#//sorry about not getting to this earlier. it’s been tricky to find the right tone to answer this with.

[faller-of-kharbranth]

Sent from the account @freeroaming-curiosity but it's clearly not Oppy

//warning: rather severe threat

No idea why the sam hill I can use this but as long as I can, might as well I want you to know, mama demon coyote, that you ain't safe. Never have I ever lost a trophy mark, and I'm the sheriff round these parts: I always catch up. And I ain't never gonna forget what you did to my voice, or my good hand. So don't get comfy, and get used to running, because you cain't hide no more That's all, til I find ya again ... Now the billion-dollar question is how to be doin that... Maybe that ol' spider's got some witchcraft in her cave she can cook up Wait is this thing still on?

YOU.

If you think you scare me, if you think you’ll set me running again, you’re wrong.

I’m not going to listen to the words of bullies like you ever again.

[cirilla-fiona-riannon]

The Beast Wants to Tempt the Little Rabbit (Epilogue)

Translations may not always capture the exact nuances or tone of the original text. Expect grammatical errors and inaccuracies. Not proofread.

Matias: "Don't move, or else I won't be able to get it off."

(Get off what?)

His fingers tickled my cheek for a moment before moving away.

Matias: "I finally got it."

Emma: "Was there something on me?"

Matias: "Just a hair."

Emma: "I didn't notice, thank you."

(Maybe it was his way of not interfering with my mysterious rule, just because I mentioned I have to space out once a day.)

(I really think he's a kind person. He even politely goes along with my lies.)

------------Flashback-----------

Matias: "A crime is a crime. Your excuses hold no meaning."

Matias: "If you still wish to make excuses, do so in court."

Matias: "Whatever the reason, the law is something that must never be broken."

Matias: "Criminals have no right to beg for mercy."

---------Flashback Ends--------

I became a little curious.

Emma: "Could you teach me about the law now?"

I placed my hand on the law book, and he nodded.

Matias: "Sure. As a token of my gratitude to you."

Emma: "Then, may I ask one thing?"

Emma: "Is there no leniency in Acroite's laws?"

(This has been bothering me for a while now.)

In Rhodolite, judgments often consider the circumstances of the offender.

(But judging from his attitude earlier, it seems like Acroite...)

Matias: "I can't say there's none at all."

Matias: "There used to be, but now, as a matter of principle, there isn't. Regardless of the circumstances, we uphold equality under the law."

(Just as I thought.)

Matias: "Strict laws have contributed to making Acroite the safest country on the continent."

Matias: "For example, crimes like fraud rarely occur because everyone in the country knows that the law is strict."

Emma: "Are the punishments severe as well?"

Matias: "Compared to your country, yes, they are. There's no need to show mercy to criminals."

Matias: "Everything is the fault of the guilty. This is the unshakeable foundation of justice."

(His country seems quite cold.)

While I believe that humans are creatures prone to making mistakes, his attitude suggests he doesn't even forgive those mistakes.

(Is this justice for the sake of equality?)

(My emotions might influence me, but I guess that's one way to look at it.)

I accepted his views without affirming or denying them.

Matias: "By the way, is there a specific number of minutes for your rule of spacing out?"

Emma: "It's over now! Sorry for the trouble!"

Emma: "I'll focus on your lecture from now on. Thank you in advance!"

Matias: "Leave it to me. I'll cram the law basics into you in a few hours."

By the time we left the shop, the sky had already turned red.

(I might have underestimated the lecture.)

The lecture in which he began using the book turned out to be more comprehensive than I thought.

I was able to understand everything thanks to his easy-to-understand explanations, but perhaps due to the dense content, I still felt a little dizzy.

Matias: "Sorry. I got a bit carried away."

Emma: "Please don't apologize! It was very informative."

Matias: "Well, if you say so, but I may have overdone it since you were listening so attentively."

Matias: "I often get told off by my juniors for this, but finding the right balance is tricky."

Matias: "Especially with women. Honestly, this is my first time giving a lecture to a woman."

Matias: "I'll have to imagine and practice every possible scenario when I go home."

(This is his first time giving a lecture to a woman.)

I was surprised because most of the women we passed by would look at him when he was just walking around like this.

Jin and Nokto often attract female attention, but in his case, I feel a compelling "force" akin to butterflies drawn to honey.

Emma: "Are there no women around you?"

Matias: "There are plenty. But they're all unique."

Matias: "Whether they are as pretty as butterflies or as lovely as bunnies, they all change their attitude when I approach them."

(Ah.)

Matias: "But you, on the other hand..."

Suddenly, Matias stopped in his tracks.

Matias: "Miss Emma, are you sure there's nothing wrong with you when you're with me?"

Emma: "Hmm, I don't think so."

The moment I replied, it was as if a dam had burst, and his charm overflowed, leaving me breathless with its intensity.

(He might be like this, but his presence feels like it's breaking some law.)

The overflowing charm of the most law-abiding prince, who seems to have gone to destroy order himself, is a guilty verdict in every sense.

(But he doesn't seem to be aware of it.)

Matias: "You're my only hope."

Emma: "Huh?"

He smiled warmly and clasped both of my hands.

Matias: "I thought I would never meet my ideal queen because women's attitudes often change, but..."

Matias: "If there's a woman as level-headed as you, there's still a chance."

Matias: "And someday, we'll greet the morning together, wrapped in a blanket, watching the early snow."

Emma: "Prince Matias?"

Matias: "Ahem. Anyway, you're my hope."

Matias: "I now have another reason to thank you."

(I may not fully understand everything he's dealing with, but he seems to have his own struggles.)

Emma: "I've received more than enough thanks today. I hope you find your wonderful queen."

Matias: "Yeah."

Emma: "And, Prince Matias, my house is just around the corner."

Matias: "I see. That was quicker than I thought. I guess this is it then."

Emma: "Yes. Your lecture was fun and informative. I feel like I've become a bit smarter! Thank you for today."

Matias: "That's what makes you such a lovely woman."

(That charm again.)

Dizziness washed over me as he smiled charmingly. I tried to let go of his hand, but he held on tightly, stopping me.

Matias: "Would it bother you if I said I find it hard to leave?"

Emma: "Did you say something?"

Matias: "No, it must be your imagination."

(----?)

Matias: "If there's another chance, I'll teach you anything you want to know."

Emma: "In that case, I'd like to hear about your student days next."

(I'm really curious about their student life.)

Matias: "Sure. There's no shortage of stories from our school days."

With a sudden change of demeanor, he lifted my hand and kissed the tips of my fingers.

Matias: "Until we meet again."

Matias: "Emma, I sincerely appreciate it."

Emma: "Likewise."

He reluctantly released my hand and walked away.

His beautiful figure gradually grew distant, and the gaze of the women also shifted away. 

(Matias is a kind and good person, but I wouldn't want to meet him in a courtroom.)

Part 1 ╎ Part 2 ╎ Matias End ╎ Epilogue

[sunshinesickies]

Daisy Johnson x Reader

*TW: minor descriptions of mental health issues, unspecified past traumas, and anxiety

Whatever, Whenever, Anything, Always

“Hey babe!” Your girlfriend greeted you as you entered your shared room. You hadn’t seen her all day, and after the day you had, seeing her sitting cross-legged on your bed, wearing cute shorts and one of your hoodies, you felt like you could finally relax. While you were physically drained and ready to just chill out with Daisy, your mind was dragging you in the opposite direction. You couldn’t escape your thoughts, replaying the events from the day, memories from your past and emotions from your present mixing together as they resurfaced and collided.

You knew it wasn’t going to quiet down anytime soon. It was just one of those days, you’d known the second you woke up that morning and the rough mission you had just returned from hadn’t help.

“Hey.” You answered back absentmindedly, your mind far elsewhere, so much so that you didn’t notice the way Daisy’s brows furrowed as you took off your shoes and joined her on the bed. You sat a bit father from her than normal as you brought your knees up, hugging them to your chest. “Whatcha doing?” You asked your girlfriend, your tone showing minimal actual interest as you spoke on autopilot.

At this point Daisy’s worry for your abnormal behavior got the best of her. She knew you often daydreamed and let your mind wander in other ways but not so often and distractedly that you were disengaged, especially not with her and especially not after a day of barely seeing each other.

You were usually so adorably intent on hearing every little bit about her day and very talkative about yours too. While Daisy was in thought, you were staring blankly at the tv on the wall opposite the bed, watching but not paying any real attention. Daisy spoke your name but when you didn’t answer, she placed her hand on your shoulder and turned herself more towards you. You blinked a few times, finally meeting her eyes for the first time since you got back.

“Sorry, love. What’d you say?” You asked, completely forgetting that Daisy had never actually answered your earlier question. She stared at you, her deep brown eyes gazing at you lovingly and wide, trying to hide the worry behind them. “Are you okay, baby? You don’t seem quite yourself tonight.” She murmured gently, thumb running along your shoulder. You blinked a few more times. “Yeah, no, I’m fine, Dais, just a bit distracted I guess.” You said, trying to ease her worry. You didn’t like to worry her if you could help it.

“Are you sure? You’re not feeling sick or anything are you?” She added, moving one hand to feel your forehead for a fever, trying to figure out what was up. She relaxed slightly when your skin felt normal under her palm. You smiled softly at her. While you didn’t want to waste her energy when she worried about you, you loved how sweet and caring she was.

“No, I’m not sick, love. I just…” you paused, trying to find the right words to match how you were feeling which was tricky because you were still processing your emotions yourself. Daisy nodded encouragingly, waiting patiently.

“I guess…it was just a…weird day. I found some things out about myself that I don’t know how to feel about yet and the mission really didn’t help so…yeah…” You broke eye contact, looking down at your hands which were fidgeting with the hem of the duvet. A beat of silence passed before you saw Daisy place her soft hands on yours, holding them still.

“Hey.” She hummed, waiting for you to look back up at her before continuing. She’d had her fair share of past traumas and strange, sometimes awful things could resurface at random times. You’d been her person through it all, now she could be your person. “I’m sorry today was weird. I get it, like totally…and um, you know you can talk to me about anything, I’m always here for you, whatever you need and whenever you need it.” She reminded gently and you smiled softly at her sweet words.

You nodded. “I know, Daisy. Thank you.” You leaned in and slowly pressed your lips to her in a loving, grateful kiss. When you pulled away, a few tears had silently made their way down your cheeks and your girlfriend immediately moved to dry them by cupping both hands around your cheeks and brushing the tears away with her soft thumbs.

“Is there-can I do anything, do you need anything right now?” She asked, hoping she could do at least one thing to help you feel a little better or at least give you the space you needed to do whatever you needed to at the moment. You closed your eyes for a few long moments, taking a couple slow, deep breaths before meeting her gaze again. “C-can we just cuddle for now?” You whispered, your voice much more fragile sounding than you wanted it to be.

Daisy gave you a soft smile. “Of course, baby. C’mere.” She hummed, opening her arms which you immediately melted into, pressing yourself as close to your girlfriend as you could, leaving no space between the two of you as Daisy hugged you to her chest. The two of you slid down deeper into the bed, tangling your legs together as she pressed a gentle kiss to your forehead before you rested your face into her warm neck.

“Thank you.” You whispered, placing a soft kiss to her skin. Daisy’s protective arms held you tighter. “I’ll always be here for you y/n.” She whispered in your ear. “I love you, so, so much.” She added and felt you smile against her skin.

She always knew exactly what to say and do and you loved her for it and every other reason possible. “I love you too, Daisy Johnson.” You murmured, your thoughts finally calming down as you focused on listening to the gentle sound of her heart beating. “More than you’ll ever know.” You added a few beats later, your own breaths evening out as your eyes slipped closed and you fell into a much needed deep sleep.

[theresa-of-liechtenstein]

no orchestra social this week (it’s next week) but at least we have a REHEARSALPOST!!! everyone clap and cheer for the REHEARSALPOST!!!!

started off rehearsal today with tita conductor informing us that our normal once-a-term sunday night rehearsals were no longer an option due to another group being given the rehearsal space at that time

“we’ve had that spot forever,” she said in the most peeved tone, but we all agreed on pushing it a few hours earlier for the sunday night rehearsal leading up to the winter concert next year

our two trumpets stood to help the percussionist find a snare stand and tita conductor commented “the committee is taking charge there”

no concertmaster today because. he’s technically not supposed to be at rehearsals at all due to a course conflict but he happily skips the class to make it to rehearsal. however this time he had to take a midterm so he was out of commission for the day

however the associate concertmaster seemed to not have been informed and. didn’t tune us. so principal oboe had to tell tita conductor “we’re not tuned” just as she was about to give directions

tita conductor looked significantly put out and said “oh, sorry! [concertmaster] usually does it…” and looked aside sadly at the first violin i stand

she tried to conduct the third movement of dvořák 8 in 1 from the outset. it failed miserably. “i didn’t expect that to work on the first try,” she told us after putting us out of our misery

there’s a small part in the third movement of dvořák 8 in the second violins that’s only tricky because (and i’m going to try and explain it as accessibly as possible since i am aware i am speaking to an audience where not everyone is a musician) it requires you to switch quickly between ways of thinking about the number of beats in a measure, which can really throw you off.

for my visual people it looks like this. try reading it out loud.

this was marked as one of my Problem Spots in my patented Go Through The Whole Piece And Write Down The Problem Spots method and i pretty much mastered it in a few minutes of focused practice over the weekend

so come rehearsal time, i did it at speed and was the only one in the section who managed to get it right (W for me)

i was looking at tita conductor to make sure i was in time with her baton. she looked down at me, made direct eye contact, and bestowed upon me one of her trademark full-face well done, you! smiles

i smiled back up at her, which quite literally caused me to forget what i was playing so the next note i played was horrifically out of tune as i tried to remember where i was (L for me)

had to walk away sadly with my bundle on a stick to get to my midterm and as i got up from my seat tita conductor said out loud in the most plaintive voice “oh no, we’re losing you…” 😭

i returned for quartet only to find nobody in the quartet there, so i went to ask tita conductor if she could open our customary room

she passed me her densely populated keyring complete with keys to her car, house, and practically every room in the music department, pointed out which one was for the room in question, and let me unlock it myself. i left my things in my room and gave her back the keys; returning, i saw our violist coming back from their class

the remaining members of the quartet trickled in, and as we were getting ready to begin i showed them the results of me getting bored in lab and perusing opera on video dot com.

astute readers will remember i found something that absolutely shocked me on opera on video dot com last friday. well it was a video of an opera tita conductor did. in 1993. which would have been about a year before she started to teach at iskul bukol.

concertmaster took a look, furrowed his brow, then realization came over his face. realization did not come as quickly for ate dean, who stared at my screen confusedly before viola gave her a very unsubtle hint and she looked mildly perturbed (which was, to be fair, also my reaction last friday).

we had just tuned and were discussing what we wanted to read first when lo and behold—tita conductor showed up and stood in our midst, exactly where she would have been standing had she been a podium. old habits die hard ig

which, after several minutes of us goggling at a youtube video of her from about a decade before 75% of us were born and 25% of us had gotten a bachelor’s degree, was. an interesting experience. all four of us were looking up at her like 🥺🥺🥺🥺

(she had a scheduling question primarily for concertmaster and ate dean since neither had been at rehearsal, but. still.)

we sightread the beginning of schubert’s death and the maiden quartet (no. 14) up through the end of the second theme which went not terribly for a first reading together and after a long day. i especially loved the little duet moment i had with ate dean with the second theme in f major it was so cute

went to put things away and i stayed back to let tita conductor know we had cleaned up (she was still in her office. by this point it was 8pm.)

i knocked on her door and she shouted COME IN from inside so i muscled open the door as far as i could (it is a very heavy door) and poked my head inside to talk to her before taking my leave

anyway i love doing music because my friends are there. so jot that down

[devilsvenom]

She doesn't believe him, but even if he meant it she likely wouldn't; Annalise had many problems, and she was mad at the world and she assumed it was mad right back, including Ezra. It makes a pit open up in her stomach when she senses it from him— feels like she could handle anyone being mad at her but not him, not right now, not after everything she had been through in the past week alone. Finding her brother is alive, but a vampire seemingly under the thumb of a super bitch who certainly didn't like being shot at, her sister almost dying, being kidnapped herself by someone she — well, trusted wasn't the word, but she had thought that Nolan would never do something like that to her. Now she couldn't even trust humans. She wants to cry, it's all bubbling up and it's far too much, but she can't... she won't allow herself to in front of him.

A sigh leaves her lips, blinking back the tears from bloodshot eyes as she looks at Ezra and tries to analyse what's going on in his mind. This feeling — these feelings — weren't something she was used to and she couldn't place it, couldn't put her finger on why she would feel so hurt if Ezra didn't trust her, didn't take her at her word. Couldn't place why as soon as she was free he was her first thought; Lis had tried but she couldn't make it there to the meeting point, she had almost passed out. "I tried to come earlier." She admitted with soft voice, clearing her throat to try and get the emotion out of her tone. "I wanted to see you as soon as I was free but I—, it was dangerous. Almost passed out on the way here." Had to stop at her exes place. "I'm sorry, Ezra."

She had to remind herself that what she was feeling — whatever she was feeling — was likely because of the blood sharing they had been taking part in. It was a tricky thing, could be dangerous, and she had never trusted another vampire. His blood when she tasted it, when she was already in good health, it was like ecstasy roaring through her veins. She couldn't get enough and she couldn't imagine experiencing that from anyone else; it had to be him. It's dangerous, and so is he, but not to her. A danger to others, a danger to all, but blind to the dangers he could pose to her. She either didn't see them or didn't wish to see them, because he's the first she's trusted like this. The first she's even come close to opening herself up to, truly. That was more than the bloodsharing, wasn't it? Even if it was, she doubted that it was anything more than one-sided.

"Yes." She answers far too quickly, snapping out of her thoughts. "I was going to ask you to." Annalise wants to feel him against her, arms wrapped around her holding her in place and pulling her so close they could almost be one as he fed from her. Strangely trusts him not to kill her, but knows she should have the ability to fight him off if he can't control himself. Lis would never wish to hurt him, especially in front of Frank, but if it would save her life she would have no choice, especially when his blood was in her system. "Just remember— your blood is in my system. You accidentally lose it, you're stuck with me forever." She teases, but what a forever it would be. They would have all the time in the world to go and see all of the ancient civilizations she longed to see. Two-thousand years old. She didn't know what she expected, but she didn't think he would quite be that old. "Well, that's quite the age gap." Lis chuckles, a soft smile staying on her lips. She didn't care how old he was, not really; it was an interest in him that made her ask. "You've seen all the history I've dreamed about. Lived through it. Survived so much." And he'd survive her too, and someday he wouldn't even remember the little hunter sparring mate turned friend.

"I'm not," he quietly says, but he doesn't know if that's true. His emotions are a soggy black spot of ink dropped on his brain, a stain he can never rub out ⸻ leaving the text on yellow-edged pages unreadable to his curious eyes. He doesn't know what hides in his head, around the corners of brain veins and nerves, inside pink bleeding meat and theorical soul squeezing his heart. It's a puzzle Ezra doesn't possess the pieces for, his fingers not daft enough to form the picture on the box. He can't tell her with certainty what he feels ⸻ can't tell himself what the discomfort in his chest means, the restlessness of his bones are trying to tell him. He isn't mad at her, but he is, and he doesn't want to be, but anger is all he can cling to. It's confusion and elation at once. He doesn't know if he believes her, either, but he nods slowly.

He misses the taste of her, the feel of her skin against his lips ⸻ the pulse of her blood throbbing against his tongue. She is the only thing he craves, lately. The only thing that will settle in his upset stomach. Sparta wasn't build in a day, and Menelaus risked everything for Helen. But is he Paris ⸻ starved for the attention of a woman who couldn't love him back? Ridiculous. He doesn't like her. He likes her blood. The distinction is thin, but it exists. It has to, he tells himself. Ezra shrugs, unsure of what he can do now. To comfort her, to comfort himself. Is this what a terrible situation looks like? He doesn't know. He doesn't think she is terrible. "Maybe later. Do you think I could drink from your neck, this time?"

He doesn't, normally. Not hers; too dangerous, too intimate. He adores ripping the neck of his victims open, drinking from where the flow is stronger. He can't imagine doing it to Lis, but he wants to press himself entire against her. Wants to bury his face in her neck, feel the weight of her on him, be drowned by everything she is. It's a strange question for an even stranger desire, but Ezra can't help it. His hands feel empty, like the only thing that could feel the holes in his existence is her. He is not hungry, he is not starved ⸻ he just wants her close. It scares him. It excites him. It makes him admit, "I'm nearly two thousand years old," in a whisper. She asked, before, and he doesn't want to lie. To hide himself from her.

[honeymooneyy]

my sirius

summary: sirius loses his memories due to a potion mishap and james fails to tell him that he’s been dating remus for two years 

Sirius had never really been good at potions. 

He wasn’t one to follow the directions, and that reflected in his potion-making skills. He liked to make changes to the recipe, despite his lack of skills to make executive decisions like that. 

So when he had been brewing a particularly tricky potion with James - one that renders the drinker void of any memories for an hour, he probably shouldn’t have tweaked the recipe. 

But as Sirius stared down at the murky green goop, he wished for some pizazz. So he took matters into his own hands. A funky potion like this should look a lot cooler, he decided. Granted, it probably wasn’t a good decision to add that mystery white powder in the back of the cupboard. 

The second it touched the surface of his potion, it erupted out and onto Sirius. What happened next, was utter chaos. 

Slughorn was screaming at James to scourgify the cauldron, which he did with a shaky wave of his wand. Remus and Peter were on the floor in a fit of laughter, much like the rest of the class - even Snape was smiling. And Sirius, well poor Sirius wasn’t quite sure what he was doing. Or who he was. 

He turned to the tan boy next to him, who’s dark eyes were locked on his, worry evident in them. He opened his mouth, closed it, then opened it again. “Sirius?” 

Serious?

“What?” Was the only reply he could muster. What was happening? What was serious? Who was this boy, and why did he look so concerned? 

“Did you, y’know, get any in your mouth?” The boy questioned, tilting his head a bit. His glasses reflected a bit when he did so, no longer allowed him to see his eyes. 

“Who are you?”

James deflated, turning to the man who was quivering in the corner. “Professor?” 

“It’s all fine,” The supposed Professor announced, holding his hands up. “I have  a couple counteractive potions. James, son, what did he put in there?” 

“Er, I’m not sure, I didn’t see.” The boy, James, turns back to their cauldron before reaching for a small bottle of white powder. “I think it was this.” 

The Professor squints at the bottle before sighing. “I’m not entirely sure what that was. We could try all three of the counter acting potions? They don’t mess with one another, and I’m sure one of them will work. Alright, I think we’ve had enough of this, class dismissed early, James stay here with Sirius. Please clean up properly!” 

The class began to put their materials away, whispering different cleaning spells as to not disturb the silence that had descended upon the class. Sirius assumed his name must be Sirius and James must not have been speaking of the emotion earlier. He stood at the small table with the dark cauldron, awkwardly shifting his weight as the Professor sifted through his drawers. 

In the end, he pulled out three small vials and handed them to James who brought them to Sirius. He flashed him a bright grin. “Drink up!” 

Sirius didn’t ask very many questions, though he felt as if he was bursting with them. He simply tilted his head back to swallow the liquids back, one after the other, cringing at the taste of the last one. 

James and the Professor continued to stare at him and Sirius stared back.

“What’s my name?” The Professor questioned after a moment of silence. 

“I don’t- I don’t know, sorry,” Sirius apologized, his ears burning as he shrunk under their inquisitive gazes. 

James sighed but the Professor didn’t seem to put off. “No worries, Black. I’ll take a look at that powder and I should have an antidote whipped up soon enough. Besides, if too much didn’t go wrong with your potion, you should get your memories back within the hour. James, why don’t you take him down to the medical wing to wait?” 

He must’ve messed up the potion because an hour later, he was still unknowing to who he was. 

James had filled him in on where he was - Hogwarts - and who he was - Sirius Black - but hadn’t given him too much information. He had assured that he’d get his memories back soon enough so there was no point. But the outcome was starting to look pretty bleak and soon enough, the nice nurse lady was sending Sirius away with James seeing as nothing could be done. 

“It’ll be fine, Sirius, Slughorn will get you back to normal soon enough. I reckon you’ll remember everything by tomorrow, no worries. And Remus and Peter will love this!” James seemed extremely enthusiastic, despite the fact that his best friend had no memories. 

“Does this sort of thing happen often?” Sirius was barely keeping up with James’ quick pace as he tried to absorb the castle he seemed to be in. 

“Losing your memories? Not to any of us, but I’m surprised it hasn’t happened yet. We’re always getting into trouble. We’re kinda known for our pranks.” 

James seemed pretty proud and Sirius smiled at the thought of pranks. 

“Anyway, we’re in Gryffindor. There’s four houses, but I don’t think you need to know the others, right now. The password is Ficklepuffs, don’t forget that or else you can’t get in.” 

Sirius nodded, mouthing the word and hoping he’ll be able to remember it. 

“Okay, let’s not stay in the common room too long. Better if you don’t have to deal with all the questions. Let’s go to our dorm room. We share it with Remus and Peter.” 

Sirius followed him up the stairs wordlessly, ignoring the stares from the others in the common room. James pushed a door open and Sirius stepped into the warm room, his eyes flitting around before finding a boy sitting on one of the four beds

The blonde one looked up at him before directing his gaze towards James. “Is he all fixed up yet?” 

James grimaced a bit, “No, we’re waiting for Slughorn to make an antidote. Poppy told us to bring him up here and make him comfortable until the potions wears off or whenever Slughorn makes the antidote. Whichever happens first.” 

Sirius just stood in the center of the room, unsure what exactly he was supposed to do. All four of the beds looked exactly the same, and though James had taken the bed next to the blonde boy’s bed, the other two seemed too similar. James must’ve noticed his discomfort because he nodded his head towards one of the beds before speaking to the other boy in hushed tones. 

The bed was large with thick curtains around it, probably for privacy. The bed was made neatly and Sirius felt bad as he settled on top, wrinkling the sheets. On the bedside table was a book or two that seemed pretty untouched, and a dog toy? 

“Hey, Sirius!” The blonde boy waved to get his attention. “I’m Peter.” 

“Hi Peter.” Sirius waved back only for the other boys’ jaw to drop open as he shot James a look. 

“He can talk?”

“Of course he can talk, you dolt. He lost his memories not his knowledge. I bet he can still do maths and stuff. He just doesn’t know how he learned it, I think.” James turned to Sirius with a thoughtful look. “What’s four plus four?” 

“Eight,” Sirius replied immediately, much to his surprise. 

“See! You know how you learned that? Who taught you?” 

Sirius shifted uncomfortably. “No, not really.” 

James gave Peter a knowing look. “See. James is always right, that’s why we don’t question James.” 

“Oh quit it with the third person.” Peter rolled his eyes though his lips were quirked up a bit in a smile. 

James continued to speak in third person and Sirius watched the banter with a small smile. Eventually Peter shoved James away, speaking of some essay he needed to finish, so James came over to bother him. 

“I know you don’t really remember me, but we’ve been best mates since first year. That’s when we were elven.” James fills him in, perching on the edge of his bed. 

“And now we’re...?” 

“Seventeen. Er, well you are. Your birthday was about a month ago, November third. Remus and I are still sixteen.”

Sirius nods, soaking in this information. “And we’ve been dorm mates since then?” 

“Yep! Actually, you live with me now. But don’t worry about that, you’ll get your memories back soon enough,” James reassured though Sirius didn’t fully believe him. 

His thoughts were broken by the door slamming open as another boy stalked in. He was muttering angrily and when he saw the Peter, he turned toward him. “My blasted book was on the other side of the school! This is what I get for trying to study for Charms!” 

Sirius just watched, mouth agape, because he had never seen someone this attractive. He knew he hasn’t seen very many people in the past hour, his only memories, but he’s sure no one else could compare. Though his side profile is all Sirius can see at the moment, he still marvels at his golden brown hair and the flutter of freckles splattering his face. His cheeks are flushed pink, probably from his journey to the other side of the school, and matched his lips that were moving rapidly as he complains. 

And then he seems to realize that Sirius is there because he turns to him, and Sirius squirmed under the intensity of his amber eyes. “Did Slughorn’s antidote work?” 

Sirius can barely manage a shake of his head. 

This seems to upset the boy further because he groans and falls back onto his bed, hands dragging down his face. Sirius can’t help but follow his actions as his jumper hitches up to reveal a patch of pale skin. A jagged scar peaks out from under it, and though it’s faded to a silvery white, Sirius internally flinches at the thought of how it felt. 

Though James was still on his bed, he couldn’t help but continue to sneak glances at Remus. Something about him, and his presence, seemed comforting. But he seemed in distress and Sirius wanted to offer that same comfort he found.

“If he’s Peter, you’re Remus, right?” Sirius can tell Remus is upset and maybe he just wanted to talk to his friend? While Sirius isn’t really Sirius, he can try. And then he stupidly introduces himself, “I’m Sirius.” 

“I know,” Remus replies flatly, still stretched out on his bed. “And you’re the biggest idiot I know.” 

Sirius cringes back, regretting the choice to open his mouth. He glances at James who just waves it off. 

“He’s not mad, it’s just Remus.” James leans back as he stretches his leg out to prod Remus with a toe, then squealing when Remus grabbed said toe and yanked him so he almost slid off the bed. “Oi!” 

Sirius waited for him to get situated again before leaning in to hiss, “You didn’t tell me I was gay! Or that Remus is so attractive! What the fuck, mate?” 

To his surprise James just laughs, “Oh, right. Sorry, it’s not something I thought I would have to tell you, I dunno, I didn’t think about it. And what? I was supposed to introduce Remus as the hot one?” 

“Yes,” Sirius replied, genuinely. “This is important information!” 

“Right, sorry. But you don’t have to whisper, it’s not really a secret.” 

Sirius narrows his eyes, “Being gay or thinking Remus is attractive?” 

“Both. They go hand in hand, really, if you think about it.” James nods thoughtfully before smiling again reassuringly. “You’ll remember soon enough.” 

“Right. So he knows I think he’s hot?” 

“I would hope so.” 

Sirius frowns at this, “You hope so? What, does everyone know?” 

“Oh, yes.” 

“Wait a minute, what exactly are we?” This time the question is directed to Remus who has been lying on his bed, quiet but no doubt listening in on their conversation. 

Remus turns his head over to look at Sirius, his eyes flickering over his face before a smile is pulling at his lips as he says, “Friends. Since first year.” 

“Yeah, yeah, everything since first year.” Sirius visibly deflates at this information. What was Sirius With Memories doing? How could he bear to be just friends with someone like that? And now he had gone asking dumb questions, no doubt a problem that will soon arise. 

It took a mere couple of seconds before the problem rose. 

James stood up, dusting off his pants in a big show before turning to Peter. “Let’s head down to dinner, yeah? I think it’s better if we leave Sirius back here, Remus, you’ll stay?” 

Remus hummed a reply, now turning to lie on his stomach, burrowing his head into his arms. He looked so cuddly Sirius itched to wiggle into his embrace. 

“Wait! I want to come, I want dinner, I’m hungry.” Sirius stood too but James waved him off. 

“Nah, too many questions. We’ll bring you back some food, Remus too. And Poppy said to make him comfortable so Remus, I dunno, tuck him into bed or something.” James didn’t leave much time to argue, slipping out of the dorm door with Peter close behind him. 

Sirius just stood there, awkwardly, now unsure what to do. He glanced at Remus who still had his head burrowed in his arms, and then at the door, considering just running after James and Peter. Why did he have to say something about Remus being attractive? Even if James was right and Remus already knew, it was so awkward!

“Are you going to change?” Remus asked, pulling Sirius out of his thoughts. His eyes flickered over Sirius’ figure before glancing back at him with a small smile. “You’re covered in that goop. I can clean off your bed, go get changed.” 

Sirius assumed the trunk at the foot of his bed must have his clothes, and much to his luck, he was right. He just reached for some random pants and a shirt before spotting a fuzzy jumper in the corner. He grabbed it too. 

Remus was muttering some sort of spell on the bed and the green patches were slowly disappearing. Throwing him one last glance, Sirius entered the bathroom and quickly changed out of his soiled clothes. Once he was clean, he grimaced at the state of his hair. Thankfully, it had been spared from the potion, for the most part, but was a tangly mess, no doubt from his nervous fiddling. He tried to rake his fingers through it but it didn’t do much so he just returned to the room. 

Remus had cleaned his bed and was on his own now, fidgeting with a comb. When he spotted Sirius his eyes brightened and his smile grew a bit as he waved him over. “C’mere, I’ll fix your hair.” 

Sirius ducked his head bashfully as he approached Remus’ bed before gingerly crawling onto it, sitting down in front of him. He was acutely aware of how close Remus was too him and butterflies erupted in his stomach. Sirius forced himself to sit perfectly still as nimble fingers began carding through his hair, working through the knots. 

“Oh, Sirius, how did this even happen?” Remus murmured, his voice quiet enough that it made Sirius blush. This whole thing felt so intimate and it didn’t help that Remus kept brushing against his back as he fixed his hair. 

“I dunno,” Sirius whispered back.

“S’okay, love, I think I can get the knots out.”

The nickname slipped out so naturally it sounded as if he said it every day, but it didn’t stop Sirius from freezing, his leg pausing in it’s bouncing. Remus must’ve noticed too because his fingers stilled in Sirius’ hair. 

“Shit, I couldn’t even go fifteen minutes, could I?” He tutted, before continuing to work through his hair. “Sorry, Sirius. Your face when I walked in was too priceless, I couldn’t not have some fun with it. I loved your reaction to me saying we’re just friends.” 

Sirius wasn’t completely sure what was happening, but he found his voice. “So we’re not friends?” 

Remus snorted at this, “No. We’ve been dating since fourth year. Almost two years, now, I think.” 

“Oh.” 

Sirius’ head was whirling. He was dating Remus? And the others really didn’t bother saying anything about it? Again, this seemed like important information! Your name is Sirius Black, you’re gay, you have a hot boyfriend...the basics! 

Remus laughed again and ran his comb through Sirius’ now tangle-free hair. “All done.” 

Sirius turned around so he could face Remus who was now settled back down and was leaning against his headboard. “Thank you.” 

“Look at you, so polite. If only Sirius could be like this every day.” Remus shook his head but his words held no venom. “Do you want me to braid it so it doesn’t get tangled again?” 

Sirius didn’t really know what to say to him, seeing as they were boyfriends though he had no memory of this. So he just nodded mutely, turning back around so Remus could braid his hair. He worked in silence and Sirius greatly appreciated it. 

When he was finished he patted Sirius’ shoulder and he turned around again. Remus was watching him with a warm smile and it encouraged him to voice his thoughts, “Do you think Slughorn will we be able to make an antidote?” 

“For you memories? I’m sure he will. He’s pretty talented,” Remus assured, his hands reaching out to brush a couple loose strands out of Sirius’ face. “Don’t worry too much. We’ll work it out tomorrow.” 

Sirius nods but he doesn’t feel very confident in the Professor’s abilities. “This is scary. I don’t know anything or anyone. It’s weird, though, I kind of still have emotions associated with people? So I feel things but I don’t know why.” 

“I’m sure it’s terrifying. But you’re safe with us, I promise you trust us when you’re normal. And for the emotions? It’s probably like muscle memory but with feelings? Can you describe it? Like me for example?” 

Heat crawls onto Sirius’ face and he dropped his gaze to his lap. “You’re warm. Like, my chest feels all warm on the inside. But also kind of swirly, I don’t know. It’s positive, I know that. I cared about you a lot, I think.”

“You did. I care about you a load too.” Remus reaches out to gently link their fingers together. “I was kind of scared about you never remembering me again, but I don’t think Dumbledore would let that happen. He’s the headmaster here.” 

“I wish I could remember you. You seem worth remembering.” 

Remus’ mouth fell open a bit at his words and then he was pulling Sirius into a tight hug, holding him against his chest. “That’s so cheesy but so sweet, oh my god, Sirius.” 

Sirius laughed at this, but wrapped his own arms around Remus, laying his head onto Remus’ chest. The embrace felt so natural he couldn’t help but melt into it, sighing softly. 

And that’s exactly when James and Peter burst through the door, holding plates of food. When James caught sight of them he exclaimed, “Remus! Get away from him! He doesn’t remember anything, poor Sirius! You’re a stranger! He’s a stranger!” 

“He’s not a stranger,” Remus protested, continuing to hold Sirius, chin tucked over the top of his head. “He’s my Sirius.” 

Sirius smiled into his sweater at his words. He quite liked the sound of that - my Sirius. 

[thedistantdusk]

Thanks to @jenoramaca @gryffindorhealer and @secretkeeper13 for the quick beta work!

A gift for my beloved @ginisbetterthanfirewhiskey.

CW: Language and domestic fluff

______

Trying

From the second he walks through the door, Harry can sense that something’s changed. It takes him thirty minutes to suss out why.

In retrospect, the smells coming from the kitchen probably tipped him off. Or maybe it was Ginny’s distracted hum, followed by the tinkling of plates and cutlery. Perhaps it was the fact that she prepared a full dinner, long before he even got home.

Nonetheless, he doesn’t worry about it too much as he greets her with a kiss, his hands cupping her chin. When he sits across from her at the table, there’s something furtive and curious lurking behind her eyes, but their meal is so peppered with normalcy that he doesn’t bring it up. They banter and laugh about Luna and Robards and wonder what they’ll bring to the Burrow on Sunday.

But when they’ve reached the stage of chasing stray noodles around their plates, Ginny finally clears her throat… and just like that, the nearly imperceptible shift he’d sensed earlier turns into something very perceptible, indeed. “Can I erm. Talk to you about something?”

He pauses, mid-bite, and takes her in. Her lip’s worried between her teeth, her hands fidgeting. Even her hair, normally strewn about her shoulders or parted to the side with a sort of effortless grace, is tied back and resting low at the base of her neck.

Ginny’s not normally this… serious. And he’d be lying to say it didn’t frighten him.

So he blurts the first thing that comes to mind. “Who died?”

There’s a half-second pause in which his chest clenches, his stomach churns. Could it be Molly? Or Arthur? George hasn’t been great either, not that—

But Ginny just reels back, confused… and it’s not until then that Harry realizes he’s really, really misread something.

“I… w-what?” she stammers, brow furrowing. She peers at him for a pained moment before her face relaxes into a look of understanding. “Oh. Oh! For fuck’s sake,” she mutters, rubbing her forehead. “I guess I’m thicker than usual, should’ve known you’d read it that way.”

Harry snorts. “Erm… darling, as many things as I legitimately don’t understand, I’m fairly sure this one isn’t on me.”

Ginny ignores this. “Did you seriously think that something dreadful happened and I’d just spring that on you in the middle of your bolognese?” Her lips twitch into a smirk. “Here’s some pasta. By the way, a fire burned a puppy orphanage to the ground. Could you pass the salt?”

He gives her a plain stare. Nice try. Years ago, he might’ve taken the bait and chased her down that rabbit hole. They might’ve had an hour-long, spirited debate on the existence of puppy-specific orphanages. But after three years of marriage, he knows better.

And she knows he knows.

Ginny finally draws a resigned breath. “No,” she says slowly. “No one died, ok? Or is even… I don’t know, sick or infirmed or threatened.” She waves her hand and continues babbling. “Last I checked, even Muriel’s still going strong, somehow. I’m jealous of that, you know— being old enough to just say whatever the fuck you’d like and have no one question it because—”

“—Ginny,” he cuts across on an exasperated sigh. “As chuffed as I am to chat about Muriel all night, I’d really like to know what’s bothering you. Please?”

There’s another pause as she bites her lip. Then, in one swift motion, she attempts to rise to her feet and push her chair in on her way over to him.

But somewhere along the way, something gets crossed— and Harry watches in bewildered horror as her foot catches on the leg of the chair. Then, right in front of his eyes, she lets out a startled gasp, her arms flailing, before she lands with a thump.

He’s out of his seat and on the floor beside her before he even realizes she’s cried out in pain and surprise. “Are you ok?” he demands, pushing her jeans up around her ankle… her tricky ankle, the one she hurt rather badly at the playoffs last month. Hm. It's a bit red.

Honestly, she hasn’t been this clumsy since she was 10 years old and near a butter dish. This does nothing to alleviate his fears that there’s something Very Wrong.”

“It’s not even my ankle that hurts,” Ginny grits, pushing up on her palms. “Wait— Harry, what are you—”

“Need to ask Gwenog,” he says urgently, running to the other side of the table for his wand. “She said that if anything happens to your ankle to tell her straight away, remember? Better safe than—”

She scoffs. “Seriously, Harry, I’m fine! I didn’t even land on my—”

He arches an eyebrow. “Have you suddenly forgotten the Puddlemere match? When your ankle broke clean through the skin?” Even now, the memory makes him shudder. “You heard Gwenog— without magic, you might not have walked again.”

“But there was magic,” she says, almost pleading. “And seriously, I’m fine!”

Harry finds he has limited patience for her heroics, though, while she’s sprawled out on the floor and nursing a bruise on her arse. “Gwenog’s instructions were quite clear,” he says firmly. “Having a pro athlete as a wife is a group task. It’s taxing on your body. I’ve got to make sure there’s enough of you left to enjoy our lives.”

Ginny clears her throat. “Erm… but what if you… haven’t actually got a pro athlete as a wife. Technically speaking.”

Harry swallows. He’s sure he’s heard her wrong. “What?”

With a wince, she adjusts herself against the wall. “I’m sorry… this isn’t how I’d planned to tell you. I’ve really fucked this up, haven’t I?”

Normally, Harry might press a bit harder. Normally he’d demand answers— and now. But as he peers at her on the floor, there’s something soft and uncertain behind her eyes… something timid. So he decides to do something he knows he’s good at— something she doesn’t let many other people do: take care of her.

With a sigh, he scoops her from the floor and brings her to the sofa. Then he props her against the pillows, putting her legs across his lap.

And he waits.

He doesn’t know how long he sits there, peering at her downcast face, before she finally says it in a rush.

“Iwanttohaveababy.”

It comes on a whisper. A breathed admission. He knows, just from her expression, that she’s never said it aloud.

But he must have misunderstood. There’s no way he’s not projecting, inserting the reality he wants instead. “Could you… could you repeat that?” he manages, his voice gruff and shaken.

Ginny just sits up straighter; her cheeks as red as her hair. “I want to have a baby,” she repeats, the confidence building with every word.

Oh. Looks like he was right after all.

Harry blinks at the carpet, his head spinning, mortified with the tears that have sprung, unbidden, to the corners of his eyes.

A baby. Their baby. A smile plays at his lips as he stares at her ankle in distracted bliss. He’s been ready for ages… longer than anyone he knows. It’s hard to remember a time when he didn’t want a family with her. When he didn’t want to watch her grow and change. To become more beautiful with every passing day until…

He swallows back another round of tears; he’d never forgive himself if he forced this… if he swayed her, in any way, despite what he wants so badly it squeezes his insides.

“But what about quidditch?” His voice cracks; he clears his throat to cover it. “Honestly Ginny, I’ll wait, as long as you’d like. We’re young. Think of what you’d deal with, loads of assumptions and press and comments.”

She turns to him with an arched brow. “And since when have I ever cared about comments? Since when have you cared about comments?”

He spreads his palms in resignation; it was a particularly weak argument. “I know. I just… don’t want to make your life more difficult.”

“Well...” She draws a deep breath and peers down at her nails. “I’ve erm. Actually quit the Harpies, all by myself.” Her cheeks begin to redden again. “I’ve already sent the owl and everything. Resigned. No intent to return next season.”

Oh.

That’s what she meant, then, about not being married to a professional athlete. Harry blinks a few more times as she plows through an explanation that could honestly be something from a dream.

“I’ve… I’ve just been thinking about it. A lot,” she adds, focus returning to her cuticles. “The Harpies are out for the rest of the season— that fucking Puddlemere match and that bullshit ref.” She glares at the pillow to her right. “Nothing like blind favoritism. Fucking prick should’ve been fired!”

All Harry can manage is a feeble chuckle, his hand moving to caress her knee. This time, he can’t bring himself to stop her spiral.

“Maybe it’s not just that match, though,” she admits, rubbing her ankle. “It’s also just… so much bloody work. I’ve been at it three whole seasons, you know? I’m a bit tired of missing birthdays. And family events. And only dreaming of bludgers and snitches. And attending the mandatory press interviews to avoid getting fined, and then giving polite answers to personal questions when I really just want to hex them, and—”

Harry laughs. “I think Sandra Richardson might disagree about the polite answers bit, darling.”

Ginny gives a dignified sniff and continues as if she hasn’t heard him. “Annnyway,” she says, toying with a piece of lint. “I… feel like I’m ready to move on. So.” Her face splits into a grin as she gestures to the corridor. “On with it.”

He clears his throat. “As much as I’d love to take you up on that, I’m confused about how this relates to quitting your job. You could’ve kept playing. Or—”

“—Why is it so hard to believe this is something I want?”

There’s a beat. He doesn’t have a good answer.

“What if I wanted to quit before I got pregnant?” she continues, her tone growing more demanding. “What if I was done with playing, regardless — and genuinely wanted to have children? Your children.”

She lets out an incredulous laugh, tossing her hands in the air. “I have to say, Harry, this feels an awful lot like you’re doubting what I actually want to fit a narrative of what you think I want.” Her eyes narrow again. “Is that really respecting my wishes?”

“No,” he says quickly, shaking his head. He’d never thought about it like that before… how it might be insulting, really, to question what she’s ready for. He laces their fingers together, feeling properly chastened. “I’m sorry. I never meant to… suggest you don’t know what you want. Or something.”

He hears the timid smile in her voice as she squeezes his hand back. “Do you still want a baby, then?” she asks. “Or are you just in it for the practice?”

A smile creeps across his face, his eyes still focused on her hands. “I… think you know the answer to that one.”

“Well, I’m not sure I do,” Ginny says flatly. “Because I just told someone who wants two million babies that I’m ready to carry his first child. Forgive me if I expected a bit more excited fanfare than acting like I drowned your kitten.”

“What’s with you and baby animals today?” he murmurs, inching her pant leg a bit higher.

“Wonder why I’ve got babies on the brain,” she quips, raising her eyebrows. “Maybe because I want one.”

Harry releases a resigned sigh. She’s clearly done playing. “Honestly…” He bites his lip. “If you’re sure that’s what you want, I’m obviously on board. Obviously.” His eyes flit to hers. “I just… I don’t want to be responsible for something you end up regretting.”

It’s the truth of the matter, really; the thing that tugs at him the hardest. The fear he’d ever burden her… the worry he’d ever make her less than happy.

Ginny gives him a small smile, her hand coming to cup his jaw. “I’m going to take that as a weird, sad Harry thing instead of an attempt to remove my womanly agency.” She narrows her eyes. “But that’s your final warning.”

Harry doesn’t need to be told twice. He’s on his feet in a split-second, gathering her into his arms with the stupidest grin he’s ever worn. Trying. Is that what they call this? Are they actually properly trying now?

“Get used to this,” she says as he strides into the bedroom. “Because once you knock me up— on purpose, mind— I’m going to request a lot more transportation.”

“I think I can live with that,” Harry murmurs against her lips, draping her across the bed.

And to avoid a well-deserved slap, he doesn’t say the final bit: As long as you can live with me.

[professional-benaddict]

Hello.. um I'm not sure if you're still taking prompts and if you'll even write this one if it's way out of your comfort zone.. but could you do one where Tony and Stephen are doctors at a hospital and Peter goes into the ER with bad stomach pains and it turns out to be constipation or something.. if you're not comfortable writing it I understand

hii darling!! here it finally is!! tbh this was a bit tricky to write but i hope you like it :3 💗💗

Doctor Tony, +18 Peter, Doctor Stephen, ER visits, examinations, constipation, pain, miscommunications, relationship problems, making up, fluff

It had started earlier that same week. A sharp stabby pain in his lower abdomen, which left Peter breathless and a little dizzy. However, the boy’s work moral did not allow him to slow down. After all, it’s just pain, right? Everyone gets tummy aches.

Expect the pains continued, and only became more and more frequent as the week went on. Peter couldn’t think of any other symptoms or any possible explanations for his pain. But, on Thursday night, when Peter was unable to fall asleep due to his pains, he called an Uber with a shaky voice.

The Uber driver seemed concerned, but luckily they didn’t bother Peter with too many questions, and just dutifully drove him to the ER. The boy thanked the driver for the ride, and for the well wishes. He had to walk into the ER nearly doubled over. A nurse caught onto Peter’s signs of distress fairly quickly at the reception, and she directed him inside. It still took half an hour before a doctor called Peter’s name in the waiting room.

At first, Peter was relieved that it was finally his turn. The pain was making him breathy and sweaty from straining. Even though he was in the ER, and everyone was either in pain or distress, he still felt too awkward and shy to truly show how much pain he was in. Holding it in only made it worse. And so did seeing Stephen Strange.

“Peter? As in, Tony’s boyfriend Peter?” Stephen asked, looking slightly dumbfounded. “I remember seeing you here now and then. I’m Stephen Strange.”

“Hi…” That was all Peter could muster to say back. He did remember the doctor somewhat. Tony has mentioned him a few times at home, but Peter couldn’t gather his thoughts to say that.

“Okay, you don’t sound too good. Can you stand up? I’ll take a look at you. Does Tony know you’re here?”

“No, no, don’t tell ’im, please…” Peter whimpered, gasping in pain as Stephen helped him up.

“All right, all right. Come on, I’ll help you. It’s just down this hall.”

———

Twenty minutes later, Strange had ordered some pain relief for Peter. In return, Peter let a nurse take some blood for sampling, and peed in a cup as well. Peter’s cheeks burned hot at that last part, but he knew this was the better alternative. He’d rather be embarrassed in front of Strange, than his own doctor boyfriend, Tony.

“Are you sure you don’t want me to get Tony? He’s still here.” Strange asked, and gently guided Peter onto his back to examine his abdomen.

“N-no, don’…”

Peter’s breath hitched sharply at the pain bursting in his stomach as the doctor moved his knees back to lay straight. The young man had to take a few deep breaths to settle before he was ready to be examined.

“Try to relax as much as you can.” Strange said, bringing his gloved hands to Peter’s stomach.

Once Peter had gotten a bed in the ER, he had taken his jeans off to relieve the extra pressure on his stomach, then hidden most of his body under the blanket on the bed. The doctor had good access to his patient’s abdomen, and he pressed his fingers down as much as he could before Peter protested.

“Ah-aH!”

“Sorry, sorry. Breathe for me, you’re okay. Any pain here?”

Peter shook his head. Strange’s hands were just below his ribcage, although Peter could only feel them and not see them. Closing his eyes and focusing on his breathing was all Peter could muster.

“Ah-ow-Jesus…”

“Sorry, I’m done now. You did good, Peter.”

Peter could hear the doctor snapping off his gloves, so he opened his eyes to look.

“So, what’s wrong with me?” Peter asked, his voice tired. Strange looked up from the chart in his hands.

“Based on what you told me earlier about when and how your symptoms started, I think you’re just constipated.”

“Just- just constipated? But, it hurts like hell!”

“Yeah, constipation can hurt a lot. I’m ordering some oral laxatives for you that you can take now and then head home. You can have some painkillers too, to get through the worst of it.”

“So… none of those enemas?”

“No, laxatives can do the trick too. Why? Have you been constipated before?”

“Well…” Peter’s cheeks burn even hotter now than earlier when he had to pee in that cup.

“Peter? It’s best to tell the truth. Trust me, I’ve heard it all and way worse.”

It still took Peter a few moments before he could speak up.

“This has happened before… And Tony- he gave me an enema.” Peter said, his cheeks and ears flaming hot at the revelation. “I- I hated it…”

“I said he was full of shit, just like he is now.”

Peter snapped his head up at that voice and cringed back when he saw his boyfriend, Tony, holding back the curtain around Peter’s bed.

“I-I told you not to tell him!” Peter yelped at Stephen, his voice high-pitched with tears and panic.

“I didn’t-”

“The nurses talk a lot and word travels fast here.” Tony explained before pulling the curtain back again, then came over to Peter. “Why didn’t you call me, babe? I could have helped you quicker.”

“Not with those- those god awful enemas you’re not!” Peter snapped back, curling up on himself, away from Tony.

Stephen and Tony shared a look, and Stephen shrugged his shoulders before leaving the prescription for the laxatives on the little bedside table.

“You can pick them up at the hospital pharmacy. Just follow the signs and you’ll find it. Feel better, Peter.” Stephen said kindly, then exited quietly.

Even when they were left alone, Peter did not face Tony and continued to cry and pout.

“Hey… You okay?”

“No.” Peter sniffled. “I’m full of shit, like you said.” He added, daggers in his tone. Tony laughed lightly and moved to rub at Peter’s shoulder.

“It’s just a joke. But, I’m sorry if it hurt you. I didn’t mean that. Hmm? Baby? Can we go to the pharmacy and then head home? I’ll make you tea and rub your tummy.”

Despite his upset, hearing Tony saying such caring and sweet things with that tone of voice made Peter feel content and looked after. He had been avoiding his boyfriend ever since the pain started, but now he realised how much he missed this. Being looked after and taken care of. Peter sniffled again and nodded slowly.

“There you go. I got you, baby, don’t worry.”

“Promise me, no more enemas.”

“Promise, babe. I promise.”

[petite-ely]

Afraid // JJ Maybank

Six - Too much to risk

Pairing: JJ Maybank x fem routledge! reader

Warnings: Mention gun, being shot at, swearing, slight mention of death, maybe some mistakes oopsie, tell me if I missed something

Description: A small improvised visits by Petekin leads to a hectic afternoon in the marsh.

A/n : Hellooo guys, gals and pals, this is quite a long part. I really wanted to finish the first episode. also I really don’t know how to had a little read mor thing I don’t know how. Sorry! hope you like it!

Previously next

Afraid masterlist

gif by @robinsbuckly

Song recommendation

It was now far later in the morning, meaning the sun had fully risen and it was a much more reasonable hour to be up at. JJ had left a while ago and John B was still peacefully sleeping (and loudly snoring). Y/n hadn’t been able to go to sleep after her talk with the blond boy and she was now sitting on the couch reading her book (actually reading this time). So, when she heard the front door open, she didn’t bother looking up, assuming it was one of her friends. Who else would just come in like that anyway?

"Hey, there’s coffee made in the kitchen if you want any,” she said, still not pulling her gaze of off her book.

“That’s kind of you to offer, but I’ve already had two cups this morning, I don’t think it would be reasonable for me to have more.” Y/n’s book fell to the ground.  

“Sheriff Peterkin, I’m so sorry. I-I thought you were someone else-” she got up from her seat, “-do you, do you need anything, water or uh-”

“You don’t have to bother sweetheart, I’m not planning on staying that long. I just want to talk for a bit,” answered the adult.

“Okay,” she took a pause to swallow. “I’ll go get John B.”

“If you don’t mind, I’ll go get him myself.” Y/n nodded, watching as she disappeared into the hallway leading to her brother’s room.  

She started pacing around the living room, ferociously biting the nails on her left hand. It wasn’t every day a cop showed up in your house. She had absolutely no idea why Peterkin would want to talk. Actually, she had about 25 different ideas, starting with the fact her uncle hadn’t been on the island for about 3 months. And the party last night, what if she knew about the gun? Would JJ be in trouble? Whatever it was, it wasn’t good, that she was certain of it.

>>

The conversation went on for much longer than expected. Basically, Peterkin knew about their uncle being awol and she offered to help get  dcs off of their back for a while if they helped her in return. She had also mentioned that it wouldn’t be good if they had seen a shipwreck, which of course they denied despite that being actually true. Y/n didn’t fully understand what Peterkin meant. But she knew that it meant there was something valuable in that boat. And Jonh B knew it too. Yet, he was afraid, which was understandable, considering everything. They were pretty much guaranteed to be put in foster care if they got caught. Not good at all.

“You know what? I'm calling it off,” announced John B.

Y/n raised her head from her sketchbook, dropping her pencil on the low table in front of her to listen to what her brother had to say. She had been drawing silently while the other pogues, all sitting in different ridiculous positions across the backyard, talked and did their own things. She was only half listening to what they were saying, sketching messily the outline of the château. It wasn't very good, but it was calming to do. When she heard the seriousness in her brother’s tone, she closed her sketchbook, otherwise she’d be too distracted.

“Peterkin told us that if we stayed out of the marsh, she’d help with dcs.” The girl grimaced remembering the woman’s words.  

“And you believed her?” “Yes, JJ I believed her.”

“You really think that she’d help us?” asked y/n. “It’s been more than 6 months, bird. If she really wanted to help, she would have helped earlier, no?”  

“Yeah, she’s a cop, an actual cop. And you think she’s telling the truth?” added JJ.

“Look,” John B glanced at y/n. “All we gotta do is stay out of the marsh for a couple days and she’ll help us.”

“I know, I was there.” Kiara snickered softly at her friend’s words. “But I don’t know, I feel like we’re getting tricked or something. What if she’s like trying to lure us out of there-” she gestured to the water behind them, “-because there’s something she doesn’t want us to see, uh? What if it’s about dad?”  

J.B rubbed the back of his neck before turning his body slightly to face the ocean. “Look,” he addressed his sister. “I get that you’re curious and you want to know what’s down there, but I'm only trying to do what’s best for us. And I think it would be better if we listened to Peterkin. I’m just trying to keep you safe, to protect you, bug.” His voice softened as he finished his sentence.

“And it didn’t help that JJ was shooting a gun last night!” Y/n raised her eyebrows at Pope, her face clearly showing intrigue. She wondered where this conversation would lead, a fight between the two boys most likely. Her gaze shifted to JJ who seemed annoyed at the Routledge boy’s words.

“You know what, I should’ve let Topper drown your ass.” John B laughed. “Topper was gonna drown me?” “Sure looked like it.”

“Boys can you plea-” Y/n tried to stop the small bickers, miserably failing as her brother interrupted her. “Funny.” A loud sigh escaped the girl’s lips and Kiara beside her pinched the bridge of her nose.

“Have you looked in a mirror?” “Tell me some more. Come on.” “They always win don’t they, man?”

“Kooks versus pogues. They always, always win!” You could hear the frustration dripping from his voice. Which was understandable. He had a point, kooks always won, it was time for a change.

“Goddamn!” “Look, it’s okay!” Kie tried to reassure him. “No, it’s not okay!”

“He’s right,” agreed y/n. “They always win, or find a way to avoid the consequences.”

“Exactly, they don’t want us to go down into the marsh, that means there's something valuable down there and you know it.” He said to John B. “I know you do.”

“And I understand why you wouldn’t want to go,” he pointed to Pope. “You’re the golden boy, you got way too much to risk. And you,” he turned to Kiara. “I mean you’re already rich as fuck anyway.” Okay, that was an exaggeration.

“Why would you bother.”

“But us, you, me and y/n, we’ve got nothing to lose!” His eyes glowed with something y/n hadn’t seen in him in a long time. Hope. It made her sad to think about how JJ really had nothing in his life besides the pogues. But if he was hopeful, then maybe, maybe...

“We really don’t.” “Yes, we do have something to lose.”

“If something goes wrong and dcs comes in, y/n and I would be brought to the mainland in foster care. That means placed with families who probably only care about the check that comes in every month and her and I getting separated from one another and from you guys.”

Y/n thought about what her brother had just said. He had a point, if things went wrong, they could lose everything. Each other mainly and the pogues. It was the worst-case scenario. But if they didn’t get caught, it would make their life so much better. Was it worth all the risk though? That was the question.

“Do you understand what that means? How horrible it would be?” The girl got up from her seat and went to stand next to her brother. “I do,” she said. “I understand, bird.”

“I know that you’re scared and so am I.  It’s a pretty big risk. If we get caught, we’re fucked, but listen to what JJ has to say. I think that it might be worth the risk. And if we do get caught-,” she put her hand on his shoulder and turned him around so that he faced her, “we’ll find a way to find each other again. We’re Routledges, we always find a way to solve our problems, don’t we?” Her hand squeezed his shoulder softly. “We’re gonna be alright, bird.”

A small smile drew itself on John B’s lips. “So, what’s the plan,” he said to JJ.

“You got the key to Cameron’s big boat, right?” “No,” J. B’s face scrunched in disagreement.

“There’s scuba gear. We borrow that and then we go down to the wreck this afternoon and that’s what’s gonna save you, man,” exclaimed JJ. “You don’t see rich kids going into foster care, do you?”

Y/n breathed out loudly. She was scared as hell. This was going to be pretty tricky, but she knew something was down there. And if it wasn’t money or something like that, then it was something related to her dad’s disappearance. She could feel it deep into her soul.

>>>

“This is empty, you took empty tanks,” announced Kiara to the group as she furrowed through the bag of oxygen tanks.

Y/n put her head in her hands. Their plan had seemed so perfect and now they didn’t have the one thing they needed for it to work.

“Okay this one’s a quarter full. It’s enough for one of us.” “Love it when a plan comes together.”

“Does anybody know how to dive?” asked the brunette but only to be answered by a chorus of shrugs and denying nods. “Anybody?”

“It’s kind of a kook sport,” JJ looked at her.

“I, … I read about it,” tried Pope.  

“Great, Pope read about it, now someone’s gonna die,” exclaimed Kie dramatically.

“Look.” JJ’s gaze circled the group of friends.  “You put the thing in your mouth and you breathe. How hard can it be?”  

“I don’t think it’s that simple,” confessed y/n.

“Yeah,” agreed Pope. “If you come up too fast, Nitrogen gets in your blood and you get the bends.”

The girl’s eyes widened. She remembered a book she had read a while ago where one of the characters had the decompression sickness (and how tragic their death was).  

“Bends like bend over?” JJ joked as he bent his body in a way to stick his butt up in the air. Typical JJ joke, weird and somehow always a bit sexual. Y/n slapped his arm as a way to tell him off.  

“JJ, the bends is deadly,” she had a stern expression, “it kills you.” “Oh, right.”

“I can- I can dive,” announced J.B. “Yeah, you can dive I’m cool with that.” “Since when can you dive?”  

“No, you can’t dive,” scoffed his sister. “I’ll do it, it’s fine.” “What? The hell?”

“Let’s do some calculations real quick.” Pope pulled out a pen and started writing some numbers. Y/n got up from her seat and went to stand beside him. “So, that boat’s about 30 feet down.” “okay.” “So, it’ll take about 25 minutes at most at that depth.” “Twenty-five.” “Which means you need to make your safety stop at about... 10 feet. Alright? For two minutes.” “Ten feet, two minutes got it.”

They all watched as Kiara jumped straight into the water, her shirt already removed. “Uh, what was that all about?” “I don’t know, but I liked it, a lot.” y/n nudged her brother on the shoulder to get him to stop staring. He cleared his throat.

“Uh, so.” “All righty.”

She sat down on the edge of the boat, waiting for her friend to resurface from underwater. “Yeah. Uh, when you- when you’re down there, you look for the cargo hold. You stick this thing inside and you twist and pull, okay,” explained JJ. “Stick it in, twist and pull.”

“You okay?” asked y/n, while the boys kept on rambling. “Needed a swim?” Kiara rolled her eyes, a small smile on her face.  

“Hey!” she called to guys, John b more specifically. “I tied my t-shirt to the anchor about ten feet down. It’s where you need to do your safety stop.”

The Routledge girl admired her friend in the water. Her body moving gracefully as she swam back towards the boat. She seemed so, at ease. It used to be that way for her too, but now, even looking into the darkest part of the water gave her a feeling of vertigo. She wondered if she could still swim as good as she used to. It had been almost a year since the last time she had dove right into the marsh. It felt so far away. If only she was braver.

She hadn’t realised she had completely zoned out until she heard JJ speak. “Zen. Think Zen, you know.” She joined the group on the other side of the hms, her brother already suited for his dive.

“Hey, if we get caught out here in the marsh we’re basically screwed, so,” reminded Pope, “better get a move on.” “Copy that.”

Kiara got up and planted a small kiss on J. B’s cheek. Y/n looked at the two boys next to her with a confused expression. They both shrugged in answer, clearly just as confused as she was. “Diver down?” “Diver down.” She watched as his figure disappeared slowly into the water.

“All right.” “See ya, dude.”

She went to sit next to Kie. “I only love him as a brother,” she mocked her friend. “Yeah right, my ass.”  

“It’s just a small kiss y/n/n, it doesn’t mean anything. I still mean what I said yesterday. It’s just that,” she took a pause, her eyes squinting at the sun, “I’m just worried for him, you know he’s going through a lot and then there’s the shipwreck and all.”

“Uh huh, I totally get what you mean,” ironized y/n. “Shut up,” Kie nudged her with her elbow. “No, but seriously-” started the girl before being interrupted by the sound of a police siren behind her.

“Shit, guys.” “Guys, that’s the police.”

“Oh no, no, no, no, no, that is not good. Not good at all.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me.” “Yep that’s the police.” “Just act fricking normal.”

Anxiety bubbled at the pit of y/n’s stomach. Hopefully he wouldn’t recognize her, otherwise she was dead. So dead. She sat down beside Kiara in a somewhat natural position, her legs crossed to keep them from bouncing.

The police boat parked itself beside the hms. Officer Shoupe behind the wheel. “Evenin’ officers,” greeted Pope. “Evening.”

“How you kids doin’ ,” asked Shoupe. “You know the marsh is closed.”

“No.” “No.” “No, wow.” “I didn’t know that.” They all feigned ignorance, hoping to fool the two adults. “Why- why is it closed?” questioned Pope, adjusting his cap nervously.

“Well, we’re conducting a search out here,” informed the man. “Boat went down.” “Oh.” “Oh, no.”

“Seen’ anything?” asked the deputy.

“No.” “No, boats. No.” Y/n’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the boat, trying to keep herself from looking at her brother in the water.

“Where’s your friend you always hang with?” The pace of the rhythm fastened. “He here?” She opened her mouth, trying to think of a good excuse for the missing presence of her brother, but nothing came out.

“He’s working,” lied Kie. All of their heads nodded softly.

“I’m gonna check your little boat out,” announced Shoupe before hopping on the hms. “Yeah.” “Yeah, hop aboard.” The rhythm stopped, y/n’s nails digging into her palms.

He picked up a safety jacket. “You got another one of these?” “Yeah, yeah.”

“Of course, it’s uh, it’s in the hold,” JJ pointed to where the girls were seated. They both got up quickly. “Show him,” instructed Kie. Y/n’s joints were turning white.

“Okay.” JJ opened the hold and pulled out one of the jackets. “Yeah, here we go.” “All right.” The latch closed loudly. Shoupe’s gaze inspected the teens suspiciously. The tension could be cut with a knife.

He climbed on the flat part of the boat. “Be careful.” “Be careful out there, you don’t want to slip.”

He put his sunglasses on, staring at the exact place where John B and the ship were. The pogues exchanged worried glances. Hopefully, he wouldn’t see anything. He stood on the very edge of the boat, his figure towering over the water of the marsh.

“All right,” he finally turned around. Y/n breathed again. “All right.” “All right.”

“Beautiful day, innit?” “Sure is.”

“You let us know if you see anything on your way out,” he ordered as he started the engine. “Will do, will do.”

“We’ll be gone soon, sir.” “Yes, you will,” finally said the man before he vogued away.

Once he was far enough, the group hurried to the side of the boat, all worried about their friend. He’d been under for quite a long time now, there was no way he had any air left.

“He’s definitely out of air,” declared Pope.

At that exact moment, John B surged out of the water. Y/n felt relief take over her body. She felt her whole body unclench and let go of the grip her nails had in her hand.

“There he is!” Exclaimed JJ. “Oh god, Jesus Christ.”

“God damn it, Bird. I’m so glad you’re okay,” spoke y/n.

“Don’t scare us like that!” All of the pogues exclaimed, all so happy that their friend was all right.

“How’d it go down there?” wondered JJ. “Uh,” John b groaned and his sister hurried to the side of the boat to help him get in.

“Did you find anything?”

“Did I find anything?” He repeated throwing a large duffel bag onto the boat.

“Yeah there we go, that’s my boy!” JJ exclaimed excitedly.

“Are you okay?” Y/n asked as he coughed rather loudly. “Yeah, I’m good, but I ran out of air.” Her eyebrows scrunched together on her forehead. God, they were so lucky, what if J.B had ran out of air earlier? Or what if Shoupe had figured out what they were doing? Things could have gotten so bad.

But they didn’t, the girl reminded herself.

“You scared the shit out of me,” confessed Kiara, though it sounded more like a reproach.

“Yeah, same for me,” replied y/n. “Need a hand?” she stuck her hand out at him which he gladly took. The contact of the water with the cuts her nails had made in her hands burned, but she clenched her jaw and ignored the pain. She didn’t want to bother anyone.

“Yeah, the cops were up here but uh, took care of ‘em,” informed Pope.

“My bad.” “You’re all good.” “Yeah, you kinda missed the show, brother.”

“Hey guys?” Kiara’s voice was tinted with worry. “Guys, bogey, two o-clock.”

“What?” They all turned in the direction she was referring to. In the distance they noticed a strange looking boat heading towards them.

“Do you recognize that boat?”

“I’ve never seen it.” Kie put her hand above her eyes to hide herself from the sun. “What are they doing back here? The marsh is closed.”

“Honestly, they could ask us the same thing,” pointed y/n.

“Well, I think it would be better if we didn’t stick around and find out,” said JJ.

“JJ, get the bowline.” “Yeah.”

“Should we wait on ‘em?” asked Pope.

“Uh, I don’t think that would be a great idea,” responded y/n. The boat was coming in very fast and the people driving it looked angry and dangerous. It was much safer to just leave. “Go get the stern, go!” Hurried John B.

The blonde pulled the rope as fast as he possibly could. “Guys, don’t wait for me. Go,” he said. Y/n inspected the unknown boat in the distance, nothing about it seemed familiar. Who could these people be? And what did they want from them? “Let’s go.”

She kept her eyes glued to it as the motor started. “I have a really bad feeling about this,” she confessed, turning her head to John B. behind the wheel. “Yeah, I don’t like this either,” agreed Pope.

“Are they coming for us?” asked JJ. “Sure looks like it.”  

“Maybe they’re fishing?” proposed Pope. Y/n’s gaze paused on the two men. They were intimidating, to say the least. And their eyes, both had looks filled with something threatening. It wasn’t anger or hatred, no, it was the eyes of people who would do anything to get what they wanted and that was scary.

“Go, go, go, go!” “Go into the marsh.” “Let’s go!”

“I’m going. Act natural,” stated John B as he directed the hms towards the nearest channel.  

The white boat sped up, the motor roaring loudly. “Hey guys, they’re following us,” announced y/n. “Oh, this can’t be good.” “Shit”

“Dude, you gotta go faster!” “I’m going!” “Gun it!”

The sound of a gun shooting in the air echoed in the silence of the marsh. The pogues all went down instinctively. “Holy shit, guys!” “Oh my fucking god, what the fuck!”

JJ grabbed the back of y/n’s shirt with his hand, bringing her closer to him. “John b get down!” almost hissed the girl. Another shot fired, y/n clung onto JJ.

“Oh my god, we’re gonna die!” yelled Pope. A third shot fired. Y/n’s eyes caught the net at the back of the boat and an idea sparked in her head. She looked at Kiara, who clearly had thought of the same thing.

“Pope, move,” ordered the brunette as her friend stood to go grab the green net. Another shot flew into the air beside her, the bullet barely missing her.  

“Get down, y/n!” shouted her brother desperately. She headed towards the back of the boat and threw the net into the water. It slid down the current and got caught right into the motor of the men’s boat, making the engine come to a halt abruptly. It clanged loudly and the two men shouted in anger. A sigh of relief left the girl’s lips. Her plan had worked.

“Let’s go, let’s go, let’s go!” hurried Pope. A last gunshot was heard but the hms was too far away to be reached.

“Oh my god!” “Whew!” The pogues all cheered and laughed at their small victory. They were all so glad to be away from these men and all in one piece. Kiara pulled y/n into a hug.

“Y/n, don’t you ever do something like that again. You fucking scared the crap out of me,” said John B as they approached the dock of the château. “I can’t promise anything. Who knows when someone else will shoot at us?”

They all hurried themselves onto the dock, excited to know the content of the bag. “What do you guys think it is?” “Maybe it’s like jewelry? Would be a weird place to keep it but who knows?” “Gotta be money, right?”  

“That or a couple of keys with street value to the low- to mid-mils!” JJ’s eyes glistened with excitement. Y/n smiled softly.

“Can we please just open the bag?” burst Pope. The group all started at him.

“Wow Pope,” y/n giggled. “That was a rare outburst of emotions.”

“You guys are literally killing me with anticipation. Open the bag. We almost died over this.”

John B. pulled out a smaller bag which contained a metal canister. Every pair of eyes was fixed onto it as he pried it open and revealed a compass. Y/n kneeled next to her brother not believing what she was seeing. They exchanged a look, neither of them saying anything. They both knew what that object was and what it meant to their father, but what the hell was it doing there?

“Oh, wow. Yup, that’s about right.” Pope was clearly disappointed by their findings. “Good job, everybody. We found a compass.” Y/n raised a trembling hand to the compass, carefully taking it into her own hands to examine it. Was this really what she thought it was? How could it be? It didn’t make any sense.

JJ removed his hat in frustration. “Dude, what? It’s not worth anything.”

A small smile creeped on Jonh b’s face, his eyes still not looking away from the compass. “This was,” he started.

“This was our father’s,” completed y/n.

Taglist:

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[volleychumps]

Ayoooo talented writer! Can i please request a akaashi x reader where they meet at some party and have one of those cool convo (you know those who always seem to happen in the kitchen ahah) and they fall for eachother but are too shy/insecure to exchange their number but can’t stop thinking about eachother until they meet again... ;)

Warning(s): drinking, cursing, fluff-attack lol

I changed it up a little bit! The timeskip would be a little tricky in this sense, but I hope you enjoy it regardless! 

Apple Juice. (Akaashi Keiji x Reader)

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

“Y/N-chan, you don’t want a cup of rice punch?” 

“Don’t be a downer, Y/N~” 

You watch with mild interest as Daichi tugs on the collars of both Sugawara and Hinata, stifling a small giggle alongside Yachi as the two members of the Karasuno volleyball club now lay limp in Daichi’s grasp. Suga pouts at the captain as he downs his second cup with flushed cheeks, and you quirk your eyebrow in amusement as Hinata holds both arms out at you as if he wants you to take him like a child. 

Daichi smiles for the picture you snap with your phone, not letting go of either of their collars. 

“Have fun, ladies. This is the fun before training camp officially starts. Don’t let these idiots make you do anything you don’t want to.” Daichi sighs in apology, tugging the two pouting boys along as you hum in amusement, sipping on the juice in your cup. 

“I feel like Daichi is such a dad, no?” Yachi states casually, and a coy grin spreads across your lips in response. 

“In like...a platonic way, right?” You grin into your cup as Yachi enters a blushing fit in embarrassment, swatting you on the shoulder as Kiyoko giggles on your right. 

“Like there’s any other way I’d mean it!” 

“Ah Hitoka, you’re so cute and fun to tease- I’m sorry.” You stroke her hair gently through her embarassed antics as Kiyoko’s giggles only increase in volume. The third-year nudges your side slightly as she covers her mouth with one hand, suddenly noticing something on the other side of the room. 

Akaashi Keiji couldn’t help but feel the corner of his lips twitch at the way you had affectionately been cuddling Yachi, watching mildly as you did so with a laugh bubbling from your throat: not realizing that he had gone from hardly listening to Bokuto to not listening at all as the blue-eyed boy seemed to be looking on in a dazed-like manner. 

“Y/N-san, don’t look now, but it seems some of the Fukurodani boys are looking in this direction- I said don’t look now!” 

Kiyoko audibly sighs into her palm as you stupidly raise your head in searching, meeting the eyes of Akaashi Keiji, setter for the Fukurodani team, as he seemed to have been supposed to be listening to Bokuto’s antics, instead accidentally catching your eye in the background. 

You both look away at the same time, a heat on your features as you groan in slight embarrassment, Yachi finding solace in erupting in a fit of giggles at your embarrased misfortune in a small plight for revenge. 

“Hitokaaa-” 

“Come on, Y/N- you’re so pretty tonight, I bet he wasn’t the only one looking.” 

“I told you not to look, how did you make it so obvious?” Kiyoko questions in genuine confusion as you glare playfully in her direction. 

“And this is the part where I go find some lemonade.” You mumble, a tad bit embarrassed at the nature of the conversation before standing, dusting your jeans off. “Would either of my two lovely best friends want anything?” 

“Nooo don’t be sarcastic we love you-” 

“That could have been my potential husband, but now look who’s never going to get to talk to him out of sheer shame.” You joke, sticking your tongue out before making your way into the kitchen, shaking your head at the giggle they share when you turn around. 

Kuroo grins when you enter, and you wave a little in greeting with a small smile: you knew him from the practice matches Karasuno had against Nekoma, having established a pretty good friendship with him afterwards. 

“Just the girl I was looking for!” 

“Oh.” 

Kuroo visibly wilts as Bokuto laughs heartily by his side, a look of betrayal on the Nekoma captain’s features as you laugh at the sight of it, accusation seeping into his tone. 

“Don’t look at me so dejectedly!” 

“Don’t give me a reason to be so dejected.” You quip, eyes widening when you see the blue-eyed boy from earlier standing behind the two, recovering to clear your throat and reach for the lemonade. 

“Oh! I’ve got you, allow me~” 

“Bro, you’re such a gentleman.” Kuroo sniffs as you sweatdrop, watching Bokuto uncap the bottle of rice punch and pour it into your cup until it reaches the brim. Before you could say that wasn’t the beverage you wanted: you blink at the look of hope and pride in the Fukurodani captain’s eyes at how proud he was of his actions. 

“Drink up, Y/N-chan! The drinks are on me, tonight!” 

“Boo, just say you’re flirting and go.” 

“What did you just say?!” 

Your voice falls on now deaf ears as you watch the two captains argue, feeling a little bad that Bokuto had bought the drinks and even poured one for you, deeming that maybe one cup was okay. You examine the liquid before going to raise the cup to your lips-

A hand rests on your wrist lightly before the cup can leave the surface, and you watch in confusion as the setter from earlier shakes his head no. You hardly notice the captains still arguing as he swaps your cup for his, the red-cup brimmed with a golden liquid swishing around in front of you as it hits the counter with a tap. 

“Apple juice.” Akaashi says, bringing the rim to his lips and drinking some of the rice punch as Bokuto asks him a question. He isn’t able to hide his grimace as you blink in wonderment. 

“Akaashi, I’m a gentleman, right? Being gentlemanly doesn’t have to mean flirting!” 

“Mhm.” Akaashi nods, drinking more of the liquid back until it’s gone, wiping his lips with the back of his hand before grimacing some more, successfully disposing of the evidence. 

“Ah! We’re going to karaoke upstairs, Y/N- you’ll come, right?!” Bokuto questions with stars in his eyes as you blink out of your daze, finding yourself nodding back before Bokuto whoops and grabs Kuroo before dashing up the stairs, yelling something about Akaashi to follow. 

“Oh yeah. I’ll be there for sure.” Akaashi calls after bluntly as you laugh, taking your first sip of the cup as you take a seat on the counter, feeling a warmth in your chest at the setter’s previous actions. 

“Is he usually that hard to say no to?” 

“You have no idea.” Akaashi sighs as takes the seat next to you on the countertop, unscrewing the lid for the lemonade before pouring some into another cup. 

“Swap with me one more time. This is the one you wanted, right?” 

“No no! It’s okay-!” 

“Give me that.” Akaashi rolls his eyes, taking the apple juice from you and replacing it with lemonade. “You saw me pour it. I’m not a creep who goes around swapping girl’s drinks.” 

“But I trust you-” 

“Your potential future husband, right?” Akaashi can’t help but smirk a little into his cup as you seem to bust a fuse, cheeks reddening immensely as you nervously chuckle, tracing the rim of your cup. 

“So you heard that, huh?”

“It wasn’t exactly quiet.” Akaashi shrugs, sipping on his apple juice as you scoff in mock-disbelief, smiling nonetheless. 

“Well, maybe I wouldn’t have made such a comment if you weren’t looking at me in the first place, hm?” 

Akaashi’s brow quirks ever so slightly at your bold-statement, feeling the rice punch begin to take effect as he tilts his head attractively, amused smile growing on his lips. 

“Is that right?” His voice drops a little, and you find your throat a little drier than usual before you break eye-contact, feeling a strange nervousness in your chest as you sip some more lemonade. 

“So you don’t drink?” You change the topic quickly, cursing at how high-pitched your voice came out before Akaashi hums, nodding. 

“Not until tonight, at least.” 

“Well, you could have just waited and poured it down the sink when they left?” 

“Yeah, but then I couldn’t look cool for the girl with the pretty laugh.” Akaashi replies evenly, not realizing the weight of his words until a mere moment after, your cheeks flushing as you look away, him doing the same. 

“Sorry, sorry...that was weird. I think that punch is getting to me.” 

“No, it’s uh...fine.” You say awkwardly, shifting a little closer to him before you can stop yourself. “I think you’re pretty too.” 

You clap a hand over your mouth as Akaashi tilts his head in amusement, watching in an entertained-fashion as you cover your face with your hands. 

“Thank you?” 

“I haven’t even drunk anything, I don’t have an excuse.” 

Akaashi hides his smile with his hand, a pink dusting his cheeks as he finds that maybe Bokuto dragging him to this party was worth it. 

“Would you maybe...?” Akaashi leans a little closer, lifting his hand to the back of his neck-

“Y/N, Nishinoya and Suga are vomiting by the cars- oh shit, am I interrupting?” Tsukishima’s eyes widen, seeing the proximity between the two of you before you offer Akaashi a goodbye smile, feeling like that was the best course of action after making a fool of yourself. 

“I’ll see you later. Thanks for the chat.” 

“Wait-” 

Akaashi watches as you embarrasedly rush off, hand grabbing Tsukishima’s in the process as the setter blinks in bewilderment, feeling dissapointment flooding his chest at your lack of presence. The blonde had looked at Akaashi in utter confusion as Tsukishima was dragged out by your hand. 

Sighing, he downs the last of his apple juice dejectedly, the sweet liquid not making up for the bitter feeling in his stomach of not getting his question out to you. 

He didn’t know if it was irritation from the alcohol, or the desire of wanting to see you again, but he bit the rim of his cup, blue-eyes slightly annoyed as he thinks about you grabbing Tsukishima’s hand. 

What was he to you? 

Akaashi blinks out of his daze. 

Wait.

...why does he care? 

The setter blinks out of his thoughts when you return, the plastic cup lowering in his grasp as you bite your lip bashfully, looking off to the side awkwardly. A smile unknowingly tugs at his lips, a weird sensation of relief flooding his system. 

“Turns out it was a false alarm...I was just going to grab another drink and leave you-” 

“No. Stay.” Akaashi’s words come out a little quicker than he intended as you blink in bewilderment before he clears his throat, hand going to grab one of the bottles. 

“Lemonade?” 

“Nah.” You grin, grabbing a new cup before tilting it in his direction as you take your seat again, your thigh touching his as you wish you liked the taste of liquid courage. Your fingers draw circles on the granite of the counter top as methods of successfully getting your number flit through Akaashi’s head, the setter finding himself intentionally grabbing your hand to hold it steady around the cup as he pours. 

The tension stayed heavy as the music faded into the background, the setter’s hand still clasped around yours gripping your cup. You smile goofily, Akaashi wanting nothing more than to close the distance with the pretty stranger at the once undesired party. 

“Apple juice.”

“Wise choice.” 

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

Yooo catch me writing beverage fics we love that for me

 General Works: @takemetovalhalla @savemesteeb @kasandrafaye @dreebbles @yams046 @aprettyfruit @therestless101 @deadontheinsidebut    @therestless101 @dai-tsukki-desu @lifeisntjustblackandwhite @curiouslilbeast   @wisepandaslimeland @lmkjimin   @h0ngh0ngh0ng   @orangegiraffe7  @let-me-have-my-own-name @theworldupthere @itz-tooru @kac-chowsballs

[downwiththemutantnjnjaturtles]

We Met Within This Screen [chapt. 7]

[Donnie x reader]

chapter 6 here

"Nothing gets past me, especially not you and your nervous habits, Donatello," Splinter's voice bounced around Donnie's head. 

The brothers all looked at each other incredulously, Donnie's anxiousness replaced by complete bafflement. Everyone was wondering the same thing: How did he know?

"You wonder how I knew," Splinter said pointedly, "as if you four are any good at keeping a secret."

They waited for him to go on, but instead there was another uncomfortable pause, Splinter assumedly expecting them to say something. It was Mikey who finally broke the silence. "Are you gonna, like...tell us what we did wrong? How you knew? So next you can't—"

Splinter scoffed and brought his staff down on the youngest's foot. Mikey yelped, bouncing away on one leg. "Teach you how to lie? I have taught you many skills, but one that will always elude you is how to keep something from me. Parents have a sixth sense, you know." He turned to Donnie, regarding the rest of them with a dismissive wave of his hand, "You three, to your rooms. Come to the dojo with me, Donatello." 

The three were quick to scatter, Mikey whining into Raph's ear about being sent to their rooms so early, and Raph huffing that he'd been dragged in too. 

Swallowing, Donnie followed behind him a few paces, not sure what to expect but nervous all the same. He was lead in and instructed to sit down on the floor, Splinter settling down in front of him. Donnie's fingers brushed along the ridges of the knuckles of his other hand again and again as he tried to find something to occupy them with. 

Resting his palms in his hands, Splinter began to talk, voice less harsh than Donnie had anticipated. "I know that we lead a very isolated life, my son. But you must keep your priorities in perspective. You four need each other, and betraying one another's trust does not help that case."

"I'm sorry, Master Splinter," Donnie apologized and hung his head. 

"Perhaps you should apologize to your brothers, just as they should to you." 

I did put them on the spot, especially Leo, thought Donnie, considering now that he had put him and Raph in a weird position. They had to choose between ratting on him to Splinter and keeping it under wraps for the sake of not stirring up the pot needlessly. As much as Leo was a stickler for the rules, he didn't want to create dissension between him and Donnie. So, they chose the latter option, and now all four were in trouble with their father. 

"Okay. I guess...but, Master Splinter, how did you know?" 

"About your secret antics?" 

Donnie let out a humorless chortle, feeling a twinge of embarrassment that he had actually thought at some point, he was getting away with anything. "Yeah, it...it wasn't very much of a secret."

Stroking his chin, Splinter plainly said, "It was only a suspicion, until you confirmed it."

That night a few weeks ago when Splinter came to him in his lab. The way he squeaked when he was confronted just prior to them going to talk alone. Why didn't I think of that? It was a classic trick, one their father had deployed quite a few times on them. He'd been baited into giving himself away. None of them could tell when he was bluffing or if he actually knew. Save for Leo, who managed only twice in their time to make heads or tails of it. 

"I really walked right into that one," Donnie whimpered under his breath, palms pressing down on his knees. 

"You did. But," his tone turned more serious, looking him dead in the eye, "you must fix your mistakes, son." 

 "How?" asked Donnie softly, searching for his father's guidance, but it would find no purchase. He was hard pressed to find a solution immediately. 

Splinter shut his eyes and thought. It was a tricky situation, indeed. He gathered that if anything, this was an excellent lesson for Donnie, as well as the others. Under his own supervision, of course; there wasn't room for any more blundering. 

Standing up, he placed his staff under his hand. "I trust that you will find a way. You have a brilliant mind, Donatello. Use it well," he told him, and went to leave the training room. 

Donnie was still sat on the floor contemplating Splinter's words, honored yet uneasy at the same time that he was being entrusted to fix things. How, he didn't know. Truly. He was at war with himself trying to balance his logic with his emotions, trying to make the two meet gracefully, but it felt impossible. Whichever road he chose, it was a betrayal to the other. One left behind while the other took the wheel. And thoughtlessly, he blurted out, "What if your heart is telling you something completely different, Sensei? What if everything feels contradictory, and—and like there's no right answer, even though you do have this mind, you just can't seem to…" 

Donnie's voice tapered. Slightly surprised, Splinter stopped in his tracks, brows high as he looked back at him, who was so clearly riddled with a deeper kind of conflict. Critically discouraged, but still the sliver of will in those eyes of his. His heart went out to him. 

Splinter had known that Donnie was interacting with a human. What he hadn't known was that he was in love with the human. 

There was a moment of understanding, and Splinter realized that Donnie could not do this on his own. It reminded him of the times the turtles had all been children, the way Donnie looked to him for wisdom as he grappled with himself. Sighing, Splinter sat back down, this time close to him. Donnie was despondent, reverting to staring at the edge of the mat he sat on. "I know your struggles, my son. It seems like there's a sacrifice no matter what you choose, does it not?" 

"I don't want to let you guys down. But, I...you know, I'm sorry, Master Splinter, but you don't understand." 

He didn't want to say bluntly that he wanted to think of himself and his needs, unlike usual. He knew Splinter would probably not approve of that. None of them had much of a chance to make a selfish decision, aside from everyday things such tucking into the pizza before it even made it back to the Lair. So far, the number of times he could recall making a consequential choice for the sole purpose of indulging himself, was an astounding zero. 

"What makes you think I would not understand?" questioned Splinter, and Donnie regretted that he'd said it. He didn't miss how Donnie looked to be becoming mildly sour (among other things), though not at him specifically.

It was then Donnie clammed up, shut down the conversation, he was not going to say it. "It" being what he assumed Splinter wasn't privy to, that he had undoubtedly fallen hard for his friend. But knowing his father, he could totally have had a clue. Splinter didn't always need the details to make an assessment when it came to his sons, whom he knew all too well.

Letting out a crestfallen huff, Donnie rested his chin on his knee, arm obstructing the better half of his face. "It doesn't matter," he mumbled. 

Splinter stayed quiet. He didn't want to drive Donnie off—not when he was in such a turmoil. The atmosphere changed to a cold one. Donnie didn't acknowledge him until he put his hand on his forearm, giving it a gentle squeeze and saying, "I will tell you again: I trust that you will figure it out." 

What if I make the wrong decision? 

"For all of our sakes, I hope you're right, Sensei," Donnie responded. Splinter smiled and got up, prepared to leave the matter at that until any further updates. Until the phone in Donnie's back pocket began to vibrate out of the blue. He wanted to answer, but what, at that point? What should he say? 

A minute went by of more persistent vibrating, and Splinter's ear twitched, certain he knew who it was. He was disappointed with the carelessness that had brought them to that moment, but what was done was done. None knew if the girl had any suspicions. "Are you going to answer it?" he asked, sort of prompting him to pick the phone up. 

"May I?" Donnie thought he might have sounded a little eager.

Splinter let out a calm hum and motioned for him to do it. Donnie lifted his finger to press accept, but Splinter interrupted firmly, "Speaker, Donatello."

Eyes flitting to Splinter, he accepted the call and reluctantly turned on the speaker. 

"Bo, what was all of that earlier, dude? You had me worried sick!" spoke [y/n], more concerned than angry (which Donnie was somewhat relieved about), but he sunk down sheepishly upon seeing the look on his father's face. He gave Donnie a questionable glance at the word "Bo", as he wasn't aware of the details. Donnie wasn't about to correct her right now. 

"I–...hey, [y/n]," he said, forcing himself to turn to the side so he wouldn't have to look at Splinter. The eyes on him made him feel put off to the point he couldn't focus on her voice, but the fact that Splinter was right there, listening in, and both were fixing to find out just what kind of mess they had on their hands. "Believe me when I tell you, you don't want to get caught up in this," he told her, "I can't—"

"Listen," she started, exasperated, "I've heard it before. 'I can't tell you this', and 'I can't tell you that'," she went on, "Be honest with me, Bo; is it that you can't or you just won't?"  

Splinter's thoughts were undetermined. Donnie couldn't read anything from his stoic expression. 

"It's not that I won't," he rebutted, pitch going up involuntarily, "Why won't you listen to me when I say I can't?" 

"Because there's something going on, with you, and I know my eyes weren't just playing tricks on me. I saw something crazy—I heard it, too, when I called you the other day!" 

I am so dead. Donnie's stomach did a flip. He couldn't face his father, but behind him, Splinter placed his hand on his face, covering his eyes. He shot Donnie an intimidating glance, and Donnie waved his hands nervously, listening to her go on as he backed up. Pivoting around from the jabs sent to his side by Splinter's staff, he jumped away with his comically long stride, trying to avoid the onslaught while juggling the phone. He muffled a grunf of pain when the cane managed to whack his head. 

"Hold on!" he said, and Splinter stopped and narrowed his eyes, the voice on the other end of the phone also going silent. Donnie couldn't regain his composure while being chased around the dojo, so he finally was able to sputter out, "W-what did you see?" 

"I was on the balcony, 'Don'. I heard your voice on the phone and saying the same thing from the roof, and saw two giant...turtles! With weapons, fighting what looked like ninjas?! What even is this?" she yelled. 

She'd put two and two together. There was no fixing. 

Only acceptance. 

Blinking, Donnie nearly dropped the phone. Splinter shut his eyes, slowly shook his head, and turned around. The sound of his cane tapping the floor as he walked was the only thing he could hear after he tuned out the speaker. 

He was now alone in the dojo, under the light that streamed through the grate above him, standing in the hush. 

He turned the speaker off. She, on the other end, was quiet, too, in disbelief. And probably rightfully feeling betrayed, in a way, Donnie thought. The friend she'd come to care for so much turned out to be someone she couldn't have even imagined. 

Licking his lips, he put on the most level tone he could and said in a struggle, "You can't tell anyone. I-if you say something, I'll... we'll…"

I could never threaten you, [y/n]. 

"You'll what?" she asked, voice low.

Then, all the could hear was her breathing. The dojo was completely quiet, the room was large, and there he was, in the middle. Donnie liked smaller spaces. Darker spaces, like his lab. He felt exposed in that moment, even when no one could see him.

"Be in danger," he said in earnest.

There was some rustling, then the sound of wind on her end. He barely heard a sliding door shut.

"Come here," she told him firmly. 

His eyes went wide. "What?" he questioned, stupefied.

She sighed, "No more lying, Bo—Don—I don't know. If what we have really matters to you…"

A mix of emotions swirled in him as he waited for her words. She hesitated.

"I'll come," he whispered, finishing her sentence. 

"You'll come." 

Blowing a breath out from between his lips, and nodded. Sorry, Master Splinter. 

He snuck through the Lair to the exit of the sewers.

[amor-immortalem]

The Lord of Fools and the Stubborn Commoner ch.18

Previous

Taglist: @flare-love @ithinkimdekubutreallyimdenki @ice-icebaby @hobin-gnoblin

Cyrus was up earlier than anyone would have expected. The boy typically slept until nine in the morning but today he was up at the ripe hour of six am. He wanted answers and he wanted them now- always far too curious and far too eager to learn all that he could. The little prince is tired of waiting and curious of what his parents were withholding from him. Their room was only just down the hall and for some reason he didn’t care if they weren’t awake yet as he marched on down the hall.

He pushed open the heavy door as he took a running start and leapt up onto the bed, his full weight crashing down onto Mammon’s stomach knees first effectively scaring both adults awake when Mammon let out a loud yell, rolling himself onto his side and muffling himself in the pillow. “WAKE UP!”

“Cyrus, what in the world has gotten into you?” Arella gasps as she sits up, “you could have really hurt your father like that.”

The boy only puffed out his cheeks out in a pout. “You’re hiding something from me and I wanna know what it is. I’m tired of waiting!”

Both Mammon and Arella’s jaws drop at his statement.

“And you thought the best way to go about that was literally kneein’ me in the stomach?” Mammon’s voice has a tone of disbelief. “Go to your room. I’ll talk ta ya after I’ve had time to calm down. I am very angry with you right now.”

“No! Now! Tell me now!”

“Cyrus. Stop. Right now.” Mammon has never wanted to put his hands on this child so bad in his life- not even his terrible twos were this bad. “You either go on your own or I put ya there myself.”

The white-haired boy stands his ground and before Mammon can do something he’s going to regret with his son, Arella steps in.

“Cyrus, honey, I need you to listen to your father. I know you’re feeling frustrated right now but I need you to go take five minutes to calm down in your room. Will you do that for me?”

“… fine…” Cyrus hops off the bed, stomping back down to his room.

“What the fuck,” Mammon says softly as he flops back down on the bed, “he wasn’t even this bad as a toddler.” He takes a few deep breaths. “Thanks for helpin’ like that.”

“It’s no problem. How’s your stomach? He didn’t do any serious damage, did he?”

“No, I’ll live…” the white-haired man sits up. “Breakfast is gonna be out of the question though. I think I’ll be sick if I eat.”

“Yeah I’d bet.” She sighs, “Any closer to me and we would have had a serious problem.”

“Well, as soon as that five minutes is up, we can’t put off any longer.”

*************

As soon as the five minutes is up, Mammon makes his way down to Cyrus’ room. He knocks on the door but doesn’t get a response so he just decides to open the door anyway. He can hear the little one sniffling in his closet and he frowned, not realizing how important it had been to him to find out what he wanted to know. Mammon opens the closet door.

“Are ya ready ta talk, bud?” He asks as he sits down next to him. Cyrus only nods as he wipes at his eyes. “Alright, so, Mommy and I haven’t been trying to hide anything from you and I’m sorry you felt like that.”

“I-I just wanna know what’s happening.” He hiccups, “I don’t like secrets.”

“I know you don’t, kiddo. But sometimes secrets are important. Do you remember when you asked me if you were ever gonna have a little brother or sister one day a while back?” Mammon asks and Cyrus nods. “Well ya are. Two in fact.”

“Really?” Cyrus’ blue-to-gold eyes widened as his father nods. “Why wouldn’t you tell me sooner?”

“The first three months are really tricky. There was a high chance that Mommy could have lost the babies and if we told you too soon then ya woulda gotten all excited for nothin’ ‘n we didn’t wanna put ya through that. We wanted to wait until we absolutely couldn’t keep it a secret anymore just ta be sure.”

“Oh…”

“Mhm, you understand that right. I do wanna tell you that there’s still a chance things could go wrong- especially since there’s two of ‘em- but its lower now.”

“What kind of things?”

“Well she could have what’s called a miscarriage if her body just isn’t able to support the pregnancy or she could have a still-birth which is where the baby dies somewhere along the way but they’re too big for her body to pass until its time to give birth. But right now, Mommy ‘n I think the babies’re gonna be just fine so I don’t want you to worry, okay?”

Cyrus nods. “How do you know there’s two and how did they even get in her tummy to begin with?”

“That second question yer gonna have ta wait to know the answer to since yer too young ta know about that but as far as your first one goes, the babies are kicking now ‘n last night we could feel it on both side of her tummy. They’re not big enough to where we’d think it was the same baby so the next thought was that there has ta be two of ‘em in there- plus, I’ll tell ya a lil secret: her tummy is a bit to big for her ta be carryin’ just one at this point. Your birth mother’s tummy whenever we would try for children was a lot smaller than what Mommy’s is right now.”

“Ohhhh, okay…” He says and then he remembers what he had just done not more than ten minutes ago. “I’m really sorry for jumping on you earlier… I could have really the babies if I landed on Mommy’s tummy.”

“You could have, yes. That’s why- as much as it hurt when yer little 50 pound body came crashin’ down on me knees first- I’m relieved that it was me ya landed on. The much weight woulda done so much more than just hurt ‘em.”

“I could’ve killed them,” he looks horrified at the thought of his actions, “they would’ve died and it would’ve been my fault…”

Mammon doesn’t answer as he doesn’t want his child to feel even more upset.

“And you and Mommy would’ve hated me.” Those words knock the white-haired man back like he’d just been punched in his already sore stomach.

“Cyrus, we could never hate you. Don’t think that, okay. Just like with anything, there’s always a chance for Mommy and I to try again.” Mammon pulls the little prince into his arms and hugs him tightly.

“And if that did happen,” Arella says, having finally joined the pair after fighting off the nausea that hit her after getting out of bed too fast, “we both know it would’ve a complete accident. Daddy and I know you wouldn’t have done it if you knew. In fact, if we’d told you yesterday like we had planned, this would situation could have been avoided.” She smiles as she takes her step-son’s hand in hers and gives it a little squeeze. “It wouldn’t have been anybody’s fault but mine and Daddy’s.”

Cyrus only nods as he relaxes. “What are their names gonna be?”

“We haven’t talked about that yet, bud. But we’re gonna start talkin’ about it soon.”

“And how long is it gonna be until they get here?”

“It’s a little while longer,” Arella says, “only a few more months to go. Do you want to help me pick out a room for them?”

Cyrus’ nods excitedly, a huge smile on his little face. “Can I really?”

“Of course ya can,” Mammon smiles, “we want ya ta help with as much as yer able too, my little gem.”

“Can we start looking right now?” He asks.

“I don’t see why that’s a problem, sweetheart.”the black-haired woman ruffles his hair. “Come on. Let’s get started.”

*************

Next

[lala-ladybug]

Healing Hands: Chapter 3

Happy finals week, ugh. As always, reblogs are appreciated!!

Jasonette Sword Art Online AU

Read here on AO3

Tag list: @iloontjeboontje

First | Previous | Next

Chapter 3: Well shit Babs, maybe I like ponies

Marinette sat on a rock and paddled her bare feet in the water. It was a beautiful day, the sun was warming the top of her loose, dark hair and the ocean in front of her stretched for miles and miles.

A noise disturbed her peaceful moment. A distant cry, probably a seagull.

She sighed and leaned back on her hands to breathe in the smell of--

Marinette choked. Why was there smoke in the air?

The cries grew louder as she looked back at the water before her. She started when she saw that they came from her friends, who were in the now-tumultuous water, trying to keep themselves afloat. They were only a few yards away, she could make it if she just--

A force around her waist tugged her hard as she leapt to her feet. Her face collided with the concrete beneath her-- the top of a building, she realized. If the water level was up this high, then....

From where she lay, she could see directly down into the water. It was no longer clear, but a deep crimson. There were dozens of figures scattered about, some still struggling and some motionless. She scrambled to get up as her eyes snapped to Alya’s hand disappearing below the waves.

That damn force jerked her to the other side of the building, farther from her friends.

“No!” Marinette cried out desperately. The force released her and she whirled to find her attacker.

A flash of red caught her eye, and--

Oh.

It was Ladybug.

Marinette shook her head, not understanding. If that was Ladybug, then.... No, it couldn’t be Ladybug, because she was Ladybug. She fumbled for her earrings, but felt nothing.

Ladybug stalked deliberately up to Marinette and pushed her to the ground. Marinette landed on her hands and knees, both of which were now shaking.

“Look at them,” it was her own voice that spat so harshly from Ladybug’s lips. “Look at them.” She grabbed Marinette’s hair from behind and forced her head up.

Marinette could now see Adrien, Kagami, Luka, and Chloe in the ocean in front of her. Their lifeless faces floated just below the surface, the bloodied water doing nothing to conceal their frozen expressions of terror.

Marinette sobbed and closed her eyes. Ladybug pulled sharply on her hair again, and looked into Marinette’s eyes.

“Look at them. Don’t you dare take your eyes off the mess you’ve made. You will never be able to save them all,” Ladybug’s eyes, her eyes, blazed with the vehemence of her words. She opened her mouth to speak again, but a loud beeping sound was all that came out.

Marinette gasped and sat up in her bed, the alarm sending her heartbeat into a frenzy. Tikki flew up next to her as she slumped over with a hand over her eyes.

It was just a dream.

Another Kwami must have turned off her alarm because the beeping had stopped, but Marinette could still hear the echoes of her friends’ dying breaths ringing in her ears.

“Marinette... are you okay?” Tikki placed a delicate paw on her chosen’s arm. “We heard you cry out while you were sleeping.”

The girl lifted her head and gave the little god a shaky smile. “It was just a dream.”

“Do you want to talk about it?” Tikki floated back down to where the other Kwami were piled on the side of the bed with similarly worried expressions on their faces.

Marinette exhaled a bracing sigh. “Okay.... It was Syren. Or-or Chat Blanc, I’m not really sure.” The Kwami exchanged a look at that. This was not the first time she’d had a nightmare about water. “But Ladybug was there, and she was attacking me.”

Tikki looked especially concerned about that new piece of information. She opened her mouth to say something when Marinette’s phone lit up with a call. The ringtone was Alya’s.

Marinette picked up, trying to control the shaking of her hands. “H-hey girl, what’s up?” Her tone was deceptively cheerful.

“Hey Mari! Just checking to see if you’re awake. Nino and I are ready, he even put on the goggles already!” Marinette instantly relaxed as she heard Alya’s excited voice bubbling out.

“Yeah dudette, they feel really weird. But comfy!” Nino must have leaned over to pitch in.

Marinette shook off the last vestiges of the nightmare with a giggle. “Yeah, it’s kind of tricky to get the headset to fit over your glasses, but you’ll get used to it!”

“Well if you’re not ready yet then you’d better hurry up, girl! The game launches in five minutes.”

Marinette scrambled to check the time. “Oh crap! I gotta go, see you guys soon!” She hung up and rushed to untangle herself from her blankets.

“Good thing you set three alarms, huh?” Tikki followed her down from the loft and watched her brush out her hair.

Marinette stuck her tongue out at the god of creation.

* * *

Red Hood stalked into the Batcave, nearly running Oracle over as she wheeled herself up to her station at the Batcomputer.

“Woah Jaybird, don’t let me get in your way there,” Babs glared at his retreating back. “Asshole,” she muttered to herself.

Jason hurled his helmet onto the floor of the bathroom and began shucking off his suit with far more force than necessary. He started a shower and looked over his new wounds in the mirror. He’d been stupid, so damn stupid, on patrol.

“Red Hood, report in,” Batman’s gravelly voice cut through on his comms. “Hood, you are not to engage alone. What is your location?”

But Jason couldn’t hear him. The only thing he could hear was blood rushing in his ears, but it wasn’t his blood. No, it was the blood of every monstrous, corrupt asshole in this city. And he wanted it to run on the streets.

The Joker had sent thugs out to a meet-up. Well, Red Hood could send them back in a casket. He crouched beside a gargoyle and watched for the arrival of the van he’d tailed. There were only two men. They left the vehicle and waited outside, lighting cigarettes. Too easy.

Red Hood swept down the building, guns never leaving their holsters. He wanted this to hurt. Them or him, he wasn’t sure. But he got his wish as he beat the two men to a pulp. He wasn’t sure how far he’d have gone if not for the arrival of the gang the Joker’s men were supposed to meet with.

They slashed his back with knives. Shallow wounds, easy to manage. By the time Red Hood turned to face them, the others had arrived-- Batman, Nightwing, Robin. And boy were they pissed.

Jason winced as the hot water hit the cuts on his back. He rolled his shoulders and just let the steam ground him. He didn’t kill again, even if every time that green-haired bastard got involved, he went off the rails.

He would get to choose his own path, not the one Bruce wanted for him, but damn well not the one Thalia wanted for him either. This story was his, he reminded himself while gingerly toweling off. Even if he couldn’t look his own reflection in the eye.

He gripped the countertop, staring down as he let his hair drip into the sink. No, he wasn’t feeling desperate enough to see if his eyes were green again.

Damnit, he had to apologize to Babs. He felt calmer now, but he’d been a real dick when he came in. Jason dressed quickly in sweatpants and an old shirt, then padded quietly back to where he knew his sister would be at the computers.

“Hey,” he said, knocking softly when he entered to announce his presence. Barbara didn’t respond for a moment. She was leaning forward in her chair, typing something into one monitor while listening to police chatter, then nodded to herself and sat back.

“Hey.” She raised an eyebrow at him. “Robin told me what happened on patrol.”

Jason scowled. “That little tattletale.”

Barbara offered him a reassuring smile. “That little tattletale is the only reason I didn’t hack into your bank account and order a damn pony.”

“Well shit Babs, maybe I like ponies,” Jason snarked back, but his heart wasn’t into it. “Listen... I’m sorry about earlier. If replacement talked to you already, you know what kind of mood I was in, but that’s no excuse.”

Babs turned her chair to face him and held out her hand. He stepped forward and took it, and she said, “We know you’re trying, Jay. Stuff like this? This is who you are. A year ago, you wouldn’t have been caught dead apologizing to me!” She cringed. “Ah, no offense.”

He chuckled. “None taken, it’s about time you started getting in on the undead jokes.” He patted her hand before walking away back to the main space of the cave. “But thank you, it means a lot.”

“Took the words right out of my mouth!” She raised her voice and turned back to face the computer.

Dick and Tim were already waiting in the cave. Tim was fiddling with some beds and what looked like opaque ski goggles. He always fidgeted when he was nervous.

“Hey replacement,” Jason shouted across the room. He noticed Dick bristle, but cut him off before he could get the patented older brother speech. “How much time ‘til the launch?”

Tim’s eyes lit up, and damn him for caring, but Jason just didn’t want them to be afraid of him.

* * *

Connor and Zatanna were washing dishes in the Cave’s kitchen after dinner. Connor heard the distant sound of someone arriving via zeta tube. He let Zatanna know as they finished drying their plates, then followed her to go greet their visitors.

Wally and Artemis staggered into the room, both weighed down by overflowing boxes of equipment.

“Oh thank god, please help me!” Artemis said, spotting Connor. He obliged and easily took the heavy box from her. She rubbed her arms and smiled gratefully as he held it aloft in one hand.

“It must be so handy having him around,” she sighed to Zatanna.

The magician giggled. “It certainly has its perks, but....” She lifted her hands and said clearly, “Flesruoy egnarra.” The contents of the boxes, some assorted cots, VR headsets, and computers, floated up and placed themselves into a neat formation. “A girl can get by by herself.” She gave Artemis a fistbump.

The zeta tube activated and they all looked up to watch it. The AI announced Wondergirl, and Cassie Sandsmark walked out. She looked up from her phone and waved. “Oh hey guys, whatcha doing?”

Wally zoomed around the set-up Zatanna had created. “We���re just setting up to play this new virtual reality game that’s coming out at midnight! What about you?”

“Oh, what a coincidence, I was just--”

Cassie was cut off by the zeta tube activating again. This time it was Bart, carrying Jaime bridal style, and running at full speed. He skidded to a halt, put a very ill-looking Jaime down, and ran a hand through his windswept hair.

“So totally crash! What’s poppin’?” He made finger guns at Connor, Zatanna, and Artemis.

Zatanna started explaining, “Well, like were just telling Cassie, there’s this new video game coming out at midnight and we--”

She was interrupted by the screech of a green pterodactyl swooping in from the zeta tube. It circled once around the high ceilings of the hollowed-out mountain, then landed and shrank into Beast Boy.

“Just a heads up, Arsenal’s right behind me and he’s a little angry-- oh what are you guys doing?”

Connor was getting frustrated now. “We’re trying to get set up for this new video game that’s launching in five minutes, so if you guys wouldn’t mind--”

A small explosion sounded from the door to the exterior of the island. Roy burst in amidst a cloud of dust.

“Hope I’m not late, I lost my phone.” He sounded like he was in a bad mood.

Bart whispered to Connor, “He means he destroyed his phone.”

Roy dusted off his pants, then looked to Wally and Artemis and asked, “The hell are you doing here?”

“AUGH,” Artemis had had enough. “We’re here to play the video game coming out at midnight! If you want to join us, fine, but if you don’t then get out.” She pointed to the zeta tubes.

Garfield tried to placate her. “Sheesh, it’s just a game! No need to get so worked up.”

Jaime gave him an incredulous look. “Weren’t you just throwing a tantrum yesterday about Bart kicking your ass halfway to Bialya in Smash?”

“...Noted.” Garfield answered.

“Well, looks like we’ve got plenty of hands to help get everyone set up. Let’s get to it!” Cassie expertly maneuvered the two teams away from setting off their more explosive members. They distributed headsets and assigned reclining positions without further delay.

* * *

Marinette put the headset on and laid down on her bed.

“Ready to go back?” Tikki asked her.

She gave the little god a grin. “Definitely.”

In the distance, the bells in Notre Dame chimed six times, but Marinette couldn’t hear them. Her mind had gone somewhere far, far away. Somewhere new.

[marshmallow-phd]

Bottom of the Glass

Genre: Bodyguard!AU, Angst

Pairing: Jinyoung  x Reader

Summary: It’d been almost ten years since you left the life of glitz and cameras behind, never looking back. But someone refused to let go. When danger comes knocking, your father insists on hiring the best to keep you safe. Reluctant, you agree. Park Jinyoung is constantly by your side, but as the stalker gets closer, will he be able to keep you safe without getting too close himself?

Part: 1 I 2

**

Dan pouted at your lack of enthusiasm to go along with his joke. Jinyoung seemed to find it somewhat amusing, given the smirk on his face. But he got over it fairly quickly.

“If you don’t mind, Daniel, I would like to talk to Miss (y/n) about the measures we’ll take to ensure her safety.”

“Absolutely,” Dan agreed. He looked at you and then back at Jinyoung. “I’ll leave you two to discuss… safety measures.”

You rolled your eyes as your friend’s retreating back. Not waiting for Jinyoung to start his no-doubt rehearsed speech on how he was going to upend your life, you went back to your desk and cleaned off the food and napkins that covered the surface. You finished your glass of wine and sat down in the chair. Jinyoung remained standing, the smirk gone, nothing left but a blank, distant expression. With no prompt from you, he got started.

“Your father has already provided me with a key to your apartment and I’ve met with the security staff there. I will have access to the cameras from my phone both for the apartment building and the hotel. I will drive you wherever you want to go, but for the time being you should limit your activities to work, home, and grocery stores. If you can work from home, that would be even better. There are agencies that will pick up your groceries and deliver them. That should be an avenue to utilize. I’m currently running background checks on employees, apartment staff and your close friends.”

“What?” A few drops of the water you had taken a sip from to counteract the wine you’d chugged found their way down the wrong pipe in your throat. “You’re looking into my friends?” You scoffed. “That’s how you knew about Dan’s line.”

“One can’t be too careful.”

“It’s Dan. He runs away from fireflies and organizes his clothes by color than by season. “Fake, pig, or otherwise, he wouldn’t have the stomach to go anywhere near blood.” If there was one person you could trust not to be behind all the phone calls and the bloody package, it would be Dan. And you refused to let this overreaching, overpaid babysitter make you paranoid and isolate everyone in your life.

Jinyoung shrugged, unmoved by your argument. “It’s the job. I can’t rule anyone out, no matter who they are to you.”

“Who’s next? My cousins?”

The silence was enough of an answer.

Leaning back in your chair, you closed your eyes and rubbed the space between your brows. “Listen. I am not working from my apartment. I have too many meetings and too much work to stay on my couch in my sweatpants. If there’s a function that requires my presence, then I’m going to go.” To let him know that you were completely serious, you opened your eyes and held his gaze. “You’re here at the insistence of my father. I’m tolerating this for his sake. But - and I will keep saying this - I’m not going to let that weirdo who is obsessed with a long forgotten past mess up my life now.”

Seconds of silence ticked by. Jinyoung kept your gaze, unmoving and unreadable. The more you stared back, the more you saw what Dan possibly saw.

This bodyguard was nothing like you had expected. He was on the shorter side, not intimidating at first glance. If you looked too long at his face, as long as he wasn’t smiling, then maybe he could insight… some sort of emotion. But you felt nothing. Nothing but annoyance, that is.

As both an actor and a director in this company, you’d learned to read people. You’d learned to search their faces for the emotions hidden underneath, to pick apart what they otherwise wanted to hide. But it was baffling to you how cutoff Jinyoung was. You saw nothing in his eyes that gave away the thoughts in his head.

Shifting minutely, he finally said, “But what is a life that’s a little out of order compared to no life at all?”

A bit of... an eccentric way to put it. “Poetic.”

He let out a fairly short laugh. “It’s been known to happen.”

You were still skeptical. You still didn’t want your life to be whirled around like you were caught in a tornado. But he had a point - the winds were already coming. And you couldn’t outrun a storm.

Crossing your arms and legs, you gave a smirk of your own. “You are certainly… not a cliché.”

He raised an eyebrow. “What were you expecting?”

“I don’t know. Something more of a Dwayne Johnson type?”

“You need speed, not strength.”

“Did you just insult The Rock?”

Over the direction of the conversation, Jinyoung sighed. “Are you done for the night? I need to inspect your apartment.”

Oh, gosh. You rarely had strangers over. Was your place even clean? Were there dishes in the sink? Fresh clothes that still needed to be put away? It didn’t matter if your apartment was pristine or in shambles like a hotel after Spring Break, you knew the bodyguard was going to force his way in. So you gave way, nodding and standing up from your desk. What was left could wait until tomorrow.

 A short car ride followed up a brief yet heated conversation in the parking garage as to who was driving. Jinyoung all but implied that he was the better driver with faster reflexes while you insisted that no one knew your car as well as you did. A pitiful argument. Your car didn’t have special modifications or a tricky gear. It was a standard, newer model that drove basically like any other motorized vehicle. It was nothing more than your first powerplay – and Jinyoung had won.

If your stalker wanted you to feel like that teenage actress again, they were succeeding.

Back then, you weren’t allowed to drive either. Too risky since teenagers had a tendency to get into more accidents and – whether it was your fault or not – whatever fender-bender you got into would end up in the tabloids. Add in the fact that you were usually in cities that you weren’t entirely familiar with and it was just best to be chauffeured whenever possible. At least this time you were able to sit in the front seat.

You handed Jinyoung the keycard that granted access to the parking garage and guided him to your assigned spot. No more words were spoken as the two of you got out of the car and headed inside.

The lobby was the only entrance to and from the garage for “security” (a word that you were going to get really tired of here soon). Once your feet hit the transition from concrete to polished tile, you headed for the elevators. Jinyoung, however, steered you away with a hand on the shoulder. His destination was the front desk where the doorman sat behind a marble barrier.

“Ah, you must be Park Jinyoung,” Walt, the doorman, greeted with a smile. He stood from his chair and leaned over the barrier to shake Jinyoung’s hand.

Walt was the doorman that you liked. He always wore a smile and had a gentle, uncle-like feel to him. The kind of uncle you enjoyed being around, not the annoying, obnoxious kind that you steered clear from at family gatherings. That title belonged to Newman, who mostly worked the late-night shift. For good reason.

“Your firm head met with us yesterday and went over the broad stroke of things. I’m sorry I wasn’t able to sit in on the meeting with our security staff earlier today with you present.” Walt didn’t seem effected by the news of your new bodyguard in the slightest.

“That’s alright,” Jinyoung nodded. “I’m sure they went over the briefing with you?”

“Absolutely. All packages for Miss (y/n) are to be collected here and left for you to inspect before being passed on to her. I’m to notate any strange behavior I see, both from strangers and from other residents.”

“Good. Good.”

“How’s your mom, Walt?” you asked, hating the feeling of being talked about like you weren’t standing right there. You just hoped that no one else living here was overhearing this conversation. You doubted that they would take too kindly to being watched and investigated like this.

Walt smiled. “She’s doing good. Has her bad days though where she forgets what year it is or that she’s not in the country anymore.”

“I’m sorry.” Your heart went out to Walt. His situation wasn’t the easiest to handle.

“Alzheimer’s?” Jinyoung guessed in a tone that still managed to be sympathetic.

Walt nodded. “It’s slow going, though, so that’s a small blessing.”

“That’s good.”

“Have a good night, Walt,” you said. You were currently fighting back a yawn. Wine always made you tired. You don’t know why you let Dan talk you into having a glass at the office. Maybe it was the stress of your predicament that made you give in so easily.

“Good night, Miss (y/n). Get some rest.”

The smile dropped from your face as soon as the elevator doors closed. Now more than ever, you just wanted to slide between your sheets and go to sleep. There was even a little bit of hope that you would wake up tomorrow and this would all be a dream and Jinyoung would just be a face that your brain chose after seeing him in some designer clothes commercial. If the bodyguard noticed your change in posture or expression, he made no mention of it.

Getting your key into the door was a struggle, but eventually the lock clicked, and you were able to go inside your home. A sense of relief flowed over you when you closed the door behind you.

“You should get some rest,” Jinyoung suggested. This, you would not argue over. He started making rounds through the apartment, looking out the windows and checking the shelves for things you preferred not to think about. 

Grabbing a fresh towel from the hallway closet, you entered your bedroom and straight for the shower. It was twenty minutes of uninterrupted thought-processing. You talked yourself into temporarily thinking that maybe this wouldn’t be so bad.

Yes, it was going to suck. Yes, you were going to get annoyed and probably fight with Jinyoung a few more times. But this was just another obstacle life was placing in your way. It was going to be a long hard climb, but you’d make it over sooner or later. As far as you were concerned, this “stalker” would eventually get bored and move on to some other has-been.

Much more relaxed, you got out of the shower and slipped into your sleepwear before going to check on Jinyoung. You found him out in the main living room fluffing up a pillow on the couch. His shoes and jacket were off but you didn’t see them in the immediate vicinity.

“What are you doing?”

He didn’t seem surprised by your sudden appearance, not even looking up at you as he answered, “Getting ready to sleep.”

You raised an eyebrow. “Out here?”

“Yes.”

Maybe he thought that the couch was his only option. Obviously your bedroom was off the table and down the hall. “I have a guest bedroom.” Well, two really, but one was being used more as an extra office-slash-storage space.

“If someone breaks in, I’ll know sooner and can respond better out here.”

You weren’t even going to try and argue. You shrugged. “Okay, have it your way.”

Not being completely heartless, you went back to the hallway closet and got out an extra blanket.

He revealed a small grin when you handed it over. “Thank you.” He sat down on the couch, eyes roaming over the room. His gaze lingered on the entryways and windows. You always kept the curtains closed, except for when it was raining or snowing. Regular sunlight was too bright for your liking and created a glare on the TV. Also… you didn’t like the idea of someone in a building across the way possibly looking in.

Okay, so maybe a little part of your brain had always been paranoid, and you just never wanted to admit. You still refused to do so out loud.

“You can go to bed,” Jinyoung chuckled. “You don’t have to watch over me. That’s my job.”

“Right.” Could you be even more awkward about this situation? Turning to go, you almost took that first step to head to your room, but then another thought jumped into priority. “Are you seriously going to sleep in your suit?”

Jinyoung looked down at his shirt and then back up at you. “Yugyeom will drop my suitcases off tomorrow. This will do for tonight.”

You snorted. “Let me guess, your luggage will contain all white button downs and perfectly tailored slacks.”

“That’s the uniform.”

Shaking your head, you turned to go. And then whipped right back around.

“I can look after myself, you know.” It was your last-ditch effort to get him to ease back. Pointless? More than likely. But you wanted Jinyoung to understand that you were not a poor damsel in distress who couldn’t tie her own shoes. You were used to taking care of yourself, doing what was best for you. The decisions in your life had been yours, for the most part.

Jinyoung’s usually stoic expression softened, if only by a fraction. “No one is doubting that. But two sticks are harder to break than one.”

Unsure of how to respond, you nodded. Now you made it to your room. Leaning back against the door, you blew the air out of your lungs. You still weren’t completely on board with this. You flipped back and forth between accepting it and wanting to fight it.

You had control issues; you can admit to that much. That was what made working in your father’s company so much better for your personality than acting. Or maybe it was because of your famous youth years that you were now obsessed with maintaining control. Whatever the reason was, that didn’t change how you are.

Bright side, (y/n). Think of the bright side.

At least he didn’t seem brutish. He was going to be stubborn on doing things his way, but he wasn’t cruel about it. So far.

He’s just doing his job.

That you didn’t necessarily hire him for.

But your father did. And it eased his worry and therefore would be better for his overall health.

“Just think of it as another acting project,” you told yourself, cringing in the process. “Act like you’re okay with it. Maybe eventually you will be.”

Eventually. Yeah, okay.

Pushing off the door, you shuffled over to the bed and slipped between the covers. It took almost an hour of tossing back and forth, crumpling your sheets and tucking your comforter in the process, but you fell asleep. Eventually.

**

Noise from the television woke you up the next morning. With a groan you flipped over to check your phone that was charging on the nightstand. It was only five-forty in the morning. Who the hell in their right mind was up this early?

Unable to fall back asleep, you gave up and crawled out of bed. After a quick maintenance run in the bathroom, you ventured outside to the living room.

Jinyoung was sitting up on the couch, leaning forward with his elbows resting on his knees. His brow was furrowed from concentration. The news didn’t seem like anything out of the ordinary to you, but Jinyoung was entranced. The anchor was giving an update on the military conflict in another country. It was sad and depressing. You tried not to think about it too much.

“Did you actually sleep?” you asked in an effort to distract yourself. Still waking up, you wrapped your arms around yourself and let free a yawn.

“Eight hours,” he replied. You had a hard time believing that. Next to him, the blanket was folded with precision, lying neatly on top of the throw pillow. Tonight you would have to remember to get him a real pillow from the guest room to sleep on.

“It doesn’t feel like it.”

Jinyoung glanced at you over his shoulder. “You can go back to sleep.”

You shook your head. “I can’t sleep with noise on.”

“Sorry. I’ll mute the TV.” He started to reach for the remote.

“It’s alright,” you stopped him. “I’m hungry now and won’t go back to sleep with a growling stomach. Have you eaten yet?”

“Not yet.”

“I’ll make breakfast.”

“Thank you.”

You shot his back a curious glance before continuing to the kitchen. Although there was no reason to, you’d expected him to decline. Oh, well. Making breakfast for two shouldn’t be much harder than breakfast for one.

It took about fifteen minutes to put the food together. By that time, your stomach was growling viciously, and you could feel your blood sugar dropping dangerously low. To help stabilize it, you shot down a glass of orange juice. That calmed the stormy waters long enough to finish up. You took a plate out to Jinyoung first, along with silverware. He thanked you for the meal.

“Do you want anything to drink?”

“Do you have coffee?”

You nodded. You were already brewing yourself a cup. “What kind do you like?”

“I’m usually an Americano guy, but I’ll take whatever you’ve got.”

“I can do an Americano,” you said. You, erm, splurged on a nice coffee machine that basically does it all. You like your coffee fancy, as embarrassing as it is. Plain black with just creamer or sugar wasn’t enough for you.

The Americano was easy enough to make. You even had a little teal to-go cup with a lid and straw for Jinyoung to use. He half-scoffed, half-laughed at the thing when you brought it out to him, but he thanked you nonetheless. Now it was your turn to sit and eat. Usually you ate at the table, but Jinyoung was still out in the living room and you felt too awkward to eat in there when he was out here, so you joined him, taking a spot on the recliner. Tucking your feet under you, you began to break your fast. The news had moved on to a lighter, humanitarian topic, so you gave it part of your attention.

Knock, knock, knock.

Jinyoung froze. Slowly and quietly, he put the plate down on the coffee table. His hand slid under the pillow and pulled out a firearm. Now it was your turn to stiffen.

He walked slowly over to the door and peeked through the small peephole. Then his shoulders relaxed. Sliding the gun between his waist band, he opened the door with a huff.

“You’re supposed to call that you’re on your way.”

In stepped a much taller, lankier man than even the one that came with Jaebeom the other day. Though still in a suit, this bodyguard was still very boyish, smiling and giggling as he came into view. His black hair wasn’t perfectly smooth like Jinyoung’s. “I forgot. Bambam was in a hurry to get to his favorite café.”

“Now isn’t really the time for him to be flirting with the baristas,” Jinyoung deadpanned. He reached out and took the suitcase that the other one had rolled in.

“You’re just jealous that he’s better at it than you.” Noticing you, the other bodyguard waived. “Hi! I’m Yugyeom!”

You waved back sheepishly. “Hi.”

“If you get tired of this one watching you,” he jabbed his thumb in Jinyoung’s direction, “I’ll gladly take over. I’m much more fun than hyung here.”

“Yugyeom….” Jinyoung warned.

Yugyeom was undeterred. “He’s already got you up early. He tried to do that with me and Bambam, but we like sleeping. You know, like normal people. Next time, though, you should try to get up before him. He may look scary now, but when he’s sleeping, he’s actually kind of cute—”

“Yugyeom!” Jinyoung snapped. “Don’t you have a briefing to get to?”

The latter checked his watch. “Not for another hour, but I should probably wrangle Bambam away from the café before he busy the place out.” Still giggling, Yugyeom waved to you. “Nice to meet you, (y/n).”

“You, too,” you said with a laugh of your own. Jinyoung all but shoved the poor guy out the door. Once it was shut, he sighed, leaning his forehead and forearm against the wooden barrier.

“One day, I will kill him,” he whispered.

You would be lying if you said that you weren’t enjoying this a little. Jinyoung huffed and turned back to you.

“Eat your breakfast.”

He rolled the suitcase down the hall to the spare bathroom and shut the door. In a much better mood than how you woke up, you picked your silverware back up and ate happily away. If Jinyoung ever got on your nerves, you knew exactly who to contact.

[klarolinelibrary]

Hello! Upon time (and some prodding), my deliberation comes to an end. Thank you for waiting. For my prize, I would like to prompt you lovelies with necromancer + picnic + online friendship. Much love!

Klaroline Library Trivia Prize: A Ghost With An Accent

For @strangenightsofdaydreams

"I thought you said you didn't like this guy."

Caroline feels her face scrunching up in annoyance despite her efforts in ignoring him.

"The silent treatment? Don't be cruel, love. I'm looking out for you," he says, ducking his head low while his eyes feign innocence. Some would call it 'puppy dog' eyes (which she finds annoyingly cute but not the point) then throws a devilish smirk.

Klaus walks over to Stefan's side, eyeing him carefully. "What do you see in this douche? He's trying too hard at being mysterious with his twilit hair. How can you ignore that?"

Of course, he butchers the title of the vampire movie they saw the other day. As much as he complains about it, he still stuck around watching all five films with her. Thank god, Stefan's too busy talking about his family or something to notice her not fully listening to him. Smile and nod is something she's good at doing.

Klaus sighs obnoxiously. "How does he not notice you are finding him horribly boring?" He tucks his arms behind him as he continues to walk along aside Stefan.

1... 2... 3...

Caroline starts counting to herself until she's confident she won't lose her mind on her unwanted third wheel. She tries not to live in regret, but at this moment, she regrets asking her friend about that spell, not knowing it would bite her in the ass like this.

Necromancy is always a confusing and complicated form of magic. What her friend performed was tricky and idiotic on her part to even ask. All she wanted was a brief moment to talk to her mom, but what she ended up with was a pain in the ass manchild who doesn't know when to stop pushing buttons.

She doesn't mind his company in small doses, but Klaus has a knack for being around when she wants to be alone, like right now. The fact that he's playing the third wheel at her date is distracting. And all his sarcastic comments he's been giving out since she threw on this little black dress is getting on her nerves too.

Who even uses that much hair gel?

Shit.

Stefan is talking to her, and she knows it. She can see his lips moving, but for the life of her, she can't hear a word he's saying. Caroline feels guilty because he isn't that terrible of a date.

Focus Caroline. Get it together!

"I'm sorry, Stefan. Can you repeat that?" A forced giggle spills past her lips, painfully awkward, but she needs to join the living again.

"It's alright, love. He's as interesting as a bag of bricks."

Caroline clenches her jaw, holding her tongue, but her eyes shift briefly at Klaus, then looks back at Stefan in time to hear his response.

"Oh, I was just pointing out that we're here," Stefan smiles kindly at her. Caroline looks around and notices they have arrived at the park. Heat rushes up to her neck onto her cheeks, not realizing how distracted she's been.

"Shall we?" He offers his arm to her, and Caroline hesitantly accepts with a smile. "Should have said this earlier, but you look stunning." Her head lowers, hiding her face from Stefan. From the corner of her eye, she notices Klaus's eye roll. "Let's sit by the water," Stefan says with a chuckle as he adjusts his grip on the picnic basket in his other hand.

Today was a good day for a picnic, not that she had any doubts about it. The weather app she's been keeping an eye on says it's all clear skies. She shifts a little uncomfortably, seeing as she isn't entirely dressed for a picnic but sits on the plaid blanket he lays out for them. She can't help think about how nice the date is going, considering how long it has been.

Caroline jumps a little, startled by Stefan reaching over, brushing a loose strand away from her face. He chuckles awkwardly, pulling his hand away. "Sorry, I - I didn't mean to freak you out there," he stumbles at his explanation.

Caroline smiles sheepishly, "It's okay... I was a little distracted." Her eyes catch Klaus laughing to himself, probably at the apparent awkwardness between her and her date.

"I uh hope you enjoy what I've packed for us," he says, opening the basket in front of them. A significant odor assaults Caroline's nostrils, stinging her eyes too. She catches herself before making a ghastly remark at his planned spread.

Klaus gingerly sits beside her, leaning into her ear. "I know that face, love."

"He certainly knows how to charm a lady," he comments, sarcasm dripping into his tone. They both eye the amateurish arrangement of detestable cuisine.

The walk home was much better than the prepared meal as the more she walks with Stefan, the less she notices Klaus. Her house slowly appears, like a beacon in the darkness. Tension rise between her and Stefan with the approaching end to their date. Once they've reached the front steps of her home, Caroline turns to look at Stefan, anticipating a goodbye or maybe a kiss?

Stefan takes a step forward, raising his hand as he did earlier, and caresses her cheek. Caroline waits for the fluttering in her stomach or any sign of feelings past the friendship she and Stefan developed online. But her blue eyes drift past Stefan and onto Klaus. The man was leaning on a lamppost, looking up at the night sky. His face somber, with another emotion she couldn't place. At that moment, she sharpens her focus back onto Stefan, who seems confused, probably by her sudden indifference.

Caroline takes a step back, and her sights drop to their feet. "Um... I'm sorry, Stefan. I - I'm not being fair to you," she stumbles over her words with her hands intertwine tightly. "I had a lot of fun talking to you online and all, but... I don't think I'm ready for this."

[acciofanfics]

Tormented (Sirius Black x Reader) Part 3

Summary: (Y/N) leaves home right out of Hogwarts due to circumstances Sirius could definitely relate to. When he opens his home to her, things don’t go exactly as planned.

Pairing: Post Azkaban Sirius Black x FemReader, mentions of Tonks x Lupin

Warnings: Sexual themes? And maybe some language? Possiblity of OOCness for the sake of story telling

Word Count: 974

A/N: So I had no intention of really dragging this out like I have been, but it’s just been happening 😂 Next part will be smut I swear it! It’s a little short and a little OOC so I do apologetics for that -S

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It was slightly embarrassing how long it took (Y/N) to think of something that she could get Sirius with. Subtly would probably be key... and that was the tricky part. Though there really wasn’t a need to be subtle about her intentions, just the delivery. A metaphorical light bulb finally popped up above her head. The idea: pretty brazen, but that’s what she hoped would make it brilliant.

Sirius had grown suspicious when the built up tension in the air seemed to dissipate into nothing. It wasn’t really a bad thing though, he didn’t really want to have to watch what he did or said around the girl. It would’ve been hard to only have issues conducting himself around (Y/N) and people not connect the dots. So his suspicion turned into relief as the other members of the Order flooded into headquarters and gathered around the large kitchen table. Sirius didn’t even think twice when (Y/N) took the seat beside him. He should’ve.

(Y/N) waited. Quite patiently, if she were to say so herself. She listened and participated in the conversation, not that there was much more news to report. It really was mostly the same, and it wouldn’t be until later in the summer that Dumbledore would bring Harry, so it was more of a formality. Once the topics dipped to more casual affairs, she decided she’d make her move. She fished what she was looking for out of her pocket and carefully placed it in Sirius’ hand under the table before excusing herself momentarily.

Sirius wasn’t sure why he didn’t expect as much from the young woman. He really should’ve. He immediately knew something was up when she passed him something secretively and when he looked down and saw that it was a pair of red lacey knickers he immediately turned his head to watch (Y/N) leave the table.

Sirius’ gaze must’ve lasted longer than he intended, because when he turned back he caught the glare of Remus. Luckily it looked as if no one else caught on. He shot his childhood friend a sheepish grin and carried on as if nothing happened. It did get a little tricky when (Y/N) returned to the table and gave a performance that could’ve easily landed her an acting career in the muggle world. In fact, it was slightly annoying how she acted like she didn’t know Sirius existed.

While he normally enjoyed seeing everyone (well everyone that believed he wasn’t a murderer), tonight he wished the stragglers would just go ahead and head out. If he hadn’t been under strict orders from Dumbledore not to leave 12 Grimmauld Place, Sirius would’ve dragged (Y/N) to the first quiet spot he could find. While the thought was a nice one it didn’t last long.

Remus sat on a semi-comfortable couch talking with his old friend. Talking? No, now that Nymphadora and (Y/N) had gone upstairs momentarily, Remus took this opportunity to somewhat scold Sirius. “I see you’re still being ‘tormented’. You know with her simply walking away I’m not sure how you can stand it.”

Maybe it was just payback for all the teasing Sirius did as a younger man. It had all been in good fun though, and Remus held his own. Sirius supposed he could pull the skimpy article of clothing out of his pocket and ask Remus what he thought it meant when a woman handed you their underwear. No, Sirius would play it cool. “Honestly things have gotten a lot better. Perhaps you were right.”

Remus knew Sirius well enough to know his tone almost sounded arrogant... like he knew something Remus didn’t, but he decided to look over it. It wasn’t that Remus didn’t feel sorry for Sirius, he really did, but he just doubted (Y/N) would be a good fit to get him back in the game. Firstly, the infatuation seemed one sided. Secondly, she was staying with the man at headquarters out of necessity and adding a romantic relationship to that didn’t seem like it would be the best mix. Remus didn’t really have a leg to stand on when it came to an age difference he supposed. “I do worry about you sometimes... that was just too easy.”

Sirius laughed along with Remus. That was fair enough, he did and probably was if he was still being honest quite stubborn. He was happy that their conversation drifted away from (Y/N) and it was nice to talk to Remus again. God, he’d missed it, and truthfully he couldn’t tell you how long they’d been talking when Tonks came bouncing down the stairs. She seemed ready to leave, but polite.

After a few more brief conversations and their goodbyes Tonks stood outside the door with Remus. She seemed to be in a bright mood, “Well, it’s about time we got out of there. I don’t think it was us they wanted to spend time with.”

Remus concluded that she must’ve picked up on Sirius’ staring too, “He was quite popular in school I’m sure you’re aware. He probably hasn’t gotten used to women not being into him.”

Tonks raised an eyebrow at his chuckle, “Wow... you’re clueless.” She laughed at Remus, who was wearing the same expression she had earlier. Tonks just wasn’t sure how he could claim to be such good friends with the man and not know that not only was the attraction definitely not one sided, but something had definitely already happened, and whether he would believe it or not. (Y/N) hadn’t even talked about Sirius the whole time they weren’t in the room. It was just blatantly obvious. Two people didn’t sit that close and act that oblivious to each other when something wasn’t up. After a few minutes and Remus’ questioning Tonks just sighed and let out another chuckle, “I’ll tell you when you’re older.”

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