#((yes the rumors are true i am indeed from the US. i hate it here

[reanimated-owl]

1, 2, 3, 21!

x

((under a read more bc holy shit does he ramble

Does the mun give out personal info? Like birthdate, first name, age, gender, etc?

"It depends on the type of information. She's more private than she used to be, but she doesn't mind sharing her age or birthday now that she's an adult."

"...The one exception is her name. She only started going by Glitchy a few years ago, but she hasn't told me why. Almost no one knows her actual name, unless you knew her before the change or know her offline."

2. Does the mun have any learning disabilities?

"I... think so? I'm not really sure what constitutes a 'learning disability' specifically. She's told me she has ADHD before, and I think once or twice she's mentioned possible dyscalculia. Which is... not the best combination, considering she's trying to get into medical school."

3. What irritates the mun?

"What doesn't irritate her?"

"Sarcasm aside... She's tired of shipping drama, or just... fandom drama in general. She really hates when people infantilize characters or make them excessively cutesy. Not just this community, either, from what I hear she's seen it in almost every piece of media she likes. But most of all, she just wishes people would stop taking things so seriously."

"She also really hates when people wear too much perfume in public spaces. It gives her an instant migraine. And people not using headphones or taking phone calls in places where it's not appropriate."

"...I should stop. If I keep going, we'll be here all day."

21. If the mun could move to a different country would they and why?

"She would jump at the opportunity. She says if she could pick, she would go to Canada or Norway. Her current country isn't very great in some aspects, mostly healthcare and living expenses, and she's not really optimistic about the future."

[rattlyglitch]

Welcoming the Wonderful, Mysterious, Mythical, Magical Mister Mim

(I may have started another four chapter short story about Diasmonia. Each chapter is in the perspective one one of the different characters. The first chapter is Silver. Enjoy!)

Rumors of a transfer student from Briar Valley had been whispering around the school for months. The transfer student was told to be a powerful mage followed with that he had once actually met the Queen of Briar Valley. The rumors caught the attention of Sebek, Silver, Malleus, and Lilia alike. None of the four knew who this possible newcomer could be.

Lilia seemed the most interested and had tried to get answers from all the other students he could and even the teachers and Headmage Crowley. Still, nothing was heard about the student until the month of Halloween while Silver was attending his regular classes. At the beginning of the month, a student arrived at the school.

His hair was light purple and wildly curly and his eyes were a bright green color. The student had his books held closely to him and he wore the green outfit of a Diasmonia student. "It is a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Manfred Sparrow. My friends call me Mim though." Lilia had a look of realization when he saw Manfred. Class continued as usual but after Lilia hurried over to Mim.

"Oh Mim it's so wonderful to see you. I haven't seen you since my general days. How have you been?" Silver raised an eyebrow when Lilia greeted Mim so kindly. "He worked alongside you?" Lilia smiled widely when Silver asked. "Yes, he did. He was a general alongside me. After everything happened though Mim just disappeared. I never saw him again afterward." Mim looked up at Silver.

"Yes, I had to go away for a bit of time. But you see unlike Lilia knew. The forest I lived in was heavily damaged that is why I left so quickly without telling anyone else why I had left." Lilia's eyes widened by what Mim said. "Oh, why didn't you tell us what had happened? I and the others could have helped you Mim. We would have so readily." Mim simply shook his head no.

"I wouldn't have wanted to trouble you with those simple problems. It only took a few hundred years to fix the forest and I would have hated to hold anyone else back from their futures. I can tell that you Lilia have had a wonderful future. I heard from a little body that you had adopted a son. I'm guessing this silver-haired boy is yours?" Lilia eagerly nodded and hugged Silver. "He is indeed mine. He's grown up so well too. Did you raise any children Mim? Or go on to have a family?" Mim gave a small smile.

"I was and am fine with it being myself and the animals I live within the forest. They are all I need and I am all they need. We coexist happily." Sebek looked at Mim confused. "How are you still living if you worked alongside Lilia though? You are human like SIlver." The question got his foot stomped on by Silver who seemed displeased with the question.

"That reason is simple. I am a well-known mage for a reason. I have found ways to keep myself healthy, youthful, and most importantly cute like Lilia next to me. Oh, our history goes far back. I was the only human to ever fight with the fae during Lilia's general days or in anyone's general days." Silver was quite interested in what Mim had spoken.

"I believed that all fae had hated humans?" Mim gave a nod. "That is indeed true. I was thought to have been dead before the fae and human war broke out into something bigger than it was. But you see now I am here and well and oh so pleased to be reunited with dear Lilia." Silver watched as his father and Mim talked as they walked. The somehow long-living human sure was a wonder. Mim interested Silver because he had lived long before. Silver had never had any interest in his mortality but if there was just some way to ensure that a human could live longer maybe just maybe Silver could find a way to protect Malleus even after his death.

"Silver you've been staring off again! You have to be on full alert how many times must I tell you this!" Sebek voiced annoyance. Silver shook his head trying to clear his thoughts. "I apologize Sebek. I had been thinking about something. I will be more attentive." Sebek seemed pleased by what Silver had said and continued to walk on. Silver made sure to keep up as well as the group went to the Diasmonia dorm room. "Oh, why this dorm is so splendid and handsome? I can't wait to see which room I'm placed in."

Mim's room turned out to be next o Lilia's. The room after all has been vacant for some time. Unlike SIlver had expected the room seemed to be clean and clear with no sign of being unused for however many years it had sat idly. "Mim let me help you get settled. We can catch up while Silver, and Sebek go out to training." Silver had almost forgotten that he had the training to do that day. "Enjoy the rest of your afternoons Malleus and Father. Let's leave them Sebek."

Sebek seemed flabbergasted by the way Silver was talking but quickly said goodbye to Malleus and Lilia before hurrying after Silver. Silver kept silent and ignored Sebek's pestering as the two of them went out to the training field. Both adorned themselves with their swords before they began to go against one another. "I don't understand something Silver" Sebek spoke up as he dodged a slice of Silver's sword.

"Why were you in such a hurry to leave Lilia and Master Malleus? It was almost as if you were in a hurry to not have to greet our new dorm mate." Silver hummed before playing a good strike on Sebek's sword. "I don't know why but something is offputting about Mim I guess. Why would he have acted like he died? What did he do while away? Mim said he didn't repair his forest until after the war." Silver took down his guard some and looked at Sebek. "I know it may seem rude since I haven't asked him these questions yet but Mim feels untrustworthy."

[ladamedemartel]

@malka-lisitsa​ continued from here: ( x )

"listen." Well this should be good.

"From what little I've gathered just being around." Which is usually decent intel, after all Katherine hasn't survived five hundred years on the run for absolutely nothing.

"You run pretty tight with the Mikaelson’s just like your brother. So either you don't know who I am, and that makes you incredibly  stupid uninformed for being around Klaus for more than twenty minutes-" Because lets face it, he is constantly finding new ways to hate KATERINA!!! her.

"-Or you know exactly who I am which means you're either planning to turn me in to Klaus, OR you want something from me so that you DON'T."

"So forgive me for taking my impression of you over a girls day at the spa where we get to know eachother in mud masks and gossip about boys. So cut to the chase, which of the three options is it? I don't like guessing games. If you're here to threaten me, make it direct. I have shit to do."

Posture posture posture. Like a wild animal puffing up to seem more threatening against another predator. Such was the Katherine Pierce way. If you can make them think you're not afraid of them and dangerous, that you’re a threat to them, then maybe you never have to back up whether or not you truly are.

Either the girl was impossibly stupid or she was simply pretending to be in order to extort some sort of advantage. Given that she accused Aurora herself of ignorance, she was leaning toward the former. That was unfortunate. All of the rumors about Katerina had been that she was smart. Aurora had hoped that she might prove herself useful. Instead, she was left with yet another stupid young vampire. “Oh, darling, that was brilliant!” Aurora laughed, though the warmth that usually brightened her green eyes was gone. “You accuse me of stupidity, yet you do nothing but demonstrate your own ignorance. It’s really, rather...pathetic. Here I was hoping that the stories of you were true.” 

After all, the rumors had been enough to think that Aurora might find a kindred spirit in Katerina. They’d both injured themselves as a means to force another to turn them into a vampire. Katerina had supposedly wooed Elijah, Aurora’s greatest enemy and left him broken hearted. Katerina had run from Klaus the way that Niklaus and indeed Aurora herself had fled Mikael. And didn’t that sting? It was her that Klaus should have hunted, she who had broken his heart. If he had, the truth would have come out that much sooner. But why seek Niklaus out to reveal Elijah’s betrayal when Niklaus had accepted it so quickly?

“I had been here to offer an alliance of sorts, but-” Though Katherine was clearly taller, the way that Aurora’s eyes slowly scanned her up and down would have made anyone feel small. “Well, as I said, it’s a pity you didn’t, what is it people are saying these days?” Aurora paused for a beat. “Ah yes, it’s pity that you didn’t live up to the hype.” 

[marauderundercover]

Taking Chances Chapter 4: Unexpected (Bonding)

Prev

AO3

Bruce Wayne felt lost. This wasn’t an unusual feeling for him, but he wasn’t particularly fond of the events that led to him feeling lost. First, he found out he had a daughter. Yet another child that he hadn’t known of their existence. Then, he acted as Batman. He researched the girl and found that her school situation was...less than ideal. As was the supervillain situation in Paris. The girl- his daughter- had been targeted several times. Sometimes the Akuma went after her from the start. Other times, she was unfortunate enough to be in its line of sight when it was on a rampage. Any way you looked at it, she was in danger. No, the biggest mistake in researching her came with the phone number for the bakery run by her parents. Two lovely people who had raised her and taught her right from wrong. Something he hadn’t done. Their phone call was what left him feeling lost. They hadn’t demanded that he stay away from his daughter- from Marinette. No, on the contrary, they thought it was a great idea for the two to bond. Especially once Bruce had mentioned his other children. 

“Marinette was distraught when the only information we could give her about her birth father was his name.” Sabine had said, adding to Bruce’s confusion. 

“You had my name but didn’t reach out?” Bruce asked, trying (and failing) to figure out the situation. 

“We didn’t have much to go on. Just your name and that you were American and worked in business. Bridgette didn’t give any specifics, and back then it didn’t really matter. I assumed Bruce Wayne was a common enough name, especially in the US.” Sabine replied simply. The rest of their conversation had gone similarly, with Bruce growing more and more lost until the end. They hadn’t even suggested a DNA test (though he was planning on asking Marinette, just so that they could be completely certain). They just wanted Marinette happy. Even if it meant meeting and bonding with the man who hadn’t known about her existence. 

---

Marinette Dupain Cheng was not having an easy week. No, her week was sucky. In fact it was beyond sucky, it was shitty. So many things were happening at the same time, and she was just grateful that she wasn’t currently in Paris, since she was certain she’d be akumatized. From being attacked by the Joker for simply looking like a Wayne, to meeting Batman who was just as angry in person, and then figuring out Bruce Wayne really was her dad and accidentally calling him Batman, to fighting an Akuma by herself (one that she could barely handle) and then to top it all off, Adrien is Chat Noir. And Adrien has a crush on her, as Marinette. And apparently has for at least a month. Oh and now he knows that she’s Ladybug and so last night was filled with her Chat Blanc nightmares all over again. The cherry on the top of this mess was the fact that the class was practically ignoring her. She was sure they weren’t doing it intentionally and that they were just kinda distracted by Lila’s tall tales of Gotham. Tales that include her dating one of Bruce Wayne’s sons. She wouldn’t clarify which one, which was probably for the best. They two closest to their age were 12 and 19. Neither a great option for the 15 year old Italian. A shrill ringing tugs Marinette out of her thoughts. Glancing down at the unknown number attempting to call her, Marinette silently prayed that this would turn her shitty week around. 

“Hello?” She answers, wincing slightly at the way her voice sounds after a night filled with screaming and crying from nightmares. 

“Is this Marinette Dupain Cheng?” A deep voice asks. Marinette frowns. 

“Um, yes?”

“Good. This is Bruce Wayne and well, I’m not sure how to-”

“You’re my dad.” She blurts out, face instantly heating up. “Oh crap, I mean, um-”

“Well yes. I do believe I may be your father. I was in contact with your parents earlier, to ask about boundaries and such. Your mother says that you had shown interest in meeting me and seeing how we’re similar?” He says, the question clear in his voice. Marinette opens her mouth to respond, then frowns. 

“Just like that? We’re gonna meet, just like that?” She asks, hoping that her distrustful tone doesn’t push the man away. 

“I’ll admit that I was going to ask if you would mind a paternity test. After speaking with your mother, I have no doubts, but I thought it might make you feel better. And of course, if you would prefer to just act as though I didn’t speak to your parents and go on with your trip, we can do that as well. I just- I was caught off guard, if I’m being honest.” Bruce Wayne- her father- says. 

“I’ll do it. I- I would like to get to know you. I can’t have a relationship with Bridgette, but if my parents are okay with it, I do want a relationship with you.” Marinette admits, holding her breath as she waits for an answer. There’s silence on the other end for a long moment, but just as Marinette’s about to apologize and tell him he can go and pretend she doesn’t exist, he answers. His voice a little softer this time. 

“I would like that.” 

---

The paternity test came out positive, to no one’s surprise. Bruce had given Marinette the option of meeting somewhere more public (like a restaurant or museum) to bond, or coming over to the manor. Not quite ready to deal with the possibility of paparazzi and the rumors (no matter how true they may be) that would stem from a public visit, Marinette agreed to going to the manor for dinner. Which is how she ended up sitting in silence in a town car with a man who seemed like he knew more than he was letting on. 

“So, you’re the one who raised Mr. Wayne?” Marinette asks, not quite ready to call the man “Dad” or any variation of the word. The man nods and she meets his eyes in the rearview mirror. 

“Indeed, Miss. I am Alfred Pennyworth.” The man, Monsieur Pennyworth, says calmly. She tries not to let the frustration that she feels building show on her face. She feels like she should know this man, like there’s something important that she’s just barely missing. 

“Have we met before?” Marinette finally asks, racking her brain as she tries to figure out why this man is so familiar to her. 

“I don’t believe so, Miss Dupain Cheng.” He says, and for the first time since meeting him, it doesn’t feel like he’s all knowing. Instead, it feels like he’s just as confused as she is. Drat. She opens her mouth to question him more, when the huge manor becomes visible in the distance. Eyes widening, Marinette forgets everything else and turns her attention to the beautiful architecture. The giant fence and metal gates do little to hide the massive house. Sections of the house rise above others, almost as if there are towers. Dozens of windows are visible, as is the giant fountain at the front of the house. Ripping her sketchbook out of her bag, Marinette immediately starts sketching out the ideas that attack her mind. Dresses and suits and skirts, all using the architecture in front of her for the basic shapes of the outfits. As the car goes past the gate and the gardens come into view, Marinette can’t hold back her shocked gasp. Shaped hedges and flowers, hundreds of different colored flowers, and trees and- it was beautiful. Almost too perfect. Like something that belonged in a movie. She jumps slightly as the car door is opened, Alfred standing on the other side with an eyebrow quirked up. Right. She was actually getting out of the car. And going into this massive house. And spending time with her biological- nope. She can’t do this. She can’t- 

“Miss Dupain Cheng, if it makes you feel any better, Master Bruce seems to have run into some traffic on his way back from the office. You’ll have a few minutes to gather your bearings inside before he arrives.” Alfred says softly. Relief washes over her and she nods, finally moving to get out of the car. 

“Thank you, Alfred.” She says, smiling at the man. He nods back at her before leading her up the steps to the door. He opens it and then steps back, allowing her to take a tentative step into the house. Her previous panic is pushed aside as she realizes the inside is just as gorgeous as the outside. Immediately turning back to her sketchbook, she tunes out the world around her and just stands in the foyer, scribbling furiously into her sketchbook. 

“Um, hi?” A voice says, making Marinette yelp and jump, eyes scanning her surroundings until they fall on a guy. A pretty tall guy. 

“Hi.” She says softly, also confused as to who this guy was. Not her- dad-biological father-other part of her DNA-father-Mr. Wayne- not anyone she had ever met, that’s for sure. 

“I’m sorry, I don’t think we’ve met. I’m Dick Grayson.” The man says, extending his hand, a smile on his face. Anyone else probably would have thought the smile was sincere, but Marinette had always been good at reading emotions. And she could tell that he was wary of her. Why would he- oh. Grayson. As in, Richard Grayson, as in this man was her brother. Or, well, maybe he wouldn’t want to be. Maybe he would think that she’s ridiculous or that she’s just here to get money or here to try and pull apart Mr. Wayne’s family or maybe he would think that she was trying to take his place and she would never but maybe he would hate her and- She takes in a deep breath, trying desperately to ground herself and wishing she’d taken up Adrien’s earlier offer of him coming with. 

“I’m Marinette. Marinette Dupain Cheng.” She finally says, reaching out and shaking his hand. He nods, obviously still confused. So Mr. Wayne hadn’t mentioned her. Did he hate her? Did he ask her here to have her sign a NDA? Did he not want anything to do with her? Of course he wouldn’t, he obviously already had a family. A family that he chose, not one that he had by accident. His name was on her birth certificate, surely he would have found her sooner if he actually wanted anything to do with her? He chose Dick Grayson to be his son. He wanted him. He didn’t want Marinette. He-

“Ah, Marinette. I see you’ve met Dick.” The last voice she needed to hear says calmly as he walks through the door. Marinette swallows back the thickness in her throat, the one that tells her the tears will be starting soon. 

“Uh, yes. Mr. Wayne. Um, hi.” She says, flinching slightly when he winces. What did she do wrong this time? Was he really going to tell her to take a hike? If he didn’t hate her before, he surely did now. 

“Bruce, what’s going-” Dick starts to ask but is cut off by screaming voices getting closer to them.

“What the hell is wrong with you, Demon Spawn?” 

“Not my fault your blocking skills are subpar, Todd.”

“Sub- you almost stabbed me, you little shit!”

“Almost, yes. But I didn’t. I’m sure Father will be pleased with my restraint.” 

“You little fu-” “Boys!” Mr. Wayne finally yells as the two screaming walk into view. Both freeze and the younger one’s eyes instantly fall on Marinette, narrowing as he takes a defensive position. 

“Another one, Bruce, really?” The older one asks, making Marinette flinch back. Of course. Two more of his sons-her brothers- who he chose. Another two that he wanted. Not like her, someone he was going to be forced to know. Unless he told her tonight that he never wanted to speak to her again and made her sign a paper saying that she would never contact him again and then they would never have to worry about seeing her again and- oh this is a lot. 

“What were you two doing?” Mr. Wayne finally asks, and that’s when Marinette sees the weapons in their hands. And the blood on the older man’s shirt. The man turns slightly so that that part of his shirt is hidden when he notices her staring. 

“Uh, bonding?” He says, not at all convincing. 

“Who is that, Father?” The younger boy asks, the utter distaste clear on both his face and in his tone. And this is it. This is where he’s going to say that she’s no one, she’s nothing, and then he’s going to make her sign that stupid piece of paper and the last chance she has at knowing one of her biological parents is going to fly out the window. Poof. And then she’ll be so embarrassed, she won’t be able to go back on the trip and then she’ll have to change her name but she can’t completely run away yet because of stupid Hawkmoth and-

“This is Marinette, my daughter.” Well that was unexpected.

Next

Tag List: @maribat-bdbwm @vixen-uchiha @stainedglassm @liquid-luck-00 @when-no-wings-do-broomsticks @jayjayspixiepop @jjmjjktth @mizzy-pop @trippingovermyfeet @queenz-z @thepaceperson @iloontjeboontje @waiting247 @laurcad123 @toodaloo-kangaroo

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

𝑀𝑎𝑓𝑖𝑎! 𝐴𝑡𝑒𝑒𝑧: 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑂𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑒 𝐹𝑢𝑛 𝑂𝑓 𝐻𝑖𝑚 𝐹𝑜𝑟 𝐵𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑆𝑜𝑓𝑡

Disclaimer: In no way am I condoning, supporting, justifying or encouraging mafia activities or lifestyle. This is all fictional and not meant to represent real life scenarios.

✿*:･ﾟ𝓚𝓲𝓶 𝓗𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓳𝓸𝓸𝓷𝓰 ﾟ･:*✿

Hongjoong was startled by the sound of the door opening. He watched as you scurried over to his desk, boxes in your hand that you set down on the floor so you could clear off the papers in his desk.

"May I ask what are you doing?" He finally asked when you began placing the boxes on the desk.

"I need your help. It's of utmost importance."

Hongjoong stared in confusion as you began taking out various table decorations in all shades of pink. He pointed at them and looked to you for an explanation.

"It's my cousin's baby shower this weekend and I promised to make the table decorations, but I don't know which one to pick..."

You held up 2 different options for him to look at.

"So I need your opinion."

Hongjoong sighed softly and began pondering over his choices. Sure, they all looked pretty cute already, but he felt like they could be better. He took one of the decorations from your hand and began taking some things off.

"Hey! What are you doing?!" You screeched in horror.

"Relax and give me a moment." He looked inside the boxes and took out the fabric glue and scissors so he could modify it to his liking.

Now you understood what his plan was. You knew he loved to modify clothes, so of course he'd try to modify these ornaments. You decided to just watch him and see what he'd come up with.

You were both so engrossed in his task, you didn't notice Mingi had been standing by the door, trying to get Hongjoong's attention. He cleared his throat loudly, finally catching both of your attentions.

"If you grannies are done with your knitting and sewing, I have some papers for the boss here to see."

Mingi walked over and handed the stack of papers to Hongjoong. He snorted when he took in the sight of Hongjoong holding the glue and pink bows in his hand.

"What? You're telling me that'll cause more damage than a gun and bullets?" Mingi teased him.

Hongjoong threw the glue tube at Mingi, who only feigned to be hurt before walking out of the room, laughing his ass off and planning to tell the others.

You and Hongjoong looked at each other before laughing yourselves.

"Ok. Now back to our task."

✿*:･ﾟ𝓟𝓪𝓻𝓴 𝓢𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓱𝔀𝓪 ﾟ･:*✿

Seonghwa hated it whenever anyone would even so much as touch him. If one of the other guys merely brushed against him, he'd already be pulling out his mini lint roller to dust away imaginary dirt that got on his suit.

"Seriously? You're acting like I got the black plague or something." Wooyoung told him when Seonghwa took out a disinfecting wipe to wipe his hands after Wooyoung shook them.

"Worse. You got hoe germs."

When they heard rumors he was dating, they brushed them off as lies.

"No way. Man can't stand being around other people too closely." Yunho said.

"People can't stand being around him." Wooyoung never missed an opportunity to take a jab at Seonghwa.

"I feel bad for who ever does date him." Hongjoong shook his head.

But it turns out the rumors were indeed true, and not only did they find out about you, but they were even more shocked to see Seonghwa practically make out with you in his office. There were so many things going on that normal Seonghwa would have frowned upon.

"Well well well. What have we got here?" Hongjoong smirked at the 2 lovebirds.

Wooyoung let out a dramatic gasp.

"Seonghwa?! Letting someone sit on his desk? Whatever happened to 'don't touch my things?! You'll dirty them?' "

"Did he make you wash your hands before touching him?" Yeosang asked you curiously.

You simply blushed and looked to Seonghwa, wondering what was going on. Seonghwa pulled away from you to usher the boys out the room, threatening to throw bleach at them if they didn't stop. Locking the door, he went back to you and cupped your cheeks.

"Now....where were we my little honey bunch?" He leaned in to kiss you again.

"He even uses lovey dovey terms?!" Wooyoung's voice was heard from outside.

✿*:･ﾟ𝓙𝓮𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓨𝓾𝓷𝓱𝓸 ﾟ･:*✿

Yunho proudly showed off the sonograms to the other guys.

"Look! You can already see her little hands forming."

The other guys had mixed reactions. While some like Seonghwa, San and Mingi were cooing along with him, Hongjoong, Yeosang and Jongho just awkwardly looked at each other, while Wooyoung was simply on his phone, not even paying attention.

"Need I remind you this was supposed to be an important meeting?" Hongjoong spoke up.

"Oh right! Sorry." Yunho quickly put away his phone and they all looked back at Hongjoong.

"Ok. As I was saying, they are to bring our shipment in on-"

He was interrupted once again by Yunho's phone ringing. Upon seeing it was you, Yunho immediately picked up.

"Hi love! How are you? How's my precious baby mama doing? Is our little dove doing ok?" He cooed into the phone.

Jongho and Yeosang began giggling, mimicking Yunho's love struck expressions and high pitched voice. Hongjoong was about to say something but Seonghwa interrupted.

"Say hi to Y/N for me!"

"Oh hold on! The boys wanna say hi!" Yunho put you on speaker.

"We do?" Wooyoung asked, finally looking up from his phone.

"Hi boys! How's it going?" You asked.

"Oh nothing much. Just witnessing how your husband turns into a baby when anything related about you and your bundle of joy is mentioned." Jongho said sarcastically.

Yunho pouted. " I do not."

"Oh really?"

Jongho turned to Yeosang and smiled like an idiot.

"Wanna see my baby's sonogram? Here let me show you!" Jongho made it a point to use his aegyo voice.

"Ooh! Y/N is getting rounder and chubbier and it's the cutest thing ever! She hates it but the pregnancy suits her well! I can't wait when I get her pregnant again." Yeosang played along adding the fakest laugh he could muster.

"Yes he can." Your voice reminded them that you were still there.

Yunho just blushed and giggled.

"You guys wouldn't understand! But one day you will."

✿*:･ﾟ𝓚𝓪𝓷𝓰 𝓨𝓮𝓸𝓼𝓪𝓷𝓰 ﾟ･:*✿

As one of the top snipers in the world, Yeosang had always had an image to uphold. He was rarely seen outside of work related events, he hardly talked and everyone swears he never smiles. His private life is practically classified as well, not even his best friend of 5 years could tell you if he has a family or not. To his friends, Yeosang is just cold and heartless.

"Guys.... is that who I think it is?"

San's voice had everyone looking at what he was pointing at. It took them all a minute to comprehend what they were looking at, but once they did, they were shook.

"It's Yeosang! And he's.....smiling?!" Mingi exclaimed, putting on his glasses to make sure he wasn't seeing things wrong.

"He's not just smiling, he's giggling!" Yunho added.

"And he has.......a girlfriend?!" Wooyoung was offended and hurt that he never knew about this information.

They all stood there, watching as Yeosang and you acted all loving towards each other. They couldn't believe The Kang Yeosang was capable of falling in love. The rest of the boys looked at each other and smirked. This was perfect.

Few days later, they cornered. Yeosang at work.

"What do you dumbasses want now?" He asked, his usual cold gaze on his features.

"We want to meet your girlfriend." San replied.

For a brief second, Yeosang's eyes betrayed him, expressing shock that they knew, but he quickly composed himself.

"I don't know what you're talking about."

Yunho quickly took out his phone and presented their evidence in the form of pictures. Yeosang looked at them and gulped, finally realizing his secret was out. He stared at the floor in shock.

Yunho laid his head on Yeosang's shoulder and teased.

"Now unless you want them all over the internet, I suggest you let us meet her."

Yeosang pushed him off and sighed.

"Looks like I have no choice......"

The other guys cheered at the success of their blackmail. But it was a little too early for a celebration as Yeosang finished his sentence with:

"But to take you all out."

They all shut up and looked at him.

"Please say you're joking."

✿*:･ﾟ𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲 𝓢𝓪𝓷 ﾟ･:*✿

"I told you guys I can't go, I already made plans."

San sighed as his friends wouldn't quit bothering him about going over to Seonghwa's house to get drunk.

"You liar!" Mingi exclaimed through the phone.

"That's rich coming from you. Now bye."

San hung up his phone and decided to turn it off so they wouldn't bother him. He then went back inside the kitchen, where you were already placing the first batch of cupcakes in the oven.

"Baby can you set a timer for 30 minutes?"

San grabbed the stop watch and promptly did as you asked. He then pulled you into a hug and just held you there.

"Don't tell me you're planning on doing this for 30 minutes." You giggled.

"Precisely my plan."

Meanwhile, the other guys were in Seonghwa's car, who was driving well above the speed limit to get to San's house. If he wouldn't come over to them, they'd come over to him.

"We're not letting him ditch us on dude's night." Mingi said.

They quickly went up to his apartment and rang the doorbell. 5 minutes passed though and no answer. They looked at each other for options before Jongho stepped up and kicked the door open.

Hearing the door slam, San and you got scared, thinking it was an intruder. San quickly pulled you behind him, ready to attack whoever came in.

"Surprise! We- AAAAH!" Wooyoung screamed, as he was hit with frosting that San squirted into his eyes.

"What the hell are you guys doing here?" San asked as he helped Wooyoung regain his vision.

"We're doing guy's night out at your place!" Jongho said happily.

"What? No! I told you guys I had plans!" San repeated.

"Well........ here we were thinking you had mission plans.....but instead...it's baking plans." Hongjoong snorted as he looked at the half-decorated cupcakes on the kitchen island.

"I promised my baby we'd make cupcakes for her nephew's birthday party tomorrow." San explained as he went back next to you and wrapped his arm around you, looking at you with fluttering eyes.

"Wow.......you've gone soft Choi San." Seonghwa pointed out.

"What! No I have not!" San defended himself.

"You're softer than this cupcake. Delicious by the way." Yeosang popped up behind him, half a cupcake already in his mouth.

"Hey! That's not for you!"

✿*:･ﾟ𝓢𝓸𝓷𝓰 𝓜𝓲𝓷𝓰𝓲ﾟ･:*✿

It was all tension in the room. A recent mission had gone terribly wrong and what was supposed to be a calm discussion soon turned into a jabbing fest between the men.

"I told you all we shouldn't trust those Stray Kids, but nobody ever listens to me." Mingi huffed.

"Mingi, that's because the last time we listened to you, you cost us 1.5 million dollars!" Hongjoong reminded him.

"Meanwhile you almost costed us our lives today, not to mention about 200 of our best men. What kind of leadership is that?"

Soon Hongjoong and Mingi were up in each other's faces, each waiting for the other to throw the first punch so he can retaliate. The other guys hesitated between telling them to back off or let them blow off some steam.

"Please! We both know you don't have the guts to fight me. I will literally murder you with my bare fists! Don't think I won't hesitate to punch your little face into-"

A knock interrupted Mingi's threat to Hongjoong. He stormed over to the door, ready to shoot whoever dared to interrupt him. He briskly opened the door.

"The fuck you ass- Y/N! Baby, what are you doing here?"

His tone immediately went down once he realized it was only you. You smiled up at him and held out his holster for him.

"You left your gun back home. I was worried you wouldn't be able to defend yourself without it." You answered him.

Mingi blushed and took it from you.

"Awww baby, you really didn't have to. And besides, you know I don't like you carrying things like these. You might accidentally hurt yourself." He whined cutely at you.

The other guys were on the verge of laughing. It was always funny to see how quickly Mingi went soft and sweet for you.

"All right, I promise I won't do it again."

You held out your pinkie to him, which he linked with his own before holding your hand up to kiss it.

"I'll see you later. Love you sweetheart."

With a peck to your lips, he watched as you walked away, letting out a blissful sigh once you were out of sight.

"Ok Romeo, we get it. You're in love and it's gross. Can we get back to what we were saying before I break this table out of anger at this lovey dovey mush?" Jongho complained, groaning at the loving scene that just took place.

✿*:･ﾟ𝓙𝓾𝓷𝓰 𝓦𝓸𝓸𝔂𝓸𝓾𝓷𝓰 ﾟ･:*✿

"Hyung? Can you buy this for me?"

Jongho held out a bag of chips to Wooyoung, who just scoffed.

"We're in the middle of stalking someone and you're seriously asking me to buy you snacks?" Wooyoung couldn't believe the younger member.

"Hey. We need to look as normal as possible and it's a store! Come on! Buy them for me."

Jongho actually made puppy eyes at Wooyoung but to no avail, he wasn't budging for nothing.

"I'll pay you back later! I left my wallet in the car." Jongho was begging by now.

"No. I, Jung Wooyoung, don't buy anything for anyone but myself."

Just then his phone rang and he picked up.

"Hi pumpkin! How are you? Hmmm? No I'm not busy! Just here at the store with Jongho." He spoke into the phone.

Jongho rolled his eyes.

"Oh no! My little baby is feeling bad? We can't have that." Wooyoung pouted when he heard you were ailing.

Jongho raised his eyebrow at Wooyoung.

"Don't worry sweetheart. I'll get everything for you. See you soon. Bye love."

Jongho thought he was going to barf when Wooyoung actually made kissing noises into the phone.

"Ok, we need to get pads, tampons, ice cream and chocolate asap." Wooyoung declared as he began walking to the freezer aisle.

"What?! No way! How embarrassing!" Jongho crossed his arms in defiance.

"Come with me. That's an order." Wooyoung practically dragged Jongho, who just groaned and complained the entire time.

"Why are you like this Hyung? You weren't like this before. It's so ewww!" Jongho cringed.

"Because Jongho, this is what love does to you."

✿*:･ﾟ𝓒𝓱𝓸𝓲 𝓙𝓸𝓷𝓰𝓱𝓸 ﾟ･:*✿

You were currently cuddled up to Jongho. He had promised only 25 more minutes and he'd take you home, but it quickly turned into an hour and you were tired. You were sitting on his lap, your face hidden in his neck, arms clutching his shoulders as you drifted off to sleep.

Jongho kept one arm around you, the other busy filling out some paperwork. Sensing you were falling asleep, he began to sing softly to you, he knew you loved falling asleep to the sound of his voice. He continued to sing even after you completely fell asleep, smiling occasionally at how adorable you looked.

The door opened and Yunho came in. He was about to ask something, but Jongho held a finger to his lips, ushering him to stay quiet so he wouldn't wake you up. Yunho looked at you two in shock before smirking.

"Aren't you two the cutest things ever?" Yunho teasingly whispered.

Jongho rolled his eyes at him before handing him the papers he came for. Feeling him move, you slightly shifted. Scared of waking you up, Jongho quickly held you closer and began to sing again, happy that he got you to stay asleep.

Yunho clutched his heart and cooed faintly. He actually took out his phone to take a picture.

"So cute." He showed off the picture to Jongho.

Not amused, Jongho held his fist up to Yunho, silently threatening to break him if he didn't leave.

"Ok ok calm down lover boy. Have a good night." Yunho left you two alone.

After a minute or two, Jongho got up and began carrying you bridal style to the car. He had just gotten you in the passengers seat and he himself got on the driver's side when you whined softly and rubbed your eyes.

"Jongho?" You called out.

"It's all right baby. Go back to sleep." He whispered softly to you as he strapped you into the car, kissing your temple before turning the car on to go back home with you.

Gifs not mine, credit goes to their respective owners.

[ibijau]

Here's a prompt: Lan Xichen somehow dies while in seclusion—or at least that's what the rumors say—and Nie Huaisang deals with the consequences. And heartbreak. As the saying goes, you don't realize how much you love someone until they're gone.

Okay, if that sort of plot interests you, do yourself a favour and check Between the Shadow and the Soul which is exactly that. It's an amazing xisang fic, I cannot recommend it warmly enough!

And now:

Warning in this fic for a lot of references to suicide and depression

It struck Nie Huaisang as interesting that he felt so little about the whole thing. His reaction upon learning the news had been first to dismiss it as a joke in poor taste. Once it had been confirmed, and his presence had been required, he'd been too busy planning his trip to give it much thought. Then he'd arrived in the Cloud Recesses, just in time for the funeral, and gone through the motions of what was expected of him. At most he'd felt mildly when asked to keep vigil, as if there was still any connection between them. He'd only agreed for the sake of appearances, refused to look at the body, and gave his seat to the next mourner as soon as was polite.

The ceremony itself was conducted to perfection, as could be expected of the Lans. Every word was said the right way, every gesture graceful. It was almost a beautiful thing to behold, Nie Huaisang distantly thought. Lan Qiren's monotone voice was better suited for such events than for teaching, certainly. And Lan Wangji had always looked his best when in the throes of loss and despair. Sadness just became those Lans a little too well, as if they'd been born for tragedy.

Perhaps they were.

Nie Huaisang did not dwell on the subject, and allowed time to pass him by until at last the ceremony was entirely over. He would have gone home right then if he could have, his duty accomplished, but it would have been noticed and discussed. Nie Huaisang did not want to get mixed up in the gossip that was sure to spread around after this.

“Did they tell anyone what he died of?” Sect Leader Yao asked in a too loud whisper while waiting for the refreshment promised to the guests.

“I've only heard that because of his seclusion, it took them several days to even notice he had passed,” Sect Leader Ouyang replied. Then, noticing Nie Huaisang standing alone nearby, he gestured at him to join them. Nie Huaisang tried to pretend he hadn't seen them, but it was in vain as Sect Leader Ouyang called him by name until he couldn't be ignored anymore. “Join us please! You were his friend, weren't you? Surely you must know more than us.”

It was a sign of the hollowness that had seized Nie Huaisang since learning of the news that he did not laugh. What friends they had been indeed. Once, perhaps... but no, the word would never have been right to describe them. They were acquaintances at best, brought together out of love for Mingjue, torn apart after his death even if Lan Xichen hadn't known it then.

He'd learned it, in time.

Two years earlier, when Nie Huaisang had finally given a proper funeral to his brother, Lan Xichen had tried to talk to him about everything that had happened. Lan Xichen had wanted the truth, and he'd certainly gotten it. Nie Huaisang, bitter and angry and broken after going through the pain of burying his brother again, had not spared the other man a single detail of everything he'd done, everything he'd learned, everything he'd felt.

Two weeks after that, Lan Xichen had entered seclusion and they'd never met again, unless one counted what little time Nie Huaisang had spent with the other man's coffin.

Nie Huaisang did not think it counted.

“I have not been told anything more than anyone else,” Nie Huaisang said, more careful than the other two to keep his voice down.

“It is just too odd,” Sect Leader Yao said. “A man his age doesn't die without reason, and his cultivation was far too great to allow for sickness!”

“Surely I don't know what Yao-zongzhu might be suggesting.”

“I am just saying it is very odd,” Sect Leader Yao insisted, glancing toward Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji with what he had to consider a knowing expression.

“Ah,” Nie Huaisang said.

They were thinking Lan Xichen had been murdered, then.

It was amazing, he thought, that anyone could misunderstand Lan Qiren and Lan Wangji this much. Perhaps the second's reputation was no longer as pristine as it had once been, due to his open association with the Yiling Patriarch, but he could hardly have been accused of killing his brother when he profited so little from his death. It was to Lan Qiren that the title of Sect Leader went, something which had been decided long ago, and which Lan Wangji would have known. Not that Lan Wangji would ever have wanted such a title. And as to accusing Lan Qiren of murdering his nephew, it was ridiculous. There were few men in the world whose honour Nie Huaisang believed in, but Lan Qiren was definitely of the number.

If it was not an ordinary sickness that had killed Lan Xichen, and it was not another person either, then it left only one option.

The Lans tended to easily fall prey to melancholy, Lan Xichen had once told Nie Huaisang, during one of those rare true and sincere conversations between them, when they had both bared more of their soul to the other than they'd intended. And that melancholy was a powerful sort, Lan Xichen had explained, more dangerous than any disease, any war, any demon. The way he had spoken of it had made it clear that Lan Xichen himself particularly struggled with it ever since becoming Sect Leader during the war, a struggle he hid under a mask no less carefully crafted than Nie Huaisang’s. Lan Xichen had told him he thought that melancholy would overcome him someday as it had done others in his family, an affliction no less powerful than that the Nie suffered.

So it was clear to Nie Huaisang that the manner of Lan Xichen's death was...

His whole body shook as he hurriedly fought to contain a sob.

“Nie-zongzhu?” Sect Leader Ouyang said with concern. “Are you unwell?”

Nie Huaisang shook his head. He was fine. He was unaffected. They'd never even been close.

Another sob had to be contained.

Nie Huaisang took a deep breath, and smiled weakly.

“Nothing dramatic,” he said with a voice he scarcely recognised as his own. “A moment of... I have known him for so long.”

“Of course. This must be hard on you. He must have been like a brother to you.”

Nie Huaisang made a noise. A sob, or a laugh, he could not have said, but it was too loud and attracted more attention than he cared to deal with. Having spent the last couple of years carefully working to undo the damage he had done to his own reputation, Nie Huaisang could not have born to be seen crying in public, something he now felt the danger of. He muttered some vague apology to the two men standing near him, and excused himself from the assembly. He managed to keep himself in check until he had left everyone behind, and only broke into tears when he was sure to be alone.

Gone was the numbness that had so puzzled him since hearing that Lan Xichen had been found dead, because the full horror of that loss finally hit him.

Lan Xichen was gone.

Lan Xichen was dead.

He would never again come by the Unclean Realm in answer to a desperate plea for help that never really needed his input. There would be no more praises of Nie Huaisang's birds, his fans, his paintings. No more gentle comforting and undeserved patience.

Lan Xichen was dead.

And if Nie Huaisang had acted with less cruelty, Lan Xichen might not have killed himself.

-

Nie Huaisang, a month after returning home, wondered whether melancholy was a contagious ailment, and whether one might catch it from sitting near the corpse of a man who had died from it.

He made the mistake of asking Nie Liyan, his favourite cousin and heir, expecting her to laugh or tease him. Instead she gave him a most pitiful look, and told him that melancholy was most often caught in such a manner, especially if the corpse was that of a person held dear.

It had never occurred to Nie Huaisang to think that Lan Xichen might be dear to him. The man was merely there, full of good intentions and blind to the nature of those around him. They had shared pleasant moments together perhaps, but no more than Nie Huaisang had done with others. In fact, Nie Huaisang was quite sure he had laughed more with Jin Guangyao than with Lan Xichen. If asked, he might have admitted that he'd held warmer feelings than he ought to have toward the man who had so cruelly murdered his brother. But Lan Xichen?

Nie Huaisang would have been hard pressed to decide what he felt for the man while he was alive. Only in death was he forced to realise that Lan Xichen too had been an important figure in his life and, yes, perhaps dearer than he would have liked. But it was hard to hate a man such as Lan Xichen, he told Nie Liyan when the realisation became too bothersome to bear it alone. Nie Huaisang simply could not imagine that anyone in the world might have met Lan Xichen and not liked him.

“I've never understood what people saw in him,” Nie Liyan had just replied. “And I've told you as much many times, even before your brother's death. His looks were good but not to the degree everyone claimed, he smiled too much, and he spoke too much like a book.”

“That says more about your tastes than about his qualities,” Nie Huaisang retorted hotly.

“Perhaps. Or it says something about your tastes.”

That insolent answer had not pleasant Nie Huaisang, who had promptly changed the topic, and never breached it again with her.

-

The melancholy did not ease with time, but instead invited some friends to live with it in Nie Huaisang's heart.

Such as a sharp terror over the concept of his own mortality.

Nie Huaisang had always known he would die early. It ran in the family, and he'd seen it happen twice already to his own relative. Considering his own temper, his weak and unstable cultivation, Nie Huaisang had long feared that he would not even live long enough to see his brother avenged. This had made him frustrated with the slow pace he'd been forced to endure, which in turn had only had a worse effect on his general state. Things had improved after the death of Jin Guangyao, making Nie Huaisang hope he might perhaps make it to the venerable age of forty, something neither his brother nor his father had managed.

The death of Lan Xichen robbed him of that hope.

It was only, Nie Huaisang told himself, that the loss had reminded him people died of reasons other than familial curses or to pay the price of their hubris. Death, even for cultivators, was not an uncommon occurrence, so no man could leave his bed in the morning and be certain he would return to it at night. And if he were to die now, what would he have to show for it except a sect that still wouldn’t be treated seriously, and the blood on his hands?

That consideration was also an important one in making a decision. No matter how hard he tried, Nie Huaisang couldn’t seem to correct the reputation he had given his sect. When people talked about the changes happening in Qinghe Nie, the way it might has started to become reliable once more, they always felt the need to point out that it could be nothing more than a stroke of luck, something that was sure to return to normal very soon under Nie Huaisang’s poor guidance. It was a source of great annoyance to him that people now considered it normal for Qinghe Nie to be weak and useless, when not twenty years earlier it had been greater than Lanling Jin.

It would take a dramatic change for people to accept that Qinghe Nie was returning to its roots.

So Nie Huaisang told Nie Liyan that he would abdicate in her favour.

She was more than ready for this, he told her. They had been working in tandem since long before the death of Jin Guangyao, and she had proven multiple times that she would handle the position of Sect Leader better than he ever would. She was a good administrator, with great martial art skill, a cultivation level that was among the best in their generation. She was also an excellent teacher, and well liked by all the disciples, from young juniors who had never known their sect’s glorious days to elders who’d known Nie Huaisang’s father as a young child. Nie Huaisang and Nie Liyan had always agreed that she would succeed him if he died the way his family so often did, or whenever he would decide to give up on a position he had never wanted.

“Are you sure now is the right time?” Nie Liyan only asked him.

“There is no right time for these things. But Lanling Jin is still not quite stable yet, Gusu Lan is in the hands of an old friend, and Yunmeng Jiang is caught up in the Jins’ business. That means the three great sects won’t give you a hard time as you settle in, and I know you can handle the others.”

“And what will you do?”

“Travel, perhaps,” Nie Huaisang replied without conviction.

He had never planned for what he would do after handing her his title, and realised suddenly that he’d never expected to be alive for that. No matter how often they discussed the possibility of a quiet succession, Nie Huaisang had never really considered he would be luckier than his father and brother. Yet there he was, suddenly forced to accept that tomorrow was something that existed for him while also dreading the uncertainty of his own mortality.

Nie Liyan accepted his answer, and they set out to plan the succession, calculate the best possible date for it, and choose how to announce the news to other sects. They did not talk about Nie Huaisang’s future any further, for which he was grateful. He had a vague suspicion that Nie Liyan thought he intended to kill himself, which would explain why she kept suggesting he took a companion with him when he left.

Nie Huaisang promised to consider it. He even did wonder who in the world might be a travelling companion worth putting up with. Nobody from his own sect would do, as he thought they would quickly grow bored of any destination that might appeal to him. And there was no one left outside of Qinghe Nie who he felt close enough to. It was only a pity, he thought one night, that Lan Xichen had passed away, as he would have been a very interesting person to have on a journey. Someone who shared his sense of beauty and his love of great landscape, who would not complain if Nie Huaisang asked to stop and paint but might instead join him. And perhaps travelling in that manner might have lifted some of Lan Xichen’s melancholy in a way that locking himself up away from the world could never have done.

Perhaps it could have saved Lan Xichen.

Nie Huaisang slept little that night, half drowning on sorrows and what-if that could never come true.

Come morning, he told Nie Liyan that he would travel alone, and she did not insist.

-

Nie Huaisang left the Unclean Realm as soon as the succession ceremony was over so he wouldn’t have a chance to change his mind. He recently bought an excellent horse, and the animal was packed with whatever belongings could not be put inside a qiankun pouch. Nie Huaisang had money, he had clothes, everything needed to paint and write. He even had a destination in mind at last, one suggested to him by Lan Qiren, of all people. The old teacher, upon learning of his intention to step down, had written him a thoughtful letter wishing him the best of luck in his new life, inviting him to come and stay in the Cloud Recesses if he ever went that way so they might play weiqi together, and suggesting he should go visit Baidi in his exile, where he too might become inspired to write some poetry. Perhaps, Lan Qiren added, a place so rich in history would help him find new meaning to his life.

The idea had something romantic to it. More than that, though, Nie Huaisang remembered that several times over the course of their acquaintance, Lan Xichen had expressed a wish to visit the city, while always failing to find an excuse to do so. It seemed appropriate that Nie Huaisang’s first destination should be inspired by the man whose death had forced him to reconsider his own life.

So Nie Huaisang set out toward Baidi, and promised himself to enjoy his time there, for Lan Xichen’s sake as well as his own.

[mc-survivalist-steven]

“The Switch” - Discord RP

[RP with @rnotsleeping​, posted with permission​]

[Happens before “The Monstrosity of the Night” event and after this happening ]

[Steven] Steven hated how noisy it's being as of late. Everything is happening everywhere, news and rumors condensed in the air. It sucked, and it's not helping how he's feeling. 

 So he's been trying to distance himself further away from the hubbub and the problems. Needing a quieter place to mull over his guilt and sort out his feelings. He has to pull through. It's what he has to do.

[Ann] The sky filled with a flap of wings, one, two before falling silent the other circling around some memories and thoughts that were familiar and some new.

 This was. He tilted and slowly descended and like before plopping himself nearby. 

“No campfire this time? Or tent?” He’d ask, the phantom also had a bit of a different look than before. A new outfit, he didn't seem to be as fearful but, he did keep wary.

[Steven] ... [Ha.] Came the answer. Steven, too, looked different. In fact, it's almost unrecognizable to who he used to be. White hair, horns covered in bandages, a tail with a different tip... and he's staring quietly at the different looking phantom, too. [I just borrow villager homes.] His eyes narrowed. [They're too scared to protest anyway.]

[Ann] He wouldn't comment on the obvious but he did have the forever smile on his face. “True, there isn't one far away,” he pointed to the source of some voices. “….you’re exceptionally loud now..” he did take notice, “almost as loud as nova.” He lifted himself to float next to Steven. He wasn't trying to look cute this time keeping his standard size.

Steven wondered if the phantom has always been this tall. [Am I now?] He smiled grimly. [Well, not like I can deny that I am indeed, feeling like shit right now. Is that how you find me?]

[Ann] “Yes, right in the dot. It seems you've remembered. That's too bad.” He floated around the other. He would seem to put a claw into his cloak before moving along forward to lead the way to the village. Interested in seeing Steven scare off the others. “Which name do you prefer?” He asked looking forward he didn't need to see Steven. He could easily hear him.

[Steven.] He said almost instantly. Almost sounded like he's afraid. Afraid of losing that name. [I go by Steven. Now, and until I die.] He snapped softly, brisk walking forward. [You know all of that is in the past, right.] 

[Ann] The phantom kept pace floating idle. The smile was still ever present. A green eye opened up to look at him. 

 “Steven it is… and I know. The past is the past and now is now.” He comforted the other with a lie. Letting Steven run away from his past, if that's what he wished for. He didn't want to make this being mad. They would come up to the village a golem, and a few regular villagers who seemed busy.

---

[Steven.] It's a crazy sight to see the one scrawny guy who used to be frequently chased away by golems and villagers now just calmly strolled by. Those who looked at him just stared, unmoving. Nobody did anything towards the smaller brine gracefully walking down the road, turned around, and pointed at the largest house around. 

 [This is mine for two days.] He declared. [I'll use it to sleep and rest. I won't touch anything else.] The villagers quietly nodded, and brisk walked away, keeping distance as the golems not move from their positions. 

 [...So what brings you here asides checking up on me,] He sighed, opening the door as a little villager kid scampered out, white as a sheet. [Annoyance?]

[Ann] He followed the other, enjoying the show be he wouldn’t say that. It really was such a vast difference. A confidence, a stride, an understanding of power. Yet there he was, all of it covering how scared he was. He float in and the claw pulled out. 

“Since you were around I borrowed it anyways. But its spic and span. And available to…distract you from things.” He said, a Switch floated in his claw. A slight glow of pink to it. He has been learning some magic and with the shards he’s gotten much better. “We’re still friends aren't we? Playing video games, enjoying our time?” He asked slowly.

[Steven.] [...You're still keeping this?] He asked, looking at it with narrowed eyes, taking it without a second thought. 

[...Well, alright. it is mine, honestly... I guess I've kind of forgotten about this.] He deeply sighed. [...I don't mind playing video games.] He said. Though he's quiet at the friend thing. It's hard to consider anything friends when your entire life has been a lie.

[Ann] “….better than stewing.” He said as he would place it into the others hand.

 Seeing that there was a couch and some tables along with misplaced food. He would go to sit down and sighed relaxing. The place looked warm but who knows. 

 “Were you happier not knowing?” He asked picking onto the others mind. Unlike Sigma and Sephilar he’s met earlier. Steven and Nova were open books. Their thoughts were almost script ready for him to say out. It took lots of his willpower now to just spill it all out. Such a difference in how one used their powers. Though then again. Fire…both had fire aspects to them. Maybe it was that. 

[Steven.] [....I can't answer that yet.] 

 The place is... as large as a villager house could be. Probably about 10 blocks x 6 blocks wide. He, too, rested against the couch, using his feet to push away a children's toy on the floor to the side.

 [I'm... I want to be.] He murmured. [Believing in trust is ideal. Knowing who you were supposed to be a good eye-opening. Like books. Like fiction.] 

 ...

 [But it hurts right now.] His eyes narrowed, flicking the console on. [And I don't know if I'll be strong enough for this.]

[Ann] “Books are cute. Fantasy, even a bit of wish wash.” He said as he chuckled at that. He then leaned forward. 

“Lets play a fighting game while we chat.” He said offering a claw to have the other side of the controller. “You’re strong. You’ll get through this. Even if you think your friends are fake. You need them.” His claw did a give me motion.

[Steven.] [...I don't want to think they are.] 

Smash Bros was picked. 

 [...I refuse to believe they're fake.] In fact, are any of them fake? His problems are real, he knows this. But it's just piles upon piles of memories and emotions and the question of whether he's still Rahauel, or if he's finally Steven. it wouldn't leave his mind. He knew. He knew nobody likes him because they're fake. He knew not even Rudell is fake. 

But it's because they're real... 

 ...he's afraid to look at them in the eyes. 

 [Do you have friends, Annoyance? Asides me, somewhat.]

[Ann] “A couple…I'm trying, friendships a bit of a hard concept for me to grasp. But I think I'm doing well.” He said tooting his own horn a little bit. Having a controller he picked the pink blob named Kirby. “Would you want to hear about them?” He asked as he waited for the other to select. “I think most you would know. “ he chuckled lightly his eyes opening up to see the screen better.

[Steven.] [...Shoot.] He said, picking Mario as a player, leaning against the sofa.

[Ann] “I believe the first friend I've made around here legitimately is Geo. An Enderman. He came to me randomly praising me for my personality. At first I thought he wanted to use me for things and I was all for that.” The stage was randomly selected as the two began to play. “Yet he earnestly wanted to be a friend. It was the first time anyone's done that.” He would chuckle lightly. He was giving Steven a bit harder time; he wasn't a newb. He’s been practicing. 

 “Nova, I'm sure you know. They took me in as a mentor teaching me magic, they seem to also enjoy my shenanigans. I think they both just like my charm.” He joked lightly. “Then there's you we would play video games and you even gifted me candles and oil. I've treated it as a reminder. Of things I could have.” He said as his claws clicked away at the buttons. 

 “Sephilar, an enderman, they helped make my outfit on a whim, their singing is calming…though I have only caught them in rare chances…they calm me.” He lost a lift and chuckled getting back in the game. 

 “Then, Sigma, I would hang out with him when you were busy or doing things…he was so lonely. I thought I could take him to be my friend but turns out saying you have use for them. Doesn't seem to be friend material…but you did it so I thought I could.”

[Steven.] He was playing smoothly until that last bit. And he froze. Just enough for Ann to land in a killing blow. 

 ...

 [...You're friends with... Sigma?] He asked softly, eyes not leaving the screen. [...Are you currently spying on me or what.]

[Ann] The phantom laughed a whisper of voices in it grinning away. 

“Why the hell would I be spying on you? I that your first question?!?!” He used a special move on him. “Not even if he’s okay or how is he? “ the clicking as he concentrated on the screen. Went a bit harder. 

“Isn't he your actual friend?”

[Steven.] [He's-] Words cut short. He tried to defend. 

 Rudell was his friend. They picked him out of the muscly, straight-backed, rows and rows of men and women standing proudly to gain his attention. Rudell was a small child. He likes quietness. He likes to read books and ramble about bugs, while They loved fishes and especially the koi fishes. They'd hide under blankets and read books over the curfew. He has a round, lovable face, they're usually soaked in tears and ointment and covered in bandages. He bit his lower lip. He tapped on the controls faster. 

 [Shut up.] He's worried. [Just focus on the game.] 

 He wants to see him.

 [You're just patronizing me, aren't you?] 

 But can he face him, after everything that has happened?

[Ann] “I am, but its your fault for asking if I was spying first instead of asking otherwise. “ he watched as he was starting lose. 

“You do make me feel a bit better…the reason I'm terrible with friendship is cause all I know is the dark side of it.” He smacked the buttons. “Is that how you’re supposed to treat your friends? Or is it wrong.”

[Steven.] And Steven went silent. 

 No. His mind resounded. No, it's wrong. 

 [...I think he and I needed some time separated.] He concluded. Not now. he'll see him later. (Until when?) 

[I'm still processing this change he gave me, and he killed Ghost. If we meet,] If I think about him [things might go bad.]

 I just don't want to see how he was after Nova hurt him. Because I caused it.

 [...How is he treating you?]

[Ann]  He would smile a bit. “He was treating me very well, I thought i could get him out of that cage he’s in. But it seems he wanted to stay…..I could have made him happier…he deserves that much. After all that.” He spoke as he clicked away at the game. 

 “Though we would sit while he typed away, making sure you were happy and content. I don’t think anyone else talked to him much.”

[Steven.] He wanted to stay. And he has been here all along. [...Why did he want to stay?] He asked.

[Ann] “Im not sure. He was crying though.” He said as he beat up Steven in game. “Very different from the cool and collected sigma I know.” He would have asked why but he knew. He knew. He didn't have to ask, nor have Steven spill anything. In fact all he had to do was play this game.

[Steven.] He, too, knew. He knew all too well.

 [...did he say anything about me..?] He asked. The letters tiny, like he's whispering. He's faltering, teetering at the edge of the stage. The blows were hard to defend. He's almost at 250%.

[Ann] “….a few things. All of them good. But talking to him in that cage. He asked” Kirby moved forward for the finishing blow. 

 “Is that all I am to you? Is that all I all I am to everybody?” 

 “Just an object to do their bidding? “

 “Are you going to use me and then throw me away, too, Just like they did?”

 “Will you trample on me when Ive outlived my usefulness?”

 He repeated each word the voices whispering and wailing. The grin ever present and his brows furrowed as he tried to knock them out in game.

[Steven.] A clean K.O. 

 His mind couldn't keep up with all those blows, and instead just felt like a bundle of bullshit in his head. Like a really messed up, convoluted, tangled ball of yarn, and while these past days he has been twisting and pulling and trying to get them undone, he just... halted, this time around. 

 Should've just said straightforward that he's hated. 

 ...and honestly? Deserved. He deserved that. 

 "...I didn't know..." He croaked. "I really didn't."

[Ann] “Want to play again?” He asked as the Kirby did its victory dance. “And its okay….I mean I'm sure you guys can talk it through. “ 

 “If you talk. That is. If you visit.” He leaned his head a bit to the side. “If not then it doesn't matter. It never will.”

[Steven.] The switch slipped from his hands and gently slid onto the floor. A hand, bound by Redstone, ran itself over his hair. He's quiet. Either it's thinking, either it's silently regretting. Maybe both. 

Steven shook his head. "....Why are you doing this?" He asked with a shaking voice.

[Ann] He would put the controller back on the switch. Resting back on the couch his claw rested under his own chin both eyes closed in thought. 

Why was he poking he bear. Why did he bother to come here. He hadn't even touched him to feed off him. Out of all of this it could be…. 

 “Sigma went through it. Too, I guess I wanted to give you a taste. That's all i had to say really. I think the words given to me were meant for you.” 

 “It was for you.” 

Sigma didn't think of ann when he answered no….his thoughts were on this being in front of him. Raha.

[Steven.] "What a horrible way to deliver a message." The powerful, but defeated herobrine, croaked. "Are you delivering his anger, too.... or are you delivering yours?"

 .... A sigh. 

 "It doesn't matter." His voice cracked a little. It sounded almost like a young adult. Steven sounded young. "You did it. I heard it. The question now is just whether or not I do it, right?"

[Ann] He just smiled to answer if he had delivered his own anger too. That smile stayed though, his brows quirked at the younger voice. Wait…when did he speak vs text now… his brows his smile twisted a bit. Was he talking too…

 “right.” The phantom confirmed. He would move and lower to grab the switch to check if it was okay. It seemed fine…he would wipe the screen to clean it before handing it back. 

“Dont break this. Its from sigma.”

[Steven.] The switch was taken ever so gently. "...Right." He murmured. "Thanks." The words were hollow. But there's thought behind those eyes. "...are we done here?"

[Ann] “Only if you wish, i don't have more to say but i wouldn’t mind watching you play some more monster hunter. i know you liked that game.” He said brows lifting and a claw. “Don't worry im not here to poke at everything.” He reassured the other a chuckle in his voice. He didn't have too.

[Steven.] Monster Hunter... what, is that some sort of new diss hidden behind soft words? He can't agree more, though. With everything he's heard, he started to believe that he's probably a monster.

 More monster than Rudell. Rudell was never the monster. 

 He is.

 [...Fine... stick around.] He said.

I wanted you to tell him how sorry I am. But what's the point of that? It's not your responsibility to do.

 [...Do what you want.] There's droplets of tears on the switch screen. He wiped them off with the poncho, and wiped his eyes with an arm as he continued playing. They don't stop. 

[Ann] He did, he would go to the side of the other and watched him play. A green eye watched him for a moment before slowly going onto the screen. He did feel a bit better one due to the touching he got to feed and two…seeing him cry was worth the earlier hassle with Sigma.

end. 

[cooloddball]

Hey there! I like your blog and I consider it a safe place to talk about Cockles which I strongly believe in. So, my question is - or rather, questions are - what do you think about their current status? Are they still in love w/ each other and are they waiting for the right time to make a coming out?

Also... There are rumors I heard that he and Jensen planned to engage after the end of the show which supposed to be after season 5. Do you know anything about them? But SPN got another season, than another... Jensen met Danneel and they got married. Cockles break up theory, hello... So, Jensen and Misha agreed to stay good friends since then? But at the same time I see all their latest flirting w/ each other, "sweetheart", "okay babe", etc, and "it warms the Cockles of my heart" 😇💙 I still have hope in them. 😊

Hey to you too!

That's very sweet of you to say. I'm always free to talk about cockles so don't hesitate to ask anything.

Their current status -> I have always thought of them as husbands. Hear me out, I don't mean that they are husbands in the traditional sense but more like a couple that has been together too long that they are basically married. Some people believe that they are married, because of the rings, but even if they actually did have a wedding ceremony, it would just be symbolic and not legal seeing that they are already married to the women they love. So I strongly believe that they are still husbands in an unconventional way that works for them. I hope this makes sense.

Are they still in love with each other ->They are definitely in love and have been for the past 11 years if the anniversary post is anything to go by. I mean have you seen how they look at each other even after all these years? I think that being that they don't spend every waking moment together makes the heart grow fonder. So yes, they are still very much in love with each other.

Are they waiting for a chance to come out? -> I honestly don't know about this bit because there are so many factors in play here. a)they may not want to come out at all which is okay by me and other cockles shippers I know. b)they have wives. I mean I believe Hollywood can forgive gay or bisexual men but not gay/bisexual men in a polyamorous relationship. I wish we lived in a better world but I doubt Jensen would even get any badass superhero roles he seems to like so much. Misha has political inclinations too and I highly doubt that most politicians would want to be affiliated with a gay/bisexual poly man. c)their kids. I think of all the things I have mentioned, their kids are their first priority. Their kids face backlash from some fans which to me is just appalling, why hate on kids, they didn't do anything. So can you imagine what they would go through if it was confirmed to the public that indeed their dads are queer and in a poly relationship with each other? So imo I am inclined to say, for now, NO they won't be coming out any time soon. But if they do, I and other cockles shippers will support them. And if they never do, then we will still be in the dumpster being their biggest fans.

I have never heard of rumours of their engagement after season 5 and highly doubt that it's true seeing that a) Misha was still married to his high school sweetheart, b)they had barely known each other long enough want to take that step, and c)knowing Jensen and how he used to be, performing masculinity and doing everything that was required of him, then I highly doubt they would want to get engaged back then.

I am 99% confident that they made up after the breakup and they are more than just friends. Their relationship is much more evident now than it was ten years ago. So, no, they are not just friends, they are husbands. See point 1.

I hope this answered your ask. If it didn't let me know.

[stuckinapatriarchalbullshitland]

Camila’s Solo Career///Ft @romanticentropy

Time MachineTravel Plan <<Part 1>> <<Part2>> <<Part 3>>

January 27, 2018 (Keep this date in mind)

Hey Folks! This is going to be one of those long ass posts that are complicated, that travel backwards but that make sense in our heads, so if you want, keep reading. Since I wrote Camila's post and her long-term plans, I have had talks with several mutuals, both American and Latino and I think I will continue to have them because we are trying to unravel the mystery that is Camila's decision to make the Showmila circus. The way that circus came out Why it seems so messy and why it has been the main factor in each of the plans that our butterfly has for her career and her future. But this post has an ft and that ft will be @romanticentropy​. She is going to reblog the Timeline that we thought happened with the circus and the reasons why we think it was planned a year before the one we really know and that Showmila was on standby because neither Camila nor her team could BREAK Mattmila's contract of 2017. And yes, I am going to take care of managing the time machine so that we can go back in time and see what happened before all this unfolds. I think the first thing we have to take into account is even a date before 2017 and jump directly to December 18, 2016: The date of Camila's official departure from Fifth Harmony.

But don't worry, I'm not going to dig into that manure pit because otherwise this post would be eternal, I just put an image of a couple of headlines on Camila's departure from the band. With that date in mind we have to advance our time machine to 2017. Camila Cabello's best year for her and for many of us without a doubt. The headlines of that perfect year were SOLO CAMILA / Camila soloista

(There is an edited headline because it talks about Camila, but the image is the diva singing. And the one for Fifth Harmony says 2018 but they talk about the performance of the girls in 2017) My point about the headline is that Camila Cabello's image is a clean image. With the direct narrative of the fucking feud between her and Fifth Harmony that promoted both of them (Camila / 5H) and that most of us hate because it's fake AF. Camila had a solo career to launch and was already taking her steps in that world (although she started much earlier with the first Showmila collab in 2015) She had three+ collaborations with other artists. Another collab with MKG and James Arthur (Say You Won’t Let Go)

AKA THE CAMREN DEDICATORY SONG 

And she released two solo songs before the release of her album.

Here I am going to stop a bit, because a small clarification must be made with CC1. Camila wasn't going to release CC1 on the date she ended up releasing it, but before. The Camila album was scheduled for September 2017 and not January 2018. The issue of the date change is unclear, but rumors say the album failed some listening tests. (Personally I think CC1 was going to have too much of Camren and the bastards said: Stand there, girl. We can't sell this. Change it. And well she had to change it, starting with the album name and the rest, already. we know) Camila also had three ad campaigns that year: Guess, L'Oréal and Skechers (and probably she also could had a sponsoring with Dior but I’m not completely sure nor the date nor if it’s true or not but it’s a possibility. Gosh Lauren, hdp suertuda 🤣)

Three doritos later....

A very beautiful, green and expensive watch AF. Suertuda...

This is how Camila began her solo career, officially in 2017. This work, which had begun to take shape in 2015, was taking real shape in 2017, but Camila needed in addition to a clean image, a PR that would help with the image of a more mature soloist Camila away from Fifth Harmony, Lauren and ... Gaymila. And for this you have to do the introduction. Camila mentioned scammer Matthew Hussey in 2018, specifically in this interview:

January 11, 2018.

This PR circus had to be negotiated long before Camila's interview with Elvis Durán. It is common knowledge that a PR contract takes time due to terms of clauses, amounts of money and duration, so in 2017 Camila's team ALREADY KNEW that Camila would have a PR.

This is how we got to our super important date from the first part of this post.

January 27, 2018

https://theblast.com/shawn-mendes-camila-cabello-pre-grammy-date/ The article is from Jan 30th but probably the reunion was indeed in Jan 27

From here I am going to leave space for my ft girl to do her part and advance the time machine from January 27, 2018 until today. Last thing that I think we must make clear, we are not going to investigate the entire timeline of the circus, but we will investigate the dates that matter to us. And that we have to start by saying that several of us have the theory that Showmila has two different contracts, the collab contract (Señorita) AND the exclusive circus contract that had to wait until the Mattmila circus ended. @romanticentropy​, it's your turn chica!

Continue your trip here --> Part2

[thr-333]

Mismatch- Part 23

Bio dad Bruce Wayne month 2020

.............. (:

First< Previous > Next

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“How long were we gone?” Marion asks her, as they run through the halls back to class.

“Ahhhh,” The Akuma hadn’t been that hard but it still took time, “forty-three minutes,”

“It’s not that bad,” Marion shrugs, slipping as they turn the corner.

“Not that good either,”

“Now what would make you say that?”

“Marinette! Marion!” Lila’s shrinking greets them the second they open the classroom door, “Why would you leave me to do all the work?”

“Oh I see,” Marion whispers to her, she gives an ‘I told you so’ look.

“They had already completed more work in the three minutes they were here than you have in the past forty,” Damian sneers, Marinette watches with amusement as Lila visibly forces down the snarl.

“It’s meant to be a group project,” Lila’s lip quivers as they reluctantly take a seat at the table.

“Is that why you’ve spent the whole time talking to others and stealing their ideas?” Damian raises a brow, and hot damn if only she could film this.

“I wasn't stealing them, they wanted to help me out since my group abandoned me” Lila turns ‘innocent’ eyes to the tables near them, “Right guys?”

“I never said you could use our ideas,” One of the Gotham students looks upset as she talks.

“Plus you didn’t actually talk about the project only yourself,”  The other says, focusing on the worksheet in front of them.

“You could have at least tried to join another group,” Damian points out, gaming back Lila’s attention as she tries to defend herself, something about not wanting to upset the twins.

“Do you guys not like Lila?” Mylene, who was put with the students asks.

“Not really,” The second one shrugs, looking up from his worksheet for Mylene, “all she does is talk about herself and try to guilt you into feeling sorry for her,”

“Huh, I guess” Mylene shrugs, Marinette doubted they could break her out of Lila’s web, “Well Lila has a lot of achievement even with her disabilities,”

“Yeah, I don’t know,” Mylene looks shocked at the first Gotham students' tone.

“Mm, you get kind of good at reading people growing up in Gotham,” The other says, leaning back in his seat, “I would avoid her when walking down the street,”

Marinette looks away from their conversation, not wanting to see that look on Mylene’s face any longer. Instead, she focuses back on Damian and Lila still locked in a heated argument.

“Someone looks like their about to murder Lila,”  

“Oh sorry, I’ll reel it in,” Marion says deadpan, not looking up from his paper.

“Not you, him,” Marinette nudges him, making him look towards the pair.

“Oh,” Marinette can only sigh as a grin splits his face, “You want me to handle it?”

“Are you going to diffuse the situation or focus the blood lust on yourself?” Marinette asks instead.

“Hahaha, don’t be ridiculous,” Marion’s grin widens as he bounces over to the pair, leaning against Damian’s head, “Hey Dami,”

“Cheng-Dupain,” Damian tries to glare at him, giving Lila the chance to escape, naturally going crying to Rose and Alya, “Why do you insist on clinging to me?”

“Ummm, cause it annoys you why else?” Marion leans over to get in his face, not shrinking away from the scowl.

“Dupain-Cheng can you explain his behavior?” Damian turns to her, even under the weight of Marion.

“No, but he backs off if you hit him hard enough,” Marinette slides into the chair across from him, curiously his group members nowhere to be seen.

“Nette how could you!” Marion places a hand on his heart, “I am insulted you would think so little of my dedication,”

“So I cannot remove him by force?” Damian asks despondently.

“No, he’s like a leech-”

“Hey!”

“-He’ll fall off when he wants to,” Marinette shrugs, fiddling with her backpack.

“Everyone is so mean to me Dami!” Marion collapses against him, although he doesn't sag under the weight, “Don’t you feel sorry for me?”

“I do not,” Damian tuts, focusing on his book, “Do not call me Dami,”

“I’ll stop calling you Dami when you call me what I want,”

“And what would that be?” Damian asks with disinterest.

“Big brother,” Marinette gives him a warning look, just getting a wink in return.

“Absolutely not,” Damian snaps, trying again to push him off, not that Marion will budge, “We aren't even related, Dupain-Cheng tell him-”

“Big sister, call me big sister,” The look of utter betrayal on his face was completely worth it.

“I thought you had more sense than to feed into this rumor,”

Won't be a rumor for long

“Think of it as reverse psychology then,” Marinette shrugs instead, that news would come later today.

“That is unlikely to work,”

“What if we called you little brother then?” Marion leans back over into his line of sight.

“ No ,”

“No fun,” Marion shakes his head.

“No fun at all,” Marinette agrees.

“Cheng-Dupain you are an idiot,”

“Is that so?” Marion grins, getting up but not before ruffling Damian’s hair.

They watch as he practically skips to the front of the room handing a stack of papers over to the teacher with a flourish. They read over it with a frown that slowly melts into approval. Even if they can’t hear they can tell Marion is being congratulated, confirmed by him walking back seconds later with a smug grin. While the rest of the class rushes to finish off the project.

“What now little brother?”

“Impressive,” Damian's tone doesn't betray any sense of being impressed, “Of course I finished it in the first fifteen minutes of class,”

“Dami, I haven't even been here for fifteen minutes!” Marion cries out, taking a seat at the table instead.

“Tt” Damian reluctantly admits, “... that is true,”

“Are you conceding defeat?”

“ No ,”

“I think that's a yes,” Marion nods wisely under Damian’s glare, pointing to Marinette, “Nette write this down,”

“I hereby officially declare Marion the winner of the first challenge issued,” Marinette recites, doing her best loopy handwriting in her sketchbook, “As such he has the ability to bring this up every time Damian calls him an idiot, this will be valid for three years,”

“I never issued a challenge,” Damian’s face twists up, still looking betrayed that Marinette would go along with Marion’s game, but it looked like Damian needed some fun in his life anyway.

“Is that really how you want to spend your objection?” She asks instead, rolling up the paper and handing it to Marion.

“... Three years is excessive,” Damian corrects, just as the bell rings.

“Ops too late, bells going!” Marion jumps up before he can protest further, “Alright let’s go!”

With that Marion starts pushing Damian out of the classroom. They get halfway out of the building before Damian breaks off to grab something before leaving. The twins loiter around in the empty halls while Damian takes his sweet time.

“Uh-oh, Satan's envy approaching,” Marinette doesn't need to look down the hall to know Lila is headed their way.

“Hi Lila, can we help you?” She asks politely, but not polite enough to look at her as she does.

“Just because these stupid Gotham kids don’t believe me don’t think anything has changed,” Lila finally release all the spite that had built up over class into her tone. At this point, Marinette was willing to bet they were a form of stress relief for her.

“Are they stupid?” Marion considers, leaning against the wall, “They don’t believe you, I would guess that's the bare minimum of intelligence,”

“Everything will go back to normal at the end of the week!” Lila shrieks, “Well leave Gotham, I’ll make up some lie about you and everyone will hate you again!”

“Lila, what makes you think we care anymore?” Marion drawls, honestly they had much bigger things to worry about today than Lila, “It’s been so long I have no desire to be their friend again,”

“Then I’ll have to step it up!” Lila smiles nastily, Marinette catches Damian at the end of the hall phone out and has to keep the smile off her face, “Everyone will hate you so much they’ll really bully you and make your lives miserable! Do all the things I say you do to me!”

“Like push you down the stairs?” Marinette raises a brow, subtly nudging Marion to look at Damian.

“Yes,” Lila crosses her arms, looking smug.

“And destroy your property?” Marion catches on, even braving a little wave to the camera.

“Yes,” Lila scowls like they’re stupid for not understanding.

“Spread nasty rumors about you?”

“Yes!” She snaps at Marinette.

“Every time you’ve ever lied that we were mean to you?”

“Yes!”

“Great,” Marinette claps her hands, looking over to Damian. “You got all that?”

“I did indeed,” Lila pales as he comes up behind her, “I suggest you keep to yourself and not influence my decision on what to do with this footage more so,”

“I- you can’t- wait!”

“Get out of my sight,” Damian scowls, it being a lot more effective on her than Marion as Lila scuttles away.

“Dami have I told you that I love you?” Marion grins, giving Damian a side hug.

“Don’t be melodramatic,” Damian tries to push him off but Marion just latches on tighter.

“I loooovvvvveeeeee you soooooooo much,”

“That's it I’m no longer sending this footage to your class,”

“Dami nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo,”

Marion somehow, somehow manages to keep it up until they reach the car. Alfred promptly forces Marion to drink a glass of water much to Damian's relief. Since Marion had ruined his voice with his little stunt there wasn't anyone to fill the silence. Marinette kept trying to distract herself, looking out the window and fidgeting with her clothes, they were in for quite the show, which would be great if they weren’t the main attraction.

Marinette can see Damian keep glancing over at her. She can see how he goes to say something several times before stopping himself. It breaks her heart to see him become more downcast the longer they ignore him. She looks to Marion for support, but he just taps his fingers to an erratic beat. He meets her eye just grimacing, she nods relieving the pressure from him. The atmosphere in the car grows stifling on the too-long journey to Wayne Manor. Marion practically leaps out of the car before the car even rolls to a stop.

Marinette follows Damian out of the car, watching as he walks more stiffly to the manor. She follows without the easy silence they usually have. They are guided to a room where everyone was waiting, technically family or not Bruce had given them a brief of every last one, and had likely done the same for them.

“What's going on?” Is Jason's immediate question, Selina slips into the room behind them.

“Is this about the rumor?” Tim asks, papers in one hand coffee in the other.

“Yes!” Marion points at him, nervous energy coming through his erratic movements, “And no,”

“It's really less of a rumor and more a very lucky guess,” Or unlucky depending on how this goes , Marinette adds privately.

“…. What?” Dick asks confused, everyone else either in thought or with dawning realization/horror.

Bruce slides a sheet of paper forward, on it a genetics test she isn't going to ask how he got a hold of.

“WHAT!” is chorused across the room, making Marinette flinch at the noise.

“Welcome to the family,” Dick pulls the two into a group hug, and is this what Damian feels like when Marion hangs off of him? The big brother hug?

“Wait... but who…” Tim trails off, looking far too tired for this conversation.

“Selina,” Bruce looks uncomfortable with all eyes snapping to them.

“Of course,” Jason mutters with a surprising amount of venom, knuckles white.

“This is unacceptable!” Is Damian’s outcry hands slamming onto the DNA test, she can feel Marion flinch beside her.

“How long have you known?” Dick turns hurt puppy dog eyes to Bruce, the hurt behind it making even Marinette’s stomach churn.

“What about-” Jason cuts himself off, glancing at the twins mysteriously.

“Excuse me” The twins jump at Alfred’s voice talking quietly to them, they get released by Dick who goes to Damian, getting brushed off, “But it may be best to give them all some time to process,”

They nod, slipping out of the room with the butler, leaving behind a mess of yelling as the door closes. They stand outside in silence for a moment before Marion breaches it.

“Well… that went well,”

“Ah Patrol the perfect place to ignore feelings and take them out on other people,” Marion stretches, looking over Gotham city. Marinette shakes her head at his antics, focusing instead on the fight in the alley below.

“Seems like we’re not the only ones,” She watches as Robin tears through the goons one by one, alone with violence she hasn't seen from him yet. Marion looks down as well, being the first willing to get in between the angry Robin and his angst.

“Hey there little bird,” Songbird drops down into the alley, Robin doesn't even spare the two a glance, “Let's try not to give the doctors a harder time than usual kay? I mean it’s Monday no one wants to deal with that,”

“It’s Tuesday,” Robin smashes another face in as if the date was the main complaint about what he was doing.

“Right, regardless, what's up?” Sparrow moves forward to take down the last thug in a much… nicer way.

“Nothing,” They both match him with equal stares of disbelief until he caves, “... my position is being challenged,”

“For Robin?” Songbird asks, something in Robin’s posture gives him away, “I know we joked about the name but we weren’t-”

“Not you,” He snaps, grappling hook taking him out the alley.

“Civilian life then?” Sparrow guesses, following him onto the rooftops, “We know a thing or two about that,”

Robin ignores them speeding up to run across Gotham. They let him for a while going to a spot that had a great view of the city. Marionette nods at Songbird when Robin lands on a gargoyle.

“I don’t know who they are, so I can’t speak for them,” Songbird lands in front, cutting off the best exit for Robin to jump to the next building, ignoring his look of irritation, “But I know you’re amazing and skilled enough not to be replaced,”

“Doesn't matter, that's just the way things go,” Sparrow lands behind them, crossing her arms as Robin seems to debate with himself, “Besides... it’s not just regarding skill,”

“Did you talk to them about it?” She asks, he pivots around to look at her, or rather glare, “Do you even know they want to take your place?”

“... No,”

“Alright then, just consider that maybe they’re not trying to hurt you,” Songbird rests a hand on his shoulder, which he surprisingly allows. He guides Robin to sit down as they do, looking over the city from atop the gargoyle.

“... This is how all the other Robins have been replaced,” He says after a time.

“And what? After that they all went ‘oh well guess it’s time to live a quiet life’,” Songbird’s comment lessens Robins frown, it might even be able to be classified as a smile for him.

“No, of course not,”

“Then there's no need to worry,” Songbird shrugs, kicking his legs no fear for the street far below him. “If you do get replaced, and I don’t think you will,” Sparrow adds quickly, “I have no doubt you will become something even greater,”

“... I’m meant to become Batman, it’s my birthright, and now it’s being challenged,” Robin reveals likely fatal information in the wrong hands, she prided herself in the trust that he thought they were the right hands.

“Again, talk to them about it,” Marinette suggests, rubbing a small circle into his shoulder.

“... They don’t even know?” To that Songbird bursts with laughter, offense crossing Robin's face.

“They don’t know then why are you panicking?” He laughs, lessening the tension in the air, “You’re worried they’re going to claim a title they don’t even know about,”

“....” Robin goes silent after that and they let him mull it over for some time. Marinette can tell Marion is judging when it’s best to pull him out of his spiraling thoughts.

“Heard you beat Sparrow on the swings,” He says randomly, looking out over the city, “Bet I could top you,”

“Yeah right,” Robin scoffs, relaxing a bit as he is broken from his thoughts.

“Well you see I have a secret,” Songbird conspires in a soft tone, despite literally no one being around to hear.

“And what would that be?” Robin sounds condescending, but she picks up the hint of keenness underneath it all.

“Singing,” His grin gives Robin pause.

“First of all that's a horrible strategy, putting energy towards singing instead of swinging,” Robin decides after a minute, “Second you’re horrible at secrets,”

I’ll have you know I’m an excellent secret keeper,” Songbird stands, ruffling Robins hair despite the look of indignation he gives,  “So rest assured this conversation stays between us,”

“... All of Gotham is going to know by the end of the night aren't they?” Robin gives Sparrow a flat look, she smiles.

“Yep,”

“HEy!”

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

Taglist:

@technicallyburninggarden @fusser90  @misslenamooney @superbwhispersconnoisseur @biodad-bruce-month @nalu-ismyjam @the-one-woman-army @rosesandsailboats @blackmagicforever @zeneralla @ivymala07 @tired-butterfly @Ranger-gothamite @A-star-with-a-human-name @enchanted-nerd @trippingovermyfeet

[just-someone-who-likes-to-write]

Prince Nuada x Clingy!Reader

(Requested by Anonymous: Could you do a nuada x f reader where the reader is really clingy and likes being held but is really self conscious about it and thinks that nuada would get annoyed so she distances her self from him, and maybe she’s worried about her weight and like being a burden. Anyway I love your work. )

(A/N): My apologies for any delays, it took me a while to think of a good and interesting idea that would fit the request, but here it is and I hope you and others would enjoy it. and thank you I’m glad you like what I have done of work so far.

Warning: Verbal bullying, slight body hatred, fluff, grammatic errors.

Word Count: 3,563

You sighed deeply as you typed boredly into the computer, Mr. Manning had told you to prepare some documents for him that he probably was too lazy to do it himself.

 "I am stressed by Hellboy."

 Was always his excuse. But you never said anything because while there are agents who go on exciting field missions you are the rest who has to stay down here doing the boring stuff. You were trained to hold and shoot a gun in case of emergencies but other than that you were just an office worker. Pressing the last key you leaned back with a tired sigh as you watched the machine print the papers.

 "Another day?"

 You turned your head to see your college look up from her own paperwork and smile at you. You smiled back at her as you massaged the bridge of your nose.

 "Yeah…" You answered. "I used to think that he just finds me by coincident and assigns me to such work… now I know he is choosing me by name to do his work."

 "(Y/n) we all know that you are the best at what you are doing, even if it was just some paperwork." She said making few in the room let out a murmur of agreement.

 "Thanks guys." You said bashfully. "But sometimes I wish I could… go out there and do something instead of just sitting here all day and night."

  A few laughs broke into the room that made you furrowed your brows.

 "What did I say?"

 "We know that the only reason you want to go out there is so you can work beside your prince charming." Said your friend making even more laughter and for you to blush in embarrassment.

 It wasn't a secret that you and prince Nuada become a couple but it was quite the surprise that Manning himself had to come to you and confirm that it wasn't some kind of silly office rumors. Even you still couldn't believe that the handsome and intimidating prince had actually asked you to be his lover, it surprised you for many reasons. First, from what you have learned he hated humans with passion yet he still asked you a human to be with him. Second, he was a deadly warrior that even agent Hellboy is struggling against him, while you were a simple office girl whose only experience with weaponry was through a shooting range and is still not that good. and lastly, Despite being an elf Prince Nuada was very handsome…and you… you don't feel the same thing about yourself.

 "(Y/n) can you tell me your secret?" Another girl asked.

 "My secret?" You repeated confused.

 "Yeah, how did someone like you score someone like Nuada?"

 You raised your brows surprised by the girl's blunt question, who didn't seem notice the harsh stares the other were given her. The question did sting you but not liking confrontation you just answered her.

 "I don't know honestly…" You shrugged. "The first time I met the prince was because Manning told me to interview him so we have a file of him, then we started to meet by coincident in the hallway, a few small talks and I guess one thing led to the other."

 "And why did you agree to be his lover?" She continued asking.

 "Why shouldn't she?" Your friend asked her in a hostile manner. The girl just shrugged not caring for glares around her.

 "I'm just saying, I mean look at her." She pointed at you. "She spends most of her days in the office working and eating, she never cared for her appearance yet the prince chooses her to be his lover."

 "Maybe because the prince isn't a shallow person like yourself."

 You bit your lower lip as you tried your best to ignore the two girls going back and forth. You collected the papers after they were finished, not caring to check if they were in order or not. you just put them in the file, stood and walked out of the room ignoring the calls of your friend behind you. After being far enough from your shared office you stopped and opened the file to try and organize some of the papers unaware of the figure creeping up behind you. You let out a startled sound as you felt arms slowly wrap themselves around your waist, you snapped your head to the left and you could see the familiar smirk of the elven prince.

 "You scared me." You said with a small giggle as you allowed yourself to relax in his arms. you always loved the feel of his touch.

 "My apologies." He purred into your ear as he nested his nose in the crook of your neck and inhaled your scent, which made you shiver.

 You forgot your work, the papers and the possibility of an angry manning. You just wished you to stay there in the elf's arms forever. You only have been together for a few months how did you get addicted to his touch so fast?... You didn’t know. All you knew is that you wanted to take every chance you have to fell him. If you have passed each other by coincident in the hallway you would ask you to accompany you to wherever you are going,  whether it was to do an errand of yours, to join you for lunch in the cafeteria or even for a small walk outside the base.

 "What do you have there?"

 The question pulled you out of your thoughts and you looked down at the papers in your hands remembering what were you supposed to do in the first place.

 "Just some documents that Manning had asked of me." You said with furrowed brows.

 "I could tell from your reaction that the word "Asked" isn't true."

 He didn't show it but you could tell under that calm façade the prince was very angry at how Manning is working you to the bones. Nuada went as far as voicing his disapproval to Manning after becoming his lover, which the old man had responded to by stuttering in fear and promising to take it easy on you. You could have stopped him, you could have lied and said how appreciated you feel when Manning does such a thing, that you feel important. But you didn't. You loved the way Nuada would comfort you afterward too much to give up. You became addicted to his attention and still wanted more. You turned your head to him your (E/c) eyes meeting his golden once.

 "Would you like to come with me to deliver them?" you asked with a smile.

 "it would be my pleasure." He answered with a grin.

 He released his hold on you, then stood beside you and offered you his arm like a gentleman, you of course quickly accepted his offer and hocked your arm to his as you held the document close to your chest by your other arm. As you made your way through the hallways almost everyone moved away from your way. It always was hard to have to endure the stares of the other agents, it made you weary forcing you to evert your eyes and look down, but it never made you want to stop being close to Nuada.

 "I will be waiting for you out here." He said as he slowly released your arm from his, which you frowned at.

 "Why?" you asked. "You can come with me in I'm only giving this document and I'm finished."

 "I don't wish for you to get in trouble became of me, and from what I have learned that that human is able to find errors in everything even if it didn't make sense."

 You were about to think of how thoughtful he was of you before he added.

 "I don't think I will be able to restrain myself from punching him in the mouth."

 That made you laugh, which caused him to smile. You gave him a quick kiss on the check before excusing yourself to walk into Manning's office. When you walked in you found the man staring into the computer and judging from the sound of people laughing and a man saying jokes it was probably another late-night host show that talked about the seeing of Hellboy with him in it to "Debunk" the existence of the red creature. You just rolled your eyes in annoyance, having confirmed that he did indeed have time to find these documents himself but was too busy watching himself.

 "I think the camera made my nose look bigger." He said as he lightly brushes his hand over his nose.

 "Narssassit." You bit your tongue allowing yourself to only think of the comment and not voice it.

 You walked to his table ignoring the concern of his nose, and not so gently slammed the documents into the table making the man jump. You gave a fake smile.

 "Here are the documents that you would have easily gotten from your computer, which you are too busy watching TV shows from, and taken my time." You said passively as you kept that smile. The man just swallowed a lump at being caught and just said quite thank you as he pulled the file closer to him.

 As you watched Manning open the file and look them over you couldn't help but fidget in your place and glance over your shoulder to the door every once in a while wanting to leave already.

 "Is Nuada out there?" You turned back and saw Manning look at you from the file. You blushed in embarrassment at being caught.

 "Yes." You answered bashfully. Manning didn’t seem to care as he looked back to the papers.

 "He seemed to come with you a lot here." he pointed out. "Does he ask you to come with you here?"

 "Hmm… Sometimes…?" You answered unsurely and surprised by the sudden question. "It's mostly me who asks him to come with me."

 "And isn't he… irritated…by that?" He continued asking.

 "Pardon?"

 "Prince Nuada always seemed to come here only in 2 cases…" he abandoned the document and focused on you. "Either he was reporting on a mission or being dragged by you her."

 "Dragged?" you repeated feeling offended. "I never forced Nuada to come with me."

 "But you did ask him to come with you." You were taken it back by the sudden interrogation.

 "What do you-"

 He cut you off.

 "Miss (Y/L/n) I can understand that having a boyfriend is a lot of fun to you women." He said making your frown deepen. "But let us not forget that Nuada is an elven prince, He is balancing between taking care of his people and paying for his crimes by helping us protect humanity. And now he has to please a girlfriend who clings to him at every second."

 "I…I'm not clingy…" You stuttered.

 Mannings answer for you this time was him turning the Computer screen to you which still had him talking to a host, but then he pressed a few buttons and it showed different security footage of you meeting up with Nuada and convincing him to come with you or you going along with him. You bit your lip in shame. Were you truly clingy? If so why didn't Nuada say anything? Was he just being nice and keeping quite? Is he in stress because of you? Was he secretly bother by your actions?

 "As I said Before Miss (Y/L/n) I have eyes everywhere."

 ---

 Nuada doesn't know what he had done wrong. Ever since coming out of Manning's office, you have been acting strange, he tried to get you to talk of what was bothering you but you only brushed him off and smiled saying "Nothing is wrong", which was an obvious lie. The next day he had waited for you as always, he could have come to you and see for himself if you were free of your work yet but didn't in fear of causing you trouble. Nuada waited and waited, but you didn't show up. In the end, he couldn’t take it anymore and decided to go and find you himself, when he got there and didn't find you he asked those who were in the room of your whereabouts.

 "We thought she was with you?"

 That wasn't right,

 He then started to search around the base for you, it took him a while but he found you talking to another person. It was probably over some work but he didn't care as he walked towards you, he was calm but on the inside, he was upset with you. When you noticed him to had a look of worry and fear that you tried to hide it behind a smile. You excused yourself saying how much work you still have, he understood but said how he wants to spend some time with you later but you refused, saying how you don't have time. He then asked about tomorrow but you said that you will have a lot of work in the next few days and don't know when you will be over. Before he could ask any more questions you left.

 That's when the distancing began. He tried to catch you at every opportunity in your office, in the cafeteria and even tried chasing you through the hallways but you always managed to slip between his fingers.

 One day Nuada made his way to your office to try and catch you and this time make you say. But he stopped in his place when he heard your name being uttered by your friends.

 "I'm just saying, she has been acting weird lately." One of them said. "It's hard to lie to the prince's face whenever he came asking about her, he seemed genuinely concerned for her."

 His brows furrowed at that, did you tell your friends to lie to him? why would you do that?. Angry slowly bubbled in him, he was ready to march in and confront them but her stopped when another said.

 "Maybe she finally realized that she and the prince don't look together and want to break up for his own good."

 What?

 "(Y/n) and prince Nuada look cute together!" your friend defended. "Why is everyone refusing to see that? She is happy with him and he seems pretty happy with her, people need to stop giving her a hard time because of it."

 "Excuse me…" He interrupted making the entire room grow did silence, there were a few faces that paled in fear but he ignored them all and focused on the female human who was defending you. "Could you elaborate for me what is truly bothering my (Y/n)."

 ---

 You sighed deeply as you got out of the library that you have been hiding in most of your time. You wanted nothing more than to throw yourself in Nuada's arms for comfort and maybe even take a nap. A deep frown crossed your face as you stared at your reflection on one of the conference windows.

 "What does he see in me?" You mumbled to yourself. "I'm not pretty, I'm clingy…I'm no good at all."

 "You are beautiful..." A familiar voice said that made you jump. "From the outside and inside. But that's only a part of why I wanted you."

 You could hear him walk closer to you but you didn't dare to run away this time. You have reached your limits. Hugging yourself you waited patiently for the prince who didn't deny you as his hands wrapped around you and pulled your back against his chest. You couldn't help the shiver that went through you or the blissful sigh to escape you. You really missed him.

 "Why are you running away from me?" He asked pulling you away from your thoughts.

 When you looked up you see his golden eyes staring at you, you could see in his eyes that he already knows, but wanted to hear it from you. You took a deep breath before looking down at his arms wrapped around you.

 "I…" You struggled to find the right thing to say. "I… didn't want to burden you…"

 "Burden me?" he repeated and you nodded.

 "You are not only an agent of B.P.R.D, but you are also the crown Prince of the Bethmoora clan." You said almost proudly fro him. "Even though you didn't take your place as a king yet you still look after your people as one, which I could tell is not an easy thing."

 He stayed silent wanting you to continue which you did.

 "I noticed how I have been keeping you to myself which was selfish of me. I always wanted you around me, to hear your voice and feel your touch."

 You could feel his arms tighten around you in a possessive manner, you didn't mind that.

 "And don't let me start with your beauty…" You said with a sad chuckle.

 "Enough." He said sternly making you tense, afraid that you said something that bothered him.

 Nuada released his hold from you, fear filled your heart that he truly was having enough of. He stood in front of you and gently with his hand he lifted your chin forcing you to look up to him. His brows were furrowed in disappointment.

 "Have I indicated feeling burdened by you?" He asked.

 "…You didn't but that doesn't mean-"

 He interrupted you and continued asking.

 "Have I ever pulled away from your touch?"

 You didn't answer.

 "Have I ever showed any hint of when I am with you?"

 You didn't answer. Nuada averted his eyes and took a deep breath to calm himself, a look of worry crossed your face as you looked down but he only lifted your head again.

 "With me you keep your head held high, uncaring of those around you, only think of me." He said firmly but you could still hear the hint of care behind it.

 "One important thing you need to know about me (Y/n)." hearing your name made a shiver run down his spine.

 "I am not afraid to voice my displeasure. If I didn't find you beautiful I wouldn't have complimented you every minute I see you for it or even come near you in the first place. If I was feeling burdened I would have voiced it to you, if I found your want for attention irritating…as Manning said I would have said something…"

 The mission of Manning made your eyes widen. How did he know?

 "However…" He cupped your face with his hand, his thump rubbing your cheek, his eyes filled with affection towards you. "I find it quite adorable whenever your eyes would light up with joy you see me, or when you desire my touch it makes me feel wanted by you."

 His words made your heart skip a beat.

 "When you became busy with work I became angry because your attention was not on me." He confessed. "now isn't that selfish of me?"

 "Maybe…" You answered a small blush crossed your face. "But I don't mind it."

 "And I don't mind you fondness."

 Nuada smirked at your words before wrapping one arm to bring you closer to him and then leaned in kissing the middle of your forehead with adoration.

 ---

 You lifted your head high as you made your way through the hallways alone not caring for the stares that followed you. After talking with Nuada nothing can ruin your mood.

 "(Y/n)!"

 Or maybe someone could.

 You thought sorely as you forced yourself to turn around and face a panting Manning who seemed to have been running after you. He stood and leaned forward to take a few breaths, you waited patiently wanting to get this over with already.

 "Yes, Mr.Manning?"

 "I…*Pant* … I wanted to apologize…"

 "Pardon?" You raised your brow in confusion. After calming himself Manning stood straight and looked at you with a furrowed brows.

 "I wanted to apologize for …uhh… for what has accrued between us that day." He began. "I shouldn't have given you a bit of advice that you didn't need… whatever happens between you and Nuada is your business and no one should have a say in the matter but the two of you…and I also apologize for hurting your feelings in any way."

 You would be surprised by his words and probably would thank him for seeing his mistake. However, while he was saying all that you noticed the way his body was fidgeting in its place as he looked around franticly. You suppressed an eye roll, understanding why he was being so thoughtful and polite towards you.

 "What did Nuada do to you?" you asked with a none amused look.

 "He walked into my office and slashed my table in half." Manning answered straight forward.

 "Ah, I see." You nodded.

 "Just tell please tell him that I apologized as he told me and I promise to never ask you for documents I could already get myself." He said trying to look strong but you could hear the quivering in his voice.

 "I will." You said with a smile and nod that he returned before turning around and going back to where he came from still looking around for the Elven prince.

 You also turned around and continued your walk this time feeling more powerful than ever.

--- 

I hope you all enjoyed this story and if you did don’t be afraid to request, and those who are already requested before don’t worry your request is in the making.

[latte-fairytaekwoon]

Ateez: Your Relationship Being Outed

Kim Hongjoong:

Your companies had warned you that Dispatch had been keeping an eye on you two, hoping to get incriminating evidence that you two were indeed dating. After, sitting down and properly talking, your managers asked you both what you wanted.

Hongjoong and you looked at each other. You were both afraid, but knew for sure you wanted to go public with the relationship, you wanted to be able to be seen in public together.

"What do you think?" You asked your boyfriend, wanting to make sure he'd be ok with it.

Hongjoong smiled at you as his hand reached for yours.

"If it's ok with you, I'd like to go public about us."

And that's exactly what you two did. A few days later, you were prepared. Knowing full well Dispatch sent photographers your way, you both took a deep breath before linking hands together and walking out the building with your faces exposed. You two even waved and smiled at the cameras, having no fear or shame about your relationship, knowing deep down your fans would be happy and supportive about it.

Park Seonghwa:

This all started because a certain idol was hitting on you too much for Seonghwa's liking. You kept telling him you'd take care of it and not to worry about it.

"But how can I just stand there and pretend to be fine when they're eyefucking you right in front of me?"

He had enough one day. So when he saw said idol approaching you to bother you again, he spun you around and kissed you right in front of them and whoever else was around, warning the idol to back off from you.

And soon the idol's tweet about you two dating was spread like wildfire.

"I told you I'd take care of it, but no. You had to go jealous boyfriend mode and out us like that." You were stressed about this too much.

"I'd say I'm sorry, but I don't regret anything." Seonghwa confessed.

He hugged you from behind and slowly swayed you side to side.

"We'll get through this together ok? Don't worry. Our fans will understand."

Jeong Yunho:

Since the beginning, Yunho wanted to make your relationship public. He adored you and knew Atiny would be ecstatic to know you two were dating. Fans often shipped you two for God's sake.

"I don't know Yunho....." You always told him.

"Why not? Don't you love me enough to let the world know?.......are you ashamed of me?"

You could hear his voice break and it killed you.

"Of course I love you! And I'm proud of you! But I'm scared that it might affect our careers and we'd be forced to leave each other."

Yunho wiped the tears that spilled out from your eyes.

"Nothing will ever break us apart. That's my promise to you." He kissed your forehead and gave you a reassuring smile.

And he spilled the news the only way he could: ANEWZ.

"This just in: there are rumors going around that Jeong Yunho and L/N Y/N are dating....." He looked at the camera and smiled.

"Indeed the rumors are true. "

Kang Yeosang:

Yeosang and you often snuck out at midnight for dates. Sure it was tiring, but seeing each other made you forget about your hectic schedules, the constant shove of cameras in your face, the pressure to be the perfect idols. None of that existed when you two were together. You were just Yeosang and Y/N.

Soon enough, a photo was leaked by a sasaeng. You both woke up to articles about the leak all over the internet. Yeosang quickly went to see you, wanting to make sure you were ok, although he was on the verge of crying too at the thought that you'd be forced to break up.

Karma has its ways though, fans supported you two and condemned the sasaeng for violating your privacy. Fan sites even were created just for the two of you. It was an overwhelming amount of support.

Yeosang couldn't be happier, even if his members liked to tease him about you any chance they got.

"Here's an easy one: what's Yeosang's favorite thing in the whole world?" Yunho asked the question he picked out from the box at one of their fanmeets.

"Y/N?" Wooyoung snickered, making everyone erupt in laughter as Yeosang got embarrassed.

Choi San:

San was another one who didn't felt the need to keep your relationship a secret.

"I wanna show you off to the world!" Was what he often said. But of course, you knew that was only half of the truth.

"And I also want other people to know you're taken and not try to take you away from me like they do." There it was. He was possessive and often wanted to out you two so others wouldn't hit on you so much.

He got the opportunity while he was doing a VLive. He was happily chatting away until a lot of comments kept asking him if you and him were dating, making him confused. He saw his phone and someone sent him a leaked photo of you two kissing on one of your dates. He was shocked to find out this way and didn't know what to say, but gathering his courage, he took a deep breath and finally spoke up:

"Atiny, I have someone to say.... it's true. I am dating Y/N. I fell in love with them and I'm really happy with them.....I hope that you can all understand..."

Comments flooded in, telling him not to apologize and encouraging him about the situation. He started crying at the beautiful messages.

"Thank you so much...you guys really are the best....also let me take this time to say..."

Wiping his tears, he looked dead straight at the camera:

"Y/N is mine so none of you other idols try to take them from me. I know who you are!"

Song Mingi:

Mingi and you tended to be very careful about your relationship. You wanted to just date peacefully without anyone bothering you two or having it become a topic for people discuss. And you thought you took good measures.

Apparently not good enough since an employee at one of your favorite cafes outed you two. They posted a picture of you two.

"This is bad." Mingi tried to remain calm.

"No it's not.....it's inconvenient. But not bad." You tried assuring him.

"Yes it is! What if our companies deny it? What if they force us to break up? What will I do then Y/N? I can't live without you."

You knew you had to be the strong one here for both of you, but you couldn't. You simply held Mingi tightly, sobbing and not wanting to let him go.

Your agencies decided to hold a press conference addressing the rumors about you two. They asked you two to be present, which made you even more afraid. But to your surprise, they confirmed your relationship and threatened legal action against anyone who spread malicious words about you two or violated your privacy.

Mingi and you stood there stunned, wondering if it was a dream or not. But you two were so happy that you could be together after all. You guys waved and smiled at the press, making your first public appearance as a couple.

Jung Wooyoung:

You both adjusted your face masks one more time, making sure that you were unrecognizable.

"How do I look?" Wooyoung asked you as he faced you.

"I don't know. I can't see your face." You snorted.

Even though his face was covered, you could tell he was not pleased with your answer and was giving you his stank face.

"Hahaha, very funny. Now come on. I wanna get there before too many people show up."

The date seemed to run by so smoothly. Since most individuals were wearing masks anyway, no one batted an eyelash at you two or found anything suspicious. You two could sit on a bench and Wooyoung felt comfortable enough to wrap his arm around you. Then you felt him stiffen and release his hold on you.

"Woo? What is it?" You asked him, noticing his shift in behavior.

He didn't answer you but simply stood up and walked over to a man sitting by himself near a fountain. By his walk, you could tell Wooyoung meant business.

"So who sent you? Dispatch?"

The man reddened, thinking he had been sneaky at his attempt to film you two.

Wooyoung smirked.

"I'll make your job easier for you. We'll just tell the public ourselves. That way you can just leave us alone and not stalk us. Have a nice day."

Wooyoung walked back over to you and you asked him what was that about.

"I hope you're ready baby. Cause we're coming out."

Choi Jongho:

It all spilled out cause Jongho had been working as an MC for Music Bank. His co-MC was overly flirty with him, and though he remained unfazed by her gestures, people still decided to ship them together. He absolutely hated it.

"Are you not even a tiny bit upset as well?" He asked you.

"Actually no. I know you only love me and they're just being a thirsty hoe. And it is funny to watch you whine about it." You couldn't help but find his reactions adorable.

Jongho had enough though one VLive when so many people were commenting things about his supposed relationship with said idol.

"Stop asking me how she is. I don't know what she's doing cause I'm not dating her! I'm dating Y/N!"

He gasped when he realized that he outed you two, right in the middle of a VLive.

Your agencies quickly put out a statement, confirming the related and apologizing for Jongho lashing out in anger, saying he was just stressed about things. But fans understood and supported you two.

"I still can't believe you told the whole world." You said to him the next time you saw him.

"Oh relax. Think positive. Now I can hold your hand in public without worrying about cameras."

Gifs not mine. Credit goes to their respective owners.

[give-me-back-my-rhodey]

Make ME

Title: Make Me Creator: Purple_ducky00 Rating: Teen Warnings: none applicable Relationship: Sam/bucky Square Filled: O3 – Undercover Mission for @samwilsonbingo Summary: Sam and Bucky get under each other’s skin, and neither of them can stand the other. How long til these idiots learn that it’s not hate, but love between them? Link: https://archiveofourown.org/works/29754915

Prompted from this post by @rambeaus

“Who died and made you king?” Bucky grumbles.

 Sam throws up his hands in annoyance. “For fuck’s sake Barnes! You know this is the best way to do this!”

 “No, I don’t! This way has many flaws. The slightest movement could set off a chain reaction of…” Bucky’s tirade is cut off by Natasha walking between them with sterile gloves and picking up the mouse trap, sticking the remains of the mouse and the trap in a plastic bag.  She rolls her eyes at them and walks out of the kitchen.

“Do you see what you just did there? This could have all been taken care of if you just listened to me!” Sam growls.

 Smirking Bucky turns away. “Bite me.”

 Sam’s temper flares as he watches Bucky walk away. What is it about the soldier that makes Sam’s blood boil? Every interaction they have ends in an argument… And for some reason, Rhodes had put them on the same team! When a few deep breaths don’t calm him down, Sam heads to the gym. Might as well let out some aggression on something he can’t hurt.

 ++++++++ “What were you thinking putting those two on the same team?” Tony laughs as he lays down in his husband’s lap. “The UST is off the charts. They are going to finally snap and either kill or fuck each other.”

 Rhodey shakes his head. “I know. And that’s why I put them on the same team. I’m sick and tired of them skirting around the issue. No use delaying the inevitable. They both have too much of a sense of duty to not complete the mission, and I’m going to assign a mission leader to go with them to keep them on track. Now, who should that sucker be?”

 “I would tell you Steve because I love trolling him, but he would only stop them from doing either. Give the job to Sharon. She deserves it after the whole blow-dryer incident.”

 “Tony, that was five years ago.”

 The retired superhero sits up to glare at Rhodey. “I’m still not over it.”

 “Ok, ok. I’ll send Sharon. She’s close with them anyways. Hopefully, she knocks some sense into them.” Rhodey concedes.

  +++++++++++++++++

Sam and Bucky are seated across the table from each other in the conference room, listening to Sharon’s plan. “So, we’re going undercover as actors in the Bachelorette.  We have intel that the host of the show is somehow funneling contraband drugs and black-market arms for HYDRA. Bucky, Tony made you a flesh-like sleeve for your arm, and we are all going to be using holomasks to cover our identity. Do you both have your characters memorized?”

 “Yes. I am Tucker Acktenbee. Raised by my mother and her sisters, I know how to appeal to the feminine side. Growing up in Massachusetts, I love seafood and cranberry jam and pies. Before I applied here, I graduated from LSU with a bachelor’s degree in English. I am twenty-six, and my birthday is October 19.” Bucky says as he pulls the holomask over his face. He looks like a completely different person.

 Sam rolls his eyes and does the same. “Hey, baby. My name is Joshua Perkins. Born and raised in New Orleans, I also share an affinity for seafood, but my insides can handle the spice. No one’s going to want a bland piece of white bread like Tucker when this bombshell is available. With a master’s degree in psychology, I’m here to help with whatever emotional needs a woman has. I’ll be twenty-seven on April 15th.”

 “Good. Good.” Sharon nods. “Just so you remember, I am going to be in the camera crew so my ears will be open for any rumors. Pack your stuff. We have to be on set in 24 hours to rehearse.”

 “I don’t know about you, Barnes, but I’m going to win that Bachelorette’s heart.” Sam nudges Bucky with his shoulder.

 “Better a fake relationship than none for you, I guess.”

 This man makes him so angry! “Fuck you.”

 “Nah, better leave that for Miss Bachelorette.” Bucky sends him a syrupy grin and walks out of the room before Sam can reply.

 “Arrrgh!” He groans, and Sharon looks at him strangely. “Sorry, Shar. He just gets under my skin so easily. I just want to strangle him sometimes!”

“Yeah… strangle him…” She nods slowly.

 “What are you implying?”

 Raising her hands in surrender, Sharon backs up. “Hey, I’m not kink shaming. You do you, my friend. Just don’t tell me about it.” She picks up her clipboard and tablet. “Wheels up in nine hours.”

  Kink shame? What the fuck? Needless to say, Sam is very confused.  There is nothing kinky about his and Bucky’s relationship. They clash at every turn. If he slammed the door when he stormed out of the room, he’ll never admit it.

 ++++++++++++

“Hello and welcome to The Bachelorette! I am your host, Chris Harrison. Join me as we find this year’s Bachelorette a husband. At age 28, Penelope Darnea previously worked in insurance but is looking to branch out to another occupation. She loves baseball and the beach and is always down for a margarita. Now, let’s take you to our woman of the hour as she greets the contestants!”

 Bucky is one of the first contestants to the mansion. Penelope Darnea is a beautiful woman with societal “perfect” features. As he walks up the stairs to the mansion, she greets him. “Hello, welcome to the mansion! Tucker Acktenbee?”

 “Yes, it is.“  Bucky leans down to kiss her hand. “Can I tell you just how ravishing you look? The man you choose will be incredibly lucky indeed.”

 Blushing, Penelope waves him on. “I can tell that you’re a charmer.” Bucky is escorted to a room in the mansion as Ms. Darnea greets the next contestant. He uses the time he has to think about the mission. Somehow, they have to act as contestants for the Bachelorette and figure out how they are funneling the money without the network realizing. And he has to do it with Sam.

 His therapist once asked him “What does Sam do that gets on your nerves?”

 “The better question is what does he do that doesn’t get on my nerves?” Bucky had replied. They always have the stupidest of arguments about the most meaningless things. Both of them hate to lose. His head perks up when he hears someone in the hall. “Here is your room, Mr. Perkins. If you need anything, please ring the bell.” The host goes through everything as he did in Bucky’s room.

  “Thank you, sir. Much appreciated.” Oh fuck. That’s Sam’s voice. Bucky understands why they would put Sam beside him in case a quick update to the mission is needed, but to hear that voice at all times of the day? He can only take so much torture. Thankfully, a host comes to get him for an “exclusive” interview. Bucky stays true to his character but does not miss Sharon manning the camera.

 After the interview, he is told that he can fraternize with the other contestants, but he cannot use someone else’s set time with the Bachelorette for his own. That is an instant disqualification. Bucky confirms his understanding and returns to his room. Changing into a new outfit, he decides to take a walk through the house. He’ll let Sam come to him first.

 ++++++++++++++++++

A week goes by, and the second rose ceremony is coming up. Both Sam and Bucky make sure to spend time with Ms. Darnea, but also meet up in Bucky or Sam’s room every night to see if they’ve seen anything suspicious.

 Bucky has kept a close eye on the host but so far nothing looks fishy. Sam has been scanning other cast and crew members and has come up with nothing. They are quickly running out of options, but there are still a good portion of contestants left.

 “Why don’t we check the host’s quarters? He has to have something there.” Bucky suggests. That was the dumbest fucking thing Sam has ever heard in his life. “Dude. There are cameras everywhere. If we get caught, our cover is blown. We have to just wait for some kind of shipment to get here. The set can’t have had enough food stocked for a month.”

 “But what if we can’t wait that long? What if he’s getting stuff out another way? Then HYDRA has supplies, and they’ll hurt more people. We can’t let them do that.”

 Sam scoffs. “What do you think they have? Air ducts under the mansion?”

 “Go fuck yourself.” Bucky gives him the finger.

 “Make me.”

 Bucky’s eyes darken in anger. “I just might….” He cannot finish his sentence before there’re is a knock on the door.

 “Mr. Perkins, your date is set up.”  Someone calls through the door.

 “Now if you’ll excuse me,” Sam smirks and straightens his collar, “I have a woman to seduce Tah tah! Have fun!” And then he sashays out, enjoying the look of pure anger on “Tucker’s” face.

 He walks down the hallway with the camera crew following him to the porch outside where Penelope is waiting. “Well Joshua, what date do you have planned for us tonight?”

 “Well, my lady, you say you like excitement, correct? I have bought us tickets for skydiving. Does that sound enjoyable to you? Once done, we will grab dinner at that new Italian restaurant, Sal’s, I think? They serve the best tiramisu.”

 “Oh, that sounds lovely.” Penelope purrs, rubbing his arm with her hand.

 Crooking his elbow, Sam offers his arm. “Shall we go?”

 It is long after midnight when the couple returns from the restaurant. Sam looks up and sees the curtains are halfway open in Bucky’s room. That means he has some news. “I dd not realize they like you stay the entire night.” Penelope marvels. “Wow, Joshua, you are so cultured.”

 “Oh, it’s nothing. “Sam waves it off. “Just something I’ve picked up in my travels. Have a good night Beautiful. I hope to see you again tomorrow. Water aerobics class?”

  “Why yes. I do love water aerobics.” The bachelorette pokes his shoulder with hard, bony fingers. It hurts! Taking his leave of the lovely Bachelorette, he goes back to his room until the cameras leave. Then he walks over to Bucky’s, who updates him on the next shipment coming in. They will be ready then.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++

It is the day after the latest Rose Ceremony. There are only five contestants left. We have gathered these remaining contenders to give another “exclusive” interview. “So how are you feeling about the contest?” The host asks each participant in their interviews. Here are the responses.

 “I’m feeling pretty good about it. Ellie and I have had many a good date together. I do think she will choose me in the end.” Carlton Hayweather comments.

 Nathan Abbey snorts. “Well, there are five of us left, so she can only pick one, right? And the amount of time Perkins and Acktenbee spend in each other’s rooms, we really don’t have to worry about them. So basically, there’s three of us.”

 “I’m feeling confidant,” Joshua Perkins leans back in his chair. “I believe I have made her laugh the most, and I do believe humor and friendship are major keys in a relationship.”

 Terrance Filippo tilts his head. “Eh, if I win, I win. If I don’t, I don’t.”

 But it’s Tucker Acktenbee who wins the hearts of most watchers. “Penelope is a very strong woman. I trust that she knows who is best for her. I do hope it is me, of course, but should she choose another, we must all concede fair and square. We have to stop assuming we know what women want or need. She is capable of knowing it herself, and I wish her the best.”

 Are you excited for the next round? I am!

 ++++++++++

“Tucker, Joshua? The producers of the show would like to meet with you.” An event manager pulls them from the pool area.

 When they arrive in the office, the head producer, Carole Teller, claps her hands. “Great acting out there! Have you seen this interview?” She shoves a tablet in front of their faces. Nathan Abbey’s face is centered on the screen.

 “Oh, he thinks we’re gay?” Bucky asks.

 “Yes, and if you are, we don’t discriminate, although I wonder why you’re here if you are. But it doesn’t matter. The question is, would you be able to pretend at least for the screen? I don’t mean a full make-out session, but maybe the camera catches a glimpse of you two in the corner. Ratings will go up, and there will be added drama.”

 Bucky is about to object when Sam shrugs. “Sure. We can do that. Is that all you need?”

 “Yes. Thank you for coming in. Good work out there!” She chirps and then turns her full attention onto something else.

 “I guess we’re dismissed.” Sam shrugs. “Come back to my room. We have to strategize.”

 Once they get back to Sam’s room, Bucky pushes Sam up against the wall. “What the fuck did you agree to that for?” He hisses. “First of all, that means the show is queerbaiting and I don’t like that! Second of all, how is this going to help us?”

  “We can hide in little alleyways and closets. Who knows what clues we could find there? Do you hate me that much that we can’t play nice and kissy for a week or so?”

 “I can kiss you. I am a great actor, thank you very much.” Bucky leaves go of Sam.

 “Then do it. Kiss me.” Sam challenges. “Make me.” Bucky thinks the conversation would be ended there, but Sam grabs him by the face and plants a deep kiss on this lip. Caught off guard, Bucky is not ready for that, but quickly kisses Sam back.

 “Wow. That wasn’t so bad after all.” Sam says, wiping his face with his sleeve.

 Bucky scratches the back of his head. “Not… too… bad, I guess.”

 Now that one kiss has been made, many more are to come. Bucky and Sam take advantage of their “hidden relationship” to sneak into closets and hallways. They find that the next shipment will be coming in early the next morning.

 Bucky is taken away to get ready for his date. The dinner and show are quite enjoyable, and Penelope asks him back to her room. Bucky agrees. Once inside the door with the cameras off, she pushes him to a machine and flips the switch. The electricity runs through him and holds him to the machine. Tsk what am I going to do with you?” Penelope asks. “You shouldn’t have come, Asset.”

  “You can’t…. control me. The words don’t…. work anymore.” Bucky forces out through his pain.

 “True that might be, but I can break you. My mother broke you the first time. Don’t think I don’t have her notes.” She smiles wickedly. “Too bad you had to snoop in places you just didn’t belong. Now I’m going to take you and all my goods< and I’m taking you back to base where we can finish our experiments. How does that sound?”

 “Like we got it all on tape!” Sam bursts through the door. “Hands up Lady. We’ve got you.” He rips off his holomask, showing his face.

 “Drop the gun, or I electrocute him.” Penelope warns.

  Sam puts the gun on the floor and slides it halfway over to the villainess. As she bends down to get it, Bucky summons his strength to break free of the current and kicks her. Immediately, Sam tackles Penelope to the ground and wrestles the switch from her, accidentally setting it on high. Bucky convulses and screams. In panic mode, Sam clicks off the current and frees Bucky, who falls to the ground, unmoving. Quickly chaining the Bachelorette to the machine, Sam works on reviving Bucky. “Bucky! No! You can’t die. I just realized that I love you, and if you don’t wake up and get up, so help me I will kill you myself.”

  Bucky’s lips move minutely, and he whispers something. Sam leans down to heard Faintly, Bucky whispers with a grin, “Make me.”.

[sacred-algae]

In celebration of The Great Gatsby entering public domian, I would like to publish an essay I wrote a few years back. Because I hate The Great Gatsby with the burning passion of a thousand suns.

A Character Analysis of The Great Gatsby:

Gatsby, Nick and Daisy

“The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald is often revered as one of the greatest American novels of all time. It makes us take off our rose-colored glasses and look at the rich whom we idolize so much. But are our perspectives of this book also tinted by its title of the great American novel? We are often misdirected in this book to forget many important quotes that change the way we look at the main characters completely. Authors make sure that everything in the book has a purpose. If it was included, it’s important and shouldn't be ignored. Readers often place certain expectations on the characters due to its high status, however, this paper will show that the characters in question are not as they are commonly perceived, whether good or bad, and explore the complex writing behind the characters, Nick, Gatsby, and Daisy.

Although Nick Carraway is seen by many for who he is, arrogant and judgemental, they still miss out on the bigger picture. He glorifies violence and he is a cheater. The problem with Nick and the book is that rather than the book being written by Fitzgerald, it is written by Nick. Because of this, we see him in a glorified manner. The first few lines of the book show this. “In my younger and more vulnerable years my father gave me some advice that I’ve been turning over in my mind ever since.” (pg. 3) Using the words “younger”, “vulnerable” and even “father” he immediately ensures that we have his sympathy. He does the same thing again later, and more directly, at the very end of chapter three. “Everyone suspects himself of at least one of the cardinal virtues, and this is mine: I am one of the few honest people that I have ever known.” (pg. 65) This is where most people begin to see his true self shine through. However, it should be seen much earlier. In chapter one he mentions something very sinister. “I participated in that delayed Teutonic migration known as the Great War. I enjoyed the counter-raid so thoroughly that I came back restless. Instead of being the warm center of the world the middle-west now seemed like the ragged edge of the universe” (pg. 5) Nick says directly to the reader that he enjoyed WWI. Only second to WWII (85,000,000 or 3% of the entire world’s population), WWI is the bloodiest war in world history with a death toll of 16,000,000. 40,000,000 if you include deaths resulting from the Spanish Flu. (statistics from Wikipedia) For someone to enjoy being at war there has to be something majorly wrong with them. Not only that but it can be said with near certainty that Nick was cheating on a girl out west when he had his fling with Jordan. In chapter one after dinner with the Buchanans this conversation tasks place. “As I started my motor Daisy peremptorily called ‘Wait! ‘I forgot to ask you something, and it’s important. We heard you were engaged to a girl out West.’ ‘That’s right,’ corroborated Tom kindly. ‘We heard that you were engaged.’ ‘It’s libel. I’m too poor.’ ‘But we heard it,’ insisted Daisy, surprising me by opening up again in a flower-like way. ‘We heard it from three people so it must be true.’” (pg. 23) For there to be rumors that someone is engaged with someone else it has to be commonly known that they are in a relationship. Nick is a severely flawed, if not evil, character.

Many people strive to be like Jay Gatsby, with his charm and “extraordinary gift for hope.” Even then, the biggest argument of the book is whether or not he truly loves Daisy. Most clues point to no. Gatsby even remarks that “‘Her voice is full of money,’” (pg. 128). He sees her as a prize to be won. He chases her, she’s the final thing he needs to have his perfect life. And during a flashback to his first kiss with her, right before the iconic passage where “she blossomed for him like a flower,” Fitzgerald describes his desire for her like this: “The quiet lights in the houses were humming out into the darkness and there was a stir and bustle among the stars. Out of the corner of his eye Gatsby saw that the blocks of the sidewalk really formed a ladder and mounted to a secret place above the trees—he could climb to it, if he climbed alone, and once there he could suck on the pap of life, gulp down the incomparable milk of wonder.” Possibly the most frightening passage in the book. It sounds like some bestial craving. But that is just his relationship with Daisy. Tom accuses him of bootlegging. “‘I found out what your ‘drug stores’ were.’ He turned to us and spoke rapidly. ‘He and this Wolfshiem bought up a lot of side-street drug stores here and in Chicago and sold grain alcohol over the counter. That’s one of his little stunts. I picked him for a bootlegger the first time I saw him and I wasn’t far wrong.’” (pg.143) We never are told explicitly that this is true but it is left to the reader to decide this. And there is plenty of evidence. When Gatsby is giving Daisy a tour of the mansion we hear him on his side of a phone call. “...the phone rang and Gatsby took up the receiver. ‘Yes…. Well, I can’t talk now…. I can’t talk now, old sport…. I said a SMALL town…. He must know what a small town is…. Well, he’s no use to us if Detroit is his idea of a small town….’” (pg. 100-101) This again isn't explicit but why would the person in question be of no use to him if they think that Detroit is a small town? They need a small town. If it is a big one it is easier for the police to track his business. And after Gatsby dies Nick answers another business call. “...said Chicago was calling...‘This is Slagle speaking....’ ‘Yes?’ The name was unfamiliar. ‘Hell of a note, isn’t it? Get my wire?’ ‘There haven’t been any wires.’ ‘Young Parke’s in trouble,’ he said rapidly. ‘They picked him up when he handed the bonds over the counter. They got a circular from New York giving ‘em the numbers just five minutes before. What d’you know about that, hey? You never can tell in these hick towns——‘ ‘Hello!’ I interrupted breathlessly. ‘Look here—this isn’t Mr. Gatsby. Mr. Gatsby’s dead.’” This is a hint towards Gatsby making money selling counterfeit bonds. A business that he tried to recruit Nick too. “‘Why, I thought—why, look here, old sport, you don’t make much money, do you?’ ‘Not very much.’ This seemed to reassure him and he continued more confidently. ‘I thought you didn’t, if you’ll pardon my—you see, I carry on a little business on the side, a sort of sideline, you understand. And I thought that if you don’t make very much—You’re selling bonds, aren’t you, old sport?’ ‘Trying to.’ ‘Well, this would interest you. It wouldn’t take up much of your time and you might pick up a nice bit of money. It happens to be a rather confidential sort of thing.’” (pg. 88-89) Why is it confidential? Because it’s illegal. Not only is Gatsby’s relationship with Daisy toxic, but he is a mobster. This in itself isn’t problematic, but people may have died because of him, and the book shies past this point.

Daisy Buchanan is hated by most people who read the book. It is said that she is shallow and arrogant. This is a look to the surface. First, it is important to understand Daisy and Tom’s ages. When the book takes place Daisy is 23, Tom is 30. Making Daisy 18 and Tom 25 at the time they were married. While she is legal this marriage is incredibly creepy. She is stuck in a marriage with a racist, cheating, borderline abusive husband. And she knows this. Even then she is brave enough to call him out (and mock him) on his racism in chapter one at dinner. “‘Tom’s getting very profound,’ said Daisy with an expression of unthoughtful sadness. ‘He reads deep books with long words in them. What was that word we——‘ ‘Well, these books are all scientific,’ insisted Tom…” (pg. 16) She’s trapped in a situation where she has no control. She tries to reclaim her life through Gatsby but she quickly learns that he isn’t different. “‘Please don’t.’ Her voice was cold, but the rancour was gone from it. She looked at Gatsby. ‘There, Jay,’ she said— but her hand as she tried to light a cigarette was trembling. Suddenly she threw the cigarette and the burning match on the carpet. ‘Oh, you want too much!’ she cried to Gatsby. ‘I love you now—isn’t that enough? I can’t help what’s past.’ She began to sob helplessly. ‘I did love him once—but I loved you too.’” (pg. 141-142). Daisy lives in a society where women are seen and not heard. She knows this but still does what she can to speak for herself. She is incredibly smart. People don’t give her enough credit. Take the iconic line, “Well, she was less than an hour old and Tom was God knows where. I woke up out of the ether with an utterly abandoned feeling and asked the nurse right away if it was a boy or a girl. She told me it was a girl, and so I turned my head away and wept. ‘All right,’ I said, ‘I’m glad it’s a girl. And I hope she’ll be a fool—that’s the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool.’” (pg. 20)

She is smart enough to see what is happening around her and it breaks her, that's why she wants her daughter to be a fool. She’ll never have to question it, she’ll never know it, she’ll always be happy.

“The Great Gatsby” indeed is a great book. One with deeply complex characters. But we need to take a second look at them, not just accept what others tell us. Because of its high status, the characters of “The Great Gatsby” are often subject to preconceived notions, through discussing and analyzing quotes in the book you can begin to see both sides of Nick, Gatsby, and Daisy. When we see someone say something about them, or any person, or anything, question it. As the great Albert Einstein once said-“The important thing is to never stop questioning.”

We need to stop idolizing Nick and Gatsby, and stop victim blaming Daisy. Thank you for coming to my Ted Talk

[ladyscarlettwrites]

The Next Heir

Chapter 4 The Perfect Family

To say that that Chairman Han was excited was an understatement. Jumin and MC invited him over for breakfast the following morning and announced the pregnancy news to him. He was so overjoyed that he started crying.

“This is just fantastic news! I’m going to be a grandpa!” Chairman Han says as he pulls Jumin into a hug. “I’m so proud of you, my son! You found yourself a lovely wife that is absolutely wonderful and you’re finally starting your own family!” He pulls away to wipe his tears, “I know that I haven’t been the perfect father for you and I deeply apologize for everything that I have done wrong and I hope...I hope you’ll forgive me some day.” 

Jumin still wasn’t used to expressing his feelings and showing emotions but after hearing his father’s apology MC could see his eyes gloss up before pulling his father into another tight hug. “Of course I forgive you...” Seeing that happen in front of her made MC break down and start crying which ended up causing both Jumin and his father to start freaking out.

“M-MC! Are you okay, my love?!”

“Do we need to go to the hospital?!” Chairman Han asked as he started to pull out his phone to dial the ambulance.

“N-No, I’m sorry! Nothing’s wrong, I promise!” MC says as she let’s Jumin wipe her tears away. “It’s probably just the baby hormones! I’m just so happy!”

Chairman Han smiles in relief and walks up to her and gently grasps her hands and kisses her hands softly. “Thank you so much, my dear. You changed our lives for the better and I can’t thank you enough for bringing me and my son closer together. And most importantly, giving us a new life to love and cherish. You’re like the daughter I’ve always wanted.” MC starts crying even more as Chairman Han hugs her tightly.

After a while, when MC finally stops her crying, Chairman Han leaves, talking mostly to herself about all the things he should buy for when they baby arrives. Jumin and MC start getting ready to hangout with the rest of the RFA members and talk to several reporters, that are currently waiting outside of the penthouse, to put the rumors to rest and officially announce the pregnancy. 

MC tries her best to not let the articles get to her. Jumin also has been doing his best to reassure and kisses her hand gently as they stand in front of the reporters. He turns to them and clears his throat.

“I’d like to start off by thanking everyone for finding the time to meet with us on such short notice. My beautiful wife is pregnant and before you ask, yes, the baby is mine. These useless rumors that have been going around, accusing my wife of adultery and having a secret lover. I’ve been with my wife everyday and she is not that type of person. She does not need to be dealing or hearing any of this. I have lived most of my entire life in the public eye but my wife is still very new to this certain lifestyle and attention. So I hope you will all understand when I ask of you all to please; don’t stress my pregnant wife by writing unnecessary rumors. We’d like to be able to have a stress-free pregnancy. Thank you.”

He backs away slightly and motions for them to start asking their questions.

“Mr. Han, is it true that you will be suing the doctor that went behind patient and  doctor confidentiality?” “Yes I am. But that is all I can say about it until I’m done.”

“Mrs. Han! How far along are you?”

MC steps up and shyly loops a strand of hair behind her ear, “I’m not so sure yet. I just found out recently but we will hopefully be finding out soon!”

“Are you hoping for a girl or a boy?”

“It doesn’t matter to me but if it’s a boy, I hope he’s as handsome as his father!” MC giggles.

“What about you Mr. Han?” Jumin smiles as he looks down at MC and brings their interlocked hands up to his lips and kisses the back of her hand. “ I hope it’s a girl and that she’ll look as beautiful as my wife.” MC blushes and looks up at him lovingly as the reporters start snapping photos of them.

“But wouldn’t you want a son so that he could be the next heir to take over C&R after you?”

MC squeezes Jumin’s hand gently when she sees that he looked annoyed at the reporter that asked that question. Jumin squeezes her hand back gently before looking back at the reporter, giving him a cold stare. The reporter shrinks back.

“If we have a girl, she will be more than capable of running the company as any capable man.”

“Mrs. Han, what does your family think of the news? Have you told them?” “And how come they didn’t attend your wedding? Where they not invited?”

“Are you and your family on bad terms? Do they not approve of you marrying someone of such high class as the Han family?”

MC flinches and tightens her grip on Jumin’s hand as she tries not to let her eyes swell up in tears. “I...I’m actually...an orphan. I don’t have any living family members...”

Jumin pulls her close and glares at all the reporters that asked those questions. But before he could say anything the rest of the RFA members appeared right beside them.

“We’re MC’s family now and we’re so happy for them!” Yoosung says as he hugs MC. Jumin tries not to glare at Yoosung only because it was making MC feel better.

The reporters were quick to notice how close Zen was to Jaehee and when they looked even closer they saw that he had his arm wrapped around her waist.

“Zen, are you in a relationship?!”

“Is she your girlfriend?!”

“How long have you been dating?”

MC gasps when she turns around to see that Zen indeed have his arm around Jaehee. Zen smiles at the cameras as he holds Jaehee closer to his side.

“Yes I am and this here my beautiful and smart girlfriend, Jaehee Kang! We just recently started dating but we’ve known each other for a longer time! She’s actually a member of the RFA with me. So I hope all my lovely fans will cherish her as I cherish her like I do and continue to support me and my hard work!”

“Now if you’ll excuse us, we’ll be on our way.” Jumin bows before he walks away with MC as the bodyguards open the car door for them. The reporters try taking pictures of them as Driver Kim drives off.

“Jumin, we could have waited and given the others a ride as well. We’re all going to the same place.” MC pouts.

“I’m sure that the others came in Seven’s car, my love.” Jumin says as he pulls her onto his lap and nuzzles her neck.

“Juuumin...! You can’t aways do that to try and get on my good side!”

Jumin smirks as he nips her neck gently and rubs her belly gently. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I’m just naturally showing my lovely wife, the mother of my unborn child some affection.”

MC giggles as he continues to nuzzle and holds back her moan as he nips her neck again. “W-we’re not far from the restaurant and I’d like to look presentable  in front of our friends and in front of any reporters that happen to be there.” Jumin opens his mouth to say something but MC smirks as she continues, “Unless you want the men to get a glimpse of what I might look like in the privacy of our bedroom? Help them with their imagination of what it’ll be like if I was with them?”

Jumin glares and tightens his grip around her waist and growls deeply, “ No. That’s for my eyes and my eyes only.” He moves her dress a little and nips her shoulder, marking her. “You are mine.”

MC moans softly, “ Yes...that’s right. I belong to you and only you, my love. And you belong to me.”

Jumin kisses her before leaning over to her ear, “Don’t think that you won’t go unpunished when we return home later, Kitten.” MC shivers as she nods her head.

The car stops in front of a huge restaurant. Bodyguards lineup outside and opens the door for them. He gets out of the car and turns back and helps MC out of the car. As soon as she steps out Seven’s fast, flashy car stops right behind their car. MC giggles as Yoosung stumbles out of the car and holds his stomach as he hunches over, trying not to throw up. Zen exits out of the car, yelling at Seven as he helps Jaehee who almost looks sick like Yoosung.

“Just because you have a flashy sports car doesn’t mean that you have to drive super fast and all crazy! Yoosung is over there about to throw up and what about me and Jaehee! My fans will hunt you down if anything happens to my appearance and I’m sure Jumin and MC would hate it if anything happened to Jaehee!”

Seven just laughs it off and hugs the hood of his car. “Don’t listen to the big, handsome meanie, babe! He just doesn’t understand that you’re meant to be driven fast, baby!”

“Ugh, stop calling you car creepy names like baby and babe! It’s weird!” 

Jumin rolls his eyes and leads MC into the restaurant. “Let’s let them figure this out. We need to get you something to eat.” MC giggles as she follows him in but gasps when they see V standing there smiling at them without his sunglasses.

“V!” MC runs over and hugs him, “What are you doing here?!” 

V laughs as he hugs her back, “ I couldn’t just stay away when I heard that my best friend and his lovely wife were expecting a baby! I had to come and congratulate you!”

Jumin walks up and hugs V and smiles “Thank you, Jihyun. It’s nice to have you here to celebrate with us.”

“I wouldn’t dare miss it!”

MC looks up at V, “V, you’re not wearing your glasses...did you...?”

V smiles and nods his head, “After you guys had left for your honeymoon I went and got surgery done to fix my eyesight.”

MC tears up as she hugs him again. “I’m so happy!”

V hugs her back before pulling away when everyone else finally enter the restaurant, “Now let’s go celebrate!

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

The entire day is spent celebrating inside of the restaurant with the whole RFA members. MC smiles as she watches all of them talking amongst each other.

Jumin leans in to her ear, “Is everything okay, my love?”

MC nods her head, “I was just thinking of something?”

“And what were you thinking about?”

“I was just thinking of how lucky I am. I was always alone ever since my parents passed away and I never thought I’d end up having a family of my own. But hearing Yoosung say that the RFA members are my family now...it just made me so happy! I’m so glad I stumbled upon the chatroom that day. It was dangerous of me to listen to the hacker but I have new friends who are now my family and I met you...the love of my life. And now, the father of our child. You and everyone else have given me everything that I could ask for and I wouldn’t change it for the world!”

Jumin smiles at her lovingly, “We should be the ones to say that we’re lucky...you brought back the light in our lives. We were all suspicious of you and you didn’t hold it against us when Jihyun told us to trust you. Yoosung and Seven’s friendship with Jihyun is better now, Jaehee and Zen are happier now together which I’m sure you helped. I’m sure it’s also because of you Jihyun finally agreed to getting the eye surgery. And finally me, you made me more human. You helped untangle these knots of threads that I had in my mind. You make everyone’s life turn for the best. We owe you so much.”

MC smiles as her eyes start to tear up. Jumin leans in and kisses her forehead gently. “I love you.”

“I love you too, my love.” Jumin looks at his watch, “It’s getting late, so we should pull Jaehee and Jihyun aside so then we can ask them our question.”

MC nods her head and stands up with him. She pulls Jaehee to the side as Jumin brings V as well.

“So what did you want to ask us?” V asks as he stands beside Jaehee.

MC nervously twiddles her thumbs, “Um...so...I’m pregnant and...and we...” She looks up at Jumin so then he could help her.

Jumin chuckles softly and pulls her close as he looks back at V and Jaehee, “MC and I were wondering if you two would do us the honor of being the god parents to our child.”

Jaehee gasps and tears up as she nods her head and hugs MC tightly who tears up as well and hugs her back. “Of course! Thank you so much for choosing me!”

V smiles and hugs Jumin, “I’m honored you picked me as well. I will be more than happy to be the god father! Thank you!”

When it was time to leave, everyone hugged and said goodbye. Jaehee and MC making plans to go shopping later for baby stuff. Jumin smiles lovingly as he watches them. He was really happy to be starting a family with MC and with the RFA members included it truly was the perfect family.

A/N: I am so sorry that this was late! A lot of things came up but I’m going to start the first draft of the next chapter now. Hopefully the California heat this weekend doesn’t stop me! Let me know if you want to get added to the taglist! <3 

Taglist: @misstartrekandel

[let-it-raines]

your wonder under summer skies (3/?)

Summer in Storybrooke, Maine means one thing for its residents: tourist season. This year, for Emma Swan and Killian Jones, it means relationships ending and friendships changing all the while they attempt to figure out just what their relationship is. It’s somewhere straddling the line between friends and lovers, and there’s no guarantee of a soft landing if they fall into new territory.

rating: mature

ao3: beginning | current

Tumblr: 1 | 2 | 3 | 

-/-

She shouldn’t have come tonight.

It was a horrible idea.

A really, truly, horrendous idea.

Emma has had a lot of those lately, but that’s not new for her.

God, her heart feels like it’s going to explode, and she imagines there’s no way for that to twist around and be healthy. She’s been walking around all week not telling a soul that she broke up with Neal or any of the circumstances behind it, and the fact that none of them know about it tells her that Neal hasn’t told anyone either. He never did like her friends, so she guesses it makes sense that he wouldn’t talk to any of them.

Why is she only realizing all of this now? Where were these revelations before?

How blind has she been to so many things? Was she so damn desperate for love that she accepted the scraps someone left on the floor?

But now she went and told Killian that they broke up, which she shouldn’t have done. He kept pestering her, and she knew that eventually she’d break or he’d figure it out. He already knew something was wrong when no one else seemed to notice. She should have just told someone, anyone, and not someone who is hosting a party to celebrate his brother’s engagement.

Emma should not be somewhere celebrating love when she can never seem to get that particular thing quite right.

Quickly, Emma glances behind her to see if Killian is following her. He’s not. He’s still standing on the balcony, and Emma takes the opportunity to make a beeline for the kitchen and grab the wine Killian got for her for tonight. She’s sure the beer everyone’s brought is fine, but she’s never been much of a beer girl unless it’s the only option.

And she really, really needs a drink.

Well, another one.

“Woah, woah, woah,” David laughs, “you going to drink that entire bottle tonight?”

“I might.”

“Well, at least do it in moderation and have a little something to eat.”

Emma rolls her eyes. “I’ve already had some pizza. Do you always have to act like a dad?”

“If I was a dad, I’d take the bottle away from you and pour out half of your glass for myself.”

“True.” She gulps down a large sip. Maybe she should slow down and nurse the glass. She hasn’t even gotten to tell Elsa congratulations, and it probably wouldn’t be a great move for her to be slightly tipsy for that. “Are you coming into the office to help tomorrow?”

“Am I the greatest husband alive because I’m going to my wife’s work on my day off to help the two of you decorate an entire country club that’s too cheap to get you two help for that? Why, yes, yes I am.”

“Shhhh, you can’t talk about the club like that when Robin is around. His girlfriend is kind of in charge of if I can afford to stay in my apartment or not since she owns the damn place.”

“You know, I bet if you moved in with Neal instead of you sleeping over at his place, you two could save money.”

Emma takes a bigger gulp of her wine before biting her tongue on mumbling that she really didn’t stay at Neal’s place much lately. If she did, she usually just crashed on the couch or in bed as soon as she got there.

Okay, so maybe she wasn’t exactly helping things, but that doesn’t give Neal an excuse to do anything he did.

For how long that he did. Over and over again.

Bastard.

She’s glad they never moved in together even if they should have so many times. So that’s at least one positive from this whole thing. If she was homeless right now on top of everything else, she’d probably give up…or at least cry a hell of a lot more.

“I like having my space,” Emma mumbles. “Neal likes having his. It’s all fine.”

Tell him, tell him, tell him.

Her brain keeps chanting those words every time she’s around David. Or anyone, really, because she’s an idiot who is not so great at dealing with feelings or having people be sympathetic toward her.

At least she’s self-aware. Kind of.

Thunder rolls outside and shakes the apartment. Emma turns and looks to see that the sky is now dark and rain has started to fall. Great. The weather is now an accurate representation of her mood. Sometimes the world is a little too on point.

“You know, eventually – ”

“Emma,” Elsa squeals in what may be the most un-like-Elsa sound ever, “oh my gosh, I didn’t know you were here! How did I miss you?”

“I was hiding over here drinking my wine, but I wanted to come see you. Congratulations, lady!”

“Thank you.” Emma quickly puts her glass down before Elsa engulfs her in a hug that is suffocating. “I’m so excited! I never thought I would be the type of girl who got excited and kept making these inhumane noises, but I’m so excited!”

“As you should be! It’s an exciting thing.”

Elsa pulls back, still absolutely beaming. “Wait. Where’s Neal? Is he here?”

When the hell did everyone start caring about Neal?

“He’s working. He couldn’t make it.”

“Oh, well, that’s okay. Find me later, yeah? I’ve got to keep making the rounds and find Liam. We have to FaceTime Anna soon, and I think everyone will want to see that.”

“She doesn’t know?”

“I was going to call her in the morning. I didn’t know we were coming back to all of these people.”

“Well, you better call her before someone tells her.”

“I know. She’d murder me.”

So much talk about murder tonight. It’s only slightly disturbing.

Emma laughs as Elsa turns away, and Emma quickly grabs her glass and starts chugging even as David watches her. She doesn’t care. She needs this, even if it’s unhealthy.

Okay, maybe she cares a little as David crosses her arms and stares her down with a stare that she’s pretty sure he uses when he catches teenagers drinking underneath the bleachers at the high school.

Why can’t someone else come and interrupt them? There are twenty people. There should be some kind of relief from her being interrogated by David.

Where’s Killian when she needs him?

Wait, no. She doesn’t want Killian because he knows, and he’s going to ask questions that she still can’t handle.

“Did you and Neal break up?”

Oh shit. Apparently David is going to be asking her questions she can’t handle either.

“What? No. We’re fine.”

David’s eyes glance up and down her face, and Emma could really use that entire bottle now.

“Really? Because there are rumors that he’s been working around the pawn shop again, and we both know how you feel about that.”

“Neal can do what he wants, questionable activities or no. Controlling him in that is really more in your authority than mine.”

“Emma.”

“It’s fine, David,” Emma snaps. “I don’t care what Neal does with his life. We both know as soon as he gets the money he wants, he’ll stop working with his dad and go back to normal and there will be no suspicious activity on your radar that no one will ever do anything about.”

“Are you saying you want me to figure out how to arrest your boyfriend?”

“I’m saying to let sleeping dogs lie. Of all of the crazy things that go on in this town, I don’t think you need to pull your focus on a guy selling mysteriously collected items in a run-down pawn shop. I hear the Tomlinsons are coming back into town, and they’re bringing friends. You’ll be too busy focusing on them and their penchant for spray paint and cheap beer.”

“Fuck. I hate those kids.”

She reaches forward and pats David’s shoulder as her stomach settles. She didn’t think she’d be able to talk herself out of that conversation, but the Tomlinsons will do it.

She hates those kids, too.

“Yeah, they’re the worst. Good luck with all of their vandalism. I’m sure they’ve learned a few tricks over the past year.”

With that, Emma takes her glass and maneuvers away from David before he can circle the conversation back to her and Neal. He obviously knows what’s wrong, and she isn’t ready for that, not at all. Which is the exact reason that she avoids Killian as well. He seems to be avoiding her too, and she can’t say she minds. He can stand in the corner with a beer in his hand away from her as she talks to Ruby and Ariel and anyone else who wanders into her space.

It’s nice to get distracted and to have all of these people around her, talking and laughing and continuously offering to fill her wine glass up.

She doesn’t say no.

By midnight, she’s possibly had the entire bottle, and she may be feeling a little woozy. Her steps are still sure, though, and she knows she’s not slurring her thoughts or her words. It’s a good thing she did eat pizza and drink as many glasses of water as she did wine.

That’s probably why she has to pee as well.

Pee.

The bathroom.

Emma needs the bathroom.

She gets up from the couch where she’s talking to Belle and walks back down the hallway, passing Liam’s room and heading straight toward Killian’s. She knows both of them are absolutely ridiculous about keeping their bathrooms clean, but stalking through Liam’s room never seems like the best idea on her part. She’s always gotten this distinct impression that he doesn’t like her.

That may be the wine talking.

Or true. It’s probably true. She really didn’t have that much to drink. Mary Margaret had some of the wine, so she didn’t have the entire bottle by herself.

And she knows Liam doesn’t like her. She’s asked Killian about it before, but he’s always adamantly denied it.

He’s always been lying when he said it.

Or maybe Neal is right and she really isn’t as good at telling when people are lying as she thinks she is.

Killian’s bathroom is, indeed, clean, and after she’s washed her hands, brushed out her hair, and fixed the slightest smudged mascara underneath her eyes, she feels like a brand new woman and miraculously a little more sober. Opening the door, she steps out only to collide with a warm, solid body.

Fuck.

“If you wanted to get close to me, all you had to do was ask.”

Emma scoffs and rolls her eyes as Killian’s hands settle on her back and hers loop around his neck. She leans back into the bathroom door, and it clicks closed behind her.

Killian smells like sweat and his cologne, and she can’t say that she hates it.

“You’re an asshole.”

“I’ve been called worse. Oftentimes by you.”

“I do what I can.” Have his eyes always been this blue? Is it just the lighting in this place?  “What are you doing in here?”

His brow raises. He likes doing that. It’s almost weird how his face has the muscles to do that. “What am I doing in my bedroom?”

“Oh, yeah, right.”

“Mhm. I was looking for you, actually.”

“Well, you found me.”

“Aye,” he whispers, “it seems like I did. Swan, what happened with Neal? Why didn’t you tell me when you were last here?”

“I don’t – I don’t want to talk about it.”

She can feel the heat of his hands on her back, the warmth of his breath when he speaks, and she swears that she can nearly feel the brush of his scruff. Did he move closer? He did. When did that happen? Why hasn’t she moved away?

Maybe she doesn’t want to.

Why doesn’t she want to?

“Swan.”

“Don’t,” she says quietly, voice cracking as her heart does that awful, painful thing again. “Please don’t. I just – I want you to make me feel better.”

He blinks, and she swears she feels the intensity in his gaze deep in her belly. How is that even possible?

“What are you saying?”

“Jones, you know exactly what I’m saying.” Her hand moves from the base of his neck, and she drags her nail across his skin and up behind his ear. She didn’t even know what she was saying until this exact moment, but now she’s sure of it. Suddenly, she’s much more aware of everything. “C’mon.”

Killian keeps blinking, and his lips part the slightest bit while his jaw ticks. He’s going to say no. She knows that he is, and he probably should. This isn’t…what the hell is she thinking?

But then he pounces, his lips capturing hers in a fierce kiss that she feels over every inch of her body.

Damn.

Emma’s always known his reputation, knows about the women and the lack of long-term relationships, and she’s always understood the appeal of Killian Jones. She has eyes. Killian’s an attractive man, and anyone with said eyes can see that.

She never quite imagined, at least not in depth, that she would get to see the appeal of kissing him first hand.

Damn, he’s a good kisser.

He doesn’t slow down, never softens the kiss or takes time to savor each movement of her lips or her tongue or the way that her hands scratch his hair and tug him closer. She can’t breathe, her body desperately searching for that little more air, but she’d rather drown in Killian and the way that this feels.

Her thoughts are a little too preoccupied by all of that to focus on much of anything else.

That’s definitely the best thing to happen to her in awhile.

Killian’s hand finds its way underneath her shirt, rough fingertips scratching her skin, and she can’t get over how warm he is or how good it feels as he finds her breast and moves away her bra. A shiver runs down her spin, tickling along her skin, and it settles between her thighs as she begins to absolutely ache for more.

She doesn’t have to question how that happens?

She doesn’t have to question any of this.

She feels good.

This is good.

This is really good.

“Get on the bed,” Killian mumbles against her neck.

“I don’t remember saying you could tell me what to do.”

“You said you wanted to feel good, aye? I can make you feel good if you’d simply listen to me for once in your life.”

Emma nods and gulps as she maneuvers herself out of his arms and toward the bed, stripping out of her clothes as she goes while Killian does the same. She gets a glance of his stomach and the toned muscles covered by dark hair she’s seen a million times before, but it looks different in the dim lighting of his room than it ever has out on the beach.

It looks different because she can see where the hair leads, where the muscles dip, and she felt exactly how much he was turned on when he had her pressed up against the door. She’s never seen the full extent of the compass inked on his hip, has never known how intricate it is, but it’s beautiful.

Slowly, Killian walks toward her, his lips curled into a smirk, and then the smirk disappears to her thigh as his lips and his beard brush against her skin, igniting the heat that only keeps growing.

“Oh, so you’re suddenly a gentleman now?” she teases on a broken breath. Sweat is prickling at her skin, and her heart is beating so quickly that she can feel it between her ears. At least it’s no longer painful.

Killian’s tongue does something beyond sinful, and her back arches up off the bed as he pulls her closer to him.

“I’m always a gentleman.”

And then, she swears, she feels better than she has in a long, long time.

From then on, Emma turns her brain off as much as she can. She doesn’t think. She simply feels, and it’s glorious to be able to do that. Killian’s hands and his mouth work wonders on her body. He’s skilled, knows exactly what he’s doing, and she spares one final thought to all of the woman who have come before her for this.

For helping to make her forget everything else.

Killian’s voice is muted, but she can still hear the thickness of the accent and the huskiness coating each word as he encourages her to be quiet. There are still people outside, which is not something she considered.

She didn’t consider a lot of things about this.

But any concerns she has quickly disappear and she rolls over and settles down on top of Killian, sinking down onto him until he’s feeling her and feeling so fucking good that she can’t breathe.

This is exactly what she needed. She needed the way he praises her, needed the way his hands hold onto her ass and her waist and encourage her movements. She needed the way that he kisses and the way that he makes her feel as he moves inside of her.

She needed this.

And when she falls, it’s to the sound of her own name being whispered in an accent as familiar as anything else in her life and to the rain continuing to pour down outside.

-/-

If someone were to ask her ten things she knows about Killian Jones, the list would be pretty easy and straightforward for her to write.

1.     His brother is the most important person in the world to him despite their disagreements.

2.     His friends come next on that list.

3.     There’s no place he’d rather be than on a beach or on a boat.

4.     He drinks more rum than the actual Captain Morgan did.

(Is there an actual Captain Morgan, she wonders.)

5.     When he thinks something is legitimately funny, his nose scrunches up and his eyes crinkle to show off (almost) twenty-eight years of laughter, even if there is some sadness in there.

6.     He never talks about the scars on his hand unless a kid asks him. Then he always makes up a story that is somehow both far-fetched and realistic.

7.     He has five tattoos at the moment, and she knows he wants to get more.

8.     If you ask him what his favorite movie is, he’ll say he doesn’t have one. It’s because he loves the Hangover and refuses to admit it.

9.     If you ask him who is best friend is, everyone expects him to say Liam, but much to her surprise, he always says Emma Swan.

10.  He likes her on top.

That last one is a new thing she just learned, well, last night.

Oh fuck, what did she do?

She fucked Killian.

-/-

-/-

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