#((now and then i'll just show what's going on in their lives. today is leo putting the work in.)) | Explore Tumblr posts and blogs

flutterrker · 1 month ago

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Wield pet pt2

(F) shark hybrid reader x Owner Izuku midoriya

Not my art

warnings: nudity, suffocating to death, drugging, swearing, and administering medication

Arter note: Hi, my English is bad but I will try to fix it

Reader pov

I'm in pain I can't move Anymore I'm hungry, trusty, tired that was what was going through your mind a Montra of things you already knew it made you angry at the world and the things that lived in it, especially the human in the ring you were fired and this is what you become a Chained animal for the human to look at in shock.

You sigh in frustration as the sound of footsteps brings you back to reality standing at the Bars was the woman who spoke to you often about her day or just venting about some clients, she had but today she was not Alone a human with a mop of green hair and a Another one with straight long red and white hair that was Tied up Neatly in a ponytail was standing there

You Heard the lady speaking to them explaining to them that you were not for sale that you were from the fitting ring and that you were Scheduled to be euthanized She said that word again what did that even mean euthanized you thought to yourself not Catching the whole conversation before noticing she's already left living the two men there.

You sit and ponder what they were here for Stull standing at the gate of your Prison slowly the green one comes closer and crouches in front of the gate.

The green one had been, making kissing Noesis at you for a minute or two now and it Irritated you if it wasn't for the ting on your face and the fact that every time you moved caused you pain. You Would have killed him, but it wasn't with the effect of getting up

You gas his figured out that, that tactic wasn't going to work so he switched to just calling your name instead it was the one your master gave to you

Huh Where is he, is he coming to get you are you going to go home soon where are the rest of your packmates Jack, Leo, Loki, and Lola are they here as well

The sound of water sloshing made you snap out of it once more Bringing you back to a Cruel reality your eyes quickly darted to the men and back to the floor "Hey, are you thirsty you want some water." Yes

Slowly looking at the green one you show him pool out a water bottle open it and sprinkle some water on the floor Is he teasing you? Tricking you by asking if you want water and then throwing it out In front of you when you get close enough, to grab it for his own Sadistic pleasure but he just held the water bottle out calmly and close to the gate for you to take Are you seriously going to stand up just for the chance to get some water out of this yes, yes you where

Sighing you Slowly started to move to the gate all you wanted was the water so once you got to the gate you slid down the Bars and sat on your legs Whining in pain but you continued lifting your head you looking him in the eyes huffing to him talking in your head like he could hear it You better not be tricking me green one ore I'll make you regret ever being born you finally look down at the bottle and slowly reached for it through the bars of the gate haft excepting him to pull it away as soon as you teach it

But he didn't do that he just held it closer for you to take waiting for you to steady your hands on the bottle and grip it titer to not drop it slowly taking the bottle from him and bringing it to you made you sigh in relief you

You waste no time sticking your long tongue into the bottle and back into your mouth taking a big chunk of water With it you instantly relax.

The green one sat there for a few minutes longer just looking at you before standing up and walking away from the gate the other human followed closely after him leaving you alone.

Seeing as you were alone you Fairly Enjoyed your water as the water became less and less you took what was left and pulled the Shirt that they gave you up and poured it over your Gills the best you could to wash out some dirt so you could at least breathe better but it didn't do much it just washed off the dust and Soothe the burning a bit but it did nothing for the Itchiness and swelling you sigh and look back at the blanket you sat on and whined not having the strength to move back any more you just decided to sit there and sulk.

Not even a minute went by when Your ear twice as the sound of two fast-approaching footsteps came your way you practically rolled your eyes so far that they might have gotten stuck there why were they coming back to get Another look as if the first one wasn't Good Enough but instead of the green man and his friend it was two human wearing Medical mask and sunglasses how came close to your cage it making you let out a deep growl you were tired of humans now you didn't want to be steered at Enya more you wanted to be left alone so how do Dee's ass wipes think they are

" Is it this one?" asked the taller man "Looks like it, boss Sad it was a female shark hybrid so yeah " Answered the sorter one as you looked at the two men trying to not lose your Absolute shit and hurt yourself more in the process" ok you go in and grab her and I'll keep which for people" "Are you Stupid you know she's killed people before right " "Yeah so what ya want me to do about it " " Idiot give me the chicken and the sleeping pills " "oh that's what that's was for here " the smaller one takes the bag handed to him and he moved to a corner so you wouldn't see him Slicing small holes in the meat and sliding pills into the holes he just made slowly turning to face you he Approached the gate and Reached passed the bars to grabbing your Muzzle so he could force the piece of meat through the wire of the muzzle so you could tea it.

and with that, you got Freaked out and started growling loudly and Freshing around the Beast, you could With the amount of pain you were in trying to bite the finger hooked in the wire of the muzzle until you smelled the meat and stopped once it Touched your lips you opened your mouth and swallowed it down, hole "yeah there you go stupid to eat up now all we have to do is wait for her to pass out and Loader her up " he said as he pulled his hand back" how long will it take to kick in" " I don't know a gave her like five so it shouldn't take long " the smaller one side well pooling out a Cigarette and trying to light it he figured he might a while seeing as he's going to be here a while

Smoking well he lined against a wall his cigarette was more than halfway down he was waiting for the drugs to kick in he took a last drag of his cigarette before throwing it on the floor and pulling out another bit before he could light it. The Hurd footsteps came their way "shit someone coming, and she Stull awake what do we do "The man looks at you before speaking" Leave her well coming back later tonight let's go before someone Catches us" he whispered yelled to the taller one as he started running to the back exit.

Just as the door closed behind them one of the handlers came around the corner to investigate the noise, she Hurd Urlacher "Hello is someone there we're closing so please go to the exit" the handlers said looking around and spotting you near the gate "Hey girl was it you making all that noise strange your Usually quiet "she said crouching down to your level " huh what's Wrong with you are you ok? Are you sleepy or something " she said looking into your eyes and Seeing them drooping rubbing your forehead what the back of her pointer fingers Knuckle and smiling at you " you get so sleep I hear you going home tonight " she said giving you a pat on the head before she stands up and walk away

Why Am I All of a sudden so tired I guess it could be from not having slept in two days I'm too weak to move back to the blanket I gist I'm sleeping on the floor tonight You think to yourself before lying down and closing your eyes

Tomorrow will be a better day

Next day

Izuku was sleeping Peacefully not a worry in the world. A little snores came from him his face was planted in a book drooling onto the pages well his old desk clock rang Excessively to signal it was time to get up slowly he opened his eyes groaning as he sat up and looked around confused he looked at his clock for the time steering at it for a bit before it kicked in his head and his eyes growing wide " I'M LATE FOR WORK SHITSHITSHITSHIT !! " He yells running into his room and haphazardly grabbing a Pants and jumping to get into it not even taking off the Shorts he slept in to pull them up

Stopping for a moment he remembered talking off leave " What I don't have work today" he stopped and stairs into his mirror for a moment before giggling to himself thanking off the pants and putting them back Neatly he walks to the Kitchen to make a cup of tea Tuning on the kettle He leans against the countertop and what'd for the Kittel to boil " I feel like I'm forgetting something " he said to himself before looking at the countertop Across from him where he left a bunch of papers seeing the adoption paperwork he Signed from yesterday (oh yeah I got a hybrid) he thought to himself "SHIT Y/N !!" he shouts before running to the room excepting all the Whist scenario in his head what if she's Scared or hungry wat if she escaped and ran off

As he got to the door he threw it open Half expecting you to be Gone or dead but what he found was you cared up into a little ball sleeping The room was filled with sunlight and the sound of soft breathing could be heard it took him a minute to calm down enough to approach you look around the room he sighed in Relief at sine everything on it plash and you Stull sleeping he came closure to get a better look at you before just decided to sit down next to you looking you over once more he noticed how uncomfortable you looked sleeping hesitantly he Reached out to pleasing he hand on you back petting you Softly from the top of your head following your spin down to your tail and massaging your tail fin taking extra care to avoid any painful scars he could see

(Why is she still sleeping it's the middle of the Afternoon now) he thought to himself is she sick I can't tell with all that dust and dirt in the way Maybe it is time to call that doctor the lady at the shelter was telling me about Stull giving you gentle scratches behind your ears he took his phone out and started tipping in the number that was Scribbled on to the adopted papers he got

Rig, rig ri- "Good morning JC Cobbler Speaking " "Hu good morning I'm, Izuku Midoriya um, and Miss Willow Said I should talk to you about my hybrid consultation" Izuku grounded internally Why can't he just Act like a normal person "Ooh is this about the shark hybrid? " "Yes, I think something is, really wrong with her" "What makes you say that Mister Midoriya? " " She just looks sick I can't really explain it," he said Hearing a sigh on the udder side of the call " That's not a lot to go off of but that's ok Send me your address and I'll come over " " I sent it " "Got it I'll see you in a minute" ending the call he looks down at your sleeping form one last time before standing up and walking to the kitchen

"I should start meal prepping for her I bet she's hungry I wonder what she eats. Row meat, maybe I guess I mean, she is a carnivorous hybrid, but maybe she'll like some fruit or maybe a home-cooked meal, ok, I think I got just the perfect recipe in mind something little on her stomach so she won't get any Tommy problems oh I maybe should person her food, for now, I don't want her overeating herself to the point she gets sick I bet her tummy isn't were strong she looks like she doesn't eat a lot since she is so skinny but I bet a good meal sold plump her up and give her more energy he thought to himself "he mumbled to himself well walking to the kitchen

Izuku hummed a little town well cooking he was almost done he just needed to portion it out not too little and not, too much when he stopped what he was doing when he heard his doorbell ring he looked in the direction of his door he Immediately knew how it was finishing up he plated your food before going to the door and opened it to find a Young boy standing there " hey I'm JC the guy you called about your hybrid being sick " he said giving a friendly smile

"Oh good you're here" Izuku smiled handing him a per of slippers "Yeah sorry I took so long it was not easy getting here" "Oh it was no trouble it gave me time to make food for her " "That's great the best way to a hybrid heart is through their stomach and whatever it is smiles amazing " " oh tanks come on in " he nods and takes off his shoes replacing them with the supers "so where is dis were sick and Aggressive hybrid I've heard so much about " " oh she is still sleeping in a room" "a room? And not her room?" " well you see I wasn't planning on bringing a hybrid back dis soon so I didn't have time to set up a proper room for her jet "Izuku rumbled Nervously "it ok I was only Teasing you, please I know the number one hero can afford to take care of one hybrid, "he said making Izuku scratching the back of his head and let out a Nervously laugh " now let's take a look at this hybrid leads the way "Izuku nods and starts walking in the direction of the room you're in opening the door for JC to walk in first before following him in and closing the door behind them

He Wasted no time Walk right up to your sleeping form JC crouches down, and pools off the blanket covering your body, he moves your body to lay on your side more to see your body better look back at Izuku he asks "Hey did you get a copy of her medical records it will make dis Process a little easier if I know what's wrong with her" he asked

Izuku nods and runs out of the room to go grab the medical report he got from the hybrid shelter leaving JC alone with you just for a minute to go and find it as he was doing that JC took the opportunity to take off the Disgusting looking shirt you were wearing to take a look at your gills looking over your now naked body he noticed the old bruise that where fading into a Weird shade of greenish yellow Color as well as the Cutts that was Stitch up that At least didn't look Infected but just needed a good wipe of an Alcohol swab some of the cuts look old and had already Healed into an ugly looking Scholar that could be, potentially painful to the Touch if not treated correctly "hmmm" finely Lifting your arm to see your gills he saw how red and swollen they looked they were probably Itchy to but what he did notice was that there was an attempt to At least clean them but plan old water won't help for dis bad of an Infection.

He knew that if this wasn't resolved quickly, you might suffocate Even if you could breathe through your mouth and nose there, just still would be Enough Air for you to function properly, and Technique you were Suffocating to death slowly he could Imagine that this wasn't a fun way to go No wonder you were so angry you are Barely-breathing and everyone keeps getting in your personal space it was probably making you claustrophobic " you're not an Aggressive hybrid you're just a cranky hybrid no wonder you were so Nippy if I was in your shoes I would want to bite every one too " he said giggling to himself.

Pooling out a mixture of fish oil and antibiotics, he stuck two fingers into the mixture and started massaging it into every slit of your gills and hooking his fingers into big clamps of brown slime that your gills wood have natural products to make sure your gills stay Moist except that it should be see-through and not stink like Something that came out of a sewer it Shouldn't clump together like this

finish with the one he gently rolled you onto your udder side to start the process all over again Finishing up your gills, he took out a pack of baby wipes and wiped your gills clean hoping that now you'll cold At least be able to breathe better than before

seeing your gills twitching made him smile because that meant that he wasn't too late to save theme and that there was still hope for you to live a normal life

The door opened Revealing Izuku he had finally found the medical record walking toward the two of you as he got closer he noticed that you were naked looking at JC questionably before he saw that your gills were being cleaned making him sigh in relief sitting next to him Izuku handing him the report "ah there you are, my friend, I thought you might have ran away " he said jokingly " no I just got sidetracked is all " he lied "so what were you doing to her if you don't mind me asking " JC Hummed look at your medical report before looking up at him " I cleaned out her Gills you see because of her infection it was swelling up her Gills preventing her from Breathing so I just made it a bit easier for her to breathe " he said smelling continuing to read the report " but couldn't she just breathe through her nose or something "Izuku asked Nervously " yes and no let me explain yes she can breathe through her nose and mouth bit that can only take in a Certain amount of oxygen like give or take about a quarter of a lung full which in her Case is not a lot to Oxygen to contribute to the brain and organs evenly at the same time Essentially not only was she Suffocating to death but her organs where potentially shutting down as well it also explains why her wounds aren't heeling as fast as they should " Izuku steered at him blankly slowly freaking out he felt like he was about to have a panic attack and pass out all at the same time he didn't even know you were having trouble breathing and now he knows that you could have potentially die for it

Noticing Izuku internally freaking out JC spoke hoping the good news would At least calm him down " Or that, what would have happened if it was too late to treat it bit lucky for us, we got to it on time " he said with a nervous smile "but that Enough of that let's move on yeah " Izuku take a deep breath and nodded for him to continue

"I see I'm afraid there isn't a lot we can do for the broken ribs but the leg can still be fixed let's just see here," he said poking and prodding your right leg to find the brake and telling Izuku to hold you still making your wine in pain every time the two bones scrape together it made him feel so guilty " ok I've good news and bad news the good news is it was a clean break and can be fixed without surgery the bad news is it is going to hurt to reset it and I don't have pain killers for her do you still want to do this " "I mean Yeah we already come dis fear met as well get it over with" "ok let me go get my splint for my car and we can start," he said running to his car to get the splint giving Izuku time you

Looking down at you he noticed the goosebumps you were getting from the cold in the room Looking around he spotted the blanket you sleeping with off to one corner of the room pulling it Towards you, he covered your body but kept your legs open and gently patting your head how long have you been like dis years, months, however, did dis to you was a monster Izuku toke dis time to calm down before he had to fix your broken leg (I didn't even realize how bad it was how did she even stand up and walk to that gate that day I saw her)

Hearing JC's footsteps coming closer Izuku readied himself "ok I got it just a simple split bit for that part of the leg it will work so I'll need you to hold the leg steady after I've set it into place and then I'll wrap it ok" "ok" thank god you were asleep for all dis but at least it went by fast it was as simple as one, two, three and the bone was back in its place with little fussing for you just a few wins and a were paid hiss came from you but you settle down quickly once more finally done all they had to do was wrap it up Tightly and prop it up with a pillow to keep you from bumping it " ok what next let's Tackle that Yeasting Infection lucky dis is Easy to resolve," he said pooling his backpack close he opened a paced with an injection looking things but Without the needle and a tube of Antifungal cream out he puts the heat of the Syringe to the opening of the tube and Fills the syringes with cream " ok mister Midoriya lift her legs for me so I can give her the medicine "nodding Izuku lifts your broken leg gentle to not hurt you more " after dis what else do you have to check " "hmm after this I think we're done unfortunately there is nothing we can do for the torn muscles and ligament except giving her a Ice pace , applying pressure and Of course a lot of Reist "

" And we're done you can put her leg down now" "Tanke god Is she going to be okay now " "Yes with some painkillers and some Medicine I think she'll make a full recovery so let's start with the most vital point her Gills I Applied a self-made ointment since I'm doing my work study at a hybrid marine lab so I made this it will help with her Gills," he said handing Izuku a container that small like fish making Izuku face Winkle at the small JC Chuckle before continuing " for her Genetics use the Antifungal cream Apply it twice a day " " that it That shouldn't be too hard " " Yeah that's the spirit now if she still looks sick to you Give her a suppository oh and keep an eye on that leg she might need a walking brash in the future if she is in pain when walking also keep dose Stitches clean ok don't want dose geting infected too" " got it lots of rest and medicine "nodding ,JC Stood up and walking to the door Izuku following closely behind him "thanks for coming again on Such short notice "Izuku said walls opening the door " it was no problem feel free to call me about Anything Concerning her ok " JC's walk a few steps before Tuning to him " please take care Midoriya " he said before walking to his car

Closing the door Izuku sighed in relief he didn't mind having people in his house, but he also preferred his privacy even more so now because of you he wanted this to be your safe space and people coming and going might freak you out so for now it is just going to be him, you'll be interacting with

Looking at the time he noticed how late it had gotten and he still had work to do walking to the closet he Pools out a bucket, a Sponge, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner he might as well clean you up a bit since you are in one place walking back he pulled the covers off you and apologized for the cold telling you it will all be over soon removing the muzzle from your face before starting

So, for the next three and a half hours Izuku washed you scrubbing at the dirt on your body taking extra care when it came to your Scar and stitches wiping all of them down with a clean cloth before wiping them down with Alcohol wipes and applying a numbing cream, he suedes on his scars he even got the dirt between your Lizard-like toes

Looking at the bottom of your feet he noticed how Rough and Cracked your paw pads were your toenails needed to be filled down too unless he wanted to be shredded to Pieces by them if you didn't take to Kindly to him

Filling down your nails and paw pads, Izuku could Almost Laugh at how Similar your toes looked like a cat's and how every time his finger ran over the now were soft pads with Lotion, your foot would Twitch a little

The more he washed the more dirt came off and the more he could see your s/c skin and how your scales were so small that if you didn't look closely, you would have Mistaken it for Glitter it was even more Visible on your legs, and arms, tail and your cheekbones

Finally done with your body it was now the part he was dreading the most your hair he started from the bottom working in the shampoo to loosen the knots that were held together by dirt and mud it took an hour to get the Matts out but he did it he was on his last drops of conditioner just running it through your hair whit his fingers before rinsing it all out.

He could finally see your hair running his fingers through you h/c h/l to get all of the product out after every rinsing before drying it with a towel once you were all Dry he Decided To take a small break looking at your now Clean body How knew Something so rare was so Gorgeous you're Definitely going to cause him some trouble with the praise picking up the slime JC had frow on the floor wiping it off before walking out with everything only coming back once everything was cleaned and put away did he finally come back to fix your bed and dress you in one of his old t-shirts

He lay you down again and covered you up in a blanket before leaving the walk to his bedroom was long but once he got to his bedroom he flopped down onto his bed and the moment his head hit that pillow he was out. It wasn't every day he could go to bed early he had a lot of responsibility from his students to his hero work and an ever-growing list of things to do and you were now one of them now he knows how Mister Aizawa felt but he wouldn't have it any udder way

#mha fanfic #bnha x reader #hybrid reader #shark hybrid #izuku midoriya #izuku x reader #fanfiction #mha izuku #y/n #mha #izuku midoriya x reader

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opossumloverr · 11 months ago

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✞°•I DON'T BELIEVE IN GHOSTS•°✞

(Based on this song, I know you know this song. don't lie to me)

Summary:

Turtle bros with a ghost reader!

Warning(s):

Some cursing!

A/N:

I MUST BE DREAMING CAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IN GHOST YEAH, sorry, anyways, idk I just felt a little silly today, and I really do love this song. also I'm trying a different style DONT BULLY ME IT TOOK ME LIKE AN HOUR TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DO GRADIENT

It was a chilly October night, the leaves rustled as the four brothers made their way towards an abandoned graveyard. The atmosphere was dark and gloomy, but they were determined to explore the area, for reasons unknown to anyone but themselves.

"I don't like this, guys. Let's turn back," the youngest brother, Mikey, shivered.

"What? No way! You said you were bored, Mikey. This is exactly what we need to get our blood pumping!" another brother exclaimed.

"He was bored, Leo, not us. You didn't have to drag us all here," one of the brothers groaned in annoyance.

"Sorry that Mr. Bootyshaker9000 wanted to stay indoors and rot. I'm preventing the inevitable!" Leo clapped back.

"I'm trying to prevent hitting you with my Tech Bo," Donnie gripped his weapon tighter.

"Try it, you won't," Leo egged Donnie on.

"You little…" Donnie scowled, lifting his weapon before getting interrupted.

"Enough! Fighting is not the memo right now! Now you two cut it out or else I'll…wait, what was that?" the oldest brother paused on his scolding to scope out the area. A pungent smell of perfume floated in the air, and chills went down their spines.

"I'm getting really bad vibes here! I told you we should've gone back to the lair!" Mikey exclaimed.

"Don't be such a party pooper, Mike! It's probably all in our heads," Leo tried to come up with a reasonable explanation, but a gust of wind shut off all of his thoughts.

"What was that?!" Raph exclaimed.

"It's a ghost!" Mikey chattered.

"That is preposterous, Michael. There is no such thing as a ghost-"

"No, he's right."

They all screamed in unison, clinging onto Raph. "AH!"

《RAPH》

After the shock and some failed punching attempts, he finally decided to talk instead of fight, and it was a delightful conversation

yall sat down and talked for hours, He asked a few questions, and you answered them

he made sure not to ask personal questions, like how you died and stuff (unlike Donnie, that insensitive prick)

was kinda sad when he had to go, but gotta make sure pops doesn't worry,

he promises he'll see you again

a few weeks later you show up in his room, sitting down calmly on his bed, or, erm, floating.

he threw multiple items at you before calming down and realizing that it was you, what were you doing here? how did you know where he lives?

all of those questions were brushed off when he heard that you just wanted to see him, and only him.

his heart pounded in his plastron, you wanted to see him? big ol' him? cue huge tail thumping into the ground

yall talked for HOURS, him talking about Lou Jitsu- wait, you've never watched Lou Jitsu? he's inviting you to family movie night. there's no getting out of this.

over the months, the both of you got close, he no longer throws objects or tries to throw hands when he sees you!

enjoys the company when he lifts weights

"Wow, those seem heavy," you said, impressed by his muscles as he lifted the weights.

"They are heavy, but don't worry, Raph's got gains!" he replied, flexing his muscles with a curl-up.

"Can I try?" you asked, reaching out your hands.

"Sure, but be careful. I'll be here to spot ya!" he said, passing the weights to you.

However, you forgot that you were transparent and accidentally dropped the weights on his tail, causing him to scream in pain.

"Oops! I forget I'm transparent sometimes... You just make me feel so alive..." you said sheepishly.

"I-I make you feel alive?" he questioned, seemingly forgetting the intense pain in his tail.

HES SOSOSO SILLY GUYS I CAN'T

《LEO》

He had never sliced a portal open this fast

before he could dive head-first into his portal you floated in front of it

you just wanted to talk... okay... but he's keeping a close eye on you

a few minutes later he's blabbing about Jupiter Jim to you, you've never watched it? what? do you live under a rock? or... a grave...

and you seem so interested! he could talk about it for hours! you know he could.

he literally clung onto the ground when it was time to leave, complaining as Raph dragged him away

he shouted a quick "See you soon"

he saw you soon alright, in his room, looking at his pile of Jupiter Jim comics curiously

He literally screamed like a girl

Oh! it's just you... where did you come from? oh, you just wanted to see him, not his brothers? him?

boosts up his ego by 100x

"I knew you couldn't get enough of me" type of energy

proceeds to yap about Jupiter Jim some more, what? it's YOUR fault for indulging in his hyperfixations

yall are the talker and listener duo

"And so Jupiter Jim was all like- pew pew pew! and the aliens were all like- Ohno! and then- hey, hey [NAME], are ya listening?" He questioned,

"Mhm, go on, I'm all ears"

Leo's eyes widened, and small churrs could be heard "OKOK! And then Jupiter Jim was all like, no way jose!"

He just like me fr

《DONNIE》

There is no logical way this could be happening! ghosts? really?

immediately started asking questions, why do you exist? how do you exist? would you perhaps be interested in some experiments, y'know, for scientific purposes (definitely not for his own personal questions)

his questions just kept on coming and coming, some of them being more insensitive than the last, he would've said more if Raph didn't smack him on top of the head...

but you were happy to answer them non the less

when they had to skedaddle he was pissed, how dare they interrupt! can't you see there was science in the making?

he says he'll come to you, for more questions of course, nothing more... (cap)

he didn't expect you to come to him.

he jumped a little but then started going into his "I ask you, answer" mode

Experiments on you (with consent ofc)

discovers you have telekinesis

you two grew close, his experiments died down the more he learned about you

now, he just really enjoys the company

just knowing that you're there watching him while he tackles a project gets him so motivated

you're like his little assistant

"[NAME], be a dear and pass me that wrench over there," he asks, hand out, palm open,

"You got it boss" you floated the wrench toward him, and he grabbed it

"Thank you, you really are a great help, [NAME]"

"Just glad to be here Don-tron!" you smiled, not noticing the slight wag to his tail.

He really appreciates you

《MIKEY》

He just kept screaming and screaming until you snapped him out of it

what? why aren't you trying to take his body? and why aren't you freakishly creepy, you just looked like a normal person, minus the floating and transparency

Oh, you just wanted to talk? well, as long as you don't possess his body he's all for it!

The conversation was amazing! he got so much more information about ghosts, he's even more fixated on them now!

you got this turtle laying on the ground, twirling his mask tails in his fingers, kicking his feet, saying "Ooh! Tell me more!"

was whining like a puppy dog when he had to get up on out of there, puppy dog eyes did not work in his favor tonight..

he swears up and down that he will visit you, just wait!

I guess you've waited long enough, because the following week you were caught snooping around his room

he screamed, yes, he won't lie.

but it's not his fault that you popped up out of nowhere!

then starts talking to you like he didn't scream like 100 decibels

Just yip yap yapping away, but you don't mind, you enjoy socializing with him

kinda sad that he can't touch you though, sometimes he wants nothing more than to wrap his arms around you

you're his muse! asks you to pose for him, and you happily oblige

"Okay just keep that position, right there, perfect! such an amazing muse for me!" He smiles,

"Well, it's easy to pose when I have such a wonderful artist painting me" You replied,

"Awe shucks, don't compliment me like that! you're going to give me an ego" he chirps happily

lala and okok duo. that's all I have to say.

BOO! HAPPY NEW YEARS GUYS OMGOMG 2024 IS HOPEFULLY GONNA BE A GREAT YEAR, HERES A LIL DITTY I WROTE, I HOPE YA LIKE IT, IM GETTING ON MY GRIND RIGHT NOW, I love ya! Merry 24, also I was watching Coryxkenshin while writing, shout out to the shogun. There also MIGHT be some grammar mistakes, kinda rushed to get this out

#Spotify #x reader #rottmnt #raphael rottmnt #donnatello rottmnt #leonardo rottmnt #michelangelo rottmnt #rottmnt x reader #tmnt x reader #tmnt #rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #teenage mutant ninja turtles

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obsidiancreates · 2 years ago

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OKAY THE PROMISED REINCARNATION AU

As I said, I read a fic with 2012 boys having died and reincarnated into the Rise universe and adopted by the Rise boys and it gave me IDEAS so anyway

So I want Max Angst when the 2012 boys remember their past lives. I don't know exactly when they died, but I'm having Monster Arc and Heart of Evil and stuff be canon, but not Mutant Apocalypse. Again, not sure how/when they died to make this possible. But it WAS before they turned 20.

They're reincarnated as lil' babies, just tiny lil' guys. They're born to a normal turtle but uh, they aren't normal turtles, so the owner of their turtle freaks out and puts them in a box in a random alleyway. And then, as luck would have it, Señor Hueso opens Run of the Mill one day to find a box of small mutant baby turtles. With a deep sigh, he takes the box inside, feeds them some veggies, and calls up Leo.

"Ah, Pepino, none of you or your brothers have had any... flings lately, have you? No? Well, I ask because a box of baby turtles were in front of the door today-"

He's not even finished with the sentence before a portal opens up and all four Rise boys (probably early to mid twenties in ages) and Splints tumble out. Splints grabs the box, looks inside, and says "We'll take them!"

"That was easier than I thought."

They order some pizzas while there, of course, and get to know these tiny babies while they wait. They all seem to be the same species of turtle, and all the same age.

Now in the fic I read each Rise Boy raised their counterpart, which is great, but it could also be cool for them to be raised by their non-counterparts too? Like I could see 2012 Raph having been raised by Rise Mikey and 2012 Leo being raised by Rise Donnie? I think for this we'll have their own counterparts raise them but food for thought, let me know what other Father-Son pairings you'd do personally.

Anyway for the rest of this I'll be referring to Rise as Raphie, Leon, Angelo, and Donald, and 2012 as their usual nicknames.

Raphie holds the second smallest baby and coos at him, wiggling a finger over his face and watching the way the baby tracks it with beady little eyes. None of them seem to have irises or sclera at first, but Donald says it could just look like that because they're so young, the same thing happens with kittens who've just opened their eyes. As Raphie coos over the baby and waves his finger around, the baby scrunches up his face and starts to cry! Raphie panics for a second, but Splints shows him how to properly cradle the baby and soon lil' Raph is asleep.

Yes, they name their sons after themselves, Because They Would Do That, but also because Splints kept accidentally calling the babies those names anyway and they didn't want to confuse the little guys too much.

Donald holds baby Donnie up like he's examining a peculiar invention for a bit, and baby Donnie just smiles at him and makes baby sounds. After a bit of examining Donald cradles Donnie in one of the battle shell's robot arms and begins softly singing a little Dewey Decimal System rap he made up and baby Donnie slowly falls asleep as well.

Angelo is just gushing over this cute little baby and making all the silly faces, and baby Mikey is giggling and babbling non-stop, reaching up and lightly slapping Angelo's face with his lil' baby hands and it is The Cutest Ever! Angelo's heart is stolen and it sets the path for Mikey to be So Spoiled in the future.

Leon holds the last baby, a quiet and calm little guy who's just staring at him. He's a little creeped out, to be honest, and nothing he's doing to make the baby laugh is working. Then Hueso brings over the pizzas, and Leon grins and says "We'll need 'em, raising these guys is going to leave us, uh bone tired." And maybe it's the voice he uses or the cocky grin but that finally makes baby Leo laugh! And Leon's heart melts because the baby likes puns this is perfect.

So they take them home and bam! Four sons now! April is hanging out with Casey and Casey Jr when she gets the text "YOU'RE AN AUNT NOW!" and of course this makes her very concerned so all three of them head right for the lair and they enter to find Draxum on the couch with a book on child development, Splints playing peek-a-boo with a single bassinet full of four baby turtles, and the four brothers all eating as Draxum tosses out little snippets of advice from book and they all nod.

"Where'd you get those?" April says, pointing at the bassinet.

"Someone left them outside of Run of the Mill? Can you believe it? Four perfect little angels and someone didn't want them!" Angelo coos. At that moment baby Raph starts crying again, frustrated by the peek-a-boo game (and a little scared that Splints keeps disappearing).

Anyway, the four are raised as brothers and not cousins because non-nuclear family structures for the win, and it's great! They're all a little more well-adjusted than their past selves were. Raph's anger issues are taken more seriously and Angelo and Raphie talk with him a lot about it and help him find ways to manage it. Donnie feels way less insecure/resentful of being a mutant because he grows up around humans and mutants alike this time and goes out to the surface way sooner, and as we all know it's a lot easier to pass as humans with very little effort in the Rise world. Mikey's ADHD is like, taken seriously and everyone knows he's not dumb, just impulsive and has trouble paying attention (sometimes though he just chooses to be a little shit and they still get mad at him for those times).

I actually think Leo will end up the most The Same, just because his drive to be perfect/severity/endless pressure on himself doesn't really start until after he's made Leader in 2012, before that he seems mostly normal (for a teenage mutant ninja turtle anyway).

Wow this was meant to be an angst AU but Baby Cuteness got to me. Well I'll put the angst under a Read More I guess so y'all who don't want it can just have this happiness.

So when they're about 15, they start feeling more restless. They have a lot of fun with their family, but they haven't done much of the hero stuff. Their dads have tried to keep it to a minimum (it can never be Zero for them, but they have a strict "Let us get our kids home or at least ignore them while they hide" policy with the villains and most of them, like Warren and Hypno, don't mind and totally oblige and yes this is partly because The Rise Boys are intimidating parents and partly because why would they beat up an eight-year-old?)

So they've been minorly involved in some fights, but gosh, they're just kids. Their dads remember how fun it was to fight bad guys at their age, but also how damaging it was in the long run. And for the most part, their sons have been fine with it. They've gone a few minor fights here and there, even have a nemesis of their own (Hypno and Warren adopted a yokai girl, some kind of bird I think, and she's the most pompous person alive, their fights are never intense though because her dads are also protective) and it's been fine.

But it's like a switch flips, and suddenly they're constantly itching to go out. Suddenly Raph's having trouble remembering his anger management methods. Suddenly Mikey's acting up more than usual. Suddenly Donnie's patience is paper-thin. Suddenly Leo's being bossy and demanding of his brothers.

Well, "suddenly" isn't quite right. It's slow, but it definitely starts on their 15th birthday. And it just keeps getting worse.

And they're having nightmares. Lots of them. Donald rushes into Donnie's room one night after hearing screaming to find Donnie clutching his arm to his chest and sobbing incoherently about needing to find Mikey and Raph because he's after them, but come morning when Donald asks all Donnie can remember is "Something big hit me, and I knew they weren't safe either."

One night Leon hears a crash and runs into Leo's room to find his son crying, having fallen out of bed and landed on his knee funny and he's holding his throat begging to see his brothers. Again, come morning all he remembers is that he'd been in a bad fight and They Weren't Safe.

Angelo wakes up to Mikey crawling into his bed, shaking and quietly crying, and mumbling about squirrels and evil moms and all kinds of terrible things, and Angelo hugs him and calms him down. In the morning Mikey just says he might need to stop reading horror comics.

Raphie can't even comfort his son because Raph screams when he sees him through sheep-glazed eyes and backs away and begs and begs to leave him and his brothers alone, and he calls out for Leo over and over until his brother and uncle in blue both come in and Leo hugs Raph and the two fall asleep in each other's arms. In the morning Raph just says he thinks Donnie's nightmare from before got to him, and that something else got Leo and got him bad.

And they become so tired. They can barely sleep anymore. Leo's leg should be fine by now, it was just bruised, but he keeps limping. Donnie keeps staring at nothing, lost in thought, and all he can say when someone asks what's wrong is he feels like they're missing something, someone, and he's taking minor failures so hard now. Raph keeps looking around the lair like he's expecting something to jump out at them, keeps gripping his sai like he'll need to use them at a moment's notice. Mikey keeps acting desperate to be heard whenever he suggests something, and he keeps checking the freezer and tearing up when whatever he's looking for that he doesn't even know isn't there.

There's some nights where they don't scream or go to their dads. There's some nights, that only them and their grandpa know about, where they sneak into Splints's room and ask if they can just stay there for a little while. Sometimes all of them end up in there at once, and Splints wakes up to them gathered around his bed, leaning up against it as they sleep with weapons in hand. He never tells anyone, just shakes Raph and Leo awake so they can carry their brothers back to bed, and he goes with to tuck them all in. And sometimes on those nights, when the boys are half-asleep and mumbling, he thinks he hears them call him 'Sensei'.

And then there's the way they fight.

Their dads are all deeply concerned the first time they do some sparring after their 15th birthday. Because they seem to forget to pull back.

Leo flips Mikey with full strength and Mikey swings his nunchucks without bothering to aim away from Leo's limbs. Raph slams his shoulder into Donnie's chest hard enough to completely knock the breath out of him and then Donnie jabs the end of his bo into Raph's chest right back so hard that it cracks the wood. Draxum and Splints break them up, always on the sidelines watching with pride in their grandsons, and The Rise Dads scold them all for being so brutal to their own brothers.

It's during a fight with Meatsweats and some new cooking assistant of his that they learn Donnie and Mikey added some blades to their own weapons. And all four go for a kill blow when they get the chance. Meatsweats is out of there faster than you can say "Cowabunga", bruised and bloodied, and the dads have another talk with their sons. Something along the lines of "You can't be 15 year old murderers!"

And then there's the anger. All four of them are suddenly so very, very angry. And not in the short-tempered way Raph's been his whole life, or the easily irritable way Donnie's always been. They're all deeply, painfully, angry. And none of them can really explain why. Just that it feels like they lost something.

And then, one day, Donald is wearing his mystic-seeing goggles when Donnie enters the lab. And what he sees chills him to the core.

He sees this overlay. It's Donnie, but not. The overlay is a little taller, a little older, and horrifically scarred on every inch of his body. His shell and plastron are littered with scratches and chips. He's got small scars and nicks all over his body. He's got a big one on the arm Donald remembers him clutching after his first nightmare. He's got horrific burn scars on his head and face, like someone electrocuted him over and over and over without mercy, and there's burn scars everywhere else too but those look circumstantial and the ones on his face looks purposeful. There's so much visible pain, all over this overlay of his son, his son. And it doesn't even look much older, maybe four years older at most, and-

And it's so angry.

It's a transparent purple, a sort of lavender color the same as Donnie's mask, but it's eyes are a solid and stark white. They're narrowed, and his mouth is set in a deep scowl. Tears drip down his face non-stop, but it's like the overlay isn't even aware he's crying from the way he just radiates anger.

And Donald grab Donnie's arm, panicking, and lifts his goggles.

His son is looking at him in confusion and concern, and he's fine. He's got one scar, and it's just from a skateboarding accident he had when they were around 10 and his elbow pad slipped up when he skid across the ramp. He's not scowling, he's not crying, and he's trying to get his dad's attention.

"Could you get your brothers and uncle?" Donald asks, and Donnie nods and runs off.

When they get back Donald has set up a large x-ray like machine. He asks the boys to stand behind it, and explains to his own brothers that he put his mystic crystal into this machine to check something. He explains, quietly, that he saw something that half-explains what's been going on with their sons.

And he turns it on.

And oh, god.

Raph's overlay has a large chip taken out of the right corner of his plastron, and just like his brothers, is littered in scars on every inch of him. His overlay is scowling and crying and white-eyed, and it's body language is so much more tense. Raph himself is just sitting there, arms crossed, a little annoyed but not too upset, until he looks up and sees his dad and uncles crying.

Mikey such a strange one to see, scowling like that, just so full of anger and pain. Like Raph he doesn't seem to have any huge scars, until he bends over for a second because he dropped something and all over the back of his shell there are these discolored spots, like something broke it open from the inside and it had to heal back over. The thought makes Angelo's heart and stomach drop and makes him need to lean again Raphie.

And Leo. None of the overlays are free of scars, hundreds of scars, but Leo... he has the most small ones small but deep, like shards of glass stuck into his skin and had to be pulled out. He's got a jagged, messy scar on his throat that wraps almost all the way around to the back, and they can see another all-encompassing scar around his newly-bum knee. There's so many scars that follow such a specific pattern, two blades spaced apart in such a precise manner slashed across him without mercy and-

Draxum and Splints had followed, and they're both silent, horrified, and Draxum quietly says, "I think... those overlays are their souls."

And suddenly the whole family has a new mission: find out why their boys have such wounded souls. Find out who did this to them. Find out how to fix it.

They don't tell the boys what they saw, and it's for the best, because the nightmares keep getting worse and now they have scars they can place some of the half-remembered stories to. And they start to piece together that the boys are remembering some other life, some other world, and is this some kind of curse or something else? Is it another world bleeding through and affecting their boys, or is it possible they came from that world?

And then, as they're struggling to figure this out and to help their boys through sudden new PTSD episodes and triggers that their boys don't understand the cause of, then...

A portal opens somewhere in New York.

A pink, triangular portal.

And they find somewhere to point all the anger they have for their boys.

(I also have another version of this where they don't discover what's happening until The Rise Dads are captured by the 2012 Kraang and the 2012 boys, who fully remember their past lives, charge in to save them, and their Ninpo manifests as they can reach into the other world and pull things through like The Shellraizer and such, but it comes with the cost of their new bodies becoming more and more like their old ones, so their dads watch them fight incredibly viciously and pull all this stuff out of some other dimension and have to just watch as all these scars appear on them and they get older but suddenly they stop getting older very soon and that hurts just as much as seeing the scars and they're both horrified and in awe of how their sons are fighting.)

#tmnt 2k12 #tmnt 2012 #tmnt 2018 #rottmnt #tmnt crossover #reincarnated au

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normal-internet-user · 2 years ago

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BARRIER PT: 2

♡~~♡~~♡~~♡~~♡

Pt: 1 Pt: 3

Summary: Friday arrives, and Raph is more than happy to listen to you this time around.

Warnings: Swearing, smoking, dark humor and mentions of toxic family members.

Requested: Nope!

GN Reader!

.........................................

Friday couldn't have come fast enough.

You excitedly made your way up the stairs of your apartment complex, unlocking your front door.

You shed off your work clothes, changing into a much more comfortable pair of sweat pants and an old sweater. After grabbing a soda from your fridge, you shoved the sugary drink into your pocket, grabbing an extra one for Raph, you climbed up the fire escape outside your bedroom window.

Once you were on the roof, you set the soda you grabbed for your new friend ontop of the wall, sat on the ground, lit a cigarette, and so started the waiting game.

You looked out at the New York streets as you waited for Raph to arrive. You waited for around fifteen minutes, and began to grow anxious.

Was he actually gonna show up? I mean he wasn't obligated to, you were just someone he'd met once on a rooftop afterall. But he had said that he would show, and he didn't seem the type to back out of a promise...

You lit another cigarette, straining your ears for any sign of Raph. Hearing nothing, you cracked open your soda and took a sip, a dissapointed sigh escaping from inbetween your lips.

Just as you had finished your second cigarette, and were about to up and leave in dissapointment, you heard the soft thump signaling to your new friends arrival.

"You there, (Name)?"

You smiled to yourself, a sense of relief washing over you at the sound of his voice, "Yeah, I'm here Hotshot. what took you so long?"

You heard him sigh and the pop of a soda can, letting you know he had grabbed the one you had left for him, "My brothers wouldn't leave me alone. Had to wait a bit 'till fearless wasn't payin' attention to leave."

You hummed lowly, lighting another cancer stick, "Fearless is Leo, right?"

"Yeah. but, hey, enough about my family, we're talkin' about your old man today."

You took a drag of your cigarette with a dark chuckle, "Where do I even start." you muttered, "Let's see, my dad always was kind of a hardass, he's an ex-marine and he ran our house like a military operation. Mom left when I was 12, she was sick of Dad's shit. The bitch didn't even try to get split custody, just left. After that, Dad got worse."

You took another drag from your cigarette and continued, "He got real strict, I wasn't aloud to do anything. He had control of my whole life, my wardrobe, my friend group, my schedual. Everything."

"If something went wrong, it was always, always my fault. Even if I was at school when it happened. And I always believed him when he daid it was."

You snuffed out your cigarette, "I dropped out of highschool at 16, then moved in with a friend, anything to get out of there. Eventually I made enough money to move into my own apartment. I tried to go no contact with my old man, but somehow the bastard found my phone number and started calling me- I guess I just never had the balls to cut him off again."

You leaned your head against the wall, a low sigh sounding from inbetween your lips, and a lone tear falling down your face. You wiped your eyes with a chuckle.

"Damn." Raph muttered, "He doesn't know where you live, does he?"

"Why, you worried, Hotshot? But to answer your question, I don't think so. If he did he probably would have showed up before now."

Raph huffed, "Well that's good, if he ever shows up here, let me know, I'll take care of it."

You laughed, shaking your head, "Listen, Karate Kid, if he ever shows up here, I'll take care of it myself."

"Hey, if you ever need any help, I'm always in need of a new punching bag."

"Chill out, Raph." you said, giggling, "But if I ever need you to fight someone for me, I'll let ya know."

How long the two of you sat there and talked you had no idea, the only thing you knew was that you wanted it to last as long as possible.

You heard Raph sigh, "Listen, Shortstack, I gotta get goin' otherwise fearless'll have a heart attack."

You breathed out a laugh, "Shortstack? You don't even know how tall I am."

"Not many people are taller than me, call it an educated guess."

"Whatever, Hotshot. See you next Friday?"

"Yeah, next Friday."

You stood up and brushed yourself off. Picking up your empty soda can, you made your way back over to the fire escape, not knowing that a pair of candy green eyes were watching you go.

.........................................

Tag-list!

@turtle-babe83

@lazyafgurl

@allybutton

@dilucsflame33

@leleouwu

@pheradream15

@princessmads1820

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whatsnewalycat · 1 year ago

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Psychomanteum / Chapter 12

Pairing: Dieter Bravo x OFC Louella (2nd POV)

Chapter 12: Ghost in the Machine

Chapter Summary: You and Dieter go on a date while grappling with the past, present, and future.

Rating: Explicit (18+ only)

Word Count: 8.7k+

Content / Warnings: alternating pov, insecurities, mirror, angst, fluff, acting career things idk, awkward/nervous speech patterns, cocaine use, past infidelity, suspicion, dissociation, argument, abuse mention

Notes: Chapter title from "Ghost in the Machine" by SZA featuring Phoebe Bridgers. Howdy! If you want the taglist, or AO3 link, head on down to the masterlist. If you want a link to the spotify playlist for this chapter, let me know and I'll send it to ya.

[ Series Masterlist ]

Every window in the house sits ajar, welcoming a warm cross-breeze that tickles your skin. It carries an earthy scent from further up the hill, giving faint whiffs of sage and dirt.

Dieter moseys around the house in his boxers, voyaging between his kitchen sink and potted plants, watering can in hand. He mumbles sweet little affirmations to his green dependents, checking in with each in a hushed voice, saying shit like, “Now, how are we doing here? Thirsty?” or “Looking great today,” or “Wow, someone needs a haircut.”

From your place nestled into the couch, you alternate between watching him and studying the white wisps of steam that swirl off the surface of your coffee cup.

This morning, while peaceful, has you feeling off-kilter. Your mind keeps wandering to the interview with DIRT. To your mom. To Dieter.

Overnight, the dust began to settle in your mind, providing more clarity. Details started to surface shortly after you woke. Things you heard yesterday, but didn’t understand or deem important in the moment.

Like David’s statement: “Dieter has had a lot of big changes in his personal life this past year as well, with his divorce to Anika, and the scandals surrounding it.”

Like your mother saying: “He had a problem with drugs, you know, big problem, had other women, too,“ and, “I know he has a cocaine habit, and that he cheated on his wife, does that sound like anyone else?”

Like Dieter saying: “No, I definitely deserved that.”

In each still, calm moment, they replay. Every time you look at Dieter and your heart aches with love and adoration, your memory blindsides you with this information.

Is your mom right? Did he cheat on Anika?

Or is she just trying to drive a wedge between you?

Wouldn’t he have told you when he had the chance?

You know you could do a web search to look into it, do your own research into the matter. Hell, you could even just fucking ask him. But the prospect makes you itch.

Because what if she’s wrong and he thinks you don’t trust him? Or, worse, what if she’s right?

Fuck, what if she’s right?

Your blood starts to buzz hot and rapid through your veins. You look around for an escape hatch and see a bookshelf, then set your coffee cup down to approach it.

Among knickknacks and a few small plants housed on the solid oak shelves, you find titles you expect to see, like 1984 by George Orwell, The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, The Magic Mountain by Thomas Mann, and at least a dozen art reference books. You also find a few things you weren’t expecting, like Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy, half a dozen Julia Quinn novels, and, most importantly, a first edition of Betty Crocker’s Picture Cook Book.

You pull the cookbook out and examine it, running your fingertips along the frayed corners of the faded red hardcover, then flip it open, asking, “Why do you have this?”

Dieter looks up from an unruly Monstera, “Have what?”

“This cookbook,” you answer, padding across the living room’s black and white striped rug to show him.

He frowns as you hold it up, shaking his head, “Must’ve been Annie’s. She left some stuff behind when she moved out.”

“My grandma had this one,” you murmur, glancing up at him, “Is—is it ok if I look through it?”

He scoffs and shrugs, “Not like she’s coming to get it,” then returns his attention to the Monstera.

You settle into the couch, thumbing through the yellowed pages, reading recipes, tips, and instructions compiled for housewives of the 1950’s. Dieter finishes grooming his plants and plops down at your side, curling an arm around your shoulders, “Betty giving you any inspiration?”

“Fun fact: Betty Crocker isn’t an actual person,” you smirk, turn the page to the section on custard pies, and inform him, “In the 1920’s, a flour company noticed they got a lot of homemakers requesting baking advice, so they adopted the moniker Betty Crocker as a pen name for the people who answered the questions.”

“Huh,” he blinks, “Interesting.”

“Listen to this,” you flip to a dog-eared page towards the back of the book and start reading from it, “If you’re tired from overwork, house chores you’re bound to shirk, read these pointers tried and true, and discover what to do.”

“What’s that?”

“Tips for housewives who are fucking miserable,” you tell him, then read another excerpt, “Get outdoors every day. Take a walk, do some gardening, take the children for an outing, or pay your neighbor a short visit,” and another, “Harbor pleasant thoughts while working. It will make every task lighter and pleasanter. Notice humorous and interesting incidents to relate at dinnertime, etc.”

“Jesus,” he mutters.

You want to tell him that the page was bookmarked. Its connection to the spine, well-creased. Referenced often. The comment lingers at the back of your throat.

When you backtrack your place in the book, trying to resume your study on custard pies, a white index card slides from between two pages.

“Oh,” you pluck it out and furrow your brow at the ingredients, measurements, instructions printed in a precise script, “It’s a recipe for banitsa. You ever had this?”

“I don’t think so.”

“It’s like a flaky cheese pastry… phyllo, feta, yogurt,” you murmur, then glance up at him, “What do we have going on today?”

“Reservations at 7, and Darlene’s gonna stop by later, but other than that,” he grins and shakes his head, “Nada.”

So, the two of you smoke a joint on the patio while Lincoln picks up the called-for ingredients Dieter doesn’t have on hand. After Lincoln drops them off, you sanitize the sun-drenched quartz of Dieter’s kitchen countertop, all sparkling rainbows in the light. Dieter spreads a paint-splattered drop cloth across the no-man’s land between the dining room and kitchen, sets up an easel, equips it with a canvas, then rolls a little yellow file cabinet out next to it.

He puts on a mix of music described as roller-rink 1978. As the funky tunes play over the sound system wired throughout his house, you attach a bread hook to his matte black stand mixer and sift bread flour into its 7-qt bowl.

Then you go to work.

You concentrate on the task at hand in each given moment, taking it step-by-step. Measuring, mixing, and kneading. Trying not to think too long about the romance novels lining the bookshelf, or the recipe’s delicate handwriting, or the dog-eared page, or Dieter’s baited breath after he recounted why he and Anika split, or your mother saying, “I know he has a cocaine habit, and that he cheated on his wife, does that sound like anyone else?” Or David Alterman asking, “Do you worry that those patterns are bound to repeat themselves?”

Instead of these things, you try your hardest to occupy your hazy, pot-laced brain by separating the dough into equal pieces while humming along to ABBA and Elton John and Electric Light Orchestra.

When the recipe calls for the dough to rest for an hour, you clean your workspace, throw together the banitsa filling, and wash the dishes.

Then the timer tells you: seventeen minutes left.

You turn your attention to Dieter. His bare feet move fluid from side-to-side, paintbrush flitting between the palette and canvas as he lip-syncs along to “Hollywood Swinging” by Kool & The Gang. A grin stretches across your face.

They cannot be right about him. This is not the kind of man who has affairs. No fucking way. This man is an angel.

I’ve been fooled before.

You banish the thought with a quick shake of your head, then try to distract yourself by asking, “Do you still see ghosts?”

He looks up at you, then back at his work-in-progress with a shrug, “I don’t usually see them per se, it’s more like a, uhh… an understanding. Or a knowing, I guess. Like a picture in my head with a feeling attached to it.”

His features twitch animatedly as he talks, accenting his words, dark eyes glancing between the canvas and your face.

“It’s like… have you ever had intrusive thoughts?”

“Have I ever,” you snort.

“It’s like that,” he explains, “Like a flash of something. Not like that kid in the Sixth Sense, seeing them fuckin’ uhh… walking around and shit.”

You hop up onto the kitchen counter and inquire, “Where’s the most haunted place you’ve been?”

Dieter pauses mid-brushstroke and scrunches his face up as he thinks about this, resuming when he says, “Well, hotels are always the worst. They’re so transitive, you know, all this energy coming and going constantly. And the people stuck there… they usually went intending to have a good time, a vacation or party or whatever, and something happened to them. That, or… they went in with an intention not to come out and succeeded.”

The implication unfolds in your brain, and you nod.

“Either way they seem to have unfinished business,” he shrugs and squints at the canvas, smudging paint with his thumb, “Usually they’re harmless, so it’s pretty easy to ignore,” he pauses here, clears his throat, then continues, “But in terms of the worst vibes I got, like, uhh… how scared it made me feel, it was definitely Ethan.”

Blood drains from your face and extremities, leaving you cold and dizzy.

“I—I thought—wait, really?”

He squints up at the ceiling, like he’s re-evaluating his statement, then levels his eyes with yours with a nod, “Yeah. At first, at least. Like the first night I was there, I felt him and it was,” he furrows his brow and drops his gaze to the floor, “Dark. Really fucking dark. And I was already in a bad way, y’know, I went to your place straight from the airport and you were—”

“A fucking disaster?”

“A beautiful trainwreck,” he corrects with a persuasive smile. It falters as soon as he continues, “And I just had this big fight with Annie about the divorce and, uhh, stuff, and hadn’t used blow in a day or two, just… not great,” he swallows, then shakes his head, “I think maybe… he could sense that about me. It was a warning. I remember knowing that’s what it was.”

“Oh,” you breathe. Look down at your hands. Start picking at your cuticles.

“It was hard to stay. So… I left.”

“I didn’t think it was that bad. I’m sorry. I mean, he told me that he liked you—”

“It got better, really, love. It’s fine,” he assures you, then frowns, “Wait, he told you he likes me? Did you ask him about me or something?”

“Well, yeah,” you drop your gaze to the floor, “I just wanted to—I don’t know, see if he approved, I guess.”

His head jerks back and he blinks, “Oh.”

“Yeah—he, um, told me that he always liked you,” you tilt your head at your dangling legs and chuckle, “Told me you were a triangle guy.”

Dieter lets out a light puff of laughter.

“He asked if you make me happy,” you tell him, so quiet it’s almost a whisper, then look up to study his reaction.

He pulls his paintbrush from the canvas and stares at you, his eyes soft and searching, “And?”

A soft scoff flees your lips, and you say, “Of course you do, Dee.”

“Yeah?”

This crooked smile spreads across his face and makes your heart ache.

“Obviously,” you chuckle, grinning in return.

Dieter seems to think about this, pink tongue rolling along his bottom lip as his eyebrow quirks. He sets his palette down on the little yellow file cabinet, drops his paintbrush into a cup of water, then crosses the room towards you.

The way he looks at you seems to take a physical presence on your skin, making you shiver before he even reaches you. When he does, his hands slide up your bare legs, fingertips dipping under the hem of your jean shorts. His hips nudge your knees apart.

You hook your arms around his neck as he tugs you closer, brushing his nose against yours, “You make me happy, too.”

He kisses you, gentle for only a moment before your tongues meet.

It’s so soft and wet it makes you gasp. A rumble sounds from his throat and his grip tightens. You arch your back, balling his shirt in your fist

He guides your hand to the bulge in his sweatpants, “Do you feel that? How happy you make me?”

“That’s pretty fucking happy,” you grin, wrapping your fingers around his girth, over the soft fabric. You start to work him and he tosses his head back with a moan.

Your lips meet his again, finding depth. It’s a slow heat, the way you take your time with his cock in your grip and your tongue in his mouth. Drives him crazy. His breaths carry strained groans that tickle your throat and make your cunt throb.

When you roll your thumb against the damp spot in his sweatpants, he gasps, “Fuck–”

You hook a finger under his waistband, “I wanna see it.”

“Oh yeah?” he chuckles, pausing to drag his tongue against yours, earning a whimper from you, then says, “Any time, any place, he’s all yours, baby.”

And right when he starts to pull down his pants, the front door swings open.

You both jump and look towards the noise.

In walks Darlene, cell phone pinched between her ear and shoulder, talking to someone on the other line, “Yeah, I just got to Dieter’s house, I’m going to tell him—Yeah, I will—Ok. Ok.”

Dieter rearranges himself and meets your eyes, murmuring, “To be continued,” before turning to approach her.

“Yep, bye,” she tosses her phone in her designer bag and sighs, looking between the two of you, “Did I interrupt something?”

Your mouth gapes open. You shake your head and hop down off the counter, “We, um–we–”

Dieter cuts in, thank fucking god, responding, “No. What's the news?”

Darlene raises an eyebrow at him, then you. She leans back against the dining room table and crosses her arms, “Well, I raised hell at DIRT. David Alterman is on disciplinary leave. The interview will be published without the phone call tomorrow. So… we will see what happens.”

“Oh, that’s good!” you grin, glancing at the back of Dieter’s head, then to Darlene, “Thank you so much. And—and I’m sorry, you know, you had to deal with that.”

“That’s what I’m here for,” Darlene nods, flashing you a wane smile, then looks to Dieter, “Can I steal you for a sec? I have to talk to you about something.”

He clears his throat and nods, “Yeah,” then follows her outside.

You release a little chuckle and smile to yourself.

The timer goes off.

Dieter slides the door closed behind him, following Darlene around the centerpiece of his patio: a sprawling oak tree. He looks up into it as he trails behind, admiring all the twisted innards of the beast. When they step out of its shade and into the hot afternoon sun, he grimaces.

She plugs a cigarette between her lips and lights it, asking him on the exhale, “What was that about?”

“Nothing,” he takes a step forward and leans against the steel railing, peaking over the edge to look down the cliffside.

“How’s she doing since yesterday? That was a fucking mess,” Darlene leans on the railing beside him.

Dieter scrunches his nose up, shrugging, “Kind of hard to read, I guess. She seems fine. But–but I don’t know, she’s just,” he pauses here and frowns, “I think I would be freaking out if I were her, you know? But she’s not? And I don’t know what to do about that.”

She flicks her cigarette and raises her eyebrows, then sighs, “Actually, Dieter, that’s what I wanted to talk about with you.”

“About what? Lua? What about her?”

“Don’t take this the wrong way, but are you serious about this girl?”

“Jesus Christ, Darlene,” he groans, dropping his head, “Yes, I’m fucking serious. I wouldn’t be doing all this bullshit for just anyone.”

“It just seems like there’s a lot you haven’t figured out. Maybe some things you haven’t discussed,” she takes a drag and looks him up and down, “What if I got some intel that says she’s still selling drugs?”

He plays along, inquiring, “What kind of drugs?”

“Edibles. Pot brownies, shit like that.”

“I’d say your intel is bunk. She’s straight.”

“Well, I looked into it,” she blows a plume of blue smoke out into the canyon, “She has no online presence, no license, sells out of her apartment—I mean, it fucking reeks, Dieter. How’s she able to make enough to live in that area with no marketing?”

“She doesn’t make a huge profit. I mean, this month I helped her with rent—”

“You’re fucking kidding me. So she’s using you—”

“No, she’s not. I had to beg her to let me help. It’s not like that,” he maintains, shaking his head, “I mean, who’s your source? Why are you even looking into this?”

“I don’t trust her, Dieter! Something isn’t right, it’s not adding up.”

He pushes off the railing and pushes non-existent sleeves up his forearms, “Let’s say you’re right, and she’s selling edibles,” he stops for a beat, then scoffs, “Who fucking cares? Fucking pot brownies? Who gives a shit.”

“Movie studios care. The public cares. Doesn’t matter if it’s crack or pot, she’s a fucking drug dealer.”

“She’s not a fucking drug dealer, Darlene,” he snaps.

She stares at him. Takes a drag off her cigarette.

He kneads his neck, shifting his weight from one foot, to the other, before throwing his hands out in exasperation, “I need you to just believe that, for once, someone loves me and is good for me. Please.”

Darlene’s lips purse, “That’s what you said about Anika.”

“That—that’s different,” Dieter drops his gaze to the ground.

“Is it, though?” she blinks at him, “You swore that was it, that she wasn’t a gold digger, and yet… now she’s ex-Mrs. Dieter Bravo. Walked away with almost half your estate in return for not selling your secrets. She’s a rich woman now.”

“Yep,” Dieter sighs, skidding his toes against the mahogany deckboards, “I’m just a big fuck up, you got me there.”

“That’s not what I’m saying,” she asserts, “I just want you to really think about this before doing anything… rash.”

“I’m not going to run away and fucking marry her the first chance I get, ok?” he sneers, “Just—chill the fuck out.”

“Dieter, let me be perfectly honest with you,” she drops her cigarette and crushes it with the toe of her beige pump, “I worry it’s more than you just being cunt-struck again.”

His head jerks back and he scoffs.

She lowers her voice to a pleading tone, “Look, you’re falling headfirst into a serious relationship with this girl, she used to deal drugs, there’s all this shady stuff with her business, and… I just—I worry, are you, you know… are you ok?”

“Am I ok?” he repeats the question, drenching it with incredulity, “What the fuck do you mean, am I ok?”

She studies his face, crossing her arms. A meaningful tilt of her head tells him everything he needs to know.

His jaw gnashes from side-to-side and he shakes his head, “I’ve been clean for months, Darlene, because of her.”

“Alright,” she raises her eyebrows and blinks, “Good.”

“Do you believe me?”

Darlene shrugs, “If you say you’re ok, you’re ok.”

Bullshit.

“I am,” he confirms, his voice firm and final.

“Great,” she nods, then pulls out her phone and looks at the screen, “Alright, well, I’ll keep an eye on things after the interview drops and let you know how it goes.”

She stomps past him, the click-clack of her heels echoing out behind her, and exits out the side gate.

“Fuck,” he mutters to himself, shaking his hands out at his sides, rolling his neck as he starts towards the glass patio door.

Dieter walks beside you as the hostess leads the way through the busy restaurant. Everything around him is white noise. It doesn’t matter at all.

All that exists is his palm on the small of your back. His whole universe has boiled down to you, right now, draped in this white, flowing chiffon dress that Kelly picked out for tonight. You, all starry-eyed and dolled up, gawking at your surroundings because you’re just so damn excited to be at another fancy-schmancy restaurant.

Earlier today, while wrapped up in his sheets, you told him all about the menu, and haute cuisine, and French culinary history, and Escoffier. He closed his eyes and held your warm body in place next to his, content to listen to you chatter on as long as you’d allow him.

He loves that about you. How passionate you are in everything you do. How you slow to appreciate beauty in things like snowstorms, and layers in croissants, and even the subtle timbre of a cello woven into his favorite song.

“Listen close,” you told him when you pointed it out, “It’s fucking incredible.”

He did.

He felt the chords vibrate through him, resolute and melodic. It gave the music new meaning, and he couldn’t believe he’d never noticed it before. He notices every time he hears it now.

But that’s what you do.

Everything seemed so fucking boring before you. Meaningless. You opened his eyes to what was right in front of him and gave it new life. Gave him new life.

The hostess comes to a stop and gestures to a square table, laying a menu on either side of the white linen. You sit across from him and meet his gaze, face all lit up with that gorgeous fucking smile that makes his chest tighten.

“Do you have a strategy in mind here?” he asks, leaning forward onto the table, rubbing his hands together, “Food, wine, dessert, the whole nine yards?”

“I love that movie,” you comment mildly, “Bruce Willis is hot.”

He raises his eyebrows.

“What?” you laugh.

“Bruce Willis, really?”

You study him, clearly very entertained, “Why, are you jealous?”

He scoffs at this, “No—I’m just saying, though, he’s never even been nominated for an Oscar—”

“Oh, well in that case,” you roll your eyes and let out this dramatic sigh.

Dieter laughs and shakes his head, “Wow.”

“Ok, but really,” you turn your attention back to the menu. As you survey it, you tilt your head back and forth thoughtfully, clicking your tongue against the roof of your mouth. A mischievous smirk plays on your lips and you ask, “Did Darlene say we were allowed one glass or one bottle of wine?”

Dieter taps an index finger to his chin and grins, “I recall her saying bottle, don’t you?”

“Mmmm, yep, now that you mention it, I’m like… 99% sure she said bottle,” you agree conspiratorially.

He smiles up at you, but his breath hitches when something behind you catches his eye.

Or, someone, rather.

A bright tangerine dress tight around her petite, curvy frame. Loose chestnut curls flowing down her back. Glowing brown eyes locked onto his. A small smirk plays on her plump, shiny lips.

His spine straightens and he mutters under his breath, “You’ve gotta be fucking kidding me.”

You frown and follow his gaze to Lilly Stokes just as she pushes her chair back and starts towards the table.

“Dieter, hiiii,” Lilly croons, squeezing his forearm, “How are you, Pookie? It’s been a minute.”

Dieter watches your eyes flick between Lilly’s hand on his suit jacket, and her face, and Dieter’s face. He watches the gears turn. The light bulb turns on. Your eyebrows shoot up and you meet his gaze, then immediately drop your eyes to the tablecloth.

“Fine,” he answers and leans back in his chair, pulling his arm from her grasp.

Lilly glances back at her table, then to Dieter, “I’m here with Jay—you remember Jay, right?”

Dieter blinks at her, thinking, “We’ve been inside you at the same time, of fucking course I remember Jay.”

But what he says is, “Yeah.”

“Oh, duh,” Lilly waves off the obvious, then wets the seam of her mouth, eyes dragging along Dieter’s body, “We should merge tables so we can catch up.”

“Oh, no—” Dieter shakes his head and gestures to you, “We’re—”

Lilly finally seems to notice your presence and turns towards you, “Oh my god, Dieter, she’s so cute, are you two on a date?”

“Yeah,” he meets your eyes for a moment before telling Lilly, “This is Louella.”

“Lou-el-la,“ Lilly repeats, enunciating each syllable like she’s trying to commit it to memory, “You don’t mind, do you, beautiful?”

You stare at her for a beat like you’re trying to figure out what she’s asking, then stammer, “Me? Wh—I’m sorry, what?”

“It’s ok if we join you?” Lilly nods, batting her false eyelashes. She asks this in a condescending way, slowing her words down like she’s asking a toddler.

Your throat croaks as you look from her, to Dieter, who’s mentally pleading, “Please no,” then back to Lilly, “Uhh—I mean, sure?”

He deflates as Lilly calls Jay over and pulls out a chair. You mouth, “Sorry.”

Jay Blackburn, who looks like a poor man’s Alexander Skarsgård but six inches shorter, saunters over, a lopsided grin plastered on his smug face, “Bravo. Long time no see.”

“Yeah,” Dieter responds, shifting in his seat at the reminder.

Across the table, you gnaw away at your bottom lip, eyes downcast, your bubbling excitement replaced with this raw, nervous energy. He soaks it up like a sponge. It trickles down his backbone and seeps into his bloodstream as he wrings his hands together.

“Who do we have here?” Jay asks, dragging his eyes along your body, drinking in your beauty with zero fucking shame.

Dieter’s jaw clenches and cocks to one side. His leg starts to bounce.

“I’m Louella.”

A warm smile crosses your face and you extend a hand to him.

Jay takes it in his like a baby bird and presses a kiss into your knuckles, then releases you, “Jay Blackburn.”

“Oh—um, nice to meet you,” you say, glancing at Dieter, then at Lilly, “And you are?”

Lilly bristles at this, huffing a little before her mask of sweetness goes back up and she responds, “Lilly Stokes.”

“So nice to meet you,” you look from her to Jay, “Are you guys actors, too?”

“Um, no,” Lilly lets out this half-chuckle, half-scoff, “That’s so funny. No. Well, maybe someday. But for now I’m just a makeup artist, content creator, brand ambassador for Wowie Zowie Cosmetics, and model,” she counts each role on her fingers, then adds as an afterthought, “Jay is a wellness guru.”

You furrow your brow, “Wellness… guru?”

“Lifestyle coach,” Jay corrects, “Shepherding people to wellness through mindfulness, yoga, and nutrition.”

Dieter rolls his eyes.

“Ohhh,” you nod, “Wow, you’re both, like, really popular on the internet?”

“I have over 10 million followers,” Lilly advises, “So, yeah.”

“She didn’t know who I was, either, if that makes you feel better,” Dieter teases, casting a smirk your way.

You wince and shrug, “Yeah, I, umm… live under a rock, I guess. Sorry.”

“I like that,” Jay says, still eyeing you up like you’re a piece of fucking meat, “It’s refreshing. We should all be so lucky to be sheltered from the world in such a digital age.”

You raise your eyebrows, “I mean, I read the newspaper every day, so I’m very much aware of what’s going on in the world—“

“Right, but,” Jay starts.

“—Just, you know, stuff that matters.”

A stunned sort of silence falls over the table for a moment, then laughter erupts from Dieter’s throat. You grin at him, and Jay must think you were kidding, because he joins in on the laughter.

“You’re funny,” Lilly flashes this smile that doesn’t reach her eyes, then lets out an exasperated sigh and looks around, “Are we going to get some fucking service here or what?”

Throughout the meal, you remain quiet.

You don’t share your thoughts on the cuisine, or the wine, or the world-renowned chef. Your face stays painfully neutral as Lilly and Jay dominate the conversation, going on and on in a masturbatory fashion about their busy lives.

More than anything, Dieter wants to tell them to fuck off. He wants to tell them that neither of you fucking care about subscribers or algorithms or sponsorships. He wants to comment on the restaurant’s heavy-handed use of bear décor and kiss you and tell you he loves you.

But Darlene’s warning to be on his best behavior rings in his head.

Despite this, the one bottle of wine you agreed upon is easily negotiated up to two.

After the plat principal is cleared from the table, Lilly leans towards Dieter and asks “So, what’s new with you? We haven’t heard from you in, what,” she turns to Jay for confirmation, “Months?”

“Summer, I think?” Jay supplies.

“Yeah,” Dieter nods and looks up at you, watching the way you wiggle in your chair and look down at your lap. He shrugs, “I’ve been keeping busy.”

“I see how it is,” Lilly pouts, glancing between his eyes and mouth, “Pookie gets a girlfriend and forgets all about us.”

Heat rises to his face. Every muscle in his body clenches. A hundred violent images flash through his head. The words shut the fuck up wrestle their way up his throat.

“How did you all meet?” you ask, plastering on this polite smile.

Lilly combs her long fingernails through her hair, “I met Dieter at some fundraising gala last year.”

Dieter’s leg starts bouncing. He leans his elbows into the table and presses his closed fist against his lips, watching you absorb this information. But he can’t get a read on you.

“She introduced us,” Jay nods to Lilly, “Yeah, we were at this party, it was fucking wild—”

“Lua doesn’t wanna hear about that,” Dieter cuts in, dropping a hand to the table.

“It’s fine, Dee,” you chuckle, then take a big swallow from your wine glass. Unconvincing.

Jay ignores Dieter’s protest, “It was one of those nights where everyone got very well acquainted with one another, if you know what I mean.”

Your fake smile twitches.

“Sounds… hot,” you offer. You empty the remaining pinot grigio in your glass down your throat. Dieter mirrors the action, taking the wine like a shot of hard liquor.

Lilly sips her martini and lets out this wistful little sigh, “Soooo hot.”

“I have to go to the bathroom,” you announce as you push your chair back, then hurry away from the table before anyone else can respond.

His blood boils.

He glares between Jay and Lilly, well aware of the slew of insults percolating at the tip of his tongue, held back by his awareness of the public eye surrounding them.

“I’ll go talk to her,” Lilly says.

Dieter grits his teeth and warns, “Lillith—”

She waves him off and starts towards the bathroom.

“Dieter,” Jay smirks, tilting his head, “You seem upset.”

“What an astute observation,” Dieter mutters, crossing his arms over his chest, “Fucking incredible.“

“What’s wrong?”

“Oh, fuck off.”

Jay raises his eyebrows, “So we’re touchy, ok. Is it because I told the story?”

Dieter says nothing, just grinds his teeth together.

“She doesn’t know about your more salacious hobbies, I take it?”

“She sure as fuck does now,” Dieter grumbles, “Thank you for that.”

Jay scoffs, “What, is this your first date or something?”

“No.”

Jay hums and takes a sip from his cocktail.

Dieter shakes his head. Scrubs a hand over his face.

Then he sits up and points at your empty seat, “If she’s going to hear about that shit from anyone, it should be me. Not some fucking ghouls just trying to get a rise out of her.”

“Then why didn’t she hear it from you?” Jay questions, pausing a beat before he sighs, “You know, you gotta own your demons, man. It’s not my fault you didn’t tell her—”

“Yeah, I fucking know, ok?” Dieter snips. He leans his elbows against the table, looking towards the women’s bathroom, “What’s taking them so goddamn long?”

Behind the roar of the flushing toilet, you hear the bathroom door open, followed by the sharp click of stilettos against ceramic tile. You open the stall door to find Lilly leaned up against the marble slab countertop, pulling a tiny silver canister from her clutch.

She looks up at the mirror and makes eye contact with you, “Hey, girl.”

“Hi,” you smile politely and approach the sink.

While you wash your hands, you watch Lilly through the mirror as she cuts two thin lines of coke right on the countertop. She fishes a short straw out of her purse and holds it out to you, “Do you want any?”

The ghost of cocaine’s allure sends your heart racing. It’s tempting, but you decline. She shrugs and leans over the counter. You look away and hear the two deep, short breaths through the straw. You swear you can feel the rush vicariously.

She sits up straight and keeps one nostril plugged closed, taking a few sharp inhales, making sure she got it all to the brain. Her eyes flutter and throat hums with contentment, “Fuck, that’s good. You sure you don’t want any?

“I’m fine,” you assure her, but don’t go to leave. You lean one hip against the sink and cross your arms, “Did you and Dieter, like… date?”

Lilly releases a chuckle, a sniffle, then rubs a fingertip against the white marble countertop where her blow was cut, “Oh, no. We fucked, like, a lot. But no, we never dated per se. It was more of a fuck buddy arrangement. No biggie.”

She scrubs her finger against her gums, then turns to the mirror to assess her appearance.

“Was that while he was still with Anika?”

“Well, yeah, that’s how it started. He asked if I could be their third,” she sniffles a few times as she examines her nostrils, “I know Kate Ridley was seeing them for a while, but that must’ve fallen through. Anyway, we all fucked around and it was fun. I brought Jay with a few times. Then Anika got turned off or something, she didn’t wanna get together anymore. Jealous I think, probably. He reached out to me for some one-on-one time.”

The information hits you like a slap in the face. A kick in the gut. A fist closed around your windpipe, squeezing tighter and tighter.

You can’t breathe.

“And of course I said yes. It doesn’t hurt to cozy up to a guy like him, with his connections and all. Good career move. Plus, he’s so good in bed. Fucks like an animal,” Lilly giggles, “Not that I have to tell you, right?”

Your face heats and lips part to respond, but she continues without regard.

“If you ever wanted a third, I’d be happy to step in. Jay, too, I’m sure of it. He was checking you out. You’re hot, you know, in a non-traditional kind of way. How long have the two of you been going out?”

She stares at you, waiting. Your throat croaks and you hear yourself say, “A few months, officially.”

“Oh, are you two, like, serious?”

You bring your hand to your throat and nod, “Yeah.”

“Weird,” she murmurs, “After what happened with Anika, I thought he was done trying to pretend he was like that.”

“Like what?”

“Like… monogamous, you know. He told me he’s a free spirit, doesn’t want to be tied down by one person ever again, all that. Then he disappears and re-emerges in a supposedly serious relationship, no offense, but it’s just confusing.”

“Oh,” you breathe, frowning down at the floor, “Well, maybe he changed?”

“The man is almost 50, I doubt that,” she scoffs, checking herself out in the mirror, then glances over at you, “Or, I mean, maybe? Hopefully?”

You nod solemnly and swallow the knot in your throat, “Should we go back?”

“Sure,” she shrugs, then leads the way out of the bathroom, into the dining room.

When you meet Dieter’s eyes, his annoyed expression goes slack. You lay one hand flat, palm facing the ceiling, balling the other into a thumbs up on top, and raise both hands. The signal he taught you back in your apartment before this clusterfuck started: Help.

Once seated, you keep your eyes low, trying to keep the steady hum in your chest from amplifying. Everything seems fuzzy and out-of-focus.

It’s too much. Too much noise. Too much information. Too much change at one time. You want off this fucking ride. You want to be home in bed, hidden under the covers where no one can reach you.

“We should go,” Dieter announces from far away.

Your body is cement. Limbs frozen. Lilly’s words play on repeat at a deafening volume:

I thought he was done trying to pretend he was like that.

He’s a free spirit, doesn’t want to be tied down by one person ever again.

“Oh, come on, Pookie–”

“Stop fucking calling me that,” he growls, then softer, in your direction, “Are you ready, love?”

You nod, then look from Lilly to Jay, your smile wavering, “It was nice to meet you both.”

Dieter leads you past blurry tables of shiny, well-to-do patrons, his hand at the small of your back, burning through your dress. You can feel his gaze glued to your profile, trying to assess the damage. You can hear the words queued up behind his closed lips.

A restaurant employee holds the door open for you. The cool night air kisses your heated, buzzing skin.

“Hey, are you ok?” Dieter asks, his thumb working against your spine.

You look down at the sidewalk and open your mouth to tell him, but it’s all a jumbled mess at the base of your tongue. Fire rises up your throat and tingles behind your eyes. You just shake your head and smother the sob in your chest.

Tears bloom in your eyes and drop to the cement. You croak out, “I’m fine.”

He scoffs.

The valet rolls up in Dieter’s cartoonish, pea soup-colored two-seater and tosses him the keys.

Once inside, you clasp the seatbelt. Grip the leather upholstery. Stare out the side window as the landscape starts to move.

“Louella” he coos, glancing between you and the road.

The car clunks a little as he shifts gears. You grip the seat tighter. Watch the city lights fly by.

He tries every once and a while to talk to you, but you can’t make yourself respond.

You’ve been here before.

You know what happens if you make a sound. If you vocalize the protest in your lungs.

What happens next is acceleration.

Car horns.

Impact.

Those vacant black eyes.

Darkness.

The second the car pulls into Dieter’s garage, you’re unfastening the seat belt.

When he shifts to park, you yank on the door handle and scramble from the vehicle.

The entryway door slams in Dieter’s face as you kick off the stupid high heels you never would have picked out for yourself.

“What the fuck is your problem?” his voice booms through the house when he opens the door.

By now, you’re halfway down the hall, making a beeline to his en suite bathroom, leaving a trail of jewelry behind you like breadcrumbs: the left earring, the right earring, bracelets, a necklace. All these brilliant ornaments Kelly loaned you to make you look more refined.

Dieter’s footsteps sound from a few paces behind as you turn into his bedroom.

“Louella, come on. Why won’t you talk to me?”

The edge his words carry make your heart jump and your feet move faster. You hurry into the bathroom, closing and locking the door behind you.

He jiggles the handle, “What the fuck is this? Are you fucking kidding me?”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” you ask.

“That I slept with Lilly and Jay?“ he scoffs, “I didn’t think it mattered who I fucked before you—”

“That’s not what I mean. You know that’s not what I mean,” you press your forehead against the door and squeeze your eyes closed, “When I asked you what happened with you and Anika, you said the two of you grew apart. That—that she was resentful—like it was her fault–”

“Open the door so we can talk about this,” he says in a low voice, “Please, baby.”

You shake your head, whimpering, “Why didn’t you tell me?”

The door handle jiggles again, “Come on, Lua, open the door.”

“I can’t.”

“Yes, you can, just unlock it—”

“Answer me.”

“GodDAMNIT–”

A hard thud shakes the doorframe.

You jump back and yelp.

“This is so fucking stupid,” he seethes, “Lock yourself in my fucking bathroom instead of talking to me. You realize how fucking stupid that is, right?”

He hits the door again. You scramble away from it, watching the doorknob rattle.

“Stop it, Dieter,” you cry out, backing yourself up to the wall, “You’re scaring me.”

“I’m scaring you?” he scoffs, his words still steeped in red, “Do you really think I would fucking hurt you?”

You slide down the wall and collapse into a pile, covering your head. All you can hear are your own shattered breaths.

A few quiet moments go by.

When his voice comes again, it’s a plea.

“Fuck, I’m sorry.”

You look up at the door and sniffle, wiping your eyes.

“I—I wanted to tell you. I mean, I was going to tell you. I swear to god. It’s just,” there’s a soft thump against the door, and you can picture him on the other side, forehead pressed up against it, “Do you know how hard it is to admit that you’re a piece of shit?”

You don’t say anything, just watch his still shadow beneath the door.

“Do you know how hard it is for me to willingly show you that? I mean, fuck. How–how are you supposed to trust me now?”

What follows is silence. Broken up by occasional sniffles and wet, labored breaths. Your chest aches.

Slowly, you rise to your feet and pad across the cool tile floor.

When you reach the door, you don’t say anything, just press your palm against the barrier where you think his heart is. And you swear, if you concentrate hard enough, you can feel its steady rhythm.

“How are you supposed to love me now?” he whispers, “You won’t even look at me, Louella.”

Your eyelids clamp shut and you take a deep breath. Then you step back and turn the doorknob, pulling the door open.

And there he is.

Dieter Bravo. The man you love.

His eyes all puffed-up and red-rimmed, cheeks streaked with tears. Every handsome feature laced with remorse.

You wrap your arms around him, burying your face in his suit jacket. He envelops you in a warm embrace and squeezes you tight.

“I’m–I’m sorry for yelling,” he tells you in a hoarse whisper, petting your hair, “I’m so sorry. I don’t know what happened, I lost it.”

You swallow hard and rub his back, a silent kind of reassurance.

“I would never hurt you, Lua,” his voice cracks, “I’m not him. I’m not him.”

Instantly, tears flood your eyes.

“I know, love,” you croak out, pulling him closer, “I know.”

Dieter kisses the crown of your head with reverence. Then your forehead. He tilts your chin to face him dead on, grazing his nose against yours, “Wanna talk about this more in the bath?”

You nod and weave your fingers through the curls at the back of his head. His lips meet yours, lingering for a tender moment before he pulls back and makes his way over to the soaking tub.

While you wash the makeup off your face, he fiddles with the water temperature and crumbles a magenta bubble bar in the stream. The sweet scent of blackcurrant fills the air. You glance up in the mirror and see him shucking off his suit jacket, eyes trailing down your spine. His breath heats the nape of your neck when he draws close and unzips your dress, his movements gentle and slow as he slides it off your shoulders.

The dress falls at your feet. You turn to face him, murmuring, “Look up.”

He does, and you set to work on his shirt buttons. When you’re halfway down his chest, he asks, “Will you tell me what she said?”

“She, um,” you pause to bite down on your bottom lip, then sigh, “She told me you and Anika would fuck around with her and sometimes Jay. Then, you know, just her.”

He hums in acknowledgment.

You reach the end of his button-down, then spread the shirt apart. As he takes over tugging it off, you ask, “Was that something that you wanted, or…?”

“We both wanted to try it,” he shrugs. Your hands move to his belt buckle and you unfasten it. He continues, “Thought it would reignite that passion. It was fucking stupid because it just made us both jealous.”

He pauses to kick off his slacks, then ushers you face the mirror again. You watch him unclasp your bra and toss it aside, glancing up when you recount, “She said you didn’t want to be tied down by one person ever again.“

He nods, diverting his gaze, “Yeah. Well, that’s true. I didn’t,” then his eyes return to yours, “But then you came along. Fucked up all my big plans to be lonely and miserable forever.”

You can’t help but grin.

He casts a backwards glance at the tub, “I think it’s ready.”

Dieter gets in first, groaning as he lowers himself into the bubbles. You sit on the opposite side and tip your face to the ceiling, stretching your legs across him, then sink down to your shoulders.

The water burns your skin a little, but you like it. It feels real.

“Hey,” Dieter rumbles.

You swivel your head down to look at him, but can only see bubbles.

“Holy shit,” you giggle, then sit up and meet his eyes, “What?”

“Come here, doll,” he reaches out to you.

You slide your feet under the water and crawl over to him, closing your eyes as you lay your cheek on his shoulder and relax against his body. He wraps his arms around your waist, snuggling you like you’re his favorite teddy bear.

One of your hands occupies itself by absentmindedly tracing the edges of his jaw. The shell of his ear. That one silver hoop earring he refuses to part with. Your nails work into his hairline and play with his damp curls.

“Were there others?” you ask him.

His tongue clicks against the roof of his mouth, then he admits, “Yeah. A few. Just hookups, really. Lilly was the most consistent, and that was still, you know…”

“No strings attached?” you smirk.

“Yeah.”

“Why did you do it?”

Your spine arches as he draws a big breath in, then releases it, “All the reasons I said it didn’t work. That was true, you know. I was gone a lot. Filming, meetings, press stuff. A few days here, a week there. There was one stretch where I was gone for two months. I’m not drowning in work or anything, but it adds up. I don’t think she realized that being with me meant being away from me that often. And. Yeah.

“At first, it upset me a lot. I thought she would be supportive and loving. Compassionate, you know. But she turned so cold when she was mad. Completely ignored me. Acted like I didn’t exist. Even when I begged for her reassurance, for her to show me she still cared and noticed me, but she wouldn’t react. I felt like a ghost. It-it kind of reminded me—”

He pauses here for a moment, holding his breath, then releases a soft, sad chuckle. His Adam’s apple bobs. When he starts again, his voice is watery.

“It reminded me of what it was like for me growing up. If I didn’t please my dad, he would ignore me completely. I would act out, be loud, push him until he exploded. Because then… then at least I knew he could see me. It was something, you know?”

You blindly cup his cheek and graze your thumb against his beard to let him know you’re listening. He nuzzles into the touch, a small rumble sounding from his throat.

“Maybe I was acting out with Annie? Or maybe just trying to… fill that emptiness, loneliness. Or numb out. Forget that my wife didn’t love me anymore. I don’t know. I guess it doesn’t matter. I started using again. Heroin, oxy, bars, morphine, adderall, booze. Whatever I could get my hands on, really. But blow has always been my favorite. It makes me feel…”

“Powerful?”

“Yeah,” he says, “Yeah. Powerful. And with other people I actually felt… desired. Plus, they were both a rush. I felt alive. When I was home I was hollow. I stopped groveling for her affection when I started fucking around. Neither of us wanted to work on the hard things. The whole fucking thing, you know, it metastasized. And—and our relationship died.”

“Fuck,” you grimace.

Dieter cranes his neck to look at you, “Too bleak?”

“No, it’s not that,” you tell him, “It’s just… familiar.”

Adrenaline spikes your bloodstream. Your mouth opens to say more, then you close it and hold your breath.

He rests his cheek on your head. Squeezes you a little tighter. Like he’s prodding you so say more.

“Do I make you happy?” you ask him.

“Do you make me happy?” he repeats, disbelief raising his voice an octave.

You nod.

“I told you earlier,” he kisses your hairline, “You make me so happy, Louella.”

“But will you feel the same tomorrow?”

“Obviously,” he lets out a little snort of laughter like he thinks you’re kidding. Silence settles. His body seems to tense and he adds, “Really, love, I mean it.”

Your teeth catch your bottom lip. Brows lace together. Then you ask, “What about a month from now?”

“Don’t do that, come on—”

“A year from now? Or—or longer, even—”

“Lua,” he huffs, then pulls you up to face him. His eyes are soft and pleading. He brushes his knuckles against your cheek, “Look, we won’t be happy every second of every day. You know why?”

A sharp pain radiates across your chest. You wince and shake your head.

He tilts your chin up to meet his eyes and says, “Because it’s fucking impossible. If we do this thing right, which I fully intend to, sometimes we’re going to be scared, and frustrated, and–and we might want to take an easy way out. But I’m telling you that I will not do that. Because I love you.”

You search his face and only find sincerity. Your stomach flips in a freefall so violent it makes you gasp, “Fuck, I love you.”

He smirks, gaze flicking between your eyes and lips, “And I’m going to love you tomorrow.”

Your heart skips. Heat creeps up your neck.

He cups your cheeks and locks his eyes onto yours, “And the next day, and ten years from now, and all the way until my next fucking life, ok?”

“Ok,” you nod. Tension liquifies and drains from your body. The corners of your mouth upturn and you ask, “What then?”

“What then?” he snorts, shaking his head with amusement, “What do you think? Hmm?”

You grin and shrug, pressing the tip of your tongue to your front teeth.

His eyes drop to your mouth and he pulls you in for a kiss. When you part, he murmurs, “I’ll fucking find you in the next life and fall in love with you all over again.”

The words electrify you. You hook your hands behind his head and press your forehead against his, “Promise?”

“Cross my heart,” he murmurs, and kisses you again.

#psychomanteum #dieter bravo x you #dieter bravo x reader #dieter bravo #dieter bravo x female reader #dieter bravo fanfiction #dieter bravo x oc #dieter bravo angst #dieter bravo fic #pedro pascal characters #pedro pascal #pedro pascal character #pedro pascal character fanfic #pedro pascal fic #pedro pascal fanfiction #the bubble fanfiction #the bubble fic

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twoidiotwriters1 · 10 months ago

Text

The Curse of Oenone (Leo Valdez xFem!Oc)

A/N: The journey back home was exhausting BUT I'm okay now -Danny Words: 2,591 Series' Masterlist Previous Chapter // Next Chapter Listen to: 'Still' -by Kailee Morgue

IV: And I Said No, You Know, Like a Liar

"Leo," Annabeth tries for the tenth time. "Did Octavian trick you somehow? Did he frame you, or—"

"No." Leo's pale and shaking. "The guy was a jerk, but he didn't fire on the camp. I did."

"On purpose?" Frank stares at him like he's insane... and he might be.

"No!" The boy closes his eyes, trying to remember. "Well, yes... I mean, I didn't want to. But at the same time, I felt like I wanted to. Something was making me do it. There was this cold feeling inside me—"

"A cold feeling," Annabeth echoes like she knows what that means.

"Yeah," Leo looks at her. "Why?"

"Annabeth," Percy calls from below deck. "We need you!"

Leo leans against the mast defeatedly, he got all of his friends hurt and he's just about ready to puke, which softens Annabeth's conduct.

"He'll be fine," she tells him, referring to Jason. "Frank, I'll be back. Just... watch Leo. Please. Ara, coming or staying?"

"I'll stay," she replies.

Once the others are gone, Ara speaks again.

"Look at me," she demands.

Leo's lip quivers and he closes his eyes. Ara reaches for his face, her fingertips are cold and they alleviate the pain in his temples. He doesn't look at her yet, too ashamed to face her.

"It's okay. You didn't hurt me."

"I tried to," he replies hoarsely. He can feel Ara absorbing his guilt with the empath touch, and he doesn't know how to stop it, so he pushes her hands away. "I don't—I would never—"

"I know," she brushes his curls back, trying to ease him. "I'm okay."

She can't shake off the feeling that this is her fault... that this is the curse manifesting at last. Maybe Leo short-circuited after he came into contact with the Romans, and the ancient part of his soul remembered something and tried to fix a past mistake.

Whatever the reason, Ara has to correct it before it gets worse. She turns to Frank. "Dragon boy. I saw you in my dreams, you looked after my brother. Thank you."

Frank doesn't know how to respond to that, so he points to the laurels that fell off her belt. "I think that's yours."

Ara glances at the crown, but she doesn't pick it up. "Yeah, leave it there, nothing will happen to it."

"Your name isn't Sammy?" Frank blurts out randomly, looking at Leo.

Leo snaps his eyes open just to glare at Frank. "What kind of question is that?"

"Nothing. I just—Nothing. About the firing on the camp... Octavian could be behind it, like magically or something. He didn't want the Romans getting along with you guys."

Ara appreciates Frank's willingness to believe them even though they're probably the most unnerving kids he'll ever meet, and even though his girlfriend spent most of the feast staring at another boy.

"Well, if Leo wasn't in control of himself," she stands up. "I'll find out who was, and I'll take care of it."

"Thank you... Strategus." Frank clears his throat.

She smiles. "Call me Ara."

"Hey," Leo speaks, still in a bad mood. "I should talk to Festus and get a damage report. You mind...?" He gestures at the rope.

Ara unties him and Frank helps him to his feet. "Who is Festus?"

"My friend. His name isn't Sammy either, in case you're wondering. Come on. I'll introduce you."

We're waiting for Nico in the arena. I'm using a real sword today, Mike won't join us so I seized the opportunity.

Nico shows up with a greenish face, dark circles have appeared under his eyes, and he isn't as lively as usual.

"What's wrong?" I check his temperature. "You okay?"

"I had a weird dream," he says weakly.

Lily and I share a look. Now that we know who his godly parent is, we suspect Nico's going to get some hints about it too. We can't allow that while his sister is away.

"I'm sorry. I must've made you nervous by telling you about my Iris message to Percy..."

I talked to my brother the other night—my mom was there too, but I don't wanna think about that part—and he said Bianca was okay, but I think telling Nico only worsened his anxiety.

He pushes my hand away from his face. "I'm fine! Let's train."

Lily gives me another look. Percy needs to bring Bianca back to camp, I don't know how to help Nico.

"The port aerial oars have to be fixed before we can go full speed again. We'll need some repair materials: Celestial bronze, tar, lime—"

"What do you need limes for?"

"Dude, lime," Leo gets a little impatient when others can't keep up with his thoughts. "Calcium carbonate, used in cement and a bunch of other— Ah, never mind. The point is, this ship isn't going far unless we can fix it."

Festus makes a couple of other noises and Leo nods.

"Oh... Hazel! That's the girl with the curly hair, right?"

"Is she okay?" Frank asks anxiously.

"Yeah, she's fine. According to Festus, her horse is racing along below. She's following us."

"We've got to land, then."

"She's your girlfriend?" Ara asks, noticing the lavender hue around him.

Frank takes a second to respond. "Yes."

"You don't sound sure," Leo teases him.

"Yes. Yes, definitely. I'm sure," he replies defensively.

Leo raised his hands. "Okay, fine. The problem is we can only manage one landing. The way the hull and the oars are, we won't be able to lift off again until we repair, so we'll have to make sure we land somewhere with all the right supplies."

"Where do you get Celestial bronze?" Frank asks. "You can't just stock up at Home Depot."

"Festus, do a scan."

"He can scan for magic bronze?" Frank wonders. "Is there anything he can't do?"

"You should've seen him when he had a body," Ara sighs.

The memory of a whole Festus seems to worsen Leo's already terrible state of mind. Percy and Annabeth come back on deck together, both looking stressed. Leo steps forward. "Is Jason—?"

"He's resting," Annabeth announces. "Piper's keeping an eye on him, but he should be fine."

"Annabeth says you did fire the ballista?" Percy eyes him.

"Man, I—I don't understand how it happened," Leo stammers. "I'm so sorry—"

"Sorry?" He steps closer menacingly.

"Percy, really, don't start," Ara warns him.

"Don't start?" The boy repeats aghast. "He started it!"

Annabeth places a hand on his chest and pulls him back. "We'll figure it out later. Right now, we have to regroup and make a plan. What's the situation with the ship?"

Festus talks again, and Leo sighs in relief. "Perfect."

"What's perfect?" Annabeth asks. "I could use some perfect about now."

"Everything we need in one place," Leo declares. "Frank, why don't you turn into a bird or something? Fly down and tell your girlfriend to meet us at the Great Salt Lake in Utah."

Frank obliges quickly, and then Percy moves forward.

"Ara, can we talk?" He asks, glaring at Leo.

Ara's not in the mood to deal with her brother. "Later. I have to patch up Leo."

"I'm okay—"

"You're not," Ara shuts him up. "Sit down and let me do my job."

Leo fixes his gaze on the controls, embarrassed and miserable. Ara turns to Annabeth and looks at her with pleading eyes. "I got this, you can go."

"C'mon," Annabeth pulls Percy back. "I'll show you where your cabin is."

It's the two girls versus him, and he's never been able to win those battles. When the couple leaves, Ara turns back to Leo going back to her gentle tone.

"Hey—"

"Don't patronize me," he leans on the control board, eyes fixed on the monitor. "Please. You told me once that pity parties are good for nothing. Don't throw one now."

"Alright," Ara replies with a strong voice. "I've got a bruised rib, my brother doesn't like you, and you're a war criminal in New Rome. But..." She tries to reach for his hand, and when Leo doesn't move away, she holds it firmly. "You sound so smart when you ramble about construction materials—it's kinda hot, honestly."

Leo sighs heavily, stroking the back of her hand with his thumb. "You think that'd make me feel better, but..."

Ara clicks her tongue. "You were being used, Leo. And I've got proof," she grabs his face and forces him to look at her. "You called me Arae before leaving and I hated it."

He blinks and frowns. "So what? You don't like your name, that's not new."

"Ever since we met you call me Doll, Sunshine, Cielo—or Corazón when you're feeling extra cheesy," she teases him. "You only call me Arae when it's the two of us and we're being serious, but when you did it then... it felt like a stranger was talking to me."

Ara steps back, feeling a little crazy.

"It sounds stupid, but you pronounce it in a very specific way. Whoever talked to me, wasn't you."

Leo glances at the panel and radars on the control board, but he's thinking of how she called him Leónidas while trying to make him snap out of his trance, and how she almost succeeded because it feels different when she says it.

"Your brother should stay mad at me anyway, if it hadn't been for him—"

"Don't even," Ara rolls her eyes. "You know I can kick your ass any time."

"But it wasn't me!" Leo reminds her with frustration. "How are you not angry? I ruined everything! Even the ship we broke our backs building for six months!"

She can't tell him that she's not mad because she's sure this is the curse's fault, that's only going to make him spiral into a whole new crisis. Besides, she is angry, but mostly at herself, so she can't correct him unless she wants to get lectured.

"Big prophecies are never easy..." She squeezes his shoulders. "You wanna sulk for the rest of the day? Be my guest, but let's fix the ship while you're at it."

Leo shakes his head, tilts his head to the side, and plants a soft kiss on her knuckles. "Alright. I can do that."

"Cool. Now sit down and let me heal your head," Ara lightly runs her fingers through his curls. "We can be miserable together after I'm done with this."

"Fun date ideas," he replies, the tiniest smile on his face.

Leo manages to land the ship on the water. He's still not talking much, but Ara knows he'll need time to feel like himself again. As they approach the stairs, they hear hooves behind them and they turn, finding Hazel and her horse on deck.

"How—?" Leo stumbles back. "We're in the middle of a lake! Can that thing fly?"

"Arion can't fly," Hazel explains over the loud whines of the horse. "But he can run across just about anything. Water, vertical surfaces, small mountains—none of that bothers him."

"Oh."

Ara notices the way Hazel keeps looking at Leo, and whatever it is that has her so fascinated, it's starting to get annoying.

"General," Coach Hedge shows up with his bat. She'd almost forgotten he was on the ship with them. "Does this count as an invasion?"

"No!" Leo and Ara say at the same time.

"Um, Hazel," Leo says awkwardly, "you'd better come with us. I built a stable belowdecks, if Arion wants to—"

"He's more of a free spirit." The girl says, diving off the animal's back. "He'll graze around the lake until I call him. But I want to see the ship. Lead the way."

Ara and Leo guide her downstairs, but more than awkward, it's unsettling. Hazel is glowing lavender, and Ara isn't a jealous girl, or at least she doesn't think she is, but no one has paid attention to Leo like this before, and she's having trouble tolerating it.

They walk past Jason's cabin, where Piper is looking after him, and then they reach the mess hall where the rest of the crew is.

"So we've landed," Percy says, staring at one of the screens showing Camp Half-blood. "What now?"

"Figure out the prophecy?" Frank suggests.

"Which one?" Ara says sarcastically.

"I mean... that was a prophecy Ella spoke, right? From the Sibylline Books?"

"The what?" Leo asks.

Frank explains that Ella spat out a prophecy from an old collection of books. Ara's secretly glad the harpy didn't notice her, she doesn't want to hear her prophecy again, let alone recited by a crazy harpy.

"That's why you didn't tell the Romans," Leo guesses. "You didn't want them to get hold of her."

"Ella's sensitive," Percy scowls at the Camp Half-blood scenery. "She was a captive when we found her. I just didn't want... It doesn't matter now. I sent Tyson an Iris message, told him to take Ella to Camp Half-Blood. They'll be safe there."

"Let me think about the prophecy," Annabeth leans on the table. "Right now we have more immediate problems. We have to get this ship fixed. Leo, what do we need?"

"The easiest thing is tar," Leo starts right away. "We can get that in the city, at a roofing-supply store or someplace like that. Also, Celestial bronze and lime. According to Festus, we can find both of those on an island in the lake, just west of here."

"We'll have to hurry," Hazel says. "If I know Octavian, he's searching for us with his auguries. The Romans will send a strike force after us. It's a matter of honor."

Leo makes a face. "Guys... I don't know what happened. Honestly, I—"

"We've been talking," Annabeth interrupts him. "We agree it couldn't have been you, Leo. That cold feeling you mentioned... I felt it too. It must have been some sort of magic, either Octavian or Gaea or one of her minions. But until we understand what happened—"

"How can we be sure it won't happen again?" Frank inquires.

"I'm fine now," Leo assures him. "Maybe we should use the buddy system. Nobody goes anywhere alone. We can leave Piper and Coach Hedge on board with Jason. Send one team into town to get tar. Another team can go after the bronze and the lime."

"Split up?" Percy frowns. "That sounds like a really bad idea."

Ara crosses her arms, challenging her brother. "I'll go with Leo. If anything happens to him, I can take care of it."

Percy's eyes flash with annoyance. "Ara—"

"It'll be quicker," Hazel intervenes, smartly guessing an argument between Ara and Percy isn't quick to put out. "Besides, there's a reason a quest is usually limited, right?"

"You're right," Annabeth agrees. "The same reason we needed the Argo II... outside camp, eight demigods in one place will attract way too much monstrous attention. The ship is designed to conceal and protect us. We should be safe enough on board; but if we go on expeditions, we shouldn't travel in groups larger than three or four. No sense alerting more of Gaea's minions than we have to."

Percy glares at Ara sending a clear message. This isn't over. He turns and holds Annabeth's hand. "As long as you're my buddy, I'm good."

"Oh, that's easy," Hazel smiles. "Frank, you were amazing, turning into a dragon! Could you do it again to fly Annabeth and Percy into town for the tar?"

"I...I suppose," he hesitates. "But what about you?"

"I'll ride Arion with Sa—with Leo and Ara," she quickly corrects herself. Ara remembers Frank called Leo "Sammy". Is that some old friend of theirs? "We'll get the bronze and the lime. We can all meet back here by dark."

Frank doesn't look happy about this arrangement, and neither is Ara, but maybe she absorbed a bit too much of Leo's disheartenment.

"Guys, if we get the supplies, how long to fix the ship?" Annabeth continues.

"With luck, just a few hours."

"Fine," the blonde girl gets up. "We'll meet you back here as soon as possible, but stay safe. We could use some good luck. That doesn't mean we'll get it."

"I don't need luck, Annabeth," Ara seizes Almighty and stares at the symbols on it, the needle is completely still. "Just a deadline."

Next Chapter ->

Taglist.

@siriuslysirius1107 @ask-giggles1303 @asnyox-the-hoarder @im-planning-something-look @bandshirts-andbooks @coolninjapaper @thewaterlily @whenisthefall @1randomcomic @you-bloody-shank @sunflowergraves @owlalex44 @taylordaughter @typicalsolangelolover @writingmia @espressopatronum454 @slytherinnqueen @orbitingpolaris @obxstiles

#twoidiots writing #pjo fanfic #leo valdez x oc #leo valdez fanfic #doo #percy jackson and the olympians #heroes of olympus

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turtletimewriting · 2 years ago

Note

For the Scientific-based Tickle Prompts!

what do you think of 18 with lee mikey or leo and ler donnie

ROTTMNT prompt: “On a scale of 1-10, how much-stop laughing i’m asking a question- how much does this tickle?”

Ler Donnie and Lee Mikey

(Here's the prompt list, please feel free to send some more!)

_._._

Mikey was used to being called into Donnie's lab. He was the only one that kinda got it. Leo and Raph both got too bored sitting around in the lab while Donnie worked, seemingly ignoring them. They had yet to figure out the hack!

Mikey would just do his own sketching and art too. Both of them working separately together. There was no pressure to talk or be polite. Just a way get lost inside his own ideas alongside someone else. Since he had done that enough times now, it was the usual for Donnie to invite Mikey to the lab to test something or go scavenging together.

And he had been called in earlier today.

He was greeted by the usual scene of Donnie frantically running around with some scary looking machinery in his hands. "Yo Don!" Mikey cheered as he happily dumped all his chewed up copics on the floor next to the beanbag that he moved into the lab.

"No time for art, Michael!" Donnie cheered with a smile that was slightly too unhinged to be wholly sincere, "I need a test subject."

"Sure!" He chirped.

Donnie pulled him to the centre of the lab before pulling out this skeletal looking frame. "Arms up!"

Mikey obeyed and tried to control his flinching as Donnie had to attach the metal framing along the lip of his shell and down his legs. His older brother's hands gently yet firmly skirting along his sides was a llittle embarrassing. It was held down by these soft straps.

The frame was made from these thick metal poles that sat across some of his most ticklish spots, along the edge of his shell and pressing against the back of his thighs and knees. Mikey definitely caught sight of Donnie's evil scientist smirk which told him that this was on purpose.

"Uhhh, can I ask what this is about?"

Donnie cackled the word cackle out loud, "Oh little brother. Don't you think that Leo has been getting a little too big for his shoes. His recent behaviour indicating he mayhaps needs to be taken down a peg."

"Wait!" Mikey realised, "Is this about the fact that he tickled you so hard you cried the other day?"

Donnie stared at him. "No."

Mikey grinned. "Are ya suuuuuure?"

Donnie's face flushed. "I need the perfect way to show him his place. Below me. So I need you to test this tickle machine I designed?"

"Wait, a wha- AAAAARGH!"

Donnie switched a flick and the frame came to life. The frame gently buzzed and was tied loose enough for it to wiggle and jolt along with his movements. He squealed as his sides tingled with the unrelenting tickle.

"HAAAA! HHAHAHAHAAAAA!"

"Now this isn't going to be a perfect test since you and Nardo have different tickle spots. Leo is pretty much a living tickle spot, but his legs are very ticklish. But I couldn't figure out-"

"DOHOHOHOHON DON! HAHAHAAAAAAA! AAAAAAH HAHAHA!" Mikey tried to grab for the desk as his knees gave way in his ticklish weakness.

"Shush, Michael. I'll need your feedback later. I couldn't figure out a way to have the frame reach his inner thigh and also the back of his knees. But I still think this could be effective."

Mikey wiped away the tears beading at his eyes. He wobbily reached a hand out like Donnie would save him.

Don slapped away his hand like he was being annoying. "So now I am going to ask for your feedback."

Mikey's feedback was that it tickled. The buzzing was so unlike the tickling squeezes and spidering of his siblings. An unusual tickle that seemed to fill his brain. The laughter kept coming and coming. It probably looked like he was dancing from how violently he was flinching to escape the endless maddening tickle across his sides.

"On a scale of 1 to 10, with one being not at all and ten being I'm going to die, how much does this tickle? Like in general."

Donnie could barely be heard over Mikey's squealing as he fell on to his plaston and therefore pushed the frame more into his stomach. "HAHAHA! HA! HA! AAAAAAARGHAHA! A LOHOT? HAHA! HA! DON! I-I CAHAN'T DO THIHIHIHIHI HAHAHAHAAHAAA!"

“On a scale of 1-10, how much-stop laughing i’m asking a question- how much does this tickle? How much does it tickle on your legs? Would this, oh just off the top of my head, would this be enough to make Leo cry from laughing?"

"HAHAHAA!"

But if anything, Mikey was a good lab assistant.

"HAHA! AAAAH! HAHAAA! L-LIKE AN HAAHAA EIGHT! HAHAHAAAA! THE HAH THE... hehehHIIHHAHAAA! THE PADS ON THE KNEEEHEHAHAHAAAAAAA KNEES ARE A NICE TOUCH HAHAHAHAAHAHAHA!"

Donnie pulled out his clipboard to frantically note this down.

#rottmnt #tickling #turtle writing #lee mikey #ler donnie #mad scientist prompts #ask #tickle fic

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idkwhatimdoinghere1655 · 1 year ago

Text

|2|The Sound of Rain - Pierre Gasly|

Disappointment - You'll Get Used To It

I was stood in hospitality, talking to Will and Etta, Leone being nowhere in sight. I didn't want to ask about it, knowing that Etta would make fun of me for it. She did mention that she hadn't spoken to her last night, so I hope she was alright when she got back in her apartment.

I pretended like I didn't stand outside of her door, replaying our entire interaction over in my head.

But, something in me really wanted her to be here, I wanted her to see what I did for a living. Even if they made fun of me, it would be worth it if it gave me answers as to where she was. "Do you guys know if Leone is coming today?" I asked, trying to sound as cool and nonchalant as possible. "I'm guessing you hit it off last night?" Etta smirked, putting her hands on her hips.

"She was nice, I was just wondering since she said she might come," I explained, fumbling over my words slightly. "Oooh, seems like Pierre has a little crush on our Leo," Will teased, winking at me. One, I've only just met her. Two, I wouldn't call it a crush, just a rather fond liking after our first meeting.

"I was just wondering, don't get yourselves too excited." I tried to play it off, but I don't think it worked on them. "Well, we'll let you go and get ready for the race, or whatever it is you do," Etta started, "And we'll send Leone your way if we see her!" she exclaimed, dragging Will off towards their seats.

I don't know why I felt disheartened that she wasn't here, she didn't say she was coming and she didn't have to. I guess I just wanted to see her.

I didn't have to go to the garages for a little while, so I decided to prepare myself for the race ahead.

The next morning, I woke up and started getting ready for the GP. It was still very hot outside, so I opted for a pair of denim shorts and a nice flowy blouse. For some reason, I was really nervous to go see Pierre again and watch him race. I don't know whether it was seeing him or watching him do one of the most dangerous sports on the planet.

I knew Etta and Will were already there, so I texted them while I was in the taxi.

Etts ❤ last seen: 2 hours ago

You: Hey Etts. I'm on my way now, where abouts will you be?

Etts ❤ : Hey babes! I'll come and meet you at the entrance? Boy do I have some stuff to tell you!

You: Like what? seen

You: Etta???? seen

You: Ettttttsssss. Tell meeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!! seen

You: I hate you :(

Etts ❤ : I love you too 💕😘

Unfortunately for me, Etta clearly wasn't budging. The taxi ride to Silverstone wasn't too bad, but it was nice to get some fresh air when I stepped out of the car. I showed the people at the doors my ticket and saw Etta stood by the ladies toilets.

"So, what is it you wanted to tell me?" I asked, desperate for an answer.

"A certain French snack was asking where you were," she chimed, nudging me in the ribs like she always did. I didn't say anything, I just looked at my feet and kept walking, "You two didn't do anything, did you? Oh tell me-"

"No! Etta, we did not do anything," I exclaimed, whacking her in the arm. After a lot of the same questions and me telling her the same information about fifty times, we arrived at our seats with Will.

The drivers were currently doing what Will said was called, 'the formation lap' to warm up their tyres. All of them got positioned in their grid spots, and the tension could be cut with a knife. The start would determine the way the race ended, obviously.

All of the red lights went out, and they were off. Will pointed out Pierre's car every time he shot past, but I wasn't able to see him. My heart leapt into my mouth every time someone rounded a corner, terrified they were going to crash, which they obviously didn't.

Thankfully, Will was telling me what was going on throughout the race, but I still didn't really understand. I enjoyed watching, though.

In the end, Pierre finished in 7th place, which was really good. Will and Etta told me that we were allowed to go and see Pierre, which made me excited and nervous all at the same time. I wanted to congratulate him on his great placing.

I was dragged through crowds and crowds of fans, some looking disappointed with the outcome of the race, others looking ecstatic. Some donned the striking scarlet of Ferrari, others wearing driver's numbers in support. I even spotted some fellow Gasly fans with the number 10 on their tops and hats.

Eventually, I saw a very sweaty looking Pierre leant against a wall with his arms crossed, talking with one of his engineers. He looked absolutely great. It was just like the first photo that Etta had shown me. His suit was rolled down to his waist and his fireproofs clung to his arms and chest. His hair was also extremely ruffled and his face was slightly reddened.

He looked up and spotted us three walking towards him, a huge smile forming on his face. He pushed himself off of the wall he was leaning on and made his way over to us. "Hey, Leone. Glad you could make it," Pierre said, stopping in front of us.

I was tired, very tired, after that race. I was quite happy with my position as well, which is always a good thing. I was talking to Masamitsu about how the car was running and small things that could be done just to push it up to maybe a P5 finish, when I saw Will and Etta walking towards me.

From where I was, I didn't spot that Leone was behind them until she walked around the front of them. A massive grin crawled across my lips, absolutely elated to see her. She looked stunning, as well. I couldn't see her green eyes due to her sunglasses, but her lips were also smiling and her chocolate hair bounced behind her as she walked.

"Hey, Leone. Glad you could make it," I said, approaching them and standing in front of them. I was trying to contain the joy I felt for her presence. "I'm glad I could be here! Congratulations, you did great," she said wrapping her arms around my neck and pulling me into an embrace.

I wrapped my arms around her waist, hugging her back and inhaling the scent of her shampoo. I didn't have a clue what the smell actually was, but it was comforting. "I didn't have a clue what was happening, but it was brilliant," she whispered in my ear, making me laugh.

When we came out of the hug, Etta and Will were nowhere to be seen. "Guys, do you-" she started to ask, turning to face her friends, only to find that they weren't there. "Oh shit," she muttered, clearly flustered with the lack of people around us.

"Do you want to go and get a drink?" I asked, hoping to break the ice a bit.

"Yeah, sure," she nodded, following me into hospitality. I had gotten her a lemonade and myself a coke to try and get my energy up. We were sat there, in silence, when she suddenly blurted out, "Would you like to go to dinner with me tonight, to celebrate?"

She didn't look at me, she just looked at the table and picked at her fingernails. "Yeah, that sounds nice," I confirmed, smiling at her, "Are we inviting Etta and Will as well?" I teased, knowing that she meant just us.

"Uh, yeah, sure. If you want-"

"Leone, I'm messing with you. Just us," I laughed, watching as she blushed and giggled. She didn't have to say anything else, I could tell she was relieved that I was joking. "Do you want me to pick you up from yours or do you want to meet somewhere?" I asked.

"It would probably be easier for you to pick me up, because the place we're going to is quite hard to find based off of postcode and directions," she explained.

"Alright, I'll pick you up at six thirty?"

"That sounds good. Don't over dress or anything, it's quite a casual place," she told me, finishing her lemonade and standing from her chair. "I'm going to find Etta and Will so I can say goodbye, I need time to get ready,"

"You'll look great no matter what, Leo," I flirted, loving watching her blush and smile.

"Thank you," she giggled like a schoolgirl, waving me goodbye as she walked away.

I found Will and Etta, waiting for me at the exit. "You ready to go?" Etta asked me, looking at my pinkened cheeks. "Yes, I need to get back,"

"Any reason why?" Will toyed.

"I'm going out for dinner with Pierre tonight," I rushed, hoping they wouldn't tease me for it. I started walking towards the door to try and encourage some haste in them.

"Oh are you now?" Etta joked, raising her eyebrows.

"Yes, and I need to get ready, so can we go?" I pushed, not wanting their jokes right now. They both just laughed at my impatience and drove me back to my apartment. Etta insisted that she stayed with me and helped me pick my outfit, and there was no way of talking her out of it.

In the end, I let her curl my hair and do my makeup, but I made sure it was minimal. I also let her pick my outfit, which was way too much at first. It was one of my old skin-tight, short dresses that I wore back in the day when we went clubbing.

I told her no, and she settled for a flowy, knee length green dress that I like a lot more. She was acting like my mum, making sure I looked perfect as soon as Pierre knocked on the door of my apartment.

I opened the door to see him stood there, in a nice pair of jeans and a shirt, with a light jacket over the top. "I'm a bit early sorry," he said as I let him step inside the apartment.

"No, it's alright. You ready to go?" I asked.

"Yeah, whenever you are," he said, spotting Etta in the corner.

"You treat her well, Gasly!" she shrieked, wrapping her cardigan around her shoulders.

"I will, don't worry," he joked back.

"Goodbye, Mum," I groaned, pushing Pierre out of the door and into the corridor. "Where are you parked?" I asked, walking along the long hallway to the stairs.

"Just out the front. You look incredible, by the way," he complimented, looking at me. His ability to make me blush so easily was scary.

We had arrived at Fredrickson's Pizza at around half past six since Pierre had picked me up early. This was the first restaurant I had ever come to when I first came to England and I was eighteen and broke. It was really nice food and the price was great.

I had never brought anyone here, not even Etta because I didn't think she'd like it. It was a very small place and the decorations were old and tacky, but it was great to me.

As you could probably tell by the name, it wasn't owned by an Italian family. It was owned by a guy called Jim, who was the first person I had ever talked to when I arrived in England. I came to the restaurant pretty much every week just to see him.

As I stepped foot in the place that had given me comfort so many times, I became nervous that Pierre wouldn't like it. Maybe he would find it cheap and dingy and think I was like that.

But, my fears were quickly washed away when he looked around and sat down at our table. "This place is so cool!" He exclaimed, picking up the menu and scanning it quickly.

"You think?"

"Yeah, it's great in here. Do you bring Etta sometimes?"

"No, I don't. It's not really her kind of place. You are actually the first person I've brought here," I confessed. "I'm honoured," he said, picking his menu up and selecting what he wanted.

We had been eating dinner and just talking about life and the rest, when Pierre asked me if I wanted to go to the GP next week. "If you're free next Sunday, I'd love for you to come to the 70th anniversary GP. I can get you VIP seats if you are,"

"I would love to go, but on one condition," I instructed, placing my knife and fork down on the sides of my plate. "And what would that be," he responded, adopting the suave businessman role very well. "I would like to request your telephone number,"

"I think that could be arranged," he said, trying not to crack and break the façade, "I would also like to know where that confidence came from," he laughed.

"I don't know, I would just like the details for my VIP Silverstone package," I said, trying to give him the hint that I wanted to see him again and talk to him. "Of course, how could I forget,"

I had met Pierre earlier in hospitality, and we were sat relaxing before the race. I spotted some reporters around, taking pictures, pointing at us and talking. I didn't really mind, shrugging it off as people just gossiping.

The race didn't really go as planned. I started in P7 and ended up in P11. All of my frustration and disappointment disappeared when I saw a smiling Leo break through the crowd and throw her arms around my neck. Again, I inhaled the sweet smell of her shampoo and felt instantly comforted. "You did so good!" she exclaimed, leaving her arms around my neck for a minute before pulling them away.

"Not as good as I would've wanted, but it's better now you're here," I explained, letting my arm rest across her shoulders as we walked. "How about we do a celebratory breakfast tomorrow? I can't do dinner tonight and I'm going home tomorrow night, so I have time for breakfast,"

"Where do you want to go?" she asked, looping her arm around my back.

"It is a surprise. I'll pick you up at eight and we can head to a tea room that is one of my favourites," I smirked, watching her pout as she looked up at me. The way her nose scrunched up as she scowled was honestly the cutest thing I have ever seen. "Can you not tell me?" she begged, pushing herself further into my side.

"No, it's a surprise," I enforced as she playfully hit me in the chest. Leo groaned, causing me to just laugh at her impatience.

I was sat across from Pierre at the most beautiful little tea room in the world, tucking into my pancakes with maple syrup and bacon. Apparently, the afternoon tea here was to die for, but we were too early to order it. Pierre said he'd bring me back to try it, which I really looked forward to.

"Sorry, excuse me? Can we get the bill, please?" Pierre flagged down one of the waitresses after we had finished our meals. He had had a typical English breakfast, with a traditional cup of tea. "Of course," she chirped, scurrying towards the till to count up what we owed.

She batted her eyelashes at him flirtily. Well, that's what it looked like to me. When I saw her, I felt this uncomfortable tightness in my chest. Was this jealousy? I thought, before flicking it away. I wasn't jealous, I had no right to be.

I turned to the back of my chair and fished through my bag for my purse. "What are you doing?" Pierre asked, resting his elbows on the table and placing his head on his hands. "Getting my purse. We're celebrating your brilliant result, so it's only fair that I buy you breakfast," I reasoned, sliding my card out of its holder.

"Well, I'm not letting you. I invited you here, so that means I pay," Pierre countered, taking his card out of his wallet. "I invited you to dinner last night, but you still paid. Think of this as me repaying the favour,"

"Leo, we aren't doing that. If I want to treat you to breakfast, dinner or whatever, then I will," he said, cockily. "What if I want to treat you?" I asked, pouting at him.

"You are treating me by simply being here, ma chérie," Pierre complimented me, making the butterflies in my stomach come to life. He knew what he was doing, I could tell by the smirk on his face. "Now I have made you blush like a tomato, allow me to pay the bill."

I didn't even bother trying to protest, I just let him pay the bill. We made our way to the outside of the café and stood on the pavement. "I'm going to miss you when you're away," I said.

"I'll miss you too. I want you to call me every day, alright? Doesn't matter the time zone," he said, taking my hands in his. "Don't worry, I will."

"Even though I have only known you for a week or so, I really enjoy spending time with you," he said, moving his hands to my waist as I moved my arms to wrap around his neck. He slowly leaned in, our noses touching before our lips connected. It was soft, tender and made me feel absolutely incredible.

"Come to Spa and Monza with me," he started. Before I could reply, he carried on, "We can spend a week in Belgium and a week in Italy, just the two of us. I get it, it's soon and you have your job to sort out-"

"I don't really have a real job, anyway," I said to him, letting our foreheads rest together.

"You're coming?"

"Évidemment," I smiled, kissing him again. I felt him smiling against my lips and I was so happy I could explode. I was going to get to spend two whole weeks in some of the most beautiful places in Europe, with one of the most beautiful men in the world.

He wasn't just beautiful in his face, though. He had such a wonderful personality and a talent for making people smile. He was also one of the most charming people I had ever met and never failed to make me blush profusely or set a flame in my heart alight.

A/N - As you can probably tell, I can't write slow burn and that is why this story is only 22 chapters long. I thought I'd treat you to an extra chapter as well :)

|masterlist|

#f1 #formula 1 #f1 x oc #formula 1 x oc #pierre gasly #pierre gasly x oc #pg10 #oc #f1 imagines #formula 1 imagines #pierre gasly imagines

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andistarburst · 2 months ago

Text

TMNT: AbstractedStar ( reunion arc.)

Chapter 2: Red

First chapter. Next

Word count: 1588 words

Raph slides down the latter into the sewers,landing and walking towards his home. He walked past the lab,past the faded graffiti on the walls,past the old and worn training room,the kitchen,and his room, making it towards the living room.

Splinter sat there,watching some soap opera. Raph walked in,stepping on a piece of paper,it crinkled loudly,alerting his dad of his existence.

" WHO'S THERE- oh,hey Red," Splinter yelled,Raph flinched, running towards the chair a second later.

" Hey,Dad!" Raph greeted,leaning against the back of the recliner," I just have a few questions,then I'll get out of your fur."

" What is it,Red?" Splinter asked.

" Do I have brothers?"

Splinter didn't respond,so Raph figured he should elaborate," I met this other turtle mutant today,he had a blue mask and his name was Leonardo," Raph explained,gesturing with his hands.

" He's alive?" Splinter muttered,pausing his tv.

" Well,unless I was seeing a ghost,yes."

" You remember them?"

" No,not really," Raph said," am I supposed too?"

" You are the oldest of your siblings, you all used to be so close," Splinter got out of his chair,walking towards a shelf,the do-not-touch shelf.

" So why don't I remember them?" Raph asked.

" Maybe your brain is blocking out what happened because of what happened," Splinter said,grabbing a thick but small book from the shelf.

" What happened?" Raph questioned.

" Well,I don't exactly know,but something happened where all four of you got kidnapped,and you were returned two months later,but Leonardo,and your other brothers, weren't," Splinter handed him the book,it was a colored a bright teal. Raph held it for a second,opening it.

Oh.

Several photos of turtle children were taken,the dates being noted next to them. The tallest one looked like him,spiky and had a red bandana draped around his neck.

" I assumed that all of your brothers were dead,but it seems at least one of them lived,did he say about his whereabouts the past few years?"

" Uhhhh,I think he said he has been living with this goat guy, he's been calling this guy his dad," Raph explained,still flipping through the album.

' Draxum?!" Splinter gasped,horrified and angry," I can't believe that yokai-"

" What are yokai?" Raph interrupted, he'd been hearing this word all day,yet he doesn't know what it means.

" They are like mutants,except they were born like this," Splinter paused to explain.

" Oh,wait we weren't born like this?" Raph questioned.

" Anyways,it seems that Draxum has manipulated Leo into thinking that he's his actual dad,which isn't entirely wrong," Splinter brushed off Raph,whispering the last part so he couldn't hear.

Raph ignored the fact that Splinter brushed him off.

" So,what should I do?" Raph asked.

" I think you should talk to Leo,but it's fine if you can't," Splinter said," I think he has his own life now,he should do what makes him happy."

" That makes sense," Raph muttered.

" Alright, alright,now get out of my room,I need to finish my show!" Splinter pushed him out of the room,he could barely do it though so most of it was Raph walking away.

" Okay! Thanks Sensei!" Raph said, going to his own room. He threw himself on his bed,opening the photo album. Maybe this'll wrack his brain.

--+

-------+

-----+

----------+

---+

Raph scaled a roof. It was an alright day for the middle of fall. The sun was shining,making it warm,but the breeze kept it cool. The wind was strong enough to make Raph's mask tails keep getting in front of his eyes,having to move them away so he could see clearly.

He was looking for Leo,but he'd been out for a few hours by then. He couldn't find a sign of him,a part of him felt grateful for that.

Raph didn't get much from the photo album,besides learning the kid in purple and Leo are twins, their birthdays,and what Splinter used to look like. They also used too skateboard,it seems that Raph had taught them how too,according to the pictures titled that implied it.

Raph hasn't done skateboarding in years,since he was twelve . He remembers falling over a lot,and Splinter being very sad about other things,so Raph had too take care of himself when he was injured. Searching for the med kit,and trying too make sure it didn't run out too quickly,as he was a clumsy kid,and it took forever for Splinter to notice.

He paused on a roof,he could hear something.

" GET AWAY!"

There it is. He ran towards the area,throwing himself into the alleyway where it was coming from. He just barely dodged a glowing blue sword that almost hit his face,pinning his mask tails to the wall.

A human ran past what looked like a mutant,it looked up at him. Wait a second--

" You idiot!" Raph hissed.

" Who are yo- OH SHIT-" Leo yelled," hey Raph! Hah, almost impaled your face there!"

" Don't get any ideas," Raph yelled at his brother,who pulled the ōdachi out of the wall, unpinning Raph's bandana.

" Sorry,I didn't see you!"

" Are you blind!?"

" Dang,rude."

" Sorry," Raph muttered.

" Eh, it's fine,but you scared away the human,I need to get information," Leo said.

" What information?"

" Where's the nearest fast food place," Leo smiled like he was joking.

" Are you joking?" Raph asked. With all that noise it sounded like he was going to kidnap that human or something.

" Nah, actually I need to buy stuff for dinner tonight, I'm trying to get dad to try it," Leo put his ōdachi back into the holster on his back.

Raph just realized how short Leo is compared to him,he was probably around two feet shorter. Well,makes sense if he's the oldest,sometimes. April is shorter than him,yet she's older than him. So technically she's the oldest sibling. He considers her family.

" Whatcha doin here?" Leo questioned,leaning on his one of his ōdachis.

" Wanna come over to my place? You can meet the rat man," Raph asked.

" Yes! That'd be great!" Leo smiled,seeming stoked," which way?"

" Down," Raph instructed, already opening the sewer drain.

" Oh,okay!" Leo said,face screwing up in disgust.

✺✸✺✸

✧✺✸✴✸✺✧

✺✸✧✮✺◉✣

✣◉✺✮✧

✧❥✸✴✮✺

✸✧✮

They made it into the sewer,Raph and Leo walked towards the living room.

" Did you make this?"

" Huh?" Raph turned around,seeing Leo point at the fading graffiti on the wall.

" Did ya make this?" Leo asked again.

" I don't know who made it, it's just always been there, it's stained," Raph answered, trying to brush it off," c'mon, let's go."

" Wait- waittt-"

" What?!" Raph growled,stopping in his tracks.

" Did Mikey make this?" Leo smiled.

" I don't know,can't remember."

" Oh yeah,you forgot about us," Leo sighed angirly. Whatever.

" Come on!" Raph hissed,Leo followed,hesitantly. They walked into the living room.

" Hey,Dad! I have a surprise!" Raph smiled. He heard Leo behind him choke from the sudden happy attitude.

" What is it- Blue?!" Splinter looked back,spotting Leo.

" Heyyy,Rat man!" Leo greeted, Splinter ran over to him. They stared at each other for a second,a awkward moment until the silence was broken.

" You're a lot taller than the last time I saw you," Splinter joked.

" Uh,yeah," Leo said,Raph noted how awkward Leo sounded. Shit,he forgot that Leo thinks that their dad kidnapped him and his siblings years ago.

" May I-?" Splinter opened his arms hesitantly, seemingly for a hug.

Leo nodded, Splinter hugged him, Leo returned the hug,but was clearly a little upset. Raph separated them.

Leo slightly smiled,the rat and turtle staring at one another.

" Have you been happy? Are you doing alr-"

" Shush,we can talk later!" Leo smiled,Now that I know where you are-",pulled his sleeve up to reveal and blue gem coming out of a bracelet around his wrist," I guess I should return the favor."

He broke the gem,Raph stared at him in confusion.

" Draxum knows our location, it'll be a small family reunion!" Leo grinned widely, in bliss,Splinter looked terrified. He couldn't be that bad, he's just an goat. But then again,he did manipulate Leo and kidnapped his other brothers,so he should run.

" Dad,come on!" Raph grabbed Splinter's hand,they ran into the nearest tunnel. Raph has been here his entire life that he can remember,so he probably knows them better than Leo,maybe even Splinter.

" Hey,where are you guys going?" Leo ran after them.

Raph continued running,coming to a ladder out of the sewer. He climbed onto it,Splinter following.

He reached the top,putting out his hands too open the lid,but it was already open.

A sheep yokai's face was a few feet away,Raph yelped,his hands slipped. SHIT-

Splinter narrowly dodged out of the way of him,Leo yelled something. Raph was caught in someone's arms, supposedly Leo. Raph felt his head hit the concrete,wincing in pain.

Leo was yelling something,but Raph couldn't hear it over the sound of his own heartbeat. They are so loud and annoying. Raph's vision started getting darker,the people around him turning into dark silhouettes.

" Ra......you can rest," Leo said. But Raph doesn't need it,even if his grip on consciousness was definitely getting looser,and black was starting to shroud his vision.

" Just sleep, i'll get you somewhere safe."

Raph heard that clearly. He couldn't really fight too stay awake anymore,it was getting too hard. Raph closed his eyes, allowing him to drift into a heavy sleep he wasn't sure he would wake up from.

Notes:

Sorry about the ending,I couldn't really figure out how to write it correctly.

But thank you for reading! Sorry it's been so long since the last chapter,but I decided that for now on I'll post a chapter every two weeks. Sometimes I may post one once a week,but it depends.

Anyways,have an amazing day and make sure to drink water!

#andistarbee #rise of the tmnt #save rottmnt #save rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles #save rise of the turtles #rottmnt #rottmnt au #tmnt iteration #TMNT: AbstractedStar #rottmnt fanfiction #tmnt fanfiction #tmnt fan iteration #i tried

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imsorryithurts · 4 months ago

Text

OC introductions!

Hey, friends. Tomorrow the whumperless whump even ran by @whump-kia starts, and I have written for some prompts that'll be sharing!

I have seen people making introduction posts for their OCs, and I love it, because I was already thinking about how I could give context before every story without getting too repetitive...

So I'll try to cite my universes that are featured in this month's events, and their characters. Until now, they pretty much only lived in my head, so apologies if it's a bit confusing or all over the place!

SPACE

While playing a space themed TTRPG, I quite liked the dynamics between our characters. Since I didn't want to make fanfiction of other people's characters, I tried making this generic "space adventure" setting, slightly inspired by the characters relationships and dynamics.

If you play RPG with me and recognize anything here... Uhhhhh I'm sorry.

Roye: The captain of the team. Strong and cheerful, he may come off as a bit of a himbo, but is a capable leader, and friend.

Rex: The "loveable asshole". Ship mechanic, she has been friends with Roye for a long time, they had their first flight together, before he became captain. A bit butch.

Leo: The youngest of the team, trying to prove he's an adult and can be relied upon. If I'm being honest, I'm still figuring out what position he has on the ship, but he'd probably be good with communications, commerce and overall administration of the ship.

Isabella: Rescued from an escape pod from a destroyed ship, she became part of the team as an engineer and water systems specialist. Is overly nice, sometimes to the point of discomfort, but is wise and will always help.

Matt: The medic, hired after too many incidents in the ship without a medic. Secretly never finished any formal training, feels insecure about it, even after studying intensively on his own. Calm and collected.

Vaughn: I'm going to be honest. He's just there. I came up with him as a programmer, but then never did anything with him other than mention him in a few stories. Maybe I'll lean into it, making him part of the team, but in a cryptid "doesn't leave his office" way.

MECH: part of the same universe, and overlaps in the future. Only two developed characters so far.

Rose: Mech pilot. Really good at her job, really compatible with a bunch of implants and enhancement drugs. Unfortunately, that takes a strain in her body and mind. After quitting, she struggles with the lack of constant information input, and has to learn how to be a person again.

Lucas: Medic, currently specializing in treating mech pilots. Is Rose's friend, they were in the same class, but he quit the pilot program early on. He's a bit "more than just her friend", but Rose, while reciprocating his feelings, seems more invested on her mech.

------

Superhero:

I have more characters that have been in my mind for years, but for this month I pretty much wrote about only one:

Vittoria: Sarcastic and confident hero, with the power to see through solid objects. Is married to Claire, who has no powers.

------

Medieval fantasy:

I have not yet written my entries for this universe, so I can't be certain they'll show up, but I have scenarios that have been in my head for probably years at this point!

Very loosely based on DnD, because I forget the rules five minutes after reading them. More of a generic epic fantasy, with DnD elements, really. There are assorter characters that I haven't spent much time developing that I don't think I'll mention here.

-x-

Amiel: Forest elf, druid, who escaped a rich and confortable life to live in the woods. She learned magic when a human druid found her injured and took care of her, deciding to teach her along the way. Very quiet and reserved, can be impulsive.

Huran: Half orc warrior, Amiel's partner for quite a while. Strong, sweet and ambicious. This man has been in my mind for literal years and only today I realized I never named him. So he's Ukad now until further notice. Thanks fantasynamegenerators.com.

-x-

Mills: Milene Mill, a human alchemist who lost her home at a young age. An adventuring tiefling took her in, and she's been travelling with him ever since. As a teen, she had a bad accident that basically destroyed the left side of her body, and recovery was a long road. She's cheery, curious, studious and ambitious.

Salus: Rogue tiefling, found Mills when she was a child among the ruins of her town. He initially only wanted to escort her to a safe place, ended up being the reluctant father figure, later the very much willing father figure. (His name is also subject to change. I spent a while going back and forth on names for him).

#mine #my writing

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starlightshadowsworld · 1 year ago

Text

Splinter lives.

@nrrrdgrrrl2002 you gave me an idea.

Instead of the cold hands of death he's pulled into the warm embraces of his children as they help him up.

Or rather some of his children, Donnie and Mikey are holding him.

While Raph is holding up Leo, who looks a lot worse for wear.

"Leo!"

Donnie and Mikey run over, any thought of their father vanishing at the sight of their big brother.

Splinter smiles, his cane back in his head and he steadies himself.

He is about to go to his son, to congratulate him, to show him how proud of him he is.

For the Shredder is gone.

But something feels amiss.

His son is nowhere near the Shredders body.

Splinter let's his gaze fall on his old friend.

The once mighty Oroku Saki lays crushed in a trash compactor.

And any pride Splinter feels vanishes.

His son hadn't made him proud.

Hadn't taken the task his father had given to him and succeeded in it.

He had failed him.

Casey and April returned, the two had vanished earlier. Now returning in the Party Wagon.

Neither looked happy.

"Case! Help me with Leo!" Said Raph, Casey went over and with a gentleness few knew he possessed he took Leo's other side and helped him to the van.

"Sorry we couldn't get anything bigger." Apologised April, Donnie smiled shaking his head "don't worry about it. But... What is this thing?"

April snorted "my dad's ol party wagon from his college days. He gave me the keys to my grandma's farmhouse so well be laying low their for a while."

She didn't mention he hadn't made it out but Donnie could put the pieces together.

"It won't be long" He said trying to comfort her and she smiled through it didn't reach her eyes.

The two settled into the van. It was a bit of a tight squeeze, but they made it work.

"Next time I'm just hijacking an ambulance." Grumbled Casey, beside him April snorted "real classy of you Jones."

Casey grinned though it was small "you know me Red." April smiled back, she thanked whatever God's existed that she'd befriended Casey Jones all that time ago. "Yeah, I know you. Now get us out of here."

Casey gave a thumbs up, turned the keys and drove away.

It didn't take long for the turtles to fall asleep. All of them somehow curling up together like they had when they were young.

April was humming one of the songs on the radio and Casey was drumming his fingers on the dashboard.

Splinter was awake.

How could he sleep after all that happened?

He looked at his students, his sons all sleeping peacefully as if nothing had happened.

Almost like he could sense the older rats gaze, Casey's hand paused.

"Splinter..." his voice was cold, nothing like anything Splinter had heard from the boy.

Casey met his gaze in the mirror, cold and unwavering.

"You try anything and you can walk it."

His voice said he was kidding.

And from the way April's posture went from relaxed to alert, she wouldn't stop him.

"What I do with my children is not your concern, Casey Jones."

Casey's eyes went alight with fire, his grip on the wheel tightened. "If you hurt them I'll kill you myself."

He said simply.

And he meant it.

Splinter couldn't help the scoff, the idea that a simple boy could defeat him.

Casey smiled but it wasn't kind.

"I've already killed one ninja master today, I'm open to another."

Splinters eyes widened, surely not... Surely... But he knew neither were lying.

A simple boy had killed the Shredder.

An undisciplined, reckless, angry child had taken out his old friend.

It was like a slap to the face.

"That was not your choice to make."

"Really? That's what you say to that?" Says April. "Your greatest enemy defeated and your mad it was Casey who did it?" She said, unable to process it.

"Sorry man, if I know you'd call dibs I totally would've done the same thing." Said Casey with a snort.

Splinter glared "it was Leo's responsibility, his job as leader."

Casey was silent before slamming his foot on the break.

Luckily the turtles remained snoozing.

Casey got out the van, and hauled Splinter out onto the floor in a heap.

"Your sons almost died and you don't even care, do you?! Leo might not be able to walk again and you don't care?!... If anyone's the failure it's you." Seethed Casey.

"Not only did you put all that pressure on Leo, you pushed him till he almost died and your mad he didn't?!" Hissed April.

Both of them looked at Splinter like he was the scum of the earth.

"Your the worst father I've ever met, and I've met mine so that's saying something." Said Casey shaking his head.

Splinter glared "I gave them everything I had! I raised 4 mutants in a sewer with no one to help me."

"Yeah no you don't get to pull the generational trauma card right now, get in line." Said April folding her arms.

"Why does it matter who kills the Shredder? If your that obsessed with it why didn't you do it? You failed the first time but you've had 16, 17 years to do it."

Splinter was seething that either of these children had the nerve to speak to him like that.

"Leo isn't you, you know that? Actually no I don't think you know it so let me spell it out for you. Leo isn't you, Raph isn't you, Donnie isn't you, Mikey isn't you. There better than you could ever be."

Splinter gave her a disbelieving look. "Ninja they may be, but they are undisciplined, reckle-"

"Do you even like them?" Asked Casey, "seriously, do you even care for them." Splinter sighs "of course I do."

Casey and April exchanged looks of disbelief. "Alright, name something you like about all of them that doesn't involve ninjutsu."

The silence spoke volumes.

Casey shook his head "unbelievable...how, how can you look at them and not love them. Their such lovable little dorks. Grew on me like a fungus."

April snorted "gross, but not untrue."

"You see them as nothing other than soilders to carry out your plans. I bet you don't know that Mikey wants to be a chef, pretty sure Mister Murakami is gonna give him 24/7 when he passes on." Said April fondly.

"Don's gonna out do us all, he's getting his GED." Said Casey with a smile. "Raph says drummer but he wants to be a kindergarten teacher. He tries to pretend but he loves those sticky lil guys, my lil sis adores him."

"And Leo, he's not sure just yet but he wants to travel the world. Those boys are gonna go far, no thanks to you." Says April.

Splinter is shocked "what? Did you think they were gonna spend their whole lives fighting for your dream?" She says with a look.

"... Raphael shouldn't around children. His anger is dangerous." Was all Splinter said.

Casey rolled his eyes "you ever think, oh wise ninja man that you purposely poking him with a stuck till he blows up is why his anger gets so bad. And you didn't even try to teach him how to control it, just humiliate him."

Splinter didn't say anything only frowned deeper.

April gently bumped her shoulder with his, reminding him he wasn't alone. Casey bumped hers back, thankful.

"And showing them the world... You'll expose them to humans."

Now both humans rolled their eyes at him.

"Splinter, do you know what a camera is?" Asked April, seriously. "Of course I do" He snapped.

"Well when people notice mutant happenings because of course they did. They took videos, uploaded em to the Internet.

Hell the whole rat king thing was broadcasted on live TV. Your sons are known, and no thanks from you their safe." She said, the mighty mutanimals had handed that.

"Mutants started integrating with humanity long ago, your kids are no different. Their all raking their courses online but I drop em off every morning for school with April. I'd say I'm suprised you didn't notice but... Yeah.

And their all hella smart, we're all gonna graduate togrther and move out to some flat we can squeeze into, Donnie's already got an internship lined up." Explained Casey, pride in his voice.

Splinter could stand stunned.

He had no idea.

"Careful you might blow his mind." Teased April. "I thought he was gonna explode when you asked him what a camera was, that's too advanced for an ol timer." Teased Casey.

Both bursting into laughter.

Leaving Splinter humiliated, all of this was wrong. So wrong. His sons were never to leave, a GED? Internships? It was all wrong. They were to be ninja, to fight the Shredder and protect this city.

Not act like children.

They were monsters, mutants they would never belong amongst humans.

This was wrong.

"You... Dare take my sons from their rightful path..." He hissed, but April and Casey we're done with him.

"If their rightful path is being a child soilder than yes, huh should've known you and Shredder were related. Given how you both raise your kids, I'm glad Karai got free of you both."

That sent Splinter foting at them, enraged.

No one talked about his Miwa like that.

Casey fell to the ground, April was about to use her powers to throw Splinter off when another voice came out.

"Leave them alone."

It was Leo, stumbling on his injured leg but his face determined.

"Stand down Leonardo."

"No, you always taught me to follow my instincts and mine say leave my family alone."

"I am your father!"

"Than why won't you act like it...just leave us alone to deal with this, your good at that."

Splinter glared but he did infact leave "you will regret this."

"Already do...Casey! Are you okay!" Asked Leo, Casey gave him a thumbs up as April helped him up. "I'm good man, just caught me suprise."

Leo nodded, he looked out to the distance where his father had gone before back at his friends.

His family.

"How much did you hear?" Asked April hesitantly "most of it... Thanks for standing up for us."

And he meant it.

Both of them had been strangers all that time ago but had both become people Leo was proud to call family.

"Always." Both of them echoed. "Now let's get this show back on the road" said Casey, helping Leo in and the trio returned to their seats.

"And Leo" said April, turning to face him. "We're both really proud of you." She smiled. Casey nodded in agreement "so proud."

Leo blinked in suprise before smiling. He felt a weight lift of his shoulders. Somehow that meant more than his father's approval ever had.

"Thanks. You think we could we listen to the radio?"

"Sure, but if Casey starts singing I'm out. Said April, receiving a sqawk of protest from Casey.

"I have the voice of angels Red, your just jealous."

Leo smiled, watching them banter and curled back up to his brothers who were awake.

Had been awake for a while.

"Hey Casey the Angels called they want their banscgnee scream back." Said Raph. Casey huffed but he was smiling.

"If it gets us going, I guess I can put up with Casey's voice." Said Donnie, "thanks Don!"

Mikey giggled af their antics and joined in as Casey sung his heart out.

Raph caught Leo's eyes and hugged him close. And Leo knew he had heard everything.

They knew April and Casey could handle it but would all have jumped in if they had too.

For each other.

And this thought Leo, this was home.

#Splinter lives #casey jones 2012 #april o'neil #and they are completely platonic #leo tmnt 2012 #Raph tmnt 2012 #Splinter bashing #Mikey tmnt 2012 #donnie tmnt 2012 #Teenage mutant ninja turtles 2012

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