#[adrian voice] why does everyone bully me

[parchmentedpetrichor]

➳all the king's men ♡ ☾

in which all the king's men couldn't put the pieces of y/n l/n together. we all have the days where we're insecure and broken, this is one of hers.

fred weasley x fem!reader

word count: ±1.8k

tw: insecurity, bullying

please if you are having overly harmful thoughts about yourself, talk to a friend or a professional. you are perfect the way you are and don't let anyone tell you otherwise!

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my masterlist:D

it's so sad that the best people tend to think the worst of themselves

all the king's men

y/n, for lack of a better description, was feeling like humpty dumpty. she had seen herself in the mirror last night, and felt positively traumatised. she had come back from a quidditch practice session, and the results were quite terrifying.

she didn't understand. quidditch made the guys more toned and even a few of her teammates had abs. what did it do to her? well, it made her shoulders broad, which she thought was highly unattractive to anyone, and not at all slim! sure, it was fun and kept her fit, but terribly horrible, in her opinion, in trying to fit in to the beautiful girls that went to hogwarts.

she admired angie johnson and cho chang and ginny. she really did. y/n knew how hard it was to be beautiful, and she liked when other people were so beautifully beautiful. it just made her feel terrible, because what was the chance of her keeping her boyfriend in fred weasley when fiercely pretty girls were dancing elegantly around her?

there wasn't any time to be mopey and sad, so she gathered all her books and immediately went to breakfast. she didn't even bother going over to fred and greeting him. she saw how happy he was laughing with george and lee. surely she wouldn't bother him. instead she plopped down next to alicia.

"you ok?" alicia spinnet asked her.

she nodded, "fine."

"you sure?"

"no."

"wanna talk about it?"

"do you think it's too early to get plastic surgery?" y/n joked in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"what the fuck, no. what's up?" alicia's eyes were lit with concern.

"i don't feel pretty," her voice was but a whisper.

alicia caught it.

"why? you're literally adorable."

"you're my best friend, you're supposed to tell me that."

"hmm, nah, i truly believe it."

"well i don't," y/n said miserably.

"oi, l/n, your hair down today?" adrian pucey snarled, "it's gonna give me aids."

a few students snorted.

"you can get aids then. shut your mouth," y/n retorted back.

the whole school look startled. was this the same, prefect, goody-two-shoes y/n l/n?

adrian pucey opened his mouth.

"i said shut. your. mouth."

fred weasley watched in a mixture of furiousness and pride. he knew that pucey had a crush on y/n too. he was just terrible in expressing it. fred didn't like the way y/n's eyes sadly flitted to alicia afterwards. and she hadn't come up to him and given him a kiss today. maybe she just wanted a bit of space??

"see?" y/n sighed, "not even my hair is pretty." she tied it up.

alicia laughed, "adrian just wants your attention."

that made y/n laugh. "why? why?" it was a rhetorical question. she got up, and smiled at adrian in the most menacing way that he shrunk.

"miss l/n, your outburst was quite rude-" snape began.

"my apologies professor, of course, i was in the wrong. adrian pucey brought the topic surrounding my hair up, called it ugly. now what would you do if a student called your hair ugly?" y/n said, eyes burning with fury but conscience too good to lose her temper.

"i-i would give them a scolding."

"likewise. good day, professor."

"fucking hell, he is such a sh-" alicia muttered as she got up and followed y/n out to class.

"ali, that's enough," their retreating voices could be heard.

fred kept his eye on y/n through the day, giving her the space he thought she needed.

she looked very like her normal self, until she encountered pucey again.

"l/n, nice squinty eyes," pucey laughed.

y/n's shoulders sagged. her eyes dimmed and she let her ponytail fall in front of her face.

"ponytail won't fix them," he laughed meanly, "can they fix your dumpling body?"

fred frowned deeply, "fuck off, adrian," he angrily said, "that's my girlfriend you're talking to."

"oh, you have someone like weasley to save you? i don't even think you deserve him as a boyfriend."

y/n didn't answer, fearing that tears would spill out of her eyes. she had just been feeling worse and worse about herself. instead, when the bell signalled the end of classes, she hurried quickly off to wherever, trying to pull herself together.

she felt like she was at the bottom of the earth. her eyes finally let go of the tears that needed to be spilt. she leant sobbing against a stout tree in the forbidden forest, head slumped gloomily against the trunk, eyes trying to find anything, anything, that could be remotely comforting and hands fiddling nervously with the flowers that bloomed happily around her. her whole body shook in anxiety. she wished she had her mum or dad here to help her. but they were back at home.

how did fred love her?

she wished she didn't have stupid hair or squinty eyes or a dumpling body. but she couldn't ignore the mean, yet so true, remarks about her body adrian made. they were morally wrong and he deserved to be stabbed, but they were factual. she used to just laugh and joke about him too, but now she realised that maybe she should pay more attention to the way she eats and works and the way she talks and looks and presents herself and put more makeup on and-

fred found her crying there, by the little pond, shrinking away from the mere sight of her own appearance. he didn't get it.

well, he did, but he didn't know why such a beautiful girl like his girlfriend was crying.

"y/n?"

she flinched and stopped crying.

"sorry, i'll leave. i don't think you want a dumpling of a girlfriend sharing this nice space," she attempted to joke, but it fell short. she wasn't joking anymore. her tone was serious and genuine. the unexpected good nature pucey's remarks were received in usually was gone, and for good reason. it had broken her into the tiniest little pieces.

fred felt it. he felt his heart stop.

"is this about what pucey said to you, lovely?" he asked gently, cupping her cheek, and pulling her close to him.

she nodded, feeling immensely better already. the smell of him made her calm down insanely.

"so you don't want space?"

"n-no, i was just..." she trailed off uncertainly.

"mhm?" he looked at her and waited.

"it's silly."

"well, it's got you crying, i don't think so."

"the stuff a-adrian says is true," her voice was quiet and small.

fred frowned.

"i'm not cute or elegant or even hot," she continued, "i-i'm not as pretty as anyone here."

"well, my little love, if my opinion even matters, you are stunning. i think you're the prettiest person in the world, both on skin and in here," he patted his own heart, "do you know how long i pined after you?"

"no?"

"i'm still pining after you, gorgeous."

"d-do you mean it when you say gorgeous?" her eyes were broken and teary.

"of course. it hurts me when you are upset. because you are gorgeous and much more because you are so nice and good to me and to everyone else too. pucey's a complete shithead and when i next see him i will bash his head in. i'm so sorry i didn't notice, love, i thought you were mad at me."

"no it's fine, i just don't understand. you're fred weasley. so many girl's want you and you-you choose...me?," a sad frown was etched on her face, her tone confused.

"y/n, you're my only choice. i don't want the other girls. i can see the appeal of you. i-i know i'm not the best with words like you, but i really care about you. i love you, i adore you, you're the bestest person i've ever met."

and he knows he's brought the happiness back in her. she giggled. he felt relieved, because he knew he wasn't good at all at comforting people and y/n was so special to him- why didn't he say that earlier to her?

"bestest isn't a word, freddie."

"well you get what i mean, right? you're really special to me," there it was.

she nodded slowly, a small smile forming on her lips as she kissed him on the lips, before snuggling closer to him.

"darling, wouldn't you rather go back to the castle to cuddle?"

hesitantly, she shook her head.

"why?"

"'drian's there."

"adrian cannot hurt you, okay? whatever he tells you is wrong. he's wrong," he gently says, pulling her close to him, "besides, if he does, i'm here, and you're strong."

"i just cried about it, i can't be strong."

"crying doesn't mean you're weak, darling, sometimes we all cry and that's okay."

y/n nodded.

"here, i brought this for you, maybe it's a comfort??" he blushed as he handed her his quidditch hoodie.

she grinned and put it on.

he couldn't stop blushing at the sight of her, so he tilted his face away to save himself the embarrassment.

noticing and mistaking his turned away head for disgust, y/n took the hoodie off, downcastedly handing it back to him.

"sorry," she gave a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes as fred looked at her in confusion.

"y-you can have it back, yeah, there's no need to hide your shame, here, s-sorry," she stuttered out.

"shame?" he asked, looking worriedly down at her.

"mhm," she fiddled with the hem of her shirt, "sorry."

he finally understood.

"angel, look at me."

she reluctantly looked up at him.

"i wasn't feeling disgusted at all. i-i was actually embarrassed because i was blushing," his cheeks heated up again, "like i probably am right now. you're too beautiful. i was blushing too much."

"oh."

"yeah. now put it back on," he demanded, as he cheekily tugged the jumper over her head, blushing again as he saw her standing there in his jumper.

"c'mon!" he said, carrying y/n's school bag as they made their way to the castle, his arm wrapped protectively around his waist and the bright gold letters on the back of his sweater shining for anyone and everyone to see.

they didn't see pucey, thank goodness and they ended up talking with george and katie bell and angie and alicia by the fire.

as y/n smiled and giggled with katie over something highly scandalous, fred had his eyes on her, not so much monitoring her, but he couldn't keep them off of her.

when he had noticed her words start to become short and slightly slurred by tiredness, he lead her back to her dormitory.

"feeling better princess?"

she nodded, "you're so good to me, freddie. i love you."

it made his heart swell with happiness.

"i'd go to the moon and back for you, y/n."

she smiled drowsily, "and i, you."

[loving-daisy]

Cry For Me | George Weasley x Reader

Masterlist | Cry For Me Masterlist 

Chapter 8 - I Can’t Seem To Hate You

Words: 3.6k

Warnings: angst, bullying

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“Why in Salazar Slytherin, is someone like you doing outside of here?!” The blonde 4th year Slytherin demanded after the sight of a Gryffindor loitering around the dungeons made him stop in his tracks. 

But like a true Gryffindor, and a true Weasley, the ginger paid him no attention causing Draco to get annoyed. “I’m talking to you!” He added, crossing his arms. 

The tall 6th year merely gave Draco a glance, shaking his head. “You really should learn how to mind your own business, Malfoy.” 

Draco Malfoy being...Draco Malfoy, wasn’t going to let his guard down just like that. As much as he despised Gryffindors, Weasleys, and what-his-family-calls-”blood-traitors”, he knew the reason why one half of the Weasley twins were around the place where Slytherins gather. He knew the reason why George Weasley was standing outside his house’s common room. And after forming a new bond with the Slytherin queen, he wanted nothing more but to protect her. 

The blonde Slytherin stood tall, his face displayed into a sour scowl, getting close to the ginger before voicing out his threat. “You listen here, Weasley. If you don’t want me to call Professor Snape, you best be on your way out of this place and never come back. Ever.” 

George took a step back, scoffing, before his eyes landed on Y/N Icestone’s best friend who was making her way towards the common room entrance. “Greengrass!” The ginger called, waving his hand. 

The girl stopped in her tracks, her eyes landing on the Gryffindor then to Malfoy then to the Gryffindor again. Daphne and Draco made a brief eye contact, the girl almost immediately understanding the blonde’s intentions. The girl cleared her throat, brows raised as she pointed to herself. “Me?” 

George nodded as an answer. “Yes, you. Can you call Y/N for me? Please?” He pleaded, his eyes soft as if he was desperate to get out of Draco Malfoy’s presence and get into the arms of the girl he loved. 

Daphne shook her head. “No-”

“I’m here. What do you want?” A voice, her tone as cold as ice, monotonously said. Three heads turned towards Y/N Icestone who had a blank expression on her face. Three faces were shocked to see her make her presence known, in those three, the two Slytherins were on the verge of pulling her away from the one who was on the verge of pulling her away to demand an explanation. 

“Y/N-” 

Icestone pierced her cold eyes to the brown warm ones. “You have no right to address me with my first name, Weasley.” 

George Weasley was speechless. He didn’t know what to do, he didn’t know what to say. Millions of thoughts started to run in his head, trying his best to put them all together like a puzzle piece, to know why Y/N Icestone suddenly had a change of demeanor towards him. 

The girl scoffed, rolling her eyes. “You know, if you’re going to waste my time-”

“What does this mean?” The ginger blurted out. Suddenly, his hand was going through his robe pockets to fish out the note the girl had sent to him this morning. 

Y/N’s lips curled. “Are you suddenly blind that you can’t even read anymore?” She questioned, giving a brief look at the letter, seeing remnants of cream in it. 

George was starting to lose his patience. Honestly, George didn’t know what he was feeling at this moment. He didn’t know if he was happy because Y/N Icestone was still talking to him or if he was mad because none of the words coming out of her were giving him the satisfaction. “I’m serious.” 

“Hi Serious, it’s really not a pleasure to meet you. Now if you would please get out of my face and go back to whatever nasty place you belong to, I would be delighted.” The girl remarked before making her way towards Daphne, linking her arms with her to pull her towards the common room. 

“Listen, Y/N-” George was once again cut off by Y/N.

“One more thing, Weasley. Do not ever talk to me again. Ever.” She quipped, finally walking away from the ginger. 

Before Draco was able to give another threat, he too, was cut off by the girl. “Draco, let it go. Come now.” 

And there George was, alone and defeated, his last sight being Draco Malfoy’s threatening glare. 

____________________

“She won’t talk to me! She doesn’t want me to explain. At all!” The younger Weasley twin complained, arms crossed as he took a seat beside his sister at the Gryffindor common room. 

“I actually wouldn’t blame her though.” Fred expressed, shrugging, earning a glare from his brother.

“I mean, imagine finding out that your boyfriend was actually just pretending to like you to make you fall in love with him...I’d throw a fit too, honestly. Wouldn’t you, Ginny?” He mumbled to not draw attention. Although most students of Hogwarts have heard the news of Y/N Icestone dumping George Weasley. Some say that she dumped her for someone younger, someone like Draco Malfoy perhaps, seeing as the two Slytherins suddenly got so close. Some say that the Icestones gave the Weasleys a huge amount of gold in exchange for George staying away from Y/N, seeing that the Weasley���s reputation isn't good enough for the Icestones. Some even say that they knew that the two would never last. Gryffindors and Slytherins don’t really match afterall. 

“But I was just wondering how…” Fred paused in thought, careful with his words. “She wouldn't have confronted you about it earlier if she already knew about it…” He trailed off, giving off a confused facial expression.

Ginny sighed, rolling her eyes. “It’s obvious, Fred. She wanted George to feel what she felt.” She advertised, earning a nod from Fred in agreement. “She’s smarter than I thought.”

“Yeah, and mean!” George grunted, shaking his head from left to right. “I can’t believe that I actually fell for her! I should have known.”

“Oh think about it, Georgie. It was basically you who started it.” The older ginger gloated. 

“Me?!” George challenged. “It was you! You were the one who schemed all this! You were the mastermind behind this!” He exclaimed. 

The sudden outburst coming from the group of Weasleys seated together caught the attention of everyone in the common room. Those gossiping started to gossip even more, their topic diverting into the Weasley twins. Those studying paused to watch the exchange. I mean, who doesn’t want to stick their noses up to family drama? 

“You’re actually blaming this on me? Well, you were the one who agreed to do it! I was only suggesting it!” Fred affirmed. 

“Suggesting?! Are you hearing yourself right now, you dimwit?! You practically forced me to do it! Saying that we’re gonna get revenge and prank the shit out of Slytherin’s stupid pride!” 

“Merlin’s beard, will you two dimwits please shut up!” The female Weasley grumbled, standing up from her seat after slapping the backs of her brother’s heads. “It was both of you! The both of you were to blame! Now please, if you want to fix this, you guys make up and actually apologize to Y/N.” 

The common room erupted into murmurs after hearing the Slytherin's name. Good information for a good morning gossip for tomorrow’s breakfast at the Great hall. 

“Boys are so annoying.” Muttered Ginny, before stepping away from the scene. 

____________________

“Salazar! Did you see the look on bloody Weasley’s face? He looked like he was about to cry!” Daphne giggled, earning a smirk from Y/N and Draco. 

“Well, he deserved it!” Y/N smiled. She turned to face Draco, placing a hand on his arm. “Thank you, by the way.” 

The blonde Slytherin offered a small smile. “It was nothing.” 

“Oh but it was! You really are scary aren’t you? If I was him, I would have peed my pants.” Daphne crooned, Y/N nodding in agreement. Draco’s smile grew wider. 

____________________

The next morning at the Great hall, as expected, the controversial relationship between the famous Gryffindor mischief maker and Slytherin’s royal ice queen was once again the talk of the castle. 

The moment George entered the hall, all attention was diverted to him. It’s not like he didn’t want attention. I mean, Fred and George liked the attention, the applause and compliments that they heard when people liked their prank or their very useful product that gets you out of class when you don’t feel like attending it. However, the attention George was receiving right now was not pleasant at all. All eyes were on him, yes, but almost all of those eyes were glaring at him. 

Students seated at the Hufflepuff table were giving him sad and disappointed looks. Fred and George’s pranks were a good laugh but playing with a girl’s heart is just too much. 

Those in the Ravenclaw had raised brows. How dare him play with Y/N Icestone’s heart? Does he have no respect for himself and his family? 

Those in Gryffindor were ashamed. At first, they felt bad for their housemate but after hearing the conversation between the twins and Ginny, they sent their sympathies towards the Slytherin more. 

Students sorted in Slytherin were the worst. They were glaring at him, mocking him, and even giving him some snide remarks. “You just earned yourself a lot of enemies, Weasley. Watch your back.” Threatened Adrian Pucey. 

As the ginger sat on his usual spot at the Gryffindor table, his eyes studied the Slytherin table, trying to locate the girl who had been occupying his mind while trying not to make eye contact with those who were glaring at him. When his eyes planted at a mop of blonde hair, Malfoy’s hair, his eyes squinted. 

“Merlin, am I seeing this right or is Malfoy sitting with Icestone and Greengrass?” Ron, who was seated on his right, said what’s exactly on George’s mind. 

Hermione, seated in front of Ron, gave a glance before shaking her head. “That’s none of your business, Ronald.” 

The 4th year Weasley grunted. “It is if it’s true that bloody Icestone actually left my brother for stupid Malfoy!” 

“Enough, Ron!” Exclaimed Ginny. “You know nothing about George and Y/N’s relationship.” 

George took a sip of pumpkin juice from his goblet, shaking his head. “Maybe it’s true.” He said quietly, turning his attention away from a smiling Y/N and towards the plate of food in front of him. 

“What is?” Asked Fred. 

George merely shrugged. “Maybe she did leave me for Malfoy. I mean, what if she found out that I was playing with her so she and Malfoy conspired against me and they actually fell in love with each other. Something like that.” He suggested. 

Silence enveloped their space as all eyes gave George a dumbfounded look. “That sounds like the muggle love story book Hermione lent me.” Harry muttered, shaking his head before digging in his breakfast. 

Honestly, George wasn’t as calm as he was showing in his exterior. He was just good at controlling his anger. I mean, people really didn’t like him right now so if he made a scene right there, right now, people would hate him even more. But if people hated him, he hated someone more. He hated Draco Malfoy for being mean, for being nosy, and for being close to Icestone. He hated Daphne Greengrass because she was the haughty best friend of the girl he loved and hated the most, Y/N Icestone. He hated her for what happened between them. He hated her for not talking to him, for not letting him explain, and for playing with him. 

George didn’t care if he was being a hypocrite but Y/N Icestone played with him too. He had to get that straight. And so, after the girl’s Arithmancy class, he decided to corner her in that small alcove he pulled her in when they were in 5th year. 

“Didn’t I tell you to not talk to me ever again?” Icestone signed, shaking her head in frustration. Which in turn, earned a smirk from the ginger.

“Like I said, Icestone. If you ever paid any attention to me, you’ll know that I simply don’t follow what people tell me to do.” George asserted. Y/N once again sighed. 

“What do you want, Weasley? I have an essay to finish.” She asked, bored. 

“I wanted to get things straight with you, Icestone.”

“Then hurry up!” The Slytherin demanded, her patience long gone ever since she became face to face with the Gryffindor.  

The ginger was once again, speechless. Where is the Y/N Icestone that I loved? Why did she change so quickly?

He shook his head in disbelief. “You were right, Icestone. You’re not as evil as people describe you to be because you’re worse. Way, way worse.” He remarked with a disappointment present in his tone, earning himself an annoyed grunt,

“You betrayed me, George! All this time, you were only playing with me!” The girl fumed, her index finger pointed at the boy’s chest. 

George too, started to lose his patience. “But I stopped, didn’t I? I stopped! But then you’re here accusing me of playing you when YOU were the one who was playing with me!” 

“Why are you acting as if I’m the one who started this mess? Weren’t you and your twin the one who thought that it was such a great idea to make me fall for you?! To make me give you my heart and throw it away like it's some piece of garbage!” Y/N snarled, her icy eyes starting to melt with tears threatening to fall down. 

When the ginger took notice of her melting orbs, he felt his heart sink down his stomach. He hated Y/N Icestone and he hated how she cries. He hated it even more if he was the reason for it. So he let his guard down and surrendered. 

She’s right. George thought. I have no reason to blame her when it was me who started this mess. At Least he got that straight. 

“Why didn’t you talk to me, Y/N?” George quietly muttered, staring at his over worn shoes.

The girl shook her head, furiously blinking away the tears. “It doesn’t matter. What’s done is done because whatever we used to be, we’ll never be again.” She trembled, masking her shaking voice with faux confidence. 

“Besides, you were one of the people who believed that I have a stone cold heart. You wanted an ice queen? I’ll show you an ice queen.” 

____________________

Things didn’t get easier for George Weasley. From being the prankster, it seems like he was the victim of all the pranks students of Slytherin were pulling on him. 

In one of this week’s potion’s class, Professor Snape just had to conveniently break down everyone’s partnership. He knew it was the influence of Y/N Icestone. If not her, then Malfoy, but he knew that Icestone will still be involved in all of this. 

Snape demanded all of his students to brew a draught of living death. But he won’t tell you how. All you had to do was follow the instructions in your book. 

It’s not like George wasn’t good at potions. He is better at Fred afterall, seeing as Fred doesn’t even take this class anymore. But in the past potions classes, George never prepared the ingredients. He was more of the one who conveniently just pours all the ingredients in the cauldron, having Y/N prepare everything for him. The thought just made him miss her even more. But life sucks and he has to deal with it. And so, he dealt with a scowling Professor Snape after an unknown student from the house of Slytherin tampered with his cauldron and made it explode. 

In his charms class, a class in which he conveniently shares with Slytherins, they had to learn about non-verbal spells. And guess what? Some haughty bloke performed a non-verbal hex towards him, causing the majority of the class to laugh in his face before professor Flitwick made them stop. He was sent to the Hospital wing. 

Some time during the week, on his way to meet his twin brother, he suddenly tripped and a bucket of ice cold water was spilled into his uniform. He wouldn’t know who the culprit was if he didn’t see Blaise Zabini, Malfoy’s right hand man, snicker and shake his head in the corner of his eye. 

But despite everything, George Weasley let it slip. He never lashed out on them, choosing to keep his frustration bottled up before releasing it in a piece of parchment at night and throwing it into the fireplace inside the common room. Fred even suggested pranking them back, but George thought that he needed a break from mischief, seeing that the last didn’t really go well. 

Meanwhile, Y/N Icestone was back to her previous form. Back to herself when she never opened the stupid envelope the Weasley twins were planning to send to Malfoy. She was reserved, but not as reserved as before. She only showed her true form to her friends but other than them, her features continued to demand respect from everyone that goes past her. 

Honestly, she knew what her housemates were doing. They were messing with George Weasley for messing with her and at first, she wasn’t really fond of the idea until she remembered what the ginger did to her. So she convinced herself otherwise. 

And she observed. She observed how her housemates would either glare at the ginger or send him snide remarks whenever they’d cross paths with him. She observed how her housemate sneaked a foreign ingredient in George’s cauldron that caused it to explode. She observed how George saw who it was but didn’t act on it. She observed the way he was assisted by a kind Hufflepuff to the hospital wing. She observed how regardless of all the bullying he was receiving, he wasn’t fighting back. Which was unlikely of George Weasley. So she decided to make a bold move and ask why. 

“Honestly, what’s the matter with you?” Y/N mumbled with uncertainty, eyes piercing the ginger’s. 

George was shocked and confused. “What do you mean?” He breathed. The effect Y/N Icestone had on him remained. Seeing her up close still made his heart flip, heart ache, and heart break to pieces at the same time. 

The girl shrugged, tilting her head as if taking a better look at George, trying to comprehend his feelings. “Well, I’m mean to you, to your friends, my friends and housemates make fun of you, and you let it slip. You do nothing about it. Honestly, is this your way of letting me see how much of a bad person I am?” 

The Gryffindor offered a small smile, shaking his head. “You look happier.” He acknowledged.

“What?”

“Y/N Icestone, I wish you happiness. So if all this makes you happy, then fine. It’s my fault anyways.” 

____________________

The Slytherin didn’t take it well after that conversation. She was having a conflict with herself. The walls she built were tearing themselves apart as the thought of George Weasley came running around in her mind as if he owned the place. And so, she tried her best to distract herself. 

She attended almost all of Slytherin’s parties, something that she didn’t really bother going to before. She drank whatever Daphne would hand her, living her life like it was the last, getting intoxicated every night and then. Then she studied like her life depended on it. She was smart, but she needed a pastime. And so, she spent most of her time at the library, studying materials that a mere 6th year shouldn’t have knowledge of. She’d do anything to keep George Weasley out of her mind. 

She thought she moved on. But she realized that moving on will take a bit longer after waking up in the hospital wing with the ginger by her side. 

“George?” She called, her voice hoarse. 

The ginger stood, looking down at her with eyes of concern and worry. “Icestone. Glad you’re finally awake.” 

After attempting to sit up, the girl groaned, feeling her body ache as if fire was burning all over. “What are you doing here? What am I doing here? What the bloody hell happened?” She asked, clueless of the recent events.  

The Gryffindor raised both his brows in disbelief. “It seems like you’re overworking yourself, Icestone. Me and Fred saw you walking in the halls on the way to potions class but then suddenly you were on the floor, no response!” 

“Fred too?” Y/N pondered, earning a nod from the boy. “Yeah...Fred too. He went to class since Madame Pomfrey didn’t allow the both of us here. So I stayed.” 

“Why? Don’t you hate me? You could have attended potions class like your twin.” 

George offered a small smile, shaking his head. “Because if I attended Snape’s class, I would have worked on the cauldron alone and lost my house some points.” 

“Oh.” The girl murmured, nodding, 

The boy mirrored her actions. “Yeah.” 

Silence enveloped the atmosphere and it wasn’t comfortable. So, the Slytherin decided to call for Madame Pomfrey before facing the Gryffindor and offering a small smile. “Thank you, George. Really. But I’m fine now. You can leave.” 

The boy nodded. “Alright.” 

After the ginger left, the girl laid back down, closing her eyes. Why can’t I hate him? How can I hate him?

End of Chapter 8

____________________

Taglist: @abrunettefangirlnerd​ @gloryekaterina​ @lilypad-55449​ @memekingofwwiii @leovaldez37 @bellaiscool​ @sukunas-cult-leader​

[fanficcrossoverprompts]

Damienette Headcanons part 2

Not gonna lie, I've no idea if this is saltinette or pettynette. Probably both.

• Commissioner Gordon takes Marinette over to the tour guide an starts to converse with him quietly. The other boy, the one who's closest to her in age has stopped yelling at Lila. (That's how badly it escalated)

• Marinette is both unsurprised and unbearably irritated when Lila starts bragging about her relationship with the youngest Wayne brother, Daniel or Darrel or whatever his name (Marinette doesn't know the names of any of the Wayne boys, just the letter that each name starts with). She know that this just another lie, but before she can call her out on it somebody else does.

• The tour guide ('Richard' his name tag says) immediately turns his attention to Lila and snaps, "My little brother doesn't have a girlfriend, and if you continue spread lies and rumours about him, you will be faced with a lawsuit. Honestly, the nerve of some people."

• Gordon who's still there just shakes his head.

• Lila's face drains as her shocked and angry classmates turn to her with questions and accusations, demanding to know what else she lied about. Marinette's not gonna lie, she gets a sick sort of pleasure out of it.

• Marinette's voice is beautifully vindictive when she speaks.

• "Karma's a bitch, isn't she, Lila?"

• She's unsurprised when her classmates beg for her forgiveness. Marinette feels no guilt when she thinks about what she's gonna do next. Once they've finished (She's a fountain of neverending patience) she starts calling them out in their bullshit. (She goes easy on some of them. Rose, Juleka, Ivan. She leaves Chloé out. Chloé actually sided with her and their friends now. It's been pleasant.)

• She sounds like their normal Marinette when she speaks. Cheerful, innocent, naive.

• She starts with Mlle. Bustier. Calling out failings as a teacher with authority over children.

• She works her way through all of her former 'friends'. The only two left, she looked forward to destroying them.

• Her demeanor stays the same. Cheerful, innocent, naive.

• She calls out Alya. For her lack of loyalty, her hypocrisy, her toxic behavior during the past three months.

• Finally, Adrian. The best for last after all.

• His eyes are begging her not to say anything. She wonders why she never saw how selfish he was. She puts him to everyone. That he knew, that he told her to say anything, that he told her he was on her side, only to watch as she was bullied an ridiculed by Lila and her classmates. Barring Chloé of course.

• Her next words are chosen carefully.

• "I loved you ,Adrian. But, when I asked for your help, you lied to me and buried my heart so far down in the dirt that I don't think I have one anymore."

• Hell hath no fury like a scorned Ladybug, thought Plagg.

• She watches her classmates gang up in him, furious. Lies hurt, she thinks. Only an idiot would think otherwise. The truth hurts worse, she knows.

• The boy who had yelled at Lila walks up to her. You're wrong, Angel, he thinks. You do have a heart. It just doesn't care for these people.

• He extends a hand for her to shake, "Hi, I'm Damian."

• She smiles shyly as she takes his hand.

• "I'm Marinette."

[everosfics]

At last I can breath

Warning: several bad words

A/N : so this took forever🙂 Sory about that. You ever have it all written but there’s this chunk you know you need but don’t know how to put it there well that was like two parts of this chapter, so enjoy what I have come up with. See you next chapter.

Ch.2 A year of transition

Lila POV

“Finally that bitch is done, won’t even look at me, sure I lost a few battles like when I lost Agrest but no mater there’s bigger and better out there. So What, one person won’t make my tower crumble and a small crack is just a minor distraction.

So long as Dupain-Cheng only has her little blondes to back her up it’ll be fine.”

Mari POV

It’s been about a year now since Lila’s return and while she has been a pan in my side and a huge agitator, I really don’t think she has been the hardest part of my life. God just saying that makes me feel horribly stressed, like oh yeah it’s junior year college scouts, senior class study abroad program planing, Akuma fights, all on top of a pathological Liar who has it out for me. Oh well I’m so fucking tired right now it’s been such an emotional year from the struggle to get use to Lila, to realizing that there’s only a few people out there that I can really trust. Thank god for Chlo without her I don’t think I would have made it through all that’s happened this year.

“Hey Mari were all going to go work on the ideas for the fundraiser are you coming.”

“Yeah I’m coming, can’t wait to see what each class is thinking about doing.”

***

Last year in the bathroom

“ Dupain-Cheng what the fucking hell was that. Who the hell does she think she is. I swear this is ridiculous.”

“Chloe what do you want.”

“From you nothing , from that sleaze ball an explanation on who the hell she thinks she is it’s not like you have done anything to her other than question her story.”

“I’m fine Chloe there’s nothing you can do, and why are you trying to help me anyway”

“Ugh. Dupa-, Marinette I may not show it but I am extremely thankful to everything that you have done for me, my family, and my reputation here at school. You have helped me in so many small ways and actually seeing what I was like, is a punch to the stomach. So I’m sorry and I hope I can make it up to you some way.”

“Huh huh huh *gasp* Chloe, I got here as fast as I could Mrs Bustier didn’t want to let me out with so many students already out of class.” *record scratch* sees Mari on floor. “What’s going on in here?”

“Sabrina listen to me I need you to understand this, Lila is threatening anyone who is standing against her so I need you to go back to class act like you didn’t see us and hang on every word Lila says. Ok. I’ll tell you the rest later tonight when we get back to the hotel, just know that as of right now you’re a spy and I-we need you to get close to Lila.”

“Okay. It will be alright Marinette. See you tonight Chlo.”

***

“Chloe I’m worried about Adrien, have you seen him recently?”

“No I haven’t, not outside of school and even then he’s all gloomy with that leach hanging off of him.

“Hey Marinette can I talk to you?”

“Sure Kagami what is it?”

“Well I kinda wanted to do it in private it’s about Adrien.”

“Kagami whatever you have to say about him is fine to say in front of Chlo she’s worried to.”

“Ok, well you know how we have practice after school every other day”

“Yeah?”

“Well last week and again on Monday I saw him with bruises and nail marks across his body, the bruise I get sometimes in practice we can get hit to hard but there were so many I think something is happening at home, and the nail marks I know I don’t see him in class but how is it going with that Rossi problem.”

“She still clings on him but based on what you’re saying I think he probably has been pulling away and she is holding on tighter.”

“Mari, Tuskugi I’ll need your help but I think we need to inform Mr. Agrest or at least Natalie of what we believe to be happening.”

“Your right Chlo but I don’t know how we’re going to get a chance with how close Lila has gotten with Mr. Agrest and his brand.”

“If I may, my mother has been discussing my need for understanding the context of when it is appropriate to lash out and I believe we have yet to focus on abuse in all forms along with what bullying is.”

“Go on Tuskugi?”

“I believe that if my mother was to approach the school with an interest towards seminars in these subjects we could go around both Lila and interference from the elder Agrest”

———

“In the recommendation of several of our families it is a pleasure to present to you our assembly on bullying and abuse.”

(After assembly)

“Nice Tuskugi you did it”

“Chloe it’s Kagami you can use my name. Any way I’m going to be here for good mother is allowing me to continue in this school so long as I keep up with my practices.”

“Well, Kagami, it’s good to have you on board even if you won’t be in class with us.”

(Some where else in the building)

“Hey Lila, I think that you need to start giving me some space from now on,”

“Bu-bu-but why?”

“Well my father saw the nail marks you are leaving and has requested that we spend time apart so that my arm may heal”

***

In Marinette’s room

“Mari I feel funny”

“Chloe I’m working if you aren’t dying can you bother me later”

“But Dupain, Sabrina’s undercover and no one else will listen.”

“Huff, Ok what is it Chloe”

“Well it’s not horrible but eveytime were around kitty section I feel funny, but it’s only when everyone is together I feel nothing when we’re in class and everyone is there.

“Maybe your just mad because no one is really doing anything inside class so when we’re out of it your mad.”

“Marinette that’s not it and you know it, braced on the facts Chlo only feels nervous”

“I’m not nervous”

“When it’s the entirety of kitty section which means her reaction is caused by Luka.”

“Ooooh Chloe has a crush!”

“DO NOT”

“Yes you do”

“Yes, Chloe it is most probable you have a crush on Luka similar to back when I was discovering what it was like to similarly enjoy the presence of another”

“Oh shut up” Chloe said as she launched a pillow right at Kagami who ducked it making it hit Mari, unleashing a pillow fight that would lead to the girls having a pillow fight until both Chloe and Kagami where picked up by there rides.

***

“Bug!!!!” “M’lady” “Tentōmushi.”

It’s all I can hear as I gasp from the puncture that I now have right through my lung. All I can see are rushing shapes as Luka tries to get to his bracelet and the suddenly I can breathe again, I see Luka make a call and all of a sudden bee is there with her stinger at the ready, my heart is still racing but I don’t know why. I start running towards the akuma but Chlo”s already there with her venom out and monster frozen then I’m running as fast as I can to chat because he has the akumatized item and then that’s it the swarm is released and it’s like I know what’s happening.

“I’m running out of time, everyone go home and recharge we need to talk I’ll meet you on top of the tower in 30 minutes”

———

“Bug why are we here?”

“Well it’s been about six months since the forced reveal and public change of users. I feel as though we now need to confirm our identity with each other since before that time each of you had been serving for over a year.”

“But why now?”

“Why?! Because I almost died today we almost lost and I can’t tell anyone unless I’m in this suit. We need support and no one else can give it to us so we need to build our on support team inside and out of being suppers. So I will be going home to a safe space and any of you who are ready to know who I am and share your secret with the others can follow me. I will never hold this moment against you and I will leave my location visible if you need to take your time.”

“Chat are you coming?”

“Wherever you need me.”

———

“So now that we all know what does that mean. Where do we go now?”

“We go no where, we trust and have each other’s backs.”

“Well I personally don’t know why we did this Mari you knew who all of us were and I knew who all of you were, I even put together who Rena, and carapace were.

“Wait how did Chloe know before me M’Lady”

“Well, actually I don’t know?! Chloe how did you know”

“Well big we all know how you are and I sort of put your personality together from that and then no one in Paris is as sunshiny as Adrikins here,”

“humf”

“Don’t humf me you know it’s true. And after that well me and Luk’s started talking and there was something so calming about him and how he took care of everyone. Then of course I noticed how there was really only one more of us left, two if we count Sabrina but Gami was the only one that makes since because well look at her she’s vicious and loyal and most importantly is the only other one of us that has dark hair.”

“Well that’s fair.”

“Wait I still don’t get how you confirmed it?”

“Oh I gave pollen free will she can do whatever she wants whenever and the only downside is that I have to ask her if we can join battle.”

“WHAT!!!!!”

“What do you mean what? Of course she has free will why would I ever keep her like a servant.”

In a meek voice “I’m the guardian and even I didn’t know that they didn’t have free will, Tiki I'm so sorry I didn’t know. As guardian you now have free will Tiki. Adrian go get the Miracle box we have to free them all and no one but Tiki stayed out.”

“Kwamis’ as your guardian I wished I had known that you had no free will and as your guardian I am granting you that freedom but I wish to still have a connection with each of you, as you will work on your own in your own way I hope to keep your miraculous with me and your users so that if need arises we must only tap on them to call to you and inform you of your need, never to merge without your express permission but to work as partners not masters. Do you accept these terms?”

“YES”

“As guardian, on these terms all Kwamis’ under my care are free to do as they wish and will always have a home with each other and a family in there new found partners.

***

(Present)

“ Mari were here we’re going second pay attention Aurore just came up with an auction as a fundraiser.”

“That should work great well just need to do a bit more around the gaining items and how much of the revenue we will get to keep. Now after our pitch we will probably need at least six more ideas and committees to execute them, overall we need eight to even think about doing the trip for the whole senior class even if we get a sponsor other than whatever school we enter for those 6 weeks.”

“Bug your always thinking a head, just focus on now and we’ll deal with the rest after we come up with the finalized schedule for the bigger events.”

Tag list : @thezestywalru

[chchanging]

I wrote too much about Lily being dead, and it made me sad—here’s an alternate universe where things aren’t as bad but are somehow just as bad (this was supposed to just be cute, I’m sorry skfsjdfk)

MC: Rossi Mayhew, the one who ruins everything

“I love our job,” Lily stands amidst piles of ashy vampire remains, stroking her crossbow lovingly as if it were a cherished pet rather than a deadly weapon. Fangs flash through her bright grin, adding a wicked glint to her otherwise childlike glee. “Have I mentioned lately that I love our job?”

She spins around lightly to face her two companions, the inhuman grace of vampirism woven into her every move after spending a whole year among their ranks.

One of the others—a supermodel-tall, amber-skinned woman with long dark braids falling down past her shoulders where her bun had come undone—yanks savagely on the hilt of her sword. The blade comes lose, spraying blood from the chest cavity of the woman it had previously been buried in. With a dying yowl, the injured party crumbles into nothing more than a pile of dust.

Rossi stands triumphantly, shoulders heaving with effort, and tosses a tired, amused look towards her best friend.

“I’m glad you’re having fun.” She titters good-naturedly, “Frankly, I’m getting a little tired of clean-up duty.”

With every supervillain, there were sure to be those few blindly devoted followers cropping up like weeds just asking to be plucked—at least that’s what Lily had pointed out after Rheya had been defeated and Jax had been laid to rest. It had only taken a little bit of investigating to prove her right. Neither Adrian nor Kamilah had been content to just let them be, to stir up trouble wherever they please—but both have been increasingly busy as of late.

Luckily the great majority of Rheya’s remaining followers had been none too bright, and therefore rather easy to track down. Lily had been all too pleased to put together her own little strike team, setting out to put an end to any potential danger while the other two held things down on the home front.

“Yes, such a shame that ‘Senator Raines’ was too busy to join us this morning.” Their third pipes in, brushing the coating of ash off of his hands. He bends down to retrieve his sword from where it had been knocked to the ground, sliding it back into place in its scabbard. “It was wise attacking in the daytime, when they had nowhere to run—that does not mean I have to like it.”

Lily gives him a sarcastic smile, “You’re on evil vampire probation, Gaius, you don’t get to choose jobs that you like.” Gaius clicks his tongue in response and rolls his eyes, but doesn’t argue. She has a point, after all.

He’d been surprisingly well-behaved all this time, save for the occasional snark. Given how rough things had been when they’d worked with him the first time, Rossi had expected some friction. She’d been hesitant, but Kamilah had pulled her aside the night they’d decided to let him live.

We can’t just let him go out in his own and trust him not to fall into...old habits. She’d said, rather tightly. Rossi knew that the decision had been hard on her, but as much as she knew that, she also couldn’t just ignore how wrong it would’ve felt to sentence him to death after he’d played such an integral part in Rheya’s defeat. He’s tasted the Blood of the First, and we haven’t seen how much of that power he still holds. If he goes off the deep end again you’re our greatest contingency plan.

Rossi hadn’t minded the idea of playing babysitter—she was the main reason he was allowed to live, and it wasn’t a problem if she had to take responsibility for that. Not to mention he is unstoppable in a fight, which had worked in their favor more than once since these little excursions had begun. More than once she and Lily had been forced to admit they’d been glad to have him along when things got messy.

She glances over at him, watching has he rolls his shoulders and neck to loosen up his muscles. He’d long since ditched his old-timey getup for something more modern—slim, dark pants and a grey long-sleeve v-neck. It suits him, she’d decided—and keeps deciding, often while her eyes are lingering on the muscles of his forearms where he’d rolled up his sleeves, or on the defined line of his collarbone.

He’s smirking like the cat who caught the mouse, pleased with himself after what was no doubt another overly simple battle. There’s a little extra color to his cheeks, and a lively light in his eyes. He can complain all he wants, but she knows that he is fully in his element, here—looking more alive than he had even after Rheya’s demise.

It takes a little too long for her to realize that she’d been staring—long enough that she isn’t the only one who does. Lily watches her with an incredulous brow raised, a hand on her hip. Rossi balks, swallowing hard and averting her eyes from the both of them.

Lily’s gaze weighs on her for a few more moments before she finally clears her throat. “I’m gonna check the rest of the place out—see if these guys were in touch with any other pro-Rheya groups.” Gaius nods at her, and she disappears into one of the back rooms of the dingy little hideout this particular group of insurgents had chosen for themselves.

It’s little more than a shack in the middle of the woods a few hours outside of the city. It’s dark, the walls creak with the slightest breeze, the windows are terribly drafty, and the whole place reeks of mold and mildew.

Unable to focus on much else now that she isn’t preoccupied with being attacked, Rossi can’t help but wrinkle her nose.

“Ugh,” she grunts unhappily, “why can’t anyone ever start an evil goddess cult in a five star hotel? This place sucks.”

Gaius scans the room as if making sure Lily isn’t about to pop out of the room right this second, and once he seems satisfied his face softens into a genuine smile. It’s gentler than Rossi is used to, even now.

He gives her a slow once-over, noting her rumpled clothes and disheveled hair.

“That would make our being inconspicuous a little more difficult, don’t you think?” He asks lowly, amusement in his tone. She rolls her eyes.

He approaches her slowly, a fondness in his eyes that makes her heart skip a beat. She notices belatedly that she’s holding her breath.

“Ah,” She begins, watching him closely, “we know all about being inconspicuous, don’t we?”

Her teasing tone earns her a rumbling chuckle. The sound of it warms her, makes her smile without really meaning to. He comes to a stop right in front of her, eyes sparkling, and extends a hand to her with his palm up.

“Here.” He says plainly, voice soft.

She glances down at it, then looks back at him, grinning quizzically. She lays her hand in his, the warmth comforting. “What?”

There’s a spark of confusion that flits across his face, his smile growing infinitely wider. He looks like he’s just been let in on the world’s greatest joke, and he couldn’t be more delighted. “I...was offering you the hair tie.” Her eyes blow wide, shooting back down to where she still holds his hand and finally noticing the black band he wears around his wrist.

More often than not he ties the majority of his wavy hair up in a stylish knot, so she can always count on him to have extras if she loses her own.

She feels her entire face heat up with a blush so intense she could probably fry an egg.

Of course...

She refuses to meet his eyes even once in the time it takes her to accept his offered hair tie and redo her previous bun, just stares holes into the ground as the embarrassment eats her alive and silently curses herself for being an idiot.

She hears his breathy laugh, feels him step a little closer.

“I liked your idea better, though.”

Her cheek tingles under his touch, his fingers tracing softly along her skin until they hook under her chin. He lifts her face, waiting patiently until she finally gives in and meets his eyes once more.

“Such a shy little thing, aren’t you?” He murmurs, voice smooth and sweet like honey. Indignation flares, and she opens her mouth to tell him off quickly and cleverly. She would have, too, had she not been promptly distracted by his lips brushing lightly against the corner of her mouth.

Righteous anger forgotten, she attempts to turn her head and catch him in a kiss of her own, but he is already pulling away before she can get a better angle. His eyes fill with a tender amusement while hers linger on his smile. The pad of his thumb stops her from leaning back in, his hand still warming the spot beneath her chin.

“Not here, lovely.” He rumbles, sounding as though he wants it as much as she does. “Inconspicuous, remember?”

Rossi lets out a mighty groan, pouting up at him without shame.

“Gaius Augustine, you’re nothing but a bully!”

It’s more than a chuckle, this time. His laugh is light and melodic in a way that sends the butterflies in her stomach fluttering. He looks so uncharacteristically happy right now that it warms her heart even as she frowns petulantly up at him.

Their relationship had been a rather recent development. When others are around he keeps mostly to himself—polite but distant with everyone—but it had seemed that even someone such as himself craved companionship, because Rossi had noticed that when left on his own he often sought her out.

She doesn’t suspect it had started with any romantic intentions. Gaius had spent the previous millennia surrounded by those he considered friends, family, and even lovers—it only made sense now that he’d be a little lonely. Rossi had been the one who’d shown him kindness, who’d vouched for him back when she’d had no reason to. Not only that, but her argument for keeping him alive is likely the only reason he still is. She must’ve seemed like the safest bet.

But days turned into weeks turned into months—the more time they spent together, the more they found they genuinely enjoyed each other’s company. Rossi didn’t treat him like the plague, and Gaius didn’t treat her as though she were an old glass doll ready to shatter at the slightest provocation.

In their down time he’d told her stories of the past, and she’d shown him her favorite spots around the city. He’d trained her, and slowly he’d learned what it was like to live a normal life, again.

“Come, now, none of that.” Once more, he dips his head down. Their lips meet, a searing, passionate kiss that leaves them both breathless despite its brevity. He hums as he pulls away, cheeks pink. “You know all my weaknesses.”

Rossi giggles, light-headed.

“We’ve got a two hour drive back home—we should take what we can get.” She rises up on her toes for just long enough to give him another peck.

He huffs, rolling his eyes and frowning. “Lily’s going to make me drive again. She’s realized I can’t argue once she brings up my ‘probation’.” With a heavy sigh, he lets his forehead rest on her shoulder. Rossi laughs and strokes the back of his neck. “If you had all just killed me that night, at least I wouldn’t be stuck with all the grunt work.”

“Ooooh, poor baby!” Rossi trills, endlessly entertained by his dramatics. “If you’re really that tired, I’ll drive back.”

He turns his head just enough to peer up at her from the corner of his eye. “Truly, you are the best of us, Rossi Mayhew. I know not what I would do without you, only that it is too bleak to even consider.”

She shoves him off, watching as he stumbles with a pleased little smile on his face. “Lily! We’ll be waiting out in the car!” She shouts back towards the door Lily had disappeared behind, flipping her lover the bird all the while. She hears a muffled shout of acknowledgement in response. “Hurry, before I string Gaius up in the sun for a laugh!”

“Never have I known a kinder soul than you,” Gaius croons, wrapping his arms around her waist as she turns her back and heads for the door. “Your mercy knows no bounds.”

“Yeah, yeah,” she deadpans, stifling her laughter. “Just hand over the keys.”

——

Rossi knows Lily too well to believe the silence they drive in is benign. She’s been tapping away at her keyboard ever since they’d started the long drive back into the city. Nothing unusual about it, save for the fact that she hadn’t said a word the entire time.

It had been an hour and a half, Gaius was reclined in the passenger seat with his arms folded over his chest and his head resting off to the side. The slow, steady rise and fall of his chest led her to believe he’d fallen asleep. He’d relaxed as soon as they’d returned back to the safety of tinted windows and luxury leather seats—a gift from Adrian to Lily when this had all started to make her job a little easier.

Rossi’s eyes keep drifting back to him during the more boring parts of the drive. His head is turned away from her, but every once in a while she can just slightly see the way his eyes flutter in a dream.

Her lips quirk up a bit when it happens again, and she turns her eyes back towards the road.

“So, what is it with you two?”

Lily’s tone isn’t accusing, not even a little betrayed, but there’s a little edge there that’s almost akin to panic. She’s noticed how close they’ve been, and she’s begging Rossi to make it make sense.

Rossi winces imperceptibly, keeping her eyes on the road instead of meeting Lily’s in the rear view mirror. She’s afraid of what she might see there, but not really all that surprised that the cat is clawing it’s way out of the bag.

For as long as she’d known her, Lily had always been the smartest person in the room, regardless of said room’s size and/or population—that’s always been a fact. It had just never worked against Rossi, herself, before.

“What do you mean?” It’s painfully obvious, even to herself, that she’s stalling. She hadn’t expected this little fling to happen in the first place, so she hadn’t spent much time coming up with a reasonable explanation in the event that one of her friends so happened to stumble upon the truth. She doesn’t know what to say, or even if there’s anything that she could say at this point.

Lily scoffs quietly, “Girl, don’t insult me, ok?” Rossi expects to see anger in her eyes when she meets them, but really she just looks tired. “You two aren’t nearly as subtle as you seem to think you are. Maybe I wouldn’t have noticed if we haven’t been spending literal days together at a time. We spent those couple days investigating that tip in Jersey and you guys were holding back so hard I thought one of you was gonna sprain something...”

Rossi bites her lip, chewing at it nervously.

“Honestly, at this point I was just waiting to see how long it was gonna take for you to tell me.”

She glances guiltily over at the passenger seat, muted surprise tingling at the edges of her mind when she sees that Gaius’ eyes are open. She wonders how long he’d been awake, but now isn’t the time to bring it up.

“I’m...I’m so sorry, Lil, I just...”

She doesn’t want to admit that she’d been the slightest bit ashamed, especially not when he is awake to hear it.

But she had been, hadn’t she? Why else would she have struggled for so long to keep it a secret. She can’t deny how he makes her feel—whole, and happy for the first time since Jax had died. They’d been in a strange place since she’d come back from the dead—and Rossi’s stubborn refusal to admit to herself that anything had been different had ensured that they’d remained in that place without closure up until the moment he’d turned to ash.

Had that been what she was running from all along? Was she just hiding away from it in the arms of someone new?

Does she love Gaius? Or does she like the way he lets her forget her guilt?

The silence that permeates the car is heavy, oppressive. Rossi doesn’t know how she planned to finish her apology, and she doesn’t continue. Whatever she says right now, with her thoughts and feelings in a jumble like this, will be terribly hollow. Too hollow for words between best friends. Between sisters.

Her eyes sting, but she blinks a few times to clear them. Gaius says nothing, grip on his own arms tightening as his brows knit together in discontent.

She knows she’s letting them both down, right now. She can’t give either of them what they want; she can’t give them a clear definition of her relationship with him. Can’t explain what it is she hopes to gain.

Lily sighs heavily when she resigns herself to the fact that she won’t be getting an answer today. “Don’t worry,” she promises, “Adrian and Kamilah won’t hear a thing about it from me. But for the record? You should talk to him. He’s not just some guy, Rossi—not after what he’s done.”

Rossi’s grip tightens on the wheel. Lily is right. Of course she is.

Dread settles heavily in her gut, its home there already well-established. The conversation that awaits her at home is not going to be an easy one.

[thefancyspin]

Adrian/Deran- guys hit on Adrian in dreams bar. Deran has evolved. There’s been growth. He’s fine. Adrian is....happy about it? Mostly? Kind of? I mean a little jealousy wouldn’t be out of line. Turns out that Deran is full of shit. And rage.

Adrian doesn’t realise it’s happening at first.

Back when he was doing comps and travelling the world - back before he knew Deran was serious about them - people would hit on him all the time. He wasn’t tied down, he hadn’t made promises; he liked it. He welcomed it.

Now, though, he just feels weird.

“Uh, that guy just gave me his number,” Adrian says when Deran comes over with a beer for him.

Deran huffs at him. “No shit. Isn’t that like the third guy this month?”

“Uh.” Adrian blinks. “I guess so. I don’t know.”

“Does it bother you? I thought you’d be all cocky.”

“Cocky?” Adrian throws Deran a look and realises he’s barely paying attention. He’s apparently more interested in a game of pool they’re playing at the table next to them. “Well aren’t you bothered?”

Deran pulls a face. “People flirt with you like it’s going out of fuckin’ style, man. I think I’m past getting Pope to throw them over the side of a boat, don’t you?”

Adrian growls.

“Too soon?”

“I’m not talking about kidnap and assault. I just thought you might say something. Intervene.”

Deran claps him on the shoulder with that smart ass smirk. “You’re a big boy,” he says, his hand drifting further up towards Adrians neck. Its nice, and soft and warm. “And you made it clear jealousy is not something you’re here for. I let it go.”

Adrian swallows around a lump in his throat. It’s nice that Deran trusts him. It’s nice that he knows he’s worth more than that to Adrian - that he doesn’t need to prove anything, or bully any one.

So why does Adrian feel sort of… disappointed?

“Cool.”

*

Deran’s working the bar a few days later, and Adrian winds up meeting some friends, and the night moves boring and slow. Sometimes he’ll look up and over and catch Deran looking at him, and Deran will just smile, not bothering to hide it.

Deran wants him. As much as he ever has. He doesn’t need to worry.

So why has he been? Why does Deran’s laid back attitude put him so on edge?

“Hey, man,” some very tall and very blonde beefcake comes up to Adrian and offers him a beer. “You’re Adrian Dolan, right?”

Adrian declines the drink. “I am, yeah. Have we met?”

“No,” the guy says with a laugh. “I caught a few of your events in Hawai'i. You’re really good.”

“Was. But thanks.”

“My friends were just talking about you. They said they still see you out there, ripping it up.”

“Right, right,” Adrian shakes a finger. “Those are your friends, I have to remember to pay them later.”

The guy stands there for longer than he needs to, chatting to Adrian about comps and boards, touching his hand or his arm or his shoulder as he moves steadily closer. Adrian’s just about to be the ‘big boy’ Deran thinks he is and excuse himself before Deran actually appears and says,

“Hey, man, sorry to interrupt,” with a tight hand on Adrian’s forearm. “You mind if I borrow my boyfriend real quick?”

“Oh, um…”

Deran doesn’t actually wait for an answer, manhandling Adrian into the back room and slamming the door shut. Adrian can’t wipe the dumb smirk off his face.

“What happened to - ”

“You did that shit to mess with me!” Deran yells, and Adrian can’t help but yell right back.

“I did not!”

“I thought you liked this me. Carefree, and nice, and, just, enjoying this, not taking shit for granted.”

“Of course I do! That’s not-”

“So don’t push me Adrian, don’t test me, I ”

“I’m not! I swear I wasn’t.” Adrian watches him try to catch his breath, half way across the room but still so big and looming. He’s like an animal, proud and strong - he’s so fucking beautiful Adrian can hardly stand it. “When you were with Clark, it was like… whenever I came back it was like I was drowning. I kept thinking you’d finally moved on from your childhood bullshit and gone to find a real man.”

“What?”

“So when you were so unbothered, not angry, not jealous… I guess I started to think you were moving on again, you know? That if I took off on you, you wouldn’t care.”

Deran looks like he’s losing breath again - jittery on his feet and chewing at his fingers.

“I’m sorry. That, out there - it was nothing. I didn’t think twice about it. It was nothing.”

“Tell me you know,” Deran says in a raspy voice, making Adrian move closer. “After all the shit we’ve been through. All the shit you put up with. Tell me you know.”

“I…”

“I love you, you asshole! I love you so fucking much, and the only thing stopping me from going back out there and breaking that Ken Doll’s face is because I need you to love me too. I’m fucking desperate for you to love me.”

Adrian’s pretty sure that if he’s not crying he will be soon, Deran breaking the gap between them to bring his hands up to cradle Adrian’s face. “I’m a jealous fucking asshole who hates any other person who so much as looks at you with ideas. If I thought it’s what you want I’d go out there and yell it at everyone. But I know you don’t, and I know you deserve better.”

Adrian’s hands are covering Deran’s now and they’re practically sobbing all over each other and Adrian wonders when this became them. When did they go from pot smoking, risk taking, high stakes fucks to domestic, and desperate? “I love you too. I’ve loved you since I was sixteen.”

Deran finally kisses him, angry and relieved and biting, leaving blood. They end up slammed to a wall, and they end up getting each other off right there, and they end up saying it again, and again. More times than Adrian remembers.

I love you. Love me too.

[razorblade180]

Twin Snowflakes pt2: Warming Up

[Saph’s place]

In the guest room Summer sleeps peacefully in the bed with tons of covers to keep her warm. To the right of the bed is a night stand with a bowl of stew beef and tea. On the left sits Nicholas attentively watching over her. The room itself is pretty warm so currently he’s on in a white shirt and blue shorts.

Saph:*opens door* Pssst how is she?

Nick:Her face as gotten color back into it again. She’ll be fine with a little rest and the food you made her. Thanks for that by the way.

Saph:Ain’t no thang for my adorable niece and nephew. You know you should really get good at cooking yourself; sixteen years old and all I ever seen you cook is some eggs.

Nick:*chuckles* You would think sword skills would transfer to kitchen knife ability but it certainly does not. Maybe I should spend more time reading recipes books...

Saph:Having you two over for cooking lessons instead of secret training would be a nice change of pace. I wouldn’t have to worry about my dear baby brother yelling at me if he finds out.

Nick:Aren’t you supposed to be the older sibling that can’t be picked on?

Saph:*smirks* Doesn’t Summer pick on you?

Nick:Hey! I’m older by minutes while you have years on dad. Besides I totally let her make fun of me.

Summer:*waking up* Keep telling yourself that.

Saph:Well look who it is!?

Nick:Wow, you are awake way sooner than usual.

Summer:How much time has passed?

Nick:Four hours since you clocked out in the snow.

Summer:Well that’s a full thirteen faster than last time. *rubbing her head* Makes sense, Shiva wasn’t out for too long. We should probably continue to tr- is that stew beef!!!? *grabs the bowl*

Saph:Talking one minute, stuffing your face the next. Definitely Summer talking to us.

Nick:You okay? Well rested, no fatigue, no broken bones, or bruises? How is your-

A spoon gets put in his mouth to prevent him from speaking.

Saph:Shut up and stop babying me. I’m perfectly fine okay? If anything you should be worrying about yourself it seems. *points to his side.*

He looks down to see a small red smudge. Saphron lifts his shirt to reveal a shallow cut that slightly bleeding. Nick tries to laugh off the this new discovery but is met with two pairs of highly upset cobalt eyes.

Summer:What’s the point of worrying about me if you’re not gonna take the time to make sure that everything is okay with yourself?

Nick:I only got grazed a little, plus it’s healing so it’s no big deal.

Saph:It’s totally a big deal! Just because you look like your father doesn’t mean you should be just as reckless as he is. Take care yourself and don’t take outrageous risk!

Nick:*scared* Yes Ma’am!!!

Saph:Good! Now go ask Adrian to borrow a clean shirt and get yourself some food as well.

Nick:*mumbles* But I’m not hungry....

Saph:*Death Glare*

Nick:Alright!!! I’ll make a small bowl or something. *leaving* Geez, you’re gonna give Bleiss a run for her money with that look.

Saph:I heard that!

Nick:I know! I said loud! *laughing*

Saph:*smiling* Your brother is a real piece of work.

Summer:.........

Saph:Summer?

Summer:Huh? I’m sorry, I spaced out....

Saph:Is you know who trying to speak with you.

Summer:No, I can’t even hear Shiva’s voice right now. I’m too warm and she’s too tired. Besides, anytime she decides to open her mouth it’s usually to insult me. I could go the rest of my life without hearing her. I’m just upset Nicholas is hurt because of me again.

Saph:I know we just grilled him and all over it but you shouldn’t feel too bad over a cut. Things could’ve been a lot worse.

Summer:They might be if I don’t get a handle on this fast. Six years of worrying about hurting your family is really, really stressful..... almost enough to make me feel crazier than I already am.

Saph:Hey, you are not crazy young lady.

Summer:Then what exactly would you call me? A freak of nature doesn’t sound any better, and being called “sick” isn’t comforting either.

The two quietly looked at each other blankly. Summer was waiting for some type of answer but her loving aunt couldn’t find any words that would help make her feel better about her situation. Saphron instead sat right next to the teenager and gave her a reassuring hug. Summer couldn’t help but return the embrace.

Saph:I’d be lying if I said I had a good answer to that question. However, I do know one day you’ll conquer this; all that training you put into this is bound to pay off. Even if some of it goes over my head sometimes. *smiles* One day you’ll kick Shiva’s but to the curve! Arcs and Schnees seemed to be really good at sticking up for themselves when it comes to being ordered around or bullied by someone else.

Ruby:*in the form frame* Ain’t that the truth!

Summer:You’re still here Auntie!

Ruby:Of course! I wasn’t gonna leave before I knew for a fact you were okay. Also, try not to think so negative all the time. We all believe in you so don’t go doubting yourself. More importantly, don’t try to rush progress. That’s when the worst mistakes happen.

Saph:Just ask Terra. She shut down power to all of Argus before on accident; all because she tried to finish all her work for the week without taking a break. Just to make sure she could attend Adrian’s graduation.

Terra:*down stairs* Stop telling that story! My boss still won’t let it go!

Saph:*whispers* No one is even mad at her. It was just really funny and unlike her.

Summer:*smiling* That must’ve been an eventful day.

Saph:It was a good thing Adrian was graduating. Imagine having to go to school with all the kids knowing that. Actually...he might’ve been seen as a hero when I think about it.

Ruby:Speaking of school....

Saph:Please don’t, let me enjoy winter break while it last. I only have two more days left then back to the worst place imaginable.

Ruby:Two days, some regular classes for everyone to get back into the swing of things, and then The Combat School Tournament!

Hearing that name made Summer a little anxious. They might as well change the name to Jr Vytal festival. The Combat School Tournament is where students from all over Remnant gets to strut their stuff against one another; home school or not. It’s always televised and it’s made to show that the next generation of huntsman and huntress are growing strong. Many games and side events will also be held for fun to show unity between everyone.

However, Summer won’t be partaking in those nice and simple events. She won’t even be in the regular tournament where anyone and everyone will be at arms with each other. No, She and her over eager brother will be going to be in special bracket. A bracket reserved for only the winners of their respective regionals along with the runner ups. The main attraction that’s sure to be watched in every house hold.

Summer:Ruler of the Castle......

Nick:*down stairs* Woooooo!!!!!!!!!

Ruby:Oh I’m so excited!!!!!!!

Summer:Because you’re not in it! No way I’m ready for that.

Saph:Last time I checked, your gold medal in regionals says other wise.

Summer:I only got gold in duos. Nicholas was practically the reason we one that. I got fifth place in singles while he got runner up.

Ruby:What did I just say about negativity? Nicholas’s shout tells me he’s not worried in the slightest.

Nick:*rushes in* Better believe I’m not! You and I are gonna clean up in duos and let everyone know there’s no greater tag team than us.

Summer:What makes you so sure?

Nick:Close your eyes and you’ll see.

She follows his orders while the others are a bit confused. He quietly grabs her spoon and closes his eyes as well. The boy throws the spoon right at her only for Summer to catch it. Without opening her eyes she throws it his left knee which instinctively raises up right before contact to bounce it in the air. Nick hits it back at her chest where Summer is already prepared to counter by grabbing the bowl for it to land. The entire bowl is tossed up and lands on a glyph that floats back down to the nightstand. Both of them open their eyes smiling.

Ruby:*whistles* You guys practice that little trick.

Nick:Nope! It’s a twin thing. Somehow we always know just what the other might do in a pinch.

Summer:It’s super annoying. Our snowball fights against each other always end up looking like a war where nobody got to win.

Nick:Yeah but our matches against other people always went undefeated. This isn’t gonna be any different! I got your back and you have mine; more gold medals are the only thing we’re gonna get. Duos is all about teamwork and we got that spades. *eyes shining* We’re gonna look so cool!

Summer:So it this about showing the world how skilled we are or just a way for you to look cool in front of Valerie?

Nick:*blushing* Valerie has nothing to do with this! Although if she so happened to be amazed by my- our skills and was left in complete shock then that would be nice.

Saph:Careful there tiger, she’s the reason you’re runner up in singles in the first place. Might wanna keep those hormones in cheek if by some chance both of you end up in the finals again.

Summer:Oooo imagine if she gets another gold medal off of you. Talk about embarrassing... *chuckling*

Nick:Wow! So much for the confidence. I got sucker punched last time. No way I’d lose to her again.

Ruby:I wonder how many times Jaune said that before sparring with Nora? *smiling*

Nick:All of you suck.... *red*

Adrian:*in his room* I believe in you Nick!

Nick:That’s why you’re my favorite cousin!

Saph:I’m telling the others you said that if they show up to tournament.

Nick:Please don’t.....I can’t fight my entire family tree; too many branches. Who is coming anyways?

Ruby:I’ll be there of course, Yang, Blake most likely, Veronica-

Summer:Uuuuuuggggggghhhhhhh!

Everyone:........

Summer:What?

Nick:Can you both be civil for an evening.

Summer:Can she not be such a b-

Saph:I’ll tell your mother.

Summer:Insufferable person? I’m not talking to her and hopefully she doesn’t speak to me. *mumbles* I wish she was in the tournament. I’d pay off the referee to match us up just to fight her.

Ruby:Be nice to my niece please? Maybe she’s changed a bit?

Summer:..........You think Veronica Belladonna, the girl that’s so extra that she has two faunus features, has changed?

Ruby:You know your mom is the queen of extra right? I think there’s another reason you two might be all feisty towards each other if you catch my drift.

Summer:I know what you’re implying and it has nothing to do with that! That’s not even a thing.

Nick:What’s not a thing?

Summer:Don’t worry about it!

Nick:???

Few people could get Summer worked like Veronica could. Between her and Shiva it was almost like a war on two fronts when it came to her self confidence. Though she did appreciate that at least Veronica isn’t actually trying to destroy her. It’s the small things like that which made things more tolerable at best. Now that she was fired up, Summer hoped out of bed and grabbed her twins hand.

Summer:We’re going to glyph train in the garden.

Nick:Right now!? Don’t you wanna rest a little mo-

Summer:Nope! If I’m forced to be in the same area as little miss perfect then she’s gonna see me at my absolute best! *drags him out the room*

Ruby:Poor girl must constantly feel weird about every thought and action in her life. Especially at sixteen.

Saph:It’s no different than Jaune or a couple other of our siblings. Preferences and other things tend to get all added into decision making when you have tight net families and such reliable siblings. It’s nothing to worry about. Don’t tell Jaune I told you but for awhile the girls he tried dating when we were younger sort of looked like us because he thought we were the prettiest.

Ruby:Hey I mean I fell for him hard for awhile and he looks like my dad. I think we all naturally seek out something familiar yet different. Once you accept the fact your taste is little awkward but natural, you laugh about it.

Saph:It’s going to be an hilarious day when she brings a boy home that looks vaguely like Nick and Jaune but doesn’t realize it.

Ruby:I will cackle on the floor for hours. Please don’t speak that into existence.

Saph:*snickering* Remember when she had a crush on Adrian. Telling her they weren’t blood related was the funniest thing ever.

Ruby:I guess it just shows that Arc boys are just too good. No wonder why few are born; too much power is contained in that smile.

Saph:Ain’t that the truth. I really hope Nick and Adrian don’t get into too many shenanigans. Not that I won’t get a good lecture from every woman in our family if they do.

Ruby:They’ll be fine. Then again Nick is half Schnee. That’s a double threat. Schnee’s got their own brand of charm. Just ask my uncle or Jaune.

Saph:*looking at Ruby’s wedding ring* I think you’re forgetting someone.

Ruby:*blushing and smiling* Oh I didn’t want to mention my fantastic husband but if you insist... *pulls out scroll* wanna see our vacation pictures!?

Saph:*rolls eyes playfully* I don’t know how Whitley puts up with you.

Part 1

[stanleyurris]

i woulda followed all the way to the graveyard

“Oh, thank God.” Is the first thing Adrian hears when he wakes up, a hand wrapped tightly around his own. He looks over, the best he can through his hurting eyes, and he sees his boyfriend smiling, and he squeezes his hand, gripping it harder. “I was worried you wouldn’t wake up, and the doctors said that  might be a possibility, and I couldn’t stop worrying, and-”

“Hey, I'm fine now, aren’t I?” He says in a raspy voice, coughing as soon as he finishes his sentence. Don nods, standing up suddenly to hug him, hands wrapped tight around his shoulders. “Hey, what’s wrong?”

“I thought I lost you.” Don speaks, voice shaking, and Adrian wraps his own arms around him, wires be damned. “You weren’t breathing, as soon as they saw you weren’t breathing they ran, and I had to do CPR, and they were almost too late when I called 911, and-and I thought-”

“You don’t have to think of that anymore, Don.” He says, and Don nods against him, shoulders shaking. “I’m okay. I’m fine. I’ll survive, and as soon as we can, we can leave this shithole and move to New York, or Hawkins, or some random ass town no one knows about. Anywhere that isn’t here, alright?”

“Alright.”

Don pulls back and wipes at his eyes, and his mouth opens to speak again, when a nurse walks into the room, smiling warmly at Adrian when she sees he’s awake.

“How are you feeling, Mr. Mellon?” She asks, walking over to check his vitals.

“As good as I can, miss.” He gives a small smile, and she seems to accept that as the best answer, coming over to pull up his cover.

“Do you feel any pain? If you need us to, we can give you more medicine.”

He shakes his head, I can’t afford that, and thanks her. She just smiles at him and moves to leave, but before she reaches the door, she turns back around.

“I almost forgot! You don’t have to worry about your bill anymore, Mr. Mellon. Three kind gentlemen already paid for it.” She smiles, and he frowns, confused.

“Who?”

“Oh, I’m not really supposed to say, but I guess they won’t really care. Richie Tozier, Ben Hanscom, and Bill Denbrough all paid off your bill. They wouldn’t stop harassing us until we finally let them pay it off.” She says, smiling, and she leaves the room, like she didn’t just say something that affects him more than she knows.

“Oh my God, Adrian.” Don says, and Adrian turns to look at his boyfriend, and he’s smiling so hard. “Famous people just paid your bill. Oh my God, they’re in Derry. Derry.”

“Holy fuck.” He mumbles, and he’s confused, so very confused, why did three celebrities decide to pay his bill out of everyone, but he’s smiling so wide and his face hurts so much.

“Adrian, you’re so incredibly lucky.” Don breathes out, and he nods, reaching out to hold his hand. He grips him, tightly, and he closes his eyes, relaxing back. “I love you.”

“I love you too, D.” He replies, and he's never said those words in that order, but it feels so incredibly easy to say, and he decides, in that moment, he won’t mind saying them again.

-

He gets released Friday, a week and a day after the attack happened. He’s still in shock from everything that happened, and there’s scars from what happened, but it’s fine now. He does, though, wish he had a chance to thank the three for paying off his bill, but he won’t ever have a chance, so it doesn't matter now.

All that matters is what he sees on his phone.

Richie Tozier

@trashmouth

I have two things to announce to everyone, and this isn’t a joke. I need you to know that this isn’t a joke tweet.

None of my jokes have been written by me, all of them are written by other people.

I’m bisexual, and I’ve been in love with a man for 27 years.

He’s surprised, and for the first time, he wonders if the fact he got beat up by being gay is what made Richie Tozier, best stand-up comedian out there, choose to pay his bill. Not the lady that broke her hip. Not the boy who broke his arm. Him.

He feels happy and sad at the same time, and he can't tell which one is right.

So he leaves his house, and he walks down the street, not thinking of anything. He doesn’t think about the homophobes in the town, or the fact that he doesn’t have anybody he can call his own family, and certainly not the fact that he doesn’t have anyone he can call on in this shitty town, other than Don.

Not thinking about any of that stuff.

He doesn’t pay attention to where he’s going, and soon enough, he finds himself at the kissing bridge. It’s empty, and he’s very glad it is, because it means he gets the freedom to go over to do his carving, and no one can bother him over it, but as soon as he gets to the spot, he hears an engine running. He freezes, and he wants to run, but a car pulls up and stops before he can leave, and he’s shocked again, because Richie Tozier climbs out of the car.

“Oh, sorry, did I interrupt something?” The man asks, and he sounds worried, and Adrian shakes his head, because he didn’t, really. All he was going to do was carve him and Don’s initials, anyways. 

“No, you didn’t interrupt anything.” He says, softly, and Richie nods, coming over to him.

“Can I still apologize, though? I feel like I interrupted something, still.” Adrian shrugs, and the two stay silent, staring at all the names carved into the bridge.

“I’m Richie.” The man speaks a minute later, and Adrian turns to look at him. “What’s your name?”

“Adrian. Adrian Mellon.” He shoves his hands into his pockets and turns to look back at the wood, and he tries to ignore Richie staring at him.

“Are you okay?” He finally asks a moment later, and Adrian shrugs. “I heard what happened, and I want to know if you’re okay.”

“I will be, eventually. Once I get out of this shitty town.” 

“Good. Everything’s better when you get out of this hell-hole.” Richie says, and Adrian nods, finally turning to look at the man when a thought crosses his mind.

“How did you find out what happened to me?” He asks, and Richie rubs his hand on the back of his neck, looking embarrassed.

“It might’ve been because me and my friends passed by the people that beat you up and beat them up until they told us what they did?” Adrian’s mouth drops, and Richie laughs nervously when he sees the sight. “I know, I probably shouldn’t have done that, but I just fucking hate homophobes, and my friends really hate them too.”

“Thank you, I guess?” He says after a couple seconds, glancing away, nervously twisting the ends of his jacket. “And thank you for paying my bill.”

“You’re welcome. It wasn’t a problem; Bill and Ben didn’t hesitate to help pay it. They wanted to pay for it all on their own, and we all fought for a couple minutes on which one would do it, until Beverly and Eddie finally had a solution.” He laughs, wiping a tear from his eye, and Adrian acts like he doesn’t notice it, knowing he would want someone to do the same.

“Can you thank them for me? You and them, literally changed my life with that decision, and I want them to know how much that means to me.” He asks, and when Richie nods, he feels so relieved. “Thank you. Thank you so much.” He pauses, and he tries to think on how he can say it any other way, but there isn’t, so the best he can say is “Can I hug you?” while watching Richie’s reaction.

Richie looks shocked for a second, but he smiles, stepping forward, and he hugs Adrian, as the answer to the question. Adrian only comes up to his shoulders, and it shouldn’t make Adrian as happy as he is, but also holy fuck he’s hugging his role model right now holy fuck. 

“This is amazing.” He says into his chest, and he feels, rather than hears, Richie chuckle at that. 

A few moments later, he finally pulls away, and he looks down. “Thank you, again. For everything.”

“It’s not a problem. I just wanted to make sure you were okay.” Richie smiles down at him, and Adrian feels happy inside. “Do you want my number, so we can talk later?”

“Yeah, but I want to make sure, it’s not for you to try and fuck me, is it?” He asks, and Richie laughs at that, shaking his head already.

“No, no, I’m not trying to fuck you. I just want to be your friend.” 

“Okay.” Adrian says at that, and he holds his hand out, Richie’s phone dropping into it a few seconds later. He finds contacts easily, and he’s finished typing his name and handing it back when he sees the name Eddie with a heart beside it. “Who’s Eddie?”

Richie freezes beside him, and when he turns to look at him, a couple of tears are coming down his face, and he slightly panics, thinking he did something wrong. 

“Shit, I’m sorry.” Adrian says, turning towards him,a nd his eyes are wade and his hands are moving everywhere, trying to think of something to say, something to do, but before he can get another word out, Richie speaks, voice low.

“He was my best friend.” He gets out, and he grips his phone tightly, as if he’ll lose it if he doesn’t. “He was the one the tweet was about.”

“The man you’ve been in love with for 20-something years?” He says, and he doesn’t speak loudly, for all the world can hear. He speaks quietly, this conversation just between the two of them, standing in front of the Kissing Bridge.

“Yeah. God, yeah.” Richie breathes deeply, pressing a hand to his eyes. “He was the man I’ve been in love with for 27 years, longer than that, even, and I never got to even tell him that. I never got to tell him that I loved him, because he got killed by the stupid fucking clown that killed my best friend’s little brother.”

“Did... did the clown have orange hair and white skin?” He asks, the image popping into his head, because that’s what he saw the night he almost died, it was in the bushes, and it would’ve gotten him if the ambulances hadn’t shown up. 

Richie’s fallen silent at that, and he shoves his phone in his pocket, looking at Adrian.

“How did you know?” He asks, and Adrian looks down at the ground.

“He was one of the bullies that attacked me, and he transformed on the edge of the bridge, in the bushes, like he wanted to leap out and grab me and eat me whole, and I-I don’t think I’ll ever be able to forget that face.” His breath hitches, and he pulls out his inhaler, shaking it and holding it to his lips quickly, pressing down. He breathes in, deeply, sighing as soon as he has enough air in his lungs. 

“God, I’m so sorry.” Richie says, and Adrian shrugs.

“You couldn’t have stopped it.”

“Oh, trust me, I could’ve. Thank god you weren’t the first victim. Or any victim, for that matter.” 

“Wh-what do you mean victim?” He asks, and he’s suddenly cold, even though the sun’s shining and it’s over 80 degrees out.

“Shit, you don’t know.” Richie says, and when he sits on the sidewalk, Adrian follows, sitting in front of him.

“So, you saw the clown, right? He has orange hair, white skin, and a fucking outfit from like the 1800’s. He’s, uh, he’s been terrorizing this town since before your grandparents were even thought of. Before your great-great-grandparents were even thought of. He’s been here for like, thousands of years, terrorizing locals every 27 years, eating some kids and I guess he occasionally wanted to eat adults, unless he mistook them for 16-year-olds, like I did with you. So, he wakes up every 27 years, and he goes up to the surface, and he gets kids he wants to eat, he chooses them, and then he takes them, away from their place, and he eats them. He always tricks them, using things they like, and when they trust him, he just eats them.

“That’s how… that’s how we think he got my best friend’s brother, Georgie. Because Bill didn’t feel like going out, so Georgie went out when it was raining, with his paper boat, and he never returned, and they found his blood at the drain, with torn paper, and we think he just tricked him. Just like he did it with the other kids. He took Betty, and we found her shoe in the drain, and then later, in-in the Neibolt house, me and Bill, uh, saw her. We saw her get dragged backwards, and then It tricked me into a room, using Eddie, where I saw my fear, and he almost got me, reaching out. But Bill got the door open and we were in the room we saw Betty in, and a form of Eddie was in the mattress, and when we turned around, there were three, uh, doors. 

“One said Very Scary, one just said Scary, and the last one said Not Scary At All, and since we were dumb, we just choose Not Scary At All. And it’s quiet, right? Then we hear the voice of a girl, saying something about her shoes, and I reach up and turn on the light, and her hands were strapped to the top of the closet, and her body was just hanging, and she didn’t have anything below her wait, and we could see her guts, the blood dripping, and she just screamed at us, and we yelled and slammed the door shut, and I started to freak out, and Bill calmed me down, and told that it wasn’t real.

“I believed him, and we open the door, and we hear Eddie screaming, and we run, and we find the room, and It’s leaning over him, glaring at us, and I guess he heard Bill, because he starts talking, doing a sad voice, saying something like ‘Is this not real enough for you?’ and then he tells him, uh, that it was real enough for Georgie, and he charges at us, and we just cowered, but our badass friend Beverly slammed a pole into his head, and he stops, and we move around him and scramble over to Eddie, and he hurts our friend Ben, and he almost comes at us, but he slinks down to the basement and disappears down a well, and I set, uh, Eddie’s arm, uh, and then we leave as fast as our bikes will fucking taking us, uh, and we take Eddie to his mom, and she calls Beverly a slut and insults us, and then she leaves with Eddie.

“And then we fight. Not really, but me and Bill throw a couple punches and he gets me in the face, and for a couple weeks, I don’t talk to him and I go to my other best friend Stan’s Bar Mitzvah, and he curses and I help him, and then I go to the arcade and Bill comes and tells me Beverly got taken, and we all go to save her, and we almost die in the process and Bill almost lets himself get taken by It, but I pull out a bat and slam it into his face, and then we all jump forward and beat the shit out of him, and he disappears, and we thought he had died. He didn’t, though, but we made a promise that if he ever came back, we would come back too.

“And then we, uh, we mostly did.”

“What do you mean, mostly?” Adrian asks quietly, and the sounds of nature fill the silence as Richie stares at the wood, his hands playing with the knife he pulled out of his pocket.

“You know how I went to my friend Stan’s Bar Mitzvah?” Adrian nods, and Richie sighs, staring down. “He killed himself. He killed himself, because the stupid fucker thought that if all seven of us went, we would all die. So he killed himself so we could all survive, and he knew of my feelings for Eddie, and he thought we would be happy together, but I guess he didn’t even think that Eddie would die too.” He wipes his eyes, and if his voice shakes again when he speaks, then Adrian doesn’t say a word about it.

“It started killing again the day you got attacked, because he went and he killed someone else, and that’s how Mike knew he was back, because he went down and he saw a message written in blood, and he called all of us, and we came. And then we saw a message It sent for us, and we cried and we fought and we got things from our past, we performed this ritual, but it didn’t fucking work, and we had to run and face fears and I had to stare into, these, these fucking deadlights and I saw Eddie die right in front of me and the Eddie threw a rod at It and I dropped, and I stared up at him, because I just saw him dead, and he was so happy, because he was saying he killed him, and a claw just came through his chest, and his blood sprayed all over him, and he fucking took him away.

“I got to him, and the other’s were fighting It, shrinking him, but I wrapped my jacket around him and said I would be back soon, and I helped kill It, but when I came back, Eddie was dead. I d-didn’t even get to take his body back up, because everything was collapsing, and when we got up and out the house, everything collapsed, and they had to hold me back because in those hours, I would’ve died with Eddie. And we went back to our special place, and we all cried, and now the other’s are still at the hotel, waiting for me to return.”

Richie’s turned away, and Adrian’s crying, but he doesn’t wipe them away, and he’s instead looking at Richie, and he feels so sad for him.

“I’m sorry, that all of that happened to you.” Is all he manages, and it isn’t even a lot, but it’s enough for Richie, who turns to him and smiles through the crying.

“Thanks.” Is what he says, and he walks to his car, and he stands by the door for a moment. “If you ever need me, just text me, alright? I just cried out that entire story to you, and you didn’t act like you wanted me to hurry up. You just listened, and if you ever need something like that with me, just text, call, whatever, alright? If someone beats you up, or you need me to pick you up, text me. I don’t care if you think you’ll be interrupting me, just do it.”

“O-okay, I will.” Adrian says, and Richie climbs into his car and drives off, and when he looks back at the blank spot of wood on the bridge, he realizes he feels better than when he first started walking there.

He pulls out the knife, and he kneels in front of the wood, and he brings his knife up.

[crazedlunatic]

Big Brother(s)

Anon:  One of their kids gets in trouble at school for fighting with a classmate.

In all seriousness, I’ve always wanted to write this but just hadn’t. So, thank you!

“Suspended?”

Nick, Zach, and Sophie were all sitting at the kitchen table.

“Zach, do you care to explain?” Blaine asked.

“Not really.” Zach mumbled.

Kurt took a seat at the kitchen island, watching the four of them. “You don’t really have an option so someone needs to start talking. Zach may have done it but all three of you were involved.”

Sophie sniffled and wiped her eyes. Nick looked out the window over the sink and Zach did not even look up.

“Zachary!” Blaine exclaimed. “What in the hell is going on here? Why did you knock that kid down, kick him, and then punch him when he stood back up?”

“I don’t know.” Zach, always-quiet-Zach, said loudly. “Why don’t you ask the Assistant Head of School since she’s got it allll figured out?”

“Don’t raise your voice at me, Zach. You are lucky that kid’s dad isn’t pressing charges against you.”

Nick mumbled something.

“What was that?” Blaine looked at him.

“Because if his dad did, then everyone would find out what he’s been trying to do to Sophie for two months now.” Nick repeated loudly. “He probably won’t even tell his dad.”

“It doesn’t matter what this kid did. You assaulted him, Zach. He has bruises. His nose might be broken.” Blaine said.

“Well I hope it is broken.” Zach snapped.

“What do you mean, Nick? What has he done to Sophie?” Kurt raised his voice over Blaine and Zach’s.

Because this was too weird. Nick raised his voice, Sophie sometimes raised hers, but Zach’s voice always remained soft. No matter how upset he was—the only exception being when he and Nick were getting on each other’s nerves. Which honestly didn’t happen as much as you’d assume with their so-different personalities.

Regardless, something was wrong.

“He says disgusting things, corners her in hallways, touches her. He is a fucking creep. That’s why Logan got suspended two days ago. Logan pushed him down in front of a teacher and the only thing he said was that he wished he’d done it sooner. He’s the sweetest person ever if tht gives you any indication of how much of a creep this guy is… but the guy didn’t even quit and Logan is stronger than me or Zach. Honestly I wish I had done it because if I had seen him touch her, I probably would have bashed his head in.”

“What? ‘Bash his head in?’” Kurt looked at Nick, eyes wide.

Zach wasn’t loud and Nick never said anything violent.

Something bigger was going on.

“This guy is harassing her, he threatens to spread lies about the family to the press, and he is super creepy.” Nick said, clearly angry with Blaine. “He tried to put his hand up her skirt today so why don’t you just back the hell up, Dad? Or at least find out what in the hell is going on before you sit us all down like elementary school kids who pushed someone down in a sandbox. It’s actually a lot more serious than that. Which you should know because we don’t do this.”

Sophie got up and rushed upstairs. Zach got up, roughly pushed his chair under the table, and followed her.

“What?” Blaine asked, looking at Nick.

“No ‘what.’ You heard what I said. He’s been creeping on Sophie for two months. Both Zach and I have talked to teachers, to counselors, to the assistant Head of School. Nobody does any fucking thing about it because the guy’s dad pays so much money to the school. Logan’s dad even tried to get involved after Logan got suspended but there is no proof so he couldn’t do anything even if he’s a high up there cop… especially without the school’s cooperation.” Nick said. “There is nothing else any of us could have done to stop this. And here we are.”

Blaine stared at Nick, not speaking.

“Me, Zach, Logan, and even Ryan have tried to be with her or where we can see her at all times—at least one of us. But we can’t always be there. The teacher held Zach back about something today and of course he cornered her because she was alone.”

“Did you say he’s threatened to go to the press and tell lies?” Kurt asked.

“Yeah. Again, your high profile career has come back to haunt your kids.”  Nick sighed. “So thanks.”

“Nick.” Blaine nearly growled.

“I’m sorry. It’s true. If he wasn’t threatening going to the press, she wouldn’t have been terrified to say something to you two or the Head of School — who the assistant Head of School won’t even let us talk to anyway.” Nick said. “I mean, God, do you think people don’t come up to us when we’re out and you’re not there or something? It is really hard being in this family sometimes. Some paparazzi person almost ran Zach off of the road a month ago. That day he came home all anxious and flustered. Remember that and he wouldn’t tell you what was wrong? Now this creep is playing off your status to harass Sophie.”

“Shut. Up.” Blaine said.

“No. You shut up. You and your job don’t help either. Taking all these cases that end up on the news. I just feel bad for your clients because you know it’s not just reporters out there. It’s weird fans wanting to see the ‘Laine’ part of Klaine. That sounds so fucking stupid anyway. Klaine.”

Kurt took a deep breath, looking up at the ceiling. He then sniffled.

“You know, we’re happy that you both have great jobs and get to do what you love. But do you always have to be in the spotlight?” Nick didn’t sound angry anymore. “Can you just wait for us to at least graduate and go to college? Do you have to do Project Runway, Daddy? Dad, do you have to take these huge cases?”

Blaine didn’t say anything as Sophie and Zach came back down. He watched her go over to Kurt and hug him since he was now crying.

“Honestly, Zach gets it’s the worst of all of us because he looks just like you. It’s harder for people to pinpoint Soph and I unless they see both of us together because we don’t look exactly like you two. But half of the time Zach can’t even go and order food somewhere without at least three people coming up to him.” Nick continued. “And he’s shy so imagine what that’s like for him.”

“What do you want me to do?” Kurt sniffled.

“Nothing.” Zach said sharply, glaring at Nick. “Nick, stop.”

“Did you almost get ran off of the road?” Kurt wiped his eyes.

“I’m fine.” Zach glared at Nick. “Seriously? You couldn’t have held out another year and a half? Daddy’s crying.”

“Forget it. I’m going to Adrian and Matt’s.” Nick grabbed his keys and stormed out before anybody could react.

“Just let him.” Kurt said before Blaine could make it to the door.

“Is it true?” Blaine asked Sophie. “Has this guy been harassing you? Did he try to put—Did he touch you today?”

“He did but he just made it to my thigh. Before he could do anything more, Zach made it.” Sophie sniffled. “It’s the first time he’s tried to put his hand up my clothes, though, so…”

“Doesn’t matter.” Zach said through gritted teeth. “Just so we’re all clear, also, he would never have pulled that if Logan wasn’t still suspended. It was manageable when Logan was here because his dad is head at the NYPD. A lot scarier than you two… sorry.”

“I want his name.” Blaine said.

“It’s not a big deal!” Sophie’s eyes filled with tears.

“Yes. It is.” Kurt said. “That is a very big deal. Putting his hand up your skirt is sexual assault. Harassing you at school is bullying, Soph. It is a big deal.”

“Just give me his name.” Blaine said calmly.

“Aaron.” Zach said. “He’s a senior. I don’t know his last name but Logan does.”

“He’ll graduate in May and it’ll be over.” Sophie cried. “Just don’t.”

“I’m sorry but if you’ve gone to this many people, if Logan’s dad is aware and can’t get anything done, I am getting involved. I am not going to let someone harass you at school.” Blaine said.

“No.” Kurt said. “Not you. Let Bob or Adrian go up there with you. You be the parent and let them be the lawyer.”

“My vote is Bob.” Zach said. “He’s scary when he’s pissed.”

“Tomorrow morning, Bob or Adrian and I are going with you tomorrow. We’ll go in late so nobody sees.” Blaine told Sophie. “But this is done.”

“It will be quieter if it’s Adrian.” Kurt pointed out.

“If Logan’s dad has already gone and nothing’s happened, I think we need loud.” Blaine sighed.

“There’s four months left out of the year.” Sophie cried. “Logan will be back next week.”

“No.” Blaine said firmly. “This ends here… with a sexual assault charge. If Logan gets into another fight with him, he could lose his scholarship, Sophie.””

“Oh my God.” Sophie covered her face as the doorbell rang.

Zach went to get it, coming back in with Logan and his dad.

“Ryan texted me. What happened?” Logan asked, going right up to Sophie and putting his hand on her arm. “Did he really try to put his hand up your skirt?”

Sophie nodded.

“Great.” Logan’s dad said very seriously.

“Great?” Logan repeated, staring at his father angrily.

“Now she can press charges for sexual assault. I hope he wasn’t planning on going to college.” Blaine said. “Who is it, Zach?”

Zach pulled a profile up on his phone.

”He’s a Taggart?” Blaine’s eyes widened.

“How do you even know that name?” Sophie asked.

“College will be the last of that boy’s worries. Have you met his dad? He will probably be angrier than all three of us adults combined. You know him pretty well.” Logan’s dad said.

“Which one is his dad?”

“The second to youngest one. The one who is basically your equivalent for their family’s firm who always takes the sexual assault cases.”

“Okay, I know him very well. Can we just go directly to his house?” Blaine asked. “Now?”

“Yeah. I’ve followed him home as many times as I’ve followed you home.” Logan’s dad walked out with Blaine. “Want to ride together?”

“Yes. Can we go now?”

“I’ll text him that we’re on the way.”

“Freaking seriously?” Logan looked at Zach. “Your dad knows his dad?”

“Why do our dads know everybody?” Zach sighed.

“How did you know to come?” Kurt asked Logan.

“Nick texted me after he left.” Logan said. “He’s got such a temper lately.”

“Can we go cuddle until our dads get back?” Sophie asked him.

“Sure and I can tell you about last week’s soccer match because I was totally awesome.” Logan followed Sophie up the stairs.

They heard Sophie say, “Please don’t. I’ve heard it from three different point of views already. You won the game. Congrats.”

Zach looked at Kurt, who still looked very upset.

“Why didn’t you say something?” Kurt asked, sitting down at the island.

“Things had just started getting back to normal after Nick’s whole coming out fiasco.” Zach sat next to him. “We thought we had it under control. We all four on separate occasions tried to set up meetings with the Head of School but the assistant wouldn’t let us…. Probably because of how much his dad pays… I wish I knew Dad worked with his dad, though. Well, kind of worked with him.”

“Oh, the Head of School is going to hear about this in the morning because that is bullshit. If we had known…” Kurt trailed off because there wasn’t any point in even finishing the sentence now.

“Sorry. Everything has been so hectic between Nick coming out and us learning to drive and then Bob got sick. We didn’t want to add anything else to the plate.” Zach sighed.

“Did somebody run you off of the road, Zach?”

“Almost.” Zach nodded. “I mean, I probably shouldn’t have booked it to my car and drove off anyway, honestly. But I didn’t think they would follow me.”

“How often are you all approached?”

“I mean Nick doesn’t get it very much since he doesn’t look exactly like Dad… and Sophie looks like you but she’s a girl, so I think it takes people longer to recognize her…”

“But you?” Kurt prompted.

“Every other week lately… but that’s just since I started driving myself.” Zach admitted and took a deep breath. “Usually they’ll back off when I keep walking. The guy who already ran me off… just didn’t.”

“Every other week?”

“For me it’s always been out in public but Nick was approached after soccer practice yesterday at his car. They never come on campus but sometimes they’ll hang off right outside the property line.” Zach sighed. “That’s why Nick is so pissed off about it. He’s been super weird ever since he came out of the family… and especially to Ryan.”

“He’s afraid it’s going to get leaked.” Kurt took another deep breath. “Okay. You drive my car and Nick will drive Blaine’s while we figure out how to handle this, okay?”

“I’m fine, Daddy.” Zach shook his head.

“Well I’m not. I had no idea this was going on with Sophie. I had no idea you were almost ran off the road. I had no idea paparazzi was waiting off campus.” Kurt said.

“That was once.”

“I don’t care. I don’t care.” Kurt’s eyes filled with tears.

“Daddy, we’re okay. Nick makes everything sound so much more dramatic than it is lately.” Zach got up and leaned down, hugging him.

“You are underexaggerating.” Kurt pulled back.

“Maybe a bit but Nick is still overexaggerating.” Zach said. “Plus, apparently I’ve got a really good punch because I may have broken that guy’s nose.”

“You shouldn’t have had to do it. Maybe Nick is right and I should just quit Project Runway and not put out a line until you three are in college.”

“No.” Zach shook his head. “Plus, who says they won’t still try once we go to college? Look. I get it the most because I look exactly like Dad. I can handle it. Nick rarely gets it and Sophie almost never and only when she’s with Nick or I.”

Kurt took another deep breath.

“I’ll drive your car.” Zach said. “And I won’t go out in high traffic areas alone. Please don’t quit the show. Please don’t go on hiatus.”

“What am I going to do when you leave me?” Kurt sniffled, squeezing Zach’s arm.

“Video chat and text?” Zach smiled sweetly. “You say that like I’ll never come home. I’ve got a new baby brother to visit. We all three have to corrupt him too.”

“Did you really break his nose?” Kurt pulled back.

“I’m pretty sure, yeah.” Zach nodded. “I definitely heard something.”

Kurt reached up, ruffling Zach’s curls. “Okay. Just make sure you keep up your reading even if you can’t go back to school until Monday.”

“Fine but I get the big TV at eight.”

“Go on.” Kurt swatted at him as Kris started to cry from upstairs. “I love you, Zachy.”

“Love you too.” Zach grabbed his book bag and when upstairs.

Kurt sighed, following after.

Maybe it was time to retire from fashion.

[socjeffy]

Where No One sees

Who: Jeff Sterling & @socialadrian

Where: Jeff’s bedroom

When: 1/20

What: The truth of Jeff and Adrian [slightly nsfw]

Jeff sat at his desk as he just finished showering from the day of cleaning and a late dance practice. He heard a noise he knew well. It was one that made him smirk and turn. He sat there in his sweats and looked to the other blonde that climbed through his window. "You know you can you use the door, Lawson. My parents aren't home and my siblings are asleep." Smirking even more to see Adrian's face. The boy was his bully, at least, to everyone else. Here in his room, they were...well they were something.

Adrian 's face peeked into a smirk as he climbed through the window, shrugging off his jacket casually and shaking his head, "The entire point of this is keeping it a secret." He reminded the blonde, his brow raising as he set his jacket on the bed and wandered into the familiar room as though he belonged there. "Miss me?" He cooed, turning back to face Jeff, because of course Jeff missed him, he was Adrian Lawson afterall, people were lucky when he decided to pay them any mind. And lately he'd been paying Jeff a special type of attention.

Jeff rolled his eyes. "You want me to answer that?" Chuckling as he shook his hair out and dared to walk over to the other boy. Without a word, he pressed a kiss to his cheek. "Nah, but if it makes you feel better, you can keep thinking I miss you. I mean, you do go out of your way to make my life hell at times." sitting on his bed and winking to Adrian as he motioned for the boy to join him there on the bed. "So wanna tell me why you're here?"

Adrian chuckled, "Oh come on. I think you do miss me when I'm gone. Or else...why do you keep letting me in here? Doesn't your window have a lock on it?" He challenged, albeit playful in intent as he smiled, his hand moving to Jeff's hip and giving it a squeeze before the boy pulled away and he followed, sitting next to Jeff and shrugging his shoulders. "A dance lesson?" He teased.

Jeff hummed some, shaking his head. "you are so full of yourself, you make Sebastian look tame." With Adrian sitting by him, Jeff didn't even think about as his fingers laced with the other boy's. Holding his hand, he chuckled. "Alright then, what kind of dance? Waltz? Hip hop? Ballet?" Teasing as well. He knew why the boy was there, it was the reason he was always there but that didn't mean Jeff wasn't going to make him say it if he wanted it.

Adrian snorted, "Oh look, you think I'm better at something than your precious Smythe." He murmured, again playful though a familiar tone of pettiness laced his voice, "I'll take that as a compliment." He added, a charming smile to follow that could erase all the bitterness in a heartbeat. "Grinding." He interrupted, his fingers between Jeff's as he leaned towards him, his eyes intent on Jeff's, "I missed you." He spoke sincerely, quiet as he inched closer still.

Jeff rolled his eyes. "He's not that precious, just like him, alright?" His brow raised, knowing the other knew and he always seem to get a little bitter about it. Jeff wanted to ask but he didn't, knowing he shouldn't push Adrian so much. Though his anger always seemed to fade around Jeff it felt like. "Take it then, you need it." Winking in a tease. As the boy mentioned grinding Jeff blushed, leaning in some too. "Oh yeah? You gonna show me then?"

Adrian nodded, "Right, right. Still wondering why? He's such an asshole." He murmured, though his own feelings towards Sebastian Smythe were wilding conflicting and confusion, to the point where he wasn't really even sure how he felt about the boy. He hated it. He swallowed it - like he did with most emotions. "Does he do this....to you?" He asked, his free and moving to Jeff's cheek, stroking it gently as he leaned in, closing the gap between them and kissing him slowly. "No." He mumbled, "Only I do."

Jeff chuckled. "He's the asshole?" His brow raising again. "Says the boy that like to throw me against lockers just because I'm out." He murmured. Kissing him, jeff melted a bit. Adrian was a good kisser and Jeff had kissed his share of boys before. "Thats because I don't let him kiss me, I don't want to be another boy to him." murmuring back as he leaned back in to kiss Adrian again.

Adrian groaned, "Yeah...you want me to say sorry?" He quipped unapologetically and shook his head, "How many guys do you think he has on the hook? You...and how many others? That's who you want? I may be...angry but at least I'm not..sleazy." He pulled back after the kiss, licking his lips and letting out a soft sigh. This was stupid. Why did he even care who Jeff liked? It wasn't like he like Jeff, like that. And even if - even if he did - which he totally didn't - it wasn't like there was anything to be done about it. He WASN'T gay. This was just...a phase. An experiment. A SECRET. And it always would be. So it was stupid of him to make a big deal out of any of it. He knew that, but it still made his blood boil when he thought about Jeff liking Sebastian. For now he'd push off the lingering questions of 'why'.

Jeff sighed some. He didn't respond, this was what he had meant. He didn't want to be another boy to Sebastian, so until he saw what he was, he wasn't about to give him anything. With Adrian, sure he got hurt some but alone in his room, the boy wasn't someone he didn't have to be. He was kind, even in an asshole away. The way he went back and forth though some times left jeff spinning like right now as he sighed and pulled back again, scooting away from him some to give him space.

Adrian settled, closing his eyes and letting out another sigh before he opened them again and turned back to Jeff, "Sorry." He spoke quietly and laid back, shifting onto his side and propping his head up, "So..." He hesitated and chewed on his lower lip, "Should we get to it, or do you want my life's story?"

Jeff looked back to him and shrugged. "I don't care, you're here and normally that means you need something and someone not to judge, so I'm here for you." Shifting to lay next to him and caressing his cheek softly. "So like i said, what are you here for?" Letting him just relax a bit. Jeff would never tell or judge Adrian. He didn't have it in him to be like that.

Adrian nodded, his hand moving back to Jeff's hip and giving it a squeeze, "I just...wanted to see you." He whispered, sincere for a moment as he shifted closer, "It's been a minute and..." He sighed, "I felt bad about earlier. I didn't mean to shove you like that I just..." He shrugged, there was no good excuse for his behaviour. He was just angry. All the time. Sometimes he couldn't control what he did.

Jeff felt a buzz go up his side as Adrian touched his hip. "Then just say you want to see me, Lawson." he teased, moving in closer and kissing his neck where the boy liked it. "its fine, i was only teasing you. I wish you could just come out, i think you'd feel better but I get it, I do." Moving back to lay back and beckon Adrian in closer. '

Adrian nodded, glancing down, his mind was always a stormy place and he never really could sort through it, through all the feelings that constantly battled. "I just..." He hesitated, his body following Jeff, especially after the way the other kissed his neck and he hovered over him, ducking his head to meet Jeff's lips in a slow kiss. "I can't come out...."

Jeff kissed him back, nodding some. His hand held the boy's cheek. "I know you can't, well at least I know you feel you can't. I won't make you." But if he wanted more with Jeff, he'd have to. If the boy ever did want more. His thoughts coming into his mind, but he let them all go then. He just wanted to help the boy, let him have a judgement free time.

Adrian shook his head, "It's not that easy. You can come out and your parents won't disown me. I'd be a fucking Greaser if I came out. I'd be on my ass." He groaned, "Can we just not...do this tonight?" He mumbled, his lips against Jeff's again, "Come on."

Jeff sighed but nodded. He wasn't one to push someone when he knew it was hard. Smiling softly "Come on what? You still haven't told me or showed me what you want to do tonight and are you staying tonight or are you going to leave me again?" Caressing his cheek, fingers running through the boy's hair with a grin and a wink.

Adrian groaned, "Why?" He whispered, moving to straddle Jeff's hips and staring down at him, "Why do you make me say it everytime? That's not fair. You know why I'm here. We're not...friends...not really. We're just...this. Whatever this is."

Jeff chuckled as Adrian moved over him. "its the least you can do, plus its rather fun to see you all worked up because i ask you to tell me before I do much more then this with you. You're right, we're not friends...pretty sure you don't even know me that well, at least with my clothes on. So if you want it, do it."

Adrian huffed and rolled his hips against Jeff's, "Shut up." He whined, moving closer, kissing Jeff again, "I wanted to be here with you. I wanted to kiss you, touch you...feel you." He finally spoke gently, his hands pushing up the front to Jeff's shirt, moving up his body, "Happy?"

Jeff groaned as their hips met, knowing what the other boy was packing. Jeff kissed back, grinning. "Hmm see, was that so hard to say?" he teased. Pulling his own shirt off, jeff tugged at Adrian's to make him lose it as well. "Working on it." he joked, pulling the boy down to kiss him again, this time not letting him pull back as the kiss grew. His hips pushing up to grind against the other boy.

Adrian shrugged, "Maybe not, but you sure are...hard." He mumbled and grinned, "Fuck." He sighed, pulling his shirt over his head and tossing it to the ground before he leaned into Jeff, kissing him deeply and grunting, rolling his hips again, pressing his chest against the other and quickly asserting his dominance as he grew more and more breathless.

Jeff smirked. "As are you." Knowing how the other boy could be. With their bare chests pressed together, Jeff tugged at his locks. He moaned into the kiss, meeting each of his presses of their hips together. His heart racing from the feeling of it all, so much going on. This was the fun part, fighting for dominance but knowing he'd lose as he flipped Adrian on his back and straddled him, pinning the boy's hands down as they kissed still.

Adrian shifted, laying back and smirking up at Jeff, "Nice try..." He whispered, breathless and needy as he moved his hands to Jeff's slender hips, giving them a squeeze, "What are we doing here tonight?" He asked, a raised brow as he held Jeff's hips in place, lifting his own hips to meet them in hopes of relieving some pressure.

Jeff purred at his touch to his hip. He shouldn't like it as much as he did but he did like it. "You tell me, I'm all for making out with you if thats what you think you need tonight." Jeff pushing the boy's hair out of his eyes and leaning down again to kiss him softly. "Its all on you, you know that."

Adrian shrugged, "I need more than making out. But fuck if you'll give that to me...right? Saving it for someone...special?" He rolled his eyes, there was a time he'd thought he'd save his virginity for someone special, but he'd long since given it away to some random girl, just to prove to himself and everyone else he wasn't gay. Even though he was gay. That sort of thing stopped mattering to him. "Come on...we have fun right? Let's just do it..."

Jeff sighed some and shook his head. "You can't sway me on that, I'll get you off but there is no way you're fucking me. I meant what I said, Adrian, only for someone I'm with, not just a hook up." He wanted his first time to matter, to be something he looked back at and liked not just something for fun. "Yeah, we do have fun, so lets have fun without your cock in my ass."

Adrian shrugged, rolling off Jeff and letting out a sigh, "Yeah fucking Smythe...got it. Everybody's dream guy." He mumbled and looked away, "I'm gonna go." He added and sat up, "This is fucking stupid. I'm not gay. I don't know what I'm doing here."

Jeff grabbed his hand and pulled him to stop. "Did I say Sebastian, no. I said someone that is with me, someone that is my boyfriend." Sighing, he let go and handed him his shirt. "Right you're not gay and you were never hear. I know the drill."

Adrian shook his head, "You didn't have to say it." He moved to his feet, standing over the bed looking down at Jeff, "It's not a secret. You're waiting for him." He shrugged, pulling on his t-shirt and pushing his hair out of his face, "It's not like I'll ever have a fucking reason to come out. So what's the point of blowing up my entire life?"

Jeff bit his lip. He held back the words in his head that he always held back. "I'm not though...I never have been." He pulled his knees to his chest and looked up to Adrian. He wanted to say it, to tell him to come out and maybe this could change, they could be something that seemed to be driving them together. "Maybe it would help you with your anger some...and you'd get to be you, finally." He whispered, giving up the fight to make him stay. Adrian wanted to go, he knew better then to stop him.

Adrian scoffed, "Yeah...right. Be me. As if anyone fucking wants that." He sighed, "I'm angry because everyone around me is a fucking moron, Jeff. You're all sitting around kissing Smythe's ass when...fuck if he isn't an asshole with nothing to offer the world except the fact that his dad is the fucking Mayor." He shook his head, "I'm going places. You'll all see. I'm the only person around that actually has ambition. It's why I can't come out because I'm gonan fucking be someone. And that's all me. Not my parents. Whatever. Fuck if I care what anyone thinks."

Jeff looked to him. "I have dreams too, ones that will get me out of here. Ones that will happen because I won't give up, so its not just you that has ambitions, Adrian. Its not and I'm not kissing his ass, you think you know but you don't know how I am with him. " Jeff shook his head. "Are you staying or going..." he bit his lip, hoping he'd stay.

Adrian sighed, "Whatever you think he is when you're alone, he's lying." He spoke weakly and shook his head, "He's not a good person. He's probably not even good in bed." Adrian shrugged his shoulders again and looked away, "I don't know..." He sat on the edge of the bed, "I should probably go."

Jeff took the chance as he sat to unfold himself and sit closer to the older boy. His hand slipped into Adrian as he used his free hand to turn his face. "What I think about him doesn't matter right now, alright? I've told you, when you're here i don't think about him. I think about you and how I can help you."

Adrian looked to Jeff and licked his lips, staring back at him and hesitating, "It does matter." He spoke weakly and looked down at their hands, "Whatever." He whispered, giving Jeff's hand a squeeze, "Can we just hang out? Not really in the mood anymore..."

Jeff looked to their hands and back up. "yeah, sure but if I'm shirt less, so are you." He smiled to him, kissing his cheek. Getting up, Jeff put on a movie he knew the boy would like, sitting with him once more, jeff moved Adrian's arm around him as he shut the lights off to just enjoy the night.

Adrian nodded, letting out a soft chuckle and pulling off his shirt as Jeff got up. "Fair is fair I guess." He mumbled, settling against the other and pressing his lips against Jeff's shoulder gently. "Thanks..."

Jeff looked up to him, kissing him softly. "You're welcome. You don't have to be someone you're not, not with me. I meant it the first time and I mean it now." Turning back to the tv, Jeff let himself relax there and just let the silence fall. If Adrian wanted to talk more, they could, but for now, he was content.

[zaglicar-nofra]

Young Bloodletter

“...Then he rose his sword and said unto Opasyal Xavier, ‘You have tricked far too many men to believe in your false God! How could one of your intelligence do something so ignorant? You are still, as I always said, a fool.’

Xavier looked up at his former mentor, blood running down his face from the hilt slam to the head, and managed to utter, ‘Zaglicar! You shan't call me the fool! You are the one who won’t open your eyes wide enough to see Atemter’s divine power! All of Rokoda shall know you were the fool when we parade around the continent with your head on a pike!’

This was a foolish thing to say to one trained in the skills of assassination. Zaglicar the Second brought the sword down upon the head of the original Opasyal, splitting it in two.

Droka, the Elf Lord, seeing his fallen comrade, charged Zaglicar with a spear. Malley, another member of the House of Night, met Droka a split second before he struck Zaglicar and plunged her dagger into the throat of the Elf Lord.

Droka, being adept at magic, put a glowing palm onto his bloody neck, healing it slowly. Malley cackled at their victory when a tall, built man, wielding a staff came into the room. Malley turned to Zaglicar with fear in her eyes.

‘Boss? I-is that him? Could that be that man who poses as a god? This can’t be real! They were right all along.’ A tear went down her face.

‘I’m afraid it is, Malley. Go get Troget up and have Sethsma help him out of the room. I’ll protect Nya and Leytail.’ As the House of Night executed their orders, Atemter raised his staff carefully analyzing the enemy, deciding which one to end the life of.

‘Hmm, Leader, Archer, Berserker, Intellegence.... hmm, I think it is obvious that I shall take the Leader first, The Berserker next and after that, while the Archer draws her bow, hit her then the Intellegence,’ he said as he debated the order of massacre. Once he decided, Atemter raised his staff and started to chant a spell aimed at Zaglicar. Sethsma noticed this and dropped the right arm of Troget leaving Malley to help the injured man.

‘I haven’t been much use in combat before, but this time I will be’ Sethsma cried out as he jumped in front of the bolt of red light heading towards Zaglicar. It struck him full on in the chest, disintegrating him on impact. Zaglicar turned behind him and recognized the distraction, whispered a little prayer and continued to escape with the prisoners. They safely returned to Darkwind and that was the last time anyone in the kingdom heard of the House of Night…

But there are those who are in it. Brothers such as Gregory, Hamath, Genny, and even I. We are well aware of this guild and we know how effective it truly is. To maintain the mystery of our organization, we live normal lives among those in the outside world, me as a blacksmith, and you as a normal student. The reason I told you this was not only to tell you the great tales of Zaglicar Kugluktuk the Second, but was to inform you the true facts of the family you have been born into. You, my grandson, have been born into the House of Night, and naming you after such a great man gives us high hope for you. You have already shown exceptional skill in stealth and in strategy. We hope that you continue down your path of greatness and become the leader of this fine guild.”

      My mind was blown by what Grandpa told me. I couldn’t believe that I came from a long line of assassins. Not only were they assassins, but they are the legendary House of Night! But he said I couldn’t tell anyone and that I have to live a normal life on top of that.

“Thanks, Grandpa. And does this explain the disappearance of my father?” I asked, as I hoped to get some answers.

He looked at me with an emotionless face. “ I’m afraid that is the case. One of your father’s missions went terribly wrong. No one truly knows the exact details but it is said that one of the clients that we worked for, former Lord Fahlaz, set him up for an ambush. The target was an honorable Drow leader who fought for Trexley. When your father came upon him with his dagger, Fahlaz called forth his men and they used telekinesis spells to hold him. It is rumored that he was killed right there, but there are darker rumors than that.” A single tear rolled down his face as he finished his answer.

“What can be worse than death? What can be worse than the end of your existence?” I had my theories, but I wanted to see if he could confirm them.

“Lots of things, child. Lots of things such as: torture, forced betrayal, or slavery. I believe that the string of recent murders of officials in Darkwind is your father….brainwashed. My brothers and sisters also believe in my theroy and we all fear the day where we have to silence a former brother, a former leader…” At this point, he was silently crying. I don’t know why I was surprised to see this. He is part of an assassin guild with death being part of his job, but this was his son he was talking about, his own flesh and blood. Why wouldn’t he cry?

“ So, when would my training begin? I assume that I will need some.”

“It already has. Those kids who bully you are your first targets. We sent you to that school because we were trailing some fugitives who are raising their kids to believe in Atemter as the true god. We got intel that they will launch an attack in the middle of town and they, along with their family, will retreat across the border into Droka’s realm. You must eliminate them this week or you will fail your training and cause the death of many innocent lives. This is your mission, now go prepare, wander the dark, trail your target and kill quickly. This is the only advice I can give you. Goodbye my grandchild.” He got up and, with unnatural speed, went out the door.

I walked into the main room and saw my mother in tears. She has never shown emotion since Father disappeared. I approached her carefully and hugged her. “What is wrong Mother? Is it the story that Grandpa told me?”

“Kind of, Zaglicar. It’s not the truth of you father, I was well aware of what may or may not be the truth. It’s the fact that you are now aware of your destiny. I wish it could have waited a little bit longer, but you are sixteen now, so I guess you are no longer a child. Go and do as your Grandfather commanded.” She handed me a coin purse with roughly three hundred fifty gold pieces. “I am kicking you out of the house so that no one can trace you back to me. You are old enough to sustain yourself and you will get payed well from the contract,” She fully burst into tears after those words.

I hugged her tighter and whispered,” I will come back from this, I promise this. I will also send you portions of my profit to reward to for raising me right. Thank you, Mother, you have done me well…...I love you…” I went and packed my bags. Clothes, books and knives were all thrown into my pack.

As I headed towards the door I looked back at Mother. She smiled and said in a serious voice,” Adrian Gonzolo in the south market. Approach him in his shop and tell him your father’s name. Torvino used him as his number one shopkeeper. They drank together, went on missions and he has been looking over you at a far distance. Go to him and he will set you up with your starting gear. Son, stay safe.” I smiled back to her and walked out the door.

The sudden change of light made my eyes hurt a little. It was still morning, but the market in the East side of the town was still as alive as always. Merchants were telling everyone about their “bargains” they had to offer. Kids were advertising their fathers’ stalls, the smell of day old fish and other meats local to the area filled my nose with a pungent smell. This time, instead of scanning the area for my friends, I was scanning for the enemy. I always said that they would die by the hand of me, but I never thought it would actually happen.

After about twenty minutes of searching, I spotted my prey. The first target I could find was a tall, but built guy. I was on a rooftop in the East Housing District and he was down below on the uninhabited road. Now was my chance. Strike quick, hide quick. That is the way i was told to eliminate.

I took out my dagger that had some Elven runes inscribed on it. It was my father’s knife that he gave me when I was born. I realized now that he bestowed this upon me to help aid me in the quest he knew I would embark on.

The fear was getting to me, arousing question. “ What if I land wrong? What if i get caught? What if he gets me first? What if, what if, what if…’  It was now or never. I had to kill this man….not “this man” but “this kid”. It was my test, my goal, my new life.

I jumped off the roof with as much grace as I could gather and aimed my dagger for his neck. I didn’t think of any witty lines and I didn’t yell or growl. Silence. Complete silence is the best approach. It won’t alarm guards, and it won’t alarm the prey.

I landed on him, dagger puncturing his throat. ‘I did it! I killed the enemy! But why am I feeling this emotion? Like I shouldn’t be doing this? Could it be that I actually feel bad? This isn’t good, I can’t be feeling this! Is this how I’m going to feel the rest of my life?’  Tears began to fill my eyes as I looked at the boy’s life-drained face. He was staring back at me choking on his own blood, trying to breathe, trying to live. I felt the warm sensation of blood on my hands, but that didn’t help unfreeze them. I was paralyzed by fear. ‘Get up! Go back! Hide the evidence!’ None of these thoughts got me to move. All I could do was stare, stare at the mistake I made.

After a few minutes of crying, I managed to pull my dagger out of his wound. More blood spilled out of his neck. I sheathed my dagger and looked around me. In the distance, I saw someone coming. I knew I had to hide the body. Then, it would be the end of my moral argument and my emotions can settle.

After a few minutes of struggling, I finally drug the body to a bush and climbed a building next to it. Not a minute later I heard the screaming of a woman,”Help! There has been a murder! Their is a murderer on the loose! Guards, guards!”

I let out a sigh. ‘ If I was slower in moving that body, I would have been caught. Mother would have been furious.’  I continued to run home. I couldn’t go to school like this, people would see the blood and I would have had to make up an excuse, and Lilaya knows there is no good reason to have someone else’s blood on you.

I was fatigued by the run ‘home’, doing whatever I could to avoid people. ‘Home’ at this point was just the underside of a bridge in the Eastern market. Once I got there, I quickly donned new clothing and casually made my way through the market. “ Oh, Gods! I forgot to find Adrian! Where could I find this man?” I approached one of the rug stalls and asked the head salesperson, “ Umm, Sir? Can you point me in the right direction of Adrian Gonzolo? I am supposed to purchase things from him for my mother for, she has fallen ill. Can you please help me?”

The man smiled at me and said with a far eastern accent, “ Oh he is that funny, uhh, ‘Potion salesman’ guy isn’t? Well, he is located in the Southern Market district near the Hearty Dragon Inn. That is where you can usually find him.”

“Thank you!” I ran off....(to be continued)

[phandictioned]

(hi there I'm way too nervous about posting this)Highschool AU where Dan is a pastel sensitive cry baby who is a selective mute. His only friend Pj is the one Dan talks to. Phil is socially anxious but slightly talkative person who gushes over most plants. Dan is sitting in the hallway when he hears Fall Out Boy from the gym and without thinking he dashes over. Dan runs head-on into Phil and it makes Dan cry. Phil awkwardly comforts him.

I got seriously into these characters. Thank you so much for the prompt, I thoroughly enjoyed writing it! I actually kind of forgot it was just a one-shot and was going to just keep going so hopefully the ending isn’t too abrupt.

A Glass Wall and a Purple Flower 

AO3 Link

Dan’s POV

Walls. Cement walls. Brick walls. Wood walls.Steel walls. People talked about having all sorts of “walls” that kept in theiremotions, made them feel sane. Supposedly these walls helped them get through theireveryday stressful, emotional days. These were all words of course. Whisperedconfessions from friend to friend as two shared a private, intense moment.

Dan didn’t have a wall. There was no invisiblemental barrier that kept him from his feelings and after his sixteen years oflife Dan was pretty certain that while everyone else’s feelings ran a softstream of dull colors throughout their heart, his own feelings ran a luminous orangeand glowing red. His emotions were always intense. There was no in between.There was no “wall” to buffer them or slow them down. No, his feelings rushedthrough him like a river. Dan had seen children play in a stream. He’d observedthem joyfully take large rocks and stop up the water. They always had a proudsmile on their face as they watched the water build up and up behind the rocks.But no one could block a rivers flow that easily. Maybe I just have a glass wall, thought Dan as he wiped a tear fromhis soaked cheeks.

It was silly really; how easy it was for him tocry. It was as if he’d never emotionally passed the toddler level. The thoughtfrustrated him, humiliated him and he furrowed his brows as if the expressionwould somehow make him look less like a baby and more like the man he wassupposed to be turning into. The façade fell when he had to scrunch his noseand wipe the snot from his upper lip. He huffed in annoyance at himself and lethis legs wall away from where they were tucked against his chest. He needed tostop this. What if his parents came in? At this point they probably wouldn’teven ask why he was crying, they’d seen it so many times and given up onasking. He never told them why he was crying because most of the time he didn’tknow why himself! It infuriated them. Whydoes it make them mad? Dan had always wondered.

He did know why he was crying right then,against his headboard in his favorite peaches and cream sweater. His youngerbrother had something snarky to him in the kitchen and that was it. Dan’s glassheart shattered and the floodgates opened. He’d at least managed to wait untilhe was half way up the stairs to his room before the tears really startedfalling. It wasn’t as if Adrian had meant to hurt him. He probably didn’t evenmean the comment but it had been said and despite Dan knowing that his brotherwas still young, was still immature, there was a part of him that couldn’t helpthinking, but what if, what if what hesaid is true?

Dan huffed again. His sobbing came to a stopand he wiped the final wetness from his face on the soft sweater. He got to hisfeet and stood in front of the full length mirror. He grabbed his phone fromhis pocket and put Fall Out Boy on shuffle. Instantly his body sagged in reliefwhen the music echoed in his ears. Nothing made him feel sane again like thequick paced vibrations of “Grenade Jumper”.

He stared at his red eyes and nose in thereflection and groaned. Would he look normal by the time he got to school thatday? Probably not. But it wasn’t as though his tendency to cry was unknown tohis classmates and friends. They’d all seen tears slip down as cheek in Historywhen they read about the time a city was demolished and everyone killed. Orwhen a group had gone to see a movie, a rather violent one in Dan’sperspective, and he’d of course cried. Dan’s parents had been worried about himin school. They expected him to be picked on and bullied. It turned out thoughthat even the meanest bullies in school didn’t necessarily want to see theirvictims crying rivers on the floor of school hallway. It had a way of makingthe surrounding students defensive.

Just as Dan was finishing up straightening thelast curl on his head his bedroom door burst open. He squeaked in surprise,dropping the straightener and yelping when it landed on his foot.

“Dan!” PJ squealed happily and embraced himgiggling. Dan felt the tears well up in his eyes again as the throbbing painworsened in his toe. PJ pulled away and his smile stopped. He looked down atwhere the straighter landed and gasped. “I’m sorry! Dan I’m sorry!” He pulledDan into him as the tears fell yet again from his burning eyes. There went any chance of looking normal intie for school, Dan agonized.

“It’s okay.” Dan choked out.

PJ bent over and handed him the straightenergently, looking concerned. “I waited for you outside but you weren’t there so Ithought I’d come in and see what was taking so long.”

Dan did not have many friends. He had plenty ofacquaintances. That’s how he figured it. These acquaintances were those thatendeavored speaking to him despite his lack of response, or those the defendedhim against the snark comments some made about his silence, those that sent hima kind smile as they passed in the hallway. Dan didn’t have enemies. But noneof those people were like PJ. PJ was the only one that knew him, that had beento his and spent the night and more importantly, that Dan talked to. Maybe itwas because they’d known each other since the first years of primary school. PJhad always been nice and calm and listened. He was so patient with Dan. He washis friend.

“Oh, yeah, sorry. I just…woke up late and thenneeded to straighten my hair. I’m ready now though. We can go.” His cryingthankfully had stopped again.

 Phil’s POV

“And some water here, and here. Oh, maybe a fewmore drops on you too.” Phil stood back and smiled brightly at the variety ofgreen leaves and pottery before him. “There! You’re all taken care of. Oh! Onemore thing.” He rushed over to the other side of his room where one window wasstill covered. He pulled up the blinds, letting the sun stream in andilluminate the soft green walls of the room even more so. “Perfect.” Philchirped.

“Phil?” His mother’s voice called fromdownstairs. Phil’s pale skin went even paler at his cheeks at her voice. Shouldhe answer?

“Y-yes?” He called tentatively, knowing theresponse he’d get.

“Philip! What are you still doing here?! You’regoing to be late for school!”

“It’s watering day mum! I’m leaving right now,I promise!” He shouted down at her. Which was kind of a lie because there wasstill one more thing he had to do. He grabbed a small wooden box from his deskand went over to one of his plants. It was one of his favorites and it wasblooming magnificently. He couldn’t be prouder. Carefully he took one of thedelicate lavender flowers and picked it from its stem. He’d been wanting toshow some of his friends at school the beautiful coloring. Not to say theyactually cared that much about Phil’s plants. Certainly not as much as him. Butthey cared about him and so they obliged him whenever he had a new leaf orflower to show them.

He tucked the box into the bottom of hisbackpack and ran out of the house, ignoring the lecture his mum was yelling athim as he burst through the front door.

 “S-see guys?” Phil stuttered, holding open thesmall wooden box before Louise and Chris and tilting it so they could see thesoft purple petals. “I told you how beautiful it was but you didn’t believe medid you? I told you how pretty it was and you didn’t think a house plant couldbe so pretty.”

“Yes Phil,” Louise roller her eyes, “It’s verypretty.”

“But isn’t it amazing?! Some people like theidea of a house plant but they don’t want one because they don’t just wantsomething green, well this is the perfect solution!” Phil knew he was overexcited and talking way too fast for anyone to properly understand what he wassaying but he just needed them tounderstand what he meant!

“Yes, that’s very true.” Chris agreeddistractedly. Phil missed the uninterested tone in his voice though and hischest filled with warmth at the agreement.

“What are you looking at Chris?” Phil scrunchedhis eyebrows at his friend. Chris was looking skeptically at something overPhil’s shoulder.

“Oh, just that guy over there.” He nodded inthe general direction. Phil spun around, trying to spot the person Chris was talkingabout.

“You mean Dan?” Louise interjected.

“Is that his name? Huh, I never knew. He’sjust…different. He’s best friends with PJ which means he must at least be decentenough to hand out with. I always like PJ”s friends.”

“Why is he different? He looks normal to me.”Phil questioned, tilting his head and watching the soft curled, tanned skinnedboy hurry down the hallways. His eyes darted back and forth throughout the halla little nervously and Phil smiled. He’d never seen this boy before.

“He’s really shy. I think I’ve heard him speakmaybe twice. But he’s so nice and adorable looking that the teachers don’t evencare. They must think he’s abused at home or something. Either way, they nevermake him answer like they do the rest of the class. Oh, and he cries easily.”

“Isn’t that the truth.” Louise said beforestarting in the opposite direction down the hall. “Got to get to class boys.”

Phil followed the two but he kept looking overhis shoulder at the doe eyes stranger. Something about just made Phil want togo up and give him a big hug. He looked so soft and squeezable in that big rosysweater. And his eyes were just begging for someone to wrap their arms aroundhim.

“Phil, you’re going to walk into a locker.”Chris snorted. “Come on.”

“O-oh. Sorry. Coming.”

 Phil thought about the doe eyed boy, Dan, asLouise had called him, all day. He imagined himself embracing Dan, stroking hishair, telling him there was no need to look sad anymore. He tried to distracthimself with the mauve flower but it only proved to send him into further daydream. Now he imagined placing the delicate flower behind the boy’s ears andmaking him giggle.

“Phil!”

Phil almost fell out of his chair when his namewas called. He looked up, forgetting where he was for a moment. Chris wasstaring down him, eyes wide with question. “Y-yeah?”

“School is over. We need to go to the gym andhelp set up, remember?”

“R-right. I’m ready.”

“What is up with you today dude?” Phil didn’treally hear the question. He followed Chris blindly down to the gym.

“Do you think Dan will be there?”

Chris raised an eyebrow. “Who? You mean thecrying kid? Uh, I don’t know. Why?”

“Just curious.” Phil tried to say nonchalantly.

“Right.”

In the gym, there was already a group of kidsstarting on the decorations. There was going to be a sports tournament of somesort. Phil didn’t remember what for. He was only here because his motherinsisted on him helping with things like this. “Keeps you busy and out oftrouble” was her exact words. Not that Phil ever got in trouble. He suspectedit had more to do with her wanting more time alone. He wouldn’t have minded toomuch except today was watering day and he still had some plants to get to. They’re waiting for me! Thought Phil. Those plants know its watering day and thatI’m not there yet!

“Oh good, more help.” A teacher smiled at Philand Chris from across the room. “Come over here boys.”

Phil could barely hear him. The music wasturned so loudly he couldn’t hear himself think. It made him anxious, all theloud noise. He stuffed his hand sin his pockets, took them back out, squeezedhis fingers. He looked around, trying to possible spot Dan. But he so evidenceof a blush sweater. He sighed. It had been the one thing he was looking forwardto by coming here.

Phil’s self-pitying was stopped when theteacher began instructing them. “Okay. So, Chris, if you could go help Carrieover there with the lights that would great.” Chris nodded and jogged acrossthe court. “And Phil, we’re going to need more tape. Lots of it. Would you mindgoing to the supply closet and grabbing that?”

Phil nodded readily. He loved nothing more thanthe idea of getting out of this place. He spun on his heels and ran towards theopen door leading to the halls. He’d forgotten to take off his backpack. Thething bounced annoyingly on his shoulder.

Outside of the gym the hallways were empty ofany students. He smiled and pumped his legs faster, running as fast as he couldtoward the supply closet. He was just about turn a corner when a blur of ahuman walked from around it. Phil gasped, knowing he was going to collidedirectly into the person. He tried to stop but he sudden braking only causedhim to catapult forward. He saw the wide eyes of…oh my gosh it was the boy!Dan! Dan’s eyes widened just as Phil’s chest knocked against the others. Heheard the air get knocked out of the boy and in seconds they were both sprawledside by side on the tile.

Phil groaned. He’d landed on his elbows andknees and the flesh there stung. Beside him Dan moved and he forced himself tosit up. “Are-are you alright?” Phil stared down at the limp body. Dan hadlanded on his back and he moved his head back and forth. Had he hit his head?Phil was suddenly panicked. This is not howhe’d wanted to meet the stranger!

Dan moaned but started to get up.

“Did you hit your head? Oh my goodness I’m sosorry. I’m so, so, so sorry. I shouldn’t have been running that’s why it’s arule isn’t it? Cause they don’t want people to get hurt like this and oh mygoodness I’m an idiot!” Phil reached for Dan, helping him into a sittingposition. The boy seemed disoriented. He gazed at his surroundings for a minutebefore meeting Phil’s eyes. “How do you feel? Does your head hurt?”

Dan didn’t respond. Instead the boy’s browneyes watered over and before Phil knew it tears were spilling down his face. Hefelt his face pale with realization. HE must have really hurt him! He must havebroken a bone or got a concussion!

“Oh dear, oh my.” Phil scooted to sit next toDan and took his arm gently. “Does it hurt? Did I break it?”

Dan shook his head and a sob escaped histhroat.

Phil checked the other arm and then reached forDan’s head. The boy pulled away. “No, no. It’s okay. I’m just checking yourhead to make sure you aren’t bleeding.” Dan didn’t respond but he stoppedpulling away and let Phil part his hair this way and that. “I-I don’t seeanything. Why are you crying? What ese hurts? I’m so, so sorry.” Phil repeated.Guilt wracked at his insides. “I’ll take you to the nurse’s office okay? Maybethey’ll be able to help you.”

“No.” Dan mumbled.

Phil sighed in relief. “Good, you can at leasttalk. You scared me! Can you tell me what’s wrong now?”

Dan opened his mouth to answer but sobs escapedinstead. He tried to talk through them but he sounded sad and pitiful. “I’mo-o-okay. You j-just scared me.”

The fact that Dan was crying because Phil hadscared him rather than hurt him made Phil’s chest want to combust. He wrappedhis arms around the boy and held him there. He’d been picturing himself in thismoment all day. He’d imagine himself squeezing him tight but now that he washere the boy felt so fragile in his hands that he held him loosely. “I’m sorry.I’m a horrible person. I didn’t mean to. The gym was just so loud and I wantedto get out of there and so I was running and-”

“You came from the gym?” Dan seemed to perk upat that.

“Yeah? Why? Were you heading there? Is that whyyou were running too? Are you late?”

“Not late. Just liked the music.”

Phil pulled away slightly to look into Dan’sface. “You like that music?”

A ever so small smile pulled at Dan’s lips.“Who doesn’t like Fall Out Boy?”

“Oh. I didn’t know who they were I just know itwas really loud and there was a lot going on.”

“I like it.” Dan added and his smile grew alittle wider this time. After just a few seconds though the smile disappearedand tears started falling down his already soaked cheeks again.

“No, no more crying!” Phil whined desperately.He already felt bad! “What’s wrong?”

“I don’t know!” Dan sobbed.

Phil pulled the boy against him again androcked them back and forth there on the floor. “There, there. It’s okay.” Hepatted Dan’s head before realizing that maybe that was a little awkward. Hemoved his hand to his back. What could he do to stop this poor boys crying?Suddenly he got an idea. It sparked from his latest day dream. “Do you likeflowers?”

“Flowers?”

“Yeah!”

“I don’t know.”

“How can you not know? Anyway, let me show yousomething. Hold on.”

Phil scrambled over the floor to his backpackand drug it over to them. Dan watched him with watery intrigued eyes as heunzipped it and dug around for the small wooden box. He took Dan’s hand, openedhis palm and placed the box there.

“Open it.” Phil said with a grin. Dan looked athim cautiously. “It’s not a bug or anything. Just open it.” Dan held the box inone hand and slowly lifted the lid with the other. Phil watched his face for areaction excitedly. When Dan finally lifted the lid his eyebrows went up inwhat Phil took as amazement. “See? Take it out, see how pretty it is.” Philencouraged.

“Are you sure? It looks so…fragile.”

“Don’t worry. It’ll die soon anyway.”

Dan looked up at Phil in surprise. “Why?”

“Well, because I took off the plant. I wantedto bring it to school.”

“But now it’s going to die.” Dan said sadly ashe removed the wilting flower from the box.

Dan’s POV

Dan couldn’t help the tinge of sadness he feltfor the drying flower. He knew it didn’t have feelings but still.

“It’s okay, I promise. There’s lots more. Ihave lots of plants and flowers.” Phil said gleefully as Dan stroked the softpetals. Only then did Dan realize his crying had stopped. Finally, he thought in relief, glad that for now he could pushaside the embarrassment. This stranger had felt so guilty about making him falland Dan had also made it worse with his insistent crying. He looked up at himand wiped his nose.

“What is your name?” Dan asked in a whisper.His voice was as shocked as his brain was at how easy it was to talk to thisperson. He just felt…comfortable with him. Maybe it was the kind face he had.Or the way Dan could tell he wasn’t being judging at all. His only concern wasfor the fact that he’d knocked Dan over and caused him to cry.

“Phil. And your Dan. I saw you earlier today…”Phil’s expression changed abruptly to shyness. “…and my friend Louise told mewhat your name was. That’s why I know.”

“Oh.” Dan cocked his head. “I think I’ve talkedto her in class before.” Only then did Dan notice the wetness on Phil’s shirt. “I’msorry. I cried all over your shirt.” He felt himself go red with embarrassment.

“Oh gosh, don’t worry about that. I’d rather itbe my shirt and not yours. I really like your sweater.”

“Thanks.” Dan bushed. “It’s my favorite. I callit my peaches and cream sweater.” He smiled contently and Phil giggled. The twowere silent were a few seconds. Dan fiddled with the flower and Phil wrung hishands nervously. Suddenly he leapt to his feet.

“I have an idea, would you want to come see myplants?” Dan looked up at him uncertainly. “You would love it. If you thinkthis one flower is pretty then wait till you see my garden! Oh my goodness Danyou would love it so much.”

“Su-sure. When?” Dan said nervously. He’d neverbeen to someone else’s house. No one besides PJ that was. But Phil was nice andDan felt good and happy with him.

“Now!” Phil exclaimed.

“Now?”

“Why not? School’s over, lets go! I don’t livefar from here. And it’s a good way for me to make it up to. You know, forknocking you over.” Phil giggled and helped Dan to his feet. Dan gingerly putthe flower back into the box and closed the lid. He handed it back to Phil buthis new friend shook his head.“ You can keep it. The box too.”

“Oh my. Thank you.” Dan felt as though he’dbeen given a gold leaf. He knew he was privileged to be given this beautifulgift and would most certainly treasure it. “And then maybe I can show you someFall Out Boy songs that won’t make you run from the room.” It wasn’t really ajoke but when Phil laughed heartedly Dan smiled. Had he really just madesomeone laugh like that? Phil’s laugh was so nice to listen to. He wondered ifhe could be the cause of it again.

“Now let’s go!” Phil took Dan’s hand in his. “You’ll never want to cryagain when you see my beautiful garden.”

[literaphobe]

where did ginaxrosa shipping start? and why? (not that i am against it but i just... never considered!?! it)

gina x rosa shipping started because Gina is the driving force behind 80% of Rosa's laughs and 98% of Rosa's smiles.

And when Rosa smiles because of Gina-related reasons, there's a softer touch to those smiles, and they're I-can't-help-but-smile smiles.

Gina can get Rosa to laugh her head off. Big, genuine laughs that make Rosa's head tilt up. Like when Gina tossed a stapler at Charles (2x22 cold open)

Gina and Rosa are different people but have things in common that draw them to each other. Like how they're both people you don't want to cross. Gina and Rosa are scary and you don't want to mess with them. Gina uses her words and spirit, Rosa gives you one look and you know she could beat you up and you'll thank her.

This scariness that Rosa and Gina have are what makes them so evenly matched. They won't back down from a fight, ever, but weirdly you see them letting each other get away with stuff that they'd castrate someone else for.

For example, remember when Rosa almost murdered Hitchcock and Scully because they stole her moose tracks ice cream????

Guess what happened in thanksgiving episode 1x10. It's not blatantly obvious, but Gina's holding (and assumably, drinking) coffee from a cup clearly labeled 'ROSA'. And Rosa does nothing.

Gina and Rosa are also shown to have a special, deeper kind of bond that we see through several (albeit occasionally subtle) instances.

Whenever Gina's being Gina- see 1x16 and 2x07, Rosa's being made to babysit and stop her from freaking people out/stealing/talking to people at parties. This could mean one or even both of two things:

1) Only Rosa can handle Gina because everyone else is too weak to go against her- ergo they are evenly matched

2) People know that Rosa's the person Gina will most likely listen to- alluding to their deeper connection and understanding of each other

Another show of Gina and Rosa's deeper connection is how they're often on the same side. They like to judge, make fun of, and bully people together. They also seem to enjoy standing/sitting next to each other, (sometimes way too close more than they need to be eg. charges and specs 1x22) both of them crossing their arms (mirroring each other, which is like a couple thing/i'm-attracted-to-you thing)

They've also teamed up to solve Holt's island riddle together and protested against turkey murder together. They also locked amy in the boot of a car- and walked off together laughing

They also really care about each other, for example when Rosa was being all guilty knowing she was prob going to have to shoot Charles down in 1x13 and hiding Gina NOTICED that Rosa was hiding away and even asked her why with a pretty confused/concerned looking face. Also, when Rosa got sick Gina prepared a pretty elaborate care package for her so she would get well (and please Gina who you tryna play here acting like Terry paid u/if he really did pay u pls putting the care package together prob took more money than the $20 you claimed Terry gave you)

AND THEN Rosa proceeded to smile so widely all touched by what Gina did for her!!!

And Gina put Rosa in her WILL if that doesn't say "you're important to me" idk what is. And the fact that those two jaguars making love is prob a representation of them is something else altogether

Rosa cares about Gina too, duh. But Rosa's care comes more in the form of protectiveness, like when she placed her arm behind Gina ensuring she got out of the room safely before Rosa when the turkey got loose and tried to attack them. Rosa also put in a lot of security measures in place when Gina got robbed (although amy was involved too and Holt told them Gina was scared, but lbr Rosa's protect-gina instincts got turned on full blast when she found out Gina was scared did you hear the conviction in her voice when she said "we are (going to keep you safe)"????)

Speaking of the turkey, Gina and Rosa get each other. When they protested against the turkey murder and Rosa saw Gina about to flip everyone off she joined right in. They know each other pretty well too. Gina knows Rosa's likes (old movies, someone called 'the vulture', etc.) and dislikes, and she can very accurately interpret what a Rosa action means. (Like when Rosa said 'bye' to Marcus)

Also, Gina and Rosa seem to show interest in each other.

Like when Gina accidentally texted "sup Rosa" to Amy and that was in 2009 when she first joined the nine nine as civilian administrator so obviously Gina was trying to hit on Rosa and has prob been flirting with Rosa for eight years.

Part of their interest in each other includes attraction of course. In the episode where they let Gina interrogate a perp, Rosa looks overly interested in watching Gina forcefully question the perp and even when captain Holt wants to stop Gina Rosa doesn't want it to stop. Also when Rosa unveils her sword in 3x23 as torture equipment Gina looks very turned on no offense

Also Gina is very obviously jealous of Adrian. She only started acting hostile towards him after Rosa started dating him, and please be reminded that this is the same Gina that didn't even put her phone down when Adrian held a knife to Jake, her childhood bestie and oldest friend's throat.

But Adrian dates Rosa and suddenly it's "screw you adrian you're not allowed to stay at Charles's house" and "oh yeah ur right Adrian listen to the universe you should totally not marry Rosa!!" And the day before/on the day he was supposed to marry Rosa Gina doesn't even let Adrian have candy wow Rude

After Rosa's bachelorette party, Gina elopes with some cashier (prob a lady) and it's likely that she was trying to escape from reality bc running away with someone you just met (although Gina was drunk) is not something you do if you're super happy your friend is engaged, no matter how drunk you are, and no matter how Gina you are

Finally: Babylon

Dude if "has secret bathroom they don't tell anyone about that they work super hard on to make nice" doesn't scream "domESTIC" to you then idk what to say mate

(Also Rosa bringing Gina to Babylon for the first time bc Gina got sick is another example of how Rosa cares about Gina!!!)

Besides the implications of sharing a secret private place, Gina has a very violent reaction when Rosa wants to tell Boyle about Babylon (and Rosa asking Gina about it beforehand is like- wife asking wife for permission to bring friend over to house), and wants to keep it a private thing between the both of them

"Babylon's our secret place! It's the best thing in my life." -if this doesn't touch u even a little idk what will

I get why some people might not ship gina x rosa just by watching the show. Some of this stuff is put across in pretty subtle ways, and the things they say/know about each other aren't always treated as a big deal by the show/are throwaway lines. Some things you see between Gina and Rosa like the coffee thing and the putting hand on back thing is something you can only catch by pausing the episode at the right time. Also many Rosa laughs/smiles in response to something Gina does or says is usually in the background, and you may not catch it if you aren't paying attention to the squad's reactions to each other

Are we grasping for straws when we ship gina x rosa? No we r not they r perfect but also the show needs to give us more gina x rosa because this is a ship that has so much potential

Chelsea Peretti and Stephanie Beatriz seem to be putting in effort to make gina x rosa work with their acting so not shipping it = ur not appreciating Stephanie taking the effort to smile so tenderly at stuff Chelsea says as Gina

AND Jake/Amy are a pretty stable couple now, so it's definitely in your interest to start devoting your heart to gina x rosa too!! Why let one ship slay you when you can let two ships slay you

TL;DR- Gina and Rosa would make the perfect power couple that rules over the Nine-Nine which can nicely balance out cinnamon roll couple Jake and Amy! Sign up to be a gina x rosa shipper today!! All we want in exchange is your soul!!