#(Sorry this one took so darn long had a lot of stuff pop-up in between trying to catch-up on other stuff too. 8T;;;;;)

[red-hemlock]

Send 🌧️ for our muses to get caught in the rain together ~ @who-is-muses (from Jon)

Bad Situation Starters! @who-is-muses

Drescher. Some liken the district to a decaying corpse, the husk with which the shining jewel of Ryker Heights sprouts from: Each fresh sky-seeking beam erected, draining what lies just below. But decay has its own way of 'building' things too. Time and erosion, it patiently carves holes and scrapes secret nooks, the kind which all manner of things can wheedle and weave their way into.

It was here, nestled under one of those many overpasses, her 'peace' had been disturbed. She'd been watching him ever since he scuttled-in from the rain-slick streets: Quiet and perfectly content with letting him return none the wiser, once those showers ceased their blanketing downpour. But alas they didn't, and it didn't seem like he'd be absconding any time soon.

Well, then.

The dull scrape of a spiked boot against metal carries under that dilapidated structure, purposeful and intent; it 'announces' the assassin's presence long before her voice did.

"Well, well, now would you look who the rainwater's gone and washed-in!" A hand ascends, dragging the mask down over her grinning face. The thing's mechanics warping her voice into some indistinguishable tone as its lenses fire to life in soft orange, "I spy with my little eye: one lone stray Scarecrow, oh me oh my."

"So sorry to disappoint, but I'm afraid this shabby little shelter's already 'occupied'... Luckily for you though, I'm content to share."

The million dollar question is, was he? She's not particularly perturbed, not at this moment anyway. Reclined high-up in her perch of concrete and steel, it's a spot distant from the pointed-ends of any needles doubtlessly squirreled-away in that burlap ensemble of his; and this whisper of a storm wind favors her. If he decides to try anything 'funny', she'll drop him like a bagful of rocks.

But for now? For now, Hemlock likens herself the gracious 'host', queenlike in poise as she sits-up and crosses her legs one over the other. From off to the side a dampened bag is produced, hidden from view until held aloft with a doggish tilt of the head.

"...Sandwich, darling? I snatched extras."

[mxtcha-tea]

domestic shiratorizawa

⊹summary; the life inside the dorms of shiratorizawa

⊹pilots; gn![y/n], ushijima, tendou, semi, yamagata, reon, kawanishi, shirabu, goshiki (pairings showed; yamagata x reader, goshiki x reader)

⊹genre; fluff, crack and some cursings (no proofread)

⊹flight details; i've once made a domestic imagines in my old blog so imma make a small reboot of it <3

random shopping

normal day, normal life. you could've seen yourself laying or even napping in your room while a compilation of minecraft songs plays in the background. but no. instead, you're inside an antique shop with Yamagata, Ushijima and Tendou.

you have no idea when, or how did the process happened but you surely is done with getting dragged inside the shop by Tendou and Yamagata.

while Ushijima's stuck on a section, you don't know where, but he's definitely stuck there, "[y/n]! look at what i found,"

Yamagata called you as you turned around to see him holding up a pretty heavy doll. you raise your brow, "what the hell is that?" walking towards him and taking a closer look at the object in hand,

"i think it's a, um, i think a matryoska doll? matroyska? is that how you say it?" "why're you asking me, i don't know jack shit about russian stuff,"

"ah you mean, matryoshka doll?" Tendou butted in, startling you two, "it's also called a 'nesting doll' and did you actually know that it was actually originated from china?"

Yamagata's eyes practically sparkled at that with a surprised look, "from china? really?"

you can only roll your eyes, "and how can you even know all that?" Tendou snickered and put on a smug face, "i'm actually very smart, y'know. ya'll just don't know about it," "says the person in class 2,"

"i blame the mathematic old hags for adding letters in math, and the apple that fucking hit my man Isaac," you tsk'ed and walk towards the next section. Yamagata passive aggressively put the matryoshka doll down and follow after you along with Tendou,

"also, we need to find ushijima, i think he's stuck in some section between here...ah there," you stopped walking and turn to your right where you find Ushijima reading a book.

Tendou skipped towards him and smack his shoulder, "you okay, wakatoshi-kun? you sure did took longer to look at the stuff here," while Tendou chats with Ushijima, Yamagata look up at the shelves as something caught his eyes.

he tried to reach it while tip toing but due to his height, he can't reach it. then, he jumped from his spot to grab the object but end up hitting his head onto the board, "AGH, FUCK!" which causes you all to look at him, watching him hold his head while shivering from the pain,

"are you okay, yamagata?" ushijima ask, putting back the book on the shelves, "yeah, yeah, i'm just tryna get that," he shakes his head before pointing up.

you followed his finger and caught a glimpse of an old polaroid. it's a little bit dusty but other than that, it looks new. Ushijima reached it from his spot and managed to grab it, "here,"

he hands it to Yamagata as he instantly recovered from his recent pain and snatch it from Ushijima's hand, subtly thanking him with a grin, "why do you even need a polaroid?" Tendou asked, leaning his arm over Ushijima's shoulder with one brow up,

"pfft, for journaling of course,"

a gust of wind went through you while staring at him with a poker face, the same with Tendou with a small cat like smile. Ushijima just looked the same,

"okay," "WHAT'S WITH THE TONE??" you blinked and just knit your eyebrows, "i mean, since when you started journaling? you're not even the type of person to do something aesthetic,"

he pouted and just crosses his arms, "so what? that doesn't mean i can't do it, right? have faith in me god darn it. and honestly, my journal looks good so far," "well, fine,"

you waved your hand at him and continue going through the other section. and just like that, "hey wait!" Yamagata tailed after you.

Tendou snickered at the two and focus back on Ushijima, who's still watching the display yet again, "have you thought of what to buy wakatoshi-kun?" "i'm not sure, there's a lot of interesting stuff here," "well, you've only been in this section but okay~"

studying

"agh, why did those idiots really have to call me at this time...?"

you groaned, slowly walking through the halls with a slouched figure. tracing your fingers along the wall with a dejected look. you're suppose to sleep today.

an hour or two long sleep. it's finally the weekend which means the time for you to sleep all of your problems away. drifting into slumber with fluffy pillows and warm blankets, enjoying your dream as long as you can.

until your ringtone annoyingly rings next to your ear. you answer the call, and again greeted by the most annoying human in the planet,

"[y/n], we need you at the gym right now!"

"huh? oh fuck off Tendou, i need to sleep right now,"

"nuh uh, you can sleep later after you go to the gym,"

"why? are you, i don't know, practicing or something?"

"you have to find out. if you don't move your ass from that bed, we'll send Hayato to wake you up~"

". . ."

and now, you find yourself standing in front of the door of shiratorizawa's volleyball gym. not only that Tendou wakes you up from your sleep, you also had to WALK all the way from your dorm to the gym,

"i'm gonna add more time to their practices after this..."

sliding the door open, you expect them to be doing serves or maybe spikes.

but instead, you're seeing them—as in the 3rd years—all sitting down at the middle of the court, with books around them.

and what's even more confusing is that they somehow managed to bring a table inside. no, not the flip-able table.

literally a whole ass table.

Reon looks up from his book and notices your figure standing on the door way. he waves his hand at you, you did the same but still with a confused look.

Yamagata was next to see you as he abruptly stand up from his spot, shaking the table in the process,

"Hayato! stop shaking the table," "oops, sorry. ah, wait, [y/n]!"

that caught all of the boys attention as they look at you, "what taking you so long to arrive?" Tendou asked, a pen rested in between his upper lip and nose.

Semi smacked him in the face—earning an 'ow'—before shaking his head,

"their dorm is literally far from the gym, and why do you even proposed your idea of studying at the gym anyway?"

you make your way towards them, Reon patting the empty spot next to him. you sat down on your spot as Yamagata did the same. seemed like he was waiting for you.

Tendou rubbed his nose and pouted at Semi, "this was the best place to study anyway! it have much more room,"

"we should've gone to the cafeteria OR the LIBRARY," Semi groaned, looking back at his book before writing on it,

"pfft, the cafeteria's no fun. and i got banned from the library," Reon looks at Tendou with confusion, "well, it's not surprising,"

Tendou shrugged, "i was also banned from the library," Ushijima said, not looking up from his notes as you knit your eyebrows at that,

"you're also banned from the library? Satori, what did you and Ushijima did—" "anyways, um,"

he cut you off, fidgeting with his pen before pointing it at you, "right, you need to tutor us on this subject~!"

you blinked, looking down at the book they're studying about, "haven't the teacher covered this already?"

"well, i'm sorry, class 6. but we have no idea how this thing works. maybe only Reon, but look at Semi,"

Tendou wrapped his arm around Semi's neck, practically head locking him, "he's from class 1 and i think you should teach him about this the most," "I'll rip your fucking head off, Tendou!"

while both of them tried to strangle each other, Yamagata caught your attention next,

"and also, it won't be fun without you, y'know," Reon nodded, "and don't forget that you can't leave me alone in this,"

"oh right," "hm? what was that?" Yamagata asked. you just shake your head with a defeated smile, "nothing..."

after clearing your throat, you snatched Semi's book away before flipping through the pages,

"okay you scumbags, it's time to learn,"

oblivious enough

the birds chirped from the tree, the hallway's as loud as ever. Semi and Tendou's leaning against the window, each of them drinking apple juice and eating yakisoba bread.

it was silence between them before Semi spoke, "hey, Tendou," "yes Semi-Semi?" "y'know,"

Semi turned his head to look at Tendou as the redhead did the same, "have you, noticed the relationship between [y/n] and Yamagata lately?"

the latter made a thinking face, before nodding, "hm, seems so,"

"do you think, either one of them ever noticed about it?" Tendou shakes his head at the question, "nope, i don't think they do. in fact, they might be completely oblivious to it,"

Semi snickered, "right, like that one time..."

"[y/n], do you think my lips are dry right now?"

you look up from your clipboard, seeing Yamagata pointing his lips, "hm, nah. they're fine, but if you want, i can but on some lip balm,"

his eyes sparkled at that as he nodded his head with excitement, "sure!" you walk towards your bag with Yamagata following you. opening the zipper and search inside it, you pull out your lip balm,

"here, hold still," you put a hand on his cheek while the other applies lip balm onto his lips. it was a slow process but he managed to not move at all while making eye contact with you.

once you finished applying, he pop his lips before humming, "mn, cherry," "let me know if you need anything else,"

he nodded with now flushed cheeks as he smile at you. you did the same, gently patting his arm.

from a distance, Shirabu looks at them with a disgusted look, "ugh, can't they be more subtle about it,"

Kawanishi shrugged, "just let them be,"

"how can i redo my memory? i don't need to see that this early," "well, what if it was us?" "i would be twice as grossed, i can put my own lip balm," "hm yeah, you're right, i honestly would be like that too," "good,"

"haha yeah, now that i think about it, they do it all the time right?" Tendou nodded at Semi's statement before hearing the all too familiar voice just a few meters away from them,

"[y/n]!"

you turned your head around while still sipping your drink. Yamagata stood in front of you, holding out his visibly crumpled necktie with a small smile,

"my necktie!" "ah again? whatever," you give your drink to him as he hold it for you.

grabbing the necktie from his hand, looping it around his collar shirt and started tying it with a concentrated look,

"i can't say that it'll be clean when i finished tying it," "it's okay! that's why i'm asking you to do it, messy or not, at least i have it on," "hm, yeah,"

after you finished tying it and patting it a little, Yamagata hugged you, "thank you!" "yeah, you're welcome,"

the aura literally radiates on the slightly crowded hallway as some of the students who passed you talked among themselves.

Semi and Tendou stared at you two, expressionless eyes but with a small smile,

'ah, right,'

Tendou sighed, intertwining his fingers together and lifting it up to his cheeks, "ah, young love~"

"we're all the same age,"

"young love~"

bonus; reliable kouhai

lifeless.

is what goshiki would say when he took a few glances at you from his book. you promised to tutor him about this subject he's struggling on. but didn't really expect to see your slouched form walking inside the library.

he's not even sure if you even hear anything you're saying right now, "get a shovel and two-" your head hit the table, creating a loud sound and catching the attention of almost everyone inside the library,

"[y/n]-senpai, um, are you okay??" you groaned and rapidly blink your eyes, covering your forehead, "yeah, 'm just..."

a yawn escaped from your mouth before you can even finish your sentence, "...tired. those stupid senpais of yours need help tutoring too even tho being grown ass men,"

goshiki closes his book and creating a small 'thump', snapping you out from your mind,

"well, if that so then you didn't have to come, you could've just tell me and i would be fine with it!" your hoarse laugh caught him off guard as a shade of red ran across his cheeks, "i can't break a promise, tsutomu. why do you even think i agree on tutoring you?"

"uh, cause you want to help me with my studies?" "one of it, and cause i enjoy tutoring you," he can feel his cheeks heating up more when you made eye contact with him, a small smile laced upon your face,

"and honestly, you're smarter than i thought. class 4 right? that's cool," he looked away, trying to calm his nerves down, "t-thanks! a lot of people thought i was in a lower class, so i, i appreciate it,"

goshiki took a peek at you, now burying your face onto your face, "also, senpai," "hm?"

"you should take a nap for now, i think i can start understanding this formula," you slightly look up at him, "you sure? i was prolly talking craps just now," "yeah! your health is more important anyway,"

you hum, offering him a warm smile, "thanks, i know i can count on you," you rested onto your side and close your eyes. lips slightly parted and just like that, you're deep in your dreams.

he pursed his lips, slowly leaning against the table to look at your face. it's calm, peaceful and beautiful, kissable lips. he wonder if he could lean in a little closer until you two-

goshiki instantly jolted up and hit himself on the head, face's covered in the color red, 'no! don't think about that, curse you Tendou-San for introducing me to those mangas...'

Tendou's faces ran across his mind as he grunted,

'why're they so pretty??'

[pansexualseaanimals]

Chapter 9 Sneak Peeks ‘Cause You Deserve It

Hey guess what? I’m still alive! I haven’t been writing for a while because these past few chapters have kind of been making me face things about my own life that I hadn’t given due time to address and manage (especially Pyxis and Rory’s thoughts on how parents can “love you but not want you”, and stuff said by multiple people in chapter 9, the one I’m still writing) so I kinda just dealt with those thoughts and came to conclusions and stuff in my own mind while I endlessly binged anime and video games. Not that I don’t normally do that, mind you, but I did it a lot more and not much else.

Luckily, I live in a wonderful gorgeous apartment in my favorite town I’ve ever lived in (the only town I’ve ever called home, in fact! At least, in this world!) and it’s super comfortable and I live with my best friend who is way too good of a roommate if I must be frank - I’d rather be Columbia, honestly - and life has been relatively super good, so like. Don’t worry! I’m so happy in my life the way it is! I’m back home in the Midwest, surrounded by beauty and friends who’ve helped me out more than I could ever ask (but I did, let’s not lie lol) and... I still have depression and I’m working on that and planning on getting a doctor soon, but... I’m starting new good habits, getting into things I’ve been wanting to try, and yeah... I’m rambling at this point so I’ll make the rest quick.

I wanted to give sneak peeks because it’s been SO LONG and I don’t know how many people really actually read this thing? Like, “I’m excited that there’s a new chapter” kind of peeps? But no matter how few there are, you guys all deserve something nice, and this was all I could think of. Instead of just posting one scene, I’ll post a few clips from a bunch of scenes. Everything is subject to change as I keep writing, so it might not match the finished product, but... That just means you guys are extra-special! Heehee! ^__^ 

Excerpts are below the read-more cut. Hope it’s enjoyable! 

\/\/\/\/\/

"Oh, I've got twenty-five coins for the sea show clanking in the backseat, whoa-oh. I've got thirty-two seashells lined up in a row..." Caurel happily sang as she covered the turquoise side in pink, pausing and hiding in a corner when she noticed Zebra rising out of the spawn pool. The younger Inkling, hesitant, flung her brush wildly to cover the pink ink and swam forward, repeating the process every few feet. When she dropped down to the valley, she triggered another Ink Mine, this time getting away just quickly enough.

  "Not falling for that again," they sighed... right before Caurel popped out of her corner and slashed her brush at her, sending her floating right back to the spawn point. Unable to keep from giggling, Caurel re-inked the entrance ramp and climbed up to the higher level, brushing quickly down the alley as Zebra respawned again.

  "And I'll swim, swim, swim, to my darling Martha... And let her lay me down in the bay where the warm winds blow~"

  "Are we singing the same song?" Penny shouted from the audience, loud enough to be heard over the stage music.

"'Martha's Bay' by the Seagulls?" Caurel shouted back for confirmation.

"I knew it! Ahhh, I love you!"

"I love you, too, Butterfly!"

"Boooo!" Rocky shouted as he took out Thresher. "Get a room!"

  "But their love for each other is like our love," Ankyr said with a wink.

"You really are a sea turtle."

  "Hey, only Pyxis can call me-" SPLASH! Ankyr fell prey to Bonnet's Heavy Splatling.

"FOR ANKYR!" Rocky jumped up and flung his roller down before rolling toward Bonnet - and getting caught in a freshly thrown Splash Wall.

  "I love it when he does that," Tiger squeaked.

\/\/\/\/\/

"What took you so long? Why did you trade Ankyr for these randos?"

"Rocky," Caurel sighed. "They're the friends we were supposed to meet today, remember?"

"Oh..."

"Guys, this is Rocky, our squad's leader," Pyxis laughed.

  "Nice to meet you," Carina said, stepping forward to shake Rocky's hand. "Don't worry, my 'boyfriend' will be back soon."

  "'BOYFRIEND'?" The entire crowd turned their attention to the charismatic newcomer.

  "It's just an inside joke," Pyxis hastily assured them. "You'd just have to be there."

"Yeah, he kind of saved me a lot of hassle," Carina shrugged.

  "My Sunshine has inside jokes with people I don't know," Moises thought out loud. "Not sure how I feel about this..."

"Well, you know us now," Hans piped up. "She's Carina, I'm Hans, this here is Shera, and the rude guy is Cygnus."

"I haven't said anything rude yet!"

"We all know you will," Shera said as she scooched over to Abbey. "So, what's your name?"

"I'm aromantic," Abbey said between sips of coffee. Their friends howled with laughter in the background.

"Aw, that's too bad... Are you... asexual, too?"

"They're not sex-repulsed, if that's what you mean," Pyxis jumped in. "That's not what asexual means, though."

"Sweet little Pyxis," Cygnus chuckled, patting his friend on the head. "Always here to educate her friends."

"...You mean their friends," Rocky corrected.

  "What? No. You too? Are all Squids okay with the whole fluid-gender thing?"

"You didn't even last five minutes," Hans sighed, covering his face with his palm.

  "Look, she was born with lady-parts, am I wrong or am I right?"

"Here's what I know," Rocky began slowly, stepping closer to the Octoling and staring him in the eye. "This particular group of friends respects what people choose to call themselves. When you're with us, you refer to Pyxis as they/them. If you can't handle that, you can swim back home."

"ROCKY!" Caurel grabbed her brother's arm and yanked him down to sit beside her. "They're our guests!"

"And Pyxis is family," he bit back. "Which is more important to you?"

"Wow, they really worship you around here," Cygnus laughed, turning to leave. "Do they even really know you? Your history? What have you been telling them?"

"Cygnus, get back here and act your age," Carina commanded.

"No thanks, Your Majesty."

  The crowd was hushed for some time, the noises of the audience around them and the battle down below, permeating their silent space.

  "Sorry about that," Carina finally spoke up. "I told him to behave himself. But he's... how do you say... stuck in his ways."

"He's only twenty-two," Shera rolled her eyes. "He's just a stubborn pufferfish."

"You okay, honey?" Hans asked Pyxis, who was too busy processing their own thoughts to realize they should answer.

"...I'm family?"

\/\/\/\/\/

And now, here’s Shera going goo-goo over more Inklings

---

“Vanilla? Is that a brand, or...?"

"Oh no, I just mean, the original one."

"So... Vanilla means original?"

"The basic form of something, yes. Regular. It's just slang."

"Who's the person with the gatling?"

"Ah, that's Pixie with the Zink Mini Splatling. Disruptor and Bubbler."

"Pixie..." Shera turned to where Pyxis was seated. "PIXIE!"

  "Yes?"

"I can never call you Pixie again! That's the name of my new future wife!" Ecto and Thresher couldn't help but laugh.

"...Glad to hear it?"

"She's actually dating Ty right now," Tandy pointed out. "Sorry, you'll have to look elsewhere."

"Darn."

"Great Overseer," Carina sighed. "Why are you so thirsty today?"

"I dunno, Queenie," Shera shrugged and shook her head. "Look. I had no idea Squidlings could be so attractive, okay?"

"I mean, she's not wrong," Hans laughed. "The first time I saw Ankyr..."

"YOU CAN DO IT, GUYS!" Pyxis suddenly stood up and cheered as loud as they could.

\/\/\/\/\/

And now for some good parents! Specifically, Ecto’s dads. Well, one of them. The other is busy playing Pokémon with Caurel and co. in the living room at this moment. They haven’t been mentioned much so far, but they’re great friends with the Waters (Waters’? Waterss?) ever since all the families met, and Rocky and Caurel hang out with them a lot.

---

"That's because you can look back on the past, apply your knowledge of the present, and cook up a better future for yourself. A new happiness. Again, one that won't last forever. And maybe it's not perfect. Maybe you burn your tongue. Maybe you let it go cold without realizing. But there'll always be more soup."

"You just have an answer for everything, don't you?" Rocky scoffed, throwing more tomatoes into the pot.

  "Not quite. There's one thing I've always wondered."

"The secret of life?"

"Nah, figured that out in college."

"What? No. Shut up." The two shared a laugh. Mister Plasma reduced the burner's heat and placed a lid on the pot, before turning to Rocky.

  "Back when you were in Coral Reef's boat... Why didn't you say anything?"

  "Well..." Rocky took a moment to continue. "Figured there wasn't any point, I guess. Can't help it if the person you have a crush on is gay. Like, if Pop was het, you wouldn't have the love of your life."

"Well I'm glad that's not the case," he said with a short laugh, before frowning and patting Rocky on the head. "Sorry, hon."

"It's fine. That's one of those 'just move on' parts in life. So I did."

"Ah..."

"Happened with Ankyr, too. But that was back when we were super tiny. Like.. That's a different kind of love. Baby love, I guess. But then again, we thought Ankyr was a girl back then. That was easier to move on from."

  "You just can't catch a break," Dad laughed. "Anyone on your mind these days?" Rocky thought a while before answering.

"I... Not really. I don't know, Oji. Guess I'm kind of giving up for now. I just wanna cook and take care of the ocean. Those are my loves. Well, I'll never get tired of Turf War either. I guess... that's it."

"And that's A-okay," the adult Inkling nodded, before yelling "COME AND GET IT!" There was a multitude of shuffling sounds from the living room as the young adults made their way to the kitchen. "Come see us any time," he said again. "We'll always be here for you."

\/\/\/\/\/

And that’s all I have for you here today, I wanna stop myself before I give away more than I might have given away... But yeah, working on that slowly but surely now. I was already about halfway-ish done with the chapter before I fell off, I think? Depends if I think of adding any more scenes than what’s already planned. So, look forward to that soon! Catch you on the flip side~

P.S.: As a reminder, this is the second-to-last chapter I’m writing; after 10 is over, we’ll be moving on to the second book in the series, which will hopefully have much better pacing and will definitely be a lot different, but still be about the lives of Pyxis, Ankyr, and their loved ones - that will never change. Some of your favorite characters might not be around as much in book 2, some might get a spotlight where they hadn’t before, and of course we’ll meet lots of new friends, and you’ll just have to decide what you think of each of them. :3 But I hope you have fun. Regardless of anything, thanks for reading. If you’ve read any of Look Alive, Sunshine, you have my Heart Containers, and my eternal gratitude. Please let me know what you think, if you’ve got the time. Love & hugs!

[ceciliavonwrites]

Clownmom and Sonboy

"Sweetie?" Harley Quinn lifted one of her ratty couch's throw pillows. It was too small to hide anyone under, but she had to be sure. She'd only gotten home a few minutes ago. "Where are you?"

She got down on her knees to check under the couch. She was pretty sure that he hadn't gone out; the front door was still locked when she got home.

That, and she knew by now how he functioned. Shadow had a lot of trouble expressing emotion. He internalized things. Multiple times he had chosen to hide and nurse his own pain alone (sometimes literally, with his headaches) rather than let her know that he was struggling.

In theory, with time and with patience, he would emerge on his own. Harley, very worried and tearing apart her living room, was not currently capable of patience.

Now she marched into her bedroom, leaving the living room behind her in more disarray than it had started with. Her room was equally messy, even though half of her things were still in boxes. "Darn it, where is he?" She said to no one in particular. "He'd been doing so well lately, too..."

She heard a noise. Harley stopped, managing not to make any sound for a moment. She glanced around the room, trying to figure out where it came from.

There it was again. A soft shuffling, from under the middle of her bed.

She dropped to the floor, so low that her cheek squished against the carpet.

There he was. A little black and red ball between some of her boxes of stuff, curled up so tight she couldn't see anything but the big red stripe on his head and his ears. He was so small and his little ears were drooping and sad.... She wanted to dive in, drag him out, and hug the shit out of him.

Okay, probably shouldn't do that. She took a deep breath. Stay calm, Harleen. Don't come on too strong. Use that big smart talky psychiatrist brain you have.

"Sweetie?" She said gently. "I can see you. What's wrong?"

He didn't move. Harley waited, as hard as that was.

Then slowly the stripe moved backwards, and Shadow's eyes came into view. The whites of his eyes glowed just slightly, making them very visible in the darkness underneath. In her opinion, he was trying too hard to keep whatever he was feeling from showing on his face.

"Nothing," he said quietly.

"Nothin'? Well...okay." Arguing just made him defensive. "Come on out from under the bed, though? It's almost dinner time. Help me make mac n' cheese."

Shadow glanced down, thinking. He did like macaroni and cheese. "Hm." He uncurled some more, pushing out his limbs and jostling the boxes next to him; it was an awkward motion in such a small space. "Alright."

Harley lifted her head off the floor and scooched back to give him room. It took Shadow some ungraceful army-crawling and squirming to get his head to pop out from under the bed. She offered him a hand to stand up and he ignored it, getting up on his own.

"I'll get the pot and the water," Harley said, "if you set the table."

Shadow nodded, and trailed after her into the kitchen.

So Harley got the mac n cheese box and the pot and the water in the pot. Shadow helped, obeying whenever she asked for something without any enthusiasm. Not that he was normally enthusiastic about chores, but the lack thereof was usually active, scowling, you-can't-make-me rebellion.

Shadow trudged across the kitchen to her side. He handed her a requested big spoon without so much as looking up.

"Thanks, sweetie." With the un-spooned hand, Harley ruffled the bristly fur on his head.

He let her do it in silence.

She lifted her hand and uneasily returned to the stove. He usually hates that.

Oh, she really REALLY wanted to just smother him in cuddles and make him stop being so gloomy and quiet, but that wouldn't actually help. She would know, she's tried. Gotta be patient. He has to initiate the conversation.

She sprinkled some salt into the water to make it boil faster. "So. It's gonna take a bit for the water to boil." Just a little. A pinch. A teaspoon. Half the shaker.

Shadow hadn't moved away, and didn't now. His quills brushed against her leg. "I can't see it from down here," he said.

"Well...no?" What did that mean? Did he want to be picked up? She LOVED holding him. He, less so. "You want up?"

Shadow, staring at the floor, bobbed his head in a tiny nod. Her psychiatrist brain and her holding-cute-things brain, for once, were in perfect agreement. He's seeking comfort. It's good that he feels secure enough to do that.

Harley knelt, and scooped him up, supporting him under his legs with one arm, like she would a baby. Shadow cooperated, leaning against her with his head over one of her shoulders.

She stood up, bouncing him once to adjust him. He still couldn't see the pot, but she suspected that wasn't really the point.

Okay. She's gotten him here. Harley decided to chance it. "How're you doin'?"

It was a moment before Shadow tried to answer. "I'm..." He paused. "I don't know."

She pat him on the back. "That's okay." It was a step. Getting away from complete denial of his negative feelings, which was good.

Still, it means more waiting. That wasn't too out of the ordinary for him.

She passed the time walking around the kitchen and straightening up some of the ever-present mess on the counter, occasionally adjusting Shadow on her arm. It wasn't too long; the water boiled shockingly fast for a crappy apartment stove (the small mound of salt at the bottom of the pot might've helped).

Harley hummed while stirring the boiling noodles. It wasn't any tune in particular. She just didn't like the quiet.

Shadow took a breath. "Doctor...I remembered more about that girl." He said quietly. "Maria."

Oh. That kid he saw get shot. She held him a little tighter. "Yeah?"

"She was... We were friends." He paused. "Last night I received a memory of her and I reading together. This morning I saw us playing hide and seek."

Harley thought about this for a moment. He hadn't had any idea who she was, just that her name was Maria and she had been shot. Unfortunate, and probably disturbing (Harley herself was blasé about violence at this point), but nothing personal. Now that was changing.

"How does that make you feel?" she asked.

"It hurts. She felt...important." He sounded like he was having trouble talking. "They were...happy memories. I should be happy. I don't...know why I..."

He trailed off, and didn't finish the sentence.

Harley set down the stirring spoon on the counter, and pat him on his prickly back. "I think you're sad because now you know she was your friend." She said. "Like, you're discovering that you and her both had some good times together. But you're also aware that she died sometime after that. So it's like now you know that you've lost something, you know?"

Shadow's voice broke. "Oh."

He buried his face into her shoulder. Harley abandoned the spoon and wrapped her arms around him.

The only sounds in the kitchen were the bubbling of the boiling water, and Shadow's quiet, muffled attempts not to cry.

Harley teared up. Broke her heart, every time. "It's okay, hun," she said, gently rocking him back and forth. "Cryin' helps. Honest it does." She turned in place; if she couldn't do anything else she at least wanted to be moving. "Balances your brain chemistry and stuff. It's healthy."

He made a noise into her shoulder. "Mnh..."

Harley stopped turning in place, her back to the stove. "I know, it's not fun. I know. I'm sorry. But I'm proud of you!" Harley snuggled him. "You're doing it. Meeting your memories and your feelings head-on. Doing the not-fun thing."

She could hear and feel him breathe in, the lungs in his little body pushing out against her embrace.

"...I miss her." His voice was almost steady. He paused before speaking again. "It shouldn't hurt this much."

It's working! He's talking! Harley contained her excitement, and asked, "Why do you say that?"

"I should be stronger."

"Strong?" Harley played dumb for a moment. "You can lift a bus over your head. You're plenty strong."

"Not...that."

She waited for him to elaborate. It took a few minutes for him to speak again.

"I hate that new memories can...do this to me." He said slowly. "Knock me down."

"Yeah?"

"I am the ultimate lifeform." He spoke ruefully. "And I end up hurt by something as intangible as my own memories."

Oof, the implications there. If that was a big part of his thinking... "Well, heck, anybody would be rattled by a vision of somebody dyin' popping into their heads. An' if they aren't," she added, "all they are is wayyy too used to seein' people die. That's not a strength, that just means they're fucked up. They're prolly the ones causing all that death in the first place."

She had drifted to an unpleasant subject. Harley hurriedly corrected herself. "Er, but, that ain't the point, that ain't the point. You're not like that. Make sense?"

"You are trying to say that I am not..." Shadow paused, and tentatively shaped his mouth around the unfamiliar phrase. "'Fucked up'."

"Yeah!" His formal little voice saying swears would be funny if they weren't having a serious feelings discussion right now. Actually, no, it was still funny. "Could be a lot worse. You're capable of feeling! That's more than a lotta crooks in this city can claim."

"Hm."

"And, you know, I cry all the time," Harley said matter-of-factly. "Just 'cause stuff happens and I'm emotional. Maybe I do cry more than other people. I don't really care! It helps me be peppy the rest of the time. It ain't me being weak, it's just...you know, feeling."

She softened her voice. "You're doing great, honey."

He was still and quiet for a moment. His breathing wasn't hitching anymore.

Then Shadow leaned back, pulling himself away from her shoulder. Harley adjusted her arms to keep holding him up, smiling at him. He looked tired, but calm, his eyes dry.

"...Thank you."

"No problem, sweetie." Aw, she'd probably have to stop holding him now. "Eh...do ya want down?"

He glanced aside, thinking.

Then he nestled back into her, re-resting his head on her shoulder. "In a moment."

Harley could have cried again, she was so fucking happy. Her baby trusted her enough to talk to her! And to hold him! She was bouncing. She loved him so much!!

Shadow choked. "Y-You're crushing me...!"

"Sorry!" She hastily loosened her grip. "Sorry, sorry...are you okay?"

"Y...Yes."

He caught his breath.

"Doctor?"

Shadow sounded like himself again. Phew. Harley felt a lot better. Everything was okay now. "Yeah, hun?"

"The noodles are drying out."

"What?" Shit, that's right, she had been making mac n cheese! "OH, FUCK!"

[trying-write-fanfics]

Shouji Mezo X Reader part 18 Remember

Shouji passed his exams and felt the massive burden off his shoulders. It was mostly Hagakure saving the day, but he knew his courage to face Snipe had its help. He’d gone back to the dorm with the rest of the students. Satou, Kiri, Mina, Kaminari, and Sero were all nervous about what was going to happen with the camping trip. Other students tried to comfort them, but one student was missing. Shouji saw Urakaka watching the window, and found Midoriya and Y/n were training together outside. Being the background character he was, he changed his hand into an ear to listen. He pretended to watch the students comfort the failures, but was listening to the window.

 “You’re trying to be more like Bakugo with a move like that. Your landing technique might shatter your ankles.” Y/n told him. 

“When you were running around, did you roll your ankle or anything? Did you endure it?” He asked her.

“You could no doubt, mr break your arms like a glow stick, but your running won’t be as sturdy.” Y/n told him. “When you’re launching your legs, think about the back of your thigh where it connects to your butt.”

“I’d ask you to demonstrate again, but I don’t want you to hurt yourself again.”

What?

“I’ll be fine. You’ll just have to get me back to my dorm without the class finding out.”

What! Shouji looked at the window. His sudden movement got some attention. 

“Something wrong, Shouji?” Momo asked a little quietly.

“No I was just…” his gaze went to the window as he couldn’t hear the rest. 

“She came over and Midoriya asked for some training. It’s kinda admirable how much he trains.” Momo said. “I’m sure they won’t mind if you join them.”

So she was only hiding the fact she was injured not that she was there. Does he go down there and help them out, or does he leave them to their plan of not getting caught? It would be selfish just to ruin their plan for pure fun. Midoriya came back into the dorm for a water.

“Is y/n not coming in? She probably needs a water, Midoriya.” Jiro said. “I can get her one.”

“No-no that’s fine, I got it!” 

 This kid was a terrible actor. He was too nervous to expose Y/n to the class. Mina smiled at Shouji.

“Maybe I’ll just ask her to come in! We have to tell her about the exams-“ it was a ploy!

“She’s really tired-“ Midoriya said, trying to stop Mina.

“I‘ll take this.” Shouji took the water bottle. “I wanna to talk to her.”

 The girls swooned and Urakaka had a sigh of relief. 

“I’ll go with-“ kiri said.

“You will not!” Mina tackled him. 

“You gotta give them space.” Momo whispered.

“Why?”

“Shhh.”

Shouji went outside to find Y/n waiting. She was bleeding or coughing and it didn’t seem like she had a rash, but she was wearing clothes so who knows. She was just looking straight ahead. Shouji was trying to prepare himself for what backlash she was suffering from.

“Hey.” Shouji made his presence known.

“Oh- hey Shouji what are you up to?” She asked him. 

“Midoriya told me to give this water to you since you two were training.”  He held out the water bottle. 

She didn’t even look at it.

“I’ll be fine, I didn’t do much work.” She said. “Is he coming back out here?”

“I don’t think so. But I can help you get back to your dorm, or recovery girl if there was an issue with your training.”

 “Oh I’ll be fine. We can just go back to my dorm.” She told him. 

 He realized she wasn’t even looking up at his face. Was she embarrassed to talk to him? Did she actually like him like that? It was a silly thought, but it still lingered.

“Alright.”

She was not the one to walk first. It was like she was waiting for Shouji to go, so he did, and she followed. Her footsteps were copied to his. He decided to stop and she did the same. He went back to walking and she followed. 

“How was your day?” He asked, trying to be normal for her.

“Oh you know, comfortable. Better than prison.” She said. 

 Her steps were straight but going off the course of the side walk. She was walking right into a light post. Shouji pulled her to the side, again her back was pressed up against his chest. His hand was on her hip and another one was holding her arm to provide support and make the pull wasn’t too harsh. 

“Almost ran into the pole.” He told her quickly. 

“I was gonna get out of its way in time.” She lied pretending to keep her cool.

 Her heart was racing feeling his touch. She didn’t pull herself away. 

“Uh-“

“Sorry mr hero man!” She peeled herself off of him.

 Shouji faced her. He placed one hand on her shoulder, another on her hip. The moment wasn’t dying down like though. The other hip got a hand. So many hands. Then she felt one hand move her chin up to meet his eyes. Was he gonna kiss her? Y/n’s hand went to his wrist on her shoulder. She relaxed her body to prepare herself for such a moment.

“You can’t see can you?” Shouji asked. 

Oh she was about to explode. She threw her hand to her sides.

“And?” She was angry.

“Why didn’t you say anything?” Shouji asked, removing his hands one at a time. 

“It happens here and there. I didn’t think it was a big deal.” She sighed. 

 “How long does that usually last?” 

“I’ll wake up fine.” She sighed. 

She looked so sad as she sighed. Her emotions were fighting over being disappointed or angry, but the girl knew she wasn’t entitled to what she thought was going to happen. She felt stupid she thought something like that was going to happen. She was wrong!  Her eyes didn’t sparkle anymore. It was Shouji’s confirmation that she did want something to happen between them. He’d be lying if he said he was completely if this was his goal. There was a part of his brain saying do something, and hoping she did like him even if it seemed weird and impossible before. That part was his heart. He went back and forth on those thoughts to. It just feels like he would be taking advantage of the situation.

“Here…” he said, putting one arm around her shoulder and the other held her hand. 

 Though she couldn’t see him, he saw her eyes widen and a smile lip curl at his action. Her smaller fingers wrapped around his. Maybe Shouji did like her, but in all honesty, kissing would be going too far right now. This was nice as it was, but now isn't the time for risks and impulsive decisions. This was already overwhelming, risky, a lot.

“Worried I’ll run into another pole?” Y/n asked calming the tension a bit.

“Yeah...I gotta use my big hero arms to prevent that.” He told her. “I passed my practical exam today.”

“That’s good Shouji, was it scary to verse Snipe? I’d shit my pants if I had to.” She told him. 

“Yeah, but Hagakure figured out what to do so I created a division.” He told her. 

“Resourceful!” Y/n shimmied her shoulders. 

 She kept talking, keeping their tension light, relaxing and fun. As Shouji looked down at the blind girl he confirmed he too liked her. She had a need to be tough and prove herself and though it could get annoying that she refuses help, it was what drew him closer to her. He liked how her fingers felt in his hand, or how his arm draped over her shoulders. And honestly she was beautiful. Yeah she was conventionally pretty, but to him she was beautiful inside and out. She stood up when her friends were rude. She had this certain magic that she could just make room for herself in your life and you would want her to stay. She rubbed his thumb over his knuckles. 

 They made it to the dorm, but their time together did not end. He was invited in. She asked for his help to pick out some pajamas from her drawer. He handed them to her and he waited outside. She invited him back in again. At first they were just casually talking about class and food they liked. Their feelings began to heat up some more again. They both found themselves laying in her bed, facing each other. They were still talking and laughing. Y/n’s eyelids were indicating she was actually tired as they looked heavy, fighting to stay open. Probably from training Midoriya.

“I think when I’m an old lady I’m just gonna have a million cats and too many pillows on my ugly floral couches.” She yawned. 

 Shouji has completely forgotten what they were talking about. He was just in bliss listening to her talk about random stuff. He decided to take a risk, not a kissing risk, but a romantic risk. He took his arm and brought Y/n into an embrace. There was no rejection in her body language. In face she curled her body more into Shouji’s chest. She used his arm as a pillow and finally shut her tired eyes. She had talked herself to sleep it seemed. He brushed her hair out of her face to see her sleeping visage better. It was that easy, huh? 

 “You know...someone as rock hard as you...you would think you’d be… too hard to….”she yawned. “...but you’re actually pretty nice to…”

His whole life he was used to being scary. He had a scary face, a scary body. Words were constantly spoken behind his back. He told himself that this was fine. But this...with Y/n was better. He was wanted, and she wanted to listen to what he had to say whether it pissed her off or not. She had one hand on his chest. His eyes went to the clock of the room. He had ten minutes before curfew.

“I gotta go.” He told her.

“Don’t let big mean Aizawa catch you.” She yawned.

 Shouji pulled a blanket over her shoulders and then ran out the door. She would at least get a good night sleep, since she went to bed so darn early. He made it to the dorm in record time, but that didn’t not save him from some of his classmates staying up waiting for his arrival. His mind was still jumbled from the events in Y/n’s dorm.

“You were gone a long time Shouji.” Mina said, pretending to act casual.

“Is there anything you wanna tell us?” Momo asked while sipping tea.

“Did you two bang?” Kaminari asked.

“I told you not to ask that!” Jirou kicked him.

“Not much happened.” He lied.

“Haning out at someone of the opposite sex’s dorm so close to curfew-’ Iida popped out from behind the couch yelling.

“But I made it on time, so there’s nothing to worry about.” Shouji pointed at the clock.

Gottem!

“I mean, you could do something juicy before curfew.” Mina said.

FUCK!

“She mostly told me about how she wanted to be  a cat lady.” Shouji said, not lying.

“I don’t know if that’s enough to satisfy us. Why don’t we invite her shopping with us tomorrow?’ Mina asked.

“Okay.”

 Shouji had his own reasons not to be so vocal about whatever this was. One, he wasn’t even a hundred percent sure he liked her, nor was he knowledgeable about dating. Two he didn’t want to get teased. Yeah, feeling like a background character does suck, but he was not ready to make a dramatic leep. 3 Y/n may not even like him back. Yeah back there she did, but it might be because she doesn’t know how to repay him. She’s rich so she would feel the need to buy him things, but knows it wouldn;t work on Shouji, and he’s a hero so he wasn’t gonna take cold hard cash. She couldn’t even see him today, maybe she was just caught up in the moment. He wasn’t worried about Y/n keeping whatever this was a secret. It would look bad if she was flirting with a student…right?

[juliussneezerfics]

Blood Red Lilies and Baby Blue Cornflowers: Chapter 10 - Weird

After the confrontation between him and Italy, Germany must attend a meeting where Italy will be present.

Ao3

*******

Germany sighed into the mirror. He was in a navy suit, a white button up shirt, and a matching navy tie. He knew that if Italy were here, he would try to convince him to perhaps add a little more color to his ensemble. Maybe wear a patterned tie. He felt a pang in his heart. So today was the day. Germany coughed into his elbow, turning away from the mirror. He double checked that his suitcase was on the desk. He knew everything was in there. He’d already checked twice. Once last night, once this morning. He usually just checked once the day that he left. He was organized enough to know where everything was. But he was one to fidget around and complete tasks that didn’t need to be done when he was nervous.

And this was the most nervous he’d been in a long time. 

He buttoned up the navy-blue suit jacket, pulling his suitcase off the desk. His feet fell heavily down the stairs as he paced down to the ground floor. There he found his older brother, waiting expectantly for him.

“What took you so long?” Prussia asked. Despite the teasing lilt to his voice, his face betrayed anxiety.

Germany peered over at Prussia. He knew his brother’s anxiety was on his behalf. "Sorry.”

“You ready for the meeting?” He asked, pushing open the front door.

Germany stepped out, peering up at the cloudy sky. “Probably.”

“Whatever happens happens.” Prussia said nonchalantly, unlocking the doors to his car.

 “Easy for you to say.”

“Perhaps.” Prussia opened the driver’s side door. “Either way, I’m going to have to put up with your complaining whenever we get home, so… who’s really having the worse time here?”

Germany buckled his seat belt, staring at Prussia with a harrowing glare.

 “Too soon?”

“You could say that.” Germany grunted.

 “Right. I’ll give it a couple months.”

Germany remained silent as Prussia backed out of the driveway.

 “Several?”

Germany didn’t dignify Prussia with a response.

 “A year?”

 “Gilbert?”

“Yes?” Prussia started his car down the road.

 "Stop talking.”

Prussia shrugged as his car gained speed. “That’s fair.”

The two remained silent as Prussia leaned forward, taking immediate control of the aux chord. Germany was not surprised in the slightest as the first thing to come up was some pop song from the early nineties that he barely recognized. Prussia’s playlist was a terrible mix of fast classic, 80’s and 90’s pop, some of his favorite soundtracks, rock and roll and, surprisingly, a hint of Celine Dion. Somehow, for his disaster of a brother, it was like the perfect soundtrack to describe him as a person.

They pulled up to the building that was supposed to house the international conference. It was at Sweden’s place this year. Germany liked Sweden okay, he supposed. It wasn’t like he knew him too well, but he supposed the two got along. At social gatherings, they often found peace with each other as they stood by the punch bowl, not talking, relaxing in their mutual silence.

“You have any presentations you’re supposed to do, West?” Prussia asked, unbuckling his seat belt. He looked in the rearview mirror, preening.

“Not today.” Germany sighed, also unbuckling. He reached down at his feet and grabbed his laptop bag. “Just keeping things in order as usual, I suppose.”

The two walked silently side-by-side, ignoring the attention that Germany was getting. Germany supposed that the attention Prussia got was similar to how the siblings of many celebrities got attention. There wasn’t much going on in the news cycles about them usually, but occasionally something would pop up. The teens of the world, however, were quite enamored with Prussia. His Instagram had almost as many followers as Germany’s, and he was still often stopped in the streets for pictures.

Prussia pretended to act annoyed, but Germany knew that he was relieved to have a following. Besides. However much he tried to hide it, Germany knew Prussia loved his fans as much as they loved him.

They stepped into the conference room, setting their stuff down in front of their seats. Everybody else was standing in small groups, chatting idly as they waited for the meeting to finally begin. Surprisingly, Italy, Spain, Romano, and Belgium were already grouped together.

Italy glanced up with an unreadable expression, caught Germany’s eye, and turned back to the debate Spain and Belgium seemed to be having.

Germany frowned to himself, reaching down and unzipping the pocket in his bag where he kept his notebook.

“He’ll come around.” Prussia muttered as he passed Germany to the section of the table where the micronations usually sat. “Don’t worry about it.”

Germany just grunted. He set his notebook on the table as Prussia walked away, lining up three pens beside each other. Well, there was no excuse anymore. He had to talk to people. Like a lone child in a cafeteria, he looked around at the various groups for someone to talk to. He underestimated just how much her relied on Italy dragging him around to socialize. He caught Japan’s eye as he was beginning to lose hope. Japan’s small smile beckoned him over to where he stood with America, England, France, and Canada.

“Hi, Germany! It’s good to see you here.” Canada greeted pleasantly. His left hand was wrapped around a red Tim Horton’s cup, the other deep in his pocket.

“Good to be here.” Germany responded as he stopped.

“How are your dogs doing?” Canada asked.

Germany smiled slightly. “As well as ever."

What had originally started as part of a punishment led to an unlikely friendship between Germany and Canada. It was a slightly distant one, with Canada sending Germany funny dog-related jokes and memes he happened to find on Instagram. They didn’t exchange many words outside of the subject of dogs and pets, but they found a common ground.

“We’re going to need to schedule a visit or something, soon.” Canada grinned. “Kuma’s missed them a lot.”

France shook his head distastefully. “I could never understand dog people. Cats are superior.”

“Really?” England asked, an eyebrow raised. “At least dogs actually care about you. You could just keel over dead one day and your cat likely would only notice when his food finally ran out.”

“You’re similar to a cat in that regard, England. Distant.” France said dryly. “Perhaps if you would accept my dinner invitation sometime, that would change.”

“Nice try, Frog.”

America shook his head, rolling his eyes. “You guys are so weird. England, you two are literally engaged. Like, to be married. Little late to turn down that date.”

Germany blinked. “What?” Wait, were the two even dating?

France raised his eyebrows. “You didn’t know?”

Germany was unsure how to respond.

“We’re engaged.” England raised his left hand with a slight smile, displaying a plain silver band. “Recently, albeit, but I thought you knew!”

Germany let out a rare smile. “Congratulations!” Germany reached forward and shook their hands. “Since when?”

“About a month ago.” France said with a smile. “Dinner with candlelight, roses on the table… didn’t know he had it in him.”

“Physically pained me.” England grimaced. “It was all so… so… French.”

“Oh, stop it, England.” France smiled at his fiancé. “We were walking in the moonlight on a bridge… the breeze was blowing… and he got down on one knee, and he said-”

“Okay, that’s enough detail, there.” England said. “So, yes. We’re engaged now.”

Germany nodded, still processing. “I’ve got to confess, this seems sudden.”

“Really?” America asked with a raised brow. He traded a glance with Canada.

“Well I mean…” Germany cleared his throat uncomfortably. “Were you two in a relationship?”

France and England looked at each other, each with slight smiles on their faces.

France sighed. “That’s so you, Germany. Yes, we are in a relationship. We have been since the 1960’s!”

Germany blinked stupidly. “Wait, wait, wait. Did anyone else know?”

“Well, I mean, we never made it official…” England shrugged.

America scoffed. “You two made it official that time you got drunk, pulled France into your lap, and kissed the hell out of him.”

“That’s enough out of you!” England chastised, beet red.

Again, Germany blinked. That was about the last thing he could imagine prim, proper England doing. Regardless, he didn’t let his disbelief show. “Congratulations. Forgive me, but I’m surprised your governments even allowed it.”

“About that…” France sheepishly rubbed the back of his head.

“They… don’t know?”

Canada grimaced. “No. Technically, no.”

England shrugged. “Nothing wrong with a little rebellion, I say. When it is the proper time.”

“Oh, now there’s nothing wrong with rebellion.” America deadpanned.

Germany, glancing at a clock on the wall, noticed the time. “It’s about time to start the meeting.”

“Thank goodness.” Canada muttered. “It was about to get pretty darn awkward in here.”

Germany turned away from the group. “Everyone, please grab a seat. It’s time to begin.”

The nations all returned to their usual seats at the table, Germany determinedly avoiding Italy’s gaze as he sat beside him. It was clear to him that Italy was not interested in talking to him. He fought the urge to confront his friend, reminding himself that Hungary had said it was best to give him some space. He suddenly wished that rather than sitting at America’s side, Japan was sitting with them. He cleared his throat after everyone had grabbed their seats at the table, all of them looking expectantly at him.

Everyone except for Italy, who seemed to be very interested in his cuticles.

“Thank you, everyone, for coming. I’m sure everyone will join me in thanking Sweden for generously hosting the meeting this year.”

There were general mutterings of gratitude around the table, Sweden nodding stoically in recognition.

“I emailed everyone the itinerary last week. I trust you all printed it out and brought it with you.”

There was a collective rustling as a few people pulled their itinerary’s out of whatever bag they kept it in. A few, like Japan, Canada, and Prussia already had theirs out. Germany couldn’t help but notice that Italy, too, bent at the waist to retrieve his. It would usually be at this point that Italy would ask if he could share Germany’s itinerary because he forgot to print his. Germany ignored the pang in his chest as he opened the cover page.

“As everyone can see, the-” His sentence was interrupted as he coughed into his hand. Everyone in the former allied powers lifted their heads, watching Germany warily.

Japan glanced up.

Italy, on the other hand, focused so hard on his itinerary that he could probably burn holes into the paper with his vision.

Germany stopped coughing. “Pardon me.” And he finally began the meeting.

Following the meeting, no one was really in a rush to part from each other. Given how busy the nations were in their day-to-day lives, many of them didn’t end up seeing each other that often. It took determination to get together with a fellow nation. So when Denmark brought up the idea of everyone going out to a bar afterword to spend more time together, many of the nations accepted the idea with fervor.

Germany glanced over at Italy. Italy’s face was already turned to him, an unreadable expression on his face. As Italy saw Germany saw him, he immediately turned away back to whatever current conversation was going between his friends. Germany deflated slightly, packing up his things to go.

“Hey, bro, do you want to go with me and the boys tonight?” Prussia asked. “Spain and France would love the company!”

Germany avoided eye contact, shoving his notebook in his bag with far more concentration than what was required. “No, I’m feeling a little tired. I may just head home.”

Prussia nodded, his gaze turning to Italy on the other side of the room. “Come to think of it, I’m a little tired too. Wanna’ just head back?”

“You really don’t have to do this.”

“I know,” Prussia smirked. “It’s what makes me such an awesome older brother.”

“Somehow, your gloating takes away from the sincerity of your offer.”

“Is that a ‘yes’, then?” Prussia asked with a raised brow.

Germany furrowed his brow. “If you truly want to go back. If you’re doing this out of pity…”

“I’ll say goodbye to the boys and we can head out.” Prussia offered, turning to leave before Germany could protest any longer.

When they left, Germany didn’t bother to turn around. He thought he knew what he would see. But had he taken the chance, perhaps he would have seen the longing glance that followed him out the door. Perhaps he would have seen Italy take a hesitant step forward before he was able to control himself and stand back where he was. 

Perhaps he would have decided to stay after all.

[corescorner]

Charmberry Cove Chapter Two

Chapter Title: Brothers

Wordcount: 3,133

AO3

Ch1

Taglist: @unsocialchapeau @aularei @softest-emo

“Remus!” Roman yells while storming into his twins room, who is lounging in the middle of his floor drawing something and also wearing Roman's hoodie. That is exactly why he's here. “Stop stealing my clothes!” He flails his arms towards his brother in emphasis.

 “Hmm, nope” Remus says popping the 'p' and not looking up from his drawing. Roman huffs, gesturing even more frantically at the other.

 “Are you wearing my pants?”

 “Maybe.”

 “You are insufferable. What else do you have of mine?”

 “Lots of stuff.”

 Roman stares Remus down, hands on his hips waiting for him to crack. Which he doesn't because he never does it's like he's impervious to being intimidated.

 “Stop. Stealing. My. Clothes” Roman enunciates after the glaring doesn't work, and that finally gets Remus to stop ignoring Roman's protests.

 He stops drawing his head slumps towards the floor and groans. “Uuuuuuuuugh, but Rooooooo.”

 “No. No 'but Ro' me mister! We've been through this” he stomps his foot as if to drive his point home.

 Remus slowly raises his head, looking up at Roman with a pout; Roman admits that he cracks a bit at the look.

 No, he needs to stay strong in his decision darn it!

 “Too bad” Remus announces.

 Roman steps back half a step making an incredulous noise, he can't believe he almost just felt sorry for his trash goblin brother.

 “Rude, you are a rude heathen is what you are” he says crossing his arms.

 “Well I don't have many clothes of my own yet that are comfortable enough for me to wear right now, so deal with it Broman.”

 Roman falters in his resolve.

 “Fine, but start asking first” he says as he saunters to his brothers side he sits next to him on the floor.

 “We should go shopping” he decides.

 Remus continues his drawing and hums “you should tell that to Mom. Look at my drawing!” he thrusts the sketchbook at Roman, who of course takes it; they are each other’s best critics after all.

 He stares at the pencil sketch, blinking at the image. It's good? It's weird. But that is the norm for Remus.

“What am I looking at here?” He asks pointing at a jar? Of some sort on the page. “Are these eyeballs?'

“Yep! It's based on my dream last night” Remus informs, Roman nods and points to something else that might be a tree.

“What exactly is this?” He asks and Remus lights up.

“That's a hand tree, it's very grabby” he says while making slow grabby hands, smile wide showing off his neon braces in full display.

Roman recalls when they got their braces maybe under a year ago, a couple months before their twelfth birthday; the doctor said that they'll probably have to have them for a couple years.

When asked what colours they wanted Roman chose to go full rainbow for his tooth accessories, and that is how he's choosing to think of them as.

Remus yelled out in the doctor’s office that he needed his to be glow in the dark neon green and they actually had that as an option much to Remus' delight.

They annoyed Roman for the longest time, still do honestly.

Remus took a weird liking to them immediately though, he said that the feeling was 'funny' and he liked the 'aesthetic' of them, whatever that meant.

Roman just thought that they hurt and took up too much space in his mouth.

Shaking himself out of his thoughts and still staring at his brothers dream picture.

“This is one for The Wall then. Do you need to add any colour to this one?” he asks.

Remus snatches the sketch book back “yea, red!” he replies.

Roman nods, a lot of his dream pictures tend to only have red in them.

As Remus fills in the parts that need red, Roman stares at The Dream Wall. That's what they call the wall that Remus' bed is against, the wall itself is filled with pages upon pages of sketches, on all types of papers in differing colour schemes, from full coloured ones to black and white sketches. Most however only have red accents to them.

“We should go shopping today, I'll ask Patton and Looogan if they want to come with us” he smirks at his brothers now watching eyes.

“Logan too? He doesn't like shopping.”

“Mm, but he's our friend and he'd probably enjoy it nonetheless” he says as he takes out his keyboard flip phone. His first phone, Mom said that they should be able to get in touch with her and each other just in case, so they both got one two months ago for their birthday. Patton and Logan already had phones, Patton got his first one a while ago; Thomas always likes to know where his baby brother is. And Logan is very responsible so his parents didn't see why not.

“How much allowance money do you have?” Roman asks.

Remus slowly looks to him.

Roman sighs.

“You have been saving up like we said we would right?”

“Yes?” Remus says sitting up “but probably definitely not as much as you have.”

“How much do you have?”

“Maybe fifty bucks.”

Roman sighs again. “We've been saving for months, what have you been spending it on? Never mind I don't wanna know” he puts his hand over Remus' open mouth.

“We'll just go to the thrift store then” Roman decides as Remus licks his hand to make it move from his face. “Oh ew, you so did not have to slobber on me” Roman whines, Remus laughs but otherwise ignores Roman's pout.

“You say that like we weren't going to go to the thrift store to begin with.”

“Shush you! I need to text our friends!”

Remus sticks his tongue out at him, going back to adding red to his drawing.

Opening his text option he sends Patton and Logan their own texts.

 Pattycake:

-Hey Puffball, me and Rem want to go thrift shopping today, care to join us?

 Logos:

-Hey Nerd! We wanna shop wanna come along?

 Logan is the first to reply to Roman's text, he usually always is the fastest to answer; he doesn't like having backed up messages.

 Logos:

-I am sorry Roman I cannot make it today, I am otherwise engaged in an activity with my parents. Perhaps another day?

 “Pff, the little nerd is out” Roman informs Remus, he sees him shrug from the corner of his eye as Patton’s reply comes in.

  Pattycake:

-aww! that sounds like so much fun! but i cant im helping a friend move. maybe tomorrow if you wanna wait for me?

-Helping a friend move?

 -yea! ill tell you guys about it tomorrow okay? i havta go.

-Alright, have fun with that.

 “That's weird, Patton is helping his friend move?” The concept of Patton helping a friend move isn't what confuses Roman, he can see it perfectly well, Patton helps anyone he can. It's just that... Who is there to move?

“Who's moving?”

“I have no idea, but he said that he's down to do this shopping thing tomorrow, so I'll just text our nerd back and inform him of that.”

 Logos:

-You're free tomorrow right, wanna come then?

-Affirmative, that sounds adequate. I shall see you tomorrow

 For someone who is 'otherwise engaged in an activity' he sure answered that quickly.

And now that that's settled, they're going shopping tomorrow.

If they can get a ride to the next town over that is.

“I'm gonna go ask Mom if she can drive us tomorrow” Roman says, getting up and dusting himself off.

Remus ignores him being fully concentrated on the gore splattering his page his tongue caught between his teeth as he tries to get a blood puddle the right tones of red.

He leaves his brothers room to look for their mother, which was rather easy considering she's sitting at the kitchen table.

He stands in the doorway to the kitchen, looking at her work, she shuffles some papers around.

“What do you need sweetheart?” She asks without taking her eyes off of the page she's scowling at,  then sighs and puts it down. “I need a break, want some lunch? Do you know if your brother is hungry?”

He shrugs, “probably, but I came down to ask if you can drive us to the town over for some shopping tomorrow?”

She sighs as she gets some sandwiches ready, “I'm sorry My Little Prince, that's almost an hour long drive and I have to work all day tomorrow, I need to get this out to my editor by Monday.”

Roman nods “it's alright Mama, I'll figure something out.”

“Oh hey” she perks up, “I know for a fact that Thomas is doing absolutely nothing tomorrow, why don't you ask him?”

Roman's cheeks pink a bit. “Great idea Mother, I shall text Patton to ask him for us.”

She hugs him as she hands him two sandwiches, a bag of chips and two water bottles.

Roman bounds up the stairs with the food, and freezes in Remus' doorway.

“What are you doing?” He asks his twin who just so happens to be halfway out of his bedroom window, he’s backwards and upside down, his legs holding on to the windowsill.

Roman sets the food on the bed and rushes to hold Remus' ankles.

“Hanging out of the window!” Remus yells.

“Yes, I can see that but why?”

“Why not?” Remus rebuttals.

“It's dangerous to start with. You can seriously hurt yourself is why not!” He scoffs honestly, Remus really needs to stop giving Roman heart attacks, he might actually kill him with it one day from what he puts Roman through.

“That's why I have you silly!” Remus flails his arms up towards Roman as if that was the most obvious thing.

“What?” Roman asks.

“Well, you'll always be here to help me, you're The Prince, you'll always save me” he states matter of factually.

Roman's chest squeezes at his brothers pure faith in his capabilities and assurance that they'll always be there for each other.

“Okay, well take this as me saving you right now then and get inside here and away from the window, we are on the second floor you absolute heathen.”

Remus laughs out as he begins to pull himself up, but just falls back down and his laughter doubles after Roman hears a thump.

“Hey Ro? I can't get up.”

Roman stares at his brother in disbelief before his own laughter escapes him in peals.

~0~

The next day has come and Remus is excited about the days plan. Usually he doesn't care for shopping, too much waiting around and too many rules to follow. But this is with his friends and that's a whole different situation.

And fucking around in thrift stores is fun.

Jumping out of bed and pulling on Roman's hoodie that he was wearing yesterday back on is as much as he's gonna get dressed considering he slept in yesterday’s pants, so he's good for today.

Banging on Roman's door proves to be amusing for him and annoying for his twin. Roman opens the door, clothes and hair dishevelled an annoyed look across his face.

Remus waggles his eyebrows “you got someone in there Ro?”

“You just woke me up you idiot. It's too early to leave what are you doing?”

“What? No it's not, it's almost ten! Get dressed bitch. Or don't, either way” he shrugs.

“Don't let Mom hear you swear” Roman mumbles sleepily and adds “Thomas said he'd drive us after lunch.”

He pushes his way past Remus to get to the bathroom and closes the door before Remus can utter anything else.

Fine.

Logan is probably awake, he'll just bother him.

Lego:

-Hey BiTcH you comin with today yea?

-Good morning Remus, yes I am indeed going to be 'chilling' with everyone today. I informed Roman of this yesterday, did he not pass on the information?

-Sweet! Just confirming! I'm bored Roman is being boring entertain meeeeeeeeeee

-Roman is one of the least boring people I have ever been in the presence of. Though I guess that could be said for all of you. I don't know how I deal with it.

-Shuuut up you love uuus!

-Quite.

-Are you sufficiently entertained?

-why got somthin somthin to be doin over there?

-Not at this very moment I do not.

-ThEN keep talkn to me nerd, tell me nerd stuff

-Very well. What would you like to know today?

 Remus thinks on this, he and Logan do this often when Remus needs a distraction, and Logan is always glad to rattle off some knowledge, especially if he's highly fascinated by the subject matter. Logan can make anything interesting anyway, it's in the way he enunciates with hand gestures and how he explains things.

Remus can listen to nerd shit for forever if Logan was the one talking. It just calms his thoughts.

 Lego:

-Do you have a subject matter you wish to know about or would you like me to just tell you random facts?

-OH HOW ABOUT old torture methods!

 -Ah, that is actually very fascinating to look at through the ages.

-Would you like me to break it down for you or just fun facts for today?

-FuuuuuUN fACts!

-Very well. Did you know that one method was to take an elephant, getting it to slowly crush all the bones in ones limbs before inevitably crushing the person’s skull? Very babaric.

-Was that a Babar pun?

-I, what? No. It was simply a typo.

-I won't tell Paaaaatton your secrets saafe with me

They text back an forth like this for a while. Logan telling him facts on whatever Remus' mind jumps to in that moment.

Roman walks into the living room where Remus is lounging upside down on the couch with his feet up in the air.

“Is Mom gone?” He asks rubbing a towel through his wet hair.

“Ymmmhm” Remus answers he’s not really paying attention to Roman, he has the stuff Logan is sending him to read.

“You talking to Looooogan?” Roman sing songs while setting his arms on the back of the couch to lean on them, looking at Remus expectantly with his eyebrows raised.

Remus kicks him in the head.

He was literally (metaphorically) asking for it, standing in the exact right position for Remus' foot to connect to Roman's head.

“Hey!” Roman squawks, “I just took a shower I do not need your grody feet in my hair!”

“Well you shouldn't be in kicking distance now should you” he shoots at his twin.

Roman huffs, walking out of Remus' sight into the kitchen and comes back with a muffin. For both of them, well that's nice of him.

A muffin thwacks off of his forehead, making him drop his phone on to his face. His phone and the muffin are now on the floor and Roman is in the background laughing his ass off.

Okay, not nice of him then.

He throws his body to the side and flops off of the couch to grab both items. Double chocolate muffin though, score.

“Thomas will be here in an hour or so” Roman informs him.

He wiggles his eyebrows “you been talkin to Thooomas a lot lately brother dear? How scandalous.” He puts his hand to his mouth in mock shock.

Roman splutters “Ugh. Ugh, Remus. Please. He's basically Moms age. And for your information, it’s Patton that's been informing me so ha!”

“Doesn't mean you don't have a cruuuuuuush” he sings.

“Shut up. Go get dressed.”

“I am dressed.”

“You wore that yesterday!”

“Your point?”

“You. Wore that. Yes. Ter. Day.”

“You can't repeat yourself to prove a point.”

“I can if that's my whole point! Which it is cause I can not believe that I need to say it more than once to prove it!”

Remus rolls his eyes “no one caaaaaaaaares.”

“Logan would” Roman mutters.

“Give me some clothes then.”

“Wha- bu- euhhhuuuhuhh.” Roman whines out articulately.

“I'm kidding!” Remus says brightly and Roman relaxes. “I'm not changing” he says in a more serious tone and Roman deflates and whines again.

 ~

The hour-ish goes by pretty quickly, with Roman putting on where they left off from Full Metal Alchemist and about halfway through the third episode that's playing the doorbell rings.

The twins open the door to Patton’s smiling face.

“Heya guys! You ready to go shopping!” He bounces in place, giving off waves of pure happiness. Well he's extra happy today, and everyone would have noticed even if he didn't have his gift.

“Hell yea!” Remus shouts loudly as Roman locks the door behind them.

Logan is already seated in the back of Thomas' car and Remus gets in before Roman could so he can sit next to him. Patton climbs into shotgun so he can be in front with his brother.

“Hey guys” Thomas greets them as they buckle and settle in the seats.

“Thomas!” Roman crows “how's my favourite theatre teacher?”

Thomas chuckles “I'm not your teacher yet Roman, school hasn't started.”

Roman scoffs “it starts next week, we're practically there.”

Thomas starts the car and drives out of their driveway.

Its funny watching Roman's attempted flirting with Thomas, cause he so doesn't know what he's doing and Thomas obviously doesn't reciprocate so it just goes over the older man’s head every time Roman tries.

There's mischief in Thomas' eyes and Remus isn't the only one who catches it, he shares a look with Logan then glances to his brother to see his reaction, no doubt it'll be hilarious.

“Well Roman” Thomas begins and Roman perks up, “how do you even know that you'll be qualified for theatre?” He asks 'innocently'.

Patton snickers at his brother and lightly slapping his arm. “Tommy” he softly chastises.

Roman makes the loudest most offended noise Remus has ever heard him make; and they live together.

Logan smiles and Remus loudly chortles at his brother’s expense.

“I'm kidding Ro, I'm sure your audition will blow everyone’s socks off” Thomas says to calm the spluttering prince.

“I'm insulted that you even need me to audition, hasn't my whole life been enough of an audition for you?” Roman says flippantly.

“I can't play favourites Roman” Thomas says.

Patton giggles, “pun intended?” He asks.

“Of course” Thomas replies.

Roman perks up “I'm your favourite?” He asks giddily. Remus snorts, Roman elbows him.

“He just said he didn't do favourites Roman. Listen up” Logan interjects.

“Shut your boyfriend up” Roman whispers to him and he elbows Roman harder than he did to Remus.

The rest of the ride goes similarly and they make it to the other town in what seems like no time.

[bbq-hawks-wings]

*Anon* Hi Vix!! I hope all has been well :) I’m so excited that your requests are open once more. For this could I ask for a scenario with Mirio using the proposal prompt “I’ve been carrying this around for months, waiting for the right moment. And I’ll tell you: there is no right moment. So I’m just going to ask you right now.” Something like Mirio taking their gender neutral!s/o out on a magical date but everything turns out to be a disaster yet they end up having fun anyway! Thank you sm!

*_*_*_*_*_

I had so much more fun writing this than I thought I would. Enjoy!

*_*_*_*_*_

You’re amazing. Did he ever tell you that? Just kidding, he knows he has a million times but you deserve one more. How did he ever get so lucky?

The two of your were high school sweethearts, and for a while there it looked like it was going to be one of those sweet relationships that just didn’t last the change adulthood demanded after you had to go different directions for work. However, fate wouldn’t have it and the two of you wound up together again and, darn it, he was never going to let you get away again.

Romance between you was always more “sweet” than “romantic.” Your laid back personalities, his especially, kind of assured that. It was so easy to just live easier and not take everything too seriously. But this time he was determined to make it special. I mean, your time together was always special; but he really wanted to sweep you off your feet.

He had the ring - a right sparkly little number but still with as much personality as you had - and he had a plan. He had told you ahead of time he wanted to take you on a special Valentine’s Day date (a first for the two of you since the holiday was usually more trouble than it was worth the day of) and told you to dress up for a nice restaurant he was taking you to. You seemed to accept the offer easily enough without seeming suspicious, so now he just had to make sure everything happened perfectly!

First was picking you up with a surprise bouquet of flowers. The only problem was that despite all his efforts to reserve one (a dozen roses - nothing less than top tier chick flick stuff) well in advance to make sure one was available, that day the florist called ahead of time and told him that due to an issue with shipment (they suspected a tousle in the street with a villain) there were no roses at all and offered him either a full refund or an arrangement with whatever flowers they had available and a tiny box of chocolates at no extra charge. Like hell he was showing up at your door without flowers so he took the latter option. At least he could get you some chocolate.

He had bouquet in hand when he rang the doorbell, dressed to impress in his tailored suit for you. When you answered the door he was naturally smitten all over again. You looked incredible, and he was fast-forwarding in his mind to the moment he would ask you, but he couldn’t give that away just yet.

“Hello, hello, my absolute favorite-est person in the world. You’re looking fine as always!” He spread the flirty compliments on thick with a wink.

“And you look particularly fetching yourself. Are those for me?”

He presented the flowers, really just a glorified tiny assortment of daisies and other common blossoms, with a flourish and inclined his head. “They’re for you, all right, and you better like them. I had to raid an old-people’s home and beat a bunch of old ladies off with a stick to get enough of these!”

“Oh, well in THAT case I love them!” You indulged the banter as you let him inside. You set the flowers in a vase and munched on the chocolates while he gave a general rundown of everything he had planned for the evening. Not only was he taking you to a fancy dinner, but he also had tickets to a orchestral concert as well. He conveniently left out the part where he planned to pop the question in the hedge maze garden on the theater grounds as well. It was quite the night planned, and when you asked him what the occasion was he only said,

“Valentine’s Day! It’s supposed to be extra special, right?” He said it so convincingly that you dropped it and went along without question.

Then disaster struck again as you made your way to the transit for dinner when an adorable but much-too-friendly dog caught sight of you as you rounded a corner and decided to make friends. Did we mention it was a huge dog? He slobbered a lot, too. Mirio managed to put himself between you and the beast to save you but not before his jacket paid the ultimate price, covered in drool and mud and torn in a couple places. The good boy’s owner was embarrassed and apologised for him, but you both assured them it was fine though that jacket would have to pass on dinner.

“Maybe we can get you another one on our way there! There’s a shopping mall en route, right?”

“Thanks, babe, but I don’t think it’s a good idea. The trains are already packed, and that hiccup left us an even smaller window than we had. But check it out!”

Mirio slung his jacket over his shoulder and hooked it on his finger. Striking a pose, he looked like he was modeling for a magazine. “It looks intentional if I just,” he gave a flip of his hair, smoothed it back with his free hand, and wiggled his eyebrows. “Play it cool.”

It was a good giggle out of the two of you, but he was right, time was tight and cleaning up that jacket enough for even that trick to work was cutting it close. Nevertheless, you approached the restaurant just in time. Sauntering up to the maître d’ Mirio adjusted his tie while you hung onto his arm. “Table for Togata, please.”

The uncomfortable twitch in the corner of his mouth and the underlying apology in the man’s eyes made both of you waver. “I am sorry, sir. It seems that we don’t have any available tables at this time.”

“Ahaha…” Mirio gave a nervous chuckle. “What do you mean? I reserved this months ago, even got a confirmation and everything-” he was reaching for his phone to undoubtedly prove his claim, but the man held up his hand and explained.

“I don’t doubt you, sir; but it seems that someone at the last minute reserved the entire venue for the rest of the night and our manager honored it. Though I understand the immense inconvenience, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do.”

Who in the hell kind of jackass barges into one of the most sought after fine dining establishments around and decides he wants to kick out every other patron because he can… and what idiot manager would just let him?!?! This poor guy clearly looked like he was at his rope’s end about it himself and handed Mirio a business card with both hands and a bow.

“May I offer that at your nearest convenience you call this number and provide them with your reservation. We would like to extend a complimentary lunch as an apology.”

Mirio looked all kinds of miffed, but a light nudging from you calmed him down long enough to let his more heroic tendencies take over. Whoever the manager was, this guy looked pretty fed up with him too. “Thank you, sir. I’ll be sure to.”

The look of relief on his face was palpable. “The pleasure is all mine. I wish the both of you have a wonderful rest of your evening!”

“We will, thank you!” You turned and set out to go disappointed, but hoping to keep the atmosphere bright, you said over your shoulder with a grin. “Spill a glass of wine over that asshole for me, will you?”

The maître d’ didn’t give any response, but you caught how he quickly covered his mouth and averted his face as if trying not to laugh.

*_*_*_*_

“Don’t be so down, Mirio. At least you got a free lunch out of that fancy-schmancy place!”

The noise Mirio made in the back of his throat despite his failed attempt at a smile made it very clear he was still quite sore about the loss. “Yeah, but I was gonna treat you to a dinner good enough for you to brag about the rest of the year!”

You were trying to cheer him up, but even you were pretty bummed about it. You knew he was taking you somewhere nice, but you had no idea that was the place he had in mind - and the fact that he had to make the reservations so far ahead! He was doing his darndest to make this special for you, and you felt bad about it.

“Let’s just go somewhere else before the concert instead, ok? I’m sure there’s plenty of good places with seats available!”

He raised an eyebrow and gave you a look with a crooked smile. “Yeah, we’ll go get something else; but it IS Valentine’s Day. Something tells me anything nicer than a hot pot place is booked to the gills.”

“That’s fine! I like food!” You offered your best smile. He couldn’t help but reflect it back.

“Ok, then. But nowhere very messy or with a lot of grease. You dressed so nicely I don’t want your clothes getting dirty before the end of the night!”

You poked his arm that still had his jacket slung on it. “Aw, but then we’ll match!”

“Shut up!”

The two of you settled on a small Japanese-styled eatery and still managed to enjoy a great dinner together. The two of you sat at the bar and talked to the chef all the way through the meal. Mirio talked about how you two had met and how long you’d been together, and he talked about his family and wife. The man was even kind enough to give you a free dessert after hearing what had happened at your first restaurant of choice. Maybe it didn’t have a single Michelin star, but it was still great.

Now it was on to the theater.

The evening’s earlier hiccup had all but been erased from your memory as the two of you cheerily chatted on the train ride there. Yet, the atmosphere was once again broken as the train came to a halt and the conductor’s voice rang across the PA.

“Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay but we unfortunately won’t be able to stop at our destination due to a gigantic villain attack in the vicinity. We’re sorry for the inconvenience.”

Mirio groaned and threw his head back in frustration, “Come on! You’ve gotta be kidding me!” It was one thing to miss the concert he had payed for, but an attack meant he couldn’t even take you to the grounds like he planned. Literally everything he had in mind was being pulled out from under him.

You had a hard time watching him put his head in his hands at his foiled attempts. you set a hand on his shoulder and tried to console him. “Hey, we can just go home and call it a night. Just curl up with a movie and some ice cream or-”

“No!” This was it. The universe was conspiring against him, but ol’ Mirio Togata never got anywhere in life by rolling over and giving up. “I wanted this date to be special, and by golly it’s gonna be. Where do you want to go?”

The energy he showed didn’t surprise you, but the question did. You expected to just follow his lead tonight, but it looked like now the ball was in your court. “W-well, let’s see…” You hated seeing all the money he must have spent tonight go down the drain, so you wracked your brain for anything cheap and fun to do, if not free.

“Let’s go to the park.”

“The park it is!” Mirio raised a determined finger in the air despite the looks from the other passengers at his behavior. Nevertheless, he was filled with a newfound energy and the two of you made your way to the nearest park on the way back home.

And how glad he was to have taken your suggestion!

It wasn’t like you were the only couple at the park, but the air was fresh and the street lights gave off a dreamy glow in the night. Even in the middle of the park a proper rat pack style band had set up shop next to a water fountain crooning to the other guests who would stop by and slow dance to the music - just like the two of you.

“I’ve got you under my skin ~ I’ve got you~ Deep within the heart of me…~”

It was like the world around you had melted away, or at least hushed itself, for just a while and let the two of you finally enjoy each other’s company unhindered. As you danced cheek to cheek on the paved walkway you talked only loud enough for the two of you to hear.

“That theater was pretty close to the train station, right? Maybe you can call them up and get a refund after all with the villain attack and whatnot.”

“Ah, I’ll worry about it later. It’s not a big deal.”

“I know you just wanted tonight to be special.”

“Yeah, yeah I did. Would you be mad if I told you I had one more event planned for tonight?”

“Is it going to backfire on you, too?” You joked at him.

“Well…” He gave a nervous chuckle. ““I’ve been carrying this around for months, waiting for the right moment. And I’ll tell you: there is no right moment. So I’m just going to ask you right now.”

Smoothly he pulled the little ring box he’d been carrying in his pocket all night, and in one clean motion knelt on one knee and presented the ring in his hand.

“(Y/N), will you marry me?”

For all intents and purposes you really should have seen this coming, but nevertheless the question seemed to come out of thin air and catch you off guard. “Mirio…!” You held your hands to your chest in surprise.

Though it was only a couple of seconds, the pause felt like a lifetime to him, and admittedly he was sweating. “So am I 0 for 4 tonight, or- oof!”

He didn’t get a chance to finish with your arms around his neck giggling over him. “Yes! Yes, I will!”

The two of you held each other sweetly as the crown around clapped and cheered for you two. The singer of the band even joining in and saying, “It looks like this next one is dedicated to the happy couple!”

The people around began regrouping and dancing once again, and the two of you joined in. A small tap on Mirio’s shoulder caught him off guard and a hushed voice spoke up, “Congrats man, but you totally stole my thunder tonight!”

He could hear the joke in the guy’s voice, but Mirio still shrugged, “Sorry, dude. Something had to go my way tonight. Better luck next time!”

[lovelylogans]

stings and stripes

pairings: moxiety (which is new for me, I think!)

warnings: it’s too gosh darn stinkin cute. food mentions, I think that’s it?

notes: do I have a ton of prompts sitting in my drafts? yes. do I have not one but two wips? yes. am I doing this anyway? YOU BET.

I’m at a reunion right now, and one of my baby cousins noticed one of the oldest cousins has her fav animal as a tattoo, and so now my older cousin is The Coolest Ever, and I also have a plot bunny. tagging @tinysidestrashcaptain, because obviously (funnily enough this isn’t the first little sides fic I’ve written, but it’s the first I’m publishing) ON WITH THE FIC!!!

Logan’s favorite place ever was the park just down the street.

That suited Patton just fine; it just meant that whenever he deemed that his son needed some fresh air and a distraction from his latest learning obsession, he’d propose a trip to the park and Logan was out the door before Patton could say “Get your shoes on.”

Patton wasn’t entirely sure why: Logan loved libraries, schools, an apiary Patton took him to once, but he’d never puzzled out why this park was so special in Logan’s mind. Logan’s usual ideal day was one with lots of jam sandwiches and lots of books—Patton still wasn’t sure where he’d inherited that from, but as long as Logan was happy, Patton was happy.

This was one such day: Logan had been deep in researching bumblebees for the thousandth time when Patton proposed a picnic, and Logan immediately agreed.

Logan and Patton walked hand-in-hand as Logan happily told Patton about the construction of apiaries and Patton tried his best to keep the picnic basket from whacking into anyone passing on the sidewalk. As soon as they laid eyes on the park, Logan was practically vibrating until Patton let go of his hand with a chuckle and a “go on, then,” and he was off like a shot, straight to the playground, mostly ignoring the other children. Patton watched him clamber up a ladder fondly, and with only a bit of worry. Logan wasn’t very personable—not quite shy, just uninterested in people unless he especially liked or disliked them. Another reason why the park’s idolization was a mystery.

Patton scouted out a bench, and found a decent one in the shade with a good view of the park, and he settled, splitting his attention between tracking Logan and reviewing course materials for the fall. When he glanced up from a list of books for the first semester, it was to Logan bee lining straight towards him, immediately grabbing his hand.

“Papa he has a bee,” Logan said breathlessly, tugging him off the bench, and immediately dragging Patton.

“I—who?” Patton said cluelessly.

“Him.”

That narrows it down, bud, Patton thought, before he asked, “How does he have a bee?”

Logan did not deign to explain, and Patton was about to ask him to use his words when they rounded the corner of the playground and Patton saw one of the most gorgeous men ever. Patton felt his knees go weak.

He had black hair that glinted in the sun, and a number of silver piercings that did too—in his ears, his eyebrows, his lip, his nose. The silver pointy studs on the shoulders of his leather jacket did, too, and he was smiling a little, only enough that someone really looking could see—out at the playground, at the kids running around.

Logan did not have time for Patton to gawk; another tug, and they were heading straight for that beautiful man.

“Here he is,” Logan said breathlessly. “Can I see it again?”

The really offensively handsome man smiled at Patton. “You’re his grownup?”

Patton smiled—vague enough to be inclusive, and clear that he’d asked Logan to get his grownup to make sure Logan was comfortable.

“I’m his father, yes,” Patton said, before extending a hand. “Patton Kassipoeg.”

“Virgil Sanders,” the man says with a nod, before kneeling to Logan’s height, shrugging his jacket so it slipped down his shoulders, and tilting his head.

He had a bee tattoo on the side of his neck. Amongst others, Patton noticed, seeing the swirls of color down his shirt, and stop staring Patton he could be married.

“Wow,” Logan breathed, reaching forwards.

“Ask, Lo,” Patton said, and the very pretty man—Virgil—smiled at Logan.

“It’s all right,” he said, “just be gentle.”

Logan touched at his neck, tracing the outline of the bee tattoo. It was a little doodle, yellow and black striped with dashes behind, forming a little heart. Patton could only guess there was another bee below the neckline.

“Did it hurt?” Logan asked, hushed, and the man shrugged one shoulder.

“A bit,” he said honestly. “Kind of like getting a shot at the doctor’s office. I’m kind of used to it, though.”

Patton wanted to see the tattoos. He wanted to see all of the tattoos. He immediately scolded himself for leering at a park, next to his own kid.

“Papa said his hurt too,” Logan said, and Virgil lifted one studded eyebrow at him.

“You got ink?”

Patton shrugged with a smile. “Rather not take my shirt off in the park, if that’s okay with you.”

“Of course not,” Virgil said immediately. “Did you go to a studio round here?”

“Uh, Remy? Remy Spavati?”

Virgil made a noise of recognition. “I’m a tattoo artist, too,” He says. “Rem’s good. Neat linework. I’ve got a couple by him too.”

“DADDY,” a very loud little boy said, and Patton turned to see a boy—Logan’s age, he was guessing—reaching over to tug at Virgil’s leather jacket. “Show the coloring one!”

Virgil rolled his eyes. “Little brat,” he said, but his tone’s so fond it belied any of the harshness in his words. “Introduce yourself, please.”

The little boy puffed his chest out and held his hand out for Logan to shake. “Roman,” he said. Logan said his own name, and shook back with the kind of solemnity seen at business exchanges. Virgil shrugged off his leather jacket, revealing a tight purple t-shirt, and brandishing his (rather muscular) arms for Logan and Roman’s inspection.

Roman pointed proudly to one on Virgil’s forearm that Patton would wager was colored in with magic marker. “I colored that one,” he said to Logan.

“Meant for it to be just a black ink bit,” Virgil said to Patton, as Logan adjusted his glasses and looked closer. “Princey here has made it his personal coloring book.”

Roman gave his dad a toothy grin—Patton noticed a gap in his teeth.

“That’s cool,” Logan said immediately, and turned to Roman. “Wanna see something cool?”

“Yeah,” Roman enthused, and they dash off together, Patton blinking after them.

“Huh.”

“What?” Virgil asked, shrugging his jacket back on.

“It’s just,” Patton said, and shook himself. “Logan usually takes a bit to warm to people, that’s all.”

“Roman is the most extroverted person I’ve ever met,” Virgil said dryly, rising to his feet. “I really don’t know where he gets it from.”

“Logan’s going to be outreading me in two years,” Patton reassured Virgil, sticking his hands in his jean pockets so he wouldn’t do something impulsive, like reach out and touch the bee tattoo. “No idea where he got it.”

Virgil gives Patton that same little smile, the hard-to-find one. “None at all?”

“None at all,” Patton said with a sigh. “I mean, I’m a kindergarten teacher—“

“So that’s where I know the name Kassipoeg,” Virgil said, and then shook himself. “Sorry, sorry, I interrupted.”

“No, it’s okay,” Patton said, smiling. “I didn’t think I saw a Sanders on my fall list this year?”

“You didn’t,” Virgil said dryly. “I wish you did, though, you seem—“ he pauses.

Seem what? Patton wants to ask, but he clears his throat. “If he’s in Foley’s, he’s with Logan.”

Virgil let out a huff of air. “Okay, good,” he said.

Patton tried not to smile. “Yeah?”

“Yeah,” Virgil said, and looked at him sideways. “It’ll be good to have a... friend. Amongst the parents. Sometimes they get nervous about,” Virgil said, and gestured to his whole being.

“Well, I’ll put a stop to it,” Patton said reassuringly, and cleared his throat. “Um. I’ve got a pretty good bench claim over there, if you—if you’d like to join me?”

Virgil smiled, a little wider. “Yeah,” he said. “Yeah, okay.”

They’ve barely sat down for a minute before Logan and Roman come crashing out of the playground, skittering to a stop just short of the bench.

“Hey there,” Patton said. “Explore much?”

“Lots,” Roman enthused, and flopped down in the grass. Virgil nudged him gently with his boot.

“If it’s okay with you, Virgil, I have some extras in the picnic basket?” Patton said, digging through it. “If you like jelly sandwiches, that is.”

Roman’s head popped up from the grass as Logan settled primly on the ground. “I love jelly sandwiches! They’re my favorites!”

Logan turned to gape at Roman. “Mine too!”

“No way,” Roman said immediately, sitting up.

“Yes way,” Patton said, amused, handing each child a jelly sandwich. “Virgil, chicken salad, turkey and cheddar...?”

“I’ll take turkey? If you don’t mind,” he said hastily. Patton handed it over.

Patton learned a lot about Roman as they ate. He learned that Roman turned five just two months ago, that he’s going into kindergarten, that he’s seen every Disney movie ever, and he is VERY EXCITED! that Logan is going to be in his class.

“You should give Mr. Sanders your number,” Logan said, in the voice that meant he was trying to be sly, and took a bite of jelly sandwich. “So we can play together.”

Patton narrowed his eyes a little at his son, who’s too smart for his own good sometimes.

“Yeah,” Roman said brightly, in a voice that also probably meant he was trying to be sly but mostly sounded like he was being mischievous, “Dad, definitely give him your number.”

“You two could talk about stuff too,” Logan said, noncommittal.

Which Roman immediately ruined by blurting out, “Like how you’re both single and ready to mingle~!”

Patton felt his cheeks burn bright red. Virgil said calmly, “I’m going to kill your Uncle Rem. You spend too much time with him.”

“No I don’t,” Roman said with a wide grin, and stuck out his hand to Logan. “C’mon, Lo!”

“You were supposed to be subtle,” Logan complained, and as Roman dragged him away, he chirped, “I don’t know the meaning of the word!”

“He really doesn’t,” Virgil said, and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Um, I’m—sorry, about him. He and Rem both have it in their heads that I’ve been single too long, and—“

Patton hesitated, before turned to face Virgil and he said softly, “You said. Earlier.”

Virgil has this look on his face, soft and guarded all at once. “Yeah?”

“That I seemed something,” Patton prompted. “Seemed like what?”

Virgil’s cheeks tinged pink, and he coughed. “Seemed,” he began, and looked out at the park. “Seemed lovely,” he said gruffly.

Patton took a breath, took a chance, and took Virgil’s hand.

Virgil’s eyes darted to his face, and Patton smiled, felt his cheek dimple.

“Well,” he said simply, and digs out his phone, offering it to Virgil. “That sounds lovely.”

a/n: Patton’s last name, Kassipoeg, is kitten in Estonian. which I thought was a) adorable and b) a great last name. in a similar vein, Remy’s last name is sleep in Croatian.

[daniactuallysnuffledthatpopcorn]

Painting Flowers (Chapter 8)

[A/N] My camp Nano project from April 2014. Heavily edited.

Summary: Dan has come to accept that his psychotic episodes and hallucinations are here to stay, when he meets Phil Lester. Although Phil can’t fix Dan, he does give him something to fight for. Something to try for, one last time.

WARNINGS: Mentions of self harm and suicide. Deals with mental illness, hallucinations and psychotic episodes.

Word count: 2.7K (21.7K total)

<-previous chapter -- next chapter->

Start at the beginning

Dan woke up at eleven that Sunday morning. Phil wasn’t next to him anymore, and for a short second he was afraid that the other had left him, but then Phil’s head appeared in the doorway of the bathroom. He had a bright smile on his face and a toothbrush in his hand. He waved, disappeared into the bathroom, spit out the toothpaste and reappeared without the toothbrush.

“How did you sleep?”

“Great.” Dan said, rubbing his eyes.

“I woke up half an hour ago, didn’t want to wake you. You looked cute. You still do.” He smiled and walked back over to the bed, sitting down near Dan’s feet. “Do you crave breakfast or can I come back to bed?”

“You can come back to bed.” Dan said. He raised the covers to invite the other back in.

Phil accepted the invitation and lied down next to him. “Come here.” He whispered. He turned Dan over onto his side and pulled his back against his own chest. He tucked his leg over Dan’s and buried his face in the boy’s hair. “Hm, you’re warm.” He muttered.

“Thanks.” Dan moved back into the Phil’s body. He closed his eyes again and let himself drift off once again.

This time he didn’t wake up until there was knocking on the door.

“Can’t a man get his sleep in this place?” Phil groaned.

“Who is it?” Dan called with a croaky voice, ignoring Phil’s comment.

“It’s me.” His mum’s voice sounded from the other sound of the door. “Are you two going to come down for lunch or are you staying in there for the rest of the day?”

“Well, if the latter was a serious option, I’d probably pick that one. I’m assuming that was sarcastic though, wasn’t it?”

“Completely.” His mum confirmed. “Come on, you two. Callum made pancakes for lunch. You’ve got to hurry if you want some.”

Dan wasted some curses on the pillow his face was buried in.

“Now, now, that is not the right pancake attitude.” Phil said.

Dan couldn’t help but smile at that. “Stop. I’m trying to be annoyed here.”

“I don’t like when you’re annoyed. Your smile is cute.”

Dan turned around to face Phil and looked up into his eyes for a few seconds. “I don’t know what you see in me, but I sure am not complaining.”

“I’ve got a list of things that I see in you, but by the time I finish telling you them all we’ll have missed both those pancakes and dinner. Possibly breakfast too.”

Their conversation got interrupted by a song that started blasting through the room from somewhere on the floor.

“That would be my phone.” Phil said. He climbed out of bed and moved some stuff aside to reach his iPhone, which was lying on the wooden floor.

“Phil Lester.”

“Oh, hi mum.”

“No, I’m still with Dan, don’t worry.”

“Mum, we literally watched Disney movies and then fell asleep. I couldn’t have tried anything if I wanted to. Which I didn’t.”

Dan was laughing in the bed behind him. He’d propped himself up on his elbows and was observing Phil’s every movement.

“Shit, was that today?”

“Sorry. I mean darn it, was that today?”

“I’ll be down in twenty, that good? You know where to pick me up?”

“I know, I know, I’m a horrible person, I’ll see you in twenty.”

“Love you too. Bye mum.”

Phil tossed the phone onto Dan’s desk and turned around, “I promised my mum I’d go visit my grandma for her birthday today, I’m so sorry. She’s picking me up outside in twenty minutes. If we hurry we can still grab some pancakes together?” He gave Dan an apologetic look.

To his relief Dan smiled and got out of the bed. “We better be fast then. How old is your grandmother?”

“She turned 83 yesterday.” Phil tossed Dan a shirt and pulled on his own trousers.

 “Your shirt’s inside out. Wild night?” Brianna winked at Dan as she handed him a plate of pancakes.

Dan glanced down, “My shirt’s not inside out.” He said.

“I know. Just wanted to see if you’d get scared.”

“We didn’t have sex, Bri.”

“That’s what they all say.” She turned to Phil and handed him his plate, “Are you going to deny it too?”

“Nothing happened between us. Maybe some cuddling, but that was it.”

“Ah, some cuddling? That’s getting somewhere.”

“Oh my god, Brianna.” Dan laughed and stuffed some pancake in his mouth.

“I’m not getting involved in your dramatic romance, don’t mind me.” She raised her hands in surrender and went back to help Callum.

“She’s quite something.” Phil said.

“She’s definitely something. Not sure what yet.”

“You like it though.”

“Sure I do. She’s a nice girl.”

Phil opened his mouth to say something, but then closed it again and reached behind Dan. “What is this?” He held up a post-it note which he’d apparently plucked from Dan’s back.

Dan immediately snatched it from his hand and turned bright red. “A note.” He uttered.

Phil raised his eyebrows, “Alright, okay. That’s okay.”

“Phil, your mother is waiting for you outside, dear.” Dan’s mother peeked into the kitchen just to say those words before disappearing again to get back to whatever it was that she did at the hotel. Dan actually wasn’t quite sure what she did all the time, running around, worrying about literally everything.

Phil stuffed the last piece of pizza in his mouth and ruffled Dan’s hair before getting up from his barstool, “I’ll call you, yeah?”

“It would be an honour.” Dan watched Phil leave the kitchen and even leaned back on his stool a bit to allow his eyes to follow Phil out the door and watch him get into a shiny black car.

 When Dan got back upstairs he knew he was in for trouble as soon as he opened the door to his bedroom. He even considered just closing the door and going back downstairs, but he figured that fleeing wouldn’t do much for him in the long run.

“Right, throw it at me. What do you want?”

“Is that boy making you into a cocky asshole now too?” He could hear the Captain’s voice, but he couldn’t actually see the cat. “Where are you?”

“Who cares?”

The moment in which those words were spoken was Dan’s last moment of silence before all hell broke loose in his head. He sank down onto his knees and pressed his fists against his temples. It sounded like every voice he’d heard over the past few years was suddenly speaking at the same time. The quiet and peace he’d enjoyed when he’d been with Phil was all slammed away in a matter of seconds and he was reduced to whimpers and pleas to make it stop.

It was like standing in the middle of a crowded disco, with loud music, lots of sweaty people, and lots of flashing lights, but all the people there were talking to him, trying to gang up on him. “Leave me alone.” He tried, but he knew it was no use. He’d had this before. Last time he’d been admitted to a hospital, and although that had seemed terrible when he’d been there, right now that seemed like an amazing idea. If only he could make it to his phone to call his mum and ask her to help him. Or his dad. Or Michelle. Or Phil. Anyone would do, really. As long as they could get him away and get him to the hospital. Just getting him away would be enough too.

The voices in his head took up all his room to think and he couldn’t remember where he’d left his bloody phone. It took him a good few minutes to realise that it was just in his pocket, where it always was. He pulled it out and pressed it to his ear.

Number first, he reminded himself.

He held the phone in front of him, but his hands were shaking and the screen was blurry.

He managed to eventually tap ‘1’, the emergency shortcut to dial his mum.

“Mum? Are you there?” He stuttered when he heard the beeping stop. He couldn’t hear her reply, couldn’t hear anything anymore.

“Please.” He spat out. He was squeezing the phone in his hand so hard that he’d have been worried to break it if he hadn’t been so busy trying to just freaking say the words he had to say and open the door to let someone in.

The voices in his head started to collide with each other, until they were all chanting. They were telling him to get out his blades. They wouldn’t leave him alone until he’d bled them all out. “They won’t leave, mum. They want me to cut them out. Please. I don’t want to cut. I don’t want to. Mum, please help me. Please.” He was begging her to do something, but he wasn’t sure what she was supposed to do himself. But god, she was his mum and she could make this stop. She could make it stop hurting like she’d done with all the bruises when he was a kid.

“I’m coming up. Open the door.” It was the only thing Dan could hear over the sound of the chanting in his head before the voices blurred her out again, but it was enough for him. He pulled himself to his feet, and for a few seconds he was debating whether to go into the bathroom and give in or go open the door for his mum. The voices totally agreed with him when he contemplated getting the blades, but then Phil popped into his head. The words Phil had said. That he couldn’t go, that Phil didn’t want to lose him, and he took a few wobbly steps over to the door to the hall. Letting his heart make the decisions was hard when his mind was trying to pull him in a complete opposite direction.

“Dan?”

She was already there. His mum was there. He just had to open the door and she’d get him away from the temptation to give in. The voices seemed to realise that too, because they started chanting again. Worse things this time. Things Dan was even more desperate to drown out. He pulled open the door and immediately fell to his mother’s feet. “Please.” He managed to say. “It’s okay, Dan. I’ve called some people for you, alright? They should be here any minute now. I’ve got you.” She sat down next to him on her knees and cupped his face in her hands. “You’re safe with me, Dan. I’m not going to let anything happen to you.”

“I’m sorry.”

“It’s okay, love, it’s fine. You did a brave thing, calling me. Good job, I’m proud of you. I always am. You know that, right?”

Dan didn’t reply.

“Just a few more minutes. They could be here any minute now.”

He felt another pair of hands on his shoulders and heard his dad’s voice say something, but he couldn’t understand what was being said. He heard his parents talk to each other and forced himself to listen to them. He could hear their words, but the meaning didn’t ring through. It was enough though: just hearing their voices distracted him from the chaos in his mind for a second.

His own mind was his worst enemy, and he didn’t have the guts to let his heart rule his mind.

 Dan didn’t remember much from the ambulance ride to the hospital. He knew that he’d been restrained, but his mind couldn’t shut up long enough to let him think of a reason why. Had he lashed out at anyone? Was he a danger to himself or others? The stretcher was rolled out the ambulance and towards the huge white building. “We can’t go in there.” Dan said, repeating what The Captain had said to him only half a second ago.

“It’s going to be alright, kid.” One of the nurses told him. The man opened the glass doors of the hospitals to let them through and he was immediately taken to a lift. Somehow Dan remembered that the mental ward was on the third floor, although it didn’t seem like the most useful information his mind could’ve chosen to remember at this moment.

“We need to go back.” Dan said. He was almost shouting, unable to keep his voice down. They entered the mental ward, Dan recognised the big doors he’d walked through so many times. They were used to screaming people down here, Dan supposed.

“Make them take you back. This place will infect you with all those illnesses.” One of the voices told him. After his episodes Dan never understood why he’d blindly believed everything he’d been told by his voices. But right now, their words seemed completely reasonable. He was too far gone to question their truthfulness.

“They will kill me. The germs, they’ll get to me.”

The nurses knew better than to try and argue with his hallucinations. They kept quiet and rolled the stretcher into on of the rooms. It was empty, apart from a bed in one corner and a chair in the other. There were bars on the windows, to make sure the patients wouldn’t try to get out that way.

“You’re already catching them. Do you feel that?” He could hear the voices laugh at him.

He felt a wave of relief wash over him when the needle was pushed into his arm. For one more moment he struggled against his restraints, then he blacked out.

 He woke up with restraints keeping his arms in right angles with his hands next to his head. His wrists were facing the ceiling and he wasn’t wearing his jumper anymore. They’d seen the scars on his wrists.

“You fucked up, Dan.” The Captain announced.

“Where are you?” Dan mumbled in reply.

“In your head. You can’t see me right now. You went out of your mind, you’re fucking crazy, Dan.”

“I know.”

He heard the door unlock and from the corner of his eye he could see it open. Someone in white walked in, and when they came closer he recognised the woman as one of the doctors who’d treated him before.

“Hi, Dan.” She greeted.

“Hi.” He said.

“Haven’t seen you in a while.”

“Seven weeks and two days.” Dan replied.

“Right. Wouldn’t exactly say it’s good to see you back here.” She gave him a warm smile. “How are you feeling?”

“Better.”

“Can you give me a number?”

It was a system they’d started using with him when he’d only just been brought in, when he was eleven, and absolutely terrified of all the white halls and serious doctors. By now he was used to it all, but the system had always been a nice way to stay grounded during times like this.

“Seven, maybe eight.” He said.

He’d never used one, although he’d definitely have described the day before as a strict number one, had anyone asked. He’d never used number ten either, simply because he felt like he could only use that one if he was feeling absolutely great. No hallucinations, no voices. And he’d never felt that way. Not since it all began. He couldn’t even remember what it was like to see and hear only the things other people could see and hear too.

“Good. That’s good. Have you thought about changing medications? We could give it to you just now, just to try it. If you want to, of course.” Dan hesitated. For the first time in all these years, he hesitated before he shook his head. His parents had made him try different medications when he was still underage, but as soon as he turned eighteen he’d pushed the entire idea of it to the back of his head. Never to be looked at again. He’d just keep using the small dose he’d been taking for years, which at this point he wasn’t really sure did anything at all.

The situation had changed now, though. He just wanted to be able to spend time with the boy he was starting to fall in love with without having to worry about the trouble that would be awaiting him as soon as that boy had left.

After all, he would always be coming home to his own mind.

[celticcountrygal]

You Know Where I Am- Archie Andrews (3)

Part 1 / Part 2

Summery: Your eyes are firmly set on a certain dark haired boy not realizing who was your perfect match all along. Its only when you finally pull your eyes from him it’s when you see who is really there for you and who you really feel for.

You had been walking around aimlessly for at least an hour and you had no idea why your feet had brought you here. You stood between the two houses debating on which one to choose. On one hand you had a close friend who you could tell anything to but at times tended to be a little too over sympathetic. Not what you needed right now. On the other you had someone you weren’t at all that close to but had gone through this before, and someone you knew you could trust.

You sighed turning and walking up the drive way and stopping at the door. You hand reached out to knock like it had before and you heard footsteps inside. The man standing in front of you seemed surprised to see you. You smiled slightly. ‘Y/n, I wasn’t expecting you’ You nodded. ‘I’m sorry, I just needed some place else to be’ The older man in front of you smiled and stepped aside. ‘Come on in, you know where to go’ You nodded stepping in out of the cold into the warm house.

You smiled down at him as you made your way up the stairs. You knocked on the door and waited a second. ‘Come in’ A voice came from behind the door. You slowly opened it and cleared your throat when you seen a bare back to you. Your eyes ran over the defined muscles that tensed slightly under the tanned skin.

Archie jumped and turned. ‘I’m sorry’ You looked away from his torso, but you had to admit, he was pretty ripped. ‘It’s fine’ He waved you off glancing around for a top. ‘I-I’m sorry I’m here. I just-I didn’t know where else to come’ Archie stopped looking and turned his attention to you when he heard the tremble in your voice. ‘What’s up?’ He asked softly as you stepped into the room closing the door. ‘You know the way you said if I ever needed to talk?’ He nodded and you bit your lip.

You took a deep breath. ‘My parents were in couples counselling today, that’s why I couldn’t go to Pops. My Mom’s been cheating on my Dad with some CEO from some business in New York and he’s trying to work through it’ The words flowed out without you even thinking and Archie’s eyes widened. ‘She doesn’t want to though. She wants to leave. I heard them talking the other day, they didn’t know I was home. She just wants to leave with him and divorce my Dad. And us, she doesn’t even want to any kind of custody of us’ You looked up from your feet as Archie made his way towards you. ‘I’m sorry’ He whispered and you shrugged.

He reached out and took your hands. ‘But, I promise you, I’m here for you’ You smiled slightly. ‘And you’re one of the strongest people I know Y/n, you’ll make it through this’ You pulled your hands from his and wrapped your arms around his neck. His arms wrapped around your waist hugging you to him. ‘I needed to get that off my chest, thank you’ You muttered. ‘I needed some place to go that wasn’t home’ Archie pulled away from you with a smile.

He nodded. ‘I understand, come on, sit down and we’ll talk about it’ He let go of you and began to walk back over to his bed. ‘Arch’ You whispered and he turned around raising his eyebrows. ‘I don’t want to talk about it’ Your eyes dropped to the floor. ‘I want to forget about it, completely. It’s all I can think about. I need to forget’ You stepped closer to him and he nodded. ‘Okay’ You smiled.

He gestured towards the TV. ‘You still like video games?’ He smirked and you nodded eagerly. He beamed and stepped around you. You reached out and grabbed his arm. He looked down at you his eyes meeting yours. ‘Thank you’ You whispered. ‘And, I’m sorry for just barging in here’ He nodded again a faint smile on his lips. ‘You’re always welcome’ He whispered back just as quiet.

You smiled slightly as silence filled the room. Then Archie’s hand was on the back of your neck and you stumbled forwards as he pulled you to him his body moving to face yours. Then he leaned down and pressed his lips to yours. You didn’t know what to do, Archie was kissing you. This was not what you were expecting when you walked through that door, but maybe it was what you needed. You reached out your arm draping over his shoulders and fingers tangling in his hair as you kissed him back.

It wasn’t until a second later that you pulled away pushing Archie back slightly. ‘Betty’ You whispered you mind falling to your friends feelings for the boy. Archie just shook his head. ‘We sorted that out’ He muttered before his lips found yours again as he pressed himself to you. You let out a soft sigh letting yourself melt back into the kiss. It was a long time since you had gotten this kind of jitters, from anyone and it felt nice, it felt nice to be wanted, to want someone who wanted you, to have someone to hold and who would hold you.

Your arms tightened around his shoulders and you felt his hands run down your sides before stilling when the reached the tops of your thighs. You felt him crouch a little and you jumped slightly letting him catch your weight as you wrapped your legs around his bare waist. ‘We shouldn’t’ You muttered as he straightened and walked towards the bed.

But that didn’t stop you from tightening your arms around him, and his hand from gripping your thighs and his other hand tangling in your hair. You groaned your hips rolling against his. He let out a breathy moan his lips detaching from yours and pressing firmly against your chin. ‘Arch-Arch’ Your hand tapped his shoulder. ‘I-I can’t’ He pulled away from you his eyes finding yours. ‘I can’t do that to Betty, she-how she feels about you, and the way she reacted to Veronica and you’ He sighed. ‘And Jughead’ He muttered climbing off you and sitting on the edge of the bed. You sat up and placed your hand on his shoulder.

He glanced back at you. ‘No’ You breathed. ‘Not the way you’re thinking anyway’ He chuckled and smiled at you slightly. ‘How about that video game?’ He asked and you smiled at him nodding and you both moved to the end of the bed. 

Your head lulled a little and you jerked up. Betty glanced at you again as you both sat in the student lounge before class started. ‘You’ve been falling asleep since you got here’ She observed. ‘Couldn’t sleep last night’ She gave you a sympathetic look and she smiled slightly. ‘Not what you think, I just had a lot of energy Bets’ You chuckled and she nodded not exactly convinced. ‘Hey Betty’ She raised her eyebrows at your questioning tone.

You took a small breath. ‘How are you? With Archie I mean?’ You bit your lip waiting for her answer as she paused considering your question. ‘We’re good, I mean I’ve realized we weren’t going to work’ She paused a slight blush on her lips. ‘And I mean, I think I’ve moved on slightly, I don’t feel how I used to feel around him and I-I kind of feel something with someone else, something stronger’ Your ears pricked up. ‘You have feelings for someone else?’ She chuckled. ‘I don’t exactly know. I think so but-’ You let out a laugh. ‘You don’t have to give me any names Bets’ She relaxed a little.

You raised an eyebrow. ‘I dont want to jinx it, like what happened with Archie. People knew and-’ You nodded. ‘I get it, I do. But there’s only so much you can guard yourself Betty, you deserve someone who will look after you like you look after everyone else’ You bit your lip slightly ‘And it doesn’t matter about anyone else, once they know’ She smiled at you and chuckled. ‘Thank you’ You shrugged slightly leaning back in the chair.

She watched you as you closed your eyes. ‘Are Veronica and Kevin right?’ You heard her ask timidly. You furrowed your eyebrows. ‘About what?’ You let out a chuckle opening an eye and giving her a sly smirk, you both knew how many little theories the two of them had. ‘Jughead’ She whispered leaning forwards. You froze a second and then opened your other eye. ‘About me and him?’ She nodded. ‘On that one they’re wrong, there’s nothing going on between me and Jug’ You told her, really you weren’t lying, there wasn’t.

She nodded. ‘Do you have feelings for him?’ She probed further. ‘I love him Bets, as a friend. But I have no other feelings for him, no’ You shook your head. You felt bad lying to her but one person knowing about your unrequited crush on Jughead was enough. You didn’t want all your friends knowing. Betty just nodded leaning back in her seat and picking up her book again. You leaned your head back against the couch and closed your eyes again.

You jumped awake as a bell rang pulling you from your sleep. ‘Woah’ You heard a chuckle from above you and you glanced up to see the red-haired boy you had only seen hours before. You sat up straight lifting your head from his shoulder. ‘Eh? When?’ You glanced around when you heard someone chuckle. Veronica sat beside Betty a smile on her face. ‘Sleeping beauty decided to wake up’ You stuck your tongue out at her. ‘You just sort of cuddled into me when I sat down’ Archie chuckled. You shrugged and smoother your already smooth hair. ‘Well, you know, I like warmth. I like warm’ Jughead grunted from the armchair as he looked at you both from over his open laptop.

You looked around. ‘What time is it?’ You asked. ‘Chemistry time’ Archie said and your eyes widened. ‘Darn it’ Your eyes widened and hurried to gather up your stuff holding them to your chest. ‘I gotta go’ You stood stepping over Archie. ‘Bye’ You called as you rushed out of the room praying your weren’t late to class.

They all watched you leave frantically trying to balance the books in your arms as you skid around the door. Ronnie chuckled and shook her head, she would never understand your drive when it came to school. Or your drive on the track team. ‘Man, what have I told you’ Jughead snapped at Archie and they all looked back at him. Archie furrowed his brows. ‘She was the one that curled up into me Jug’ Archie shrugged leaning back. ‘I don’t care yo-’ With that Archie stood up. ‘Jug if she happens to fall asleep on me that’s not my fault’ He snapped. ‘I wasn’t going to wake her up, she needed sleep. Why don’t you get out of your laptop and pay attention to her?’ He grabbed his bag shrugging it onto his shoulder as his friends sat eyes wide eyes fluttering between the two boys.

Archie narrowed his eyes. ‘And Jughead, just because I’m a Jock doesn’t mean I’d do anything to hurt her. Or anyone else’ He snapped and Jughead put his laptop aside standing. ‘You go around like it’s a competition to get the most girls to fall for you. I’m saying leave her out of it’ Jughead glared at his friend. ‘I wouldn’t hurt her’ Archie growled stepping closer. 

Betty stood up standing between the two boy. ‘Okay, please, stop’ She raised her voice looking between the two. ‘I’m being a good friend not trying to get her into bed. I’m there for her because you hurt her feelings’ Archie snapped. ‘You didn’t think about her before you spoke and you hurt her. I just want her to have someone who wont, that’s all’ Archie turned and stalked away leaving his friends in silence and frozen. After a moment Jughead grabbed his stuff and left Betty running after him.

Part 4

[straane]

Motherworld (Ch. 1/?)

Title: Motherworld

Author: strane-stelle

Fandom: Final Fantasy X

Central characters: Tidus

Rating: 12+

Chapters: 1/?  Chapter 2  Chapter 3 Chapter 4

Word count: 2636

Summary: “The fayth said it’s pointless to keep dreaming. The dream will disappear, he said. What did he mean?” After a long journey, Tidus finally gets to go home.

Warnings: Nothing too horrible content-wise (yet), apart from a ton of OCs (as required by the premise!)

Other comments: credit goes to @shuyiin​ for the idea. (that IS you, right?? with the @leviathkand RP blog?? pls tell me I’m not mistaken lol)  

Chapter 1 - The Storm

”I love you.”

The words felt surreal, dreamlike; belonging to another time, another place. It was as though he could have imagined them, fantasized them; almost like he barely heard them. It was as though they were addressed to someone else; as though this was not really happening to him. Because the truth was, the words were real. She was real. Everything around him was real. He was the dream.

Tidus gazed down at his arms once more. There was a vague, glossy greenness, and a lot more airship deck where his muscles used to be. No wonder he couldn't hear a thing. Were his ears even there anymore?

”I love you.”

Then it hit him again; with full force, like thunder. Tidus swung around. He saw Yuna's figure. She had gotten up.

”I love you.”

He loved her too. And he had heard her loud and clear. He could see her with a striking precision; like he had never seen a living thing before. He was still here, he belonged here. He belonged with her. He had better go to her.  

His thoughts, his motions, his entire existence; it all seemed to just melt into a last, wordless goodbye. He lifted his pellucid arms and he embraced her around the shoulders; from behind, unable to bear looking at her. She didn’t turn around – and it was doubtful she could feel it. Time stood still, finally, after a lifetime of slipping away. It was the most perfect and the most unforgiving moment.

Even as he let go of her, he was still there. Even as he heard his steps – or imagined them clopping down on the deck – he felt the touch of her skin. He pictured every inch of her frame; walked up to her once again, caught the scent of her hair; imagined saying all the things he had wanted to say.    

He wanted to recall her face, but he couldn't – it was too late. He was flying. Nothing was real anymore. He thought he saw Jecht, extending a hand to his son.

”Way to ruin the moment, old man. Knew I could count on you.”

- - -

Greenish colors. A ceiling fan. A dishwasher. A trace of that obstinate smell, neither too pleasant nor too pungent. An ever so subtle rocking motion. That mildly annoying radio show that he listened to on weekends, if only because he was too lazy to turn the darn thing off.  

”Ha ha, very funny. You promised me an ocean. This is a boat.”

”Is something wrong?”

”Well, yeah! It's also my house. You already took me here, remember? When you told me I wasn't real and stuff, you remember that? 'Cause I do.”

”We remember.”

”Well, can you get on with the whole disappearing thing? Think I've had enough of dreaming.”

”You have? Well then! You better wake up, star player.”

And wake up he did, with a start. Eyes popping open, he jumped to his elbows, and they immediately failed him.

”Whoa! Hey, easy, easy! Is this really happening? Wow, welcome back, I guess!”

Tidus stared wide-eyed at the speaker, hovering over him. The man had a kind expression, but the ”star player”, as he had been addressed, had immediate trouble accepting that he was neither Auron nor Jecht. Nor the fayth.

”What are you doing at my house? What is this?” He remained lying on his back, not feeling up to another attempt at sitting up, but reluctantly so. He was suddenly hyper-aware of how the pillowcase felt against his neck. Nothing made sense, but Tidus's emergency reflexes were still there, in fact minutes ahead of him. And they demanded answers.

The middle-aged man held up his hands, nodded understandingly, and seemed to deliberately mold his expression for a calm, patient explanation.

”It's okay. You're safe. My name is Dr. Cidron. You're home, this is your house, just like you said. You were missing for some time, but you're back home now.” He gave laugh that was both light-hearted and carefully contemplated. ”Your fans are going to be so relieved.”

Tidus gaped at him, dumbfounded. He had understood every word, yet it had all flown over his head. His brain was only slowly growing accustomed to this new face, which was roundish; with a thick, brown skin; attached to a tragically balding head with dark tufts of hair in all the wrong places.  He was stocky in build and indeed wore a doctor's coat.

The good doctor gave a long pause, so as to make room for his patient to panic some more, seemingly. But as nothing came, he gave a laugh again, glancing sideways.

”You don't remember me, do you? About twelve years ago, was it? You had sprained your ankle at blitzball practice. And broken a toe, yes, now I remember. Your father grudgingly took you to the doctor. That doctor was me. I was quite star-struck, of course, I could've been more attentive to you. I'm sorry.”

”My father…” Tidus mused blankly, before he heard the front door open, putting him right back on guard. A very young and very blonde nurse scuttled in, carrying what looked like a bag of groceries, and another, smaller bag of medical supplies. She just about dropped them from her white-gloved hands onto the kitchen table, and darted over to them.

”You're awake!” she screamed.

Dr. Cidron made a subtle gesture at his colleague, and she nodded in mild embarrassment. As she sat down, Tidus noticed she started fidgeting with her necklace, which he could tell; even with her two fingers around it; was official Abes merchandise. For a fleeting moment, he felt grounded again. He really was back.

At both of their reactions, Dr. Cidron momentarily seemed to change his mind about his patient's mental and bodily health.

”Yes, that's right… I'm sorry, perhaps we should slow down. Do you know who you are, what your name is? This is Evy, by the way.”  

Now with two strangers in his house, medical professionals or not; Tidus gathered what remained of his strength to sit up. Suddenly, there was a fair amount.

Tidus waved off the pair's protests at him ”straining himself”, and decided he wanted more answers. Or rather, needed them – did he exactly want to know?

”Okay, uh… I know who I am, and um,” he couldn't help a dejected chuckle, ”what team I play for, and…. who my father is…. yeah...” He had to take a pause. He remembered all too well. ”So, yeah, no need for a recap there!” He realized he was wearing a set of light blue pyjamas that smelled like hospital. He gripped the soft collar and gazed down. ”But like… what happened to me? Why am I here?” 

Tidus wished the fayth had been there to answer him. Because he was not asking why he was recovering at home from some presumed accident, with the appropriate medical staff taking care of him. He was asking why he was back in Zanarkand – his Zanarkand. Dream Zanarkand.

He was asking if these two citizens – who already manifested so much personality, and so much history – if they did not know that they, too, were…

”'It's not that you're dreaming... You are a dream.'”

”Well, it all began when… I'm sorry?”

”No, please continue. It all began when…”

- - -

A variety of colors. Two big lanterns hanging from the ceiling. Ceramics everywhere. Something delicious cooking on the stove. A sense of cautious comfort. The regretful words from Wakka, ”Sorry, man. No time for lunch yet.”

Tidus was not dreaming. He did not remotely think any of these things were there. Yet they felt more real, more painfully tangible, than what was actually happening at this very moment. Namely, a press conference at the stadium hall. Or at least, at a stadium hall, seeing as the building had faced a lot of reconstruction since he had last roamed its corridors. Gone were the brown marble walls, the matching pillars, the Jecht memorial exhibition on the northern wall, and quite simply the windows. In were what looked like a set of cardboard flaps (and felt like, judging by the chilly indoor air), makeshift pillars, construction workers salvaging and probably stealing what remained of his father's award collection, and… ventilation outlets.

In was also a massive, anxious crowd of reporters. Of course, Tidus had been surrounded by crowds of reporters before. But never before, it seemed, had there been such a general fervency, such a sense of insatiability, such a stir. Except, naturally, ten years ago, when Jecht had vanished. Now he, the son, had pulled the same stunt, only he had done it better. For once, he had bested his old man at something. He had come back.

With the cameras flashing, the mics pointed towards their single target, and several live broadcast screens in that very room alone, the story very much seemed to be writing itself before the hero himself had said a word. And say a word out of place he would not, if the people sitting next to him at the table could help it.  

Sports agents and bodyguards were largely nominal positions on the Zanarkand blitzball scene. Almost all of the top players had one of each, and both were paid a decent salary, but most of the time they would work with mundane, impersonal aspects such as paperwork and transportation logistics, and were only called to their particular duties for special occasions… or extraordinary circumstances.

His agent's was among the first familiar faces Tidus had seen since his return. It was quite unnerving a face. Leo was a former blitzball player of medium fame, from between the times of Jecht's passing and Tidus's big break. In the manner of a true grumpy washout at the worldly age of 33, Leo was mostly remembered for his perpetual scowl – accomplished by the very narrow eyes and bushy, slanted eyebrows – rather than any sort of remarkable athletic prowess. Tidus had always thought him observant, but since their first handshake two weeks before, he had gotten an almost ominous feeling from the man. That he knew. That he just could tell. Exactly what he could tell, Tidus wasn't sure, but the agent most certainly had a hunch, and was doing a poor job of hiding it. There was no escaping that piercing stare.

To Tidus's left side, on the other hand, sat quite the opposite case, for better or worse. Bern was a laid-back, nonchalant presence, as seemingly idle as he was bulky. The very opposite of ”dumb muscle”, he appeared intelligent in a book-smart sort of way, and seemed to have actually quite enjoyed his work as, effectively, an accountant. On paper, however, he was still Tidus's bodyguard, and obviously in top physical form, and both obedient and competent enough to fit into the picture. So far, he was the only one of the ”I never bought into your disappearance anyway” camp that Tidus actually believed, even if he still wasn't sure about the meaning of this particular conspiracy theory. Bern, he classified as a different sort of unnerving.

Dr. Cidron was also there, two seats apart. He was smiling and giving his patient a thumbs-up or drumming a fist to his chest at regular intervals. Tidus smiled right back, even if it was mostly giving him nausea. Evy was also around, somewhere in the audience, by merit of her nurse's work and a honorary press card. In any case, she was probably stationed at a safe distance from her idol – in fact, Tidus was finding her unexpectedly difficult to spot.  

The chatter across the hall was rising to deafening levels. Finally, someone announced that Tidus of the Zanarkand Abes would be taking questions now, which Leo first denied, then resentfully confirmed. The room exploded.

Here and there, Tidus caught a question from the noise ocean.

”Tidus, will you be back in the pool soon? Have you been practicing hard?”

With the Aurochs, I guess. I wonder how they’re holding up without Wakka.

“What’s the last thing you remember about the storm? What kind of injuries did you suffer?”

The storm? Ohhh… they mean Sin.

“Your legal guardian, Auron, is still missing. How do you respond to the rumor that he abducted you?”

“Oh, you have no idea.”

“Silence!” Leo spat into his microphone, startling his protégé as well. “One at a time, please. The fair young lady in the front row.”

It was Evy the nurse. Right there all along…

She drew a sharp breath, not having expected to go first, and in absolute panic just managed to splutter, “Oh, um… first of all… thank you… for being back… it’s an honor… I mean… I was… like, I got to take care of… um, they found you at the sea, which is also, incidentally, um… also where you father disappeared, so I was thinking… since blitzball players can breathe underwater… do you think…” 

Tidus was catching on, and he even knew the answer, but Leo rolled his eyes, “Okay, thank you. Right there in the middle, yes, the gentleman with the yellow scarf. You write for Blitzwatch, correct? Thank heavens for that.”  

“Right, so,” the fashionable reporter began, as the stuttering nurse seemed to shrink away behind him, “Tidus, how are you feeling after such a traumatic experience? It’s only been, what – two, three weeks.”

Tidus nodded cautiously, tapping his microphone before answering. The volume was set ridiculously loud, but so far no one had complained about hearing his every breath and cough.

“Yeah… I’m fine. I’m good. I’m… glad to be back.” Tidus hesitated for a moment, and while the audience cheered and some already spouted follow-up questions, he decided he might as well be honest. “I guess it feels strange. Very… strange. It… it really was quite an experience, and it feels almost… surreal to be back.”

Another round of cheers followed, booming and boisterous. Tidus wasn’t sure what exactly they were making of his answer, but evidently they loved it to bits. All except Leo, who was drilling a hole into him with his laser stare.  

“Lady with the pink hair. No, not you – her.”

“Tidus,” the taller pink-haired woman spoke, “in the official first announcement two weeks ago you said that you didn’t remember anything. I think you must remember something, maybe about the storm, almost drowning, how you survived? What you got up to all those months?”

“We are sticking to that first announcement,” Leo immediately declared. Tidus gaped at him. “He remembers the storm, then nothing. We think he was in a coma. That he survived at all is a miracle, and we ought to…”

“Well, exactly, it’s a miracle! If he was in a coma, how would he…”

“Next question. The lady standing next to the…”

“No, wait!” Tidus yelped.

Leo gave him an unspoken first warning, which Tidus ignored. “Uh, I mean, sure, there’s some holes in my memory, probably because of…” He suddenly felt like making a joke, and flashed a charming smile as he did, “Y’know, because of Sin’s toxin.”  

There was a short silence, the first of its kind. Some people gave a wary laugh, others exchanged knowing whispers. Alcohol-related questions started popping up. Leo shook his head at the young blitzer. Dr. Cidron shook his head at the questions, several of which were now addressed to him. Bern displayed a renewed interest in his client. What in the world was he trying to say?

Tidus closed his eyes, his hands clenching into fists.

The crystalline ocean. The sapphire sky. A whiff of incense. Prayers echoing. The floor dropping under his feet. And then… her.  

“Okay. Alright. I can’t keep this up, I can’t do this. You guys wanna hear my story? Well I’ll tell ya.”    

[sethmacsexy20]

Different Worlds A Party

It's been crazy busy between planning a wedding and us just looking at possible surrogates.  I was overwhelmed.  And we both still worked.  It was a lot to take on.  Seth and I knew we needed a day to get our friends and family together.  They all knew we were looking at surrogates and going forward with having a kid of our own.  I was outside sitting with Rachael and Sophia as well as Mila and Alex.  Seth wanted me to get to know his co workers more if I was to marry him.  I wasn't big on making new friends but the few times I met them, they were nice so I didn't mind.  I knew they thought I was snobby as Seth told me cause I didn't try my hardest to make friends.  But it was cause it wasn't easy for me to get close to anyone.  Even Charlize was there.  Her and I have become close cause I worked with her as her attorney.  Us girls were sitting around.  Then Rachael asked, "How is the surrogate search going?"

Mila, Alex, and Charlize were shocked as they didn't know about it.  I got a little uncomfortable and Alex asked, "You are going to get a surrogate?"

"Well, yeah.  Seth and I want kids but I cannot carry children.  I tried twice and both ended in heartbreak."  I told them.

Mila then asked, "Wait, you had another child?"

"Yeah."  I sighed.  "A boy.  I didn't make it as far with him in my pregnancy as I did with Natasha.  I was thirty weeks with Max when I got the bad news."

"Oh, I am so sorry."  Mila said, almost regretful she asked.

I quickly said, "It's okay.  You didn't know."

Then Sophia quickly said, "So, what Rachael asked."

I smiled.  "We have been searching but we can't find the right fit.  I am so cautious on who I pick.  I want to make sure if we do have a baby, it will be healthy."

"No, that is understandable."  Rachael said.

Then Sophia asked, "How does that exactly work?"

I laughed.  "Really?  Why do you ask?"

"I am curious."  She said.

I just smiled at her.  "Well, they take my eggs and Seth's sperm and implant them in another woman.  Then if she gets pregnant, nine months later, she pops out a baby."

Everyone laughed cause I was being sarcastic.  Sophia rolled her eyes.  "Well, sorry, I didn't know exactly what they did."

"I'm just picking on you."  I said with a smile.

"And yet I continue to be your friend."  She huffed.

"Cause I'm just so darn cute."  I joked.

Then Charlize said, "What about adoption?"

"Seth and I have decided that when we want more, that might be another option.  Especially how hard this process is.  We kinda want one of our own and do it from the beginning, you know."  I said to her.  

I knew she adopted but I hope she understood why we choose what we choose.  Then Sophia asked, "Have you thought about asking a friend or relative to do it?"

"We have.  But we feel we couldn't ask someone we know to do something so huge for us."  I told her.

"But what if they want to?"  She asked.

I eyed her.  I knew something was going on in her brain.  "What are you getting at?"

"Well, I loved being pregnant and Kyle is adamant about not having anymore kids.  I am too.  But I do miss being pregnant.  And with everything you and Seth have already gone through.  I feel you two deserve this.  So, what if I am to become your surrogate?"  She asked.

I looked at her in shock, then I teared up.  I quickly hug her and said in tears, "That would mean the world to me."

She almost laughed.  "Jeez, Mary.  A little too happy."

I pulled away and wiped the tears away.  I smiled.  "It just means a lot that you would offer."  Then I asked, "What about Kyle?"

She laughed.  "What about him?"  I eyed her.  "Okay, I know he would be happy for me to do it.  I was so blissful pregnant and well, more horny."

I quickly said, "Okay, ew."

She laughed.  "And I know he would be happy that I am giving Seth and you that gift."  She smirked.  "As long as we don't keep it, I am sure he won't give two shits honestly."

The girls and I laughed.  "Well, I will tell Seth.  I am sure he would be happy about it."  I said.

I was happy that my best friend wanted to do this for us.  This meant so much to me.  And it wouldn't be a stranger carrying our baby.  It was someone I knew I could trust with my child's life.  That was more then I could ask for.

We decided to get drunk.  We took shots and all of us girls were getting totally smashed.  We were sitting around laughing and goofing off.  Then Mila asked, drunkenly, "So, how is our boss in the bedroom?"

Rachael eyed her.  "I don't want to know, Mila.  Don't ask her stuff like that."

I smirked.  "Let me put it to you this way, keeps a girl very happy."

Rachael was disgusted while the rest of us laughed.  Then Mila said to Alex, "She isn't as stuck up as we thought."

Alex elbowed her and quickly turned to me.  "She didn't mean that, she is drunk."

"No, it's okay.  Seth told me and I understand why you all thought that of me.  I'm not mad."  I told her.  "I just don't easily get close to people."

"Why not?"  Mila asked.

Before I could open my mouth, Sophia opened hers, a little too big as she was drunk.  "That is cause her best friend from high school stole her fiancee after they lost their kid.  Her fiancee broke it off with her and sometime later, she found out they were together and she was pregnant with his kid.  They were fooling around before he broke it off with Mary and got her knocked up.  Once he knew she was pregnant, he dumped Mary and married her."

I looked at Sophia and said, a little pissed, "Really?"

She looked at me as she was drunk.  "What?"  She had no clue why I was pissed.

I just stood up and walked away.  I was mad, but not enough to effect our friendship.  Just enough to walk away from the situation.  Seth noticed I was walking inside and followed.  He asked me, "What's wrong?"

"Nothing."  I said in a pissed off tone.

"No, don't say nothing.  Something is wrong.  What is it?"  He asked.

"It's just Sophia just blurted out to your friends what Katrina and Eric did to me."  I told him.

Seth then asked, "Want me to call Kyle to come get her?"

"No."  I breathed.  "She's drunk.  She will wake up tomorrow and know what she did and feel horrible.  This isn't the first time her drunken mouth did this.  I just kinda didn't want your friends to know, is all."

"I know, baby."  He said to me as he hugged me.  "I can still call Kyle."

"No, don't."  I said.  "Plus, I can't be too mad at at her, she is kinda going to do a big thing for us."

He pulled away from me and asked, "What is that?"

"Well, she kinda asked if she could carry our child for us."  I told him.

"What?  Are you serious?"  He asked in shocked.

I smiled at him.  "Yeah.  What do you think about that?"

He didn't say another word, he just moved in quickly and kissed me, passionately.  I broke the kiss and laughed.  "Seth, I am not doing it.  She is.  Yet you kiss me like I just told you I was going to do the greatest thing for you.  You should kiss her like that." I joked.

He smiled and started to walk off.  "Okay."

I quickly grabbed him as he laughed and I smiled.  "Don't you dare, asshole."

He still was laughing.  "Oh, so I can't kiss her now to show her how grateful I am."

I playfully slapped his chest.  "You do, you will be having sex by yourself."

He laughed harder.  "You know, all I gotta do is think about you and I get myself off very easily."

"Stop."  I laughed at this point.

"Speaking of sex.  Why don't we go upstairs and have a little sex right now."  He smirked at me as he wrapped his arms around my waist.

"We have guests here, Seth."  I said to him.

"Oh, like that has stopped you before."  He hitched an eyebrow.

I laughed at this.  "Fine, but you better make it fast."

"So, now I am being told to make it a quickie.  How much better can this night get?"  He joked.

I grabbed his hand and pulled him with me as I chuckled.  "Come on, asshole."

"You know I like when you talk dirty to me."  He cracked.

I just laughed again.  We got up to the room and started to kiss each other fiercely.  We quickly stripped each other.  Once we were undressed, Seth broke the kiss and turned me around.  He bent me over the bed and pushed into me.  I moaned out, softly.  He quickly pounded into me.  His hands gripped my hips and he just moved into fast and hard.  I was so into it.  It didn't take us long.  We both reached our climax and quickly calmed.  He pulled out of me and smacked my ass.  "Baby, you are fucking amazing."  He smiled.

I turned to him.  He was like this when he drank a little.  He didn't have to be drunk, just to feel loose, and he let out of his shell more.  I loved it when he did.  I gave him a small kiss.  I said as I pulled away, "Seth, you just enjoy the sex."

"Why do you think I keep you around?"  He cracked.

"Don't push it, Seth."  I said, sternly but jokingly.

He smiled and moved an arm around me.  "Baby, you know damn well I keep you around for so much more then being a good lay.  It's just a bonus."

I laughed and moved out of his arms.  We both got dressed.  We headed back out where everyone was at.  He moved back over to the guys and I sat back with the girls.  I looked over at him and he was looking at me.  He smiled.  I couldn't help it but smile back.  Then Sophia leaned over and whispered, "You two just was in there fucking, huh?"

But her whisper wasn't a quiet whisper, it was pretty loud, so the other girls heard it.  They laughed except for Rachael as she looked disgusted.  Even drunk, sexual jokes about her brother bothered her.  I turned to Sophia and cracked, "What if we did?  At least I get it on a regular."

She sat back and frowned.  She was just as sexual as I was, but the difference was, her husband barely wanted to give it to her.  I knew this.  I just smirked and we continue to drink.  

As the night progressed, Rachael left and Sophia was in my living room, passed out on the couch.  It was just Charlize, Mila, Alex and myself left.  Charlize then asked, "So, what Sophia said, is that true?"

I was a little loose now, I was feeling the alcohol.  I wasn't as shut out when I was feeling this way.  "Yep, some bullshit, huh?"

"Fuck, Mary, that is really fucked up.  For your best friend and your fiancee to do that to you.  That is fucked up."  She said.

"We should go egg his house."  Mila said, drunkenly.

I laughed.  "We have a ways to go, he lives in Kansas."

Then Alex asked, being the most sober of us all, "Is that why you and Seth broke up the first time?  You couldn't trust him?"

"Partly."  I said.  "Other part was that I was afraid to get that close to someone and them hurt me like that and get my heartbroken again.  But when I broke it off with him, I was heartbroken anyways.  Same thing with making female friends, I am afraid that if I allow any girls to get close to me as friends, they would back stab me.  Took Sophia a long time to get me to warm up to her."

"But you and Seth, it took you two seven years to get back together.  If you were really heartbroken, how come it didn't happen sooner?"  Charlize asked.

"Cause until the day I met with you and him for our business lunch, I didn't see him outside of the tabloids.  It was easier when I was away from him and cut communications.  But seeing him that day, sparked old feelings."  I told her.

She smiled at me.  "You're welcome."

"Huh?"  I looked confused.

"I didn't have an interview that day when we had lunch.  I saw the way you two eyed each other from time to time, there was something there.  But I knew you two were too damn stubborn to do something about it on your own.  So, I made up that I had an interview and guilted you with me buying lunch to make you stay to finish yours.  I knew something would come of it."  She said.

I laughed.  "Do you know what happened after you left?"

"Well, I say where you two are, you got together."  She told me.

"No.  He admitted he still loved me.  I freaked, ran out and cried.  He caught up with me and kissed me.  I freaked again and ran.  But he wouldn't go away.  He came by my work and at least agreed to be friends.  Then we went out to dinner one night, as friends, only to go back to my place and we ended up having sex.  I knew he wanted more afterwards, but I wasn't ready.  But we did keep seeing each other as friends and still had sex here and there." I said to her.

Mila asked, almost in shocked, "You two were fuck buddies?"

"No, friends with benefits."  I told her.

"What is the difference?"  She asked.

"As Seth put it, friends with benefits are friends who still hang out and do things together but have sex now and then.  But fuck buddies strictly fuck and move on.  Only reach out to when they want it.  He didn't want that."  I told her.

She laughed.  "Yeah, I couldn't see him doing that."

I just smiled.  "Yeah, well, one particular day, he forgot what we were and kinda made love to me.  Wasn't the first time that had happened but I never brought it up.  But I did that time.  Well we got into it big time.  Just screaming at each other but no harsh words came out.  Well, not entirely true, I did tell him I hated him.  But that was about the harshest it got.  After our screaming match and us calming down.  He pointed out somethings, things I was afraid of but he made points I couldn't disagree on.  I decided to let my guard down."  

"So, do I get a thank you?"  Charlize asked.

I laughed.  "For what, to cause us to have a dysfunction mess at first?"

"Yeah, might have started that way, but look at where you two are now.  Do you think you would be here if I didn't leave you two alone that day for lunch?"  She asked.

I thought about it and she was right.  "I guess not."

"So..."  She looked at me smiling.

"Thank you, Charlize.  For bring us together to be dysfunctional mess then to falling back in love with each other."  I smiled.

"Oh, you are most welcome.  Just remember when you two exchange I dos to remember who got you two back together."  She cracked.  

I laughed.  "I swear, you are something else, Charlize."

"Yeah, I pretty fucking great, huh?"  She cracked.

We all laughed.  I was making female friends and it was a big deal.  I really started to like Seth's friends.  They made me feel like I could trust people again.  It felt nice to have that again, to have people on my side and not keeping them at arm's length.  It felt nice to let people in.

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