about the second red hero tailing Ladybug, they found a secluded location for Pleut.

“Clear skies,” Pleut murmured. Her transformation fell away, revealing a tired but satisfied Longg.

“Very good, Miss Aurore,” Longg praised, giving her a slight bow.

“You did wonderfully,” Ladybug agreed, offering her hand. “I’ll have to call on Pleut Rouge again sometime.”

Aurore paused, lips pursed. She took off the choker with a sigh, and Longg was gone from her side. She gently set it back in Ladybug’s hand. “Thank you for the chance, Ladybug. I look forward to seeing Longg again.”

With a wave, Ladybug departed, giddy to get back to Fu and relish the success.

As she burst into Fu’s house, she cried out, “She did wonderfully! And Elytron was just what we needed—”

She cut herself off when three pairs of eyes turned to her, all of them grim. One was a new face: a small black cat kwami with a big, sheepish gaze.

Fu addressed her, “Ah, Marinette, it's good you arrived. This is Plagg, Chat Noir’s kwami. He has some… unfortunate news. Come sit, there is much we need to discuss.”

As Marinette took in what happened with her partner, a silver ring was left on the now dry streets, gleaming gently in the light. Curious fingers picked it up, and it was turned about and looked over. With a soft hum, the ring was pocketed, and carried off by the unknown person.

[mystical-flute]

Home is Wherever I’m With You: Chapter 4

AO3 || FFN || Ko-fi

As they’d settled in for bed the night before, Emma had told them of a weird older man with a cane collecting money. Neal had known immediately who it was. A man with a cane, collecting money with the name Gold ? Yeah. It had to be his father. His suspicions were only confirmed that morning when he’d asked where to find Mr. Gold and the waitress at the diner had almost spilled her pot of coffee all over herself in her fear and surprise, stammering out directions to the pawn shop before hastily rushing to check another table.

Of course his father would end up with the name Gold if he was cursed to another world. The only problem was… if the people in this town were cursed to forget who they were, did that mean his father lacked his memories too?

Neal hadn’t immediately thought of that when he’d thought about how to get Emma to Storybrooke. Honestly, he’d almost forgotten about that little promise to August entirely, and his father seemed like as good of an excuse as any to get them to the town.

So, he needed a plan to see if his father had found a loophole or not. He was Rumpelstiltskin after all, and despite his uneasy feelings towards the man, Neal knew one thing was certain, and that was his father loved a good loophole.

His stomach was in a knot as he made his way through the town, looking around at the people, all cursed, living a lie.

He recognized none of them. How long had it been since he’d left for The Land Without Magic? Where was - his stomach clenched again - where was Morraine?

“Oh darn it! I could have sworn I put it back in here!” a woman groaned, distracting him from his thoughts.

He blinked, shaking his dark thoughts from his mind and glanced at the woman sitting on a bench outside a boutique.

“Hey, everything alright?”

The woman looked up, and it took everything in Neal to not gape at her. Her eyes were the exact same shade as Emma’s, her chin the same shape.

“Oh, yes, I think so I just… I think I lost my credit card is all,” the woman said, frowning as she shuffled through her purse again. “It’s a shame too, I was hoping to buy some new clothes today.”

Neal frowned a little. “Oh, I’m sorry to hear that. Maybe you just left it at home?” he suggested.

“I must have. It’s just the strangest thing. I could have sworn I put it back in my wallet after I paid my bills…” she murmured, taking another look through her purse before sighing again. “Sorry, do I know you?”

He shook his head, giving her a lopsided grin. “No, probably not. My family and I are new in town. We’re here for the weekend.”

“Visitors? Really?” the woman seemed surprised as she rose to her feet and slung her purse over her shoulder. “I don’t think we’ve had a visitor since…” she frowned then. “Well, as long as I can remember.”

There was something about that phrase that made his stomach shift uncomfortably again. “Really? No idea why. It’s a beautiful town. You guys could make a lot of money in the tourist industry. I should set up my camera and take a bunch to show my bosses.”

“You’re a photographer?”

He nodded. “Yeah, in Boston, but I get sent up and down the coast for work all the time.”

“Sounds like an exciting life,” she said with a kind smile. “I should get going. It was nice to meet you - ”

“Cassidy. Neal Cassidy. And it was nice to meet you too…”

“Mary-Margaret Blanchard.”

Neal smiled. “Mary-Margaret.”

With a small wave, the woman turned and headed in the opposite direction, while Neal continued to the pawn shop.

He looked up at the sign swaying slightly in the cool breeze. He knew, technically, that he’d only aged 15 years since he’d last seen his father, but… with how long he’d spent in Neverland, it had to have been much longer than that.

His hands shook as he pushed the door open, the bell betraying any going back now as the sound of the cane drew near.

Neal had never even practiced what he’d say to his father after he saw him again after so long. Frankly, he never thought he would ever see this day, but being tangled up with The Savior - whatever vague title that was - meant confronting the past he thought he left behind.

As his father rounded the corner, Neal felt almost breathless. There was no more gold skin, no more lizard-like eyes, no insane giggling or waving his hands.

Just Papa.

“Are you Mr. Gold?” Best to start simply, right?

“I am indeed. Can I help you with something?”

Neal swallowed heavily, looking around the shop, and froze when he saw the familiar ball behind the glass case. “You still have it… I can’t believe it,” he murmured.

Papa frowned, following his gaze. “The ball? It’s familiar to you?”

“It - it was mine. A long time ago…”

“That’s impossible, dearie. This ball has been in my possession as long as I can remember. And I certainly don’t remember you.”

That hurt, but Neal tried to not let it show on his face. “This town sure makes a change from the Frontlands,” he remarked casually. “With the rolling hills and the little huts all over the place and the terrifying thought of being a child soldier.”

“You can’t be - ”

“But most of all, I remember dangling over a portal, begging you to come with me to the Land Without Magic. Wanting you to be better. Thinking you would do it for me .”

The cane clattered to the floor.

“Bae?”

He nodded slowly. “It’s me, Papa.”

“Oh - oh my boy… I thought - I was so afraid I’d never find you again…”

“You’re not cursed?”

Rumpelstiltskin shook his head. “No, I woke up last night when I met the Savior. But how did you find this place?”

“About ten years ago I ran into a man. He knew who I was and explained everything to me. He told me I needed to leave Emma, but I managed to convince him that I’d get her back here to her family. To help you all.”

“He - he knew everything? I didn’t see that at all… but - you knew the savior? How?”

Neal held up his hand, his wedding band glinting in the light. “I guess destiny has a funny way of bringing me back to you, because I fell in love with her and married her.”

Rumpel looked like he was about to pass out, gripping the counter tighter. “M - married?!”

“Papa, you look like you’ve seen a ghost. Is it really so bad that I’ve gotten married? I’m 28 for God’s sake.”

“It’s not your wedding that’s surprising me, Bae. This isn’t the future I saw before the curse, Bae. I saw her alone, being led here by her son… Now I understand why Mr. Gold was attempting to convince the mayor to adopt a boy instead of a girl. I thought something was wrong .”

Neal frowned. “So - so that means we changed the future?”

Rumpel nodded slowly. “Yes. And now there’s no telling what might happen.”

A low whistle escaped him. “Okay… then I guess we go with whatever the cards are going to deal us.”

“I don’t like the thought of that.”

The word ‘coward’ was on the tip of Neal’s tongue, but he held it back. “Papa, this is what everyone else deals with. Welcome to the Land Without Magic. Or, the Land Without Psychic Powers.”

Rumpel sighed. “I suppose I’ve lived twenty-eight years without my powers. But still… who knows what else might change about the curse.” He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the counter. “Though, it might not matter seeing as there have already been some - Baelfire, get in the back room.”

“What? Why?”

“Just do it. I will explain later. Keep yourself hidden.”

Neal stared at the clipped tone his father was using, but wordlessly obeyed, moving behind the curtain, and moments later, the bell chimed again as someone entered the shop.

“Good morning, Madam Mayor, Roxana. What can I do for you today?”

“Roxana noticed you had a Mickey Mouse statue in your inventory last night when we were walking by. Do you still have it?” a woman’s voice asked.

“Oh, yes, I believe you’re talking about this one, is that right?”

Neal kept himself hidden behind a shelving unit as he kept listening to the conversation, until the woman asked to step outside with his father. Neal frowned at that, something in his gut not trusting this “mayor”, but still, he remained hidden. It wouldn’t be the first time he had to hide from someone, after all.

One might call him an expert at hiding places.

“Who are you?”

Except when it came to kids, apparently.

Neal gave the girl a wary look. “Neal. Who are you?”

“Roxana Mills. I’m the mayor’s daughter. What are you doing back here?”

“Mr. Gold offered to help me look for something, but he got sidetracked when you and your mom came in.”

“You’re not from here.”

Shit, the kid was good. “No, I’m not. I came here with my family from Boston.”

“Is Emma with you?”

How did she know about Emma?!  “Uh - ”

“Roxana! What are you doing back here?”

A woman appeared - Madam Mayor he realized - with his father taking up the rear.

“I was just talking to his man, mom…”

The mayor looked up, surprised. “Oh… I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met.”

Neal kept his voice even. “We haven’t, I’m not from here. My family and I were just taking a weekend away from the big city. Neal Cassidy.”

“Regina Mills, the mayor. What brings you to Mr. Gold’s though?”

Neal frowned a little. “I was looking for something - a family artefact my father stole when he abandoned me. I was hoping it’d be here. Sounds crazy, I know, but I’ve been looking for years and I’m desperate.”

That seemed to trigger a reaction in Regina, although she masked it quickly. “Oh. I see. Well, I hope you find it. We won’t take up anymore of your time. Come on, Roxana.”

Roxana gave Neal a small wave before retreating with her mother.

His father waited for a moment, until the door closed firmly before speaking. “That lie was perfectly crafted.”

“I’m pretty good at coming up with cover stories,” Neal said with a shrug. “It’s how I’ve survived this long. Speaking of long… Papa, how long has it been since that night?”

His father’s gaze darkened slightly. “Bae -”

“It’s Neal.”

“... Neal, don’t think about that. Just focus on helping your wife break the curse, and how we’re reunited.”

“ How long , Papa?”

His father looked sad as he answered. “It’s been three-hundred years.”

Neal felt his legs buckle, barely catching himself on an empty display case. “Three - ?!”

“Morraine lived a long, happy life, Bae. I watched out for her, when I could. Her descendant ended up being crowned the king of Corona.”

His eyes closed. Dead. His best friend from the Enchanted Forest was dead. Neal knew that was a possibility - time never moved in Neverland, after all, but three hundred years… there was no one in the village left alive.

It was no wonder he hadn’t recognized anyone so far in Storybrooke.

He took a deep, calming breath and looked up at his father. “Three-hundred years. And… I assume you’re still the Dark One if you managed to avoid death this long.”

“I am.”

“God, seriously? I’ve been gone for three-hundred years and no one figured out how to break your curse?!” Neal asked.

“I just wanted to find you. You are my son, I would live a thousand years if it meant figuring out where you were…” his father replied. “When you become a father -”

“I have.”

Rumpelstiltskin blinked several times. “You what?”

“I have a son. He’s ten. And Emma and I are working on adopting our foster daughter.”

“A daughter and a son… oh my boy, I’m so happy…”

“They don’t know that’s why we’re here. I just told them we were on a road trip.”

His father furrowed his brows. “You - didn’t tell them? What about Emma?”

“Emma knows I wanted to see you, but she doesn’t know about the curse.”

“Why not?”

“Because dad, telling my wife I’m the son of Rumpelstiltskin and she’s the savior of a magical land of fairy tales sounds a bit crazy to say even for me!” Neal snapped. “Why was it Emma, anyway? Why not someone else?”

His father adjusted the grip on his cane. “Because the curse was cast as an act of revenge against Emma’s mother. Their only option was to send Emma to this world to save her, and them. Her mother was supposed to come with her, but your darling wife decided to make her debut early,” his father flashed his hand like he’d done as the Dark One and Neal felt his teeth clench. “Although, that wardrobe was supposed to fit two, so I still don’t fully understand why she didn’t have her mother with her.”

Neal closed his eyes. “August.”

“What?”

“He’s the man I was telling you about before. The one who knew who I was and knew Emma needed to get here to break the curse,” Neal explained with a frown. “He was supposed to be Emma’s guardian but…”

“But?”

“Emma and I were both living on the streets when we met. We had to steal to make ends meet, alright? It’s not easy just popping into a new world when you don’t have any sort of ID, or when you’re an orphan that’s been abandoned by almost everyone in your life.”

“How are you alive, Baelfire?” his father asked, dread in his voice.

“The portal dropped me in London originally. I stayed there for a few months with a family called the Darlings… but then Pan found them.”

His father went white.

“I went in place of Wendy’s little brother. You were right, Papa. It was hell. Between Pan and Hook… I don’t know which one was worse.”

“Hook. You met Hook?”

“He saved me. He and his brother let me stay on his ship until I found out the truth about Mama and he figured out I was your son. He made a deal with the Lost Boys and they took me away,” he explained, clenching his fists. “I only got back to this world fifteen years ago… and I met Emma four years later.”

Rumpelstiltskin looked a little overwhelmed. “You suffered so much. Oh Bae, this isn’t what I wanted for you. Because of my cowardice… you suffered a great deal.”

Neal looked around the crowded back room of the shop. “Despite everything, I wouldn’t change it. Emma and the kids are the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”

“That’s fatherhood, my boy…” he replied, reaching for his hand. Neal accepted, squeezing it gently. “I’m just glad to know you’re okay.”

The silence that settled over the room was comfortable as Neal stood with his father, reunited at long last.

-----

This town was something out of a cheesy Lifetime movie, Emma was quickly beginning to realize. There was a bakery, a newspaper office with a fading sign, an animal shelter, a garage that Emma could just picture being the framing for a “high society city girl meets rugged small town boy” Christmas movie.

It was fine, but it left Emma almost feeling antsy. Small towns had never been her favorite when she’d been in the system. Everyone knowing everyone’s business was not the idea of a good time for her.

But Neal had wanted to meet his father, and while Emma still didn’t fully understand why considering what he’d told her about the man, she had of course agreed.

The kids seemed to be enjoying themselves, at least, although she noted Audrey was more quiet than usual.

“Where’s Dad?” Henry asked as the trio idly strolled down the Storybrooke streets.

“He went to get some pictures for work. You know how he gets when he’s in the zone with his camera,” Emma replied, the lie slipping easily from her tongue.

Henry laughed. “Yeah… hey, maybe we can go to that food truck for lunch instead of Granny’s. It’s in the parking lot of the arcade…”

“You just want to go to the arcade, don’t you?” Audrey asked with a small smile.

Henry simply shrugged.

Emma rolled her eyes. “Alright, we can eat at the food truck for lunch.”

“Do you think we could go to the bakery too?” Audrey asked.

“Yeah, of course we can. We might as well check out what this little town has to offer, right?”

“Emma?”

The voice sent a cold streak of fear down her back. No. It couldn’t possibly be her , could it?

“It is you, isn’t it?”

Damn it all, of course it was.

“Mom, who’s that?” Henry asked quietly.

Emma shook her head, pulling her wallet out and slipping Henry and Audrey each a $20. “Don’t worry about it. Why don’t you meet me at the arcade, huh? I’ll call your dad and let him know where we’ll be.”

The two gave her a look of concern, but went off in the direction of the arcade.

“What the hell, Ingrid?” Emma asked, whirling around to face her former foster mother before stumbling back in shock. “How - what?”

She looked like she hadn’t aged a day.

“Oh, it’s that sweet country air sweetheart,” Ingrid said, giving Emma a wide smile. “It’s so, so wonderful to see you again.”

“You should be in prison for what you did to me.”

Ingrid stepped back. “But… Emma, I didn’t mean to harm you. I just wanted you to reach your true potential… and now you’re here on your 28th birthday, just like it was written…”

“By shoving me into oncoming traffic? I loved you, Ingrid. I really thought you could be my family! And what the hell do you mean by my birthday? My husband wanted us to come here to see his father, that’s all.”

“His father is rumored to be the Dark One. Emma, you shouldn’t be with him.”

Emma saw red. “You don’t know a damn thing about my husband, or about me! Just stay away from me.”

Without giving Ingrid room to speak, Emma stomped off in the direction of her children.

“Are you okay, Emma?” Audrey asked, sitting at a picnic table, a grilled cheese in front of her. Snoopy was at her feet, looking up with wide eyes.

Emma exhaled, bending down to scratch Snoopy behind the ears. “Yeah, I’m alright Audrey. Just saw someone I didn’t expect to see.”

“Why didn’t you want Henry and I to meet her?”

“Because she was from a part of my past I’d rather forget,” Emma admitted. “Where is Henry, anyway?”

“He’s inside. I asked him if he was hungry, but he said he just wanted to play games.”

Emma sighed. “He takes after his father too much. Alright, I’ll go get him. You’re good here?”

“I have grilled cheese and french fries. What could be better?”

“Onion rings, for starters,” Emma smirked, before retrieving Henry from the arcade. “Hey kid, come on, let’s get something to eat.”

She was surprised to see Henry engrossed in a book with a girl around his age.

“Henry?”

“Oh! Hi Mom!”

“Who’s your friend?” she asked with a smile.

“This is Roxana. She’s got a cool book of fairy tales! You’re in here too!”

Emma let out a soft laugh. “Let me guess, I’m the Swan Princess because my last name growing up was Swan?”

“No, you’re the savior who’s going to break the curse on this town,” Roxana explained, beaming.

Emma blinked several times, trying to register what the girl said. “Yeah… okay kid.”

“But you are!” Roxana insisted, flipping to the back of the book. “Look! That’s you, right? Henry said you have a blanket just like that!”

Emma squinted a little, but looked down at the book, feeling her heart stop when she saw the familiar blanket.

That couldn’t be right. That was insane.

“Look, Roxana, I don’t think I’m the right savior for the job. I don’t have magic, I don’t know how to use a sword or anything else these fairy tale characters can do,” Emma explained gently. No sense is breaking a stranger child’s heart after all. “Now, Henry and I really do have to go, okay?”

Roxana nodded a little, before brightening. “It was nice to meet you Henry, Emma!”

Emma smiled and led Henry out of the arcade. She sent Neal a quick text asking him if he wanted anything from the food truck. He’d texted her back saying it was okay for them to come by and meet his dad.

Emma, frankly, was in shock their meeting had gone well, but agreed.

“Mom, where are we going?” Henry asked. “And why do you have two orders from the food truck?”

“Maybe Neal was just that hungry. They do have great grilled cheese and fries,” Audrey joked.

She laughed as Henry pushed the door to the shop open.

“Hey you three,” Neal said with a wide smile. “Henry, Audrey, Emma… this is my father, Arthur.”

“Grandpa?!” Henry cried with a wide smile. “This is awesome!”

“It’s nice to meet you,” Audrey said, her voice a little distant.

Emma simply gave him a curt nod, not early as trusting. “Here’s your food.”

“Thanks Em.”

“Ah, I recognize you now,” Arthur said. “You were the woman checking into the inn, right?”

Emma nodded. “Yeah. You’re the one Ruby and Granny were afraid of.”

“That is the downside of being a landlord, I’m afraid,” he mused, taking a bite out of the chicken sandwich she’d ordered for him. “Ah… Audrey, wasn’t it? Did you see something you’d like?”

Audrey had stopped, frozen in front of a display case with a Pokemon plush inside of it. “Um. Yeah… that Vulpix doll. Can I have it?”

“Of course, free of charge,” Arthur said, pulling the doll out of the case and sliding it to her.

Audrey picked it up and immediately jolted back.

“Audrey?”

-----

“For God’s sake, Renata! I told you Audrey’s recital was tonight. What the hell were you thinking?!” Li snapped.

“Hey, I told you it was Lacey’s birthday and we were celebrating with Ruby!” Renata replied. “I promised I’d be there and I was!”

“In the middle of the show. Drunk as you three slid into the back of the auditorium. What if Audrey’s teacher had seen? She could have gotten kicked out of her program!”

Audrey cowered in her bed, her Vulpix doll clutched in her hands. She didn’t want to be here anymore. She couldn’t. She loved her moms, but she couldn’t stand the fighting.

She needed to run.

In the middle of the night, Audrey packed a small backpack of clothes and ran into the woods. No one had ever left Storybrooke before. But she had to. She needed to.

She managed to.

Audrey Dale was the one cursed individual who escaped from Storybrooke, but as with anything, magic came with a price.

Her memories of Storybrooke were stolen from her, and the lost little girl who stumbled up to the lobster shack only knew one thing:

Run.

“Audrey!”

She let go of the Vulpix, heart pounding against her chest.

“I have to go…” she whispered. “I can’t go back there.”

She bolted from Mr. Gold’s - God, how could she have forgotten Mr. Gold of all people?! - and ran for the familiar woods behind the shop.

She could hear Emma and Neal behind her, calling out for her and Snoopy howling in confusion, but she didn’t stop. She needed to get out of here. She couldn’t go back to the Dales. She wanted to stay with Emma and Neal, but she couldn’t stay here.

She didn’t realize there was a steep drop until she hit it, her ankle twisting the wrong way as she fell down the ravine.

“AUDREY!” Emma screamed, grabbing her hand and stopping her fall.

She trembled as her foster parents pulled her back up, pulling her into their welcoming, warm embrace.

“Audrey, it’s okay. We’ve got you.”

“Don’t send me back there,” she whispered. “Please…”

“We won’t…” Neal said. “But we do need to get you to the hospital.”

Audrey wanted to protest, but her mind was swimming, and instead, she slumped, defeated into Emma’s arms.

[petrichoravellichor]

Subway Stop Smiles

(Read on Ao3)

Ship: Garth/Kelly, Garth & Jack (platonic)

Rating: G

Tags: Alternate Universe, Dentist Garth, Toddler Jack, Fluff, Singing in the Subway, Disney Songs, Brief Mentions of Oral Hygiene, Meet-Cute, Kid Fic, Pre-Relationship, Implied Future Garth/Kelly

Summary: While playing guitar at a subway stop, Garth meets a lost little boy, Jack, who is looking for his mother. Turns out Jack's mother, Kelly, is everything Garth has been looking for as well...

Word Count: 1,616

Written for @spnfluffbingo (square filled: Child AU) and @spnrareshipbingo (square filled: Kelly). 

  **********

On his days off, Garth liked going to the subway station near his apartment and playing guitar for tips.

It wasn’t that he was strapped for cash; in fact, things at the dental practice were going great, so much so that he’d recently hired a third assistant and a fourth receptionist. Still, talking to patients about strategies for improving oral hygiene and scraping the plaque off their teeth did little to feed Garth’s hunger for creative endeavors, so that’s where his stints in subway came in.

(Plus, he used the extra money he earned to buy some wicked cool prizes for his young [and young-at-heart] patients: going to the dentist, he reasoned, was a lot more fun if you got to leave with a bombass yo-yo that flashed bright colors when you spun it or your very own copy of Where the Wild Things Are.)

Today had been a good day. Garth had arrived at the station a little before nine in the morning; it was now just after twelve, and he’d already managed to net around fifty dollars, enough to buy at least a couple new bits of swag from the novelty toy store a few stops away. He’d just bent down to put his guitar back in its case when he heard a wail and looked up to see a train pulling out of the station and a young boy sitting alone on the platform.

The boy was small, maybe four or five, and he was crying and clutching a stuffed dog. The few people that still milled about the station were either ignoring him outright or casting him furtive glances that clearly said they’d rather someone else deal with the situation.

Garth frowned. People, man, he thought, shaking his head. Acting like a crying kid’s the end of the world. He snapped his guitar case closed, then headed over to see if he could help.

“Hey, bud,” he said, smiling. He squatted at the boy's side. “You OK?”

The little boy sniffled and looked at Garth with large, watery eyes. “I want my Mommy," he said in a small voice.

Garth looked around at the mostly deserted station, but now that he’d approached the boy, no one else was paying them any mind. Whoever the boy’s mommy was, she didn’t seem to be around.

Little man must be lost, Garth realized with a pang. Let’s get him found. He turned back to the little boy, sympathetic. “Aw, I’m sorry you can’t find your mommy,” he said, then added, “It’s OK, though: I’m actually a Professional Mommy Finder!” Garth held out a hand. “My name’s Garth. What’s your name?”

The little boy regarded him warily, his only response to wipe his eyes and hug his stuffed dog closer.

Right, stranger danger. Garth chewed his tongue thoughtfully for a moment, then gave the boy another smile. Time to go stealth. “Wait!” he said, raising a finger, “Don’t tell me, let’s see if I can guess it!”

He sat back on his heels, assuming an expression of deep concentration and scratching his chin; a few seconds later, he snapped his fingers and pointed at the boy, excited. “Asmodeus! Your name is Asmodeus, isn’t it?”

The little boy scrunched his face, confused. “No.”

“Oh snap!” said Garth, smacking his forehead. “Did I say Asmodeus? I meant Balthazar.”

That earned a smile. “No.”

“Darn. OK, how about...Crowley! I bet it’s Crowley.”

The little boy giggled and shook his head. “No-o!”

“Well, why not?” demanded Garth, grinning. “Crowley’s a great name! In fact,” he said, leaning forward to whisper conspiratorially, “I bet it’s even better than your name!”

The little boy looked indignant. “Is not!”

“Why? What’s your name?”

“Jack!”

Garth chuckled. Bingo. “Jack,” he repeated, nodding. “You’re right, that’s a much better name! OK, Jack, let’s go sit over here,” he pointed to a nearby bench, “and we can talk some more. Sound good?”

“Yeah,” Jack agreed. He followed Garth over to the bench, setting his stuffed dog down on the seat before climbing up to sit with his legs dangling off the edge.

Garth sat next to him with his guitar case on his lap, folding his arms across the top and leaning forward to rest his chin on his hands. “So, Jack, where did you last see your mommy?”

“On da twain," said Jack, who was busy situating his stuffed dog in his lap.

“On the...” Garth glanced over at the empty track. “The one that just left?”

Jack nodded. “Yeah.”

“Why aren’t you with her, bud?”

Jack held up his stuffed dog. “I dwopped Wolfie,” he said.

Garth nodded, reaching out to shake one of the dog’s stuffed paws. “Hi, Wolfie, nice to meet you. You too, Garth!” he added in falsetto, causing Jack to giggle again. “OK, so you dropped Wolfie. Where'd you drop him?”

Jack pointed at a spot on the ground a few feet away. “I comed back to get him," he said.

“You got off the train to get Wolfie?”

“Yeah.”

“Without your mommy?”

“She put da gwocewies on da seat,” explained Jack.

“Oh, she was putting the groceries on the seat?”

“Yeah.”

Now we're getting somewhere, he thought. “Okay, so she was busy, and she didn’t see you get off. Then, after you got off, the train left.”

Jack’s lip twitched; he looked like he might start crying again. “Yeah...”

“Hey, hey, it’s OK,” Garth said quickly, in the reassuring tone he usually reserved for anxious patients. “I’ll bet your mommy’s on the next train back. We’ll wait right here for her, ’kay?”

Jack nodded, and Garth smiled. “Cool beans. In the meantime,” he said, setting his guitar case down on the ground and snapping it open, “you wanna hear a song?”

**********

They sang “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”, “Down By the Bay”, and “Old MacDonald Had a Farm”, and they were halfway through “Hakuna Matata” when a train pulled into the station.

“'It means no worries for the rest of your day-ay-ays!'” sang Garth, strumming out the rhythm. “'It’s our problem free philosophy—'”

“Jack!”

Garth looked up, and his jaw dropped. Hakuna ma-wowza...

The voice had come from a pretty brunette woman wearing a green sundress and a straw-brimmed hat. She had a grocery bag over each shoulder and was rushing toward them. “Jack!”

Jack’s face lit up, and he scrambled down off the bench, Wolfie falling once again to the ground. “Mommy!”

Mamma mia, thought Garth dimly. Jack, bud, no offense, but how do you walk away from her?

The woman knelt and swept Jack into an embrace. “Thank God!” she said, pressing a fierce kiss to the side of Jack’s head before pulling back, hands resting on Jack’s shoulders. “Jack, baby, you can’t do that. You have to stay with me when we’re on the subway, OK?”

Jack nodded, looking contrite. “I sowwy, Mommy.”

“I know, just—” she let out a shuddering breath and pulled him in for another hug; as she rested her head on Jack’s shoulder, her light green gaze flickered over to Garth for the first time.

Aaand it’s go time. Garth cleared his throat and tried to rein in his thoughts, which were currently galloping around his head like wild, heart-eyed horses. He raised a hand to his mouth for a quick breath check, then disguised the motion by smoothing his hair. Yippee-ki-yay, mamacita.

“Hi!” he said, standing...only to nearly trip over his guitar case. He steadied himself at the last moment, managing a cheerful "Meant to do that!", then picked Wolfie up off the ground and headed over to Jack and Jack’s apparently super-hot mom. “Careful, bud," he said, holding out Wolfie with a smile, "you dropped someone.”

Jack beamed and reached up to take the dog. “Gawf singed songs wif me!” he said, hugging Wolfie to his chest and turning to look at his mom.

The woman studied Garth for a moment, then gave him a slow smile. “Gawf, I presume?”

Garth chuckled. “Guilty as charged,” he said, then held out a hand. “I also answer to ‘Garth’, though.”

“Garth,” the woman repeated, smile widening. She reached out and clasped his hand in hers. “Thank you for taking care of Jack. I don’t know how I can ever repay you.”

Just let me look at that smile for a second longer, thought Garth, and we’re even. Then he remembered he was supposed to answer out loud. “Oh, uh, don’t worry about it,” he said, hoping he didn’t sound as bashful to Jack’s mom as he did to himself, unless maybe she likes bashful? “All in a day’s work, Ms....?”

“Kline,” the woman said; then, with a twinkle in her eye, added, “I also answer to ‘Kelly’, though.”

Duuude...

“Mommy,” interjected Jack, pulling at Kelly’s dress, “can Gawf eat wunch wif us? Pwease?”

Garth felt a surge of affection for the little guy; still, he didn’t want to press his luck—truth be told, it didn’t usually last this long—but before he could respond, Kelly beat him to the punch.

“Only if he wants to,” she said, and her smile...Garth was a dentist, he knew smiles. Hers was different: in less than five minutes of acquaintance, it’d become his favorite. “We were going to eat at Benny’s a few stops away,” Kelly continued, nodding over her shoulder at the incoming train, “if you like Cajun food and want to join us.”

Garth had no idea if he liked Cajun food, but he definitely wanted to join them, and maybe have a chance to see if Kelly’s laugh was as gorgeous as her smile. He had a feeling it probably was.

“Yeah,” he said, smiling. “Count me in.”

[let-it-raines]

Not Your (soul)Mate {11/15}

Killian Jones doesn’t like the idea of soulmates. He sees how happy his friends are with theirs, but he still doesn’t like the idea, not when he’s found love and lost it time and time again only to still not know his sign. He has no markings on his skin, no voices in his head, but then one day he meets Emma Swan and everything changes. Because, well, he may not have ink on his skin to tell him who to love, but the very first time that he hears Emma’s voice he knows that she’s the one for him. Then again, that could simply be his desire talking. After all, for every word she speaks, he becomes aroused.

It’s not the worst thing in the world to be incredibly attracted to a beautiful woman, but things aren’t that simple when she doesn’t have any interest in being his soulmate.

He’s screwed. And not in the good way.

Rating: Mature

A/N: Hey, hi, hello! This is one of my favorite chapters in the entire story, and it’s accompanied by one of my favorite pieces of artwork by the lovely @captainsjedi 💙 It perfectly captures the chapter and the story, and I still can’t believe she’s kind enough to make these pic sets for me!

Found on AO3: Beginning | Current

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Tag list: @initiala @snowbellewells @karenfrommisthaven @skyewardolicitycloisdelena91 @scientificapricot @captswanis4vr @a-faekindagirl @emmas-storybook @searchingwardrobes @spartanguard @ultimiflos @jamif @idristardis @dreameronarooftop15 @nikkiemms @resident-of-storybrooke @tiganasummertree @wellhellotragic @bmbbcs4evr @onceuponaprincessworld @jennjenn615 @mayquita @captainsjedi @teamhook @kmomof4 @ekr032-blog-blog @superchocovian @ultraluckycatnd @cs-forlife @andiirivera @qualitycoffeethings @jonirobinson64 @mariakov81 @xellewoods @thejollyroger-writer @galaxyzxstark @cssns

-/-

After loading the last children’s life jacket into the back of his jeep, Killian closes the hatch and listens to it slam in place before opening his front door and climbing in. He’s got his windows and roof down, his radio turned onto a station that’s playing hits from the eighties since he’s really into that lately, and he doesn’t think Storybrooke has ever experienced a more perfect day weather-wise. It’s not going to get above eighty degrees, and there are no clouds in sight as the sun rises higher and higher in the sky.

If he had to put how he feels about today in a word, the word would be excited.

And he’s not entirely sure that it encapsulates how he feels like there’s a bit of a bounce in his step and that he’s gone back five and a half years to being in his twenties and thinking that everything in his life was ahead of him and simply waiting for him to achieve it. Technically, that’s true, but it also wasn’t true back then. It’s fine, though. The past is the past, and he’s ready to, not forget it, but move on from it. Tomorrow, when the festival is over and the sun isn’t shining as brightly, the breeze not as pleasant, he may feel differently, but that’s something for him to worry about on another day.

Some of the streets are closed today, especially the ones around the beach and his apartment, so it’s a bit of a difficult situation to get to Liam’s house to pick up Luis and Luca. He’d wanted them to simply be dropped off at his apartment since it’s infinitely easier, but just because today is the summer regatta doesn’t mean that everyone in town has off of work. He’s not sure the place would function if that were true, but it’d be nice for the twins to get to spend time with Elsa instead of her having to go into work. He thinks that he and Liam are pretty awesome, but they definitely don’t compare to Elsa.

He might be slightly too fond of his brother’s wife, but she’s felt like his sister since the day they met.

When he gets to their house, he turns his key to turn off his jeep before getting out and walking toward the front door, his sneakers melting into the dew-covered grass before he’s walking up the few steps on the porch and stepping into their house. At one point in time, he was mortified of walking in on Liam and Elsa, but now that they have kids, he doesn’t really think he’s going to find them going at it in the entryway before eight in the morning.

Well, he hopes not. And he’d really rather not think about it. Some things will never not be scarring.

No one is running around the entryway or the living room, but he does hear a bit of movement from the back of the house near the kitchen. That’s where he finds Elsa and the kids sitting at the kitchen island with bowls of cereal and a plate of fruit in between them. Yeah, they’re definitely going to beg him for junk food later. At least he’s not the one who has to put them to bed while on sugar highs.

“What? Nobody was going to invite me to breakfast?”

Three blonde heads turn to the side to look at him, and he smiles a bit at how similar they all look. It’s uncanny really.

“You can have some of mine,” Luis offers, holding his bowl up.

“Thank you, lad.” He walks over to them and stands next to Elsa behind the counter, pressing a kiss into her cheek before reaching forward and grabbing a grape from the plate of fruit. “But you can eat your food. I think you might need it so you have energy for today.”

“What are we doing?”

“Oh, well, I’m going to have you two racing the sailboats. You’re just going to swim right along with the boats.”

“Are we really?”

“No,” Elsa laughs, hitting him in the back, “you guys are not doing that.”

“Mom,” they both whine, the way they match up eerie.

He nudges Elsa’s shoulder. “Yeah, Mum.”

Elsa rolls her eyes before leaning down to prop her elbows on the granite, her blouse sleeves riding up a bit. “You two are going to the festival with Killian and going to play the games at the booths and eat lunch with him until your dad gets off of work.”

“What about you?”

“When I get off of work, I’m going to come to the pier too, so you guys have to make sure to save some fun for me.”

“Eh, maybe,” Luca shrugs before flicking her braids over her shoulders. “I heard that there’s going to be a sandcastle contest, and I want to do it.”

“What time is that? Do you know?” Elsa asks him.

“Not until the evening, so you and Liam can likely do it with them.”

“What? You don’t want to spend all day with kids who aren’t yours, and you’re just going to shove them off to the parents?”

He winks. “Exactly.”

After getting the twins dressed in their swimsuits and cover-ups, being handed two backpacks full of things that he knows he’ll have to carry around all day instead of the two of them actually carrying them, they all bid Elsa goodbye as she heads to work and Killian drives them back to his apartment, working through the already congested traffic to pull into his parking spot. The twins barely let him turn the key before they’re hoping out of the jeep, and he has to shout for them to stay still while he gets their bags and their life jackets from the trunk. He idly wonders if they would be okay wearing the life jackets all day so he doesn’t have to carry them, but he thinks that’d probably be a little excessive since they won’t need them until Liam takes over.

Probably.

He still might do it.

“Can we get something to eat?” Luis asks when they turn the corner on the pier and start walking down the pathway full of booths, colored banners hanging on strings between every stall to bring a bit more brightness to the area. “I’m hungry.”

“You just ate.”

“I’m a growing boy.”

Killian rolls his eyes and pats Luis on the back over his bag. “We’ll get lunch when we can. What do you guys want to do? Do you want to play games?”

“Can we go out on a boat?”

“Not until after the races.”

“I want to play the ring toss game.” Luca points up ahead of them to a booth where several other kids are standing. “Do you have any money?”

“Darn. I knew that I forgot something.”

“Uncle Killian,” she whines, tugging on his t-shirt, “please.”

“I have money, love,” he laughs as he gently yanks at one of her braids. “Luis, do you want to play that one too?”

“Sure.”

If Luca and Luis were anyone else’s kids, he knows that they would not be nearly as calm as they are. He loves Roland, thinks he’s the sweetest thing, but he’s also got a bit of a wild streak that can be hard to contain. Luca and Luis, though, are basically small eight-year-old versions of Elsa and Liam. They’re calm, collected, usually very focused on the task ahead, and he swears that he could spend all of his time with them.

No part of them are calm, collected, and focused today.

Scratch that. They are extremely focused, but it’s usually on what game they can play next. They finish one booth, get their prize (which he carries), and then they have to move onto the next one, nearly sprinting back and forth on the pier while sweat gathers at the nape of his neck. A part of him wishes that the games were like carnie games where everything is rigged, but since the Storybrooke city council puts this thing together, everything is always fair and kid friendly. Even if it would cost him more money, he kind of wishes that maybe it took them a little longer to push the boat toys across the small man-made ocean in their miniature race.

But they’re having fun, and that’s all that really matters to them, and when it’s time for the actual race to start, he has to tug the two of them away from a booth that is selling goldfish (there is no way in hell he’s going to be carrying those around all day for them to simply die from the jostling) to head toward the end of the pier that juts out into the ocean so that they can have a better look.

Really, Killian should notice her before he does, but with the sounds of the waves crashing around them and all of the extra people in the town for the festival and holiday weekend, he doesn’t hear her until he’s standing right next to her at the railings.

“Hey, Killian,” Ruby greets, and when he’s lifting his hand in greeting, Emma turns her head around to look at them, her lips parting the slightest bit. And if she didn’t have on sunglasses, he’s sure that her eyes would be widened. “Why aren’t you racing? Aren’t you, like, the boat guy?”

“Unfortunately, I don’t own my own.”

“And he’s watching us until our dad gets here,” Luca adds in for him. “Hi, Ms. Emma.”

“Hey, guys,” Emma cajoles, a bright smile on her face as she waves at the twins before she tugs on one of her two braids that’s resting over her shoulder. “I like your hair, Luca.”

Luca gasps, almost like she’s seen a unicorn, before coming to his other side and looking up at Emma with all the admiration in the world. “Your hair looks just like mine, but you have a different color blonde.”

“Well, that’s because you have your mom’s hair.”

“I like yours.”

“I love yours,” Emma promises, reaching down to adjust the bands on Luca’s braids while he smiles down at her, his stomach fluttering the slightest bit. Of course she perfectly gets along with children. She only fluctuates on her feelings when it comes to him. “So you guys are stuck with your boring uncle all day?”

“Just half of the day.”

“Hey,” he groans, pressing his lips back in into his face as he tries to take a few breaths to calm the bit of heat that’s rising on his cheeks, “don’t act like you’re not excited just because someone else is here.”

A whistle blows, and he twists his head to the side to see several sailboats start to make their way out of the marina, slowly maneuvering around the water and over the waves, and he takes the opportunity to point it out to the twins, Luca moving back to his right so that she’s in between he and Luis while Emma shuffles a bit closer to him, the crowd pushing everyone around. She smiles at him, this soft little thing that he wishes he saw more often, that he wishes he could elicit from her more often, before turning back to talk to Ruby, her voice quieter than usual, though it doesn’t mean he can’t hear it. He fully expects her to move away, to try to find another place to stand, but as the minutes go on, she doesn’t move.

Huh.

Today must be some kind of weird day, but he’s not going to complain, not since he currently isn’t sporting a hard on from having her talk to him for a bit.

The twins are fascinated with the race, something he knows that they get from Liam, and he barely has to explain anything as they spend most of the time trying to explain things to him, using technical terms that make his chest puff up in pride. Since they seem to know everything, he relaxes, leaning forward on the railing and letting his hands fall over the railing as he taps his fingers against the wood next to Emma’s. She’s got such slight fingers next to his, and her skin is paler, almost porcelain even with the tan she has, and it surely doesn’t help the difference that his forearms are covered in dark hair while he can only see the slightest bit of blonde over her freckles. She’s covered in freckles, really, like a miniature constellation spread out over his arms, and he finds that her skin imperfections are much different than his, the red scars stretching over his wrist and onto his palm far less attractive. They’re more obvious today, something that happens in the sunlight, and for a moment, his mind flashes back to the accident and the awful pain that he felt before he focuses on something else: particularly, the proximity of his left hand to Emma’s right.

Is he fifteen years old? He may as well be.

She sometimes makes him feel that way.

In what he hopes is a sly move, he glances to his left to look at Emma only to see her looking down at his hands, her gaze obvious now that her sunglasses are resting on the top of her head, mixed in with her braids. He almost yanks his hand away, but then Emma’s reaches to cover his, her finger tracing over the red lines. His skin vibrates, all of the hair standing on end, and he swallows the gulp that’s stuck in his throat as he watches. It’s been...no one has traced his scars since Milah, and Emma’s currently doing just that. Why? He has no idea, and he’s obviously in too much shock to say anything.

There’s also the fact that it feels so damn good, and he could melt into her touch.

“I’m sorry,” she gasps, dropping his hand and grabbing onto the railing. “I don’t know - I - it wasn’t - ”

“It’s fine,” he promises, smiling at her to try to calm her down a bit even as his body aches for the loss of her touch, the flames still flickering down his spine. “I was in an accident, in the Navy. We were being shot at, and I was standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. There was an explosion, and my hand got crushed in some metal. Luckily, I only managed to get these gnarly scars when I very well should have lost the hand.”

Emma nods her head, her jaw ticking a bit, and he wonders if he’s spoken too much, both because of how much he’s told and how aroused he’s likely making her. “I’m sorry. Thank you for sharing that with me. I - ”

“You think the scars are hot,” he teases, hitting his shoulder into hers to try to keep her from bumbling around for more words. “I know, I get that a lot.”

“Shut up.”

“That’s your go-to phrase.”

“Uncle Killian, do you have my Sour Patch Kids?”

“In the backpack, Luis.”

Luis nods his head before shuffling around in his backpack until he pulls out the bright yellow bag that he won after throwing darts at one of the booths. Killian doesn’t think anything else about it as the sailboats circle back around toward them, until Luis hands him the bag, offering him the gummies. He reaches in to take one, offering the bag to Emma and Ruby, before popping one in his mouth and letting the slight sourness melt on his tongue.

“You’re like a Sour Patch Kid, Swan. You’re all sour on the outside, but when you get to the core of things, you’re actually pretty sweet.”

He hears Ruby snicker, but Emma huffs, reaching for the bag again and taking several more into her hand. “You’re comparing me to sour candy?”

“I said you turned sweet.”

“That’s a pretty accurate comparison,” Ruby adds in, leaning forward so he can see her wink. He likes the lass now that he’s gotten to know her a bit. Ruby. Not Emma. Though he’s fond of Emma in a way that he isn’t with Ruby.

“Exactly.”

“Well, you’re like the nasty tropical fruit version of Sour Patch Kids.”

“Oooh, not your best insult, love.” “Whatever.”

Hot and then cold.

That’s Emma. Just like the damned candy.

Sour and then sweet.

“Killian, do you want to bring the twins to get lunch with us?” Ruby asks, and he doesn’t miss Emma stomping her foot down on her friend’s.

“Can we please get food?” Luca begs, leaning a little too far over the railing for his liking so he has to pull her back. “Can we please? Please? I want a burger.”

“Sure, love,” he smiles, switching his gaze between all three ladies while Luis continues to watch the regatta, not a care in the world other than the ocean in front of him. “Let’s go get lunch.”

They turn around to make their way back down to the food stalls that surround the regularly standing restaurants only to find that everyone else seemed to have the exact same idea about getting food. But they’ve promised eight-year-olds food, so he, Ruby, Emma, and the twins make their way through the crowd, Luca holding onto Emma’s hand and Luis holding onto his, and after getting pushed and bumped around for fifteen minutes, they finally make it to the little stand that’s selling all of the junk food and is not-so-coincidentally the most crowded. He tries to convince the twins to go somewhere else, but since they’re pretty set on it, all five of them wait in line for thirty minutes before getting their baskets of food and then facing the issue of finding a place to sit.

There’s nowhere.

Absolutely nowhere.

“What about down that way?” Ruby wonders, holding her basket of food and pointing to a little alcove of seats.

Emma shrugs. “We might as well try. It’s too hot to sit on the pier.”

They quickly wander down the few feet to the new section of seating, and while nothing catches his eyes immediately, Ruby, ever the one to take charge, grabs onto Luca’s hand and starts weaving in and out of the crowd where she finds an empty table...without enough chairs. But it’s likely as good as it’s going to get. Ruby sits down in a chair before telling Luca and Luis to share one, and that leaves...oh, well, that leaves one chair left.

At this point, he’s starting to believe that his life may be a bad romantic comedy.

He turns to look at Emma, and she motions toward the chair, nodding her head instead of speaking.

“No, you can have it, love. I don’t mind standing.”

“I sit all the time. I can stand.”

“Swan, please, let me be a gentleman.”

“So you’re a gentleman now?”

“I’m always a gentleman.”

“Oh my God,” Ruby groans, tossing a fry at the two of them, “just suck it up and either one of you sit down or share the freaking chair.”

If he was chewing on food, he’d definitely choke on it, probably never to be revived. His entire body is already heated from Emma talking and the sun, the workings of an erection beginning even if he thinks he’s controlling himself pretty well today, and Emma sitting on his lap would definitely be a recipe for disaster.

Definitely.

“I’ll share with you, Rubes,” Emma offers, reaching to place her burger down only for Ruby to shove it across the table.

“I’m not letting your bony as - bottom sit on me. Uh, uh. If you wanted the seat, you should have gotten here earlier.”

“Seriously? You took Luca and ran.”

“Luca and I are just awesome like that. Right kid?”

Luca reaches up from her food to high five Ruby. “Right.”

“Just suck it up and share the chair,” Ruby murmurs, dipping her fry into some ketchup. “I swear you guys have so much sexual tension going on you need something like this. I mean, really, you need to sit on another part of Killian, but I can’t say that with children here.”

“Ruby! Oh my God!”

“What’s sexual tension?” Luis asks, and he seriously contemplates going to dive into the ocean to get away from all of this.

“Eat your food,” he deflects, huffing enough and feeling enough frustration that he hastily takes the empty seat, letting the back of his thighs burn a little bit at the heat of it. “It’ll get cold.”

“Are you seriously not going to give me the seat?”

He looks up at Emma and pats his thigh, a cocky smile forming on his face because as torturous as this day is, it sure is a hell of a lot more fun than he thought it would be. “I did, darling. You didn’t take it, but I am more than willing to share.”

Emma pulls her bottom lip between her teeth, her foot tapping on the wood, and when she looks up at the sky, he knows the decision she’s made. “Fine, but don’t be weird about it.”

“I would never.”

Emma moves her food on the table and slowly settles herself down onto his thigh, her skin under her dress pressing into him and making a warm buzz fall over every inch of him, his stomach pleasantly rolling and his heart wildly beating in his chest. It’s insane how being this close to her is affecting him after weeks of simply texting and writing those damn letters, and if he didn’t need air to live, he may stop breathing.

It might be worth it.

“I can feel your dick,” she quietly huffs, adjusting herself on top of him while his hand moves over her stomach to keep her still. By now he realizes they probably could have simply had Luca and Luis sit in their laps, and if the smirk on Ruby’s face is any indication, she realized it from the beginning, the crafty lass. Not that he’s going to complain. She’s basically been his secret little helper with Emma for weeks now, always encouraging them to be closer together. It’s probably because she heard him joke about fucking Emma on Granny’s kitchen counter.

He leans into her ear, his teeth clenched from trying to live with Emma sitting on top of him, and whispers, “It’d be kind of hard not to.”

“Is that a size joke or a hardness joke?”

“Definitely size.”

“Shut up.”

“Stop squirming.”

“There’s not enough room.”

“Are you Killian’s girlfriend?” Luca asks, and he nearly breaks one of Emma’s ribs from how tightly he squeezes her into him, making her cough up what must be one of her lungs and the cheeseburger she just took her first bite out of.

“No, no, no,” Emma sputters out, hitting at her own chest, and he squeezes her a little bit more then, wondering if he should have made a joke about how hard he is because her voice and her ass sitting on top of him are definitely not the best combination. “I’m not your uncle’s girlfriend. Definitely not.”

“You don’t have to act so repulsed about it, Swan.”

“I’m not repulsed.”

“So you do like me then?”

“Oh my God,” she groans, leaning back further into him, and even if he feels like he’s being tortured right now, this might very well be one of the best days of his life. “You know what I mean.”

“Do you know how to sail a boat, Emma?” Luis asks, bringing him out of how distracted he is over Emma. God, he likes her, and it’s so hard for him to even attempt to deny that, not that he even really wants to. He’s gotten to know her so much lately, and all of these random little quirks that she has are making him fall harder and harder. Them spending the day together like this is both a dream and a nightmare. “My dad makes boats.”

“I don’t know how to sail one, but I’m very good at riding.”

He knows that she doesn’t mean it, but at the same time that she says the last word, she adjusts herself in his lap, and it’s his turn to nearly hack up one of his lungs. He might as well hack up both and accept that fate is taking him over because damn, this could not possibly get any worse (better.)

“Killian,” Ariel shouts.

Okay, it could get worse. It could definitely get worse.

“Killian, Emma,” Ariel repeats, moving through the crowd with her nearly eight-month pregnant stomach with more ease than either of them had. When she gets to them, he notices her eyes scan over the two of them, but then again, which one of their friends wouldn’t do that? “Oh my gosh, what are you guys doing out here? You should come into the restaurant and get some air conditioning. It’s crowded, but I can let you sit in the office.”

“Hey, A. The kids didn’t want to eat at Eric’s place. No offense.”

She waves them away, a bright smile on her face even though he knows she’s seriously hating the latter stages of her pregnancy. They went out and bought her a new chair for her desk two weeks ago because her back was killing her. He’s definitely going to steal it when she’s on maternity leave.

His temporary secretary can have her old chair.

“No, I get it. Hamburgers and chicken are much better than fish. Are you all going out on the water later?”

“I’ve been trying to hint at it to Killian,” Ruby nudges, raising a perfectly groomed eyebrow at him, “but I don’t think he’s gotten it.”

“Ruby has never been subtle a day in her life,” Emma quietly says into his ear, her breath hot on his skin as a shiver runs down his spine.

“I heard that.”

“No, you didn’t.”

“Anyways,” Ruby sighs, waving her finger in the air, “apparently we’re dropping the munchkins off with their dad after lunch, and then I’m pretty much going to beg Killian to take us out sailing since he’s the only one who knows how.”

“If you bribe him with some kind of fruity dessert, that usually works.”

“You are not supposed to use your knowledge as my secretary against me.”

“What else am I supposed to use it for?”

“Your job.”

“You keep saying that like it means something.”

He rolls his eyes, unable to stop himself, and he can feel Emma’s stomach move with her laugh, the muscles twitching underneath his fingertips. He still can’t believe that this is his day. But he’s simply going to roll with it.

-/-

“Oi,” Will shouts, leaning over the railing a bit too far in a way that makes Killian’s insides twists, “I think we’re out of beer.”

“You don’t need anymore, sweetie,” Belle placates as she pats his knee.

“I’ve only had the two.”

“Yeah, but your personality really doesn’t need the help of alcohol,” Emma teases him as she rises from her seat and adjusts the strap of her dress from where it’s fallen off of her shoulder. “It’s already like you’re drunk when you’re sober.”

“Shut it, Swan.”

“Creative insult there, Scarlet,” Ruby sighs, propping her legs up in the seat that Emma just abandoned while Ariel works on another bottle of water. She’s gone through at least five.

They’ve been out on the water for three hours now, their little ragtag group. They’d tried to get more people to join them, but everyone else was working, unable to get off for the afternoon. Or, like Liam, they’re with their kids. Emma almost didn’t join them, making some excuse about taking a shift so that David could spend time with Leo, but then they’d run into Ashely who had very kindly let them all know that she and August were handling patrol since they are, after all, patrol officers while Emma and David are detectives. Sometimes he wonders about this town’s law enforcement. Everything seems to be all over the place, and yet there is very little crime.

He probably shouldn’t think about it too much.

So they’d all loaded up onto a rented sailboat, even Ariel despite the fact that she is extremely seasick whenever they’re idling and rocking on the waves, so he makes sure to keep them moving as much as he can without using the engine since they’ll likely be out here for a good while. It keeps him away from everyone, at least a bit, but he’s honestly okay with that. He can join in on conversation whenever he wants to, but he doesn’t have to be an active participant.

Which is good because of Emma and what happens when he hears her voice. He really doesn’t think they’d like to give into their desires on a rented sailboat in front of all of their friends. He doesn’t know about Emma, but he’s not much of an exhibitionist. That’s something he should probably know about her, right? He feels like he knows several little trivial facts that make up who she is, which really makes the facts far from trivial.

Every part of him is fascinated that she’s so particular with her sweets, especially hot chocolate as he learned, and that she has read more novels than him despite him having several years over her. She’s secretly a history buff, thus her obsession with the History Channel, and she loves running and boxing more than any other workout, though running has been her thing lately. But not in the mornings, as she’s not really a morning person, and she prefers cold weather to hot so that she’s not dying in her jeans and can wear her boots. He also knows there was apparently an incident with karaoke, but he’ll likely never know anything more than that.

So he feels like he knows her, knows more little things that he’s discovered through her letters and her texts, and even if he doesn’t know the deep secrets of her past like she doesn’t know his, he feels like the little things are enough to firmly cement the fact that he is absolutely enamored with Emma (no middle name apparently) Swan. It’s obviously a physical thing, a spark that they can’t help, but she also makes him feel almost giddy in a way that he hasn’t felt in years.

And he’s still confused by her. Some things never change.

Emma: Are you going to sail us too far away from the shore, Captain?

Killian looks up from his phone to look toward Emma, but she’s not looking at him, her gaze turned toward the sea so that it’s silhouetted around her, her small frame miniscule compared to the vast blue of the ocean. Beautiful. And if her hair wasn’t in braids, he can imagine the curls blowing in the wind.

Killian: Absolutely. How do you feel about England?

Emma: Are there more people like you there?

Killian: Swan, there’s no one like me.

“Are you supposed to be able to text and sail?” Ariel shouts at him while her hands run over her belly. “I feel like that isn’t safe.”

“The only way we won’t be safe out here is if we let Will be our Captain, love.”

“Hey!”

“Oh, honey, you know he’s just telling the truth.”

Emma: Are you sure that’s a good thing?

Killian: Absolutely.

He moves his fingers across the screen to text her back, to try to get the conversation to keep going, but his eyes follow her as she gets up, using Ruby’s shoulder as a bit of leverage before she’s walking toward him and stepping up the few steps that lead to where he’s sitting behind the wheel, casually turning them so that they can make their way back to shore since he’s pretty sure that Ariel isn’t going to make it that much longer out here. And he’s definitely not delivering a baby out here.

Emma doesn’t say anything, simply sits down on the seat next to him, and he twists in his chair to look at her, pressing his lips into a smile as she seems to be playing with her split ends before her lashes flutter up to look at him.

“So I hear that we’re the best man and maid of honor in some impending nuptials,” he starts, unsure of whether or not to talk to Emma, unsure of how much he can talk to her.

“Those are the facts, Jack.” He raises a brow at that particular phrasing, and she shrugs her shoulders, her lips parting in a beatific smile. “So Will asked you then? They’re not even getting married until next summer.”

“It’s never too early to start planning.”

“Considering I don’t even know what I’m doing tomorrow, I don’t agree with that philosophy.”

“Work? Or is that just optional for you?”

“Shut up,” she laughs, and the sound sends vibrations down his spine, and when Emma reaches over to slap at his leg, he has to bite his cheek. “I meant besides work. Like, after work. Wait, scratch that. I have to pick up Ariel’s baby shower gift.”

Shit. He needs to do that.

“Well, then, it sounds like you have plans.” His eyes glance over toward Emma to see if she’s folding her hands together in a fist or clenching her jaw, and when she seems to be fully relaxed, her shoulders not tense and her feet propped up on the dash, he wonders why they’re not as affected by each other’s voices today when they’ve talked more than they ever have. Maybe Emma’s better at hiding it, and something with him is...not working today. That’s not something he really wants to think about. “So, Swan,” he continues, “at this wedding do you think I’ll get a shot at dancing with a pretty lass?”

“Eh, I’d say your chances are slim. According to our friends, you struggle to get a date.”

He barks out a laugh loud enough that he’s sure all of the creatures in the depths of the ocean can hear him, but none of their friends seem to pay the two of them any mind, all of them continuing on in their own conversations.

“That is a subject for another time, but for the record, I have no trouble getting a date. It seems that the only thing I’m interested in is seeing if a certain blonde will dance with me at a wedding.”

“I don’t really dance.”

“Oh, Swan, all you have to do is pick a partner who knows what he’s doing. Besides, I wasn’t even referring to you.”

Emma maneuvers her legs around to kick at him, but he easily grabs onto her ankle, keeping it away from him as he rests it on his thigh, his thumb running over her ankle without much thought. And when Emma doesn’t pull away, he doesn’t stop. They sit in companionable silence as he guides them back to shore, the buildings over Storybrooke coming back into view as the sun sets behind them, an orange glow falling over the water and over all of them as he watches Emma yawn, placing her hands over her mouth while her nose and eyes scrunch up. He’s exhausted from spending his entire day outside, but there’s something about right now that has him never wanting to spend a second wishing that he could be asleep in bed.

After he docks, he helps everyone off of the boat, especially Ariel, before they all start moving in opposite directions so that they can go home. He notices that Emma lingers with him, her steps a little slower than they should be, and he smiles a bit to himself at this development that they’ve had today.

“For the record,” she starts, kicking at the boards on the dock, “if you asked me, I would dance with you. As long as it wasn’t for a dance where I had to grind my ass on you.”

“Damn,” he laughs as he stops his steps, “you’ve foiled my plans.”

“I thought so.” Emma brings her bottom lip between her teeth, rocking back and forth on her heel. “Thanks for today. It was fun.”

“It was my pleasure.”

Without really thinking about it, or maybe thinking about it too much, he dips his head down and quickly brushes his lips over Emma’s cheek, feeling the softness of her skin and the slight taste of salt before he quickly pulls back, tucking her hair behind her ear and murmuring a quiet goodbye before she does the same, waving at him before she practically jogs down the docks to get away from him.

Maybe. He doesn’t really know, and he’s a little bit too scared to find out. He’s going to try not to question anything about today, even if he already is, and enjoy the fact that Emma’s cheeks flushed red after he kissed her.

God, it almost felt like it was the first time, that it was the most intimate thing, but he’s already kissed her once in a way that was much more passionate and intimate than that.

Right?

“What the bloody hell was that?” Liam questions, a hint of teasing evident in his voice as Killian turns to the side and sees Liam walking down the docks, a smug smile on his face. Of course. Of course his brother saw that. “Did you just kiss Emma goodbye?”

“A kiss on the cheek isn’t kissing someone goodbye,” he lies, shaking his head a bit as he takes a deep breath. “I kissed Elsa on the cheek this morning. It’s simply a friendly gesture.”

“Whatever that was, well, it was not a friendly gesture.”

“Bug off,” he groans as he reaches up to push back his hair, the exhaustion from the day beginning to hit him as he tries to figure his way out of this one. “What are you even doing down here? Where’s your family?”

“Elsa took the kids home early, and I was doing inspections to make sure no one damaged any of our boats today. But I’m really rather more interested in what’s going on with you and Emma. I didn’t know the two of you were courting.”

“Are you from the eighteenth century?”

“Possibly.”

“We’re not courting. We’re - ” He hesitates, not sure what to say and really rather distracted by the twist in his stomach that comes from the thought of he and Emma dating. That’s what he wants, what he desperately wants, and even though he’s not sure what’s going on in Emma’s mind, he knows that she must feel some of it. “Shit,” he mumbles under his breath. “Shit, shit, shit.”

Liam raises a brow and crosses his arms, something he always does to make himself seem bigger and like more of an authoritative figure. He’s about to use it to get Killian to spill what’s on his mind, but Killian is already halfway there. Before Liam can say anything, though, Killian waves his hand and shakes his head, the disbelief mixing in with the twisting and fluttering stomach.

“Let’s go to my apartment. I’m going to need a drink for this.”

-/-

“Wait, wait, wait,” Liam chuckles, throwing his head back as he wipes tears from his eyes, his rum glass nearly full while Killian’s already working on his second, “when the two of you hear each other’s voices, you start sporting a boner? Are you fifteen years old?”

“Obviously not. I can’t help it.”

“That’s what a fifteen-year-old lad would say too. Why does this happen?”

“I, uh.” He reaches up to scratch behind his ear. “I can’t tell you.”

“Excuse me? Why the hell not?”

“I told Emma I wouldn’t tell anyone, back when we first figured out it was happening, and I’ve probably already told you too much.”

“Killian,” Liam sighs, placing his glass on the coaster on the coffee table, “something is obviously bothering you, and you can’t just tell me that you two turn each other on for no reason and then not explain more unless...holy fuck,” Liam gasps, slapping his knee while Killian sinks a little further into his couch, “is Emma Swan your soulmate?”

Heat immediately rushes to the tips of his ears, which is the opposite of where heat was rushing earlier today, and he wonders if it’s possible for him to melt into the couch cushions. It was a mistake to invite Liam up here, to tell him about the predicament that he and Emma are in. Liam knows him better than anyone else on earth, and he should have known that even spilling a little bit would be too much.

The rum was likely a mistake, too.

“Yes,” he admits, knowing it’s pointless to lie, before downing the rest of his glass in one gulp, the rum burning him.

Liam’s face breaks out into a smile while Killian’s stomach fills with dread, and he doesn’t think there’s ever been a larger dichotomy between reactions over the same fact.

“Killian, that’s fantastic. I mean, you were so heartbroken over Milah, over the loss, and if there’s anyone who deserves to have found their soulmate, it’s you. I can’t wait to tell Elsa. We’ve been hoping for this for so long.”

“No,” he insists, sitting up and holding his hand out, “do not tell Elsa. You can’t tell anyone. Seriously. No one.”

“Because Emma doesn’t want anyone to know? I’m sure that was just when you two first started dating she wanted to keep it a secret, but you two have been spending so much time together. Surely, she’d be fine with it now. This is something to be celebrated.”

“We’re not dating. We’re not...we text a bit, spend some time together, but it’s all very confusing. We used to say one word to each other and were ready to sleep together, and now we can have conversations and that only affects us a little bit. I don’t - Liam, I don’t know what’s happening. All I know is that I’m very well falling in love with this woman, and she has no interest in any of that. What am I supposed to do if my soulmate doesn’t want to be with me?”

Saying the words doesn’t make any weight lift off of his shoulder. In fact, it makes him feel heavier, his shoulders unable to hold his head up high. He knows that Emma feels some kind of affection for him, that they are getting to know each other, that she’s willingly getting to know him, but not knowing what’s happening, not knowing if Emma is ever going to accept the two of them, is terrifying.

Falling in love again is terrifying, especially since he’s not guaranteed a soft landing even when this is the one time he should be.

Even thinking the words shakes him to his core.

“Killian, I don’t have any great words of advice because I’ve never been in this type of situation before, but if the blush on Emma’s cheeks and the smile on her face were any indication as to how she feels about you, I don’t think you need to be worrying yourself sick over this A man unwilling to fight for what he wants deserves what he gets.”

“Yeah, maybe.”

He’d like to fight for Emma’s heart if she’d let him.

[letswritebangtan]

I’m Home | Jeon Jungkook

Jeon Jungkook x fem!reader

genre: slight angst + fluff + a very flirtatious jeongguk

_____________________________________________

As soon as the bell rang you sprung out of your seat and dashed past all the gloomy students, into the auditorium, behind the stage curtains, and then out the back door to a small parking lot. 

“Over here!” your best friend called out as he waved his hands at you. 

You wasted no time in jogging over to him. You paused for a moment, trying to catch your breath and Jungkook grinned widely at you. 

“You are not going to believe this, y/n.” he said, crouching down to take something out from a tiny box. 

When Jungkook stood up again he was then holding a little kitten in his arms. You gasped and reached out to take the small thing into your embrace. 

“Oh my god!” you screamed in a whisper. “Where’d you find this cutie?”

“He was hiding behind those prop boxes in the corner. Just next to that car. I was going over the set to finalise some things for this weekend’s play, and then I found this door that led to here, and when I opened it this little fella was meowing away as if it was calling me to come and get him.”

“Aw, he’s lost.” you cooed. 

“I knew you’d be excited, there’s nothing you love more than animals.” he said as he stood next to you to peer down at the furball in your arms. 

His head was hovering over your shoulder, his chest pressing slightly against your back. It was like the two of you were looking at your newborn with love and adoration. 

“We gotta take care of it, we can’t leave him here.” you pleaded. 

Jungkook sighed, “Yeah, but don’t you think our parents would freak if we brought him home?”

“It’s just a cat, Kook.”

“And having a cat is a big responsibility.” he argued. 

“You sound just like my mom, jeez.” you laughed, making him smile at you. 

“Alright, if you wanna bring him home so bad, you can. Just be prepared to persuade your mom into keeping him.”

“We gotta give him a name first!” you said excitedly. 

Jungkook smiled fondly at your cute behaviour and unconsciously lifted his hand to tuck a stray lock of hair behind your ear. 

“Sure, what do you suggest?” he asked. 

You blushed slightly at his gesture but turned to look down at the cat to hide your rosy cheeks. 

“Tom?” you suggested. 

“Um, ew, no way.” Jungkook cringed playfully making you roll your eyes at him. 

“Okay, you come up with one.” you retorted. 

Jungkook’s bottom lip pushed it’s way out to form a small pout which you found insanely adorable. He then reached forward to lightly scratch the kitten under it’s chin, making it purr and wiggle in your hold. 

“How about....”

time skip to 3 years later

“Lucky, come on. You have to eat your medicines.” you groaned as you tried to hold your cat’s mouth in place. 

“Please, please, please, please-” you ranted, almost getting the pill into his mouth. 

Lucky finally stopped resisting and swallowed, literally ‘acking’ right after. You sighed and smiled in content, stroking him to show your appreciation. Standing up from your kneeled position you almost lost your balance. You hissed when you felt the sharp knot in your knees, but it disappeared once you were fully upright. Lucky’s collar was sitting on the table, and as you picked it up in your hands your gaze flashed over a familiar name. 

Jungkook

It was a difficult task to revert your thoughts from the one boy that you adored so much, he always came to your mind when you looked at your pet cat. He was the one who found Lucky, he was the one who named him, bought that stupid collar with his stupid pendant hanging from it almost as if it was mocking you to look at it and feel depressed all over again. 

Jungkook left for America three years ago. And all he left you with was his darn cat. Lucky was adorable and you loved him no doubt, but it always hurt you to think of all the broken promises Jungkook made.

“Should I wear this hoodie or the champion one?” he asked while rummaging through his closet. 

“Jungkook, they’re literally the same thing. Both oversized and both in black.”

“That’s racist, y/n.”

“Shut up, Jungkook.”

He chuckled and folded his all too familiar black t-shirts and placed them neatly into his suitcase. He turned around and pulled something out of the drawer, dusting it off quickly and then walking over to you. 

“What’s that?” you asked when he handed it to you. 

“It’s all of Lucky’s necessities. His favourite treats, required medications, food brands and other things. It’s a how-to-keep-lucky-alive guide, in a box.” he said as he plopped down next to you on his bed. 

You stared at the box confusedly and slowly took it from him. 

“Why are you giving me this? Isn’t Lucky going with you?” you asked.

“Don’t be silly, do you really think my parents are gonna pay for Lucky’s flight ticket? I also probably won’t have enough space for him there, but most importantly, I know that he wouldn’t be happy without you around.” Jungkook said pushing the box further to you. 

“But I...he’s your cat, Kook-”

“He’s our cat, y/n. America’s no place for our Lucky. You know that.”

You sighed and placed the box beside you carefully. No one wanted Jungkook to leave, you the most. He had been a part of your life for so many years you didn’t know how to let him go. Jungkook wrapped an arm around your shoulder and your head instinctively rested on the crook of his neck. 

“I really don’t want you to go. As selfish as it sounds, it’s true.” you mumbled. 

His chest shook as he chuckled lightly, making your head bounce. He urged you to face him and you did, looking into his eyes. 

“I’m gonna miss all of you. Especially you. But I promise it won’t be any different. I’ll call everyday, and I swear to god you better pick up this time.” he warned. 

“I will! How could you think that I’d ignore your calls?” you gasped. 

“Well you never answer when I call.”

“That one time my phone was on silent Jungkook, one time.” you emphasised. 

“So I’m counting on you to answer them now then.” he said.

“You can count on that.” you huffed as you shoved his arm away from you playfully. 

Quickly, he caught your wrist and yanked it towards him making you fall onto his chest. Your breath caught in your throat as he stared longingly into your eyes, faces only centimeters away. 

“God, I love you.” he said breathlessly. 

Your eyes widened at that, Jungkook’s gaze following yours. And that was when you felt it, his soft, sweet lips pressing against yours. A sigh of relief escaped you, signalling Jungkook to deepen the kiss. Your arms latched around his neck, his hands gripping your waist and pulling you close so you could straddle him. The kiss was needy, the two of you unwilling to let go of each other. Jungkook’s hands squeezed everywhere he could, and you gasped when he managed to let his tongue slide past your lips. You felt how much he had been holding back all these years, just like you had. When you pulled away to catch your breath Jungkook huffed at the loss of contact. His hands were still tangled in your hair, keeping you close. 

When you opened your eyes to look at him, you saw him smile cheekily at you. You giggled and moved back so you could look at him properly. His lips were swollen and red, his hair was a mess and his cheeks were pink due to the heat. He looked beautiful. 

“Can you guess how long I’ve been wanting to do that?” he said breathlessly. 

You played with strands of his hair shyly, mumbling, “Probably not as long as I have.”

You saw his eyes light up and a bigger grin etched onto his face. You smiled back at him, making him lean forward to peck your lips again. 

“I wish I could kiss you like this everyday.” he mumbled against your lips. 

And that’s when you felt a pang in your chest. He was leaving. When you finally got what you longed for from him, he was going to leave. 

You pulled back and Jungkook frowned at you. You stared at the ground feeling blank and empty. You swung your leg off him and went back to where you were sitting before. You ran a hand through your hair and then placed both hands beside you in defeat. 

“Did I go to far? I-i’m sorry I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable, I-I thought you wanted to kiss me too so I-this sounds really dumb, I shouldn’t have assumed, i’m really sorry.” he pleaded.

You shook your head and smiled sadly at him. “That’s not it, Kook.”

He calmed slightly and then took your hand in his gently. “Then what is it?” he asked softly. 

“You’re leaving.” you managed to choke out. A tear slipped down your cheek and you wiped it quickly. “I love you, but you’re leaving.”

Jungkook panicked upon seeing you cry. He quickly wrapped his arms around you and pulled you closer to his chest. “Hey...” he whispered, a pained sound laced in his tone. 

You cried softly into his chest, his shirt getting soaked with your salty tears. You sniffled and let out shaky breaths from time to time, and all Jungkook could do was hold you. He hated himself for doing this to you, leaving you. He knew how much he was hurting you and he couldn’t stand himself. 

“I’m so sorry, y/n.” he whispered into your ear, leaving a soft kiss near your swollen eyes where the tears were falling. 

“I don’t want to leave you. But I-I have to...” he tried to explain, only making you sob harder. 

You clenched the material of his shirt in a fist and pressed your cheek to his chest. His hands stroked your back and your hair in slow, calming movements. 

“I don’t deserve you, and you deserve someone better. Someone who won’t hurt you like this....”

“Are you crazy?” you snapped, moving your head away from his chest to look at him.

He looked taken aback, not saying anything to you because he really didn’t know what you wanted to hear. 

“You tell me you love me, you kiss me, and then you say you have to go and that we can’t be together? What is wrong with you?” you said angrily, tears still falling. 

“y/n....” he said desperately. 

You stood up and walked out of the room, and Jungkook didn’t bother trying to call after you. The next day at the airport, not much was spoken between the two of you. All Jungkook did was stand in front of you and stared at you for a few seconds before giving you a curt nod. And then he left. You wanted to scream at him for being such a jerk, for not wanting to try for you, for telling you he loved you. If he hadn’t, it would have hurt less. When he kissed you, your love for him grew even more. Your heart swelled when he told you he loved you. He added so much weight onto the bridge that was your heart until it was too much to bear. The bridge snapped in two. 

“y/n!” you heard someone call. You put the collar back on the table and walked out of the room and down the stairs. 

“y/n, look who’s here!” you heard your mom said excitedly. 

When your foot touched the last step of the stairs your eyes glanced up to the window. You could feel Lucky tense beside you too. 

“He’s home.” your mother said so casually. 

You swallowed thickly, watching as he unloaded bags after bags from the booth of his car. The muscles in his arms flexed whenever he lifted a suitcase. You saw his thighs clench when he squatted down to open one of the locks. You saw his features much more defined that it was before. His shoulders broader, his hair curlier and longer, his height much taller. 

Jungkook was home.

_________________________________________________

“I really like what you did to the place, Mrs l/n.” 

That brat. His cocky self and stupid charms may fool your mom, but not you. You peeked from the corner, secretly watching him on the couch. His mom was there too, happy to have her son back. Couldn’t blame her though, her son didn’t tell her he loved her and then broke her heart by leaving her to be miserable and never speaking to her again.

“You’re so grown up now, Jungkook. Have you been working out?” your mom asked. 

“Yeah, I’ve been going to the gym nearly everyday now. It helps keep me focused and determined.” he replied politely. 

You wanted to smack that small smirk off of his face. 

“That’s lovely, Jungkook. y/n on the other hand will probably start a protest if I ever asked her to exercise.” your mom joked. 

You gaped, how could she embarrass you like that? You grumbled softly to yourself. Whatever, exercise is for the weak. 

“Speaking of y/n, where is she?” Mrs Jeon asked. 

You saw Jungkook’s eyes soften at the mention of your name. He looked down into his glass and swirled the drink around. 

“She should be down any minute. y/n?” your mom called out. 

You took a deep breath and gave yourself about twenty seconds before you emerged from around the corner. You pretended to act as if you didn’t know Jungkook and his mom were here. You slowed your pace and stopped next to your mom, smiling politely at Mrs Jeon. Your gaze then flickered to Jungkook’s. He looked at you in awe, almost forgetting that he was staring at you for longer than he should. 

“y/n” he greeted you slowly, offering you a small smile. 

You nodded back, the corner of your lips curving up for only a millisecond before it returned to form a straight line. You tried your best to ignore his gaze on you the entire time you sat there while your moms had a chat. There was one point when you made eye contact, and his eyes widened briefly. You licked your lips, and bit down on the lower one to try and deal with the awkwardness. 

“So y/n, what have you been up to?” Mrs Jeon asked. 

“Oh, well I just finished college. I’m starting University soon, around September this year.” you replied. 

“Wow, that’s a long break. You deserve it, hun. I’m sure you worked your butt off for those college exams. Your mom tells me you got straight A’s?” she asked.

You nodded and smiled at her shyly. 

“Congrats.” you heard a small voice saying. 

You looked at Jungkook, who was hoping he’d get a response from you. 

“Thanks.” you mumbled, sending him a small appreciative smile. 

“Jungkook’s going to start Uni in September too,” Mrs Jeon said, “At the University of Seoul.”

You swear your heart stopped for a moment. No, this can’t be happening. 

“Really?! y/n’s enrolling there too.” your mom said. 

You shut your eyes momentarily and sighed. The last thing you wanted was to see Jungkook on a daily basis. 

“They’ll be reunited again, just like back then.” Mrs Jeon said smiling fondly at us. 

You felt too uncomfortable at the moment. You were kinda upset that Jungkook would be a disturbance in your Uni life, but maybe if you stayed out of his way, he’d stay out of yours. 

“I’m gonna excuse myself, I’ve got a little something to do.” you said politely as you stood up and walked upstairs to your room. You spotted Lucky on your bed chilling like he always did. You sighed and went to your drawers to pull out some books to read to pass time until Jungkook was out of your house. As you were juggling a few books in hand you tried closing the drawer with the other. 

“Is that Lucky?” you heard from behind you. 

You flinched startled and all the books toppled onto the floor. Jungkook’s eyes widened as he rushed over to help you pick them up. 

“S-sorry I didn’t mean to scare you.” he said crouching in front of you. 

“It’s fine.” you sighed as you picked some of them up yourself.

Jungkook handed you the books and you placed them on the desk. When you turned around you saw Jungkook standing there with his hands in the pockets of his really ripped jeans. He rocked back and forth on his heels nervously. 

“He’s grown so much. Thank you for taking care of him.” he said smiling kindly at you. 

You ran a hand through your hair and let out a long breath. “Yeah, it’s...no problem. He’s nice to have around.”

He nodded, “So, how have you been?”

You looked up at him for a while and then back to the floor again. “I’m fine.” you cut short. 

“Oh, that’s nice.” he replied. 

The awkwardness was so undeniably consuming you wanted to just hide under your bed.

“You look really different.” he said. 

You peered down at yourself and looked at him, “Yeah well, so do you.”

“You look nice.” he added. “Really nice.” he said shyly. 

You cleared your throat, “Uh, thanks I-I guess. You too.”

Just then your alarm on your phone rang, signalling it was Lucky’s dinner time. 

“Oh sorry, give me a second.” you said. 

Turning off your alarm, you grabbed Lucky’s bag of food and poured the necessary amount into his little bowl. You placed the bowl at his favourite spot on the floor and Lucky jumped off the bed to walk over to you. He rubbed himself against your legs to say thank you and you smiled, petting his head softly and then letting him eat. 

“You’re really good with him.” Jungkook said suddenly. 

“Thanks.” you replied. “He’s a bit difficult when it comes to his medicines though.”

You sat on your mattress, watching your beloved cat eat his dinner. You saw Jungkook still standing there awkwardly and you don’t know what it was inside of you but you felt sympathy for this boy so you patted the space next to you, signalling for him to sit.

“You can sit, it’s okay.” you said. 

He smiled thankfully at you and took the spot beside you. 

“So tell me, how was America?” you asked to start conversation. 

“America’s really cool. Everything’s really different there, but a good different. Their food is freakin amazing, y/n. I wish you could have tried it. It’s heaven in a bite.” he said as he rubbed his belly comically. 

You chuckled softly, “Yeah, knowing how much you love your meat, it must have been paradise.”

“I do love meat. Also I picked up a lot of new English phrases. And my friends taught me pickup lines.” he said proudly.

“Oh dear god. Don’t tell me, please.” you joked. 

“y/n, do you know what my shirt is made of?” he started. 

You bit your lip and looked at him, waiting for him to answer. 

“Boyfriend material.” he replied cockily with a wide smirk on his face. 

You scoffed and looked away. Jungkook laughed and you couldn’t help but to laugh along too. 

“They don’t have good banana milk over there though.” he said sighing. 

“Oh boy, how are you still surviving, Kook?”

Kook. A name so familiar to you, but somehow you regretted saying it. Embarrassment showed through the pink on your face. Stupid y/n, why don’t you think before you talk-

“I don’t really know.” he replied. Jungkook was beaming now at the mention of his nickname. He raised an eyebrow questioningly at the name and you sighed, looking away. 

“Sorry, i-it just slipped.”

“No don’t be sorry. I missed that.” he said quickly. 

You looked at him surprised and his gaze on you lingered. 

“I’ve missed you.” he said.

You froze momentarily, still making eye contact. Jungkook looked at you in hopes you would say the same to him. It was true, you did miss him too. But you were also hurt and disappointed in him. 

“Yeah it’s been a while.” you mumbled, your gaze fixed to the ground. 

Jungkook thought: shit that was a stupid thing to say. way to fuck it all up man.

“We should catch up.” you said suddenly. 

Jungkook’s eyes snapped up to yours. Never in a million years did he expect you to say that next. 

“Yes!” he said a bit too loudly. You looked at him amused and the smiled sheepishly. 

“Um, sorry, I mean, yes, yes we totally should. How does now sound?” he asked.

“Right now?”

“Yes right now.” he confirmed. Jungkook held his hand out for you to take. 

You looked at his outstretched hand for a few moments before reaching out and intertwining hands with his. His hands felt much bigger and warmer than they used to be. He smiled and pulled you along with him to create a new adventure. 

______________________________________________

It was 10 p.m. already. By this time, you and Jungkook had: gone to an arcade, ate at mcdonald’s, got ice cream, went ice skating, played a little basketball at an empty court, flew paper airplanes and now the two of you were walking home. 

“You know I never realised how bad you were at ice skating.” he teased. 

“Hey, I wasn’t bad! I could skate at the end of the day.” you protested. 

“Yeah well only after clinging to me 99% of the time and you had to use the penguin. But hey I’m not complaining.”

“I fuckin love that penguin. He was good to me.” you grumbled. 

Jungkook chuckled and ruffled your hair, “How’s your finger?”

You had gotten a papercut whilst folding one of your paper airplanes. Jungkook acted quickly and brought your index finger to his mouth and he sucked on the blood to try and stop the bleeding. You flushed a fluorescent pink at that, but Jungkook seemed to be unbothered. After he babied you by washing your finger with tap water and wrapping the cut with a bandage (all of which you were perfectly capable of doing yourself) he placed a feather light kiss on your finger. You definitely fell in love all over again. 

“It’s fine, it’s just a tiny cut, I don’t know why you overreacted.” you scoffed and tried to hide the fact that the cut did actually hurt like a bitch. 

“The pain I saw in your eyes said otherwise, love.” he replied cockily. 

“Shut up.” you grumbled. 

“Your hand okay?” you asked Jungkook. 

He stretched his fingers and then closed them, “Pretty much.”

At the arcade, you were really engrossed in the game of whack-a-mole that you didn’t see Jungkook’s hand resting by the side and you basically just smashed his hand with the hammer. 

“Ow son of a bitch!” Jungkook yelped and cursed as he gripped his hand and his face cringed in pain. 

“Oh my god are you okay? Shit, shit I’m really sorry-” you began to apologise profusely. 

“It’s fine.” Jungkook forced out but you knew it hurt bad. 

“Let me see.” you urged and slowly took his injured hand into yours. You played around with his fingers to see if they could still move. The concerned expression on your face made Jungkook’s heart swell. He smiled and placed his hands on the sides of your arms and squeezed softly. 

“I’m alright, really.” he said softly. 

“You sure?” you asked worriedly. 

“Hm, maybe if you kiss it better I can be sure.” Jungkook teased. 

Your expression changed from concerned to annoyed. “In your dreams, Jeon. Kiss your own boo boo’s.”

“Hey, I kissed yours!” he complained. 

“I never asked you to!” 

Let’s just say Jungkook got his way in the end. 

“I’m really sorry for whacking your hand with a hammer by the way.” you said. 

“It’s alright. Maybe if you hold my hand it’ll feel better.”

You shot him a look and he grinned cheekily at you. “Please?”

You sighed and intertwined hands with him, you could practically feel his joy.

“Listen, y/n, I was waiting for the right time to talk about this, I think that time is now.”

The two of you stopped walking and turned to face each other. 

“There’s really not much to talk about.” you lied, shrugging. 

Jungkook tilted your chin up to look at him. You blinked a few times, watching as he struggled to find the words. 

“I know what I did back then was stupid. I honestly don’t know why I did it. But I wasn’t lying when I said that I loved you. I still do, y/n, very much. When I was away, all I could think about was you, how you were doing, whether you were starting to be happy without me. I knew I wasn’t right for you, because what kind of guy says he loves a girl and leaves right after? I felt really shitty about myself and for what I did to you. I hurt you, and I’m sorry.” he sighed. 

You swallowed nervously, “Jungkook-”

“No wait, please. I still want to be with you, I always have. And now, I finally can. I know I’m selfish, extremely selfish. But when it comes to you, y/n, there’s no controlling myself. I really am crazy for you. I freaking love you.” he said breathless. 

You bit your lip and sighed. 

“I love you too, Kook. A lot. But I just....I really can’t have you leave me like that again.”

“I won’t. I’m never leaving, y/n. I could never bring myself to do that again. I’m always longing to be with you.” He stepped forward and placed his large hands on your waist to pull you closer. 

His forehead bumped against yours and his lovingly rubbed your nose against his, making you smile. 

“You are the only person I wanna be with. You are the only person I always wanna be with.” he whispered. 

You pushed yourself up and locked your lips with his. Jungkook groaned softly and pulled you flush against his body. He sucked on your lower lip, pulling away and then attaching his lips to yours again. He gently took your lower lip in between his teeth and you gasped when he bit down lightly. A heated kiss the two of you shared on the lamp-lit streets that night. 

You pulled away gasping, looking into Jungkook’s eyes. His hair was tousled, his strong arms holding you to him and his gaze still fixated on your lips. 

“You know....” you began. Jungkook looked into your eyes waiting for you to continue. “You’re a much better kisser now than you were back then.”

Jungkook chuckled heartily, his chest vibrating. He hummed and pressed his lips to yours again, kissing you softly for a few seconds before pulling away. 

“I can’t say the same for you though, babe.”

“Jungkook!”

__________________________________________________

the end! like and reblog pretty please <3

[hannahmcne]

Westward sc 3

When he woke up, he was buried underneath a very large, heavy blanket that was pressing him into a thick comforter. The feeling would have been relaxing if it hadn't been so unbearably hot. Slowly, Ben crawled out from underneath the weighted item and discovered that his shoulders, knees, wrists, and ankles were sore. He winced as he rubbed them and then squinted at the daylight visible at the top of the teepee. It looked like mid-afternoon outside and was high-noon in Agrabah inside the teepee.

Ben picked at his clothes. He looked like he'd walked through a waterfall. He was completely drenched in his own sweat and completely parched. He ran his hands through his hair and then found, like Evie had promised, a new outfit laid on a tarp at the center pole of the teepee, where he had originally fallen asleep. A long-sleeved maroon shirt that looked like something that would keep him warm on a jog in November, some tan pants with very deep pockets, and a pair of shoes that were brown with black designs on the sides. He wondered if Evie had made them.

He wasn't too excited to see the winterish clothes but grateful that Evie had come through nonetheless. He wondered what his wardrobe would be the next few months and found he wasn't exactly sorry to say goodbye to suits and polished shoes for a little bit.

He rolled the sleeves up on the shirt to his elbows before he wandered closer to the flap of the teepee. He could hear people bustling around outside. He wondered if it was 'safe' to go out now. He wasn't exactly wearing Auradon colors anymore. What if Evie, Mal, or Uma got mad at him?

He pushed the flap open and stepped out. And the sight outside shocked and scared and thrilled and amazed him all at once. There were so many people.

People were rushing across the camp, which was actually much larger than Ben had first realized. People were standing and chatting, passing water bottles back and forth with bright smiles. People were tending small shops and exchanging wares. Hurt people sat in chairs and talked with each other. Young children raced on little horse and dragon toys, and there were even young adults his age who were walking arm in arm, shoving each other, everything. There were carts and small wagons lining the outside of the main road, which stretched for at least two miles in either way. There were other teepees and small structures, but it appeared everyone was living out of wagons and off the land. How extraordinary.

"Ben!" Someone called, and Ben's head snapped up in the direction of Jay, who was sitting on the back of a cart with Mal and Carlos. Mal was kicking her legs back and forth nonchalantly, and the sight of her made him pause before he glanced to make sure he wouldn't run into anyone and then crossed the road to join them.

"Sleep well?" Jay asked with a laugh as Ben neared them. "You look like you came back from the dead."

"Close enough," Ben shrugged, shielding a yawn. "How long was I out?"

"Four years," Mal drawled. "We made it all the way to the new land without you."

Ben snorted at the same time as Carlos. He took that as a good sign – he was catching on to her humor rather well. Mal looked down at him, carefully taking in the red shirt and his mussed hair, and then glanced away.

"It's only just starting to become evening," Jay assured him. "But we've got things on their way. Some people are already packing up. I think Evie is gonna have your teepee dismantled with the rest and put your stuff in with Carlos and I's wagon. That okay?"

"Only if it's okay with you," Ben assured Jay. "I wouldn't want to intrude."

"Nah, it's cool, man," Carlos nodded. "We've never met a king before. We'll have to assimilate you into Isle culture."

"Assila-wha?" Jay crinkled his brow. "You and Evie both talk mouthfuls."

"It means to integrate. To mix," Ben supplied.

Jay rolled his eyes. "Well, look at this, guys," he elbowed Carlos with a roll of his eyes. "He's pretty, he gives inspirational speeches, and he has a brain."

"Two of those are true," Ben conceded. "However, I'm not sure my looks prevailed after having my face in the mud and then passing out for, well, all day." He tried not to look at Mal or Jay too hard or to sound like he was accusing them.

"Beauty is pain," Mal drawled, pulling her leg up onto her knee and continuing to kick the other one out. "And it could be worse. You could have been woken up right before midnight, hiked through the forest with a defense squadron thinking that the high kingdom had sent someone to order you to move or be moved, accidentally kidnapped the King of Auradon and then stayed up till now without a nap so you could go hunting to feed two-hundred kids and young adults." Mal let out a long, loud, piercing yawn. "I have been up for seventeen hours on two hours of rest."

"My cot is still set up if you want it?" Ben offered, cringing a little as he imagined how damp it might be from him basically drowning in his own sweat. Luckily, Mal didn't seem interested. "And wow, you lead defense squads, cast magic spells, and feed the masses. Anything else?"

"Spray paint," Jay mumbled under his breath. Mal kicked him.

"Excuse you," She spat. "Spray paint is a noble art form. I'd like to see you create anything remotely intelligible."

Jay furrowed his brow. "Intelli-wha?" He asked.

"Don't hate on the spray paint," Carlo nodded. "Her crap is pretty darn near perfect."

Mal let out a snort. "Ha! That's me, I am perfect. She multi-tasks; she dabbles."

"You're the best," Carlos shrugged. Mal nodded in agreement.

"Are you guys… a couple?" Ben asked slowly, glancing between Mal and Carlos. Carlos burst into laughter while Mal gave him an unimpressed look.

"No," She shook her head. "No. So don't get all worried, Prince Charming."

Ben's face turned red as he held up his hands. "I wasn't implying anything," He insisted. "I just wasn't expecting such high praise among friends from the Isle of the Lost."

"We're more like family," Jay explained. His face had taken on some dark tones and he was examining Ben in that same way Evie had been.

"Nah," Mal shook her head and kicked him again. "The King's right. We're like a gigantic lust-fest. You, me, Evie, and Carlos. We're all in a gigantic, messy relationship together."

"Oh, does that mean I get to hold your hand and bring you flowers?" Jay puckered his lips out as he teased her. Immediately, a cloud of rage darkened Mal's face.

"No, that's what Evie's for," She shoved Jay off the cart this time. "But you can walk down the street and make sure Shrimpy isn't messing anything up."

"You're too much work, Mal," Jay sighed. "I'm breaking up with you. You can keep Evie and Carlos."

"Who's Shrimpy?" Ben asked, crossing his arms and choosing not to comment as Carlos began to laugh even harder.

"Uma," Jay rolled his eyes. "She and Mal are having this power struggle that Evie usually balances out."

"It's not a power struggle," Mal hissed. "I'm more powerful than her. Especially here. Her little seashell trick only works near the ocean. I can turn into a dragon wherever. What we have is her thinking she can control me, and Evie trying to convince me to let her."

"So Evie's in charge?" Ben asked, glancing between Carlos and Jay in amusement.

"Evie's our people leader," Jay explained. "She's the, uh, Carlos, what's the word?"

"Executive person," Carlos supplied. "She works better at getting the people to rally behind her, though Mal and Evie both think they're effective leaders." He elbowed Mal, who simmered. "Uma is better at dividing resources and keeping track of things, so she's our Resource Advocate. Mal, you probably noticed, is a fighter. She's the one who keeps us safe and handles the weapons, the squads, anything involving hunting or fighting, etc…"

"Military," Ben supplied. "Cool. It looks like you have things going."

A whiff of something nice caught his nose and he turned to look down the road. In the distance, a thin smoke was rising. "Is that where Uma is now?"

"Yeah," Carlos nodded. "Mal and whoever else was hunting today brought back a few deer. Uma, Harry, Gil, and the pirates used to work her mom's food shop on the Isle, so they and whoever else can cook are handling it."

"I hope she falls in," Mal muttered under her breath. "I wonder what fried octopus tastes like."

"Have you ever tried being nice to her?" Ben suggested, raising his eyes at Mal.

"Have you ever tried kissing up to a live wire?" Mal shot back, turning her fiery gaze on him.

"No, why did you do that?" Ben replied. Carlos snorted and shoved Mal's arm. Mal scoffed and kicked her leg out at Ben. Ben caught her boot and held it up higher. Mal yelped a little as she scooted forward and scowled at Ben as Carlos and Jay both laughed at her. Ben took a moment to examine her foot in his hands. It was small – he could wrap his entire hand around her sole – and he probably had mugs at the palace with a wider diameter than her ankles. Tiny little Cinderella feet, this girl had. But she made up for her size with what looked like acres of toned muscle. He could see strength in every single tendon going up her leg. It helped that she was wearing tight pants with a few threadbare places behind her knees, across her calves, and even stretching up inside her thighs.

He dropped her foot as he felt his face growing a bit warm. Mal scowled a little as she moved back to her original position but didn't seem to have noticed him examining her. Either that, or she seemed to not care. Jay and Carlos, on the other hand, exchanged a cautious look.

Jay leaned forward and clapped Ben's shoulder. "Come on," He invited. "I'll show you Uma's area. You'll probably be helping us pack things up there tomorrow."

Ben nodded and let his eyes rest first on Carlos and then on Mal. He put a hand behind his back and bowed to them both, to which Carlos snorted at again. Then, without another glance back, he followed Jay away.

As soon as they were in the midst of the crowd and out of sight of the cart, Jay swung an arm around Ben's neck. "Okay, listen up," He whispered in a hushed, warning tone. "I want you to picture Mal for a second. Don't ask questions; just do it."

Ben blinked. It wasn't hard to conjure up the image of the purple-haired fairy – especially so soon after glancing at those long, long legs she had. "Okay?" He questioned, furrowing his brow.

"She's pretty, isn't she?" Jay pressed his lips together. "I'm sure you noticed how her mouth is all one color and how her eyes have those little flecks that catch the sun, right?"

Ben's mouth went dry. "Jay, if she's yours, then-"

"She's not," Jay hissed, cutting him off. "She's no one's. That's why I'm telling you this – don't go after her. She's pretty to look at, but don't touch her. She's dangerous."

Dangerous. He said it the way you would talk about a person's identity. They're Christian. They're Bisexual. They're president of the women's court or they're the national tourney champion. Not a description; a title. "That's what Evie told me about her," Ben nodded. "But, uh, Jay, I wasn't-"

"Evie's right," Jay interrupted. "Because that purple-haired pixie has more fight in her pinky finger than the rest of us do in our bodies. Even Uma. And she doesn't exactly consider love a priority."

"Jay," Ben interjected with a blush coloring his cheeks. "I'm, uh, taken back home. I'm not going to make a move on Mal."

Jay blinked in surprise. "You're taken?" He asked. "As in, you've got someone waiting for you? Why did you agree to stay, then?"

"I, uh-" Ben stammered and then swallowed. "It's complicated. But she'll understand."

"Sheesh," Jay snorted. "Must be one heck of a patient lady. Alright, then."

They stepped under a little string of blue lights and Ben saw people hard at work cutting up the carcasses of several deer. Dozens of small, hot fires were being tended to by a variety of people in teal blue. Most of them seemed to be pirates. Ben watched a pirate with a teal sash tied around his hat take a large, clean knife from a collection.

"Be warned: Uma might put you to work," Jay called in his ear to be heard over the noise.

Ben looked around at the hustle and bustle. His stomach growled a little at the good smell in the air. "I'd be happy to help,"

"Wonderful," A voice came from his immediate right. He nearly jumped out of his skin when Uma put a hand on his bicep and turned him around. "You ever done any of this before?" She gestured over her shoulder to the deer, which had been strung up with rope so they could effectively get the meat off, and pulled a long, sharp, clean knife out of the pile.

Ben glanced over his shoulder and discovered that Jay had vanished. That didn't surprise him. "I have done high school dissections and I'm a quick learner," Ben shrugged. To be honest, he'd much rather be tending the fire than dismembering meat, but if that's what Uma needed then he would do it.

"Lovely," Uma clapped him on the arm and handed him the knife. "Gil has been at this for four hours since Mal's crew started bringing in the first few. They brought in extra so we could smoke some and that way we don't have to stop as we travel. I'm going to have him show you how to do it so you can take his place and then when all is said and done, you'll either be on the smoke racks or cooking things with Harry." She pointed at a tall, bulky, blonde-haired man who was mostly apart from everyone else. Ben nodded and, taking the knife firmly in his hand, headed towards the lone outsider.

"Hey, I'm Ben," He called when he got near enough. "Uma sent me to help you out. She said she wants you to teach me how to do this and then take a break."

Gil wiped off his forehead as he stood up and looked at Ben. His face lit up with a bright, childish smile. "Hey man! I know you! You're the character who passed out in the teepee today when we were bringing you your cot!"

Ben turned a little red. "Yeah, sorry about that," He apologized. "I meant to be awake to help you guys but I, uh, had lost a lot of sleep."

"Hey, no problem," Gil reassured him. "And uh, you're King Ben, right? I know you, man!"

"Really?" Ben raised an eyebrow and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly. "No one has recognized me yet."

"Well, my dad talks about your dad a lot," Gil said nonchalantly. "My dad… well, I'll give you a hint. He's quick, slick, and his neck is incredibly think."

G. Gil. Gaston. Ben inclined his head. "Do you… have a problem with me?" He asked cautiously. "I mean, I don't have a problem with you, but…"

"Nah," Gil shook his head. "I never really cared. But hey, when you get back to the castle, tell your mom that Gaston says hi, and tell your dad that – well, actually, don't mention that." He snorted and then gestured to the deer he was working on. "I already got the insides out and took care of the fur. We have someone from Evie's crew working on the hides because they're tough and we can make things with them. Mal has this nifty spell she made up that makes it so we don't have to wait for the meat to get older so it's softer. Usually, you have to wait until after this thing that Evie and Carlos know the word for goes away. It think it starts with an r…"

"Rigor Mortis," Ben supplied.

"Yeah, that's the word!" Gil nodded in approval. "We basically do it piece by piece. I already did the shoulders and that's the easy part, but I'll help you go through the rest. We have people over there with smaller knives who are getting things ready to be smoked or dried or cooked. The important thing over here is to not let it touch the ground and to not shred the meat to bad – oh, have you washed your hands?"

"I haven't," Ben shook his head. "But I will right now." Gil nodded and turned back to the beast. Ben turned away and spotted a line of people rinsing their hands off under a stream of water. He followed them, scrubbed his hands off(they even had soap… in the forest?) and then returned as Gil was handing off a few large pieces of meat to a young girl who'd come to get them.

Gil carefully explained how to trim the fat so that Uma could have the others turn it into soap or use it for whatever else she could find. Then, he guided Ben through the butchering process. Ben never, in a hundred years, had imagined he would be doing this, but decided it was best to consider his life choices when he wasn't holding a very large and heavy knife.

Gil stopped helping him after a while and went to go clean his knife off and get his water bottle, but then he returned and started talking to Ben as Ben worked, occasionally giving advice but mostly telling jokes about Auradon, the villains, and everything else he could think of. It was refreshing – Ben couldn't remember the last time he'd actually laughed with a friend.

"Hey, Ben," Gil started, taking a swig of his water bottle. "Do you know the name of the prize my dad won?"

Ben paused to briefly examine Gil, who was trying his best to not smile as he kept his eyes off his new comrade. "No," He responded slowly. "Does it have anything to do with hunting?"

Gil shrugged. "Depends on your point of view?" He shrugged. "I don't think so."

Ben shook his head. "I give up," He declared. "What was the name of the prize your dad won?"

"The No-Belle prize," Gil responded, snorting a little as he spoke.

Ben burst into laughter – the embarrassing kind where you snort and chortle more than you actually laugh. He turned away from Gil as Gil began to laugh even harder at his embarrassment, and then leaned his head against the tree they'd been working beside. "Oh my gosh," He gasped. "Oh my gosh."

Gil smiled brightly and took another drink before he pointed to the sky. "The sun is going down," He pointed out. "We better finish up soon. Do you have a place to stay? It'd be nice to have a bunkmate. Harry usually hangs with Uma."

"I've been put with Jay and Carlos," Ben explained. "But maybe I'll switch around. I like you a lot."

"Me too," Gil nodded. He got to his feet. "Let me finish up these last little bits. If you take what you've cut up over to Harry and everyone, they can show you how we get things done."

Ben nodded. He would have shaken hands with Gil, but his hands were kinda gory. So instead he laughed and thanked Gil and then took the collection of his work over to the opposite side of the road, where he put it down on a rack, like how he'd seen another young boy do it.

"Well, well, well," Someone drawled over his shoulder. "Wha' a lovely surprise."

Ben turned and found a man's face hovering close to his. He leaned back a little, eyes wide, and the man let out a tiny, barking laugh. "How's it feel being a king now?" He asked, leaning in even more with a crazed glint in his eyes. Then, maniacal laughter spilled from his lips as he retreated, curling his fingers and removing his pirate's hat. His red and white clothes were in tatters and clutched in his left hand was a glinting, slightly dinged pirate's hook.

"Give it a rest, Harry," Uma rolled her eyes, putting a hand on Ben's shoulder as she navigated around him. "He's still new."

"Aye, we nicked him," Harry agreed, a mischievous glint in his eye. "How long d'ya think he'll last?"

Uma laughed. "Evie told us not to scare him off. Honored guest."

At this, Harry's face twisted into something similar to rage, though a strong sense of humor remained trapped underneath his skin. "You said I could hook him!" He declared, brandishing the hook at Ben.

"I said if he didn't do his work," Uma corrected, rolling her eyes. "And you don't need to get all jealous. If anything, he's gonna end up Evie's second." The daughter of the sea witch gave him a cursory glance. "Though he probably wouldn't mind if Mal decided she wanted a partner."

Ben's cheeks burned red. "I'm not here for any relationships," He corrected Uma quickly. "I'll be working with them, and you, but I'm, uh, already spoken for back home."

Uma raised an eyebrow and turned to Harry. "Don't listen to him," She advised. "You should have seen him turn into a fish when he first saw Mal. Even if he is spoken for, it won't last long with her around."

"I'm married," Ben interrupted. He felt around his neck and pulled up a ring on a chain strung about his head. "I don't wear the ring while I travel in case of ambushes but I'm married."

Uma gave the ring a cursory look. She hummed. "Pity for her," She shrugged and then turned around. "Alright, Harry, how much more?"

Ben let the comment slide. True, Mal was lovely, and yes, Evie seemed to be rather offended that he didn't find her equally so, but he was tied to Audrey by law. There would be no ruination of that fact while he remained here.

Uma and Harry wandered away without giving him any more commands, and Ben shifted uncomfortably before glancing down the assembly line. It amazed him how many people there were. Children and teenagers were everywhere, tending to all sorts of different tasks. He noticed that there were fewer of them further down the path, where large drying racks were set up beside fires and a couple of smaller children occasionally turned the meat so it would dry evenly. He headed down that way.

Ben supposed, gauging from the shortage of helpers and the type thereof that this was a task reserved for the small children, but seeing as he'd been given no other orders, he guessed that this would be a good place for him to pitch in until Uma came up with another job.

A bright-eyed little girl with colorful streaks in her brown hair was chatting happily with anyone who dared come too close to her lively spirit. Ben examined her from a distance – the colorful, jeweled headset around her head, the large glasses, and frilly dress. It struck him how alike she and Evie were. He'd assumed all of the people on the Isle simply went around ruining each other's lives over and over again and again, yet it seemed he couldn't have been farther from wrong. These people were creative, dedicated, and happy. Sure, they could all probably kill him and they had all had their fair share of hardships, but they were good. A deep love was taking root in his chest for every single one.

"Can you acquaint me with the process?" He asked cheerfully, stepping up next to the small girl. She looked up at him with a bright, fearless smile. "Of course!" She exclaimed. "We're just rotating everything around every half hour to make sure it dries evenly. And there's a system! Those ones over there will need to be done in five minutes, and then those and those-" She pointed to each of the fires in turn and it occurred to Ben that there were six fires. Clever.

"So, what's your name?" He asked, reaching up and helping her begin unpinning strips of meat. They had a nifty contraption that looked like a giant shelf, but with thin boards that held clothespins to dangle the meat in the smoke and above the flames. There were four to each fire set at equal distances with about two or three hovering around the one he had joined.

"I'm Dizzy," the girl introduced. Ben cast his mind back to his list of villains that he'd memorized at fourteen for his ninth-year history project – she could be the daughter of Doctor Doom or Doctor Doofenshmirtz, but his best guess was Lady Tremaine's granddaughter.

"Drizella's daughter?" He asked to confirm.

Dizzy nodded a little, keeping her mouth closed in an easygoing line. "Yeah," She agreed softly. "What about you? Were you sent to the Isle afterward? You don't seem like someone who was there for very long."

"Neither do you," Ben pointed out, casting his mind back to Mal, Evie, and Uma. "And no, I'm someone Mal picked up on the road yesterday and I've decided to hang out."

Dizzy looked over at him with wide eyes. "Oh!" She gasped and almost dropped the piece of meat she was turning. "You're the king? You're the person who's going to be helping us?"

Ben could blush and stutter out something. Or he could tease her for not knowing him. Neither seemed like the best reaction. So, instead, he stopped and wiped his hands on his pants for a second before he bowed, picking up Dizzy's hand and kissing her knuckles for a few seconds. He could feel eyes boring into his back – maybe Uma, maybe Harry, maybe any number of Islanders. Or maybe Mal. He imagined her green gaze watching him and a smile crooked his mouth as he stood back up. "I'm Ben," he introduced, leaving out the title. It was better without the title. He was more like them without making himself out to be something he had never really been able to play the part of. "Please to meet you, Lady Dizzy,"

"Well, aren't you a charmer?" A sultry voice came from behind him. He glanced over as he straightened up and saw Evie, still in her clothes from earlier, looking a little offended as she watched him release Dizzy's hand. "Where was that chivalry earlier when I was with you?"

Ben's danger sense, however weak it was, started tingling. "I don't usually do that," he admitted with a light blush. "I just thought that… the situation called for it." He wanted to impress the younger girl. He wanted to make her feel special.

"Ah," Evie's lips curled. "I see. You shake hands with me, kiss Dizzy's hand, and get on your knees for Mal."

"I did not-" Ben began before he recalled what she was referring to. He exhaled. "Evie, is it so much of a problem to you if I want to make Dizzy feel special? Could you perhaps be grateful for the way I did act rather than terrorize me for not immediately being smitten?"

Evie flinched and frowned and Dizzy set a hand on his arm. "It's okay, Ben," she consoled him. "Evie and I are like sisters. And she's been through lots. You can take the Isle out of the girl, but you can't take the girl out of the Isle!"

That doesn't stop Evie from turning and striding away.

"I hurt her, didn't I?" Ben whispered as he watched Evie disappear.

"It'll be okay," Dizzy shakes her head. "She's just been clued in to how she's still bending to her mom a little. We all forget; it's hard when we haven't been gone so long yet." She glanced through a rack at Ben. "Her mom used to beat her for every man who didn't stare when she walked past. So she's always tried really hard with people who don't react as quickly. And it doesn't help that you're a King with a big castle." Dizzy paused as she flipped around another strip of venison. "How many rooms in your castle?"

"I, uh…" Ben stuttered, completely thrown off by what Dizzy had revealed to him about Evie. He couldn't imagine being beat because other people didn't look at you as you walked past. "Uh… too many. Too many to count."

Dizzy nodded like this made sense. "Do you think there'd be enough for every one of us to come to live there?" She asked. "I know Evie said that we're going to go build our own place, but I was just wondering."

"I don't think so," Ben replied honestly, looking around at everyone surrounding them. "I wish, though. I'd take you all with me in a heartbeat." Then, he smiled at Dizzy. "Especially you."

"I've always wanted to go to Auradon," Dizzy sighed dramatically. "Do you really have carpets you can walk onto? Have you been to a swimming pool before? What does ice cream taste like?"

Ben stopped and stared at her. There was this horrible building in his chest that felt like he was being filled with hot tar. "Carpets?" He asks weakly. They have carpets everywhere. They have carpet decorations hanging on some of the walls. Little Belle has bright pink carpets that make his head hurt every time he walks in. Audrey has her own thick, plush carpet rug that he's not supposed to touch. And swimming pools… he's taken Belle to the pool more times than he's taken her anywhere else. She doesn't like swimming but he makes sure she goes and that she knows how to swim, no matter how much of a fit she throws. "I, uh, yeah," He agreed softly. "I'll have some carpets sent to you guys when you get things set up. Big ones with fun colors that feel soft. And, uh, yeah, I love swimming. Ice cream… well, there are different flavors, but it's cold and sweet, and if you eat it too fast, then it gives you a headache."

"Really?" Dizzy gasped, eyes growing large and bright in excitement. "I've never had ice cream and most of the carpets are ruined. Cruella De Vil has lots, though, but we're not allowed to touch. Mal once threw a party at Carlos's house and so I got to see them then. And I don't know anyone except for Uma and her pirates who can swim."

"You live on an island," Ben blinked. "You can't swim?"

"There's a barrier," Dizzy shook her head. "Even Evie and Mal can't swim."

The back of Ben's neck grew hot, as if someone was glaring at him from behind. He stored that bit of knowledge about Mal away and then exhaled. "If you can't swim… how did you make it here?" He asked.

"Carlos built boats," Dizzy shrugged. "After he broke the barrier and Mal kept it open for everyone to get out, they put everyone on boats. And Mal cast an invisibility spell so we could cross without Auradon finding out. That's also why Uma was allowed to come."

There was so much information in that sentence that Ben had to stop and stare. Carlos built boats. Carlos broke the barrier. And Mal held it open. Holy crap.

"That's cool," he managed to choke out after a little bit. "And good that you were able to come over. I… wish I'd been able to bring you over myself. I guess I was too busy being king… gosh, that sounds lame." He exhaled and shook his head. "So, what about you? What was your life like?"

"I worked in Grandma's hair shop," Dizzy answered. "I had a few customers… a witch here and there. I mostly did lots of scrubbing and scouring and sweeping. Lots and lots of sweeping."

"Sounds like the old Cinderella treatment," Ben mumbled.

Dizzy's eyes flicked back up through the rack, and then she glanced past Ben as a group of kids ran by screaming. "Yeah," She mumbled. "She went from Wicked Stepmother to Wicked Grandmother."

Ben gestured out to the kids with a thumb. "You want to join them?" He whispered.

Dizzy shook her head. "Not really," She declined. "I know I should, but I'm used to the work. It still feels weird to play."

A little boy that only came up to Ben's knee dashed up and tapped his hand on Ben's thigh. "Diseased," He announced. "You're diseased."

Diseased. Ben glanced up as the group of kids all howled and shrieked at him. He reached over and tapped Dizzy. "Now you're diseased too," He laughed.

"Me? I can't be diseased!" Dizzy stared at him. "Who will tend the fires?"

A man in white and red stepped up out of the shadows that Ben hadn't even realized were falling over the camp. It was Carlos, who had apparently made his way down to Uma's side of the camp. "Go on, Diz," he encouraged her. "You need a break. I'll cover you."

Dizzy hesitated, and Ben took her shoulders and shoved her away. "Go on," He told her. "Go play. You're only a kid once."

The little boy jumped up for Ben's hand. "You too!" He declared, yanking on Ben's fingers.

"I dunno," Ben shook his head. "I've got to help Carlos with the – Woah!" He tripped forward, glimpsing only Jay's long, brown hair as he caught his balance, and then the other diseased kids flooded around him to pull him in as Mal's two associates began finishing the fire he and Dizzy had been on. Dizzy shrieked as she was pulled into the vortex of screaming kids.

Ben laughed as he was pushed to the ground and then started grabbing random children, gathering them into his arms, and tickling their sides mercilessly. He laughed, then let out a little roar that made all the kids scream and giggle. Little ones climbed up onto his back and older children hung off his neck as they tried to team wrestle him to the ground. Some danced out of his reach and pointed their fingers with little shrieks. "Beast!" They cried. "Beast! Beast!"

It appeared word of who he was had gotten around. Ben didn't mind all that much as he picked up one of the smallest children and tossed them, squalling above his head, into the air. More kids gathered around. "Me! Me! Me!" They begged. Others held fast to his back. "Piggy-back ride!" They shrieked.

Instead, Ben reached out to one of the older kids. "Tag!" He yelled. "You're diseased!" Immediately, everyone jumped away, screaming, and took off running as the child tried frantically to tag everyone who dashed past. Ben jumped out of the way and about ten small children and older toddlers ran after him, letting out little yells as they dashed away from the tagger.

The sun went down. Ben did his best to guide the cluster of children away from the fires, but they all slowly dropped out one by one as the sun dipped out of sight and the night grew cool. Some mothers and caregivers called the children for dinner while others went of their own accord. Eventually, Ben was left to pick up three tiny kids who hadn't yet recovered from Isle emaciation and head up to the camp with Dizzy looping her arm through his and resting her head on his biceps. He balanced one kid on each shoulder as they yawned and stuck thumbs into their mouths, and then one six-year-old boy climbed onto his back and burrowed his nose into Ben's shirt as they walked up. The racks were still up, but adults were now switching the meat from side to side as the children all ate and went to sleep. Ben found several clean blankets stacked beside a wooden cart and spread them out, laying each of the three kids comfortably before covering them from the night chill. Dizzy he let use his arm a little longer as she tried to find Evie and then finally set her inside what she said was her cart so she could curl up with a soft sigh on her own blankets.

Ben leaned against a tree and watched as Uma directed for bones to be chopped up for broth to be made with and a large collection of young adults started packing away the jerky venison for the trip. His arms felt a bit sore from playing with all the kids, but he supposed he'd better get used to it. A few days more, and they'd be packing up this small camp and heading west.

He wondered if Audrey had been informed he'd vanished yet.

Someone slinked up through the shadows to him and held out a white plate to him. He took it, curious, and then saw green eyes light up through the dark. His hands went a bit clammy and a deep fire lit in his stomach as he stared at her. Mal.

"Good job tonight," She commended. "That looked absolutely exhausting."

Ben laughed a little, nervously. "What's this?" He asked.

"Dinner," Mal declared, stepping forward and leaning against the tree as well. She was facing the other direction and not nearly close enough for him to touch, but it was still close and he felt his breath hitch. "You missed it, so Uma put that aside for you."

"Ah," Ben nodded, squinting through the dark and then reaching down to feel some jerky and something that felt like a fresh vegetable on the side. "Thank you." It occurred to him that he hadn't eaten all day. "Is it safe?"

Mal burst into laughter, rolling her eyes, and Ben blushed. "Sorry," He apologized. "I didn't mean to accuse or anything."

"No, no," Mal shook her head. "I get it. Be careful of the food offered by kids of villains. I'm sure every kid in Auradon would know that."

"No!" Ben disagreed, snapping a little in his haste to explain himself. "No, that wasn't it at all. I totally trust you!" And to prove this, he reached down and found a piece of the vegetable, quickly raising it to his mouth and biting. Mal watched him with slatted eyes. It was so dark, he could barely tell where her body was, though he knew in the back of his mind what she looked like. Thin and powerful and with calluses and muscle in place of everywhere Audrey had soft skin and plush weight. He remembered, briefly, what it had felt like when he and Audrey had last lain beside each other over two years ago and then pictured Mal lying at his side in his wife's place.

God, was he so twisted that he was replacing Audrey after being away for a day?

'A month,' a voice nagged in his head. 'You haven't seen her for over a month. And she didn't look at you when you went to see her, so she hasn't seen you in longer.'

"I was just joking," she started in a slow tone. "I don't expect you to trust us after knowing us for a day and for, well, everything last night."

Ben blinked back at her and he hoped he could see the honesty in his eyes. "But I do," he replied.

Mal rolled her eyes. "Well, maybe you're a fool after all," She declared, and then pushed off of the tree. "Don't die overnight. Evie's rather fond of you."

"No, she's not, but she thinks I'm fond of you," Ben refuted. His words made Mal stop. She didn't turn to look at him, but he could almost feel her lips press closed.

"Careful, your majesty," she mumbled in a little hiss that had him immediately drawing connections to snakes and lizards and dragons. "Hasn't anybody bothered to warn you yet?"

"Only every person who mentions you," Ben raised an eyebrow. It was dark, but he somehow knew she would know. "It makes me wonder what happened to the last poor fellow?"

Mal snorted a little like he was a small child who'd said something particularly amusing and then walked away, still not looking back at him. He frowned a little and finished his dinner in the dark. Then, minding the ground, he headed back to the fires. In the light of one, Uma and Harry were standing very close, speaking to each other with tiny grins and soft whispers. Uma wrapped her fingers around Harry's hook carefully, and he watched her with a crazed look.

Ben set his plate down with a small stack of others he could vaguely see the outlines of. Uma glanced up at him. "Oh, good, you did get something to eat. I was wondering."

Ben nodded. "Yeah," he agreed. "Thanks for setting it aside for me."

Harry tilted his head a little and frowned at Ben as Uma's face twisted in confusion. "What?" She asked.

Ben stopped and examined her face. Pure, unabashed loss. She had no clue what she was talking about. "Oh," he shrugged it off. "I must have been misinformed. Pardon me. Well, I'll see you in the morning, then."

He turned and walked away, and Uma did not follow.

He went back up the road and found where Jay, Carlos, and Mal had been before. Jay and Carlos were curled up in their cots in the backs of their carts, and in the middle was a spare one for Ben. He hopped up, pulled his shoes off, and glanced around and up at the stars before noticing the next cart over. It was darkened, but nothing could silence Mal's striking green gaze as she hovered on the edge of the cart, gazing out over the road with her slatted gaze and watching everyone come and go. Watching him, specifically. She was like some emerald-gazed gargoyle, staring down from above.

Ben didn't say anything to her. He had a feeling he'd done enough damage for one day. He pulled up under the blankets and pressed his nose into the pillow, trying to put out the girl next door from his thoughts without forcing his head to acknowledge that there might be a small problem.

[fatathlon]

Race Report: Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race

Signing up for the 18th Annual Whiteface Mountain Uphill Bike Race wasn’t my idea. I’ll own the choice, of course, but I wouldn’t have even heard about it if my friend Phil hadn’t asked me to do it. I was in the midst of concussion recovery at the time, and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t sign up in part in order to give myself a temporary feeling of hope. Surely I’d be better by May 31st. If I sign up for a race, then it’ll make sure that comes true! Magical thinking, to be sure. Luckily it worked out okay this time.

We had a drive of about 3 hours to get to Wilmington, NY, where Whiteface Mountain rises above the surrounding ridge lines at the eastern edge of the Adirondacks. Lake Champlain was on the way, so we treated ourselves to a ferry ride while we tried to pick the mountain out from the landscape across the water. We never did quite determine which one it was.

Ferry across Lake Champlain

A couple of guys from Burlington wandered by and chatted with us briefly.

“You racing?” one asked.

“Yeah,” Phil answered, “Whiteface. You?”

The guy nodded, because obviously there was only one race all of us were thinking about. He looked up at my bike on top of the car, an Orbea Terra gravel road bike with 28 mm slick tires. Phil’s was a Trek Checkpoint, a similar machine, with slightly wider gravel tires. “You riding on those?”

“Yeah,” I said, a little unsure about the pointedness of his question.

“Wow,” he answered.

“What are you guys riding?” Phil asked.

“Mountain bikes,” the guy answered, as if it were obvious, and he and his flat-brimmed hat bid us good luck and wandered off.

For the next hour, as we completed our drive to the base of the mountain, Phil had something close to a minor meltdown as he parsed the conversation and tried to decipher what the guy had meant by his line of questioning, his clearly loaded, Owen Wilson-like remark of “Wow” and his utterly straightforward statement that he and his friend were riding MTBs. Did he think we were idiots for our bike choices? Or did he think he was the idiot, now seeing what we were riding? What did it mean, and what would possess a person to convey such apparent passive aggression directed solely to a person’s choice of ride? Were we idiots for riding these bikes? Were we even going to the right race? What day was it? Why were their brims so incredibly flat?

We arrived in Wilmington quite early, with hours to spare before the race was to start. We walked over the bridge spanning the Ausable River and found our way into the ski lodge, where we picked up our race packets, which included helmet stickers, bike stickers with timing chips in them, the largest number bibs I’d ever seen, t-shirts and exactly zero snacks. Good thing we brought our own. Phil had all kinds of goodies from home to choose from for on-the-bike nutrition, including some special power cookies his wife baked. I had opted for a singular choice item: a refillable energy gel bottle containing 100% pure maple syrup. That, combined with water and endurance formula in my bottles, was what I hoped would keep life in my legs as I scaled the mountain in a few hours.

The Ausable River

After I gathered my race accouterments from the helpful check-in folks, I asked them a question which had occurred to me.

“Is there another race here soon?”

“Yes,” one said, “a 50 or 100-km qualifier for Leadville.”

And suddenly, it all made sense. Those guys on the ferry thought we were doing Wilmington Whiteface. They thought we were going to be riding single track for 60 miles, on slick 28-mm tires! “Wow,” indeed. We had a good laugh about that, and “Wowwww” became an instant catch-phrase for the rest of the day.

We decided to cruise down the course a bit, just to check out the opening three mile prologue, and see what interesting things we could find in town. We saw a bunch of guys fishing the river, and watched one of them pull a sizable fish out. We stopped in a local shop and got some chocolate for the kids and wives. We saw a giant metal bike statue and debated climbing on top of it, but ultimately left such shenanigans to the presumed local youth to get arrested for. A gaunt man with a beard was lost and tried to get into a locked building nearby. I said to Phil, “That’s either a hardcore cyclist or a meth addict.” Not a minute later, he asked us where to check in for the bike race. #nailedit

At the start

Finally, it got close to race time. We changed into our kits and took a little warm-up spin up the hill behind the parking lot. Phil had a little trouble with his cadence sensor, but we got it sorted. A lot of folks were really clamoring to start near the front of the pack, which surprised us considering it was a chip-timed race and drafting wasn’t going to be a major factor, so it didn’t really seem to matter when you actually started. Phil had a theory that the best strategy (if you were racing to win) might be to hammer the first 3-mile downhill section, though, so maybe the draft was a bigger player than it seemed. In any case, we opted to start comfortably from the back.

The national anthem was sung, the Canadian national anthem was played, we got the most anti-climactic count-down in history, and the race was underway!

As I mentioned, the first three miles were essentially downhill. I deliberately played it cool here, trying to spin up the legs in a relatively high cadence and to really back off the power. There was enough of a descent that I was clipping along basically without working. Then we hit the corner, and the climb began.

Once I settled in, I kept an eye on my numbers and found that an average of 340 watts felt about right. I was working, but I wasn’t hammering, and my heart rate was staying below threshold. I found my most comfortable gear and got to work.

My numbers from the corner to approx. the toll booth

There was the slightest of reprieves while passing the tool booth, and then it was nothing but up, for a section of about 4 miles that featured the steepest sections of the climb. Partway through this section, I took my first hit of maple syrup. It went down smooth and quick, and much easier than energy gel. I also didn’t feel like I had to wash it down with water to clear it out of my mouth. So far so good.

My numbers from the toll booth to the first switchback

Because of how the road is laid out, I could see the switchbacks quite a ways before I got to them. They were laid out high above me on the side of the mountain. I knew that they were only a couple of short miles away, so it was a bit daunting to consider how high I had to climb in order to reach them, especially knowing the gradient it would take.

My legs were doing okay, but started to get a little crampy and uncomfortable at around mile 8 or so. Originally I had intended to ride a bit easier until this point, and then put the power down. As it turned out, I rode a rather more consistent power output, so I didn’t have a whole lot of reserves to draw from. I was going steady, though, so I figured I’d just keep on with my 340 watts and see how that worked out.

By the time I reached the first switchback, I had enjoyed some amazing views, passed two unicyclists, hit my second dose of maple syrup (so good), seen a guy riding deliberately crosswise across the road repeatedly (to rest his legs, I guess?), gotten slightly annoyed by someone with a squeaky bike that I couldn’t drop, and been told “I like that gear you’re in.” As in, complimenting me on my specific choice of gearing. At that moment. I guess? I still haven’t figured that one out.

I knew from simulating the ride indoors that the switchbacks provided some measure of relief, and were the time to drop the hammer for sure, if there was any hammer left to drop. I latched on to the wheel of a guy about my size, who I had noticed from his bib that he was also in the Clydesdale division like me, and followed him up and around the second switchback. Then I went by him and made for the finish.

Making my move

I had enough legs left to put down a sprint for the finish of about 0:20. It was completely unnecessary, and nobody was sprinting with me, but I don’t get to race in bike races very often, so it felt right. It was an experience I had never had, and I wanted to go for it.

Sprint to the line. Note the significant drop in temperature.

Still recovering from my sprint

After I got through the chute and received my finisher’s medal, I pedaled around the courtyard of the little castle-like structure that is at the summit to behold a magnificent view of the surrounding landscape. It was a great reward for doing the work to climb to the top. I took a couple of quick photos and then went back to the finish line to cheer on Phil, who was only minutes behind me. I managed to get a decent video of him crossing the line. We took a few more shots and drank some Gatorade, then put on our sleeves and started the ride back down. It was getting cold quickly so we didn’t spend a lot of time up top.

The first switchback, seen from the summit

The ride down was at once fun, beautiful, exciting and harrowing. We were cruising at 40 mph with our brakes engaged. If we had been alone on the mountain, we probably would have let it rip a little more, but there were still people climbing the hill, cars driving up and down both ways, and other cyclists heading down. With a lot of blind corners, it didn’t seem prudent to be going full speed with no chance to stop suddenly if necessary. It was also really cold, and I had to adjust my hands and arms periodically just to make sure that I could, in fact, still feel them.

We made it down safe and sound, and then cruised back to the ski area for food and to check out the results. I ended up in 7th out of 26th in the Clydesdale division (190 lbs+), with an official recorded time of 1:19:25. I was pretty darn happy with that effort. I don’t know that I could have done it much faster if I had changed anything, and I don’t know what I could have changed. It was pretty close to the best execution I could manage on the day. You can’t ask for much more than that.

The drive home was long and dark, but still a good time and there was plenty to recount and reflect on from the day.

I was very glad to be able to do this race. It’s one that I don’t think I will ever forget.

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[insanely-creative-things]

Big Hero 7: The Series

Failure Mode

(Long Post)

www.fanfiction.net

*In the center of San Fransokyo, there is an Art Museum currently hosting an event in the early evening, cars are lined on the street as many well-dressed people enter the building.*

Fred: San Fransokyo Museum of Art, all is quiet... for now.

*Hiding in a man-hole just outside the museum is Fred in his Kaiju monster suit, while across the street on top of Noodle Burger is Hiro, Honey Lemon, Baymax and Cora.*

Hiro: Fred, why are we staking out at an art party? What could happen-?

Fred: Everything! Museum Galas are like in the top three favorite super villain things to interrupt! Right after big parades and experimental weapon demonstrations!

Honey Lemon: This is so exciting! I can't wait to see the new Shimamoto exhibit!

Baymax: Who or what is a 'Shimamoto'?

Honey Lemon: Lenore Shimamoto, she was an amazing artist and kind of my idol!

Fred: Never heard of her.

Honey Lemon: She painted 'City Rising', the first famous masterpiece they're unveiling tonight.

Fred: Never heard of it.

Honey Lemon: Oh! That's because it was lost for like a hundred years!

Fred: Still never heard of it.

Honey Lemon: ...It captures the city's rebirth after the great catastrophe of 1906. I'm a huge fan!

*The look Hiro is giving Honey Lemon gave her a signal that her phrasing is raising some concerns.*

Honey Lemon: Not of the catastrophe, that was-that was terrible... Of Shimamoto! What about you Cora?

*But when she turned to regard the younger girl, Cora is leaning on her hand dozing off as she stared at the building...that is until a loud sound emitted from the museum. This shakes Cora out of her near asleep daze in a snap.*

Cora: Don't steal my Cranberries!

*The other four stare at Cora's shout as she blushes over what she said, it's quickly forgotten when a guard came bursting through the door.*

Guard: The Gala is under attack by an inhuman freak! Out of my way!

Fred: Inhuman freak wha-?

*The herd of stampeding guests running for their lives closed the man-hole cover, prompting Fred to fall to the sewers below.*

Fred: Oh...there's the floor... Super villain! totally called it...*Collapses again*

Cora: And I think I have a pretty good idea on which Inhuman freak/Super villain both the guard and Fred are referring to. Globby's back.

*Once Fred is recovered from his fall, the five run into the building to face off the intruder.*

Fred: Nice try super villain!

*In front of them is Globby, the chemical human hybrid that Honey Lemon inadvertently transformed, covered in shards of glass from the skylight he broke into.*

Globby: Darn it!

Hiro: You know I don't know if I can call Globby 'Super', maybe Sub-par.

Fred: Well Sub-par villain isn't a thing. So what am I supposed to say?

Globby: *Still picking glass off himself* Oh there should be a warning on that skylight! Glass may shatter!...Time out guys, really appreciate this. You guys are looking sharp by the way...except you there however*pointing to Cora*, are you alright? You look pretty tired there kid. Have you been getting enough sleep lately?

*Cora's eyes widen before she returns to her usual glare.*

Hiro: Sub-par villain.

Cora: What does Globby even want here anyway?

Baymax: Broken glass can be hazardous.

Fred: Fine...we'll wait.

*Once the glass is removed from his body, Globby turns to the team.*

Globby: OK. I'm in on three. One...two... psych!

*Globby immediately uses his elastic arm to grab the Shimamoto painting and run down the nearest hallway to escape. Cora and Hiro climb on Baymax as Honey Lemon and Fred chase after him...but Baymax did not move.*

Hiro: Baymax go!

Baymax: He did not finish counting. Technically it is still 'time out'.

Cora: Ugh Three! Just go Baymax we don't have time for this!

*Baymax flies into the hall to rescue the painting, though Hiro sees that Cora is currently irritable.*

Hiro: Hey, are you feeling alright?

Cora: *Rubs her eyes a little* Yeah I'm fine, just a little tired.

Baymax: Actually-

Cora: Oh look Globby's there!

*Soon they joined Fred and Honey Lemon through the hall.*

Fred: Hey no fair you said time out!

*Globby immediately shoots out pieces of his goop which the team dodged but barely hit on the priceless antiques.*

Honey Lemon: We have to protect the paintings!

Fred: Ha! Fredzilla to the rescue!

*A large ball of goop is fired at the team, but Fred is quick to jump into action. His flame easily burned the goop...but unintentionally melted a water fountain just down the hall.*

Fred: Okay so I did that.

*Globby continues to shoot out more goop balls to which Fred fired back, but Hiro and Cora barely grabbed a painting down another hall from being burned into a crisp.*

Hiro: Fire and paintings, bad combo!

Fred: Right! Good call!

Honey Lemon: Anti-sticky ball ready!

*As Globby is exiting the hall, Honey Lemon pulls out the anti-sticky balls to turn Globby back to Dibs. The anti-sticky balls hit Globby and turn into a yellow foam, but Globby still remains Globby. The only result it had is the chem human hybrid dropping the painting. Honey grabs the painting before it can hit the ground.*

Honey Lemon: *Gasp* I'm holding 'City Rising'!

Fred: *Lands beside her* You talking about the famous painting? I've heard of that!

*Globby slowly slithers away, but Baymax is right behind him.*

Baymax: Do not move, you could be injured from your fall.

*Baymax picks him up.*

Baymax: I will scan you now.

Hiro: Don't worry Baymax, they can take care of him in jail.

Globby: Jail? They don't even make pants that can hold me!

*Globby melts under Baymax's hands and morphs into a ball, bouncing away to the exit.*

Globby: Boing, boing, boing everybody bye-!

*Globby attaches himself to bus just outside the museum, taking him away.*

Fred: Wait, he can turn into a ball? That's new!

*Globby morphs back into himself to taunt the heroes but his head smacks into a traffic light, temporarily dislocating it before it returns to his body.*

Globby: Darn it..

*The next day at the Lucky Cat Cafe, the rest of the gang converse over last night's events. Cora is stuffing her face with the breakfast Cass made and drinking Coffee, sweetened with honey, at a fast rate.*

Baymax: Cora, it is important that you slow down and chew more thoroughly.

*Cora pouted but continues eating but in a slower rate.*

Wasabi: Thank you Baymax. OK Hiro, you mean to tell us that Globby's back?

Gogo: And you let him get away?

Hiro: We saved the painting so let's focus on that!

Fred: The very famous painting, perhaps you've heard of it?

*Just then Cass places a big plate of what appears to be breakfast nachos.*

Cass: Guess what I made? Breakfast Nachos El Diablo!

Fred: Breakfast nachos? The unbalanced part of a balanced breakfast.

*He takes a bite out of the nachos and immediately starts breathing heavily for air to cool his burning taste buds.*

Cass: So what we're you guys doing out so late last night?

Hiro: We um-

Baymax: We were at the museum.

*Cora wipes her face with a napkin as she turns to Cass.*

Cora: Yeah, we saw Shimamoto's painting called the 'City Rising'. Grandmama told me all about it when I was younger, it actually inspired me on what to do with my project.

Hiro: *Turns to his girlfriend confused* Project?

Fred: *Mouth still burning from the nachos* Caliente! Muy Caliente!

Hiro: *Whispers* Smooth.

*While Fred is running to get either water or milk, Baymax's belly lights up to show a clock.*

Baymax: Hiro, this is your reminder that you have a school project due today that is currently 10% finished.

*Cora's eyes widen when she hears the news, worried over Hiro's project being nowhere near complete.*

Cass: What? Shouldn't you have been doing homework last night? Here at home? The work?

Hiro: Aunt Cass don't worry, it's me! I'll improvise.

Wasabi: *Deadpan* You mean scramble?

Gogo: At the last minute?

Hiro: Always worked in high school.

*But Cora's eye brows' burrow as she fidgets her hands over his confident claim. While she never attended high school herself, she has doubts that this will be an easy pass. Eventually they all got to SFIT where the two teens happen to share the same class with Professor Grandville herself.*

Grandville: Alright everyone, settle.

*Grandville activated a few buttons that lights up the chalkboard with a screen.*

Grandville: Good morning, I hope you used your three weeks wisely for this seismic project.

Hiro: Totally wisely.

*Cora spots Karmi, another teen prodigy they met before but never really got along with, present her project onto the table meant to simulate earthquakes.*

Karmi: My prototype uses nickel titanium as a shape memory alloy, which allows it to have increased plasticity under pressure.

Grandville: Very good Karmi, now lets shake it and break it.

*The project Karmi built stood its ground.*

Grandville: Our goal is to withstand an 9.0 or greater on the Richter scale.

*The earthquake scale continues to climb up until Karmi's project finally broke in pieces.*

Grandville: 8.5. Impressive, but Karmi I am confident that you can do better. Let's see version 2.0 next week. Your next Miss Mizichio.

*Cora took a deep sigh as she brought out her project, which by all means looks grey and not impressive looking, aside from the bottom resembling dark rocks. Hiro gives Cora a thumbs up as she takes a deep breath.*

Cora: The Prototype I've built has the adhesive strength of Barnacles that can be often found on rocks, ships, and whales which activate to hold the base. Also, because of the recent news about Shimamoto's painting being found, I want to commemorate the memory of 'City Rising', which is why I also added this.

*The earthquake simulation is turned on as it begins to shake the project which only shook a little. Cora holds her breath as the project begin to shake more. She finally closes her eyes tightly as she waited for the result, whether it'd be a success or a failure.*

Student: Woah that's so cool!

*Cora opens her eyes hesitantly to see that not only has her project survived to the 9.0, but it functioned exactly like she planned. The dull flat surface on top of the prototype transformed into a jade-colored roof with the structure turning from grey to a white pearl surface.*

Grandville: *Very Impressed by the display and the hard work Cora obviously put into it* I have no other words to say...other than you did a truly superb job Miss Mizichio and as for you commemorating this project after Shimamoto's 'City Rising', I'd say you succeeded that as well. You should be very proud.

*Cora's face beamed over the success and praise of her project, that all her trial and error over these last three weeks have not been for naught. She picks up her project and places it back on her desk, her heart still racing over the fact that she-*

Grandville: Your turn Mr. Hamada.

*Cora's happiness shatters in an instant as she remembers that Hiro did his project last minute. Her heart stops in concern over Hiro, but she still gives a somewhat shaky smile to show support for Hiro.*

Hiro: Elastimer Dampers.

Grandville: Is the paint still wet on your model?

*Cora's hands gripped on her skirt as she looks at Hiro with concern.*

Hiro: No... that would imply I threw it together at the last possible minute!

*Grandville however, knew better. But she activated the simulator none the less.*

Grandville: Perhaps your design will save our city from the next 'Great Catastrophe'.

*The model shook for what felt like a few seconds until it begins to break, Hiro tries to place the model back into place but Cora knew that his model building is as good as dead.*

Grandville: Or not.

*The piece completely falls onto Hiro's shirt, to which he immediately smacks his face. Which gives him a red mark, which he notices and nervously laughs. Cora turns her attention to Karmi who has pulled out her phone and is recording it. *

Karmi: And scene.

*Karmi then notices Cora glaring at her with her dagger eyes, but Karmi simply smirked. Cora then wrote on her hand to remind herself on what to do later today. After the rest of the presentations are done, Cora walks beside Hiro, her fist hiding the words 'Exact Revenge on Karmi as soon as possible!'*

*Back at the lab, Honey Lemon is showing Baymax a book documenting Lenore Shimamoto and her famous painting.*

Honey Lemon: Amazing! And we saved it.

Baymax: I do not understand the purpose of art.

Honey Lemon: Well, to create art is to be human, to be alive.

Baymax: *Blinks* I am neither.

Honey Lemon: Oh, I'm sorry.. I mean how can I put this so you'll um.. it could be you know really good for emotional health like art therapy.

Baymax: I am coded to expand my therapeutic capabilities. Perhaps I should increase my understanding of art.

Honey Lemon: Ooh I could teach you! To me, art is about expressing your feelings!

Baymax: Do you mean like this?

*His belly activates his famous pain scale.*

Honey Lemon: Hmm not exactly-

*At that instant, Hiro and Cora enter the lab, the teen girl giving a half-hearted smile while Hiro remained in his paint form.*

Honey Lemon: *Horrified thinking the red paint is blood* Ah! Hiro!

*Honey Lemon rushes to Hiro, thinking he had just been in a terrible accident.*

Honey Lemon: What happened?!

Baymax: Hiro is covered in red paint. Do not be alarmed. This red paint is non-toxic.

Honey Lemon: So I guess your demo wasn't a masterpiece?

Hiro: It's more of a disaster-piece.

Cora: Well Hiro-

Fred: Hey! Check out this funny video I found!

*The video happens to be the same one Karmi recorded earlier.*

Hiro: *Not at all amused* Uh Fred that's me.

Fred: Hey that is you! Maybe you can try to imagine-

*But he stops his voice as he spots Cora's purple orbs become heated flames directed right at him. Fred nervously takes a couple steps back to avoid provoking the young, and at the moment, scary girl.*

Fred: *Somewhat scared* Uhh...you know what, never mind...

Honey Lemon: It's okay Hiro, we learn more from our failures than our successes.

Hiro: Ah! You know what? It's no big deal! I've got a ton of better ideas, I'll just do one of those! The better ones!

*Hiro quickly went towards his lab to plan out his new and better model, but Cora sighs.*

Baymax: Optimism.

*Once the whole gang is grouped up in Hiro's lab, Hiro presented a much better looking model that can be used to counter a hypothetical earthquake.*

Hiro: Check it out! A mag-lev base isolation system.

*The building suspended from the ground.*

Gogo: Yup... that's what I did when I was a freshman.

*This is disheartening news to Hiro, who simply pushes away the table, causing it to fall down. He went back to the drawing board to design another way to protect the model from the earthquake.*

Hiro: And when any fractures appear they're instantly filled by a quick drawing, but flexible foam.

Honey Lemon: *Gasps* That's wonderful Hiro! I'm sure it's super different than when I did the same exact thing!

Cora: *Softly* Oh boy...

*Hiro throws away the other model into the trash as he goes back to the drawing board again, but he finds himself stuck on making sure his model being able to withstand an earthquake and at the same time being an original idea.*

Hiro: These high strength air bags cushion the people inside the building and also prevent floors from pancaking.

*Cora notices that the gang is silent, as if they know someone else that had also done this already.*

Hiro: So just to be clear, no one here has done the airbag thing? Right?

*The gang remain silent as Cora is fidgeting her hands. She is about to speak up until Baymax waddled over.*

Baymax: This approach will be highly effective.

Hiro: *Hopeful* You think so?

Baymax: Yes. This is exactly what your brother, Tadashi did. It was highly effective.

*Hiro groans in frustration as Cora simply face palms. Just then Honey Lemon spots Cora's project sitting off to the side.*

Honey Lemon: Oh my goodness! Cora, is this your project! This is so beautiful!

*The gang turn to Cora's project, impressed over the fact that it's beautifully structured.*

Fred: Wow Cora! This is so sick! Before it was all dull and grey, but now it's all pretty and shiny!

Cora: *Embarrassed at the praising and worried about how Hiro will take it* Guys it's fine-

Wasabi: The structure surely is sticky, whatever it is it defiantly stuck together.

Honey Lemon: It reminds me of 'City Rising'!

*Cora looks at Hiro with an embarrassed and guilty smile as she blushes, hoping it won't discourage him from trying harder to find his own solution. Hiro just face plants into Baymax's belly to which the robot patted his head in comfort.*

Hiro: This is hopeless.

Wasabi: Hey, you can do this little man! Maybe you never had to work this hard for something before.

Hiro: School's never been this hard before!

Wasabi: This place is tough, for everybody. I got lost finding my first class, why aren't the buildings in alphabetical order? Am I the only one who sees the obvious solution?!

Hiro: Wasabi...Is this supposed to be a pep talk?

Wasabi:...Sorry.. The thing is, You got in for being you. Be you Hiro.

Cora: Yeah Babe, you can do it!

Hiro: You know what? You're right! I've got this!

Cora: There's the spirit!

*But when it got time to return to Grandville's class however.*

Hiro: I've got nothing.

*Cora face palms in exasperation. Granville simply writes down on her notes while Hiro groans in exasperation, throwing his notebook away. But he has inadvertently hit another student's project, which causes Hiro to panic. But Cora rushes forward and catches the other student's project, yet in doing so causes her to knock off her own project and land on the floor, breaking it into pieces. The other pieces hit on the other projects, causing them to all break. Cora's face is stricken with a mixture of shock and fear over what happens next, and Hiro is on the same boat. He threw his notebook but because of his careless aim, Cora had to protect the one in her hands but inadvertently broke her own project and others as well.*

Hiro: Oh no...

*Then came a couple of snapshots coming from Karmi and some other students.*

Karmi: Got it!

*After the students pack up the remains of their projects Cora is standing by Hiro's side.*

Hiro: I'm just no good at this...

*Cora places her hand on his shoulder to comfort him.*

Cora: Hiro...

Grandville: Mr. Hamada, I'm the one who gets to tell people they're not good. Don't take my favorite part of the job away.

Hiro: Well go ahead... enjoy.

Grandville: No! I'm not letting you off that easily. You are going to rise to this challenge!

Cora: That's true Hiro, I know you. If anyone can pull this through it's you! Like how you made*Starts to nod off*...microbots...

*But Cora's words slowly turn to muffled words as her eye lids nearly close.*

Hiro: Uh Cora? *nudges her a little* Hey, you doing alright?

Cora: *Snaps back up* I'm fine! Really, I'm alright.

Hiro: But what if I'm really no good at this?

Grandville: Then you fail, after which you try again.

*Just then Karmi butts in with her project.*

Karmi: Professor G, My new prototype is ready to go! But if you want Hiro to say he's not good at-

Cora: *Cranky and aggravated* Karmi do us all a favor and just shut up!

Grandville: *Warning Tone* Cora.

Hiro: *Surprised at his girlfriends outburst* Woah Babe, are you sure you're ok-?

Grandmama: Cora?

*The four people turn to Cora's grandmother, who is looking with concern over Cora.*

Grandmama: Cora, have you eaten at all today?

*At this, Cora just looks down sheepishly and slightly shakes her head no signifying that she hadn't.*

Grandmama: *Sighs in disappointment* Oh Cora... *Reaches into her purse and take out a protein bar* Here.

*The old lady throws the protein bar to Cora to which she catches it with her eyes lit up, but it was thrown between Karmi, which causes her to yelp and drop her project to the ground, breaking it.*

Karmi: Oh no!

Cora: Grandmama what the heck?!

Grandmama: *Sternly* You did not eat your breakfast this morning young lady...again!

Cora: I'm fine Grandmama I'm not mmph-

*She doesn't even finish her sentence as she tears off the wrapper and stuffs the protein bar into her mouth. Confusion is ringing through the other people present.*

Grandmama: It's alright, she'll be fine. This sadly happens every now and then...especially when she hasn't eaten or had a good night's sleep...

*Cora sighs after she finishes the protein bar before she looks at the three, she blushes in embarrassment before helping picking up Karmi's project to put the table.*

Cora: *Somewhat monotone with her head down and her hair hiding her eyes* I apologize for my behavior and accidentally breaking your model Karmi. *Slightly turns to Hiro but not quite meeting his eyes* Hopefully I'll see you later Hiro?

Hiro: *Confused and slightly worried* OK...?

*Cora quickly walks out the classroom in silence with her head still down, leaving more confusion on them but Grandmama simply shakes her head.*

Grandmama: I'll explain later.

*Meawhile, Honey Lemon is with Baymax at the San Fransokyo Museum of Art showing him 'City Rising' as it's being hung back where it belongs.*

Honey Lemon: Ooh this is so exciting Baymax! 'City Rising' is back where it's supposed to be!

Guard: Don't worry! Nobody's getting it on my watch! Not this time!

*Honey gave a positive smile while Baymax merely blinks. Afterwards they walk down a hall to observe more paintings.*

Baymax: Honey Lemon, thank you for teaching me about art.

Honey Lemon: This is gonna be great! Okay, look at this portrait from the golden age what do you see?

Baymax: I see a man who suffers from Rosacea, a lack of exercise, and excessive consumption of red meat.

Honey Lemon: That's not what I-let me put it in another way. To understand art you have to feel it!

Baymax: Oh.

*Baymax turns his attention to a very spiky sculpture to which he is about to touch to 'feel it'. But Honey Lemon is quick to pull Baymax away from the sculpture.*

Honey Lemon: Oh no no no, let's maybe not touch that! Maybe we should try something more abstract... and less pointy.

*The next painting Honey Lemon shows to Baymax is an abstract painting of a man whose limbs are twisted in all directions. There are moments of silence as Baymax blinks at the painting.*

Baymax: This man was in a terrible accident.

Honey Lemon: No Baymax! He's painted that way to make you feel emotions!

Baymax: I am not programmed to feel emotions. Only to monitor emotions in others. You are frustrated.

*Despite her best smile, her eyebrow is twitching.*

Honey Lemon: I'm fine!

Baymax: I detect vocal tones that indicate frustration.

*Just then the two spot Fred heading down the hall where they encountered Globby last week, where the melted water fountain is currently still running like a fountain.*

Modern Shakespeare: Caution: Water Hazard. Such a bold statement about the futility of existence. I would give anything to meet the genius who created this masterpiece!

Fred: Allow me to introduce myself, Fred Frederickson the IV. Master of this piece!

Modern Shakespeare: *Gasp* A pleasure sir! You have moved me!

*The man kissed Fred's hand.*

Fred: Cool!

Baymax: Is this also art?

Fred: Well Duh.

Modern Shakespeare: Well Duh indeed.

Honey Lemon: *Sighs* Maybe that's enough for today. Let's just go.

*But while Honey Lemon drags away Baymax. Up in the air vents, Globby is crawling. He notices that his leg is stretched until it flips forward and hits his head.*

Globby: Ow.

Honey Lemon: *Gasp* Did you hear that?

Baymax: Art must be seen, felt, and heard? Art is complicated.

*Just then out of the air vents came Globby, who has the misfortune to land himself on the spiky sculpture that Baymax nearly touched.

Globby: OW!

Guard: Don't touch! That's all I'm paid to say! Don't touch! Did my job, everybody saw it now outta my way!*And then runs off*

*During all this, Hiro is at his home in the garage currently planning his project. But looking at the blank piece of paper he grows frustrated so he crumples it up and throws it away. Just then Cora, Wasabi, and Gogo come in which the cool woman quickly catches the paper ball and unfolds it.*

Gogo: Did you just crumple up and throw away a blank piece of paper?

Hiro: I was just trying to save some time.

Gogo: OK... This is gonna hurt you more than it's gonna hurt me.

*Gogo raises her hand to slap the sense into Hiro but Wasabi quickly catches her hand.*

Wasabi: What are you doing?

Gogo: Slapping him out of it.

Wasabi: You can't do that!

Gogo: You got a better idea?

Cora: I do.

*The two adults turn to Cora, who is crossing her arms as she walks over to Hiro.*

Hiro: Hey Cora, you...doing any better after earlier?

Cora: At the moment, yes. But I'll be even better after you get out of this funk you're in. Look Hiro, I get how frustrating it is to work on these things and not have anything to work with because you feel so blocked.

Hiro: So what's your point?

Cora: *Rolls her eyes in mild annoyance* So, what my point is-

*Just then Gogo's phone rings so she picks it up and reads it.*

Gogo: Globby's back.

Hiro: *Gets out of his chair* Let's go!

*Hiro runs out to suit up, leaving Cora shaking her head in frustration over failing to comfort her boyfriend.*

Cora: Dang it! *Sigh* Well maybe we can talk about this later.

Wasabi: Uh yeah but.. my car is still at the bottom of the bay?

*The memory of them being chased into the ocean by Callaghan pops in Cora's mind.*

Cora: *Winces at the memory* Oh yeah... oops...

Hiro: So how are we gonna get there?

*After they all suited up, they go and rent a little car to drive to the museum.*

Wasabi: Rick from the self-driving car project said we can use it for an hour.

Hiro: Can't this thing self-drive any faster?

Wasabi: Of course it can, its just programmed not to for safety reasons.

*Gogo, being the famed speed adrenaline junkie she is, looks at Cora who gets the signal. She pulls the wires out of the casing and re-wires them to increase the speed...which it did as it zooms down the street.*

Wasabi: It wasn't me Rick!

*The car zooms past the other cars until they arrive at the museum where Baymax, Honey Lemon, and Fred are waiting outside. The four sprawl out of the small car gasping for air.*

Fred: Tell me you brought our super suits!

*Wasabi opens the trunk to show that they did indeed. He goes to pull out the armor but its currently stuck.*

Wasabi: *Struggling to pull the armor out* It's a little tight!

Hiro: Where's Globby?

Honey Lemon: He's got the Shimamoto, but the museum's on lock down.

Gogo: So he's trapped inside?

Fred: Sub-par villain's gonna sub-par.

Wasabi: Gah! Gotta help me!

*Just then Honey Lemon's helmet hits Fred in the head, knocking him out. Inside the museum however, Globby is struggling to open the steel gates to escape with the painting but is unable to lift it and ends up pulling his arms right off.*

Globby: Ow! Come on!

*He transforms into a ball to break through the gate but is simply bounced into a wall where he is flatten to a pancake until he falls back into the same spiky sculpture from before.*

Globby: Ow! oh..hm nice piece!

*Globby grabs the sculpture to ram into the steel gate.*

Globby: I hope this works!

*But just then Baymax lifts up the gate from the other side alongside Hiro. So in the end Globby is sent running past the team and tumbling into the street.*

Fred: Ouch!

Cora: Sheesh!

Wasabi: Ooh...

Globby: You think?!

*Globby slings his arm and grabs 'City Rising'.*

Honey Lemon: He's going for the painting!

Gogo: Well he's gotta stick-to-itivness.

Cora: But why that painting alone?

*Globby throws his goop balls to which Wasabi slices them into tiny pieces. Honey Lemon brings out a chem ball and aims it at Globby, but he simply dodges it and thus the chem ball freezes Fred.*

Globby: Nope! not this time!

*Once again he morphs into a ball to bounce away.*

Wasabi: Yes this time!

*Wasabi blocks Globby's escape route but is simply rolled over.*

Wasabi: I've got some in my mouth.

Gogo: Just spit him out and lets drop this blob!

*Gogo zooms past Wasabi as Honey Lemon's tosses one of her chem balls to her to catch up with Globby.*

Honey Lemon: Get him!

*Hiro and Cora climb up onto Baymax's back and begin to chase after him*

Hiro: Right behind you Gogo!

Fred: Get on!

Wasabi: Ok.. but just don't jump-TOO HIIIIIGH!

*Fred jumps up into the sky to join the rest of the team. Globby continues to bounce down the street where Gogo is about to take aim. But the appearance of a bus makes Gogo quickly jump up to avoid a collision. The ball misses Globby as he happily bounces away.*

Globby: Hoh it's really happening! My first successful art heist! Who's number one now? I'm-

*Just then he splats right into Baymax in front of him.*

Baymax: That painting does not belong to you.

*Hiro and Cora grab the paining from Globby.*

Hiro and Cora: Thank you!

*Globby falls down to the street splattered until he regains form.*

Globby: Well this isn't fair! Oh why do I even bother?

*Just then Gogo arrives.*

Gogo: Honey! Let's freeze him and seize him!

*Honey Lemon had just arrived using the car Wasabi rented to catch up with the rest of the team. She throws the chem ball but Globby melts into water and escapes through the sewer drain nearby.*

Gogo: Did he just...melt?

Cora: Something tells me this isn't the last we'll see him...

*Later on that day, Globby ends up on land nearby the golden gate bridge.*

Globby: I can turn into water? Woah! What else can I do? Ummm...metal!

*Globby uses his mind to morph his hand into a large piece of metal. It weighs down his hand until he thinks it back to his regular globby self.*

Globby: Yes! What else?!

*Immediately he spent the early evening morphing his body to do whatever he wanted.*

Globby: Ice! Rock! Chocolate! Wood! Brick! Chocolate! Cookie dough! Cotton candy! Chocolate with ice cream and caramel! and whip cream!

*Globby eats his ice cream hand to which he gains an idea.*

Globby: Oh this could be very useful! I'm delicious!

*He then morphs his hand into a hammer to which he breaks the drain he crawled out of.*

Globby: And powerful!

*The next day at the lab, Gogo is testing out her discs with Cora looking over her gloves as Hiro whistles through his way. *

Wasabi: Alright! Someone's in a good mood!

Hiro: Well yeah! We crushed our last mission, we had Globby so scared he wet himself!

Honey Lemon: Not exactly.

*Hiro and the others walk towards Honey Lemon as she is currently using her chemistry experiment.*

Honey Lemon: The volatile chemicals that made Dibs turn into Globby combined with the neurotransmitter.

Gogo: Right?

Honey Lemon: Well, Globby finally learned how his thoughts can control his...mmm...Globbiness?

*This raises concerns for the rest of the team.*

Wasabi: So he can turn into anything? That villain is on his way to being super.

Hiro: I don't care if he's a solid, liquid, or gas! We can take him!

Wasabi: Oh.. I hope not gas!

Cora: Hey, where's Fred?

Gogo: He's at the museum, in case Globby strikes again.

*However Fred is merely guarding the unintentional sculpture he made from the drinking fountain.*

Fred: *Blocking a kid from taking a drink out of the drinking fountain-turned art* Up up up up! Fine art, it moves people. So keep moving.

*Back at the lab*

Hiro: Anyway, it's great to feel like I'm good at something! I really needed that.

*Just then Cora notices that her boyfriend is grabbing some stuff from the lab.*

Cora: Uhh...Hiro, what are you doing?

Gogo: So you're finally ready to step up and crush that quake proofing demo?

Hiro: Totally ready! I just don't have a plan of any sorts so uh..

Wasabi: Well of course you're not just gonna blow it off.

Hiro: I hadn't considered that but...

Wasabi: No no no! Forget I said anything! Stop looking like you're considering it!

*Hiro takes some of the stuff but is blocked by Honey Lemon, and behind him is a slowly irritating Cora.*

Cora: *Slightly growling* Hiro...you better not be doing what I think you're doing...

Honey Lemon: Hiro wait! You can't just quit!

Gogo: Yeah. Do you really want to be known as a genius quitter?

Hiro: No... but at least a genius quitter is probably the best kind of quitter right?

*Cora stands up from her chair as her eyes begin to slowly burn.*

Cora: *Growling more* Don't you dare...

Wasabi: I get it. You think that if you give up, it doesn't count as failing. but actually it's worse.

Baymax: Tadashi failed 83 times before I functioned properly.

Hiro: Well maybe I'm not as smart as Tadashi!

*Hiro storms his way out of the lab leaving the rest of the gang behind.*

Baymax: Perhaps art therapy would be beneficial.

Cora: I'm joining you Baymax.

*Cora walks over and grabs Baymax by his hand, dragging him towards the door.*

Honey Lemon: Umm...You okay Cora?

*Cora turns her head sharply as her purple eyes entered full on flame mode.*

Cora: *Extremely irritated now* No! I am not doing okay! If he doesn't snap out of it, my 'genius quitter' of a boyfriend will become my 'genius corpse' of a boyfriend instead!

*They both leave to follow Hiro to his lab, leaving the other three behind.*

Wasabi: Is it just me or does she seem more irritable than usual lately?

Gogo: It's not just you. Cora's been pretty moody lately and I think half of it has to do with Hiro.

Honey Lemon: And the other half?

Gogo: Can't say for sure, but hopefully getting Hiro out of his funk will help her out with whatever's going on with her...if she doesn't end up killing him first.

*The three than walk over to see what Baymax's painting is.*

Wasabi: *Slightly disturbed* Guh! Should I be worried here?

*The painting is of Wasabi, Hiro, Cora, Gogo, and Honey Lemon. In skeletal form...in vivid detail.*

Honey Lemon: He's painting what he knows?

*Hiro is currently typing away on his computer when he heard the door slam open causing the boy to yelp and turn. There he sees the face of his angry girlfriend and Baymax on her hand.*

Hiro: *Slightly nervous now* Cora! Is uh...is something..wrong?

Cora: *Firm and irritable* You and I need to talk. NOW!

Hiro: *Still slightly nervous* A-about what exactly?

Cora: Look Hiro, we've been dating for almost a year now. Are you seriously thinking of quitting?! Oh no. This 'quitting' is the cowards' way out, and I know you Hiro. YOU are not a coward!

Hiro: *Starting to get irritable as well* Well maybe I am and you just never knew it!

Cora: Oh please Hiro! What kind of a coward would start a superhero team to track down and take down the madman who killed his brother and then go straight into an unstable inner-dimensional portal just to save said-madman's daughter?!

*Hiro eyes widen in shock at what his girlfriend just said to him and than glares hard at her, but Cora glares back just as hard. Neither say a word as they stare hard at each other that you could actually start to see sparks fly between them. Luckily, Baymax speaks up to try and ease the tension.*

Baymax: It is alright to become discouraged.

Hiro: *Having enough, he breaks eye contact with Cora and turns around in his chair* I don't want to talk abou-

*Suddenly Baymax pulls out one of the test videos of Tadashi Hamada, Hiro's brother. Shocking both Hiro and Cora out of their irritation as they watch the video together.*

Tadashi: Tadashi Hamada test number 58, robotics project.

Baymax: Hello, I am Baymax. Your personal healthcare-.

*In the video it seems like his project was finally working until it bursts into flames, which causes Tadashi to panic and quickly put out the flames with a fire extinguisher.*

Tadashi: No! Why? Why do I put myself through this 58 times!? *sighs* Maybe this will never work... maybe I should give up...you're not still recording are you?-

*The video pauses as Hiro looks at Tadashi's frustrated and defeated face, which Cora notices as she looks at the video of Tadashi with sad eyes. *

Hiro: I never saw him like that...

*Cora takes a deep breath before she turns to Hiro.*

Cora: Hiro, you can do this, I know you can. And if Tadashi were here...he'd tell you the exact same thing. *Puts a comforting hand on Hiro's shoulder and gives him a small, comforting smile* Just...look for a new angle, remember?

*Hiro looks at her and gives a half-hearted smile back to her.*

Hiro: I guess...all I can do is..try...right?

*Cora's smile widens a bit as she nods to him. Just then, Wasabi opens the door.*

Wasabi: Fred just called! The museum decided to put the painting into storage.

Hiro: Wise move.

*Just then Gogo comes in.*

Gogo: That means it's in a truck crossing the city.

Hiro: Not so wise move.

Cora: Downright stupid move if you ask me.

*That night, Globby is swinging across the streets chasing after the truck containing Shimamoto's painting. Globby throws his goop balls at the truck and finally manages to causes to skid the truck to a halt, crashing it strainght into a light pole in the process. The driver runs away at Globby's face.*

Globby: Acid!

*He drips one drop of acid to create a hole in the truck and grabs the painting from its casing.*

Globby: Ha! Got it!

*Globby takes a moment to admire the painting before he notices Baymax with Hiro and Cora.*

Hiro: Don't you ever get tired of losing?

*It is also when Globby notices that he's surrounded.*

Globby: No. No I really think today's my day.

Honey Lemon: Aw! I love your positive attitude! Sorry about this!

*Honey Lemon pulls out a chem ball and throws it at Globby, but he uses his elasticity to bounce back the ball and thus splashing Honey Lemon in yellow goo, which causes her chem purse to malfunction. Gogo chases after him but Globby uses his hands to morph into and grow crystals out of the street.*

Globby: Careful! Pavement's a little rough!

*The crystals causes Gogo to fall flat on her face. Then Fred jumps into action.*

Fred: Time for a meltdown!

*Globby uses his arm to form a shield to fend off Fred's flames, he then turns his other hand to block Fred's mouth.*

Globby: Eh shut your fire hole!

*Wasabi comes to Fred's aid as both his fire and jumping abilities had been disabled.*

Wasabi: I got you buddy!

*Globby brings out his own chem balls that immediately encase Fred and Wasabi together. Baymax flies over Globby.*

Hiro: Come on Baymax! It's up to us!

Baymax: We will protect the art that is valuable. For some reason.

*Baymax launches his rocket fist at Globby, but he uses his hand to twist the rocket and land it to the ground, causing an explosion. The goopy debris lands on Baymax's face.*

Baymax: Oh no.

*This causes him to drop Hiro and Cora, but luckily they land into the larger piles of goop safely. They look up to see that Globby transformed into a rock to protect himself. With the explosion over, Globby returns to normal.*

Globby: *Laughs triumphantly* If at first you don't succeed, learn to turn yourself into chocolate.

*Globby morphs his hands into chocolate to which he gives to Cora and Hiro. But that's when Cora brings out the biggest question on her mind ever since this whole thing started.*

Cora: Wait a second! Why do you want that painting so badly? I know it's very famous but you could have easily stolen the other art pieces at the museum! So why just that one painting? What's so special about it that you'd only go after it?

Globby: Ooh look at the time! Would love to chat but my boss isn't the patient type.

Cora: Wait wha-?

Hiro: Huh?

Globby: Enjoy! Catch ya later! Gotta bounce!

*Globby did bounce away into the street, evading the team with his prize. The two unsticky teens rush to help their friends out of the stickiness Globby left behind.*

Honey Lemon: Oh no...that was awful!

Fred: I know! 'Gotta bounce'? I mean it fits but come on! Dig deeper!

Honey Lemon: We've failed! And worse, we failed Lenore Shimamoto!

Fred: I don't know Honey Lemon that kind of makes us sound like losers.

Wasabi: Well we did lose.

*Wasabi and Gogo are currently stuck on the underside of a nearby street bridge.*

Hiro: Ah come on guys! It's not the end of the world! Look at Globby, he failed again and again. But he figured it out... Eventually. It's okay to get discouraged. But you have to pick yourself up and try again... *Looks at Cora when he's says this next part* And look for a new angle.

*Cora smiles and nods proudly at her boyfriend.*

Wasabi: That's a great speech Hiro. But can you get me down? I'm about to pass out.

*Both Hiro and Cora pull Gogo and Wasabi out of their goopy imprisonment as Cora brings up something they learned.*

Cora: By the way guys, when I asked Globby why he wanted that painting so much, he said it was for his boss or something...

Fred: Wait?! Did you say he was stealing it for his boss? Oh man...this is really getting curiouser and curiouser...

*It is the very next day where Hiro is currently working on his demo model with Cora by his side eating her bento. He turns to her and smiles brightly, to which Cora gives a thumbs up back. *

Gogo: Hey how's it going 'genius whose not a quitter'?

Hiro: Honestly not great... but failure worked for Globby. So why not for me?

Wasabi: That's the spirit!

*Just then, Fred comes in with a large check under his arm.*

Fred: Hey Honey Lemon, my art thinging, 'Caution Water Hazard', just sold for a million dollars!

Gogo: Really? I guess art must be in the eye of the beholder.

Baymax: Fred's art evoked many emotions today. It might be more accurate to say art is in the heart of the beholder.

Honey Lemon: Aw you've really learned a lot about art Baymax. That was very poetic.

Baymax: What is poetry?

*Honey Lemon and Gogo look at each other before Cora finishes her food and speaks up.*

Cora: It's okay guys, poetry lessons are next week.

Honey Lemon: What are you gonna do with the money Fred?

Fred: I'm giving the check to the museum. I don't need it and they could use a new fountain. Plus they just lost a priceless painting.

*Just then, Cora's grandmother is standing by the open door.*

Cora: Oh! Hi Grandmama!

Grandmama: Hello Cora...Would it be alright if I borrow Hiro to talk for a moment?

Cora: *Confused* Sure..go ahead?

*Hiro hesitantly walks away to converse with the old woman, wondering what she wanted with him. They finally got outside into the open air where the cherry blossoms are bathed in warm light.*

Grandmama: Do you remember how I came to check on Cora a while ago..you were with the Dean and some other student or whatever...I said I owe you an explanation.

Hiro: About..Cora?

Grandmama: Yes. I already explained this to the Dean a short while ago before I came to you Hiro, and now it's your turn. Did you notice how she's been feeling sleepy lately? Or how the slightest thing would irritate her? Or how she's not been eating much?

Hiro: *Concern* Actually, yeah I have. Is something wrong with Cora? Does it have anything to do with me?

Grandmama: *Sighs*...I'll tell you the full story one day.. but for now..you must know that Cora was born...a little premature...and different from the other children..and that led to having these..effects in her life...But ever since you came into the picture, it seems to have become fewer and fewer, and it just seems to be getting better with all your friends. However, that doesn't mean she doesn't fall into...*Sighs* I suppose the proper term would be..'relapses' from time to time... But as I mentioned before, meeting you, your...brother... and your friends has been helping her greatly. Even though you and her have your disagreements or tiffs from time to time, that's normal from anyone who's in a relationship. If anything it proves that no matter what is going on either between or just one of you, you two always manage to talk it out and work together to make it better. That is the key to any good and functioning relationship Hiro. So to answer your question about whether or not Cora's recent behavior has anything to do with you, I would say it only had half to do with you. the other half was just something she...had to work out on her own. And apparently helping you out with whatever was going on with you seems to have help a good bit. But all-in-all Hiro Whatever you and your friends are doing to help Cora overall, keep up the good work. Now I think it's about time I let you go about back to your business, you have presentation to go to after all.

*Grandmama walks past Hiro, giving a knowing smirk at him before she goes on her way. Hiro raises an eyebrow in confusion and looks back at the old woman for a moment before he runs back inside to finish his project. Time passes by until finally Hiro is ready to present his project to Grandville. He carries his model, peering inside to see Grandville with her notebook and Karmi, who's pulled out her camera ready to see him fail. But Cora quickly gives him a kiss on the cheek as their usual way of saying good luck to each other, to which he smiles brightly.*

*Hiro puts his model on the table. Cora being on his left holding his hand while Karmi is behind him ready to capture what appears to be his next magnum opus. The model puts out two stabilizers as soon as the quake simulation got a little rougher.*

Karmi: What?

Hiro: My building has sensors to measure the seismic forces, then it sends out the exact sonic pulses needed to counteract them.

*The Richter scale simulation quickly goes down in numbers. Cora smiles brightly at Hiro's success.*

Karmi: So your solution is cheating?

Hiro: No! My design was to the shaking by dealing with the problem at its source.

Grandville: Not only will the structure save itself, but it would also save the other buildings around it. This is an excellent solution.

*Cora is quick to pull out her phone and take a picture of Karmi's 'unbelievable* face. Cora and Hiro are walking out of the room once its over to take a walk around the quad to talk.*

Cora: *Smiling evilly* And scene...and revenge achieved.

Hiro: *Looking over at his girlfriend's phone and sees the picture. He than smiles smugly and puts his arm around Cora's shoulders and kisses her cheek.* That's my girl.

*As they walk outside into the quad, they walk in comfortable but still somewhat awkward silence as they both in their own minds try to figure what they were going to say. Hiro then looks over at Cora in a side glance and decides to start.*

Hiro: Um...Cora? There's...something I wanna-

Cora: *Cuts Hiro off as she stops walking, causing Hiro to stop walking to as she stands face-to-face with him and she fidgets with her hands in front of her and looks down almost ashamed-looking and only taking quick glances up at Hiro as she talks* Hiro wait. Before you say anything...there's something I should say first... About what I s-said...b-back at the l-lab...before Baymax s-showed us that video of Tadashi... I just...w-wanted you to know that...I-I was way out of line w-with what I said to you. I w-was just REALLY irritated and annoyed with how you were acting, along with some...other things I was going through. But that's still no excuse for what I said to you... And I just wanted to let you know that I'm sorry for it.

Hiro: *Surprised at his girlfriend's apology, but quickly got over it as he places his hand on Cora's shoulder.* Cora... *Sighs* It's okay Cora, I've already forgiven you for that. But to be honest with you, there's really nothing to forgive with what you said to me, because...you were right.

Cora: *Surprised at her boyfriend's words as she looks up fully to him.* I...I was?

Hiro: Yeah, you were. I-I do admit that I was just...*Sigh* I just felt humiliated... I mean first my model breaks at the beginning of the stimulation, to which Karmi took a video and posted it online.

*Cora frowns at the memory. She wanted to punch that self-absorbed biotech student for humiliating Hiro like that.*

Hiro: Then when I couldn't think of anything to make up for it, I ended up destroying the other students' projects by accident.

Cora: Technically, it was my project that kinda destroyed the others Hiro.

Hiro: Which wouldn't have happened if I hadn't throw my notebook away so carelessly...not to mention destroying your project in the process too...all of which Karmi took a photo of again...

*The teen couple grumble at the memory. Finally Hiro sighs*

Hiro: I just thought that... If I quit I wouldn't be put through that again... B-but you were right...by quitting, I was just acting like a coward...which, as you clearly pointed out to me back at the lab, I'm not. A coward wouldn't have done all the things you mentioned before, and not to mention that it would have made Karmi's day if I really was one.

Cora: Well I'm glad you didn't and that you understand what I was trying to tell you. But the thing about quitting, is that sometimes it's not always cowards who do it. Grandmama once told me this: There are actually two kinds of quitting. One is the cowards' way out as I mentioned before, where you give up because you couldn't handle it and felt it's not worth it at the cost of your own dignity or life. The other one however, is the one where it could save your's and others' lives if you're smart and do it right, where you realize that what you're doing, what your about to do or even what you think about doing could really get you or others hurt or worse and that you simply have to walk away before that can happen, even if others tell you otherwise. Does that make sense?

Hiro: *Thoughtful look in his face* Yeah, I guess.

*Cora smiles as she rests her head on his shoulder.*

Cora: You are not, nor have you ever been a coward babe. You are and always will be, my brave Hiro.

*But somewhere in the dark and abandoned undergrounds, Globby goes through the desolate building and brings in the painting. He then notices that he got a bit of himself on the priceless painting, to which he tries to clean it up but failed.*

Obake: Well? Did you bring it?

Globby: *Startled* Woah! Oh oh ah! Ah yeah! Here it is!

*Obake grabs the painting from Globby's hands and observes it.*

Obake: *Pleased* You succeeded.

Globby: Sorry about..you know...the globs!

Obake: Hm?

*He notices the pieces of Globby's globs.*

Obake: Fascinating...

*Obake grabs Globby's hand and takes off a piece of the glob using small light blue plasma tweezers.*

Globby: Ow! Rude!

*Obake places the glob into a measuring cup to study at a later date.*

Obake: Hmm.. further study might unlock even more potential..

Globby: Potential huh? I told mom she was wrong about me.

*Obake raises the painting up above his head.*

Obake: Lenore Shimamoto the artist is of no interest to me.

*He smashes the painting, causing pieces of wood to break off as it flies off everywhere.*

Obake: However Lenore Shimamoto the scientist, is of great interest... Like with so many things in life... you have to look below the surface to find real value...

*When Obake broke the painting he pealed off the paper to reveal schematics for what appears to be an ominous looking machine that Shimamoto had crafted 100 of years ago...*

Leave comment, reblog, or like if you enjoyed it! Love you!

[natsthinkitythinkthinkthonk]

Anime Highlights of 2018 (SO FAR!)

I haven’t watched all of this year’s anime because I have a ton of other stuff on the “watch later” list, but I wanted to get my two cents in. I know it’s just the start of 2019 (when I started this post, it was 2018).

If you don’t see a show on here that could’ve been on the list, scroll to the bottom and click “Keep Reading” because it might be included in the shows I didn’t get around to watching!

For this list, I will be ranking the shows into categories:

Raisin Cookie: Low-Tier

Sugar Cookie: Mid-Tier

Chocolate Chip Cookie: Top-Tier

No sequels allowed! No shows that are continuing from the previous year.

Honestly, there were a lot of good shows this year. Even this summer (which was considered the weakest by many) still got a lot of good shows in. 

This video covers a lot of this year’s good anime.

Raisin Cookie:

Conception 

Read the synopsis. Do I really need to say why? I watched one episode, cried on the inside, then asked why I was even born. 

Goblin Slayer

The first episode was gruesome and horrifying. It was seeping with edge, but I couldn’t figure out why they would make that the first episode if the rest of the anime was just an ecchi harem. We knew this would be a disappointment, but we didn’t know it would be a disappointment because of that.

Bakumatsu

I watched the first episode and wondered why I even tried watching this. You can’t carry a show with just voice casting and arguable fujoshi-baiting. 

Mahou Shoujo Site

This rivals Goblin Slayer’s edge. Mahou Shoujo Ore takes the magical girl genre and makes fun of it through comedy. This makes fun of it through gore. Think of it as an extremely poorly done, awfully written, badly executed attempt of trying to recreate a show like Madoka Magica.

Kyoto Teramachi Sanjou no Holmes 

For a mystery show, this show was sure full of bullcrap and nonsense. I watched the first few episodes and found myself disliking this anime.

Kitsune no Koe 

I watched nine episodes before giving up. The music is subpar. The acting is subpar because the story and script are so poorly done. I would even argue the casting is all wrong.

Akkun to Kanojo

I just don’t like relationships where people are overly tsundere. I get the whole getting flustered thing, but resorting to violence and bullying over it is not my thing. This guy is so mean to his girlfriend, and sure, some people might enjoy it (which is why it’s the top of the trash pile), but I didn’t enjoy it at all.

Sugar Cookie:

Mahou Shoujo Ore

This show was supposed to be stupid. That’s the point. But the jokes get overused and stale after a while, and I found myself wanting it to be over near the end. It got me to laugh once every couple of episodes, but that’s about it.

Devils Line

This was a cringy vampire romance. That about sums it up in a nutshell. Miyuki Sawashiro deserved a more badass character, and so did Yui Ishikawa. Still better than Twilight.

Satsuriku no Tenshi

This was edgy like Mahou Shoujo Site and Goblin Slayer, but this show didn’t take itself as seriously. For the video game fans, they pretty much followed the story of the game. There were little to no discrepancies. But if you are only watching the anime, you’ll find this show so cringy and awful. Kudos to Nobuhiko Okamoto who took on this role knowing that it would strain his vocal cords.

Ani ni Tsukeru Kusuri wa Nai! 2

The charm of the first season was just lost. They had a lot of hit-and-miss episodes where I was either going to like it or think it was a waste of time. I want more sibling antics and fewer love triangles, but it was still a solid season.

3D Kanojo: Real Girl 

I watched three episodes of this, and as much as I wouldn’t mind watching more, I couldn’t build attachment to any of these characters. I felt nothing for the story either. Okay, so a pretty misunderstood girl gets into a relationship with an otaku... what else?

Tada-kun wa Koi wo Shinai

I watched this because the OP was so darn good, the art looked nice, and it gave off the same vibes as Gekkan Shoujo, but it ultimately disappointed me with the ending and the whirlwind of “Wait... what just happened?” The relationships were not developed enough and came out of nowhere like the truck in Zombieland Saga.

Phantom in the Twilight

Giving this the benefit of the doubt... this didn’t make it past this category because the art was so poorly done that I found myself wondering what the budget even was. The story wasn’t even as poorly done as other otome game adaptations (actually, this one is an original I think?) A Kana Hanazawa lead bumps this show up a notch though.

Nil Admirari no Tenbin

This is probably right beside the previous entry, but this one had better character designs. It was another otome game adaptations... why do I even try? It was okay. It’s more episodic than one would think because you have a “guy of the week” or something. It was just meh... but I’m saying this as someone who doesn’t like guys all that much.

Sugar Cookies With Icing:

Dame x Prince Anime Caravan 

This is separated from the other two otome anime because this one made fun of itself. It was openly wondering what the heck happened to itself, and it was a lot more fun to watch because of that. It was kind of like Konosuba in a way because none of these guys were all that desirable. Picking “best guy” would be tough with a cast like this. It was a lot more enjoyable than the others because I found this cast more likeable because they were so over-the-top.

Gakuen Babysitters

I don’t like kids. This show... tried to change my opinion. I still don’t like kids.

Pop Team Epic

Yeah, you’re probably wondering “WHAT THE--??” That’s normal. It's basically parodying with famous voice actors. You won’t like it as much if you have a normal sense of humour. This anime is really strange, and like a lot of comedy, it will be hit and miss.

Kishuku Gakkou no Juliet

This show was okay. It was well-animated, and I liked the cast a little. Okay, I liked Hasuki. Besides that, you are basically watching the whole “Romeo and Juliet” stuff again with anime cliches. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie:

Hakata Tonkotsu Ramens

This was a pleasant surprise. I wasn’t expecting this show to be good, and the art was subpar, but the cast (despite a huge lack of female characters) found itself being oddly good. It’s crafty and gives off the same vibes as Durarara but with hitmen. Who will hit the hitmen next?

Grand Blue

Let’s ignore the romance elements. This is a comedy, and while this is a bit ecchi, I found myself tolerating that part. This show had me laughing at least once per episode, but if you were looking for a diving anime, you have to look somewhere else.

Banana Fish 

I watched the first six episodes of this one, and I found myself liking the cast. It was pretty good. The animation is great, the voice acting is good too, and the story is riveting. I just jump around series a lot.

Asobi Asobase

Same with this one. Six episodes have been watched. It has a very odd sense of humour, and it gives off the vibe that “this is going to be a cutesy anime” with its opening then screws you over with their antics. I found this anime oddly charming despite me not being so excited about its art style and watercolour palette. 

Hataraku Saibou

I never thought that the least questionable ship out of the summer 2018 anime I watched would be between two fricking cells. This anime was great, it was cute, and it was educationally entertaining! It was a very solid series. Plus, a Kana Hanazawa lead is always a bonus!

SSSS.Gridman

This is an amazingly animated series by Studio Trigger that can excite even non-mecha fans like me. I just started it, but it’s turning out great! This might even go all the way to triple cookie status by the time I reach the end.

Gaikotsu Shotenin Honda-san

I never thought a skull face bookseller could be so entertaining, but it is. This series is charming, and even though it didn’t have the greatest animation budget, it uses it in all the right ways. The relatability that retail workers will feel is astounding, and even non-retail workers like me can find this enjoyable.

Violet Evergarden

Kyoto Animation can make anything look good, and they made this look amazing. This story is oddly touching, and a lot of people got emotional. I wasn’t really one of them, and I found them reaching a bit too much sometimes. I feel like I was supposed to feel stuff, but I didn’t. That’s kind of my fault though. This series is stunning and beautiful visually. The soundtrack was well-written, but it was sometimes misused by the sound director. The stories are pretty solid, but I found the development a little rushed at times. I would recommend it still though.

Triple Chocolate Chip Cookies:

Wotaku ni Koi wa Muzukashii

The otaku jokes resonated a lot with me, and I found this story to be cheesy in the best of ways. The cast is so likeable and pure, and I found myself looking forward to a new episode every week.

Hinamatsuri

This anime had be laughing so hard to the point where I couldn’t watch it around other people, and I had to conceal my laughter as I watched it during the middle of the night. I never thought such a wholesome father-daughter relationship would occur between an OP esper and a yakuza. If you like Mob Psycho 100, you will like this one and vice-versa. This, to me, was the best comedy of the year.

Seishun Buta Yarou wa Bunny Girl Senpai no Yume wo Minai 

This anime was so darn misleading. I was about to skip this because I thought it was going to be some tasteless edgy show, but I found this to be a weirdly pleasant show to binge-watch, and it was a much more easy and arguably better take on the Monogatari series and whatever genre that is. The girls are likeable, there isn’t a lot of fanservice that is shoved in your face, and the writing got me attached to a lot of the characters.

Zombieland Saga

This anime sounded so stupid at first, but after watching a couple of episodes, I started really liking the cast. These are all relatively new seiyuu minus Mamoru and Risa Taneda. Honestly, words cannot describe this show besides surprisingly amazing. You thought this would be a stupid idol anime? Instead, we go an intriguing, touching, and oddly inspirational anime with great music, art, and everything.

Let’s announce the stuff that I’m excited to watch later! 

These are the amazing shows that I’ve heard about that I haven’t gotten around to watching.

Sora yori mo Tooi Basho (Winter)

Also called “A Place Beyond the Universe”, this anime is about this group of girls taking the journey across Antarctica. I heard it’s a lot of fun.

Karakai Jouzu no Takagi-san (Winter)

Her forehead is as big as her face. I’ve heard this is funny, and I’ve watched clips of it. Rie Takahashi and Yuuki Kaji have the main roles in this anime, and they do a fantastic job playing the trickster and her victim.

Megalo Box (Spring)

This one is probably one of the biggest things I’m missing out on. If it weren’t for one of my anxiety triggers being sports, I would’ve jumped on this. Yoshimasa Hosoya does an amazing job as the protagonist in this well-animated boxing series.

Tensei shitara Slime Datta Ken (Autumn)

I’ve watched one episode, and yes, tsundere dragon is the best girl. Besides that, it just looks like a lot of fun for a show that sounds so weird.

Yuru Camp△ (Winter)

Cute girls doing cute things while camping. That’s pretty much what this is about. Whether you like that kind of show will determine whether it’s worth watching for you.

Golden Kamuy (Spring)

This another big thing I’m missing out on. It already got a second season, and it looks like a fun action series. Minus the bad CG, it looks good. I heard the lead sounds just like Hosoya, but Hosoya is in the show too! Along with a new score composer with a lot of new series under his name, I’m excited about this one too!

Kaze ga Tsuyoku Fuiteiru (Autumn)

I’d be more excited about this series, but I haven’t finished Haikyuu yet, and I have a really bad history with track and field.

Irozuku Sekai no Ashita kara (Autumn)

This series looks beautifully animated, and this is one of Kaori Ishihara’s big roles besides Aladdin from Magi which was years ago. 

[thelordofthepenblog-blog]

Halloween Manor

Timmy reached cautiously out with his hand, brushing against the doorknob. For a moment, he faltered; he remembered the stories that brought him here, of Frank bragging about how spooky this manor was, and how he and his buddies had braved it the year before. Of giant spiders and horrific ghosts. Could he do this? Part of Timmy just wanted his mom here.

It was the people behind him that bolstered his resolve. “Come on, Timmy,” Rob complained. “Just open it.” Easy for Rob to say. He watched so many horror movies with his older brother he’d become practically immune to terrors like this. And he was dressed like the Grim Reaper; who’d want to mess with him? Meanwhile, Timmy was dressed in a second-hand Iron Man costume his mom picked up from a thrift store last week. He’d been excited to get it when his mom came home with it, but it felt inferior when he saw the costumes his friends were dressed in.

“Oh, leave him alone, Robby,” Marceline said. “You’re not the one opening the door, after all.” Rob glared at the sixth-grade girl when she used his hated nickname. “I would if you guys would let me!” he snapped.

Marceline only giggled, nearly losing her pointed witch’s hat when she tossed her head back. Rob turned red with embarrassment and anger.

Timmy took a deep breath. He could do this. He reached out for the doorknob again, this time grasping it firmly in his hand and turning it, pulling the door open. Through the doorway he could see a creepy, dark hallway. Cobwebs covered the walls and draped from the ceiling. A small chandelier hung high above. A staircase led up to a closed door, and the smell of mildew hung from everywhere.

Timmy nearly lost his resolve again. Despite the fact he kept telling himself he was in fifth grade now, he couldn’t shake his fear of the dark. But with an annoyed huff from Rob, the boy pushed past Timmy and stalked into the hall. Timmy reached out to stop him, but Rob only brushed off his hand and approached the smelly staircase. Timmy glanced helplessly back at Marceline, but the older girl only smiled and shrugged, following Rob inside. Left alone outside, Timmy swallowed a lump in his throat and followed her.

“Hello!” Marceline shouted, her voice echoing through the manor. Timmy shushed her, but she shrugged him off. Rob, on the other hand, was carefully stepping up the staircase, though despite his efforts the steps still creaked beneath his feet. Timmy winced with every sound; the spiders were totally going to find them now! Why wouldn’t his parents let him have a phone? Rob’s older brother was supposed to be watching them, but he’d wandered off as soon as he ran into some of his friends. Timmy had suggested heading home, as his father had advised should they ever wind up without their chaperon, but Rob had insisted on going to the haunted manor at the end of Wyford Drive, and when Marceline agreed, Timmy could only go along with them.

Just as Rob reached the top of the stairs, there was a shriek as the front door slammed shut behind Timmy. It took the boy a moment to realize it’d come from him. Blushing in embarrassment, he could only meekly meet the impatient glare of Rob. Before he could say anything, however, someone else did.

“Well well, whatever do I have here? Three delicious children, coming so readily into my abode. Why, how delightful! It will make my Halloween ever so much sweeter.” Timmy pressed against Marceline’s back, breathing heavily. What was this? Was it the ghosts Frank had mentioned? He shivered despite himself.

“George?” Rob called. “Is that you? Is this why you ditched us?”

George? How could it be his older brother? They hadn’t come up with the idea to head to the manor until after George had left them. Why would Rob’s older brother do this unless they had already known about their – and by ‘their’ he meant Rob and Marceline – desire to head here? Did Rob mention it at some point prior? “I do not know of a George, little morsel,” the voice replied, smooth and soft like silk. “What I do know is that three little children are about to become my latest meal.” “Yeah, whatever, George,” Rob said, and he ripped open the door.

Almost immediately, a hand reached out, grabbed Rob by the hood of his costume, and dragged the boy inside, slamming the door shut behind him. Timmy could only briefly catch the sound of a scream before the door cut off the noise.

“One down, two to go,” the voice said. Timmy took deep breaths. What now? What now? Without even thinking, he let go of Marceline – who had barely moved at all since the voice had spoken – and ran for the front door, desperately pulling at the knob. Unlike outside, however, the door refused to budge even an inch.

Oh no. Was this it? Was this how he died? He almost broke down crying, thinking of his mother and father, but when he glanced at Marceline, he stopped himself. He’d known the girl for a long time, and he’d rarely ever seen her shake. It was barely perceptible, but it was there. Him crying would not help them right now.

Swallowing, Timmy walked up to her and gripped her hand. “Marceline?” The girl stiffened, then turned to face him, usual sly grin plastered uncertainly on her face. “What a scare, huh?” “Y-yeah,” Timmy said, nodding slowly.

“Come on. Pretty sure Rob and his brother are pulling an elaborate prank on us. Aren’t you, Rob?” Although no one replied, Marceline nodded as though someone had done so anyway. “So, we head in there, and they try and spook us, and then it turns out it was all a harmless Halloween prank. Right?” Timmy opened his mouth to reply, but Marceline firmly concluded with, “Right.” Gripping his hand in hers, Marceline stalked up the stairs, dragging Timmy behind her. The boy stared at her as they ascended the staircase. He recalled a similar incident, one where her parents had been screaming at each other and she’d come running to Timmy’s house, shaking but resolute. She’d practically grabbed Timmy’s hand and dragged him upstairs to play on his PS4 after his parents had okayed her staying over.

Marceline now grabbed the doorknob at the top of the stairs and, like Timmy had tried at the ground floor, threw all her strength at it. However, like the front door, it refused to budge even an inch. Desperately, she let go of Timmy’s hand and started yanking at the knob, muttering under her breath. Finally she gave up, slamming her fist against the door hard enough to cause Timmy to jump in surprise. “Come on, Rob, give it up! This isn’t funny!” At first, no response. Then, “If you want to save your friend, you’ll have to find a different way onto the second floor.” “And how do we do that?” Marceline snapped.

“I don’t know. Why don’t you use your eyes, little meals?” The voice chuckled as it faded away.

“Darn it,” the girl muttered. “We can’t leave, we don’t have a phone, Rob’s being a butt...”

“But we’ll be okay, right?” Timmy asked.

“Sure,” was the reply she gave even as she didn’t look at him. “Sure.” He wasn’t convinced. Still, after one last fist against the door, Marceline and Timmy walked back to the ground floor. Marceline quickly began searching every little inch of the area, probably looking for a secret passage or something. There was a doorway about halfway down the hall which, when Timmy looked inside, led to a large living room that looked far nicer than the hallway itself. It seemed clean enough, the furniture made of red velvet, the carpet a nice crimson. There were no windows, which struck Timmy as strange. Then he realized that all the windows outside had been sealed shut. No escape that way. He shivered again.

“Tim! Over here!” He followed Marceline’s voice back into the hall and saw her pointing eagerly at a lever she’d found behind a bookshelf. “This might be a clue!” she exclaimed, all fear forgotten in the face of finding a possible mystery. Solving things was always her favorite thing to do, he knew. Once she’d noticed his arrival, she quickly grasped it and pulled it down. There was a loud clunk and behind them a false wall fell away to reveal a new set of stairs.

“Woah!” Timmy exclaimed.

Marceline blinked. “Somehow I thought it’d be harder to find.” “My my, morsels. You’ve found the real stairs. I’m impressed. But are you brave enough to climb the stairs and save your friend?” “He’s not really a friend. He’s a cousin,” Marceline said.

“Still, he was your companion,” the voice replied. “How fair would it be for you two to leave him behind?”

The two exchanged glances, Timmy biting his lower lip. Nodding together, the pair began ascending the stairs. Unlike the ones Rob had used, these did not creak, and in fact seemed well-used. They turned a corner and came upon an archway that opened up into, as far as Timmy could tell, a large, empty room. There were no furnishings as far as he could tell, and the walls were bare save for a door to their far left.

“My, you’ve found the empty room! Never saw a use for this chamber that much, really. Well, you two might as well just waltz on through. Your cousin is near.”

Marceline led the way, but only a few feet from the archway she crashed into what appeared to be nothing. Grunting, she stared at the space she’d walked into for a moment before putting up her hands. “I don’t feel anything,” she said.

Timmy stepped beside her, careful not to crash into the same object she had. Reaching up, he agreed; he felt nothing. “What gives?” he asked.

“Oh, I forgot,” the voice piped up. “I made all the furniture in this room invisible! Try not to get too many dents in the tables.”

Marceline frowned. “That’s not fair,” she said.

“No, it’s not, is it? Enjoy!”

Timmy reached out with his hands, this time felling lower. He did indeed feel a wooden surface beneath his hands. “You bumped into a table,” he told Marceline.

The other girl nodded but didn’t reply. Carefully, with their hands outstretched, the two made their way across the room to the other door. Twice more did Marceline crash into something. Timmy crashed several more than that, mostly because he was the one leading now. Slightly shorter than Marceline, he was able to feel the furniture more easily than her. Still, his leg felt battered and hurting by the time the duo reached the door.

“You okay?” Marceline asked when she caught sight of his slight limp.

“I’m okay,” Timmy replied. Part of him wanted to stop and sit for a moment, but they had to rescue Rob. True, he had no idea how to do that, but he was confident it would work out in the end. Hopefully. Maybe.

He opened the door, this time with no hesitance, and the two emerged into a large, dimly-lit chamber. The lighting was mostly focused on the center of the chamber, where a large, bubbling cauldron sat over a fire. And tied over that cauldron was Rob, swinging from a rope. When he saw Timmy and Marceline, he exclaimed, “Help!”

“We’ve got to get him down,” Marceline said, already scanning the room for something they could use.

“How?” Timmy had no idea how to safely get Marceline’s cousin down without dropping him into the cauldron.

“Yes, however will you do that?” the voice crooned. “One wrong move and splash! goes the reaper!”

Marceline glared at the ceiling, despite the fact there was no indication the voice came from there. Then she started searching the edges of the room, despite the fact it seemed, at least to Timmy, that the room was empty of anything save for them, Rob, and the cauldron.

Tentatively, Timmy stepped up to Rob and asked, “Did you see who grabbed you?”

The other boy shook his head. “Soon as he got me, he wrapped me in a blindfold and tied me up here.”

Timmy frowned, scanning the rope. It was held up by a hook on the ceiling, tied in what he thought was an expert knot. The ceiling was far too high for either he or Marceline to reach on their own, and even if they could, he had no idea if they could undue that knot without something sharp.

Marceline stepped up next to him after exhausting her search, shrugging her shoulders. Rob groaned while Timmy frowned. They couldn’t think of a way to do this without endangering themselves.

“Oh my, giving up already, morsels?” the voice mocked. “Such a shame. Oh, if only you could put your heads together! If only you could, oh, stand on each other’s shoulders and give your thoughts a boost! If only! But alas, you are only children, so it seems I have no choice but to eat you.”

Marceline and Timmy exchanged glances. “But I don’t know how to untie the knot!” Timmy exclaimed when he saw the look in her eye.

“And you’re too wimpy to hold me on your shoulders,” Marceline replied. “It has to be you.”

“But...” “Do you want Rob to be boiled alive?” Marceline gestured to the bubbling cauldron.

“No...”

“Then up you go!” And before Timmy could protest, Marceline had grabbed him and, with a large huff of effort, lifted him onto her shoulders. “Be quick, Tim,” she hissed.

Timmy could just reach the knot now. He reached out, but couldn’t find anyway to even begin undoing it. But while he struggled, he heard Marceline grunt, “Rob, when he’s almost done with the knot, I want you to start swinging yourself around. Hopefully the momentum will get you away from the pot before you wind up in it.”

“But what if I crash into the wall?” Rob asked, a hint of fear in his voice.

“Then we’ll visit you in the hospital,” Marceline replied, deadpan. “Would you rather be there or in bad guy stew?” Rob groaned, but slowly began doing as she’d asked. Meanwhile, Timmy had finally found an opening in the knot and had begun the long process of untangling it. But when he’d only been at it for a few moments, they heard the voice again. “I’m almost there, morsels! I’m ever so famished!”

“Hurry!” Rob snarled.

“I’m trying!” Timmy replied.

Finally the final knot came undone, and Timmy let go quickly, his fingers stinging. The rope slipped from the hook, and to Timmy’s horror Marceline’s idea hadn’t worked; Rob was heading right for the cauldron’s contents!

But a pair of arms had caught Rob before he could wind up in the cauldron, and a lid was placed over it while Rob was moved to the side. Timmy and Marceline fell in a heap as the weight finally came to be too much for her, and the two stood back up quickly and on the defensive. But Rob was on his feet now, unbound from the rope and not in imminent danger of dying. Beside him was a tall, pale man, with slick black hair and gleaming eyes. “Hello, children.” “You’re the guy who owns this place?” Marceline asked.

“Yup! Mark’s the name,” the man replied. “And might I say, congratulations! You’ve solved my three trials!” “What do you mean, trials?” Timmy asked.

Mark grinned, revealing teeth that were far too sharp to by human. “I set these trials up to test you kids. See if you were worthy of my...Halloween treats?” “What do you mean?” “Let me guess. You three were lured here by playground rumors or something along those lines?” When the three kids had nodded he continued. “I set those rumors in motion. Every Halloween I let a group of kids inside, and I...test them, see if they’re worthy. How difficult these trials are depends on how nice I think you kids are. And you three seem pretty alright to me.” “So...you’re not going to eat us?” Timmy asked, then winced. What a dumb question.

But the other man only laughed. “Of course not!”

“Then...what are you going to do?” Marceline asked, still on edge.

Mark walked to a door on the far end of the room and opened it, and immediately Timmy could tell it was brightly lit, far more so than this one. The three stepped toward it and their eyes widened.

“Whoa,” Rob said.

“Indeed. You can take as much as you can carry.” The kids entered the room, amazed. Before them were mountains and mountains of candy. So much Timmy wondered how one man could’ve gathered them all. “Wow.” “Have at it, kids,” Mark said, gesturing.

Marceline glanced at him for a moment, then all three headed into the room and began filling their buckets. They’d already gotten a fair amount from the previous houses they’d visited, but there hadn’t been that many before George had left them on their own.

As they began filling their buckets, Mark continued speaking. “I didn’t used to do things like this. Didn’t like kids, didn’t like them barging into my home. I used to keep my doors locked, but after...after a while I began feeling lonely. But the only people who ever visited were kids daring each other to explore the haunted manor. I’m not exactly a...daylight person. More of a night owl, you could say, and I don’t very much like going outside. So I devised an idea. On Halloween only, I would unlock my doors and let kids in, testing with traps of my own devising to see if they deserved to enter the room of candy I had spent years prior preparing. And here we are.” “But you almost let Rob fall into the cauldron,” Marceline pointed out.

Mark shook his head. “Even if he’d fallen in, he’d have been fine. The fire wasn’t real, and what was in the pot was only green apple juice.” “And what about the invisible room? How did you put all that together?” Again, Mark flashed his too-sharp teeth. “My dear, that’s a trade secret. Let’s just say that when you’ve lived as long as I have – and you’re as rich as I am – you figure out how to do a lot of thing that shouldn’t be possible.” Marceline stared at him for a long moment, eyes narrowed. “You aren’t planning to kidnap us, are you?” “Certainly not! I don’t think I could bear to deal with children more than once a year,” Mark chuckled.

Marceline seemed soothed by this, and went back to filling her bucket. Soon they were done, and Mark led them back to the front door. “Well, this is farewell! Don’t tell anyone about the truth of what’s in here, if you’d be so kind. Tell them about my little Halloween trials, yes, but not what they really are. Or the reward at the end. It’d be much more amusing that way, yes?” The three shrugged. “I guess,” Rob said.

Mark rolled his eyes. “Alright, goodbye! So long! Don’t come back for at least another year!” Once the three were ushered out the door, it was closed behind them, and the trio stood outside with buckets overflowing with candy. They looked at each other, as if bewildered that such a thing had occurred. Timmy was just glad they’d gotten out alive.

They walked back down to the road. Once they’d reach the intersection between Wyford Drive and Ulysses Street, they found George standing next to a stop sign, still dressed as some rock band member Timmy didn’t know. He frowned at them, barely glancing at their overflowing buckets. “Where the hell have you three been? Your parents would’ve flipped if I came back without you!” “You’re the one who wandered off!” Marceline retorted.

“And you should’ve followed me! I was only with them for like five minutes!” “Twenty minutes,” Rob muttered, so low only Timmy could hear him.

“Whatever. Come on. Let’s get these two back before our mom starts wondering where we’ve been.” The older boy led the way, Rob quiet, Marceline’s head still held high. Timmy wondered if they should tell George about their little haunted house adventure, but decided against it. He’d probably never believe them. It was better to be quiet, he’d learned, in times like this.

Still, despite all the fear, it was a rather fun little incident. He wondered if the other seasons had things like this...

[seiya234]

He remembered nothing. Not how he got here, not his past, not even his name.

All that he knew was the now, and the forest.

(There was a nagging feeling that he had been doing a lot of thematic wandering in forests lately, but that wasn’t important so he ignored it.)

He felt lightheaded, not as if he was going to pass out, but like some great weight he had grown accustomed to wearing had suddenly been removed. In his chest there was an occasional flare of fiery pain, but as soon as he noticed it, it was gone again. His feet were bare and the ground was rough, but he didn’t mind. They were definitely taking him Somewhere, he could feel it as he slipped in between trees and shrubs, a path known only to a deep part of him. What for and why he had no idea.

But the woods were lovely, dark and deep. He felt a peace here he knew (how?) that he hadn’t felt as intensely for a long time.

The trees themselves were rather interesting; He had a feeling that the types of trees he kept walking by weren’t supposed to grow in the same forest together. There were the short, scrubby trees that were either bursting with tiny yellow flowers or long seed pods that littered the forest floor and constantly crunched under his feet. Trees with stiff branches that stuck straight out and bristled with millions of tiny needle like leaves. And finally there were the trees that almost looked like they were melting; long and limber branches that drooped off the trunk, tips kissing the ground.

The wind whistling through the trees sometimes sounded like laughter and sometimes like crying but mostly just like wind.

He frowned. Was this supposed to be teaching him some lesson or deliver a Grand and Terrible Truth at the end? That kind of thing generally only happened to his br-

To his…. his….

It didn’t matter. And the woods were lovely, dark and deep.

Also really good smelling.

—-

He continued to wander for an indiscriminate amount of time; perhaps an hour, perhaps a year. He let his mind turn off, let his feet do the thinking as vines came out of the ground and off the trees to kiss his fingers-

He started. One second it was only him and the woods, the next he was in a small clearing and in front of him was a coyote, perched proudly on top of a massive mound of gaudy gee-gaws, golden chains and coins and what looked to be oversized, handmade books. The coyote looked up and gave him a huge and not very friendly grin. The coyote was massive and smelt even from here like the cologne that…. that… well the coyote smelt like “Older Bay” aftershave and he was pretty darn sure animals didn’t smell like that.

The coyote jumped down somewhat unsteadily from the top of his hoard, and began to make his way towards him. The mangy animal had clearly seen better days. One of the coyote’s eyes was missing, though which one he couldn’t quite say, almost like it kept switching in the canine’s skull. The animal’s two back legs were twisted and mangled, almost hairless and covered in hundreds of pockmarked scars, as if the coyote had had to chew his way out of traps over and over again in his life. The coyote’s fur was patchy and thin, and both his ears were missing chunks out of them. He held himself as still as he possibly could as the coyote came ever closer to him. No matter how beaten down the creature in front of him looked, danger rolled off of the coyote in waves. He had no doubt that if he tried to flee, the coyote would handily chase him down and tear him to shreds.

A cold nose budged against the inside of his wrist, followed by a gentle nip on his fingertips. He looked down to see the coyote grinning and wagging his tail at him.

“Um-“ He coughed; it felt like forever and a day since he had actually had to talk. Once he felt like he could use his throat again, he went on. “Do you want me to pet you?”

The coyote yipped, and began to circle around him. He couldn’t help but laugh.

“I guess that’s a yes then?” The coyote… was the coyote waggling his butt at him? Yes. Yes he was.

“Okay, I get the hint!” He began to scratch the coyote near the base of his tail, which wagged even faster. The coyote’s fur was as coarse as it looked, but he didn’t mind.

Suddenly the coyote danced back, quickly retreating back to the massive loot pile. He was confused for a second before he saw-

“Son of a bitch-“

In the coyote’s mouth was his wallet, pilfered from his back pocket while he had been giving the canine a good scratch. 

Safely back on top of the loot pile, the coyote spat the wallet out, and then began to yip with obvious glee.

“That’s real funny St-“

He blinked. What was he talking about again?

On top of the mound of gold and books, the coyote looked at him with concern, before looking to the left and beginning to bark.

His eyebrows furrowed.

“Is this like a Lassie thing? I mean, that’s more your time period than mine but-“

The barking grew louder, and somehow more pointed. He could take a hint when it was given.

“Thank you,” he said, before letting his feet take him down the path given to him.

As he went, he noticed the coyote gently prying one of the old books from the top of the pile, nosing the edges until it flopped open in a puff of glitter.

Leaving the old man to his reading, he left the clearing.

—

He sensed the beast long before he saw him.

It was the way his path grew more and more littered with shards of sharp, off-white shards and round pearl like bits that he knew somehow were not the rocks he had been accustomed to by now.

It was the way the wind through the trees went from laughter to soft cries and a constant murmur of pain, of fear, of hate.

It was the eventual displacement of the smell of earth and growing things, with the overbearing scent of meat gone bad and rotten, the scraps of red soaked fabric hanging off low-lying branches, the speeding of his heart though he was only walking-

Also the massive paw prints that were longer than he was tall. That was a pretty good hint too.

He felt the beast before he actually saw it, felt the earth shake with the force of its steps on the ground. Smelt the stench of rot and burning things grow somehow even stronger and before, saw the branches of the trees shake and quiver with each step of the beast, felt something in his chest burn painfully hot, like a fire gone out of control-

He turned another corner and in a clearing, there the beast was. 

The spotted hyena was massive, towering above even the tallest of the willows and acacias in the forest. The hyena’s fur was discolored, soaked and dripping from the sheer amount of blood coating the animal. The hyena’s many spots occasionally transformed from flat fur markings to bulbous, distended yellow eyes that burned before becoming just fur again. The hyena’s sides heaved rapidly, as the hyena was constantly panting, constantly scenting the air, constantly ready to eat to tear to devour to have more-.

The hyena saw him, threw its head back and screamed at the sky. And suddenly he wanted to do the same, the flame in his chest burning painfully hot and it would be nothing to tip his head back, open his mouth, let the flame rise up his throat and exit his mouth-

He looked back down and suddenly the hyena was there, in front of him, still far larger than any hyena had business being, but at least shorter than him now. Before he had a chance to react, the hyena had tackled him to the ground, claws digging none to gently in his front as the animal rode him down. The hyena dipped its great head down next to his face, opened his horrible maw of a mouth-

And then began to give him big, wet, sloppy dogg-…. canid. Big wet sloppy canid kisses.

“God,” he couldn’t help but huff out with a laugh, “your breath smells  atrocious Di-”

There it was again, the word on the tip of his tongue then lost again. 

The hyena cocked its head at him, puzzled, and he reached up a hand to pat the animal on its head.

“It’s okay, I’m fine. I think. I feel pretty fine.”

And he did. Outside for the complete loss of memory and sense of self, and the occasional odd urge to tell the trees to brush their hair or pick up their laundry. But yeah, other than that, completely fine.

The blood covered hellbeast sitting on top of him didn’t look quite as convinced.

“I think… I need to keep going?”

The hyena remained on his chest.

“Look, if I’m on some weird mystic quest thing, and I have already seen you and one other canid, then I’m clearly meant to go on to see a third and have some kind of revelation.”

The hyena yipped, then rolled off of him and plopped inelegantly on the ground, unable to argue with that logic. Getting back to its feet, the hyena came over and nuzzled him on the neck, the face, before slowly turning away. As the hyena walked back into the forest, the goofy façade it had gained when it was with him quickly dissipated as the hyena grew rapidly in size, and once again became drenched in blood.

He lay on the ground for another moment, before feeling something wet on his cheek. He reached up to touch his cheek, and found it wasn’t blood or hyena drool but tears.

----

There was no thematically appropriate lead up to him meeting the third dog.

One minute he was walking, and still marveling at the little tendrils of clover curling around his toes, the next there was a….

Okay, he was pretty sure wolves were supposed to be a lot bigger than this, but there was undeniably a wolf in front of him, however diminutive.

He was also pretty sure typical wolf behavior wasn’t to suddenly run jumping around in circles, yipping like a puppy and peeing a little in excitement.

“Um, hi.”

The wolf came over and began to immediately lick his fingers- or at least, as much of his fingers as she could reach.

(She? Why was he convinced that the wolf was a she? For that matter, how did he know that the coyote and the hyena were males? Did it matter?)

Unlike the other two, the wolf made no motion to stop him in his path, or to stay still. Instead, she seemed content to follow him on his path as he continued on. The trees swayed above them in the night, the air was thick with the smell of rotting leaves and damp earth, and, wait did that wolf just do a back flip? He was pretty sure that was something wolves could not do and yet here she was, grinning at him with that Mab-

That M-

The wolf whined and began to aggressively bump her head against his legs, almost like a cat, and he reached down to run his hands through her fur.

“Hey, I got this. I think… I’m almost there. Wherever there is that I need to be. Am I right?”

The wolf whined a little bit, just in time for them to reach a fork in the road.  She looked to the left, to the path that his feet wanted to take him down, and froze.

Then she began to growl.

He tried to go around her and she none too gently got in his way, almost knocking him off his feet as she did so.

“I know you don’t like whatever is down there, but I need to go. My... um, my feet are telling me that.” (his feet had been talking to him for a few years now [?] and he still wasn’t used to it.)

Another attempt to step around her, and another push back, this time with a none too gentle nip on his hand.

“Look, the sooner I deal with what is down the road the sooner it will be done-”

The wolf began to shake her head back and forth, and her growling got louder. 

“Please, I need to go through-”

Unlike the hyena or the coyote, the wolf did not grow in size. But she didn’t need to, not when her eyes began to swirl with oil rainbow slick madness, or when her growls, while growing ostensibly no louder, began to shake him down to the bones.

“You need to let me continue on-”

The rainbow slick had spread over her entire body, and it was hard to focus on her, especially as her growls were doing something to his inner ear that was making him lose his balance.

He shifted his stance, to make it harder for her to move him. “Let me through. Now.”

The rainbow slick colors were swirling so fast now that it was adding to his nauseousness, and he knew that there was nothing that she wouldn’t do for him, do for the people she loved. He thought the hyena was scary? The wolf didn’t care about rules, not like the hyena did, deep down. The hyena occasionally lost, but the wolf always got her way. The wolf was far, far worse-

“MABEL!”

The word ripped out of him, ripped through the fog that had settled in his memory, and froze the wolf.... no, froze Mabel in her tracks.

He knelt down, and the wolf trotted over, still covered in rainbow swirling colors but now whining under her breath rather than that sickening growl. She leaned her whole body into him, and he wrapped his arms around her, burying his hands in her surprisingly soft fur.

“Mabel honey. I need to go down there. I need to make my decision.”

(decision? where did that come from? other than it came out of his mouth and immediately felt right.)

He leaned in a bit to kiss the top of her head, and even though she was clearly upset, it still made Mabel’s ears perk up slightly and her tail thump.

“I’ll see you soon. I love you.”

This time when he got up and walked around her, she made no motion to stop him.

As he walked away, she began to howl, long, heartbreaking peals of loss.

But what had she lost? 

----

The sight he came upon, at the end of the path, wasn’t as terrible as he

(He. He. He... what? There was something else supposed to come after that, and if he could remember Mabel surely he could kick start remembering his own darn name.)

imagined.

There was a apple tree. It was massive, towering far, far, far above all the copse of pine trees (that’s what they were!) around it, the pine trees that were meant to be a stand in for 

(Hank.

Your son.

Your son He...you.)

someone in his life. 

It was the biggest, healthiest tree he had ever seen in his life except.

Except.

Huddled sprawl legged at the base of the tree, body shaking like it could not push itself back up, was a fawn. But it... the fawn shouldn’t have been alive. Not with the fawn so starved that Hen- he could literally count the poor thing’s ribs from fifty feet away. Hell, the white he saw in the fawn was as much exposed bone and sinew as it was spots in it’s fur to prevent being seen. It fit with the massive, horrible bleeding sores on its legs and flanks that attracted flies (the first he had seen in this place). The fawn was licking at the tree, its neck shaking and straining to keep its head in place as it steadfastly licked at the tree. And where it was licking-

“Herein lies the problem, you see.”

Henr... He was not a proud man, so he was not ashamed to jump a few inches in the air as he turned around to face the voice.

It was him. Of course it was him; that’s why he was so surprised after all.

Except, he was pretty sure that he didn’t usually look so dapper. His other self was dressed in black slacks, a black suit coat, a black dress shirt, a black tie... black everything except for his shoes... or rather the lack thereof since his other self for whatever reasons (probably symbolism) was going barefoot.

He...no. Henry. Henry looked into the eyes of his dream self, then finally arched an eyebrow. 

“Was there any point to-” he waved a hand, indicating the vaguely zombiesque deer, the tree, the Forest of Overwrought Metaphors, “-all of this? I mean, were you worried about me losing my cool? Or being unable to handle it? Because as I am you and you are me, we both know that our life the last twenty years has been nothing but weirdness.”

His other self sighed, gently fingering for a second a bit of antler stuck in one of his buttonholes, before he spoke.

“You were supposed to come here clean, shriven, empty of any influences but-”

"Mabel happened.”

The man in black nodded. “Mabel always happens,” and though his tone was annoyed, there was a smile tugging at his lips.

It matched the one on Henry’s face. “Mabel has a way of doing that.” He tried to look around his reflection to see what the fawn was doing that was apparently so upsetting it was worth his subconscious bringing him on a weird amnesia dream trip, but was instantly blocked by the same.

And speaking of same.

“When I was in... when I was in that forest, you came to me as Mabel.”

His mirror image nodded, once again fiddling with the bit of tine on his lapel.

“So why not now?”

“What does Mabel make you feel? First word that comes to your mind.”

“Comfortable.” Henry paused. That was not what he meant to say... but it was true, wasn’t it? It wasn’t until he met Mabel, fell in love with her and received her love and acceptance in turn... it was the first time in his life he had felt comfortable in his own skin. 

“Exactly. And what I’m about to tell you… show you… well. Now is not the time for being comfortable. And you still don’t feel comfortable in your skin, even after all these years. Hell, you still can’t make eye contact with yourself in the mirror.”

“I… that’s because of the…”

Fuck.  It wasn’t because Henry couldn’t remember what he was talking about, it was that even here, in this palace constructed in his mind by his mind, what he was trying to articulate was so painful that he couldn’t manage it.

If there was a hell, Henry was pretty sure this was what it would be like.

His reflection nodded. “Exactly.” He plucked the piece of antler from his jacket and tucked it in his pocket. “Why don’t I show you what this fawn-“

“It’s the Woodsman, isn’t it?”

The other Henry looked pained; apparently the figure his mind appointed to tell him a hard truth was discomfited by plain speaking, which boded well for the evening.  

This time, when Henry pushed past himself, the other man let him pass aside, to see what was actually happening.

The fawn was licking at the tree, its neck shaking and straining to keep its head in place as it steadfastly licked at the apple tree. 

And every lick stripped the tree of some bark, ate into the wood and exposed more and more of the tree to the air. Already there was a three foot radius around the fawn’s head where it had stripped the bark away, and a sizable divot was getting etched into the tree itself.  

His other self was at his shoulder, and together they watched the little fawn work at the tree, destroying it one tiny lick at a time.

“It’s only been only a year, but look at the damage it has done.”

Henry frowned. “I feel fine. In fact, I feel better than fine; which if you remember was kind of the cause of a lot of angst on my part.” He paused. Here in this place, saying it out loud... it was kind of silly, how he spent this past year. He knew that now, of course

(”you can’t help the way you feel,” Mabel had said that at dinner a few months ago and maybe she wasn’t here but she was here, she always was always would be.)

The other him sighed, and walked gently around the fawn, to lean against a pine tree that Henry hadn’t noticed before, one that was just as tall as his apple tree.

“Here is God’s own truth Henry Pines. The Woodsman will cut you down. It will be slow. You won’t feel it and you won’t see it coming. But the Woodsman is going to fell you just like any other tree in the forest.”

"You seem to be implying that there is something I can do to stop this,” Henry said after a second. 

The man in black nodded and held out his hand. In it was an old pocketknife, the pocketknife that had been his grandfather’s and he had stolen from his father’s nightstand the night he left for college, the pocketknife that was now Hank’s. Henry took it with a steady hand.

It felt right, well balanced and well oiled.

(It felt wrong, impossibly heavy and unwieldy)

The man nodded at the fawn, who remained single mindedly at its task.

“The throat. It will be quick and fast. It won’t suffer. And then we will be free.”

Henry knelt down next to the fawn, blade still shut. His free hand reached out to  touch the fawn’s head. The fur was coarse but slightly soft under his hands, and as Henry began to pet the fawn, it paused in its eating to lean into his hand.

“Is it alive?”

His reflection, who had been playing with the bit of antler in his lapel, started.

“The Woodsman?”

“Yes.”

His subconscious was quiet for a good minute. That was all the answer Henry needed. 

Henry looked at the fawn. “You’re going to be the death of me,” he said, giving the fawn a good scratch before standing up. 

“Do you know what you have just done? What you have chosen?”

Henry nodded. “I do.”

“It’s feeding on your life, siphoning it off bit by bit.”

“I kind of guessed, considering that this apple tree is apparently my stand in.”

His subconscious sighed. “I’m only trying to save us.”

Henry looked down at the pocket knife in his hands, then at the fawn.

“Culling it... it would be like slicing a piece of my soul away.” Henry looked up at himself. “Am I right?”

The other him nodded. “It wouldn’t hurt you, your personality would remain the same... but a part of you would have gone forever.” He knelt down on the other side of the fawn, and laid a gentle hand on the fawn’s flank. “I’m glad you chose this option though.”

“This... was this supposed to be one of those ‘secret tests of character’? Because I have to tell you, I do not appreciate that and I like to think that as my consciousness, you would know that.”

“No. No it wasn’t that at all. It’s just.”

He looked Henry in the eyes. 

“We deserve to decide what happens to us, what happens to our body. We deserve to be asked and to make the decision.”

It was funny. His childhood was now only a little part of his life as a whole, and every year that passed distanced him more and more from his time spent with his parents.

And yet, even now, what happened to him as a child was still haunting him.

But not today.

“Thank you.”

The other Henry smiled at him. 

“No. Thank you.”

“Am I going to remember this, when I wake up?”

The man in black shrugged. “Maybe, maybe not. This is still a dream; just because it’s more impactful than most doesn’t make it immune from you waking up and forgetting it five minutes later.” He paused. “But you will feel well rested and have a good day today.”

Henry could live with that. 

(when he woke up, he wasn’t sure why he felt so... accomplished. Especially at 7am in the morning. 

But because he was, Henry bought himself a cold brew coffee in lieu of making a cup at home, to treat himself.)

[clairetherose]

Draecember 2017 Day 4 - A Memory

((((( I know, late again. I will get these out on time when the semester ends. Anyway! I went all depressing last time, so have heartwarming, this time! )))))

Evening was falling, and Kelci was perched lazily on the balcony outside the house belonging to herself and her wife, in Pandaria. From inside, the smell of something cooking wafted out to her and she smiled. “That smells good!” She called in, turning to look toward the kitchen, her once-blind eyes trying to sneak a look at Hiwa cooking. “You sure you don’t need my help?”

“You stay out, you food thief!” Hiwa called back, “I know your evil plot; you’re going to try and eat everything while I’m cooking! You won’t fool me again!” The Kaldorei poked her head around the corner of the door frame and gave Kelci a playful grin, then stuck her tongue out and disappeared. “Besides. I want it to be a surprise!”

Kelci sighed heavily. Her plan was foiled. “Caught me!” She giggled back, leaning against the wall and tapping her hoof against the wood beneath. After a few moments passed, she closed her eyes, simply feeling Hiwa’s Chi. “Hey, I love you. You’re my world.” She wasn’t sure why she said that, but it popped into her head.

The cooking sounds stopped, abruptly. Even though she knew what was happening, Kelci played along, waiting just long enough to open one eye. Barely an inch from her face was her wife’s, grinning at her. “You’re too amazing for words, so I brought this instead.” She said, then kissed Kelci deeply without any hesitation.

Kelci, of course, wasn’t about to complain. When their lips parted, Hiwa had one of the Draenei’s horns gripped in her hand, gently. More of a reflex than anything else. “Now stop being distracting so I can finish dinner.” She commanded with a smirk, and leaned in for one last peck on the cheek before heading back into the kitchen, shaking her head and laughing.

With her wife firmly occupied, Kelci’s mind instead began to wander, back to the very first time they met. It was years ago, before her eyesight had been returned to her, at a bar in Stormwind.

The Monk began to doze off…

Kelci sat at a table in the Pig and Whistle tavern, in Old Town. Across the table, her best friend Amelia was leaning back in the opposite chair, taking a rest. Though both sat as members of the Volfram council, Amelia was far more experienced than Kelci was, at leadership. While the human woman appeared relaxed, Kelci had a tingle of nerves keeping her on edge. The notices had been posted around Stormwind, telling people that Volfram was recruiting, but so far, only one person had answered the call. Amelia took care of his interview in short order, and he had been inducted already. He was downstairs, likely getting drunk at the bar.

Kelci sighed, settling her hands in her lap, gently. It was hard for her to properly take stock of the tavern around them, what with her blindness. Even with her ability to sense Chi, there were enough people that everything became muddled. She would have had trouble dealing with so many, usually, but there was a very large mug of tea before her. Tea always calmed her. Amelia was also abstaining from drinking, as she often did. She didn’t like to drink very much, whereas for Kelci it was more out of necessity. Any alcohol clouded her mind and threw off her Chi; a single drink for her was like being near blackout drunk, for anyone else. Just tea, for now.

“Amy?” She asked, feeling out for her friend with her sense. There she was, as warm and welcoming as always. It made Kelci smile.

“Hm?” Amelia had been dozing off, almost. “Oh, sorry Kelci, what is it?” She shifted in place. Kelci heard the scraping of the chair’s legs on the wood floor, the creak of it adjusting to Amy’s new position. Her friend’s voice came from higher up, as well. She wasn’t slouched, anymore.

“Can I do the next one?” The Draenei asked, hopefully, “I need to learn to be a proper council member eventually, don’t I?” She was hopeful to live up to the responsibility. Even though she’d sat on Volfram’s council since its inception, she had never felt like she contributed as much as the others. Whether that was her inexperience, or her inability to see, she wasn’t sure. It was almost a certainty that they felt pity for her, and she could feel it on their voices and in their Chi.

Sure enough, as Amelia spoke, there was that same familiar tone of remorse as she observed the Draenei. “Oh, of course! I’m sorry to have been hogging them so much,” She let out a low laugh at herself, “I didn’t even realize I might be taking something from you. Go right ahead, okay?” And there it was again; just that slight hint that Amy felt sorry for Kelci, even if she wasn’t doing so on purpose. The tiniest of wisps in her Chi. Kelci knew her much too kind to be willfully condescending, but with all the factors that seemed to be in the Monk’s way, it was more than likely a subconscious reflection of what she saw.

Kelci smiled, though, not wanting to make anything of it. Amelia had good intentions, and was still a good friend to her. “You’re fine, don’t worry about it,” She smiled back, “I’m just putting my name down for the next one.” She mimicked writing in mid-air, then snickered at herself, “Yeah, because I could actually put my name down for anything. I guess we’ll just have to see who walks in.” She smirked, “Or at least, you will.” It had been a long three hundred years since she lost her eyesight, but even ten of those years ago, she would never have been joking about it like this. Her training as a Monk had renewed her lease on life, and she found it easier to enjoy a spare joke every now and then, at her own expense.

Amelia joined in Kelci’s mirth, happy to see that her friend wasn’t actually upset with her. She’d seen Kelci angry only once before, and didn’t want a repeat of it. The girl could be scary, even without her sight. “Alright, then. Next one’s yours, but I’m on spotting duty. Am I your seeing eye dog?” She joked, snickering quietly. She rarely made references to the curse that occupied her, but seeing Kelci in such a good mood was inspiring her. Knowing that her friend was limited, she turned her eyes toward the door, scanning the faces of those who came into the Pig and Whistle.

After a little while, intermingled with chitchat about this or that, Kelci sensed something. A feeling unlike the others in the bar; Chi closer to Amelia’s. It felt a tinge wild, as if a beast was waiting behind, but still kind and welcoming. And unmistakably Kaldorei. “Someone approaches,” Kelci commented, sure there was no other reason for someone like that to brve this particular bar. And sure enough, before Amelia could protest, the Night Elf woman climbed the stairs to reach them.

“You guys Volfram?” She asked, with one of the notices clutched in her hand. “I hear you’re looking for people.” Unsure of who to address, she looked between the two women, finally settling on Amelia, who shook her head and pointed to Kelci. The Elf followed her direction and grinned at the Draenei, instead, “What can you tell me about you guys?”

Kelci was almost surprised to be addressed, and she blinked. It was a holdover from when her eyes used to work. “Ah, well. Like you identified, we’re called Volfram. I think the closest thing to what we are is more like a family, than anything else.” Though she was trying her best to face the woman, Kelci’s aim was off. With how crowded the bar was, her sense was less precise than it might usually be, so she was facing off to her side, a little. “I’m Kelci, and this is Amy. What’s your name?”

“Hiwasawa Shadeleaf,” The woman replied. An odd name, for an Elf, but Kelci could hardly recognize that. “But just Hiwa is fine. Also; are you… blind? You’re staring at a post on the railing. And yeah, it’s an attractive post, but c’mon. Hot Night Elf here.” She snickered, hoping that wasn’t too mean.

Kelci, of course, laughed back. “I mean. Yeah.” She gestured at the scattering of scars all around her eyes. “Or did gray and lifeless not quite give it away? Really too bad, I wouldn’t have minded seeing what a ‘Hot Night Elf’ is.” She adjusted her facing, “Hang on, is this better?” She asked, still off-kilter a bit. Something about this woman made her playful.

Hiwa grinned, delighted that this woman was such a good sport, “Nahhh, but almost. Now you’re… making sexy eyes at a chair. Is that what Draenei are into? Huh. Never been jealous of a chair, before.” She tapped her fingers on the table to make it easier to locate her. “Gray for sure, but hardly lifeless. I can see determination in them. And just a hell of a lot of strength.”

Kelci was thankful for the tapping, but the overt flirting was a bit much and her cheeks went a darker shade of blue. What was it about this woman? She finally met her target right on, the combination of sensing her Chi longer and audio queues helping her zero in. “Ha! Got you. Now. I should probably at least pretend I know what I’m doing, here.”

Amelia, for her part, was mostly silent, but smirking like a mad person. It was rare to see Kelci engage with someone like this, especially to see her so receptive to flirting. This had been a fantastic idea. She elected to simply let the two be.

“Oh, darn, now I have to see your face.” Hiwa cackled back, “Lucky me.” She tapped the table again, then leaned forward on her elbows, “I believe you were supposed to interview me, not just flirt.”

Kelci jumped in her chair. Hiwa was right. “Oh, uh. Yeah. So!” She proceeded to give the Kaldorei a brief rundown of what their group stood for, what it wanted to accomplish. Hiwa, for her part, kept the flirting to a minimum during the explanation. There was a time and place, and this was mildly official. When Kelci had finished, she nodded.

“Well that sounds like exactly what I’m after. What do you need from me?” Hiwa sounded excited to have stumbled on something so fitting for her.

Kelci beamed, “Oh, perfect! Just some questions about your abilities, really. What you can do for us? Though… unless my sensing of your Chi is off, I have a general idea. Still, I think it would be better to hear it from you.”

Hiwa cleared her throat. Time to shine and impress the cute goat. “Well, I guess what I do the best is mend the wounded. But I’m pretty scary when I turn into a cat and turn things into kebabs with my claws. So, yeah, if you guessed Druid - spot on!”

Kelci giggled at the idea of a cat making kebabs. “I want to be around for that, one day. It sounds… hilarious, really.” She gestured in Amy’s general direction, but just missed completely. “Both Amy and I are healers, as well, at least primarily. But there’s no shortage of wounded, these days. That would  be a more than welcome skillset. Next question! Tell us about yourself, at least briefly. You don’t have to share anything that makes you uncomfortable.”

That question made Hiwa pause, just a little bit. She had to debate how much to tell. “Well, up until recently, I was with a sorta military group. But it disbanded. Probably for the better, really, too many had died. Your ad mentioned family. I wanted something like that, again.” This was a far more introspective Hiwa than a few minutes ago. The woman had some depth, too. Kelci felt her stomach churn.

“You’ll fit right in. Third question.” Kelci nodded, more than pleased with the answer. Her first real interview and it was going so well. “Just… tell us your goals. What is it you want from us? We aren’t obsessed with gaining power or conquest.”

Hiwa snorted, “Good, I’d be worried if a nice girl like you wanted to conquer anything.” She gave Kelci a sultry smirk, realizing a moment too late how fruitless that effort was. “…I guess I want the same. Somewhere to belong and feel needed. A family, really.”

Kelci returned a warm smile, even if she couldn’t see the smirk. “Perfect, as far as I’m concerned, you’re in, so long as Amy’s alright with it.” She waited for an affirmative murmur from Amelia, then continued. “I just… have one more question for you. Would you like to go out some time?” She’d made her mind up about that roughly five minutes ago, but wanted to be proper first. Hiwa seemed a great fit for her, and didn’t even appear to care about her blindness. Just perfect.

It took Hiwa only a split second to reply, “Damn right I will. I’m free day after tomorrow, all day. Did you have an idea?”

Kelci was overjoyed. “Not yet but I will! Here, Amy can give you an official communicator and tabard, and I can use that to contact you. I… can’t wait. It’ll be fun.”

Hiwa seemed equally delighted. Kelci could sense her Chi going all aflutter, even if outwardly she was cool and calm. “Perfect! It’s a date!” She chimed, ecstatic with how things had turned out.

Both of them were giddy with anticipation, and for good reason. Though neither knew it at the time, they would someday be married. This was only the beginning.

Back in the present day once more, Kelci was shook awake by Hiwa. Her eyes blinked open and she saw her wife staring at her, arms folded. That same amused smirk painted her face. “Were you daydreaming?” She asked.

Kelci yawned, “Apparently I dozed off. Had a wonderful dream, though. It was about the day we first met.” She rose and embraced Hiwa, bumping their foreheads together.

“Oh how delightfully cheesy.” The Elf exclaimed, hugging her tightly. “Now come on. Dinner’s ready. I made your favorite.

Together, they moved away from the balcony and the fading light of early evening. Two souls intertwined, and perfect for one another.