#(he dropped the water in a panic as soon as it responded and did his best to wipe the memory from his mind)

[slayfics]

Katsuki joins you in the bath.

Warnings: Katsuki aged up | NSFW themes

800 words~

The warmth of the bath surrounded you as you took another sip of your wine. It was nice to finally be at home and done with the day.

You jumped slightly hearing your front door open and close. You hadn't been expecting anyone over, which caused you to panic until the loud stomps immediately became recognizable.

Katsuki.

He walked into the bathroom, a smirk spreading on his lips at seeing you laid out in the bath with a glass of wine.

"I wasn't expecting you to stop by today," you said, taking a sip of wine.

"Got off early- thought I'd come to say hi," He explained.

"You know that key I gave you to my place was supposed to be for emergencies... not that I'm complaining though," You winked.

Katsuki stood for a few moments taking in the sight of your exposed skin. Silently he cursed the bubbles in the bath that hid the rest of you.

"You look comfortable," he said.

"I am, you should join me," you said, waving the glass of wine that was dangling between your fingers.

"If I join you that water is going everywhere," He laughed.

"I got a mop," you said, taking another sip while your eyes met his, daring him to follow through.

Katsuki chuckled, ripped off his shirt and threw it aside, then worked at his buckle to undress the rest of himself. You watched him taking slow sips enjoying as he peeled all the layers of his clothing off and dropped them to the floor.

"Careful what you wish for," he said before stepping in behind you and wrapping his arms around your waist bringing you up against his chest as he laid behind you in the bath. Water and bubbles spilled out of the tub splashing out onto the bathroom floor.

You laughed at his playfulness and rested your head back against his chest. Katsuki lowered his head to rest on top of yours, nuzzling his cheek slighting into your damp hair. You moved your hand from under the water to run through his hair.

The room was silent except for the sound of settling bubbles and dripping water until Katsuki said in a voice barely above a whisper, "This is nice."

You nodded slightly agreeing.

Katsuki found himself getting lost in the warmth of the bath and the soft feel of your skin beneath his hands. Everything was rough outside of here, but at this moment he felt calm. The stress and loud thoughts that always plagued him were silenced for a moment. Being around you reminded him of the same feeling he gets from hiking. Tranquil, he thought.

"How was work?" You asked bringing him out of his thoughts.

"Shitty," he responded shortly. "You?"

"Shitty," you responded with a giggle escaping your lips. "It's good to see you though," You said. Katsuki didn't respond but tightened his grip around your waist ever so slightly indicating to you he felt the same.

"How long do you get to stay?" You asked.

"I have another patrol at 6 am so... not long," he said solemnly.

"Hm- did you eat?" You asked.

"No... You got stuff in the fridge, right? I'll make something." He spoke.

"Nu-uh," You said and reached out of the tub to grab our phone on the counter. "I'll order something, that way we can spend some time together while we wait for the food," you winked.

Katsuki let out a low chuckle," Not gonna argue with that, but-" Katsuki grabbed your phone out of your hand. "I'm picking what we eat, none of that unhealthy crap you like to order," he said, scrolling through your ordering app with one hand while the other was still squeezed tightly around your waist.

"You're staying the night?" You asked while holding your breath, hoping he wouldn't try to rush out too soon.

Katsuki didn't answer at first. He finished up the order and set your phone at the edge of the tub. Placing his head back on top of your head, he wrapped his other arm around you again, squeezing you tightly into his chest again.

"Yeah," He finally spoke, and you felt yourself relax against him.

"You need clothes? I still have some extras you left. I made sure to wash them for you," You offered.

"Thanks," he said. "I'll clean up this water for you- mops in the hall closet, right?" He asked.

"Yup- and when you're done moping... you can come try to get your clean clothes from me," you said playfully.

"HA? You're gonna make me mop with my dick out?!" He exclaimed.

"Well... I do like a show," You laughed.

"Tch- get ready then. It's show time," he said, and then grabbed you, lifting you out of the water in his arms. Your laughter filled the room.

Tags: @unofficialmuilover @maddietries @fiannee @i-heart-carlisle @derangedmango

[lieslab]

Let the ultraviolet cover me up

꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎ ꘎♡━━━━━♡꘎

Pairing: Jeongin X gn reader

Summary: Your boyfriend appears after the emotional neglect and hurt you experienced as a kid bubbles up at the wrong time.

Genre: Comfort/hurt

Word Count: 2.5K

Depression resources

Trigger warning: Trauma, emotional neglect, implications of depression, and the genuine feeling of being lost as an adult.

_ _ _

You were supposed to be waiting for Jeongin in the apartment. The two of you were going out on a date and he was sure you remembered because he texted you about it this morning. He called your name, stopping inside and standing on the rug. Outside, drops of water were heavily pouring and his shoes were soaked. 

He called your name again, but you still didn’t show up. He frowned, kicked off his shoes, and began through his search in the quiet apartment. The kitchen was bare with every cupboard door shut. There weren’t pots and pans strung out and about. Everything was neat and tidy, just as it had been this morning when he left. 

The living room was left in a similar state. The throw pillows for the couch were placed neatly on each side and a blanket was swung over the back. You usually used that when you were freezing cold, but now it laid neatly folded and untouched. 

There was no familiar thumping of the washing machine or the electronic hum of the dryer. Your voice wasn’t floating from the bathroom and there was no sprinkling of the shower. There wasn’t a roar of water pouring from the spigot for a bubble bath either. 

He called out your name, wondering your whereabouts, but you never responded. Confused and a little concerned, he pulled out his phone and dialed your number. He was expecting a response and an excuse, but when your voicemail picked up instantly, it worried him even more. Did you just hang up on him and purposefully decline his call? 

This morning, you were happy and thrilled about your date. After asking for recommendations for ideas, Hyunjin mentioned a nearby art gallery that hosted pottery classes. You had been wanting a new hobby and he thought it’d be a good place to start. If something bloomed, it’d be wonderful, but if not, it’d be a good memory to look back upon. 

He called your name a final time and searched in the spare room. When he couldn’t find you in another final sweep of the place, his heart sped up. Did something happen to you? Did an intruder break in and kidnap you? Did you take off for some sort of emergency situation?

His mind spun mindlessly and the more he thought, the worse scenarios that he came upon. An evil sasaeng holding you hostage. A random stranger beating you until you were bleeding and screaming. Each thought made him more and more nauseous. 

He finally picked up his phone and called you once more. “Honey, it’s me. I don’t know where you are, but I’m home to take you to our date. You’re really worrying me, so if you could call me back, that’d be appreciated. I love you and I’ll see you soon.” 

He hung up the phone and began to pace. Each back and forth throughout the house weighed his heart down more and more. When you didn’t call back and five minutes had passed, he sent you a text message. He hoped you’d respond, but after another ten minutes, he scrambled to put his shoes on. 

Panic was a ribbon wrapped around his heart and it was tying tighter and tighter. Where did you go? Were you okay? Were you safe? What happened to you? 

He rushed into the car, nearly slipping on the wet concrete in the process, and rushed from the driveway. His fingers were white around the wheel as he drove back through the neighborhood. His eyes darted around, trying to find the one person’s face who matched yours. 

Rain down-poured now. It hit the windshield with heavy taps and he flicked the button to change the speed of the windshield wipers. Over and over and over again, water wiped away, and then it speckled the glass again. 

“Where did you go?” He whispered to himself in a panic. It wasn’t like you to be irrational. You wouldn’t take off into the pouring rain without a good reason. Even then, you’d usually text him if something happened. You rarely changed your plans, so this was out of left field. 

He drove through one side of town. Stop lights changed colors and umbrella-handled pedestrians protected themselves from cold drops. The gray skies made things harder to see and when a rumble shook the car, his stomach dropped. Not just rain anymore, a thunderstorm was brewing. 

Cold drops, gray skies, white bolts of lightning struck the sky, and the thunder roared with the force of a thousand men charging towards their opposing enemies in a war. Screw the date night, he needed to find you before you caught a cold. If he remembered right, the umbrella was still sitting in its place by the front door. If you were without it, you were exposed to the elements without any kind of protection. 

He cursed beneath his breath and pressed the gas pedal harder. Sooner or later, you had to turn up, right? He would drive all night if it brought you any closer to him. He’d never be able to rest until he knew you were safe. 

It was a miracle, a few minutes later, when his phone buzzed. Stuck at a stoplight, he scrambled for it, swiped, and hit the speakerphone button. “Hello?” 

“Jeongin?” Your voice came out wobbly. 

“Hey, there you are. What’s wrong? Are you okay? Where are you?” 

“I’m at the park that we had our last picnic date at.” You sniffled and his heart dropped. “Please don’t worry, I’m not wet, at least, not yet.” 

“Where are you? That park doesn’t have any shelters, so where are you-” 

“I crawled into a slide when the thunder started. Nobody is here, so I’m alone and tucked into a slide.” 

“Why are you there?” 

You stayed silent for a few moments until you finally spoke. “I just needed to get away for a while. Everything was spiraling out of control and I felt like I couldn’t breathe when I was in the apartment.” 

“So you took off in the middle of a thunderstorm?” 

“It wasn’t like that, Jeongin.” 

His eyes slipped shut. You very rarely called him by his first name unless it was a serious conversation. A beep from behind him made him look up. Sure enough, the red light turned green. He pushed the gas and his car inched forward. 

“I’ll be there in a few minutes. I’m on my way right now, okay? Just stay there and try to stay out of the rain.” 

“I’m not going to move, I swear.” 

As he maneuvered through the downtown traffic and the rain, he wasn’t comforted by your soft sniffles on the opposite end of the phone. You were a quivering and sniffling mess. No matter how much you pawed at your tears, they wouldn’t stop. 

The convoluted emotions built up and burst. The wall you had been cementing for so long began to crack. No matter how much you tried to fill them in, it never worked. Hiding in a children’s bright blue tube slide was pathetic, but so were your emotions. 

You tried to control them, but sometimes they choked you. They looped a noose around your neck and then pulled tight. You couldn’t breathe and you couldn’t fight back. You were dragged and most of the time, it led to sobs and shrieks. 

Trauma was never simple and yours crept up on you unsuspectingly. It blinded you as you were getting ready for a date. It throat punched you in the middle of the shower. You could be happy and then you’d see something, be reminded of a faded memory, and everything would fall apart. 

Trauma is labeled trauma for a reason and yours was no different. You didn’t want to get into the nitty-gritty with Jeongin, but you knew you had to. He knew some of it, but he didn’t know just how much the layer of hurt went. It hadn’t just pierced the skin layer, it was cellular level. 

You felt like you didn’t grow up with a heart, at least, not a real one. As people grow up, they’re supposed to be taught how to do things. They’re supposed to learn from their parents and if not their parents, then whatever parental caregiver who’s in charge. Growing and learning during your most formative and developmental years, while childhood stretches into the teenage years, nobody should have to face that alone, but you did. 

Where were the adults in your life when you were having rocky friendships? When you weren’t sure which way to turn, it led you bending backwards and people pleasing the wrong people; where were the adults to lift your rose colored glasses? To talk to you and remind you that not everyone would appreciate your kindness?

And when your age kept climbing and the years grew rockier, who did you have? While parents were making homemade breakfasts for their kids every morning and waking them up at the crack of dawn, you only had yourself. 

There wasn’t a lunch box packed with care. There were no notes that reminded you that you were loved more than you’d ever know. What happened to that? What happened to being a kid and needing to be nagged at by a parent because it was past midnight and you had school so early in the morning? 

Your heart wasn’t the right kind of heart. Instead of growing with each life experience and blooming with life’s greatest knowledge and the best advice from adults, your heart was put together from broken dreams, loneliness, and grief. 

Each piece of raw meat was stitched together by your own hands. There was nobody to mend your scraped knees and remind you to keep going. Not a single adult showed up to remind you how proud of you they were. 

So you grew and grew and grew, but your heart always remained two sizes too small. Envy was a nasty and horrendous thing. You tried to be a good person, but it always bubbled up at the wrong times. It appeared when you saw someone out and about with their parents. 

It was the mother-daughter brunch dates and the father and son visits to the construction store. The way a father put a heavy calloused hand on his son’s shoulder and reminded him that one day, he’d too experience the weight of the world, but for now he was just a boy. 

When mothers held their daughters and wiped away their tears from their first heartbreak, where was your mother? When you chased after the wrong kind of love, why didn’t anyone say stop? Why didn’t anyone care? 

Birthday cards were never signed with love. Despite your average grades, nobody ever bothered to check them. Your parents never went out of their way to ask about your teachers. When you graduated, they didn’t bother celebrating. When you tried to further your education, there were no claps and cheers waiting for you. 

Hurt poured out of you like a dripping faucet and the closer Jeongin drove, the more your eyes watered and your nose dripped. Because after all those years of loneliness and all that depression and misery, how did you manage to find someone so good? 

If your own parents couldn’t see you as valuable, why did he? Why did he choose to stay when your own parents left? Even after you moved out, your phone never rang. There’d never be another call between any of you, unless it was absolutely necessary. 

Old family holidays were spent blankly staring at the TV while the turkey cooled on a paper plate. Christmas movies played, but not a single word was spoken. Gifts were passed out without much thought and it was always the same gift card and they always felt so meaningless. 

By the time Jeongin pulled into the parking lot, there was a break in the rain. He hurried out of his car and rushed towards the end of your slide. He called your name and when he poked his head into the slide you described, there you sat. 

Your eyes were bloodshot and clear snot fell upon your upper lip. Bags were brown beneath your eyes and you wreaked of misery and sadness. His hands reached out for you and you took them with ease. He pulled you from the slide and carried you back to the car bridal style. 

He didn’t waste any time by pulling open the car door and placing you inside. You wiped your eyes and he reached into the glovebox. It was there that he found a clean napkin and gently began to dab away stray tears. 

“Honey, what happened?” 

“It hurts,” you mumbled. 

“What hurts?” He stepped back to scan your body. “Did you get hurt? Did you fall?” 

“The past,” you weakly uttered. “Remembering everything hurts. Everything hurts.” 

“Do you want to talk about it?” A reassuring hand gently laid upon your thigh. He stayed put, even when another clap of thunder rolled on by. The wind pushed back his hair in a strong gust, but he didn’t want to leave your side. 

“Why w-wasn’t anyone there?” Fresh tears built up in your eyes. “Why didn’t anyone care? My p-parents, why didn’t they-” Your words cut off as your eyes squeezed shut. A sob racked your body. 

All he could do was reach over and pull you against his chest. Engulfed in the scent of baby powder and cologne, his hand found your back. You buried your head in his chest and wrapped your arms around his back; desperately clinging for some type of comfort as these feelings tried to destroy you. 

Growing up like that, it always hurts. There will always be a hollowness where love should have been. There will always be a faded ache and sometimes, it will sting. There are horrible and terrible things that have happened to people and no amount of words will take away that lack of love. 

Emotional neglect is a nightmare. To be kept an arm’s length away by the people who are supposed to love you twenty-four-seven, it’s unfathomable. Every kid deserves love and support. They deserve someone to turn to in the darkness. Some savior to steer them along the ship of growth and adolescence, but it’s not always there. 

“I can’t fix the past and I’m sorry, but I’m here now. I can’t heal your wounds, but I can hold you while you mourn. Please don’t run away like that, you made me worried sick.” 

“I’m sorry,” you hoarsely got out. 

“It’s okay, you’re alright.” He leaned forward and gently pressed his forehead against the top of your temple. “Just please let me hold you.” 

The floodgates of heaven could open and pour. They could drench him while he kept you safe in the warmth of his arms. He’d stand here and hold you for as long as you needed. 

Someone needed to hold you and, fortunately, that someone was him. 

| ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ | ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ | ♡.﹀﹀﹀﹀.♡ |

Taglist: @lina-linny @straykidsstanforeverandever @seungnishi @stellasays45 @emilyywhyy

Masterlist

Taglist and inbox rules

Ko-fi

[hearts4golbach]

The Night Shift.

Johnnie Guilbert x Fem!Reader.

chapter 14.

i unlocked my door, excited to get inside of my apartment. it was around 3:37 in the morning and i was exhausted. johnnie had left around midnight, promising me he'd get some sleep. yet, i still had to put what i was doing to a stop to answer his facetime call.

"hi, johnnie." i whispered, unlocking my door and walking inside.

"hi, y/n." he whispered back, leaning closer towards the phone microphone.

"johnnie, i'm about to knock the fuck out as soon as i get inside so don't expect much more from me." i opened the door to my pitch black apartment. i flipped the switch and lit up the room, noticing some of my jackets had been tossed carelessly on the floor. i furrowed my eyebrows, i must've forgot that i knocked shit over. i shrugged it off and walked into my room. i plugged my phone in, setting it on my vanity. "let me go get some water, i'll be right back."

"mhm." he says, the rasp in his voice proving how tired his is as well.

i lazily walk into the kitchen, kicking off my shoes. my stomach dropped whenever i realized all of my cabinets had been opened and the contents scattered everywhere. i flipped on all the lights, searching around my apartment. i walked into my living room, seeing someone searching through my drawers. i froze in my place, heart stopping as we made eye contact. the panicked, picking up an object and using it so smack me in the head. everything happened so fast. the hit knocked me back, making me fall and smack my head on the corner of my counter. they quickly ran out the front door as i laid on the floor, holding my head to prevent myself from bleeding out. my vision blurred as i frequently went in and out of consciousness. every time my eyes opened, i glanced around the room in panic as i wasn't able to move my body. i eventually gave in to the heaviness in my eyelids.

whenever i woke up, my head pounded. i sat up slowly, looking around the kitchen. on the corner of the counter was blood. my hand flew up to the throbbing in my head, dried blood flaked off as i felt for the gash. there was a scary amount of blood, i knew it was bad. the room was dark as some time had passed, but I wasn't sure how long. "fuck," I muttered, remembering johnnie was still on the phone

I scrambled to get up, resulting in me hurting myself further. I groaned, pressing my hand into my head.

I stumbled into my room, not remembering where I put my phone. "johnnie?" I called, my voice raspy and panicked.

"y/n? are you okay? why were you gone for so long?" I heard rustling on the other side of my room through a speaker. I quickly picked up my phone off the floor.

"i- uh," I stuttered, the pain becoming unbearable. "I need to go to the hospital."

"what happened?!" his voice raised slightly.

"I-I don't have t-time to explain." I sighed, embarrassed because of my stutter. "I have to go now."

"which hospital? me and Jake will meet you."

"what time is it?" I rubbed my eyes.

"like 4:45 in the morning." he answered, confused.

"Jake woul-wouldnt want to go so early. I'll be fine, just let me text you later."

I heard more rustling. "I'm waking up Jake, text me the hospital and do not hang up." he emphasized.

"i-" I began to protest, deciding against it. "okay." I did as he said, texting him the name of the nearest hospital. "don't worry, it's not- I'm not in serious danger, like I'm not going to die."

"and? I still need to make sure you're okay." he argued.

I didn't respond, just sniffled as I held back tears from the mix of pain and emotions flowing through my body.

"it'll be okay, y/n. I'll see you soon." he cooed, attempting to comfort me.

"okay." I let tears fall as I slipped on my slides and walked out the door, holding an ice pack to my head.

we stayed silent as I drove, not long after I got in my car I heard the beeping of jakes car. I assumed he muted while he woke Jake up.

I put my earbud in before I walked in. I walked into the emergency room awkwardly and walked up to the desk. "i-i cracked my head open because I fell and it won't stop bleeding."

the old, wrinkly woman behind the desk had a glint of sympathy in her eyes. "go have a seat, dear. someone will be out for you shortly. keep your ice pack on your head for now."

I began to panic more. it seemed as if she wasn't taking me seriously. but, I did as she said and went to sit.

about 5 minutes later, jake and johnnie speedily walked in through the sliding doors. johnnie quickly scanned the room, his gaze softening as his eyes landed on me.

"hey." I said, flashing an awkard smile before being taken over by pain once more. fuck, I should've taken something.

panic filled his eyes as he scanned my face. "are you okay?"

"yeah, just in a lot of pain." I shrugged. "I hit my head."

"how?!" johnnie interrogated.

"y/n, you have blood all over one side of your face." Jake informed me.

"shit, really?" I wiped the side of my face. I looked at the crusty, dried up blood on my hands.

"y/n." johnnie said, sternly. "how the fuck did this happen?"

"i-" I began to speak, but a doctor walked out.

"y/n l/n." he called.

johnnie grabbed my hand and helped me stand, not letting go of it as we walked.

the doctor rushed me into a room quicker whenever he noticed me covered in blood. he quickly told me to hop up onto the bed/table thing. apparently, the gash was obvious as he didn't bother asking me where it was. he went straight to work, parting my hair. the gash was visible on my forehead but lead back into my hair.

johnnie and jake sat in the two chairs beside the door. I zoned out, occasionally wincing as he parted my hair which pulled the gash enough for me to feel it throughout my whole body. I watched Johnnie's leg as it bounced and as he chewed his nails anxiously.

"you're going to need stitches." the doctor sighed, working quickly to prepare everything. "would you like the laughing gas with the numbing solution? it's much less scary." he explained.

"uh, I guess." I shrugged, my eyes began to feel heavy. the doctor rushed out of the room.

johnnie spoke up. "please, tell me what happened." he pleaded one last time.

"whenever I went to get water, I found out that someone broke in. I panicked, I couldn't run, and they panicked too. they knocked me out, making me hit my head on my counter. I was out for however long, but whenever I regained consciousness, I ran to you."

his expression softened at my last words, his face a mix between a smile and a frown. whenever the rest of my words registered, his eyebrows furrowed. "what are you going to do?"

"I don't know, but I'm not going back." I sighed, closing my eyes.

he pondered for a moment. "why don't you stay with us?"

[tmblrcolouredpaper]

Rain Cloud

Your day has been much less productive than you wished and the unfinished to-do-list turns out umexpectantly stressful, so you end up in overwhelm without even noticing. Soobin, however, notices and calms you down.

Choi Soobin/ Reader

Domestic fluff, sleepy cuddles, stress, crying, comfort

wc: 1354

The darkness from outside seemed to transfer inside the room regardless of the lights that illuminated the walls in cold blue light.

One lightbulb wasn't working anymore and only flickered from time to time in an unpleasant rhythm. The rain hit against the window, even the falling leafs were thrown through the air roughl and striked against the glass with their full surface, combining all droplets in their surrounding in heavy splashes.

'Hi, I'm back.', a happy voice sounded and Soobin entered the room. His hair was wet and the hem of his pants as well.

'You're already in bed.', he remarked and collected a bunch of clothes that he wanted to change into after taking a shower.

'Was a bit tired. How was your day?', you answered and tried to sound happy as well, but you weren't too sure if you managed to ban the tiredness from the sound of your voice as much as you wished.

'Good. It was good. I'll tell you soon, okay? I really want to take a warm shower. The weather is making me freeze all day.', he responded and shoved all clothes he pulled out of the drawer into his arms, walked over to you and gave you a kiss on your cheek.

'Soobin, your hair.', you laughed and wiped the water out if your face.

'Oh, sorry.', he apologised with an excusing smile, stretching the last syllable a bit longer than necessary.

'Just get in the shower, you big rain cloud.', you laughed and pointed at the door.

He left quickly and was laughing himself. You heard the door closing and the shower being activated. The water splashed on the hard floor and you waited until the sound changed when Soobin stepped under the warmed up water. From every side was now the sound of water drops audible and when you closed your eyes it was easy to imagine being at a waterfall.

It was a meditative environment now and you actually felt sleep overpowering you soon after you closed your eyes. You didn't register the ebbed splattering in the bathroom and neither did you hear Soobin entering the room again. However you did realise that it suddenly got darker and when the mattress next to you dipped down and a large body was crawling under the blanket to you, you understood that he must have switched off the ceiling lights.

'Are you asleep?', Soobin whispered softly and pulled the blanket over you properly.

'No.', you exhaled and rolled over closer to him and he welcomed you in his warm embrace by pulling you closer with the blanket around your body.

'Freezing?', he asked gently and you nodded weakly.

'I hate the weather.', he whispered again and kissed your forhead.

'Sleep well.', he spoke after a while of silence and you allowed yourself to drift off completely after placing a lazy kiss on his lips.

'Wake up, no, just- wake up, please.', Soobin pleaded and and you slowly came back to contiosness in the realisation of him holding onto your shoulder tightly.

'Soobin?', you asked sleepily and opened your eyes, but it was dark therefore it wouldn't have made a difference if you kept them shut.

You let your hand wander to the side where he was laying when he came to bed and you felt his arm on which his rested right next to you.

He quickly took your hand and squeezed it gently, but with some trustworthy emphasis.

'Are you okay?', he asked worried and you were surprised to hear a hint if panic in his voice.

'Yes, I'm fine. What's going on?', you asked and sat up, causing him to do the same.

'You were crying, you still are.', he whispered and placed his hand on your jaw to wipe some tears from your cheek.

You took a deep breath and recognised the familiar shaking when you exhaled and your eyes welled up with tears again.

'I don't know why. I didn't realise.', you answered and tried to remember if you had any impactiful dream, but as far as you could judge that wasn't the case.

Soobin pulled you into his chest and caressed your back to calm your shivering body down and you felt ready to just sleep again.

'What happened during the day?', Soobin asked and you recapitulated everything that was going on.

'I was just so tired.', you whispered and immediately felt guilty and wanted to repeat hundreds of apologies.

You wanted to tidy up the apartment, you wanted to do some grocery shopping, you wanted to finally hang up that one painting of the mountains that Soobin gifted you to your birthday. You didn't do any of those tasks. It was your day off and you wanted to get some basic chores done, but in the end you got absorbed by a ridiculously unproductive routine of falling asleep and going on a walk in an attempt to wake up and that happened several time that day. You were stuck in this cycle without finding a way of breaking it.

A loud sob escaped your mouth and you clang into Soobin, thankful that he was holding you firmly.

'It's okay. Tired days are completely okay.', he assured you and laid down with you in his arms again.

'I didn't even hang up the painting.', you cried out and felt so ungrateful for not cherishing the present in a way you wanted it to and how you thought Soobin had to be by that as well.

'It's fine. I think it looks good wherever it is to be honest.', he whispered and let his fingers dive between your hair to message your scalp a little.

You laughed through your tears and answered, 'It's still on the upper shelf. It's probably the spideres' property by now.'

He laughed and you felt a bit more at ease, like always when he was smiling or laughing.

'Mountains are high, so it is kind of fitting. Besides, I find it beautiful there.', he joked and you shook your head, smiling, but slightly annoyed.

'You're tall. I can't even see it properly up there.', you reminded him and he pulled the blanket over you and pushed the hem of your sweater down to make sure that your skin wasn't unnecessarily exposed to any possible cold air.

'I'll just lift you up. Then you can see it and get some mountain-like air up there.', he sighed and you felt bad that he woke up because of you.

'I'm going to hang it up for real tomorrow.', you promised and rolled a bit away from him.

'I'll help and you can now stay in my arms if you want.', he answered and you pushed yourself back into his warmth, reluctantly, but thankful.

'I don't know why I cried.', you repeated and he hummed to signal that he heard you.

'Sorry for waking you up.', you apologised and he shook his head against the pillow.

'Don't apologise for that.', he instructed and threw one leg over you, trapping you cometely in his clingy embrace.

'Okay, sorry. I don't know.', you mumbled, not knowing what to say besides apologies.

'You don't have to.', Soobin mumbled and you realised how close he was as well as how calm.

'You already said so.', you answered confused, thinking he referred to you apologising.

'No. I meant that you don't have to know. You can have a bad day, you can cry and all of that without knowing why right away.', he explained and gave you a soft kiss on your lips that caught you off-guard, but wasn't unpleasant.

He kissed you again and this time lingered a bit longer and you felt all his warmth on and around you.

The rain was still there, but trapped in Soobin's strict hug and his habit of fixing all fabrics around you to make you as comfortable as possible, it was inaudible. One sense was so strongly occupied by pleasantness that it shut out the other regarding the unpleasantness.

When he pulled away he finally laid his head back on the pillow and closed his eyes.

[ageofjoshua]

Papa Don’t Preach: Chapter 3

Late Teen!Jake Kiszka x Fem!Reader

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Layla experiences morning sickness and, with Jake, attends a doctor’s appointment. The visit forces her to confront the reality of her situation, leaving her emotionally overwhelmed and uncertain about what to do next.

────୨ৎ────

Warnings - teen pregnancy, emotional distress, tension, mentions of sex.

Disclaimer - excuse an errors!! and as always, please let me know if i missed any warnings. <3

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Layla was still under house arrest, her father still livid over Jake, so she spent the weekend morning cleaning her room. She tossed a load of laundry into the wash and started tidying up. She was in the middle of sweeping when, suddenly, she dropped the broom and bolted to the bathroom, collapsing near the toilet as a wave of nausea overtook her.

It wasn’t long before her mother appeared, panic lacing her voice.

“Baby! Layla?! Sweetie, are you okay?”

Layla flushed the toilet and leaned back against the wall, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand.

“Yeah… I’m fine…” she said breathlessly.

Lily knelt beside her, pressing a hand to her forehead.

“You’re not running a fever…”

Layla gently pushed her mother’s hand away.

“Mom, I’m fine. I probably just… overdid it with the cleaning.”

Lily studied her daughter, unconvinced, but chose not to press the issue.

“Maybe. Why don’t you take a break and drink some water? Have you eaten today?”

Layla shook her head.

“Well, that’s probably why you got sick.” Lily helped her up slowly. “Come on, I’ll make you some breakfast. I’ll call you when it’s ready, okay?”

“Thanks, Mom…” Layla sighed.

Lily guided her back to bed before heading out of the room. As soon as she was gone, Layla grabbed her phone and dialed Jake. After a few moments, Jake’s voice came through the line.

“Hello?”

“Hi.”

“Good morning, baby. You’re up early.”

Layla could practically hear the smirk in his voice.

“So are you. What are you up to?”

“Uh… helping my dad with something. What about you? You sound off. Everything okay?”

Layla loved how well Jake knew her. He never missed a thing when something was wrong. It gave her butterflies.

“I’m fine… I just got sick.”

“What?! Are you okay? What do you mean ‘got sick’?”

Layla lowered her voice, making sure her parents couldn’t hear.

“It’s… morning sickness.” She hesitated. “I read online that it’s normal.”

“Are you sure? Do you need me to leave and take you to the ER? Because—”

“Jake, I’m fine,” she cut him off. His concern made her smile. “It’s normal. At least, that’s what Google told me.”

Jake chuckled softly.

“Alright… did you, uh… make the appointment?”

“Yeah. It’s on Wednesday. 9:30.”

“Alright. We’re there.”

“It’s a school day.”

“So?”

“Baby, I can’t miss school,” Layla protested.

“Then why’d you schedule it during school hours?” Before she could respond, he spoke again. “Doesn’t matter. We can’t miss it. The sooner we go, the sooner we know our options. We’re going, Layla.”

She let out a quiet sigh.

The reality of her pregnancy still felt distant, like something happening to someone else. Maybe if she ignored it long enough, it wouldn’t be real.

“Okay.”

“Good girl… I gotta go, okay? I’ll text you later.”

Another sigh.

“Okay…”

“I love you.”

“I love you too.”

The weekend passed in a blur, and before Layla knew it, Monday and Tuesday had come and gone. Soon, it was Wednesday, and she stood outside the school, waiting for Jake.

He snuck up behind her, wrapping his arms around her waist and pulling her close, pressing a soft kiss to her neck.

“Mm… good morning, beautiful.”

Layla smiled. “Morning…”

Jake pulled away just enough to take her hand, lacing his fingers with hers as he led them toward his car. Noticing the way she was gripping his hand a little too tightly, he chuckled.

“Nervous, baby?”

“I don’t like skipping school. What if my parents find out?”

Jake chuckled. Layla was so innocent. How they ended up together was a mystery to him, but he wasn’t complaining. Unlocking his car, he opened the door for her and helped her inside.

“You worry too much.” He shut the door, walked around to the driver’s side, and slid in, starting the engine. “They won’t.”

“But what if they do?”

“You blocked the school’s number on both their phones, right?”

Layla nodded.

“Then you’re fine, baby.” He reached over, resting a hand on her thigh and giving it a gentle squeeze. “Relax. You don’t need to stress about this.”

She exhaled deeply, nodding again.

The ride was quiet, the low hum of the radio filling the space as they headed to Jake’s house. Their appointment wasn’t until 9:30, leaving them a few hours to kill before then.

“Are you sure—”

Jake leaned in, cutting Layla off with a kiss. He pulled away after a few seconds, a smirk playing on his lips. “Stop overthinking. Come on.”

They got out of the car and headed toward the front door. Jake let Layla in first, taking her backpack and tossing it onto the couch before grabbing her hand and leading her toward the stairs.

“Oh. Jacob?”

Jake turned around.

“Hey, Mom.”

“And Layla.” His mother smiled warmly, walking over to give Layla a quick hug. “What a lovely surprise. How are you?”

“Hi, Karen. I’m good, thank you.”

“We’re going up to my room,” Jake said, nudging Layla toward the stairs.

“Ah, wait. What about school?”

Jake sighed. “We’re skipping today.”

“Why?”

“Because we feel like it. Mom, we’ll be upstairs.”

Without waiting for more questions, he pulled Layla up the stairs.

“Be respectful, Jacob,” his mom called after them.

Jake rolled his eyes, leading Layla straight to his room.

Once inside, Jake shuts the door behind them and guides Layla to the bed. He sits down first, pulling her onto his lap, his arms wrapping around her waist. A mischievous grin spreads across his face as he leans in, pressing soft kisses against her neck. She exhales shakily, her fingers gripping his shoulders. His hands slide down, grabbing her ass while his lips continue their slow, teasing assault on her skin.

After a few minutes, he shifts, gently flipping them over so Layla is beneath him. Hovering over her, he brushes a strand of hair from her face, his touch light and affectionate.

“You’re so beautiful, baby…” His voice is soft, full of admiration.

Sitting up slightly, he reaches for his belt, fingers working at the buckle—his gaze never leaving hers.

“Wait—” Layla pushes up onto her elbows, her expression hesitant. “Maybe we shouldn’t.”

Jake pauses, his hands stilling.

“Why not?”

She hesitates, searching for the right words.

Jake shifts beside her, taking her hand gently. “What is it?”

Layla swallows hard, eyes flickering downward. “I just… what if it’s not safe?”

Jake’s brows knit together. “Safe?”

“For the baby…” she murmurs, barely above a whisper.

Jake’s expression shifts from confusion to understanding. Layla had a good point—he hadn’t considered whether it was safe either. He made a mental note to ask the doctor about it.

“You’re right,” he sighed. “We shouldn’t… for now.”

He could see that Layla felt bad for saying no, which he hated. Wanting to reassure her, he moved closer, wrapping an arm around her as they lay down together. In a way, he admired that she was thinking about the baby, but it also made him wonder—was she planning on keeping it? The thought made his stomach tighten, but he knew he had to be ready for whatever came next.

“Hey, Lay?”

“Yeah?”

He hesitated, then asked, “Have you thought about it? You know… our options?”

Layla let out a quiet sigh, snuggling closer. “Yeah,” she murmured.

“…And?”

She lifted her head just enough to look at him.

“I don’t want to be a mom at eighteen,” she admitted softly.

“No?”

She shook her head.

“So… does that mean you want a—”

“No.” She sat up abruptly. “It’s not the baby’s fault that we aren’t ready.” Taking a deep breath, she added, “I think we should put the baby up for adoption.”

Jake sat up beside her.

“Yeah? Are you sure?”

She nodded. “Are you mad at me?”

“What? No, baby, of course not. Whatever you want, that’s what we’ll do, okay? Come here.”

He opened his arms, and she immediately crawled into them.

“I love you,” he murmured.

“I love you too,” she whispered back.

With the decision made, Jake finally felt like he could breathe. By the time the appointment rolled around, some of his nerves had eased. The drive to the clinic was short, and they arrived fifteen minutes early—just enough time to check in and handle any paperwork.

After checking in, they took a seat in the waiting area. Jake glanced at Layla, noticing the frantic bounce of her leg. He reached over, threading his fingers through hers.

“Hey.”

She looked at him, her anxiety written all over her face.

“It’s gonna be okay,” he said, trying to reassure her—even though he was just as nervous.

A nurse stepped into the room. “Layla Salazar?”

Jake glanced at Layla, then back at the nurse.

“You ready?”

She hesitated before giving a small nod, standing as they followed the nurse down the hall. She let Jake go first, squeezing his hand as he stepped into a small room ahead of her.

“Alright, Layla—have a seat on the examination table,” the nurse said with a kind smile.

Layla let go of Jake’s hand and sat down. The first part of the appointment was just routine questions—when her last period was, when they started, how regular they were—along with personal and family medical history before moving on to the physical exam.

After the urine test, Layla was taken to another room for a blood draw. As the nurse prepped the equipment, she glanced at Jake.

“Will you hold my hand?”

Without hesitation, he reached for her, threading his fingers through hers.

“You’ll feel a small pinch,” the nurse warned gently.

Layla shut her eyes as the needle went in. Jake knelt beside her, lifting her hand to his lips and pressing a soft kiss against her skin.

“Almost done, baby,” he whispered. “You’re doing so good. My brave girl.”

Once they were done, they returned to the examination room to wait for the results. It wasn’t long before the doctor walked in, a few papers in hand.

“Alright. Hi, Layla,” she said with a warm smile. “I have your test results. Congratulations—you are indeed pregnant.”

Hearing it confirmed again made everything feel even more real, and Layla’s anxiety spiked. The doctor continued.

“Based on the information you provided, I’d estimate you’re about eight weeks along—still early.”

Jake gave a slow nod, processing the news.

“I’ll need to perform an ultrasound to make sure everything is progressing as it should, okay?”

Layla swallowed hard and nodded.

“Great. If you could lie back and lift your shirt up for me…”

Layla follows the instructions, her eyes tracking the doctor as they move around the room to prepare the ultrasound machine. She glances over at Jake, reaching for his hand, and he gives her a reassuring smile, his gaze returning to the black screen.

“Alright, this might feel a little cold,” the doctor says, gently applying gel to Layla’s lower abdomen. She picks up the ultrasound probe and begins the procedure.

Jake and Layla both focus on the screen in front of them, their attention entirely absorbed.

“Let’s just take a look here…” The only sound filling the room is the faint hum of the ultrasound machine, and then—suddenly—

“There it is.” The doctor points to a small, round shape on the screen. Layla gasps softly, her eyes widening in surprise.

There it was.

The unexpected life she and Jake had created. So tiny. So innocent. Layla felt a lump form in her throat as her eyes began to well up—everything else seemed distant, muffled. The decision she’d thought she had made now felt like it was slipping away.

“Layla. Layla?”

Her focus snaps back to the doctor, tears now streaking down her cheeks.

“What?” Her voice is unsteady.

“You and Jake have already decided on adoption?”

Jake gently helps Layla sit up, grabbing the tissue the doctor handed him to wipe away the gel and adjusting her shirt afterward.

“What? Oh… um…” Her eyes drift back to the screen, her heart heavy.

“Baby?” Jake’s voice is soft but firm. “That’s still what you want, right? That’s what you told me.”

Sensing Layla’s uncertainty, the doctor clears her throat and offers a gentle smile.

“Layla, you’re still very early in your pregnancy. Whatever you decide, you have plenty of time to make the best choice for both you and the baby.”

Layla nods slowly.

“I should mention, one of your options does have a time limit. If you and Jake decide on termination, you’d need to do so before you reach 24 weeks,” the doctor explains.

“No,” Layla interrupts firmly. “Termination is off the table.”

The doctor nods in understanding.

“Alright, then. That leaves you with two other options, and both will require you to continue with the pregnancy. You’ll need to start taking prenatal vitamins every morning, okay? And make sure you’re eating a balanced breakfast, getting plenty of rest, and staying active.”

Layla’s voice is soft, still processing everything. “Where can I buy the vitamins?”

“They’re over the counter, so any pharmacy should have them,” the doctor replies.

Jake speaks up, a little hesitantly. “Can she still have sex while pregnant?”

Layla whips her head around to glare at Jake, slapping his arm. “Jake!”

The doctor laughs lightly. “Yes, sex is fine while pregnant. Just no rough play or wild positions.” Layla blushes deeply, and the doctor adds with a smile, “Remember, we want mama to be comfortable.”

Jake nods.

“Of course.”

The doctor lets out a small chuckle.

“Alright. Any more questions?”

They both shake their heads.

“Okay. If you think of any, just call my office. I’ll be happy to answer. Layla, you’ll need to schedule another appointment at twelve weeks for more genetic testing.”

Layla nods.

The doctor smiles. “Alright then, that’s all. Congratulations again. I’ll see you two soon.” With that, she walks out.

After checking out, Jake and Layla head to his car, a heavy silence settling between them. Jake doesn’t start the engine right away—his mind racing.

“Layla.”

She slowly looks over at him.

“What just happened in there? I thought we agreed on adoption.”

“I don’t know.” She sighs. “That was the plan, but—”

“Was the plan?” Jake cuts her off, his eyes widening.

Layla stammers, struggling to find the words.

“Baby—what happened to being too young for this?”

“I don’t know, okay?!” she snaps. “I don’t know!” Her gaze drops to her hands, where she holds two ultrasound photos. Her voice softens. “I don’t know…”

Jake grabs her hand, his grip tight. “Layla, we cannot be parents. Do you hear yourself? We’re eighteen.”

She knows he’s right. But a small voice inside her whispers something different. Before she can say anything, Jake lets go, starts the car, and pulls out of the parking lot.

The ride is tense, silent. Layla steals glances at him—his anger evident in his clenched jaw, his grip on the wheel.

When they reach her house, he parks and unlocks the door.

“I’ll text you,” he mutters, not looking at her.

A single tear slips down her cheek as she unbuckles her seatbelt and steps out. The moment she shuts the door, Jake speeds away, leaving her standing there—broken, confused, overwhelmed.

She stares at the ultrasound photo in her hand before shoving it into her backpack. Without a word, she walks up the steps, opens the door, and disappears inside.

[musewritingsforyou]

The Fight

Part 2

Summary: The day of the battle is here and y/n is struggling to focus

Warnings: injury, vampires, blood, medicine, swearing, violence

Word Count: 1k

A/N: Part two!! this one is a cliffhanger (not rlly if you’ve seen it) so I’ll have part three up tomorrow!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

By morning all of the wolves that could fight were up and gone. Emily and I along with a few others from the tribe went back to Billy’s house to wait for the all clear. Now that the day had finally arrived there were no more doubts or thoughts of Jacob in my head. Only pure determination. He would live. They would all live.

We spent the hours waiting in Billy’s living room, continuing to set up supplies and beds. Emily stayed in the kitchen, nervously baking an obscene amount of blueberry muffins. At some points she came in to check on the rest of us, handed us some food and then disappeared back into the warm and sweet smelling room she came from. I knew exactly how she was feeling. The deep dread in her stomach that wouldn't cease, at least not until we could see them again. Not until we could all lay our eyes on them and see that they are okay. 

“How are you so calm?” she asked me when I went into the kitchen for a bottle of water. 

“Who says I am?” I responded by giving her a weary smile and closing the fridge. 

“I have work to do. As long as I know there is something to do I won't panic. Thinking about Jake and worrying about him won't help him right now, besides, I can feel it. I know he’s okay” 

Emily wiped her hands on her apron and slowly approached me with a smile. 

“When did you learn to be so wise, huh?” I gave her a long hug before going back out to the living room. Waiting. That's all I could do for now. Wait.

Two hours later the door slammed shut as a familiar young boy jogged in. 

“Seth? What's going on, shouldn't you be on the mountain?” We all raced to meet him in the hallway, scanning every inch of him for scrapes or bruises as he slowed. 

“A lot happened, there was this red headed blood sucker and I tried to jump her and then Jake ran down to fight and now Sam's yelling and-” Emily went to his side with water and a muffin before leading him to a chair. 

“Breathe Seth. Slow down. You can tell us when you're ready.” he devoured the whole muffin in silence before he could speak again.

“Victoria came up to the mountain. Somehow she figured out Edwards' plan but by then Jacob had already ran to fight. After he heard-'' he paused clearly cursing himself like he said something he shouldn't have.

“Heard what?”  he wouldn't look me in the eye. 

“Heard what Seth? What did Jake hear?” 

“Edward and Bella are engaged. As soon as he heard he ran off for the fight, I tried to stop him I swear but-”

Suddenly my hearing died out until all that was left was a buzz deep in my head. Jake ran off. He ran into the fight. He was already upset, already prone to being reckless and stupid. Now he's gone into battle. Slowly I focused myself and listened back into the conversation.

“What's Sam telling you, Seth? Is he okay?” Emily was still crouched by the young boy's side, now anxiously asking him about her mate. 

“He's fine, tired but fine. He told me to come get sophie. He said the fighting has slowed enough, he needs your help. The pack needs you out there.” 

I clenched my jaw and nodded. 

“What are we waiting for then?” I ran to the door with Emily and Billy in my wake, handing me bags full of medical supplies, a jacket, a flashlight, anything they saw that they thought might be useful. Finally Seth and I stood outside, he ran towards the woods as I looked back to Billy.

“I'll bring him back, Billy, I promise” 

~~~

I clung onto Seth's thick fur as he ran for the clearing in the woods. I could see fires burning all over in an attempt to kill the newborns. He dropped me right in front of a gray wolf lying on its side on the ground. There was a small marking behind the wolf's ear. Quill. It had to be Quill. The gash through his side was bleeding heavily, he must have gotten stuck in his wolf form because of how badly he was hurt. I placed a soothing hand on his ribs and looked into his eyes.

“It's alright Quill, you're going to be fine” I worked faster than ever before, stitching up his side and when I was finally finished and the bleeding had stopped I turned on my knees to find Sam staring back at me.

“Where is Jacob?” I had wanted to look for him the second that I got here, but after seeing the level of carnage all over it felt too selfish.

“I don't know” I stopped breathing.

“What do you mean you don’t know Sam?”

“He was on the field a minute ago, he was fighting, but I can't find him.”

“Is he alive?” I still held my breath with tears starting to come to my eyes.

“Yes. yes he's alive.” I took my first shaky breath as I turned back to Quill, stroking his fur and placing bandages over his wound. I could hear Sam slowly walking away, phasing just beyond my sight to speak with the other wolves. Then came a sound I didn't recognize. It wasn't the sound of a wolf, or a human or of anything I had heard before. Just as I turned my head I heard Edward shout,

“Leah no!” Time slowed as I saw the gray wolf try to grapple with the bloodsucker and then another sound. This one I knew in my very soul. A howl that I could recognize anywhere as a russet wolf leapt from the woods beyond Leah. I spun in place and started to stand as I screamed for him.

“Jacob, don't!” But I was already too late. Leah was thankfully knocked out of its grip as Jacob landed a blow, but the vampire was too quick even for him. I could almost hear Jasper's words from earlier in my mind. 

Never let them get their arms around you

[rising-volteccers]

Prompt, liko gets hurt, how does friede handle 'failing'

This was certainly a fun prompt to tackle! Once again, I got carried away a little with personal headcanons and what not haha. This piece took inspiration from this Twitter post of Liko getting hurt under Friede's watch and @/somniadelapsis idea of different Explorers who are more ruthless in their attempt at nabbing Liko's pendant. Hopefully it's an enjoyable read!

Series: Pokemon Horizons

Characters: Friede, Liko, Mollie

Warnings: Light description of a child character getting hurt

--

Friede didn’t expect for things to get so wrong so quickly.

One minute, he alongside Liko and Roy were on their way back from grocery shopping. The next one, they found themselves ambushed by a different set of Explorers who exercised far less restraint in grabbing Liko unharmed.

Friede did his best to fend off the opposing Skarmory and Carkoal with added support from Sprigatito and Fuecoco. It looked like they were gaining the upper ground until the dust settled post collision of a Thunderpunch against Stone Edge and he heard–

“Liko! Liko are you alright?”

He knew the dangers of his attentiveness on the battle at hand but Friede immediately snapped towards Roy’s loud, fearful voice. Like getting drenched by a bucket of ice water, Friede spotted Roy knelt beside Liko who–

She was on the ground, lying so still that Friede couldn’t help but assume the worst.

“Double Team Cap! Charizard, Flamethrower!” he hastily called before dashing towards the pair. 

Friede dropped to his knees next to Liko. His stomach dropped once he realized that she was unresponsive. The soft rise and fall of her chest at least told him that she wasn’t…

He swallowed heavily. They needed to get back on the ship and have Mollie treat her as soon as possible. 

Friede called for a few more attacks. If his Pokemon seemed a little more vicious with their respective attacks in respond to the barely concealed panic in his tone, Friede didn’t notice. He simply jumped on the advantage of rendering the Skarmory unconscious and had Charizard prepare for take off.

Once Charizard had Liko in his arms, Friede quickly helped Roy onto the dual-type’s back before joining him. With a mighty flap of his wings, Charizard started to rise. Friede ordered for Cap to throw off a few Thunders as distraction while they gained more height. 

After that, Cap managed to jump onto his outstretched arm when Charizard swooped down, weaving his way through the Stone Edge that popped up from the ground. 

“Get us out of here!” Friede’s yell startled Roy, and if he wasn’t focused on guiding Charizard further away from the ranged moves hellbent on hitting them, he’d give the boy an apology. As it was, Friede held Roy in an almost bruising grip in his fear and haste to get back to their ship. 

“F-Friede, that kinda hurts…” Roy’s soft, shaky voice had him loosening his grip but he still kept a protective arm around the kid throughout Charizard’s speedy, tension filled flight. The rapid flaps of powerful wings matched the beat of his own heart, and he swallowed down the rising emotions that threatened to swallow him whole.

Friede can’t afford to buckle under the weight of his immense guilt right now. He needed to ensure Liko got help as soon as possible, not to mention assure Roy who’d fallen into an uneasy, fearful silence as well. 

He swallowed heavily, then spoke just loud enough to be heard through the winds. “Hey, she’s going to be alright. Don’t worry.”

Sensing the slightest of nods didn’t ease anything within him but that was the best he could get.

Upon spotting the docked airship, he signalled for Charizard to land on the outer deck. His partner performed the best landing he could with the extra weight he carried–typically, Charizard only had two passengers on him at a time–and Friede wasted no time in hopping off with a loud, “Mollie I need you!”

In the meantime, he rushed to check on Liko nestled in Charizard’s arms. Friede bit his bottom lip upon seeing her so still, though at least mildly assured that she didn’t appear to have problems breathing. Gingerly, he scooped her up she was so light so still she should never be this still just as Mollie and the rest of the crew burst out from various rooms on the ship.

“Friede? What–?” Murdock started, eyes widening upon seeing Liko unconscious in his arms.

“Different Explorers. She got–got hurt. Need treatment now,” Friede replied in clipped tones, immediately following after Mollie who gestured that they go to the infirmary. Distantly, he heard Murdock checking up on Roy, glad at least that someone else could do that as his focus laid solely on Liko.

“Chansey, get my equipment,” Mollie ordered the moment she entered. With barely a glance over her shoulder, she said, “Put Liko on the bed.”

Friede did as instructed. He then took a step back to give space for Mollie to perform a check-up, knowing full well that she hated crowding while she worked. She snapped on gloves before she gently held Liko’s chin, lightly tilting her head the fact that she didn’t respond through any of that scared him to check for possible injury.

“What happened?” Mollie’s tone was crisp and professional that Friede instinctively stood up straighter.

“We were just done with shopping–” In the midst of all that chaos, he belatedly realized that he left behind the groceries they bought. “–and on our way back when a different set of Explorers went after Liko and her pendant.”

Friede had migrated to a nearby wall throughout his explanation, arms crossed to hide the way his hands lightly shook. His expression reflected the turbulent emotions bubbling within him. Anger at himself for getting so easily caught off guard like that. Ice cold fear on seeing her so still unmoving not responsive. Disappointment that he never considered the nature on how LIko’s pendant protected her. All the times that it did, it was from attacks directly made at her, not where she got caught in the aftermath of one. 

“I see. Then?” Mollie prompted. Friede didn’t notice the way she glanced at him before continuing on with the check-up.

“Charizard and Cap were fending off their Skarmory and Carkoal,” he continued, fingers digging into his upper arm. “The kids helped by having Fuecoco and Sprigatito distract them. It looked like we had the upper hand but then…” Friede took in a soft, shaky breath. “Cap intercepted a Stone Edge with Thunderpunch, causing it to explode into bits. Don’t know if it was the force or one of those rocks hit her cause the next thing I knew… Roy’s rushing towards Liko on the ground.”

Friede already knew that the boy’s frantic calls of her name while he saw her unconscious so still unmoving lifeless would haunt his nightmares for awhile.

“I’ll tell you now it’s likely that she got knocked off her feet and hit her head when she fell,” Mollie eventually replied in the ensuing silence. “I feel a bump on the back of her head. It’s worrying that she’s not regaining consciousness yet but my initial assessment is that she’s also exhausted from the stress of today.”

“That means…”

“I’ll have her stay here and monitored for the night but I don’t see any other injuries to worry about.”

Friede nearly buckled from the crash of relief that washed over him. Setting aside his guilt, this was at least good news to hear. The breath he released shuddered around the edges, shoulders slanting from released tension. 

“Thank Arceus…” he murmured. His eyes slid shut for a moment to ease the sting of welled up tears. Friede took in another steadying breath before opening them to find him on the other end of Mollie’s gaze.

“She’s going to be alright.” While her expression barely shifted from its usual calm, Friede heard the gentle assurance in it. A part of him twisted uncomfortably at the kindness shown he didn’t deserve it not when Liko got her on his watch but he simply flashed her a wan smile.

“Right, thanks Mollie.” Was he thanking her for treating Liko or trying to comfort him, who knows? 

“At the moment, all that Liko needs is rest.” She eyed him critically. “Now, are you hurt in anyway?”

Not anything physical, he thought. Friede lightly shook his head. “Don’t think so.” Only Liko did, causing his stomach to churn from flared guilt. 

“Alright, I’m trusting you on that. If I find that you tried to hide an injury…”

A shiver trailed down his spine from her mild, threatening tone. “Promise I’m not.” Not this time anyway. 

Friede forced himself to remain still at her assessing gaze before she shifted her attention back to Liko.

“I have things handled here. Go on, get some rest yourself. Drink something if you can stomach it, shower, sleep–anything other than working yourself up. If you find yourself spiraling, remember–”

“I know.” Mollie practically drilled various grounding techniques into his head. Whether or not he’d be able to utilize them in that  moment was often a 50/50 chance. At the very least, if he needed… help, Cap knew who to get. Friede preferred to avoid that possibility in the first place so… yeah. He would try not to let his thoughts get the better of him.

Mollie dipped her head once, not saying anymore on that matter. Friede slowly pulled himself away from the wall, forcing his arms to stay by his side instead of staying crossed. He had one foot out of the infirmary when he paused.

“Hey Mollie, when Liko wakes up can you…?”

“I’ll let you know. Whether or not she’ll be up for visitors remains to be seen but I’ll inform you.”

“Thanks.” Friede at last exited the infirmary–only to find himself immediately bombarded by Roy’s worried questions. While briefly stunned, he managed to pull together a mask of his usual confident self. Right now, he needed to be the commander than his crew could rely on. While Mollie handled her task, Friede would perform his.

--

A few hours later, a freshly showered, comfortably dressed Friede that had a mug of Murdock’s calming tea blend in him received a text from Mollie stating that Liko was up. Cap reminded him to keep it cool and not burst out of his cabin in his rush towards the infirmary. 

He barely remembered to knock and waited for Mollie’s faint come in before opening the door. Stepping inside, golden eyes swiftly fell upon the figure sitting on the bed.

Liko, while looking a bit pale and exhausted smiled faintly once she saw him. Friede tampered down the conflicting emotions he didn’t deserve that not when she got hurt because of him to return it with a small smile of his own.

“Hey Liko, how are you feeling?” Friede found it a little surprising that he could sound so gentle like this. He switched places with Mollie, who informed him that she was going to grab a quick meal before leaving the pair alone. 

“U-Um, mostly tired. I’ve got a bit of a headache but Mollie said that’s because of the, um, bump.”

The guilt that settled on the backburner while he kept himself distracted earlier came out full force that he nearly shuddered from how heavy it was. He must have not kept his expression in check since Liko started to frantically assure him.

“Um it’s alright! Or it will be! I just need to be monitored tonight and get plenty of rest.”

Friede would have laughed if it didn’t make him out to be even more pathetic. Look at him, the adult in the room needing assurance from the kid he was supposed to protect.

“Please Liko, I–” Friede released a slow breath. “I’m so, so sorry that you got hurt because I failed to protect you.” 

“N-No it wasn’t–”

“Your mother hired us to protect you, and I failed on that regard,” Friede pushed on. His eyes met her slightly wide, confused ones. “Seeing you unconscious like that… it scared me.”

That last bit came out whispered for he finally acknowledged the primary emotion he tried so very hard to ignore. Friede hated being afraid; he’d take anger, disappointment, guilt–anything other than this all consuming dread and helplessness.

“So I’m not asking for your forgiveness. I only hope that you can still put your trust in us to not fail you a second time.” Having said his piece, he remained quiet while Liko processed it all. Friede waited for whatever judgement she’d give him. 

What Liko did instead surprised him. She huffed out a little giggle, snapping his eyes towards her lightly amused expression. 

“I’m sorry but, um, I just think it’s a little funny that you’d think I lost any trust in you and everyone else in the first place.” Liko played with the edge of her blanket. “What happened today… I know it would have been a lot worse if I had been on my own. Even with Sprigatito, I don’t think we’d have been able to handle two skilled opponents…”

In an uncharacteristically bold move on her end, Liko gently reached out to settle her small hand atop of Friede’s. 

“S-So! Please don’t blame yourself and think that you… failed to protect me. I knew you tried your best! And I’m grateful for that! I’m grateful everyday that you and Mollie and–and everyone look out for me. I’m a part of the Rising Volt Tacklers. I trust all of you… so can you trust me and believe that I’ll be alright?”

Throughout her spiel, Friede simply stared at her in stunned silence. Only after she was done that he dropped his head into his free hand, muffling a resigned chuckle into his palm. 

Liko might not be as confident but man, she reminded him so much of her mother at that moment. The words Liko spoke about trust… it was almost a mirror copy of what she told him years ago when he faced a similar conundrum.

Like mother, like daughter eh? Friede drew in a deep breath before he sat back up, giving her a more genuine smile now.

“Alright, I’ll trust you. You’re really good with your words, you know that?”

“E-Eh? I was just sharing my thoughts…”

Friede knew his guilt won’t be so easily dispersed but he was able to set it aside and make room for this growing part within him that wanted nothing more than to see Liko safe and happy. He made a silent promise to himself that the trust she put in the Rising Volt Tacklers would never be misplaced. 

For now, Friede took heart that everything would reall turn out alright after all.

[whumpdoyoumean]

Whumptober #13

This is a (very late) tag to Stranger Things 4 (: 

xxx it comes and goes like the strength in your bones

Robin’s heart sinks as she stares out the window, watching as the ashy stuff floats lazily down from the darkening sky. It’s so quiet, calm almost, might be something close to beautiful if she didn’t know that it’s a sign of something terrible. She can hear quiet murmurs and shuffling behind her as others move toward the window to see what’s going on.

What’s going on.

None of these people have any idea what’s really been happening in Hawkins. The fear and grief that have permeated the little town are still just scratching the surface of the true terror that lies beneath. They’re trying to pick up the pieces, completely oblivious to the fact that things are only going to get worse. 

“Steve,” she says quietly. She isn’t sure what she’s looking for--some words of reassurance, or maybe just to know that she’s not alone--that he’s as scared as she is. He doesn’t answer and she looks over at him. “Steve?”

His cheeks are flushed, his gaze fixed on nothing in particular, and she can see his chest rising and falling as he takes heavy breaths. 

“You okay?” Robin says. 

Steve blinks. “I don’t feel so good,” he murmurs, his voice low. He makes a sound in the back of his throat, something between a gasp and a grunt, and his eyelids flutter, knees giving way beneath him. 

“Steve!” She launches herself forward, managing to catch him under the armpits before he hits the ground. 

“Whoa,” Steve breathes, his eyes widening as he gets his feet back under him and stands, gently peeling himself from Robin’s grip. “What just happened?” 

“Uh,” Robin says. “I don’t--”

“I think he fainted,” Vickie says from behind her. Then to Steve, “You should sit down, I’ll go get some water!”

“Is he okay?” someone says, and Robin forces a smile. 

“Yeah, we’re fine!” Her voice comes out higher than she meant it to, a little frantic, and she hopes it isn’t too glaringly obvious. “Thanks. Must’ve had his knees locked. Here, Steve, let’s get you to a chair, yeah?”

Steve doesn’t say anything as she grabs him tightly by the arm and starts guiding him through the crowd. His silence concerns her. Something like this would normally embarrass the shit out of him but he doesn’t say a thing, just allows himself to be led to a table a little removed from the gathered people. She can feel the panic starting to build, the familiar tightness in her chest, the noisy racing of her thoughts. She fights through it, forcing herself to take a deep breath as she eases Steve onto a chair. 

“What’s going on?” she asks quietly. Steve isn’t looking at her, and one arm is clutched tightly to his middle. Her mind flashes back to the sight of him lying on the ground, being eaten alive by those things, and she has to physically shake her head to send the memory away. She presses a hand to his forehead. “God, you’re burning up!”

Steve doesn’t respond. He seems barely conscious now, and it’s getting harder to keep the panic at bay. Vicki appears a second later, a water bottle clutched in one hand. Her eyes are wide, eyebrows pinched into a frown.

“Is he okay?” she asks.

Robin looks up at her. “Did you drive here?”

“Uh…y-yeah,” Vicki answers uncertainly.

“Good. Good, um, do you think you could drive us to the hospital?”

She looks a little freaked out, but nods. “Yeah. Yeah, of course.” 

Robin lets out a breath. “Thank you, Vicki. Thank you, I’m sorry about this.” She puts a hand on Steve’s back. “Hey, Steve? We’re gonna get you to a doctor, okay? But you need to get up.”

He nods a little, and Robin helps him to his feet, pulling his arm around her shoulders as she does. They barely make it three steps before he stumbles, and Vicki hurries to Steve’s other side, dropping the water bottle. 

“Let me help.”

The three of them make their way out of the cafeteria, Steve remaining disconcertingly quiet the whole time. Robin starts scanning the crowd as soon as they make it out. It only takes her a moment to spot the familiar curly head. 

“Dustin!” she calls, and he turns sharply, gaze meeting hers for only a second before he notices Steve. His eyes widen a little and he makes his way toward them, moving quickly in spite of his limp. Robin glances over at Vicki. “Room for one more?”

Vicki looks over at her and shrugs a little. “Why not?”

“Steve!” Dustin says breathlessly as he falls in step with them. “What happened?”

“He fainted,” Robin says, and Dustin’s face pales. 

“Oh, god.”

“We’re taking him to the hospital. Vicki, this is Dustin. Dustin, Vicki. She’s driving.”

“Hi,” Vicki says, and then nods toward a little blue chevy. “It’s that one.”

“The one with the red fuzzy dice?” Robin asks, and Vicki blushes a little. 

“It’s my mom’s car.”

Vicki gets behind the wheel while Dustin climbs into the backseat. Robin helps Steve in after him, making sure he’s all the way in before closing the door and hurrying up to the passenger seat. Vicki glances in the rearview as she turns the car on. 

“He’s really out of it,” she says. “I’ve seen people faint before--it happens all the time in band, you know, people lock their knees--but he looks. He looks pretty bad. Did something happen?”

“He, uh.” Robin’s racing mind suddenly goes blank, the million overlapping thoughts coalescing into a single drone. “Um.”

“I think he got hurt,” Dustin says from the backseat. “During the earthquake.”

“Yeah,” Robin says quickly, silently thanking him for saving her. “Yeah, he must not have gone to the hospital since it was so busy.”

The car hits a bump going out of the parking lot and Steve lets out a pained cry, arm curling tight against his middle, eyes squeezing shut. 

“Sorry!” Vicki cries. “Oh, god, I’m sorry. I’ll try and be more careful. Is he okay?”

“Just drive!” Dustin’s voice cracks a little and Vicki’s mouth twists to one side, her brow furrowed. 

“Do you want music?” she blurts after a second. “The radio doesn’t always work but I think there’s a-a Captain and Tennille tape in the glovebox.”

“No, that’s okay,” Robin says. “It’s only a few minutes.”

“Sorry, I’m just--I’m freaking out a little bit? I mean, the town is falling apart and I was making sandwiches and now I’m driving Steve Harrington to the hospital? And this--this is all just a little bit new to me, you know?”

Robin nods, offering her a small smile. “Yeah. I know.”

Vicki smiles back, though it doesn’t quite reach her eyes, then turns her attention back to the road. 

“I’ll let you guys off at the front,” she says as they near the hospital. “Do you want me to stay? I can park and come in. If you want.”

“We’ve got it,” Robin says, hoping she doesn’t come off as rude. “And again, I am--so sorry. Thank you, I owe you big time.”

“I hope he’s okay,” Vicky says. 

“Thanks.”

Robin and Dustin barely manage to get Steve out of the car and into the lobby, and Dustin starts shouting immediately. 

“Hey! We need help! Help!” Maybe it’s the urgent shrillness of his voice, or maybe it’s the fact that Steve is barely standing, but much to Robin’s surprise and relief things move quickly, and before she knows it Steve is being loaded onto a gurney.

“Can you tell me your name?” one of the doctors asks as they wheel him out down the hall to one of the curtained off areas, Robin and Dustin at their heels. Steve is still conscious (sort of) but he doesn’t answer, and the doctor looks over at Robin. 

“Steve,” she says quickly. “Steve Harrington.”

“Okay, Steve? Do you know where you are? Let’s get his vitals…” He turns to Robin as one of the nurses slides a blood pressure cuff onto Steve’s arm. “Can you tell me what happened?”

How does she even begin to explain that? She has no idea, but she has to answer so just starts talking in the hopes that something comes to her.“We were volunteering at the high school and-and he fainted, just kind of out of the blue. And he’s been out of it ever since.”

“Did he say anything to you before he fainted?”

“No, but he was…He was holding his stomach.”

The doctor nods, then turns to one of the nurses. “Let’s lift his shirt up.”

Robin watches with mounting horror as they push Steve’s shirt up, her heart dropping into her stomach as she lays eyes on Steve’s bare torso. The wounds from the demobats are leaking something, and the skin around them is a bright, angry red. 

“Shit, Steve,” Dustin whispers. There are tears streaming down his cheeks. Robin has to blink back tears of her own.

“Do you know how this happened?” the doctor asks. 

“No,” Robin says quietly, barely able to get the word out. 

The doctor’s expression is stern, and he turns to face Robin. “This is serious. If you know anything, you need to tell me. Do you have any idea what did this?”

Robin swallows, her heart hammering, jaw working. She swipes at one eye, brushing away an errant tear, and shakes her head. “No.”

The doctor looks at Dustin and he shakes his head, too. “No.”

The doctor stares at both of them for a moment like he’s trying to decide if he believes them before saying,“Does he have any allergies that you know of? Medical conditions?”

“No,” Robin says again. “He’s--he’s not allergic to anything.”

“Okay. We’re going to do what we can for him but you two need to go wait in the waiting room.”

“But--” Dustin begins, and the doctor shakes his head. 

“We need to work. You can either go out to the waiting room or I’ll have someone take you out of this hospital.”

Robin puts a hand on Dustin’s back. “Let’s go,” she says quietly. “I don’t want to either, but we have to.”

xxx 

The waiting room is unbearable. Robin and Dustin are barely able to find someplace to sit, and the whole place is packed. For such a full room, there’s an eerily small amount of noise, misery and anxiety hanging over everyone like a physical thing. Dustin doesn’t talk to Robin, doesn’t even look at her, just sits with his elbows on his knees as he cries, his shoulders shaking. People come and go, but there are never more than one or two empty chairs at a time. 

It’s at around the two hour mark that a nurse comes in, a solemn look on her face, and says, “Mrs. McCarthy?”

A woman seated across from Robin looks up, and her expression immediately falls, grief etching its way into her features. “No.”

“Why don’t we step into the hall?” the nurse says gently, and the woman slowly rises from her chair.

“Please.” Her voice shakes. “Please, no. He’s gone, isn’t he?”

Any whispering or chatter that had existed before the nurse walked in has vanished. People looks down at the floor, or their hands. Anywhere but at the shattered woman. 

“Mrs. McCarthy,” the nurse says, and Mrs. McCarthy lets out a wail that makes Robin’s chest ache. 

She stares down at her shoes as the nurse leads Mrs. McCarthy out into the hall.

xxx 

“Harrington?”

Robin and Dustin both look up sharply. Robin doesn’t need to see Dustin’s face to know that he’s as afraid as she is.

“Are you two with Steve Harrington?” the nurse asks, and Robin nods. 

“Yes.”

“You can see him now.”

Robin lets out a long breath as Dustin lets out a small, “Thank Christ.”

Steve is propped up in his hospital bed against a pile of pillows, and though he still looks like absolute shit, he definitely looks better than when they got him here. There’s an IV in one arm, and fresh bandages wrapped around his torso. 

“Hey,” he says when he sees them, giving a little wave.

“Steve, you scared the shit out of me!” Dustin cries, and Steve grimaces. 

“Yeah, sorry about that. I’m okay, they’ve got me on a heavy round of antibiotics which should clear things up in a few days.”

He doesn’t mention it, but Robin knows that he’s probably wondering the same thing she is. Do antibiotics even work on demobat bites? 

“How are you feeling?” she says, trying to push that worry to the back of her mind.

“I’m okay…How are you feeling?”

Robin frowns. “What do you mean how am I feeling?”

“Vicki Charmichael.”

Robin sighs. “God, Steve, are you serious? You could have died! Is now really the best time for that?”

“Robin owes her a favor,” Dustin offers, and Steve smiles a little. 

“Good…” The smile fades, his expression growing serious. When he speaks, it’s with obvious reluctance. “Something…something is happening out there. If shit starts to go down, like real shit, you two need to promise me you’ll come get me.”

“Steve,” Robin begins, and he shakes his head. 

“No, Buckley. I fucking mean it. Promise.”

As strange and unlikely as it may have seemed at one point, Steve is Robin’s best friend. Ever since that night at Starcourt, she’s made it a point to be open and honest with him. She’s spent so much of her life lying, it’s really nice to have someone that she can just be truthful with. 

It’s just this once, she tells herself. It’s for his own good.

“I promise,” she lies.

xxx 

[saintgoths]

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ ᴛʜɪʀᴛᴇᴇɴ

WORDS - 3,115.

RATING - G+.

SUMMARY - before the second rounds of the chunin exams, suiren is met with the strange man again.

feedback would be appreciated!

i also cross-post this fic on wattpad and ao3.

previous chapter - chapter twelve.

The moment the Earth tremor had finished, Shinki rushed back to the room he had been staying in, a look of panic plastered on his face at thought Suiren hurt, but when he found Suiren still sat on the bed, she had barely looked as shocked as him but there had been a distinct expression she had. It didn’t matter, when all he had wanted to do was atone for leaving the way he did after their shared kiss.

“Lady Suiren, I apologise for leaving you alone,” he said, his usually detached eyes expressive with an apology and Suiren waved him off as she had focused on the strange sensation that had pulsed through her body.

Her eyes dilated because of the magic she had inherited and as Shinki walked towards the Uchiha girl, she held onto his body and passed it off as for her shock to the Earth quake that had just happened. “I don’t know what that was,” Suiren breathed and as he returned to sit beside her, he had held onto the girl.

She had breathed in his scent, his spice enough to calm her down. “When we kissed, it overwhelmed me,” Shinki truthfully said and apologetic, Suiren pulled from his gasp.

“Then I’m sorry,” Suiren said. “I shouldn’t have made you kiss me,” her hands had then moved up on his shoulders, Suiren sat up and felt the way his paws slid down her back.

“I was being foolish,” Shinki said. “I liked kissing you,” he whispered and with a gentle smile, Suiren had found her hand cup his face before he moved to kiss her again.

She hadn’t been surprised or shock, but there was a slight gasp when Suiren realised what he had done, and she had kissed him back, their passion shorter than the one they shared previously, but Shinki had been calmer, he had held her strongly, breathing in her flowery scent and allowed his admiration of her to carry him through the embrace.

Once he had pulled back, his eyes were shadowed, but he had look more comfortable than before. “I feel better,” Shinki said and as she tilted her head, Suiren softly dragged her hand away from his face.

“You like taking the lead?” Suiren had asked.

“I don’t mind if you take the lead,” Shinki replied.

With her eyebrows wiggled, Suiren placed her hand against his lap. “There can only be one dominant one,” she softly joked.

“Then it shall be you,” Shinki forwardly responded before he pulled himself off his bed. “Let me take you home,” Shinki said as he pulled out his hand for Suiren told hold, and without second thought, Suiren held onto him and allowed him to lead her out of his bedroom.

They had shared a brief conversation when they entered the elevator, it was a calming conversation. Both Ninjas complacent in each other’s energies had walked towards the lobby where the Kazekage had been. He had been worried about Suiren as Shinki was with him when the tremor had begun. “Is she okay?” Gaara questioned before he examined Suiren to see if there were any bruises.

“I’m fine,” Suiren answered and with a short pat, Gaara smiled at her.

“That’s good, take her home Shinki,” his father said and with a short nod, Shinki grabbed Suiren once more, but before the two could leave, the red-haired man spoke once more. “I hope to see you again some time,” he waved and as the two younger Ninjas waved at the Kazekage, they left the hotel.

⋆｡‧₊°꧁ ༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻ ꧂‧₊˚.⋆

Hair drenched as the warm sprinkles of water stuck her strands against her skin, Suiren gently sucked in a short breath as she took a shower, it hadn’t been long since Shinki had dropped her off, her father had been training Boruto and their mother was at the hospital for a shift. They were going to come back soon to congratulate the twins for being able to go through Round One of the Chunin Exams, and Suiren couldn’t wait to share the family dinner with them.

On the other hand, she couldn’t help but feel guilty for using Shinki to get the power of the Sandstone, but she had told herself that it was for herself to live, and that he would understand if it was exposed of what she did. While playing with the water, Suiren had commenced to train and turn the many water that fell through the tiny holes of the shower head to form into tiny balls that began to float around her.

She could see the reflection of herself in them and had been astonished by what she could do. “With more practice you’ll be able to form waves out of thin air.”

Surprised, Suiren slipped and fell, Sora had surprised her once more, and with a groan, Suiren held the back of her head, she must’ve been bleeding, it was a hard fall that she could hear Sarada quickly rush towards the door to check up on her. “Fuck,” Suiren winced as she slowly sat up, she had felt dizzy and her bones felt funny.

“Suiri? Are you okay?” Sarada called out. “I want to laugh but I’m unsure!”

With a snicker, Suiren rolled her eyes. “I’m fine!” Suiren reassured and the second after she spoke, Sarada laughed before she returned to the kitchen.

Suiren continued to let the water fall against her skin, she felt her pain heal, as if the water was a medicine, Suiren furrowed her eyebrows to check if there was blood from the cut that was formed when she fell, and when she pulled her hand away from the spot that no longer felt sharp, there was no trace of blood.

“Stop surprising me like that,” Suiren rudely whispered.

“You’re a good girl,” Sora said. “Tricking Shinki like that.”

Suiren pouted, she had actually liked Shinki. “I do have feelings for Shinki.”

“Like how you feel for Raiden?” Sora challenged and with her mouth pressed into a thin line, Suiren collected herself to stand on her feet.

Sora hadn’t been speaking anymore, but her silence to his question was answer enough. She couldn’t but feel that way towards Raiden, ever since she had met him, she was infatuated with him, but she couldn’t, he couldn’t.

Suiren had spent the rest of the time showering and when she finished, she stepped out of the bathtub and wrapped her white towel around her body, quickly made it out of the bathroom, aware she had forgotten her slippers and would be aware of how Sarada would get annoyed that she did. She spent ten minutes getting ready, her hair still damp so she had wrapped it around with a hair towel, conscious that her parents had returned from their previous tasks, ears keen enough to hear that they were speaking about the Earthquake that had happened a couple of hours ago and when Suiren met with the rest of them, she couldn’t help but glance at her twin as her twin did the same.

Sarada had speculated that Suiren had found another stone but hadn’t questioned her about it as their parents were there. “Oh---Sarada you cooked today,” Sakura smiled once she realised the fare set on the table. “How comes Suiren didn’t join?”

“I slipped while showering,” Suiren answered as response Sarada cackled.

As she sucked in her mouth, Suiren turned to look at her father in hopes to speak about the Sun Village. “Papa,” she smiled, her gleam enough to take his attention. “Have you spoken to the Sun Village people?” Suiren questioned and with a kind nod Sasuke spoke.

“Yes, I have spoken to them, they’re good people allegedly,” Sasuke said and with her eyebrows furrowed, Suiren briefly thought about what he said. As a man that had travelled everywhere and never seen the Sun Village, that might’ve meant the village was very well hidden.

“I want to fight one of them at the Chunin Exams,” Suiren said as she popped one of the cooked bites into her mouth.

Unsure, Sarada sagged her shoulders. “You don’t really know their abilities, so why would you want to?”

With a challenged arch of her eyebrows, Suiren replied. “They don’t know mine.”

⋆｡‧₊°꧁ ༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻ ꧂‧₊˚.⋆

The sky had dimmed into its purple hues, the Moon had replaced the Sun and the wind gently whistled as it passed by the village, Suiren had relaxed at the top of the apartment balcony, she had looked over the railings, unaware of her surroundings as she had focused on how the breathy air chilled against her skin.

The man was there, the same man who had given her the drugs had stood a few feet away from her, had looked over the railings to view what the Uchiha girl had stared at, and once he realised, she had stared at nothing but had been lost in her thoughts, the bright smile he had on his face had dropped.

“Nothing,” the man hummed, his erratic appearance making Suiren jump and sigh in relief once she realised it was no threat.

With her eyes closed, Suiren had allowed her heart to beat normally. “Where the fuck did you come from?”

With a smile the red-haired man turned to look at her, he was still wearing the same outfit he had worn the first time he had meant, still looked like the same, as if he had done nothing that commenced everything to stay in the same place. “The Sun and the moon, and where door between the living and the dead is ajar.”

With her eyebrows furrowed, Suiren looked at the moon before she returned to look at him. “Who are you?”

“I have no name,” the man shrugged.

Confused, Suiren shook her head in disbelief. “That’s impossible, a man cannot have no name.”

With his index finger pointed towards him, the man smile became wider. “This man doesn’t.”

“Have you been taking the drugs?” The man questioned before he circled his finger beside his head. “To stop the noises from coming back.”

“No,” Suiren replied. “I haven’t been hearing the noises.”

Unmoved, the man had then looked up at the sky. “You will soon,” he said as his grey eyes watched the stars twinkle, he had taken in the cold smell of the sky and had pressed his back against the metal railings. Suiren awkwardly glanced at him, as she had hugged herself, perplexed to what his role was.

“Who are you?” She pressed.

“I am a man who has no name.”

Bothered, Suiren clicked her tongue in distaste before she spoke again. “What do you want from me?” She had asked, perturbed on what he had wanted, perturbed on what everyone had wanted from her, she had felt like everyone wanted a piece of her, and only a few parts of her were left.

“Only the best,” was what he said and before he had disappeared, as if he was made of nothing.

⋆｡‧₊°꧁ ༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻ ꧂‧₊˚.⋆

Today had been the Round Two of the Chunin Exams which had been titled capture the pennant, one member of a team had to guard the pennant of the group territory while the other two attacked the enemy’s pennant, it was a chance to show team-work, and Suiren hadn’t been sure if they would be able to show team-work throughout their past, so Suiren had taken the role of protecting the pennant while Raiden and Akane went to attack another group

She had sat at the ledge of the building where their pennant was at, it had stood in front of her, and Suiren had focused on examining her nails, Raiden and Akane had wanted to go for the Sun Team’s pennant, who were sure they would see Suiren, so the Uchiha girl had contemplated on what they would think if they saw her teammates instead of her.

Due to her interaction with the strange man yesterday, Suiren had been more aware of her surroundings, and had taken notice that Shinki that had been sneaking behind her, she had heard the way his magnetic sand chattered and how he used his chakra to walk up the building wall to get where she was. With a smile, Suiren turned to look at him. “Naughty of you to try and steal my group’s pennant.”

“That’s not what I’m planning on doing,” Shinki said and with an arch of her eyebrow, Suiren folded her arms. “I actually told my teammates to not go for your team also.”

With a breathy laugh, Suiren played with her nails, her vision yet trained on Shinki who had his ever-stoic face. “You didn’t need to do that, this is a competition,” Suiren candidly pointed out and stubborn on his choice, Shinki walked towards her. “Are you going soft on me?” She teased as she had then stood up, to face him, though he had been taller than her, so it had been no challenge for him when he saw her stand up.

“I’ve always been soft for you,” Shinki replied and a glint sparked in Suiren’s eyes.

She had a side smile, aware that there had been cameras placed around for the Second Round, viewed by conductors of the Exams. “If they find out how much of a romantic you are, Shinki…cold, hard to pierce through Shinki easily taken charmed by Suiren Uchiha.”

“They’re already watching us,” Shinki shrugged, and with a blush, Suiren sat back down on the ledge.

“You should go now, your team might be needing you,” Suiren spoke and with a kind nod, Shinki made way to the ledge to leave, but before he dropped down, Ryo, from the Sun Team had attempted to take Suiren’s team pennant, however, the Uchiha girl had been quick.

Chakra floated out of her palm and warped into a net in the form of a transparent lotus flower, the size of the flower charged towards Ryo and captured him with its speed and width, Suiren had struggled, but she held onto her strength to imprison Ryo who had been shocked. The translucent lotus flower had glowed as if it were a halo and Shinki stood by, taken aback by her ability.

It had looked beautiful, despite the fact that it flickered, the symbol was detailed, as if it came straight out of a movie. With one last look, Shinki glanced at Suiren before he eventually left the scene, comfortable that she was able to protect herself. “A shame someone else has your heart,” Ryo said as he struggled to get out of the grasp of the lotus flower.

Unmoved by what he had said, Suiren had focused on her ability, aware the size of the projection had slowly drained her, another side of her aware that there had been movement behind her, she could see red strands flowing in their air before she felt the pressure of a kick aim towards her back, with a choked scream, Suiren fell against the floor, but she had been fast to move, and rolled out of Keiko’s way when she realised, she had wanted to throttle her.

Suiren jumped to her feet and quickly aimed a punch against Keiko’s cheek, she hadn’t used much chakra but enough to send the girl flying a few feet away, her attention now on Ryo who had been dropped by flower lotus. Suiren had scrunched her eyebrows and darted towards the black-haired boy with immense speed and kicked his side, with a smirk, Ryo jumped backwards which had commenced Suiren to take out her kunai.

She had positioned a fighting pose towards him, her face plastered with a smirk that challenged him, her eyes messaged him to come forward and as he accepted the challenged, Ryo took a couple of steps forward fore he darted his fist towards Suiren’s face, but Suiren ducked backwards and used the tip to kick his chin, her swift movement had caused him to fly backwards and a line of blood drip from the side of his mouth.

He let out a breathy chuckle as e raised his hands in defence when he noticed Akane and Raiden return to their team mate with another team’s pennant, and as Team Thirteen cheered, Ryo backed against the wall. “We dealt with the other one, Aina,” Akane said as she waved the flag around. “She’s caught in a net only I can release.”

Suiren had laughed as she placed her hands against her hips. “I expected more from you guys,” she said as she curved to look at Ryo, who she had noticed had watched them with a certain knowing look on his face.

“That’s okay, we have another pennant anyways, we were just greedy and wanted another one,” Ryo said as he smudged the blood off his face. “I just wanted to the see the ability of Suiren, and I’m impressed.”

Ryo’s hazel eyes then moved to Suiren’s nose; he pointed his finger towards it. “You’re bleeding,” he pointed out, and abrupt, Suiren wiped the blood with the back of her hand.

⋆｡‧₊°꧁ ༺𓆩❦︎𓆪༻ ꧂‧₊˚.⋆

“Everyone is talking about it,” Sakura said as she carefully walked towards her husband. “Did you know she had that ability?” The pink-haired woman questioned, and with a gentle turn, Sasuke looked at his wife with his uncovered eye.

He had looked just as curious as her. If not, more worried. “I heard she got in trouble by Sensei Ren the other day because she used it, it could be something incomplete,” he said.

“Something dangerous,” Sakura completed. “It was said her nose was bleeding.”

As he sucked in a short breath, Sasuke’s mind quickly swept to the day Suiren had been born, the echoes of Sakura’s weep and the confused cries of their first born, Sarada. He had remembered what the fortune teller had told them and had struggled to keep a clam face. “She should be home by now,” Sakura said, her hands were gently balled, but her fingers had dug into her palms. “We should speak to her,” she suggested and uncomfortably she had folded her arms, her usual bright green eyes dark as numerous strings of anguish wrapped in her mind.

“I’m worried,” Sakura spoke again. “I’m worried what the fortune teller said will come true,” Sakura had said and as Sasuke turned to look at his wife once more, his usual icy eyes warm with apprehension had a glint of agreement. With her lips tight, Sakura fiddled with her fingers before she said one last thing. “We must go home.”

masterlist

tag list - @audreyblack

[undertale-writing-times]

The prompt "I'm happy when I'm around you" with Pinks, pretty, pretty please!

Sorta angsty lol

Pinks didn't really know what was happening when he was put into the tank. Y/n was a friend that he made… quite a bit ago; and today they came to his lake, telling him that they had something really big planned! They filled a tank with water from his pond and were able to get him into it, then they started to 'drive'. It was enjoyable to see all of the trees go rushing by, but they wouldn't really answer anything that he was asking.

Pinks trusted Y/n. He trusted them more than anyone else in the whole world. He knew that they wouldn't hurt him, right? There was no way that they would do anything to hurt him for whatever reason… right?

The longer the trip was lasting, the more worried he started to become. The tank was so small and dark. They had to cover it with a blanket so nobody would see him, but he was able to move it a little to peek out, seeing all of the things rush by. They were going so fast… the 'car' bounced sometimes, which caused some of the water to splash out, and they said that they were sorry about that.

He didn't think he minded too much; I mean, it's not like they did that on purpose. It was still shocking each and every time it happened, though. He lets the blanket drop back down and turns in the tank, looking towards the front, asking, "Y/n, where are we going? I'm starting to get kind of nervous…" He decided to be honest with them. He trusted Y/n, but he was still allowed to feel nervous about all of this! Where the heck were they going? 

"Well…" They start, looking forward, "Remember how we spoke about you going back to the ocean one day? I found the best place where we could let you go… you don't have to live in the little lake anymore." Y/n sounded so pleased when they said that. It was like they'd been thinking about this for a while.

Pinks blinks once, then twice, and his sockets widen when he hears that. He sits up more in his tank, the water brushing over his tail. It felt kind of gross since it had been out of the water for a little while. This tank really was way too small for him to stay in, as expected. "What? No, Y/n, I can't go back to the ocean. I've been… h-how would we get to see each other again? The ocean is so big!" He wouldn't know how to get around, how to hunt, and don't even get him started on the fact that there would most likely be things that would try to kill him.

Plus, he would be alone!

"I… don't know, but I'm sure we could work something out. Pinks, that lake isn't good for you, the food is running out. You need to go."

"But I don't want to! I'm happy when I'm around you," he cried. "Y/n, please, I don't want to go." He felt like he was going to have a panic attack. This isn't fair, they talked about it yes, but he thought they would plan it more together, not just… a spur of the moment type of deal. Y/n didn't respond, so he sank deeper into the water, letting out a whimper.

Soon enough the car stopped again and when he peeked out, he saw that they were back at his lake. He blinks once, then twice, and looks over at Y/n who walks over and moves the blanket fully. "I'm… sure we can figure out something else. I'm sorry Pinks." They looked upset with themselves, "I should have asked you before just doing it… forgive me?" they look up at him, their head turned to the side.

He looks at them and smiles weakly, then pulls them into a hug shaking his head, "Of course I forgive you… just bring it up next time… can you get me out of this tank?" They laugh and nod, helping him get back into his water. They could come up with a plan later on.

[whoami-24601]

International Incident Part 5

Part 1 Part 4

After the drivers decide that Lewis and Logan would do social media posts, Lewis calls Toto for an update. "Toto, what is going on? It's been almost three hours, man. This isn't ok. If we don't get out soon, we are going to come up with our own plan."

From the speakerphone, everyone could hear a gruff Toto say, "we haven't gotten much of an update either. Stefano and some of the FIA are negotiating with the representation of the country. The only thing we have been told is that they are not looking for money. We offered. They seem to want to make a spectacle out of this. They're unhappy with," Toto sighed, "a lot of things really."

"Like what?" Lewis was aware they needed to save cell phone battery, but it felt too important to cut the conversation short.

"Like," Toto hesitated, sounding exhausted, "all of it. Gay rights, women's rights, global warming, and our attempts at reducing carbon emissions. Something about a flag and sponsors, too. It just sounds like they want us to be stuck in the 50s or something. I have no idea how a race was even approved here." The drivers all started whispering amongst themselves with that admission. What were they going to do? Why was this being taken out on them?

"Money talks, Toto," Lewis responds. "We all know that. The big question is - what do they want us to do about it? Those things are much bigger than this one race here. We can't just pledge to set back humanity."

"No, no, we can't, and we won't. We need to figure out how to get you all out and get the hell out of here." Toto paused again to ask, "how is everyone doing?"

"Umm," Lewis surveyed the room. The duos and trios had started to separate again. The closeness during their planning session diminished as they heard Toto's comments. "I'm going to go with not great. Little water, no food, and we're basically on the edge of panic."

"I don't know what to suggest for you all but I will do my best to see if we can at least get you some food and water. Hopefully this ends soon."

"Yeah, ok, Toto, thanks for the update. I'm going to save battery again, so just call if you have an update. We may switch to someone else's phone after a while, but mine is still good for now. We'll text you if that changes." Toto had become the main contact since George and Lewis were part of the problem solving group, and they knew Toto would do everything in his power to get them out. The rest of the team principals were also aware that Toto was the only contact after the initial lock-in occurred.

Everyone settled back into their corners to call their loved ones. The problem solving team also found spaces they could speak somewhat privately, given everyone was stuck in a single room together.

As they walked very slowly back to their corner, Danny said, "well, I guess it's phone call time. Do we want to call one at a time? We can time the one person and provide support?" He turned to Max and Lando for their thoughts.

Max nodded in agreement. "Yeah, that's good. I don't think I should call my dad, though. I'll call my mom and Victoria together." Daniel and Lando did not question the decision as they approached their former spot.

Daniel dropped himself down against the wall and opened his legs suggestively. "Anyone wanna come cuddle me?" His eyebrows jumped up and down as he surveyed the two men. Lando immediately blushed and shook his head no while Max seemed to contemplate the offer. "You in, Maxy?"

"Sure," Max answered nonchalantly, settling down between Daniel's legs and leaning casually against his chest. Lando stood with his mouth open at how easily Max had agreed.

Seeing Lando's reaction, Danny told him, "you missed your shot, Lan. Have to wait for the next time my legs are open!" He laughed at his own comment and opened his arm up for Lando to squish next to him, which he did without hesitation.

"Anyone want to call first?" Lando asked softly. He didn't want to call at all but knew it was the right thing to do.

"I will do it," Max said, pulling his phone out from his back pocket, awkwardly knocking against Daniel's legs.

Squeezing his legs back around Max's body once his arm was clear, Daniel teased, "Oh, Maxy," getting a chuckle in return.

While Max was turning his phone on, Lando rolled his eyes and debated about his own phone call. He knew he had to talk to his parents, but he also wished he could talk to his other friend Max. He debated what he needed to say, thinking back to Lewis' suggestions. His parents would absolutely know something was wrong if he just called to say he loved them, and if his dad figured out something was wrong and Lando wasn't telling him, he would get the information somehow. He had Zak's direct line after all. After a few minutes, Lando realized he hadn't been listening to Max. The call had started, and Lando tuned in to hear Max say, "you will be well taken care of if anything happens to me. I met with some lawyers to see to it." Lando raised an eyebrow and looked at Danny for his reaction. Danny was staring at his watch with an intense look on his face, nothing Lando wanted to interrupt. Once again, tuning back in, Lando heard Max say goodbye, and he loved them. Lando was also shocked to see the silent tears falling down his friend's face. He reached over, wrapped their arms together, and put his head on Max's shoulder.

"It is not a lie," Max answered the question Lando didn't ask. "I had lawyers draw up papers that most of my money and property goes to them if I die. I did it a long time ago, but I did not see the point in telling them before. They know racing is dangerous, and it did not seem important."

Daniel slipped an arm between Lando's body and arm so he could wrap both arms around Max. "You did good, Maxy. Your family is so proud of you." As an afterthought he added, "so am I." Max looked over his shoulder at Daniel, grateful.

"I'm proud of you too, Max," Lando added softly. "You deserve everything you've achieved. I just wish I could take away the bad stuff." Lando's head remained on Max's shoulder, so he didn't see the confused face.

"The bad stuff made me deserve the good stuff," Max responded.

Danny sighed and tightened his hold. "No, Maxy. You don't have to go through bad stuff to get good stuff. That's now how life works. You deserve it just for being you."

Max would not agree with his friends, but he did not see the point arguing, so he asked, "who is next?"

"Danny," Lando answered quickly. He bashfully looked back, hoping he would not disagree.

"Sure, sure," Danny conceded, pulling his arms back to get his own phone out. "Maxy, you want to time me with that fancy watch you've got? I probably need like a minute warning. Unlike you, who finished your call in less than 3 minutes!"

"Are you sure you do not need a five minute warning? We know how you like to talk," Max joked.

Daniel tickled Max's side in retaliation, thankful for the laughter it caused. Max squirmed a bit until Daniel stopped to prepare for his call. He was calling both of his parents together. He wanted to call his sister too but didn't think he would have time to arrange it and say what he wanted without raising too many alarm bells.

Lando desperately wanted to listen to Danny's call to try to help prepare him for his own, but as soon as Danny started talking, Lando zoned out again. He watched the different drivers in the room to see how they were reacting to calling their loved ones. Charles and Pierre remained the closest to them, and Yuki had attached himself to that group, or more specifically, Pierre. Pierre was obviously trying to be strong for the men on both sides of him. His face looked hard, likely trying to hide his true feelings. Meanwhile, Yuki looked terrible. He was so confused and staring at his phone like it was a foreign object he had never used before. Charles looked like he had finished his call if the tear tracks on his face were any indication.

Lando looked to the other side of the room to see George and Alex together, George on the phone, and Alex holding his hand while looking at his own watch. Fernando and Carlos were sitting near each other, each on their phones. Esteban was on his phone and talking animatedly while Lance seemed to be zoned out, staring at the floor in front of himself.

A hand touching his back broke Lando from his own reverie, causing him to jump. "I'm sorry, Lan," Danny said, continuing to rub up and down. "You ok? Are you ready to call your parents?"

Lando looked back at Danny, shocked that it was already his turn. He hadn't heard a single thing Danny had said. He can see the tears in his eyes, though. Lando took another look around the room, a deep breath, and turned back to Danny with determination. If everyone else could do this, so could he. "Yes, let's do this." Lando picked up his phone and realized his hands were shaking. He couldn't even unlock it in the first two attempts.

Danny reached over and took the phone from his hands. Without saying anything, he held it steady and let Lando unlock it. Once unlocked, Danny took it and turned airplane mode off and opened the phone contacts. Lando didn't understand why Danny was doing that. He could handle these basic tasks. He didn't see the point in arguing, though. Maybe Danny needed to help him to feel grounded. After a moment, Danny showed him his phone and asked, "this number?" Lando could see "Dad (ICE)" open and nodded. He might need to add his mom, but he would see if they were together first.

"Wait, what time is it in the UK?" Lando asked suddenly. The drivers were calling all over the world, and the timing was bound to cause some alarms to go off.

Max answered, "7pm." Of course Max knew without having to look it up.

"It was the middle of the night for your family, Danny?" Lando asked, concerned.

Danny grimaced and confirmed, "Yeah, I didn't think that through. They definitely know something is wrong, but they know to wait for more information." Then added softly as an afterthought, "hopefully."

Lando stared at the contact on his phone until the screen went dark. He felt shuffling next to him and realized Max had gotten up, and Danny had managed to maneuver them both so Lando was back between his legs. His knees were up on both sides, almost like a leg hug, while his arms wrapped snuggly around his waist. "Do you want to practice?" Danny offered quietly. Lando didn't know what to say. To Danny, to his parents. He leaned back against Danny's chest, thankful for the support. He glanced over at Max, now to his right, who was staring right back at him intensely. As they looked in each other's eyes, Danny stated, "you don't have to lie. Tell them you're having a bad night and you miss them. You just want to hear their voices. That's not too strange to concern them, is it?"

"My parents?" Lando asked with a forced chuckle. "They'd be concered for sure, but I think you're right. They'd be more concerned about my mental health than me being in a fucking hostage situation." Lando felt Danny kiss the back of his head but he didn't say anymore. Lando took that as his cue to just get it done.

Managing to unlock his phone this time seemed like a good sign he was ready. Lando clicked "call" and "speakerphone" quickly. He probably shouldn't do speakerphone given so many people in the room, but he just couldn't handle being the only one that could hear his parents' reaction.

"Hey Lando!" his dad answered, sounding happy to hear from him.

"Hey dad," Lando responded, trying to sound more upbeat than he felt.

"What's wrong?" his dad immediately asked, proving Lando failed his attempt.

"Nothing, just um, could you get mom too, please? I just want to talk to you both." Lando found himself rubbing his leg, trying to force out the nervous energy.

Lando's dad responded, "of course, give me a minute." He could be heard yelling in the background and walking through the house.

Lando felt another kiss on his head, this time just above his left ear. It felt more grounding than the rubbing he was doing. He pushed his head back into Danny's face gently, trying to say thank you silently.

"Honey?" Lando's mom asked, concerned. "Are you OK? Your dad said you wanted to talk to both of us. Do we need us to come to you?"

"No!" Lando exclaims much too loudly. He glances around the room to see if any other driver's noticed but just sees a couple of people looking his way. That was fine. Not too big a scene. "I just mean, no, I'm ok. You don't need to travel all this way just because I'm having a bad night. I'm sure I'll feel better tomorrow."

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" His mom asks.

"I, um, I just," Lando stuttered. He had no idea what to say.

Danny leaned over Lando's shoulder and spoke to the phone, "hey Mr and Mrs Norris, Daniel Ricciardo here. I'm sorry to scare you like this. Lando was just feeling out of sorts, and I thought a piece of home might make him feel better. I didn't consider how that would sound to you."

"Oh, honey," Lando's mom responded softly. "Thank you, Danny. What have I said about the whole Mr. and Mrs. Norris thing? You're an adult, and a close friend of the family. There's no need for such formality."

"Right, right," Danny agreed. "Just feels wrong, like I'm disrespectful if I don't call you that!"

"Well, I'm telling you I don't find you using our first names disrespectful at all," Lando's mom responded sternly.

Danny laughed and agreed, "Ok, Ok, I get it. I don't want to take away from Lan here. Unfortunately, we need to go in a minute. Lando, tell your parents you love them and not to worry about you."

Lando swallowed and did as told, "I love you. Don't worry about me."

"We're always going to worry about you," Lando's dad responds. "We love you too, Lando, so much."

"So much," Lando's mom adds. "Call us anytime, honey. And, Danny?"

"Yes?"

"You take good care of our boy, right?"

"I do my best," Danny answers with a slight catch in his voice. Lando's parents don't seem to notice and hang up after their goodbyes

[the-fandom-qu33n]

Chapter 9____To Strike A Match

(UF Sans/Reader)

Rated M...violence, profanity and much else soon to come

_____________

summary

___________

burnt out sick of the recurring timeline everything is starting to break him down little by little... day after day drink after drink he needed something different a smoke would be good... just needed a...light?

_______________________________________________

his flames died down slightly..his blood seemingly dropping a few degrees...his eyes widened... he saw his child before him frozen as well..the cloaks hood directed to the monster behind him ..she was silent...he was silent...so was Red.....everything was still in this moment...how did he not hear that damned skeleton approach them...how did he not know...

he could hear the rushing water of the river down the way past the tree line...everything was so quiet he could even hear his own flames...he could hear the soft breeze brushing past carrying small amounts of the glittery snow making his flames start to move as it made contact with a small quiet hiss..as much as it was uncomfortable from the cold...the worst was

...he could feel your curiosity building...

he was failing...how ...he....fuck...his guard was dropped enough being to distracted putting on this façade of wonder and excitement for his child...he had failed to notice the present danger...what was he doing...

his eyes snapped to the side where the skeleton would be standing just beyond his eye sight.. staying frozen to his spot still gripping his phone from extracting the hot cocoa previously....his fingers twitched as his temperature began to rise ever so slowly as he was coming out of shock...why was he here...he was supposed to be in HIS bar away from them...what had ice wolf been doing...how did he let RED leave...was his add not tempting enough?...did he know ....did he see you in the door way the other day?...fuck was he playing dumb?...he knew...he had to know....wasn't this fucking monster supposed to be oblivious?! shouldn't he be lazily napping in a ditch somewhere?... why was he here at this moment ...the ONE time he let y/n out...

fate was so cruel to him...

if he was here...does that mean he failed to notice others?...how many monster had he failed to notice...how many have seen them has undyne seen them?... has the guardsmen?...were they reporting it as he wonders this?...was...papyrus around...the king must have been notified by now......Red had seen them to...red was here just a few feet away from his child...his daughter...was seeing this fucking monster up close

......no

he chuckled behind him ..his voice was ...curious making Grillby shiver in panic...he could feel his soul thump harshly

...no no no it was happening no...

the skeleton stepped closer...one step..two...the crunch of the snow under his sneakers was sickening to him...what would he do....what could he do?!

"whatcha doin wit da river guide?..."

river guide?...the river river guide! yes he couldn't see you in the cloak!

he had a chance to get out of this...he had a way of an escape...his mind began to race thinking up another lie...anything to get out of this...yes...he'd fake taking you back to the boat and send him off....he have to tell the guide about it though...its a good thing they were friends...connections hed thank his wife's alter for when he got their child back home...safely...

thankfully this was the time he needed to retort.. finally calm enough to think and respond he was taking to long...your curiosity was probably at a boiling point by now as was Red's...the longer we stayed silent the worst his chances got...one breath....two...three...

"I was taking them-"

another crunch of snow as Grillby could barely see the damned skeleton beside him now just a bit off from his peripheral...his face was contorted into suspicion...as he stared you down...

"wait a minute..dat aint da guide..."

he was caught...he was caught and so were you...all his plans...his lies...everything he did to protect you was crashing so fast around him he was speechless again...his mind racing to come up with anything he could say ...any lie any excuse..maybe a fake distraction... ..if this fucking skeleton wasn't as oblivious as he thought what could he possibly do...

taking another step ...Red was grinning beside him now ..he could see him in the corner of his view easier ...he was concentrated completely on you....

"whos dis yer with den ey grillbz?"

no...no...

he wouldn't ruin everything he planned..this fucking skeleton wouldn't do this to him...standing up he turned to red as his flames grew and whipped wildly.

every ounce of rationality left his as well as his anxiety...his eyes blazed angrily as he snarled at red who now was staring at him with a face of pure shock at how quick he had responded and so angrily to...

"this has nothing to do with you..."

the skeleton's eye light widened as it searched his face quickly as he rounded up on instinct starting to square up ...he had to ...he would hurt him...he would bring him near to dusting he was to close...he was curious...he was suspicious...he needed to go...he needed to be gone he couldn't be here he was supposed to be in the bar...he should have stayed there...now he had to fight... before Grillby could square up harder summoning a hotter flame to his fists he growled threateningly as his flames grew brighter and whipped harder in the air as he puffed up......in an attempt to make him back down

"walk...off..."

Red snarled gritting his teeth as he locked his bones with a click one of his eyelights beginning to flare...

"hm...nah.."

fuck...he wasn't backing down...he had to act fast he had no time he had to start a confrontation but y/n was here...shed see....shit she was watching this...fuck he was displaying violence...!

"I..."

...his eye light seemingly had seen what it wanted as backed down and grinned turning his gaze on y/n...

".....'s dat so?"

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if you took the time to read this i appreciate it...

[lilbardrhi]

Chapter Five: Everyday is an Adventure but Ok, the Flower Was a Surprise

Pairings: Kíli x Original Female Character; Fíli x Original Female Character

CW: graphic depictions of violence; major character death; self-insert style original characters; The Trifecta (smut, fluff, and angst); time travel; MGiME

Author's Note: Check out @megjameswrites for more T-V content!

"We should have stopped sooner," I mumbled, next to Meg.

"I agree," she responded while shooting a glare at Thorin.

The sun was very hot today and there didn't seem to be a single cloud in the sky. Great day to lay out and get a decent tan for most. However, I am too pale for this to be a benefit in any way. I'm already burnt to a crisp and I can feel it. Meg doesn't look much better off either.

Even smiling hurt at this point and I could tell our companions noticed the lack of from me.

Thankfully, someone had managed to convince Thorin that it was too hot to travel non-stop today so the horses and ponies needed to stop. They needed water and so did we. I planned to sing - literally sing - praises to Ulmo when my face no longer hurt since we came up on a small river soon after.

Yin kept laughing about how quickly I jumped off him to get to the water. Listen here, ponyboy, sunburns aren't fun.

"Are you okay, Rhi?"

I carefully wiped the water from my eyes, from having put my face directly into the cool water, so I could open them and look at Kíli. He was standing over me and looking rather concerned.

"We're not naturally bright red," Meg said from behind me and I heard Fíli hide a laugh with a cough.

I am in too much pain for teasing right now, y'all. After shooting a glare at them over my shoulder I looked back to Kíli with a small smile.

"I'll be fine. Just wishing we'd been sent here with some sunscreen."

"I'm not sure what that is but if it was going to help, I wish you had some," he smiled back at me and reached out towards my face.

When his fingers brushed my cheek I jumped back with a small yelp. Kíli's eyes widened in panic and he began apologizing.

"Kí- ow," I'd landed on a large rock when I went backward. "Kíli, it's fine, really; relax. Not like you hurt me on purpose and I didn't even know I was that burnt already. Is there something on my face?"

The Dwarf clamped his mouth shut and nodded. Once he had quieted, I could hear people whispering and laughing quietly. The fuck is so funny?

"There's a piece of grass. From the water," he mumbled, now looking embarrassed.

I touched my cheek carefully and, sure enough, there was a soggy piece of grass stuck to me. So I removed it and gave him the biggest smile I could manage.

"Thank ya!"

He nodded but still didn't look like he'd forgiven himself for hurting me – accident or not – but he stood and offered me his hand. His cheeks darkened a bit and he gestured towards a meadow in the direction we had come from but was still close by.

"I saw a bunch of flowers in the-"

"Flowers?" I asked him, curious and excited. "What kind?"

"I'm not sure what kinds they were but there were lots of different colors. Would you like to go with me to get some?"

"Count me in," I shouted excitedly, having forgotten about the painful sunburn for the time being.

I grabbed his hand and took off towards the meadow.

Sure enough, there were multiple wildflowers scattered near the edge. I immediately dropped down and began inspecting them and smelling them. Not long after we had gotten there and we'd pointed out our favorites from the colors available, I was laying in the grass looking up at the flowers.

Kíli shifted next to me then-

Then all I could hear was high-pitched screaming. I shot up and looked around but everyone else seemed fine and calm. Turning my head towards Kíli explained what I was hearing.

"Are you ok? I picked you one of the purple ones," he told me while holding out the flower.

"You can't hear it?"

Tears began stinging my eyes as I looked at the flowers around me. Meg came over, probably having seen how distressed I was. We weren't all that far away.

"What's wrong? Why do you look like you're about to cry?" she asked me then shot a glare at Kíli.

Fíli had come with Meg and they looked so worried. Especially since Kíli looked so lost.

"You really can't hear them?" I asked the other three quietly as tears flowed freely down my cheeks.

The wordless screams of the flowers surrounding me had started to fade but the emotional pain I felt from them still lingered. Meg squinted at me but I accepted the flower from Kíli then walked away from the three.

I found a large enough rock for me to sit on and sat with my back to the Company. The flower in my hand was so pretty and I'm glad he picked it for me, I really am. I just wasn't expecting to hear a group of its neighbor flowers scream in horror about it. This is probably something I should tell Gandalf about. It might have to do with-

Something shifted in the grass behind me so I turned quickly to defend myself only to have Dwalin grab my wrist before my blade, a gift from him after he decided I was able to at least kind of use one, got too close.

"Good job, Rhi. I didn't know you'd been paying so much attention to your lessons," he praised me. He sounded as impressed as he looked but his face fell to concern when I was still again. "Did something happen?"

"Magic things, I guess," I mumbled with wide, worried eyes.

With a blink, my mind cleared and Dwalin dropped my hand. Then I realized that Dwalin was here.

"Is everything ok? Where's Kíli? And Meg?"

"Everything's fine. We're about to head out again so I came to get you. Meg, Kíli, and Fíli are still arguing about what happened." He paused and frowned. "I'd like to help you but if it's something to do with your magic you'll have to go to Gandalf. Are you sure you're ok?"

"I'm fine now. Just wasn't expecting to hear flowers scream," I told him, unsure if I should have.

His eyes widened but he nodded and patted my shoulder.

"Come on, lass. Let's get back to the Company. You need to have a talk with Gandalf and deserve a break from your lessons for the day." He began walking back to the others and I jumped up.

"What do you mean 'a break'? I'm getting better, though!"

When we stopped for the night Dwalin stayed firm in his decision to not have a fighting lesson today. I did get to talk to Gandalf, though. He smiled then apologized.

I guess the secret theory he had, but was still in the process of forming, about Meg and me was correct. We are the descendants of two Witches he had the pleasure of befriending before all Witches were sent to the Strange World. Also, it wasn't just the Valar that had a hand in creating the Witches. It was all of the Ainur – Valar and Maiar – that created the Witches. Many Witches were created, some having abilities that favored certain Ainur, others were a decent balance of all. Both men and women were created.

The "Ainur Mixing Pot", as I've started calling it, was to give the new beings the ability to adapt as best as possible since Eru and the Valar didn't know what the Strange World would be like. All they knew was that it was far, far in the future.

When Gandalf said the word "future" I shot Meg a look. That means Tolkien had access to the world of the past, the world we are currently in. We weren't thrown through Space and Time, we were thrown through Time.

Kíli had been unnaturally quiet since I'd accepted his flower. I still need to give him a proper thank you for it and owe all three an explanation. I'd been a bit caught up in Gandalf's slightly-heavier-than-usual history lesson that I'd not spoken to any of them since I walked off with my flower.

"No better time than the present," I whispered and wandered to Meg, deciding to just sit next to her.

I let my head fall to her shoulder and kept twirling the purple flower in my hand. It looked like a five-pointed star with a "shadow" at the edges – there were flowing extensions of the petals that went just past the shape of the star – as well as a bright yellow center.

"Magic flowers?"

I shook my head and sat up.

"Magic me. I could hear the other flowers screaming when he picked this one." I sighed and turned the flower around a few times, bringing it up to my face. "Is he mad at me? Is Fíli mad at me?"

"No," she said seeming shocked that I would even consider that. "And Kíli's gonna feel bad for thinking you were. He's gonna feel bad because something he did caused you pain. Especially since it was supposed to be an apology gift for the sunburn thing earlier."

"Shit," I groaned and sat up to let my chin fall to my chest and closed my eyes with the flower brushing against my forehead.

"Well, here's your chance to explain." Meg adjusted and I looked up to see both Fíli and Kíli watching me worriedly.

Kíli's expression softened when he saw the flower in my hands but sat next to me while Fíli sat on the other side of Meg.

Well, that's odd. They've been... spending a lot of time together lately. I'll worry about it later. One situation at a time. Especially since they seemed to get lost in a conversation of their own almost as soon as Fíli sat down. So, I turned to Kíli.

"There were multiple different purples back there. How did you know to pick this one?"

"You seemed to stay near those ones," he shrugged.

We stayed quiet for a bit, both staring at the flower.

"You do know I'm not mad at you, right?"

You'd think he was holding his breath from the deep exhale he let out and the relief that I could see wash over him.

"It was just a bit of a shock. It's not every day I hear flowers scream."

"You what?" Both Kíli and Fíli shouted.

I did my best to hold back a laugh but nodded in confirmation as I looked back to the flower.

"Gandalf says Meg and I are distant relations to Witches he knew. Also," I turned to Meg, "it wasn't just the Valar that created them. It was the Valar and Maiar."

"Well, I could have told you that last part," Kíli added quietly.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

Now Meg was invested in the conversation.

Fíli laughed as I watched Kíli grow embarrassed.

"Kíli wasn't good with books and school unless he found something that fit his interests," the blonde began explaining. "He preferred to be outside as much as possible until our teacher brought up  Witches. I've never seen this Dwarrow in a library more often than he was when he wanted to know everything he could about them-"

"Fíli!" Kíli interrupted his brother.

I did my best to not let my heart explode at the mental image of a young Kíli sitting in a library surrounded by books and being so excited about all of the things he found.

"Sounds like you, Rhi," Meg smirked at me and I glared at her.

"Excuse you. You didn't watch me grow up. You just know what I've told you! And that's just that I'm bad with homework but I retain a lot more information than people realize," I explained in self-defense.

"You forgot to add the hyperfixations that allow you to learn as much as you possibly can in a small period of time. How much did Kíli read and in how much time?"

The question was for Fíli but I had a feeling I already knew the answer.

"Every book that had even the smallest mention of Witches and it took him about," Fíli paused as if to think then nodded, "around seven months."

"Hyperfixation," Meg told us with a wink.

"You're awful," I told her dryly then looked back to my flower. "So, where we at here? I can understand animals, they understand me, I can hear flowers, I've got some kind of healing ability going on. What else? Gandalf seems like he's waiting for more and I dunno how I feel about that."

We four sat in silence for a moment, the only sounds were the rest of the Company around us and the fire. As well as Bombur's snoring, it was rare that he didn't but I once lived with a houseful of people and dogs that would snore. I let out a little laugh about the idea of if we were all to play Truth or Dare, the "punishment" of failing a Dare could be sleeping next to Bombur for the night.

"What's funny?" Kíli asked while leaning a bit closer.

I shook my head with a smile.

"Just thinking about Truth or Dare, a game I used to play with friends. If you failed a Dare, you'd get a 'punishment'. I was thinking that one could be sleeping next to Bombur for the night – someone who isn't used to sleeping through snoring would have issues with it," I told him quietly but Meg and Fíli still heard me.

"What's Truth or Dare?" Fíli questioned me and Meg smirked.

Oh, no... what have I done?

"The best way to explain is to play the game," Meg informed them confidently.

Some of the others who were still awake turned towards us at the mention of a game. I screwed up, I shouldn't have said anything.

"Well then," Bofur said while sliding closer to us, "tell us how to play it so we can start."

"Rhi's first!" Meg shouted and I groaned.

"Oh, lordy, here goes. Alright, since I'm starting, I pick someone and ask them 'truth or dare'. For example," I turned to Meg, "Meg, truth or dare?"

"Truth," she responded flatly like there was even a choice.

Dammit, woman, we gotta teach them and you were the one who said this is the best way to learn so here we are!

"She can pick either one but now I have to think of a question to ask her. If she answers truthfully, she passes, and then it's her turn to ask somebody else 'truth or dare'. If she blatantly lies or refuses to answer, she gets a 'punishment' decided on by the person who asked. In this case, that person would be me, but you can ask for help if need be."

I quieted to consider the question to ask her. It couldn't be something too far into left field that they wouldn't understand what I was asking but it did need to be something good. Then I remembered something I'd been witnessing lately and narrowed my eyes at her and her Cheshire smile.

"You and Fíli have gotten pretty close, haven't you?"

There were murmurs around us from the rest of the Company and I could feel Kíli shift closer so he could look around me to see his brother and Meg. He was doing the same thing as me. We were all waiting for her to just admit it.

If I was having lessons – magical or combat – she was with Fíli. If it worked out, they'd work on their Thorin Appointed Jobs together. It was rare to not see them at least sitting next to each other. I'm not worried about being replaced, I know I never could be just like she never could be for me. No, I'm wondering if they're catching feelings!

Apparently, I wasn't the only one to notice since everything around us went quiet. For a second I thought she was going to just deny it all but her response threw me off completely.

"That kind of happens when you're travel companions," she told me with a dismissive tone, "You and Dwalin have gotten closer since he's teaching you to fight and protect yourself. You and Kíli seem to be good friends now too."

My jaw dropped then I let out a slightly irritated noise. She wasn't wrong but I also know that she knew what I meant. Guess I'll have to corner her about it later when nobody else can hear or I'll never know the full truth of it.

"Fine, your turn then," I grumbled and pushed my hair out of my face.

I needed to figure out some way to keep this contained and soon. It's been way too long since I've done anything with long hair that belongs to me.

"But she didn't answer," Nori protested and I shrugged.

"Technically she did. And truthfully," I sighed. "Welcome to the loopholes of Truth or Dare. As long as the answer is truthful and relevant to the question, it counts as passed. If they didn't answer the way you expected them to, you can't push further because you've already given your question."

"I'm fairly certain one of the Fae invented this game," Meg interjected thoughtfully then gave the rest of our group a wicked grin again. "Who's next?"

Ori, who had been writing furiously in his notebook, shot his hand into the air and declared, "I would like to go next!"

Meg agreed and asked him the fateful question of Truth or Dare.

Once everybody had gotten the chance to ask someone a question, Kíli turned to me and I gave him a bright smile. Once he'd asked the question of the evening I shocked everybody by saying-

"Dare!"

Meg choked on some water behind me and elbowed me in the ribs.

"It's a game of Truth or Dare. I refuse to sit here and say Truth all night. Gimme a Dare! When someone picks Dare, you say, 'I dare you...' then tell the person their Dare."

Kíli raised his eyebrows at me but nodded. I gave him a bit to think since I'm sure he was preparing a Truth of some kind.

"Alright, I think I've got one," he announced and I sat up straighter, suddenly nervous about what he was about to say. "I dare you to describe a color without using the name of it. Then you have to let us guess the color."

"Oh, shit. You- wow, that's a good one. Alright. Hm," I closed my eyes to think for a bit. "Sometimes it's lighter and soft like fur. When it's a very deep, warm shade it can be the color of hair. As an eye color, and when the sunlight hits the eyes just right, it can look like tree sap."

I opened my eyes, a bit embarrassed that I'd gone to that color immediately but everyone around me seemed confused. With a look at Kíli, his smile told me he was already confident he knew the color. As he should, being the inspiration for a good portion of that description.

"Brown," he told me and I nodded as some of our group mumbled about how they knew that.

Meg seemed to be holding back a gag next to me but I shot her a look.

"Fíli, truth or dare?" I asked suddenly.

My plan of acting like I was challenging him seemed to work as he said dare. A wicked smile slid across my face and he suddenly looked less confident.

"One moment, please."

I jumped up and wandered away from the group to dig under a nearby rock. Lucky me, there it was!

When I returned to the group, I sat back in my seat, holding Fíli's dare in my hands.

"What do you have?" Meg looked almost as worried as Fíli and I shook my head at her.

"I dare you to," I opened my hands to reveal a few slugs that I'd gathered from under the rock, "swallow one of these slugs and then say something that I'll tell you after you swallow it."

Recognition hit Meg at the sight of the slugs but Fíli looked so disgusted.

"Bitch, are you gonna have him quote-"

"Meg, hush! I'm not saying you have to keep it down after you swallow it, just long enough to say this quote and then you can vomit if need be," I explained further.

Fíli stared at the slugs in my hand for a few seconds then sighed.

"How bad can it be?"

He reached over Meg and I held my hand closer to him. I did my best to stay calm as he plucked one from my hand. A glance around the fire told me they were all horrified, but were waiting to see the results. Fíli Durin apparently refuses to fail his dare, though, because he definitely just swallowed that slug.

"Ok! Say, 'slimy... yet satisfying'," I told him, having issues holding back my laughter.

"Why?"

"Do it or you fail the dare and you've already come this far, brother," Kíli told him, seeming panicked for his brother.

Fíli made a face then took a breath and repeated the quote exactly as I said it.

"Oh my gawd, I didn't think you'd do it! Thank you! My day has been made," I told him through loud laughter.

"What did I just quote and why?" Fíli looked between Meg and me, a bit distressed; possibly from how hard I was laughing.

"There's another story from the collection of ones she's been telling all of you. It's about a lion prince and he says that after swallowing a very large slug at some point," Meg told him dryly.

"I don't see why I had to do it then," Fíli stated.

He almost sounded offended.

"That is because, where we're from," I took over the explanation, "you are known - by those who know what we do - as Fíli, the Lion Prince or the Lionhearted Prince. Simba, the lion that Meg mentioned, also sings a song about how he can't wait to be king."

"Not yet, he's not," Thorin grouched from behind us and I laughed harder. "Enough of your game. It's late."

"Fine," I whined as Meg tilted her head back to look at him.

"You look like Scar but you act like Mufasa. A grouchy Mufasa," she told Thorin.

Thanks to her comment, I tripped over Kíli's boots from laughing too hard.

From my new spot on the ground, I kept laughing but sat up on my elbows to look at Meg.

"Where's that put Kíli? Can't be Nala," I held back a laugh at her wide eyes. "There's Kion, I guess-"

"Who's Kion?" Meg gave me a confused look and I raised my eyebrows.

"That one wouldn't work either. Kion is Simba's son-"

Before the discussion could go further, Thorin interrupted us.

"Just go to sleep!"

Then he walked away. When he got back to his bedroll I glanced at Meg.

"I dunno. He seems a lot like Zazu to me," I mumbled.

Well, we definitely were up a bit too late for Truth or Dare. The following morning was rough. Meg looked ready to murder the first person to speak to her; it wasn't uncommon, it was just intense.

Now- wait a second. I know this place. Ohhh, Bilbo's gonna sneak Mrytle an apple in a few hours!

While Bombur worked on dinner, Meg made me sit down so we could attempt to do something about my hair. We were both over it before we started but something had to be done.

"Why didn't you put it up when we left Bilbo's?"

My head jerked with Meg's hands as she tried to pull out the knots.

"Do you realize how long it's been since I've had to do anything like this with my hair? Years. A few weeks ago, I had well less than half of this! We've gotta figure it out," I shot back, in pain from her tugging on the knots.

"I'm trying but you have so much damn hair, Rhi! Seriously, where did it all come from? I only know a basic French braid and it clearly won't stay. This isn't Tangled; I don't have half of the braiding skills those kids did," she complained while attempting to French braid my hair.

"I could-"

"Ow! Dammit, that hurt!" I shouted, cutting off Kíli.

"I know, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to!"

Fíli laughed quietly at us but Meg kept going.

"Meg?" Kíli spoke again but it was soft like he wasn't sure he should speak up.

"What?" she barked at him but her tone softened and she sighed. "What is it, Kíli?"

"I, um... I could braid it?"

As soon as he offered, my head snapped around to look at him. Did this Dwarf just offer to braid my hair? From as red as his face is getting, I feel like the answer is yes.

"Thank fuck. Somebody who knows what they're doing. Do it!"

With that, Meg ripped her hands from my hair and plopped herself next to Fíli who was watching his brother with wide eyes.

I knew what it meant for Dwarves to braid another's hair. It was meant to be something shared between close friends at the least, and even that was stretching it. Yet, here he was, offering to braid my hair and probably thinking I didn't know any better. I didn't know how to refuse him but I also really needed the help so I nodded for him to give him the go-ahead.

Thankfully, I was already seated on a small tree stump so he could reach my hair no problem once he approached me. His fingers were light and gentle as they passed through my hair. We'd gone through a few windy spots recently and I can guarantee that Meg hadn't gotten all of the knots out. However, even with as many knots as Meg probably missed, I didn't wince in pain since Kíli was being so careful.

I heard choking and moved only my eyes to see Thorin looking rather pale and Dwalin doing his best to clear whatever liquid from his airway. Is there a hole I can crawl into and die from embarrassment in? I can only imagine the looks on the faces of the rest of the Company. Gandalf is probably laughing, the damn Wizard. Since there's no hole available to hide in, I began digging my toes into the dirt at my feet to keep myself somewhat occupied.

"Do you need to get up?" Kíli's voice was still very soft and I froze when his voice registered.

"No, we're just... being watched."

"I'm really not surprised."

He paused and I focused on the various directions my hair felt like it was going in. What was he doing?

"I've never braided anyone's hair outside of the family. Besides the fact that braiding someone else's hair is-"

"I know," I said quickly and quietly, not really wanting him to say too much out loud. "It's very important to you as a people and I am very grateful that you were willing to help, regardless. You didn't have to, but I'm happy you are."

"Regardless?"

"Well, you just met me a bit less than a month ago. Not even Meg and I were close enough in three weeks to meet the usual requirements for this. That's saying something since we’ve always gotten along very well. Soul Sisters, we like to say."

I smiled at the memory but Kíli had gone silent. I could still feel him twisting and turning my hair into intricate braids.

"Kíli?"

"Yes?"

I couldn't figure out what his mood was from the one word so I decided to just ask.

"Did I upset you?"

He stayed quiet for a bit longer.

"No, I'm sorry. I tend to get very quiet while braiding is all."

I hummed softly in acknowledgment. My eyes started to droop. The exhaustion from being on a horse all day, every day, mixed with the overly relaxing feeling of Kí braiding my hair was about to put me to sleep when I felt him rest the end of the braid against my back.

"There."

I forced my eyes open again and lifted my hands to touch my hair but stopped, worried I'd mess it up, and dropped my hands again.

"What does it look like?"

The blush that had almost completely disappeared returned to my face like fire.

"You won't mess it up."

His hand wrapped gently around my wrist and he brought my hand to my hair.

"What do you think?" he asked, seeming nervous again.

I moved my fingers over my hair slowly. Two thinner braids ran from each of my temples back to the crown of my head where they met and were spun around to create-

"A rose?"

He didn't respond yet so I continued over my hair to the rest in a very thick fishtail braid. At the end was a long, thin piece of leather tied to keep it from falling out. My fingers went back to the "blooming rose" on the back of my head.

"It's not really my best work since I usually brush out the hair first. Sorry about that."

I turned to give him a warm smile and watched him suck in a deep breath as I did.

"I love it. Thank you, Kíli!"

"Kíli, move so I can see!" Meg demanded so he stepped aside and I turned back around. "Holy shit, how did you manage that work of art in fifteen minutes? It's gorgeous!"

"A lot of practice, I suppose," he shrugged then protested in pain from what I would assume was Fíli elbowing him in the side or something similar.

"Used to think he couldn't braid at all because he couldn't get his hair to stay," Fíli added. "Then we made him sit down and braid Ma's hair-"

"It's because his hair is so fine. The texture," I interrupted, "is very fine and probably soft even though it's thick. I know people, where we're from, that have hair like that too. One of them, she can put her hair in a ponytail but it slips out with minimal movement within seconds after putting it up. My hair, on the other hand, is so heavy that it rarely does what it's told. That being said," I turned back around to look at the trio, "I'm thoroughly impressed that you were able to do this at all, Kí. But it's awesome!"

I don't think that Dwarrow could have gotten any more red. My bad, I just wanted to give him a compliment and let him know how epic the braids are!

"Yeah, my hair does that shit too. Which is why I redo my ponytail every time we stop," Meg pouted while eyeing my hair enviously.

"I'm sure the right skill level could make it stay," Fíli responded with a shrug.

I narrowed my eyes at the two. Something's happening here. I can feel it. Meg scoffed and crossed her arms.

"Or a can of extra hold hairspray," she mumbled.

Woman, you're making it hard to believe y'all are just travel-buddies. Then again you don't know what braids mean to them.

Whatever, you'll tell me eventually.

A few hours later, we four had settled where the two brothers were sitting earlier before I got braids. I am entirely too happy about how they turned out but they're so impressive! Wish there was a mirror somewhere so I could look at it.

A shrill screech carried by the wind brought me from my thoughts and I looked away from the arrowhead Kíli was sharpening to look over at Bilbo.

"What was that?" Bilbo asked in a panic while looking around us and fast-walked back to the Company.

"Orcs," Kíli responded, looking past the reach of the firelight.

Then he looked to me, on his right, as if to see what my reaction would be. I raised my eyebrows at him and did my best not to smile.

"Orcs?"

Thorin sat up silently on my other side while Bilbo continued making his way back to us. I felt kinda bad about how scared he is right now.

"Throat-cutters. There'll be dozens of them out there," Fíli added with a matter-of-fact tone and a shrug. "The lone-lands are crawling with them."

"They strike in the wee smalls hours when everyone's asleep. Quick and quiet, no screams. Just lots of blood."

It's one thing to sit on your living room couch and listen to the actor on tv talk about battle or other gruesome things but it was a whole new world to sit next to the person talking about it and the potential of it happening to those around you – including yourself. I shivered at the mental image and leaned into Kíli a bit. This whole adventure just got much more real. More real than I've been treating it.

Fíli and Meg started chuckling while Kíli smiled reassuringly at me but I just stayed close and silent. 

"You think that's funny? You think a night raid by Orcs is a joke?"

Thorin sounded more pissed right now than he was in the movie. I may have to take the blame for that with the whole... braids... thing and being so close to his youngest nephew at the time. That lecture always ticked me off so I kept my mouth shut, slid down a bit, then let my head fall on Kíli's shoulder. He tensed but didn't push me off or object in any way so I stayed put.

"We didn't mean anything by it," he told Thorin quietly.

I let out a deep breath, trying to stay calm and not blow up on Thorin about how he was just teasing Bilbo even if it was a serious topic-

"No, you didn't. You know nothing of the world," Dramatic™ informed them before storming off.

"Don't mind him, laddie. You either, Lady Rhi," Balin said while approaching from Fíli's and Meg's side of the fire.

Kíli's hair brushed against my forehead when he turned his head to look at Balin.

"Thorin has more cause than most to hate Orcs," the snow-bearded Dwarf continued.

"Yeah, but that doesn't mean he needs to be an ass to his nephew over it. And I'm no lady," I mumbled causing Kíli to look back at me. I tilted my head up to look at him, guessing he was the only one to hear me. "What? It's true."

"After the Dragon took the Lonely Mountain, King Thror tried to reclaim the ancient Dwarf kingdom of Moria," Balin began.

"Khazad-Dûm; I still don't understand why people call it Moria," I continued grumbling quietly.

"But our enemy got there first."

The battle scene from the movie played in my head while Balin explained.

"Moria had been taken by legions of Orcs led by the most vile of all their races: Azog the Defiler. The giant Gundabad Orc had sworn to wipe out the line of Durin."

A flash of Fíli's face full of pain with Azog behind him, then Thorin laying on his back with drying blood and cuts scattering his face but his eyes looked empty. Then the image of Kíli's eyes half-closed with a large hand wrapped tightly around his throat with a weapon stuck in his chest assaulted my mind. I sat up quickly and wiped the already falling tears from my cheeks. Thanks for finally reminding me why I'm not supposed to be getting close to this family, Brain.

"You ok?" Kíli whispered to me, but I turned away and nodded.

"I'm fine," I told him while trying to hide the pain in my voice.

"Should I ask him to stop?" Kíli's hand met my back and I flinched, choking down a sob as well.

"No, it's fine. Just listen, it's important."

He lifted his hand from my back immediately when I flinched away, but I had a feeling he knew that I wasn't ok and wanted to do something about it. That's just how he is, that's what a kind heart would do.

Balin finished his history lesson so I turned my head to look towards Thorin. He may be a Dramatic™ asshole more often than not, but he has his reasons and he leads his people very well. He's a great king, even with no crown, and deserves to have the chance to sit in Erebor restored to its former glory and thriving like never before. Fíli deserves the chance to learn to be his own version of the King Under the Mountain and Kíli where ever he wants or needs to be in a royal Dwarf court. They deserve to live.

As the Dwarves rose for their king I looked over at Meg. She looked very worried about my actions from the past few minutes.

I'm sure we'll be having a chat later. We need to. There has to be something that we can do.

"And the pale Orc?" Bilbo asked. "What happened to him?"

"He slunk back into the hole whence he came. That filth died of his wounds long ago," Thorin announced as if ending the conversation.

Meg and I looked over to Gandalf who was eyeing us as if daring us to reveal the truth of Thorin's claim. Or deny it. I shook my head and dropped my gaze in response before leaning on the huge rock at my side.

Judas, this was gonna hurt like hell.

Masterlist | Tolkien Masterlist | Chapter One

[kkai-zen]

heey! i really love the way u write sae. do u think u could write him with an s/o who’s a gamer? maybe to the point of being a popular streamer or former/current pro for their game of choice. f reader preferred but gn is great too. thank you!

hello hello!! thank you so much for sending in a request! i wrote this with a gn!twitch streamer!reader x pro-athlete!sae. i loveeee this concept, i had so much fun writing it and i hope you enjoy! ࿐ ♡₊ ⊹

star walkin'!

wc: 1k + twitch streamer!reader x itoshi sae + fluff + suggestive + sfw

When you and Sae officially announced your relationship to the public, nobody could believe it. 

Itoshi Sae, Re Al’s genius midfielder, and you, one of the most popular gaming streamers on Twitch, dating? Your lives couldn’t possibly be more different. Fans were more than confused; how did you two meet? How long have you been dating? Do you live together? Separately? What about your schedules?

“Alright guys, calm down,” you laugh, reading through your chat. “I’ll get through your questions soon, let’s just win this game first.” Stretching your upper body backwards with a yawn, you crack your knuckles before settling them on your keyboard. You had been streaming for around 6 hours and it had already gotten dark outside. Sae was already home from practice, you inferred, hearing the sound of the shower turning on in the nearby bathroom. 

Double-kill!

Triple-kill!

QUADRA-KILL!

“Aw shit, our jungler stole my penta,” you sigh, brushing a hand through your hair. “But whatever, my KDA’s still crazy—13/1/6? I’m gonna go pro!” Grinning as a large blue ‘VICTORY’ screen pops up, you savor the win for a moment before quickly returning to the home screen and queueing up. “We’re on a 9 game win-streak, let’s try to get to 10 with this last game and then we’ll end stream there.” 

Eyes skimming your chat, you read out a few donation messages. “Thank you urbiggestfan for the 5 gifted! How long have you and Sae been dating?” You think for a moment, replying: “Around a year now? Our anniversary is coming up pretty soon,” you muse, before moving onto the next message. “Ooh, thank you so much to mid_envy089 for the 20 gifted! Do you and Sae live together?? Btw, love your streams!!” You smile. “Aw, thanks! Me and Sae have been living together for the past couple months, it’s been lovely.” 

You answer a couple more messages before loading into game, where you swear you’ve been cursed with the worst luck. “Fuuuuck, man,” you groan. “This guy’s gotten three ganks in the first 5 minutes, is his jungler even getting his camps?” You lean back with a huff, watching your death timer slowly tick down. 

Squeeeeak!

You turn your head to the sound of your door opening, Sae stepping quietly into your room. “Hey!” you beam at him, his pink hair slightly damp from the shower. You can’t help but admire him as he approaches you, looking unbelievably handsome in his baggy gray sweats and loose white tank that shows off his muscular, athletic arms.

“Hey,” he responds nonchalantly, placing a glass of water on your desk. “I’m gonna go to bed soon, make sure to drink enough water,” He says softly, wrapping an arm around the back of your chair before placing a gentle kiss on your forehead. “Come to bed when you’re done.” 

“I will, don’t worry,” you reassure, leaning into his warmth for a moment before he slips out of the room. You stare at him as he leaves, smile on your face, before turning back to your stream. “Okaaaay, where were we?” 

By some miracle, you and your team manage to drag yourselves to a victory, and thus- “10 game win-streak, let’s goooooo!” You cheered, clapping a couple times with a laugh. You glance over at chat, which you haven’t been paying much attention to (focused completely on winning the last game), only to see a million messages flying down your screen. 

noname-noface: OMGGG YALL ARE SO CUUUTEEE

ownedbyu: DROP @ RIGHT NEOWWW

potatopotahto: MY FAVE COUPLE

yupkek: woahhhh

corn-onthecob: BI PANIC BI PANIC BI PANIC

Calamiiity123: who is that gorgeous man????

“My boyfriend Itoshi Sae, ladies and gentlemen,” you answer with a grin. You giggle at some more of the chats before yawning. “Well, that ends the stream for today! Thank you all for tuning in, and see you soon!” Waving at your webcam, you turn off the stream, hurriedly get ready for bed, and nearly collapse into bed next to Sae. 

“Mm, took you a while, love,” Sae whispers, warm arms wrapping around your waist. “But you still waited for me,” you reply with a smirk, burying your head in the crook of his neck. He rolls his eyes. “Just go to sleep,” he grunts, unable to hide the smile peeking out from the corners of his mouth.

“Mhm..love you, Sae.”

“Love you too.”

The next morning, you wake up to find that your stream had gone viral.

Your VOD had 152k views, clips of you and Sae were trending on Twitter, and even Instagram edits were being made of the two of you. “Sae! Sae, look!” You eagerly run to the front door, where Sae is getting ready to leave for practice, and turn your phone screen towards him. “We’re going viral! And everyone’s calling you hot,” you giggle. “I guess I have competition now.”

Sae’s gaze flits from the screen to your face with a blank expression before he grabs the back of your head, pulling you in for a deep kiss. You feel his lips press tightly against yours, desperate as his tongue clashes against yours, stealing the breath from your lungs before suddenly pulling away. Wide-eyed and red-faced, you gasp at your boyfriend. “S-Sae? Wha-what was that?” 

He cocks his head at you. “Just wanted to let you know that I’m yours, angel.” Throwing his duffel bag over his shoulder, he opens the door. “I’m headed to practice now. See you later, love.” Sae smirks, before slipping out. You gape at him, chest still heaving from his hungry kiss, stuttering out, “R-right, see you!”

You spend the rest of the day relaxing and laughing at the thousands of articles, comments, and edits that spawned from last night’s stream. You skim through Twitter for a while, reading through the thousands of tweets from your fans, and can’t help but respond to one tweet you read…

ms.kai-001: they’re sooo cute and look so happy together, i really hope they stay with each other for a long time!! <3

⤷ y/n-streams: me too :)

[museguided]

Once Neya escorted herself off his back, he crouched down closer to the edge, as if his eyes would adjust from broad daylight to that dark pit below. The hint of water was just that, intertwined with the nature around them. He couldn't sense anything off about the place, but they were clearly no where close to that fabled lake. "Can't tell anything from here." He tilted his head. "But getting down there's no big deal. It's just one big drop."

So much for a challenge. He could tell how humans would find the trek difficult, maybe life-threatening for the foolish. For a hanyou, it was a cakewalk, which made him think that whatever treasure had been hidden there wasn't worth a youkai's time. Even so, he tagged along for the adventure of it, so even if the end result disappointed him, he wouldn't be the one to dampen Neya's excitement so soon. He stood up when she began walking away, surveying the surrounding area for a clear trail down before he gave up and followed.

What he did notice about the area came a pinch too late. Aside from the wind that occasionally tore through the chasm in between the two hills, nothing else made a sound. Even birdsong seemed too far away to be normal, a foreboding sign for anyone keenly aware of their surroundings. The silence was emphasized by a single click beneath Neya's heel. He saw the panic in her eyes that made him react, lunging for her with a shout. But it was just too late.

All he could hear was an intense ringing rattling his skull. When the ground fell away, he believed that he passed out for a few seconds at most. But the pain endured and, slowly, Inuyasha became aware that he was falling. He blinked, clearing his bleary vision to make out Neya falling alongside him. That pushed him to respond, maneuvering in midair and desperately reaching out for her.

"Neya!" Claws snagged on her clothes first before he was able to grab her. He could have made use of his Tessaiga to clear the debris that tumbled with them or catch himself by driving the blade into the cliff side, but her safety came first. His own panic didn't allow him to register anything else as he tucked her close to his chest to prevent anything from clipping her. Boulders bounced off the walls, exploding into smaller bits as the cliff turned from a sheer drop to a sharp slope leading to another drop off. He dug his feet into the rock and cursed as the momentum made him stumble and tumble forward.

Despite their quick descent, the darkness below didn't allow an ounce of light to reflect off the ground. It swallowed them whole, the cliff side disappearing into sheer nothingness as the scent of water rose to greet them. The remaining boulders broke the surface tension of the lake and then they were submerged. Inuyasha kept his death grip on Neya as he kicked as hard as he could, hearing the crash of debris following them into the water and only hoping none of it would land on top of them when he breached.

"Neya! Neya! Are you okay?!" Luckily, the explosion had been set off into the mountain itself, sparing her legs from any obvious injury. He ground his teeth and used an arm and his legs to swim to the nearest dry surface, a single island illuminated by the sunlight that peeked through. Despite the sparse light, the water was as black as ink, weighing on his clothes and his limbs, tempting him to draw back under until he dragged himself and Neya onto land.

If he focused on his surroundings, he would note the crack that made up the ceiling of the cavern they fell into. A decent amount of light spilled in, bouncing off any available rock face before being consumed by the lake. He barely paid any mind to the stench of death hidden beneath the waves until the rubble finished its descent, the water becoming perfectly, unnaturally still. Instead, he pressed a hand to Neya's cheek, listening intently to her breathing pattern, and willing her to respond to him. "Neya...?"

“Eek!” Neya’s grip on Inuyasha’s shoulders tightened instinctively as they soared through the air, her face half-buried against his neck. This. Was. AMAZING! Peeking over his shoulder through squinted eyes, she takes in the breathtaking view. The ground stretched far beneath them, the trees shrinking away as they shot upward.

Then, suddenly—they dropped.

A startled squeal tears from her lips as her stomach lurched, the weightlessness sending a thrill through her. The last time she had been this high in the sky was years ago, during Utsuho’s hot air balloon idea. But this—this was entirely different. There were no ropes or baskets, no safety net between her and the open air. Just speed, strength, and the wind rushing past her ears.

As Inuyasha launched forward again, weaving effortlessly through the trees, Neya clung just a bit tighter and steadied her grip. Was this what it was like for him every day? She wondered, her heart racing in exhilaration. Did he always move like this—jumping, running, slicing through the air with such ease? It made traveling look so effortless, so fast, so—

His voice snaps her from her thoughts, and she popped her head out from behind his shoulder, an excited grin spreading across her face. “I’m okay! That was amazing, Inuyasha-san! It almost felt like we were flying!” She exclaims, breath still catching up with her. As they slowed to a walk, her heartbeat gradually settled. When they reached the cliff’s edge, she leans forward carefully to peer over his shoulder and watch the rock drop into the darkness below.

"Oh, that's good! Can you smell anything else?" Neya carefully extracts herself from the hanyou's back and stands beside him still leaning over slightly to look down into the pitch blackness. "It doesn't look like there's any proper way down." Sure Inuyasha could just jump down there, but neither of them knew what to expect and for all they knew it could be a pit full of spikes at the bottom ready to skewer them or something!

She takes a step back then, nodding to herself and turning around to head back a few paces to see if she could find an alternative path. "Maybe we can just go back the way we came and find another way down—" As she walked, she didn't notice the discolored patch of leaves beneath her foot as she stepped down.

Click.

The soft, unnatural sound makes her freeze, her head snaps over quickly to the hanyou in alarm red eyes widening just as the ground beneath her shudders. She barely gets a word out. "Inu—"

BOOM!

Her world erupts.

A deafening explosion rips through the cliffside, sending rock and debris flying in every direction. The shockwave blasts Neya off her feet, the sheer force hurling her backward before she even has the chance to scream. The ground beneath them disintegrates, stone and dirt crumbling away as the force of the buried explosives shatters the ledge.

The whole world tilts—and then she's falling.

[words-writ-in-starlight]

So for the avatar thing your not gonna write, is like wwx actively apart of the wen clan or is it just because he was originally a fire bender that he is just grouped in with them?

I’m not writing it!!!!!  I refuse to answer this because I’m not writing it!!!!!  The Les Mis AU haunts my conscience day and night, and I will not take a further burden upon my heart!

....but no, actually, Wei Wuxian is still the child of a nationless wanderer, who also incidentally happened to be a firebender.  Baoshan Sanren is...Iroh, basically, founder of an extremely secretive and reclusive sect of bending that believes in combining the moves and virtues of all elements to enhance an individual’s skill set.  She’s known for being extremely close to the spirit world, so much so that she’s rumored to be immortal, and she takes in orphans and raises them in her sect--admirers call her the finest bending teacher in history, a mighty earthbender who raised a mountain from a flat plain and hides her people in its clouded heights, detractors call her a cult leader, but everyone agrees that the few students who leave her mountain are the finest in the world.

Cangse Sanren left the mountain to see the world, and fell in love with a nonbender who made her laugh, and she had a son who she adored with her whole heart, a little prodigy of a firebender whose wide clever eyes sometimes looked dreadfully wise for such a young child.  In theory, she wasn’t supposed to go back to the hidden mountain, but once, little Wei Ying looked up at her and said solemnly, “Mama, someday I’m going to learn to fly,” and she kissed his smiling cheeks and said, “Okay, my love.”  And then she turned to her beloved husband, after Wei Ying was asleep, and said quietly, “Someday, we will take A-Ying to shifu, I think.”  

She wasn’t sure what her son carried in his deep silver eyes (such an odd color for a firebender, just like his father’s), but when she taught him the first firebending moves she ever learned, he cocked his head at her and said, “But Mama, we aren’t airbenders,” as if he knew the roots of her unusual form, and Cangse Sanren was not raised by the finest bending teacher in history for nothing.

Except, of course, they never had a chance to take Wei Ying to Baoshan Sanren at all.

Wei Ying doesn’t remember his parents’ deaths.  He thinks he was there, but all he remembers is his mother’s voice, roaring at him like a bonfire to go, run, don’t look, and then--

Light, blinding white, and waking up in a clearing scarred and ruined.

And then he wandered for a while, until the traveling Chief of the Inland Water Tribe found the child of his dead comrade and took him in.

And if Wei Wuxian’s bending style looks...strange, looks off, looks not quite firebender, well, everyone writes it off to the fact that his mother was one of Baoshan Sanren’s students, and to the fact that he was raised by waterbenders.  It doesn’t even really occur to people to check him in their search for the Avatar--surely Cangse Sanren, of anyone in the world, would know the Avatar when she raised him, and she did nothing about it.  He’s just a prodigy, already so well-versed in firebending by the age of seven that he practically trained himself.  Nothing to see, here, citizens.  

Madam Yu has her suspicions.  But she hates the boy, hates him for outshining her own son without trying, hates him for never being respectful or obedient or pliable, as rebellious and uncontrolled as the element he commands.  She will not suggest to her husband that his bastard foundling might be the Avatar, might be a waterbender, might have a claim, however tangential, to her son’s birthright.  So she hates him, and Wei Wuxian is a firebender, nothing more.

Until he’s fifteen and a bit of friendly showcasing between the nations gets out of hand (suspiciously so, a skeptical soul might say, about Wen Xu’s ‘slip’ that lights half the stands on fire) and Wei Wuxian throws himself thoughtlessly in front of Jiang Cheng and calls half the river onto the sparring field, teeth bared and eyes unglowing but unarguably waterbending.