#(and then we go. hmmm i think nobody should ever know ANYTHING about us. the mask is safer. let’s be the mask.

[sunlessys]

as u can imagine. family holiday time has not been the most fun and relaxing thing we’ve ever done. it’s not as bad as it could be but going from being an out system in 90% of our life to being The Mask again has been tough and we can’t agree about how to manage it. some of us want to tell our family (and damn the consequences). some of us want to just let it go and commit to living a double life. some of us want to burn it all to the ground, who needs people we can’t trust to support us, and so on. nobody is having fun.

[kangshxrtie]

8 ➳ "personal photographer"

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after you picked yujin up you two went to a cafe in a plaza that you planned to walk around with her later. you went up to the counter to order two americanos for the both of you as yujin sat down at a table towards the back of the cafe. once the drinks were done and paid for, you grabbed them and took them to the table yujin chose. you sat down her drink in front of her and sat down across from her.

"so" yunjin took a sip of her drink before speaking again, "what's the plan for today"

"well since you're like successful and busy all the time. i thought we could walk around and explore" you explained.

"oh so you're my tour guide" yujin said with an amused smile on her face.

"yep i expect a nice tip after this" you joked.

"what forms of payment do you accept, because i can think of a nice one" yujin winked.

"like what?" you asked.

"something like a kiss" yujin boldly said. 

"you have to earn it" you leaned forward over the table, "i don't just kiss random people"

"then what am i here for then?" yujin joked as you leaned back and laughed.

"so you don't enjoy my company, you're only using me for your own pleasure" you faked an annoyed tone. 

yujin began to panic thinking she messed everything up, "wait no! i didn't mean it like that-i was just saying-"

you cut her off laughing, "i know yujin i was just joking"

"ah-okay" yujin visibly calmed down.

"you're also not a random person to me; you could kiss me anytime if you want to" you offered.

"even right now?" she asked to which you nodded at. 

yujin looked around to make sure nobody was looking before leaning over the table and giving you a quick kiss. she sat back down on her chair and took a sip of her drink to hide the blush forming on her face. 

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eventually, you two got bored of sitting in the restaurant you two decided to go outside and actually explore.

as you two walked down the street, yujin subtly tried to hold your hand, letting her hand brush against yours. you apparently didn't notice so yujin boldly entangled your hands together, your heart speeding up at the action.

you pointed out random shops and the best places to eat hoping yujin would note that down for future reference.

when you two stopped in random stores to shop around for things you were interested in. if you looked at an item for too long yujin would immediately offer to buy it for you.

yujin took a hat off the rack trying it on. she looked at you for approval to which you responded with, "yujin-ah, so pretty" you took out your phone taking multiple pictures with the flash on to act like paparazzi as yujin did some poses.

at that same store, you two tried on some more random accessories and took pictures together in a mirror.

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later on you two were at a convenience store for snacks. once you were both done picking out snacks, you went to sit down on a bench outside of the store.

"so, how are you enjoying my tour of the city?" you asked.

"i enjoy doing anything with you" yujin flirted.

"good because i tried my hardest today. i even gave you a personal photoshoot" you said.

"best tour guide i've ever had" yujin commented. 

"i have so many photos of you now" you laughed as you scrolled through the spam photos you took of yujin from the day.

"i could sell these and make a lot of money" you mumbled to yourself.

yujin leaned over your shoulder to look at the photos while you swiped, "you're actually really good at taking photos"

"it helps my subject was extremely pretty" you complimented.

yujin laughed lightly, "you should always take my photos from now on"

"shittt, i'll always be willing to take photos of you"

yujin's voice turned playful as she responded, "you wanna become my personal photographer?"

you began to think about it, "hmmm, what do i get out of it?"

"for starters, you'll get to be around me" yujin smiled at the thought.

"is that really a perk though?" you commented.

"secondly, you'll see me more"

"sounds the same as the first one to me"

"third, you'll get to take pictures of me"

"all these reasons don't seem beneficial to me at all"

"fine what would you want out of this?" you thought for a second trying to remember the connections yujin had.

"oh, can you introduce me to yena and minju!" you exclaimed catching yujin off guard with how excited you were, "please... i've been wanting to meet them for the longest time"

"i don't know if i want to after that..."

"sorry i'm just a really big fan"

"it almost seems like you like them more than you like me"

"it's just a slight celebrity crush" you shyly told yujin.

"do you have a celebrity crush on me?" yujin asked.

"well you're more of a regular crush" you tried to explain.

"but i'm a celebrity" yujin pouted.

"but we actually know each other so it's different"

"you like me the most though right?" yujin turned to look at you. 

you grabbed yujin's hand, "you know you're my favorite person though right"

"am i really?" yujin asked cutely.

"definitely i've never liked anybody as much as i like you" you admitted as you squeezed her hand.

yujin grinned, her mood improving almost immediately, "in that case, i guess i can tell them i want them to meet somebody important to me"

you tried to hide your excitement from yujin so she wouldn't get pouty again.

"you really are the best yujin" you said with a smile on your face.

"i know it's almost like you should date me or something" yujin said in a joking tone but she was 100% serious.

"chill. you gotta ask me first" you chuckled.

"will you accept when i actually do ask?"

"maybe we'll see" you definitely would say yes no matter what though. she could even ask you right now and you would say yes.

"i'll make sure you say yes" yujin stated.

main ➳ next

[boots-with-the-fur-club]

Chapter 5 of the reincarnation fic!! Please make sure to check the tags, this chapter deals with some potentially triggering situations.

@daboyau

@rottmnt-background-screenshots

Leo wakes up in frustration.

“It ends there? We barely started to hear anything! Tomo, did you get any memories about Haru?”

There’s silence.

“What?”

“You called me Tomo.” Donnie replies.

“…..You know what I meant!”

“No, I don’t remember anything about her. It’s only vague feelings.”

“Gram-Gram said that the dreams would be more unfocused. Maybe we’d have to tap into our ninpo again to see what he was talkin about.” Raph comments.

“But we can’t, dad won’t let us!” Mikey pouts.

Leo thinks for a moment.

“He stopped us because he thinks it’s dangerous right? So, if we got some more help, he’d probably let us. I say we call in an expert!”

“And who, pray tell, are we going to get?” Donnie raises an eyebrow.

Leo smirks.

“Aprilllll O’Neil is here! And I brought breakfast pizza.” She proudly holds up a stack of three boxes.

“Right on time and as glorious as ever.” Leo and her share a fist bump.

April sets the pizzas down on the table and sits next to them. They explain the situation while eating.

“Woah….that’s pretty heavy. You guys seriously can’t catch a break for even a second.”

“We might if you’ll help us!”

“Of course I will. I’ve said yes to a lot crazier things, and this’ll be easy.”

“You’re the best!” Mikey hugs her.

“Anything for you guys.” She pats his head.

They eventually head to Raph’s room, sitting in a circle like they did in the other room. April instructs them to do what they had done before, but also tells them to not think about the memories as theirs. She wants them to try to imagine themselves as observers to help with gaining access to different memories.

Everyone begins holding hands, leaving April and Donnie as the last ones. For some reason, he feels nervous. April smiles at him warmly which puts him at ease. He finally takes her hand and suddenly feels a memory bubble up to the surface.

April’s methods seemed to have worked too because he’s actually seeing Tomo and the room he’s currently in. He was practicing with a bo staff but sort of fumbling with it.

The sliding door to the room opened, causing him to drop the staff in surprise. Giggling starts coming from the open door.

“Haru! You scared me!”

“You knew I’d be here after your lesson, it’s not my fault!” She gets up from her kneeling position and closes the door behind herself.

“Nobody saw you?”

“I’m always super careful. No more talking, I want to help already!” She smiles and walks closer, picking up the extra bo staff from the floor.

“It’s not fair. I actually get training but you only sneak in to watch and you’re better than me.”

Haru moves the staff with somewhat more control than he had.

“It’s because you get too much in your own head. You’re letting everyone pressure you too much.”

“I’m supposed to be good at this. Everyone else is, you are. They should let you train, I don’t understand what being a girl has to do with it.”

“For some reason it means I need to focus on cooking and cleaning. I don’t hate it, I like knowing how to cook, but I want to do stuff like this too. I also think you should learn how to cook, you’re pretty bad at it.”

Tomo pouts.

“I’m bad at a lot of things apparently.”

“So what? You worry about now but you don’t think about later. Later, you’re going to be so good with the bo staff you might even be able to win against me.”

“I only have trouble because when you get bored you start holding it weird.“

“Weird? Hmmm….you mean….like this!?” She changes the position of her hands like it’s a bat.

“Haru no! Not again!”

“Fight me!” She starts chasing him.

He runs away, but they laugh harder the longer they run after each other.

Donnie wanted to find this nice, but considering how Tomo felt and what he knows, he’d be setting himself up for tragedy.

Tomo and Haru’s names are eventually called. They leave their bo staffs in the room, open up the door, and rush out.

The entire scenery changes. The room changes to one covered in what seemed like carefully crafted decorations. Haru was hunched over a small table that was low to the ground.

Donnie glances around to see where Tomo was and is surprised when he enters the room. April had mentioned being able to see what the others remembered using this view but Haru wasn’t here.

It shouldn’t be like this.

“Haru?” Tomo puts a hand on her shoulder.

She sits up, eyes filled with tears.

“I’m scared, Tomo.”

“What? Why? What happened? Has someone hurt you!?”

“N-No, mother keeps talking about being ready to get married when I’m older.”

“Oh….why are you scared? That won’t be for a while.”

“I asked her if she had someone picked out already. She does.”

“Is his family bad?”

“I don’t know, but what I do know is that they live in Tohoku.”

Tomo freezes.

“But….we live in Kyushu.”

Haru tears up more and nods.

“A letter a year, if I’m lucky. That’s how much we’d be able to talk to each other. I-If I’m not….it’s never again….”

Tomo tears up but quickly wipes his eyes.

“I can fix this, I’ll talk to mother, there has to be something I can do!” He turns to leave.

Haru grabs his sleeve.

“There’s no point! Please, Tomo, this isn’t something you fix. There’s nothing we can do.”

“Then what is this? What am I supposed to do?”

“L-Lie. Tell me it’ll be okay. Tell me that we won’t have to be separated. Tell me that we aren’t going to just stop talking one day and I’ll have to forget that you ever existed!” Haru grips his sleeve even tighter.

Tomo’s eyes widen before he barrels into her with a hug.

“Please, never forget me. I’m not a twin without you Haru! I don’t mean anything!”

She hugs him back as tightly as possible.

“We will never stop being twins. No matter what family I marry into. I’m sorry for what I said, I don’t want to forget you! I just hate it all! We won’t even have the same family name anymore! What will I have of you!?”

Tomo thinks for a moment and let’s go of her to untie the yellow cord from his hair.

“This.”

“Your…..kanzashi?”

“It’s not a lot, but it’s something nobody would take away from you or stop you from having.” He ties her hair up with it in a low ponytail.

She looks into a mirror.

“My hair looks just like yours always does.”

“You may not be able to see me in the future…..but you can remember what I look like. Obviously you’re a girl so it’ll change, but we have the same eyes and the same smile. You’re never going to be without me.”

Haru smiles.

“You’re the best brother ever.”

“I know that. I’m your only brother.”

“Then am I the best sister?”

“I don’t have any other choice.”

She turns to him and shoves his cheek. Neither of them seemed particularly upset despite it.

Everything changes once again. Haru and Tomo were sitting outside on the deck of their home. The leaves on the ground whirled around a bit in the wind.

“Tomo?”

“Yes?”

“You’d tell me if something bad was going to happen, right?”

“It depends.”

“Really? You wouldn’t just tell me?”

“Ask me the question you’re really thinking about.”

“You’ve been training a lot more. It makes me think something bad is happening. Is it?”

Tomo goes silent for a moment.

“I don’t know. I really don’t. Nobody is telling me anything either. I’m just….thinking about later, like you said.”

“I guess my advice wasn’t so bad, especially since you’ve gotten much better.”

“I started thinking about one thing instead of a lot of things. It helped.”

“Oh yeah? What?”

“Protecting you.”

“I don’t need protecting, you know that.”

“I know you’re better at it than me, but if there is a time you need my help I want to be ready. That’s all.”

“You’re lucky I know what a worrier you are or I’d be mad at you.”

“And you’re lucky you have a worrier looking after you.”

“I’m the older twin, I don’t need looking after either.”

“Only by five minutes!”

“It still counts!”

“You never let me forget it.”

“I’m just reminding you of the amazing fact that you never had to live in a world I didn’t exist.”

“But you had to be in pain for five whole minutes without me.”

She leans her head on his shoulder, kicking her legs a bit.

“Five minutes too long.”

There’s yet another location change, as well as season as there’s snow all over the ground.

Tomo and Haru seemed to be visiting an isolated temple with their parents. Several men surrounded them, highly on guard.

“Are we really safe out here?” Haru holds onto Tomo’s arm.

“This is a sacred place, that will make anyone think twice about hurting us.” Tomo tried to sound calm but he was just as nervous.

Their mother placed down a wooden board of food and began to pray in front of it.

Tomo couldn’t help but be distracted, scanning the forested area around them. Something bright in the trees catches his eye.

He immediately pulls Haru onto the floor, covering her with his body and shutting his eyes tight. He only opens his eyes when he hears a gurgling noise.

The food was splashed with red. He didn’t want to look higher than that. He didn’t have to.

“Tomo! What happened!?” Haru struggles against his weight.

He only covers her more, making sure she can’t see a thing.

The guards close in on them more. There’s a lot of shouting and chaos. Men start coming out from the forest. Then, suddenly, he and Haru are lifted from the ground. He still scrambles to try to somehow cover her eyes.

It doesn’t work.

“Mother! Mother!! Father, we can’t leave her behind! She’s hurt!“

“She’s dead! There’s nothing we can do!” Their father takes off running with them in his arms.

Haru sobs while Tomo is in a state of complete shock. He can’t say or do anything in response.

After some time of running, the same men from earlier are coming after them. There’s less than last time but they’re still outnumbered.

Their father takes a moment to place them on the ground before unsheathing his swords. He hands the smaller one to Tomo.

“Take this and protect your sister! Run! Now!”

Tomo snaps out of it almost immediately, grabbing Haru’s hand with the one that isn’t occupied before running off into the forest.

They could hear the clanging of metal behind them. The sounds of someone running in the snow joined moments after.

Tomo’s eyes dart around the landscape. Eventually, there’s a snow bank to his side. He stops, allowing Haru to get next to him, then shoves her in.

It was so thick she’d be covered if she kept still. He breathes heavily as the man chasing them comes into view. His hands refuse to stop shaking.

The man laughs at him. Tomo was the least intimidating thing in the world at the moment. Still, he tried to at least give himself a little bit of a chance.

He held the sword out as best he could. The man came quickly at him, so fast that there was no chance to do anything.

Haru suddenly jumped out from the snowbank. She grabbed the man’s legs, causing him to fall.

Once he gets his bearings back slightly, the man slices at her. Tomo screams and stabs at him until the man stops moving. Only when he’s sure he won’t hurt them anymore does he drop the sword and pull his sister away.

“Haru! Why couldn’t you just stay in the snow!?”

“I-I couldn’t just let him kill you. Y-You were going to die.”

Tomo tears up heavily as he looks for the wound. The breath is nearly knocked out of him when he sees how bad it is.

“But now…..”

“T-Tomo. I-It’s okay.”

“No! None of this is okay! I was supposed to keep you safe!”

“My….my biggest fear….do you know what it was?”

“Don’t say was!” He presses down on her wound.

She shouts in pain, trying to get him to stop.

“T-Tomo!”

“I’m not letting you die like this!”

She breathes heavily, no longer stopping him but leaving her hands on his.

“I-It was be-being in a world wh-where I didn’t have you….th-that’s why….” Her hands start slipping.

“No no no, don’t you do it! What about being twins!? Haru!”

She mumbles something.

He holds her up, hugging her.

“H-Haru?”

“….Re…flection….” She whispers.

Her body goes still.

Tomo screams out in anguish, not wanting to let her go even now.

Donnie feels like his heart is about to shatter. It’s somehow even worse than he imagined. He and his brothers came back. Their deaths weren’t exactly permanent. Haru was gone. Tomo was never getting her back.

He sees the yellow cord drop onto the snow from her hair. A cold wind picks it up, flying it away. Donnie knows he can’t exactly interact with a 1,000 year old memory but he can’t help but grab at it.

Surprisingly, it lands in his hand. This is the first time he’s looked at himself in this ninpo energy memory place as an observer. His hand was completely purple and sort of see through.

The yellow cord glows then morphs into a new shape. He was holding hands with Haru. There was hardly a moment to take this in before her form grows, changing again.

“April….?”

[lycanlovingvampyre]

MAG 150 Relisten

Activity on my first listen: mowing the lawn.

JON: "Statement of Herman Gorgoli, regarding his period trapped alone in a suburban area of Cheadle. Original statement written 9th November, 2014." Hmmm... "Statement of Laura Popham, regarding her experience exploring the Three Counties System of caves with her sister Alena Sanderson. Original statement given November the 9th, 2014." So, what does happen if two statements were given on the same day? Apparently nothing, if you missed the fact that they're given on the same day xD But if you don't even give it a case number "officially", then you'll get case #xxxxxxx-A or -B. (Also, it's funny that it's MAG 15 and MAG 150. Like, just added a 0 xD)

So I looked up Cheadle. I don't think I've ever seen a neighborhood like this on the mainland of Europe! These almost identical rows and rows of houses is something I've only encountered in the UK on this side of the pond. We totally have neighborhoods with rows of houses here, but every house looks different in shape or color or even style, all have different driveways, houses are positioned differently on each lot etc.

"I’ve never seen people happily living in a place so obviously dead." Oh static. Tell you what, I live in something that’s structurally build like a suburban neighborhood (I don't know what you actually call that in English...), just not near a city, it’s in a village on the country side. God I wish it was dead. There’s always so much going on, so noisy, it drives me crazy sometimes. And it's not like the other people living here seem unhappy, they like the buzz, they love getting randomly talked to by their neighbors and make stupid small talk...

"I didn’t even try to hide it, not really." Not really-counter of S4: 18!

"Every time I thought I’d found a main road that led out of this weird looping suburbia, a one-way sign seemed to spring up, directing me back into the sprawl. I did U-turn after U-turn as I was channeled into one dead-end cul-de-sac after another, until eventually I decided to simply disregard the one-way signs completely." This could just as well have been a Spiral statement!

"She was talking, or at least it sounded like she was, the cadence and the sounds were so much like English that it took me almost a full minute to realize that she wasn’t actually saying words." This is an effect that already happened in MAG 48 in the Lonely crowd!

Why did all the Road, Street, Way etc. get static but not the "BUY NOW"? I think that should have gotten supernatural attention too!

"I stumbled over my legs, still weak, and grabbed the handset which should have been long out of battery, and I stared at the glowing screen. It was Alberto. He was calling me." Why was that call able to come through? Was the statement-giver a victim because he lost all contacts? Was it the impression that nobody would ever think of him again? But then, his ex Alberto actually thinking of him and reaching out to him cut through that Lonely mantle?

"We’re working on it, the two of us. We’re not exactly back together yet, but I think it’s going well." Glad to hear something like this at the end of a statement. I don't think I would be able to get over a situation like this, cheating I mean, but some people can work it out and that's good for them!

"I checked to see if I could find anything about Yotunde Uthman, and I did find a few old social media profiles, but I wasn’t able to get through to any family or friends. As far as I can tell she disappeared a year ago and nobody noticed." Yeah, that sounds like the quirk of this particular manifestation was about people without anyone left to think of them, to worry about them, to care about them in any way or shape, even if it was just anger.

JON: "The Lonely is possibly the most insidious of the powers, I believe." Totally not biased right now xD (I'd say that the Web is the most insidious. Very subtle, gets you when you least expect it, plays the long game...)

JON: "even the spiders seem to have a hard time matching it for sheer seductiveness. (hmph) Time to yourself. Self-care. Putting yourself first." Yeah, that sounds more like it. The Lonely certainly has an appeal which is passively working.

JON: "Not being a burden on those you care about. Doesn’t even need to tell you any lies – just waits for the lies you tell yourself." Yeah :/ (This also sounds kind of Spiral-y. You don't need to get gaslighted constantly, it's enough to do it a few times to get the ball running and then it just happens on its own.)

MELANIE: "Look. (pause) I’m not going to do my job anymore." JON: "I am not sure I follow you. We can’t quit, we’ve all tried." MELANIE: "I didn’t say I was going to quit, I said I’m not going to do my job. No researching, no filing, no field trips, nothing that is going to help the Institute in any way. I’ll still be around, I just… I can’t be a part of this anymore. If – if I get sick, I get sick, and – and if I die –" Totally fair, if you can't get fired, why still playing their game... I'd assume none of them are actually "working" any more and are mostly doing their own research. Feels hard to believe they would still file fake statements for example xD Still, this begs the question whether not doing work for the Eye would make them sick. Staying away from the Institute did that to Tim (MAG 90).

JON: "What about the Unknowing? We saved the world." MELANIE: "Did we?" Does that count as foreshadowing?

MELANIE: "And he’s still doing harm. You ever think that maybe this whole ritual business is just an excuse, and that we’re all part of some huge, miserable fear machine?" JON: "I’ve… considered the possibility." Does THAT count as foreshadowing? xD

MELANIE: "Right, well. If I’m just another cog, maybe I can’t leave the machine, but from this moment I’m not turning. I’m jammed." Too bad she already fulfilled her purpose... But if it hadn't been Melanie Elias or the Web would have found another solution.

JON: "Melanie, could you – could you describe your therapist for me?" MELANIE: (laughing) "What, you think I wouldn’t notice if she had cobwebs down her face?" That was quite a mean red herring. We heard a brief section of a therapy session in MAG 136, a Web statement featuring Annabelle.

JON: "Okay. (sigh) It’s just… the Web can be subtle, you understand?" MELANIE: "And? For all you know its plan is to paralyze you with indecision. Leaving you sitting here, terrified that everything you do is somehow all part of its grand plan." Does THAT count as foreshadowing?? xDD

And last but not least we get Daisy trivia! Very good, I like! 

@a-mag-a-day

[nanalikessurveys]

What’s your current favorite song at the moment? I never have a favorite song these days. The last song I listened to more than once was Nobody’s business by Rihanna and I meannnn it’s good?

Have you ever read any self-help books? I have a feeling I have but I have no memory of it. That’s not the book genre I’d normally go for.

What was the last book you read? Dernières nouvelles des choses: Une expérience philosophique by Roger-Pol Droit.

Do you thank the bus driver?

No, I would have to raise my voice for the driver to hear me and I hate raising my voice, especially in public settings.

How many tabs are open right now? 8 tabs. I like to toggle between different sites often so I want to have multiple tabs open.

Have you ever had your heart broken? I guess. Nothing super serious but it still affected me a lot.

Do you wear makeup much? I always do my brows if I go outside because my brows are very blonde and it just looks like I have no eyebrows and that doesn’t look good on me. But I like wearing other products as well quite often, makes me look prettier.

When was the last time you flirted? I don’t know. Never?

What should you be doing right now? Nothing I should be doing. I could go to bed since it’s almost midnight but I don’t feel like doing that just yet. And I don’t have any reason to wake up early tomorrow, so.

Do you usually get good grades at school? In elementary school, kinda. In middle school, no. In high school, yes.

How did you and your first best-friend meet? My first best friend was in the same class in elementary school as me. We’re not friends anymore since our friendship started fading away during middle school.

Do you like short hair on girls? I like girls with short hair and girls with long hair.

How about long hair on guys? ^ same thing.

When was the last time someone told you they loved you? I don’t know.

Are you a righty or a lefty? Righty.

Do you think someone’s thinking about you? Most likely no.

What is your favorite month? The months from october to february.

What is your favorite color? I like all the colors. I guess I still always say purple and (dark) blue.

Who was your last phone call from? From my mom.

Have you ever trusted someone you wish you wouldn’t have? Yeah, I trust people way too easily.

What color are your eyes? Blue/grey/green/idk.

If you could go back in time and change things, would you? Noo. I’ve seen The Back to the Future enough times to know it’s not worth it.

Do you like your smile? No. I used to not even think anything of my smile but for some annoying reason for the past couple years I’ve become aware of my smile and came to the conclusion that I don’t like it.

What made you the happiest today? I made homemade bread and it turned out perfect.

Who was the last boy you texted? Idk. My dad? lol

Do you get along with your parents? Yes. I’m not close with my dad but we get along perfectly fine.

Are you scared of needles? I’m not. I don’t know if this is a little goofy but I like getting my blood drawn. I like the little pinch it gives me.

Do you believe love can last forever? Of course. 

Do you like the ocean? Hmmm, sure. I don’t have strong feelings about it but it’s nice.

Are you allergic to anything? If so, what? To penicillin. Also I get really particularly big bumps from mosquito bites.

Do you know anyone who is/was a drug addict? No.

What is currently the most tan spot on your body right now? I uhhh…don’t know. My skin color is equally distributed haha?? < Lol same.

What is your dream job? I have no idea.

Would you say you are ‘popular’? Nope. I honestly love that now. I like having only a small circle of people around me.

Do you tend to cave into peer pressure? No.

Have you lost anyone close to you? No one close to me has died. Except for our cat when I was about 10.

Would you say that you are an intelligent person? I think I have pretty good “social intelligence”. I can read people really well. I have a lot of thoughts and I always like to examine everything from different prespectives. But I’m not good at things like problem-solving, planning etc. I am a slow learner and don’t have the attentiveness to even learn.

Who was the last person to hurt you? My best friend.

Are good-byes easy or hard for you? Hard, because I get attached to people very easily.

[thenightmarebluntrotation]

we told the host’s girlfriend about our first in system relationship and it went.. bad lol

we basically live two lives right now, the main bulk of the system vs dandelion. we live with his girlfriend so whenever she’s awake he’s pulled to the front and spends time with her, and whenever she’s not awake the rest of us scramble for some time in the body. this has led to resentment where any time dandelion is co-con with us when his gf is asleep, everyone’s like ‘fuck off and let us do our own stuff’

it’s not healthy so we’re trying to encourage headmates to do what they want whenever they front regardless of what time of day it is or who’s around, but it’s been so long in this routine that dandy’s girlfriend just takes it at face value that any time we spend with her is dandy’s time. when she speaks to us expecting him it pulls him to the front and pushes anyone else back inside, she doesn’t really ask who’s around unless she walks in on us upstairs because she knows echo likes to watch youtube or do art in there, but we just really wish she knew that it could be any one of us at any time.

the more integrated we get and the better at controlling switches we get, the more scared she becomes. she’s like begging dandelion to go to the doctor’s (we live in england so there’s no point) but we’re concerned about what she thinks will happen if we did manage to get help ?? she said she doesn’t want us to go away and we’re like hmmm ok sure. we also planned as a system to not seek help until we live in a safe environment and she wants to overrule our decision. it makes us think, would she sympathise if we refused to see a therapist who has a bunch of red flags? if we got put on a waiting list to see a specialist and it turned out they wanted final fusion for us and wouldn’t accept any other goal we would immediately leave, but now we’re scared of what would happen if we see a shitty therapist and then stop going, would dandy’s girlfriend just leave him ??

on one hand it’s like, if she cares so little about mine and echo’s relationship then why should i care about hers, but i’ve only been back a few weeks and i’m told that a lot of our stability and system structure depends on dandelion, who couldn’t be the host if she wasn’t with him. aside from dandy getting emotional support from her, echo is friends with her (which is why it fucking stings so much that she can’t be happy for us -echo) and we all live with her and depend on her for everyday things.

there’s a contingency plan in place for if they ever break up, which is that dandelion will go into hibernation for a few years and itchy will resume his role as the host, but nobody wants that. not because itchy is a bad host or anything but just because dandelion has been the host for four years now and we don’t want to have to adjust to whatever system changes come with it. my first impression of dandy’s girlfriend is a bad one but apparently this isn’t representative of her usual attitude towards us. i think the reason she was okay with everyone else but not me is because i present a shift in dynamics, which is.. it fucking sucks that mine and echo’s happiness is a bad thing for her but it’s whatever.

-ramone

[byler-4-life]

So, I might've done a second, more substantial part to this little drabble here, since people seemed to like it. Shout out to @thebrokengate for putting the idea of Byler patching each other up in the Upside Down into my head. Check it out.

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

The foreboding boom of thunder. The random screech of a demobat as it streaked by outside. The heavy breathing of two teenaged boys. Those are the only sounds to be heard as Will works in silence, trying to patch up the bloody gash on Mike's lower leg, the pair of them sat on the floor of the Byers' kitchen. Yeah it's not really the Byers house anymore, in the real world. But for some reason time was frozen here in the Upside Down, back on the day Will disappeared. So it was still the Byers house here. Which, thankfully, meant Will knew where to find the first aid kit along with a sharp knife to cut off the lower part of Mike's denim jeans so he could clean and bandage the wound properly.

"Hey, this remind you of anything?" Mike asked suddenly, causing Will to look up. He was surprised to see his friend was actually grinning.

"Come on," Mike prompted. "I mean, the roles were reversed, but...the bloody leg, nobody else home, the entire contents of the first aid kit spread all over the kitchen..."

Will let out a chuckle in spite of himself. "Not the Great Bicycle Crash of 1981!"

They had only been 9 or 10 years old when it happened. The two of them off biking around town on a warm summer's day. Will had been so entranced by Mike's new trick of being able to ride with no hands, he hadn't been watching where he was going (though looking back at it now, he might've just been entranced by Mike and not fully known why yet). The end result had been a nasty scrape on Will's knee, accompanied by not a small amount of blood. Since they were closer to Will's house, and no one was home, they had made their way there to fix Will up. At the time, Will had been very proud that he only cried a little bit. He didn't want Mike to think he was a baby.

"Man, I think I must've used half the bandages in the box when all was said and done," Mike said, shaking his head.

"You always have taken care of me," Will replied softly. He couldn't help the fondness creeping into his voice.

"Not always," Mike said bitterly.

Will's head snapped up to meet Mike's eyes, hating the remorseful look he saw in them. He knew exactly without even asking what Mike was referring to, that time surrounding the Byers move to California. "Hey, we talked about this. Whatever happened during that year, it's in the past. You weren't the only one to blame, okay? And trust me...what you've done for me before that...and what you just did for me now? Willingly risking your own life by following me into the Upside Down? That far outweighs a few missed phone calls. Okay?"

Mike looked like he wanted to press the point further, but Will just stared at him until he sighed in resignation. "Fine, deal. But only if you let me take care of that scratch on your shoulder. It's bleeding a little more than I thought."

Will hummed an affirmative as he finished tying off the bandage on Mike's leg before spinning around to give the other boy access. He could feel where it was, almost where his shoulder met his neck. It was more of a stinging than actual pain, but any open wound down here probably wasn't good. He couldn't see him from their current positions, but he felt a small burn as Mike cleaned the wound.

"Hmmm...this. This is how it should be," Mike murmured as he smoothed a bandage out over the offending area.

"What? Both of us a bloody mess on the kitchen floor?" Will cracked.

"No! No, dummy," Mike huffed, a small laugh betraying his words. "No. I'm...I'm just saying, you know...if you ever need it, I want to be the one to help put the Band-Aids on. I never want to be the reason that you feel you have to rip the Band-Aid off."

Will's breath caught. Was Mike....was he really bringing up that conversation now? It had to be that, right? The phrasing was too perfect a match to be a coincidence. Mike had asked Will about the painting before and why he lied. He had been angry then, and Will had just frozen up, not knowing how to respond. Mike had reluctantly let it go, but now...

"Mike?" Will turned so he could see his friend's face. There was no anger in it now, like last time. There was something different in his expression. An earnestness, an openness, a flicker of....hope? But right as the dark-haired boy opened his mouth to continue, the howl of a pack of demodogs broke through the relative silence. They had likely followed the scent of blood and now were close. Not too close, but still...they had to move.

"To be continued?" Mike asked hopefully as the two got back to their feet.

Will gave Mike a long look, a strange yet familiar feeling blooming in his own chest. One he hadn't allowed himself to feel in a long time. His own flicker of hope. "Yeah, definitely. To be continued."

With that, the pair took off out the back door and into the awaiting hellscape, bloody and bruised, but not defeated.

[darkdevasofdestruction]

Brahms's Lullaby ~ Brahms Heelshire x Reader

Note: Why do I love Brahms? Fuck if I know. Anyway, this is what happens when a a meek, cute girl moves away from her old life to turn the page and find herself once again...And yet, her dark past quite literally comes back to haunt her.

'That's one huge manor...' Y/N thought to herself, the back of her neck straining as she scanned it from the bottom to the very top of the roof. The grip on her luggage tightened as she gulped in anxiety, and after taking a few deep breaths, she entered in this house, and immediately got greeted by the elderly woman who was the mistress of the house.

Y/N wasn't sure if it was her who was just nervous about the drastic change in her life, or if the woman was simply incredibly intimidating, but hey, as far as she was concerned, this woman won't be staying with her, so she will be all alone in the house, taking care of a child...How bad could it be?

Oh wait. Y/N hates children. They are so loud, bratty, obnoxious, entitled, rude...And the list could go on for ages, but she couldn't loiter in her mind any longer, and instead, she had to memorise where each room was, and what instructions the woman was saying.

She couldn't believe it, but she was glad she chose to wear a pair of comfortable sneakers, for she kinda got tired going up and down the manor...But what could she do anyway?

The kitchen got introduced to her, the woman told her to keep the leftovers in the freezer, told her about Malcom the delivery boy and how he's the only one allowed to bring her stuff. Weird, but what could she do? P'haps the child has a very strict routine that they must stick to, otherwise they'll feel weird and uncomfortable. Who knows?

And then, she showed her the music room, and while she wasn't paying much attention to the woman who turned on the music on the radio rather loud, Y/N looked around, inspecting the musical instruments, especially the piano, and the music sheets neatly displayed - "Brahms's Lullaby" it was called.

"Oh, is the child a fan of Johannes Brahms?" Y/N asked with a soft smile on her face, as she gently traced her fingers over the keys. "Yes, he is. In fact, the child is called Brahms." the woman spoke a bit sharply, looking her up and down with eyes that almost seemed...Judging, for some reason. "What a lovely name. When will I meet little Brahmsy?" she asked, and as soon as she used that nickname, the woman's jaw got set, and Y/N could swear she was gritting her teeth in anger at her. "...Brahms. His name is Brahms. You will meet him right now. Come on." the woman went on ahead and opened a room, where a doll was sitting in a chair, neatly dressed like a gentleman, while next to him, crouching, an elderly man, who she could only assume was the woman's husband, the master of the house. "Oh, my dear Brahms...This is Y/N, she is here to be your new nanny. Miss L/N, this us Brahms, and he will decide whether he accepts you or not." ...a doll? She...Has to babysit...A doll? Well...The pay is good, and she's veeeery far away from her old home, so...No new beginning happens within your comfort zone, right? "Hello, Brahms, it's great meeting you. I hope we'll get along well." with a sweet smile on her face, Y/N crouched down if front of the chair and took the little hand of the doll, shaking it carefully. "...Fine enough. Now, could you give us some time alone? Brahms will decide now." with that look on her face, while the old man looked at her with pity, and...Relief, maybe? Y/N exited the room, only to see a man standing in front of her, wearing an amiable smile. "Oh, hello there, you must be the new nanny. I'm Malcom, the delivery boy. Well, delivery man. Nice to meet you." very charming... "Ah, yes, I've heard about you. My name is Y/N, nice meeting you as well." she replied politely, although she could sense the flirt he was failing to put forward. "If you want, some day, I can show you around the town. It's small, but kinda pretty." he continued in the same manner, and Y/N replied with simple answers, until finally, the woman opened the door widely, with an even wider smile. "Brahms has decided that you are suitable to be his new nanny, congratulations." how the human behaviour can change so drastically, doing a whole 180, in a split second. "Thank you so much for accepting me, Brahms! I'm sure we'll get along well!" Y/N clapped her hands together to her chest in a cheerful manner, as the elder man left as well, allowing his wife some more farewell words with the doll. "Here, I made you a simplified list of rules you must follow. You don't have to wake up at 7 in the morning every day like my wife told you, but you must make sure all of these are taken care of, alright, miss L/N?" the man asked, handing her the paper which she attentively read. "Yes, of course, I will do as instructed without fail. Thank you for having trust in me with your dear Brahms. Have a lovely trip and I hope you get a well-deserved rest!" Y/N wished them, and for a split second, she almost thought the man's eyes flashed with shock and sorrow. What was going on anyway...? This family is...Peculiar, to say the least. Well, no matter, she will be paid weekly, and with the pretty generous amount she earned while working as a doctor, she should be able to afford anything she'd want, so she won't get bored.

And so, the Heelshires left, and she was all alone with the doll - Y/N decided to make her new bedroom to her liking, as much as possible, with Brahms sitting on a nightstand, as she was humming whatever tune that went in her mind, and swaying carefreely.

"You know, Brahms? I wasn't expecting you to be a doll. But frankly, I think this is better. Children are annoying...But you? You're really nice. And you're not loud or obnoxious. I think we'll be great friends." speaking to a doll...I guess that's how far in my loneliness I've gotten. Tragic, really...She thought as she realised how much of a crazy person she'd look like, were someone to see her. "Since it's already evening, let's go make some really good dinner, and then we can play the piano a bit? Maybe even watch a movie together?" she picked up the doll and went to the kitchen, and looking in the fridge, then at the utensils available, she put together a nice dinner, and put it split in two plates, one for her, and one for the doll, and to keep away the boring silence that hung painfully throughout the house, she put on some LoFi music on her phone, and ate, feeling more peace now than she ever did. "Hmmm...I know your mum told me to put the food in the freezer...But it's better eaten while still warm. I don't think you'll like it if it's stone cold...So, I'll leave it here, on the table, and see how it is. If you don't like it, and you want me to put it in the fridge, just tell me, and I'll do as advised." ...Just tell me? JUST TELL ME? Girl, are you out of your mind?! As if a doll could speak...

After she washed her plate, fork and knife, she picked up the doll once again, and went to the music room, putting the doll on the piano, and cracking her fingers, she let them glide over the claviature, creating a beautiful melody echo through the room, and maybe Y/N didn't realise, but she had a glowing smile on her face, and she visibly relaxed and felt at ease, as if she was flying through the fluffy clouds.

"I haven't done this in so long, I'm surprise I'm not rustier. I hope you liked it too, Brahmsy. Now, let's go to be. Do you want to sleep in my room? Come on, I'm a bit anxious to sleep by myself in this huge, creepy house." she mused as she got to her room, carefully putting the doll on her pillow and after going to the bathroom to change in her cutesy Unicorn Pusheen nightgown, and turning on her laptop, she put on Harry Potter, one of her comfort movies, and cuddling with the doll, she gave it a little kiss before getting engulfed in the story once again, and falling asleep without realising.

Everything was peaceful in the house in the morning, until Y/N reached the kitchen to make some light breakfast, only to find a paper on the table, with beautiful cursive writing in ink on it.

"Warm is better, thank you :) "

Frankly speaking, it freaked her our enough to get a panic attack and barricade herself in her room for the whole day, her bedroom locked and too afraid to leave that place for the whole day.

Oops.

After this, days on end, and then weeks passed by uneventfully, as Y/N took care of Brahms with no problem, Malcom came by to give her the groceries, the pay and anything that she'd order online, she'd chat with some old friends, would watch movies, would go out to plant flowers and tend to the garden, would dance around, happy to bask in the warm Summer sun, would read whatever books she likes, with the doll in her lap, and she realised that she never felt more relaxed and free in her life.

It was pretty cool not having to work for money, huh?

But one day, when she was out in the garden, barefoot and with a cute, flower dress on, her long, beautiful hair, accessorised with a colourful flower crown, and she was dancing to the music on her phone, she noticed a figure somewhere from the forest. It was unmoving, almost as if it was staring, and it startled Y/N. It startled and frightened her so much that she quickly picked up the doll and went inside the house, making sure all windows and doors are properly locked, and the drapes are closed, so nobody could get in.

That night, she kneeled on the bad, an upset frown on her face, as she felt her eyes watering slightly, looking down at the porcelain doll of the little boy.

"It's moments like this when I hoped you were human, Brahmsy. Not a child...But a man. I'm scared...I'm so scared...I don't like being alone. There was some creep outside in the forest, and it was staring at us. What do I do, Brahmsy? What am I supposed to do...?" as she felt a few tears streaming down her face, she sighed, hanging her head down, raking her fingers down her face in mild desperation. "...Who am I kidding, you're just a doll, you're not human. Why the hell do I even bother. I'm going to die here, sooner or later..." her voice was filled with dread and resignation as she got under the covers, clinging onto the doll as if her very life depended on it.

Since that very day, she continued seeing the silhouette of a tall man, standing there, menacingly stalking her every single day, from different places, until she heard the phone ring, and reluctantly, she answered.

"...Hello? Who is there...?" she muttered, gripping the phone anxiously, awaiting and answer. "You don't recognise the voice of the man that made you feel good every night?" her breath stopped completely hearing that awful voice she hoped never to hear again. Instead of answering, she slammed the phone down.

But it rang again.

And again.

And again.

Until it drove her mad and she disconnected it completely.

It wasn't like anyone would call her anyway, and if they wanted to contact her, then they could text her on her private phone, or on social media.

Why can't she just get some peace anywhere? She just wanted to get away from all hell she was put through at home...But now, it seemed like Hell was inclined to follow her to the ends of the world.

The stress and fright from this increased when she received multiple pictures of herself from either outside the house, or even inside, which is when she realised the stalked from outside was, in fact, the one who called her on the phone. It was her horrible ex.

And one horrible night, as she gripped on the doll to dear life, walking down the corridors of the huge manor, checking for the thousandth time that everything is locked tight, she heard a noise.

What was she supposed to do...? She couldn't run out of the house, everything was locked...And could she hide? Not really, she was sure he'd check all the rooms without fail.

So...What could she do except try to hide in her room?

She waited in her wardrobe, knowing very well that, if he were to get inside her bedroom, he would check every nook and cranny, but even so, she felt safer in a cramped, tight place, than outside in such an open room.

Mere seconds felt like outright centuries, she heard the door slam open, making her jump in fright, her hand to her mouth, so she'd muffle any sound she'd potentially make from her hyperventilating. She knew, it would be long before he checked the wardrobe, but gosh...The anticipation made her anxiety skyrocket.

Until it finally happened.

Y/N found herself being dragged from inside her safe place by the hair, thrown to the ground, but not once did she let go of the doll that became some sort of a comfort object for her.

"So that's where you were, Y/N! I missed you! It's been a while, hasn't it?" oh no, that overly sweet voice...It's nothing but poison. It was so bad that her bottom lip started quivering with fear as she tried to crawl away from there, but obviously, to no avail. "Wheeeere are you going, darling? Didn't you miss me? Come on, give me a hug!" he grinned, grabbing her and trapping her in his arms, and she couldn't help but tremble in disgust and fear as she felt his hands roaming in places it shouldn't. "Why aren't you talking to me? Why aren't you saying anything? Come on, let me hear you voice! ...DO SOMETHING, DAMN IT!" ah, his facade crumbled much faster than expected, and that aggressive scream in her face as he roughly pushed her in the wardrobe door made her whimper and wrap herself around the doll, trying not to let tears fall down her face and just...Praying for all this to be over...To be just a nightmare..."What the fuck is with that doll anyway? Why do you cling on it, and not on me? Give that here." but she didn't let go, and seeing how she was opposing him, he forcefully grabbed her face before slapping her before snatching away the doll from her arms. "Sheesh...It's so fucking ugly. No wonder you stay with this, it's the only thing that would stay with someone like you. So ugly, dumb, annoying...You should be grateful that I'm here! Nobody in this world wants you! You're worthless and you deserve nothing. Do you hear me? You ARE nothing! Better thank me nicely for coming all the way here for you! Nobody would bother doing ANYTHING for you!" he yelled at her, as she cradled her face, crying, but also fearing being seen crying, remembering how bad it would get. "Don't her Brahms...Please...Please don't hurt him..." she begged and pleaded over and over, but it only seemed to ignite more anger in his eyes. "You only beg me with that sweet voice of yours...To save your stupid...Thing? Really, Y/N? You're pathetic. You're stupid. You're disgusting. Fuck you and fuck your stupid doll!" and with that, the jerk started slamming the fragile porcelain doll on the wall, ignoring the desperate pleas from the girl. "NO! NOOOOOOOO! No....! Brahms, no...! What has he done to you..." Y/N crawled to the place where the doll's porcelain head was slammed apart, and she let tears fall over as, with shaky hands, she tried to piece together the overly-fragmented head, only to get pulled back by the hair and slammed on the ground, as he pushed himself upon her, his hands grabbing at her exposed flesh, her light nightgown offering close to no protection from the lecherous predator, and her weak, noodle arms, just like before, offered no resistance to his significantly stronger, bulkier built, and no matter how much she tried to fight back, she knew...She knew that struggling never helped, no matter how much she tried. It never did. And it only made it hurt more.

But then...Before she knew it, a loud noise, like that of an explosion, or destruction, came from somewhere in the room, startling the poor girl enough to make her scream in fright, while the predator jumped to his feet looking at the hole in the wall...

Only for a pair of hands to slowly creep out of the wall, tredging along the wooden walls, and then, a head wearing a porcelain mask creepily got out, followed by 2 legs and a body. It seemed to be a man, very tall - In fact, taller than her ex - , but while yes, his dramatic entrance startled the two, the man only got angrier, ready to fight the intruder, while the petite girl only got more frightened by the commotion, dragging herself in the safest corner of the room, shaking, guarding her head with both her arms, hoping again and again that this was all a nightmare, and it would end already - It was beginning to look so much more incredible, like a weird fantasy movie...This can't be real, right?!

"Y/N! Help me!" the voice of a child called out her name, almost strangled and desperate, and peeking at the brawl on the ground, she noticed her ex trying to strangle the stranger, whose head was leaning, his eyes fixated on hers.

He went out of the wall as soon as she got attacked...He was trying to protect her...Maybe? So...She got up, trying not to attract the attention of her ex, and taking ahold of the lamp on her nightstand, she brought it down hard against her ex's head, making him groan in pain...But he didn't fall. He didn't faint, like you see in movies. Instead, he got up, glaring at the meek girl and snatched away the lamp, throwing it away.

"You fucking bitch...Now you've done it." his voice was so dark that she was sure this was game over, so she bolted out of the room as fast as she could, but the labyrinthine house was impossible to navigate, and before she knew it, she found herself in a dead end, with no escape.

However, instead of seeing her ex with the wrath of a raging bull, she noticed the stranger slowly making his way towards her, his shoulder slouched, his dirty, once white, tank top now splattered with fresh blood, as is the rest of his outfit. But his hands were up, almost as if to say that he 'surrenders', as he stepped right in front of the trembling girl.

"Please don't kill me. Please don't hurt me. Please, please, please, I will leave you alone, I will go away, I will do want you want, please don't hurt me." even her voice was shaky, her arms crossed to protect her face, and her eyes closed in fear, so she didn't notice the curly haired man slowly crouching down in front of her, his head tilting slowly, before he gingerly grasped her wrists, pulling them away with such gentleness that she never knew. It was so weird for someone to be so careful with her body...With her...That she opened her eyes, doe-like, looking at the man's wide eyes that peered through his mask. "I am Brahms." but this time, his voice wasn't like that of a child, but not did it sound rough and hoarse, like her ex's. It was soft and delicate, masculine, but not too much. It was soothing. And what Brahms once saw to be the most frightened eyes, remembering how scared Bambi was when his mother died, yet now, they had more of a curious spark. "I won't hurt you. I promise. Don't leave." the once tense girl visibly relaxed under his touch, as he let go of her wrists and letting his knees touch the floor, he leaned forwards, between her legs, to get closer to her, and touched her face with both of his arms, wiping away her tears, surprised at how soft her skin was...Is it was a flower petal feels like? He remembers overly descriptive books where women are seen as different delicate things...A flower, a fawn, a butterfly, a nightingale, the Moon, and so many others...And he could finally understand why. "You are safe now." he continued, thinking it would make the girl smile, but instead, even more tears leaked down her face, and she threw her arms around his neck, bringing him closer to her, his body flushed to hers...And he stood there, stiff, shocked at the situation he was in.

What was he supposed to do now? Touch was so foreign to him...But he loved it so much! It was so warm, it made him happy! He wanted the girl to be closer and closer to him. He remembers what she did daily to his doll - What was it called...A cuddle? - Yes, he wanted that. He NEEDED that.

He hated that man touching her - He was hurting her - Only HE can touch her. He deserved to die. He deserved to fuck off. All he has to do is get rid of the body, and the rest can go on as it always has been - Except, instead of Y/N cuddling the doll, she will cuddle him every night, and she will kiss him.

"Thank you, Brahmsy. Thank you. Thank you so much." she continued thanking him over and over again, but he didn't answer. Instead, his hands slowly made their way on her waist, then went to the curvature of her hips, then to her thighs, and without any warning, he lifted her up, indirectly forcing her to glue herself to him even more - Not before hearing her cute squeal of surprise - And he carried her to one of the guest bedrooms, shivering a bit as he felt her warm breath on his bare neck - It excited him, but he didn't understand really what it was - But it was enough to make him bite his lip behind the mask and his grip on her thighs strengthened a bit, under the pretext of making sure she doesn't fall by mistake.

Luckily, he reached the bedroom and closing the door behind, he got in bed, holding her close as she stood in his lap, so close that he could feel her rapid heartbeat slowing down little by little. It was no misunderstanding, she was getting more and more comfortable around him. He was her protector, and he wasn't going to let anyone hurt her ever again. She was his. Nobody else's. Only his.

They stood like that for a while, just holding each other and calming down, before Brahms turned the both of them to the side, and he hugged her tightly to his chest, playing with her hair, not letting her go for the whole night. His embrace was warm, and Y/N felt so safe - As never before, not even in her parents' home. She felt...Good.

The next day, she woke up still in Brahms's arms. She wasn't sure if he woke up or not, but she leaned to plant a soft kiss on the forehead of the mask, as she raked her fingers through his dark, curly hair, but before she knew it, a pair of arms wrapped around her torso, hugging her close to his chest.

"Good morning, Brahms. Did you sleep well?" her sleepy voice was so cute...He wanted to wake like this every day...As an answer, he merely nodded. "I'm happy to hear that. Come on, we have to eat breakfast, then take a shower...And after that, we can do whatever we want. Sounds good?" she asked, getting up and holding his arms, urging him to follow her. "No shower!" ah, the childish voice again, I see... "Then...How about I shower with you? I have some cute rubber duckies, if you want." she tried to appeal to his inner child, which seemed to pique his interest. "...Only if you wash me." he muttered, making the girl chuckle. "Okay, sure, sure. Let's eat something first. I think there's some milk and cereal." she remembered how much she loved to eat that every morning before going to school, when she was little.

She prepared two bowls and they ate in silence, until Brahms muttered that he wants to hear the music she usually puts when eating - And grinning at him, she put on LoFi music once again, which seemed to make the boy happy too.

After that, they went to the bathroom, and while Brahms waited for the tub to get filled, Y/N went to get the clothes in the washing machine, while getting some fresh clothes for the both of them. Apparently, he actually had other clothes, he just didn't want to bother washing or changing...For who knows how long...

As Brahms got in the tub, only briefs on, playing with the duckies, Y/N kneeled by the tub, taking the flower-scented showed gel and the sponge.

"Get in the tub too." Brahms put his arms on the tub edge, leaning his chin on them, looking at her attentively. "We don't have much space in the tub." she explained, but he had none of it. Instead, he rose from underneath the water, picked her up with a weird ease, and got her in the tub, not before splashing her, so her nightgown was soaked so she couldn't protest anymore. "...Fine, you got me. Let me clean you, then." she shook her head with a sigh as she heard him chuckle, gripping her wrists and pulling her to sit on his lap. Did he really like it that much, she wondered. "Can I shave your chest and neck, Brahms?" she asked as she trailed her hands over his chest, shoulders and arms, scrubbing with a sponge, one hand always finding its way on either her hip or her leg. The answer came in the form of a nod, and she reached to the sink to get a shaving blade and very carefully, making sure not to irritate his skin, or cut him by mistake, she cut down the overgrown, stinky, unwashed hair. In the end, his skin was finally clean and soft and smelling like roses and vanilla. "Let me sit behind you, I have to wash your hair." he seemed pretty exited, feeling her legs on either side of him, his head leaning back so her fingers could work miracles - He felt in heaven - He was so spoiled, and he loved every second of it. The shampoo smelled really nicely too, he had to admit. But her fingers massaging his scalp...Ahhh, it was so perfect, he was almost sure he'd fall asleep. "Let me wash you too!" he said, and in a split second, he could feel the girl's body stiffen, her eyes going wide, and her face...It was beginning to turn pink...? Was she...Blushing? "Ah, uhm...Well...Y-You can wash my hair, if you want?" she was stuttering! So cute! So cute, in fact, that he pinched both her cheeks, and they felt like marshmallows. "H-Hey, stop, that hurts." she pouted as he teased her. He loved that. "Yay!" Brahms cheered as he got her back glued to his chest, his hand gingerly tracing her neck, making her lean her head back, just as he did...But why did he like the sight of his hand wrapped around her neck? He didn't want to hurt her...But the visual was getting him feel weird things.

He followed the same routine as she did to him - Massaging her scalp, putting shampoo, rinsing, then this...Conditioner? Oh, it smelled nicely...And this is called...Hair mask? Ah, this is coconut scented! And she is smiling! She has a kitty smile! She looks like a cute little kitty!

After the bath time was over, Y/N wrapped him in a bathrobe, and while he wasn't paying attention, she quickly took off her nightgown and put another bathrobe on tying it tightly, and guiding the man back to their room, so she could use a hair dryer to dry both their hair, before brushing it neatly, so they could dress up...And he insisted she dressed in that cute, flowy, flower-patterned dress

"There, all good. What do you want to do now, Brahmsy? Do you want to go in the garden and see the flowers?" she asked, a bright smile on her face, both her hands holding his, and he could see her eyes were basically glimmering, pleading him to go out with her...But he hated the outside...Hmmm...

He grumbled a bit, but ultimately, he let himself be dragged outside - He hissed a bit, as if he was a vampire getting burnt by the sun, but after a while...He didn't find it that bad...? And the flowers in the garden were so pretty...!

"Hey, Brahms, take off your shoes and socks. Feel the grass. It will make you feel so calm and peaceful...Here, how do you feel?" she asked, intertwining her fingers with his. "It's...It tickles." he muttered, looking down and wiggling his toes to get used to it. "Come sit down with me. Watching the clouds is really relaxing." she said, helping him sit down, then laying on their backs. Instead of staying apart, however, Brahms pulled her close to his chest, her head resting on his shoulder. "...But it's kinda boring..." he muttered, as he started kneading her arm up and down, massaging it from sheer boredom. "Look, Brahmsy, that cloud looks like a bunny, don't you think?" she put her finger up in the air, pointing to one of the clouds passing by. "Ah! You're right! And that one looks like a dragon! And that one looks like a butterfly! Look, Y/N, it's so pretty!" his boredom dissipated quickly and it got replaced by excitement instead - Very wholesome, the girl thought as she looked at the person next to her getting so happy over such simple things.

They stood outside until evening came, and they could watch the beautiful sunset, the sky painted with the most gorgeous shades there are. "Let's get inside, dear, it's getting cold. We don't want to get sick, right?" she smiled at him, only for him to hang his head down, and then he took off his cardigan and put it over her shoulders and pulled the girl between his legs, her back glued to his broad, warm chest and his embrace made her feel so warm and at ease. "Brahmsy...?" she asked softly, tilting her head up, before feeling his chin on top of her head, but she was met with silence. "The stars are pretty. You are pretty. Y/N is the prettiest, brightest star. Y/N is my star. I love my star." his soft voice was heard, almost whispery, and after a few more seconds, she felt the softest, sweetest kiss on her hair, then on her temple and on her cheek, before his chin found its place back on her head. "I love you, Brahms." she said, with teary eyes, intertwining her fingers to his, pulling his arms closer to her and squeezing his hands. "And I've never loved anyone more than I love you."

Needless to say, that comment made the man giddy and happy, for he, too, felt happiest now than he ever did before. When they felt tired, Brahms picked the girl up and got her back to their now shared room, dressed in their sleeping wear and cuddled, yet this time, Y/N was holding him, his head resting on her chest, as she played with his hair, soothing, and humming a lullaby to help him sleep.

It was Brahms's Lullaby.

[ghoste-catte]

I adore ur fanfics but this is not gonna be about gaalee

Since u tend to put nejiten, kakagai, shikatema and kankiba could u please talk about why u like them?? Im curious but also adore hoe u talk about stuff!!

Hmmm. OK I'll start with KakaGai since they're probably my 2TP (is that a thing? The Naruto ship I love the most 2nd to GaaLee of course.)

Anyway, there's nothing about KakaGai that has me convinced they're anything less than canonically married. Like, from the moment Gai called Kakashi his man of destiny, they've been joined at the hip. Gai has been there for Kakashi through every loss, every trauma, just this consistent presence in the background. When he offered to basically sacrifice himself into ANBU because he saw Kakashi being swallowed by the darkness, my heart cried for both of them. And that's not to say that it's one sided! Kakashi was there to defend Gai when his father was attacked. He said he would have given up *anything* to heal Gai's leg. He's gone from finding Gai a nuisance to acknowledging him as a true rival, someone who he fights back to back with. They know each other so intimately, I can't see their relationship as anything but canon.

NejiTen and ShikaTema are about the only het ships I can tolerate in Naruto (except for ChouIno but nobody ever writes them). I think they're both good balances, personality wise.

Neji needs someone to soften him up a bit while not letting on he's being softened up, and Tenten’s combination of brashness and affection is perfect for that. He needs to be able to let loose and be silly, and Tenten can bring that, since she plays a great straight man to her teammates' lunacy. And as we've seen in canon (well, filler), Tenten struggles with not being the way a kunoichi "should" be, and I think Neji, who--if he had been given the chance to mature--likely would have bucked tradition, is exactly the sort of person to accept her for who she is, to help her develop her strengths, and (crucially) to happily listen while she rants for hours about ninja tools.

ShikaTema have a similarly complimentary dynamics. Temari is one of the few kunoichi who I think wouldn't tolerate any of his bullshit (we're ignoring Boruto here because FUCK Temari being a housewife like ... who *is* that??) In my mind, Shikamaru is a devoted househusband and they split their time between Suna and Konoha, because neither's job is more important. Plus they're just the endgame ship with the most development in canon - there's a clear mutual respect and attraction from the beginning, and Temari was literally like "Hey if we go to this hot spring I'm not gonna be able to resist throwing myself at you" and tbh I love a forward woman who knows what she wants (i.e. that D).

Aaaand that brings us to KanKiba. Frankly I just think they're a hilarious chaos couple. Like they're just a couple of dirty, grungy guys with arrested development and mommy/daddy issues. Their entire dynamic in my mind is a hilarious dance of "if the balls don't touch its not gay" and neither of them washing their asses.

[osakunt]

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➬ 𝗡𝗮𝗼𝘆𝗮.𝗭 𝘅 𝗙𝗲𝗺𝗮𝗹𝗲 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿

➬ 𝗦𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁 𝗡𝗮𝗼𝘆𝗮 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗵𝗼𝘁 𝗮𝘀𝘀 𝗻𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 😮‍💨

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"Another day, another kill, huh ?" You say walking away from the individual you had been hired to target. Cleaning the spatter that had landed on your cheek you enter a bar where a light haired man was sitting down. He gives you a twisted smile as you take a seat in front of him.

"Lovely, you're here. Now I have to leave" you say loudly enough for Naoya to hear you. "I don't like you either,bitch" he scoffs giving you an amused look. "Did you get him ? I really do hope you did cause a woman-“

"Shut up. Women are free to do whatever they please. The same way a man can do so, so can they. Now shut the hell up. Zenin or not, you're not about to talk to me as if I don't have any sense." You interrupt him starting to make your point.

"I was gonna say 'a woman like you can hit her target without even trying' but okay" he rolls his eyes

"I mean- knowing how you are, you can't blame me for assuming your next words. But on another hand why'd you call me here while I was on the job ?"

"Just wanted to see you"

'Did this motherfucker just say he wanted to see me ? I know he didn't just- what the fuck.....' the little voice in your head wonders around trying to figure out what was going on. Now who the hell was this man ? Where was the man who thought women were only meant to be house wives.

"I'll be leaving now"

"No wait." He grabs your wrist lightly throwing you off even more. He lets go seeing that you sat back down giving him a bored look but still your full attention.

"I uhh....fuck man. I LIKE YOU ,DAMN IT !!" He yells out then sits down waiting for a reaction from your part. You stay silent giving him a blank look, processing what he had just blurted out.

"BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!" A laugh erupts from you, making him get a tad offended. He had just confessed to you. Why the fuck were you laughing ? "Pfft- hmhahahee........oh you're not joking. Well then. You sure- no being has taken over your head ?"

"Tch. Whatever" he gets up from the booth he was in,in the bar leaving you behind to make his way back home. He had just mustard up hella courage and swallowed his pride to confess.

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As much as he wanted to force you into submission, he knew better. He knew you weren't going to bite like any servant of his.

You were in a meeting with his father as for his father had called for a reliable person from your family to rely on, in case anything were to happen. Starting to get bored you get up from your seat to stretch your legs

"Do we have an agreement ,Gojo ? I really would love for you to be the responsible one to take action if an attack were to be aimed to the Zenin" Naobito gives you his evil looking smile which was suppose to come off as genuine but that didn't work for him.

"Yea sure. I don't care. Question,old man: why have someone look over your clan when you wouldn't mind seeing it go down ?" You down the glass of white liquor he had given you.

Him finishing up his glass and pouring another he smiles at you. "As much as I wouldn't mind seeing this shit hole go down. There's many after the position as leader. Yea there are some things we don't accept and what-not but I'd like to see the end of the fight to see who the next leader is." His tipsy self says downing yet another glass.

"Hm. I see what you mean. Nice seeing you again ,old bag. Be safe and send me one of those bottles of booze you got." You wave you hand to the old drunken man who let out a laugh.

Strolling through the clans court yard to make it to the exit of the place , you spot Naoya leaning on the brick wall looking out into the distance. Sensing someone approaching he looks up; Seeing that it was you- accelerated his heart, making it start pounding a lot faster against his rib cage.

"There you are. Mind telling me why you've been avoiding me ever since two weeks ago ?" He tries not to pout but ends up doing so wanting an answer right that moment. His facade of being tough not working at all. Never really worked on you and never would.

"I have a job but go off" you pass by him not caring if he was acting like a spoiled child. Which he was. "Give Maki and Mai my regards. I can feel that they'll show up to this depressing place sooner or later.

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𝘼 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙫𝙚 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙙

[𝙬𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙄 𝙨𝙖𝙮 𝙖 𝙛𝙚𝙬 𝙙𝙖𝙮𝙨 , 𝙄 𝙢𝙚𝙖𝙣 𝙩𝙝𝙧𝙚𝙚 𝙬𝙚𝙚𝙠𝙨]

Sitting a top of where you used to live, you look over at a area where you and Satoru used to play. "Your dumb ass really isn't good with being stealthy. Come out" with a giggle of his own the white haired man comes out fixing his shades.

"Why don't you just tell him that you don't like him and end of story." Satoru says leaning on you right shoulder after taking his spot next to you. You stay silent at his words thinking of how that would turn out.

"I know you feel the same~" he pokes your cheek in a playful manner.

"I never said I didn't"

"So why not tell him that"

"He needs to work for it. He thinks I'm one of his little servants who submits before him on the spot. No baby we don't do that here. he also need to learn what it's like to be stomped down on. God he's so arrogant. He's been acting a lot like a lovesick idiot but wait till that passes. That ego will sky rocket"

"Purrrr♡" Satoru lets out smiling. "How about you just fuck him and call it a day ?"

"I've thought of that. I'll just tell him that I feel the same tomorrow. He's been keeping an eye out for me. Starting to get annoying. Anywhere I turn, there he is making sure I'm still alive."

"Ew. I could never"

"Same, bro"

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Again with the same person next to you, you stop in the middle of walking. Naoya noticing that you stopped he turns making his way back. "What's wrong? Hurry up. I'm not waiting for you, scu- I mean-"

Your lips pressed against his, his words come yet again to another stop. You interrupting him before he even corrected his what he was saying.

Both your lips moving as one and your lips tasting sweet to him, he deepens the kiss by pressing his hand on your lower back, pushing you to him.

"Learn when to shut up Naoya. I swear this why nobody likes you." You pull back moving his hair away from his face.

"Hmmm ? With the exception of you, correct ?" he gives you a cocky smile sneaking a quick kiss to your lips.

"Yes. Zenin. I like you. More than I should,actually"

"Good to know, love. Had me out here looking like an idiot,ya know ?" He leans in towards you starting up anther kiss.

Maybe this wasn't so bad. 🤷🏻‍♀️

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[i-did-not-mean-to]

Boys and sticks - Chapter 77 💥

Fandom: Hobbit (College AU)

Characters: @linasofia x Thorin, @laurfilijames x Fíli, me x Ori

Words: 1.7 k

Warnings: SMUT, NSFW, danger

It was naughty – especially when I remembered my reaction to catching Lo and Fí in this very spot – but, while the rest of the school was going bonkers about the danger, I clawed my fingers into a bookshelf in mindless extasy.

“We should join the others,” Ori panted, leaning his forehead against my heaving chest as we tried to rearrange our clothes in the darkness, breathlessly hoping that nobody would come this way.

“I don’t want you to play against that man,” I sighed before the thought had even fully registered with me and I could see his beautiful eyes glistening in the dim light that slanted into the room from some unseen corridor.

“We’ll be fine,” he replied resolutely, smoothing his palm over my skirt, and pressing a warm kiss onto my cheek.

“If he so much as tries anything, baby, he will suffer immense pain,” I ground out, my fingers tensing in the ludicrous cape draped around his shoulders; the cheap polyester crinkled in protest, but I did not heed its rasping scream.

“Oh? You’ll storm onto the court and take him down?” Ori asked warmly, a note of apprehension creeping into his voice when I didn’t laugh.

“Yes,” I replied instead, knowing full well that both Tova and Lo would be absolutely willing to attack that man if their beloved boyfriends were in danger of bodily harm.

“You would, wouldn’t you? I am not a child, Jia, I am okay. We have faced him before,” Ori tried to assuage me.

“Yes, and I’ve been almost raped before,” I said calmly, “we’ve all done and suffered things before that were painful and traumatising. Let’s not make a habit out of it, hmmm?”

Ori took my hand leading me out of the library and – in the sudden brightness washing over us like a wave of light – I could make out the worry creasing his brow; as always, he was thinking about my words with such respectful concentration.

���You’re right; we’re hypocrites in that sense. We’d never let anything like that happen to you ever again; we’d move heaven and earth to keep you girls safe, so I guess it’s only fair that you have the right to body-tackle someone who would want to hurt us,” he muttered after a time, “but I really wish you wouldn’t.”

Spread out over a teaching desk, Tova felt like a weird exposition piece on the small dais surrounded by empty rows of benches, but Thorin’s warm hands roaming urgently over her curves and caressing the knots of tension that apprehension and lust had woven through her muscles turned this into a captivatingly forbidden pleasure.

As he surged within her with a stifled moan like the sunshine bursting through the clouds, his fingers tensing around her sloppily bared breasts, he lavished words of love and promises of protection on her.

Seeing that shirt he had not been able to fit into for so many years on her beautiful skin, catching a glimpse of what she saw when she looked at him, feeling her fit and toned body shivering under his, all these things kept him from tumbling over the precipice of sanity.

Once again, Thorin was afraid, and he could not bear telling anyone. He had seen the white-hot anger in this man’s eyes, and he knew for a fact that Az did not shy away from dirty tricks to get what he wanted.

Now, of course, the championship and subsequent career opportunities were one of the aspects that could not be dismissed, but this was also much more personalthan that; Az had wanted what Thorin had, and he had been denied where Thorin had been successful.

There was not a sliver of doubt in his mind now that – when the moment came for them to face off on the court – Az would try everything in his power not only to winagainst Thorin, but to genuinely hurt him.

He had already been apprehensive when he had seen the game come up, but this intermezzo did nothing to calm that nagging feeling of dread that had settled in the pit of his stomach.

Looking down on Tova’s half-open mouth, curled into a loose smile, and her flashing eyes as he – without pulling away from her – brushed his thumb gently along all the spots he knew she liked being touched in until her eyes fluttered shut and her face flushed with breathless anticipation, Thorin also knew that he would fight back.

He loved Tova too much to be the bigger man; for heaven’s sake, after everything that had happened, he had earned the right to flaunt the one good thing in his life: his girlfriend and her precious friends.

All his life, he had taken the backseat, he had sacrificed, he had quieted his own needs and desires to make sure that everyone else was satisfied but – for once – he would choose himself over a random stranger.

This, these girls and their beautiful souls, was so overwhelmingly important, so addictive to his body and soul, so precious beyond what words could express that it was quite impossible for Thorin to even imagine letting them go.

He knew that it was selfish, and he would have to talk it over with Ori and Fí for he would put them into harm’s way as well if he decided not to back down.

“I love you,” Tova gave a shuddering sigh, dissolving into a river of pleasure around him and firming back up into that gorgeous woman occupying his every thought. It was as if she could read his mind.

“What is it?” she asked when his face betrayed – for just a single moment – the depths of his despair.

“What was that sound?” Lo’s head snapped up from where it had rested against Fí’s as she was rocking on his lap, her bare knees making squeaking sounds on the cheap linoleum floor and her hands raking passionately through his dense golden mane.

He had let himself be overtaken by lust, Fíli cursed himself, but the adrenaline in his system had made him nervous and edgy and she had been there, offering herself so shamelessly.

From the very beginning, Lo had been a source of life and rest at the same time; she was so unapologetically herself and so refreshingly in tune with her own desires – especially of the flesh – that he could not resist her even if it would have been better for them to keep their wits sharp and focused on the present situation.

His hands curling around the elegant curve of her naked ass tightened as she dropped deeper, lower, heavier onto him, grinding herself into a frenzy with the help of his body.

There was no greater honour in this world than to be used by this woman, he thought, for her own pleasure and satisfaction because – after she came undone in a ball of fire and light as she was doing right now – she would always have a kiss and a caress to spare for him.

Even before they had been an item, Fíli had been able to count on that: Lo was not a cold-hearted woman and – no matter how foolish and painfully incompetent he sometimes felt around her – she had never treated him with anything less than affectionate respect.

Now that he knew that she actually loved him though? He would have died for her in a heartbeat and so, he pushed himself up, sliding deeper into her throbbing, spasming heat.

This had two consequences, firstly – expected and planned – he could shield her body from whatever a potential intruder might throw at them and secondly – entirely unexpected at this point – that tiny shift made him lose grip on reality and on the tight reins he had on his own lust. With a roar of anxious tension and boundless love, Fíli exploded inside of her, clutching her so tightly against his heaving chest that he was afraid he might break her into a million pieces.

“It’s alright, baby,” Lo said leisurely, the words oozing like syrup from her wet lips, “we’re alright. Don’t worry.”

She could feel it though; there was something cold running down her spine in icy shivers. They were not safe here and – after cleaning up as well as they could with some old paper napkins found in a corner of the small supply cupboard, she took Fíli’s hand eagerly as they crept back down the stairs.

Him, of all people, him.

Az could taste the bile mix into the blood on his tongue, he could hear the grinding sound of his own teeth gnashing in frustration, and he could feel the heat of just anger pulse through his veins. Thorin, a man he hated on every level imaginable.

Last year, he had cost Az the championship and the scholarship he so would have needed by his unbearable arrogance and that luck that nobody could explain.

Clenching his hands into fists, he imagined closing them around Thorin’s windpipe, throttling him until those cold blue eyes rolled back in agony; he wanted to extinguish Thorin like a fire, wanted to crush him like an egg, wanted to shatter him like a glass statue.

If only that man had been more breakable, Az thought bitterly, for he had seen the pugnacious rebellion in the other man’s eyes as he realised that Az wanted more than his title.

The girl, Az chuckled humourlessly, Tova the unapproachable. What a fool he had made of himself trying to win her cold, hard heart and now, why was he even surprised, it turned out that Thorin had won that cup as well.

Well, he was looking very much forward to finding out if that was a way to break the man: take away his precious friends and that girl; he was good at sowing distrust and animosity. All he needed to do that was to find out who those other people were; that loudmouth Fíli and the bookish loser were known to him, but who had been the charming creatures pressed against them like human shields?

Making a sharp turn, he forced the lock of the archive and turned on the computer. One address, 6 students, bingo.

[fallen-gravity]

Soft Hearts and After-Midnight Talks

Ford can’t let go of the past. Mabel can’t stop worrying about the future.

Put together, they’re a melting pot of insomnia and overwhelming emotions.

AO3 Link

Love had never come easy to Ford. 

As a kid, his father always said it wasn’t manly to show affection. It made a man weak to wear his heart on his sleeve, and he was merely doing him a favor by showing him tough love, because out in the real world the men who put their emotions first would get torn to shreds. 

His mother tried her hardest, but she too had times where she was too busy running her psychic hotline or helping Pa run the pawn shop to pay him much attention.

Ford supposes the closest he ever had to unconditional love as a kid came from Stan. Whenever Ma or Pa were too busy, or the kids at school were screaming and running from his deformity, he knew he could always rely on Stan to be there for him. He’d always been the one to throw a punch for him, to talk him through a panic attack, patch up the scrapes and black eyes he’d received from Crampelter, or even assure him that getting a B minus on an exam wasn’t the end of the world, even if his eyes were rolling into the back of his skull the entire time he said it.

 But even that sort of love felt fickle. The night of the science fair, it felt as though something inside of Ford shriveled up and died, and he knew that the rejection from West Coast Tech was only the half the cause of it.

When Stan drove off into the night, it’s as if he took that shriveled up little piece of Ford with him as his grand final fuck you. 

After that, Ford tried everything he could. In college he buried himself into the research he was most passionate for, but that could only get him so far when Fiddleford would drag him to bed and force him to be alone with his thoughts. He’d tried going out drinking to forget said thoughts, but he learned the hard way that he was an emotional drunk and alcohol only made those thoughts worse. 

If there’s anything he did know, it’s that this lack of love in his life could probably explain how he was able to fall for Bill’s cunning tricks so easy.

“Unlovable?” Bill’s words still rang in the back of his head. “By the time this portal’s finished, you’ll have the whole world at your feet! You’ll be a household name! There’ll be thousands cheering the name Stanford Pines, the man who changed the world!” 

What a fool he’d been, blissfully ignoring all of the warning signs for even the slightest chance that a gateway between worlds could earn him love.

What an even bigger fool he’d been to turn away his brother’s love even after ten years of nothing but fear and resentment standing between them.

Ford sighs. He knows, logically, that dwelling on the past will only make things worse. He knows things are okay between him and Stan now. They’re setting off on their first journey on the Stan-O War II next week; things couldn’t get any better between them.

But he also knows that insomnia and intrusive thoughts are a package deal. He’d tried sitting out on the front porch to gaze at the stars and feel the late-summer air on his face to relax, but his inner demons always find their way. 

There’s a tiny knock on the doorframe behind him. He jumps at the noise, and turns to see who else could possibly be awake at nearly three in the morning. He’s half expecting Stan, but to his surprise it’s Mabel, sleepily rubbing at her eyes with one hand and holding a half-empty cup of ice water in the other. 

“Grunkle Ford?” her voice is groggy and strained. “Is that you?” 

“Mabel?” is the only comprehensive response that comes out. “What are you doing up so late?” 

“Dipper cursed me with his insomnia and now I can’t sleep” she pouts, and takes a sip from her cup like it’s a shot glass as he joins him on the couch. “Why are you still up, Grunkle Ford?” she squints. “I feel like I should ask you the same question” 

He chuckles. “Nothing you need to worry about, dear. I’m just doing some thinking”

“Hmmm…” she squints long and hard at him, like she’s trying to read his mind. “Okay, but I’m watching you. I’m the expert at annoying people until they tell me what’s bothering them” 

Ford can’t help but smile. “Noted,” he replies, and shifts his position so he’s facing more towards her. “What about you? I’m the expert in insomnia, so I can’t imagine it’s the only thing keeping you awake"

For the briefest of moments, Mabel’s playful smile drops. She hides the sudden shift by taking another sip of water.

“What? Psshhh…” she dismisses the thought with a wave of her hand. “That’s silly! Everyone knows insomnia means you can’t sleep for no reason. Some expert you are, Grunkle Ford” 

She smiles, but it’s strained, and fake, and nothing like the usual smile she flashes when she’s joking around. 

“Mabel.” Ford says once, in a firm yet soft tone, and she winces. 

“Okay, fine” she mumbles, and drinks the rest of the water from her cup before she continues. “I’ve been having some dumb thoughts too”. 

Ford shakes his head. “There’s no such thing as a dumb thought, Mabel. Even if it’s bothering you, it’s indicative of how you’re really feeling” he pats gently at his lap, inviting her to scoot closer. “Maybe I can help” he smiles, ever so slightly, ever so softly. “Even us experts mess up in our own fields sometimes” 

She moves too quickly into his arms for a hug for him to read her expression properly. 

“Then I feel like a big dumb hypocrite” Mabel murmurs into Ford’s sweater, her voice on the edge of breaking. 

Ford frowns, and places an arm around her to reciprocate the hug. “What for?”

Mabel scrunches up his sweater in her fists. “I...I made this whole big ordeal about Dipper wanting to stay here with you after the summer’s over for the apprenticeship, and I still don’t want us to be apart, but…”  she buries her face into his sweater, like she’s ashamed of herself for even daring to speak them. “...now that summer’s actually over, and Dipper and I are supposed to be leaving in the morning, I’m not sure I even want to leave” 

Her voice finally breaks, and she sniffles into his sweater. “Everyone’s always saying that the real world is so scary, and high school is the worst, and all these things about not knowing what you had until it’s gone, and...I don’t want it to be gone, Grunkle Ford, I love Gravity Falls. But I can’t just tell Dipper that, because then he’ll get all worried, and think that he did something wrong, because he’s already apologized for what he said when we were fighting a thousand times, and-”

Ford gently grips Mabel’s shoulders to cut her off, and pulls her away to make her look him in the eyes. “Mabel, are you going through all of this trouble because you’re worried you’re going to...miss Gravity Falls when you get home?”

“Not just the town!” Mabel exclaims, and rubs at her eyes with her wrist. “I’m gonna miss everything! I’m gonna miss the Shack, I’m gonna miss my friends, I’m gonna miss you and Stan,” she counts off on her fingers and sighs. “I miss everyone at home. I do. But now that I have so many friends here, I don’t want to feel like I’m leaving them behind”

There’s a brief pause, but before Ford can open his mouth to respond, Mabel goes on, murmuring so quietly it’s as if she doesn’t mean to speak out loud at all. 

“Or...I don’t want to feel like they’re leaving me behind.”

...Oh.

The fear of being left behind.

Forgotten.

The fear of becoming….unlovable. 

That….Ford knows better than anybody. 

“Mabel, listen to me,” Ford gently tugs on her chin to force her to make eye contact with him. “Nobody in this town is ever going to forget you. It doesn’t matter if you’re gone for a year, or three, or ten, I can guarantee that the next time you step foot in this town everyone’s going to remember the name Mabel Pines”

“You...really think so?” she blushes. 

“I know so,” he nods. “And it’s got nothing to do with Weirdmageddon, or saving the world, or any of that. It’s because you’re magnetic, Mabel. You’ve got a personality that everyone loves. I bet that pizza delivery man you became pen pals with is just sitting at home eagerly awaiting his first letter from you” 

She giggles. “I don’t know about that…” 

“Still,” Ford continues, “You’ve shown kindness to everyone, Mabel. People don’t forget kindness easily.” he gestures out towards the forest. “Gravity Falls may not be your home, but the people who lived here sure don’t seem to see it that way. You’re not just a tourist, or just some kid visiting her great uncle, you’re one of them.” he beams. “They’re lucky to have had you, Mabel, even just for the one summer” 

Her eyes have pools of tears in them, but the beaming smile on her face outshines them. She hurls herself at him in a tight hug, burying her face deep into his sweater. 

“I’m lucky to have you too, Grunkle Ford” she murmurs. “I love you”

I love you.

Ford hasn’t had those words spoken to him since he was a kid. 

I love you.

It feels like he’s floating on air, and the most grounded he’s felt in decades. It’s freeing, and exhilarating, yet it’s comfortable, and warm. It’s unfamiliar, yet everything he ever lost. 

The words ring in his ears and bounce around in his chest before they settle comfortably into the piece of his heart that had been broken for decades.

I love you. 

Mabel Pines, after everything he’s put her through, loves him. 

A sound escapes him that’s halfway between choking and sobbing. He pulls her even closer into his arms, and silently vows to never let the cruel world dig its pessimistic claws into her for as long as she lives.

“I love you too,” he manages to whisper, and gives her a smooch on the top of her head.

[fruitcoops]

you should make an o’darwin fic!! their dynamic is so cute :))) much love

I’ve never written anything for O’Darwin, but I love the dynamic Hazel hinted at in SW and it was a really fun exercise to figure out their characters for fanfic! SW and O’Darwin credit goes to @lumosinlove <3

Alex O’Hara was never one for hard and fast decisions. He preferred to take his time and find a compromise—maybe it was because he was an older sibling, or maybe he was just a fluke like that. Whatever the reason, it hadn’t caused too many problems in his life so far, and had in fact made his best decisions possible.

Two of those best decisions were lacing up their shoes as he gathered his coat from the closet by Pascal Dumais’ door, looking sleepy and content after a perfect night. He had been a bit hesitant to come for the dinner, at first—the Lions were a family in every sense of the word, and he didn’t want to infringe on that. It wasn’t until Finn gave him a call that boiled down to “come taste my boyfriend’s cooking or I’ll kick your ass” that he finally agreed.

Speaking of… Alex glanced around the house with his coat half-on, craning his neck to see into the kitchen. Remus was washing the dishes while the captain—Sirius, he reminded himself. Just Sirius—dried them in comfortable silence, and Talker and Noelle were chatting quietly by the entrance with Jackson Nadeau.

“Who’re you looking for?” Kasey asked, passing his scarf over with a kiss on the cheek.

“Finn. Have you seen him?”

“We were hanging out in the living room earlier…” Kasey bit his lip and tugged Natalie’s coat sleeve. “Babes, have you seen the cubs?”

She smiled. “They passed out on the couch. Knutty was dead on his feet after cooking.”

Alex kissed her forehead before shrugging his coat on the rest of the way. “Thanks, gorgeous. I’ll be right back.”

Most of the Lions had left around ten, and the Dumais kids had trouped to their rooms in various states of exhaustion after they fell asleep in the basement playroom after dinner. Olli Halla was still draped over an armchair by the fireplace, out cold and snoring softly.

Alex smiled when he saw the tangle of limbs on the couch; Leo was at the bottom of the pile with Logan on his chest, and Finn had wedged himself in the tiny gap to curl around both their sides. His hair flopped into his face, fluttering as he breathed slow and deep.

“Finn? Hey, buddy, I’m heading out,” Alex said, just above a whisper as he brushed the too-long bangs out of Finn’s eyes.

“Wazzat?” Finn mumbled, cracking a sleepy eye open. “Whaddya want?”

“Kase, Nat, and I are heading home for the night. I wanted to say goodbye first.”

Finn frowned. “You’ve got three more days here.”

“Well, yeah, but I didn’t want you to think I just ditched,” Alex laughed. “You need a haircut.”

“Hmmm. Maybe.” With a drowsy inhale, Finn reached up and squeezed his hand. “Drive safe. Love you. Thanks again for coming to the dinner, it meant a lot to Knutty.”

“I love you, too, Finnigan.”

“ ‘s not my name.”

Alex leaned down to kiss the top of his head. He loved playing hockey and couldn’t be prouder of his little brother for everything he had accomplished, but missing him never got easier. “See you tomorrow. Sleep tight.”

“Don’t let the bedbugs bite.” Finn yawned and snuggled back against his boys, dead asleep in a heartbeat.

Alex tiptoed out of the living room, whispering a final ‘thank you’ to Celeste and Dumo as he passed them in the doorway and stepped into the nighttime cold. Natalie tucked herself under his arm with a sigh, already drowsy from a long night; Kasey’s hand was steady on his hip as they headed down the sidewalk toward his car, keeping a careful eye out for black ice.

“I think we can call that a success,” Alex said as he buckled his seatbelt.

Kasey hummed in agreement, then reached over the console to lace their fingers together. “Thanks for coming with us. I know—I know you’re not here for a long time, and it was probably super awkward being around a different team, but it really made Nat happy and I love having you there with all the guys.”

“Hey.” Alex pulled his hand up to his mouth and pressed a gentle kiss to it, stifling a smile as Natalie made a sleepy noise in the backseat. “Kase, there is nowhere I would rather be than with you two. The Lions are your best friends, and I’m glad you want me around them.”

“Well, your little brother is one of them, so…”

They both laughed under their breath as Alex turned the car on. “At least he picked a boyfriend who can cook. I was always worried what he’d do if it was just him and Logan.”

“Fuck, that gumbo was incredible,” Kasey muttered, running a hand over his face. “I’m still so full, but I also want more.”

“I know, right?” Alex shook his head as he turned onto the main road. “We might have to boyfriend-poach one of these days. No offense, but I would trade you for a pot of that gumbo.”

“Jackass,” Kasey scoffed, giving his thigh a playful smack. “For your information, I would happily be traded if it meant learning Knutty’s secrets in the kitchen.”

“Finn might protest.”

“I’m still blond and still a goalie. Leo and I are basically the same person.”

Alex hummed. “On second thought, I’d miss my Blizzard too much. We can send Nat to pull some sneaky spy shit. Maybe she’ll wear her Black Widow costume again.”

“Oh, fuck, don’t say that,” Kasey groaned, leaning his head back. “I’m too tired to have those thoughts.”

“Yeah, that wouldn’t help with missing her, either. I guess we’ll just have to suck it up and ask nicely, like grown ups.” He mimed gagging and Kasey snickered, covering his mouth with his hand to avoid waking Natalie. They drove the rest of the way in silence; Kasey dozed off twice in the twenty minutes it took to reach their apartment and Alex did his best to keep from getting distracted by thoughts of their warm, soft bed.

The streetlamp above their parking spot flickered through the casing of ice and he made a mental note to remind them to ask their landlord about it in the morning. Parking in the dark without a guide was dangerous, and he knew he would worry if it was still a problem when he went back to Florida.

Florida, where it was burning hot even in February. Florida, where his team lived and worked and played. Florida, where he didn’t have Kasey and Nat.

Alex exhaled slowly and unbuckled his seatbelt, rolling his shoulders out. “You okay?” Kasey asked softly.

“I missed you both so much.”

“We missed you, too.” There was a rustle as Natalie sat up, and then warm arms wrapped around his chest from behind. “But you’re here now, and we’ve got a few more days to cuddle, so let’s get out of this car and go to bed before my neck cramps.”

He turned his head for a kiss and felt his stomach go all tingly when her soft lips pressed against his, pliant with sleep but as confident as ever. “Good plan.”

Nobody else was up and moving on their floor, despite the fact that it was barely past midnight on a Saturday. Kasey pushed open the door with a quiet creak and turned the lights on, half-blinding all three of them as they pulled their winter gear off and hung it on the wall hooks.

Alex brushed his teeth in a daze, tossing his clothes in the hamper with barely half a thought before slipping into his flannel pajama pants and stretching out under the covers. He dragged Natalie under like an octopus, which made her laugh, then flailed a hand around until Kasey curled up against his back in a solid wall.

“G’night,” he murmured as his eyes fell shut. Gentle kisses pressed against the top notch of his spine and the back of his wrist.

“Goodnight.”

“Night, loves.”

[crypticpaw]

Table For Four - chapter 1

Entrapta X Hordak fic! (with Netossa and Spinerrella’s participation)

Author’s note: Guess who’s back with more puppy/kitty fics nobody asked for?! That’s right, it’s me! Really wanted to make a double date involving our beloved mad scientists, and with fanart this time! I really hope you guys enjoy this one and tell me what you think! I love hearing you guy’s criticism!

Read it on Ao3!

-Pink-ish, or purple-ish? Pink-ish... Or purple-ish...? Hummm...

Entrapta compared both bow ties, one in each paw, trying to decide which one best matched with her new tuxedo. In other cases, she would ask Double Trouble, who by far had a better knowledge of clothes and "style" than her. But they were busy today. And in other, other cases, she would ask Hordak, who was also busy at the moment, putting on his own dress. -Entrapta? Is something wrong? -Hordak asked from behind the fitting room's door. -No, nothing's wrong, I just don't know which bow tie would look good with my tux! -She said, frustrated. -Could you help me? -In a moment, dear! Entrapta growled. She didn't have a moment! Emily, noticing her frustration, looked up at her from beneath the large bed and beeped worryingly. -Oh! Emily! -The princess jumped down from her comber. -Which one? The dog raised the bow ties for the robot to see. She looked between both for a moment before settling on the one at her left paw. -Purple-ish it is! -Entrapta declared, tossing the pink-ish bow tie over her shoulder. She hummed a tune while going back to her comber's mirror to tie it to her tuxedo. Her ears raised as she heard rustling behind her and steps. Probably just Hordak getting out of the dressing room. -Did you need something? -He asked. -Uh, no, I solved that problem, but now I have another one! -She said. -Can help me tie my- Uuuhhh...! He was absolutely dashing. His dress wrapped perfectly around his hips and loosened around his legs, leaving them in clear sight. A long cape on his back dragging on the ground with his tail. He had black lipstick and nailpolish on, and a rogue lock of fur fell on his eyes in a curl. What a lucky dog she was! She whistled at him in a teasing tone as he walked up to her. -Oh, stop it! You've seen me in this dress a thousand times before! -I've seen the sunset a thousand times before, doesn't make it less beautiful! -She said, her tail wagging. A low purr escaped him as he helped her with her bow tie and adjusted the plastic flower on her pocket. The last time she tried with a real flower, she wouldn't stop sneezing. Emily beeped at them sadly as she handed Entrapta her very small top hat. Hordak pat her in a gesture of comfort. -Oh, I'm sorry, Emily. I know you wanted to come. But this is a date! Meaning "only couples allowed"! -The Princess said. -But Kadroh will stay with you! And you can watch movies with Imp! Emily beeped excitedly again, rolling around the room, knocking things off shelves and tables. Entrapta laughed at her companion, and Hordak raised a paw for Emily to stop when she approached them again. -If Double Trouble shows up unnannounced again -He told her. -Shoot at will! The robot beeped an understanding sound, ready to follow his orders. She ran out off the room when Entrapta opened the door into the corredor. -Are you ready for our first "fancy date", lab partner? -I am. -He said, his tail held high. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -I'll show you a thing or two about romance! -Netossa said in an awfully confident voice. Spinnerella rooled her eyes and chuckled. She loved her wife's overconfidence on herself, and this date had been her idea after all. She rested her tail on Netossa's hip and they kissed. Her wife's gaze changing from confident to love-struck, and she couldn't help but smile. -Good afternoon, my ladies! -The receptionist exclaimed. He, just as the rest of the staff, wore a tux and had his fur straightened with gel. -Good afternoon! We have a booking under the name "Netossa"! -Hmmm... I'm sorry, my lady, but I don't believe we have a booking under that name. -What?! Oh, no, did I call the wrong restaurant?! -Real smooth, "Juliet"! -Spinnerella laughed. -D-do you have any tables for two available? The receptionist checked on a list in his table. -Not at the moment, I'm afraid, but the waiting time is 20 minutes, if my ladies don't mind waiting. -He said, apologetic. -Of course it is... -She sighed, her ears dropped in defeat. -I'm sorry, Nella. Do you wanna go somewhere else? Spinnerella smiled wide, her tail wagging, as she hugged her wife in comfort. -I don't mind waiting! We did want to try a new place! Netossa smiled a little, her tail wagging as well. -We'll wait! -I'm glad! Just wait in the reception, please! I will call you when the table is available! They sat on a little red bench with large cushions, others sat with them, waiting for their tables as well, talking. A large window on the opposite wall gave a beautiful view of the outside, a large garden and the sun setting behind it, giving place for the stars. -I have a good feeling about this! -Spinnerella held her wife's paw on her own. Netossa raised their paws and kissed Spinnerella's. -I have too! They stare into each other's eyes, stuck in their own little world, until they hear a very familiar shrill laugh. ----------------------------------------------------------------------- -So fancy! -Entrapta exclaimed. She raised her paws to look at the large red carpet underneath them. Her tail wagged madly with excitement, making her whole backside wiggle, and while Hordak found it most endearing, it earned some strange stares. Either that, or his own presence. He couldn't tell. Hordak knew better then to judge others for their appearance, but he couldn't help but make assumptions. Some in the line behind them whispered and pointed, some in the front tried looking at them without being noticed. Entrapta was distracted, touching everything she could. It was all very velvety and she enjoyed the feel of it. Hordak had to nudge her gently to get her attention back when their turn came. -Hello! -She approached the receptionist. -Oh! Princess Entrapta! What an honour! What brings you here toda-AAaayyy... -The receptionist's expression fell from welcoming to absolutely terrified for his life when he saw Hordak. -Do you have a table for two? -Entrapta asked. -Oh! W-well... We have a waiting list of about 20 minutes, if you don't have any bookings, my lady... -He said, trying to recompose himself. -Which, of course, I completely understand if you don't want to wait that long! Hehe... M-maybe choose another restaurant... -No, we can wait! Right, Hordikins? -She turned to Hordak. -You don't mind waiting? -I don't mind at all. In fact, waiting may be better. It'll help my appetite. Hordak tried to keep his voice calm, but he couldn't help but pin his ears back. He had his eyes fixated on the receptionist, and opened his mouth to lick his lips, purposefully showing as much of his sharp fangs as he could. The receptionist's ears dropped and his face was turning pale. -R-right... Just wait at the reception, I'll call you when there's a table available... Entrapta smiled as she walked past him, Hordak followed after her, but shot the receptionist the nastiest side-eye he could manage. The princess chose a nice little red bench to sit on, right underneath a large window. The sun had just set and the night sky was filled with stars. Entrapta rested her paws on the window stop to admire them, her tail still going. Hordak smiled and sat beside her, her ear wrapping around his tail. -I'm still not used to them! They're so beautiful...! -They are. A moment of silence, and Hordaks smile fell. His worries starting to aggravate him, and feeling other's stare wasn't helping at all. Entrapta noticed his anxiety and took his paw in hers for him to look at her. -Hordikins? Is something wrong? -I'm not sure... -He sighed. -I suppose... I'm just not very confident. We are incredibly out of our element, and I don't know what to do with myself... -I understand. It wasn't easy for me when I first starting hanging out with the other princesses too. -She wrapped her ear around him and pulled them closer together. -But you don't gotta do anything! We're here for us! We'll have a nice dinner and it'll be super fun! You'll see! -Correct, as always, my dear. -He smiled at her and nuzzled her cheek, purring. He wrapped his tail around her as they held each other and Hordak felt his anxiety start to calm. -Entrapta?! Their ears raised and they turned to look at the awfully familiar voice calling the princesses' name. -Hi! -Entrapta wagged her tail. Hordak recognized the dogs sitting behind them, though they were wearing much more expensive clothing. They were princesses, married to each other. He had seen them before in previous Princess Meetings, but he couldn't remember their names. But Entrapta seemed to recognize them, and they seemed to recognize Entrapta. -What are you guys doing here? -What are YOU guys doing here?! -The taller dog asked. -We're out on a fancy date! -Entrapta said, proudly, pulling Hordak closer as to show him off. -Really? -The smaller said. -We didn't know you liked this kind of place! I mean... We know you have trouble with food sometimes... -Yeah, I do! But I really, really wanted to try a fancy date! And Double Trouble said this place was good! -Entrapta turned to the cat. -You guys remember Hordak? -How could we ever forget...? -Netossa! -What?! -Hordikins, do you remember Netossa and Spinnerella? -I do. -Ah. So that was their names. -Pfft! "Hordikins"? -The one they called Netossa laughed. -Only Entrapta calls me that! -He growled. They stared at each other aggressively. -Netossa! Quit it! -Spinnerella barked at her wife. -S-so, you came here on a date, right? What a coincidence! We're here on a date, too! -Are you?! That's awesome! -Entrapta gasped, an idea forming on her head. -You know what we should do?! We should do a DOUBLE fancy date! -Oh, yes! -What?! -Hordak and Netossa asked at the same time. -It's been so long since we've had a double date, Net! -Spinnerella said. -And we for sure never spent enough time with Entrapta! Or Hordak! -Uhhh... You sure about this, honey...? -I have to agree with... Netossa, beloved. I don't believe this to be a wise idea. -Hordak hesitated, the princess' name unfamiliar to him. In a strange place, with strangers, in such an intimate occasion. Hordak knew it wasn't as serious as he was making it, but the fear of something going completely wrong clawed at him. Entrapta raised herself to his eye level and put a paw on his shoulder. -Don't worry, it's gonna be fun! I promise! -Entrapta reassured him. Spinnerella left Netossa's side only to approach the receptionist once again. -Excuse me, could we maybe move to wait for a table for four? We found our friends here, and we would like to sit together! -She asked him politely. -Oh, of course, my lady! -He looked over her shoulder at Hordak, and the cat glared at him again. The receptionist gulped. -W-well, if you choose to move to a table for four, we have one available right now. If you still wish to dine here, o-of course! But I'm sure you don't- -Oh, yes, please! That would be wonderful! -Ah. Follow me... Defeated, the receptionist guided them through the tables to a nice sofa at the end of one of the corners. He tried to ignore Hordak for the most part, though he could feel the cat's gaze burning on the back of his neck. Though it was somewhat far from the other tables, Netossa couldn't help but feel others' gaze on them. It wasn't unusual. They always earned a few stares when they went out, after all, they were princesses, everyone knew who they were, but she noticed an awful lot more of stares than usual. -Here are your menus. -The receptionist said hastly. -I'll have a waiter come and take your orders in a moment! Before Spinnerella had the chance to thank him, he ran to the kitchens followed by two other waiters. Confused, she turned to the others. -So, what are we eating tonight? -There's no pictures on this menu! And all the names sound weird! -Entrapta said. -But I'll eat anything if it's tiny! How about you, Hordak? -Red meat. -He answered, still looking at the menu. -I really want some pasta! -Spinerrella said, sharing her menu with Netossa. -Darling, do you mind sharing it with me? -As long as it got a bunch of cheese, I'm good with it! -Netossa licked her lips. -Are we ready to order, then? Before anyone would answer, Netossa had already called a waitress who was passing nearby. She approached them with a smile, but her expression fell when she noticed the large red-eyed cat. She gulped. -Good afternoon, my ladies! What would you like to eat today? -she asked with a notepad on her paws. -Do you have any pasta? -With cheese? -Yes, we do have our "Gnocchi Alla Bava", it's our special for today! -the waitress pointed at the name on the menu. -Then one of those for us both, please! -Netossa held Spinnerella's paw. -How about you guys? -Do you have anything tiny? -Entrapta asked the waitress. -Well... We have the "Mozzarelline Fritte"... But tha- -Great! I want one of those! -Entrapta interrupted. -Alright... And what for the main course, my lady? Entrapta didn't respond until Hordak whispered in her ear the waitress was still talking to her. -Huh? What main course? -"Mozzarelline Fritte" are appetizers, my lady. You are suppose to order an actual dish for dinner after the appetizers... -Oh. Uhhh... What else is tiny other than that? -Entrapta read the menu again. -Nothing, my lady... -Then I'm just gonna want that! -You sure, Traps? -Netossa asked. -What if you're still hungry afterwards? -Then I can order more! Netossa and Spinerrella exchanged looks. -Well, alright... -the waitress said, turning away from the table. -I'll take your orders to the chef, if that is all- -That is not all! -Hordak growled. -You haven't taken my order! The waitress gulped and turned back. Instead of asking she just gestured for Hordak to speak and refused to look him in the eyes. -Do you have red meat? -he asked. -"Brasato al Barolo". -the waitress answered coldly. -I'll have that. Well done. She turned to the kitchens without another word. Which they all found quite rude. Entrapta on the other hand, had her tail wagging madly and clung to Hordak's paw like her life depended on it. -This is so exciting! I've never been to a fancy restaurant before! -Never before? Never, ever? -Netossa asked. -You don't know what you're missing, Traps! We love coming to "fancy restaurants"! -Oh, yes! The food is good, the waiters are very polite- -To you, maybe. -Hordak growled. Netossa shot him a side-eye and wrapped her tail around Spinerrella's hips, bringing her wife closer to her. Spinerrella, noticing her wife's worries, rested a paw on her shoulder as to calm her down. -Maybe she was just in a rush! -Entrapta told him. -Maybe she didn't want to look at your fa- OW! Netossa had whispered to herself, but Spinerrella had over-heard her and given her a pinch to stay quiet. Hordak pretended he didn't her the dog's almost offense and turned to Entrapta, who fidgeted with her paws while looking around. She noticed a table full of older dogs, also wearing expensive dresses and jewelry. They looked over their shoulder, pointed and whispered. Entrapta smiled and waved at them, thinking they were trying to start a conversation, but they turned back around when they realized they were noticed. Hordak pinned his ears back. Intimidating the waitress had taken his attention from the rest of his surroundings, full of whispering and strange looks. He told himself it was because of him, but a voice inside his head made him question if it wasn't because of Entrapta. For all they knew, she was secluded, had an unstable political relationship with the other Princesses, and worked for the Horde. For him. With him. And she made it very known and clear to all that she enjoyed every second of it. The thought disgusted him, but as he looked at her again, she noticed his eyes on her and gave him a smile. The cat couldn't help but smile back. In a small moment of relief, he bent down and kissed her cheek. So let them stare. -So... you both! -Spinerrella said awkwardly. -How are things for the two of you? Back in Dryl, I mean? -It's great! - Entrapta exclaimed. -The Brothers are having an easier time adjusting and I finally got Hordak to take an actual bath! -Entrapta! -he hissed. -That is personal information! -I understand it completely! -Spinerrella pointed at Netossa. -This one still has a fit over eating her veggies! -Veggies are disgusting! How very dare you! -Netossa barked. Entrapta cackled at the other couple's squabble. Hordak was still suspicious. Of what or who, he wasn't sure, but he wasn't as at ease as his lab partner. -You both are Princesses, are you not? -he implied to them. -But I do not seem to remember your kingdom from any map. I heard it's quite small... -And what if it is?! -Netossa growled. -Netossa! Shut! Your! Mouth! -Spinerrella turned to Hordak. -Yes, it is! It actually wasn't recognized as a kingdom of it's own until very recently, with Netossa's grandmother! -Really? How come? -Entrapta tilted her head, confused. -It basically works like a fief! -Netossa puffed out her chest. -There are rulers who the subjects give their services to, and in return, the rulers let the subjects stay and live on their land! Nana was pissed at Bright Moon at the time because they refused to count us as a kingdom or part of the Princess Alliance, even if our fief was enormous and we were the main source of sugar, cattle and wheat! They wanted us to keep paying taxes! -Fuck taxes! -Entrapta interrupted in an unfamiliar angry tone. -That's right, Traps! Fuck taxes! -Netossa cheered, her tail waging, while Spinerrella shook her head. -Nana stopped exporting resources and Bright Moon had to swallow their pride and let her in the Princess Alliance, or else they would have starved! -That's clever! I'm just glad Glimmer gave up on trying to make me pay my taxes! -Entrapta said. -I hated doing them! -I am glad too! -Hordak said, wrapping his tail around her. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -So we're not going to do nothing about it?! -the waitress whispered, indignant. -What are we supposed to do? -the receptionist whispered back. -It's Hordak! Those claws cut through flesh like a hot knife cuts through butter! We can't just tell him to leave! -You're both right! -the chef said through the kitchen window. -Nobody wants him here, but if we tell him to go home, he'll rip our tails off and shove them down our throats! -He's bothering the other customers! I've had multiple complaints about him! -He's just sitting there! As long as he doesn't do anything, let's not turn his attention to us! -Hi! They all jumped. Expecting a claw to his face, the receptionist raised his paws to shield himself, only to realize it was not Hordak, just Princess Entrapta. -O-oh! My lady! Apologies, are you in need of something? -he recomposed himself quickly. -Yeah, where's the bathroom? I really gotta go! -she said. The receptionist pointed at a small corridor next to a bookshelf, near the kitchen. Entrapta turned from them. -Thanks! By the way, when is our food coming? We're really hungry! -In a few more minutes, my lady! -the chef said. -Apologies for the wait, but we have a full house tonight! -Oh, okay! Thanks anyways! -and she ran off. They all sighed in relief after the Princess was gone. -She doesn't look hurt, does she? -the chef asked, worried. -Even if she doesn't, I wouldn't be surprised if he hits her! -the waitress said. -We're getting too ahead of ourselves here! -the receptionist barked! -Just act normally and DON'T do anything stupid! The waitress huffed. -Watch me!

That’s it for this chapter! I’m nit sure how long this will be, but I will try my best to update it soon! Reblog if you liked it and I wish you the happiest pride month!

[buckleyirondad]

this is my family

Nobody can keep secrets from Christopher Diaz.

Christopher Diaz Week, Day 2: Chris and his extended family + “Just don’t tell your dad.”

Read on AO3

Christopher knew when his dad was lying; when he spoke, he would frown, his eyebrows connected in the middle.

Aunt Pepa did the same. So did Abuelo.

Christopher wondered if did it too, but he couldn’t check; not even in the mirror because when he lied to himself, it wasn’t the same as lying to other people.

Christopher couldn’t tell when Buck was telling a lie, his face didn’t screw up or change, his voice didn’t either.

When Buck had once jumped off the couch, chasing Christopher and Denny, telling them that he had X-Ray vision, his face looked the same as always. Even though it wasn’t true, he was only playing pretend.

Then Christopher caught Buck talking to Aunt Pepa in the kitchen, the pair of them grinning wide while keeping their voices super quiet. When Christopher walked inside, they stopped and started talking about work.

Christopher knew they had a secret.

Before Christopher’s dad or Buck could leave for work, Christopher grabbed Buck’s arm, “Do you have a secret?”

Buck hummed as he pressed his hands together, “No, I don’t think so.”

Christopher hummed, not sure if that was true or not, “Okay.”

Buck ruffled his hair, “See you later, Superman.”

“Bye!”

Christopher’s dad slid across the floor, onto his knees, pulling Christopher into his arms, “Have fun with Tía.” He leaned back, pushing his hand back through Christopher’s hand, “We’ll see you tomorrow night.”

Christopher grinned, “See you, Dad.”

“Yesss…” Buck was scrolling on his phone, “Bobby’s making waffles for breakfast.”

“Let’s get to them before Chim does,” Eddie laughed, he grabbed Buck’s hand as he swung the front door open, “Bye!”

Christopher ran over to the window to watch them as their car pulled off the driveway onto the street.

Pepa spoke up, “Do you want to watch a movie, mi amor?”

Christopher turned, “Can we watch Lilo and Stitch?”  

She smiled, “Of course.”

He made his way into the lounge, jumping onto the couch, grabbing his feet as he crossed his legs; Pepa turned on the television, scrolling through to Disney Plus.

She clicked on the movie before didn’t press start, “Should I get us some popcorn?”

“Yes!” Christopher threw up his arms in the air, “Please.” He got up onto his feet, “I’m gonna put on my PJs.”

“Good plan,” She smiled as she danced into the kitchen. Christopher raised his eyebrows; Pepa seemed happy, but more than normal.

After getting changed into his Spider-Man pyjamas, he jumped back on the couch, grabbing one of the blankets to lay across his lap.

Pepa bought over the bowl of popcorn, placing it on the table when she sat next to him, “You ready to watch?” She asked, still smiling.

Christopher shook his head.

She tilted her head, “Why not?”

Christopher held up his hands, “Do you know a secret?”

“No.” Pepa frowned, her eyebrows together, but she didn’t stop smiling, “I don’t.”

He knew it, “Yes you do.”

“Amor—”

Christopher put things together like a jigsaw, “Is it about Buck?”

She didn’t stop frowning, “No.”

“You were talking about it—” Christopher pointed, “In the kitchen.”

Pepa folded her arms over her chest, shaking her head, “I can’t tell you.”

Christopher jumped, “Please, please, please!”

“Christopher….”

“I won’t tell no one!”

“I’m sorry, mi amor, I can’t tell you,” She sighed, “Buck is gonna ask you tomorrow.”

Christopher leaned his back against the couch, as he thought. Ask? She didn’t say ‘tell,’ she said ‘ask’ and that was weird. What would Buck need to ask him? It was something happy, Christopher knew that; something good, not bad.

Since they started dating, Christopher’s dad and Buck asked him if he was all right with everything. If he was okay that they were boyfriends, all right with Buck moving into their house, and the answer to every single question was a big ‘YES!’

A cartoon lightbulb popped into Christopher’s head, “Does—” He stretched his arms, “Does Buck wanna marry Dad?”

Pepa squeaked, placing her chin under her chin, not saying a word.

“Is that the secret?”

“Hmmm…” She shook her head, nudging his side, “You’re too clever.” She squeezed his arm, “Just don’t tell your dad.”

Christopher rocked forward, excited, “I won’t.” He raised his pinkie finger like he saw Buck and Maddie do all the time, “Promise.”

Pepa linked her pinkie around his, “Gracias.”

***

Christopher couldn’t stop thinking about the secret; he didn’t ask Pepa any questions because he knew she wasn’t meant to say anything.

Buck would be his dad’s husband and that would mean he would be Christopher’s second dad; he already was, but this would mean that everybody else would know too. He could become Christopher Diaz Buckley or Christopher Buckley Diaz.

That would be so cool.

Christopher couldn’t wait and he already knew that his dad would say ‘yes.’

He was laying in bed, waiting for them to get home from their shift.

He’d spent a whole day, dreaming about a wedding, it would be so fun, and he couldn’t wait.

When he heard their voices outside, he jumped up in bed, wearing his widest smile.

“Hey, buddy,” His dad headed inside, closing the door behind him, “How are you?” He skipped over, taking Christopher’s hands.

“Good.”

“You have a nice time?” Eddie asked, running a hand through Christopher’s hair, “And did you do your homework?”

“Yes and yes!”

“Well done.” He got up, sitting at the end of the bed, with his legs crossed, “I need to ask you a question.”

Christopher whispered, copying his dad’s quiet voice, “What question?”

His dad smiled, wide, “Would you be okay if Buck and I got married?”

Christopher didn’t smile. Instead, he hummed, confused; he thought maybe Buck has already asked but that wouldn’t make any sense, because his dad was whispering.

“Buddy?” Eddie turned serious, “Is that not something—”

“Did he ask you?”

“No.” Eddie was telling the truth, “But I wanna ask him.”

Christopher shouted accidentally, “You can’t!”

His dad looked sad, “Okay…”

“You can’t ask him—”

“Bud, if you’re not ready for us—”

Christopher tapped his dad’s arm, “No, you can’t because he’s going to ask you.”

His dad stared at him, his mouth falling open, “Did—”

“Buck told Pepa, and I worked it out by myself,” He told him, “It was meant to be a secret.”

“Oh.” Eddie sighed, shocked, “Wow.”

“Sorry.”

His dad laughed, hand pressed against his belly, “Oh, don’t be sorry, amor.” He pressed a kiss on his forehead, “You didn’t do anything wrong.”

There was a knock at the door.

Eddie called, “Come in.”

“What’s going on in here, then?” Buck asked, swinging the door open, “A secret meeting that I wasn’t invited to?”

“I told him that you wanna marry him!” Christopher couldn’t hold it inside, “On accident.”

He could hear Pepa yelp from the kitchen.

Buck turned his head towards his boyfriend, “Oh.”

“Is that—” Eddie squeaked, “Is that true?”

“Ummmm…” Buck pressed his hands together, “No.”

“Yeah, you do!” Christopher raised his arms over his head with a laugh; so that was it, Buck played with his hands when he lied.

Buck scratched his head, “I had a plan—”

“So did I,” Eddie said back.

“I like this better.”

“Same…” Eddie hummed as he reached for Buck’s arm, pulling him into a kiss.

Christopher chuckled before sticking out his tongue and saying, “Eww...”

“Ew?” His dad turned his head, “Did you say ew?” He jumped onto the bed, tickling Christopher, with a laugh.

Buck jumped onto the end of the bed, joining them, ending up, squished together in a group hug.

Pepa stepped inside, smiling, “I'm guessing congratulations are in order?”

Eddie spoke, happier than ever, "Yeah, they are.”

Pepa opened her arms, and Buck was the first on his feet, welcoming the hug; Eddie scooped Christopher up before joining the hug. Christopher leaned his head on top of Buck’s as he smiled.

Nobody could keep secrets from Christopher Diaz.

[tinyboxxtink]

"...So I Married A Monster" *Chapter 6*

Note I was going to put a 'rough sex' gif under the cut for Lewis's shot, but I don't know if people want that. So here's a scared Rafael for your...pleasure?

Chapter 5

Chapter 7

Alright SO I posted a warning post earlier, but obviously I'm gonna put one here too.

This is probably the most graphic, dark chapter I've ever written for any story. With rape.

Please read at your own discretion.

Also it's a pretty short chapter, but trust me-- you wouldn't want it any longer. But I wrote another sweet short fluffy chapter after this one to make up for it.

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@lolliepopsicle

@chasingeverybreakingwave

@milkshqke

@wanniiieeee

@gibbs274

@sassyada

@aprildecker-blog

@bookishfanfic

@stars-in-the-skies-world

@stars-trash-18

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@shittanyy

@mrsrafaelbarba

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@believinghurts

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

You did your best to keep calm and keep Billy happy as he aggressively groped at you with his hands, ripping off your shirt and then your bra before tossing you on the bed. Before all of this, you would have been super excited about the events transpiring. If there was one thing you and Billy were great at, it was sex. But somehow, this time it felt...different.

You didn’t know why, it didn’t make any sense to you. This was the same man, it was the same situation, he knew all your special places and you knew his. There were so many nights after he left you and the girls that you would dream about this moment, wishing for it so badly. But now that it was here, it almost felt...wrong.

“What’s wrong sweetie, you look like you’re somewhere else,” Billy stopped hungrily nibbling your neck to look into your eyes.

You used to look into those eyes and see such warmth and comfort, such lust and wanting. You had even told Rafael that you were still in love with Billy, so why didn’t you feel like it? Had they just been words? Words to hurt him because he hurt you by choosing Olivia?

Right now, that’s sure what it felt like. It felt like you were...cheating, on Rafael. Which was stupid, because you had literally just broken up with him. Didn't you? That’s what ‘done’ meant, right? Surely you had meant it in that moment; surely you meant it.

But now you weren’t sure.

“Hello, earth to Y/N!” Billy’s voice grew more agitated as he flicked you across the temple. He had never been so quick to anger before, you didn’t like this one bit.

“S-Sorry, baby,” You quickly put on a smile as your hand travelled down to his jeans, unhooking his belt. “It’s just been a day,”

“Oh, I know sweetheart,” He quickly changed his tune as soon as he felt you fondling with his belt. He helped you undo it and pulled off his jeans. You could feel his throbbing erection against your thigh.

“But daddy’s about to make it all better, I promise,” He gave you a sly grin.

You felt one hand wrap around your head and pulled it into his face even more aggressively than before. He began tugging at your hair as he attacked your neck and shoulders with hard, assertive bites. You remembered the sex between you two being rough, but you didn’t seem to recall it ever being this rough.

"Don't you like that, babe?" He asked as his mouth moved down your torso, pulling off your jeans this time.

"Mmmhmm…." You tried faking it as well as you could, feeling more and more uncomfortable the lower his mouth moved.

"Y'know, you used to be a LOT louder than this when we'd get down and dirty, baby girl," he observed while he moved to the end of the bed, ready to plunge inside you.

"Well Billy, the kids are in the next room," you thought of a plausible excuse as to why you weren't your "usual" self.

"Oh, makes sense," He nodded with a smile as he started chowing down on you like a sloppy dog.

You wanted to enjoy it, you tried to enjoy it, but you were accustomed to Rafael's sweet love making, he was so gentle with his tongue along your folds, taking time to enjoy every little moan and pleasure noise you made.You could often feel him smiling inside you while he gently lapped you up. You wished so badly you were with him right now. How had you fucked this up so badly?

Why didn't you listen to Rafael when he told you about Billy? Why had you not trusted him more? Why did you just react erratically just because you were mad at him? You should have thought it through, you should have heard him out. You should have--

"Alright now you're not even reacting Y/N, where the fuck are you?" Billy demanded.

"O-Oh I'm sorry Billy its just been--"

"A day. I know. You know I had a stressful fucking day too Y/N, having to deal with that prick ADA--- Wait," His eyes suddenly narrowed, he moved his face away from near your opening and looked you in the eyes, his glare in full effect.

Shit.

"Is that who you're thinking of right now? That fucking beaner?" He asked in an accusatory tone.

"He's Cuban not Mexican…." You muttered with a roll of your eyes.

"You really wanna get fucking cute with me right now, bitch?" He acted as if he was going to back hand you, but stopped himself.

"Billy!" You gasped. He had never been vulgar to you before.

"No, no Billy," He growled, pulling your naked body towards him.

"You're gonna stop thinking about that asshole right FUCKING now. I'm your goddamn husband, NOT him. I get to have you whenever I want and I want ALL of you. All of your attention, all of your fucking body. Do you understand me?" He snarled, practically drooling with rage.

"Y-Yes Billy," you tried not to start crying, now fully scared out your mind

"Good. Now flip over, I can't fucking look at you right now," He ordered you.

You flipped over to let him do doggie style but he started going in the wrong hole.

"Billy! What the fuck?" You tried not to yell.

"Well if you're gonna act like a whore thinking about other men than your husband, then I'm gonna fucking treat you like one. I'm gonna do what I want, and you're gonna shut up and take it. Got it?"

"B-Billy, please…." You pleaded with him. "Y-You know the last time we tried…"

"I don't give a FUCK, Y/N," He barked angrily. "I stopped last time because I didn't want to hurt you, because I loved you and you loved me. But now you've hurt me, so you're gonna hurt. REAL BAD," He barely rubbed some spit on his dick before he rammed it up your asshole.

You grabbed a pillow and screamed in pain, howling and trying to wriggle free from him. But he kept his hands wrapped tight around your stomach as he pumped rough and hard as fast as he could, getting off on the pain he was causing you, both mental and physical.

You tried to think of anything other than the pain, but it was so bad you could only cry and continue to scream into the pillow. It was worse than both times you went through labor, and that was saying something.

You prayed to God it would stop soon, he seemed to go on forever and ever. He was cackling softly as he felt you vibrating from the pain.

"Yeah, bet your fucking ADA didn't do you like this did he? What would he do if he saw you now? Hmmm….maybe we should find out,"

Your head snapped from out under the pillow at his threat. You saw him reaching for your phone that he had dropped next to your bed as he carried you into the bedroom.

"Oh God" You practically choked out, unable to speak from the pain. "N-n-no, Billy d-d-don't…"

"Oops would ya look at that I already did," Lewis shrugged with an evil smile.

----

Rafael was busy helping Olivia plan a rescue mission/battle plan when his phone went off. A FaceTime call request from you. He was absolutely terrified to answer it, but he had to answer it. He had to. As soon as he did, he wished he hadn't.

"Hey there Barba'' Lewis panted, a maniacal smile on his face. "You're missing all the fun!"

He could see Lewis had you pinned to the bed, shoving in and out of you forcefully. Your head was shoved into a pillow, to keep from screaming he imagined. He didn't know if he wanted you to look at him or not. He was watching you get raped, and he wanted to vomit.

Olivia noticed the horrified look on his face and stopped talking with the squad.

"Rafa are you-- ohmygod!" She instantly saw the revolting scene on his phone and immediately started pushing him into an interrogation room.

"Nobody needs to see this," Olivia started to shut the door but not before Lewis got to shout "NICE TO SEE YOU TOO DETECTIVE!!" At her.

Rafael was trying his best not to start sobbing; he didn't want to give Lewis the satisfaction. But the more he heard your muffled whimpers and screams of pain, the more he couldn't hold it back anymore.

"Lewis let her go," he begged. "Please I'll do anything you want, just let her go…."

"Well see Barba that's the problem," Lewis smirked. "I want Y/N to--" he suddenly stopped pumping you, feeling your body go limp. He angled the phone downward to reveal blood coming out of your anus and starting to cover the bed. You had passed out from the pain.

"Sorry Barba I'm gonna have to call you back, I have a situation," Lewis half laughed while wiping your blood off his dick.

"What the fuck-- LEWIS!!!" He screamed. "You better be calling a FUCKING ambulance!"

"Chill Barba, I'm sure she's fine. Just a little boo boo. I'll shove some toilet paper up there and she'll be good as new!" Lewis dismissed it, taking a pillow and putting it under your legs so the blood would at least attempt to stay in.

“Good ol’ RICE,” Lewis smirked, thinking of the old term they used in gym class back in the day. ‘Rest Immobilize Cold Elevate’.

“Now if I can get an ice pack from the freezer and tape it there…” Lewis thought out loud.

"Fuck you if you don't call one I will send one, I know exactly where you are" Rafael was losing his patience with him.

"NO, you're not," Lewis warned. "I'm not about to scare my girls by having cops and ambulances showing up here with all the bells and whistles,"

"She's going to DIE, asshole!!!" Rafael continued to scream. "You think your daughters won't notice THAT?"

"Look if she doesn't wake up in a few minutes I'll take her to an Urgent Care, tell 'em she liked it a little TOO rough, Kay?" He said flippantly.

"The fuck you will--" Rafael started to tell again but Lewis put the phone up to his face real nice and close.

"If you send ANYONE here Barba, she'll bleed out before you can touch her," He warned.

"Lewis…" Rafael was shaking. "Don't you love her? You told her you did, don't you care about her at all?"

"Of course I love her!" He snapped. "I'll always love her, she's the mother of my children. That creates a bond, greater than the two of you will ever have,"

"So why are you---"

"Because she needed to be reminded of that bond." Lewis explained. "She was thinking about you while WE were being intimate. I can't let shit like that slide, Barba," Lewis explained while gesturing to your unconscious body. He removed the pillow from your head so Rafael could the tear stained splotches on your face from screaming and crying so hard. Your face was almost white, he wasn’t even sure you were breathing.

"No…." Rafael's voice fell soft.

You had been thinking of him? Wishing you were with him? While Lewis was...having his way with you? He had caused this, he had caused your pain. You were being punished for simply loving him, and that broke his heart even more than it already was.

"You have a nice night there, counselor, ta!" Lewis's evil chuckle came through the screen before it went black.

The image of your body laying there unconscious and bleeding was going to be forever burned into Rafael's mind. He had to do something. SOMETHING.

He bursted out of the interrogation room where the team was still discussing strategy. Olivia immediately went to his side, knowing what he had just been through.

"Liv we--" he tried to stop from crying and compose himself. "We have to go there. We have to get her. We HAVE to,"

"Okay, Okay Rafa," Olivia tried to calm him down while the rest of the squad looked on in shock. They had zero idea what was happening.

"We'll go get her, it'll be okay," She assured him while trying to get him to calm down.

He hoped they wouldn't be too late.