#(maybe there would have been more if the statement hadn't been interrupted...

[karpowskaja]

Rejection

A first glimpse into the mind and adventures of my Rook Harea Ingellvar and why it sometimes helps to talk to friends that make you laugh again. 😊

Spoilers for Lucanis romance under the cut.

Rejection

Rook sat beside Assan on the edge of the cliff, stroking the griffon's sleek feathers as she gazed into the endless horizon of the Fade. The unnatural breeze tugged at strands of her long hair, but she didn't mind. Nor did she mind when Assan began to nip at one of the loose strands, his beak tugging gently.

The moment in the pantry played over and over in her mind. His face close to hers, his eyes lingering so clearly on her lips. The way her heart had leapt when he'd put his hand against the wall. His words had drawn her out, excited her, encouraged her to flirt - not her usual lighthearted banter, but something deliberate, something bolder. She felt her cheeks heating up again as she remembered the warmth beneath her finger.

She still couldn't believe she'd done it - let alone thought it was a good idea. Not that she'd been thinking at all at that moment. Yet, despite her hopes, he hadn't kissed her.

Rook had been so sure he would. She'd felt it in the way he'd leaned down, in that moment before she'd closed her eyes. But instead he had pulled away, apologised and left her standing there, lips pursed like the fool she was. He had said he needed to collect himself, and as true as that was - especially for him - it still hurt more than she had thought.

Of course he wasn't interested in her like that. Of course he didn't have a head for... whatever she'd thought that might be.

Maker, he'd just learned that there was the possibility that his cousin had betrayed him. And Spite's continued interference only made things worse.

"I'm an idiot," she murmured, burying her face in her knees. It was so embarrassing, she would have laughed if it hadn't hurt so much.

The click of Assan's tongue interrupted her, sharp and deliberate. She shook her head and reached up to scratch his beak. "A friend would strongly disagree with such a statement..." she muttered. But the ache wouldn't go away, even when she tried to rationalise her thoughts. She had no right to feel this way. No right to expect anything, especially from him.

"Rook?" The voice startled her and she looked up, turning to see Lace standing a few paces away. She must have been heading for the kitchen. "Are you all right?”

Rook's mouth opened, instinctively ready to brush it away, to tell Lace that all was well. But the words didn't come. The lump in her throat tightened before she could stop herself, the tears spilling over. Lace's eyes widened in surprise as Rook turned away, burying her face in her hands. Lace stepped forward and placed a hand on Rook's shoulder.

"I'm sorry... I'm fine... It's just..." Harea's voice wavered as she tried to reassure Lace, but the words faltered. She bit her lip hard, clinging to the small sting to keep the sob lodged in her throat from escaping. She couldn't even tell herself why the tears were coming - maybe it was everything at once. The frustration, the endless weight of expectations, the impossible role she was supposed to live up to. Maybe this rejection was just too much...

"Come, let's get you inside." Lace said in her soft voice and Rook nodded, stumbling to her feet and following her friend towards the greenhouse. Assan, ever curious and unwilling to be left behind, followed. He moved with an unusual calm, his usual playfulness replaced by a quiet awareness - proving to be far more perceptive than Davrin would ever give him credit for.

___

As Rook sank into the familiar chair near Lace's bedroll, she pulled her knees up again. Her eyes were still wet with tears, but the short walk from the courtyard indoors had been enough of a distraction to help her regain control. The griffon settled down beside the armchair, his head resting heavily on the armrest. Rook's fingers found its feathers again, scratching the point between its ears. Only then did she look up - and saw Taash. The dragon hunter had been kneeling quietly by one of the flower beds across the room, and Rook hadn't noticed their presence when she'd entered.

"Why are you crying?" Taash's tone was brisk and Rook quickly rubbed her cheeks.

"I'm not... I'm fine."

"You don't look fine to me. Did Spite do something? I knew I shouldn't have left you alone with him." Taash stood up, wiped their hands on their trousers and walked over to Lace's bedroll and sat down cross-legged.

"Here." Lace had used the short moments until Rook had settled down to pour her a cup of tea.

Rook took the cup from Lace's hand and smiled at her. "Thank you... you really don't need..." but Lace interrupted Rook before she could finish.

"Oh, none of that, Rook. I know you. What happened?"

Rook took a shaky breath. "It wasn't Spite." Taash relaxed a little at that reassurance. Lace tilted her head as she sat down beside Taash, leaning against them.

"After I sent Taash away, I spoke to Spite. He seemed angry with Lucanis, but before he could explain exactly why, Lucanis regained control."

The dwarf nodded thoughtfully, while Taash let out a low grunt. Spite's impulsive behaviour was nothing new to any of them, but it always managed to leave a lingering tension in the air. She took a sip of tea to prolong the pause. "He apologised, and then he said..." Her grip on the cup tightened. "He said he didn't want me to see him like that again. I'm sure he still feels bad about what happened at the Chantry in Treviso."

Lace frowned, leaning forward slightly, her expression carefully neutral. "What did you say?"

"I told him I hadn't seen anything that bothered me. That I wasn't afraid of Spite or him. I mean, why should I be? I've been around ghosts in the necropolis all my life. Spite isn't the worst thing I've seen, not by a long shot.”

Taash shifted slightly, always a bit uncomfortable when reminded that Rook was a Mournwatcher. Rook took another sip of tea. "The conversation shifted... it got more personal somehow," she said then, looking down at the reflection in the tea.

Lace leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing with interest. "How personal are we getting, Rook?"

Rook's grip tightened around the mug as heat rose to her cheeks, betraying her embarrassment. "I don't know," she murmured, still not meeting their gaze. "He just... he changed. He started saying things - about how I was breaking through his clouds of doom, how I shouldn't have to deal with his mess."

"That sounds like Lucanis," Lace replied dryly.

Taash snorted, though they didn't look entirely amused. "He said that to you? That you shouldn't bother with his mess?"

Rook nodded, her voice quieter now. "Yes. And I told him... I told him that he's more than the mess he's going through. That it didn't bother me.”

There was a beat of silence.

"And then?" Rook could hear the smile on Lace's face.

Rook looked up at last, her cheeks darkening. "Then he... came closer. Put his hand against the wall next to my head, actually."

Taash's brow shot up. "He what?"

"It wasn't... it wasn't what you think," Rook said quickly, holding up a hand. "He said it wasn't a good idea, and I..." She hesitated, biting her lip.

"Go on. Don't leave us hanging."

Rook sighed and briefly covered her face with a hand as she leaned back in the chair, her voice barely above a murmur. "I told him sometimes bad ideas are better."

She was grateful to have someone to talk to - even if at that moment she wished the Fade would just swallow her whole.

Lace's laughter erupted immediately, loud and uninhibited. "Maker's breath, Rook."

Rook groaned, putting down her tea and burying her face in her hands. "I know. It's terrible..."

Taash grinned from ear to ear and leaned forward. "And then what happened?"

Rook shook her head, her voice softening. "Lucanis said something about me walking too close to the edge... and then he smiled at me."

The memory caught in her throat and she hesitated. "And I... I told him, 'So do you.' And then..." She winced, as if saying it out loud might somehow make it worse. "I reached out and ran my finger up his chest."

Lace leaned forward, her grin - worse than when she had a bloody good hand in Wicked Grace. "You traced your finger up his chest... and told him bad ideas were better?"

Rook groaned, snapping her head up to glare at her. "I wasn't thinking, okay? You didn't see that damn smile or heard his voice…"

The two exchanged glances, barely containing their laughter.

Rook rolled her eyes and sank back into her seat. "It doesn't matter anyway. I thought we were going to kiss, and then... he turned away. Said he needed to clear his head and left."

Taash stared at Rook with surprise that turned into disappointment, murmuring something under their breath that sounded like ‘coward’.

Lace's smile faded too, her expression turning wry. "So that's why I found you crying out there?”

"And so what?" Rook shot back, though there was no real bite in her voice. "You tease me endlessly when I flirt without meaning to. This time I did it on purpose - and he ran. So much for Varric's grand claim that my charm is irresistible when I really try. Of course I am not happy."

Taash and Lace exchanged glances, matching grins spreading across their faces. Rook let out a loud moan and buried her face in her hands. "Why are you grinning now?"

"Because you're you," Taash replied with a casual shrug, as if the answer were obvious.

Lace leaned forward and grinned. "Caring, fearless, a little reckless, and charming without even trying. Of course he ran away. He's not equipped to deal with someone like you."

Taash snorted and grinned even wider. "Honestly, I'd pay gold to see his face when you touched him like that. I bet his brain just... stopped. Completely."

Harea peered through her fingers and gave them both a half-hearted look. "That's not helping."

"Oh, we're helping, you've stopped crying.” Lace said cheerfully, lifting her cup.

"Still, what did you expect him to do? Someone with a demon in their head isn't exactly the picture of emotional stability."

"I didn't expect anything," Rook said, dropping her hands to her lap. Her voice softened as she reached for the cup again. She considered her next words for a moment. "It just felt... right. For a moment. And then he left, and now I feel ridiculous.”

Lace tilted her head, watching Rook closely. "You're not ridiculous, Rook. You're just... braver than most when it comes to showing how you feel."

Rook half smiled, but remained silent for a long moment. "Well, it doesn't matter anyway. He made himself clear." She shrugged weakly, as if to convince herself. "I'm not going to do anything else. I'm not... chasing after him. I don't need things to get more awkward."

Taash nodded. "Agreed. You've got better things to do anyway. Like killing gods and chasing dragons. Speaking of which - are you ready for tomorrow?"

Rook nodded, grateful for the change of subject. "I'm always ready."

"Good," Taash replied with a grin. "Because dragons don't get overwhelmed by little flirty elves and run away."

Lace chuckled and Rook groaned, though a smile tugged at her lips. "Maybe I'll just let you hunt the dragon alone and hope it eats you both."

"You'd miss us," Harding teased with a knowing grin.

Rook shook her head in mock annoyance, though her smile remained. "True."

Assan, who had been uncharacteristically quiet, let out a squeak, as if to add his own laughter to the mix.

[lyrefromthesea]

Male pillars x reader - bringing them their favourite food.

author's note: due to a comment I've received on an earlier post, i'll not write for Muichiro anymore. i've stated before that i do not write sexual content for minors, nor do i engage in writing romantic relationships including them. everything i've written for him was seen as a platonic relationship between him and the reader. since my statement fell in deaf ears, i've decided to leave him out completely. i do not feel comfortable mentioning him in my posts anymore, my deepest apologies.

request: how would the pillars react to receiving their favourite food from you?

pairing: Tengen x reader, Obanai x reader, Rengoku x reader, Sanemi x reader, Giyuu x reader, Gyomei x reader

Tengen:

you were standing in the kitchen, whistling to yourself. today had been good so you decided to make your husband a little treat.

the market had been rather full, but you walked through the crowd and bought the ingredients you needed for his favourite dish.

seaweed. rice. and already prepared fugu. it had taken quite some time to find it, but you did it nonetheless.

standing in the kitchen, you had already made a plate of fugu sushi. at least that's what you thought. when you turned around to place another piece on the plate, it looked like there was one missing. have you forgotten one?

placing your finished piece on the plate, you turned around to make more. finally, you would be finished-

and another one was gone.

"Tengen! stop stealing the fugu sushi!" you scolded, not surprised when you heard quiet footsteps behind you. he wasn't a shinobi for nothing.

"sorry, darling. you looked so flamboyant, i didn't want to interrupt you!" he answered, wrapping muscular arms around you. a laugh escaped you, feeling him place his chin on the top of your hair.

"have i ever told you that you're the best?" he teased, finally freeing you from his embrace.

"i already know, that's why we're married."

Obanai:

you placed a bowl of tororo konbu right in front of him, telling him that you tried your best. naturally, he thanked you, but he didn't dive in like you would've expected him to do.

"what's wrong?" you asked, wondering if you had messed up the dish. it was your first time making it, perhaps you had missed a step or overcooked something.

"i.. could you maybe..?" Obanai asked, he appeared much more timid than usual. you tried understanding what was wrong.

seeing his finger brush against his mask, you understood, he still felt insecure about his face. you hadn't been in a relationship for long, he probably needed time to get used to this. "of course."

"just know that i would never judge you for what i see." you added, placing a kiss on his temple. truthfully, you were saddened about his request, but you wanted to give him the time he needed.

Obanai, on the other hand, was touched by your words. his meal long forgotten, he stood up, taking your hands in his.

"we should marry."

you looked at him, first shocked, and then you started laughing. perhaps he overreacted just a bit, but who could blame him?

Rengoku:

sweet potatoes. so many sweet potatoes.

when you've told Rengoku you could cook his favourite dish in the near future, he had been incredibely happy about it.

he came back with a load of sweet potatoes the next day, his whole head nearly dissapearing behind the amounts of the root vegetable he had bought.

now, another day later, you put miso soup and sweet potatoes for two on the table, smiling at your enthusiastic husband. he had offered to help you the whole time, which eventually led you to ban him from the kitchen.

he nearly devoured the dish as soon as you were sat on the opposite side of the table. it made you chuckle, seeing him swallow the huge bite he took down.

"umai!"

"you've outdone yourself, i'm glad i brought some sweet potatoes home!" he brightly smiled, earning another laugh from you. some sweet potatoes?

"Kyojuro, you brought a ton of them home." you countered, pointing at the rest of the potatoes you've put on the counter for now. "that will probably be enough for a month worth of miso soup with sweet potatoes!"

"sounds good, don't you think?"

Sanemi:

Sanemi plopped down on the engawa, letting out a heavy sigh. training had been rather hard, but he needed to stay fit. nevertheless, his muscles ached and he could really take a break.

he debated over going inside, he trained enough. a shower wouldn't hurt, he was sweating, dampened hair was sticking to his forehead. the man sighed, standing up to finally move inside.

however, when he saw you standing right behind him, he froze. you were looking up at him with wide eyes, as if you tried surpising him. he looked down at your hands - you were holding something - only now realizing that he had been right. you did try to surpise him.

he looked at the plate in your hands, it was filled with ohagi. his favourite food. his eyes moved back to your face, watching you tilt your head.

"it's for you." you told him, tilting your head to the side. "let's go inside, you've trained enough." you smiled, nodding towards the door. he nodded, following you into the kitchen. you placed the ohagi down on the counter, watching him slowly take one.

"you didn't have to." he said, already having bitten into the one in his hand. you chuckled at his words, he had nearly eaten the ohagi with one bite, yet he claimed he didn't need any.

"i needed a reason to get you away from training." you admitted, a sly smile on your face. but both of you knew he would've listened to you no matter what.

"i would've stopped anyways." he answered, placing the ohagi he had picked up to the side. he came closer, watching your eyebrows furrow in confusion.

"what? why?" you asked, not questioning why he came closer. in a matter of seconds, you were in his arms, your eyes squeezing shut in disbelief.

"i wanted to shower." he smirked, basically squishing his sweaty body against yours. you let out a whine, trying to free yourself from his hug, but only managing to do so when he let go.

"great, now i can shower too!" you scolded, seeing him laugh to himself. he walked towards the bathroom, seemingly wanting to wash himself.

"let's eat the ohagi after you're finished."

Giyuu:

Giyuu didn't know what he had expected when he came home today, but he certainly didn't think it would be the smell of freshly cooked food.

no, scrap that. he was often greeted by the nice smell of a promising meal. this was different. it wasn't just any meal.

"welcome home, Giyuu." you greeted, watching him step into the kitchen. you looked content, already knowing that you would make him happy.

"are you hungry? i prepared something for you." you smiled, seeing him nod slowly. when you moved away from the table, his gaze wandered towards the bowls full of food.

your gaze was fixed on him, wanting to catch his reaction. he wasn't the type to voice his happiness, but you certainly caught the way he looked at the salmon daikon you made.

the lightest twitch of his eyebrows and the way his eyes narrowed showed his interest. he stared at the food for a moment, the quiet grumble of his stomach revealing how hungry he truly was.

but he didn't immediately start eating. instead he looked back at you, his gaze softening.

"i've got you this" he muttered, extending his hand towards you. you stared in awe, a small bag of your favourite sweets being placed in your hands.

"let's eat them for dessert, Giyuu."

Gyomei:

when you brought home the ingredients for takikomi gohan. you have wanted to surprise Gyomei with his favourite dish.

you stood in the kitchen, cutting the vegetables into small pieces, as you hummed to yourself. Gyomei should've been home in an hour, at least that's what you've thought.

"i'm home." you heard his deep voice call from the hallway. your head snapped up, looking at the ingredients and then towards the door. you wouldn't have enough time to put everything away. before you even had the chance to react, he already came through the door.

"..are those?" he stopped in the doorway, his head turning towards you. you knew he was blind, but his ability to detect your exact location surpised you ever so often.

the smell of his favourite food hung in the air, almost as if the world had wanted to ruin your surprise.

"i wanted to surprise you." you admitted, lowering your head. you knew he wouldn't be disappointed, but you've planned this since last week. he must've sensed your sadness, walking towards you and putting his hand over yours.

"i can help you, let's cook together." he offered, carefully taking the knife out of your hand. truthfully, you nearly objected, not wanting him to hurt himself, however, you nearly chuckled thinking of the large weapon he was wielding.

"let's call it a cooking date then." you smiled, opening the drawer to get a second knife.

[hannieehaee]

How about Joshua with a s/o who always wears baggy clothes and doesnt feel attractive because she doesnt wear revealing ones ?

If u want to write it pls do it only if u are ok with it and feel inspired ♡♡

content: bf!joshua, established relationship, some talk about insecurities, fluff, etc.

wc: 605

a/n: so sorry i took so long to write this!!

masterlist

"hey, babe, have you seen my shirt? you know, the grey one with the loose neck? i thought i- oh."

"huh? what was that?", you asked as you took out an earbud, turning to look at the boy who'd been trying to call your attention.

chuckling, he rounded the kitchen island to reach your side, hands practically attaching to your waist like magnets as he aided you in removing the other earbud, placing both on the counter next to you.

"i was just wondering where my band tee went, but i think i have my answer," he chuckled, pressing a sweet peck to your temple.

"oh, fuck. sorry, josh. do you want it? i can go change," you went to disconnect from him, but he wasnt having it, instead nuzzling his head on your shoulder.

"hm. it smells of my cologne still," he said almost to himself, "you don't have to take it off. i like you in my clothes," he reassured.

you could only scoff.

"your clothes are baggy on me. just like all my other clothes. what difference does it really make?"

joshua shrugged, "just like knowing you're wearing something of mine. you're style's cute. you're cute."

"flattery will get you everywhere, hong," you laughed.

it was one of those nice, domestic moments that occurred every so often. you basked in it, enjoying it before the two of you went back to your regular days.

it wasn't until later that you started to think about what you'd said to joshua earlier.

you did have a tendency to wear baggier clothes. hell, there really was no difference between wearing something of his and a piece of your own. it was incredibly rare for you to show skin or any sort of silhouette, and those instances were really reserved for nights too warm to handle in which you had to opt for some shorts and a tank top.

but even then, you went for looser ensembles. clothes that showed your figure were never really your forte.

you couldn't help but wonder if this ever bothered josh. would he have preferred if your style varied more? what if he thought of you as a prude? maybe he-

"what's got you thinking so loud?", the boy in question interrupted your inner turmoil.

you hadn't realized as you sat in front of your vanity, face wash in hand and still unused, that you'd frozen in place as you thought. his presence in the restroom hadn't registered until he spoke.

"just, uh," you pondered as to whether or not to voice your concerns, but his compassionate smile reflecting on the mirror made you decide, "i was thinking that maybe you'd like it better if i dressed differently? you know, maybe show more skin?"

you voiced it as a question, insecurities building in you as you sought a direct expression of his preferences.

"are you kidding? i like how you dress. and it's not really something that bothers me. you're comfortable and you're beautiful. it's a win-win situation for me," he kind of chuckled as he spoke, finding your question very sudden and unnecessary.

"oh."

you felt a bit dumb now.

"has this been worrying you? you know i'm like obsessed with you, right? you could wear a trash bag and i'd still be as obsessed," he joked, closing in on you similarly to how he'd done earlier in the day.

he finished his statement with a kiss pressed to your lips, humming when you kissed back.

"this just gives me free reign of your closet. i hope you know that," you jested.

"baby, i'm rich. take whatever you want."

[msookyspooky]

Fours a Franchise

Part 17

wordcount: 8,467

Jill looked at herself in the small mirror she had on her bedside table at the hospital. A small compact she had from her bag she used to repeatedly check up on herself to make sure she looked the part of the poor survivor. Her eye was still screwed up but not as red. Bruises here and there; just not as swollen. What hurt the worst was the stab on her back that asshole gave her. Unlucky for him and collectively for you; it missed major organs but damn did it hurt.

She smoothed her long dark hair with her hands as she did her usual side part with a sly smirk. She just couldn't help smirking to herself. She actually got away with it! She couldn't wait to get home and privately celebrate. Well, not too soon. She still had to look devastated for her friends and mothers deaths. With her Mom dead and her not being 18 for another few months, would she have to live with her estranged Dad or distant relatives or someone else for a bit? Oh well, who cares!

She was going to be so rich and famous that in a year she'd 'go to college' just to keep up appearances, then if she wanted to drop out she could and be swimming in cash. For life. YN this, YN that. Won Court cases, fame, a new paid for house somewhere, book deals. Well now, it was Jill Roberts' turn to shine.

She knew she should be more cautious but today was a good day. She was being discharged from the hospital under police protection tomorrow because soooo many people were chomping at the bit to know about the final girl. Flowers all over her hospital room, cards, even expensive gifts, paid for everything and news stations trying to get in contact with her.

You? Well, it was an easy decision. She still hadn't come right out and blamed you. Trying to play the innocent sweetie pie act a bit longer. Really milk it out. Wait till you got caught. However, as soon as she thought you might be a problem; she was gonna tell the police when they asked for yet another statement that now that her head was more clear and everything 'sank in'...Yes...Yes, it's shocking. YN must have been working with those two men to kill everyone. And they recruited Charlie? But that can't be!...Oh, but it is. Maybe that's why her Cousin and Uncle tried to kill YN years ago? Because she was actually the villian this whole time and they knew her secret. And YN attacked her and YN must have helped kill everyone this time too! The monster deserved to be behind bars boo hoo blah blah what a tragedy. Fake cry. Sniffle a bit.

People will eat that shit up. Especially once the authorities find you with those two. The manhunt for you was most definitely on; considering you escaped the hospital in the middle of the early morning with those two unnamed men after a Deputy was shot by them.

Jill had to not giggle or smirk too much; still in the public eye. The hunt for the 3 of you would be Legendary. Once they find you with those two, who the fuck would believe your side of the story anyways? Jill would be the sole survivor. Any nah sayers locked up or killed. This was in the fucking BAG! Soon, she'd be on the Ellen Show and Yahoo Mail articles and Facebook posts and Tweets and the ID Channel-

Her thoughts of grandeur were interrupted by a short forceful knock. She quickly went to get back in bed acting sore and sad.

"Don't bother rushing. I can see you standing from the window." A female voice rang out.

Jill faltered and had to stop herself from moving too fast. "Oh, it's my...Um, stitches. They want me to walk just not too much." She told the older woman as she entered without even asking.

Gale Riley Weathers whatever the hell her name was...Of course it was.

Gale nodded and closed the door behind her. Back to dressing in her old 'Reporter' style she probably had stuffed in the back her closet behind her robes and casual wear as Mrs. Riley. Stay at home 'writer' that hadn't wrote diddly shit in years.

Jill forced a smile upon her youthful face. After all, the nosey hag was the best in the biz and could get her one helluva a book deal. It's why Charlie spared her.

“Gale, what a surprise.” Jill put on that smile and soft voice, "How's your shoulder? Does it feel okay?"

Gale gave a wry smirk and a slight huff like chuckle. "...It's fine. Good enough for me to go home. Especially since you got a lot more damage and you're going home, right? I mean, if you can have that happen to you and be discharged soon then what a wimp I'd be to stay."

"Oh yeah, matching Shoulder stabs. Twinsies." She jokingly gave that carefree air-head teen act adults seemed to love from her. "And some bruises but nothing I can't handle. I mean, I got it bad but I don't think shoved off a landing and stabbed is anything to mess with...You're tough."

"Yeah." Gale nodded. "Yeah you're a scrapper yourself. Do what you need, do what you want, thrive not just survive...Kinda like looking in a mirror."

Jill forced a slight chuckle at that. The smile not reaching her eyes as a bit of silence stretched between them. Gale moved around the room, heels clacking against the hospital floor as she pondered something. "...Huh."

"Yes?"

She glanced over at the teen. "Nothing just...How funny. Us having matching superficial wounds. What are the odds?"

"Yeaahh....Yeah, pretty lucky." Jill nodded with a reluctant look.

"Almost too lucky." She gave with a wry smile that didn't reach her eyes either. “I swear, it seems like it was almost planned.”

Jill cautiously watched her as Gale acted aloof. ‘Reading’ labels on objects while talking. What was this old bitch getting at?

Gale mused aloud, "I mean, YN gets stabbed in the gut twice and those two, that we are not naming apparently, were shot and stabbed in many places and even almost gutted. Didn't think any of them would live...Trevor got his face peeled off...Coroner said alive while it happened just like YN's old boyfriend in ‘96-"

"I was there. Can we... Not talk about it?" Jill mumbled. "Just makes me uncomfortable. I mean, he was my first love and my…" She trailed off with a strained voice. Not too much, just enough.

Dewey would've been apologizing and comforting her for overstepping. Gale just stared.

The middle aged woman walked about the room a bit. Thinking before replying to the teen girl. "Sorry about that...I guess. But ya know… You'll have to answer to the cops and media about all this in a lot of detail. Over and over. You know how it is..." The silence etched on as Gale looked around while leaning on her good shoulder against the wall. "It's just really bizarre that me and you got wounds that weren't fatal. The final girl and the prize winning journalist that can help the final girl. Everyone else was butchered. Hung like a dead fish, burned, skinned, repeatedly stabbed, gutted, shot…Yet we both only got banged up and shoulder wounds... Daammmnn lucky."

Jill looked uncomfortable at Gale probing as she retorted in a short tone of voice, "Well, we should be grateful to be so lucky. I mean my poor friends...My own Mom…God-" She pretended to hug her face to potentially cry. A tiny forced shaky sucking in of breath as her shoulders shook. “I just…I just can't believe they killed my mother-”

"Cut the shit.”

….

Jill stiffened as Gale coldly told her, “I'm not part of the media anymore. There's no cameras."

...

Jill stilled and looked up for a moment trying to keep the innocent act up. "Excuse...Me?" She drew out shakily.

Gale just stared her down with a raised brow, "Your eyebrows aren't turned up, you're forcing your eyes to water by not blinking this whole time then blinking rapidly, the waver in your voice needs work too and stop sniffling so soon. People don't sniffle till the snot is running down their faces. Interviewed a lot of people including guilty people…I know fake crying when I see it. No Oscar for you anytime soon."

“What are you saying?” Jill just stared at her. "...Are you seriously claiming a girl that lost her friends, mother and boyfriend is fake crying? Are you seriously insinuating that?...Gale?" She said her name with an edge.

"I only accuse or go after the truth. And you?...I feel like maybe you hit your head just a little too hard. You know, what with that giant scuffle that happened. Somehow a teen girl fought off two grown men and a teen boy and now YN too? 4 people at the same time, huh? Things aren't adding up. Especially after YN fled the hospital...Whaddya gonna tell the cops when they ask why?" Gale asked mockingly and folded her arms.

Jill sat on the edge of the bed, body tense and ready to pounce if need be. "I'm gonna tell them the truth. I visited YN and she attacked me and two men attacked me and I was lucky to escape with my life till Dewey showed up. What? You got a mic on, Gale?" Jill's voice dropped an octave to her real voice, not the fake sweet act. "Ohhh…I get it. You want me to say it was Billy Loomis and Stu Macher like Sheriff Riley is convinced? Is that it? Is this some kind of bribe to get your old namesake back by proving something? Or maybe so you and your husband don't look like crazy lunatics saying two dead murderers are alive after such a tragedy?" She mocked back haughtily. “That's sick to do to a victim, Gale. Very tactless.”

"...No." Gale mumbled. "One: I don't have a mic.”

“Sure you don't.”

“Two: of course not. Without them captured; that's career suicide for both of us. They'll label you as crazy or a conspiracy theorist as well as me. I'm not stupid, you lil shit." Gale huffed, "... But you do have to talk, you know. This 'Oh poor me. I'm just a weak fragile teen girl who was victimized.' crap isn't gonna cut it forever. You were in this hospital room when Dewey and I recognized them and by the way you looked…You did too. You weren't surprised it was them. You couldn't wait for Dewey to shoot them so they couldn't say a word.”

“I was stabbed. I just wanted them caught for what they did; I didn't care who they were…And if that meant killing them to spare others the same fate then so be it.” She replied tilting her head and narrowing her eyes in barely contained annoyance at this back and forth between the two.

Gale was quiet for a moment before adding, "They're gonna search your phone too."

Jill sighed with a shrug, "If they find it. I lost it. Need to get a new one. Old one went missing that night and never found it in all the chaos. Couldn't remember my passwords or anything either. My Mom handled all that and I forgot what she said it was. So a new account, card, phone and cloud storage too I guess…I'm really devastated about it. I had so many pictures of me, Olivia, Trevor and Kirby on there.”

Gale scoffed, “It's 2011 and you don't use an email?”

“I'm a kid and schools don't like us to even have phones in class let alone use them for anything constructive. You know, they're bad for our learning. My one teacher had to have a student help her with a password change on her computer…I didn't check any email or password often. Mom did almost everything for me. So, I just plan on getting a new one and having someone help show me. " Jill feigned innocence with such a shitty lie.

"...How convenient." Gale grumbled before she sighed heavily and shifted her stance. "So what?...Get rid of the phone evidence then try and get rid of anyone in your way? All your friends, your Mom, your accomplice. Is YN the enemy now? Had to get her outta the way to get the spotlight? Those two were a surprise to you too I'd say with how things played out and now you're running with it as extra measure to not get caught.” Gale smirked wryly in realization of something. “...You're not giving a real statement because you're buying time to see if they get YN or not."

Jill scoffed loudly, "Listen Lady, I don't know what you're talking about-"

Gale laughed in outrage and smacked her hip with her good arm, "Man, you are really trying to sell it!” She lost her mocking smile, “Seriously, I'm not a bleeding heart like my husband. And we both know…We both know-" She repeated, lowering her volume. "You were not visiting YN in the ICU when she wasn't even awake yet. You had to rip off all your monitors and sneak with all your injuries under cameras and away from nurses just because you were sooooo worried about her…Worried about her ratting you out, more like it. You had to get rid of her when you realized she wasn't dead."

Jill felt her body tense and a slight sweat breaking out on her skin. This goddamn bitch. She should've told Charlie to stab her in the fucking head.

"...I told you, I was worried. The killers were still alive." She clarified once more in a firm tone. “I was attacked by YN then by them. Okay? I was just checking on her. I was scared for her.”

"Oh! So, you snuck in just to see her and got close enough for YN to wake up from surgery trying to randomly hurt you?" Gale mocked. "Are you fucking kidding me? One minute you're worried, then you want her dead and claiming she's involved, now you're straddling the fence to buy time-"

"The bitch attacked me! I don't know why; She panicked or something and then those two showed up." Jill argued with her tone accidentally becoming defensive.

“Oh, but not at the house? You and her supposedly tried to save each other's lives and you held her hand just for her to try and kill you in the ICU when you went to her room when she was just out of surgery? Sneaking too?” Gale demanded. “I still am on the fence with those two involved now…But I know one thing; you're full of shit. You are way more involved than you're saying and we both know it. In fact…Dare I say, YN might be right about you that night.”

Bitch.

Jill sneered, "...I could have your career tanked for questioning a victim like this. AGAIN. All those tabloids dogging you like it's 2000. So how about you back off before you become a nobody.”

Gale stood up from the wall and glared at her, "I'll come back on top; I always do... I think we both know how you knew the type of wound I got without even speaking to me or my husband. We both know you did not leave your house before Ghostface attacked your Mom and two Detectives. We lost two good men on the force... I know you could care less about them when you're the one that stabbed them. And we both know who actually helped Charlie this whole time. It wasn't those idiots. It was you. You and him. He fucking stabbed me in a way that you could keep me alive for your stupid little book idea."

Jill gave a sharp laugh of outrage as her nerves got to her. "Ha! Oh, so the honor roll student, good girl killed people? Killed her wn Mom!? Her best friend's!? You're SICK! You are so fame hungry and sick- I can't believe this! Leave."

She went to press the call button. Fingers hovering over it just a second as Gale spoke.

"-You know they're gonna look through all those snuff films of these murders, right?" Gale quickly rushed out.

Jill scoffed while hitting the call light. "No shit."

"Oh?" Gale smirked haughtily. "So you know...That one of Olivia Morris was recorded from two different angles?"

"Yeah, Ghostface. Ghostface's. And a partner was probably those two creeps in the bushes or something while Charlie killed her. YN was across the street, you know, their accomplice. She almost got me killed on that staircase." She spat with a smartass smug smirk at Gale. Trying to frame everyone but herself at this point.

"Then why was that one video recorded from your bedroom?"

....

....Jill felt her heart plummet. Everything froze as her ears wrang and her palms tingled like the bed dropped out from under her.

“...What did you just say?” She asked in a hushed tone, brows furrowing.

“That second angle of the video was filmed from your bedroom window, Jill.” Gale coldly replied.

. "...What? T-That's insane-" She furiously shook her head with a nervous laugh.

Gale gave the same smartass smirk back to Jill in return. "See, there's no way that video came from anywhere but your bedroom window. You had a clear shot. Are you seriously going to claim it was Kirby? Especially when at one point you can see her left hand in the shot when the video was recorded from the left side of that glass? C'mon! You can hear your voices and she sounded more scared than you!... She didn't have that camera, Jill. Billy and Stu weren't in your room. And YN was actually trying to get into the house from outside to help your friend at the time…No one but you could've recorded that."

“I didn't-”

“You did. Police have it. Got it off a website these murders were posted on. I just saw it in evidence today. But rest assured, they have it.” She chuckled in smug amusement. “Good luck trying to do what Roman did. Police stations, especially during a murder case, are like fort knox to break into.”

“I didn't!” She yelled.

Gale chuckled, “Oh really? Hm. It got uploaded that night…Are you gonna say Charlie did it? You were injured at the hospital, so you never saw Charlie alone and now with your phone mysteriously gone?...How convenient." She drew out and tilted her head in satisfaction at how tense Jill was.

Jill stared with wide eyes, brows furrowed, breath quickening as Gale smirked at her.

…This goddamn bitch. Fucking cunt. Nosey piece of shit. Skinny ass old hag fucking-

The insults in Jill's head were endless as Gale figured it out.

A nurse tried coming in and Gale quickly blocked the door with a chair. Banging persisted as Jill gripped the bed sheet, teeth gritted as Gale smugly told her as quickly as she could in a hush whisper as close to Jill as possible, "That video came from your phone and even if you destroyed it; It's still in the phone records with the carrier you stupid ass moron! They can dig and dig and diiggg-"

Gale jerked back as Jill yelled, "And what would an old washed up Boomer like you know ANYTHING about tech? Huh?! You probably still call it the net and print out pictures of memes and shit off pinterest!"

"I got sources including tech geeks I talked to…And I'm fucking GenX!” She quickly rushed out without taking a breath. “This ‘old hag’ would've recorded the old fashion way on a camera recorder hidden in your friends room and uploaded it using a public computer at the library or at least a laptop with a DPV or VNP or whatever the fuck its called! Not my smartphone connected to everything about me and in my fucking room beside a witness that knows me, you dumbass!" She jeered back as the door slammed open and people rushed in.

Jill felt her heart had been hammering in time with the door banging. Eyes darting looking for something to bash Gale's head in. Seething with anger and fear as she was damn tempted to stab Gale with her fork on her tray and claim she had to defend herself somehow…Until witnesses barged in.

They questioned Gale as Jill felt her world crumbling around her...Everything she thought she was so clever at and it went up in smoke in an instant.

"And when we find YN! She'll fight you! Then this will have to go to court and WAY higher than Woodsboro PD will be involved, sweetheart. It'll all unravel…It's over, Jill!" Gale called over the security guard's shoulder that was shoving her to the exit.

A nurse came in to check over Jill as the teen trembled and breathed heavily. Panicking at the idea of them realizing that particular video's angle was shot in her bedroom. She hid that and got rid of her phone that they'll soon recover calls and text and videos from. She was so focused on getting the video to let people see the murders she never suspected...She never thought-

"Get out...Get out! Get the fuck out!" She screeched at nurses who looked bewildered but complied after Jill stood and threw a tray, "GET OUUTTT!!"

Once alone she started hyperventilating. Grasping her hair and hunched over. Not even feeling the stab Billy gave her on her back, the stitches and pain dulled by morphine and fear.

If they find you with those two? She had a chance. You being with two wanted killers and even if people thought they were dead it would overshadow her…Maybe.

...If they found you alone? And you told the cops the truth? Gale was right...Court. Her phone gone out of everyone else's still on their person; she'd be the main suspect. They'd go to her phone carrier with a waiver to go through records, even videos and calls and texts all deleted but still there on their end. She thought a VPN on the web was enough and deleting evidence then getting rid of the phone! Most of all? Nothing could get rid of evidence that it was recorded from her bedroom window looking at Olivia's room. Eye witnesses including YN and Mrs. Meeks knew she and Kirby were there when it happened. If they find you? It's over! She couldn't even kill Gale, no doubt FBI getting involved in this case if it goes to court. It went from the sole survivor's only word against a bunch of killers to now...It's fucking over.

"Shit..." She tensely gave her voice genuinely shaky now. No more acting "Shit, shit, shit, SHIT, SHHITT!!" She screamed, throwing her tray against the wall.

————————————

You stood in front of Billy's bedroom door. Feeling sick to your stomach…Seriously, you might throw up. Skin clammy and breathing shallow. Debating heavily should you or should you not? Your voice wavered in uncertainty as you forced out, “Stu?...Can I come in?”

“Go away.”

Honestly, his tone alone was enough to make you want to agree and leave him be. Stu proved clear back in 1996 that when this side of him came out; he was dangerous. Maybe even more dangerous than Billy could ever be.

Your fingertips danced over the doorknob. Upperteeth skimming your body lip in trepidation before a sigh escaped you.

Despite his warning, you didn't listen.

Opening the door because you couldn't handle this silent treatment or the unsaid any longer. Not anymore. You had no one but him and Billy in this mess and despite what Stu says about ‘never seeing him again’ he WAS dangerous and he was quite the ‘sore loser’. Billy knew it. Hence his ‘We'll have to sleep with one eye open’ argument after Stu stormed away to the back of the trailer. And what can you say? You just couldn't go back to constantly looking over your shoulder especially over a misunderstanding you knew if he would just listen you could mend…Maybe.

So, you forced yourself to walk inside despite the fear. If he killed you; what else was there to lose? Best Friend dead, friend who was like an older brother to you hates you, can't see anyone, might never go home, the whole Country might soon hate you, you might go to prison…

“Stu.” You softly said his name and gingerly closed the press board style door behind you. He had a lamp on, rereading that letter that you saw he had ripped in half. It crinkled in his hands when you came in; his features twitching in irritation.

He didn't answer you. Just glared down at that paper. You lightly swallowed, trying to find any words you could without him attacking you or Billy getting involved again.

“Stu…We gotta talk. We have to.” You hesitantly mumbled, already getting a headache from this. “We just have to…Please?”

“About?” He mumbled back while not looking at you. His voice was uncharacteristically stern.

“Everything.”

He rolled his lips before smacking the paper. “...This is bullshit.”

You just nodded. “Yeeeaahh. Yeah, I call it bullshit too. Could've saved everyone trouble if he was more blunt.”

Stu scoffed, “So, you want him to admit it? Wow.” He said with a wry smirk on his lips.

You sighed, “Stu, please. That's not what I meant.” You rolled your eyes softly. He was already starting it.

“What do you mean then?” He demanded and tossed the ripped letter aside. “Because why would you keep this if it means nothing to you, huh?” He gave a bitter chuckle under his breath. “Why would you go to him over me? Why?!” He demanded, getting upset all over again. His emotions were like a raging tornado that threatens anything in its path once he gets worked up.

You stayed near the door and replied in a low voice, “I told you, you were passed out-”

“That's not what I meant and you know it!” He snapped. Sucking in a breath as he lowered his voice. “...I left my number there at your cabin for a decade and you didn't call me. Not once.”

Yeah, he had you there. You still argued, “I didn't call Billy either. And you never called me.”

“I was doing what you asked! I left you alone!”

You averted your gaze, “Yes, okay fine… I did want that…I wanted to be left alone at the time. By you and him.” You grimaced at the honest truth.

“WHY!?” He demanded with raised brows in outrage. “Why!? I was already at your house on and off so why the hell did it matter?”

“Stu. Because you're a killer.”

He rolled his eyes. “Oh, classic excuse.”

“Seriously, Stu! I did not want Randy or Dewey to accidentally see you. They came over randomly, you came over randomly, and I was just a huge ball of anxiety 24/7.”

“Oh please.” He huffed, “I evaded them seeing me for years before you told me to get lost. Nah, there was another reason. Probably some guy. Probably rat boy in there. And you're a rat too so how about you leave me be and both of you go off and have your backstabbing rat life together and get married in a sewer and have your ugly ass rat babies.”

He flopped back on the mattress acting like he was going to go to sleep. You frowned, feeling annoyed that he just didn't get it. Instead he was pouting like a child.

You warily sucked air through your nose and tried to stretch your neck. “Okay… Because I didn't want them hurt by you.”

He huffed with his eyes closed while putting his hands behind his head, “What are you on about, man? I haven't laid a finger on them since we were teens.”

“No but you were planning to. You thought about it and that was enough. You even thought about killing Randy in the barn when he found us days ago. I had to draw my gun out on you and Billy!…All these years later, Stu. And you still think about it when all else fails.” You retorted with a frown. “It's why I didn't want you around a decade ago.”

He shrugged with his eyes still closed, “Eh, but I didn't. And even in Hollywood years back, it was just an idea and you got your granny panties in a bunch over it for nothing. You chicks are all the same. Getting all worked up and holding grudges.”

You gave a mild glare as he was just irking you more and more. “Okay, new one. Because you didn't hesitate to scare the shit out of me in that motel the second things didn't go your way. And I didn't feel like being scared in my own damn house after that. THAT is another reason I went no contact. For my safety and my friends.”

That made him go from pretending to try and calmly chill to jerking up ready to snap your head off . “Hey, what the- YOU had a gun on ME first!” He pointed at you with venom in his voice.

Your eyes narrowed. “Because I felt threatened and you were gonna kill me if I stopped you from killing my friends.” You argued, old resentment resurfacing from a decade ago even if you tried to be calm but it was failing the more he talked.

Stu sneered, “You're nuts and freaking delusional, man! I was not. It was just a scare tactic. We were desperate and lacking sleep and turning on each other and you wanna act all innocent when you threatened me and him-” He pointed to the living room. “With a gun multiple times!”

“There should've been no tactics!” You exclaimed, failing miserably at trying to be calm. “And considering how you both were and how fast shit escalates with you two; what choice did I have?” You jerked your arm to the living room where they had just beat the shit out of each other hours ago. “I mean, damn! You both go from 0 to 100 in 3 seconds. I can't take a risk of thinking it's ‘just’ a scare tactic.”

“Oh cry me a river; it was a decade ago. Let it go.” He waved you off in annoyance. “And tonight is different. I've had it.”

You groaned and rubbed your face leaning back against the door. You both ran in circles verbally. Damn him. Doing this at this hour while you felt like shit. Seriously, was it the pills or just exhaustion?

You clicked your tongue and rolled your head back in exasperation. “...M’kay, back to my first and most important point. I didn't want to be caught. There. Billy did not get some special treatment either.” You grew serious trying to make him listen. “I didn't need or want my friends and family finding you at my house even if you didn't do anything. Or the cops of all things or the media. No one needed to know you lived and you were at my house. My secret needed to be kept a secret!"

He bitterly laughed, “Oh and look how good that turned out.” He jeered, giggling out the reply sadistically. “Randy was, ya know, just hanging out! Dewey is probably blubbering like a baby right now that you betrayed him too.” He grinned. “So what good did that do you?”

You felt a deep anger turning in your gut at his mockery of your best friend's death and the situation with Dewey. It was so fresh too. The wounds are still red and hurting to prove it. You wanted to throw something at him, scream at him but somehow you couldn't even move. The anger wasn't hot, it was cold. A chill over you at seeing him for who he was; a cold blooded killer.

“...Wow.” You gave in a lower tone with a heaviness in the air.

“Yeah, wow!” His tone was defensive in turn. He stared at you long and hard with an almost bored expression and shrugged. “Tough. It's the truth. Now, you have no one after all this time. Including me. You blew it more than Monica Lewinsky-”

“I know that, asshole!” You snapped, losing your patience and will to live through this the more you talked to him. “I know the irony. I didn't plan this. I didn't plan for you and Billy to be at that barn, and worst of all…Okay, the worst thing is-” You bitterly chuckled, shaking your head and voice catching.

“- Worst is that these two new killers had no idea you and Billy existed! You both could've stayed out of it completely and none of this would've happened.” You scoffed. No light in your eyes as you still wanted to cry over all this but barely held it together for your pride's sake. “My friend died because of a mistake that could have and should have been prevented. That's on me for life. Everything I tried to prevent blew up in my face. EVERY. DAMN. THING.” You smacked your hand with each syllable. Stu seemed unmoved as you ranted, “Seriously, every single thing that could have gone wrong, did! Are you happy? Is THIS what will make you smile back in your big mansion you claim you have? This gonna make it all better for you while you're with models and preparing for your next big gig or party or whatever?”

Stu raised a brow. A silence in the air for a moment before he mumbled. “You done?”

You stared at him. Pouring your heart out and he didn't care. You…You didn't…Damn, your brain was almost not working!

“...Fine.” Was all you said as you went to turn and he ordered.

“Stop.”

You stopped on command from leaving out of pure instinct at the tone he used.

“No, I'm-”

He cut you off. “I said, stop. You wanna talk? Don't run away the second the fire's on your ass instead of mine. You have bellyached about the same shit for years now it's my turn to be the victim for once. Sit.”

You turned to him in outrage, “I don't owe you shit after what you just said to me! It's…It's not the same thing. Randy and Dewey-” It died in your throat. You'd be venting, sobbing, pacing and heartbroken about this for quite some time. But you only had a select amount of time to clear this shit with Stu even if you both still parted ways permanently. At least he might not try to kill you years from now. You wanted to leave and never look back or even turn you all in but you shoved your fragile heart to the side right now. Either try and convince him for your safety down the road or live on edge for life. Cause vengeance and Stu was…A Casey Becker.

You paused and thought it over. Then nodded and rolled your lips in resignation. “Okay…Okay fine.” You gingerly went to the bed to sit at the edge.

Stu glared at you. “...I treated you well, YN. Better than any skank I've ever been with.”

You glared a bit, opening your mouth and he angrily shut you down. A rant of his own at what he knew you were gonna say.

“Before you say it; Screw Tatum. You knew her for a short part of our lives. Best friend my ass, you knew her for a few months.”

You went to open your mouth.

“I'm talking now. Shut it.”

God you wanted to smack him. You held back digging your nails into your palm with what you knew was a sour look on your face. You old injury from years back hurting as you fisted your hands.

“ I meant what I said. Tatum was a quick fling that didn't mean shit to me. I only dated her as a cover so me and Billy could kill Sidney. Billy's idea, not mine. She was cute with a nice rack so I played along. She didn't mean anything. You did. Alright? You were different…At least I thought.” He used a stern tone you rarely heard from him. “You were so much higher than any girl to me back then.” He raised his hand as if you were metaphorical on a pedestal before smacking his leg. “So much fucking higher, man.”

He leaned forward as you shrank back a bit. His blue eyes full of an emotion you couldn't read. “I gave you EVERYTHING…Everything, YN. My future, my plans, my freedom, my life, my friendship with Billy. I risked it all for you and you broke my fucking heart in half. I tried to save you and you stabbed me in the back. Then I tried to make up for everything after Windsor and you never forgave me after years of me thinking we were finally cool. Then, I had one slip up. Okay? One tiny fuck up and you cut me off like I'm chopped liver. Well, till you need me in our 30's for help…You're a using bitch. Always have been, always will be. You damn me but you're just as sick playing with a guy's heart just to save your own ass.”

You averted your eyes and didn't grip your fist so tightly. Feeling your palms sweating, feeling nauseous from what you inferred was anxiety, feeling bewildered at the emotion in his voice.

He huffed, shaking his head as if trying to find the words. His blue eyes seemed to bore into you as he gave in a hushed tone, “You…You told me you loved me. Do you know how fucked up that was? No girl told me she loves me. My own mother barely said it.” He hissed out. Pain in his voice you rarely got to hear. Always covered by a cocky attitude or perverted joke. “You wanna talk about fucked up? You played me like a fiddle and I forgave you for YEARS. Then you wanna play victim the second I get pissed? Fuck that and fuck you. I deserve to be pissed! FUCK YOU!”

You flinched at the boom in his voice at the last part. Angry Billy; What's new? Angry Stu and hurt Stu was a scary creature to deal with. You looked at him a bit differently as he spoke. What he said was hateful and nasty earlier but what do you expect from Stu Macher of all people? But this?...It made that note with his phone number you kept but never called all these years burn a hole in your chest. Your emotions are in turmoil with fear, anger, shock and hurt and…And guilt.

“Stu…I-” You fidgeted. “Look, I understand why you're hurt and angry.” The words felt uncomfortable to even say.

“Damn right I'm hurt.” Voice a low mumble in his throat; sounding almost like a growl of sorts as he glared daggers at you.

“But the big 3 words and why well…I mean, you were trying to kill me. I was…Kinda desperate?” You reluctantly gave while wincing as it stammered out.

Stu's eyes narrowed, “No excuse.” He grumbled.

“I mean…It's kind of a good excuse.” You tried to smirk and joke but It died in your throat at the glare he gave you. You sighed heavily. “C'mon. Give me a break, even a tiny inch here, Stu... Stu, we were kids! I was scared. You were trying to choke me to death. I was running for my life and trying to save everyone.”

“Did you love me?” He demanded.

“I…It probably wasn't love. Again I was a senior and scared but…I did care about you-”

“Bullshit.”

“I did.” You affirmed. “I don't know what I felt but I know I cared.”

But he just shook his head, “Oh cut the crap. You've never cared about me! You were scared of me or using me as a guard dog; no in-between.” He bitterly grumbled.

You rubbed your face trying to avoid any bruises or soreness from fighting Jill. “No I-...I guess… Yeah. Sometimes.” You reluctantly admitted with a heavy sigh. Your stomach was sinking and turning. “I'm sorry but sometimes I probably did.” You sighed out all the fight in you dissipating.

He stared.

Long and hard he stared at you before scoffing with a wry smirk, “There it is. That's all it was. I forced myself on your life and you were scared of me and just said whatever to save your ass!-” He didn't finish his sentence and flung a pillow in a fit. Thank god it was just a pillow. For now.

“That's not all, okay? I did care about you!” You tried to save yourself like a drowning woman at sea.

“Stop lying!” He yelled getting closer to you on the bed. You expected Billy to burst in at any moment with the volume your voices were reaching.

“I am not lying.” Pivoting on the bed to face him while scooting back. “Stu, you were my friend before you did what you did! Why can't you or asshole out there remember that?”

“Oh that makes it better? You only cared as a ‘friend’! You never cared past your guilty conscious and moral compass. I was your ‘friend’ because I put in the effort while you only knew me from Tatum.”

You groaned, “We had a class sitting beside each other; that's not true.”

“It is. And then you were my ‘friend’ to save your ass years later from me or from Billy or anyone else wanting to kill you.”

“No-”

He laughed in outrage, “Ohohoho, okay. So you cared huh? I loved you and you only cared? You never even cared that much!”

“Stop it, Stu!” You lashed out, finally yelling back. “I cared in High School even when I shouldn't. I really fucking did. When it was so wrong and sick and…Too much and...” You sighed and trailed off.

His eyes narrowed. “What are you talking about?”

You clamped up realizing you admitted a bit more than you were proud of. Always claiming to yourself and others you cared about them as friends only but…Who the fuck were you kidding? Even then? It was just too confusing and wrong and then the mix of hating them at the same time for what they did intermingled with that. Maybe not Billy as much until these confusing feelings with this letter happened but Stu had years of you getting to know him without the mask and talking and dinners at your cabin on and off or a chat on the phone…How could you not have some level of fucked up confusion over all that?

“Hey. Talk.” He snapped his fingers and intensely eyed you. “What? Are you trying to tell me… That you…What? You had a crush on me or something?” He taunted mockingly.

You felt your face scrunch up and looked away. “It's not the time for this, okay? I just lost everything. I'm just trying to clear the air about NOW not 15 years back.”

His taunting smirk receded and he looked at you in surprise. “...No, it's the perfect time. Now say it.”

“Stu.”

“Did you like me as more than a friend? I won't kill you, you have nothing left to lose now anyways, Billy will save you, we might all die or go to prison anyway so say it! Did you or did you not want me?” He pressured looking at you with desperate demanding eyes. A glimmer of what you would describe as hope under all that rage.

You didn't answer and he gripped your arms and shook you, “YN!”

“Ow, Stu-” You grimaced at him touching your arms that were fucked up from the last few days.

“I'm gonna hurt you more if you don't fess up! Fucking talk, woman!” He ordered but his action didn't match his words as he loosened his grip

You groaned inwardly and shot him an annoyed look. “...Yes. Okay, fine. fine! FINE!” You raised your voice each word and shoved him off you as you had his undivided attention.

You shakily ran a nervous hand over your head, unsure how to even come back from saying what you've known for years and hated yourself for. “I did. I had a crush on you…I'm not saying love, okay? That is a big word for people like us…I mean, you.” You swallowed. “But I did have a crush, I guess. I know it was probably obvious but clearly not if you thought it might've been just to save myself.”

“You did?” He looked taken aback before he scoffed clearly not trusting you as he leaned back. “Oh suurree. I bet you did on Billy too, huh?”

You frowned and looked away.

“No way.” He grumbled.

“Billy's name with mine; per usual.” He rolled his eyes.

You sighed realizing there was no point in hiding it. “...Well sorry, but it's true. I liked you both in your own way before you got with my friend or...Oh fuck. Before guys attacked me at my parents house.”

“Then why not get with me then?” He demanded eyeing you up and down skeptically. “Why hide it?”

You scoffed a humorless smirk on your face in exasperation. “It was the 90's! I was confused how I could crush on you and Billy at the same time and felt like a slut that you both were taken by my friends. I felt awful!...So, of course I just said it was a fleeting thing that would go away. I never wanted to admit it. I don't want to even admit it now.”

“Did it?” He pressed easing closer.

You rolled your eyes, “...I don't know, okay? Your asking questions that don't matter-”

“Oh, but they do.” He urged.

You rolled your eyes feeling sweaty yet chilled as he was up in your breathing space. “No it doesn't…” When he wouldn't stop staring you groaned and begrudgingly just started admitting it like pulling teeth. Feeling awful and lightheaded. “...Sometimes it did. Sometimes it didn't. Okay? Sometimes the feelings came back then left just as quickly the second you open your mouth.”

He gave a look that was almost a stubborn pout at that. Like a kid not getting the answer he wanted. “Yeah yeah. Then you dated Randy two years later. Why not just be the friend group's bicycle, huh? Maybe all of Woodsboro could have a ride if you gave James of all guys a chance!” He bitterly insulted you. “The horror movie logic? I grew up and realized it doesn't exist. Even you can live.” He grumbled with a triumphant smirk

…But as he said it with that haughty smirk he glanced at you.

At the expression you had; you saw him frown. A slowly forming frown after the words left his mouth. The smirk and sadistic glee left his eyes a bit. He adjusted in his seat and cleared his throat looking down. Rolling his eyes whether at himself or you was undecided.

“Yeah. I'm not too shocked you think like that of me. Of any woman really.” You numbly replied. You felt your chest ache. “I guess I can admit it now. James was a piss poor distraction from how confused I felt and so I wouldn't be the spare tire in the group. As for Randy? Ray and I dated as a fling out of pure confusion. Make no mistake, I was happy for him and Karla. We were young and almost died and he was in a coma after college. We were confused kids. And truthfully? I guess it worked out because you and Billy would've found an excuse to kill whoever I was with. James or Randy. Derek was a distraction too…The one that got away. Got snuffed out, shockingly not by you two, was that Detective...Mark Kincaid was it if anyone had been it and he's dead. He's been dead over a decade.”

You saw the bitter jealousy in Stu at the truth. He tsked in irritation, “...Yeah he was just to save your ass. You knew him a few days and he wanted to bust me and Billy.” Stu grumbled with narrowed eyes the second you mentioned Mark's name.

"He was the only one that understood me without being crazy." You just coldly told him. “But no, that's what you want to think. That I can't care past using like you and Billy are. You're projecting your own personality onto me. I cared at that party or I would've killed you when you got knocked out or let Sidney. I would've turned you in. Shot you at my house. Shot you at the motel. I cared not to ever turn you in; YES! Out of fear but also out of your well being which is way more than a scumbag like you deserves. Seriously, you have tried to kill me, killed my friends, tried to assault me once, tried to kill me, saved my life, then was good to me for years, then tried to kill me again, then came here to save me, now you're insulting me and making me feel threatened again- It is a fucked up conundrum loving someone like you, Stu! Can't you understand that!?” You almost pleaded with that thick skull of his as it just blurted out.

“You are such a whiny victim wannabe, I don't know how I put up with you all these years. Constantly boo hooing! Poor YN, poor wittle YN so pathe-...” He froze as he realized what you said. “Wait…Wait, wait…”

“ME!?” You yelled, still heated. “You ate my food, crashed at my house, threatened me! Who the fuck?-”

His eyes were wide as he shushed you, “Wait, what did you say?”

You blinked. “Huh?”

He looked at you in wonder, “You said you loved me.”

You looked bewildered. Flabbergasted…Mortified even. “I-I did not!”

“You did!” He urged scooting closer. “You said it's a Conundrum loving someone like me? What the fuck does that mean?” He searched your face and huffed. “What? That I'm too messed up to love?”

You stared back with wide eyes, kicking yourself. You usually had more skill than that then to just blurt something like that out. You sighed and looked at him reluctantly. “...Yes, I mean no I-” You softly addressed the elephant in the room. “Maybe if you weren't who you are I would've…I might've…” You trailed off voice shaky and unsure. You closed your eyes with a grunt of embarrassment. “Damn it, why are you like this!? You just have to press; That's you! You have to have your way or you kill or manipulate or insult! I don't owe you anything; this was just me trying to not have you fight Billy or kill me no-”

!!!

You didn't get it out as your eyes snapped open at feeling something bump against your face. Kinda hurt, actually. Your eyes widened as you tried to understand what the hell just happened before realizing you felt his lips…On yours and-

Stu Macher was fucking kissing you. Deeply. Passionately. Stu was kissing you on Billy's bed.

☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆

Authors Notes:

Okay, between life just being weird right now. Seriously, I wasn't even excited for Halloween and that is not me...

I had a tiny scene from Scream 4 show up on Tiktok of Jill recording Olivia's death and thought "Wow I didn't see that...Wow, that's stupid of her...Wow, this messes with my plot- OH FUCK!!"

And I redid like 20k words give or take because I had all of Scream 4 done ready to post till I saw that and I just couldn't ignore it PLUS writing my own books (It would be cool if yall bout them once I publish 👉👈... It would be neat of you guys and stuff.) plus life and trying to get a part time job and writing for clients bc a bitch got bills and just...FUCK!

So yeah. That is why this is so late and I've been MIA recently. Ily all for supporting me and your patience I am so sorry but Jill being that stupid in canon is too much to ignore and I lowkey like this plot better even if it's riskier.

I'm gonna try every 2 weeks every weekend now that I think I have a clear plot and have most of 4 done.

[sunnydayaoe]

Knees Weak, {like a Man Before an Altar}

[CCCC FIC] Contains: Platonic Soul & Whole, Pet regression, [2,300 words]

"You're not talking...? Is this, ah- what you mentioned?" There was a level of awkwardness there that somehow eclipsed even the way He acted with Soul normally. It could feel its face flushing impossibly further. It wasn't. But oh, He was smiling, small and lopsided and maybe it was actually, if it got Him to look at it like that.

Fic under cut! or on AO3

He was falling before he even processed the touch; knees weak, like a fawn. He flung his hands forward, hands pawing at his shirt as he tried not to hit the floor. This would have stopped its fall, if He hadn't fallen too.

Tumbling onto a heap on the floor, Soul splayed across his lap, stuttering and wide-eyed, He looked down at him. "I-I don't- Sorry? Soul? should I have not-"

Its face was probably so red. The color of its halo, the color of blood: cherry. He'd have apologized first if he didn't want to interrupt {he probably wouldn't, his throat had clogged up like he'd swallowed a tissue.}

A keening high sound caught his ear, like a bird caught in a snare. Harmonia had stopped talking, still staring at him, still looking. Oh, he was making that noise. He shook his head, no no no Whole hadn't done anything wrong at all. He'd been the one to collapse the instant he'd felt His arms around him.

"You're not talking...? Is this, ah- what you mentioned?" There was a level of awkwardness there that somehow eclipsed even the way He acted with Soul normally. It could feel its face flushing impossibly further.

It wasn't. But oh, He was smiling, small and lopsided and maybe it was actually, if it got Him to look at it like that.

His hands moved to cup his face, gentle, like He was holding something precious. He wiped His thumb under its eye, a sweet caress it leaned into like man in drought to water.

"Good puppy? Kitty?" He cooed, like He didn't know what else to say.

If Soul wasn't already dead weight in His arms he thinks he'd have fallen limp at that. It nodded, minute, tiny, almost imperceptible. It was probably only because He was holding it He could tell it had done anything at all. He must have, though, because His smile relaxed a fraction, and He let Himself shift into a more comfortable position on the floor, gently man-handling Soul when it became apparent it wasn't going to be moving.

His arms weren't cupping its face anymore, preoccupied with shifting it around. Its fault, but oh Harmonia did it already regret not moving itself. His ears pinned back, trying to hold back another awful keening noise at the loss. {Was he usually this emotional? It was being so ungrateful, He'd already done more than Soul could have ever asked for, and it was left wanting more.-}

Cupping its cheeks, fingers dipping into its hair and around its hair. It must have made some sort of noise, some face, because His hands were back. Choking, because he needed to say something, needed to- "t-thanks."

It was high, pitch shifted and cracking in the middle, like someone had kicked the amp half-way through the word. His eyes were so soft at that, still, and it couldn't stop staring. His lips were moving too, but it lost the words, they sounded so sweet though. It blinked dumbly at him. He frowned a little at that {bad bad bad it was being so bad}, before repeating Himself; it made sure to listen this time, "do you want to move to the couch?"

That sounded wonderful. Harmonia was still staring at him, taking a breath, starting to repeat Himself agai- oh it hadn't said that aloud. "mhmm."

He sounded so squeaky. Whole didn't seem to mind, smile somehow returning to His face. Warm hands wrapped around its own, and it couldn't help a happy little noise at that. "Let me help you up."

The journey to the couch wasn't hard, though Soul's stumbling feet didn't make that statement an uncertain fate. Pulling Soul to sit beside it, He settled into the old worn couch. {His hand was still intertwined with its.}

It was silent for a moment, the only sound their breathing. What was... oh, Harmonia was probably waiting for it to take the lead; of course, it was already having Him do so much work, of course it should be expected to do something by now. Only allowed by how indulgent He had been, it let itself lean into His shoulder. His hair was soft, tickling its face, and it couldn't help the way it nuzzled against him at the feeling. Its eyes fell shut until it felt a subtle shifting, up and down, of his shoulders. Giggling, his Harmonia was giggling. He flinched back with a whine, did he do something wrong...? {Definitely, with the way Whole's face shuttered.}

"no no no," His eyes were still droopy, even wide as they'd gotten, "nothing's wrong bud,"

A hand wrapped around his shoulders, the one not twined with his, pulling Soul closer again. The panic must have made Him forget His strength, or maybe He just made it weak, because the move left it splayed across his lap once more.

The whine cut off like it hadn't even started, every muscle relaxing like a switch had been flipped. And it had thought things couldn't get better, more lovely. Serves him right for ever doubting its Harmonia. And maybe pulling it into His lap wasn't a mistake, because He didn't push it off as it relaxed into Him. Kind, sweet Harmonia. It rubbed its cheek against His chest, thankful, a content noise escaping its throats.

He heard another laugh, the noise followed by apologetic murmurs. Was He scared of freaking it out again...? That wasn't... he didn't want that. It shoved its face further into His chest, arm snaking around His waist as well, trying to get as close as possible. It didn't want Him to hold Himself back for it. Its ploy seemed to work, because it startled another laugh from Him, angelic in all the ways it wasn't. That was such a nice noise…

With a gentle motion His hand left its place around his shoulder. Before he could make a new, even more embarrassing noise at the loss, His hand found its way into his hair. It couldn't purr, but its hum fizzled with static, an almost perfect mimic. As if that was a signal, He let His nails start dragging across its scalp, gently scratching it. It felt the world get fuzzier. It was getting harder and harder to remember what he was so embarrassed about. It was laying across its Harmonia's lap, getting scratched and doted on like a pampered pet, what more was there to ask for?

Curling up, it tried to get as much of itself as it could into His lap. It wish it wasn't so tall, half of it hung off of Him.

He was cooing at it again, and it lifted its face from His stomach to look up at Him. The words were lilting, like a song. Did it need to know what He was saying? Did He want it to? Perking its ears, it only caught the tail end of the statement. "Kitty?" That must have been him. It repeated the word, the way he'd said it, in its mind a few times: "Kitty. kiiitty. Kitty."

Remembering it'd been lilted into a question, it nodded dumbly, smile stretching across its lips still at being addressed. That was the right thing to do, judging by the soft look on His face.

It couldn't help the startled noise when He started shifting, pulling His legs up onto the couch and laying down, pulling it into His lap more fully. The new position left it mostly between His legs, face against His belly. Oh nodding was definitely the right decision.

Hands dropped back into its hair, and it let out another almost purr. It wrapped its arms around His waist and let itself relax back into him. He talked, as He pet it, let it cuddle into Him. "Kitty" "Sweet thing" "Pet," Its head spun trying to keep up with all the sweet words, dizzying.

His hands kneaded at His back for a moment before he brought his hands up front to start making biscuits into His stomach. It brought its head up higher to rest instead against His sternum to give itself the space. Surely He would approve.

He didn't shove it off, though there was a bit of wriggling, noises too, proving it was right: He definitely found this fine. The hands in its hair did stop for a moment between Harmonia's giggles and shaking shoulders, and it let out a whine, annoyed. He got an even louder laugh at that from Him before He continued His ministrations.

One of His hands did reach down to pull at its wrist, directing it to knead at, perhaps, Not His stomach; a game of keep away it happily indulged in, immediately moving its hand back to Him once He let go.

They continued, back and forth for a few moments longer, before it seems Harmonia had had enough. He wrapped His arms around it, pinning its arms to its chest with one movement. Soul squirmed, more for show than any real distress. It was, of course, ineffectual. Switching tactics, he turned on his side and he bit His arm; it was more clothe and coat than actual Harmonia, which was fine by Soul. It shook its head a bit, a low popping growl at the back of its throat.

This certainly got a reaction; He froze, a startled noise and a few quick words it didn't pay attention to. Concern was the primary sound, though it quickly shifted to something more teasing when He saw it didn't seem really distressed.

He lifted His arms away from it, soft cooing noises from it in an effort to make it let go. Only barbecue He was being so sweet did it decide to humor the attempts {and not because keeping its teeth clamped shut through the gentle tugging hurt its jaw}. A scratch under the jaw, warm hands to sink into, was His reward for its compliance. Equivalent, for now.

Before he could continue making biscuits, because He was a cruel cruel master, Whole shifted him onto his back, leaving his paws up in the air. He sat in stunned silence that He would have the audacity to do that. Awful! Cruel! Mean to it! It couldn't look at His face anymore, or see His smile, or nuzzle its cheek against His chest...

It couldn't work itself into too much of a tizzy though, Harmonia had moved His hands to its belly. There was a hesitance there again, like He wasn't sure if this was crossing a line, but Soul only let out an impatient whine.

It was about as nice as it expected, that is to say, it was letting out crackling almost purrs and letting its eyes fall half-lidded barely a few seconds in. Though... that could have also just have been how sleepy it was getting.

Its purrs stuttered after a few more minutes of gentle touches and cuddles. It wanted to stay up, to keep spending time with Him, but it hadn't been this relaxed in ages, and its body had definitely not gotten all the sleep it needed. Eyes drooping shut certainly didn't help the "staying awake" plan either. The hands lifted from him as he started getting sleepier. Similarly, the gentle hands from before were trying to slide it off His lap; was Harmonia leaving...?

He whined, the sound soft with his sleepiness. Shifting back onto its side, no longer being held, it wrapped its arms back around His waist. That just wouldn't be allowed. A sigh overhead, {resignation?} and the arms settled back around it, gently settling twined around his neck and shoulders.

He leaned back, leaving Soul comfortably laying on His side, snuggled against His chest. His only thoughts as he drifted off were how nice of a bed Harmonia made and how similar this was to the dreams he'd have of Him during cacophony. It hoped He was here when it woke up again.

----

He was warm, comfortable. Under him? around him? there something solid as it was soft; did Mind crawl in bed with him again...? It was too warm to be him, the robot chilly on the best of days and freezing on the worst.

Lifting his head, because he had settled it against the warmth, he looked up and saw Harmonia looking down at him, tired smile and drooping eyes and halo of frizzy hair framing His face. What happened the night {? he didn't know how long he'd been out} before came back to him, bits and pieces, all dreadfully embarrassing.

It laughed, trying to push itself up into a sitting position, "haha... fancy seeing you here."

He didn't let it pull itself up, His arms still settled around his shoulders like a blanket. His smile was soft, his eyes crinkled in the corners, and Soul knew for a fact he'd definitely blown any chance of Him not thinking it a pathetic desperate mess.

"Good morning, Soul."

He let out a little high keen of a laugh, giggly in his nervousness. He didn't try to get up again though, too taken in by the warmth of His arms.

"Sorry about all that, last night"

"Don't apologize, really. It's the least I can do,"

"..."

His arms slipped from its shoulders, but before it could mourn the loss His hands cupped its face, making it look into His eyes again {it hadn't noticed it'd looked away}. "It was cute, don't worry about it."

"Ah... of course, Whole." He tried not to let his grin get goofy, because as the Soul he was a very respectable, non-goofy individual. The pleased smile on His face means he probably failed.

[iu-xo]

"Like we've always hated each other"

Adaptation and confrontation.

intro part 1 part 2 part 3

God Adam is super ooc here, but I hope you enjoy reading it as I enjoyed writing it! I accept constructive criticism to improve!!

Note, this is the longest part so far!

In the hotel livingroom, spread across the sofa's, were all the members of the Hazbin hotel discussing an apparently important and delicate topic..

..while a lamb demon waited sitting on the stairs as if it were a child waiting for the adults to speak, needless to say, he was not happy with it at all, but it's not like he had any say in it, But that doesn't meant he like it tho..

With his head down looking at the ground, with his elbows on his knees and his fists on his chin, his gaze was tense as if he were an angry child, which made him feel a little... How when he really used to just feel like an angry child.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

-Love.. I know you think everyone should have the opportunity to decide to change.. and I love that about you.. BUT WE ARE, TALKING. ABOUT. ADAM. here.. You know..

On the couches there was a discussion which was mostly carried out by the two girls with notoriously divided opinions, The others argued among themselves and thought about how comfortable they would be if the idea that the princess defended was done

- i know.. and I'm not asking you to forgive him... or even to integrate him! That would be something he would have to earn, but vaggie...

The princess put her hands on her bride's shoulders, and in her eyes you could see the hope that her words carried

-He came here. He decided to come here..

-Soooo maybe... I could have had something to do with that.

Lucifer interrupted between the two girls, and the Salvadoran woman was intrigued by what her father-in-law had to say

-What do you mean by that ?

His daughter asked with the same intrigue.

-Well... when I went to put up the flyers I found him in the streets, at first I didn't recognize him because... you know.

The rest of the recidents began to pay attention to the king's explanation, since he was the one who seemed to have seen Adam before, and know why it could help them make a sensible decision, or maybe they just wanted to hear the gossip

-And if I'm honest he was about to get the shit kicked out of him If I hadn't been there... I'm afraid he's only here as last resource char, not because he wants... to change. I mean... honey, it's Adam..

Charlie's face was listening to her father, but she didn't look discouraged or surprised, she may have been hopeful but even she knows who Adam is, she knows what he did and she's not happy with him, It wasn't even in her plans to forgive him soon, even if that was against her recovery program, but still, she firmly believed that he could earn forgiveness, whit time, but for that they had to give him that time.

-I know, I'm not saying that I think... he wants it.

She glanced at the demon sitting on the stairs, Charlie's heart aching at the thought that he is the same one who was directing the massacres that have terrorized her people all this time, the reason this hotel existed in the first place... but... wouldn't that make helping him even more noble and selfless? and Charlie was very good at it, of course that didn't mean that they would have no limits for the comfort of her residents, The sudden static brought Charlie and everyone out of their thoughts.

-Well, look, dear... I'm not the most enthusiastic about leaving this... monstrosity. Within our walls, but I fully trust your judgment, if I don't get bothered of course.

The hotel producer said with his characteristic charisma and mannerisms when speaking, Vaggie reacted distrustfully to his statement, but Charlie gladly accepted his contribution.

-Look kid.. You really gotta be careful with that little shit there, He is a spoiled brat who believes that the consequences will not reach him, so if you want to get something out of it, you'll need more than preschool dynamics, food and shelter, like with legs here.

He said this while pointing to Angel Dust who was sitting on the floor leaning on the couch where Husk was sitting.

- Hey!

Everyone started arguing again while Charlie thought with a lot of pressure on her, but in response she revived a hand on her shoulder making her feel calmer

-We may need... limits, and many conditions... but I trust you honey, you will know what to do amor

Charlie smiled warmly at her beloved, and put his hand on hers, and then stood in the middle of everyone there, ready to anounce the decision made

- okey dokie! It is already decided! He will be given the opportunity to test himself, but for everyone's comfort someone will be in charge of him!

Everyone seemed indifferent to the decision, really no one could have an opinion right now, only time would tell, but in all this there was a doubt that hovered among everyone, a doubt that only angel externalized

-and who will be the unfortunate toots?

Everyone looked at Angel and then looked back at Charlie waiting for The answer to the question, who would take care of Adam?

- MY DAD!!

Lucifer choked on his breath in surprise, looking at her dumbfounded.

-Excuse me?

-You're the one who knows him the best! I know he's mom's shitty ex and all, but... don't you think it would even be good therapy to deal with past conflicts?

She said with an emotion so characteristic of her that only she could be excited about something like that.

-amazing...

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Adam kept looking at the floor, he was there but he wasn't quite really there, His mind felt much.. higher. feeling so helpless brought back unwanted feelings, unwanted memories, and a familiarity he didn't want to experience. and a familiarity he didn't want to experience.

He could see almost clearly a young Adam sitting next to a very large door, while he heard voices on the other side of it, imposing voices, giant voices... They were talking about him? They must have been doing it, otherwise because he would be there, he kept hearing that it was the most beautiful creation... the most important, the most perfect, they must have been talking about him.

Suddenly he saw a silhouette in the frame of the big door, He saw a smile form on the unknown silhouette, he just tilted his head to the side in doubt, something that the silhouette copied, and then laughed, a mischievous laugh, but innocent at the same time, Adam He was surprised, also curious, a little intimidated, but the silhouette disappeared among golden sparkles, to which Adam exclaimed disappointedly

- Ow..

Behind him, more golden sparkles appeared, followed by a voice close to his ear at a cautious distance, but not so cautious as not to make him jump.

-hello there!

-BWAH!

The man jumped back, slipping on the floor and heading straight to fall to the ground, it is not as if the ground were not clouds, but falling is still falling, The mysterious figure with a soft wing grabbed Adam from behind and helped him stand back up, to which Adam became a little agitated.

-sorry there! I didn't mean to scare you..

He said followed by a giggle, an unmistakable laugh, an angelic laugh, of course, that's what he was made for, being angelic and all that.

-are you... what are you?

The figure blinked perplexed at the question, but then realized

-Oh, of course, of course... you haven't even existed for 15 minutes, of course you don't know who I am.

Adam's eyes widened

-Lucifer morningstar, a pleasure.. Adam.

-Adam..?

Lucifer laughed ay his response as he fluttered his wings causing a breeze, a breeze that made Adam's skin crawl, that had been his first sensation

-Don't tell me that I accidentally introduced You to your name...?

-Adam looked at him without saying much, not that he could say much, he had been born a few minutes ago, but he didn't need much knowledge to know that he liked his name, Or maybe he just liked the way it sounded in the voice of the angel in front of him.

- Hey, earth calling Adam.

A familiar voice brought Adam out of his thoughts and he went from looking at the ground to looking into the eyes of whoever was in front of him, much to his dismay.

-What the fuck is it? Spit it out.

He had to admit that he was a little nervous that they would throw him back out on the streets, he was tired of sleeping in alleys and fighting with guys every day since he had woken up in that shitty place.

-You're lucky Charlie is a better person than me. Come on, I'll show you your room, I explain conditions on the way there.

Lucifer began to climb the stairs without looking to see if Adam was following him or not. Adam grumbled at not being able to complain about the arrogant treatment, Karma existed and it was a bitch. He got up from the stairs and started walking behind him With a shitty attitude to say the least, when they reached the hallway the angel started talking.

-Number one, don't cause problems

Adam felt his blood burn at having to listen to someone's instructions... more about fucking Lucifer, the life-stealer himself, at what point had his life come to this

-Number two, be cooperative.

They arrived at a room and Lucifer used the key to open it, he taked out the key and offered it to Adam.

- And number three, at Charlie's request I am your designated babysitter.

He said this with arrogance which made Adam scratch the ground with his hoof and grunt, immediately he stopped seeing the figure of Lucifer and only golden sparkles remained, to hear a voice in his back which made him jump.

-So expect me around quite often, do we understand?

Adam tried to hit him with his elbow even though he was behind him but Lucifer dodged, getting back in front of him, Adam fustrated seeked to grumbleed to grumble at him

- Don't you know another fucking cheap trick?!

-awww Do you remember my tricks then?

Lucifer smiled, raising his ego when he thought that he still remembered things that the now ex-angel seemed to want to pretend to have forgotten.

-Well, enjoy your stay lamb, tomorrow morning you will participate in Charlie's activity. not open to debate.

Adam grumbled as he watched the pale king walk away. Once out of his field of vision, he entered the room and locked it behind him. Once inside, he analyzed the contents of the room, bed, furniture, dresser, closet, Bathroom, quite... decent.

He didn't take any steps and slipped through the door until he reached the floor. Already sitting on the floor, he brought his hands to his face to grunt into the air.

-shiiiiit..

He had no idea what he was doing... really... although his blood burned when he thought about it, Lucifer was right, he had come here because he didn't want to be alone, he had never been alone, he didn't know how to be alone, And even when he was, he really wasn't.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

As he walked down the hallway he sighed heavily, he didn't enjoy bothering his opponent when he looked so miserable... it was funny when he came attacking the hotel because he deserved it, but now... If he didn't know what a shitty person he had been he would start to feel guilty, god...

He entered his own room since it was late at night by that point, he closed the door and my good entered the room, he threw his vest in the corner of the room and sat down at the desk next to the window, letting his head fall with a loud "bump" on it, only to raise his gaze slightly to see through the window, a small rubber duck rested in the frame of it, It wasn't a super complicated duck, it was a simple yellow duck with dot eyes, the original model you could say, the... the original.. model.

Wandering in Lucifer's mind, clouds formed, clouds with memories, and suddenly he could see the cold, white corridors, those enormous corridors that filled heaven, He saw himself standing there, listening to such dumb orders...

-And remember, stay at your station, do your homework, and most importantly, don't. Go. To. The garden.

The superior looked at him with the certainty that Lucifer was not listening to a word he was saying, or rather, he was listening to him, but he would not listen to any of the instructions as soon as he turned around.

-No worries!

He looked at him in disbelief, but even so his superior turned around and went to attend to pending matters, things from heaven, and as soon as he turned the corner lucifer was already flying directly towards the garden, once in front of the door he made a small turn and in no time he was a bird, Already in this form, flapping happily, he entered the garden looking for a specific being, once he saw it, he came down and perched on the branch of a tree.

-How are you doing big guy?

Upon hearing those words, the brown-haired human who was at the edge of the lake with something in his hands looked up, searching everywhere for where the voice was coming from, once he saw the little white bird he smiled happy to see it.

-LUCI! Come here you haaave to see this! It's so sick!

Fulfilling the man's wish, the angel came down from that branch, taking his most humanoid form, standing behind him, crouching a little, since the human was kneeling in front of the lake

-What have you got there??

With an excited gleam in his eyes, he opened his hands, first revealing some yellow fuzz, followed by a round head a pair of black eyes and a round, flattened beak

-It's a bird... but swims! Isn't that super cool??

The angel momentarily moved away from him to strike a dramatic pose, while gesticulating as he spoke.

-i wonder who is the great mastermind behind the creation of this impressive creature.. don't you?

Adam looked at his friend in surprise, he was very happy for him since he knew that he was not usually allowed to propose ideas.. very less bring them to life

-oh god really?? That's awesome man!

The angel simply blushed slightly while making a gesture with his hand showing his shyness

-It's no big deal..

The king of hell came to himself when he looked at the clock on his desk and noticed that it was past three in the morning, and then he wondered why he couldn't get out of bed... He opened his desk drawer and took a couple of pills, the ones he usually asked Belphegor to help him fall asleep. In a snap he was already wearing his pajamas and he threw himself on the unmade bed, Tomorrow would be another day...

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

As the sun rose in the sulfur hole where they lived, screams could already be heard on the ground floor of the hotel despite it being so early in the morning, surprisingly the first person to get up It wasn't Charlie, or Alastor, or even Nifty, Adam was the one who was standing in the kitchen trying to solve the great mystery that was how the coffee maker worked, It wasn't his fault that his exorcists made his coffee all the time... well, maybe it was his fault.

Charlie came down the stairs, like the morning bird she was, and when she saw Adam having trouble with the coffee maker she came over to offer him a hand, although she was a little surprised to see him awake...she would have assumed he would get up more like her father... after two pm or so.. don't judge a book by its cover I guess!

-A little help?

Adam made an annoyed face, not even because of the help, but because he saw him not knowing how to use the fucking machine, he stepped aside, reluctantly accepting Charlie's help.

-In heaven these shits are different.

Charlie rolled her eyes, it was to be expected that he would try to make excuses, everyone knew he was spoiled brat, of course he didn't know how to make his own coffee.

-I want to believe that you know how to serve it... right?

The lamb-demon cheeks turned redish, embarrassed, he snatched the cup from Charlie's hand, which was pointing in his direction, implying that she was offering it to him.

-Of course i do bitch! What kind of assumption is that??

Charlie put both hands in the air, surprised by his reaction, but just smiled nervously, trying to spread her kindness and make the environment not so hostile.

-Sure, sure, I was just asking.

After pouring her own coffee she walked towards the room where she had her plan for today's activity hanging on the wall, with pins and other stuff, Adam lost interest in seeing what she was doing very quickly as soon as she left the kitchen.

Time passed, and he was hungry, but... he didn't know how to... feed himself, it wasn't his fault that he always had one of his exorcists bringing him a sandwich the moment his stomach growled! maybe... maybe a little but that wasn't the point.

About half an hour had passed since coffee and Adam was staring at the buttons on the stove, as if at any moment it was going to turn on, he also opened the refrigerator every two minutes as if he would magically know how to put stuff together to make something edible..

The next one to wake up was surprisingly angel, he hadn't been late from work so he had had a decent night's sleep, Coming down with fat nuggets in his arms and looking at his cell phone, he noticed out of the corner of his eye the problems that the newcomer had with the kitchen, he was no saint who helped others, but anyway he had already planned to eat something, what difference did it make to give an express self-sufficiency class?

He approached without warning and pushed Adam slightly, making his way to the refrigerator

- HEY- what the fuck dumb shit-

Angel silenced him with one of his arms while he took things out of the refrigerator with the others, fat nuggets were waiting on the chair at the table

-Quick lesson on how to make a omelet hot stuff ?

Adam aggressively removed his hand from her face as he watched her do everything with such ease... so many arms made everything look even easier than it should...

-Oooor I can go, and leave you to eat shit.

Angel said with a smile on his face while waiting for his answer, Adam simply stomped twice on the ground, gave a frustrated cry, and looked back at the miserable sinner in front of him, although... right now he looked much more capable than him, but I would never Say that outloud.

-Fine.

Angel smiled triumphantly, giving him a bowl and passing him the eggs

-crack them. Pm m

Adam stared at the egg and then at the bowl, he had seen people do it but he never really... did anything. Please it was heaven! He was'nt supposed to care about this nonsense! When he was alive this shit didn't exist either..

-like this..

Angel cracked a couple of eggs naturally, like anyone down here and like any living person, Adam was simply a special case, but yet strangely Angel didn't seem to be ridiculing him, which... seemed strange to him to say the least.

-aha..

First it was an egg, then another, they began to beat, while Angel turned on the stove and Adam watched him do it, he stayed chopping spinach at Angel's instruction, At one point Adam was making his own breakfast while Angel was eating at the table a meter away.

Lucifer came down the stairs and saw the situation, as he buttoned his shirt and fixed the collar of it he could see how... calm and cooperative Adam looked, which was strange to see, to say the least.

A couple of hours passed, now everyone was awake, Adam took up the entire large sofa in the living room, He pretended to play chords on an air guitar, He seemed very calm, too calm.. The angel sat on the arm of the couch, next to Adam's head... The angel sat on the arm of the couch, next to Adam's head.

-I saw you very sociable at lunch... is it due to something?

-Yeah, because I wanted to fucking eat.

He got up from the couch and left leaving a lucifer dissatisfied with his answer, there had to be something he wasn't seeing...

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

-Now we Say something Nice about each other!

The afternoon was falling and Charlie had everyone in a circle in the living room, right now they had to say something nice about each other, and Charlie would decide to make them bond even more, according to her words

-and.. dad! I want you to start by saying something nice about...

He thought for a moment... if he could get his dad to bond with anyone since no one knows him very well... but on the other hand he has been tense all afternoon with Adam... yeah that's it!

-adam!

Lucifer opened his eyes in surprise, he didn't expect that, and Adam's felt ashamed, almost hurt, which he tried to hide by looking away, Angel looked curious the rest just look them and wait for their answer.

-amm well..

everyone was looking at him, so he felt pressure, and felt his heart sink into his chest, so he tired to look at something else, and his gaze ended in Adam, he was looking away.. he.. didn't think he would have something nice to say? he was mad?? Maybe he was just hiding something from him, oh well, it was Charlie's activity, he has to do it rigth, and.. He was probably the best person to say something positive about Adam.

-He is... a very creative mind, when the situation calls for it... he finds the most ingenious solutions to problems and... he's a very fast learner.

Everyone's faces showed some surprise, Lucifer used to be clumsy in communicating and awkward in conversations, seeing Adam express himself like that was... something unexpected, After feeling all eyes on him, Adam stood up in silence, walked towards the stairs and continued to what was probably his room.

-Maybe we should go after him-

Charlie tried to go after him but a hand stopped her in the act

-Maybe we should give him space honey.

Although Charlie felt bad leaving him alone, Vaggie was right he needed, but then Lucifer stood up too.

-sorry char... I'm going to my room, good luck with the rest of the activity tho

Lucifer said to his daughter with a warm but somewhat tired smile, then he disappeared among golden sparks.

-That... could have turned out better.

Charlie said while scratching her neck, a little embarrassed for putting them in that situation, but in the end it wasn't her fault, it seemed like they had old issues that Charlie couldn't fix with some silly activities.

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

After the activity that had gone so terribly a few hours earlier, the king lay rotting in his bed, complaining from time to time, It was weird, But having Adam there was as if he had to be reliving a past that he had been escaping from for so long..

-Damn it..

Suddenly the door to her room burst open revealing a rather distraught princess, maybe she should start locking the door.

- DAD! Adam is not in his room, do you think you can see if he is okay?! I really have no idea where he could be and I'm running out of places to look..

She said almost crying because of how worried she was, her father reluctantly got out of bed and cracked his back.

-Yes, yes, I'll look for him, don't worry dear.

He said putting on his jacket to go out to look for it in some possible places, first he searched some empty rooms of the hotel, when he found nothing but dust adorning the door frames Deciding that maybe asking would be a good idea, she asked his daughter-in-law, He asked the bartender whose name he still didn't know, he even asked the strange maid, but no one seemed to know, he thought it was a good time to look outside, So he went out the front door and walked everywhere in case he hadn't gone too far. He was very focused but something hitting his head took him out of his mind.

- ouh!

He saw the object fall to the floor and bent down to take it in his hand, was it... an orange slice?

One fell followed by this one, which made the king look up, to his surprise he saw a certain lamb that they had been looking for for almost an hour by now.. opening its imposing six wings with a single flap, it was already in front of the purpose of his search, he landed on one his side and they remained silent for a good couple of minutes.

- so.. gonna spit it out anytime soon?

Adam opened his eyes wide and with an expression that could not be read as anything other than indignation he looked directly at Lucifer in the face

- fukcing excuse me?

- Oh are you please going to tell me that you don't have something on your mind? You've been all passive and submissive the hole day, you and I know you've never been like that before! What are you up too?!

Adam's face quickly turned angry as he listened to Lucifer ramble on about topics he thought he understood when he didn't

-Isn't that what you fucking wanted?! Your bitch is thinking this shit works because I don't want to kick anyone's ass! or at least she thinks so! Isn't that all you asked for?!

Lucifer's face became irritated at the same time and he stood up and continued arguing with him

-OH PLEASE!! When in your fucking life have you done something because i said so?? What the fuck are you going to do!! Tell me before the people I care about get in danger and we kick you out of here!

Adam couldn't take it anymore, he stood up from his place and with a lump in his throat he lost his temper

- WHY CAN'T YOU JUST FUCK OFF?! I'M NOT EVEN CAUSING A DAMN PROBLEM AND I STILL CAN'T GET YOU OFF MY FUCKING BACK!

Lucifer didn't understand why he defended himself so much. They both knew that he would never do something just to be "obedient" or "correct." It frustrated him that he continued to act as if he didn't know beforehand that something else was happening whit him

-IF YOU ONLY SAID IT WE WOULD NOT BE HAVING THIS STUPID PROBLEM!

The situation was heating up and they had probably already heard the screams downstairs, but they were probably too far away for anyone to know what they were saying.

-TO SAY WHAT?! WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU WANT ME TO SAY BITCH!

-Tell me WHY DO YOU ACT LIKE THIS??

Adam lost his facade, he couldn't find any excuse and he didn't know any way out of there and I wasn't even looking for it anymore, what he said just came out of him without first thinking about the consequences, like everything he fucking did.

- BECAUSE YOU WERE FUCKING RIGHT, I DIDN'T WANTED TO BE ALONE!

-...

Everything was silent for what had seemed like an eternity, it could have been 30 seconds or 5 minutes in total and complete silence, Lucifer's face showed surprise, guilt... pain, and Adam just pressed his throat with his dark hand to try to stop feeling that stupid lump that kept growing from his chest to his mouth.

-Is that what you wanted? Hear you were right?? to hear that once again you managed to take from me EVERYTHING I HAD?!

The fallen angel looked at him dumbfounded, he couldn't understand... he couldn't believe that Adam had been sincere, he really was so desperate. So cornered, so he was just.. scared? Adam? That Adam?

-Please... you asked for it, I wasn't the one who made you come and kill people for fun all these years, was I?

Adam looked at him with pure anger, he grumbled, he growled, he tried to get close to him to hit him but he regretted it and screamed into the air instead, he hit a box with his hoof and ended up sitting on the edge of the terrace, hugging his knees, and looking anywhere but towards lucifer, He was fucking Adam, the first dick! the fucking perfect creation! He wasn't just going to start crying right there...no matter how much he wanted to.

The angel sat next to him again, another couple of minutes in a silence so loud the entire pentagram could hear it.

-... It seems like we both screwed up a lot.

Adam's gaze softened, and he made a sound that indicated agreement, much to Lucifer's surprise.

-But... I still have one quiestion.

Adan looked curiously at the opposite, what other doubt could he have? There was nothing else..

-why... why did you leave? You know, in the room, with everyone back there.

Adam looked down trying to gather his thoughts, he could easily tell him "it's not your fucking business" but he most likely would never have the chance to tell him what he was going to say.

- It's not easy being around the only damn thing down here that still reminds me of fucking heaven..

Lucifer's eyes widened a little in surprise, as that was a thought that had also crossed his mind... of all the things he could have expected... to find comfort in Adam was not one of them.

-I... I think I get that.

tired of all this commotion, and without thinking too much the shorter one dropped his shoulder on the other's shoulder

- but it's also the only thing that reminds me... that we weren't always so fucked up.

Adam thought about pushing him, maybe out of habit, but... he just sighed, and put his weight on him too.

...

- maybe..

[emoani]

summary : you love anakin, anakin loves someone else / inspired by the song i love you by billie eilish

brazilian portuguese version is here

pairing: anakin x reader

warnings : broken heart, unrequited love, suffering, sadness, just take the handkerchief to dry the tears.

▪︎i love you▪︎

Your heart hurts like someone is stepping on your chest with a stiletto heel. You were looking at Anakin's reaction. Eyes wide, his mouth opened and closed but he didn't say anything.

It hurt because you knew what was coming. But love makes people do stupid things, like what you just did. And even though knew it would be a negative answer, still had a certain hope deep down inside...

- You are lying? - He finally speaks, sounding more like a statement than a question. Maybe he really wanted to say it. That it was a lie, that he had heard wrong.

You feel so ridiculous at that moment, and you start to cry. What did I just do? You knew that Anakin already loved someone, and that someone would never be you.

You think of all the times you've been flying with him on a ship, the nights you've stayed up talking. His heart leapt every time he laughed deeply when he looked into those blue eyes. I wish I hadn't flown so high in my thoughts.

- Please... Say you were trying to make me laugh - Anakin says with a frown.

He refused to believe it because he didn't want things to change. He wanted you to remain his friend, his padawan. But nothing would be the same after that "I love you".

- There's nothing you can do... or say - Your voice comes out low and it seems like it hurts to talk - You heard it, I love you - You stop talking again, because talking about it is like swallowing glass - But I-I did not want...

Anakin is so worried, he takes a step towards you and reaches out to touch your shoulder. But stops in the middle, totally lost.

- I didn't mean to make you cry - He crosses his arms and turns his back to you. God, he can't even look you in the eye.

As you stared at Anakin's back your heart finished breaking, and in that moment you decided that you could no longer stay by his side. I couldn't be her padawan anymore.

And you kept thinking that even when after a while he turned and looked at you, forced a smile and said it was going to be okay. No, you knew it wouldn't, you both knew it.

So you told him your decision.

- NO! It doesn't have to be this way - Anakin turns red in the face with frustration - You're overreacting!

- It's my feelings. So you can't talk like that - you snap back upset.

- Maybe we should just try... - he starts but you interrupt him.

- There's nothing to try. I'm so sorry Ani. Be happy, and I'll try to be happy for you.

You look up at the darkening sky over the Temple of the Jedi, and you feel like everything is falling apart. He doesn't try to make you stay. Because he doesn't love you. He can't reciprocate what you feel with all that intensity.

Then you're gone, like you've just had Anakin Skywalker's lightsaber through your heart.

[bi-bard]

We Ain't Angry at You, Love, You're the Greatest Thing We've Lost - Dream of the Endless Imagine [The Sandman]

Title: We Ain't Angry at You, Love, You're the Greatest Thing We've Lost

Pairing: Morpheus | Dream of the Endless X Dream!Reader

Based On: You're Gonna Go Far

Word Count: 1,638 words

Warning(s): Morpheus being a dick, mention of bullying/mistreatment

Summary: After the events with the Corinthian and the Dream Vortex, many thought that Morpheus may have run out of any remaining kindness and leniency. However, they were gravely mistaken. It simply took a well-intentioned dream to prove it.

Author's Note: I think I've changed this song's story about four times. I'm sorry. Everything just felt repetitive.

STICK SEASON [WE'LL ALL BE HERE FOREVER] - NOAH KAHAN WRITING CHALLENGE MASTERLIST

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

After Morpheus went missing, I had been consumed by a deep fear that I would never be able to find a sense of purpose for myself.

It wasn't until a few years later that I finally allowed myself to leave the Dreaming behind me. It was terrifying at first. It was still largely unknown to me. I had to adjust and learn. However, once I started to do that, it was as if all of the puzzle pieces snapped into place.

I had never known peace like I did during my time on Earth.

For nearly a century, I had crafted myself a perfect home. I had established relationships and connections. I had become a fixture.

For the first time, there was a purpose for me that did not feel forced. One that did not leave me feeling burnt out or angry. I was able to merely exist and be enough for those around me.

Yes, there were hard times. I didn't age like humans did. There were times when I would need to move in order to avoid them figuring that out, but then I got to find a new web of people to connect myself to.

It was everything to me.

I had thought about what my life would have been like if I hadn't been confined to the Dreaming, but getting to actually experience it was... perfect.

It was a shame that my perfection was so cruelly interrupted.

I had no indication that anything was wrong as I walked into the small place that I had grown to call my own.

Maybe that was my fault. Maybe I hadn't been paying enough attention. Maybe spending my time in this realm had left me blind to the signs of my old one.

That was the only explanation I had for not being prepared to see Morpheus standing in my living room.

I jumped when I saw him. It had been a century. I had been under the impression that he wasn't coming back. I had convinced myself that I was perfectly safe here because Lucienne hadn't tried to stop me and I had spent so much time here.

It may have sounded foolish, but I wanted to believe it.

"Morpheus," I said quietly, still trying to grapple with the fact that he was alive and standing before me.

"Hello, (Y/n)," he replied.

I stepped inside quickly, shutting and locking the door behind me. "What are you doing here?"

"You abandoned the Dreaming."

"So did the Corinthian," I countered as I set my stuff on the dining room table. "Surely, he is of more importance than I am."

Morpheus's jaw clenched. "I have a plan to take care of the Corinthian and the harm that he has caused."

"The Corinthian has done nothing short of living up to the limits and purpose that you defined for him," I continued. "His work extended to the world of the waking, but you are the reason that he has been able to do such a thing."

"He is not important at this moment. You returning to the Dreaming is."

"Did you not also abandon the Dreaming," I asked, ignoring his statement almost entirely. Delaying the inevitable, but I had no interest in calling it that at the time.

"I was imprisoned," he corrected. "I had no escape for a century. You chose to run out of selfishness."

"Yours was due to imprisonment, mine was out of necessity,"

"Lucienne was watching over the realm. You were safe there."

"I was not when you were in power. Your absence did not change that for better or worse. All that changed was the crumbling of buildings."

He paused for a moment. "I do not understand."

"You never wanted to," I muttered. I crossed my arms and stood in front of him.

"Explain it to me. Tell me why you felt it was so necessary to abandon any and all responsibility that you had."

"Your other dreams and nightmares tormented me as much as they tormented the humans that they had been assigned to," I said bluntly, stepping forward as I did so. "Are you truly shocked that I decided to leave when I knew that it would be safe for me to do so?"

Morpheus had no answer to my question. His jaw merely clenched and his back straightened, as if making himself taller would cause me to step down from this argument.

I shook my head. "You need to go-"

"Regardless of the reason, you have a purpose in the Dreaming," he replied. "You will not abandon it."

"You have been gone for a hundred years, you have no right to demand things of me-"

"It would be wise of you to remember your place," he cut me off. I felt as if the blood in my veins ran cold. "You may return on your own or I will ensure that you do."

"Lord Morpheus," I scoffed. "How could you possibly be so selfish-"

My words were cut off as a cloud of sand surrounded me. It felt as if I had no opportunity to realize what was happening before I was suddenly standing back in the Dreaming.

It was darker than I remembered. Colder. It was clear that some work had been done since it had started to crumble to pieces years ago, but something was still very clearly wrong.

I would have been more worried about the state of the realm if I had not been so consumed by my anger.

I still had a million things to say to Morpheus. Explanations and accusations and pleas. All of them equally important... and all of them going equally unheard.

I had relented to bothering him and Lucienne. I had been told over and over that there was no time. That I needed to get back to what I had been created for.

But I had experienced so much beyond that now. I couldn't just let it go.

I was upsetting them. I knew it. It was a shame that I didn't feel any guilt over that.

It wasn't until the dust settled around the Corinthian's actions and the Vortex that Morpheus ever decided to speak with me.

I walked into the main hall with my heart almost in my throat. I tried to calm myself down. It wasn't going well. I had been so angry before this. So focused on his refusal that now that I would be able to talk to him, I lost every argument that I wanted to make.

Terrified felt like both a word that was too intense and not intense enough.

When I made it there, he was standing at the top of his stairs, staring up at the large stained-glass windows in the room. I took a deep breath.

"You asked to see me, sir," I called.

Morpheus turned around and began walking down the steps. "Yes. There is a discussion that needs to be had."

I furrowed my eyebrows. "What about, sir?"

"About your place here in the Dreaming," he replied.

"Oh?"

"When I sent you back to the Dreaming, I was focused on rebuilding the realm," he explained. "It had fallen apart during my absence, and I knew that returning the dreams that had escaped would aid in returning it to where it was meant to be.

"I understand now that my actions were selfish. My assumption that the world would be the same as it was before my imprisonment led me to ignore the wishes and knowledge of those who cared for me and the realm as a whole. The results were heartless. Blind."

I didn't respond. I was still uneasy about the meeting. He stepped forward a bit.

"The Dreaming was never as kind to you as I wished it to be," he muttered. "I am sorry for not addressing that. For not protecting you as I always should have."

"Thank you," I murmured. Having him acknowledge it would have been enough for the time being. However, that was not the only thing that Morpheus had to say.

"I wish to send you back," he continued. "Back to that life that you had made for yourself in the waking world. If you will allow me to do so."

I felt tears fill my eyes. "Sir, are you being serious?"

A small grin formed on his face. "Yes."

I let out a breathy, shocked laugh before quickly moving forward and hugging him as tightly as I could. I had forgotten any formal behavior or respectful actions in that moment. I almost pulled back and apologized but was stopped by him hugging me back and chuckling to himself.

"Thank you," I murmured.

"You have nothing to thank me for."

I stepped back slowly, smiling fully at him. "When can I leave?"

"Whenever you are ready."

"Now?"

"Are you ready now?"

"Yes."

He reached into his pocket, pulling out a handful of sand. "Well, then I believe that the only thing left is to wish you good luck."

"Thank you, Lord Morpheus."

He nodded to me once before holding out his hand and blowing a handful of sand at me.

I closed my eyes as the sand swept up around me. As the wind died down, I opened my eyes again. I found myself in the hall of my apartment building.

I smiled again before rushing to the door. I found my spare key under the welcome mat and quickly made it inside.

I let out a sigh as I looked around. Everything was exactly how I'd left it. It was all perfect. Not a speck out of place.

I chuckled to myself as my tears filled my eyes.

I had never known peace like that before.

And I would never be more grateful that I was finally given the chance to experience it.

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

Navigation Guide

What I Write For

Some Original Characters

[myntrose]

ׂׂૢgenshin characters as meet-cutes!ׂׂૢ

ft: Tighnari, Diluc, Ayato x gender neutral! Reader (separately)

cn: modern au!, kinda academy au!, a lot of head-cannon dumping lol, prob grammar mistakes, a tiny bit ooc, fluff :D

a/n: hello:D im trying to get back to writing lol o/ also, for the meet-cute statements, reader would be "A"

word count: 826

*ೃ༄meet-cute: an amusing or charming first encounter between two characters that leads to the development of a romantic relationship between them.

Tighnari

*ೃ༄when A and B reach for the same book at the library

His footsteps were quick and rushed, each being more anxious than the last. It wasn't uncommon to see Tighnari in the library during the most obscure hours of the night. What was different was that, unlike his usual studious self, forgot to include a whole paragraph of research in his latest essay. Who could blame him? He was so busy with mentoring his underclassmen, and conducting all sorts of new projects that this particular one had completely left his mind. He skims through the shelves looking for a specific book. "The researchers guide to foreign fauna" (he had already read this one), "The sun's effects of nocturnal plants" (he had not read this one, maybe he should borrow it as well) and, ah! "The safety handbook vol. 1: caring for variegated plants" Just the book he needed. Instead of reaching out the grab the books spine, his hand collides with that of your own. He looks straight at you, the gears in his mind immediately clicking. Ah, looks like you need the same book. While he fights a conflicted battle of being a gentleman and giving you the book, or to just snatch and run, you realize that both your hands are still touching. You quickly retract your hand away, opening your mouth to start bargaining with your life as to why you really need this book for your research topic. Your convincing falls sort when Tighnari makes a slight cough.

"Heh... it looks like we both need this book. You can have it first, I don't mind..."

He pulls out his phone, opening up his contacts.

"...But please, the moment you have no more use for it, call me so I can pick it up."

If it hadn't been for the library's dim lights, perhaps you would have noticed the slight blush that brushed across Tighnari's face.

Diluc

*ೃ༄A is forced to attend a fancy party, gets seated next to B, who they complain about how lame the party is. B is the party host (A is unaware of this)

It's almost rare that Diluc could get a breather away from his own party. It came the time that it was the young heir's birthday once again. While his fellow classmates could only dream of having such an extravagant celebration, Diluc couldn't help but dread it. After all, he knew close to no one here, most being business partners, or the families of his fathers friends. He grabs his cup of grape juice, watching from the corner of his eyes as someone interrupts his silent bubble. Dread fills Diluc as he prepares a half-lived smile, ready to talk to whichever business owner had the nerves to ask for a collaboration-

"It's nice to see that someone else looks bored as hell in this party."

...?

He turns his chair to get a better look at you. He doesn't exactly know you. Maybe a child of one of the many CEO's present? You look like you're supposed to be at this party, dressed according to the theme and such. But he makes quick to recognize the slight scowl on your face. The look of, if-one-more-person-talks-about-economics-with-me-I'll-snap. You turn to fully look at the person you sat next to.

"Hey, I was thinking of leaving early and getting some takeout. Wanna come with?"

Maybe you were the breath of fresh air he needed.

Ayato

*ೃ༄A thinks they found their friend, giving them a surprise hug from behind. They hugged B. Their friend watched the whole thing happen.

Maybe Ayaka should have mentioned that she had a brother. Could all the blame be put on her, though? Yes, they did have very similar hair. But surely anyone could have realized that on height alone that the person you so very excitedly hugged wasn't her, but her much taller brother.

After class had officially ended, you spotted your dear friend at the end of the hallway. You were extremely tired as it is, with the only thought in mind being to regain energy through your very positive friend. Sleep made its way early to you, so when you bear-hugged your friend it took long to realize how you were actually cuddling.

On the other side of this, Ayato was deep in conversation with Thoma, before turning his head to see one of his juniors practically squeezing the life out of him. Thankfully, he sees Ayaka walk up to him, reaching to his ear and whispering what had just happened. Ayato couldn't help but let out a light-hearted smile. Ayaka taps your shoulder, causing your eyes to flutter open.

"Ayaka, please let me rest"

...

"Wait, how are you standing in front of me if-"

Maybe Ayaka should properly introduce you to her brother.

[tolietpaperdreams]

Warned You Chapter 4 (Shawnter)

Little bit of a filler chapter here folks, but I promise it’s on purpose. Oh the drama of it all. 💕 Also let it be known that despite having had like 3, I have no idea how concussions work.

(it’s steamy but not in the cool fun way, more in the ✨the girls are fighting✨ way) Enjoy. <3

The next morning when Hunter walked through the door, Shawn was on him immediately. He hadn't slept well, spending the entire night overcome by anxiety and his ever-running mind. Shawn dreaded seeing Bret, but he was so worried about Hunter’s well-being that every other feeling was dwarfed in comparison.

Shawn was frantic the moment he laid eyes on his partner, “Are you okay? Do you need to sit down? I made you that tea you like- I’ll stay up with-”

Hunter, ever the patient man that he was, gave Shawn a look that said ‘too much’ as he entered the house. He appreciated Shawn’s concern, but he needed peace and quiet at the moment.

“I’m alright, baby,” Hunter gave Shawn’s jaw a loving caress and kissed him with enough purpose to quell his lover’s worrying, “I just want a shower and to lie down.”

Shawn had to resist the urge to jump on Hunter and cling to him like a baby chimp. Ultimately, he knew Hunter was fine, it was only a minor concussion, but the thought of anything coming to harm his partner filled him with such rage and fear.

“I just don't know what I'd do if anything happened to you,” Shawn admitted in a small voice.

He could see Hunter melt right there, “I’m not going anywhere.”

Shawn wrapped his arms around Hunter’s waist, nuzzling into the bigger man’s shoulder, “Promise?”

“I promise,” Hunter placed a kiss on the top of Shawn’s head.

“Listen, this is all sweet and everything, but would it kill one of you guys to help with all these bags?” Bret interrupted from the doorway.

He was holding about three carry-ons and dragging two bigger suitcases behind him. If Shawn was in any better of a mood, he would have laughed, but right now, he was just annoyed about being taken out of the moment with Hunter.

“Sorry, can't. My back’s acting up,” Shawn feigned pain, placing a hand on his lower back.

Hunter huffed and furrowed his brow, “Shawn, don't start-”

“He’s a big guy, he’s got it,” Shawn gestured to where Bret was standing, drowning in bags, “You said he's here to help.”

“Fine,” Bret rolled his eyes and mumbled under his breath, “Don’t know why I expected better.”

Shawn clenched his jaw at Bret’s statement. He was better than that; he wasn't the same person he was a year ago, Bret just didn't know that. But being a better person meant Shawn had to do things he didn't want to. So he swallowed his pride and walked over to help with the bags.

The relief on Hunter’s face was evident, so Shawn didn't feel too terrible. Once the bag situation was handled and Shawn begrudgingly showed Bret where the guest room was, he was finally able to settle a little.

The tea that he made in anticipation of Hunter coming home had gone cold so he dumped it out and started again. Bret seemed to be hiding upstairs and Hunter was probably going to take a long time in the shower, so that left Shawn to brood with his thoughts.

Drinking obviously was not an option, but that didn't mean the craving went away. Shawn had been doing well for a while, and he didn't plan to break his sobriety streak anytime soon, but when things got stressful and the thoughts grew worse, the temptation would arise.

He thought about maybe throwing back an extra painkiller to help him relax in such an odd situation, but he quickly shut that thought down. He needed to be there for Hunter. He needed to be coherent. There was no way Shawn was going to let his ex try to take care of his current partner, not without a fight at least.

As the new batch of tea steeped, Shawn went to the bedroom to hide and wait for Hunter to get out of the shower. Sulking, he flopped on the bed and did his best to zone out to the sound of the water in the adjacent room.

It was a while before he finally heard the water turn off and the beautiful sight of Hunter glistening wet with a towel around his waist emerged.

“Oh don’t look so pitiful, Shawn,” Hunter puffed as he used an extra towel to dry his hair.

Shawn sat up, doing his best not to be perceived as ‘pitiful,’ he was more annoyed than anything, “Couldn’t we have gotten your Mom or Dad to come down?”

“You know they both still work, I can't ask them to take time off,” Hunter explained.

He moved to grab his suitcase to put on the bed, but Shawn got up and beat him to it. Shawn might be hurt, but Hunter was the one that needed to rest right now.

“I’ll unpack, you just get dressed,” Shawn urged, even though he was unhappy with the situation, “We could've gotten my Mom to come here, you know she loves you.”

Hunter was pulling some clothes from the dresser, “Yes, I know. She's a very lovely woman, but I wouldn't ask her to come all the way here to dote after me.”

“She would-”

“Shawn,” Hunter exhaled, frustrated, “I get it- the situation is not ideal, but Bret’s already here. Don't you think this is a good opportunity for you to make things right with him? Like we talked about?”

Shawn frowned. It would be a good chance to finally get the burden of guilt off his shoulders, but he didn't want to be forced into it.

“You didn't give me a warning. I can't say no because it's technically your house, but I live here too, Hunter.”

“It’s our house Shawn, not just mine. And I'm sorry, if I had any other choice you know I wouldn't have done this,” Hunter tossed both towels to the side and got dressed.

Shawn didn't know if he believed that Hunter would've made a different decision given other circumstances, it felt more like his partner was thrusting a test upon him. But fighting it was futile. He thought about telling Hunter that he could just go to Texas until everything blew over, but that would start an even bigger argument. Maybe Shawn was learning when to keep his mouth closed.

Hunter turned to his partner and gave Shawn an ultimatum, “You can sit here and pout or you can come curl up on the couch with me. Your choice.”

“I had to make new tea, so I’ll come out,” Shawn said after opening Hunter’s suitcase, he’d just unpack later before they went to bed, “I’m still mad, though.”

“I know babe,” Hunter gave his lover a small smile, beckoning him out of the bedroom.

***

Dinner that night was awkward. Bret seemed to have no issue making himself at home, he even cooked. Which of course, Shawn protested, but Bret seemed to remember that the blonde was not very competent in the kitchen the last time they had been together.

“You let him cook for you?” Bret asked in disbelief.

Hunter chuckled and shook his head, “Absolutely not.”

Furrowing his brow, Shawn gave Hunter an upset look. How dare he side with Bret, the traitor. Shawn hadn't even gotten a chance to talk to Hunter about how the two had secretly been working together behind his back, but was he just supposed to sit there and let Bret bully him in his own home?

“We can order a pizza or something,” Shawn stood from the kitchen table, moving to grab the phone mounted on the wall.

Before he could pull the phone off the receiver he felt a hand cover his own; a hand he hadn’t felt in a very long time.

“I’ve got it covered,” Bret locked eyes with Shawn, his hand staying strongly on top.

A chill ran down Shawn’s spine and he yanked his hand away. Bret still kept his gaze firmly locked in. The audacity of this guy was insane, sure he was trying to help, and maybe Shawn wasn't the best cook in the world, but having Bret one-up him did nothing to quell his attitude.

Shawn turned to look at Hunter still sitting at the table, asking him if saw what just happened with his eyes. Hunter simply shrugged, either not willing to get involved or too tired to care.

Shawn took a deep breath; he wouldn’t start a fight. As much as he wanted to. Hunter deserved a few days of healing before Shawn really laid into him. If this was some sort of revenge that Bret felt like he was owed, Shawn wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

The three of them sat at the table when the food was ready; Shawn couldn’t bring himself to make any sort of small talk. He simply looked between Hunter and Bret, realizing how ridiculous the current situation was.

“So,” Bret taped his fork on his plate, “Shawn, you wanna handle the dishes?”

Shawn froze, leaving his steak half-cut and dropping his cutlery, “Huh?”

“Just seeing if you wanted to handle the dishes since I cooked,” Bret shrugged, nonchalantly.

“Are you giving me chores in my own house?” Shawn looked bewildered.

“Shawn-” Hunter pinched the bridge of his nose, “That’s not-”

“Oh no no no, don’t worry about it,” Shawn said in a sarcastic tone, “I’ll handle it.”

He was beginning to wonder what it would take to get someone deported to Canada.

Begrudgingly, Shawn did the dishes and put away the leftovers after they were done eating. He wanted to point out how he was planning on doing them anyway without Bret’s input, but he refrained.

Bret eventually left the table, giving Hunter a pat on the shoulder before heading upstairs. The big man sat there with a strained look on his face. His head was clearly bothering him and Shawn felt an ache in his chest at the sight.

“You wanna go lay down, Hunt?” Shawn asked, concernedly.

Being in a healthy relationship for the first time in his life meant that Shawn had to put his feelings on the back burner sometimes. He knew that he’d already stressed out his partner enough with his resistance to having Bret around, and he wasn't exactly happy about them working together either, but seeing Hunter in pain still hurt him.

Hunter nodded and got up slowly before making his way to their room. Once the kitchen was cleaned up, Shawn found his partner curled up on their bed in the dark. He knew it was because of the light sensitivity, but the big man still looked so pitiful.

“Hunt? You okay?” Shawn entered the room, closing the door softly. He had to remind himself not to turn a light on.

Hunter only groaned in response, he hadn't even bothered to change clothes or get under the covers.

Shawn turned on a bedside lamp, hoping it wouldn't be too bright for Hunter, “Come on babe, let’s get you changed and then you can go to bed.”

“I forgot how much concussions suck,” Hunter sat up, his fingers massaging his temples.

Shawn moved to help Hunter with his t-shirt but was stopped by the bigger man pulling him in by the waist. Hunter buried his face into Shawn’s stomach, clenching his eyes closed to avoid any sort of light.

Instinctively, Shawn wrapped his arms around Hunter’s shoulders, one hand coming up to thread into his hair. As grim as the situation was, it felt nice to be needed.

“M’sorry,” Hunter mumbled, arms holding Shawn tightly.

He didn't know how to respond. He scratched the back of Hunter’s head in the way he knew he liked, but no answers came. Hunter was his rock, he worked so hard to keep them both together, to keep Shawn sane.

Shawn just shook his head and leaned down to kiss the crown of Hunter’s head, “Maybe you’re the crazy one.”

Hunter huffed a laugh, “Maybe,” He looked up at Shawn with his deep brown eyes, “Can we go to bed now?”

The way Hunter was so menacing and big in the ring, but such a puddle of mush around his partner made Shawn’s heart pitter-patter. In reality, Hunter was a big softy and it made Shawn feel special that he was allowed to see that side.

Shawn leaned down and they shared a tender kiss, “Of course.”

***

Shawn was up early the next morning, feeling slightly better about the night before. He took his medication, did some stretches, and headed into the garage for a workout; that way Hunter was able to rest and he could burn off some stress.

It was frustrating not being able to workout at the level he was used to, but he was learning to take it day by day. He mainly focused on his upper body and sweating as much as he could, the bike being the best option to get his heart rate up without straining his back.

An hour in, Shawn felt great, he felt strong and his day was off to a good start, much better than the day before. He was cooling off after a particularly heavy bench when he could hear rustling from inside the house.

It was about time for Shawn to go in and make some coffee anyway so whether it was Hunter finally awake or Bret tearing apart the kitchen, Shawn had to power through. He held back his groan of disappointment as he was met with the latter.

Bret looked up from where he was trying to figure out the coffee machine and paused.

Shawn wasn’t frugal, the entire world had seen his ass a time or two, but standing in the kitchen shirtless with Bret staring at him suddenly made him feel very shy.

“Good workout?” Bret asked, breaking his gaze quickly.

Shawn cleared his throat and tried to be cordial, “Yeah, it was fine. I’ll get the coffee, don’t worry about it.”

“Cool, cool,” Bret stepped away, “How’s the healing coming along?”

He caught the way Bret’s eyes lingered on his body one more time and felt his cheeks flush. Bastard.

“Good,” Shawn was bad at small talk, it was all or nothing when it came to him and right now, he wanted nothing with Bret.

Before Bret could respond, Shawn was saved by the phone ringing. He’d take any escape he could get and grabbed the phone from the receiver.

“Hello?”

“Hey Shawn! It’s Owen.”

Oh goodie.

It wasn’t that Shawn wasn’t happy to hear from Owen, in fact, maybe the younger Hart brother could talk some sense into Bret, and remind him to keep his eyes to himself. It was far too early in the morning for all that.

“Hey man, how’s it going?” Shawn avoided looking at Bret who’d taken a seat at the table.

“Pretty good, Hunter doing okay?” Owen asked, his voice chipper as usual.

“Yeah he’s sleeping,” Shawn responded, resisting the urge to ask why he was really calling.

Now that the pleasantries were out of the way, Owen actually started talking, “So… How’s living with Bret again?”

Shawn glanced over at said Hart brother who was pretending to be distracted by something else, and sighed, “You know we never lived together.”

He watched as Bret raised his eyebrows, clearly listening.

“Well, yeah whatever,” Owen chuckled to himself, “I take it things have been a little rough?”

“It’s only been a day,” Shawn sighed.

“So that’s a yes?” Owen pressed.

There was no point in lying, “Yes.”

The younger Hart brother laughed to himself again before continuing, “Okay, lemme talk to Bret. I’ll make sure he behaves.”

“Thanks.”

Shawn got Bret’s attention and waved him over, “It’s your brother.”

“I have a lot of those,” Bret replied, taking the phone from him.

Shawn rolled his eyes and headed down the hallway, “Figure it out.”

He really needed to find a shirt.

***

There really was no plan for the day, and that freaked Shawn out. Yesterday, he was mainly concerned about making sure Hunter was settled in, but now he felt himself getting antsy.

Being home alone with nothing to do was one thing but having nothing to distract him from Bret being in his house was another. The brunette had talked to Owen on the phone for almost an hour while Shawn tried his best to go about his morning routine.

He’d showered, found a shirt, and started the coffee; there wasn’t much else to do. Shawn wouldn’t eat till Hunter was up anyway so the only thing he could do was wait around. He felt like he was walking on eggshells.

Any interaction with Bret was tense and awkward, and Shawn did his absolute best to not lash out at anything and everything the man said, but he felt like a cornered dog. He didn’t know what Bret’s intentions were, and that left him very on edge.

“Is it cool if Owen comes down for a day or two?” Bret asked casually as he entered the living room, making himself right at home on the couch opposite Shawn.

A middle man.

Shawn stopped himself from blurting out an immediate yes, “I’ll talk to Hunter about it when he wakes up.”

Bret nodded in response and a small silence took over.

“He’s good to you,” Bret stated, a hint of awkwardness in his words.

Was Bret laying out some sort of bait? Or was he being genuine? It was hard to tell, but as Shawn sipped his coffee, he decided to play it safe.

“He is,” Was all he offered in return.

Bret’s eyes shifted, he looked around the living room as if he were trying to find something to talk about.

Shawn couldn’t handle the silence and took the bait, “Why did you come here?”

It looked like Bret was taken aback by Shawn’s boldness for a moment.

“Don't bullshit me, Bret-”

“You didn't give me a chance to say anything, dickhead,” Bret responded with a scoff.

That was the Hitman that Shawn was used to. Angry and standoffish over the little things. Was Shawn pushing the buttons he remembered Bret having a bit? Yes, but if it got him answers quicker, he’d do it.

“How are you suddenly buddy-buddy with Hunter? Last I remember, you didn't like having him around,” Shawn accused.

“At the time, I thought he was going to steal you from me,” Bret said with a shrug, “Turns out I was right.”

“You know that's not how it happened,” Shawn jumped on the defensive, “He was there after you left me.”

“So he was your backup plan?” Bret furrowed a brow.

Shawn could feel the white-hot anger rise throughout his body. Things hadn’t happened very conventionally, but Shawn would never stand back and let someone call his partner ‘a backup plan.’

Bret saw the way Shawn’s body language shifted and held both his hands up in surrender, “Listen, that might not be how it happened, but word is that you jumped into his arms as soon as I was gone.”

Was this high school? Who was walking around wasting their time talking about other people’s relationships like they didn't have their own lives to deal with?

Shawn caved to the hypothetical, “So what if it was? You were gone the night of Survivor Series anyway, why would you care who I’m sleeping with? You want some revenge, you've got it. My back is fucked, no one wants anything to do with me in the company, and you’ve turned my boyfriend against me, congrats.”

“No one’s turned me against you, Shawn,” Hunter emerged from around the corner, finally out of bed. He yawned and stretched for a moment before bending down to place a kiss on the top of Shawn’s head, “And I thought we talked about you playing nice while you're here,” He gestured to Bret.

“My bad,” Bret let out a laugh, “You know how easy he is to rile up.”

Shawn felt like he was in the middle of some sort of mind game and that Hunter was in on it. Even after that entire conversation, Shawn still had no answers. All he could do was sit there.

“You heard all that, right?” Shawn asked, dumbfounded, “You heard everything he said?”

Hunter took Shawn’s empty mug from him, “Yeah, but I know how things actually happened and so do you. It doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.”

“Maybe you should listen to Hunter, it might actually do you some good,” Bret sneered.

Shawn opened his mouth to retort but was satisfied enough when Hunter punched the brunette in the shoulder as he walked by. It seemed playful enough and all Bret did was rub his shoulder in response. Shawn could only wish that Hunter missed and hit his face.

“My house, my rules,” Hunter called from the kitchen.

Shawn wanted to stick his tongue out at Bret like an upset child, but he refrained. The brunette seemed to get some sort of satisfaction out of getting under Shawn’s skin, so he wouldn't play his games anymore.

How was Hunter so unaffected? It didn't seem to bother him at all that Bret just called him Shawn’s backup plan. Did he genuinely not care? Or was he just hiding his frustration?

Hunter could be heard moving pots and pans in the kitchen, and Shawn took the opportunity to scorn Bret for himself, “If you're here to help, why don't you go help with breakfast?”

“You’re such a dick, I don't know how Hunter puts up with your ass,” Bret snipped, standing and heading into the kitchen.

“Because it’s a good ass!” Shawn yelled. He hoped it was loud enough to be heard across the house.

***

“I am begging you to let Owen come over for a few days,” Shawn pleaded with Hunter after breakfast.

Bret had gone back upstairs to change into his workout clothes while Shawn was left to deal with the dishes again.

“You don't have to ask me to have a friend over, you're a grown man,” Hunter gave his partner a puzzled look.

“Well I sure as hell don't feel like it,” He could feel his Southern accent slip out a little bit, as it always did when he was angry, “You said it yourself, ‘your house, your rules.’ And Owen isn't my friend.”

“I told you, it’s just as much yours as it is mine,” Hunter replied, “If he isn't your friend, then why do you want him to come over so badly?”

“Because he’ll be able to distract Bret and maybe the asshole will leave me alone,” Shawn said it like it was obvious.

“He’s just letting off steam, it’s hardly day two. If he was really being disrespectful, I’d kick him out in a second,” Hunter offered.

Shawn scrubbed on a plate harder than necessary, “So him calling you my ‘backup plan’ really didn't bother you?”

Hunter shook his head with a shrug, “Not really. I’m secure about us, babe.”

As sweet as that was, Shawn just couldn't understand how Hunter had such little emotion involved in this situation. Maybe because he had seen everything go down from the sidelines and how bad it was, but he also witnessed how much of a mess Shawn had been.

“I just think if it was the other way around, and your ex was here to ‘help out’ you’d be a little pissed,” Shawn tried to reason.

“Shawn, you wouldn't let any of my exes within a hundred miles of me, let alone in the house,” Hunter huffed a laugh.

“Exactly! How are you not seething with anger and jealousy?!” Shawn held up his soapy hands, getting dishwater all over the counter.

“Because, I told you, I’m secure about us. Do you want me to not trust you?”

“Of course, I want you to trust me, and don't think I'm not still upset about you guys working together, I just don’t- I don't get how you're so calm!” Shawn splashed his hands back into the sink to take his anger out on a poor cup.

Hunter sighed and finally gave in, “Y’know what? Fine. Fine, Shawn. You win. I’ll tell him to pack up his shit and I’ll take him to the airport this afternoon.”

“I didn’t say that!” Shawn gave up on the dishes and rinsed his hands, too upset to bother finishing.

“Then what do you want? I thought we already talked about this,” Hunter looked like he wanted to pull his hair out, the bigger man’s patience had run thin.

“Woah- Trouble in paradise?” Bret asked as he entered the kitchen.

Shawn spoke through his teeth, “Everything’s fine.”

Bret grabbed a water bottle from the fridge, “Sorry to interrupt, but Hunter, you wanna get a workout in if you’re feeling up to it?”

Hunter waited a moment, eyeing Shawn before looking at Bret, “Yeah, a light push day shouldn’t hurt anything,” He stood and left the room.

The silence that followed was deafening. Shawn had no idea who Bret was trying to save from the argument but it really didn’t matter.

“I’ll leave if it’s causing you that much grief,” Bret offered, taking a swig from the bottle.

Shawn bit down on the inside of his cheek till he could taste blood and said again, “Everything’s fine.”

[valeriwa]

conjuring romance

iwaizumi hajime x fem!reader

hogwarts!au

entry for the amazing @a1sh1teruu's stuck in summer collab

wc: 3.2k

"i don't think this is a good idea," akaashi said as he watched you and bokuto take out your wands. the grounds were lush and green, with the heavy sun beating over it. summer is a terrible, terrible torture.

"liven up, 'kaashi! besides, all we're trying to do is conjure a bit of snow, right?" you replied, a bright smile on your face as you read the spell from the book bokuto is so graciously holding open for you. the trees swayed in anticipation as if relieved to be nearly rid of the unthinkable heat.

akaashi muttered words of disapproval under his breath before ultimately deciding to help you out. you grinned when you noticed him coming over. he couldn't resist the possibility of snow and after all, he always was swept up with your and bokuto's antics.

"warmed up to the idea, eh?" you winked and nudged him with your elbow. flicking your wrist at what was hopefully the correct angle, you vocalise the incantation and wait. and keep on waiting.

"did it not work?" bokuto shook the book as if snow would fall out of it.

"delayed magic?" you didn't think that existed but the possibility hung in the air.

"there's no such thing as delayed magic."

"way to ruin our hopes and dreams, 'kaashi."

you stood there, with bokuto (still shaking the book, albeit less vigorously) and akaashi. you pursed your lips, wondering if you should try it one more time.

"maybe the magic was... postponed?" bokuto offered hopefully, now having discarded the book. akaashi sighed, tipping his head towards the sky before immediately looking down again because the sun was too bright to even admire the blue, cloudless sky.

"like a postponed train?" you added, trying to cling to the weak thread of hope bokuto provided. you looked around, trying to see if there were any fallen snowflakes you hadn't noticed but instead you just saw a figure in the distance.

"is that... a teacher?" you murmured, as he wasn't wearing hogwarts robes but it could've been a student as well. you weren't sure.

"that is not a teacher." akaashi squinted, not recognizing the man as one of the faculty members. he kicked the discarded book with his heel just in case though.

the man kept coming closer, and it was clearer to see his face now. short, dark hair, but it suited him. as well as a strong frame, not big like bokuto but firm and sturdy. tan skin, olive green eyes that glinted golden in the sun.

your eyes widened, who was this man? bokuto stepped in front of you as the man started going right up to you.

"what's your problem buddy?" bokuto was taller and larger, but somehow this stranger seemed more intimidating. his eyes shifted to you, partially obscured by bokuto.

"she's the one who called me." your jaw dropped at his statement, what the heck did that mean?

akaashi's eyes slid to yours, then to the book he kicked away. he hesitated before picking up the book, opening the first page. there it was, in big bold letters, RESTRICTED; NOT FOR STUDENTS.

"are you kidding me?" akaashi had targeted the question to you, making you spin around in confusion at his harsh tone. you winced when you saw him holding open the first page.

"well, you see. um, about that..." you trailed off, because you had really no explanation. i mean, yes, akaashi was a stickler for the rules but he enjoyed the occasional bending of them.

"you just conjured a person!" that made you gasp, your hands flying to your mouth.

"i did not."

"yes you did."

"no way."

bokuto interrupted, jerking his head towards the man you had supposedly conjured.

"um, what's your name?" you tried, hoping he was not somebody you just conjured out of thin air. you didn't even think that was possible. wasn't this against the rules of magic? oh no, did you just inadvertently dabbled in the dark arts?

"iwaizumi hajime." oh god, his voice. the soft, smooth letters wrapped in a dark velvet. hearing him felt like biting into a rich, layered chocolate.

your throat was dry by thinking you had probably just committed the biggest crime known to wizardkind.

"i thought we were gonna make it snow... not summon hot guys." you grimaced at bokuto's blunt words. but he was right. you're not quite sure how this happened even if you did use a restricted spell. was it really the dark arts?

"um, iwaizumi. do you know how you got here?" he slowly shook his head, crushing your spirit further.

"i was in another realm, i think." his words just confused you further.

"what do you mean by another realm?" akaashi questioned, rummaging through the book.

"it wasn't like this place, it was hazy like a dream." you looked up in frustration only to be blinded by the cause of your misery, the sun.

"we should get inside. it's too hot." you gesture them to follow you. the room of requirement should be perfect, since iwaizumi was not to be seen by anybody, especially a teacher.

"what is this place?" iwaizumi asked, his eyes scanning every inch of the room. bokuto nudged him, grinning, "it's awesome, isn't it?" he just nodded in response.

you sat down on the loveseat, akaashi taking a place next to you. iwaizumi kept standing, staring at you. despite being inside, you felt hotter than you did when you were trying to conjure snow.

"so what's the plan?" that was bokuto. only, after he asked the question, he yelped.

"quidditch! i'm late for practice. see you guys around. let me know what happened with the hot guy!" bokuto yelled, practically sprinting. you shouted to keep 'the hot guy' a secret but you weren't sure if he heard. praying that the head on his shoulders worked properly and he would have the common sense not to divulge the information, you turned to akaashi.

"so, what is the plan?"

"i can't believe you conjured a living, breathing person."

"please, you know i'm a genius." you fanned yourself, as if you were tired from greeting all your fans (you didn't have any sans bokuto and sometimes akaashi).

"are you going to unconjure me?" iwaizumi spoke up, his voice rattling you again. damn his sultry sounding voice, why did every word he let out feel like a plot to seduce you?

"well, you can't exactly live here," akaaashi said, gesturing him to sit down on one of the single seater sofas. he did, although reluctant.

"i see." was that it? a bit anticlimactic.

"um, well. is there an unconjuring spell, 'kaashi?" you leaned in closer to get a look of the pages. he flipped the pages quite fast, but you were sure you saw frog revivals on one of them. wizards were weird. but then again, frogs were cute so you couldn't exactly blame them.

"i think i'm going to have to speak with a professor."

"no! don't do that, we'll get in trouble!" your voice was a bit loud, startling both the boys.

"i won't mention iwaizumi, or you for that matter. it'll be alright, they know i wouldn't do anything illegal." the emphasis on the last word made you recoil, and you offered an apologetic smile.

"you should stay here with iwaizumi, just in case. keep him hidden." he had already stood up, the book in his bag and his face set in determination. he left the two of you, alone in the room of requirement.

you. alone. with a man. the man of your dreams. you often daydreamed, a strong man with a slight tan and a soft side reserved for you.

"i'm so sorry iwaizumi. i'm sure you don't want to be here." he tilted his head at your words, as if confused.

"why would you say that? i don't mind being here." his words made you splutter, coughing on your saliva. iwaizumi walked over to you in two long strides, stroking your back to relieve you of your coughing fit.

but that only made you warmer, his firm hands on your back. up, down, up, down. it felt insane. you knew the blood rushed to your cheeks, but you weren't sure if it was visible.

"um.. i'm fine now."

"okay." he didn't stop stroking your back. up, down, up, down. you were semi sure that your breathing was steady, so you turned to look at him.

"you realize that me conjuring you, accidental or not, is like a wizarding capital violation. um, basically if they think i summoned you with ill intent, i could be executed." when the words roll off your tongue, it puts everything into perspective. how deep you were in dogshit. very, very deep. the man in front of you suddenly went from the hot guy you accidentally conjured, into the reason you may not live a very long life.

"you didn't conjure me." was his response, his face was still blank but his eyes had softened and his tone was warmer. he had stopped stroking your back, letting his hand rest on your lower back, above your hips.

"what? you said i did. you told me i called you here."

"yes, you summoned me."

"what's the difference?"

"you didn't conjure me out of thin air. i already existed and you called me into your world. i'm sure you can send me back, if that's what you desire."

you bit your lips, the realization settling in. you were a little frustrated that he didn't say anything before but you can't really blame him. he was in an unfamiliar place with strangers that had summoned him for the heck of it - sure, you were trying to conjure snow but that's not what ended up happening.

"but akaashi took the book with him. i'm sure there's nothing about sending someone into another realm in the books available to students."

iwaizumi's eyes glittered, and his lips turned up into a devious smile. your breath hitched, and you swallowed down whatever was rising up. want. desire. a little bit of need? god, you were desperate.

"what about the books not available to students?"

"the restricted section? i can't go in there alone, my heart would hammer out of my chest. bokuto went in with me last time, and we were almost caught!" you were fretting, your eyes looking anywhere but him and that smile.

"who said you'd go alone?" his steady answer made you meet his gaze, his sure, dependable gaze. you breathed out, your shoulders relaxing.

"ok, let's go. and let's hope that akaashi doesn't return before we do."

you two made your way to the library, slipping in as stealthily as you could. it would be hell for you if you two were caught now. he was close behind you, and his presence enveloped you. the scent of ink and pages filled the air. the creaky floorboards were comforting too, though risking your stealthy mission.

"you must keep quiet, and stay close to me." you whispered, murmuring a spell shortly afterwards to open the door to the restricted section.

"i will." his mouth was somewhere near your ear and he must've bent slightly to whisper his affirmation. his lips grazed the top of your ear as he straightened and you had to close your eyes for a second just to gather yourself.

you moved ahead, sticking to the shelves and staying in the shadows. you heard muffled footsteps and your head whipped around to iwaizumi in alarm.

in one swift move, iwaizumi pushed into an alcove next to the shelves, cloaked in darkness. his hands were on either side of your head, resting against the wall. his breath was quickened, and yours was too. he turned to face you, his lips parting when he realized the position he was in.

the door clattered, and the sound made you panic and you did the most reasonable thing you could think; you gripped iwaizumi's shirt and pulled him closer into you. he let himself be pulled, crashing into you with a grunt.

"sorry. i panicked." your words were barely above a whisper, and you found it difficult to talk. you could see he was breathing hard, and now you doubted it was because he would get caught. his chest was hard, and sturdy just like you had thought when you first saw him walk towards you. and oh lord, his arms. he could put you in a headlock and you'd thank him.

"it's okay. are you okay?" the soft, velvety voice warmed you into a puddle. but you just nodded against him.

the noises stopped and you believed the coast was clear. although, you really didn't mind the position you were in. just as you were going to clear your throat in hopes of getting rid of this awkward tension, you felt his rough hands move from the wall to your jaw. the movement was gentle and your breath hitched.

you looked up at him, and his expression was soft. one corner of his lips was upturned, and you felt like honey in his hands. slowly, he leaned down, the air between you growing warmer. you could hardly believe what was happening, a small gasp escaping you.

"can i..." he started, "kiss you?"

you didn't trust yourself to reply, so you closed your eyes and pressed your lips on his. the suddenness of your actions made him groan, his other hand slipped down to wrap around your waist to pull you closer against him. your hands which were at your sides interlocked behind his neck.

breathless, you separated. his face was flushed, and a shy smile on yours.

"that was nice."

he chuckled at your words, but nodded.

"i think it was better than nice." he whispered against your mouth, catching your bottom lip with his teeth. you smiled, kissing him again. you could stay pressed up against him like this forever. forever? you opened your eyes mid-kiss, suddenly too aware of his mouth on yours, the softness of his lips, his callused fingertips that grazed your waist underneath your shirt. suddenly, it was all too much.

he felt you freeze up, eyes fluttering open and creating some distance between the two of you. you could see concern dancing in his eyes, but you were too overwhelmed to ease it. the very existence of this man could quite easily decimate your career, your life as you know it.

iwaizumi's mouth parted to say something, but he thought better of it, clearing his throat and putting in some more distance. he saw the hesitation, the regret in the way your eyebrows furrowed and your easy smile was displaced. he doesn't like people regretting to kiss him.

"we should find that book." his voice was heavy, not the same coarse velvet you heard earlier.

your mind felt hazy, thinking of the consequences and his lips. clearing your throat as if it could clear the desire that hung in the air, you pushed out of the alcove.

"the book should be around here," you started perusing the shelves, very aware of iwaizumi's presence. you could almost feel his irritation in his steps, exasperation coming off of him in waves.

your fingers brushed the spines, walking along the shelves and shelves of books collecting dust. iwaizumi stopped a few paces behind you, and his sudden lack of movement prompted you to stop and look at him.

"i think i found the book you're looking for," he murmured, looking into your eyes as he slid the book out of the shelf. he looked less annoyed and a bit more rueful actually. you swallowed down whatever emotion was rising up your throat, gently taking the book from his hands. your fingers grazed his, they were warm.

you opened the book, trying to find the spell. fingers tracing the old parchment, yellowed by its age, you couldn't keep your attention slipping towards the man in front of you. your lips still felt like they're on fire, and the place on your hips where his hands touched you feel warm.

"i think it's this one..." you showed the page to iwaizumi, "it says how to reverse a summon." he nodded, face twisting into something more solemn.

your hands shook as you muttered the phrase, embedding it into your mind. locking your eyes with his, you could almost taste the regret hanging in the air in dense clouds.

"sorry. for everything. i shouldn't have brought you here." your voice was just above a whisper but he heard you.

"not your fault. don't blame yourself." his fist clenched at his side in restraint, he couldn't not want to touch you. comfort you. the sight made you ache, but by now you had memorized the incantation.

there was no time for aching. it was time to send him back.

"revertus regressum."

"did you hear?" bokuto asked, slipping in between you and akaashi on a bench in the great hall. the professors never really minded when houses intermingled.

"hear what?" you pop a grape in your mouth, your face scrunching at the sour taste.

"apparently, there's a transfer student arriving." at this, akaashi perked up but mostly in confusion.

"at this time of the year?"

bokuto nodded, conspiratorially leaning in to whisper, "he's in our year."

scoffing, you muttered, "transferring towards the end of the year? he's obviously a troublemaker."

"that's rich coming from you; ten minutes ago, you asked bokuto to tag along when you'll steal a restricted book." akaashi's narrowed eyes made the blow sting more.

but before you could say anything, you saw him. black hair, olive green eyes, and a body you'd die to get your hands on. you swore you could only dream of men like that.

redirecting his gaze where you were looking, bokuto snapped his fingers in enthusiasm, "that's him! the transfer!"

you couldn't tear your eyes away, entranced in the way he moved. a little stiff, but confident. dominating.

"what's his name?" akaashi asked, tilting his head as he stared. there was something weirdly familiar about him.

"it was something like zumba," bokuto said, thinking hard. you made a face, swatting his arm, attention on him instead.

"the dance? are you serious? think harder." you were looking at bokuto as he tried to remember. you hadn't noticed that the transfer had stood up at this point.

"surely it was hazumi," his face made it sure that it was, in fact, not hazumi. light footsteps made their way towards you. akaashi's lips turned at the corners, and he kept eating.

"if i hit your head, will it come back to you?" you threatened, raising your arm.

"hey hey, let's not be violent," he said, trying to sound pacifying, "oh wait! i remember! it was iwa-"

"iwaizumi hajime."

you gasped. fuck me. his voice is like velvet.

[sadiegirl2021]

My submission for @gwynrielweeksofficial - Prompt: Warriors

And it's not just Gwynriel! We have Nessian and Emorie too.

The Heart of a Warrior on Ao3 - Sneak Peak

Rhys had to confess. Over the past few months, he had found himself increasingly distracted, neglecting his responsibilities as High Lord. But, that ended today.

Emerie, Nesta, and Gwyn sat in Rhysand’s office four months after the birth of Nyx. Between Feyre’s recovery, worrying about Nyx’s development, the interloper Bryce, and the mask incident, he’d been too busy to look at the report Azriel and Cassian had created about what the Valkyries had dealt with in the rite until now.

And it was clear, if they wanted to be a serious fighting unit, they had a lot to learn.

“I commend you on all your achievements, but nearly dying of hypothermia?” he exclaimed, flicking through the pages, “If Balthazar hadn't been there, that would have finished you both off. Simple survival training would have prevented this,” Rhysand sighed out.

It wasn’t enough that they had survived the Blood Rite; they had made near-grave errors, and only by the grace of the Mother had survived.

He was also trying to make amends with Nesta, again, on Feyre’s request. Although he knew she wouldn’t see it that way. This wasn’t a plan to punish them. He really did want to help them improve and grow. They would be an unstoppable force one day, a huge asset to his court. They already proved fiercer than most male armies he’d fought alongside. But to get better, they had to face their mistakes.

Rhysand continued through the list, “Gwyn, excellent work luring the beast to those males. Truly inspired... But when you got shot with an arrow, you were willing to let yourself give up so easily, rather than get across the bridge? A simple tourniquet made from a ribbon or belt would have given you enough movement to get across. Basic first aid.”

Gwyn sulked. She’d been happy to let Emerie and Nesta get an earful of their mistakes, but she thought she did pretty well! Sure… maybe she was a bit stubborn at times, and that maybe that put them in some danger, but they had won! That’s all that mattered. Azriel threw her a sympathetic look as Rhys continued to list her mistakes.

“...and when Nesta said you had to leave, and you refused, all of you could have died. We need to establish ranks and you will follow your commanding officer's decisions.”

Nesta swore he gave her a pointed look with that last statement.

Rhys continued, “To be honest, no one had to stay behind. With more survival training, all of you could have made it up the last part of the mountain that day…”

“Is there a point to all of this, Rhys, or did you just jump at the chance to knock me down a peg?” Nesta interrupted, giving him a withering glare.

Cassian cleared his throat. Nesta threw him an equally judgmental stare. It had been like this since she gave the mask to Bryce a few weeks ago. They got it back, tragedy avoided! She couldn’t understand why Cassian wasn’t letting it go.

Rhysand rolled his eyes at Nesta, “What I am going to suggest is starting survival training alongside your fighting. It’s just as important. You can’t defeat your enemies if you eat a poison berry or wield your sword if you can’t stem the bleeding on a simple wound. There’s a lot to work on, but I want you all to start today on some basics.”

He looked towards his cousin and brothers, “Mor is going to run through foraging for edible plants and berries, Cassian is going to train you on weapon improvisation, and Azriel will go through how to craft a simple shelter and survival knots.”

Emerie and Nesta smirked at each other and burst out laughing. They were sure Azriel had plenty of knots he could show them.

“What’s so funny?” Gwyn asked innocently. Cassian winked at Azriel, who managed to keep his face stoic and unreadable.

“We’ll tell you later,” Nesta whispered back, glancing at Azriel before letting out another little giggle. Gwyn was so confused.

Nesta cleared her throat, composing herself to ask, “So, what time do we have to leave?”

Rhys gave her a sly grin, “Wouldn’t be survival training if you had time to prepare! You’re heading out right now.”

“What? Rhys, I can’t leave my shop unoccupied all day!” Emerie protested.

“I’m expecting to sing at the evening service tonight,” Gwyn exclaimed next.

Nesta just sat quietly and glared at Rhys. Of course, he’d pull something like this.

He held up his hands in peace, “Relax! Nuala is going to look after your shop for the day, Emerie. The Illyrians are terrified of the wraiths, so nothing will happen in your absence.” He turned to Gwyn next, “And I’ve already told Clotho you will be away for the night. She wished you all the best on your adventure.”

“What if we don’t want to go?” Nesta asked with a scowl.

Rhysand didn’t falter, “It’s for your own good. You’ll thank me one day.”

Gwyn twisted her hands in her lap with nerves. She’d hardly left the library in the last few months. The Blood Rite had knocked the confidence she had been building, but if she wanted to become a serious warrior, she should listen to her High Lord. He knew what they needed.

Emerie just sighed and accepted it.

Nesta knew from experience that fighting with Rhys and the inner circle was futile. She looked at Cassian for support, but he just stared at his precious High Lord. She should have known whose side he was going to take. She sank into her chair, her mood souring.

“You’ll spend the morning and early afternoon learning everything needed to complete a trek and overnight stay in the mountains. Use what you learn to forage for dinner, build a shelter, and survive the night. Hike back to the rendezvous point in the morning, and we’ll reconvene here to go through what you learned,” his face softened a little, “I really think this will be beneficial. Your mentors won’t let anything happen to you,” he directed his gaze at Gwyn as he said that, trying to reassure her, “but they will also offer very little help, so please make sure you spend your morning wisely. Listen to them. Ask questions. Take notes. And I look forward to seeing you all in the morning.”

Nesta just scowled in annoyance, but Emerie and Gwyn nodded in agreement, resigning to the High Lords orders.

Gwyn raised her hand. “Yes, Gwyneth?” Rhys said softly. He always used a gentle tone with her.

“Is there a prize for the winning team?” Azriel let out a chuckle from across the room. Mor whipped her head around as if she’d never heard him laugh like that before.

“Bragging rights.”

Nesta chimed in next, “So, no monetary incentive?” If she was being forced to partake, maybe she could make it worth her while.

Rhys gave her one of his charming smiles that made her want to punch him, “How about 100 gold pieces to make things interesting? The first team to make it back to the rendezvous point tomorrow morning wins.”

The Valkyries perked up, chattering excitedly amongst themselves, each confidently announcing they were winning the money. Rhys smiled in delight that the prize seemed to motivate them.

He clapped his hands to get their attention again, “Teams are Emerie and Mor, Cassian and Nesta, and Azriel and Gwyn. Packs have been made up and left at the front door,” he instructed before giving them another charming smile that made Gwyn blush. “Have a wonderful time.”

With that, they were dismissed. Everyone filed out of the office, breaking off into their teams to grab their gear.

“I want that money,” Nesta said to Cassian, who grabbed both of their packs.

Mor had hers on her back and went over to them to winnow to the mountains. “I’ll see you there, Emerie,” she said sweetly.

“Ye–kay… See you…” Emerie stammered in response. Mor disappeared with Nesta and Cassian in a flash. Emerie made a disgusted face at her fumble.

“Smooth,” Azriel said behind her. It was no secret that Emerie had a huge crush on Mor. She scowled at him as she put her own backpack on.

Gwyn reached for hers. “Let me take that for you,” Azriel offered, reaching for it at the same time.

“No, it’s fine. I can carry it,” Gwyn countered, grabbing her pack and throwing it over her shoulder.

Emerie mouthed ‘smooth’ to Azriel while Gwyn was busy looking elsewhere. He gave her the middle finger, which she mirrored.

“Okay, are we all ready?” Gwyn asked gleefully. Azriel and Emerie lowered their hands quickly and nodded.

Azriel took both of their hands, and his shadows swirled around them. Within moments, they were somewhere in the Illyrian mountains.

The sun wasn’t quite high enough to make the day warm, but by the time they started their hike, they would be sweating in the autumn heat.

“Right, Valkyries! You’re with Mor for your first lesson,” Cassian commanded, and with that their training had begun. Emerie and Gwyn were feeling excited about the day ahead, but Nesta wasn’t sold yet. However, for her sisters, she’d get it over with.

[aollosjustlurking]

Oh you want a prinxiety prompt? Here's one to try!! :D

Virgil put out an ad on Craigslist for someone to help him with his new magical powers -- which are beginning to interrupt his everyday life. To his surprise, he gets a response quickly. They agree on a date and place, but to his surprise it's not an old mysterious woman in an old cottage, but instead the enthusiastic local baker?

I have tried it! Here you go!

Magical Powers are the Best Wingman

Word Count: 905

Virgil was fed up. He was tired of accidentally changing object’s sizes and or locations, tired of animals swarming him while looking at him expectantly (what was he supposed to do?), and he was especially tired of the random sparks he let off when he was stressed and hadn't used his powers in a while. He never asked for this, and now he needed to figure out how to get this all under control. That’s how he found himself in an unfamiliar field waiting for an unfamiliar face. The idea of enlisting a random stranger off the internet’s help as well as meeting up with them was a terribly unsafe idea, and Virgil recognised this more than most. But he also, as previously mentioned, was fed up with his situation and desperate. It was probably going to be an old, kind witch who had answered his cry for help, right?

Nope. Virgil watched, confused, as the town baker, who he knew to be Roman, walked towards him. Roman had not ever shown any signs of having magical capabilities, at least not that Virgil had noticed. But maybe that was good, yes? If he did have powers and was great at concealing them, he could teach Virgil to do the same. The two exchanged quick greetings once Roman had reached Virgil’s spot in the meadow. 

“I didn’t know you had- um,” Virgil was struggling to find the words he wanted to say. 

“Magic isn't a shameful word, you can say it,” Roman apparently was not struggling at all to find the words Virgil wanted to say. “But I am surprised, I’m not really secretive about my powers.”

“Well, I don’t visit the bakery much these days.”

This was met with a chuckle before Roman replied, “Yes, haven't seen you in a bit since you accedently changed the color of my counter then shocked me as I gave you your change.” Virgil was mortified at that memory, and Roman could tell. “Don’t worry, that's what we’re here for, yes?”

“I guess.” This was all too new and too much for Virge. “This is all such a pain.”

“Magic? It can be I guess, but it can also be, well, magical,” Roman’s eyes were bright with some sort of positivity Virgil could’t begin to decipher, but he did find himself drawn to it.

“Poetic.”

“Shut up, you get what I mean, don’t you?” Roman had never met a person with powers who seemed so off put by them. How could one be given such a great ability and be repulsed by it. 

But it wasn’t that Virgil was repulsed, rather he was afraid. “Sure. Your redundant statement doesn’t really do much for me though,” he looked Roman in the eyes, those stupidly bright eyes, and continued, “Level with me here, is there a way I can just not use any of this ever? Like never even have to think about it?”

“No can do. You can’t push magic away, that will only make it harder to control. It has manifested in you, and you can’t change that.”

“Great.” That was not what Virgil had been hoping for.

“Look, once you start practicing this all it will be easier to manage, fun even.”

“I doubt that.” Virgil had not been having fun with his new aliment so far, why should that change because this bright eyed, well toned man said it would?

“Wanna bet?” Roman smiled at Virgil, gears clearly turning in his mind.

“What’s on the table?” 

“Say, if you’re right and magical powers are just the worst gift ever given to you, then you can have any assortment of baked goods of your choosing on the house,” Roman proposed. 

“That is tempting. And what if you win?” Virgil doubted it, he was already planning what pastries to get once he became victorious. 

“If I win and you learn to enjoy magic then I get to take you out some evening for a lovely night together, sound alright?” 

“Oh. Um, ok I guess, but don’t get your hopes up.” Virgil found himself speaking more to his own mind than the man in front of him. 

The two discussed ways of releasing pent up magic, how to focus energy in one space, and even began to practice some simple spells. They met at that clearing multiple times a week. Virgil honed his powers and was beginning to be able to effectively use them, but that was not his favorite aspect of these magic practice sessions. His favorite part was when they would finish off laying in the grass just talking. He wondered if the enchanting aspect of Roman was something magical or just innate about him. The setting sun illuminated him in such a way that Virgil could not make his brain move past it. 

“Did you hear my question?” Roman had apparently been speaking while Virgil had been staring at him like an idiot. Great.

“No, sorry. Tired,” Virgil muttered the last word as an excuse, hoping the other would buy it. 

“I asked if you’ve been enjoying magic as of late.” Roman was now looking back at Virgil, their faces close. 

“Oh. Yeah, sure. It’s been alright.” Words were once again not coming easy to Virgil.

“You know what that means.” Roman was grinning like an idiot but Virgil didn’t mind.

“Can I still get a few pastries though?” 

Roman laughed and pressed their foreheads together. “Maybe.”

[ggomos-maribat]

Back in the Demon's Den

Part 2 of Heirs Apparent | AO3

Masterlist

The little girl peered from the top bunk when the door creaked open, welcoming the two boys into the room. Night was bleeding into dawn but she was still wide awake, immediately springing down the wooden ladder to get the bandages. One of her brothers had the side of his head matted with dried blood, while the other was pressing on his abdomen.

The girl sniffed. "Not fair."

"What is not fair?"

Waist-length braids swishing behind her, the girl delivered the kit to the edge of the larger bed. She wordlessly took out the necessities: disinfectant, bandages, cotton. The mere sight of her brothers' wounds added a weight to her chest again.

"Why can't I join the missions?" She asked lowly. "Why is it always the both of you who have to get hurt?"

"Mother says you are not ready," Damian replied bluntly.

"You don't want to go on those missions," Danyal added, helping her unfurl the bandage. "They're too dangerous."

The girl bit her lip in frustration as hot tears pooled in her eyes. When will I ever be ready in their eyes? Why must they think that I'm weak? She threw the roll in a fit, hiked up her nightgown, and leapt back to the top bunk. "I don't understand. I keep up with both of you in training. Both Mother and Aunt Nyssa go on missions all the time. Why can't I?"

The two boys shared a look before Danyal began treating their injuries. Night after night, their sister would wash the crimson stains from their skin and treat each cut. She never showed impatience nor blatant worry over them. But this night was different; she had her back turned to them, blanket pulled up to her shoulders in an effort to fall into slumber more quickly.

"We're sorry, Mari." Danyal carefully packed up the kit and returned it to the highest shelf.

"I am not," Damian interrupted.

"Damian—"

"We barely make it out alive in each mission. If we fail, we will be branded as traitors to the League. We return with open wounds, limping, hungry, cold. I am certain you understand we don't want the same fate for you."

Danyal's lips pursed and his eyebrows raised at his brother's statement. It was straightforward, as per usual, but he couldn't disagree.

Yet Marinette remained silent even as they shuffled around to finally get ready for bed.

---

The leather coat draped over her shoulders and the high-neck black top adorned with a modest necklace was hardly a League-traditional attire but it sufficed for the summon. The coat and boots were gifts from her biological mother and the singular braid coming down between her shoulder-blades were reminiscent of her childhood style.

Marinette had nearly forgotten the dry and stiffing air of Nanda Parbat. Her steps were soundless on the concrete walkway but the assassins bowing on either side of the path were repeating loudly: "Welcome, Amira." She maintained her composure, gaze never straying from what was ahead of her.

When she reached the warmer interior of the temple, she found a lone figure waiting for her. Marinette quickened her pace, going straight into the arms of Talia al Ghul.

"Mother." She missed her. She hadn't realized how much so.

"Marinette, my amira. You are here early." Talia looked at her as if checking for signs of hurt.

"What happened, mother? Why was I summoned?"

"I suppose I should tell you now." Her mother's eyes hardened, the same cold green Marinette once saw in her brother. "Your grandfather is dead."

Her arms fell to her sides. "By whose hand?"

"We do not know yet. The body was taken."

To keep him from being revived in the Pits, her mind immediately supplied. It had not crossed her mind that someone would finally strike down Ra's al Ghul. Envy simmered in her gut, as she wished she'd been the one to end his life.

"I see." That was her reply.

"I arranged for the summon so we can . . . discuss what to do." Talia seemed to be gauging her reaction, maybe waiting for an eruption or a vehement refusal of her involvement.

But even Marinette could barely comprehend what to feel. First, her head spun at the implications of the demon's death on the League. There was the question of who the next in line will be, and whether the members will accept the heir. They had to find the killer and the body  and figure out how to manage the base at the sudden absence of their leader.

"I'll go around while we wait." Marinette trudged past her Mother and deeper into their home.

Home? Was it even a home? There was a sense of familiarity in the place that could be mistaken for longing. Almost nothing had changed since she left. But the League's base couldn't be a home. It was where she fought, killed, suffered. Taking a deep breath, Marinette climbed down a post and jumped to the lower level, continuing as far as she could. The strain of moving around without the suit awakened her muscles once more.

Tikki stirred in her coat pocket and she patted the spot to reassure the kwami that she was fine. It wasn't long before she reached her destination: a murky green pool bubbling with a bright glow and smoke.

Marinette crouched at the edge of the Lazarus pit. The energy from the pool was surprisingly balanced, as it was made from the essence of both destruction and creation. She had gone straight to the Pit to make sure there was no chance, no possibility of the unwanted revival of her grandfather.

She sighed heavily. Of the emotions rooting inside her, there was no sliver of remorse.

Tikki stirred again and flew out of her coat, settling atop her cupped palms. "The Lazarus Pit," the kwamis said pensively.

"The Pit of Madness," Marinette echoed. "I don't understand . . . the power of the Wish can make something like this?"

"We can't create something out of nothing of course," Tikki explained. "What the Wish did is take the raw material and make it more stable for humans so it can bring back the dead."

"That raw material." She locked her eyes on the pool. Thick, pungent, scalding. "Ectoplasm?"

"Normally, the Miraculi aren't compatible with ectoplasm or ectoplasmic beings. The Wish is the exception."

"No wonder it's so green, huh?"

Marinette's head snapped up to meet a pair of eyes reflecting the hue of the Pit, which slowly mellowed out into a blue akin to hers. "Akhi," she breathed out, rushing over to tackle her brother into a hug.

"How did you get. . ." She looked back at the pool. "Don't tell me, is the Pit a portal?" 

Danyal laughed, tightening his warm embrace around her. "No, not the Pit. I did travel via the ghost zone though. Much quicker." 

Tikki floated up to give the newcomer a small welcome of her own. "Mother told me you were here." He cocked his head. 

"Did she tell you?" 

He nodded and pulled her up to her feet. "I'm surprised it happened; no wonder we were called right away." 

They began to make their way to a secluded meeting room. Like her, Danyal didn't look like he was grieving. He seemed relieved, in fact, for a reason she wasn't certain of. 

They pushed the double doors in tandem, greeted by Talia, Nyssa and Damian gathered around a pentagonal table. Marinette glanced at her other brother, resisting the urge to lock him into a hug. It was a time for discussion for their family, and she must put on her facade of formality.

Damian cleared his throat. "I apologize for taking too long. I had to shake a few birds off before coming here."

Talia set her palms on the glass surface of the table. "The League is divided as of now. Some are strongly against me or Nyssa on taking the position as the next head. They think that we will be twisting Father's ideals."

"Which is not exactly false," Nyssa added, a slight smirk on her lips.

"They want one of us to take the mantle," said Danyal.

"Others want another leader. A new one." Talia pursed her lips. "Such as Lady Shiva."

"Or Deathstroke?"

Nyssa made a scoffing sound at her nephew's incredulous remark.

"What?" Damian crossed his arms. "We all know he's behind grandfather's death. He must be waiting to strike the League again now that we are vulnerable."

The memory flashed in Marinette's head: the day Slade Wilson staged a coup in the League but failed to complete his ultimate goal of killing Ra's al Ghul. That same day led to the separation of her and her brothers.

"Regardless, our new leader will face animosity. I do not have the intent to make one of you ascend as the head. There are differing opinions on the three of you," Talia relayed.

Marinette looked away. It's not like any of us want to.

"What do you mean by differing opinions?" Damian asked.

"There's an entire group that advocates for Damian," Nyssa began, "Because Ra's favored you the most. For them you have the most similar leadership style as your grandfather."

There was a twitch on Damian's jaw, Marinette saw. They couldn't be any further from the truth.

Their aunt eyed the heir to her left. "But there's another faction that wants Danyal. A softer, tactical rule that will help preserve the League for more centuries. And finally—" Eyes landed on Marinette herself. "—There are those who want our amira to lead because of your inclination to magic."

Marinette's fingers drummed on the engraved tabletop. She didn't know or expect herself to have any followers.

"None of them will assume the position," Talia repeated. "For now, I need the three of you back in hiding while Nyssa and I temporarily lead the League. Our situation has changed—you must now expect enemies wherever you go."

A shimmer, a rare glint appeared in Talia's eyes, breaking through her usual stoic expression. The same look from Sabine Cheng upon first seeing Marinette distraught over the incident in her school. It was that moment when Marinette knew how risky everything had become.

Talia was afraid for them.

"We understand, Mother," she voiced out clearly, speaking for the three of them.

---

The sisters sent them away to a separate room so the two could talk to the other League members. The three settled on taking over the kitchen after Marinette expressed her hunger. As soon as they left the meeting room, she took the chance to give Damian a careful hug. 

"So, shake off a few birds huh?" Marinette smiled, breaking away as Damian handed a snack to Tikki. 

"Tt. It's difficult to leave the manor without one or two of them sticking to me." 

Danyal's eyes widened. "I'm surprised they haven't found out until now." 

Marinette moved to the counter to prepare her ingredients. She'd spotted a few things she could use to make a simple meal. Her brothers moved at her requests to reach for what she asked. 

"They will not find out if they think there is nothing to pry into," said Damian. 

Marinette glanced at their eldest triplet. She suddenly remembered the little trinkets she kept in a hidden compartment of the Miracle box, two pins in the shape of the League's emblem to remind her of her brothers: one in gold and green and one in gold and blue. She knew Danyal kept trinkets of his own, the sheaths of the first knives they used as children. 

But Damian couldn't keep any mementos, lest his family came to know the truth. 

"But they know about the League." She smoothed down the wisps of hair that escaped her neat braid. "They'll understand if you tell them." 

Damian raised an eyebrow. "How do you think Father will react when he finds out about the existence of two children he knew nothing about?" 

"Touché." Danyal mock-shuddered. Their father would obviously stop at nothing to dig deep into their lives, and it would be a disaster if he found out about the Miraculous or Danyal's partial death. 

"Though I am not sure if Pennyworth or Cassandra somehow know, but I will be keeping this from the others as much as possible." 

Marinette nodded as she began to cook. They couldn't have the luxury to tell the truth even once. 

"And you both?" Damian questioned. 

"Ugh, Jazz and my friends will freak," Danyal groaned. "I don't think they'll get to know soon. Or ever." 

"Same here," Marinette said quietly, recoiling a little when she popped the heat on. "I don't know how to bring this up after my partner and I revealed ourselves to each other." 

Danyal sucked in a breath. "You and—?" 

A sour look overtook Marinette's grim expression. "Only recently, we decided to trust each other with our identities. I care about him, I really do, but . . ." 

"You know him. In civilian form," Damian continued for her. 

"I avoided him for days. I'm scared we'd get close, too close that I might hurt him. Or this kind of life hurts him." Marinette glared at nothing in particular. "I'd rather none of them get involved." 

She noticed it in her brothers and herself. Distance as a coping mechanism, to protect themselves and the people they love. As much as she advocated for the truth, she valued her friends' and allies' lives more. 

"What about Hawkmoth?" Danyal walked over to her side, putting a hand on her back. 

Marinette sighed bitterly. "Same old. Akumas showing up. Then we defeat them."

"We are ready to extend our help if you need it." Damian looked at her intently.

Damian and Danyal had both offered her help in the Paris situation but she had always stood her ground and refused. Paris was hers and hers alone to handle and she had no plans of putting her family into an emotional hostage like all other Parisians.

"No, it's okay. Now that Chat and I know each other, we can make more progress to investigate Hawkmoth's identity." She smiled weakly. "I wouldn't want to to keep Gotham's best vigilante and the Ghost King busy."

"But really, amira, come straight to us if you need anything, okay?" Danyal frowned.

She could only nod in response. Her brothers were her last resort, her fail-safe if worse came to worst. But she couldn't imagine bringing them into the mess, even if they were qualified.

She laughed a little, finishing up the meal she made and helping the boys portion the food into wooden bowls. "I just realized . . . the powers we have now would've sent Grandfather rolling in his grave."

"God, you're right," Danyal agreed, cracking a smile. "He coveted the Miraculous for ages and tried to research ectoplasm himself. The things he worked on for so long were cracked by his grandchildren."

"Grandchildren who don't want to inherit his position," Damian pointed out.

Marinette let her tense shoulders relax. She didn't know when she could see her brothers again, and it hit her how much she missed them. Taking a shaky breath, she focused on eating to keep her emotions at bay. Maybe in another life, she'd be living peacefully with them without danger lurking behind their backs.

In another life she could tell Adrien the truth behind her past.

Support me through Ko-fi

[jinx-on-mars-19xx]

The Wicked Spring

⚔️ All Previous Parts Here ⚔️

Dom x Colson (Yungblud x Machine Gun Kelly)

Warnings: ABO (knots, slick, mpreg), Viking/god Col, fae Dom, plot heavy chapter, scared boys, PTSD, evil returns, MF being awful, groping, trying to find alone time, interrupted fun, Cia running off, baby in danger (only for a moment), uncovered secrets, Dom getting sick, mentions of underage sex (Col's past), hurt/comfort ☠️ rating: mature/verging on explicit ☠️ shared ideas by @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker 🖤

Nothing had changed exactly since Kol'son and Dom had found time for each other again but they had. The world didn't feel so overwhelming when they felt connected, the threat hanging over their heads didn't feel so immense. The siren had finally slept, passing out for so long that his husband had to resort to resting their babes against his chest just to keep them fed. It was strange but he was thankful to see his wife feeling calmer. It had been a few days and the boy had slept for at least one of them but it had been a week since the vampire had appeared and… nothing. Gods it was starting to get on Kol's nerves. He didn't like waiting around for trouble.

He'd finally convinced Dom to leave the bedroom and they'd left the children under Mod and Tom's care. Ciarán was running around their feet, still stuck in his wolf form but he was obviously happy to be free of their home. The Viking was glad to see his mate breathing fresh air and they felt clean and cuddly after a shared bath and a little fun. "I missed you ástin min." He sighed softly, wrapping his arm around his lover's shoulders. Thankfully Dom didn't take the statement wrong and instead smiled up at him, twining his fingers with his daidí's where they rest on his skin.

"I missed me too." The selkie huffed honestly before shaking his head. "But I missed you more. I didn't fink I could get tha' scared anymore. I don't know why I let 'em get in me 'ead like tha'. And now I've broken our son." He didn't mean to be so open but it was surprisingly easy with his husband. Who would have thought such a brute would have a big soft heart?

"You didn't break our son, look at him. He's happy. He's just being a good little alpha." The god wouldn't admit to worrying too, he hadn't seen his little boy's precious face in over a month and he couldn't convince him to shift back. He was sure if he could access the same power in himself he could force it, but he didn't want the kid traumatized. Cia was trotting in front of them, his tail wagging and his nose close to the ground. Honestly he was one of the cutest things the man thought he'd ever seen but that didn't mean he didn't miss his human form.

"He shouldn't feel like he needs to be. We got a bloody alpha already, he can calm 'is fluffy arse down! I don't want 'im growing up too fast." The fae whined, resting his head against his mate's chest as they strolled together.

"Damn straight. I don't think he can help it though. He feels our stress. Let's just hope Kiva and Quinny don't go this hard so young or we'll be overrun." The alpha teased, nuzzling his lover's hair.

"Oh gods no, I can't 'andle fhree teen alphas at the same time. I refuse." Dom giggled, shaking his head and half hiding against his daidí's chest. "'Ey yours at tha' point."

"Sure, as long as you raise the omegas. But it's cute you think I'm not breeding you again soon." The god's voice dropped to a growl and the fae shivered in his hold, almost tripping over himself. He was honestly surprised he hadn't felt the beginnings of his heat yet and that Kol hadn't already started teasing about whelping him. With that promise though they felt so much closer to their normal selves and it soothed something tight in Dom's chest. "Maybe make it an even ten?" Kol'son's hand disappeared from his shoulder and caressed it's way down his spine and the boy whimpered when that strong palm cupped his ass and squeezed.

The siren made a noise like a squeak but at the same moment their son barked and darted off for the tree line, shattering any play his parents were about to get up to. "Shite! Where'd he go?" The fae sighed, at first just from exasperation but when they lost track of the sound of his voice Dom felt nerves make his belly flip.

Kol'son's ears would have twitched if he were in his other form but as it was he tried to still himself and listen. His hand didn't move from it's bruising grip on his wife's ass, if anything he was hoping the pup would come right back and he could resume his attempt to fuck the fae against a tree but- "I can't hear him." He was focusing so hard on that one sense that he picked up the moment Dom's nerves turned to true anxiety when his heart started racing in his chest. He finally released the boy and pet gently up his back before letting go, ready to search out their son but they didn't have to.

"Hi daddy! Miss me?" A soft voice that was so sweet and fake it turned Kol's stomach sounded from the trees before she stepped into view, Cia tight in her hold.

The Viking couldn't help making a face and gagging at what she called him but it turned to a growl when he saw his little alpha. "Megna, put him down." He couldn't keep his voice level, he was honestly surprised he wasn't already ripping her throat out but he didn't want Ciarán to see him that brutal. Yet.

"Daidí-" Dom choked on his words, fear was clogging his throat and rage burning through his veins. His husband stepped in front of him but he couldn't help trying to peek around. He knew he shouldn't have let the babe leave their room. He knew he shouldn't have left.

'I've got it okay? When I tell you to run? Run.' The god's voice floated through his mind and he tried to nod but he couldn't leave their son. Sweat broke out over his skin, all his instincts telling him to do just that and escape but he couldn't. He wasn't sure why he felt that way anyway, he was always drawn to protect his young before himself.

"Aww but he's just so fluffy! Maybe I'll keep him as a pet." The bitch had the nerve to purr and Cia answered her with a snarl right next to her face. The pair couldn't help but feel pride but they knew she would just as soon hurt him as let him go. "Bad puppy. What else would I expect when the two of you are training him?" She huffed, rolling her eyes.

When the wolf went to nip her Kol could see her hand moving to slap his nose and he had to hold his wife back. He wasn't used to his own power and at times it scared him but he attempted to use it, snapping his fingers and praying the babe could escape. The moment happened so fast, almost a blink of an eye but he felt fur against his back and Megna was empty handed. Her bee stung lips pouted and her fox gaze landed on him like prey. 'Run.' He thought to his mate but before Dom could obey, a new voice echoed through the circle.

"I don't think so. Your mate shouldn't leave you alone with a woman, we all know how much a brute you are." It purred through the trees and the Viking furrowed his brow. Why did she sound so fucking familiar? The sound went straight through his body and he was ashamed at how his dick twitched. He thought he knew exactly who was talking, this was the god his mate had been promised to. But why did it feel like someone he'd always known?

Dom swallowed hard and pulled their pup close to his chest as he watched a goddess step up behind Megna. "Áine." He whispered, he couldn't help it. He knew who it was, he could feel it down to his bones that ached in her presence. Nothing about her felt kind or loving. He was honestly surprised she wasn't oozing black goo. He wouldn't bow to her though, he refused to show any respect for someone who could act as she did.

"Damhnaic. Don't worry, I don't want your alphas. I'll get you a puppy though Meg, would you like that?" The woman purred, kissing the human's cheek. She was- Dom supposed- objectively pretty, but not to him. He knew what that threat meant, she wanted their omegas but he'd fight to the death to protect them. Her dark eyes snapped to him, her lips curling in a smirk as she looked him up and down. He could see her entire form through the slip dress she wore but that was normal for his home. If he didn't know how disgusting they both were he might find them attractive but as it was… "You're sickened by us? You just thought that you would die for me, that doesn't sound like you're disgusted."

"I thought I would die to protect me kids from you! Do not mistake me mind when you steal fhoughts from it." The siren was surprised at himself but since his husband seemed to be frozen someone had to deal with them. "I'm sure someone else can bear ya children Áine, even Megna! Can't you jus' leave us alone? We won't come for you."

She laughed at that, a full throated deep sound that danced on his skin and gave him goosebumps. His heart leapt into his throat and choked him. "I don't think so sweet boy, she's human. Besides, you were made for me." Before he could take a breath she had vanished and appeared again in front of them, her hand outstretched to pet his cheek. "I don't like when my toys leave. Besides, she's already starting to bore me but I told her I'd get her revenge."

"Oh? And 'ow ya gonna do tha'? Kill us?" He spat, he swore he could feel his skin vibrating with her so close. His stomach was in knots and he felt nauseous. Even her scent smelled wicked. She should have smelled like fresh spring but instead she held the sickly sweet stench of decay. No wonder their land back home was dying, their goddess was turning bad.

"Of course not. She wanted you broken and Kol'son alone. I want you making me more omegas." She hummed, tilting her head as she glanced down at his belly before she finally looked to his husband. "I can do that so easily. Hello Kol, did you miss me boy?" She shifted her attention to him, her claws petting his cheek.

Kol'son bit his lip so hard he tasted blood. He wanted to shift and grab his family and run but he was frozen to the spot. He could feel his lover's confusion and he hated it. In his mind he was begging the universe she didn't say what he knew she was about to. They didn't hide anything from each other, he'd told his wife about his conquests but… there was no way he could fathom that. He knew it would break his queen's heart. "No."

"It's not nice to lie to your first love. Does your pretty little omega know I taught you everything you know about pleasing a woman?" The Viking growled, she was exaggerating but it didn't matter. As a boy she had taken his innocence and they'd shared an intense night together. He'd always thought about her but how could he know? How could he fucking have predicted this?

Dom felt dizzy, his head was swimming with thoughts he couldn't quell. This goddess had touched his lover before- before- oh gods had she seen his future? Did she know? His skin felt soaked in sweat and before he could stop himself he was stepping back and dropping to his knees to be sick. It wasn't that they'd slept together though, he wasn't that easily jealous or so simple to break. No, it was the fact he knew his poor husband had been so young and she was magic. Gods how long had she been torturing them both? And where were his parents?

"Meg sweetheart, take me somewhere to rest while we wait for the rest of our party? They'll arrive by boat soon. Kol, you should visit our bed later. If you think we had fun when you were young…" She winked, cupping his jaw with her claws and holding him still as shs forced a kiss against his lips. "You taste like bitch. My bitch. Yummy. How sad you've already ruined him. Now be a good puppy and welcome your in-laws. Remember, we're a visiting kingdom and you must be diplomatic." She purred, slapping his cheek but he kept from moving his head. He might not be able to speak against her yet but he wouldn't cower to her either.

Dom felt tears well his eyes as he heard the women disappear. His son was licking his cheeks and trying to soothe him but he felt mad with grief. The moment they were free the Viking dropped to kneel and tried to comfort his mate but he was scared to touch him. Maybe she had broken something between them. "I'm so sorry-" The siren choked out between sobs, throwing himself against the man's chest. "She 'urt you for me." He sniffled while the god just stared at him wide eyed. He'd been prepared to grovel for forgiveness. He'd remembered her mostly fondly all these years and he remembered telling Dom what an experience it had been. The first woman he'd bedded, the only pussy he'd been inside when not bleeding before his wife. He was so ready to say he was sorry but he didn't know how to handle the boy blaming himself. All he could do was shake his head and try to comfort his love and their son. Fuck he just wanted to get them home safely.

Author's Note/Tags: @hollywoodxwhore @jaxbreaker @manicpixiedreamb0y @cole-way-iero28 @iamnotanearthlingmotherfucker 🖤

Eep! A little angst and plot to spice up the story. Our boys are strong though! They can handle it. Just in case you were wondering, yes I'm picturing Halsey for Áine. I hope you're still enjoying the story! 🖤☠️

[ask-andrew-montrose]

Mr. Montrose, good evening.

I have not had the chance or reason to introduce myself to you before tonight: my name is Elland de Strontium, perhaps William has mentioned my name before, he is a dear friend. This brings me to the point of this letter.

I have heard from multiple of my friends that you have been rather mean to some of the people in the castle, for no apparent reason. Your actions and tongue tend to take you places people don't want you wanderi—

*There is a huge line of smudged ink where the next letter should have been, and the following line is written in very neat and calligraphic handwriting. There is a pretty swirl at the beginning of the letter "M".*

Monty, hi~ Saw you by the lake today reading a novel! Did not want to interrupt then but do let me know what books you like to read, maybe I'll share some of my favourites with you, too~ Happy hunting! Your ginger prey ♡

*The writing returns to its original form, much simpler but clearly written by a steady hand.*

Please, excuse Will, he keeps hijacking my letters. The last time it happened with Garreth the poor guy assumed Will had a crush on him.

My point is. I do not want to have any arguments with you but if it does come to you being rude to my friends again, I will not hesitate to have a conversation with you. I am aware of your attempts to apologize but the girls are right, you ought to try harder. As for Will... If I ever see him crying — I will find you, and having a conversation would be the least of your worries.

Do not take it as a threat: be mindful of your own actions and words.

Sincerely hope you heard me out, Elland de Strontium 🌙

Good Evening Elland,

What a pleasure that the first time we are speaking, it is with an adorable scolding as if I am a first year. It seems I shall have to be on my best behavior now that the big dogs have been set out on me. And to avoid the possibility of further duress - I assure you the above is sarcasm.

I would like to amend your statement to say that rather than 'being mean' I was simply being myself, admittedly my personality is slightly rough around the edges at first. An unfortunate by product of being raised in a rather competitive household, I'm afraid.

It is possible that while I focus on the competition, I lose sight of my manners. For that, I do not disagree with you...it is a ghastly shortcoming I can and do work to rectify. Not so much in response to your scolding, mind you, but more so in respect to those I have offended. It just takes me some time to warm up at first....but I would never genuinely want to hurt anyone. The line between banter and offense is one I toe far too closely, and I am aware of that. And I suppose I could use less middle fingers.

Although my words can be sharp, I will try to watch the focus of their blows. I may have had to use them as weapons for far too long that It has become too second nature.

It is true...I may not be the best at communicating my admiration for others at first. This does not mean that I don't consider them in a high regard.

More like a shot of whiskey, than everyone's cup of tea I suppose.

Regardless, you shouldn't need to worry about an additional conversation unless it's one on more jovial grounds which I look forward to having with you. I promise....I can be jovial when the mood strikes.

In the meantime, take my ......*COUGHS, CHOKES, ROLLS AROUND ON THE GROUND* apologies to the girls. And then I will apologize myself.

I also do not mind your hijacker's note. *Andrew smirks to himself at the words, clearly Will hadn't told Elland about every conversation they had* And he did? A crush? Hm. I wonder how that happened...

Please tell William I'd never mind his interruptions and have attached a copy of the reading I had with me earlier today if he's interested.

Until the next scolding,

Andrew

[Attached is a copy of The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, quite worn and heavily annotated.]