#( get behind me sir i promise ill protect u )

[etcnnante]

nothing scarier than realizing that people were in fact NOT joking about hating elliott they were in fact very serious . i feel insane

[t0msvi4gra]

PLS WRITE A 2008/2010 SMUT F!READER WITH TOM WHERE UR BEING REALLY BRATTY AND DISOBEDIENT SO HE FUCKS THE ATTITUDE OUT U WHILE BEING REALLLYYY DOMINANT LIKE OVERSTIMULATION AND/OR NOT LETTING READER CUM AND CALLING HER NAMES LIKE CUMSLUT, FUCKTOY, CUMDUMP, GOOD GIRL, STUFF LIKE THAT WHERE HE EATS HER OUT AND DOESNT LET HER CUM THEN FUCKS HER AND DOESNT LET HER STOP CUMMING PLSPSLSPLS THIS MIGHT BE A LOT SORRYRY

THIS IS SEXYY AND ITS NOT TOO DETAILED I LOVE DETAILED ASKSSS!!!

HARSH PUNISHMENT | TOM KAULITZ X FEM!READER

a/n this does contain forced sex. it is NOT rape so dont be in my comments telling me that it is. you dont like it? scroll and block. that easy.

you were on a date with tom and the waiter comes over.

“hi my name is corey and i’ll be your server for today. can i get you any drinks to start off with?” he asks holding his pen and pad up.

“uh yeah i’ll take a (drink)” you say looking at the menu but then looking up at him.

“and i’ll take a coke.” tom says and nods before looking at you.

“alright i’ll have those out.” he smiles and heads to get the drink.

tom looks at the server and glares at him as he walks away. “what the fuck was that?” he asks leaning in and whispering.

“what? i just looked at him.” you ask confused.

“bullshit, i saw the way you looked at him.” tom was always like this. jealous, protective and so very possessive of you, he trusted you he just had a feeling in the back of his mind you would leave him. “babe, i was just being nice thats all. i promise i would never ever do anything else with anyone.” you say trying to reassure him.

“okay whatever.” he scoffs and rolls his eyes.

the server comes back with your drinks. “you guys ready to order?” he asks softly, noticing toms death glare.

i nod, “yeah im ready, i would like the (favorite food) please.” you say softly, closing the menu. “of course, and for you sir?” he asks looking at tom.

“yeah i’ll just get the chicken alfredo.” he says coldly. “uh yeah i got you. alright i’ll be right out with those.” he nods and leaves.

after you get done eating tom pays and you and him head back to his car. but on the way there a college guy drops his books, “oh let me get those for you.” you pick them up and you hand them to him. “thank you” he nods and smiles and walks off and right when you turn around tom stands behind you and looks at you angrily, you know what this means.

“get. in the fucking. car.” he says quietly and lightly shoves you. you gulp and you nod and get in the car.

“youre too fucking nice you know that? you always say “oh hey im never gonna leave you, blah blah blah” but youre such a goddamn people pleaser!” he continues to yap about how much youre too nice and you need to stop being so nice to other people. and you have NEVER talked back to him because you knew what would happen but you got so sick and tired of his shit.

“TOM SHUT UP! YOU ARE ALWAYS FUCKING LIKE THIS! IM SORRY YOU HAVE TO BE SUCH A DICK! MAYBE YOU SHOULD LEARN HOW TO BE NICE TO PEOPLE THAN BEING SUCH A STRAIGHT UP ASSFACE! YOU HAVE TO UNDERSTAND I COULD NEVER AND WOULD NEVER LEAVE YOU BUT IF YOU KEEP THIS SHIT UP, IM FUCKING GONE!” you say and the silence is so loud.

tom pulls into the parking lot of his penthouse. “when we get inside, you better hide, and hide good because when i find you, i’ll give you the most excruciating punishment i have ever given you. and ill count to 5. 1… 2…” youre eyes widen and you run inside and you go upstairs and you hide in the walk in closet between clothes. you hear the door open. “gotcha” he roughly grabs you and throws you on the bed. “tom wait, im sorry, im sorry, it wont happen again.” you plead, though you secretly loved when he was like this. “you should’ve thought about that before you started talking back. youre such a fucking brat.” he rips off your clothes and he covers your mouth, and whispers in your ear, “im not going to stop until im done, you hear me?” he says almost threatening. you nod fearfully. “good.” he moves away and he spreads your legs and he shoves his middle and ring finger inside you, fucking you with him roughly.

you cant help but moan and you whimper. “fuck!” “it feels so good, doesnt it, pretty girl?” he says and he leans down to suck your clit, causing you to scream loudly. “tom s-stop.” you try to move away but he pins one of your legs down with his free hand. he leans up. “you taste so damn good. gosh i love your pussy, too bad its not gonna cum.” you instantly shake your head. “no babe, i need to cum. please.. please please!” you cry out before he pulls his fingers out of you.

he roughly tosses you on your stomach.

“you are going to take every inch of this cock. i will make you.” he says with gritted teeth.

he lifts your ass up and he spanks it hard, causing you to yelp.

he shoves his thick cock in your pussy from behind and he pounds you. “fucking take it you slut!” he groans, as he slaps your ass cheeks with both hands repeatedly until its super red. “take that you bitch.” he groans in anger and pleasure.

you moan loudly and the bed creaks and creaks. “t-t-om” you manage to get out.

“shut up and take it you bad girl, youre such a bad fucking girl.” he slams his cock inside you over and over, not letting you cum. “you never gonna cum! my bad fucktoy will never cum!” tom ends up cumming inside you. but he doesnt stop. he moans and he pulls your hair. “if you cum without my permission its going to be so much harder for you.” he says through gritted teeth. “st-stop it… i can’t t-ake it.” you weakly say, nearly passing out. “i need to cum.” you whimper. “you can take it… you wanna be my good girl right?” he asks with mock innocence. “mhm” you hum out. “then take it”

he continues to drive you mad and he groans and rubs your pussy. feeling your pussy clamp around him. “you wanna cum now?” he asks spanking you. you nod eagerly. “words babygirl.” you nod “yes, tom please i need it.” he smiles and you cum hard and he cums with you. he pulls out.

“on your knees sweetheart.” he says pushing you to your knees, slapping your lips with the tip of his big thick veiny cock. “suck it good. you can do it” he pushes his cock down your throat and fucks your mouth as he holds your head in place.

he groans and slaps you. “youre so pretty when you suck me. your throat is so tight.” he cums hard down your throat and he pulls back and he helps you up and lays you down, and lays down beside you. “youre such a good little girl.” he pulls you on his chest and strokes your hair. “im sorry i yelled at you.” you say sweetly.

“thats okay sweet girl. im sorry for yelling at you.”

[devnicolee]

The Chosen Ones (One-Shot): Surprise

A/N: Very random but it is what my brain wanted this weekend lol Also I miss Asha lol my fav! Anyway, enjoy!

***

Asha’s hand covered her mouth as she yawned, resting her book on her chest and letting her head gently fall on the mountain of propped up pillows behind her.

“You have been really tried lately, firecracker?” M’Baku called as he walked out of their bathroom to grab his pajamas at the foot of the bed. Asha nodded lightly, her mind immediately distracted, like a child with a new toy, as her eyes gazed over his naked body. They had only known each other for a year, been married for six months, and his body still managed to take her breath away.

She licked her lips lightly, desire flaring in her eyes as she ignored his question and her previous exhaustion. M’Baku chuckled as he examined her.

“Are you listening, my queen?”

She smiled slyly, pulling herself from under the covers, sexily crawling down to the edge of the bed where he stood.

“I’m sorry, my king. You are just my greatest distraction,” she whispered seductively in his ear, her teeth gently nipping at his earlobe, his favorite spot.

He groaned before pulling back slightly. “There will time for that later. But I am serious, Asha. Are you sure you are feeling ok?” His eyes examined her closely as if he could see a mysterious illness in her eyes. “You usually only sleep one or two nights a week and you have been dead to the world every night this week.”

“Maybe it is our late night activities,” she winked before kissing his neck. She ended her ministrations as she heard the frustrated sigh leave his lips. Her usual methods of distraction weren’t going to work this time.

He wasn’t wrong, she usually didn’t need sleep or, at least, not much of it. She spent most nights working with T’Challa, who was usually awake as well, or reading in the library. That is, after she and M’Baku finished their intimate time, which was continuing at a rate of every single night. She was wondering when he would slow down, get tired of her… but that day had yet to come. She was convinced that was part of it, M’Baku had more energy than her. He pushed her body to its limits most nights, even after a long day, he was rarely satisfied with lazy sex.

“Sorry, I know you are serious. I don’t know what it is though… nothing has changed. I-I’ve just felt really tired the last week or two. I’m sure it will pass, don’t worry about it, ok?” She kissed his cheek.

Silence fell over them as his eyes examined her. “If it continues, you will go see a healer, yes?”

“Of course. Now…” her small hands drifted to the hem of the shirt he just pulled onto his broad frame and started to pull it back off. “Why don’t you come over here and give me a reason to be exhausted?”

M’Baku climbed over her as their lips connected and their tongues explored each other.

“Anything you wish, my queen.”

****

Asha groaned slightly as she turned over in bed, the sheets sliding off of her naked body. M’Baku instinctively turned with her, his arm resting over her hip as she tried to get comfortable again. She glanced at the clock, surprised at how long she had slept. But she wasn’t surprised, M’Baku seemed determined to send her to new heights that evening, pouring all his love and energy into worshipping her body. She reached for her beads, finding a missed message from T’Challa.

She groaned as she remembered she was supposed to be going over some treaties with him that evening. She quietly got out of bed to get her tablet to call him. However, as she stood up, she felt her stomach start to turn, an unfortunate wave of nausea overtaking her. She sat back on the bed, her mind running through the food she ate throughout the day to determine what caused this.

After a few minutes, she felt that unmistakable churn that forced her to leap off the bed. She barely made it to the toilet before she began throwing up. It felt as if her body was trying to rid itself of every substance she ever consumed. After a few minutes of heaving, she rested her head on her arms, exhaustion settling in, as she waited for the next wave she knew would be coming.

When the second wave hit, she didn’t even notice M’Baku behind her, holding her braids back for her. When she was done, she felt a damp rag wiping her forehead. She offered him a small smile and a feeble ‘thank you.’

“What happened, baby?” He whispered as he rubbed her back.

“I-I don’t know. Just one of those stomach bugs probably,” she waved his concerns away.

“Maybe we should go see a healer tomorrow, firecracker?”

Asha immediately shook her head. “No, no. I promise I’m fine.”

She pushed herself up and walked slowly over to their wooden counter. She discreetly leaned against it as she reached for her toothbrush. “Look, if I get sick again, I promise I will go see a doctor. But there is no need to fuss. I feel much better already.”

“Ok, one more incident and you are headed to the doctor, no complaints.”

“Yes sir. Now let me brush my teeth and then we can go back to bed. I’ll be there in a second.”

She watched M’Baku’s back retreat from her as he returned to their bedroom. She slumped forward, her head resting in her hand. Something was off, she knew that much.

***

“Are you sure you are ok?” M’Baku asked as Asha wrapped her arm in his as they strolled through the market. She rolled her eyes.

She appreciated M’baku’s protectiveness, truly. But sometimes it felt overbearing. Aside from that bout of sickness two days ago, Asha had felt fine. Still tired but fine. And yet, he has asked her how she was feeling every hour for the last 48 hours. But when she thought about the husband she almost had, she chose to be grateful for this quirk of his. It just meant he cared deeply and wanted her to know that. She would always appreciate that about him… the lengths he went to ensure she felt loved, cherished and protected every single day. He wanted her to be around as long as she possibly could be and wanted to protect her from anything that could stop that.

“When are you going to stop asking me if I am ok?“

“When you are back to my usual energetic, non-sleeping, sickness-free fire goddess,” he mused.

“I promise, it was just one night. Even goddesses get sick, my king,” she teased, as she waved at a few vendors as they passed by. “Seriously, I’m good.”

“If you say so,” he muttered, his usual response to her assurances, an indication that he didn’t really believe her.

They approached Asha’s favorite shop in the market, a dressmaker who was a true magician with fabric. Asha had dragged Nakia, Okoye, and Shuri here to see Adisa, firmly believing her dresses were better than 99 percent of the dressmakers in the Golden City.

“My king, my queen,” Adisa saluted them as they entered the shop.

“Asha!”

“Neema! It is Queen Asha, you know that. Be respectful,” her mother called as the little girl barreled toward her chief and chieftess.

Asha smiled as Adisa’s daughter came rushing up to her and rammed into her legs for a hug. She didn’t particularly care about the young girl, or anyone in the tribe, calling her by her title. She was still getting used to that part.

“Oof!” Asha exclaimed as she wrapped her small arms around her legs. “Have you gotten stronger since I was last here? I think you have found your next great warrior, M’Baku,” she mused, sharing a wink with her husband.

The young girl glanced up at M’Baku, her eyes big with wonder and excitement. “Reallyyyy?” Her baby voice asked. M’Baku swooped down and picked her up, the girl immediately resting her head on his shoulder.

“I agree! We need strong warriors like you. You will train hard, yes? I will be looking for you to join us in a few years,” he remarked, smiling at the young girl.

It always made Asha’s heart melt watching M’Baku interact with children throughout the tribe. They all adored him. He had such a way with them, gentle and loving.

He placed her feet back on the ground, offering her another big smile before she turned her attention back to Asha.

“Can you make the fire, Queen Asha, pleasseeeee?”

Asha smiled before taking a few steps back, to put a healthy distance between her and the young girl, and stretched out her hands. While she enjoyed free use of her powers in Jabariland, she honestly didn’t think much about them anymore or use them often, especially this time of year. They were a joy for everyone during the winter months, instant fire at her fingertips whenever they needed it. But in the summer, Asha’s gift wasn’t as necessary as others were. Only one year into living among the Jabari and she truly appreciated how the Chosen were seen as gifts and help to the tribe, each one stepping up to fill a need or a gap when necessary.

Asha concentrated as she stretched her hands out, several flames emerging before forming three small gorillas. She and Neema watched as the gorillas ran around in her palms, the young girl getting close enough to watch but keeping a safe distance to ensure she didn’t get hurt.

She giggled and clapped her hands at the show, before Asha closed her palms, causing the fire to die out.

“What do you say?” Her mother prompted as she carried several large garment bags out of the back of the shop.

“Thank you!”

She gave Asha another hug before running to the back room. As she straightened back up, Asha swayed slightly for a second, unexpected dizziness washing over her. She took a deep breath, ignoring it briefly.

“Thank you for always entertaining her. She just loves that.”

M’Baku took the long garment bags out of her hands, trading them for a stack of Wakandan dollars.

Asha waved her hand, “It is nothing. She is a dream, so sweet. And thank you for the new pieces. So happy I have something for King T’Challa’s birthday this weekend.”

“I hope you like them! Will I see you again next week? I will have some new things for you to try?”

Asha nodded, “Of course!”

She and M’Baku said their goodbyes before heading back into the market toward their carriage. She leaned against M’Baku, using him to help her walk as the dizzy feeling grew. She wanted to ask him to stop but didn’t want to send him into a frenzy in the middle of the crowded market. But after a few more paces, she realized she couldn’t take it any longer.

“My love, can we s-slow down for one second?” She asked, her feet coming to a halt.

“Of course. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing, I just felt dizzy all of a sudden. I am sure it is nothing.”

His hands went to her waist as he examined her. After a few minutes of deep breathes, Asha finally opened her eyes to see the extreme concern in his.

“Better?”

She nodded, “Much. Thanks.”

“Good. And we will have no more of this. I am calling a healer as soon as we get home.”

“M’Baku…” Asha whined. “Please, don’t make a big deal out of this. I just needed a minute.”

“And I need for you to be ok, really ok. And you aren’t. Lying about that for my benefit isn’t helping either of us. Even if it is something small, I would rather know about it so we can deal with it. Understand?” He kissed her forehead gently.

Asha nodded, accepting that this was not a battle she could win. “Understood.”

***

Asha paced up and down their bedroom as she waited for M’Baku to come home from his office. He had demanded she take the day off and rest, rearranging her entire day for her and arranging for his private healer to come check in on her.

The healer had left over an hour ago, leaving behind a diagnosis Asha hadn’t never thought to consider.

She was pregnant.

She almost fainted when he told her. She even asked him to check again to be sure.

Asha couldn’t believe it. She couldn’t tell whether to be excited or terrified. Asha had always wanted children but convinced herself for years that she would never have them. And then M’Baku came along and changed all of that. He made her impossible dreams feel possible again. And they both wanted children, him an army of them. But not this soon, they had barely been married.

She worried they were moving too fast. After all, they had dated, gotten engaged and gotten married all in less than a year. Asha regretted none of it, even if the move to Jabariland came with a steep learning curve. She had figured it out and she had never been happier. However, children were not something you rushed, they were something you planned for. And they hadn’t done any real planning yet.

Part of her worried how M’Baku would react, but only for a second. Regardless of the timing, he would be ecstatic, beside himself.

She had spent the last hour pacing their quarters, wondering how to tell him. However, she wouldn’t have to wait much longer as she looked up to find him walking into their quarters.

“My love, you are supposed to be in bed,” he chastised lightly, kissing her on the forehead. “What’s wrong?” He asked immediately as he took in the stressed look on her face. “What did the doctor say?”

Asha stared at his chest. She knew there was a better way to tell him this, something cute and romantic. But she was freaking out and needed him… his strength, his steadfastness, his wisdom. He would forgive the lack of fanfare in the announcement.

“Nothing bad. I’m ok… I-I’m just pregnant.”

She stole a glance at his face, finding a smile slowly growing there like a blooming flower.

“What?” He asked for clarification.

“I am pregnant.”

“Ah!” Asha let out a light scream and laugh as she was suddenly swept off her feet. M’Baku captured her lips as he spun her around. She giggled lightly.

“Are you happy?” She asked.

“You have made me the happiest man in the world, Asha. I love you more than anything.” He kissed her deeply.

He clapped his hands and laughed as they broke apart, immediately launching into a speech.

“We have to celebrate! In the Golden City this weekend! Oh and we have to tell our families. AND the Council. They will be ecstatic at this news… an heir. Wow. Oh he or she will be the greatest leader the Jabari has ever seen.” Asha watched as he paced and talked, his excitement flowing out of him like the rivers cut the mountains. “I will carve them a knobkerrie and I s-should start on the crib now. Do you th-“ he stopped as he looked over at his wife, his words dying at the sad smile on her face.

“What’s wrong, usana?” He asked, immediately coming up to her and rubbing her bare arms. As he looked at her, he could see the signs of her anxiety and fear, the unshed tears she was desperately trying to hold back glistening vin her eyes. “Are you not happy?”

She shook her head immediately, “No, no. I am happy. Of course, I’m happy,” she emphasized looking up at him. “I ju-“ she shook her head again, hesitant at sharing her fears with him… fears she knew he wouldn’t share. “N-nothing, it’s nothing. I am happy, really.”

“Stop. No, do not do that. Something is bothering you. Tell me.”

Asha looked away from him, her fears growing as she struggled to voice her anxieties to her husband. This was the part of marriage she still struggled with, being vulnerable and letting him in.

“Hey, look at me, baby.” His hand gently guided her chin so her eyes were back on him. “Whatever you have, whatever you are feeling… the good, the bad, all the complicated feelings in between, I want to hear them. I want all of you, always, Asha. Please, tell me what is troubling you.”

“Do you think I would be a good mother?” She whispered.

M’Baku tilted his head in confusion. Of all the things he expected her to say, this was not it. “Of course. Why would you ask such a thing?”

Asha sighed, a tear falling down her cheek. “Y-You know how my parents were. I mean, I basically died a-and my mother didn’t even check on me. She never protected me o-or loved me. The moment she could rid me from her life, she did. I probably don’t have a mothering bone i-in my body. I don’t know how to do this a-and I thought we would have more time for me to figure it out. A-and I am terrified… terrified I will disappoint them a-and you.”

M’Baku settled next to her, a comforting hand rubbing her back. “You are nothing like your parents, Asha. What’s that American saying, ‘the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree?’ Well, you and your siblings seemed to have fallen in a different field.” His heart lifted at the little smile at graced her face at his joke. It shattered him to hear how little she thought of herself, how her parents’ actions still haunted her. He understood, saw it every time they were in the Golden City.

She had begun healing from her relationship with her father since she spoke with him in the Ancestral Plane… she had closure at least. But her mother… that was a minefield he, T’Challa, and Shuri tried to avoid, at Asha’s insistence. They maintained pleasantries at official events and in front of the Council, for the sake of optics. But other than that, M’Baku couldn’t think of the last time she and her mother had uttered two words directly to each other or been in the same room without T’Challa and Shuri. However, that didn’t stop the snide remarks sent her way from her mother.

Asha pretended it didn’t bother her to be ignored, disrespected by her mother continuously. But M’Baku saw it, the way her heart fell - even just for a second - every single time. He remembered her coronation 6 months ago, two days after their wedding. He still remembered her face when the rest of her family and friends descended from the Talon but her Ramonda didn’t. T’Challa’s sorry attempt to find an excuse for her couldn’t hide what they all knew: the Queen Mother simply didn’t care to attend. It crushed her, he knew, to never be accepted by her. He cursed himself for never thinking about how that might affect her feelings about parenting their own children.

He wrapped his arm around her, her body immediately nestling into his. “I have seen the way you are with our nieces and nephews, the other children here. They all love you, Asha. You are nurturing and kind, gentle. But most importantly, you affirm them always, you uplift them and do everything in your power to ensure they know how valuable and important they are. You are already leagues and bounds ahead of your mother. I have no doubt in your mothering abilities because you are a mother to everyone in this tribe who needs you. I have no doubt you will be the same for our child,” his hand rubbed her stomach through her thick knit sweater.

“You think so?” She asked quietly, wiping her tears.

He kissed the side of her head, “I know so. And I also know there is no shame in fear, usana. Fear is the consequence that comes with growing and stretching ourselves as people. Parenting is hard, it will be the hardest thing we ever do. And I am scared too,” he nodded, nonverbally reiterating his statement at her skeptical eyebrow raise. “I am. But I will lean on Hanuman and I will lean on you, as I always do when I am scared. And I hope you will do for me. We can do this, Asha. You can do this.”

Asha nodded, smiling at him, “You are amazing. How did I get so lucky?” Her lips connected with his cheek, his coarse beard tickling her lips.

“I ask Hanuman the same thing everyday about you,” he whispered back, kissing her forehead. “Come on firecracker,” he laughed as he watched her try to hide a yawn. “My Queen deserves all the rest and relaxation.”

He helped her strip down to her undies before giving her one of his sweaters to sleep in and helped her into bed. Before she settled fully, she waved her hand to extinguish the fire across the room, her body heat being enough for both of them. Once she was settled, he joined her as she draped her body over his bare chest.

“This will be good, Asha. We will be great parents,” he said as they laid in the darkness.

Asha smiled, the first genuine one since she found out the news.

“I think we will too.”

***

Tag List: @destinio1 @muse-of-mbaku @jellybean531 @skysynclair19@ashanti-notthesinger @gloriousgam3r @archivistofwakanda@leahnicole1219 @mygirlrenee @dramaqueeenamby

[1heartfanfics]

could u do another spencer reid sickfic? i loved the one you just did! something like spencer comes to work with a fever and it gets worse as the case goes on. love your writing!

“Reid, how’s the geographical profile going?” Hotch asked, snapping Reid out of his thoughts.

“Oh, uh, I’m still, um, working on it,” Spencer stammered, caught off guard. He was having trouble focusing, drifting away and spacing off instead of working on the profile like he needed to be doing.

“Okay, well keep me updated. And try to remember that we’re on the clock here,” Hotch said, giving Spencer a look. Reid couldn’t tell if it was a ‘stop screwing around and get this done’ look, or a ‘I know that something’s up with you and we’ll talk about it later’ look. 

“Yes sir,” he nodded, turning back to the map on his board. 

To be honest, there was something going on with him. He didn’t want to bother anyone, especially while they were working on a case. A time sensitive case. But he really didn’t feel very good. He was cold, shivering in his jacket, even though it was pretty warm out, and damp with sweat despite the chill. His head felt fuzzy, and he was dizzy too, making it incredibly difficult to concentrate. 

It didn’t take a genius to figure out that he was sick. 

“How can I help?” Morgan asked from behind Reid, startling him from again.

“What?” Reid spun around, reaching out to steady himself on the back of the nearest chair as the motion made his vision spin. “I thought you’d be going with Emily to talk to the witness,” he continued after he’d gotten himself steadied, ignoring the pointed look that Derek was giving him.

“Nah, Hotch thought you might need some help with this,” he said.

“Well, I don’t, I’m fine Morgan,” Reid shook his head, scrubbing a hand down over his face. He had to focus.

“I didn’t ask you if you were alright,” Morgan said. 

Reid rolled his eyes, ignoring him and turning slowly back to the board to avoid the vertigo he’d given himself last time. He picked up a marker and began connecting some of the dots, trying to fit the crime scenes into a pattern. 

“Are you? Alright?” Morgan asked, standing beside Reid now. 

“Just like a headache or something,” Reid mumbled, knowing that Morgan wouldn’t ever let it go unless he gave him some explanation. It wasn’t a lie either, he did have a headache. 

Before he even realized what was happening though, Derek had reached out a hand to press against Reid’s forehead. By the time he tried to swat his hand away it was already too late, protective sympathy had washed over Morgans face. He was looking at Reid with that worried big brother look.

“You’ve got a fever kid,” he said.

“Yeah I know,” Reid answered. It didn’t take a genius...

“You should go back to the hotel, get some rest, maybe take some ibuprofen. I bet JJ’s got some,” he said.

“We’re in the middle of a case, I can’t just go back to the hotel. We’ve only got like 6 more hours to find this girl. I’m not leaving,” Reid said, as firmly as he could manage. 

Derek sighed, although he knew that any of the rest of them would’ve said the exact same thing. He’d just always felt so protective of Reid, he hated to see him run himself into the ground like this. 

“Fine. But you still have to take some medicine. And you have to let me stay here and keep an eye on you,” Morgan said after a moment of silence. 

“Fine,” Reid agreed, turning back to the board. He was starting to feel weak on his feet, as if his legs wouldn’t be able to support him for much longer. This was going to be a rough 6 hours. 

Morgan walked out of the conference room, coming back a minute later with J.J. in tow. Reid bit back a sigh, he hadn’t wanted J.J. to know. She’d just worry even more than Derek was going to. He may as well have just told the whole team at this point.

“Hey Spence, Derek said you’re not feeling good,” she said softly, placing a hand on his shoulder. 

Spencer closed his eyes for a second. The sound of her voice a lone was just comforting enough to make him want to listen to Morgan, go back to the hotel and lay down. But he had to power through for that missing girl. 

“Yeah,” he said quietly, shrugging as he stared down at the floor. 

“Well come sit for a minute, let’s get you taken care of,” she said, grabbing him by the elbow and leading him over to the table. She gently pushed him down into an empty chair, then began rummaging around in her purse. 

“I’m staying to finish the case,” he said, knowing she was thinking the same thing as Morgan.

“I know. But you’ve got to let us take care of you first. You don’t want to end up even more sick,” she said. 

“Okay,” Reid nodded. He glanced over at Morgan, who was standing in the doorway, leaning up against the wall. 

“Alright, here we go,” J.J. handed him a bottle of water and a couple of small red pills. He took the medicine, then a few more sips of water. He wasn’t stupid, he knew that he needed to stay hydrated, especially if he wanted to fight this headache off from turning into a migraine, as his so often did when he was ill. 

J.J. pressed the back of her hand to his cheek, feeling for fever similar to what Morgan had done earlier. Her cold hands had felt good against his burning skin, making Reid lean into her touch, his eyes slipping closed. She frowned, moving her hand to his forehead before pulling back. 

“That’s quite the fever you’ve got there Spence,” she said, “Are you sure you want to stay? We could handle one case without you, Morgan or I could work on the geographical profile and one of us could drive you back to the hotel.”

“I’ll be fine,” he said, before realizing his eyes were still closed. He forced them open, even though the room was too bright. 

“Just promise you’ll tell one of us if you’re not,” Derek piped up from the doorway.

“Yeah, I will,” Spencer agreed, although he knew he wouldn’t give in to the illness until this was done.

“Okay,” J.J. sighed, “Make sure you drink a lot of water and try to sit down whenever you can,” she instructed.

“And take a break here and there if you need one, alright kid?” Morgan added.

“Alright,” he agreed. He had to admit, that standing sounded like a tall order at this point. So he just scooted the chair over to the board, picking up his marker and going back to analyzing the map. 

“So stubborn,” Morgan muttered to J.J. as she headed back out to man the tip line.

“You know that you’d be just as bad if you were sick,” J.J. laughed.

Morgan chuckled, rolling his eyes at her even though he knew she was right. Then he headed over to stand next to Reid, picking up one of the other markers that was sitting on the table.

“Alright, how do I help?”

[punkscowardschampions]

Ali & Carly

Ali: [Weds night before her bday] Ali: woman you home Carly: not mine y? Ali: because ITS YOUR BIRTHDAY Ali: and I need to come bearing gifts Carly: now? k then Carly: ill get there before u Ali: you @ one of the lads then? Ali: no rush 'cept I do wanna be the first so like b4 midnight cinders 🎃👠 Carly: i werent born @ 12 tho & u kno that from doing my chart 🔮🌟 Carly: but ur so cute Ali: tru but Ali: i'm excited Ali: can't start the party without guest of honour 7 Carly: aw Carly: i wont take these 15 💊s yet 👼 Carly: we can party together Ali: 🎁? Carly: idk can u call it a 🎁 if u have to give back Ali: Boo 👎 Carly: not what he said when we were done Ali: 🙄 still Ali: not very festive of him Carly: idc its been fun Carly: coulda stayed in w ma & da but its not a retirement party in the works like Ali: for now Ali: but I got better plans than either Carly: yea? Ali: 'course Ali: who am I Ali: who are we Carly: 🐅💙🐇 Carly: i barely knew u on my last bday 😢💔 Ali: it's insane Ali: you're so important and integral to me how did we not get together before then Ali: I'm not the only one with plans tho 🌌💕 Carly: too many lads to swap first ha Carly: i kno my ma has been planning all wk but idk cuz shes learned to be subtle somehow Carly: must b her new man teaching her things Ali: Eskimo sisters for life, baby 😂 Ali: 👀 come thru shaz Ali: sounds promising Carly: 🤞🌌🔮 Ali: not her new man, obvs Carly: hes no cavante tho still only a few yrs older Ali: if I beat you I'll hit her up for the scoop Carly: 🍀 Ali: 😬 Ali: I guess we've got her answer for the age old experience vs stamina Carly: could b where i left her wine drunk in the hot tub still Carly: falls asleep there more than the marital bed Carly: mermaid energy ha Ali: not wine drunk Ali: worse energy than coke rage, I swear Ali: watch out cat lady, protect your children Carly: aw ill look after them Ali: 👼 Ali: I'll take any bday bumps for you 💪 Carly: never liked coke or wine soz ma if thats my 🎁 Carly: still my hero 💙 Ali: those people are the worst Ali: lemme buy something for me and give it to you Ali: no sharon THAT IS NOT 👏 IN 👏 THE 👏 SPIRIT 👏 OKAY 👏 Carly: my gma does that every yr! xmas too Carly: so boring unwrapping that bible each time Carly: good rolling paper tho Ali: 😂 Ali: the lord is in you, it's what she wanted Ali: just in your lungs but you know Carly: ha Carly: what r u bringing me boo? Ali: don't you want the surprise babe Carly: idk last time u really surprised me it was w a divorce so u could get ur man Ali: 😥 Carly: 😂 jk u kno i love surprises Ali: just devastated you're calling me predictable for the last, how many months Ali: cut me deep, birthday girl Carly: i dont surprise easy Carly: y the lads like me Carly: dont b sad baby Ali: never Ali: not when there's partying to be done Carly: yay Ali: and a 👸 to celebrate Carly: ur sweet 🍬🍭 Carly: i dont look like a princess rn Carly: no running away Ali: you always do Ali: even when you running from ogres Carly: ur gonna make me look worse when im crying too Ali: meant to save them for the party Ali: but I'll never tell Carly: ha its been a few yrs since a bday tantrum Carly: really had to wait for that bike tho Ali: and #werk baby Ali: you were as adorable then, how your parents didn't spoil you is a mystery to me Carly: ask them if u do get here before me Carly: but before i was medicated i wasnt as 👼 could b the answer Ali: lecture 'em on how wrong they were, more like Carly: ur a bias little 🐱💙 Carly: & u didnt kno me then even if u do remember i grew into my 👂s Ali: 😂 Ali: well I never grew into my 👁s and my 'tudes no better either and you still love me so Ali: deal with it, Walsh 😜 Carly: aw u were the cutest 👶 Carly: & u get cuter every yr Ali: hey, don't spoil my heartfelt message in your card! Ali: 😏 Carly: im sorry Carly: ill have 1 for the road & forget Ali: I think one of the boys just catcalled me without offering to give me a ride in their white van/carriage Ali: see me struggling here lads, is that part of the appeal? probs Carly: which y? ill threaten to uninvite him from the party Carly: 1* Ali: not the kinda bitch to resort to racism 'cos I'm mildly upset or angered but they really be looking the same behind the wheel of a transit, like Ali: think it was one of Ronan's brothers? Ali: and in fairness, never slept with you so whaddya owe me, kind sir Carly: ha Carly: if he could see & be seen @ the wheel then i reckon i kno Carly: & i have slept w him so he will b 💔😢 if he cant celebrate w me Ali: my hero 💚 Carly: 💙 Carly: been thru every1 old enough in that fam now ha Carly: gonna have to move like Ali: I wish I could tell you the surprise was a hot new fam Ali: alas Ali: wouldn't fit them on my back, like Carly: 😢💔 Ali: I've let you down Ali: how could I Ali: gonna eat my feelings 🎂 Carly: 🍯🐝 no Carly: never Ali: what's the dresscode for this shindig then Carly: idk not allowed to go w bday suits Carly: my da overruled me Ali: gotta whittle down my knock you dead options Ali: even with those stifling guidelines, tah Mr Walsh, I should manage it Carly: i believe in u baby Ali: 👼👼👼 Carly: im back btw Carly: used my wings mayb Ali: damn Ali: was really hopinh for some 1x1 with your ma Carly: she will scoot over in bed for u Carly: not just me who misses u Ali: awh Ali: can we convince her to give you your present early or nah Ali: I say yeah Carly: me too so 2 votes Carly: my da will b asleep too deep to cast his even if she says no weve outnumbered her Ali: 💪 Ali: I'll put the phone down and run Ali: gimme 5 Carly: k Carly: be careful tho Carly: some of the 💡 r out Ali: 👌 Ali: my middle name Carly: fun is ur middle name Carly: how many do u have? Ali: as many as you want Ali: 😉 Ali: but just the one, actually Carly: hot Carly: u can have 1 of mine then wed both have 2 each Ali: are you actually 👑 Carly: my ma wishes Carly: queen of the site tho Carly: ha Ali: I've not bought her a crown Ali: not soz Carly: its k shes got her prom tiara somewhere Ali: memories 🎶 Carly: am i gonna peak before 18 too? Ali: never Ali: only way is 📈 baby Carly: u make me feel really happy u kno Ali: ☀🌻🍓🍯🐝🐰 Ali: it's mutual boo Carly: im crying Carly: & smiling Carly: its the 💊s ma Ali: it's the 💘 Ali: she gets it Carly: aw Carly: yea shes really 💘 w the lad from the chemist Carly: knocking our 💙 off the top Ali: can't be having that Ali: got all weekend to prove we're 🥇 Carly: til ur bf shows up Ali: nuuh Ali: it's all about you Carly: ur so nice to me Ali: you'll see feel and believe it ✨ Carly: 🔮🌌 Carly: r u gonna stay? Ali: can I? Carly: yea Ali: then yeah Carly: aw ur my 🎁 Ali: I haven't copped out that hard, don't worry Ali: come help me Ali: not very gentlemanly of me but I wanna be with you before we've gotta hear about the prom queen's glory days Carly: k Carly: 💪💙

[imjustthemechanic]

The Stone Knight

Part 1/? - Two Statues Part 2/? - A Curious Interview Part 3/? - John Doe Part 4/? - Escape Attempt Part 5/? - Making the News Part 6/? - Fallout Part 7/? - More Impossible Part 8/? - The Shield Thieves Part 9/? - Reality Sinks In Part 10/? - Preparing a Quest Part 11/? - The Marvelous History of Sir Stephen Part 12/? - Uninvited Guests Part 13/? - So That’s What It Does Part 14/? - The What and the Where Part 15/? - Gearing Up Part 16/? - Just Passing Through Part 17/? - Dinner with Druids Part 18/? - Kracness Henge Part 19/? - A Task Interrupted Part 20/? - The Red Death Part 21/? - Aphelion Part 22/? - The Stone Giants Part 23/? - Nat the Giant Killer

I don’t think I need to elaborate on the chapter title.

           As the alarm rang, people came running out of buildings all around, some of them carrying firefighting equipment, to react to the emergency – then stopped and looked around in puzzlement when they couldn’t see anything on fire.  There were no golems visible, either, and for what felt like several minutes, though it was probably only a few seconds, people just milled around, confused and asking each other hushed questions.

           Then there was a tremendous groan and crash, and one of the big holding tanks at the east end of the complex collapsed.  From where Natasha was standing it was only possible to see that it had fallen, not why or whether there’d been anything in it, and she was able to hope for a split second that it had been empty. Unfortunately, it had not, and the thousands of gallons of refined oil spilling out of it didn’t take long to find a spark.  It went up with a woosh, pouring black smoke into the air.

           A moment later, the party responsible appeared. There were three golems, and the collapsed tank had coated them all in burning oil, meaning they weren’t just inhuman lumbering figures three times the size of a man – they were also on fire in the late evening dark as they stumped up the road between the buildings looking for humans to crush. No wonder most of the employees simply turned and fled, running indoors to hide or down to the docks in the hopes of escape.

           Natasha did not move.  Her training had taught her that the moments when she most wanted to panic were the times she most needed to stay calm and think.  How did you fight something like this?  The stones had stood on that headland for millennia, all but indestructible.  Sir Stephen seemed to have some theoretical knowledge of magic, but if he’d known how to counter this surely he wouldn’t have been trying to defend himself with a sword and shield.  Or would he? Maybe he just hadn’t had the time or materials to break the spell.  It didn’t matter anyway, because he was lying half-conscious in the infirmary.  His healing might be quick but it took place over hours, not minutes.  Sir Stephen could not help.

           “Natalie!”  Rushman, still cowering in the back of the jeep, reached out the window to tug on her jacket.  “We have to run!  Natalie!”

           “Let go of me!” she snapped, jerking away. Nat had no time for this man or his cowardice right now.  She had to save not only his life but that of every other person on this island, if she could only figure out how. Maybe the refinery would have some explosives… maybe somewhere on the island there was some leftover ordinance from the abandoned military base…

           Then she had an inspiration – and its source, oddly enough, was not training or weaponry.  It was archaeology.

           The prehistoric people of the Orkneys had merely found slabs of stone broken along their natural grain and set them upright, but there were other stone circles in the British Isles whose creators had gone to a little more trouble.  Stonehenge, for example, was made not of shards but of tidy blocks, which had to be quarried.  Before they’d had steel tools to cut through the rock, the ancient Britons had used heat. They would build a fire against a piece of stone to heat it up, and then splash cold water on it, forcing it to contract and split.  The golems were already on fire.  She needed water.

           Sharon had gone to take shelter in the infirmary building.  She was yelling and gesturing for Rushman and Natasha to join her.  Rushman was still in the jeep, as if it could somehow protect him.  Nat climbed into the driver’s seat.

           “I think there’s a boat waiting,” Rushman said, putting his seat belt on.  “Everybody’s gone down that way.  I think there’s a boat.”

           “Shut up,” said Natasha, starting the engine. Anywhere else on earth, she would be able to get water from a fire hose, but they wouldn’t have those here because water was no good for putting out the kind of fires an oil refinery worried about. She would have to look elsewhere. She made a sharp u-turn, and drove towards the golems.

           “The other way!  The other way!” said Rushman, hanging on to the back of the seat in front of him as if for dear life.

           Nat ignored him.  She headed for the nearest golem and stopped about twenty feet shy of it. It stepped towards her, and she drove off again, slowly enough this time that it could follow her.  Sir Stephen had said these were like machines, only following their programming.  In this case they seemed to be programmed to go after the nearest humans.  Hopefully they weren’t smart enough to realize that the human wanted to be followed.

           A second golem joined in the chase.  On the edge of the facility there was another woosh as another tank collapsed and the oil it spilled met the burning residue of the first.  With flaming golems plodding along behind her, she turned onto the ring road, and from there she spotted what she needed – a big onion-shaped tank with the Roxxon logo painted on it, held up on a high tower and lit from below by two floodlights.  She accelerated towards it.

           “Get out,” she told Rushman.

           “What?” he asked.

           “Get out of the car,” she clarified.

           “We’re still moving!” he protested.  “I’ll get hurt!”

           “Either jump out and get hurt or stay in and get killed, it’s up to you!” said Nat.

           He took a deep breath, opened the door, and more fell than jumped, landing in a heap and rolling away to land in the roadside ditch.  Nat revved the jeep up as fast as she could, then kicked the door open and somersaulted out while the jeep kept going.

           She didn’t dare look back.  She just grabbed Rushman and forced him ahead of her up a metal ladder that led to an overhead inspection platform.  They had climbed only a few rungs before the jeep impacted with the base of the water tower.

           The structure creaked, then toppled over. The tank at the top ruptured under the stress, and gallons upon gallons of cold water poured came pouring out.  There were three golems in the immediate area, and none of them made any effort to avoid it – indeed, their attention was focused either on Nat and Rushman or on other humans, and they didn’t appear to be aware of it at all.  The water splashed over them, vaporizing in clouds of white steam that mixed with the black smoke of the burning oil – and with a series of rather musical ping sounds, the stone shattered.  Flakes and fragments crumbled to the ground, some still glowing dull red from the heat of the fire, followed by larger slabs.  They rolled and bounced to a stop, and while some of them seemed to twitch a couple of times it was apparently an illusion. The stones lay still, all animation extinguished with the flames.

           Natasha had been worried that the water would carry a skin of burning oil, but it seemed that the ground in this area sloped in the wrong direction for that.  She began to climb down, then realized Rushman hadn’t moved.

           “Come down,” she told him.  “There’s still more of those things.”

           He whimpered, but didn’t move.

           “Fine, just stay there.  They can reach you,” Nat told him.  She didn’t care – he hadn’t lifted a finger to save her from the Red Death’s henchmen, why should she save him from the golems?

           That scared him into motion and he began to climb down, although he was shaking so badly that he nearly slipped and fell on top of her.  Nat set off across the muddy, boulder-strewn ground as if she fully intended to leave him behind, and he jogged, panting, after her.  There were three golems down, but more were already arriving at the complex.

           People had stopped running away now, though. Natasha’s stunt had gotten attention, and the refinery employees had realized the monsters were vulnerable to heat and cold.  Blowtorches and buckets of burning kitchen grease came out to set them on fire, and dry ice fire extinguishers to put them out again.  The coup de gras was administered when the boat anchored at the refinery docks, a ferry to take workers to and from the island, pulled out its own firefighting apparatus: a hose that pumped water directly out of the icy North Sea.

           Within ten or fifteen minutes, it was all over. Half of the refinery complex was a smoking wreck, and parts of the eastern end were still on fire, but the golems had been destroyed and people were fighting the flames and evacuating the buildings in a far more orderly fashion.

           The single ferry at the docks couldn’t take everybody away, so priority was given to the ill, the injured, and those who had families in the south end village that they wanted to take with them.  With all this going on, nobody seemed too interested in the group of fugitives who’d been brought in with the golems behind them. With Rushman stumbling along behind her, Natasha headed back to the infirmary to find the others.

           It was a very busy place.  Workers who’d already been too ill or injured to move were being put on stretchers to head down to the ferry, while those who’d been hurt or burned in the golem fight were getting first aid, with the promise of more thorough care on the boat.  Seeing all the injuries made Natasha remember Sir Stephen’s words – you cannot mean to lead the beasts to more men and women! – but she shrugged off her guilt as best she could by telling herself that it wouldn’t have mattered.  The golems had been programmed to kill people.  If her companions had escaped the island, or if they’d been killed, the golems would have simply moved on to the next available target and that was the refinery.

           Right?

           She eventually found Sharon, Sam, and Sir Stephen in a little curtained-off area.  Sir Stephen was lying on a cot and Sharon was holding his hand, while Sam finished splinting his bruised and lacerated legs.  There was an awful lot of blood on the sheets, and Sir Stephen’s eyes were closed now, as if he were unconscious or sleeping.  That immediately worried Nat.  Sir Stephen’s stories had suggested he remained awake no matter how much pain he was in.  Could it be the golem had actually finished him.

           Sam gave her a reassuring smile.  “I told them not to mess with him,” he said.  “He’s getting better already – I just had them give him some morphine so he won’t suffer quite so much.”

           Nat nodded, relieved.

           “All right everybody!” called a voice outside in the hall.  “Captain Ibrahim says we’ve got room for a few more!  There’ll be another boat coming for the rest of you in a few hours. For now it’s just the sick, the injured, and children!”

           The curtain opened, and a nurse looked in.  “Are you sure you don’t want to send this guy back to the mainland?” she asked, eyeing Sir Stephen uncertainly.

           “No,” said Sam firmly.  “He can’t be moved just yet.  I’m his doctor, I’ll look after him.”  

           Nat looked at Rushman, who had sat down in a chair in the corner and was now just staring at infinity, as if he still couldn’t quite take in everything that had happened that day.  She went and put a hand on his shoulder.  “Take this guy,” she told the nurse.  “He’s not well.”  She didn’t know about the man in the jeep from earlier, but Rushman was definitely in shock, light-headed and possibly dissociating.

           The nurse nodded and extended a hand to Rushman as Nat helped him up.  “Come with me, Sir,” she said gently.  “What’s your name?”

           “Huh?” he asked.

           “Your name,” the nurse prompted again.  She put an arm around his shoulders to escort him out.

           “Oh.  Allen. Allen Rushman,” he said.  “I wasn’t supposed to… that is… I don’t know what happened.  I just came up here to see my daughter.  I’m missing my car club meeting.”

           “It’s going to be fine,” the nurse assured him. “I’m sure your daughter will be delighted to see you.”

           Little did she know, Natasha thought.

           With Rushman gone, and Sam needed to look after Sir Stephen, that just left Natasha and Sharon to take care of one last important task. They needed to go back to the henge to retrieve the rest of their things – and to look for anything the Red Death’s men might have left behind.

           “Now that the map’s proved useless we have no idea what they might do next,” said Nat.  “I doubt they’re going to give up, so we need to figure it out.”

           “Does it have to be tonight?” asked Sharon, but she stood up and stretched all the same. “I should be used to this,” she said. “When you’re trying to solve a case you don’t get breaks.  Even when you’re sleeping, you’re still thinking about it.  I’ve come up with ideas in my dreams, and had to make myself wake up so I could write them down.”

           “Sam,” Nat agreed.  “It doesn’t sound very different from spying, actually.  Maybe I should have been a detective instead of an archaeologist.”

           They found a couple of utility flashlights in a closet, and headed for the infirmary entrance.  “Why archaeology, of all things?” Sharon asked.

           “Because when I was a kid I liked Indiana Jones movies,” Natasha replied, smiling.

           Sharon smiled back.  “Is it everything you hoped for?” she asked.

           “It’s getting there,” said Nat.

[scarwasright]

Fullmetal Alchemist (2003) Special Edition guidebook transcript, including Ed’s decoded notes

What it says on the label. The Blu-Ray special edition of FMA 03 came with a ton of cool shit, including a hardcover artbook with the character profiles originally from the DVD booklets as well as some other, “handwritten” notes from Edward. Since I know not a lot of fans got their hands on this set, I promised a WHILE ago that I would transcribe it! Someday I’ll have scans, but I don’t have access to a scanner atm.

I’ll be listing the character notes by 3 categories: Profile Text, Edward’s Notes, and Edward’s Coded Notes.

Profile Text- the brief character blurbs that were already published in the DVD guidebooks that came out in Funimation’s original localization. Most recurring characters got one.

Edward’s Notes- The book’s title page indicates that it was issued by the Amestrian State Military, and that it belongs to Ed. Little handwritten notes, presumably from Ed, are scattered throughout the character profiles. Some are silly, some are... very not silly.

Edward’s Coded Notes- Some of Ed’s notes are written in a very simple code that replaces the English characters with symbols. It’s straightforward enough that I was able to break it in about an hour - I posted a key over here.

Not included in this text are the image captions associated with the characters’ model drawings, since they don’t make any sense without context. Stuff like “Al age 7, Ed age 8.” There are also many artist notes in Japanese, and I am anything but a Japanese speaker, so no luck there.

Fair warning, there are Royed, Royai, and if you squint, Edvy jokes in the coded text. I’m just writing what’s in the book.

Full transcript behind the cut!

THE TITLE PAGE indicates that the book is military-issued, and Edward has signed his full name on it. The following page is printed with a torn page from a smaller, obviously older book. In ornate letters, it reads the verse that was written in part in the Transmutation Circle the boys tried to use to bring back Trisha:

Pale and black with false citrine, imperfect white and red, The Peacock's feathers in gay colours, the rainbow which shall go over, The spotted panther, the lion green, the Crows bill blue as lead. These shall appear before you perfect white, and many more others. And after the perfect white, grey, false citrine also, And after these, there shall appear the red body invariable, Then you have a medicine of the third order of his own kind multipliable. 

Edward’s Coded Notes: Written into the margins of the “original” military book, “Sir George Ripley,” with an arrow pointing to the pressed page. Along the side margin, he’s written “thhe* recapitulation of thhe* twelve gates.”

Explanation: Sir George Ripley is a famous British alchemist whose verse appears on this page. The full transcript of the poem Edward pasted in his book can be found here! It is also, notably, the incantation recited by Eckhart in Conqueror of Shamballa when she sought to open the Gate using Envy.

       *Two people seem to have worked on the coded notes, one on the title and transmutation circle pages and the other on the character pages. The handwriting is a bit different, and the title+circle pages are noticeably sloppier than the character pages as far as adhering to the cipher goes. The symbol used for TH in the character pages is used only for a T which is followed by an H on the title pages. In the character pages the standalone H character is absent when the TH character is used, so the inconsistency makes for an obviously unintentional duplicate on the title page.

Edward’s Notes: There are twelve tally marks in the margin of this page, as well as some scribbled equations that are difficult to make out. Ed has awful handwriting.

EDWARD ELRIC

Profile Text: Edward Elric is the Fullmetal Alchemist. He is a prodigy, becoming the youngest State Alchemist in the Army’s history. Edward stunned his superiors by using alchemy without an array, a miraculous feat never witnessed before. Ed despises being a “dog of the military,” but it grants him the opportunity to seek out the legendary Philosopher’s Stone, a crimson crystal rumored to increase the power of the alchemist who uses it.

Edward seeks the stone so that he may restore his missing limbs, and more importantly reunite his younger brother Alphonse’s body with his soul, which was tragically trapped in a suit of armor after a failed attempt through alchemy to revive the dead Trisha Elric, the boys’ mother. Edward realizes he has a gift, a gift that most State Alchemists could only dream of having. But he knows that with that gift he becomes a high profile target.

As Edward reluctantly fights off a crazed assassin who vows revenge on all State Alchemists, Edward begins to unravel the clues that reveal not all is as it seems at the highest levels of the State Military. And, that there is a terrible secret behind the precious Philosopher’s Stone.

ALPHONSE ELRIC

Profile Text: Alphonse Elric was but an innocent young child when a tragic chain of events changed his life forever. First, his father mysteriously vanished while Al was too young to remember. Then, after battling terrible illness, Al’s mother succumbed to death. Finally, during a horrific accident performing forbidden alchemy, Al’s soul was sealed inside a suit of armor.

Undaunted and unashamed by all that has happened in his short life, Al carries on, eternally supporting his older brother, Edward, in his search for the Philosopher’s Stone, a legendary gem with the power to restore Al’s body and Edward’s lost limbs. Al knows that he and his brother’s actions were wrong. He only wishes for a chance to make things right.

Edward’s Notes: In smudged, barely-legible pencil, “Brother, don’t sell me short!” (thank u @gryphcat cross-referencing your own book to confirm that it does NOT say “Brother, don’t call me short!”)

Also notable is the circled “???” with an arrow pointing to that adorable picture of young Al enthusiastically ripping off his shirt.

Edward’s Coded Notes: FYI, there isn’t anything under the loincloth, [indecipherable*]!

       *I think the letters were flubbed a bit, here. The characters read “[y/i]n[u/v][f/p]er[u/v]s.” I get the feeling it was supposed to say “Impervious!” buuuut someone messed up.

HOHENHEIM ELRIC

Profile Text: Supposedly lost to the ages, Hohenheim Elric, the father of the brothers Elric was close at hand after all, lurking in the shadows of history as the momentum of the search for the Philosopher’s Stone reached fever pitch. Hohenheim reappears in Resembool allowing the final pieces of this mad puzzle to begin falling into place, as he bears the secrets of the Philosopher’s Stone in his weary heart... A heart beaten down by lost love, a heart full of loyalty to his boys*. Destiny has delivered Hohenheim to a crucial point, a spot in time when all that is good prepares to unravel. Perhaps he will be strong enough to move forward and rise above his shady pas, nad push his shoulder against the wheel of fate that threatens to crush all he ever cared for.

       *We watched two very different series, apparently

Edward’s Coded Notes: That bastard [arrow pointing to his portrait]

TRISHA ELRIC (who shares a page with Hohenheim)

Edward’s Coded Notes: Why did they both have to die?

ROY MUSTANG

Profile Text: Roy Mustang is the Flame Alchemist and a veteran of many brutal battles. He personally knew Edward and Alphonse’s father, which sparked his curiosity once he discovered that Hohenheim’s sons were dabbling in alchemical arts. Mustang is eager to climb the ladder of success and hopes that discovering the immense talent within Edward helps him ascend the ranks. Still, Mustang’s soldiers are the most loyal in all of the State Army, insinuating that there is more to this man than his thirst for power.

Edward’s Coded Notes: Roy Mustang is dead sexy in a miniskirt!* [T]ake that [y]ou smug [b]astard!** Why does he have to be so attractive

       *Most likely a reference to an old convention gag. Back when FMA was big enough that it had dedicated cast panels, fans would almost always ask Vic Mignogna to say this line.

       **The bracketed letters are cut off, but it’s fairly easy to assume what they are given the context.

RIZA HAWKEYE

Profile Text: Riza Hawkeye is quite possibly the most perfect model of a soldier in the State Army. Although Hawkeye is Roy Mustang’s subordinate, she is also his right hand woman, acting as an advisor and, based on the circumstance, devil’s advocate. Her no-nonsense attitude demands respect from everyone she meets, military and civilian alike. She is cool, calm, and collected, and exceptionally skilled in the use of firearms.

Edward’s Coded Notes: [bridging the gap between Roy and Riza’s facing pages, underlined with an arrow] Just get married already!

MAES HUGHES

Profile Text: Maes Hughes is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Investigations Division of the State Army. Hughes is obsessively in love with his wife Gracia, and only child Elicia, who from birth shares a strange connection with Ed and Al. Hughes is friendly and extremely casual, sometimes to a fault. He can quickly lapse back and forth between discussing State matters and going on and on about his family. As a high-ranking official in the Investigations Division, Hughes is privy to plenty of top-secret info, which he shares with Ed on the sly. When Hughes is nudged into physical combat, his weapons of choice are small throwing knives, which he wields with incredible and deadly accuracy.

Edward’s Notes: [slightly obscured by water damage] I’m sorry, I never meant for any of this to happen

ALEX LOUIS ARMSTRONG

Profile Text: Major Alex Louis Armstrong was given strict orders from Mustang to protect Ed. But, don’t let his civilian clothes fool you. With his strapping build and gutsy bravado, this Strong Arm Alchemist will give his life to ensure he completes his mission successfully. If on thing’s for certain, Armstrong will make sure that Ed’s within arm’s protection.

This straight and narrow man won’t even give Ed as much as a loss in an argument. He’d rather use his genteel decorum to kill improper manners with his heroic kindness. Even during their down time in Resembool, there’s not a moment to lose. Armstrong is committed to his life as a soldier, and knows daily training is essential - even if that means cutting firewood with his bare hands.

Edward’s Notes: [circled] Why are there so many sparkles?!!

JEAN HAVOC, HEYMANS BREDA, VATO FALMAN, KAIN FUERY

Profile Text: In a world where loyalties change with the tides, good subordinates are a premium. Roy Mustang has this luxury with Havoc, Breda, Falman, and Fuery. These four loyal officers will do anything their commander requests of them and do it well, to boot. However, these four couldn’t be more different. Havoc is the tragic playboy of the group, always wishing he had that special someone to share the rest of his days. Breda may be called a “dog of the military” from time to time, but Breda would rather stare down an entire army than get anywhere near a real dog. Falman is overly formal, causing some of his comrades to wish he would lighten up. Fuery is the soft-spoken technical wizard under Mustang’s command. He isn’t used to much hand-to-hand combat, but is handy enough in a pinch. As with all of Mustang’s men, these four would follow him until death.

DENNY BLOCH AND MARIA ROSS

Profile Text: Abrasive in demeanor, Lieutenant Maria Ross is always determined to do the right thing. Sometimes, she has trouble distinguishing between her actual duties and the chance to deliver a lecture. Sergeant Denny Bloch, along with Lieutenant Ross, was given the responsibility to keep the Fullmetal Alchemist under close supervision. Regardless, they fall behind when danger approaches.

Edward’s Coded Notes: Watch out for her slap!

IZUMI CURTIS

Profile Text: The stern Izumi Curtis is more than just an alchemy teacher to the Elric brothers. As the passionate matriarch of a two-person family, Ed and Al may be the closest thing she’ll ever have to children. Resurfacing after hearing rumors about her former pupils, it is quite possible Izumi may know more than she lets on about the true nature of alchemy and the sinister homunculi.

Edward’s Coded Notes: [circled] She always looks like a pissed off housewife!

SCIESZKA

Profile Text: Scieszka is the prototypical, scatterbrained librarian. With her impeccable retention of facts, the clues that others miss quickly slide into place for this unlikely hero. Hopefully, her pleas for justice will not fall on deaf ears.

Edward’s Notes: [circled, pointing to Scieszka’s distressed portrait] Did they run out of books?

ROSE

Profile Text: The once vibrant Rose has wilted due to a hard life of tragedy and turmoil. After suffering the harshest of injustices at the hands of the State Military, Rose finds herself a mute and a mother... The mother of an infant, and the mother of a movement. Now the spiritual leader of the Liore revolutionaries and advised by the ever-present Lyra, Rose must struggle to lead her people to peace. With her beloved Liore in the crosshairs, she can only hope to find her voice in time to half the demise of everything she cared for.

Edward’s Notes: “You’ve got a good, strong pair of legs, Rose. You should get up and use them.”

RUSSEL & FLETCHER TRINGHAM

Edward’s Notes: Ed himself has drawn in the boys’ transmutation circle for plants, and has labeled it as such. He has also sketched one of their flasks and written next to it “For red water?”

Edward’s Coded Notes: Why is he so tall?!!

#48 & #66

Edward’s Notes: He has drawn the Slicer Brothers’ blood seals and labeled them. The secret behind Lab 5... ???

Edward’s Coded Notes: Prisoners!

FRANK ARCHER

Profile Text: His heart as cold as his flesh is pale, Frank Archer is willing to embrace corruption for a cause... especially if the cause is blatant self-promotion. Looking to bolster his reputation by crushing a revolt in Liore, Archer sets fate in motion with little regard for anything other than pleasing himself and the Fuhrer. His lust for war and his hunt for the infamous Scar may cloud his vision, however, as he potentially confuses sacrifice for suicide.

Edward’s Coded Notes: You [m]ight want [s]ome [s]unscreen* [indicating the image of his mech form] The Terminator?

ZOLF J KIMBLEY

Edward’s Coded Notes: Mullet?!

SHOU TUCKER

Profile Text: Shou Tucker earned the title Sewing Life Alchemist thanks in large part to his masterful work creating Chimeras for the State. In fact, Tucker was the first alchemist to produce a Chimera capable of speaking and understanding the human language. Tucker is a man with incredible brilliance and immense talent. The irony is that he can create life, but that his own is being controlled is not lost upon Shou Tucker. With his execution staged by the Military, Tucker has spent all of his time devoted to research and experimentation, with one purpose in mind: bring back the daughter he once readily destroyed.

Edward’s Notes: Because we’re not Gods, we’re humans, tiny insignificant humans. Who couldn’t even save a little girl...

Edward’s Coded Notes: I’ll never forgive that bastard.

SCAR

Profile Text: Like Ed, Scar is able to use alchemy without a transmutation circle. Scar both hates and embraces his “curse.” He has a special grudge against State Alchemists because of past atrocities towards his homeland of Ishbal. The Ishbal Massacre was a vicious military offensive against Ishbal due to conflicting doctrines because the citizens would not put aside their traditional beliefs and embrace alchemy. Scar believes his god has instilled in him the right to kill State Alchemists at will for what they have done to his people. He truly believes his cause is righteous, no matter what it takes. 

Edward’s Coded Notes: [indicating Scar’s hair] Frosted tips are over, dude... Those glasses are so dated...

LUST

Profile Text: The beautiful homunculus Lust desires to become human through the massive power of the Philosopher’s Stone. She dreams of finally finding out who she really is inside, and to discover what will happen to her after death. These are all very human traits for a being that supposedly has no soul. Lust uses any means necessary to traverse the dilemmas of her existential crisis... She is able to corrupt the minds of the weak, forcing them to follow her every whim. Like Scar and Ed, the gorgeous and sad Lust is traveling down the same whirlpool of misery and darkness that sucks away all who quest for the Philosopher’s Stone.

Edward’s Notes: [smudged, almost beyond legibility] I just hope Havoc doesn’t meet her... Edward has drawn an arrow from Lust’s locket to Scar with ???, as well as a two-way arrow between the facing pages with the writing What’s their connection?

Edward’s Coded Notes: Maybe she and Roy* should go on a date with Roy* - I heard she’s a real screamer**

       *Another seeming typo.

       **Probably a reference to Laura Bailey’s marriage to Travis Willingham, as they play Lust and Roy in the English dub. Roy is responsible for Lust’s death in the manga and second anime, and she does not go quietly.

GLUTTONY

Profile Text: Loyal homunculus companion to Lust, Gluttony, eater of anything, might be the saddest example of the cruel nature of the hunt for the Philosopher’s Stone. Simple and savage, Gluttony operates at once like a child and an animal, a creature of pure instant satisfaction. He simply knows one thing: Hunger. Not for power of prestige, but only to satisfy his reason to be... this only adds to the wretchedness of his tragic existence.

Edward’s Notes: I-DCCC-DCCI-VM?*

       *I have absolutely no idea what this is in reference to, so if anyone knows, I would LOVE an answer.

ENVY

Profile Text: Envy is one of the homunculi, a group of pseudo-humans whose creation is still an enigma. Some say they were created in a lab. Others believe they’ve always been among us. But no matter where they came from, their intention are nothing but evil. Envy has the ability to become a perfect physical replica of whomever he or she desires. Envy is without gender. In fact, Envy’s mind is so far gone that he or she can’t remember who he or she used to be. Envy’s power is truly amazing.

The shape-shifting homunculi Envy could be anyone, utilizing the ability to take on the physical appearance of any being at will. Envy will morph into a stranger behind you in a smokey cafe, or the trusted ally that works with you to uncover corruption and twisted abuses of power, or even your loving spouse. And beneath the familiar surface pure evil waits. Never turn your back on Envy. Even after you’ve slit the creature’s throat.

Edward’s Notes: Areca triandea Phoenix canariensis, Ceros nucifera Sabal minor Syogrus romanzoffiana* [next to this, Edward drew a little palm tree with a ?]

       *the binomial nomenclature for a queen palm tree

Edward’s Coded Notes: I’m not into palm trees

GREED

Profile Text: A thick-skinned enigma even among the mysterious homunculi, Greed wants it all... money, power, women, and the greatest prize of all: eternal life. Greed leads a band of outlaw chimeras and instructs his freakish minions to kidnap Alphonse Elric, believing the young alchemist is the key to the door of immortality. Headed for a brutal showdown, Ed will test the homunculus’ reputation as the Ultimate Shield. In return, Greed will test every notion Ed ever held to be true and real.

Edward’s Notes: [smudged] I wonder why Dante made him...

SLOTH

Profile Text: Draped in the appearance of the late Trisha Elric*, the water abomination Sloth was created on that fateful night of lost innocence; the night when the Elric brothers first set out in search of the Philosopher’s Stone. After being nursed and groomed by Dante and Pride, and her involvement in the slaughter of Maes Hughes, she is forced to confront Ed and Al. While cursing them for her fate, Sloth’s seemingly maternal memories and longings may provide the homunculus with her downfall... nothing in the universe is more resilient than a mother’s love. Something stirs in Sloth, where a soul once rested.

Edward’s Notes: [a two-way arrow, pointing from Sloth’s name to hand-written Juliet Douglas] [*above this line in her bio, Ed has aggressively written NO!]

Edward’s Coded Notes: [circled, with an arrow indicating the bio] She is not my mother!!!

WRATH

Profile Text: The homunculus Wrath might be the most mysterious of all the dark creatures. A volatile combination of childlike mischief and soulless evil, Wrath was discovered on a treacherous island by the Elrics and their teacher Izumi. Timid at first, Wrath’s demeanor soon shifts as layer upon layer of intrigue is peeled away, uncovering a core of supernatural madness. Able to perform alchemy, at times even in ways that Fullmetal himself doesn’t understand, it becomes clear that Wrath is a monster. His connection to Ed and Al’s teacher could provide answers to questions that are too shocking to ask.* Suspicious of the boy, Ed will give an arm and a leg to uncover the truth about the wild child.

Edward’s Coded Notes: [with an arrow pointing from the bio text Ed has underlined] It’s hers!

KING BRADLEY (PRIDE)

Profile Text: The Fuhrer King Bradley commands both the State Government and the State Army making him seemingly the most powerful man in the entire world. Known as one of the most cunning and vicious warriors in history, the homunculus Pride, the Fuhrer himself, has orchestrated countless bloody conflicts in his search for the Philosopher’s Stone. Calm, cool, collected and created by Dante... Bradley moves his pieces into striking range. Is it possible, though, that the Ultimate Eye is blind to his own role as a pawn in someone else’s sinister plot?

Edward’s Notes: He’s a homunculus that can age?!!

Edward’s Coded Notes: How did no one figure it out?!!

DANTE

Profile Text: Dante’s actions, her attempts to control the uncontrollable and manipulate innocence, have carried her through the centuries with a singular goal... immortality. At times seemingly aligned with the powers of good, while dipping her toes into the red pool of evil, Dante’s path has been one clouded by murky intentions. At the end of the quest for the Philosopher’s Stone, as all of the players look up past the strings that carried them through this desperate dance, whose face will they see?

Edward’s Notes: an arrow connects Dante’s name with Lyra, which is circled

Edward’s Coded Notes: So glad she isn’t my mom!

After the character pages, there are four pages of alchemic arrays. The writing here gets really vague, as all of it is written in Ed’s code and there are many mistakes.

The Thule Society’s array has a four letter word with an exclamation point that begins with NA, followed by the character for X and a sloppy character that is probably I/Y but looks more like a J. There are no other instances of a Z to confirm, but I think X and Z may be the same character, and it was intended to say “NAZI!”

Majahal’s array is noted with I wonder what happened to Lebi? This probably refers to Carin, Lebi being the name she took on after forgetting her past. This, too, is a bit confusing because the I/Y character also looks like a J.

Trisha’s human transmutation circle just says Sorry Mom I’m sorry...

The circle for the Underground City is noted with To open the Gate?

The Grand Arcanum Philosipher’s Stone circle is labeled “Ishbalan?” and Ed has circled it.

AND THAT IT’S FOR THE NOTES, hopefully this is of some value to... someone out there, lmao.

[batfam-imagines]

Blind Musician

@redfirecatherinetodd I’m sorry it took so long but I finally did it!!

Request:  I love ur work. Do u think u could make a fanfic about Jason and a blind musician but she's Damian's friend so he won't let them be alone and he spies on their dates or something like that. Please and thank you

----------

Being Damian’s friend was amazing. He was one of the few people who treated you like a normal person, but he was also extremely protective of you.

“Damian Wayne, I am positive that I can get to my piano on my own”

“tt, you might fall. You are unfamiliar with the terrain of Wayne Manor; I will not allow you to be hurt.”

You chuckle, “I manage to get around my own messy apartment just fine, I don’t know why you continue to doubt me”

“If you would allow me to move you into the Manor, I wouldn’t be concerned about your wellbeing. You would not be alone here”

You turn blind eyes on your best friend, “And how would I be able to get around this huge place, I might fall down the stairs”

“Then let me move you into the penthouse! Your apartment has stairs as well! What if you fall down those!”

You roll your eyes, smacking his ankle with your cane. “Just take me to the piano, Dami, before I beat you with this cane”

You can hear Damian growl as you start to walk forward on your own, using your cane to find the leg of the piano, “Y/N!”

Sliding into the seat, you place your fingers over the keys. That’s the good thing about pianos, no matter which one you’re at, a piano is always the same. “Will you write the notes for me? I’ve been working on this for a while, but I just need it written down”

“Of course. Give me a moment to get the sheets. Stay here, the Manor is too large for you to wander around in.”

You wave your hand, dismissing his words. You started to play, the music absorbed you, cradling you in its notes. Music was your one escape, the onetime where no one pitied you for being blind. You were so absorbed in the music that you didn’t hear the door open, or hear that person lean against the wall to listen to you play. Ending the song with a flourish, you let the last note hold out for an extra second.

“That was amazing” You let out a shriek at the unexpected noise.

“Y/N!!” Damian burst into the room, “Todd! How dare you intrude!”

“Damian! Don’t hit me! Shit! I didn’t know I was intruding!”

There were sounds of a fight, papers fluttering to the ground, and the sound of fists hitting flesh. “Damnit, stop!”

“Y/N, are you alright?” Damian asked, you can hear him standing up and making his way over to you. He purposefully steps heavy, just so you can hear him.

“I’m fine! Why did you attack him?!” You turn on the bench, “Are you alright, sir?”

“Name’s Jason, sweetheart. Damn Damian, you hit hard” The other man, Jason, walks up to the bench, “I heard you playing, it was beautiful. I-I’m sorry for intruding.”

You blush. No one other than Damian had heard you play an original piece. “Um, thank you. I’m sorry that Damian hurt you. You – you can listen anytime you want”

“Todd has no appreciation of musical instruments. I doubt he is truly able to appreciate your brilliance”

“Are you saying my music isn’t worth appreciating? Because he obviously enjoyed my playing”

“You know that isn’t what I meant. I do not want him to take advantage of you. Todd has never been good at being gentle with anything”

You roll your eyes, “I don’t need to be handled with kid-gloves, Dami” You stick your hand out, waiting until Jason takes it before talking, “It’s nice to meet you, Jason. My name’s Y/N”

Jason chuckled, “It’s good to finally meet you. We’ve been wondering where Damian runs off to on the weekends”

“That would be to my apartment. He says that he needs to escape from his crazy family, and with how easily you two just started a fight”

Jason chuckles, “Well, he did attack me. I have to go, Alfred needs my help in the kitchen. I’ll see you two at dinner”

You smirk, “Was that a blind joke? ‘See you at dinner’?”

Jason sucks in a sharp breath, “No! Nonono! I promise it wasn’t! I didn’t mean to say that! I'm so sorry!”

You burst into laughter, “I’m just kidding! God! Don’t take things so personal!”

Damian snickers, “She does that all the time, don’t mind her. She likes to use her inability to see to make people uncomfortable”

You grin, “It’s the only way to get people to realize that I’m not some delicate flower. And come on, that was funny”

“It was pretty damn funny” Jason mumbled.

--

After dinner that night you were invited over to Wayne Manor a lot more. Bruce likes that you didn’t let Damian get away with everything. And you enjoyed spending time with Jason, you hoped that he would want to spend more time with you.

--

Your doorbell buzzes, “Hello?”

“Hey, Y/N. It’s Jason, can I come up?”

“Sure, ill buzz you in”

A minute later there’s a knock on the door, “It’s me!”

“Hey, Jay. This is a nice surprise” You pull him into a brief hug, and shut the door behind him.

“I haven’t seen you in a while, I just wanted to check up on you”

“I forgot to respond to your text! Is that why you’re here?”

“Well … yeah”

“You’re almost as bad as Damian!” you laugh, “I’m sorry I worried you. I lost my phone and can’t seem to find it.”

Jason rolls his eyes, “Well, let me find it, and I’ll get out of your hair”

“You don’t need to leave, Jay, you can stay for a while. I could really use your input on a new song”

“I’d love to stay. I actually have something to talk to you about”

“Let me make some tea, and then we can sit down”

Once the tea is boiled and poured, you reach out to touch Jason’s arm, “What was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

Jason clears his throat, “I … um … I wanted to know if you’d want to go out to dinner … with me?”

“Like a date?”

“Yes”

You grin, “I’d love to go on a date with you!”

“How about Saturday? I’ll pick you up at 6:00?”

“Perfect!” You reach out and wrap your arms around Jason

“Now I really do have to go now, Y/N. I was supposed to meet Dick 30 minutes ago.”

You pull back, “Alright. Were you really that upset that I didn’t text you back?”

“Damian and I have been talking about ways to make sure you’re safe. I guess his paranoia has started to rub off on me”

“I was painting, and I lost my phone! Between you and Damian! You guys are ridiculous!”

Jason pulls back, “You paint?”

You chuckle, “Of course I paint! I paint and I play music! Those are some of the few things that ‘optically challenged’ people can do! Do you know how hard it is to get a job when you’re blind?”

“No one’s ever mentioned your painting before, not even Damian”

You blush, “He doesn’t know, I haven’t even showed anyone my paintings other than buyers.”

“Can I see them?” You nod and walk into your guest room, gesturing to the paintings that are scattered all over, “Holy shit they’re beautiful!!”

“Really? I don’t know that they look like, one of my buyers said that they look like galaxies”

“God, how can you be so talented!”

“I’m really not, Jay, but thank you. Didn’t you say you had to leave?”

“Um, yeah, I do. Can I come in here and take inventory on these, I can help you sell them?”

“I would love that! It would help me so much. But I can hear your phone blowing up, Dick is probably pissed that you’re blowing him off”

Jason chuckles, “I’ll see you on Saturday, I put your phone on the charger. I saw about 6 texts from Damian, so I would expect him next”

“Good! He can help me pick out a dress to wear!”

Jason chuckles and heads to the door, “Good bye, Y/N”

You lean up pressing a kiss to the side of his face, you hope it was his cheek, “Bye, Jay”

--

Jason was right. Damian showed up at your apartment about 10 minutes after Jason left, in a complete panic.

“Y/N!!!” He shouted

“How the hell did you even get in the building?!” You yell back, “Please tell me you didn’t break in … again!”

“I climbed in through the window, so no, I didn’t break anything.”

You hum, “I’m fine by the way. I just lost my phone. Jason freaked out too, so he stopped by and helped me find it. He also asked me on a date, Dami!!!”

“He what?!?!”

“He asked me on a date!!” You dance around in a little circle, “I need you to help me pick out a dress!”

Damian doesn’t answer right away but you assume that he is still across the room, so you startle when he grabs your arm, “You are allowing yourself to be courted by, Todd!?!?”

“Yes, Dami. We are going on a date. What’s the big deal?”

“Do you know who he really is?!?” Damian growled.

“Yes, Red Hood”

You may not be able to see it, but you know that you managed to shock Damian, “H-How did you …?”

“Did you really think I wouldn’t figure it out? You come into my apartment through the window, and you are wearing armor and a cape. I know you’re Robin, and I assume Bruce is Batman, Dick is Nightwing, Jason, who’s the black sheep of the family, is the Red Hood, but I haven’t figured out who Red Robin is, I haven’t met your other brother. What was his name? Tom?”

“Tim”

“Ah, yes, Tim”

You can hear Damian sit down on your bed, and you turn back to the closet, “How did you know?”

“Your footsteps around different when you’re I uniform, Jason smells like gun powder, Dick isn’t around here much and neither is Nightwing, with Bruce I just kinda guessed”

“Oh, alright, those are reasonable conclusions. Which dress do you intend to wear?”

“I was thinking the green one”

Damian hums, “I prefer the dark purple one.”

“I do like that one” You murmur, “What if I wear it with the amethyst necklace you got me last year?”

“You would look beautiful. I will make sure that Todd takes you to a respectable restaurant”

“That sounds great Dami, now you need to go. Don’t think I forgot that you have a meeting with the Board at WE”

Damian groans, “I had hoped to avoid that meeting”

“Nope! You have to go! I need to continue composing my song”

Damian groaned, but walked to the door, “I shall see you Saturday before your date. I shall help you get ready”

“Thanks Dami! Have fun at your meeting!”

--

The date so far was amazing. There haven’t been any lulls in the conversation, and you were enjoying each other’s company. The appetizers had just arrived when Jason startled you with a groan.

“What is it?” You ask, confused.

“Damian just walked in. I knew he wouldn’t let us go on a date alone”

You can’t help but burst into laughter, missing the glares that were shot in your direction, “Please tell me you’re joking. He’s really here?”

“Yes, and he’s glaring at me. I feel like he’s going to attack me”

“He won’t hurt you, I promise. Isn’t that right Damian? Because I know you bugged me, and I know you can hear me. Nod your head for Jason, Dami”

“Oh my God, he just nodded! How did you know he bugged you?”

“I’ve known this necklace was bugged and had a tracking device in it since he gave it to me. It’s why I keep it in a special box when I’m not wearing it”

It’s Jason who bursts into laughter this time, “Oh that’s rich! You’re amazing you know that?”

Taking a sip of water, you try to cover up your blush, “Thank you”

“I really how you’ll agree to go out with me again”

“I’d love to, as long as you don’t mind my tail. I doubt he will ever let us go out alone”

“I don’t mind. I want to take you to the orchestra for our next date”

“I would love to go to the orchestra!” You clear your throat nervously, “and maybe you’d like to come to one of my concerts?”

Jason places one of his large hands on top of yours, “I will always say yes to hearing you play, you’re my favorite musician”

You giggle when Jason lifts your hand to him lips, placing a gentle kiss against your knuckles, “Good, because I like it when you listen”

[anodyne-sunflower]

The Crown weighs heavy (Ch.19)

Pairing: NeganxReader

Rating: M overall

Chapters: 19/?

A/N: I knowwwww it has been years since I have updated this story. Inspiration has just been way lacking for me in the Negan area :( It’s not the longest but since it has been a while I decided to update it with this anyway.

Masterlist

The sound of voices around you sounded slurred and distant in your muddled state, and all you could do was sink back into the strong arms that carried you off. Your head was pounding, and the wound from being grazed by a bullet was stinging wildly. One day, that’s all you asked, one day to relax and not be in harm’s way. You regretted all those times you ached to be back out here, yet somehow you still weren’t all too willing to go with the saviors. Perhaps it was the day’s events, but you just wanted to be alone. Yet, the comforting warmth of the man carrying you was making you forget everything.

“Sir, do you want-“

“I don’t give a fuck what you do, just look around for the pricks that caused all this goddamn mess.”

The savior nervously nodded at Negan, grabbing his gun and taking a few others with him as he ran off into the thick forest. Negan sighed heavily, cradling your limp body in his arms as he walked to the truck. He ordered Simon and his men to salvage what they could from the supplies riddled across the highway, and he opened the passenger side door to his vehicle. Betraying his usual brash demeanor, he gently placed you on the seat, going so far as buckling you in for safety. You groaned deeply at the pain, eyes screwed shut as you tried to will away your headache.

“Negan…”

The leader of the savior’s glanced at you, scowling at the current situation and mainly your injured state.

“Don’t worry your pretty little self, darlin’. I’ll fucking bash the mother fuckers heads in when we find them.”

The pit of your stomach felt heavy with guilt, and you had to wonder why you’d lie and protect a complete stranger like that. Yet, you were sure if Negan had gotten his hands on Aaron, he’d be a dead man. You simply nodded at him, staying quiet as he closed the door and got back into his seat. He started the truck, waving a hand at Simon as he did a quick U turn and headed straight for the sanctuary.

The movements of the truck made you shift around in your seat, and you fought hard not to give in to your exhausted body. But, you were growing far too tired, and the soft vibrations of the engine were slowly lulling you to sleep. The wheels drove over a pothole, making you fall over, your head softly landing on Negan’s shoulder.

“Hey…” His deep voice fell on deaf ears as you succumbed to the exhaustion you felt. Negan scoffed, gripping the steering wheel tightly as you slept silently next to him, your hair fell over your face, and all he could hear was your soft breathing.

********

“Sweetheart…get the fuck up already.”

You whined softly as someone nudged at your shoulder, and you opened your eyes slowly to see Negan standing next to you outside of the truck. The sound of his men talking behind him made you fully sit up, and you struggled to hold yourself with your arm as you moved to get out of the vehicle. He grabbed your arm, pulling you out of the truck himself when you clearly weren’t able to yourself.

“Come on, Darlin’.”

“Okay…” You grumbled, slightly frustrated with Negan’s persistence. He dragged you along, shouting orders to some of his men along the way. Something wasn’t quite right with him, and he wasn’t even scolding you like you had expected. Sure, you lied about the circumstances of the wreck, and loss of supplies, but you still expected some form of punishment for fucking up even after promising not to.

The doors to the sanctuary opened, and he turned the hallway pulling you up and along the stairs. You tried pulling yourself away from him but his grip was tight.

“Negan, what are you-“

“You’re barely fucking walking on your own, sweetheart. You got fucking blood dripping down your leg, and your face looks like goddamn Lucille got a hold of it. So tell me again how you can fucking do this on your own?”

His tone made you go silent, and you had to wonder if he was actually…but, there couldn’t possibly be anyway he was worried about you. For some reason, the thought of him actually rushing out in the middle of the night to even find you was heartwarming. Had he sat there for hours wondering where you were? Was he adamant that he and his men go find you? You glanced up at him, a soft blush on your face as you continued to analyze this entire situation. Things between you both had been more than confusing lately, and you struggled with trying to define your feelings for the man. He was everything you thought you hated in this world, but now, now there seemed to be somewhat different side to him that you never thought possible.

Negan opened the doors to your bedroom, helping you sit on the couch as he scowled down at you. “You’re developing a habit of disappointing me.”

“It’s not like I flipped the truck on purpose.”

Perhaps you let off a bit more attitude than necessary, but between your illness, and your current injuries you just didn’t have the energy to deal with him being angry. Negan just clicked his tongue at you, resting Lucille on the side of the table as he fished through his jacket pockets. He pulled out an orange bottle, the sound of pills clacking around making you look up at him.

“Antibiotics?...” You opened your mouth, staring in slight shock. “Where did you…”

“Does it fucking matter? You thought you could hide how goddamn shitty you were feeling, sweetheart? You were missing for hours, took a ride to fucking Hilltop, and found out you left, and considering the time of day, you should’ve been back already. Then…” He took a seat on the coffee table, leaning for towards you as he clasped his gloved hands together. “Then I fucking find out you took a different route to get here. Took us 5 hours to find your sorry ass!” With every word his tone grew louder, and you shrank back instinctively into the couch.

“Sorry…”

“You’re fucking sorry?!”

Negan chuckled at that, rubbing his beard as he sighed deeply. “You know you got one hell of a set of balls, sweetheart. Lying to me about the goddamn extent of your illness, taking one of my trucks out there, and then wrecking the holy hell outta it.”

“I already told you-“

“Quiet.”

He threw the bottle of pills into your lap, glaring at you from his seat. That flattered feeling you had before was completely gone by now, and you couldn’t help but be angry with him. Lie or not, it really wasn’t completely your fault. It’s not like you planned to faint, and crash a vehicle full of life saving supplies. What happened to the man who seemed worried not so long ago? Was he only concerned for the items he lost? You gripped the bottle in your hands, biting your lip and looking down at your lap as he continued to scold you like a child.

“You’re not leaving this fucking room. You wanna throw more of your fine ass speeches about trust to me, be my fucking guest, Darlin’. But, you bet your sweet ass you’re not getting out of here.”

He rose from his spot on the table, scoffing down at you as he started to walk away. You never looked back at him, but you still spoke your mind even though your instincts told you not to.

“Just when I started to like you, you go and be a dick like you always are.”

It came out rather scathing, but you didn’t care. It was the truth after all. Every time you thought there was another side to him, he changes that completely.

Negan stopped dead in his tracks, his boots scraping against the floor of your bedroom. He laughed a bit at your nerve, but you could tell he was going through a frustration of his own. “You really love to piss me off, don’t you?”

You groaned as you got off the couch, holding your side as you limped over to Lucille that had still been resting against the table. It was so unlike him to ever leave his precious bat behind, but that only furthered your theory that something was off with him. You grabbed Lucille by her end, struggling to life the heavy bat in your current state.

“Aren’t you forgetting something?”

You lifted his bat towards him, frowning at him as he turned to glare at you. Negan slowly stalked towards you, dark eyes never leaving your defiant gaze. He reached a gloved hand out, grabbing Lucille from your weak grip. You just squinted your eyes up at him, not wanting to back down from the man who constantly gave you headaches. You moved to turn, heading back to the couch to rest but a strong grasp on your arm stopped you. Negan turned you quickly towards him, his arm wrapping possessively around your waist as he leaned down and captured your lips in a hard kiss.

Your eyes widened, and it was as if your heart had suddenly stopped beating. Your mind couldn’t even began to comprehend what he was doing, and your hands were raised up, barely brushing the leather of his jacket. His lips were warm against your own, and if it wasn’t for the confusion and anger you felt, you might’ve actually melted into the kiss, instead you stood motionless not responding at all to his touch. When your senses came back to you, you pushed him off and took a step back staring at Negan in complete disbelief.

@jeffrcy @nohatarek17 @manic-mamma @namelesslosers @deadlywinters @aestheticimagines @happyblondeflower @myrabbitholetoneverland @12noboundaries13 @evangalinerose @miiraal @pinkpinkdonut @xomissi

If any of you stopped keeping up with this and want me to not tag you again please let me know! I would totally understand lol

[lukas--thorne-blog]

                                 I don't want to talk about tomorrow                               What we have today is all I'm ready for         And it's a complicated game but it's the reason that we came together 

                            'Cause if I took the stars out of the sky                           a galaxy to give you, to somehow testify                                        Would it change us?                                      Rearrange us forever?

You could say their story was a mirror of humble beginnings found in a cheesy romcom, the way the protagonist would always fall in love at first sight in light of the clumsy happenings of another. It wasn’t entirely the case with these two, though. There was no love at first sight. Perhaps desire at first sight, perhaps frustration at first sight. But nothing either of them could hold onto. 

Lukas was only eighteen, then, on the brink of ageing up once more. He’d bought an apartment in downtown Colonies, a little walk from where he’d just started work. The local strip bar, as a security guard. Good wage and a life surrounded by sex, what more could one ask for? It was this independence he was craving, that led him to this point. Having spent so long around his twin brother, ever-likely he wanted to be responsible for something for once, so reliant on sharing the burden and nothing more. Now was different, though. Now he was alone, in the big city, with hours that enabled him to sleep through the day, and work through the night. 

It was a beautiful night, that night. Despite the sickly atmosphere, the smog that drowned the city in its smoky snare, the way it covered like a blanket; it would often wrap its fingers around the lungs of the ill and fragile, to cause further sickness. The moon shimmered through it, so large in its peak, so pearly through the faint glow that surrounded it. The glittering stars, all dancing over the deep blue of the sky, to form patterns. Chill, though. Through breaths, the faint steamy ballet that would flee parted lips, all while hairs would stand so alert on the surface of his arms. Pale hands would seep into jacket pockets, then; deep into its warmth, and away from the bite of the frost in the air. Clanking of wind against metal as footsteps would wander through narrow streets, and the rust that would erode the structures around him, with little regard to who was occupying such lowly establishments. 

Each footstep echoed, though. So loud and lonely in the sea of metal and brick buildings, through beads of water, from previous storms and the like, that would form puddles within dips and dents in the ground. Seemingly so empty. Then, as umber eyes would cast back up to that precious sky, a blackened monster would creep closer to that mirror of a moon, promising by the rumbles of loud growling, of yet another approaching storm. That’s when he heard it; the single sound among silence, as an empty can had fallen from its still place, to crash against the ground. It was evident to him he wasn’t alone. Those slim, deft fingers of his would play a brief game of hide and seek with the retractable knife that lay so idly within his pocket. 

With his head turned just slightly, to settle dark eyes to the source of such an abrupt sound, the lack of figure that could have caused it was only somewhat worrying. Thus more steps were taken, to continue his waltz of a journey, so slow and relaxed, through gentle splatters as boots would pass through puddles, to the roll of bricks and stones as cap would lightly encourage the small objects to flee from their still positions. Then another sound came, followed so closely by an attack. 

First that was heard, was another footstep, a violent kick of rain water from its rippling root, allowing it to shoot up. Then a small hand that so aggressively moved towards the Guard’s jacket, as thick fingers latched on, seemingly intent to steal it from his body. Lukas honestly couldn’t blame him; whether it was the fact that it was made of genuine leather, or the idea that it was so bleedingly obvious that the older would keep all close possessions hidden within the pockets. Though such a fool this thief was, to challenge him. So sharply, the male’s elbow would connect with this stranger’s nose, hard enough to stun rather than maim, thus forcing the other to release his grip, and topple to the ground. 

Over so quickly, and without need for struggle, it seemed. Lukas would turn, to settle suddenly soft eyes upon the other, without seeing his face at first. “Are you okay?” Despite the attack, the Guard wouldn’t deny his need to protect, even those so impulsive enough to outright mug others. This one didn’t seem to be the typical to stalk the shadows, though. He seemed so new to the idea, so inexperienced, and... young. Perhaps that was what strengthened this need to make sure he was okay. This young thief had his head ducked, though. Without a need to raise his head as of yet, though the gentle beads of dripping blood would give wind to wound. So grounded and obedient, filthy, and thin; as if he hadn’t eaten properly in such a long time. “Hey, c’mon, little beggar. Are you okay?” Question repeated once more, as the older would squat, to shorten his height and enable the two to interact easier. Head so idly tilted to the side, as those large arms of his would rest upon his legs. “Answer me, or you’ll have to put up with me teasing you over how you couldn’t steal from little me.” 

Silence was all he received in response, though. That same silence, the other seemingly so reluctant to reveal himself, and his injury. Thus ushered gentle sigh from Lukas, as he reached within the inside pocket of his jacket. “I’m sorry about your face. But, if you’d kept those hands of yours to yourself, we might not be in this situation.” Spoken softly, while his fingers carded through the notes within his wallet, before handing some over to the stranger. “You clearly need this a little more than I do. I know it’s not much, but... it’ll get you some food, perhaps some clothing.” Always such a giver, as there between his fingers, lay $150, all for the taking. This stranger’s head seemed to lift with that, the sight of the green paper that fit perfectly within his hand. Finally giving Lukas a face to glance at; and what a face that was. Despite the blood of his nose, despite the darkened blotches of dirt that would scale his jaw, and the wet clinginess of his hair as the rain had caught him so heavily--he looked so... beautiful. 

“U-uh--I know we don’t know each other, but... we’ll forget about the attack, okay? Do you need to wash up? Perhaps just a place to get out of this rain? It looks like there’s another storm coming, and I--” though the older was so abruptly cut off as a hand came to take the money. Of course he wouldn’t argue, the offer was already presented, and taking it back would be such a cruel gesture. “Th-thank you, sir... Do you have food at your place?” Perhaps one of the most innocent sounding voices he’d ever have the pleasure of listening to. So soft and seemingly distant, yet not at all at the same time. In his moment of thought on the matter, Lukas have perhaps looked as though he was lost through his staring, with the silence that have ensnared him so easily. Blinks would follow, quickly and almost flustered, “Of course. You can eat as much as you want. But, ah--First of all, I’m Lukas, but I prefer Thorne. Mind telling me your name?” So softly he’d talk, as if so close already, tending without meaning to be that. It wasn’t too stark of a contrast to his usual behaviour. Given the circumstances, he would always present himself with this caring front. “Niko... but I prefer Niko.” That would earn the other a sigh, and a smile that would stretch from ear to ear. 

That was that, it seemed. The Guard so eager to help the other up from the floor, holding him so gently as he did so, as if scared of breaking or hurt him further. Though distance was kept from then on, Niko only trailing behind, a few steps back. Be it cautiousness, or otherwise, Lukas would still turn his head to settle those dark hues upon the other, to update himself frequently. Thus they moved, under the gentle beads of rain that had began to fall from the sky, cold water that dampened and caused existing puddles to ripple and shift. The older would only whistle, that void-of-tone sound coming to fill the awkward silence that had enveloped the two so quickly as they took slow steps.

Finally, though, they had come to that apartment. The complex itself didn’t look appealing, from the discoloured work on the outside, bricks missing, and the junkies that sat against the wall so close to the entrance. It reeked of alcohol. Smashed tinted glass that littered the sidewalk, joined by cigarette butts and stains of beer and lord knows what else. That seemed to be a regular around apartment complexes around the Colonies, no matter where you went. Though Niko seemed so new to the idea, thus the sudden closeness he held to the Guard was almost confusing. His petite frame pressed against Lukas’ arm, as the group of drunkards twisted their gazes onto the two. Seemingly so scared and wary of all things even remotely out of his comfort zone. 

Inside was a definite contrast, though. Exampling warmth and welcome, to which Niko immediately calmed, through maintaining his closeness to the older. Lukas found himself smiling, ever so softly at the notion. The lobby itself was homely, though. The warm light that surrounded, through orange tilted wall lights, and a beige colour that flooded the walls themselves. Carpets much darker, yet tended to frequently. The male at the desk, old with age, silver hair and skin that showed of his wear, had exchanged such a disgusted glance with the homeless male, as if disapproving of the notion of his presence within the building. Though without right to raise his voice to oppose the matter, Niko would only follow Lukas into the elevator. The faint music that would play from the speak at the top corner, cheesy and music box, until the doors slid closed. The box itself looked like the lobby, coloured the same, a similar hue of light, and the feeling of weightlessness that came with a moving elevator was one that Niko hadn’t felt in such a long time.

“When we get inside my apartment, I’ll take care of your nose. I... didn’t mean to hit you that hard. After that, you can shower, freshen up; I have some clothes you can change in to. While you’re on that, I’ll cook something for you. We’ll see what happens after, does that sound cool?” Perhaps the older was too bold for his own good, as the other seemed to back up into the corner of the elevator, as if stunned by all that was offered. All he could do, seemingly, was nod; gently bobbing his head up and down to agree to the proposed notion. The rest of the journey was continued in silence, then. Not that either could complain. 

Thus the two were soon in the privacy of Lukas’ home. Switch flicked as soon as the door was closed behind them, revealing his living space in full. The dark walls, the furniture laid out so carefully to accentuate the size of the room. Windows covered so perfectly by thick, black curtains, that seemed to drape over and flutter to the ground. The TV hung so delicately to the wall, seemed to dominate, while a pristine kitchen stayed in the corner, so white in comparison to the prominent dark colours of the rest of the room. Then, to the side, two doors. One to the bathroom, one to Lukas’ room. 

Lukas, himself, wasted no time in prepping the boy. Slender fingers that would wrap so gently around the other’s wrist, to drag him to the large couch in the centre of the room. “Sit.” Perhaps it was an order, by the stern tone that would steal his voice. It mattered little, as moments passed to which the older returned, with a first aid box in hand. Niko had followed through with command, awkwardly sitting on the edge of the seat, legs so firmly pressed together, and small hands that seemed to hide themselves expertly between his thighs. The perfect figure for awkwardness, or perhaps he was uncomfortable. He was hard to read. Lukas would sit beside him, far more relaxed and confident in his posture. That’s when the softest of touches would find the younger’s cheek, to draw him over to looking at him directly. First came alcohol swabs, that ever so gently would caress the wound within and around his nose, cleaning it. It seemed to be the most tending Lukas had ever been, so considerate of the other and his feelings towards the pain, so watchful for negative reactions. There seemed to be nothing of the sort. And so, with that, now that the wounds were dealt with, the older began to clean the crimson stains of blood that covered his nose, bridge, and upper lip, until he was as good as new. 

There was a problem, though. Lukas was so used to treating his patients the same, given he’d only ever tended to lovers and the like. Thus, when he leaned forward, almost as if he was to kiss it better, Niko ultimately moved back so abruptly. “I-I can’t, Lu--Thorne... I kinda... I’m taken. I have a girlfriend. Thank you, for the help, though...” Of course he was taken. All the pretty ones were, weren’t they? “Ah, sorry about that. Go wash up.” Perhaps his disappointment showed in his lowly tone, as he stood up. Large hand came to ruffle the other’s hair, thus gesturing to the bathroom soon after, and both went on their way. 

It seemed to take hours, Niko’s washing versus Lukas’ cooking. The food had been prepared a while ago, and required a pot, still, to ensure it wouldn’t cool over time. Over the time it took for this thief to take care of himself, that was. In reality, the reason Niko was taking all the time in the world, was because he was thinking. Perhaps he was thinking about the situation, his situation, and the male that had so freely offered everything to him without second thought. Had his girlfriend ever offered something so priceless during his time on the streets? The answer would be no. Thus he had to think over that difference. His a stranger was so kind, yet his girlfriend couldn’t stick up for him against her parents, just for a little while, until he could find his own roof over his head. “Niko?! You haven’t gone and died on me, have you?!” He immediately returned to reality with that voice, and hopped out of the bathroom, stark naked. 

He was quick to attempt to run to the bedroom, half-hoping Lukas wouldn’t see him in such an abruptly vulnerable state. Though he was proven wrong the moment Lukas had made his awareness known. “You know, if I’d know we were going to have a cock party, I would’ve prepared myself.” The younger would stop in his tracks at that, eyebrows furrowed so abruptly, as if offended. “Excuse you. Isn’t a man allowed to walk around another man’s apartment with his dick hanging out sometimes?” Of course that earned him a gentle snicker from Lukas, whom found the sight all too appealing. “How about you come over here, without the clothes. You eat this food, and I’ll eat you.” That was what threw Niko off, though. Now flustered and embarrassed, almost. He was a stranger, he had to remind himself; he was also taken, but in this moment, that didn’t matter to him all too much. 

Instead of responding, the younger would simply disappear once more, hiding within the other’s bedroom to clothe himself. Yet again taking all the time in the world, purposely this time, to push his host over the edge. And thus he was succeeding. Adorned in Lukas’ finest now, though. A hoodie, black entirely, that was far too large on him, creating paws as sleeves covered his hands. Jeans that were snug enough, worn blue. It felt so warm, to be wrapped up in something so new and profound. It even smelt nice, a musky leather; but that was where he froze. Why was he getting lost in the smell of another, and more important, why did he find the smell of this male so appealing? 

He’d emerged, then, and sat across from the other to eat. It was a pleasant meal, the first warm one Niko had had in such a long time, and it seemed an impossibility to have one during his time on the streets. Thus he was more than grateful. They ended up talking for the first time, then. About nothing, but everything at the same time. About Lukas’ work, and Niko’s situation. Even about his girlfriend--he’d ranted just slightly in that respect. Hell, the two had even laughed together, which was more than odd. All to have them both helping each other when it came to cleaning up the mess. 

It had been such a long night this night. Calming, yet long. It didn’t take long for Lukas to adorn the couch in something for the other to sleep on. Pillows and blankets galore, and more to spare. “Goodnight, Niko...” Lukas had spoken with that same twisted smirk, as if he knew something was going to happen. Whereas Niko simply settled for a salute, before exchanging his own, “Nighty night, Thorne...” Though before he could turn himself to settle to sleep, Lukas had placed the gentlest of kisses upon his own plump lips. Leaving him speechless and frozen. “C’mon, snap out of it, little beggar. Since your girl is never around to give you a goodnight kiss, I thought I’d give you one instead. Enjoy it while it lasts.” And with that, he’d disappeared into his room, leaving the younger star struck. That kiss felt so genuine, unlike many of the ones he’d exchanged with his own lover. This one felt real, and had managed to steal the breath from his lungs. He had to pass it off, didn’t he? It felt so wrong, but... he’d go over it in the morning. It was safer that way. Thus started their own little road to corruption, of Niko developing a crush on Lukas, and Lukas returning the favour.